On the Double Ninth Festival of the second year of Zhengxing, Chang'an City was preparing to welcome the northwest frontier army to return and present prisoners, when suddenly a heroic shout rang out on Zhuque Street.
"Hahaha, Chang'an, Cen Erqilang is back!"
A plump woman carrying a vegetable basket was attracted by the call. She turned around and saw a team of well-worn athletes entering the city.
She raised her eyebrows and praised involuntarily: "What a strong horse, what a strong man."
The men walked by carelessly, and several of them looked back at the woman.
"Yellow flowers are placed all over her head. I think she is quite pretty."
"That's because you stayed in the desert for too long. It took me three songs to teach you to open your eyes."
"If I go to Sanqu, Cen Changshi will write a few more good poems anyway."
Cen Shen was raising his head to feel the autumn wind blowing on his face in Chang'an City. After hearing these words from his subordinates, he said, "You go now, I will enter the palace to meet the saint soon."
"When you enter Beijing, do you want to meet the Holy Spirit?"
"Yes, I feel relieved after I handed in the errand." Cen Shen was in high spirits, laughed twice, said goodbye to them at the intersection in front of Pingkangfang, and went to Daming Palace.
Gradually, as Miyagi came into sight, he got off his horse and led the horse forward. His pace became slower and slower, and finally he stopped.
The last time he came here was when he was named on the gold list. After many years of separation, the city did not change much, but his state of mind was completely different.
"The mountains and rivers bring together the imperial capital..."
With poetry in his heart, Cen Shen saw Yan Quanming walking towards him out of the corner of his eye.
After the two men saw the ceremony, Yan Quanming led Cen Shen to Zhongshu Province to wait for a while, and then went in with a group of important ministers to discuss the matter of offering prisoners.
Many of the important ministers in the court were acquainted with Cen Shen before. Today, his mind was not on renewing old relationships with them, and he could not help but wander away.
Although he had known about Xue Bai's ascension to the throne a long time ago, the young man who used to drink and write poems together suddenly became the emperor, and the world was so absurd that it still made him feel unreal.
When he came to his senses, he had entered the Xuanzheng Hall. When he looked up, the emperor was standing there, wearing an ocher yellow robe, as if the image of the wise emperor in his mind was reflected in front of him.
Cen Shen was stunned for a moment and could no longer recall the past scenes of drinking and composing poems with Xue Bai.
At this time, officials began to commend him.
In these years, Cen Shen first returned to Guanzhong with the Anxi army to quell the rebellion, then went to Hebei to farm, and then returned to Anxi and Beiting with Feng Changqing. He made a lot of achievements. He will definitely be reused after returning to the court.
As for the recapture of the Hexi Corridor this time, due to the civil strife in Tubo, the Tang army was well prepared and attacked from both sides. It can be said that it was overwhelming. The capture of Dazalu Gong was an unexpected surprise.
What we are discussing today is the arrangements for the sacrifice of prisoners, and the main person talking about this is Yuan Zai.
This was the emperor's first major external victory after he ascended the throne. Yuan Zai figured out his intentions and planned to follow the previous process of Gao Xianzhi presenting Little Bolü to the throne.
Cen Shen looked around, but saw that the Emperor's face did not have a complacent expression, his eyes were solemn, with a hint of thoughtfulness.
From the beginning to the end, Xue Bai never spoke to Cen Shen alone, let alone reminisced about the past. He only rewarded Cen Shen at the end and appointed him as the Youcheng of Honglu Temple. In fact, he wanted to be transferred to another place and did not accept such a job.
Don't like it very much.
The next day, Cen Shen went to Honglu Temple in the imperial city and met Yan Quanming again, who was the Zuocheng of Honglu Temple at that time.
He originally thought that the most busy thing in Honglu Temple right now was the etiquette of presenting prisoners, but Yan Quanming said: "You may think that Honglu Temple only handles matters of foreign affairs and court ceremonies, but after His Majesty came to the throne, it has been very different."
