Hearing Li Chengwu say the word "no", Shen Lie couldn't help but be slightly startled.
Bei Ya has always been the royal private soldier of the emperors of all dynasties, and his loyalty is unparalleled. At this moment of life and death, why would His Majesty refuse Nilin Changshi's request to accompany him?
Shen Lie's confusion was all seen in Li Chengwu's eyes: "Shen Qing, I know what you are thinking in your heart. The sons of Beiya Nilin Division are also my most capable and reliable soldiers. However, After all, you are not a battle-hardened army. In terms of fighting ability, you are no better than Nanya, Jinwuwei and Hubaoqi, who are also the Forbidden Army. Rather than letting talented people like you accompany me to stay in the imperial capital and die in vain, it would be better To play a bigger role.”
With that said, Li Chengwu picked up the two yellow silk scrolls on the dragon case: "I have more important things to entrust to you."
Shen Lie quickly raised his hand and said, "Please give me your Majesty's orders. We must go all out, even if it costs our lives!"
"I believe this. You are all dead soldiers. Of course, only dead soldiers can shoulder the heavy responsibility I have given you." Li Chengwu looked solemn: "I order you to carry these two secret edicts with you, and then lead the Nilin Division All the strength of the army, as well as the five hundred tiger and leopard cavalry I specially assigned to you, went to protect the prince. One of the edicts granted Bing'er the power to command the troops and horses of the world, and could order all legions, the Protectorate, Hebei, and Henan. , Jianghuai, Jiangnan, Jiannan and other local government soldiers and princes’ private soldiers. Among them, Li Kuang’s troops are also included.”
Shen Lie's heart tightened upon hearing this.
This edict means that the emperor handed over most of the military power of the Holy Tang Dynasty to the prince, and its weight is of no small importance.
He asked with some confusion: "Your Majesty, do you want me to escort the prince to Yizhou to meet with the court?"
Li Chengwu shook his head: "No, if you don't go to Yizhou, just ask him to stay in the Central Plains. I have discussed with General Xu. This time, the imperial government offices were moved to Yizhou, taking into account the dangerous terrain of Jiannan and the conducive road to Shu." Defense, and the Bashu region is rich in products, is the best choice to temporarily avoid the enemy's edge and preserve our strength. However, the southwest is a relatively safe place, more than enough to save life, not enough to make progress. One day, if we want to launch a counterattack and regain the rivers and mountains, it will be beneficial Because the state is far away from the Central Plains, it will lose its strategic advantage."
Shen Lie agreed: "What your Majesty said is true. Since ancient times, the great wars in the world have always been from the west to the east and from the north to the south. There has never been an example of Bashu in the southwest seizing the country."
"So, I placed the officials of the imperial court in Yizhou in order to protect these useful talents. When peace is restored in the world, they can go out to Sichuan to manage politics, so that the country will not be left unavailable." Li Chengwu said seriously. Said: "However, if you want to protect the territory and resist the enemy, you still must have the determination and courage to fight for the Central Plains. I have given the military power to Bing'er to let him do his best to gain a foothold in the north and the Central Plains and gather strength to pacify Chaos.”
Li Chengwu's eyes flashed with determination, and he continued: "With this secret edict, coupled with the tiger talisman, anyone who disobeys the order will be regarded as a traitor. How should your Nilin Division handle it? I don't need to teach you anymore, right?"
Shen Lie knew in his heart that the emperor's words also included his biological son and King of Huaiyang Li Kuang, so he couldn't help but solemnly responded: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I have my own thunderous means."
Li Chengwu nodded, holding up another edict and saying: "The other secret edict is the edict of passing the throne. If the imperial capital really falls, and I follow my ancestors, you can take it out and rectify the name of the prince."
"Your Majesty..." Shen Lie couldn't bear to hear him say such words, and tears suddenly burst into his eyes.
"Why are you crying? Maybe I am lucky enough to survive the difficulties and enjoy a few more years of happiness." Li Chengwu chuckled and said, "This is just more preparation. The secret edict of passing the throne with the same content , Shangshu Ling Yin Junjie, Zhongshu Ling Liu Shiming and Yushi Zhongcheng Lu Ze jointly hold one copy as a certificate to ensure the smooth completion of the new king's accession to the throne."
Shen Lie suppressed the sadness in his heart and asked, "Aren't you going to let General Xu keep the secret edict?"
Hearing him mention the old general Xu Lie, Li Chengwu sighed: "Oh, that old guy, he is almost my uncle, he behaves like a child. He refuses to leave no matter what. In the imperial capital, he used the excuse that he was too old and could not withstand the fatigue of traveling and horses, and was afraid that he would die on the way. Moreover, Mr. Xu also said that the humidity in Xishu was too high, and he was not used to eating, and it was too depressing to go there. He had no choice but to I have no choice but to agree and fulfill his sincerity."
"So where are General Xu's family members? Are they gone?" Shen Lie asked curiously.
