In the year when the Gengyin Incident occurred, Jia Xu was already sixty-four years old.
From the beginning of his attachment to the Western Dynasty eleven years ago, Jia Xu joined the army in four expeditions and made great achievements: at the beginning, he persuaded the surrender of three towns and pacified the Qiang in Yinchuan. Everyone in the court was impressed by his eloquence; later, when Guan Yu dug through the Western Regions, he became Zhang As a pioneer in Xiu, he supervised the military supplies of Guan and Long counties. He passed on supplies one after another and provided endless supplies, which made the army march thousands of miles as if it were flat ground. Guan Yu returned to the court and said that he was better than Xiao and Guan. Later, he accompanied the army to Pingcheng, and Chen Chong proposed to move to Bai. After the mountaineering plan, many generals had objections, but it was Jia Xu who came forward to support him and advocated attacking Xianbei first to achieve a great victory. When discussing his merits afterwards, Jia Xu was named ahead of Chang Xi and other senior generals. It's just that Jia Xu was born as a general and almost overthrew the two prefectures, so he was not allowed to be reused in China and North Korea. Instead, he served in the Xifu area.
However, Jia Xu was also aware of this and often warned himself about the deeds of Peng Yue, Ma Yuan and other foreign ministers who encountered jealousy. He studied with the door closed on weekdays and had no personal friendships in the army. He rarely contacted Zhang Xiu, Dong Yue and other former members of the Dong family. His children did not marry into high-ranking families. At most, they only went to Chen Chong and Liu Bei on New Year's Day celebrations. Just sending a congratulatory note. Although Jia Xu had no friendship for so many years, all ministers in the court took him as a role model.
However, Jia Xu never thought that the emperor's escape planned by Liu Fan would mysteriously affect him. Faced with the secret message from the emperor, he could neither accept nor retreat. If he surrenders to Shu with the emperor, he really doesn't believe that Liu Fan can achieve great things, but if he blocks the way behind closed doors, he may not be able to stop the Shu people. Secondly, after the emperor contacts him, his reputation has been stained. Will he be able to defend himself in the court in the future? Self-purification is really unknown.
However, just when he was embarrassed and hesitant, he suddenly found that a close confidant disappeared around him. This situation made his hair stand on end: he immediately realized that Chen Chong had an agent around him, and he was probably going to inform the deputy general Gu Chen! He made a prompt decision and led other close soldiers to block the alley in the fort, and spread the news among the soldiers that the Shu army was approaching and the emperor was coming. Only then did he stabilize the situation until Zhang Liao's reinforcements arrived.
After Zhang Liao led his army to join the battle, he was like a tiger among sheep. He galloped into the alley wearing armor, stabbing back and forth with two swords in his hands, sometimes fighting from left to right. There were many veterans in the city, but no one could defeat him. Someone recognized him as Lu Bu's old general Zhang Liao, and immediately shouted: "He is Lu Bu's iron escort!" At that time, Zhang Liao, Cao Xing, and Gao Shun were also known as Zhang Liao. Because there were no injuries in the Zongheng army guarding Lu Bu, he was called Zhang Liao. Iron escort.
Gu Chen's troops were frightened after hearing this, and soon caused a commotion in the rear. Zhang Liao continued to fight for two more moments. Suddenly, he felt that the enemy's resistance had suddenly weakened significantly. Then someone shouted: "Stop killing! Gu Xiaowei Hengjian He committed suicide!" Then someone stood up from the crowd holding a head, saluted Zhang Liao and said, "We are willing to surrender, and I hope that your majesty and the general will find a way out." After hearing this, the remaining Westerners also lost their fighting spirit. After sparsely throwing down their swords, they finally surrendered to the Shu army in groups, and Qishan Fort fell into the hands of the Shu people.
