Tang Dynasty Swordsman

Page 72

The Cui family of Boling gradually aligned themselves with Li Shi—because Li Yu was difficult to contact now—and the servants that Li Shi bestowed upon Li Ji were all former servants of the Cui family.

Returning to the story, after Consort Cui's death, Li Yu showed no intention of establishing a new principal wife, nor did he mention bringing Lady Shen back from Luoyang. Li Shi repeatedly pleaded and begged, but Li Yu always made excuses. Li Shi understood that his father's favor towards his mother had likely waned, and that his current affection was for another concubine, Lady Dugu…

The only thing Li Shi could do was to go to the emperor and complain about Dugu's wickedness. Even if he couldn't bring that woman down, he couldn't let her rise above his mother. If the crown prince were to choose a principal wife, it had to be his mother; otherwise, no one should even think about taking that position!

Compared to Li Yu, Li Shi enjoyed much greater freedom. Having reached adulthood, he could not move into the Eastern Palace with his father but had to reside in the Hundred Grandsons' Courtyard, thus facilitating communication with the outside world. Furthermore, during his morning and evening audiences, he could occasionally enter the Forbidden City or the Eastern Palace—one cannot forbid grandparents and grandchildren, fathers and sons from seeing each other—thus becoming an important link between Li Heng and Li Yu, and between Li Yu and the outer court.

Moreover, Li Ji thought that perhaps the bond between Li Fuguo and Li Yu was also you, little guy!

Li Shi did not deliberately hide anything and said directly, "This time, summoning Changwei back to the capital was actually my idea..." The implication was that my father was not so clever, and now, apart from me, there was no one else who could advise him—"If Changwei leaves Longyou, he will no longer be able to defend against the barbarian bandits, and his great achievements will be difficult to restore, and his reputation will be difficult to regain. Will Changwei resent me?"

Since the words had been spoken so clearly and earnestly, Li Ji could only clasp his hands and say, "Your Highness is too kind. If the officials in the capital can find a use for me, I will naturally do my utmost, even at the cost of my life."

However, even the cleverest Li Ji couldn't foresee everything. First, sending Li Ji to the western frontier to broaden his horizons and accumulate merit, then recalling him to serve him after his rank was raised, was Li Yu's pre-arranged plan before entering the Eastern Palace's confinement. Second, as soon as the report of Li Ji's meritorious service reached Chang'an, Li Shi panicked and hurriedly advised his father—"That's enough, let's get Chang Wei back, otherwise his heart will wander further and further, and he will no longer be a subject of us, father and son!"

Because Li Ji had made such a great splash in the war against the barbarians, the news spread like wildfire throughout the two capitals, and folk artists even composed songs to sing about it; and Li Tan, in order to win over Li Ji, would naturally exaggerate his achievements in his reports of victory. Li Shi felt that this trend was not right, that it was dangerous. If Li Changwei were allowed to stay in Longyou any longer, he might completely become the king's uncle's man.

We should recall them as soon as possible.

He naturally wouldn't reveal these hidden thoughts to Li Ji, who simply cupped his hands and said, "Whether I can achieve merit depends entirely on the Crown Prince, the Prince of Qi, and Your Highness. How could I dare to harbor any resentment? It's just that I'm truly worried about the war in Longyou..."

Li Shi then inquired in detail about the situation in Longyou from Li Ji. Li Ji told him the truth and his worries without any concealment. Li Shi pondered and said, "The capital region is short of both soldiers and food, making it difficult to reinforce Uncle Wang... Let me find some people knowledgeable in military affairs and then make detailed plans."

Taking the opportunity, Li Ji added, "I am also quite worried about the war in Hebei... The King of Qi shares the same opinion as me..."

The two talked until late into the night before Li Shi finally took his leave. Li Ji wanted to see him off at the door—mainly to see where he had sneaked in from—but Li Shi waved him off.

