The rain has stopped, Wei Renpu said.
Riding beside him was the military supervisor Zan Jurun. The two of them stood on the wet grass after the rain. Looking across the large area of tents, they saw a group of cavalrymen running in formation. The swaying red tassels on their iron helmets matched the orange-red sunset in the distance.
Zan Jurun followed Wei Renpu's suggestion and said: Once all the scouts who went west have returned to the camp, the army can set out tomorrow.
Wei Renpu nodded, his expression a little solemn, and said in a deep voice: "I have seen the commander's marching deployment. Shi Yanchao is no longer the vanguard, he has been replaced; the generals of the front scout camp have also been replaced. The troops in front and behind Shi Yanchao's cavalry command are also very special."
Why? Zan Jurun asked without hesitation.
Wei Renpu glanced at the side and said calmly: If there is another messenger from Tokyo, he will definitely be discovered by the front army scouts first.
Although the legions that have already set out have a front camp military headquarters responsible for planning strategies and conveying military orders, in order to ensure that the army is led by the most experienced people, the power of decision-making and deployment still lies with the legion commander.
Zan Jurun's face gradually turned paler, and after a long while he said: "I am thirty-six this year, and my birth year has been a bit rough. I have to believe
The army set out as scheduled and returned along the original route. Just three days into the march, it began to rain again. So Li Chuyun immediately ordered the troops to stay and rest, but he did not say how long they would stay until the rain stopped.
Wei Renpu said nothing, but rode around to inspect the troops camping. Passing by Shi Yanchao's camp, he saw Shi Yanchao riding towards him in the rain. He was still the same, with his head held high, his chest puffed out, his eyes squinting, and his fists clasped in a crude military salute.
Wei Renpu rode his horse forward and approached Shi Yanchao. While looking at the surrounding situation, he said to another place: We all saw the military order of the Privy Council that day. It was confirmed that the army was returning to the capital. General Shi must have known this.
"Hmm," Shi Yanchao made a sound.
Wei Renpu added: "That was the order from the Privy Council, and it was the will of the government. If there are any changes, we must make sure that the military order comes from the center."
At this moment, a knight rode up, dismounted, clasped his fists, and said, "Report to the Deputy Envoy of Wei, the scouts have captured a Khitan.
Wei Renpu blurted out: Where did the Khitans come from
The knight said: It must be a spy who is now being taken to the central army. Please ask Deputy Envoy Wei to go with you to meet the Khitan.
Shi Yanchao cursed. Wei Renpu was not in a hurry and asked: "Did Mr. Li invite me?"
The knight shook his head.
Wei Renpu immediately reached out to stop Shi Yanchao. General Shi couldn't help, so he stayed in the camp. I'll go and take a look.
Wei Renpu pulled the reins by the horse's belly and turned his horse around to leave the camp.
There was still a drizzle overhead, and the raindrops fell on his clothes and slowly soaked into the material. Wei Renpu felt wet and cold. The air was hazy and his vision was a little unclear. The whole world seemed to be shrouded in a layer of fog. The mud under the horse's hooves was also soaked by the rain, and it was trampled into mud, making it difficult for the horse to walk.
When they arrived at the central army tent, a group of military generals and civil officials such as Zan Jurun also arrived. Wei Renpu clasped his fists and greeted Li Chuyun, who was standing above him. Li Chuyun returned the greeting and shouted, "Bring him in!"
A Khitan man was escorted and staggered into the big tent. The guy's hat was gone, and his head was bald. His face and dress confirmed that he was a Khitan without a doubt. The Khitan man struggled for a while, put his hands on his chest and bowed, saying: I am Xiao Ling, an envoy of the Great Liao Dynasty, and I am here to meet Marshal Li.
Immediately, a general scolded: "Emissary, I see you are sneaking around, you must be a spy, what are you doing, tell me the truth!"
The Khitan ignored the general and looked up at Li Chuyun: Marshal Li
Seeing this, Wei Renpu thought that the Khitan man might not be willing to speak in front of so many people, and perhaps wanted to take this opportunity to have a secret talk with Li Chuyun. Sure enough, Li Chuyun also understood what he meant, and he said calmly: The Liao leader sent you here. If you have anything to say, say it now while everyone is here.
The Khitan man looked troubled.
Li Chuyun looked at him coldly.
The Khitan man looked at Li Chuyun, then unbuttoned his clothes and tore open his inner clothes. The civil and military officials were still calm and watched coldly to see what this guy was going to do.
The Khitan took out a sealed letter, held it up and said: Lord Xiao, the Privy Councilor of the Northern Court of the Great Liao Dynasty, has something to say to Lord Li. It is written in this letter.
Someone around Li Chuyun came forward to pass the letter. Li Chuyun took it and tore it open, then read it. There was a moment of silence in the tent, and everyone was paying attention to the letter in Li Chuyun's hand. It was a secret letter from the enemy country.
At this moment, there was a sudden bang, and everyone was frightened. Then they saw Li Chuyun was furious and tore the letter to pieces. Everyone was stunned.
