Prime Minister

Chapter 787 Relief
In the sixth year of Xining, Shangyuan night in Bianjing city.

The whole city is brightly lit.

A huge Aoshan Mountain stands outside Xuande Gate.Hundreds of thousands of lanterns stand against the moonlight, which is really beautiful.

People in Beijing crowded to Xuande Gate to watch the lanterns.

As usual on this day, the royal family wants to have fun with the common people.

Linxuan, the imperial seat of the official family, witnessed this magnificent scene, and at the same time, as a filial piety, they also invited the queen mothers of the two palaces to Duolou to watch the lanterns.

The empress dowager must be accompanied by ministers and women when she watches the lanterns.

Seventeen Niang is no exception.At the time of Jiaosi, Shi Qiniang resigned her imperial order, but last year when Zhang Yue served as an economic envoy for the second time, Empress Dowager Gao personally issued a decree to bestow Shiqi Niang's imperial order.

Today, Empress Dowager Cao was not feeling well while watching the lanterns. Empress Dowager Gao was alone in the Duo Tower, and ordered the wives to go upstairs to congratulate the Empress Dowager.

Shi Qi Niang was walking on the steps wearing the clothes of Mrs. Gao Ming. How many wives could come on stage to pay homage to the Empress Dowager at Shi Qi Niang's age.

The wives at the side spoke to each other one after another, and when it was mentioned that the other party was Zhang Longtu's wife, everyone showed relief and envy.

When Seventeen Niang went upstairs to congratulate the Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Gao smiled and said to Li Taijun, who was accompanying the banquet, "You are really knowledgeable and reasonable. I really envy you for having such a daughter."

Li Taijun smiled and said: "It's just too literary, how can the Queen Mother be literary and military."

Seventeen Niang smiled apologetically, being cautious everywhere.

Empress Dowager Gao smiled and said to Seventeen Niang: "I heard that you can honor your brother and sister-in-law without separating families for so many years. I am very happy to hear that. Your husband shared the worries of the court and settled the affairs of the king. Now he is leading the division Fa Guo is thousands of miles away, and you honor your brothers and sisters-in-law for him in the capital and fulfill your duties as a wife, this is the real husband and son."

The wives on the side listened and nodded appreciatively to Seventeen Niang.

Seventeen Niangs lowered her head and said, "The Empress Dowager is too famous. The concubine's husband lost his parents in the early years. It was his brother and sister-in-law who brought him up to study for the imperial examination, so he has the opportunity to repay the Queen Mother today. Therefore, the concubine's husband Brothers and sisters-in-law are like the parents of a husband, but they just do their duty."

Empress Dowager Gao smiled and said, "If you really understand righteousness, come, set up a seat beside me and watch the lantern with me."

Those who can sit on the left and right of the empress dowager to watch the lanterns are the wives who are as powerful as Li Taijun.The Empress Dowager made an exception here to set up a seat for Seventeen Niang, which shows the importance she attaches to her.

Hearing that Shi Qi Niang was treated like this, the wives beside her were very envious.

But Seventeen Niang resigned: "How dare a concubine have such a blessing, just to be able to stand aside and serve the Empress Dowager."

Li Taijun also smiled and said: "The Queen Mother doesn't think she is clumsy, so let her serve you."

Empress Dowager Gao looked at Shi Qi Niang and smiled happily, "What a lady."

……

After nightfall, Empress Dowager Gao retired from excitement, and Seventeen Niang helped Taijun Li down the tower.

Li Taijun looked around and said: "Now the whole court is looking at the northwest, and the northwest is looking at your husband, so the queen mother thinks highly of you and let you sit by her side. This is the official's grace. But we must understand Retire modestly. You did a good job today, and you don’t lose your tongue.”

Seventeen Niang said: "My daughter has learned from her mother since she was a child, and knows the truth of being careful everywhere."

Li Taijun said to Shi Qi Niang: "Yes, did she look for you at Shi Shi?"

Seventeen Niang nodded lightly and said: "Yes. She came to me twice, and every time she came, she just cried but didn't speak."

