First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 517
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After three months of laying the groundwork, the whole process has come to fruition. There is no suspense about Li Shimin's ascension to the throne. He has been convinced from the center of the court to all the states and counties.

After Li Shimin officially accepted the book, the Ministry of Rites began to arrange the enthronement ceremony. According to the calculation of the calendar by Qin Tianjian and other officials, the ceremony was scheduled to be held on the tenth day of December in the eighth year of Wude, and the enthronement was sacrificed to heaven.

In Jiangzhou, Gao Chong returned to Zhengping City again after a month.

Wang Yao, the governor of Jiangzhou, was still very enthusiastic and greeted him at the gate of the city.

This time, the Wang family in Taiyuan can be considered safe and sound. Not only did they not suffer liquidation, but they were once again reused by Li Shimin because of their understanding of current affairs.

"Ambassador, I've heard about this trip to Youzhou." Wang Yao said with admiration, "Youyan 16 prefectures have joined the military exercise, and even the little Turkic Khan came to watch the ceremony. It's really a big deal."

Gao Chong smiled slightly, "But it is worthwhile to save the people in the border areas from being looted by the Beihu through the cold winter."

"You admire the high level of the ambassador," Wang Yao said in admiration: "If the ambassador does not give up, you can call me Zisheng. Tonight, I will hold a banquet in the other courtyard in the south of the city. I hope the ambassador will appreciate it."

Yaozhe is prosperous and prosperous.

"Brother Zisheng invites you with great kindness, and he will definitely attend the banquet as promised." Gao Chong said with a smile: "In that case, brother Zisheng can just call me to express your words."

Seeing Gao Chong's acceptance of his initiative, Wang Yao was overjoyed. He bowed to Luo Shixin, who was standing with his hands behind his back, "At that time, please reward me with honor from the governor, and Yao will sweep the couch to welcome you."

Luo Shixin grinned, "It's easy to say."

As the saying goes, those who know the current affairs are heroes, and this sentence is most suitable for Taiyuan Wang and Wang Yao. Just look at Wang Yao's attitude towards Luo Shixin, it is already completely different.

All the way to the post house, we talked happily.

At the gate of the post house, Wang Yao crossed his hands and said: "Then you will take a bath in the post house and rest for a while. Tonight, you will be looking forward to the royal residence in Guangfuli, south of the city."

After Wang Yao left, Luo Shixin sat down on his own, and sighed with emotion: "You said how this person has changed so much from one to the next. A month ago, Wang Yao ignored me. A month later, he treated me like a brother."

If Luo Shixin is educated, this passage can be described in four words, the front is arrogant and the back is respectful.

The corner of Gao Chong's mouth twitched when he heard that, brothers may not be good, don't you see that Li Jiancheng and Li Erfeng fell in love and killed each other.

"Then what is the attitude of the various states towards the Dudu's Mansion now? Can they still cooperate?" Gao Chong didn't expect Luo Shixin to make tea for him, and asked while making tea.

"Cooperation, that's quite cooperation," Luo Shixin said with a smile: "I asked for the relevant documents from the military government of each state in the summer, but I kept procrastinating for various reasons. After you left Jiangzhou, you sent them all one by one, and no one was lost."

Gao Chong nodded slowly, "From now on, you will be much more relaxed in Jiangzhou."

"That's true, but you really think, Youzhi, that Wang Yao can be trusted?" Luo Shixin said with some hesitation.

"Why not?" Gao Chong asked in astonishment: "He is also a courtier of the Tang Dynasty, and he was ordered to guard one side, so he naturally has his responsibilities and obligations.

Maybe he had some other thoughts about the prince before, but now he can only work hard, concentrate on politics, report to the king, and go down to the people, so as to repay the prince's kindness."

After finishing speaking, Gao Chong emphasized again: "Not only can it be trusted, but it can also be reused. Believe it or not, if you arrange official business for him now, he will handle it properly for you immediately."

Luo Shixin paused, "I believe this, he is really effective in his work recently."

