After listening to his words, Liu Chengyou pondered for a while, suddenly smiled, and asked curiously: "As the commander-in-chief of the army, you led your troops to destroy the country, captured its monarch, and achieved success. You are also famous among the people of the stars. Why are you now? Are you belittling yourself and speaking lightly?"
"To be honest with you, Your Majesty, this time we conquered Shu, destroyed strongholds and closed the gates, there were countless casualties. I watched the corpses strewn across the fields and the sky stained with blood. I felt unbearable in my heart. It can be seen that as people age, their hearts soften..." Xiang Xun responded.
"This is not like the words coming from the mouth of a general who has killed countless people!" Liu Chengyou opened his eyes, turned his head to look at Xiang Xun, changed the subject, and said in a sentimental tone: "I still remember the fall of Shi Jin in the twelfth year of Tianfu. , China was in ruins, barbarians were raging, and you surrendered to Jinyang alone. How heroic, generous and heroic you were at that time!"
Xiang Xun also looked at the emperor, recalling the past events, his expression finally became less "lifeless", and his face was moved. He smiled bitterly and said: "I grew up in Hanoi. I have always been arrogant and arrogant. I am nearly forty years old. He was still mediocre. When he went north to Jinyang, his temper did not change. He spoke nonsense in front of the late emperor and talked about the general trend of the world.
If Your Majesty hadn't treated me with contempt, kept him under his account, followed me personally when I came in and out, and sent my heart and soul to him, I would still be wandering in the world, and how could I talk about today's honor and achievements..."
"You are complimenting me again!" Liu Chengyou seemed to be in a good mood: "However, with your talent as Xiang Xingmin, sooner or later you will meet Bo Le and become rich and powerful. I just happened to be at the right time!"
"I treated you with a small kindness, but you repaid me with ten times your achievements. After all, I have made a profit, and a big profit!" Liu Chengyou's mouth filled with a smile: "In the past few years since we came out of Hedong, we have defeated the enemy. , attack the Liao, quell the chaos, cut down the vassal vassals, level the other countries, and gradually unify them. Among them, in the credit book, you have to write a lot to the people of the stars!"
"Your Majesty is ridiculous!" Xiang Xun said seriously: "Twelve years after leaving the east, the world has changed. When the great ancestor founded the country, I followed your majesty and went eastward, but I never thought that in just twelve years, the country has changed. The world will be restored to unity. For eighty years, the world has been in chaos, with feudal vassals and towns separated, and all countries standing side by side. There have been many heroes and heroes in troubled times, but only Your Majesty is the one who can truly wipe out all parties, reform old evils, and create a legacy for all generations!"
Xiang Xun adhered to some principles and kept complimenting and saying good things. However, he did not make Liu Chengyou feel flattering. After all, he was deeply involved in the great changes of the Spring and Autumn Period for twelve years. He felt deeply and naturally seemed sincere.
However, Liu Chengyou's mood became more and more complicated. He slowly propped up his body, raised his fingers, and ordered the palace maid to step back. The beautiful lady Rourou in thin clothes left the imperial couch, bowed and left, leaving only the emperor and his ministers on the couch. Xiang Xun also sat up.
Liu Chengyou looked at Xiang Xun, his calm eyes made him dare not look at him, and his tone became serious: "I know what you are worried about, and I also know what makes you so cautious. Maybe I am stubborn? Suspicious? Cold? Lethargic? Are you scared?"
Hearing what the emperor said, Xiang Xun didn't dare to put on any airs. He knelt down on the couch and said seriously: "Your Majesty's words frighten me. I don't dare to have such an idea of deceiving you!"
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou seemed to be a little excited. He waved his hand and spitted: "I'm telling you, put your heart back in your stomach. I will treat those rumors in the court as nonsense. If I don't I trust you, so why did I leave the Southwest Army in your hands for six years? I will never be suspicious of meritorious ministers.
You and I, the monarch and my ministers, have known each other for twelve years, and I consciously confide in my heart. Now I might as well be more honest, and you don’t have to be afraid that my great achievements will shock the master. Although I am not the founder of the country, I am the master of the business, and I think I can suppress everything!"
The emperor's words came to this point. While Xiang Xun felt palpitations, he also understood that he should not do this again, otherwise he would really arouse the wrath of heaven. He bowed his hands and bowed again, touched his head with his head, and expressed his admiration with a gesture of surrender. He said in a tone of voice: "Your Majesty is as powerful as the mountains and the sea, I have no choice but to bow and obey!"
Stretching out a hand to lift him up, Liu Chengyou breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Now it's just you and me, the emperor and my ministers, so we don't have to stick to these common etiquettes, it's too cool!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
In fact, during the six years that Xiang Xun led the Southwest Army, there were many rumors in the court. At that time, he was ordered to reorganize the troops in Guanzhong and gather their elites to prepare for the invasion of Shu. It can be said that Xiang Xun formed the Southwest Han Army by himself. of.
