For three days in a row, Ye Tianling summoned Zheng Huang Wenshang, a military doctor, for questioning.
On the first day, Huang Wenshang replied: The princess said that there is no need for an official to take a pulse, and His Royal Highness King Zhan never called an official to have a pulse.
On the second day, Huang Wenshang replied: "I asked for the pulse, and the princess said she was well, so there is no need." His Royal Highness King Zhan said, no need.
Ye Tianling didn't say a word, just glanced over coldly, Huang Wenshang was sweating through the back of his clothes.
On the third day, Huang Wenshang hesitated when he walked outside the camp, anticipating the chilly spring, and sweating slightly on his forehead.
Seeing this, Wei Changzheng was quite embarrassed for him, so he stepped forward to make a few remarks, Huang Wen was still a little awakened, and went inside to ask for permission.
Ye Tianling did not look up before filing the case, and threw down a word: "Say."
Huang Wenshang replied: The princess is a little tired, but she is in good spirits, and her usual medicine has been changed. In the past few days, I have used light meals, slept late at night, and woke up late in the morning. His Royal Highness King Zhan looks good, and he seems to be fine.
After speaking, standing in front of the case, feeling uneasy, Ye Tianling finally raised his head: "Why change the prescription?"
Huang Wenshang opened his mouth, hesitated again, and replied later: "My concubine's medical skills are far superior to those of the lower officials, and the lower officials really dare not speak nonsense, but judging by the efficacy of the medicine, it should be fine."
Ye Tianling frowned, and with a wave of his hand, Huang Wenshang walked out of the camp to wipe off his sweat as if he had been pardoned, and said to Wei Changzheng, "Thank you, Commander Wei!"
Wei Changzheng smiled and said, "Why be polite, Doctor Huang has worked hard."
Ming Zhi watched Huang Wenshang from the sidelines and sighed, feeling sorry for his situation, and he was scratching his head a lot these days.
Back in front of the princess the day before yesterday: Your Highness camped overnight, the lights were lit until dawn, and he drank several bottles of wine. The princess nodded, frowning slightly.
Answered in front of the princess yesterday: Your Highness is in the camp to deal with military affairs, and has summoned several people, but they are still awake. The concubine leaned tiredly on the soft chair, half closed her eyes, and the scars between her brows deepened.
Just now I replied in front of the princess: Last night Wanqi Shuofeng brought another pigeon to see His Highness, and the two of them went to camp to discuss matters until dawn.
The concubine raised her faint eyes slightly, and asked: What's the matter with Wei Changzheng, don't you know how to persuade him
Mingzhi was extremely helpless, Wei Changzheng smiled wryly.
The two were worried before camping, and Wei Changzheng looked at the snow that was about to melt, and couldn't help feeling: "If His Highness the Eleventh is here, everything will be fine."
In the early morning, the entire Turkic army attacked the city, took advantage of the momentum, and returned in defeat, losing thousands of troops.
At the end of the day, at night Ling'an was sitting in camp, the Xuanjia Army did not send a single soldier, and all were on standby, the battle outside the city was like light snow in the sun, irrelevant.
At this time, a school lieutenant before the battle came to pass a message to Wei Changzheng, and Wei Changzheng immediately went inside and whispered next to Ye Tianling. After hearing this, Ye Tianling stood up and said, "Pass my military order, all the soldiers of the Xuanjia Army must gather at Muling to stand by."
Wei Changzheng asked casually, "Mu Ling?"
In the Battle of Baizhangyuan, Shan Xuanjia lost 4,873 out of 10,000 soldiers. Because of the brutal battle situation at that time, there were several days of fierce fighting and heavy snowfall. Outside Yanliang City, there were mountains of bones and broken limbs scattered all over the wilderness.
In desperation, Ye Tianling had no choice but to order to collect the bones of the soldiers as best he could, and the remains were buried together on the slope of Muling Mountain on the outskirts of Yanliang City, and a gravestone was erected.
When Ye Tianling heard Wei Changzheng's question, he said solemnly, "Yes, today I want to pay homage to the heroic souls of the fallen soldiers."
At dusk in Muling, the west wind is strong, Cangshan is like the sea, and the setting sun is like blood.
The wasteland is deserted, with a flat river, the open sky, wind, sand and snow whistling past, the black dragon flag fluttering in the wind, thousands of soldiers of the Xuanjia Army stand on the hillside, facing the loyal and heroic souls in front of them, everyone's face is full of blood. With solemnity and sorrow, the plains are empty, only the wind is heard.
