Ganlu Hall
By the time the day scheduled for the appearance of the light screen arrived, two more people had shown up in Ganlu Hall than Li Shimin had anticipated.
One was Su Lie, Su Dingfang—the gloom that had once clung to him now completely gone, his bearing restored to its former sharpness and vigor.
The other was Yuchi Jingde, personally carrying his old comrade Qin Qiong inside.
With their arrival, Ganlu Hall became genuinely cramped, so much so that Li Shimin had no choice but to step in and personally maintain order.
"Dingfang once served under General Yaoshi," Li Shimin said. "Move a chair over there and squeeze in."
"Shubao has only just recovered from a serious illness," he added. "Jingde, move your chair closer and keep an eye on him."
"And Xuance—don't just stand there staring. Come help Wuji move this table away."
For the first time, Wang Xuance truly felt how small he was.
At this moment, Ganlu Hall was no exaggeration a place where generals rose to the rank of ministers and ministers commanded armies. Those who chatted casually were dukes of the realm; those who passed back and forth were pillars of state.
Only when Li Shimin called his name did Wang Xuance snap back to himself. He hurried over and, together with Zhangsun Wuji, lifted away the low table from the couch. Then he watched as His Majesty casually grabbed Physician Sun, pulled him over, and squeezed him in beside himself, saying they needed to clear space for the Yan brothers to paint.
In the end, Wang Xuance was handed a small wooden stool.
Li Shimin even apologized, explaining that Ganlu Hall truly had no room left for proper chairs.
Wang Xuance had no complaints. Compared to everyone else present, even standing would have been more than appropriate.
The only thing that puzzled him was this:
Why was everyone facing the wall?
Was a map about to be hung? Some grand matter of state to be discussed?
The thought unsettled him. After all, he was merely a county deputy magistrate—what right did he have to witness such things?
And just then, right before his eyes, a thin line of mist rose from the base of the wall. The stone surface seemed to tear open, and a luminous screen abruptly emerged.
Wang Xuance felt his mind shudder.
He turned instinctively toward the Tang emperor—and met Li Shimin's knowing smile.
Nearby, Qin Qiong leaned in as Yuchi Jingde whispered an explanation. Su Lie, still somewhat restrained, quietly asked Li Jing about what was happening.
Li Shimin, satisfied by Wang Xuance's awestruck expression, looked up at the title forming on the screen—and felt a faint twinge of disappointment.
After all, no one ever objected to having their fame increased. Later generations praised his own military command often enough that Li Shimin had entertained certain private fantasies.
But judging by the title…
Had Great Tang produced someone akin to Guan Yu, elevated straight into godhood?
Though the screen was still small, Li Shimin vividly remembered the bewildering assortment of divine titles later generations had piled onto Guan Yu.
Off to one side, Li Ji deliberately exchanged a glance with Li Jing. Both men felt a quiet, unspoken competitiveness rise between them.
After all, the light screen had said it plainly before: in early Tang, only two could truly be called gods of war—both surnamed Li, and one surnamed Su.
Leaving aside Su Lie, who stood nearby with respectful composure, this episode's protagonist was almost certainly one of the two of them.
Li Jing remained calm and unruffled.
Li Ji's eyes, however, brimmed with anticipation.
[ Lightscreen]
[Hey, hey, hey—this is your educational UP host, Wen Mang.
Today's protagonist, as a general:
He knew neither the fate of being discarded once his usefulness was spent,
nor the humiliation of crawling beneath another's crotch.
He had no rags-to-riches struggle,
no tragic death in the bloom of youth.
No ambition left unfulfilled,
no execution under false charges.
His life can be summed up in two words: smooth sailing.
In his early years, he was born to a great clan and lived in wealth and honor.
In his later years, he served an enlightened ruler and destroyed a kingdom with nearly every campaign.
After death, legends multiplied—until he was ultimately deified.
Today, let's talk about the outstanding military strategist of early Tang:
Li Jing, Duke Wei of Tang.]
[ Server Chat Log]
Ironvale: I know Li Jing!
Primary wife: Hongfu Nü.
Secondary wife: Lady Yin.
Sworn brother: Qiuranke.
Three sons: Jinzha, Muzha, Nezha.
