Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 39

Chapter 39 Like a Father Like a Teacher
When Qin Mubai entered the imperial study and saw the driver, he heard the sound of the pipa. Li Shimin was actually playing with it.

“Mubai, you came at the right time.” Li Shimin smiled and waved at him, “Come, give me some pointers. I’ve been pondering for a long time, but I still can’t do anything about it. What is the trick to playing the pipa with my fingers?”

“This … I don’t dare.” Qin Mubai cupped his hands and bowed without moving.

“It doesn’t matter. Sit beside me.” Li Shimin ordered the officials to take a seat and set up a seat on the imperial throne.

It was a great honor and favor to let his subjects ascend the throne together with the king. Any official who saw the Emperor could only look at the Imperial Staircase and not look at the Sovereign King in reverence. The word “Your Majesty” came from this.

Qin Mubai hesitated for a moment before walking up to Yu Bi and sitting down. Li Shimin handed the pipa to him and smiled, “Relax a bit. It’s not the Golden Royal Palace Hall’s meeting right now, and there are no other people. My usual practice is to be a monarch in the hall, and a relative in the lower hall. Today, I invited you here to specially ask you to give me some pointers on the pipa skills.”

“This lowly official An dares to guide His Majesty?” Qin Mubai bowed.

“Learn without age. Those who can are the first!” Li Shimin smiled and said, “Actually, this is the truth in the world. No one dares to say that they specialize in everything. No matter how great their ancestors were, they are not omnipotent. For example, most of their ancestors were men. No matter how sages they are, they still have to rely on women to have children.”

“Haha, what His Majesty said is extremely true.” The emperor wanted to create a relaxed atmosphere, so Qin Mubai smiled. He thought to himself, “The Emperor definitely wouldn’t let me guide the pipa.” What he said just now was a mystery–did he mean to persuade me, as a leader, to unite closely with my subordinates and bring into play the strengths and strengths of each subordinate?

“How about this, you should play me a zither first. I miss your pipa music after the Qin Manor parted that day! Although Tai Le Ling learned from you, his music is still incomparable to yours.” Li Shimin said with a relaxed smile, “It’s rare for me to have leisure today. I really want to listen to this wonderful pipa tune.”

“Your Majesty has a decree, I will obey it.” Qin Mubai took the pipa and fiddled with the strings. “On that day, His Majesty listened to ‘Overlord Destroying Armor’. Today, I will play you ‘Ten-sided Ambush’. How about it?”

“Alright!” Li Shimin nodded his head, “Overlord unloaded his armor and was heroic and tragic. The ten-sided ambush should be the scene when Han Xin laid a plan to defeat Xiang Yu in the Wujiang River, right?”

“Exactly. In contrast, Ten-Faced Ambush is more impassioned and spirited. It’s a song of victory.” After Qin Mubai finished speaking, she immediately began to play.

An impassioned pipa martial song rushed out, causing Li Shimin to feel as if he was crazy. At the end of the song, he couldn’t help but clap his hands and praise, “Wonderful! Wonderful! It’s really a heavenly sound, and it keeps circling around the beam for three days!”

“Your Majesty praises me absurdly. A few tricks are not enough to enter the grand hall. I am ashamed.”

“En … Mubai, you are a talented person with both civil and martial arts. You are a rare talent.” Li Shimin nodded with a smile and said meaningfully, “Even though this pipa is a low-grade skill, it is enough to tell a person’s temperament and talent.” You are very clever and perceptive, so you must be proficient in what you have learned. I have also seen your calligraphy. A regular script has its own style. From this, you are a passionate, motivated, creative, and studious person. Having such qualities when you are young sets the stage for success. ”

“This humble servant is not very talented. There is simply too much to learn.” Qin Mubai knew that the Emperor was about to enter into an official topic, so he followed his words and said, “For example, I don’t know anything about commanding the army. I always tread on thin ice for fear of making mistakes.”

“Haha, do you think that I called you here to reprimand you?” Li Shimin smiled and said directly, “You didn’t do anything wrong with Yuchi Baoyun.” If it was me, I would have done the same. For generals, there should be some’strength ‘. If even his subordinates were unable to impeach them, and even the military law could not be enforced, then that would be mediocre. I joined the army at the age of sixteen and have fought under the heavens for more than ten years. The army was where the brave men gathered. Every soldier should be born for the battlefield, preparing for a bloody battle. Such a person had his own temper and bloodlust. It was best to be like a wolf that chose to devour a person without fear. Otherwise, it would be no different from a eunuch. Why bother to count as a soldier? Therefore, not everyone can be a general. Whether we can control these people and stimulate their power to the greatest extent is a profound knowledge. ”

“I will remember His Majesty’s teachings.” Qin Mubai cupped his hands and bowed. “This lowly official commands Baiji for seven days. He feels that he has to do quite a lot of things at all times, especially to learn a lot of things and fill in many gaps. Therefore, he feels that there is not enough time.”

