At the end of the next day, the sky was not completely bright, the eastern sky was dyed red, and the dawn light passed through the clouds, smearing the entire Luoyang with a layer of golden light. A group of Sui cavalry set out from Xinye and finally escorted the Tang envoy to Luoyang.

As an envoy of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jiancheng also brought a thousand soldiers, but he failed to enter the country, but was escorted by the Sui army.

Looking at the world, only the Li Tang Dynasty is barely qualified to be the enemy of the Sui Dynasty, but not only are they prone to civil strife, but even the army is pinned down by the Sui army on the Hanshui defense line, and the Beizhen Army is so arrogant, although the father and emperor calculated that they can't be unscrupulous, but on the contrary, it also proves that the Tang Dynasty does not have too many troops, otherwise, how can the rebels be allowed to make chaos under their noses? If it is replaced by the Sui army, if the Sui army breaks through a certain junction of the Hanshui defense line, the next step of the Sui army will be like the Beizhen army, killing under the city of Xiangyang. It can be said that the stalemate between the Beizhen Army and the Tang Army was a rehearsal for the Sui and Tang Dynasties, but can the Sui Army and the Beizhen Army be the same?

Out of this consideration, Li Jiancheng had the idea of a truce and made a truce with the Sui Dynasty in order to draw out the intertwined army. But at the same time, he also knew that the Tang Dynasty did not have any capital to make Yang Tong tempted, and if Yang Tong really wanted to take the Jingbei Prefecture, the paper-like Hanshui defense line was broken as early as last year, so why wait until today? Even if you want to break it now, it doesn't seem to be a big problem. To tell the truth, if Li Jiancheng and Yang Tong were allowed to change places, he would definitely not agree to a truce, because Yizhou was already in danger of mountains and rivers, and if the Tang army could completely retreat into Yizhou, it would only bring great arrangements, and it would be the king to eliminate it in Jingbei.

It is impossible for Yang Tong not to be clear about such a simple truth, which also means that the truce agreement is just a hot spot in the Tang Dynasty, and if you don't come up with something that makes Yang Dong tempted, it is not enough to impress it. And what makes Yang Tong excited? Li Jiancheng didn't know at first, but it wasn't until his father mentioned the imperial examination that Li Jiancheng thought of Fang Xuanling's true intentions, and deduced that the thing that could make Yang Tong tempted was actually the scholar clan. Because he knew that Yang Tong didn't like the scholars, just like he didn't like the Guanlong nobles, he hated all the family lords who had been powerful for hundreds of years, and he wanted to smash all the old forces, but he was worried that the unification of the world would be too early, so that these people would become vain vains, and if he did it at that time, it would only be in vain, so he needed to slaughter them in the war, and it was best for Li Tang to act as this executioner. And this is where he has the confidence to propose the pseudo-imperial examination and the truce agreement to his father, if Yang Tong still does not agree, then he is really helpless.

When I walked to the city gate, I saw a group of civil officials waiting by the city gate, led by a beautiful young man wearing a royal robe.

The princes of the Great Sui are scarce, and there is only one adult prince, Yang Yu, unlike their Li Tang Dynasty, the princes of the Li clan are flying all over the sky, and with the prince, they must have fiefdoms, private armies, and effective loyal staff, even if they have no talent and no virtue, they must occupy important positions, and they can make trouble for you if they have nothing to do, and there are many sectarians who have no merit and mediocre talents think how powerful they are, and their blatant 'self-defilement' has caused Li Jiancheng, who is in charge of the affairs of the Tang Dynasty, to have a headache...... Look at the Sui Dynasty, the prince only has two uncles and nephews, Yang Yu and Yang Rong, and the county king has one Yang Gongren. In front of him, there is no need to guess that Yang Yu was also taken away by their Li family.

"But the envoy of the Tang Dynasty?" At this time, Yang Yu paced forward.

"In Xia Li Jiancheng, it is the Tang envoy."

