Chapter 1 Humerus (Three Times) Things are always harder to do than you think.
The Sui Dynasty dispatched more than one million troops to attack Liaodong in the summer. After returning to Zhuojun, most of the troops were disbanded on the spot. Only the internal soldiers and a few teams that went to quell the rebellion still maintained their complete organization.
After being disbanded, the soldiers could go home and clear the fields while waiting for new summons orders. However, the generals had nothing to do and had to waste time following the emperor's carriage. Therefore, there are currently three-rank or above military officers who are returning to the court with the emperor.
There are more than 20 men and generals of all kinds, from the fourth to the fifth rank, who are too numerous to count. Among them, those with prominent family backgrounds or those who are over sixty years old naturally don't care about receiving a salary and living leisurely.
But those young generals who are in their early thirties and have some ideas of making contributions have to sharpen their heads to find the real talent.
There are too many monks, so the positions that are vacant are naturally ridiculously expensive. And Asahi is now a fourth-grade Wu Yalang general, and his position is neither high nor low. If he is asked to go out to lead an army alone, his qualifications seem too weak to be subordinate to other generals.
His military achievements were too outstanding, so he could only wait slowly and cultivate his character during the long waiting process.
This year is a leap year, and there are two Septembers. In the first late September, the power of the East Pirate pirate Peng Xiaocai expanded rapidly, threatening the security of the prefecture and county. After receiving the report, the court believed that the thieves were not powerful and there was no need to mobilize troops, so
The son of the general who was sent to protect the children was sent to marshal the troops and go to conquer.
When the second September came, Liu Yuanjin, a bandit from Yuhang, captured Piling, Dongyang, Kuaiji, and Jian'an, and his strength expanded to the entire southeastern coastal area. With the support of his subordinates Zhu Xie, Guan Chong, and others, Liu Yuanjin proclaimed himself emperor.
The imperial court was furious and felt that it needed to send heavy troops to annihilate it, so it sent General Tu Wanxu of Zuotunwei and Dr. Guanglu to lead the army under Yujuluo.
Following His Majesty the Emperor's car, Xuzi walked from Boling County to Hengshan County, and then from Hengshan County to Zhao County. Seeing that the leap month was almost over, he still had not made up for any real gaps.
Xuzi finally felt the taste of raw meat under his belly. He was depressed and frustrated, but he had no way to use the money.
Sending him out with a face and asking him to wait patiently
The days of waiting, I don’t know when it will end
Poor Xuzi finally understood why Yu Wenshu was so anxious to take away the Xiongwu Camp in his hands. It was the only team that was not big or small and suitable for a young general to be the head coach. Having such a team in his hands was tantamount to riding a horse.
If you ride on a horse that gallops on the road to officialdom and nobility, you can not only make personal achievements, but also establish your own faction in the army. If you lose it, you, a loyal and brave man, will have no basis for his official position to be promoted.
Wood is a fish without water, and Yuwen Shiji owns the Xiongwu Camp, which means that the Yuwen family has spawned a vibrant branch in the military.
As Asahi grew up slowly, he became more and more aware of the mysteries of officialdom, and became more and more helpless. During the days of waiting for the vacancy to be filled, he met many unemployed generals, but rarely made friends. He tried his best to make himself gregarious and get along with the generals.
We drank together and got drunk, trying to forget the troubles at hand. After midnight, our minds were unusually clear.
Poor Xuzi only learned the superficial knowledge of officialdom, but did not understand the essence of officialdom. At present, Master Pei Ji, who is in charge of the Ministry of War, is on a tour of the northwest. The other adults in the Ministry of War either dare not offend Yu Wenshu, or they don't think so. In this case, of course he
No matter how many gifts you give, you won’t get results
"General Li, why don't you just wait a little longer and Lord Pei Ji will be back. With a strong general like you, Lord will naturally make reasonable arrangements for the expedition against Lu Mingxing. The imperial court has already chosen a coach and deputy generals.
"I'm sorry, I really can't help!" Yu Qingzhi, the manager of the Ministry of War, explained in a low voice as he sent Xuzi out of the yard. The private house temporarily recruited as the Yamen of the Ministry of War was too narrow, so he sent it to the door in three or two steps. "As a food deposit."
Officer, what's the matter? You are a warrior general, good steel must be used on the blade! You walk slowly, I will send you off not far away!" (Note 1) The door creaked, pushing Asahi's hope forward again.
He shook his head helplessly in the howling cold wind, and walked slowly towards his war horse. He had already arrived at Wei County. More than two hundred miles away, he would reach Liyang. More than three months ago, he and Heifeng galloped across that land in high spirits.
But now, as his master is idle, Hei Feng has also lost weight.
He reached out his hand and gently wiped away the frost on the horse's head. Heifeng also felt the helplessness of his master. He lowered his head and gently touched the back of his hand. In the long winter, this was the only warmth. Xuzi smiled.
