Chapter 24: The Great General of Dragon Martial (Third Update)

  Li Longji appointed Li Changguo as a general, which was indeed unexpected, and Li Changguo was also taken aback.

  However, thinking carefully, this is also reasonable because Li Changguo and Li Longji had only met twice, but each time was beyond Li Longji's expectations.

  The first time they met was when they were touring Qujiang Pool, and Li Changguo solved the problem of whether to send troops to Shicheng with just a few words for Li Longji.

  This meeting was beyond Li Longji's expectations, and the young man he admired was actually the brave and famous Xi Yu of the Anxi Protectorate. He really didn't expect it, and was very delighted.

  However, Li Longji immediately gave Li Changguo a huge problem, asking him to think of ways to reduce the casualties in attacking Shibo City. The difficulty of this matter was so high that one could understand why Wang Zhongshi refused to send troops; it was such a difficult problem, but Li Changguo still had an idea.

  Although Li Changguo's idea didn't have much hope, it was still better than having no hope at all. Besides, if used well, it wasn't necessarily impossible to succeed.

  A series of unexpected events increased Li Longji's favor towards Li Changgui, not allowing him to return to the Anxi Protectorate, but instead sending him to the Longwu Army, and appointing Li Changgui as a general was also reasonable.

  "Good start!"

  Li Changguo understood that he was of great importance in Li Longji's mind, and this was a good start, one step closer to preventing the An Shi Rebellion.

  "But this is just the beginning, and it's still far from stopping the An Shi Rebellion!"

  At the same time, Li Changguo was also warning himself that although he had a good start, his foundation was still shallow, his position was not high, and his power was not great. Officials like him, who were of the fifth rank, were as numerous as the hairs on a cow in Chang'an.

  "Gao Lishi, present Li Changguo with court attire, then lead him to meet Chen Xuanli." Li Longji smiled and waved at Li Changguo.

  It's a great honor for Gao Lishi, the red man beside Emperor Li Longji, to take Li Changgui to handle these things!

  "Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Changguo thanked and followed Gao Lishi as he left.

  Looking at Li Changguo's back, Li Longji nodded slightly: "This Li Changguo is always beyond my expectations! Not bad!"

  As soon as they came out of the imperial study, Gao Lishi did not hurry to lead Li Changguo to take his court dress, but stood still, with a pair of eyes wide open, and gave Li Changguo a good look, with sparkling light in his eyes, as if he was appraising a treasure.

  Li Changguo was taken aback and asked: "Right Guard General, what's going on?"

  The Right Guard General was an official position of Gao Lishi.

  "You're a curious person indeed." Gao Lishi's voice was sharp and fine, saying: "I've been serving Your Majesty for decades, but I've never seen a young man like you who can surprise people. Let's go!"

  Quickening his pace with short steps, he walked ahead, leading Li Changguo away.

  After walking for nearly a mile to the east, they arrived in front of a warehouse. The eunuch on duty here saw Gao Lishi, the number one eunuch of the imperial court, and hurriedly came forward to pay his respects.

  "Enough!" Gao Lishi waved his hand: "Morning clothes, first rank of the fifth grade, bring them over."

  The eunuch received his orders and quickly left, soon returning with the imperial robes.

  Li Changguo took a look and saw that it was a light brown morning dress with a silver fish-shaped pouch.

  According to the Tang Dynasty's dress code, officials of the third rank and above wore purple robes and carried golden fish-shaped bags; fourth-rank officials wore deep crimson court attire, fifth-rank officials wore light crimson court attire, sixth-rank officials wore deep green, seventh-rank officials wore light green, and carried silver fish-shaped bags; eighth-rank officials wore deep blue, ninth-rank officials wore light blue, and carried copper fish-shaped bags.

  The fish bag was used to hold documents indicating an official's rank and position, which had to be carried with them at all times as a symbol of their status.

  Han Yu has a poem "Opening the door to ask who comes, no one is not a noble. Don't know the official high and low, jade belt hanging golden fish", which clearly explains the function of the fish bag.

