A few days later, several carved official ships arrived at the port of Xiangzhou. From this moment on, Xiangzhou became very lively, thus becoming the focus of attention in the Tang world.

The official ship is not an ordinary person, the prime minister of the dynasty, a veritable big name - Xiao Yu!

At the beginning, Qin Mubai got the news and learned that the emperor had sent Xiao Yu to Xiangzhou, and he roughly guessed why he came.

To say that this Xiao Yu has a lot to do with Yang Guang lying in the mausoleum. Yang Guang's queen, that is, Empress Xiao, is Xiao Yu's own sister. In the former Sui Dynasty, Xiao Yu was already a doctor of Yinqing Guanglu at a young age, becoming the youngest member of Yang Guang's think tank.

Xiao Yu's grandfather is Emperor Xuan of Later Liang Xiao Jing, and his great-grandfather is Xiao Tong, the prince of Zhaoming, and the Xiao family has always been a famous family of Jiangzuo Wang. At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, Xiao Miao, who seized Jiangdong, was still Xiao Yu's son and nephew.

And Xiao Yu has always been quite controversial.

Since childhood, he has been known for his filial piety and is good at learning and writing, and he is upright and deeply proficient in Buddhism. He is not greedy for money, does not make sex, and dares to go against the dragon scales. Whether it was serving Yang Guang in the former Sui Dynasty, or when he was later relied on by Tang Gaozu Li Yuanqi as a confidant, and then looking up to or following Li Shimin as the prime minister, he has never changed a point.

Moreover, perhaps because he was born in a famous family, he also has some common problems of the old family - arrogant, looking down on people with lower family backgrounds. Wude was okay for a while, and Gaozu Li Yuan relied on him as a confidant and entrusted him with important tasks. After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he had his own team, such as Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng and others, Xiao Yu was jealous of their favor and reuse, and secondly, he looked down on their family birth. Moreover, he is a "perfectionist" who can't put sand in his eyes, but if he can't get used to it, he will be reprimanded on the spot mercilessly, no matter when and where the other party is.

For this reason, Li Shimin once praised him, "This person can't be lured by profits, can't be tortured and feared, and the real society is also a minister." ", and gave the poem "The wind knows the strength of the grass, and the board knows the sincerity". But it is precisely because of his arrogant temperament and stubborn stinky temper that Xiao Yu has been degraded several times in his life, but he has been activated several times, like a "tumbler".

Now, although Xiao Yu officially worships the prime ministers of the "Prince Taibao" and the "Three Grades under the Tongzhong Shumen", it is difficult for him to truly enter the court prime minister's team with the eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others as the core to participate in major decisions. But no matter what, the influence of Jiangzuo Xiao's famous family is still there, and Xiao Yu's worth has not dropped much. From this point of view, Li Shimin sent him to Xiangzhou for the sake of Yang Guang's mausoleum, and he also attached more importance to it.

Qin Mubai led the officials of Xiangzhou to greet him at the wharf. Several huge warships were laden with cargo, tightly covered with curtains, and I don't know what they were. Along with it, there are more than 1,000 Jinwuwei Imperial Forest Army, which is not small.

The Chinese ship docked in port, the ship's board was also set up, the guards on both sides lined up and put on a formation, Xiao Yu raised his hand on the bow deck to straighten his clothes, and walked off the ship with his head held high.

"The Xiangzhou Military Mansion rushed to the Captain Qin Mubai, and led the officials and generals of the whole state to welcome Xiao Geyan." Qin Mubai stood at the head of the group of officials and arched his hand.

All the officials will promise together: "Welcome to Elder Xiao Ge!" ”

Xiao Yu raised his chin and glanced around at everyone, nodded at Qin Mubai expressionlessly, and said, "Why does General Qin work so hard? This pavilion came by order to do business, not to play. If you can avoid the vulgar courtesy, you can avoid it! ”

"The old man of Suwen Pavilion is honest and upright, and this is true." Qin Mubai didn't care either, it was normal for an "old revolutionary" like Xiao Yu to be a little arrogant and high-minded. What's more, he has always had such a temperament, and he is half-lukewarm when he speaks to the emperor, so don't expect him to be polite and deferful to anyone.

Xiao Yu was neither nonsense nor polite, and pointed his hand forward: "I'm tired of General Qin's command leading the way, let's go to the Assassin's Mansion to talk!" ”

"It's fine." Qin Mubai nodded and agreed, and sent Xue Rengui to lead the personal soldiers of the palace to open the way in front, and Pang Fei led the elite Yue cavalry team of the military mansion to escort the Chinese army, a group of more than 1,000 people, and went to the Assassin's Mansion.

Xiao Yu didn't sit in a sedan chair, he rode a horse by himself, and was silent all the way.

