Tang Dynasty: The seventh rank of official residence, and you will be given the Ten Thousand People

With a bang, the whole hall was in uproar.

All the ministers looked into the heavy snow, with deep shock in their eyes.

Even the mature and steady Wu Chengsi opened his mouth wide and was speechless.

No one expected that when the Khitan cavalry broke through the city gate, Fan Xin not only did not surrender but also defended Yingzhou.

How on earth did he do it? Could it be that he really has three heads and six arms as in the legend?

Li Yuanjia gritted his teeth, Wu Sansi's face turned pale, and Zhang Guangfu clenched his fists.

They were expecting Fan Xin to die at the hands of the Khitans, but they didn't expect such bad news to come.

How can this give everyone the dignity to stand in the court?

Seeing the expressions of the ministers, Shangguan Wan'er smiled slightly.

She just said, "How could a man like Fan Xin, who values ​​love and justice, surrender to the Khitans?"

It's ridiculous that Zhang Guangfu, an old man, said that young people are unreliable and that the country must be run by experienced ministers like them.

"Bah, a bunch of old people who are greedy for life and afraid of death. I don't know if Fan Xin has a girl he likes." Shangguan Wan'er thought secretly.

Compared with everyone's thoughts, Wu Zetian was undoubtedly the most gratified one.

When she heard that Fan Xin was guarding Yingzhou, she was relieved.

Her most valued minister lived up to her trust. Not only did he not surrender to the foreigners, he also successfully defended Yingzhou.

Although Wu Zetian did not see it with her own eyes, she could imagine how tragic the Battle of Yingzhou was just by defeating tens of thousands of Khitan cavalry.

"It's really difficult for this guy. Just a few days after he was promoted to governor, he walked around the gate of hell. The court will reward him heavily when he comes back."

at last.

While everyone was watching, Hong Ling rushed into the hall and knelt down on one knee.

"Reporting to the Queen Mother, Fan Xin, the governor of Yingzhou, bravely led the people to resist without fear of death and successfully defended Yingzhou!"

Wu Zetian flicked his sleeves and Longyan said happily: "I want to ask you where are Li Jinmie and Sun Wanzhan now?"

"Back to the Queen Mother, the Khitan tribe is currently retreating towards the Dongshi Canyon area!"

"Okay, okay, being able to drive the Khitans to the East Stone Canyon is worthy of my trust in Fan Xin!"

"Come here, there is a big palace banquet in Ziwei City. I want to celebrate Fan Xin personally!"

Yingzhou was fine and successfully prevented a war between the two fronts in the Tang Dynasty. From this perspective, Fan Xin's contribution was enough for her to host a banquet.

Even though the ministers were unwilling in their hearts, they could only agree.

Just as the monarch and his ministers were preparing to go to Ziwei Palace, another red-feathered envoy with a command flag on his back came running through the snow.

"Your Majesty, Fan Xin, the governor of Yingzhou, has a memorial to hand over."

"Oh, hasn't Fan Aiqing entered the realm of Luoyang? If he has anything to say, he can just say it to his face. Why should he hand over the paper?"

Wu Zetian took the memorial, opened it and took a look, and the smile on her face disappeared.

"Your Majesty, I am a commoner, working hard in Nanyang, trying to survive in troubled times, and do not seek to be heard by the princes."

"You don't think that I was born in a poor family, but you have repeatedly entrusted me with important tasks. I am especially grateful every time I think of you."

"Of course, everything in this world has its destiny. Before we say goodbye, I would like to ask the Queen Mother's permission for one thing."

"In the First Battle of Yingzhou, all 202 Qianniu Guards died in battle, and 2,980 garrison troops died for their country."

"I also hope that the Queen Mother can treat their families well and give them due military exploits to show the kindness of the Tang Dynasty. I have no regrets."

"That's it, no regrets."

a long time.

Wu Zetian raised her head and looked into the heavy snow, with rosy eyes.

"Fan Aiqing..."

