The news of the death of the Son of Heaven did not stir up too many waves in Jiangnan. ＋

Compared with Li Hu's attack on Taicheng with 8,000 cavalry, and the "logical" capture of Taicheng under the siege of more than 100,000 reinforcements, which really subverted the world's cognition, the death of the Son of Heaven is actually just an inevitability in a certain way. On the day the news of the breaching of Taicheng came, everyone was waiting for this follow-up news that would almost certainly come.

Nevertheless, in the world's expectation, the death of the Son of Heaven was also an opportunity—an opportunity for the world's heroes to rise together to fight against the rebels.

But in fact, after the news of the death of the Son of Heaven came out, it was not the world that made the first move, but Li Hu.

He officially supported the crown prince Xiao Huaiyou to ascend to the throne and monopolized the power himself. Immediately, "by the order of the Son of Heaven", he sent troops to conquer the land of Sanwu.

Xuzhou, Shouchun.

This important town in Huainan was besieged by the Eastern Wei army for half a year, and although the siege has been lifted at this moment, the withered scene in the city has still not recovered. Crumbling walls and crumbling houses were everywhere, and there were few pedestrians in the previously busy East Market.

After the defeat of the Northern Expedition, the northern territory of the empire was once again pushed south to the Huai River. The Eastern Wei Dynasty Chen had heavy troops in Huaibei, and the situation in Shouyang could not be relaxed at any time. Although the great war had only passed, the people and soldiers were still not alive. The coldest days of winter have just passed, and they have to carry stone and timber back and forth, and they are busy repairing the city walls.

Fortunately, there is still enough food and grass in the city, and the people's hearts are still stable.

Xu Yi returned from an inspection outside the city, and before he took off his iron armor, he went straight to the Taishou Mansion in the west of the city - now the Taishou Mansion has been requisitioned by Xu Mao, the assassin of Xuzhou, and it is the public court for the assassin to deal with military and political affairs.

Due to the great changes in Taicheng, Xu Mao convened a meeting of the military and important members under his command on the morning of this day. Xu Yi was sent out of the city to inspect and was unable to hear about it.

Xu Yi could feel that his father was suppressing and sharpening him intentionally or unintentionally, and he had no complaints - after all, he was young and humble, and he did not have any qualifications and merits accumulated over the years, although the veterans in the army were not suspicious of him, there were always a few people who were not so obedient to him. For the sake of the Xuzhou army, Xu Mao could only wronged him from time to time.

But when Xu Yi wanted to show his edge, it wasn't Xu Mao's painless few blows that could make him retreat.

Before Xu Yi came to the Taishou Mansion, the deliberations in the mansion had just ended. State officials came out of the house in twos and threes.

Xu Yi humbly avoided to the side and asked these officials of his uncle's generation to go first. Although he became famous very quickly, and there were many times when he did not fight for reason in war, he was always polite and thoughtful in private, and there was never arrogance or rudeness. Therefore, most of the generals who disobey him can't erase their faces, not because they have any personal grudges with him.

After the city was broken, his contribution was particularly prominent, and the junior, who was also the son of the state pastor, was not only not promoted, but also suffered a lot of suppression. Those generals who are not used to him know the reason for this, and they can't help but feel a little sorry when facing him. As for those who had already obeyed him, they were unhappy for him in their hearts.

It has to be said that Xu Mao's hand is retreating into advance, and the results are indeed very remarkable.

When everyone saw him at this moment, they all gave him face, and greeted him affectionately and familiarly. He returned the salute one by one, and laughed with his uncles generously. He was open-minded and clear-minded, which made those who felt sorry for him feel a lot of favor.

After a few words, everyone dispersed, and Xu Yi quickly walked into the house again.

When he entered, Xu Mao took off his armor and was leaning on the couch rubbing his eyebrows.

