Although the heavy snow has stopped for two days, the entire city of Chang'an is still covered with a white blanket, but the roads everywhere have been swept away, exposing bluestone or loess.
The clear sound of horse hooves hitting the bluestone was heard. The guard at the city gate squinted his eyes to take a closer look. Dozens of cavalry came galloping towards him. The leading man restrained his mount and threw his badge. The other cavalry did not stop and passed straight through. The city gate left Chang'an City.
The leader of the guards took the badge, threw it back without looking at it, and asked with a smile: "At this time of year, the road is difficult to travel, and the court is not in session. Where is Duke Ying going?"
"The King of Huaiyang was supposed to return to Chang'an the day before yesterday. Heavy snow blocked the road, so he arrived today." The big man threw a money bag, "Qin Liulang, buy some drinks to keep the brothers warm."
"Thank you Duke Ying for the reward." Qin Liulang threw the money bag to his men with a smile, took a few steps forward and winked.
The big man was startled, turned over and dismounted, and asked in a low voice: "What happened?"
"The left guard of the East Palace left the city two quarters of an hour ago."
The big man's face changed slightly, he nodded and said softly: "In the battle of Hulao the year before last, Qin Liu, you have made many meritorious deeds. If you stay in Luoyang... that's it, we will talk about it later... You also know that His Highness has clear rewards and punishments."
This big man was not a personal guard of the Duke of Ying, but a general in the Xuanjia Army of Tiance Palace. The leader of the guards, Qin Liulang, accompanied the army to attack Luoyang the year before last, and then returned to the capital for promotion... He didn't get anything. Such a great location.
Similar situations abound in Chang'an City... Even the princes, generals or middle-level generals recruited or close to the King of Qi have basically fought under Li Shimin.
To be able to show value, you must have military exploits... And if you want to have military exploits, you basically can only rely on Li Shimin. This is an ironclad fact in the past five years.
After all, the heavy snowfall had just passed and the road was muddy. Yuwen Shiji slowed down his horse and looked around. Although it was completely white and cold outside the city, it made people feel relaxed.
"Duke Ying." The big man urged his horse to catch up and whispered: "The left guard of the East Palace left the city two-quarters of an hour ago."
"Wei Ting?" Yu Wenshiji frowned slightly.
Wei Ting's status in the East Palace was not low and he was a confidant of the prince. However, this person was born in Jingzhao Wei family. He had always been romantic and greedy for pleasure. So he suddenly left the capital at such a time. Could it be that he came to greet the King of Huaiyang on the prince's order?
Yu Wenshiji thought for a moment and shook his head slightly. It was impossible that the saint appointed him to greet him. The prince had encountered several setbacks before and after, so he would not be so unwise.
After driving along the Jinghe River for a while, he saw the Ba Bridge. Dozens of people gathered beside the bridge. Yu Wenshi crossed his legs and accelerated away. He glanced at Wei Ting in the crowd.
"Brother-in-law." Wei Ting greeted with a smile, "Come here to greet the King of Huaiyang?"
"The order of the saint." Yu Wenshiji said lightly, feeling suspicious in his heart. Everyone in Chang'an City knew that Li Daoxuan was defeated and almost died at the hands of the prince.
If ordinary people don't know it, but the East Palace, Qin Palace, and even the saints and important officials in the court know very well that Li Daoxuan hates the East Palace deeply... The death of the original Duke Shi Wanbao was so strange that it was Mingjian, and the prince dared to send Wei Ting to meet him. ?
Wei Ting didn't take it seriously and said with a smile: "Brother Benevolent, I went out to welcome the King of Huaiyang on the order of the saint, and I went out to greet the king on the order of the prince..."
After a pause, Wei Ting continued: "Prince Wei Xuancheng and Cui Hao, who were inspecting Shandong Province, returned to Beijing today."
Yu Wenshi was relieved. It turns out that it was like this. Heavy snow blocked the road, and both parties arrived in Chang'an at the same time.
At this time, dozens of horsemen appeared faintly on the other side of the bridge. Wei Ting looked carefully for a moment and said with a smile: "They are the warriors sent by the prince. It seems that they are Wei Xuancheng and his party. My dear brother, I will go over first."
Yuwen Shiji only nodded. He never spoke much, but Wei Ting came back with a frown after a while.
"Wei Xuancheng and King Huaiyang went north." Wei Ting looked unhappy.