"What does this mean?"
"Come with me."
Yan Quanming led Cen Shen all the way inside. Many people he encountered on the way ignored him, but there was only one person who made him stop.
"That man's name is Jia Dan."
Cen Shen looked around and saw that Jia Dan was a tall and thin official. He was holding a large blueprint in his hand and looking at it while walking. He didn't even raise his head and didn't notice them at all.
"What's so strange about him?" Cen Shen asked.
"He seems to have believed what His Majesty said." Yan Quanming said.
"What's wrong with this?" Cen Shen didn't know why.
"The world is round."
"What?"
Yan Quanming said: "Your Majesty said that the world is round, Jia Danxin."
Cen Shen asked: "What does this mean?"
"For example, you, Cen Erqilang, walked from the Western Regions to the west. At the end, you will return to the Tang Dynasty from the east."
Cen Shen raised his eyebrows and looked at Jia Dan again, remembering the other person's serious thinking in his mind.
The two of them continued walking and arrived at Yan Quanming's mansion. After walking around the screen, a large map appeared in front of them.
"You and I are in charge of the rituals of foreign countries, so we should know how many foreign countries there are in the world, Tubo, the countries in the Western Regions, Dashi, Fulin, and this place. Your Majesty ordered a sea ship to be built to visit the place..."
Cen Shen looked at it for a long time and gradually came to his senses.
"Let's talk about Tubo." Yan Quan said clearly: "Do you know how Wang Rao captured Dazalu Gong in the battle of Shanzhou?"
"Presumably Dazalu Gong didn't expect Master Wang to attack him at this time?"
"There is civil strife in Tubo." Yan Quan said clearly: "What I will tell you next is confidential, but since you have moved to the right of Honglu Temple, you should know."
Cen Shen's face became solemn and he waited patiently for the next sentence.
Yan Quanming first started by sending an envoy to Tibet to bring back Trisong Detsen on the pretext of civil strife in Tibet.
"Dazarugong actually lost the war. He was too eager to welcome Zanpu back, which is why he fell into the king's rare trick. The imperial court captured him alive not only to show off his power, but sooner or later he would still be killed.
They were put back together with Trisong Detsen."
"Put it back and fight with Ma Xiang for power?"
"Yes, not only that, we also need to make them truly respect the Tang Dynasty and integrate into the Tang Dynasty. We want them to still admire the Tang Dynasty after returning to Tubo, miss their life in Chang'an, use the words of the Tang Dynasty, and read the books of the Tang Dynasty.
Gradually let them become a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty like Nanzhao."
Cen Shen couldn't help but ask: "Can it be done? I mean, by changing Trisong Detsen and Dazalu Gong, can the entire Tubo be changed?"
He had served in the army in the Western Regions for many years, and spent many of his time fighting against Tubo. He knew that it was a powerful country that could compete with the Tang Dynasty based on its terrain.
"It's not enough, but we have patience, ten years, twenty years, fifty years." Yan Quanming said: "When the Tang Dynasty wanted to conquer Tubo, force alone was not enough, it needed to be integrated with civilization. The former Emperor Taizong Youtian Khan's
If we want to revive the Tang Dynasty, why can't we accommodate Tubo?"
Cen Shen, who returned to Chang'an from the Western Regions, knew that the war to guard the border and expand the territory was not over yet, but it only had more means and more ambitious goals.
Datang is like a wounded beast. After recovering from its injuries, it is becoming stronger little by little.
~~
A few days later, a grand prisoner presentation ceremony was held in front of Zhuque Gate.
The Tang army once again brought Trisong Dezan and Nalanzhen back to Chang'an. On the surface, they fled to Chang'an because of the persecution of the treacherous minister Ma Xiang. They actively helped the Tang army persuade the Tibetan generals to surrender and captured Dazalu Gong alive.
This kind of rhetoric makes this war less hateful and more harmonious and peaceful.
So, in front of the people in the city, Dazalu Gong knelt before Trisong Detsen and repented, and he was living in Chang'an with the exiled Zanpu.
