Xue Shao asked Li Xianyuan for a detailed inquiry about the affairs of the imperial court, and later he summed up a reason: the empress was in a hurry to recall me back to the court, not because the war was not available. On the contrary, there will be too many people who can be used, and everyone wants to participate in this war and be rewarded for their meritorious service. But the dragons have no leader, and the generals do not obey each other and do not give in to each other. The war has not yet begun, and the internal struggle has begun first.

The Garqin Mausoleum is not trivial, and the right guard Luoshui army is the strongest royal division in the imperial court at present. So the empress planned to use Wang Xiaojie as the commander and Lou Shide as the deputy commander, and then selected the army of the right guard as the main force to participate in the campaign. On the basis of the core of the right guard, a part of the recruits and expansion of the army were recruited to fight together. In this way, the two generals of the right guard, Dang Jinbi and Guo Dafeng, as well as Guo An and others, became the core generals.

Wang Xiaojie succeeded Xue Shao as Xia Guanshangshu and entered the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister, no matter how it seems that he is the new military leader. But he clearly does not have enough prestige and ability to harness the entire military. Not to mention anything else, he couldn't stop Dang Jinbi and Guo Dafeng alone.

In terms of official rank, Wang Xiaojie is far greater than the second general of the party. But in terms of qualifications, the second general of the party Guo will not take Wang Xiaojie in his eyes at all. They are old generals under Pei Gong, although their military exploits are not outstanding, but their qualifications are really old enough. In particular, they are also the commanders of the capital city, and they have been deeply respected and trusted by the empress since the Pei Yan era, and there is even a trace of awe. Wang Xiaojie is just a member of the Tiger Division, and he has only been promoted by the empress in recent years, and he has risen rapidly, and at the same time, he has a little bit of a taste of counterbalancing Xue Shao. From these layers, Dang Jinbi and Guo Dafeng will have a good face to show Wang Xiaojie, then there will be ghosts!

The empress had already thought of it, so he sent Wang Xiaojie and Wu Chengsi to Hebei to recruit troops, but let Lou Shide be responsible for rectifying the logistics of the capital's soldiers and horses, mainly to appease and mediate these generals on the right guard, hoping that they could work closely with Wang Xiaojie to fight this battle. The second general of the party Guo was very conscientious and cooperative, and the empress was a little relieved.

In fact, the empress also has a famous jade-crowned general Xue Chuyu who has just returned to the dynasty in front of her, which can be reused. No one is more suitable to be the vanguard than him, and even the morale of the whole army will be raised by a notch because of his arrival. But even the empress, who is not good at military affairs, knows in her heart, how can Wang Xiaojie have the ability to command a big name like General Yuguan? So the empress simply made a rather humane decision, she let Xue Chuyu take a leave to go back to her hometown Longmen, and let him go to reunite with his family first.

Unexpectedly, at this time, the Hebei conscription went wrong again. Wu Chengsi and Wang Xiaojie recruited soldiers for five or six days, and only three or four thousand people were recruited in total. It's not enough to even plug your teeth!

And then a whole bunch of troubles came. The generals of the DPRK and China have expressed their stance that they can recruit troops in the military government under their jurisdiction, which will relieve the urgent need for troops. Li Duozuo, the general of the Imperial Forest Army, and others are even more arrogant, saying that there are ready-made soldiers and horses available under my command!

The intention of these generals was obvious, Wu Chengsi and Wang Xiaojie were not good at recruiting troops, so they began to ask for war on the grounds of providing troops. But the trouble with this is that Wang Xiaojie can't even recruit soldiers, so what qualifications and face does he have to lead the soldiers and horses brought by these generals to fight?

At this moment, the empress was so embarrassed that she couldn't feel ashamed. Because everyone knows in their hearts, Wang Xiaojie cannot be blamed for the unfavorable recruitment in Hebei, but only Wu Chenghei is unpopular, he once did bad things in Hebei, so it is notorious that no one is willing to obey his call. Wang Xiaojie is "lying on the gun" this time, which has ruined his prestige and reputation.

There is a truth, it is called not knowing how to cherish when you have it, and only when you lose it can you know how valuable it is. There were frequent chaos in the preparation stage alone, and at this time, Wu Zetian had to think of Xue Shao. If he were there, where would there be all these troubles?

So Wu Zetian immediately sent a few people to Yangzhou to find Xue Shao, and Li Xianyuan's magic stick was only one of them. The empress's secret order to find Xue Shao had been issued to the Yangzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, and almost all the officials there were looking for him.

"Now that you go back to the court, you will have a lot of face." Li Xianyuan seemed to be very insightful and said to Xue Shao, "Wu Chengsi and Wang Xiaojie can't recruit soldiers, you ascend to the top and echo the crowd, how majestic?" The generals of the DPRK and China will not give in to each other, and if you stand in front of them, and take a few to the battle, who will dare to disagree? ”

"Then I should have brought you sycophant." Xue Shao said with a smile, "It's hard to fight, it's okay to make fun of you." ”

"Don't, don't! Don't! Li Xianyuan hurriedly begged for mercy, "I'm not in the army at all, so let me stay in Shendu and dream of death!" ”

Yu Hongye said to Xue Shao: "When you leave Jingduo, you should also go back." Although Yangzhou is good, it is not your permanent home. Now the country and the court need you to solve problems, and it is better to leave the past behind for the time being, but take the military affairs first! ”

"Oh, Mrs. Yu is really righteous, a heroine among women!" Li Xianyuan hurriedly gave Yu Hongye a look.

