…
Just when the high-ranking officials in the capital were making many speculations secretly, a group of Qingqi came from the north, carrying the dust and gunpowder smoke of Yanyun, reining in their horses and stopping outside Chang'an City.
The young Zuo Xiaowei general Su Zhan held the reins steadily, raised his head and stared at Chang'an, which had been away for a long time. For a moment, he felt all kinds of emotions in his heart, while the followers behind him, who were dusty and dusty, looked even more intense. There are three parts worried and seven parts angry.
The attendant closest to him whispered: "If the general has no intention of going to Beijing, let's go back to Fengzhou. The sky is high there and the emperor is far away. Isn't it a good idea to be away from Chang'an? In recent years, the border defense has declined, and civilian officials have outnumbered military generals. There are more attacks and criticisms, but don’t they know that if General Cuo had repelled the Turks’ attacks several times in succession, how could Chang’an be at peace today?”
What he said was quite tactful, but another subordinate's words were much sharper: "The general always remembers that the Su family of the Duke of Xing has been favored by the country for generations, but the grandpa spent his life in the army, and he died on the battlefield. , The Duke of Xing's house is full of loyal people, and they have long repaid the favor of conferring titles. When the late emperor was here, the court put a lot of pressure on the Duke of Xing's house. Today..."
"Bah!" He spat on the ground angrily: "When I talk about him, I feel unlucky!"
The late emperor died a month ago, and it was only a few days before the news reached Fengzhou in the north. The governor urgently circulated the obituary notice throughout the state, banning marriages for a hundred days, and observing filial piety for the Daxing Emperor. Naturally, the army also No exception.
After the late emperor succeeded to the throne, the border defenses became increasingly relaxed, and the tendency of emphasizing civility over military affairs in the court became more common, and impeachment of military generals became commonplace.
Fortunately, although the late emperor was kinder and cowardly, he was still clear about important matters. Whenever he encountered such memorials, he would just pass them by. Although the lives of the border guard generals were a little difficult, they were still tolerable in the end.
Su Zhan holds the title of Duke of Xing and holds the rank of General Zuo Xiaowei. Although he entered the palace from his parents when he was young, he was even held in the lap of the late emperor. Hearing the news of the late emperor's death, Su Zhan was inevitably very sad. I was sad, and I heard that the late emperor had no children, and that the new king who succeeded him was a clan adoptive, and I didn't think much about it.
Unexpectedly, a few days later, someone from the palace would come to serve on the emperor's order and summon Zuo Xiaowei General Su Zhan to the palace for an audience. If it was a serious official business or a major military and political matter, it would be fine, but the person who came was talking about what the new emperor had heard. Duke Xing was so handsome that people at that time called him Zhilan. The emperor was so impressed by him that he summoned him to the palace.
Immediately afterwards, the deputy general angrily brought the caravan here from Chang'an and told the inside story that with his colleagues in the army, the new emperor was born in the Zhou Dynasty and had a dandy nature, which was very ridiculous.
The most important thing is - he is so southern!
As soon as the news spread, there was an uproar within the army. If Su Zhan and several veteran generals had not suppressed it, a mutiny would have almost immediately occurred.
Some subordinates even took the initiative to say: "If the king regards his ministers as his hands and feet, then his ministers will regard him as his heart; if his ministers regard his ministers as dogs and horses, then his ministers will regard him as a countryman; if his ministers regard his ministers as earth and mustard, then his ministers will regard him as such." Kou Qiu! The general has repeatedly determined the northern frontier, how great his achievements are? How can you allow the ignorant king to be so lazy and disrespectful!"
Before he could finish what he said, Su Zhan had already realized what he meant, and immediately dismissed the person, and then strictly ordered everyone to be silent and not to talk about this matter again.
