On the hills in the night, the pale silver moon swims in and out of the clouds, making the place flickering bright and dark. Jing Ge stared at the lonely carriage on the official road at the foot of the mountain, and after a while, he let out an angry cold snort from his silver mask. The gun, which was made of black material and extremely hard, was hanging beside his horse, but his hands were not the only ones on the horse's reins.
Since the rebellion in the autumn of the seventh year of Qingli, the Qin family was destroyed, and in front of thousands of people in the imperial city, they challenged Qin Heng's silver face. He also became a legendary figure. Especially in the past three years, Chen Pingping has been deliberately delegating power to cultivate the new forces of the Overwatch Council. In order to smoothly transition this yard to Fan Xian, Jing Ge, who is Fan Xian's confidant, naturally took over as the leader of the five black knights of the Overwatch Council. job.
The moment the old man in a wheelchair at the foot of the mountain was carried into the carriage, a trace of despair and anger rose in Jing Ge's heart. As soon as he clamped the horse's belly, he was ready to rush down with his subordinate black rider to snatch him. Because he simply couldn't do anything to watch Old Dean Chen, so he embarked on the road of returning to Beijing to die!
Back then, he was bullied in the army camp, and during a routine drill, he howled in self-defense, but unexpectedly picked Qin's eldest son to death. From that day on, he was thrown into the death row of Qing Kingdom, and he stayed behind. His family and wives in his hometown were also secretly killed by the Qin family in revenge. He was already a dead man, but Chen Pingping secretly rescued him, and arranged him into the black knight, wearing a silver mask to cover his true face, in order to revenge, to repay kindness, has been in the black Qili achieved the position of deputy commander.
Fan Xian gave him a chance to take revenge, so he was extremely grateful to Fan Xian, but he knew better that it was Chen Pingping who gave him a second life, and Yin-faced Jing Ge regarded Old Dean Chen as a reborn parent in his heart.
Hei was riding on the mountain, and Chen Pingping's wheelchair got into the carriage. A murderous intent surged in his heart, and he was about to rush down, but the bald man beside him indifferently pulled the reins.
Jing Ge looked back angrily, those dark eyes stared at the bald man through the hole in the silver mask, but he didn't do anything, because the bald man's qualifications in the Overwatch Council were deeper than his, and he once had More importantly, this bald head was the former director of the Seven Divisions that Fan Xian had seen in the prison of the Overwatch Council.
"The dean said that your task is to take the four thousand black riders and escort the convoy out of the country, and then make sure that none of the four thousand black riders are left...in the hands of Mr. Fan .”
The bald head looks very old and tired today. His heart is full of sadness and anger like Jing Ge, but he is Chen Pingping's most trusted old servant. According to the order of the old dean, suppress the commotion that may occur in the black cavalry.
"Do you know that if the dean returns to the capital, he will never be able to come out again." Jing Ge looked at him coldly, and asked slowly word by word.
"This is the dean's intention. Everything I do is in accordance with his old man's will." The bald host had a calm face and did not take a step back.
Jing Ge stared blankly at the official road, then saw Chen Pingping's sharp eyes looking back at the car door, his body trembled, he slowly raised his right hand, slightly clenched into a fist, restraining his subordinate Erlang The fury in their hearts.
After a long time, watching the black carriage slowly set foot on the road back to the capital surrounded or escorted by the elite 3,000 cavalry of the Kyoto garrison, Jing Ge took a deep breath and slowly took it off. He took off the silver mask on his face, revealing the horrible and miserable wound, and he didn't speak for a long time.
He bid farewell to Chen Pingping, knowing that he might never see the old dean again, Jing Ge's eyes, which had always been extremely indifferent, became slightly moist.
The bald host kept looking there in silence, with a slight smile on his face, but a trace of joyful death gradually appeared in his eyes. The bald head dismounted, knelt down facing the quiet official road over there, and kowtowed very respectfully.
Seeing his expression, Jing Ge was slightly startled, knowing that once this old senior completed the task of monitoring him to leave the country, he would probably go with old Dean Chen... He felt a little sad, but he didn't say anything , just looked at him quietly, then dismounted and kowtowed to that side.
All the black knight soldiers got off their horses at the same time, knelt down densely on the small hill, kowtowed to the official road where there was no one and no cars, and bid farewell to old dean Chen.
After a while, Jing Ge carefully put on the silver mask on his face, and issued an order in a hoarse voice: "Close the team. Go east."
