Drunkard's note: This ending is fictional, readers are advised to make their own choices.
Curse of the Turkic King
Thousands of meteors streaked across the night sky, echoing the rapidly approaching torches in the distance. On the Xuanwu Gate watchtower, Li Jiancheng stood with a stick in his hand. The expression on his face could not tell whether it was anger or despair.
The torches outside the palace looked so familiar, and even the sound of horse hooves sounded so friendly. Ten years ago, Li Jiancheng remembered that he was carrying the same torch, riding the same Turkic horse, and the two rebellious people outside the palace.
All the way into the lair of the Turkic Khan Shibi, the ancient city of Dingxiang and the Baidao Ranch were burned to ashes.
He remembered that on the day when the fire was lit, stars fell like rain in the grassland sky just like today. There were no tears or anger on the faces of the Turkic men and women who were captured as slaves by the Hu and Ben cavalry. They looked at the flames as if in a dream.
Jumping on his felt tent, he watched in a dream as the fine gold and silver accumulated from years of looting were divided up, and the heavy savings were chopped up as firewood by the children of Boling and thrown into the fire.
At that time, Li Jiancheng didn't understand the expression on the faces of the Turks. Now, he finally understood. It was disbelief. At the moment when their homes caught fire, the Turks refused to believe the facts in front of them. They would rather remember what happened around them.
Treat everything as a nightmare, so that they won't feel pain in their hearts, and they won't care about any suffering anymore.
Treat the disaster as a big dream. The person in the dream is the one who suffers, not you.
A dream that lasted for ten years. Li Jiancheng didn't know whether he was wandering in other people's dreams, or whether others had ignited the war in his dreams. He remembered that in the last dream, he, General Luo Yi, and Piao
Cavalry General Li Zhongjian became brothers and swore to share weal and woe. Then, they pacified all the heroes in the world and conquered the picturesque country of the Tang Dynasty. Next, under the Xuanwu Sect, they defeated Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji and others who had exhausted all the agencies.
Catch them all and completely solve the internal troubles of the Tang Dynasty. When Li Zhongjian led his second brother Shimin to his horse and handed the black knife into his hand, he felt no pity for any of his flesh and blood relatives, only relaxed and relieved
.
Today, the black sword was raised again and attacked Xuanwu Gate again. King Boling, Li Zhongjian, the chief steward of Hebei, King Yan, Luo Yi, the chief steward of Youzhou, and his two allies who used to conquer the grassland with Li Jiancheng team up to kill
Entered Chang'an, uprooted the Tang Dynasty, and kicked it into a mud pit.
Why is this happening? Li Jiancheng couldn't figure it out. Since he came to the throne, he has always been kind to his two allies. But they are becoming more and more dissatisfied, forcing themselves to make concessions. But now, they don't need to make concessions anymore, they
He has decided to reach out and take away the last bit of power and dignity in his hands.
"Your Majesty, it's late at night, be careful of your exposure!" Zuo Pushe Feng Deyi climbed up to the enemy tower tremblingly and whispered to Li Jiancheng. "Go back to the inner palace to rest.
I won’t be able to call you in now!”
"What about a while and a half later?" Li Jiancheng lowered his head and asked with a smile. "What about a while and a half later, Feng Pushe, where are the reinforcements you mentioned? Didn't you tell me that when you see the thieves acting against the will, the heroes of the world will gather together?
Are you asking for it? Where is my hero? Why haven't you come yet?"
"Your Majesty, forgive me!" Feng Deyi knelt down with a plop and kowtowed repeatedly. It was indeed his words to boost the morale of the defenders, but except for His Majesty the Emperor, how many of the six warriors in the inner palace would believe it? Heroes of the world, this
The two most powerful heroes in the world are on the enemy's side, how can the other heroes dare to act rashly?
Li Jiancheng closed his eyes, unwilling to see Feng Deyi's cowardly appearance. He is still so afraid of death even though he is seventy years old. He does not look like an old minister who has seen three bloody changes in imperial power in a row. "Get up!"
"He sighed and said quietly. "After you get up, go to the inner palace to get some soft tissue, and then hide in Sanqing Temple. No matter what sound you hear, don't come out again. They will still need you in the future.
I shouldn’t be too hard on you!”
"Your Majesty!" Feng Deyi fell to the ground and cried loudly, his nose and tears flowing down his gray beard into long sticky strips, which were shining brightly when illuminated by the flames. "Old minister, I am willing to live and die with your majesty. I am incompetent.
, I missed your Majesty..."
"You go ahead." Li Jiancheng shook his head with a wry smile. "You are a civil servant and will fall down with just a push. There is no point in staying. I need generals who dare to fight at this moment, not rich seeds like you!"
"Your Majesty!" Feng Deyi was stunned when he said the words "seed of wealth" and stopped crying. From the Sui Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the Feng family was among the top ten wealthy families.
