Chapter 165: The Worm of a Hundred Feet, Between Husband and Wife, The End of the Crossbow
There is no announcement of the world’s text exciting diatribe, there is no king personally pointing out the rise of the army, the Ministry of War Minister Lu Shengxiang’s departure from the capital, has a surprisingly quiet, so that he passed through the entire south of the capital city, along the way there is not even a local official to see the face of the Minister Lu Lu Lord Lu. But this everyone knows, this does not mean that Lu Shengxiang’s departure from the capital is a temple defeat, Lu Shengxiang is the first to lose to the same minister Lu Baijie a chip, in the competition for the post of Secretary of the Ministry of the Army lost, but then he received the control of the three states south of the capital of the sixteen towns of the imperial decree, and even Anguo General Yang Shenxeng such a group of meritorious veteran generals, but also need to be subject to his control. Lu Shengxiang’s cavalry is only three hundred horsemen, this trip is half open and half hidden long drive south, the court temporarily did not use a soldier of the capital of the war force, for the West Chu’s stupidity, seems to be more in the wait and see. A plainclothes Lu Shengxiang with his soldiers in the Youlu Pass stop, but did not enter the city, but in the pass outside the temporary set up a barracks tent, until the Youlu Pass a few lieutenants heard the news rushed to, not surprisingly will soon be in accordance with the law of Liyang temporarily receive a general title of the minister of the Lord, in the roughly created in the tent to receive all of you with a smile and laugh, no wine and food, no song and dance, Lu with a meal of tea and light meal! He sent them away, but this rather let the lieutenants ate a pill of peace of mind, who do not know from the Spring and Snow House in Guangling Lu Sheng like a smiling tiger, do not smile then, a smile will eat people. You Lu Guan is located in the capital city of Pingfan, Guangling Road and Huainan Road three intersection, You Lu Guan’s lieutenant, although the rank and salary is higher than the ordinary Liyang military officials, previously are directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War Gu Lu, but now Gu Lu shaky, the name of the real death, You Lu Guan and no parents weaned the same as the guy, in contrast to Lu Shengxiang to have Guangling Road, the family can rely on, and the second is a hot court when the red nobleman! Not to mention that Lu Shengxiang is not based on the shade of the family’s merits into the center of the empire, more still rely on his own in the spring and autumn in the salient military achievements, so to give you Lu Guan more bear heart and leopard gall, but also dare not take three pinch four end of the shelf in front of the Lu Squire. Lu Shengxiang personally sent several lieutenants to leave the barracks, and with a young general who relies on the heart of the camp stood in the open ground, together looking at the dust splashed by the hooves of the horses in the distance, blown away by the wind. Lu Shengxiang squatted down, grabbed a handful of dirt that smelled of both earth and spring grass, sniffed it, looked to the south, and remained silent. Many people are not aware of the hall of the Ministry of War Minister was once a crappy scout, a misreporting of military intelligence was convicted, and almost returned to the upper side of the cut off his head.
