The news of Maozhou Governor Chen Daci defeating the Tibetans became the most sensational news in the capital before the new year. The Wuzhou court, which had been tense due to the Tibetans and Turks sending troops to force a marriage, also heaved a sigh of relief.
The Tibetans had mobilized more than ten thousand elite cavalry to attack Maozhou, but they did not expect that their whereabouts would be exposed. They did not expect that the Zhou army, which was used to defending but not attacking, would leave their camp and set up an ambush at Wenchuan instead of setting up an ambush at a place like Min Mountain, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Ever since the internal strife between the Tibetan kings and ministers, the Tibetans had lost almost all of their good generals and it was difficult to find a great general who could hold his own. Because of these reasons, the Tibetan army suffered a huge ambush by Chen Daci at Wenchuan and suffered a crushing defeat. As the Tibetan army retreated in panic, Chen Daci gathered his courage and led his army in hot pursuit, killing until the Tibetan corpses littered the plains.
Chen Daci pursued them and fought four battles in a row, winning all four battles until the Tibetans threw away their helmets and armor. He chased the Tibetans for several dozen li into Tibetan territory and only returned in triumph, fearing that he might fall into an ambush. After four battles, Chen Daci beheaded more than a thousand soldiers, captured more than three thousand Tibetan soldiers, and seized a large number of cattle and sheep used as food by the Tibetans.
Wu Zetian was overjoyed at the news and immediately ordered the three armies to reward him. Due to Chen Daci's great victory, Wu Zetian's confidence had been boosted. When Misa went to the royal palace to ask about the marriage proposal, Wu Zetian didn't allow him to enter the palace. Misa couldn't do anything to the Imperial Army soldiers guarding the palace gates either, so he could only return to the Four Quarters Embassy in frustration.
Wu Zetian was in no hurry to receive the Turkic envoy, Mo Hegan. After five days, under Mo Hegan's repeated requests and considering that it would be New Year's Day soon and that there would be many celebrations and there would be no time to receive foreign envoys, Wu Zetian finally agreed to host a banquet at the Suyu Platform.
On that day, the Crown Prince, Prince Xiang, Prince Liang, and all the high-ranking officials in the capital attended the banquet. This could be considered a gathering of the important officials of the court before the new year. The Crown Prince's two sons, Prince Pingen Li Zhongfu and Prince Yixing Li Zhongjun, were also summoned to serve the Emperor. Crown Prince Li Xian also had a younger son, the Prince of the North Sea, Li Zhongmao. Because he was not yet ten years old, it was impossible for him to become a marriage partner, so he did not attend the meeting.
Mo Hegan was led to the front by an official from the Ministry of Rites. He bowed to Wu Zetian and glanced at the two young men in embroidered robes standing beside Wu Zetian. He asked knowingly, "The two young men beside Your Majesty must be Your Majesty's royal grandsons."
Wu Zetian said, "That's right! Zhongfu, Zhongjun, this is the envoy of Tujue, Mo Hegan! "
Li Zhongfu and Li Zhongjun stepped forward, and Mo Hegan quickly rushed forward to greet them, saying, "Your subject Mo Hegan greets …"
At this point, Mo Hegan suddenly paused and pretended to be hesitant. "Uh … I wonder which one of you is the current imperial grandson?"
Li Zhongfu and Li Zhongjun froze for a moment, then cupped their hands and said, "This little prince is Wang Zhongfu of Pingen (Wang Zhongjun of Yixing). Envoy Mo Hegan, the two of us are not the imperial grandson."
Mo Hegan turned to Wu Zetian and said, "Your Majesty, this subject has come to make peace through marriage. If Your Majesty can introduce this subject to the imperial grandson, this subject will welcome it. However, my Khagan has designated the marriage of my beloved daughter to your country's imperial grandson. Why has Your Majesty only invited the two princes but not allowed this subject to meet the imperial grandson? "
Li Zhongfu and Li Zhongjun's expressions suddenly changed. Wu Zetian indifferently said, "The Crown Prince's family has three sons: Zhongjun, Zhongfu, and Zhongmao. Zhongmao is young and has not reached the age of marriage, so he has not attended the banquet. We have only established the Crown Prince and not the imperial grandson. What, do you want to help We choose a grandson? "
Mo Hegan hurriedly bowed and said, "This subject does not dare, this subject does not dare. It is just that … my country's Khagan has designated the marriage of only the imperial grandson. As of now, your country has not established a grandson. What should we do? "
Wu Zetian looked up at the sky and laughed. She indifferently said, "This is easy. The Crown Prince only has Zhongfu and Zhongjun as marriageable princes. The two of them are the sons of the Phoenix and the descendants of the Emperor. They will not bring disgrace to your Princess. You can see which one of them is a good match for your Princess. Just go ahead and marry her."
Mo Hegan craftily said, "Your Majesty, the son-in-law our Khagan wants to choose is your country's imperial grandson."
Wu Zetian smiled and said, "That is easy. In that case, after We have established a grandson, your country can send an envoy to make peace."
