Maybe it was because Wu Zetian really began to appreciate Xue Shao's military ability after the crusade against Bai Tieyu, or maybe it was the birth of the emperor's grandson that made Wu Zetian feel particularly good. In short, she was in a particularly cheerful mood today, and she spoke to Xue Shao and the others with a pleasant face, just like a kind elder in the family gossiping with her favorite juniors.

"Wan'er, go and get the Lingnan dew buds treasured by the palace, and the palace will have tea with General Taiyi and General Tianguan." Wu Zetian gave an order.

Shangguan Wan'er went as promised, and Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu felt even more confused...... The diva personally entertained us for tea? That's high enough!

"You don't have to be restrained, please take a seat." Wu Zetian smiled again after speaking, and said busily, "This palace is confused, I actually forgot that the two of you are wearing a Yuan Rong costume - someone came, and invited the two generals to take their knives and swords and scarfs for safekeeping." ”

The attendants on the left and right hurriedly stepped forward to serve, and Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu took off the sabers and complicated obstructive waist armor and skulls on their bodies, and handed them over to the waiters for safekeeping. Wu Zetian had already ordered someone to bring a pair of couches, with a chessboard in the middle.

"Which of the two of you is playing a game of double land against Hongu?" Wu Zetian seemed to be in high spirits.

Xue Shao smiled, "Come on!" ”

"Very good!" Wu Zetian said with a smile, "This palace has long heard that you are proficient in chess, piano, calligraphy and painting, and are familiar with all kinds of miscellaneous arts. This palace is going to compete with you today! ”

Xue Shao said with a smile, "Queen of Heaven, it's all falsehood. ”

"You don't have to be modest." Wu Zetian sat down with a smile, "Let's talk about it first, and you are not allowed to give up to this palace." Otherwise, the game will not be interesting. ”

"Your Ministers obey."

The two sat down opposite each other on the chessboard and started playing chess, and Xue Chuyu was in charge of planning on the side.

Backgammon is played similarly to flying chess, where the dice are rolled to make the pieces move off the grid, and although there is a lot of luck, it is also very strategic. Wu Zetian loves Shuanglu and is proficient in this way, everyone in the palace and outside the palace knows it, and even it has been recorded in the history books.

Soon after the chess game began, Shangguan Wan'er took two palace maids to bring a complete set of beautiful tea sets, which were placed next to it and lit a fire. Without Wu Zetian's orders, Shangguan Wan'er had already quietly started to make tea on the side.

Xue Shao casually glanced at Shangguan Wan'er and found that her tea-making movements were quite "professional", and she had a fight with Yu Hongye, who was specialized in this way. He couldn't help but be a little curious in his heart, but he didn't expect Shangguan Wan'er to have a specialty in tea art.

While playing chess, Wu Zetian said casually: "Wan'er has recently learned a new tea art, and I have tried it in this palace, and I think it is very good." So the palace transferred her back from the palace and worked on her side. Today, I will let you try her craft and see how it goes. ”

"Thank you."

The two thanked each other, Xue Shao thought to himself that this was probably just an excuse, Wu Zetian actually liked the smart and clever Shangguan Wan'er.

More than halfway through the chess line, Xue Shao grasped the measure, that is, he did not win too hard and did not lose too much, and the two sides were evenly matched. Wu Zetian was always laughing and nervous, and he seemed to have a lot of fun.

"Years ago, the two of you braved the wind and snow to go to conquer Bai Tieyu, and you worked hard." Wu Zetian said as if inadvertently, "This palace should have talked to the two of you a long time ago, but it was delayed because of the New Year and busyness. So I'm going to invite you two here today and have a chat. You don't have to be formal, just gossip and chat. ”

"Yes."

