Li Tai stopped laughing and said, "After you are done with the Ministry of Etiquette, remember to come to the village to play with me."
After saying that, he left.
The yamen of the Ministry of Rites became quiet again. Li Xiaogong, who was lying on the desk, had begun to snore so loudly that even the officials passing by the Ministry of Rites had to turn around and take a look.
Zhang Yang looked through the Turkic case files over the years, and found that many of these case files were left over from the former Sui Dynasty.
"You said why should we care about Turkic affairs?"
"Perhaps the central government also hopes that the north will be pacified and a khan friendly to the Tang Dynasty can be supported in the future. Many matters must be taken advantage of. This is related to the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks in the next few decades." Xu Xu Jingzong put down the scroll in his hand and picked up another scroll, frowning and looking at it.
The records in these case files can be traced back to Shibi Khan and later Jieli Khan.
Moreover, the handwriting on the case files is messy and unclear in some places, and some files are written by several people at the same time.
The handwriting is large and small, which makes people's eyes sore to read.
The office of the Ministry of Rites was very quiet, and Li Xiaogong's snoring was still there.
"What should you do if you want to kill the other party?" Xu Jingzong whispered.
The question was a bit sudden, Zhang Yang had not yet recovered from the Turkic incident.
"Why do you suddenly ask that?" Zhang Yang put down the case file in his hand and relaxed his eyes.
"Is it because someone owes you money and won't pay it back?" Zhang Yang asked again.
"I just asked casually, the official." Xu Jingzong smiled awkwardly.
"If you really want to kill someone, never show your emotions in front of your opponent. You can first minimize your sense of existence, first be patient, and even let the opponent ignore you, and then Take advantage of the opponent to relax his guard and kill him with one blow. Look at the opponent's dying eyes at this time, and you will have endless aftertaste."
Listening to Zhang Yang's words, Xu Jingzong smiled and said without making a sound, "I will never offend my consort after I get down."
"You're welcome. If Brother Xu needs any help from me in the future, just ask."
"The prince-in-law is being polite. Your Majesty has long understood the nature of your prince-in-law. If your prince-in-law encounters any difficulties, your prince-in-law will definitely die without help." Xu Jingzong bowed slightly, and he understood what he understood and no longer concealed it.
"There should be gangsters in the court. Those who want to make things difficult for us are our common enemies."
"That's right, this official is willing to be in the same boat as the consort."
The two looked at each other and smiled, losing their hypocritical masks. They each confessed something, and a consensus was quickly reached.
Everyone in the court has their own goals, but if they affect the common interests, they are the enemies of the entire Ministry of Rites.
Xu Jingzong also understood that Zhang Yang was a man who showed off his integrity and kept his secrets. Despite the smile on his face, he did not leave any room for scheming against the Tibetan and Tuyuhun envoys.
The two of them looked at each other and smiled in understanding.
"Brother Xu, your smile is scary. Don't smile like that next time."
"I understand, I will usually take it easy."
Xu Jingzong still looked through the files.
After reading for half an hour, Zhang Yang lost his temper, threw the case file in his hand and said, "I won't read it anymore."
"Why?"
"I don't want to watch anymore, I'm so tired." Zhang Yang stood up and stretched his back.
Xu Jingzong said in surprise: "Then what are we going to do next?"
Zhang Yang looked at the sunshine outside, "What time is it now?"
Xu Jingzong thought again, "It should be noon."
"Go home and eat."
Because there was a lot of dust on these old case files and clothes, Zhang Yang patted the dust off the clothes. These were official clothes that his wife had worked hard to wash with cold water at night.
Xu Jingzong was stunned for a moment when he saw him walking out of the Ministry of Rites so arrogantly.
Sitting there, Xu Jingzong looked at Li Xiaogong again, and the Hejian County Prince was still snoring like thunder.
He looked down at the case file again and left just like that?
After thinking for a while, Xu Jingzong looked numbly into the distance, what should I do now? It seems like I don’t have to do anything, which is so frustrating.
As soon as Li Yue saw Zhang Yang coming back, he stepped forward and said hello: "Husband, how was going to court today?"
Zhang Yanggang sat down.
Li Yue helped press his shoulders.
Since becoming an official, my wife has become much more attentive.
Zhang Yang closed his eyes and said with enjoyment: "Being dragged aboard the Tang Dynasty's warship by your father, I'm afraid the future life will not be so easy."
Li Yue pressed his shoulders hard, "Why are you still having a hard time?"
Zhang Yang whispered: "I don't have time to teach you."
Li Yue had a smile on her face, "We will live together for many, many years, and there will be a lot of time in the future."
After resting for a while, Zhang Yang got up and went to the East Market to buy vegetables. He should still be able to buy some meat and vegetables.