Pang Fei came to Qin Mubai's side and scolded in a low voice: "This old man, the shelf is really big!" is just an outdated prime minister, and being degraded several times has not dampened his arrogance. I don't know what he's here for. ”

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "People have their own personalities, what can he do if he is born with such a character?" It's not like this with us, he is like this when he faces the three princes in the court. His pride is pride in his bones. Jiang Zuo Xiao's family is a century-old family, maybe he looks down on the Li family royal family who got up in the Eight Pillars of Guanlong Kingdom from his heart! ”

"Haha, this old guy is funny too." Pang Fei said with a smile, "If you dare to love him in this life, you will only bite the word 'door'." ”

"Not really." Qin Mubai raised his eyebrows and smiled, and said, "But then again, he is actually a good person, strong, upright, filial, honest, and highly educated. Although his mouth and temper stink a little, he is always better than those scheming villains. ”

"That's right!"

The brigade crossed the county seat of Xiangyang and stopped at the Assassin's Mansion. Xiao Yu was not polite, and sat down to drink tea on the upper seat. After resting for a while, he seemed to remember that there were a large number of officials and generals such as Qin Mubai in the next seat, waiting for him to speak.

"Oh, this pavilion is unbearable, a little dizzy and unwell. Vulgar rituals such as receiving the wind and washing the dust can be exempted. Colleagues, let's go back and rest on your own. Xiao Yu waved his hand and said.

"Yes......" The crowd naturally couldn't say more, so they had to disperse.

Qin Mubai naturally stayed. Xiao Yu's move was nothing more than an attempt to get rid of everyone and talk to him alone.

When everyone dispersed, Xiao Yu slowly tasted a cup of tea, and didn't look at Qin Mubai with his eyes, and hummed slowly: "General Qin, this time, you have made a great contribution!" ”

"I don't know Elder Xiao Ge, what do you mean by this?" Qin Mubai asked.

Xiao Yu gently put the teacup on the table, stroked her gray long beard a few times, raised her chin slightly with a smile, and said a little proudly: "I also returned the seal to the emperor, and such a credit is naturally not small." ”

Qin Mubai smiled slightly, and said casually: "In this way, the jade seal is real?" ”

"It has been identified by this pavilion with its own eyes, and it will definitely not be fake." Xiao Yu chuckled lightly and said, "Previously, the jade seal in His Majesty's hand could be said to be very similar. When it returned from Mobei, I suspected it was fake. I also told His Majesty the Emperor, but he didn't believe it. It was also like the treasure that took the fake jade seal as real, and it took several years to put it on the imperial case. Fortunately, now that the true jade seal has finally appeared, His Majesty the Emperor has finally believed in the old minister's eyesight. ”

Qin Mubai couldn't help but laugh and said seriously: "Elder Xiao Ge has served the Three Emperors in two dynasties, and his eyesight and insight must be very comparable. ”

"That's nature." Xiao Yu smiled quite smugly, and then said, "In the early years, Yang Guang kept the jade seal for me many times, and no one was more familiar with that art than me. A few days ago, His Majesty the Emperor asked the eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Yu Shinan and many others to identify it, but there was no debate about the truth or falsehood. It didn't come to mind until the end that I could take a look. I don't know who the fake jade seal came from, but it was really vivid and very similar. If I hadn't been familiar with the jade seal, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to distinguish the real from the fake. ”

"In this way, Xiao Ge Lao is really a member of His Majesty the Emperor!" Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"If you want to talk about lucky generals, King Wu and General Qin are the real lucky generals." Xiao Yu looked at Qin Mubai sideways, there seemed to be a little jealousy in his eyes, and said sourly, "By mistake, you actually found the real tomb of Emperor Yang, and also recovered the jade seal that has been missing for decades!"

"yes, luck, it's really bad." Qin Mubai was about to be amused by this "sour old man", so he barely held back and said, "Elder Xiao Ge, I want to ask, why did you come here by order?" ”

"Oh?" Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, "Didn't Your Majesty send someone to deliver the decree before, explaining the reason for my trip?" ”

Qin Mubai shook his head blankly.

"Ahem! ——" Xiao Yu coughed awkwardly, "Then why did you go to the dock to greet you?" ”

"I only knew that Xiao Ge Lao was coming the next day, so I went to greet him. I don't know what it is. Qin Mubai simply told the truth.

