"After everything we have discussed..."
Zhuge Liang slowly waved his feather fan and sighed.
"If this campaign had been entrusted to our Yide..."
He stopped.
Across from him, Zhang Fei's eyes had already begun to shine. Zhuge Liang immediately changed his mind.
"On second thought, let us not discuss that possibility."
Zhang Fei looked disappointed.
"Hey... Kongming, you cannot say half a sentence and stop there."
Ignoring Zhang Fei's grievance, Zhuge Liang turned back to the Light Screen.
"This defeat was both expected and unexpected."
"How can it be both?" Zhang Fei asked.
"Because the Tang values military merit and rewards the descendants of its great generals. Such a system can produce extraordinary men, but after one or two generations, the sons and grandsons of heroes often forget how difficult it was to build the empire in the first place."
"The men who founded a dynasty are accustomed to fighting for survival. Their descendants are accustomed to inheriting victory."
"One group knows the price of defeat. The other has never paid it."
"The expected part is that the quality of military leadership declines over time. That has happened in every age. The unexpected part is that the Tang declined so quickly.
Deep in his heart, Zhuge Liang suddenly recalled a very specific name.
Zhuge Zhan.
According to previous broadcasts regarding his own timeline, that was the name of his future son.
Simply because he carried the Zhuge bloodline, Liu Shan would grant him massive political and military authority.
Yet, the future generations bluntly evaluated his talents as decidedly mediocre. He ultimately died alongside the nation he failed to protect.
It was a tragic historical rule.
Children rarely surpassed their legendary fathers, yet they inevitably inherited highly dangerous positions of power.
Being mediocre was acceptable in peacetime.
But if a mediocre heir also possessed a narrow, jealous mind, the disasters they caused were infinitely worse than a normal fool's blunders.
Although this biological son did not even exist yet, Zhuge Liang had already drafted a concrete life plan for the boy.
You are going to stay home and study science with daddy.
[Lightscreen]
[The disaster at the Dafei River completely shattered the Tang army's legendary winning streak. From that point onward, the military commanders under Emperor Gaozong were essentially reduced to an exhausted fire brigade.
No sooner had they put out one fire than another erupted somewhere else. One year they were suppressing a Tibetan invasion. The next, they were crushing a Turkic uprising. Before they could even catch their breath, trouble flared in Baekje, and the Anxi Garrisons in the west were burning again.
Among this weary band of emergency responders, two men managed to put out those fires with remarkable success. One was our old friend Xue Rengui. The other was Su Dingfang's personal disciple, Pei Xingjian.
Now, let us talk about Pei Xingjian, because the man's life was so absurd that it almost sounds fictional.
Pei Xingjian had an older brother named Pei Xingyan, a famously fierce warrior during the transition from the Sui to the Tang.
As we mentioned in previous videos, when Ming Dynasty authors wrote the 'Sui Tang Romance' novels, they used Pei Xingyan as the historical blueprint to create the fictional absolute unit, Pei Yuanqing. A man with peak combat ability but utterly terrible luck.
Honestly, I suspect the entire Pei family's supply of good luck was funneled directly into the youngest brother.
When Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan launched their doomed rebellion, Pei Xingjian had literally just been born back in their hometown. He somehow escaped the political purge entirely.
By the time he came of age, the wars were over, and he grew up as a perfectly respectable subject of the Great Tang.
Because the Tang inherited the ashes of the Sui Dynasty, the Pei family's failed rebellion against Wang Shichong was legally reinterpreted. To Wang Shichong, they were traitors. To the Tang Dynasty, they were loyal martyrs.
Therefore, Pei Xingjian was officially stamped as the 'Descendant of Loyal Martyrs.'
Riding the coattails of his dead father and brother, Pei Xingjian was granted direct admission into the Guozijian, the highest imperial academy. The state paid for his food, his clothes, and his elite education.
His academic career was smooth. He even found time to practice calligraphy and eventually became well known for his handwriting.
However, even in ancient times, graduating from the best school did not guarantee a good job. And Pei Xingjian quickly discovered that the job market was brutal.
