This old incident thirteen years ago was not very glorious in the imperial court and in the Su family. It disappeared in the books of the Ministry of War, and it was also sealed in his memory. Today, after brushing away the dust and picking it up, I can't help but think of many things.
Su Shiyu leaned on the back of the chair, lightly pressed his fingers on his temples, and there was a trace of tiredness between his brows and eyes. The autumn rain gradually began to fall outside the house, and it was chilly.
Before the battle was over, his father put him in confinement and waited until he returned to Chang'an, where he had Su Shiyu's clothes replaced with white shirts, and he was strictly forbidden to do anything with anyone.
But young people are somewhat rebellious, not to mention that he has a stubbornness in his bones, but it is not obvious that he is concealed by his mild temperament.
At that time, before his uncle Su Xing was banished out of Beijing, he was sitting in the hall discussing matters with Su Jue. The young Su Shiyu passed by under the corridor and was about to leave after greeting him, but was stopped by Su Jue:
"Yu'er, come here."
Su Shiyu walked into the hall and stood in front of them.
"Raise your arm." Su Jue said.
Su Shiyu glanced at his father, hesitated for a moment, but slowly raised his hand. There was a small smear of pale red on the inside of Ru Bai's sleeves that had been washed with water, and there was a faint smell of blood.
Su Jue's expression darkened, "What did I tell you?"
Su Shiyu lowered his eyes and did not answer.
"Hey, big brother, forget it." Su Xing couldn't help but say, "It's not like you don't know that Beijing has not been very peaceful recently, the Xiongnu are arrogant, and others want to get involved, and Yu'er is like this. When you are old, you can protect yourself, you can't let him be chased and killed without doing anything, right?"
"It's only when he does something that he will get into trouble. If he can protect himself, why should I impose a ban on him?" Su Jue turned to look at Su Shiyu, "Now that you are bold, you can listen to your father's words or not? "
Su Shiyu whispered: "Don't dare."
"I haven't found it before, this is the first time?"
Su Shiyu paused for a moment before saying, "No."
"Kneel down."
He knelt down in response, and the servant next to him received Su Jue's signal and came up with a soft whip. Su Xing's expression changed immediately, and he stood up, "Everything has been said frankly, what are you doing with the family law? Big brother, Yu'er is still young after all..."
Su Jue said, "Didn't you say it was too big just now?"
Su Xing: "..."
"I'm fifteen or sixteen years old, I've fought wars, killed people, and I know everything in my heart, so what's so little?" Su Jue held the whip, "I don't care now, he can't change, and he will be killed by himself sooner or later. ."
"But..." Halfway through the sentence, Su Xing saw that Su Shiyu had silently raised his hand to untie his clothes, and said hurriedly, "Did you take off your shirt and fight, it's cold, you untie your clothes. What are you doing, I'm afraid it won't hurt enough? Why don't you put it on soon!"
Su Jue glared at Su Xing sideways, but did not speak, it was acquiescence.
Su Shiyu straightened his clothes and said in a low voice, "Thank you, uncle."
Su Xing responded vaguely, and sat back to his original position with Su Jue's gaze.
"Yu'er," Su Jue stood behind him, not in a hurry, "Do you know why I banned you from martial arts?"
Su Shiyu said: "I know."
Su Jue nodded, "I talked to your uncle just now, and when she mentioned it to your mother, she also agreed that I will not take you to the battlefield again, you just need to learn to be a civil servant in the future."
Su Shiyu was stunned and raised his eyes in disbelief.
"Is there a problem?" Su Jue said solemnly.
He didn't hesitate, "I don't want it."
A soft whip fell with a 'smack', and a blood mark appeared on the boy's back. He couldn't help but shudder, but he gritted his teeth and repeated: "I don't want it."
"Yu'er!" Su Xing was startled.
"My child is at fault, even though the punishment is the same, why did the father make such a decision?" Su Jue showed no mercy, the whip marks were crisscrossed and branded on the white shirt, and there was a burning pain on his back, but he said: "I The four generations of the Su family have led troops, and how many famous generals have they produced, but almost no one chooses to follow the text, and my father and uncle are also people who live on the battlefield, why do you want me to be a civil servant?"
"I've decided, you don't need to say more."
"Why did my father make such a decision?" Su Shiyu asked.
Su Jue put the whip on his back, unable to bear it any longer: "The fourth generation of the Su family, there is no shortage of you as a general!"
