Chapter 653 Return to Beijing (5k)
Border town, outside the headquarters of the Military Command.
An illusory moon slowly emerged and then opened up.
Zhao Duan took Jin Jian's little hand and stepped out, his boots stepping on the solid bluestone pavement. He raised his eyes and looked at the two stone lions outside the yamen and the plaque hanging high.
"Ah!" The soldiers guarding outside the government office were shocked at first and subconsciously drew their swords.
When he saw clearly that it was the "Grand Admiral and his friends," he breathed a sigh of relief, then knelt on one knee and saluted excitedly:
"Meet the Governor!"
Um...are you that polite?
Is my prestige in the border army so high? Zhao Duan was a little flattered.
He immediately realized that it was probably because his heroic feat of charging outside the city wall not long ago had spread, which was why he had won the admiration of these border troops.
"Is General Zhao here?" Zhao Duan said "Yes" and asked.
A soldier raised his head and said enthusiastically:
"The general, his wife, and other officers are taking prisoners outside the city..."
Then, Zhao Duan listened to the soldier's story and was able to find out what happened after he left.
After Zhang Yan killed Po Yun, many masters in the Liao people's army joined forces to resist. "In desperation", the old Taoist priest had to take action and captured a group of masters.
Seeing this, Zhao Shixiong simply waved his hand and ordered the city gates to be opened. The army in the city rushed out and launched a charge against the Liao people.
On one side, morale was at an unprecedented high, while on the other side, the commander-in-chief and the masters of various departments were either dead or captured, so the outcome was no longer in doubt.
After a fierce battle, the Liao people army turned around and fled, while Zhao Shixiong and his wife were dealing with the aftermath.
However, after Zhang Yanyi finished dressing up, he went into the office to rest under the admiring gaze of everyone.
"Okay, let's go see the Heavenly Master first." Zhao Duan let out a breath and stepped into the room.
After passing through the courtyard and arriving at the backyard, I saw an old man in a black priest's robe leisurely admiring the ancient paintings on the wall in the inner hall with the door wide open.
He turned his head and looked over when he heard the noise.
“Master!”
Yuxiu, Jinjian and Han Zhao hurriedly bowed their heads and saluted.
Zhang Yan said "yes" indifferently, his eyes fell on Tuoba Weizhi, his expression was full of admiration:
"You are..."
Tuoba Weizhi was holding a huge cloth bag in his hand, which contained the unconscious Xu Jianwen, and his eyes were alert.
"The La Garden Priest."
Zhao Duan took a step forward, blocking the silent witch behind him, and emphasized:
"Now I am your maid."
Zhang Yanyi said unhappily, "Can I still snatch it from you?"
Zhao Duan turned his head and said to the people behind him:
"I have something to say to the Heavenly Master alone."
Several people were sensible and left the hall and closed the door.
When there were only two of them left, Zhao Duan sat down on the chair, looked Lao Zhang up and down, and marveled:
"It seems that Tianshi did not suffer any loss in DJI."
Zhang Yan snorted and said faintly:
"I haven't had a comfortable life like you, kid. I've been battling life and death with evil gods, while you've not only picked up a beautiful maid, but also become a hero once again."
Zhao Duan chuckled.
Zhang Yanyi said solemnly: "Tell me, have you found the key?"
Zhao Duan said "yes" and did not hide anything. He immediately told the story in detail about how he sneaked into Layuan that day, how he learned the secret of Qi State, and how he brought back Tuoba Weizhi.
After hearing this, the old Taoist priest was amazed, stroked his beard with one hand, and said with emotion:
"There's actually this kind of cause and effect. Emperor Taizu was quite generous back then. With that said, the matter here is finally settled."
Zhao Duan nodded and said with emotion:
"Not only was it resolved, but it went surprisingly smoothly."
His original purpose was just to find the key, but he ended up not only bringing back a powerful bodyguard, but also using the Tianshi Mansion to resolve the invasion of the Liao people and capturing Xu Jianwen.
The harvest of this operation can be described as "rich"!
Zhang Yanyi didn't care much about these mundane matters. He said:
"This went much more smoothly than I expected. Now, I should return to the capital, rest, and then go get the second key."
The old Taoist priest clearly had a strong sense of urgency.
Zhao Duan nodded:
"I still have to deal with the aftermath in the city, but it shouldn't be long. We'll set off this afternoon or evening."
The two agreed on a plan.
At this time, footsteps were heard outside, accompanied by shouts of "Is the governor back?"
