I Rely on Beauty to Stabilize the Country

These are all strong soldiers raised by Gu Yuanbai with enough food and food, with great strength and endurance.It is naturally a piece of cake to go fishing in the water and go up the mountain to play wild.

Before Xue Yuan let them go deep into the forest, a group of soldiers caught some pheasants and hares at the foot of the mountain, and served them with fish and shrimps from the water. ①

Xue Yuan looked around, "The appetite is not small."

The officer beside him laughed and said, "They are all fed up by the Holy One. These soldiers in Guangjing City have to eat and drink for a whole day!"

The officer held out both hands.

"It's good to eat now." Xue Yuan turned around and looked at the fire. The flames were igniting and jumping up and down under his eyes, just like the fires jumping in the heavy snow at the border. He said lightly, "A few years ago At that time, when I was guarding the nomads at the border, the soldiers I led were hungry and ate the dead grass in their clothes."

In winter, the border gate was so cold that people could freeze to death, nomads had no food, and they crossed the border again and again, Xue Yuan had to lead troops to garrison at the border.The ground was covered with thick snow, not a single blade of grass could be found, and half a leg could be frozen stiff with one foot.

Standing in the wind and cold for less than a quarter of an hour, anyone's face can be covered with a layer of ice and snow.If you pee, you have to hide and pee. If you are not careful, your children and grandchildren will freeze to death.

But they are soldiers of Daheng, so no matter how hard they are, they have to keep food for these poor people for the winter.

Xue Yuan remembered very clearly that at that time, the food and winter clothes from the imperial court were delayed, and when the food ran out, they could not rob the people of their own people like nomads.So he ate snow when he was thirsty, and ate snow when he was hungry. Xue Yuan would almost eat snow in his stomach.

No matter how full the snow is, it will melt into water.It is hard to hunt in the winter, and the horses brought from the nomads are not willing to eat. When they are very hungry and want to eat, they have to be handed over to the court in a blink of an eye.

On such a cold day, the soldiers were so hungry that they took off their clothes and went to eat the dead grass in the clothes.

Dry grass doesn't work either, and in the end either freezes to death or starves to death.Xue Yuan was thinking at that time, what the hell is this shit capital doing?

Where is the emperor?Where is the minister?

Are they all fucking dead?

Remember to ask them for horses and cattle and sheep, what about food?

It is really uncomfortable for a soldier leader to see his soldiers starved and frozen like that.

At that time, Xue Yuan hated the rulers in the capital.

People who eat meat with a mouth full of oil will never know what it's like to be hungry.

The officer was very interested in Xue Yuan's affairs at the border, "My lord, you must have some military merits?"

Xue Yuan raised the corners of his mouth, "I'm so useless, I don't have any military achievements."

The officer gave him a strange look, with disbelief clearly written in his eyes, but he didn’t ask any further. He handed the roasted rabbit meat to Xue Yuan, and Xue Yuan started to eat it, gobbling it up, no different from the soldiers beside him. .

There was a lot of movement at the foot of the mountain, and the little guy who was always watching the movement at the foot of the mountain informed Liu Yun when the Beijing Temple was built up. Liu Yun walked to the side and looked down the mountain, and saw the group of court officers and soldiers surrounding the fire. He was eating, drinking, talking and laughing, his expression was extremely relaxed, a gesture of celebration!

What are they celebrating?They haven't caught me yet, what's the celebration?

Liu Yun's face darkened, and he couldn't help thinking, could it be that these people already have a way to deal with him?

how can that be!

The more he thought about it, the more flustered he became. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this group of people eating and drinking at the foot of his mountain was showing off their power and celebrating the victory of the bandit suppression in advance.They have a way to break through Xiguang Mountain, and they are coming up the mountain to kill him.

Liu Yun's eyes were fixed on the group of small hills in the capital, and his whole body trembled, a chill came over him.He couldn't help thinking, if the food was exhausted within a month, would his head be one of those hills?

Xiguangshan can only persist for a month at most.

"Keep an eye on them at all times," Liu Yun was about to have a long-term discussion with the people in the village, and he repeated his instructions several times, "They must notify me of any changes, anything!"

