The Book of Troubled Times

Chapter 692: Who serves whom?

Even the maids felt that His Majesty was inviting Sir to take off his shirt, but Zhao Changhe himself did not realize it.

Because this is Xia Chichi's royal study, Zhao Changhe, a country boy, subconsciously thought it was a place for discussion, so he never thought about what could be done here. So he followed Xia Chichi into the house very naturally, closed the door when the palace maids had strange expressions on their faces, and the attendants all ran away very consciously.

Zhao Changhe didn't react until the door was closed: "Hey, you are alone in the imperial study, and there is no one to polish your ink and light the lamp? How can you be so simple as an emperor?"

Xia Chichi turned around to see that her lover was acting stupid, with a smile in her eyes. She sat back on the chair leisurely and asked lazily: "Why are you rushing back from Langya in such a hurry in the middle of the night? Aren't you supposed to be in Langya at this time? Holding your Cui Yuanyang to celebrate? Or go to the Wang family to pick out some beautiful ones to play with, they don’t dare to resist. "

Zhao Changhe said speechlessly: "Little witch."

 “Why is it not common for a witch to destroy a city and destroy a country?”

"King Cui has been married for generations. The so-called family members of the Wang family may have been married to the previous generations of the Cui family. Wang Zhaoling did not need to explain such things to Cui Yuanyong before he died. What's more, how could we, a dignified master, do such a thing and fall into someone else's trap? Talking point.”

“Have you really thought about co-authoring it?”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t laugh or cry: “You are fishing.”

Xia Chichi stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Are you serious? At this time, shouldn't you be sleeping with Cui Yuanyang in your arms? Why did you come back at this time? Do you think you missed me?"

Zhao Changhe sighed: "There are too many worries and I can't take any time off. I want to know if there is any news from Batu. Your uncle went to Huangshaji and has he returned from delivering a message?"

 “So you were thinking of Batu.”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　?)

Xia Chichi sighed and said: "Although we have written to Batu several times, this guy always thought that nothing would happen in the snowy weather and was sleeping soundly in his tent. As a result, Timur's army attacked and Batu's army Defeat, if Venerable Xuanwu hadn't arrived just in time to save him, his head would have been cut off by Timur and used as a chamber pot."

Zhao Changhe knocked his head in annoyance: "I know, this idiot. So how can I sleep peacefully..."

Xia Chichi said: "It's useless to be anxious. Anyway, there is a big difference between the war on the grassland and ours, that is, it is not easy to fight a war of annihilation. After being beaten and scattered, it is difficult to chase and kill. In the final analysis, there are It can gather a lot of people, which is also the main reason why the wars against Hu in the past dynasties were won, but they would be revived soon after."

"Um…"

"So even though Batu was defeated, it was not so easy to be destroyed. However, the land with lush water and grass was taken back again, and the food, cattle and sheep suffered heavy losses... After the beginning of spring, there was a decline and a rise. It was like a repeat of last year. The two sides reacted against each other. Just come here. Venerable Xuanwu is also helping Batu gather the remaining troops, and there will be no new news for a while."

Zhao Changhe deduced it in his mind and asked: "Where is your master?"

"She went to help her brother ambush and kill people. She wanted to kill someone before, but your Wanzhuang beat her to it. She was holding back her anger... She felt comfortable killing, and she should be back soon. Without her, she would have succeeded. There is no guarantee that we will win in an ambush. We have too few soldiers and horses, and Shao Zong’s army is not very elite... But once the flames of Lord Suzaku burn the mountain come out, there will be no suspense."

Zhao Changhe nodded. Huangfu Shaozong had too few soldiers and horses, and their elite level was really limited. Apart from anything else, if he is a warrior who truly obeys orders and prohibitions, he should actually go straight to the Three Jin Dynasties at this time to eliminate Yanmen's worries. But most of this army can't do it. After fighting this ambush, they may just want to go home to collect rewards for the New Year.

 After all, this is not a game. You can dispatch as many heads as you want all over the world.

However, perhaps we can change our thinking. It is still reliable for this army to return to the city to garrison, and the elites of the Four Elephants Sect can be sent out to do the work of the Three Jin Dynasties. Because the situation in the Three Jin Dynasties is different from conventional warfare, it may be better to use Jianghu methods, especially demonic methods.

 In the past, Jinzhong businessmen were messing around behind the scenes, even if they wanted to cooperate with the enemy. They also colluded with local officials to control military supplies and hoard them, affecting the frontline supplies. It was a complete cancer. Xia Longyuan was indifferent, but the high-ranking officials in the court were not unaware of it. They were also involved in the dividends and colluded with each other. Huangfu Yongxian could not do anything at all, so he had to send people to pretend to be horse bandits to steal food. These things were done by himself and Yue Hongling had experienced it personally, and it was very magical.

This time it was even more ruthless. In the first few days after the establishment of the new dynasty, the first soldiers to arrive at the city were the Jinzhong army and horses. Although there was a factor of being close to each other, it was also possible to see their close ties with the officials of the capital and their thoroughly exposed rebellion. meaning. Now Yanmen is sandwiched between them and the barbarians, which is extremely dangerous. If Batu hadn't blocked the first shot in front, it would be hard to say what would happen now.