Nangong Jing and other generals were all expressionless. Although they didn't understand why Ye Tianling went out of his way to pay the memorial service in person, everyone felt that something unusual was going to happen today.
Ye Tian Lingxuan armored ink robe boarded the altar, sacrificed wine to the sky, and poured it into the ground.
Thousands of men, the world is the tomb, the sky is filled with gunpowder smoke, and the blood is like waves, all of them make a glass of wine.
Under the altar, all the soldiers held up wine one by one, half-sprinkling and half-drinking. The alcohol is strong, arousing pride and sorrow, and blood boiling. At the foot of the West Mountain, flying sand blocks out the sun, and the victorious man is blurred by mist.
Ye Tianling turned around and looked at the Xuanjia soldiers who followed him to fight in the north and south, and said slowly: "In the fourteenth year of Shengwu, I selected soldiers from the army to form the Xuanjia Army. The next year, the Xuanjia Army defeated the Western Turks with ten thousand elite soldiers. It has been thirteen years since I became famous in the first battle. During these thirteen years, the battles in southern Xinjiang, Dingxi border, and Mobei, the life and death of the Xuanjia army, are all about ten thousand brothers, and ten thousand people are of one mind." He paused Suddenly, the late-night eyes slowly glanced around. Although separated by a short distance, everyone felt that his gaze pierced their hearts. The deep light, like cold snow or cold stars, pierced through the vastness of the desert and approached their eyes.
I just heard Ye Tianling continue to say: "After the first battle, thousands of bones were wiped out. When men join the army, everyone is bloody with swords and swords, and they are close to death. Countless sons of our Xuanjia army died in battle. They died for the country and deserved to die. However, they will never tolerate it." There are soldiers who died unjustly, and those who betray their brothers are even less tolerated. But right now, there are people who want to commit this taboo."
As soon as these words came out, it was like a heavy stone falling into the lake, causing huge waves, and there was an uproar in front of the eyes, but due to the constraints of military discipline, absolute silence was restored for a moment.
Ye Tianling raised his deep eyes and landed in front of several generals. Following his gaze, thousands of people focused on Nangong Jing and the others.
It is as quiet as a dead zone, and only the sound of hunting wind is heard in the mountains. Ye Tianling held his hands behind his back, the sky was covered with blood from the setting sun, his voice seemed to follow the setting sun thousands of miles away, sinking into the west mountain, but it was clearly heard throughout the field: "Who is it, this king gives you a chance to confess your guilt , if not, don't blame me for not thinking about old love."
The long wind whipped up the mysterious cloak, and he seemed to be exuding a coercive majesty, and needles could be heard in the silence, and everyone held their breath under this momentum, secretly guessing.
There seemed to be a slight fluctuation among the generals, but everyone looked ahead and no one made a sound.
Later, Ye Tianling said coldly: "Okay, since you refuse to admit it, I will ask someone to explain it for you. Wanqi Shuofeng, in Baizhangyuan that day, how did the Turks know the whereabouts of the Xuanjia Army?"
Wan Teng Shuofeng was nearby, and when he saw him asking, he cupped his hands and said, "The Turks were able to accurately intercept the Xuanjia Army that day because someone revealed the marching route of the Xuanjia Army. .”
Ye Tianling nodded slightly, and called another person. That person was the current subordinate of the Xuanjia Army's Shenji Battalion in Mingyilou. He held a cage and lifted the black cloth. Inside were two small carrier pigeons.
Ye Tianling said, "Tell everyone, where did this pigeon come from?"
The man bowed and replied: "The subordinate was ordered to conduct a secret search and found these two pigeons in General Shi's residence."
The surrounding air froze, and then Xia Bufeng grabbed Shi Zhonghou violently and shouted loudly: "Shi Zhonghou! You actually betrayed your brother!"
Xia Bufeng used to have a loud voice, but this roar was really deafening, the mountain wind in front of him seemed to be stirred up, creating a whirlwind.
The matter was of great importance, and the soldiers behind him stood in line, but no one made any noise. After Xia Bufeng yelled, the scene was almost eerily quiet, and a feeling of grief and indignation could not be suppressed.
Nangong Jing stopped Xia Bufeng: "In front of Your Highness, don't be foolish!"
