The February day in Chang'an City is a good time for spring outing, and the spring Lishan is very suitable for walking.

After a day of sorting out the books in the Chongwen Palace, the couple also went home early.

Li Shimin drank tea and listened to Li Junxian's report with a very good expression, "So this time you still haven't found anything?" ”

Li Junxian reported: "The last general is derelict in his duties. ”

Li Shimin sighed: "That's it, you are also fully prepared, I originally thought that the other party would do something in Chang'an City this time, but I didn't expect that outside Chang'an City, I don't blame you, continue to investigate." ”

"Whoa."

"Wait." Stopping Li Junxian, who was about to leave, Li Shimin put down the tea bowl, "What is Zhang Yang doing?" ”

Li Junxian replied: "It's still the same, including Xu Jingzong and Zhang Daxiang, but Her Royal Highness the Princess and Zhang Yang have just arrived under Chang'an City when the night sky vision on Chinese New Year's Eve is visionary. ”

Li Shimin was puzzled: "Zhang Yang? ”

Li Junxian nodded and said, "That's true, I said that I just came back from the fiefdom." ”

"He really thinks about that fiefdom, so he doesn't want to do more for the government, so he should step down."

"Whoa."

Li Shimin picked up the reciprocal reply, and there was a birdsong outside the hall, and now it is the time when spring is full of spring outside the February day.

Looking at the sunlight outside the palace, the last time I went out of the palace to walk around outside, I don't know when, after the autumn hunt, I have been in the palace to review the chapters.

My father has lived in Lishan for so long, and he has no intention of returning to the palace.

Li Shimin lowered his head in frustration, everything in the palace was very old, "Let people prepare, and I will leave the palace tomorrow." ”

The little eunuch on the side heard the words and went to do something.

In the new year, there are always a lot of things to do in the DPRK, busy with various government affairs, this time I plan to go out for a walk to see the spring scenery outside, but unconsciously it dragged on for half a month, and finally I can leave the palace after leisure.

Let Yu Chigong and the eldest grandson Wuji escort him, Li Shimin drove the You Chun horse and walked on the edge of Weishui, breathing the air here, and the whole person relaxed a lot.

The three of them talked about the past, and an urgent report sent from outside the customs disturbed Li Shimin's interest.

There was a rebellion in Gaochang in the Western Regions, and Ju Wentai, the lord of Gaochang, and his son fled Gaochang and were going to Chang'an City for help.

Li Shimin hurriedly returned to the palace and listened to Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng's explanations.

"How can there be a rebellion in Gaochang, which is good? There was no sign at all. Li Shimin finished drinking.

"Your Majesty, this rebellion was caused by the slaves of Ju Wentai, the lord of Gaochang Kingdom, and those slaves started a rebellion." Fang Xuanling explained.

Originally, I finally had a spring outing, but now I have no interest at all.

The Ganlu Hall was quiet again, and Li Shimin thought for a while and said in a low voice: "What do you think of Gaochang?" ”

The eldest grandson Wuji bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, Gaochang has always been a rich country in the Western Regions, and it is also the key point of Guanzhong to the Western Regions. ”

Li Shimin's eyes were gloomy, and the ambition in his heart was about to move, "Yang Guang also wasted a lot of twists and turns in order to take the land of the Western Regions. ”

The hall fell into silence again, Wei Zheng's expression was not very good, and the same Fang Xuanling was also hesitant and difficult to speak.

Li Shimin looked at the three of them, "If Gaochang is taken, the soldiers and horses in Guanzhong can go straight to the hinterland of the Western Regions." ”

Fang Xuanling spoke first: "Your Majesty, as far as the minister knows, the original policy to help Gaochang was decided by Xu Jingzong of the Ministry of Rites, so it is better to ask the Ministry of Rites what it means." ”

The eldest grandson Wuji also replied: "Your Majesty, Ju Wentai and his son are about to arrive in Chang'an City, it is better to wait for them to arrive in Chang'an City and then make a decision." ”

Li Shimin looked at the three of them, and the three of them obviously had scruples about sending troops to Gaochang at this moment.

"I still don't understand something."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Li Shimin frowned and pondered: "Since Gaochang has encountered a rebellion, why don't you ask for help from the neighbors of the Western Regions, but instead come to Datang for help?" ”

Fang Xuanling saluted and replied: "Your Majesty, there was a conflict between Gaochang and Yanqi and other countries to compete for business, perhaps this is because they did not support, and the reason is not clear, and the minister has asked the military department to send people to inquire about the situation. ”

Li Shimin clenched his fist in one hand, there was apprehension and excitement in his eyes, the land of the Western Regions had been coveted for a long time.

This kind of thing happened in the Western Regions, and it was inseparable from the strategy made by the Ministry of Rites at the beginning, and the Zhongshu Province repeatedly came to ask questions.

Zhang Daxiang had no choice but to go to Xu Jingzong, who had not been on duty in the Ministry of Rites for a long time.

From the last time I helped Gao Chang, a year has passed now, and the poison that was put down at the beginning has finally worked, and it is time for Zhang Shilang to pick this fruit.