The little guy who was in charge of the situation at the foot of the mountain was also terrified, and stammered, "Yes, yes."

Soon, the people at the foot of the mountain had a full meal, and they were summoned by the leading official, who did not know what to say, and these imperial soldiers and horses lined up and set off towards the foot of the mountain in a long line. One voice: "Village Master! The big thing is not good!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun hurried over, his eyelids twitched when he saw the situation below.He sent someone to investigate what the officers and soldiers were doing, and got the news that the officers and soldiers of the imperial court were stacking firewood at the foot of the mountain.

Liu Yun was dumbfounded: "Are they going to... do they set fire to the mountain?"

Naturally, Liu Yun was not the only person in charge on Xiguang Mountain. Hearing the words, the little chieftains all turned hideous in shock, and followed the little guy to explore the mountain.These court officers and soldiers were chopping firewood, and several piles of firewood had already been piled under the mountain road.

This is to burn them alive!

After he came back to report to Liu Yun, Liu Yun's face was solemn, and he finally touched his face and said, "The night is darker and the dew is heavier, they can't start the fire, and they don't have time to gather so much firewood. Let's pack our bags and take advantage of the enemy's sleep. When I was most acquainted, I went down the mountain and escaped overnight!"

As soon as the words came out, many leaders, big and small, agreed.They knew in their hearts that they would die sooner or later if they stayed on the mountain, so they might as well give it a go at night and still have a chance.

And Xue Yuan happened to think so too.

At night, the soldiers who set up camp were quiet, and the bandits on the mountain waited until midnight to make sure that the officers and soldiers at the foot of the mountain were all asleep before walking down the mountain lightly.

The dark concealment covered their figures, and it also covered the figures of the soldiers hiding in the dark and watching.Xue Yuan hid here with his soldiers and horses, and the archers lay in ambush. After all the people in the village had stepped on the flat ground, Xue Yuan made a gesture, and the arrows of the archers shot out in a burst of arrows. Screaming again and again.

Someone screamed, "We've been tricked!"

There was a continuous rain of arrows, and after the neat team was smashed to pieces by the archers, Xue Yuan made a decisive decision: "Rush!"

The infantry hiding in the forest appeared in time and stabbed one of the bandits who wanted to run back. The corpses fell from the mountain. The bandits wanted to resist, but they were surrounded by the enemy.

Clusters of torches were suddenly lit up, and the sound of loud drums was violent and oppressive. The entire foot of Xiguang Mountain was lit with the light of torches.

The majestic flag fluttered, and the expressions on the soldiers' faces were majestic and frightening.Xue Yuan approached with five hundred cavalry, and the sound of hoofbeats almost hit the hearts of the bandits.

The light on the torch swayed with the wind, Xue Yuan looked down at the bandits who were crying and howling, and said, "Surrender, please wait."

The strong horse shook its tail and let out a majestic cry.

Xue Yuan didn't even change his clothes, and the armor was covered with dried blood. He killed many people today, and his aura was heavy. Under the reflection of the fire, his eyes were as terrifying as evil spirits.

"Surrender, village lord!!!" Someone wailed and shouted, and then, "Surrender!" rang out continuously.

The mountain of human heads is the best deterrent to them. If they don't surrender, they will be beheaded and die.

"Village Master," cried and roared, "We don't want to die! We have to surrender!"

Liu Yun limp on the ground dejectedly, shivered uncontrollably, and said with chattering teeth, "Master, we surrender."

It took a total of three and a half days to wipe out the bandits on the three hills, of which three days were spent traveling back and forth.Bing is very fast, this speed, I don't know how many Beijing officials' jaws will be shaken.

While the other soldiers were resting, Xue Yuan hurried back to the capital.

After he entered Beijing, the sky had already darkened.At this time, it was inappropriate to enter the palace to disturb the little emperor, so he returned directly to Xue's residence.

General Xue and Mrs. Xue were taking a walk in the courtyard. When they heard that he was back, they stepped forward and looked, their faces turned dark, "What do you look like!"

The whole body is covered with blood and fishy smell, and there are some unknown things on the Xuanjia. Is this scoundrel killing a madman again?

Xue Yuan took the towel handed over by the boy and wiped off the dust on his face, "Prepare water, I want to take a bath."

