Thirteen drops of water fall into the well

  Everyone has things they are suited to do and not suited to do. When placed in the right position, they can achieve great things; when placed in the wrong position, it will only harm themselves and others! Therefore, Confucius said that learning should have a focus, don't seek to be all-around talented, just seek to specialize. The Qin dynasty's assembly line method created the unique and unparalleled Qin Empire! The only way to succeed is to do what you like doing; there is no second method. If someone is forced into an unsuitable position, it will lead to resistance and ultimately ruin everything.

  Li Jing was going to do this kind of thing anyway.

  "I'm telling you, kid, these military officers are all seeking fame and fortune. In the army, this means official positions and the number of soldiers under their command. You could say that no one in the military doesn't want to lead troops. Having troops is what gives them status. So why do you refuse my offer to make you a Colonel? Although being a Colonel isn't as high-ranking as a General or a Marshal, it's still a real position with power over troops and the right to command battles. And let me tell you, this cavalry unit under my command has only 3,000 men and just ten Colonels. The only one above them is me!"

  Li Jing threw down the memorial in his hand and stared at Su Ning, asking with a tone of "hating iron for not becoming steel": "Do you know that this cavalry under my command is second only to Your Majesty's Xuanjia Army, ranking among the best in the Tang Dynasty? If you want a high-ranking official position, why refuse? This military historian position is only set up during wartime and will be abolished after the war. At that time, what kind of position you can get depends entirely on your military achievements!"

  Su Ning actually wanted to experience the taste of wielding military power, but the old man's words made him feel like he was being watched all the time - having control over the army is a big taboo. Except for the ruler himself, anyone who wields military power will be suspected by the ruler. If you want to live a peaceful life, or if you don't have that kind of ambition, or if you can gain the complete trust of the ruler, then you shouldn't ask for control over the army. This is the best way to stay safe.

  Of course, you have some good friends in the army who are harmless, and this is also a way to save your life.

  Thinking of this, Su Ning's conviction was strengthened: he didn't want military power, especially the positions of generals with real power. Even someone as virtuous and loyal as Li Jing, who had the right to command troops, had to be careful all the time. This kind of situation was absolutely not what Su Ning hoped to see himself in in the future. Moreover, constantly going on expeditions with the army wasn't a good thing either.

  Having some good friends in the military as a backing is not bad, but not having control over the troops is even more important, so a non-military position is the best choice. Like those long-term troop-leading positions in the Tang Dynasty's Twelve Guards, Su Ning kept his distance with respect. Doesn't the Great Tang have many idle positions? Give him one.

  "Hmm, Uncle, I'm really not interested in leading troops, it's better this way, no need to personally go to the battlefield to fight and kill, that's too dangerous. As a lone person, I don't even know where my home is, and I still want to find a good wife to have children with to take care of me when I'm old." Su Ning said with a smile.

  Who knew that this sentence thoroughly enraged Li Jing: "You! You little rascal! How old are you? Ah? Fourteen! You're only fourteen! Do you think about having children to support you in your old age? Your thinking is too far-fetched! You little brat, do you know what the Tang Dynasty values most?

  "I'm sixty years old and still fighting on the battlefield, but you're only fourteen and yet so ignorant of progress? Why did you volunteer to sneak attack Dingxiang? Taking such a risk, even your life was almost lost, aren't you scared out of your wits? Ah? A great military achievement, not to mention a good family's daughter, even a princess! Can be brought back home! What are you worried about?"

  Then the good days came to an end, and marrying into the royal family was already a great honor. The fire was boiling with oil, looking calm on the surface, but even if a single drop of water entered, it would explode! At that time, one had to be even more careful in their behavior, let alone the princesses raised by the Li imperial court, each and every one of them having their own unique personalities, each and every one being an oddball! Not to mention Princess Pingyang, a heroine among women, who led troops into battle on the battlefield, something that has rarely been seen throughout history, and yet the Li family had one such person.

  Not to mention the later Gao Yang princess, who was a complete disaster. Not only did she turn Fang Yi Ai into a green turtle, but also sent the entire Fang family to their deaths. The Tang dynasty princesses' harm to their subjects is not uncommon! Even when meeting their daughter-in-law, they still have to pay respects. This is all the fault of the princess. As for this daughter of Emperor Li, I wouldn't dare want her even if she grew up to be an immortal goddess!

  Su Ning pouted and said, "Uncle, I understand your good intentions, but I don't have such thoughts. Everyone has their own aspirations, I hope you can understand me."

