Xu Zi came from a humble background, and the biggest officials he had seen before joining the army were just helpers in the yamen. Even now, in his eyes, those wealthy and aristocratic families were still as insurmountable as the gods in the sky. But Yang Guang looked at them
The minister's perspective is from a downward view. In his eyes, whether they are princes, nobles, nobles, or ordinary people, they are all his subjects. Even if there are differences, the differences are not very big. Therefore, it is impossible for the monarch and the minister to have a clear understanding of each other at this moment.
On the contrary, the more afraid one is of hearing something, the more the other wants to say something.
"You do have good intentions, well, it's a pity that all the ministers of the court..." Yang Guang shook his head repeatedly in front of countless civil and military officials.
"Your Majesty, without the concerted efforts of all the adults from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to draw such a detailed map of Liaodong just by myself!" Li Xu was so embarrassed that his neck turned purple, and he spoke first without waiting for the adults to apologize.
.
"Oh!" Yang Guang raised his eyebrows high. He looked at Li Xu's face, which was so red that it was bleeding, and then at the expressionless civil and military ministers on his left and right sides. After a moment, he finally understood the young man's words.
The difficulty is, "Whoever gets the credit belongs to him. Although the contributions of the civil and military officials are much greater than yours, they are all elsewhere, not on this map!"
Sighing, he added, "Last time, I didn't estimate the situation in Liaodong enough, so everyone was not prepared enough. Why should I blame others for my fault? You can show off the prestige of the Sui Dynasty in the face of a great defeat, I
I'm very pleased. I presented this map again this year, I..." Yang Guang looked at Li Xu, and he was full of affection for the young man in front of him. He wanted to give the young man another official position, but then he thought about it, and he has not yet been promoted to general.
In two months, if there is another special promotion, someone among the ministers will definitely remonstrate. He smiled and said: "I will give you another hundred-refined sword to help you fight with divine power on the battlefield, and then make meritorious service for me in killing the enemy.
Bar!"
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!" Li Xu took half a step back, bowed, raised his hands to his eyebrows, and then stood solemnly. The imperial sword may not be as easy to use as his black sword, nor may it be truly refined, but no matter who it is,
You won't really use the royal sword to chop off the enemy's head. This thing represents a kind of respect in the Sui army, and it means that military achievements are recognized and remembered by the emperor. Those who hold this sword will have the opportunity to be promoted in the future.
Much higher than other colleagues.
If it can be said that when Li Xugang entered the military tent, most of the people looked at him with contempt. At this time, these contemptuous eyes had many different meanings. Some people began to calculate whether the young man in the account could be used by their own family. Some people
He also began to consider whether his status was about to be threatened. There were only so many positions in the court, and the world's rich and powerful families were not fixed. The rise of new military dignitaries often meant squeezing out the interests of others. This is
The rules that have existed since ancient times cannot be changed by humans.
When there is no conflict of interest, everyone can be friends. What if there is a conflict of interest? Should we nip in the bud those forces that may grow?
Under the complicated gazes of everyone, the inner court guards brought the Hundred Refinements Sword. His Majesty the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty took it with his own hands, stepped down from the throne, and hung it on Li Xu's waist. "Work hard, I'll keep an eye on you!" Li Xu said.
The moment he bowed to thank him again, Yang Guang moved his shoulders and warned him kindly like an elder in the family.
"My lord, I will go through fire and water, even if I die!" Li Xu heard the tone of his voice completely changed. He couldn't suppress the excitement from deep inside. The history books he had read before told him that the most fearful thing for a military general is to have no king.
Appreciation, throughout the ages, I don’t know how many heroes have spent their entire lives waiting. But God was so kind to me. When I was just seventeen years old, I met a great emperor with a discerning eye.
"I look forward to your return!" Yang Guang smiled and whispered. The moment his eyes left Xu Zi's body, a cloud suddenly rolled over his face, and it quickly faded away without leaving any trace. "
Does your armor seem to be very fine?" His Majesty the Emperor asked with a smile.
"It's a congratulatory gift from Mr. Tang to the general!" Li Xu answered unsuspectingly, his heart still soaked in blood.
"Good armor. If my guess is correct, this is an armor made of iron from the Western Regions. It is lined with rhinoceros skin, right?" The smile on Yang Guang's face became thicker and thicker, as thick as a cloud with accumulated rain.
"I don't know, I have never, never bought armor!" Li Xu lowered his head and looked at the black armor leaves glowing with blue light on his body, and replied with some embarrassment. This armor was worn by Tang Gong Li Yuan at a banquet.
It was a gift from the emperor because the color matched the black wind very well, so Li Xu always liked to wear it when fighting. Today, the palace guards suddenly came to announce the summons. Time was short, and he had no time to change his robes, so he had to wear armor to see the commander.
After hearing Li Xu's words, Yang Guang was slightly startled, and the smile on his face immediately turned into curiosity. "You haven't bought any armor. Didn't you prepare your own uniform before joining the army?"
