"It's not easy, it's not easy. Wang Yuan, I used you in the first place just because you have a talent for poetry. Unexpectedly, my unintentional move actually achieved a famous handsome that is rare in a century. This time, you and Gao Xianzhi have made great contributions to Datang. Hey, what about Gao Xianzhi? Why didn't you see it? Xuanzong looked around looking for Gao Xianzhi's figure. Only now did he find out that Gao Xianzhi was not there.

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "Oh, Gao Xianzhi's body is not very well, he was originally going to come to meet the emperor, but the minister saw that he was not feeling well, so he persuaded him to rest." He asked his ministers to greet the Emperor Taishang on his behalf. ”

In fact, Gao Xianzhi was not unwell, but he didn't want to come to see Xuanzong at all. Gao Xianzhi had long been prejudiced against Xuanzong, and after the Battle of Tongguan, Gao Xianzhi decided not to go out of the mountain again, and later if it wasn't for Wang Yuan's invitation, he wouldn't have gone out of the mountain to lead the army at all. Before coming to see Xuanzong, Wang Yuan ordered someone to notify Gao Xianzhi, and Gao Xianzhi refused. Of course, Wang Yuan knew his thoughts, so he didn't force it.

"Oh, okay, I should have recuperated if I wasn't feeling well, and Gao Xianzhi also made a great contribution. I was ashamed of the loss to him at the beginning. Xuanzong said with a smile.

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "It's all in the past, Gao Xianzhi won't take it to heart." ”

Xuanzong nodded, pondered for a moment and asked, "Wang Yuan, if it is peaceful today, my Datang can be regarded as quelling this catastrophe." What's next for you? Isn't it time for you, Xiangguo, to go to the capital to preside over affairs? There is a lot of waste to be done, and you can't do it without it. The left and right sides of your political affairs hall are in Chengdu, which is probably not good. ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "The emperor has promoted his ministers, and it may be useful for the ministers to fight and kill, but he is not a good hand at governing national politics." When the Emperor Taishang asked me to be this prime minister, it was to catch ducks on the shelves, and the ministers did not make any achievements. Don't hide it from the emperor, the minister has already played the court and asked for resignation. The minister only wants to take it with him in Jiannan, and he is used to it here. ”

Xuanzong was stunned and said, "Have you played a speech?" ”

Wang Yuan smiled: "Then can it be fake?" In front of the emperor, how dare the ministers lie about it. ”

Xuanzong frowned and said, "Wang Yuan, although I have abdicated and don't ask about political affairs, I also want to say a few words to you. It is when the court needs you, how can you retreat bravely? You are still so young, and you are serving your country, how can you covet comfort? The new emperor ascends the throne, and you need to support him to become successful. ”

"Isn't it? The minister also thinks so, but Xiangguo just doesn't listen. Yan Zhenqing interjected.

Wang Yuan frowned and looked at Yan Zhenqing, Wei Jiansu smiled silently, and looked at Yan Zhenqing's eyes full of disdain.

"Look, Yan Zhenqing said so, how can you leave it alone? Isn't it overkill for you to stay in Jiannan? Xuanzong smiled.

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "The emperor is too elevated. The minister said that he has no ability for government affairs, but Yan Pingzhang and Wei Zuoxiang are good at handling government affairs. The capable are superior and the mediocre are lower, why should the ministers occupy the position of the prime minister? ”

Yan Zhenqing hurriedly waved his hand and said: "Xiangguo, you are not Xiangguo, how can I be qualified to be Xiangguo?" Wei Zuoxiang didn't have that qualification. ”

Wei Jiansu stroked his beard and said: "Yan Pingzhang, I can't be it, but you Yan Pingzhang has the talent of Xiangguo." If Wang Xiangguo decides to resign, I think you can still do it. ”

Yan Zhenqing was stunned and said, "Wei Zuoxiang, what do you mean by this?" Isn't that making fun of me? ”

