Northeast of Taicheng, covering Zhoushan.

The towers and palaces on the mountain have all been destroyed by the war, and this once prosperous royal garden has become in ruins.

Earlier, there were rebels stationed in the temple on the mountain, but in order to break through Taicheng, the rebels led the water of Xuanwu Lake to irrigate the city, and Zhoushan was just a waterway. The flood waves under the mountain are flooded, smelly and muddy, and cannot be stayed for a long time. Therefore, after conquering Taicheng, the army moved to the east in the area of Jiangling and Longweipo. So many corpses remained, and they were set on fire. The fire spread to the mountains and burned for a day and a night.

At this moment, there are only scorched mountains and broken walls left on the mountain.

In the dead of night, the clouds are thick and the moon is hidden, and the sky and the earth are dark. Even under the cover of wind and snow, this group of cavalry galloping up from Jingkou quietly bypassed the North Fence Gate under the noses of the rebels. At this moment, I came to the foot of Fuzhou Mountain, and it was close to Taicheng.

The young general gave the order to go down, march for the time being, and make a slight repair. The cavalry quickly stopped in formation.

After a night of running, they were all very tired, but none of them complained. All as the order declared, each leaned on the back of the horse to drink and eat, quietly replenishing the body.

The general who was at the forefront climbed the mountain rock to look at the city, and the knight handed over the water bladder and dry food, the general took it and drank it, and handed it back to him, "Wine?" ”

The knight took a sip and said, "Yes." Mr. Liu gave it to me before leaving. ”

The general said, "Divide it, take a bite per person, and strengthen your courage." ”

The knight smiled, "Who dares to follow you, who doesn't have the guts?" That's where this sip of wine is missing. But he immediately turned around and threw the wine bag to others.

The wind was fierce, and although the snow was not heavy, the view was quite bad. I can only see from afar that there seems to be red light and smoke in the direction of Taicheng.

It was customary to burn corpses after a great war - if they were allowed to rot in the city, they would not only smell rotten, but would also be prone to plague. Xu Yi couldn't judge the cause of the fire for a while.

He thought about it and asked Zhang Ben beside him, "Look at the place where the fire started, is it Miyagi?" ”

“…… Somewhat like. ”

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

After a while, Zhang Ben said, "You say...... Are we late? ”

Xu Yi did not answer.

Is it late? He wasn't sure either.

As soon as the siege of Shouchun was lifted, his father, Xu Mao, the assassin of Xuzhou, sent elite soldiers south to rescue Taicheng. However, when the army marched to Jingkou, it received news that Taicheng had fallen.

The army could only immediately return to the dynasty and re-trim it, thinking that it would be a reserve for the Japanese war. But Xu Yi finally persuaded the commander to select two hundred elite cavalry to follow him to attack Taicheng. Taking advantage of the fact that the rebels' foothold is not stable and the defense of Taicheng is lax, it is best to take advantage of the chaos to rescue the Son of Heaven, the prince or the king of Linchuan.

-- The First Battle of the Northern Expedition was a great misfortune for the country, but it was the cornerstone of Xu Yi's fame. He went against the tide in this rout, and his record can be called a "miracle". He went all the way from Fangtou to Pengcheng and then to Shouchun, and the 100,000 troops were all worshiped to him like a god, and they were all willing to obey him wherever he whipped him. Because when everyone thought it was impossible, he led them out of the siege as promised. He is a man who makes the impossible possible, and if he follows him, he will be able to live, make meritorious contributions, and create miracles.

Therefore, although the coach bluntly accused Xu Yi of being carried away by the previous luck, this trip was clearly a death, and he couldn't help but agree to give him such a chance.

Then Xu Yi took his cavalry outside Taicheng.

As far as "taking advantage of the chaos to save people" is concerned, they are indeed late -- Taicheng has been falling for six days, and the rebels have already firmly guarded the city gates on all sides and the military points outside the city. The flow of refugees scrambling to leave the city has subsided, and sporadic revolts in the surrounding area have been suppressed. If the Son of Heaven and his two sons had been alive and had not escaped on their own, they would have been kept under heavy guard by the heavy army.

In fact, they have no chance to take advantage of it.

Is it time to take a step back at this time, only for the purpose of finding out the truth nearby, and get out as soon as possible?

Should.

