The next day, Tanzhou Mansion, Chu Palace.

Li Yuan came on order, and as soon as he entered the hall with his right foot, he saw more than a dozen generals sitting solemnly on both sides, and two people were sitting facing south, one of them was the commander Hunan pacification envoy Bian Hao, and the other person Li Yuan didn't know, no armor, only wearing a long purple official robe, and seven kinds of patterns embroidered on his chest, which was very complicated.

Li Yuan only saw that the Jinxian crown on the top of this person's head had three beams, and at a glance, he knew that he must be a senior official above the third grade. (Du Fu's "Danqing Citation": "The good face enters the virtuous crown on his head, and the big feather arrow on his waist is fierce")

But at this moment of celebration, everyone was full of sadness, and the atmosphere in the hall was really strange.

Li Yuan remained silent and respectfully bowed his hand: "The villain has seen Bian Shuai!" I've seen all the generals! ”

Bian Hao said coldly without emotion: "Li Yuan, Ben Shuai has been waiting for you for a long time!" On this trip, our army was able to take Tanzhou without blood, and the king of Chu was captured, you have worked hard. ”

Li Yuan pondered for a moment, and replied lightly: "The villain doesn't dare to take credit!" Ma Xichong was able to submit, but he was afraid of the heavenly might of His Majesty and Wang Shi of my Tang Dynasty. If there is no trust from the boundless handsome, how can the villain succeed by luck?! ”

Bian Hao's face seemed to soften a little, and he raised his hand and said, "Don't be humble!" You rode into the city three times, and said that the king of Chu would be descended, and it would definitely be a good story in the future! I have a lot of talents in Datang, and I can be described as a hero out of a teenager. ”

"What a hero out of a teenager! Li Yuan, this prime minister asks you, are you guilty? ”

This cold voice, Li Yuan raised his head suddenly, and saw that the person sitting on Bian Hao's side suddenly launched an official authority, but he still kept calm and said, "I don't know who this adult is?" ”

At this time, Bian Hao grabbed the words: "Li Yuan, this is Chen Jue Chen's envoy, and he is also the military envoy ordered by His Majesty on this trip!" Don't want to see you soon? ”

Chen Jue? Li Yuan's mind was running rapidly, and it gradually became clear that this was the head of the "Five Ghosts and Four Murders", Chen Jue, the powerful minister of the Southern Tang Dynasty?! Suddenly, I couldn't help but be frightened, how could this Chen Jue appear here?

Li Yuan's panic was not due to Chen Jue's identity, but this person's consistent commotion, because he remembered a very representative Southern Tang Dynasty past.

In the fourth year of Baoda (946), the battle of the Southern Tang Dynasty to destroy Fujian reached the last step, and only Fuzhou remained. Because Cha Wenhui in the "Five Ghosts" made the first contribution in the pacification of the Fujian Kingdom, Chen Jue, as the boss, began to feel jealous.

Originally, it could be easily done by continuing the expedition, but Chen Jue, who did not understand military affairs, had to recommend himself in front of the emperor, saying that he could use His Majesty's heavenly grace to lobby Fuzhou to surrender and so on.

But the emperor really believed it, and let him go without public opinion. As a result, Chen Jue immediately regretted it when he arrived in Fuzhou, he was almost frightened by the formation of the Fuzhou soldiers, he couldn't hold back his words for a long time, and ran back in disgrace.

This is a big shame, the more I think about it, the more angry I become, and I don't dare to go back to Jiangning Mansion to see the emperor, and in the end, I don't do two things, and I actually send troops! Because of Chen Jue's tossing, the Southern Tang Dynasty had already delayed the best fighter, and the front-line command fell into the hands of Chen Jue and others.

At this time, it was when the Khitan destroyed the Later Jin Dynasty, and the Southern Tang Dynasty was shaken. There is no owner in the Central Plains, and the Huainan land of the Southern Tang Dynasty is next to each other, and countless officials and people from the Central Plains have gone south. If the Southern Tang Dynasty had gone on a northern expedition at this time, perhaps the Tang Dynasty would have been revived! It's a pity that Chen Jue's operation not only cost a huge amount of grain and grass in the treasury, but also the army was trapped in the quagmire of the southern front.

In the end, Liu Zhiyuan, who stayed behind in Taiyuan in the Later Jin Dynasty in the north, took the opportunity to steal the Central Plains and establish the Later Han Dynasty. Fuzhou in the south chose to surrender to the neighboring Wu Yue Kingdom, and the Southern Tang Dynasty could not get anything, and the Quanzhou Mansion in hand was simply divided and self-reliant.

