An, the flow of people on Suzaku Street is endless all year round, the New Year is approaching, Suzaku is making a fuss, busy with the merchants who are busy stocking up on goods, the citizens who purchase New Year's goods, year after year, the same boring greetings, the general hurried, but this year there are many strange Hu faces, they are richly dressed, with a large number of servants, almost every newcomer is full of admiration and admiration for the magnificent Chang'an City, most of these Hu people are the envoys sent to Chang'an by the small countries of the Western Regions, and the aftermath of the Rus War, Li Qing has set the law for all countries, Every year, an envoy must be sent to Chang'an to pay tribute to the Heavenly Khan, and the order will be carried out immediately, and the countries will not dare to disobey.

Just outside the Suzaku Gate under a hundred-year-old willow tree, squatting a melancholy middle-aged man, this person's surname is Wang Mingtao, the former judge of the Anxi Army, has always been Gao Xianzhi's right to judge, but after the First World War, the Jie Du made Li Qing to the reason of the confusion of the clerical hook, demoted to Qiuzi Town Cangcao to participate in the military, he was removed from the military system, the post of the judge of the Anxi Army was taken over by Zhang Xun, seeing that the New Year was approaching, Wang Tao took a family leave to return to Chang'an, but his real purpose was to find the old boss in Chang'an to seek a new errand, unfortunately, Gao Xianzhi went to Taiyuan to rectify the forbidden army in the northern capital, Wang Tao pounced, and in desperation, he had to stay in front of the Suzaku Gate every day to see if he could meet his luck and be appreciated by a certain magnate.

Three more days is the New Year of the eleventh year of Tianbao, when it is close to the holiday, the hearts of the hundred officials have been scattered, from early to now there are very few court officials who have entered the Vermilion Bird Gate, Wang Tao has seen through and has not seen a person who looks like a big official coming, his legs are really a little sore, so he helped Lao Liu to stand up, and spat hatefully in his mouth, "Phew! A group of eight lambs, Lao Tzu was bleeding and sweating on the front line, what time is it now, and he is still sleeping with a woman in his arms in the bed. ”

As soon as he finished scolding, a wide and luxurious carriage drove towards him. All four horses are pure white. Vigorous posture, Wang Tao is a connoisseur of goods, as soon as he saw this horse, he knew that the car was by no means an ordinary official, he ignored the soreness of his legs, rushed up in two steps and beckoned, "My lord, please listen to me!" ”

Unfortunately, the horse did not understand the human language, and did not pay attention to him, so he wiped his shirt and rushed over. '. The car stopped, and the curtain slowly opened, revealing a sleepy-eyed face, but it was Yang Guozhong, a nobleman of the dynasty.

Yang Guozhong just returned from a six-month long term in Yizhou just a month ago. During his stay in Yizhou, he still served as the servant of the Ministry and the secretary of the Taifu Temple, which was like a later generation of temporary posts to the grassroots training, and returned to Chang'an after being plated with a layer of gold. He was promoted to the secretary of the military department and the secretary of the same middle school, but he thought that the book was idle, so he held the real power of the servant of the ministry and refused to let go.

The official gradually became bigger, and Yang Guozhong began to be amiable and amiable, and he often wore Li Linfu's signature smile on his face, changing his image of being lazy in the past. He is diligent in government affairs every day, no, everyone is drunk and only he is sober, he entered the court to deal with official business, when the king called him, he was playing chess with Zhou Gong, and he had no time to separate, so it was easy for Zhou to resign. He stopped the carriage just in time, and almost lost a chance for Corporal Lixian.

