All the officials stepped out of the way and silently watched this young man who dared to anger the Prime Minister. Some admired his courage, while others laughed at this stupid young man in their hearts.
Now everyone knows that his name is Guo Song, and they have also heard about the grudge between him and Yuan Zai. This young man seems to have some kind of relationship with Yuan Zai, but his appointment was vetoed by Yuan Zai.
It sounds like Yuan Zai adheres to principles and does not show favoritism, and it seems that Guo Song is too junior and is not worthy of being the governor of Anxi Protectorate. But the only people who really believe this rhetoric are the stupid men and women in the streets.
Which of these onlookers has not been an expert in the imperial court for many years?
This Guo Song was neither a relative of the emperor, nor a noble of Guanlong, nor a son of a high-ranking official. Why would the emperor grant him a high-ranking official of the fifth rank for no reason? There must be an unknown side hidden in this.
Moreover, many senior court officials still remember how Yuan Zai publicly severed ties with his father-in-law Wang Zhongsi and issued a memorandum to expose Wang Zhongsi's intention to rebel and deserve to die. Wasn't this Wang Zhongsi already executed? How could this happen?
Young apprentice? Could it be that Wang Zhongsi was not dead back then?
Even if Wang Zhongsi did not die and left an apprentice, Yuan Zai would definitely hate him to the bone, how could he still take care of him.
These intricate relationships were quickly sorted out by the court officials. Everyone knew that there must be a wonderful story hidden in it, and the young man might not be willing to apologize.
Guo Song walked into the lobby. He glanced at the guests inside and outside, and then bowed to Li Shi and said, "See Your Highness Jian Guo!"
Seeing that he was ignoring Yuan Zai next to him, Li Shi was secretly annoyed and said slowly: "Guo Song, I just arrived not long ago. I heard that you publicly humiliated Yuan Xiangguo in front of so many guests. Is this possible?
?”
Guo Song said calmly: "It's not about humiliation, it's just a fact. In the eighth year of Tianbao, Yuan Xiangguo publicly issued a statement to sever the relationship with my master Wang Zhongsi. He just called himself father-in-law. I need to remind him that he has already
I don’t have a father-in-law anymore. May I ask Yuan Xiangguo, do you think this is a humiliation?”
Yuan Zai closed his eyes and snorted softly, without explaining anything. As a dignified right minister, he argued with a minor official like Guo Song, and explaining such things would only make him more powerful.
However, Yuan Zai was unwilling to lose his identity and argue with Guo Song, which did not mean that he would tolerate it. Next to him, his die-hard ally, Prime Minister Wang Jin, retorted: "The grievances between Yuan Xiang Guo and his father-in-law are family matters, and they are not worthy of consideration by outsiders.
Even though you have a loose official as General Dingyuan, you are not allowed to publicly humiliate and slander the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty. You must apologize to the Prime Minister of the Yuan Dynasty, otherwise the Tang Dynasty court will not tolerate you."
Guo Song sneered and said: "What a loud tone. Who are you? Can you represent the Tang Dynasty?"
Wang Jin was at a loss for words, and many officials nearby laughed out loud. There was a fuss for a long time, and even the Prime Minister of Guo and Song Dynasty did not recognize Wang Jin.
Yuan Zai saw that Wang Jin was caught by Guo Song as soon as he opened his mouth. He had to speak. Yuan Zai said slowly: "You are just an ignorant and arrogant young man. You don't even know the dignified Wang Xiangguo. How can you serve as the fifth minister?"
A high-ranking official?
Guo Song, I know you hate me because I disagree with your appointment as the Governor of Anxi Protectorate. I have a reason. Your qualifications are insufficient. You have never even been a ninth-grade official. How can you be a fifth-grade official?
Senior official, isn't this a joke?"
Guo Song's eyes narrowed, he looked at Yuan Zai and said slowly: "Then I would like to ask Yuan Xiangguo, why did the emperor grant me the title of Chief of the Anxi Protectorate? Is it just to make people like Yuan Xiangguo laugh?"
Next to him, Li Shi slapped the table hard, "How presumptuous!"
Guo Song ignored Yuan Zai and turned to Li Shi again: "I need to explain the cause and effect to His Highness Jian Guo, and then let His Highness Jian Guo make a judgment. First, the emperor received the news, and the two guardianships of Anxi and Beiting
It has not disappeared, and the Tang army is still holding on, so the emperor needs someone who can volunteer to contact Anxi and Beiting. I went to Anxi and Beiting and narrowly escaped death. The hope of coming back alive was very slim, so I took the initiative to ask the emperor to be the emperor's special envoy.
, I went to Anxi and Beiting to appease the Tang soldiers who worked hard to defend the dignity of the Tang Dynasty. The emperor named me the pacifier of the Western Regions, appointed me the governor of the Anxi Protectorate, and gave me the emperor's gold medal."