----------

The next morning, Li Ji followed Li Shi's instructions and went straight to the Ministry of War to report for duty and file his documents. He then went to the Forbidden City. He was dressed in his official robes today: a black turban with drooping corners, a dark blue round-necked brocade robe, and an eight-pronged belt with jade ornaments. He entered the Daming Palace through the Jianfu Gate.

The Imperial Guards guarding the gate were originally arrogant, only glancing sideways at the green-robed clerk. But after Li Ji handed over his official credentials, they immediately changed their attitude. "That's the Left Heroic Martial Army Registrar! Although we belong to the Imperial Guard, everyone knows that the Imperial Guard, Dragon Martial, and Divine Martial are all empty shells. Only the Heroic Martial Army can really fight. How dare we offend them?"

Besides, although Li Ji is a civil servant, he is under the command of the military, so you don't need to remove your sword. Please come in directly. Of course, the horse must remain outside the palace. Don't worry, we will take good care of it for the military advisor.

The offices of the Six Armies of the Northern Army were originally located inside the Xuanwu Gate of the Taiji Palace. After the Taiji Palace was no longer in use, they were moved to the Daming Palace, situated between the Xuanwu Gate (which also had a Xuanwu Gate) and the Chongxuan Gate. However, the Xuanwu Gate was ultimately the northern gate of the Eastern Inner City, making it inconvenient to travel to and from the city, as well as the Western Inner City, the Southern Inner City, and the Imperial City. Therefore, the Yingwu Army was newly established, and its offices were located inside the Jianfu Gate—in the southwest corner of the Eastern Inner City.

After inquiring about the route, Li Ji strode over and arrived at the Zuo Yingwu Army Headquarters, loudly announcing his arrival. Immediately, a shrill voice called out, "Please come in quickly, Military Advisor Li. You're not an outsider; why be so formal?"

Upon entering, he saw that the person sitting at the head of the table was indeed Dou Wenchang, the eunuch who had once served him and Li Bi.

To be honest, Li Ji hadn't figured out how to meet Dou Wenchang yet. They were once master and servant, but now they were superior and subordinate, with the servant now the superior. He didn't care, but what would Dou think? How would he receive him? If he was a petty person who had gained power and started to act arrogantly, should he just go for it and beat him up?

Ultimately, I'll be serving as a subordinate in Zuo Yingwu's army for a while. If I don't get along with my superior, there will be too much trouble in the future; especially since I also have to be wary of the powerful eunuch, who has the time to outwit the lesser eunuchs? It's better to subdue them first...

No sooner had he entered than Dou Wenchang stood up immediately, clasped his hands in front of him, and ran over to Li Ji, opening his arms wide to embrace him tightly: "Military Advisor Li, you've finally arrived!"

Li Ji instinctively backed away—you're a dead eunuch, can't you be less enthusiastic? It's really annoying!

Of course, he couldn't say it aloud, so he could only say, "Chief Secretary Dou, there is a difference between superiors and subordinates, so please allow me to pay my respects to you first."

Dou Wenchang laughed and said, "We are old acquaintances, why be so formal? There are no generals in Zuo Yingwu's army now. I am ranked first and Li Canjun is ranked second. Do you think we are afraid that other officials will interfere with our court etiquette?" He let go of his hands and pulled Li Ji's arm: "Come, come, quickly sit next to me."

After sitting down, Dou Wenchang spoke first: "Back when I was on the imperial tour, I was deeply grateful to Military Advisor Li for sharing the food bestowed upon me by the Prince of Qi. To this day, the taste lingers on my palate..."

Li Ji couldn't help but secretly give a thumbs up: "Smart! I knew you had potential a long time ago."

In Li Ji's view, the reason Dou Wenchang treated him so warmly was because he was originally a member of Li Shi's faction—a matter that Li Tan had guessed and Li Shi had confirmed the previous night—and since he and Li Shi were practically inseparable in private, how could that dead eunuch dare to act arrogantly in front of him? But he couldn't say this outright, so Dou Wenchang used the excuse that he had eaten Li Ji's meal in the past, and that's why he was grateful.

Just to show that we're friends on the same path, we should work together and not become estranged.

