The night was getting deeper, and Princess Taiping's mansion was quite quiet. In the spacious main hall, Xue Shao and Wu Zetian sat in priority and talked in a low voice.

"Xue Shao, do you know why I didn't agree right away and let you lead the troops to fight the rebellion?" Wu Zetian asked.

Xue Shao frowned and thought for a while, "Please also ask the Queen Mother to make it clear." ”

Wu Zetian said: "Think about it, Li Jingye and his younger brother Li Jingyou, as well as their brothers' accomplices Luo Binwang, Du Qiuren, Wei Siwen and others, are all down-and-out people who have been demoted. They may have fame and intelligence, but they have no power and no soldiers under their command. However, with just a few people, they occupied the Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion and captured many prefectures and counties in just a few days, and gathered an army of 100,000 under their command - isn't it strange? ”

"It's kind of incredible!" Xue Shao was slightly stunned and said, "If there are one or two of them who are the chief historians of the Dadu Governor's Mansion, the feudal officials like Sima, or the Guoyi Commander who is in charge of the military, it is better to understand." But the problem is that they are all down-and-out people who have been demoted. How exactly do they do it? ”

Wu Zetian smiled slightly, with a hint of coldness and murder in his smile, and said in a low voice: "In the political affairs hall, Cen Changqian has some things that he didn't say in public. Moreover, he has not sued Pei Yan for the time being. ”

Xue Shao's expression was straight, "What's the matter?" ”

Wu Zetian said: "Xue Zhongzhang, do you know?" ”

"What about acquaintance?" Xue Shao took a deep breath, "I killed his father-in-law in Suizhou, and after returning to Chang'an, he once wanted to take the opportunity to murder me, but I escaped." Later, he collided with my mansion in Luoyang, and was beaten out by the Taiping, and suffered a big loss. It can be said that although we are brothers of the same clan, we are enemies. ”

Wu Zetian nodded and said, "I once heard a secret report that when you were under house arrest in Princess Taiping's mansion and interrogated by the Imperial Historical Observatory, Xue Zhongzhang once went around hoping to condemn you to death. But he even went to bribe and threaten Wei Siqian, the imperial historian at that time, but Wei Siqian was upright and did not agree to him. Later, you were acquitted, and Xue Zhongzhang was worried that you would be avenged by the revelation of the matter, so he found an excuse to leave Chang'an. ”

"Traitor!" Xue Shao scolded in a low voice, and his heart lit up, "Could it be that Xue Zhongzhang went to Yangzhou?" ”

Wu Zetian took a deep breath and nodded, "He is supervising the imperial history, and it is his duty to inspect local states and counties. He took the initiative to make this request to the Shangguan of the Imperial Historical Tower, and there was no reason why his Shangguan should not agree. Moreover, Xue Zhongzhang is Pei Yan's nephew, so he has to sell some face to Pei Yan. So, Xue Zhongzhang left Chang'an very smoothly and went to Yangzhou with a public post. ”

"Shhhh

Xue Shao took a breath of cool air, "What does the Queen Mother mean is that Xue Zhongzhang helped Li Jingye and others take the Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion?" ”

"That's right." Wu Zetian sighed indignantly, "This traitor falsely claimed that someone had come to the Yushitai to report the rebellion of Chen Jingzhi, the highest official of the Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, and ordered him to come to investigate. So Xue Zhongzhang arrested Chen Jingzhi and put him in prison, and immediately Li Jingye went to the Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion with a forged court appointment certificate and official certificate, falsely claiming that Chen Jingzhi had been beheaded by the imperial court because of a conspiracy to rebel, and that he was the newly appointed governor of Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Office. He was accompanied by accomplices such as Wei Siwen and Du Qiuren, who also privately recruited some homeless people in the market to pretend to be their personal followers, and put on official authority to make a powerful appearance. In addition, Li Jingye is the grandson of the famous Sikong Li Tao and inherits the title of Duke of England, and he is somewhat famous, and everyone has to believe it. So, they easily occupied the Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion - Cen Changqian had already said everything in the political hall about the next things. ”

