Long Xiao wipes Qingfeng

Outside Huocheng on the northern border, on the edge of the vast grassland

Fires were crackling everywhere, and the flames that sprang up from time to time illuminated a few tired and blood-stained faces. Soldiers in broken armor were either drinking from rough porcelain bowls, or cutting with knives. The cattle and sheep in the village ate meat, occasionally said a few foul words, and made fun of each other. In the distance, all the lights in the city were turned off, and it looked peaceful and peaceful.

Suddenly a man with a hideous scar on his face stood up staggeringly, spilled all the dirty wine on the ground in his hand, faced the grassland, and said sadly: "This bowl of wine, respect, brothers who died on this grassland! Let's drink together in the next life!"

He threw the bowl and sat back slowly, tears streaming down his face.

People in the team also spilled wine on the ground one after another, wiped away their tears in the distance, and beat each other's shoulders to comfort each other.

They were originally people who have been in the army all year round, and they are used to seeing life and death, but this time they are hard to restrain themselves, but it is because this battle is brutal, and there is no one in ten.

One month ago, when the Di people attacked Changhua, Emperor Zhao dispatched troops and appointed Shen Yu, the elder brother of concubine Shen Gui, as the marshal, Zhong Hanjiang as the general, and Zhong Hanjiang's son Zhong Shuo as the vanguard. He dispatched another 3 troops, and the army immediately set out to march. .

This is the usual winter day, and the soldiers in the team are looking forward to victory as soon as possible so that they can go home and have a good year.

Unexpectedly, five days ago, Di Ren's decline had become apparent, and he was about to retire. Shen Yu, Zhong Hanjiang took advantage of the victory to pursue, and went deep into the grassland. He sent another 3000 people under Zhong Shuo's leadership to wipe out the rest of Di Ren's troops. However, the information was wrong. The troops actually appeared in the direction led by Zhong Xianfeng out of thin air. Zhong Shuo was a young talent, quite talented in military affairs. He went to the battlefield with his father at the age of 15. It has been three years now. In the counterattack, Zhong Shuo fought with all his strength and lasted for five days before Zhong Hanjiang led people back to help. Although it was difficult to kill half of Di's people in this battle, Zhong Shuo's men and horses were less than 100 left.

Fortunately, the foreign enemies have retreated, and tomorrow when the army gathers, they can set off to return to Beijing, where they will be rewarded for their merits.

Beside the bonfire, Zhong Shuo wiped his sword slowly with a piece of blood-stained war robe. After five consecutive days of fighting, he was already exhausted. At this moment, the hand holding the sword trembled slightly. In the cold winter, the blood on the sword turned into ice balls. It was just a glaring bloodstain that couldn't be wiped clean.

With crying and howling beside him, Zhong Shuo took wine and poured it on the sword, rinsed off the blood, and continued to wipe.

Zhong Shuo has been in the army for three years. He has always been prudent and has a little prestige in the army. When others saw him silent, they were afraid that he would be bored. Thanks to the full support of Xianfeng for five days, Xianfeng must be exhausted, why not go to rest first?"

Zhong Shuo took the meat, took a bite and said, "No, you need to be careful about defense."

Seeing that he insisted, the soldier stopped persuading him, scratched his head, and said after a long while: "Speaking of which, Pioneer is eighteen years old, and he has made such a contribution this time. When he returns to Beijing, he can discuss marriage. Pioneer may have a girl he likes." gone?"

"Have you made arrangements for Pioneer's family?"

The wailing sound gradually subsided, only one or two sobs were heard occasionally, someone heard the movement here, and suddenly said: "Yes! In a blink of an eye, Pioneer has reached the age of marriage!"

These people usually follow Zhong Shuo. It can be regarded as watching Zhong Shuo grow up to the present. Zhong Hanjiang does not give preferential treatment to his eldest son. Zhong Shuo has been working hard since he joined the army as a soldier. These five days of hard work were all due to Zhong Shuo's ability to prevent the entire army from being wiped out. The soldiers around him knew that he was very affectionate, so they didn't say anything but they must be sad in their hearts. They really cared for this child from the bottom of their hearts, and now they want to talk about marriage. At this age, I am really happy for him to have someone to take care of him.