Just then, a cough was heard, and another eunuch entered the room without even announcing himself—it was Huo Xianming, the Right Commander of the Heroic Army. Judging from Huo Xianming's expression, he seemed rather displeased. He first bowed slightly to Li Ji, then reached into his waistband, took out a brocade pouch, and slammed it onto the table with a "thud."

Judging from the noise, the contents of the brocade pouch are quite heavy.

Dou Wenchang, looking smug, picked up the brocade pouch, weighed it in his hand, and asked Huo Xianming, "Old Huo, are you not convinced?"

Huo Xianming stiffened his neck: "I refuse to accept this!" He then turned to Li Ji and bowed deeply. Li Ji hurriedly returned the bow: "What does Chief Secretary Huo mean by this?"

Huo Xianming said, "To be honest, I made a bet with this guy the other day. He said that Military Advisor Li would definitely return to Chang'an upon hearing the imperial edict. I said that Military Advisor Li was riding high in Longyou, having gained the appreciation of the Prince of Qi and achieved merit by killing barbarians, with his reputation resounding throughout the land. Why would he come to Chang'an to sit idly in the government office? In the end, I lost... So I ask Military Advisor Li, isn't killing barbarian thieves enjoyable? Why do you want to return to the court?"

Li Ji thought to himself that killing the barbarian bandits would be exhilarating, and being with Chen Fu, Yi Tiechui, and their troops would certainly be more pleasant than dealing with the eunuchs in the palace. However, since Li Yu had summoned him and Li Tan had agreed, how could he dare not return? But he feigned a solemn expression and bowed slightly to the north.

“Since Ji is a subject of the Tang Dynasty, how can he disobey the court’s orders? Whether it is defending Longyou against the barbarians or serving as a member of the Imperial Guard, it is all for the sake of the Emperor and the court. How can he only care about his own pleasure?”

Of course, he also knew that these words were too official and only an idiot would believe them, so he smiled slightly and said to the two eunuchs, "Now that you two are in charge of the Heroic Army, it is a joyous occasion for old friends to reunite."

Huo Xianming grabbed Li Ji's wrist and said earnestly, "Li Erlang is indeed a loyal minister. We have not misjudged him. No wonder the Crown Prince and the Prince of Fengjie have such high hopes for you."

Back when they were still in the capital, Li Ji had already gained some understanding of the three eunuchs who served the brothers. Ran Mao'er was just a child, innocent and naive, or rather, completely without any guile. Dou and Huo were a bit older and more shrewd. Judging from their outward appearances, Dou Wenchang always greeted people with a smile, while Huo Xianming seemed unrestrained in his emotions. But in reality, no one could guess what the former was thinking, and the latter was merely pretending to be a man of strong emotions, feigning that he was not wary of others.

For example, look at Huo Xianming's performance today. If he had come in smiling and chatting like Dou Wenchang, he would have fallen behind and wouldn't have stood out. Instead, he pretended to be unhappy because he lost a bet and questioned Li Ji. Li Ji answered casually, and Huo Xianming's expression changed instantly. He even seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally reminding Li Ji: "We are all under the Crown Prince and Prince Fengjie. As long as you don't have any thoughts of betrayal, we will get along well in the future."

Li Ji couldn't help but think to himself, "Those who have had their eggs removed from the palace are no pushovers..."

The two eunuchs agreed that after their evening shifts, they would host a banquet to welcome Li Ji and introduce him to his colleagues. Sure enough, when the time came, all the civil and military officials were present. The civil officials were mainly clerks and military advisors from various departments, while the military officials were mainly the so-called "four-color officials." The Left and Right Heroic Armies were led by eunuchs serving as chief clerks, with clerks and military advisors as their assistants. Therefore, the two eunuchs, Dou and Huo, occupied the main seats, with Li Ji and the Right Heroic Army's clerk and military advisor in the next positions, and the rest seated below them.

Li Ji carefully observed the Right Heroic Army Registrar, who was of the same rank and position as himself. He noticed that the man was quite tall—even taller than himself, probably more than six feet tall. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, a wide mouth, and a long beard. He looked quite heroic and was also quite in line with the aesthetics of that era.

