There was no provocative proclamation issued by the world, and there was no mobilization of the army by the king himself. Lu Shengxiang, the Minister of the Ministry of War, left the capital in an unusually quiet manner, so that he passed through the entire south of Gyeonggi, and no local officials saw Minister Lu along the way. Lord Lu's face. But everyone knows that this does not mean that Lu Shengxiang's departure from Beijing is a defeat in the temple. Lu Shengxiang first lost to Lu Baijie, who was also a servant at the beginning, and lost in the competition for the post of Minister of the Ministry of War. , but then he received the imperial decree to control the sixteen army towns in the three prefectures south of Gyeonggi, and even a group of veteran generals like Anguo General Yang Shenxing also needed to be restrained by him. Lu Shengxiang's cavalry was only 300 riders. This half-open and half-covert long drive south, the imperial court has not used the Gyeonggi combat power of a single soldier for the time being, and it seems that it is more on the sidelines for Western Chu's imminent move. Lu Shengxiang, dressed in plain clothes, took a rest at Youlu Pass with his own soldiers, but did not enter the pass, but temporarily set up a large tent outside the pass, and waited for several captains from Youlu Pass to rush over after hearing the news, and there was no accident. Immediately, according to the laws of Liyang, the Minister of the Minister, who is about to temporarily receive the rank of a general, talked and laughed in the rough tent. This, on the contrary, reassured the school captains. Who didn't know that Lu Sheng, who was born in the Chunxue Building in Guangling, was like a smiling tiger. Youluguan is located at the intersection of Pingfan, Guangling Road and Huainan Road in Gyeonggi Province. Although the rank and salary of the captain of Youluguan is higher than that of ordinary military officers in Liyang, they used to be directly under the Ministry of War Gulu, but now Guluguan The wind and rain are precarious and exist in name only. Youluguan is like a guy who has lost his parents and weaned his milk. On the other hand, Lu Shengxiang has Guangling Dao, his natal family, who can rely on him, and secondly, he is a hot and popular nobleman in the court. He entered the center of the empire only because of his family background, and he relied more on his own outstanding military achievements in the Spring and Autumn Period. Therefore, no matter how hard-hearted and leopard he gave You Lu Guan, he would not dare to put on airs in front of Lu Shilang . Lu Shengxiang personally sent several school lieutenants out of the barracks, and stood in the open space outside the barracks with a young general who was his confidant, looking at the dust splashed by horseshoes in the distance and blown away by the wind. Lu Shengxiang squatted down, grabbed a handful of soil that smelled both earthy and spring grass, sniffed it, looked south, and remained silent. Many people don't know that the dignified Minister of War was once a poor scout. He was convicted of misreporting military information and almost had his head chopped off by his superiors.
Lu Shengxiang squeezed the soil in his palm, and said softly: "Being a scout is almost like learning to swim. Once you know it, no matter how long you leave it, it will be very difficult to drown again if you are thrown into the water again. Guo Donghan, You are very clear about the fighting power of Guangling Dao. You are clamoring all day long to compete with Beiliang Yanchi for the title of number one in the world. In fact, except for the tens of thousands of soldiers of King Guangling, the rest are all mud. Wall, it’s not easy to blame the prince for embroidering a pillow with flowers. It’s been 20 years since there was no war. Ge's Beiliang iron cavalry on standby and Yan Chi's infantry competed, and Chun Xuelou racked his brains to get the latest weapons and best armor from the imperial court, and even dared to grab the military horse that Gu Jiantang wanted. What I am worried about now is not what the so-called insightful people in the government and the opposition think. They all think that the biggest hidden danger is that the old generals like Yang Shenxing and Yan Zhenchun refuse to obey the restraints and do not listen to orders. , As soon as you fight, you will show your momentum, use war to support war, like a snowball, kill all the good soldiers and good generals of Guangling Dao, not to mention, you have weapons, horses and armor, and even the morale of the army. Guangling Dao is such a man In this area, the remnants of Western Chu occupy a favorable location and people. From the end of last year to the spring of this year, news of the sudden death of generals and lieutenants continued to spread from the Ministry of War and the imperial court. One by one was inexplicable, some were strangled to death by concubines on the bed, some were poisoned to death by maidservants while drinking, some were stabbed to death by aides with daggers when discussing business affairs, some were hacked to death while patrolling the camp, and even the whole time was kind to Gu Lu. The angry old man Huan was also furious, and ran to the military department to point at me and Lu Baijie's noses and scolded me. In the end, even General Gu was scolded. It was a mess, the military officials sent there had spent twenty years scraping land for money, and none of them was a military person who won the slightest support. They also said that the espionage agencies set up by the imperial court specifically for Guangling Road, those leaders should be taken out and beheaded. Our Lu Shangshu is quite stubborn, he talked back to Mr. Huan on the spot, and was almost kicked by the old man. What can I say? I can only watch. But I didn’t expect that Mr. Huan is very old, and he almost got kicked. Master Shangshu's chest is broken, and it seems that he can live for many years, which is a great thing."
