The rain fell, the Wei River surged, and the city of Xianyang was shadowy. The vast night shrouded a wasteland on the south bank of the Wei River. Under the fallen weeds washed away by the rain, the debris of Qin bricks and Han tiles were mixed in. This was once the site of Chang'an of the Han Dynasty. city.
The Xianyang Bridge spans the Wei River. The river flows under the bridge, and you can look at the ancient land of Qin and Han Dynasties and the rebuilt Chang'an City in the Sui Dynasty in the distance.
In the third year of Jianyuan of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, a bridge was built over the Wei River. Because it was opposite the gate to the north of Chang'an City in the Han Dynasty, it was called "Bianqiao". Because it was to the west of Zhongwei Bridge, it was also called "West Wei Bridge". By the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was called It's called "Xianyang Bridge".
Compared with the Zhongwei Bridge, the Xianyang Bridge is wider and stronger, but it is slightly farther from Chang'an City. Therefore, it has become an important transportation route to and from the Western Regions since the Han and Tang Dynasties. From here, you can go west to Chencang and enter Shu...
…
In the north of Xianyang Bridge, a military camp stands among the rainy grass and grass. The shadows stretch out and reach as far as the eye can see under the night. Wind lanterns were hung at important places in the camp, swaying with the wind and rain. Guards stood on both sides of the camp gate. Teams on night watch were still passing through the camp, and the guards were tight.
Even though it was raining heavily and it was late at night, there was an atmosphere of preparedness and full vigilance.
In the central military tent, Qibi Heli, who had taken off his armor and was wearing a silk robe, was sitting on a stool with a golden sword. His beard was neat and shiny under his chin. The middle coat exposed at the collar was white and neat. The nails of the right hand holding the pot were trimmed. With a clean face and a smile on his dark face, he looked like a high-ranking official of the Tang Dynasty, rich and luxurious. How could he look like a Turkic Qibi Khan?
It's just that a piece of his left ear is missing, and the scar is hideous, showing his fierceness...
He filled up the wine glass for Yuwen Shiji opposite him and raised his glass with a smile. Yuwen Shiji also raised his glass in response and drank it down in one gulp.
There was a copper hot pot placed on the eucalyptus table between the two people. At this moment, the soup was boiling and boiling. Qi Bi Heli picked up a plate with mutton, used a kuai to put the mutton into the pot, and put a few vegetables into it, fresh and tender. The mutton was instantly submerged in the boiling soup. After a few tumblings, it changed color and the vegetables became increasingly green.
The two of them each took a piece of meat and put it on a plate, dipped it in a dense mixture of sesame sauce, chive flowers, fermented bean curd, and chili oil, put it in their mouths and chewed it. The meat was immediately fragrant and spicy, and the two of them ate it continuously. Admire.
After eating for several times in a row, a layer of sweat appeared on Yuwenshi's forehead. He raised his glass again and took a sip, praising: "Although this kind of deliciousness is slightly inferior to etiquette, it is closer to nature. The people of the Tang Dynasty may not be able to accept it, but for it it is acceptable." It must be more suitable for Khan."
Qibi Heli put down Kuaizi, chewed and swallowed the mutton in his mouth, took a sip of wine, wiped his beard with a handkerchief, and said with a half-smile: "I haven't heard the name 'Khan' for many years, it was the slave under my command in the past. I don’t call you that anymore, but Duke Ying still remembers it. Now, please call me 'General', because I think it will be more powerful and domineering."
When he entered the Tang Dynasty in the sixth year of Zhenguan, His Majesty Li Er appointed him as the "General of the Left-Leading Army Guard" and reorganized more than 6,000 old Turkic tribes and Tang people brought under his command, with an elite force of about 30,000. To this day, he has never changed as the "General of the Left Leading Army Guard", and his troops have become a powerful force with outstanding military achievements among the Sixteen Guards.
I am already a soldier of the Tang Dynasty, why do I still mention "Khan"?
