The bedroom is very quiet.
The huge Manna Palace seems to be shrouded in a layer of suffocating frost, sweeping away the dullness and depression caused by the scorching summer heat; the soundless silence just highlights the solemnity of this imperial palace.
The emperor had already stepped down from Danqi, so at this moment, the cold dragon couch above Danqi was actually empty, with no trace of anyone in sight; several memorials of varying thicknesses and secrets were lying quietly on the bed of Ganlu Hall. The imperial case was covered with some imperceptible dust. It is conceivable that in these short few days, these lifeless memorials were not known to be read by the steady and tenacious hands of the Emperor of Zhou. How many times did it happen, and then it was as if it had been forgotten forever by this supreme being in the world, casually put aside without anyone paying attention to it. The faint summer sun outside the palace fell on the cover of the memorial, reflecting countless golden lights, as if it had been roasted by a fire, making it slightly hot.
Deep in the palace, it is as cold as ice.
"How long have you been in charge of Beida Camp?"
Suddenly, a cold, indifferent, rich voice with the signature calmness and maturity of a middle-aged man slowly sounded, like a thunderbolt blasting across the long night, breaking the tranquility of the Manna Hall.
This is the voice of the emperor!
Emperor Xuan put his hands behind his back and raised his eyebrows slightly. With his deep and inviolable eyes, he glanced at the child standing upright next to him - Xiao Changling, who was dressed in white.
At this moment, the doors and windows of the palace were wide open, and the summer wind was blowing, blowing the black hair on Xiao Changling's face and slightly falling back; his appearance was inherently handsome, and coupled with his calm and self-confident expression His expression made his whole person's suave and unruly character and magnanimity clearly visible. It was like a thousand-year-old jade produced in the forest peaks of the West Sea. After being blown by the summer wind, the wind of Zhilan Yushu in this young prince was more and more highlighted. There is a hint of weakness, but there is a touch of stubbornness that is heart-wrenching.
The summer wind was silent, blowing softly from the window, blowing the elegant white clothes on Xiao Changling's body, making a hunting sound, and quickly turned into snow-white waves in the vast ocean, and in turn condensed into countless pieces of harvest. The auspicious snow covers every plant and tree in the sun, moon, mountains and rivers.
Underneath the white clothes, there is Xiao Changling's pure face, his stern cold eyes, a determined lip arc, his exquisite jaw, and a sharp smile floating on the corner of his lips.
At this time, Xiao Changling also imitated his father's appearance, with his hands behind his back. His tall and handsome figure, aloof and independent, was unforgettable with just one glance. However, he looked majestic in his white clothes and frost. Standing proudly, his pupils are deep and bright, but his face remains as fierce and fierce as ever, untouched by any external object.
"Two years."
The two faint words, mixed with the strong and resolute voice of the young general, passed through the melting summer light outside the window, followed Xiao Changling's cold lower lip, and floated into the ears of His Majesty the Emperor like a wisp of blue smoke.
"Oh, two years..."
Obviously, His Majesty the Emperor's calm reaction seemed to be fully expected by Xiao Changling. This middle-aged man in a bright yellow dragon robe with an extremely cold expression just nodded casually, as if he was repeating a habit that had been with him for many years, as if he had become one with the imperial majesty that penetrated his bones. , became a part of his life.
Immediately, Xiao Longxian's deep and scorching eyes slowly moved away from Xiao Changling's handsome face and towards the broad "Kiuzhou Territory" on the wall. As far as the emperor could see, it fell to the very edge of the empire's territory. In the vast territory of the Northern Land, there are vast grasslands, thousands of miles of Gobi Desert, countless impregnable and dangerous towns, rolling Yanran Mountains, and the "Good Office" which is regarded as the birthplace of Rouran's children. river"……
Looking at the vast world in front of him, deep in Xiao Longxian's chest and abdomen, an extremely hot feeling suddenly surged up. It was the excitement of being the lord of the world and looking down at the world, and it was also the feeling of looking at the world. The heroic and majestic emperor of Zhou Dynasty, dressed in bright yellow, stood below the map, motionless, with his hands behind his back, just silently looking at the boundless mountains and rivers of the north...
