First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 500 Bai Xuege sends Cui Sheren back to Beijing
...

Outside Ji County, heavy snow fell.

After Li Yuan left the city, he sat in the carriage without saying a word, only a helpless maid served beside him.

As for the scene of Yiyi biding farewell, I'm sorry, the current king of Lujiang is in a bad mood, and he doesn't look good towards Gao Chong and others at all.

Gao Chong and the others just pretended they didn't see it. According to Cui Dunli's words, the king of Lujiang was lucky enough to survive, and he was already the prince's kindness.

All the way to the Shili Pavilion outside the city, the world is already a vast expanse of whiteness, and the hills in the distance are like silver snake wax statues.

Sending you off for thousands of miles, you have to say goodbye at the end. The team stops outside the pavilion, where the wine has been warmed up.

"Anshang, Yuanzhi, let's just leave here, I wish you a smooth journey." After everyone entered the pavilion, Gao Chong raised his glass and said.

Cui and Lu drank their glasses in one gulp. After drinking the warm wine, they dispelled the cold and immediately felt comfortable all over.

"Yuzhi, see you in Chang'an", Cui Dunli crossed his hands and saluted.

"Treasure", Gao Chong patted Cui Dunli on the shoulder, and then looked at Lu Yuanzhi, "Yuanzhi must be careful this way, take good care of King Lujiang, and return to Beijing safely is a great achievement. If something happens to him, we can't get rid of it." .

Lu Yuanzhi solemnly responded.

"It's snowing heavily, Youzhi, Wang Shijun, please go back", Cui Dunli said goodbye.

Wang Junkuo smiled loudly, "You two, have a safe journey, it snowed so much overnight, be careful that the road is slippery."

After a night of heavy snowfall, the sky and the earth were all white... Gao Chong was quite emotional.

Looking at the snow-capped mountains at the edge of the sky, and the thousand-man guards not far away beside the official road, the flags were fluttering, and a thick layer of snow had fallen on the soldiers of the government. Seeing this scene, he sighed unconsciously: "This love This scene should be a poem."

Cui Dunli's eyes lit up. He is well versed in classics and history, and he also likes to recite poems and compose poems on weekdays. He immediately said: "You are about to produce a masterpiece? Come, get a pen and paper quickly."

The entourage immediately spread the paper and rubbed the ink, the action was very clinker

Gao Chong was stunned.

Dun Li Nianxu smiled and said: "I have learned something along the way, and I will write it down quickly so as not to forget it, so my entourage always has a pen and paper."

"An Shang is really a literati and poet, and I can't match it." Gao Chong shook his head and smiled, and immediately stepped forward to hold a pen, and the pen was like a snake.

"Bai Xuege sends Cui Sheren back to Beijing...".

Cui Dunli's eyes lit up, his name actually appeared in the title, this poem was written for him, who knows Gao You's great talent, then his name will be passed down along with this poem.

"The north wind blows the ground and the white grass folds, and Hu Tian flies snow in August.

...

The west gate of Jicheng sent you there, and Yanshan Road was covered with snow

…".

"Okay, good poem, good line 'Suddenly like a spring breeze coming overnight, thousands of trees and pear blossoms bloom', you are really a great talent, this farewell poem chanting snow, its artistic conception is magnificent, more fresh and appropriate, it should be a farewell poem Poetry at its best".

Cui Dunli blushed and clapped his hands.

Although Wang Junkuo was ignorant and unable to tell what is good about this poem, he was quick-witted. Seeing Cui Dunli's praise, he also echoed and applauded, "You Zhi is really a great talent."

Gao Chong didn't blush, his heart didn't beat, he just waved his hands and said: "Poems and songs are only for entertainment and expressing feelings, after all, they are trivial and not worth mentioning."

Cui Dunli was startled, and asked respectfully: "Dare to ask what is the Dao?"

"The Master said: 'On the way of the great way, the world is for the public'. A man should do something in his life, and the grass and trees will fall in autumn."

