Linzhi

He Mu and He Xiu, from the time they left Zhushan to the time they arrived with reinforcements, seven days had passed.

These seven days were suffering and waiting for those who stayed behind in Zhushan, so why not for He Mu and He Xiu?They rushed on horseback, traveled day and night, passed by Fangling without stopping, and spent two full days arriving in Shangzhou, asking for help from the governor of Shangzhou, Xie Shi.

Sure enough, Xie Shi did not disappoint them. After he learned that Fangling did not send troops to rescue Zhushan, he was furious and scolded Sima Yun for neglecting the people under his rule. Quite comforting.

At this time, Zhang Tao, Marquis of Wuwei, arrived with an army of [-] from the imperial court. After hearing that Zhushan was in danger, Zhang Tao set off for Zhushan together with brothers He Mu and Hexiu. In a small episode, Sima Yun heard that the imperial army was coming and greeted him out of the city in person. He first thanked His Majesty for his grace and Marquis of Wuwei for his hard work, and then tearfully stated how Fangling could not protect himself. Thinking of the imperial court sent people here, God bless Zhushan.

He Xiu couldn't hold back his anger, so he replied on the spot: "The county magistrate Tan sent people to Fangling to ask for help, but there was no reply from the envoy!"

Sima Yun looked surprised: "Tan Jin did send people here, but I have already told them to let Zhushan be safe and not to be impatient. As the governor of Fangzhou, how can I ignore Zhushan's safety as a parent?"

Then his face darkened: "Could it be that Tan Jin deceived his superiors and concealed it, and falsely passed on his official orders?"

He Xiu had never seen such a brazen person before, so he opened his eyes, and wanted to argue with the other party again, but Zhang Tao stopped him: "The situation in Zhushan is critical, and I am ordered by the court to suppress the rebellion. No more greetings with Sima Inspector."

He waved his hand, signaling the army to set off.

Sima Yun hurriedly said: "The Marquis of Wuwei is passing through in a hurry, why don't you rest for one night before leaving?"

My own rescue is not effective, and I still want to drag others to the rescue!He Xiu almost couldn't help but curse again.

He Mu whispered to him: "If Marquis Wuwei was late and failed to save the siege of Zhushan, Sima Yun can shirk responsibility and let the court hold Marquis Wuwei responsible instead of him."

How shameless!He Xiu let out a groan in his heart, he didn't have the slightest liking for the governor of Fangzhou who refused to send troops so long that Zhushan was in crisis.

Naturally, Zhang Tao would not do what he wanted. The main purpose of the army passing by Fangling was to let Sima Yun provide food and grass. Sima Yun could ignore Tan Jin's request for help, but he dared not ignore Zhang Tao's request. No matter what he thought in his heart, He can only prepare enough food and grass as required.

However, the marching of the troops was different from the two traveling lightly. Zhang Tao let most of the soldiers and luggage go behind, while he himself led a thousand cavalry and galloped to Zhushan with He Mu and the others.

Hurrying along the way, it’s not that he didn’t think about the possibility that Zhushan has already fallen. From Zhang Tao’s point of view, under such a disparity between the enemy and ourselves, Zhushan is almost impossible to keep, and the eldest son of the emperor, He Tai, may have fallen into the enemy’s hands. In that case, he could only follow His Majesty's instructions and declare He Tai's loyalty to the country and die in the city.

But he didn't expect that Zhushan could still support it until now.

For two whole days and nights.

Zhang Tao only brought a thousand cavalry with him, but these people were all elite, more than enough to deal with the rebels who were also exhausted from the siege, and quickly defeated the opponent. The rebels had to retreat to Shangyong, and the entire Bamboo Mountain In the county town, Zhang Tao and the others were almost greeted with thunderous cheers.

He Tai couldn't believe his ears when he heard the news.

He was already prepared to defend the city without hope, but if the ants are still alive, who would be willing to stand by and wait for death?

When the rich families heard the rebels attacking, they rushed out in panic and fled. Those like He Tai who still have infinite attachment to life naturally don't want to die.

But in the midst of desperation, deep down in his heart was a tinge of rejoicing, because He Mu and He Xiu had both escaped, no matter how bad the situation was, at least one bloodline of the He family could be preserved.

Until the arrival of the reinforcements, ecstasy overwhelmed the panic, and He Tai still fell into a dream.

"Zhushan...are you saved?" He asked Tan Jin, his voice trembling.

Tan Jin was no better than him, and the excitement of escaping from death was overflowing in every Zhushan person's heart at this moment.

"Yes! He Langjun, we are saved!"

Tan Jin pulled He Tai and greeted Zhang Tao, saluting deeply: "Your Majesty sent a surprise soldier from the sky to turn the tide. On behalf of all the people in Zhushan City, I would like to thank Lord Marquis for his life-saving grace!"

Zhang Tao didn't put on airs, and stretched out his hands to help each other: "Magistrate Tan doesn't need to be too polite. If you hadn't led the people to be steadfast and unyielding, even if I came, I would have to face a city occupied by thieves."

Looking back on the fear and bloody storm these days, Tan Jin couldn't help but let out a long breath.

Zhang Tao took the initiative to say hello to He Tai again: "He Langjun has worked hard too."

Tan Jin hurriedly said: "This time, apart from He Jia Dalang and Erlang going to Shangzhou to ask for help, it is also thanks to the joint efforts of He Langjun and several other Xiaolangjun, the reason why Zhushan County can survive is that they should Take the lead!"

