Standing in front of the largest Suzaku Gate directly north of the Imperial City of Chang'an, Fang Youde was wearing the purple official robe of the Imperial Doctor and stopped here.

He vaguely remembered the scene of Zhu Wen's men rushing to the imperial city to arrest the emperor everywhere in his previous life, when a large number of people rushed into the dilapidated imperial city, as if they were in another world.

"The saint has arrived!"

The voice of the eunuch came from behind him, Fang Youde turned around, and there was a team of hundreds of people who couldn't see it, and bright colored flags fluttered everywhere. The wide Suzaku Street has been cleared, and the royal chariot of the Son of Heaven is protected by the tuantuan, surrounded by the forbidden army and eunuchs.

There are more than 100 eunuchs who have opened the way.

It is indeed not an accident that Zhu Wen killed the Li Tang clan.

Fang Youde sighed lightly, just looking at this pomp, he knew that the fall of the Tang Dynasty in the previous life was caused by the arrogance and lasciviousness of those in power, and he couldn't complain about Zhu Wen, let alone the people.

Even if there is no Zhu Wen, there will be Liu Wen and Ma Wen.

"Fang Yushi, the saint asks you to get on the royal car and drive for the saint."

Suddenly, a young eunuch stepped forward, and the other party was virtuous and saluted.

"Wechen thanked the saint."

Fang Youde saluted in the direction where the imperial driver was, and then followed behind the eunuch and walked towards the imperial driver.

This is not a great grace, but a procedure that has been arranged a long time ago, and Fang Youde waited here at Suzaku Gate early in the morning, just for this matter.

Everything is in plain sight!

The major affairs of the country are in worship and Rong. What is politics, and the show like this now, is an integral part of politics.

Even if a courtier doesn't like it and finds it troublesome, he has to adapt to it.

Because if a country doesn't even have such "red tape", everyone thinks it doesn't matter, then only "Rong" remains.

What is "Rong"?

Fighting, killing, and respecting force, the emperor is the biggest warlord leader, this is "there is no worship", that's all, just like the situation of the five dynasties in the late Tang Dynasty.

Fang Youde suppressed the impatience in his heart and went straight to the side of the royal car.

Brother Ji lifted the curtain of the carriage and greeted him warmly: "Quan Zhong, get in the car and drive for me!" The car is driving into the Imperial City! ”

Today is a "big event" to add a new portrait to Lingyan Pavilion, and the specifications are naturally extraordinary.

Fang Youde didn't think much about it, turned over to the car, took the whip handed over by Gao Lishi, and began to skillfully catch up with the carriage.

"Open the gates! Welcome to the Holy Drive! ”

When the front of the procession marched to the Suzaku Gate, the eunuch who was at the front shouted, and then the gate official on duty opened the gate. At this moment, the sound of drums and horns sounded, and the "military band" in the Shence army came out to accompani, and Fang Youde drove slowly into the imperial city.

On the surface, everything is so solemn, but in Fang Youde's eyes, it seems so absurd that there is no way to think about it.

I actually entered the Lingyan Pavilion!

There is such an inexplicable thing in the world!

Fang Youde felt that this was a bad joke played by God.

In his previous life, whoever entered the Lingyan Pavilion was equivalent to writing the four words "chaotic ministers and thieves" on the door of his head, such as Qian Biao, the envoy of the Eastern Army of Zhenhai Town, and Zhu Quanzhong, the envoy of the Xuanwu Army.

Their portraits were hung in the Lingyan Pavilion in a grand manner at the end of the Tang Dynasty.

And in this life, entering the Lingyan Pavilion is a supreme glory, and it is really ironic to compare.

Under the leadership of Brother Ji, Fang Youde, Gao Lishi and others came to the small building next to the Sanqing Hall in the southwest of Chang'an Taiji Palace, and the team escorting the emperor into the imperial city was left outside the Vermilion Bird Gate.

At this time, Li Linfu, the right minister, had already brought many central courtiers, such as the six Shangshu and the six servants, and had been waiting here for a long time.