Zhao Duan stood up.
Zhang Yanyi smiled and said, "Go and do your thing."
"Yes," Zhao Duan nodded, pushed the door open and walked out of the inner hall, and saw Zhao Shixiong and his wife in military uniforms striding in.
Seeing that Zhao Duan was safe and sound, the couple breathed a sigh of relief and smiled:
"Greetings, Governor!"
Zhao Duan smiled and gave him a slight support, then asked about the situation outside the city.
Zhao Shixiong hurriedly gave a report, which was similar to what the soldiers had said before. A group of masters of the Liao people were captured, and the rest of the army withdrew.
"The Liao army is massive. With the border troops, forcibly capturing them all would be extremely difficult and costly. Therefore, I feel that the most urgent task is to avoid a life-and-death battle." Zhao Shixiong analyzed.
"Even if the Liao people's chieftain comes out to lead the troops, the threat from the enemy will be greatly reduced."
Zhao Duan nodded in agreement:
"Don't pursue a desperate enemy. Xiping Road is the main battlefield right now. You just need to stabilize the territory. From now on, I'll trouble you, General, to guard this area to prevent the enemy from attacking again."
Zhao Shixiong heard the hidden meaning: "Is the governor leaving?"
Zhao Duan nodded, pointed to the cloth bag in Tuoba Weizhi's hand under the eaves, and said in a deep voice:
"I have captured Jian Wen and will return to the capital."
Jian Wen... Zhao Shixiong glanced at the cloth bag and felt mixed emotions.
He sighed in his heart and nodded:
"Don't worry, Commander. The Liao people have been severely damaged in today's battle. Even if they can summon Da Laba again, I am confident that we can defeat them with our border troops."
Zhao Duan nodded and smiled:
"I believe this. By the way, General, please send someone to deliver a message to Xinjiang to Song Zhi, the leader of the Liao people. Tell him that I have captured Xu Jianwen alive. If you don't want Jianwen to die, stay in Xinjiang quietly, otherwise you will bear the consequences."
"Okay." Zhao Shixiong nodded and said regretfully:
"It's a pity that the Governor is in such a hurry to leave, otherwise I would have held a celebration party. Today's battle impressed the entire army with his heroic performance. Many of us would like to toast him in person."
Zhao Duan smiled and said, "Next time for sure."
Next, he dealt with the aftermath in the border town and made sure that the Liao people had completely stopped making any moves.
Before sunset, Zhang Yan summoned a blue cloud, lifted Zhao Duan and his party onto the cloud, and sped back to the capital.
It only took three days to go there and back.
…
…
The next morning.
“Woo woo—”
Amid the sound of breaking wind, Zhao Duan squinted his eyes and looked at the city below. He stood on the blue cloud, surrounded by Tuoba Weizhi and three priests who were sitting cross-legged in meditation.
Zhang Yan stood with his hands behind his back, looking like an immortal, and said calmly:
"The capital is just ahead. You can leave on your own later. My three disciples are tired, so I will take them back to rest."
Jin Jian rubbed his eyes and muttered, "I'm not tired... wuwu..."
Han Zhao covered Jin Jian's mouth and said with a smile:
"Master is right. We are tired and can't hold on any longer. Right? Second Senior Sister?"
Yuxiu: Ah, yes, yes, yes.
“…”
Zhao Duan silently looked at the rosy faces of the three priests, their spirited expressions, then glanced at Zhang Yanyi's pale and blue face... It was obvious that his mana was overdrawn and he looked shaky. He thought to himself, if you can't fly so fast, don't force it. Do you have to be so pretentious...
You have to admit your age... You've been dealing with Da Laba for so long, and you brought so many people back with you, it's understandable that you can't hold on any longer...
He agreed:
"That makes sense. Thanks to your help this time. We will say goodbye here. Just leave my master and servant at the city gate."
…
A moment later.
On the bustling streets of the capital, Tuoba Weizhi looked up, watching the collapsing Qingyun staggering and falling towards the Tianshi Mansion. He couldn't help but tighten the cloth bag on his back and looked at Zhao Duan curiously:
"Master, Master Zhang seems a little exhausted..."
Zhao Duan sighed, retracted his gaze, and patted the girl's shoulder:
"Don't tear each other apart when things are tough. Come on, follow me into the palace."
"kindness."
The master and servant walked along the bustling street. Tuoba Weizhi followed closely behind Zhao Duan, but his eyes were very busy. He looked at the buildings on both sides of the street, and then was attracted by the pedestrians.
