Yan Chenglu tried hard to hold back his anger and asked in a serious tone, "May I ask Envoy Chang, from what position are you intervening in this matter?"
"It's not meddling." Chang Suining said, "Since they have entered the territory of Huainan Road, they are naturally under my jurisdiction. If I say no, then it's no."
Huainan Daojie?
Yan Chenglu frowned, and heard the soldier beside him whisper: "General, we seem to have entered the territory of Mianzhou..."
Mianyang Prefecture is one of the thirteen prefectures in Huainan Province, and it is the only city among the thirteen prefectures located south of the Han River. More than ten years ago, when Jiangnan was not yet divided into East and West Provinces, it was still under the jurisdiction of Jiangnan Province, but now it indeed belongs to Huainan Province.
While Yan Chenglu and others were chasing these civilians, they had unknowingly entered the territory of Mianyang Prefecture.
But even if they hadn't stepped in, Chang Suining would have had a lot of excuses. She could always find a reason for what she wanted to do, and even if she couldn't find one, she could still come up with some crooked reasons. It all depended on whether she needed it or not.
Yan Chenglu suppressed his dissatisfaction and said, "Even if we accidentally entered Mianzhou, these people are from Yuezhou!"
"They were in the past, but not now." The girl on horseback said in a very normal tone, "They are refugees. All refugees who enter our Huainan Road will be settled by Huainan Road."
Yan Chenglu could hardly suppress his anger: "...We have never heard of such rules!"
"This is our Huainan Road's new policy!" Shepherd's Purse sneered, "Now that you are on our Huainan Road territory, you should follow our rules!"
"It is inappropriate for Huainan Dao to act this way!" Yan Chenglu could no longer suppress his temper and questioned, "We are following the orders of the Saint and the Duke of Han to resettle the people suffering from the epidemic. I don't know how Envoy Chang Jie got the power to stop us!"
Facing Yan Chenglu who was on the verge of a rage, Chang Suining still raised his eyebrows calmly and asked, "Power? How can you decide the fate and life and death of these people?"
Before Yan Chenglu could speak, Chang Suining continued, "Did you get the power from a saint or the Duke of Korea? Regardless of who granted it, this so-called power is only because you have knives in your hands and are stronger than these common people in terms of force—"
The essence of power is the product of disparity in power.
"And now I think I am stronger than you, so naturally I have the final say." Chang Suining said in a relaxed and matter-of-fact tone: "You act according to this principle, and I am just following. You and I share the same principle, so what's wrong with that?"
The words sounded arrogant and straightforward, pure and explicit.
No matter how hard you try to beautify power, you can't change its nature of violence. There is no logic in it. If you have to talk about logic, you can only use a knife.
Chang Suining sat on the horse and asked, "Do you want to talk to me about reason?"
Yan Chenglu's face turned red due to anger and depression.
Hearing the arrogance and threat hidden in Chang Suining's words, a lieutenant beside Yan Chenglu could no longer bear it: "Envoy Chang Jie wants to intervene in this matter, he must first ask our commander-in-chief, Duke Hanguo, and our more than 100,000 troops whether they agree!"
As he spoke, in order to heighten his morale and enhance his authority, the captain drew out his sword.
However, the next moment, a sharp crossbow suddenly flew over and pierced his throat accurately.
The captain's eyes widened in shock, he reached out to cover his throat, the long sword in his hand fell, and he fell off his horse.
"How dare you hurt people!"
Yan Chenglu was shocked and angry. Because of this sudden change, several nearby soldiers also drew their swords, but soon a crossbow flew over -
"Anyone who dares to use weapons in my Huainan Dao will end up like this—" Chang Suining reminded, "If you don't want to die, hold your swords tight."
Looking at the row of crossbowmen ready to fire behind Chang Suining, and the endless cavalry, Yan Chenglu, who was about to draw his sword, gritted his teeth and suddenly raised his hand to stop the soldiers behind him from drawing their swords in panic.
He stared at Chang Suining, reluctantly pushed back the half-sheathed knife, grabbed the reins, gritted his teeth and shouted, "...Retreat!"
They are at a disadvantage at the moment. If a fight really breaks out, they will be the only ones to suffer!
This breath is hard to swallow... But he will report it to the Duke of Korea later, and there will be a time for reckoning in the future! Huainan Dao Chang Suining... He has made a note of it! Yan Chenglu led a thousand soldiers to retreat in a hurry. On the way, he saw a carriage leading a group of fleeing infected people. He immediately ordered in a venting tone: "Shoot them all, don't spare a single one!"