When he heard the voice, he asked, "Finished patrolling?" ”

Xu Yi said, "Yes." He didn't say too much to his father, and asked directly, "What does Daddy think about Li Hu's conquest of Sanwu?" ”

Xu Mao asked rhetorically, "What about you?" What do you think? ”

Xu Yi said, "My son thinks that there is no one in Sanwu, and I am afraid that I will not be able to resist Li Hu's attack." ”

Xu Mao couldn't help but raise his head to look at him and said, "Sanwu has 100,000 elite soldiers, how do you know that they can't resist it?" ”

Xu Yi said, "On that day, Taicheng was besieged, and the princes sent out more than 100,000 elite soldiers to rescue, and they failed to establish an inch of strength. Sanwu Kong has elite soldiers, but there are no generals, Zhou Chu, Shen Yue, and Xie Wei all have to be supported by others, and when they heard the neighing of the bowstring horse, they covered their ears and frowned, how can they have the ability to command the elite soldiers to fight? But before the enemy arrived, they fled first. ”

Xu Mao shook his head and said, "How old are you, so dare to be a character?" Zhou, Shen, and Xie are not famous in the world, where is it not to be so bad! What's more, the land of Sanwu is their home, if they dare to escape, the clansmen behind them will be wiped out. Where can they flee to? ”

Xu Yi heard that Xu Mao pinned his hopes on Zhou, Shen, and Xie to fight, and knew that Xu Mao had actually approved of his judgment of these three people in his heart, and knew that they were not worthy of the heavy responsibility. It's just that □□ lacks skills and has nothing to do. Further, he said, "No matter what, Sanwu is the granary of Jiangzuo, and there is no room for error." Once Li Hu took control of Sanwu and established himself firmly on the left side of the river, Huainan would be attacked by the enemy, which was one of them. Seeing that our army is so weak and deceitful, the Northern Dynasties will inevitably have no worries about provoking war, and it will be difficult for the frontier to be stable. In the future, if you want to restore Jiankang, what Bing Yu pointed out will affect the entire Jiangdong. Even if the war is won, the national strength will inevitably decline from now on, and this is the third. So no matter what, you can't afford to lose three Wu, Daddy? ”

He said it clearly and clearly, and every one of them said that Xu Mao was worried. Xu Mao had nothing to refute, so he could only be silent. After a while, Fang said, "Li Hu's foundation is only 8,000 people, even if he gains momentum for a while, he is bound to not last long." But once the Northern Dynasty has fought Huainan, I am afraid that it will be a crisis of national extinction...... The more chaotic the internal dynasty, the more the frontier guards cannot afford to make mistakes. Do you understand this? ”

Xu Yi said, "...... Got it. ”

Xu Mao said, "The Huainan garrison can't move, and the troops I can assign to you are only about six thousand." ”

Xu Yi's eyes were clear-

Seeing his fearless appearance, Xu Mao couldn't help but sigh and said, "If you want to go, I can't stop you if you want to." When you were young, I taught you righteousness. Now I can't help but tell you about my selfishness - even if Jiangdong falls, there will always be a day when it can be recovered, but if you have any mistakes, Daddy should ...... How to explain to your aunt? Can you understand the care of parents for their children? ”

Xu Yi nodded solemnly.

Xu Mao raised his hand and patted his hair, and said, "Then, Daddy can also understand your selfishness." ”

Xu Yi's heart jumped, and she only looked at Xu Mao dumbly for a while.

Xu Mao only said, "Since Jiankang came back, you have been a little impatient—is it because of Ruyi?" ”

Xu Yi's pupils shrank suddenly, and her nails couldn't help but clench into her palms.

He thought he was calm, calm, and not overwhelmed by emotion. But at this moment, the layer of window paper was suddenly pierced, and the bottom of my heart was deliberately hidden, and those feelings flew like flies in an instant. Occupy all of his senses. Yes, he was impatient. The panic of Ruyi's situation, the annoyance of his own powerlessness, and the hatred of Li Hu...... Countless emotions are intertwined, making it difficult for him to maintain even a polite appearance.

He did not regret that he had left her to go with the army, because if he had not, the situation in the world would have been even more unstable at this moment—at least the lives of the 100,000 soldiers he had brought back would have proved the value of his trip. But...... Does he really not regret it?

Those 100,000 people were just passers-by to him, he was lucky, and so many people's lives were changed because of him, but he couldn't save the only girl he liked.

So even if he brought back these 100,000 people, what's the point of him being just that?!

