The general had met Chen Chao, and the day for his departure from the divine capital had already been decided. After giving the instructions to His Majesty the Emperor, the entire divine capital immediately began to prepare for the general's departure ceremony, just like Chen Chao
As I said, when the general leaves Shendu, the entire Liang Dynasty needs to show great respect, from His Majesty the Emperor to the courtiers in the court and the public, as well as the people of Shendu, no matter what they think about the general, but
Nowadays, we must also show respect.
But before setting a date until the day when the general actually left, there were actually many officials in the entire divine city who wanted to see the general. Unfortunately, those invitations sent to the general's residence were like mud oxen entering the sea.
There was no news at all, and everyone knew about the general's attitude. Although they still couldn't think about it in the end, they finally accepted it.
On the day of leaving Beijing, early in the morning, officials from the Ministry of Rites brought a box to the general's residence. After knocking on the door slightly, he explained his purpose. The old steward did not stop him and just allowed the officials from the Ministry of Rites to carry the things away.
Going in, in the courtyard, the general was sitting on the recliner, looking at the foggy sky.
"General, I am here to deliver the official robe to the general according to His Majesty's order."
The thin, middle-aged official who spoke was none other than Du Qianshan, the Minister of Rites. The top official of the Ministry of Rites was originally unwilling to personally do such a small thing as delivering official robes, but the imperial edict was clearly written and he could not violate it.
The general glanced at him and said thank you for your hard work, Mr. Du.
Du Qianshan nodded slightly and stepped aside without saying much.
The old steward waved, and immediately several servants from the General's Mansion came up, opened the box, and took out the official robe. Most of the military attache robes in the Liang Dynasty still followed the old system of the previous dynasty, and the military attaches of different ranks were
The patterns shown above are also different, but as the grade increases, the patterns shown above become simpler. For example, this official robe is completely navy blue, with only two unicorns on the corners and two unicorns on the corners.
There are some moiré patterns on the cuffs, but other than that, it's not much different from ordinary people's robes.
As the servant picked up the official robe, the general took a second look, with some nostalgia in his eyes. He actually couldn't remember the last time he wore this official robe.
As he stood up and raised his hand, the servants put on the official robes for the general. Another servant took out a jade belt from the box, which was engraved with cloud patterns and animal patterns.
Without waiting for the general to speak, Du Qianshan said softly: "Your Majesty has a decree. The general has worked hard and achieved great results, so he will give you a jade belt."
The general didn't speak, just nodded slightly. Now, no matter what reward it is, since it is there, it will follow.
When the servants dressed the general in official robes and jade belts, a maid came to comb the general's gray hair, and then pinned a jade hairpin on the general's head, just as the official hat was given to the general.
When the general put it on, the general shook his head and said softly: "No need."
After hearing this, several officials from the Ministry of Rites almost looked at the Lord Shangshu in unison.
Du Qianshan just said: "Since the general doesn't like it, then don't wear it."
In such a grand ceremony today, no matter what you wear, you have to carefully consider it. If it were anyone else, Du Qianshan would not compromise, but he made it clear in his will. If the general didn't like it, he would even give it to him.
You don’t have to wear official robes.
His Majesty the Emperor has given you gifts to the extreme.
After the general put on his official robe, Du Qianshan said again: "Then I have resigned. The carriage sent by the Ministry of Rites is outside the door. Your Majesty has ordered that the general can set off anytime he wants. All the officials are waiting today."
"
The general nodded slightly.
Du Qianshan and other officials from the Ministry of Rites then retreated.
After these officials left, the old steward looked at the general in brand-new official robes and said softly: "Your Majesty's grace is truly to the extreme."
The general smiled, took only two steps, and asked: "How?"
The old steward smiled and said: "Of course it fits."
The general just shook his head, looked at the fact that he had actually grown some official robes, and sighed: "I am getting old after all."
After saying this, he slowly walked towards the door.
In front of the general's residence, a carriage had long stopped here.
There are eight horses pulling the cart. They are all white and extremely handsome. There is not a single hair on their bodies. They are the best horses in the world.
The groom stood in front of the carriage, looked at the general, and said with a smile: "General."
Looking at this groom, the general was a little surprised and said: "You are already a third-grade military attache of the imperial court, and you are here to drive for me?"
