Chapter 34: Li Jing Is Old, Yet Still Has an Appetite!

Li Chengqian sat upright upon the magnificent, gilded dragon throne.

His majestic face softened into a slight nod, his eyes filled with appreciation as he looked down at Zhang Xianhuai with a sense of gratification.

"Zhang Xianhuai, you have truly not disappointed me. In your hands, the Embroidered Uniform Guard shall surely become my most capable arm."

"You have done well. Persevere and continue to train the Guard diligently in the coming time; there is much to be done in the future! I place high hopes in you; do not let me down."

Li Chengqian’s voice was steady and powerful.

Zhang Xianhuai knelt on one knee, his flying-fish robe standing out prominently in the grand hall. A confident smile graced his face—a smile that carried both gratitude for the Emperor’s trust and firm conviction in his own abilities.

He spoke aloud, "Thank you, Your Majesty. This subject shall not fail your holy grace. I will serve with my life and never betray your trust."

"I do not fear hardship, and I will certainly train the Embroidered Uniform Guard into an elite force that meets your expectations."

"Good!"

Li Chengqian flicked his grand sleeve, displaying the full majesty and spirit of an emperor.

...

Outside the palace, dark clouds gathered in the sky, as if portending an approaching storm.

Li Chengqian’s expression turned solemn. He spoke slowly, "Regarding my refusal of the marriage alliance with Princess Wencheng, the Tibetan Empire will certainly not take this lying down."

"They are ambitious and cruel; I fear they will use this as a pretext to incite trouble, leaving the borders of my Great Tang in turmoil." He spoke with his brows tightly knit.

"If the Tibetans invade, we must send a capable commander to respond in order to ensure the stability of the Great Tang." His gaze, sharp as a torch, swept across the officials in the court.

"Which of my subjects is willing to go and teach those Tibetan barbarians a lesson for me?"

No sooner had Li Chengqian finished speaking than the section of the court occupied by the military officials erupted, as if a giant boulder had been cast into a calm lake. A large number of generals stepped forward in unison, their eyes burning with intense fighting spirit.

"Your Majesty, this humble general is willing to go!" a burly general shouted, cupping his hands. He stood in the shadows of the hall, his gaze resolute.

"Your Majesty, this humble general is also willing!" another commander followed, his voice resonant like a bell, echoing through the hall.

"Your Majesty, I only need thirty thousand elite troops to let the Tibetans witness the might of the Great Tang!"

The speaker was a young general, dashing and extraordinary—it was Xue Rengui. Standing in the center of the hall, his words were filled with such confidence that it seemed as if those thirty thousand troops would become a force of tigers and wolves under his command, capable of trampling the Tibetan Empire.

His heart surged with ambition: *I, Xue Rengui, will surely show the Emperor my skills and let the Tibetans know the strength of the Great Tang.*

Just as Xue Rengui finished, the confident and arrogant voice of Hou Junji rang out: "I only need ten thousand elite troops!"

Hou Junji stood with his chest puffed out, his eyes gleaming with equal confidence. Though arrogant, he was no fool. He was loyal to Li Chengqian, a devoted follower who followed every one of the Emperor's decrees without question. As soon as such a prominent general spoke, the others fell silent, seemingly intimidated by his presence.

*Hmph,* he thought with secret pride, *with me, Hou Junji, in the field, what task cannot be accomplished? This campaign belongs to me.* He curled his lips into a smug smile, believing the prize of the expedition was already in his grasp.

But before he could celebrate, Li Jing, who had remained silent and stood at the head of the military ranks, stepped forward. His pace was steady, each step seemingly imbued with immense weight. His aged voice echoed in the silent hall, shaking the souls of all present.

Outside, the dark clouds seemed to descend further, casting the hall into gloom, yet Li Jing’s figure appeared incredibly steadfast amidst the darkness. He had long since calculated his move; he knew this might shake the court, but he wished to contribute to the Tang once more, especially since he had already given his word to the Emperor.