Shi Zhonghou raised his hand to avoid Xia Bufeng's shouting and questioning, he looked thoughtfully at Wan Qi Shuofeng, stepped forward and bowed to Ye Tianling: "The last general has been following His Highness for many years in battle, he has always been loyal, and he is brotherly with all the brothers. Just based on this number of words and two pigeons, how can it be said that the Xuanjia army will eventually be betrayed? What's more, this person originally served the Turkic army, and he personally led the Turkic army to kidnap the princess on the Baizhang Plain, and now he joins our army for no reason. Whether his words are credible, I hope His Highness will check!"
His words were not unreasonable, Nangong Jing and Tang Chu were not as reckless as Xia Bufeng, and said: "Your Highness, the Xuanjia Army has never betrayed since its founding, only Chi Shu was framed by others. Please be careful, Your Highness!"
Wan Teng Shuofeng listened to their words, without any intention of arguing, but just watched with a sneer, with a trace of impatience and ferocity in the depths of his eyes.
Ye Tianling didn't speak immediately, and everyone couldn't see his expression clearly under the twilight, only the corners of his lips were slightly bent, forming a stern arc. He seemed to be considering Shi Zhonghou's words, but later he said slowly: "In the seventeenth year of Shengwu, all the countries in the Western Regions, headed by Khotan, refused to accept my celestial rule and wanted to stand on their own. This king led the army to quell the chaos. Do you remember the general guarding Xining wrongly?" He said, looking at Shi Zhonghou. Shi Zhonghou suddenly heard him mention the old things many years ago, he was slightly stunned, he met his eyes, but he didn't dare to look at each other, he lowered his head and said in a low voice: "Return to Your Highness, yes."
Ye Tianling nodded, and said again: "To suppress the rebellion in the Western Regions, you lead troops across the desert, chase the enemy for thousands of miles, defeat the coalition forces of Shanshan, Gaochang, Jingjue, Xiaowan, and Qiemo, and then lead a hundred dead soldiers The night raid on Shanshan King City not only took the life of Shanshan King, but also captured his eldest prince alive and brought him back to camp. The rest of the kingdoms collapsed into scattered sand, unable to fight any more, so they offered their surrender one after another, and the western border was pacified, and you contributed greatly."
In the First Battle of the Western Regions, Shi Zhonghou was appreciated by Ye Tianling, and he was promoted several ranks from a frontier general. Afterwards, he made many outstanding achievements in the Xuanjia Army and became famous all over the world. At this time, thinking about it, he couldn't help feeling mixed feelings in his heart, he was silent for a moment, then bowed his head and said: "The last general dare not take credit."
There seemed to be a trace of heaviness in Yetian Lingxuan's tone: "You are very good. You are a rare talent in terms of courage and strategy. Thousands of troops are easy to get, but generals are hard to find. This king transferred you to the Xuanjia Army. It has been ten years. You have been fighting with this king for ten years, and you must be very clear that this king will never fight an uncertain battle, and will never let anyone around him be wronged or wronged."
His solemn eyes stopped in front of Shi Zhonghou, like a sharp sword hanging in the air, cold and pressing. Although Shi Zhonghou didn't raise his head, he still felt the oppression, like the center of the vortex in the vast sea, there is an irresistible force gradually dragging people to death, even if they struggle desperately, they are powerless. He clenched his hand on the hilt of the sword more and more tightly, and finally couldn't resist, and knelt down on one knee: "Your Highness..."
Ye Tianling looked cold: "This king will definitely convince you. Long March, bring people here!"
Wei Changzheng accepted the order, but within a short while, he took two soldiers and a doctor with him.
Those two soldiers were from the Shenyu Army Camp, and they were the survivors of the three thousand soldiers who followed Qing Chen and Shi Zhonghou that day. Both of them were injured, Ye Tianling ordered them to skip the military salute, and said, "Tell General Shi again what you said to this king yesterday."
One of the soldiers took a step forward with his cane. He looked at Shi Zhonghou and said loudly, "General Shi, that day in Baizhangyuan, General Chi led us on a mountain road, so we would never meet the Turkic army, but Later, you insisted on entering the watershed in the south, but you encountered the Turkic army head-on. Three thousand brothers, only seven of us were lucky enough not to die in the battle, and the princess fell into the hands of the enemy. I don’t know how you explain this matter?”
Another soldier was seriously injured. If it wasn't for the support of two Xuanjia guards, he could barely stand, but his expression was extremely indignant: "General Shi, you didn't expect that I was still alive, let alone that even though it was chaotic, I saw Did you do it?" He tore off the clothes on his body, revealing the bandaged wound on his chest: "You gave me the sword on my body, and I almost died on the spot! What grudge does General Chi have against you?" , you secretly assassinated him? Do you think that no one can recognize your technique? The general's swordsmanship is famous in the army, who knows? But it is your own brother who doesn't want to kill!"