Li Yue accompanied him with a basket, and the two came to Dongshi.
At this hour, there were not so many people walking in the market, and many people were closing their stalls.
People in Dongshi know Zhang Yang.
Seeing Zhang Yang in official uniform, the merchants who used to talk and joke about prices also looked at him differently.
"Brother Xiao Zhang is an official?"
"I'm lucky, I became a minor official." Zhang Yang bought some soybeans. Bought some more pork ribs.
The butcher selling pork said with a smile: "One pound of pork ribs costs ten yuan."
Zhang Yang paid the money suspiciously, and now he doesn't even bother to bargain?
Where has everyone's previous spirit of arguing over a penny gone?
Zhang Yang felt that the simplicity in life was leaving him.
In the fifth year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin's court became more stable. This time, a low-key figure in the court was brought to the forefront.
Yang Gongren, an old minister of the former Sui clan, was promoted to Luozhou by Li Shimin. Luoyang was an important town in the Central Plains. Abandoning the prejudices of the previous dynasty, Li Shimin appointed an old minister of the former Sui Dynasty, which also reflected Li Shimin's benevolent style.
For Li Shimin, a black-faced old man, to be able to do such a thing, it is unclear whether there is any intention to show off.
Standing in the morning class, Zhang Yang yawned, and taking a nap while standing together with Li Xiaogong has become a daily routine.
As for going to work in the Ministry of Education, Zhang Yang completely forgot about it.
One official is enough, and another official is given.
If the salary is not paid, can this official be done well?
As a minister in the Tang Dynasty, there was no double holiday and no five insurances.
Not to mention the treatment, there are a lot of worries.
No salary or salary is paid. There is nothing worse than this.
At the end of the morning court, the officials left the court.
The three of them returned to the yamen of the Ministry of Rites listlessly.
Xu Jingzong was also numb. He finally understood what Li Xiaogong meant. The Ministry of Etiquette was a place for retirement.
There is no regulation on the Turkic affairs, and the files are scattered on the ground and have not been sorted out. It can be said that there is no progress in the matters that His Majesty has explained.
Xu Jingzong looked at Li Xiaogong again and began to sleep again.
Yes, that is, no progress at all.
Looking at Zhang Yang again, this guy is writing and drawing on a Turkic map without knowing what to think about.
One is that no matter how lazy the Prince of Hejian County is, it won't be a big deal. His Majesty can only blame him.
Looking at Zhang Yang again, he is a prince-in-law. If nothing happens, he will not serve as an official.
But what about yourself?
"Shilang Zhang, what should we do about this Turkic matter now?" Xu Jingzong asked tentatively.
"You're talking about Turks."
Zhang Yang scratched his head, "If you didn't tell me, I would have forgotten about this."
Xu Jingzong couldn't laugh or cry for a while.
Looking at the map again, Zhang Yang drew a very strange pattern on the map. Well... it was a pig's head.
"We can't just ignore it," Xu Jingzong said in a low voice.
"What are you going to eat today?" Zhang Yang hesitated and walked out of the Rites Office.
Xu Jingzong watched numbly.
Li Xiaogong's snoring started to come again.
In the palace, Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin were talking about Tuyuhun, "Your Majesty, Tuyuhun's envoy will arrive in Chang'an tomorrow to arrange support for the previous negotiations."
Li Shimin nodded and reviewed the memorial, "Since this matter is handled by the Ministry of Rites, let the Ministry of Rites handle the follow-up matters after the Zhongshu Ministry drafts the regulations."
At this point, Li Shimin hesitated, and then said: "You should accompany Zhang Yang to do the work, and let Yu Chigong and Li Xiaogong also keep an eye on this matter."
"I understand. Your Majesty thinks that Minister Zhang is still young and needs to be polished up."
Li Shimin did not respond to his words and continued to review the memorial.
The emperor's heart is unpredictable, and Changsun Wuji doesn't want to ask any more questions.
Just before leaving Xingqing Hall, Li Shimin's words came again.
"What happened to the Turks last time? I leave it to the Ministry of Etiquette. After so many days, we should have some clues."
Speaking of this, Changsun Wuji said helplessly: "Your Majesty, I also asked someone to go to the Ministry of Rites to inquire. They said that there has been no progress so far."
Li Shimin frowned and put down the pen in his hand, "No progress?"
Changsun Wuji bowed and said, "Yes."
I also wonder if this Zhang Yang is really not suitable to be in the Ministry of Rites, and there has been no progress so far?
Li Shimin lost his good mood, waved his hand and said: "If you have the chance, you should give him some advice. Go ahead and do your work."
"Here."
After a while, Li Shimin said to the young eunuch on the side: "Summon Li Junxian."
