Chapter 116: The gap between people is greater than that between people and dogs.
The urgent letters from Xizhou were delivered to Yunjing one after another, just like bursts of thunder exploding in the court.
General He, the garrison commander of Huzhou, impeached Xie Xuanlan for taking troops without imperial order, detaining prisoners of war, and leading the enemy into the border, but Xie Xuanlan's confession told a different story.
He claimed that General He was jealous of his capture of the Western Tartar Marshal Akolo, and had dispatched troops to the Zhanzhou garrison under the guise of suppressing a mutiny, intending to seize the prisoner and claim credit for his actions at the imperial court. Meanwhile, the Western Tartars, learning of the marshal's capture, quickly assembled their forces in pursuit. Xie Xuanlan's scheme had caused the two groups to collide, forcing General He into a fierce battle with the Western Tartars' elite troops.
The culprit Xie Xuanlan ran away with Akoro.
As he ran, he dragged Akoroma away, interrogating him about the Western Tatars' defensive layout. While the elite frontline troops were held up by General He and the Western Tatars' rear garrison hadn't had time to reposition, Xie Xuanlan, unsaddled and sword still sheathed, fought his way to the Western Tatar border town of Tiehuaer, three hundred miles away.
Who could have imagined that he was so elusive? When his army arrived at the city of Tiehuaer, the defenders were roasting lamb legs on the city wall. They saw two groups of shepherds driving sheep into the city fighting at the city gate because they had confused the sheep's heads.
The flock of sheep was bleating at the city gate, yellow smoke was billowing in the distance, and the sound of horses neighing could be heard faintly.
The guard burped and stared in confusion for a long time, only then he was sure that he had encountered the first enemy attack in his life - they always robbed others, so who would come to their hometown!
The guards turned pale with fear, shouted "Enemy attack", and climbed up the watchtower in a panic to hit the wind-rusted bell.
It was also bad luck for Tiehuaer City. Not only did they encounter the killing god Xie Xuanlan, but the city gate was also blocked by a flock of sheep, and it was difficult to close it for a while.
Xie Xuanlan was overjoyed upon seeing this. He whipped his whip and ordered, "Whoever enters the city first will be rewarded. Rape, loot, burn, or kill civilians is prohibited. The rest of the property will belong to whoever grabs it!"
The elite cavalrymen under his command, who had traveled a long distance, immediately boosted their morale and rushed towards the city gate with all their strength, first killing the gatekeeper, then the messenger, and then killing their way towards the garrison and the city lord's camp in the center of the city.
Two hours later, Xie Xuanlan carried the heads of the officials and generals defending Tiehuaer City and quickly seized control of this western Tatar border city.
He washed and changed his clothes briefly, then gathered the captains of the hundred cavalry in the city garrison's meeting hall. Seeing that they were all starving, he ordered a whole lamb, freshly roasted for the garrison, to be brought to the table. As they ate, they discussed the matter. Xie Xuanlan tore off a leg of roasted lamb with his left hand, and with his right hand, he dipped his brush into ink and wrote a memorial. His pen flowed across the paper, while he methodically planned his next move.
"Xu Baiqi, go back to Xizhou and ask for reinforcements. Tell them if they can't arrive within three days, or I'll turn against them."
"I obey your command."
"He Wu, take your men and patrol an area of thirty miles east to west. If you see any enemy troops, report immediately."
"yes!"
"Go and arrange for the captives in the city. Be careful to disperse them. If anyone resists, execute them on the spot."
"Take your men to the city to appease the people. Tell them to stay home and don't move rashly. No adult male is allowed to go out. If you see anyone, you will be killed."
…
After the meal, the subordinates took orders and dispersed. The letter in his hand was also written. When it was handed to the Yunjing court, it still had the faint aroma of the oily roasted lamb leg.
The letter contained two contents. The first was to explain the whole story, express his loyalty, and ask the court not to believe the slander. He did not plan to rebel for the time being.
Secondly, he wanted soldiers, food, and money, and he wanted the court to give him the right to rule the country.
The court was in an uproar over this.
The King of Ying and his followers said Xie Xuanlan was a rebel who had seized power and deserved to be executed along with his entire clan. The Xie family, on the other hand, said his military exploits were extraordinary, comparable to those of Wei and Huo. Others simply listened in silence, such as your lord, the King of Jin, and even the Emperor Fengqi.
After the court was dismissed, Emperor Fengqi asked Princess Chun'an to discuss matters alone.
"A Li, what do you think of Xie Xuanlan?" Emperor Feng Qi asked her.
"He is a valiant general that the Great Zhou has not seen in a hundred years, even more so than the Xuan clan's former generals. If the Great Zhou wants to completely quell the rebellion in the northwest and keep the Western Tartars at bay for thirty years, perhaps this man is the best choice."
Princess Chun'an paused slightly: "But, his last name is Xie."
