Zhang Yang looked at his appearance and continued: "Why pay it back?"
Nali shouted loudly: "God Khan! Look at this madman!"
Wang Gui's expression became more and more angry, "Zhang Yang, what do you think when you see him like this?"
"I don't have too many thoughts." Zhang Yang said calmly, clasping his hands.
"How do you get such confidence?"
Wang Gui waved his sleeves and asked.
"Perhaps you don't know much about the Western Regions." Zhang Yang told, "The Western Regions is a barbaric place. There is not so much morality there, everything is based on strength, and there are more slave trades."
"When they have weapons in their hands, they will first think about protecting themselves, and then think about how to eliminate threats to their own existence. When Gaochang thinks that Kucha is a threat, it will be a matter of time to attack Kucha."
Looking at the crowd again, Zhang Yang said loudly: "The four towns of Anxi have been my territory in the Central Plains since the Han Dynasty. I dare to ask the envoy Na Li. When I told you that I wanted you to return the four towns of Anxi to the Tang Dynasty, you evaded your words. Is that right?
What do you mean?"
Nali was angry and hateful, and now he was trembling all over.
Facing Li Shimin again, Zhang Yang's words remained the same, "There has never been any word on whether we will attack Kucha. The Tang Dynasty only took back the four towns of Anxi, just like the former Sui Dynasty wanted to take back the four counties of Liaodong."
"There is no theory that the Tang Dynasty wants to return Kucha, and there is no so-called envoy. Kucha has been entrenched in the four towns of Anxi for a long time, and denies the territory of the Central Plains. These are all facts."
"It is natural for the Central Plains to take back the four towns of Anxi. It was King Qiuci who occupied the four towns of Anxi." Zhang Yang bowed and said: "In the name of the Ministry of Rites, I will allow the three parties of Khotan, Shule and Yanqi in the Western Regions to return the four towns of Anxi.
For all the territories, I was not the Minister of Rites before, so naturally I couldn’t do this. Now I will ask the Ministry of Rites to declare the Tang Dynasty’s claims to the Western Regions.”
Zhang Yang walked to Na Li and said with a smile: "Not only you in Kucha, but also all parts of the Western Region must be handed back. The royal family in Kucha is the real rebel, and you are the minion of the rebel, can you admit it."
"You devil! I don't admit it!"
Nali said loudly.
Zhang Yang faced everyone in the court and asked, "I wonder how you feel about the return of the lands in the Western Regions?"
Seeing that everyone was silent, Zhang Yang continued to speak: "Your Majesty, I am now asking for orders to order the Gaochang troops to attack various places in the Western Region. Ashinadur led the Turkic troops to attack Yanqi and wipe out all the forces that were unwilling to surrender to the Tang Dynasty.
.”
Changsun Wuji stood up and asked, "Your Majesty, is this too premature?"
Li Shimin nodded when he heard this, "This matter really needs to be discussed in detail."
Changsun Wuji continued: "The Ministry of Rites can draw up a letter of credence and announce the return of the four towns in Anxi to the Western Regions, and the Ministry of War hesitates to arrange the manpower to send envoys to the Western Regions."
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I think it is appropriate for Tang Jian, the Minister of Household Affairs, to go to the Western Regions for this matter."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Jian, who was over forty years old, said anxiously: "Zhang Yang, I have never offended you!"
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "I just said casually, I don't know many people in the court, and I just remember you."
Tang Jian was so anxious that he had something to say but couldn't say it.
Li Shimin stood up and glanced at the messenger Nali before turning and leaving.
The ministers also dispersed in twos and threes, leaving only Nali kneeling in the Tai Chi Hall.
Xu Jingzong asked in a low voice: "Zhang Shangshu, what should we do with this person?"
Zhang Yang thought for a moment, but before he could say anything, he saw Changsun Wuji coming over, "Take him to the post house and keep him under guard. When the Kucha royal family takes him to Chang'an City, we will deal with him together."
The two of them saluted Changsun Wuji and said, "Thank you, Duke Zhao, and the Ministry of Rites will definitely comply."
Changsun Wuji said in a deep voice: "Wang Gui is an upright man. He has a clear sense of grudges and hatred. He must have been instigated by villains this time. The argument in the court seems to have been ill-considered by him. I still hope you can do this."
Do not be too concerned about."
Xu Jingzong said with a smile on his face, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhao, I will definitely pay homage to him when I get official one day."
Changsun Wuji sighed: "No need, this man is very old. If you go there, he will probably be angry to death."
An old eunuch walked over in small steps and said, "Zhang Shangshu, please see me at Ganlu Hall. Please take a trip."
First he saluted Changsun Wuji, and Zhang Yang followed the old eunuch.
As they walked along, they looked more and more familiar. Zhang Yang asked: "This father-in-law, have we met somewhere?"
The old eunuch explained: "Zhang Shangshu's decree for taking office was read by the old slave."
