February in Chang'an City is a good time for spring outings. The spring-filled Lishan Mountain is very suitable for an outing.
After a day of sorting out books in Chongwen Hall, the couple went home early.
Li Shimin drank tea and looked unhappy when listening to Li Junxian's report, "So you still didn't find anything this time?"
Li Junxian reported: "The final general has neglected his duty."
Li Shimin sighed: "That's all, you are well prepared. I originally thought that the other party would do something in Chang'an City this time, but I didn't expect that it would be outside Chang'an City. I don't blame you. Let's continue to investigate."
"Here."
"Wait a minute." He called to Li Junxian who was about to leave, and Li Shimin put down his tea bowl, "What is Zhang Yang doing?"
Li Junxian replied: "It's still the same, including Xu Jingzong and Zhang Xiangxiang, but Her Royal Highness the Princess and Zhang Yang had just arrived at Chang'an City when there was a vision in the sky on New Year's Eve."
Li Shimin asked doubtfully: "Zhang Yang?"
Li Junxian nodded and said, "That's true. He said he just came back from the fiefdom."
"He really cares about that fiefdom and doesn't want to do more for the government. You should also step down."
"Here."
Li Shimin picked up the memorial again to approve, and the chirping of birds could be heard outside the hall. It must be February and spring is blooming outside.
He looked at the sunshine outside the palace. He didn't know the last time he left the palace to walk around. He had been reviewing memorials in the palace since the autumn hunt.
My father has lived in Lishan for so long and has no intention of returning to the palace.
Li Shimin lowered his head in disappointment. Everything in the palace was very old. "Let me prepare for it. I will leave the palace for a walk tomorrow."
The little eunuch on the side heard the words and went to do something.
In the new year, there are always many things in the court, and they are busy dealing with various government affairs. This time I planned to go out for a walk and see the spring scenery outside. Unknowingly, it took another half a month, and I finally had some free time to leave the palace.
Let Yu Chigong and Changsun Wuji escort him, Li Shimin rode a spring horse and walked on the edge of the Wei River. Breathing in the air here, he felt a lot more relaxed.
The three monarchs and ministers talked about the past events of that year, and an urgent report sent from outside the customs disturbed Li Shimin's interest.
There was a rebellion in Gaochang Kingdom in the Western Regions. The leader of Gaochang Kingdom, Ju Wentai and his son, fled Gaochang and were coming to Chang'an City for help.
Li Shimin hurried back to the palace and listened to Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng's explanations.
"How could there be a rebellion in Gaochang? Why was there no sign at all in the beginning?" Li Shimin said after finishing his drink.
"Your Majesty, this rebellion was caused by Ju Wentai, the leader of the Gaochang Kingdom, who conscripted slaves. Those slaves initiated the rebellion." Fang Xuanling explained.
I finally had enough time to go on a spring outing, but now I have completely lost interest.
The Ganlu Hall became quiet again. Li Shimin thought for a long time and whispered: "What do you think of Gaochang?"
Changsun Wuji bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, Gaochang has always been a prosperous country in the Western Regions, and it is also the gateway from Guanzhong to the Western Regions."
Li Shimin's eyes were gloomy, and the ambition in his heart was ready to move. "Yang Guang also went through many twists and turns in order to win the land in the Western Region."
The hall fell into silence again, Wei Zheng didn't look good, and Fang Xuanling also hesitated to speak.
Li Shimin looked at the three of them and said, "If Gaochang is captured, the troops from Guanzhong can go straight into the hinterland of the Western Regions."
Fang Xuanling spoke first: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, the original policy to help Gaochang was decided by Xu Jingzong of the Ministry of Rites. It is better to ask the Ministry of Rites what it means."
Changsun Wuji also replied: "Your Majesty, Ju Wentai and his son are about to arrive in Chang'an City. It is better to wait until they arrive in Chang'an City before making a decision."
Li Shimin looked at the three of them. They were obviously wary of sending troops to Gaochang at this moment.
"I still don't understand something."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
Li Shimin frowned and thought: "Since Gaochang encountered a rebellion, why didn't it ask for help from its neighboring countries in the Western Regions, instead of seeking help from the Tang Dynasty?"
Fang Xuanling saluted and replied: "Your Majesty, there were conflicts between Gaochang and Yanqi and other countries when they were fighting for trade. Perhaps this was because they did not support me. I don't know the reason. I have asked the Ministry of War to send personnel to investigate the situation."
Li Shimin clenched his fist with one hand, and his eyes were filled with anxiety and excitement. He had been coveting the land of the Western Regions for a long time.
What happened in the Western Regions was inseparable from the original strategy of the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Public Affairs came to ask questions many times.
Zhang Daxiang had no choice but to find Xu Jingzong, who had not been on duty at the Rites Department for a long time.
One year has passed since the last time he helped Gaochang. The poison he put down at the beginning has finally taken effect, and it is time for Zhang Shilang to pick this fruit.