Yang Yu smiled and arched his hand: "In Xia Yang Yu, I have a special welcome on the order of the imperial brother, and Brother Jiancheng has worked hard." ”

"There's a Lao Ren shop." Li Jiancheng, who returned the gift, was flattered, but also had a feeling of emotion in his heart.

His current identity is an envoy, according to the convention, at most he is greeted by the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and there is indeed Du Ruhui next to the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, which shows that Yang Yu has nothing to do with the exchanges between the two countries now, but the display of Yang Dong's friendship.

At this moment, Li Jiancheng heard the sound of gongs and drums in the city, and there were bursts of cheers from time to time.

Du Ruhan on the side said with a smile: "The day before yesterday was the day of the imperial examination, and today is the day when the students of the middle school are paraded on the street to praise officials; Whether it is liberal arts or martial arts, it will be so grand, one is to make talented people feel honored, and the other is to inspire our people to study poetry and books and practice martial arts diligently, so every time they parade through the streets, the city is very lively. ”

"It's a great way to have the best of both worlds." Li Jiancheng suddenly realized and said very curiously: "Can you have a good look?" ”

"Of course, please!"

"Please."

A group of people rode into the city, only to see the crowd of people in Tianjie, as if it was a festival in the New Year, at a glance there were hundreds of thousands of people gathered on both sides of the street, and the soldiers maintained order in three steps and one post, five steps and one sentry.

After a while, a large group of men and horses appeared on the royal road, in front of which were a thousand cavalry who opened the road, followed by a drum band beating gongs and drums and suona sounds, and finally there were young soldiers of about two hundred people.

They appeared in the streets on snow-white and colorless tall horses. They were dressed in scarlet brocade robes, winged gauze hats, and clusters of brocade and red flowers on their chests. In order to prevent the horses from being frightened, each of the scholar's horses was led by an alien groom, and a group of mermaids walked in, attracting loud applause from the people on both sides.

Li Jiancheng was very touched in his heart, the Tang Dynasty was still arguing fiercely about the opening of the imperial examination, but the imperial examination had been realized in the Sui Dynasty for many years, gathering the hearts of the Han scholars in the world, and absorbing the Han scholars with glory and official positions for their own use. The most discussed incident in the Tang Dynasty was the Luoyang Student Riot, and the tone of many courtiers was full of the sense of schadenfreude of the villain, as if the Great Sui Imperial Examination had really suffered a heavy setback. But in reality, the so-called great rebellion in the Sui Dynasty was nothing more than a trickle into the sea, without setting off a single ripple.

This made Li Jiancheng feel a strong sense of crisis in his heart, their Tang Dynasty had fallen too far behind. The Sui Dynasty not only achieved major military victories one after another, but also developed at an astonishing speed in other aspects.

Along the way, he saw that the government organized the people to build water conservancy, and also saw many, many young men working in the fields, instead of wearing armor and being soldiers, which was not only a reflection of national strength, but also the implementation of the Sui Dynasty's elite soldier line, which led to a large number of young men leaving the war to ensure the tax revenue of the imperial court, so that the army had no worries about food and no military salaries.

"This army seems to be different." At this time, the deputy envoy Chen Shuda found a team of brocade-clothed guards patrolling the streets, and they all had cold faces, giving him the feeling that they were the 'Wuchuan Guards' of the Sui Dynasty.

"This is the Luoyang City Guards, they are in danger of the imperial capital, during the performance of official duties, they are cold weapons, they can't chat with anyone, even if their parents and relatives who haven't seen each other for many years are in front of them, the city guards will not communicate half a sentence." Du Ruhui said with a smile.

"I have heard for a long time that Emperor Shengwu admires the Legalists, and now it seems that it has been effective, but the city guards have suppressed their emotions for a long time, and sooner or later there will be problems, right?" Chen Shuda said with a smile. Confucianism pays attention to the rule of virtue, advocating loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and other emotions, while Legalism restricts personal behavior and emotions with laws.

