"Die before leaving the school, and the hero will be full of tears."

Xue Shao now understands how much sadness and tragedy there is in this sentence of Du Fu's poem, which he was familiar with in middle school. At this moment, only this poem can express Xue Shao's mood. As a result, it became Xue Shao's elegiac couplet used to commemorate Pei Xingjian.

Soon, this poem spread among the 200,000 Western Expeditionary Army, but all those who chanted and heard it wept.

Under the sky of Datang, there will be no more Pei Gong.

The country has lost its pillars, and the nation has broken its backbone.

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu, the generals of the Tang Dynasty, lost their common father, teacher, robe and best friend.

There is no one like Pei Xingjian who can resolve the most difficult militaristic problems of the Tang Empire in a snap of his fingers.

There is no one who can make the enemies and rebels of the Tang Empire call him "Gong" behind their backs.

There is no one who can make all the soldiers in the Tang Dynasty awe from the bottom of their hearts, and let a general like Evil Lai kneel and kowtow to him in public.

No one dared to smash bamboo slips on Xue Shao's face, but Xue Shao did not retreat or even have any anger in his heart.

The general is talented and heroic.

A generation of Confucian handsome, this is the end of the curtain.

200,000 soldiers of the Western Expedition army mourned for Pei Xingjian's filial piety. In the Weishui camp, there is a vast white field. Many people in Guanzhong heard the bad news of Pei Gong's death and came to pay their respects, and the sound of mourning resounded all over the field.

Xue Shao thought to himself, even if Emperor Li Zhi died in the future, there would not be so many people heartbroken.

……

Pei Xingjian's death was certainly a big blow to Xue Shao. But at this time, he didn't even have much time to stay in front of Pei Xingjian's spirit to mourn. There was a big problem, which suddenly lay in front of him - the army of the Western Expedition had not set off in time, and the coach died suddenly. So who will preside over the battle of the Western Expedition, and where should this army go now?

Because Xue Shao is the deputy chief manager and a student of Pei Gong, the soldiers naturally set their eyes on Xue Shao, hoping that he can come forward to solve these two important problems!

The military situation is like fire, even if Xue Shao is full of pain, he does not dare to delay more. He immediately sent someone to Wenxi County to invite Pei Xingjian's widow Kudi and their three children. Then, Xue Shao prepared to take Pei Xingjian's eldest son, Pei Yanxiu, who was only seven years old, to Luoyang to mourn the second saint.

It is very important to report the funeral, Pei Xingjian, an important minister of the country, his funeral should be arranged by the imperial court, and the funeral should be magnificent. But Xue Shao's trip also has another important purpose, that is, to seek the decree in front of the two saints, hoping that he can take over Pei Xingjian to take charge of the axe and take command of the western expedition.

Xue Shao thought to himself, this hope is relatively slim. If in the eyes of the two saints and the prime ministers, he is qualified to be in charge, then there is no need to ask Pei Xingjian to go out of the mountain. But the matter has come to this point, Xue Shao has to actively fight for it no matter what. A large part of the wish is to inherit Pei Xingjian's legacy and carry out the Western Expedition to the end!

But before Xue Shao could set off, he was stopped by a person.

Pei Yan!

The second saint Dongxing left Pei Yan, Xue Yuanchao and Liu Renliang, the three important ministers and prime ministers, to assist the crown prince Li Xian in Chang'an to supervise the country. Hearing that Pei Xingjian died, Pei Yan and other three prime ministers came to the army to pay respects. After hearing that Xue Shao was going to take Pei Yanxiu to Luoyang to report the funeral, Pei Yan invited Xue Shao to Chang'an and met him in the Imperial City.

This is the first time that Xue Shao has formally negotiated official business with Pei Yan face-to-face.

"Is General Xue going to take the eldest son of the Pei family to Luoyang to report the funeral?" Pei Yan asked knowingly as the opening remark.

"Yes." Xue Shao also answered simply.

"General Xue, don't go." Pei Yan said.

Xue Shao frowned, "Why?" ”

"There are three reasons for this." Pei Yan obviously had a good idea, raised three fingers and said: "First, the commander died suddenly, and this army is a new army that has just been recruited, so it is inevitable that people's hearts will fluctuate and cause trouble. As a deputy commander, you should stay in the army at this time, coordinate the overall situation, and stabilize the people's hearts. As for such a trivial matter as reporting a funeral, the cabinet can send someone to do it for you. General Xue doesn't have to give up his roots and do it himself. ”

Funeral, trivial?

Xue Shao twisted his brows and said lightly: "Dare to smell it." ”

"Second, Datang is moving the capital, and many ministers are still on the road, and Luoyang must be in a hurry at the moment." Pei Yan said: "The two saints must also be anxious about moving the capital and settling down and stabilizing the dynasty. At this time, going to report the funeral will definitely add to the chaos. Therefore, General Xue might as well hold a funeral for Pei Gong in the army first, and report the funeral to the imperial court for a few days. ”

"I don't agree." Xue Shao's answer was categorical, and his tone was also very hard.

Pei Yan smiled disapprovingly, "Why don't you agree?" ”

"Of course, the funeral can be postponed for a few days, but the military situation in the Western Regions is in full swing, how can it be delayed?" Xue Shao said, "If it weren't for the fact that the military situation was like fire, Pei Gong would not have reported his illness and made a hasty comeback, and he would not have died before he left the army!" ——Now, Pei Xianggong actually said that I went to Luoyang to mourn Pei Gongbao to add chaos? So dare to ask, what is the best thing to do without adding to the chaos? ”

Pei Yan still smiled, "General Xue, this pavilion knows that you are too sad because of the death of your teacher, but when discussing political affairs, please don't be too excited, and don't be emotional and waste the public for personal reasons." ”

"I didn't abandon my public office for personal reasons." Xue Shao's tone was very flat and cold, "If you are emotional, I will already beat you." ”

Pei Yan was stunned for a moment, and soon showed a look of anger!

