Li Xu was very familiar with the road leading to Dongjun. Back then, he and Zhang Xutuo had walked along the same route with their troops. But the moment he left Licheng, he really hesitated whether he should continue heading west.
Zhang Xutuo died not so much at the hands of the Wagang bandits as out of despair for the court. The old general believed that the situation was irreversible, so he did not allow his son to make any more unnecessary sacrifices. He also sent Qin Shubao away.
and Luo Shixin, and did not want them to accompany him to be buried in the Sui Dynasty. However, he did not leave any last words to Li Xu, as if the other party had never interacted with him at all, ignoring the man who inherited most of his mantle.
He was a junior in the army. He never expected that Li Xu would go all the way from Hebei to Henan to fight for him.
"Perhaps the old general thinks that I no longer need his guidance!" Li Xu, who was astride his horse, shook his head and smiled bitterly. Apart from being confused, he gained nothing from this trip to Qi County. Zhang Yuanbei has decided to escape into Buddhism.
Looking for the origin of reincarnation in Buddhist classics. Naturally, Li Xu could no longer force him, and he could not get any support from him. All Wang Shouren and Qi County officials could provide was a batch of food and grass, but in fact, the counties in Henan
The food and fodder itself was within the jurisdiction of Li Xu, the ambassador seeking arrest. The local officials were only fulfilling the duties of their subordinates. And many of them were very clever when executing the orders, lest Li Xu would arrest the ambassador.
Their position cannot be stabilized, which may bring unforeseen disasters to themselves.
"Maybe the old general is afraid of affecting your future!" Shi Lan approached Li Xu and tried to persuade her in a very low voice. The soldiers had already learned her identity from Zhou Daniu, so when she spoke to Li Xu
Try to use your mounts to form a circle to separate the two from the surrounding brothers. In this way, Li Xu does not have to worry about the whispers of the two being heard by unrelated people, and the soldiers behind him will not be surprised why General Li is talking to a thin man.
The soldiers came so close?
"Maybe!" Li Xu let out a long sigh. With the character of the old general Zhang Xutuo, it is true that he will not drag irrelevant people into trouble. But can he be regarded as irrelevant? If he does nothing like Zhang Yuanbei,
, how can he be worthy of the kindness of the old general in cultivating him? How can he face the eyes of his old army that are red from crying?
Shi Lan could feel the confusion in Li Xu's heart, and quietly stretched out his hand to hold Xu Zi's rough hand. However, the distance between the two horses was too big, and their fingers just touched, and they were quickly
Pulling it apart. That moment of tenderness seemed to relax Li Xu's frown a little. Shi Lan couldn't see clearly. She wished that what she saw was the truth.
"Xu Zi needs comfort and support, but I can't give it. I'm really useless!" she thought gloomily, the blackness in her eyes as thick as the midnight sky. "What would happen to Qi'er if she were here?
Do it?" There is no answer in the sky, only the years the two have walked together are shining like stars.
After setting up camp at night, Shi Lan finally mustered up some courage and took the opportunity to warm Xu Zi's feet to advise in a low voice: "I've thought of something and I don't know if you are willing to listen. You know I'm not very good at talking. Sometimes
And very stupid..."
"Silly girl, what are you thinking about again?" Li Xu didn't know why Shi Lan, who had always been bold, suddenly shrank, bent down, grabbed Shi Lan's hand from the basin, held it tightly and asked, "Are you tired?
, I should really leave you in Qi County. You are pregnant again after being so far away..."
"No, I'm not tired!" Shi Lan's body trembled, and the feeling in his heart spread from his palms to Li Xu's chest. "I don't want to stay. I'm not destined to be a wife. If I stay in Qijun, I will get sick."
.I want to follow you and watch you galloping on horseback with our children!"
"What are you talking about? He is so young, how can he see it!" Li Xu heard what Erya said was interesting, put aside his worries for the time being, and retorted with a smile.
"They say mother and son are connected!" Shi Lan smiled and lowered his head, inspecting his slightly bulging belly. "He has already started talking, I can feel his movements!"
"Let me listen!" Li Xu, who had no experience as a father, pulled his wife up in surprise and put his ear against her belly. A soft and peaceful feeling instantly spread from his ears throughout his body. She was pregnant.
