Wang Jinglue poured the foot-washing water out of the tent and took a towel to wipe Xu Shi's feet. He rubbed the old skin on the soles of the general's feet.
"According to my estimation, the imperial edict has probably reached the Southern Battlefront Army by now. What if something happens to us if we sneak away like this and violate the military discipline of the Tang Empire?"
"I didn't leave with the army. These 100 guards are the private army that His Majesty gave me. They just came to the mountain to recuperate because of illness. How did they violate the military discipline of the Tang Empire? Even if I did, who would dare to punish me?! "
"Fine, just pretend I didn't say anything. Why is your temper getting worse and worse?"
Wang Jinglue said angrily.
Xu Shi was really like a child now. Seeing that he was angry, Xu Shi smiled happily and comforted him, "Don't worry. I'm the great Defender-general of the State. How can I be in any danger in the Tang Empire?"
At this moment, an urgent military report came from outside the tent.
…
…
The army of the Golden Tribe Royal Court was marching south!
The West-Hill Divine Palace ordered the world to attack the Tang Empire!
There was dead silence in the military tent. Wang Jinglue's face was very ugly, and Xu Shi's smile had long disappeared. He had returned to the dignified and calm demeanor that a military leader of the Tang Empire should have.
"Return to the Southern Battlefront Army immediately."
Xu Shi glanced at the dark Xiao Mountain outside the tent and said, "If the new emperor and Her Highness didn't make a mistake, the order for the Southern Army to move north should have arrived by now."
Wang Jinglue was slightly startled and asked, "What about you?"
Xu Shi said, "Since the whole world is going to attack the Tang Empire, of course I have to go to Chang 'an. You don't have to worry. His Highness will definitely order me to return to the north as soon as possible."
Wang Jinglue nodded, but he felt that something was wrong. Suddenly, he thought of something and frowned. "Since the West-Hill Divine Palace has issued an edict, they must want to harm you."
Xu Shi patted him on the shoulder with a smile and said, "As I said before, this is the territory of my Tang Empire. Who dares to kill me, the Defender-general of the State?"
Wang Jinglue said, "Is there anything the West-Hill Divine Palace doesn't dare to do now?"
"I've been in the army for decades. Don't you think I know better than you? Now that we are at the foot of Xiao Mountain, if anyone wants to harm me, they will have to cross the mountains from Qinghe Prefecture. The people from Qinghe Prefecture are not blind. "
Xu Shi smiled and said: "Also, you have to understand that although I'm old, I'm not that easy to kill. There aren't many people in this world who are qualified to kill me."
Wang Jinglue thought that this was indeed the case. He counted with his fingers, but he really could not find anyone who could really threaten the old man. Although the old man was very old, he was still a very strong old man.
…
…
The military situation was more important. Wang Jinglue had to bring back General Xu Shi's latest military order. He also had to coordinate with the Southern Army to organize the north to resist the Jin, so he left the foot of Xiao Mountain that very night.
Not long after he left Pyrolyte Mountain, Xu Shi put on his military boots and armor. Then, he walked out of the tent and looked at the forest in the night sky. He slowly narrowed his eyes.
The guards in the tent heard the faint sound of armor and scabbards colliding. They walked out of the tent with extreme vigilance and came to the Great General's side, asking what had happened in a low voice.
Xu Shi did not answer, but only looked at the night mountain quietly.
He wanted to send these guards away just like he had sent Wang Jinglue away.
But just like what he had said to Wang Jinglue before, these guards were the private army given to him by His Majesty. They were unparalleled loyalty and would never leave his side under any circumstances.
"There are indeed not many people in this world who are qualified to kill me."
Xu Shi looked at the quiet night forest and said slowly, "The Hierarch Lord of the West-Hill Divine Palace, the Devil's Doctrine Twenty-Three-year Cicada Cultivation, the Sage of Sword Liu Bai, and those young World Wayfarers … I always thought that these people would not risk their lives to kill me. I did not expect that you would come personally."
A voice as loud and clear as thunder suddenly rang out in the night mountain.
"After the death of the Headmaster of the Academy and the Tang Emperor, you are the last spirit of the Tang Empire. If I don't do it myself, wouldn't it be too disrespectful to you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Xiao Mountain shook, and the mountain rocks collapsed.
A giant chariot appeared, crushing the rocks in the forest.
The chariot was covered with layers of gauze. Even in the darkness of the night, one could still see the towering figure inside.
The Hierarch Lord of the West-Hill Divine Palace had come personally.
There were sixty-four West-Hill Divine Guards beside the chariot.
"Before the battle of the Wilderness, the Hierarch Lord had not left the Peach Mountain for many years. Now he has come deep into the Tang Empire and risked his life for me, a dying old man. I can't help but feel a little smug."
Xu Shi's voice was like cold steel, breaking through the wind and falling into the dark forest, exploding in front of the giant chariot. "But I still want to know who will survive tonight."
