Ten years of Tianbao, late February.

Nalan Zhen has been learning Chinese for two months, and she can communicate normally, and even understands some power disputes in the Tang Dynasty, thinking that she has found out very confidential information, and she is overjoyed.

She has been analyzing Xue Bai's promotion path recently, hoping to become more familiar with the Tang officialdom. And Xue Bai didn't seem to notice that every time he talked to someone, Nalan Zhen was eavesdropping with her ears pricked up.

On this day, the stagecoach sent the official document, Diao Bing ran to hand it to Xue Bai, and after returning it, Diao Geng hurriedly greeted him.

"Brother, but can you go back to Chang'an? In terms of meritorious deeds, it should be our turn to be Langjun. ”

"Shh

Diao Bing's eyes were sharp, and he noticed Nalan Zhen who was sweeping the floor on the side, stopped his brother's discussion, and said loudly: "The brooms are all bald, and the ground has not been swept yet." ”

Although he did not specify who he was talking about, the person being said naturally knew.

"Master still doesn't give up and wants to go back to Chang'an?" Princess Nalanzhen didn't change her temper, so she simply threw away the broom and stepped forward to ask, "What's good about Chang'an?" Why not stay in Yunnan? ”

The Diao brothers glanced at each other, too lazy to answer her question. Where is Chang'an? Chang'an is much better than Nanzhao!

Nalan Zhen could feel their disdain, but she was puzzled. Xue Bai clearly told her that she wanted to be the king of Pingxi, she thought about this matter carefully, and finally decided to support him, as long as the conditions allowed, she would persuade Zan Pu to let Xue Bai replace Ge Luofeng.

Wouldn't it be better to become a prince than to go back to Chang'an and be a courtier?

"What's the news today?" Seeing that the Diao brothers didn't answer, Nalan Zhen asked again.

"Don't ask! Go and wash Lang Jun's clothes. ”

The Diao brothers are very strict-mouthed, and they have always said nothing, but sometimes they can find something useful from Xue Bai's mouth. Therefore, at night, when Xue Bai came back from Cui Guangyuan, Nalan Zhen held a stack of clothes and knocked on Xue Bai's door.

She habitually took a deep breath before entering the door, telling herself that the big picture was important, and suppressing the resentment in her heart.

"Master, your clothes are washed."

"Hmm."

Xue Bai was standing by the window with his arms crossed and looking at the moon, holding a piece of letter paper in his hand.

Nalan Zhen put her clothes on the couch and peeked at the paper. She now knows most of the Chinese characters, but unfortunately, the night is too dark to read the content on the paper.

She rolled her eyes, lifted the folded clothes, and asked, "Are the clothes hanging?" ”

Xue Bai looked back and saw that a big hole had been broken in the seam of the sleeve of the robe, so he showed a puzzled look.

"Ahh Nalan Zhen was a little embarrassed, "I'll sew." ”

She sat down, took the needle money from her bosom, and sewed her clothes into the moonlight.

Sitting like this, she always had to make small talk, so she asked, "Master, has your reward come down?" Do you stay in Yunnan or go back to Chang'an? ”

"Go back to Chang'an."

"But didn't you ask me if Tubo is willing to change to a Yunnan king to support?"

"Talking to you." Xue Bai replied casually, folded the letter in his hand, and put it away.

Nalan Zhen couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

At the beginning, she decided to support Xue Bai with some reluctance and reluctance; After thinking about it often, I gradually found that this was her best way out; Now Xue Bai has a better choice, but she can't give up the plan of the "King of Yunnan", and it has almost become an obsession.

"It's not difficult for you to get rid of Cui Guangyuan and seek Yunnan Taishou, right?" She asked tentatively, "Just like you said recently, Yunnan arable land is still small, to let the people live well, trade is the best way, you become the Yunnan Taishou, you can trade with Tibet, I have thought about this matter, it can be done." ”

Xue Bai smiled but didn't answer, looking like he didn't take what she said seriously.

Nalan Zhen is inexperienced after all, far less calm than him, and can't help but get anxious.

"Why do you want to go back to Chang'an? You say, I really have a way to persuade Tubo to support you to stand on your own. ”

Xue Bai's eyes fell on the robe she had sewn, and he saw that the robe had been mended even more miserably by her, and he couldn't help but think of the ugly little monkey that Yan Yan embroidered for him.

