"Queen Mother!" Xue Shao clenched his fists, raised his head to look at her, and said with a straight look: "Cheng Wuting may be damned, but he can't die!" - Especially now, you can't die at the hands of your own people! ”

Wu Zetian, who seemed to be angry, was refuted on the spot, but he was not angry, and said calmly: "Why? ”

Xue Shao took a deep breath and summed up the most convincing of all the reasons he had thought about in the past few days into one sentence - "The most beneficial and happiest people in the imperial court must be the Turks!" ”

Wu Zetian's expression was still without a trace of fluctuation, and he was unusually silent.

Xue Shao knew in her heart that she, a big politician who had been in power for decades, had no reason not to think of factors at this level. Therefore, I didn't really expect to convince her just by just a few words.

This will be a difficult tug-of-war, and Xue Shao has already been mentally prepared, even for the worst.

Wu Zetian got up and slowly walked to Xue Shao's side.

After getting along with her for so long, Xue Shao gradually became familiar with some of her habits. Whenever he needed to think deeply or say something very important, Wu Zetian would always leave his seat and walk out of his seat, walk in front of others and say face-to-face.

"The trouble of the henchman is far better than the disease of the elbow and armpit." Wu Zetian walked to Xue Shao's side, his expression was indifferent to a little cold, and said: "Xue Shao, you are not only a general, but also the most trusted son-in-law and the most important humerus in the palace, and you are also the important minister left by the emperor to the new dynasty. You can't just look at what's at stake or just look at your own opinions. What's more, you have to think from the standpoint of the society and the court. ”

"The minister knows." Xue Shao nodded and replied seriously, "Queen Mother, the minister is indeed thinking about Cheng Wuting's life and death from the perspective of what your old man said, from the perspective of the long-term interests of the country, society and the nation. ”

Wu Zetian's eyebrows sank slightly, "Then what kind of results have you thought about?" ”

"The minister is a general, and most of his actions are from a military point of view." Xue Shao said, "Whether we admit it or not, the Turkic Khanate has risen today. For many years to come, they will be the most difficult foreign enemies of Datang. In this autumn of war, every time the imperial court kills a general, it is tantamount to destroying a border of the Great Wall. This kind of thing is undoubtedly the pain of relatives and enemies. Cheng Wuting, he was one of the important generals of the Tang Dynasty to fight against Turkic foreign enemies, and was deeply feared by the Turks. Now, it doesn't matter whether he committed a crime or whether he deserved to die. As long as the Tang Dynasty opens a bad example of self-defeating border generals, it will make everyone who is a general endanger themselves, and the people in the army will be panicked, so that the morale of the army will be weakened and the morale will fall. Foreign enemies will take advantage of it. Rise and fall...... The evil consequences brought to Datang by killing a Cheng Wuting are difficult to estimate! ”

Wu Zetian listened very carefully, and after listening, he paced silently and thoughtfully. After a long time, she said: "Cheng Wuting is indeed a fierce tiger, enough to tear apart any foreign enemy. However, tiger farming is a problem. ”

Xue Shao hurriedly said: "Queen Mother, just because the tiger is enough to tear any enemy, then its existence is enough to shock any enemy!" -- The premise is to keep it alive. Even if it's in captivity in a cage, it's a shock. If it's just a tiger skin that has been stripped off, it's useless! ”

Wu Zetian's eyelids lifted slightly, as if there was a little flash of inspiration in his heart.

Xue Shao walked closer and whispered: "Queen Mother, Cheng Wuting may have almost gone astray because of a moment of confusion. But after all, he realized that he had lost his way and did not cause huge losses to Datang. Now that he has come to Chang'an with his head to ask for his guilt, it is enough to prove that he is sincerely repentant. At this moment, Cheng Wuting is like a tiger that has abandoned its minions, and is willingly approaching the cage to let it fall. At this time, if killing Cheng Wuting was just some unwarranted suspicions and old grudges, it would help our enemies get rid of their fierce enemies, and they would rejoice. In this way, it seems that there are many benefits and harms. ”

Wu Zetian's brows slowly furrowed, "Go on." ”

"On the contrary, if Cheng Wuting is left with a life, it will be a win-win situation." Xue Shao said, "Everyone in the government and the opposition knows that Cheng Wuting and Pei Yan are sons and daughters, and the news that Cheng Wuting is about to move in Hebei after Pei Yan's defeat is also spreading. Coupled with the rebellion of Yangzhou Xu Jingye, the people of Minye were all panicked, thinking that the chaotic times at the end of the Sui Dynasty would come again. Now fortunately, Cheng Wuting took the initiative to come to Chang'an to ask for reconciliation, if the Queen Mother can pardon her in the past, it is enough to show that the Queen Mother is lenient, and at the same time, it will effectively smash the rumors that the Tang Dynasty is about to break out in Hebei. This is quite beneficial to Datang's social and people's livelihood. Moreover, after the fall of Pei Yan, all the courtiers were in danger for fear of being affected and liquidated. At this time, if Cheng Wuting's life can be left, it will be quite conducive to stabilizing people's hearts and stabilizing the court. Of course, it can also stabilize the dìng army! ”