Yu Wenshi nodded, but the food was obviously not satisfying at the moment. He clinked glasses with Qi Bi Heli and drank, saying: "The general is loyal to the Tang Dynasty and will never change his ambition. When you entered the Tang Dynasty, many people disagreed. Only Your Majesty firmly believed in the general." As a human being, I tried my best to support you and never had any doubts. Even when you were captured by Zhenzhu Khan, who took you as a hostage and asked for peace with the Tang Dynasty, the late emperor also agreed to exchange a princess for your freedom. What a gracious treatment this is. ? The surrender of generals from ancient times is unprecedented."
Qibi Heli looked solemn and nodded heavily: "The late emperor had a mind for the whole world and swallowed up mountains and rivers. He was not inferior to the wise emperors of ancient times, and he was as kind as a mountain to me. Therefore, I was born as a barbarian, but I always consider myself a Tang person. I will never forget the kindness of the late emperor. I will never forget the kindness of the late emperor. I have betrayed the empire's trust, and I am willing to use my body to repay His Majesty's kindness in case of any eventuality."
That's what he said, and that's what he did.
The Tang Dynasty embraced the whole world, and I don't know how many barbarians were sent to serve in the Tang Dynasty. However, except for him, who was able to live in the imperial palace, there was no one else. As the most trusted Hu general by His Majesty Li Er, Qi Biheli led his troops to swear allegiance to him and fought bravely under His Majesty Li Er's military orders countless times. Even if he was captured by Zhenzhu Khan, he would rather cut off his left ear to show his determination. , will never rebel against the Tang Dynasty.
Yu Wenshiji sighed and said: "Yes, even a barbarian like you who entered the Tang Dynasty can still appreciate the kindness of the late emperor. However, many people in the Tang Dynasty who were more favored by the late emperor used to obey the late emperor's orders and swear by them, but now they have shelved the late emperor's legacy. , completely forgotten, only caring about the little interests in front of him, ungrateful and ungrateful."
How could Qi Bi hold the pot and pour the wine for Yu Wenshi? It was difficult for him to accept the words, and he could not accept them.
A mere Hu man is demoted to a general, no matter how high his status or title is, how can he comment on whether the Dukes of Gongun in the court are loyal or not?
As for Yuwen Shiji's purpose of coming, he was somewhat clear about it...
When Yu Wenshiji saw Qi Bi Heli not answering, he also understood Qi Bi Heli's thoughts. He couldn't help but frowned and asked, "Perhaps the general has completely forgotten about the late emperor's love for Long En?"
Qi Bi Heli glanced at him, took a sip of wine, and said in a deep voice: "My loyalty to the late Emperor is as strong as a mountain and as long as a river. Wherever the late Emperor orders, I will go through fire and water and die without hesitation. I heard that the late Emperor is driving. On the news of the collapse, I wrote to the court and begged to be buried in the Zhaoling Mausoleum, but His Majesty refused, so I gave up. I would like to ask the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, how many people are willing to follow the late emperor underground and live as slaves and servants for the rest of their lives?"
This matter was naturally true, but Li Chengqian replied to him at the time that "there is no precedent for burial in the Tang Dynasty", so he gave up.
But Qibi Heli's loyalty really shocked the government and the public.
The vast majority of loyalty is limited to words, and few people actually do it. However, there are only a few people who are willing to extend their loyalty beyond life and death.
Yu Wenshiji said aggressively: "Since the general is so loyal, why did he turn a blind eye to, turn a deaf ear to, and ignore His Majesty's legacy, allowing villains to steal the throne while the real successor to the throne is trapped in Tongguan and is about to be destroyed?"
