Four hundred and fortieth chapters die for a confidant
The night ends and the day dawns.
The early sun rises, and the warm sunshine envelopes Jinling City, gradually dispelling yesterday's cold.
outside the city.
The shouting and fighting a few days ago have long since stopped, and the thunder that shook the sky in the middle of the night has long since disappeared. Even now, some people are wondering why not a drop of rain fell after the winter thunder rang for half a night.
According to some of the defenders who defended the city, the rebels stormed the city wall a few days ago. The thunder god from the sky suddenly appeared and killed the rebels, and the city was defended.
Some people think this is a fantasy, but some people believe it is true.
But for the people in the city, the best news is that the city has been defended and the rebels have been repulsed.
All the wonders of last night have disappeared at this moment. There are only thousands of soldiers cleaning the battlefield and cleaning up corpses outside the city. Jinling City seems to be really at peace. Even the city gates do not prohibit people from entering and exiting.
Because according to the defenders, Li Liangjin, the king of the Nine Mountains, has withdrawn and no longer has the strength to attack Jinling City. He is now retreating south. Last night was the last rebel force.
The people believed the words of the court, so people in nearby villages and towns pretended to be brave and went home. When they returned home, they found that there was indeed no trace of the rebels nearby.
At night, Li Xiuyuan sent ghosts and gods all the way south to look for the rebels. Every rebel they saw immediately persuaded them to surrender. With the victory won during the day, there was no one who refused.
Occasionally, some fierce bandits who kept talking about ghosts and gods were wiped out by the cavalry he sent.
"Sir, the casualty situation has been revealed, and it has been recorded in the book." In the Li Mansion, Li Linfu respectfully handed over a small booklet, tallying up the battle situation of the past few days.
Li Xiuyuan looked through it: "The defenders lost more than 10,000 people. The soldiers under my command lost more than 2,000 people. The civilians lost more than 1,000 people. This is a huge casualty."
He was silent for a long time after reading it.
Guarding such a tall city wall actually cost so many people, even the eight thousand soldiers he brought with him also lost more than two thousand people, which made him very heartbroken.
"Li Liangjin, the king of the Nine Mountains, suffered little damage when he attacked the city. However, Yang Biao suffered heavy casualties when he attacked Jinling City at night. The soldiers and generals coming from heaven cannot be underestimated." Li Linfu said with emotion.
"I'm afraid even I will die if the heavenly soldiers and generals come down to earth to attack the city a few more times," Li Xiuyuan said.
Although the war was over, he was victorious.
But the strength of these heavenly soldiers and generals who descended from the earth made him feel lingering fear.
Li Linfu said: "Young master, don't worry, ten thousand heavenly soldiers and heavenly generals is already a huge feat, and it is impossible for God Lord Dongyue to make such arrangements again for a while."
"So I have to take a pre-emptive strike next. If Dongyue Divine Lord arranges everything well, I won't be as lucky as this time.
Li Xiuyuan said, and he immediately looked at the thick pile of documents in front of the table: "There are many things in the world. I can't get away for the time being. I need to ask some helpers to help. Although I have your help, there are some
Things need to be done by yourself, which you, as a ghost and god, cannot do. Please handle these documents for me. I will send some underworld soldiers back to deliver messages for me, and send all the scholars who worked with me before.
Recall."
He refers to Ning Caichen, Zhu Yu, Wang Ping and others.
Although Zhu Yu is in the capital now, Ning Caichen and Wang Ping are very good helpers.
"Young Master, Ning Caichen is still in Jinling City, but Wang Ping fell ill while the Young Master was training troops and went back to his hometown to recuperate." Li Linfu said.
"More than a month has passed, and I think I have almost recovered from my illness." Li Xiuyuan said: "Fu Tianchou is in charge of the Yamen, so there will be no chaos for the time being. But with the war, there will be some movement in the capital soon.
Already."
"Fu Tianchou is a stubborn man. He promised the young master to help manage Jinling City, but he did not want to sit in the yamen because he was guilty. Now he is in the cell with Duan Wenruo." Li Linfu said with a smile.