Yes, these four thousand black knights are the strongest and most reliable military force of the Overwatch Council. No matter how His Majesty the Emperor wants to deal with Chen Pingping, no matter what methods the court thinks of to weaken the Overwatch Council, in order to offset the possibility of Chen Pingping appearing The black knights will be the top priority in the eyes of the imperial court.
And Jing Ge accepted Chen Pingping's order, so he had to take all four thousand black cavalry safely, without missing a single one, to the border of Qing Kingdom, and to Fan Xian's hands. This was originally one of the last gifts Chen Pingping gave Fan Xian.
Silver-faced Jing Ge knew that his mission was heavy, so his back was also heavy when he led the black rider down the hill.
If Chen Pingping is really willing to fight His Majesty the Emperor head-on, there is no doubt that these four thousand black cavalry who are rampant among the prefectures and counties of Qingguo can start from the inside of Qingguo and cut countless roads deep in Qingguo's abdomen. With the wounds on the bones, and the spies that the Overwatch Council had planted in the Yamen army over the years, it would not be difficult for Chen Pingping to throw the entire Qing Kingdom into turmoil with a desperate fight.
However, Chen Pingping did not make such a choice. He would rather go back to Beijing alone to face the incomparably powerful Emperor, rather than let the subordinates of the Overwatch Council who were loyal to him tear themselves apart from the imperial court and start a big battle. He protected the interests of the Qing court to the greatest extent, after all he was loyal to Qing.
Of course, with a scheming plan like Chen Pingping, it is naturally impossible for his Overwatch Council Erlang to be manipulated by the court and His Majesty the Emperor because of his return to Beijing. Even if the Overwatch Council tries its best to shake the powerful machine of human power, at best it can only plunge the world into turmoil, and cannot guarantee its own survival.
He didn't want the sons and daughters of the Overwatch Council to suffer any harm, so he chose to go out of Beijing with the convoy and arrived in Dazhou. Then he skillfully gathered the people he wanted to protect, and the strength he wanted to leave to Fan Xian, so that they would be far away. Leave Kyoto, a place of right and wrong, without hesitation.
Including Wang Qinian, including the luggage Meiji on the convoy, including those officials of the Overwatch Council who are most loyal to him, including the seven old sponsors who have followed him for 30 years, and of course, including the four thousand black knight.
These are all the people that Chen Pingping believes must survive, and they are also the people that Fan Xian needs, and these people are walking silently and sadly in the dark at this time, preparing to cross the border of the Kingdom of Qing, and go deep into the hands of Fan Xian and His Royal Highness. Dongyi City, which was destroyed, has since escaped from the control of His Majesty the Qing Emperor, and has truly become an independent and powerful force in Fan Xian's hands.
These forces are the bargaining chips left by Chen Pingping to Fan Xian, which can allow Fan Xian to negotiate with His Majesty the Emperor.
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However, the chips have their own emotions and their own giri. The black cavalry searched for the mountain roads around the official road, moving forward like ghosts. Under the indifferent gaze of the bald chief, the silver-faced Jing Ge had no choice but to give up the idea of sending troops to slaughter the cavalry of the Kyoto garrison division and take back the old chief. , but the officials and spies of the Overwatch Council on the convoys they were protecting had far-reaching thoughts.
Wang Qinian's face after disguising was not only stiff, but also aged. He glanced at the blood-stained Gundam beside him, and after a long silence, he suddenly said: "The principal returned to Beijing...just begging for death. "
Gao Da was still in a semi-comatose state at this time, and the dumb lady couldn't speak. She glanced at the lord in astonishment, not knowing who she was speaking to.
Outside the slowly moving carriage, someone suddenly sighed. An ordinary-looking official of the Overwatch Council opened the door, walked in, sat opposite Wang Qinian, and said after a long silence: "Everyone knows, but everyone You can't stop it. You should be clear that the dean is doing this for the benefit of the courtyard. He doesn't want Qing to be in turmoil, and he doesn't want the young man to get involved."
"Zong Zhui, you have been following me, are you afraid that I will inform Mr. Fan?" Wang Qinian didn't have the slightest intention of joking tonight, he just looked at the opposite partner coldly, and said word by word: "If the dean dies Now, it’s impossible for Master Xiao Fan not to want to get involved. If that’s the case, why didn’t he make this move in advance. In this world, the only person who can prevent things from happening in the capital... is the only one left.”