Driven by the aggressive, martial culture of the early Tang, Pei Xingjian decided to join the army. He wanted to grind his way up from the absolute bottom.
Unfortunately, he apparently never looked closely at his assignment papers.
He was assigned to the Left Guard as a logistics officer in the Kuangdao district. It was an absolute wasteland. His official title basically translated to 'Warehouse Security Guard.'
The young and ambitious Pei Xingjian nearly lost his mind. Unfortunately, with his father and brother long dead and no political connections to rely on, he had little choice but to accept his fate.
Interestingly, the highest-ranking officer in that district found the situation rather amusing. He could hardly believe that such a talented young scholar had ended up in this forgotten post.
And so, the legendary old street sweeper, Su Dingfang, approached the young warehouse guard, Pei Xingjian, and made an offer.
"My understanding of warfare cannot be taught to ordinary men. But you, kid, are clever enough to learn."
Just like that, Pei Xingjian became the sole disciple of a suppressed military genius.
This master and apprentice duo spent a very peaceful ten years in the Kuangdao district. They swept the streets, watched over the warehouse, studied military theory, and in their spare time followed the political drama unfolding in the capital.
They watched the Crown Prince launch a rebellion. They watched Emperor Taizong personally invade Goguryeo. They watched Hou Junji lose his head. They watched Zhangsun Wuji manipulate the court.
They essentially had front-row seats to the greatest political spectacle of the century and managed to avoid getting a single drop of blood on their uniforms.
We all know what happened next.
Emperor Li Zhi finally pulled Su Dingfang out of the audience seat and threw him onto the battlefield to save the empire.
With his master finally taking flight, of course the good disciple was not forgotten. Pei Xingjian was quickly promoted to the magistrate of Chang'an County. His political career was ready for takeoff.
At last, his official career seemed ready to flourish.
But there is always a "but."
Young and confident, Pei Xingjian threw himself into the vicious court struggle surrounding the deposition of Empress Wang and the rise of Wu Zetian. He openly aligned himself with Zhangsun Wuji's faction.
Li Zhi and Wu Zetian looked at this young official and thought:
"Your master has not spoken a single word on this matter. Why are you so eager to involve yourself?"
One imperial decree later, Pei Xingjian was "promoted" from Magistrate of Chang'an County to a post in Xizhou Prefecture, deep in the blistering deserts of the Western Regions.
However, relying entirely on the military tactics he learned while guarding a warehouse with Su Dingfang, Pei Xingjian thrived.
He spent twenty years in the desert. He performed brilliantly. His rank steadily climbed until he became the absolute supreme commander of the entire western theater.
Pei Xingjian. The Protector General of Anxi.
The historical records note: "The various nations of the Western Regions admired his righteousness and submitted voluntarily."
Following the standard protocol of the era, powerful frontier governors were eventually recalled to the capital for a comfortable retirement and to serve as senior advisors.
But Pei Xingjian was destined to never enjoy a quiet retirement.
Shortly after the catastrophic defeat at the Dafei River, Tibet extended its bloody hands toward the Western Regions. They actively attempted to build a coalition with the Western Turks to crush the Tang forces.
Receiving this intelligence, Emperor Li Zhi was paralyzed by indecision again. The distance was immense, and mobilizing a massive army would bankrupt the treasury.
Desperate, he consulted Pei Xingjian. The old street sweeper's disciple delivered a spectacular surprise.
Pei Xingjian calmly stated that the rebellion could be crushed effortlessly. He did not need a massive army or a bloated budget. He only needed to borrow one specific man from the Emperor.
Li Zhi was incredibly curious. Who could possibly possess that much power?
Pei Xingjian replied: "The Persian Prince. The legal heir to the Sassanid Empire. Narsieh."]
Inside the Ganlu Hall, Emperor Li Shimin's face was practically glowing with pure joy.
"This Pei Xingjian is also a supreme military talent?"
Standing nearby, Su Dingfang was equally thrilled. He turned toward the throne, his eyes wide.
"Your Majesty knows of this boy?"
