Chengdu Royal Palace, candlelight flickering.
A few days later, the news that Cao Hong was beheaded and that Huang Zhizhou was worshiped as a general reached the palace.
"Information says that Commander Cao became mute and couldn't even curse, so he was beheaded by Huang Zhizhou, a traitor." Sun Xun sighed.
Jia Zhou raised his head, his whole body seemed to have lost all strength.
There are too many people in this world who can't help themselves. It's like the young marquis who shows up to the emperor, or Lu Xiu who uses his body as bait.
Jia Zhou started coughing again.
Chen Que, who was still in the palace, hurriedly came over to take the pulse, but the hand that took the pulse was trembling faintly.
"Mr. Chen, how long do I have?"
"Commander Wenlong, please don't ask me..." Chen Que did not dare to answer, and retracted his movements, his voice trembling.
"Looking at your appearance, I can guess it. Sun Xun, is my disciple back?"
"Don't worry, military advisor, General Han Xing will arrive today. But my lord's side... is still in the desert."
Jia Zhou's face looked painful. But soon it became calm again. He propped himself up, picked up the wooden stick again, declined Chen Que's persuasion, and walked step by step into the sunshine in front of the palace.
At dusk, a horse flew from outside the city.
The puppy Fu's eyes were red, and he rode his horse in the direction of the palace, ignoring the shouts of the city guards.
"teacher!"
Jia Zhou turned his pale face and put on a gentle smile. There were two happiest things in his life, one was worshiping a good lord, and the other was accepting a good disciple.
"How are you, teacher?" Xiao Qiaofu hurriedly walked up. Sun Xun loosened his grip knowingly and stepped back.
"Don't ask this." Jia Zhou shook his head, "Now that you're back, I have something to tell you."
Little Dog Fu vaguely guessed something, but he didn't dare to steal the spotlight. He tried his best to steady himself and let the teacher in front of him speak.
"From today on, you no longer need to leave Chengdu to train." Jia Zhou lowered his head and took out a thick sheepskin file from his sleeve.
"A master and a disciple give nothing away. This is my newly compiled "Seven Trainings in Shu". Based on the wars in Western Shu, it analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the battlefield, planning attacks, military seizures, and the layout of the offensive and defensive sides. I have also annotated and analyzed the non-editors of "Seven Trainings in Shu", such as Sima Xiu and Liu Zhongde. At this time, there are still one or two years before the Civil War, so you should study hard."
"I want the teacher to teach me personally." Puppy Fu raised his head and cried.
Under the sun, Jia Zhou stretched out his hand and stroked the puppy Fu's forehead.
"Many people understand why I like to stand outside the palace and bask in the sun. My body has long been trapped in darkness, and only standing in the sunshine can give me some comfort."
"Don't follow my path. I use poisonous tactics as an attack, but in fact it is a last resort."
"Goufu, when the time comes when Western Shu decides to rule the country, go to my grave and say something."
Holding the sheepskin dossier, Xiao Qiaofu was already crying.
"I won't wait for my lord. I just have some time left. I heard that the people in Lingzhou to the east are suffering from floods again, so I asked me to go on the last trip to help my lord calm the country."
"I'm going with the teacher."
"Very good." Jia Zhou coughed, looked at the official road to the north of Chengdu, and suddenly lost his mind.
…
"Grandpa Military Advisor!" Outside the city gate, Xu Qiao, who was beginning to grow old, cried with tears streaming down his face. He only heard Sun Xun say that the military advisor's health was failing, but he still wanted to leave the city.
"I am the young master, and I order Grandpa Military Advisor not to go out to fight!" Xu Qiao hugged Jia Zhou's legs and dragged him back desperately.
Jiang Caiwei and Li Xiaowan also came to persuade them, but without exception, they were all rejected by Jia Zhou. Chen Que stood aside, closing his eyes and sighing.
Throughout Chengdu, countless people, probably having heard the news, rushed over to persuade Jia Zhou to return to the city to rest.
"Gou Fu, take the young master away."
The ink on puppy Fu's face was still wet. He came over, picked up little Xu Qiao, and carried him aside.
"Han Goufu, how dare you disobey me... Wuwu, Brother Goufu, let go quickly. I'm afraid I won't be able to see Grandpa Military Advisor again."
Under the sun, Jia Zhou shook his body, and without any hesitation, he got into the carriage with difficulty.
"Teacher, take care!"
In the General Hall of Chengdu, seventy-four talented people from Western Shu knelt on the ground and bowed to Jia Zhou.
"Take care, military advisor!" More than a hundred Chengdu generals also knelt on the ground and shouted loudly.
Thousands of people were temporarily infected and remembered the kindness of the old military advisor, and they also knelt down one after another.
Sun Xun knelt down.
Xu Qiao also cried and knelt down.
"Goufu, let's... set off." Jia Zhou waved his hand.
The wheels of the chariot began to roll, carrying three thousand soldiers and various baggage to appease the people, and drove all the way to the east.
…
Lingzhou, Chunyang County.
Dongfang Jing received the secret letter, and the bitterness on his face was beyond words. He sat blankly, not seeing any movement for a long time.
Ma Yi came over in a hurry, his face full of panic, "Little military advisor, little military advisor, I heard from the grain inspector that the old military advisor can't hold on any longer."
It was okay if he didn't say it, but when he said it, it pierced Dongfang Jing's heart like a sharp knife. This crippled little military strategist who was famous all over the world suddenly covered his face with his sleeves like a child, trembling and started crying.
It wasn't until he cried for a long time that he put down his sleeves and carefully folded the secret letter.
"Ma Yi... go and inform General Yu Wen to immediately dispatch 30,000 troops to Lingzhou to help in the battle." There was obviously a cry in his voice.
After receiving only the letter, Dongfang Jing suddenly understood that at the last moment of his life, his teacher was still making decisions for Xi Shu.
"By the way, where is my lord?"
"Earlier, Da Mo sent a scout back and said that the lord has almost arrived at Yumen Pass. The young military advisor... the lord is almost here. Why doesn't the old military advisor want to stay in Chengdu and wait for another seven or eight days..."
Dongfang Jing did not answer, lowered his head and sighed with extreme sadness.
…
Outside the Yumen Pass, Xu Mu, who had settled the affairs of the Western Regions and was anxiously returning, received another secret letter today.
The contents of the secret letter made him feel like he was struck by lightning.
"Lord, the resting station is ready——"
"Keep on going!" Xu Mu roared at the ceremony officer with a trembling voice, and then took the lead in galloping towards Yuguan.
Si Hu and others who were behind were startled. I have never seen Xu Mu like this before. Under the night, relying on the fast horse, Xu Mu led more than a hundred people, pulling the reins crazily. General Feng seemed to have sensed his master's mood, and hissed a few times, moving his hooves like thunder, sending up bursts of dust and smoke.
