With a wave of his arm, the responders gathered. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

This kind of words and phrases that are habitually seen in history books and novels are really reflected in Xue Shao's body. He issued an order in the name of the ambassador of Helong Qincha to collect 100,000 iron horsemen and go on a northern expedition to recover the grasslands.

This is not an order from the imperial court, let alone an order from Wu Zetian. It was Xue Shao, an order given by himself.

Of course, for Tang Xiujing and others, there is no difference between Xue Shao's orders and the orders of the imperial court and the empress.

At least for now.

This kind of thing, if it was Xue Shao a few years ago, would never have been able to do it. Although he has always retained the strong genes of a blood wolf in his veins and bones, he has always adhered to a purpose over the years, and he must be consistent with Wu Zetian in the face of major events.

But that's no longer the case.

Xue Shao took a dangerous step that even if he fell asleep in the middle of the night, he would be awakened by a cold sweat.

To say that you are not afraid is to lie nonsense. Even if Xue Shao himself is not afraid of death, he still has his wife and children in the capital.

But in recent years, Xue Shao has seen and experienced too many lives and deaths, and he already knows the thing "death" very well.

To put it bluntly, it's a cheap thing.

Sometimes the more you fear it, the more it will fight you and eventually kill you. On the other hand, if it roars and takes out the courage to sacrifice its life with it, it may admit it.

Xue Shao now only hopes that if he dies in the end, he will also have to take all the injuries all over his body and shed all his blood before dying.

That way, at least you don't have to go to hell with regrets.

The north wind was still roaring, bringing the bitter chill in the northwest direction of the Helong area to the capital of Guannei.

Xue Shao's movements were very large, and it was impossible to hide it from the capital. In fact, he didn't intend to hide it at all.

Before the Shangyuan Festival, Wu Zetian, who had been in "retreat" for a long time, couldn't sit still. She urgently ordered to convene the prime minister and important ministers to convene a meeting of the emperor, but as a result, only Wu Sansi came.

Wu Zetian was very shocked and asked why?

The eunuch who went to give the order replied in a low voice with a bitter face, saying that Cen Changqian's illness had become more and more serious recently, and he couldn't speak; Di Renjie has already returned to his hometown and province, and he is afraid that he will have to go to the Yuan Festival to return to Beijing; Lou Shide had already left for Heyuan, and he should have walked out of Hangu Pass by now......

"What about Li Zhaode?" Wu Zetian shouted in a hurry.

The eunuch's voice became thinner, "Your Majesty, Li Zhaode has ...... Guilty of breaking the law was punished. ”

Wu Zetian's expression suddenly froze.

Wu Sansi carefully looked at Wu Zetian's face for a while, and whispered: "Your Majesty, it is better to let your nephew invite Wu Youning and Wu Yougui to come to discuss the matter." ”

Wu Zetian was indifferent, only sneering with his eyes.

Wu Sansi touched a moldy head and felt bored, so he shut up.

"Go, call Yao Yuanchong and Guo Yuanzhen." Wu Zetian ordered.

"No—"

After half a day, at night, Yao Yuanchong and Guo Yuanzhen finally came. Wu Zetian didn't blame them for being late, after all, it was the day of the Chinese New Year, and everyone was busy visiting relatives, and they were already moving quickly.

After Xue Shao left, Guo Yuanzhen was in charge of the affairs of the military department, and he had already heard about Helong's military movements, so he knew quite well in his heart why the empress called him.

Yao Yuanchong's heart is the same as Guo Yuanzhen.

"Yao Yuanchong." Wu Zetian spoke, "I owe you the position of prime minister, and I have been owed it for a long time. Today, I will officially return it to you. I hope you don't shirk. ”

Yao Yuanchong was surprised, because there have been many rumors in recent days that Erzhang and Wu Sansi were about to take him Yao Yuanchong. Now the empress suddenly threw a prime minister's hat, which ......