Everyone under the king's command has made great achievements, and he can indeed be called a roly-poly who wins or loses. But the Feng family is not the only one who does this. The Zheng family, the Wang family, and the Xie family are all like this, including the Sun family, the eldest relative of the emperor.
Betting in order to keep wealth and wealth? This is an inevitable method for the continuation of the family, and should not be criticized at all! Thinking of this, Feng Deyi kowtowed to Li Jiancheng again, slowly got up, and staggered down the watchtower.
Am I wrong? Looking at Feng Deyi's back as he walked away angrily, Li Jiancheng continued to smile bitterly. These aristocratic families are indeed, as Li Zhongjian said, they are all unfamiliar white-eyed wolves. No matter what they do, they always
The interests of the family come first. They looked down on Li Zhongjian and Luo Yi at first, thinking that the other party was from a humble background and had low blood. Now, aren't they rushing to serve? They are afraid that they will be slow in running in the new court.
I couldn't find a place to stay. It's a pity that I didn't listen to Li Zhongjian and still regarded them as the foundation of the Tang Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, Dou Cong is back!" Dugu Mou, the general in charge of the palace, came against Feng Deyi's direction and reported to Li Jiancheng in a low voice.
"He has the nerve to come back to see me. I gave him an army of 400,000. Now, it's less than three months. Where is my army of 400,000?" Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth in anger and cursed fiercely. "Just chop him off, and his head will be hung."
Outside the Xuanwu Gate, I asked him to watch and watch how the enemy came in from under his nose and came in to kill me!"
"No!" Dugu Mou agreed and came down with his sword. After a few breaths, Dou Cong's cry came from under the city wall, "Your Majesty, I want to see Your Majesty. I would not regret dying, but I have something to say to Your Majesty!"
"
"Pass my decree, push Dou Cong up!" Li Jiancheng felt sad after hearing this. He leaned over the crenellations of the inner city wall and shouted down.
"Your Majesty has a decree to save people under the sword!"
"Your Majesty has a decree to save people under the sword!"
The eunuchs quickly raised their voices and passed on Li Jiancheng's order. After a while, Dou Cong, who was bruised and swollen, was pushed into the tower of Xuanwu Gate by several warriors.
As soon as he saw Li Jiancheng's face, Dou Cong immediately knelt down, confessed that he was guilty of death, and kowtowed hard. Li Jiancheng knew that although Dou Cong was defeated and captured, he would not betray him. He sighed again, took a few steps forward, and put his hands on Li Jiancheng's face.
The other party helped him up.
"Your Majesty!" Dou Cong was moved to tears and shouted with sobs.
"That's fine. I won't kill you. Anyway, it won't be more than three days at the latest. You and I will all be killed here! You go get a set of armor and weapons and defend the city for me!" Li Jiancheng patted his beloved general on the shoulder and forced him to do so.
Said with a smile.
"General, I sincerely request your Majesty to send an order to break out of Chang'an and plan for the future!" Dou Cong took half a step back, stood solemnly and cupped his hands, "General, I am willing to put on the hard work and open the way for Your Majesty!"
"Breaking through, where to go?" Li Jiancheng sneered helplessly.
Dou Cong was speechless. Luoyang had been captured by Li Zhongjian's good friend Xu Maogong. Longyou was controlled by Xue Ju's old army, General Qin Ziying, who was also a close friend of Li Zhongjian. The only way out without enemy troops was now
, that is, heading southwest to Bashu. But that is the territory of Wei Gong Li Jing. His former master Li Shimin was defeated by Li Jiancheng in the fight for the throne. At that time, this man succumbed to Li Xu's military power and had to lead the remnants of the Qin Palace to surrender to the prince Li Jiancheng.
.Now that Li Zhongjian has rebelled and Li Jiancheng has gone to Bashu to seek refuge, can we guarantee that Li Jing will not take the opportunity to avenge his old master?
"Forget it, since God asked me to die in Xuanwu Sect, I will just follow God's will!" Seeing that Dou Cong couldn't answer, Li Jiancheng sighed and decided to accept his fate. Back then, he killed his brother and forced his father here. Now, what he did back then is
It's time to pay for the crime of killing one's relatives and disobeying one's family. I just don't know how the people of the world will laugh at my brother who can't become an emperor after meeting him again!
Seeing that his lord had made up his mind, Dou Cong stopped talking. He went to the armory and took out a set of armor and a horizontal sword. He dressed neatly again and walked back to Li Jiancheng. He was captured by Li Xu and released.
He was not tortured, but the mental torture was severe. After the armor that originally fit his model was put on again, it actually seemed a little loose.
"You have suffered!" Li Jiancheng comforted with a smile.