But Xu Yi was not reconciled. His aunt, cousin, and girl he liked were all trapped in the city, and if he didn't try to get into the city, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

Don't have a chance? Then he will make another surprise attack and create chaos.

"Herald ......"

He was about to speak, when he saw a torch moving in the gallop. It is clear that someone came out of the city on horseback, and looking at the direction, it should be going to Longwei Slope.

Xu Yi was overjoyed in his heart - sure enough, Taicheng was on fire, he thought, this person must have gone to Longweipo to transfer troops into the city to fight the fire - it seems that fortune is still on his side.

"Take him, stay alive!" Xu Yi waved his hand and quietly commanded.

Taicheng, Guangmomen.

It was an eventful night, and fire broke out everywhere in Miyagi. The city gate captain was first strictly ordered not to open the city gates, no matter what chaos occurred in the city. But then the fire in Miyagi rose in the storm, and seeing that it had a tendency to spread outside the palace, the city was busy sending commanders out of the city to transfer troops.

There were people running to put out the fire everywhere, and there was chaos in the city.

The captain of the city gate watched the fire in the palace from a distance from the castle tower, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy in his heart - most of the people who defended the city had experience, and the simultaneous fire in several places in the inner city was often a sign of conspiracy to riot. Although his mission was only to guard the door, he couldn't help but feel horrified when he thought of the murder they had done in Jinling in the past few months. Now the living in the city, except for their own garrison, may have mortal enmity with them. In case these people take advantage of the chaos......

Fortunately, the fire was only confined to the palace at the moment, and I just hoped that the fire would not spread outside the palace - the city gate captain was thinking about it, and someone called the door outside. But the army that had been ordered to enter the city to put out the fire arrived.

He hurriedly checked the sigils, confirmed that they were correct, and hurriedly ordered the city gates to be opened.

There were not many troops entering the city, only sixty or seventy. However, all the soldiers and horses are strong, and the armor is clear. The leading general was extremely young and heroic, with deep and resolute eyes, and did not smile.

The city gate captain said casually, "Why did it come so quickly?" The general pursed his lips and didn't answer, only glanced at it, and the heavy military might and murderous aura around him made the city gate captain shrink, and he didn't dare to ask more.

Miyagi, Beihuanmon.

The fire on the tower had been extinguished, and smoke rose from the blackened pillars of the gatehouse. The castle tower was full of water, and after being trampled by countless pairs of boots, the ground was black and muddy.

Captain Miyamen was checking the damage in the arsenal - it was here that the fire started, and from the blackened marks on the masonry walls, it was easy to tell that someone had brought the grass here. Grass is flammable and smoky, which can create an atmosphere of smoke billowing in the city gate tower.

-- At least there was no fire on the city gate, but someone deliberately set it on fire.

The captain of the palace immediately ordered the soldiers on duty that night to assemble in the upper building. After everyone gathered, there was no need to even name and check, and the palace captain immediately realized that Li Dui was not among them.

He couldn't help but sigh badly. If Li Dui is a traitor, then his actions tonight will at least be punished for negligence. And Li Dui is very good at traveling, almost all the soldiers guarding the door tonight are friendly with him, and the palace captain is not even sure whether there is Li Dui's internal response among these people.

He immediately drew out his cronies and ordered them to guard the palace gate. The rest of the people were put into custody for the time being.

The captain of the palace gate intended to interrogate him himself - but the fire in the palace was already in the middle of a lot, and everyone in the city was awakened from their sleep and was busy fighting the fire. Due to the lack of manpower, the palace issued an order, ordering the garrison from outside to be sent into the palace to put out the fire, and also to help suppress the situation - he had no time to close the door and carefully investigate the traitors.

Soon, someone called for the door. But it was the doorman official who handed over the sign earlier and was ordered to enter the palace to deliver charcoal, a son of a family named Liu Jun.

When there was a fire in the palace, he dared to come in to deliver firewood - the palace captain was so angry that he immediately expelled and said, "It is forbidden for idle people to enter the city tonight, you can come back another day!" ”

Liu Jun only said, "I came by order, and you said that another day will be another day?" ”

"By your mother's orders! Someone set fire to the palace, but you came to deliver firewood, could it be that you are in league with the rebels? ”

"Don't spew blood! There was a fire in the palace, and the nobles were in danger, but you didn't let people into the palace to put out the fire—could it be that you set the fire? ”

Liu Jun rarely got a chance to enter the palace, but he refused to give up like this, he only didn't give an inch, and secretly wondered if he could take advantage of the chaos to break in.

