"Thank you, Queen Mother!"

Xue Shao walked back a few steps and stood where he been, and next to Du Xilu, as if to Du Xilu and as if to everyone present, he said-

The Turks offered to reconcile with the Tang Dynasty for an armistice, and on the premise of surrendering to the Tang Dynasty. Xue did not object to this, because peace is what both of us yearn for. However, Xue could not do absolute heartfelt support. This is because no subject country has ever dared to abduct the people of the suzerain, and to detain and delay them for a long time. As a general of the Tang Dynasty, Xue takes it as his responsibility to protect the territory and the people. Now, there are still many people of the Tang Dynasty who are slaves and maids on the grassland, and it is better to die than to live and die. What they hope day and night is that Datang can rescue them and allow them to return home and reunite with their relatives as soon as possible...... Xue was ashamed because I had never been able to do this on the battlefield. As a general, I have a duty to do my job. Therefore, I don't even have the face to mention the words 'protecting the territory and the people' again. ”

There was silence.

Faced with the forced gaze of more than a thousand pairs of eyes, Xue Shao became a little excited the more he spoke, "Now, Xue still can't save our compatriots and people at the negotiation table. Xue was even more ashamed, Xue didn't have the face to tell others that I was a general of the Tang Dynasty, and I am still a minister of the Tang Dynasty! ”

"Smack-smack-smack!"

Xue Shao slapped three big ear scrapers heavily on his face, "No face!" - It's really shameless! ”

The audience was quieter.

Li Duozuo and Xue Chuyu, who were originally restless, all quieted down, and looked at Xue Shao quietly one by one.

Wu Zetian also remained silent. But the angry look on her face faded away in a noticeable way.

"The general should be angry, and the general should fight. The general must fight for every inch of land, and he must repay his eyes. If he had not been cold-blooded and desperate, he would not have lost these instincts and duties entrusted to them by the state and the nation. Xue Shao said, "Xue Shao is incompetent and unable to rescue our compatriots and people on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. Now that the war is over, there are still our sisters to be sent to the steppe to be slaves. Xue saw it, no matter what the result is, I should always stand up and say something for them, right? ”

Quiescence.

"Xue, where the responsibility lies."

"Xue, there is no cold-blooded and desperate yet."

Quiescence......

After that, Xue Shao slowly took off the Jinxian crown on the top of his head, put it at his feet in a dignified manner, and bowed his hand-

"Back to the Queen Mother, the minister's words are finished. Please the Queen Mother, send the Holy Judgment! ”

The audience was still silent. It's just that most of the people have moved their eyes and attention to Wu Zetian's side.

"Quack, quack, quack"

Some applauded.

Everyone was stunned and turned their eyes to see that it was a surprise.

"General Xue!" He snorted, and then bowed down to Xue Shao's chest very solemnly, as if worshipping their own king, and said, "You are very good!" ”

Xue Shao smiled faintly, "Thanks to the praise, I don't dare to take it." ”

"Although you are the nightmare of our steppe people and the enemy of our Turkic Khanate, you are worthy of respect." Du Xilu changed his usual sleek and cunning attitude, and his expression was quite serious, "Prairie boy, I have always respected real warriors. It turns out that you are not only a warrior, but also the king of warriors. No wonder there are countless warriors who swear to follow your command, just as the wolves follow their wolf kings without fear of life and death. ”

"......" Xue Shao, who was sincerely served by the enemy, was completely indifferent, and even his expression did not change.

Many people in the audience were already very keenly aware of the sinister intentions of Du Xiluan - he was extraordinarily elevating Xue Shao in this way, in disguise, he was belittling the Empress Dowager Wu and the other Tang Dynasty ministers present. Xue Shao's words and deeds today have more or less offended the Queen Mother and other ministers. Now to perform like this again is tantamount to adding fuel to the fire.

"Kill this guy!" Xue Chuyu was furious, and he was about to jump up as soon as he bit his steel teeth.

Blacktooth Changzhi and the three generals around him worked together to hold him down, but unexpectedly knocked down a table, and the sudden loud noise once again alarmed the audience.

"Presumptuous!" Wu Zetian shouted angrily, "What kind of system!" ”

Xue Chuyu, Hei Tooth Chang Zhi and the others hurriedly reined in and apologized, and Wu Zetian waved his hand impatiently to signal them to retreat.

The originally lively and festive state banquet suddenly changed.

Xue Shao and Du Xilu were still standing face to face, like a pair of mortal enemies who might draw their knives and cut each other at any time.

Wu Zetian walked down and walked straight to Xue Shao's face. Xue Shao bowed slightly, apologizing for the offense. Du Xi Creeping is to stroke his chest and bend down and retreat step by step, looking at the situation, he is planning to retreat to the side to "sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight".

Lowering his head, Wu Zetian looked at Jin Xianguan, who was placed in front of Xue Shao's feet.

That one, Jin Xian crown, gold silk leather with cloud crane brocade, exquisite workmanship, three products and five beams.

Wu Zetian bent down and picked up the Jinxian crown, held it with both hands, and put it back on Xue Shao's head.

"The five beams enter the virtuous crown, and the three-grade master wears it." Wu Zetian said, "It not only indicates the special and noble nature of your identity, but also means that your responsibilities are arduous and difficult. ”

Xue Shao frowned slightly and nodded his head.

"What's the time to abandon it?" Wu Zetian said softly.

Xue Shao closed his eyes slightly and breathed lightly, but did not speak.

