"Even so…"
Kongming shook his feather fan and let out a sigh.
"If this battle were commanded by Yide…"
Seeing Zhang Fei's eager, itching-to-fight expression, Kongming decisively cut the topic short.
"Forget it."
"In any case, this defeat was both expected—and unexpected."
As he spoke, Kongming's gaze grew distant.
"The expected part lies in this: the Tang values military merit above all and practices hereditary privilege. After only one or two generations, those leading the armies are no longer the battle-hardened generals who founded the dynasty. Their ability to break the enemy cannot possibly compare to that era."
"The unexpected part is that the defeat came so swiftly."
In his heart, Kongming suddenly thought of a name—Zhuge Zhan.
Merely because he was his own descendant, Liu Shan had trusted him and entrusted him with great responsibility. Yet later generations judged him to be of mediocre talent, and in the end he died with the state.
Descendants often struggle to surpass their forebears, yet all too often they occupy perilously high positions. If merely mediocre, that is one thing; but if narrow-minded, the disasters they cause are far worse than ordinary men.
Thus, even though this biological son did not yet exist, Kongming had already planned his future:
Come study science with your father.
[Lightscreen]
[The defeat at Dafeichuan completely ended the Tang army's winning streak. From then on, during Gaozong's reign, Tang generals were essentially reduced to a firefighting brigade.
Today they pacified Tubo; tomorrow they suppressed the Turks; the day after they put down Baekje; and a few days later the Four Garrisons of Anxi would flare up again.
Among those who handled these fires particularly well were two men. One was our old friend Xue Rengui; the other was Pei Xingjian, disciple of Su Dingfang.
Pei Xingjian had an elder brother named Pei Xingyan, a famous fierce general of the Sui–Tang period.
As mentioned earlier, when Ming dynasty writers fabricated Romance of Sui and Tang, they used Pei Xingyan as the prototype for Pei Yuanqing—the absurdly overpowered brute who nonetheless suffered from terrible luck.
In the uploader's opinion, it was probably because all the Pei family's luck had been siphoned off by the younger brother.
When Pei Rengi and Pei Xingyan plotted rebellion, Pei Xingjian had just been born back home. By sheer good fortune, he escaped disaster.
By the time he grew up, the age of chaos had passed, and he smoothly obtained Tang household registration.
Because the Tang inherited the Sui, the Pei father and son's schemes counted as rebellion to Wang Shichong—but as merit to the Tang.
Thus: Pei Xingjian, descendant of loyal martyrs.
Relying on the merits of his father and brother, Pei Xingjian was sent directly into the Imperial Academy (Guozijian) to study, with all food, clothing, and expenses covered by the state.
His schooling went smoothly, and he even found time to practice calligraphy, becoming quite famous for it.
But after graduation, employment became a problem. Given the general atmosphere of the Tang, Pei Xingjian chose to join the army, hoping to work his way up from the grassroots.
Unfortunately, he filled out his placement preferences carelessly. In the end, he was assigned as a Cangcao Canjun—essentially a warehouse officer—in the Left Tun Guard. The place fell under Kuangdao Prefecture, a textbook middle-of-nowhere, and "Cangcao," bluntly put, meant guarding the granaries.
Young Pei Xingjian was practically stunned. His father and brother had died early for rebellion; he had no qualifications to pull strings. He could only accept his fate.
The local boss, Su Dingfang, found this rather interesting. A young man actually willing to come to a place like this?
So Su Dingfang, sweeping streets, extended an invitation to Pei Xingjian, who was guarding warehouses:
"Of the art of war, there is none in the world who can teach me. But you, sir, are worthy."
Thus, Pei Xingjian became the disciple of a famous general.
Master and disciple spent ten peaceful years in Kuangdao Prefecture—sweeping streets, watching warehouses, studying military strategy, and occasionally checking the news.
For example: the Crown Prince plotting rebellion; Li Erfeng personally campaigning; Hou Junji being beheaded; Zhangsun Wuji monopolizing power; and so on. They had VIP spectator seats—close enough to enjoy the show, far enough to avoid being splashed with blood.
