~~

After this move was made, Xue Bai felt a little more at ease.

After leaving Yang's house, he stood on the steps and looked at the snowflakes that were flying all over the sky. He knew that after the heavy snow passed, An Lushan might leave for Chang'an, and there would be too many variables in the future.

Therefore, when everyone else is looking forward to the warmth of spring and the blooming of flowers, he is the only one who hopes that this cold winter can last longer.

~~

In the cold winter weather, Li Longji didn't like to take care of government affairs even more.

He has been managing the Tang Dynasty for his entire life. When he grows old, he can naturally wrap himself up in a bed as warm as spring and listen to operas or read stories. In short, he will not be bored.

But even if most of the government affairs were handed over to Yang Guozhong, there were still some state affairs that he, the emperor, could not avoid.

For example, the twelfth lunar month is coming soon, and he has to climb the tower of Danfeng Tower in Daming Palace to issue the seasonal orders for the next year to the people of the world. Seasonal orders are also called monthly orders, and there are orders for each of the four seasons, which refers to the formulation of agricultural affairs according to the seasons.

Government decrees. In the winter months, the emperor and his ministers and ministers jointly prepare the laws of the country, discuss the seasons, and prepare for the coming year.

This is a major national event.

"Sage, Master Si Tian is here."

"Call."

Li Longji has been suffering from some colds recently, mainly due to nasal congestion, heavy head, and drowsiness. At his age, headache and brain fever may be life-threatening if not treated well, and it is also a first-rate matter.

Not long after, Qu Tan, the young eunuch of Sitian, walked into the palace. He was very old, wearing a simple Taoist robe, and his face was a little worried.

"Sage, I have been observing the sky for days and nights. I am afraid that there will be severe floods in Guanzhong in the coming year."

Li Longji frowned upon hearing this.

There have been droughts in various provinces in the past few years. The year he was assassinated in Lishan, he personally prayed for rain. After a long drought, encountering severe floods is the most annoying thing.

After listening to Qu Tan speak slowly for a while, Li Longji finally spoke and asked: "How do you know there will be a flood in the coming year?"

"I have no other talents, I am only good at astronomy...cough cough cough cough." Qu Tan said and suddenly coughed a few times.

Li Longji's already frowning brows became even more furrowed.

When Gao Lishi saw it, he understood that the saint was worried that his vitality would be absorbed by Qu Tan, so he quickly said: "Young Master Qu, you have given me the order, and you can go and have a rest."

"Old minister, I obey the order."

After Qu Tan retired, a eunuch came to report and Yang Guozhong asked to see him.

Li Longji was tired today and originally didn't want to see his ministers again, but thinking that Yang Guozhong was strong and might have plenty of energy, he ordered to summon him. He thought that Yang Guozhong was the most considerate anyway and wouldn't come to tell him anything that would bother him.

really.

"I just sighed when I saw Qu Tan leaving. I wonder if it's because I have state affairs that I haven't handled well?"

"He watched the sky at night and thought there would be severe floods in the coming year."

Yang Guozhong said: "Qu Tan? The saint doesn't need to worry. His fortune-telling is always inaccurate."

"Not sure?" Li Longji became interested and asked: "Why not?"

"As far as I know, Qu Tan once secretly checked the fortunes of the families of officials and officials in the DPRK. When it was a boy or a girl, he counted them with his fingers. The ones who were right and the ones who were wrong were each half."

Gao Lishi asked: "So, what he said about the flood was also a false alarm?"

Yang Guozhong said firmly: "I have seen this kind of tactics many times in the market. It is nothing more than catching someone and saying there is a bloody disaster, and then giving a way to resolve it. If nothing happens, it is his credit. If it really happens,

It's just that the money given to him was not enough to completely resolve the issue."

"Hahaha."

Li Longji rarely laughed heartily, thinking that he had read Yang Guozhong correctly.

However, Yang Guozhong overturned his thoughts before he said a few words.

"I think that since An Lushan is willing to return the state affairs of Pingzhang, the candidate to replace the Jiedu envoy of the second town should be prepared."

"Cough cough cough cough."

Gao Lishi quickly said: "Right Prime Minister, the saint is occasionally unwell today. Can we discuss this matter later?"

Yang Guozhong did not confess immediately. He stood there, thinking about what Xue Bai said, "General Gao knows the saint's will, and Zhang Bian knows it." His eyes flickered slightly, and he asked in a low voice.

"I am bold and dare to ask whether the Holy Will will return Anlu Mountain to Fan Yang and add Zuopu She?"

Li Longji's sleepy eyes suddenly flashed with light. He glanced at Gao Lishi first, and Gao Lishi looked surprised. He was obviously shocked at how Yang Guozhong could utter such a sentence. Even Zuo Pushe's official position was so low.

Clearly.

"How did you know?" Li Longji did not deny it, but asked calmly.

"minister……"

Yang Guozhong hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and responded: "Zhang Bian told me."

Li Longji had been half-lying there. Hearing this, he immediately sat up and asked, "Why did Zhang Bian tell you?"

