More than a month later, Qin Mubai and Ashina Xuelian's wedding was held as scheduled.

As the old nobles on the grassland, although the Ashina tribe declined for a time, it was still very influential among the tribes of the grassland. Coupled with Qin Mubai's current prestige and Li Tao's appeal, the chiefs and leaders of all the tribes in the grassland all came to celebrate in person, and even the Hulu tribe, which was eight hundred deserts away and lived at the foot of the Golden Mountain, didn't know how to get the news, and their big leader Hu Luwu invited several leaders of nearby tribes to come to congratulate in person.

Since the Tang Dynasty suppressed the Turks, there has been no such grand event on the grassland for many years, and it is actually possible to gather the leaders of all the grassland tribes together. As the host of the wedding, Li Tao was not busy, because the big leader of the Hui Ministry, Tu Midu, helped Zhang Luo with everything.

In the process of the wedding, Qin Mubai and Li Tao both noticed a detail: although these big leaders came for Qin Mubai's wedding, after they came, in addition to congratulating Qin Mubai, what every big leader must do is to visit Tumidu!

"It seems that after Xue Yantuo is destroyed and Yi Nan dies, the Hui tribe is about to replace the former Xue Yantuo as the most powerful tribe on the grassland, and Tumidu is about to become the uncrowned Khan in the minds of the grassland people." Li Tao's vision has always been keen, and he said to Qin Mubai, "Mubai, what do you think?" ”

"It's really a big deal." Qin Mubai said, "In the early years, when Xue Rengui broke through the siege and went north to come to the Hui Ministry, Tumidu defeated the attacking Yi Nan with the help of Xue Rengui's strength. Since then, he has begun to make an abacus in his heart, wanting to use the power of my Datang to complete his dream of dominating the grassland. So, he borrowed soldiers and married his daughter, and tried his best to marry me and Xue Rengui. ”

"I can also see that Tu Fan is an old and spicy city government, once the Tang Dynasty's control over the grassland is weakened, he will expand the strength of his headquarters, and wants to dominate the grassland and become the second Yi Nan, or even the second Jieli Khan." Li Tao sneered and said, "But it's a pity, he repaid the foreign aid he had made earlier, and now he actually resigned from his official position!" ”

"This is called, losing the wife and breaking the soldiers." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "I had already expected that Tumidu had a lot of intentions, so I didn't return any of the 40,000 iron horses he lent me, and they were all eaten alive and incorporated into the Kansai Army." Now, although I am married to Xuelian, I have resigned from the government and left the court, and I am not in his position, and he wants to make any big moves on the grassland alone, and it is unlikely that he will be able to do so in a short time. However, after Uncle Shi returned to the court, he still had to remind His Majesty the Emperor to be vigilant against the expansion of his ambition and strength. Otherwise, this northern grassland will be the same as before, not long after the Jieli has been pacified, and there will be rebellion again. As a matter of fact, in order to completely solve the problem of the future troubles of the grasslands, we can take advantage of the current situation when the big war is in place and the pattern is still undecided, adopt the strategy of 'breaking the law and then establishing it', follow the method of the Western Regions, and appoint state officials and county officials to set up prefectures and counties in the grasslands, and station troops in separate governments. Such checks and balances can greatly weaken the power of tribal leaders and their own influence. And you can capture the thief and capture the king, and get the confusion to Chang'an. In this way, the grassland can be prevented from relapsing to the greatest extent. ”

"Mu Bai, you better go back to the court!" After listening to this, Li Tao said, "I think that if you preside over the military affairs of the Tang Dynasty, you are better than anyone else!"

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Uncle Shi, you are too exalted to me, with you, why do you need the little nephew to get an axe and draw snakes?" I was so ugly just now, let's not talk about it! ”

Li Tao shook his head helplessly, and said with a smile: "Okay, on your big day, let's not mention these military affairs-Mu Bai, you are better than your father!" ”

"How?" Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"Although your father was also a handsome and heroic beauty back then, and his reputation for chivalry was all over the world, he didn't like a woman like you." Li Tao also smiled, "Look at you, the great beauties from all over the world have been looted by you." Counting these women around you, none of them are not charming and charming. If an ordinary man can meet the favor of any of them, he will have no regrets in this life. But you're good, like collecting treasures, pulling a cart home! - Look at your mother, you're going to be happy! ”