"He is already quite talented, but now he has changed his appearance and devoted himself to meritorious service, and he will go all out. You can rest assured about this," Gao Chong said with a smile.

Gao Chong understands this very well in his heart, and no one knows what will happen in the future, but at least for now, people from the Jingzhao-Wei family and the Taiyuan Wang family must be positively single-minded.

To Li Shimin, to the old people of the Qin Palace, their attitude is absolutely amiable, after all, they have just turned from the dark to the bright, and they must show it for Li Shimin to see.

"Oh, by the way, I've already picked up the kid who kept the promise." Luo Shixin came back to his senses and said, "Are you going to take him away this time?"

"Pei Xingjian..." Gao Chong smiled, "He only has you as his brother-in-law to rely on now, and he will inevitably be bullied when he returns to the family. Let me take him to Chang'an, and let him live with a few other senior brothers."

Luo Shixin nodded with emotion, "Grandfather Deben and Brother Shoujing were very kind to me back then. When they died, I swore that they would treat Shoujing kindly. If you follow me, you won't learn any skills. I'm at ease following you."

Pei Renji's character is Deben, and Pei Xingyan's character is Shoujing. When mentioning the father and son, Luo Shi seemed to be very moved in his confidence.

Picking up the teacup and ignoring the hot mouth, he drank it down, smashed his mouth and continued: "I will go to Beimang Mountain in Luoyang every year to worship, and I have discussed it with my wife. After a hundred years, I will not be buried in Licheng. I will be buried in Beimang Mountain and accompany them."

"What nonsense are you talking about? How old are you?" Gao Chong scolded with a smile, "I'll talk about the future, just live in the present."

Luo Shixin is really a person who values ​​love and righteousness. After a hundred years, most people will basically help their spirits to return to their hometowns for burial.

"Then I'll go home and talk to my wife so they can have a good talk." Luo Shixin got up and said, "You wash up first, and I'll call you at night."

An hour later, it was already dark, and Gao Chong was talking to the locals suddenly in the posthouse, when Luo Shixin came in a hurry with an excited expression on his face.

Gao Chong looked bewildered, "It's just for the banquet, why are you so eager?"

Luo Shixin waved his hand and drank the teacup in front of Gao Chong, "It's not this one. I just received the edict that the sage will be enthroned, and His Royal Highness will hold an enthronement ceremony on the tenth day of next month."

Gao Chong was taken aback for a moment, then jumped up, laughed loudly, and then calculated the time, "The tenth day of next month, that's less than half a month away, no, I'll leave early tomorrow morning."

Luo Shixin grinned, "It's good to go back earlier, it's very meaningful to participate in the enthronement ceremony."

Gao Chong glanced at Luo Shixin. Sometimes this guy is dull, but sometimes he seems to be as wise as a fool.

The two immediately went to the palace in the south of the city together. In addition to the accompanying personal guards, Gao Chong also brought Wang Yun and Tudi Jinxing with him. Wang Yun is a branch of the Wang family, so it was reasonable to take him to the banquet, but it was purely because of Gao Chong's preference.

As expected of the Yang family in Taiyuan, even a separate courtyard in Zhengping City, Jiangzhou is a three-entry mansion with high walls, red bricks and green tiles, which is full of luxury.

After entering the door and turning into the screen wall, there is a red carpet on the ground, and the maids on the left and right are holding oil lamps and bowing to lead the way.

After coming to the front hall and taking their seats, Wang Yao stretched out his hand and extended his invitation: "I heard that Youzhi has been in Jinyang for several years, so he should be familiar with this dry and wine, and today is just a good time to savor it."

Gao Chong frowned, looking at the dry and wine on the desk... his expression was in a daze.

He is no stranger to dry and wine, because the former "Gao Chong" is his favorite.

Ganhe Liquor, also known as "Ganhe Wine" and "Dry Pressed Wine", is produced in the east of Taiyuan. The wine is clear and mellow.

