It was very lively at the city gate. Thousands of Tang soldiers walked into the city gate one after another. They had just returned from a tough battle. Their clothes were ragged, they looked tired, and they were all heavily or lightly injured.
Countless citizens of Chang 'an lined the streets to welcome the returning soldiers from the frontline. There was still no noisy gongs and drums, but there were warm smiles and waving hands.
This was the first rotation of the Tang army since the war began. Most of the troops that had withdrawn from the front were settled in various counties, and only a small part of them returned to Chang 'an.
The imperial court of the Tang Empire had shown almost perfect administrative ability and stunning efficiency during the war. Since the recruitment order was issued, hundreds of thousands of former veterans had either spontaneously or organized replenishment to the front lines. All kinds of materials were continuously transported to the front lines, which finally gave the Tang Empire a chance to take a breather.
The tragic war was still going on. The ceremony to welcome the returning soldiers was solemn but simple, and the ceremony in Chang 'an was no exception. But the Empress's presence still attracted many people.
An ordinary carriage was parked beside the state highway outside the city. The bustling city gate became quiet as people left, but the carriage seemed to have no intention of leaving. It stayed in the same place.
Chang 'an people were very vigilant during the war. It didn't take long for someone to notice the abnormality of the carriage and report it to the City Patrol Division. The soldiers of the City Patrol Division went to ask. When they saw clearly who was sitting in the carriage, they quickly apologized and left, which attracted many curious gazes.
A hand lifted the cyan curtain and Ning Que looked through the window at the distance of the state highway frozen by the winter. When he finally saw dust flying, he got off the carriage with the help of his walking stick.
Dozens of Tang soldiers returned to Chang 'an. Judging from their weapons and mounts, they should be the cavalrymen of the Valiant Cavalry Battalion. The Valiant Cavalry Battalion was directly under the command of the Imperial Palace and was a real noble army. In terms of status, it was even higher than the Yulin Royal Guards. But now the cavalrymen of the Valiant Cavalry Battalion looked even worse than the ordinary Tang soldiers who had entered the city.
Ning Que looked at the man on the horse and said, "I'm really not used to seeing you in leather armor."
The man was covered in dust, but he still had a heroic spirit. Hearing Ning Que's words, he smiled and said, "Since I'm in the army and not collecting rent in Chang 'an, I can't wear those old clothes."
He was Chao Xiaoshu, who had led the Valiant Cavalry Battalion to the Eastern Border.
Chao Xiaoshu jumped off the horse. Before he could speak, he started coughing.
Ning Que said, "Since you are injured, don't ride a horse."
After saying this, he turned around and boarded the carriage.
Chao Xiaoshu smiled and turned back to say a few words to Liu Wu. He then sat in the carriage and said, "Since you are here to welcome me, how can you enter the carriage first?"
Ning Que pointed at the bandages on his body and said, "The Abbey Dean poked seven holes in me and I've lost all my blood. I don't dare to stand in the cold wind for too long."
Chao Xiaoshu looked at his face and found that he could no longer find the Aokiji from back then. Thinking of the news that had been circulating in Chang 'an, he said, "I thought you were dead."
Ning Que said, "I also thought you were dead."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Ning Que asked, "Why do you think I will die?"
Chao Xiaoshu said, "I heard that before you killed Xiahou, you said in front of all the civil and military officials that your story is not a story in the books. Since that is the case, you should die no matter what when you meet the Abbey Dean."
Ning Que said, "You left your wife and children to be a hero with hundreds of cavalrymen. I thought this kind of hero would die in the end to perfectly express his tragic emotions. So I thought you were dead."
Chao Xiaoshu said after a moment of silence, "Many people died."
Ning Que lifted the window and looked back, looking at the heavy horse carriages behind. ,
In the carriages were the corpses of the soldiers of the Valiant Cavalry Battalion. They were covered with horse skins. After being blown by the cold winter wind for so many days, the edges of the horse skins had turned blue.
"You left Chang 'an with hundreds of cavalrymen, but only a few dozen were left when you came back. Too many people died."
Ning Que said, "The battle at the Eastern Border was terrible."
Chao Xiaoshu said, "The Northern Battlefront Army fought against the Golden Tribe Royal Court on their own. Compared to them, people like us at the Eastern Border have no right to complain. It's just that the border is empty and the Eastern Wilderness Cavalry is rampaging. The volunteers from all counties have suffered a lot."
Ning Que said, "I thought you would come back earlier."
Chao Xiaoshu said, "A few days ago, I chased after Longqing all the way to Chentang County. Then I found that the problem was solved by you. So I went back to the Eastern Border first. If the Academy had not defended Chang 'an and blocked the West-Hill Divine Palace Coalition Army at the Verdant Canyon for seven days, the Gushan Commandery and the Northeast Border Military could not have been reorganized. Then I would still be there. "
Ning Que said, "Changes in the situation will take time."
Chao Xiaoshu looked at the bandages on his body and said, "When will you recover?"
The question sounded simple, maybe just out of concern. But Ning Que knew that Chao Xiaoshu would not be so simple when he mentioned his injury.