"No, it won't." Du Ruhui shook his head and said: "There are 30,000 city guards in total, and they are rotated once a month, and the replaced soldiers can go home to plow the fields, do business, and then come back to duty after March." Of course, in order to ensure their combat effectiveness, they will be assessed for their martial arts and physical strength after they come back, if they are not qualified, they will be kicked out of the city guards, and they will be replaced by other strong people, and the replaced people can only go back to the local area to be county soldiers, if they do not pass the county soldier assessment, they can only leave the army, and if they want to continue to serve in the army, they can only wait until the time of the expansion of the army to participate in the selection. ”

Li Jiancheng and Chen Shuda glanced at each other, and they both saw the horror in each other's eyes, if Yang Tong's army was eliminated layer by layer, then how terrifying was the battle of the Sui army?

"What happens when the army goes out and is bought? Aren't you worried at all? Li Jiancheng smiled reluctantly.

"The children of military personnel receive free education, their families can enjoy honor, and the people of the same village harvest food for the families of military families; Every year, farmers in the same village send 300 catties of dry firewood to the families of military families... In short, any government policy to benefit the people is given priority to military dependents. The most important thing is the most important military merit of the Great Sui, people who are eager to open up the territory and expand the territory abound, if the soldier dies in battle, the local martyr's cemetery is engraved with his name, every Qingming season, the local government organizes the people to worship collectively, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a hundred generations. If it were Mr. Chan, what would he choose? Du Ruhui asked rhetorically.

Chen Shuda replied speechlessly, this person lives for a lifetime, and what he needs is nothing more than the word 'fame and fortune', not to mention that it is the pursuit of most people, just for the families of the soldiers, the soldiers of the Sui army can't refuse, and the Tang Dynasty, which is the enemy of the Sui Dynasty, can't give these at all, how can the soldiers be bought off to the second?

Chen Shuda glanced at Yang Yu, who was silent, his eyes suddenly moved, put aside the topic, and said with a smile: "Du Shangshu leaked such a military secret of your army, so he is not afraid of trouble?" ”

"The Great Sui Dynasty acted uprightly, there was nothing unseemly, and it would not hide like a mouse. Everyone knows everything Du Shangshu said, what kind of secret is this? "Yang Yu has stayed behind for so many years, dealing with a cadre of Guanlong nobles every day, and watching Wei Xuan resolve all kinds of conspiracies and tricks every day, of course he is not a political idiot, how can he not know Chen Shuda's sinister intentions to sow discord?

Yang Yu knew that Chen Shuda was talented, and he could understand the anti-Sui heart of Nan Chen's disciples, but he just looked down on this person, this Chen Shuda was obviously very powerful, but as the emperor's son, he was subordinate to Li Yuan and became a lackey. Look at Xiao Milling again, that is also the emperor's son who was destroyed by the Sui Dynasty, but they have a clear banner against Sui Fuliang, even if they fail in the end, they will not live up to the glory of the emperor's children, this is what the emperor's children and real men should do.

He looked down on Chen Shuda, so he not only explained, but also stabbed Chen Shuda fiercely, calling the younger brother of Empress Chen 'hiding and hiding mice', and came out to do unsightly things whenever he had the opportunity.

Chen Shuda's breath was stagnant, and he was both embarrassed and angry in his heart.

"The post house has arrived." Du Ruhui laughed secretly in his heart, spoke out at the right time, resolved the embarrassing atmosphere, and led them to a row of palace-like buildings.

Li Jiancheng looked up, but saw that above the main building, which was five zhang high, there were three big characters written 'Embassy', one stroke after another was like a knife sharpening an axe and chisel, and the atmosphere was majestic, and he couldn't help but praise: "Good words." ”

"Brother Huang wrote." Yang Yu said.

