Gu Yuanbai's purpose was never just to win a war in Xixia.
First, he wanted to use a big victory to shock the local area and implement a series of reforms after returning to China. The second is to take the opportunity to join the army in Xixia, and take this country that is in a weak period and has many good things as its own.
Fame, popular opinion, Gu Yuanbai is very greedy, so far, he wants all of them.
In a way that everyone expects, it will reduce the pressure on Daheng's domestic military supply, and can suppress the negative impact of the earthquake on him.
As for releasing Li Angyi.
Gu Yuanbai squinted and looked at the back of Li Angyi leaving alone.
He held up the bow and arrow, the sharp arrow was aimed at Li Angyi, the wooden bow was full, and he put it down calmly.
Gu Yuanbai also used the death of Emperor Xixia as a cover.
Li Angyi also has a little use. The benevolent emperor of Daheng can give him an extra day to live.
When Li Angyi died, he would send someone to tell him in person. Compared to the false destiny, he lost to Gu Yuanbai, who had been preparing for this day and this war for a long time.
How can Tianming look down on you so much, it is Gu Yuanbai who looks down on you.
*
two months later.
The prefect mansion of Huining City in Western Xia.
Ding Yan raised his head from his heavy winter clothes and knocked on the door of the prefect's mansion.
The prefect Han Lu had prepared a banquet and was waiting for him. Ding Yan took off his cloak and coat and handed it to the servant. The outsiders quietly retreated, leaving only the two of them in the room.
Prefect Han raised his glass and gestured to Ding Yan, sighing: "Brother Ziyan, what you said before is right. Fortunately, I closed the city ahead of time after listening to your words. Those cities close to the border have already been destroyed by Daheng people. breached."
Ding Yan, who goes by the pseudonym Liu Xian, smiled slightly and raised his glass to drink with him, "Brother Han, you believe in me."
After speaking, he seemed to remember those days when he was not trusted, and sighed heavily.
Han Lu spoke a few words of reassurance to him, and Ding Yan shook his head, not wanting to talk about it any more, "The country's ruin is just around the corner, but the Xingqing House is still in vain, no matter what."
Xingqing Mansion is the royal city of Xixia. At this moment, the owner of the royal city is the mother of the youngest son of the late emperor, who is called Mrs. Wang by others.
Hearing the words, Prefect Han couldn't help but his expression darkened, "It has been less than half a month since the news of His Majesty's death came, and they have already tossed the king's city into such a state."
Ding Yan sighed, "Brother Han, you have been staying in Huining City and staying out of the house, so naturally you don't know what's going on outside. Xingqing House says it's a waste of time, but in fact it's just self-deception. Emperor Daheng is so popular, I've heard a lot about it. Among the cities whose borders are being attacked and defended, some of the prefects and magistrates have opened the city gates themselves. If this goes on, Daheng's army will reach Huining City sooner or later."
Prefect Han took a sip of warm wine with a sullen face, "If he wants to fight, he will fight. Your Majesty is kind to me. Even if I die, I will defend Huining City. Huining City is easy to defend and difficult to attack, but he can't attack it for five months. Come down!"
Ding Yan said in his heart, it is really too difficult to attack.
"Don't you know," Ding Yan raised his cup to his lips and lowered his voice, "His Majesty is on a personal expedition, and heavy snow has blocked his path for 20 days. When the sun finally shines brightly, His Majesty will send troops to Daheng. They attacked, but they turned over again when they encountered the earth dragon. After the disaster, the people of Daheng captured His Majesty, but the Daheng Emperor was benevolent and thought that this was taking advantage of people's danger and it was really unrighteous, so he ordered people to release His Majesty. I think that on the second day after I released His Majesty, His Majesty was killed by my military commander Zheng Zhepei with an arrow."
Prefect Han suddenly put down the wine glass and was furious, "How could I not know! Daheng has a scholar named San Yuyan who wrote an article to ridicule His Majesty for committing a heavenly punishment, and the heavy snow and the earth dragon, all blamed on my Majesty. , that article has already been passed from Daheng to Xixia, I was really angry when I saw it, it was really nonsense!"
After he finished speaking, he looked at Ding Yan and wanted to seek approval, "Brother Ziyan, tell me, is this a crime you want to add?"
Ding Yan was silent.
Prefect Han was taken aback, "Brother Ziyan?"
