Harue Kagetsu

A few miles away, a group of chariots and horses was stopped by the post.

On the top of the hills on both sides of the road, taking advantage of the terrain, there were suddenly two more rows of archers, all of them with heavy bows, condescending and ready to go.

A scout appeared on the top of the mountain and shouted down sharply: "The heavy ground in front of you, it is forbidden to enter! Who are you waiting for? Sign up!"

Gao Huan roared: "Is Yi Chengcheng ahead? Is Li Shishi here? He is my brother-in-law!"

The scout was stunned for a moment, then turned his gaze from Gao Huan to the carriage on the road, glanced at it, said "wait a moment", and waved the road flag down the mountain.

One person and one horse appeared out of nowhere, and the man rode the horse and galloped away towards the city gate.

After a while, the city gate opened, and a few horses came out, and soon came to the front.

Luoshen recognized it, and the man in Tsing Yi in front was Jiang Tao.

Knowing that Jiang Tao did not know Gao Huan, he looked out of the window and said, "Second brother Jiang, I am here!"

Li Mu came here with less than 2,000 people.

In addition to the soldiers who volunteered to follow from the previous Battle of Berkshire, there were also three hundred followers of Jingkou.

When it first came, the city was like a wild, the city wall collapsed, and the roads were almost flooded by weeds. In such a huge city, the remaining residents in the city were no more than a hundred households in total, all of whom were old or people who had nowhere to go.

After arriving, the first priority, in addition to clearing roads and reclaiming wasteland, was the top priority.

In order to strengthen the defense capability of the city wall, when rebuilding the fortifications, it was not just a simple repair of the city wall, but according to the range of the individual bow and crossbow, on both sides of the four gates, every other arrow, a project was built outside the city wall. The rectangular high piers form a double urn city.

In this way, in the event of a siege, the attacking enemy can form a cross attack from three sides at the same time, which greatly strengthens the defense capability.

During these days, Jiang Tao led engineers and soldiers to build the city wall, day and night, busy, and finally achieved initial results.

And because of the news, recently, there were Jie and Xianbei spies who came from nearby, ambushing and spying, just now he was strengthening the night patrol near the city gate, when he suddenly heard the news that a man who claimed to be Li Shishi's wife and brother had arrived. , was stopped in the mountain road several miles away, extremely surprised, and rushed over immediately. When she actually saw Luoshen showing her face from the carriage, she was shocked, dismounted and ran to her to greet her.

Luo Shendao: "I know I came abruptly. If I disturb you, please forgive me."

Jiang Tao hurriedly said: "How can Madam say this? Madam has traveled thousands of miles and has not spared the hardships to come here in person.

Luoshen smiled and thanked him, and introduced Gao Huan and team leader Fan Cheng to him.

In the beginning, it was because of this son of the Gao family that the marriage between Li Mu and the girl of the Gao family came into being. Did Jiang Tao know the name of Gao Huan?

When I saw him today, I saw him with handsome features and a graceful appearance. The skin behind the ears and the neck and collar covered by the scorching sun was still clear and fair, but the rest of the face and arms were tanned, and on the neck, it was black and white. , looks a little funny.

He obviously didn't care at all. His eyes lit up, he greeted himself, and he kept staring ahead, looking impatient.

Jiang Tao and Fan Cheng greeted each other again, and immediately led people to the city.

Li Mu went out of the city to survey the terrain early in the morning. When Jiang Tao entered the city gate, he immediately called someone, ordered to go to inform Li Shishi quickly, and then complained to Luoshen, and personally led her to the governor's mansion in the north of the city.

As soon as he entered the city gate, the majestic feeling that he had just seen the city wall for the first time from outside was gone.

The road leading from the city gate to the Governor's Mansion has been rectified, but the road is still uneven. A gust of wind passed, and yellow dust spread.

Seven out of ten houses on both sides of the road were damaged, with lack of doors and windows, or collapsed eaves and walls. The traces of the war can be seen everywhere. The corners, eaves, and roadsides are covered with basil that has not yet been removed. Some weeds, densely packed, climbed wildly, and almost buried the entire ruins.