"So that's it." Zhang Yang came to his senses, "When will my family's fief be delivered? You've been delaying it for three days."
The old eunuch laughed silently and quickened his pace.
"What's my question to you?"
"..."
"Why don't you speak?"
"..."
"You should give me a day so I can prepare."
As he spoke, he had already reached the front of the palace. The old lady bowed and said, "Your Majesty is in the palace. Zhang Shangshu, please come in."
Looking at him, Zhang Yang hesitated to speak. As he walked towards Ganlu Palace, he muttered, "The people in this palace are not very virtuous."
The old eunuch standing outside the palace coughed violently after hearing this.
Walking into the palace, Zhang Yang saluted Li Shimin, "Your Majesty, I have asked you clearly about this matter. Prince Gui of Yongning County was provoked by a villain. Our Chang'an City people have simple customs, so it is inevitable that some old ministers will be provoked by villains."
.”
Li Shimin chewed dried fruit and signaled to the maid on the side.
The palace maid came with a basket of loquats.
Reaching out to take the loquat, Zhang Yang asked puzzledly: "What do you mean by this, Your Majesty?"
Li Shimin said in a loud voice: "Don't you like eating loquats?"
"I'll get tired of eating too much loquat, but it's better than nothing. It will be better if I have peaches next time."
Li Shimin snorted coldly: "You dare to dislike the things I gave you. You are really brave."
Zhang Yang said with a smile: "His Majesty said that we are his own family members. Since we are our own family members, how can I be so polite?"
"Hehehe..." Li Shimin smiled dryly, "What do you think about the four towns in Anxi?"
"Didn't His Majesty say that we should take a long-term approach?"
"I'll let you tell me your opinion."
Li Shimin spit out a few fruit pits, and the pits dropped into a copper basin with a crisp sound.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Your Majesty, I think there is one thing that needs to be prepared before taking back the Four Towns of Anxi."
"speak."
"Beware of Tubo. It doesn't matter if the DPRK doesn't send troops. Once troops are sent, be careful whether Tibet will intercept them."
Li Shimin nodded and said: "According to your opinion, I need to agree to the matter of Princess Shang of Tubo. After Tubo is settled, we can take back the four towns of Anxi to prevent Tubo from repeating it again?"
After thinking about it first, Zhang Yang rubbed his brow and said helplessly: "Why do you want a marriage? A marriage is the most unreliable alliance. Sometimes I feel that sooner or later the alliance will be torn apart and the peace will end sooner or later. The results of marriages have always been inconsistent.
It's not very good, so as the Minister of Rites, I firmly oppose the marriage."
Li Shimin hesitated and said, "Even if the ministers proposed a marriage proposal, would you still oppose it?"
Zhang Yang stood up straight and said, "I will oppose it to the end."
After eating the dried fruit, Li Shimin took a sip of tea soup and started eating cakes.
From the moment he entered the Manna Palace, the emperor kept eating. Didn't the emperor have the habit of eating breakfast?
Li Shimin swallowed the pastry and took a sip of tea, then burped, took the dried dates from the palace maid and started eating again...
"I heard that Yue'er has adopted a disciple and has been keeping him in your home?"
"That's true. She is the daughter of the warrior Yu. She is very smart."
Li Shimin nodded slightly, "Then you married this girl again?"
Zhang Yang was confused and unsure of what he just said, and asked again: "What did your Majesty just say?"
Li Shimin spit out the date core, and it dropped into the copper basin with another crisp sound.
"The queen has seen this girl. She said that as long as she has a little discipline and good guidance, this child will become a talented woman sooner or later. It would be great if you can marry her as a concubine. It would be fine if she is another concubine. Although you are Lishan Order
If you are not among the three nobles and nine ministers, I still allow you to have a concubine."
"Why should I marry Xiao Wu."
Li Shimin laughed when he heard this and said: "It would be a pity not to marry such a good young lady."
Zhang Yang saluted again, "Are you going to marry someone just because she is a good young lady? I will not marry Xiao Wu. She is gifted and talented. She should give full play to her talents and should not be bothered by this kind of marriage.
tired."
"Every woman will be burdened by marriage. Even if you don't marry her, she was raised by you. How will you let her get married in the future?"
Zhang Yang put his hands in his hands and looked worried, "It's so embarrassing."
Li Shimin added: "Yue'er is also ignorant. If the queen meets such a talented woman, and if she can scheme to be used by the queen, she will let me marry her without hesitation."
Seeing that Zhang Yang didn't speak, Li Shimin asked: "What are you thinking about?"
Zhang Yang was melancholy, "Your Majesty, do you just want to talk about things like this when we don't grow up together?"
Li Shimin nodded, "This is how I talk to people in the clan. You are one of my own."
"Yes, family members should talk about family affairs."
