"Second Master."
When Zhang Yong and others saw Jia Lian coming out, they stepped forward and looked at Jia Lian with concern.
Jia Lian looked around, his expression turned gloomy, and he said in a deep voice: "Why are there only a few of you?"
Facing Jia Lian's questions, Zhang Yong's thick black face instantly fell down, and the others also looked sad.
Zhao Sheng stood up and reported: "Back to the Second Master, we have suffered heavy losses this time!
On the way to escort Miss Ah Qin back, we encountered an enemy attack... In addition to the brothers who had followed the second master to death, there were only three people who followed the second master on this trip except us. Those who are seriously injured cannot come to see the second master for the time being.
No one else could come back. "
Jia Lian took a deep breath and asked again: "Where is Wang Teng?"
Zhao Sheng clenched his fists suddenly, with a look of pain on his face, "When we broke out that day, he was hit by an arrow and fell from his horse. Brothers, we couldn't save him..."
Jia Lian was silent.
Looking at the seven or eight personal guards in front of him, almost all of whom were injured, his mind flashed back to those passionate boys who had been training bravely under his encouragement in Dongkua Yard.
In addition to Zhang Yong's five people, there are twenty in total. They are all young and strong young men he carefully selected from the two mansions after he ascended the throne!
Now, just...one, two, three, four, only five left?
There is also Wang Teng, who was with him when he went to Yangzhou to pick up Daiyu.
He was appointed by the imperial court as a grain officer and followed Prince Teng north to the border. Because Wang Teng's name violated Wang Ziteng's taboo, he didn't take him there, which made him very regretful.
He was the most excited about this trip to Wala. Who knew, he would become the first person among the five of them to be shrouded in horse leather!
Although Jia Lian strictly trained his personal guards from the beginning. But he also knew that the more than twenty people under his command were still far from the real elite soldiers who had fought in hundreds of battles.
Once they face the enemy with real swords and guns, their survival rate will be much lower than that of veterans who have experienced hundreds of battles.
But emotionally, he still hopes that his personal guards will live well and live as well as possible.
In fact, if he hadn't been in danger this time, these personal guards under his account could have been trained slowly. As long as his lord is not in danger, his personal guards will naturally not be in much danger either.
Unfortunately, their first time on the battlefield was in this dangerous situation.
Twenty recruits, only five left!
As for the ones who are recovering from their injuries...it has been almost two months, and their injuries should be almost healed. At least it won't be a problem to welcome him. Those who can't come probably won't be able to follow him on his expeditions in the future.
At this moment, even Jia Lian had no good words to comfort the only remaining guards in front of him.
"Where are the brothers who are recovering from their injuries?"
"They were all recuperating in the previous yard..."
Jia Lian nodded and walked down to the cave in silence.
The guards behind him also followed silently one by one. The previous excitement and excitement of seeing Jia Lian's safe return disappeared.
But they were very grateful.
From Jia Lian's silence, they could all feel that Jia Lian was very sad about the casualties of the personal guards.
Most of these personal guards had ancestors who had served under Duke Ning Rong. They all also know that on the battlefield, it is their duty and their honor for the personal guards to protect the safety of the general with their lives.
But they are also human beings and have personal emotions. Being able to die for a general who values them and cares about their lives is a death without regrets.
Returning to the courtyard where they stayed, Zhaoer and Aqin also came to greet them. Jia Lian's eyes paused for a moment on Ah Qin, who was dressed in military uniform. After realizing that she was up to no good, he moved his eyes away and came to the bodyguard where he was recovering from serious injuries.
The three guards who were lying in bed were very excited when they saw Jia Lian. However, Jia Lian didn't say much. He just looked at each of them for a few times and suddenly turned to face Zhang Yong and others.
"After the peace talks between the two countries, I will have people retrieve the bones of the dead brothers, incinerate them, and bring them back to the Central Plains.
If they really couldn't find the bones, they would find some objects from their horses and residences and burn them on their behalf.
Zhao Sheng, you are responsible for this matter. Remember, those who sacrificed this time are our brothers and our relatives! We cannot let the souls of our loved ones have nowhere to rest after they die, so you have to do this well. "
"Yes! I will obey the second master's order!" After receiving the order, Zhao Sheng immediately paid homage and knelt down in military salute.
As for the others, especially the three who could only save their lives and could only lie on the hospital bed to recuperate and were destined to be permanently disabled, their faces turned red. Regardless of their injuries, they wanted to roll down to express their loyalty to Jia Lian and die. meaning.
The king treats his ministers like his brothers and sisters, and his ministers regard him as his heart! Maybe not everyone of Jia Lian's personal guards understands this truth, but at this moment, when they know that Jia Lian treats them as relatives, they all feel that being able to be loyal to a master like Jia Lian, even in death, becomes unworthy. So terrible.
…
Because Jia Lian was delayed in the desert for more than a month, the sending mission withdrew to Ganning Pass and calm had long been restored.