After tearing it, Li Chuyun pointed at the Khitan and said: Come on, drag him out and chop him up
The Khitan man was very anxious and hurriedly looked back at the armored soldier who rushed over, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. The armored soldier stepped forward and grabbed his arm, dragging him out without saying anything. The Khitan man finally shouted: Li Gong, Li Gong, I am a member of the Liao noble family Xiao, you can't kill me
Li Chuyun's face turned pale, without any hesitation. The soldiers looked up and dragged the Khitan out.
The incident happened so suddenly that before everyone could come to their senses, they saw a soldier carrying a bloody head in for Li Chuyun to see. Li Chuyun took a look and waved his hand.
No one in the big tent spoke, everyone just stared at the head.
Wei Renpu witnessed everything that had just happened, and he knew it clearly in his mind: Although Li Chuyun did not make the secret letter public, he directly killed the enemy's messenger, so there was no suspicion of collusion with the enemy country.
But now Wei Renpu was wondering: What did Xiao Siwen want to say when he sent someone here? What was written in the letter
In addition to handling government affairs in Jinxiang Hall, Jinzhan spent most of her time guarding Guo Shao in Wansui Hall; sometimes she looked at Guo Shao without blinking, as if she was afraid that she would never see him again. At this time, her heart was sour and painful, and she had no mood for military affairs, but in order to reassure Guo Shao, she still insisted on staying in Jinxiang Hall for a few hours every day.
Guo Shao's condition worsened rapidly, so Madam Lu simply moved to Wansui Palace.
Jinzhan and Guo Shao sat facing each other in silence, waiting for the person they wanted to meet. During this time, Guo Shao talked to her intermittently.
He slowly stretched out his hand, placed it on Jinzhan's face, and murmured: Sometimes I feel that this life is just a dream, as if it had never existed. But the person who appeared in front of me was flesh and blood, so real, with warm body temperature and satin-like skin. I can even clearly see the fine hairs, feel Jinzhan's joys and sorrows, and feel people's joys and sorrows.
Jinzhan listened but didn't dare to speak, because she was afraid that she would burst into tears as soon as she opened her mouth.
I wish I could see my loved ones smile every day, and I wish I could make my people suffer less. Unfortunately, I am not the sun, and I cannot shine in every corner.
Your Majesty, you have done very well. Jinzhan said in a very slow voice, and she felt very strong.
At this time, a sharp voice came from outside: Your servants are here to see you by your order.
Guo Shaodao: Come in.
The people who came in were Jingniang and the eunuch Yang Shiliang. Jingniang looked pale and stared at Guo Shao in a daze without saying a word. Yang Shiliang also looked heavy-hearted and stood at the bottom with his head bowed.
Guo Shao was silent for a long time and said: Whenever there is wind or rain, the light is dim and ghosts and monsters are most rampant. The internal factory must not slack off during this period. If you cannot see me for anything, tell the Queen directly.
Yang Shiliang hurriedly said: I obey your order.
Guo Shao didn't hear Jingniang's response, so he turned around and looked at her with a questioning look.
Jingniang said coldly: "If anything happens to your majesty, I will follow you. Those things are of no interest to me."
Guo Shao frowned, "The only difficulty in the world is life and death. But I think that living is more difficult and more interesting. When you die, there is nothing left."
Jingniang said nothing.
Guo Shao observed Yang Shiliang calmly with his peripheral vision, and then said seriously: I order you to live and be loyal to the Queen Jingniang from now on. Will you listen to me for the last time
After saying this, he looked at Jingniang with eager eyes. Guo Shao's words, actions and emotions were very contagious to others. Although he was ill now, he still had this ability. Jingniang's expression was subtle and complex, and she had relaxed a little.
He sighed again and advised, "It is not easy for everyone to get together, but it is easy to break up. You should understand how difficult it is for me to get you together."
His Majesty Yang Shiliang suddenly knelt on the ground, his voice choked with sobs.
Jingniang looked at Guo Shao seriously and began to nod.
At this moment, Guo Shao suddenly covered his mouth and coughed, his hands trembled, and he fell on the couch. Seeing this, several people were very anxious, and Jinzhan hurriedly grabbed him, and his beautiful face suddenly twisted.
Jingniang rushed up to the couch, put her hand in front of Guo Shao's nose, turned her head and said: The emperor has fainted.
"Hurry up and call Madam Lu," Jinzhan said in a trembling voice.
Yang Shiliang got up from the ground, picked up his robe and ran out.
Soon, Lu Lan came in. While feeling Guo Shao's pulse, she lifted her eyelids to look at Guo Shao's eyes and said: "I am not very knowledgeable, and I really want to ask the Queen to summon the Imperial Physician to come to the palace to treat him."
Jinzhan felt that she had no strength left in her body, as if her soul had been drained out. She clenched her teeth and tried to weigh the pros and cons in her chaotic mind. At this point, she couldn't hide it for much longer. In her heart, Guo Shao was the most important.
Jinzhan was silent for a while before he said carefully: "Send an order to summon all the imperial doctors to the Wansui Palace."
I will obey your order. Yang Shiliang ran out of the palace again.
Looking at Guo Shao with his eyes closed, Jinzhan clenched her hands into fists. She knew that the sky had fallen, and she was the only one who could hold up the collapsed sky with her delicate shoulders. There was no way out. She wanted to be a walking corpse, a person without feelings.