The sky is filled with sunset glow and the setting sun is blood-red.
The city wall of Goshawk City.
Fu Xiaoguan and Peng Chengwu stood on the city wall, gazing at the blood-red setting sun in the distance.
"Are you really going?"
"If I don't go, I will never be at peace... I will never be at peace!"
Fu Xiaoguan was silent for a moment. "That's a 200,000-strong Heavenly Blade Army. Do you really think your 200,000-plus northern border troops can defeat them?"
Peng Chengwu grinned, "You may have underestimated the northern border troops..."
He suddenly took a deep breath, the smile on his face disappearing, and he looked a little lonely. "The soldiers are very dissatisfied with me. We lost Yanshan Pass and Xinzhou City, and ran here without even fighting a battle. Isn't it a waste of time? So they want to fight a battle, a good battle."
"Tuoba Feng has fallen into the hands of the Independent Division, which has already occupied the Platinum Khan Palace. With the Emperor of the Desolate Kingdom in their hands, the Heavenly Blade Army has no choice but to surrender. Is it worth sacrificing themselves in vain?"
"The barbarians have always been ambitious. You crippled them this time, but I still think it would be best to kill them!"
Peng Chengwu paused and said, "Just think of it as me wanting to fight a battle, even if it's to avenge the brothers and civilians who died in Yanshan Pass and Xinzhou City."
Fu Xiaoguan withdrew his gaze. He knew that Peng Chengwu was seeking death, carrying with him his guilt and his last dignity as a soldier.
"Before you die, are you going to tell me what Emperor Xuan said to you?"
Peng Chengwu grinned and said, "I really can't say that. After all, he is the emperor of the Yu Dynasty, and I am still his subject."
Fu Xiaoguan nodded and said, "I won't make it difficult for you. You can go now."
"Before I leave, I want to say one more thing to you... He is, after all, your father-in-law. He does all this solely for the sake of the Yu Dynasty. When you become the emperor of the Wu Dynasty one day, if you are faced with the same situation as he is now, your choice will probably be no different from his."
After saying this, Peng Chengwu clasped his fists, bowed, and turned to leave. He went down the city wall and led an army of 200,000 soldiers who were ready to go. He stepped on the bright red ground and ran towards the blood-red setting sun.
Fu Xiaoguan narrowed his eyes and looked at the sunset in the sky. Bai Yulian sighed, "Save him or not?"
Fu Xiaoguan shook his head and said, "Order the third and fourth divisions in Guoyun City to go to the desolate court."
"He, he and the soldiers of the Northern Frontier Army will all die!"
"I know, but he will win. That's his last wish."
At this moment, Bai Yulian immediately understood that Peng Chengwu had disobeyed Emperor Xuan's order and did not take action against Fu Xiaoguan.
But he abandoned Yanshan Pass and Xinzhou City. He could not face the soldiers and civilians who died in Yanshan Pass and Xinzhou City. This battle was the last battle of his life.
As the general of the northern frontier army, his ideal has always been like that of the Duke of Anguo in the past, to drive the barbarians thousands of miles away, force them to submit a letter of surrender, and pay tribute to the Yu Dynasty. This may be his last wish.
"A general dies in a hundred battles, a warrior returns after ten years... After receiving the news, tell the brothers to bury their bodies on the land of this desolate country. I want them to see with their own eyes how bright the future of this desolate country will become!"
…
…
The sunset in Jinling is also beautiful.
Emperor Xuan returned to Dieyi Palace alone and came to the back garden.
The pear blossoms are as white as snow, and the peach blossoms are in full bloom.
It’s only been twenty days since Empress Shang left Jinling. How come there are so many weeds growing in this yard?
He went to get the hoe that Queen Shang often used, and under the shocked gaze of Eunuch Nian, he carefully weeded.
While weeding, he asked, "My Ninth Princess, how long has it been since you came back to see me?"
Eunuch Nian quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, since Earl Ding'an left Jinling, Her Highness the Ninth Princess has not returned... Would you like me to ask Her Highness the Ninth Princess to come back?"
"Ah... no need, I was just asking casually. After all, she's already married and a member of the Fu family... Oh, by the way, I haven't left the palace for a long time. Come with me to Hongxiuzhao later. It's been a while since I last listened to music."
Eunuch Nian was startled and quickly replied, "Your Majesty... Hongxiuzhao was burned down in December of last year. I heard that the Huqin Hu family was also destroyed in the fire. There is no Hongxiuzhao on the Qinhuai River anymore."
Emperor Xuan was stunned for a moment while pounding his hoe before he remembered this. He laughed at himself and shook his head, "It seems that I am really old."
"Your Majesty, you are still in your prime, why are you talking about old age? Your Majesty, the most popular brothel in Jinling City right now is Guose Tianxiang. If Your Majesty is interested..."
Emperor Xuan waved his hand and said, "Forget it. Go prepare the carriage. I will go to Yan Beixi's house tonight for a drink."
"I obey your command!"
Emperor Xuan hoeed a row of fields before he felt his waist a little sore. He carried the hoe and walked out of the yard. He put it down and washed his hands. Suddenly, he felt that this huge palace was indeed very deserted. It seemed that he had to hurry up and decide on the Crown Princess from Yu Wendao.
Let him learn from Fu Xiaoguan, marry more wives, and have more children...
I thought of Fu Xiaoguan again!
Emperor Xuan grinned and asked, "What is this kid doing now?"
The last news from the Battle of Huangguo was that Xinzhou City fell, with nearly 500,000 civilians and more than 100,000 border soldiers killed.
Did I do something wrong?
If Fu Xiaoguan didn't die in the end, how should I face him?
Of course he will be very disappointed in me, so will he lead his troops to attack the Yu Dynasty?
This is a very troublesome matter. I have to put it off until my Tian Ce Army is trained, and then we can fight against Fu Xiaoguan's Shen Jian Army.
Also under this sunset, Yan Beixi was standing in the back garden.
He looked at the sunset in the sky, his expression quite anxious.
The outcome of the battlefield in the Desolate Country has not yet been announced, and Fu Xiaoguan's safety is related to a series of subsequent developments.
The Wu Dynasty has occupied the border town and is heading towards Cangxi. If nothing unexpected happens, I am afraid that the southern border troops have already fought with the Wu Dynasty army.
Emperor Xuan made a bad move and ruined a good hand of cards, which directly led to the confrontation between the Yu Dynasty and the Wu Dynasty, and the Wu Dynasty belonged to Fu Xiaoguan.
Queen Shang was quite wise. If Fu Xiaoguan had not died, she might have been able to persuade Wu Dalang to withdraw his troops.
But if Fu Xiaoguan dies... I'm afraid even the Lord can't do anything about it.
"Master, tell the departing families not to take too much with them. It's already late. They must pack everything tonight and leave for Fan Country tomorrow morning."
"Yes... Father, ever since the news of Xinzhou's fall, the court has been in a state of panic, and officials are full of suspicion. Qin Huizhi has pinned the blame on Peng Chengwu. Please, Your Majesty, decree that Peng Chengwu be dismissed from his position as General of the Northern Frontier Army and brought back to the capital to face charges."
Yan Beixi looked at the setting sun and smiled, "That's right, it was Peng Chengwu who failed in his duty."
"But……"
"No matter whether Fu Xiaoguan lives or dies, Peng Chengwu must die!"
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