Thick dark clouds drifted under the dark sky, and a few vultures flew quietly from behind the jagged clouds, hovering in the low altitude, making bursts of high-pitched and harsh calls.
The setting sun in the distant mountains is approaching dusk, covering the entire plain, and also dyeing the Yinma River that winds around Xiongguan into a sparkling blood color.
In early summer, under the city tower, it was lush and green.
Here Ding Jinzhi and Li Zhishan have reached the third level first.
In the Song Dynasty, the three passes were Waqiao Pass, Yijin Pass (commonly known as Caoqiao Pass) and Yukou Pass. Prince Zhao Rui of Guangling and his son General Huwei Zhao Xu were stationed at Waqiao Pass.
Prince Zhao Rui of Guangling was frowning slightly at this time, pacing back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back.
His temperament is deep and restrained, and paired with his crisp casual clothes, he makes his whole body majestic and solemn; his clear-cut face and three-dimensional and upright facial features exude a sense of awe and righteousness; his two thick eyebrows slant into his temples , a pair of tiger eyes revealed a calm look as steady as Mount Tai.
A few steps away stood a middle-aged general who was as heroic as a god of war.
He is eight feet tall, wearing a golden flowing cloud armor and a hero's cloak. He has a tall and strong figure, and moves gracefully and gracefully. His face is like a crown jade, his eyebrows are divided into eight colors, his eyes are like stars, and his nose is straight and his mouth is straight. Looking at him coldly, he saw that his whole body was glowing like glass, like a tree planted among black and white mountains and rivers.
This man is General Huwei Zhao Xu, the son of Prince Guangling.
At this time, a soldier from outside hurriedly walked in and said, "Report, the imperial envoy from the capital has come from outside the customs, saying that he has something very urgent and wants to see the prince and the young general!"
Zhao Rui's expression relaxed inadvertently, and his eyes slightly turned to look at his son beside him.
"We have been waiting for a long time, but finally a letter came from the capital!" The gloomy eyes of Zhao Xu, the powerful general on the side, suddenly flashed with a brilliant light, and he said with a smile on his face: "If my brother, the emperor, doesn't send anyone, I really want to go to the capital in person to find out what’s going on!”
It turns out that some rumors reached the border some time ago, saying that a big change had occurred in the capital; but the distance was long and the news was blocked, so the specific situation was unknown.
Prince Guangling and his son were worried and sent several sentinels to the capital to find out the news, but nothing came of it, and there is still no news until now.
What happened in the capital? Why did the sentinels never return? The father and son were confused, and an ominous premonition came over them.
As Zhao Xu said just now, if the capital doesn't send someone to convey the message, he will really have to bear the responsibility of leaving his post without permission and go to the capital.
Now that they heard that someone had finally arrived in the capital, Zhao Rui and Zhao Xu exhaled unconsciously from their throats and hurried out of the city to greet them.
The two imperial ministers Ding Jinzhi and Li Zhishan were welcomed into the city like stars holding the moon. They came to the main hall and arranged the incense table to welcome the imperial edict.
As an imperial envoy sent by the imperial court, Ding Jinzhi was dressed in a straight purple imperial robe, with a golden spider-patterned belt of the same color around his waist, and an exquisite white jade belt hanging from it. His slender body was straight, and the corners of his eyes and brows were filled with pride. The whole person looks elegant and energetic.
Glancing at Prince Guangling and his son who were kneeling respectfully in front of them, Ding Jinzhi took out the imperial edict and read aloud:
"Prince Guangling, Prince Rui, and my uncle personally declare:
"Recently, affairs in the DPRK and China have been complicated. It is difficult to summarize everything in one word. Fortunately, it is not serious. Don't worry, uncle. All the previous rumors are not credible. It's just that there are still unfinished matters in the DPRK, and they are of great importance. Please forgive me. My uncle hurried back after seeing the words, and we will make plans after the meeting between the monarch and his ministers. Now I miss my uncle very much, and I only hope that my uncle will return to Beijing as soon as possible. I wish my uncle a long and long life.
"I appreciate this!"
After Ding Jinzhi read the imperial edict in one breath, Prince Guangling immediately relaxed his eyebrows and seemed to be relieved. He said happily: "The peace in the court is peaceful, and I am finally relieved. I heard some false rumors a few days ago, and I am worried. Now, After receiving the emperor’s imperial edict, these rumors can be disproven!”
"What the prince said is absolutely true." Ding Jinzhi had a soft smile on his face; then he turned his face and introduced Li Zhishan to the two of them.
