He Mulan immediately breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that Tuoba Tao had come to Hua's house half a month ago. She knew that with the strength around Tuoba Tao, it was impossible for him to fall into the water. It is very likely that Tuoba Tao did not go to Beiyan at all, or found someone to be a substitute, or he went to Beiyan and immediately returned to the capital. , but it is still in the process of personal expedition.
The biggest possibility is that after Tuoba Tao met the flooded city, he immediately took the Su Weijun to leave, and made arrangements before leaving. The disappearance of Kumoti may have been arranged by Tuoba Tao. They turned the light into darkness, but the army stayed in Beiyan and handed it over to King Leping. The battle situation in Beiyan was decided. As long as King Leping was not an idiot, he could continue to besiege the city for at least a few months.
He Mulan can't understand what Tuoba Tao wants to do in the past few months, but he turned a corner and told her that he was not dead. warm.
In contrast, although Mrs. He's incident shocked He Mulan, but when it came to the abnormality that Tuoba Tao and Tuoba Huang and his son had had before, everything was connected naturally.
To be honest, He Mulan hated the Xianbei people's system of "children and mothers die", but she was unable to resist or change it. This belonged to the "rules" of the emperor's family. Unless the emperor wanted to change, and had the strength to change, otherwise Just surrender to it.
Now that Mrs. He is safe and sound, even if He Mulan hides her at great risk, she feels it is worth it.
Not to mention that Mrs. He is a very beautiful woman.
"General Hua, I'm causing you trouble." The woman who was a little weak after giving birth leaned on the bed, smiled and continued: "Your 'bed' is very comfortable, and the stool and chair are very convenient, I really Thank you so much."
He Mulan told Hua Mu before that she wanted to chat with Du Shou's concubine alone, and Hua Mu and a group of maids went to exhort the "ten things women who are confinement can't do" and other topics.
"It's nothing, I don't like the cold air from the ground coming to me, so I did this..." He Mulan lightly took over the problem of the bed, "I just came back from the palace, and your boss is having a good time now. Well, it's excellent, Xiaolangjun was taken to the East Palace by Dalangjun to live, and Xiaolangjun took care of him personally..."
Seeing that tears suddenly burst into Mrs. He's eyes, He Mulan quickly comforted: "Why are you crying? General Du Shou arranged for you to come to live in my mansion, and he will definitely bring the child out to show you!"
"It's easier said than done." Mrs. He wiped her tears, "It's already difficult to live a life, what else can I pray for, Dalang has been obedient and obedient since he was a child, majesty... Du Lang is also a generous person, father and son should not get along well. It's difficult, but my youngest son doesn't know what kind of character he will be in the future, in case he is a naughty one..."
He Mulan rubbed her hands helplessly. She didn't know how to deal with this kind of topic between "women". If she was with a cheerful woman like her friends from her previous life, she would still be able to pick up on the conversation.
Fortunately, Mrs. He is a strong woman. After the momentary weakness passed, she smiled apologetically: "I made you laugh, but Yue Zi can't cry, but I can't help it. When I left home, Du Lang had already told me Now, when I get better, I will help the second elder of the Hua family take care of the general's mansion and become a qualified housekeeper."
When she was at home, she also learned how to communicate and how to be a good mistress of the family, but when she entered the palace, she didn't have much use.
His Majesty said that Hua Mulan was actually a woman. Although she was surprised, she knew what to do and what not to do. Since His Majesty wanted to cover up her identity, she would do her best to help.
only…
Mrs. He glanced at the tall and straight He Mulan standing like a pine tree, and couldn't help sighing that He Mulan was not easy. It seemed that the father and mother were ordinary old people, so He Mulan was so maverick, probably because of her own personality.
A woman can be strong enough to wake up women like them living in the harem.
Mrs. He's food, clothing, housing, and transportation were arranged by Tuoba Tao. Among the men who served in the courtyard were even eunuchs, but it was not obvious. Hua Mu was a warm-hearted person. She was sent to the "Mrs."'s yard, and she often visited her to take care of her confinement, which made Mrs. He very grateful.
According to Hua Mu's words, the life of Hua Mansion is really boring. Hua Mutuo doesn't know how long it will take to marry a wife, and her daughter's confinement is still a long way off. It is a good thing to have such a thing to do, so that she can finally be Not so empty anymore.