  Li Changguo was a fifth-grade official, far from being a high-ranking official of the third grade, and the purple robe and golden fish bag were still 108,000 miles away from him.

  Gao Lishi took Li Changgui to see Chen Xuanli again after receiving his court dress.

  These eunuchs looked at Li Changguo's back, very surprised, and whispered to each other: "Who is this? A mere fifth-grade official, actually wants to trouble High Lord."

  Gao Lishi was a red man beside Li Longji, extremely favored. If the people he led were third or second-grade officials, these eunuchs would not have spoken out of turn and would have thought it was only natural. But Gao Lishi personally brought in a mere fifth-grade official, and they couldn't help but be curious.

  "General Chen is an old man of the Eastern Palace, having served Your Majesty for dozens of years, in charge of the palace guards. When you see him, don't be rude." Gao Lishi had a good impression of Li Changguo and kindly reminded him.

  "Thank you, sir!" Li Changguo never expected that Gao Lishi, who had just wounded Li Bai, would be so kind as to remind him.

  Upon reflection, Gao Lishi was indeed slandered by later generations. Some people cursed him as a treacherous official, but in fact, the words "treacherous official" do not suit Gao Lishi at all. He can be considered a virtuous person among eunuchs, and he was extremely loyal to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. After Emperor Xuanzong's death, he became ill from grief and died without treatment.

  Think about it, Li Bai wanting to take off his boots in the presence of Gao Lishi is quite arrogant. The other party didn't invite you, didn't provoke you, and yet you lift your foot to have them take off your boots, who can tolerate that?

  Gao Lishi walked and reminded some palace taboos, saying very carefully and seriously. It can be seen that he truly admired Li Changguo.

  They soon arrived at the Dragon Martial Army's garrison. The Dragon Martial Army was a forbidden army in the palace, its military camp covering an extremely vast area, with a circumference of several miles, and its barracks were heavily guarded, with a majestic atmosphere that inspired reverence at first sight.

  In front of the camp, a team of soldiers guarded the gate. These soldiers were all strong and sturdy, with a fierce aura, standing there like a towering pine tree, proud and inviolable.

  They wore hard bows and strong arrows on their backs, with horizontal swords hanging from their waists. Their helmets shone brightly, and their armor gleamed in the sunlight, like a group of steel monsters.

  "Good!"

  Li Changguo was a connoisseur and at a glance he knew that these soldiers were all good hands.

  Longwu Army is the imperial guard of the Tang Dynasty, it can be said that it is a gathering place for martial arts masters. Here, masters are as common as clouds, and pulling out one casually will also be a brave warrior with extraordinary skills.

  "By the Emperor's decree, Gao Lishi leads General Li Changguo of the Imperial Guard to pay respects to General Chen." Gao Lishi stepped forward and loudly announced their purpose.

  This is the barracks of the Dragon Martial Army, with extremely strict military discipline. Even a red person like Gao Lishi cannot enter or exit at will.

  "Wait a moment, sir! We'll report this at once!" The leader of the group bowed and withdrew.

  Li Changguo sized up these Longwu soldiers, and they too were sizing him up, each with a cautious expression.

  They were all seasoned veterans and could tell at a glance that Li Changguo was not someone to be trifled with.

  "Bang! Bang!"

  Heavy footsteps sounded, and a white-bearded old general appeared, wearing bright armor and carrying a horizontal sword at his waist, approaching quickly.

  He is Chen Xuanyi, the current Dragon Martial General!

  Chen Xuanli was a former official of Li Longji's Eastern Palace, and had followed Li Longji even before Li Longji came to power. When Li Longji killed Wei and Princess Anle, Chen contributed significantly. Later, when Li Longji killed Princess Taiping, Chen also exerted great effort.

  He was trusted by Li Longji, who put the Dragon Guard under his control and entrusted him with the safety of the entire imperial palace. It can be said that Li Longji had entrusted his family and life to him.

  Apart from this, Chen Xuanli also did another thing, that is, one of the planners of the "Mawei Incident", he led troops to support Crown Prince Li Xian, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to execute Yang Guifei and behead Yang Guozhong.