After leaving Shuozhou, I went all the way south, which was originally a few days away, but I walked for a month or two.

Seeing that he was approaching Luoyang day by day, Xue Shao's behavior became a little strange, which made his old subordinates a little puzzled. For example, when he was riding a horse, he would wander and unconsciously deviate from the official road, causing a large number of people behind him to follow him and take a big detour, and then turn back. When eating, he often grabbed a chopstick dish and was stunned, and then he smirked twice before continuing to eat. What puzzled the subordinates even more was that their boss actually began to wash his face with pearl powder, several times a day, and several layers of skin on his face had to be rubbed off.

Only Xue Shao knew in his heart that he often wandered because the pictures of Princess Taiping and her children always flashed in his mind. As for washing his face, this was actually the advice given to him by an envoy sent by the imperial court, saying that he would attend many occasions after returning to Beijing. Everyone knows that Xue Shao is the most beautiful man in my dynasty, and now he is going back with such a weathered black face, I'm afraid it's not appropriate, right?

Datang is a more "face-looking" era, the four criteria for the selection of officials are "body, speech, and writing", and this "body" refers to the temperament of various characters such as appearance and conversation, and it is ranked first.

Xue Shao was right when he thought about it, I have been fighting outside for more than a year, and I have never maintained it in the wind and sun, and I don't know how many laps it has been dark. The robed brothers who are with me may not think much of it, but when you get home, don't frighten your wife and children. Especially Princess Taiping, she is a senior member of the "Appearance Association", what should I do if I dislike me then?

Of course, Princess Taiping would not really dislike Xue Shao. But Xue Shao himself was a little homesick.

In fact, not only Xue Shao, but many soldiers around him have such a performance. The closer they got to Luoyang, the more the soldiers paid more attention to their clothing and appearance. When I was out fighting, it was normal to not take a shower or change my clothes for a month. Not now, the soldiers not only groom carefully every day, but even the war horses are often brushed and cared for, and the manes are neatly trimmed.

Finally stepped into the Luoyang boundary, and the Luoshui camp was already in front of him, and he could see it.

Looking at the familiar landscape and city in front of him, Xue Shao's heart fluttered, feeling like he was experiencing a first love.

The imperial court had already arranged that the Northern Expeditionary Army would temporarily be stationed in the Luoshui camp and awaiting reorganization. So Xue Shao ordered the army to drive to the Luoshui camp, and he couldn't wait to go home to take a look.

Before the horses moved, Xue Shao saw a crowd rushing in front of him. Looking at the cheongsam armor, it is obvious that the honor guard of the imperial court is coming. The leaders must be officials, with red robes and purple robes, and their official ranks are not low.

Xue Shao couldn't help but sigh secretly, seeing that he was home, he had to socialize!

There was no way, Xue Shao had to dismount with the generals, spread the banner and stand in the middle of the road, dressed up and stood in the line, waiting for the honor guard to come forward. When they got closer, Xue Shao saw the faces of the leading officials clearly.

The first to bear the brunt is Prime Minister Cen Changqian. He was followed by Yao Yuanchong, the Xia official attendant, and Xue Shao's brother Xue Yi. Li Xianyuan, a half-toned god stick, also followed on a horse, and there were also some officials, large and small, about ten people.

Seeing that Xue Yi was safe and sound, Xue Shao really breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. When he dismounted and stepped forward, Xue Shao took a few steps forward and fell to the ground, "Brother Shao to meet my brother!" ”

Regardless of etiquette, Xue Shao's worship was really sincere and emotional. At this moment, he was saying in his heart: I really want to represent the ancestors of the Xue family and our descendants, thank you for not participating in the rebellion of the Li Tang royal family!

Xue Yi hurriedly stepped forward to support Xue Shao, "You are already the commander of the army of the important ministers of the country, how can you kneel for me in public?" Hurry up, please! ”

"The eldest brother is like a father. No matter how big an official I am, that is also the second brother who my brother and sister-in-law worked hard to bring up! The brothers held hands, and Xue Shao stood up.

"It's good to come back, it's good to come back!" Xue Yi has never been good at speaking, but he has already used enough strength to hold Xue Shao's arm, and his eyes seem to be a little moist.

Everyone quietly watched the reunion of the Xue brothers after a long absence, and no one stepped forward to disturb them. Xue Yi was a person who knew how to be polite, so he simply talked to Xue Shao about his brotherhood, and then hurriedly stepped aside. The prime minister was present, and he, the winter official, did not dare to take the throne.

Cen Changqian had already stepped forward, smiling and clenching his fists, "Xue Shuai and the Northern Expedition army have returned triumphantly, and the country is overjoyed." On the orders of the Emperor of God, this pavilion is here to greet you! ”

"I've seen Cen Xianggong." Xue Shao stepped forward and returned the salute, took a step closer and whispered, "Xianggong Cen, are you still angry with me?" ”

Of course, Cen Changqian knew that Xue Shao was saying that he had eaten the old thing of being closed in Shuozhou, but he smiled, "You and I have our own responsibilities, so why do you have personal grudges and grudges?" ”

"Cen Xiang is really the prime minister's belly and can support the boat, Xue Mou sighed to himself!" Xue Shao smiled, "Are we going to enter the palace?" ”

"Not in a hurry." Cen Changqian said, "This pavilion has already prepared a wedding banquet for Xue Shuai and the generals in the handsome tent of the Luoshui camp. How about I wait, how about talking while drinking? ”

"Okay!" Although he was not so happy, Xue Shao was not good at brushing the prime minister's face in public, so he bowed his hand, "Cen Xiang first, please!" ”

In this way, Xue Shao and dozens of generals followed Cen Changqian and the honor guard to the Luoshui camp, and Yu Shuai was seated.

