Today's court phenomenon makes many old ministers of the Tang Dynasty involuntarily recall the scene thirty years ago, when the eldest grandson Wuji and Chu Suiliang were still in the court, arguing with the first emperor about the abolition of the queen.

The same saber rattling, the same momentum!

"Self-respect" is the pinnacle of power and the ultimate destination. The struggle for supreme power has always been one mountain that cannot accommodate two tigers. It is inevitable that you will live and die, and it is impossible to be harmonious!

The current situation is quite clear, Empress Dowager Wu and Pei Yan, only one of them can continue to stay in the court of the Tang Dynasty. Before Xue Shao stepped forward, Pei Yan's side seemed to have a clear advantage, and he even had the courage to collide with Empress Dowager Wu head-on. Song Jing, who ate the bear's heart and leopard gall, was almost sanctioned by Pei Yan in public.

But with Xue Shao's appearance, this situation was immediately broken. The twelve Fengchen guards who fled from the desert were like a microcosm, and it marked the complete failure of Pei Yan's management of the military. On the other hand, Xue Shao is the most popular military commander in the Tang Dynasty today, with his 100,000 descendants of the tiger and wolf army in Shuofang, and the Weishui Field King Division in Chang'an who is willing to listen to his reprimand. There are also Zuo Fengchenwei, Yulinwei and Qianqi who he once served, among which there is no lack of his life and death robes and iron rods.

Now, the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty, including Pei Yan, are quite clear in their hearts that Xue Shao is not alone when he stands up like this. What he represents is almost the entire military force of Datang.

This statement is not an exaggeration at all.

Looking at the entire military of the Tang Dynasty today, with the departure of the older generation of Pei Xingjian, Li Jinxing and Xue Rengui, Xue Shao's rapid growth and strong rise are extremely eye-catching. Especially the recent Hebei War, which made Xue Shaowei famous all over the world. And a large number of generals in the Mesozoic Era, most of them are inextricably linked with Xue Shao. For example, Cheng Wuting, Wang Fangyi, Xue Ne and the generals of the Shuofang Army at the border pass, Fan Yunxian and Zhou Jitong and Cheng Boxian in the Imperial Forest Army, and Dang Jinbi and Guo Dafeng who really mastered the military power among the twelve guards in the field, these people are like-minded with Xue Shao or have formed a deep relationship for the battle, and some are still brothers and even friends with the same clan.

Only when there is strength can there be confidence.

In other words, if anyone else dares to shout "You all get out of here" in the court, the result is definitely that he is tied up, or chopped up and carried out in public.

Pei Yan's face was tense, and his eyebrows were deeply furrowed, staring at Xue Shao. He knew in his heart that Song Jing could only be regarded as a newborn calf who admitted death at most. Now, apart from Empress Dowager Wu, his own most powerful opponent has finally appeared!

"This cabinet acts in accordance with the law and punishes lawlessness, and you are the one who uses your power to suppress people and cause chaos to the government." Pei Yan first gave Xue Shao a very disdainful sneer, "What qualifications do you have to talk about anything here, fair and human?" ”

"Acting according to the law?" Xue Shao also smiled, "Dare to ask Elder Pei Ge, which law of my Tang Dynasty did you rely on to punish Song Jing?" Xue is not talented, and he can roughly memorize my Tang Dynasty's governing code "Yonghui Law Shu" backwards. If you can tell which article of the Tang Code Song Jing violated, Xue will argue with you in public. ”

Pei Yan was stunned at first, and immediately couldn't help but take a deep breath - bragging!

Xue Shao smiled slightly, "There are many ministers from the Criminal Department, Yushitai and Dali Temple present, and they can corroborate whether what Xue said is true." If Pei Ge doesn't remember the terms, he can send someone to get a copy of "Yonghui Law" and read it in public. If Song Jing is really guilty, Xue is willing to be guilty of the same crime, and immediately resigned and left the court to accept the punishment of the law! ”

"Wow-"

There was an uproar in the Manchu Dynasty, and many people looked at Xue Shao with admiration on the spot.

There are hundreds of courtiers, and only a few are familiar with Xue Shao after all. In some people's impressions, Xue Shao is either a gentleman, or a vase horse, or at most a fierce general who can fight and loves to kill. I didn't expect him to compare his knowledge with Pei Yan in front of the Manchu Dynasty civil and military - familiar with the legal statutes and governing codes, which are compulsory courses for judicial officials and prime ministers, and are their specialties!

Pei Yan stood still, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and looked a little embarrassed, as if he couldn't get off the stage.

Xue Shao accepted it when he saw it, smiled slightly, and said again: "Now, is Xue qualified to stand on top of this court and talk to Pei Ge Lao about fairness and people's hearts?" ”

"Didn't the Queen Mother say that the Tang Dynasty's court politics are free. Say whatever you want, and no one will stop you. Pei Yan turned his face away, full of disdain.

"Thank you, Pei Xianggong." Xue Shao bowed to Pei Yan in a decent manner, then turned to the Manchu Dynasty and said, "Those present today are all Tang courtiers who are ministers in the same hall as Xue. Xue wanted to ask everyone present, as a courtier, what should he do? ”

Everyone knows the answer, but no one answers.

At this time, who will come out lightly to pick up the stubble?