Into the eyes, a dilapidated scene.

There was nothing near the city gate, and half of the residents could not be seen. It wasn't until approaching the Governor's House that some women and children were seen around the road, all in ragged clothes and unkempt faces. The woman was drying clothes, and a few yellow-faced and skinny children gathered on the side of the road to play and catch stones. They laughed loudly and burst into laughter. Suddenly, they heard a movement behind them. They turned their heads and saw a strange carriage approaching. Hiding behind the doors and windows, he stuck out half of his head, looked at each other timidly, and did not dare to approach.

The Governor's Mansion has arrived, at the end of the road ahead.

More than ten years ago, war raged here, and before the city was destroyed, there were more than 100,000 residents. This prefect's mansion, which is used as the military and political center of the whole city, is also lofty and magnificent.

But now, the place is in ruins. The wall is half-collapsed, and the gate stone still has burnt traces of overheating. Even a gate has only been temporarily repaired with a bamboo fence.

Luoshen got out of the car and was led in by Jiang Tao.

All the way in, I saw the house collapsed and the corridor was broken and the pool dried up. There was only one lobby in front, which was probably used as Li Mu's daily meeting room.

After passing the front hall and coming to the back house, it was even more tattered.

After passing through a hanging flower door that seemed to have been burned down, Jiang Tao pointed to the inside and said that it was Li Mu's residence.

This courtyard should have been considered elegant in the past, but now, the courtyard is overgrown with weeds, rubble is everywhere, the stone pavilion in the southwest corner is dilapidated, the top is covered with corrugated pines, and there is a clump of half-dried bamboo beside the pavilion. There are traces of wild insects and beasts on the ground, and flying silk spider webs can be seen everywhere in the corners of the eaves and roofs.

From a clump of weeds in the corner of the wall, a mass of black oil suddenly appeared like a weasel fox. With a squeak, it flew past the feet of Aju, who was beside Luoshen, and quickly got into a hole in the corner. The shadow disappeared in a blink of an eye, which startled Aju.

Jiang Tao hurried up, hurried to the door, waving his sleeves to sweep the cobweb above the door frame, while turning his head and smiling at Luoshen: "After we arrived, Li Shishi only cared about other things, and these few months, He hasn't slept here for a few nights either. When the fortifications were built, he slept outside with the soldiers, so it was a little messy. It's my fault. No wonder. Watch your feet."

As he spoke, he shouted for someone to bring a broom, took it in person, and hurriedly swept away the gravel and rubble on the trail.

Luoshen told him not to be busy. He walked to the door, stretched out his hand, and gently pushed open the dusty door.

With a creak, the door was pushed open.

The house is not small, but it is empty inside. Apart from a bed, a suitcase, and a table against the wall, there is nothing left.

The beds are all outdated. The ground is stronger than mud, and it was paved with square bricks. But now the bricks are cracked and covered with dust, and moss grows in the gaps between the bricks.

On the wall in the southwest corner, there was even a yellowed rain stain, with mildew patches and mushrooms growing on it.

The person stood at the door with almost no place to stay, and there was a faint smell of wet mildew in his breath.

Jiang Tao was very upset and apologized to Luoshen again and again.

Luoshen took back his scrutiny eyes and said with a smile: "It's okay. If Brother Jiang has something to do, just go. I can clean up here myself."

She lifted her skirt and stepped inside.

Aju also instructed his entourage to bring in the boxes and cages that he had brought with him.

No matter how you clean up this place, it won't get better for a while.

Jiang Tao knew that it would be useless for him to stay. At this moment, he just wanted to call Li Mu back quickly so that he could return the matter to him. He pointed Aju in the direction of the kitchen and other places, and hurried away.

Where did Gao Huan stay, he asked people to find an empty house at will, put his things away, and immediately followed.

As soon as Jiang Tao left, Aju looked around the room again, sighed, but didn't say anything, and immediately ordered the people who came to do their work.

Boil water to cook, sweep the floor, pull weeds, wipe the dust, open the windows for ventilation, and light up the mugwort incense to repel insects and deodorize in the four corners of the house.

