On the third day of the second lunar month, the fourth prince, Guangshuo, ascended the throne, and the new emperor succeeded the throne.
After Emperor Zhaokang came to the throne, he dismissed the Utuo people's order to seek peace, thoroughly investigated and liquidated Xu Xiangyu's party, and pursued Wei Xuanzhang, the owner of the Xianchang Pavilion, with the posthumous title "Wenzheng". The truth of the Mingshui case is revealed to the world.
Xu Jingfu has been in control of the government for so many years, and he is in tune with the prince and the common people. Now that Emperor Zhaokang is on the throne, Xu Dang, who followed the prince at the beginning, will naturally not miss a single one.
The only exception is probably Xu Jingfu's proud disciple, the fourth son of Chu in Shi Jinbo's house. Not long ago, Emperor Zhaokang granted Chu Zilan's request to resign. After Chu Zilan resigned, he left the Chu family and disappeared in Shuojing. I heard that someone had met him at a post station outside the city, and he had probably left Shuojing. As for where he went, no one knew. However, no one saw the stunning and moving maid beside him.
In the yard, Qingmei was feeding Er Mao with boiled bones.
He Yan was a little stunned when he looked at the harmonious appearance of the two of them.
"Don't you want to nibble on that bone too?" Someone beside him asked, seeming to be slightly teasing.
He Yan recovered and saw Xiao Jue walking in from outside. He went out early this morning, the fourth prince... Now it should be called Emperor Zhaokang. Since he ascended the throne, he has been summoned frequently.
He Yan understood the plan of the fourth prince, and now there are still remaining princes in the court, Xiao Jue and Yan He are the people that Emperor Zhaokang decided to reuse.
This should have been a good thing, but He Yan felt a little uneasy.
"Anything on your mind?" Xiao Jue raised her eyebrows.
"After the emperor ascended the throne, the matter seems to have come to an end." He Yan looked at Changkong, "But those Uto people should not give up. Since they have been planning for so many years, they have cooperated with the prince Xu Jingfu inside and outside. Now that the prince and Xu Jingfu have fallen, How could they be reconciled? You also know that generation after generation, when the new emperor succeeds, it is the most dangerous time."
The power changes, the position is not stable, especially the people in the center are different, and people are most likely to take advantage of the loopholes. He Yan has also dealt with those Uto people, no matter how you look at it, they don't seem to be willing to retreat.
"I know." Xiao Jue said quietly.
He Yan looked at him: "How did the emperor deal with those Uto envoys?"
"The prince released those people before, and now some of them have been arrested, but the news should flow back to Uto."
"You mean, they'll do it soon?"
Xiao Jue twitched the corner of his mouth: "Not bad."
He Yan sighed silently in his heart. Although she is a military commander, she doesn't like fighting. Fighting means bloodshed, and countless people are separated from their wives and children. Especially at this juncture.
and…
She looked at the people around her, and the man beside her gazed on the noisy yellow dog in the yard, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
It was a rare moment of peace.
That's all, she swallowed her words, and after a while, she stretched out her hand to take Xiao Jue's arm, and said solemnly, "Xiao Jue, I want to eat braised pigeon at night."
"… "
…
Peaceful days are always extraordinarily short.
Less than ten days after Emperor Zhaokang ascended the throne, the Utuo people led an army to attack the Great Wei and headed north along the Xinghe River.
The war between the Uto people and the Great Wei finally started after decades of planning.
The four cities of Jiuchuan, Jijun, Yunzi, and Bingjiang were deliberately arranged by the prince's people due to insufficient troops, but they were occupied by the Utuo people in just three days. After the Uto people broke through the city gate, they slaughtered the city. According to those who escaped by chance, the corpses piled up like mountains along the river, and the blood dyed the river red.
Emperor Zhaokang was furious and immediately sent people to fight the enemy. However, for so many years, the Great Wei has emphasized literature and suppressed martial arts, except for General Feng Yun and General Feihong, not many people are available. At present, Feihong general He Rufei is still a fake, and the military power of Fuyue is restored to the royal family.
Emperor Zhaokang asked in the courtroom who was willing to lead troops to pacify the chaos, but no one came forward except for General Yan He of Guide and the Governor of the Right Army, Xiao Jue. To be precise, it is not that there is no one, and there are veterans who are willing to carry a knife and mount a horse, but unfortunately, he is too old to be able to go to the battlefield again.