The two sides were tense in an instant. The palace captain pressed his hand on the hilt of the knife, and his eyes were fixed on Liu Jun. Ready to withdraw to the gatehouse at any time.

But at this moment, he heard the sound of horses' hooves, and dozens of cavalry rushed forward.

The palace captain was so shocked that his scalp was numb, and he was about to enter the city, but he heard his head shouting, "Xu Ru, a captain under the command of Wuwei General Cui Xuan, led sixty cavalry and was ordered to enter the palace. ”

When the palace captain heard that it was his own person, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and immediately said, "What about the seal?" ”

Seeing the seal letter of the real Great Sima Mansion, he hurriedly turned back to command, "Quickly open the palace gate......" and said, "There are thieves here who intend to break into the palace gate, General Xu will help me take him down!" ”

The young general looked at Liu Jun coldly on his horse.

The eyes are facing each other.

The general slowly drew the long knife at his waist.

The palace captain looked at Liu Jun, expecting him to retreat. Who knew that a flower suddenly appeared in front of him, and the blade of the knife was as clear as practice, and his neck was cut off in an instant.

Seeing this, the rest of the guards rushed to the gatehouse, shouting, "Close the gates—"

However, it was too late. Most of Xu Yi's troops had already entered the city, and Xu Yi's killing of the palace captain was a signal, and they immediately went on a killing spree. The guards in the building were first drunk by Li Dui, then caught fire, and many of them were imprisoned by their own people. The successive calamities had deprived him of his combat power. However, with a cup of tea, the inside and outside of Beihuanmen have been cleaned by Xu Yi.

The long knife in Xu Yi's hand was on Liu Jun's neck, "Have you surrendered to the enemy?" ”

Liu Jun hurriedly said, "Princess Shuyang is in the Chengxiang Palace, and Concubine Xu and Princess Wuyang are in the Ciqiu Palace...... I surrendered, but I was not a thief. I entered the palace tonight to save them! ”

Xu Yi said, "What about the Son of Heaven and the Prince?" ”

Liu Jun was stunned for a moment, and said ashamedly, "It's all in the hands of thieves......" and raised his head to persuade Xu Yi, "The guards of the East Palace are more than ten times stricter than Taicheng, you still don't risk yourself." ”

Xu Yi put the knife back into its sheath, turned around and instructed the general, "Guard the palace gate." Then he stabbed his horse and galloped away with a dozen or so men.

Miyagi, Chengxiang Hall.

The glass set fire to all the curtains in the hall, and the fire rose from within, and in a blink of an eye, it burned through the doors and windows.

After Gong E and the guards escaped, they found that Princess Shuyang was missing, but no one dared to brave the fire to break in, so they could only shout Liuli's name while disturbing, and at the same time desperately put out the fire - and hurriedly sent someone to the Huiyin Hall to report.

However, it was not only the Chengxiang Hall that caught fire in the palace this night. The fire in the Ciqiu Hall spread earlier than in the Chengxiang Palace, and most of the only garrisons in the palace were fighting the fire in the Ciqiu Hall at this moment, and no one could take care of the Chengxiang Hall for a while.

Liuli stumbled barefoot in the empty palace, the hairpin rings were scattered, and the dress was on the ground.

――Tomorrow will be her wedding to Li Hu.

She wanted to kill Li Hu on the wedding night, and then ended herself...... But she couldn't. She knew that there was a huge disparity in force between herself and Li Hu, and her only chance was to succeed after the cave room, while Li Hu was asleep and his vigilance was relaxed. But she was no longer a little girl, and she knew very well what the cave room meant. The thought of having to be tactful in the presence of this traitor who killed her parents made her feel like she was going crazy.

She couldn't bear it, she couldn't bear it. But what was she supposed to do? Who will teach her what to do......

She sat down against the wall, thinking that if only she had died.

Her father is gone, and her mother is dead. No one would come to her rescue, and now she knew how weak and incompetent she was—she could neither go into battle to kill her enemies, defend her home, or even have the guts to kill herself and assassinate her enemies as she had conceded.

She buried her head in her knees like a child and began to cry.

She thought, tomorrow her father's first seven. How could she let her aunt die in vain? If her aunt saw her appearance at this moment, how annoyed and disappointed she should be.

