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In this era, people were quite particular and showed great respect towards their recommenders. During festivals and birthdays, carriages delivering gifts to Duke Tang's Residence would line up from Tongyi Lane to Chongde Square.
All sorts of people from the Three Teachings came, bringing valuable gifts from the wealthy and well-off, while the less fortunate offered a piece of their own calligraphy or homegrown rice and vegetables, all as tokens of goodwill.
Some envied him, while others felt that Li Jian Cheng was lowering his status by not properly serving in his official capacity, spending his days in banquets and poetry instead of fulfilling his duties, thus squandering his significant reputation.
After a joyful and lively New Year celebration, it was now Ren Shou Year Three. The emperor had aged considerably and seemed to be recklessly exhausting himself.
Crown Prince Yang Guang naturally fanned the flames, while Consort Chen held significant power in the harem. The emperor's diet included various tonics, which only accelerated his fatigue and aging.
Rumor had it that the emperor sometimes sat for long periods in the Queen's chamber in silence...
Meanwhile, the most restless was Han Wang. He petitioned about the Turkic threat that would surely rise again, urging for military preparations to avoid being caught off guard in the future. The emperor agreed, and Han Wang began large-scale conscription of craftsmen in his fief to manufacture weapons and gather outlaws, with nearly tens of thousands of retainers in his palace.
Yang Su and Li Yan made earnest attempts to advise against this, but the emperor did not retract his orders and continued to allow Han Wang's actions.
However, due to his declining health and mental state, the emperor inevitably had to delegate more power to the Crown Prince, a situation Liu Shu and others could not prevent.
One day, Li Jian Cheng went to Duke of Yue's Residence to celebrate Yang Su's birthday. At the entrance of the estate, he encountered someone calling out: "Pharmacist Brother, please wait a moment."
The man appeared to be in his thirties, tall and robust in stature; he was Li Jing, the nephew of Han Qintiger from Longxi Li Clan, currently serving as a junior official managing offerings within the palace.
Li Jing stood there somewhat helplessly. He was reluctant to interact with Li Jian Cheng because such comparisons made him feel like a failure.
"Jian Cheng, although I hold a low position, I am still of your father's generation; you should call me brother..."
"What does it matter? If we really consider age, I would have to call many people Uncle or even Ancestor. Once we step outside, it's more comfortable to address each other as we wish."
Entering the Duke of Yue's Residence alongside Li Jing, the steward approached warmly to greet them while completely ignoring Li Jing. He respectfully said: "Li Langjun, please take your time; my young master has just sent Pei Gong inside and will come out to welcome you shortly."
Li Jian Cheng replied: "No need; I've been here often enough. I'll go directly to see Yang Gong."
As he stepped into Yang Residence's Main Hall, just like in years past, upon seeing Li Jian Cheng, guests began rising to greet him. One by one they stood up without realizing it; only Left Minister Yang Su and a few elderly men seated at the front remained seated but exchanged complex glances.
Li Jian Cheng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. Before him were faces he couldn't recognize quickly enough—just smiling faces and mouths opening and closing continuously.
Li Jing had quietly slipped away. Even during his most glorious youth, when the Minister of Personnel and the then Right Deputy Minister Yang Su praised him as a Talent of a Loyal Minister, he was destined to rise to a high position among the officials.
Yet even then, he had never been treated like this.
Now, over a decade had passed, and he found himself hesitating in place, becoming the laughingstock among the nobility.
After finally making his way through the crowd, he approached Yang Su and clasped his hands together. "May you, Yang Gong, be as constant as the moon, as radiant as the sun, and as long-lived as the Southern Mountain."
"Good, good, good! Then I shall borrow your auspicious words. Please take a seat."
Li Jian Cheng greeted a few others before unceremoniously sitting down on the sofa. His dark hair and youthful vigor stood out among the many gray-haired old officials.
Across from him, Minister of Rites Pei Song asked, "It seems that the Duke of Tang has yet to return to the capital."
"Yes, General Changsun and Qimin Khan require a great deal of supplies. Even if they are not lacking in livestock, this journey will take quite some time."
Yang Su couldn't help but glance at Li Jian Cheng again. How long had it been?
He was afraid of this young cub, not for himself but for his sons. Xuan Gan was a very promising heir. He had originally thought that even if he died, Yang Xuangan could take over the Yang Family and continue to thrive in court.
Talented in both literature and martial arts, he had received true teachings in leading troops and warfare. Yet at this moment, he had a premonition that Yang Xuangan would not succeed.
Yang Su couldn't help but feel regret in his heart, but it was too late.
Li Jian Cheng had no intention of considering what Yang Su was thinking now; in his eyes, Yang Su was already a living dead man waiting for Yang Guang to ascend to the throne. By then, it would be time for him to stop breathing altogether.
At that point, he would settle accounts for what happened back then.
For now, he was mainly focused on how to tame Li Jing, this stubborn mule. Yes, our future Great Tang War God was quite straightforward. As much of a genius he was in military matters, he was equally foolish in politics—at least for now.
With Li Jing's background leading to his current state, it all began with his elder brother, Duke Yongkang Li Yaowang. When he served as Governor of Shuo Prefecture during the Beginning of the Twentieth Year of Kaihuang and suffered defeat against the Turkic forces, over ten thousand men were lost.
Li Yaowang was demoted to commoner status, and the entire Li Family faced punishment. With his career already lacking prospects, it became even harder for Li Jing to gain promotion.
Then there was our Left Deputy Minister. He had once praised others for their ruthlessness but later became equally unscrupulous when suppressing them. In front of Yang Guang, he spoke of the Longxi Li family as if they were Han Wang's confidants...
Then there were his own reasons. A Thousand-Mile Horse is common, but a Talent Scout is rare. Being proud of one's talent is one thing, but when the situation has already turned unfavorable, refusing to lower oneself to seek a way out will inevitably lead to constant setbacks.
Even the War Sage Han Xin had to endure humiliation; what could be expected of others?
The rest, hindered by Yang Su's power, dared not extend a helping hand. Li Jian Cheng was willing, yet he refused to reach out, believing that as long as he had the opportunity to showcase his abilities, he would surely stand out without needing to rely on younger individuals.
He forgot that in the current court, what was most abundant were those skilled in warfare. There was never a time for someone of his rank to directly command troops in battle.
When Li Jing arrived with others to celebrate the birthday, Yang Su continued to praise him, stating that his talents were unmatched in the Court. Li Jing's face flushed slightly, and among the guests, someone actually laughed.
This laughter seemed contagious, and soon everyone joined in, their laughter echoing from inside the hall to outside, even causing beggars on the street to speculate.
Here they were enjoying delicious food and beautiful women; how could they not be so happy?
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Li Jian Cheng calmly tapped rhythmically on the table with his knuckles. Gradually, everyone ceased their laughter and looked at him with curiosity. Only when there was complete silence did Li Jian Cheng slowly speak: “Li the Apothecary is indeed a remarkable talent!”
Amidst the astonished gazes of those present, Li Jian Cheng stood up and solemnly bowed to the wooden pillar where Li Jing stood: “If you do not mind, I wish to take you as my master and learn military strategies.”
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