Regarding the judgments of later generations, Qin Qiong merely smiled.
By comparison, he did have regrets—but for a military man, the true regret was dying without ever striking the Hu. As for ending his life at the Third Rank, how could that possibly count as a regret?
If anything, the fact that an old general of the Zhenguan era—who had rendered no new achievements during that reign—could still be enshrined at Lingyan Pavilion only demonstrated the depth of imperial favor.
Yuchi Jingde, on the other hand, felt somewhat indignant on Qin Qiong's behalf.
"So it seems that when we march out next year, I should serve as Shubao's deputy instead."
Qin Qiong lightly patted his chest, signaling his old friend not to worry.
"What difference is there between earlier and later?"
As the two spoke quietly to one side, Li Shimin himself froze for a moment.
"By that reasoning… does that mean I and this Zhao-Song dynasty could even be considered fellow townsmen?"
Thinking it through only complicated his feelings further.
Both inheriting the Tang legacy, both hailing from the same ancestral region—and yet later generations would point at them and declare that for a thousand years, this dynasty possessed the weakest martial virtue.
Could the gap truly be so vast?
For a moment, even Du Ruhui found it difficult to pass judgment.
If the Zhao-Song were counted by registered origin, they belonged to Zhuojun—which was later lost, their ancestral land not even preserved.
If counted by the posthumously recognized ancestral seat of Tianshui, then set against the flourishing Tang, the contrast only became more unflattering—and the Southern Song likely failed to preserve even Tianshui itself.
Moreover, two casual characters on the luminous screen made Du Ruhui suddenly frown.
"The Jin dynasty?"
Fang Xuanling knew exactly what Du Ruhui was thinking, for he recalled the same thing.
"When the luminous screen previously spoke of Empress Xiao during the Song era, it referred to the Liao as well."
"Could it be… that Jin and Liao were also part of Huaxia?"
The two chancellors looked at each other, finding the Song increasingly awkward no matter how they examined it.
In their view, the Song could hardly be called a true unifying dynasty; its situation alongside Liao and Jin bore a strong resemblance to the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
Still, with so little information available, they exchanged only a few remarks before setting the matter aside. Given the temperament of these later descendants, the Song would inevitably be discussed again—at which point clarity would come.
At this moment, however, both men focused intently on what lay before them.
The later-era scenery on the luminous screen gradually faded, and the familiar map—already seen many times—reappeared.
[Lightscreen]
[Alright, the Zhangyu streamer's sightseeing report will be kept brief.
As for today's story, we still have to begin with a woman.
During the Gaozong reign, in Luoyang, there was a woman of the Chunyu clan who was imprisoned in the Dali Temple for plotting the murder of her husband.
Witnesses and physical evidence were both present. By the law, she was to be executed. It should have been an extremely simple case.
But what made it extraordinary was that this Chunyu woman was astonishingly beautiful—famed throughout Luoyang.
At the time, Chancellor Li Yifu, who was touring Luoyang on inspection, grew curious. Just how beautiful could she be?
Using the convenience of his office, Li Yifu went to the Dali Temple to see her in person—and promptly fell completely under her spell. Thus began the unraveling of the entire affair.
And who was Li Yifu?
Gaozong's confidant.
Empress Wu's loyal hound.
Back when Li Zhi was still Crown Prince, Li Yifu was already at his side, serving like a dog—one might say a confidant among confidants.
When a ruling chancellor wanted a female prisoner, the Dali Temple Assistant Minister understood perfectly. After a series of maneuvers, the beautiful Chunyu woman was sent straight into Li Yifu's residence.
But Duan Baoxuan, the Luoyang Dali Temple Chief, could not stomach this. He immediately produced a lengthy exposé:
"Shocking! The ruling chancellor practices self-discipline and upholds justice, personally bringing a female convict into the chancellor's residence to serve her sentence!"
Because the matter involved a chancellor, Li Zhi could not simply pretend it hadn't happened. In the end, he hastily appointed two men to investigate.
They were Liu Ren'gui, a Supervising Secretary, and Zhang Lun, an Attending Censor.
From their official ranks alone, one could see Li Zhi's intent—to make a big matter small, and a small matter disappear.
When Zhangsun Wuji was investigated, those assigned were Li Shiji and Xu Jingzong, both chancellors.
But Liu Ren'gui was Fifth Rank Proper, Zhang Lun Sixth Rank Associate. Having them investigate a chancellor was like using a chicken knife to slaughter an ox.
