That night, a grand celebration banquet was held in Zhangye. In the past, it would have been held in a certain military camp. But this time, the imperial court sent Pei Ju to reward the troops, so Yang Ji had to hold the banquet separately, and the soldiers were still in the west.

The main camp, the generals who went out for the expedition, as well as the middle and low-level generals and soldiers who had outstanding performance in the war, all called to the square in front of the Prefecture Mufu.

Pei Ju stood in front of the throne and made a passionate speech. Then he took out the imperial edict in public and read out the imperial court's rewards for meritorious soldiers.

Yang Guang was very good at rewards and punishments. His rewards convinced all the generals. Not only the generals had their own rewards, but also Xue Ju, Yu Chigong, Li Daliang, Ling Jing and others among Yang Ji's personal staff.

Some rewards were given. As for the ordinary soldiers who went on the expedition, they received four times the military pay, and everyone was happy.

The only person who has not been promoted is Yang Ji, the chief hero.

Yang Ji is a prince, and even if he conquers the entire earth now, he will still be unbeatable in terms of the most valuable title; as for the actual civil service, he is a man with monopoly power and a rank comparable to that of a first-class official.

Zhou Mu, as a local official, he still cannot be promoted; also reaching the top is the honorary official of Shangzhu Guo, the second rank.

As for military positions, he is the third-rank right-guard general, and the only higher rank is the general.

There are the generals of the auxiliary state and the generals of the hussars; the Wensanguan is the third-rank Jin Ziguanglu doctor, and from there, the second-rank right Guanglu doctor, the second-rank Zuo Guanglu doctor, and the first-rank Guanglu doctor.

This means that before he stepped down as state pastor, except for civil and military officials who still had room for advancement, there was no room for anything else. Of course, Yang Ji had nothing to worry about, because he was not an exception in the Sui Dynasty. People like him were

There are a lot of officials in the capital who cannot be sealed. There are three main reasons for this phenomenon:

First of all, when Yang Jian succeeded the Sui Dynasty on behalf of Zhou Dynasty, in order to gain the support of officials and the Guanlong family, he directly sent out a large number of official positions, and the official positions he sent out were of extremely high grades, with one family, two states, and many counties.

There are many aristocratic families in his family, and those civil and military talents who defected to him were also awarded high-ranking officials and generous salaries. After these people received tangible benefits, they naturally served him sincerely.

This method of winning people's hearts did bring great benefits to Yang Jian and the Sui Dynasty at the beginning of their business, but there is no doubt that it also left hidden dangers such as redundant officials, superfluous personnel, and no seals.

.

Secondly, the Sui Dynasty was in a period of change in history, and the official positions were quite chaotic; thirdly, there were many wars in the Sui Dynasty, and the generals who survived on the battlefield were almost all promoted step by step, and the next time, they were promoted step by step again.

As time went by, it became impossible to seal it.

These three reasons combined created a large number of officials who could not be sealed.

Although Yang Guang was not promoted to Yang Ji's official position this time, he was very generous and generous to his own people, so he gave Yang Ji an astonishing amount of property and rare treasures.

Yang Ji naturally had no objection to this.

As a state pastor, his real power and autonomy are several times higher than that of Yang Zhiji, Yang Lun, and Yang Jing. When he is an official, what is there to complain about? Besides, Yang Guang did not continue to be promoted to an official. In fact, he was

He is one of his own, and he is protecting him. The emperor's trust, in an era when imperial power was highly concentrated, is often rarer and more precious than any official position. This is also an invisible factor that is yearned for and envied by appointing an important minister.

of great power.

Pei Ju announced the imperial reward, and had the seals of the generals who had made meritorious service be taken back and replaced with higher-grade new seals and new court uniforms; then he awarded the seals and court uniforms to the new generals who stood out.

Although the whole process was cumbersome and lengthy, everyone present did not find it cumbersome or lengthy.

Not to mention the generals who were promoted, but those who were not promoted due to lack of merit were also excited and filled with envy. Under this fierce and stimulated feeling, their desire for the battlefield and military glory was even greater than usual.

A hundred times, a thousand times stronger.

Then came the celebration banquet; at the banquet, there were no dancing beauties, no strings and bamboo orchestral music, some were just a stream of fine wine and delicacies, and some were just boasts about "passing the Five Tigers Pass and killing six generals"

As well as dirty words, some were just bursts of heroic laughter.

The banquet lasted until midnight, and then it ended.

When Yang Ji returned home, it was almost three o'clock; from a distance, he could see the sky-high halo in the direction of Yang's Mansion, which looked like a huge lantern in the dark night, pointing the way home for the returning Yang Ji.

road.