Gao Chong walked out of the pavilion suddenly, looked at the world covered in silver, and said boldly with his hands behind his back: "Build your heart for the world, build your life for the people, inherit the knowledge of the past, and bring peace to all generations.

This is the avenue that I, Gao Youzhi, have pursued throughout my life."

"Set up a heart for the world..." Cui Dunli was completely stunned, unable to let go of it for a long time.

"Jun Kuo, let's go back to the city", Gao Chong got on his horse.

Wang Junkuo looked at Cui Dunli who was stunned, and had no choice but to cross his hands and get on his horse to leave.

"Cui Sheren...".

After a long time, the snow on his body became thicker and thicker. Lu Yuanzhi only felt that the iron armor was cold and heavy, so he could only call softly.

When Cui Dunli came back to his senses, he prostrated himself on the ground in the direction Gao Chong was leaving, "The teacher of four sentences, the students are deeply taught."

"Yuzhi, why is Cui Anshang the same as the old monk in meditation, don't freeze to death."

Wang Junkuo rode his horse to keep up with Gao Chong, and asked inexplicably.

Gao Chong glanced at this vulgar man, and said confidently: "Any Confucian scholar with great ambition, if he hears my four maxims and doesn't touch them, he will be like a walking dead."

"So powerful", Wang Junkuo was astonished. Fortunately, although he was ignorant, he had a good memory. After returning to the city, he called for a doctor of Youzhou state studies.

"You write down my four sentences, and I will frame them and hang them in the governor's office."

Drinking warm tea, Wang Junkuo told the most educated official under his command that he heard that this doctor is a well-known Confucianist in Youyan Zhuzhou. He is currently an official worshiping Dr. Youzhou and is in charge of state studies.

When Li Yuan first entered Chang'an, in order to show his emphasis on enlightenment, the first time he restored the official schools in various places, reopened the Guozi School, the Imperial School, and the Four Schools, and divided the local official schools into state schools and county schools. All prefectures, counties and townships were ordered to set up schools, and government schools were set up at the township level.

In addition, Zhouxue is not only Confucianism, but also includes law, calligraphy, arithmetic, medicine, veterinary medicine, astronomy, etc., taking into account various fields, and the education system is very complete, which may be one of the reasons for the glory of the Tang Dynasty.

The chief officials of official schools in various places are called doctors. Doctors are only qualified by local university students. For example, in the early Tang Dynasty, Dr. Li Jiao from Changzhou, Dr. Jia Xuanzan from Luozhou, and Dr. Qian Yuanxiu from Changxing County were all qualified. Well-known local university scholars.

Dr. Youzhou didn't care much about the governor who was born as a grassroots bandit, and asked with a pen, "Please tell me, my envoy."

"Set up a heart for heaven and earth..." Wang Junkuo frowned as he recalled, and read out slowly.

Seeing that the doctor frowned and did not move.

Wang Junkuo coughed, "Write."

"Uh... ok, let's write this." After the doctor finished writing, he asked in shame: "Dare to ask the envoy, which book of sages are these four maxims from? It's useless for the official to claim to have read poetry and books. I don’t know which sage said this, and I really don’t know where it came from, so I’m really ashamed.”

"These four sentences are good?" Wang Junkuo was a little surprised.

"Good? It's more than good." The doctor patted his thigh and shouted: "These four sentences are the rules of life for Confucian scholars like us. Please tell me the source of these four sentences. I am very grateful ".

"This... this is what Gao Youzhi said," Wang Junkuo blinked and said in a daze.

"This...was actually what Ambassador Gao said? This, Mr. Youzhi is really a celebrity who has never been born in the world." The doctor was completely stunned.

Seeing that Wang Junkuo shocked the doctor with only four sentences, he actually called him Mr., and he was very envious of him.

He knew the prestige of this Doctor of State Studies. As an upper state, Youzhou has a quota of 60 people. Most of these people are from aristocratic families or Confucian scholars from poor families. This well-learned doctor, that is all respect.

Wang Junkuo has a clear mind. He knows that his background makes him very constrained when he is a pastor.