After a long time, Ding Yan said, "Brother Han, if I remember correctly, you and the general Zheng Zhepei were once imprisoned in a prison for admonishing the late emperor to ban incense?"
Prefect Han nodded.
"When I was returning from Xingqing Mansion, General Zheng's mansion was being beheaded. His eldest son Zheng Wencai was well-known. He used to respect His Majesty very much. I am grateful to His Majesty for clearing everyone's stigma and banning the national incense, and I wrote a lot. I wrote an article to praise His Majesty's kindness and vision. But on the day he was beheaded, he had a grim face and roared that he had no eyes and said..."
Prefect Han urged, "What?"
"The person who said that he sold poisonous incense in Xixia and made the late emperor and many of his subjects become addicted to poisonous incense is the one who is now His Majesty." Ding Yan's words were astonishing.
Prefect Han stood up abruptly, "Impossible!"
"Brother Han, don't worry, I also think this is nonsense," Ding Yan said calmly, "Your Majesty is gentle, and you and I are both kind. I just can't figure it out. General Zheng has always been revenge and kindness. The military power in his hand was handed over to His Majesty without a word. Why did he send a cold arrow at His Majesty at this time? I can't think about it, and I don't believe what the Zheng family said. The general had to do this?"
"Yes, yes yes," Han Taishou sat down without thinking, "It must be something she used."
Ding Yan ate wine silently, and when he was full, he took a step back and went to rest.
At night, Prefect Han was still thinking about Ding Yan's words, and every time he thought that His Majesty was a drug dealer, he felt chills all over his body. He tossed and turned unable to sleep, and woke the lady beside him.
Madam patted him impatiently, "What are you thinking about if you don't sleep?"
Prefect Han couldn't help but tell her what Bai Ri and Ding Yan said, "Brother Ziyan personally heard what Zheng Zhepei's eldest son said..."
The lady was silent for a long time, "Master, don't be angry when I say the last sentence. No matter whether this poisonous incense has anything to do with His Majesty, he looks the same when he is not an emperor, and he looks different when he is called an emperor. Who would have thought? Is he the one who ascended the throne? This person is really unpredictable, you are worried that you will step into the quagmire if you are not careful."
Han Taishou Su Yan, "nonsense."
"I'm not talking nonsense, you know in your heart," Madam said, "regardless of whether His Majesty has anything to do with Guoxiang, Xixia is in chaos now. If you want to defend Huining City for the people of Wangcheng, you might as well wait for Daheng. When the soldiers called, they took the initiative to open the city gates. Daheng people treated the surrendered cities with courtesy and benevolence, and the soldiers were first-class and did not take a single feather from the people. They were at least better than bandits and robbers, better than rebels, these Everyone in the world knows it. If you want to be loyal to the deceased His Majesty, you always have to see if the people in the city have the idea of accompany you to defend the city."
Prefect Han was speechless.
Xixia was hit hard because of the national incense incident, and there were large and small turmoil everywhere. Now that His Majesty is dead, and the royal city is making waves, the invasion of Daheng people has actually given the people who have suffered deeply a hope of liberation.
Even more people are looking forward to the arrival of the teacher of benevolence and righteousness.
Prefect Han tossed and turned all night.
On the second day, he went deep into the people with Dingyan.
After five consecutive days, Prefect Han was extremely haggard. At this moment, another great event happened in Wangcheng.
The army sent by Mrs. Xiao Wang to defend against Daheng failed. She even killed the general in command and the ministers who transported food and military supplies in the rear. The officials of the court are now in danger. 1
Prefect Han sighed endlessly, and the relationship between his loyal and grateful His Majesty and Xixia Guoxiang made him feel even more heavy. These doubts are like big trees that are beginning to grow. The more I think about them, the more strange they feel.
Is it really none of His Majesty's business
*
Daheng's army was in high spirits, and after joining with the 100,000 garrison army, it became a high-spirited army.
The army did not reach Huining until three months later. The people in the city hid in the door, watching the Daheng army from between the window and the crack of the door. Han Lu, the prefect who planned to occupy the land and swore to defend the city to the death, silently opened the city gate.
Gu Yuanbai treated him with courtesy, and Daheng's soldiers were as disciplined as rumored.
Prefect Han Lu originally thought that the situation that he was not a human inside and outside did not happen, and the scene of worrying about Daheng looting and robbing the people did not happen.