Disciple of Du'e Zhenren and the Burning Lamp Ancient Buddha.
Commander of Chentang Pass in the Shang dynasty. Celestial Marshal Who Subdues Demons. Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li.
Stormrend: I can personally testify that everything above is true—
it's just a shame he still can't beat the Monkey.
Grimward: Indeed. He bathed the barbarian courts in blood and crushed the Turks, rode across the desert to annihilate Tuyuhun. After death, he ascended to heaven and was canonized as a true god— yet still fell short of a single simian from the Eastern Victory Continent.
Ashbreaker: Honestly, Tang dynasty general "internal competition" started with Li Jing. If you haven't destroyed a country, you don't even have the confidence to speak loudly. By that standard, Li Jing qualifies as vice-captain of the
"Great Tang Kingdom-Destroying Squad."
Bloodhelm: LOL—so the captain is Li Shimin himself, right?
Early Tang's martial virtue was seriously overflowing.
Chengdu
Liu Bei's raised hand stiffened in midair.
He had been about to imitate Kongming—perhaps write a note and toss it into the screen to praise the victory in Jingzhou.
But after seeing Tang dynasty achievements…
The faint pride he had just felt vanished without a trace.
Perhaps… it would be better to wait until Cao the traitor was truly captured before boasting before this emperor who spanned the ages.
Though he did not yet know Li Jing's precise deeds, merely reading those repeated "neither this nor that" made Liu Bei unconsciously begin matching the figure against his own benchmarks.
Han Xin. Bai Qi. Wei Qing. Huo Qubing.
And then surpassing even them?
Zhang Fei, meanwhile, clicked his tongue in regret.
"So he's Second Brother's peer?"
"What a pity Second Brother never got to see this."
Zhuge Liang only smiled, saying nothing. Yet when his eyes fell on the words "unfulfilled ambition," he quietly let out a sigh.
At the same time, he was already reconsidering how to handle Sima Yi with absolute caution.
When that future Jin emperor was no longer able to stir trouble, letting him sit down and chat with Emperor Li Erfeng would surely be entertaining.
Ganlu Hall
Inside Ganlu Hall, Li Jing's expression had gone completely blank.
Is… is this really me?
It sounded like him—yet where had these wives and sons come from?
And what exactly did "can't beat the Monkey" even mean?
Regardless of Li Jing's confusion, everyone else's gaze toward the old general had completely changed.
Ascended to heaven and canonized as a true god!
And judging by the title, no minor deity at that.
Though the light screen had already revealed vast future realms without a Moon Palace or Chang'e in sight… who could truly say what awaited beyond death?
Li Shimin burst out laughing.
"Yaoshi has become a god!"
His thinking was always straightforward:
The more virtuous his ministers, the more it proved his own discernment.
The stronger his generals, the more it showed his ability to employ talent.
Setting aside, for the moment, those inexplicable wives and children, Li Jing rose with composure and cupped his hands to all sides.
"The victory over the Turks relied on His Majesty's strategy,
on Maogong's assistance,
on Dingfang's valor,
and on Keming and Xuanling's steadfast support in Chang'an.
How could I dare claim the merit for myself?"
In just a few sentences, he pushed all credit away. The others hurried to return the courtesy with equal humility.
Yet an oddly marvelous feeling rose among them all:
To serve in the same court as a living god.
Nearby, the young Wang Xuance watched with unconcealed longing.
Before this, his greatest ambition had been nothing more than achieving results in Rongzhou and returning to the capital with his head held high.
Yet now, in barely half a month, he had met the emperor, the chancellors, the dukes—and now even gods themselves.
How could he not yearn to stand among them?
Who did not wish to leave their name in history?
[Lightscreen]
[Li Jing was born into the Longxi Li clan. His grandfather served as Governor of Yinzhou and was ennobled as Duke Yongkang.
His father was Governor of Zhao Commandery.
His maternal uncle was the famed Sui general Han Qinhu.
As for Han Qinhu's military achievements, we won't dwell on them—
his side occupation was far more famous: Yama, King of the Underworld.
Yes. Han Qinhu was the prototype for the Lord of the Netherworld himself.