Lu Shengxiang pinched the dirt in his palm and said softly: “Being a scout is similar to learning to swim, once you know, no matter how long you’ve been on the shelf, and then thrown into the water, it’s hard to drown again. Guo Donghan, Guangling Road, how the war power, you know very well, day and night shouting to compete with the Northern Liang Yanzhi two road to the world’s first name, in fact, in addition to the Guangling King’s tens of thousands of soldiers, the rest, are rotten mud can not help the wall, it is not good to go to blame the king embroidered a flower pillow, is really a whole small twenty years no war, the old quit the army to enjoy the happiness, the small crowded into the army to enjoy the happiness, how can with the daily pillow of the Northern Liang Iron horsemen and Yan Royal Foot soldiers, spring snow building brainstorming with the court to come to the latest weapons the best armor, and even Gu Jiantang want to military horses, have the courage to snatch to their own hands, I’m now worried about, not the so-called insights up and down the line of those who think, they feel that the biggest hidden danger, is that Yang Shen apricot Yan Zhenchun these old generals do not submit to the constraints of not listening to the orders of their own, I’m afraid of the early days of war, the lack of military forces West Chu, a fight on the fight out of the momentum to war, snowballing, the Guangling Road, these bullshit good soldiers killed not to mention, weapons, horses and armor, and even the military heart, Guangling Road, such a place, the remaining West Chu accounted for all the advantages of people and the end of last year to the spring of this year, the Ministry of War with the court on the news of the deaths of the generals and lieutenants, who without exception are the imperial court inserted in the Guangling Road Thorn in the flesh, in the end died one by one inexplicable, there is a bed by the concubine strangled to death, there are drinking by the servant girl poisoned to death, there are deliberations by the staff with a dagger stabbed to death, there are patrolling the camp was hacked to death, even has been on the Gu Lu is still quite peaceful Huan old man was also furious, came to the Ministry of the Army pointing at me and Lu Baijie’s nose scolding, and finally even the great general of the Gu was also scolded into the curse of the Ministry of the Army up and down is a group of Wine bags, for the northern border line of the Guangling Road, operating a mess, sent to the military ministers, twenty years of time focusing on scraping the land to get silver, there is no one is to get half of the hearts of the people of the martial arts, but also said that the imperial court set up specifically for the Guangling Road espionage agencies, those leaders should be carried out to kill the head. Our Lu Shangshu is quite tough, on the spot with Huan Laozi talk back, almost received a kick from the old man, what can I say? I can only watch. But I really did not expect, Huan old man a big age, almost kicked Shangshu adult chest, it seems to live for some years ah, this is a great thing.”
Lu Shengxiang put the soil in his hand back to the ground, after laughing, his expression was grave again, “Before a battle, they are already thinking about how to celebrate and receive rewards, how to divide the military achievements, I don’t know where they get their ego.”
The young general who was born thick and simple stood beside Servant Lu and laughed out loud, “Man Tu died, but the court still has the last of the four great generals of the Spring and Autumn period, Gu Jiantang, and there is a genius in the art of war such as Chen Zhi Bao and you, general, so can they not be confident? Coupled with the fact that several major feudal lords are on their way to pacify the country, the Guangling Road originally had Zhao Yi with a strong army in hand to suppress the situation, if not for the fact that I am familiar with the roots of Guangling’s elites, I should have thought the same thing.”
Lu Shengxiang laughed, reached out and patted the ground, lamented: “The wave becomes between the waves, the wind rises at the end of the green ping ping. Once the hibernation is over, all the insects come out and smell the wind.”
Guo Donghan smelled the breeze on his face, and hemmed and hawed, “The last general smells blood.”
Lu Shengxiang stood up, seemingly wanting to spit out the pent up indignation in his heart in one gulp, and reluctantly smiled, “Yang Shenxing and the rest of them feel that a short period of three months to a long period of half a year, and with a light kick, they will be able to crush this dead and unchanging spring insect of Western Chu in the summer and fall. No matter what I persuade now, they can’t listen to it, it’s better to let them rush up and slap Cao Changqing in the face, and when it hurts, only then will they understand who is the one who can really call the shots on this protracted war. However, this also has disadvantages, half a year of my inactivity, destined to be the capital speech officials barking a hundred dogs, there may also be a bone bone courtiers with the death of splash me all over the blood of the dog, when I have personally seen Xu Snapdragon how the situation, so this time some of the bottom of the key depends on His Majesty the emperor is not enough patience, the luck is not good, you can be rolled up ready to go to the two Liao Liao will be a merit to make up for the past with me. But if the luck is good, you then get your hands on the military service, as long as my Lu family light cavalry to be able to show off their hands, how can let you be a third-grade general of real power.”
Guo Donghan grinned, “Good. Anyway, I will recognize one thing in my life, follow the general, there will be meat to eat!”
Lu Shengxiang was noncommittal.
Guo Donghan suddenly asked cautiously: “I heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince this trip southbound, leisurely to go to the Longhu Mountain and the lungs of the mountain, including many places, in the Guangling Road and Jiangnan Road is a wide range of friends with the Qingliu, each other and sing, the dynasty and the countryside, are praised, tsk, very much the Crown Prince style well. And there is also gossip that His Highness is not in favor of the heavy burden on the Guangling Road, the extinction of the Buddha also has the slightest objection, the State Council privately said His Highness has been a benevolent ruler weather. That surnamed Jin’s right priest, seems to be quite close to His Highness the Crown Prince, this guy was originally with Yao Baifeng bad, and to the head of the Lord and the Huan old master expelled from the portal, mixed very bad, many scholars are afraid to go to the Jin House drinking, who did not expect to actually give him to rise again.”