"The general will not suffer." Dou Cong shook his head gently. "Li Zhongjian only sent someone to persuade him to surrender once. After being scolded by the general, he never tried to persuade him again. This time, he asked the general to bring a letter to your majesty.
.In order to see His Majesty, the general has no choice but to agree!"
"Where's the letter?" Li Jiancheng asked in surprise when he heard that he had his own letter.
"The general tore it apart on the way!" Dou Cong apologized, "Your Majesty doesn't ask, and don't read it. It's full of slanderous words. Li Zhongjian took it out now just to shake His Majesty's military morale.
"Haha, tell me, how did he slander me?" Li Jiancheng was not angry at all, but was curious about how Li Xu viewed himself. "You shouldn't tear it up. Since you promised others, you should keep your promise!"
Dou Cong shook his head angrily, "I will never tolerate him insulting Your Majesty! Your Majesty, don't ask, I won't tell!"
Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth and sneered, "Haha, I guess it's another story about killing my brother, forcing my father, and being unkind and unfilial. I've long been tired of hearing it. If it weren't for Li Zhongjian's instigation behind his back, I would have gone further and further away from the people of the world.
, so that it ends up being the same as fire and water? This damn guy clearly used me to avenge himself, and in turn framed me!"
If Li Xu were standing in front of him at this moment, he could not wait to rush up and confront him on the spot. Who told him that Shimin was determined to win the crown prince's position? Who told him that the Prince of Qin's palace was already well-equipped with troops. Who did not hesitate to use painstaking tactics to arrange careful work?
He went to the Prince of Qin's palace and stole Shimin's entire plan at Xuanwu Gate. Who cut off Shimin's horse, and then handed the sword into his own hand.
Now, that person is using all this to condemn himself. What a joke. If God had eyes, someone would have been turned into powder by lightning.
By the way, there was another person who persuaded him to kill Shimin. Thinking of the Xuanwu Sect incident, Li Jiancheng immediately thought of his confidant Wei Zheng. If this damn guy hadn't persuaded him to kill Shimin, now the Xuanwu Sect would
, there may be a group of brave generals from the Li family fighting alongside them. If this damn guy hadn't persuaded them to cut down the feudal vassal, Li Zhongjian and Luo Yi might not have been able to find an excuse to rebel.
"Where's Wei Zheng? Bring Wei Zheng to me!" Li Jiancheng suddenly kicked the pillar next to him and ordered fiercely.
"Your Majesty, Wei Pushe led a thousand soldiers into the enemy's army yesterday and died heroically for his country!" General Dugu Mou came forward, his face filled with sadness.
"Oh! I actually forgot!" Li Jiancheng patted his sleepy head. "I have been raising scribes in the Tang Dynasty for more than ten years, but Wei Zheng is the only one who is willing to be loyal when facing difficulties. Haha, he is worthy of my late emperor and me.
It’s a lot of hard work!”
Dugu Mou did not respond, and looked at Li Jiancheng with eyes full of regret. His Majesty the Emperor was finished. Although this idea was rebellious, Dugu Mou still couldn't help but think this way. His Majesty, who had become so decadent, deserved to be buried with him and the palace guards.
Huh? Dugu Mou was reluctant and looked outside the Xuanwu Gate full of hesitation.
Three days ago, Zuowuwei General Yu Wenshiji opened the gates of Chang'an and surrendered to Li Zhongjian. It is said that Li Zhongjian put aside all previous grudges and granted him a high official and generous salary. Dugumou's senior had a much better relationship with Li Zhongjian than Yu Wenshiji and Li Zhongjian
Because of the relationship, if the Xuanwu Gate is opened unprepared, maybe... at least the war can end earlier.
Just as he was hesitating, there was another sound of footsteps on the wooden corridor leading to the watchtower. Zuo Pushe Feng Deyi held a large roll of parchment and ran up happily. There were snot and snot on his beard.
The traces of tears have not yet dried, and are stained black and yellow by smoke and dust. The whole person looks like an old lunatic who has no one to take care of him.
"Why are you back again!" Although Li Jiancheng didn't like seeing Feng Deyi, he still felt warm in his heart. "Didn't I ask you to hide in Sanqing Temple? Do you dare to disobey me?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, rest, rest your anger!" Feng Deyi ran too fast and took a long breath before he evened his breathing, "Your Majesty, I don't dare to disobey, I found this, I found it in the Sanqing Temple
This!" After saying that, he raised the parchment in his hand, his eyes full of enthusiasm.
"What is this?" Li Jiancheng glanced at the parchment and asked dumbfounded. That is to say, an old bastard like Feng Deyi would study some moral articles when he is about to die. All the things piled in the Sanqing Temple are some from the past.
The classics on health preservation, life extension, and Qi refining collected from various places in the Tang Dynasty have never seen any effect. Do you expect to be able to spread the beans and become an army when you bring them out at this time?
