The atmosphere in Tongzhou Zhongwai Mansion is very depressing. The staff who come in and out try to keep their steps light and try not to make too much noise to be noticed by others. They also keep their exchanges short and short. Many
Information must be conveyed with eyes.
But there are still more eye-catching people and things in the mansion. Just in the small square in front of the main hall of Zhongwai Palace, there is a man kneeling on the ground with his bare arms and thorns on his back. This man is Grand Master Yuwen's favorite general, General Li
Far.
The Zhitang Hall of the Chinese and Foreign Affairs Office is the center where Bafu's personnel gather, and there are naturally a lot of people coming and going. When they saw Li Yuan, who could not afford to kneel here and begged for mercy, the expressions on their faces became extremely complicated.
But they didn't dare to comment too much. After a few quick glances, they quickly walked away.
It is now the cold season, and many people in Zhongwai Mansion are already covered in furs and brocades, but they are still feeling the cold. Li Yuan is just naked to the upper body, and the skin on his chest and back has been turned blue and white by the cold, and the skin pierced by thorns on his back is glowing with cold.
A dark red color.
A young man hurried in from outside, it was Li Zhi, the son of Li Yuan. When he saw his father in this state, his face became very ugly, and he hurriedly took off his robe to put it on his father, but was stopped by Li Yuan.
Push it away.
"Aye, why are you like this? Although my uncle went south from the army, he is only a forward general after all. One person should not be blamed for such a big thing happening. The Lord has not even asked me to blame for this..."
Li Zhi grabbed the robe that his father had thrown on the ground, and began to advise him earnestly. However, before he finished speaking, Li Yuan raised his eyes and scolded: "Shut up!"
Seeing his father's stubbornness, and seeing this scene being seen by all the people coming in and out of the mansion, Li Zhi felt ashamed and annoyed. He placed his robe next to his father, and he hurriedly went to the hall and asked to see the grand master.
.
In the hall, Yu Wentai was not dealing with official affairs, but was sitting and talking with Taifu Li Bi. When he heard that Li Zhi went to the hall to report that his father was standing on a thorn to plead guilty outside the hall, Yu Wentai just nodded slightly and said in a calm tone: "I know.
Okay, just step back."
Seeing Yu Wentai's cold reaction, Li Zhi was greatly surprised, so he quickly said: "My lord, my father..."
"Get out!"
Yu Wentai, who was originally indifferent, suddenly changed his expression, slapped the table and roared, then grabbed the paper knife on the desk and threw it towards the hall, his eyes were even more angry as if he wanted to kill someone.
After Li Zhi saw this, he was completely silent. He stood frozen on the spot with his hands and feet a little helpless. The people in the hall, including Taifu Li Bi, also stood up one after another and stood in silence. Only Li Bi paid homage to the audience.
The officer made a look and signaled to lead Li Zhi out of the hall.
"Such young disciples are accustomed to relying on favors to become arrogant. They think that things in the world must be done by them even if they are given the slightest favor. They don't know that there are other people who are responsible for the difficult tasks!"
Although Li Zhi was dragged out of the hall, Yu Wentai was still angry. He stood up and pointed outside the hall, still angry and said: "He Liuhun was outside the city before, but what happens now? Such a giant bandit."
It is inevitable that he will return in vain, so why should he be afraid of the little madman making trouble!"
After hearing this, everyone in the hall lowered their heads, fearing that they would be caught by Yu Wentai's sharp eyes, and the whole hall was silent for a while.
After a long time like this, the anger on Yu Wentai's face gradually subsided, and he smiled at Li Bi and said, "In recent years, I have often been proud of my achievements in nourishing Qi, but unexpectedly, I lost my composure over trivial matters, which made the Imperial Master laugh."
After Li Bi heard this, he bowed and said: "Emotions, anger, sorrows and joys are all human nature. To be indifferent to everything is unkind. There are also stubborn things in the court. You need to be diligent with the rod and whip before you can force yourself to do so."
Observe the conduct and do not go beyond what is right and what is wrong.”
After Yu Wentai heard this, he sighed again. After a while, he sighed again: "It takes diligence to control your subordinates. What Taifu said is true. I have realized it now. It's not too late. Even though I have scabies."
Disease should not be underestimated!"
After saying this, he invited Li Bi to sit down again, and the topic turned to the Battle of Shayuan that year. The more we talked, the more excited he became, so he simply raised his hand and ordered the government officials to go to Shayuan to arrange accommodation.
The officers and soldiers who participated in the Battle of Shayuan will be given a feast at the Longevity Hall of Shayuan.
In addition to summoning the soldiers who participated in the Battle of Shayuan and are still in Guanzhong to Shayuan, even His Majesty the Emperor Yuwentai, who is far away in Chang'an, has also been invited to Wanshou Palace to participate in this grand event.
However, it would be difficult to prepare for such a grand event in less than ten days and a half. Yu Wentai was very interested at the moment, but he needed to vent his anger immediately. So he sent his apostles to invite Zhao Gui, Hou Mo, Chen Chong, and Da Xiwu.
Wait for the old generals and ask them to attend the banquet at Zhongwai Mansion.
"Da Sima is also in the city."
Seeing Yu Wentai issuing various invitations, Li Bi reminded him softly from the side.
After Yuwentai heard this, he smiled and nodded and said, "It would be really rude to forget Da Sima!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and took off his robe, threw it to the audience and said: "Follow Li Wansui and invite Da Sima to come to the mansion for a banquet tonight. Go quickly!"
After hearing the words, the visitor hurried out of the hall, placed Yu Wentai's robe in front of Li Yuan with both hands, and conveyed his instructions to Li Yuan.