The political leaders of the center of the Tang Dynasty gathered here, and a similar situation has not been seen for many years.

The area where Li Linfu and their office work was originally within the imperial city, so there was no need to go through this formality like Fang Youde.

In fact, this is also a routine played by Brother Kei. Let Fang Youde drive himself before leaving Chang'an, which can be regarded as a beautiful scenery in front of people, and it also shows the "emperor's grace".

For those courtiers who have no intention of fighting for power, Brother Ji will still give them enough face.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's go into the Lingyan Pavilion with me to pay respects to the sages."

After seeing the central ministers, Ji Ge laughed and said.

Brother Ji led the ministers into the Lingyan Pavilion.

In fact, Lingyan Pavilion is a three-story small building, and the area is not large: the innermost floor is painted as the minister with the highest meritorious service; The middle layer is painted as a minister of a high prince; The outermost layer is painted with other heroes.

All the portraits in the pavilion are designed with a north-facing visual center, which needs to face the spiritual pillars of the Tang Dynasty - the Sanqing Palace, one of the Taoist reverence for teachers and spiritual halls.

Fang Youde saw his portrait and appeared on the originally blank wall on the first floor. Of course, compared to a portrait, the space of Lingyan Pavilion is very large, even if you add dozens of portraits, there is no pressure! It won't look crowded!

Fang Youde noticed that Li Linfu, who had always been moody, was already overjoyed at this moment.

Probably on the way back today, even if he was barked at by a dog, the happy Tang Dynasty right minister would not do anything to that dog.

Fang Youde thought secretly in his heart.

Compared with his "down-and-out" self, Li Linfu can be said to be famous, and there is no pursuit in life.

If you go further, you will have to ascend the throne and become the emperor yourself, which should not be what Li Linfu is pursuing.

When the moon is full, it is difficult to say whether this right-hand minister of the Tang Dynasty can live to the end of his life.

Fang Youde quietly evaluated it in his heart, secretly observing the expressions of the ministers, and found that they were all eager to try. He also had to admit that the operation of the Son of Heaven of the Tang Dynasty really scratched the itch of the ministers.

Who wouldn't want to live forever?

"Why don't the men take Wu Hook and collect the fifty states of Anxi; Please go to Lingyan Pavilion temporarily, if you are a scholar and a marquis. ”

Fang Youde looked at his portrait and couldn't help but say "vassal elegance".

Unexpectedly, his voice was not loud, but he happened to be heard by Brother Ji.

In the surprised eyes of the central courtiers, Ji Ge walked over with a laugh, patted Fang Youde's shoulder and laughed: "Quan Zhong, now that Guozhong is sweeping through the Western Regions with a large army, you can expect him to return victorious!" In the future, the grand occasion of father and son entering Lingyan Pavilion together, I am afraid that it has not been since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, and there is also light on my face! ”

"The kindness of the saint is not over in the lifetime of our father and son. Weichen is old, and I hope that the dog will saddle the horse for the saint in the future, and work hard. ”

Fang Youde said very humbly.

"Well, Guozhong can be civil and martial, and he can be excellent, I am still relieved."

Ji Ge laughed and said, obviously this emperor is in a very good mood today.

Fang Chongyong can make suggestions to help him make money, and Wu can help him kill people with perseverance, which is naturally worthy of praise.

Of course, if the other party has no use value in the future, it will be another way. In short, for Brother Kei, everyone is a dog, but the relationship is different, and the origin is different.

Since it is a dog, whether it is helping to hunt, or taking care of the house, or just being a pet, it cannot be compared with a "human".

From this point of view, Jige's way of employing people is essentially a minimum of fairness and justice. A dog is not more noble than another, and in the eyes of Brother Ji, he treats everyone equally, only to see if it is of use to himself.

In fact, this is also a kind of alternative fairness.

"Hahahaha, my Datang has the wise leadership of a saint, and it is naturally a country of heaven and earth treasures. You say so, right? ”

After a while, the young-looking scholar of the Ministry of Rites, after flattering Brother Ji, looked around at everyone and asked.