She had to pick herself up and avenge them - she had to avenge them.

The fire was already spreading to the apse, the air was scorching, and the lungs were aching between breaths.

She leaned against the wall and slowly stood up.

She heard someone call, "Ruri-" and there was a loud bang, and someone slammed open the door and rushed in.

The moment he saw that person's face, anger surged up in Liuli's chest - it was Concubine Xu of the Ciqiu Palace.

Xu Si stepped forward and grabbed Liuli's arm and said, "Follow me-"

Ruri shook her off and said angrily, "You have so many chances to kill him - why didn't you kill him!" ”

Xu Si looked back at her.

Liuli's eyes were red, tears had been evaporated in the scorching air, and her voice was hoarse, "I won't go with you, I'm not like you who is a coward without seeds, I want to stay and avenge my aunt." I'm going to kill the thief—"

Xu Si only said, "And then?" How are you going to kill him? She pressed in, "Are you going to die with him?" ”

Liuli replied in the future, Xu Si had already slapped him, "This is for your aunt - if you really have backbone, think about how to live well and send Li Hu to hell." Who still won't die? Do you dare to live? ”

Liuli only covered her face, looking at her with teary eyes, Xu Si stretched out his hand and said, "Your cousin Zhang Ben brought someone in to save you." Let me ask you one more question - will you go? ”

Liuli's stubbornness finally collapsed, she only cried, "I'm going to kill Li Hu, I'm going to avenge my mother......"

Xu Si encircled her in his arms, half-supported and half-pushed her out of the fire, "Yes, you will-as long as you live well, one day you can kill him......"

- No one knows that on the day Li Hu entered the city, Xu Si also hid a dagger in his sleeve.

She really wanted to die with her, rather than die without success, rather than fall into the hands of that evil ghost again.

For her, killing herself is the easiest choice for her in many cases. At that moment of death, at least she could leave a heroic reputation and make her two children live a easier life in the future.

But there are always people who want to survive and plan for the future. There are always people who have to survive, deal with the two girls who have fallen into the hands of the enemy, and protect them from Li Hu.

Originally, Zhang Guifei was a more suitable candidate than her - after all, she was the biological mother of the crown prince.

But that's just "should". Zhang Guifei is even more fierce than her, and she shouldn't have expected Zhang Guifei to survive in this situation.

Sure enough, Zhang Guifei failed to assassinate the thief, and became a hero.

So from that moment on, Xu Si had only one way to survive.

It's not that she doesn't have a way to get out with Ruyi, the reason why she doesn't do it is more because she wants to stay and arrange a way out for Liuli.

Fortunately - when another crisis came, her family did not give up on her.

Once again, they came in for her.

"I've found her—" Xu Si shouted as he dragged Liuli out of the flames.

In the next room, Xu Yi quickly rushed out and extinguished the fire on her body. The rafter collapsed behind him. He quickly stepped forward to pick up Liuli and ran out of the fire with Xu Si.

Outside the Chengxiang Palace, they turned over and got on their horses. But he was encountering the people and horses who were transferred from the Ciqiu Hall to put out the fire. Smoke and dust rolling, and the fire was dazzling. The group couldn't see who was in front of them, but when they saw Arima, they couldn't help but be suspicious, and asked, "Who is in front?" ”

Xu Yi only waved his horsewhip, did not answer, and ran straight towards the group.

It only took a moment to rush out of the Chengxiang Palace.

Behind him, the sound of wind and fire were intertwined, and the ears were full of whirring and fierce roar. The horse's hooves were submerged in it, and in an instant it was no longer heard.

Taicheng, Guangmomen.

In less than half an hour, someone knocked on the door again, "Zhang Ben, a captain under the command of Wuwei General Cui Xuan, is ordered to enter the city!" Open the gates—"

The city gate captain said, "Didn't Shicai send people into the city?" ”

"-That's a bandit, you've been fooled!" As he spoke, the young lieutenant pushed someone forward, "Let's see if you recognize him?" ”

The captain of the city gate raised his torch and looked at it, and could not help but be astonished—he recognized this commander as the man who had been ordered to go out of the city to transfer troops. At this moment, he was holding his waist with a pale face - it seemed that he had been hit by an arrow in his waist. The lieutenant pushed him, and the commander hurriedly said, "You have been fooled, I was robbed by bandits on the road - all the letters were searched by them." I was almost killed by murder. Luckily, it was dark, and I rolled into the green stream to escape......"