Su Dingfang had lived through the collapse of the Sui. He knew the military achievements of Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan by heart, but he had never heard anything about the surviving members of their family.
Li Shimin did not even need to answer. Chancellor Fang Xuanling stepped forward, a knowing smile on his face.
"The boy just turned ten years old last year. Remembering his father's undeniable merit in opposing the warlord Wang Shichong, His Majesty personally decreed that the child be enrolled in the Xiuwen Pavilion."
Su Dingfang's heart leaped in his chest. Having spent years in Chang'an, he knew exactly what the Xiuwen Pavilion represented. In the eyes of ordinary people, it was the Emperor's private academy. Only the most exceptional children were admitted.
Only the absolute elite were allowed inside.
Li Shimin nodded, maintaining a facade of majestic calm.
Just a few days ago, watching General Duan Zhixuan fail to secure a decisive victory against the Tuyuhun, Li Shimin had secretly worried about a generational talent gap in his military.
Now, the Light Screen was dropping massive surprises on his lap. A thirty year old Su Dingfang. A sixteen year old Xue Rengui. And now, an eleven year old Pei Xingjian.
While they had not seen Pei Xingjian's specific combat record yet, the fact that a man started as a desert exile and climbed to the rank of Anxi Protector General proved his genius beyond a shadow of a doubt.
"I wonder where the Pei family lives," Su Dingfang muttered, rubbing his hands together. "I shall pay them a visit tomorrow. I must personally test the boy's understanding of military affairs."
Su Dingfang shot Li Ji a smug, victorious glance.
Li Ji's connection to Xue Rengui was merely a standard chain of command.
But Pei Xingjian? The Light Screen explicitly stated they were master and apprentice! The bond was absolute!
Li Ji looked back at Su Dingfang. His gaze was filled with profound, genuine pity.
Dingfang, I really pray for your luck. Do you truly not understand our Emperor's personality? Calling him thirsty for talent is an understatement. The man is a ruthless talent vacuum. If he sees something he wants, he takes it. He does not ask permission. He does not wait his turn. He just... absorbs.
Right on cue, Li Shimin spoke, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Xuanling! Once today's session concludes, summon this Pei Xingjian to the palace immediately. I wish to evaluate him personally."
Su Dingfang froze. He watched Fang Xuanling bow and accept the royal decree. He waited for the Emperor to mention him.
Nothing.
Panic began to rise in Su Dingfang's chest. Wait. What about me? He is my disciple!
Catching Su Dingfang's desperate expression, Li Shimin offered a warm, deeply caring smile.
"Dingfang. Once today's session concludes, you must focus entirely on resting and recovering your energy. Review your tactical manuals. Drill your martial arts."
"When we launch the invasion of the Tuyuhun next year, the Great Tang will require you to lead the vanguard!"
The underlying message was clear. Forget about the kid. I am taking him. You go focus on fighting the war in Qinghai.
Su Dingfang swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.
Pride and disappointment tangled together in his chest as he bowed.
"I obey Your Majesty's command."
A short distance away, Li Jing shook his head with amusement.
Even without this business involving Pei Xingjian, the vanguard command had always been destined for Su Dingfang. The Emperor's favor toward him was obvious to anyone with eyes.
Meanwhile, as one extraordinary young talent after another emerged from the Light Screen, Yuchi Jingde suddenly felt an immense pressure settling onto his shoulders.
Currently, he could act arrogant and throw his weight around for two reasons.
First, his vital role in the bloody Xuanwu Gate Incident.
Second, the fact that nearly everyone in court came from the old Prince of Qin's faction. They all shared history together.
But these terrifying new kids revealed by the screen? They did not care about those old dynamics.
They had zero connection to the Xuanwu Gate or the Prince of Qin's mansion. And worse, their combat stats seemed absolutely absurd.
Yuchi Jingde always prided himself on his signature move of disarming opponents barehanded in the heat of battle. He thought he was the ultimate brawler.
Then he watched Xue Rengui casually charge into an enemy formation with no weapons and literally kidnap a rival general alive.