Before the conquest of Shu, everything was relatively balanced. However, after the success of the conquest of Shu, rumors began to spread. The emperor Liu Chengyou was still sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai, but the imperial censors and officials could not help it. Liu Chengyou recalled Xiang Xun.
After all, Xiang Xun had tens of thousands of elite soldiers and surrendered 100,000 Shu soldiers. Coupled with the unique geography of Sichuan and Shu, although some practical conditions were deliberately ignored, on the surface, Xiang Xun at that time was really very good. "Danger".
Those who talk about Zhonghui are far away, but those who are close can learn from Meng Zhixiang. How could the courtiers not think more about it? Especially after the news of the Shu rebellion was officially announced, the courtiers who did not know the details became even more excited and almost questioned directly. Xiang Xun's loyalty means that he has a disobedient heart.
Xiang Xun couldn't have heard of those raging remarks. Although he was the commander-in-chief of the army and was decisive in killing, he would still be afraid and worried. Over the years, as the Han Dynasty continued to grow stronger, the process of unification was accelerating, and people's hearts and minds were uniting. The generals' sense of awe for the imperial power is also increasing.
In the past two years, there are still many arrogant and capable generals in the army, and there may still be some people who act recklessly, but they dare not offend the emperor's authority. Xiang Xun is also a mortal general. He has always made decisions, and it is normal for him to have a sense of worry in his heart. matter.
Precisely because he knew something about the emperor and had heard and heard about the personnel changes and power changes in the upper echelons of the Han Dynasty over the years, at this moment, even if Liu Chengyou spoke frankly and openly, he did not dare to take it completely seriously.
After thinking for a while, Xiang Xun also said to Liu Chengyou in a calm manner: "Your Majesty regards me as a bastard, and I am grateful. However, I have been leading the army in the southwest these years, far away from my family, and do not know my relatives. After the success of pacifying Shu, I have I am exhausted both physically and mentally. All I want now is to rest, relax and have fun. I hope Your Majesty will understand me and grant you permission!"
"How can a general with such talent be in his prime and let him go to Nanshan like this?" Hearing his words, he smiled casually, but added: "We can talk about this later!"
Turning over and lying down, with his head resting on his hands, Liu Chengyou said: "We did a good job in pacifying Shu this time. We lived up to our years of preparation and captured all 200 prefectures and counties. It can be said to be the greatest achievement since the founding of the People's Republic of China!"
Xiang Xun was now afraid that the emperor would praise him. When he heard this, he said solemnly: "I am just about to plead guilty to your majesty. The land of Shu has returned to chaos. In fact, it is because of my incompetence and mishandling. I failed to correctly implement your majesty's will, which led to the disaster." Rebellion. The thieves suddenly appeared and failed to respond in time, causing the disaster to last for a hundred days and severely damaging Shu. Not to mention the fatigue of the soldiers, the Shu people died as a result, more than 100,000 people! Every time I think about it, I feel careless. What a dereliction of duty!”
"You don't have to feel burdened!" After listening to what he said, Liu Chengyou waved his hands and said angrily: "I speak from my heart, the rebellion in Shu is caused by me and has nothing to do with you. Furthermore, such a mess The market is not without its benefits! Aren’t all those traitors with ulterior motives jumping out and wiping us out in one fell swoop?
It was less than forty days until the army entered Chengdu. The advance was too smooth and the destruction of Shu was too easy. It reminded me of the story of the Sui Dynasty's destruction of Nanchen. Although the situation was different, it was the same story. It was better to rebel after gaining victory than to rebel. The last one! It’s not enough to know the disadvantages without chaos. Now the soldiers and people of Shu should know the majesty of the imperial court. Even if the middle of Shu is destroyed, it will be easier for the imperial court to clean up again..."
The emperor's words were a bit ruthless, and there was no hint of love for the people. He was ambitious and obviously only cared about his rule. As for the death and injury of hundreds of thousands of people, what did it matter?
As for Xiang Xun, despite his appearance of being "kind-hearted and soft-hearted" and worried about one thing and jealous of another, in his heart, he was not that compassionate. He just showed that kind of behavior. He led his troops to conquer the country and killed countless people, but his heart was hard. As for Liu Chengyou's words, he actually agreed with them and immediately praised the emperor's majestic appearance.
"In this attack on Shu, the imperial court recounts the merits and deeds. Who do the people think is worthy of being number one?" Liu Chengyou asked again.
Xiang Xun: "I am the commander-in-chief and it is not appropriate for me to make unreasonable comments!"
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"Since you are the commander-in-chief, you should take credit for your subordinates' suggestions. If you don't speak up, who in the court can decide?" Liu Chengyou asked rhetorically.
After hearing this, Xiang Xun pondered for a long time and said seriously: "Since entering Shu and fighting the rebellion, in summary, Zhao Kuangyin should be the first!"
"Well..." Liu Chengyou responded softly without showing any surprise.
Immediately he ordered: "There are many soldiers from the southwest of the victorious army that I have never seen before. Make arrangements and I will conduct a review at Qionglin Garden tomorrow!"
"The soldiers must smile with joy and admire the beauty of the sky!"