The news of Han Jin's hasty march was sent back to Qidu, causing a sensation. Because the only remaining Jin Yiwei brought back a sack of heads, which indicated that Shen Zechuan, Xiao Chiye and Que all broke apart completely, and the two sides no longer even had the possibility to sit down and discuss. Han Jin's capture made Han Cheng angry. When Shen Zechuan left the capital, Jinyiwei was already torn apart. Jinyiwei headed by Ge Qingqing was still watching Gu Xi's house in Juexi. Fei Sheng hid with his cronies, and Han Cheng's remaining staff Running out.
Jin Yiwei was the most prosperous during Ji Wufan's period, but it had declined during Ji Lei's period, and then in the hands of Han Cheng, it completely turned into a dilapidated guard of honor. The group of people under Fei Sheng's command were all capable men, and Han Cheng's premature exposure of murderous intentions made him miss the chance to win over.
"When the overall situation is stable, Jinyiwei will have to take care of the twelve schools. Now the manpower is vacant, it really doesn't look like it, and it can't be done." Give them a place to go and keep them from messing around at this critical juncture."
The empress dowager wears a green crown, her hair is neatly bun, her temples are cut like a cut, and a gold pendant inlaid with orbs hangs around her ears. She is suitable for such a graceful and luxurious dress, just like a peony should be born in the Zhumen Hall, only with splendor and beauty can she be worthy of such a national color and heavenly fragrance. She has reached her age, but she still does not lose her charisma. At the moment, holding the wooden spoon to tease the parrot, without looking at Han Cheng, he said, "Jinyiwei is a place for serious business affairs. It has raised many hereditary children. If you put more in it, it will be abolished sooner or later. The eight major camps are outside Dan City. After losing the battle, Ai Jia sees that not only will new recruits be filled, but some old ones will also be cut."
Han Cheng was entrusted by others and wanted to find a way out for the playboys of other people's families. Hearing this, he said, "That's what I mean. Tomorrow I will discuss with the Ministry of War and write a brief report to the cabinet. Empress Dowager, Hai Liangyi is too ill to stand up. He has worked hard for state affairs all his life. There must be an arrangement for people to be exhausted in office.”
He wanted to let Hai Liangyi resign and go home. The queen smiled, lightly knocked the wooden spoon, and handed it to Aunt Liu Xiang who was waiting, and said to Han Cheng kindly, "He's suffering from a heart disease, and he didn't recover for a while. Come here. He still knows a lot of things in these six movies, how can he send him back to his hometown rashly when it’s urgent? Just wait a few more days.”
Han Cheng touched a soft nail, gritted his teeth secretly, but maintained the atmosphere on his face, and said, "Now the queen mother is in charge, and these matters are naturally up to the queen mother. Since the eight major camps were defeated in front of Dan City, Xiao Chiye has already fled. When he arrives at Zhongbo, the Ministry of War should dispatch the Qidong garrison to stop him as soon as possible, otherwise, when he returns to Libei, the Libei Iron Cavalry will have 20,000 more help!"
The queen mother cleaned her hands and said: "If you can stop him in Qidu, you will not have these worries. Zhou Gui, the capital of Cizhou, can do things, and he is in the cracks, and he will deal with Libei in the future, he will not offend him. Libei. Xiao Chiye's return to Libei is a foregone conclusion. Even if he asks Qi Zhuyin to go, he will only fight against the Libei iron cavalry. Let's talk about deploying troops here. Sorry."
"Then let Xiao Chiye go back to Libei?" Han Cheng stood up in surprise, "This is even more powerful for Libei Iron Cavalry!"
The Empress Dowager was supported by Aunt Liu Xiang, and stood at the door of the court to look at the bright purple and red outside. She said, "Han Cheng, do you think Xiao Chiye must be helping him when he returns to Libei?"
Han Cheng showed a sign of listening, and said respectfully, "I don't understand, I would like to listen to the Queen Mother's training."
"Xiao Jiming took over the military power of the Libei Iron Cavalry from Xiao Fangxu, and it took ten years to achieve what he is today. He is the military heart of Libei." The Queen Mother looked at Hua Xiangyi in the garden and was leading the maid to flutter the butterfly. , couldn't help laughing, and after looking at it for a while, he said, "Xiao Chiye has been away from Libei for six years. Now that he is back, he is like a wolf cub who has broken into other people's territory. He said that Qidu was not his dream home. , but he is too young to understand the meaning of the phrase that the times have changed. With the 20,000 Imperial Army, he will gradually realize that he is out of place in Libei. Xiao Fangxu has always firmly set the Libei Iron Cavalry as a commander, which is why he stands tall. The reason for not falling is also about to become the reason why Xiao Chiye finds it difficult to stay. The pack of wolves eats meat, and if you want to beat the siege and become the leader, you must first have the determination to kill the previous wolf king."
The queen mother looked back and smiled at Han Cheng.
"The Xiao family doesn't like other people fighting in the same room, but sometimes there is no choice. The Xiao family has always been a model of brotherhood, but how long can this friendship last in the face of military power? The battlefield is a cruel place. With blood on the head, the power field is more cruel than it, and a change often means cannibalism."
