Tibet

Two days later, Li Ye received the news that the negotiations were completed, and he officially set off back to Longyou. Li Ye left 50,000 troops to guard Jiannan, and he personally led 60,000 troops and 40,000 camels northward.

Forty thousand camels carried food supplies on the road, three thousand large boxes of palace wealth, one and two million taels of silver and gold, and three hundred thousand kilograms of sugar.

Sugar is a famous specialty of Bashu. Since the technology of boiling sugar was introduced from Tianzhu to Bashu decades ago, a large amount of sugar cane has been planted in southern Bashu, so that most of the brown sugar in the Tang Dynasty was produced in Bashu.

Sucrose is still a luxury product and the price is high on the market, so Li Ye needs to take away this batch of 300,000 kilograms of red sugar first.

In fact, he was planning to take away copper, iron, oil, tea cakes, cloth, silk and other materials, but the quantity was too large and he couldn't take it away, so he had to wait until next time.

Duan Xiushi, Cui Yuan, Chen Huan, Bai Xiaode and other civil and military officials sent Li Ye ten miles away, and Li Ye led his army to the north in a mighty manner.

In Chang'an, after the negotiation, Emperor Li Heng issued a series of important awards in recognition of Li Ye's recovery of Jiannan Road and Shannan West Road. Li Ye concurrently served as Jiannan Jiedushi and was granted the title of Grand Master. Li Ye's father, Li Dai, was He was granted the title of Prince of Anyang County, and his mother, Pei, was granted the title of Princess of the County.

Li Mifeng was appointed as the Chancellor of the School Inspector, Liu Yan was appointed as the Minister of Household Affairs, Chen Huan was appointed as the School Inspector, Taichang Qing, Cen Shen was appointed as the Minister of the School Inspector and the Criminal Department, Wang Weifeng was appointed as the Censor Zhongcheng, as well as Bai Xiaode, Xin Yunjing, Duan Xiushi, and Li Feiyuanli. , Li Fei Shouyu, Lei Wanchun, Nan Jiyun, Pei Xiu, Li Baozhen, Wei Boyu, Wang Ruxiao, Gao Xiuyan and other twelve people were all awarded the title of general.

At the same time, Lei Wanchun was granted the title of Jingnan Military Envoy, with jurisdiction over the six states of Xia, Zi, Jing, Yue, E, and Mian. This Jingnan Military Envoy was granted relatively reluctantly, and Li Heng was reluctant, but if not, Lei Wanchun might want to expand eastward again, so he quickly determined his jurisdiction and prohibited him from continuing to expand.

The political intention of Emperor Li Heng was also very obvious. He included important officials in Helong into the imperial system and made them loyal not only to the King of Qi, but also to himself.

Prince Ning's Mansion was particularly lively today. A grand banquet was held in the mansion to celebrate Prince Ning Li Lin's sixtieth birthday.

There were hundreds of guests from various dignitaries and senior officials in Chang'an who came to celebrate their birthdays. There were more than a dozen officials sitting in the lobby, all of whom were senior officials, including Prince Li Dai of Anyang County, Xiang Guo Pei Mian, Li Xian, Tai Fu Dugu Lie and Prince Consort Dugu Ming. , Yan Zhenqing, Minister of Industry, and of course the master Li Lin and his brother Li Yu.

There are also two special guests, one is Liu Yan and the other is Qiao Bin. Qiao Bin is still a little behind in terms of qualifications and official position. Logically speaking, he is not qualified to sit in the lobby, but Li Lin has watched him grow up, so she specially allows him to sit in the lobby. Sit at the end.

The birthday girl Li Lin lives in the middle. On the left is Li Dai, the bachelor and prince of Anyang County, and on the right is the Prime Minister Pei Mian.

Everyone was chatting happily. At this time, Li Lin asked Liu Yan: "Excuse me, Liu Shangshu, when will the coffin of the Supreme Emperor arrive in Chang'an?"

Liu Yan hesitated and said, "I'm really not sure about this. Qiao Sima, do you have any news?"

Liu Yan asked Qiao Bin again, and Qiao Bin quickly leaned forward and said: "Report to Sima, return to the prince, the coffin of the Supreme Emperor should have arrived in Jingzhou. It is estimated that it will reach Chang'an in about ten days."

"Brother Qiao, does the coffin go by water?" Li Lin asked in surprise.

"Exactly. I heard that there are more than 20 special spiritual masters taking care of him and 3,000 naval escorts. It is estimated that he will be able to reach Chang'an in ten days."

"Can we arrive in ten days?"

"It's about the same. It takes three days from Jingzhou to Xiangyang by water, two days from Xiangyang to Shangluo County by water, and then change to land transportation from Shangluo. It takes exactly five days to get to Chang'an if it's not fast or slow."