……

It was a long time before he finally calmed down again.

To him, those 100,000 people may indeed be meaningless. But these 100,000 people must also have their parents, their brothers, and the girls they like. With the strength of these 100,000 men, he finally assisted his father in repelling the Eastern Wei army, saving the country from enemies on all sides in times of danger. There will always be people like Ruyi, so they will escape a more desolate fate.

If Ruyi knew, he would definitely look up to him happily and tell him sincerely, "My cousin has done a great thing, why should I regret it?" "Let's go.

He slowly nodded in front of his father and said, "Yes, I'm afraid that if I slow down, I'll never find her." ”

Xu Mao said, "Then do you still know the priorities?" ”

Xu Yi opened her mouth and said, "...... Know. ”

Xu Mao patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go ahead." ”

Xu Yi came out of the house.

Outside, the sky is high and cloudy, and the sky is blue. In the early spring of Huainan, the residual snow in the corner of the wall dissolved, the soil was moistened and rejuvenated, and an early plum blossom swayed by the well fence and opened a full tree.

He looked at the tree and looked down, and in a trance, he seemed to see Ruyi turning around and looking back. He raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, slacking off his tense spirit a little.

But from between the sleeves, he saw that the skirt was like water, and slowly stopped in front of him.

He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, closed his eyes, and opened them again. The dress was still there.

He looked up in surprise, but saw Princess Shuyang holding a stack of papers and standing in front of him.

The smile on his face dissolved, and he avoided his gaze and took a step back. Saluted, "Your Royal Highness, Princess." ”

Seeing that he was distant, Liuli's face became cold, and she didn't look at him either. only looked at the early plum blossom tree, and said calmly, "I heard what you and Xu Yuanjun said." ”

Xu Yi was noncommittal.

Liuli bit her lip, but finally said, "I'll go with you." Although I can't go into battle, I'm a princess after all, and I should be able to move them to cooperate with you......"

Xu Yi said, "Why should Your Highness risk yourself? ”

"Because I want to avenge my father," Liuli said, "I want Li Hu to die a bad death, I want to do something I can...... You rescued me, and I don't want to owe you a favor all the time! ”

Xu Yi said, "If you want to repay my favor, then you don't have to." ”

Liuli had long been accustomed to his coldness, but when she suddenly heard such a ruthless voice, tears still suddenly welled up, "Why? Are you looking down on me! You looked like this when we went to school together, and you're still so blind to this - what the hell is wrong with me?! Why can't you be fair to me! ”

Xu Yi said, "I have never looked down on Your Highness. Even those who look down on His Highness's origin, after experiencing this turmoil, they will definitely not dare to have any criticism of His Highness's origin. Whether it is His Royal Highness's mother or uncle's family, his integrity and loyalty are admirable. His Highness's actions have never dishonored his origins. ”

He was cold, but every word he could say revealed his unique kind of penetrating tenderness. He didn't like her, but he could always see at a glance what those who liked her had never understood in their lives. It's obviously so cold, I don't like her, why do you want to show this in front of her?

"And why—"

Xu Yi said, "I didn't enter the palace that day to go for His Royal Highness. Saving His Royal Highness is also on the order of my aunt. Your Highness doesn't owe me a favor. As for my previous disrespect to His Highness, it is not that I am disrespectful, but it is just an unintentional act, and I ask Your Highness not to deal with me. ”

He laid out a qiē, as cold and gentle as before, to make it clear that he didn't care about her. Then he bowed quietly and took his leave.

Liuli was already in tears.

She didn't ask about Ruyi again, because she actually understood - she didn't have a bad idea, but Xu Yi liked Ruyi, so no one could compare to Ruyi in his eyes. Xu Yi didn't treat her unfairly, he treated her equally, Ruyi was the one who was different in his heart.

She crouched on the ground and hugged her knees, burying her head and crying. However, halfway through crying, he suddenly remembered that he was still holding a large pile of paperwork and wanted to ask Xu Si for advice. While crying, he wiped the wet handwriting on the paper with his sleeve, and went out into the yard with a sob.

She thought, such a ruthless man to the extreme, she should almost give up.