Li Zhigao was sitting on the imperial couch, and all the movements and expressions of everyone in the palace were within his sight.
Li Zhi lowered his head and looked at the chiefs of the twenty-four states who were still kneeling in the hall, with deep eyes. He said lightly: "It's rare that all the chiefs of the twenty-four Turkic tribes are here. Tell me, what are your plans for coming here this year?" "
"Your Majesty!" Asted Yuanzhen knelt down and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, since the third year of the Yuan Dynasty, the Turkic tribes have repeatedly caused drought and snow disasters. Heaven and earth have punished them, and the people have withered.
A month ago, there was heavy snow again, and countless cattle and sheep froze to death.
I request your Majesty to send the left guard Zhonglang general Ashina Nishugo and the right guard Zhonglang general Ashina Gana back to the grassland.
Offer sacrifices to ancestors and protect the grassland.
I would like to offer another 8,000 war horses. Please give me your permission. "
After Asted Yuanzhen finished speaking, the chiefs of the twenty-four tribes behind him kowtowed to the ground at the same time and shouted in unison: "Please give me your majesty's permission."
The atmosphere in the entire Tai Chi Palace instantly solidified.
The Turks seemed to be begging, but with this momentum, they were obviously trying to force him into the palace.
Although the countless foreign envoys in the palace did not dare to look up at the emperor at this time, they all listened with their ears pricked up.
…
"That's it." Li Zhi nodded lightly, his voice was calm, he turned to look to the left: "The left guard Zhonglang will be Ashina Nishugui, the right guard Zhonglang will be Ashina Gana, where are they?" ?”
"I'm here!" In response to two shouts, two middle-aged generals wearing armor walked out from among the generals, stood in the hall, and accepted the order with their hands raised.
The twenty-four Turkic chiefs kneeling on the ground subconsciously raised their heads.
Seeing Ashina Nishugo and Ashina Gana standing respectfully on one side, they were a little stunned.
They really didn't expect that the two of them were here today.
According to the information they had previously obtained, Ashina Nishugo and Ashina Gana had been imprisoned in the mansion since they were arrested while trying to escape Chang'an in the autumn of the second year of the Yuan Dynasty.
Outsiders are not allowed to visit, and insiders are not allowed to come in or out.
Naturally, they will not be allowed to participate in the Zhengdan Dynasty meeting at the end of the year.
They also never participated.
Therefore, the twenty-four Turk chiefs subconsciously thought that these two people were still imprisoned in the mansion today, but they did not expect that they would appear in the court today.
And they didn't even recognize these two people before.
Of course, this was because both of them were wearing red clothes, gold armor, and general uniforms today, and they were standing outside and back, so the Turks were not able to recognize them for a while.
But since the two people have appeared today, everything is not like the previous legend on the grassland. The two people were imprisoned.
Many Turkic chiefs were confused.
The other foreign courtiers in the palace were also a little stunned.
Was there really that much conflict between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks?
…
Sitting on the imperial couch, Li Zhi saw everything clearly, with a slight sneer on his lips.
The white jade crown above his head swayed slightly. Li Zhi looked at Ashina Nishugo and Ashina Gana, and asked softly: "Since the chiefs of the twenty-four tribes on the grassland have requested, which of the two dear friends is willing?" go back?"
Ashina Nishugo and Ashina Gana looked at each other with solemn expressions.
Finally, Ashina Nishu took a step forward and said seriously, "Your Majesty, I would like to return to the grassland. After offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, I will return to Chang'an soon."
Ashina Gana took a step forward, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to ask your Majesty's permission to go to Jiannan and Jiangnan during spring and summer."
Ashina Nishugo and Ashina Gana walked in tandem, their attitudes clearly stated.
Let's not talk about Ashina Nishuge for now. He is going back to the grassland, but he promises to come back in the future.
As for Ashina Gana, he took the initiative to apply to go to Jiannan and Jiangnan, just to tell the Turks that he had no intention of returning to the grassland.
