Chapter Sixty-One: Guo Yuanzhen, the Wise General of the Tang Dynasty

The West Market of Chang'an.

Xue Ne walked through the horse market with Pei Min. The people passing by were either aristocrats dressed in fine silks and riding spirited horses or slovenly, dirt-stained grooms. Because the market was filled with the pungent scent of manure and urine—a hallmark of livestock—most people avoided it. It seemed only these two extremes existed here: the wealthy masters who could afford horses and the laborers who sold them. Even horse traders rarely lingered in such a place.

Pei Min gazed at the stallions of varying heights and colors, his eyes nearly swimming. He understood why Xue Ne had brought him here, and he looked at the man walking ahead of him with a touch of emotion. Given Xue Ne’s status and prestige, he had nothing to gain from Pei Min; his actions were born purely of appreciation and mentorship. Because of this, Pei Min felt a faint resonance with the ancient sentiment that a scholar would gladly die for one who truly understands him.

"For the military examinations, to ensure fairness and impartiality, the government provides all horses and bows. Therefore, the ability to judge a horse and recognize a bow becomes exceptionally important," Xue Ne said, walking in front without stopping. "Even after you enter officialdom, having an extra skill is always a benefit. You don't need to become a master horse judge like Bo Le, but at the very least, when a good horse is placed before you, you must be able to recognize it and understand why it is good."

Pei Min listened humbly.

"Take this one, for example..." Xue Ne pointed to a fat black horse lying on the ground, covered in rolls of fat. "What do you think of this one?"

Pei Min looked it up and down, pulled a face of disappointment, and shook his head vigorously.

Xue Ne chuckled. "Your eye is off. You shouldn't judge people by their appearance, but with horses, it is different. You should judge them by their form. A horse’s traits are reflected directly in its body... Look at those sharp teeth; you can tell it’s a good eater. Eating well means growing strong—it’s a truth even a child understands. This is the most rudimentary form of horse-judging. Don't be fooled by its lazy, fat appearance; it is precisely because of that fat that it can endure hunger, and its laziness shows it knows how to rest, which allows it to run for long distances. Every horse, regardless of breed, has its strengths and weaknesses. This is a common breed, but if you really let it run, my own fine Hequ stallion couldn't outrun it in a long-distance race. Now, look at this one..." He pointed to a small, thin colt nearby. "Look at its nose. The nostrils are large. The *Classic of Horses* says a large nose implies large lungs, and large lungs mean endurance. Therefore, this horse must excel at short-distance sprints. It would likely turn tail and bolt on the battlefield, and it can't match my Hequ horse for speed, but I suspect it would be a fraction faster than your little chestnut."

Xue Ne led Pei Min from one end of the horse market to the other, analyzing almost every horse, good or bad, along the way.

Pei Min’s eyes were opened wide. He had never imagined that judging horses was such a profound discipline, requiring so much specialized knowledge.

After touring the market, Xue Ne took Pei Min to his residence in Chang'an, where he brought out his own collection of bows and taught him the techniques for identifying and maintaining them.

It was dark by the time Pei Min returned to his own quarters. He did not rush to sleep; instead, he ran three laps with his horse and practiced mounted archery for over an hour until his arms were so sore and numb that he could no longer draw the bow. Only then did he stop. Liu Shenwei had already timed his preparations, readying a steaming medicinal bath. Thanks to the bath, Pei Min woke up the next morning feeling fully recovered and at peak condition.

Without hesitation, he headed to the training grounds as usual, though this time he did not train intensely, opting instead to gently reacquaint himself with the state and rhythm of mounted archery.

After breakfast, Pei Min bid farewell to Xue Ne, Liu Shenwei, and Sun Pu, and set off for the Ministry of War.

The military examinations had begun during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, but in the end, it had been merely a whim of hers. It had never received much attention from the imperial court, far trailing behind the civil examinations, where success meant instant nationwide fame. There were no grand celebrations like the Qujiang Banquet or the inscribing of names at the Wild Goose Pagoda. To describe it as ignored would be no exaggeration.

When Pei Min arrived at the Ministry of War, he realized just how desolate the military examinations were. In his memory, when he had taken the civil examinations, the entrance to the Ministry of Rites had been swarming with nearly three thousand people—two thousand candidates, plus parents and curious onlookers. Now, standing before him, aside from the six soldiers guarding the gate, the entire street was completely empty.

"Did I come to the wrong place?" Pei Min looked at the plaque hanging high above, reading "Ministry of War," and even began to doubt himself.

"What are you staring at? This is a restricted military zone—no loitering!" a soldier barked angrily.

Seeing the soldier’s fierce demeanor, Pei Min suddenly understood: while the Ministry of War might not have the high status of the Ministry of Rites, the common people’s fear of it was far greater. With a group of fierce soldiers in charge, ordinary citizens dared not linger.

Pei Min stepped closer, intending to produce his identification.

The soldier stared blankly at Pei Min, then suddenly exclaimed, "Are you Pei Min?"

Pei Min felt a surge of joy, surprised that his reputation had spread so far that even a gate guard knew him. He nodded and smiled, "I am indeed!"

The soldier’s expression softened into a smile. "Ah, the 'Literary Star' has arrived! Minister Guo has been asking about you for a while now. Little Liu, take the Literary Star inside." He then instructed Pei Min, "The Ministry of War is a military restricted area; there are many secrets here, so don't wander off. Follow Little Liu closely, and he will take you to register."

Pei Min understood the importance of the situation and said cautiously, "Don't worry, brother, I understand." With that, he followed the soldier named Little Liu into the Ministry of War.

Little Liu was a tall, thin soldier with a stern temperament. He didn't speak a word along the way, strictly following orders as he led Pei Min through the vast and winding government complex.

They arrived at a large courtyard, and Little Liu bowed to the guards at the gate, saying, "Please, report that Pei Min has..." Before he could finish, a weathered, raspy voice came from within the hall: "Let him in!"

Little Liu gestured for Pei Min to enter.

Pei Min was a bit confused, but after a moment of thought, he walked into the courtyard.

What met his eyes was a spacious yard where a thin, elderly man was shirtless, practicing a set of unknown boxing techniques. The form was poor, resembling that of a young boy of eight or nine just beginning his martial training, yet the old man was practicing with intense focus, his face grave and solemn.

Pei Min did not want to disturb him and stood to the side to wait, his mind filled with curiosity and speculation. "Could this old man be Dou Chen? That can't be right—he's so old, and he's only a Vice Minister?"

"So you are the Pei Min that old brother Xue is always talking about. You certainly have a fine appearance!"

The old man stopped and looked at Pei Min with piercing eyes.

Pei Min’s mind jolted. He looked at the unimpressive old man before him in disbelief, suddenly realizing his true identity: he was no mere Vice Minister named Dou Chen—he was the heavyweight of the Ministry of War, Guo Yuanzhen.

He was the brilliant strategist of the Great Tang who had employed a scheme to sow discord and eliminate the Tibetan war god Gar Tongtsen, triggering internal chaos in the Tibetan Empire, while simultaneously fortifying the defenses of Liangzhou and governing the Western Regions with legendary military exploits... Guo Yuanzhen!