But after everyone retreated, they couldn't help but feel sad. They invited Mr. Fang, the military staff officer whom they trusted, to come over. He sighed and said, "The title of Duke Xing of my family was passed down from my great-great-grandfather." In the seventh year of Tiansheng's reign, during the invasion of South Vietnam, my great-great-grandfather was poisoned by an arrow. Because he was not treated in time, he developed sores on his back. He was in constant pain day and night. After hearing the news, Emperor Mingzong came to visit him and personally sucked the pus from the sores for his great-great-grandfather. Xue, after hearing that my great-great-grandfather was about to die soon, he took the initiative to adopt his grandfather as his adopted son and take him to the palace to be educated. The next two generations of emperors regarded the Duke of Xing as being very generous..."
Mr. Fang listened silently and couldn't help but sigh: "It's no wonder that the general decided to return to Beijing even though he suffered such humiliation."
Su Zhan was surprised at first: "I haven't mentioned my plan to return to Beijing yet, sir, why..."
Mr. Fang said: "The general is a man of friendship. If he had no other choice, how could he do something that would bring shame to our ancestors?"
Su Zhan shook his head and laughed, but there was a hint of bitterness in his smile: "When I was young, I had the honor to go in and out of the palace with my father. The late emperor regarded me as his nephew. Since then, I have been sitting in Fengzhou, and I have not been able to do anything. He led the army to march north after the transfer order. There were many impeachments in the imperial court. It was the late emperor who pressed down these memorials one by one and secretly wrote to me, giving me many encouragements."
At this point, he frowned slightly, paused, and then continued: "After all, I am the heir chosen by the late emperor. I am also responsible for the defense of the northern border. If there is serious trouble, once the Turks invade, I will be the first to bear the brunt. Aren't they the people on the border? I don't want to do something like this that makes my relatives angry and my enemies happy."
Mr. Fang then said seriously: "In that case, what business can you entrust me to, General?"
Su Zhan sat upright and said solemnly: "I am leaving now, but I don't know when I will come back. I know that you have the talent to manage the world, so I will leave everything in this place to your hands. My father has worked hard here for several years, and Feng Feng The state military camp has just been established, if the imperial court sends generals here again in the future, if there is chaos, please take action, sir!"
After that, I bowed solemnly.
Mr. Fang returned the courtesy and sighed: "General, you have prepared for the worst. Are you really planning to subjugate the emperor?"
Su Zhan said: "My family has been loyal for generations, how dare you insult the family reputation? If this is really the case, you should die to remonstrate!"
After settling everything in Fengzhou properly, Su Zhan set off with only dozens of followers. All he heard along the way was bad news.
The emperor used the sun and the moon to observe filial piety for the late emperor, without any sincere filial piety. During the period of filial piety, he couldn't wait to choose a new concubine to enter the palace. He was simply a hungry ghost...
However, after approaching Chang'an, the wind changed direction again.
The use of sun instead of moon to observe filial piety was suggested by the sycophantic ministers. The emperor kept silent in order to distinguish between loyal and traitorous people. As for the so-called concubines, it was because the late emperor had no children and the empress dowager was lonely in the palace, so he chose daughters from well-known families to enter the palace. To perform filial piety on behalf of the emperor, there is nothing more than etiquette during the period of filial piety for the late emperor.
When he heard that the emperor had changed the half-day working system in the three provinces to a full-time working system, Su Zhan couldn't help but smile lightly even though his heart was heavy.
In his opinion, this rule should have been changed long ago.
Looking around the world, there are prefectures, counties, and government offices, and border garrison camps from all sides. Which one is not busy from morning to night?
Only the central officials are particularly noble. They work for half a day every day and then go home early to rest.
Due to many experiences, Su Zhan suddenly felt that today's life might not be as bad as he imagined.
He also comforted the angry followers in this way.
Because it was not a military emergency at this time, and there was nothing urgent, everyone did not rush along the way. The subordinates were moved by his words, so two people changed their clothes and hurried to Beijing to find out the latest news.
A few days later, the two people came back with gloomy faces, full of bad luck: "Bah, all your happiness was in vain!"
Su Zhan and the rest of the retinues all felt that their hearts, which had been somewhat relieved recently, became heavy again.