That night, Xue Bai gave a banquet in the palace.
Trisong Detsen had the indifference and calmness of a monk. He accepted this calmly and watched the performance calmly. From time to time, he could talk a few words with Tang court officials and even composed an impromptu poem.
Dazalu Gong sat there with a depressed look on his face, just drinking and thinking about how Jieli Khan was captured by Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty and danced in Chang'an, and now Zanpu is composing poems here. It seems different, but in fact he is living under someone else's roof.
situation.
Nalanzhen always lowered her head, not knowing what she was thinking.
When the banquet was in full swing, Xue Bai looked at Chisong Dezan and asked casually, "Zanpu Guigeng?"
"Your Majesty, the foreign minister is already eighteen years old."
"Is there a match?"
"Married the daughter of Cai Bang of Tubo."
"Your Majesty." Yan Quanming stood up and said: "Previously, Zanpu asked the Tang Dynasty to marry a princess, in order to emulate the story of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng. At that time, it was not possible. Now that he has come to Chang'an, it can be said that he is
Good things come hard, why don't Your Majesty choose a girl from the clan to marry?"
Upon hearing this, before Chisong Dezan had much reaction, Nalanzhen's expression changed.
The situation at that time was completely different from now. At that time, Tubo asked Tang Dynasty to get married, but now Tang Dynasty chooses a "clan daughter" to marry Trisong Dezan, but this is obvious control and use.
Although she is said to be a clan member, she is actually just a daughter trained by the Tang court.
She deliberately refused on behalf of Trisong Detsen and stood up with a glass of wine, but she heard Trisong Detsen's response in her ears.
"If your majesty can be merciful, foreign ministers will not be able to ask for it."
"..."
A eunuch approached Xue Bai and whispered: "Your Majesty, Pugu Huai'en passed away just now."
"A rich burial."
Xue Bai was originally holding a glass of wine but didn't drink it. After hearing this, he drank the glass of wine as a token of his gratitude to his servant.
He ordered the banquet to be dispersed and returned to the Xuanzheng Hall to deal with some matters left behind after the death of Pugu Huai'en.
In fact, Pugu Huaien's memorial pleading guilty was still on Xue Bai's desk, and Xue Bai could see his unresolved anger and smoldering mood.
"Too obsessed." Xue Bai commented in his heart.
He is different from Pugu Huai'en, he is a person who will do whatever it takes to achieve his goal.
"His Majesty."
"What's the matter?"
"The Tibetan princess refused to leave on the pretext of changing her clothes when she left the palace. She wanted to ask to see Your Majesty."
Xue Bai put down Pugu Huaien's memorial, thought for a moment, and said, "Bring her over."
The candlelight in the hall swayed, but it could only illuminate the area near the imperial case, which seemed empty and lonely. When Nalanzhen came in again, she saw Xue Bai sitting alone, with a cold and independent look, and she felt that he was not that
broken.
Nalanzhen endured the pain of losing her country and her family. She traveled all the way but achieved nothing. Her spirit was on the verge of collapse, but she still managed to hold on.
She gritted her teeth and knelt down directly.
"I know what your majesty wants to do. I came here to tell your majesty that Trisong Detsen and I are convinced. Please let us go back to Tibet. After getting rid of Ma Xiang, we are willing to serve your majesty as the master and be great for generations to come."
Tang Dynasty."
"Why are you so anxious? You have just arrived in Chang'an."
"Ma Xiang has established Zanpu. After a long time, it will be difficult to deal with him. If he is allowed to put the country in order, and then raises troops to invade the Tang Dynasty again..."
Xue Bai interrupted her and asked: "Why do you come to beg me again? Why do you think I will agree to you?"
"We will give whatever His Majesty wants. There is no benefit in delaying it."
"You can't pay it back."
Na Lanzhen cried, looking lonely and helpless, and said: "Why can't Your Majesty just believe us once? We have shown our kindness many times, but Your Majesty still refuses to believe our sincerity."
