Yinan Khan looked around first, and then walked into the yamen of the Ministry of Rites.
He looked at Zhang Yang and Xu Jingzong and bowed slightly.
Zhang Yang poured him a bowl of tea and said, "Try our tea."
Yi Nan Khan sat down and held the tea bowl. He looked confused and put down the tea bowl without drinking. "Have you found the cattle, sheep and horses?"
Zhang Yang shook his head helplessly and sighed, "We are checking."
Yinan Khan saluted again and said, "Who took that away?"
Zhang Yang still shook his head, "We are checking."
Yinan Khan stared at his eyes, "Why didn't the warrior Xue Yantuo who followed us come... Could it be that..."
Zhang Yang still sighed, "That's right..."
"Checking?"
"right."
Zhang Yang looked troubled, "It's not easy to do."
Yi Nan Khan's eyes were bloodshot, obviously he didn't sleep all night last night, "Isn't it easy?"
"Your warrior may have been killed."
Yinan Khan jumped up and asked, "Were you killed?"
Zhang Yang said melancholy, "Maybe he disappeared."
Yinan Khan punched the table and said, "My people, my cattle, sheep, and horses have all disappeared when they arrived in the Tang Dynasty. Can't the Tang Dynasty give me an explanation?"
Zhang Yang smiled, "Are you trying to show off your barbarism? This is the Tang Dynasty, not your Xue Yantuo's tent."
Yinan Khan gritted his teeth and looked at Zhang Yang, "I can kill you with one punch."
Zhang Yang put his hands in his hands, "Do you know the consequences of your punch?"
"What consequences."
"Sure enough, you are as ignorant as the Turks. You should read some books."
"Are you calling me stupid?"
"A Khan from Xue Yantuo punched the Minister of Rites of the Tang Dynasty. The Ministry of Rites symbolizes the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty. If you hit him with this punch, it would be a punch on the dignity of the Tang Dynasty. His Majesty will send troops to attack you."
Zhang Yang took a sip of tea.
Seeing that Yi Nan Khan fell silent and did not drink the tea in the bowl, Zhang Yang picked up his tea bowl and poured the tea on the spot, "It will be wasted for you to drink."
Yi Nan Khan was so angry that his whole body was shaking, "I want Datang to give an explanation."
"Why?"
"Just because something happened in the Tang Dynasty!"
"What Yi Nan Khan said is wrong. You failed to protect your cattle and sheep. Instead, you came to blame us, the Tang Dynasty. Do you want us to compensate you?"
Yinan Khan stood up again, "I really can't lose my temper with you."
After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave. Zhang Yang said again: "You can't lose your temper with us, the people of the Tang Dynasty!"
"When Xue Yantuo and the Tang Dynasty fought against the Turks, Tian Khan would never ignore this matter. How dare you treat me with contempt!"
"Khan should say ignore it. The word contempt is inappropriate. Sure enough, he still doesn't read enough."
Yinan Khan snorted coldly and quickened his pace to leave.
It was obvious that the first conversation was not a pleasant one. The Yinan Khan was very angry and irritable.
Zhang Yang glanced at Xu Jingzong, "Brother Xu?"
Xu Jingzong opened his eyes, "I just fell asleep. What did that guy say?"
Zhang Yang came to his senses and said, "The guy said that Brother Xu is handsome and brave, so he is suitable to be his son-in-law, Xue Yantuo."
"Hahaha... Mr. Zhang really loves to joke."
After saying that, seeing Zhang Yang's serious look, Xu Jingzong panicked, "He can't really say that."
Zhang Yang said in a low voice, "Pack up your things and prepare to be the son-in-law of Xue Yantuo."
Xu Jingzong stood up immediately and said, "I already have a family. I will never be Xue Yantuo's son-in-law. Don't even think about it. I won't be the minister of the Ministry of Rites."
Xu Jingzong took off his official uniform and boots, "There are no good people in this court!"
"Okay, he didn't say anything, and he didn't ask you to be his son-in-law. He just lost his temper."
"really?"
"But if you really go to Xue Yantuo to be someone's son-in-law, maybe you can work as an undercover agent for our Ministry of Rites."
Xu Jingzong sat down again without any strength, "Master Zhang, please don't scare me anymore, I've been really miserable lately."
Zhang Yang pondered, "You said that if Khan Xue Yantuo fails to marry the princess, it would be good to ask for a son-in-law."
"Anyway, this son-in-law can't be a junior official!" Xu Jingzong gritted his teeth, "Otherwise, the junior official... will be killed on the spot to thank the world!"
"You said you are quite old. Maybe you go to Xue Yantuo and die on the spot after a few struggles. What if you die on the spot? People don't like it either."