Wei Jiansu said: "It's not a joke, it's a heartfelt word." ”

Wang Yuan smiled and waved his hand and said: "Don't argue with the two of you, my Xiangguo must be inappropriate, and whether you are competent or not is not up to the two of you, it is up to His Majesty the Imperial Court to make a decision." Perhaps the Emperor Taishang also knows the abilities of the two of you in his heart. Emperor Taishang, do you say yes? ”

Xuanzong smiled and said, "Let's talk about this later." Wang Yuan is right, the court will make a decision. I believe that Mao'er will not let Wang Yuan resign, so there is no need to think about it. In short, no matter who is the prime minister, it is not a good errand, and it is necessary to work hard for Datang. ”

Everyone nodded yes again and again.

Wang Yuan took a sip of tea and asked in a deep voice: "Emperor Taishang, the minister has something to discuss with His Majesty." ”

Xuanzong smiled: "But that's it." ”

Wang Yuan said: "The minister heard Wei Zuoxiang and Yan Pingzhang say that the Emperor Taishang wants to live in Chengdu all the time and is unwilling to return to the capital, so dare to ask the Emperor Taishang, why is this?" ”

Xuanzong was stunned and said with a smile: "It turned out to be this matter, the reason is simple, I think the climate in Chengdu is very good, the four seasons are distinct, and the mountains and rivers are beautiful." The winter in Chang'an is too cold, and the summer is too hot, I am old, and I want to live in Chengdu for the rest of my life. ”

Wang Yuan said: "I see, it turns out that it is just for this reason, and the minister thinks there are any other considerations." But the Emperor Taishang has thought that if it is peaceful today, and the two capitals have been recovered, the Emperor Taishang should return to the capital. No matter how good Chengdu is, it is not the capital. Emperor Taishang's return to Beijing is also a kind of stability for the hearts of the subjects of the world. ”

Xuanzong waved his hand and said, "With Mao'er in charge of the overall situation, it doesn't matter where I am." ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said, "Emperor Tai, that's not what he said. The emperor did not return to the capital, which is a big disagreement with the etiquette system. I know that it is the emperor's own decision, and I don't know if I think that His Majesty will not let you go back to the capital, doesn't this make Your Majesty bear the infamy? That's not good. The Emperor Taishang should also take care of the overall situation and not embarrass His Majesty, right? ”

Xuanzong's heart was as clear as a mirror, and sure enough, Wang Yuan wanted to make a fuss about this matter, and all this was expected by himself. But Xuanzong was unwilling to give in, waved his hand and said: "Wang Yuan, what you said is also reasonable, but it is too exaggerated. I'm already the abdicated king, and it's not about the big picture there. If you think that I will embarrass the new emperor by doing this, I will order someone to send the edict to Chang'an, and let Mao'er promulgate the edict to the world, so that everyone in the world will know that I voluntarily stayed in Chengdu to retire, so that this matter will be resolved? ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said, "This is also a way. But is it too capricious for the emperor to do this? ”

Xuanzong frowned and said, "What do you mean by that?" ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "The Emperor Taishang insists on not returning to the capital, and it is inevitable that people will mistakenly think that there is something hidden. Even if His Majesty clarifies it, the matter will not be calmed down. It's someone else's concern. Doesn't the emperor think about others? ”

Xuanzong said: "I don't understand what you mean by this? Who is at stake? ”

Wang Yuan sighed: "Your Majesty, this matter is also related to the reputation of the ministers." ”

Xuanzong was surprised: "What does it matter to your reputation?" I'm really falling into a fog, what does it have to do with you if I don't return to the capital? Don't you want me to stay in Chengdu? Got in your way? ”

Yan Zhenqing also frowned and said: "Xiangguo, what you say is not in a proper manner, how can you speak like this in front of the emperor?" ”