  Li Jing felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness. This kid was really a freak. To say that he didn't have the guts to fight on the battlefield, Li Jing absolutely wouldn't believe it - this kid had already killed people before, not a coward. But why? He wasn't willing to accept a formal military position? Li Jing couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he thought. In the Great Tang Dynasty, military achievements were paramount; being a great general was an unimaginably lofty status!

  For example, that old fellow Cheng, with military achievements by his side, can be so arrogant and unruly in the imperial court, and no one dares to provoke him, living a carefree life. This old guy is indeed a cunning fox, but if he had no military achievements, how could he be so at ease? Li Jing felt puzzled, while Su Ning let out a long sigh of relief.

  "By the way, I've never asked you where you're from? The official document still needs to be noted, where is your hometown? Are there any relatives at home?" Li Jing suddenly noticed what Su Ning said earlier.

  Su Ning was taken aback, he really didn't know what place in the Tang Dynasty he belonged to. He had looked at his family tree, and his ancestors were indeed famous generals of the Tang Dynasty, Su Dingfang, Duke of Xingguo. According to this, could his hometown be considered his own? Ji Zhou Wu Yi, yes, a person from Ji Zhou Wu Yi! Su Dingfang was a person from Ji Zhou Wu Yi, no matter what, it seemed that's all there was to it. Ah, where is Su Dingfang now? It seemed like he had seen something about it on Baidu...

  "Xiao Zhong doesn't know the specific situation either, he just said that his family's teacher said it was discovered in Ji Zhou Wu Yi, maybe Xiao Zhong is from Ji Zhou Wu Yi!" Su Ning said.

  Li Jing nodded: "In that case, I'll send someone to investigate and try my best to help you find your family. We can also prepare to meet with Li Shimin."

  Su Ning was taken aback: "Is there such an order?"

  Li Jing rolled his eyes: "Can you think of anything that Your Majesty can't? In this battle, I am the commander-in-chief. Your Majesty is deeply entrenched in the palace and will not interfere with my command. Get ready, we'll set out in five days. By then, the officials sent by Your Majesty should have arrived too. That one battle is crucial, do you understand?"

  Su Ning nodded, thinking to himself: "If you can find your way home, that's weird. I'm not a soul reborn, hehe..."

  At the same time, the name Suning quietly spread among the dignitaries in Chang'an City. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the generous granting of titles had made them not very valuable, so after Li Er became emperor, he began to think of ways to reduce the number of titles. By this time, granting titles was extremely cautious, and this 14-year-old boy seemed to have appeared out of thin air, relying on his military achievements to be granted a genuine founding county viscount title. Although the title was not very high, at this age he was indeed too young, which inevitably led some people to have ideas.

  Su Ning may not know that at this time he has become a well-known figure among the powerful people of the Great Tang, and many people have also had thoughts about him, including Li Shimin.

  "General, we have defeated the main force of the Turkic army here. The imperial edict says that General Li Jing has successfully captured Dingxiang City and ordered us to continue defending Baidao and wait for General Li Jing's next order. However, I think that this is a good opportunity, why don't our army take advantage of it and launch a surprise attack?" A general came up to Li Shiming and said.

  Li Shimin narrowed his eyes, revealing an elusive smile: "The imperial edict cannot be disobeyed, and the military order must also be followed. Remember, Your Majesty is not Liu Heita."

  This general was none other than Su Dingfang, a famous Tang Dynasty general. Because he had previously followed Liu Heita and Li Erba in opposition, after Li Erba's victory, he could only retreat to the mountains and forests, not asking about worldly affairs. However, the situation at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty was unstable, with enemies all around, and Su Dingfang, as a strong general, left a deep impression on Li Erba. Therefore, he was reused by Li Erba and appointed as the commander of the Kaodao Prefecture. It must be said that Li Erba's magnanimity was indeed rare among emperors, able to appoint and reuse even his own enemies, such as Cheng Zhiji, also known as Cheng Yaoguang...

  Su Dingfang was taken aback, then sternly said: "I understand what the general means, thank you for pointing it out!"

  Li Shimin continued, "It's good that you know. However, as long as it's not excessive, Your Majesty can tolerate it, and you don't have to worry too much. His Majesty likes people with abilities; alright, let's not talk about this anymore. After taking down Dingxiang City, hehe, Dingfang, do you know who took down Dingxiang City?"

  Su Dingfang looked puzzled and said: "What does the general mean? Didn't General Li Jing take down Dingxiang City?"

  Li Shimin shook his head and said: "What else did the imperial edict say? Do you remember?"