Whether it was the comfort of the previous casualties or the handover negotiations with the new Wala envoy, they were almost completed under the auspices of Xiang He.
Jia Lian does not intend to interfere too much in these matters. Although he is an envoy, since the work has been done by Xiang He and others, he is not someone who likes to pick other people's peaches.
This time, he had earned enough credit and prestige. For such a small credit, he was happy to give it to the people below him and take this opportunity to rest for a few days and wait for Emperor Ningkang's will.
However, he wanted to be happy, but Qingxian was destined not to like him. When Xiang He reported to him the tentative results of the negotiations with the Wala envoy, Jia Lian immediately appeared in the meeting hall of the envoy.
"The above are the terms of the credentials that we have revised with the Wala envoy during this period. If you have any opinions, you can put them forward for discussion. In particular, regarding the other party's desire to change their eldest prince to marry the princess of our dynasty. One thing, should we carefully consider..."
Xiang He read several newly revised regulations to everyone in the mission, and finally glanced at Jia Lian, who was sitting at the head, and said this.
In fact, the letters of credence between the two countries had already been signed when the third prince of Wala arrived in the capital of Wei.
It's just that things like the Zhanghetan incident gave both countries a reason to break up. Now that neither party has done so due to various considerations, the previous credentials are naturally still valid.
However, considering that Wala had broken the promise first, naturally he could no longer completely follow the previous credentials. Wala had to give some benefits, otherwise the Wei Dynasty would not be able to live up to his reputation.
Therefore, the revised terms will tilt the interests that should have been on the Oara side to the Wei side.
This was a relatively simple matter. They had already discussed it with the Wala envoy, and they were just waiting for the first draft to be sent back to the capital for Emperor Ningkang to review. Once it was correct, the formal signing could be completed.
An official stood up and said: "Wala's sincerity in revising the credentials this time is still very high. They have made concessions on several clauses. Obviously they are indeed aware of their mistakes and are willing to work for the friendship between the two countries." Diplomatic atonement.
As for their new proposal that the eldest prince should marry the princess of our dynasty, I think there is nothing worthy of further discussion.
The 'Song Ye King' also said that this move was an act of compensation for Wala's betrayal of their third prince and betrayal of the alliance between the two countries. King Wala personally confessed that if our princess Zhaoyang is safe, they are willing to let their eldest prince marry our princess, and the previously agreed marriage conditions remain unchanged.
King Ye of Song also said that although their eldest prince already had a princess, in order to show respect for my superior, they would demote the original prince and concubine to a side chamber, and I would take the rightful place as the princess.
And during the negotiation, in order for us to agree to this article, Wala not only promised to reduce the border tax on the mutual trade between the two countries by half within ten years, but they even agreed to the condition we took the opportunity to purchase an additional 5,000 war horses.
From this point of view, the Wala people are sincere in their repentance, and their request to marry my princess is also very sincere.
This time we will take this opportunity to obtain more benefits for the imperial court. I believe your majesty will be very happy if he knows about it. "
What this official said was also what most envoys thought.
Originally, they had already agreed on this matter and were waiting to be sent back to the capital. As long as Emperor Ning Kang did not reject it, then they would have made a great contribution.
As for whether Emperor Ning Kang would reject it? That obviously won't happen.
The princess who was originally planning to marry can now gain a second wave of benefits for the country, why not?
As the saying goes, a good girl never marries a second husband. Anyway, Princess Zhaoyang is already engaged to Wala. Now that Wala is still willing to marry, and the conditions are more favorable than before, what's the point of not marrying Wala?
I am afraid that all the families in the capital would not be willing to marry a princess who is a widower...
Therefore, they do not feel that what they are doing is wrong at all. Everything is considered for the national interest.
There are also some with sharp minds.
They had all discussed this matter, but now Xiang He suddenly brought it up, and the unprecedented Jia Lian appeared today.
From Xiang He's reaction, it is not difficult to guess that Jia Lian was dissatisfied with the outcome of their negotiations.
Those with higher emotional intelligence are not difficult to understand. Jia Lian and Princess Zhaoyang already had a close relationship, and this time he escorted Princess Zhaoyang back thousands of miles, and after nearly a life of death, he may have some different feelings for Princess Zhaoyang, and naturally he did not want Princess Zhaoyang to marry to Wala.
Although I can guess the reason, I have no intention of immediately flattering Jia Lian. After all, they are fighting for the interests of the imperial court. Even if Jia Lian is powerful, he can't do anything to them because of this, right?
Therefore, those who have seen through it will remain silent for the time being.
Those who have not seen clearly will naturally agree with what the previous people said.
Jia Lian sat at the top, silently looking at the people in front of him, feeling alienated and angry in his heart.
But he didn't show it.
He just looked at those people who spoke coldly. When they gradually noticed his gaze and became quiet, Fang mocked: "Sir, do you really like to rely on women to get promoted and make a fortune? A woman, selling If you don’t succeed once, you want to sell it a second time?”