"I don't know." He knew what Chao Xiaoshu wanted to ask, so he continued, "I don't know when my Senior Brothers and Sisters will recover. You don't have to think about it for now."
Chao Xiaoshu frowned slightly and asked, "Why so slow?"
Ning Que said, "It's not easy to get injured, and it's not easy to recover after being injured."
He thought of his Senior Brothers who were still seriously injured in the Back Mountain and his Third Sister who was still sitting in a wheelchair. His expression gradually became dignified. If a Taoism powerhouse sneaked into the Tang Empire's henchmen, it would bring a lot of trouble.
…
…
Entering from the Eastern City Gate, they had to pass through the Eastern City.
When the carriage passed by the Old Brush Pen Shop, Ning Que lifted the curtains and looked at the shop, which was still intact. He thought of what had happened here over the years and could not help but sigh.
"In the spring of the thirteenth year of the Tianqi era, you and Sangsang came to Chang 'an. Now it is the late winter of the eighteenth year. In fact, only five years have passed, but it feels like decades."
Chao Xiaoshu looked at the Old Brush Pen Shop and the shops next to it. He thought of the spring rain in the thirteenth year of the Tianqi era, the killing that night, and his bowl of noodles with fried eggs without eggs. He smiled slightly.
Ning Que looked at him and suddenly said, "Actually, now that I think about it, we are actually not that familiar."
Chao Xiaoshu said, "Yes, we haven't seen each other too many times."
Ning Que said, "Don't you think it's a little strange?"
"Twenty years ago, when the former Emperor was still the Crown Prince, I met him for the first time in the House of Red Sleeves. We had a fight and then a drink. From then on, I became Second Brother Chao."
"A cup of wine is a life, and a bowl of noodles is also a life."
Chao Xiaoshu said, "Chang 'an is a very interesting city. Things like this have happened many times, but people living here still enjoy it. So it's not strange at all."
Ning Que thought about it and said, "Indeed."
…
…
Chao Xiaoshu did not return to his home in the Spring Breeze Pavilion. Instead, he went directly to the palace.
After entering the palace, there was a eunuch to greet them. Chao Xiaoshu followed him into the hall, but Ning Que did not follow him. He waved his hand to let the eunuch leave and went to the imperial study.
His life was full of ups and downs, and there had been many critical turns. Many places were of great significance to him, but the imperial study of the Tang Imperial Palace was undoubtedly a very special place.
It was here that he had written the painting "The Flower Blooms on the Other Shore", and that was how he got to know the former Emperor. It was here that he talked with Li Yu for a long night, and then he chopped off Li Huiyuan's head in front of the hall the next day.
He put the stick in front of the bookshelf and slowly moved to the desk. He ground the ink, laid the paper, and began to write.
He kept writing, and wrote many pieces of paper.
The former Emperor liked his handwriting, but he refused to write. Even if he occasionally gave him a few pieces of paper, it was like cutting his own flesh. Now that he thought about it, he should have written a few more to make His Majesty happy.
Now he was willing to write, but His Majesty could not see it.
It was very quiet in the imperial study. Only the sound of the brush gliding on the paper could be heard. Suddenly, a few extremely majestic reprimands came from somewhere.
Ning Que was slightly absent-minded.
The imperial study was very close to the front hall, so the sound must have come from there.
At that moment, he even thought that he had heard His Majesty scolding an idiot.
As he said in the carriage, he was not familiar with Chao Xiaoshu, but they could live and die together.
In fact, he was not familiar with His Majesty, but His Majesty dared to hand Chang 'an and the future of the Li royal family to him, and he dared to use his own life to complete this task.
Because this was Chang 'an, and this kind of thing was very common.
The trust between him and His Majesty did not start from the flower blooms, but when he heard His Majesty scolding an idiot in the imperial study. He liked to scold people as idiots, so he felt very happy.
Ning Que came to his senses. His Majesty was already dead, and no one in the palace was scolding an idiot.
He shook his head and continued to write.
Suddenly, his hand that was holding the pen became a little stiff.
Because he heard the voice coming from the front hall again.
This time, he heard it clearly.
That majestic voice was indeed scolding an idiot.
Her Majesty was scolding someone.
Ning Que laughed and felt very happy.
…
…
In the depths of the palace, there was a huge map marked with complicated lines and annotations. Under the illumination of dozens of arm-thick candles, all the details could be seen clearly.
A middle-aged staff officer of the Military Ministry was holding a thin and long wooden stick and pointing at the map. He was explaining to everyone in the hall, but it was obvious that not many people could listen.
The Empress was a little tired. She sat behind the desk and took a cup of tea, slowly drinking.
The generals and ministers looked at the Empress's gentle appearance. How could they imagine the scene when the Ministry of Revenue had a problem delivering provisions to the Western Expedition Army, and the Empress had scolded them as idiots?
Chao Xiaoshu stood quietly in the corner, looking at the Empress without saying a word. But just like someone in the imperial study, he thought of His Majesty who had scolded him as an idiot in the hall.
Some people were still alive, and they had returned to their hometowns. Some people had died, and they had also returned to their hometowns. Perhaps they had never left. This was good.
…
…
(Two chapters tomorrow) (To be continued). If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