"Your sincerity? It's just that you knew how to kneel down because you were afraid of being beaten." Xue Bai said, "Didn't you think before that the truce meant that you were giving alms to me?"
Nalanzhen was stunned, she didn't expect that his inner feelings were captured so keenly by him.
Xue Bai walked up to him, leaned over and looked into her eyes.
"I captured you, taught you, and released you. You said you were grateful, but when you saw the civil strife in the Tang Dynasty, you started to look down upon it. You deliberately condoned Ma Xiang and Dazhalu Gong and sent troops, and then contacted the Tang Dynasty for peace talks. You
I'm all equally selfish, so what's the point of sincerity?"
"Master..."
"When I look at your eyes now, I still see fear of power and no morality."
Nalanzhen lowered her head in a panic, not knowing how to answer, but the tears in her eyes became more and more violent.
This is her last weapon.
"You have no idea what I'm thinking."
"oh?"
"I could have married the prince of Nanzhao, or the chief of a certain Tubo tribe, but you taught me how to fight for it." When Nalanzhen said this, she burst into tears, "Why am I doing this so hard? Not yet."
For your wish, I know you hope that I can take power in Tubo and make the two countries peaceful... If not for you, why should I live such a life? "
Xue Bai shook his head, a little sarcastic.
Na Lanzhen raised her eyes and looked deeply at him, murmuring and asking: "Don't you know my thoughts?"
"Why do you have to live like this?" Xue Bai said: "Isn't it because you are addicted to power and can't give it up?"
"I'm not." Nalanzhen cried: "I know I shouldn't think about you, but I can't help it. I have always felt that keeping Tibet and the Tang Dynasty in peace is my affection for you."
"It seems that you have learned it." Xue Bai still had the same sarcastic expression of disapproval.
Nalanzhen wiped away her tears, but she couldn't wipe them away. She said aggrievedly: "If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do about it. Anyway, I said what I think."
Xue Bai did not respond to her, and the palace became quiet, with only the sound of sobbing left.
Gradually, the ridicule on Xue Bai's face turned into self-mockery.
"Your Majesty?" Nalanzhen couldn't help but called out in a low voice again.
"Do you really think this will make me soft-hearted?" Xue Bai said: "You are obviously just like me, selfish, ambitious, and unscrupulous."
"Your Majesty is affectionate and righteous, and is a benevolent and righteous king."
"Do you know how I became successful? I took refuge in the traitorous prime minister, clung to the nepotism of the wife of Guo State, and defiled the palace... I did all the dirty and despicable tricks before I finally obtained the position of emperor of the Tang Dynasty.
.All along, the accusations against me are almost always true."
Xue Bai seemed to be talking about other people's affairs, his tone was calm, and he did not shy away from his own misdeeds.
"I've come all this way, full of despicableness and shamelessness. You actually want to kidnap me on the pretext of being 'compassionate and righteous'?"
Nalanzhen was stunned for a moment and forgot to continue crying.
She looked at the man in front of her with dull eyes. Because of his handsome and majestic appearance, she still could not combine him with the shameless image in his mouth, so she could not judge what Xue Bai meant by these words.
Is that an irony?
Because he had endured so much, he finally went crazy after becoming emperor. Was he saying these ironic words because he needed comfort?
"You're not like that." Nalanzhen stood up, carefully moved closer to Xue Bai, and said, "I know you are a good person..."
"I like power."
Xue Bai looked at her and suddenly said this.
His eyes were very calm, as if he was not only talking to Na Lanzhen, but also trying to express his feelings to the world.
"From the very beginning, I have been deep-minded, unscrupulous, morally unscrupulous, and resorted to all possible means. I hate people being above me, so I have climbed up step by step. I have always been very clear that I have no power to guarantee anything.
Friendships and friendships are all false.”
Xue Bai said, becoming more and more calm.
It was like a person wearing tight, ill-fitting clothes finally took off his clothes and stood there naked, looking very relaxed and natural.