For Shi Qi Niang, it is more sad for Shi Shi Niang not to speak than to speak.

Li Taijun sighed deeply in his heart: "He, Mr. Wen, now opposes the use of troops in the Northwest. He is not speaking for his family's Liu Langjun, but his daughter-in-law begged to come to your Zhang family, which makes you very embarrassed!"

Seventeen Niang said: "It's not difficult to talk about, my sister also understands righteousness. My wife doesn't understand the things on the battlefield, so I dare not ask more."

"But Sanlang is a sensible person, and he has such a good friendship with Mr. Wen Liulang. If he doesn't save Hezhou City, he must have his reasons. If I ask more questions, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it will make you angry." Saburo doesn't like it, but he can compare his heart to his heart..."

Li Taijun patted Shi Qiniang's hand and said: "You are right. After you get married, you must put your husband first in everything, especially in the outside world. Let's not talk too much."

After a pause, Li Taijun said: "Don't worry, I will go to Shiwu Niang and tell her..."

"Mother……"

Li Taijun said: "On the fifteenth day, if she cares about it, she will be confused, but she will understand afterward, so don't worry. My two sons-in-law have fleshy palms and backs, and they will not distinguish between closeness and estrangement. This matter is just a matter of fact."

Shi Qi Niang returned home in a carriage, and the servants reported that Shi Shi Niang came to look for her again, but after sitting for a while, she heard that the Wen family invited her home before leaving.

……

In the royal palace the next day.

The official looked at the map of the northwest, and he was concerned about the situation in Hezhou day and night.

Zhang Zhi standing by the side has just been promoted to be a daily commentary for fellow practitioners and a lecturer for Baowen Pavilion.

Although it has not entered the waiting system, this favor is rare in the ages.

Previously, the officials changed their previous orders and re-entrusted the Xihe road affairs to Zhang Yue. In addition to Wang Anshi and Wu Chong's persuasion, Zhang Zhi also contributed to it.

However, the matter did not end here. After the official made the second gold medal decree, he felt a little regretful, and was about to issue the third gold medal decree to add something, but Zhang Zhi stopped him.

But after the third gold medal was blocked, the officials fell into deep anxiety.

Zhang Zhi couldn't help but sigh with emotion that as the king of a country, the food and clothing provided are extremely simple, not easy to play and not good at sex, for the sake of national affairs, he even gave up practicing calligraphy and painting for half an hour every day.

Such an official is indeed a good official, but it is too much to devote all his energy to state affairs, so that he is worried about gains and losses.

The official asked Zhang Zhi: "There are rumors outside that Zhang Yue and Wen Xianggong are at odds, so they don't save Hezhou and want to kill Wen Jifu?"

Zhang Zhi listened to his heart and thought, where did the officials hear these rumors.

Zhang Zhi said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, there is no discord between Zhang Yue and Wen Xianggong. Besides, the two families are still relatives by marriage. This is definitely not the case. This matter has been clearly written in Zhang Yue's memorial to His Majesty. The ghost Zhang Muzheng is in Hezhou. Zuojin has ambushed heavy soldiers, leaving Hezhou City deliberately not to fight, and is waiting for our army to rescue them."

The official knew that Zhang Yue had indeed sent him a letter explaining it to him, but he still couldn't help but think about it.

This is the distress of the superior, not that he does not know the truth, but that there are too many sources of information, and he does not know which is the truth.

For fear of being deceived by his courtiers, since ancient times, kings have been suspicious and sensitive.

The official asked again: "But Zhang Yue has led his army to Ninghe Village for more than a month, and even climbed to Hezhou City, why he still hasn't moved yet? Is there an edict to urge him to attack? Hezhou City?"

Zhang Zhi said: "Your Majesty, for example, attacking Hezhou is like cutting wood. If the tree is thick, you can't cut it in the middle first, but cut it horizontally from both sides, and cut it in the middle last. This can be determined in one battle."

"Now Zhang Yue sent Er Yao, Hao Jin, Han Cunbao and others to attack Nanshan and Jiechuan. Once the enemy is successfully defeated, Hezhou can go down at any time. If you lead the troops to go straight to Hezhou, in case of ambush, everything will be destroyed. lost."