Lu Shengxiang put the dirt back on the ground, and after laughing, his expression became solemn again, "Before a battle, I was already thinking about how to celebrate and receive rewards, and how to divide up the military achievements. I don't know where they are conceited."
The honest and down-to-earth young general stood beside Lu Shilang, laughing and said: "The people are slaughtered, but the imperial court still has Gu Jiantang, one of the last four famous generals in the Spring and Autumn Period, and Chen Zhibao and generals like you who are geniuses in military art. Can you not be confident? In addition, several feudal lords are on the way to Jingnan, Guangling Dao already has Zhao Yi with a strong army to suppress the situation, if I am not familiar with the background of Guangling's elite, I should have thought so."
Lu Shengxiang laughed it off, stretched out his hand and patted the ground, and said with emotion: "The waves are formed between the small waves, and the wind rises at the end of the Qingping. Once the stung is over, hundreds of insects swarm out, and they move when they hear the wind."
Guo Donghan smelled the cool breeze blowing on his face, and said with a chuckle: "At last, I can smell the smell of blood."
Lu Shengxiang stood up, as if he wanted to vent out the pent-up anger in his heart, he forced a smile, "Yang Shenxing and the others felt that it could be as short as three months and as long as half a year, and that a light kick could kill Xichu without a trace. The stiff spring worms are crushing Xiaqiu. No matter what I persuade them now, they won’t listen to them. It’s better to let them rush up and slap Cao Changqing. Only when it hurts will they understand who is really able to fight this protracted war. A person who gives orders. However, there are also disadvantages in this way. I will be mediocre for half a year, and I am destined to be barked by all the dogs in the capital. What kind of situation, so this time is a bit of a bottom, the key depends on whether His Majesty has enough patience. If you are unlucky, you can pack up and prepare to go to the Liangliao with me to make up for it. But if you are lucky, When the time comes, you will get the military merits, as long as I, Lu Family Qingqi, can use my hands and feet to the fullest, I can make you a third-rank general with real power no matter what."
Guo Donghan grinned, "Okay. Anyway, the last general will only look for one thing in his life. He will hang out with the general and keep some meat to eat!"
Lu Shengxiang was noncommittal.
Guo Donghan suddenly asked cautiously: "I heard that His Royal Highness traveled to the south this time. He wandered to many places including Longhu Mountain and Difei Mountain. In Guangling Road and Jiangnan Road, he made friends with each other and sang with each other. Everyone praised him highly, tsk tsk, he is very handsome. Moreover, there are gossips that His Highness does not agree with the harshness of Guangling Dao, and has objections to the extermination of Buddha. That You Jijiu surnamed Jin seems to be very close to His Highness the Crown Prince. This guy had a bad relationship with Yao Baifeng, but he was expelled from the family by Mr. Shoufu and Mr. Huan. He got along very badly. Many scholars were scared I dare not go to the Jin Manor to drink anymore, no one would have expected him to make a comeback."
Lu Shengxiang frowned and said: "You are a warrior who has not yet achieved fame, let alone meddling in the court, you can't even intervene. If I hear such bastard words again in the future, you will go out and become a groom."
