The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 275

Xiao Xin then asked, "Master Lu, may I study under you?"

Lu Deming was taken aback at first, then nodded and led Xiao Xin to his courtyard.

"Although I was sent by His Majesty to receive instruction from Master Xu, Master Xu has not assigned me to teach students these days, so I'm afraid I have nothing to teach you."

Xiao Xin immediately burst into laughter and said, "I didn't originally want to study, but you're just my type, so..."

"So you want to hear a story from me?" Lu Deming said, and Xiao Xin nodded.

Lu Deming said, "Very well, I led troops for two years when I was away from home. That was also the most chaotic time in the Tang Dynasty. There were Turks in the west and Di Rong in the east. At that time, there were few soldiers and generals, and the army's supplies were incomplete."

Even so, generals often lead their soldiers to victory. Do you know why?

Xiao Xin's eyes lit up at first, then he asked, "Why?"

Lu Deming said, "That's because of morale. We know we must win this battle. If we let the Turks pass, we will open the gates of the entire Tang Dynasty. These Turkic cavalry will surely drive straight into the heart of the Tang Dynasty from Yumen Pass."

Meanwhile, other barbarian tribes to the east were also eyeing the Tang Dynasty covetously. I remember once when a general went on an expedition, he went to the Turks to steal sheep in order to provide meat for his soldiers. He finally managed to steal the mutton back, but he was discovered halfway there.

After he placed the mutton at the designated location, he was captured and taken back. In the end, he was cut into eight pieces and put into a large cauldron by the Turks to be cooked alive.

Later, after the soldier ate the mutton that the general had stolen, he practiced diligently and his health improved day by day.

Then another battle broke out, and this soldier actually beheaded the Turkic prince. He then collapsed in anger, fell from his horse, and was trampled into the mud by thousands of horses.

Lu Deming spoke with great interest, explaining that such things often happened on the battlefield, with soldiers looking out for each other.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xin's eyes suddenly reddened, and he burst into tears. This left Lu Deming somewhat helpless, and he asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Xin wiped away his tears hastily and said, "I never knew there were such heartbreaking things on the battlefield. I've been living a life of luxury since I was a child, and I always found beef and mutton quite tiresome. I never imagined that someone would give their life for another person, just so that he could recover and serve the country."

After listening to Lu Deming's stories for several days, Xiao Xin suddenly said with a devout expression one day, "Master, I think war is not a long-term solution."

Lu Deming nodded and said, "That's right. We can indeed gain a lot of territory through war, but if the war goes on for a long time, the people will be displaced and there will be a lot of suffering."

Thinking back to when I was in Lanling, everyone was arrogant and haughty. Their carriages were made of pearls from the East China Sea and were woven with gold thread. Their lives were extremely luxurious. And these people kept saying that if there was no war, how could the country be protected?

The Lanling people have always believed that only war can ensure national peace and deter powerful enemies from invading. But now it seems that the Xiao family is far too arrogant.

Lu Deming didn't know what had happened to Xiao Xin. These days, Xiao Xin often came to him to listen to stories. Since Lu Deming had nothing to do at Beishan Academy, he told him the stories he knew one by one.

Xiao Xin suddenly burst into tears, leaving Lu Deming feeling helpless. But as he continued to cry, Xiao Xin seemed to have become a different person than before.

It turns out that Xiao Xin had written a letter arguing with his clan patriarch about whether war or peace was preferable. The Xiao clan patriarch naturally argued that the Lanling youths were the future hope of the Tang Dynasty, and if they didn't study well, they shouldn't go back.