Mo Hegan gradually became angry, but he forced himself to restrain himself and said, "If your country does not establish a grandson, will I, the Turkic Princess, have to wait forever?"
Wu Zetian's expression became even more amiable. She said, "Our imperial grandson can wait, but can't your country's princess wait? If your country's princess will not marry anyone other than my Great Zhou's imperial grandson, then we can only wait until We have chosen a grandson. Do we have to hastily choose a grandson just for your country's princess to marry? If We choose a Turkic princess to marry someone other than your country's Crown Prince, will your country immediately choose a Crown Prince? "
"This …"
The Turks were used to acting shamelessly. Now that Old Mistress Wu had suddenly started acting shamelessly, Mo Hegan was momentarily speechless.
While the court was engaged in a heated debate, the officials below were also restless.
At this moment, the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Censor, Song Jing, had just entered the Suyu Terrace. Last time, he had impeached Zhang Tongxiu and his two brothers and fined Zhang Changzong twenty catties of copper. It was under Song Jing's instructions that the imperial censors had completed this. Since then, Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong had held a grudge against Song Jing.
But the two of them also knew that Song Jing was now the Deputy Minister of the Imperial Censor, controlling the Suyu Terrace and the imperial censors. He had the power to monitor and report all the civil and military officials in the court. Against such a troublesome figure with real power, it was better to make friends than to make enemies. Besides, although the two brothers had lost face last time, it was also a blessing in disguise. The three brothers of the same clan had all been sent out to hold real power in the prefectures and counties, so they could not go too far.
Song Jing entered the hall and looked around. Just as he was about to go to the seat next to Wei Yuanzhong and sit down, Zhang Yizhi hastily stood up and gave up his seat closer to the Son of Heaven. Walking over to Song Jing, he said with a sincere smile, "Duke Song is the current number one person, how can you sit down? Come, come, Duke Song, please take the seat of honor."
Song Jing glanced at him and indifferently said, "Jing's talent is inferior, but Official Zhang thinks that you are number one. What is the logic behind this?"
Zhang Yizhi's face immediately froze. He was just casually flattering Song Jing. Who knew that Song Jing would take it so seriously?
Zhang Yizhi looked embarrassed. He did not know how to justify himself. Zheng Gao, the assistant minister of the Heavenly Official, saw this and was immediately displeased. He had already taken refuge with the second Zhang and became their henchman. As soon as he heard Song Jing's question, Zheng Gao immediately said coldly, "Isn't Duke Song the current number one? If you are not number one, why would you call Wulang 'Official'?"
Prior to the Han Dynasty, Official was a respectful title for others. Since the Wei, Jin and Six Dynasties, it became a nickname or a humble title. By the time of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it changed again and became a special title for the emperor to address his subjects. Zheng Gao's choice of words could be said to be full of murderous intent.
Song Jing laughed and said, "Zhang Yizhi's position is one of the nine ministers. According to the official's words, he is a proper official. I am not Zhang Yizhi's servant. Why do you call him 'Lang'? "
Song Jing's words were a bit unreasonable. Nowadays, the term 'Lang' was widely used. To a man whom they did not know, they could respectfully call him 'Lang Jun' or 'Noble Man'. As for adding another 'Lang' according to rank, it was a title used by those who were close to them. Many people called Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong 'Wulang' and 'Wulang' to show their closeness.
But the servants also called their masters and young masters' Lang '. For example, in Yang Fan's residence, Yang Fan was called Ah Lang, Yang Nianzu was called Da Lang Jun, and Yang Ji was called Second Lang Jun. At this time, Song Jing deliberately emphasized the way the servants addressed their masters. It was clear that he was publicly mocking Zheng Gao for attaching himself to the rich and powerful and bootlicking.
Zheng Gao was stiff by nature, he was not good at eloquence. How could he be like Song Jing, a Imperial Censor who relied on his writing skills and eloquence? For a moment, his face turned red, he was tongue-tied and could not say anything. Many officials in the hall heard the conversation between the two of them. Seeing that both sides were opposing each other with equal harshness, they could not help but be somewhat surprised.
As soon as the hall quieted down, Zheng Gao felt even more embarrassed. His face swelled up until it turned purple. Song Jing laughed and walked slowly toward Wei Yuanzhong. With a smile on his face, he greeted Wei Yuanzhong and sat down next to Wei Yuanzhong. Zhang Yizhi's cheek twitched a few times. He flicked his sleeves and walked back to his seat.
All the officials in the hall saw that Zhang Yizhi's handsome face was ashen and his eyes were faintly burning with anger. At this time, Wu Zetian and Mo Hegan were talking, so Wu Zetian did not notice the confrontation between her lover and Song Jing. But Yang Fan, who was patrolling in the hall, saw it clearly.
Yang Fan immediately frowned. He knew that the struggle between the court officials and the two Zhangs was far from settled. This time, it was only because of the successive invasion of the Turks and Tubo and the marriage alliance that the tense situation between the court officials and the two Zhangs was temporarily eased. Once the external threat was resolved, it would be time for them to fight to the death again …
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