A few days later, the condition of Emperor Li Yu not only did not improve, but worsened. Li Yu drafted a decree on his sick bed and re-appointed Prince Li Shi as the supervisor of the country, with full power to take charge of the government.
Secondly, Li Yu also approved the application for commendation and awards drafted by Prince Li Shi to commend the main generals who made military exploits in the battle to annihilate Li Lingyao.
Li Mian was promoted to Taibao, and was granted the title of Duke of Yue. Ma Sui was granted the title of Champion General, Secretary of the Ministry of Military Affairs, and was granted the title of Duke of Qing. General Li Chongqian was granted the title of General Yunhui, and was granted the title of Duke of Mi County. Guo Song restored his official rank and was granted the title of Doctor Yinqing Guanglu.
, was promoted to Duke Lingwu, and all four of them were rewarded with 100 hectares of fertile land and 3,000 bolts of silk, and all the other officers and soldiers were rewarded.
There were more than twenty generals who were awarded awards in the imperial edict, but Guo Song attracted special attention. He was dismissed from his official position for the following crimes, and then disappeared, but he turned to shine on the battlefields of the Central Plains. Not only was he an official
He was restored to his post, and he was promoted to a high rank from a county prince to a county prince. You must remember that he was only twenty-four years old. Generally, only the royal family would obtain a high rank at a young age.
There was a lot of discussion in the government and the public. When the officials saw Prime Minister Chang Gun, their eyes were somewhat mocking. They had already been promoted, but the Prime Minister still couldn't get his salary!
Chang Gun's face was ashen and he walked by without saying a word.
However, Guo Song himself was not happy. Even if he was promoted to a higher position, he would not be able to return to Fengzhou. His career had just begun in Fengzhou and then came to an abrupt halt.
After accepting the official title, he still has nothing to do, and his specific position has not yet been determined. This is called having an official position but no position. He can get a basic salary, but there are no various position subsidies.
In the afternoon, Guo Song came to the East Palace to express his gratitude to Prince Li Shi.
In the prince's study, Li Shi asked Guo Song to sit down and said with a smile: "It has been decided. In March next year, Chang Shi will return to the capital to report on his work. He will stay in the capital for about half a month. Your life-long events should be settled.
.”
Guo Song bowed and thanked: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"
Li Shi nodded and said: "Although my father is seriously ill this time, he still wants to complete the commendation and awards for the war in the Central Plains as soon as possible. We cannot let the hearts of the soldiers be cold. Are you satisfied with your award?"
"Wei Chen has only done a small amount of merit, and yet he gave me such a heavy reward. It really makes Wei Chen feel uneasy. It is true that his merits are not worthy of his salary. His Highness treats Wei Chen too kindly."
Li Shi smiled and said: "The reward given to you actually includes the compensation for last year's Fengzhou Battle. I once told you that the court will not forget your contribution and will consider it together. As a prince, how can you say that?"
No faith?”
Guo Song sighed: "Your Majesty, I can't repay you for your kindness even if I am shattered to pieces. I can only do my best and die!"
Li Shi was very satisfied with Guo Song's statement, and smiled slightly: "In addition, your specific position will have to wait for a few more months. This is the Holy Spirit's wish. I am afraid there will be changes in the situation in Hexi and Hehuang this year. Let's see.
You have to be aware of the situation before making a decision after the situation changes. This is actually the Holy Spirit's affirmation of your ability and is a good thing. Please wait patiently for a few more months."
"Wei Chen fully understands that Wei Chen actually wants to use these few months to go out for a walk, and I hope His Highness will give you permission!"
Li Shi pondered for a moment and said: "You can go out, but it's best to come back before the New Year. Your appointment should be around the New Year."
"Wei Chen understands!"
Li Shi thought for a while and then asked with a smile: "Can I ask where you plan to go? And how to find you. If there is any emergency matter from the court, of course, it is usually nothing and I won't disturb you."
Guo Song said with a smile: "The proprietor Zhang of Meishou Liquor Shop in West City is my senior brother. This time I am traveling, he will arrange the accommodation. If there is any emergency, His Highness, you can contact me by asking him. If nothing happens, I may come in."
Shu."
"I know, let's go! I wish you a safe journey."
Guo Song took out the emperor's gold medal and handed it to the prince, "Your Highness, please return this gold medal to your Majesty!"
Li Shi looked at the gold medal and shook his head, "You can't give this gold medal to me, and I can't hand it over to you. You must hand it over to the Holy One yourself."
Guo Song hesitated and said: "But... the Holy Spirit is not feeling well, and it is not convenient for me to go to see him."
Li Shi smiled slightly and said: "Then just keep it yourself. Unless there are special circumstances, the Holy Spirit will not take back this gold medal."
"Thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave!"
Guo Song bowed and left the prince's study...
Early the next morning, Guo Song left Chang'an with his two entourages and headed for Bashu. The autumn weather was crisp and it was a good time to travel.
On the third day after Guo Song left, shocking news reached Chang'an. Nearly a thousand members of the Uighur mission were killed in Daizhou by Zhang Guangsheng, the governor of Daizhou. This was the famous massacre of envoys in the history of the Tang Dynasty*
*It was not avoided because the Uighur mission left early, it still happened.
