Crossing the East Palace

For Tang Luojin, fighting wars or fighting for power and profit are not the deepest wishes and preferences in his heart.

It's just limited by his status, once he was reborn, he was reborn as the prince who was exchanged.With this status as a "prince born in the first place", in order to survive, Tang Luojin had to pick up those things that he didn't like at all, do them slowly, and do his best.

It's like pretending to be stupid at the beginning, and it took nearly a year to pretend; it's like changing from a person who doesn't like power to a person born for power, and step by step, towards the commanding heights of that power , walked slowly; just like now, he obviously doesn't like war, but the temptation of military power makes Tang Luojin have to go from Chang'an to the border, not only for the sake of defending his family, but also for the sake of being able to fight. The power in his hands has been fought for two years in a row.

So this is not the end.

For the stability of the border of Datang, for the deterrence of the Tubo clan, and for the fact that his military power on the border can be firmly held in his hands and no one will shake it, Tang Luojin thought of building a new city, and he wanted to build a new city on this barren border. , the idea of ​​staying for a year.

but--

Tang Luojin tilted her head slightly, and glanced at the man beside her.

For him, fighting and fighting for power is just for survival; however, for the man beside him, fighting for power may not be what he wants, but the desire to fight must be what this man desires in his heart.

It's a pity, just like Tang Luojin who obviously doesn't like it, but still wants to do some things because of his status; Ning Junchi is also unable to do some things because of his status as the son of the Ning family.

Before the age of nine, Ning Junchi was trained as a general on the battlefield.But after the age of nine, the Ning family encountered a catastrophe. At such a young age, Ning Junchi was entrusted with a heavy responsibility and escaped all the way. With the evidence that allowed the Ning family to turn around and get rid of suspicion, after suffering countless hardships, he finally arrived in Chang'an City. Solved the crisis of the Ning family.

However, at that time, Empress Ning's "give birth" to a prince.At that time, Emperor Tianyuan valued the prince's aptitude, and planned to wait a little longer before making him the prince.

Under such circumstances, Ning Junchi could no longer go to the battlefield.

Even if he really loves to shed his blood on the battlefield; even if he has made great contributions to the Ning family; even if his talent in leading troops and fighting is not lost to anyone; even if the prince who is valued by Emperor Tianyuan was just born at that time, And Ning Junchi himself was only nine years old at that time...

Ning Junchi was still deprived of the right to go to the battlefield, and could only stay in Chang'an City as the Ning family's hostage.

Tang Luojin and Ning Junchi walked slowly together to the battle training ground vacated by Tang Luojin.

Compared with Tang Luojin who was always expressionless, Ning Junchi's face was cold, but not completely expressionless.

But Tang Luojin still didn't know how Ning Junchi could still like him so much when he knew that it was his own birth that prevented him from going to the battlefield.

Even if it is "uncle and nephew", the Ning family has already made great military achievements. The men of the Ning family do not need to rely on the girls of the Ning family to give birth to princes to consolidate their military achievements. However, Tang Luojin's birth at that time caused the Ning family to be impeached frequently in the court , and Ning Junchi and Ning Junyu were deprived of the right to go to the battlefield at that time.

Tang Luojin really didn't know if Jun Ning really hated him when he was late.

"Be careful."

There were too many things in Tang Luojin's mind, and if she was not careful, she almost tripped over a stone—although the supplies and people from Chang'an City had not been delivered before, Tang Luojin had already been there after delivering the letter. Let the soldiers on the frontier prepare for building a new city every day.It is not uncommon to encounter a stone or something on the road.

What's more, Ning Junchi helped him in time.

The hands of the two were clasped together, and they were released in an instant.

Tang Luojin remained expressionless.

Ning Junchi smiled slightly and said, "What is Xiao Qi thinking so preoccupied?"

Tang Luojin said: "I'm thinking, Caitou."

Since they want to lead their own people to "fight", then naturally they need some lottery as bets.It's more fun that way, isn't it?

Ning Junchi's eyes lit up immediately, then he thought about it, and said, "There's no rush for the lottery. If not...Xiao Qi and uncle bet a big one. From today onwards, until you and I leave here, every There will be a battle every three days, and the winners and losers of each will be recorded. On the day of departure in the future, we will see who wins the most times. Winning that person can make the losing person agree to one thing unconditionally."

Although Tang Luojin knew that Ning Junchi's talent on the battlefield was higher than his, and he was from the Ning family.However, he has been on the battlefield for two years, he is a real "veteran", how could he not beat Ning Junchi?

