Chapter 27: Sword Cold Nine States

  Du He was full of expectation, and didn't know what position Li Shimin would give him.

  Li Shimin's face was solemn: "Du He is young and brave, with both wisdom and courage, he is the pillar of the country. I have always admired him, specially appointed him as the Left Guard General of the Imperial Palace, to protect me on my left and right, and make great contributions to the Great Tang."

  As soon as Li Shimin thought of this, almost everyone in the front hall gasped.

  Even Du He's mouth was agape in shock, "Left Wei, the Imperial Guard Commander of the Left Wing, this is too frightening!"

  Du He, as a top student in the history department, still knew a thing or two about official positions in the Tang Dynasty.

  The military system of the Tang Dynasty used the Twelve Guards System, which was an advanced stage of the Wei-Fu System and also the culmination of the Sui-Tang Fu-Bing System. The so-called Wei-Fu System referred to the "Wei" governing the "Fu". The "Wei" was both a garrison force defending the capital and a leading institution commanding the "Fu-bing" throughout the country.

  The Twelve Guards are the Left and Right Guards, the Left and Right Xunwei, the Left and Right Wuwei, the Left and Right Weiyi, the Left and Right Lingjunwei and the Left and Right Jinwuwei.

  Because the Twelve Guards were stationed south of the imperial palace, they were also known as "Southern Imperial Bodyguards". Each of the twelve guards had different ranks such as Grand General, General and Lieutenant General, and their military deployments were also different.

  As for the left and right Xī Wèi divided troops guarding various gates, the four sides of the imperial city and the inner and outer parts of the palace city are called leopard riders; again, as for the left and right Wei Wèi divided troops in charge of guarding, they know that the east side of the imperial city assists the paving and the gates of the capital city, which is called feathered forest.

  Du Huai was appointed as the Left Guard General of the Imperial Palace, which is one of the twelve guards and also the most important one. He was in charge of guarding the palace and the imperial family, and as the Left Guard General, he was responsible for Li Shimin's safety and led the imperial guard troops.

  Although the position was not high-ranking, a fourth-grade official, he often accompanied Li Shimin and held real power. The troops under his command were also the Xuanjia Army left behind by Li Shimin in those years, which provided the easiest opportunity for promotion, making it a coveted position for everyone.

  "Your Majesty, please slow down. Forgive your old minister for being impolite! My son is young and inexperienced, he acts on impulse without considering the consequences, and refuses to listen to advice. Although he has come of age today, his wild nature remains untamed. How can he be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility? I humbly request that Your Majesty reconsider your decision!"

  Du Ruhui carefully counted Du He's shortcomings, saying that he was worthless, and finally even came up with a wild and untamed nature, directly treating him as non-human.

  "Is that so! Isn't it that Duke Du thinks I've misjudged someone?!" Li Shimin's face was somewhat embarrassed, and his voice, neither loud nor soft, echoed in everyone's heart, causing all to fall silent. Everyone felt a great change in Li Shimin's emotions and looked at Du Ruhui with concern.

  Du Ruhui lowered his head, but still did not change his original intention. He said: "It is often said that no one knows a son better than his father. This humble official's son has no talent, and I once again beseech Your Majesty to rescind the imperial edict!"

  Li Shimin was indeed furious. The current Du He has a few capable people, Li Shimin knows very well. He doesn't believe that as the father of Du He and one of the prime ministers of the Tang Dynasty, Du Ruhui still doesn't know that his son has a few capable people. How can such perfunctory words deceive him, Li Shimin?

  Du Ru Hui said such things, does he really think that this Tang Emperor is easy to fool?

  Li Shimin's anger grew as he thought about it more, and his determination to make Du He a key official in the imperial court intensified. Li Shimin had always been fond of talent, and after several encounters with Du He, he became deeply aware that Du He was no ordinary person, especially when Du He advised him against forming an alliance with Tibet through marriage.

  So it was known that after Du He's coronation ceremony today, the happiest one was Li Shimin.

  This matter was handled properly, and Li Shimin hurried over with great fanfare, personally presenting Du He's appointment.

