Chang Gun sneered and said: "As an official of the imperial court, Guo Shijun, do you think it is appropriate to have personal dealings with Sijie Khan?"
Guo Song said calmly: "Of course, we have to distinguish between circumstances. First of all, when I met Sijie Khan, he was still a commoner. He owed me a huge favor, so there is no such thing as me taking advantage of my authority to have a friendship with Sijie Khan.
thing.
Secondly, a gentleman has things to do and things not to do. I will not do anything that betrays the interests of the Tang Dynasty. Everything I do is beneficial to the Tang Dynasty, including using my personal relationship to ask Sijie to send troops to Xue Yantuo, also to protect Fengzhou.
The locust plague broke out on the eve of the autumn harvest last year, and it was also the time for Xue Yantuo's army to invade Fengzhou. I want to lead the army and the people to fight against the locust plague, but I don't have the energy to organize the army to resist Xue Yantuo's invasion. What should I do?
Can the court please come forward to contact the Sijie Department? I'm afraid that Fengzhou has been swept away by Xue Yantuo's cavalry before the imperial envoy reaches the Sijie Department. The military situation is urgent. Of course, I can only find another way. If the court must report this to me
There is nothing I can do about it."
Chang Gun looked at the emperor, and the emperor Li Yu made the decision.
Li Yu pondered for a while and said: "Although something is wrong, it is excusable!"
This is the final conclusion. You can let the matter go and not pursue it further.
Chang Gun had been struggling with this matter for nearly half a year. In the end, the emperor simply said that he would not pursue the matter and it was over. This really made Chang Gun depressed.
Helpless, he had no choice but to let the matter go and continued: "The second thing is about the tragic defeat of Shuofang Army at Jinshan. First, the court wants to know why Fengzhou Army stood still and allowed Shuofang Army to go to Jinshan alone. Why did Shuofang Army
When they suffered a disastrous defeat, the Fengzhou Army didn't go to the rescue?
Second, when the Sijie tribe sent troops to Jinshan, did Guo Shijun promise something to the Sijie tribe before? This led to the Sijie tribe accusing Shuofang's army of violating the agreement. You must know that Chaoyi had never had any agreement with Sijie about the Xue Yantuo tribe.
, please ask Mr. Guo to explain."
Guo Song was extremely angry and laughed, "Chang Xiangguo really wants to incriminate him, so there is no excuse for it. Even the defeat of Shuofang's army can be placed on my head. It seems that Li Huaiguang is innocent, but it is all my responsibility, Guo Song. Chang Xiangguo
, I know you are doing everything you can to clear away Li Huaiguang's charges, but you can't be so shameless and let me, Guo Songlai, take responsibility. I defeated Xue Yantuo's army and shot Xue Yantuo Khan. In the end, I was guilty without merit. Chang Xiangguo, you are expressing
Is this what you mean?"
Prince Li Shi's face darkened and he said: "Shijun Guo, please pay attention to the occasion when you speak!"
Guo Song nodded, "Okay! Let me answer Chang Xiangguo's question. First, the Fengzhou Army stood still because I did not receive any request for help from Shuofang Army. I previously proposed to Li Huaiguang that the two armies go to Jinshan to wipe out Xue Yantuo's tribe.
But Li Huaiguang refused. After I got the news of Shuofang's army's defeat, or after the remnants of Shuofang's army were defeated and returned to Lingzhou, how did Chang Xiangguo ask me to rescue Li Huaiguang?
The second question, regarding what I promised to Si Jiebu, I would like to ask Chang Xiangguo, what exactly did I, Guo Song, promise to Si Jiebu? Why does Chang Xiangguo insist that I promised to Si Jiebu? Is that right?
Chang Xiangguo had some kind of connection with Sijie Khan in private, so he knew so clearly. What did I, Guo Song, promise to Sijie Khan? Just like me, a small governor of Fengzhou, can represent the Tang Dynasty. Sijie can
Is Khan a three-year-old child?”
Chang Gun was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at Guo Song and said, "You...you are talking nonsense. When did I have any contact with Si Jie?"
Guo Song also took the risk. He took a step forward and said: "I saw a memorial to impeach me before. It was the supervisory censor Chen Lun who impeached me for embezzling gold trophies. It spread in the court and ruined my reputation. Facts have proved that
, This is because he ignored the facts and deliberately framed me. This Chen Lun is a disciple of your Chang family and a confidant of your Chang Xiangguo. I want to know, are you instigating him behind the scenes when he framed me like this and ruined my reputation?
I just want to know whether Chen Lun, as the Right Prime Minister, has held him accountable for falsely accusing me like this? Is this matter going to be settled?
Also, almost half a year has passed since 1,500 soldiers of Fengzhou were killed in battle, and there has been no sound or expression from the court. Does Chang Xiangguo also imagine that he would be like Yuan Zai and force me, Guo Song, to use his own pocket to pay for the soldiers?
"
Guo Song took a deep breath, looked at Chang Gun with sharp eyes and said, "Just because I, Guo Song, enforced the law impartially in Fengzhou and offended your cousin, you targeted me and framed me again and again. You want to
You put me to death and turned a blind eye to the bloody battles of thousands of soldiers in Fengzhou. Are you worthy of being called the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty?"