"Yes, yes, I don't like it." Xu Jingzong soothed his frightened soul.
There were only two people in the empty etiquette department, but he fell asleep. Xu Jingzong felt a little guilty, "Then Yi Nan Khan didn't do anything to Zhang Shilang."
"That's not true. I just said a few harsh words." Zhang Yang put the kettle on the small clay stove.
"Things have reached this point. Thinking about all the twists and turns this time, the marriage may be..."
"The Yinan Khan left home, and now there are no livestock to pay tribute to the Tang Dynasty. The majestic Khan on the grassland is now just a pig. Even if His Majesty wants him to die, he can't live. Facts have proved that a person who is too arrogant will not survive. Good thing."
"show off?"
"It's just to show off." Zhang Yang took a sip of tea, "He has nothing now. Xue Yantuo is far away in the Mobei grassland. He can't let the army go south with just one order. His order can't reach Mobei. A person without capital How can a Khan ask to marry a princess if he has lost his wings?"
Zhang Yang looked at Xu Jingzong and said, "Perhaps your Majesty will discuss with those in the court how to divide Xue Yantuo."
Xu Jingzong took a deep breath, thinking that this court was full of evil people.
The two sat for a while, speechless for a while. Xu Jingzong smiled and said: "There are some rumors in the imperial city. Have you heard of it, Minister Zhang?"
"What rumors?"
"I heard that Taoist Yuan wants dozens of hard-boiled eggs every day, and now he doesn't even dare to let go of duck eggs."
"Is this happening?"
"Yes, they all say that Taoists have gone crazy. Taoist priest Li Chunfeng also retreats every three days. Every time he retreats, he is crazy. There are two places in the imperial city that you have to go around. One is Qintian where Taoist priest Yuan is. Supervisor, there is also the Taishi Bureau of Taoist Priest Li Chunfeng."
Zhang Yang said suspiciously, "I didn't expect such a strange news."
While the two were talking, Li Xiaogong came. After he sat down, he picked up the tea bowl and drank, "I heard that Yi Nan Khan has come?"
Zhang Yang nodded.
"What did he say?"
"He said a few harsh words and then left."
"No matter what, let him stay in Chang'an City. Don't let him leave easily. I have already discussed with the soldiers guarding the city gates. As long as Yi Nan Khan is seen, he will not be allowed to leave."
Li Xiaogong continued, "Don't worry, there are still three thousand sheep and more than ten cows placed in your fief. The rest have been given to the Wei Mansion. The generals of the Wei Mansion gave me some thin noodles and earned some money." A lot of money."
"Three thousand strings have been placed in the fiefdom of you and the princess. You can take it for yourself." Halfway through the words, Li Xiaogong said in confusion: "I don't understand why King Wei works as a coolie in the princess's fiefdom?"
Zhang Yang cleared his throat, "Losing weight is also treating diseases."
"lose weight?"
"As the name suggests, lose fat." Zhang Yang explained calmly.
"You are such a good boy who is so fat and chubby, but you have to make yourself thin?"
"Excessive obesity is not good. Losing weight is also for good health."
Li Xiaogong told the story again. He distributed the cattle, sheep and war horses to various guard houses.
The Weifu will naturally not talk nonsense after taking advantage of it.
Although Xu Jingzong was doing business at night, Li Xiaogong still checked along the way just in case. Many people also saw a large group of cattle and sheep passing through the village that night. It was impossible not to disturb the villagers along the way.
To guard against Xue Yantuo Khan outside the pass, the villagers were very cooperative. Li Xiaogong spent a few coins to bribe all the dozens of villagers along the way. The people in the pass were fierce and everyone kept their word.
There were even villagers who cleaned up horse and cow dung along the way, erasing all traces.
Now even if Dali Temple wants to investigate, no witnesses can be found.
After saying this, Li Xiaogong took a dagger and shaved his beard. The sharp and cold knife was pressed against the skin at the junction of the chin and neck. The way we Tang men shaved was really hardcore.
"Xiaguan has two homemade razors at home. I will bring one to Prince Hejian tomorrow. It's so scary to shave like this. I don't know, I thought I was going to cut my throat and commit suicide." Zhang Yang said with a worried look on his face. .
Li Xiaogong just nodded and responded.
In the palace and outside Xingqing Hall, rain fell into the lake.
Li Shimin looked at the rain scene in front of him, "So everything was planned in advance?"
Changsun Wuji nodded, "Right now, Dali Temple has gone to investigate, but my people discovered that today there are soldiers from the Wei Mansion who have brought many war horses. These soldiers also have old friendships with the King of Hejian County."
Li Shimin had a stern look on his face, "Is it really Li Xiaogong who did it?"