There were many reasons to go back to Chang'an, and he didn't need to explain it to Nalan Zhen, so he picked up a random reason to send her.

"I just want to go back."

"......"

"It's not your captive's turn to speak, go ahead."

Nalan Zhen had no choice but to turn around and retreat. She was unwilling, thought about it, and when she walked to the door, she suddenly turned her head and stared at Xue Bai tightly.

"If, if you decide to stay and seek to seize Yunnan, I, I will marry you, it is not impossible."

Saying this, Nalan Zhen clenched her hands, thinking that she had really tried her best.

However, there was a burst of laughter outside.

"Hahahaha."

Nalan Zhen was stunned for a moment, ran out of the door to take a look, and saw the Diao brothers standing under the porch, smiling back and forth.

"What are you doing standing here?"

"Do you still let you, the captive, stay alone with Lang Jun?"

"Laugh at what you laugh at, don't laugh."

"Hahaha, there are many people who want to marry our Langjun, there are so many gentle and beautiful little ladies in Chang'an City. Why did Lang Jun marry you, an annoying little Tibetan lady? ”

"Say no more!"

Nalan Zhen didn't expect that the words she finally said could be heard by others, so she was ashamed and annoyed, so she had to run away angrily.

But two days later, she still found out that Xue Bai was relocated to Zhongshu and was preparing to leave for Chang'an. In this regard, she couldn't help but sour a few sentences.

"Master was planning to return to Chang'an a few days ago, but he didn't use any tricks at all, he was just lucky to be transferred back, right?"

Xue Bai really wanted to teach her, so he asked, "Why do you think I was transferred back?" ”

Nalan Zhen really understood something, and said: "Li Linfu is dead, and Yang Guozhong remembered his master in order to deal with his political enemies. But what if Li Linfu didn't die? That's why Master is luck. ”

"It's not Yang Guozhong." Xue Bai shook his head and said, "I will never prepare with just one hand......"

~~

Chang'an, the imperial city, the province of Zhongshu.

A large mahogany chair was moved into the official hall and set up, and when the servants who were doing rough work retreated, the maidservants hurriedly stepped forward and scrubbed the floor again and covered it with a thick carpet.

"Hurry up, the right phase is coming soon."

The party had just stopped in the official office, and the group had already turned the corridor and came with Yang Guozhong, who had taken office as a new official.

Miao Jinqing, the servant of the ministry, hurriedly came, holding a stack of official documents, hurriedly placed them on the case, turned around, immediately saluted, and called: "Right Minister." ”

"Hmm."

Yang Guozhong responded lightly, sat down in the main seat, and glanced around at the official with slanted eyes, barely satisfied.

He took a slow sip of tea, glanced around at everyone in the hall, and said, "Since the prime minister took office, everything that needs to be straightened out has been straightened out, and it's time to do something." ”

The officials waited for the following, waiting to listen to the instructions of the right minister to do major national affairs.

saw Yang Guozhong pondering for a long time, and said: "Arrange a play, find a big fat man to play An Lushan, and play him when he meets the prince on Suzaku Street and shouts, 'I don't know what the prince is'." Let this fat man twist his belly at the prince, the more funny the better, the people love to watch it. ”

"This ......"

All the officials felt ridiculous, and they didn't know why, so they had to look at each other.

"Right Prime Minister, does this damage the majesty of the imperial court?"

"Let you do it!" Yang Guozhong said unhappily, "What is there to excuse this little thing?!" ”

"Whoa."

Immediately, an official reacted that Yang Guozhong deliberately wanted to offend the East Palace. After taking office, he suddenly put on such a posture of embarrassment with the East Palace, obviously because one of the most important duties of the right minister is to check and balance the East Palace and let the saint sit back and relax.

Although the matter is small, it is a statement that everyone should accept it, and now that they are participating in ridiculing the East Palace, they are determined to be the enemy of the East Palace.

After waiting for a while, seeing that no one dared to object, Yang Guozhong nodded with satisfaction and talked about the next matter.

"Where is Wang Zhonghe?"

"When I arrived in Liangzhou, it was said that I was sick and stayed to recuperate."