"He reassured me, saying that An Lushan would return to Fan Yang as long as he was given the title of Zuopushe, and asked me to just do nothing..."

Yang Guozhong was very good at slandering people. Once a simple matter came into his mouth, he soon described Zhang Bian as a scheming villain.

Moreover, he knew very well what saints were most taboo about, and deliberately combined the characteristics of Zhang Bian and his father Zhang Shuo in his words.

"Zhang Bian also said that I was mistaken. It was not that An Lushan was his 'backer' as others said, but he was An Lushan's backer."

With one sentence, Li Longji immediately thought of the "power of Mount Tai" that Zhang said back then, and a burst of anger burst out involuntarily.

He was wise throughout his life, but he did not realize that in his later years, an unlearned fool like Yang Guozhong could accurately grasp his emotions. He also believed that he appointed Yang Guozhong because of his loyalty and simplicity.

"I don't really believe Zhang Bian and suspect that he is lying to me. When An Lushan returns to pay homage to the prime minister, and there are no candidates for Jiedushi in Fanyang and Pinglu towns, it will be my dereliction of duty, so today...

…”

"Pass the decree." Li Longji suddenly spoke, interrupting his chatter, "I will demote Zhang Bian out of Chang'an."

Gao Lishi was a little surprised, feeling that the saint had lost patience as he got older.

In the past, Li Linfu also framed his colleagues, but he always concocted evidence. After completing a major case, he sentenced him to exile or beheading, a serious crime, and then changed the sentence to a lighter sentence from a saint. But now, Yang Guozhong just said a few words and dismissed an important minister of the country.

Demoted from the capital.

It can be seen that not only the saint's temperament determines the choice of prime minister, but Yang Guozhong's impetuousness also affects the saint's temperament.

"Not only will Zhang Bian be demoted, but their brothers will also be demoted!" Li Longji added.

"According to the decree."

Yang Guozhong was ecstatic, but he didn't show it right away. His face showed surprise that things would become such a big deal.

After receiving the edict, he, the minister, immediately went to Zhongshu's province in person.

~~

In the morning, Xue Bai heard that Yang Guozhong had entered the court, and had gone to Zhongshu's lower province to wait. In the hope of an eventuality, he prepared to draft an order for Gao Xianzhi to temporarily replace Fan Yang and serve as Pinglu Jiedu envoy.

If he can accomplish this, his post as a scholar in Zhongshushe will not be in vain.

In the winter, when there is less farming and less state and military affairs, it can be regarded as the most leisurely period of the year in Zhongshu's province. Some officials moved tables and chairs and enjoyed the snow and played chess with Chen Xilie on the porch.

Xue Bai was interested in Chen Xilie, so he stood behind him and watched. He realized that his chess skills were very good, and he was especially good at concealing his true purpose.

However, before Chen Xilie could win the game, an official rushed over and said: "The right prime minister is here."

Xue Bai was condescending, and you could see the corner of his mouth slightly curled up with a rather contemptuous expression, obviously looking down on the spit pot.

Who can be convinced when Shihu becomes prime minister? Who doesn't want to replace him?

Soon, Yang Guozhong entered the official residence without hesitation. Facing Chen Xilie's pretentious greeting, he ignored him at all and even patted his old face with Zhongzhi.

This was a very rude move. Chen Xilie was stunned for a moment, puffed his beard and glared, preparing to have a serious showdown with Yang Guozhong.

However, before he could speak, Yang Guozhong already said domineeringly: "Look at this!"

The edict was unfolded, and there was not much content. There were only three columns. The other contents needed to be written down when the edict was prepared.

Chen Xilie squinted his eyes and saw that it read "Zhang Bianqian became the Sima of Luxi; Zhang Junqian became the prefect of Jian'an; Zhang Chuqian became the Sima of Yichun".

"this!"

This surprise was no small matter for Chen Xilie.

He knew how much the saint liked Zhang Bian in the past. He always expressed his love for Zhang Bian as "loving his son-in-law". He allowed Zhang Bian to build a palace in the imperial city and often rewarded Zhang Bian with treasures. He jokingly said that these were gifts from his father-in-law to his son-in-law, not from the emperor to his ministers.

It's this kind of kindness, but it turns out to be so merciless when you fall out?

Thinking about it again, the saint is a person who can even kill his own son, how can there be any friendship? At that time, it was just a joke with Zhang Bian.

Thinking of this, cold sweat started flowing down Chen Xilie's armpits, and the hand holding the imperial decree was trembling slightly.

"Why are you shaking?!"

Yang Guozhong scolded and laughed proudly.

He was reminded by Xue Bai, but he did not follow Xue Bai's suggestions to deal with military and state affairs. Instead, he used his ideas to eliminate dissidents, and indeed he achieved great results. He rebelled against the Sacred Heart, but put all the blame on Zhang Bian.

The next step is to use Zhang Bian's serious crime to scare Chen Xilie, who is as timid as a mouse.
To be continued...