Su Shiyu looked at Su Jue suddenly, and was extremely stunned: "Father..."
"Kneel down!" Su Jue interrupted him with a loud shout.
"Go and invite sister-in-law over." Su Xing commanded in a low voice, while looking at his nephew who was full of cold sweat. The people below held their breaths in fright, and the only sound of the whip left in the hall was frightening.
Su Jue stopped, gasping for breath, not knowing whether he was tired or angry, he stared at Su Shiyu, "I'll give you a chance to admit your mistake."
The thin young man's face was pale and his lips were tight, "I don't know where I went wrong."
Su Xing's heart was shocked, and he didn't dare to look at his elder brother's face at all, and whispered to persuade: "Yu'er!"
Su Shiyu ignored it and said to himself, "My child has listened to his father's teachings since he was a child, and he is eager to fight in the battlefield. He is willing to die for the country, and he does not want to stay in the courthouse all day long to intrigue. What's wrong? You taught me the art of military warfare. You tell me over and over again, what is the purpose of repaying the king's golden platform, and supporting Yulong to die for the king."
"But can you still lead the troops to fight?" Su Jue scolded, his hand clenched tightly on the whip trembling, blood beads rolled down from the whip, "With those 4,000 lives alone, you should have been pushed out and beheaded! Take a good look at the way you are now. When you kill someone, you will even risk your life, and no one will believe it. Even if you go to the battlefield, you can fight all the battles alone? Why do you let those soldiers listen to you and believe you? What qualifications do you have to be a general?"
The hand on his side clenched into a fist, Su Shiyu didn't say a word, his back was full of scars, and his white shirt was almost stained with blood, but he still refused to bow his head.
Su Jue looked at him, suddenly threw away the soft whip, and pulled out the sword hanging on the wall, "It seems that you don't listen to my words, well, since you will die at the hands of others sooner or later, it is better to let Weiwei Father first cut you off, you son of a bitch!"
The sword light was like snow, reflected on Su Shiyu's face.
Su Xing didn't think about it, he rushed to stop Su Jue, "Big Brother!"
"Husband!" Mrs. Su rushed in and hurriedly held Su Shiyu in her arms. Before she could look at the injury carefully, tears filled her eyes, "Yu'er..."
Su Shiyu held Mrs. Su's hand, his palm was cold, but he curled his lips and smiled lightly at her.
Su Jue pushed Su Xing away, watched silently for a while, and then threw the long sword in front of Su Shiyu, "Go to the ancestral hall to reflect, no one is allowed to give him food or medicine, and he will come out when he wants to understand when. "
The Patriarch gave the order, and the guards of the ancestral hall naturally did not dare to perfunctory, although he felt distressed that the young master was kneeling inside with an injury, but he could not disobey the order in the face of his wife, so he was embarrassed: "Madame, forgive me, this subordinate really can't let you in! "
"My son is kneeling inside, can't I just meet for a moment?" Mrs. Su said in a gentle and firm manner.
"You also know that the master doesn't allow others to enter, not to mention you..." The guard glanced at the food box carried by the maid behind Madam and shook his head.
Mrs. Su sighed and took out a jade pendant from her sleeve. The fine suet white jade was shining brightly. She asked softly, "Are my words already worthless?"
The guard suddenly panicked, "Madam, you, what are you doing? If you don't take out the jade pendant, your status in the mansion is needless to say, and your subordinates must not dare to disrespect you!"
"Then let me meet Yu'er, don't worry, I won't stay for long."
"But ma'am..."
"If your husband is to blame, I will speak for you, please."
The guard closed his mouth, looked at the jade pendant hesitantly, and then looked at the earnest expression of his wife, finally looked away and let go.
Su Shiyu was kneeling in front of the ancestral tablet when he heard the voice and turned to look. Mrs. Su sat down in front of him and opened the food box handed by the maid, "Mother made this by herself, Yu'er, eat a little first, and I'll give you medicine later. It's okay, your uncle is persuading you. As for your father, he won't be here for a while."
Su Shiyu looked at her, shook his head, and only whispered, "Mother."
The young man's tone was a little hoarse. Hearing that, Madam Su's heart was astringent, and she couldn't help but wet her eyes again, "Why do you want to make your father angry?" She raised her hand and stroked Su Shiyu's face, "His temper is yours. Still not clear? Apologise, bow your head and admit your mistake, or don't hold back and cry, his heart softens, why is he willing to punish you?"
