Chapter 533: Offering Prisoners to the Palace

"Where is King Yong?"

"I've gone to visit the wounded soldiers. Please give me the two commanders-in-chief."

Guo Ziyi was a little surprised when he heard this. Xue Bai didn't pay much attention to such a great achievement in capturing Shi Siming.

To try to win people's hearts at this time is a big deal.

With this thought in mind, he was welcomed into the camp, and wherever he looked, he really saw Shi Siming.

Looking at each other, Guo Ziyi breathed a sigh of relief but also felt a little worried.

The good thing is that the rebellion was finally put down, but the worrying thing is that Xue Bai captured the Khitan Khan and the rebel leader one after another as if he was sent by heaven, and his reputation grew and he was out of control.

"I need to bring the leader of the thief back to the camp for questioning." After thinking for a while, Guo Ziyi spoke.

He was an old man and was actually quite cunning. Taking advantage of Xue Bai's absence and without waiting for anyone to respond, he immediately sent his bodyguard to escort Shi Siming.

"Guo Jieshuai, wait a minute."

Diao Bing, who was guarding outside the tent, immediately stopped him and said, "King Yong has not finished his trial yet, so he cannot be taken away for the time being. If Guo Jieshuai has anything to ask, just ask him here."

Guo Ziyi couldn't succeed, so she smiled openly and looked at Shi Siming. In fact, she didn't have much to ask.

"Hu Ni, you are so favored by the imperial court, why do you act disobediently?!"

Shi Siming rolled his eagle-like eyes and glanced at Guo Ziyi, too lazy to answer such a boring question.

Guo Ziyi didn't take it seriously and glanced at Li Huaixiu who was standing aside. Knowing that this man had killed a princess married to the imperial court, he would definitely die this time, and there was nothing to say about it, so he walked out side by side with Li Guangbi.

"I'm afraid it won't work if I rob it by force, otherwise I will rob it."

"Why bother?" Li Guangbi said: "No matter whose hands the prisoners of war are in, it was the imperial court that put down the rebellion."

"You think about what it will be like when you return to Chang'an to present prisoners." Guo Ziyi said, "King Yong led his generals to first take the Khitan Khan and cut him in half in front of Zhuque Gate. Then he took Shi Siming and cut him in half in front of Zhuque Gate. How is it different from Dong Zhuo's entry? Chang’an Ping Shi Chang Attendant?”

He said it in a joking tone. Li Guangbi smiled bitterly and asked, "Can we avoid the ritual of offering prisoners? The court is waiting to restore its prestige."

"Although it is unavoidable, we have to fight for it." Guo Ziyi said: "Since he has taken all the limelight, we should also persuade him to release some military power."

That's why he deliberately expressed his position to let Xue Bai know that even if he captured two important prisoners alive, he might not be able to become famous in the world and pass his level.

The next day, Guo Ziyi sent someone to ask for prisoners again, and sure enough, Xue Bai came to talk to him in person.

"King Yong actually came in person?" Guo Ziyi said cheerfully: "That's not necessary, just take Shi Siming here. There are tens of thousands of soldiers here, and we have to let them see that Shi Siming is captured. If King Yong doesn't take him here, I have no choice but to escort the soldiers to meet you in your tent."

"Guo Situ is funny." Xue Bai smiled knowingly and said: "Guo Situ is the actual commander of this great victory. It is indeed time for Shi Siming to be handed over to you. I just want to ask a few more questions."

"What does King Yong want to know?"

"Fan Yang, the situation of Pinglu's generals, who will be appointed by the imperial court as the governor of these two towns, and how to limit the power of the governor." Xue Bai said, "This is the fundamental way to completely avoid future troubles."

Although Guo Ziyi felt that such national affairs should not be decided by Xue Bai, she also knew that what Xue Bai said had some truth.

He pondered and asked: "I heard that King Yong divided the powers of the Jiedushi into four parts in Henan Province."

"good."

Compared to Shi Siming, this was something Xue Bai was more willing to talk about, so he took the trouble to discuss his hidden worries about the separatist rule of the feudal town with Guo Ziyi in detail.

At the end, Guo Ziyi muttered: "This is feasible in Henan, but Fan Yang and Pinglu are different. They need to conquer Khitan for the imperial court. Moreover, the situation in Hebei is complicated. If the chief official does not have enough power and authority, he will be constrained in his actions, which is inappropriate."

"Now that the rebellion has been established and the Khitan Khan has been captured, it is the time to rectify Hebei."

When Xue Bai said this, he said in a slightly regretful tone: "If possible, I would be very willing to do this for the imperial court to avoid the disaster of separatism."

Guo Ziyi secretly thought: "I'm afraid you will cause the disaster of separatism."

But when he thought deeply about this matter, he could also realize that Xue Bai was making long-term considerations for the Tang Dynasty.

This made him sigh with emotion. It seemed that King Yong really regarded himself as a descendant of the Li family and was very concerned about the inheritance of his ancestors.

It's a pity. If it hadn't been for the case of three commoners that year, the handsome young man in front of him was the best heir to the Tang Dynasty. Guo Ziyi felt that she would have supported him.

"Mr. Guo? Mr. Guo?" Xue Bai called twice, "What is Mr. Guo thinking about?"

"Does King Yong want to take charge of Fan Yang?" Guo Ziyi came back to his senses and asked.