Li Zhi nodded lightly and said: "In that case, it's settled. The left guard Zhonglang will take Ashina Nishugui back to the grassland to worship the ancestors of heaven and earth, and the right guard Zhonglang will take Ashina Gana back to the grassland to worship the ancestors of heaven and earth. Let’s go south along the canal, go to the land of Wu and Yue, and then go to the land of Jiangyou and Xiang.”
"I obey the order." Ashina Nishugo and Ashina Gana deeply cupped their hands at the same time, then took a step back and stood back in the train.
The twenty-four Turkic chiefs kneeling on the ground were numb with shock.
Obviously they came to the Zhengdan Dynasty today to force the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty to release people, but now it feels like the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had expected it and made arrangements in advance to send only Ashina Nishugo back to the grassland.
But in fact, they are more willing to accept Ashina Nishugo.
After all, Ashina Gana is the direct grandson of Jieli, and his prestige in the grassland is even greater.
But the last thing the Turkic chiefs on the grasslands now need is for Jieli's direct grandson to return.
But although they seemed to have achieved their goal today, everything seemed to be completely in the hands of the emperor in the end.
Everything was calm, yet unsettling.
Originally, the Turks had already made a plan to make a big fuss and even bet to force a fight if the emperor did not allow it, but today the emperor suddenly relented, leaving them unable to react for a while.
And calm down, since the emperor had expected all this today, is Ashina Nishugo who returned to the grassland really that simple?
Many smart people have figured out why.
The Turks bowed their heads and remained silent. The envoys from other foreign countries looked at Ashina Nishugui with a faint look in their eyes.
The atmosphere was a little weird for a while.
…
"Okay, since the Turks are in trouble, please step back." Li Zhi waved his hand casually, his eyes half smiling but not smiling.
At this time, Asted Yuanzhen only felt a numbness in his scalp. He hurried forward and bowed his head: "I would like to thank your majesty for your kindness. The twenty-four tribes of the grassland would like to thank your majesty for your kindness... Today, the Shanyu Protector's Mansion We have also prepared a grassland dance to present a gift to His Majesty."
"Oh!" Li Zhi nodded lightly, then pursed the corners of his mouth, looked at Asted Yuanzhen with a half-smile, and said softly: "The grassland tribes are interested. After the great dynasty, there will be a banquet in the Liangyi Palace, and the grassland health The dance will be placed at the Liangyi Hall banquet, so that the grassland athletes can entertain the nobles."
The Tai Chi Palace is a solemn and sacred place for court meetings.
In the banquet place of Liangyi Hall, everything is out of control.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Asted Yuanzhen bowed deeply and was about to stand up. At this time, Li Zhi spoke again.
"It's rare that all the grassland ministries are interested, so I have to express my feelings." Li Zhi just spoke, Asted Yuanzhen and other grassland chiefs knelt down again, and Li Zhi continued to speak: "The heavy snow in winter may hurt many Turks. In this way Come on, Lord Wenxi County!"
"I'm here!" Pei Xingjian stood up and raised his hands to the emperor solemnly.
"After March, you will go to the grassland to patrol the border on my behalf. If there are any tribes in trouble, provide them with timely relief. Don't let me down."
Li Zhi said something lightly, and everyone in the hall was stunned at the same time.
Pei Xingjian, Secretary of the Ministry of War, patrolled the border to provide relief. You are not doing relief. You are obviously going to kill people.
None of these people in the palace can tell.
Xue Rengui was ruthless in killing, but Pei Xingjian's methods were even better.
Xue Rengui was still suppressing them in Daizhou, and Pei Xingjian was transferred to the north. The pressure on the Turks increased greatly.
Now, at the moment, the only thing left for them to regain their face is to perform "dance" in the future.
…
In the main hall, no one was paying attention to the etiquette in the main hall. They were all waiting to see the secret fight between the Tang Dynasty and the Turks.
"Your Majesty, congratulations to Rui, the gifts have been presented!" Attendant Liu Shenli stood in the center of the hall with his hands folded.
Li Zhi nodded slightly, his eyes falling on Zhao Renben: "Zhao Qing."
"I'm here." Zhao Renben, the servant, walked out from the upper left, then walked into the center of the hall, side by side with Liu Shenli.
The two men each held a memorial in their hands, recording all the events of the great court meeting.