I think back then, when this talented and strategic emperor was still the crown prince, he personally led his troops to conquer the north and south, and made unparalleled achievements. He was nothing short of "the most famous general in the Eastern Continent", and no one could compete with him; It was only the absence of personal expeditions in the past ten years that allowed the younger generations of talents such as Xiao Yingxue and Xiao Changling to emerge and excel, overshadowing His Majesty the Emperor's glory in opening up new territories.
"Erlang, if I remember correctly, when you first took over the Beida Camp, there seemed to be less than 10,000 troops."
The emperor's words were exceptionally calm.
As a king who holds the most abundant national resources in the world, the more his heart agitates, the more calm his face becomes. At this moment, the emperor's face and eyes are as if they are both bottomless. The cold pool shot out a bone-chilling chill, as if it was about to swallow up the entire Manna Palace under those cold eyes.
"Yes, Father, those brothers were all brothers and sisters who went to the Northern Expedition with my son. Most of their parents and brothers died under the butcher's knife of the Rouran people. In terms of loyalty, they are absolutely loyal. He is the most loyal warrior in the Great Zhou Dynasty and hates Rouran to the core. The name of Beidaying was given by his father after the Northern Expedition."
Xiao Changling had a calm and calm expression on his face, his sword-like eyes shone with a bone-chilling cold light, looking deeply at the Northern Territory on the map through his father's bright yellow and thin back, with a calm and calm look on his face; The only slight difference was that there seemed to be a touch of heaviness between the brows of the white-clothed commander, outlines his expressionless face.
A heavy look of indifference to the extreme appeared on Xiao Changling's cold cheeks, appearing and disappearing in and out, dark and gloomy; this heavy look was not compassion, sentimentality, or self-pity for no reason, but a feeling of pity for others. The deep remembrance of the past battles and the remembrance of thousands of heroic souls.
"You are indeed up to date. I remember that when I handed over the Beida Camp to you, there was a lot of discussion in the civil and military affairs of the court. They all thought that I was nepotistic and harmed the country with my favor. In their eyes, how could you, a young boy with nothing to do, take on this responsibility? What was the result of being able to shoulder the important task of commanding the army? In less than half a year, my son built a new army of less than 10,000 people into the Beida Camp, which now has 70,000 elite troops and is famous in the world. It is amazing. Ah! My entrustment to you is not in vain."
Xiao Long didn't turn around, he still stared at the map intently, his tone was gloomy and solemn, the majesty of a generation of emperors had not diminished at all; however, from the words of the Emperor of Zhou, it was still possible to hear that he felt sorry for his son. Such favor and preference, but there was never a smile on his face. He always remained unsmiling and remained as cold as winter.
At the moment, Xiao Changling was standing on the same spot, his body as motionless as a mountain, and he just slightly raised his sword eyebrows coolly. The commander-in-chief who had experienced the war in the north, his eyes were bright and lively, and he was dressed in white. Although he was not stained by Zhengchen, there were still traces of blood on the corners of his eyebrows and eyes. Still with strong murderous intent and blood.
"My son's throne and military power were all given by his father. Even the ancients knew that 'a wise man should live up to his righteousness and be benevolent and show himself with virtue'. Everything I have now belongs to my father." Your emperor, your name is just a foreign name, why should you care about it!"
"Have you read the "Explanation of Military Offerings"?!" The emperor slowly turned around, looked at Xiao Changling's jade-like face with a smile, and said.
I saw Xiao Changling slightly raising half of his cheek to meet the emperor's sharp gaze, his face was open, and he spoke seriously after a while.