Li Chengwu showed an unbearable look on his face: "This is what worries me the most. Xu Lie is determined to stay, and no one in his family is willing to leave. The Xu family has been in the army for generations, and they are full of loyalists. Not counting Xu Lie, the veteran of the three dynasties, only in the During my time, the Xu family has produced twelve titled generals, including Zhonglang generals, Duwei, Dianjun, and Xiaowei, no fewer than dozens. Currently, excluding those who serve outside and those who stay in the imperial capital, the Xu family's descendants Counting the collateral branches and family soldiers and generals, there are more than two thousand people. What is even more unexpected is that most of the female relatives of the Xu family are martial arts practitioners. They also decided to wear armor and go into battle, not losing to the men. Now General Xu In their families, the elderly in their fifties and sixties, as well as the children as young as twelve or thirteen, almost regardless of gender, were all recruited into the Xu Family Army to prepare for a decisive battle with the Turks!"
Shen Lie was dumbfounded when he heard this: "The Xu family is so violent? It's like women and children are all soldiers!"
"We have such a loyal and brave family in Shengtang. Why should we be afraid of enemies?" Li Chengwu straightened his back and said loudly: "Shen Lie, cheer up! Take your sons and sons to complete a good mission for me. We must let All opponents know that if you insult the dignity of the Holy Tang, you will perish!"
-
"Rui Gua'er, your pulse has gotten worse these days." Murong Xue placed her fingers on Rui Ji's cinch and sighed in a deep voice.
Rui Ji lay on her back on the bed, with a warm smile on her slightly pale face: "It's okay, sir. My physique is actually quite strong. I only need to rest for a few days, and I'm sure I'll get better."
Murong Xue smiled bitterly: "You have suffered too much following me. If I had known this, I really shouldn't have..."
"My husband is not allowed to say such things," Rui Ji stretched out her hand and pressed her delicate jade fingers gently on Murong Xue's lips: "It is a blessing that I have cultivated for several generations to be able to marry your husband. Now I don't have to worry about eating and drinking, and there are people there every day." Not to mention how pleasant it is to serve.”
Murong Xue grabbed Rui Ji's little hand and said, "You're just talking nonsense! You don't have to worry about food and drink, but it's just prison food with clear soup and little water. You are pregnant now, how can you do this?"
Ruiji's eyes darkened: "My husband is right. I have nothing to do with you, I'm just afraid that I owe the child..."
She was worried that Murong Xue would become even more distressed after hearing this, so she quickly added: "But don't worry, husband. Ordinary families, when faced with disaster years, have worse food, don't they still have children? When we get out of trouble in the future, we will give them to If your baby eats more good food, he can still grow taller, fatter and whiter."
Hearing this, Murong Xue was stunned and murmured: "If it doesn't work, I will tell them all the information they want, and let those bastards feed you with good food and drink."
"Absolutely not!" When Rui Ji heard this, she was so anxious that she sat up and said, "My husband must not lose his integrity because of me! Although I don't read much, I also know the principle of 'sacrifice one's life for righteousness'. A true man must stand up In the world, how can you give up the justice of the country for the sake of the love of your children? If that is the case, it is better for me to die now, so as not to drag my father-in-law down!"
Murong Xue hurriedly stretched out her hand to support Rui Ji, and said softly: "Rui Gua'er, what are you doing? Don't worry, you'll be in trouble if you have fetal gas. Don't worry, I know it in my heart. It's time for me to leave the court. Not long ago, many situations have changed a long time ago. Even if you tell them, it will probably be of no use..."
Ruiji shook her head resolutely: "That won't work either. My husband has been dealing with them for so long, and we can't lose all our achievements because of my concubine. Regardless of whether it's useful or not, we can't let it out from your mouth. One day the emperor will question this matter, and we should also ask our thoughts. No shame.”
As she said that, Ruiji started sobbing.
When Murong Xue saw that she understood the righteousness well and would rather suffer hardship than sacrifice her husband's reputation, she couldn't help but sigh and feel distressed. He stretched out his hand to hold Rui Ji in his arms, and was about to say a few words of comfort when there was a knock on the door outside the house.
"Master Murong, bring dinner."
Following the words, the door creaked open, and a servant walked into the room carrying a dinner plate. There were two Xuanjia soldiers watching outside the door.
Murong Xue did not stand up, but looked at the plate and said dissatisfiedly: "These soups are watery again! Go and tell Lao Jianhua not to do this!"
The soldiers of the Xuanjia Army at the door smiled when they heard this, with contempt and disdain on their faces. One of them said sarcastically: "Murong Xue, do you think you are an honored guest? It would be nice to have these to eat."
"Isn't it? There are many food worse than this. It won't be long before he can taste it!" another said.
Faced with the cynicism of the two men, Murong Xue couldn't help but become furious. He was about to have an attack on the spot, when he suddenly noticed that the servant who delivered the meal was giving him a secret wink, and then intentionally or unintentionally tapped the rice bowl on the plate with his finger.
With a thought in her mind, Murong Xue feigned anger and snorted: "Shameless scoundrel! I don't want to listen to you fools making noise here, so get out of here!"
The servant quickly laid out the food obediently, then turned around and left with the tray. The soldier guarding the door closed the door and locked it from the outside.
Murong Xue calmly stood up and walked to the door. First she listened carefully to what was going on outside, then she returned as if nothing had happened and fiddled with the bowl of brown rice with her chopsticks.
In just two or three strokes, he picked out a small piece of cloth from the bowl.
Murong Xue glanced at the dumbfounded Rui Ji next to her, shook her head to signal her to be silent, then leaned under the lamp and read the words on the cloth carefully.
I saw the strip of cloth saying: Lao has left. At midnight tomorrow, please pay attention to my wife and don't tell her.
