If you have money but no ability to protect yourself, this is like holding money to show off. Therefore, the Southern Zhou Dynasty would send people to the Tang Dynasty and the Northern Liao Dynasty every year to pay tribute.
This year's tribute gifts are pretty good, at least the gift list looks pretty good.
But there was a sandalwood box inside, which aroused the interest of the officials of Honglu Temple, and they specially reminded it when it was sent to the palace.
The emperor wanted to personally inspect the tribute gifts from the Southern Zhou Dynasty, and the servants prepared them carefully.
When the time came, the emperor came.
"Unboxing."
One box after another was opened.
It is rare for a chamberlain to be literate, and they usually start to learn to read and write only after being re-employed.
The waiter who opened the sandalwood box looked at the note and thought that Nan Zhou was also strangely behaved and even wrote something to show respect.
The emperor wandered over and saw the piece of paper at a glance.
"What's this?"
The emperor picked it up and took a look!
The word "sluggish" seemed to be blood red, and it immediately stimulated the emperor's anger.
"Someone is coming!"
The medical officer is here.
Check it out!
"Your Majesty, these are all fine... medicinal materials."
"For what?"
"Aphrodisiac." The medical officer is very knowledgeable.
The emperor turned around and went out.
Wave.
The medical officer and the chamberlain who opened the box disappeared that same day.
Han Shitou personally had it made.
The emperor summoned his ministers and what they said was unknown, and then the delegation with Wang Deng as envoy set off.
The Ministry of War dispatches troops and condemns generals, and the Ministry of Households dispatches grain, grass and baggage.
So murderous!
"Close it!"
Han Shitou returned to the mirror.
Seeing the emperor and the imperial concubine talking side by side, he couldn't help but think of something.
The emperor loved his concubine regardless of location, and she came whenever he thought of it.
Like a beast.
Therefore, Han Shitou and his personal servants knew the emperor's abilities very well.
——It’s getting worse!
The emperor is deteriorating, but the dignity of the emperor must be maintained!
The imperial concubine has clear eyebrows and has actually learned... to cheat.
I cannot bear the favor of my concubine.
So, the emperor was very proud.
But Han Shitou knew that the imperial concubine was acting.
Well done.
The emperor is also acting. He knows that his abilities are deteriorating, but he still pretends to be confused.
The two douchebags acted so seamlessly that they both thought the other didn't know.
It wasn't until a great gift from the Southern Zhou Dynasty that this scar was revealed.
Some people say that the emperor wanted to use troops against the Southern Zhou Dynasty because the Southern Zhou Dynasty was rude and instigated to fund the rebels in southern Xinjiang.
But Han Shitou knew.
All this.
It was just because the emperor's self-esteem was severely hit!
emperor!
No more!
…
"drive!"
Dozens of people, riding two horses each, rushed into Chang'an City in a hurry.
Immediately, someone came into the palace to report.
"Your Majesty, Wang Deng has returned from his mission to Northern Liao."
The emperor clenched the scroll in his hand, "How?"
"It's a blessing to be honest!"
"good!"
The emperor stood up and said, "Let them enter the palace. I will see them personally."
"Yes." Han Shitou winked, and the servants left.
The emperor came over and extended his hand.
"Change!"
The imperial concubine looked at him in ecstasy, "Erlang is mighty!"
Han Shitou lowered his head, with a smile in his eyes.
mighty?
Far worse than His Majesty!
Later, Wang Deng and three others arrived.
"Eh!"
Seeing Yang Xuan, Han Shitou exclaimed, "Why is Commander Yang here?"
It's hard to talk about things like this... Yang Xuan was silent.
This young man was not unyielding because of his power, he only knew that he was in the limelight, yes... Wang Deng fell in love with Yang Xuan more and more, but unfortunately the other party had already married a wife, and the woman was still a Zhou family, so he could only regret that he missed this golden turtle son-in-law.
"Your Majesty, when I went to Northern Xinjiang on this trip, I learned that Ambassador Yang was quite familiar with He Lianchun, the uncle of the Emperor of Northern Liao Dynasty, so I wanted to ask He Lianchun to make a detour..."
The emperor nodded, "The method is good."
If you raise this matter directly, He Lianfeng will definitely refuse.
Wang Deng is good, but I have underestimated him in the past. After returning from this trip, it is time for him to become an official. Should I... keep him?
"But He Lianchun was forced into a desperate situation by Ning Xing and happened to escape to Chenzhou. I asked Yang Shijun to assist me and went to Ning Xing in the name of escorting He Lianchun."
"Fighting in the same room!" the emperor said calmly.
Somewhat disdainful.
This is a crow alighting on a pig, not knowing its own evil!
Yang Xuan slandered.