The evil fruits of the Dawei royal family's long years of indulging in comfort were finally revealed at this moment.
On the Golden Palace, Emperor Zhaokang looked at the civil and military officials under the steps, his face was sinking like water, and he sighed: "The princes are incompetent, they can't protect my Dawei River and Mountain."
However, someone walked out in the silence, with a clear voice, "Your Majesty, I would like to lead the Yue army to fight the enemy in Jiuchuan."
The woman in the red court dress stood in the hall, looking very tall and heroic. She raised her head and looked at the emperor on the high seat, her eyes were clean and firm.
This is Heyan, Marquis of Wu'an, and the wife of General Feng Yun.
Emperor Zhaokang paused slightly.
In the contest with the prince, the Xiao family was on his side. Xiao Jue was also very smart and did not participate directly. Emperor Zhaokang intended to reuse Xiao Jue, but he could not give him too much power. After much deliberation, He Yan was finally promoted to an official.
He Yan is a woman after all, and now she is only a prince. The promotion of Heyan's official position not only gave Xiao Jue a reward, but also did not make the Xiao family's power unnervingly large. As the current empress dowager once said, don't underestimate women. In a sense, the promotion of Heyan's official position is also a check and balance for Xiao Jue.
But Emperor Zhaokang did not expect that He Yan would stand up at this time.
He looked at Xiao Jue subconsciously. At this time, he tried to catch a little emotion on Xiao Jue's face. It's a pity that the famous right army commander in Great Wei looked calm and didn't see the slightest turbulence.
Did he know this early on? But now that you know this, why don't you mention it to yourself first, but wait until now
He Yan leaned over and said, "I have fought with the Utuo people several times, and I dare to ask Your Majesty to allow me to lead the troops to Jiuchuan."
When it comes to fighting against Uto people, she is indeed experienced. Whether in Jiyang or Rundu, Emperor Wenxuan would not have entered her office at that time. But when it comes to leading troops to fight...
Before Emperor Zhaokang could speak, a civil servant said, "Marquis of Wu'an, you are just a woman, how can you lead an army to fight the enemy?"
"My lord, I'm afraid you forgot," He Yan's tone was neither humble nor arrogant, "General Feihong, who shook the world, was originally a woman."
The minister was silenced.
Yes, the real Feihong General is not just a woman.
Emperor Zhaokang was silent for a while, then said: "This matter is very important, I can't make a decision at will, and I will make a decision after thinking about it."
He looked at Xiao Jue.
So far, Emperor Zhaokang is not sure whether Xiao Jue knows He Yan's plan. If Xiao Jue also supports He Yan's decision, then he will come to find himself in private. If Xiao Jue spoke up, Emperor Zhaokang would consider agreeing. If He Yan really didn't have that ability, the commander-in-chief of the Right Army in Great Wei would not easily let his wife die.
Of course, the most crucial point is that, as Concubine Lan Gui said, Da Wei has no one. There were very few generals with excellent combat ability in leading troops. Even if He Yan didn't go, who could go
He smiled bitterly in his heart, but felt that the bright yellow dragon crown on his head was really heavy to wear.
…
After going down to court, He Yan followed Xiao Jue out, and Yan He came up from behind unexpectedly.
He stopped He Yan: "Hey, are you really planning to bring troops to Jiuchuan?"
"What?" He Yan had something in his heart, and looked at Xiao Jue's back in front of him and answered absently.
Yan He followed her gaze and looked forward, thought for a while, and asked, "Don't Xiao Huaijin know about today's uprising?"
He Yan didn't speak.
"He Yan, you are really amazing." Yan He understood and looked at her in amazement: "No wonder I see Xiao Huaijin looking so angry. You don't discuss such a big matter with him. You can make Xiao Huaijin so angry, it seems that even if you really go to Jiuchuan, those utopians are not your opponents." He gestured to pat He Yan's shoulder, raised his hand to a normal level, and probably thought that He Yan was a gentleman. The woman, so she shrank back, looked at He Yan and said gloatingly, "Xiao Huaijin is so angry, Marquis of Wu'an, I wish you good luck." After that, he threw his sleeves and went straight forward.