  Su Dingfang recalled: "Add a seal to a person named Su Ning as the military governor of Dingxiang Road, San Yuan. Hmm? General, what you said, isn't it?" Su Dingfang suddenly asked with a look of sudden realization, Li Shiming smiled and nodded: "A 14-year-old boy, we don't know his origin, nor do we know him, as if he appeared out of thin air, and was actually enfeoffed as the county son of San Yuan County. San Yuan County is Li Jing's hometown! Why did Your Majesty do this? Firstly, that boy named Su Ning must have made great achievements, enough to be enfeoffed with a noble title. It seems that taking Dingxiang City and capturing Yang Zhengdao alive, this boy must have made outstanding contributions."

  "Secondly, this Suning must have a relationship with Li Jing. Otherwise, Your Majesty would not have granted the county of San Yuan to Suning. However, I don't know what kind of person this Suning is. He can't be a member of Li Jing's clan, and he seems to have appeared out of nowhere. At least before the expedition, I had never heard of such a person. When Li Jing arrives with his army, I will definitely take a look at this Suning to see what kind of person he is. Ding Fang, you also have the surname Su, are you two not from the same clan?"

  Li Shimin said with a smile, "General, you are joking. I was 15 years old when I followed my father to rebel against the Sui Dynasty. Su Ning had not been born yet at that time, how could I have known him? After that, I fought in many places and rarely returned to my hometown. Even if Su Ning were a clansman from my hometown, I wouldn't know him. My last visit to my hometown also didn't hear about such a person. Moreover, there are so many people with the surname Su in the world. It's just that my second uncle lost a son more than ten years ago and his whereabouts are unknown. However, it's impossible for such a coincidence to happen."

  Li Shimin smiled and didn't say anything, waving his hand to signal Su Dingfang to retreat. He then rode his horse forward, slowly moving ahead, wanting to clear his mind. As he galloped along, he pondered: Under such circumstances, Your Majesty must have racked his brains to eliminate the title, what kind of ability does this young man possess that earned him Li Jing's favor and a noble title? However, taking Dingxiang and capturing Yang Zhengdao alive was all thanks to the three thousand iron cavalry by Li Jing's side. This Su Ning must be an interesting young man. Hehe, I'd like to take a look at what kind of young man he is.

  Li Shimin on the battlefield was still like this, and the power center of Chang'an City would be even more unstable. When Zhangsun Wuji returned home, he took off his court attire, changed into casual clothes, and entered the study. He picked up a book, but before he could read a few pages, Zhangsun Wuji couldn't help but think about what had happened in the imperial court that day. Emperor Li of Tang had publicly appointed a young man named Su Ning as the Viscount of San Yuan County, a title that was not even in his own eyes, but the combination of San Yuan County and a 14-year-old youth made Zhangsun Wuji, a meticulous person, pay attention.

  San Yuan County, that is Li Jing's hometown. To grant this young man a fief in Li Jing's hometown, it's clear that he must have an inseparable relationship with Li Jing. At the age of 14, what surprises Changsun Wuji even more is that Your Majesty has been racking his brains to strip some errant officials of their titles. In such circumstances, a 14-year-old youth can go against the tide and be granted a title, which cannot be achieved simply by having a relationship with Li Jing. The current emperor is not one who favors only those close to him. This young man must have special abilities.

  Changsun Wuji vaguely felt that this young man might stir up a wave, but whether this wave would be good or bad for himself was hard to say. As a member of the Changsun family and in the same camp as the Emperor, his own sister being the current Empress, he had to stand with the Li imperial court no matter what. Li Jing was a military man who didn't participate in politics and had no conflicting interests with him, also loyal to the Emperor, and similarly an honored founding noble. So this young man should have no conflicting interests with him either. His current enemies were those people from the five surnamed aristocratic families.

  If we talk about the emperor's power, what is called an enemy is not currently an enemy. At least for now, there is still a common opponent. All of this is not yet the time to prepare, but it cannot be ignored either. Unfortunately, although I hold a high position, actual power is in the hands of Fu and Du. As long as these two do not die, I will certainly not take the position of prime minister. However, I also cannot make a move myself. Although previously the emperor intended for me to become prime minister, my sister saw further ahead and could not sit in that position.

  At least not at this time, if there is no one to choose from, you can fill in yourself, but once someone has been chosen, you need to avoid suspicion. However, Du Ruhui's body was already very poor, being irritated by that prodigal son of his, haha, never mind, it's not my fault.

  This young man should also be a humble family, anyway not a member of the five surnames of the wealthy families. I've never heard of this young man's name before, it's as if he suddenly appeared out of thin air. Is this good or bad? Who is this young man after all?

  A drop of water into a well will inevitably stir up ripples.