"Here."
Half an hour later, Li Junxian arrived at Xingqing Hall.
Li Shimin stood up and looked at the scenery outside the hall, "What is Zhang Yang doing in the Ministry of Rites?"
"Back to Your Majesty, this Zhang Yang has gone to court as usual these past two days, and will stay in the Ministry of Rites for a while after the next court. He could stay for an hour a few days ago, but now he has left the Ministry of Rites in less than half an hour after going to court."
…
The tea at home was in stock again, and Zhang Yang was still very satisfied.
The poorer tea leaves can be picked out and used to cook tea eggs.
Li Yue peeled off a tea egg and handed it to Zhang Yang, "My husband, eat it first."
Zhang Yang also peeled a tea egg for Li Yue, and the couple ate it sweetly.
Between egg whites and egg yolks, Li Yue prefers egg yolks.
Zhang Yang didn't care, the egg whites and egg yolks could be eaten together.
The days are passing by, and the weather in this season is the most comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold.
Zhang Yang brought a food box filled with hot tea eggs to the Etiquette Department leisurely, "Tea eggs made at home."
Li Xiaogong looked at the brown tea eggs suspiciously, "Tea eggs?"
"It's just eggs boiled with tea leaves."
Peeling the somewhat hot tea eggs, Li Xiaogong swallowed one in one gulp and chewed it in his mouth, "It tastes good. I hope you know how to be filial."
Zhang Yang gave two more to Xu Jingzong, "Don't dislike the homemade ones."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."
Other government offices in the imperial city were very busy. Three people in the Ministry of Rites happily ate tea eggs, which was a unique sight.
Changsun Wuji heard that the three people in the Ministry of Rites were not doing serious business, but had leisurely eating in the government office. How unbecoming it was!
Soon a petty official from Zhongshu Province came to the gate of the yamen of the Ministry of Rites.
In the yamen of the Ministry of Rites, there was a minister and two ministers. The three of them were chewing tea eggs and looking at the little official who had just arrived.
The entire government office is filled with the scent of tea eggs.
The clerk, who was looked at by three faces, was a little flustered and at a loss. He subconsciously took a step back and said, "Zhong... Zhongshu ordered the three of you to go to Zhongshu Province."
"I can't stop eating even one egg." Li Xiaogong just stood up and took two more eggs into his arms.
Zhang Yang was carrying the food box.
While Xu Jingzong was still eating, the three of them walked out of the Rites Office.
The three people who made jokes have long been famous in various government offices. Now that the three of them walked out of the Ministry of Etiquette together, everyone turned their attention to them.
Follow this little official all the way to Zhongshu Province.
This was the center of power in the Tang Dynasty, and many state affairs came from here.
Changsun Wuji was sitting inside, and there were many unfamiliar faces that Zhang Yang didn't recognize. He was diligently handing out tea eggs to everyone.
"Want to eat tea eggs?"
"..."
"Homemade."
"..."
"If you think it tastes good and you want to eat it in the future, it will be sold when Lishan Fengdi opens." Zhang Yang also introduced the business.
Those who can serve as officials in Zhongshu Province are not powerful people and have some financial means. These are all future customers.
"..."
Changsun Wuji had a headache when he saw him, how could this consort look like a philistine.
Everyone in Zhongshu Province held tea eggs in their hands, and some didn't know what to say.
What a passionate person...
Everyone was upset by Zhang Yang's enthusiasm for a while.
Zhang Yang placed the tea eggs in front of Changsun Wuji again. Seeing him with a dark face, he took out two more eggs and said, "Mr. Zhao Guo, please eat two more."
Everyone in Zhongshu Province looked at Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji was stunned and speechless, he really wanted to kill this guy!
Seeing that His Majesty was quite fond of this boy, Changsun Wuji had no choice but to endure it, "This time the Ministry of Rites is asking you to come here because of the Turkic affairs and the Tuyuhun matter. This time I will also let you discuss it together."
Li Xiaogong quickly found his place here.
There are many people in Zhongshu Province, and everyone who holds important positions in the court is here.
There was only one empty seat left, so Zhang Yang and Xu Jingzong sat down together.
Changsun Wuji looked at the tea eggs in front of him, "I just received a military report from the front. The bloodline of the Turkic royal court was the son of Khan, Ashina Shibobi. It was also the time when Tuli Khan was fighting Duer. You have proclaimed yourself Dubu Khan, and Xue Yantuo has rebelled. Now it seems that Tuli Khan is in danger, and he is ready to come to the Tang Dynasty for help."
The grievances between the Central Plains and the Turks were ups and downs. What Li Shimin hoped most was that the Turks could become Datang's barrier in Mobei.
(End of chapter)