After entering the square gate and crossing the intersection, you can see the tall mansion gate in the distance. However, there is a carriage parked more than a hundred meters in front. Zhu Can and a slender man seem to be talking, and there is someone standing next to him.

There were more than twenty Xuanwu guards and a few strange servants holding lanterns.

Zhu Can saw Yang Ji coming with a group of guards, so he led the man who was talking to him and shouted: "Your Majesty, Mr. Dugu wants to see you."

Yang Ji hasn't arrived home yet. As he approaches the door, he feels more urgent to go home. At this time, he heard that someone wanted to see him in the middle of the night, and he felt a little unhappy. However, thinking that someone came to see him in the middle of the night, there might be something urgent.

Something happened, so he went up to greet him.

The young man following Zhu Can was handsome. Although he was wearing a scholar's uniform, he looked heroic under the light. Taking a closer look, Yang Ji couldn't help but was stunned again. This guy turned out to be Dugu Shun's grandson, Dugu.

Kindness.

Speaking of which, Dugu Xianyi was not yet 30 years old, and he was in his prime, and he was backed by the Dugu family and the Dugu sect. It stands to reason that for a noble child like him who has the ability, family background, qualifications, and backing

, should have been the governor, governor, and state Sima long ago. However, as the direct grandson of the family head, like Yang Shidao, he started as a county magistrate, the magistrate of Changsong County, Liangzhou.

What does it mean to suddenly appear in Zhangye City in the middle of the night? No matter how arrogant you are, you have to have a certain limit, right?

In fact, Yang Ji had wronged Dugu Xianyi. A few days ago, he had been promoted from the magistrate of Changsong County to the general secretary of Neishi Province (Zhongshu Province). Although this position was only from the sixth rank, it was

However, he holds the power of introducing people to the court and making public announcements in the palace.

When ministers from all over the world come to serve as ministers, or when they are on military or civil service, Tongshishe will guide them in their advance and retreat, praise them when they rise and bow, and perform all the rituals when entering and exiting. Tributes paid by barbarians from all directions are also accepted and presented by Tongshishe. There are even some who comfort the officers and soldiers.

Family members, the right to patrol on a regular basis.

What's more important is that this position is very close to the emperor, and he can better demonstrate his talents to the emperor. Moreover, the prince Yang Zhao also serves as the internal historian, so there are countless people inside and outside the court who want to go there.

Drill in this seat.

Valley concubine

This new position made Dugu Xianyi very excited, and his grandfather also told him that he would first be a member of Tongsheshe for a year or two, and then transfer him through personal connections to become the governor of a sparsely populated Xiazhou, and then use the Dugu family's

Power, financial resources, help him

Xiazhou was governed with great prosperity and made dazzling political achievements. Then he was transferred back to the capital to serve as a middle- and high-level official in the Shangshu Province. In less than ten years, the family power could be used to push him to the position of six ministers. It was no use.

, you can also become the Minister of the Sixth Ministry.

Dugu Xianyi was convinced by his grandfather's words and the family's strength. He came to Zhangyecheng this time. Firstly, it was a necessary procedure before leaving his job. If he got a good review from the state pastoral office, it would be more conducive to his future career; secondly, he

His grandfather Dugu Shun was also at the Dugu family's house in Zhangye. He hoped to meet Yang Ji in private.

After the ceremony, Yang Ji also knew that he was here to go through the resignation procedures, so he pointed to the mansion gate not far away and said, "If you have anything to say, let's talk to the mansion!"

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty. However, Your Majesty has returned triumphantly and is tired of traveling and traveling. It is inappropriate to waste Your Majesty's precious time here. How can you enter the palace with a humble position?" Dugu Xian bowed politely and said, "I am actually asking for my humble duty to stop you.

My ancestor has sent me here. I heard that you are back and hopes to meet you."

"The old master of the Dugu family is also in Zhangye?" Yang Ji frowned.

Dugu Xianyi nodded slightly and said: "Exactly!"

"When did the old master say we would meet?" After Yang Ji and Dugu Shun reconciled, the Dugu family continued to transport grain to Ganzhou. They sold it openly at the price in the capital, and finally brought down the high grain prices in Ganzhou.

He suppressed it; Yang Ji couldn't refuse just this favor.

Dugu Xianyi replied respectfully: "My ancestor will return to Beijing the day after tomorrow, so he will hold a banquet at the other village tomorrow, hoping that the king will reward him."