Li Jiancheng also recognized Yang Tong's words, and said with emotion: "What Renjin has learned is broad and profound, and every achievement is the best in the contemporary era; How generous is God's kindness? ”

"Who makes the family the son of the times, my generation of laypeople can't compare." Yang Yu said with a smile.

Li Jiancheng was stunned, Yang Yu's very casual words made him realize that Yang Tong and Yang Yu had a very good relationship, and then thought about his uneasy brothers... It felt like tears.

"Who are those?" At this time, Li Jiancheng saw rows of Hu people, although these people were dressed in jewelry, but their faces were Sui people groveling, even ordinary guards were courteous to these people.

"Some were envoys of small countries on the Silk Road, and some were envoys of the leaders of the Western Turkic tribes. The small countries near the Western Regions can reach as far as Persia. Either they want to be vassals to the Great Sui and join the Silk Road Alliance in order to seek protection; Or they hope to open up a new Silk Road and bring them business opportunities to get rich. Du Ruhui said very casually.

Li Jiancheng and Chen Shuda only felt bitter, they also have a Ministry of Rites, but the Ministry of Rites official Yamen can be a lot of birds, it is hard to hear, the Ministry of Rites is where they raise idlers, and then look at the official office of the Ministry of Rites of the Sui Dynasty, foreign envoys came thousands of miles to give gifts, and they actually had to wait in line, and the Ministry of Rites arrived in the Sui Dynasty, and it was clearly the Yamen with real power.

Li Jiancheng is also keenly aware of the maids here, and also has a seemingly cordial, but actually rejects the arrogance of thousands of miles away, this kind of magnificence of a woman is only possessed by such ladies in Xiangyang.

Those Fanbang envoys were quite polite and polite to these maids, but from the obscene glances of many envoys inadvertently, it can be seen that these Fanbang envoys are not good, but they don't dare to have bad intentions towards these maids, why? Naturally, it was the powerful Great Sui Dynasty and the powerful military might that made them have to put away the evil thoughts in their hearts.

Looking back at the Tang Dynasty that was about to make peace with Tubo, it was difficult for Li Jiancheng not to be discouraged.

"Everyone, it's here." Yang Yu and Du Ruhui took Li Jiancheng and others to an independent courtyard.

"It seems to be twice as big as the other courtyards, I don't know why?" Li Jiancheng asked with a smile.

"Those small countries in Fanbang, it's good to be able to come in, who is eligible to enjoy the best treatment." Du Ru's bland words were full of arrogance.

Li Jiancheng nodded with a complicated face, he was afraid that the more he knew, the less he would have the heart to win with the Sui Dynasty, so he simply stopped talking.

Everyone sat down and waited until the maid served tea and left, Du Ruhui asked: "Tang envoy came this time, there must be something important, if we don't even know your intentions, naturally we don't know how to negotiate, please make it clear, so that we can reply to the right." ”

Speaking of business, Li Jiancheng looked solemn and bowed: "Jiancheng came on the orders of his father, first, to respond to the visit of Fang Shangshu and Du Shangshu years ago. Second, the two Shangshu were entrusted by the emperor of the Gui Dynasty to put forward an initiative to end hostility and coexist peacefully. After careful consideration, it was agreed that the original settlement agreement of the Gui Dynasty was to use the five counties of Jingzhou, Xiangyang, Chungling, Jingling, Yiling, and Qingjiang to reach a settlement. ”

Du Ruhui sneered in his heart.

What do you mean by promise?

If I really agreed, I would have signed it earlier. Li Yuan obviously saw that Li Mi was destroyed, and felt that he could not hold the five counties of Jingbei, so he simply used it to exchange for a year's respite, and allowed the Tang army on the Hanshui defense line to completely evacuate.

The idea is good, don't you know what it means to be 'not what it used to be' and what is meant by 'the changing state of the world'?

He asked quietly, "Is there any other purpose besides?" ”

"In addition, in order to prevent conflicts, each side sent envoys to the other side's capital to facilitate timely communication."

