Chapter 403 Are you worthy of sitting in front of me?
Chapter 403 Are you worthy of sitting in front of me?
New Year's Eve Palace Banquet.
This year's New Year's Eve palace banquet was very grand and grand. Although there were many Kanto refugee resettlement camps outside Chang'an City, this did not affect the banquet.
In order to show the strength of Zhenguan and let the foreign envoys feel the power of the Tang Dynasty, the banquet was even a bit luxurious.
At this time, the imperial court's finances were still very difficult. Although it had been ten years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, wars had continued year after year. The unification of the world was only truly completed this autumn, but there was still Fengsheng in Hetao that was not recovered by the Turks. The victims of the severe drought in Kanto
The public and the imperial court had to issue bonds to tide over the difficulties.
But even if ordinary people celebrate the New Year, they still have to cut a few pounds of meat, pull some cloth, and make two new clothes for the New Year.
The Tang court had to save face even more.
Wu Huaiyu entered the palace with Old Wei next door. Wei Zheng looked at the extravagance and luxury of the palace banquet and shook his head repeatedly, saying that he had forgotten his roots.
"The world has not yet been unified, and the people have not yet lived and worked in peace and contentment. The imperial court can't wait to enjoy luxury. What does it look like?"
"Xiang Wei, today is New Year's Eve, and there are so many envoys. If you have anything to say, please tell me later, so as not to keep everyone from coming to the stage." Huaiyu persuaded him with a smile.
On New Year's Eve last year, Duan Lun and Xu Jingzong put on a fireworks display, and then Wei Zheng impeached him in person, removing Duan Lun from office, Xu Jingzong demoted to Xunyang County Cheng, and even Wu Huaiyu was implicated.
At that time, Wei Zheng was just a man from Julu County and not the prime minister.
If he comes back with some bad advice tonight, it will be a disgrace.
The New Year's Eve palace banquet is of a very high standard and is of a diplomatic etiquette nature. Officials from all over the country, as well as princes and ministers from the DPRK, all participate.
Everyone listens to songs, watches dances, drinks, and chants poems along the way. Isn’t that the end of happiness?
If you have anything to do, just wait until the right time to talk about it.
"Wei Xiang, everyone has worked hard for a year and it has not been easy. In any case, the first year of Zhenguan has made a good start. We have recruited Jun Zhang of Dai Beiyuan, pacified Shuofang and Liang's capital, and even started to develop strategies against the Turks.
It's working, at least no Turks will invade the border again this year.
The imperial court also pacified and exterminated some rebellious officials and traitors with evil intentions.
Although there is a drought in Guandong, grain prices have dropped a lot. Even the price of rice in Chang'an now is only thirty or forty yuan per bucket of rice, but last year, it was more than ten times.
Aren't these all the hard-earned rewards of His Majesty, the court officials, and the frontier soldiers?
Prime Minister Wei wants to deny everyone's efforts?"
Wei Zheng was blocked by Wu Huaiyu and could not answer, so he finally agreed not to spoil the atmosphere tonight.
Princes, hundreds of officials, envoys from foreign vassals, etc. entered the palace.
Last year Wu Huaiyu was only qualified to sit in the corner at the entrance of the palace, but this year he has already killed Luo Yi, annihilated Liang Shidu, beheaded Wang Junkuo, Duke Yi of the 600th Household, and also served as the official minister of Yongzhou and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Du Zhi also served as the governor of the imperial censor, and was awarded the title of champion general. He was promoted to the rank of Jin Ziguanglu doctor and went to the Shangzhu Kingdom.
They even became the in-laws of the Emperor.
His seat had already been placed very early in the queue.
The location is basically behind the prime minister and princes.
Just as he was about to sit down, eunuch Zhang Anan came over wearing a new purple robe with a smile, "The Diaochan Jinxian crown that Duke Yi is wearing tonight is very beautiful, especially the gold belt with ten thousand nails and precious stones."
So mighty."
"Supervisor Zhang is also very energetic today."
"Mr. Yi Guo, Your Majesty has a decree. Please move to the table and take a seat."
The emperor asked Wu Huaiyu to sit with the prime ministers.
