In the sixth year of Xining, it was the night of Shangyuan in Bianjing City. The whole city is lit up like daylight. A huge Aoshan Mountain was erected outside Xuande Gate.
The hundreds of thousands of lantern towers are beautiful against the moonlight. All the people in Beijing crowded to Xuande Gate to watch the lanterns.
On this day, as usual, the royal family wanted to have fun with the people. Linxuan, the official throne, witnessed this grand scene. At the same time, as a sign of filial piety, he also invited the queen mothers of the two palaces to Duolou to watch the lanterns.
The Queen Mother always had to watch the lanterns without the company of her minister, Juan. Seventeen Niang is no exception. The Seventeenth Mother resigned during the outskirts of the city, but when Zhang Yue was appointed as the official envoy for the second time last year, Empress Dowager Gao personally issued an order to grant the Imperial Order to the Seventeenth Mother.
Today, Empress Dowager Cao was unwell and could not attend the lantern viewing. Empress Dowager Gao was alone in the tower. Mrs. Gaoming rushed up to the tower to congratulate the Empress Dowager.
The Seventeenth Mother was walking on the steps wearing the clothes of Mrs. Gaoming. There were several ladies who were able to come on the stage to congratulate the Queen Mother and were similar to the Seventeenth Mother.
Mrs. Gaoming on the side talked to each other one after another. When it was mentioned that the other party was Zhang Longtu's wife, everyone showed relief and envy.
When Seventeenth Mother went up to the building to congratulate the Queen Mother, Queen Mother Gao smiled and said to Li Taijun who was accompanying the banquet: "You are really knowledgeable and sensible. I really envy you for having such a daughter." Li Taijun said with a smile: "You are just too refined. , how could the Queen Mother be as capable in literature and martial arts." The Seventeenth Mother smiled apologetically and was cautious in everything.
Empress Dowager Gao smiled and said to Seventeenth Mother: "I heard that you can honor your brothers and sister-in-law and have not separated the family for so many years. I am very happy to hear that. Your husband has shared the worries of the court and settled the affairs of the king. Now he is leading the army. Fuguo is thousands of miles away, and you are here in the capital to honor your brother and sister-in-law and fulfill your duties as a wife. This is the true husband-wife and godchild." The ladies on the side listened in and nodded to the seventeenth mother with mutual admiration. .
The Seventeenth Mother lowered her head and said: "The Queen Mother has given you too much praise. My concubine's husband lost his parents in his early years. It was his brother and sister-in-law who raised him and provided for him to study for the imperial examination. Only then did he have the opportunity to repay Her Majesty the Queen Mother today. Therefore, I serve my husband. Brothers and sisters-in-law are just like the parents of a husband, they just do their duty." Empress Dowager Gao smiled and said: "You really understand the righteousness, come, set up a seat next to me, and watch the lanterns with me." Can. Those sitting on the left and right of the Queen Mother watching the lanterns were all powerful wives like Li Taijun.
The Queen Mother made an exception to set up a seat for the Seventeenth Mother here, which shows that she attaches great importance to her. Hearing that Seventeenth Mother was treated like this, the ladies beside her were all envious.
But the Seventeenth Mother said, "How dare I have such a blessing? All I have to do is stand aside and serve the Queen Mother." Li Taijun also said with a smile: "The Queen Mother doesn't think she is clumsy, so let her serve her. " Empress Dowager Gao looked at Seventeenth Niang and smiled happily: "What a beautiful lady."... Empress Dowager Gao left after nightfall, and Seventeenth Niang helped Taijun Li down the tower.
Li Taijun looked around and said no one said: "Now the whole court is looking at the northwest, and the northwest is looking at your husband, so the queen mother values you and allows you to sit next to her. This is the favor of the official family. But we must understand Retreat modestly. You have done a good job today and kept your tongue in mind." Seventeenth Niang said, "My daughter has been taught by your mother since she was a child, and she knows how to be careful in everything." Li Taijun said to Seventeenth Niang, "Yes, Ten Did Fifth Mother come looking for you?" Seventeenth Mother nodded slightly and said, "Yes. She came to see me twice, and every time she came she just cried but didn't speak." For Seventeenth Mother, Fifteenth Mother's silence is worse than the Fifth Mother's. It’s even sadder to talk about.
