Two days later, the Ministry of War sent a letter to Qin Mubai, sending him 10,000 elite Guanzhong cavalry, as well as food, grass, equipment, etc. Fang Xuanling said that the Ministry of War moved fairly quickly. After all, the money and food for the troops and horses were already ready for use, but the Ministry of Hubu and Zongzheng Temple did not move quickly. The dowry delivered to Princess Wencheng was large and complicated. , I am afraid it will be difficult to prepare properly in less than ten days and a half.
In addition, the team sending off the bride was moving too slowly, so Qin Mubai was afraid of delaying the military situation, so he prepared to leave first, leaving one or two thousand cavalry to Su Dingfang to escort Li Daozong and his daughter all the way.
Ten thousand elite Guandong cavalry is not a small number in the first place. But for an environment like Lanzhou facing a major battle, it seems a bit petty. However, Qin Mubai didn't intend to make do with it. He had to go to the army to select these 10,000 cavalry in person, and he must strive for excellence.
So he spent another three days picking up the good ones carefully with Su Dingfang among the field army soldiers and imperial guards recruiting soldiers who were guarding Chang'an. Since there are many generals among the Sixteenth Guards who came out of Baiqi's "Higher Military Academy", they are still students of the old principal Qin Mubai, so it is quite convenient to do things.
Over the past few days, Qin Mubai carefully selected 10,000 elite Yueqi, which made many generals of the Sixteenth Guards feel severe pain. He only selected the most awesome soldiers in their army. gone. In addition, Qin Mubai was not polite to Fang Xuanling and asked for all the weapons, equipment, horses and vehicles. In addition, the imperial court promised Qin Mubai a hundred cavalry guards as personal guards, which was the most satisfying thing for him.
When he arrived at Baiqi Camp, Qin Mubai waved his arms, and almost all the soldiers in the camp were willing to follow him to Lanzhou. All people in the Tang Dynasty were martial arts and the court valued military merit, so those who served as soldiers had to fight in order to gain their status. So the selection of these one hundred people was a headache for Qin Mubai. Since many of the people in Baiqi had family backgrounds, many people came to Qin Mubai through the back door to intercede, begging him to take their nephews to the front line to hang out. Among them are figures such as six ministers and senior generals in the army.
This was a good opportunity to make favors and network connections. Qin Mubai tried his best to agree to these people who used the back door without breaking his principles. Of course, the most basic prerequisite is that the quality of this hundred knights cannot be bad. In addition, the original thirty hundred knights, minus Zhao Tong who lost his arm and the few who died in Fang Yiai's attack that day, were left with more than twenty people, who became the core and elders of this group of people. With the old leading the new, this group of people can easily unite.
Within a few days, Qin Mubai was very busy, running around the military camp, Baiqi camp and the Ministry of War and Pavilion outside Chang'an City. He had little time to spend with Princess Wu Meiniang of Gaoyang and her family. Finally ready, Qin Mubai plans to leave tomorrow. Before leaving, you have to ask Su Dingfang to go to Jiangxia Prince's Mansion to say something.
So that night, Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang visited Jiangxia Prince's Mansion.
The palace was also extremely busy and lively. Many officials and people sent by the court were busy sorting out the dowry to be brought to the wedding. Qin Mubai took a quick glance and was dumbfounded. The huge backyard of the palace was almost full of cars, and each car was filled with items and heavily wrapped. This is only a small part of the journey, and it does not include the craftsmen, musicians and others who will go to Tubo to dowry together. If they are really gathered together, they will probably be as powerful as an army of ten thousand people!
"No wonder Fang Xuanling said that it will take half a month if we can't prepare here at the moment." Qin Mubai shook his head, "To marry a daughter, you have to sacrifice so much manpower and material resources. This is enough to decorate a palace!" "
"I guess so." Su Dingfang rarely expresses this kind of opinion. He shook his head gently and said, "Throughout the ages, whenever there is intermarriage between Han and Hu, we are the ones who lose money. We can't care about a few years of peace, and we have to start a war. This makes me I remember the actions of the villagers when faced with bandits and thieves during the war - what is the difference between our actions and spending money to ward off disasters? "
"Confucian scholars have the ideas of Confucian scholars, and soldiers have the ideas of soldiers. I'm afraid we will never be together with them." Qin Mubai raised the corner of his mouth, shook his head, and sighed, "That's it, the matter is over, let's take it one step at a time. Let’s go pay a visit to the prince first.”