Guo Donghan said with a bitter face: "Remember it."
Lu Shengxiang suddenly sneered and whispered: "The benevolence of a woman is practical and not pragmatic. It is a thousand miles away from his father. If the imperial court succeeds in cutting the vassal, it's okay, otherwise I will leave the country to him. hanging."
The impatient Guo Donghan nodded quickly and said: "Let me just say, the city of His Royal Highness is not shallow, but it is in the wrong place."
As expected of a smiling tiger, Lu Shengxiang said with a smirk: "Anyway, if there is no major battle in half a year, you can go and be a groom for half a year."
Guo Donghan looked astonished, and was about to roll over, when Lu Shengxiang turned around and walked towards the barracks.
…
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince "secretly" ran out of the capital to "travel" in the south. Zhao Zhi, the most powerful and majestic mother-in-law in the world, went to the East Palace a few more times and didn't talk about big things. Yan Dongwu chatters about trivial matters, Zhao Zhi's mother is in the harem, and the concubines who are competing for favor come on stage one by one and leave sadly one by one. No matter how young, beautiful and versatile, no matter how famous and scary their family background is, they have never been able to fight in the ring This not-so-good-looking woman. Moreover, the Empress Empress Zhao Zhi, in the eyes and mouth of a group of courtiers, seemed to have gained a high reputation by coincidence, and there were very few noises and objections. Today in the East Palace, apart from the queen, even the son of the Zhao family took time out from his busy schedule to come to Yan Dongwu with Zhao Zhi, and specially asked Song Tanglu, the supervisor of ceremonies, to bring a few pots of authentic Beiliang green For Ant Wine, a family of three doesn't have too many red tapes, just cooking and tasting wine to warm people's hearts. The drinking place is under a finely carved mahogany birdcage, and inside it is a stupid parrot with a clumsy tongue. Somehow, it has fallen into the eyes of the princess, and its favor has never diminished. Women are not allowed to participate in politics. This is the iron law passed down from generation to generation by Liyang's ancestors. Therefore, before Liyang ruled the Spring and Autumn Period, no matter how badly the eunuchs and eunuchs in feudal towns harmed Zhao's family, since the emperor's bed could not blow the pillow wind, foreign relatives would not be fertile in politics. Soil, in history, Zhao Ting's relatives were in power naturally, but compared with the previous courts with various surnames other than Liyang, it is much better.
However, the emperor of the Zhao family was obviously very impressed with Yan Dongwu, the daughter-in-law who was listed as a "female scholar" and made an exception to chat about some important military affairs. Even Zhao Zhi couldn't hide his surprise. The heart spread until the husband and wife left the East Palace. The emperor was not in a hurry to go back to deal with the mountain of memorials that had been piled up all year round. He walked side by side with the empress under a high vermilion wallpaper, with his hands behind his back, silently looking at the blue sky. Song Tanglu of the Great Diao Temple, the heir to Mao Han Shengxuan's authority, bent over and followed behind him. This majestic and eunuch-like chief official in the world had a faint haze between his brows.
The emperor of the Zhao family suddenly stopped, and said: "I will stand at thirty, start a family and start a business. I have done it back then. I married you and sat in the world. I have no major regrets in this life. I am not confused at forty. I will always try my best." Overcoming public opinion, let go of the power of the court to Zhang Julu, let him and Gu Jiantang jointly govern the two Liaos, tolerated Zhang Lu and Gu Lu under their noses, and never doubted the loyalty and ability of these two cronies. In my opinion, The lack of doubt in employing people is what an emperor should have. Of course, they did not disappoint me. My Zhao family has also shown a prosperity that has not been seen in 800 years. It has a vast territory equivalent to the Great Qin Dynasty and has military officials who are good at fighting. There are civil servants who have helped the country and the world, so many important officials and famous ministers in the court, just picking one at random is enough to make a subjugated country like the Northern Han Dynasty and Dongyue prolong the country, but under me, the civil and military are brilliant, gathering in a hall. Therefore, every year I I have a clear conscience when offering sacrifices to my ancestors. Now that I am fifty, I have reached the age when the Zhang family sages say that they know the destiny. It is in accordance with the destiny of heaven, but I always feel that the saying of knowing the destiny is contrary to this statement, and the change of Yuan Xiangfu is also based on this, and it is because I hope that I will not destroy the twenty-year operation with my own hands."