At least Mrs. He is a very knowledgeable woman, and she came from a noble family. Mother Hua sometimes chats with Mrs. He, and many things that she couldn't figure out before suddenly became clear, even the cowardice and cowardice were much less.
Mrs. He's affairs can't cause too much trouble. Right now, He Mulan is concerned about Rouran's impending movement and what exactly Tuoba Tao is guarding against.
Su Hejun was not in the capital, several people were not in the capital, Di Yefei was not in the capital, He Mulan had to act alone, and there was no one who had even inquired about the news in the capital in the past few months.
In addition, the situation in Beiliang is too chaotic. Because of Su, Jun and Yuan Poqiang and Di Yefei, the plan went smoothly. It has been a good news. Although Tuoba Tao is not in Beijing, the prince and Cui Hao, who are supervising the country, have been rewarded by horses. After many times with the three of them, everyone believed that once Gu Zang won, the three of them would at least be made a marquis.
In comparison, He Mulan, who had captured Queen Meng and retrieved Princess Xingping's dowry before, was in an inexplicably awkward position because Tuoba Tao asked her to return to China early.
If it is said that Bei Liang is now moving in the direction that Wei Guo hopes to develop without He Mulan's credit, then no one will accept it, but she did make mistakes along the way, and Tuoba Tao's attitude is not clear, so some officials and generals are watching. , did not dare to be too warm to her.
This is the reality of power. Once you have won the emperor's trust and are invincible, you will be the darling of everyone, the object of pursuit and favor, even if you don't like you, you will be polite to you.
But once the trust is lost, even if there is one point of fault, others will regard it as ten.
Fortunately, He Mulan is an open-minded person. Otherwise, he used to be a crowd-pleaser, but now he is too busy, and ordinary people really can't adjust.
"Come on, prepare a horse..."
He Mulan thought for a while, and felt that it was not a problem for her to wait in the General's Mansion, so she might as well take the initiative to contact Lu Pi.
"Go to Lupi Mansion!"
***
He Mulan and Lu Pi didn't have any personal friends. Ever since Lu Pi found out that Di Yefei was a man, the unbearable embarrassment made him avoid He Mulan, Di Yefei and others spontaneously.
Therefore, Lu Pi was very surprised when He Mulan quietly came to ask for an interview. But he also knew what He Mulan was like, so he did not go to the Three Treasures Hall without incident, so he still invited someone in.
Now that Rouran is gone, Di Yefei is building a career, and Lu Pi has led a "Shangshu". This Shangshu is different from the six Shangshu of later generations. There is no benefit at all without real power.
He led the general Zhengdong and was also a minister of books, and his subordinates nominally had Rouran soldiers and horses that originally belonged to him, but Tuoba Tao didn't use them, and he could only let them go to waste day by day.
Leading an army to fight a war is not the same as running a country with civilians. Once the war is not fought for many years, no matter how good the soldiers are, no matter how good they are, they will be abandoned, and no matter how good the horses will be.
When Lu Pi was in Rouran, he had a distinguished status and was good at business. After he joined Wei, many former Rouran slave owners depended on him to survive. Wei State fought against Rouran in the north, and I don’t know how many Rouran slave owners were greatly reduced in strength. Some of the tribesmen were captured, cattle and sheep were plundered, and the warriors were all killed and injured. He then attached himself to several nobles who had surrendered early who had gained power in Wei State, and became a general with the remaining family wealth and men.
Such a force of troops, even in the Wei Kingdom, is considered a good strength, at least not worse than those veterans from other countries who surrendered during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, but Tuoba Tao just didn't need the Rouran people to fight.
Precisely because of his dissatisfaction, Lu Pi is also a young man. Occasionally, when he is hunting and having a wine feast with Rou Ran's old ministers, he can't help but bring out some underappreciated attitudes and Wei Guo's cold-hearted attitude.
At the beginning of the year, Wu Ti, the son of the Great Khan of Rouran and the prince who was once the Prince of Zuo Xian, committed suicide in Pingcheng, and Tuoba Tao did not even give him the title of "Great Khan" after his death. The country of Rouran still exists, and it doesn't even need a lot of sweat.