, patted the horse's neck hard, cheering up his old friend. Heifeng shook his head, his brown hair flew, and then let out a long hiss, lonely and desolate.
"What a pit bull, I'm afraid he may not have wanted to live in a stable!" A unique greeting came from the cold wind.
Li Xu turned around when he heard the sound and saw a smiling face. He had seen this face before when he was in Liaodong. On the day he was appointed as a school captain by His Majesty the Emperor, this man was standing in the middle of the ranks of civil servants with a warm smile.
Today is like this, not only lazy but also a bit desolate
"I've met Master Dugu!" Li Xu stepped forward and saluted with his fists raised. He remembered the name of Dugu Xue, the Minister of Punishment, very clearly. In the Sui Dynasty, the thief Xu Dayan was wanted in various border counties. Li Fuli's absurd proclamation came from this person.
pen
"General Li, you're welcome. It's such a cold day. It's so troublesome to come and go!" Dugu Xue led his mount, stretched out his hand from inside the fur, and gave him a flat bow. "Don't you feel cold, General Li? It's freezing and snowy, and you're not in the house."
Even though you are roasting under the fire, you rush here eagerly to be rejected!”
Li Xu knew that the scene where he was rejected just now fell into the eyes of Master Dugu and his entourage. He smiled bitterly and did not answer. Cui Qian told him that wealthy families would not help people who had nothing to do with their own interests.
People, unless you can be useful to them and tell them about your sufferings, it will not serve any purpose other than to add something for them to talk about at night.
"Why are you so anxious to make up for the deficiency?" Duguxue seemed not to sense the resistance hidden behind Xuzi's smile. He pointed at the closed door with his riding crop and added in a low voice, "They are all puppets."
Mu Jian, no matter how you move, you have to ask others to fiddle with it, it’s useless!”
"This is the only way that the general knows!" Li Xu pulled up the reins and flew on the horse. This was not true. There were many other ways since he was idle. Several people had vaguely hinted at the banquet that the daughter of a certain family was a commoner.
He is still waiting to be married; a certain old man is over fifty, his knees are still weak, and he is looking forward to having an adopted son to inherit the family business; a certain person has countless disciples, but no one has become a talented person, and the mantle is waiting to be passed on... All kinds of things, every road has its own destiny.
It is more convenient than bribing officials at the Ministry of War and waiting for arrangements, but the cost of each route is greater than giving away jewelry.
"Building meritorious services, well, fame, wealth, and honor are all sought after, but where does it end?" Duguxue deliberately slowed down and waited for Li Xu's horse to catch up from behind.
"The general just wants to contribute to the country." Li Xu thought about it and answered very cautiously. He couldn't guess what Duguxue's purpose was in chatting with him today, but the other party had indeed been kind to him. If he didn't exchange a few words, he would show off.
It would be rude to whip him away.
"You have really grown up, and you are so good at talking!" Duguxue, the Minister of Criminal Affairs, shook his head and sighed. He didn't know whether he meant to express it as a compliment or as a sarcasm. He seemed to have a lot of free time today and deliberately interacted with Li Xu, the unlucky Wu Ya.
Lang will be entangled
Li Xu answered with a smile again. He was not good at words in the first place, and he was on guard in his heart, so he spoke more cautiously. Duguxue saw that he was not interested in talking, so he closed his mouth with a smile. The two of them and the entourage split into two waves, slowly passing through.
The streets were greenish gray and exuded a faint white smoke. The huge team returning from the emperor's personal expedition created many problems for this small town called Anyang. The slightly neat houses on both sides of the main street were forcibly expropriated to serve as government offices. Therefore, the city's
There are almost no pedestrians on the main street, and there is no smoke on both sides of the street. The wind blows the broken snow under the eaves and makes a whining sound, which makes people wonder whether they have entered a ghost world.
"If this continues, there will only be more and more bandits everywhere. I'm afraid that all the generals sent out by the imperial court will not be enough. By then, are you afraid that the battle will be fought without you?" After walking for a while, Duguxue pointed at the towering tower in the distance with his riding crop.
city wall, Xingran Road
This is a treasonous statement, but it states a fact. In the autumn, due to the shortage of young people, the people did not collect enough food. In order to continue to conquer Goryeo next year, the court refused to reduce or reduce taxes in various places. This winter was surprisingly cold. From Shanggu
Starting from the county, the wind and snow almost followed the footsteps of the imperial commander. At the same time, the people who went south were cold and hungry. Between freezing to death and becoming a bandit, most of them would definitely choose the latter. In order to provide supplies to the soldiers who suppressed the bandits, the court increasingly
If Fa dares to use the grain stored in the warehouse and this cycle continues, the result will be as Master Dugu said. Xuzi does not have to worry about running out of battles to fight.