After three rounds of drinking, Cen Changqian told Xue Shao that the imperial court had already made preparations, and he was just waiting for Xue Shuai and the generals to return to the court. Tomorrow, the capital of God will hold a great petition of the people. When the time is ripe, Xue Shuai will appear with the generals again to participate in the petition. In order to avoid mistakes, I had to wronged the generals to stay in the Luoshui camp for one more night today.

Cen Changqian had already said so, and Xue Shao was not good at expressing any different opinions. Think about it, tomorrow is such an important occasion, if any general drinks too much and oversleeps in the brothel, won't it be a bad thing?

No way, then go home a day later!

Cen Changqian also asked Xue Shao to select thirty meritorious generals at or above the rank of lieutenant general in the Northern Expedition Army, and participate in the "catwalk" with Xue Shao tomorrow. Cen Changqian even brought a batch of specially customized armor and battle robes, which were specially used to package the thirty generals on the catwalk. Even the war horses on the catwalk were prepared in advance, all of them were carefully selected from the special horses for the honor guard in the six stables. The horse food eaten by these horses is equivalent to the level of a five-rank official. They have undergone rigorous training, and their steps are absolutely neat when they walk the guard of honor, and even the mane floating on their heads is generally high.

After the banquet, Xue Shao selected thirty generals according to their rank and military merits. Cen Changqian asked someone to bring the armor and robes and asked the generals to try them on.

The armor robes of the thirty generals are very gorgeous and dazzling, far more beautiful than the Mingguang armor worn during the war, and the main color is golden white, which is the color of the national flag after Wu Zetian changed the flag. Only Xue Shao's system is different, he is a golden armor and a red and gold-inlaid cloak, the overall appearance is a red and yellow hue, and the nobility and majesty are all full. Even the war horse he used for the catwalk was a fiery red Dawan good horse with a golden saddle, and it was very likely to be a "relative" of the Weilong BMW who died on the battlefield.

It is conceivable that when Xue Shao is at the forefront of the generals, it will be as eye-catching as the stars and the moon.

Xue Shao has never liked this kind of publicity, but this time he had no choice but to go to this show in front of hundreds of thousands of people.

At dawn the next day, the first drum had just sounded in the bell and drum tower of the Taichu Palace of Luoyang Imperial City, and the entire ancient city of Luoyang began to get busy. Countless people began to pour into the streets, and groups went to the palace to gather in front of the gate of Zetian. A large number of Imperial Guards soldiers drove out of the Imperial City and lined up in front of the Imperial City to maintain law and order.

Xue Shao's generals got up early and had breakfast, put on new armor and rode on new horses, and walked to Luoyang City under the guidance of Prime Minister Cen Changqian and others.

Luoshui Daying is about ten miles away from Luoyang City. When Xue Shao and the others were just halfway through, there were already crowds of people in front of Tianmen. The 10,000 people who were willing to ask Wu Zetian to ascend the throne were put in front of the gate of the imperial city Zetianmen with several carts, and there were constantly people who came forward to sign and participate in the petition, including many officials and nobles and talented people.

Wu Zetian sat in the palace, quietly enjoying this wonderful moment that belonged to the pinnacle of her own life. She kept thinking about what she looked like when she first entered the palace at the beginning of the year. From the ignorant girl of fourteen or fifteen years old to the current year of the sixtieth year, it is fifty years of ups and downs and hard work. How many of them are bitter and bitter and unbearable, Wu Zetian can only think about it alone and savor it carefully.

Shangguan Wan'er walked in and knelt in front of her obediently, "Your Majesty the Divine Emperor, the people are willing to ask the Divine Emperor to ascend to the throne of the Great Treasure with a book of ten thousand words!" The book of ten thousand words has been sent to the palace, just outside the palace. ”

Wu Zetian took a deep breath, asked the waiter to hand a piece of paper to Shangguan Wan'er, and said, "You go to Zetianmen and take a trip to announce the order." ”

"Yes!"

Shangguan Wan'er respectfully took the order and retreated, and then walked towards the gate of heaven accompanied by a group of palace maids and eunuchs and Qianniu guards. No one knew better than her what kind of decree it was, because it was simply the decree she had written by her own hand, and the Divine Emperor refused to ascend the throne. She knew better that she was going to do more than just go today.

"Three concessions and then acceptance" is an unwritten rule. When Emperor Taizong accepted the Zen throne of Emperor Gaozu, he also went through such a procedure. And today's degree is like this, the people's 10,000-word book is one request and one concession, and the joint petition of hundreds of officials and monks is the second request and the second concession. After waiting for the two concessions, the military generals represented by Xue Shao will appear with Emperor Li Dan. At that time, the Holy Mother and Emperor will no longer be able to let it go, and must come to the gate of heaven in person to accept the invitation of all the people to agree to ascend the throne as the emperor and change the dynasty.

When she climbed the tower of Zetianmen, Shangguan Wan'er couldn't help but smile slightly, "He's back." One era is coming to an end, and another is about to begin! ”