He entertained His Majesty the Emperor of Daheng with sincerity and fear, and after talking with Gu Yuanbai many times, he wanted to hand over the ruling power of Huining City many times.
Gu Yuanbai smiled and said, "No hurry."
Every time Gu Yuanbai occupied a city, he had to stay for a while.
Statistics of household registration, investigation of hidden dangers. In order to reform the school in the future, it is necessary to take this opportunity to build an official school. Daheng's policy treats the common people a lot, and every city must abolish the policy and re-establish it. Daheng officials have to rush here to serve as officials. The original officials are either recruited or judged by their ability to stay where they are. However, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Gu Yuanbai usually recruits officials who have surrendered voluntarily. to another job.
There are also some who occupy national resources and have become giants of cancer.
The land is redistributed to the common people, and the rectification of Xixia is much more comfortable than that of Daheng. The army of 200,000 people is just outside the city. Who dares to be disobedient
As for the common people, after they really got the benefits, they would give up on Daheng.
When the Daheng army rectified Huining City, Ding Yan, who went by the pseudonym Liu Xian, saw the saint in secret, put on a coat, and left the city in full force.
*
Gu Yuanbai was watching Xue Yuan taking medicine.
Xue Yuan, who could only lie in bed and couldn't move five months ago, has long since recovered from his injuries. He was stared at by Gu Yuanbai until his knuckles were stiff, his scalp was numb, and he said helplessly: "Sir, can you stop eating?"
"No," Gu Yuanbai raised his sleeves, his wrists were slightly exposed, and his eyebrows were gentle, "Your injury is not yet healed."
Xue Yuan subconsciously said: "That little injury was healed as early as three months ago—"
He watched as Gu Yuanbai lowered his eyes, and the shadow was slightly hidden, which was a bit hard to hide his sadness.
"—I'll eat," Xue Yuan didn't even hold on for a snap of his fingers. He threw the spoon, buried his head in two or three sips, and drank the potion of white porcelain, carefully, "I'm done, don't be sad."
The long-distance travel has not brought the slightest wind and sand color to the saint. The sharp gemstone was polished to a more rounded shape, shining with a warm light that penetrates the heart, making Xue Yuan feel pain in his heart just by looking at it.
Gu Yuanbai glanced behind the medicine bowl, and his eyes curved happily.
Xue Yuan couldn't help but stepped forward, "I'm really good."
"It hurts for a hundred days," Gu Yuanbai got up to handle government affairs, "You have to listen to me."
"Okay, listen to you," Xue Yuan followed, "I will eat whenever the sage tells me to eat."
Gu Yuanbai twitched the corner of his mouth, took out a memorial and said, "You can stop after today."
Xue Yuan's eyes lit up, "Really?"
"Really," Gu Yuanbai rubbed his fingers against his phalanx, his jade fingers were as warm as before, and laughed at him, "You've only been taking the concoction for a few months, and you look like this with a bitter face every day."
Xue Yuan denied, "Isn't this worried that the bitter taste in your mouth will stink the Holy One?"
Hearing this, Gu Yuanbai looked up at him. Yu Guang lifted it up, like a red silk thread, lingering around Xue Yuan's body, "I have been drinking medicine for many years, and these days have never been broken. Is it possible that I also stink?"
"This... the minister doesn't know either," Xue Yuan said slowly, "after all, the sage has not let the minister touch it for a long time."
The meaning of his words was blatant, and Gu Yuanbai laughed. He put the government affairs aside, rested his elbows on the table, and hooked his fingers towards Xue Yuan.
Xue Yuan, like a thirsty person, finally saw plump plums, and leaned over in an instant.
The sage raised his sleeve robe, and the wide sleeves covered the faces of the two. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he gently put a lip in the shadow, "What's the taste?"
"Fragrant," Xue Yuan closed his eyes, his nose twitched, sniffing the smell between the saint's upper lip and teeth, "the fragrance is faint."
The sage was amused, kissed him again, and reassured: "Good. I will play with you at night when I handle the government affairs."
The sleeve robe was wrapped in the fragrance and fell, and Xue Yuan's ears were flushed by the reassurance of the saint's words. He stood there for a while, then obediently walked to the side and stared at the saint.
After a long while, Xue Yuan's face flushed, and his breathing accelerated and he slapped himself.
Xue Jiuyao, why do you look like a little girl