Cheng Dalei was suddenly startled. Looking at the old man's age and his cheeks that were somewhat similar to Li Waner's...
Should it be, should it be...
Think about Li Xingzai who was incognito, Li Waner who liked to dress up as a woman, and the old man in front of her...
Come on, it turns out that this is passed down from generation to generation in your family.
Cheng Dalei took a deep breath, took a deep breath, calmed down his pounding heart, and pretended that everything had not happened. Was the retaliation just now a bit too harsh? Just pretended that he didn't recognize it.
"Old man..." The old man's face was obviously a little ugly.
"Yes, we all call him that."
"You still call me that?" His face became even uglier.
"A long life of ten thousand years is considered old, and the leader of the world is called leader. Is there anything wrong in addressing His Majesty Emperor Ming in such a respectful manner?" Cheng Dalei looked confused.
"Uh, okay." The old man's face softened a little, and he stretched out his hand to wipe Cheng Dalei's sweat: "Why are you sweating all the time on your face? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"
"Hot, too hot." Cheng Dalei's heart was pounding. Emperor Ming even wiped my sweat, but don't wipe off my beard.
Fortunately, the old man only made a symbolic gesture and then put down the handkerchief.
"You have done a good job in rescuing the driver this time. The old man will definitely reward you generously."
"Old man?"
"Your Majesty Emperor Ming, isn't that what you all call me?"
"Uh, haha." Cheng Dalei laughed dryly: He quite holds a grudge.
"You will definitely be promoted to a higher rank this time. Have you decided what reward you want?"
"Reward!" Cheng Dalei sighed softly: "Isn't it what a minister should do to sacrifice his life to protect others? If we talk about rewards, what kind of reward is more important than wealth and life."
"Haha, it seems you want to refuse the reward?"
"No, I won't refuse." Cheng Dalei said firmly: "I want Emperor Ming to send me to the most dangerous place, the most difficult place to fight. As a soldier, I will be wrapped in horse leather and die on the battlefield. That is the biggest reward for me.
"
"Eh..." The old man paused obviously: "I didn't expect you to be quite loyal."
"I can't talk about loyalty. I think this is just what a soldier should do. It's just that there are too few people who can do this, so it seems that I am a little loyal."
The old man paused again and sighed: "The battle in the northwest should be difficult to fight, right?"
"It's difficult to fight." Cheng Dalei subconsciously thought of the battle at Qingniu Mountain.
"Yes, it's very difficult to fight. We've been defeated repeatedly. Such a huge empire can't stop a group of barbarians."
After Cheng Dalei experienced the battle at Qingniu Mountain, he sometimes thought about these things. He said casually: "Dawu founded the country based on agriculture, and the Rong people were born from grass. The empire defeated the Rong people a hundred times, but in fact they could not hurt the vitality of the Rong people.
As long as the empire is defeated once, it will be weakened. It cannot be attacked, so it has to defend the city. However, a long defense line from east to west is a huge drain on the national power of the empire. In this way, it will only become weaker and weaker as it defends.
Yueshou."
"The more we defend, the weaker we become. The weaker we become, the more we defend. You are right." The old man said, "Then the empire can only go on like this?"
"It's not impossible..." Cheng Dalei suddenly remembered that the person sitting in front of him was the emperor of the empire, and he was not a keyboard warrior who talked nonsense. If he said the wrong word, he would lose his head.
"Tell me, why don't you keep talking? What can you do?"
"Invite an elite army to attack Huanglong and completely defeat the Rong tribe."
"The empire does not have such elite soldiers, nor can it support such a Northern Expedition." The old man felt a little disappointed, but that was all.
"There is a way to be strong, and there is a way to be weak. There is still a way, but I dare not say it."
"Why don't you tell me, I... just tell me whatever you want."
He is indeed the king of a country who controls the lives of tens of millions of people. As soon as he raises his eyes, Cheng Dalei feels a mountain of pressure.
"This method is a bit crazy." Cheng Dalei said: "Open a hole in the northwest, lead the army deep, use the complex landforms of the empire as the battlefield, close the door to beat the dogs, and surround the points to call for reinforcements, gradually swallowing up the invading Rong tribe, and rebuild
Destroying the vitality of the Rong people."
"Close the door and beat the dog? You mean to take the initiative to bring in the Rong tribe at the cost of millions of people's lives, or even abandon Chang'an."
Cheng Dalei nodded slightly.
"No, this is too crazy, it's simply cruel."
Emperor Ming was a little absent-minded. At this moment, he probably judged that Cheng Dalei should already know who he was.
"Other than that, there is no other way."
Emperor Ming was silent for a while, looked at Cheng Dalei, and said slowly: "You are stronger than I thought. I don't think that old man Emperor Ming will let you be a junior captain again. Finally, I have one more question."
"Excuse me?" Cheng Dalei felt that he had gotten over it. Emperor Ming was obviously not angry.
"When people are sick, medicine can cure them. When the country is sick, there are medicines and doctors. Do you think there is any cure for the empire?"
Cheng Dalei was agitated. Is this what an imperial doctor should talk to a patient? I'm afraid that Emperor Ming already knew that he had discovered the other person's identity.
The Rong clan is surrounded by servants, and the imperial power is declining. At a glance, the wealthy families are fighting for power, and the princes are submissive and submissive... Even a fool can see this situation, and Emperor Ming himself will not understand it.
The answer is so simple that it only requires one word, but it's just a matter of words. But in front of the emperor, do you dare to tell the truth?
Cheng Dalei raised his head to meet Emperor Ming's burning eyes. At this moment, their eyes collided, and their hearts were like mirrors.
Cheng Dalei pretended not to know anything and waved his hand.
"It's hopeless."
When Emperor Ming left the room, his old body seemed to be a little more stooped. Looking at his back, Cheng Dalei suddenly felt a trace of compassion in his heart.
This was naturally a very ridiculous thing, but at that moment, Cheng Dalei really felt that he was actually quite pitiful.
Outside the courtyard, Liu Aji hurriedly came to greet him, extending his hand to support the old man. The two of them walked forward along the street, passing through the mottled shadows of the trees, followed by a small sedan.
"Your Majesty, let me help you get into the sedan chair."
"No, I want to walk."
"Did he say something to make you unhappy?"
"No, no, it's quite good, and it's quite right in some places."
"Then Your Majesty, do you think this person can be used?"
Emperor Ming was silent and did not speak.
"How about driving him out of Chang'an and returning to where he came from."
"It can be used, not only use it, but also use it greatly and use it ruthlessly."
…
Weiyang Palace, Imperial Study Room.
A little eunuch with a sneaky figure poked his head inside. The other eunuchs saw it and pretended not to see it.
"Now that you're here, why don't you come in and what are you doing sneaking around outside?" Emperor Ming scolded.
The young eunuch then walked into the study and saw several open papers in front of Emperor Ming's case. However, he did not look at it at this time, but looked at an iron gun on the case.
Emperor Ming glanced at her and said angrily: "Why are you dressed like this again? What will it sound like?"
"What's wrong with me dressing like this? I didn't learn from my father."