Fang Jun felt the dampness and heat on his shoulders, and moved Princess Gaoyang's cheek towards her. Their eyes met, and the usually clear eyes were filled with moisture at this moment.
"No……"
Princess Gao Yang sniffed and turned her head aside: "My nose touched your shoulder, it's just a little sore."
Fang Jun chuckled, gently wiped the tears on her face with his fingertips, and said softly: "It's not the first time to go on an expedition, why should you be so worried and sentimental? No matter how strong Tuyuhun is, he can't be stronger than the Turkic Wolf Cavalry of the past.
, Xue Yantuo, who is traveling across Mobei? Don't worry, your husband is now known as the 'God of War', which is resounding throughout the world. Tuyuhun will definitely be successful soon, and conquering Qinghai will be just around the corner. My wife can rest assured at home, waiting for her husband's triumphant return."
"Pfft!"
Even though Princess Gao Yang was full of worries, she couldn't help being amused by him. She stared at Fang Jun with her beautiful eyes and sneered: "Where did you get the term 'God of War'? You named it yourself? Shameless."
Fang Jun let out a hey, tightened his arms around his slender waist, and said softly: "Anyway, my husband is a military genius that is unprecedented in the world today. I never heard that Duke Wei would praise my husband from time to time.
Huh? This battle is certainly dangerous, but with the strength of the right garrison, victory is certain. Besides, as my husband is the commander, he will definitely be in the center of the army, and just arrange the troops in formation. Why do you need to risk the stone and charge into the battle? So
Madam, you don’t have to worry so much, even if you suffer a defeat, your husband can return to Chang’an safe and sound.”
When leaving, you must always comfort your family and do not let your wives and concubines shed tears all day long, lest you are thousands of miles away and still have to worry about your family.
Princess Gaoyang said "hmm" and didn't say anything. She just lay in Fang Jun's arms, holding her arms tightly around Fang Jun's neck. They hugged each other closely, their ears and temples were rubbing against each other, and they felt endless love and parting emotions in their hearts.
.
In fact, how could she not know the dangers of this battle?
Although Lang Jun said it easily, Mei Niang had long said that this battle was important. With Lang Jun's ambition and will, even if he was defeated, he would definitely not run away in embarrassment, but would fight to the bitter end.
In order to protect the stability of Guanzhong and preserve the country, even if the battle is fought to the death, it is impossible to retreat even half a step...
For a long time, Princess Gaoyang lay in the crook of Fang Jun's shoulder and said quietly: "If you don't come back, I will raise my children, serve my parents-in-law, and then I will remember you for the rest of my life."
Fang Jun's heart sank.
The Tang Dynasty did not have so much Neo-Confucianism and etiquette. Because the war in the late Sui Dynasty led to a sharp decline in the population, the court always encouraged childbirth. Not only was widowhood not recognized by the court, but it was even forced to remarry. If the husband's family blocked it, it would lead to serious repercussions from the government.
punishment.
His Majesty Li Er's own son-in-law died several times, and then he turned around and remarried immediately.
If he died in the battle in Hexi, even if His Majesty Li Er loved him again, he would choose a good son-in-law for Princess Gaoyang and ask her to remarry.
Now Princess Gaoyang has firmly stated that if he dies in battle, she will remain a widow for the rest of her life and will never marry again...
Fang Jun sighed softly and said, "Silly girl, why are you doing this?"
Princess Gaoyang lay in his arms with tears welling up in her eyes, and said in a muffled voice: "I don't care, anyway, you are the only man in my life! If you have the heart to let me be helpless and alone for the rest of my life, then you will
Can’t go back or not…wuwu.”
Fang Jun gave a wry smile, caressed her back, touched the soft hair, and said softly: "Don't worry, madam, even if there are many difficulties for my husband, I will return safely and take care of you for the rest of my life."
There are always too many emotions and too many worries in a person's life.
It is easy to live toward death, but after death, what will happen to the people he cares about and those who care about him?
At this moment, Fang Jun was confused as never before.
*****
The next morning, it was dawn.
As soon as the gate of the East Palace opened, Prince Li Chengqian walked out of the Li Zheng Palace. Dressed in a princely robe, he mounted a snow-white war horse, walked out of the palace gate surrounded by the "Yuan Cong Forbidden Army" in red tassels and black armor, and crossed Tianjie.
Exit from Zhuque Gate, go straight south along Zhuque Street, and go straight to Mingde Gate.
Along the way, the gates of Shanhe, Xingdao, Tonghua, Kaihua, Chongye, and Jingshan were opened early. Countless distinguished officials, traders and footmen stood at the gates, cheering along the streets.
Everyone knew that His Royal Highness the Prince was about to rush to the south of the city to hold a ceremony to worship the heavens and pray for the Youtun Guards to come out to control Hexi. Therefore, they all got up early and wanted to follow them and cheer for the Youtun Guards who were about to resist Tuyuhun's rebellion.