Li Xiuyuan waved his hand and said: "Let him go. Anyway, there are no decent officials in Jinling City now. I just put down the chaos a few days ago. Now I am the biggest guerrilla general in Jinling City. Who dares to make irresponsible remarks."
After several turmoils, the government power in Jinling City was reduced to its weakest point. Now no matter what Li Xiuyuan does, not a single civil servant jumps out to say anything.
"Until the imperial court's transfer order comes, Zuo Qianhu will continue to guard and be responsible for the security of the city."
Li Xiuyuan added: "In addition, let Han Meng defeat the fleeing bandits and come back. Now that the force is weakened, I am going to ask him to recruit troops in Guo Beicheng to expand the Li family's army and strive to gather ten thousand cavalry."
"You should also pay more attention to the appeasement matter. After getting the charter, ask Tieshan to send it to my father. There are many accounting offices at home, so this matter can still be solved. However, the souls of those who died in the battle are taken care of by Li Zhong, and he is willing to keep them.
Those who are in the ghost town of the underworld can stay there. Those who are willing to work as ghosts can do it. Those who are willing to be reincarnated can follow them and give them a better treatment."
Li Xiuyuan arranged everything one by one.
These past few days I have just felt physically and mentally exhausted.
This is just a city. It is really hard to imagine how difficult it is to manage the entire world.
No wonder there is a saying from ancient times that it is easier to build a country than to defend it.
In a small county dozens of miles away from Guo Beicheng.
There was an ordinary family named Wang, whose son was named Wang Ping. Hearing that he had been selected as a scholar a while ago, the king's father was overjoyed and hosted a banquet for his neighbors.
But since Wang Ping came back last month, he has been ill.
I heard from the doctor that I was suffering from depletion of essence and blood, and I occasionally felt cold, so I needed to calm down and take care of myself.
However, after a month of recuperation, Wang Ping's illness not only did not improve, but continued to worsen. Before, he was able to slump and walk, but today he can only lie on the bed and find it difficult to get up.
"Is Wang Ping at home? A letter from Master Li Xiuyuan is entrusted to you."
In the middle of the night, a strange voice sounded in Wang Ping's ears.
Wang Ping opened his eyes drowsily and called out: "Madam, hurry up, Mr. Li has a letter for me in trust. The messenger is outside the door. Go and get it."
"Husband, you must have heard wrong. I came in from the door just now and saw no one." Mrs. Wang walked in and said with some doubts.
"Is Wang Ping at home? Could you please collect Mr. Li's letter?" The strange voice came to mind again.
Wang Ping opened his eyes and said: "There is indeed someone. Go quickly. Mr. Li's letter must be important to me. Don't delay."
"But I really didn't hear anyone shouting," Wang said.
Wang Ping said angrily: "How do you, a Taoist woman, know Brother Li's abilities? Go out quickly. There will be someone who can deliver the message."
Wang couldn't help but had to go out and take a look.
She was immediately startled, and she saw a man wearing official-looking clothes standing in the darkness under the eaves, looking over here.
"Is this Mrs. Wang Ping? This is a letter from my young master, please accept it."
A man who looked like an official handed over a letter,
Wang subconsciously took it and glanced down. Although she didn't know much about reading, her husband Wang Ping's name was indeed on it.
But when she raised her head and was about to thank the messenger who delivered the message, she suddenly found that there was no one under the eaves, and she heard a cold wind blowing around her.
"Ah~!"
Mrs. Wang was startled, turned around and ran back into the house.
When he returned to the house, he hurriedly told Wang Ping what had just happened.
Wang Ping coughed twice: "What's all the fuss about? Give me the letter."
He ignored his wife's fright. He knew that this was a ghost messenger, not a living person. He had known Li Xiuyuan for half a year, so he knew it in his heart.
After Wang Ping read the letter, he couldn't help but get excited. He beat his feet and chest and said: "Li Liangjin rebelled, and the rebels attacked the city. Brother Li abandoned his writing and joined the army, leading his troops to fight back the enemy. At present, there is a shortage of men in the army in the city."
