Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 59: Title and House
Xue Rengui's memorial was delivered to Chang'an by flying horse, along with a certificate of merit.

Li Zhi immediately issued an order to let Xue Rengui, Cheng Wuting and others return to the Tang Dynasty, and at the same time asked the Ministry of War to draft a memorial to reward and punish the soldiers.

Minister of War Cui Dunli submitted three memorials in succession, but they were all rejected by Li Zhi.

Cui Dunli didn't know what made the emperor unhappy, so he had to go to the Secretariat to ask Li Ji for help.

"Mr. Li, please help me this time."

Li Ji saw that he was walking unsteadily and was afraid that he would fall, so he hurried over to support him.

"Mr. Cui, if you have something to ask, just send someone to call me over. Why bother coming here in person?"

Cui Dunli smiled and said, "My health is fine. I'm not unable to walk, but my mind is getting more and more confused."

Li Ji poured him some tea and said with a smile, "Mr. Cui is seriously ill."

Cui Dunli sighed, "We have worked together for decades, and I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. Your Majesty's thoughts are becoming increasingly difficult for me to fathom."

Li Ji said with a smile: "Your Majesty is young, so his mindset is naturally different from us old guys."

Cui Dunli shook his head and handed all three memorials to Li Ji.

"Lord Li, take a look at these memorials I submitted three times. Your Majesty didn't send them to the Secretariat for drafting, but simply rejected them."

Li Ji took it and read the first memorial first.

This memorial proposed to promote Xue Rengui to the rank of General of the Jinwu Guard and Cheng Wuting to the rank of Guoyi Commandant of the Jinwu Guard. The officers and soldiers of Songzhou were also rewarded accordingly based on their military performance and the military merit system.

Li Ji picked up the second memorial. This one was no different from the previous one, except that Xue Rengui was rewarded with the title of Hedong County Man.

Looking at the third memorial, everything else remained the same, except that Xue Rengui's reward included an additional two-story mansion.

Cui Dunli sighed, "I know Your Majesty loves Xue Rengui, but General Xue's beheadings total no more than 5,000. According to the Tang Dynasty military system, this is already the highest commendation."

Li Ji pondered for a moment and smiled, "Mr. Cui, the problem is not with Xue Rengui."

Cui Dunli was stunned and said, "Whose fault is that? Isn't Cheng Wuting's commendation enough?"

Li Ji said, "No, Cheng Wuting's contributions were not great, and his promotion to the rank of Commander of the Golden Guards was a bit excessive."

Cui Dunli frowned and asked, "What's the reason?"

Li Ji asked in return, "What is the decree given to you by His Majesty?"

Cui Dunli thought for a moment and said, "Let me draft a memorial to reward and punish the soldiers who are going to the battle."

Li Ji laughed and said, "Your Majesty asked you to draft a memorial for rewards and punishments, not for commendations. What does this mean?"

Cui Dunli was stunned for a moment and said, "Does Your Majesty mean to punish certain soldiers? But Xue Rengui's merit report doesn't mention which soldier made a mistake."

Li Ji said slowly, "Perhaps the person who made the mistake is not among those who have made the achievement?"

Cui Dunli slapped his forehead and suddenly realized.

He had read all the impeachment memorials sent by Yuan Xiuye, and he also saw that Yuan Xiuye ​​intended to make things difficult for Xue Rengui.

The emperor did not pursue the matter at first because a war was imminent. Now that the war is over, it is natural to settle the accounts.

Cui Dunli thanked Li Ji, returned to the Ministry of War, and added a suggestion to punish Yuan Xiuye ​​in a new memorial, which he ordered to be sent to Ganlu Palace again.

Li Zhi was handling official business in the palace when he saw the memorial from the Ministry of War. He took it and read it first. After reading it, he smiled and said, "He finally understood."

He stamped his seal on the memorial and ordered Xiaoji to send it to the Secretariat for imperial edict.

……

The second day of the second month is Jingzhe.

The spring thunder awakens the hibernating insects, the warm breeze and the spring flowers bloom.

On the official road outside Qixia City, a cavalry came galloping, and the people on the horses were all mighty and strong young men.

When passersby saw them, they made way for them and saluted them with eyes full of admiration.

They all realized that this was a warrior from the Tang Dynasty army.

The peace of the Tang Dynasty today is protected by these men, and everyone is grateful to them from the bottom of their hearts.

Xue Rengui and Cheng Wuting rode at the front of the team, followed by dozens of Qianniu Guards.

When Cheng Wuting saw the majestic Chang'an City, his eyes couldn't help but become moist.

Xue Rengui was slightly surprised.

On the way back to Beijing, he ate and lived with the young man. Seeing that he was seriously injured and had to rush on the road, his wounds broke open several times, but he never complained. He was truly a strong man.

I didn't want to show the behavior of a little girl after returning to Chang'an.

Cheng Wuting wiped his eyes and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, General Xue. I just thought that when I left Chang'an, I brought fifty good brothers with me, but when I returned, there were only less than ten left. I really feel guilty towards their families."