Under the gaze of the Empress Dowager, Han Cheng faintly dipped half his head. He hurriedly buried his head in agreement and said, "The Empress Dowager Shengming, but Xiao Jiming has been seriously injured. This gap is replaced by Xiao Chiye, which makes sense."
The queen mother said, "Is Xiao Jiming dead?"
Han Cheng shook his head.
The queen mother said: "Xiao Jiming is not dead, he can still coordinate the military affairs in the rear. Xiao Fangxu reappears, and he can command the heroes from the front. This father and son are in control of the Libei Iron Cavalry, and many things can only be maintained with mutual sympathy. But Xiao Chiye not only has the ability to coordinate military affairs, but also has the ability to fight the enemy. He broke into this balance. In that extremely unified military power, he was hindering the accident that there was only one commander-in-chief from the Northern Iron Cavalry. He may not have The idea of replacing his father and brother, but he will soon understand that Li Bei is not as inseparable as we see it, and his return is the hidden danger of Li Bei split."
This situation is not deliberately dominated by anyone, it is formed by the trend. Its antecedents were buried from the day Xiao Fangxu led the Libei Iron Cavalry and attempted to fight against Qidu. No one knows what kind of results it will produce.
"In this world, the mediocre have the troubles of the mediocre, and the genius also has the pain of the genius." The Queen Mother said calmly, "Since there is Xiao Jiming, why should there be another Xiao Chiye? Six years is not long or short, but it is enough. A lot of things have changed. Xiao Chiye's pain in Yedu comes from the fact that he is not a mediocre person, but after he returns to Libei, he will continue to be tormented by this kind of pain. It is only when the role model of the pair of brothers and sisters realizes that they are fighting. If it is the only way out, the pain will intensify, whether it is Xiao Jiming to step aside or Xiao Chiye to avoid suspicion, the brothers who have shown each other with sincerity will be divided."
In the warm sun of May, Han Cheng gave birth to a coldness and a joy.
"The first emperor has been buried, and the preparations for the new monarch must be a little more complicated." The queen mother asked, "You said that you found the emperor's heir, when did you bring it out for the Ai family to see?"
Han Cheng bowed his head and said, "I have already sent people to take him to Yedu. The Queen Mother will be able to see him in five days at the latest."
The empress dowager looked at him and said, "Since you are so sure that he is the emperor's heir, you must have some credible evidence. Civil servants headed by Hai Liangyi are not easy to dismiss. Han Cheng, prepare yourself."
Han Cheng stayed with him for a while, then resigned. As soon as he left, Hua Xiangyi hugged the flower branches and approached the Queen Mother.
"Han shi didn't climb so high, and the wind blows a little bit, so there is no sense of proportion." The queen mother looked at the direction Han Cheng left, and took Hua Xiangyi a few steps, "Han Jin lost the battle in Dan City. , Confused things, occupying the right time and place, people or being captured, how can such a person be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility? Han Cheng wants to send someone to rescue the Ai family, but he does not know why Han Jin is left behind. His life is for coercion."
"I see that the commander is looking very good recently, and he no longer calls himself a 'minister' when he enters the palace." Hua Xiangyi leaned against the queen mother, "Aunt, he has a lot of plans, and he prepared the so-called imperial heir early, I'm afraid it is no longer. Satisfied to be the commander of Jinyiwei."
"He wants to be a regent," the queen mother picked flowers from Hua Xiangyi's arms, "the child he chose, the Ai family has already inquired about, what is the orphan of the late emperor, but a child found from a distant relative in his hometown. It is too delusional for such a lowly thing to want to occupy the Li family."
The queen mother thought for a moment.
"But there's really no one right now."
While the two were talking, they suddenly saw Fuman hurriedly approaching, saluted, and flattered: "Xue Sicheng, Lord Xue, asks to see you."
* * *
Tantai Hu distributed the food that night, just as Shen Zechuan had expected, Han Jin led his troops to pursue the pursuit lightly and did not bring too much food. But the Imperial Army had been hungry for several days, and tonight was considered a full meal.
Shen Zechuan lost too much weight after his husband left, but the forest had been emptied long ago, and there was not even a rabbit. Xiao Chiye gave Shen Zechuan the steamed buns and jerky he saved, and he ate dry cakes and thin rice soup just like everyone else.
"I have obeyed the master's arrangement and sent someone to say hello to Zhou Gui and let him be prepared." Tantai Hu squatted by the fire and said, "When the day after tomorrow passes Cizhou, the master will go home. It's gone!"
Xiao Chiye threw firewood into the fire and said, "Say hello to Zhou Gui to let him perform with us. Han Jin is in our hands, and he has to give way."
"This Han Jin really came just in time," Tantaihu grinned, "We were thinking about how to get to Izuku the day before yesterday, and he delivered it to the door!"
Shen Zechuan rubbed his hands and looked at the firelight without speaking.
