Outside the Great Wall, in the middle of winter.
During the transportation, the emergency supplies of food and grass from the Hu people's backers were attacked by a large Wei Jingqi who had penetrated into the hinterland unwittingly, and all the food and grass were burnt. Then, the last all-out counterattack organized by the army was ruthlessly sniped by the frontier army of the Great Wei, and it was defeated.
The successive blows finally forced the Hu people to accept a reality.
Although they have been preparing for this day for a long time, they have devoted all their strength to fight against Wei.
This war, from the early summer of last year, was intermittent and continued to the mid-winter of this year.
But wanting to defeat the army ruled by the old Wei Guogong and seize the Hetao from him, this seems to have become an unattainable dream.
Not even God will give you a way to live. It snowed heavily for three days and three nights. For many days, people and horses continued to die because of hunger and cold, and they did not retreat. Once the Wei people formed a siege situation, even if they still maintained the courage to drive their horses to fight to the death, the remaining people and horses would also die of starvation and cold.
That night, the Hu soldiers and horses fled north, and until dawn, the camp was in a mess in the snow, and only the corpses of the fallen cavalry and war horses were left before they could be buried.
The difficult Hetao defense battle, which had been fought for more than a year, finally came to an end with the decisive victory of Dawei.
The war was protracted and extremely difficult to fight. After dawn, in the military camp of the Wei people, the cheers of victory resounded through the sky.
The wine was brought in jars, and the cattle and sheep were to be slaughtered in groups. This much-anticipated celebration feast is now only waiting for the return of the elite cavalry warriors who risked their lives and broke into the heart of the Hu people and successfully carried out a surprise attack.
The leader of this warrior team is Xiao Lie, the third prince of the dynasty, and Pei Xian, the eldest son of the Wei army coach Lao Wei Guogong.
This year, Xiao Lie was only eighteen years old.
Xiao Lie and Pei Xian grew up together, and they were brothers. A year ago, a war broke out outside the Great Wall. Seventeen-year-old Xiao Lie invited Shengming from the emperor, and together with Pei Xian, he followed the old Duke of Wei and served the imperial court.
Because of his identity, at the beginning, the old Wei Guogong was afraid that he would lose something. In the first battle, Pei Xian was the pioneer, while Xiao Lie was entrusted with the dispatch of food and grass. Xiao Lie went to the commander-in-chief to fight, and he was impassioned. Old Duke Wei was infected with his blood, so he promised him that he could also go to war, but just in case, he ordered him to follow behind him and not act without authorization. After several battles, Xiao Lie fought bravely, cooperated with Pei Xian tacitly, and worked together to achieve many military exploits. Only then did the old Duke Wei slowly relax, and this time he handed over the task of surprise attack to Xiao Lie and Pei Xian, who asked for their orders on their own. As expected, the two of them lived up to expectations, burning the barbarians' successors' food and forage, and made great contributions to the end of the war.
It was snowing heavily, the north wind howled, and encountered such bad weather, but the line of elite light cavalry, all composed of young cavalry, was flying like horses. Commander Xiao Lie and deputy commander Pei Xian, the two of them were even more relaxed. That night, when they camped for the night, the two of them slept in the same tent, shared the last half bag of wine left in the drinking bag, and made an appointment to return to the military camp. The two asked for orders again. , taking advantage of the morale of victory, to attack a place called Mutuo that was taken away by the Hu people in the previous dynasty. With a bit of alcoholism, he drew his sword and started singing. The boy was enthusiastic and excited. After singing, Pei Xian said with a smile: "Your Highness, you have been in Beijing for more than a year. I am also impressed by His Highness. The triumphant report sent to the capital will inevitably praise the Third Highness. Your Majesty will definitely be delighted. The Third Highness can think about it, what kind of reward will you want?"