It's just that Tang Luojin has always been cautious, and after hearing the words and thinking about it, he said, "You can't violate the laws of Datang, and you can't let each other do things that are too demeaning."

Of course, this is just a verbal agreement.

For Tang Luojin, if Ning Junchi wins, and Ning Junchi makes a simple request, he agrees and is willing to admit defeat; however, if Ning Junchi's request is too much...then he can only automatically "" Forget" what you promised today.

If he had won, Tang Luojin didn't have any demands on Ning Junchi, he thought, at that time, he would probably just make a random request.

Ning Junchi smiled instantly, and stretched out his hand: "It's a deal."

Tang Luojin stared at the palm that was two sizes bigger than him for a while, then stretched out her hand and slapped that palm.

"It's a word."

In the following days, whether it was Tang Luojin or Ning Junchi, they were extremely busy.

Tang Luojin wanted to preside over the construction of the new city. The original matter of the new city was not particularly difficult when there were materials and people to build the new city.

But the difficulty was that Ning Junchi had brought a lot of things, so Tang Luojin had more ideas. In addition to building a new city, he built a beacon tower every [-] meters on the edge of the city gate.In addition to the beacon towers, strict passages must be built along the beacon towers to block the Tubo people and other foreigners.

This idea is naturally very good, but if it is actually implemented, the things Ning Junchi sent will be enough, so those who want to use this to "greed" some things to enrich their purses, what can they do? Can't do it.

Corruption has existed since ancient times.When they worked under the prince, they didn't intend to go too far, they just wanted to get a little oily.But the crown prince couldn't tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes, which would cut off their fortunes completely.After coming and going, these people wanted to make things difficult for the young Crown Prince.

"Your Highness knows that the things that Lord Xin Guo sent are all in quantity, but those soldiers and slaves who built the city... civilians, they all need to eat. As far as they eat every day, don't you put those Are things used up?"

"That's right. There are still some people who have bad hands and feet, and those supplies are wasted. How can there be enough things sent by Mr. Xin Guo? Please send the letter to Chang'an quickly, Your Highness, and let someone send some things." .”

"If there are no more supplies, I'm afraid that the new city that His Highness wants, and the defensive wall similar to the Great Wall, will not be built!"

……

Tang Luojin personally inspected the supplies and people brought by Ning Junchi.

Leaving aside those people, for women, they cannot get married in the first year.Because Tang Luojin wanted to use them to sew clothes, shoes and socks for the soldiers and cook for the people who built the city.That's a mammoth job.Fortunately, Tang Luo Jinte sent someone to protect them and paid them monthly wages, so they were not dissatisfied.

In this way, these two tasks were done by someone, and it was a woman who used relatively less strength.

As for the work of building the city, part of it was done by the male slaves Ning Junchi brought from Chang'an, and part of it was done by soldiers guarding the border in turn.

Although Tubo has just experienced internal strife and its strength has been greatly reduced, Tang Luojin understands that the matter of military training cannot be abandoned for a day.So the soldiers were divided into three parts.Part of the daily training is normal, part of the city is built, and part of it is to open up fields in the built city-although the border is located on a plateau and the land is extremely dry, it is not impossible to grow any plants, such as barley, or An important grain of Tubo.If Tubo can grow it, those who guard the border can naturally grow it too.

Such three parts of soldiers take turns to do things every day.Because Tang Luojin treated them generously, she didn't have to worry about food and clothing, so naturally she wouldn't cause trouble.

It's just that they stopped causing trouble, and those who wanted more things in their hearts started to cause trouble.

Tang Luojin's lips twitched slightly when she heard that someone under her command really asked him for more supplies and then kept them in her purse.

Everyone was stunned.

They all knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was extremely handsome.However, His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't like to laugh normally, no, it should be said that His Highness the Crown Prince has no expression on weekdays, whether crying, laughing, annoyed or angry, His Highness the Crown Prince has always been indifferent to emotions, and naturally everyone rarely sees it. His Royal Highness laughed.

- so amazing.

"Those supplies," Tang Luojin looked fixedly at the elders who came to look for him, "Is it really not enough?"

The elders froze before realizing that they were in front of the prince, and they were stunned by the prince's shallow smile. They were relying on their elders to sell their elders, relying on their long time guarding the border, they did not The credit also includes hard work, and there are some...Unspeakable hints, so I dared to say this to the prince.Hearing the crown prince's question, he felt guilty for a while, and then saw His Highness the prince's young appearance, he was concerned again, and hurriedly opened his mouth.