As the most important military fortress in the area, the barracks and facilities in Qishan Fort are fully equipped, and there is also a considerable amount of food reserves. The Shu army has been running around for days, crossing mountains and ridges. They usually eat and sleep in the wilderness without avoiding mosquitoes. Now they can finally use hot soup noodles and rest on the couch. The soldiers of the Shu army are simply happier than they have won the battle. Not long after the battle, snoring was heard throughout the mountain fort, which was a strange sight that could only be seen in the ranks.
But at this time, Jia Xu couldn't sleep. After arranging for everyone to rest, he has been sitting in the bedroom facing the bright moon outside the door. About an hour later, when someone came to report that Zhang Liao and Dong Zhao had fallen asleep, Jia Xu slowly got up, put his hands in his sleeves and walked to the door of a room in the attic.
Just as he was about to knock on the door, he heard the emperor ask through the door: "Are you sir?" Jia Xu realized that the emperor was also uneasy and had been waiting for him in the room for a long time. Jia Xu then opened the door and saw the emperor sitting alone on the chairman's chair, staring blankly at a candle. In his hand were an unsheathed sword and seven jade seals, which were obviously the emperor's seals and Pass the national seal.
As the sound of opening the door sounded, the emperor also raised his eyes slightly, saw Jia Xu's long and white hair, and couldn't help but said: "I still remember my first meeting with Mr. in Chang'an, where we talked about state affairs. It was still yesterday, and I couldn't help but admire him. You and I are both so old now, life is so short."
When Jia Xu heard this, he couldn't help but laugh a little. He sat down at the lower table and said slowly: "I am old, and it is appropriate to be old, but your Majesty is only thirty, and there is already a late autumn in his words, which is really not the case. Good thing."
But the emperor smiled indifferently and said: "If sir didn't think it was inappropriate for me to run away, why would he come to talk to me at night?"
After that, he looked at Jia Xu's expression and saw that Jia Xu sighed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, you don't think that Liu Fan can rely on the south to resist the north and establish two dynasties for a long time!" Although there was only one sentence, he looked down upon the Shu Dynasty. , already beyond words.
The emperor actually agreed in his heart, but he said in his mouth: "Who can say clearly what will happen in the future? Even Mr. Mingru Ru, could you have expected that I would come all the way around?" His words were filled with hatred. After living in seclusion in the palace for more than ten years, even though he lived in seclusion all year round, He practiced Buddhism, but the stagnation in his chest was stabbing his chest more and more like an axe. Even when facing Jia Xu, he could not get rid of the resentment in his words.
Jia Xu was not angry because of this. Instead, he closed his eyes with emotion and said after a long time: "Your Majesty is a wise man, so don't be angry with me. I come to ask your Majesty this time. Although your Majesty has been freed, going south to Shuzhong is just a waste of time." Now that I have entered the cage again, I will have no control over my fate in the future. At this time, I have an idea that can make Your Majesty feel at ease. I wonder if Your Majesty is interested?"
"Seriously?" The emperor stood up after hearing the words, and suddenly felt that he had lost his composure. So he changed his steps and walked to Jia Xu, bowed and asked for advice: "If sir really has this plan, you will be very kind to me."
After a while, Jia Xu made up his mind and said: "Your Majesty, I ask your Majesty to escape to Xiqiang tonight." He took out a piece of green jade from his sleeve robe, and then took out a letter, He said slowly to Liu Xie: "Baima Diyang and I have a long history. This is my token. As long as your Majesty goes to Qiuchishan, he will definitely take care of you, and then he will lead your Majesty according to the letter." Passing Minshan Mountain, crossing to the west the sloping mountains and Jishi Mountain, and then entering the head of the Cizhi River. Your Majesty can live in seclusion there. The sky is so high and so far away that no one will be able to trace it, and you will definitely be able to live here for the rest of your life."
The emperor took the jade, and his heart was pounding for a moment, but then he came to his senses and asked hesitantly: "But if this happens, wouldn't I..."