The tears on Nalanzhen's face dried up, and she stood there blankly, unable to do anything to deal with Xue Bai.
Xue Bai said: "I taught you at that time because you are as ambitious as me. You can mess up Tubo, but you don't have the ability to revitalize Tubo."
"you……"
Nalanzhen had been scolding Xue Bai for betraying the alliance before, and maybe she had already thought about it at that time. She wanted to make him feel guilty. She might be able to move him by crying tonight, but when he admitted his despicableness, he was already in front of her.
There was no flaw, so she became at a loss.
Xue Bai didn't care much about her.
What he enjoys is the time when he has become his own person again, and will not be bound by the frameworks of "the Holy Son of Heaven", "the benevolent and righteous king", "humbly accepting advice", "righteous heart and clear virtue" and so on.
He said these things to put himself back in the state of mind where he was full of ambition and would do anything to climb up, and he felt comfortable.
As for what Nalanzhen thinks, it doesn't matter to him at all.
The candlelight flickered for a while, and Xue Bai looked at the table and regained his composure.
Just like a shirtless man wearing a loose and comfortable royal robe, he is still the king of the Tang Dynasty, which is waiting to be prosperous.
"Back off." He waved his hand.
Nalanzhen retreated unwillingly, knowing that she would be imprisoned in Chang'an for a long time, until she lost her spirit and became more and more in awe of the Tang Dynasty.
Suddenly, she stopped.
"His Majesty."
Her lips were trembling a little, but she still spoke.
As Xue Bai said, she is indeed a very ambitious person and wants to climb up by any means necessary.
"I have always been taught by you, and I can do what you have done." Na Lanzhen said, the look of grievance completely gone from her face.
"so what?"
"I want to give birth to a son and bring it back to Tubo, my son and yours." Nalanzhen walked towards Xue Bai again, with confidence and determination in her eyes, "Isn't this more trustworthy than Chisong Dezan?"
Xue Bai looked at her again, finally feeling a little surprised.
I'm not surprised by her stupid idea, but I'm surprised by her unscrupulous attitude, which is really similar to her before.
Climbing up step by step and seizing power requires paying a high price, and they are all people who can sacrifice themselves.
~~
The second year of Zhengxing gradually passed, Hexi was recovered, Tubo temporarily retreated, and the vassal towns no longer proposed succession after the death of father and son, and the Tang Dynasty finally began to stabilize.
At this point, Xue Bai was considered emperor. Before that, he was actually at risk of being overthrown at any time.
On the winter solstice, he discussed several state affairs with Yan Zhenqing and invited him to a family dinner, which was actually just eating dumplings together.
Yan Zhenqing waved her hand and refused.
As the overall situation stabilized, his personal relationship with Xue Bai became more and more distant. Whenever they met, he kept a straight face and dealt with business matters. He must be afraid that others would say that his relative had taken power.
He was very concerned about the education of the East Palace and mentioned it again before leaving.
"According to what my father-in-law said." Xue Bai said, "By the way, the Ministry of Education rejected the approval letter for building sea-going ships?"
Xue Bai originally planned to mention this at the family dinner, but Yan Zhenqing was leaving, so he had no choice but to say it now.
"Yes, the national treasury is short of money and food. At this time of year, it may not be appropriate to squander it on frivolous things."
"What is 'squandering'? What is 'illusory'?" Xue Bai smiled and said: "This matter, in the long run, will be extremely beneficial to Datang."
"Your Majesty, how about we discuss it later with Rong Zhongshu?"
Xue Bai nodded and did not mention the matter for the time being.
The courtiers were all opposed to this matter, but he did not do anything wrong and insisted on going his own way, just like the important matters in the feudal town.
After he showed his true state of mind in front of Na Lanzhen in private, he vented everything that needed to be vented, and there was nothing to be upset about. Therefore, he became much more open-minded, and he has always maintained the appearance of a wise king in front of the courtiers.
Right now, it's time for him and Yan Zhenqing to complement each other...