This isn't the damn Huainan Dao territory after all! However, before they could make any move, a team came towards them.
"General Xiao!" Yan Chenglu saw the leader clearly and laughed sarcastically, "General Xiao claimed that he had been ill for many days, and the commander-in-chief had delayed many military orders... but now he has arrived in time!"
Xiao Min's eyes were extremely cold: "The doctors sent by the saint have arrived, why are you slaughtering the infected people without permission!"
Looking at the man who was obviously pretending to be confused, Yan Chenglu sneered and didn't want to say a word. He rode away with his soldiers in anger but in an arrogant manner.
Xiao Min knew that Yan Chenglu must have gone to report today's events to Li Xian, so he immediately ordered people to gather the people who were still fleeing and asked them to gather in the front.
Xiao Min soon met Chang Suining.
He got off the horse and walked quickly to Chang Suining who was leading the horse. With red eyes, he saluted with his fists, but lowered his head and said nothing.
Chang Suining looked at Xiao Min in front of him. He had a pale face, thin body, messy beard, and a depressed and messy expression. Although he had not seen him for only a month, he seemed like two different people.
Chang Suining handed the reins of Guiqi to Shecai, and moved aside to talk with Xiao Min.
Chang Suining asked first: "Is General Xiao in good health now?"
"I took preventive medicine soup every day before... The high fever has subsided, so it should be fine." Xiao Min's voice was hoarse from illness, and he felt unspeakable shame. He bowed to Chang Suining again and thanked him: "If the extraordinary envoy had arrived in time today, Xiao would never be able to atone for his sins even if he died a thousand times."
In his opinion, he was the one who resettled those people, and if anything happened to them, it would be his fault.
Chang Suining shook his head: "I was able to get here in time, thanks to General Xiao."
It is no coincidence that Chang Suining can appear here precisely today.
After Xiao Min settled the people, he thought that Li Xian might want to kill again. He was seriously ill and could fall down at any time. The war situation was changing rapidly, and he might not be able to take care of it. After thinking it over, he decided to send a message to Chang Suining, asking her to help him.
In the letter, Xiao Min explained to Chang Suining the whole story and the whereabouts of the people.
In addition, the prescriptions for preventing the plague that were obtained were also sent.
The rest are words of self-hate.
Xiao Min attributed the unexpected disaster of the plague that hit the people of Yuezhou to his own negligence.
However, the so-called "oversight" is usually due to poor supervision from top to bottom, and Xiao Min is under Li Xian in the army. The reason why Li Xian concealed the poisoning plan was not to prevent Xiao Min from noticing, but to prevent the news from leaking to the ears of the Bian army.
But Xiao Min could not forgive his own mistakes no matter what. He thought more than once, if he had known about Li Xian's plan earlier, could he have stopped it from happening? Previously, his answer was yes. He believed that as long as he found out earlier, he would have a chance to stop it, until... He was sick and in a coma. The first thing he heard after waking up was that the emperor denied that Li Xian had created the plague, and attributed it to God's punishment.
At that moment, Xiao Min suddenly realized that he was still too "shallow".
Upon learning of the changes here, he forced himself to get up from his sickbed. On the way, he saw the burnt huts and the imperial envoys who were doing nothing... Xiao Min then realized that the people he regretted failing to notice and trying to make up for this man-made disaster did not include the current court and the emperor.
Xiao Min stood here at this moment, supported only by the will to make up for his mistakes. He asked with self-doubt and doubt about the world: "Xiao has always been stupid. Can Envoy Chang Jie tell Xiao... what should Xiao do?"
"People need to be saved, wars need to be fought, and chaos needs to be quelled." Chang Suining said to him, "General Xiao, don't doubt yourself. We just need to do our best to do what we should do."
Big principles always sound empty; doing well in the things at hand and walking well on the path ahead are the most practical.
"I'm afraid I can't do it well..." Xiao Min's eyes were red, and his voice was like the shattered fragments of a sword: "I'm also afraid that this world... will never get better."
"I'm just the opposite." Chang Suining looked at the people who were being comforted, and Song Xian who was comforting the children, and said, "I think the world will definitely get better."
Xiao Min looked at her subconsciously.
But the girl smiled with her hands behind her back: "General Xiao, have you forgotten that I was instructed by an immortal——"
Advice from an immortal?
Oh, the article that threatened to kill Xu Zhengye said...
Seeing Chang Suining's serious expression, Xiao Min asked, "But isn't that Hu... made up?"