There was no other movement in the little life except its heartbeat. But these few gentle heartbeats were enough. It was like the sunshine after a rainstorm that instantly penetrated the dark clouds, making people suddenly discover the clear sky that still existed behind the clouds.
"I think since Zhang Xutuo is not willing to let Yuan Bei avenge him, he is definitely not willing to let you go. You, Shu Bao and Shi Xin are all like his own children in his heart." Shi Lan's face flashed with motherhood.
Brilliant, at this moment, she had forgotten all the grudges in the past.
"You are right. I also think that old General Zhang Xutuo might have had similar thoughts before he died in battle!" Li Xu took his head back from his wife's abdomen, looked into his wife's eyes, and replied solemnly.
"The Wagang Army killed Zhang Xutuo, and the news shocked Henan. Those who successfully destroyed it will definitely replace General Zhang as the first general of the Sui Dynasty. If the title is dazzling, many people will stare at it, and no one will want it.
Let others have it!" Shi Lan slowly put away his smile and added in a low voice.
"Alas -" Li Xu sighed quietly, "I think so too, otherwise the appointment given to me by His Majesty would not have been delayed in Henan for so long. Those families in the court are fighting for these false names and power.
, I really don’t care about life or death!”
"Since they don't care about their own life or death, why should Lang Jun go to this pool of troubled water?" As if afraid of seeing Li Xu's anger, Shi Lan slowly lowered his eyelids and said in an extremely light voice. After the words fell, she
He quickly opened his eyelids again, revealing the infinite expectations deep in his heart.
"I've thought about it too!" Before Shi Lan could finish speaking, Li Xu stretched out his hand and put his wife in his arms. The foot-washing water in the tub had begun to get cold, but he deliberately didn't call anyone in to add hot water.
He held his wife on his knees with all the tenderness in his body, protecting her like a treasure in the world. He was unwilling to relax his arms a little, and he was unwilling to look away a little.
"Then let's turn around and head east early tomorrow morning, and return to Boling via the original route!" Shi Lan heard her husband agree with her opinion, and her voice trembled with excitement. She added with longing for the future: "Anyway, Lang Jun is already here.
You have established your footing there, and no one can shake you anymore." She said excitedly, with soft light flashing in her eyes, "We don't care about the court or the bandits, we live our own lives, give birth to the child, and watch.
He grows up little by little. If you think the child is too small, I will give birth to one. After a year and a half, I can still..."
Suddenly, she took the initiative to shut her mouth. Because she saw that Li Xu's face was filled with clouds again. The clouds were dark and cold, and the burning fire deep in her heart was extinguished little by little and turned into embers little by little. "
I still can't persuade him!" She heard her heart blame herself feebly, and at the same time, tears slowly filled her eyes.
"You are right!" Li Xu continued to sigh, reaching out his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of his wife's eyes. The wet feeling was like a knife, piercing his heart along the palm of his hand, "But I
I must go to Dongjun, otherwise I will not only fail the teachings of the old general Zhang Xutuo, but also fail to explain to the brothers in Qijun. Besides, although those officials are causing trouble behind my back, your Majesty has not failed me after all. If I don’t go
Dongjun, I'm also sorry for his kindness over the years. I have thought about those days you mentioned, but now is not the time. Before I can live with my family, I have to do something within my ability, and I can't just watch.
The world will fall into chaos like this!"
The two of them looked at me, and I looked at you, but they had nothing in common. After a while, Shi Lan took the initiative to jump off Li Xu's knees and reached out to pick up the wooden basin at her husband's feet. The heavy wooden basin obviously surpassed her.
She didn't have enough arm strength, but she was unwilling to call for help. She just gritted her teeth and lifted the edge of the tub to stand up. It was as if she could save the whole world by holding up the tub of water, and she refused to give up at all.
"Silly girl, what are you doing?" Li Xu was heartbroken. He kicked off his shoes and held the edge of the basin with both hands. He didn't want to call the soldiers in and saw the embarrassment between the couple, so he tried to pour the water by himself.
He took it out and poured it out. Once he applied force, the tub did not move at all. Then he applied force again, and the tub still stopped in mid-air. The third time, he felt guilty when he saw Shi Lan staring at him, with tears rolling down his eyes.
"Silly girl, what are you talking about with a broken basin?" Li Xu was upset by Shi Lan's teary eyes, and he unknowingly increased his tone and scolded.