Although his talents are mediocre, he has a good eye and knows people well. Under the situation at the time, if he had been slower to respond or a more rigid county magistrate, he might not have let He Mu Hexiu go out to ask for help. There was Zhang Tao, who didn't know that the situation in Zhushan was so critical that if he came a moment late, the city gate might be breached at any time.

But now that the He family has made such great achievements, since the emperor sent Marquis Wuwei here, it is likely that the eldest son's family's merits will be credited to them, and they will be allowed to return to Beijing. Tan Jin is not hesitating to be a favor and give He Tai another favor.

Having said that, although He Tai's performance in defending the city this time was mediocre, needless to say He Mu and Hexiu are his sons, He Rong and He Zhan are equally outstanding, and Tan Jin is not lying.

After many years abroad, He Tai has also learned to be cautious. Hearing the words, he said modestly: "This is the meritorious service of the leaders of the county, as well as the meritorious service of the soldiers and common people who fought against the enemy bravely without regard for their own lives. It is not my family's ability. I dare not claim the first merit!"

Zhang Tao said with a smile: "Mr. He is too modest, the battle is over, everyone must be tired, if the county magistrate Tan doesn't mind, you can let the people I brought take turns to guard the city, let the soldiers have a good night's sleep! "

Tan Jin hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is willing to take over this matter. Is there any reason why the lower officials are not happy, but it is according to Master Hou's orders!"

Taking advantage of Zhang Tao and Tan Jin's exchange of pleasantries, He Mu and He Xiu came up to see his father. They were only separated for a few days, but they were almost separated by life and death. Both of them couldn't hide their excitement: "Father, are you okay!"

He Tai also took a deep breath, suppressed the agitation in his heart, and patted them on the shoulder: "I'm fine, everything is fine at home! You've done a good job!"

……

There was thunderous cheers in the city, and the soldiers went down the tower one by one, in twos and threes, but He Zhan sat against the wall without moving.

The knife was at hand, and the blood on it had dried up.

It's not that no one came to help, but He Zhan refused.

He was so tired that he didn't want to move a finger.

The hustle and bustle in the city seemed to have nothing to do with him.

He closed his eyes, with an indifferent expression, he just wanted to have a good sleep and not have to mind his own business.

The footsteps were getting closer, and they were coming this way.

He Zhan frowned, feeling impatient.

Didn't they all tell him not to worry about him?

The other party's movement was not small, listen carefully, the footsteps seem to be light and heavy.

He Zhan moved his mind slightly and opened his eyes.

"Third brother?"

He Rong hummed and bent over to help him.

He Zhan sighed softly, and stood up. He was weak all over, and his right arm was completely numb. In order not to burden He Rong, he could only put most of his body weight on the wall behind him.

"Why did you come here? I heard that the Marquis of Wuwei is here, and the third brother should go to greet him with my father. If there is no advice from the third brother this time, I am afraid we will not be able to persist."

He Rong: "You talk too much nonsense."

He leaned on the ground with a bamboo stick in one hand, and lifted He Zhan's arm with the other, across his shoulders, and helped him up.

"Use your strength."

He Zhan smiled wryly: "I don't have the strength, so leave me alone, lest you get thrown by me."

But He Rong's strength was stronger than he expected. He not only lifted him up, but also led him forward step by step. The two leaned on each other to support each other, and they also slowly went down the tower.

"Although the third brother can't go to the battlefield and can't kill the enemy, it is more than enough to bring you along."

Even though He Zhan knew intellectually that Zhang Tao was an important figure in whether they could return to Beijing, but after two full days and nights of bloody fighting, none of his father and brothers came to ask if he was okay, his heart still inevitably floated A sigh.

People all over the world are going to prosperity.

There is only one person who is willing to wait for you in a dimly lit place.

He Zhan smiled: "Yes, third brother is wise."

He Rong seemed to know what he was thinking: "You fought bloody battles, and you don't hesitate, even ordinary people should be rewarded for your merits, don't worry."

He Zhan: "So, we can go back to Beijing?"

He Rong: "If there are no accidents, it should be."

He Zhan: "Third brother, you are always so old-fashioned, you don't even agree with what you say, can't you make me happy?"

He Rong: "What's the use of what I said, I'm not Your Majesty, you might as well think about what's in front of you, Ajia made your favorite shepherd's purse dumplings, and you can eat them when you go back."

He Zhan: "I don't want to eat anything now, I just want to have a good sleep. If you didn't look for me just now, I would just close my eyes on the tower."

He Rong: "Then I can also let you down and let you lie down on the street and sleep first."

He Zhan: "Don't..."

The morning light is cold, the sweet-scented osmanthus has not yet fallen, and Zhushan County, where the battle has just ended, is overflowing with soft laziness.

It is hard to hide the tiredness on people's faces, but more joy and hope.

The two brothers chatted one after another, supported each other, and walked towards home.

The author has something to say:

A small theater that has nothing to do with the text

He Zhan: My third brother and I are very close because he is careful and soft-hearted.

He Rong: Yes, yes.

He Zhan: And he is willing to take care of other people's feelings, can understand other people's hearts, and is good at discovering details.

He Rong: Yes, yes.Like the private money you stash under your bed.

He Zhan: ...you'll get half of it, don't talk about it.