Xue Shao gritted his teeth with hatred, "If I knew this, I should have slashed Xue Zhongzhang with one sword!" ”

"Xue Shao, have you noticed that Xue Zhongzhang is one of the most critical and important figures in the Yangzhou Rebellion?" Wu Zetian said, "If there were no people sent by the imperial court, Changshi Chen Jingzhi would never have been subdued by a few abolished officials like Li Jingye." It just so happened that Xue Zhongzhang was supervising the imperial history again, and it happened that he went to Yangzhou at this time - do you think this could be a coincidence? ”

Xue Shao was slightly stunned, "The Queen Mother means that they have already planned it a long time ago?" ”

"Very likely." Wu Zetian said: "Think about it, if it wasn't for the early planning, how could Xue Zhongzhang meet a large number of people like Li Jingye in Yangzhou so coincidentally? If you think about the rebellion on a closer look, it is clear that this is not a temporary idea, but a well-planned plan that has been planned for a long time. First of all, they chose the place where they raised their troops very trickily. The world knows that 'Yang Yi Yi Two', Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion is the most prosperous area of Datang. They will not lack money and food when they raise troops there, and it is far away from Guanzhong, so it is difficult for the imperial court to raise troops to quell the rebellion at the first time. That way they have plenty of time to grow and grow. Secondly, they took advantage of the deposition of the emperor, who was the most turbulent emperor in the imperial court, to raise troops, which was also to catch us off guard. With such a favorable time and place, will it be a coincidence? ”

Xue Shao's heart was shocked, "Does the Queen Mother mean that there is a mastermind behind Li Jingye and the others who are secretly manipulating?" ”

"Unless there is a high-ranking person secretly manipulating, unless there is an internal response in the court and the official position of this internal response is not low, unless it has already been arranged to be leaky. Otherwise, I will never believe that a few down-and-out officials will be able to set off a great rebellion that will shake the world! Wu Zetian said, "So I think that the appearance of the Yangzhou rebellion is in Yangzhou, and its root is in the court!" ”

The words have all been said about this, where does Xue Shao still not understand what Wu Zetian means?

Could it be Pei Yan who secretly manipulated this big rebellion?!

Wu Zetian's words are very reasonable, but Xue Shao still finds it hard to believe that Pei Yan would do such a thing - although he is his mortal enemy, Xue Shao thinks that Pei Yan will not be so mad. Let's talk about the simplest loophole, everyone in the world knows that Xue Zhongzhang is Pei Yan's nephew, does Pei Yan dare to send him to help Li Jingye and others rebel?

- Isn't that setting yourself on fire and making it clear that you are looking for death?

After thinking about it again and again, Xue Shao couldn't figure it out.

But after thinking about it, Xue Shao thought that whether Pei Yan participated in the Yangzhou rebellion or not may not matter. The first and auxiliary prime minister of the dynasty has made the military of the Tang Dynasty a mess, and all the battles at the border pass cannot be fought, and so many people have died. In other words, Pei Yan's existence has already hindered the interests of the country, and such a prime minister, no matter how noble his private virtues are, will sooner or later step down and be liquidated. The emperor and his ministers may have some scruples, but the supreme national interest will not allow him to stand on the court forever.

This is the inevitability of history!

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Therefore, Xue Shao decided to acquiesce in Wu Zetian's inference. This may have wronged Pei Yan, or maybe he was not wronged. But it is still permissible for heaven to do evil, and it is impossible to live for oneself to do evil. Sooner or later, Pei Yan will have this day.

"Queen Mother, if the bane of the Yangzhou rebellion is really above the court. Then, the minister really can't personally lead the troops to quell the rebellion. Xue Shao said, "The minister must personally lead the troops and horses and sit in Chang'an!" ”

"Yes!"