Xue Shao looked at him coldly, neither happy nor angry.

"General Xue, this pavilion understands your feelings, and does not worry too much about your words." Pei Yan smiled faintly again, and said unhurriedly, "Third, do you still want to hear it?" ”

"If you speak, I will listen." Xue Shao was also very calm.

"Okay, third-" Pei Yan said, "The Western Expedition is in command, this is a military matter. It can only be decided by the two saints convening the prime minister. You ran to Luoyang to report the funeral, and your intention was nothing more than to petition for the commander. Don't blame this cabinet for not reminding you that this kind of behavior is a violation of the law. As long as you dare to go, someone will dare to impeach you. ”

"Whatever." Xue Shao said lightly, "Anyway, I've been impeached five or six times in the year I joined the office." I'm used to it. ”

"Then General Xue, just do it yourself." Pei Yan smiled coldly, "Okay, this pavilion has told you clearly." Whether to listen or not to listen is all in General Xue's thoughts. ”

"Farewell!"

"Don't send it!"

Xue Shao strode out of Shizhong Province without looking back, and his heart was full of anger. Let's put aside the political opinions, just because he said that the funeral for Pei Gongbao was a "trivial matter" and a "cause for chaos", it was enough to make Xue Shaoli full of disgust and hatred for Pei Yan.

"Virtuous nephew stays!" Xue Shao was walking in a hurry, and suddenly someone called by his side. He turned his head and saw that it was Xue Yuanchao.

"Meet my uncle." Xue Shao stepped forward and saluted.

Xue Yuanchao wrinkled his eyebrows and looked at Xue Shao, and said in a low voice: "You just went to Menxia Province, did you see Pei Xianggong?" ”

"That's right." Xue Shao replied, "It was Pei Yan who summoned me to see me. ”

Xue Yuanchao heard Xue Shao call Pei Yan's name angrily, smiled faintly, and said, "Virtuous nephew doesn't have to leave in a hurry, come, the old man will talk to you." ”

“…… It's good. ”

Xue Yuanchao did not take Xue Shao to his Zhongshu Provincial Yamen to swagger, but walked into the Hongwen Pavilion nearby, and sat down opposite each other in a quiet room.

"Virtuous nephew, the old man knows that Pei Gong's death has been a great blow and stimulation to you. But caring is chaotic, you don't lose your way and miss a big thing because of sadness and anger. Xue Yuanchao said.

Xue Shao himself had calmed down a lot, and then he sighed and nodded, and said, "Uncle has taught him a lesson. ”

Xue Yuanchao smiled faintly and said, "The Second Sage left Pei Yan in Chang'an to supervise the state and assist the government, and many things had to go through him before he could report to the Second Sage." Including things like the funeral for Pei Gongbao, he should also be in charge. If you go to Luoyang to report the funeral without permission, it is indeed a violation of the law. This not only offends the prime minister, but also dislikes the two saints. ”

"I know." Xue Shao frowned and said, "I was just afraid that he would get in the way, so I wanted to go to Luoyang to report the funeral." If you offend, you will be offended, and it's not the first time anyway. I don't care! ”

Xue Yuanchao still smiled slightly, "You want to ask for the command and inherit the military power and legacy left by Duke Pei, right?" ”

Xue Shao nodded, this matter seemed to the prime ministers with a keen sense of smell to be almost on the surface, and there was nothing to hide.

"Old man, I can't help but splash you with cold water." Xue Yuanchao said, "It's almost impossible to let you be in charge. ”

"Because I'm young and don't have enough qualifications? Or is it not capable? Xue Shao frowned and asked.

Xue Yuanchao shook his head, "All of the above can be regarded as excuses and reasons. But the real reason is - your surname is Xue! ”

It's really a family that doesn't talk to two families, Xue Shao knows that Xue Yuanchao told him the truth this time.

"What my uncle said, in fact, I already knew it." Xue Shao said, "Over the years, my Hedong Xue clan has established the Tang Dynasty and has never declined. However, in recent years, Wenxi Pei's family, represented by Pei Yan, has become strong and stubborn and has become our fierce rival. Pei Yan does not want to see me in charge of real power in the army and expand my power, which is right. ”

"That's right." Xue Yuanchao nodded and said, "The dispute between Xue Pei and Xue has been going on for a long time. After the Northern Expedition, the old man was defeated, and even Wenxi Gong Pei Xingjian was squeezed out of the court by Pei Yan, a fellow clansman. It can be seen that Pei Yan's desire for power is too strong, and he cannot allow anyone to challenge his authority or pose a threat to his position. After defeating the old man and Wen Xigong one after another, Pei Yan was almost invincible in the court of the Tang Dynasty. But he didn't expect that you, a young descendant, would set off such a big storm in the army, and invited Xue Rengui, who had been degraded for ten years, to the mountain and be reused. ”

"Pei Yan thinks that I am too disobedient in the army, and some of the things I do are beyond his expectations and control, so he has long listed me as a political enemy, right?" Xue Shao sneered.

Xue Yuanchao nodded, "It's like one day, you find that there is a disobedient retainer in your family, and what he does is not in your expectation and control." What will you do? ”

"But the problem is, Pei Yan is not the master of the Tang Dynasty!" Xue Shao sneered.

Xue Yuanchao smiled, "What if, he thinks he is 'yes'?" ”

Xue Shao also smiled, "Then he is not far from death!" ”