The city gate captain was not panicked, but hurriedly asked people to enter the city to report the news, hesitating and wondering whether to open the city gate.

The lieutenant who claimed to be Zhang Ben said, "What are you hesitating about, delaying the military plane, do you dare to be responsible!" ”

The city gate captain said, "I'll wait until I find out—"

Zhang Ben angrily forced forward, tore the collar of the captain of the city gate, and said angrily, "Bastard, what is the purpose of you letting the bandits enter the city, but blocking the officials and soldiers outside the city!" ”

Although he was young but murderous, the captain of the city gate was robbed by him, and he only felt a headache - he had actually believed seven or eight points, but he was only stubbornly resisting, unwilling to admit his previous mistakes.

After resisting for a while, he finally gave the order, "Open the door......"

The commander looked anxiously at the city gate captain, who only thought that his wound was painful. He himself was in trouble at the moment, and he secretly complained in his heart - if it wasn't for the commander's failure to keep the seal on his body, he wouldn't have made such a big mistake. Therefore, after a long time, he said, "Do you want to go up to the doctor to bandage your wounds?" ”

The commander was about to answer, but he was suddenly pushed by someone behind him and fell on him.

The city gate captain hurriedly went to pick him up, and at this moment, there was a sudden great pain in his waist. He turned his head stiffly, and the captain named Zhang Ben had a cold face, and he pushed the knife forward again......

Guangmomen is the north gate of Taicheng, which is related to the defense of the city, and the strength of the army is not comparable to that of Beihuanmen.

When Xu Yi rescued Xu Si and Liuli out, the city gate was still not completely taken.

Although Xu Yi and Zhang Ben have the upper hand, this is the enemy's home after all. Torches could already be seen in the distance, horses' hooves could be heard—reinforcements from all directions were about to arrive.

Liu Jun protected Liuli, only feeling worried.

At a certain moment, he suddenly made up his mind and stepped forward to say to Liuli, "I leaked it out." ”

Liuli withdrew her gaze from the city gate blankly and looked at him, "What? ”

Liu Jun only looked directly into her eyes, the gaze was gentle and rare, just like when they were childhood sweethearts, sitting at the same table and studying in the same class, "When I was studying at Guozi University, Zhang Ben's background was publicized by me, not Xu Yi - you have always wronged him." ”

Liuli said, "At this time, what are you talking about-"

"After escaping, live a good life with Xu Yi - you like him, don't you?"

Liuli looked at Liu Jun blankly, but Liu Jun didn't look at her again.

The enemy's reinforcements were already visible, and Xu Yi and Zhang Ben finally captured the city gate and opened it. Xu Yi immediately beckoned everyone to escort Liuli and Xu Si out.

Liu Jun did not leave.

Liuli kept looking back on the horse, but saw that the city gate was slammed shut again.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She knew that Liu Jun liked her - since leaving the palace, this young man had created countless opportunities to please her. In the past few years, he has given her countless flowers and plants, and there is no time in the porcelain vase on her desk that does not have the flowers that this person sent in. He has also met her on countless occasions.

But she didn't give him even a chance to talk to her.

But she knew she didn't really hate her—after all, the boy was the only true friend she'd ever made when she was so old. She just had a sigh of anger in her heart, because the young man had said that he looked down on her mother's family, so she was angry and ignored her.

She likes Xu Yi. When Xu Yi fell from the sky again and rescued her at her most difficult time, she couldn't help but admit that she was ecstatic. But she knew that Xu Yi was not here for her.

And Liu Jun is yes - he must have tried his best to please her as he did back then, and he finally got the opportunity, so he came without hesitation.

But people are different. Different opportunities come different talents.

He spent so much effort that in the end he could only admit that he was bleak and incompetent. The only thing I can do is to send the girl I like to the person she likes. Let that person be the perfect hero in her heart.

But why didn't he ask her what she really wanted?

Her father is gone, and her mother died in front of her eyes.

Then the only person left in the world who cares about her and likes her, why doesn't he want to live with her?

Taicheng gradually disappeared into the dark night, and the hustle and bustle of the night finally dissipated.

When it was dawn, they came to Qixia Mountain, and stopped their horses to repair - but the pursuers did not arrive.

Liuli then knew that she had finally escaped from Jinling City safely.