Xue Shao smiled slightly and said to Song Jing: "Song Jing, do you know? ”

"Serve the country, share worries for the king, and ask for life for the people." Song Jing answered with a glance, and the answer was the same as in the hearts of everyone present.

"Yes! ——Self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world, I think all the princes present here have received such teachings and have had such ideals. Xue Shao said, "But how many people really remember these teachings and their ideals after they have stepped into the officialdom, especially after the officials have become bigger and bigger?" ”

Everyone's expressions moved at the same time, is Xue Shao going to accuse everyone in public?

Pei Yan's face was the most ugly, because he clearly felt that Xue Shao was talking about him.

Although Xue was born in Fenyin Xue's poetry and book family, Xue did not read much, and he was very ashamed. Compared with many Confucian sages here, Xue is even more self-conscious. Xue Shao smiled slightly and said, "However, Xue at least knows that Sage Kong once had a famous saying, called 'gentlemen are harmonious but different, villains are the same but not harmonious'." Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not wrong, am I? ”

"No, no......" a slight voice sounded.

Pei Yan's face became even more ugly, and Xue Shao said such a sentence "Zi Yue", which was clearly insinuating that he was jealous of the virtuous and suppressed dissidents in the court!

"Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the reason why we have been able to become stronger and stronger and more powerful is because our king's mind is like the sea and the admonition is like a stream. Above our court, there has never been a shortage of virtuous gentlemen and capable elites to assist and govern the country sincerely. Xue Shao said, "These gentlemen and elites either have different ideas or different specialties, and some have hatred and hatred between each other. But in the face of national affairs, they can abandon their prejudices and selfishness, and serve the country wholeheartedly. This is the harmony and difference of gentlemen, this is the root and confidence of our Datang Dynasty! - Do you agree with what I have said? ”

"Yes." It was actually Pei Yan who was the first to speak.

The other courtiers nodded their heads as well.

Since Zhenguan Datang, this is a bright atmosphere that the people of Datang are proud of.

"But in recent years, these weather has changed, and even tends to be corrupted." Xue Shao's face changed, his voice sank, and he said loudly: "There are some people who have been officials for a long time, and their official positions are getting higher and higher, so they gradually lose their hearts and forget their ideals. He began to indulge in the pleasure of power, and his mind became more and more narrow-minded and selfish because of the confusion of power. He began to exclude and suppress those who might pose a threat to his position, whether he was a civil or military general, whether he was a virtuous or a meritorious person. He will even sell out national interests for the sake of further monopoly power. What's more, he will compromise with the rebellion and echo it from afar, just to eradicate the stumbling block on the road to becoming a powerful minister under one person and above ten thousand! ”

"Xue Shao, what nonsense are you talking about!!" Pei Yan was furious.

All the ministers were shocked!

These words, it is estimated that only Xue Shao dares to say them in public!

"Pei Xianggong, I didn't name names, why are you so angry?" Xue Shao sneered.

"You! ......" Pei Yan was angry.

Xue Shao smiled slightly, "But there is a reason for you to be angry." Ming people don't do dark things, the person I'm talking about is you, Pei Ge Lao! ”

Pei Yan took a deep breath, pointed at Xue Shao with the ivory wat board in his hand, and said word by word: "Xue Shao, you are really slandering and slandering in public!" Even if this cabinet is not the ruler of the court, you have also violated the law of the country and committed a crime! - Are you guilty?! ”

"Humph!" Xue Shao sneered disdainfully and said, "Since I dare to say these things in public, it proves that I must have sufficient reasons and evidence to support me, and to prove that I am not slandering." Pei Ge Lao, since the Northern Expedition three years ago, you have abused your power and envied the virtuous and jealous, corrupted the dynasty, and left all kinds of bad deeds and crimes to the country, I will remember them one by one, and I will remember them clearly for you. In order to take care of the overall situation, I have been hiding it. Today, since it is ready to fly, then Xue Mou will be in front of the Queen Mother and the Manchu Dynasty, and I will come to settle the liquidation with you! If I have the slightest slander, I am willing to accept the severe punishment of the law! If what I say is reasonable, you Pei Yan is a criminal with bad ambitions and bad intentions who bring disaster to the country and the people! ”

The ministers were in an uproar again!

- It's a war!

- It's a war!

- Finally the war!

Pei Yan's face turned pale, his eyes glared at Xue Shao with anger like a breath of fire, nodded and said, "Good, good—great!" ”

Wu Zetian, who had been watching from the sidelines as quiet as a mountain, took a big deep breath, then gritted his teeth to calm his mind, sat back behind the bead curtain, and said loudly: "Where are the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, the Imperial Doctor and the Dali Temple?" ”

The three of them suddenly came back to their senses together, and hurriedly went out of the class to promise, "The minister is here!" ”

"Order the three of you to listen to the debate between Xue Shao and Pei Yan from the sidelines, and judge the authenticity and merit of the two of them on the basis of morality and law. Left and right historians, and then ordered you to record all the words and deeds of everyone in the court today, and describe them as national history in the future! Wu Zetian took a deep breath and said loudly-

"The gentleman is harmonious but different, and the villain is the same but not harmonious. Although this is a debate between Pei Yan and Xue Shao, it also points to the many shortcomings and some status quo that exist in the court of the Tang Dynasty today. Who is true and who is false, who is loyal and who is traitorous? ——Please distinguish and witness together with the princes, and wait and see! ”