Without waiting for the emperor to finish speaking, Jia Xu said decisively: "Your Majesty, the position of king is not a blessing. The sage has said: 'To receive the filth of the country is to be the master of the country; to receive the omen of the country is to be the king of the world.' How many people are there in the world? This is the reason why I want to be an idle cloud and wild crane, rather than struggling in the officialdom."
Speaking of this, he couldn't help but say in a self-deprecating tone: "Glory and splendor are fleeting, and wealth is just a temporary illusion. If you can hide in the mountains and fields, hunt white rabbits during the day, admire the stars at night, read in spring and summer, drink in autumn and winter, and Without the worry and labor of rent, adjustment and taxes, this is the most difficult happiness to enjoy. Before Li Si died, he just wanted to lead the yellow dog again, to express his ambitions, and to share friends with each other. "
Jia Xu talked for a long time, and when he saw that the emperor was speechless, he added: "Since your majesty can get out of this quagmire, you should not hesitate." The emperor still did not answer. He slowly walked to the door, opened the door, and let the people outside The breeze blew in, and then he sat back as the chairman, looking at the flickering candle in front of the table, extinguishing his figure along with it, and from time to time there were a few wild geese chirping outside the door, like flying arrows piercing the night sky.
The emperor finally said: "Sir, what you said is not unreasonable, but I have made up my mind. I would rather die for the Holy Duke (Liu Xuan) than live for the child (Liu Ying). I will never change my words and my ambition!"
After finishing speaking, he waved his hand and threw the jade jue to the ground, which instantly broke into pieces. Then, without looking at Jia Xu, he sheathed his long sword and put it and the emperor's seal into his luggage. Then he took out a bamboo flute, sat down in his original position, and played it in front of the candlelight and the night sky as if there was no one around. Jia Xu knew that This meant chasing away guests, so he stood up and walked out the door.
He did not return to his bedroom immediately, but listened quietly in the corridor. He heard that the emperor was playing "Green Clothes Song". Sinking under the netherworld of Jiuquan, but the aftertaste is like a swan flying into the mist, the wind and frost are like knives, but when you look around, you can see all the white shadows.
This is a mourning song by the ancients. It is also said that Princess Zhuang Jiang of Qi State was worried and silent because she was neglected and mistreated by her husband, Duke Zhuang of Wei, so she composed this song of self-pity. His poem says:
"The clothes are green, the clothes are green, and the clothes are yellow. The heart is worried, just protect yourself!"
Green clothes, green clothes and yellow clothes. My heart is full of worries, and I want to defend my death!
It is green and silky, and is cured by women. I miss the ancients, so I can't help myself.
The weather is messy, and the wind is desolate. I miss the ancients, and they really won my heart! "
After playing the song, Jia Xu heard that the emperor was missing his father and brother, and was also resentful of his own experience. His mind was unchangeable, so he left quietly. Liu Xie, who was in the room at this time, suddenly fell into confusion. He looked at the bamboo flute in his hand, and for some reason remembered that Chen Chong taught him how to play the flute when he was thirteen. He also recalled the relationship between the emperor and his ministers when he first met Chen Chong. The scene was all vivid in his mind. When and what happened made the two of them strangers?
He remembered that it was after the Yuan server. At that time, there were calls from the court for him to take over the government, but there was no sign of the two governments returning to power. So after a secret meeting with Dong Zhao, he tried to test Liu Bei. As a result, Liu Bei became angry and dispersed the dissidents in the court. The two sides became enemies and eventually broke out. It has become a current situation where teachers and students are at odds with each other.
Are you right or wrong? Liu Xie thought this, and quickly warned himself: "It has been a matter of course to only respect the emperor since ancient times. No one can say that he is wrong." But he could not calm down the restlessness in his heart. On the contrary, he secretly Seeing that many people's souls were whispering to him, he tried to hear clearly, but he only heard a hum, and then he gradually fell asleep in disappointment.
