Li Shimin saw the bitter look on Xiaoyao Gong's face, and immediately explained:
"Don't think too much, Mr. Xiaoyao. I just want to ask Mr. Xiaoyao to take time out of his busy schedule to attend the banquet in the palace in time for the new year."
Fan Ji couldn't help but smile when he heard this and hesitated:
"After all, Pindao is just an outsider. Is it not good for Your Majesty to order Pindao to enter and leave the imperial city at will?"
"Hey~ What did Mr. Xiaoyao say? Now you are not only a cultivator outside the country, but also the master of the country's talented young people and my close friend.
If there are no other major events, the curfew can be lifted only at the New Year's Eve of the year, so that people and officials can celebrate the New Year together and welcome the New Year.
Xiaoyao Gong just wants to accompany a good friend, so he moved to Chengdu to welcome the New Year with me at a banquet! "
Seeing that His Majesty was paying attention, Fan Ji decided to go if he wanted to, as long as His Majesty did not force him to become an official.
"Ahem! Since Your Majesty insists on doing this, then I should take the order and go!"
Seeing that Duke Xiaoyao agreed, Li Shimin was satisfied.
As long as Fan Ji is present, he can take this opportunity to make Fan Ji publicly confirm that he is responsible for cultivating future talents for the imperial court.
With Fan Ji's prestige and connections, no matter which young talents he likes in the future, he can easily assign them to the imperial court and then send them to Fan Ji to apprentice.
In this way, he can slowly win over the new generation in Shu.
In the future, when the time comes, these new generations can follow them to contribute to the country, whether it is running the country or fighting.
As time goes by, the voices in the court and even localities that oppose the Northern Expedition or attempt to coerce themselves so that they can enjoy wealth and status and finally become a surrendering emperor will gradually disappear.
"In that case, I would like to thank Mr. Xiaoyao first.
Presumably, a powerful hermit like Xiaoyao Gong must be able to speak the Dharma.
After the apprenticeship ceremony of several people was completed, I set off to return to Chengdu, just waiting to meet Xiaoyao Gong at the New Year's Eve banquet! "
After the two decided to attend the banquet, Li Shimin stayed at the Changsheng Temple for a day.
The next day, Fan Ji got up early, burned incense and took a bath. He put on a purple Hunyuan robe and a Five-Lao crown on his head, preparing to accept the disciple.
The entire preparation process lasted from early morning to noon. Fan Ji and Laojun burned incense and paper in front of the hall to report to the Qing Dynasty.
Then they performed conversion ceremonies for Luo Xian and others in turn, and then ordered Luo Xian and others to confer burial urns.
The process of conferring a casket takes at least three days. Xiaoyao Gong was afraid that His Majesty would have to wait too long, so he simplified the steps and accepted the disciple on the same day.
In the evening, Li Shimin saw that the ceremony was completed and thought about returning to the palace as soon as possible to prepare for the annual meeting, so he said goodbye to Fan Ji.
Before leaving, Fan Ji told His Majesty:
"These eight people are the ones appointed by His Majesty. Pindao will try his best to teach the ways of self-cultivation and governing the country. As for the art of cultivating outsiders, Pindao will not touch on it much.
Within one year at the earliest and three years at the latest, Pindao will train these eight people into talents who can be used by the imperial court.
After they have completed their studies, Pindao will no longer report back to His Majesty. He will only ask those who have completed their studies to go down the mountain to find Your Majesty. "
Li Shimin thanked Xiaoyao Gong again, and then took Zhang Yan, Chen Zhong and others down the mountain overnight and went straight to Chengdu.
Two days later, Li Shimin's brigade arrived in Chengdu, but they saw that the main road leading to the palace was crowded with people. It seemed that everyone was watching something new.
"Chen Zhong, would you like to go first and see what's going on ahead?"
"Your Majesty will be here later. You will come when you are ready."
Not long after, Chen Zhong returned from the front. As soon as he arrived in front of His Majesty, Chen Zhong said with a surprised look on his face:
"Your Majesty, the place where the people ahead are gathering is where the envoys from the Kingdom of Wu are."
"Envoy from the Kingdom of Wu? The Northern Expedition has just come to an end, and there is no friction between the three countries. Why are you sending an envoy here at this time?"
"This... at the end of the day, everyone in the envoy team looked sad, and the gifts they brought were all wrapped in white cloth.
It’s like… it’s like going to a funeral…”
Li Shimin couldn't help but doubt after hearing this. He thought that Wu State had sent envoys here at this time, and they were still pretending to be mourning. Could it be that an important official in the court had died recently?
But then I thought about it. I had only left Chengdu for a few days. Even if someone was newly mourned, Wu Guo could not arrive in Chengdu before me.
While thinking about it, Huang Hao said:
"Your Majesty, the State of Wu has come here in the name of mourning. I think this matter must not be as simple as it seems.
Now the only person in the Wu Kingdom who can attend the funeral is Prime Minister Zhuge, but it has been nearly four months since Prime Minister Zhuge's funeral.
Even if the distance between the two countries is long, two months is enough time. Wu Guo's actions are indeed suspected of concealing the truth. "
When Li Shimin heard this, he quickly searched his mind to find the answer from historical records.
However, after thinking about it, I couldn't figure it out at all.
According to the history books, Sun Quan did express condolences for Zhuge Liang, but Sun Quan did not go to Shu Han personally or send people to express condolences.
Moreover, since Prime Minister Zhuge's six Northern Expeditions, no war broke out among the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu for four or five consecutive years.
