When Zhang Yong and others saw Jia Lian coming out, they stepped forward and looked at Jia Lian with concern.
Jia Lian looked around, his expression turned gloomy, and he said in a deep voice: "Why are there only a few of you?"
Faced with Jia Lian's questions, Zhang Yong's thick black face instantly fell down, and the others also looked sad.
Zhao Sheng stood up and reported: "Returning to the Second Master, we have suffered heavy losses this time!
On the way to escort Miss Ah Qin back, we encountered an enemy attack... In addition to the brothers who had followed the second master to death, there were only three people who followed the second master on this trip except us.
Those who are seriously injured cannot come to see the second master for the time being.
No one else could come back."
Jia Lian took a deep breath and asked again: "Where is Wang Teng?"
Zhao Sheng clenched his fists suddenly, with a look of pain on his face, "When we broke out that day, he was hit by an arrow and fell from his horse. Brothers, we couldn't save him..."
Jia Lian was silent.
Looking at the seven or eight personal guards in front of him, almost all of whom were injured, his mind flashed back to those enthusiastic boys who had been training bravely under his encouragement in Dongkua Yard.
In addition to Zhang Yong and the other five, there are twenty in total. They are all young and strong boys carefully selected from the two mansions after he ascended the throne!
Now, just...one, two, three, four, only five left?
There is also Wang Teng, who followed him when he went to Yangzhou to pick up Daiyu.
He was appointed by the imperial court as a grain officer and followed Wang Teng north to the border. Because Wang Teng's name offended Wang Teng's taboo, he was not taken with him, which made him very regretful.
He was the most excited about this trip to Wala. Who knew, he would become the first person among the five of them to be shrouded in horse leather!
Although Jia Lian has strictly trained his personal guards from the beginning, he also knows that the more than 20 people under his command are far from the real elite soldiers who have fought in hundreds of battles.
Once they face the enemy with real swords and guns, their survival rate will be much lower than that of veterans who have experienced hundreds of battles.
But emotionally, he still hopes that his personal guards will live well and try their best to live well.
In fact, if he hadn't been in danger this time, these personal guards under his account could have been gradually tempered. As long as his lord was not in danger, his personal guards would naturally not have much trouble.
Danger.
Unfortunately, their first time on the battlefield was in this dangerous situation.
Twenty recruits, only five left!!
As for those who are recovering from their injuries... it has been almost two months. The injuries that can be recovered should be almost done. At least coming to welcome him will not be a problem. Those who cannot come will probably not be able to follow him in the future.
At this moment, even Jia Lian didn't have any good words to say to appease the only remaining guards in front of him.
"Where are the brothers who are recovering from their injuries?"
"They were all recuperating in the previous yard..."
Jia Lian nodded and walked down to the cave in silence.
The guards behind him also followed silently one by one. The excitement and excitement of seeing Jia Lian's safe return disappeared.
But they were very grateful.
From Jia Lian's silence, they could all feel that Jia Lian was very sad about the casualties of his personal guards.
Most of these personal guards, their ancestors actually served under the Second Duke Ning Rong. They all know that on the battlefield, it is their duty and their responsibility for the personal guards to protect the general's safety with their lives.
glory.
But they are also human beings, and they also have personal emotions. If they can die for a general who values them and cares about their lives, then they will die without regrets.
Returning to the courtyard where they stayed, Zhao'er and Ah Qin also came to greet them. Jia Lian's eyes paused for a moment on Ah Qin, who was dressed in military uniform. After realizing that she was up to no good, he moved his eyes away and came to the bodyguard's office where he was recovering from serious injuries.
.
The three guards who were lying in bed were very excited when they saw Jia Lian. However, Jia Lian didn't say much. He just looked at each of them for a few times and suddenly turned to face Zhang Yong and others.
"After the peace talks between the two countries, I will have people retrieve the bones of the dead brothers, incinerate them, and bring them back to the Central Plains.
If they really couldn't find the bones, they would find some objects from their horses and residences and burn them instead.
Zhao Sheng, you are responsible for this matter. Remember, those who sacrificed this time are all our brothers and our relatives! We cannot let our relatives’ souls have nowhere to rest after they die, so you have to take charge of this matter.
Done."
"Yes! I will obey the second master's order!" After receiving the order, Zhao Sheng immediately paid homage and knelt down in military salute with admiration.
As for the others, especially the three who could only save their lives this time and could only lie on the hospital bed to recuperate and were destined to be permanently disabled, their faces turned red. Regardless of their injuries, they wanted to roll down to express their loyalty to Jia Lian and die.
meaning.
The king treats his ministers like brothers and sisters, and the ministers treat him like his heart! Maybe not everyone of Jia Lian's personal guards understands this truth, but at this moment, when they know that Jia Lian treats them as relatives, they all feel that they can do this for Jia Lian
The master is loyal, even death becomes less scary.
…
Because Jia Lian was delayed in the desert for more than a month, the mission withdrew to Ganning Pass and the peace had long been restored.