"Who are you? What's the matter with finding your own face? ”

Yang Guozhong looked Wang Tao up and down. He didn't like it in his heart because of his coarse black appearance and low grade, but he still smiled on his face and joked: "Isn't it that you are short of money and have no money for the New Year, so you can't come to play the autumn breeze of your own appearance?" ”

Wang Tao's nose was sour, like a handful of ginger powder being blown into his eyes, when had he seen such an approachable high-ranking official, fortunately, his brain did not follow the emotion, listening to the other party's self-proclaimed appearance, and from the tearful eyes to see the word 'Yang' carved on his carriage, his brain immediately turned around, 'Could this be the legendary Uncle Yang?' ’

In the face of the opportunity, the most important thing is to make a move, seize it, Wang Tao immediately took out a brocade box from his arms, bounced it open, put his hands on the top of his head, and said humbly: "This is the heart of the humble duty dedicated to Yang Xiang." ”

Inside the brocade box is a pearl of size like a chicken egg, the pearl is pale green throughout, faintly flashing with a layer of blue light, this is when Gao Xianzhi led the army to sack the city, Wang Tao obtained it from the treasure house of Shiguodi, and used it as a step to enter the body.

Just as the rooster ascended to heaven and became a sun star official, Yang Guozhong couldn't change some habits he developed when he was a teenager now, and his eyes immediately burst into light, but it was shining with this pearl, and the surrounding environment was already clear to the chest, no one, dozens of soldiers guarding the door face to face, their eyes did not squint, even if they squinted, they couldn't see, there was a carriage blocking it!

"Huh! Recently, the ornament on the head of the concubine is still lacking, and I will dedicate this pearl to her for you. ”

Yang Guozhong took it with a smile, and then put it into a dark box of the carriage, taking people's money and eliminating disasters for others, this is a wise saying, just like a dog eating a bone should be grateful, Yang Guozhong said in a soft tone: "Do you have any difficulties to help with your own face?" ”

"Xiaguan was originally a judge of the Anxi Army, and he was retaliated by the new jiedu.

"Wait!" Yang Guozhong suddenly interrupted his words, and another light appeared in his eyes, this is from the bottom of his heart, isn't Anxi Xinjiedu envoy Li Qing? Kindness! In retaliation, Yang Guozhong's unique officialdom immediately sketched a roadmap: 'When the subordinates found out about the boss's handle, they couldn't report it, and they were promoted or directly rejected by the boss.

He immediately opened the car door and said with a smile: "Come on!" Get in the car, let's talk about this slowly. ”.

If you have to use rejuvenation to describe a person, then this person is the Tang Emperor Li Longji, he is an old man of nearly seventy years, the old age spots born for the world's affairs a few years ago have now miraculously disappeared, the skin is smooth and delicate, and the hair is black and shiny, which is not unrelated to the health article that Chen Xilie dedicated to him.

It is precisely because of this that he attaches more importance to his throne, and no one is allowed to have the slightest disobedience, the position of the crown prince is still vacant, not to mention the ministers of the court, even the people in the market can see that the Tang Emperor, who has been the emperor for forty-one years, does not want to have a successor at all.

Because Yang Yuhuan's eldest sister, Mrs. Qin Guo, died of a sudden illness, Yang Yuhuan

Her funeral, Li Longji, who was originally planned to return from the Hot Spring Palace after the New Year, also returned, these two days, Yang Yuhuan was busy with family affairs, and had no time to accompany Li Longji. Turning over the border gates, the end of the year and the merit of the folds. Listen to the good news of the world in various states and counties. That's what he's happy to see.

This year, he couldn't have been happier than Rose's big win. It made him happy for a month, although many people made trouble about Li Qing's killing of the Qarluqs, but Li Longji still tried his best to appoint Li Qing as the left servant of Shangshu, especially to his satisfaction Li Qing had insight into the holy will and ordered the Western Regions Zhuhu to pay tribute to Chang'an every year, and it seemed that the strategy of letting him replace Gao Xianzhi was completely correct.

Li Longji was in a happy mood, and he picked up a book of folds and read it carefully. But unconsciously, his face gradually became solemn.