"Definitely not tomorrow!" Yang Ji shook his head categorically and explained: "I have been away for so long, Ganzhou has a backlog of major events that must be handled by me, not to mention that Pei Xiangguo also wants to ask me about things related to the Western Regions, both of which

It is closely related to national affairs, how can I have time?"

Dugu Xian said awkwardly: "Yes, but my ancestor is already ready."

"Please tell your ancestor what I just said, and then add another sentence, saying that I, Yang Ji, have always given top priority to state affairs, and I will not be free for the next two days." Yang Ji's tone became harsh, and he was so overbearing even when he invited guests to dinner.

Don’t even look at whose territory this is? Do you really think that Zhangye is Guanzhong controlled by the Guanlong nobles?

Moreover, compared with him, Dugu Shun, a Sikong who only received a salary but did not do any practical work, could he have any major issues that he needed to rush back to Guanzhong to deal with? If there were really major issues, he would not have come all the way to Zhangye.

"I understand my humble position. I will go back and reply to my ancestors." Dugu Xian noticed Yang Ji's bad attitude and his face changed slightly.

Speaking of which, the Dugu family was too presumptuous this time. Because when it comes to visits, there are many taboos among the family members. For example, they cannot visit the owner when he is eating, sleeping, receiving guests, or when there is an important event, so the visiting party must

Send someone to deliver a greeting note in advance. If the host accepts it, he can come to visit him at the appointed time.

In particular, exchanges between high-level officials often have a strong political overtone. Both parties must make some necessary preparations, such as trying to figure out the other party's intention based on the current situation and factions. Only by clarifying these can we make preparations for the meeting.

To get to the point, both parties had to make an appointment in advance. It was really presumptuous for Dugu Xian to stop the driver in the middle of the night.

Of course, it would be different if he was visiting as a subordinate and stating his duties to Yang Ji. However, he was representing the Dugu family at the moment, which made him make a big mistake in his relationship.

"No!" Yang Ji said nonchalantly. In fact, he knew that this was a skill at the negotiation table. The reason why Dugu Shun let his grandson stand in the way was actually because he deliberately used this eagerness to create a tense atmosphere and make himself

Out of curiosity and curiosity, she fell into the trap he set step by step.

"It's disrespectful to be in a humble position, but I still hope that your Majesty, King Haihan, will take my leave!" Dugu Xian bowed to Yang Jishen, then boarded the carriage and drove away.

Looking at his carriage going away, Yang Ji felt a little unhappy. He knew that Dugu Shun had no intention of forcing himself. He was just eager to make the relationship between the two parties further. He came to Zhangye from the capital for this reason; but even if

He has reconciled with the Dugu family, and he doesn't want to get too close to the Dugu family.

Yang Ji ran all the way to his mansion, and everyone got off their horses. Xiao Ying, who was waiting in front of the screen wall, saw Xiao Ying, and immediately ran over with her skirt in hand, like a nimble swallow running down the steps. The light shone from behind her, for her

The tips of the hair and the edge of the clothes are coated with a golden halo

, the light stretched her figure long. She stood there, her big black and white eyes looking at the approaching Yang Ji without blinking, her hands unconsciously loosened slightly, and the skirt slipped down.

When Yang Ji approached, he pulled up his skirt and bowed: "I respectfully receive my husband on his triumphant return."

"It's already very late, why haven't you slept yet?" Yang Ji helped his beloved wife up and teased: "Miss me?"

Xiao Ying glanced back. Behind her stood Liu Rumei and a large group of girls and Suzaku Guards. They all had low eyebrows and seemed to be holding back their laughter. Her face suddenly heated up. She rolled her eyes at her husband and smelled him.

There was a strong smell of alcohol on his body, so he looked around and said: "Although it is a celebration party, you can't drink so much!"

"I couldn't help it. Everyone was toasting to me, so I couldn't stop drinking, right? A little added up, so I drank a little more." Yang Ji looked at his beloved wife and his eyes couldn't help but light up.

The light shines on her body, reflecting the white gauze, making her look hazy like a fairy, but it is obvious that she has been carefully dressed up, her lips are painted red, and her eyebrows are thin, and she is as graceful as usual.

It's very obvious, but there is a faint feeling of beauty and charm. The swinging ribbon, the floor-length skirt, and the white face have a different kind of beauty under the dim light.

Seeing her husband's absent-minded look, Xiao Ying was also very happy. She showed her most beautiful side to her beloved husband. He liked to see her elaborate makeup, which was a great happiness to her.

She said softly: "Mr. Lang, let's go home!"
Chapter completed!