"okay."
The two of them were led by the officials and walked around the mansion for a while, with busy servants rubbing their shoulders one after another. There was only one courtyard that was relatively quiet, so the officials led the two of them there.
"Two generals, this is my princess's boudoir. The prince is in the princess's boudoir. Please excuse me." After saying this, the official said goodbye and left.
The two walked into the small courtyard and heard the melodious sound of pipa.
Qin Mubai listened to a few notes at first, and couldn't help but feel something in his heart: What a familiar tune. Although the playing was a bit unfamiliar and intermittent, he could vaguely tell that it was "Lanzhou Hong"!
So Qin Mubai pulled Su Dingfang and asked him to stop and listen. Although the playing of the tune was a bit unfamiliar and not smooth, let alone excellent, Qin Mubai vaguely heard a hint of sadness in the tune.
Lanzhou Hong originally had some sad and desolate music, so it’s not surprising that it has such a meaning. However, it is not easy to express the kind of sadness that is touching the heart, rather than the contortion of expressing sadness for the sake of new words. Unless there is unspeakable sadness and sorrow that comes from the bone marrow in this person's heart, it is only possible to play music from the heart.
"It's such a sad tune... It makes people think of the sad things in the past without even realizing it." Su Dingfang listened for a moment and said softly, "Could it be played by the princess?"
At this moment, the sound of the pipa in the room stopped, and a female voice was heard saying: "Father, why can't I play this piece well?"
"You only listened to it twice on Zhongnan Mountain. It's already good to be able to play it like this." It was Li Daozong's voice, rich and vigorous, but at this moment it revealed a bit of fatigue and loss. He said, "If you want the music score, I will Just go to him and tell him, why are you so entangled?"
"It's better not to..." the female voice said, "That day I heard him swear with my own ears that he would never play music again."
"I just want a score, what does it matter?"
"Father, you don't understand." The female voice said, "For a person who loves music, a bosom friend is very important, just like a soul mate. When this bosom friend leaves, the music will also be lost to him. It means nothing, or it just means sadness. My father asked him for the music score, and he would naturally give it to me. But I didn’t want to force him, nor did I want to touch his sadness. Lan Zhouhong, it belongs to both of them. Don’t offend the sacred confidant in his heart.”
Li Daozong smiled helplessly: "Okay, it's up to you! You only have so many little daughters to worry about. Yan'er, in the end you have to prepare to marry to Tubo. Are you really..."
"Father, you don't need to say anything." Li Xueyan interrupted Li Daozong and said, "In the beginning, I was determined to marry far away from Tibet, and no one forced me. Now it's a done deal, and my daughter has no regrets. I just regret that I may not be able to fulfill my filial piety in front of my parents in this life..."
"I just can't figure it out, why do you insist on marrying that barbarian Qizong Nongzan?" Li Daozong got a little angry and groaned, "Can't I, the great Tang Dynasty, choose a man suitable for you to be your husband? I don’t believe it!”
"That's not the case, father..." Li Xueyan's voice was lowered, revealing a lot of sadness.
"Okay, now that it's over, I won't talk about you as a father." Li Daozong sighed and said, "Your mother is so sad that she fell ill. In the past few days, you can spend more time with her when you have time. Hey!"
"Why do you sigh, father?" Li Xueyan persuaded Li Daozong in turn, saying softly, "My daughter's marriage to Tubo will definitely be a good thing. If we can get decades of peace between the two countries and teach her on the plateau, my daughter will be able to marry Tubo." They have done some useful things in this life. The Tubo people are also human beings. They had no choice when they were reborn in the womb of their parents. It is not their fault, and their fathers do not have to discriminate against them. In fact, as long as they can accept civilized education, They are also lovable and lovely.”
"Well, I can't help you." Li Daozong said, "Every time I have to use your father to teach theory, it seems that our father and daughter are in different generations! - You can just sigh that you are unlucky, but you can't do it sooner. Meet him!"
