The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

Du Que, the Grand Marshal of the Western Expedition, was wearing a military robe and sitting solemnly on the Grand Master's chair in the lobby of the Marshal's Mansion. There was a sand table placed on an exquisite mahogany desk in front of him, simulating the terrain of Puguan. The sun outside the window was gradually rising, but he still felt unsatisfied in his heart.

The wind in the forest ruffled my robes, and the sun's rays shone on my body, but it seemed not bright enough. He complained, the morning seemed a bit bleak, in stark contrast to the doubts in his mind. There is a problem lingering in Du Que's mind, that is, brother Junrui is in Pujiu Temple but is unwilling to visit him.

He once sent people to invite him, but the Junrui brothers always refused. This troubled Du Que, who didn't understand Zhang Junrui's thoughts. In his heart, Zhang Sheng has always been a respectable friend. The two studied Confucian classics since childhood and later embarked on different paths together, but they have always maintained a deep friendship.

He recalled the time he spent studying together with Zhang Sheng. The two of them sat at the desk in front of the window, discussing classic culture and debating philosophical views. At that time, they were both young and promising students with longing for the future. .

Then, Du Que's life went to the battlefield. He successfully passed the martial arts examination and was promoted to the general of Zhengxi, commanding an army of [-] and responsible for guarding Puguan. His life seemed to be on another track. He began to be exposed to military strategy and political maneuvering, while Zhang Sheng chose a different path.

Outside Pujiu Temple, Du Que's envoys invited Zhang Sheng to come and meet many times, but were firmly rejected. This made Du Que confused. He didn't understand why Junrui avoided him so much. Their friendship seemed to have been distanced by time and distance.

Du Que's heart was filled with doubts and uneasiness. He knew that Junrui was a smart man and he would not make such a decision easily. In addition, he also heard about Ding Wenya's dereliction of duty, failure to abide by national laws, and exploitation of the people, which made him even more worried.

But Du Que also understood that he could not act rashly. He is a great general, leading an army of [-] people. Once he launches a conquest, it will affect the lives of countless people. He needs to fully understand the situation to ensure that his decisions are wise.

Sun Tzu's Book of War says: "The way to use the army is to obey the emperor's orders, gather the troops together, not stick to one place, set up formations along the main transportation routes, and never stop at desperate places. When in besieged areas, you must plan, and when facing desperate situations, you must fight decisively. Some Some places are not worth passing through, some enemy armies are not worth fighting, some cities are not worth attacking, some territories are not worth fighting for, and some monarchs' orders are not worth obeying. Therefore, only generals who are good at using the art of war can truly understand how to use the army. If you manage an army but do not understand the art of nine changes, even if you understand the five interests, it will be difficult to win people's hearts."

These words made Du Que deep in thought. He realized that he had not taken action because he did not understand the terrain and the enemy's situation. He sent detective horses to reconnoiter, but so far he has not been able to get anything in return.

Today, he raised his account and waited for reports on the military situation. He was confident and hoped to understand the situation of the Junrui brothers and the situation in Puguan. He knows that only by understanding the truth can he make the right decision.

Sunlight shines through the towering trees in the Puguan military camp, forming mottled light and shadow. The tents were arranged neatly, and the soldiers were busy, creating an orderly scene. Du Que was sitting in the commander's tent. In front of him was an exquisite military desk with maps and military reports. He was reviewing the military situation on the front line.

At this moment, a monk in monk's robes broke into the military camp. He walked in a hurry and had a look of anxiety on his face. This monk was none other than Monk Huiming. He knew that the situation was urgent and came to see Du Que without hesitation.

After hearing the soldier's announcement, Du Que raised his head and caught a glimpse of the monk's arrival. His brows were slightly raised and he looked happy. This is an unusual visitor, as expected a monk appears here.

Monk Huiming came to the handsome tent, faced Du Que, put his hands together and saluted respectfully, and then spoke. His voice was calm and firm, revealing his sincerity.

"General, I am Monk Huiming from Pujiu Temple. I am here to see you." Although his tone was respectful, there was a hint of urgency in his eyes. He knew that time at this moment was very precious.

Du Que nodded slightly and motioned for the monk to sit down. He seemed very determined and knew what the monk's intention was.