Gao Chong was born in a famous family, and these four sentences are so powerful that Wang Junkuo framed them without hesitation and hung them in the front hall of the Governor's Mansion.

Soon, Chang'an City received news from Youzhou that Lujiang King Li Yuan had received the decree and was on his way back to Beijing.

As the news spread, some people rejoiced that they were spared a military disaster, some sighed and cursed Li Yuan for being incompetent, but for Li Shimin, this was undoubtedly good news.

In Cheng'en Palace, Li Shimin was in a good mood, and immediately summoned his eldest grandson Fang Du, Yuchi Cheng Qin and other close friends to have a banquet.

After drinking for three rounds, Li Shimin changed the subject, put down his glass, and sighed to himself: "Everyone, Gao Youzhi and Cui An have done a good job on this errand, so I don't have to worry about it. There is near worry."

"Your Highness, just say that it's some blind bastard who makes you worry."

Yu Chigong blushed from drinking, patted his chest and shouted: "As long as His Highness orders, I will take his head."

"All right, all right, let's show off." Cheng Zhijie said disgustedly: "I'm a reckless man, he's going to attack and plan, and if he can't fight, he won't fight, do you understand?"

Yuchi Gong's eyes widened, "You bastard still understands the art of war?"

Cheng Zhijie rolled his eyes, "I know better than you."

Li Shimin watched the two quarreling with a smile, "Okay, I know how to be respectful and brave, but it's just not suitable to use troops now."

"It is inappropriate to use troops, so we can only resort to outsmarting." Gao Shilian, the leader, twisted his gray beard and said thoughtfully: "If the old man's prediction is correct, can the imminent worry His Highness mentioned be in Guanzhong? "

"Uncle is right." Li Shimin didn't hide it, nodded directly, and looked at everyone, "Do you know where it is?"

The eldest grandson Fang Du and the others looked at me and I looked at you, looked at each other and smiled, understanding.

Changsun Wuji rubbed his chubby face, "How about we write it on paper and see if we think the same?"

"Auxiliary machine, your way of adding to the fun is not bad," Li Shimin laughed loudly, "Come, get a pen and paper."

Changsun Wuji grinned, "I learned from Gao Youzhi".

"What Gao Youzhi, that's your uncle, no big or small," Gao Shilian reprimanded with a dark face.

Changsun Wuji was startled, so he nodded embarrassingly and said, "Yes, what uncle taught me is right."

Gao Shilian is the eldest grandson Wuji's direct uncle. After the eldest grandson Sheng died of illness, Gao Shilian feared that the eldest grandson Wuji, whose parents both died, would suffer in the eldest grandson's house, so he took them home to raise them himself.

For the eldest grandson Wuji, brother and sister, Gao Shilian is not only a real uncle, but also a reborn parent.

Seeing that the eldest grandson was fat and deflated, everyone laughed.

After the three of them finished writing, they opened it at the same time.

I saw "Swallow" written by Changsun Wuji.

"Jing" written by Fang Xuanling.

"Art" written by Du Ruhui.

Everyone laughed again.

Yu Chigong hiccupped, his drunken eyes were blurred, and he asked with wide eyes: "Yan Jingyi? Who is this?"

Cheng Zhijie spat out his drink and scolded with a smile: "You black man, drink less, you will make a joke."

"I'm not drunk, so tell me?" Yuchi Gong argued to himself, "Who is this Yan Jingyi?"

"You bastard, that's the governor of Jingzhou, Li Yi, king of Yanjun," Cheng Zhijie said helplessly.

Yuchi Gong's eyes widened, and after careful thought, it seemed to be true, then he slapped his head and fell asleep directly on the desk.

"That's right, it's Li Yanchao. He had a good relationship with Jiancheng when he entered the court. At that time, he served as General Zuo Yiwei. Lieutenant General Zuo Duo was probably from the Six Commanders of the Eastern Palace," Li Shimin said in a deep voice.

Li Yi, whose real name is Luo Yi, style name Yanchao, his father is Luo Rong, the former Sui Zuojianmen General.