"It makes my father laugh. My father is very knowledgeable, and his sons and ministers are not as good as him. The boy entered the military camp at a young age and spent many years fighting. He has always only dealt with the warriors in the army. Although he has contributed to the development of the country, he has missed studying in the end. Therefore, my son wants to Take advantage of your spare time and read more history books."
"Really?! So what books have you read recently?" Upon hearing this, a happy smile appeared on Xiao Longxian's lips.
"Returning to my father, I have dabbled in the Six Classics and below. But recently, I am quite interested in "Selected Works of Yide"." Xiao Changling lowered his head, his handsome appearance set off the upright look of the prince in white. His facial features and clear eyes could no longer conceal the natural freedom and spontaneity of this nobleman of the Tian family.
"Well, the prosperity of ancient literature flourished in the previous dynasties. The four great masters of the country, especially Mr. Yide, were the beginning of the ancient literary style. His "Selected Works" is really worth reading. If you understand Yide's style, you will understand it. Once you understand ancient prose, you will understand what a truly eternal article is, and you must read it carefully." Xiao Long nodded with relief, and his majestic eyes gradually became softer.
The next moment, Xiao Long spread his dragon robe slightly and patted Aizi's shoulder gently.
"But, Erlang, study is your study, but don't neglect military affairs. You must understand that literature and Taoism are important, but military strategy is the foundation for determining the world. If there is no stable and prosperous unified country, who will Do you care about the poems and songs in the book?"
"Yes, I understand." Xiao Changling raised his head slightly, his face calm.
As soon as the word "understand" came to the floor, Xiao Longxian turned around with a gloomy face, facing the vast territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Only his thin and tall back was reflected in Xiao Changling's pair of black pupils. ; At this moment, the emperor's profound gaze, no, not so much a gaze, but the edge of the Emperor's Sword, swept across every inch of the empire, from the northern border to the south of the Yangtze River, and from the south of the Yangtze River to the west, and then to the so-called The "naturally dangerous" Shu land was fixed on the southern Yunnan fortress where the Tibetan people lived... The great rivers and mountains were all in the eyes of the emperor, and they could not be taken away.
Xiao Longxian was full of momentum.
"Sooner or later, this world will be mine. I have plenty of time to play with them. I, the Zhou Dynasty, use force to determine the tripod. When it comes to land warfare, I dare to say that there is no army in this world that can compete with my Zhou army." We can compete with the cavalry, but if we want to go south in a big way, we still have to practice the method of fighting on the water."
Not long after, Xiao Changling's eyes focused together for an instant, and gradually changed from the previous coldness and severity to unprecedented firmness; the white clothes beat the snow, reflecting his long and tall figure, majestic figure, and heroic figure. His appearance, in addition to the nobility of a royal child, added a bit of fortitude that could only be revealed after going through Nirvana.
Then, Xiao Changling pondered for a moment, slowly lowered his arms, and spoke with as much arrogance as frost.
"Father, everyone says, 'Southerners drive ships, northerners ride horses.' But Erchen firmly believes that one day, even if there are no warships, our golden and iron horses of the Great Zhou Dynasty can still go all the way south and conquer the Southern Dynasty. Thousands of miles of river defense will unify the north and south; at that time, I am willing to lead all the soldiers of the northern camp to be the king's vanguard and attack and destroy Southern Chu for the Great Zhou."
What a hero!
How proud of the crowd!
Only a commander who is unparalleled in the world can have such a strong mind and will; only a general who is admired by thousands of people can have such confidence and pride. He, right in front of you, is this young man in white— - Xiao Changling, King of Rencheng!
The cavalry company camped across the river, and tens of thousands of troops threw their whips to cut off the current and marched straight to the south of the Yangtze River. This was a great feat that even Xiao Longxian, a generation of heroes, had never accomplished. But now, it is so understated, from a boy who is only 16 years old. He said it in his mouth, and it was so decisive, showing his confidence in guiding the country; Xiao Longxian's expression showed a moment of hesitation, and then he smiled self-deprecatingly, seeming a little intoxicated, maybe thinking in his heart, it seems that I am really old Well, he is not as courageous as a little guy.