The groom was naturally no one else. His name was Xu Ansheng. He was a general in the Northern Territory in the early years. He was also known as the Silver Spear General in the Northern Territory. He was good at using a silver spear and once killed three people in the demon army.
For three days and three nights, the blood soaked through the armor and did not fall down. However, later on, the battle injured his body and he could not continue in the north, so he returned to the divine capital. Now he serves in the Ministry of War and is a real third-grade military attache.
The military attache driving the car seems a bit excessive no matter how you look at it.
Xu Ansheng chuckled and said: "Let alone the third rank, even if one day he can become a first-rank military attache, he will still lead the general's horse and put the stirrup on it."
The general smiled and said, "Don't tell me whether you can achieve the first level. Anyway, even if that day comes, I am destined not to see it."
Xu Ansheng was a little sentimental when he heard these words, but he just whispered: "Don't say that, general. I still have many years to live when I return to my hometown. When the general is free in the future, he will definitely come to have a drink with the general. When the general arrives,
Don't look down on the general at this time, and don't even give him a drink."
The general smiled and said: "Go down and drink."
After saying this, the general boarded the carriage and entered the carriage.
Xu Ansheng drove his horse forward, and the carriage slowly headed towards the imperial city.
The road from outside the General's Mansion to the Imperial City had already been quiet, and within five steps there was a carefully selected soldier. When they saw the carriage carrying the General slowly approaching, their eyes were extremely hot.
It was even more so when they saw the gray-haired general sticking his head out. As a martial artist, I'm afraid there is no one in the world who doesn't want to be the general of the North.
He was the highest-ranking military attache in the Liang Dynasty and the one they admired.
When we reached the end of the long street, a woman in palace clothes appeared here. She stood by the street and looked at the approaching carriage with tears in her eyes.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and Xu Ansheng suddenly whispered: "General, the princess wants to see the general again."
The general sitting in the carriage was silent for a moment, shook his head and said: "I have said what needs to be said, and there is no need to say goodbye."
Xu Ansheng glanced at the imperial concubine apologetically. The latter did not speak, but took two steps back. Tears burst into her eyes and she was a little unsteady. Fortunately, the maid behind her quickly supported her.
…
…
"General, here we are."
The carriage soon arrived in front of the imperial city. Xu Ansheng gently pulled the reins, and the carriage slowly stopped.
The general walked out of the carriage, and the person waiting in front of him was no one else, but Li Heng.
The steward of the Imperial City's inner palace, His Majesty the Emperor's most trusted chamberlain, is personally waiting for the general here.
After seeing the general, Li Heng smiled slightly and said softly: "Before the ceremony, your Majesty has a few words to say to the general."
The general nodded. It was only reasonable for the king and his ministers to say goodbye now that they would never see each other again.
Li Heng led the general forward and soon arrived at Bailu Garden.
Emperor Daliang, dressed in imperial robes, was waiting for him here.
Just as the general was about to salute, His Majesty the Emperor's voice soon came, "There are no kings and ministers today, so there is no need."
The general didn't say anything, he just straightened up slightly.
Emperor Liang turned around and said, "I saw Ning Ping here before he left."
The general smiled and said nothing.
Emperor Liang said: "Although you and I are monarchs and ministers, our meetings over the years have actually been limited, and we cannot say that we have any friendship. Many people even thought that after I ascended the throne, I should let someone from the north be the general, but I never did.
"Move, as for the following years, how many people in the court came to see you in the northern border covering the sky with one hand, saying that the soldiers in the northern border only know that there is a general but not me, I have heard this kind of thing too many times in these years."
The general smiled and said: "A bunch of poor and rotten scholars."
Emperor Liang also smiled and said, "But without this group of people, the people in the world will be left to our group of warriors to take care of them. It seems that we can't manage them well."
The general also nodded and said, "I also admit this."
Emperor Liang smiled and said: "So if I listen to some nonsense, it will disgust me at most, so I won't send you to the north to disgust you."
The general smiled and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. If it had been anyone else, I might not have been able to become such a general a few years ago."
Emperor Liang laughed it off.
The general was silent for a moment and suddenly asked: "Will your Majesty continue to travel to the North frequently in the future?"
This kind of thing, presumably, everyone in Daliang wants to know, but no one would ask it so openly in front of the Emperor of Daliang.
Emperor Liang nodded and hummed without covering up his words.
"Then your Majesty, please remember to take care of your dragon body."
The general also knew that persuasion would not bring His Majesty the Emperor back, so he spoke and said these words sincerely.