Fang Youde glanced at this somewhat faceless Ministry of Rites Shangshu, and didn't recognize who this person was for a while, it must be someone who has not been in this official position for a long time.

And it is certain that this must be Li Linfu's person.

If it weren't for Li Linfu's people, it would be impossible to be promoted to the position of the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

Sure enough, seeing that Fang Youde was stunned, Li Linfu hurriedly introduced him:

"I'm going to introduce you. This is Chen Xilie, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and the words are clear. He was a master of learning and was valued by the saints. He successively served as a secretary and a young eunuch, a waiter in the Ministry of Works, a bachelor of Jixian Academy, a scholar of Chongxuanguan University, and was also named the Marquis of Linying.

He writes well, Quan Zhong, you often lead troops outside, and it's not unusual for you to be unfamiliar with him. ”

"Eh, Gonu is right! Chen Ziming's article is really well written!

Chen Shangshu, today I took the ministers to observe the Lingyan Pavilion, and after you go back, you have to write a poem well.

Don't be perfunctory! ”

Brother Ji pointed at Chen Xilie with a playful look and said.

"Do the holy man's command."

Chen Xilie was "flattered" and saluted.

Fang Youde squinted his eyes, he had already guessed that the predecessor He Zhizhang had already returned to his hometown, and it was difficult to say whether he was still alive or not. The successor of Jixian Academy should be this Chen Xilie, and then he rose all the way.

Fang Youde was "impressed" by this Chen Xilie. It's just that I don't know what kind of moth Chen Xilie can make after An Lushan and Yang Guozhong are gone.

None of this has anything to do with him, a "discouraged man" who intends to stay away from the center.

He bowed to Chen Xilie with a calm face, and there was no joy or anger on his face, but he was vaguely not polite. However, Fang Youde was famous for his bad temper on weekdays, and Chen Xilie didn't care, but came over to continue to tell Ji Ge some interesting stories about Lingyan Pavilion.

In all fairness, if you only look at Chen Xilie at this moment, Fang Youde has to admit that the other party is a very knowledgeable and talkative person.

At least in terms of sycophancy, the technology is already perfect.

Brother Ji nodded as he listened, obviously looking interested.

Although he was born in the royal family, he didn't know everything about the deeds of the ministers of Lingyan Pavilion, and many of them had only heard about it.

And Chen Xilie is obviously a "professional", and he can be said to be handy about the deeds of those courtiers in the Zhenguan period.

This is not a level that can be achieved by holding Buddha's feet temporarily and preparing a little to read some books.

Fang Youde sighed a little for a while, if he didn't know the "mystery", he would be surrounded by such a group of people. Even if he is the emperor, I'm afraid he won't think Chen Xilie is a bad person, right? Who would have thought that he would later become the prime minister of An Lushan?

With such a "harmless human and animal" character in front of him, who would have known that after Li Linfu's death, he dared to take the lead in coming out and pushing everyone on the wall?

"Quan Zhong is not feeling well? I think you're in a trance. ”

Brother Ji saw that Fang Youde was stunned, and looked at the other party with some concern and asked.

"Back to the saint, Weichen's body is fine, just now he was a little fascinated by the deeds of the sages."

Fang Youde said insincerely, he didn't want to continue to stay in Lingyan Pavilion.

"Okay, then go back to Xingqing Palace to attend the banquet. If you don't get drunk today, I will arrange good wine and good food for you Aiqing! ”

Brother Kee laughed.

Today's Brother Ji is complacent, no matter which minister makes a moth, he will not be angry.

……

Except sand, there are stones; In addition to stones, it is sand!

Fang Chongyong led the Anxi expeditionary force out of the Yumen Pass of the Tang Dynasty and drove to Yiwu City, Yizhou, where the Beiting Protectorate was governed in Yizhou and the largest oasis in the region.

However, although the oasis is good, for them it is no less than "looking at the plum to quench their thirst".