As later events made clear, Su Dingfang was eventually dragged down from the spectator stands by Li Zhi to go to war for the state.
With the master finally taking off, he naturally did not forget his good disciple. Before long, Pei Xingjian was transferred to serve as Magistrate of Chang'an County, with his career clearly on the rise.
But as always, there was a "however."
Hot-blooded and young, Pei Xingjian soon became involved in the court struggle over "deposing the queen and installing Wu," and he took a clear stand on Zhangsun Wuji's side.
But in the eyes of Li Zhi and Wu Zetian: your master hasn't spoken yet—who asked you to open your mouth?
With a single transfer order, Pei Xingjian was "promoted" from Magistrate of Chang'an to Chief Clerk of Xizhou Prefecture.
Relying on the military learning he had absorbed over ten years of guarding warehouses with Su Dingfang, Pei Xingjian worked there for twenty years, accomplishing much and rising steadily in rank, eventually becoming the top authority in the Western Regions.
Grand Protector of Anxi—Pei Xingjian.
The histories record that the states of the Western Regions admired his righteousness and submitted willingly.
As with later practice under Xuanzong, such frontier governors were required to return to the capital after leaving office, both to serve as advisers and to enjoy a measure of leisure.
But this leisure was destined to elude Pei Xingjian.
Not long after the defeat at Dafeichuan, Tubo extended its hand into the Western Regions, attempting to ally with the Western Turks against the Tang.
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi once again fell into a dilemma. The distance was vast, and deploying troops would be a heavy expense.
But when he consulted Pei Xingjian, this old disciple of Su Dingfang gave him a surprise.
Pei Xingjian stated that the rebellion could be quelled with a single hand—he needed only to borrow one person from His Majesty.
Li Zhi was very curious. Who could possess such ability?
Pei Xingjian replied: the Persian prince, legitimate heir of the Sasanian dynasty—Narsieh.]
The joy on Li Shimin's face practically overflowed.
"This Pei Xingjian—he too is general material?"
Su Dingfang, equally delighted, turned his head.
"Your Majesty knows this man?"
Having lived through chaotic times, Su Dingfang was no stranger to Pei Xingyan and Pei Rengi, but he truly knew little of their family.
Without waiting for Li Shimin to speak, Fang Xuanling answered for him:
"Last year this child just turned ten. In consideration of his father's merit in opposing Wang Shichong, His Majesty specially ordered him admitted to the Xiuwen Hall for study."
Su Dingfang was instantly overjoyed. Having been in Chang'an these years, he naturally knew that the Xiuwen Hall—put in common terms—was the imperial private academy, inaccessible to ordinary people.
Li Shimin nodded with measured composure. Previously, seeing Duan Zhixuan return from the campaign against Tuyuhun without success, he had lamented the lack of successors among fierce generals.
Yet now, surprises kept coming.
Thirty-year-old Su Dingfang; sixteen-year-old Xue Rengui; and now, the eleven-year-old Pei Xingjian he had only just learned of.
Though Pei Xingjian's battle record was still unknown, the mere fact that he started as a prefectural chief clerk and ultimately became Grand Protector of Anxi already spoke to his talent.
"I wonder where Pei Xingjian resides. Tomorrow I shall visit him personally and test his military strategy."
Su Dingfang cast a smug glance at Li Shiji, awaiting His Majesty to give him the address.
After all, Xu Maogong only shared a superior–subordinate bond with Xue Rengui.
But with Pei Xingjian, it was a solid master–disciple relationship!
Li Shiji looked at Su Dingfang with some pity.
Do you not know His Majesty's hunger for talent?
No—"hunger" is insufficient. It should be called grabbing talent with desperation.
Li Shimin beamed.
"Once today's matters conclude, Xuanling shall summon Pei Xingjian into the palace. I wish to see him myself."
Su Dingfang watched eagerly as Fang Xuanling accepted the order—only for His Majesty to say nothing further. On the spot, he grew anxious.
What about me?