"Well, I am very pleased that my son has such an ambition. Erlang, among the four of you siblings, only your temperament and temperament are the most like mine. I have placed high hopes on you since you were a child. That is Because I have long seen that you are a natural commander. In my opinion, it is not enough for you to be in charge of only one Peking University camp."
"Father...what do you mean?!" Xiao Changling slowly put his right hand on his waist, trying his best to suppress the doubts in his heart. From the beginning to the end, there was no wave on his face, which was always as cold and silent as a thousand-year-old ice lake. .
The emperor was silent for a long time, and his wrist, which had been hanging behind him, finally hung naturally at his side, looking a little careless.
Xiao Long smiled slightly first.
"This is what I want to tell you today. General Qin is already old and cannot bear the heavy workload in the army. He has resigned and returned to his hometown a few days ago. There is a vacancy in his position as the commander-in-chief of Dongda Camp; so , I have decided that from now on, the 50,000 soldiers of Dong Daying will be placed under your banner and all will be under your control."
What?
All 50,000 soldiers in the East Camp were assigned to Xiao Changling's command.
Fortunately, we were not in the court today, otherwise, it would definitely have caused quite a shock among the courtiers. Originally, as a young and promising general of the Zhou Dynasty, Xiao Changling at this time was already in charge of the 70,000 elite troops of the Beida Camp. The commander of the first army, now, with just a few words, his father has placed another fifty thousand soldiers and horses under his own account. This means that from now on, Xiao Changling will have two powerful armies under his command. , holding 120,000 troops, possessing the strength to split the land, seal the territory, and separate one side. This is a power that no prince in the past dynasties has ever possessed.
However, when Xiao Changling heard this, he frowned slightly, and his bright black pupils subconsciously shrank inward; his face was gloomy, and his clear eyes stared straight at the inscrutable Xiao Suo in front of him. The figure left only bright yellow and dark colors in his eyes.
…
"You...are you going to hand over Dong Daying to me?" Xiao Changling had a peaceful look on his face, and moved slightly back half an inch. The frown he had been frowning finally relaxed at this moment, and he calmly He spoke.
The moment Xiao Changling's words came out of his mouth, the gaze in His Majesty's eyes, like two swords, penetrated the oppressive air of Ganlu Hall, and finally fell on Xiao Changling's face that was always full of youthful spirit. .
"Yes, this is my decision."
A few words, in a gentle and low tone, fully demonstrate the unquestionable dignity of a heroic hero.
Xiao Changling stood behind the emperor without saying a word, his eyes still as cold as frost.
However, the emperor, who was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, did not pause for a moment, but suppressed the smile at the corner of his mouth and continued.
"Erlang, in the past two years, you have led soldiers from the north, and you have also led soldiers from the capital. I believe in your ability, so I can trust you to hand over the East Camp to you. Can you lead the Beida Camp?" So good, why are you worried that you can't control only 50,000 troops?"
Unexpectedly, Xiao Changling remained silent, with his hands clasped in front of him, looking at his nose and heart, just like an old monk in meditation, letting the summer wind blowing in from the window pull the white clothes on his body.
Suddenly, Xiao Longxian's expression became slightly stern, his eyes showed a murderous and decisive expression, and a cold glance glanced at Xiao Changling.
"What?! You don't want to?"
Until this moment, Xiao Changling finally stopped being silent. He raised his head and looked outside the hall, facing the dazzling light of midsummer; a large golden halo sprinkled on Xiao Changling's angular face, as if it was plated with a layer of gold. , glowing with a calm golden light.
"Yes, Father, I do have concerns."
"Tell me." Xiao Long frowned slightly, a rare calmness oozing from the corners of his lips.