Tantai Hu soaked in dry biscuits and said, "I ate this kind of food in the Dengzhou garrison a few years ago. Looking at this Zhongbo now, it's already very different from before... It's almost impossible to recognize it. "
Ding Tao poured out some of the rice in her bowl and fed it to the sparrow in her sleeve. Hearing this, she said, "It's fine here, you go further east, that's the real difference."
Ding Tao has an unforgettable ability. He still remembers the tragic sights he saw in Duanzhou and Dunzhou six years ago when he followed Xiao Chiye with the army to clean up the mess. He was only ten years old at the time, and he had just obtained a small notebook and started to record like his father, and he had nightmares all the way.
"You passed by after the war, and you have never seen what Zhongbo used to look like." Tantai Hu drooped his eyes and looked at the soup in the bowl, "I went to Dunzhou with my parents when I was a child, it's really big, it's comparable to Que. It's all so prosperous. The fire trees and silver flowers on the streets are very beautiful during Zhengdan, and Aoshan also rises beautifully. People are crowded with people... so many people."
Shen Wei was the King of Jianxing, and the palace of King Jianxing was in Dunzhou. They all bowed their heads for a while, no one dared to glance at Shen Zechuan, and they were afraid of annoying Xiao Chiye. On the road these few days, the Imperial Guard gradually discovered the subtleties between Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye. The rumors in the past are completely different from the real feelings.
What should they think of Shen Zechuan, are they treating him as a wife? But whose wife can coordinate with Jinyiwei San copying others? When he cut off the heads of those old subordinates who protected Han Jin, the generals of the Imperial Army all looked sideways.
Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye are too different, he is not the familiar commander of the Imperial Guard. He seems to be gentle and humble, but he rarely changes his mind when discussing matters, and even Tantai Hu will be directly dismissed by him. He is more ruthless than Xiao Chiye. In the past, they regarded Shen Zechuan as a beauty in private, which was a weak hint of clinging to power. However, after Shen Zechuan put on the scarlet python robe, what he had hidden was revealed, and he became the same Shen shi they knew before. Remnants are different. His beauty is no longer a beauty that anyone can wantonly appreciate, that is, there is a fierce and powerful in the beauty.
Few people in the Imperial Army were willing to look at Shen Zechuan, except for Ding Tao who was unaware, even Tantai Hu also sensed some kind of pressure. They obey Xiao Chiye and don't mind that Xiao Chiye likes men, but they must figure out where Shen Zechuan is as soon as possible - Shen Zechuan has the power to compete with Xiao Chiye for power, and this is what they are most unable to adapt to these days. , that is a subtle fear.
Xiao Chiye rubbed his finger lightly and was about to speak, but Shen Zechuan turned his palm and said, "Duanzhou's wild vegetables are delicious."
The atmosphere calmed down a bit, but Ding Tao raised his head and said, "I've heard people say in Libei that a handful of wild vegetables in Duanzhou are as expensive as gold, so I really want to eat them! Master, do you often eat them? ?"
"When the ice and snow melt in the spring, the mistress will choose the tenderest wild vegetables to make dumplings." Shen Zechuan's tone was normal, his fingertips were not stained with dust, and the bloodstains seemed to have never been touched, he said with a smile, "I don't eat it often, so I remember it clearly."
Ding Tao swallowed saliva, and with that little ink, carefully wrote on the notebook: "I want to eat, we will definitely have a chance in the future, and I will not forget it if I remember it."
Tantai Hu rubbed the back of Ding Tao's head and scolded with a smile: "Promise! Have you ever tasted any delicacies from the mountains and seas? You are still thinking about wild vegetables!"
Everyone laughed, and the topic of Zhongbo was diverted. Shen Zechuan warmed his hands and didn't speak any more.
At night, Xiao Chiye rested on the stone, and before he fell asleep, a slightly warm oily paper was pasted on his cheek. He sat up, sniffed at Shen Zechuan's hand, and said with a smile, "Where did the buns come from?"
"Ding Tao brought it back from the town, let me hide it and eat it." Shen Zechuan sat beside Xiao Chiye.
The two stood side by side, with their backs facing the sleeping forest belt, facing the river and the stars. Xiao Chiye opened the oiled paper, pushed it towards Shen Zechuan, and said, "Then you can eat it, and it will get cold if you keep it."
Shen Zechuan said: "I'm full, you eat."
Xiao Chiye knew that this was reserved for him, so he took it, opened it, and gave it to himself with one hand and Shen Zechuan with the other. Shen Zechuan took a few symbolic bites and let Xiao Chiye finish it.
"Whether the two million betrothal gifts should be taken to Libei or left in Cizhou, you have to make up your mind." Xiao Chiye drank the water in the water bag, "Ge Qingqing will definitely look after the Xi family for you after receiving the letter. When we arrive at Libei, Qiao Tianya and Chenyang should also come back and build a new yard..."
Xiao Chiye stopped his voice, keenly aware of something in this unusual silence, he was silent for a while.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
Shen Zechuan held the small bamboo fan in his hand, looked at Xiao Chiye sideways, and said, "Ce'an, I can't go to Libei with you."
He spoke so softly, just like when he was on the city wall, he said to Xiao Chiye with the same gentleness: "Ce'an, go home."