"Your Majesty, the minister will never dare!" Yao Yuanchong hurriedly bowed: "The minister is arrogant and ignorant, only clumsy and weak, and then he joins Shishang and has not made any achievements, how can he worship the prime minister?" - I also ask Your Majesty to withdraw the order, this matter must not be allowed. ”

"I never doubted my own vision." Wu Zetian was completely unmoved, "I have made up my mind, you can only accept it." ”

"This ......" Yao Yuanchong sighed secretly, knelt down and bowed: "Minister Yao Yuanchong, thank you for the holy grace of my emperor!" ”

"Guo Yuanzhen."

"The minister is here!" Guo Yuanzhen responded and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, the minister would rather resist the decree than be the prime minister!" ”

Wu Zetian suddenly smiled, "You just want to do it, then it's okay." ”

"Oh!" Guo Yuanzhen sighed secretly, then I will rest assured!

"You have such an expression?" Wu Zetian's face showed a hint of gloom, "Isn't my position as the prime minister of Da Zhou worthy of you?" ”

"No, no, no!" Guo Yuanzhen hurriedly said: "You can't be a prime minister with such a virtue, otherwise, if the minister himself is embarrassed and thrown to his grandmother's house, His Majesty and Da Zhou will also follow...... Cough! ”

"Alright, shut up." Wu Zetian shook his head a little crying and laughing, and whispered: "No wonder Xue Shao often says that you will never have a positive shape." ”

"Hehehe!" Guo Yuanzhen smirked, "Your Majesty, occasionally, occasionally." ”

"Gossip." Wu Zetian said, "Guo Yuanzhen, I ask you." Has Xia Guan received news from Helonglai recently? ”

"Roger. When the minister had just entered the palace, he went to the Xia Guan's office, and learned that Xia Guan had just received the news from Helonglai yesterday. Guo Yuanzhen said, "It means that Taiwei Xue requisitioned 100,000 soldiers, 200,000 war horses, grain, grass and ordnance in Helong for the purpose of conquest. ”

Wu Zetian's brows furrowed, "With such a thing, Xia Guan actually realized it later?" ”

In this tone, there is obviously a taste of criticism.

Guo Yuanzhen immediately restrained his expression, and said solemnly: "Your Majesty Mingjian! Xue Taiwei was ordered by the emperor to send an envoy to Helong, and was titled 'the deposed ambassador of the states of the armies of the right province of Jielong', and everywhere he went, it was like His Majesty was there. He has the right to issue any military and political orders in Helong, and is completely free from the control of the three provinces, six ministries and nine ministers of the imperial court, and is only responsible to His Majesty. Therefore...... It is reasonable for the ministers to realize it later! ”

"......" Wu Zetian was completely speechless. It was only then that she remembered why Xue Shao went to Helong in the first place.

His purpose was to recruit troops for the Northern Expedition and pacify the Turks.

To go with such a purpose, of course, it is necessary to use "dethroned power". And this power was given to Xue Shao by Wu Zetian himself at that time.

What is it like to lift a stone and hit one's own feet, Wu Zetian is quite clear now.

"Am I confused?" She even blamed herself like this in her heart.

Yao Guo and the others fell silent when they saw the empress, but they were silent.

Wu Sansi whispered, "Your Majesty? ”

Wu Zetian came back to his senses at this time. She blinked, looked at Yao Yuanchong, and said, "Yuanzhi, I ask you." I have already sent Tian Guidao as an envoy to the Turks to investigate the massacre of the Han people by the Turkic army. Why did Xue Shao still recruit troops in Helong without authorization and act in vain? ”

Yao Yuanchong's eyebrows twisted and he quickly pondered, and after a while, he bowed his hand and replied: "Your Majesty, in the humble opinion of the minister, it is not only wrong for Taiwei Xue to do this, but it is also necessary. ”