Most of the Qianniu Guards behind the two men were led out by Xue Rengui. Many of Cheng Wuting's men died on the battlefield and were later brought back to Songzhou for burial. Xue Rengui was silent for a long time, not knowing how to comfort him.

Cheng Wuting forced a laugh and said, "After we go into the city to see the emperor, we will have to say goodbye. Brother Xue has been awarded a title for his meritorious service and has been given a new house. A glass of wine cannot be left out of my little brother's housewarming party."

Xue Rengui said, "Of course."

After entering the city, the two men walked north along Qixiamen Street. They saw a surge of people on the street, and there were many scholars wearing square scarves on their heads.

Cheng Wuting was surprised: "It's only been a month since I left Beijing, how come there are suddenly so many scholars?"

Xue Rengui laughed and said, "Brother Cheng, have you forgotten about the imperial examination?"

Cheng Wuting slapped his forehead and laughed, "Yes, the imperial examination results will be announced in February. I've been away from Beijing for a long time, so my reaction is slow."

After passing Pingkangfang, the two men turned west at Chunmingmen Street and soon arrived at Zhuquemen, entered the palace, and went to Ganlu Hall to pay a visit to Li Zhi.

Li Zhi was very happy to see the two men return. He ordered Wang Fusheng to bring chairs for them and asked them to tell him what had happened in the war.

After Xue Rengui finished speaking, Cheng Wuting looked guilty and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, I went there this time and only suffered a defeat. I am truly ashamed of your trust."

Li Zhi said gently, "Your mission is inherently more difficult than Xue Qing's. It's a thankless task. I understand that."

Cheng Wuting continued, "Your Majesty, of the fifty Qianniu Guards you bestowed upon me, only eight remain alive. I request your permission to provide generous relief to their families."

Li Zhi said, "Of course. I have already issued an order for the Ministry of War to triple the pension. Their descendants will also have priority in joining the Twelve Guards in the future."

Cheng Wuting bowed and said, "On their behalf, I thank Your Majesty for his grace."

After the two men met the emperor, they took their leave and left the hall together.

Xue Rengui was now promoted to General of the Thousand Oxen Guard, so he first went to the Ministry of Personnel and the Guard Office to handle the formalities before hurried home.

Unexpectedly, when he arrived at the courtyard of Dayefang, he found that the courtyard was locked and a servant was squatting outside the door.

The servant looked at Xue Rengui for a moment and asked, "Excuse me, are you Xue Rengui?"

Xue Rengui frowned and said, "I am Xue Rengui, who are you?"

The servant said happily, "I have been waiting for you here for a few days. I am your room, and I am waiting for you here on the orders of my lady."

Xue Rengui suddenly realized and asked, "Are you Fang Ge, sent by the Ministry of Justice?"

Fangge refers to official servants. All officials in the Tang Dynasty could apply for official slaves. The first rank had ninety-six people, the second rank had seventy-two people, the third rank had forty-eight people, and the fourth rank had thirty-two people.

When Xue Rengui was the General of the Central Army, he could actually apply for thirty-two servants, but after applying, these servants had to support themselves.

Xue Rengui was saving money to buy a house, so of course he didn't want to keep a servant.

In fact, most officials who are not financially well off, like him, would not want these servants. Only officials from prominent families would keep a full staff of servants.

Xue Rengui knew that his wife had already moved into the new house with her children, and he had also requested official servants to serve them.

Now that I have a house given to me, I don't need to be as frugal as before, so I said, "Lead the way."

The servant said with a smile, "Well, Alang, although your new mansion is only a two-story house, the location is excellent. It is on the west street of Pingkangfang."

Xue Rengui said: "Stop talking nonsense and lead the way."

Led by the servant, Xue Rengui finally found his new residence. As soon as he entered the door, Xue Na rushed out of the house, hugged him and called him "Father".

Xue Rengui carried his son into the house and saw that his wife Liu had changed into a silk dress and there were two maids beside her.

Liu was born into a wealthy family and was quite sensible. Seeing that her house was small, she only asked the Ministry of Justice for six official servants, four maids, and two maids.

The couple had not seen each other for a long time. Liu sent her son to study and gave Xue Rengui a wink.

Xue Rengui smiled and said, "I've been traveling all the way, so I'd better go take a bath first."

Liu said angrily, "We are already an old couple, how can I still dislike you?"

Xue Rengui said nothing more. He carried his wife into the house, put her on the bed, and began to unbuckle his belt.

Liu lay on her side on the bed, supporting her chin with one hand, and said with a smile, "I have something to tell you. My father sent someone to write me a letter."

Xue Rengui snorted and said, "Let's talk about this later. Let's get down to business first."

After a fierce fight, the two finally separated. Liu panted and said, "Don't look so gloomy. My father has admitted his mistake. He hopes... well!"

A quarter of an hour later, the two separated again.

Xue Rengui then asked, "What does he want?"

Liu smiled and said, "My third brother is going to Beijing to take the imperial examination this year and hopes to stay at your house. Would you agree?"

Xue Rengui said, "The house is big enough now, let him live here."

Liu smiled slightly and took the initiative to greet him.

(End of this chapter)