Emperor Liang didn't say anything. It seemed that these two strongest warriors in the world originally planned to say something sincere, but now that they met, they didn't want to.
The general said softly: "It is our great fortune to have His Majesty in Daliang."
Emperor Liang said: "I really want to live longer, and you should also live longer and finish all the unfinished things."
His words came out of nowhere, but the general understood them.
"I am old and can no longer accompany Your Majesty on the next journey."
The general laughed at himself. His hair, which he had combed before, was now scattered for some unknown reason.
Emperor Liang originally wanted to invite the female officials in the palace to comb the general's hair again, but the general waved his hand and refused, "I am already old, so let's do it. I am not decent. Who dares to say that this general is not decent?"
Emperor Liang smiled and agreed.
…
…
All officials have been waiting in that square for a long time. The square that was previously destroyed by Chen Chao and Lu Chu has been repaired day and night by craftsmen from the Ministry of Works. Now it has been restored as before. However, Chen Chao stood in the queue of courtiers.
Looking at this square, I still feel quite emotional.
It's just that he lowered his head in thought at this moment, but the eyes of many courtiers fell on him. To be more specific, they actually fell on the saber on his waist.
Today is the farewell ceremony for the general. It is still a very formal occasion. He is the only young warrior who can have this honor of wearing a sword.
If so many people don’t look at him, who else will they look at?
Some courtiers were even very angry towards Chen Chao. You, a young military attaché, even if you have obtained the right to carry a sword from His Majesty, on this occasion, at the farewell ceremony for the general, you should restrain yourself. You shouldn't.
It's so dignified to carry a knife, but why do you, a guy who doesn't understand this principle, still choose to bring a knife into the palace?
Chen Chao doesn't know how to care about these things. Even if he knows what the courtiers are thinking, he probably won't care. As long as they are allowed, he is destined to be inseparable from his broken knife. Whether there is a knife in his waist or not, he has always felt
It was different. Without the knife at his side, he always felt uneasy.
Before the general appeared, nor did the Emperor of Liang, Song Lian took a few steps back, came to Chen Chao, and asked in a low voice: "I heard that your boy went to the general's residence a few days ago?"
Chen Chao came back to his senses after listening to Song Lian's inquiry, nodded and said: "The general asked the subordinate to come to the palace, but the subordinate did not tell the Lord?"
Song Lian was speechless and said impatiently: "What did the general see you do? Did your kid secretly give you a heavy gift?"
Chen Chao was a little helpless, "Sir, do you think I am a polite person?"
Song Lian looked serious and nodded: "I think so."
Chen Chao rolled his eyes and said bluntly: "I didn't say anything, but the general helped the juniors and gave them some pointers on martial arts."
Hearing this, Song Lian frowned and gritted his teeth: "What the hell did you say?"
Chen Chao looked innocent.
Song Lian took a deep breath and cursed in a low voice: "Where did you get such good luck?!"
Chen Chao didn't say anything, just thinking that if he said that the guardian envoy also imparted his martial arts insights to him, then Song Lian would be extremely jealous.
Song Lian whispered: "What did the general say? Can you tell..."
Chen Chao didn't wait for Song Lian to finish, then nodded and said: "Of course, you can, but you have to pay more!"
Song Lian smiled and scolded: "You kid."
However, before Chen Chao could speak, there was some movement over there. Song Lian looked up and immediately walked forward, returning to where he should be standing.
On the other side of the square, the courtiers all looked forward, waiting for His Majesty the Emperor. However, they did not expect that they would see His Majesty the Emperor and the General walking side by side. This scene could make everyone
Everyone was shocked. The courtiers felt that the previous courtesies were a bit excessive, but after all, it was His Majesty's imperial decree, and they couldn't say anything. But now the General is actually walking side by side with His Majesty the Emperor. Such...
The scene of ignoring the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers made many courtiers feel that it was inappropriate.
The expressions of many civil servants changed at this moment, but they quickly put it away and did not dare to reveal anything.
As for the military attache, apart from admiration, there was nothing else in his eyes at this moment.
When the two men appeared in front of the main hall, His Majesty the Emperor stopped and stood, and the General slowly stood up straight, climbed down the steps, and finally stood in the middle of the courtiers.