"Let Goshi impeach him." Yang Guozhong gave an order first, and then pondered the accusation, and said slowly: "He is proud of his achievements, has no king, and has resentment. ”

"Whoa."

This time, the officials should be very fast, they all know that in order to show Yang Guozhong's determination to deal with the East Palace and show his strength to deal with the East Palace, he must get rid of Wang Zhonghe.

It's a matter of sitting firmly, and there is no way back.

After that, he dismissed several officials close to the East Palace, and Yang Guozhong figured out that this should be enough to express his position, so he picked up the official document on the case and looked at it.

Since he became prime minister, he has been busy subduing party henchmen, managing financial affairs, and starting to deal with the East Palace, and only now has he had time to try specific affairs.

"This is the reward of the last batch of meritorious officials in the First War of Nanzhao, please take a look." Miao Jinqing saw Yang Guozhong pick up the official document, hurriedly reminded him, and said with a smile: "It's all done according to the will of the right minister." ”

"Not bad."

Yang Guozhong nodded, responded casually, and was about to put down the official document.

Suddenly, he frowned, stretched out his hand, and wiped a column of words, as if to confirm whether he had read it wrong.

"Why do you call Xue Bai a scholar in the middle school?!"

Yang Guozhong was a little annoyed.

When he became the right minister, he had to suppress the crown prince for the saint, and he had to get rid of the most threatening person in the East Palace line, that is, Wang Zhonghe.

Although Xue Bai had eliminated Wang Zhonghe's bad impression in the hearts of the saints before, this time, Xian Yu Zhongtong actually reported something to Yang Guozhong in private, so that Yang Guozhong resolutely attacked Wang Zhongsi and voted for his name.

At this time, how can Xue Bai be transferred back?

Miao Jinqing was stunned and said in surprise: "But this ...... Isn't that what you mean? ”

"When did you say that?!" Yang Guozhong was furious, raised his hand, and said, "Miao Jinqing, are you easy to bully when I am the prime minister?" ”

"But, the documents under the door of the Chinese book ......"

Miao Jinqing was still waiting to explain, suddenly thought of something, turned his head to look around, and looked around at the officials in the hall.

He thought that Yang Guozhong was not the only one who could issue official documents, but also Chen Xilie.

However, Chen Xilie was not in the hall at this time.

~~

Chen Xilie went to Li Linfu's grave again today and put a few sticks of incense on the grave.

And what he memorials is actually the time he has passed, in those years, as a left-hand minister, but he can only make promises under the power of Li Linfu, and he has achieved nothing.

Fortunately, everything went as he planned, and he finally got rid of Li Linfu, and it was time for him to show his strength.

Today, Yang Qixuan and his wife went to worship with him, and Chen Xilie sat in the carriage and sighed: "I heard that after the death of the right minister, the spit pot held a banquet at home and drank happily. ”

Li Shiniang sneered slightly and said, "On the day of my grandfather's death, I was late. let the spit pot talk tricked my grandfather, but in fact, this person has a honey-bellied sword, and he is not worthy of being the prime minister. ”

"yes." Chen Xilie said: "I heard that he is secretly still investigating the rebellion of Absi, and it seems that he intends to lead this matter to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion. ”

"It's a pity that my brother can't make it, and he doesn't have the courage to tear his face with a spittle."

Li Shiniang said, took Yang Qixuan's hand, and said with a smile: "My family Langjun is responsible and can help Zuo Xiang." ”

Chen Xilie stroked his beard and smiled, and said, "Don't worry, the old man has recalled Xue Bai back to the court." can use him as a knife against Yang Guozhong. ”

"Xue Bai?" Yang Qixuan twisted his eyebrows slightly, and wondered: "What's the use of summoning him back?" According to my intentions, it is better to contact Zhang Yan. ”

"Don't underestimate him." Chen Xilie took out a letter from his sleeve and said, "You see, he had already anticipated the progress of the situation and left a letter for the old man. ”

Yang Qixuan was about to stretch out his hand, but Li Shiniang had already taken the letter and read it, and was shocked.

"Zuo Xiang said that he had already guessed that my grandfather would pass away, and he also guessed that the spit pot would worship the prime minister? He ......"