Since then, the vitality of the Southern Tang Dynasty has been greatly damaged, and the emperor Li Jing, whose life ambition lies in dominating the world and restoring the prosperous Tang Dynasty, almost vomited blood, so he was furious and wanted to behead Chen Jue, but in the end he was still afraid of the power of Song Qiqiu and Chen Jue's party in the court, so he was only sentenced to a light demotion and not severely punished.

At this time, four or five years have passed, and there are not many historical records of Chen Jue's whereabouts during this period. Li Yuan immediately reacted, although Chen Jue committed a big crime last time, but this person has a huge power in the court, although he angered the emperor Li Jing, but it is inevitable that the official will be reinstated in a few years. And as a professional household in the supervision of the army, how can he let go of this opportunity to make meritorious contributions?

Li Yuan secretly knew in his heart, and pretended to be afraid: "The villain has seen Chen Envoy!" I don't know what crime the villain has committed? ”

Without waiting for Chen Jue to speak, Li Yuan immediately continued: "When the villain lived in the countryside, he once heard that Chen Envoy was a rare virtuous appearance in my dynasty. ”

Just wanted to stare but was given eye medicine, Chen Jue liked flattery the most, and he had a good impression of Li Yuan, and he just wanted to scold and could only reluctantly accept it: "Ahem, this, this is a great favor from Your Majesty, and I want to saddle up for Your Majesty." Let me ask you, have you falsely passed on the edict of Your Majesty, promising to descend to the king Ma Xichong to control the land of Chu? ”

It's time to come or it's coming! Li Yuan thought to himself, Ma Xichong really asked Bian Hao and Chen Jue for a fief.

The show is on.

At yesterday's celebration banquet, Bian Hao was begged by Ma Xichong in front of everyone, and his heart was on fire, and at this time, seeing Li Yuan looking up at him, he just said coldly: "Prime minister, Li Yuan is twenty years old, and it is inevitable that he will not consider everything." But in this battle, our army won without a fight, and the annexation of Chu to our dynasty was just around the corner, and the promised thing must be an expedient move for a while, so it is better to allow him to offset his merits and demerits, so that the two sides ......."

Chen Jue snorted lightly, his eyes showing a cold light: "Bian Dashuai, what is expediency?" My Tang Dynasty is a kingdom, Your Majesty attaches great importance to faithfulness, how can you open your mouth? Although you have merit in this battle, are you going to trap Your Majesty in injustice? Na Ma Xi Chong said that this son was ordered by you to promise him-"

This is a great perverse felony! Seeing that the great work was in hand, the side pickaxe that immediately soared and soared, and made a decisive choice: "Ridiculous!" Never! Ben Shuai is loyal to the king and serves the country, how dare he commit such a great rebellion? Ben Shuai doesn't have the courage of Chen Xiangxiang, and he wants to live a few more years! As for ordering Li Yuan to enter the city to surrender, this is Ben Shuai's clever plan, but this son privately passed on His Majesty's edict, and Ben Shuai will immediately be punished with military law! ”

This sarcasm not only cleared up the responsibility, but also directly stabbed Chen Jue's sore spot.

Chen Jue's face was flushed, and he almost lost the majesty of his appearance: "You! ”

Li Yuan was already deeply disappointed by Bian Hao's words at this time, and sure enough, he had expected that most of Bian Ho would take this strategy and credit for himself in this battle, in order to be promoted. If it weren't for the fact that he had an extra heart and eyes, and used Ma Xichong's mouth to lead him, a key person, out to meet, maybe in the end he would have been hasty with a reward of some silver at most.

This person is so happy, narrow-minded, and has no half feelings.

