Chapter 337: What

"Wushe, have the Shangshi Bureau prepare the dishes; I am in a good mood today and want to have a few drinks with Zi An and the others."

Li Shimin was in a great mood and refused Chen Yan and the others' request to take leave, wanting to enjoy a couple of drinks.

"Yes, His Majesty!"

Wushe quickly responded and slowly stepped back.

Seeing that Li Shimin had already ordered the dishes, Chen Yan and the others could not leave and had to sit down again.

"Zi An, I recall you previously dismissed these things as all show and no use, didn't you?"

"Why this time did you specifically ask the Grand Historian and others to search for it, and keep it hidden from me?"

Chen Yan, upon hearing that, hurriedly explained: "You are wrong to blame me; things like glassware, calligraphy copies, and the like, I truly do not care for."

"But the Imperial Seal is different; its significance is weighty. If the Tang Dynasty were to obtain the Imperial Seal, it would fill the last missing piece and truly become the legitimate dynasty of the Chinese lands."

"Such an important object—how can it be called merely show and no use?"

"Moreover......"

Chen Yan stammered: "When I first asked the Grand Historian to look for the Imperial Seal, I honestly didn't have much hope, thinking that later I would entrust the Grand Historian and Xue Li with more important tasks, so I used this as a pretext to give the Grand Historian and Xue Li some experience."

"Hence I didn't tell His Majesty."

Experience?

Upon hearing that, black lines of worry flickered across everyone's foreheads.

As for Xue Li, it's fine; he's your guard, you can do whatever you want, and no one says anything.

But Li Chunfeng was personally appointed Grand Historian by Li Shimin; can a County Magistrate still give him experience?

"That's a fair point."

Li Shimin automatically ignored the last two sentences of Chen Yan, and looked again at the Imperial Seal in his hand, his heart full of emotion.

He never imagined that the Imperial Seal he had been yearning for would just present itself at his doorstep.

Truly, life is full of surprises!

"So, what exactly do you want me to do?"

Li Chunfeng could no longer hold back and asked.

"It's nothing special; I just want you to lead an army." Chen Yan smiled, "With your talent, merely observing celestial phenomena would be a waste."

"I believe you yourself don't want to continue like this, so I specifically asked His Majesty for eight hundred men for you; they've been training for several months now."

Upon hearing this, Li Chunfeng and Xue Li exchanged glances, while Yuan Tiangang wore a pensive expression.

Li Shimin said in surprise, "So you never appointed a commander for the Wujing Cavalry, just waiting for the Grand Historian to return?"

"Do you think that's unsuitable?" Chen Yan retorted.

"Hmm...... From certain aspects, the Grand Historian is indeed a suitable candidate." Li Shimin first echoed, then posed a question: "But the problem is, the Grand Historian has never led troops; how can you be sure he can properly command the Wujing Cavalry?"

Beside them, Li Chunfeng nodded in strong agreement.

Honestly, he himself was a bit startled.

He had previously guessed that Chen Yan sending him to find the Imperial Seal was a test, and perhaps more important tasks would follow, but he never expected Chen Yan to actually have him command troops.

Putting aside the purpose of leading troops, he first lacked confidence in doing it well.

"If His Majesty is dissatisfied, you may personally select someone to appoint, but the Grand Historian must control the overall direction of the Wujing Cavalry, after all this army was created for the Grand Historian."

Chen Yan did not press the matter, but stated his own request: "Because once we leave the Tang Dynasty, aside from warfare, everything else will have to rely on the Grand Historian."

Li Shimin twitched the corner of his mouth, waved his hand a few times, "You, you!"

"I have already said I do not distrust you; whether you want the Grand Historian as commander or insist that Xue Li be the commander, I have no objection."

"Discussion, discussion—do you understand?"

"You need to learn this from the Country Squire; I pose a question and you immediately agree—am I being overbearing?"

Xue Li, who was singled out, looked a bit terrified, with only a third of his backside on the stool.

Honestly, he never dared to imagine that one day he would sit with the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and later share a meal and drinks together.

Chen Yan patted Xue Li's leg to comfort him, then said, "His Majesty, really a discussion?"

"How many times must I say it before you believe me?"

"Alright, then I'll be blunt."

A flash of smile crossed Chen Yan's face as he gave Li Shimin a slightly meaningful glance, then subtly glanced to the side.

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, "Speak, then."

Chen Yan said seriously, "The commander position must belong to the Grand Historian!"

"Don't forget why we formed the Wujing Cavalry—to go beyond the Tang Dynasty and seek treasures beneficial to it."

"But the difficulties are countless."

"First and foremost, we must ensure we don't get lost abroad, so the army won't be like headless flies, unable to find the destination."

"The Grand Historian understands celestial phenomena; getting lost is impossible for him, and he can discern auspicious from inauspicious, greatly ensuring the army's safety from natural or man‑made disasters."

"Most importantly, when searching for treasure, isn't the first step to actually locate the treasure?"

"The Grand Historian could even locate the Imperial Seal; who else is more suitable to lead the Wujing Cavalry?"

Li Shimin immediately retorted, "Yes, I acknowledge all that you said, and I have never doubted the Grand Historian's abilities."

"But you are clearly sidestepping the main point; I asked about the Grand Historian's merits."

"The Grand Historian has never led troops; that's an undeniable fact."

"Furthermore, aren't you aware how those eight hundred were trained?"

"Those are the elite of the elite; I believe the future Wujing Cavalry will surpass the Tang Dynasty's Xuanjia Army. Can a mere individual make such a force obey?"

"In my view, the current trainer of the Wujing Cavalry, Niu Jinda, is an excellent choice; the Grand Historian can serve as strategist."

"Didn't you previously say that as long as the overall direction follows the Grand Historian, that's sufficient?"

"Uncle Niu can't!" Chen Yan, without even thinking, refused, "I just said that, in the broad direction, we follow the Grand Historian, but it was only a compromise we had to make."

"Your Majesty, you yourself are the one leading the troops; aren't you aware that in an army, it's best to have only one voice?"

Li Shimin said angrily, "But Niu Jingda can fight better, and has endured countless battlefield melees."

"Can fight?" Chen Yan said angrily, "Can fight is good for nothing; the Grand Historian is proficient in divination and observing celestial phenomena, why can't he be the commander?"

Li Shimin: "Niu Jingda is fiercer, he once earned the merit of being the first to ascend!"

"Anyone who is on the battlefield must lead the troops from the front; he dares to be the first to charge."