"If Your Majesty does not mind this old bag of bones, I, Li Jing, am willing to take command and conquer the Tibetans."

Li Jing’s words were heavy and firm, leaving the civil and military officials in a state of stupor. Everyone knew that Li Jing had remained silent before to avoid suspicion. His merits were simply too great; throughout history, a subject whose contributions overshadowed the throne was always a cause for imperial concern. It was only due to the magnanimity of the late Emperor Taizong that this meritorious veteran was kept on, albeit stripped of his military power. After all, Li Jing’s loyalists were scattered throughout the army. That such a figure had not been purged was already a testament to imperial grace; how could he be allowed to hold the reins of power again?

Ignoring the whispered discussions of the courtiers, Li Jing remained unmoved, like a towering mountain standing firm against the wind and rain. *I have served my country all my life with a clear conscience,* he thought. *As long as I can serve the Great Tang, what does it matter if I bear the weight of misunderstanding?*

...

A cold wind blew through the gaps in the doors and windows, causing many to shiver, but Li Jing stood motionless.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Jing with burning eyes, a hint of pleasant surprise flashing through them. "It is the fortune of the Great Tang that Old General Li is willing to emerge from retirement!"

At that moment, a beam of sunlight pierced the clouds, shining straight through the windows into the Taiji Palace.

Li Chengqian declared loudly, "Good! Since Old General Li is willing to lead, I entrust the war against the Tibetans entirely to him. Hou Junji and Xue Rengui shall assist. The three of you must work in unity to uphold the glory of the Great Tang."

"We obey the decree! Thank you, Your Majesty!" the three replied in unison.

Their response set the court abuzz. Even the usually composed Fang Xuanling could not help but speak up. The atmosphere in the hall became noisy, the murmurs of the officials rising like surging waves.

Fang Xuanling, his face full of worry, stepped forward and bowed to Li Chengqian. "General Li Jing has rendered great service, but what if something were to happen on this expedition?" He looked up at Li Chengqian, pleading earnestly. "Your Majesty, the choice of commander must be made with caution! General Li is advanced in age, and the journey to Tibet is long and arduous; I fear his health will not withstand the exposure. Please, Your Majesty, choose another suitable commander!"

The sun was again obscured by clouds, and the light in the hall grew dim, as if reflecting Fang Xuanling’s concern. Wei Zheng, who often clashed with Fang, now stood on the same side, his expression heavy.

"Your Majesty! What the Minister of the Secretariat says is wise and prudent!" Wei Zheng added. "General Li is a hero of the Great Tang; he is at an age where he should be enjoying his twilight years! How can he still mount a horse to kill enemies? If any accident befalls him, I fear Your Majesty will be stained with a bad name!"

He stood in the center of the hall, his figure appearing severe in the dim light. He had to ensure the young, hot-blooded Emperor did not make a rash decision.

Seeing that both Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng had taken the lead, the other officials began to remonstrate as well. For a time, the court was a cacophony of voices. They cited classics and analyzed the pros and cons, pointing out the negative implications of Li Jing serving as commander from every angle. Some worried about his health, while others feared the shift in the balance of power if he regained control of the military.

Li Chengqian sat on the throne, listening intently, nodding occasionally in agreement. Seeing the Emperor so reasonable, the officials grew more excited, analyzing the situation with increasing fervor. Only when they were parched did the hall finally fall silent, all eyes fixed on the Emperor, waiting for his decision.

Li Chengqian turned slightly, gave Li Jing a reassuring look, and spoke.

"Old General Li, I have heard the opinions of the court. Most believe you are too old to mount a horse and fight. Why don't you explain it to them?"

Li Jing bowed to Li Chengqian without haste and stepped forward. He turned to face the officials, the court now divided into two, with Li Jing standing alone before them. Behind him, Li Chengqian sat firmly on the throne, watching with majestic intensity.

The hall was silent, save for the occasional sound of the wind outside. Li Jing’s heart remained tranquil.

"Your Majesty, may I borrow a bow?"