Li Taijun sighed in his heart: "Mr. Wen is now opposed to the use of troops in the northwest. He does not speak for his Liulangjun. Instead, his daughter-in-law begged to come to your Zhang family. This must be very embarrassing for you!" Seventeenth Mother He said: "It's not difficult to say that my sister understands justice well. My wife doesn't understand the things on the battlefield, so I don't dare to ask any more questions."
"But Sanlang is a sensible person, and he has such a good relationship with Wenliu Lang. If he doesn't save Hezhou City, he must have his reasons. If I ask more questions, I'm afraid... Sanlang is not happy, but you can compare your feelings..." Li Taijun patted Seventeenth Niang's hand and said, "You are right. After you get married, you must put your husband first in everything, especially external matters. We should not say anything more." He paused. Taijun Li suddenly said: "Don't worry, I will go and talk to the fifteenth mother over there..."
"Mother..." Li Taijun said: "She will be confused when she is fifteen, but you will understand it later, so don't worry. My two sons-in-law have flesh on their palms and backs, and they will not tell whether they are close to each other. This matter is just Just discuss the matter." The Seventeenth Mother returned home in a carriage, and the servants reported that the Fifteenth Mother came to look for her again, but after sitting for a while, she heard the Wen family asking her to go home and then left.
...The next day in the imperial palace. The official looked at the map of the northwest, and he was concerned about the situation in Hezhou day and night.
Zhang Zhi, who was standing aside, had just been promoted to the post of fellow practitioner's daily life commentator and Baowen Pavilion lecturer. Although he has not yet entered the waiting list, this kind encounter is also rare in history.
Previously, the officials changed their previous orders and re-entrusted the Xihe Road affairs to Zhang Yue. In addition to Wang Anshi, Zhang Zhi also contributed to Wu Chong's advice.
However, the matter did not end here. After the official issued the second gold medal edict, he felt a little regretful. He was about to issue the third gold medal edict to add something, but Zhang Zhi stopped him.
But after the third gold medal imperial edict was blocked, the official family fell into deep anxiety. Zhang Zhi couldn't help but lament that as a king of a country, the food and clothing provided were very simple, he didn't like to go out and have sex with women, and he even gave up practicing calligraphy and calligraphy for half an hour every day for the sake of national events.
Such officials are indeed good officials, but it would be too much to devote all their energy to state affairs to the point of worrying about gains and losses.
The official asked Zhang Zhi: "There are rumors outside that Zhang Yue and Wen Xianggong are not on good terms, so he did not save Hezhou and wanted to kill Wen Jifu?" Zhang Zhi heard what he thought, these are all officials. Where did you hear this rumor?
Zhang Zhidao: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Zhang Yue and Wen Xianggong are not at odds with each other. Besides, the two families are still related by marriage, so this is definitely not the case. This matter has been clearly stated in Zhang Yue's memorial to Your Majesty. The two ghosts, Zhang Mu Zheng, are in Hezhou. There is a heavy ambush in the south, and Hezhou City is deliberately not attacked, waiting for our army to rescue." The official knew that Zhang Yue had indeed written a letter to explain to him, but he still couldn't help but think about it.
This is the trouble of the superior. It is not that he does not know the truth, but that there are too many sources of information and he does not know which one is the truth.
The fear of being deceived by ministers has always been the source of the suspicion and sensitivity of kings since ancient times. The official asked again: "But Zhang Yue has led his army to Ninghe Village for more than a month and even crawled to Hezhou City. Why is it still so slow to move? Is there an edict urging him to attack? Hezhou City?" Zhang Zhi said: "Your Majesty, attacking Hezhou is like cutting down a tree. If the tree is thick, you cannot cut down the middle first, but cut it horizontally from both sides and finally cut down the middle. This way it can be decided in one battle."
