Chapter Nine: How Dare I Refuse to Serve!

The state of the Tang Dynasty at this moment is deeply peculiar. A dynasty is typically either flourishing or in decline. The simplest way to distinguish between the two is to observe the strength of the military, the stability of the imperial court, and the integrity of the political system. When the military, the court, and the political system all crumble simultaneously, it is almost synonymous with the death knell of the empire.

Yet, in this current Tang Dynasty, the military is weak and the court is in chaos—two of the three signs are present—but the political system remains entirely intact.

The primary reason for this paradoxical situation is Wu Zetian. Wary of generals seizing power and threatening her throne, she purged a vast number of seasoned commanders and famous marshals before and after her ascension, causing the once-mighty Tang military to plummet into decline. Furthermore, because she ascended as a female emperor, she upended the traditional order; in recent years, the court has seen power shift repeatedly, with emperors, crown princes, and influential empresses harboring their own hidden agendas, leading to endless purges of officials. In less than a decade, the empire has endured two major coups—the Shenlong and the Tanglong—and two massive purges. Even now, the situation remains a mess, with a princess wielding more power than the emperor and a retired emperor unwilling to relinquish control, even harboring thoughts of deposing the sovereign. At the same time, as the only legitimate female emperor in history, Wu Zetian truly possessed exceptional capabilities. She expanded the imperial examination system and promoted officials from humble backgrounds, such as Lou Shide and Di Renjie, ensuring political clarity and prosperity for the common people.

Because of this, the Tang Dynasty currently suffers from a weak military and a chaotic court, yet the people are unexpectedly wealthy. Like ordinary folk, they live in comfort, watching the gods above fight it out, indifferent and unconcerned.

While things appear calm on the surface, this situation is actually terrifying. It implies that the populace has lost its sense of cohesion with the state and its awe of the Li Tang royal family. They remain peaceful only because they are well-fed; once those comforts are stripped away, chaos will surely follow.

Guo Yuanzhen was entirely correct: once the political system that maintains the peace of the world finally collapses, it will signal the coming of an era of upheaval.

Pei Min secretly admired Guo Yuanzhen’s foresight. His own perspective was built upon the lessons of history, whereas Guo Yuanzhen had deduced these truths entirely through his own talent and strategic insight.

"This junior believes our Tang Dynasty is currently at a delicate juncture, much like the Buddhist teaching: a single thought can lead to becoming a demon, or a single thought can lead to becoming a Buddha. To the left lies a mountain, and to the right, an abyss. Our technology, economy, and population far exceed those of the surrounding tribes; our only inferiority lies in our military. With a stable court, we could devote our economic strength to developing the military and training soldiers and officers who are both courageous and capable. It would not be difficult to forge a strong army to protect the nation. If we are willing to invest, building an invincible force to expand our borders is only a matter of time. Is it truly harder than it was during the era of Emperor Taizong?"

When Li Shimin first ascended, there was no money, no population, no economy, no provisions, and the world was unstable—that was truly difficult. Yet, the Li Tang managed to pull through and create the Zhenguan era. Now that the Tang has a stable economy, wealth, and people, what reason could there be for failing to build an army?

Guo Yuanzhen clapped and cheered, "Indeed! A single thought for a demon, a single thought for a Buddha. Well said, wonderfully said!" He stopped clapping, his expression turning solemn. "Your foresight is no less than mine. In your view, is Princess Taiping capable of undertaking such a responsibility?"

Pei Min shook his head. While Princess Taiping’s vision and mastery of political intrigue were indeed outstanding, her narrow-mindedness as a woman was a fatal flaw. Those who achieve great things must possess a broad mind, capable of encompassing everything, before the task is complete. For a ruler, raw ability is not the most important trait. A capacity to embrace all, like the ocean, and the wisdom to use people according to their strengths—as Liu Bang so perfectly demonstrated—is the key.

Guo Yuanzhen smiled slightly. "Then, what do you think of the current Emperor?"

Pei Min finally understood Guo Yuanzhen’s intent. His feelings toward Li Longji were complex. In his early years, Li Longji was wise and decisive, clearing away chaos, suppressing the Wei-Wu rebellions, and executing Princess Taiping. Once he held full power, he employed capable chancellors like Yao Chong, Song Jing, Zhang Yue, and Zhang Jiuling, setting the Tang back on the right track. Militarily, he utilized great generals like Wang Zhongsi, Geshu Han, Gao Xianzhi, and Feng Changqing to expand the borders, pushing the Tang Dynasty to its peak. It is no exaggeration to say that during the Kaiyuan era, the Tang Dynasty was at its strongest in terms of comprehensive power. However, this strength did not last. After creating a flourishing age, Li Longji became satisfied and indulged in pleasure. He dismissed the very chancellors he had promoted, allowing figures like Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong to enter the court, and placed blind trust in An Lushan, which eventually ignited the An Lushan Rebellion. That rebellion became the turning point where the Tang turned from prosperity to decline, eventually leading the empire into an era of regional warlordism. From then on, the Tang was mired in a quagmire; although the state survived, and there were later capable emperors like Xianzong, Wuzong, and Xuanzong, it was merely gasping for air.

The An Lushan Rebellion was not an inevitable historical trend like those seen in the Han or Ming dynasties; it was entirely the fault of Li Longji alone. It was his own hubris that caused it. One could bluntly say that while Li Longji single-handedly created the most powerful Tang, he also single-handedly pushed the dynasty into a quagmire from which it could never recover.

However, the Li Longji of this period truly deserved to be called wise and martial, especially given that he was still young when he orchestrated the Tanglong coup, single-handedly placing his father, Li Dan, on the throne.

Pei Min could only say, "The current Emperor can certainly be considered a ruler of great potential, at least in terms of his breadth of mind, which is far superior to that of Princess Taiping."

Guo Yuanzhen looked at Pei Min with hope and asked, "Then, are you willing to lend the Emperor a hand?"

Pei Min did not hesitate. He bowed his head and said, "Having mastered the arts of literature and war, I offer them to the imperial house. How could Pei Min refuse to serve?"

Guo Yuanzhen slapped his thigh and laughed, "Good, excellent!"

Pei Min cupped his hands. "I wonder what you would have me do?"

Guo Yuanzhen smiled calmly. "For now, your status and experience are too low, and there is no place for you to display your talents. But rest assured, as long as you have the heart to serve the country, there will surely come a time when you are needed."

Pei Min cast a suspicious glance at Guo Yuanzhen. He knew this was not the whole truth, but he chose not to press the matter.

Guo Yuanzhen continued, "I have investigated the matter of the military examinations. I never expected you to be such a troublemaker. Lu Cangyong, Chang Yuankai, and Li Ci are all involved. To offend three of Princess Taiping’s confidants at once—that is quite an achievement."

Pei Min rubbed his nose awkwardly. "It was Lu Cangyong who started it; he was incited by others to get involved. As for Chang Yuankai, I slapped his son’s face, so I suppose he was incited to join in. But as for Li Ci, I truly do not know where I offended him."

Guo Yuanzhen explained, "Li Ci is a relative of Dou Chen, a secretary in the Ministry of War, and Chang Yuankai is Li Ci’s superior. It is only natural they would act together. How about it? Would you like me to vent your frustration for you?"

Pei Min shook his head and smiled. "No need. The Princess just taught me a lesson that made me realize one thing: when dealing with those far above you in status, you must either drive them to their doom, or behave yourself and do absolutely nothing."

Guo Yuanzhen gave Pei Min a strange look, a small chill running down his spine.