Chapter 160 Trouble in the court

At the beginning of the first year of Xianqing.

Chang'an is a vast expanse of white.

As the Chengtian drum rang, Zhao Wujiang rode his horse through the snow-capped mountains and headed straight for the palace city.

On the first morning of the first court in the first year of Xianqing's reign, he walked through the majestic palace wall with great strides, flanked by ministers who were constantly delighted to receive gifts.

Liu Rengui followed Zhao Wujiang with one arm. This was the first time that he enjoyed so many respectful looks, although he knew that the looks were not directed at him.

But he stroked his beard with one arm and felt content in his heart. After today's morning session, he would also be rich and powerful.

In front of the Dragon Palace.

Zhao Wujiang met Wang Yifang. This middle-aged man seemed to have aged more than ten years in just a few months. His beard and hair were now half white, and his face was full of old age.

The departure of the ninth uncle of the Wang family and Yang Bingen was a big blow to him, and many old friends also left in invisible places.

"Brother Wang." Zhao Wujiang greeted him.

Wang Yifang patted Zhao Wujiang on the shoulder and smiled sincerely: "Well done, thank you for your hard work."

On the side, Liu Rengui's eyes widened with a look of surprise and admiration that could not be concealed. He stepped forward tremblingly, bowed slightly, and lost his arrogant air:

"Mr. Wang."

He was addressed as Mr., although he was many years older than Wang Yifang, but he had met Wang Yifang at Wei Zheng's side in the early years, and he had personally learned about Wang Yifang's talents and strategies, but later Wei Zheng died, and Wang Yifang also disappeared, as if

Hidden in dust and smoke.

"Master Liu." Wang Yifang returned the greeting with a smile.

Seeing Zhao Wujiang's confusion, he smiled and explained, "I met him a few years ago."

Zhao Wujiang did not ask further questions. He knew that Wang Yifang was an extremely powerful figure in his early years, but in recent years he had dimmed his light and walked behind the scenes.

At the same time, he felt two completely different eyes.

He looked sideways and saw Changsun Wuji with a cold face, and Xu Jingzong with a smile on the other side.

Seeing Zhao Wujiang look at him, Xu Jingzong immediately came forward to greet him.

"Master Zhao, now that you have triumphed, I am very happy. When Master Zhao was fighting in the east, I was very concerned about you." Xu Jingzong said with a smile.

This is a smile from the heart.

If Changsun Wuji deals with Zhao Wujiang, then whether Zhao Wujiang triumphs or dies in battle, it will be beneficial to him, because Zhao Wujiang is the bargaining chip in his hands to bring down Changsun Wuji, and he can use this to sue Changsun Wuji

Collaboration with the enemy and treason.

He was originally jealous of Zhao Wujiang's power, but now that he is also a third-rank official, and the emperor and empress are in the same dynasty, he sees the future trend, and Empress Wu will definitely take power.

Recently, he often had political disagreements with Changsun Wuji. In addition to his own reasons, he was also putting on a show to show Empress Wu, making her think that he was a courtier on her side.

In this way, he can rely on Empress Wu on his back.

Zhao Wujiang, Zhao Wujiang, little do you know that during the days when you leave, your biggest backer, the emperor, will fall, and I already have a new backer. Xu Jingzong sneered in his heart, as long as he does not feel the threat of power,

Then he can greet everyone with a smile, and the smile comes from the heart.

Although Zhao Wujiang didn't know what Xu Jingzong was thinking, he knew Xu Jingzong's personality. He said calmly: "I also miss the adults in the court very much."

Changsun Wuji, who was not far away, saw Xu Jingzong and Zhao Wujiang talking to each other, and his heart became even colder.

The eunuch in front of the palace called everyone to enter the palace.

The courtiers entered the palace. This was the first time that Zhao Wujiang saw Wu Meiniang and Li Zhi after a few months.

Wu Meiniang was left alone, sitting quietly behind the bead curtain, but Zhao Wujiang, with his extraordinary eyesight, still saw her current appearance.

With a phoenix crown and a beautiful plumage, her eyebrows are picturesque and majestic. When she sees herself looking at her, a smile appears on her exquisite and pretty face, a smile that will captivate people.

Li Zhi was sitting on the dragon chair, looking as if he had just recovered from a serious illness. His face was pale and bloodless, but there was a smile on his face.

"This time I rushed to the aid of Silla, Zhao Aiqing performed an extraordinary feat and defeated the Baekje Fusang army, which totaled more than 100,000 people. I am very pleased.

This is the great fortune of the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Zhi's voice was weak, and all the officials looked at him with admiration.

