Has always been bleak

In the last few months of Wang Zhongsi's life, Rong Xiang was by his side all the time, watching Jie Shuai step by step towards his final day.He knew that countless soldiers like Xiao Yi were still fighting bloody battles on the front line, and many of them actually had very simple thoughts in their hearts, that if they captured Stone Fort City, Commander-in-Chief Jie would be saved.

But they didn't know that the emperor didn't intend to let Jie Shuai continue to live.

Those three promises, not to be in charge of the military, not to be involved in politics, and not to communicate with outsiders, are so harsh and decisive that no one can do it.

Although Jieshuai promised, the emperor didn't believe it in his heart.He doesn't believe that there is anyone in this world who can really give up the power and status in his hands, give up his relatives, friends, and everything, and be trapped in a small room for the rest of his life.

What's more, this person is still so young and so outstanding.

What's more, this person is so widely loved.

The emperor did not believe that anyone could really keep this promise, except the dead.

When Jie Shuai used these three promises in exchange for the emperor's concession, he had already understood his future destiny.

No one can negotiate conditions with the emperor, you are not qualified.

If you have, well, you're damned.

Rong Xiang couldn't, and didn't dare to send this news to Xiao Yi, just watching Jie Shuai getting haggard, vomiting blood, and suffering, day by day, towards the end.

And those who fought desperately on the front line knew nothing about it.

Wang Zhongsi gave him a pair of daggers: "Wang spent half his life on the battlefield, but I didn't expect that it was you, a little friend, who accompanied me on the final journey." He stroked the scabbard lightly, "This pair of daggers are The weapon that Wang used to practice martial arts when he was a child, he first engraved two sentences on it, and Wang has always kept it in his heart. Now, I will give it to you as a gift, and I hope you cherish it." After finishing speaking, he solemnly wrote the short The sword was placed in Rong Xiangping's hand.

The two short swords are exactly the same, only different words are engraved on the hilt: "Gou Li Country, life and death without regret."

Gou benefit the country, life and death without regret.

Rong Xiang had mixed feelings in his heart, but his expression was as usual, he put away the dagger, and offered a cup of tea to Wang Zhongsi: "Jie Shuai, this doesn't look like you are giving me something, but like lending my hand , to Xiao Yi."

Wang Zhongsi took a sip of the tea, couldn't help but bowed his head and coughed a few more times, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth casually, and said with a smile: "If you are unwilling, then secretly hide one, Xiao Yi doesn't know anyway. "

Rong Xiang felt aggrieved: "He is so reckless and stupid, why does Jie Shuai treat him so well? These days I serve you more seriously than my parents, but I don't see you like this."

Wang Zhongsi asked back: "Since he is so reckless and foolish, why do you treat him so well? For him, not only did you sell yourself, but even grandpa was dragged into trouble."

Rong Xiang blinked and said with a smile: "Probably, you think you are so stupid and easy to bully?"

Wang Zhongsi couldn't help laughing: "There is no such thing." He looked at Rong Xiang, if he didn't know for sure that he was a man, and only looked at his face, probably many people would suspect that he was a daughter because of his excessive beauty.It's not common for such a fragile and beautiful boy to like another enthusiastic, impulsive and brave boy, but it doesn't seem to be particularly surprising.

But this young man is far from being as innocent and harmless as his appearance.

He and Xiao Yi are actually two completely different people.Xiao Yi was as clear as a spring, and he could see the bottom at a glance, while Rong Xiang... was just the opposite.

He can kill people mercilessly, and then forge the scene, as meticulous and rigorous as a long-standing criminal record, and then panicked like a little white rabbit, and then begged Li Linfu to spare him with snot and tears, and let the cunning Li Linfu, who is like a fox, believes that he can give everything for this.

Facing an unknown general like Wang Zhongsi, when he talked about the battlefield situation on the Longyou front, he still had his own opinions and opinions, and never echoed them.But in front of those Jinwu guards, he looked so timid, weak and deceitful, he was a small person assigned by Li Xiang to monitor him, he had no ability at all, just a mouthpiece.