Seeing the tension between Bian Hao and Chen Jue, there must be discord. Li Yuan immediately made up his mind and said impassionedly: "Envoy Chen, this matter has nothing to do with Bian Shuai. It's the villain who did it! ”

Chen Jue was a little surprised and said, "Oh? Okay, it's a man! Do you know that falsely spreading His Majesty's edict should be punished?! ”

Li Yuan replied unhurriedly: "The villain knows." But the envoy, the villain only admitted to the promise to Na Ma Xi Chong to control Chu Di, but did not fake His Majesty's edict! ”

Chen Jue didn't know the meaning of Li Yuan's words, he only thought it was a dying struggle, and immediately continued: "Heh, you dare to quibble!" The Prime Minister has lived in front of the Emperor for a long time, and was ordered to supervise the army here, and His Majesty's edicts are all conveyed by the Prime Minister. How could Your Majesty ever give such an edict? ”

Li Yuan had already prepared in his heart, and said calmly: "Make it compatible, the villain is not quibbling, and the promise is Anchu's plan." There are two reasons, one is that Ma Xichong is a person who values profit and forgets righteousness, and it is precisely because the villain promised him to control the land of Chu that he is willing to surrender his clan and make our army win without a fight. Second, now that the capital of Chu has been lowered, the king of Chu is captured, except for a corner of Langzhou, there is no military strength to resist in Chu, and there will be no more war in a few months! And after the war, it's time to pacify the people!

After all, Chu land has been occupied by the Ma family father and son for many years, although Ma Xichong and other unworthy descendants have brought disaster to the country and the people, but to this day, there is still no shortage of people in Chu who miss the ancestor Ma Yin.

Therefore, using the name of the Ma clan to control Chu not only conforms to the will of the people, but also eliminates the remnants of those who want to rebel in the name of restoring the country. In this way, Chu will be peaceful!

The prime minister is a generation of virtuous ministers, and after Chudi, it will be the territory of my Tang Dynasty. You are here to supervise the army, although the war is managed by the border commander, but the important task of governing the government and the people, Your Majesty will definitely ask the envoy! Therefore, the villain thought to himself, so that he would be able to think of this plan, and then Chu Di would surrender to peace, and His Majesty would be happy! That's when I dared to promise Ma Xichong! ”

After these sincere words, all the generals present had a rough idea in their hearts, and they all breathed a sigh of relief, and some even showed very appreciative eyes at Li Yuan.

As a veteran of officialdom, how could Chen Jue not understand that Li Yuan was moving closer to himself and sending a piece of credit!

But there is still a little suspicion, this person's reaction is obviously not to know himself, but it's normal to think about it, how can an ordinary pawn see his own respectful face!

So he elegantly smoothed his robe, and said in a soothing tone: "Li Yuan, so you are for the sake of your true appearance?" There's some truth to what you're saying! But Ma Xi Chong is the king, how can Your Majesty let him continue to control his homeland......"

Li Yuan smiled faintly: "Can you hear the story of Emperor Cao Cao of Wei taking Jingzhou?" ”

"Tell me about it!"

Li Yuan said lightly: "Emperor Wu of Wei took Jingzhou in the past and surrendered Liu Cong, so he promised the children of the Liu family to lead Jingxiang ...... from afar."

"Yao Ling Jingxiang?" Chen Jue first paused for a moment, then stood up, clapped his hands and said, "Wonderful, wonderful!" Li Yuan, I can't imagine that you have such a good plan! It can be called both wisdom and bravery! I thought you were just a puppet before, but hahaha I was wrong! ”

Li Yuan pushed the boat down the river, and summed it up without being humble or arrogant: "The little talent is shallow, how can there be such a plan?" It's just that they want to think and conspire. The villain is reckless, and he has the courage to share your worries! The villain is guilty! ”

Chen Jue's heart has been almost stable, since he was severely punished by the emperor when he destroyed Fujian a few years ago, I don't know how many bad comments he has endured! There is a great tendency of sunset and western mountains. This time, I asked for the errand of a supervising army envoy, and I wanted to be ashamed, but unexpectedly, Bian Hao led the army to win without a fight, and captured the entire family of the King of Chu.

And he didn't have half the credit in this trip, and when the emperor was happy, at most he accepted a little reward with everyone, which was difficult to compare with Bian Hao's great achievements.

The most terrible thing is that Bian Hao has always been high, but he doesn't get oil and salt, he can't deal with himself, and he has quarreled in the handsome tent before, which has made the generals unhappy, who knows what slander Bian Hao will say to His Majesty in the future?

At this time, a Li Yuan popped up, seemingly making a small splash, but he offered himself a chance to turn over. In the name of the Ma family, he led the Chu land from afar, such a good plan, in his own name, and then let the henchmen of the court agitate again, His Majesty will definitely entrust the important task of governing the government and the people here!

To make Chu completely surrender and peaceful, this is a great achievement!