Lu Shengxiang frowned: “You a not yet accomplished martial artist, not to mention meddling in the courtroom, is to interrupt the mouth can not, in the future I hear this kind of bastard words, you will roll to be a horseman.”
Guo Donghan said with a bitter face, “Marked.”
Lu Shengxiang suddenly smiled coldly and whispered, “Women’s benevolence, pragmatic not practical, than his old man is a hundred thousand miles worse. If the imperial court to cut the feudal affairs, also make do, otherwise the Jiangshan fire to him, I see hanging.”
Acute Guo Donghan hastily nodded: “I said, this Prince’s city, not shallow is not shallow, available in the wrong place.”
Lu Shengxiang is worthy of being a smiling tiger, smiling but not smiling: “Anyway, there is no big battle in half a year, you will roll to be a horseman for half a year.”
Guo Donghan was stunned and was about to roll around when Lu Shengxiang had already turned around and walked towards the barracks.
……
His Royal Highness the Prince “secretly” ran out of the capital to “tour” the south, Zhao Zhi, the most powerful and dignified mother-in-law under the sky, ran a few more times in the East Palace, not to talk about what the big things, but only with the most honored daughter-in-law under the sky Yan Dongwu nagging the family trivialities, Zhao Zhi! The mother of the world sitting in the harem, those who fight for favor of the consort one by one ink on stage one by one eclipsed, no matter how young and beautiful and multi-talented, no matter how prosperous and frightening family, have not been able to beat the ring over the posture is not outstanding woman. And Empress Zhao Zhi in the eyes and mouths of a group of courtiers in the center, as if also coincidentally gained a great reputation, very few murmurs of dissent. Today within the Eastern Palace, in addition to the Empress, even the Zhao family son of God also took time out from his busy schedule, and Zhao Zhi together to Yan Dong Wu eyes, but also specially let the Minister of Ceremonial Supervision seal Song Tanglu brought a few jugs of very authentic Beiliang green ants wine, a family of three without too much red tape, but just boiled wine and wine to warm the hearts of the people. Drinking place, in a finely carved mahogany birdcage, in the head is a stupid parrot learning to speak clumsily, I do not know how to get into the eyes of the Crown Princess, has been favored unabated. Women are not allowed to interfere in politics, this is away from the sun from generation to generation handed down the iron law, so away from the sun before the unification of the Spring and Autumn, regardless of the clan towns eunuchs two evils how miserable Zhao room, since the emperor can not blow the pillow wind on the couch, the relatives interfere in the government is no fertile ground, the history of the Zhao court of the power of the relatives there are naturally, but compared to the past away from the sun outside the size of the various family names of the court, to be too much better.
However, the Zhao family Prince of Heaven apparently Yan Dong Wu this “female scholar” on the list of rouge vice evaluation of the daughter-in-law, quite impressed, made an exception to talk about some of the military and state affairs, and even Zhao Zhi are a bit unable to hide the surprise, this surprise has been spread to the couple left the East Palace, the Prince of Heaven did not rush back to deal with the perennial mountains of zhangzhang, and the Empress Walking side by side in a vermilion wall paper, hands behind the back, has been silent looking at the blue sky. Successor cat Han Sheng Xuan power and authority of the Great Sable Temple Song Tanglu distant stooped to follow behind, this looks like the world’s first eunuchs do not look like eunuchs, between the eyebrows vaguely some haze.
