Above the court, there is no absolutely independent individual.

Even if such an outlier occasionally appears, he can only go around in the middle and lower levels, and he will never be able to enter this Dongnuan Pavilion and become a core member of the decisive military affairs.

On the surface, Xie Zhen, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, is a Jiangbei clan, and he is not from a family of gate valves, so he seems to have nothing to do with the Jiangnan clan.

Li Duan knew that Xie Shangshu's family had purchased thousands of acres of fertile land in a certain place in Luzhou, although it was a complicated way to go through many turns and eight turns, it seemed to be dazzling, but the truth was not complicated.

These thousands of acres of fertile land were given by Jinlin Li's family, in other words, this Xie Laoshangshu accepted a generous gift from Zuo Xiang Li Daoyan at a certain point in the past.

Because of the existence of Qin Zheng and the Warp Weaving Division, Li Duan was able to know these secrets.

Everyone in the central government has a distinct label, such as the military department Shangshu Ding will be a staunch supporter of the left minister, and even dare to openly disagree with the right minister Xue Nanting at some times.

Generally speaking, Li Duan does not need to deliberately speculate on Li Daoyan's thoughts, but can roughly understand from the attitudes and opinions of Ding Hui and others.

Today's border army news came from the whole city to shake, because the incident happened suddenly, these important ministers in the warm pavilion definitely did not have the opportunity to communicate privately, at this time Xie Zhen was the first to stand up and say that if Li Duan did not know the secret between him and Li Daoyan, he might really think that he was drumming for the border army generals.

That's what makes him interesting.

It is very difficult to see people's hearts clearly, and Li Duan Yuyu has been in the past fourteen years, and he still does not dare to conclude that he can understand the thoughts of everyone in the court.

However, as his authority became more secure, the number of courtiers loyal to the Heavenly Family gradually increased, and especially the successive victories of the border army with his support, which allowed him to observe the people below him more calmly.

Looking at Xie Zhen's tearful face, Li Duan's heart was racing, and he sighed on his face: "Lao Shangshu is reasonable, this time the border army has made great achievements, and I naturally want to be rewarded heavily." It's just that I have always admired the concerted efforts of the court's major affairs, so I would like to listen to the views of the audience first. Regarding how to reward the merits of the Northern Expedition of the border army, the secretaries may wish to draw up a charter first. ”

Xie Zhen was overjoyed in his heart, and immediately shouted: "Your Majesty Shengming! Xiao Wangzhi, the governor of Huaizhou, presided over the Northern Expedition campaign, and did not taste a defeat in more than ten battles, and now he has successively recovered the entire territory of Dongyang Road and Heluo City, which is really hard work. The old minister thought that he should first agree on the reward of Xiao Dudu, so that he could determine a standard for other soldiers. ”

Li Duan bowed slightly: "Go on." ”

Xie Zhen took a light breath and plucked up the courage to say: "Your Majesty, the old minister has the audacity to say that with the merits that Governor Xiao has made so far, he should be crowned the Duke of the Kingdom!" ”

When he said this, Li Duan clearly felt that the atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.

Xiao Wangzhi is already the prince of Chong'an County, and the reward can only improve the title, and the gold and silver fields can only be used as additives, otherwise it will make the world laugh.

Many people thought that Xie Zhen, the old man, would be able to speak endlessly and shout the sensational word "county king", but now that he heard that he was just the prince of the country, he was naturally secretly relieved.

Seeing that Li Duan was silent, the ministers moved their minds when they landed, could it be that the Son of Heaven was dissatisfied with this reward?

However, except for those martial artists who established the Great Qi one hundred and fifty years ago, the dynasty has never had a precedent for courtiers to be knighted and kings, and the prince of the country is the apex.

Xiao Wangzhi's contribution is indeed not small, but it certainly cannot be compared with the founding sage.

At this moment, Xue Nanting, the right minister, came out of the class and said: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that it is not an exaggeration for Governor Xiao to be crowned the Duke of the Kingdom, and he should be allowed to enter the central auxiliary to His Majesty!" Xiao Dudu has been in charge of the army in Huaizhou for more than ten years, and has made many meritorious achievements, with profound military attainments and unique insight, which is exactly the talent that His Majesty needs. ”

The rest of the important ministers couldn't help but be secretly stunned.