The hands that were fighting for the wooden basin were released as expected, but choked sounds sounded at the same time. "I know it's wrong for me to advise you like this, but I really don't want to see you hurt again. Before I went out, my mother-in-law and Qi'er warned me
Take good care of you, I'm afraid, I'm afraid that I have failed them! I am useless, really useless at all!" Shi Lan complained while crying, her body shaking like a lotus leaf in the wind.
"Alas!" Li Xu sighed and put the tub on the ground again. Then he walked over and put his chest against his wife's forehead. "You took good care of me and what you just said makes sense. But there are some things I must do.
Face it, you can’t escape!”
"But old General Zhang Xutuo has been killed in battle. After you go, they will use the same method to harm you!" Shi Lan hugged Li Xu's strong body and clasped her fingers tightly, fearing that she would lose everything if she relaxed a little.
She didn't dare to speak too clearly, lest it bring bad luck to her husband. But the danger was clearly right in front of her, and she couldn't turn a blind eye to it no matter what.
"I know, but I have more imperial decrees and golden swords than General Zhang, and I have four thousand more elites in hundreds of battles!" Li Xu gently stroked his wife's hair and whispered comfort. The road ahead was confused, and he was more confused than anyone else.
You can see everything clearly. But there are things a man does and doesn't do in the world. No matter how difficult and dangerous the road ahead is, he must face it with his head up.
"We defeated Wagang, and Xu Yuanlang. We defeated Xu Yuanlang, and Du Fuwei. You are just a person, not a god from the sky. They don't want to live anymore, so why should they force you to save them?" Shi
Lan knew she was going too far, but for her husband, she would rather be seen as a selfish and powerful woman.
"You're not alone. There are so many brothers under your command. Besides, Shu Bao and Shi Xin are still there, and they will help me!" Li Xu comforted with a smile. When Qin and Luo were mentioned, his voice changed.
Gradually it became brighter, and there was a little more hope in his tired eyes again, "Four thousand Boling elites, more than ten thousand Qijun disciples, and two tiger generals, Shu Bao and Shi Xin, even if we cannot defeat Wagang quickly, at least we can
Protect yourself. Don’t worry, let’s just focus on this last time. After Wagang is leveled, I will take you, Shubao, Shixin and the brothers back to Boling. Everyone will guard the territory of the six counties and the people they care about most.
Live a peaceful life!”
"Is this really the last time?" Shi Lan heard her husband's tone of voice loosen, and suddenly raised his head, glaring with red tearful eyes to emphasize.
"Of course, I can still lie to you. Look at your crying eyes. How will you see anyone tomorrow!" Li Xu smiled and shook his head, promising. "Among all the bandits in the world, the Wagang Army is the most powerful. If you can
If the Wagang Army is successfully annihilated, the arrogance of other rebels will be defeated. At that time, whoever wants to take the credit will get it, we don’t care. My biggest wish when I was a child was to be a household clerk, and now I have enough official positions.
Now that we’re old, there’s no need to fight anymore!”
"I'm just afraid that others won't listen to you!" Shi Lan knew that she couldn't get her husband to make any bigger concessions, so he put away his melancholy and said with a forced smile.
"Then I won't even be the consolation ambassador of the six counties. I will retire and return home to live with you and Zhen'er!" Li Xu broke away from Shi Lan's arm and wiped away the remaining tears on the other person's face with a thick palm. "Look.
You cry and laugh, and you are not afraid of being heard!"
"Just listen if you hear it. I am your concubine, not a general!" Shi Lan took the opportunity to grab Li Xu's hand, put it on his face, and added in a dreamy voice, "If the war is put down, you can really get old.
It would be nice to return home, and none of us would have to worry about it anymore. When I was a child, my biggest wish was to marry the village owner and become a mother-in-law. Every autumn, I would help the man collect the rent.
The dealers were so grateful that they wished they could offer me up..."
"You are a landlord now! Aren't you always in charge of our rent?" Li Xu was so amused by Shi Lan's biggest dream that he reached out and pinched your partner's nose, joking.
In fact, our dreams are very simple! He shook his head, and after throwing away all the worries, he felt a soft sense of satisfaction in his heart.
At this moment, Xuzi, who was having a good dream, didn't even see that behind Shi Lan's smile, there was a trace of sadness that could never be resolved. (To be continued)