"It's true! Your Highness, the veteran has been guarding this border for more than 20 years. Would you still deceive Your Highness at this time?"

"Yes, yes, the old minister has also stayed at this border for 30 to [-] years. Speaking of which, the time spent guarding here is older than the crown prince's age. How can the old minister speak nonsense?"

……

Several people said yes one after another and refused to change their words.

Tang Luojin tapped the table lightly, and said: "Gu originally believed the words of the boss. After all, the bosses, indeed, have worked hard to guard the border for decades. Whether it is Datang or the father Both Huang and Gu are grateful to the elders for their dedication to my Datang."

The grey-haired and pot-bellied elders were about to grin immediately.

"Unfortunately, Lian Po is still old." Tang Luojin shook his head suddenly, and sighed, "The elders may be too old, and now they are confused when calculating the accounts. Speaking of which, among the elders Before Gu came here, Gu invited your assistants and asked about the supplies. None of the assistants of the elders said that the supplies were not enough."

Every time Tang Luojin said a word, the faces of the elders in front of him became stiff.

"They, what do they know!" One of them couldn't help but swear - after staying with those soldiers at the border for a long time, anyone can swear a few words.After finishing speaking, he hurriedly laughed again, "It is said that His Highness is a young man who is smart and able to recognize talents, so he will be able to see through those people early on that they are actually timid, and they will be confused when they see a big man like you. That's why they are wrong Are you speaking?"

The rest of them also hurriedly agreed with this person.

The smile on the corners of Tang Luojin's lips gradually faded away: "No. Just trust them." Seeing the faces of several people froze, Tang Luojin said again, "So, the current official positions of the elders will be temporarily handed over to you." Several assistants will be in charge. The bosses, it is better to hand in the paperwork for returning home early. Otherwise... If it is delayed for a long time, waiting for the bosses, it will not be a glorious return to the old age .”

After finishing speaking, Tang Luojin got up and left.

The elders who had guarded the border for more than 20 years turned pale.

But even so, they didn't dare to say anything more, and handed over the booklet begging for bones the next day.

No way, who made them confused for a moment, and forgot how His Royal Highness, the prince, held the military power on the border bit by bit in his own hands, and how, so that General Liu, who was originally the number one on the border, was right He was convinced?

Apart from youth and status, there are many things about this prince that they should not and cannot provoke.

With the departure of several elders, Tang Luojin found that the tasks he assigned had been completed a little higher.

When he knew this, the corners of his lips raised slightly, and then fell again.

For the next whole year, Tang Luojin put the matter on building the city.

As for Ning Junchi, Tang Luojin knew how to use it, but he couldn't completely trust him.

Therefore, the job that Tang Luojin assigned to Ning Junchi was to take care of the map of the new city-although this job was important and trivial, it could not relieve the surrounding soldiers.

As for the soldiers around them, they could see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince leading them in front of the team during training almost every day. He was the one they were truly loyal to and close to.

After all, he gradually became the same person as his father.

When Tang Luojin was lying in the tent, she was thinking silently.

A year passed in the blink of an eye.

Due to the large number of soldiers on the border, Ning Junchi brought many more people.Tang Luojin had a clear division of labor, and a year later, the new city was built.

The surrounding soldiers have all moved to the new city one after another—temporarily setting up tents in the new city.

In the new city, except for the main street and the place where the generals live, the rest of the places are still being explored.

Fortunately, there are a lot of soldiers here, and instead of living in tents every day, they also hope to live in a house, so there is no need for Tang Luojin to stay and supervise the building of the house.

"Choose a name." Ning Junchi looked at the proudly standing new city, stared at Tang Luojin seriously, and said with a slight smile, "This is the city built by Xiao Qi, so it should be named after Xiao Qi."

Tang Luojin's heart moved, but she shook her head slightly on her face: "After I write a letter to the emperor, I will come to name it."

Although, Tang Luojin could imagine that even if he wrote a letter to his father, his father would ask him to name it.However, when his father didn't really write to him, he couldn't really name it like this.

Imperial power, unique imperial power.

That is the right of the royal father.

Even if he was the emperor's favorite son, he couldn't touch him.

Ning Junchi's smile didn't change, he touched the boy's head which reached his lips, and didn't speak.

If it is said that three years ago, the prince in Chang'an City showed his sharpness and was unstoppable; then, the current prince, after three years of experience on the border, has really restrained his sharpness. Although he is still outstanding, he will not be aggressive easily.Instead, he restrained his true ability and happiness and anger.

King!

Ning Junchi thought, that seat is really harmful.