Obviously, everything here is new to her.
Six hundred years passed.
Even if the Crown Prince of Qi was still alive, he would have sighed that things have changed and people have changed, let alone Tuoba Weizhi who was just a blank slate?
Zhao Duan deliberately slowed down his pace, and while walking, he whispered to her about the city's customs. Halfway through the walk, he simply took her to the street to have breakfast.
During the meal.
You can also hear the guests in the store discussing family and national affairs.
"Have you heard? The Liao people in the south seem to be making trouble."
"Where did you hear this? Isn't it only Xipingdao that's fighting?"
"The son of my cousin's father-in-law's sister-in-law's neighbor is an official in the Privy Council... Guaranteed!"
Zhao Duan frowned. Has the news spread?
But if you think about it carefully, it is not surprising. The people of Yunfu Road all knew about the invasion of the Liao people. Someone sent the news to the capital, so they could not stop them.
At this time, some diners also cast their eyes on the master and servant. However, Zhao Duan had disguised himself, so most people only looked at Tuoba Weizhi, thinking that the woman's dress and appearance were very strange...
"Master, I'm full."
Tuoba Weizhi felt uncomfortable being stared at, so he picked up a big bowl of soup and drank it all, then said.
Aren't you choking? Zhao Duan wanted to complain, but he held it back. He stood up and took out a bunch of copper coins from his sleeve and piled them on the corner of the table:
"Here's the money, mate."
"Okay." The waiter came over, picked up the copper coin with one hand, glanced at the master and servant who were leaving, and suddenly froze.
"What are you standing there for?" The shopkeeper came over with a fierce look on his face.
The fellow came back to his senses with a start and muttered:
"So similar, so similar. The young man's back and voice just now are so similar to Zhao Shaobao."
There are not many people in the capital who know Zhao Duan, and I am fortunate enough to have seen the true appearance of the young guard.
…
Zhao Duan did not go straight into the palace, but took a detour to the north gate.
I went to Xiuwenguan first to find out if there were any incidents happening in the court in the past few days.
As soon as I entered the library, I was met by a scholar, his eyes lit up:
"Master Zhao, are you here to see the Grand Tutor? Please come in."
"Don't move here, I'm going to do something." Zhao Duan turned around and instructed Tuoba Weizhi, then stepped into Grand Tutor Dong's "office".
As soon as you enter the door.
I saw Grand Tutor Dong wearing a loose Hanlin scholar robe, frowning as he flipped through the documents on the table.
Seeing him come in, his brows relaxed slightly:
"Please sit down. I haven't seen you for the past two days. I was thinking of sending someone to look for you."
Only four days have passed since the empress set out on the expedition.
Therefore, in the eyes of all the civil and military officials in the court, Zhao Duan had simply not appeared in public for four days.
Considering that monks often go into seclusion for ten days or half a month, almost no one noticed that Zhao Duan had left the capital.
"What? Could it be related to the invasion of the Liao people?" Zhao Duan smiled and sat down leisurely.
Grand Tutor Dong was surprised and asked, "How did you guess that?"
Zhao Duan said casually, "I heard that the news started to spread among the people."
"Has it spread?" Grand Tutor Dong was worried. He put down the document in his hand and sighed:
"After you told me that day, I sent the Privy Council to send an official document to Yunfu as soon as possible, ordering Zhao Shixiong to hold on to the city and hold back the Liao people.
The Privy Council is in chaos, and the court hasn't been as peaceful as it was a few days ago. The vassal kings have just been eliminated, and now we are under attack from both the west and the south. Some people even speculate that it's Zhao Shixiong's doing, and he's trying to keep the enemy at bay..."
Zhao Duan listened quietly to the old master's chatter, with a calm smile on his face, as peaceful as a still pond.
Master Dong couldn't help but complain a little: "Are you listening?"
"Yeah, I'm listening."
"So what do you think?" Dong Xuan was a little suspicious. He wondered if this kid was feeling a little proud after killing Prince Jing.
Because of their continuous victories, they no longer take foreign enemies seriously? This phenomenon is not uncommon.
Dong Xuan had experienced ups and downs in his official career throughout his life and had also served in the Ministry of War. He was no stranger to the mentality of many young officials and generals. Thinking carefully, considering Zhao Duan's age and achievements, it was normal for him to underestimate the enemy.
However, this discovery made Dong Xuan somewhat disappointed, and he sighed in his heart:
Still too young.
