The next day coincided with the five-day dynasty, and Li Chengning received the congratulations of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military and foreign envoys in the Hanyuan Palace, and Xue Chongxun naturally went to participate. Nowadays, there are also a lot of envoys in Chang'an to pay tribute, such as Japan, Silla, etc., which are to form a group of people, resulting in the overwhelming of the official offices received by the Tang court, and many edicts have been issued to limit the number of envoys, but the effect is not good.

This time, the dynasty came with a new envoy, Mengshe Zhao (Nanzhao) from the southwest, which was a stronger and pro-Tang branch of the "Six Edicts" in the southwest, and was being sent into the court by Zhang Jiancheng, the leader of the Nanzhao, Pi Luoge. They thought that after the emperor paid tribute to local specialties and treasures, they also specially prepared gifts to Princess Taiping and Xue Chongxun and other dignitaries.

Princess Taiping's gift was a rare "bird dress", which was once owned by favored princesses such as Princess Anle, and Princess Taiping also had a skirt woven with the feathers of various exotic birds when she was young. She liked it very much at the time, and when Pi Luog heard about it, she specially collected craftsmen to create this gift from local bird feathers, which really made Princess Taiping very happy.

When she met with the ministers in the Zichen Palace, she deliberately put on a new dress, and when she saw that Xue Chongxun was also here with the elders of the Xianggong Pavilion, she became more and more in a better mood.

After seeing the salute, Princess Taiping stood up from her seat and turned around lightly, looking at Xue Chongxun with a smile and saying, "What do you think of this skirt?" ”

Dou Huaizhen first flattered him very exaggeratedly, his expression was like seeing an elephant flying in the sky, and he said loudly: "Look at the side, in the shadow of the day, each is the same color, the shape of a hundred birds, and see the skirt...... Only His Highness in the world is worthy of such a precious thing! ”

Everyone also praised one after another, but Xue Chongxun just casually echoed the two sentences of love, which made Princess Taiping happy and a little disappointed.

But after the praise and flattery gradually subsided, she thought about it and asked quietly: "Chongxun, do you think that changing the law is a matter for the benefit of the country and the people?" ”

Suddenly asked about the things that everyone was concerned about during this time, Xue Chongxun was slightly surprised, and hurriedly stood up and hugged his fists and said: "Before Zhang Xianggong changed the law, he talked with Erchen about the pros and cons of changing the law by candlelight, and Erchen thought that the advantages of this law outweighed the disadvantages, and it was quite far-sighted and could be implemented. ”

Everyone suddenly fell silent, waiting for Princess Taiping's answer with great anticipation. At this time, she smiled and said, "Since Chongxun also said so, then it will continue to be implemented according to the original decree, and there is no need to change it." ”

The people present were stunned, and Zhang Shuo took the lead in shouting: "Your Highness is wise! Then the people chimed in.

Even Xue Chongxun didn't expect his mother to make such a quick decision on that major matter, and he was overjoyed. He secretly wondered if it wasn't the reason why she was in a good mood today? However, Princess Taiping is not that kind of person, most of them have already thought about it, and when the atmosphere is harmonious, she said it to make everyone feel more relaxed.

He felt that the time was very good, so he said again: "Mother, my son's retainers still have a ...... I heard that Empress Dowager Gao was going to move to the Taoist Temple of Sanqing Palace, and Erchen thought that she did not believe in Taoism, was there something wrong with such an arrangement? ”

Princess Taiping's face suddenly sank, and the ministers who were still overjoyed just now also hurriedly pressed down. She had only recovered from taking the Taoist elixir not long ago, and she naturally respected Taoism very much...... Seeing her like that might be angry. Xue Chongxun also stood in the hall and waited, anyway, he was the master who often made his mother angry in the past, and it didn't matter if he had one more time.

Unexpectedly, Princess Taiping said lightly: "Chongxun's words are reasonable, just follow your request." ”

Xue Chongxun was very surprised, and hurriedly hugged his fists and said something nice, he wondered that his mother seemed to be obedient to him today, which was really very different from before. Anyway, he was relieved, Empress Dowager Gao finally did some help, and she probably wouldn't think that she was too snobbish when she crossed the river and demolished the bridge.

Princess Taiping said: "The chief of Nanzhao, Pi Luoge, is obedient and courteous, and he is an example of Fanbang, and he is coming, and Zhang Jiancheng, the envoy of Nanzhao, will enter to meet." ”

Yu Liben, the eunuch standing on the side, shouted sharply, and the slaves and maids below passed the word, and the people at the door hurriedly announced the decree. After a while, I saw a man dressed in a young people's costume walk in, and his clothes and turban were mainly white.

Dou Huaizhen, who was standing next to Xue Chongxun, said to the popular science: "The 'Wuman' of the chieftain Piluoge's family, the position that Taizong got from the 'Baiman' Zhang Lejin, this Zhang Jiancheng is also a 'Baiman'. "It's one thing for Dou Huaizhen to love flattery, but he is still a knowledgeable person.

As soon as Zhang Jiancheng came in, he fell down in the audience, his attitude was very humble and a minister, he spoke Chinese very fluently, although the accent had a local accent in the direction of Jiannan, but it did not affect the expression.