According to the practice of the Sui Dynasty, the children of good families were required to prepare their own war horses and weapons when joining the army. However, many wealthy families often bought a good armor at a high price to keep with them. Although the eastern and western armies were uniformly distributed, the quality may not be as strong as the one they bought themselves.
The ones he bought may not fit him well. And Li Xu had never bought armor before. His family's poverty at that time indeed exceeded His Majesty's imagination.
"No, I'm not prepared. General, I spent all my money on horses!" Li Xu said very awkwardly. He couldn't just say that he was poor, otherwise it would be equivalent to accusing the emperor of not caring about the people and letting the warriors who were about to go to the battlefield
He couldn't even afford armor. He couldn't admit that he ran outside the Great Wall to avoid military service. Otherwise, he would be charged with deceiving the emperor, and no matter how many heads he grew, he wouldn't be able to cut off the head. So, he had to excuse himself by saying "buy a horse".
Guoli's face was as red as a thief caught on the wrist.
"I forgot about you going to sell horses outside the Great Wall!" Yang Guang said as if he suddenly realized.
The monarch and his ministers chatted endlessly, chatting half on official business and half on private matters. The civil and military officials were a little embarrassed. Everyone looked at me and I looked at you, and they all couldn't understand why His Majesty the Emperor, who had been so bored lately, suddenly felt better again.
.Today someone suggested that His Majesty the Emperor summon Li Xu in order to consult with him about the geographical situation of Liaodong. Seeing that half an hour had passed, His Majesty the Emperor's conversation had not yet turned to the war.
"I heard people say that you and Tang Gong are of the same clan? But we have never had any contact before?" Yang Guang thought for a while and asked again.
His questions today were all random and without any order, which was very painful for Li Xu, a newcomer who was new to officialdom. He thought carefully about every question for fear of answering it wrong. But the answer to each question was
He could never satisfy everyone. When he heard His Majesty the Emperor ask about his relationship with Li Yuan again, Li Xu pondered for a moment and whispered back: "According to seniority, Duke Tang is indeed the uncle of the last general. But at the end of the day
The general joined the army, but he was recommended by General Liu Hongji. I didn't expect to meet my uncle in Huaiyuan Town!"
This is the best answer Xu Zi can think of. After experiencing the summary of the last Q&A before the emperor, he now knows the reason why Yang Guang doesn't like Li Yuan. He can also tell the emperor through the tone of Yang Guang's words just now.
There was a hint of expectation in His Majesty's question, but Duke Tang treated him well, so Xu Zi really couldn't follow His Majesty's wishes and completely separate himself from Li Yuan's family.
This answer made the faces of Manchao Wenwu change color again. Regardless of whether they liked Xuzi or not, everyone screamed "What a pity" in their hearts at the same time. The young man in front of him was also too stubborn. He knew that a big tree was about to fall, but he still hugged it to his death.
He refused to let go. But that's fine, everyone won't have to bother to squeeze him out in the future. Based on his answer today, he won't be able to get another promotion opportunity in a short time.
"I know, your surname is Li after all!" Yang Guang smiled again, feeling a little uninterested in his heart. Of course, he couldn't reveal his true thoughts in front of his ministers, so he turned and walked towards the imperial case, and asked in a low voice as he walked
: "I remember telling you that I will review your troops after coming to Liaodong. Now, is the Xiongwu Xiaoguo Battalion worthy of a battle?"
"Your Majesty, Xiongwu Xiaoguoying is willing to die for your Majesty!" Li Xu replied loudly, going around in circles to avoid Yang Guang's question.
The Xiongwu Xiaoguo Battalion has only been training for less than two months. It can be just a show off to fool people, but if it is really used to attack the city, the result will not be better than that of other Xiaoguo camps. But at this time, the situation no longer allows him to retreat, no matter what
Whether there is an abyss ahead or a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, you have to hold your head and rush forward.
Apart from being anxious, Xu Zi secretly thought about how to convince the emperor to send a few more troops to feint attack from other positions, so that he would encounter less resistance along the way and the casualties would not be so heavy.
"How does the fighting power of the heroes compare with the eight hundred warriors who went with you to Liaodong last year?" Yang Guang's thoughts were like those of a fairy from the sky, and Li Xu could never keep up with him.
"Your Majesty, the officers and soldiers of the grain protection army who went to Liaodong last year have all received about a year of training." Li Xu glanced at His Majesty the Emperor's face secretly, not knowing whether this answer disappointed His Majesty the Emperor.
Yang Guang shook his head, with a calm expression on his face. Li Xu's answer was within his expectations. After more than a month of siege battles, he had clearly realized that the combat effectiveness of his soldiers and horses was far inferior to that of his own.
Last year's group of veterans. Thinking about the three elite guards of Zuo Wu, Zuo Yi and Zuo Tun that he reviewed last year, and the late General Mai Tiezhang and General Xin Shixiong, he felt mixed feelings in his heart and sighed.
He took a breath and asked tentatively: "If I order you to lead the soldiers under my command to go to Mazhai Water again, can you go?"