“That’s right. Only those who are positive will have such a feeling.” Li Shimin nodded and smiled. “Although I haven’t stepped into the Baiji barracks, I know that you’ve done well. Your training plan is very creative, and it makes my eyes shine with astonishment. Your method of cleaning up the morale of the army is not bad, and you have some methods of building up your prestige. Although your flaws cannot be concealed, you still have some inadequacies.”

“Your Majesty, please explicitly punish me!”

“There’s no need to punish me. You didn’t make any mistakes. It’s just that there’s something wrong.” Li Shimin still smiled and said in a relaxed tone, “Mubai, I ask you. What do you think a general should look like in front of his subordinates and what should he do?”

‘”This” Qin Mubai pondered for a while and said, “This lowly official thinks that a general should have his subordinates respect, admiration, gratitude, fear, and respect for him. He must be proficient in everything in the army, or else he will not be able to correct and direct others. In addition, he should love his soldiers like a child, use his own body as a responsibility, and trust as a result, and build up his kindness and prestige.”

“That’s right.” Li Shimin nodded and smiled, “If you can do this, you can be considered a rare general. There are many people like me in the Great Tang Dynasty, such as your father Qin Shubao. Let me ask you again, how does your father Qin Shubao compare to Apothecary Li Jingli, Duke Wei?”

“This … I don’t know.” Qin Mubai naturally didn’t want to talk nonsense. One was the totem of the Great Tang army, the undefeatable myth Li Jing, and the other was his father. How dare he discuss it?

“Then I’ll tell you. The difference between them is the difference between being handsome and being handsome.” Li Shimin said, “For generals, doing what you just said is already very good. But if you want to become a handsome genius who can stand on his own side, it is far from enough. If you understand Li Jing, you will naturally understand this.”

“This … I naturally don’t know.”

“I can tell you something.” Li Shimin said, “Your father is a man of unparalleled loyalty and righteousness. In order to be the leader of the army, he loves his soldiers as much as his son. He is unanimously supported and respected by the soldiers. Countless people are willing to die together with him.” Qin Shubao, when known as the general of the world, minister of the state. But Li Jing was different from him. Li Jing has a good plan in mind, can lead troops to seek the country, wisdom and courage, benevolence and righteousness unparalleled. What’s even more rare is that if he is a marshal, I don’t need to worry about the situation. I can trust him completely. Even if the safety of the Great Tang’s rivers and mountains depends on his thought, I can be completely at ease. Do you know why? ”

“I don’t know, Your Majesty, please make it clear.”

“Overall view.” Li Shimin stroked his beard and smiled. When commanding a war, the first thing he thought of was the country, the mountains, and the monarchs of the Imperial Court. They had all kinds of strategies and tactics, not just fighting for the sake of fighting. At the same time, he also had one of the most admirable merits-the ministers working under him were all able to unleash their maximum power. The army he commanded must be united and united. In fact, everyone had their own thoughts. It was impossible for the army to have more reckless, impulsive, and unruly people without conflicts and friction between them. However, under the influence of Li Jing, his ministers also had an overall view of the situation. Even those who have personal grudges will temporarily put it aside and conspire to fight a good battle in the affairs of the country. ”

“This lowly official understands” Qin Mubai cupped his hands and bowed. He heaved a sigh of relief in his heart, “After speaking for a long time, the Emperor is actually teaching me the ‘Art of War’ and the ‘Dao of Officials’!” He was undoubtedly insinuating that I was beating Yuchi Baoyun up. Forming a personal grudge with his subordinates in his own group, the army would definitely not be easy to lead in the future. However, since his personal enmity had already been settled, he had to have a mind and an overall view of the situation, so he did not have to entangle himself with this point bitterly. At the same time, he had to work hard to make his subordinates forget their personal enmity and work together.

Li Shimin really has the skill to lead and control people. He actually wanted to criticize me, but he used praise and metaphor to inspire me to perfect my character and think and deal with problems at a higher realm … It seems that I am really very tender compared to an experienced politician like Li Shimin.

Learn slowly!

“Mubai, I know that you have excellent comprehension and are a piece of material that can be created. That’s why I have said so much to you. I hope you can understand my good intentions.” Li Shimin chuckled.

“Your Majesty … as if your father’s life was in your ears, this lowly official feels uneasy. In the future, this lowly official will always pay attention to improving himself and not disappoint Your Majesty.” Qin Mubai bowed.

“Very good. I also hope that I didn’t misjudge you.” Li Shimin stroked his beard and patted Qin Mubai’s shoulder like a kind elder. “You haven’t left Camp Baiji in seven days, have you? Go home and visit your father before the Imperial Palace closes. He’s sick, so you should go home when you have time.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, this lowly subject will take my leave!”

Qin Mubai heaved a sigh of relief as she walked out of the Imperial Study. She thought to herself, “Regardless of whether it was in her previous life or in this life, she has heard that Li Shimin’s charisma and talent and intelligence are unmatched. It is even more rare to see a kung fu emperor who is wise and capable.” Today, she personally experienced it. This is indeed the case!