Seeing Xue Shao's relieved expression, Wu Zetian smiled, "This palace doesn't care about Wang Fangyi, this is what you want to hear the most, right?" ”

Xue Shao smiled, which was considered a tacit acquiescence.

Wu Zetian said: "Xue Shao, your problem of self-protection is not too good!" ――Cheng Wuting's matter may be understandable in this palace, but you don't have much love for Wang Fangyi if you don't work with Wang Fangyi, why are you so concerned and nervous about his affairs? ”

"Back to the Queen Mother...... Xue Shao thought for a while and said: "The minister is indeed a little suspicious of protecting Wang Fangyi and Cheng Wuting, but it is by no means partial. ”

"Is there a difference?"

"Yes." Xue Shao said, "The reason for protecting the shortcomings is that they have all made mistakes to a greater or lesser extent and deserve some punishment. But the minister's efforts to protect them to the death were not entirely selfish. In fact, generals of their rank are already an important part of our military strength and national defense strength. Nowadays, the Tibetan Turkic enemy is surrounded by strong enemies, and the Western Regions are ready to move, and our border defense pressure is already great. In this situation, killing any general is tantamount to killing a general in battle, which is a great disadvantage in battle. Moreover, they have no foundation in the court, and without the army, they will be inactive like ordinary people. Therefore, the minister thinks that it is enough to be idle, so why kill it? ”

"Could it be that in my Heavenly Empire, apart from Cheng Wuting and Wang Fangyi, there are no more unscrupulous generals available?" Wu Zetian sneered.

"That's not what the minister meant." Xue Shao said, "This dynasty has always advocated prudence, and His Majesty Emperor Taizong once said that killing one person will kill ten people. But like Wang Fangyi and Cheng Wuting, they are the hearts of 100,000 soldiers who kill one general.

Therefore, in the humble opinion of the ministers, the example of this dynasty not being able to open up without permission. Even if they are really guilty, they should be convicted and punished according to the law, not lynched by the method of human rule. Only in this way can we stabilize the morale of the military and consolidate the border defense to the greatest extent. ”

After hearing these words, Wu Zetian fell silent.

Xue Shao was convinced that Wu Zetian had listened to what he had just said. In fact, a politician of her level must have thought about such a simple truth a long time ago. It's just that she has been playing politics and struggle vigorously for nearly half a century, and she is a bit of a layman in terms of military affairs. In contrast to the two, it is of course easier for her to adopt the purpose of "taking politics and struggle as the key link" to do things.

The Yingxian Hall has arrived.

Wu Zetian entered the hall to change clothes, and Xue Shao waited outside the hall, and did not go to Yingxian Tai to find the demon. Wu Zetian just said casually, Xue Shao was not naïve enough to really go to Yingxiantai. Now the demon is almost an "extreme privacy" of Wu Zetian, how can it be seen casually?

A moment later, a man in a purple official uniform walked in front of him. Looking at his stride and posture, he looks like a spring breeze smug.

"There are definitely not many men who can enter Yingxian Palace. Purple official uniform, a senior official of the third grade or above......" Xue Shao looked at the man from a distance, and when he approached, he knew in his heart - Wu Chenghe!

Wu Chengsi obviously also saw Xue Shao, his feet stopped slightly, his eyes swept over Xue Shao, he looked directly ahead, straightened his body, and strode forward.

Xue Shao wanted to smile when he saw him like this, and it was so appropriate to use "Mu Monkey and Crown" to describe his current dignity.

When Wu Chengsi approached, Xue Shao still arched his hand slightly: "I've seen Wu Xianggong." ”

Anyway, he's the prime minister now. The prime minister, the upper auxiliary Son of Heaven and the lower peace of the people, the ministers avoid the way and salute hundreds of officials, Xue Shao took the initiative to give this ceremony, which is the established etiquette in the court.