Qi Biheli's eyes were bright, and he looked at Yuwenshiji without giving in. "My loyalty is not something that you, Yuwenshiji, can comment on. Who else in the world can match the favor you have received from the Emperor of Longmen? As a result, you are so powerful that you are so stupid. When the late emperor was on an expedition to Liaodong, he brazenly launched a mutiny to depose the crown prince appointed by his majesty. Why didn't you stand up and stop Changsun Wuji at that time? And I don't know who you call the real successor to the throne. Since I am loyal to the late emperor, Naturally, I obey the orders of the late emperor. Your majesty is now canonized by the late emperor's golden canon, and his name is justified. I don't care what the late emperor thinks. Since the late emperor never deposed the crown prince from beginning to end, then after the death of the late emperor, the only successor is the crown prince, which is the rightful name. If you can If you take out the edict that the late emperor passed down to others when he was dying, and it has been recognized by the government and the public, I will naturally obey it. If you can't do it, why bother making noise with me?"
These words can be said to be merciless. They almost pointed at Yu Wenshiji's nose and cursed, "Your whole family is a rebel, and you want me to be a rebel too?"
You can't do this even if you are wicked!
Yu Wenshi's face turned red and his ears were red. A barbarian and a general pointed at his nose and said, "You are not worthy of talking about loyalty with me." How humiliating is this?
However, when the Guanlong clan launched a mutiny to depose the prince, it really had nothing to do with loyalty...
He had no choice but to endure the humiliation and said in a bitter voice: "Do you really not know what the late emperor wanted? Five years after Zhenguan, the late emperor wanted to depose the crown prince more than once. Even though the late emperor was in the army and did not hesitate to 'fake his own death' to condone the mutiny of the Guanlong clan, Don't you want to wait for the crown prince to be deposed? The late emperor's thoughts are known to both the government and the public, but when the late emperor passed away, everyone turned a deaf ear to it... It's a pity that the late emperor was always kind and tolerant to his ministers, but he couldn't get the ministers to be sincere. "
Qibi Heli snorted, restrained his tyranny, ate a mouthful of meat, drank a sip of wine, and then said: "There are some things that cannot be judged by the heart, but there are some things that cannot be judged by the heart, and the late emperor has not promulgated them for a day. Even if the edict of deposing is revoked, the crown prince will still be the crown prince. How can we simply judge based on his heart? What Duke Ying said is biased and unreasonable."
After saying that, he poured wine for Yu Wenshi and said: "Whether I am stubborn or have lost my ability to think, or even Ashina Simo, we are both barbarians and officials of the Tang Dynasty. When the late emperor was here, we were loyal." The late emperor passed away, and we are loyal to the Tang Dynasty."
Yu Wenshiji took a sip of wine and felt that the originally mellow wine was indeed bitter.
Obviously, Qibi Heli has already secretly communicated with Zhi Shisi Li, Ashina Simo and others, and reached an agreement with each other. He may adopt a bystander attitude towards the struggle for imperial power, but he will never intervene rashly...
The left leading military guard who has no Qi Bihe power, and the left Xiaowei who has lost his thinking power. Ashina Simo's old Turkic tribe and the western front of Chang'an City are impregnable. The Sixth Army of the East Palace has no worries and can fight with all their strength in the front. How can King Jin have even half a chance of winning?
After a long silence, Yu Wenshiji said slowly: "I am sincerely convinced by the general's loyalty, and I am very pleased. Since I have understood the general's intentions, I also want a promise from the general. If the situation suddenly changes one day, the general can Are you willing to stand up and defend the stability of the Tang Dynasty and the survival of the country in order to repay the kindness of the late emperor?"
Qibi Heli paused slightly, his heart skipped a beat, and he stared at Yuwen Shiji coldly.
What does this mean?
As long as the western front is stable, Chang'an will be safe, and the imperial court is already in an invincible position. It can advance, attack, retreat, or defend. How can the King of Jin who is trapped in Tongguan have any chance?
But since Yu Wenshiji said this, it means that at a critical moment when everyone thinks that the overall situation has been decided, there will be drastic changes, and even defeat will turn into victory...
After pondering for a long time and weighing the situation repeatedly, Qi Bi Heli did not ask what happened, but slowly nodded and said: "It should be so."
Yu Wenshiji let out a long breath. Since Qi Bi was reluctant to raise troops and rely on him, he could only retreat and do the next best thing, which could be regarded as the lowest goal of this trip...