The retinue who went to inquire about the news said: "This man was born in the Zhou Dynasty. Before he was chosen as his heir by the late emperor, he raised several young shepherds. They said he was fond of Nanfeng. He was not wronged at all!"
Another person said: "I once had a fight with the prime minister's nephew over a man, which alerted the night watchman!"
Su Zhan was silent for a moment, holding the last glimmer of hope in his arms, and said softly: "It seems that everything happened before entering the palace today?"
Seeing the general like this, the two men couldn't bear to say anything to break his expectations.
Su Zhan was silent, but the others couldn't hold it back and asked one after another: "What now? I heard rumors recently that he seems to have changed?"
The two men snorted a few times like mosquitoes.
Someone was anxious: "What do you mean? You haven't eaten!"
The two people were also anxious and loudly said: "I said that he can't change his habit of eating shit! I don't know where I got a good-looking sissy from, and stuffed it into the bodyguard's position in black!"
The remaining people immediately became anxious, some yelled and cursed, some said they wanted to go back to Fengzhou, some even said they would just do the opposite and pull them down, etc. It was extremely noisy.
It wasn't until he noticed that Su Zhan looked gloomy and remained silent that he gradually silenced his voice.
"General..."
Su Zhan only said: "Let's go." After that, he said nothing more.
By the time we returned to Chang'an, it was already mid-June.
The scorching sun was scorching the earth, and there was no wind. Travelers and traders from all over the world were either riding horses or riding cars, forming a regular queue and entering Chang'an City one by one, accompanied by the bells hanging on the camel's neck. As it moves forward, it emits a series of clear and crisp sounds.
Su Zhan halted his horse and stared silently at the unattainable Chang'an City Wall, with a hint of bleak compassion in his expression.
Seeing this, the two men exchanged worried looks, urged their horses closer, and asked in a low voice: "General, are you okay?"
Su Zhan said: "I'm fine."
He urged his horse to turn towards the team entering the city, paused, and then said: "I remember the scene when I left Chang'an."
At that time, he was really young, only sixteen years old. He only wanted to make great achievements and settle in Hexi.
The young man was dressed in armor, riding on the steed Cang Liao that he had raised by himself, with a long sword on his waist. He was high-spirited and galloped past the gate of Chang'an City. He looked back and made a heroic ambition in his heart. .
The Xia Ming sword on the bowed back shines on the frost, and the horse comes out of Xianyang in the autumn wind.
Before the emperor takes over the land of Hehuang, he has no intention of looking back at his hometown.
Time has changed and he returned to his hometown. The horse Cang Liao who accompanied him north had already died in the battle, and he did not return victoriously...
Su Zhan remembered that a few years ago, when he was young and dressed in mourning clothes, he and his father welcomed his grandfather's coffin outside the city gate of Chang'an.
He sobbed and cried sadly, but his father remained silent until he returned home. He squatted down, put his hands on his shoulders and said, "Death in battle is the best destination for a general."
But he didn't understand it at that time.
Now that he was outside Chang'an City again and revisited his old place, Su Zhan suddenly understood what his father said at that time.
Death in battle is indeed the best destination for a general.
And he probably won't get such an honor.
As the saying goes, when it comes, make peace with it.
We have already arrived in Chang'an, what's the use of thinking more?
Su Zhan shook his head, laughed, and gave an order. Just as he was about to enter the city, he suddenly saw a middle-aged man dressed as a steward and two young men coming forward. He cupped his hands and said, "But Mr. Xing Guo in person?"
"Exactly," Su Zhan said, "Who are you?"
The middle-aged steward said: "I am the steward of Prince Ji's Mansion."
Seeing Su Zhan frowning, he hurriedly explained: "The eldest son of my family is the disciple and son-in-law of Yu Daru. When Yu Daru heard that the emperor summoned the Duke to come to the capital, he was worried. The eldest son was ordered by his master to invite the Duke to come to the capital. Let’s talk about it.”
Su Zhan shook his head and said: "It is a taboo for a border guard general to enter the palace first instead of meeting the emperor when he comes to Beijing. It is only because Yu Daru has taught me two years of lessons that I have heard you say so much. Since the prince has taken the master's order, I will wait at the long pavilion outside the city. If he doesn't want to come, that's all."