, break off a willow branch and say, "Take care!"
So, when the prince drove the chariot slowly in front, countless people spontaneously followed behind, blocking the entire 50-foot-wide Suzaku Street with water. Pedestrians were rubbing shoulders and had to move forward slowly.
Thousands of people gathered together to block the long street, but except for a few children crying, no noise was heard.
Everyone followed His Royal Highness silently, feeling a little heavy.
When they arrived outside Mingde Gate, all the merchants waiting to enter the city dismounted their horses and sedan chairs. The long caravan stood on both sides of the official road in silence.
The sky has not yet brightened, and thick clouds have accumulated on the horizon, making the sky and earth solemn and the atmosphere gloomy and desolate.
Not long after, we arrived at Yuanqiu.
The tall and majestic Circular Qiu is a place for worshiping Sheji, worshiping Haotian God who gave birth to all things in the world, hoping that the God can bless the world on the nine heavens. However, just a few days ago, a sacrifice was held here.
Wan Da Tang Erlang wore a helmet and armor and rushed to Liaodong to start a bloody killing.
And now, God Haotian is sitting coldly on the Nine Heavens, watching indifferently as the people who believe in him offer sacrifices to him again, hoping to protect them from the town of Hexi and resist the killings from the Hu tribe...
Fang Jun had already led Pei Xingjian, Cheng Wuting and more than a thousand soldiers of Youtun Guards to wait here. The scale of this sacrificial expedition was much smaller than the last time when His Majesty Li Er personally led the expedition. It was just a ceremony, so Fang Jun
Most of the soldiers have already been ordered to leave the camp in advance, cross the Yong'an Canal to the west, and temporarily station outside Kaiyuanmen. After the sacrifices are completed here, they will gather together and then proceed to Hexi.
The officials of the Ministry of Rites were responsible for the process of the sacrifice. Since it had been carried out not long ago, they were familiar with the process and it went very smoothly.
Li Chengqian read out a heaven-sacrifice document on the top of the circular mound, and also read out an impassioned and impassioned message in front of the public. The surrounding officials, soldiers, and even the merchants and people who were watching became excited and their morale skyrocketed!
After that, the sacrificial ceremony was completed.
Fang Jun got on his horse, raised his hands and said to Li Chengqian: "Please forgive me for being in armor and not being able to perform the ceremony properly. Now that I am going to Hexi, with the protection of God Haotian and the blessing of His Majesty, I will definitely win the battle and live up to my trust!"
According to the procedure, at this time Li Chengqian said a few words of blessing, and then he could silently watch Fang Jun lead his army to the west, and then return to the city.
However, Li Chengqian disrupted the process. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Fang Jun's horse rein with one hand, and held Fang Jun's hand tightly with the other. He choked with tears and said: "We are going to Hexi, there are many difficulties and dangers, Erlang, take care along the way."
Of course, there is no room for mistakes in military and national affairs, but Erlang should also be more careful. No matter whether he loses or loses the battle, he must not act rashly and save this body for great use! I am waiting for you in Chang'an."
His voice was not loud, so it was hard to hear clearly from a distance, but the court officials nearby could hear him clearly, and they suddenly looked horrified.
The army is about to set out. Everyone knows the importance of this battle. It can be said that there is no victory but no defeat! However, at this time, the prince said something about "preserving this body for great use"...
Not to mention that such words are unlucky, but the key point is that the prince still said it despite knowing that it was not etiquette. He obviously believed that the victory or defeat in this battle was not enough to make Fang Jun risk his life to kill the enemy. This was a bit excessive.
It can be seen from this that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really regards Fang Jun as a humerus and is too fond of him...
Fang Jun couldn't laugh or cry. Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince was possessed by Liu Bei?
But it was really inappropriate to act like this at this time. He quickly got off his horse, moved in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "His Royal Highness is the crown prince of the country, and his words and deeds should be moderate and should not violate etiquette. I am going to Hexi to suppress the rebellion.
Thief, you want to stabilize the western frontier for the empire. If you don’t do this, you won’t return to the capital!”
This was not meant for Li Chengqian, but for his own ambition.
The counties in Hexi must be preserved, the Tuyuhun rebels must be wiped out, and the Western Region must be unimpeded. This is the goal he set for his western expedition.
Maybe others can ignore the victory or defeat of a war. After all, victory or defeat is a common thing in military affairs. If you lose this time, just win it back next time. But Fang Jun stands from the perspective of God and has a clear view of the world's major events. He knows that once Hexi is lost, what will happen will happen?
What consequences will result.
Such an empire with a prosperous culture, a prosperous economy, and a prosperous military represented the pride of the Han people for more than a thousand years to come. If I could live another life, how could I let it lose power and become divided by warlords, flourishing and then declining, as it had in history?