He wanted to say something nonsense, but out of respect -
"It's true." Chang Suining smiled half-seriously and looked across the river.
Xiao Min followed her gaze and saw the states in Huainan Road, which were separated by rivers and seemed to be isolated from the war.
A breeze blew from the other side of the river, silently dispelling Xiao Min's depression.
Immediately, Xiao Min raised his hand and wiped away his tears.
He knew that as long as he could stand with Envoy Chang Jie, even if he heard her talk nonsense, he could always feel that there was hope for the future and that there was still a breeze in this world to comfort all living beings.
After a moment, Xiao Min said sincerely: "Xiao really misses the days when I suppressed Xu Zhengye's rebellion..."
Chang Suining could understand the implication of his words. At this good opportunity, perhaps she should invite Xiao Min to join her team, but after thinking about it, she did not rush to respond.
After a while, Xiao Min turned his gaze from the other side of the river back to Chang Suining, and said with determination: "Envoy Chang... After I finish the battle with the Bian army, I will go to Jiangdu to find the envoy!"
Chang Suining was not surprised and smiled with honor and admiration: "Okay, I will wait for General Xiao in Jiangdu."
She had anticipated that although Xiao Min was disillusioned with the current court, he would still choose to stay and continue to quell the rebellion of the Bian army.
Not for loyalty to the court, but for the common people.
He could give up fame, wealth and power, but he could not give up his responsibility as a general.
Everyone has different perspectives on the overall situation and the importance of moral sense. If Xiao Min led his soldiers to rebel and leave, ignoring the fighting on the front line and causing the army to lose morale, he would not have fallen into self-hatred for the sake of the people of Yuezhou.
He felt guilty towards the people here, so he found it increasingly difficult to just give up and leave.
Seeing the understanding and respect in Chang Suining's eyes, Xiao Min also smiled and his eyes regained their firmness.
Afterwards, Chang Suining reminded: "No matter what, General Xiao should protect himself and always keep an eye out for opportunities—"
Many times, the rules of this world and the people who manipulate the rules are actually unfair to those who are sincere.
Xiao Min knew what Chang Suining was referring to, and responded seriously.
After a moment, Xiao Min thought about it and couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Envoy Chang Jie...what are your plans for the future?"
It seemed a little late to ask this question, as if one had already put oneself at the gambling table and only then remembered to ask - wait, which one did I bet on?
He had previously determined that Envoy Chang would not harbor any rebellious intentions, and even used his own life as a guarantee...
But at this time, Xiao Min's definition of the word "anti-heart" is different from that time.
Chang Suining deliberately kept the secret a secret and said with a smile, "When General Xiao goes to Jiangdu someday, we can discuss it in person."
Xiao Min laughed, nodded, and said, "Even if it is just to find out the answer, I will definitely go to Jiangdu someday."
However, no matter what decision Chang Jieshi made, he was willing to follow.
Some people have this magical ability, which is enough to make people believe that whichever path they take is the right one.
Xiao Min hopes he will have the opportunity to follow.
But before that, he has to fulfill his responsibilities to the best of his ability so that he can do what he wants with peace of mind.
Xiao Min looked at the people and said, "Envoy Chang, these people..."
Chang Suining replied naturally: "Just leave it to me."
He added: "It is inconvenient for me to interfere in matters outside Huainan Road. I will have to trouble General Xiao to find the infected people who have fled to various places and send them to Mianzhou."
Xiao Min was indescribably moved and had already experienced the joy of having a reliable lord to support him.
Chang Suining did not come here just to take a look this time. She did not come alone. She was accompanied not only by the Jiangdu Iron Cavalry, but also by hundreds of people who were proficient in medicine. They were either from the common people of Jiangdu or from the Wuer Hospital Medical Center, and all of them recommended themselves.
The stability and progress of Jiangdu give these doctors more ability and confidence to offer their kindness.
Both they and Chang Suining were prepared to accept these people suffering from the epidemic before they came.
There was another person, no, two people, who were also prepared for this.
Soon, the two men were brought over.
"Ningning...it really is you!"
A slender blue figure rushed over and hugged Chang Suining, with the thrill of surviving a disaster and the joy of reunion after a long separation.
Chang Suining was still surprised: "...Why is my sister here?"
Qiao Yumian wiped away her embarrassed tears and briefly explained what had happened.
Chang Suining felt quite frightened after hearing this. The motive was really touching and the experience was really thrilling.
"My master is with me." Qiao Yumian whispered, and looked back - eh, where is her master? (The first half of the month is almost over, please give me a monthly ticket~ Good night, my dears.
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