Zhao family son of heaven suddenly stopped, opened his mouth and said: “Thirty years, two things to start a family, I made it back then, married you, sat in the world, in their own, this life has no great regrets. Forty is not confused, I always force the public opinion, the power of the dynasty let go to Zhang Julu, let him and Gu Jiantang joint governance of the two Liao, tolerate the Zhang Lulu Gu Lulu in the eyes of the people, never doubted the two crony forces of loyalty and ability, in my opinion, with no doubt, is an emperor should have not confused. Of course, they did not let me down, my Zhao family, but also presented eight hundred years has not been the heyday, with a vast territory equal to the Great Qin, with the ability to fight the military ministers, with the country to help the world’s ministers, so many court officials, casually take out one of the ministers, are enough to let the North Han East Vietnam, such as the dead country to extend the throne, but under my one person, the civil and military bright, metropolis of the temple. Therefore, I sacrificed to my ancestors every year, I have no shame. Now I’m fifty, to the Zhang family sage so-called know the fate of the years, I do not know why, I twenty years of conscientious diligence, personally watched the dynasty azure, in the end some uneasiness, are said to be the emperor is to follow the fate of the sky, but I always feel that know the fate of this statement, contrary to this statement, change the auspicious fate, but also out of this, it is my hope not to personally destroy twenty years of operation is good.”
From beginning to end, the Zhao family son of heaven is just like ordinary people’s family man in charge, are to I word self-proclaimed, instead of that let all dynasties and all generations of all the chaotic lords of the heart and soul of the word me.
Zhao family son of heaven stretched out his hand, palm in the cold high wall wiped, suddenly laughed: “that year in the Yuan Benxi persuasion, unauthorized troops into the palace, I walk is the foot of this road, at that time I was actually very afraid of, the heart is a thought, into, to be the first to report with you, not, is nothing more than you for me to keep mourning. At that time I, but a prince, the reason why I want to be the emperor, is to think of winning Xu Snapdragon, so that you do not have to go to the envy of that surnamed Wu’s sword fairy woman. Men, who doesn’t like face? For Xu Snapdragon, I do not deny that personal enmity in the first, the national enmity in the second, when this person Tu young time can sit with the late emperor on the Wu Ying Hall drinking and chatting, drunkenness to the dawn, I this when the son of the son, will only be able to stand in the distance to watch, envy. I do not want to go to the frontier whip pointing North Mang? But this thing, I did not do a good job, no Northern Liang involved in a few wars, the treasury is depleted, the people’s grievances, if not Yuan Benxi scolded me to wake up, not to mention the seal child as the crown prince, I can not be the emperor are two say. Speaking of which, I know that the woman surnamed Wu is the same kind of woman as you are, and you actually don’t like her in your heart, because you both have the same great ambitions. Seal child is too smart, know everything, but do not say anything, smart people like bull’s-eye, I’m okay, after all, there is Yuan Benxi this clumsy mouth but like a god possessed strategist, as if open the eyes of the sky, for me to keep an eye on the city of Tai’an and the whole world, but my bones, you know better than anyone else, I’m gone, Yuan Benxi is also gone, who will suppress Zhang Gu two people? This time, I greatly appreciate the white monk into the capital, he said that his new calendar, can ensure that the throne of the Zhao family eighty years, but the world eighty years more peace, my Zhao family’s cost is huge, I do not hesitate to refuse, I even dare not go to look at Yuan Benshi’s eyes at that time. Because of this, I do not rest assured that Zhang Gu two people led the two parties of the courtiers, because behind them Zhao right age Yin Mao Chun these people, most of the origin of the poor, their line of sight, they will involuntarily more on the outside of the temple, this kind of seedling, have to be someone to stifle, in the past, many of the famous ministers at all costs to die with the king, but it is the death of a clear will, thinking of stepping on the shoulders of the emperor’s fame, these readers a thousand years of the nature of the difficult to change the Small-minded, I can tolerate, and even condone their recklessness, but Yin Maochun these courtiers, not quite the same, probably have Zhang Julu did the extreme example of the matter, they all of a sudden learn smart, more smooth, more know how to reach the ambitions, skillful means, reputation and fame, neither do the king’s eloquent, not to do at every turn to lift the coffin head to die of foolish loyalty of the courtiers. It doesn’t matter if there are one or two such pillars in the temple of Liyang, but if they are all like this, and all of them are cunning, how should Seal Seal deal with them in the future? Unlike me, Zhuan’er usurped the throne covered in blood, and although that blood has long since been swept away by the rain and snow of the palace, it is still there in the hearts of Zhang Julu and the others. But seal children in the understanding, already know that he will wear a dragon robe to sit in the dragon chair, he is very capable of stoicism, this is not false, but when the emperor, or need to be bold, seal children now misguided, thought against me, I destroy the Buddha, he welcomed the famous monks on the Jiangnan Road, I want to destroy the West Chu with an iron fist, he will be for the world’s living people to ask for the courage of the crown prince, he felt that it is him this prince highness of the boldness of the crown prince, if my Zhao family Jiangshan no internal and external troubles, no Northern Mang no Northern Liang, no Zhang Julu and these people, it’s just that, he has this heart is not bad, but the moment is not the time ah.”