The massacre of the Uighur mission was not an accident, but a strong backlash against the Tang Dynasty's long-term oppression and humiliation by the Uighurs. The real reason for its occurrence has been difficult to verify. Some say it was Zhang Guangsheng's unauthorized act, while others say it was Zhang Guangsheng's.
In an act of accepting the emperor's secret order, this Uighur mission was wiped out at the border. Some people said that this was an internal power struggle in the Uighur that continued into the Tang Dynasty.
But in any case, this Uighur mission did commit serious crimes. They bullied men and women in Chang'an for more than ten years, and continued to commit crimes on the way back to the grasslands. They robbed property and raped women at will in the states and counties along the way. They filed complaints against the states and counties along the way.
The ultimatum was sent to Chang'an like snowflakes.
When they arrived at Dai County, they were accompanied by hundreds of carriages. The carriages were covered with curtains and the doors were locked. Zhang Guangsheng sent someone to check the carriages and found that all the carriages were filled with young women from the Tang Dynasty who had been kidnapped. There were thousands of them.
This aroused Zhang Guangsheng's strong indignation, and he took advantage of the banquet to see him off and killed all the more than a thousand Huihe people in the delegation.
This news was like an earthquake in Chang'an. The people of Chang'an ran and cheered, but there was a lot of discussion in the court. In any case, the massacre of other countries' missions was a major event, which would seriously affect the relationship between Datang and Uighur, and even lead to a war between the two countries.
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The government and the public were arguing endlessly about this matter. For several days, the court was discussing this important matter.
But the Huihe Tu ambassador had nothing to do with Guo Song. He had already left Chang'an and was on his way to Bashu.
Ten days later, Guo Song arrived in Chengdu.
Chengdu Prefecture was a military and economic powerhouse of the Tang Dynasty, as well as the economic and political center of Bashu. Its state government was Chengdu County, which was also the residence of Jiannan Jiedu Prefecture. It had a large population, rich products, and developed commerce. There has always been a saying that "Yang Yi Yi Er"
, known as the land of abundance, Chengdu also has the reputation of Jinguancheng.
When Guo Song entered Chengdu Prefecture, it happened to be the autumn harvest. The rice fields on both sides of the official road were full of busy farmers. Bundles of golden rice ears were loaded onto carts. Oxen carts loaded with rice were slowly driving on the official road.
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At noon that day, Guo Song finally arrived in Chengdu. They walked all morning and were quite hungry and thirsty. Guo Song pointed to a tea shed on the roadside and said to his two followers: "Go and have a rest, eat something before entering the city!"
The three of them approached the tea shed, and the waiter immediately greeted them enthusiastically, "You three guests, please give me your horses. Come in and sit down to rest. I will serve you hot tea."
The two attendants took off their horse bags and followed Guo Song into the tea shed. There were seven or eight tables under the tea shed, half of which were empty. They found an empty table and sat down. The waiter served three bowls of hot tea, and Guo Song took a sip of the hot tea.
Cha asked: "What good food is there?"
“The small shop’s bacon rice is the most famous, and it’s paired with a pot of stewed hens and goats. It’s delicious, and it’s all ready-made, so you don’t have to wait.”
Another follower of Guo Song, Zhao Xiu, was from Chengdu Prefecture. He whispered to Guo Song: "Chengdu Prefecture's bacon rice is good. It uses bacon, sausage and steamed rice together, which is more suitable for your taste."
Guo Song nodded happily, "Then let's have three big bowls of bacon rice, a pot of stewing hen with wild spinach, and a few bacon side dishes, please hurry up."
"Would you like some drinks? The small shop has authentic Jiannan Shaochun. It's very cheap, only thirty cents a pot."
Authentic Jiannan Shaochun costs two guan for a pot in Chang'an, and the Jiannan Shaochun worth thirty cents is not a good thing. Guo Song shook his head, "We have to go on a journey, so there is no need for wine."
"Okay! Wait a moment, you three. The food will be here soon."
Not long after, the waiter came over with a big plate, three big bowls of bacon rice, snow-white rice, a few large pieces of brown and translucent bacon, served with onions and garlic. It smelled really fragrant, and it was no different from the later generations of preserved clay pot rice.
The waiter brought another pot of stewed chicken and several plates of side dishes. The three of them were all very hungry and wolfed down the food.
At this time, a group of cavalry, surrounded by an official in his thirties, came galloping from a distance on horseback. The official pointed to the tea shed and said, "Go have something to eat and take a rest."
The soldiers dismounted and walked quickly into the tea shed. The tea shed was full at once. The official sat at the table next to Guo Song. He glanced at Guo Song and asked with a smile: "Young Master is not from here, isn't he?"
Guo Song was a little surprised and asked: "How can you tell?"
"There are very few locals with a figure like the young master. I have never seen the jade pendant around the young master's waist in Chengdu."
Guo Song wore a piece of peerless mutton-fat jade around his waist. Not to mention that Bashu did not have it, and even Chang'an might not have a second piece. But first, you have to know the goods to know how precious Guo Song's jade is.
Seeing that this official was quite knowledgeable, Guo Song nodded and said with a smile: "I came from Chang'an, and these two are my followers. From the accent of the envoy, it seems that they are also from Chang'an?"
The official smiled slightly and said: "I am Wei Gao, a native of Chang'an, currently serving as the judge of Jiannan Jiedu Mansion. May I ask what your surname is?"