Emperor Feng Qi smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, his surname is Xie. He has Xie Huanzhi for literature and Xie Xuanlan for martial arts. Does this mean that the Great Zhou cannot survive without them? Will the Xiao family's throne continue to be controlled by them? I've been this puppet emperor for over thirty years, but lately, I've grown tired of it."
Princess Chun'an said, "I understand your father's difficulties."
Emperor Fengqi said, "Noble Concubine Xie is pregnant. Does my son know?"
Princess Chun'an suddenly raised her eyes, her expression filled with shock and anger: "How is this possible! Could it be... that she actually dared to pass herself off as a real person?"
Emperor Fengqi said, "I swore before your mother's coffin long ago that you are my only child and I will never allow Xie to become Qi Wan."
After the death of the late queen, Emperor Fengqi secretly summoned the Imperial Physician's Office to prepare a decoction to kill his heirs. He had long lost his fertility, and it would be impossible for the Xie family to force out a prince with Xie's bloodline.
So over the years, Emperor Fengqi was dealing with Prime Minister Xie and was in love with Concubine Xie, but she was unable to get pregnant.
"It seems that Xie's vitality has been severely damaged since she fell out with the Prince of Ying's Palace. She is desperate to do something extreme... Have you found out the biological father of this child?" Princess Chun'an said in a low voice.
"It doesn't matter whose it is. As long as she can give birth to a boy, there will be people willing to make him the crown prince." Emperor Feng Qi was very indifferent to this. "By then, Xie Huanzhi will form a clique within the country, and Xie Xuanlan will lead his troops to the capital and kill you and me, father and daughter. Then the world will be completely ruled by the Xie family."
Princess Chun'an: "Father, your Majesty, means that Xie Xuanlan cannot become a powerful figure in the northwest, right?"
Although Xie Xuanlan was able to gain a foothold in the northwest with his wisdom and courage, he could not fight against a million soldiers alone. If the court did not give him money and food and did not promote him, he would have no way out and would not be able to become the backbone of the Xie family in the future.
However, this would open the northwest border, and the Western Tartars would surely seize the opportunity to march south to plunder. The Great Zhou had rested for decades, and it was rare for them to launch an offensive like this. I'm afraid they would hand it over to the enemy.
Thinking of this, Princess Chun'an lowered her eyes and said, "I, your son, also have selfish desires, but I dare not use them to benefit the whole world... Father, the people of Xizhou are also the people of the Great Zhou."
Emperor Feng Qi was surprised that she made such a quick choice: "Ah Li, have you forgotten what you wanted?"
"I haven't forgotten."
"As a daughter, your path to the throne is already more difficult than that of a prince. If you harbor the kindness of a corrupt scholar, I'm afraid the road will be even more difficult. Your father is incompetent and has failed to pave a smooth path for you. I can only hope that you will be more decisive."
"Your son..."
"Don't be in a hurry to answer me. Think it over carefully."
＊
King Jin drank a bowl of nourishing ginseng soup, read the secret letter sent by Chen Cheng, and asked Doctor Zhang to take his pulse.
Doctor Zhang: "Your Highness, please close your eyes and calm down. Otherwise, your mind will be disturbed and your pulse will be unstable. I am afraid I may have misdiagnosed you."
Prince Jin didn't even turn his eyes away, and said calmly, "I believe in Doctor Zhang's ability."
Doctor Zhang was already accustomed to the mother and son's pretentiousness, and he good-temperedly granted them whatever they asked. After taking the pulse, he observed the Prince of Jin's expression and nodded with satisfaction, "Your Highness has been looking better and better since your marriage."
King Jin sneered, "That's not what you said last month."
On the morning of the second day after his wedding, Prince Jin felt dizzy as soon as he got up. He insisted that he was hungry, but Cong Yingpian made a fuss and asked the princess to ask for Doctor Zhang.
Zhang Jingyi was such a tactless person that he actually said to Cong Ying in front of her that he had "accumulated wealth for many years and finally ran out of resources in one day".
He actually said he was weak!
From that day on, Cong Ying offered him the nourishing deer blood and ginseng soup, but she no longer approached him. Though his body was frail, he was a former military commander, a celibate for nearly twenty years, enjoying only one night of pleasure before being ordered to abstain from sex and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
How cruel.
The King of Jin asked Doctor Zhang, "When will the medicine I asked you to prepare for me be ready?"
Doctor Zhang sighed and advised him, "Drugs made from tigers and wolves are harmful to your health. Your Highness, please do not indulge in temporary pleasure..."
"Why, can I live a hundred years without using this medicine?"
"That's impossible."
"If that's the case, then don't waste your words," Prince Jin said to Doctor Zhang with a half-smile, putting away the secret letter in his hand. "If you can't deliver it before evening, I'll go to the Imperial Physician's Office tomorrow to propose marriage on behalf of the Princess."
Doctor Zhang's scalp immediately tingled: "Okay, okay, I will obey your command."
After Doctor Zhang left, the Prince of Jin opened the pile of secret letters again and pulled out a blood-stained piece of paper. This letter wasn't from anyone else, but from Xie Xuanlan. On the paper, he had written in anger: "May the Princess of Jin live in peace and happiness. I look forward to seeing you soon."