Xiao Wangzhi can be described as a Dinghai Divine Needle for the Huaizhou Army, and it can also play a certain deterrent role in the Jing Dynasty.

If you want the border army to stop the Northern Expedition, transferring Xiao Wangzhi back to the center is indeed the best way.

Ning Yuanfu, the secretary of the ministry, did not squint, but strange emotions surged in his heart.

According to Zuo Xiang's arrangement, after the border army recovered Dongyang Road, Xie Zhen first led the proposal to reward him, and then Ning Yuanfu came forward to ask Xiao Wangzhi to be transferred back to the center.

At the moment, he was actually preempted by Xue Nanting.

The question is, hasn't the right prime minister always firmly supported the banner of the Northern Expedition of the border army?

How could he openly contradict the Son of Heaven?

If something goes wrong, there must be a demon, Ning Yuanfu frowned slightly, and thought quickly in his heart.

Not only did he fall silent, but so did several other high-ranking officials.

After the imperial case, Li Duan had a thoughtful expression on his face, and still did not give a clear attitude, as if he was really considering the feasibility of what Xue Nanting said.

The head of Wenchen, the left minister Li Daoyan, was expressionless, but he smiled bitterly in his heart.

After Xue Nanting spoke, the old man quickly understood that this was the means of the two monarchs and ministers, but he had no way to solve it at the moment, because the focus of this matter was not on him.

Sure enough, in the silence, Wang Yan, the general in charge of the Sixth Army of the Northern Ya, came out of the squad and said: "Your Majesty, the minister does not agree with the suggestion of the right minister. ”

Li Duan asked a little strangely, "Why?" ”

Wang Yan replied unhurriedly: "The great victory of the border army deserves to be rewarded for meritorious deeds, so the minister agrees with Xie Shangshu's proposal, and the merits of the Governor of Huaizhou Xiao are worthy of the Duke of the Kingdom." It's just that the frontier is initially settled, the situation is still unstable, and the army of the Jing Dynasty will go south at any time, and Ding and Huai Erzhou are inseparable from Xiao Dudu. If he is transferred back to the center at this time, the frontier may have repeated worries. ”

Li Duan pondered for a moment, then looked at the privy envoy Guo Congyi and asked, "What is Guo Shumi's intentions?" ”

Guo Congyi lowered his eyebrows and arched his hand: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks what the general said is reasonable. ”

Liu Shouguang and Li Jingda, the two generals who were in charge of the 12th Army of the Southern Ya, did not jump out to oppose it.

At this point, Ning Yuanfu and Ding Hui and others finally came back to their senses.

If, according to their original plan, Xiao Wangzhi's title was first raised, and then used this as a reason to ask the Son of Heaven to transfer him back to the center, even if the important ministers of the Privy Council were reluctant, they would not resist too much.

Because Xiao Wangzhi's foundation is in the border army, even if he does not return to Beijing alone, it is impossible to bring a large group of fierce subordinates, and his power in the capital is obviously not comparable to Guo Congyi and others, at most he will be appointed as a privy deputy envoy.

However, no one expected that the Huaizhou Army would conquer Heluo in one battle.

In this way, if Xiao Wangzhi returns to Beijing at this time, his fame and prestige will be incomparable for a while, and he can easily step on Guo Congyi and others, and it is not impossible to monopolize the power of the Privy Council.

In short, the question of whether to transfer Xiao Wangzhi back to the capital should have been a tug-of-war between the center and the border army, and the former was likely to have the upper hand, but because of the victory of Heluo, the Son of Heaven only needed one move to calmly withdraw, turning the matter into a contradiction between Wenchen and Wuxun.

If these civil officials representing the interests of the Jiangnan clan insisted on transferring Xiao Wangzhi back to the capital, they would first have to subdue Guo Congyi and other important military officials.

After the imperial case, Li Duan's expression was calm, and his heart was relaxed.

He had been on the throne for more than ten years, and it was only now that he could appreciate the joy of kingship.

He doesn't need to play in person, just wait for the two groups below to decide the winner, and he can exert influence in the process.

The atmosphere in the warm pavilion was quiet and a little embarrassed.