In addition, Rouran and the Northern Wei Dynasty have fought for so many years, and the grievances are too deep. Almost every Xianbei family has a son who died at the hands of Rouran, and Rouran is the same. For so many years, you called me "Crawly", and I called you "Nan." Pig", it is even more difficult to change this situation all at once. Since Rouran was destroyed a few years ago, I don't know how much friction has occurred, and there are constant turmoil in Monan, and the more suppression it becomes, the more chaotic it becomes.
Rouran had surrendered to Wei many times in the past few years, and turned back many times. Even if his vitality was severely damaged this time, Tuoba Tao took Wu Ti's sister as You Zhaoyi, and the Rouran people did not necessarily obey. .
Because Lu Pi was dissatisfied and powerful, finally a noble noble from Rouran came to the door and wanted to invite him to do a big thing together.
He Mulan didn't talk nonsense when she met Lu Pi, and directly explained her intentions. She now only has less than 3,000 Hu Ben army, but she is still a rare general in Wei State. Lu Pi wants to retreat safely after doing the internal response, and naturally the help of this general is indispensable.
He is also a person who can bend and stretch. When he knew that He Mulan might pick him up later, he started talking to her about the current situation.
"At that time, Datan Khan led all the people of the king's tent to flee to the west, and some Yu Jiulu clansmen who had long been dissatisfied with him took the opportunity to lead their men and horses to stand on their own, and headed west first, and did not follow Datan's large army. Several large tribes gathered Rouran's people all the way, and gradually traveled westward to the west of Jinshan, and finally settled down. After Wu Ti was captured in Pingcheng, this Rouran tribe already thought that Wu Ti had lost Rouran's glory, so I will no longer make Wu Ti the crown prince, but appoint my cousin Yu Jiulu Qilie as the Zuo Xian king and crown prince, and as long as the country is restored, he will be enthroned as a Khan..."
Lu Pi told He Mulan what he knew.
"Yu Jiulu Qi Ligui's military power is not outstanding, but he used to be our Rouran's 'Morfo', responsible for managing the affairs of the king's account, and he went to Beiliang several times as an ambassador, and he had a good relationship with the country of Liang, so he traveled all the way west. , fled to the border between Beiliang and Rouran, which was beyond the control of Wei State. He contacted me once when you were on an envoy to Beiliang, hoping that I could help him instigate the rebellion of the people in Wei State, and then flee to Rouran all the way. Go west and plunder a large area of Beiliang for the purpose of restoring the country. I thought it was ridiculous at the time, so I refused his request..."
In fact, there is no temptation, no one can know.
Maybe Lu Pi just doesn't want to make wedding dresses for others.
"When was that?"
He Mulan had an ominous feeling in her heart.
"When exactly did I contact you?"
"Huh? What's the use of asking this?"
No one had asked Lu Pi this question before. When he secretly handed out the news to the palace, he said very vaguely because he was afraid that people would confuse the news.
Two days after the news spread, He Mulan came, and many things were not detailed.
"Well, it's probably a month before your mission met the sandstorm... I just thought that the messenger he sent spoke too loudly. He fled from Monan to Rouran without saying anything, even if he returned to Rouran, Bei Liang is not a fool. The towns on the border will allow you to easily invade? They swore at that time that they would take the initiative to find them when I knew the details of Bei Liang. Thinking about it now, I am afraid they have already known this. The second envoy meeting is not going well…”
Lu Pi mentioned He Mulan a little, and it sold well.
"Did Lu Qiliegui collude with Queen Meng?" He Mulan muttered to herself, "No, what is the benefit to Queen Meng if something happened to Beiliang? The Meng family is still in Beiliang, and once the war begins..."
Thinking of this, He Mulan's eyes widened in surprise.
Omg! If Rouran and Queen Meng have an agreement, then Queen Meng hopes that Rouran can come in!
Once the border war begins, no matter how serious she does, Juqu Mengxun will not dare to touch the Meng family, because most of the Meng family's army is guarding the border! The northernmost part that is connected to Rouran is the place where the Meng family troops are stationed the most, and is also the base camp of Baima Di and Baima Qiang.