Whether it was the comfort of the previously wounded soldiers or the handover negotiations with the new Oara envoy, they were almost completed under the leadership of Xiang He.
Jia Lian doesn't intend to get too involved in these matters. Although he is an envoy, since the work has been done by Xiang He and others, he is not someone who likes to pick other people's peaches.
This time, he had earned enough merit and prestige. For such a small achievement, he was happy to give it to the people below him and take it to rest for a few days and wait for Emperor Ningkang's will.
However, he wanted to be free, but Qingxian was destined not to like him. When Xiang He reported to him the tentative results of the negotiations with the Wala envoy, Jia Lian immediately appeared in the meeting hall of the envoy.
"The above are the terms of the credentials that we have revised with the Wala envoy during this period. If you have any opinions, you can put them forward for discussion. In particular, regarding the other party's desire to change their eldest prince to marry the princess of our dynasty.
One thing, should we carefully consider..."
Xiang He read several newly revised regulations to everyone in the envoy, and finally glanced at Jia Lian, who was sitting at the head, and said this.
In fact, the letters of credence between the two countries had already been signed when the third prince of Wala arrived in the capital of Wei.
It's just that things like the Zhanghetan incident gave both countries reasons to tear up the relationship. Now that neither party has done so due to various considerations, the previous credentials are naturally still valid.
However, considering that Wala had broken the promise first, naturally he could no longer completely follow the previous credentials. Wala had to give some benefits, otherwise the Wei Dynasty would not be able to live up to his reputation.
Therefore, the revised terms will tilt the interests that should have been the Oara side to the side of the Wei Dynasty.
This was originally a relatively simple matter. They had almost discussed it with the Wala envoy, and they were just waiting for the first draft to be sent back to the capital for Emperor Ningkang to review. Once it was correct, the formal signing could be completed.
An official stood up and said: "Wala's sincerity in revising the credentials this time is still very high. They have made concessions on several clauses. Obviously they are indeed aware of their mistakes and are willing to work for the friendship between the two countries."
Diplomatic atonement.
As for their new proposal that the eldest prince should marry the princess of our dynasty, the official thinks there is nothing worthy of further discussion.
The 'Song Ye King' also said that this move was an act of compensation by Wala for betraying their third prince and betraying the alliance between the two countries. King Wala personally confessed that if Princess Zhaoyang is safe and sound, they will
I am willing to let their eldest prince marry the princess of our dynasty, and the previously agreed marriage conditions remain unchanged.
King Ye of Song also said that although their eldest prince already had a princess, in order to show their respect for my superior, they would demote the original prince and concubine to a side chamber, and I would take the rightful place as the princess.
And during the negotiation, in order to get us to agree to this clause, Wala not only promised to reduce the border tax on the mutual trade between the two countries by half within ten years, but they even agreed to the condition we took the opportunity to purchase an additional 5,000 war horses.
From this point of view, the Wala people are truly repentant, and their request to marry our princess is also very sincere.
This time we will take this opportunity to obtain more benefits for the imperial court. I believe His Majesty will be very happy when he finds out."
What this official said was also the thought of the vast majority of envoys.
Originally, they had already agreed on this matter and were waiting to be sent back to the capital. As long as Emperor Ning Kang did not reject it, then they would have made a great contribution.
As for whether Emperor Ning Kang would reject it? Obviously not.
The princess who was originally planning to marry can now gain a second wave of benefits for the country, so why not?
As the saying goes, a good girl should not marry a second husband. Anyway, Princess Zhaoyang has already made a marriage agreement with Wala. Now that Wala is still willing to marry, and the conditions are more favorable than before, what is the use of not marrying Wala?
I am afraid that all the families in the capital would not be willing to marry a princess who is a widower...
Therefore, they do not feel that what they are doing is wrong at all. Everything is for the sake of the national interest.
There are also some with sharp minds.
They had all discussed this matter, but now Xiang He suddenly brought it up, and the unprecedented Jia Lian appeared today.
From Xiang He's reaction, it is not difficult to guess that Jia Lian was dissatisfied with the outcome of their negotiations.
It is not difficult to understand those with higher emotional intelligence. Jia Lian and Princess Zhaoyang already have a close relationship. This time he escorted Princess Zhaoyang back thousands of miles and suffered nine deaths. He may have some different feelings for Princess Zhaoyang, so naturally he is unwilling to do so.
Princess Zhaoyang married to Wala.
Although I can guess the reason, I have no intention of immediately catering to Jia Lian. After all, they are fighting for the interests of the court. Even if Jia Lian is powerful, he can't do anything to them because of this, right?
Therefore, those who have seen through it will remain silent for the time being.
Those who have not seen it clearly will naturally agree with what the previous people said.
Jia Lian sat at the top, silently looking at the people in front of him, feeling alienated and angry in his heart.
But he didn't show it.
He just looked at those people who spoke coldly. When they gradually noticed his gaze and became quiet, Fang mocked: "Sir, do you really like to rely on women to get promoted and make a fortune? A woman, selling
If you don’t succeed once, you want to sell it a second time?”