"Your Majesty, Bian Lingcheng came back yesterday. Do you want to see him? While standing at the door and whispering for instructions, Gao Lishi secretly glanced at the folds in Li Longji's hand, Li Longji had not been to the imperial study for several months, and he had reviewed all the folds on his behalf. He had already dealt with the financial constraints and the difficulties of people's livelihood, and only picked up some joyful things and put them on his desk, but at this time, he was a little unfamiliar with the financial constraints and the difficulties of people's livelihood, and he didn't seem to have seen them.

Colliers' gaze quickly swept back. Yu Chaoen's head immediately lowered unnaturally. Gao Lishi sneered slightly in his heart, and after a long time, he saw the hearts of the people, and this was really true, and he was a little negligent. Someone took advantage of the loophole. And he is also a successor who he deliberately cultivated.

'Bang! With a bang, the teacup on the table jumped up in shock, the lid of the cup fell to the ground, but it was not broken, and it was dripping on the ground and spinning.

"Colliers!" Li Longji suddenly shouted.

"The old slave is here!" Ignorance.

"It's happening so much. How dare you hide it from me? Angry, he slammed his middle knuckle on the table: "See for yourself!" Look! ”

Colliers trembled and picked up the folds. The first thing that fell into my eyes was the person who played this piece: An Lushan, and he turned another page. When he saw the three words 'Li Xianzhong', he had 'Buzz! With a bang, the worst fears of these months have finally been revealed.

Li Xianzhong, formerly known as Absi, was the leader of Tiele Jiu surnamed Hu (not Zhaowu Jiu), and was defeated by the Turkic Mosi Khan in the early years of the Kaiyuan Dynasty. Attached to the Tang Dynasty, Tianbao officially surrendered to the Tang Dynasty in the first year. Under the full protection of Li Linfu, he was named the deputy envoy of Shuofang Jiedu, Tianbao six years, Li Long basically wanted to promote him to Hedong Jiedu envoy, but was squeezed out by An Lushan, and since then he has a feud with An Lushan, two months ago, he was ordered to discuss the Khitan with An Lushan, but An Lushan did not move, Li Xianzhong was defeated without help, because he was afraid of the imperial court's reprimand, he fled to Mobei, and tens of thousands of elite soldiers under his command were absorbed by An Lushan.

Li Xianzhong's defection, although the matter is big, but it is not to the extent that Gao Lishi suppressed and did not report, the key matter involved the right minister Li Linfu, Li Linfu not only recommended him with all his might, but also had a close personal relationship, Li Linfu's son was also an official under him, if Li Longji pursued the case, Li Linfu would come out.

Gao Lishi is well aware of Li Longji's thoughts, in the eighth year of Tianbao, Li Linfu can turn the tables in a desperate situation, in addition to Yang Guozhong's own misconduct, there is also a very important point, Li Longji was not caught in his real handle, but this time it is different, when Li Shizhi was deposed, isn't it that Li Linfu grabbed Liu Sheng's case and didn't let go, first brought out Jingzhao Yin Han Chaozong, and then used Han Chaozong to bring down Li Shizhi? At that time, he Li Linfu was still shouting in the court, 'The court official is convicted, and the recommender can not be out of the matter!' ’

Now, he Li Linfu has come out, and Li Longji, who has been watching coldly, can let him go, especially now, Yang Guozhong has returned from the state and county experience, and it is when Li Longji wants to move Li Linfu, An Lushan will send a pillow in a funny way.

Sure enough, Li Longji's anger suddenly subsided, as if he had thought of something, his eyes flickered, and slowly a smug smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he turned back to Yu Chaoen and ordered: "Go!" Call Yang Guozhong to me. ”

After a pause, Li Longji put the matter aside for the time being, remembering the words of Gao Lishi, Bian Lingcheng came back, this is also the person he was anxious to see, he glanced at Gao Lishi, and said coldly: "Go and find Bian Lingcheng for me!" ”

Gao Lishi saw that Li Longji went to find Yang Guozhong, and sighed secretly in his heart, Li Linfu was sad at this level, but he had already concealed the report first, and his hand could not be longer, so he bowed his head and answered, and hurried away.