Changsun Wuji replied: "This is not difficult to check. From the increased number of horses, cattle and sheep among the soldiers and horses of various guards, we can deduce that they are the livestock that Yinan Khan lost before."
After finishing speaking, Changsun Wuji waited for Li Shimin's response.
Li Shimin closed his eyes, "If it were you, what would you do?"
Changsun Wuji bowed and said: "I will balance the accounts of each guard house, and exchange horses with each guard house to erase the traces."
"Zhang Yang is a little careless in his work."
"It's not carelessness. Dali Temple can't enter the army without His Majesty's order, so they can't find anything."
After thinking for a while, Changsun Wuji said again: "I think the Minister of Dali Temple will come to see His Majesty soon."
Li Shimin took the tea handed by the palace maid, "Then do you think I should agree to the marriage?"
"Your Majesty, Yinan Khan is brave and foolhardy. He just took advantage of the Turkic chaos to gain today's power. Yinan Khan only focuses on fighting and does not care about governance. Xue Yantuo will not last long like this. Sooner or later something big will happen, sir. If you think that such a person cannot be reconciled with you, why would your Majesty take him seriously?"
Li Shimin smiled and said, "Auxiliary machine, you didn't talk like this before. I don't like how respectful you are."
Changsun Wuji looked at the rainy scene outside and remained silent.
We were close friends at first, then generals, then kings of Qin, and now your majesties.
The friendship between monarch and ministers is now a bit complicated, and Changsun Wuji is also very conflicted.
Li Shimin smiled and said: "Guanyin Maid, you really think highly of Zhang Yang. Your sister is very satisfied with this son-in-law."
Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "This boy is extraordinary and has means. He dares to ask for power from Zhongshu Province, but he is still young and has no experience."
When it came to the word power, Li Shimin took a deep breath and said, "It's more about asking for power from me than from Zhongshu Province."
"It is a good thing that the Ministry of Rites has diplomatic powers. Zhang Yang, a young man, acts independently and is tough. If the Turks matter is done well, it is better to delegate power to the Ministry of Rites to see the effect and take it back in the future."
Li Shimin nodded as he listened, "You should take the overall situation into consideration."
"I'm just doing my best."
"It is said that the children of farmers can only farm, and the children of blacksmiths can only make iron. The environment can cultivate a person, and cultivating talents also requires a good environment. You said that a child of a farmer can both make iron and study. Is it possible? "
Changsun Wuji replied: "If a child from a poor farmer's family can only help his parents farm, he will only be able to farm from now on."
"Zhang Yang is just a young man, how can he come up with so many abilities?"
"Your Majesty, there are many strange people and strangers in this world, and these strange people and strangers often have weird personalities."
"I don't know what's going on recently. I heard that Qing Que goes to Lishan Mountain every day to do hard work, and he also likes a game similar to Liubo."
"It must be related to Zhang Yang."
The young eunuch from the palace came in a hurry, "Your Majesty, Yi Nan Khan has already gone to the Ministry of Rites."
"What did they say?"
"I had some quarrel with Mr. Zhang and then left angrily."
"I understand."
Changsun Wuji also saluted and said, "Your Majesty, I will leave first."
Li Shimin sighed: "Zhang Yang is still young, so you should take more care of him."
There are many young people to take care of in the court. It is His Majesty's order and he must obey it. Changsun Wuji bowed and saluted, "Here."
After walking out of Xingqing Hall, the drizzle in the sky made Changsun Wuji upset. The things done by the Rites Department were somewhat rough. Zhang Yang was still a young man after all, and he was not thoughtful and reckless in doing things.
We also need to help the Ministry of Rites erase some traces. This case cannot become an unresolved case, and Dali Temple must investigate it openly.
The Tang Dynasty cannot let people leave a trail. This matter has nothing to do with the Tang Dynasty. Creating a group of real culprits behind the scenes and letting Dali Temple discover them gave Yinan Khan a target for revenge.
This is the real end.
How can the Ministry of Rites do this without starting or ending?
I still wanted to help them with their funeral arrangements, so Changsun Wuji walked faster and faster.
Can't you come and inform me before doing this kind of thing?
What nonsense!
If it weren't for Zhang Yang's talent, he is also very talented and can take on some important responsibilities with a little guidance.
What he lacks is a teacher to lead the way, not an old bastard like Li Xiaogong.
Yinan Khan wanted to see His Majesty, but he couldn't get in when he stood in front of the Chengtian Gate. He sent people to inform him, but there was still no news.
Standing in the rain, he felt resentment and anger in his heart. The officials of the Ministry of Rites were just perfunctory and must let Tian Khan punish him.
(End of chapter)