Yin Yang's resentful tone and the deliberately left bloodstains.
"Contrived." King Jin commented.
Without hesitation, he threw the letter into the brazier and burned it. He took out a blank piece of paper, rubbed his wrist, and wrote in the name of Xie Xuanlan:
"Mother has explained all the difficulties. Knowing that Prince Jin truly loves you, I feel at ease. I have no other requests, only that you be well."
Although he had changed his body, he could still imitate his old handwriting with ease.
After finishing the letter, he handed it to Chen Cheng and said, "Return it quietly to the messenger and tell him to deliver it as usual."
That day, Zong Ying and Taiyi returned late. It was already dusk. When she entered the room, she saw Prince Jin leaning against the Arhat couch, playing chess. His jet-black hair was casually scattered, and the branch lamp illuminated half of his profile. When he saw her, his eyebrows were deep, calm and gentle, and he had the charm of a beauty under the lamp.
She walked over to Ying, grabbed his hand and held it against her face.
Prince Jin asked her, "Have you received Xie Xuanlan's letter?"
Cong Ying raised her eyebrows slightly: "How do you know?"
"You're often distracted, but today you seem relieved, as if you've breathed a sigh of relief."
The Prince of Jin pretended to be calm and collected, saying, "What did he say in the letter? I've been trying to persuade you for half a month, but it was useless. He just coaxed you with a few words?"
Cong Ying felt guilty and was afraid he would get jealous, so she refused to admit it. "No way... I was just nervous about the year-end debate."
Prince Jin did not pursue the matter and changed the subject: "How are the preparations going?"
Cong Ying briefly told him the current situation.
Now everyone in the court is arguing about whether Xie Xuanlan has made merits or committed crimes.
"I suspect the topic the Hanlin Academy will propose will revolve around 'Should a minister be loyal to the emperor' or 'Should a minister be loyal to his duty,' so we should diligently prepare in that direction. However, we still have to wait for Princess Chun'an's opinion on Taiyi's stance. Tomorrow I will visit the princess at her residence."
The debate not only displayed the talents of the students of Taiyi, but also revealed the attitude of the host and guided and educated the people.
Prince Jin said, "Today in the court, the Yingwang faction and the Xie family faction were on the verge of a fight, but Princess Chun'an remained completely silent. She has a very conflicting attitude towards Xie Xuanlan, and I guess she hasn't figured it out yet."
"What about you? Did you speak for Saburo?" Cong Ying asked.
The King of Jin smiled softly: "What can I say? He has his own abilities."
Cong Ying was still a little worried: "But..."
The cool jade-like fingertips pressed against her lips. The dark eyes of King Jin seemed different from usual. The flame of the branch lamp was reflected in his pupils, and the weak flame burned slowly.
"It's a beautiful night, let's ignore him for now," said the King of Jin.
He leaned over to kiss her, gentle as water, and she couldn't help but indulge in it for a while, until her hand, as cool as jade, passed through the layers of barriers and pressed intimately against the skin of her waist.
Cong Ying woke up and quickly resisted his hand: "But your body..."
"Doctor Zhang said it's fine," the King of Jin breathed slowly into her ear and issued an order, "You are not allowed to say the word 'but' again tonight."
He picked up the firefly and lowered the red tent. Snow fell at night, but the spring spirit in the tent burned long and hard.
…
Yunjing was covered in snow overnight, and Xizhou was filled with the moon of longing.
Not only are the customs different in different places, but even the situations of different people are worlds apart.
Xie Xuanlan had been running around and fighting for days, and now he was lying on the couch but couldn't fall asleep. Although his body was extremely tired, his eyes were full of joy when he closed them, and Cong Ying softly called him "Your Highness" in front of him.
After tossing and turning for a long time, Xie Xuanlan stood up with red eyes, put on his clothes, and went out for inspection with a knife in his arms.
His subordinates were very efficient and he could not find any fault with them. They also maintained strict military discipline. They did not drink alcohol or rob women. They just gathered together secretly to roast a leg of lamb and threw the dice to let whoever had the bigger one eat it first.
Seeing how happy they were so simply and purely, Xie Xuanlan snorted disapprovingly and turned away.
Tiehuaer City was big and poor, and there was not even a place to stay. Finally, he climbed up the city wall and looked out at the high bright moon and the vast desert. It was a scene completely different from the prosperous and crowded Yunjing. He felt only boundless loneliness in his heart.
In this boundless loneliness, there is also a strange mixture of joy.
Very abrupt.
It's like someone is hugging their loved one and whispering, watching the snow through the window. It's a feeling of extreme peace and satisfaction, and they hope that time will stay at this moment forever.
Xie Xuanlan raised his hand to his chest, closed his eyes and took it in carefully. After a long time, he slowly opened his eyes.
He was sure that this was not his mood.
He just wants to kill people now.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