Seeing Zhang Yang nodding, Li Shimin said again: "It is the queen's wish to see you this time. She saw Xiao Wu and didn't want to delay. Let me warn you that this girl can't get married anymore."
"It turned out to be the queen's order, I should remember it carefully."
Li Shimin nodded and waved his hand, indicating that he could go out.
Seeing Zhang Yang still standing there, Li Shimin asked in confusion: "Do you have anything else?"
"The operation of the Ministry of Rites requires money to gather information. Can the imperial court provide some money? No need to pay more than a thousand gu first. I can't always be responsible for my own profits and losses. It's all for the sake of the country, eh."
Li Shimin remained silent and did not answer.
"Your Majesty, do you still owe me three thousand acres of land?"
"Ha..." Li Shimin smiled contemptuously.
"Your Majesty will not default on your debt."
Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "Whoever comes, get out."
"Huh?" Zhang Yang felt his body light up, and was lifted by the arm of the guard in front of the palace who had just entered, and was dragged out of the palace.
I wanted to go in again, but they stopped me again.
Zhang Yang stood on the spot and shouted towards the palace: "Your Majesty, don't forget. I will remind you next time."
After saying that, he looked at the old eunuch outside the palace. Zhang Yang smiled and held his hand, and the other eunuch returned the favor with a smile.
After leaving here, I felt quite conflicted about whether he was really going to default on his debt.
When Zhang Yang walked away, the old eunuch hurriedly walked into the palace and reported back: "Your Majesty, Zhang Shangshu has left. It seems that he is thinking about it when he looks back three times."
Li Shimin looked at the memorial and said, "I also know that he is worried about it. How can I give him these three thousand acres?"
The old eunuch shook his head helplessly and stood aside quietly.
Along the way, Zhang Yang took off his official hat. This Tang Dynasty official hat was very uncomfortable to wear and it was airtight.
When passing by the Ministry of Rites, I took a special look and the busy clerk asked: "Does Shangshu Zhang have something important? The four ministers have already gone out to do business. If there is something important, I can convey it to you."
Zhang Yang held his official hat in one hand, "Where are the goods from the Japanese people? Have they passed the customs?"
The civil servant replied: "The last news that came up was that it was almost reaching the Weinan border."
Zhang Yang nodded, "Keep an eye on it, this is related to the operation of our etiquette department. Do it well, and if everything is done beautifully, you will be given a bonus."
Upon hearing about the bonus, several civil servants in the Ministry of Rites all had smiles on their faces, "Thank you, Zhang Shangshu."
"You're welcome, you're welcome."
Amidst the praise from everyone, Zhang Yang also left the Ministry of Rites.
Being a minister of etiquette costs money everywhere.
It costs money to inquire about information, it costs money to arrange people, and it costs even more money to make detailed arrangements.
Li Shimin had no choice but to do it himself without giving him any money.
It is especially easy for enemies to meet each other, just like people who have a special holiday meet on a narrow road from time to time, and they are itching to hate each other.
Lu Dongzan smiled and said: "Zhang Shangshu's argument in court is really exciting."
Zhang Yang snorted coldly: "It's as if you were there."
Lu Dongzan followed up and said, "Attributing the incident in Qiuci to the four towns of Anxi. In this way, Zhang Shangshu is not only innocent but also justified."
"You are the Prime Minister of Tubo, and you don't seem to have much cultural knowledge."
"how do I say this?"
"The Four Towns of Anxi have been the territory of the Central Plains since the Han Dynasty. Emperors of all dynasties have also worked hard to regain the Four Towns of Anxi. They were originally ours, we just took them back. Please go and read more when you have time."
Lu Dongzan added: "The foreign minister still admires you very much."
Zhang Yang smiled bitterly and said: "I also admire you. You can even instigate our Yongning County Duke and do things secretly. You are really a villain."
"It made Zhang Shangshu laugh."
"I'm going to buy groceries, are you still following me?"
Lu Dongzan stood still and bowed slightly to Zhang Yang's back.
In Lishan Village, Shangguan Yi was gnawing on a piece of cake. There were a lot of books on the table. She was still holding a volume in her hand and was looking at it intently. After reading for a while, she picked up a pen to take notes, and then put down the pen.
He gnawed another piece of cake and continued to look, with a tired look on his face and bloodshot eyes.
Seeing this, the warrior Xun advised: "If you work so hard, ten years of studying are not enough?"
Shangguan Yi took another bite of the cake and said, "The drawings given by the Lishan Order are very abstruse and difficult to understand. I need to read more books related to construction. There were too few such books in the past. For the sake of construction, I cannot live up to this important responsibility."
"
It is easy for Shangguan Yi to talk about various kinds of poetry, books and economics, but he doesn't know many books related to this kind of construction.
There are too many places to build in Lishan, a thousand acres of land.
Shangguan Yi finished reading one volume and then picked up another, "In the past, you had to sharpen your knife to kill pigs and sheep. Now, why not make up for it?"