Zhao Xu's eyes were wide and he looked up and down at the legendary heroic and loyal Ouchi Guard Commander.
He is wearing a purple narrow-sleeved guard uniform, with golden auspicious clouds inlaid on the cuffs. He has a slender figure, a straight back, strong and clear lines on his face, two sword-shaped eyebrows slightly raised, and dark eyes that are sparkling and slightly aquiline. The nose and thin lips were tightly pursed, showing a tough and sharp look like a sculpture. The whole person looks so powerful that one can't help but admire him.
Looking at the other party's heroic and majestic expression, Zhao Xu immediately became interested, raised his sword eyebrows, and said with a smile: "I heard that Commander Li is very skilled in martial arts and has few opponents in the capital. If there is a chance, I will ask you for some advice. I hope Commander Li will not hesitate to teach me!"
The corner of Li Zhishan's mouth twitched unconsciously, and he said sarcastically: "I don't dare to do this because of my humble position."
Prince Guangling scolded: "Xu'er, don't be rude. Master Ding and Master Li have come all the way and are imperial envoys, how can you be so arrogant?"
Zhao Xu raised his eyebrows and said in a casual voice, "Father, I have misunderstood. The child and Mr. Li are just heroes and they cherish each other..."
——Well, my son is a martial arts fanatic, and he can never change his habit of fighting bravely. Even when he went to the capital to attend the wedding of his imperial sister Huanyu a few years ago, he didn't forget to have a fight with the groom, just because he heard that he had great martial arts skills and was the famous guard commander of the Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Justice - oh, really There's nothing you can do about him...
Complaining helplessly in his heart, Zhao Rui glared at his troubled son. Zhao Xu then restrained himself, remained silent, and stepped aside angrily.
Ding Jinzhi looked at him coldly and thought: "It turns out that Prince Guangling and his son have such temperaments and are not as secretive and cunning as the legends say! If the truth is as it seems, it would be easier to deal with it. ”
Although his mind was going back and forth, his face remained calm and he said cautiously: "I dare to ask, when will it be convenient for the prince to get up?"
Prince Guangling said: "Since Your Majesty is pressing hard, the sooner the better - by the way, Master Ding, Your Majesty is so anxious to see me, could it be that something big happened in the court?"
Ding Jinzhi's eyebrows were slightly lowered, and he seemed to be thinking deeply: "The secrets of the court are secret. Your Majesty, please forgive me for not daring to comment. The old minister only knows that before leaving, His Majesty repeatedly asked Your Majesty to return to Beijing as soon as possible. Your Majesty is eagerly looking forward to it." Where is the prince?"
Prince Guangling looked solemnly and said in a deep voice: "I understand. Xu'er, go and make arrangements right away and prepare to leave tomorrow. Remember, we must hand over the affairs of the city well, and arrange the manpower at each level carefully. Defend in case of any eventuality.”
Zhao Xu said: "Yes, let's go now." He cupped his hands at Ding Jinzhi and Li Zhishan, then turned around quickly and left.
Ding Jinzhi looked back at Li Zhishan meaningfully, with an imperceptible smile on his face...
On the morning of the next day, Prince Guangling and his son arranged the affairs of the camp, and arranged heavy troops to guard the important passes. Then they took their most capable generals, Cheng Ying, Cheng Meng, Cheng Gang, and Cheng Qiang, the four most powerful generals of the Cheng family, to lead an army of 30,000 tigers and benians. Set off in a grand way.
People say, "When there are ten thousand soldiers, there are no borders." Let alone thirty thousand tiger and benign troops. At a glance, the entire wilderness is covered with black soldiers.
Bright banners fluttered in the wind under the sky, bright armor shone with dazzling luster, jagged swords thrust into the sky, glowing with cold light, horses' hooves sticking to the ground made a thick rumbling sound, and moved towards the capital with unstoppable momentum. The direction is coming.
Prince Zhao Rui of Guangling and his son Zhao Xu both wore solemn attire and bright armor, and looked heroic in their military uniforms. They sat proudly on their horses, their spears in their hands pointed at the sky in the morning light.
As imperial envoys, Ding Jinzhi and Li Zhishan, dressed in solemn and majestic court uniforms, accompanied them with great airs.
Seeing the majestic group of people marching forward according to the route they set, the two of them were secretly happy.
The feeling was like watching a menacing and arrogant tiger step into the trap they had set, but he himself didn't know it...