Sitting opposite him was Zong Zhui, who, together with Wang Qinian, was known as the two wings of the Overwatch Council, traveled thousands of miles, and was one of the strongest duo in the world. He looked at Wang Qinian and said calmly: "Before the principal leaves, he has strict orders for you. You are strictly forbidden to inform Mr. Fan."
Wang Qinian frowned suddenly, and said: "It is said that Mr. Fan has left Dongyi City, and was chased by many Dongyi rebels on the way... How did those Dongyi rebels know the route of the Overwatch Council to return to the country?"
Zong Zhui didn't answer, Wang Qinian stared at him and said, "It's the old dean who made the rumor. He wants to prevent Fan Xian from returning to Beijing in advance, and he wants to settle all these matters before Fan Xian returns to Beijing."
Zong Zhui acquiesced to this.
Wang Qinian lowered his head slowly, and said: "It will take some time for Dazhou to return to the capital. If I leave the convoy at this time and rush to the east of Yanjing to inform Mr. Fan, he should have time to return to the capital."
Zong Zhui's eyes suddenly showed very complicated emotions, and he said: "I have been following the old dean all these years, and you have been following Master Xiao Fan. The mission the dean entrusted to me is to keep an eye on you." He sighed He said: "Master Dean is right. Those who have been with Master Xiao Fan for a long time will become different from us people. They will become too impulsive and don't think much about the result."
Then he said very seriously: "I must carry out the dean's order, and I cannot let you drag Master Xiao Fan in."
"Can you stop me?" Wang Qinian stared at him and said.
"The two of us have never won or lost, even when you were working as a civil servant a few years ago." A strange smile appeared on Zong Zhui's face.
Immediately afterwards, his smile froze on his face, because a knife handle was silently landed on his waist and eyes, causing half of his body to go numb, and then Wang Qinian slammed the knife with his palm, and slashed hard at the On the back of his neck, he didn't even groan, and fell on the wooden board of the carriage.
The mute woman was holding the child, watching this scene with a face full of astonishment, unable to speak.
Holding the knife tightly, Gundam opened his eyes, breathed twice with difficulty, and said to Wang Qinian, "Let's go."
Wang Qinian glanced at him, nodded slowly, and said, "Master Xiao Fan said that life is the most important thing. I think he is also willing to let the old dean live."
Gao Da coughed twice, coughing up blood, and said in a rustling voice: "Time. Nonsense."
Wang Qinian smiled very ugly, turned around and opened the door of the black carriage, and swept out like a gust of wind. It was late at night, and Zong Zhui, the only person in the world who could catch up to him, was unconscious in the carriage. He was going to notify Fan Xian. Presumably no one could stop him, but he didn't know if there would be time. When Fan Xian knew what had happened in Dazhou, Kyoto, and rushed back, would Chen Pingping still be able to sit safely in the wheelchair
The night is as cool as water and as black as ink. When mixed together, it becomes the ink in the water, which turns into countless shapes of wind and sand, which is elusive.
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A few days later, the cavalry of the Kyoto garrison finally rushed back to the outskirts of Kyoto. Because there was a black carriage in the cavalry brigade that couldn't be too fast, the whole speed was suppressed extremely slow. However, no one has the slightest objection, and they even feel that the slower the better. General Shi Fei, the commander of the garrison division, has been sitting in the carriage with Chen Pingping these days, like a filial junior, serving Chen Pingping's drinking water, living and resting, and accompanying him to gossip and talk about the Qing Dynasty on weekdays. In the past and the future, those funny political anecdotes in the court, or those elusive palace rumors.
It's really like an old minister being taken back to Kyoto for retirement by his elders. However, everyone knows that this is not the case.
It was already autumn at this time, and when Chen Pingping's Kyoto defenders rushed back to Kyoto, they deliberately chose the darkest hour before dawn. There is a fish-belly white on the east side of the sky, but it is not very bright. There is no way to show the clear sky of Kyoto in autumn to everyone. Everyone can smell the extremely light air, which is so light that there is a trace of dry air. It moved back and forth between his mouth and nose.
The 3,600 cavalry, except for the dozens who were injured, all of them guarded the black carriage and came to Jingyang Gate in Jingdu.
Presumably on the way, Shi Fei had already reported the situation in Dazhou to the Privy Council or the inner court in Kyoto through top-secret channels, so when such dense cavalry came to the gate of Kyoto in the dark, the east gate The officers and soldiers of the thirteen city gates were not surprised at all, and they did not startle some anti-enemy signals that should not have been there.