Among the three sons today, the youngest son Xiao Lie has the most outstanding aptitude, and the emperor is also fond of him. However, Xiao Lie's biological mother passed away early, and he had no uncle to rely on. In addition, he was born with flying spirit since childhood. In the eyes of others, the prince was kind, the second prince was steady, but the third prince was arrogant and arrogant, and was secretly called the devil of the world. .
"Bo Ming, if I say that after I capture Mutuo and return to Beijing, I don't want a reward from my father, I just want to ask for a treasure from your father, what do you think?"
Xiao Lie called Pei Xian's words, looked at Pei Xian, and smiled.
Pei Xian was stunned, looked at him, saw him staring at him, his eyes twinkled slightly, and he immediately understood in his heart.
The Third Highness and his younger sister Wen Jing, the two are in love. He is not sure whether his parents know about this matter, but he has seen it long ago, but he has never revealed it.
I still remember that Lantern Festival that year, he took his sister to the Lantern Market to appreciate the lanterns. Because there were too many people, he accidentally got separated. Fortunately, his sister was accompanied by a loyal servant. In addition, he had agreed before that if he got separated, he would go to the Lantern Market. Bridges meet.
When he looked for it, he saw the figure of the Third Highness standing beside his sister from a distance. The two were standing under the willow. The Third Highness hung an object like a jade pendant on the willow branch. He didn't know what to say. I ignored it, turned around and left, and then seemed to see myself appearing, probably because I was afraid of being seen by myself, I hurriedly turned around and went back, picked up the jade pendant, and hid it.
Although this happened a few years ago, he still remembers it fresh.
He also stared at Xiao Lie, the smile on his face gradually disappeared.
"Third Highness, I know what you mean. I only have this little sister, and I can't allow others to despise her. Her parents regard her as a jewel in their palms. They don't want to be famous, but only hope that she can get a good person. , but if I play with Wen Jing, I will be the first, and I won't agree!"
He said word by word.
"Bo Ming, I can swear to God that if I have the slightest intention of teasing her, or if I fail her in the future, call me Xiao Lie, and I will not end well! Even if you live in the world, life is better than death! Do you believe I am sincere to her?"
Xiao Lie changed his previous smile and looked very solemn.
Pei Xian looked at him for a moment, and suddenly laughed loudly: "If your Highness said this, why should I be worried? After I go back, I will take His Highness to see Father. Reason? He should not, I will also help His Highness, and I will make you and your younger sister a dependent. Your Highness can rest assured!"
Xiao Lie was overjoyed and poured out the remaining wine in the wine bag.
It was night, the two talked freely until late at night, and slept happily.
Xiao Lie gradually fell into a dream.
In the dream, the girl who had been separated for more than a year in the snow and ice in his heart was walking towards him with a smile on her face.
He didn't feel the cold at all, and his heart was as warm as spring.
Filled with joy, he called her name aloud and trotted towards her.
The war was over and Da Wei won. He not only realized his heroic dream of fighting the enemy since he was a child, but also proved his ability.
He is not the messed up prince in the eyes of others who can only do whatever he wants with his father's favor.
He is Xiao Lie, a prince who has won the respect of the Great Wei's iron-blooded sergeant by his own efforts.
In a few days, next spring at the latest, he can go back and make her proud of himself, and then he will marry her again.
In this lifetime, it is enough to have her by her side.
However, just as he was about to embrace her in his arms, suddenly, like an invisible thunderbolt, an insurmountable gulf was drawn between him and her. He couldn't get over, he could only watch her standing on the other side with a sad face, his eyes staring at him, the figure became smaller and smaller, and eventually disappeared.
Scenes of strange pictures began to flash in front of his eyes.
At the funeral of the father, he saw her back from a distance, and she seemed to be sensing something, so she also turned back and glanced at him.
But just a quick glance.
At that time, she was married and became the queen of his eldest brother who had just succeeded the new emperor. Later, he went to Yunnan, where he opened a house.
That look became the only and last look she left him before he went to Yunnan.