There was silence inside and outside the lobby, and everyone was quietly listening to Guo Song's account. Guo Song took a deep breath and continued: "From the time I led 300 soldiers to set off in December of the previous year, and returned to Chang'an half a month ago, it took a lot of time.
In the past year and a half, we encountered numerous ups and downs and fought fierce battles with tens of thousands of Tubo, Tuyuhun, Uighur, and Shatuo armies. Most of the soldiers died on the battlefield and sacrificed their lives for the country. In the end, only 75 of the 300 soldiers returned.
But what is waiting for these soldiers is that the Ministry of War does not know this, and does not know who I, Guo Song, am. This means that the blood of three hundred soldiers of the Tang Dynasty was shed in vain. Your Highness, the Ministers, and the three hundred soldiers of the Tang Army.
Faced with the brutal encirclement and suppression by tens of thousands of enemy troops, no one retreated or surrendered. They fought to the end, killing thousands of enemies, and two hundred and twenty-five died generously. Their heroic and patriotic spirit was not destroyed by the enemy, but was eventually destroyed.
The Tang court broke its spine."
Li Shi's face also softened, and he sighed: "The imperial court will not forget these soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country, but this matter is relatively hidden. The emperor personally deployed it. The imperial court does not know about it. General Guo, you can't blame the Ministry of War for not knowing.
This king will definitely provide generous compensation to the soldiers who died for the country, and will definitely reward the seventy-five warriors who come back alive."
"Thank you for upholding justice, Your Highness, but there is a bit of trouble here. If the court wants to reward these Tang soldiers, it must first admit this matter, and then it must admit the emperor's appointment. But a certain important minister said that I, Guo Song, am not qualified to serve as the capital of Anxi.
Shi, the Protector of the Palace, does not recognize the emperor's appointment. This matter is very contradictory. May I ask Yuan Xiangguo how to deal with it?"
The guests inside and outside the hall were increasingly admiring Guo Song's courage. He was not here to apologize. He was clearly here to denounce Yuan Zai, and he did so in front of His Royal Highness. Who in the court has such courage?
Li Shi was drinking tea and said nothing. He was also a smart man. Even he felt that there was something wrong with this. Yuan Zai's opposition to Guo Song's appointment as chief historian was probably not a matter of Guo Song's qualifications. There was probably Yuan Zai's selfishness in it.
.
Strict education since childhood required Li Shi to be careful in his actions and words, and not to express his stance easily, at least not publicly.
Others don't know why Guo Song was granted the title of Fifth-Rank Chief Historian, but Li Shi knows it better than anyone else. Others rely on their qualifications to gain official status, but Guo Song's official status relies on merit. Doesn't Yuan Zai not know?
Faced with Guo Song's questioning, Li Shi remained silent.
But Yuan Zai is indeed a man who has been in court for decades, and Guo Song's cross-examination can't stop him.
Yuan Zai said calmly: "Sending a special envoy to Anxi is the emperor's arrangement. You are the emperor's envoy, not the imperial court's envoy. The pacifier of the Western Regions is only a temporary position that the emperor can appoint. It has nothing to do with the imperial court's official system. The imperial court recognizes that this mission has no
It’s a bit of a problem, but I won’t agree to your appointment as the governor of Anxi. This is my right to refute it as prime minister.”
"What a prime minister's power!"
Guo Song sneered and said: "The prime minister has the right to object to the emperor's appointment, but it must be discussed in the political affairs hall and then submitted to the emperor in writing to explain the reasons for the objection. The objection can only take effect after Emperor Zhu Pi agrees.
In the past one and a half years since December last year, have you followed these court rules? You have not done so. Han Xiangguo told me that he knew nothing about this matter. Yuan Xiangguo, you keep saying that you are exercising the title of prime minister.
Refute the power, but in fact, you don’t take the emperor seriously at all, you are bullying the emperor!”
There was an uproar in the lobby. This crime was too serious. This Guo Song was so bold and arrogant. Yuan Zai was finally furious. He slapped the table and stood up, shouting: "I, the prime minister, how can I allow you to insult me like this? Come on, why don't you do this?"
I'll take him down!"
Zhao Guanshan turned pale with fright and kept saying: "Prime Minister, please calm down! Prime Minister, please calm down!"
At this time, Li Shi coughed heavily and winked at several guards who were about to step forward, and they retreated again.
Li Shi said to Guo Song again: "General Guo, you are so rude to Yuan Xiangguo, why don't you apologize to Yuan Xiangguo immediately!"
Guo Song bowed to Li Shi and said: "Thank you for your highness's concern for the envoys. Tomorrow, I will submit the envoy report to your highness. It seems that I am no longer suitable here, so I will take my leave now!"
He bowed to Zhao Guanshan again and apologized, then turned around and strode away. He did not look back and left the Zhao Mansion directly.
Yuan Zai's teeth chattered with hatred, and he thought to himself: "If I don't avenge this, I, Yuan Zai, will never be a human being!"