Wu Zetian seemed to have expected Yao Yuanchong to have such an answer, so he asked indifferently: "How can this be seen?" ”

"Your Majesty just said that Tian Guidao sent an envoy to the north to investigate the massacre. The so-called investigation means that the truth of the facts is not yet clear. There are only two possible outcomes, one is that the Turks did massacre the Han people, and the other is that they did not. Such an outcome would have two other consequences, one would be the outbreak of war, and the other would not be the outbreak of war. Yao Yuanchong said, "Taiwei Xue is the supreme military commander of our dynasty, and his duty in the army is where he must prepare for war in advance. Once the war breaks out, our dynasty is prepared; Even if war does not break out, we can let the Hu people and aliens see the courage of our dynasty, so as to form a huge psychological shock to them. This is the superior art of war without a fight, and the war of real swords and guns is always the last choice. In fact, the minister was also very eager to resolve the dispute through diplomatic means. But without a strong military backing up diplomacy, diplomacy will be difficult. To sum up, Chen believes that Xue Taiwei's move is timely and a militaristic move. ”

"What a good step for the military and the country...... "Wu Zetian muttered, speechless.

Guo Yuanzhen glanced at Yao Yuanchong on the side and secretly smiled. The heart said that this old boy has been in the capital for so many years, and he really didn't mess around in vain. Not to mention anything else, this mouth alone can say that several Guo Yuanzhen will die! - It's the material to be the prime minister, really!

At this time, Wu Zetian spoke: "Yao Yuanchong, then in your opinion, how should the imperial court deal with Xue Taiwei's actions?" ”

"Rigidity and softness complement each other, and remote cooperation." Yao Yuanchong said: "Taiwei Xue is an invincible weapon of the country, enough to shock any enemy. On this basis, if the imperial court can coerce and hand over, it may be able to get twice the result with half the effort. ”

"Coercion?" Wu Zetian's eyes lit up slightly, "That's a good point." ”

Yao Yuanchong's eyes also secretly flashed a star, he knew the empress's thoughts too well, she was worried at all - what if Xue Shao's "might" was sent to the imperial court?

But no one will say anything like this.

The empress said it, which proves that she is jealous of Xue Shao because she has a ghost in her heart; Yao Yuanchong said, then he is the heart of a villain and the belly of a gentleman, and at worst, it will form the crime of framing; Otherwise, it will also make people catch the handle and say that he "conspired with Xue Shao" - otherwise, how can you be so clear?

This is a grey fact that everyone present knows well. But, whoever says who is unlucky, unlucky.

So, let's play dumb together.

Wu Zetian felt depressed, and it seemed that it was difficult to get any useful advice from others on this matter. Wu Sansi is not afraid of talking nonsense, but his ideas have never left the category of "three indiscriminate". Looking for him for advice, it's better to go back and discuss with Erzhang, at least they are young and lively!

Thinking of this, Wu Zetian was stunned, and said in his heart, since when did I have no one around me to discuss things?

Cen Changqian, Lou Shide, Di Renjie, Li Zhaode...... Just when I needed you the most, you weren't with me!

……

At the foot of Helan Mountain.

Niu Ben rode his horse and galloped, waving his big iron rod with one arm and shouting loudly.

Xue Shao crossed his hands on his chest and watched from afar, with a smile on his face.

"Stupid man, you know how to do it." Mei Luoshasa walked to Xue Shao's side and whispered: "In recent days, what he has been thinking about day and night is to be able to go on the Northern Expedition with you. I said to him, "Have you forgotten the half of your arm that you lost last time in Nozhenshui?" Guess how he answered? ”

Xue Shao glanced back at Mei Rakshasa and just smiled slightly.

Mei Rakshasa sighed lightly and asked himself, "He said, the arm is missing, but the soul is still there." So, I'm going! ”

[Recently, I have been breaking for a long time, bowing and apologizing to everyone. I don't want to explain more, but from now on, I'll finish the book with all my might. 】