The three countries all seized the opportunity to vigorously rectify their domestic affairs, and most of the wars that occurred were wars to quell alien races.
"For the current plan, we can only stop it with troops. We must not go with the envoys of Wu State.
Let's go out of the city and take a detour to Wudan Mountain and enter through the north gate. "
After receiving the order, everyone directed their subordinates to turn their horses' heads, and the group hurried out of the city and headed towards Wudan Mountain.
Before Li Shimin reached Wudan Mountain, the Wu envoy arrived in the imperial city first.
The envoy handed the customs clearance document to the official on duty at the palace gate, stated his intention, and waited outside the palace gate.
Not long after, the officials on duty led Dahong He Zong to the palace gate.
As soon as they arrived at the palace gate, a man from the Wu envoys walked out, with a serious look on his face, he greeted He Zongji and said:
"Could the person who came here be the great emperor of Shu?"
He Zong saw that the man had an upright manner and a clear face. Although he was dusty, he could not conceal his elegance.
"It's me. Just now I saw the note on the customs clearance document. Lord Wu sent his servants Xue Zong and Xue Jingwen to envoy.
Could it be that you are the minister of Wu who shot Xue Jingwen? "
The man nodded and smiled at first, then said slightly sadly:
"Xue Jingwen, by order of my lord, has come to express my condolences to Prime Minister Zhuge of Shu.
Prime Minister Zhuge devoted himself to the country, and during his lifetime he also strongly supported Wu and Shu to unite against Wei.
My Lord was not very sad when he heard about the death of Prime Minister Zhuge. In the Imperial City of Jianye, the whole country mourned and expressed condolences to Prime Minister Zhuge.
After feeling sad, my lord ordered me to serve as an envoy, traveling thousands of miles across mountains and rivers to attend the funeral for Prime Minister Zhuge on my lord's behalf. "
When He Zong heard this, he couldn't help but wonder. Although the two countries were indeed in an alliance, it was normal for them to have contact with each other.
However, now is the time when countries are at peace with each other.
At this time, it seemed inappropriate for Wu State to send envoys with such a big fanfare in the name of condolences.
Even if there is nothing else but condolences, this is not the right time.
"Master Wu is so courteous, I would like to express my gratitude to Master Wu in advance on behalf of His Majesty.
But now that His Majesty is not in the palace, Lord Xue may have to wait for a while. "
Xue Zong's face collapsed when he heard this, and then he immediately returned to his normal expression and asked loudly:
"In this case, we should wait, but I don't know when your Majesty will return?
I don’t have any other intentions. I just have your orders from above and I need to report the situation truthfully. "
The corner of He Zong's mouth raised slightly, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes, and he thought:
This Xue Zong is very stingy. He is worried that His Majesty deliberately refuses to meet him, so he just says so.
But they have to use the excuse of "reporting truthfully" to cover up.
Don't you know that even if the two kingdoms of Shu and Wu were to rush back and forth, it would still take thirty to fifty days?
Could it be that my Majesty can still let you wait here for the New Year?
"Ah ha, Mr. Xue is serious. Even if my lord is in the palace, it is almost dusk now, and it is inconvenient to meet him.
What's more, my Lord is not in Chengdu now? I also hope that Mr. Xue will wait peacefully in the post house. When my lord returns, he will naturally give orders to arrange a meeting. "
Xue Zong couldn't help but look angry when he saw that He Zong didn't tell him the specific situation, but he was in a foreign country and there was nothing he could do.
“That’s all we can do, sir, could you please help me lead the way?
After days of traveling and traveling, I am indeed feeling a little sleepy.
Since I can't see your majesty today, I'll just have a good night's rest in the post house. "
The two of them had finished their conversation, each with their own thoughts in mind, and walked straight to the post station in Chengdu without saying anything.
Li Shimin and his party entered the palace through the north gate at the foot of Wudan Mountain. As soon as they arrived at the Gold and Silver Hall, they saw a eunuch waiting outside the door of the Gold and Silver Hall.
When the eunuch saw His Majesty, he couldn't help but feel happy. Then he quickly came to His Majesty, bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, someone from Honglu Temple just came to report that it was the State of Wu that sent an envoy to express condolences to Prime Minister Zhuge.
Dahonglu He Zong has gone to receive the envoy outside the palace gate, and he is probably meeting the envoy now.
He Zongzhi knew that His Majesty was not in the palace, so he ordered us to look for the minister's book and order Jiang Wan to ask about His Majesty's return date.
I didn't see Jiang Wan at Shangshutai, so I came to Baiqisi headquarters to look for him. "
Li Shimin nodded and told the eunuch:
"You will go back to Honglu Temple and tell me that I have arrived at the palace, and ask Honglu Temple to arrange for Wu envoys to meet in court tomorrow."
The eunuch took the order and left.
Li Shimin looked at the sky and saw that the sun was setting in the west. The courtiers should all leave their offices, so he said to Huo Ge:
"Sir Shao, you will make a hard trip tonight to the homes of Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, He Zong, Wu Yi and others to inform them to come to my palace to pay homage tomorrow morning.
There are some things I need to explain to them in advance. "
Huo Ge bowed and accepted the order and left.
"Chen Zhong, please order the flying cavalry guards to go down and have a rest. Zhang Yan does not need to guard tonight, so she can go and have a rest."
After arranging everyone, Li Shimin took only Huang Hao and walked towards his palace.
On the road, Li Shimin said to himself: "Let's get enough energy tonight. As for the intentions of Wu Guo's envoy, we can only deal with it in the morning tomorrow morning!"
