The sky was overcast, with large chunks of dark clouds pushing the sky very low, like a broken wall about to collapse.
The cold wind blew loudly in front of us, kicking up dense flakes of snow, tearing the clothes of pedestrians, and slapping their frozen purple faces.
The most conspicuous things on the snowy field are the solitary graves and various tall bushes of withered grass and basil. The strong wind pulled out the withered grass in large quantities, mixed with the broken snow, and threw it ruthlessly into the air. The bitter taste of the basil also spread.
.
The branches of the ancient deciduous trees were frozen to a crisp and creaked loudly when blown by the wind. Sometimes branches broke and fell to the ground, and the green juice that appeared on the new haws immediately froze into ice again.
The thick black weather in November enveloped the entire North China Plain, and the cold wind was still howling in the northern territory. The snow seemed to realize that it had been a long time since it arrived, and it was sometimes thin, sometimes dense, and sometimes heavy, and it never stopped falling.
Falling.
There was a long wheel mark on the ground, as well as messy horse hoof prints, which rattled continuously along the solid layer of snow that was tight on the shafts. The faces of the cavalry walking in the front were already livid with cold, but they still
Staring at the wind and snow, he remained unmoved and continued walking forward.
Gao Fei was sitting in a huge carriage pulled by sixteen horses. The carriage was covered with a thick bedding. He was lying in it to sleep warmly. For the past half month, in order to select civil and military officials
, he was really exhausted, and finally everything came to an end, and he was able to have a good sleep happily.
The long team faced the wind and snow, because the snow on the ground was easy to slip, so the team's progress was very slow. It would be good to walk a hundred miles a day. After crossing the Yellow River, it was said that the wind was howling and the snowstorm was heavy.
I have to admire the power of nature.
"Kala!"
A loud noise spread from the high-flying carriage to all directions, and the heavy carriage's shaft suddenly broke. The horses were frightened and the carriage suddenly rolled over into the ravine beside the road, followed by several "rumbling" rolls.
The loud noise caused caused the entire canopy to fall into pieces.
"Your Majesty!" The people accompanying him shouted loudly and unexpectedly. The guards jumped off their horses and rushed towards the ravine on the side of the road. Their feet slipped and everyone rolled down.
The team stopped advancing, and more than a hundred guards used their hands to open up the cracked frame of the vehicle, looking for Gao Fei who was sleeping in the vehicle. Everyone looked very panicked.
Privy Council Lieutenant Gai Xun was riding at the front. Hearing a commotion from behind, he hurriedly galloped over. When he saw Gao Fei's carriage overturned in the ravine under the road, he immediately turned over and dismounted.
He yelled loudly: "How do you trashes do things? Save the emperor!"
"boom!"
A loud noise was heard in the ears of hundreds of guards. Gao Fei, wrapped in a quilt, soared into the sky from the broken wooden frame. Unscathed, he first yawned and stretched his waist, and then he noticed everything around him.
After looking around, I realized that I had fallen into a ravine beside the road.
"Your Majesty..." When everyone saw that Gao Fei was okay, they all breathed a sigh of relief and knelt on the ground, feeling extremely guilty.
At this time, Gai Xun ran to Gao Fei's side, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I deserve death for my crime. Your Majesty was frightened..."
Gao Fei already understood what was going on, and immediately smiled and said: "It's okay, the road is slippery in the snow, and the canopy cart is too wide. Under normal circumstances, if the road is narrow, it will be impassable, and this will happen.
This situation is understandable..."
He looked around and saw a vast expanse of white, howling snow and howling cold air. He saw that many people had purple lips and were shivering in the cold wind, so he said to Gai Xun: "We are here now.
Where is it?"
"Not far ahead is Yitao City. I have informed Liu Fang, the prefect of Julu, that I will rest in Julu tonight." Gai Xun replied.
Gao Fei returned from Luoyang and did not bring too many people with him. Because of the construction needs of Luoyang and the post-war recovery issues of the Central Plains, after several discussions, Guan Ning, Lu Zhi, Zhong Yao and all the officials selected by civil and military officials were allowed to stay.
Central Plains, make preparations in advance for the revival of the Central Plains. He himself only brought Gai Xun and 300 guards with him. After all, Hebei is far more stable than the Central Plains.
"Well, let's rest in Yingtao City for two days. It won't be too late to leave after the wind and snow. Otherwise, if this continues, the soldiers will have frozen to death on the way back before we get back to Jicheng." Gao Gao
Fei considered the truth for a moment and said immediately.
"I obey the decree."
So, the guards packed up Gao Fei's things, moved all the things to other carriages, and freed up a carriage for Gao Fei to use. However, Gao Fei refused and asked for a horse to carry him.
The cold wind walked with everyone in the wind and snow.
When he was about to arrive at Yingtao City, Gao Fei vaguely saw the monument to heroes standing in the east of Yingtao City. He thought of the more than 20,000 soldiers who died here a few years ago, and thought of Hu Yu, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness in his heart.
A battle in Juluze,
It was also the first defeat in his career as a military leader that he could not forget for a long time. It could be described as a disastrous defeat. Although he finally avenged the dead soldiers at the cost of capturing Yecheng and destroying Yuan Shao's forces, they could no longer be restored.
life.
"Master Taiwei!" Gao Fei suddenly shouted.
Gai Xun followed Gao Fei, and when he heard Gao Fei calling him, he hurriedly asked: "Does the Emperor have any orders?"