Monk Huiming sat aside and began to tell Du Que his purpose. His tone was calm and detailed, without any hesitation.

"General, I left Pujiu Temple and walked all the way, just to see you." Monk Huiming's voice was like a gurgling spring, making people feel a sense of tranquility and stability.

Du Que smiled and asked, "What is the important thing that the monk comes here to do?"

Monk Huiming nodded slightly with a serious expression. "The poor monk came from Pujiu Temple. Now Sun Feihu is causing trouble and has surrounded half a million thieves at the temple gate, intending to rob the daughter of my late minister Cui Xiangguo and make him his wife."

When Du Que heard this, his expression remained calm.

"Go on." Du Que's voice was low and stern. He needed to understand the situation.

Monk Huiming continued: "There was a tourist named Zhang Junrui who sent a letter to the young monk to come and worship under his command, hoping to beg the general to relieve the danger of falling."

Du Que was overjoyed, "Get the letter!" Du Que suddenly ordered. He urgently needed to know the content of Zhang Sheng's letter and the situation of Pujiu Temple.

Monk Huiming quickly took out a letter from the sleeve of his robe and gently presented it to Du Que. Du Que took the letter, opened it and read it. The contents of the letter made his face become even more delighted.

Du Que's eyes were fixed on Zhang Sheng's letter, and he read every word carefully. His brows furrowed slightly, and his expression became more solemn.

"Gong suddenly bowed his head and paid homage to General Qi, General Marshal: "

Du Que began to recite the beginning of the letter silently. He knew that this was Zhang Sheng's expression of respect for him. In this troubled world, his old friends treated each other like this, which made him feel warmer.

"I came from Luozhong, worshiped against the rhinoceros table, exchanged greetings frequently, accumulated years, and admired the selfishness of virtue, which is engraved like this."

This sentence made Du Que fall into memories. Luoyang, once a place that witnessed their youthful years, is now a city undergoing rapid changes. He could feel Zhang Sheng's deep affection, which made him feel a surge of emotion.

"Recalling the wind and rain of the past when we were together in bed, we sigh that we are now far away from each other; the situation of the guest comes back to the heart, and the sorrow of separation has no comfort in the arms."

This sentence reminded Du Que of his and Zhang Sheng's youthful years. Those carefree days have now become memories. The time they were apart left him feeling deeply confused and worried.

"I have been living in poverty for ten years and have been trapped in a foreign land. I have admired the authority of millions of brave men and settled on the border."

This is Zhang Sheng’s review of their respective life trajectories. Zhang Sheng knew that he had gone through difficult times, while Du Que had risen through the ranks and now became an official. However, the friendship between them remains as strong as before.

"Therefore, we know that the body of a tiger eats the wealth of heaven, and looks up at the sky, and has great virtues. It makes the lowly people admire the beauty of the platform, look up to the Han, and feel comforted. He often reports: I want to go to the tent to describe the vastness of the past few years. I went to Pujiu Temple in Hezhong Prefecture, but suddenly I was worried about collecting firewood and couldn't build a path. "

Du Que felt a sense of self-blame. Zhang Sheng had great literary talent, but he always maintained his admiration for him, but he himself ignored the plight of his old friend.

"Unexpectedly, a thief general, Sun Feihu, led an army of half a thousand men, and wanted to rob the daughter of my old minister Cui Xiangguo. He was really desperate and embarrassed. My younger brother's orders are also on patrol."

This sentence made Du Que's face relax even more. He heard the news that Pujiu Temple was besieged by bandits and that Cui Xiangguo's daughter was in danger. This is a crisis, and it naturally requires the intervention of senior officials from his side. He cannot sit idly by and do nothing.

"If the imperial court finds out, where is the blame? If the general does not give up his old friendship and raises a brigade of troops, he can repay the emperor's kindness and save the people's urgent needs. Even though the old prime minister's country is in Jiuquan, the general will not be lost. virtue."

Du Que smiled slightly and thought: "Hey, this Junrui is still a bit bookish!"

"May the general read the letter with a tiger's eye, and make my younger brother Hu Guan come to visit. I am so ashamed of having committed such a crime! The Fuqi platform will keep silent! Zhang Gong will pay homage again, and write the letter on February [-]th."

Du Que closed the letter, his eyes unfathomable.