Li Daozong's unintentional words made Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang who were standing in the courtyard stunned at the same time. Su Dingfang immediately shook his head and laughed, and said softly: "Mubai, you are really merciful!"
"Ah? How can I... This, it's none of my business!"
"Then who do you think the prince will talk about?"
"Anyway, it can't be me! I only met the princess two or three times in total, and I didn't even say a few words!"
"This is what little girls think about. They just like falling in love at first sight. What can you do?"
"..." Qin Mubai was speechless and thought to himself: Another mistake? … again
"Who is in the courtyard?" Li Daozong's honest voice sounded, and he immediately opened the door.
The two people hurriedly stepped forward and bowed their hands: "I have taken the liberty to disturb the prince, it is a sin!"
"Oh, it's you two brothers!" Li Daozong laughed and said, "My family is rude and didn't even come to report. Please don't blame me. Please come in and sit down!"
"This is the princess's boudoir, I'd better not go in!" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "I have nothing else to do when I come here. I just want to inform the prince that the military situation is urgent and I will lead the army tomorrow. After leaving, I asked my senior brother to escort the prince and his daughter to Lanzhou, and Qin would greet them in Lanzhou."
"Okay." Li Daozong nodded and said, "You are here, come in and sit down, no problem! I am not pedantic, there are not so many rules in my family, and Yan'er has always been very hospitable. If you don't come in, Instead, she wants to blame the king for not treating his guests well."
"That's why I'm bothering you."
Qin Mubai and Su Ding followed Li Daozhong into the room. Li Xueyan had already put away the pipa, prepared the incense table, and was lighting up the fire to make tea for the reception. When Qin Mubai came in, he met her eyes for a moment, and saw a rare trace of panic in her eyes, and her face was a little red, but she soon returned to normal, and she came to entertain the guests with a decent and elegant manner. .
Regardless of past life or present life, Qin Mubai can be regarded as a veteran in love. How could this kind of young girl's first love escape his eyes? After this shocking glance, Qin Mubai sighed in his heart: What a sin! I never wanted to seduce you. What's wrong with you? You have already been married to a man... Well, although I am very disgusted with this marriage, in short, if you are attracted to me now, you are still Li Daozong's daughter, which will make me feel uncomfortable!
Li Daozong's eyes were like those of a falcon, observing the face deeply. When he saw the slightest difference in Qin Mubai's expression, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Mubai, what are you thinking about?"
"It's nothing." Qin Mubai chuckled and covered it up naturally, and said, "I was thinking that it would be a pity for such a good daughter of the prince to marry a Tubo barbarian."
"Haha, you naughty little thing!" Li Daozong laughed, "Do you have plans for my Yan'er?"
"Ah?" Qin Mubai was stunned.
Su Dingfang was drinking tea. His hands shook and his mouth tightened, and he almost spit out a mouthful of tea!
Li Xueyan's face suddenly turned red to the base of her neck, and she said anxiously: "Father, why are you talking so openly?"
"Haha!" Li Daozong laughed even louder. He sat on the rafter and patted his knees and loudly said, "Isn't it normal for young people to have sex in their youth? It's even more reasonable for heroes to love beauties and beauties to admire heroes. You're welcome. You’re not allowed to tell me what to do?”
Li Xueyan was immediately ashamed and ashamed, and his face was so red that he could almost squeeze water out of his hands.
Qin Mubai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He shook his head and said, "My lord, you can make fun of me any way you want, that's fine. Why bother trying to catch up with the princess? It's up to you to tell us what we are sure of and what we can't do. You are obviously just trying to catch the wind!"
"Haha! This king is just joking, don't take it seriously." Li Daozong smiled, "Hey, I would rather you and Yan'er be in love, and spoil the Brown Emperor's wedding! But now that the matter is over, national affairs are more important. , I cannot abandon my official position for personal reasons, so I often toss and turn in the middle of the night, so distressed! - Who wants his precious daughter to marry in a wilderness thousands of miles away?"
"Father, are you always advocating the use of troops against Tubo because of your daughter?" Li Xueyan said suddenly.