The steward heard his firm tone and did not dare to disobey, so he had to say: "The country forgives me, and I will allow the villain to go back and report."
…
Su Zhan stopped for two-quarters of an hour outside Chang'an City, and then someone rode out of the city and headed straight for Changting.
When he heard the voice, he looked back and saw that the person who came was a handsome and handsome young man. He was wearing the robe of the Crown Prince of this dynasty and a jade belt around his waist. He expected that it was the Crown Prince Ji in front of him, so he stepped forward and saluted, "Your Majesty."
Prince Ji returned the courtesy, looked at him for a few times, and then praised: "The pearls and jade are by my side, and I feel that I look dirty. Now that I can see Duke Xing today, I will know that the ancients are sincere and will not deceive me!"
How could Su Zhan have the heart to listen to people praising his appearance at this time - how could he have fallen to this level if it wasn't for his appearance?
It's just that Prince Ji came to deliver the message on Yu Daru's order, and he didn't know the way forward at this time, so he couldn't help but be polite: "Your Majesty has given you too much praise. How can I afford such praise?"
Then he got straight to the point: "May I ask Mr. Yu if you have any advice?"
Seeing that he had no intention of exchanging too many greetings, Prince Ji's expression became serious. He observed that there was no one around except Su Zhan's retinue, and then he sighed and said, "Mr. Xing should not have returned to the capital."
Although Su Zhan had expected it, his heart still sank when he heard the news. After feeling sad, he also sighed: "My family has been blessed by the country. Today, when your son calls you, how can I disobey him? Furthermore, Although I am in Fengzhou, my mother and two younger siblings are all in Beijing. If I return to Beijing according to the order, things may change. If I resist the order, they will be implicated by me immediately..."
Prince Ji lowered his voice and said, "Before I took the throne, I was like the south wind. After I took the throne, I became more and more unscrupulous."
Su Zhan frowned slightly: "I heard that although the emperor drafted a draft, he did not violate the rules during the filial piety period. He only ordered the concubine to serve the Queen Mother on his behalf. How can we say 'unscrupulous'?"
The look on Prince Ji's face became even more gloomy: "Xing Guogong only knows one thing but not the other. Nowadays, I like the south wind, I don't like women, so choosing a concubine to enter the palace is just a cover to deceive others. Zhongshu Ling Wang Yue was most attentive to his superiors' intentions. Recently he sent several handsome men to the imperial palace. The emperor didn't bother to hide them, but he openly summoned two ministers Pu She to taste them and praise them. It's called understanding people's livelihood, but it's a shame he can express it!"
Su Zhan said in disbelief: "This is happening?!"
The servants around him were also horrified and said: "I have heard that the previous emperors kept male favorites, but they did not dare to do so blatantly. They actually asked the prime minister to serve as advisors. It is simply unheard of!"
Prince Ji smiled bitterly and said: "How dare I lie about such a big matter? Duke Xing only needs to go to his old home to inquire about it, and he can tell the truth from the lies."
The mountain in Su Zhan's heart became heavier and heavier: "The emperor's behavior is so absurd, why didn't the empress dowager in the palace give him any advice?"
The bitterness on Prince Ji's face deepened: "Why didn't you advise me before? But how can I listen to you now!"
He added: "Perhaps Duke Xing doesn't know yet. Now that the Queen Mother has become a monk, the Feng family has also submitted a petition to resign from the Duke position of Cheng'en."
Su Zhan was shocked: "How could that happen?"
Prince Ji then told him the whole story slowly: "Xing Guo Gong also went in and out of the palace in the past. He must know what the Queen Mother's character is like?"
Su Zhan said: "The empress is very kind, and the Sixth Palace is well-known. Although the late emperor had other favorites, he respected his wife very much."
Prince Ji said again: "In that case, does Xing Guogong believe that the Queen Mother will do something to persuade the emperor to replace the sun with the moon, so as to observe filial piety for the late emperor?"