However, his Xiao Qi had to fight for that position.

Sure enough, Emperor Tianyuan sent a letter asking Tang Luojin to name her.

Tang Luojin didn't bother to think about Chengchi's name, so he directly used his own name - Jincheng.

For Tang Luojin, the meaning of this is that he came to preside over the construction of the city, and it happened that his name was suitable, so he directly moved it to use it.

But for the many soldiers guarding the border, it is His Royal Highness who attaches great importance to this city. Otherwise, His Royal Highness, how could he not even shy away from his own name, and just let people call him "Jin City" Woolen cloth?

Tang Luojin didn't know what everyone was thinking.It's just that it's time for him to set off and return to Chang'an.

Ever since his father built the new city, he has been urging him to return to Chang'an letter by letter.Now, it is the seventh letter.

Before, Jincheng was not fully built, so he would not go, which is understandable.However, now that the new city has been built, he has to leave.

"Your Highness should leave in secret." Tang Luojin's newly recruited staff suggested, "Now in Chang'an City, the story of the Second Prince and Ninth Prince's rivalry has been spread early. Even the Ninth Prince is still learning what His Highness did back then. , ask Mrs. An to marry her granddaughter. This is to fight against the elder second prince."

Tang Luojin remained silent.

Another aide continued: "The Ninth Prince's move is not just to deal with the Second Prince. His Highness's mother family is the Ning family, and King An and the Ning family...they are big enemies. Although the Ning family is unwilling to haggle with King An. However, the account of the dismembered son of Wang An's family, King An did not count on the Turks, but on the Ning family. The Ning family and His Highness are one. If the nine princes want to unite with King An, they must deal with Ning. family, and dealing with the Ning family is dealing with His Highness."

"Exactly. It's just that although the Second Prince and the Ninth Prince are hostile to each other, if it is to deal with His Highness, they are very likely to join hands with each other." Zhu Keshan who hurried over said, "Your Highness, the hearts of the people, military power, Sheng Chong is in their hands. It is almost impossible for the Second Prince and the Ninth Prince to deal with His Highness and pull His Highness from the position of Crown Prince. Thinking about it, it would be better to hold His Highness the position of crown prince..."

"It's better to kill Gu on the way back to Chang'an." Tang Luojin said, "However, even so, Gu can't leave quietly."

Everyone was stunned for a moment, then reacted immediately.

That's right, the crown prince managed to hold the military power on the frontier in his hands. General Liu, two deputy generals, and more than a dozen young generals on the frontier are now loyal to the crown prince.And the people in Jincheng are all looking forward to the prince, grateful to him, and trusting him. Under such circumstances, if the prince leaves, everyone will definitely send him off... Although the prince does not lack such a reputation, he can use this method to further improve his reputation. To win the hearts of the people, the prince will not use it.

Sure enough, the prince left Jincheng ten days later.

The people of Jincheng will send more than a hundred miles away.

If there is no prince, there will be no Jincheng, and there will be no stability for Jincheng in the next ten years. How can they not be grateful to the prince?

Moreover, such a young prince, a prince who will diligently lead them to fight every day, isn't it worthy of them to send him off?

Ten days later, Tang Luojin followed the crowd and left Yungui together, and then quietly left with Ning Junchi, with more than ten people by his side and thirty or so secret guards behind him.

At the same time, there were three groups of people who left quietly from the army returning to Chang'an to cover up for the prince.

In Chang'an City, the Second Prince and Ninth Prince were indeed fighting like a raging fire.

The Ninth Prince is only nine years old now.It's a pity that the mother clan of the Ninth Prince is too powerful, and his birth mother is also ambitious. Even the Ninth Prince himself knows in his heart that a son is more valuable than his mother. Among the princes of the father, the mother is the most powerful and noble, except for the prince. him.

Originally, even so, his mother clan wanted him to fight for the crown prince.Now, they know a terrible thing, how can they hold back and refuse to fight?

After "chatting" with his uncle and the second prince, the Ninth Prince thought that if Tang Luojin could die on the road this time, then Tang Luojin would be very lucky. Luo Jin came to Chang'an City alive... He thought that he probably couldn't tolerate a common son like him sitting in that position anymore.

It's just that the praying mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole follows.The person who released the news presumably deliberately wanted him to enter the game, and finally got stuck in it.

However, although the Ninth Prince is young, he also knows that the mantis is not easy to do. What he wants to do is only the oriole, and it must be the oriole.

Now that the second brother has another son, then, let's send the news to make the second brother happy.