The doctor stepped forward at this time, although he was not as excited as the two of them, he was also annoyed: "The officer was ordered to examine General Chi's body, the fatal sword was a backhand sword, and there were marks on the sword. It's like a knife wound, but it's actually caused by a broad-edged sword."
Shi Zhonghou's backhand sword in the Xuanjia army is well-known, the backhand sword pierces the heart like a long knife, this is well known. Except for Ye Tianling and Wan Qishuofeng, Nan Gongjing, Tang Chu and the others were all shocked by what they said, and looked at Shi Zhonghou in disbelief. But Shi Zhonghou knelt on one knee in front of Ye Tianling, facing forward indifferently, but his lips turned pale.
Ye Tianling lowered his eyes and looked at him: "This sum is the account of the three thousand brothers of Shen Yujun. Ming Zhi!"
He was summoned, Ming Zhi understood, and came out from the sidelines: "That day, my subordinate and His Royal Highness King Che led five hundred brothers to sneak into the Turkic army to rescue people. Before finding the princess, he met General Shi. He told us that the princess was imprisoned. In the Tongda camp. We went deep into the enemy camp, but were ambushed. In fact, the princess had already been taken away. It was impossible for General Shi to know where she was! Although we got reinforcements from His Royal Highness to break through the siege, the five hundred soldiers of the Shenji Battalion Brothers, even His Royal Highness King Che, none of them can come back alive!" He stared at Shi Zhonghou with hatred, and if it wasn't for Ye Tianling's presence, he might have drawn his sword and fought desperately.
Ye Tianling waited for them to finish speaking, and said calmly: "What else do you have to say?"
Shi Zhonghou's face was pale, and he was silent for a short time, slowly took off the red-tasseled helmet, put it in front of him, bowed his head and said: "Young general, I have nothing to say."
Ye Tianling's deep pool-like eyes gradually filled with a bitter chill: "In the past thirteen years, except for the loss of 3,000 soldiers in the first battle of Dana City, our Xuanjia Army has never suffered more than 100 casualties, and this time the loss is more than half. , but because of being betrayed by someone, and this person is you, Shi Zhonghou. Even if this king can spare you, what face do you have to face the thousands of brothers who died in battle, and what face do you have to face the soldiers who have lived and died together behind you? "
Although the officers and soldiers of the Xuanjia Army were not making noise, they all stared at Shi Zhonghou with eyes wide open. Many of them clenched their fists "cracking" and some of them had their swords on their waists, wishing they could step forward and smash Shi Zhonghou immediately. There are tens of thousands of corpses.
Shi Zhonghou's expression was still calm, he raised his head slightly, but still did not dare to look into Ye Tianling's eyes, and said: "After I did such things, I knew that one day I would end up like this. Your Highness has appreciated and promoted you for many years. I have no way of repaying the kindness, the only thing in front of me is death, thank you Your Highness!"
While speaking, he drew his sword backhand and wiped it on his neck.
Unexpectedly, there was a sword light that was faster than him, and the cold light in front of his eyes burst like a flying rainbow piercing the sun. After the clear cry of "Dang", Shi Zhonghou's sword was knocked down to the ground.
The flying sand is endless, Ye Tianling's Xuan robe flutters, and the sword returns to his waist.
Shi Zhonghou's face turned pale, and he said in horror: "Your Highness!" For ten years, he knew Ye Tianling's methods and treated the enemy ruthlessly, let alone a person who betrayed the Xuanjia Army. It is better to die than to live.
Ye Tianling's jade-like eyes were emotionless and emotionless: "You don't have the guts to betray this king by yourself, and want to die easily without telling who ordered it?"
When Shi Zhonghou heard the words, his lips trembled slightly, and he seemed to be struggling extremely. Suddenly he stepped forward and kowtowed heavily: "Your Highness! This man's mother gave my family life back then, and my mother's life is now in his hands. Since I have been unfaithful and unrighteous, how can I be unfilial and hurt my old mother? Please allow me to die!" After saying that, he touched his head to the ground, and immediately saw blood on his forehead.
At the beginning of Tang Dynasty, Shi Zhonghou had always been on good terms with him, and knew that he was extremely filial to his mother, but he also hated him for being so confused.