Huo Xianming introduced him, saying, "This horse is indeed beautiful, a talented man from Ruzhou."

The other party quickly stood up, bowed to Li Ji, and said, "I dare not. I am Ma Sui. You may call me by my name, Military Advisor Li."

Chapter 46, Ghost Head Greatsword

Ma Sui, courtesy name Xunmei, was from Jia County, Ruzhou, and was thirty-four years old at the time.

Huo Xianming seemed to rely heavily on this man, and almost incessantly recounted his legendary experiences to Li Ji. It was said that this Ma Sui was also from a distinguished family, with generations of high-ranking officials. His father had served as the Prefect of Lanzhou and the Military Commissioner of Youzhou, so he grew up in the Northeast region.

After An Lushan raised his banner in rebellion and marched south, he appointed Jia Xun, the former deputy envoy of Pinglu, as the acting governor, stationed in Fanyang. Ma Sui secretly went to persuade Jia Xun to defect, and although Jia Xun agreed, his plans were not yet finalized. Soon, An Lushan heard rumors of this and sent his confidant Han Chaoyang back to Fanyang to lure and capture Jia Xun, who was then strangled. An Lushan then launched a city-wide manhunt for Ma Sui. Ma Sui fled to the Western Mountains, where he was rescued by the hermit Xu Yu. He then escaped to Pingyuan via a side path. After Pingyuan fell, he fled to Weijun. After Weijun fell, he returned to his hometown.

In the second year of the Zhide era, Li Heng held an imperial examination in Lingwu. Although Ma Sui failed, he was recommended by the prime minister Zhang Hao and was given the nominal position of Military Advisor of the Left Imperial Guard. This was because the Sixteen Guards were now just empty shells with no soldiers at all. Then, a new "Palace Archery" position was established, and Ma Sui was appointed as the Registrar of Military Affairs.

The structure of the two armies, led by the valiant generals, was essentially built by Ma Sui. In fact, he was the core figure of both armies, while the eunuchs Dou and Huo were merely parachuted in as chief clerks. Therefore, neither of them dared to bully Ma Sui because of their superior status; on the contrary, they treated him very well and relied on him deeply.

However, later in private, Dou Wenchang revealed to Li Ji that the reason Ma Sui was still able to gain the emperor's trust after Zhang Hao was dismissed was because he secretly gave gifts to Li Fuguo... So he might not be of one mind with us. We had to appease him before, but now that you, Li Canjun, have arrived, we can finally stand up to him—at least you have to help me firmly grasp the Left Army!

Li Ji was new to the area and still didn't know the situation, so he habitually pretended to be a roughneck. Before the banquet, he cupped his hands to Ma Sui and said, "I am a rough man. I only know how to charge into battle. I don't know much about official documents. I still need Military Advisor Ma to give me a lot of guidance. Since you have taken the imperial examination, your literary talent must be good."

Ma Sui also showed great enthusiasm, saying, "You flatter me. If I were talented, how could I have failed the imperial examination? The world is in turmoil, and the country is in disarray. A true man should make contributions to the country and save the world. How can I be a mere scholar? Although I have read military books and practiced archery and horsemanship, I have never been on the front lines. My knowledge of military strategy and maps is ultimately empty talk. I still need the guidance of 'Li Erlang,' who is skilled in defeating the barbarians."

Li Ji had a very good first impression of Ma Sui, mainly because of the sentence, "A great man should make contributions to the world and benefit all under heaven. How can he be a mere scholar?" He felt that the other man might be the same kind of person as himself.

In truth, given Li Ji's talent and the knowledge and experience he gained in his previous life, he had every opportunity to study and take the imperial examinations—after all, there were only a few classic texts; how difficult could it be? Passing the Jinshi examination was difficult enough; surely passing the Mingjing examination wouldn't be impossible? Moreover, in the Tang Dynasty, many scholars only began their studies in their late twenties, and generally, they didn't have the opportunity to take the imperial examinations and become officials until after the age of thirty. That's why Li Mi advised Li Ji, "Come with me to secluded Hengshan Mountain, study diligently for ten years, and you will surely pass the examinations..."