He knew that whoever was ordered to kill him would inevitably become the life and death enemy of countless people. He cried until he was almost breathless in front of Li Xiang and did not dare to take the poison/drug that could kill him. In the end, he was threatened with his life. Having no choice but to accept this hot task, he turned around and tried his best to get another half golden pill, so that he could die more comfortably.

Black and white are miraculously fused into a whole in him, which side to show others is only a matter of his thought.

"Xiao Yi, you're a good boy." Wang Zhongsi sighed softly, "At first I just felt guilty because of Duke Wei's death and I didn't do anything, so I wanted to make up for it, so I treated Xiao Yi kindly. Thinking of myself back then." His expression gradually became a little nostalgic, as if he remembered many long-ago things.

"Many people used to be as pure as him, but they all changed later, because of various reasons, including me." Wang Zhongsi laughed at himself, "I hope he can continue like this forever."

He stared at Rong Xiang: "In this world, there are not many people who Xiao Yi really cares about. Don't hurt him."

This is Wang Zhongsi's last request.

When he went, he was clearly tortured by poison/drugs, but his eyes were clear and his manners were restrained.

When he died, he did not die on the couch. On the day of his death, he exhausted his last strength, supported Rong Xiang's shoulders, walked outside the door, faced northeast, and bowed three times in the direction of the Daming Palace, and then, with a smile on his face, passed away.

Gou benefit the country, life and death without regret.

It's a pity that Jie Shuai risked his life to protect, but finally lost it.

Today's Tang Dynasty has been tormented by the war.

Jieshuai has paid so much for this, thousands of soldiers have paid so much for this, brother... Rong Xiang felt a sour and sweet feeling in his heart, and called softly in his heart, brother.

Brother, he paid so much for this.

But everything they paid seemed to be meaningless.

Their emperor, shameful and ridiculous, fled.

Abandoned his people and fled.

Panicked.

The day before, he was still convening all the officials to discuss how to resist, and he behaved righteously, so he quietly fled overnight that night.Like a bereaved dog, he doesn't have the slightest demeanor of the monarch of the Tang Empire.Throw so many people who have no ability to protect themselves in the city of Chang'an that is about to fall.

When the emperor no longer protects his people, when the imperial army has lost the motivation to fight, when everyone just wants to escape, the ordinary people in Chang'an can still help the old and the young to flee with their families. People, those weak and beautiful beings, those caged birds who have been pampered to such an extent that they can't even escape, what should they do in the face of the iron hoofs of the rebels?

He doesn't want to care about others, but inside, there is his sister.

He has sent A Niang away ahead of time.When Yan Zhenqing was defeated in Lingwu, he already had a bad premonition, so he made a decisive decision and sent someone to send A Niang to Qingzhou.

A Niang was still unwilling to leave at that time, the army was in turmoil, and nowhere was as safe as the imperial capital, Princess Jincheng said.

Rong Xiang didn't even try to persuade her, she overwhelmed A Niang with a cup of drug, and sent her out of the city overnight.

But he can't leave by himself, Chang'an, and his elder sister.

Elder Sister is still in the palace, although the emperor doesn't care about these concubines, but once entering the palace gate is as deep as the sea, and coming out again, it's hard to compare to ascending to the sky.

Rong Xiang really couldn't find any reason to take the elder sister out of the palace, let alone send the emperor's concubine out of Chang'an in a grandiose manner.

Rong Xiang got the news of An Lushan's rebellion very early, even before the imperial court received Yan Zhenqing's report.

At first, he was only worried about Grandpa and Xiao Yi.After all, Grandpa guarding Qingzhou is a strong constraint on Anshi's rebels' westward advance. The rebels will definitely try their best to bring down Qingzhou, and Xiao Yi...he is in Hebei, where Anshi's rebels are rampant.