Zhao Zhi’s face paled.
Zhao family’s son of heaven clenched his fist and gently smashed it on the wall, “Zhuan Er can’t see the future of the imperial court, it’s not a party dispute, but a more complicated situation, it’s the battle of the people’s hearts between the royal grandchildren of the powerful valves and the children of the humble scholars, and it’s no longer just revolving around the dragon chair, Yuan Benxi said that this is the trend of the general trend, I didn’t believe in it, but now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I can’t help but believe in it ah. Yuan Benxi also said, in the past the officialdom that has reached the peak of climbing the dragon technique, does not work, he is waiting for a know how to check and balance the emperor with the technique of dragon slaying guy surfaced, this person once appeared, than in the past LiYang of the clans and towns more terrible. Zhao Zhi, do I just have to wait? Is this what it means to know the fate of heaven? So even if Yuan Benxi can not find this person, I can not see this person, but also to first help the world’s cold people to open the Dragon Gate Zhang Julu …… Since the door has been opened, the general trend is so, I do not want to go against the trend, but as a reigning emperor, to take down a Zhang Julu who is in the capital city, so that the seal child the chances of winning a little more, it is not better than dealing with the year far Xu Snapdragon who was in Beiliang was more difficult, right?”
Zhao Zhi’s lips trembled as he asked, “When?”
The Zhao family’s son of heaven took a deep breath and said grimly, “The Western Chu remnants die out!”
……
A young man with a grass root in his mouth looked at the yellow mud jar full of yellow mud, being in the middle of it, a little depressed, he glanced at the side of the head of the yellow court crown in a big-sleeved black clothes of the handsome man, some unexpected ah, cleanliness to the pathological Mr. Nalan stained with a lot of yellow mud, but also do not see the slightest indignation, but instead, reach out to pinch off a piece of yellow mud block that has not yet dried, gently crushed at the fingertips. Two people around in addition to countless said one can only sell three taels of silver mud jar, there is a is sitting on a small wooden bench pinch mud to do the cylinder embryo of the old man, covered with sludge, saw him Zhao cast as well as with the thousand miles specifically to see this old man Mr. Nalan, did not make a sound, apparently made up his mind to the hand of the work to be done, the bored young man picked up the line of sight, looked at a pair of elderly couples standing at the far end, the young man said that one is the South Tang Dynasty, the other is the South Tang Dynasty, the other is the South Tang Dynasty, the other is the South Tang Dynasty, the third is the South Tang Dynasty, the third is the South Tang Dynasty, the third is the South Tang Dynasty. Mr. Nalan said that one is the remnants of the South Tang royal family, one is a local, indeed is a lifetime with the mud jar dealing with the ordinary people, Mr. Nalan also let him guess who is a big spy and who is the ordinary people, Zhao Zhui with intuition to figure out that the crone vaguely see the year of the plumpness of the old South Tang royalty, as for the crone next to the naive old man, does not seem to be able to escape Zhao hook search of the top masters.
Mr. Nalan, known as the real vassal king of the southern border Nalan right Ci approached a few steps, squatted at the feet of the old man on the small bench, smiling, tilted his head and looked up at the only remaining spring and autumn devil of the current world, smiled and said, “Yo, Huang Lao Nong ah, look at you look so good that you are ridiculously good, it would not be a return to the light, right?”
The old man glanced at Nalan Righteousness and said flatly, “Cursing me to death? Is this the etiquette of asking for help?”