Of course he knew that the court could not let Xue Bai stay in Fan Yang for a long time, otherwise it would be a big disaster if the tail was too big to fall off.

But if we can temporarily put Xue Bai in the border town, it will also give the saint a chance to take power. On the other hand, after all, Xue Bai is a member of the clan and has the heart to revitalize the Tang Dynasty. Using him to deal with the unruly generals in the border town may be able to achieve the goal.

A certain balance...the key is a short period of time.

"Do you think it's feasible, Mr. Guo?"

Guo Ziyi laughed "hehehe" a few times and stroked his beard and said: "King Yong is appointed as the general marshal of the world's soldiers and horses, and he is willing to retreat bravely from the rapids?"

With the rebellion put down, it was clear that Xue Bai, the so-called generalissimo of the world's military, would be relieved of his duties. He had already thought about it. Rather than passively waiting for others to take advantage of him, it would be better to take the initiative to exchange it for benefits.

"I am a subject of the saint." Xue Bai said in an official tone: "When the country is in trouble, it is time to stand up. Now it is time to return military power to the saint."

Guo Ziyi didn't believe that this was true, but she already understood Xue Bai's thoughts.

Of course, he did not have the power to decide whether Xue Bai should go to Fan Yang to take charge, but he could give Xue Bai the responsibility of continuing to advance troops, stabilize Fan Yang, and conquer Pinglu.

Xue Bai can also afford it, after all, he was the one who defeated and surrendered the surrendered general Tian Chengsi.

In exchange, Xue Bai would hand over Shi Siming to Guo Ziyi, which was equivalent to giving up the opportunity to return to Chang'an to present prisoners to the limelight.

If this develops, Guo Ziyi can return to Chang'an earlier than Xue Bai and assist the saint; and Xue Bai may be able to establish power in Fan Yang. The reason why I say "maybe" is because this matter is more difficult and requires more time.

For a moment, Guo Ziyi couldn't predict how to better control Xue Bai, so he hesitated and remained silent.

Xue Bai seemed to be able to see his thoughts, thought for a while, and said: "If Guo Situ is thinking about how to check and balance me, why not think about how to do it better for the country. If you follow what I said today, I should be able to stabilize the north and create a better future for the country."

The Tang Dynasty was freed from disasters."

This sentence can be regarded as the final word for this conversation.

The next day, Xue Xin learned that Shi Siming was to be handed over to Guo Ziyi and taken to Chang'an as a prisoner, and he couldn't help but feel a little unwilling.

"Brother, aren't they taking credit?"

"no."

Xue Bai patted Xue Xin on the shoulder and said: "Don't worry, your risking your life to capture Shi Siming is very useful. In exchange for the most substantial power, no one can erase our achievements."

Xue Xin was overjoyed, grinned, and said, "My injury will heal soon. Can I go north with my brother?"

"Well, let's go to Fanyang."

Xue Bai turned his head and looked north, realizing that he had never been to the north in his life.

…

A few days later, Xue Bai led more than 10,000 people to Fan Yang.

In Anlu Mountain, after Shi Siming, another person with imperial aspirations came here.

He immediately stood by the Sanggan River and watched the river rushing away, as if it had reached the Yongding River hundreds of years later.

Looking up, the familiar city of Yanjing is mottled by time and looks extremely strange.

~~

Shi Siming, who was in the prison car, raised his head and looked at the majestic city wall of Chang'an City from a distance.

Memories were mottled in his mind, and he couldn't help but think of old things from many years ago.

It had been about ten years. In the first year of Tianbao, he went to Hajj with Anlu Mountain. The saint at that time appreciated his generals very much, gave him a seat, and talked with him for a long time.

"How old is Shi Qing?"

"I am forty years old."

"The day when Shi Qing will become a distinguished person is in the future."

The saint encouraged him in this way and gave him the name "Si Ming".

But now, he still hasn't figured it out. Is it wrong that he just aims at the world?

Thinking of this, Shi Siming turned his head and said to the soldier next to him: "I want to see the saint."

No one paid attention to him.

"If the saint doesn't see me, he will lose his place in the Xue family sooner or later." Shi Siming was scaring Li Cong like this, still making the last effort for his future and life.

At this moment, Li Cong was on the outskirts of the city, personally greeting Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi.

His illustrious military exploits in pacifying the Anshi Rebellion were enough to make him catch up with the ancestors and become a wise king who revived the Tang Dynasty. Of course, he was worthy of ecstasy.

When he first heard the news, Li Cong was discussing state affairs with Dou Wenyang. He excitedly held Dou Wenyang's hand and cried bitterly, not knowing what to say.

"It would be great if all these achievements were really made by me!" In the end, he lost his composure and said something that should not be said.

As a close eunuch, Dou Wenyang had known the level of the saint for a long time. He was not surprised when he heard this. Instead, he said in a stern tone: "How can your Majesty be so presumptuous? Who is not your Majesty's subject? Who's achievements are not your Majesty's?!"

"

"I made a mistake." Li Cong wiped his tears and cried with joy: "I made a mistake. Fortunately, you reminded me."

"I know that Your Majesty is worried about King Yong's misfortune, but you can't let his majesty destroy your own ambition. This great victory is the credit of all the soldiers in the army, and it does not belong to him alone."
To be continued...