West of Chang'an City, outside Jinguang Gate.

The wind and snow are falling, and the figures are in a hurry.

Yuan Wanqing stood in the official pavilion under the city gate, wearing a black fur cloak, although he did not shiver under the cold wind, but he clutched his fists tightly.

At this moment, a hurried sound of horses' hooves sounded under the door, and then turned towards the official pavilion.

Yuan Wanqing subconsciously turned around, and saw Li Xuan, who was wearing a gold silk robe on a black background, wearing a red cloak coming from the city gate.

He was followed by more than a dozen guards from the Nanchang Palace.

Yuan Wanqing quickly walked to the pavilion, and took the lead in arching his hand to Li Xuan: "I've seen the prince." ”

Li Xuan was slightly surprised, jumped off the horse, and returned the salute: "Mr. is also here to greet Yuan Thorn Shi?" ”

Yuan Wanqing was stunned for a moment, and then said with a smile: "Yes, the Yuan clan inherited from the Tuoba clan, the Henan Yuan clan was the sect, the Northern Wei Dynasty sealed the world, and later there was the Northern Qi Gaohuan Rebellion, and the Yuan clan settled in Longxi and gradually became a branch. ”

"I see." Li Xuan nodded lightly and said: "Xuan received a letter from Yuan Thorn Shi the day before yesterday, and will probably arrive in Beijing today, so my relatives came to greet me, Mr. knows that Yuan Thorn Shi sent an envoy to Tubo, and there will be a big war next year and the year after tomorrow, and Xuan is very concerned about the current situation in Tubo." ”

Yuan Wanqing immediately came over.

In July this year, on the occasion of the emperor's birthday, the envoy of the Tibetan state, Zabala, personally admitted that the head of the Tibetan state, Mangsong Mangzan, died of illness, and the new head of Tibet, Chidu Songtsen, ascended the throne in August.

At that time, this should have been a matter worthy of everyone's attention, but I didn't expect the Turkic assassination to come later.

The affairs of Tibet were forgotten by the people.

But others can not pay attention, but Li Xuan must pay attention.

Next year, if he wants to take Subi, he will immediately hand over to Tubo itself, and it will be a completely different world.

Geographical topography, people-to-people exchanges, social structure, military and political changes, all aspects must be paid attention to.

That's how you can win.

"Yuan Thorn Shi returns to Beijing, and His Majesty will summon him." Yuan Wanqing explained to Li Xuan, but he swallowed the two words immediately.

Standing in the pavilion, Li Xuan asked casually, "Hasn't Your Majesty summoned the prince back to Chang'an?" ”

"No, the prince is still busy with the inventory of acres in Henan Province." Yuan Wanqing whispered.

Li Xuan's brows couldn't help frowning: "The prince has been in Luoyang for too long. ”

From the beginning of October this year to today's December 17, more than two months have passed, but Li Xian is still in Luoyang.

Some officials in the DPRK and China have begun to feel uneasy.

The crown prince has been in Luoyang for too long.

Although there was a concert, asking the emperor to recall the crown prince to Chang'an, the emperor and Empress Wu refused on the grounds of checking the number of acres of fields in Henan Province.

But on the contrary, Li Xian himself had no intention of going back to Chang'an.

This makes more people feel strange.

The most important thing is that during the time when the prince was in Luoyang, there was not the slightest gossip in the court.

That's the most frightening thing.

Someone is praising the crown prince.

Covering his eyes, covering his ears, so that he can't hear or see, the affairs of the court are gradually getting out of control for Li Xian.

Especially Li Xian himself in Luoyang, it seems that he is not so calm.

The people of the East Palace often go to the fields to measure the land in person.

If this kind of thing happened in Yongzhou, Li Xuan would be very happy, because these things would happen under the emperor's sight.

But in Luozhou, even if they went to the fields, one accidentally disappeared, and they didn't know where to go and what to do.

No one knows.

But is there really no one knowing?

I'm afraid that it will make Li Xian think that what they are doing and others don't know, but the real situation is that no matter what they do, others will know.

There are even some things that others are guiding them to do.

"Lord, the prince will naturally handle the affairs of Luoyang, and His Majesty and the Queen of Heaven will also allow it." Yuan Wanqing bowed slightly to Li Xuan, looking polite, but there was vigilance behind the politeness.

