Chapter 20: Conferred as Junior Guardian and Left Chief Commander, ranked first grade, reaching the peak of his life!

Tang Dynasty, Zhenguan era.

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, let out a long sigh of relief and smiled at Fang Xuanling:

"Xuanling, it seems that later descendants have finally produced a pillar that can support the sky. This Qi Jiguang has the ability of Li Jing (good at training elite soldiers and winning by surprise), the straightforwardness of Wei Zheng (submitting petitions to recruit soldiers), and even the strategy of Du Ruhui."

"He proved that although Huaxia has low points, its backbone is not broken. It's just... Wei Zheng, what you said earlier, I'm afraid it has become a prophecy."

Wei Zheng's expression was stern, pointing to the core: "Your Majesty! What I am worried about is precisely this! Such a pillar-like general actually needs to recruit soldiers himself to resist the enemy?"

"Presumably the Zhejiang garrison troops were 'corrupt and collapsed at the first touch'! This is ironclad proof of the collapse of the system and the neglect of military preparedness! Qi Jiguang turned the tide, but what if there were more Qi Jiguangs, and what would the imperial court do? This is not the fault of the minister, but the fault of the imperial court!"

Fang Xuanling nodded in agreement,

"What Wei Gong said is very true. Qi Jiguang's great achievements just contrast with the military and political ills of the time. That he could end well and be promoted to Commander-in-Chief is already a great fortune. His training of soldiers, building of cities, making of weapons, and creation of formations are complete systems, and he has already left a treasure book for later generations to secure the borders."

"Your Majesty, our Great Tang's garrison system should also be checked from time to time to prevent trouble before it happens."

Cheng Yaojin shouted his approval,

"Good man! From Assistant Commander to Commander-in-Chief, he fought for it with every blade and spear! That Mandarin Duck Formation, I think it's even more clever than our military formations! I'll have the scholars of the Ministry of War study it too!"

Ming Dynasty, Hongwu plane.

Zhu Yuanzhang went from rage to ecstasy, and then to deep thought.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said "good" three times in a row, his face glowing red.

"He is our seed! No, he is the military seed of our Great Ming! Clearing the seas and protecting the people, this is the kind of official we want!"

"Assistant Commander of the Dengzhou Guard... hmm, this kid is hereditary, he didn't forget his roots. Recruiting soldiers himself... although it's an expedient measure, he can train such a strong army, we approve!"

"Issue an imperial decree to write Qi Jiguang's deeds into the 'Admonitions for Military Officials,' so that those waste officials who eat empty pay can see what a real Great Ming general is!"

"... However, he later reached the rank of Commander-in-Chief and held heavy troops... hmm, there needs to be a way to balance it..."

Great Ming, Yongle plane.

"Father! You have spirit in heaven, do you see? This is another pillar of the country produced after our Great Ming Yongle reign!"

Zhu Di was so excited he almost wanted to draw his sword and dance,

"Master Yao, you once said 'The Heavenly Dao is in Yan,' but now it seems the Heavenly Dao is even more in the Great Ming! Gaochi, Zhanji, you both look carefully! A general should be like this person! Not rigid, daring to innovate, and able to be pragmatic!"

Yao Guangxiao smiled and nodded,

"Your Majesty, this child is indeed born in response to the times. The Japanese pirate threat in the southeast is just like the remnants of the Northern Yuan back then. He used Yiwu miners as a base, just like Your Majesty raised an army with the elite of Yan and Zhao."

"His 'Mandarin Duck Formation' secretly matches the changes of Yin and Yang and has quite a wonderful logic. What's even rarer is that he knows how to advance and retreat; guarding one side after pacifying the pirates makes him a lucky general."

Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi was kind and concerned,

"Father, General Qi trains soldiers with strict discipline and does not disturb the people; this is a benevolent and righteous army. He relieved the people's suffering, and the people of the southeast must be grateful for his kindness. A general who can win the hearts of the army and the people is a model for later generations."

Imperial Grandson Zhu Zhanji had bright eyes,

【Grandfather, I admire him for two points:

One is not complaining; if the garrison troops couldn't be used, he trained new soldiers himself;

Two is not being conservative; if the Japanese swords were sharp, he created formations to restrain them.

I think that whether governing the country or the army, we need this kind of innovative and pragmatic spirit!】

Zhu Di happily ordered: "Well said! Pass my decree to store the 'Qi Family Army' training methods and 'Mandarin Duck Formation' diagrams, along with Zheng He's sea charts, in the armory, to be the law for later generations forever! This is the continuation of our Great Ming's military soul!"