However, Luo Yi is excellent in martial arts, brave and good at fighting. He suppressed uprisings in various places with the army, performed military exploits, and was promoted to Huben Zhonglang General because of his meritorious service.

After being attached to the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan canonized Luo Yi as the king of Yan County, gave him the surname Li, and incorporated it into the clan. Because Li Yi had experience in resisting the Turks in Youzhou, he was ordered to return to the court and served as the governor of Jingzhou to defend Gyeonggi. Since Li Yi got acquainted with Li Jiancheng, he has had close contacts with Li Jiancheng and belongs to the military leader of the Jiancheng Party.

It is precisely because of Li Yi's extraordinary status that Li Shimin has been on the throne for several months and has not moved him for a long time. But now that Li Jiancheng's biggest supporter, King Lujiang, has returned to Beijing, Li Yi can't stay for long.

After listening to Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji just looked at him with a smile, and Li Shimin immediately looked over, "Does the auxiliary machine have an idea?"

Changsun Wuji nodded, stroked his round belly and said with a smile: "I was still inspired by Uncle Gao Youzhi. It's winter now, and there will be changes in Turkic. Uncle Youzhi's military exercise was very good, Your Highness." You can send capable generals to lead the army to patrol the prefectures in Gyeonggi, so that you can seize the military power in Jingzhou without bloodshed."

"The auxiliary machine is right," Gao Shilian said with a smile, "Gao Youzhi has demonstrated for us, and the effect is remarkable. Once this military exercise is launched, even if some people have two hearts, they dare not act rashly."

Cheng Zhijie chuckled, "If you want me to say that Brother Youzhi is very bad, if you surround Youzhou with soldiers from more than ten Youyan prefectures to conduct this Laoshizi military exercise, then who would dare to move?"

Fang Xuanling nodded in praise and said: "Military exercises can not only deter unruly behavior, but also effectively prevent Turkic invasion from the south. Internally, it deters unruly behavior. Externally, it is used to patrol the border and declare force. Turkic people need to be cautious even if they go south."

Li Shimin nodded when he heard it, "I also think so, so Jingde will go out of Binzhou, pass through Ningzhou and go north to Qingzhou for patrol, and Yizhen will go out of Qizhou and pass through Longzhou as the patrol envoy of the left." Go to Yuanzhou to patrol and defend, and the Guanzhong Army Mansion will fully cooperate."

Everyone's eyes lit up, Cheng Zhijie dipped his fingers in the wine, drew a simple map of Guanzhong on the desk, and clicked his tongue: "Good guy, Your Highness, you are asking me and Da Laohei to die together Trapped Jingzhou."

Fang Xuanling frowned slightly, and said hesitantly: "Your Highness's move is very likely to force Li Yi to rebel."

Li Shimin paused, only to hear Fang Xuanling continue to say: "It is safe to encircle Jingzhou from left to right, but Li Yi must be terrified if he is forced to turn back, and there will be a military disaster in Guanzhong, even if it can be calmed down quickly, That is also bad.”

"Xuanling tell me what you think," Li Shimin nodded.

"The best strategy is that there is no need to separate the two armies to patrol the left and right sides of Jingzhou, treat them equally, and patrol all the Guanzhong states, which can greatly reduce Li Yi's defense.

The middle strategy is to secretly mobilize the troops of the states, and then send a decree to call them back to the court. If they don't obey, they will be resisting the decree and not obeying the decree.

The worst policy is to divide the two armies, patrol the left and right sides, attack Jingzhou, and force them to surrender their military power."

After Fang Xuanling considered his words, he spoke slowly.

Li Shimin laughed and said: "So my idea is just a bad idea, Keming, what do you think?"

Du Ruhui, who was dozing off at the same time, opened his eyes upon hearing this, and said seriously, "I'm elected as the best policy."

Li Shimin nodded immediately, "Since Keming thinks the same way, then choose the best strategy. I will draw up candidates later to patrol the Guanzhong states."

Cheng Zhijie blinked his big eyes, and looked curiously at Du Ruhui who closed his eyes and fell asleep again, just muttering in his heart: Does Duke know the best strategy?

(End of this chapter)