Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 857: Becoming an Official
Hearing this, Li Xian also understood and whispered: "Is it because of this? Then brother, you-"

"Of course it's even more impossible for me!" Li Xian said with a bitter smile: "After Pei Judao's incident, I have been permanently eliminated from the ranks of inheriting the throne!"

"This -" Li Xian hesitated and asked, "Did Wang Wenzuo tell you these?"

"No!" Li Xian shook his head: "It's not what he said, I came up with it myself. Ah Xian, if you think this way, you can still keep your wealth for the rest of your life, otherwise you may not be able to save your life!"

"Yeah!" Li Xian nodded, his eyes a little confused: "Then have we been so at the mercy of others in this life?"

"Hey!" Li Xian sighed: "Axian, don't you understand? As long as you and I don't think about that position, you can do whatever you want. Isn't that enough? Even if you get to that position, you think you can do whatever you want. How about that?”

"Then why can Wang Wenzuo do it?" Li Xian retorted.

"Do you think he can live his life as he pleases?" Li Xian smiled bitterly: "You should have listened to what Hu Liang said about how he lived when he was a child, right? From morning to night every day, he would either study or practice martial arts. The teacher scolded that in order not to be compared with their peers, some people even squeezed out their rest time to study and practice martial arts. When there was a rebellion among the Dao thieves in the middle of Shu, he took 400 cavalry to quell the rebellion, and some of his younger brothers were there. The wild lands are being developed, and some are sailing on long voyages, and their lives are not as good as those of ordinary wealthy children!”

"Wang Wenzuo is so cruel!" Li Xian muttered.

"He is cruel to his son, but he will be even more cruel to himself!" Li Xian sighed: "In the end, one thing is that heaven is not a matter of intelligence. Since you and I were born into an emperor's family, we must understand this, otherwise it will only harm us. Get yourself!"

Li Xian nodded helplessly: "Okay, I will follow what you said, brother. I'm just afraid that even if our brothers don't fight for the throne, someone will try to harm us!"

"You don't have to worry about this!" Li Xian said with a smile: "General Wang will never sit back and watch someone do whatever they want!"

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Wang Wenzuo's residence.

Wang Wenzuo put his feet into the wooden bucket filled with hot water and sighed happily: "Well, in this weather, it's better to soak your feet!"

"Master, you have worked hard these two days in the palace!" Cui Yunying asked while squeezing Wang Wenzuo's shoulders: "But this matter is finally settled, and you can relax!"

"Is it over?" Wang Wenzuo showed a sarcastic smile.

Cui Yunying and Wang Wenzuo have been married for many years, and they immediately realized that the husband's tone was wrong: "What do you say? What I said is wrong?"

"You can't say it's wrong!" Wang Wenzuo smiled lazily: "The queen gave birth to a boy. This matter is indeed settled, but there are still many things to come!"

"Is there anything else?" Cui Yunying asked in confusion: "If we make this boy the prince, won't everything be fine?"

"You may not be able to raise a boy after you give birth to a boy, and the matter of establishing a prince will have to wait six months!" Wang Wenzuo sighed: "Besides, even if this child is established as a prince, things may not be all right!"

"What do you mean, sir?"

"I'm not interested!" Wang Wenzuo smiled: "Am I planning to apply to the imperial court for an official position?"

"Master is going to retire?" Cui Yunying was surprised. She didn't expect her husband to suddenly mention this. She looked at her husband's face carefully and asked, "Husband, are you feeling well today?"

"That's not true!" Wang Wenzuo laughed: "I just plan to go back to Fan Yang and don't want to stay in Chang'an!"

"Then, you don't care about Chang'an?"

"Leave it to Hu Liang!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "It must be left to the next generation!"

"This -" Cui Yunying felt a sense of soreness in her chest. She closed her eyes and felt a little moist at the corners of her eyes. After a while, she opened her eyes again and asked, "Hu Liang is afraid that his reputation is not good enough right now." !”

"Yes!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "So I plan to let him lead the army to conquer Tubo first, and it will be enough when he returns in triumph!"

"Hu Liang led the army to conquer Tibet?" Cui Yunying hesitated for a moment: "Xue Rengui was also a famous general in the world, but he was also defeated in Dafeichuan, and a hundred thousand troops were buried in Qinghai. Hu Liang was still a half-grown child, this is no joke!"