However, on the one hand, it would be a pity if this strong body were to gradually be worn away in the study. On the other hand, when the country is in trouble, people are displaced, thousands of villages are deserted, and tens of thousands of households are desolate, how much benefit can one bring to society by simply studying and learning, or even spending one's whole life studying classics? A great man should seek to become a prime minister in times of peace and a general in times of chaos. This is the right path. Ma Sui's words resonate deeply with me.

Besides the registrar, each of the Left and Right Heroic Armies had three other military advisors on duty: the granary officer (who also served as the cavalry officer), the military officer, and the armor officer—all belonging to the civil service system. The military officers were the so-called "four-color officials": the rank officer, the middle-ranking officer, the spear officer, and the halberd bearer. According to the quotas for the various armies of the Northern Army, there should have been sixteen of these positions in each army. However, the Left and Right Heroic Armies currently only had a quota of one thousand men each, so they didn't need that many officers. Therefore, there was only one rank officer, one middle-ranking officer, two spear officers, and two halberd bearers, totaling only twelve for both armies.

This is the command system of the entire army. The officers, captains, brigade commanders, and platoon leaders below them are not qualified to eat at the welcoming banquet.

Afterwards, Li Ji spent three whole days familiarizing himself with his job. In fact, the position of Registrar of Military Affairs was exactly as its name suggested; it was entirely an office-based official responsible for assisting the Chief Clerk, guiding the affairs of various departments, and managing and evaluating archives and accounts—basically the same responsibilities he had taken care of for Yang Yan before Xue Yong and his group officially joined the Longyou Military Headquarters.

To be honest, this job wasn't to Li Ji's liking. Fortunately, with an army of a thousand men, the related affairs weren't too tedious, and as the main force of the Imperial Guard, there was no fear of shortages of supplies. He could basically finish his official business in an hour or two each day, leaving him time to drink water and chat with the eunuchs Dou and Huo, or Ma Sui and the other military advisors. So, on his first day off, Li Ji made a special trip to visit Li Qiyun to strengthen their friendship and to inquire about the situation in the court—the man with the same name, Li Guayan, was still living in Li Qiyun's residence, studying diligently.

The specific year he will take the exam again depends on Li Qiyun's decision. Judging from Li Qiyun's intentions, he plans to torment Li Guayan until he is forty years old.

Back at the yamen, while handling official business, Li Ji received a document from the military clerk requesting the Ministry of War to requisition weapons and replace outdated ones. Upon reading it, Li Ji's heart stirred slightly, and he asked the clerk who delivered the document, "The requested weapons are all standard military equipment. If one wishes to request special items, what procedure should be followed?"

The clerk was shrewd and immediately understood Li Ji's intention. He clasped his hands and replied, "The military advisor may add one or two items that he needs, specifying their shape and weight. As long as the quantity is not large, the Ministry of War will not reject it according to custom."

"In the past, when these kinds of official documents were sent, who were they handed over to?"

"First, the document department will review and approve it, then forward it to the Imperial Guard, and finally to the Armory Administration, where the Armory Director or Assistant Director will allocate the funds..."

Li Ji thought to himself that this procedure was quite complicated, and he was not in the mood to run around to so many places. So he beckoned the clerk to come closer and asked directly, "I want to forge a weapon myself. It is not only not a standard military weapon, but also... there are almost no useful ones in this day and age. I must personally instruct the craftsmen. How should I do that?"

The minor official replied, “In that case, it is not advisable to go through the Armory of the Imperial Guard. The Imperial Guard does not have its own craftsmen or workshops; all weapons are manufactured by various workshops and gathered at the Guard. The military equipment manufacturing office in the capital is located in the Military Equipment Bureau, which has two departments: the Crossbow Department and the Armor Department. The Crossbow Department manufactures spears, bows and arrows, crossbows, and blades, while the Armor Department manufactures armor, leather ropes, and sinew and horn.