Everyone around them was full of surprise. Originally, Wu Huaiyu's position was high enough, just below the prime minister and prince, and together with the princes, ministers, and princes. Now he actually has to move forward.
"please."
Zhang Anan, the chief internal officer, asked him to come over to deliver the order and lead the way. Wu Huaiyu felt that there were too many looks on him, ranging from surprise, envy, and maybe even jealousy.
Follow forward.
Huaiyu planned to sit next to Yuanchang, the Muhan king of Yongzhou, who was already at the back among the princes who came to the banquet today, and the emperor's sons were further forward.
"Huaiyu, come forward again."
The emperor waved from above and pointed to a location.
Zhang Ananda smiled and said, "Please."
The position the emperor pointed to was next to Wei Zheng, which was in front of the princes.
"Isn't this bad?"
"Rewards from saints." Zhang Ananda reminded him.
When he sat behind Wei Zheng, even the Prime Minister Wei Zheng couldn't help but look at him a few more times, and several young princes even looked at him.
Qin Qiong in front of Wei Zheng also cast a look, and Huaiyu could only smile bitterly.
Although the position in the front is quite honorable, it also feels a bit like being roasted on a fire.
Although he holds several important positions now, they all belong to the kind of powerful but not high-ranking ones. For example, Yongzhou Biejia is only the nominal second-in-command in Yongzhou, only ranking third-rank. There is also the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, although he is added
He was given the title of Judgment Branch, but he was only on the fourth rank, and as the Censor of the Censor, he was only on the fifth rank.
As for the bachelor of Chongxian Hall, he has no rank at all and serves as an official concurrently.
According to the normal class, Wu Huaiyu's class is still far behind the prime ministers. Although he is a third-grade official with the title of Duke, plus Zhu Guoxun, he also has a third-grade job, plus two important part-time jobs of fourth and fifth grades.
But for a big occasion like today, the number of classes is really not high.
The in-laws and brothers-in-law, the eldest Sun Wuji, is positioned higher than the prime ministers. Although he still has no official position, he has the highest official rank of Kaifu Yitong Sansi. And although Pei Ji is no longer the prime minister, today's occasion also comes
Yes, he still has a first-class official position, the title of Sikong among the Three Officials.
The mascots of the East Palace, Li Gang and Pei Ju, have also arrived. Pei Ju, the Duke of Wenxi County, was formerly the Prime Minister of Wude. Although now he only serves the East Palace Young Master Zhan, Li Shimin has just given him the title of Crown Prince Shaobao, which is an official of the third rank.
The prince Zhan Shi Li Gang is the prince's junior master and was newly granted the title of Duke of Xinchang County.
The prince's young master, Xiao Yu, is now the third prime minister of the Zhenguan Dynasty. He is the imperial censor and participates in the affairs of the court.
Li Gang, Xiao Yu, and Pei Ju were still sitting in front of the prime ministers, and they were sitting under the prince Li Chengqian.
With the Third Young Master of the East Palace here, Prince Cheng Qian sat extremely serious, not daring to do anything random. Li Gang kept staring at him.
Huaiyu looked around, and the prince's eyes met, and the two looked at each other.
Cheng Qian's eyes conveyed a lot of information. Although this child has begun to show his rebellious side at a young age and often does stupid things, he is indeed very smart. He made the emperor angry earlier, but Huaiyu later made him angry.
He gave many sincere suggestions, and Li Shimin also listened. He no longer let Li Gang teach the prince personally, and only let Kong Yingda, Lu Deming and others teach classics and history.
The main affairs of the East Palace are now in charge of Shao Zhan Shi Pei Ju. Then the emperor selected a lot of younger civil and military officials to attend classes in the East Palace in turn. Without Li Gang and the others, Cheng Qian was doing much better now than before.
Wu Huaiyu now occasionally goes to the East Palace to take a class. He does not teach classics and history, but mainly talks about medical knowledge or geography. From time to time, he also talks about the outside situation. Cheng Qian likes to listen to his class very much, and the relationship between the two is very good now.
.
In the past, Wu Huaiyu was a little reluctant to have too much contact with him. He always felt that this child would not be able to hold the position of prince in the future, and even had a rebellious personality, which would be a problem for him.