"You Zhi, congratulations for your great cause in Youzhou, drink victory", seeing Gao Chong was quite emotional, Wang Yao just thought that he was remembering the past in Jinyang, and immediately raised his glass: "Commander, please"

Gao Chong came back to his senses, raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, gritted his teeth in aftertaste, the wine was strong enough.

Luo Shixin was also very satisfied with the wine, grinning and said: "This wine is delicious."

"If I'm not mistaken, this gentleman should be Youzhi's disciple." Wang Yao looked down at the sudden ground and walked cautiously.

"Sumo Mohe suddenly walks carefully, and has seen the king's envoy", suddenly walks cross-handed and worships, neither humble nor overbearing, justified and well-founded.

Wang Yao nodded straightly. He always boasted of a famous family and never looked down on the barbarians, but the sudden and sincere behavior in front of him gave people a different feeling. Although his appearance was slightly different from that of the Han people, he looked extraordinarily heroic and majestic, and his words and deeds were sonorous and powerful.

"You are worthy of being a high-ranking apprentice of You, with good looks and good bearing", Wang Yao nodded in praise, and raised his glass to extend his invitation: "Come, Mr. Tudi, drink and win."

Suddenly, he raised his glass with both hands and drank it all in one gulp.

After seeing Tudi's cautious demeanor, Wang Yao seemed to feel a little unwilling to lag behind, more like he had been preparing for a long time, looked at Gao Chong and said, "I have a nephew who is talented and intelligent. He came to Zhengping to play two days ago and is now in the backyard. I don't know if I can call him out so that I can see the demeanor of Youzhi's master and apprentice."

After a pause, Gao Chong laughed loudly and said, "It's not a matter of style. I've heard about many heroes in the Wang family for a long time, so I just met them."

Wang Yao nodded with a smile, turned his head and said, "Call Sanlang over here."

The maid took the order and went away, and after a while, she brought back a boy about ten years old.

"Fu Yu has seen Uncle." The boy didn't look sideways, and stepped forward to salute Wang Yao respectfully.

"Youzhi, this is my nephew of the same clan, Wang Fujun, who is ten years old this year." Wang Yao pointed to the boy and said, "His father is Wen Zhongzi, who is the third in the family."

"Sanlang, this is Gao Youzhi, the famous minister of Dali Temple. The few poems you read the day before yesterday are the masterpieces of Youzhi," Wang Yao stretched out his hand to introduce.

"Boy Wang Fuzhen has met Gao Siqing." Wang Fuzhen looked a little excited, and bowed down.

Seeing this, Wang Yao shook his head and smiled, looked at Gao Chong and said with a smile: "In terms of calmness alone, it is far inferior to Mr. Tudi."

Gao Chong looked at Wang Fuzhen and nodded, "Xiao Langjun is smart and smart. The Wang family in Taiyuan is really outstanding. I have admired my father Wen Zhongzi for a long time, but it is a pity that I have no chance to meet him. Seeing his descendants today is my wish."

Wang Fuzhen's father was named Wang Tong. Wang Tong was not a simple man. He was a famous educator and thinker in the former Sui Dynasty, and he was proficient in the "Five Classics".

This proficiency is not empty words, Wang Tong, born in Taiyuan, Wang family, Qixian Fang, styled Zhongyan, nicknamed Wenzhongzi.

Wang Tong did not become an official, and lived in Hedong all his life to accept apprentices to give lectures. After Wang Tong's death, his disciples, in order to commemorate him and carry forward his contribution to the development of Confucianism, followed the example of Confucius disciples' "Analects" and compiled the book "Zhongshuo", also known as "Wen Zhongzi Zhong Shuo" and "Wen Zhongzi", and preserved the main academic content of Wang Tong's lectures in the form of lecture records.

It’s just that such an introduction may not give a clear understanding of Wang Tong’s status in Confucianism. You only need to read the "San Zi Jing" to know.

Hundreds of years later, Wang Yinglin of the Song Dynasty compiled the "San Zi Jing" and listed Wang Tong as one of the five sons of the hundred schools of thought: "The five sons include Xun, Yang, Wen Zhongzi, Lao and Zhuang.