The room was very quiet, Li Longji frowned, his right elbow was supported on the dragon case, and he gently rubbed his temples, he had heard too much good news for more than a year, the Western Regions had won a great victory, and the salt tax was full, but today's sudden news woke him up all of a sudden, and the world was not peaceful. A lot of people and a lot of things are hiding from him. Even his most trusted Golis.

Li Longji was suddenly upset. In fact, he also knows that the world is not always singing and dancing. After being an emperor for forty-one years, how could he not know the difficulty of governing the country, a land problem has plagued him for decades, and I don't know how many edicts have been issued, all of which have been reduced to a piece of paper, as well as military spending, how much military spending has been approved in his hands in recent years. You can count them all.

The key is that he doesn't have so much energy to govern, he is more concerned about his throne, and the more he gets to his old age. The higher his vigilance, the higher his vigilance, Gaozu, Taizong, Gaozong, Zhongzong and even his own father, which one did not have an accident in his later years? This seems to be the fate of his Li family, and most of his energy is on Yang Guifei. And the rest of the energy can only be on how to prevent the recurrence of fate.

Not only does he have to prevent his heirs from seizing the throne, but now he also has to consider the usurpation of the throne by powerful ministers, especially those who hold military power, and he must double his precautions. I thought everything was in control. But today's Li Xianzhong's incident surprised him, it seems that he is too careless, and he must pay more attention. Li Longji secretly made up his mind.

As for Li Xianzhong, who fled north. The sin is unforgivable, and a suitable general must be sent to arrest it, Li Longji thought about it for a while, and then took up the pen and wrote the words 'Cheng Qianli' on An Lushan's recital.

"Your Majesty, the old slave is here!"

A soft answer sound

Longji's train of thought, he raised his head, and a black, thin and chapped face appeared in front of him. As if the eggplant was dried, Li Longji was shocked. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, and he couldn't help but rub his eyes, and it took a long time to see a little shadow of Bian Lingcheng in the past on this person's face.

I haven't seen him for a few years, he has become like this, the original anger against him has disappeared for a while, after all, he is his own house slave, loyalty to himself is the most important thing, as for the greed for money and fear of death, these subsections seem insignificant.

Li Longji looked at him silently, and asked with a pleasant face for a long time: "I came to ask you, what do you think of Gao Xianzhi and Li Qing?" ”

Bian Lingcheng was stunned, he thought that the emperor would be furious because he hid in the rear in the two wars, and his heart was nervous and anxious, but the emperor didn't seem to intend to hold him responsible, he was extremely moved in his heart, slowly knelt on the ground, and cried in a low voice: "The old slave has a holy grace, and he has come to accept the guilt!" ”

Li Longji waved his hand, and said a little impatiently: "You know very well whether you are guilty or not, answer the question first." ”

"Yes!" Bian Lingcheng wiped away his tears, he thought for a while and said: "In the eyes of the old slave, there is no difference between these two people in terms of their means, Gao Xianzhi Tu Tuo Zhicheng and Li Qing killed all the Qarlu people, they are all ordinary decisive and ruthless, and they are also kind and powerful to their subordinates to win their hearts, but the two are indeed very different in two aspects. ”

"What two?"

"On the one hand, he has an attitude towards the countries of the Western Regions and the Great Food, Gao Xianzhi treats the Western Regions countries as a master and a servant, and looks down as a conqueror, and never considers their feelings, the old slave has stayed with him for many years, and knows him very well, he has always despised the Great Food, and in his eyes the Great Food is just another Kang country or a stone country."