Together with Qiongshu, he rolled up the bedding that was originally on the bed, and replaced the bedding he brought with him.

After a lot of hustle and bustle, when it got dark, I finally managed to clean up the house enough to live in.

The kitchen over there also prepares meals and boils hot water.

When Jiang Tao left, he had someone bring rice, vegetables, fruit and noodles. This is the best meal he can get.

From Aju's point of view, it was extremely crude, but knowing that the conditions here were limited, she did not dare to complain. Fortunately, when I came out of Jiankang, I still had some leftovers. He asked the cook who was with him to take it, used it to make a meal, and delivered it in person.

It was hard to travel during the day, Luoshen was hungry at this moment, ate casually, wiped his body again, and changed into clean clothes. He felt refreshed and asked everyone to rest, and he began to wait for Li Mu to come back.

The night gradually deepened.

There seemed to be a sound of snoring from the next door servant girl who was falling asleep due to the exhaustion of the day.

Luoshen was also very tired, but lying on the unfamiliar bed under him, he had no sleepiness.

She finally put on her clothes, opened the door, and came to the courtyard.

Looking at the moon tonight, the moon is like water, but in the distance in the city it is dark, and there is no light.

The surrounding is as quiet as a ghost realm.

Fortunately, in the corners of the stone pavilion withered bamboos, there were even a few brisk crickets chirping, which gave people a fresh sense of reality.

The night was getting deeper and quieter, and even the cricket sound gradually stopped, and there was only the rustling sound of the night wind passing through the bamboo bushes.

Luoshen leaned on the side of the broken stone fence in the pavilion, hugged his knees, and looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

The moon was getting closer, she was in a trance, her figure and the shadow of the pavilion merged into one. At this time, there was a sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the hanging flower door that she walked through in the evening.

Luoshen turned his face and saw a figure appearing under the moon.

Li Mu returned.

He entered the courtyard, without a moment's pause, he went straight to the door with the lights in front of him, almost ran over, took a few steps and stepped up the steps, raised his hand, and was about to push the door and enter. The hand stopped again.

He seemed to feel something.

Looking back suddenly, two eyes swept in the direction of Luoshen without any mistake.

At first glance, he caught her figure.

Li Mu's figure froze, and he turned his head like this, towards her direction.

Luoshen slowly stood up from the stone steps.

As soon as she moved, he turned around suddenly, stepped down the steps, and walked towards her quickly.

The moonlight illuminated his face.

His eyes twinkled.

Luo Shen saw him grinning at himself.

Suddenly there was a shadow in front of him.

Luo Shen was hugged by him.

He wrapped his arms around her body and hugged her tightly.

Through the clothes, her cool and clean skin clearly felt the dampness and heat from his body.

In her breath, it was even more filled with the kind of masculine breath that she was familiar with, which was mixed with the smell of salty sweat.

His mind was slightly in a trance, and his forehead felt hot.

He lowered his head and pressed his lips heavily between her eyebrows.

"Ami! Why are you here all of a sudden! When they told me, I couldn't believe it..."

His voice stopped abruptly.

Luoshen didn't have time to answer, and his lips were covered by him.

Luo Shen began to struggle in his arms.

But I don't know if her strength is too weak, or his emotions are too ecstatic.

Her struggle, under his pair of iron arms, seemed so insignificant, but in vain.

Forced, Luo Shen and him exchanged a deep kiss between lips and tongue. Gradually, he became dizzy, and his breath was not smooth. He felt as if his feet were empty. He was picked up by him and sent into the room.

She felt like she was being put on the bed by him.

She opened her eyes and saw that the black shadow in front of the bed was about to press down on her, she suddenly woke up and got up quickly.

"don't want-"

Before he finished speaking, he was gently pushed, and the man leaned back and fell on the bed again.

All beginnings are hard.

It's only been a few months since he came here. During the day, Li Mu was busy building the city wall, surveying the terrain, training soldiers, starting to open up wasteland, and comforting the nearby residents who were like frightened birds...