After doing this, Wu Zetian walked back to her seat and said, "Above the court of the Tang Dynasty, there will never be only one voice. In the past, Wei Zheng, a courtier, dared to overthrow the holy will of His Majesty Emperor Taizong in public, and even pointed at the court mercilessly, and it was not uncommon to scold and scold angrily. ”

"So, there is Zhenguan Dazhi."

When everyone heard this, they were amazed...... Empress Dowager Wu, is this comparing herself to Taizong?

"Your Excellency." Wu Zetian suddenly called.

"The envoy is here." Du Xilu hurriedly came out of the queue and saluted.

"I just saw that this palace has praised Xue Shao and even has a lot of respect for you." Wu Zetian said with a smile, "In this way, you agree with his opinion very much?" ”

"......" The face of the suddenly twitched unnaturally, but he immediately covered it up, and said seriously, "Yes, the envoy respects General Xue's blood, integrity, bravery, and loyalty very much. ”

"In that case, then the palace is about to take back its fate." Wu Zetian has always been good at getting off the donkey down the slope, and this time he was even more unambiguous, and immediately announced in public, "The beautiful woman who was verbally promised to be rewarded by the Shicai Palace will be withdrawn because of Xue Shaozhi's advice and the attachment of the Turkic envoys. However, the tea bricks and green salt used by the palace will be rewarded separately, and the department will handle it at its discretion. ”

"Command!" Immediately, an official from Honglu Temple came out to make a promise.

"Come, give wine." Wu Zetian waved his cloud sleeves, and the two palace maids each gave Xue Shao and Lu Xilu a golden cup, which was full of wine.

"First of all, the noble envoy." Wu Zetian raised his glass with a smile, "There is a small misunderstanding at the banquet, don't worry about it." Please also bear in mind that peace between the two countries was not easy to come by. Cherish, cherish! ”

"I don't dare to forget! I thank the Queen Mother! Lu Xilu is now repentant to the point that his intestines are green, and his throat is so angry that he can't bear to squeeze out a smile, drink a glass of wine with Wu Zetian, and then return to his seat in a daze.

Never again.

Wu Zetian raised another cup, "The second cup of the palace, to Xue Shao." ”

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Xue Shao raised the golden cup.

Wu Zetian looked at Xue Shao's eyes seriously, and was not angry, but showed a lot of appreciation and relief, softly, but clearly said, "Respect, the soul of the army, the pillar of the society...... A man's conscience! ”

Li Duozuo, Xue Chuyu and others present heard it all.

Instantaneous, blood boiling. They stood up together.

"Please accompany you!!"

Wu Zetian drank the full cup without hesitation. Before Xue Shaodu could react, she suddenly got up and said loudly: "The third cup of this palace, to all the generals here!" ――Please!! ”

"Queen Mother, please!"

Lu Xiluo and the others sat on the side, and their faces were already pale.

They can see it. It turned out that Xue Shao was not the only one who was unwilling to strike and reconcile. All the Tang Dynasty generals present, including the Empress Dowager Wu, who was lavishly rewarded and seemed to have a pleasant face and did not want to fight, all had a murderous heart that would not back down in a bloody battle.

As for the pledge that symbolizes peace?

-- If the Covenant were really useful, would history still be staggering through war and bloodshed?

……

After the banquet, the Turkic envoys, accompanied by the officials of Honglu Temple, went to arrange their return to China, and immediately left Chang'an and returned to the grassland.

The ministers of civil and military affairs also said goodbye to Wu Zetian and left the Qide Hall in turn.

Xue Shao walked alone and walked down from the dragon's tail road in the palace. Xue Chuyu and Li Duozuo walked side by side, wanting to step forward to talk to Xue Shao, but they didn't dare to step forward.

They rarely saw Xue Shao so angry and high-spirited. At this time, Xue Shao's image in their minds would always be a little different from the usual Brother Paoze, who shared life and death, and did not distinguish between you and me.

It was just this little difference, but it was enough for Xue Chuyu and Li Duozuo, the two young Zhuang tiger generals who dominated the field, to unconsciously keep a few steps away from him.

Although these few steps are not enough to measure the awe in their hearts.

Xue Chuyu and Li Duozuo are still like this, and other ministers and colleagues dare not come forward to have nothing to do. So Xue Shao walked all the way straight, walked in a hurry, and was alone.

Just after crossing the dismount bridge, Xue Shao was suddenly stopped by a group of people.

It was a group of beauties dressed in pink and colored crowns, dressed as brides, all graceful and colorful, standing neatly on both sides of the bridge head of the dismount bridge, about thirty or forty. A eunuch with a familiar face of Xue Shao hurriedly ran forward, and whispered while bowing his waist to make amends: "Forgive the sins!" These palace ladies of the inner court were originally dressed up and packed up and were going to be sent to the Turks together, but now they are ......"

"Shut up." Xue Shao said lightly, "Where is my horse?" ”

"In! Wait a minute, please! The eunuch hurried to lead the horse.

No one gave orders, but the group of women had already knelt down together, all of them throwing themselves to the ground.

Many ministers, generals and palace people passing by stopped to watch.

No one spoke. Neither did the women who fell to their knees.

Perhaps, this is called great grace without thanks.

Xue Shao didn't speak, he walked past the group of kneeling women, rode on the Weilong BMW brought by the eunuch, and galloped away with a whip.

Behind him, a group of beautiful women kneeling on the land of the Tang Dynasty were left behind, bursting into tears.