The most powerful minister in the world

Outside the capital city, between two peaks, the golden sun shines brightly on the mountain walls.

The black cavalry were in uniform order, and the black military flags with gilded flying dragons and auspicious clouds were flying in the air.

The fiery red maple leaves were floating in the air, and the python heads on the translucent black armor of the cavalry were full of intimidation. Under the iron helmets were a pair of sharp eyes that shocked the soul.

The officers and soldiers on the watch tower squinted against the sunlight and watched the team walking out of the Yin and Yang Divide slowly.

The drummer beat the drums loudly.

With a cry of "The Jing family army has returned in triumph!"

The whole city suddenly became lively.

The city gates were wide open, officers and soldiers from the City Patrol Department lined the streets to greet them, and ordinary people crowded on both sides of the wide streets like a tide.

Yes, Jing Lixiao and Marshal Jing Chuan led a thousand python-headed black cavalry back to the capital.

Jing Lixiao, dressed in black armor and a red cloak, waved to the crowd with a whip in one hand.

This return to Beijing was nearly two days earlier than expected, so many officials who were still preparing did not react at all.

By the time the report from the City Patrol Division was handed over to Qianyang's imperial table, Jing Lixiao and Jingchuan were already waiting outside the palace gate to hear the announcement.

It happened that Zuo Que and Prince Yun Ziying were discussing matters in Dongxuan Pavilion at this time. Qianyang's old illness had relapsed, and there were many problems in the trade routes of the four countries, which made him frown and anxious.

But when he heard that Jing Lixiao and Jing Chuan were back, he was overjoyed and even wanted to go outside the palace gate to greet them.

Yun Ziying smiled and said, "Let me go to the palace gate."

When Yun Ziying led the father and son, who had not yet taken off their armor, into the palace gate while talking and laughing, Qian Yang came forward with a smile on his face.

Jing Lixiao and Jingchuan knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, Jing Lixiao, leads his son to bow down to you!"

"Hahaha, come on, come on, you have worked hard all the way and don't use these false etiquette. Come and wait for the two generals to remove their armor and prepare ginger tea."

Taking off his armor, Qian Yang pulled Jing Lixiao to sit down.

"Li Xiao, this great victory in southern Xinjiang not only recaptured all the lost cities, but also defeated two very fertile cities on the border of Chen State. It can be said that we have demonstrated the military might of our southern country. You have made a great contribution!"

Jing Lixiao clasped his fists and smiled: "This great victory is all because Your Majesty has conquered the world. I only rely on Your Majesty's grace."

"Okay, okay," Qianyang motioned to Jing Lixiao to drink some ginger tea to relieve the cold, "I have always made clear rewards and punishments. You also know about making you a duke. Jingchuan, you are still young and can give you a champion. , you must know that from the beginning of the founding of our southern country, he was still the first champion, hahaha."

Jing Lixiao and Jing Chuan stood up and knelt down: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

"Okay, get up quickly and tell me how you fought this battle. I'm not satisfied with the details."

The monarch and his ministers talked happily until lunch time, when Qian Yang insisted on keeping the two of them to eat together.

Poor Zuo Que, who was in poor health, also had to stay with him.

At the banquet, Jing Lixiao sat on the right hand side next to Qian Yang, Yun Ziying sat on the left hand side, followed by Jingchuan.

"How can there be no wine? What's wrong with you?" Qian Yang shouted angrily at the eunuch Tan Si.

Tan Si trembled: "According to the ancestral teachings, Your Majesty, you still..."

"Ok?"

"Here~"

The warm nectar and jade liquid were poured into the cup. It seemed that there were no monarchs and ministers here, but it seemed like an ordinary family banquet.

"Come on, since I ascended the throne and you went to southern Xinjiang to help me guard the border, it has been a long time since we sat together and drank and chatted like this."

After a glass of wine, Jing Lixiao ate the Yangzhou meat from Gan Yang and said with a smile: "Yes, so many years have passed. I remember when His Majesty was still Qianlong, when we first arrived in Yangzhou, This is also the meal we eat.”

"It's just that there was no such good wine in that place back then, and the water we drank was alkaline water, which was very bitter."

