Changsun Pingting gently lifted the carriage curtain. A group of military officers gathered outside. Why had she forgotten to remind the driver just now? She was too busy with the price increase.
It would be foolish not to take advantage of such an opportunity. Li Xiang had also thought of getting off near the Ministry of War, but who knew they were already at the door? Isn't this a great opportunity? It also made it clear to everyone that Zhangsun Wuji had reconciled with the Eastern Palace.
This is a very important symbol. Changsun Wuji is known as the most powerful minister during the Zhenguan period. His every move is related to the hearts of many people. When this word spreads, no matter what the Eastern Palace does, it will be much more convenient than before.
"I'll take my leave and visit my aunt and uncle at home another day."
Li Xiang looked very upright, as if he had not thought of this. Changsun Pingting also felt that Li Xiang was still young and might not have so many thoughts in his mind. Instead, she tidied up Li Xiang's clothes before getting off the car, just like her own nephew.
"Don't express your opinions carelessly when you go there. Even if the gentlemen are accommodating to you, don't be too arrogant. Listen more and learn more."
After saying this, Changsun Pingting also felt a little strange. She usually never said a word, but when she saw Li Xiang leaving, she actually said these words.
"Respect my aunt's teachings."
Li Xiang turned around and waved, then jumped directly from the carriage. Zhao Yunhui had already caught up with him from behind. The Ministry of War was used to seeing all kinds of armies, but they were still amazed at the dozen or so people including Zhao Yunhui. It could be seen from the formation that they must have been strictly trained. They didn't expect that the abandoned East Palace had such elite cavalry.
"Greetings, Lord Shangshu."
When Li Xiang got off the car, he saw many people around him were about to kneel down to salute. Li Xiang took the initiative to salute the Minister of War Li Jing first. Li Jing received this great gift from Li Xiang before he even got out of the sedan chair.
"After all, he is the emperor's eldest grandson. He looks quite imposing in the uniform of our military commander. It will begin soon. You should go to the Liaodong Division first to familiarize yourself with it."
Li Jing got down from the sedan chair carried by eight people and saw Li Xiang's official uniform. Although it was a bit too big, he still looked like an official. Most of the royal children wore royal formal attire, and few wore official uniforms. At least among the emperor's grandchildren, Li Xiang had set a precedent.
"Zhang Ping, come here and take your master to Liaodong Division first."
Li Jing still needed to take care of some other official business, so he called an official from among the onlookers, who happened to be an eighth-rank clerk of the Liaodong Division.
After the two sides met, Li Jing went in first. The emperor would also come to the Ministry of War today. It was agreed that he would go to the Liaodong Division, but if the emperor wanted to inspect the Ministry of War, we had to be prepared.
"Zhang Ping, your humble servant, pays respects to His Highness."
Zhang Ping is a minor official in his late forties, considered an old man in the Ministry of War. However, he has remained in this position because no one from above has promoted him. When he heard that a royal grandson had come to the Liaodong Division, he began to think about it. If he could get close to such a powerful figure, he would surely be very successful in the future.
"Get up, get up. We'll be working in the same yamen from now on. I'll call you Lao Zhang. We don't need all the formalities. Today is my first day at the yamen, so please take me for a stroll. This is my drink money. Let's have a proper drink someday."
Li Xiang took out a small ingot from his sleeve. You know, in this day and age, copper coins are still the best-selling ones, but Li Xiang didn't want to carry so many on his body. The nobles still used gold and silver.
"How can you say that? Your Highness is now my direct superior. I haven't even given Your Highness a token of my gratitude yet, so how can I take Your Highness's reward first?"
Zhang Ping hurriedly took two steps back. As soon as he saw the small ingot, he knew it was worth at least five taels of silver. His monthly salary was only one guan of money, plus other food and cloth, which was only a little more than two taels of silver. Li Xiang rewarded him with five taels of silver at once, which had never happened before.
"Take it, take it. If you don't take the money, then you don't want to stand on my side. I'm a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. Since you don't want to stand on my side, then I'll find someone who is willing to take my money."
Li Xiang deliberately put on a stern face, and then handed the small ingot to Zhang Ping without saying anything. Li Xiang had a very accurate grasp of these people's psychology. Although they were in great glory in the Ministry of War, the officialdom during the Zhenguan period was relatively clean, so these people did not have much opportunity to gain benefits, and their daily lives were also hard.
Once you get the money, you have to do the work. In the following time, Zhang Ping took Li Xiang to visit the Ministry of War. When everyone heard that this was the Emperor's eldest grandson who had been in the limelight these days, they all greeted him in the yard and made themselves familiar with him.
Everyone was puzzled. They'd heard that the Crown Prince was a mischievous person, with no time for educating his children. Yet, our Prince had such a good sense of interpersonal skills. Where had he learned this? Had we misheard all along?
Finally, he came to the Liaodong Division, one of the eight divisions of the Ministry of War, and met his immediate superior, Pan Renhai, the seal holder of the Liaodong Division, a man in his sixties.
In the 21st century, there are still many people in their sixties who are making good use of their remaining energy, but in the Tang Dynasty, people in their sixties were definitely considered old. Moreover, this old man could not hear in one ear, and his hearing in the other ear was not very good either. When people spoke, they almost wanted to shout.
"Your Highness, our Lord Pan has already tried to retire twice, but the Emperor won't allow it..."
After Li Xiang met with Lord Pan, Zhang Ping whispered beside him.
Only then did Li Xiang understand what was going on. The deputy seal of the Liaodong Division of the Ministry of War should have been reserved for certain people. Of course, it was definitely not given to him at the beginning. If he had not made an amazing performance in the court that day, this position would most likely have belonged to other royal family members, perhaps Prince of Wei Li Tai, or Prince of Jin Li Zhi, but it would definitely not have belonged to him.
It is obvious that Lord Pan is unable to handle normal official duties, let alone national affairs, so he is like a mascot, and the deputy seal holder should be here to do things.
"The Minister has ordered that the Emperor arrive in two quarters of an hour and that officials from all departments meet him at the gates."
Li Xiang was just about to learn more about the situation when he heard that a messenger had already arrived and that the emperor had already left the palace and would soon arrive at the Ministry of War.
Li Xiang's first official debut is about to begin...