Just when Zhang Huan recovered Anxi, Beiting, and seized the Shattered Leaf. When the Tang Dynasty was at its peak, Cui Xiaofu was unable to sleep. When she newly established the young emperor and held thirds of the world's power, Zhang Huan's threat to her increased day by day. This was an irreconcilable contradiction between water and fire. After all, she was a woman. While she was tirelessly seeking power, while she was murdering the emperor's son, she also accidentally showed a trace of the unique sensibility of a woman: she ignored the request of many ministers to hold a grand ceremony for Zhang Huan, and blatantly issued an order to prohibit the court from holding any welcome ceremony for Zhang Huan.

This was undoubtedly an extremely unwise decision. It not only violated the public's opinion and official sentiment, but also exposed her narrow mind. After repeated persuasion by her confidant minister Li Mian, she pointed out that her move was likely to affect a group of middle and low-level officials who were still undecided. Cui Xiaofu reluctantly agreed to greet Zhang Huan in person.

At this moment, Cui Xiaofu sat in her carriage and had already faintly seen a large group of officials in front of her. Pei Jun and other cabinet members came out to greet her. She didn't care. After all, Zhang Huan is the Minister of War and one of the chief ministers of the cabinet. Maintaining superficial affection is conducive to the stability of the court. As for Zhang Potian, Yuan Zai and others' out to welcome her, Cui Xiaofu just smiled coldly. However, the more than 100 doctors, Shaoqing, Secretary Lang and other middle and low-level officials made her feel very uneasy. What is power? Power means that life and death can be seized, power means that the government orders can be smooth. In the Ming Palace, Cui Xiaofu is a

Yan Jiuding, but what about leaving the palace gate? She neither has Pei Jun’s right to draft an edict nor the right to refute the senior executives of various provinces. The only thing she relies on is her connections. Her orders must be listened to and someone willing to execute them to demonstrate the authority of her empress dowager. This is a relatively ambiguous situation. Cui Xiaofu has nominal power and can participate in the decision-making of major matters in the court. However, her decision-making power was not given by heaven, but by right prime minister Pei Jun. To put it bluntly, she is just a puppet of Pei Jun. Pei Jun gave her a certain scope of power under the pressure of the sect.

The size of this range requires her to personally win over the hearts of the people. The royal family wants to take her boat, Wei Yan wants to borrow her ladder, and Li Mian has common interests with her, but he has no strength. For various reasons, the loyalty of these middle and lower-level officials is the key to whether Cui Xiaofu can become stronger. Now nearly a hundred people are spontaneously coming to welcome Zhang Huan, how can she feel happy?

The car continued to move forward, Cui Xiaofu had already seen Zhang Huan, and Zhang Huan was also looking at her from afar, with a calm and gentle expression. A cold edge flashed through her slender phoenix eyes, but this coldness disappeared in an instant, and then she changed into a kindness like a mother in the world. Her slightly old eyes showed praise for the hero.

The imperial carriage stopped slowly in front of Zhang Huan. Zhang Huan stepped forward, gave a deep bow, and said loudly: "I am the governor of Longyou, Zhang Huan, to meet the Empress Dowager."

A crisp swaying sounded, and the car door opened. Cui Xiaofu walked out with the support of two palace maids. All the officials on both sides bowed and bowed together, "I'll see the Queen Mother!"

"Zhang Aiqing is exempt from gifts!" Cui Xiaofu smiled and waved to the officials again, "Dear My dear!"

"Thank you, the Queen Mother!" Zhang Huan stood up straight and winked at the personal soldiers behind him. One of the personal soldiers immediately ran to the horse and took a pottery jar.

Zhang Huan took it, stepped forward and presented it to Cui Xiaofu with both hands and said, "This is a ceremony specially dedicated to the Empress Dowager."

Seeing the clay pot craftsmanship, Cui Xiaofu couldn't help but frowned slightly and asked in surprise: "What is this?"

"This is the soil of Suoye Jun Town. I have brought it from thousands of miles away and specially dedicated it to the Queen Mother."

"It turned out to be a symbolic land. Zhang Shangshu's intention was taken by the Ai family." Cui Xiaofu took the heavy pot and sighed with emotion. She handed it to the eunuchs around her, and said to Zhang Huan: "Thank you for your hard work. This pot of soil, Ai family will put it in its own garden and plant a peony on it with their own hands."

After saying that, she looked solemn and said loudly: "Zhang Huan listens to Feng!"

Zhang Huan took a step back and knelt down slowly, "I'm here."