"Don't worry, I have already made up my mind!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "This time Hu Liang will definitely be able to level Qin Ling in one fell swoop and make a contribution that is enough to overwhelm the ministers!"

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The next day, when everyone in Chang'an was rejoicing that the queen finally gave birth to a boy, a group of messengers left Mingde Gate in Chang'an and headed east. These messengers would leave Tongguan in the east, then cross the Yellow River from Heyang to Hebei . In the next few months, many warriors from Hebei and Haidong who were attached to Wang Wenzuo's tribe would send their eldest sons to the west wearing armor and holding bows to participate in the campaign against Tibet.

"What?" Queen Yang looked at Wang Wenzuo in surprise: "General, do you want to become an official?"

"Not bad!" Wang Wenzuo nodded: "I won't hide it from you. In the past few years, my old body has been getting worse year by year. The weather has changed a little more drastically, and the joints all over my body have been in severe pain. What kind of delicacies and wines have reached my mouth? There is no smell in my mouth, and my ears are getting worse and worse. It often takes a few times for the other person to hear something clearly. If I continue like this, I am afraid that this old bone will be lost in Chang'an in a few years. So! The old minister boldly asks Her Majesty the Queen to allow the old minister to serve in order to save his body!"

Looking at Wang Wenzuo with his straight waist and gray hair in front of her, Queen Yang didn't know what to say for a moment. Although this person made her unhappy a lot, it was also this person who overwhelmed everyone. Dare to think wrongly. Rather than not having fun, it is more important that no one dares to think wrong.

"The general is in his prime and in good health, why do you say this?" The queen said softly: "Now there is Tubo chaos outside, the emperor is not hesitant, and the prince is young. If I leave you, I really don't know what to do. That's good!" At this point, the queen covered her face with her sleeves and began to sob.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Even if I become an official, I will not leave the Tibetan thieves to future generations!"

"What does the general mean?" The queen looked at Wang Wenzuo in surprise. "What I mean is that before I retire, I will definitely get rid of the Qinling Mausoleum, so that I won't leave any worries to future generations!"

"General! You, you are really the pillar of the country!" Hearing this, the queen burst into tears. If those few words just now were half true and half false, then at least 70% to 80% of them are true now. Since the Battle of Dafeichuan, the Tubo army led by Qin Ling has allied with the Turks in the north and driven out the Qiang tribe in the south. They have invaded the Anxi, Longyou, Hexi and Jiannan roads of the Tang Dynasty every year. Over the years, there have been dozens of large and small battles. , the Tubo army always won more and lost less. For people in the Tang Dynasty, even if they don't stop crying at night after hearing his name, they are famous for their color change. If such a powerful enemy could be defeated, Chang'an would probably give the people food and wine and win the Ancestral Temple.

"Queen, why are you doing this!" Wang Wenzuo hurriedly persuaded: "The old minister was favored by the late Emperor and His Majesty, and was selected into the army and ranked as a human minister. Even if he died on the battlefield, it would be difficult to repay him. Killing a Tibetan thief would be worthy of it. What!"

The queen cried a few times and then gradually stopped. She looked at Wang Wenzuo and asked, "How does the general plan to use troops to fight against thieves?"

"The Tibetan thieves are attacking Hexi. I thought I would use all their sharpness first and wait until their strength is compromised before defeating them with tactics!"

"That's it?" The queen was stunned. She didn't expect Wang Wenzuo to say it so simply, and she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Wang Wenzuo saw it and said with a smile: "Your Majesty the Queen, you don't know that when fighting a war, you often have to make decisions on the fly and adapt to changes. The veteran doesn't know much about the situation in Tibet now, so he can only give a rough idea!"

The queen was a little disappointed when she heard this, but she also knew that she didn't understand military affairs at all: "General, please rest assured that I will never hinder military affairs. You can use your strategies to your fullest!"

As soon as Wang Wenzuo left the inner hall, he saw Hu Liang running over in a hurry. He was still seven or eight steps away before he slowed down and bowed to Wang Wenzuo: "Father!"

"Well!" Wang Wenzuo smiled and looked up and down at his son's strong body: "How is it? Have you slacked off on the bow and horse thing?"

"Please ask me, father!" Hu Liang said with a smile: "My child has never slacked off in practicing every day, just like he did on the island!"

"That's good!" Wang Wenzuo patted his son's thick shoulder: "Come, walk a few steps with me, I have a few words to say to you!"