Now that Queen Meng has made up her mind to leave, Juqu Bodhi has also disappeared. With Juqu Mengxun's city government, it is very likely that she will take action against the Meng family to stabilize the situation. There are not many generals in Beiliang who can conquer and fight well. Veteran-level generals are the real backbone of wartime!
what about now
He Mulan fell into deep worry.
If Queen Meng has connections with the rest of Rouran and the Meng family army, but Su and Jun don't know at all, it is very likely that these Rouran people will become a hidden danger!
But the news is too slow. Even if you write a letter to warn you now, it will take more than 20 days to reach Beiliang. More than 20 days is enough for many people to happen!
"It's been a few months, why are you only talking about this now!"
He Mulan took a deep breath and suppressed her anger, "So many things happened to Bei Liang, and you didn't leak any news..."
"General Hua, please consider my situation as well. My status in Pingcheng is embarrassing. When those people came to me, I was afraid that they would get into trouble. After I declined, I drove them away immediately. I couldn't avoid it. , why should you pour dirty water on yourself? Besides, I didn't cooperate with them at that time, they didn't say much, and many things were only conjectured after Bei Liang's accident, it's too late to say anything at this time!"
Lu Pi's face was also ugly.
"There are tens of thousands of people behind me, and I have to be cautious and careful when doing things."
If it weren't for these people threatening the safety of his family, he wouldn't even care.
Wei Guo wants to fight with Bei Liang, with Rouran, and with Bei Yan, what's up with him? He was not ordered to go into battle, and the Wei people regarded them as outsiders. Why did they dig their hearts out
He Mulan was anxious about Bei Liang's safety, and because the yang qi was too strong, he couldn't control his emotions for a while. After Lu Pi's attitude was bad, He Mulan remembered that he was here to cooperate this time, and immediately restrained his emotions. Arched hands.
"I thought it was too simple, don't blame General Lu."
Lu Pi also knew that it was boring to have a falling out with He Mulan at this time. He was sent by the little prince, and he couldn't tell if he had to report the matter when he went back.
Thinking of this, Lu Pi followed with a few polite words, and the conversation could continue.
"Last month when I went hunting, I happened to meet a few of my subordinates sneakily discussing something together. Later, I sent my confidants to investigate and found that they had united with many old Rouran ministers, met in private, and often In the name of hunting, they gathered in Tuli Mountain outside Beijing. These people were all my men after Rouran was broken. I was worried that they would cause trouble for me. The beggars came to persuade..."
He pouted in amusement.
"The price is higher this time. He promised me that as long as I am willing to cooperate, he will let me be the Zuo Xian Wang of Rouran New Kingdom."
"What's the plan?"
He Mulan was curious.
Although there are tens of thousands of people in Lupi, most of them graze in the south of Liuzhen. Unless Tuoba Tao allows him to send troops to fight, these people will be herdsmen for life.
In Beijing, there are only a few hundred elites and generals that he has raised.
What are these hundreds of people for
Lu Pi pulled his face, and his expression became even more strange.
"That's why I put the news into the palace. They actually asked me to find a way to capture His Royal Highness."
…
He Mulan deeply felt that Rouran was crazy.
"If they're not crazy, then they have other plans." He Mulan frowned. "How did they find you, can they catch you? What do they want you to do next?"
"These people have always been in contact with me unilaterally, sometimes letters appear under my saddle, sometimes in my room. I suspect that my house slaves have their people, but mine All the slaves were brought back from Rouran, and those who could come with me to Pingcheng were all confidants, and no one could find any suspicion..."
Lu Pi sighed, "To be honest, I hope to catch these people more than you. My mother and sister are both in Pingcheng. If something happens to me, I'm afraid that something will happen to them..."
He Mulan nodded.
"I see."
"They asked me to pay attention to Xichengmen. I don't know what they mean. I often go to Ximen, and I haven't seen anything unusual..." Lu Pi continued: "I can tell you the names of the officers who have changed, and you will send Bailu officials to watch them. You can always find something wrong. That's all I know."
After he finished speaking, he reported a long list of names, all of which were Rouran's names, but He Mulan couldn't remember them.
"Then I'll say goodbye first. I'll quietly climb over the wall and go back. Don't send someone to see me."
When He Mulan came, she covered her eyes and eyes, dressed as a Rouran aristocrat, and when she left, she was even more careful to ensure that few people saw it.
