"Die before he succeeds, he will die, which will make the hero cry..."

Xue Shao now understands that this poem by Du Fu, which was well-known in middle school, contained so much sadness and tragedy. At this moment, only this poem can express Xue Shao's mood. Therefore, it became the elegiac couplet used by Xue Shao to commemorate Pei Xingjian.

Soon, this poem spread among the 200,000 Western Expedition Army, and all those who chant and hear them shed tears.

Under the sky of the Tang Dynasty, there will be no more Duke Pei.

The country has lost its pillars and the nation has broken its spine.

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu and other generals of the Tang Dynasty lost their common father, teacher, robes and close friends.

No one else could resolve the most dangerous military and national problems of the Tang Empire in a flash of his fingers like Pei Xingjian.

There is no one else who can make the enemy and rebellion of the Tang Empire respectfully call him "public" behind his back.

There is no one else who can make all the soldiers in the Tang Dynasty respect from the heart, and can make such a general like Evil kneel down and kowtow to him in public.

No one dared to smash the bamboo slips on Xue Shao's face, but Xue Shao didn't retreat or avoid him, even without any anger.

The talented and literary master is proud and heroic.

A generation of Confucian generals will come to an end.

Two hundred thousand soldiers of the Western Expedition Army were mourning for Pei Xingjian. In the Wei River camp, there was a vast white area. Many people in Guanzhong came to pay tribute to Gong Pei when he heard the bad news of his death, and the grief sounded everywhere.

Xue Shao thought to himself that even if Emperor Li Zhi dies in the future, there will not be so many people who will be heartbroken.

...

Pei Xingjian's death was a big blow to Xue Shao. But at this time, he didn't even have much time to stay in front of Pei Xingjian's spirit to express his grief. There was a big problem that suddenly came before him - the commander died suddenly before the Western Expedition was set off. So who will preside over the Western Expedition? Where should the army go now?

Because Xue Shao is the deputy general manager and a student of Mr. Pei, the soldiers naturally put their eyes on Xue Shao, hoping that he can come forward to solve these two major problems!

The military situation was like fire, and even though Xue Shao was heartbroken, he dared not delay it. He immediately sent someone to Wenxi County to invite Pei Xingjian's widow Kudi and their three children. Then, Xue Shao planned to take Pei Xingjian's eldest son, Pei Yanxiu, who was only seven years old, to Luoyang to report his demise to the two sages.

It is of course important to repay the funeral. For the important officials of the country like Pei Xingjian, the funeral of his important officials should be presided over by the court and be a grand funeral. However, Xue Shao's mission has another important purpose, which is to seek the imperial edict in front of the two saints, hoping that he could replace Pei Xingjian and take charge of the Western Expedition.

Xue Shao thought to himself that this hope was relatively slim. If he was qualified to take charge in the eyes of the Second Saints and the Prime Ministers, there was no need to ask Pei Xingjian to come out. But now that things have come, Xue Shao has to actively strive for it no matter what. A large part of the wish is to inherit Pei Xingjian's will and carry out the Western Expedition to the end!

But before Xue Shao could set off, he was stopped by someone.

Pei Yan!

The second saints went east to the east and left behind Pei Yan, three important ministers, Prime Ministers, Xue Yuanchao and Liu Rengui, to assist Prince Li Xian in Chang'an. When Pei Xingjian died, Pei Yan and three other prime ministers came to the army to pay tribute. After hearing that Xue Shao was about to take Pei Yanxiu to Luoyang to report the funeral, Pei Yan invited Xue Shao to Chang'an and met him in the Shizhong Office of the Imperial City.

This is the first time Xue Shao has officially negotiated official business with Pei Yan face to face.

"General Xue is preparing to take the eldest son of Pei to Luoyang to report the funeral?" Pei Yan used a question knowingly and took it as the opening remark.

"Yes." Xue Shao also answered simply.

"General Xue, please don't go." Pei Yan said.

Xue Shao frowned, "Why?"

"There are three reasons." Pei Yan was obviously confident and raised three fingers and said, "First, the commander died suddenly, and this army was a new army just recruited, so it is inevitable that people's hearts will be fluctuating and easily cause chaos. As the deputy commander, you should stay in the army to coordinate the overall situation and stabilize people's hearts. As for small matters like reporting a deceased, our cabinet can send someone to do it for you. General Xue doesn't have to lose his roots and do it personally."

Death is a trivial matter?

Xue Shao frowned and said lightly: "Dare you dare to hear the second one."

"Secondly, the Tang Dynasty is moving, and many officials are still walking on the road. Luoyang must be in a mess at this moment." Pei Yan said: "The two saints must also be settled in the capital and stabilize the court. When they go to report the funeral, they will definitely cause chaos. Therefore, General Xue might as well hold a funeral for Mr. Pei in the army first, and report the funeral to the court for a few days before they can go."

"I don't agree." Xue Shao answered firmly and his tone was also very tough.

Pei Yan smiled faintly disapprovingly, "Why do you disagree?"

"The death can certainly be postponed for several days, but the military situation in the Western Regions is like fire, how can it be delayed?" Xue Shao said, "If it weren't for the military situation like fire, Mr. Pei would not have reported his illness and returned in a hurry, and he would not have died before he succeeded! - At this moment, Mr. Pei actually said that I went to Luoyang to report the death to Pei Gong to be a disaster? So, why don't he cause trouble?"