Xu Jingzong sat at home and nibbled on a leg of mutton, "Brother Elephant, don't pull my sleeve, this matter really has nothing to do with Zaixia." ”

Zhang Daxiang said anxiously: "But it was Brother Xu who was talking to Gaochang Koji Zhisheng in the Ministry of Rites. ”

Xu Jingzong was still chewing mutton in his mouth, "This matter is really not the work of the lower officials." ”

"Zhang Shilang said it at the beginning, and the strategy at that time was set by Brother Xu."

"That's ......" Xu Jingzong remembered Zhang Yang's words at the beginning, and suddenly felt that his scalp was about to crack, "That's Zhang Shilang's strategy, it has nothing to do with me, Brother Elephant go and invite Zhang Shilang." ”

"Zhang Shilang is now a courtier, and he is not in the Ministry of Rites."

Xu Jingzong sat on the spot and ate mutton and didn't stop, "Then I have to find Zhang Shilang." ”

Seeing that Zhang Daxiang was still holding on to his sleeve, Xu Jingzong really couldn't bear it, "Brother Elephant, can you let go first, and wait for the lower official to finish eating this leg of mutton." ”

"No! Now go back to the Ministry of Rites with me, the whole Ministry of Rites is empty and want me to reply to the court. ”

Seeing that the other party did not give up, Xu Jingzong sighed: "What is Zhang Shilang doing now? ”

Zhang Daxiang grabbed his sleeve and didn't let go, "Play with Her Royal Highness the Princess in Lishan." ”

Looking up at the sky, Xu Jingzong felt helpless in his heart, "Why do you treat me like this?" ”

Seeing that Zhang Daxiang was still holding on to himself, Xu Jingzong said: "Let go, if you don't let go, you're welcome." ”

Zhang Daxiang just let go, and the two made a decision or planned to meet Zhang Yang first before making a decision.

Zhang Dasu was the only one left in the Ministry of Rites, and he had just sent away the officials of Zhongshu Province who came to inquire, "This Ministry of Rites is really not good without Zhang Shilang." ”

At the foot of Li Mountain, Xu Jingzong and Zhang Daxiang were waiting here, and this time the two made the decision not to see Zhang Shilang and not leave.

Shangguan Yi came with a book, "The scroll that has just been printed in our village has been given to the two of you, and it is a story called the Red Mansion. ”

Xu Jingzong took this thick book, he didn't see such a thick book, just looking at the paper was worth a lot, "Such a heavy gift, the lower officials really don't dare to accept it." ”

"The children in the village are all hand-rolled, you don't have to be polite."

"Every child in the village has a roll?" Zhang Daxiang's expression was depressed, and there were hundreds of pages in this volume of Red Mansion alone.

Shangguan Yi cleared her throat, "I heard that Zhang Shilang bought paper from elsewhere, a very cheap paper. ”

Xu Jingzong was suspicious, looking at the text on it, the printed words were very beautiful, the words were very neat, and the paper was neat, "This line is the words of Mr. Ouyang Xun?" ”

"I did use Mr. Ouyang Xun's calligraphy to engrave the lettering."

"How much does this book cost?"

"It hasn't been decided yet, Zhang Shilang plans to sell the book, and the price has not been negotiated yet."

Xu Jingzong immediately returned the book to Shangguan Yi, "This book can't be accepted by the lower officials, and I have a good intention." ”

Shangguan Yi looked at Zhang Daxiang again.

Zhang Daxiang also waved his hand and said, "You can't accept it." ”

"Well, wait for the price to be set, and then give it to the two of you, and please rest assured that the price will not be very high."

Xu Jingzong looked at Lishan behind him, "Zhang Shilang hasn't come down yet." ”

Zhang Daxiang also stood in place and worried.

With this volume of Red Mansions, Shangguan Yi walked back to the village, according to Zhang Shilang's idea, this kind of book should be sold to the powerful first, and if you want to sell it to the powerful, you must first have a reputation among the powerful, and you can't send too much just to the wrong person.

Especially for the women of the powerful.

"It's really hard." Shangguan Yi thought of a way, and his steps were much faster.

waited from morning to afternoon, and did not see Zhang Yang go down the mountain.

The two of them waited like this, and Zhang Daxiang said worriedly: "Brother Xu." ”

Xu Jingzong grimaced, "Speak." ”

"You said that Zhang Shilang wouldn't stay on the mountain for a day without coming down, right?"

"Probably not."

It was getting dusk, and the two of them were hungry, and no one came down until now.

A child came running from the village, and when he came to them, he took out a booklet, "Two, the colt is not going to see you in the near future, let me give you this booklet." ”

Xu Jingzong took the booklet and asked, "What else did Zhang Shilang explain?" ”

The child said: "The horse also said that you Xu Jingzong is now a waiter in the Ministry of Rites, since you have to do things well in the Ministry of Rites, you know all day long that you shirk responsibility, and you will be punished sooner or later if you are lazy and slippery." ”

Listening to this child's milky voice, this is really what Zhang Shilang would say.