Without allowing a moment to think, Xiao Changling took a deep breath, and the solemnity on his face disappeared. Instead, he looked straight at his father's face that was beginning to show its vicissitudes of life with an extremely firm gaze.
"Father, my son is the commander-in-chief of Beidaying. I am familiar with the generals of Beidaying, not Dongdaying. Moreover, if Dongdaying falls under my command, how will the two armies be coordinated, how will the food and grass be allocated, and who will do it? The main force, who is the side force? If there is internal strife between the two armies, what should we do, suppress or appease? I wonder if my father has thought about these issues? In addition, my father, you also know that Changling has always been accustomed to using its own people when using troops. ,so……"
Xiao Long listened first, his brows slightly furrowed, his face became extremely serious, his eyes shining with black gold light stared closely at Xiao Changling, who was dressed in white, as if he wanted to weld this sixteen-year-old boy to death. Under his hot gaze.
"Our own people?! What are our own people! I don't believe it. When you took over Beida Camp, were they your people from the beginning?! If they are not your own people, just find a way to turn them into your own people. As for how? Coordination and how to deploy it are your business, not mine. If you can't handle this trivial matter, you really can't take on the important task of guarding the army. This is my test for you."
Every word, every word is like a knife, this is the pressure from a generation of overlords.
After saying that, Xiao Longxian's eyes narrowed into a sharp gleam, the cold light in his eyes flashed away, and he quietly observed the subtle expression changes on Xiao Changling's face; to His Majesty's expectation, his son, The tenacity of his mind, the calmness of his will, and his inner strength far exceed his age and status.
The wind swept his white clothes, and Xiao Changling's eyes looked like thousands of years of snow-capped mountains, extremely cold and deserted, and extremely condensed. There was no trace of anxiety caused by being frightened by the power of the emperor. Instead, he reflected a few sharp sword auras, becoming more and more... It shows his nobility and arrogance, and his ambition to return from the bloody battlefield.
Xiao Changling deliberately straightened his body, and then spoke slowly, his calm tone, yet powerful and sonorous, carrying a heart-stopping determination, floating in the sky above the empty hall, like countless ancient memories gathered in the bottom of his heart. The power burst out instantly.
"Father, I understand. This is the thorn stick given to me by my father. Don't worry, father, my son can hold this thorn stick!"
The emperor smiled with satisfaction and said, "I am very relieved that you can think so. But you are wrong about one thing. This is not a thorn stick, but a knife I gave you. You must hold this knife for me." "
"Yes, Father." Xiao Changling hunched over and bowed deeply.
Then, the emperor glanced at him and quickly changed the topic.
"Actually, I also understand your concerns. After all, Dongdaying is the Qin family's 20-year-old branch and is not your direct descendant. If you want to completely control these 50,000 people, it will not happen overnight. I have thought about it for you. You can combine the 50,000 soldiers of the Eastern Camp with your Beida Camp into one army. From now on, all the 120,000 soldiers of our Great Zhou will be assigned to your subordinates and will be led by you personally. There will be no more Peking Army. It can be divided into the East Camp and the East Camp. As for the flag of this army, I have already thought about it, and it will be called...Jingbei!"
"Jingbei?!" Xiao Changling's two sword eyebrows were slightly raised, and the resolute outline between the eyebrows contained a clearly visible mark. It was a trace of the soul-eating blood of thousands of armies, fearless, fearless, and proud. .
The two camps merged into one.
From this day on, the "Jingbei Army", which would become the most powerful force in the world, emerged from the sky. Like the most dazzling North Star in the sky, it was about to shine brightly in the Central Plains where heroes compete for power, streaking across the dark night sky in the troubled times of Kyushu, illuminating this place. The eternal night.
"Jingbei, Jingbei, Jingbei is in flames, bringing peace to the world."
Xiao Changling murmured to himself.
Clothes are better than frost and snow.