Zhong Shuo took another bite and answered the question dully.

"Yes, eighteen"

"Return to Beijing to discuss"

"no favourites"

"Listen to parents' arrangements"

The atmosphere gradually became heated around Zhong Shuo's marriage, but no one would forget that in the winter of the 23rd year of Longde, nearly three thousand brothers died on this icy grassland.

Wrapped in horse leather, the soul returns to heaven and earth.

The next day, he left camp and returned to Beijing.

Zhong Shuo and Zhong Hanjiang rode side by side, he slowly approached Zhong Hanjiang and whispered: "Father, there is something strange about this battle."

Zhong Hanjiang said with a serious face: "Father knows, it is not appropriate to talk about it at this moment, we will discuss it after returning to Beijing."

Zhong Shuo slowed down his horse and followed Zhong Hanjiang's horse. He looked up at the handsome flag in front of him, and the word "Shen" was flying freely in the air.

The army returned to Beijing in a hurry, and it was almost in time for the New Year's Eve. There were lights and festoons everywhere in the city, and it was very lively. The Zichen Palace, which was always empty and splendid, was also filled with fireworks, making it inexplicably festive.

Zhong Shuo knelt behind Zhong Hanjiang, listening to the high-pitched voice of the eunuch in the palace read his name,

"...Zhong Shuo, the son of Zhong Hanjiang, led 3000 people to kill tens of thousands of Di people. For meritorious service, he was awarded a hundred taels of gold. From now on, he will be promoted to the fourth rank of Huaihua Zhonglang General, Shangyong Mu Diji, and Peirong Captain Wang Yong... "

Zhong Shuo: "?!" Does he have ear problems?

Zhong Hanjiang, who had just been promoted to General Guide, was bewildered by his son's favor before he could enjoy the promotion in the future, and when he thought of what kind of person Yongmu Diji was, he was filled with fear and had a lot of thoughts.

After the eunuch finished reading the reward, Emperor Longde above said as usual: "If you have no objection, just step back and accept the reward."

Zhong Hanjiang hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, what is the virtue and ability of the Zhong family, dare not wrong the emperor, please think twice!"

Emperor Longde glanced at him, and said impatiently: "Your son is not yet married, and you are young and heroic. You have made a lot of contributions this time. Emperor Yongmu Ji is virtuous and virtuous, and has a gentle temperament. Naturally, he can be a good match. Later, he will give you a marriage." The imperial decree comes to your house."

Zhong Hanjiang: "..." Your Majesty, the subject's eyes are not blind.

Emperor Longde had made up his mind, Zhong Hanjiang had no choice but to take his bewildered eldest son Xie En.

Zhong Shuo, father and son, returned to the mansion with gratitude, and when they returned home, the imperial decree of marriage arrived shortly afterwards. After kneeling down and offering rewards, Zhong Hanjiang accepted the imperial decree and sent the eunuch who announced the decree out of the house. Mother Yu.

After the fuss, Zhong Shuo sent Mrs. Yu back to the inner house and went to Zhong Hanjiang's study.

Standing in front of the desk, Zhong Shuo watched Zhong Hanjiang sigh, endured and endured, and finally said: "Father, it's okay, just marry the emperor concubine and treat him with courtesy."

"What do you know!" Zhong Hanjiang said angrily.

"You grew up in the capital since you were young. How could Emperor Yongmu be...how virtuous and virtuous you don't know!"

Zhong Hanjiang looked at his son's young, handsome and ignorant face, and thought in a daze, is the most proud child in his life going to be tortured by that emperor?

He is!

It's a good age!

He just made a contribution!

Forefathers and ancestors, is my Zhong family going to perish?

Seeing his father's expression of compassion, Zhong Shuo could only cough and said seriously, "Father also found something strange about this war?"

Zhong Hanjiang put away the pain in his heart, and said: "Exactly. That day I followed Shen Yu deep into the grassland to pursue most of the Rong and Di troops. Halfway through the journey, I found that something was wrong. It stands to reason that if there are many deserters ahead, the discarded soldiers on the ground will be killed." It is impossible for the armor to be less than half of the number of people. I realized that the information was wrong and reported to Shen Yu but was blocked by him. I don't have a tiger talisman and I can't mobilize troops, so I have to speed up the pursuit."