Xue Shao smiled: "Have you heard the red leaves, the sycophants have called you Mrs." ”

Li Xianyuan hurriedly said: "I'm serious, I didn't make a sycophant!" ”

Yu Hongye just smiled and said seriously: "Go back, now is the time!" ”

"Then go back!" Xue Shao sighed lightly and nodded, "Sure enough, it's still the one who works hard and can't be a rich man!" ”

"The state is urgent, you hurry up and take the first step." Yu Hongye said, "I still take the waterway slowly, so I can investigate the business opportunities and folk customs in various places in detail." ”

"You're alone, I'm not at ease." Xue Shao said.

"I, me!" Li Xianyuan immediately jumped up, "Escorting Mrs. Zun back to Beijing safely, I have long been skilled in this kind of errand." Now I still have the empress's edict on me, and the government has been sent along the way. I promise that Mrs. Zun can return to the capital safely as soon as possible, and she can still eat and have fun along the way! ”

Chances are, that's how the Divine Stick came all the way.

Xue Shao and Yu Hongye both laughed, then ignored this magic stick, holding each other's hands and staring at each other, "We, see you in the capital!" ”

In order to compete for time, Xue Shao traveled day and night with the stars and the moon, mainly walking the dry road to Guanzhong. Except for changing horses and resting at the official posts along the way, he did not delay for half a minute, and the speed caught up with the six hundred miles of expedited stagecoaches. In just a few days, he stepped into the boundary of Luozhou, and everyone was tired at this time.

Those who came to greet him were Wu Ming, Yuenu, Guo An, Duan Feng and others. The former was obviously sent by Princess Taiping, and the latter was the representative of the generals of the right guard.

In order to recuperate his strength, Xue Shao lay down in the carriage and continued the remaining dozens of miles. Due to riding too much, the skin on both sides of Xue Shao's thighs was worn out and filled. When the moon slave applied medicine to him on the carriage to heal his injuries, he shed tears.

When the group entered Luoyang City, it was about to close the city gate. Guo An rode in front and took the team to Princess Taiping's mansion, and Xue Shao said that I would go directly to the palace and I would see the empress first.

"Childe, your calves are swollen, your thighs have just crusted, your back hurts, you can't straighten your waist, and it's inconvenient to even walk, so why don't you go home first for serious treatment and a little rest?" The moon slave persuaded him.

"It's fine. I'm going to enter the palace right away! ”

"At least go home to meet the princess and the children first, and tomorrow I will change my court clothes and enter the palace to face the saint, then it's not too late?"

"Less nonsense, enter the palace!"

Helpless, Guo An and the others had no choice but to lead the carriage to the palace. At this time, the palace had long been closed, and the palace gate was eager to report inward. Wu Zetian was not ambiguous, and immediately sent eight strong eunuchs to carry out a large sedan chair and insisted on carrying Xue Shao into the palace.

Wu Zetian was taken aback when he saw Xue Shao for the first time, no matter who ran more than 2,000 miles day and night, his complexion and face would not be much better.

"Chengyu, you have suffered!" This was Wu Zetian's first sentence.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to say anything else for the time being." Xue Shao said, "The minister is eager to know, what is the movement of Tubo?" How is our military deployment in the DPRK? ”

Wu Zetian nodded, "I immediately called Wu Changqian and Yao Yuanchong into the palace, and urgently discussed this matter overnight!" ”

"What about Wang Xiaojie and Lou Shide?" Xue Shao asked.

"Lou Shide just went to Xijing to rectify the military weapons, grain and grass, and Wang Xiaojie is still recruiting troops in Hebei."

Xue Shao nodded, and Wu Zetian immediately sent envoys to summon Cen Changqian and Yao Yuanchong.

"Chengyu, this Xia Guanshangshu has to be you." Wu Zetian almost sighed heavily, "Wang Xiaojie, it's so disappointing to me!" ”

Xue Shao was silent, and said in his heart that it seems that Wang Xiaojie has to carry this black cauldron for Wu Chenghei, otherwise the empress's face will be very unsightly. At least, Wang Xiaojie, the official position of "Xia Guanshangshu", will definitely not be able to do it.

It may seem unreasonable, but it's reasonable. In the imperial era, what could be more important than the face of a king? Being able to carry a black cauldron to the emperor is not necessarily a bad thing sometimes. On the surface, it seems to be a loss, but it is only temporary, especially in the face of an emperor like Wu Zetian who emphasizes "fair trade". There are many similar examples, a few years ago, Qiu Shenqian went to inspect the former prince Li Xian and forced him to death, Wu Zetian first reprimanded him and demoted his official, but it didn't take long for him to return to the court and reinstate him and gave him a lot of promotions. In the end, Qiu Shenxun was killed by Xue Shao, which is another matter.

Seeing that Xue Shao didn't speak, Wu Zetian said again: "You have always been reluctant to enter the cabinet to worship the prime minister, and I will not be reluctant for the time being." But now, in addition to reinstating you as an official, I must also give you the important task of the military state. You may not be a member of the cabinet, but you are more than the prime minister and are in charge of the military aircraft, and you must personally participate in the decision-making of all the military affairs of the Great Zhou. You can't refuse anymore, or I'll get angry and really turn my face! ”

Wu Zetian's words were all said about this, and Xue Shao had no choice but to accept it. She now strongly asks for the new title of "Pingzhang Military Affairs" to herself, which is not the first one she created, and Li Tang of the previous dynasty has used it several times, which is equivalent to "a special adviser to the Senate on military affairs at the same level as the prime minister". In fact, Xue Shao was already the secretary of the military department in charge of the military, and Wu Zetian added such a "special title" to him just to improve his political status in the court.

Since then, the prime minister has commanded hundreds of bureaucrats to take charge of the overall state affairs, and Xue Shao is on an equal footing with the prime minister and is in charge of the country's military, but he does not have to go to the political hall to take care of those daily government affairs. That's pretty much it.