For several days, Guo Song sent letters to the families of the fallen soldiers in various places in Guanzhong. Facing the grieving families of the fallen soldiers, he felt particularly heavy.
That evening, Guo Song returned to Qingxu Temple. As soon as he walked through the gate with his horse, senior brother Gan Feng came up to him and said, "Junior brother, where have you been? I'm looking for you everywhere!"
"Senior brother, what's the matter?"
Gan Feng took out two invitations and said, "They were both sent this morning. Take a look for yourself."
"Excuse me, senior brother!"
Guo Song accepted the invitation, one of which was sent by Zhao Tengjiao. His father, General Zuowei Zhao Guanshan, was celebrating his sixtieth birthday and specially invited him to attend.
Guo Song asked: "Brother, what kind of gift do you usually give to your friend's father when it's his sixtieth birthday?"
"It depends on who your friend's father is, and how is the relationship?"
"I am the general of the left prison guard, so my friendship is only average!"
Gan Feng thought for a while and said: "To be honest, people in Chang'an are very practical about celebrating their birthdays. Giving money is the most popular thing. But your friend's father has some status, so giving money is not appropriate. You can buy an auspicious gift to wish you longevity.
I suggest that the value of the item should not be less than three hundred guan."
Guo Song suddenly remembered that there was a pair of white jade birthday peaches in Duobao Pavilion, which were the size of a fist and worth about 500 guan. It would be best to give them as a birthday gift.
The birthday is scheduled for the day after tomorrow, and he still has to buy some clothes. Fortunately, the tasks at hand are almost completed. The last family member of the soldier is in Chang'an City and will deliver the letter early tomorrow morning.
Guo Song returned to his tent, sat down and closed his eyes to rest for a while. Then he took the second invitation, which was sent by Li Si, the king of summons. It actually invited him to a banquet at Taibai Restaurant tonight.
Frankly speaking, Guo Song did not want to go to this banquet. Firstly, he was not in the mood, and secondly, he did not want to be involved in the whirlpool of the struggle for the throne.
But considering that Li Si came to the rescue in times of need and sent over twenty large tents and many daily necessities, it was impossible for him to pretend to turn a blind eye to such a huge favor.
Looking at the time, it was almost up. Helplessly, Guo Song had to change his clothes and walked out of the tent. The temporary military camp was very quiet. Most of the soldiers were sent out. Li Ji went to Puzhou, Hedong, and Liang Wu went
In Yanzhou, there were only a dozen soldiers guarding the big tent.
"Chang Shi wants to go out?" A follower ran forward and asked.
Guo Song nodded, "I have some personal matters, so you don't need to follow me. You have a good meal and rest. We will go to the last one tomorrow."
Guo Song simply stopped riding and hired an ox cart to go to Pingkangfang Taibai Restaurant.
A bartender led Guo Song to the Baiyu Hall on the third floor. He saw several guards standing at the door. One of the guards asked: "But Guo Changshi?"
Guo Song nodded, "Exactly!"
"Your Highness has been waiting for a long time, please come in!"
Guo Song pushed the door open and entered the room. The room was very spacious. It was divided into two rooms inside and outside by three exquisite screens. In the outside room, several pipa girls were playing and singing. There was a large couch inside with
There is a circle of low tables, with five or six people surrounding it.
Li Si laughed and said, "Guo Changshi is here."
Guo Song walked past the screen, clasped his fists apologetically and said, "I just returned to Chang'an, I'm late!"
In addition to Li Si, there were four other people sitting on the couch. They were all very old and seemed to be court officials. Guo Song only felt that one of them was vaguely familiar, while the others were relatively unfamiliar.
"Guo Changshi, please sit down. It's inconvenient here, so we won't stand up."
Li Si smiled and asked Guo Song to sit down. Next to Guo Song was an official who looked familiar to Guo Song. He seemed to have met him once at the door of the emperor's study room.
Guo Song suddenly remembered, "Are you... Han Xiangguo?"
The man stroked his beard and smiled slightly: "I have to apologize to you, Han Huang, Guo Changshi!"
Guo Song sat down and said with a smile: "Why did Han Xiangguo say this?"
"As a minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, I have just learned that Guo Changshi has been appointed as the director of the Anxi Protectorate."
"Will the emperor's appointment be out of line when it reaches the officials?"
"Sometimes it happens, but it is rare. At least this is the first time in the two years I have been the Minister of Civil Affairs. This is my dereliction of duty. I apologize to Guo Changshi."
Guo Song said calmly: "This shouldn't be your responsibility!"