Su Shiyu lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Madam Su sighed softly, "Have you blamed your father?"
"No." He said, "The boy knows that his father is actually unbearable. His hand holding the whip is shaking. He draws the sword and says he wants to kill me because he can't do it anymore and wants his uncle to stop him. If I cry again , Father will be more sad."
Mrs. Su was startled, then hugged Su Shiyu, tears fell silently, "My silly son, you are the one who suffers for your temperament."
There was a creaking door behind her, and Su Shiyu patted her on the back, "Mother."
Mrs. Su let go of him and turned to look. Fang Tianguang slanted into the hall through the door, and Su Jue stood in front of the door with the light behind her back, unable to see her expression clearly.
Madam Su quickly wiped away her tears, "Husband, just let Yu'er go..."
"I heard it just now." Su Jue raised her hand to interrupt her, walked in slowly, paused for a moment, then knelt down and looked at Su Shiyu flatly, "I think you still don't think you are wrong?"
Su Shiyu was silent.
"I only have one son of you." Su Jue suddenly said, "Do you know what I want from you?"
"Make a contribution and make a career, and don't disgrace the lintel of the Su family."
Su Jue stared at Su Shiyu for a long time, and suddenly smiled without warning. His face was cold and seldom pleasant. At this moment, there was a hint of tenderness between his brows under the smile, "Wrong."
Su Shiyu looked at him unexpectedly.
"I hope you live well." I don't know if it was an illusion, but Su Jue's voice was much gentler, "I would rather you be mediocre, even incompetent, as long as you can stay away from danger, even if you can't stand out in Beijing for a lifetime, it doesn't matter, as long as you are safe and happy Just live."
"I've always been strict with you, but now, I suddenly wonder if I'm wrong? When you came back to me that day, I thought you were dead, but you were still alive, but there was something I couldn't understand in your eyes, those days What happened, I didn't ask you, and you certainly didn't plan to tell me.... I was negligent, and it was only later that I found out that my son had changed."
"Yu'er," he sighed, "Father has never regretted it in his life, even if he lost a battle and was framed by others. But when I brought you to the battlefield, it was the only thing I regretted the most."
"Father… "
"I know you're reluctant, but the battlefield is no longer suitable for you." Su Jue looked at him, "Repaying the emperor's favor on the golden stage, supporting Yulong to die for the emperor, this sentence is the same in the court, the key is that , My Su family, no matter the ministers and generals, will be loyal to the end."
The boy was silent for a long time, until Mrs. Su took his hand, Su Shiyu seemed to wake up and replied in a low voice, "Yes."
The Taiwei and the imperial censors returned to the court, and the officials of the prefectures immediately handed over the affairs back, because there was a postal communication in Huainan before, and there was not much backlog of official affairs. In the early dynasties, the matter of Huainan was still the main focus.
The envoys sent by the King of Xiling presented a heavy ceremony and a list of officials, saying that the candidates to take over Huainan have been drawn up. These days, His Majesty has worked hard for him, and euphemistically expressed his intention to let the Southern Border Army withdraw from Huainan.
When Han Zhongwen and others were in office, the imperial court still had the power to govern Huainan, so that place was truly under the control of King Xiling. It's just that the land of Huainan was originally designated as the Xiling state, and the officials should be appointed by Li Chenghua. The special report has already given enough face to the court, not to mention that the officials sent by the court before joined forces to cause such a big disaster. Li Chenghua never took the opportunity to ask for an explanation, and he had no reason to reject him no matter what.
Afterwards, the officials involved were punished, and Luo Xin was requisitioned for a generous burial. Many courtiers recalled the way they were angrily accusing Luo Xin of mutiny, and their faces were a little embarrassed. Li Yanzhen saw that the atmosphere was condensed, and suddenly mentioned the Qianqiu Festival a few days later, saying that it happened that Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu had returned to the court, why don't they A banquet was held in the Li Palace outside the city, and Daxing arranged it. The civil and military officials looked at him silently, and his face did not look good.
After the court disbanded, Lu Shi, Minister of Punishment, and Su Shiyu walked out together, "Master Su, the prisoner escorted from Huainan has arrived. I'm afraid I have to ask you about the specific treatment."
"Master Lu, don't be polite, just find me if you need it." Su Shiyu smiled.