Li Chengqian gestured, and a young eunuch hurried forward with a bow. Li Jing took the weapon, surveyed the crowd, and spoke slowly.

"Gentlemen, I am seventy this year. It is true, I am old." He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes as if recalling the past, then suddenly shouted, "Is Lian Po too old to eat?"

He erupted into hearty laughter that echoed through the hall, filled with heroism and unbridled spirit. "Though time has passed, my ambitions remain unfulfilled. I still wish to shine for the Great Tang. I, Li Jing, may be old, but I can still fight!"

As he spoke, he gripped the stiff bow. He took a deep breath and began to exert force. His arm muscles tightened, veins bulging, and the bow was slowly pulled to its limit, like a full moon.

A two-stone bow, pulled to such perfection in Li Jing's hands—the officials’ expressions shifted, their eyes filled with shock.

Suppressing a surge of energy, Li Jing shouted, "I want you to see that I, Li Jing, am not yet old and can still fight for the Great Tang!"

The air in the hall seemed to freeze, with only the sound of the bowstring vibrating. In the Great Tang’s military examinations, pulling a one-stone bow was considered top-tier. That Li Jing, at his age, could draw a two-stone bow was beyond imagination.

Just when they thought it was over, Li Jing’s face turned red, his veins even more prominent, as if he were struggling against time and fate itself.

"Ah! Open for me!"

With this roar, a loud *crack* echoed through the silent court. The stiff bow was snapped in two by Li Jing’s sheer strength. The broken string hummed in the air, as if testifying to the extraordinary nature of this old general.

Holding the broken bow, Li Jing surveyed the speechless officials, his gaze like lightning. "Though I am old, my skills have not been eroded by time. This body can still kill for the country and resolve worries for the Emperor."

His voice resonated like a heavy hammer against every heart, silencing everyone and filling them with awe. "I have dedicated my life to the Great Tang. As long as the Tang has need of me, I will not hesitate."

Behind his wrinkled face lay a resolute spirit. This old general, even with his white hair, was Li Jing—the God of War whose name made enemies tremble! He had rendered great service but never craved glory; the saying "the best warrior has no fame" was perfectly embodied in him.

Wei Zheng opened his mouth several times to retort but swallowed his words each time, looking at Li Jing with a complicated expression. The officials never doubted Li Jing’s strength; they only feared his power would upset the balance of the court.

Li Jing turned, knelt on both knees with the broken bow in hand, his expression solemn and touched. "Your Majesty trusts me and gives me this chance; I will repay this with my life."

He spoke aloud, "Your Majesty, thank you for giving this old subject a worthy end. Thank you for granting my request and allowing me a dignified twilight."

"I am a military man. To die in bed is a disgrace. As long as the enemies of the Tang remain, I should die in the saddle!"

Deeply moved, Li Chengqian rose from his throne and walked down, his steps firm and powerful. He came to Li Jing and used both hands to lift the God of War who had fought for the Tang all his life, his eyes full of respect.

"I will ensure you set out on this campaign with peace of mind, and I shall not fail your loyalty. Since I have promised you the command, I will never break my word."

Li Chengqian spoke solemnly. "Li Jing, hear my decree."

"This subject is here!"

Li Jing set aside the broken bow and knelt again, receiving the decree with reverence.

"Effective immediately, I bestow upon the Duke of Wei, Li Jing, the title of Duke of Wei, hereditary and permanent. I further confer upon him the title of Situ, the rank of General of the Flying Cavalry, and the title of Marshal of the Expedition against the Tibetans. He shall have supreme decision-making authority over all military affairs regarding the Tibetan Empire!"

Li Chengqian’s voice echoed through the court. The rewards shocked all the officials. To be granted the rank of one of the Three Ducal Ministers while still alive was an unparalleled honor. What would happen after he passed?

The atmosphere in the court turned subtle. Every official’s eyes burned with ambition; they saw how the Emperor treated his meritorious subjects, and they saw the hope of their own advancement.

They, too, wanted to rise!