Li Xuan raised his eyebrows and said: "It's the end of the year soon, in addition to the year-end court meeting, there are many other things that need to be done by the crown prince instead of His Majesty, and this king really doesn't want to see His Majesty fall ill because of hard work." ”

Li Xuan originally wanted to say that the age of the martial queen was not too young, but when the words came to his mouth, he swallowed them back.

Some people can't see others say that they are old, whether you care or something else, they just can't listen.

But the emperor, the emperor's health, is not only what Li Xuan needs to care about, but also what everyone in the whole world needs to care about.

……

Yuan Wanqing's face sank slightly, he used His Majesty and the Queen of Heaven to press Li Xuan, and Li Xuan directly used the emperor to reply back.

But at this time, Yuan Wanqing couldn't refute Li Xuan in this matter.

Because it is true, there are many things that need to be done by the emperor himself, and Li Xian needs to replace them.

For example, sacrificing to heaven and earth, sacrificing ancestors to mountains and rivers, these things, except for the emperor, only the prince can do.

Even Li Xian and Li Dan can't interfere casually.

Because once they do it instead of Li Xian, then it will immediately make people guess that the emperor has the heart of Yi Chu.

That's a big deal.

Even the emperor is now carefully handling the affairs of the crown prince, how can the conflict easily erupt.

The Great War of Tibet is imminent, and the Turkic people are in turmoil, and if they really want to be chaotic, the Northwest Province and Changzhou will immediately be completely eroded.

With a restrained expression, Yuan Wanqing said calmly: "Maybe it won't be long, the prince is also in a hurry to return to Beijing." ”

At this moment, Li Xuan fell silent.

The emperor did not mention the matter of letting the prince return to Beijing, and the prince himself did not even want to return to Chang'an.

This makes others go where to say.

"The crown prince still has to come back, in addition to being the Zhengdan Dynasty on the first day of the first month, it is also the birthday of the emperor's eldest grandson, so there are many things to prepare." Li Xuan looked up at Yuan Wanqing, and a cold knife stabbed him silently.

It was Yuan Wanqing's turn to turn cold, and the prince would inevitably return to Chang'an.

The birthday of the emperor's eldest grandson, even the emperor has to ask in person, let alone others.

At this time, a sudden roaring sound of horses' hooves sounded in the west, and Li Xuan and Yuan Wanqing were solemn at the same time.

……

Two hundred black-clothed and black-armored cavalrymen appeared in sight, and Yuan Wanqing couldn't help but frown, and looked at Li Xuan in surprise.

Li Xuan looked straight ahead and said, "Sir, don't think too much, that's one hundred right guard cavalry, one hundred left guard cavalry, all of them are meritorious soldiers on the battlefield, and the military department has a reward."

This time, Yuan Thorn Shi returned from Tubo, and Changzhou naturally wanted to escort him, so he dispatched two hundred left and right guard cavalry from the left and right sides of Chang'an to go home to have a look. ”

Li Xuan turned his head sideways, looked at Yuan Wanqing's suspicious eyes, and said lightly: "This matter has been played by Your Majesty, and Your Majesty has allowed it." ”

"I see." Yuan Wanqing nodded slightly, but his expression was still vigilant.

The strength of the king of Nanchang is very strong, and the government and the opposition know it.

Especially when he and the cavalry converged, two hundred cavalry could directly confront Xiao Tianzi and other figures.

With a thousand cavalry, he can kill Xiao Tianzi without hurting anyone.

Now that two hundred of Li Xuan's most powerful left and right guards cavalry have returned to Chang'an, his strength has immediately increased greatly.

If you don't get it, they will even become a force that can influence the situation at a critical moment.

"Lord Wang, some of their blades are not allowed to be brought into Chang'an City, everyone must go to the left and right guards of Chang'an to register, and after January, the prince will set off to return to Changzhou, and these people must also follow." Yuan Wanqing still faded away from the mildness on the surface, and his expression became cold.