Zhang Zhi's words relieved the officials a little, but he still paced around the map for a while, with a worried expression on his face.

Zhang Zhi could only resign.

When Zhang Zhi returned to Tianzhang Pavilion, he couldn't help thinking of writing a letter to Zhang Yue asking him what happened in the northwest.

Zhang Zhi thought that I am always like this, so it is no wonder that the Son of Heaven is in such a mood.

The eunuch at the side brewed a cup of tea for Zhang Zhi and said with a smile: "The waiter is worried about Uncle Ling in the northwest."

Zhang Zhi nodded slightly and said: "Yeah, although it shouldn't be like this, but caring is messy. What do you think is good or bad for my uncle?"

The eunuch smiled and said, "I don't dare to say that much, but when I was serving Uncle Ling in Tianzhang Pavilion, his calmness when he was in trouble was much better than yours."

Zhang Zhi laughed and said, "How can I compare to my uncle?"

The eunuch said with a smile: "Zhang Shi's speech is also good."

Zhang Zhi sighed: "But I hope my uncle will turn the bad luck into good luck."

The eunuch smiled and said, "Master Zhang, don't worry, I'll give you a new bowl of tea."

Just at this moment, a servant rushed to Zhang Zhi and said, "Master Zhang, Your Majesty wants you to discuss the military affairs in the Northwest."

Zhang Zhi got up and asked anxiously: "But what happened to the military situation in the Northwest?"

The servant said: "It seems that Mr. Zhang Jinglue sent troops from Ninghe Village!"

"Finally made a decision!"

Zhang Zhi clapped his hands heavily and rushed to the Imperial Palace, when the eunuch walked out with the freshly brewed tea, Zhang Zhi had already disappeared.

By the time Zhang Zhi arrived at the Royal Palace, the complexion of the officials had already changed. Wu Chong and Cai Ting, the privy envoys, were playing for the officials.

But Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty, after Zhang Yue garrisoned Ninghe Village, he dispatched generals to Nanshan, and broke Buqinbale and others followed Guizhang to rebel and beheaded thousands of people. The bandits in Hezhou knew that the party's reinforcements were cut off. Fearing that they would break the Nanshan Mountains and return to the road, they pulled out the strongholds and fled one after another."

"After our army burned all the tents of the Fan Army, Zhang Yue then led [-] soldiers out of Ninghe Village in the heavy snow, and rushed to Hezhou City in one day. The bandits dared not attack and retreat, and the siege of Hezhou was immediately relieved!"

Cai Ting also said: "Gao Zunyu also has a report of victory in Huizhou..."

The officials were radiant when they heard it, but they didn't care about gains and losses, and Zhang Zhi who was on the side was also elated.

The official said: "very good, very good. Fortunately, Zhang Yue was cautious and did not rush into the army. It's not like I can only solve the siege of Hezhou with all my heart. Now that the Fan army has retreated, the siege of Hezhou city has been solved. Thousands of people in the city The soldiers and civilians can all survive. Be sure to tell Zhang Yue to be poor and not to chase after him, and not to be careless because of a small victory, and immediately draw up an order to warn the army."

Wu Chong said: "My Majesty, all the affairs of Hezhou are entrusted to Zhang Yue, so it is not easy for His Majesty to command from thousands of miles away. The way to win is to delegate the authority to the frontier generals."

"It's reasonable, it's reasonable, I won't make an order anymore," the official nodded again and again, and said excitedly: "Since Zhang Yue sent troops to Hezhou, I haven't had a good night's sleep. Today I can sleep a little better. Got it."

Seeing the relief of the officials, everyone was also happy.

The servants all beamed and said, "Your Majesty, let's rest early today."

The official nodded and said: "Yes, send someone to tell the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother said that the siege of Hezhou has been lifted..."

"Yes."

The official yawned and walked a few steps: "If there is any military news from Hezhou, even if it is midnight, you must tell me!"

Speaking of this, the officials looked deeply at Hezhou in the northwestern picture of the palace.

(End of this chapter)