Wu Zetian said a right word heavily, and said very strictly: "The Yangzhou rebellion seems to be menacing, but in fact it is just a disease of scabies. Li Jingye and others have no talent and no morality, and it is difficult to achieve great things after all. But if there are people with ill intentions who take the opportunity to cause chaos in the court, that is the greatest disaster! ”

"The Queen Mother is wise!" Xue Shao stood up, his eyebrows were tightly twisted, and his eyes were fine, "The minister will go to the Weishui camp immediately, raise the right guard of 100,000 soldiers and horses, and strictly guard the Chang'an City!" ”

"Slow!" Wu Zetian also stood up and whispered: "You can go and inform the party Guo Er General first to be on guard at any time, but don't mention some soldiers and horses now, let alone guard the whole city." ”

Xue Shao frowned, "What is the deep meaning, please ask the Queen Mother to make it clear?" ”

Wu Zetian lowered his voice and said, "As soon as the soldiers and horses of Weishui moved, the wind in Chang'an was loud. When the black hand in the middle of the court sees such a scene, will he still act rashly? If he hides, it will be difficult for us to get him out! ”

Xue Shao immediately smiled, "It's still the Queen Mother, and the chess is high!" ”

"Let's have one, and we'll lead the snake out of the hole without moving. As soon as the black hand shows the fox's tail, you take it for you. Wu Zetian smiled slightly and said: "You know this matter, I know, and no third person can know about it." ”

Xue Shao smiled slightly, "The Taiping outside the door heard it, but what should I do?" ”

Wu Zetian was stunned for a moment, and said in a loud voice: "Taiping, you let me in!" ”

Princess Taiping, who was hiding outside the door and was listening energetically, was frightened, stuck out her tongue, and had to walk into the room.

"Hey...... Hey! Princess Taiping smirked, "I—I didn't mean to eavesdrop." I'm worried that the queen mother will send Xue Shao out to fight again! ”

"Nonsense!" Wu Zetian had a stern face, "You dare to eavesdrop on such a heavy military secret, and you will be guilty of a heinous capital crime!" ”

"Ahh Princess Taiping was frightened, "Mother, queen mother, you won't, right?" ”

Xue Shao stood aside, neither interjecting nor expressionless, and laughed secretly in his heart-You also have times when you are afraid?

"Of course!" Wu Zetian became even more stern, and said in a deep voice: "The state has national laws and family rules, although you are a princess, you should strictly abide by the national law!" ”

Princess Taiping pouted, "I know, you're scaring me!" ”

"Okay, see if I scare you." Wu Zetian flicked his sleeves and was about to leave angrily.

"Wow!" Princess Taiping screamed, rushed forward and hugged Wu Zetian, "Mother, mother!" You can't be so ruthless! Look at your poor daughter, with your second precious grandson in her womb! ”

With this reminder, Wu Zetian hurriedly personally held Princess Taiping and immediately turned his anger into laughter, saying, "Okay, I'll tease you for my mother!" Thou shalt not move with Rokka, let alone be frightened. Look at you, you are all mothers, and you are so naughty and ignorant. My private discussion with Xue Shao must be a very serious matter, and the prime minister still doesn't dare to inquire, how can you eavesdrop? ”

Princess Taiping said unhappily: "Mother, and Xue Lang, you always treat me as a child, or even as an outsider." In the royal family, I am a dignified princess. I also have the right to know about this major event in the world of Datang and should take responsibility.

Wu Zetian and Xue Shao were stunned at the same time, "Responsible? ”

"That's right!" Princess Taiping Zhengse said, "Mother, you are also a woman, why can you be in the court, but I can't even inquire about it?" Xue Lang, you are a relative of the Equestrian Kingdom, and I am still the princess, why can you discuss military affairs with your mother, and I don't even have the right to observe? …… It's not fair! I can't figure it out, I'm not reconciled! I, I don't have children, I'm angry! ”