Things are complicated and arduous, and there is no time to think about her during the day, but at night, even if they are sleeping in the wilderness with soldiers, they are often forced to wake up by the dream of her.

No matter how tired his limbs are, thinking about the girl's long hair with the fragrance of flowers, her smooth skin that can't be left behind, and the warm breath spitting out between her fragrant tongue and her teeth, can always easily make him stand upright with hair and blood vessels. .

In the dream, he had repeated that night with her more than once.

But she never dreamed or imagined that after he had seen evil against Gao Qiao and the eldest princess, she was willing to ask him to come to her side.

Tonight, something more impossible than a dream happened.

The beautiful woman was in his arms, and asked him how he could hold back?

Li Mu got on the bed, knelt on her knees and pressed down.

"don't want!"

"You stay away from me!"

Luoshen was completely awake, using both hands and feet to push hard.

This time, he really tried his best, and his tone was even more annoyed.

His body, which was in urgent need of relief due to the rapid congestion of excitement, finally felt the resistance from her.

He hesitated, stopped, and looked up at her.

Seeing her leaning on the quilt, her breathing was short, and her chest was up and down, but she stared at him with a frown, and suddenly seemed to have an epiphany.

"You think I'm dirty?"

He smiled, and his eyes suddenly became very gentle.

He knows his Ami and loves cleanliness the most.

He looked around the room that had become much tidy since her arrival, leaned down, kissed her lightly on the tip of her nose, released her immediately, and rolled over from the bed.

"I ran outside for a day, and I learned that you were here. I just wanted to get back quickly, and I was sweating."

He explained with a smile, took off his coat, and turned to go out.

"Wait for me, I'll take a shower, I'll be right back!"

Luoshen took a deep breath, got up, knelt on the bed, and shouted at the man in front of him, "Li Mu, you misunderstood! I'm here because I have something to tell you in person!"

Li Mu stopped and turned his head with a smile on his face.

Luoshen calmed down, quickly climbed down from the bed, turned his back, tidied up his clothes, turned back, looked away from his half-naked healthy back, and pointed at the dirty clothes he had just taken off.

"Put your clothes back on!"

The smile on Li Mu's face gradually disappeared, he glanced at her, walked back, picked up his clothes and put it back on, then walked towards her.

"Ami…"

"Don't come here, just stand there!"

Luoshen pointed to his feet and shouted.

He took another step back.

Li Mu showed helplessness, stopped, looked at her in the lamp shadow, and said softly: "Ami, if you don't want me to touch you, I won't touch you, don't be afraid. You must have suffered a lot along the way. I came here to ask me what's the matter?"

Luo Shen raised his eyes and met his eyes.

"I Aye said, you are far away from the near, and since you invited me here, you have the heart of not being a minister. In the future, you may become a chaotic minister of my Great Yu, right or not?"

The charming warmth that remained in the corner of Li Mu's eyes gradually disappeared.

"My aunt said that you went to Bailuzhou the night before you left. She saw you and advised you to take it easy. But you would rather give up on me than decide to dispel your dissent, right or not?"

Luoshen finally asked the words that had been tormenting in his heart day and night along the way, in front of the man.

Her eyes were burning, but she knew that at this moment, she couldn't cry in front of him.

She opened her eyes, raised her chin habitually, looked at him, and waited for his answer.

He just stared at her and didn't speak for a long time.

"Li Mu, speak to me!"

The corners of Luoshen's eyes began to turn red, but his chin raised a little higher.

"Do you think I came here all the way from Jiankang to be nice to you?"

"I have to hear you give me an answer with my own ears!"

Li Mu's shoulders moved slightly, as if he was about to walk towards her.

"Tell me!"

Li Mu stopped and finally spoke.

"Ami, the northern expedition to the Central Plains and the restoration of the two capitals is my first choice in Li Mu's life. Your father also had the same choice as me back then, and he was about to conquer Luoyang at one point. However, you also know how it ended. At that time, it was the most prosperous time of national strength after Dayu moved to the south. He sent troops twice and swallowed everything, but why did he fail? The resistance from the north was by no means the reason for your father's retreat. It was the court behind him, who followed the emperor and followed To the gatekeepers, you don't want your father to take credit and sit on the throne. They would rather hide in the Southern Dynasty, and the king's industry is safe, rather than your father's position being threatened by this great merit that can shine through the ages. , they united and forced your father to retreat and stop the battle, and Dayu missed the opportunity, and he will never have the strength of the northern expedition!"

