Peng Yichen was carried by several sergeants, slowly walked into the heart of Chang'an, and walked towards Jianzhang Palace step by step.

Many years ago, when he first approached this place, it was more unfamiliar than the novelty of the first arrival of the traverser.

Over the years, how many times has he walked into this palace, he thought that he was already extremely familiar with this place.

But when the sergeant carried him to the bottom of the steps of Jianzhang Palace, he struggled to raise his eyes and look at the majestic Jianzhang Palace in front of him, but found that he was still so unfamiliar with it.

From the sixth year of Yuanguang to the fourth year of Yuanzhen, for a full ten years, Peng Yichen took his soldiers under his command, Zhiqu Sai, Guang HN, the absolute desert, seven battles and seven victories, making Mo Nan no royal court.

In terms of military achievements, Peng Yichen did even better than Wei Qing, and he completely defeated the entire Xiongnu tribe.

The remnants of the Xiongnu fled to Europe, and later dealt the final blow to the struggling Roman Empire, which led to the gradual demise of the vast empire of the West.

In the fourth year of Yuanzhen, the battle of Mobei. Peng Yichen still remembers vividly, it was the last battle of his life.

The general, whose hands were full of blood and whose heart was like cold iron, finally showed a complicated and sad expression. Because he knew that this was his last expedition, Liu Che, the son of the Han Dynasty, no longer trusted him as much as he did when he was young.

It's easy to win a war, but it's so hard to get a person to trust themselves.

There is a good saying, the crockpot will inevitably break by the well, and the general will eventually die in battle.

In the past, Peng Yichen didn't really understand the meaning of this sentence, why a successful soldier must be shrouded in horse leather and can't enjoy his old age in peace.

When he was so successful that he was jealous of Liu Che and didn't dare to let him lead the army again, Peng Yichen finally understood that this was the fate of a successful soldier.

Peng Yichen slowly climbed down from the sedan chair carrying him, he didn't allow anyone to support him, he wanted to finish the last part of his life.

His body had been tormented by disease, and the unparalleled strength of his youth had gradually disappeared.

On the long stone steps outside the Jianzhang Palace, he used all his strength, and he couldn't straighten his once straight waist, but he was still climbing up step by step, just like he climbed from a riding slave to the position of a general.

The sound of messy breathing filled his ears, and he remembered the desert sky he saw on his last expedition, the silhouette of cattle, horses and sheep walking under the clear blue of water, and the warm canopy soothed all the wounds of war.

At that time, he never thought that he would be so embarrassed as he is today.

Looking at Wei Qing who was constantly climbing on the stone steps, no one knew what he was thinking, this once good and humble general had his hands stained with the blood of the enemy all his life.

But he has never beheaded any of the generals, refused to dictate power in front of others, did not form a party for personal gain, and did not engage in power fraud, he was at the peak of power, but he seemed to be outside the power field.

He gave his life's work to the cause of the Han to fight the Huns.

Just as Peng Yichen was constantly climbing, an old man with the same gray temples rushed over.

"Wei Qing, Wei Qing. The voice was like a cuckoo crying blood, and Liu Che, as the son of the Han Dynasty, finally let go of his indifference.

The embarrassed man in front of him used to be his most trusted general.

He laid a large territory for the Han Dynasty and went to Mobei to defeat the Xiongnu Empire.

Now, he was hindered by this small stone staircase, and he had to grovel. The anger and sadness in his chest almost destroyed the entire Jianzhang Palace.

When Liu Che helped Peng Yichen up, it was as if he helped this man up more than 30 years ago.

At that time, he asked Peng Yichen, "What should we do?"

Peng Yichen yelled at him: "What about our men? What about the men of the Han Dynasty? Do you rely on women to defend peace?"

That was the only time Liu Che saw Wei Qing's roar in his life.

Since then, Liu Che and Peng Yichen have spent thirty years realizing the common ambitions and aspirations of the monarch and the minister, and they have also stood up the backbone of the Han Empire.

In the past thirty years, even if the wind and frost have dyed the sideburns white, even if the blade has been sharpened for years, even if the armor has been dulled.

Wei Qing is still standing upright as the backbone of the big man.

However, now that the Huns have been wiped out, and the Han has become a powerful empire that no country dares to invade, the backbone of the Han has grown old.

Veterans never die, they just fade away.

Peng Yichen loves the land under his feet so much, although he is not Wei Qing, he has dedicated his life to this land instead of Wei Qing.