Pei Yan still smiled, "General Xue, our cabinet knows that you are too sad because of the death of your mentor, but when discussing political affairs, please do not be too excited, and do not act emotionally and abolish public for personal gain."

"I didn't sack my public because of personal gain." Xue Shao's tone was very calm and cold, "If you have emotional troubles, I'll beat you up."

Pei Yan was stunned and soon looked angry!

Xue Shao looked at him coldly, neither happy nor angry.

"General Xue, our cabinet understands your mood and will not make any more controversy with you in words." Pei Yan smiled faintly again and said in a hurry, "Third, do you still want to hear it?"

"If you say it, I will listen." Xue Shao was also very calm.

"Okay, third—" Pei Yan said, "Assinating commander of the Western Expedition is a military and national event. Only the two sages can summon the prime minister to discuss and decide. If you run to Luoyang to report the deceased saint, your intention is nothing more than petitioning to become commander. Don't blame this cabinet for not reminding you that this kind of behavior is a violation of the rules and usurpation. As long as you dare to go, someone will dare to impeach you."

"Whatever." Xue Shao said lightly, "Anyway, I have been impeached five or six times a year after I entered the officialdom. I'm used to it."

"Then General Xue, just do it yourself." Pei Yan smiled coldly, "Oh, my parents have told you clearly. Whether you listen or not is all in the mind of General Xue."

"Goodbye!"

"Not giving!"

Xue Shao walked out of Shizhong Province without looking back, feeling angry. Let's put aside his political views and support. Just saying that reporting the demise to Pei Gong was a "small matter" and "increasing trouble" was enough to make Xue Shaoli full of disgust and hatred for Pei Yan.

"My dear nephew stayed!" Xue Shao was walking in a hurry, and suddenly someone called beside him. He turned around and saw that it was Xue Yuanchao, the Minister of the Central Committee.

"Greetings to my uncle." Xue Shao stepped forward to salute.

Xue Yuanchao frowned and looked at Xue Shao, and whispered: "You have just gone to the village to see Xianggong Pei?"

"That's right." Xue Shao replied, "It was Pei Yan who summoned me to meet you."

When Xue Yuanchao heard Xue Shao call Pei Yan's name in anger, he smiled faintly and said, "Your nephew doesn't have to hurry to leave. Come, I will talk to you."

“…it’s good.”

Xue Yuanchao did not take Xue Shao to his Secretariat Yamen to show off, but walked into the Hongwen Pavilion nearby and sat down in a quiet room.

"My nephew, I know that Mr. Pei's death will have a great blow and stimulation to you. But care will be chaotic. Don't lose your mind and miss the big things because of sadness and anger." Xue Yuanchao said.

Xue Shao had already calmed down a lot, and then let out a sigh and nodded, saying, "Uncle has taught me a lesson."

Xue Yuanchao smiled faintly and said, "The Second Saint kept Pei Yan in Chang'an to supervise the government, and many things had to be reported to the Second Saint. Including reporting the death to Pei Gong, he should also be in charge. If you ran to Luoyang to report the death to him privately, it would be a violation of the rules and usurpation. This offends the prime minister, and it will also make the Two Saints displeased."

"I know." Xue Shao frowned and said, "I just wanted to go to Luoyang to report the funeral by fear that he would interfere. If you offend me, you would offend me. It's not the first time anyway. I don't care!"

Xue Yuanchao still smiled slightly, "You want to ask for your order to take charge and inherit the military power and will left by Duke Pei, right?"

Xue Shao nodded. In the eyes of the prime ministers with a keen sense of politics, this matter is almost on the surface and there is nothing to hide.

"I'm so tired of helping you to pour cold water on me." Xue Yuanchao said, "It's almost impossible to let you get the boss."

"Because I am young, I don't have enough qualifications? Or do I have insufficient abilities?" Xue Shao asked with a frown.

Xue Yuanchao shook his head, "The above can be regarded as excuses and reasons. But the real reason is - your surname is Xue!"

It’s really not a family to speak two families. Xue Shao knew that Xue Yuanchao was telling him the truth this time.

"I have already known what my uncle said," Xue Shao said, "For years, the Xue family in Hedong has established a great Tang Dynasty and has never declined. However, in recent years, Wenxi, represented by Pei Yan, has become a strong and stubborn enemy and has become our strong enemy. Pei Yan is unwilling to see me in the army to expand my power, which is natural."

"That's right." Xue Yuanchao nodded and said, "The battle between Xue Pei has been around for a long time. After the Northern Expedition, I was defeated, and even Wenxi Duke Pei Xingjian was squeezed out of the court by Pei Yan, the same clan. It can be seen that Pei Yan's desire for power is too strong, and he cannot tolerate anyone provoking his authority or posing a threat to his status. After defeating me and Wenxi Duke one after another, Pei Yan was almost without a rival in the court of the Tang Dynasty. But he did not expect that you, a young young man, would cause such a big storm in the army, and would also invite Xue Rengui, who had been exiled for ten years, to be valued."

"Pei Yan felt that I was too disobedient in the army, and some of the things I did were beyond his expectations and control, so he had long listed me as his political enemy, right?" Xue Shao sneered.

Xue Yuanchao nodded, "It's like one day when you find that there is a disobedient retainer in your family, and what he does is not under your expectations and control. What will you do?"

"But the problem is that Pei Yan is not the master of the Tang Dynasty!" Xue Shao sneered.

Xue Yuanchao smiled, "What if he thinks he is 'yes'?"
Chapter completed!