"Hmm......" Wu Chengsi paused for a moment, but he barely looked at Xue Shao, cutting off the back with one hand and twisting the short beard on his chin with the other, and said in an official tone, "Xue Shangshu, what are you doing here?" ”

"The Queen Mother called me." Xue Shao replied calmly.

Wu Chengsi blinked his eyes again and again, full of suspicion, "The Queen Mother called me first, why did she call you again?" ”

"Then you have to ask the Queen Mother and her family." Xue Shao said with a smile.

"......" Wu Chengsi was speechless at first, and then "hummed" and walked forward.

"Wu Xianggong, stop." Xue Shao called, "If you go further, you will enter the dormitory, the crime of killing your head!" ”

Wu Chengsi hurriedly stopped, but the center of gravity of the whole body was still forward, and his hands shook wildly and almost fell to the ground.

Several guards and eunuchs of the Imperial Forest Army next to him were amused by Wu Chengsi's funny appearance, but they didn't dare to laugh. Everyone suffocated their laughter, and it seemed that they were very likely to hold back internal injuries.

Wu Chengsi's face suddenly turned red, and he hurriedly turned his head to look at Xue Shao, seeing that he was still the calm appearance with a smile on his face, Wu Chengsi's heart became more and more angry.

"You're laughing at Honkaku?" Wu Chengsi turned around abruptly and said angrily.

"Apparently not." Xue Shao was still smiling, and said lightly, "In the whole world, no one dares to laugh at the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty." Unless, he lives impatiently. ”

"Then why are you smiling?" Wu Chenghe's stomach was full of anger and there was no place to vent, and he became more and more angry.

Xue Shao said lightly: "My smile like this is the upbringing and demeanor that nobles have been accustomed to since childhood. ”

Wu Chengsi was angry, "Are you saying that this pavilion is uneducated?!" ”

Xue Shao really wanted to laugh now, but he just saw Wu Zetian coming out of it, so he held back.

"What are you two arguing about here?" Wu Zetian's voice was neither high nor low, but faintly powerful.

Wu Chengsi hurriedly turned around as if he had been shocked, bowed down and bowed ninety degrees, "Nephew see Queen Mother!" ”

"Excuse me." Wu Zetian said quietly, "Xue Shao, do you still have something to say to this palace?" ”

Wu Chengsi glared at Xue Shao secretly beside him, obviously saying, "It's nothing to do with you, hurry up."

Xue Shao smiled slightly, "Queen Mother, the minister has something." ”

"Wu Chenghei, you go to the side hall and wait." After Wu Zetian finished speaking, he turned around and left, "Xue Shao, follow the palace into the study." ”

"Yes!"

Both of them agreed. Wu Chengsi's face was iron-clad and froze in place, and Xue Shao followed Wu Zetian with a smile on his face.

When he arrived in the study, he just sat down, Wu Zetian handed something to Xue Shao, "Take a look." ”

Xue Shao took it and saw that it was a white silk, on which a lot of names were densely written in different handwriting, as well as red fingerprints.

"Queen Mother, what is this?" Xue Shao was puzzled for a while.

Wu Zetian said calmly: "This is Wu Chenghe, the purpose of coming today." ”

"What purpose?"

Wu Zetian said: "This silk book is a joint petition of hundreds of gentry and people in Luozhou, and they urge this palace to win the throne." ”

“！！” Xue Shao was taken aback—this is too early, too anxious, right?!

"Because of this matter, this palace has already reprimanded Wu Chenghe." Wu Zetian said calmly: "I didn't expect him to give up, and he would have to make another face-to-face statement when he asked for a meeting again and again." Xue Shao, you say, how should this palace refuse him? ”

Xue Shao's heart was slightly cold, how could you ask the guest to kill the chicken like this? …… Who doesn't know that you want to get the throne as soon as possible more than anyone else, Wu Chenghei obviously likes you, but the timing is not right - how can I reply?