"That later generations have such military and commanding talent, I am very comforted! Very comforted!"

The Sky Screen continued to play the subsequent images, accompanied by explanations.

【In the first year of Longqing (1567), the Japanese pirate chaos in the southeast was pacified, and the northern Mongol cavalry frequently went south, threatening the safety of the capital. The imperial court urgently transferred Qi Jiguang north to serve as Deputy General of the Shenji Camp, and later promoted him to Commander-in-Chief of Jizhou, guarding the Jiliao defense line, starting his career of guarding Jiliao in the north.】

【On the northern battlefield, Qi Jiguang was still swift and decisive: he rebuilt the Ming Great Wall, built hollow enemy towers, and reinforced border fortresses; he brought the Qi Family Army's training methods to the north, creating the Great Ming's most elite border army; he formulated strict defensive tactics, repeatedly repelling the Mongol cavalry's invasions.】

【From the first year of Longqing to the eleventh year of Wanli (1583), for sixteen years, the Jiliao border was peaceful with no war, and the Mongol tribes fled at the sight of him. Qi Jiguang used iron-blooded means to guard the northern gate of the Great Ming Dynasty, and was conferred by the imperial court as Junior Guardian and Left Chief Commander, ranked first grade, powerful for a time, reaching the peak of his life.】

At this moment, the shock of the various dynasties seeing Qi Jiguang's life achievements.

Qin Dynasty plane, Xianyang Palace.

Qin Shi Huang slapped the table and stood up, his eyes full of admiration.

"Good! Very good! This child is no longer just a military talent, but a national treasure! Pacifying the seas in the south, resisting the iron cavalry in the north, becoming a general and a prime minister, it doesn't get better than this! Building the Great Wall, building enemy towers... he truly understands my heart!"

"Meng Tian, look at the (hollow enemy towers) he built, integrating stationing troops, storing grain, scouting, and firearms, more exquisite than my beacon towers! Quickly order the Ministry of Works to improve the Great Wall fortifications according to the diagrams! This person is truly the barrier of Huaxia!"

The officials entered a discussion.

Meng Tian was convinced and bowed to request: "Your Majesty! I am willing to go to the northern border myself to reorganize the border defense system according to the method of Junior Guardian Qi!"

"I implore Your Majesty to allow his method of training and leading soldiers to be promoted throughout the army! Such a systematic border defense construction is truly a model not seen in a thousand years!"

Li Si stroked his beard and sighed, his vision sharp:

"High merit shakes the master, powerful for a time... Your Majesty, this person has reached the limit of a minister. 'Conferred as Junior Guardian and Left Chief Commander, ranked first grade'... Is it a blessing? Or where disaster lies. His life's work has reached perfection here, and it is also... the most dangerous time."

Wang Jian was even more tearful, as if seeing his own shadow,

"Fighting south and north, finally becoming the pillar of the country. What I sought back then was nothing more than this. But he achieved what I wanted to do but couldn't finish—establishing a border defense system that later generations can follow."

"This achievement deserves eternal worship by later generations!"

Han Dynasty era, Weiyang Palace.

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, was filled with emotion, looking around at Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.

"Qubing, Zhongqing, do you see? He not only achieved ('How can I have a home when the Xiongnu are not yet destroyed'), but also achieved ('The Xiongnu are destroyed, the border is forever peaceful')!"

"Sixteen years! A full sixteen years, no war in Jiliao! This is an achievement harder than sealing the wolf at Juxu! He guarded it, using his city, his soldiers, and his methods, to guard the peace for later generations! This is the highest realm of subduing the enemy without fighting!"

Huo Qubing put away his arrogance and bowed solemnly,

"Your Majesty, I... am not as good as him. I am good at attacking, while he is good at defending and governing. Attacking is easy, defending is hard. He can make the border peaceful for sixteen years; this achievement requires more patience and perseverance. I respect him!"

Wei Qing's eyes were deep, full of respect for Qi Jiguang.

"Your Majesty, he has transcended the category of a famous general. Pacifying the Japanese pirates in the south is pacifying chaos and stabilizing the country; guarding Jiliao in the north is system construction. From recruiting soldiers, training soldiers, and formations to building cities and defensive tactics, he left behind a complete 'system'."

"If later border generals can learn one-tenth of his ability, the border can be guaranteed to be safe. This is an achievement that will benefit all generations!" ===== CHAPTER 21 =====