"Why not? The general is willing to go." Li Xu straightened his body and replied loudly. He didn't know why the emperor sighed, but just based on the kindness of the other party who personally tied the sword to him, Xu Zi also wanted to repay him. Moreover, at this time
The enemy troops on the east bank of the Mazhai River were almost wiped out by the Sui soldiers and horses. Apart from being careful when passing a few isolated cities, there were almost no other obstacles along the way.
The civil and military officials suddenly became lively and came forward one after another to admonish Yang Guang. They said that the army was dangerous and the war was dangerous, so they sent a new man with no reputation to take on the important task. There are some who are not in line with the way of using troops. He asked his relatives to lead the army, and only Li was invited.
There were many people who acted as guides for Xu, but no one expressed support for Li Xu's desire to lead the army alone.
Xuzi slowly heard some clues from the crowd's advice. For some unknown reason, the Sui soldiers and horses planned to evacuate Liaodong, but General Yuwenshu's nearly 300,000 troops were already preparing to cross the border. Mazhai Water, therefore, someone must go to support the Eastern Expedition army to ensure that the retreat and food routes of the Eastern Expedition are not blocked by the Goguryeo people. At present, several famous generals are out fighting, and the imperial court cannot send any particularly suitable ones. The leading candidate. And no one is more familiar with the geographical conditions of Liaodong than Li Xu and Liu Hongji.
"I wonder which blind Bole recommended me?" Li Xu frowned and looked around. This is not a perfect job. Last year, he went to rescue people, but General Wei Wensheng burned the pontoon bridge and let the three More than a thousand brothers who fought through the siege died tragically at the door of his home in the Sui Dynasty. If he went to rescue this time, maybe when the army came to the Liao River, the pontoon bridge left as a retreat would be demolished again. Therefore, he was not in a hurry to fight. This credit is just standing there quietly waiting for everyone to discuss the results.
"Okay, okay, I know that everyone's advice is for the country!" Yang Guang pressed his arm downwards to stop everyone's discussion, turned to Li Xu, and continued to ask: "Since the training of all heroes If that's not enough, why are you still willing to go to Liaodong to perform meritorious service? Aren't you afraid that you will be punished by me if you fail to complete the task?"
"Or let me go?" Li Xulu was stunned for a moment, feeling a little happy about being favored, but also a little worried about the future. Looking at Yang Guang's expectant eyes, he pondered for a moment, He replied loudly: "Your Majesty asked Xiaoguo about his training, and I naturally had to tell the truth. But the Goguryeo people in several isolated cities along the way did not know the true situation of our army. They had been discouraged by the old general Yuwenshu. How could they dare to go out of the city to attack me again? The power of the Sui army?!"
This answer was unexpected by many civil and military officials present. Everyone's eyes suddenly became sharp, and there was a lot of appreciation among them.
"Do you want more troops?" Yang Guang nodded and asked with a smile. Originally, his purpose of summoning Li Xu today was just to inquire about the geography of Liaodong, but when he saw the young man's honest and calm demeanor, he suddenly made an impromptu decision. He wanted to give him the task of leading the reinforcements. It can be said that except for the fact that the young man in front of him was not satisfied with the fact that he never forgot Tang Gong's kindness, he admired him very much for his sharpness and magnanimity in other aspects.
What's wrong with being young? I was only sixteen years old when I first led the army. What's wrong with being from a humble background? General Mai and General Luo Yi both came from humble backgrounds, but they were both braver than anyone else. My impressions of North Korea's Chinese culture and martial arts The disappointed Yang Guang no longer wanted to listen to the clichés of the officials. The Sui Dynasty needed to inject some fresh blood, otherwise the top and bottom would always be so lifeless.
Li Xu knew that he would definitely not be able to escape. He was also taking an adventure. Instead of being a guide for others, he might as well lead the troops himself. After thinking about it carefully, he replied: "Since we are going to assist General Yuwenshu to withdraw his troops, there are more people." On the contrary, it is difficult to supply supplies. I only hope that Your Majesty will promise me two things, and I will definitely live up to the trust entrusted by your Majesty!"
"Say, I will do my best so that you will have no worries!" Yang Guang's face turned gloomy and he solemnly promised. It was he, His Majesty the Emperor, who ordered the burning of the pontoon bridge last year. If Li Xu proposed not to burn the pontoon bridge before he came back, would it be right? Aren't you losing face too much?
"General, thank you for your grace." Li Xu saluted again, "First, general, please continue to send people to attack Liaodong City, so as not to let the Goguryeo monarchs and ministers feel that our army intends to evacuate! Second, general, I hope that your majesty will allow it.
I will give my best and will not be bound by moral principles!" Li Xu looked around at the crowd and spoke out his request.
Unknowingly, the restraint and shrinkage in him disappeared, replaced by the exuberant vitality of a young man.
This revenge must be avenged. This was the promise Xuzi made in her heart to the heroic souls who stayed on the east coast after escaping from Shengtian that day.
Since it is a promise, it will never change forever. (To be continued)