"After arriving in Ningxing, He Lianfeng flatly refused."
This is expected.
Therefore, when Wang Deng said that he was lucky enough to live up to his destiny, how he was lucky enough to live up to his destiny was what the emperor was interested in.
He smiled and turned his eyes slowly.
"He Lianfeng ordered the crown prince and the third prince to accept the matter, but the two of them kept fighting among themselves, and even ordered the assassination of Ambassador Yang."
The emperor snorted coldly.
Han Shitou smiled and couldn't help but glance at Yang Xuan one more time.
The young man is fine. It can be seen that His Majesty's spirit is protecting you in heaven.
"Yang Shijun foiled the assassination and judged that it was the crown prince's fault. He wanted to blame the third prince. Afterwards, the ministers discussed and devised a plan..."
Wang Deng glanced at Yang Xuan. The emperor was well aware of such eyebrow-raising lawsuits and knew that it was probably Yang Xuan's idea.
"Then Lin Ya came. After a secret discussion, she promised to help us as long as we can provoke an internal fight between the crown prince and the third prince."
"This is quite a twist." The imperial concubine smiled and glanced at her brother.
Wang Deng was an old fox and understood everything. "Liang Langzhong immediately went to the prince to test the situation and praised the third prince, which angered the prince."
Credit is due!
Just, I'm sorry Zitai.
Liang Jing glanced at Yang Xuan.
The emperor was surprised, and the imperial concubine was even more so.
"During the night banquet, the prince suddenly attacked, killed the third prince, assassinated He Lianfeng, and was later killed."
The emperor couldn't help but clench his fists, "Is this so? But it's not a big deal."
His prince is now living like a human being, a ghost or not, so he has no right to criticize He Lianfeng.
"Who knew that while the prince was raising trouble in the palace, he had all the remaining princes in Helian Peak massacred outside the palace."
This time, even the emperor could not stand still.
"This...is actually extinct!"
The imperial concubine covered her red lips and said, "I'm afraid Beiliao will be in chaos."
"Who is the prince now?"
"He Lianchun."
The emperor sighed: "He Lianchun has been in Tanzhou for many years and has never said a word. Even under He Lianfeng's repeated pressure, he still refused to rebel. This alone is better than countless clans."
"Then He Lianfeng agreed to the matter."
"Don't want protons?"
"don't want."
"good!"
The emperor stood up with a glowing face and said, "Your Majesty, it's been a hard trip."
It was rare for the emperor to praise his ministers, so the three of them lowered their heads.
Then there was a reward.
Wang Deng received the title of Duke of the Founding County, but his expression was calm, even a little depressed.
He would rather not have the title, just stay.
"Liang Jing!"
The emperor's voice became much gentler.
The imperial concubine looked at this scene with a smile.
"You have had a hard time on this trip..."
Subsequent awards were given without titles, but...
"He can be the Minister of War!"
Tsk tsk!
In just a few years, Liang Jing has transformed from an ordinary official to an important minister. According to the emperor's wishes, Liang Jing will start to intervene in the government affairs next.
This is faster than ascending!
Yang Xuan glanced at the imperial concubine and thought that the person who gets promoted the fastest is indeed nepotism.
When a man loves a woman, even the stars are willing to be plucked for her.
Right now I am just an official!
But Yang Xuan, the hero of this trip, stood there alone.
After the emperor commended Liang Jing and encouraged him a few more words, he finally realized that he had left out Yang Xuan.
"Yang Qing's trip..."
After a few clichés, the emperor asked: "Does Yang Qing want to stay in Chang'an?"
Definitely don't want to!
But you have to pretend that you mean it.
Otherwise, as a young man, you want to take root in northern Xinjiang. Why?
Picture what?
You can't be willing to go through fire and water for the Tang Dynasty, right?
Yang Xuan's breathing tightened, his fists were clenched, and he looked struggling.
Then, exhale that breath.
He said with determination: "Your Majesty, I still want to stay in Northern Xinjiang and guard Chenzhou for Your Majesty."
There is currently no place in Beijiang to promote him, so if he takes the initiative to speak out, he can still gain favor.
Sure enough, Emperor Longyan was delighted.
Immediately, he lost the title of Uncle Yangwu, rewarded him with one hundred thousand yuan, and gave him a temporary position.
"Supervisory censor!"
The emperor finally showed mercy and said, "It's almost the end of the year. Yang Qing can stay in Chang'an and wait for the New Year's meeting before going back."
"yes."
Yang Xuan regretted that he would have let Aning come back if he had known earlier.
Han Shitou sent them out.