"If you need new weapons to join the army, you should first report to the Chief Clerk, get approval and file the documents, and then send a letter to the Ordnance Bureau. If you trust me, you can explain the situation to me and I will take care of it. If you are worried that I may not understand your intentions, you will have to go to the Ordnance Bureau in person to request them..."

Li Ji smiled and said, "It's not that I don't trust you, but I only have a rough idea of ​​the shape of that weapon. I still need to discuss it with the craftsman myself and make some improvements before it can be used..."

So he turned to Dou Wenchang and asked him to make a weapon for his own use. Dou Wenchang asked curiously, "The weapon that Changwei wants must be heavy and sharp. Could you tell me a little about its design beforehand?"

Although they were in a superior-subordinate relationship, Dou Wenchang did not dare to call Li Ji by his given name directly. He kept calling him "Military Advisor Li" all the time, which made Li Ji uncomfortable, so he simply asked Dou to call him by his courtesy name.

Li Ji replied, "I want to forge a large sword..." He then took out paper and pen and roughly sketched a design for Dou Wenchang to see.

The sword he drew was three feet long, four inches wide, and eight-tenths of an inch thick, with an arc-shaped blade—which was actually the shape of the ghost-head sword that was very common in later generations.

Several months earlier, Li Ji led his Shence Army soldiers, disguised as Uyghur cavalry, to attack the Tibetan army's fortifications south of Shancheng. While attempting to cut through the wooden palisades with their swords, they found it inconvenient and had a sudden inspiration. According to the timeline of cold weapon development in his timeline, cavalry swords would gradually transition from straight blades to curved blades—of course, curved blades existed long before, but their popularity in China was relatively late—because straight blades were useful for both thrusting and slashing, but less efficient for slashing. As heavy armor became less effective, cavalry would find slashing with their swords more convenient.

However, most cavalrymen used scimitars with goose feathers, but Li Ji, relying on his strength, felt that the ghost-head saber, with its thick back, wide body, and heavy weight, would be easier to wield. However, although he had studied ancient weapons in his previous life, he was completely ignorant of casting techniques and mechanical principles, so he had to communicate with craftsmen and listen to the opinions of professionals first.

Previously in Shanzhou, he had made a similar request, but the craftsmen flatly rejected it. No one had ever forged a scimitar before; in fact, although they knew of its existence—some tribes in the Western Regions used scimitars—they had never even seen one. How could they dare to attempt to make one? They all made excuses, saying they lacked experience and their skills were not superior, suggesting that Inspector Li should try to find renowned craftsmen in the two capitals to make one…

Li Ji was forced to put the matter aside for the time being, until today when he was sitting in the yamen and received an official document demanding the return of weapons, which reminded him of the matter again.

After drawing the design, Dou Wenchang stared at it for a long time, completely baffled. He knew it was a sword, but he had never even heard of a similar shape before… It seemed that commanding soldiers was indeed not easy; he still needed to learn more. He couldn't offer any criticism, and could only flatter Li Ji: "This sword is so heavy that only the 'Second Brother Li' who defeated the barbarians could wield it!"

He then stated that he had approved it and that the person could go back and file it. He added, "There is no need to deal with the Military Equipment Bureau. I know the head of the Crossbow Workshop. I will send him a private message and order him to lead the guards to the workshop."

The head of the Crossbow Workshop of the Military Equipment Bureau was a civil official of the lower eighth rank, only one rank below Li Ji, but their actual status was worlds apart—a military advisor in the Imperial Guard, how could he be compared to a minor official in the outer court? In addition, there was a private letter from Dou Wenchang, which clearly stated that it was "Li Erlang of the Destroyer of the Barbarians" seeking a knife, so how could he dare to refuse?

Dou is no ordinary Imperial Guard Chief Clerk; he is a eunuch, a close confidant of the Emperor. Li is no ordinary Imperial Guard Advisor either; his reputation has spread throughout the two capitals, and who does not respect him? All he asks for is a knife, but even if he asks for a crossbow or armor, I must make it easy for him.