From the beginning to the end, the son of the Zhao family, like the man in charge of ordinary people, used the word "I" to call himself, not the word "Zhen" that made all the heroes in troubled times of all dynasties yearn for it.
Even though the traces of blood had been swept away by the rain and snow from the palace, it was still there in Zhang Julu's heart. But when Zhuaner was sensible, he already knew that he would wear a dragon robe and sit on a dragon chair. He is very patient. It’s true, but being an emperor still requires courage. If I destroy Buddha, he will meet and send off famous monks on the Jiangnan Road. If I want to destroy Xichu with an iron fist, he will plead for the lives of the common people in the world. He thinks it is the courage of his highness, the prince. Mang doesn't have Beiliang, Zhang Julu and others, that's all. It's not bad for him to have this kind of thought, but now is not the time. "
Zhao Zhi's face was pale.
The emperor of the Zhao family clenched his fist and slammed it lightly on the wall, "Zhuan'er can't see the future of the court. It's not a party struggle, but a more complicated situation. It's a battle between the people's hearts between the grandson of the rich and the poor. Blindly turning around the dragon chair, Yuan Benxi said that this is the general trend. I didn’t believe it before, but now I see it with my own eyes, and I have to believe it. Yuan Benxi also said that the dragon climbing technique that has reached the pinnacle in the officialdom in the past doesn’t work anymore. He is waiting for a guy who knows how to use dragon slaying skills to check and balance the emperor to surface. Once this person appears, he will be more terrifying than the previous Liyang separatist regime. Zhao Zhi, can I just wait? This is knowing the destiny? So even if Yuan Benxi can't find this person, I can't see this person, and I have to get Zhang Julu who helped the world's underprivileged people to open the dragon gate first... Now that the door has been opened and the general trend is like this, I don't want to go against the trend, but as the reigning emperor If you want to take down Zhang Julu who is in the capital and let Zhuaner have a better chance of winning, it will not be more difficult than dealing with Xu Xiao who was far away in Beiliang, right?"
Zhao Zhi's lips trembled, and he asked, "When?"
The emperor of the Zhao family took a deep breath and said darkly, "The survivors of Western Chu are dead!"
…
A young man with a grass root in his mouth was looking at the yellow mud vats everywhere. He was a little depressed in it. He glanced at the handsome man in black with a yellow court crown on his head and was a bit unexpected. Nalan, who was obsessed with cleanliness to the point of sickness The husband was stained with a lot of yellow mud, but he didn't see the slightest resentment. Instead, he stretched out his hand to pinch off a piece of yellow mud that hadn't dried up, and crushed it lightly with his fingertips. Beside the two of them were countless clay jars that were said to only sell for three taels of silver, and an old guy who was sitting on a small wooden bench kneading mud to make jar embryos, covered in mud, saw him Zhao Zhu and Mr. Nalan, who came all the way to see the old man, didn't make a sound, obviously determined to finish the work at hand, the bored young man raised his eyes, and looked at the elderly couple standing in the distance. Mr. and Mrs. Nalan said that one is a remnant of the Southern Tang royal family, and the other is a local. They are indeed ordinary people who have dealt with clay tanks all their lives. Mr. Nalan also asked him to guess who is the spy and who is an ordinary person. Zhu relied on his intuition to figure out that the old woman who was vaguely handsome in those days should be the royal family of the old Southern Tang Dynasty. As for the simple old man next to the old woman, he didn't seem like a top expert who could escape Zhao Gou's search.
Mr. Nalan, Nalan Youci, who is known as the true vassal king of southern Xinjiang, walked a few steps closer, squatted at the feet of the old guy on the small bench, groaning with a smile, looked up at the only remaining Spring and Autumn Demon, and smiled Said: "Hey, Huang Lao Nong, you look ridiculously good, can't it be a flashback?"