But now, even if the prince's right guard and the prince's right guard are no longer in the East Palace official position, after all, he still holds the bachelor's degree of Chongxian Hall and is still considered the prince's teacher. Seeing that he is still so young, I also want to see if I can help guide him correctly.
one time.
The way he interacted with Cheng Qian was that he did not regard himself as an official of the East Palace or a teacher, but tried to get in touch with him as a friend. The effect was not bad. After being in contact with Cheng Qian for a long time, he found that Cheng Qian was quite good, smart, lively, and flexible.
, he is also playful and active, and he also has some problems that a ten-year-old boy should have, but they are not too big of a problem.
The two exchanged eyes for a while.
Li Gang coughed slightly, and Cheng Qian had no choice but to retract his gaze and continue to act like a prince.
Li Gang turned around and glared at Huaiyu again. This old man was very stubborn. The emperor said it was so obvious. He just wanted to let him take charge of the officials in the East Palace. The prince's education should be left to other younger officials. But this
The old man still goes to the East Palace every day, rain or shine. As long as he sees or knows that Cheng Qian is wrong and has made a mistake, he will definitely be reprimanded righteously.
Wu Huaiyu gave the prince several lessons and became familiar with the prince. Li Gang also came to Huaiyu to warn him, saying not to be too close and to act like a teacher.
Huaiyu withdrew his gaze and ignored the old man.
The emperor gave him the title of Duke of Xinchang County. The original intention was to let him rest well and not have to take too much care of the prince, leaving him to other teachers. However, Li Gang thought that the title of Duke of Xinchang County was because the emperor commended him for teaching the prince strictly.
He is really old and confused. No wonder he is called the Prince Killer. He is over eighty years old and has had several masters. He still can’t figure it out and doesn’t know how to reflect on the failure of his teaching method.
The banquet is about to begin.
The palace music was playing, and the singing and dancing girls were getting ready to go on stage. This grand and luxurious scene really shocked many envoys from the feudal states.
Even the envoys of the Eastern and Western Turkic Khans in the palace today, and even the envoys set up by the younger Khans, were even more shocked. They were the people who were most familiar with the Tang Dynasty. In the early years, the Tang Dynasty had to reward them every year. In fact, in their
It seems like it's just a tribute with a different name to preserve some dignity.
In the past two years, the attitude of the Tang Dynasty changed. The Turks immediately launched a large-scale attack, which forced the Tang Dynasty to increase rewards again and again.
They were very aware of the embarrassment of the Tang Dynasty. In the past, when they came to the Tang Dynasty as envoys, they were treated as the most respected guests, but it has been different since last year.
Last year's Chinese New Year was better, but this year they can feel that they are being left out and are no longer the distinguished protagonists.
Moreover, it can be seen from the grandness and luxury of this palace banquet that the Tang Dynasty has become more prosperous, especially since there are so many envoys this year.
All the envoys from the kings of the Western Regions have arrived, not a single one is left behind.
Envoys from the four countries of Haedong, Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje, and Japan also came.
In addition, even the five self-proclaimed emperors of Persia and Sassan in the western region, who were in the midst of internal strife, sent envoys to the Tang Dynasty, and even the emperor of the more distant Eastern Roman Empire also sent envoys.
Other countries such as Champa, Pyu, Chenla, and even Panpan, Langyaxiu, Heling, Sri Buddhashi and other countries in the South China Sea also came.
Seeing so many envoys from various countries, the Turkic envoys were shocked, especially the envoy of Jieli Khan.
The Yi male envoys from Xue Yantuo in Mobei actually dared to cross over to the Turks to come to the Tang Dynasty. The Xi, Qi, Shiwei, and Mohe tribes affiliated with their Great Khan also dared to send their own envoys this time.
This really means that the most respected Golden Wolf Great Khan Jieli on the grassland is no longer in his eyes.
Just as the messenger was observing the whole palace, he suddenly found a burly, purple-robed Tang Dynasty minister walking up to the palace with an angry face. He strode to the prime minister who had been repeatedly favored by the emperor and placed in front of the emperor.
In front of the young Duke Yi who was at the bottom.
"What merits do you have that makes you worthy of sitting in front of me?"
The governor of Xiangzhou and the Duke of E, Chi Jingde, stood in front of Huaiyu and shouted angrily.