"Yes, it is a treasure of the Turks. Your Majesty copied it back from Dingxiang City!" Feng Deyi smiled more and more like a madman. "No one can understand the Hun characters above, haha, I understand, I understand!"
"
"Well, I know you understand. You are the most knowledgeable and talented person in the world!" Li Jiancheng glanced at Feng Deyi with pity and comforted him in a low voice. He knew that his Zuo Pushe was completely crazy. He knew Hun language,
Can you stop the enemy by knowing the Xiongnu language?
As if he guessed what everyone was thinking, Feng Deyi laughed and shook his head, "Your Majesty, I am not crazy, I am not crazy! Your Majesty thinks highly of me, and I live up to you. What is recorded here is a set of ancient mantras,
If it is triggered by the blood of the king, you can curse your enemy and make him have no peace for the rest of his life!"
"Joke!" Li Jiancheng didn't believe it at all, but he was also touched by the other party's kindness. He stretched out his hand and pressed Feng Deyi's shoulder, "Old servant, you are serious. Go and hide. This is not a place for scholars.
!”
Unexpectedly, Feng Deyi didn't appreciate it at all. He first glanced at Li Jiancheng with disappointment, then suddenly smiled secretly, took Li Jiancheng's arm, and bit his wrist.
Although his body was much tougher than Feng Deyi's, and he had not been in combat for more than ten years, Li Jiancheng's reaction speed was not as fast as before. He only felt pain in his wrist, and blood was already flowing out from the wound. Feng Deyi ignored it and raised the sheepskin wrap.
Watch Li Jiancheng's wrist and not let a drop of blood go to waste.
Too late, but not too long ago, a green talisman immediately began to flash on the sheepskin. Dou Cong and others were about to step forward and push the old lunatic away, but when they saw the talisman, they all stopped in surprise.
"You guys, don't move!" Li Jiancheng was startled at first, and then ordered in a low voice. He felt his physical strength draining away rapidly, but at the same time he felt the joy of revenge. At this moment, he remembered some people who surrendered a few years ago.
The Turks reported to themselves that Shibi Khan had cursed him before he died, and told him that he should go to the foot of Douyu Mountain to worship heaven in order to have a chance to get instructions from the gods to break the curse. At that time, Li Jiancheng did not believe this and laughed.
Then, now, he hopes that the spell really exists.
"...Let their heroes always be enemies of each other
Even if biological brothers hug each other
There is also a knife covered in poison hidden behind his back
Let them kill each other
Let their father and son hate each other
Let them bleed dry in the fight
Let them not know how to cherish each other from generation to generation
Don’t know how to repent…”
Feng Deyi spread the blood-stained sheepskin in the center of the Xuanwu Gate watchtower, and sang in a low voice in an ancient and mysterious language, with a pious face. Li Jiancheng smiled, stretched out his injured wrist, and used his saber to seal the wound.
Increase the size and constantly moisten the pattern on the sheepskin with fresh blood.
At this moment, he completely understood the curse that the Turkic King Shibi had issued with his blood. His enemies were cursed to kill each other, and father and son were forced to fight each other.
"...Let their heroes always be enemies of each other
Even if biological brothers hug each other
There is also a knife coated with poison hidden behind his back
Let them kill each other
Let their father and son hate each other
Let them bleed dry in the fight
Let them not know how to cherish each other from generation to generation
Don’t know how to repent…”
The ancient songs, accompanied by the shouts of killing, spread to the Xuanwu Gate and reached everyone's ears.
"Remember you once told me that a general's duty is to protect!" Luo Yi asked with a smile, looking at the flames rising from the Xuanwu Gate. The palace was about to be destroyed, and he felt extremely comfortable.
"Yes!" Li Xu nodded, with a bit of bitterness in his smile.
Did he protect it in the end? He had no answer in his heart. But he already knew the full meaning of protection. The most difficult thing to protect in this world is actually not wealth or home, but the persistence in people's hearts.
Luo Yi shrugged and continued to watch the battle. There were shouts of killing from all over the Xuanwu Gate, swords and spears were raised, and blood flowed like a river.
The wound on his wrist no longer hurt, and the blood in his body might be about to drain away. In a daze, Li Jiancheng saw the patterns and spells on the sheepskin gradually transforming into wolves, roaring out of the Xuanwu Gate and rushing into the night sky.
It's night, and the shooting stars are like rain.
Note 1: According to the restored map of Xuanwu Gate, this is not a simple city gate, but a fully functional Tibetan military fortress similar to the Zhonghua Gate in Nanjing.
Note 2: Chorus (3) is actually the official ending of the book. The three epilogues are all added to satisfy readers who don’t like suspense. If you don’t like epilogue two, please choose epilogue one or three. If you don’t like them, please continue.
Read the new book of Drunkard, "The Founding Thief". See you next Monday.