He Yan was robbed by Yan He like this, but she was not angry. She didn't discuss with Xiao Jue about today's matter, and went directly to the Golden Palace to apply for recruitment. It is estimated that Xiao Jue was also angry. However... She has many scruples, and she really doesn't know how to speak to Xiao Jue.
At this moment, Xiao Jue had already walked to the other end of the Xiao family's carriage outside the palace, and He Yan hurriedly followed, got into the carriage by himself, and sat with him. The driver was driving the carriage, which was on its way back to Xiao's house. She raised her head from time to time to glance at the person beside her. Xiao Jue's expression was calm. The calmer he was, the more He Yan could feel his anger at the moment.
He Yan didn't speak either, she had to think about what to say.
When the carriage stopped at the entrance of Xiao's residence, Xiao Jue got off the carriage by himself and walked inside without looking back. He Yan followed and jumped down. Perhaps the atmosphere in the carriage was too stagnant. The kind driver also reminded He Yan, "Mrs. Young Master, Young Master is in a bad mood today, why don't you comfort him."
He Yan smiled and said, "Definitely."
When she followed Xiao Jue all the way into Xiao's mansion, and returned to the yard, Qingmei was drying the quilt in the yard, and saw He Yan happily saying: "Young madam—"
"Shh." He Yan made a silent gesture to her and followed Xiao Jue into the door.
As soon as she entered the door, she closed the door and met Xiao Jue's cool eyes.
Without saying a word, He Yan went over to hug him by the waist, "Calm down first."
Xiao Jue stood in the room, let her hold her without moving, and said coldly, "Don't use the same trick every time."
It's nothing new, but it's useful. He Yan slandered in her heart, and she didn't want to use this trick every time, but Second Young Master Xiao only used this trick, so what else could be done.
"Let me explain." He Yan clenched his predecessor's belt tightly, with a sincere tone, "I want to tell you, but every time I want to say it, I always feel that it is very damaging to the atmosphere. It's been delayed until today. Let me first say that I definitely didn't kill first and then file. Even if I kill first and then file, it's the emperor, not you. Today I'm afraid I won't say it. To each other, "I really didn't mean to."
Xiao Jue avoided her gaze, and said in a cool tone, "Miss He, you are so perfunctory that you even lie now?"
Even saying the words "Miss He", it can be seen that he is really angry. He Yan felt agitated in his heart and hurriedly said, "Xiao Jue, as a general, how can you be preconceived? I really didn't lie to you."
She really wanted to say it, but in these quiet days, whenever she saw Xiao Jue's rare ease, she didn't want to mention these things.
"Okay, I'm a little concerned." Seeing that Second Young Master Xiao's attitude was still cold, He Yan honestly admitted his selfishness, "I... I don't know how to tell you."
She let go of the hand clutching Xiao Jue's belt, looking down at her toes like a child who made a mistake, with a hesitant tone, "The Utuo people are so chaotic, you are going to lead troops to Yunzi, Yunzi and Jiuchuan are not here. One direction. If I take the initiative to ask the emperor to go on an expedition, and the emperor agrees, I will lead my troops to Jiuchuan alone."
"You must be worried."
She glanced at Xiao Jue's face, saw Xiao Jue looking down at her, her eyes lit up, the man turned his head to the side very quickly, He Yan had a bottom line, grabbed his hand, looked up at him, He said affectionately, "After I married you, I saw that all the men in this city are not as considerate and thoughtful as you. What you do as a husband and wife is unique, and you must be worried that a sweet wife like me will be alone. If you want to lead troops to Jiuchuan, you are afraid that you will miss me and worry about me every day, and maybe you will lock me in the house. I am such a delicate daughter's house, and I will not see the sun..."
She started talking nonsense again, Xiao Jue laughed angrily and glanced at her: "Lock you in the house?" He scoffed: "" There is no sweet wife in the world who can break the door lock with one punch. "
"You've misunderstood me," He Yan pointed to his chest, "Although I look strong and mighty, my heart is very fragile. For example, when you were angry just now, I felt sad and my heart was broken. ."
Now that she has the shameless words to open her mouth, Xiao Jue is said to lose her temper. After a long while, he said calmly: "Do you think that you are going to lead an army to Jiuchuan, will I disagree?"