Yan Zhenqing, the prefect of Pingyuan County, Hebei Province, and his brother Yan Gaoqing, are officials in the area under the jurisdiction of Anlu Mountain. Anlu Mountain led 10,000+ rebels. After contacting, his elder brother Yan Gaoqing feigned surrender, and Yan Zhenqing stood firm in Guancheng, Pingyuan County, which was the last isolated city of Tang Dynasty in Hebei.

Xiao Yi was in Pingyuan County at that time.

The imperial court was incompetent, military generals surrendered to An Lushan one after another, but Yan Zhenqing stood up as a scholar.Not only did he stick to the plains, but he also sent people to call everywhere. Many cities that had been captured by the rebels killed the leaders of the rebels one after another under the inspiration, and changed their banners. Finally, nearly 30 Hebei rebels formed, and Yan Zhenqing was promoted as the leader.

The rebel army in Hebei became a thorn between the Anlushan army and Fan Yang. It existed behind the Anshi rebel army and blocked the rebel army's food road. Yan Gaoqing took advantage of Anlushan's unpreparedness to capture Taihang Mountain. Jingjingguan made the rebels dare not go straight to Tongguan and approach Chang'an, which greatly slowed down the pace of the rebels' westward advance.

However, the court did not make good use of the time they bought.

An Lushan's army quickly fought back, captured Yan Gaoqing and his son, cut off their tongues, hands, eyes, and beheaded, and Yan's more than [-] mouthfuls were bloody.

The same cruel method appeared countless times after the rebels captured the eastern capital of Luoyang. They even beheaded Luoyang officials who had vowed not to surrender, and sent the bloody heads to Pingyuan County.

This is a threat, a provocation, and a deterrent.

Yan Zhenqing paid homage in person, swearing to master!

Under the unfavorable conditions that most of the rebels were new troops and lacked sufficient training, Xiao Yi made a decisive battle with the rebels in Tangyi near Weizhou, Boping County, Hebei.

The short-lived victory dazzled Xuanzong. He forced Ge Shuhan, who was stationed in Tongguan at this time, to go out to meet the enemy and take the initiative to fight back the rebels.

Obviously, as long as he defends Tongguan's natural danger, he can encircle and wipe out the rebels when the other King Qin's troops join up, but Xuanzong doesn't want to wait any longer.This war was an unbearable shame for him, and he couldn't wait to eliminate these people who dared to challenge Tianwei immediately.

Within a day, several books were made and sent to Tongguan. Ge Shuhan knew that he would die, but he accepted the order with tears in his eyes.

20 Tang troops died in this battle, Tongguan fell, and the emperor fled.

Should he thank the emperor of the Tang Dynasty for leaving his concubine behind?Otherwise, he really couldn't find a way to save Ajie.Rong Xiang sneered.

The Daming Palace was in chaos at this time, and it was startled that the emperor had fled. The rest of the people in the palace had no backbone at all, and the ugliest side of human nature was completely exposed. Hit the hand.

At this time, it is really easy to sneak into Daming Palace.

Rong Xiang took Wuyi along, smoothly touched the palace wall, and quickly found the palace where Ajie lived.

The same cup of drug was poured into the elder sister who had lost her mind from crying, and helped her change into a man's coat. Rong Xiang handed a small package to Wu Yi: "Now the road to Qingzhou in the east is blocked, you take Let my sister go to Taiyuan and find Xiao Yi."

After Yan Zhenqing defeated Lingwu, he handed over the military power to Guo Ziyi, the current Shuofang Jiedu envoy, and changed to a more adept logistics job.Xiao Yi, on the other hand, went to serve under Li Guangbi's command in Hedong and was currently in Taiyuan.

He reminded: "There is a guide in the package, one is your name, and the other is Rong Xiang, which is for my sister. My sister's appearance is [-]% similar to mine. She usually only rides in the car and doesn't talk to people. Others can't see it." He smiled, "I originally got this guide for the convenience of going out for fun, but now it can be put to great use, which shows that I have the foresight."

Holding the package, Wu Yi felt extremely hot: "Xiao Langjun, what about you?"