After thinking for a moment, Xue Shao said: "Queen Mother, this matter should not be expanded now. It's better to keep it at bay for the time being, just give a private reward to those who are on the table, and persuade them not to do it again in the future. ”

Hearing this answer, a smile appeared on Wu Zetian's face, which could be described as meaningful.

"Just do as you say!"

Xue Shao breathed a sigh of relief, it's okay!

"Tell me, what's the matter with you?" Wu Zetian asked.

Xue Shao took out the "plan plan" that he had prepared a long time ago, and gave a brief oral description of the matter of re-establishing the Martial Arts Academy.

"The palace can't help but think of the original intention of the first emperor to establish the martial arts academy on the day he was alive, which was to cultivate more generals for the Tang Dynasty. The current martial arts academy is indeed a little deserted. Wu Zetian took the fold and looked at it carefully, and said while looking at it: "Listen to what you mean, do you want to make the Lecture Martial Arts Academy a higher education institution like Guozijian, and from now on the maid has independent powers and responsibilities?" ”

"Yes." Xue Shao replied: "The Tang Dynasty has always been martial, and the generals who are not poor are the guarantee for us to conquer the world. But all along, our generals have been self-taught or have their own family traditions, and there are many talents buried in the countryside. The minister hopes that the military academy can become a fixed and independent state institution, which can train and deliver military talents for the country in a stable and efficient manner. ”

"Sounds good." Wu Zetian was still carefully reading Xue Shao's recital, and said: "According to what you said, it seems that it is not enough to rely on the cultivation of schools, and it is necessary to create a set of examinations similar to the imperial examination, so as to absorb more military talents scattered among the people?" ”

"That's what the minister wants." Xue Shao said, "If there is an imperial examination, why can't there be a martial examination?" Wen Ke Anbang Wu can determine the country, and the combination of civil and military is the way of prosperity! ”

Wu Zetian folded the music with both hands, raised his eyebrows lightly, and raised the corners of his mouth, obviously tempting.

"Speaking of the Martial Academy, who will be in charge?"

"Minister, Xue Shao, the secretary of the Ministry of War, is personally responsible!"

"Wrong."

"The minister knows his mistake." Xue Shao hurriedly changed his words, "Minister, Xue Shao, the official of Xia, is personally responsible." ”

Wu Zetian smiled slightly, "Since it is an independent institution like Guozijian, how can you concurrently serve it?" ”

"The minister temporarily serves as the management supervisor, and when he is on the right track, the minister will take the initiative to let the virtuous and make the person responsible." Xue Shao replied.

"How much time does it take to prepare? How much manpower and material resources? Where is the official office chosen? ”

Xue Shao answered one by one.

After listening to this, Wu Zetian stood up and paced back and forth, thinking seriously.

Long.

"This can be done." Wu Zetian said, "But since it is a new independent official office yamen in the imperial court, it is already a national matter, and it can't be counted here by the palace alone." Now I can only tell you that this palace is absolutely in favor of it. ”

"Thank you, Queen Mother!"

"But when and how it will be opened, the palace still needs to discuss with the prime ministers. The state system cannot be abolished. Wu Zetian said, "You go back first." As soon as there is news, Hongu will send someone to inform you immediately. ”

"The minister retired."

Xue Shao walked out of the Yingxian Palace, and let out a long breath with his arms outstretched, he was in a very good mood.

Since returning to Beijing, Xue Shao has rarely been in such a happy mood as he is now. He couldn't help but think of one thing, in the real history, China's martial arts was founded by Wu Zetian. It's just that this incident happened in the later years of Emperor Wu Zetian's career, and the Wu Zhou Dynasty at that time was already very short of generals.

"If I can get my wish, the establishment of Wuju is at least twenty years earlier. At the same time, a military school was born, how many years earlier should this be? Xue Shao thought to himself, "If this matter can be done, Wu Zetian, then you are really my fate!" ”