The old man glanced at Nalan Youci, and said flatly, "Curse me to death? Is this the etiquette of asking for help?"
The gentle and beautiful Mr. Nalan still smiled, and said, "I'm so close to squatting on my knees, what else do you want? I, Nalan Youci, have never kneeled before in my life except for my parents." who."
The old man sneered and said, "Do you want me to expose your old background in front of that little bastard Zhao Zhu?"
Zhao Zhu rolled his eyes.
Nalan Youci hurriedly waved his hands to beg for mercy, "I'm afraid of you, the omniscient Huang Sanjia, so I'll just pretend that I'm blown out, and I beg you, old man, to keep your mouth open."
It was Huang Longshi, who dominated the top three in the Spring and Autumn Period, sneered: "You guys came early, it's not the time, is it your idea or that little bastard's idea?"
Nalan Youci thought about it very carefully, "It's all. We have to live with face. We're not fishing in troubled waters, but we're just here to see Cao Changqing's last official demeanor. If you miss it, it's so boring to live. "
Huang Longshi sneered and said, "It's boring to live, why don't you just die? You're only disgusting, no wonder you can't compare to Li Yishan in your life."
Nalan Youci shook his head and smiled, "It's hard to say whether Li Yishan or I have stronger temuscles, it doesn't matter if you say it."
Huang Longshi had a strange sarcasm on his face, "You have to go to the Yincao Difu and listen to him say it to you, right?"
Nalan Youci stretched out his hand and touched his brow, expressionless.
Huang Longshi waved his hand, intentionally or unintentionally, splashed several drops of yellow mud on Nalan Youci's face, "While you cool off, I'll ask the little bastard in your picture a few words."
Nalan Youci gently wiped away the stains, stood up, and waved to Zhao Zhu. This romantic counselor, who was wearing spring and autumn armor, was actually only one armor less than Huanglongshi, walked away slowly.
Huang Longshi squinted at His Royal Highness Prince Yanchi who was standing in front of him carelessly, "Who is your brother Zhao Zhu? When I see your father, he has to obediently sweep the couch to greet you. Squat down."
Zhao Zhu had a hippie smile on his face, so he just sat down and didn't listen to you, but the etiquette is enough, right
Huang Longshi's words were playful: "It's quite similar to someone's temperament. Okay, I know the answer, you can get out."
Zhao Zhu stared and said: "What? The surname is Huang, I ran to see you at the risk of being removed by the imperial court, and you are just kidding me like this?"
Huang Longshi stared back, "Get lost or not?"
Zhao Zhu had a face full of food but couldn't poop. Don't pinch his expression. He stood up resentfully. Just about to turn around and make a move, he heard Huang Longshi say: "Want to fart? Then you have to take off your pants." OK, otherwise weigh the consequences."
Zhao Zhu muttered, rubbed the soles of his feet with oil, ran to Nalan Youci, and asked curiously, "Is this old man really able to predict the future?"
Mr. Nalan, who was standing on the edge of the pile of mud jars, glanced at Huang Sanjia and said calmly, "I don't believe it, but he has done it almost every time."
Zhao Zhu let out a cry.
Nalan Youci habitually pinched Prince Yanchi's earlobe, and said with a soft smile, "It's okay, I'm not a real god. At the end of the battle, a dying person, why should you be angry with him. Let's respect the elderly."
With a helpless face, Zhao Zhu gently patted off Mr. Nalan's slender and fair woman's hand.
Huang Longshi stood up suddenly, and said a very evil prophecy to Nalan Youci, "Nalan Youci, you will die before me and Yuan Benxi."
Zhao Zhu's expression changed dramatically, while Nalan Youci remained silent.
Nalan Youci closed his eyes, fell into deep thought, and then bowed to Huang Longshi who had already sat back on the bench and disappeared.
Respect him, respect yourself, respect Li Yishan who was once admired by the other countries who traveled with him.
It is also the last spring and autumn to respect them.