"Now Zhang Yue has sent two Yao, Hao Jin, Han Cunbao and others to attack the Nanshan and Chuan lines respectively. Once the enemy is successfully defeated, Hezhou can be attacked overnight. If the troops are led directly to Hezhou, in case of an ambush, the whole army will be full. Lost." Zhang Zhi's words relieved the official a little, but he still paced around the map for a while, with a worried look on his face.
Zhang Zhi could only resign. When Zhang Zhi returned to Tianzhang Pavilion, he couldn't help but want to write a letter to Zhang Yue asking him what was going on in the northwest?
Zhang Zhi thought to himself that I am all like this, so it is no wonder that the emperor has such a mood. The eunuch on the side made a cup of tea for Zhang Zhi and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you must be worried about your uncle's affairs in the northwest." Zhang Zhi nodded slightly and said: "Yes, although it shouldn't be like this, but caring about it will lead to chaos. You say How is my uncle's luck this time?" The eunuch smiled and said, "I don't dare to say more about this, but when I served my uncle in Tianzhang Pavilion, his calmness in trouble was much better than yours." Zhang Zhi smiled and said, "How can I compare to my uncle?" The eunuch smiled and said, "Shi Zhang's lectures are also pretty good." Zhang Zhi sighed and said, "I hope my uncle can turn his bad luck into something good." The eunuch smiled. He said: "Shi Zhang, please be patient. I will give you a new bowl of tea." Just then, a chamberlain rushed to Zhang Zhi and said: "Shi Zhang, your majesty has announced that you will discuss the northwest military affairs." Zhang Zhi stood up and asked urgently. "But what happened to the military situation in the northwest?" The servant said, "It seems that Mr. Zhang Jinglue has sent troops from Ninghe Village!"
"Finally made a decision!" Zhang Zhi gave a high five and immediately rushed to the palace. When the eunuch walked out with the newly brewed tea, Zhang Zhi had already disappeared.
When Zhang Zhi arrived at the imperial palace, the officials' complexion had already changed. The privy envoys Wu Chong and Cai Ting were reporting to the officials.
But Wu Chong said: "Your Majesty, after Zhang Yue stationed troops in Ninghe Village, he sent his generals to Nanshan. Pobuqinbal and others followed Gui Zhang to rebel against other tribes, beheading a thousand people. The thieves in Hezhou knew that the reinforcements of the party were cut off. And fearing that the return route to Nanshan would be cut off, they broke out of their strongholds and fled one after another."
"After our army burned all the Fan army's tents, Zhang Yue led 10,000 troops out of Ninghe Village while it was snowing, and rushed to Hezhou City in just one day. The thieves did not dare to resist, and the siege of Hezhou was immediately lifted!" Cai Ting also said: "Gao Zunyu also has good news delivered to Huizhou..." The officials were in high spirits after hearing this, but they did not worry about gains and losses as before. Zhang Zhi on the side also felt elated after hearing this.
The official said: "Very good, very good. Fortunately, Zhang Yue was prudent and cautious and did not rush into the army. Unlike me who only focused on relieving the siege of Hezhou. Now that the Fan army has retreated and the siege of Hezhou City has been relieved, thousands of people in the city have Both the soldiers and the people can survive. You must tell Zhang Yue not to pursue the poor bandits, not to be careless because of a small victory, and immediately prepare an order to warn the army." Wu Chong said: "I would like to inform your majesty that all affairs in Hezhou will be entrusted to Zhang Yue. It is difficult to command when you are thousands of miles away, so delegating authority to frontier generals is the way to win."
"What you say makes sense, what you say makes sense, I won't issue any more orders." The official nodded repeatedly and said excitedly: "Since Zhang Yue sent troops to Hezhou, I haven't been able to sleep comfortably all night. I can have a good sleep today." I'm asleep." Seeing the officials' relief, everyone was also happy.
The servants all said happily: "Your Majesty, please rest early today." The official nodded and said: "Okay, send someone to tell the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother said that the siege of Hezhou has been lifted..."
"Yes." The official yawned and walked a few steps: "If there is any military information sent to Hezhou, even if it is midnight, you must tell me!" At this point, the official looked deeply towards the northwest of the palace. Hezhou in the picture.
