Just as he entered the imperial city, the city gate officer heard that Xiao Zhongshu had arrived, so he came up and bowed and said: "Messages were sent to various places in the palace, and Zhongshu came to the palace to see him. I am afraid that others did not find Zhongshu, so I just
I saw it and asked Zhongshu to enter the palace immediately."
Xiao Yu's heart skipped a beat, thinking that something big had happened, so he didn't dare to neglect, thanked him, and immediately led his people to change the route to the palace city.
On the way, I met Wen Yanbo, who was also ordered to enter the palace.
Although the weather was cold, the two important ministers traveled on horseback. Most of the ministers in the court now do so, because the emperor rarely uses cars when traveling.
Following the example, the ministers were less willing to ride in cars or sedan chairs, for fear of being scolded by others and traveling more comfortably than the emperor.
As a result, the custom of the early Tang Dynasty was formed, and everyone was willing to say something like "I am also skilled in bowing and horsemanship" when saying goodbye to others, just like in previous years.
Xiao Yu rubbed his frozen cheeks, showed an appropriate smile, lifted the reins of his horse, and leaned against Wen Yanbo, walking side by side.
"Brother Guan Wen's face is glowing red and he is in good spirits. It seems that he has had a good new year."
Wen Yanbo was also unambiguous, and immediately smiled and said: "Wen's family is not large, and most of his relatives are in Jinyang. Naturally, he is not as busy as a good brother, welcoming and sending off, so he is very busy, right?
But I can only read books, play chess, cultivate my character, and improve myself in what I can’t do, haha.”
Xiao Yu gritted his teeth and really wanted to give this guy a whip, but he was relieved. Wen Dalin looked relaxed, thinking that the emperor's recruitment of people to the palace would not be urgent.
"Brother Wen also wants to come to the palace to meet you, right? Do you know why Your Majesty invites you and me to the palace?"
Wen Yanbo glanced at Xiao Yu strangely, "It's strange, my dear brother doesn't know... His Majesty invited me to the palace for a banquet, wouldn't my dear brother be with me..."
At this point, Wen Yanbo paused. He didn't want to show his seniority in front of Xiao Shiwen like this. It would be too embarrassing.
Now that Feng Deyi is dead, Xiao Shiwen is the only one in the government and the public who can stand alongside him. If the emperor only invited him to the palace for a banquet, Xiao Shiwen would definitely feel unhappy.
It's wrong to think about it. Xiao Yu also wants to enter the palace to meet him. Is this... is someone obstructing him?
Fortunately, Xiao Yu grinned and said: "So that's how it is. I went to my sister's house for a banquet and was stopped halfway. I didn't meet anyone in the palace."
Wen Yanbo breathed a sigh of relief. In the new year, he really didn't want to encounter any bad things.
"I don't know who your Majesty has invited into the palace to meet you. I didn't say it before. There's still a long way to go. Why don't we guess and discuss the pros and cons?"
Xiao Yu suddenly became excited. Both of them are prime ministers. They are usually respected and feared by others. They can interact with each other, but now they can be slapped in the face.
"Then it depends on what kind of success Brother Wen can have. Isn't it boring to get nothing if you win?"
"My dear brother is so conceited... Well, if I lose, how about I give my dear brother a batch of good horses?"
"Thank you so much, I'm greedy for money."
The two looked at each other and laughed.
In fact, the three prime ministers in the early Tang Dynasty, Feng Deyi and Wen Yanbo, were on good terms with each other and would often team up to scheme against Xiao Shiwen during court discussions.
Now that Feng Deyi is dead, the relationship between Wen Yanbo and Xiao Yu, who used to have a normal relationship and even had a boycott, has suddenly eased. They talked and laughed when they met in private, and were not as serious as before.
The only difference is that no one has ever been to the other party's house to talk or drink.
…………
"On New Year's Day, anyway, your Majesty's relatives are indeed lacking, and last year he destroyed two countries. Does your Majesty want to have some fun?
There will be no shortage of people coming there. The ministers of the six ministries should be there, right? And according to the old practice, the ministers of the province and various ministries will also take care of it.
Brother Wen, let’s see if there’s anything else you can add?”
Xiao Yu had always been a responsible person and was the first to speak. He only deliberately left the head of the temple to Wen Yanbo. He should not be too strict in his conduct. He had long realized this truth.
Wen Yanbo laughed loudly on the horse, "My dear brother and I have different thoughts. Last year's victory was true, but His Majesty is thinking about unfinished business, and he should not celebrate the victory at this time.
Moreover... His Majesty always likes to be quiet, and he avoids banquets with ministers if possible. He did not invite us to the palace for a banquet a few years ago, so there will be no banquet on the first day of the new year.
So, I guess you and I will definitely not see many people when we enter the palace this time. As for inviting us to the palace for a banquet, drinking and having fun is only the next priority. We must talk about some political matters... I think my dear brother is still somewhat prepared for it.
superior."
The smile gradually faded on Xiao Yu's face. Is this the difference between a confidant and a foreign minister? Xiao Yu touched it and felt uncomfortable.
But his mouth was already frozen solid, "I'm just guessing, it's better to see it with my own eyes. Hehe, I have to make Brother Wen convinced."
Wen Yanbo...hehe...
Along the way, the wind was freezing and there was snow on the roadside, and no one was seen.
So Xiao Yu knew that he was afraid that he would really lose.
It doesn't matter whether he is lucky or not, and it doesn't even matter whether he wins or loses, but it shows that he doesn't understand the emperor's temperament, and he is not as well-informed as Wen Yanbo. To put it more deeply, he is inferior to Wen Dalin in terms of talent and vision.
One chip.
Talented people have emerged from generation to generation, and each has led the way for hundreds of years.
During the pre-Sui Dynasty, the number of talented people was the highest in all dynasties, and they emerged in endlessly during those twenty or thirty years.
Most of the characters in the early Tang Dynasty were left behind by the Sui Dynasty, and we can clearly understand this. However, Xiao Yu believed that his talents were no worse than those of Gao Jun, Yang Su, Su Wei and others, and he was enough to assist the king.
The prosperous age.
But it was Feng Deyi and Wen Yanbo who were ranked alongside him. Feng Deyi was full of ingenuity and had a far-sighted vision, not letting Gao Yang.
Wen Yanbo was a prudent man, fair in dealing with matters, and was the most pragmatic kind of minister. When the court was in turmoil, such people often had the ability to calm the sea.
In comparison, Xiao Shiwen's shortcomings in his personality were greatly magnified, and his only strong point was his daring to speak out.
People who speak out are not liked by others, and they are prone to bad things, so they always cannot get close to the emperor. But having said that, in the past few years of his tenure, although he actually doesn’t know the emperor as well as Wen Yanbo and other old Jinyang people, he still doesn’t.
Nothing.
The emperor liked talented people, and even more so, smart and interesting people, so people like Feng Deyi would be reused.
But in today's world, there are many talented people, even more smart people, and it's not hard to find interesting people. But getting all three... is difficult.
…………
Xiao Yu was in a low mood, talking to Wen Yanbo in a calm voice, and entered the palace gate together.
There were people waiting at the palace gate for a long time, leading them towards the direction of Liangyi Palace.