"Haha!" Qin Mubai laughed and said, "Uncle Shi, you may not know that commanding the army to fight and ruling as an official are actually my side jobs. My real main business is to talk about love, find flowers and ask willows. Men, who doesn't like wine and wealth? I've always had no ambitions, so that's all I can do. ”

Li Tao was angry and funny, "Your father knows that if he hears your words, he will have to get up and slap you a few times!" ”

Qin Mubai sighed softly, smiled, and said softly: "If my father is still alive, I would rather be slapped by him a few big mouths." ”

Li Tao patted Qin Mubai's shoulder, "Uncle Bao has a spirit in the sky, and he will be proud of you!" ”

Due to the large number of guests, the wedding will take place for seven days. On the fifth day, the Tang Dynasty sent an envoy.

The messenger came by holy decree to recruit Li Tao to return to the court!

In addition, Chu Suiliang went to Lanzhou to find Qin Mubai and hurriedly returned to Beijing to report the news, so that the court also knew that Qin Mubai was about to marry Xuelian in the grassland. Therefore, the envoy also brought a congratulatory gift from the imperial court.

The congratulatory gift is not gold and silver jewelry, but a plaque, on which there is Li Shimin's unique flying white calligraphy, and the eight big characters mentioned by himself - "bead curtain wall closure, a hundred years of kindness".

Qin Mubai secretly said: "Since His Majesty the Emperor knows that I am here, but he has not mentioned the matter of calling me back to the court and giving me a marriage to Shuang'er, it seems that he also knows that I have made up my mind and will not come to the strongman again." Besides, even I can see the overall situation of the court at this moment, how can he not see through it? The reason why he also sent someone to invite me back to the court is because this kind of superficial work must be done, otherwise outsiders will say that he is jealous of the virtuous and can not use meritorious heroes. But when I go back at this time, it's actually a good and a bad thing. How could he not know? Therefore, he should not come back to force me again. ”

"I have been with his kings and ministers, and I have also gone hand in hand and helped each other, but the world is impermanent...... If you can maintain the current situation, I am afraid it is the best ending! ”

However, the envoy also brought a wedding gift sealed by Li Ke, which can be described as ingenious. It was also neither gold nor silver, nor jewelry, but a chessboard, a set of gold tea sets, and a small cloth bag.

Qin Mubai couldn't help but think of what Li Ke once said that only by playing chess with Qin Mubai would Li Ke feel that this chess game was interesting. In Li Ke's view, playing chess is like drinking, and there are fewer drinks for a thousand confidants. Now that his confidant is gone, there is no one to play this chess - so Li Ke gave the chessboard to Qin Mubai.

And that set of gold tea sets, Qin Mubai is very familiar with it. Li Ke likes to drink tea and is addicted to it. Wherever you go, you will carry this tea set. If he has half a minute to spare, he will also make a good pot of tea and enjoy it. This tea set is the pet thing that has always followed him.

As for the small cloth bag, Qin Mubai opened it and saw that it was a traditional Chinese medicine - angelica!

"Still not dead, you want me to go back!" Qin Mubai took the blind angelica and secretly laughed.

The envoy took the opportunity to say to Qin Mubai: "His Royal Highness King Wu, I have something to convey to the lower official to Young Marshal Qin!" But...... But it is a curse word, therefore, the subordinate has to ask the young marshal to forgive his sins first! ”

"Why did he scold?" Qin Mubai asked with a smile.

The envoy's face twitched a few times, and he seemed extremely embarrassed, and he had the courage to lean into Qin Mubai's ear and whispered: "Your Highness scolded-Qin Mubai, you are a hungry ghost and a well-dressed beast, even the little widow king of Zhaowu Kingdom will not let go, and it will make the family have a big belly!" - When the child is born, remember to announce the good news and invite me over for a glass of wine. Otherwise, I won't let you go! ”

"Ahem! ......" Qin Mubai coughed dryly, and couldn't help but laugh, "Please reply to King Wu, just say ...... Samad is more than 10,000 miles away from Chang'an, if he dares to come, I dare to invite! If he really wants to drink this cup of wine, he can leave now! ”