After saying this, he suddenly coughed twice.
…
…
Wang Jinglue was running in the dark forest.
Suddenly he stopped and looked up at the sky.
There were clouds tonight. There was no night, and the sky was pitch black.
At this moment, it suddenly started raining. The raindrops fell on his face, making pitter-patter sounds.
The rainwater flowed into his mouth, and it tasted a little salty and bitter.
Wang Jinglue suddenly turned around and ran back the way he came.
When he rushed out of the dark forest and came to the top of a cliff, he saw the forest in the distance collapsing, sand and stones flying. No matter how violent the night rain was, it could not hide the terrifying collision of the Qi of Heaven and Earth.
Wang Jinglue clearly felt the aura of General Xu Shi.
He felt that the general's aura was getting dimmer and dimmer.
He knelt in the rain and shouted heartbreakingly, "No!"
Only then did he realize that the general had vaguely seen the direction of fate. That was why he asked him to return to the Southern Army. In fact, he wanted him to avoid this earth-shattering battle.
After the rainy night at the Spring Breeze Pavilion, Wang Jinglue joined the army and had been under General Xu Shi's command. Over the years, he served the general like a nephew. He was used to loneliness since childhood and began to like the noise of the military camp. He even felt that General Xu Shi was like his father.
His chubby face gradually thinned, and his playful heart gradually calmed down. He gradually understood that compared to freedom, there were many other beautiful things in the world that were also worth cherishing.
However, on this rainy night.
Those beautiful things were torn apart.
Wang Jinglue knelt in the pouring rain and cried bitterly.
After a long time, he stood up again and wiped the rain and tears off his face. His expression gradually became firm, and he turned around and ran to the north.
He did not return to the Southern Army.
He wanted to return to Chang 'an as soon as possible.
He wanted to tell the people of Chang 'an.
General Xu Shi was dead.
The terrifying powerhouse who killed the general was heading towards Chang 'an.
And Qinghe County … had rebelled.
…
…
The scenery of Qinghe County was beautiful and elegant. The houses had white walls and black eaves, high and low, and there were clear streams and stone bridges. It was very different from the magnificent scenery of other parts of the Tang Empire.
The best scenery was still the Fuchun River.
The manors of the warlords of Qinghe County were all located on the banks of the Fuchun River. The manor of the Cui Family naturally occupied the most beautiful stretch of the river bank and the most beautiful forest.
However, it was located in the southern wilderness. Although the forest was beautiful, it was far from steep.
The small building in the depths of the Cui Garden was still as dark as before.
Old Master Cui handed a hot towel to his son behind him and looked at the six white-haired old men in the chairs. He sighed and said, "Haotian has mercy on us. Before we die, we can finally wait for this unprecedented change."
One of the old men said calmly, "The so-called intentions have been set many years ago. The ancestors of the various clans have never forgotten about the restoration of the country. However, there are some details that still need to be carefully considered."
Old Master Cui said calmly, "The specific matters will naturally be carried out by the descendants of the clans. We have lived in Qinghe County for many years. There will definitely be no problems."
"Eldest Brother is right. However, there are many descendants of the various clans in Chang 'an City seeking to become officials. The Li family will definitely not give us a chance to take them out of the city. How … should we deal with this? "
"Her Highness Li Yu trusts us old men not only because she thinks that we cannot withstand the tearing of a sudden change of direction, but also because she believes that we cannot bear to part with the flesh and blood of the clans."
Old Master Cui said calmly, "However, she does not know that the clans of Qinghe County have been wholeheartedly thinking about restoring the country since hundreds of years ago. It was not a sudden change of direction at all. She could not have imagined that in order to complete the great task of restoring the country, we would not hesitate to sacrifice hundreds of descendants of the clans, even if more people died."
Old Master Cui smiled slightly as he looked at the complicated expressions of the white-haired old men. He said, "You do not have to be sad in advance. As long as the war goes smoothly, the Li family may not dare to kill our descendants for the sake of future plans. They may even take good care of them."
"But can the war really go smoothly?"
"Haotian Taoism has been planning for many years. The Tangs are arrogant and extravagant. Now that the Northeast Border Military has been destroyed, the Golden Palace has come south, and the Hierarch Lord has personally taken action, Xu Shi will definitely die. As long as Qinghe County opens the door, the West-Hill Divine Palace Army and the Jin Army can march north. Regardless of whether the Tang Empire is destroyed, Chang 'an City will no longer be able to order us around."
"Speaking of which, we have to thank Mr. Thirteen of the Academy, Ning Que. If not for him protecting the Daughter of Yama, the Headmaster would not have been punished by heaven. If not for him shooting the Crown Prince of the Yan Kingdom in the Wilderness, the Yan Emperor would not have gone crazy and mobilized the entire country."