Chen Jue thought in his heart, although he was the boss of this battle, he actually relied on the Li Yuan in front of him to say that he had surrendered the king of Chu. This person has given himself such a credit, and he is obviously already standing in line with himself.

It's better to pull it up, and at the same time deliberately amplify the merit of this person, although Bian Ho is the boss, the merit can't be stifled, but it will also be weakened, in short, the beneficiary is himself......

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, Chen Jue didn't hide it, got up straight and walked to Li Yuan, his eyes narrowed into two shallow ravines: "It's a good one to share worries about this!" What a sin you have! Li Yuan, although you are still young, you are both civil and military, and you are talented! On the day of the triumph of the king, this minister will definitely ask for credit for you before the royal drive! God bless me Datang! You will be the leader of the younger generation of my Datang in the future! ”

Sure enough, it's a powerful minister, just a little bit! Li Yuan took a deep breath and replied loudly: "The villain thanked the envoy!" ”

"Li Lang is talented!"

"Heroes out of boys!"

"God bless Datang!"

......

The atmosphere eased down, and the generals gradually began to talk happily.

Chen Jue was not satisfied, and decided to make trouble from this moment, as if unintentionally: "Li Yuan, why do you repeatedly call yourself a villain? And not the last general? I heard that the border commander has appointed you as the deputy commander of the battalion, and there are 500 sergeants under him, how can you not be polite when you wear this armor? ”

Seeing that Bian Hao's expression on the side was slightly unnatural, Li Yuan showed an unknown smile, and then made an earnest look: "Back to the envoy, the villain has no official body!" There is no registration of appointments, and the villain also knows that he has no strengths, so how can he take on a military position? As for this partial general's armor, it was borrowed from the villain before leaving, so as not to see that Ma Xichong fall into my Tang prestige! Now that the war is over, the villain will return immediately! ”

Chen Jue rode a donkey down the slope, turned around and accused loudly: "Nonsense! Bian Ho, as the commander of the First Army, how can you joke about the appointment? Li Yuan has worked hard and made great achievements in this battle, and if you treat him like this, won't it chill the hearts of all the soldiers? ! Are you jealous of the virtuous? ”

"Don't give Ben Shuai such a notoriety! The army has just entered the city, and Ben Shuai is just busy with military affairs! Li Yuan has made outstanding contributions this time, and this handsome will definitely reward his merits! ”

Bian Hao's heart was already in chaos, after all, the appointment was indeed a blank check given by himself, but when he came to the door at this time, he had to cash it out: "Li Yuan, now this commander will officially grant you the post of deputy commander of the third battalion of the first army of the left wing of the Shenwu Army, and immediately make a register and submit it to the Privy Council, and give another three hundred taels of silver and five hundred yuan of money!" ”

The generals took a deep breath, knowing that although Li Yuan had made great contributions, he was appointed as a commander at the age of twenty, and he was rewarded with such a large amount of money, how could he not teach people to be blushing! (Note: The common currency of the Southern Tang Dynasty is copper coins.) Consistently a thousand texts. Silver and gold are not commonly used, they are hard currencies, and they are also used by the people, but they are rare. A tael of silver is equivalent to a copper coin. An ordinary soldier's monthly salary is roughly three cents of silver, which is less than consistent. ）

Li Yuan's heart was pounding excitedly, and with this military position and these rewards, he laid the foundation for the first step in establishing himself in this era.

was about to step forward to receive the reward, but Chen Jue intervened again and raised his hand to stop: "Wait!" ”

Not only Li Yuan, but also Bian Hao and the generals all looked at each other: "What do you mean?" ”

Chen Jue showed a smug expression, stared at Li Yuan and said unhurriedly: "The silver reward will be distributed together." But this minister is in charge of all the affairs of the Privy Council, and the destruction of Chu Li Yuan this time is the first merit, and he has great talent, and the position of deputy commander of this battalion is really low! After the book is presented to His Majesty, the decision will be made! ”

Bian Hao only regarded Chen Jue as the master, but he was helpless: "But by the will of the minister!" ”

Li Yuan was secretly surprised, he never thought that this Chen Jue was so powerful, not only did he owe a favor, but also took the opportunity to detain Bian Hao, killing two birds with one stone! But of course, he accepted all the orders, so he said with a grateful expression: "The villain has thanked the envoy and thanked the border handsome!" ”

Then Chen Jue raised his eyebrows: "Go and get the reward!" ”

Li Yuan immediately understood: "That villain retreated first!" ”