The child looked at Zhang Daxiang again, "The horse also said that Brother Elephant should strengthen the position of the Ministry of Rites, and the original rules of the Ministry of Rites have not changed, please don't waver." ”

Seeing that the child's words stopped, Zhang Daxiang said again: "What else did you explain?" ”

"Just these two sentences, I can't remember more, so I quit."

"Wait!" Xu Jingzong hurriedly grabbed the child, "Ask more, Zhang Shilang is still on the mountain now?" When will it come down, and what is he doing now? ”

The child frowned and looked at Xu Jingzong.

Realizing that he was a little rude, Xu Jingzong let go of his hand, "Where is Zhang Shilang?" ”

The child re-established his still milky words, "I'll go home at noon." ”

"Then you didn't say it earlier? Do we wait for a day? ”

Xu Jingzong was anxious when he boarded, and wanted to beat this bear child.

"I'm very busy with my studies, and I have to go back to do my homework, otherwise I will be blamed by the teacher tomorrow, and I finally came out to pass on a message to you, if you don't thank me, forget it, and be so rude."

The corners of Xu Jingzong's mouth twitched vigorously, "You kid just talking to this official?" ”

The boy stood up straight, raised his chin and said, "What's wrong with talking to you like that?" My teacher said that if someone bullied me, I would report my name as a teacher. ”

Xu Jingzong smiled angrily, "Who is your teacher?" ”

"Humph! My teachers include the current Zou Guogong, Shangguan Yi, Li Xiaogong, the king of Hejian County, and the emperor Taishang......"

"Taishang ......"

Xu Jingzong's legs were weak and he almost fell, but fortunately, an elephant helped him.

Zhang Daxiang frowned and said, "What should you and I do now?" ”

Xu Jingzong looked at the bear child who ran towards the village, and scratched his head again, "When did the Emperor Taishang teach in that village?" ”

Zhang Daxiang smiled in astonishment, "How does Xia Guan know?" Maybe the Emperor Taishang suddenly came and took in a few disciples? ”

Seeing Zhang Shilang now, Xu Jingzong opened the booklet in his hand, and looked at the content written on it by the afterglow of the sunset, and the original worried look gradually disappeared, and he turned to a smile.

"Zhang Shilang really understands the lower officials." Xu Jingzong took a deep breath like an initiation.

"What's on it?"

Zhang Daxiang took the booklet and read it, and after reading the steps written on it, he was enlightened for a while, "Yes, now that he is a courtier, he naturally has no right to meddle in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites, and it is really inappropriate to ask Zhang Shilang to come forward." ”

Thinking of the child's words, Xu Jingzong smiled ashamedly, knowing the development of things, he was indeed prevaricating when he saw Zhang Daxiang, if Zhang Yang was in front of me at this moment, I am afraid that my face would be lost.

The night passed, and Xu Jingzong was ready to deal with everything in Gaochang and the court.

Zhang Daxiang and Zhang Dasu also went to busy their own affairs, and the Ministry of Rites closed the door for three days.

On the fourth day, Li Shimin was practicing calligraphy, what happened in Gaochang was in the Western Regions after all, even if it was the intention of seeking the Western Regions, Gaochang was still far away after all.

"Your Majesty, Xu Jingzong, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, asks to see you."

Hearing that it was Xu Jingzong, Li Shimin sneered and put down his pen, "I thought that this person was hiding and never wanted to go back to the court, so I summoned him in." ”

"Whoa."

After straightening his clothes, Li Shimin sat down again and looked at the figure who walked into the hall from the sun, "Xu Jingzong, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

Xu Jingzong bowed and saluted, "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, it has been a long time since the minister left the Qin Palace, and he has not talked to His Majesty like now. ”

Li Shimin looked down on Xu Jingzong in his heart, his talent was not as good as Fang Xuanling, his strategy was not as good as the eldest grandson Wuji, he didn't have any skills but wanted to find a good position in the court, and among the eighteen bachelors of the Qin Palace, he was also the most inconspicuous one.

"You came to see me to talk about Gaochang?"

"Your Majesty, what the minister wants to say is the matter of the Ministry of Rites." Xu Jingzong bowed his head and spoke.

"What? The Ministry of Rites will not work without Zhang Yang? ”

"The minister didn't mean this, the minister remembered the covenant between the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Rites, and everything in the Ministry of Rites was for the sake of the society, and the six ministries of the DPRK only had the right to intervene and did not interfere, and dared to ask if the original agreement was still the same."

"The agreement between me and the Ministry of Rites is naturally counted."

A smile flashed in Xu Jingzong's expression, who lowered his head, and sure enough, as Zhang Shilang said, as long as he said this to His Majesty, His Majesty would not deny it, the emperor's words were always counted as words, and the emperor would not deny what he had said, His Majesty was such a person, then the next thing would be simple.

"Then please continue to hand over this matter to the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites will give Your Majesty and the Ministry of Rites an answer."

(End of chapter)