Wang Yuan glared at Yan Zhenqing coldly, and said in a deep voice: "Yan Pingzhang, you don't have a backache when you stand and talk, the matter has nothing to do with you, so you naturally don't know the reason." But for me, the Emperor Taishang must return to Beijing, otherwise I will jump into the Yellow River and I will not be able to wash it. ”

Yan Zhenqing was stunned and speechless. Wang Yuan has always been polite to him, and he has never had such explicit words. But now, he found that Wang Yuan's tone was cold, and he reprimanded him mercilessly in front of the Emperor, which surprised him greatly. Yan Zhenqing is actually selfless, he just thinks about things from his own standpoint, just like when he broke off his friendship with Wang Yuan, he is actually a pedantic and upright person in essence.

On the issue of Xuanzong's return to Beijing, he thought that since he was a courtier, he should act according to the will of the Emperor Taishang, and should not go against the will of the Emperor. This is the duty of a courtier. He doesn't analyze the big picture much, and he doesn't have much in mind. But his repeated interjections finally aroused Wang Yuan's disgust. Wang Yuan originally respected him, but on this issue, Wang Yuan would not allow him to talk too much.

"Wang Yuan, can you make it clear, whether I return to Beijing or not has such a big deal to do with your reputation? I don't quite understand. "Xuanzong finally realized that Wang Yuan was not good today. He tried to ask Wang Yuan what he was thinking, so as to give himself time to think and refute.

Wang Yuan said in a deep voice: "Emperor Taishang, after An Lushan raised troops, the capital of the eastern capital was lost one after another, and the Emperor Taishang was forced to go west. The minister led the army to welcome the Emperor Taishang into Shu at Maweipo. I don't know if Your Majesty still remembers these things. ”

"Of course I remember, if you hadn't sent troops to take me into Shu, I don't know what the consequences would be? You have made great contributions in this matter, how can I forget your efforts to save the driver? Xuanzong said busily.

Wang Yuan said in a deep voice: "It's just a matter of credit or something, since the Emperor Taishang remembers the past, then he must also remember what happened after His Majesty entered Shu." The minister asked himself if there was anything wrong with his behavior, or something offensive to Tianwei, but it was also in an emergency, not aimed at the emperor. For example, when he chased and killed Fang Xuan in front of His Majesty, he was criticized for despising the emperor. But in fact, the Emperor Taishang knew why the minister was so excited. ”

Xuanzong nodded again and again: "I know, I don't blame you." ”

Wang Yuan shook his head and said, "The Emperor didn't blame me, that doesn't mean that everyone doesn't blame me." Since then, public opinion in the world has been boiling, saying that the minister is a powerful minister, rampant and domineering, and even said that the minister coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, restricted the freedom of the emperor, and forced the emperor to make decisions that he was unwilling to make. The minister is said to be a person with wolf ambitions. Doesn't the Emperor know? ”

Xuanzong was stunned and said, "What do you really think about these things?" As long as I believe in you and the court believes in you, what do I care about what others say? ”

Wang Yuan smiled and said: "The Emperor Taishang said it easily, but the minister has borne so much infamy, how can he be relieved in his heart?" Some people say that the minister wants to kill Fang Xuan in order to seize the position of Xiangguo, well, now that the rebellion has subsided, the minister will resign from the position of Xiangguo, thinking that he is justified. But the most severe accusation is that the Son of Heaven is coerced to order the words of the princes. And the ministers must also make a name for themselves. Although the Emperor Taishang voluntarily stayed in Chengdu, everyone knew that this was not forced by the ministers, but in this way, I don't know how many people wanted to say that the ministers restricted the freedom of the Emperor Taishang and did not allow the Emperor Taishang to return to Beijing. On the contrary, they confirmed their previous remarks about the so-called coercion of the princes of the Son of Heaven. Therefore, the minister had to send the emperor back to Beijing this time, which was also a move to correct the name of the minister. The minister did not want to live with the abuse and false accusations of the world, and asked the emperor to fulfill it. ”