Li Zhi sighed softly and said: "My subordinates have worked hard today, you two have worked hard, and there will be rewards from the palace to the ministers' mansions later!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhao Renben and Liu Shenli bowed at the same time.
"Lai Qing has resigned from the post of Minister of Huangmen." Li Zhi's eyes fell on Lai Heng. Lai Heng, who was standing in the queue, bowed lightly. The emperor looked at Zhang Wenguan again: "After that, Prime Minister Zhang acted again A few days.”
Zhang Wenguan also bowed, and Li Zhi nodded and said: "The government and the public are paying attention, and I have made a decision today: I will give you a permanent knight to accompany you to the palace and be ready for consultation."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Lai Heng stood up and earnestly handed over his hand.
"Yes!" Li Zhi turned to Cui Zhiwen and said directly: "Cui Zhiwen was promoted to Zuocheng, Minister of Public Affairs, as the Minister of Huangmen, and is the third rank of Zhongshu."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Cui Zhiwen stepped forward and earnestly handed over his hand.
Li Xian looked at Cui Zhiwen with a complicated expression, Li Xian looked happy, and Li Dan looked calm.
The emperor then spoke: "In this case, Liu Jingxian was promoted to Minister Zuocheng."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Liu Jingxian immediately stood up and handed over his hand seriously.
On the imperial steps, Li Xian suddenly looked happy.
Liu Jingxian was the eldest son of former prime minister Liu Xiangdao, who served as the chief historian of Prince Yong's palace in his early years, and later served as Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, Pingzhangshi, Prime Minister on the Right, and Duke of Guangping County.
Liu Xiangdao's younger brother Liu Yingdao married Li Wanshun, the second daughter of Prince Yin Li Jiancheng of Wenxi County in his early years, and now serves as a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The entire Liu family has a very close relationship with the East Palace.
Li Xian couldn't help but glance above, and then quickly lowered his head, looking excited.
But he didn't notice that his change in expression was seen by many people.
…
Li Xuan's eyes glanced at the Turkic chiefs behind him on the left, and many of their faces looked a little ugly at this time.
Regarding the power struggle at the core of the Tang Dynasty, Li Xuan did not believe that smart people among the Turks could not see it.
Especially a few months ago, they had conspired with the Demon Cult in an attempt to speed up Li Xian's dethronement.
But now, the emperor just moved a chess piece and the prince's situation immediately changed.
Although it was not Prince Zhan Shihuangfu Zhengyi who entered the political hall this time, Cui Zhiwen's relationship with the East Palace was not hostile.
It's just that the two sides were a little estranged because of General Quan's incident. Now as long as Li Xian works hard, he may not be able to bring him back.
The most important thing is that the successor, Zuo Cheng, is Liu Jingxian, the eldest son of former prime minister Liu Xiangdao, and has a closer relationship with the East Palace.
And the most important thing is that the power of the East Palace has penetrated into the upper echelons of Shangshu Province.
The prince's situation suddenly became much more optimistic.
As a result, the Turkic people's idea of taking advantage of the turmoil in the Tang Dynasty to make profits immediately went bankrupt.
Ashina Gudulu's expression suddenly became uncertain.
At this moment, the ceremony on one side shouted loudly: "The ceremony is over!"
"Long live your Majesty! Long live your Majesty!" All the ministers knelt down at the same time.
On the throne, Li Zhi nodded slightly, and then said: "Xing!"
The ministers slowly stood up and held their hands solemnly.
Li Zhi looked at the ministers in the palace with gentle eyes and said: "In the three years of Yifeng, thanks to the hard work of all the ministers, the country's fortunes have been prosperous. In the fourth year of Yifeng, I hope that you will continue to work hard and serve the country."
Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and it is also the second anniversary of the emperor's grandson. Later, a rich delicacy, singing and dancing will be prepared in the Liangyi Palace, and everyone will be invited to enjoy it! "
"I obey the order, and thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." The ministers bowed their heads solemnly.
"Dang-dang-dang-dang!" Ruibin's bell rang, and the music of Taihe played.
"At the end of the dynasty, the saint came out and held a banquet for the ministers in Liangyi Hall."
"I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
(End of chapter)
