There were many officials in the central tent. When they saw Li Xu entering the door, everyone turned their heads. They looked at him with scrutiny, suspicion, and even contempt. Under the gaze of everyone, Li Xu couldn't help but feel that his
His mouth was a little dry, and his heart was beating wildly. Fortunately, on the way here, for Brother Kong Fang's sake, the palace guards had carefully warned him about all the etiquette when meeting the emperor, and Xu Zi was able to hold on.
After completing the general's salute, he stood tall and stood tall, waiting for His Majesty the Emperor's questions.
"I heard that when the army was defeated last year, you led three hundred soldiers to fight back and forth in Liaodong. Is this true?" His Majesty the Emperor's voice came from the front, sounding very anxious.
Li Xu didn't know why the emperor remembered his achievements last year at this time. He hesitated and decided to answer truthfully: "Your Majesty, the operation to rescue people in Liaodong last year was assigned by Mr. Ying Yanglang, Duke of Tang Dynasty.
General Liu Hongji was led by General Liu. The last general was just a lieutenant under General Liu at that time, and he actually did not make any achievements!"
"You haven't accomplished anything, so you shouldn't be rewarded?" His Majesty the Emperor seemed to be getting angry, and his tone of voice was very critical.
"I don't dare!" Li Xu was so frightened that he gave another military salute and replied loudly.
"Oh, is there anything that a strong man who can fight in and out of an army of ten thousand horses dares not do?" The voice coming from the front was a little calmer and asked with a smile.
"General, it is useless to be afraid when facing the enemy, so I am not afraid anymore. But, but at this moment, at this moment..." Li Xu heard his own voice start to stutter, and also heard the officials whispering. He knew
I had made a fool of myself again, and wanted to pinch myself hard, but as His Majesty the Sui Emperor was still in front of me, I could only try to cheer up and suppress the tension in my heart.
"Is it my power that scares you? Lift your head and take a closer look at how scary I am!" Seeing the sweat starting to roll down Li Xu's forehead, the voice on the imperial desk became softer and softer, with a hint of something.
He ordered in a joking tone.
"The last general, the last general respects the decree!" Li Xu was heartbroken, raised his head and looked forward. "It's a blessing, not a curse, it's a curse that cannot be avoided!" He muttered silently in his heart, his eyes meeting the one behind the case.
The young man's eyes met in the air, and then lowered again, landing on the other person's face.
His Majesty the Emperor's face was a little pale, and his body was noticeably thinner. Even though he was wearing gorgeous brocade armor at this moment, it could not hide the weakness of his shoulders. The arms under his shoulders were a little soft, and his fists were weakly clenched, with a few green strands.
Black blood vessels will jump out from under the pale skin one by one. (Note 1)
"His Majesty the Emperor is old!" Li Xu almost said this greeting with pity. This is not the high-spirited Emperor of the Sui Dynasty who pointed to Liaodong last year. Last year's unexpected defeat was a blow to His Majesty the Emperor.
It was so heavy that most of his self-confidence was suddenly taken away from his body.
"Do I look scary to you? General Li?" Yang Guang looked up and down at the youngest general among the civilian-born generals of the Sui Dynasty, and asked with a smile.
"I am not afraid, I am shocked by His Majesty's power!" Li Xu looked at Yang Guang and replied in a low voice. After calming down his heart, his mind became much clearer. The flattering words in the allusions are also very
It rolled out of my mouth naturally.
Even if you are not afraid, you must say that you are afraid at this moment. It is recorded in the history books that when the Zhong brothers met their emperor, one was "sweating like pulp" and the other was "sweating like milk" and cleverly replied. Although the emperor in front of them was not from the Jin Dynasty
emperor, but throughout the ages, the preferences of emperors should not be much different.
"Well, you're fine!" Yang Guang said "Yeah" in his nose, quite satisfied with Li Xu's answer. Since he ascended the throne, he has met many low-level officials, military generals and nephews of hundreds of officials.
Those people either bowed their heads as soon as they entered the door and were so scared that they did not even dare to speak out; or they deliberately pretended to be carefree and fearless and behaved rudely. People like Li Xu, who spoke with sincerity and fear, but stood upright
This is the first time Yang Guang has met a young man in all his years in office.
The curiosity in his heart made Yang Guang start to talk more without knowing it. After discussing whether his appearance was evil, the "sage" emperor added with a smile: "You don't have to be modest. I remember everyone's contribution.
I also know the mistakes that everyone makes. I heard people say that at the critical moment of life and death, you come back again and again to save your own life. Is this true?"
"Your Majesty, the general just couldn't bear to watch his companions die in battle!" Li Xu answered simply and neatly. He suddenly discovered that His Majesty the Emperor was not as moody as the legend said. At least so far, His Majesty the Emperor standing in front of him
Not much different from an ordinary middle-aged official.
"If all the generals under my command were like you last year, my 300,000 elite soldiers wouldn't have been wiped out in Liaodong!" Yang Guang smiled bitterly and shook his head. He didn't know whether he was dissatisfied with the general's behavior of leaving his subordinates to escape alone, or felt sorry for him.
The heads were cut off and the lives of the 300,000 Laofu soldiers in Laita were killed.
After hearing this, the sweat that had just fallen on Li Xu's forehead suddenly broke out again. "General, the last general was just acting barbarically, acting barbarically! He didn't know how to advance or retreat, and he didn't know the general situation!" Even if he continued,
He regarded himself as noble and did not dare to step on the heads of all other generals, so he had to explain in a nonsensical way.
"I wish my Sui soldiers were more barbaric like this!" Yang Guang threw down his sleeves and growled.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty!" The other civil and military officials in the tent bowed to apologize to the emperor at the same time. Some lowered their heads in shame, while others glanced at Li Xu with resentful eyes.
"Where does this wild boy come from? There are still people praising him for his general knowledge!" Pei Yun, the censor doctor, cursed in his heart. Today, the man in the tent is said to be personally recommended to the emperor by Pei Ju, his own Huangmen servant. Pei Ju has always had a good reputation.
I know people's names. I'm afraid I really misjudged him this time.
Just as all the officials were slandering, His Majesty the Emperor's order came from behind the case: "Forget it, I have already said that this matter will not be pursued, what crime are you still charging? General Li, the map of Liaodong newly issued by the Ministry of War is said to be
It was you who painted it, is this true?"
"Yes, sir, I did draw a random map of Liaodong based on the descriptions of nearby hunters. It was not completed during the eastern expedition last year, so I didn't dare to show it to show shame. Later, this map was requisitioned by General Xue Shixiong, and he went to
I don’t know where it is!” Li Xu thought for a moment and answered cautiously. With the lesson learned just now, he would not dare to take credit for drawing the map as his own this time. Although the map issued by the military this year was indeed his last year’s map
That painting, but he didn't want His Majesty the Emperor to say again, "If all our generals in the Sui Dynasty were like you..." Such words of commendation, His Majesty the Emperor would probably forget soon after saying it, but in case other court officials
If any one of the big guys is serious about it, he will have to walk around in pain. (To be continued)