The last few words made everyone present's expressions change. They had never seen such a bold person, and no one dared to tear Chang Gun's face so ruthlessly in front of the emperor.
At this time, Emperor Li Yu couldn't bear it any longer. He snorted loudly, got up and walked to the back hall.
Everyone looked at each other, and the emperor actually got angry. Prince Li Shi sighed secretly, stood up and announced: "This is the end of today's work report!"
All the ministers got up and walked out one after another. Chang Gun gritted his teeth with hatred and said to Guo Song: "My dear Guo Song, how dare you humiliate me like this? Are you really tired of living?"
Guo Song sneered, "I should be the one to say this. When I resign from office, I, Guo Song, will take your head. Just wash your neck and wait!"
After saying that, Guo Song ignored him, turned around and walked away.
Walking out of the side hall, a eunuch came forward and said: "Shijun Guo, the Holy One has summoned you!"
Guo Song turned around and walked towards the imperial study room at the back.
.........
Li Yu stood in front of the window with a livid face. He was really angry. The debriefing meeting turned into a farce in the end. Even he could hear Chang Gun's prejudice and selfishness that could not be concealed. He completely ignored the facts and forcibly incriminated Guo Guo.
Song Dynasty, what makes him especially angry is that the edict he approved three months ago to praise Fengzhou for resisting Xue Yantuo has not been issued yet. It must have been withheld by Chang Gun.
Chang Gun really disappointed him to the extreme today. In order to give vent to his relatives and to clear Li Huaiguang's charges, he threw away the fairness of the Prime Minister and put the interests of the Tang Dynasty behind him. Such a narrow-minded Prime Minister who only cares about self-interest really cannot
Use it no more.
At this time, the eunuch said outside the door: "Your Majesty, Guo Song is here!"
Li Yu nodded, "Let him come in!"
Soon, Guo Song walked in quickly from the outside, knelt down on one knee and said: "I have let your Majesty down, and I would like to apologize to your Majesty and resign."
"What did you say?" Li Yu frowned.
Guo Song sighed, "I no longer want to be an official. I want to regain my freedom and return to the mountains and forests."
Li Yu looked at him for a long time and said calmly: "Do you think I am also targeting you and supporting Chang Xiangguo?"
Guo Song nodded, "Wei Chen felt this way. His Majesty summoned Wei Chen to the capital, and Wei Chen's heart dropped. What does Li Huaiguang's defeat have to do with Wei Chen? He insisted that I go to the capital with him. This is obviously
If Wei Chen is asked to share his guilt, Wei Chen would rather resign than accept the responsibility for the defeat."
Li Yu couldn't help but laugh. This Guo Song was really a young man, and he was actually venting his anger in front of him.
He sat back on his throne and said slowly: "If you really want to resign, I agree, but at least you must let me speak clearly and don't leave with misunderstandings."
Guo Song didn't say anything, and Li Yu added: "I actually have two intentions in recruiting you to Beijing. First, I want to give you a chance to defend yourself. I believe that you don't want others to talk about you behind your back, so I just let you in."
Jing, please explain the matter clearly to your face with gongs and drums."
"Weichen made it very clear today. Just because Weichen severely punished the Zhang family in Fengzhou for pretending to be refugees and occupying land, and ended up offending Prime Minister Chang, he would put small shoes on Weichen again and again, and let people make accusations to impeach Weichen. Your Majesty
, do you think it’s normal for him to go to such great lengths to deal with a small provincial governor in Bianzhou?”
Li Yu nodded, "A debriefing meeting turned out to be a magic mirror, completely showing the ugly side of some people. I am indeed very disappointed today."
After a pause, Li Yu said to Guo Song again: "I summoned you to Beijing for another purpose."
Li Yu lowered his voice and said to Guo Song: "This is called building a plank road openly and crossing Chencang secretly. I need a secret army to lurk in the Central Plains and win by surprise at critical moments. After much thought, I have decided that you are the most suitable leader of this secret army."
Guo Song was stunned, "Your Majesty, what should we do about Fengzhou?"
Li Yu said calmly: "I have ordered Yan Xiangguo to be the special envoy to rush to Fengzhou to renegotiate with the Sijie Ministry to resolve the Jinshan conflict and restore friendly relations. During this period, Yan Xiangguo will be stationed in Fengzhou and the three towns, waiting for you.
After completing the task, I will reconsider your position."
Guo Song said after a long while: "Your Majesty means that you want to remove the minister from his position first?"
Li Yu nodded, "That's true. It makes everyone think that you were dismissed because you offended Chang Xiangguo. In this way, you can lead an elite army to secretly lurk in the Central Plains for me. I will definitely compensate you twice for your grievances and achievements."
.”
Guo Song was a little confused, "But... I haven't prepared anything yet. What will happen to the staff who follow me? My weapons are also in Fengzhou."
Li Yu smiled slightly and said: "I have arranged all these for you. Only the prince knows about this matter. You go to him now and he will tell you what to do."
After saying that, Li Yu gave him another gold medal and said with a smile: "This is the gold medal I gave you last time, you better take it!"
Guo Song took the gold medal and said: "Resignation will hurt the soldiers and officials who work with Wei Chen. Your Majesty, you should let Wei Chen resign!"