Oh, it's a pity that the production of armor is not under my jurisdiction...

The next morning, Li Ji first reported to the Zuo Yingwu Army Headquarters, then rode straight to the capital to pay his respects to the Director of the Crossbow Workshop of the Military Equipment Bureau. The Director of the Crossbow Workshop was extremely hospitable, offering water and soup. After understanding Li Ji's purpose and reading Dou Wenchang's letter, he immediately set off, leading Li Ji to the weapons workshop.

The four weapon workshops under the Crossbow Workshop were all located outside Anhua Gate in the south of the city—because they had to draw water from the Yong'an Canal or Qingming Canal nearby. As soon as the Crossbow Workshop Manager entered the workshop, he ordered "Old Huang" to come over.

This "Old Huang" was said to be the most skilled craftsman in weapon forging. Li Ji had imagined him to be a six-foot-tall man or a fifty-year-old elder, but to his surprise, when he came to greet him, he was a young man, only five feet four inches tall—a little over 1.6 meters in modern times—with a baby face, a short mustache, and rather muscular limbs and rough skin. However, he seemed quite different from the blacksmith he had in mind...

The head of the crossbow workshop explained, "Old Huang has been under the command of this department for three generations. Even he himself has more than 30 years of experience in blacksmithing and knife forging. You can rest assured, Erlang, and just tell him what kind of knife you need."

Li Ji was startled upon hearing this and hurriedly asked, "May I ask your age..."

Old Huang chuckled憨厚ly, “I’m just a straw man, unworthy of the title ‘Your Excellency’—I started learning to forge knives from my father when I was eight, and now I’m forty-one years old.”

Li Ji thought to himself, "No way, I thought you were at most thirty... We both have baby faces. Speaking of which, will I still look this young in twenty years?" He couldn't help but touch his thick beard—maybe by then, he'd have to shave it off and thin it out, just like this old Huang...

So he roughly sketched out a simple diagram of the Ghost Head Saber and asked Old Huang, "Is it possible to forge such a saber?"

Old Huang frowned, staring at the drawing for a long time before slowly saying, "The shape of this sword is quite strange. It seems to be a thicker and more robust version of the curved sword of the Anxi barbarians... Unless you are a brave warrior, I'm afraid you won't be able to wield it..."

The crossbow workshop manager shouted, "Just tell me if you can forge it or not!" He pointed at Li Ji and said, "This is Li Erlang, who single-handedly defeated the barbarians in Shancheng. He is the bravest man of our time. What heavy weapon could he not wield?"

Upon hearing this, Old Huang was quite surprised and looked Li Ji up and down: "So, Second Brother Li... is a civil official?!"

The crossbow workshop foreman slammed his hand on the table: "Li Erlang is skilled in both literature and martial arts! Can you actually forge this sword?"

Old Huang stammered, "The knife can be used, but it's not very practical..." He then clasped his hands towards Li Ji and said, "I've heard that if it weren't for Li Erlang assisting His Highness Prince Qi in driving out the barbarian invaders, even Xijing Fengxiang might have been reduced to ashes. Therefore, being able to forge weapons for Li Erlang is truly a blessing accumulated over three generations. If it were anyone else, I would have forged them without further ado; but since it's Li Erlang, I have a few words of advice, I wonder if you would be willing to listen?"

Li Ji waved his hand to stop the crossbow workshop manager from interrupting, then sincerely returned the bow to Lao Huang and said, "I also made this knife on a whim, and I don't know if it's suitable for me yet. I'm about to consult a specialist—I hope you won't hesitate to give me your advice."

Old Huang said, "How dare this straw man call himself a 'scholar'? But when it comes to forging military weapons, I'd be so bold as to claim 'expertise.' I dare not lie, this knife looks heavy, but in reality, it might not be as effective as an axe or halberd at cutting through armor. A knife is still just a knife; it can only cleave through light armor or gaps in heavy armor. If Li Erlang wants to kill the barbarian bandits, he should use a long spear or a large lance..."