Seeing Su Dingfang's expression, Li Shimin spoke with warm concern:
"Once today's matters conclude, Dingfang should conserve his strength, review military texts, and train his martial skills."
"Next year, when troops are sent against Tuyuhun, Dingfang shall serve as vanguard!"
The unspoken meaning was crystal clear: forget about the disciple. Go build merit in Qinghai.
Su Dingfang responded, his emotions complicated.
Beside him, Li Jing shook his head inwardly. Even without this Pei Xingjian matter, given His Majesty's regard for him, the vanguard position was unavoidable.
As star after star of the generalate emerged, Yuchi Jingde felt pressure for the first time.
At present, he could rely on his past achievements for status—one, because of Xuanwu Gate; two, because the court was filled with former Qin Prince retainers who had to give him face.
But these young generals revealed early by the light screen would never play by that rule.
Neither the Qin Prince's mansion nor Xuanwu Gate meant anything to them—and each one was stronger than the last.
Yuchi Jingde thought his own feat of seizing a halberd barehanded was already impressive.
Yet Xue Rengui charged into enemy ranks unarmed and captured the opposing general.
As a close minister, Yuchi Jingde could grasp His Majesty's temperament in certain matters.
If troops were sent to Qinghai next year, Xue Rengui would certainly go as well.
The reason was simple: Huo Qubing had achieved merit at eighteen.
If the Tang produced a seventeen-year-old general, then Yuchi Jingde would truly become an old relic.
The complex shifts in his old brother's expression were all seen by Qin Qiong.
"Why not study the geography of Qinghai, Jingde? Next year I'll serve as deputy commander—you and I can lead an army together."
Yuchi Jingde's face lit up, and he agreed at once.
"When Shubao has fully recovered, I'll gladly serve as your deputy one more time!"
And in a corner no one noticed, Hou Junji was shaken to the core.
"The Crown Prince plotted rebellion?"
But seeing everyone chatting and laughing as usual, he understood—everyone already knew.
Li Shimin did not even spare him a glance. So Hou Junji gathered his courage and asked Zhangsun Wuji:
"Duke of Qi… was I dragged into a rebellion, and thus met with this calamity?"
Zhangsun Wuji looked at Hou Junji with pity, thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head. Hou Junji let out a sigh of relief.
Zhangsun Wuji's thinking was quite simple:
What do you mean, "dragged into"?
You clearly dragged my good nephew into rebellion!
[From the moment the Tang destroyed the Eastern Turks, it had helped solve employment problems for the noble houses of many surrounding states.
For example: Illig Qaghan; Tuyuhun's Fuyun; Xiao Lu; the Gaochang royal house; the King of Kucha; and many more.
By Li Zhi's time, the Tang even took in the legitimate heir of the Sasanian dynasty.
In the very same year that Chancellor Zhuge officially launched the Northern Expeditions, the emperor of the Parthian Empire, Artabanus V, perished at Hormizdgan. The Parthian Empire—also known as the Arsacid Empire—was formally extinguished.
Ardashir's script bore more than a passing resemblance to Li Erfeng.
For instance, he too was a second son who once competed with his elder brother for power. But Ardashir was very lucky—or rather, his brother was extremely unlucky, dying when a ceiling collapsed in a meeting hall.
After his brother's death, Ardashir conveniently killed all his remaining brothers, becoming an unquestioned high official of the Parthian Empire.
Then, using this single province as his base, he rose in arms, won battle after battle, and ultimately replaced the Arsacid Empire, founding the Sasanian dynasty—the Persian Empire.
Ardashir also bore the title Shahanshah, which when translated literally means "King of Kings" or "Lord of Ten Thousand Kings." It was, in its own way, not unlike "Heavenly Khagan."
As states situated along the Silk Road, the Sasanian dynasty and China maintained fairly frequent contact. From the Wei–Jin through the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there were over ten diplomatic missions in total. They personally witnessed the great eastern power's fragmentation and reunification.
And in the year 638 CE, Li Erfeng personally received a letter from the distant West:
Bro, give us a hand. Please.]