Speaking of this, Bian Lingcheng's eyes flashed with a hint of admiration, and he said: "Li Qing's vision is farther than him, from the very beginning he knows very well what kind of opponent he is fighting with, he seems to know the details of the Great Eclipse, the old slave had seen a sand table in his big tent a few months ago, the Great Eclipse Land is a lot of cities, the distance from Ross, who is the main target or opponent of the Great Eclipse now?" The characteristics of the Great Food Army's combat are clearly marked on the sand table, so he is very well prepared, and he has built 500,000 arrows alone, knowing himself and the enemy, the old slave thinks that this is the most important reason why Li Qing can defeat the big cannibal with less and more. ”

Li Longji nodded slightly and said with a smile: "That's right, it seems that you still have a bit of vision, so what is the other difference between them?" ”

"Another difference.

Bian Lingcheng suddenly hesitated, the corner of his eyes swept to both sides, except for Gao Lishi sitting under the head of the ink, there was no one else, he gritted his teeth, approached Li Longji and whispered: "Another difference between these two is their attitude towards the emperor. ”

"Oh!" Li Longji suddenly became very interested, he glanced at Gao Lishi slightly, and suddenly remembered the book just now, so he said to him: "You go and tell the concubine, just say that I won't go back to eat at noon, and I will accompany her at night." ”

"Yes! The old slave will go. "The room.

"Say it! How do the two of them have different attitudes towards the land? ”

Bian Lingcheng took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "On the surface, Gao Xianzhi is arrogant and domineering, accepting tribute from small countries in Qiuci without authorization, while Li Qing is restrained in everything, and orders small countries in the Western Regions to come to Chang'an every year to pay tribute to His Majesty. ”

"Go on!" Li Long's eyes gradually became cold.

Gao Xianzhi has been stationed at the border for a long time, and has never been an official in the court, and he doesn't know much about the officialdom, so he doesn't pay attention to many subsections and act rashly, which makes people criticize; And Li Qing is different, from the prince to the household servant, he is a person who rolls in the officialdom, how can he not know what to do or not to do, so the old slave thinks that it is actually clear at a glance who Gao Xianzhi is, but the real thoughts in Li Qing's heart, the old slave still can't see through, this is the terrible thing. ”

"You mean, Li Qing has a different heart?" Li Longji asked with a little disbelief, after all, Li Qing has been by his side for many years, and he still knows one or two about him, otherwise he would not let him be the envoy of Anxi Festival.

"That's not what the old slave meant!" Bian Lingcheng sensitively noticed that Li Longji's tone was a little unkind, and hurriedly further explained: "The emperor only asked me to compare Li Qing and Gao Xianzhi, so I just compared the two, both of them are actually good, but if you have to compare the loyalty of the two of them to the court and to Your Majesty, the old slave personally prefers Gao Xianzhi." ”

Bian Lingcheng's words made Li Longji have an ominous premonition in his heart, although he did not fully agree with Bian Lingcheng's evaluation of Li Qing and Gao Xianzhi's loyalty and treachery, but today's conversation with Bian Lingcheng reminded him from another angle, that is, you can't just look at the surface, he remembered Li Xianzhong's defection, there was no sign at all before, but it happened suddenly.

Li Longji slowly walked to the window, staring into the sky, he thought of those generals who held heavy armies: An Lushan, Ge Shuhan, An Sishun, Li Qing, Feng Changqing, would they also be like Li Xianzhong, suddenly do something that he didn't expect at all?

After a long time, he asked Bian Lingcheng in a low voice: "You have been in the frontier for many years, have you thought of any way to prevent the rebellion of the border generals?" ”

"It's hard to say the old slave."

"Say!" Li Longji turned around, his eyes were firmly fixed on Bian Lingcheng and he ordered: "If you don't say it now, when will you wait?" ”

Bian Lingcheng sighed and said helplessly: "In fact, the old slave thinks that the best way is to implement a rotation system, and General Bian Guan will change positions in another place for three years, and he must not be allowed to work in a certain place for too long." ”

Li Longji was stunned, he suddenly remembered An Lushan, he had been the envoy of Fan Yang Festival for more than ten years.