"Nonsense! Is your father such a selfish and narrow-minded person?" Li Daozong gave a soft drink and said, "If it was because of this, how could I have agreed to let people be brave enough to marry in Tibet in the first place? Besides, now that the imperial court has Resolution, my father gave you up without saying a word, and prepared a dowry for you? It’s private and selfish, public opinion, my father is willing to die for the Tang Dynasty, you are my daughter, you have inherited my temperament, this I know. But as a parent, you would rather suffer than for your children to suffer... You will not understand this feeling for the time being!"
"Father, my daughter has realized her mistake..." Li Xueyan lowered her head and said in shame.
"Pity the hearts of parents in the world." Qin Mubai said, "The prince is an upright hero. He has done a lot for the Tang Dynasty. At this time, the princess is marrying far away from Tubo, which is like cutting out a piece of your heart. Now Such generosity and generosity are admirable!”
"Okay, please stop flattering me!" Li Daozong waved his hands and said with a bitter smile, "If I had known that this would happen, I would rather give birth to Yan'er as a son!"
"Father, what are you talking about?" Li Xueyan said a little angrily, "Daughter... Isn't a daughter really bad, not as good as a man?"
"Haha, princess, you wrongly blamed the prince." Qin Mubai said, "The prince means that he is reluctant to let you leave him, not that he favors boys over girls."
"Yan'er, after all, you are still young and don't understand many things." Li Daozong said with emotion, "Maybe you will not understand these things until you become a wife and a mother. It is good to be at home for a thousand days, but it is difficult to go out for one day. Waiting for you When I arrive in Tubo, I will miss my family and my homeland.”
"Father, these daughters understand what you are talking about." Li Xueyan nodded and said seriously, "My daughter went to Tubo not for fun or willfulness, but to realize the ideal in my heart. Just like my father, Why should I die for the sake of the Tang Dynasty? Why should my daughter live her life in order to spread enlightenment in the wilderness of the plateau? "
The three men were silent. The words spoken by this young woman could penetrate people's hearts like a sharp sword.
The four of them chatted for a while, and Qin Mubai and Su Ding were ready to say goodbye and leave. When leaving, Qin Mubai asked Li Daozong to borrow the Four Treasures of the Study. He wrote and drew in the study room next door for a while, took out some papers and gave them to Li Daozong.
Li Daozong took a look at it and said in surprise: "The music score of "Lanzhou Hong"? Well, there is another song "When Will the Bright Moon Come" with lyrics? Mubai, Lanzhou Hong himself knows that the lyrics of "When Will the Bright Moon Come" are Did you create it? ... This phrase is very good!”
"Just take it as such!" Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said, "Lanzhou Hong is Yao'er's legacy, but it does not belong to her alone. As long as someone likes it, they can learn and practice. It would not be wrong if it could be passed down. Bad thing, I hope more people will remember Yao'er. Besides, no one in the world has heard of this song, and no one knows how to play it, so I just gave it to the princess. It’s a wedding gift. If the princess is in a foreign land and misses her family’s homeland, please come and listen.”
"Yan'er, here you go." Li Daozong handed these pieces of paper to Li Xueyan and said, "It seems that Qin Mubai is not as small as you thought!"
"Thank you very much..." Li Xueyan took the paper and thanked him softly, but his expression looked a little unnatural, with a slight sadness in his lowered eyebrows and embarrassment.
Qin Mubai and Su Dingfang said goodbye and left.
Li Xueyan held those few pieces of paper in her hands like a treasure and looked at them carefully, and sighed: "Father, whether it is Lanzhou Hong or Mingyue Qu, they are the most beautiful songs in this world. My daughter can get Qin It's a great honor that Mu Bai personally gave me the music score, but... I'm afraid I will never hear him play music again."
"Nine times out of ten, life will be unsatisfactory." Li Daozong stood at the door with his hands cut behind his back, looking up at the sky, sighing, and said, "No one can control the life you choose."
"Ah!" At this time, Li Xueyan suddenly screamed.
"What's wrong?"
"Qin Mubai gave me the music score. Did you hear our conversation just now?" Li Xueyan touched her hot and red face with her hands and said with wide eyes.
"What's the matter?" Li Daozong said disapprovingly, "You are willing to marry Qin Mubai now. As long as he is willing to marry, I will sacrifice my fame, wealth and life in this life to help you - no matter what Tubo Zanpu !”
"..." Li Xueyan was completely speechless, holding the piece of paper and staring blankly.