After Liu Che helped Peng Yichen up, he immediately asked the palace people next to him to help him into Jianzhang Palace.

The two knelt facing each other, and Peng Yichen was lying on the ground, and he didn't even have the strength to stand up straight.

"Minister, Wei Qing, from between the stables, born just a riding slave, relying on His Majesty's wisdom and continuous education, in order to have today's achievements. There is only one thing that hangs on the minister's heart. ”

Peng Yichen said this paragraph intermittently, and he was out of breath.

"Do you want to intercede for the prince, did the queen let you come? Or is the prince not worried about something?"

Although Liu Che was very concerned about Wei Qing's body, he was still a king who ruled the world after all, and the precautions in his heart were always vigilant.

"Children and grandchildren have their own children and grandchildren, and the minister does not want to ask about the prince's affairs, everything is determined by His Majesty. ”

Peng Yichen coughed a few times, and each time he was a little hoarse, which made the sadness in Liu Che's heart even stronger.

"I didn't expect me to underestimate you Wei Qing, just say whatever you want. ”

Liu Che looked at this old fellow, as if he saw the day he had come to the end.

"Your Majesty, the minister was born as a riding slave, and he fought all his life, fought in the south and the north, and his hands were stained with countless blood. That's where I am today. In recent years, I have often remembered my old brothers who died on the battlefield. ”

When Peng Yichen said this, he closed his eyes in pain, as if those brothers in the army were standing in front of him.

He settled down and said, "These soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country early. For this reason, the minister begged His Majesty to establish a martyr's monument in Chang'an, and engrave the names of all the soldiers who died on the battlefield because of the resistance to foreign aggression, so that future generations can always admire their great achievements and let their exploits shine in the annals of history. ”

"Wei Qing, when I first saw you, I knew that you were a good person, but I didn't expect that we were all old, but you could still give me such a big surprise. Not only will I agree to your request, but I will also build this monument of martyrs opposite your future mausoleum, so that these martyrs will always be your companions. ”

Liu Che really didn't expect that Wei Qing didn't put forward any requirements related to himself when he was about to die, but he was still seeking glory for the sacrificed soldiers. This made him sad, if Wei Qing left, who would be able to take on the heavy responsibility of the general of the Han Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the minister has another request, dare to ask Your Majesty to fulfill it. Peng Yichen heard that Liu Che had agreed to his first request, and his heart was half relieved.

"Say it!" Liu Che closed his eyes, unable to bear to look at Peng Yichen's dying appearance again.

"Your Majesty, Princess Pingyang does not abandon her background as a minister and marries a minister. For 20 years, we have respected each other as husband and wife. Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to find a place with beautiful mountains and rivers to build a house for Princess Pingyang after the death of the minister. Let the minister's son serve her and finish the last part of her life. Don't get involved in the disturbance of Jianzhang Palace. ”

Peng Yichen firmly said his last request.

When Liu Che heard this, the sadness in his heart could no longer be suppressed: "Wei Qing, Wei Qing, before you leave, even your son's future will be ruined for this country?"

Peng Yichen smiled lightly, "Your Majesty, isn't what the minister has been pursuing all his life the same as what His Majesty is pursuing, all of which are to make this country strong and let the people here live and work in peace and contentment." For the sake of the stability of the country, am I reluctant to give up the future of my son?"

He coughed twice before he said slowly: "What's more, since ancient times, the struggle for imperial power has been the most sinister, and keeping Pingyang and his son away from Chang'an is my last love for them." ”

Liu Che nodded slowly, "Okay, I will promise you everything." ”

Peng Yichen bowed slowly, "Your Majesty, this farewell, I'm afraid it will be the farewell of heaven and man, please take care of your Majesty." ”

The kind of concern and reluctance for an old friend in his words made Liu Che, a king who had been tough all his life, feel heartbroken.

Liu Che didn't dare to speak, afraid that he would cry out of shape who had never shed tears, but just waved his hand and asked the palace people waiting outside to carry Peng Yichen home.

In the fifth year of Yuan Feng (106 BC), the general Wei Qing, who fought in the south and the north during his life, died of illness.

No one knows that because of Peng Yichen, the great general Wei Qing's lifetime achievements have far exceeded the merits he himself has obtained in history.

In order to commemorate Wei Qing's brilliant military exploits, Liu Che built a tomb in the shape of a Yin mountain in the northeast of Maoling, "the mound is like Lushan". The nickname is "Lie", which means "meritorious service with force, respect for virtue and industry".