As a member of the Emperor's inner circle, Yuchi Jingde knew exactly how Li Shimin's brain operated.
If they were marching on Qinghai next year, Li Shimin was absolutely going to drag that teenager Xue Rengui onto the battlefield.
The logic was simple.
Huo Qubing became a legend at eighteen. If the Tang Dynasty produced a seventeen year old war god, Li Shimin would flaunt him relentlessly.
If that happened, Yuchi Jingde realized he would instantly become the obsolete old relic of the army.
Qin Qiong observed the complex, painful emotions shifting across his old friend's face. He stepped closer and spoke softly.
"Jingde. Why do not you start intensely studying the geography of the Qinghai region tonight? Next year, I will serve as your deputy commander. We will lead an army together."
Yuchi Jingde's face instantly brightened. The crushing anxiety vanished, replaced by immense gratitude.
"The moment your health is fully restored, Shubao, I swear I will act as your deputy on the next campaign!"
Meanwhile, standing in a corner completely ignored by the senior staff, Hou Junji's face was violently twitching.
"The Crown Prince's rebellion?!" he whispered, cold sweat dripping down his spine.
He frantically looked around.
The rest of the ministers were chatting and laughing casually. The realization hit him like a physical blow. Everyone already knew.
Seeing that Emperor Li Shimin was not even glancing in his direction, Hou Junji gathered every ounce of his courage and shuffled over to Zhangsun Wuji.
"Wuji..." Hou Junji choked out, his voice trembling. "Was I... was I perhaps dragged into this treason against my will? Is that why disaster falls upon my family?"
Zhangsun Wuji looked at the terrified general. His eyes were entirely devoid of sympathy.
He took a moment to seriously consider the question, then slowly shook his head.
Hou Junji let out a massive breath, feeling a wave of immense relief wash over him.
He completely misunderstood the gesture.
Zhangsun Wuji's internal logic was incredibly simple. What do you mean "dragged into it"? You are the bastard who is going to drag my precious nephew into a rebellion!
[Lightscreen]
[Starting from the absolute destruction of the Eastern Turks, the Tang Dynasty developed a fascinating habit of solving the unemployment crisis for fallen foreign royalty.
Illig Qaghan of the Turks. Murong Fuyun of the Tuyuhun. The King of Gaochang. The King of Kucha. The list of conquered monarchs living comfortably in Chang'an was incredibly long.
During Emperor Li Zhi's reign, the Tang even provided political asylum for the legal heir of the massive Sassanid Empire.
Now, to understand why a Persian prince ended up in Chang'an, we need to go back a bit.
In the exact same year that Prime Minister Zhuge Liang officially launched his legendary Northern Expeditions, Artabanus IV, the Emperor of the Parthian Empire, was killed at the Battle of Hormozdgan. The Parthian Empire was officially wiped off the map.
The man who killed him, Ardashir I, actually shared a shockingly similar life story with Emperor Li Shimin.
For example, Ardashir was also a second son. He also engaged in a vicious power struggle with his older brother. However, Ardashir had much better luck. Or rather, his brother had terrible luck. The older brother mysteriously died when a ceiling suddenly collapsed on him during a meeting.
With his brother conveniently out of the picture, Ardashir swiftly murdered the rest of his siblings and secured absolute, unquestioned power.
Using his home province as a launchpad, he waged a relentless series of victorious wars, ultimately replacing the Parthians and establishing the Sassanid Dynasty, the new Persian Empire.
Furthermore, Ardashir claimed the glorious title of "Shahanshah." Translated directly, it means the King of Kings. A title that shares a very similar geopolitical weight to the Tang's "Heavenly Khan."
Because both empires anchored the massive economic engine of the Silk Road, the Sassanid Dynasty maintained fairly frequent diplomatic contact with China. Throughout the chaotic era of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, they sent around a dozen official embassies. The Persians essentially had front-row seats to watch the Eastern superpower shatter and eventually glue itself back together.
And then, in the year 638 AD, Emperor Li Shimin personally received an urgent diplomatic dispatch from the distant West.
The message basically translated to: "Bro, please help us!"]