This sudden scene made everyone confused.

Wasn't the Queen Mother fine just now? How could she be like this after reading the memorial? Could it be that Fan Xin has made great achievements again?

Zhang Guangfu and Wu Chengsi looked at each other and were about to step forward to ask the reason, but Wu Zetian took a deep breath and said with a majestic expression.

"Shangguan Wan'er has proposed a decree. Fan Xin has made great contributions in the First Battle of Yingzhou. He is specially awarded the title of earl of Pingbei and a settlement of 700 households!"

"The Earl's Mansion contains five thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, and thirty thousand taels of brass!"

"Eighty maids and three hundred guards. When entering the palace, you can decide whether to ride on horseback or in a sedan chair."

"Everyone of the three thousand soldiers who died in the battle will be promoted to two levels, with emphasis on compensation, and there must be no slacking off!"

As soon as this decree came out, the hall fell into deathly silence.

If Fan Xin was able to defend Yingzhou as they expected, then Wu Zetian's reward was beyond everyone's imagination.

If they remembered correctly, Fan Xin had just been awarded the title of county baronet last month, and now he directly crossed the county line and became an earl.

It is said that none of the ministers present, including the five families and seven surnames, and the royal family surnamed Li, have ever been so fast.

If this was not stopped, wouldn't Fan Xin be directly awarded the title of King in less than two years?

At this moment, Zhang Guangfu stood out of the queue and said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, I think it's inappropriate. How can Fan Xin and his son He De cross the county line and confer the title directly to the earl?"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, another red-feathered messenger with a command flag on his back came running out of the snow.

Holding the golden dragon sword and a blood-stained official uniform in both hands, he said loudly.

"To report to the Queen Mother, Fan Xin, the governor of Yingzhou, will return the golden dragon sword and official uniform to you when he arrives in front of Yingtian Gate."

"And he said..."

"What else are you talking about?" Wu Zetian looked up at the heavy snow in the sky, her palms hidden in her sleeves trembling slightly.

"He also said that he has lived up to your entrustment. Now it is time to return the golden dragon sword and official uniform to you." Hong Ling said anxiously, lowering his head.

After hearing this, Wu Zetian slowly turned around and looked at the governor's uniform with blood holes everywhere.

Although she was prepared, her heart still trembled suddenly when she saw the bloody hole above.

There seemed to be something blocked in her chest, making her unable to breathe. It seemed that she had returned to the night before Gaozong's death...

Finding Wu Zetian's face pale, Shangguan Wan'er suppressed her sadness.

"Queen Mother, Fan Xin will be fine. You have to take care of your body."

"Yes, Queen Mother, the Tang Dynasty still relies on you to govern it." The ministers followed.

They did not expect Fan Xin's fight in Yingzhou to be so brutal, nor did they expect Fan Xin's serious injury to be such a heavy blow to Empress Dowager Wu.

In the worried eyes of everyone, Wu Zetian gently touched the official uniform and said to Zhang Guangfu.

"Do you still feel that the reward given by this palace to Fan Xin is heavy?"

"This..." Zhang Guangfu slammed his head on the ground.

He knew he was finished.

Wu Zetian snorted angrily and said coldly.

"With immediate effect, Prime Minister Zhang Guangfu will be dismissed from all official positions, the province under Zhongshu Menxia will be renamed Fengge Luantai, and Di Renjie will be appointed Ping Zhangshi of Fengge Luantai!"

After saying that, Wu Zetian flicked her sleeves and robe and walked into the heavy snow.

"Fan Xin has entered Yingtianmen, and I am waiting for him on the steps in front of Shangyang Palace today!"

"I don't believe that my fifth-grade governor of the Tang Dynasty, who has great military achievements, will die in the hands of a small foreign race!"

As the rumbling sound fell, all civil and military officials walked out of the hall, and thousands of cloaked Qianniu Guards stood along both sides of the steps holding spears.

Everyone's eyes looked through the snow curtain towards the end of the steps...