Li Xu smiled and continued to remain silent. He did not dare to argue. The other party's surname was Dugu, and he was a clansman of the late Empress Dowager. No matter how much he said, His Majesty the Emperor would not pursue him for the sake of his own mother. But others could not, since they
If you don’t have the money to speak loudly, the best way to survive is to keep your mouth shut.
"I didn't expect that a small setback could actually make General Li, who traveled thousands of miles across Liaodong, become so decadent!" Senior Dugu sighed and continued to chatter.
"The general is a military general and should not talk about political affairs lightly!" Li Xu replied lightly. He had already accompanied the other party a long way. From a courtesy point of view, he had done enough today. "If Lord Dugu has nothing else to do, the general will
Say goodbye and return to camp!"
"Don't worry, come with me to see the scenery outside the city!" Duguxue shook his head and said in a tone that was close to begging.
"It's better to be respectful than obey your orders!" Li Xu couldn't refuse, so he had to accompany this man to continue wandering aimlessly in the cold wind. Several horses quickly passed through the city gate and walked onto the dirty official road. Outside the city wall was another
In a world, large and small shacks are scattered in the distance with the official road as the main axis. In order to protect the safety of His Majesty the Emperor, refugees, beggars and low-status people were all driven here by the government. Before the emperor left, no matter what
No matter how strong the wind is in the wild, they are not allowed to enter the city to avoid the cold
Dugu Xue's horse stopped in front of a shack. The owner of the shack heard the sound of horse hooves, opened the small door made of straw and branches, and poked half of his head out to see clearly that in front of him were two masters in official attire and
When several policemen made him homeless, he screamed in fright, rushed out of his "home" door, and fled into the distance.
This man's actions affected many "neighbors". Soon, the shacks near where Li Xu and Dugu Xue were riding were empty of people. The ragged people fled far away, as if they were walking slowly.
As if a disaster was imminent, when they arrived at what they thought was a safe area, everyone turned around and squatted silently into a wall, shoulder to shoulder, rustling in the cold wind. They didn't know what the purpose of the two great masters was, but no matter what the other party did,
They have neither the strength nor the courage to resist for the time being.
Many people's destiny is written from the day they are born. Maybe they have struggled but found that all their struggles were in vain, and they have learned to be patient.
Endure all pain until the day you can't bear it anymore
"Did you see, this is also the Sui Dynasty!" Dugu Xuebao sighed. He was originally much older than Li Xu, but because of his well-maintained appearance, he looked like he was only in his early thirties. However, when he spoke, his interest was low and his tone was low.
With an unspeakable sense of vicissitudes of life
"I saw it. I was young and my family was very poor!" Li Xu nodded and replied that if you see this kind of scenery too much, you will become numb sooner or later. For Dugu Xue and others, maybe they can also express their feelings of compassion for the world.
For him, that is what he has experienced, and it is also a past that he never wants to repeat in this life.
"And that's also the Sui Dynasty!" Dugu Xue pointed to the blue-gray city wall behind him. In order to defend against bandits in the autumn, the city wall of Anyang City had just been renovated. The bluestones affixed to the outside of the city wall were very new, making the whole city look like just now.
built
The blue city wall is built on a dilapidated shack, and the contrast looks so sharp. Even if the Paradise and the Abi Hell are placed in the same place, the difference may not be so obvious.
"The general will know!" Li Xu laughed softly. He understood the concept that Lonely Learning wanted to express. Among the wealthy families he knew, this person was one of the few who still had a sense of responsibility.
Inside and outside the city wall is the Great Sui Dynasty, with prosperity on one side and poverty on the other. Maybe not long after, there will be a war inside and outside the city. As a warrior, you must choose which side to protect.
"Actually, your personality is not suitable for staying in the imperial court!" Lonely Xue also smiled, pulled the reins of the horse, and led everyone back.
"My lord, I have seen it. The general has been thinking of ways to let him out!" Li Xu nodded, and the guard in his heart gradually relaxed. The other party was not recruiting him on behalf of a certain family. He was a far-sighted person. He had already felt that the person from
underlying, destructive flames
Once a wildfire breaks out, you can't tell who's surname is Yuwen and who's surname is Dugu, and you can't care about whose bloodline is noble and whose bloodline is low.
"Your biggest supporter is the emperor, there is no need to talk nonsense to others!" Duguxue whipped the horse behind the butt and ran towards the city gate quickly.
"Your Majesty?" Li Xulu was stunned for a moment, then thought of the gold medal in his arms. He instantly understood all the implications of Dugu Xue, and at the same time, he felt confused again.
Does the emperor still remember me? Xuzi thought dazedly while riding on horseback.
The horse of an entourage slowed down and pulled down a pile of horse manure. Then it accelerated again and followed everyone into Anyang City. Before the sound of horse hooves disappeared, several young beggars rushed out of the shack in the distance.
, bare red and swollen feet, stepped on the horse dung
Fresh horse dung can cure frostbite. The little beggar who rushed to the target first felt the warmth in the dung mass and laughed, his face full of happiness.