The young Erlang of the Xiao family raised his head proudly and looked out the window with determination, looking at the scorching sun on the horizon. His expression was solemn, his face was desolate, and his eyes were burning with endless fire. Staring at the northern border far away in the bitter cold land; at this moment, he seemed to see herds of cattle and sheep, domes that blocked the sun from the sky, and endless pastures, just like when he came out of Youzhou in white, Riding horses howling in the west wind.
"Come with me."
The father and son moved forward and came to the vast territory.
Every inch of land on that map, every city, every river, and the vast territory of the Zhou Empire were like the blood in the body, already integrated into the meridians of the supreme emperor and the emperor. Deep in the eyes.
"Erlang, in the future Central Plains, there will not be many opponents in the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Sima clan of Southern Chu and the Murong clan of Xiyan are already on their last legs. There is nothing to worry about. The country will be destroyed sooner or later. What I am really worried about is not the dying Chu Yan. , but the Yi Di who are entrenched in all directions."
"What my father means is... the external troubles of the Great Zhou Dynasty are on the border of Beilu." Xiao Changling's deep gaze gradually changed from the indifference and silence before to a penetrating fire that could penetrate the chess game, and fell on the long-lasting land. The northern border is full of war.
Xiao Long first looked back, glanced at his son, with a sure smile on his lips, and then turned to stare straight at the empire's four-border defense line.
"That's right. The Qianghu in the northwest, the Tubo in the south of Yunnan, and the Rouran in the north will all be a big problem for me in the border areas of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the future."
Xiao Changling smiled.
"So, my father sent the eldest sister to take charge of the northwest, and now he has ordered his son to take charge of the Jingbei Army, also for future plans."
At this time, the emperor's gaze became as deep as two ancient wells.
"Well, although your eldest brother is not good at military strategy, he has been helping me to co-manage the government over the years, preside over Zhongshu's sect, and also serve as an errand for Zongzheng Temple. It is my will and her own for your eldest sister to go to the northwest to take charge of the army. Choice; now, only the candidate to be the commander of the Northern Territory remains undecided. After much thought, I decided that it must be you."
"Only I am suitable!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Changling raised his head proudly, slowly raised his right arm, and pointed in the air; his steady fingers followed the outline of the mountains and rivers inside and outside, crossing the desolate desert and Gobi Desert in the north, and pointed exactly at the right spot. A striking and eye-catching pass in the northern border - "Jinyang"!
Immediately, Xiao Changling spoke in a cold voice, with a heroic spirit that swept through the whole world.
"Jinyang is a fortress in the northern frontier, surrounded by mountains and rivers. The invaders can be destroyed if they advance, and they can be defended if they retreat. It is a battleground for military strategists. If Jinyang is not protected, the country's gate will be opened, and the situation will be at risk. The world agrees! In the past, The vehicles, grass, money, and grain sent by the capital all had to pass through Jinyang. The Yanjing garrison going south could not bypass the jurisdiction of this place. Jinyang and Shangjing were thousands of miles apart. The tiger is watching outside the pass and may invade at any time. As the general who controls the north, I am willing to share the worries of my father and guard the northern border for the Great Zhou Dynasty to ensure peace!"
All was quiet.
A moment later, a long and wild laugh broke through the wind and resounded throughout the hall.
Lots of laughter.
"Okay! What I want is your words! Erlang, I want to tell the world, canonize you as the King of Qin, and let you take charge of the 120,000 Jingbei army. I also want to tell the world that from now on, you are me. Lord of the Northern Territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty."
King Qin!
Lord of the North!
Xiao Changling, who was dressed entirely in white, looked directly at the pale face of the Emperor of Zhou, with eyes as bright as a torch.
"You want to make me king?!"
The emperor spoke extremely calmly, and his words revealed a kingly demeanor that had already penetrated deep into his bones and was lingering in his bones.
"You have no joke."