Ning Yuanfu and the others couldn't help but look at Li Daoyan, who was always silent, with slightly anxious eyes.

If Xiao Wangzhi is allowed to continue to sit on the frontier, the will of the Son of Heaven can be carried out unimpeded, and the Northern Expedition will inevitably continue to advance, but the imperial court is not rich.

In the past two years of war, the treasury has gradually emptied, and if the war continues like this, it is estimated that these people will have to dig out their own funds.

Guo Congyi turned his head and glanced at Wang Yan, the other party's gaze was extremely firm, obviously resolutely disagreeing with Xiao Wangzhi's return to Beijing at this moment.

After thinking about it for a while, Guo Congyi had no choice but to give up.

Seeing that no one in the hall made a sound, Li Duan coughed lightly and said leisurely: "Zuo Xiang." ”

Li Daoyan said: "The minister is here." ”

"What do you think of Wang Yan's proposal?"

"The minister seconded the proposal."

Li Daoyan's eyes were gentle, and his tone was calm.

Li Duan was slightly stunned in his heart, he didn't believe that Li Daoyan was willing to see Xiao Wangzhi continue to be in charge of the Huaizhou Army, even if he himself could barely accept it, those people below would not agree.

Facing the complicated gaze of the Son of Heaven, Li Daoyan did not wave.

The old man sighed lightly in his heart, Ning Yuanfu and the others were still too impatient after all, and forcibly advocating for the Son of Heaven to recall Xiao Wangzhi at this time was undoubtedly a blatant break with those members of the Privy Council, and this rift involving the fundamental interests of everyone was basically impossible to repair.

The Son of Heaven's move is very steady and wonderful, today's sudden messenger to congratulate the city, as well as the students who led the people to the square outside the palace, and even Xue Nanting's change of course, I am afraid that they are all the handiwork of the Son of Heaven.

This is a conspiracy to urge, Li Daoyan can see it clearly but there is nothing to do, at least there is no way to solve it at the moment, so he decided to take a step back.

If you quarrel with Guo Congyi and others at this time, it will be the most stupid behavior.

Life is long, why be anxious?

Li Daoyan raised his head and looked at Li Duan calmly.

The two monarchs and ministers looked at each other for a moment, and Li Duan smiled and said: "Regarding Xiao Wangzhi's reward, according to the words of the ministers, I plan to crown him as the lord of the country." In the past few days, the book has been drafted and submitted to me. ”

Li Daoyan and Xue Nanting bowed at the same time and said, "The minister obeys the order." ”

As for the question of whether Xiao Wangzhi will continue to stay in the border army, Li Duan did not give a clear answer, but said: "Xiao Wangzhi is temporarily acting for the military affairs of Huai and Dingzhou, and the decision will be made after the establishment of the Dingzhou Governor's Mansion is completed." ”

The ministers of the palace responded in unison.

General Wang Yan suddenly stepped forward at this time, and said: "Your Majesty, among the generals of the border army, Lu Shen, the commander of the Ruishi Battalion, is second only to the governor Xiao Wangzhi in his merits, so the minister has this performance. ”

Just now, his words against transferring back Xiao Wangzhi caught the Wenchen off guard, and seeing that he was one step ahead at this moment, the rest couldn't help but be vaguely worried.

The general wouldn't be worried that he wouldn't be able to hold down even a young man of weak crown age, right?

Li Duan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said, "Let's talk about it." ”

Wang Yan bowed down and said: "A young and handsome man like Lu Shen who is so meritorious and loyal, the imperial court deserves to be rewarded, so after repeated consideration, the minister begs His Majesty to crown Lu Shen as the Marquis of the country, which can be an example for the soldiers of the border army!" ”

Prince......

These two words echoed in the ears of all ministers.

Famous generals such as Xiao Wangzhi and Li Tianrun were only awarded the title of Marquis in their forties, how old is Lu Shen this year?

If they remember correctly, Lu Shen will be twenty years old!

A twenty-year-old marquis?

Li Duan looked at Wang Yan unhurriedly, and the corner of his eye swept over Li Daoyan, and he had a realization in his heart.

Lu Shen's kid was right in the secret compromise, these bosses would eventually point the finger at him.

Only this time, they were afraid that they were going to be disappointed.

(End of chapter)