Cui Xiaofu glanced at Pei Jun from a distance and said in an unwilling but helpless tone: "Zhangye County Prince, Minister of War, and Longyou Jiedushi Zhang Huan, with his sincere heart to serve the country, led 100,000 loyal and brave men to Anxi generously, and recovered Anxi for our Tang Dynasty. The former land of Beiting is beneficial to the present and the future. He specially appointed him as the Taiwei and the Great Protector of Anxi, and I admire this!"

"I thank the Queen Mother for your kindness!"

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Cui Xiaofu was granted Zhang Huan, but she ignored Pei Jun and others, so she went back to the palace directly. At this time, Pei Jun walked up to her and apologized: "Reasonably, there should be thousands of rewards to you and the soldiers, but you also know that the court's financial difficulties are tight, and it is ridiculed if you take too much, but you don't have the ability to take too much. So I discussed with the cabinet and the queen mother that the rewards in kind will be given by you, Longyou, and the court will give the meritorious soldiers a bonus. You will report the specific list and official title to the Ministry of War. I will give it to the general."

Speaking of this, Pei Jun patted Zhang Huan on the shoulder and joked: "Your Longyou is a wealthy place. You have seized all the Tubo in Anxi, and you will have the wealth of the Great Food Army. You will never cry to me too!"

"Does the Prime Minister think I'm going to Anxi to dig gold?"

Zhang Huan spread his hands and said with a bitter face: "In fact, what is fighting is money and grain. The 200,000 army spent nearly half a year. How much can the Prime Minister calculate? In order to support this battle, my hometown has lost all my money and money. Now I have not paid a salary for a year, and my family is so poor that I don't even have the money to burn charcoal. I am eager to hope that the court can give out some money to reward the three armies, but the Prime Minister wants to pay the debt. This is absolutely not possible. If the Prime Minister refuses to take the money, I will take my wife, children and young people to the Prime Minister's Mansion to eat today."

Zhang Huan's true and false words made everyone laugh. Pei Jun pointed at Zhang Huan and sighed to everyone, "You listen to this guy's drinking words. Others don't understand my relationship with him, and they think I owe him how much favor I owe him. He married my daughter back then, but he didn't even pay a penny of money."

"Didn't the prime minister also pay a penny of dowry?"

Lu Qi, who had been silent, walked forward and smiled at the two of them and said, "How about I be a mediator?"

Pei Jun was stunned when he saw that it was him who spoke. Zhang Huan's words were true and false, and Pei Jun's words were also false and true. Not wanting to pay the money to reward the three armies is one aspect, but he wanted to see how Zhang Huan's attitude towards the court changed after taking Anxi. Zhang Huan also wanted to know how much concessions Pei Jun would make to him, so the two of them used rewards to test each other.

The capture of Anxi and Beiting was nominally restored the Tang Dynasty, but in fact it was Zhang Huan's continued expansion. Whether it was the territory she controlled or the number of troops, Zhang Huanjun surpassed Pei Jun in one fell swoop. All she lacked was the strength and political influence in the court. How could Pei Jun laugh at this?

Therefore, Pei Jun has been observing the subtle changes in everyone's attitude towards Zhang Huan. If Chu Xingshui was the mediator, he was not surprised, but now his confidant Lu Qi jumped out and had not discussed with him in advance. At this moment, a trace of vigilance flashed in his eyes, but he still smiled and said, "It is best for our God of Wealth to mediate."

Lu Qi did not seem to feel Pei Jun's vigilance. He sighed and said to Zhang Huan: "Recovering Anxi is a major event for the whole country to celebrate. If the soldiers are not given a certain reward, it is unreasonable to reason. The court is responsible for this responsibility. However, what the Prime Minister said is the truth. The court really cannot provide this reward. Although the canal transport sent some money to Xiangyang, many places have suffered major disasters this year, and there are many places to use money. Last month, a lot of money was spent on the construction of the tomb for the late emperor. The court's finances were really not enough to make ends meet, so Longyou should pay the money first. The court can compensate Longyou in other aspects."

Speaking of this, Lu Qi bowed slightly to Pei Jun, "What is the suggestion given by the right prime minister who thought he was a humble position?"

On the surface, Lu Qi was speaking for Pei Jun, but in fact, it was not the case. Zhang Huan's army captured Anxi and Beiting, which was nominally the Tang Dynasty, so the court also gave some nominal rewards, such as official positions and titles, etc. This is the principle of equality. Pei Jun would not give up the reward money no matter what, just saying it, Lu Qi would not know this, but he stood up to mediate and said that he would compensate Longyou in other aspects. Thinking about it, Lu Qi was actually helping Zhang Huan.