Rong Xiang smiled: "The car we prepared can only accommodate one person. Sister gets in, and I have to walk outside. It's so hard, so I don't want to do it. I want to stay in Chang'an."

Wu Yi was in a hurry: "Then Wu Yi will find a horse, Mr. Xiao Lang won't get tired riding a horse, the three of us will go together!"

Rong Xiang smiled again: "Don't look at the mess everywhere now, in fact, the inspections in various places are very strict. Without guides to prove your identity, you will definitely be arrested as a spy. That's killing at will, not at all soft-hearted. If I also Let's go together, who will guide us? Murong Jin? Or Murong Xiang?"

Wu Yi was in a hurry: "Then, Mr. Xiao Lang used Wu Yi's way to lead away! Wu Yi stayed!"

Rong Xiang rolled his eyes at him: "Did you understand? I don't want to walk hard. Besides, my sister has such a delicate temper. Only you can serve her well. I don't ask for that hardship."

He patted Wu Yi's head: "Stop making trouble, be obedient, if you dawdle any longer, the three of us will get stuck here, without even a messenger." He smiled, "Don't worry about me, I Whoever he is, he has his own way out of trouble."

He looked at the unconscious elder sister, hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind, and pulled out a gold thread from the neckline. At the end of the gold thread, there was a small jade pendant.

"This jade ring was left by Xiao Yi, and it happened to be used as a token. When he sees this jade ring, he will naturally take good care of you."

Wu Yi held the jade jue that still had Rong Xiang's body temperature in his hands, crying, but he couldn't take this step.

Rong Xiang sighed, and said: "Don't act like a daughter, hurry up and leave, I can handle my important affairs with peace of mind. Sister will entrust you, you must live on."

Wu Yi finally cried out, fell to the ground, kowtowed heavily to Rong Xiang several times, carried Murong Jin on his back, and fled out of the palace while taking advantage of the chaos.

Rong Xiang looked at their backs, lost in thought for a long time.

If we say goodbye today, will we meet again in this life?

He wasn't really sure.

Can only bet.

If he lost the bet, he looked northwest. If he lost the bet, the two of us would be even.

Back then, you also threw away your promise to me and rushed into Shibao City regardless of life and death. Now, it's going to be me who doesn't keep the promise.

If I had known this before, I would have tried my best to kiss and hug again that day, even if you don't want to, you still have to hug.

Even if you were pointing your sword at my chest, you still have to hug me.

The rebels broke through the city very quickly, when they rushed into the Daming Palace, there were still many palace people who hadn't escaped, just as Rong Xiang guessed, these people didn't even have the ability to escape.

The rebels like tigers and wolves rushed into this gentle and rich town, completely bewildered and lost their minds.Rape, killing, and looting after breaking down the city were commonplace, but this time, they were able to loot at will in the palace, and they could do whatever they wanted with the emperor's woman. This feeling was so good that they lost control completely.

begging?More like great music, the louder the women bark, the more excited they get.

bribe?People are ours, not to mention the money in your hands.

resist?Slashed to the ground with a knife, life or death, as long as there is no more resistance, the violence will continue.

No matter what their original status is, it goes up to the princess, down to the maid, without exception.

The atrocities went from inside to outside the palace, from inside to outside the palace, and the rebels were everywhere, wailing everywhere, bloody.

Xuanzong didn't see the tragedy of Chang'an City. He was mourning the Mawei Mutiny and the tragic death of the imperial concubine at this time.On the way to flee to the middle of Shu, besides the noble concubine, he thought more about the prince Li Heng who parted ways with him.

Li Heng actually wants to stay, instead of going to Sichuan with him to avoid disaster, what on earth is he going to do?

It wasn't just Gong'e who was forgotten by the emperor, there were countless officials and their children in Chang'an City.

The rebels captured several Hanlin priests who did not escape in the Hanlin Academy in the palace, old and ugly, just a little white face with thin skin and tender flesh.