Chen Xilie nodded slowly, looking scheming, and said: "In the past, he had no official or position, and he could still stir up great right and wrong. Now the old man has found an important position for him, just like giving the Monkey King a golden hoop stick. ”

Only Yang Qixuan was a little unhappy, he thought that cooperating with Chen Xilie to deal with Yang Guozhong this time was an opportunity for him to display his talents, but he didn't expect that Xue Bai would steal the limelight again.

It seems that everyone values Xue Bai more like Li Jilan.

Yang Qixuan lifted the curtain and looked at Li Linfu's grave, feeling depressed, he thought that Li Linfu would be more comfortable when he died.

~~

In late spring and March, the warbler flies and the grass grows.

Xue Bai returned to Yizhou.

Before the New Year's Festival, Xian Yu Zhongtong had already been moved to Jingzhao Yin on meritorious deeds, but he settled the follow-up of Nanzhao, took the soldiers and prisoners to the north, and had to hand over with the new Jiannan Jiedu envoy Li Mi, in short, everything was busy, and now he is still in Yizhou.

Therefore, as soon as Xue Bai entered Yizhou City, Xian Yu Zhongtong got the news and personally welcomed him to the post house to stay.

"Hahaha, it's just right, I'm also stepping down for Chang'an in the past two days, you and I can go all the way."

"It's good if you don't think I'm cumbersome."

"A scholar in his early twenties, with a bright future, how dare I be too cumbersome? I hope that my children can walk around with you more. ”

Xian Yu Zhongtong treated Xue Bai very closely, with a smile on his face.

At this time, there was a person who had a grudge against Xian Yu Zhong who went to the post house where Xue Bai was staying, and when he saw Xian Yu Zhongtong's carriage from a distance, he avoided it, and only entered after he left, it was Yan Wu.

"Xue Lang, meet again."

I haven't seen him for a year, and Yan Wu has grown a big beard, and he looks more and more fierce.

He was accompanied by Gao Shi, who was wearing a green robe.

Xue Bai saw it and asked with a smile: "Are you staying in Yizhou as an official?" ”

"It's a long story."

Yan Wu first glanced out the door vigilantly.

When the Diao brothers saw it, they hurriedly withdrew to guard the courtyard, because they knew that there was indeed a person around Xue Bai who loved to eavesdrop, and it was impossible for her to hear this real secret.

When there were only three people left in the house, Yan Wu spoke, and said, "It was Wang Jieshuai who promoted us, and they were appointed as Qianwei and Tongyi County Magistrate respectively." It's just that I offended Xian Yu Zhongtong, and Wang Jieshuai had a very unpleasant quarrel with Xian Yu Zhongtong for me. ”

Xue Bai asked, "How unpleasant?" ”

Yan Wu groaned slightly, and said: "Now that I am not in Zhongtong or have no intention of killing me for the time being, I will definitely kill Wang Jieshuai." ”

Xue Bai then looked at Gao Shi.

Gao Shi nodded and sighed: "It's not just because of Yan Wu, I'm afraid it has something to do with the merits of Zheng Nanzhao." The generals of the Southern Expedition and the staff of the Shuaifu, most of the meritorious deeds were left in Jiannan Dao, presumably because they were not in Zhongtong to fight for merit, and they were worried that someone would present themselves as saints and report the details of the first battle of Nanzhao. ”

Xue Bai said: "I can tell the sage that he can't hide it." ”

"Therefore, Xue Lang and Xian Yu Zhongtong will return to Chang'an together, and you must be careful on the way."

Yan Wudao: "Almost none of Wang Jieshuai's henchmen and generals could return to Chang'an with him, and in the end, Guan Chongsi resigned from his official position in the court and escorted him privately. What we are worried about is that Xian Yu Zhongtong is afraid that he will put the commander to death. ”

Xue Bai listened, and suddenly wondered if it was wrong to let Wang Zhongsi take command of Nanzhao at that time, rather than let Wang Zhongsi be suspicious of his military exploits again, why don't you let him silently guard in the east of the river and press An Lushan? But we can't let the Tang army lose troops in Nanzhao.

At this point, the thought is fleeting. In the final analysis, with the combat strength of the Tang Army, it is not difficult to conquer such a small rebellion in the surrounding area, but it is still the situation of the DPRK that is difficult.