Li Heng held the imperial edict in his hand and began to read it out. However, it was not a reward. Instead, he told the courtiers present all the achievements of the general's life. After finishing his final words, His Majesty the Emperor looked at the gray-haired general in front of him and calmly spoke.
He said: "On behalf of the common people and civil and military officials in the world, I would like to thank you for guarding the northern border for decades."
It was another scene that the courtiers had not expected, but as His Majesty the Emperor finished speaking, Lord Zaifu took the lead and said: "Thank you, General!"
Then, when the courtiers saw that Lord Zaifu had spoken, they all spoke one after another regardless of whether they wanted to or not. The square now echoed with the words "General Xie."
The general was speechless. He just took a deep look at His Majesty the Emperor, then slowly turned around and walked forward.
Emperor Liang stood there and looked at the general's back, also silent.
This is how the monarch and his ministers parted.
The general left the square, and all the civil and military officials filed out. His Majesty the Emperor did not need to leave the palace, but they had to send the general to the city gate and watch him leave the capital city and truly retire and return home.
Chen Chao followed Baiguan forward, but was obscured by the figures of Baiguan, and the back of the general was gradually lost to sight.
But suddenly, the officials stopped suddenly.
The reason is that the general also stopped suddenly.
The general suddenly shouted: "Commander Chen, can you give me a ride?"
The sound was so loud that all the officials could hear it clearly.
Then countless eyes fell on this young military attache.
"This is inconsistent with etiquette!" A court official said softly.
But soon someone said: "There are already too many things that are inconsistent with etiquette today, why worry about one more?"
Indeed, both the General and His Majesty the Emperor were walking together today, and His Majesty the Emperor's words later were inconsistent with etiquette. But by now, everyone had figured out that the reason why His Majesty was like this was probably true.
I want to send a message to the people of the world, that is, I am a warrior who is not lowly, and I must treat my meritorious ministers with courtesy.
Chen Chao was startled, then left the line of officials and strode towards the general.
The young military attache ignored the gazes around him and walked to the general's side. This time, he did not take a step back.
First, the general walked side by side with His Majesty the Emperor, and now he walks side by side with the general.
The general smiled and said: "Aren't you afraid that there will be more troubles after today?"
Chen Chao said with a smile: "Since it is the general's invitation, there is no reason to refuse. If you are troublesome, I'm afraid I will be fine in this lifetime."
The general walked forward slowly, but the smile on his face did not diminish, "Today's farewell is different from that day's meeting. Today I only regard you as an outstanding young martial artist. I will give you a ride for me, an old martial artist, so that I can walk comfortably."
So that you don’t leave behind a lot of poor and rotten scholars.”
Chen Chao nodded and said, "There are indeed quite a few."
The general said: "I have always disliked these guys. I just listened to a few words from Your Majesty and I don't like them even more. It was you and Your Majesty who had to let these people come to see me off. Isn't this sincerely disrespecting me?"
Chen Chao smiled bitterly and apologized.
"Fortunately, I have you, boy. It's still interesting after all."
The general smiled and said: "Have you seen the official robe on me? What do you think?"
Chen Chao shook his head and told the truth, "I have never thought about these things."
The general asked curiously: "Then you have to look at that chair?"
Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said: "The general would not dare to talk such nonsense."
The general laughed loudly, feeling really happy.
The officials behind them could not hear the conversation between the two warriors, but everyone could clearly hear the general's hearty laughter at this moment.
The general smiled and said: "It doesn't matter whether you want to be a military attaché like me or not, as long as you become a pure martial artist."
Chen Chao nodded.
The two people soon arrived at the gate of the city. The general's upright body was now gradually stooped, and his official robe was a little dragging on the floor. The general took a look and laughed at himself: "I'm really old."
Then the general turned back and looked north with complicated eyes.
Chen Chao knew that what he was looking at was not the imperial city, but the northern border, the farther north of the northern border, Mobei, and even the north of Mobei, the Onan River.
Chen Chao stood speechless.
The general turned his head, stood at the city gate, and opened his mouth, but in the end he said nothing.
After a long time, the general said with some disgust: "It's not a good idea to travel in this official robe."
He took a few steps forward, walking slowly and alone.
Chen Chao stood behind him and said loudly: "Warrior Chen Chao, I would like to send you off to my senior!"
The general waved and did not look back.
——
There are two chapters, so I won’t separate them. Being locked up at home these days makes me a little irritable, so I can make up for what I owe slowly. This chapter has been completed!