Of course Pei Jun knew it well. He was extremely unhappy, but he couldn't find any words to refute Lu Qi's seemingly glamorous compromise. He glanced at him coldly, then smiled and stared at Zhang Huan coldly and said, "I wonder what kind of compensation Zhang Shangshu wants?"

"Why would I dare to compensate after hearing the prime minister's fierce tone?" Zhang Huan laughed and eased the atmosphere first, but his words changed immediately, and he smiled faintly: "If the court really can't afford the money, I have to sell the money first. As for compensation, I will ask the cabinet."

An originally simple welcoming ceremony at the gate of the city was complicated by intentionality and unintentionality of the authorities, and nearly two hours had been spent. When Pei Jun led everyone away and Zhang Huan officially entered the city, the sky had turned dim.

Li Ding handed over the Ministry of War's order to the soldiers stationed in Mingdemen. A team of more than 3,000 people began to enter the city in a mighty manner. At this time, there were still many pedestrians on Zhuque Street. Everyone hid in panic and gradually recognized the army. The news of the return of the Western Expedition Army suddenly spread throughout the street like wings, and with Zhuque as the central axis, it quickly passed to the neighbors on both sides.

The people were already afraid, and they rushed forward and cheered on the sides of Zhuque Street. More and more people supported the elderly and young, and spontaneously came from various yards to welcome Zhang Huan's army. Cheers, applause, and cheers, one after another, one wave higher and one wave higher. The people expressed their simplest respect to this army fighting for the honor of the Tang Dynasty with their enthusiasm and smiles. Many elderly people even recalled the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty during the Kaiyuan period. They were so excited that they burst into tears. With the support of their families, they knelt down to this army trembled.

With the addition of thousands of imperial examination scholars, the atmosphere on Zhuque Street became more and more intense, and the team was in order. They lined up slowly on the street. Countless children ran with them and shouted happily. Zhang Huan waved to the people on both sides under the tightest guards of his personal soldiers, with gratitude on his face. The cheers in the place where he passed were like rainstorms, and suddenly they ran into a circle.

Pei Ying sat in the carriage, staring at the grand occasion on the street through the curtains. She felt the sincere cheers of the people with her heart. A kind of pride joy came from the bottom of her heart, and she was proud of her husband.

"Mom, my master said that Anxi and Chang'an are thousands of miles apart. Apart from being able to play the role of the ancient silk road, they actually have no other advantages. The child doesn't understand why these people are so excited. Do they all want to trade in the West?" Zhang Huan's seven-year-old eldest son Zhang Qi was confused, so he raised his little face and asked his mother in surprise.

Pei Ying's face sank, "Didn't your master tell you why?"

Zhang Qi nodded, "My master said that Emperor Wu of Han fought everywhere in the past, expending national strength and money, causing countless people to die and live in difficulties. In fact, it was just to satisfy his personal great success. He also regretted it in his later years, so he never talked about war easily."

Pei Ying didn't expect her son to say this, and couldn't help but be surprised. She pondered for a moment and said, "Your master is right for the sake of the people, but he is not completely right. Emperor Wu of Han sent troops to fight not just for his own good fortune. He also wanted to eliminate the border troubles of a hundred years and make the Han Dynasty strong. Only by using excessive troops will the people suffer. If he could pay attention to the situation that the people were cultivated and revitalized while fighting, there would be no situation your master said."

"I understand." Zhang Qihuan screamed and interrupted her mother, "It's like I like riding a horse. Riding a horse can strengthen my body, but I'm weak, and riding too much will hurt my body."

Seeing that her son was very smart, Pei Ying touched his head lovingly and smiled, "You are still young and have only been reading for a year. There are some truths that I don't understand. A person, a nation, and a country must have a little bloodiness. You cannot just swallow your anger and let others bully you. In order to be able to maintain a long-term stability, you must be tough when you should be tough, and the blood that should be shed must be shed. Civil and military affairs are the way to make a strong country. Do you understand?"

Seeing that his son was still a little ignorant, Pei Ying smiled and hugged him, pointed to the cheering and excited people outside the window and said, "Did you see that, although your father has not been with us for more than half a year, he went out to fight, bringing hope and confidence to so many people. If you are loved by so many people, you should be proud of your father."

Zhang Qi nodded heavily, "I will be like my father when I grow up!"
Chapter completed!