Ten days later.
At a speed that can be called a blitzkrieg, the Daning army completely captured Dafeng Huailing and Yong'an in less than a month after dispatching troops. In addition to the 400,000 soldiers on the front line, there were also 300,000 soldiers in the follow-up. Soldiers from various states gathered in Yuanzhou and could move to the front line at any time.
Like the last time, this time is also a "national mobilization".
Thirty-five of the thirty-six states have sent more or less state troops.
Only Liang Zhen, the commander-in-chief of Shuzhou, did not send a single soldier on the pretext that the Shuzhou army had no troops available.
In addition to the raging national war, the people of Daning have also heard about another "little incident" recently.
The real culprit behind the assassination of Prince Shun last year was not Xuantianhui, but the current Holy Emperor - Ning Yongnian.
And Princess Rou'an, the only one who escaped and disappeared at that time, is not dead and is in Shuzhou!
Of course.
Compared with the frontline war, such a "royal scandal" obviously does not have much appeal, and many people do not believe it at all.
But whether they care or believe it or not, Wei Changtian's goal has actually been achieved.
In the final analysis, this is just a reason to "establish a new king."
...
...
On the thirteenth day after leaving Yuanzhou City, Wei Changtian and his party finally returned to Shuzhou City.
He didn't notify anyone in advance, but went home directly in the carriage.
The vermilion gate, the century-old locust tree whose canopy can be seen through the courtyard wall, the stone lion squatting at the door and grinning...
Nearly half a year has passed in the blink of an eye, and almost nothing about the small house has changed from when I left.
If there was any difference... maybe there were more maids and servants entering and leaving the hospital.
"..."
He got out of the carriage, crossed the threshold, waved at the porter's surprised eyes, and then walked straight behind the maid who was fetching water in the courtyard...
"cough!"
Wei Changtian coughed dryly, which made the maid's shoulders shake in fright, and then she froze suddenly.
Qiu Yun turned his head in disbelief. The moment he saw Wei Changtian, the copper basin in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
"M-Sir!"
"Is it really you?!"
"Hahaha, you asked..."
Wei Changtian tilted his head and joked: "Is it possible that you already don't recognize me after not seeing you for a year?"
"I......"
Qiu Yun opened her mouth in a daze, tears welling up instantly, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
If it were Yuan'er at this moment, she would have thrown herself into Wei Changtian's arms.
However, Qiuyun, who knows more about rules, is not very good at doing this kind of thing.
No matter how excited I was, in the end it just turned into a trembling sentence——
"M-Sir, these days... are you, are you okay?"
"not good."
Unexpectedly, Wei Changtian shook his head and gave a negative answer.
A hint of worry and distress suddenly appeared on Qiu Yun's face, but before she could ask in detail, Wei Changtian completed the sentence with a smile.
"Without you by my side, I don't have anyone to warm my bed when I sleep. Do you think this will be okay?"
"ah?"
Blinking in confusion, Qiuyun quickly understood that Wei Changtian was playing a trick on him.
Feeling that her cheeks were slightly hot, she lowered her head and whispered softly: "M-Sir, why are you still as unruly as before..."
"Hahaha, Qiuyun, remember, there are only two types of men: irregular and hypocritical."
Wei Changtian patted Qiu Yun's head: "There are no truly wise men in this world."
"Nonsense...Young master is not a serious person himself, so why should he pretend that others are not?"
Faced with such fallacy, Qiu Yun naturally only regarded it as a joke.
Wei Changtian had no intention of further explanation. He just looked around and then asked with some confusion:
"Where are Wan'er and the others?"
"Oh, the first lady, second lady, and several girls are all in the backyard." Qiu Yun answered truthfully.
Madam? Second lady?
Hearing Qiu Yun's name, Wei Changtian was slightly startled, but soon understood.
Obviously, judging from the passing time, the eldest lady should be Lu Jingyao and the second lady is Xu Qingwan.
Yang Liushi and Liang Qin have no official status yet, so they use "girl" instead. It is estimated that they will become the third lady and fourth lady in Qiuyun's mouth in the future.
Good guy, Wei Xiaobao has only married seven wives, and he already has four.
It seems that becoming a "Wei Xiaobao" is just around the corner...
"What are they doing in the backyard? Playing mahjong?"
After asking casually, Wei Changtian stepped forward to walk to the backyard, ready to have a good chat with Comrade Xiao Xu, whom he hadn't seen in half a year, and casually say hello to Lu Jingyao, whom he hadn't seen in a year.
However, Qiuyun who was following behind shook his head and replied in a low voice:
"Sir, no."
"Sister Suyue went into labor this morning. Madam and the girls are waiting over there."
"Um?"
Wei Changtian stopped immediately and looked back at Qiuyun: "Li Suyue will have a baby today?"
"..."
There is no doubt that the term "having a baby" is a bit too literal in this world.
Fortunately, Qiu Yun had already adapted to Wei Changtian's style, so he nodded lightly.
"Well, so Master, it's better not to go there now."
"How about I call the ladies over?"
"No."
His expression became a little complicated. Wei Changtian was silent for a long time, then suddenly turned around and walked towards the door.
"I'll go out and do some errands first."
"..."
...
An hour later, outside Shuzhou City, there was Xiaoqingshan.
After "wandering" outside for half a year, he ran out of the city without even sitting down when he returned home. The reason why Wei Changtian was like this was naturally because he had important things to do.
Um......
In fact, this matter is not that important.
"Sir, do you want to have words engraved on the monument?"
Next to him, Chu Xianping had cut a piece of bluestone into a horizontal and vertical rectangular slab with a knife, and not far away, Du Chang had also led people to bury soil in a large pit.
There is a porcelain altar in the pit, which contains Wang Gan's ashes brought back from the Gobi Desert.
"..."
Looking at the flat and smooth surface of the monument, Wei Changtian remained silent.
According to convention, ancient inscriptions are generally divided into three parts: "heading, main text, and signature." In addition to the most basic information such as place of origin, name, identity, dates of birth and death, descendants, etc., you can also add some Words of praise such as "Fragrance will last forever" and "Loyalty and courage".
Of course, Wei Changtian doesn't know Wang Qian's specific information now, but if he really wants to check it, it probably won't be difficult.
but......
"I'll carve it."
When the last handful of loess completely filled the pit, Wei Changtian finally opened his mouth softly.
Chu Xianping immediately handed over the long knife and stepped aside to wait with Du Chang for Wei Changtian to carve Wang Qian's inscription.
Compared with Du Chang, Chu Xianping knew everything about Wang Qian better, and also learned everything that happened in the Western Desert Gobi that night from the mouths of several escorts in the Shimen Escort Agency.
It is better to die than to escape and fight to the last moment.
To be fair, without Wang Qian, Lao Zhangtou and Agou might have died in the vast desert.
If combined with what happened to him before...
Sighing softly, Chu Xianping felt a sigh of relief in his heart.
At this time, Wei Changtian slowly raised his long sword and carved ten characters on the tablet one by one.
No name, no place of origin, no biography... nothing, just ten words like a short poem.
A guest at the end of the world is like a person in a dream.
...
"call......"
The breeze blew through the mountain stream, blowing away the powder on the stone tablet, and brought a man back to heaven and earth with his tortuous life.
At the same time, a loud cry also sounded in Shuzhou City dozens of miles away.
It is bright and crisp, and comes into this world with a new life in a joyful atmosphere.
A world full of wisdom and folly, faith and doubt, hope and despair.
"Wow!!!"
"Wow!!"
"Wow!!!"