Wu Zetian smiled and nodded, played a game of chess, and said: "Bai Tieyu's demon words confuse the people to launch a rebellion, and the earthquake in Sanzhou is very harmful. Fortunately, there are still capable ministers like you in the imperial court, and the rebellion was quelled in an instant, and the legacy of Bai Tieyu was completely eliminated. This is not a small achievement. For this reason, His Majesty the Emperor specially summoned the palace to discuss with the Prime Minister of the Cabinet to reward the two of you and all the generals who participated in the counterinsurgency. ”

"The queen of heaven, the minister does not dare to be rewarded." Xue Shao said suddenly.

Wu Zetian remained silent, "Why?" ”

"The minister is guilty." Xue Shao said, "If the minister asks for merit and demerits, he is already satisfied." ”

"What are your sins?"

Xue Shao arched his hand and said: "The ministers made a mistake in using their soldiers, and more than half of the thousands of cavalry under the command of the guide were lost." Qianqi is His Majesty's personal guard, and the minister has always been worried that he will not be able to explain to His Majesty, and he still dares to be rewarded? ”

"You're thinking too much. Majesty has always used people without suspicion, and suspects do not need to use them. Since he has handed over a thousand horsemen to you, it is your business to deal with it. Wu Zetian smiled indifferently and said, "Moreover, according to the military merit evaluation method in the Twenty-Seven Most Regulations of the Four Virtues, you have captured the enemy's head by attacking all sentient beings with a few blows, which is already a leaping skill obtained in battle." How can you not reward it? ”

"The queen of heaven can't be rewarded." Xue Shao smiled bitterly, "The minister has other crimes." ”

"What's the crime?"

Xue Shao arched his hand and said: "The ministers are not strict in governing the army, and some sergeants under their command accept food and clothing from the people. The ministers also disturbed the people, and the army clashed with the people when they left Suizhou. The minister also abused his power to increase the amount of pensions to the fallen soldiers and native soldiers. The minister also had the courage to bring more than 50 government soldiers and native soldiers back to Chang'an to be used as private slaves. All these faults add up, and even the work of jumping can't be compensated. ”

Wu Zetian smiled.

"Xue Lang, what you said, this palace has seen all of them in your recitals." Wu Zetian said with a smile.

Xue Shao smiled bitterly, "The queen of heaven, what the minister said is the truth......"

"These things you said, this palace has already investigated clearly." Wu Zetian smiled, "The people of Yanzhou, who are short of food and clothing, give you food that they are reluctant to eat and winter clothes that they are reluctant to use, which proves that your words and deeds have won the hearts of the people when you are in Yanzhou, and they have moved the local people before they spontaneously give you clothes and gifts." The disturbing conflict when he left Suizhou was just because the people didn't want to let Bai Tieyu go. The duty of the sergeant under your command is to escort Bai Tieyu, even if he is wounded and bleeding by the people, no one will fight back, which is really the work of the righteous king. In addition, the pension of the fallen soldiers in Yanzhou, you have given too much, and even the native soldiers who should not be compensated are also issued according to the same specifications. But at that time, the battle was tragic, and the Yanzhou guards died fiercely and generously, and they were really righteous men in the world. Such righteous people should be rewarded and praised, and although your actions are prepared in accordance with the law, they have won the hearts of the people and are in line with the general righteousness. The duty of the messenger is to educate the people's hearts on behalf of the heavenly patrol, and His Majesty has given you the right to act cheaply, that is, you are allowed to adapt to the situation without sticking to one pattern. You're doing a great job. The only thing this palace doesn't understand is, why did you take those dozens of guards back to Chang'an? ”

Xue Shao hurriedly arched his hand and said, "The minister doesn't dare to deceive the queen of heaven." The minister felt that he owed them nothing, so he decided to compensate them privately and let them settle down in Chang'an to spend the rest of their lives in peace. In addition, the minister also took a fancy to some of them and wanted to train them to be elite scouts. If there are no scouts outside the march, it is like a man who is blind and deaf and subject to restrictions everywhere. From the last Northern Expedition to this expedition against Bai Tieyu, the minister has deeply realized the hardship of not having scouts. ”

"I see." Wu Zetian nodded, "No wonder some people played impeachment, saying that you rely on military merits to raise private soldiers." ”

"The minister is guilty!" Xue Shao bowed down, "Ask the queen of heaven to punish!" ”

"Meritorious service first ask for sin, this palace sees that you are like this!" Wu Zetian held the chess pieces, shook his head and smiled.

