Just as Xue Shao was about to walk out of the door of Liu Yuanzhi's official office, Liu Yuanzhi said behind him-

"In the political hall, you can't be without a soul."

Xue Shao stopped, turned around and smiled slightly, "Pei Yan used to be a soul. ”

Liu Yuanzhi also took a few steps forward and also smiled slightly, "But he is a rootless soul and an ownerless spirit." ”

Xue Shao understood what he meant, and Pei Yan had never received real support from the army.

"Liu Xiang, your thoughts like this are very dangerous." Xue Shao looked at his eyes sharply.

"We're in danger all the time." Liu Yuanzhi also did not avoid Xue Shao's eyes, "Don't you see, the prime minister who lived in the temple yesterday has become a prisoner of the pastoral academy today?" ”

Liu Yuanzhi's meaning is already obvious, he hopes that Xue Shao will lead the military forces to form an alliance with him to protect himself, and work together to fight against the Empress Dowager Wu above the court, and he can't let her dictate the situation alone.

But Xue Shao thought in his heart that it is not a good thing to play politics, including myself. Now I do need an ally of the political hall, but will the ambitious Liu Yuanzhi be the right person? It seems that in the political hall today, he has shown a little sincerity in cooperation. But this sincerity may not seem a little too cheap, and it is far from enough to tempt me.

"Xue Shangshu, can't you trust me?" Liu Yuanzhi got closer, and the two were almost face to face.

"In the field of power, there is never real trust to speak of." Xue Shao said lightly, "Pei Yan used to trust you too, didn't he?" ”

Liu Yuanzhi's cheeks twitched slightly and he was a little embarrassed, smiled bitterly, and said, "Xue Shangshu is right, there are no eternal enemies and friends in the power field. And now, our situation and the stakes are the same. ”

"I don't think so." Xue Shao said, "You want to be the second Pei Yan, and I just want to kill the Turks." ”

"The army has always been subordinate to the court. Without the support of power as a backing, what can Xue Shangshu do in the army? Liu Yuanzhi smiled slightly, "Such a simple truth, Xue Shangshu should have understood it a long time ago, right?" ”

In all fairness, Xue Shao knew that Liu Yuanzhi was right, and his words were simply the truth. But the more thoroughly he spoke, the harder it was for him to trust him.

"Liu Xiang, the envoys of the Khitan and Xi tribes are still waiting for me, so I will leave first." Xue Shao turned around and left.

"Xue Shangshu, in the early years, Sun Wanrong sent one of his sons as a hostage, and now it's time to return it to others." Liu Yuanzhi was still behind Xue Shao and said, "As for Li Dayu, he is very interested in the beauties of the Central Plains. ”

Xue Shao sighed lightly, and had to admit that Liu Yuanzhi was indeed meticulous and shrewd, and his words could always speak to my heart. However, when the water is clear, there are no fish, and when people are observed, there are no disciples, and the ancients have already broken this truth. Liu Yuanzhi, who has exhausted the organs, who dares to really trust him?

"Thank you Liu Xiang for your advice. Xue said goodbye! ”

Liu Yuanzhi looked at Xue Shao's back and chuckled, "Still young, upright and simple." But it doesn't matter, I have enough patience to wait. Someday, you'll be forced to do that! ”

Xue Shao returned to the military department, sat down and began to write a book. After writing, he called Yao Yuanchong.

"Yuanzhi, there is a notebook here, you can write it again and hand it in your own name." Xue Shao handed the recital to Yao Yuanchong.

Yao Yuanchong opened it and looked at it, slightly shocked, "Such an urgent state matter, why doesn't Shangshu directly face the Queen Mother?" ”

Xue Shao frowned, "Don't ask more, just do it!" ”

"Yes......" Yao Yuanchong replied and put away the notebook, still not at ease. He sat opposite Xue Shao and whispered, "Government affairs are already complicated and difficult to manage, and if you run into a wall because of this, it is not a personal grudge." Shangshu, you don't have to go to your heart. ”

"I didn't go to my heart, but she did." Xue Shao sighed lightly, "Xue Mouzhi has been careful day and night not to make mistakes, and has been in charge of the country's military wholeheartedly. But lately my advice has been rejected, and even when I was proven right later, she still abandoned me. What can I do? ”

Yao Yuanchong hurriedly got up and closed the door, sat back next to Xue Shao again, and whispered, "Shangshu, you have to find out what she thinks." After all, she is a woman, and she is sixty years old. Your clever calculations have been fulfilled, and all your requests and advice are reasonable, doesn't this just reflect her short-sightedness and incompetence in military affairs? ”

"Short-sighted? Impotent?! Xue Shao glared at Yao Yuanchong angrily, "You're dead, you're dead!" I'll betray you! ”

Yao Yuanchong smiled bitterly again and again, "Those who are ministers should be dedicated and capable, but if the edge is too strong, the king will inevitably dislike it!" ”

Xue Shao sneered, "No wonder now, there are piles of fools in the court, and the demons in the political hall are dancing wildly. ”

"Silly...... Silly what? Yao Yuanchong was stunned.

"Look at the shape of my mouth - stupid -!" Xue Shao smiled rarely, "Yao Yuanchong, you see that a fool like Wu Chengsi can be the prime minister, shouldn't you also show off your skills?" ”

"You—don't hurt me!" Yao Yuanchong suddenly panicked, "I still want to live a few more days!" ”

"Hahahaha! …… No more laughing. Xue Shao straightened his face and said, "Lingzhou has fallen and Xiazhou has already fought, you pick a suitable time to hand over the chapter." If the Queen Mother asks you in person, you will say that it is your own idea. Otherwise, it will be difficult to adopt. ”

"Alas...... All right! Yao Yuanchong had no choice but to take over the errand.