He ignored General Xue and was about to go around them and leave when he suddenly stopped, looked back at Madam Xue and said, "Mother, where are the clothes?"

Mrs. Xue was surprised and asked, "What clothes?"

Xue Yuan pressed his palate, and the tip of his nose was full of the bloody smell from his body. He said patiently: "The clothes worn by the Holy One."

Mrs. Xue suddenly realized: "The clothes were worn by the Holy Majesty, so they were naturally taken away by the palace servants, so why are they still in our mansion?"

Xue Yuan was silent for a while, then suddenly smiled with his hands on his forehead, which he couldn't hold back.He turned around and walked towards his room, when he suddenly said on the way: "I didn't pay for the clothes."

The servant following behind asked doubtfully, "What are you talking about, Eldest Young Master?"

The corner of Xue Yuan's mouth twitched, "I have to find a way to get back something worth the money for clothes from that little heartless hand."

The boy was confused by what he heard, so he didn't ask any more questions. After returning to the room, he and another boy took off the armor on Xue Yuan's body.This armor weighs more than 20 kilograms. Without a tall body, the armor cannot be supported, and without strong endurance, it is impossible to wear such armor to fight.

And Xue Yuan beheaded no less than a hundred people in a row wearing such armor, bloodbathed Wangtu Mountain, and took down Xiguang Mountain, and rode his horse back overnight.Until now, he is also full of energy, which shows his exuberant energy.After the servants removed the armor for him, Xue Yuan loosened his muscles and bones, and the muscles on his back swelled up, still very strong.

"My lord, the hot water is ready," someone outside said, "Would you like to take a bath now?"

Xue Yuan nodded, and strode out.

In the palace, Gu Yuanbai was also preparing to rest.

He had just finished taking a bath, and the maid was wiping the last dew off his hair, and it was at this moment that he learned the news of Xue Yuan's return.

"Half a day," Gu Yuanbai didn't know whether to sigh or sigh, "Tian Fusheng, did you hear that, it only took him half a day to encircle and suppress the bandits on three hills."

Tian Fusheng nodded and said, "Your Majesty, Guard Xue is very skilled."

Gu Yuanbai closed his eyes, nodded, then paused for a while and said, "Let Qin Sheng come to see me tomorrow."

The Holy Majesty understood Xue Yuan's hard work and praised him for his good job in suppressing the bandits, so he gave many rewards, along with the rewards, he also gave two days of rest and a sealed position.

The Holy Majesty gave Xue Yuan the official position of Marquis of Yu in front of the palace.

Marquis of Du Yu in front of the palace, a senior officer in the imperial army, one of the commanders of the army, the official position is Cong Wupin.If you count Xue Yuan's previous military achievements, no matter what, he would have to be conferred the rank of a military officer above the fourth rank and above, and he would also be granted a title.But General Xue suppressed Xue Yuan's military achievements, and Gu Yuanbai gave Xue Yuan a higher official position as possible among the current possible official positions.

The General's Mansion was beaming, including General Xue, who had been pressing down on Xue Yuan, couldn't help showing a bit of joy.Although he has been suppressing Xue Yuan, but now his son has received a reward from the Holy One, which still makes him proud.

Not everyone can wipe out three mountains in half a day!

It's a pity that after I have an official position, I can't participate in martial arts.

When Xue's residence was bustling with activity, Chang Yuyan came to the door at this moment.

When he saw Xue Yuan, he looked him up and down, then smiled and said, "Go for a walk?"

Xue Yuan walked out of Xue's mansion with him, Chang Yuyan couldn't bear it halfway, and found a restaurant with him, booked a private room, and asked when there was no one else: "Xue Jiuyao, how do you go to suppress the bandits?" gone?"

Today is the holiday, Xue Yuan touched the wine glass with a careless expression: "Why, I can't suppress it yet?"

"I just didn't expect that you would one day work for the Holy Majesty," Chang Yuyan said with a smile, "I heard that the Holy Majesty sent you to the Imperial Academy last time to give Chu Wei and Kong Yilin the inkstones that the Majesty rewarded. Come talk to me?"

Xue Yuan was impatient, "They are all men, what can I say?"