Qian Yang raised his head and seemed to be lost in memories: "Haha, I remember an old man said that you have to wait for the alkaline water to float a layer of water film and scratch it with straw to drink it. It really has a different taste."

"Come, let's chat while we eat and try this fish."

As Tan Si drank cup after cup of wine, what he saw on the sidelines was thrilling, as taught by his ancestors!

"Hahaha, we are all getting old, and the world will be dominated by young people from now on. Among my four sons, the second is the most like me. After becoming the prince, he has also been a good hand in handling government affairs over the years. Ying'er , I still don’t want to toast you, Uncle Jing.”

Yun Ziying stood up, raised his glass, said some very touching polite words and drank it down in one gulp.

At this moment, Qian Yang suddenly changed the topic in an understatement: "Jingxi has done a good job in Jiangnan and I am deeply impressed. I have sent two imperial edicts urging him to return to Beijing, but he has found reasons to reject it. You Send him a letter and ask him to come back before winter so as not to delay the wedding."

Jing Lixiao rubbed the tiger's mouth and said with a smile: "Yes, I will definitely urge him to finish his errands and return to Beijing to resume his duties."

"Well, after dinner, let Jingchuan go to the Ministry of War to go through the process. Can you go back to your house and change clothes and go to Li Guogong to see your wife?"

Jing Lixiao laughed and said, "What kind of rule is this, and what is the saying about father-in-law coming to visit his daughter-in-law?"

Qian Yang was also amused and wiped his mouth with a silk handkerchief: "That's it, you will go back home and rest for a few days, and I will find a chance to meet you in the palace."

"It's all up to your Majesty's arrangement. I just have one more thing that I don't know how to arrange. Please give me your Majesty's instructions."

Qian Yang became interested and put down his chopsticks: "Oh? Tell me."

Jing Lixiao looked around and smiled: "When I wait for the wedding banquet to bow down, I will sit next to Li Guogong. There is such a difference in seniority, hahaha~"

As soon as he said this, the whole hall laughed. Zuo Que kept coughing before he could swallow the food in his mouth.

Qian Yang wiped the tears from laughter at the corner of his eyes: "Well, this is a matter, this is a family matter, so I can't say more. Mr. Zuo Ge, can you think of a way?"

Zuo Que, who was laughing endlessly, was suddenly called upon. He quickly drank a cup of tea and said with a chuckle: "This is easy to handle. If Jing Shuai doesn't mind, you can ask Yan Lao and Li Guogong to sit together. Jing Shuai will just sit aside. Hahaha."

The whole room burst into laughter again, Qian Yang clapped his hands and said, "This is a good idea. Since Mr. Yan is the mentor of that brat, the only great master in our southern country, and the most holy man of Confucianism and martial arts, it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a national treasure." Okay, then let’s do this, when we are waiting to worship in the high hall, let Yan Lao and Li Guogong sit side by side, and you can sit next to Yan Lao.”

Jing Lixiao gave a thumbs up and said, "Wonderful. This not only loses etiquette, but also adds to the appearance. It's very, very good."

Zuo Que smiled again and said, "When the time comes, I'm afraid Duke Li will be ashamed after hearing this."

"a ha ha ha."

After the imperial meal was over, Jing Lixiao and Jingchuan rode on their way back home.

"Dad, your ability to sell your son is extraordinary!"

Jing Lixiao breathed heavily: "This wine tastes really bad. If that brat knew about it, he might jump up and yell at me!"

Jingchuan sighed and said, "I don't know who he followed for his bad temper, but we can't stand him even if he complains in the south of the Yangtze River. What I'm worried about now is the Liu family."

Jing Lixiao waved his hand to blow away the fallen leaves: "Well, she is coming to the capital soon. Let Heiqi pay more attention and talk to Liu Juzheng. I don't know how he gave birth to a child. He is a coward, but the daughter he raised is... It’s a…sigh.”

Jingchuan, who was silent for a moment, suddenly asked: "Dad, if, I mean if, if Liu Ningmei doesn't have such a prominent family background, what do you think of her and Jingxi...?"

"Ha~" Jing Lixiao breathed a long sigh of relief, "It's a pity that there is no if."