"I don't know if you can understand it. I want you to know that I have the same ambition as your father back then, but how does my Li Mu status compare to your father? The difference between clouds and mud! Even he can't do it. If I follow the rules, I will never be able to achieve my wish for the rest of my life!"

"Ami, this is the source of my dissent. If the only way I can achieve my goal is to not be a minister, then the world will take me as a thief, so why be afraid?"

Luoshen stared at him for a moment.

"Li Mu, I know that the imperial court is suffering from chronic diseases, and I, Aye, also hate it, but he is not working hard now? He had high hopes for you, and hoped that you would be of one mind and help him in the future to support the court and benefit the common people..."

She paused.

"Even for my sake, can't you just think about it for a bit?"

Her voice trembled slightly when she said this.

The voice fell, and the room fell silent.

Quiet in the ear.

Luoshen only heard the sound of his own heartbeat that was jumping faster and faster, as if it was slowly floating in the air.

In her eyes, crystal tears finally poured out slowly.

"You don't have to. I see."

Tears could not be held back any longer, and burst out.

"Li Mu, you would rather not have me than be a rebel of the Great Yu?"

"You clearly know that my mother is the eldest princess, and my father is the head of the Gao family. Even if you have a reason to be proud, they will never allow me to marry a disobedient minister. Since you have such intentions, why did you have such a big heart in the first place? Fei Zhouzhang marry me?"

"In your heart, I, Gao Luoshen, is your enemy?"

"Why are you treating me like this?"

Li Mu stared at Luoshen, who was crying in front of him, and stopped.

For the first time in his life, he finally felt the unknown selfishness and darkness that he had always kept deep in his heart, and that he had never even noticed.

He has always just told himself that she was innocent in the previous life and was used by others, so he made the knife that killed him and completely buried his ambition and great cause.

He loves her and never forgets it, and he even remembers what she said to himself that night, "The rest of my concubine's life is entrusted to the prince."

So in this life, he wants to marry her early, protect her under his wings, and prevent her from going through the painful life of losing her husband, parents, being manipulated by the family, and being forced to marry again.

He planned the way for the future. Give up the original promotion path for her, and switch to the now more direct, but obviously more difficult path.

The purpose of everything is just to get herself to the top as soon as possible, not only for the great cause of the Northern Expedition, but also for the early grasp of the power that is enough to protect her.

He has even thought about it, when he takes Xijing - which also means that he has Longxi in his hands, he will be able to negotiate with Gao Qiao with this huge weight - at that time, even if Gao Qiao notices him Her ambition also had to consider Longxi's weight for the Southern Dynasty. Correspondingly, the pressure on her could be resolved by herself.

He thought about everything for her, and was so affectionate to her.

But at this moment, Li Mu suddenly understood.

Because Gao Qiao sensed his intention in advance, disrupted his plan, and broke the warm and affectionate net he had built before.

He also had nothing to hide.

He finally knew that he actually still blamed her.

With his obsession, he married her, not only to make the gap between the three clans even worse, but also to keep her by his side.

She is his Li Mu's woman.

In this lifetime, even if he is now in a lowly position and no longer has the high status and authority of the previous Da Sima, he still does not want her to marry another man.

He wanted this noble woman to see with his own eyes how Li Mu regained his position step by step, recovered Shenzhou, shattered her world, and stepped on all those people.

In his selfish heart, he didn't even think that if he and the person behind her had a conflict again, if the scene of the bridal chamber in the previous life was staged again, when she would no longer be an innocent who was kept in the dark, but A person who knows that what he is holding is poisonous wine, how will she choose as his wife in this life?

He is such a greedy and dark person.

Now he finally married her.

Facing her tearful questioning, Li Mu found that he was speechless.

Can't say a word.