Hu Liang responded and followed his father. The accompanying guards deliberately held back six or seven steps so that the father and son could talk with peace of mind. Wang Wenzuo looked at his son and said with a smile: "Hu Liang, is there any movement in your wife's belly?"

Hu Liang's face turned slightly red and he said with a smile: "My menstrual period came a little late two days ago, so I invited a doctor to come to my house to check. It is true that I am pregnant, but I don't know whether it is a boy or a girl!"

"It doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl, as long as it's a child!" Wang Wenzuo nodded happily: "One day in the future I will die, and you will have that day too, but our children, children's children can continue for a long time. People live in That’s all there is to think about in the world!”

"That's what Father said!" Hu Liang nodded.

"I just told Her Majesty the Queen in the inner palace that I plan to retire and return to Hebei!"

"What?" Hu Liang was startled. He looked at Wang Wenzuo in surprise: "This, how can this-"

"Oh, why are you the same as that queen!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "I almost shed tears. Isn't this a matter of time? In the past, it was not sure whether the queen gave birth to a boy or a girl. I want to stay in Chang'an , Now that it’s settled, why should I stay here?”

"Then what did the queen say?"

"Queen? She is very excited! All women are like this!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "She was shocked. Generally speaking, she was worried that no one would guard the country for her after I left!"

"The child and the queen have the same view!" Hu Liang said: "Father, you can't leave Chang'an. No one can solve the internal and external problems except you. If you just leave like this, it won't be long before Chang'an has to cause trouble again!"

"You don't have to worry about this!" Wang Wenzuo smiled and said, "Isn't it you?"

"Me?" Hu Liang smiled bitterly and said, "Father, please stop joking, okay? I don't have the ability to do this!"

"Skills come from hard work. How many people are capable right from their mother's womb?" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Hu Liang, let me tell you the truth. Before I leave Chang'an, I want to kill Qinling and pacify Tubo. After Chang'an, you will inherit my current official position and handle state affairs for me!"

"Ah!" Hu Liang couldn't help but exclaimed: "How is this possible? Qin Ling is a famous general in the world, and many famous generals of the Tang Dynasty were defeated by him. How can the child be his opponent? And at this age, how can the child be like this? Father, this is how you handle government affairs!"

"You don't have to worry about dealing with Qin Ling. I have sent a message to Haidong and Hebei, asking all the martial arts families in the countries to send their eldest sons to serve. Moreover, I also have a few magical weapons. With these, you can easily defeat Qin Ling!" Wang Wenzuo smiled and said: "As for matters in the court, after you break the Qinling Mausoleum and destroy Tubo, you will naturally have enough prestige to succeed me, as well as my support in Hebei. You don't need to worry about these!"

Hu Liang glanced at his father suspiciously. He knew that Wang Wenzuo still had many secrets that he didn't know, but having secrets was one thing, and defeating Qin Ling was another. After thinking about it, he said: "Father, since You are so sure, why don't you lead the troops to conquer Qinling yourself?"

"Look at my hair!" Wang Wenzuo pointed to his temples: "What color is it?"

"It's already gray!"

"Did you see it too?" Wang Wenzuo sneered: "Yes, I can defeat Qin Ling in person, but what's the use? Do I still lack prestige? After I die, won't they all be taken to the earth? Instead of doing this, it is better for me to guard Chang'an and let you gain prestige by defeating Qin Ling and continue to control the court in my place while I return to Fan Yang. This is the long-term solution!"

After hearing this, Hu Liang gradually understood Wang Wenzuo's intention. He nodded: "I understand, my child. When do you plan to send troops?"

"At the end of next spring!" Wang Wenzuo said: "By then it will be almost decided whether this child can be raised, and then I can feel relieved!"

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Taiji Palace, Ganlu Palace.

On the seventh day after the queen gave birth, they took Li Shouwen to see the queen.

He chose a simple gray brocade robe. Although the cut was simple, the cuffs and collar were finely embroidered. He tightened his belt, put on his shoes, and dressed himself in front of the mirror without any help from the maid.

On the day the queen gave birth, Li Shouwen also cried. Even though the Ganlu Hall was protected by the thick walls and the door was closed and bolted, he could still hear the chanting and praying of the monks outside. The almost overwhelming roar could penetrate the wall and pierce into his heart. Ears, he stuffed his head into the quilt, but it was all in vain!