It can be seen from this that Wang Tong's status in Confucianism, as in the Sui Dynasty, was called a great Confucian, and Wang Tong was the only one.

Wang Tong's younger brother, Wang Ji, was also knowledgeable and talented. When Wang Ji was 11 years old, he traveled to Chang'an and met Yang Su, a powerful minister. He was called "child prodigy and fairy" by Yang Su.

Wang Ji is self-respecting, unrestrained, fond of wine, fond of Lao, Zhuang, and Wei Jin metaphysics, to Mu Jikang, Ruan Ji, Tao Qian and others,
In the fifth year of Wude, Wang Ji was waiting for the edict to go to the province. Li Yuan knew that he was good at wine, so he specially sentenced him to give him a bucket of wine every day.

The Wang family in Taiyuan has a large number of talents. It can be seen that this is not a false statement. Gao Chong is very emotional. Seeing Wang Yao's painstaking efforts to support the younger generation, he is also a little ashamed in his heart. He has only returned to the Gao family's ancestral house in Xiu County, Bohai until now. It seems that he does not have much sense of identity with those clansmen.

But he knew in his heart that after all, blood is connected, and when it comes to critical moments, one must always rely on blood relatives. This is an eternal truth, especially in this era of clan supremacy.

When Wang Fumin stepped forward to toast, Gao Chong suddenly realized that he seemed to think of something, and asked curiously, "Xiao Langjun, are you the youngest son of Wen Zhongzi?"

Wang Fumin paused, nodded and said: "Go back to Gao Siqing, the boy is ranked third, the eldest brother Fujiao is on top, and the second brother died early."

Gao Chong looked like this, and suddenly smiled and said: "I have learned physiognomy from a stranger, and I have seen the face of Mr. Xiaolang. In the future, my offspring will surely prosper, and all offspring will be studious and talented. Wen Zhongzi is so lucky."

Wang Yao was overjoyed when he heard the words, "You mean what you said? That's really a blessing for my Wang family."

People at this time highly respected physiognomy, especially Li Tangyao respected Lao Tzu Li Er as his ancestor, respected Taoism, and strangers from the mountains and fields became masters admired by everyone, such as Sun Simiao.

And Gao Chong is not talking nonsense, he really admires Wang Fujun, and he is a little envious.

Wang Fuzheng had seven sons. Seven sons are not uncommon. Many people have them, but Wang Fuzheng's seven sons are all talents.

The reason why Gao Chong understands so well is mainly because the third son of Wang Fuzheng is so famous, "Sunset clouds and solitary ducks fly together, the autumn water is long and the sky is the same color", the famous sentence through the ages comes from the hand of Wang Bo, the third son of Wang Fuzheng.

For Gao Chong, the night banquet at the Wang Zhai had a lot of emotions, especially when Wang Yao spared no effort to make the nephew of the same clan, Wang Fubin, famous in front of Gao Chong, Gao Chong was deeply touched.

Early the next morning, Gao Chong went to the Governor's Mansion. After accepting Pei Xingjian, he hurried all the way to Guanzhong, and finally returned to Beijing at the end of the month.

Back in the capital, Gao Chong felt that unusual atmosphere.

If it is said that Li Jiancheng was active in the court and was supported by the family and courtiers, then Li Shimin seemed to be more approachable and approachable when he was fighting all the year round, and his prestige among the people was far better than Li Jiancheng.

When it comes to the former prince Li Jiancheng, many people may know that it is His Highness the prince, but when it comes to the current prince Li Shimin, the people are enthusiastic.

Some people say that so and so in my family fought victoriously with His Royal Highness the Prince.

Some people say that when His Highness the Crown Prince led the army to pass by my hometown, Qiu committed no crime.

Some people also say that His Highness the Crown Prince is a god descended from heaven, invincible in all battles, Xue Ju, Liu Wuzhou, Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong... so many powerful figures were defeated by His Highness the Crown Prince.

(End of this chapter)