Li Yifu and Li Zhi shared a tacit understanding. The moment he saw Liu Ren'gui and Zhang Lun, he grasped Gaozong's stance.
So he acted decisively—forcing the Dali Temple Assistant Minister to commit suicide. No witness, no proof.
What neither Li Yifu nor Li Zhi expected was that this time, they had run into two men with iron heads.
After all, Liu Ren'gui was someone who wouldn't even give Emperor Taizong face. If Li Zhi thought he could gloss things over—
There was only one possible outcome.
Liu Ren'gui would inevitably stab a small knife straight into Gaozong's backside, giving him a proper lesson.
At its core, the case was not complicated, and the unlawful methods used were blunt and obvious. Zhang Lun simply refused to cooperate, leaving Liu Ren'gui to investigate everything alone.
Once the facts were crystal clear, he submitted a memorial directly to Gaozong.
Your Majesty, you decide.
But this was the year 659.
On one hand, the final blow against Zhangsun Wuji was imminent.
On the other, Li Yifu truly was a useful hound, biting Zhangsun Wuji from all sides.
In the end, Liu Ren'gui's memorial was left unanswered—read and ignored.
Li Yifu, realizing what had happened, immediately submitted his own memorial. This time, Gaozong responded with lightning speed:
Liu Ren'gui was demoted to Prefect of Qingzhou.
Veteran officials of the Taizong era all seemed to share a trait—late-blooming greatness. Liu Ren'gui was no exception.
From this demotion onward, at the age of fifty-eight, this man of both civil and military talent began the truly turbulent chapter of his life.]
Li Shimin's brow furrowed once more. The enjoyment he had found in observing this "newcomer" Liu Ren'gui had rapidly evaporated.
The luminous screen rarely spoke so bluntly in condemning a minister as a villain. When it did, it usually meant the person was utterly without redeeming merit.
He had never expected that this villain would be so close to him—an official of Crown Prince Zhi's Eastern Palace?
No… perhaps there was still something to consider.
Li Shimin quickly reasoned it through.
Supporting loyalists to counterbalance one's maternal uncle.
Then recalling how Crown Prince Zhi had long been plagued by illness—
Perhaps fostering Li Yifu was a form of political technique.
But…
Li Shimin sighed faintly. In the end, it was a crooked path.
Supporting someone so utterly worthless—better to cultivate harsh officials instead.
At this moment, two people in the hall widened their eyes.
Zhangsun Wuji glared at Li Shiji, a single thought pounding in his mind:
So I fell at the hands of men from Wagang Village?!
Both Xu Jingzong and Li Shiji were old retainers of the Prince of Qin, but tracing further back, both originated from Wagang.
After Li Mi's defeat, they had submitted to the Emperor—and in the end, joined forces with his own nephew to destroy him?
Zhangsun Wuji could not understand it.
No matter what, he refused to believe he would ever rebel. He was a Duke of the realm—rebel against his own nephew?
Li Shiji, feeling guilty, dared not meet his gaze. Though Zhangsun Wuji now held no office, and though his military achievements—past or future—did not match Li Shiji's…
He was still the Empress's elder brother.
Best to pretend he hadn't seen it.
If Zhangsun Wuji felt confusion, then Liu Ren'gui felt sheer bewilderment.
At fifty-eight, he had reached only the rank of Supervising Secretary. He had offended the ruling chancellor through blunt remonstrance, then been demoted to Qingzhou.
However he looked at it, this path seemed to lead straight to dying in a foreign land.
The Emperor beside him was deep in thought over his son. The generals were curious about Liu Ren'gui, but sat too far away.
Zhangsun Wuji was stabbing Li Shiji with his eyes.
Hou Junji was enjoying Zhangsun Wuji's misfortune.
Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui murmured softly among themselves.
Sun Simiao sighed, then adopted the manner of an elder, patting Liu Ren'gui on the shoulder.
"Since later generations speak of you thus, Zhengze, simply watch and see. Your name will surely be passed down for a thousand ages, shaking all under Heaven."
Liu Ren'gui felt as though even his eye sockets were not large enough anymore.
From the moment he received the Emperor's handwritten summons, the course of events had repeatedly shattered his understanding of the world.
A name passed down for a thousand ages, shaking Huaxia?
Do you have any idea how hard that is?!
Unless the Liu family's ancestral graves start producing smoke a hundred zhang high—