But since there may be an internal response, maybe she can't escape their attention by coming here.
There may be some inner responders in Tuli Mountain, Ximen, Lupi Mansion, and the Rouran people who knew early on that something might happen to Beiliang...
Do the trajectories of history gradually overlap again
He Mulan's face was black.
Lu Pi must have been selfish before, but the price that Rouran gave was not enough for him to take that risk, or it was really for his mother and sister, so he finally chose to stand on Wei Guo's side.
But the news has been too slow. He leaked the news almost at the most critical moment. There is simply not enough time for them to track and investigate thoroughly. Moreover, in order for him not to rebel, we must ensure his safety while giving him some benefits. .
It turns out that this run-down nobleman, who has never shown himself, is also a powerful politician.
With all kinds of thoughts in her mind, she went to the city without stopping.
After He Mulan left, a cabinet against the wall in Lu Pi's study room was quietly removed, and a middle-aged man with a goatee emerged from the cat's waist.
"Mr. Yang, do you think Hua Mulan will believe it? Will they believe it?"
Lu Pi asked his husband Yang Zhe a little nervously.
"They have to believe it or not. We delayed until this time to reveal it, they have no time." Yang Zhe sighed: "Qiliegui is too careful, the people sent are irrelevant and can't be considered anything. Evidence to win trust, only hope they move faster, Wei Guo can pay attention to you."
"I'm just curious, how can Qiliegui be so sure that he can go south successfully. From Yinshan Mountain, Wuchuan Town cannot be bypassed. Even if Folifa has taken away a large number of soldiers and Pingcheng's defense is empty, there will be no shortage of troops in the six towns..." Lu Pi felt her heart beating too fast.
"I'm worried that something big is going to happen to Pingcheng. If I bet on the wrong side..."
"Since you have chosen, don't think too much." Yang Zhe looked at Lu Pi kindly, "How can there be a good thing that is rich without risk. That His Majesty walked so simply..."
"Master! Master!"
Suddenly someone spoke in a low voice outside the study.
"It's rumored outside that something happened to the Great Khan..."
"what?"
"Something happened?"
Yang Zhe and Lu Pi looked at each other, and Lu Pi immediately called someone into the room.
The messenger was Lu Pi's confidant who was out looking for news. As soon as he entered the door, he jumped at Lu Pi's feet, knelt down and reported: "The news from the north, when the great khan of Wei led his army into Changli City, he met him. Beiyan dug the dam and flooded the city, he was crossing the moat at the time, the suspension bridge broke, and the elites of the Guards and the Great Khan disappeared.
Hearing such news, not to mention the people of Wei, even Lu Pi did not doubt it.
Tuoba Tao likes to fight in person, and love to lead the way. When he defeated the enemy and entered the city with glory, he must be the first to walk in the front, not to mention being rushed. No one would be shocked when Tuoba Tao died in front of the battle.
But the timing was so coincidental that Yang Zhe and Lu Pi were in turmoil.
"Mr. Yang, you... do you think I'm betting right now?"
Lubi smiled wryly.
The prince who oversees the country is only five years old, the Empress Dowager Dou is a woman, the Han ministers led by Cui Hao and the Xianbei ministers have always been in conflict, and it is difficult for them to work together.
Thinking of the location of Pingcheng so close to the frontier fortress, Lu Pi's face turned ashen.
Yang Zhe was also quite frightened by this news.
"Is your news accurate?"
"After Changli County was flooded, many people also suffered, as well as those who fled the war from the north to the south. The news has long been spread in the north. Beijing should have already received the news, and every three times the Great Khan has received the news. The battle report from Tianyi has not been sent back for a long time, and there have been ministers talking about it for a long time, and this news cannot be concealed."
The confidant raised his head, looked at Lu Pi and persuaded: "Master, it's too late to change your mind now..."
"That's too late."
Lu Pi Tieqing gritted his teeth and said, "It's too late, my news has already been sent out."
Yang Zhe closed his eyes, as if he couldn't understand why the emperor of Wei State could disappear so badly.
Now the weather is very cold, if you fall into the water, even if you don't drown, you will freeze to death for a long time.
"Now, I can only pray that the raccoon will die!"