When they parted, he looked at Yang Xuan thoughtfully, "Mr. Yang, please don't think that your majesty has treated you poorly. Although supervising the imperial censor is a false position, he has the power to send memorials directly to the palace. There is no need to go to three provinces. Do you understand? ?”
Yang Xuan was surprised and saluted, "Thank you, Mr. Han, for the tip."
Someone went to report it to the emperor. The emperor smiled and said: "Shitou felt that I valued this young man and was worried that I would not promote him, which would cause the young man to complain, so he gave him a few words. He also had good intentions. I hope That young man can remember this good intention and don't let me live up to my high hopes."
After leaving the palace, Yang Xuan was a little confused.
"Where to go?"
"Go home!" Wang Laoer felt that Lang Jun was stupid.
Home... what kind of home is it if the mistress is not here?
The group returned to their home in Chenqu.
"So much gray!"
No one has lived there for a long time, the house is deserted, and there is dust everywhere.
After cleaning, when it was time to leave the office, Yang Xuan went outside the imperial city with gifts.
When the time came, the officials poured out of the imperial city one after another.
Zhou Zun and his colleagues walked out while talking.
"Servant, your son-in-law is waiting for you." The colleague pointed to the front.
Zhou Zun raised his head and said with a straight face: "I don't know if I caused any trouble in Northern Xinjiang, so I returned to Chang'an at this time."
Colleagues laughed and said: "Children are all debts!"
"No."
My colleague wisely took another direction.
"I've met my father-in-law."
Approaching, Yang Xuan saluted.
"How is Aning?"
"A Ning is quite good in Lin'an."
"Then why did you come back?"
The father-in-law didn't see his daughter and was dissatisfied.
"This time..."
Yang Xuan briefly talked about the situation of this trip.
"Tsk!" Zhou Zun said with a headache: "Although you have made meritorious service in this matter, this matter has nothing to do with you, so you shouldn't have gone in the first place."
This is what his father-in-law is teaching him about the principles of being an official.
"This time it seems that everything is fine and I have performed meritorious service, but what about next time?"
"yes."
It is actually useless for a son-in-law to be respectful. You have no ability. The more respectful your father-in-law is, the less his father-in-law will look down on you and the angrier he will be. He feels that he was blind in marrying his daughter to you.
If you have the ability, if you are a little more respectful, my father-in-law will be very happy.
"Uncle Yang Wu, it would be good to supervise the censor." Zhou Zun suddenly rode his horse to the nearby shop.
The shop sells drinks.
"Is this wine from Shu?"
"Yes! It's fruit wine from Shu." The shopkeeper was very respectful.
"Two pounds."
"Hello!"
The Zhou family should not be short of wine! Yang Xuan felt something was wrong, "My father-in-law, is it not allowed to drink alcohol at home?"
Mother-in-law is not that tough, right?
My father-in-law is not allowed to drink at home.
Zhou Zun did not answer, but ordered: "Add water."
The shopkeeper was stunned, "Add water...how much?"
The customer's requirements are the merchant's wishes.
"Add...a pound!"
Tsk tsk!
Fruit wine is already weak, but if you add half of the water to it, is it still wine?
Yang Xuan felt that he could drink five kilograms without any trouble.
When they arrived at the Zhou family, Zhou Zun took Yang Xuan to the backyard.
Zhou Qin was boxing in the yard, looking very slow.
"Aye!"
"Um!"
Zhou Qin turned his eyes and saw the wine jar in his hand. He coughed dryly and asked, "Is it the fruit wine from Shu?"
"Yes, I bought it from the one with the best business."
But the previous business was just ordinary!
Yang Xuan felt that his father-in-law's lies were as natural and smooth as drinking water.
I am not as good as me!
Zhou Qin looked at Yang Xuan, "Why are you back? Where is Aning?"
Yang Xuan repeated the same words.
"It's interesting to supervise the censor." Zhou Qin's reaction was similar to Zhou Zun's, "Don't compete with Liang Jing. That person was used by the emperor to stir up trouble in the court. He was a troublemaker. By the way, this time
You have been of great help to him, does the imperial concubine have any feedback?"
Yang Xuan shook his head, "I don't want to get close to them."
Zhou Qin smiled, "It's good to be able to be stable in the face of fame and fortune."
After dinner later, Zhou Qin called his third son, Zhou Xin, who was at home, to accompany him.
They ate and slept without saying a word. After the meal, each of them held a cup of tea and drank it slowly.
Zhou Xin was very curious about this brother-in-law: Zhou Ning ran away from home, which made young people envious, and they only regretted that they did not have the courage. Moreover, Zhou Ning was so beautiful that many men were crazy about her.
But in the end, Zhou Ning found Yang Xuan, who was born as an ordinary person. This shocked many people in the Zhou family and also made them curious about Yang Xuan.
