Chapter 49: The Northeast Pattern is Small, the Real Future Lies in the West

The person waiting outside was none other than Xue Nuo!

Xue Nuo was dressed in loose warrior attire. Without the title of Grand Commander, he remained just as he had been in Youzhou—his posture straight and dignified, like a pine tree standing firm, brimming with vigor and vitality, unchanged in the slightest.

Xue Nuo smiled. “It’s only been less than half a year, and you’ve become so illustrious. You don’t even pretend to be your grandfather anymore, let alone report to him.”

“Where, where!” Pei Min smiled warmly and invited him inside. “Commander, you’re not belittling this kid, are you? No matter how splendid I become, I can’t possibly compare to you. You conquered Liaodong and Liaoxi in one stroke and stabilized the Northeast situation—that is true magnificence. This kid’s little spark of firefly glow dares not rival the moon’s radiance.”

Xue Nuo strode into the hall and laughed. “Not bad, not bad. You’ve learned quickly. You’ve only passed the imperial examination, not yet entered officialdom, but you already speak such flattering courtly words—you have the makings of an official.”

As they entered the grand hall, Xue Nuo looked around and nodded repeatedly. “This new residence of yours is no worse than the one I had in Chang’an. The Princess Chang has been truly kind to you…”

“Of course!” Pei Min replied with a smile. “It’s just that the gift was sent too generously. I’m left all alone in such a large house. Who needs so much space? I can barely keep it clean. I originally meant to hire a few maids, but when I inquired about the wages, they were not low at all, and they came with food and lodging. After thinking it over, I decided not to hire any. They can do as they please. Once I truly become an official with stable salary, I’ll think about hiring a few more. But now the maids in this residence all belong to Princess Chang, and they’ll leave within a few days.” As he spoke, he shot Xue Nuo a meaningful glance, urging him to take note. Although Pei Min saw no need for Princess Taiping to keep watch over him, it never hurt to be cautious. All the maids were Princess Taiping’s people; even if they overheard something unintentionally, there was always the risk they might report it.

Xue Nuo understood and did not mention anything sensitive. Instead, he chatted with him about recent events and everyday matters.

Xue Nuo spoke of Pei Min’s mother: “When I was about to take leave, I specially went to your house and chatted with your mother. She is all well, only missing you terribly. Before I left, I also arranged for Du Bin Ke to look after her. He is a steady man; you can rest assured.”

Pei Min rose excitedly and bowed. Nothing could bring greater joy than news of his mother’s well-being. The imperial court in Chang’an was now in chaos, with Princess Taiping and Li Longji locked in an increasingly fierce contest. Zhang Yue, a chancellor who followed Li Longji, had been driven to Luoyang. Now, the talents available to Li Longji were few and far between, and the situation was indeed dire. The only cause for celebration among the imperial faction was that the Retired Emperor Li Dan had somewhat regretted his decision and delayed Li Longji’s expedition to the borders, trapping himself in indecision and giving Li Longji a moment to breathe. Facing this intricate and tangled situation, Pei Min had no intention of bringing his mother to Chang’an to face the danger alongside him. He was waiting for the situation to stabilize before inviting her over.

Xue Nuo waved a hand. “No need for such formalities. We help each other. Without your guidance, I could not have taken Liaodong and Liaoxi. It is only because you passed the imperial examination that I remained a commoner. Thinking of this makes my heart burn with inexplicable anger.” Even at this moment, he still glared with furrowed brows.

Pei Min advised, “Commander, you should look at it from another angle. I believe this demotion this time is, far from a misfortune for you, a great blessing.”

Xue Nuo asked curiously, “How so?”

Pei Min paused. “The situation in the Northeast is almost settled, isn’t it? Although you caused the Xi and Khitan little direct harm, you slaughtered tens of thousands of their livestock and cut off their supplies, making it hard for them to endure the bite of frost and snow.”

Xue Nuo praised, “That is the true wisdom of men. Cui Xuandao and Li Siren, those uncivilized farmers who have lived to their old age like dogs. By cutting off the Xi and Khitan’s supplies, we have enraged them and driven them into a desperate corner. Our soldiers were not formidable to begin with; facing them head-on would have yielded no good result. Better to hold our positions, neither harming our own troops nor winning without battle. Why forgo this for the sake of a little merit? It would be the height of folly.”

Watching Xue Nuo grow increasingly agitated as he spoke, Pei Min understood in his heart that it was not Cui Xuandao and Li Siren who were foolish, but rather that if they had followed Xue Nuo’s plan, all the credit would go to him while they received only the minor merit of a surprise assault on the city. If they had defeated the Xi and Khitan in open battle, their contributions would have been far greater. In short, they relied on their own troops, resisted control, and acted with selfish motives.

Xue Nuo continued, “With tens of thousands of livestock gone, the Xi and Khitan can only hunt as much as possible before winter to survive this year. They will be unable to raid and harass Liaodong and Liaoxi, giving us nearly half a year to consolidate our defenses. Next year, once our lines are secure, the Xi and Khitan will be unable to touch Liaodong and Liaoxi. Unforeseen large-scale battles in the Northeast over the next decade or two are unlikely. Even if they occur, they will be minor skirmishes not worth mentioning, and the possibility of mobilizing a large army is small.”

“So it is!” Pei Min laughed. “If Commander had not been demoted, given your great merit in taking Liaodong and Liaoxi, you would probably have been promoted to Grand Protector. Then not only Youzhou but Liaodong, Liaoxi, and the An Dong Protectorate would all fall under your jurisdiction. It sounds splendid, but as you said, with no major battles, wouldn’t you simply sit idly, watching the show? The Tang Dynasty’s true focus in warfare lies not in the Northeast, where the terrain is too small and heroes have no place to display their talents. The Northwest, the West, is where one struggles with the Tibetans for control of the Longyou region and with the Turks for Liangzhou, or even farther in the Western Regions, contending with the Arab states for sovereignty over the Western Regions. That is the true arena for a Grand Commander to display his abilities, not to be trapped and stifled in the Northeast, idly shooting bears and badgers on the Changbai Mountains. Among all the generals in the court, which one possesses your combination of seniority and merit? Once the Northwest war ignites, the Commander will surely be recalled by the court and most likely serve as supreme commander of the three armies. At that time, the battlefield you campaign on will be the Northwest.”

Xue Nuo listened with sparkling eyes, and when Pei Min reached the key point, he danced with excitement, like a child: “In that case, this demotion of mine was actually a blessing?”

Pei Min said with a wry face, “For you, it is indeed a blessing, freeing you from being trapped in the Northeast. For me, though, it is not. I had hoped to have a powerful patron, but who knew the patron would topple so quickly, with no preparation at all.”

Xue Nuo slapped his thigh. “What are you anxious about? You came to find me because you couldn’t fulfill your promise and felt guilty, so I plan to introduce Guo Yuanzhen to you. He is like a brother to me, and he is the Minister of War. Once you two get to know each other, with your abilities, I won’t need to say much, and he will definitely employ you heavily. Moreover, what you said is very reasonable. The Northwest is where our generation rides and flies. Once I rise again, are you afraid no one will back you? Then, I will take you to roam the Liang and Long areas to the Western Regions to broaden your horizons… Wait, that Guo Yuanzhen is notoriously petty. If I give you to him, he definitely won’t return you. No, I must draw up a contract beforehand to prevent him from going back on his word.”