No matter how mature, skilled, or thoughtful a young person is, he or she cannot avoid the problems of complacency, frivolity, and arrogance.
Dong Xuan was already thinking in his mind how to "persuade" the other party in a tactful way.
Yes, admonishment.
After the empress's western expedition, Zhao Duan is now almost the de facto emperor. Even with his qualifications, he has to be cautious when facing Zhao Duan.
"Ideas? It's nothing. I don't think there's any need to panic." Zhao Duan said casually.
As expected, he was drifting… Grand Tutor Dong sighed inwardly and was about to throw out the words he had thought of when he heard Zhao Duan continue to speak slowly:
"It just so happens that I have some news that I need the Grand Tutor to help spread."
"What news?"
"It's nothing serious. I just took some time out these past four days. Well, I asked Zhang Tianshi and several priests from the Tianshi Mansion to rush to the Yunfu border town to provide assistance.
Yesterday, we defeated the Liaoren army, beheaded the enemy commander, and captured many tribal leaders. Although we haven't completely eliminated the Liaoren tribe, they should not pose a threat to the Yu Kingdom for some time."
Zhao Duan spoke slowly.
The room fell silent at some point.
Grand Tutor Dong was in a daze. He didn't know how he listened to Zhao Duan's story, what he asked, and how the other party stood up to say goodbye and left the room.
When the old master finally came to his senses, he saw that the room was empty.
He couldn't help but pinch his thigh with his hand and murmured:
"Did you get confused in your sleep?"
At this time, the scholar Han Zhou walked in from the open door with an ecstatic look on his face:
"Grand Master, is what Scholar Zhao said true? Did the Liao people really retreat?"
Dong Xuan was stunned: "Zhao Duan, he was here just now?"
Han Zhou: "...Yeah, didn't you send him out personally?"
It was real... not a dream... Dong Xuan felt dizzy, half crying and half laughing:
"Okay... okay... I'm going to report this to Your Majesty..."
"No," Master Dong laughed at himself.
"Your Majesty has gone on a western expedition, and I am getting old and confused."
Han Zhou shook his head and said:
"Your Majesty seemed to have used a secret technique early this morning and 'came back' again to pay tribute to Zhang Yin Sun. I wonder if he is still in the palace now.
But Master Zhao has already gone. Speaking of which, the woman following Master Zhao was really strange, and she was carrying a big cloth bag..."
…
…
at the same time.
Zhao Duan took Tuoba Weizhi and left Xiuwenguan and headed towards the Yangxin Palace.
After learning from Han Zhou that the empress had returned in the morning, he did not dare to delay and rushed over immediately.
Right now, the empress's real body is on the way to the west, and there is only a puppet left in the palace.
When Zhao Duan wanted to contact the empress, he couldn't "call" her through the puppet. It was not like if his real body was in the palace, he could rely on the connection between his soul and real body to "call" her to a certain extent.
This means that unless the empress happens to come back, he will have to wait patiently.
Wait for the next time the Empress comes online.
"Young Master Zhao." In the Yangxin Palace, an elderly female official saw him approaching and hurriedly saluted.
Zhao Duan hurriedly asked, "Is His Majesty here now?"
After the last experience of the empress secretly going to the coast, the female officials close to the empress in the Hall of Mental Cultivation knew that Her Majesty had a puppet body.
"His Majesty is in the imperial study. Lord Zhao should see him quickly. He might leave soon." said the older palace maid.
Zhao Duan breathed a sigh of relief silently, motioned to Tuoba Weizhi behind him, and said:
"This is my attendant. You stay here to watch her to prevent others from checking her identity and causing misunderstandings."
He looked at the priestess again and warned, "You..."
Tuoba Weizhi held the bulging black cloth bag and said seriously:
"I'm staying here, don't move. Don't worry, this servant won't run around and cause trouble for the master."
So good... He can even answer questions quickly. How did Old Xu train him back then? Really amazing... Zhao Duan left with satisfaction.
The older female official was left staring blankly at the strangely dressed woman with a strange look in her eyes:
Owner?
…
In the imperial study.
Zhao Duan knocked on the door with the back of his hand. When he heard a cold "come in" like ice hitting the wall of a cup from inside the house, he pushed the door open with both hands.
As the sun came in, we walked into the house. In our sight, we saw a figure in white standing by the window, silently looking at the lake in the palace.
Xu Zhenguan turned around, and a pair of eyes on her beautiful face looked at him softly, and she forced a smile:
"You're here."
(End of this chapter)
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