Chief, there is no one around Brother Li, but I, Wang Ping, am sick and lying in bed, so I can only live up to Brother Li's expectations."
"No, no, I have to get up and go to Jinling City. Madam, could you please hire a carriage to take me to Jinling City."
As he said this, Wang Ping struggled to get horny.
"How can you go out when your husband is so ill? It's better to rest in peace and recuperate. Mr. Li will push it away." Mrs. Wang said.
Wang Ping shook his head and said: "I, Wang Ping, know very well what I am capable of. I am not good at writing or fighting. However, I am lucky enough to get to know Brother Li. Brother Li has the talent to save the country and stabilize the country. He is my lifelong confidant and has the ability to pacify the world. I cannot achieve this."
Brother Li can realize his ideals and ambitions. All I have to do is help him. Now is the time to employ people. If I don't go, how can I see Brother Li again and how can I survive in this world?"
"Hel me up, I have decided to go."
When Mrs. Wang saw her husband like this, she couldn't bear to say: "My husband is lying on the bed. Even if he goes away, he has to recuperate for two more days. It won't be too late to go after the illness is better. Otherwise, he will be able to help after he is gone like this."
What are you busy with?"
"That makes sense. I will take care of it for two more days, but I have to reply with a letter and tell Brother Li that I have to collect it and it will take two days. After I finish writing it, you can burn it outside the door. Brother Li will know about it.
"Wang Ping said.
Wang nodded and obeyed, and soon burned a letter outside the door.
But at ten o'clock the next night, the officer who saw him off last time came again: "My young master has received the letter from the prince. For this reason, the young master specially ordered the young master to prepare carriages and horses outside the county to pick up the prince and go to Jinling.
city."
Wang Ping was pleasantly surprised when he heard the news.
Brother Li values himself very much, how can I live up to his good intentions?
But two days later, Wang Ping's illness became more serious.
That night, the guard came again, and a carriage stopped in front of Wang's house: "My lord, the time has come, why don't you start?"
Wang Ping, who was in a daze because of his illness, tried to stand up with strength, but he was so weak that he quickly fell on the couch. He was filled with grief and anger, hating himself for being useless.
"Brother Li, I'm so ashamed of you. I can't go to Jinling City."
Wang Ping was lying on the hospital bed and weeping. At this moment, he understood what it means to have more than enough heart but not enough power.
The officer called twice more, but when no one answered, he had to say: "Since the prince doesn't want to go, I will disturb you a lot, so I will report it to my prince."
After saying that, the sound of the carriage moving sounded from in front of Wang's house, and then gradually faded away.
Wang Ping looked at the roof with tears in his eyes, listening to the sound of the carriage getting further and further away, and felt very anxious in his heart.
However, at this moment, for some reason, his heavy and stiff body suddenly became lighter, regained his strength, and suddenly sat up from the hospital bed.
"Wait, wait, the guy in front, I'm Wang Ping. I'm ready. I'll follow you to Jinling."
Wang Ping didn't have time to think too much. He only knew that the carriage had already gone far. If he didn't catch it, it would be too late. He immediately rushed out of the house and chased after it with great agility. He soon caught up with a colorful car that was about to leave the county.
carriage.
The driver driving the carriage glanced at Wang Ping and stopped in the carriage path: "I thought Prince Wang was not coming, but unexpectedly he came and asked Prince Wang to get in the carriage."
"Thank you. I'm sorry for delaying you for two days." Wang Ping apologized and got into the carriage.
"Don't dare, don't dare." The officer was flattered and returned the favor, then hurriedly drove away. The carriage ran forward for a while and suddenly a gust of wind blew up.
The colorful carriage immediately took off and swayed towards the direction of Jinling City.
Just when Wang Ping was riding away in a carriage.
Inside the Wang family, a cry of surprise rang out, followed by Wang's mournful cries.
"Husband~!"
On the bed in the bedroom, my husband had become a cold corpse. Until the moment he died, he opened his eyes and looked out the window unwillingly, looking in the direction outside Jinling City.