Xu Jingzong was sitting at home, chewing on a leg of lamb, "Brother Elephant, don't pull on my sleeve. This matter really has nothing to do with me."
Zhang Xiangxiang said anxiously: "But it was Brother Xu who was talking to Gao Changqu Zhisheng in the Ministry of Rites."
Xu Jingzong was still chewing mutton, "This matter is really not the fault of a lower official."
"As Mr. Zhang said at the beginning, the strategy at that time was decided by Brother Xu."
"That's..." Xu Jingzong remembered Zhang Yang's words, and suddenly felt that his scalp was about to split. "That's Zhang Shilang's strategy, and it has nothing to do with me. Brother Elephant, go and invite Zhang Shilang."
"Shilang Zhang is now the minister of imperial court, and he is not serving in the Ministry of Rites."
Xu Jingzong sat there and continued to eat the mutton, "Then we also need to find Mr. Zhang."
Seeing that Zhang Elephant was still holding on to his sleeve, Xu Jingzong couldn't bear it anymore and said, "Brother Elephant, can you let go first and wait for me to finish eating this leg of lamb?"
"No! Come back to the Ministry of Rites with me now. The entire Ministry of Rites is empty. How can I reply to the Central Committee?"
Seeing that the other party refused to give up, Xu Jingzong sighed: "What is Mr. Zhang doing now?"
Zhang Elephant grabbed his sleeve and refused to let go, "I was playing with Her Royal Highness in Lishan Mountain."
Looking up at the sky, Xu Jingzong felt helpless, "Why are you doing this to me?"
Seeing that Zhang Xiangxiang was still holding on to him, Xu Jingzong said: "Let go. If you don't let go, I will be rude."
Only then did Zhang Elephant let go, and the two of them decided to meet Zhang Yang first before making a decision.
Only Zhang Dashu was left in the yamen of the Ministry of Rites. He had just sent away the officials from Zhongshu Province who came to inquire, "The Ministry of Rites cannot survive without Zhang Shilang."
At the foot of Lishan Mountain, Xu Jingzong and Zhang Xiangxiang were waiting here. This time they made the decision not to leave until they saw Zhang Shilang.
Shangguan Yi came with a scroll, "The scroll that was just printed in our village is given to you two. It is a story called The Red Mansion."
Xu Jingzong took this thick volume. He had never seen such a thick book before. He just looked at the paper and said it was valuable. "Such a great gift, I really don't dare to accept it."
"All the children in the village have their hands full, so you don't have to be polite."
"Every child in the village has a volume?" Zhang Xiangxiang looked depressed. This volume alone has hundreds of pages.
Shangguan Yi cleared his throat and said, "I heard that the paper was bought by Mr. Zhang from somewhere else. It is a very cheap paper."
Xu Jingzong was doubtful and looked at the writing on it. The printed words were very beautiful and neat, and the paper was neat. "Is this writing written by Mr. Ouyang Xun?"
"It was indeed carved using old Mr. Ouyang Xun's copybook."
"May I ask how much this book cost?"
"It hasn't been decided yet. Mr. Zhang plans to sell the book, and the price hasn't been negotiated yet."
Xu Jingzong immediately returned the book to Shangguan Yi, "I can't accept this book, so I accept it with good intentions."
Shangguan Yi looked at Zhang Xiangxiang again.
Zhang Elephant also waved his hand and said: "You can't accept it even if you are a low-ranking official."
"Forget it, I'll give it to you two after the price is decided. Don't worry, the price won't be very high."
Xu Jingzong looked at Lishan behind him, "Shilang Zhang hasn't come down yet."
Zhang Xiangxiang also stood there, feeling sad.
Taking this volume of Red Mansion, Shangguan Yi walked back to the village. According to Zhang Shilang's idea, this kind of book should be sold to the powerful first. If you want to sell it to the powerful, you must first have a reputation among the powerful. You can't just give away too much.
, and you can’t send it to the wrong person.
Especially given to women among the rich and powerful.
"It's really difficult." Shangguan Yi thought about the solution and walked a lot faster.
From morning until afternoon, Zhang Yang was not seen coming down the mountain.
The two of them just waited, Zhang Xiangxiang said worriedly: "Brother Xu."
Xu Jingzong said with a straight face, "Speak."
"You said that Mr. Zhang wouldn't stay on the mountain for a whole day, right?"
"probably not."
It was gradually getting dusk, and the two of them were very hungry after waiting, but no one had come down until now.
A child ran from the village, and when he came to the two of them he took out a booklet and said, "You two, the prince-in-law doesn't plan to see you in the near future. Please let me give this booklet to you two."
Xu Jingzong took the book and asked: "What else did Mr. Zhang explain?"
The child said: "The prince-in-law also said that you, Xu Jingzong, are now the minister of the Ministry of Rites. Since you are in the Ministry of Rites, you have to do things well. You know how to shirk responsibility all day long, and you will be punished sooner or later for being lazy and slippery."
Listening to the child's milky voice, this is really what Zhang Shilang would say.