 But their situation seems to be relatively scattered, without a very clear centralization of power, and it seems to be just an alliance of businessmen. In this situation, using the army to conquer the past one by one would be like falling into a quagmire. On the contrary, Jianghu means may be more suitable...

Now that I have deduced it like this, I feel that it is really not necessary or urgent to run back in a hurry. No matter what, we have to wait for Sanniang's feedback on Batu's situation before we can make a plan. At this time, running out in a hurry is a waste of time.

No wonder he felt confused about running back. At this time, he should hold Yangyang in his arms and sleep... Zhao Changhe moved all the big rocks in his heart, and for a moment he felt regretful and wanted to die.

Seeing Zhao Changhe's face gradually turning bitter as he thought about it, a smile flashed in Xia Chichi's eyes and she deliberately changed the subject: "Hey, why do you like to call her my master? I have never worshiped her as my master. It’s just that as the previous venerable, she has to guide the new saint, that is her responsibility.”

Zhao Changhe came back to his senses and responded casually: "That is also the reality of master and apprentice... Just like Master Sun, it is only his duty to teach newcomers sword skills, but he will always be my master, and everyone in the world sees it that way."

Xia Chichi bit her lower lip: "Isn't it because you will be more excited with this title?"

Zhao Changhe: "...I don't need this title. She is your queen mother now. Isn't this title awesome enough?" Xia Chichi said: "Do you really want the Queen Mother and the Emperor to serve you together?"

Zhao Changhe tilted his head: "I'm here to talk about business! Don't even think about using this to test cadres!"

Xia Chichi said: "Hey, are you considered a subject now?"

Zhao Changhe said angrily: "What are you doing?"

“As a subject, is it your duty to serve the emperor?”

　　　…”

"Zhao Aiqing..." Xia Chichi said softly: "I have been doing some work at the desk all day, and my shoulders are sore. Can you give me a squeeze?"

I seem to be much more tired than you these days... Zhao Changhe curled his lips, but he didn't say that after all.

Earlier, I was thinking that I was liberating myself by taking over the emperor's business. This should be a fact. I just scanned the dense personnel relationships on this desk, the follow-up handling of the rebellion in the capital, and what happened after taking over Cui Wang Yang's family. Official position arrangements, tax management, military restructuring...etc., etc., one glance at them makes my scalp numb, and I just want to run away.

Although I have been fighting a lot and running around in the past few days, I am very tired, but that is what I like to do, so I am not tired at all. However, Chichi may not like the fatigue that comes with this position. You can imagine the fatigue.

Zhao Changhe sighed, walked behind Xia Chichi, reached out to squeeze her shoulders, and said softly: "Don't be so hasty if you are tired, take your time."

Xia Chichi leaned into his arms, closed her eyes and rested for a while, then responded in a low voice: "You are out there going through life and death, even fighting gods and demons. What does this mean to me..."

 Zhao Changhe did not answer for a while.

"I'm so happy that you can fly back in such a hurry." Xia Chichi whispered: "It's because you are not in the mood to rest because there are too many follow-up matters... In fact, it is because of the battle in the capital that you are worried and want to come back for a visit. , yes or no?”

Zhao Changhe was startled. Maybe he really had this idea in his subconscious... Because when the book of troubled times reported the battle situation in the capital, he was in the secret water and did not see it. He always felt empty in his heart and wanted to take a look to feel at ease.

 The two of them didn't speak for a while, but they both felt that they were very close to each other's hearts. You know what I am thinking, and I know what you are thinking.

"Originally, you should be holding Cui Yuanyang at this time..." Xia Chichi brought up this topic again and whispered: "Since you are here, let me accompany you instead..."

 Zhao Changhe: “…”

Xia Chichi said softly: "What are you doing with your hands so hard? Go down..."

Zhao Changhe stretched out the lapel of his dragon robe calmly and touched the smooth and grease-like place.

Xia Chichi gasped slightly: "Does it suit you to play with the emperor in the imperial study?"

His wife, Zhao Changhe, also did not pretend to be a gentleman: "Isn't this your Majesty's reward for my hard work and merits?"

He kicked off the chair, half-hugged Xia Chichi, and then leaned over to support the royal desk, lifting up the hem of his dragon robe.

Xia Chichi looked back with some resentment, a slight hint of anger in her eyes.

 He clearly likes this kind of blasphemy and conquest. He has never taken off his dragon robe several times with him.

In the imperial study, the oil lamp flickered, and the emperor's suppressed breathing gradually reached the door. As early as when the two entered the door, all the male lives outside were driven away for several miles. Only the maids were left with red faces and lowered heads, rubbing their toes on the ground. They didn't know how to evaluate the emperor being treated like this. The scene of Hongru being pinned to the imperial desk and being whipped.

The firelight flashed across the sky, like a soaring firebird, and turned into a physical and graceful figure, landing in front of the house.

The maids were startled, and just as they were about to say hello, the Queen Mother had already pushed the door open and walked in: "Shao Zong is gathering the prisoners and leading his army back. The original idea of ​​going directly north to Jinzhong was too much. We have to think about it again... eh?"

“Bang!” The door was slammed shut, and the Queen Mother’s voice became furious: “You, the majestic emperor, are being treated like a pig, do you want any shame!”

 (End of this chapter)