Two days later, at the court meeting, the battle in Lingzhou was made public, and the courtiers were in an uproar.

After the court meeting dispersed, Wu Zetian returned to the imperial study and began to review the chapters. Kudi had read it beforehand, and put a few of the more important ones at the top.

The first book that Wu Zetian opened was the recital of Yao Yuanchong, the Xia official servant. It was proposed that the imperial court should confer knighthood on Sun Wanrong and Li Dayu as a sign of favor, and give generous gifts and rewards to the Khitan and Xi people, so that they could be loyal to our dynasty and send troops to contain the Turks from the side, so as to prepare for the Turkic invasion of Hebei. At the end of the song, he said that in order to show his sincerity, the proton that Sun Wanrong had offered in his early years should be returned to him. And you can consider choosing the daughter of the royal family to marry Li Dayu.

After reading it, Wu Zetian pondered for a long time, and said to Kudi: "What do you think of Yao Yuanchong's recital?" ”

"All concerns and requests are pertinent." Kudi said, "Yao Yuanchong, what a talent! ”

"Yao Yuanchong is a talent, yes. But this piece of music was by no means his original intention. Wu Zetian said.

Kudi was slightly stunned, "How can you see it?" ”

"A lot of the information revealed in this recital can only be understood by ministers at the level of prime ministers." Wu Zetian said, "Although Yao Yuanchong is a Xia official and a servant, when it comes to seeking the country and the army, he does not have such vision and confidence for the time being. ”

Kudi suddenly, "So it is said that someone else instructed Yao Yuanchong to write the book on his behalf?" ”

Wu Zetian did not answer with a solemn expression, which can be regarded as a tacit acquiescence.

Kudi took the piece and looked at it carefully, and was secretly surprised in his heart: I'm so stupid, every word is very similar to Xue Shao's tone, why didn't I distinguish it at the first time?

"Where is Xue Shao now?" Wu Zetian asked suddenly.

Kudi hurriedly replied: "He was ordered to serve as a diplomatic envoy, and now he is entertaining the leaders of the Khitan and Xi tribes in the Golden Valley Garden. ”

"Call him."

"Yes."

"Wait a minute!" Wu Zetian suddenly repented, and after thinking about it again, she said again: "You go, call Shangguan Wan'er." ”

"Yes......"

Jingu Garden, Green Tower.

Shangguan Wan'er came here for the second time. Looking up, she couldn't help but smile to herself. I still clearly remember what kind of mood I was in when I came here with Xue Shao last time.

"Jump down and be his green sister." Shangguan Wan'er couldn't help but say out loud, "It's stupid, isn't it?" ”

"Shangguan talent."

A voice came from behind her, almost startling Shangguan Wan'er.

Xue Shao came over drunken and said with a smile: "Scared you?" ”

"Nope." Shangguan Wan'er looked Xue Shao up and down with a worried face, and said softly, "Childe, why are you drinking so much?" ”

"Overdrinking? Hehehe...... No! Xue Shao smirked for a while and said, "Now that I am in charge of diplomatic relations, to put it bluntly, I am eating, drinking, and having fun with the leaders of foreign races. They had a good time, they drank heartily, and diplomatic matters were easy to talk about. ”

After a drunken talk, Shangguan Wan'er felt inexplicably distressed. She took two steps forward and took out a handkerchief and handed it to Xue Shao, and said softly: "Chest, wipe it." ”

"Don't worry." Xue Shao still smiled stupidly, "I just took off my clothes and drank a big bowl of wine bare, it doesn't matter." Hu people, I don't care about the etiquette at all. ”

"I care."

Shangguan Wan'er scolded lightly, took a handkerchief and began to wipe the wine stains on Xue Shao's chest.

Xue Shao looked down at her, glanced at her a few times, took two steps back and tilted his head to still look at her, smiling stupidly, "The Queen Mother called you here, that's what you did?" ”

Shangguan Wan'er put down her handkerchief and took a deep breath, "When you sober up, we'll talk." ”

"National events, how can they be delayed?" Xue Shao still had a smirk on his face, "I drank two more glasses, but my mind is still clear." You say, I'll listen. ”

"Yao Yuanchong's request in the letter has been approved." Shangguan Wan'er changed to a businesslike tone.

Xue Shao smiled and said, "Then you should go to Yao Yuanchong, what does it have to do with me?" ”

"Childe, don't be rash......" Shangguan Wan'er softly comforted.

Xue Shao laughed a few times, took two steps forward and walked in front of Shangguan Wan'er, and whispered, "Wan'er, you are so pitiful." Whenever there is any dirt and trouble, the Queen Mother will always push you in front of me. Could it be that in her old man's opinion, I, Xue, am really a hungry ghost, but whenever I see Shangguan Wan'er, I can't move my feet or brain, and then I will be at the mercy of a fool? ”

"Smack-"

Shangguan Wan'er slapped Xue Shao in the face.

Then, both of them were stunned at the same time.

Xue Shao's wine woke up in an instant.

Shangguan Wan'er glared at Xue Shao panting, her hands trembling desperately, and tears fell like beads of broken threads.

"Please reply to the Queen Mother, Xue Shao will do her part." Xue Shao's tone was calm and official.

Shangguan Wan'er didn't say a word, looked up at Lu Shu Tower, and then turned around and left.

Xue Shao touched his face, it didn't hurt, but it was hot.

"Since my mother died, it seems that I haven't been beaten by a woman for many years." Looking at Shangguan Wan'er's distant back, Xue Shao smirked again, "Not bad, it's quite kind!" ”