Chang Yuyan was funny: "Then if you stay in front of the Holy One all day long, wouldn't you become a saw-mouthed gourd?"

Xue Yuan sneered, can it be the same in front of the Holy Spirit as it is in front of you?

Speaking of the Holy One, Chang Yuyan silently drank a glass of wine, then sighed and said, "Xue Jiuyao, with your idiot temper, you can still get lucky. To be honest, even I, the editor of the Imperial Academy I have never served in front of the Holy One, but you can really speak to the Holy One every day."

Xue Yuan also smiled, and narrowed his eyes, "Chang Yuyan, what do you mean by that?"

"What can I mean?" Chang Yuyan smiled wryly, "I just envy you that you can face the saint every day."

Xue Yuan took a sip of the wine and felt extremely refreshed. He thought to himself that I have more than just a face, I have even touched the thigh of the saint, but what's the use?I don't like men.

Jealousy, he's so weak, Xue Yuan can't even go crazy with him.

Xue Yuan didn't dare to torment such a holy majesty who could wear out his skin even if he rode a horse, and turn his hands red when he touched him.

"Xue Yuan?" Chang Yuyan called out twice, "What are you thinking about?"

Xue Yuan shook the wine bottle, "How can some people be so tender?"

Chang Yu said: "Tender?"

Xue Yuan touched his chin, and an indescribable smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "It's like a piece of tofu, it will break when you pinch it."

He looked like a bandit. Chang Yuyan couldn't understand what he said. He shook his head and sighed: "Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about your suppression of bandits. I heard that you will be wiped out after three and a half days." Three hills, what is going on?"

In the palace, Qin Sheng was also talking with the emperor about the suppression of the bandits in detail.

Gu Yuanbai listened carefully, while reviewing the memorial, he outlined the topography of the three bandit mountains in his mind.Qin Sheng spoke in an orderly manner. Although he had never read a book, he was born with the feeling of a Confucian general. At this time, he pronounced his words clearly, and even the sentence Xue Yuan said to him, "Do you want me to praise you?" out.

Like Xue Yuan, Gu Yuanbai found that Qin Sheng could easily become an excellent order executor.

He is excellent and has a strong learning ability. Let him lead a certain number of soldiers and horses alone, and after telling him how to do it, he will complete the task perfectly.But Qin Sheng can't be a handsome talent.

As a commander, the most important thing is to control his subordinates. Qin Sheng is too honest, or too loyal. Such a person cannot be the person who issues orders, but it is easy to gain the trust of those who issue orders.

Gu Yuanbai liked such a person very much.

He stopped his pen to review the memorial, and said, "Xue Yuan only took the head of the village master Wang Tu?"

"Yes," Qin Sheng affirmed, "Master Xue said bluntly that he only wants this person's head."

Gu Yuanbai smiled slightly, and taught: "This is the way to control the subordinates."

Qin Sheng's expression became serious, and he saluted and said: "I also ask the Holy One to give advice."

"What Yuxia pays attention to is 'wideness' and 'strictness'," the Holy Majesty said slowly, "this 'wideness' refers to gold, silver, wealth, fame and fortune. Your subordinates follow you for the sake of gaining benefits. General, you can’t compete with soldiers for credit. As a general, soldiers must be rewarded and praised for doing a good job. Prestige and benefits, one is for them to obey, and the other is for them to use for you.”②

The thoughts of the superiors are always in common. Qin Sheng had been in a position of being ruled before, so when he understood these words from a high place, he suddenly felt at a loss.

Gu Yuanbai looked at his expression, smiled, and told him to step back and think slowly.

Part of the government affairs has been dealt with, and templates, tables, and diagrams have begun to appear in the sent memorials. In terms of tables and diagrams, Gu Yuanbai is confident that no one can compare to him, and he can see what is wrong at a glance. What point is deceitful and full of loopholes, found such absolute rhetorical criticism, and even demoted and transferred. After dealing with a few people at the beginning, the remaining officials were indeed a lot more honest.

Seeing that there were no outsiders in the hall, Tian Fusheng took a step forward and said in a low voice: "My lord, the heads of Lu Feng's subordinates that were found in the Prince Qi's family earlier have been rushed to Jingnan and Jiangnan."