Next to him, Pei Mian heard Li Lin call Qiao Bin "Brother Qiao" and asked curiously: "Does the prince know him?"

Li Lin chuckled, "How could I not recognize him? He is the son of my chief steward. I watched him grow up, and I gave him his official name."

When Pei Mian heard that he was the steward's son, he felt a little contemptuous. He laughed dryly and asked, "May I ask what position Mr. Qiao holds in Longyouguan?"

"Reported to the Prime Minister, and took up a humble position as Cao Cao of Guanlong Jiedu Prefecture to participate in the military affairs."

“Does one’s birth lead to fame?”

At this time, Liu Yan smiled slightly and said: "Pei Xiangguo may not know that Qiao Bin is also my deputy, serving as deputy Sima of Jiedu Mansion. He is nicknamed Qiao Caishen in Longyou. All our money, food and materials are in his hands. He If I don’t sign, I won’t be able to receive even a penny, and even the private treasury of His Highness King Qi will be under his control.”

Everyone suddenly exclaimed and couldn't help but look at Qiao Bin with admiration. Li Lin whispered to Pei Mian: "I know King Qi and he recommended him."

Pei Mian understood immediately. It turned out that Qiao Sima was King Qi's disciple. No wonder he was so important. He laughed dryly and said, "Qiao Canjun has taken up a high position at such a young age. He has a bright future!"

Qiao Bin said, neither humble nor arrogant, "I am in a humble position with few talents and little knowledge, but the King of Qi will not give up on me and entrust me with a heavy responsibility. I can only do everything conscientiously and well in order to thank the King of Qi for knowing me!"

Li Lin nodded, "Well said!"

At this time, Qiao Bin's father, Qiao Xingzhong, was not far away from the hall. He saw his son sitting in the hall and talking, and he was so excited that he shed tears. His son finally had a future and could sit with the prime ministers. He made the right move when he went to Broken Leaf.

The main hall was about to be decorated, and everyone got up and went elsewhere. Pei Mian stepped forward and smiled at Li Dai: "Your Majesty, if you are free tomorrow, come to my house for a drink."

Pei Mian and Li Dai's wife Pei Sanniang were of the same clan, both were Pei clans from Hedong. Pei Mian's father Pei Ji and Pei Sanniang's father Pei Fang were also uncles and brothers.

But as the saying goes, living in poverty in a busy city has no one to care about, while wealth in the mountains has distant relatives. When Pei Sanniang was in decline, Pei Mian never paid attention to her. Now that mother is more valuable than son, Pei Mian wants to recognize this family again.

It's just that Pei Sanniang has a strong personality, so she ignores this, so Pei Mian has no choice but to have a relationship with Li Della.

Li Dai said apologetically: "How about waiting a few more days to worship the ancestors the day after tomorrow? The first three and the last three are not allowed to touch wine. When I finish the sacrifice, I will treat Pei Xiangguo to a drink."

Pei Mian chuckled, "Then I'll wait for the prince's post."

At this time, Li Dai saw Qiao Bin and waved to him quickly, "Xiao Qiao, this way!"

Qiao Bin ran over, "Uncle, are you looking for me?"

Li Dai smiled and said, "Are you leaving tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?"

"Leave the day after tomorrow!"

"Then come to my house tomorrow. Your aunt wants you to help her carry something."

"Okay! I'll come tomorrow at noon,"

Qiao Bin bowed and hurried away.

Looking at his back, Li Dai smiled at Pei Mian and said, "Zhuo Jing was unfortunately bitten by a poisonous snake back then. If it hadn't been for this child's full efforts to save him, Zhuo Jing's life would have been long gone. We have always been very grateful to him."

Pei Mian nodded and said to Li Dai: "The establishment of a crown prince is on the agenda. Does the prince have any ideas?"

"I really haven't considered this."

"Does the prince know about His Highness Prince Qi's attitude?" This is what Pei Mian really cares about.

Li Dai smiled bitterly, "I haven't seen him for almost a year. He occasionally writes letters, and they are all about family matters and basically don't talk about state affairs."

"Let's do it! The day after tomorrow, the political affairs hall will discuss the prince's affairs for the first time. It's my turn to be on duty. Please invite the prince to discuss it together."

Li Dai is a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion and retains the qualification to serve as a disciple of Zhongshu. He has the right to participate in the political affairs hall to observe and discuss, but does not have the right to vote.

"Is this a formal invitation to me?" Li Dai asked with a smile.

Pei Min took out a prepared invitation letter and handed it to Li Dai with a smile, "The political hall unanimously invites the prince to come!"