……

Two days later, Xue Bai set off from Yizhou to return to Chang'an.

Xian Yu Zhongtong escorted Ge Luofeng back to the dynasty to offer prisoners, and the new Jiannan Jiedu made Li Mi set up a battle and went out of the city to send each other.

Xue Bai looked back and found that many of the generals he had met during this southern expedition had stayed in Jiannan, and many had stayed further away in Yunnan.

He believed there would be a goodbye day.

Ten miles out of the city, the send-off procession stopped. Xian Yu Zhongtong led the team to the front, and Xue Bai deliberately fell last.

"Xue Lang."

Suddenly, I heard a call, and when I looked back, two clouds of dust and smoke came from far and near, and they were Yan Wu and Gao Shi. Fang Xian Yu Zhongtong was here, and the two of them didn't dare to get too close, so they dared to send Xue Bai alone at this time.

Yan Wu took out a dagger from his sleeve and handed it over, saying, "Xue Lang has the grace of knowing me, and in the future, if it is useful to me, let it be driven." ”

"Okay."

Xue Bai was not polite to him, took the dagger, shook it, and put it in his bag.

Gao Shi laughed heartily and said: "I am different from Yan Jiying, I am close friends with Xue Lang, without these false gifts, I am here to see off my friends today." ”

"Gao Sanwu Lang is stingy." Xue Baiwan said.

He is obsessed with power, but in fact, he still wants that kind of "let it be driven" statement.

It's a pity that Gao Shi is much more romantic than Yan Wu, and he doesn't have so many utilitarian thoughts, so he listened to the "stingy" evaluation, thought about it, and said, "Then I'll give Xue Lang a poem." ”

"Good!"

said that he was going to give Xue Bai a gift, but Gao Shi came up poetically, but his eyes looked further north, and he muttered: "This poem is called "From Wang Jieshuai to the Southern Zhao". ”

When Yan Wu heard this, his face suddenly became serious.

They are righteous to Xue Bai, and they are admiring and worried about Wang Zhonghe.

The wind blew through the sand and dust on the official road, and Gao Shi's voice was deep and he groaned.

"The sage Hess was angry, and he ordered the southwest Rong. On the solemn temple, deep and restrained majestic ......"

Xue Bai didn't like the beginning of this poem, and felt that Gao Shi was sophisticated, and he didn't dare to speak out as before. But listening to this poem, I gradually fell into memories.

"The drums travel overseas, and turn to the barbarians. The ladder is close to the tall birds, and the forest is passed through the poisonous insects......"

It was very painful when I went south, and a lot of people died, but my mind was actually numb, I didn't think too much, and I didn't have anything to lyricalize about. On the contrary, after the incident passed, and listening to Gao Shi's poem, I suddenly felt that it was extremely precious to have experienced so many colleagues together.

"The road is far away, and the army is dying. Wild food digging voles, feasting and servants......"

Except for the first few lines, the whole poem does not have much praise for virtue, and most of the pen and ink describe the hardships of the march.

Gao Shi seemed to want to take advantage of this and beg the court to spare Wang Zhonghei.

"Shame is spared, and danger can be bowed. The stars shine alone, and the color of the side is ......"

After he chanted, a proud and sad look appeared on his face, and at the end, after reading a poem, he bowed deeply to Xue Bai, but there was no more word. What he wants to say is in the poem, for the ambition, hardship, and glory of the general.

Xue Bai understood Gao Shi's intentions, nodded solemnly, pulled the reins, and drove the horse away.

Gao Shi is begging him to protect Wang Zhonghei again. This request has nothing to do with Wang Zhonghe's political stance, and is purely out of friendship in the army.

And the love of this robe in the army is sometimes 10,000 times more useful than the utilitarianism in the officialdom.

"Return to Chang'an Road and summon Ganquan Palace."

Xue Bai carried the invisible harvest brought back from Nanzhao and rode his horse on the way back to Chang'an......

~~

Changan.

Xuanyang Fang, Yang Guozhong's house.

Pei Rou's belly was already bulging, and every time Yang Guozhong saw it, he was not angry but happy, not only saying that the husband and wife had a deep relationship, but also that the Yang family would become more and more prosperous in the future.