"To the north?" Yuwen Shiji repeated and asked, "Going together?"
"Um."
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the children of aristocratic families served their respective masters, but they kept in touch with each other privately. After all, in this era, the relationship between aristocratic families was often maintained by marriage...but the premise was that private expenses could not be used for public expenses.
Li Daoxuan was a general in the line of King Qin. He had made great contributions to the country this time, and he hated the East Palace deeply. Wei Xuancheng went with him... This was originally taboo.
It would be reasonable to say that a heavy snowfall caused both parties to go together, but it had stopped snowing for two days and the two of them left the team together... This had to make Wei Ting think more.
It is absolutely impossible for Li Daoxuan to defect to the East Palace, so will Wei Xuancheng defect to the Qin Palace?
Well, after all, Wei Zheng's resume is there... he switched to Li Mi from the subordinates of Yuan Bao, and then joined the Tang Dynasty from Li Mi to get Li Yuan's attention. Then he was captured by Dou Jiande and served as his daily servant. After Dou Jiande was defeated, he was won over by Li Jiancheng to wash horses for the prince. Who knows Will he do it again?
"To the north?"
"To the north?"
Yuwen Shiji seemed to have thought of something and turned his horse's head to gallop north.
Wei Ting was stunned for a moment and rushed to catch up with his horse. His followers followed him one after another. Cui Hao gritted his teeth and hesitated for a long time before he got on his horse... So many people, all high-ranking officials and dignitaries, went to praise that guy's stinky feet!
At this moment, more than a hundred cavalrymen had just arrived at Zhujiagou. Su Dingfang, who had trained his guards and the young men in the village, had already discovered the clues. A horse block had been set up at the entrance of the village. There were more than a hundred young men holding spears or bending bows and arrows.
A large number of horses neighed at the entrance of the village. The cavalry reined in their reins one after another. Only four or five people stepped forward. Su Dingfang, holding the hilt of his sword, asked the guards to move away from the horses, stepped forward and saluted, "Greetings..."
"That's all." Li Daoxuan chuckled, "The heavy snow prevents me from arriving in Chang'an today. I'll pay a visit to my aunt first."
This is what it should be, and this is what Li Daoxuan and Li Shan have mentioned a long time ago, but even if Su Dingzhi was cautious, he couldn't help but be surprised... He saw behind Li Daoxuan not only Liu Jun, Xue Zhong, but also the Prince of the East Palace. Wash the horse Wei Zheng.
"Although we are on the same road, we are not walking together." Wei Zheng's face was expressionless. In fact, he was also forced to a corner.
The two groups left Shandong and returned to Beijing. They happened to meet because of the heavy snow blocking the road. Li Daoxuan mentioned that he wanted to go to Zhujiagou first... He deserved a formal visit to express his gratitude for his life-saving grace.
Well, Wei Zheng can only pinch his nose and go along... He also received the life-saving grace in Wuling County, not to mention that he knew very well how much trouble Li Shan solved for him in Qinghe County and shouldered the burden for him. What kind of scapegoat.
The cavalry were stationed outside the village. Zhu Wei arranged for people to provide food and hot water. Su Dingfang, Li Daoxuan, and Wei Zheng slowly walked into the village.
Although there is no beauty in the village, it gives everyone a refreshing feeling... No one knows what kind of disaster this snow disaster has brought to the countryside of Jingzhao and Guanzhong than those who have personally suffered the snow disaster.
The villagers had unabashed smiles on their faces, and the children playing in new clothes cast curious glances. There were many strange and strange snowdrifts on the roadside. Wei Zheng looked at them for a few more times before he woke up and took charcoal to the villagers. Dot the snowdrifts to draw eyes.
Seeing a collapsed house in the distance, Wei Zheng asked softly: "Are there any casualties?"
"Rescue failed at night. Thirteen houses were collapsed by the snow. Six people died and more than 20 people were slightly or seriously injured." Su Dingfang replied simply: "Everyone can survive with the help of Lang Jun."
Wei Zheng in the history books is defined as a remonstrating minister, but in fact, he was a capable minister with good vision. When he passed through the village and took a brief look, he felt that this small village was not that big. It has an extraordinary atmosphere.
Whether it was the layout of the village, the control of the young guards in the village, or the energetic atmosphere in the village... Wei Zheng couldn't help but think in his heart, Li Huairen was not just talking about it.