"Long lances, armor, and longbows are not allowed to be brought into Chang'an." After a slight pause, Li Xuan followed and said: "Before the thirtieth day of the lunar month, everyone must live in the military camp of Chang'an on the left and right, and they are not allowed to enter the city. Letters can be sent to the home, and families can be reunited with them outside the city. On the night of the 29th day of the lunar month, there is a holiday, and on the fourth day of the first month, everyone must gather. ”

Li Xuan was keenly aware of the risks involved, and then immediately added: "But if it violates the law, you can cut it first and report it later." ”

"Yes!" Yuan Wanqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, a yellow-covered carriage appeared in Li Xuan's sight, and the two horses galloped quickly and steadily towards Luoyang City.

On the side of the carriage, a three-foot-long yellow bamboo knot was inserted vertically, and five special yellow oxtails were tied to the joints of the five joints.

Hold the festival and travel to other countries by order.

Li Xuan and Yuan Wanqing's faces became solemn at the same time.

Yuan Ming was ordered to travel to Tibet.

This trip was not easy, from the beginning of the second year of Yifeng to the end of the third year of Yifeng, almost two full years, most of which he was imprisoned by the Tubo people

Look at the Tubo envoy Zabala in Chang'an, and you will know how difficult the situation of Yuan Ming was.

But he persevered.

From the former Han Dynasty to the present, there are very few ministers who have gone to other countries, and few have defected to other countries.

Su Mu, Ban Chao has already made an example in front, even in this dynasty, there is also a Wang Xuance.

With the help of the power of Tibet, one or two states of Tianzhu were destroyed.

In this way, who will submit to the kingdom of others.

Even if there is a Zhao Deyan, he is just ambitious in the Tang Dynasty, and his personality is extreme and he is used by the emperor, and then he takes refuge in the Turks.

But even he, when he defected to the Turks, it was allowed by Emperor Taizong, which eventually led to the destruction of the entire DTZ.

Each of these envoys has a great mission and has gone through countless risks, and no one dares to neglect them.

……

The carriage stopped in front of the pavilion, and Yuan Wanqing and Li Xuan had already walked out of the long pavilion.

The curtain opened, and Yuan Ming, who looked tired and thin, stood up from the carriage, then walked out of the carriage and stood on the ground.

"I've seen the Yuan Envoy, and the envoy has made this trip hard." Li Xuan and Yuan Wanqing saluted at the same time with Yuan Ming's heavy bow.

"Don't dare." Yuan Ming returned the salute gently, then got up and said with a smile: "Everything is the duty, Yuan Mou just do his best." ”

"Good one, do your best." Li Xuan's voice was a little abrupt, and Yuan Ming and Yuan Wanqing looked at him in surprise at the same time.

Li Xuan stood up straight, looked at Yuan Ming and said, "There is an edict!" ”

Yuan Ming was stunned for a moment, and then immediately knelt on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Chenhe Prefecture Assassin History, inspect the Honglu Temple Qing Yuan Ming command." ”

Yuan Wanqing glanced at Li Xuan in disbelief, then stepped back and knelt down as well.

When he knelt down, a wave of absurdity rose in Yuan Wanqing's heart.

I talked to him here about the prince for a long time, but he didn't mention a word of the holy decree.

No, it's not that he didn't mention it, he asked himself if he was also here to pick up Yuan Ming.

Yuan Wanqing replied, yes, the family was implicated and came to greet him.

But Yuan Wanqing didn't expect that what Li Xuan asked before was not whether he himself came to pick up Yuan Ming, but whether he came to pick up Yuan Ming by the will of the Queen of Heaven.

Yuan Wanqing, as a confidant of the Queen of Heaven, is right to ask.

But Yuan Wanqing had other ideas in his heart at that time, so he couldn't hear the other meaning in Li Xuan's words.

For a moment, he felt a little annoyed in his heart.

Now it's okay, not only does he need to kneel down to receive the order now, but even after that, he has to go back to the palace with him, and his business has been delayed.

Of course, he didn't come to pick up Yuan Ming today.

……

"The emperor's dictation, Hezhou Thorn Shi Yuanming, just and courteous, medium and tolerant, quiet and not boring, moving and light; Envoy to Tibet, for my prestige, thousands of difficulties and dangers, return from now on, ordered Nanchang Wang Xuan to greet in the western suburbs, give a pot of wine, show my heart, and order to enter the palace immediately, no need to wash, no need to bathe, I have a long heart, such as looking forward to the sun and the moon, Qin this. ”

Yuan Ming bowed his head in a deep voice: "The minister's decree." ”

(End of chapter)