As a result, there is a common saying in the market, called "the prime minister can hold the boat in his belly", which seems to be said by a slave maid in Xue Bai's house first, and also said that Xue Bai had long expected the ugly things in the Yang house, so he would leave such an evaluation, and it was spread like a god.

Yang Guozhong didn't care, he accepted a few more Meiji on this day, and tried to let them sit on his stomach to support the boat.

He was happy when a voice rang out outside the door.

"Ah Lang, there is a prayer post, it is a clan, Li Qiwu, the prince of Longxi County."

"Li Qiwu?" Yang Guozhong thought for a while and said, "Is it the one whose house caught fire and burned to the third sister-in-law's house?" ”

"Yes."

"Did you lose it?"

"This ...... It should be a loss. ”

Yang Guozhong first took out a booklet from his sleeve and looked at it.

Mei Ji, who was sitting on his stomach, saw it, couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile, and said coquettishly: "How can you be happy at home, right minister, you still have this hidden in your sleeve, are you so dedicated to state affairs?" ”

"Hahaha!" Yang Guozhong laughed, waved the booklet in his hand, and said: "This thing is not ordinary, if I want to sit firmly, I have to rely on it." ”

"Such a pamphlet."

"You don't understand this, people in the world have fire, just like you and me, there is a place to vent the fire."

"Hey, the right phase is used to being ashamed."

Yang Guozhong laughed again, squinted at the booklet, and muttered, "Li Qiwu...... Got it! This rope is really ......"

Only then did he order, calling Li Qiwu over.

"My house caught fire, and it affected the right minister, this is my apology to the right minister." Li Qiwu handed over a gift list and said, "Please look at each other on the right." ”

"Let's be straight, what kind of official do you want to be?" Yang Guozhong is a straightforward person, and asked straight to the point.

Li Qiwu paused slightly, his eyes flickered, and he said slowly: "I was demoted to the county guard of Jingling a few years ago, and now that my term of office has expired, I want to make up for it...... will be a supervisor. ”

Yang Guozhong said leisurely: "Will you be a prisoner?" That's not out yet. ”

Today's general supervisor is Li Xiu.

"It's going to be out soon." Li Qiwu said: "I think, Li Xiu should keep filial piety, right?" ”

"It's love, this is the grace of the saint to the Li family."

Li Qiwu then showed a reluctant expression, and said suspiciously: "I heard that Li Xianzhong of Shuofang has rebelled, this person seems to be Li Linfu's righteous son, right?" ”

When Yang Guozhong heard this, his fingers touched the end of his beard lightly, and he smiled and did not answer.

Recently, he has met with many officials who have been suppressed and excluded by Li Linfu as a way to consolidate his power.

is different from him Yang Guozhong's "prime minister can hold the boat in his belly", and even his wife's "pregnancy in a dream" can be readily accepted. Li Linfu is extremely narrow-minded and has offended countless people, Yang Guozhong asked himself if he had the ability to suppress it like Li Linfu.

He can only channel.

In this way, there is a problem that has to be dealt with - the world has a long-standing grudge against Li Linfu, and Li Linfu must be retaliated against.

But where to start?

~~

On this day, after Li Qiwu left, Miao Jinqing hurriedly came and reported: "The right minister, I found out, it was indeed the left minister who handed over a note from the Zhongshu door, so that the lower officials mistakenly thought that it was the right minister and wanted to transfer back to Xue Bai." ”

"Do you still want to check this?!" Yang Guozhong said: "The original appearance has a brain that can be understood as soon as you think about it, and you have found it for many days?" ”

"Xiaguan, Xiaguan also heard something."

Miao Jinqing pretended to wipe his sweat, but he was not afraid of Yang Guozhong, and after a sneak peek, he said: "The left minister is close, and he often meets with Yang Qixuan in private, as if he is discussing how to deal with you." ”

"Yang Qixuan?"

Yang Guozhong thought about it, patted his knees, picked up the brush, turned a page on the booklet left by Li Linfu, and wrote down a name.

Miao Jinqing looked at it, and quickly recognized this booklet, and couldn't help but wonder in his heart, how did the spit pot get all the booklet of Suo Dou? It seems that the Li family is not in harmony, and a catastrophe is coming......

(End of chapter)