When the little white face was cut, he shrank into a ball in fright and shook like chaff. The blood sprayed from the dead man's wound splashed on his face and body, mixed with snot and tears, looking extremely ridiculous.

He put his head in his hands and shouted tremblingly: "Don't kill me! You can't kill me! I am the son of Princess Jincheng, you can't kill me!"

The rebels grinned grinningly: "The serious princess has killed several of them today, how could you be the son of a princess like you?"

The little boy trembled even more: "I, I, I, my grandfather is Soluhou!"

The knife had already been cut almost to the top of the head, but one of the rebels stopped the soldier holding the knife with a yelp, picked up the boy's neck, looked it over carefully, and asked, "Holu Solu? Qingzhou, Soluhou?"

There was a smell of shame coming from under the little white face, obviously peed on his pants, he replied in a crying voice: "Yes, yes...it is Qingzhou! Qingzhou, Suo Luhou!"

The man snorted, threw him on the ground, and said with disdain: "Keep this man first, it's useful."

In the first month of the fifteenth year of Tianbao, An Lushan proclaimed himself emperor in Luoyang, and his country name was Dayan.

In June of the [-]th year of Tianbao, the city of Chang'an was broken, the emperor fled, and the prince Li Heng ascended the throne in Lingwu.

Xuanzong entered Shu.

In the second year of Zhide, Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi joined forces in Hengzhou and recovered Hebei.

At this moment, Xiao Yi, who was staying in Taiyuan, saw the jade ring.

Looking at that face that was very similar to Arthur but also too different, Xiao Yi seemed to be completely unable to hear what Wu Yi was saying.

All he knew was that Arthur was still in Chang'an, and he didn't escape with him.

Not only that, but Arthur actually returned the jade to him.

What this meant, Xiao Yi didn't dare to think deeply, his mind was blank, only the scenes of the parting at that time were left rolling in his mind.

"You know Li Linfu is my enemy, but you are working for him."

Rong Xiang nodded: "Yes, I have no other choice. Helping him is better than letting that Yang Guozhong do his best. If he takes power, it will only be worse than Li Linfu."

"You know that Jie Shuai is the person I respect the most in this life, but you, you poisoned him with your own hands."

Rong Xiang was slightly taken aback: "You also know about this matter?"

Xiao Yi's face turned livid: "You are so careful, everything is done seamlessly, if others don't tell me, I will only think that Jie Shuai died of an illness. It's a pity, it's a pity that your good master doesn't want to hide it for you at all!"

The smile on Rong Xiang's face gradually disappeared, and the joy of seeing Xiao Yi at first was gradually dissipated, and the hurried steps finally stopped a few steps away from Xiao Yi: "Good master? I have never really done anything for Li Linfu , Brother should be very clear in his heart. Why do you use these words to insult me ​​today? You are just venting your anger. As for the death of Jie Shuai, it is the destiny of heaven, and I have a clear conscience."

"With a clear conscience? Since you have no shame, why don't you dare let me know?!"

Rong Xiang looked at him steadfastly: "Why didn't I dare to let you know? Brother, your current appearance is the reason why I dare not let you know." His eyelashes trembled, as if he was about to cry, but also seemed to be holding back, "I'm afraid that you will misunderstand me, that you will have trouble with me because of this, and that you will hate me, I am afraid!"

Xiao Yi's hands trembled uncontrollably, and he roared in a low voice: "Even if this matter has nothing to do with you, you are always an insider. It has been so long! You can definitely spread the news. Even if we risk our lives, we must Save Jie Shuai, but you...you, you just didn't say a word, didn't even mention a single word! You just watched Jie Shuai die like that!"

Rong Xiang asked back: "I didn't have a reason to spread the news, don't you understand?" His eyes gradually became watery, "Do you think I was in a good mood at the time? But I can't help it! Brother, Jie Shuai's thoughts, Don't you understand today?"

He pointed to the long box on the desk: "That's the short sword given to you and me by the Marshal. Please read the words on it clearly."