  The result, however, was that Du Ruhui rejected him with a completely unconvincing excuse. Thinking about his own enthusiasm and Du Ruhui's indifference, he felt as if he had pressed his hot face against the latter's cold buttocks, and somehow felt a little wronged.

  The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

  Fang Xuanling saw the situation was not good, and hastily stepped forward to mediate, smiling: "Your Majesty rarely comes to my humble abode, Ke Ming, why don't you first invite Your Majesty inside?"

  "No rush!" Li Shimin stretched out his hand to stop Fang Xuanling's kindness and said, "It's better to say it clearly!" This time he seemed to have a falling out with Du Ruhui, with an attitude of not giving up until the goal was achieved.

  Du He looked at Li Shimin and then at Du Ruhui, stepped forward and said: "Uncle Li, I have something to say."

  Li Shimin helped Du Ruhui up, smiling: "Xianzhong, just speak freely, you tell the truth, this Left Guard General in the Imperial Palace, are you worthy or not?" He smiled warmly, but his tiger eyes were tightly locked onto Du.

  Du He coughed and said: "Uncle Li, you're not unaware of my father's temper. Father is strict with himself and lenient with others, especially when it comes to me, he has high expectations and is even more severe. Therefore, in his eyes, I will always be a useless kid! So, he thinks I'm not worthy, but Xiao Shu has the confidence that I can do it."

  Du Ruhui's body moved slightly, and he was somewhat shocked.

  Li Shimin burst out laughing, "Then I'll confer a title on you!"

  Du He shook his head and smiled: "This is not urgent, recently my young nephew has composed a song and learned a dance. If Uncle Li still thinks that I can take the position of Left Wei's Zhonglang General after watching my nephew's song and dance, I will not decline."

  Li Shimin saw Du He was full of confidence and also showed an interested expression, expecting his stunning move, he walked into the hall in big strides and sat at the top.

  Du He let Ling'er bring over the sword that Li Shimin had given him, and with his head held high, he said: "This 'Opening Territory and Coiling Dragon' sword was a gift from Uncle Li to his young nephew. To express my gratitude for Uncle Li's favor, I have composed a poem called 'Loyal Heart Repays the Country', to reveal my heart!"

  He drew his sword, made the opening move of the Iron Blood Twelve Forms, and sang loudly: "Wolf smoke rises, Jiangshan looks north. Dragon rises and rolls, horse neighs long, sword energy like frost. Heart like the Yellow River water vast, twenty years of galloping, who can resist; hatred wants to go crazy, where the long knife points; how many loyal souls are buried in foreign lands, why regret a hundred deaths to report to the country; sighing and regretting, no words, blood and tears fill the eyes; horse hooves go south, people look north; people look north, grass is green and yellow, dust flies high, I wish to guard the land and reopen the borders,……

  By the side of the lake, she sings and dances, her voice loud, high-pitched, majestic, and heroic, soaring into the clouds. Her sword flashes like a shooting star, its cold light radiating in all directions, as if a silver snake is dancing on the mountain, with silvery threads filling the sky.

  Iron Blood Twelve Forms, majestic and sternly killing, loyalty and dedication to the country, magnificent and grand.

  Song and sword merged into one place.

  When he sang to "Dragon rises, horse neighs long, sword energy like frost." his sword was as fast as a shooting star, and he seemed to be on the battlefield, every sword seemed to be drinking the enemy's blood.

  When he sang to "Enduring sighs, no words, blood and tears filled his eyes", the sword was even more filled with a sense of tragic injustice, as if his figure stood before countless corpses, making people shed tears in lamentation.

  When he sang to the last **, only heard "Majestic China wants to let four sides... come to congratulate!"

  As the word "賀" fell, the sword light, which was only four feet long, suddenly lengthened, and its cold glow transformed into a blue-green rainbow over ten feet long, like a silver dragon dancing in the air!

  A strong sword light, in this instant, almost made people unable to open their eyes. The dense sword energy emitted a hissing strange sound, and within two or three feet, everything was enveloped by the cold edge that pierced into the skin!

  When the wind and clouds suddenly changed, the sky was dark and the sun and moon had no light. The sword light became stronger and more intense, and everything around it seemed dull and without light. Du He was already submerged in the dazzling sword light, where could his figure be seen?

  Everyone was moved at this moment.