"Yes, then I'll thank you in advance." Lu Shihu sighed again, "Speaking of which, I have dealt with many of these prisoners, and I saw that they were all good-natured when I was working with the CCP, why? It will be like this when you arrive in Huainan?"
Su Shiyu frowned slightly when he heard the words, but before he spoke, another voice came from next to him: "Because those people have bad intentions, but because Chang'an City is at the feet of the emperor, they still dare not act recklessly."
The Minister of Works, Yue Yuxuan, came over and smiled at them, "Master Su, Master Lu." He looked around, as if he had found something, and asked Su Shiyu, "It's strange, why don't you see Master Chu?"
Su Shiyu paused for a moment, and Lu Shixian couldn't help but said, "Sir Yue's words are strange, why did you ask us to ask Taiwei Chu?"
"Isn't Master Su with Master Chu before? I'm not afraid of Master Lu's jokes. I tried to talk to Master Chu several times, but I was scared back by Master Chu's cold eyes!" Yue Yuxuan laughed and was a little puzzled. : "What? Master Su went to Huainan with him to investigate the case for so long this time, and they faced each other day and night along the way. The relationship should have gotten better. I thought that when you came back, the Chu Party and the Su Party should shake hands and make peace. Why does it seem to be worse now?"
Su Shiyu smiled lightly, "It's no different from the past, Lord Yue is more concerned."
Yue Yuxuan gave him a meaningful look and didn't ask any further questions.
In the study, Chu Mingyun patiently read all the case reports after he left Beijing. When Qin Zhao came in with a stack of secret orders, he was holding his forehead to see the order that Zhou Yi was called back from the Western Border Pass. Hearing the movement, his eyes widened, and he stared at Qin Zhao for a while with an unpredictable expression, and asked, "What are you doing? mean?"
Qin Zhao was paralyzed with an ice cube face that has remained unchanged for thousands of years, and put the secret order in his hand, "Understand the situation."
"Do you intend to make me unhappy?" Chu Mingyun leaned back and pushed away the thick stack of letters, "I don't read it."
Qin Zhao asked, "Why?"
"Why should I watch it? I can guess what orders are given in my name. What else can I do other than stimulate me?" Chu Mingyun laughed, put his fingers on his chin, and looked at Qin Zhao with interest, " Junior Brother, I really don't understand, my family's reputation has provoked you to provoke you, and I don't have such a big opinion about him. I urged me to kill him before, and now I send him a forged letter, are you trying to force me to give up?"
His mind was directly broken, Qin Zhao was embarrassed for a moment, and then turned into shock, "You still don't give up?"
"No?" Chu Mingyun closed his eyes gently, "How can I say it, I'm still a little angry, but even if I'm angry, my mind is full of him."
Qin Zhao couldn't understand it, an urge to scold him rushed up his throat, but when he came out, there was only a dry sentence: "Confused!"
Chu Mingyun smiled indifferently, "You might as well say that I am hopeless."
Qin Zhao closed his mouth and ignored him.
"Junior Brother," Chu Mingyun slowly opened his eyes, and his expression became serious, "I don't want to waste any more time, so I'll start."
"Do it?" Qin Zhao couldn't react in time.
"Yes, I can see it completely. In fact, Daxia has not changed at all in the past ten years. Thirteen years ago, the Huns raised their troops to the south, and the county guard abandoned the city and fled. Thirteen years later, with a little provocation by those who have the heart, hundreds of officials will slaughter the city, leaving aside their own concerns, it is the government's official management that has problems. The foundations are rotten, but they still adhere to the unchangeable laws of their ancestors." Chu Mingyun smiled contemptuously, "After so many years, it's time to die."
Qin Zhao looked at him, "Do you want to force the palace?"
Chu Mingyun shook his head, "Since Shiyu already knows what I want to do, it is impossible to be unguarded, not to mention that my power has just been compromised, and forcing the palace is the most unwise way at the moment. Li Yanzhen will leave the city in a few days to go to the Li Palace Office. For the Qianqiu Festival Banquet, you bring someone to ambush, as long as he dies, I have a way to get the officials to ask me to be enthroned."
"Yes."
"The Imperial Army is already mine, and I will arrange the specifics. It's not too late for you to wait for the return trip. Let this little emperor have a good time at the end." A cold smile appeared on Chu Mingyun's lips, and he said slowly. : "When to live and when to die, sounds pretty good, doesn't it?"