This belief was even recorded in the Twenty-Four Histories,
showing just how deeply the people trusted it.
With such a background, Li Jing's first half of life passed without turbulence.
No scheming villains.
No tale of buried talent.
He spent forty-six quiet years as a Sui dynasty civil servant.
At forty-six, Li Jing discovered that his superior, Li Yuan, was secretly recruiting troops.
Out of professional conscience—after all, he was being paid—
Li Jing disguised himself as a prisoner and set out for Jiangdu to report Li Yuan to Emperor Yang.
Unfortunately, the realm was already in chaos.
He became stranded in Chang'an, and before long Li Yuan rose in rebellion, seized the city, and conveniently arrested Li Jing as well.
Li Yuan sentenced him to death.
Left with no alternative, Li Jing shouted at the execution ground:
'You wish to quell rebellion and accomplish great deeds—
how can you be so petty as to kill me over old grudges?'
Li Yuan, mindful of appearances, and with Li Shimin pleading at his side, spared Li Jing's life and brought him into the Qin Prince's staff.
For some time afterward, Li Jing's days remained unremarkable.
Li Shimin's camp was overflowing with talent,
and the prince himself charged into battle with ferocious enthusiasm—
a style of warfare Li Jing found deeply uncomfortable.
Thus, in major campaigns, he could only be said to have made his presence known.
Two years later, Li Yuan transferred Li Jing south to pacify Xiao Xian.
Xiao Xian commanded four hundred thousand troops and held Jiangling,
the natural stronghold left behind by Guan Yu.
Anyone would have thought the war would take three to five years at minimum.
Yet at fifty years of age, Li Jing needed only two months.
Step one: Torrential rains fell. Everyone said battle was impossible.
Li Jing ordered an attack regardless, capturing Jingmen and Yidu.
Step two: Xiao Xian sent troops to resist.
Li Jing advised against pursuing a desperate enemy,
but the nominal commander, Li Xiaogong, insisted—and suffered defeat.
When Xiao Xian's army pursued, Li Jing counterattacked and won a great victory.
Step three: After surrounding Jiangling, Li Jing released captured warships downstream,
convincing Xiao Xian's forces that Jiangling had already fallen—
no reinforcements came.
Within days, Xiao Xian surrendered.
The war ended.
Two months. One decisive campaign.
Li Jing was ennobled as Grand Pillar of State and Duke of Yongkang.]
"It wasn't actually that simple," Li Jing said, waving a hand.
"Assessing the enemy, planning strategy, waiting for the right moment—
those preparations alone took more than half a year."
Despite his modest words, the smile on his face was impossible to hide.
The others all shot him sidelong looks.
Listen to that—does he even hear himself?
Xiao Xian had proclaimed himself emperor, fortified his cities, commanded natural defenses, and claimed four hundred thousand armored troops.
Even counting the extra half year—eight months to destroy a kingdom—was that not absurd?
Unlike the others, Li Shimin merely nodded calmly.
"Acceptable."
The ministers glanced at the emperor's faintly smiling lips, then at the beaming old general—
and recalled the destruction of the Eastern Turks the year before.
Suddenly, it didn't seem so unbelievable after all.
Almost as if struck by insight, the ministers finally grasped what the light screen meant by "internal competition."
Du Ruhui sighed inwardly:
With so many brilliant commanders to lead them, being a general of Great Tang was easy indeed.
Yet with so many competing stars—
being a general of Great Tang was also unbearably hard.
Chengdu
In the Chengdu prefectural office, Liu Bei felt deep admiration for Duke Wei.
In his forties, he himself lamented the regrowth of thigh flesh in Jingzhou.
Yet Li Jing only began commanding armies at fifty—and still rose to greatness.
At the same time, a question gnawed at him:
Was war truly this simple?
After all, the light screen made it clear—Li Jing's "first step" had been taking Yiling.
Yes.
That Yiling.
The very one where Liu Bei had been defeated.
Zhang Fei turned toward Zhuge Liang, genuine concern in his voice.
"Military Advisor—look at him."
That single sentence was enough.
Zhuge Liang's face darkened at once.
"Enough, enough! I practice the Five-Animal Frolics every day—
I'll live past seventy yet!"