"Zhao Aiqing, what reward do you want?" Li Zhi waved his hand, indicating to Zhao Wujiang to say whatever he wanted.

The ministers exclaimed that they all wanted whatever the emperor gave him, and Zhao Wujiang asked for whatever he wanted.

Zhao Wujiang narrowed his eyes slightly and remembered Wang Yifang's last words of warning to him in front of the Dragon Palace.

"Although your reputation is not false, you have reached the Prime Minister's Kingdom. There is no need to be too prosperous, otherwise too much is not enough. Besides, an old guy is back. Try not to get involved in too many fights. Let them fight."

He clearly felt at that time that Wang Yifang was obviously a little afraid when he said "old thing".

It made Wang Yifang fearful and specially warned Zhao Wujiang that he had to pay attention.

He spoke in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, I don't dare ask for any reward. This time I rushed to the aid of Silla. Although more than 100,000 traitors were eliminated, the Tang Dynasty also suffered more than 30,000 casualties. I feel guilty!

I feel sorry for them. I can only repay them by shrouding their bodies in horse leather."

Listen, are these human words? All the courtiers complained in their hearts, this kind of battle damage ratio is just for show, you will be killed or injured if someone else overturns.

Moreover, they learned from the battle report that there was a problem with the food and grass this time. Even in this situation, Zhao Wujiang still returned triumphantly.

But they still felt Zhao Wujiang's sorrow, the sorrow of 30,000 casualties. These were the soldiers he led.

"Your Majesty!" Liu Rengui stood out of the queue, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with sadness and anger.

"It is true that there were thirty thousand casualties, but this is not to blame at all, Mr. Zhao. This time we fought fiercely with the enemy, but we learned that the food and fodder behind us was cut off!" His eyes were filled with anger:

"There are people in the court who have a bad conscience and cut off the food and grass of the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty. Their hearts are worthy of death!

Fortunately, Mr. Zhao took precautions and had a clever plan to allow the ministers to pass through the southwestern border defense of Goguryeo, leaving a path of food and fodder for the army. Otherwise, instead of thirty thousand casualties this time, the whole army of our sergeants of the Tang Dynasty would be wiped out."

The more Liu Rengui talked, the more excited he became.

The ministers already knew from the battle reports that someone in the court had cut off the food and grass for the Eastern Expeditionary Army, but no one dared to come forward at this moment. It was just because the matter was too big and the circumstances were too bad that they did not dare to mention it.

But Liu Rengui has always been arrogant and rebellious. He is not afraid, he just dares to mention it. Now that he sees Zhao Wujiang taking the responsibility, he is even more angry and stands up.

After his impassioned speech, he seemed to feel that it was not enough, and he scolded the guy who cut off the food and fodder of the Eastern Expedition Army in the hall.

"I don't know who this person is, but since he has done such dirty things, he must be extremely ugly. Let me see who this person is."

He looked around with angry eyes, and the officials avoided their eyes. He roared again, completely ignoring that he was in the court:

"Mom, you are a Bazi. You are not a son of a human being. You have forgotten your ancestors. Eight generations of ancestors and grandsons will be dead. You will never have a good death. If you die, you will be flogged. No one will bury the body. Even if you bury it, it will be eaten by wild dogs." I have spent my whole life in the Tang Dynasty and still committed treason. How could there be such a beast in the country?"

He was spitting so much that even Zhao Wujiang couldn't help but look at him sideways. After a few months, it was as if he had met the old man Liu Rengui for the first time.

Li Zhi called for a halt several times, but Liu Rengui did not stop and kept scolding, which made Changsun Wuji's face darker and darker. The officials went from being silent at first to being filled with indignation and started talking.

"Quiet!" The eunuch in front of the palace took the initiative and waved his whip.

The ministers gradually fell silent, but Liu Rengui continued to scold him. When he saw the eunuch in front of the palace holding a whip, he said fiercely: "Come on, whip me!"

The eunuch in front of the palace was stunned, not knowing what to do.

Liu Rengui had been in prison before, and he was not beheaded or punished. He was also given three meals a day, just because he offended Li Zhi and had no reason to kill him.

Now that he was released, after the war, except for Zhao Wujiang and a few others, he became more and more dissatisfied. Even if he died, even if his body was soft, his mouth would definitely be hard.

I would like to call you a little expert in starting a group. Zhao Wujiang rubbed his brows and saw Xu Jingzong in the distance who was about to move.

I saw Xu Jingzong walking out of the crowd and kneeling directly to the ground.

"Your Majesty, the Queen! I think what Mr. Liu said is absolutely true!"

He slowly took out a memorial.
Chapter completed!