The child looked at Zhang Elephant again, "The Prince Consort also said that Brother Elephant must strengthen the position of the Ministry of Rites. The original rules of the Ministry of Rites have not changed. Please don't waver."
Seeing that the child's words had stopped, Zhang Elephant asked again: "What else did you explain?"
"Just these two sentences, I can't remember any more, so I'll say goodbye."
"Wait a minute!" Xu Jingzong hurriedly grabbed the child, "Just ask, Minister Zhang is still on the mountain now? When will he come down, and what is he doing now?"
The child frowned and looked at Xu Jingzong.
Realizing that he was a little rude, Xu Jingzong let go of his hand and asked, "Where is Mr. Zhang?"
The child stood upright again and still said in a milky voice, "I'll go home at noon."
"Then you didn't tell me earlier? We've been waiting all day in vain?"
Xu Jingzong immediately became anxious and wanted to beat this naughty kid.
"I'm very busy studying. I have to go back and do my homework. Otherwise, I will be scolded by the teacher tomorrow. I finally came out to send you a message. If you don't thank me, forget it. You are so rude."
The corners of Xu Jingzong's mouth twitched hard, "You kid, are you talking to me like this?"
The child stood up straight, raised his chin and said, "What's wrong with talking to you like this? My teacher said that if someone bullies me, he will call the teacher's name."
Xu Jingzong laughed angrily, "Who is your teacher?"
"Hmph! My teachers include the current Duke Zou, Shangguan Yi, Prince Li Xiaogong of Hejian County, the Supreme Emperor..."
"Your Majesty..."
Xu Jingzong's legs went weak and he almost fell down. Fortunately, Zhang Xiang helped him.
Zhang Elephant frowned and said, "Now that things have come to a point, what should you and I do?"
Xu Jingzong looked at the naughty child running towards the village and scratched his head again, "When did the Supreme Emperor teach in that village?"
Zhang Xiangxiang smiled in astonishment, "How do you know this? Maybe the Supreme Emperor suddenly came and took a few disciples?"
Now that he could not see Minister Zhang, Xu Jingzong opened the booklet in his hand and looked at the content written on it in the dim light of the setting sun. His original worried expression gradually disappeared and turned to a smile.
"Shilang Zhang really knows how to be a low-ranking official." Xu Jingzong took a deep breath and felt like he was enlightened.
"What's written on it?"
Zhang Daxiang took the brochure and read it. After reading the steps written on it, his mind became enlightened for a moment, "Yes, now that he is the imperial minister, he naturally has no right to interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. It is really inappropriate to ask Zhang Shilang to come forward.
.”
Thinking of the child's words, Xu Jingzong smiled ashamedly. He knew how things were going. He was really trying to shirk responsibility when he saw Zhang Xiangxiang. If Zhang Yang were in front of me at this moment, I would probably lose all my face.
One night passed, Xu Jingzong was ready to deal with everything in Gaochang and the court.
Zhang Elephant and Zhang Dashu also went about their own business, and the Ministry of Rites was closed for three days.
On the fourth day, Li Shimin was practicing calligraphy. After all, what happened in Gaochang was in the Western Regions. Even if he wanted to conquer the Western Regions, Gaochang was still far away after all.
"Your Majesty, Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites, would like to see you."
When he heard that it was Xu Jingzong, Li Shimin put down his pen with a sneer, "I thought this man was hiding and never wanted to return to the court, so I called him in."
"Here."
After straightening his clothes, Li Shimin sat down again and looked at the figure walking into the palace from the sun, "Xu Jingzong, I haven't seen you for a long time."
Xu Jingzong bowed and saluted, "Since His Majesty ascended the throne and I left the Qin Palace, it has been a long time since I have talked to Your Majesty like this."
In his heart, Li Shimin despised a thoughtful person like Xu Jingzong. His talent was not as good as Fang Xuanling's, and his strategy was not as good as Changsun Wuji. He didn't have any great skills but he only wanted to find a good job in the court.
In terms of position, he was also the most inconspicuous among the eighteen bachelors of the Qin Palace.
"You came to see me to talk about Gaochang?"
"Your Majesty, what I want to say is about the Ministry of Rites." Xu Jingzong lowered his head and spoke.
"What? The Ministry of Rites can't survive without Zhang Yang?"
"I don't mean this. I remember the original agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Rites. Everything in the Ministry of Rites is for the sake of the country, and the six ministries of the Central Government only have the right to intervene but not to interfere. I dare to ask whether the original agreement still remains the same."
"The agreement between me and the Ministry of Rites is of course still final."
A smile flashed across Xu Jingzong's expression with his head lowered. As expected, as Zhang Shilang said, as long as you tell His Majesty like this, Your Majesty will not deny it. The emperor's words are always true, and the emperor will not deny what he has said.
If so, His Majesty is such a person, then the next thing will be simple.
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"Then please continue to leave this matter to the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites will give an answer to Your Majesty and Zhongshu Sheng."