It was so quiet above and below the city, in the darkness, occasionally the sound of two horses kicking their hooves could be heard. The paleness in the east is only reflected on the high city wall of Kyoto, and the top layer of blue bricks illuminates a trace of chilling sound. A bird that worked hard to get up in the morning, passed quickly in front of the city wall, and uttered a happy cry.
There was a heavy creaking sound, and it was rare for the city gate of Kyoto to open before the hour. The heavy city gate opened a passage under the action of the mechanism, which would allow a carriage to pass through. It was so dark that it was hard to see what was hidden inside. What kind of danger.
The officers and soldiers of the Thirteenth City Gate Division stood guard on the city wall, looking at the city gate vigilantly and curiously. They didn't know what happened, why everyone from their immediate superiors to those inexplicable officers and soldiers of the Kyoto garrison who appeared outside seemed to be facing a big enemy.
The handover work was completed in a heart-pounding silence. The black carriage slowly entered the capital city gate under the control of the old servant.
Until now, the carriage was still under the control of the old servant of the Overwatch Council, and the carriage was still under the control of the old lame man in the carriage. None of the important military officials inside and outside the city dared to forcibly Taking down the position of the driver of the carriage, no one dared to open the curtain to verify the identity of the old man inside.
Shi Fei silently watched the carriage enter the Jingyang Gate, and then watched the city gate slowly close. He knew that his mission was finally completed. Before he left, the mission that he thought would take countless lives from the defenders of the capital was accomplished with such ease. No matter what happened to him, Shi Fei didn't care how angry His Majesty was about his inability to fully complete the task. He just stared blankly at the closed heavy city gate, with countless complicated emotions floating in his heart. .
The court officials of the Qing Dynasty had a lot of disgust for the Overwatch Council and that old cripple in the Overwatch Council, apart from fear. They thought that this old cripple was His Majesty's old black dog, a horrible guy who would bite everyone. In the eyes of the military leaders, the Overwatch Council is their most loyal, reliable and powerful partner, although they also have infinite fear of Chen Pingping. However, at this moment, Shi Fei suddenly felt that this old man who would rather go back to Beijing alone than let the Overwatch Council fight the military is worthy of his admiration.
After being silent for a long time, he waved his hands slowly, leading more than 3,000 Kyoto garrison soldiers who had escaped with mixed emotions, and slowly left the thick city wall and the people-eating gate.
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The black carriage slowly entered the Jingyang Gate. The heavy city gate was slowly closed, and several people slowly approached the carriage. It was still the darkest time before dawn, and the light was extremely dim, and it was impossible to see the faces of those people clearly.
Those who were in charge of waiting at the Jingyangmen were all the top figures in the court of the Qing Dynasty. One was Eunuch Yao sent by the court, the other was Ye Zhong, the envoy of the Privy Council who controlled the world's soldiers and horses, and the other was Zhongxia Zhongshu. He Zongwei, a senior scholar, walked, and the three approached the black carriage, but no one spoke for a while.
After all, it was Ye Zhong who spoke. He looked at the carriage and said in harmony, "It's been hard work for the principal back."
Eunuch Yao said calmly: "The headmaster please accompany the slave into the palace to see you."
He Zongwei didn't speak from the side. He kept a calm face, maintaining the silence that he should keep most at this moment.
There was silence in the carriage. After a long time, the old man sighed slowly, and said gently: "I'm really sorry that a lonely old man has disturbed the three An Ning when he returned to Beijing."
The carriage moved slowly, and under the collective escort of the inner court eunuchs and military masters, it walked along the street under Jingyangmen towards the imperial palace in the middle of the capital. The Overwatch Council in the capital didn't seem to know that their ancestors had returned to the capital and were about to face His Majesty's wrath. Even the ministers in the court and the people in the capital with a keen sense of smell didn't know this either. .
In the dark dawn, the trees on both sides of the street under Jingyang Gate are like countless boats, swaying and swaying in the cool autumn wind.
The street leads directly to the palace, and there are no pedestrians on both sides. Presumably, it has been cleared long ago, and the highest level of martial law has been enforced.
Empty and lonely, only the black carriage is moving forward, moving forward alone.
Walking all the way to the front of the Huanghuang Imperial City, at this moment, the sun finally broke free from the shackles of the earth, jumped out, and illuminated the imperial city brightly. The carriage bag melted into it.