Chapter 338: The Method

....... You said that!

Chen Yan immediately objected, "The Grand Historian never took the military route; otherwise, he would have easily grabbed the four great merits."

"Charging to be first? This kind of petty thing, the Grand Historian would dare too!"

Li Chunfeng immediately blushed, stretched out his hand, wanting to say something.

However, Li Shimin beat him to it: "Niu Jinda has the ability to command troops!"

"The Grand Historian also has the ability to command troops!"

"Niu Jinda dares to fight and strive!"

"Still dare to fight and strive....." Chen Yan chuckled, "The Grand Historian not only dares to fight and strive, he also dares to eat history!"

"Niu Jinda also......"

Li Shimin instinctively wanted to pick up the conversation, but then he realized and fell silent.

"...... Well, I admit, the Grand Historian is a bit more capable."

Li Chunfeng: "......."

Empress Changsun: "......."

Yuan Tiangang's expression was priceless: "Brother Li, you still know how to do this?"

"I know jack shit!" Li Chunfeng flared up, "Mr. Chen, can you stop dragging me into your bragging?"

"I don't dare, really!"

"This isn't important." Chen Yan waved his hand, "Losing the man but not the unit—just tell me whether I competed and won or not."

"Today, the commander's position must be yours!"

Li Chunfeng almost wanted to cry.

I swear to the heavenly Bodhisattva, you're giving me too much credit, huh.

I'm just a fortune-teller—I really can't tell fortunes,

Also, can someone tell me what the Bannerless Cavalry is, and what "looking for treasure" means?

Li Shimin stared at Chen Yan for two seconds; the latter showed no fear meeting his gaze. Li Shimin had no choice, turned his head to Yuan Tiangang: "National Teacher, you say—between the Grand Historian and Niu Jinda, who is more suited to be commander?"

"....... Er!" Yuan Tiangang was momentarily at a loss for words.

How did this get dragged over to him?

This makes it hard for him to say.

"Hey!" Chen Yan suddenly slapped his forehead, "I suddenly recall, the National Teacher apparently said he himself is quite good at fighting, right?"

"Oh?" Li Shimin went along, "Then Zi An, what do you mean?"

Both of their gazes shifted in unison to Yuan Tiangang.

The latter's hairs stood on end; instantly he felt a big "danger" character appear on his forehead.

"If I remember correctly, the National Teacher's skill in fortune-telling and observing phenomena is not inferior to the Grand Historian's; this time the Imperial Jade Seal was also brought back by them together with Xue Li."

Chen Yan added another sentence.

"Ah?" Li Shimin feigned surprise, then sucked in a breath, "In that case, the National Teacher is clearly the most suitable choice!"

Yuan Tiangang: "......."

Li Chunfeng, though not fully grasping the situation, seeing the fire shift from himself to his friend, what's there to think about?

"What Your Majesty and the Marquis of Weinan said is absolutely correct; the National Teacher is simply the most ideal candidate, capable of fortune-telling and observing phenomena, and his martial arts are also superb."

Li Chunfeng put on a stern face, his tone full of astonishment: "You two don't know, during this search for the Imperial Jade Seal, I and Xue Li had originally fallen into danger, about to be captured alive, but thanks to the National Teacher's divine intervention, he single-handedly rescued us from the encirclement."

"In my view, no one in the Tang Dynasty is more suitable than the National Teacher!"

"I raise both hands in approval of the National Teacher as commander of the Bannerless Cavalry!"

That remark left the Lizheng Hall silent as a grave.

Chen Yan, Li Shimin, and Xue Li had strange expressions; Empress Changsun, who was coaxing her daughter, almost couldn't hold back her laughter.

Only Yuan Tiangang's face looked as ugly as if he had eaten history.

Alright, you're playing like this, huh?

You really are my good friend!

Li Chunfeng dared not look at Yuan Tiangang, silently muttering: "Sorry, Brother Yuan, as the saying goes, dead dao friends don't leave the poor daoist behind."

"You must never blame me!"

"I'm also quite helpless!"

Yuan Tiangang's face changed for a while, "I......"

He was just about to find an excuse to refuse, but as soon as the word 'I' left his mouth, Chen Yan and Li Shimin, in perfect unison, focused their gaze and stared intently at Yuan Tiangang.

Even Empress Changsun glanced over, deep in thought.

An unparalleled pressure surged; Yuan Tiangang's forehead instantly broke out in cold sweat, the words of refusal caught in his throat, unable to speak.

"I....... I think the Marquis of Weinan's earlier suggestion isn't bad; the Grand Historian could serve as a strategist and work together with me."

"If the two join forces, plus the Bannerless Cavalry painstakingly built by the Marquis of Weinan and His Majesty, where in the world beyond the Tang Dynasty could we not go?"

Li Chunfeng suddenly turned his head, completely numb!

"Smack—" Chen Yan clapped his hands, "Great proposal!"

"How come I never thought of that before?"

"Still have to rely on the National Teacher!"

Li Shimin also clapped his hands: "Not bad, Grand Historian plus National Teacher, I'll also send Su Dingfang in as deputy commander, then this is settled."

In just a few words, the two settled the matter right away.

This made Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng suddenly feel like they'd been tricked.

Logically speaking, finding the Heirloom Jade Seal should be a great achievement.

But not only did I not receive any reward, how did I end up getting into trouble?

"Your Majesty, let me introduce him."

Chen Yan quickly changed the subject, patting Xue Li on the shoulder and saying, "Xue Li, a descendant of Xue An Du, was born with divine strength; even as a child, wielding a wooden stick, he single-handedly defeated four thugs who had kidnapped his sister."

"He learns martial arts extremely quickly, and in a short time he finished reading my Chen family's military texts, even forming his own understanding; I think he is a born general, and if properly trained, he will surely be able to stand on his own in the future!"

"Born with divine strength?" Li Shimin heard this and finally took a bit of interest in Xue Li.

He also understood why Chen Yan seemed to value this person so much.

"How do you want Me to train him?"

Chen Yan said tentatively, "How about handing him over to the Duke of Dai for training for a while?"

Hmm?

Li Shimin blinked slightly, "I cannot guarantee that; I can only give him an imperial edict, and whether the Duke of Dai accepts this student is not up to Me."

"That's fine, that's fine." Chen Yan rejoiced, "As long as Your Majesty is willing to give an imperial edict."

Saying that, he furtively poked Xue Li.

The latter reacted, realizing Chen Yan was creating an opportunity for him, and hastily rose to perform a deep bow.

"This commoner thanks Your Majesty!"

"No need for excessive courtesy." Li Shimin raised his hand, his attitude gentle, "You brought back the Heirloom Jade Seal, which is a great merit; I am merely giving an imperial edict, which is nothing."

"Right, Zi An." He turned his head and said, "In two days will be the New Year's Day grand court assembly; how about I then produce the Heirloom Jade Seal?"

"That's right." Chen Yan pondered a moment, "Producing the Heirloom Jade Seal at the New Year's Day grand court assembly will definitely have a better effect."

"However, I have a better method that perhaps Your Majesty will prefer."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin asked, "What method?"

"Well..."

Chen Yan gave a hehe laugh, leaned in, and whispered something into Li Shimin's ear.

This left the others puzzled.

Just what is this method, and why is it so mysterious?

"..."

PS: Really sorry, brothers, the timed post went wrong; I've been busy lately and didn't see it.

My fault, my fault!