Later, a plague broke out in the capital, and she fell ill and was sent to a temple for treatment.
He saw himself sneaking there quietly to accompany her, and half a year later, before he left, he made a big mistake.
It was the one mistake that took her life.
He saw that she had given birth to a child for himself, and then died, and at that time, the real him had no idea what was going on.
He could see clearly that before she died, she was still holding that piece of jade pendant that he had forcibly given her from the first Yuan night in the past...
"Wen Jing!"
His heart was beating wildly, he screamed in horror, and suddenly opened his eyes, only to find that he was still in the tent.
The candle that blew out, I don't know when, was lit again, Pei Xian by his side was sleeping soundly, and opposite him, I don't know when, someone stood up.
This is a young man with bright, unforgettable eyes.
He is tall and thin, literate and gentle, but his whole body exudes a kind of power that seems to be able to drive thousands of troops, command thousands of horses, and teach the world to decide what to do.
At this moment, he stood there quietly, looking at himself, his expression was silent, his eyes seemed to be sad and pity, and he stared at him like this without moving.
In Xiao Lie's heart, from the first time he saw this young man, he suddenly had a strange feeling.
He was very sure that he had never seen this man in the previous eighteen years of his life.
But he felt so familiar - as if the man was the closest person in his life.
"Who are you?"
Xiao Lie slowly got up from where he slept, stood up, and asked.
Because of that terrifying dream, his voice was trembling slightly.
The man stared at him and said, "I'm here to tell you something. His Majesty the Emperor will die soon. If you go to attack Mutuo again, after the battle is over, you will return to Beijing in the spring of next year. At that time, Prince You have already asked His Majesty the Emperor's marriage, and she will no longer be your wife in this lifetime."
The prince is already an adult, but some experts deduced from the eight characters of the prince's birthday that the prince should not have established a prince concubine early. In addition, in the past few years, the prince himself has not paid attention to it, so he has not been able to appoint a prince concubine.
Xiao Lie immediately remembered what he had seen in his dream, and became more and more horrified: "Who are you? Why are you making such absurd words? How could the prince ask his father to marry Wen Jing?"
The man stopped talking, turned around and walked out of the tent.
Xiao Lie immediately chased out, but he couldn't catch up with the man's pace.
He was so anxious, he strode to chase again, accidentally fell into the snow with his foot, and shouted, suddenly heard a familiar voice in his ear, someone called "Three Highness", woke up and opened his eyes again , actually saw Pei Xian sitting up and looking at himself, just now he woke him up, and he was still in the tent.
Everything just now, is it actually a dream within a dream
"His Royal Highness, what kind of nightmare did you have? Just now I heard you screaming non-stop. I was woken up by you. When I woke up, you were still asleep."
Pei Xian said with concern.
Xiao Lietong was in a cold sweat. On such a winter night, the whole person seemed to have just been pulled out of the water. He sat there blankly, his eyes staring straight ahead, as if there was something there. He jumped up and rushed out of the tent, only to see snow in front of him, under the dark night sky, where is the figure of the man in the dream
"Your Highness, what happened?"
Pei Xian chased after him, and saw that he was standing barefoot in the snow, and was extremely surprised.
Xiao Lie's figure froze for a while, then turned around abruptly, and said in a trembling voice, "Bo Ming, I have something important to do, and I have to leave for Beijing immediately tonight!"
After he finished speaking, he turned around and hurried into the tent, put on his clothes and armor, hurried to the horse tent, took out his war horse, got on its back, and drove the horse away.
In the snow in the wilderness, a vigorous warhorse, driven by a young prince who had just turned eighteen years old, ran wildly in the direction of the capital.
Just before waking up from the dream, he was still singing with his sword and high-spirited, but at this moment, his heart was full of horror, fear and anxiety. I can't wait to put my wings on, and immediately fly back to the Quartet city that is thousands of miles away from him at this moment.