He Yan didn't speak.
He stared at the woman in front of him, a little angry, but in the anger, there was a hint of helplessness that was not easy to detect. Finally, he turned around: "If you tell me directly, I will not stop it."
He Yan looked at his back, and the hippie smile just now lowered, and said in a low voice, "I thought if it were you, I would let me go to Yunzi with you..."
"Jiuchuan is adjacent to Moxian County. You are familiar with the terrain of Moxian County. Naturally, you are more willing to take the Fuyue Army to Jiuchuan." Xiao Jue's voice was calm, "In Yunzi, you can't fully utilize your strengths."
He Yan was startled, he turned around, and his eyes met with He Yan.
Clear, magnanimous, as clear as a mirror, reflecting all her thoughts.
He used to know.
He Yan paused, then stretched out his arms again to hug the person in front of him, and murmured, "How do you know everything..."
She is indeed more willing to go to Jiuchuan. She has never been to Yunzi in the past. If she and Xiao Jue go to Yunzi together, then Emperor Zhaokang will definitely order other generals to go to Jiuchuan. But no one is more familiar with Jiuchuan than her, not because she is confident, and it can even be said that no one knows how to win in Jiuchuan better than her.
At the moment, there is no one in Dawei, and the battle is a little slower in Bingjiang, and the battle situation in Jiuchuan, Jijun and Yunzi is the worst. Even though she knew her abilities in her own heart, her concern would be chaotic. Now that Xiao Jue is her husband, she may not be willing to lead her troops to dangerous places alone.
Just like Mrs. Xiao always blocked Xiao Zhongwu.
"I said," Xiao Jue's voice came from the top of his head, "Do whatever you want, just do it."
He Yan raised his eyes and asked, "Do you believe I can do it?"
He snorted softly, "There is nothing that General He can't do."
Looking at his awkward appearance, He Yan laughed out loud.
Things that I thought were difficult to explain clearly, are now explained in just a few words. He was so tolerant towards her that He Yan even felt that some of his own thoughts and concerns seemed ridiculous.
"However, the emperor may not give me the military power directly." He Yan's smile only flared up for a moment, and suddenly he remembered another thing.
After all, in the eyes of outsiders, she even got the title of Marquis of Wuan only because of a little bit of Xiao Jue's light. Even in Jiyang and Rundu, there are Xiao Jue and Li Kuang. She has never led an army to fight a battle alone. If the military power is directly handed over to her, outsiders may not be convinced.
"I will go to the palace to meet the emperor. The military power of the Fuyue Army should be handed over to you." Xiao Jue said: "But how to convince your subordinates can only depend on you."
"What you said is true?" He Yan was suddenly excited.
To convince her subordinates, she has a way. If Xiao Jue can persuade Emperor Zhaokang, the matter is really a done deal.
"The emperor didn't reply to you directly today, he was just looking at what I meant." The corners of his lips curled up, "He doesn't believe in you, but he believes in me. If I guarantee you, he will believe in your ability to lead troops."
"It's an eventful time right now, isn't His Majesty not afraid to give me the military power, our husband and wife have too much power and oppose him and pose a threat?" He Yan jokingly. At this juncture, whoever has the military power will have a chance of winning. Although the prince is no longer there, no one in the royal family can pose a threat to Emperor Zhaokang for the time being, but the military commanders have done too much... Since ancient times, it has not been a good thing to be happy about.
"Big brother and sister-in-law are still in Beijing. Besides, sister-in-law already has the flesh and blood of the Xiao family in her belly. In a few years, the emperor will not doubt the Xiao family."
He Yan put down another stone in her heart, but... She looked at the person in front of her and asked, "I have another question, you said that the emperor asked you to guarantee me, Xiao Jue, do you believe that I will defeat those utuo people? ?"
He seemed to think that her question was really ridiculous, Xiao Jue couldn't help laughing, he turned his head noncommittally, and said lazily: "In the heavens and the world, whoever sees you is unwilling to bow down."
Although the words were teasing like ridicule, there was a sense of pride in his tone.
He Yan was very useful to hear this, she stood on tiptoe, leaned into Xiao Jue's ear, and whispered, "Each each other, Governor Xiao."
"I also believe that you will succeed again and again and win the battle"