Li Ji said, "I would like to use this knife on foot..."

Old Huang said, "On the battlefield, one rider can break through ten paces. The dignified Li Erlang must have a fine steed to ride. Why must he dismount and fight on foot? If it is to be used as a spare after losing a horse, this knife is too thick and large, and it is not easy to carry."

Before Li Ji could answer, the head of the crossbow workshop spoke up: "I thought Erlang would use this knife to prepare for defeating the enemy on horseback. But if it's for foot soldiers... to be honest, you are currently on duty in the palace, so it's not appropriate for you to carry such a weapon..."

Chapter 47, The Blue Lotus Blooms

During the Tang Dynasty, scholars often carried swords; even civil officials would frequently wear a long sword or saber at their waist. However, many important departments prohibited weapons from being brought into the palace, especially the Forbidden City—what would you be doing bringing a knife into the palace? Were you planning to assassinate the emperor?

Of course, the Imperial Guards must be equipped with weapons, but there are very detailed regulations regarding what kind of weapons to use and which part of the Forbidden City they can operate in. As for Li Ji, he could naturally carry a sword to work every day, because after entering the Eastern Palace, the area he could set foot in was only a very small part.

—If Li Heng were to issue an edict to receive Li Ji in the Hanyuan Hall or Xuanzheng Hall of the outer court, or in the Zichen Hall or Linde Hall of the inner court, Li Ji would certainly have to remove his weapons and have his back searched before he could enter the audience.

So the head of the crossbow workshop said, "Li Erlang, it's fine for you to carry the standard military sword and move around the Forbidden City. If you were to use other weapons, given your current status and position, as long as you don't go to key departments, everyone would turn a blind eye. But this new type of broadsword is really too big and too conspicuous, so it's best not to bring it into the Forbidden City."

I don't know whether this knife is particularly useful or not, but personally, I think it's a super weapon. Wouldn't bringing such a weapon into the palace arouse suspicion from superiors and colleagues? Moreover, if the censor sees it, he will surely submit a memorial impeaching you…

Li Ji, finding his words reasonable, stroked his beard and pondered. He had originally intended to forge it first and keep it for future use on the battlefield, but upon further reflection on what Old Huang had said—that the Ghost Head Blade might not be as effective as an axe for slashing and armor-piercing—he realized that in his timeline, the Ghost Head Blade was primarily used by executioners for beheadings, or by warriors wielding it in hand-to-hand combat when cold and firearms were mixed. In other words, the targets it slashed were mostly unarmored, or at least not heavily armored.

In the current battlefield, spears and lances are most effective against heavily armored enemies; against lightly armored or unarmored enemies, the goose-feather blade is sufficient... Did I forge a ghost-head broadsword just to split up camps? To be honest, an axe would be better.

Oh, the axe is heavy and inconvenient to carry, and the ghost-headed broadsword is equally inconvenient to carry—I can only carry it on my back, and it may not be easy to draw it when it comes to actual fighting.

After thinking for a while, he asked Old Huang, "I find the horizontal sword too light and inconvenient to use. If we don't make this sword, do you have any suggestions?"

Old Huang said, "If Li Erlang wants a heavy, armor-piercing, and inconspicuous short weapon that he can carry on his person daily, I have some recommendations." He then ordered his apprentice to go inside and bring out three weapons.

Li Ji took a look and recognized them all: one was a hammer, one was a whip, and one was a mace.

He took them one by one, weighed them in his hand, and swung them around a few times. These three weapons were probably Old Huang's masterpieces. The handles were very handy, and the center of gravity was also very well made. Although they were still a bit light, they were still usable.

"All three are excellent. If you had to choose one, what would you recommend?"

Old Huang said, "I don't recommend using a hammer, because it's convenient to use immediately but inconvenient to carry around..." If you wear it daily, it's mostly tied to your waist. Such a big hammer head would make a lot of noise, and it would definitely hurt your legs when you walk.