Xiao Yu's face suddenly turned a little red, and he coughed dryly again, and said, "Then you...... Go and summon those officials back to Zuodu, and the pavilion will announce the intention of this trip in public. ”

"Old Xiao Ge, everyone is scattered...... Call it back again, okay? Qin Mubai whispered, "Why don't you tell me directly, and I will convey it to my subordinates, so it will save trouble and effort?" ”

"No! This pavilion was ordered to travel to run errands, and can hide his head and tail? Xiao Yu said, "Go quickly, call those people!" ”

"Okay......" Qin Mubai smiled bitterly, and said in his heart, this sour old man, he raised himself, thinking that the emperor had announced the decree to greet him, but he didn't expect it to be self-inflicted. The people of Manxiangzhou only knew that he was coming, but they didn't know what he was here for!

Qin Mubai had no choice but to immediately send someone to call back the scattered officials and generals. Everyone couldn't cry or laugh, but it was not good to save Xiao Yu's face, so they all rushed back again, stood in two columns in the main hall of the Assassin's Mansion, and bowed their hands together to listen.

Xiao Yu felt that she had regained a little face, and announced her intention in a serious manner.

As Qin Mubai expected, Xiao Yu was ordered by the emperor to bring a number of skilled craftsmen and civil engineering materials, and made a special trip to Xiangzhou in advance to prepare for the future "Emperor Yang's Mausoleum Ceremony". Xiao Yu also read out an edict from Li Shimin in public, saying that His Majesty had an order to order all officials in Xiangzhou to obey Xiao Yu's reprimand and assist him in organizing the ceremony.

The time of the festival was chosen three months later on the Double Ninth Festival. Time is still a little short.

"Things are roughly like this, what are the specific arrangements, this cabinet will inform General Qin, and then he will assign it. At that time, you will have to work hard for the public, and you must be careful and cautious in handling errands, and there must be no mistakes. Xiao Yu said sternly.

"Humble duty, obey orders!" The crowd had no choice but to say yes with a loud voice.

"Okay, let's disperse first!"

Xiao Yu waved his hand again, and everyone dispersed again.

After everyone left, Qin Mubai asked cautiously, "Elder Xiao Ge, is everything done?" But what other confidential duties do you have to tell the lowly ones? ”

Xiao Yu pondered carefully with his eyes, really thought for a while, and shook his head: "It seems that there is no more." Before leaving, His Majesty once said that when he arrived in Xiangzhou, if he had something to understand, he would ask Qin Mubai. If there is anything undecided, it will be handed over to Qin Mubai. It can be seen that Your Majesty has a lot of respect and trust in you. From now on, if I have anything to do, I will ask you to do it. ”

"yes, okay." Qin Mubai nodded, laughed in his heart, and said secretly: Who doesn't know that you are always just here to go through the motions, just a "representative", who really expects you to do anything?

"By the way, there's one more thing." Xiao Yu said, "You have to build two mansions before the sacrifice. ”

"Xingyuan Mansion? Still two? Qin Mubai couldn't help frowning, "Could it be that His Majesty the Emperor wants to come in person?" ”

"Sacrifice to the last emperor of the previous dynasty, how can Your Majesty come? You're so outspoken! Xiao Yu reprimanded him on the spot.

"Okay, I was wrong, Xiao Ge Lao, don't be angry." Qin Mubai smiled, "In this way, then it is going to build a prince leaving the palace, right?" ”

"You're smart." Xiao Yu snorted coldly and said, "Your Majesty attaches great importance to the sacrifice of Emperor Yang's Mausoleum, so he sent three members of the imperial family to preside over it. One of them is the crown prince; second, of course, Li Ke, the king of Xiangzhou; The third is Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia. King Wu has a palace to live in here, and the old man has never been particular about living in a pavilion, but is it possible for you to let the prince and the king of Jiangxia squeeze under the same roof with the old man? So, start building a palace quickly! ”

"Okay, I got it." Qin Mubai scratched his head, smiled helplessly, and said, "I just don't know when King Wu will come back?" This assassination of the state affairs, after all, is his job. ”

"Then the Honkaku is unknown. If you want to know, Pegasus Kuaishu went to Chang'an to ask His Majesty and King Wu. Xiao Yu said, got up, cut his sleeves behind his back, and said, "This pavilion is tired, and go to the pavilion to rest." If you don't send General Qin off, you can quickly deal with these affairs! ”

Qin Mubai looked at Xiao Yu's back, shook his head with tears and laughter, and said secretly: What a proud old stone, no wonder the three emperors Yang Guang, Li Yuan, and Li Shimin are all happy and hateful, useful and degraded by him.

Having said that, the emperor wanted to sacrifice Yang Guang in Xiangzhou so much, of course, to show his mind as the Son of Heaven and win people's hearts; Second, the main purpose is also to announce to the world, so that everyone in the world knows that "the true jade seal has returned", and he Li Shimin is the true dragon son who is truly ordered by the sky.

Counting this out, Li Ke and I have really made meritorious contributions!