The road was frenzied with sand and gravel, and the climate was so bad that it exploded. The wind swept the fine sand and blew it on his face, just like when Fang Chongyong was a metalworking intern in his previous life, he rubbed a grinder against the iron.

That sourness makes people have to cover themselves tightly.

But fortunately, on the way to Moheyan moraine, every less than a hundred miles, there is a small oasis formed by a small earth spring. In every small oasis, there is a Tang army fort with a size of less than ten people. These people are responsible for preventing robbers from occupying water sources to do things, and then they are responsible for transmitting military information, and occasionally undertake some rescue tasks.

Militarily, it only acts as an eye.

Each of these five springs does not replenish much water. As the water level drops, you have to wait for a new spring to come up. The scouts of the Vympel battalion arrived somewhere a day earlier, and they would spend a little time storing a little water with a water bladder for the army behind. Then he didn't dare to rest, and kept exploring the way.

Along the way, Chongyong was marching with a heart, for fear that the water source would not be enough, so that the army of more than 10,000 people would die of thirst in the desert.

But fortunately, Yuanmen Erlong and others have been to the Western Regions before and are very familiar with the ecological environment here.

When the marching strategy was formulated, it was well prepared. When Fang Chongyong led his troops into Mohe Yanmo, he realized that he was thinking too much.

Everything along the way is orderly, and there are no surprises or dangers. There are clear military orders for when the non-commissioned officers of the whole army can eat, when they can drink water, how much water to drink at one time, how to drink it, where to camp and how long to rest each time, and they will not fool around.

This is the strength of the elite soldiers of the Tang Army in Hexi, the order is prohibited, and the top and bottom are concentric. Fang Chongyong issued a large number of "military tickets" to the soldiers, which could only be realized when they went to the Western Regions. So along the way, his orders were much more effective than the decrees of the imperial court.

At the hottest time of the day, they camped and rested for most of the day, and at night, the Anxi expeditionary force set out from the last oasis of Diquan, and in the middle of the night came to a canyon on the road that must be passed in the Moheyan moraine.

From here on, there will be no more water supply to Igo City.

"Where is this?"

Fang Chongyong saw that on the hill next to the canyon, in the moonlight, a large number of mysterious objects that were shining brightly looked at it from a distance.

He used his horsewhip to point to the distance and asked Wu Chengen, one of the two dragons of Yuanmen beside him.

The sky is full of stars.

The ground is full of splendour.

It can be described as a wonder of nature.

"Hui Fang Jieshuai, there is ore on the mountain at the mouth of the canyon, which is transparent and flawless, reflecting in the moonlight, so it looks like this.

The scenery here is quite distinctive, and it can be regarded as a landmark along the way. ”

Wu Chengen explained with a smile.

"The stars in the sky are white. The stars on the ground are dark and heavy.

In the fifteenth night of the Star Gorge, the stars and the stars of the sky and the earth were bursting.

A house is full of stars, and the sky is obscure.

The stars on the earth are bluer than the stars in the sky, and the Beidou is gloomy and the rooster is crowing.

Sound three, sleep blinking. Scorching fire, Star Gorge.

This section shuai thinks that this place is better to call Xingxing Gorge. ”

Fang Chongyong pointed to the hill not far away with his horsewhip and continued: "Let's go, go and see." ”

He took a few generals to the hill he had overlooked, only to see the crystals exposed everywhere on the ground, shining inexplicably in the moonlight.

For a while, I was in a trance, this two-dimensional scenery actually exists in reality, if I haven't seen it with my own eyes, I can't believe it.

Fang Chongyong felt a little regretful, he thought to himself: If this is in the industrial age, crystals are of great use in electronics, medical, optics and other industries, and it is not bad to open a crystal mine here in Xingxingxia, but it's a pity.

He asked He Qichang for a hammer, casually found a piece of crystal ore exposed outside, hammered down a large piece of crystal and threw it into the baggage, planning to have nothing to do with the telescope after going to the Western Regions.

(End of chapter)