Old Master Cui smiled and said, "In the future, when Qinghe County succeeds in restoring the country, we will build a stone tablet by the Fuchun River to record this grand event. When that time comes, do not forget to add Ning Que's name."
The joyful laughter of the old men rang out in the small building.
…
…
The history of the families in Qinghe County was longer than that of most countries in the world. A thousand years ago, this was originally a loose country where warlords took turns to rule.
According to clan etiquette, the Cui and Song warlords had always maintained a strong cohesiveness, and Qinghe County was run by them like an iron plate. No matter how Chang 'an City tried to separate and separate them, they could only touch the outermost layer and could not penetrate deep into the core of Qinghe County.
Today, Qinghe County and Yangguan City, from the city guards to the state army generals, and more than a thousand middle and low ranking officials, were either the children of the warlords or people who had a close relationship with the warlords.
Even the Tang Navy, which was strictly monitored by the imperial court, had been infiltrated by the families in Qinghe County. This could not be blamed for Chang 'an's lack of vigilance. When the navy recruited soldiers, most of the people in Qinghe County applied. And rather than saying that the people in Qinghe County were Tangs, they were more like the servants of the warlords.
As time passed, the ordinary navy officers and soldiers, who were once inconspicuous, gradually gained relatively important positions with their experience and achievements. Although the high-ranking generals of the navy were still appointed by Chang 'an City and transferred from other places, the middle and lower levels of the navy could no longer escape the control of Qinghe County.
One day in the autumn of the 18th year of Tianqi era.
It was still raining heavily in the west of Xiao Mountain, but the sun was shining brightly in Qinghe County in the east, and the autumn wind was refreshing.
The Yangguan City Guard's Mansion summoned all the officials to discuss the important matter of gathering the army and cooperating with the navy to resist the invading enemies from the south.
All the officials responded to the order and arrived.
After a few cups of tea, Zhong Dajun, the military advisor of the Yangguan City Guard's Mansion, walked in with a smile.
The gates of the Yangguan City Guard's Mansion closed.
The officials looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.
Zhong Dajun waved his hand.
There were angry rebukes and painful injuries in the Yangguan City Guard's Mansion.
Blood stained the bluestone tiles.
Almost at the same time.
The families in Qinghe County invited the Tang Navy to a certain place by the Fuchun River to discuss the war.
Blood stained the Fuchun River.
…
…
No matter how powerful the warlords of Qinghe County were, it was impossible for them to capture all the officials and generals who were loyal to the imperial court. Therefore, on that sunny autumn day, many battles broke out in Qinghe County and Yangguan City.
According to the statistics, a total of more than 300 Tang officials were beheaded. More than a thousand people from the Tang Navy, from the generals to the auxiliary soldiers, died, and more than a thousand people were escorted to the Coal Mountain downstream of the Fuchun River to do hard labor.
When it came to a rebellion, one side planned and waited patiently for a thousand years, while the other side knew nothing about it. The outcome was already decided, and the only thing that could affect the outcome was the hearts of the people.
The hearts of the people in Qinghe County were very complicated.
They were used to the warlords being the real gods. They had an undisguised sense of superiority and contempt for the Tangs from other states and counties. They did not have any good feelings for Chang 'an City.
But after all, they had lived under the rule of the Tang Empire for so many years. They had experienced the glory of the Tang Empire countless times, and they were proud of it.
Now … they were going to betray the Tang Empire?
The young people of Qinghe County, including some young descendants of the warlords, could not accept this at all. They could not believe what they were seeing.
However, just as they were about to speak, their old grandfather and strict father appeared in front of them. They dragged them back to the ancestral shrine and made them kneel in front of the ancestral tablets. They began to tell the sad history of the fall of Qinghe County many years ago, reminiscing the glory of the old days with tears streaming down their faces.
The young people of Qinghe County did not forget that history, but they loved the Tang Empire more. They loved being proud Tangs, so the words of their fathers had no power over them.
However … could they raise the swords in their hands and cut their own relatives?
…
…
In the autumn of the 18th year of the Tang Empire's Tianqi era.
The Headmaster ascended to heaven.
The Emperor passed away.
The Academy closed its doors.
The Northeast Border Military was destroyed in the battle of Capital Cheng.
The Golden Palace went south.
Qinghe County rebelled.
The West-Hill Divine Palace and the tens of thousands of troops from the South Jin Kingdom came, covering the sky.
The Defender-general of the State, Xu Shi, died in battle.
Then, the army of the Yuelun Kingdom entered the Pamir Mountains.
The whole world attacked the Tang Empire.
The Tang Empire seemed to be doomed.
At this moment.
A young man in black was walking in the depths of the Wilderness.
He had just woken up.
Every night after he woke up, he was talking to the moon.
He missed his teacher and his wife.
He did not know what had happened in the world.
If he knew, could he change everything?
…
…
(It has begun. Let's begin.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for it. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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