Ye Tianling also knew that Shi Zhonghou was a filial son, he put his hands behind his back, looked at Shi Zhonghou silently for a moment, and asked, "Then you would rather die than say anything?"
Shi Zhonghou didn't speak, just kowtowed one after another. The seven-foot man was fearless before death, but now his eyes were full of tears.
Ye Tianling said: "Okay, I just want to ask you a question, and you answer it truthfully. Did that man's mother ever belong to Hanguang Palace?"
Hanguang Palace is the empress' bedroom, Shi Zhonghou was shocked and raised his head. Ye Tianling knew what was expected just by looking at his expression, and said in a low voice: "This matter is here, life and death are settled. After you die, I will try to save your mother's life, you go."
Shi Zhonghou didn't want to get such a promise from him, and his heart was full of remorse, beyond words to describe. He stared blankly at Ye Tianling, Ye Tianling's eyes were dark, as if the sky was vast and the night was boundless.
Shi Zhonghou stayed for a while, his expression gradually became calm. He stood up, poured two glasses of wine, placed one of them respectfully in front of Ye Tianling, held the other and knelt down again, and bowed deeply: "Shi Zhonghou has no face and begs His Royal Highness to drink again." The wine I am toasting, if you are lucky in the next life, I would like to be a cow and a horse, and report your highness's great favor!"
He drank the wine in his hand and kowtowed. Ye Tianling's gaze rested on him for a moment, then raised his eyes to Wei Changzheng, and Wei Changzheng brought the wine to him. Ye Tianling tilted his head, and turned the wine cup upside down with his backhand. When the wine was exhausted, the ten-year relationship between master and servant was wiped out.
Several generals of the Xuanjia Army looked at each other, Tang Chu ordered someone to pour two cups of wine, stepped forward and said to Shi Zhonghou: "You and I have joined the army to fight the enemy side by side, and have gone through countless lives and deaths, and I have always respected you as a hero. Back then, I still remember how I laughed at the leader of the enemy when I was in Maxi, but after this bowl of wine, the brotherhood between you and me will be severed!"
Shi Zhonghou smiled miserably, took the wine and bumped it against him, and drank it all with his head raised.
Then Nangong Jing served the wine and said: "Brother Shi, back then in southern Xinjiang, you carried my life, Nangong Jing, back from the pile of dead people. There is no way to repay you for your kindness. I respect you with this bowl of wine. Today in this Mobei , many brothers also died because of you, after drinking, we will end our friendship."
Shi Zhonghou remained silent and drank the wine. Nangong Jing sighed and turned to leave.
Xia Bufeng had a rough temperament, he came forward with a bowl of wine, and said bitterly: "Shi Zhonghou, I admire your martial arts, but I will look down on you for doing such despicable and shameless things! From now on, I will not Brother like you!" After finishing speaking, he drank the wine and threw the bowl, "Bah!" Spit, turned his head and left.
After the three, the old troops of Shi Zhonghou in the Xuanjia Army stepped forward one by one, most of them said goodbye to him for a bowl of wine without saying a word. There are also soldiers who can't vent their resentment, like Xia Bufeng's words of humiliation, Shi Zhonghou accepts it dumbly.
After a while, the jars of wine were exhausted, and Shi Zhonghou stood alone in the empty field, looking up into the distance.
The sky is deserted, the surrounding fields are green, and the last ray of light has not fallen behind Xishan. The wind passed like a knife, and the face was sore when it was scraped. The Xuanjia Army's hunting banner was waving in front of the eyes, and the angry dragon was churning.
The twilight gradually covered his sight. He stood there for a moment, bent down and picked up the sword that had just been thrown by Ye Tianling, and solemnly bowed to the ground: "Shi Zhonghou bids farewell to His Highness, please be more careful in the future!"
After saying that, he flicked his backhand, the sword entered his heart, and came out through his back, a bloody arrow sprayed three feet, dyeing the remaining snow behind him, his body shook, and he fell to the ground.
Ye Tianling stared at Shi Zhonghou's body for a long time, and slowly said: "I will be buried in the name of being killed in battle. People have gone through things. So far, if anyone dares to speak recklessly, they will be dealt with by military law."
The army took orders, and thousands of soldiers lined up with wine, facing Mu Ling to pay respects solemnly.
The wine spilled for a long time, Ye Tianling turned around with his hands behind his back, the green mountains were gone, where is the heroic soul, the dusk is thousands of miles away, and the wind is blowing.