Xue Shao smiled bitterly, "Queen of Heaven, isn't there nothing there is to be done......

"What do you mean?"

Xue Shao replied: "The ministers are tired of receiving the emperor's grace, which has aroused the jealousy of many people. Every time a minister does something, no matter how good or bad the result is, there will always be someone who finds fault and denounces the imperial history afterwards. The imperial history will always come to me to talk to investigate, although in the end it is all over, but the minister is tireless. So the minister developed a habit of finishing a thing, first reviewing his mistakes and then taking the initiative to admit it. In this way, it is better than being exposed and reported, right? ”

"Haha!" Wu Zetian laughed, "I didn't expect you to be an official for a long time, but you have learned to be sophisticated." ”

Xue Shao smiled wryly, laughing without saying a word.

"Then there's one more thing, why don't you report it?" Wu Zetian asked.

Xue Shao blinked, "What did the queen of heaven say?" ”

"Isn't there a spy inside Qianqi?" Wu Zetian asked.

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu were stunned at the same time, obviously, it should be Xuanyunzi suing Wu Zetian.

"What, is Hongu wrong?"

Xue Shao smiled bitterly with an embarrassed face, looked at Shangguan Wan'er and the others next to him, and didn't speak.

"They're not outsiders." Wu Zetian said lightly, "If you have something to say, just say it." ”

"The queen of heaven, the minister has nothing to say." Xue Shao sighed and said, "The minister did shield that person. ”

"Hongu wants to know, why?" Wu Zetian asked.

Xue Shao arched his hand and said: "He is our robe of life and death, although he has made mistakes, he has already apologized for his crimes." The minister really can't bear to let him lose his reputation again! ”

"Affection and righteousness. No wonder your subordinates are willing to be born and die with you, without complaint. Wu Zetian nodded and praised, and also sighed, "The general will not accept the order of the monarch outside, this is the housework of your Qianqi, and this palace should not be asked in detail." But this palace still wants to remind you that if that person is involved with other people in the court, you can't cover them up. so as not to appease adultery and suffer the court. ”

Xue Shao's heart sank, Wu Zetian is asking guests to kill chickens! …… The relationship between that person and Wu Yougui is not ordinary, the main reason why I forbearance and concealment is of course out of righteousness, but in the final analysis, it is not to consider the face of the diva?

"The queen of heaven, the minister thinks that this matter is better to end here." Xue Shao said, "So as not to publicize it, it will damage the reputation of Qianqi and make His Majesty's face not look good." ”

"......" Wu Zetian was silent for a moment, calmly dropped a chess piece, and said calmly: "It's okay." ”

Xue Shao breathed a sigh of relief, and it could be seen that Wu Zetian had "acquiesced" to the favor he had sent.

Later, Wu Zetian asked Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu about the process and details of the battle against Bai Tieyu. The two knew that Xuan Yunzi must have reported these things a long time ago, and he could only report them truthfully, and he could not hide or lie in any way.

At the end of the chess game, Wu Zetian won a small victory; Shangguan Wan'er's tea was cooked very well, and it was all in the stomach; The conversation was also coming to an end at this time.

At this time, Wu Zetian finally showed his hole card, "Xue Shao, since the death of General Li, the post of General Lin Wei of Right Yu has been vacant. His Majesty and the prime ministers of the palace and the cabinet unanimously agreed that for the time being, there will be no post of General Right Yu Lin Wei, and only you will be promoted to be the General of Right Yu Lin Wei, and you will be in charge of the Right Yu Lin Wei side by side with another general, Zhang Qianxuan. The position of the Qianqi Zhonglang General vacated by you will be replaced by Xue Chuyu. What do you think?

As expected by Xue Shao and the others, this seemingly relaxed and casual "tea talk" was actually an important political assessment and review.