"I see." Du Ruhui nodded and said, "I will definitely report to the Holy Lord truthfully." ”

After finishing his business, Li Jiancheng said to Yang Yu: "I have a private request, please Renpu to report on your behalf." ”

"Brother Jiancheng, please say, only the younger brother can do it, and it will never be difficult." Yang Yu was very polite.

"I have been separated from my third sister for many years, I want to see her, and I also want to see my niece."

Li Jiancheng and Li Xiuning brother and sister love deeply, after many years of separation, the feeling of missing is like old wine, the older the more fragrant, although she knows that she is living well in Dasui, but after arriving in Luoyang, the heart of reunion is more earnest.

When Yang Yu heard that it was this incident, he couldn't help laughing, "This is simple, the younger brother must report to the imperial brother." Your niece's name is Yang Lu, nicknamed Xiaolu, that girl is quirky and very cute, and my brother must like it very much when he sees it. ”

"Really? I can't wait. Li Jiancheng liked it in his heart, hesitated for a moment, and said: "In addition, the eldest grandson Wuji is also here, his mood is the same as mine, can he ......?"

"I see, let's report together." Yang Yu responded.

"You've worked hard all the way, so let's rest first. Let me go down and go to the courtesy. Seeing that it was almost over, Du Ruhui said goodbye and left.

"There are two of them."

Li Jiancheng and Chen Shuda got up to see each other, watching the doorman leave, Li Jiancheng suddenly smiled bitterly.

"Why is Your Highness laughing?" Chen Shuda looked at Li Jiancheng in confusion.

"Today I know what it means to sit in a well and watch the sky, and not know the land of heaven and earth." Li Jiancheng looked at the direction Yang Yu and Du Ruhui left, and sighed: "I think at the beginning, everyone in the world said that Yang Tong was cruel and vulgar, lawless and unscrupulous. The Shi clan even criticized the legal system of the Sui Dynasty, saying that it was the second tyrannical Qin, and instigated the Confucian students in the world to be enemies with it, but looking at today's Luoyang, and then comparing the Xiangyang where the Shi clan is rampant, it is really ridiculous. ”

Chen Shuda nodded, the people on the street today, to say the least, there are hundreds of thousands, but although these people are emotional, he has never found that a single person has broken the rules, the reason why people obey the rules so much is probably not unrelated to the legal system vigorously promoted by Yang Tong, it is precisely because of a set of strict laws to restrain that dozens of people are so peaceful.

The rule of virtue and the rule of law seem to be opposite, but there are many similarities, the rule of virtue requires everyone to be a saint, when everyone becomes a moral saint, there is no adulterous crime.

But is it possible? Of course not.

As long as people have selfish thoughts, it will not work at all to simply ask the people how to behave morally. In fact, the scholars who advocate the rule of virtue know this truth, because there are many intrigues among the scholars themselves, and the family rules of each family are clearly the law.

The legal system is based on the premise that human nature is inherently evil, and uses a set of rules and regulations to regulate people's bottom line and force people to be 'moral saints'. Although the world says that the rule of law is brutal, since the Han Dynasty, large and small orthodox regimes have been enforcing the legal system, but it is only because of the compromise of interests that the rule of law cannot be implemented thoroughly.

Yang Tong has insisted on the rule of law for many years, perfect the law, in order to have today's weather, although Luoyang was recovered by him for a short time, but because the rule of law is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so the occupation time is not as long as Xiangyang, the capital of Li Tang, but it is more orderly than Xiangyang countless times.

"Your Highness, when we return to Xiangyang, we should strongly recommend the Holy Lord. Before being unprepared, you must not rashly start a war with the Sui army with a hot head. Chen Shuda said solemnly,

Yang Tong is really terrible at the moment, just what Du Ruhui said in front of the door is enough to prove that the Sui army is a fierce army that is happy when it hears the war, and dares to fight.

"I understand." Li Jiancheng nodded silently.