The envoy couldn't help but laugh twice, and said, "Young Marshal Qin, the lower officials can see that His Royal Highness King Wu is really reluctant to give up on your confidant and friend. He said, even if you want to resign and go into hiding, you can stay in Chang'an, so that he can meet you sooner or later. ”

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "If His Royal Highness King Wu really regards me as a confidant and friend, why do you need to meet every day? There is a confidant in the sea, and the end of the world is next to each other! ”

"His Royal Highness King Wu also said that for so many years, you have been like his eyes, ears, hands and feet, and without you, you will be like blind and deaf, and you will feel that everything is difficult." The envoy said, "He said, without Qin Mubai, there would be no Li Ke today." As long as you are willing to go back to Chang'an, His Royal Highness King Wu will not force anything, but I really hope to have a confidant and friend by my side. His Highness said...... In his life, he only has you, the only true friend! ”

Qin Mubai shook his head lightly with a smile on his face, and said helplessly: "Let's talk about it later!" ”

The envoy's face suddenly turned happy, "This sentence, can the lower official pass it on to His Royal Highness King Wu as it is?" ”

Qin Mubai pondered for a moment and said, "Then you can bring another sentence by the way!" I once said this sentence to my sister-in-law, and now I give it to His Royal Highness King Wu - some people, it is better to miss each other; Some loves, it is better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes. ”

The messenger was stunned, "This ......"

Qin Mubai smiled, "You just tell him the truth." ”

"Okay......"

"What's wrong with Princess Gaoyang?" Qin Mubai asked.

The envoy hurriedly replied: "Xiaguan is just about to inform Young Marshal Qin that two or three months ago, Her Royal Highness the Princess has left Chang'an and gone to Lanzhou to find the young marshal. It is said that Her Royal Highness the princess did not see the young marshal when she arrived in Lanzhou, so she went straight to the Yumen Pass, as if she was going to the Western Regions! ”

Qin Mubai nodded, thinking to himself, it seems that His Majesty the Emperor is still reasonable, he did not embarrass Gao Yang, but let her come back to reunite with me. It can be seen that neither he nor Li Ke want to do things perfectly, but have always retained the last fantasy, hoping that I will be able to return to the court as an official one day.

Unconsciously, Qin Mubai thought of Concubine Yin De. That one, after Qin Mubai came to Datang, the woman who amazed him the most and made him feel heartache the most.

wanted to inquire about her, but it was not easy to ask directly, so he asked in a detour: "I heard that His Majesty the Emperor is not in good health, is it better now?" ”

"Heaven blesses, His Majesty the Emperor's illness has been healed for the most part." The envoy bowed to the south and said, "His Majesty the Emperor can already go back to the Jinluan Hall to preside over the court meeting." However, when the lower officials left Chang'an, His Majesty went back to the harem to recuperate, and ordered the eldest grandson Xianggong, Fang Xianggong and others to assist His Royal Highness King Wu in supervising the governance of the country. This decree to recruit the British Duke to return to the pilgrimage was issued by His Royal Highness King Wu! ”

"King Wu is in charge of the country?" Qin Mubai was a little surprised.

"yes!" The messenger replied, and began to describe the current situation in the court at length, but he did not mention Concubine Yinde.

Qin Mubai didn't know how to ask any more. After thinking about it, he interrupted his words and said directly: "Princess Gaoyang left Chang'an, leaving her mother alone in the deep palace, and no one has taken care of her since then...... Speaking of which, it's all my fault for separating their mother and daughter. ”

The messenger was stunned for a moment—I was talking about it vigorously, why did I suddenly mention Concubine Yinde?

So he said, "This ...... The affairs of the harem are unknown to the lower officials. ”

Qin Mubai had no choice but to nod, it was hard to say more, and said in his heart: After coming to Datang, I have three bosom friends. One is a demon, but she has long since disappeared; One is my old enemy, Garchinling, but he committed suicide by poisoning himself and died in front of me; There is only one Yin De Concubine left, but in this life, I am afraid that we will never see each other again......

"Hey-" couldn't help it, Qin Mubai sighed.

"Young marshal...... Why sigh? The messenger wondered.

Qin Mubai shook his head, showed a wry smile on his face, turned around and left, and stopped talking to the messenger. In my heart, I couldn't help but say -

"I want to put my heart into Yaoqin

There are few bosom friends......

Who listens to the broken strings? ”