"We are going to prepare a ceremony tomorrow. We will go to the Heroes Monument to pay homage to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country. They are indispensable for the establishment of China. Without their bloody battles at that time, I would not be flying high.
There would be no China today."
Gai Xun did not participate in that battle, but he could imagine the brutality of that battle.
He and Gao Fei have known each other for a long time. In Liangzhou, in order to resist the Qiang and Hu rebellions, Gao Fei led a small number of soldiers to win every battle. Even in retreat, he could still annihilate the chasing enemies. In this way
Talented generals are indeed rare. However, Gao Fei was defeated in the battle of Juluze and cost the lives of more than 20,000 soldiers. He could understand Gao Fei's feelings.
Gai Xun is older than Gao Fei, but he has never relied on his old age to show off, because Gao Fei has a lot to learn from him. After hearing what Gao Fei said, he couldn't help but frown, and slowly
He said: "I obey the decree. After entering the city, I will let people prepare."
"Um."
At the gate of Yingtao City, Julu Magistrate Liu Fang led the officials of Julu Mansion to wait in line at the gate. The sound of horses neighing faintly could be heard in the wind and snow, and everyone began to become excited.
Liu Fang tidied up his official hat and uniform, turned around and said to the more than a hundred subordinates of the Julu Mansion behind him: "When Your Majesty arrives, you must be very enthusiastic. This place is His Majesty's sad place. No one can mention it."
And half a word from the past."
"promise!"
Liu Fang is a descendant of Xixiang Hou Liu Hong, the son of King Shun of Guangyang of the Han Dynasty, and is a descendant of the Han Dynasty. However, he is more aware of current affairs and understands the situation clearly. In addition, he has no ambition to dominate the world at all, so he never thought about it.
For whatever big man he saved in the past, it was not his fault that his surname was Liu, but it was absolutely unacceptable for him to seek death.
During the disputes at the end of the Han Dynasty, many descendants of the royal family were ready to raise armies to separate one side. However, Liu Fang was an exception. His family was considered well-off. When Liu Yu was in charge of Youzhou, he helped Liu Yu and came to join him. At that time, he was
Liu Yu recommended him to Gao Fei. After getting to know Gao Fei, Liu Fang felt that Gao Fei was far more talented than Liu Yu, so he followed Gao Fei wholeheartedly.
In such a time of strife, being able to choose one's master without hesitation and stand in line is enough to show that this person has a unique vision.
"Brother Ziqi, your majesty will be there later, please give me some kind words..." A young man in commoner clothes came out from behind Liu Fang and whispered in Liu Fang's ear.
Liu Fang nodded and said: "Brother Yanlong, don't worry. Your Majesty will be here soon. I will definitely recommend you to Your Majesty. Wang Ling, the nephew of Situ Wang Yun in the previous dynasty, praised you so much, and you are also with Hou Jiakui, the champion of this military attache selection."
They are good friends, and with this relationship, His Majesty will definitely give you the title of magistrate."
The young man sighed and said, "It's only my fault that I didn't have time to participate in the selection. Otherwise, I could have won the top civil service title like Jia Liangdao."
"Haha, Brother Yanlong is so talented that he can become an official even if he doesn't participate in any selection in time."
While they were talking, Gao Fei, Gai Xun and others appeared in front of everyone. Liu Fang and others hurriedly knelt on the ground and worshiped: "I bow to your majesty, long live long live!"
Gao Fei approached the crowd on horseback, raised his hand, and said loudly: "Without courtesy, sir, please get up."
Then everyone stood up one after another and shouted at the same time: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Gao Fei noticed that all the people in this group were wearing official uniforms, but there was only one man of similar age to Liu Fang who was a commoner, so he asked curiously: "Liu Ziqi, who is this person?"
Liu Fang deliberately let the young man stand on his body, just to attract Gao Fei's attention. Seeing that the matter was accomplished, he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, this person is a good friend of me, his surname is Sun Mingzi, his courtesy name is Yan
Long, a native of Zhongdu in Taiyuan, has been learned and talented since he was a child. Hearing that I am an official in Julu, I came to pay a visit. I also admire your majesty's reputation, so I came to see your majesty's face. I have disturbed your majesty, so I beg your Majesty to forgive me.
"
"Oh, that's it." Gao Fei naturally knew that Sun Zi was as famous as Liu Fang in history. He was also a minister of Cao Wei. Sima Yi was able to finally control the power of Cao Wei. These two people were also indispensable. However, he was a talent.
Yes, he also understood what Liu Fang meant, but he didn't show it.
Seeing Gao Fei's lack of reaction, Liu Fang said nothing more, fearing to cause resentment, and said: "Your Majesty, the carriage has been prepared. It's windy and snowy outside. Please come into the city, Your Majesty."
"Yeah." Gao Fei clamped his legs on the horse's belly, and the horse immediately walked forward.
The officials were divided into two, and they all bowed their heads and did not dare to look up. It was not until Gao Fei walked into the city from the road they had given way that he dared to look up.
When Gai Xun passed by Liu Fang, he said to Liu Fang: "The next altar will be arranged tomorrow. The emperor will pay homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country under the Heroes Monument. This must be done with perfection. Do you understand?"
Liu Fang nodded and thought to himself: "Your Majesty still thinks of this sad place, and with such a mood, I'm afraid I won't be able to recommend Sun Zi, alas!"