After hearing these words, Li Yuan's eyes suddenly became moist. He lay on the ground and kowtowed heavily, and at the same time shouted: "I will definitely live up to my master's use. Once I have received my order, I will not give up even if I die!"
After saying this, he untied the thorns on his back with trembling hands, and respectfully put the robe given by Yu Wentai on his body. Then he turned around and walked out of the Zhongwai Mansion, and came to the outside of the manor to gather his followers.
The tribesmen who had returned to Tongzhou mounted their horses and marched toward Duguxin's residence.
There were armored soldiers on duty in front of Duguxin's residence. When they heard the rapid sound of horse hooves approaching, all the armored soldiers lined up nervously in front of the residence.
Li Yuan rode his horse to the door of Duguxin's house. He did not dismount, but shouted loudly to the soldiers in front of the house: "According to the order of King Yuwen, I am here to specially invite the Grand Sima to attend a banquet at the Chinese and Foreign Mansion."
The soldiers in front of the mansion looked at each other, and one of the soldiers came forward to question them for a while, and then he motioned to Li Yuan and his party to wait in front of the mansion while he hurried into the mansion to report.
Li Yuan and his entourage waited in front of Dugu Xin's house for more than a quarter of an hour before the soldier commander who had previously entered to report slowly walked out again, bowed to Li Yuan with an apologetic look and said, "Thank you, Mr. Yang Ping, for waiting for a long time. Unfortunately, Mr. Yang Ping has been waiting for a long time."
Da Sima has been feeling cold recently and is resting in bed in his residence. I sincerely ask Duke Yang Ping to report..."
"On the order of King Yuwen, I invite the Grand Sima to the mansion for a banquet!"
However, Li Yuan did not listen to the explanation of the soldier commander, but loudly repeated his purpose of coming again, and then turned to the people behind him and said: "Here comes the drum! After one drum, come to the hall to ask for an audience, stop me."
Anyone who respectfully invites the Great Sima will be killed!"
After the tribesmen heard this, they each took off their drums from their waists and started beating them vigorously. The drums in front of the door of Duguxin's mansion were loud and full of murder.
The sound of the alarm drum was coming to an end, and Li Yuan had already grasped his saber on the horse. As for the Dugu Xinjia soldiers opposite him, they had also begun to shrink their formation and firmly guard the gate of the mansion.
"Come to the door!"
The moment the drums stopped, Li Yuan roared loudly, drew the knife in his hand, clamped the horse's belly with his legs, and approached the guards in front of the house with his horse and man. When the guards behind him saw this, they
Each of them also showed their weapons, and moved forward to defend Li Yuan as he advanced.
"presumptuous!"
There was a shout from inside the door, and Dugu Xin, dressed in a hakama-pleated military uniform, finally appeared inside. His eyes fell on the aggressive Li Yuan across the guards, and he cursed: "How dare you rely on me, these unscrupulous slaves?"
The Lord is committing evil! Duke Yang Ping comes to visit with courtesy. He should open the door and greet him with courtesy. If blood is spilled here, how can he repay him!"
"The general will do what he is ordered to do. The order is God's grace, and he will not hesitate to die, let alone spill blood!"
Li Yuan was not intimidated by Dugu Xin's momentum, but he still got off his horse and continued to move forward with his head held high. He did not flinch even if the guards' swords were in front of him. He looked at Dugu Xin and crossed his hands and said solemnly: "King Yuwen is here today.
The government held a banquet in honor of all the old friends and relatives, because the emissary will invite the Grand Sima in the future, and all the attendees know each other well. If the Grand Sima cannot do this, is it possible that he will be heartless and abandon everyone?"
After Dugu Xin heard this, his eyes flashed again, he frowned and pondered for a moment before he said in a deep voice: "Mr. Yang Ping, please come into the hall and stay for a while. Let me go home and change my clothes before we go to the house together."
As he spoke, he waved his hand to signal the guards in front of the door to move away, and raised his hand to make an invitation gesture to Li Yuan. The followers behind Li Yuan were still waiting to dissuade him, but Li Yuan had already walked into the house with his head held high.
After all this tossing, when Dugu Xin and Li Yuan arrived at Zhongwai Mansion, the sky had completely darkened, and the banquet at Zhongwai Mansion had been going on for a long time. While the two were still outside the hall, they heard various things coming from inside.
The sound of laughter and laughter.
As the two people walked into the hall, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly cooled down. Everyone who was laughing and laughing before stopped talking and laughing, and looked at the two people who arrived later with embarrassment. Especially Dugu Xin gathered more eyes.
.
Duguxin was briefly greeting Grand Master Yuwen and several other Zhuguo, then he looked around at everyone and said with a smile: "I heard you guys talking and laughing happily outside the hall just now. I don't know what you are talking about that makes you so happy?"
"It tells the story of Qingshui Gong who entered the Pass to pacify the Wanqi ugly slaves. The Grand Sima was not involved in this matter, so even if he did, he might not know the meaning!"
Hou Mo and Chen Chong, who was sitting in the seat next to Yu Wentai, said with a smile, his tone revealing a bit of undisguised alienation. Most of the people present were military leaders who had entered the border to quell chaos in the early years. After hearing this, they
The look in Dugu Xin's eyes also showed something strange.
After Dugu Xin heard this, the expression on his face froze slightly, and soon he noticed that all the seats at the top were empty. After hesitating for a moment, he turned around and walked to the last seat in the hall to sit down, holding up the empty
The wine glass said with a smile: "What Duke Pengcheng said is true. He did not follow Duke Qingshui into the Pass to quell the chaos. Instead, he served under Duke Langya and went out to control Jingxiang! Guanxi was peaceful and the kings were strong. Jingxiang was prosperous.