Mr. Nalan, whose posture was soft and charming like a beauty, still laughed and said, “I’m so close to squatting on my knees, what else do you want? I, Mr. Nalan Righteousness, besides my father and mother, I really haven’t knelt anyone in my life.”
The old man laughed coldly, “Do you want me to expose your old self in front of that little bastard Zhao Casting?”
Zhao Casting rolled his eyes.
Nalan Right Ci hurriedly waved his hand and begged for mercy, “I’m afraid of your omniscient Huang Sanjia, just take it as I’ve blown my cow skin and beg your old man to keep his mouth shut.”
It is the spring and autumn thirteen a unique three a Huang Longshi snorted: “You guys came early, not the time, is it your idea or that little son of a bitch’s idea?”
Nalan Righteousness thought very intently, “Both. Face has to go through, we are not muddling through, we are just coming over here to see Cao Changqing’s last official son’s elegance, this is going to be all missed, how boring it is to live.”
Huang Longshi laughed coldly and said, “Why don’t you go to die? You guys are only disgusting, no wonder you can’t compare to Li Yishan for the rest of your life.”
Nalan Yuanci shook his head and laughed: “Who is stronger or weaker than Li Yishan’s hand tendon, it’s hard to say, you can’t even say it.”
Huang Longshi had an odd sneer on his face, “It’s only when you go to the netherworld and hear him say it to you in person that it counts, right?”
Nalan Righteousness reached out his hand and touched his brow, his face expressionless.
Huang Longshi waved his hand, intentionally or unintentionally flinging several drops of yellow mud onto Nalan Yuanci’s face, “You cool off on one side, I’ll ask a few questions with the little brat you’ve fallen in love with.”
Nalan Yuanci gently wiped away the stains, stood up and waved to Zhao Cui, this flirtatious schemer with Spring and Autumn Double Armor was in fact only one Armor less than Huang Longshi and walked away slowly.
Huang Longshi squinted at His Royal Highness, the Seventh Son of King Yan Zhiwei, who stood before him with a big grin, “You Zhao Casting counts as an old man, when I see your old man, he has to obediently sweep his couch to welcome me. Squat down.”
Zhao Casting playfully smiled and simply sat down on his butt, not listening to you, but the etiquette is enough, right?
Huang Longshi words playful flavor: “With someone’s nature is quite like. Okay, I know the answer, you can get out.”
Zhao Casting glared, “What? Surname Huang, I risked being removed from the court’s hereditary replacement to see you, and you’re just teasing me like this?”
Huang Longshi returned a glare, “Rolling or not?”
Zhao Zhui had the expression of not being able to take a shit even though he had eaten a lot, he stood up unhappily, and just when he was about to turn around and make a move, he heard Huang Longshi heatedly say, “Do you want to fart now? Then you have to take off your pants, or else weigh the consequences.”
Zhao Zhuo muttered, wiped his feet, ran to Nalan Yuanci’s side, and curiously asked, “Can this old man really see things before they happen?”
Mr. Nalan, who was standing at the edge of the pile of clay tanks, looked over at Huang Sanjia’s side and calmly said, “I don’t believe it, but he’s done it almost every time.”
Zhao Zhui let out an oh.
Mr. Nalan Righteousness habitually pinched Yan Zhi Wang Shi Zi’s earlobe and laughed softly, “It doesn’t matter, it’s not like he’s a real immortal. He’s at the end of his rope, he’s about to die, so what’s the point of being annoyed with him. Let’s just honor the old.”
Zhao Zhuo looked helpless and gently patted away Mr. Nalan’s slender, white, woman-like hand.
Mr. Huang Longshi suddenly stood up and laid down a prophecy of great evil to the extreme to Mr. Nalan Righteousness, you can die before me and Yuan Benxi.”
Zhao Zhuo’s face changed dramatically, while Nalan Youci was silent.
Nalan Yueci closed his eyes and fell into contemplation, then bowed to Huang Longshi’s side, who had long since sat back on the bench out of sight.
To him, to himself, and to that Li Yishan who had once loved and adored him as they traveled the countries together.
To their, and the last, spring and fall.