Zhou Xin thought about testing it, "Brother-in-law."
Yang Xuan put down the teacup and said, "Sanlang."
"Brother-in-law is in Northern Xinjiang, do you think it's hard?" Yang Xuan could have stayed in Chang'an, but he took the initiative to go to Northern Xinjiang. For a family member, this was stupid and ignorant of current affairs.
As the saying goes, a son with a lot of money cannot sit in the palace. Northern Xinjiang is not only difficult, but also dangerous, and there is no hope of success. As a son of an aristocratic family, it is natural to avoid such places.
"It's hard work, but a man must have some ambition." Yang Xuan knew that Zhou Ning was good to this brother, so he casually taught him a lesson.
"Zitai, tell him." Zhou Qin pointed at Zhou Xin, "This guy likes to party with a group of bad friends recently. Young people always don't look back. I've been beaten by him several times, but he's still stubborn."
Yang Xuan smiled, "People have many ways of living. Eating, drinking and having fun is naturally a way of living, and wandering on the streets with friends is also a kind of fun. Just Sanlang, if you think about the past carefully, let alone the long term, just half a year ago!
If you think about it carefully, do you have any impression of those days and are they worth remembering?"
Zhou Xin thought about it carefully, "It seems...I can't remember it."
Yang Xuan didn't want to make a long speech, "When you get old, when you sit on the couch and think about your life, it will be blank. So, Sanlang, do you think this life has been wasted? Is it worth wasting?"
Zhou Xin was a little touched, "But even if you do things, what will you get?"
Yang Xuan pointed to the position of his heart, "You only live for decades, and you have to find a way to live a life that you won't regret when you grow old. No matter what it is, even farming."
"How many people are trapped in the walls of wine, sex and wealth. You want to have fun, but doing things is not fun? Just like reading, when a problem is placed in front of you, you will be entangled, but when you solve the problem, you will
You will be happy and can't help but be happy. Saburo, this is how things are done. You only see the difficulty of the process, but you don't see the joy of success after hard work."
"Drinking, sex and wealth can directly make you happy, but Saburo, have you ever noticed that at first you feel happy chatting with a few friends, but after a while, you have to drink together to find it interesting, and later on, you feel that drinking is boring and you have to go
Only brothels will do..."
Zhou Xin nodded and said in surprise: "Brother-in-law, how do you know?"
"I'm here too." Yang Xuan said with a smile: "Go and see those ancestors, what do they do now? Horse racing, hunting, a group of friends and a group of women gather at home, and then it becomes a mess, and some even go to seduce women.
Why?"
This topic is so exciting!
The old servant next to him coughed dryly.
Zhou Qin shook his head, indicating that he didn't need to worry about it.
The father and son watched with interest as Yang Xuan taught his brother-in-law.
Zhou Xin shook his head.
"It's just because their desires are becoming more and more difficult to satisfy." Yang Xuan said: "When they reach this point, they feel that their lives are meaningless. They only want to seek comfort and the meaning of life from drinking, sex and wealth. But drinking, sex and wealth have nothing to do with it.
Meaning. They can only use wine and sex to numb themselves. When wine and sex cannot satisfy their desires, they become walking zombies...no different from beasts."
Zhou Xin was horrified, stood up, and stood with his hands tied, "I would like to be taught."
Zhou Qin was very interested in this statement, "Zitai, what is this statement?"
Of course it is the threshold... Yang Xuan said: "Desire never ends."
Seeing that his son was in a daze, Zhou Zun changed the topic, "Zitai thinks, what if the Tang Dynasty sends troops to attack Southern Zhou?"
"Look, if the southern Xinjiang army attacks alone, it will start off strong, but it won't take long before it will be in trouble."
"Why?" Yang Xuan's view is completely different from the mainstream view.
"I have been to the Southern Zhou Dynasty, my father-in-law. It is a place that cannot be underestimated. When the crisis of national subjugation comes, they will be united as one." Yang Xuan said: "If there is a war, it will be a national war. Such views of underestimating the enemy, I
I think it is extremely inappropriate. If I have the opportunity, I will speak out."
Zhou Zun smiled and thought this view was interesting.
Later Yang Xuan left.
Zhou Zun explained: "Yang Songcheng and others have been engaged in secret battles with the emperor recently, and there is no winner or loser. At this time, Liang Jing's intervention in the court will give the emperor an extra loyal dog. Yang Songcheng and others will be very worried. Zitai, you
Be careful."
Yang Xuan smiled and said: "At most, it's just a stumbling block for me."
Zhou Qin frowned, "Yang Songcheng was famous for being ruthless back then. In recent years, he seems to have improved his moral character, but he is still the same ruthless person at heart. Don't underestimate him."