"Okay!" Gu Yuanbai laughed and said narrowly, "I really want to see their expressions."

Tian Fusheng followed suit with a chuckle, "The spies found by the Imperial Army in the residences of the lords of the clan have also boarded the torture vehicle, but there are too many of them, and it may take a month before they can be sent to Jingnan and Hunan."

"It's not too slow," Gu Yuanbai touched his chest, felt the slow beating speed of the heart under his palm, and sighed, "I hope they can live up to it."

If the dog bites the dog, the dog bites the dog, if it should rebel, rebel, don't show mercy to him.

Those tyrants, Gu Yuanbai can praise them as individuals after the robbery.

Gu Yuanbai cheered up his opponent silently.

Don't betray his trust!

Two days later, Xue Yuan stood in front of Gu Yuanbai with a smile on his lips.

Gu Yuanbai was discussing matters with the imperial censor, and after the imperial censor left, Xue Yuan respectfully stepped forward, saluted, and said: "My lord, I fulfilled my mission and returned victorious."

In the past few days when Xue Yuan was away, the chief guard had recovered and appeared in front of the Holy One. The tall guard stood upright, standing in front of the Holy One as motionless as a mountain.

That position is still where Xue Yuan usually stands.

Xue Yuan glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, with a smile on his face, and the haze in his eyes had already darkened.

What do you mean, he suppressed bandits for the little emperor for a few days, and his position was replaced by someone else?

The corners of Gu Yuanbai's lips curled up, and he looked at him with a smile: "Xue Qing has been in the limelight these days."

The little emperor's smile was very lively, his pale lips curled up like flowers.The hostility in Xue Yuan's heart was instantly calmed down, and he also grinned and said, "It's all thanks to the blessing of the Holy One."

Gu Yuanbai asked Xue Yuan to tell the story of the incident again, and Xue Yuan briefly explained the matter of suppressing the bandits in a few sentences. In his eyes, these things were really lacklustre, and the opponent was too weak, so there was nothing to say.

After talking about suppressing the bandits, Xue Yuan laughed, "My lord, I have one more thing to offer you."

Gu Yuanbai raised his eyelids, motioning for him to bring it up.

Then I saw Xue Yuan walking up with a human head.

Xue Yuan was unrestrained, the head was not placed in the tray, but brought in by him by the hair.Gu Yuanbai's face was expressionless, while Tian Fusheng beside him screamed.

Xue Yuan didn't pay attention to their expressions, and held up the head directly, and said with a smile: "My lord, this is the head of the village master of Wang Tu."

Gu Yuanbai nodded expressionlessly.

Xue Yuan's smile deepened, and he thought, it's not bad to exchange a head for a piece of clothes worn by the emperor, right?

This head can at least be worth a lot of gold and silver.

But before he made a request, Gu Yuanbai said, "Get out."

Xue Yuan's smile froze.

Gu Yuanbai's complexion remained unchanged, neither angry nor happy, he did not look at the head in Xue Yuan's hand, but looked directly into Xue Yuan's eyes, and said calmly: "Xue Qing, either you get out, or the head gets out .”

Xue Yuan let out a "huh" and threw his head at the guard with his backhand, who took it out.

When he turned his head, he met the glaring gaze of the chief guard.That gaze seemed to be condemning Xue Yuan's bad behavior, Xue Yuan raised his lips with a smirk, "Your Majesty doesn't like what I offer you?"

Why are you so picky?

A rat covered in flesh doesn't like it, and a head worth a thousand gold doesn't like it, so what do you like?

Xue Yuan thought for a while about the jade pieces and solitary copies that the servants in the mansion asked him to send, and thought to himself, what's so good about them?

But when he glanced out of the corner of his eye, he saw His Majesty raising his hand to touch the suet jade on the table.Touching the fine and soft white jade with a hand like white jade, it was hard to tell which one was more beautiful.

Even against the backdrop of suet jade, His Majesty's nails were slightly pink.

Xue Yuan looked at it for a while, then looked away, but after a while, he unconsciously looked at the Holy Majesty's hand again.

...It's pretty nice.

If the jade is slender, and the slender jade is held by five fingers, it will be even more beautiful.