Xiao Yi hesitated for a moment, Rong Xiang had already opened the box, took out the dagger, turned around and handed the hilt to Xiao Yi.

"If you want to benefit the country, you will have no regrets in life or death."

These eight words hit Xiao Yi's chest hard like a thousand-weight hammer. The old injury hadn't healed, but at this moment, the blood was attacking his heart, and he spurted out a mouthful of blood.

Rong Xiang's complexion changed drastically, and he stretched out his hands to help, but Xiao Yi turned slightly to avoid it, only snatched the dagger, with a clang, the sword came out of its sheath, and the cold light shone, making his complexion pale and his teeth chattering.

"Jieshuai...benevolent and righteous, but they, they rushed to kill them all!" He tightened his grip on the sword, the veins on his forehead twitched wildly, and the blood on the corners of his lips was bright red, glaring, "I, I want to kill them!" After finishing speaking, Huo Ran Turn around and go out.

Rong Xiang rushed forward to stop him, with his arms outstretched: "Brother, where are you going?"

Xiao Yi paused, Jianfeng pointed directly at Rong Xiang: "Get out of the way, I'm going to kill that pair of foolish and traitorous officials."

Rong Xiang did not retreat an inch, his eyes suddenly became extremely sharp like a blade: "Brother, if Jie Shuai is willing to kill them, he will not lead him to death safely. If you go to assassinate the emperor and the traitor now, Datang will immediately fall into a mess Chaos! Now that the party struggle is so fierce, An Lushan is gradually taking advantage of the gap. Only by keeping Li Linfu can An Lushan be subdued and the balance of power between all parties can be maintained! Only by keeping the emperor can we ensure that all parties will not be in conflict. And! Brother! These two people can't die now!"

Xiao Yi's always stable hands trembled violently, and the tip of the sword shook up and down uncontrollably, already tearing the clothes on Rong Xiang's chest: "You, you are blocking me, preventing me from taking revenge."

Rong Xiang said word by word: "Yes, I'm stopping you. I can't watch you turn all Jieshuai's hard work into nothing!"

Xiao Yi stared into his eyes as if breathing fire, and the tip of the sword kept shaking. After a long, long time, the sword finally lowered down, his eyelids drooped, his teeth were clenched, and a stream of blood slowly flowed from his lips: "Go." His voice was low and hoarse, "You go, if you don't go, I'm afraid, I can't help but kill myself."

That day was the last time they met.

Xiao Yi's face was pale, he firmly held the jade jue, and swallowed the mouthful of blood that came up forcefully.

Arthur, I never really hated you, why didn't you come to me?

I just, just hated myself, hated myself for being so incompetent, hated myself for not being able to do anything.

The author has something to say: (The most famous of the four characters of Gou Li Guo should be Lin Zexu’s sentence "Gou Li Guo lives and dies, why should we avoid it because of misfortune and good fortune", but it first came from the Book of Rites, the original text is "Gou Li Guo , do not seek wealth”——"Book of Rites? Confucianism")

(The actual situation of the Anshi Rebellion is not exactly the same as that written in the article. I slightly adjusted the order of different events according to my needs.)

(Yan Zhenqing is the Yan Zhenqing with good looks. He and his cousin Yan Gaoqing were heroes during the Anshi Rebellion. Yan Gaoqing’s son was only in his teens when he died. , and was later beheaded by the rebels. Yan Zhenqing wrote the famous "Worship to Nephew" for this reason, which is full of blood and tears.

Yan Zhenqing was killed by treacherous ministers in his old age and died at the hands of thieves.

The heroic spirit is immortal, and the strength of character will last forever. )

(The Hanlin Academy was established in the Tang Dynasty. At the beginning, it was an institution that served people with artistic skills. Since Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the Hanlin Academy was divided into two types. Hanlin Academy. Hanlin bachelors are responsible for drafting edicts, while Hanlin enshrined has little real power. The great poet Li Bai was enshrined by Hanlin enshrined.)

☆, Qingzhou