The princess Taiping was undoubtedly very satisfied, and what she was most willing to see was the situation of the Quartet's submission and prestige, and she immediately said to Zhang Jiancheng: "Among the six edicts, only Nanzhao is the most loyal to the imperial court, and I am very relieved." Today, I also thought about (Guan Li Chengning's bird matter), and wanted to add Weizhou Thorn Shi (Nanzhao Chief Pi Luoge) as the king of the county to show recognition. ”

Zhang Jiancheng immediately shouted: "The envoy of the minister bows to the court Longen!" For a long time, the people of Nanzhao were deeply favored by the Tang Dynasty, and when Gaozong was encouraged, the people were harassed many times, but fortunately, there were heavenly soldiers rushing to help, and we were able to repel the brutal people of Mengzhao and have the land of Yangguazhou. Every time the monarch feels the grace of the saint, he often goes north to worship and tells the ministers not to forget the grace of the country and to be loyal to the Tang Emperor as their own responsibility. Therefore, the capricious people of the five edicts were coerced and lured by the Tibetans, and suddenly served the Tang Dynasty and then served the Tibetans; And my Nanzhao has never betrayed, only respects the edict of the Tang Dynasty, and I dare not forget the kindness of the court! ”

Princess Taiping said with a smile: "The bird skirt offered by Pi Luoge fits very well, and it is rare for him to be filial. My Han Emperor advocates loyalty, faithfulness, benevolence and righteousness, and those who have a heart will not be treated badly. ”

Zhang Jiancheng took out a piece of music and said: "There is still a major event to report that the king sent his ministers to the court, please look at it." Knowing that the Heman tribes had colluded with the Tubo people to have bad intentions and rebel against the Tang Dynasty, he asked the imperial court to allow Nanzhao to send troops to fight to set an example. ”

Princess Taiping took the piece and symbolically flipped it, as if she didn't pay much attention to it. After all, it was a frontier land, and they didn't ask the Tang Army to send reinforcements, so they didn't have to stop it.

After a while, Princess Taiping put down the music in her hand, and was about to speak, when Xue Chongxun stood up and said, "Mother doesn't have to respond immediately, you can discuss with Jinshang and then return to the Southern Zhao." ”

After hearing this, Princess Taiping realized that Xue Chongxun had something to say, so she nodded and said, "That's right, the imperial court will give an answer in a few days, and you will stay in the hotel and wait for the will." ”

Zhang Jiancheng had to thank him and leave. After he stepped back, Princess Taiping asked Xue Chongxun, "What did you have to say just now?" ”

Xue Chongxun saluted, turned around and asked Dou Huaizhen: "Dou Xianggong is the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, so I will casually ask what is the diplomatic strategy pursued by the imperial court?" ”

Dou Huaizhen touched his beard and looked at his colleagues left and right, and said in amazement: "Naturally, the followers are sealed and cultivate the Dao of the Heavenly Khan, and the rebels raise troops to fight." For example, in the land protected by Andong, there were Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla at the beginning, and Silla always recognized the Tang Dynasty as the suzerain. However, the people of Goguryeo Baekje were arrogant, so the imperial court transferred troops to attack Goguryeo Baekje with the Silla soldiers, and finally pacified Andong and was safe. ”

Xue Chongxun frowned and said: "If we advocate according to this, then we have to sit back and watch the unification of the southwest, and let them form a stronger vassal state on the side of my Tang Dynasty?" ”

Dou Huaizhen said: "There are six edicts in the southwest, how did the king of Jin know that they would merge into one?" ”

"This time, Zhang Jiancheng entered the court, and in addition to paying tribute, he gave gifts everywhere, and the purpose was very obvious. It is nothing more than an expansion of ambition and preparation for expansion, wanting to obtain the acquiescence of the imperial court first and then encroach on the surrounding departments step by step, if you can get the help of the Tang army, it will be more helpful. Why do we support the barbarians, and what's in it for them? The little tribute obtained is of no greater use than the state. ”

At this time, a minister interjected: "Now the center of the Tang Quartet has a big belly, and the Tubo country. Nanzhao was pro-Tang, and he could use it to contain part of the Tubo forces in the southwest, which was beneficial to the overall situation. ”

Xue Chongxun said: "Tubo is a disaster for the Tang Dynasty, and the land of the Six Edicts is also a hidden danger, and it has been capricious since the Qin Dynasty, and it is extremely difficult to become a king. And in the Lin Mountains, it is not conducive to the inconvenience of the large army to attack and fight, especially in Tibet, if one day they do not listen to the edict of the imperial court, it will be extremely difficult for our dynasty to send troops to fight, and it will damage the prestige of the imperial court......

When a tribe rebels, the court can co-opt other tribes who are familiar with the local culture and landforms, and it is very easy to punish them, so as to maintain the hegemony of the Tang Dynasty in the southwest. How can it become a problem for my Tang henchmen to split Tibet, so that the imperial court spends hundreds of thousands of troops in vain to defend it, and the annual military expenditure of the treasury is not calculated?"

Xue Chongxun turned around and clasped his fists and said to Princess Taiping: "Mother is the lord of the ancient and modern Shengming, with the ambition of subjugating the universe, and the war horse will pay tribute to you wherever it can run, so that the hegemony of the Tang Dynasty will shine in all directions!" In this way, it can not only reduce the threat of foreign barbarians to the Central Plains, ensure the safety of the Han Emperor, but also obtain countless money, grain, jade and silk to enrich the people of the world. ”

Princess Taiping likes to listen to this kind of words the most, and is also full of desire for fame and fame, after hearing it, she was greatly applied, patted the gauntlet on the side of the throne, and her eyes sparkled: "What do you think about the national policy that Chongxun said?" ”

Zhongshu Ling Zhang said to stand up and said, "The minister seconded the proposal." So the prime ministers of the political hall responded one after another. Princess Taiping nodded, glanced down at the bird skirt on her body and sighed: "It's hard for Pi Luoge's heart." ”

Zhang said: "His Royal Highness has promised Zhang Jiancheng Jin to make Pi Luoge the king of the county, and he should be grateful when he receives this honor, and the national policy related to social affairs does not have to be influenced by the foreign ministers of the state. ”G