General

Xuanming was defeated, and Nanli led the few remaining troops across the barren grassland.The cold wind in winter passed over the withered grass lying on the ground, like a whimpering cry.

Not far away, a group of refugees, old and young, were sitting around the roadside. Something was cooking in the dark cauldron in the middle. The steaming heat was scattered in the wind, mixed with intermittent babies crying.

"Officer...!"

A shrill cry suddenly sounded from outside the carriage. Nan Li nervously glanced at Fei Yan who was still sleeping next to him. Then he relaxed, and gently lifted the brocade curtain to look out.

I saw a woman who looked like a village woman holding a two or three-year-old child in her arms, and was being stopped by soldiers, but she was still struggling in the direction of the carriage regardless, crying continuously while rushing: "The official... ...Save my child!! We haven't eaten for days... My child, my child is starving to death... woo woo woo..."

Nanli's eyes fell on the scrawny little girl, and she was closing her eyes, curled up in her mother's arms dyingly, her dirty little hands were hanging on one side, almost no trace of blood could be seen.

"Give them some dry food." Nan Li glanced at the lieutenant beside him, frowned and ordered, "And those people in front."

"Yes." The deputy general led the order and left, and the car curtain fell from his fingers again.Nanli turned his head and bumped into Feiyan's deep and cold eyes.

"I met some refugees..." Nanli smiled forcedly, and the brocade quilt that slid him down to his waist was lifted to his chest, "I woke you up."

"There will be more." Fei Yan closed his eyes again and replied coldly.

"What?" Nanli was puzzled, not knowing what he meant.

"For the attack on Longxiao this time, the imperial court confiscated too much food and grass. In addition, there was a locust plague before, and the harvest dropped sharply. When I came, I was already starving and dying."

Nanli can imagine what kind of scene it will be in Xuanming Country this winter.They failed to exchange war for what they wanted, but sacrificed too many soldiers and starved to death too many people.

The carriage was driving slowly in the northwest desert, but Nanli still felt that it was too fast.Tuoba Han took the lead in escaping back to Xuanming. In order to get rid of the crime, he would definitely put all the blame on himself. Nanyuan has always been ruthless. He didn't know what kind of situation he was about to face, which made him a little timid.

……

After more than ten days of trekking, everyone finally arrived at Xuanming Capital City—Xuancheng.Along the way, Nanli witnessed the famine everywhere, and a large number of refugees starved to death on the streets. Facing such a scene, he felt ashamed for the first time.

Suspicion outside Yuling Pass, dishonesty at the last moment, Nanli closed his eyes in pain, recalling all the past, maybe he was the one who directly caused this defeat...

The Xuanming Palace at this moment is still extremely majestic, but it is a bit more depressed after the defeat.Nanli and Feiyan stood at the foot of the black jade-paved stone steps in the main hall with their hands down. When they raised their heads, they saw groups of imperial guards holding long spears, standing majestically in the cold wind.

"Your Highness, Pavilion Master." A young eunuch hurriedly ran out of the hall, and saluted the two of them, "Your Majesty is in the sleeping hall, please go directly."

"En." Nanli nodded to the man, glanced at the exhausted Fei Yan beside him, and subconsciously wanted to help him, but Fei Yan coldly dodged to the side and staggered forward alone. go.

He was seriously injured, and he gave up his martial arts. He was almost exhausted after working hard all the way, but he was still stubborn.

Looking at his back that was gradually walking away, Nanli sighed inaudibly. At this moment, he wished so much that he had the supreme power, so that he could get everything he wanted.

It's just that now, the position that was originally within easy reach has become out of reach with the defeat of the war.

"Your Highness, Pavilion Master..."

Before they knew it, the two had already arrived outside Nanyuan's sleeping hall. The eunuch pushed open the heavy mahogany door, stood in the warm candlelight, bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, please."

Nanli gently lifted up the hem of his clothes and walked towards the brightly lit hall, but Fei Yan stood there with frowning eyebrows, inadvertently clenched his palms.

Tuoba Han's army probably had Xuanhuang's eyeliner, so the news that he and Nanli lived in the same room might have already reached his ears.Now that he has lost all his martial arts and lost another battle, he is already useless, and now he doesn't know why he can leave here alive...