Another older official next to him said angrily: "Everyone in the court knows that Yuan Zai is the one who really holds the power of the Ministry of Personnel. The key positions in the Ministry of Personnel are basically people assigned by him. He is nepotistic and despises the emperor.
The imperial edict has made the imperial court a mess, and this person is a treacherous traitor to the country. If he is not eliminated, the Tang Dynasty will be restless."
Guo Song immediately looked at this person with admiration. Who is this? He attacked Yuan Zai by name. There were really not many people in the court who could do that.
"This senior is -" Guo Song asked.
Han Huang said with a smile: "Let me introduce to you, this famous official of the Tang Dynasty who has just been transferred back to Beijing. He is famous all over the world for his calligraphy. Have you heard of Yan Zhenqing?"
Guo Song was in awe, stood up and saluted, saying: "I have heard the name of Duke Lu for a long time, I am rude."
Yan Zhenqing is nearly seventy years old and has just been transferred back to the capital from being the governor of Jingzhou. He has not yet been appointed to an official position. He hates evil and hates Yuan Zai's corruption and perversion of the law. Tonight, Han Huang invited him to Li Si's banquet.
He agreed without hesitation.
Yan Zhenqing smiled and waved his hand, asked Guo Song to sit down, looked at him approvingly and said: "Guo Changshi ignored life and death and marched to the west tragically, which is admirable. The Tang Dynasty is very lucky to have such a generous man for justice!"
Zhao Wang Li Si introduced two other people to Guo Song. He pointed to a veteran beside him and said: "This is the veteran of the army, Ma Lin, the king of Fufeng County. He was once the minister Zuopushe. You should have heard that
Let’s get through it!”
He was another heavyweight. Before Guo Song could stand up and salute, Ma Lin knelt down and saluted him, which shocked everyone.
"Old Prince, why is this?"
Ma Lin said with tears: "I heard that the Anxi Protectorate is still there, which makes me very anxious. I wish I could lead the army to fight back. Unfortunately, I am powerless. Thanks to Guo Changshi who led the army to the west and contacted the Anxi garrison. I am very grateful.
I can only thank you with a big gift!"
Ma Lin was a veteran of the Anxi Army and had a deep affection for Anxi. He wrote to the imperial court many times to request the imperial expedition to the west, but to no avail, which made him deeply regretful.
Li Si said quickly: "Today is a banquet hosted by the King. Everyone, please be more casual. We will talk more when we have time. I will introduce the last person to Guo Changshi."
He pointed at one of the youngest officials and said: "This is Du Huangshang, who also came from Shuofang Army. He is currently the imperial censor and has a good personal relationship with me."
Another famous person, Du Huangshang was the prime minister during the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty. He once worked under Guo Ziyi. In today's terms, he was Guo Ziyi's secretary. He first served in the Secretary's Department and accompanied Wang Li Si to study, so the two of them
Personal relationship is very good.
Everyone greeted them one by one, Li Si clapped his hands, and the delicacies were immediately served like water, along with three bottles of Meishou wine.
Everyone poured wine, Li Si raised his glass and said with a smile: "I am in a mood of elegance today, so I would like to invite you all to drink together, and also introduce little friend Guo Song to everyone. Although some people in the court turn a blind eye to Guo Changshi's contribution, justice is in the hearts of the people.
, for this first glass of wine, I recommend toasting to Guo Changshi."
Everyone raised their glasses together and said with a smile: "Congratulations to Guo Changshi for successfully completing his mission and returning triumphantly!"
Everyone drank it all in one gulp, and the maid poured more wine for everyone. Guo Song was moved and stood up to raise a glass and said: "Thank you to His Highness King Zhao and all the seniors for their love. Guo Song has this glass of wine in honor of His Highness King Zhao, and also to all the seniors!"
"
After saying that, he raised his glass and drank it in one gulp.
……….
In the study, Li Shi stood in front of the window with his hands behind his hands, listening to Lu Qi's latest report with a dark face.
"The news is indeed reliable. In the Baiyu Hall of Taibai Restaurant, King Zhao hosted a banquet for five ministers, Han Huang, Yan Zhenqing, Ma Lin, Du Huangshang and Guo Song."
"What were they talking about?" Li Shi asked coldly.
"It's not clear exactly what they were talking about, but our people said they vaguely heard them talking about the Western Regions."
"I guess they will talk about the Western Regions."
Li Shi snorted heavily, "I don't know why, but I still want to reuse him. I'm so disappointed!"
Lu Qi was secretly proud that he finally succeeded in changing Li Shi's perception of Guo Song. He whispered: "Although he is young after all, it is impossible that he does not understand what it means to go to King Zhao's banquet? Your Highness, this is him
s Choice."
Li Shi said with a dark face for a long time: "I know it!"