"After catching up with the deserters in front, it turns out that most of the soldiers and horses are not there, so I have to escape to find you."

Zhong Shuo said: "That day, the person who passed on the information was Shen Yu's own soldiers, and the dry food I led was only three days' worth." So in that battle, he almost died of exhaustion, and blood flowed like rivers on the battlefield. , there are not many people left under him.

Zhong Shuo was very sure: "Shen Yu wants to kill me."

Zhong Hanjiang slapped the table, and said angrily: "Shen Yu, you! It's a good plan! Fake information, wait for you to die, and then lead the army back to defense. Naturally, you will be able to kill all of Di Ren, and only one sentence will be wrong." It can be pushed clean!"

Zhong Shuo had no choice but to comfort him, "Father returned in time, and my son is fine." After escaping this time, Shen Yu had almost no chance to get rid of him, and he was considered safe in Beijing.

Zhong Hanjiang said: "It's just that I don't know where my Zhong family offended him, and he wants to do this."

Zhong Shuo said, "I don't know either."

It's just that his soldiers died in vain, how sad.

"Forget it, you should go back and see your mother first, she will definitely miss you after being separated for a month, so let's take things lightly about Di Ji."

Zhong Shuo thought to himself when would I lose sight of it, but he didn't say it after all.

After saluting and retreating, he went to his mother Yu's yard.

Mrs. Yu is thirty-six this year. After marrying Zhong Hanjiang, she has been raised very well, and she has no worries about concubines. She has been a wealthy wife for 20 years, and suddenly a Yongmu Diji fell on her, making her dizzy. At this moment, she Lying sideways on the sour branch couch, with a mop tied on his head, holding the hand of the eldest son whose wound has not yet healed, his heart aches so badly, and when he thinks about his son's marriage again, tears fall down his face.

Zhong Shuo hurriedly wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and said in relief, "Don't worry, mother, my son is fine, he only suffers from this little flesh injury."

Yu cried and said, "You little villain, how can you make me feel at ease? You and your father were out fighting, and there was no letter for a month. I was terrified in the house, and finally came back. Your Majesty's gift of marriage, isn't it? Are you ruining your future?!"

Zhong Shuo shook her hand and said, "Mother speak carefully."

Yu came back to her senses, restrained her voice, and said again: "Na Yongmu Diji, she is twenty years old this year, and she is two years older than my son! She lost her mother since she was young and has no one to discipline her. The day-to-day messing around in the school arena, wanting to fight and kill, her reputation is already bad! Your Majesty promised her to you, didn’t she hurt you?! I had taken care of Sun Shangshu’s daughter for you, who is younger than you One year old, demure and pleasant, I think you like it too, just need you to come back and propose marriage, but... oh"

How could Zhong Shuo not understand the truth? If he married the princess, he would have no future. Since he was 15 years old, he had fought in the army for three years. It is the end of the Zhonglang general who is a good product.

But the imperial decree has been issued, and he can't disobey it, but the face of Yongmu Diji suddenly appeared in memory, with bright eyebrows and a bright smile, the most attractive color he has ever seen in his life.

He blushed slightly at the tips of his ears, bowed his head and said nothing, but Yu's sharp eyes watched him. Yu only thought that he was acquiescing to what she said, and couldn't help but joked: "Mother really guessed it? My son likes it." Quieter? It's a pity for Miss Sun."

Zhong Shuo raised his head and said in a daze, "What? Miss Sun's family?"

Yu said angrily: "Then why are you blushing, you can still be really happy that Yongmu Diji won't succeed!"

Zhong Shuo lowered his head again and said nothing...

Yu Shi: "!"

"When did you meet Emperor Yongmu?" Yu said incredulously.

"Last year, I was lucky enough to meet when I went to Jiang's house to send New Year's gifts." Jiang's family, that is, the mother's family of Empress Jiang, the deceased biological mother of Emperor Yongmu, has been closer in recent years. Went to give a boxing gift.

"What a crime! My son! Your life is miserable!" Yu cried out in despair.