Sky Curtain: A Review of Historical Foes and the Secrets of Ministers

Taiji Palace Square, Tang Dynasty.

Due to the continuous revelations from Tianmu, the originally solemn court assembly has completely deviated from its intended course and has become the scene of the Great Tang Mediation Committee.

Li Shimin was bending over, personally supporting Tang Jian, who was crying so hard he was almost breathless.

To demonstrate his benevolence as a sage, Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Er) had put on a stellar performance, his eyes slightly red and his tone incredibly sincere.

"Lord Tang, you've been wronged, I know you've been wronged. While the Pharmacist's actions were beneficial to the country, they were, in terms of personal feelings... utterly lacking in martial ethics!"

"I will definitely punish him later. I will confine him to his room to reflect on his mistakes, and I will make him give half of the reward for destroying the Turks to your Tang family as compensation. What do you think?"

Tang Jian raised his head, sobbing, and was about to say "Thank you for the Emperor's grace" to save face.

As a result, the video, which was gradually coming to an end, suddenly went black.

[Wang Xi's voice rang out. You might think that when General Li Jing launched the surprise attack, he must have been worried sick about Tang Jian's safety. But I can only say, brothers, you're too young.]

[In the scene, a chibi-style Li Jing stands in the snowstorm of Yinshan Mountain, holding a pen and solemnly writing something on a piece of white paper.]

[Wang Xi's magnetic, irritating voice came through, "Actually, when Li Jing ordered the entire army to attack, his inner thoughts were like this: Old Tang, Old Tang, your greatest contribution in this life was using your life to put that old fox Jieli on the guard."]

Rest in peace. I've already prepared your eulogy and the elegiac couplets.

The camera zooms in, revealing a white sheet of paper with the inscription: "Died before his mission was accomplished, saving us the cost of a funeral. Horizontal inscription: A fitting death."

puff--!

Tang Jian couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Pharmacist Li!!!"

Tang Jian let out a scream, shoved Li Shimin aside, and charged straight at Li Jing like an angry roe deer.

"You old bastard! I risked my life as bait for you in that tent, and you're trying to save me the money?! I'll fight you to the death!"

Li Jing, in his life, once descended Yinshan on a snowy night, defeating 100,000 with only 3,000 men; he had never feared anyone.

But at this moment, facing Tang Jian, whose eyes were bloodshot, this great Tang military god subconsciously took three steps back, his old face turning pale and then red.

"Old Tang, let me explain. That was just God making things up. I... I really didn't write any elegiac couplets back then. I just... ptooey! I didn't even think about it!"

In the Qin Dynasty world, Ying Zheng burst into laughter at this scene.

"Saving on the cost of a wedding gift? The vocabulary of later generations is quite novel." Ying Zheng turned to Meng Tian. "Meng Tian, ​​if you were in Li Jing's position, would you write a eulogy?"

Meng Tian wiped away his cold sweat and chuckled dryly, "Your Majesty, I will probably kill a few more Turks to avenge Duke Tang. This whole 'elegy' thing is indeed a bit too..."

Chaos erupted in the Taiji Palace square as Li Shimin busied himself having Yuchi Jingde restrain the mad Tang Jian, shouting incessantly.

"Calm down, Mr. Tang, calm down!"

However, the heavens never disappoint, and in the blink of an eye, they dealt Li Shimin a fatal blow.

Of course, the reason Li Jing dared to do this was ultimately because he understood his boss, Li Shimin, all too well.

The scene shifts, revealing an image of Li Shimin.

That was Li Er before he ascended the throne. He was sitting in his study, looking at a map of Yinshan in his hand, his eyes filled with madness.

[Wang Xi's scathing voice rang out, "Some people ask, why didn't Li Shimin severely punish Li Jing afterward, but instead only gave him a symbolic scolding? Was it because Li Jing's contribution was great? No, it's because Li Shimin himself thought so too."]

[In the scene, Li Shimin's words brought the entire Tang Dynasty to a standstill.]

"The allure of destroying the Turks is simply too great... great enough to establish an unprecedented golden age of the Heavenly Khan. Compared to this level of achievement, what does the death of a friend matter? If sacrificing Tang Jian can bring a century of peace to the Tang Dynasty's borders, I think... this deal is worthwhile!"

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

Tang Jian stopped struggling.

Li Jing stopped retreating.

Even Yuchi Jingde, who had been taking sides, loosened his grip.

All the ministers turned their gazes in unison to Li Shimin, whose hand was still outstretched.

Li Shimin's face, which had been sincere and filled with grief and indignation, froze at this moment.

"I..." Li Shimin opened his mouth.

He desperately wanted to refute it, to denounce this filth in the sky.

But as a top strategist, Tianmu is right.

If he really had to choose between destroying the Turks and saving Tang Jian, Li Shimin would indeed have chosen the former.

"Your Majesty," Tang Jian's voice was hoarse, "Your subject... Your subject will return now. Your subject thinks I should first write a eulogy for myself, so that I won't have to trouble Duke Wei and Your Majesty with this again next time I'm on a diplomatic mission..."

"Lord Tang, Lord Tang, please let me explain." Li Shimin's face turned red as he chased after him.

The perspective shifted again, this time revealing the true decisive blow.

Here, we must mention Su Dingfang, the mastermind behind this betrayal.

[Li Jing only offered words; the one who actually charged into the Turkic camp with a sword, delivering the final surprise to Tang Jian and Jieli, was this future renowned general of the Tang Dynasty.]

The scene shifts to nighttime during the Battle of Yinshan. A thick fog blankets the area, and Tang Jian is drinking with Khan Jieli in their tent. The two are engaged in lively conversation, with Jieli even starting to plan how to buy a house in Chang'an in the future.

Suddenly, a piercing scream and the neighing of warhorses echoed outside the tent.

[Boom! The tent flap was ripped open by a bloodstained halberd, and a young general, his face covered in blood and his eyes filled with fanaticism, rushed in.]

[Jieli was so startled he dropped his wine glass, while Tang Jian, still holding half a piece of uneaten mutton, froze completely.]

[Su Dingfang roared, "Hey? Lord Tang, you're still alive? Perfect! Move aside, don't delay my mission to kill Jieli and claim the first merit!"]

Datang Square.

Among the younger generation of generals, Su Dingfang was trying to hunch his shoulders, attempting to hide his tall stature behind others.

But his iconic armor was just too conspicuous.

Tang Jian suddenly turned his head, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at Su Dingfang.

Su Dingfang awkwardly grinned, revealing a smile that looked more like a grimace, and raised his hand to weakly greet them.

"Lord Tang, at that time, it was indeed because of the heavy fog that I didn't see you..."

"Didn't you see me, so that halberd was aimed at my neck?" Tang Jian laughed in exasperation. "Well, that's the kind of junior the Tang Dynasty has to offer! Li Jing taught them well!"

Outside the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed and patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder.

"Biao'er, look! This is the perfect harmony between ruler and minister that Li Lao Er boasted about! This is the brilliant general he's so proud of! This whole bunch of traitors are a bunch of traitors! Hahahaha, it's hilarious!"

Zhu Biao sighed helplessly, "Father, Su Dingfang is indeed brave, but he is also too straightforward."