"But Cheng Wuting is really damned." Wu Zetian said, "As an important minister of the state and a commander of the border army, he relied on his old merits and the soldiers and horses in his hands, and intended to rebel against the imperial court. Although he was eventually persuaded by you to turn back, if he did so, it would definitely not be tolerated by the laws of the state. If Cheng Wuting is not punished, all the generals will follow his example in the future, relying on the military power to oppose the imperial court - what will happen when this example is opened? ”

"Committing rebellion, the first of the ten evils. The minister naturally understands ......" Xue Shao said, "However, the law is also punished by law, and it is also in his actions and regardless of his heart. If it is a condemnation of the heart...... There are too many damned people in the world. I'm afraid that it will be difficult to escape death as a minister! ”

"Don't flamboy!" Wu Zetian scolded angrily, "Could it be that you also insulted the palace and the first emperor in your heart?" ”

Xue Shao lowered his head and smiled a little tricky, of course he wouldn't answer.

"Speaking of which, there is actually only one layer of meaning in your words." Wu Zetian said, "Cheng Wuting should be damned, but he can't die, he can be punished but not killed." Right? ”

"Yes." Xue Shao said, "It's useless to kill, it's useful to stay." Besides, the current Cheng Wuting is no longer a threat to the Queen Mother or the imperial court. The court threw him aside as a waste, ignored him, and left him to fend for himself. And why bother to sacrifice that sword to give a handle? ”

Wu Zetian suddenly laughed.

Xue Shao blinked, "Why is the Queen Mother laughing?" ”

"Xue Shao, of course, you are sincere to others and loyal to the country. However, you are too simple and good to know the dangers of the human heart and the state of the world. Wu Zetian said, "Today, you are working hard to save Cheng Wuting; It's hard to protect his life, and you won't be burdened by it. ”

Xue Shao smiled and said, "Queen Mother, if the people in the government and the opposition only want to protect themselves from good fortune and avoid evil, then the minister will really feel that he will be burdened by him." ”

"Okay, since you are so persistent, this palace can fulfill you this time." Wu Zetian turned around and faced Xue Shao, the expression on his face was serious and stern. But it is no longer the seriousness and strictness of the "Empress Dowager Wu" above the court, but more like a rational and stern elder, she said, "Xue Shao, in the eyes of this palace, you are already better than half a son. In this palace, there are many words that should not be clarified and said thoroughly. But this palace is going to make an exception today, and I will make it clear and explain it to you thoroughly. ”

"Please also ask the Queen Mother to show me." Xue Shao bowed.

"At this time, you shouldn't call me the Queen Mother." Wu Zezai's voice was much softer.

Xue Shao was slightly stunned, and bowed again, "Please also ask your mother-in-law to give instructions!" ”

"In fact, whether to kill Cheng Wuting or not is not the main thing, the important thing is to eliminate the military crisis in Hebei. You have done a very successful job in this matter, and you deserve to be commended. Wu Zetian raised the corners of his mouth with a little satisfaction, and said: "Having said that, the reason why Cheng Wuting deserves to die is precisely in his heart and not in his deeds. If he really raised troops and reversed, the court would be very easy to deal with. If he were to be spared, with his prestige in the army and his temperament of revenge, who could guarantee that he would not make a mistake in the future? - You, can you? ”

Xue Shao wrung his eyebrows and pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "The vicissitudes of life are impermanent, and people's hearts are fickle and incalculable. Minister...... No! ”

"I know that you and Cheng Wuting have a deep relationship, but no matter how deep your emotions are, can you win the love of father and son and brotherhood?" Wu Zetian smiled slightly, and slowly paced, "There have been so many palace coups and flesh killings, I don't think I need to say more, right?" ”

Xue Shao nodded lightly.

"Xue Shao, this palace understands your mood and thoughts at the moment. You are young, hot-blooded, brilliant and ambitious. You have almost all the good qualities that a young man should have. Wu Zetian said, "But at the same time, you also have the usual flaws of young people. ”

Xue Shao frowned slightly, "Is it emotional and innocent?" ”

Wu Zetian smiled slightly, "Everyone has been young, and I am no exception. So I know that preaching alone can't change your mind at the moment. Therefore, this palace is willing to fulfill you this time, leaving Cheng Wuting's trouble-making head to watch the after-effects. There are many things that you can only truly understand by letting yourself experience them, and you will truly understand the many painful lessons that have been exchanged for blood and life! ”

"......" Xue Shao was speechless.

Wu Zetian smiled instead, "If you don't go to visit Taiping, I, as a mother-in-law, will really be angry!" ”

Xue Shao flashed with almost a "whoosh", and he didn't even bow and thank you.

There can't be anything abrupt with the Empress Dowager Wu who is above the court, and what else is there to be polite with her mother-in-law?

Wu Zetian's face had a helpless wry smile, he shook his head and sighed, sighing extremely lonely. She whispered alone—

"The faithful cannot do it, and the capable one does not care...... When will you chaotic sons and daughters understand my painstaking intentions? ”