But where is Shen Ruchu?

Wen Xu didn't dare to think about it, he had nightmares recently, as soon as he closed his eyes, he saw Shen Ruchu calling for help, and sometimes even saw Shen Ruchu dripping with blood. -- This invisible pain tormented him day and night, and this inner torment was more unbearable than the life-and-death struggle on the battlefield.

"I owe her a lot...... If I could be by her side, if I hadn't been greedy and come back earlier, would everything have changed? I wasn't there when she needed it most; What did I promise her back then? But I couldn't do anything. What about returning home? So what? Wen Xu shouted in his heart, but no one could understand the self-blame and helplessness in his heart.

Everyone is immersed in the joy of success, full of hope for the reward, looking forward to the glory of the ancestors; They are ambitious, even a little complacent.

Wen Xu arrived in the capital with extreme self-reproach and uneasiness, and was more smooth than he expected - the capital was more prosperous than he imagined, and the dignitaries and nobles in the capital seemed to be easier to get along with than he imagined, at least on the surface.

Shi Lei and the others were very excited, and they couldn't help but be angry for a long time, and took a few of their subordinates to visit the capital in disguise, while Liu Lijun and Zhang Biqing were more heavy-minded, thinking of ways to make friends with some dignitaries in the capital - this time they came to the capital, they also prepared a lot of special products, although they were not very valuable, but they looked like rare objects.

Only Wen Xu was sullen.

He was also self-aware, but he didn't spoil everyone's interest, and he honestly stayed alone in the post house, waiting for the emperor's summons - originally just because he was not interested, he didn't participate in some social activities, but he didn't expect to be blessed by it.

It turned out that although the emperor of the current dynasty was not a dim monarch, he was also a small-bellied person, and he couldn't see his subordinates making great achievements, especially Ma Zhengming's matter made him taboo. Therefore, Wen Xu and the others were obviously rewarded after going to Beijing to worship and listen, but in fact, they also wanted to examine their character and behavior, and whether they were anti-willful. For this reason, the emperor ordered people to secretly check their words and deeds, and report everything to him.

Only Wen Xu is the most low-key and cautious, so he is also the most favored by the emperor, so he is naturally relieved, and Wen Xu has the greatest credit. Naturally, the rewards are also the most. Before the reward, some close ministers guessed the emperor's thoughts, so they played, saying that Wen Xu was brave and fierce, and he recruited soldiers among the three armies to kill the enemy bravely, which shows that he is brave and strategic; Thoughtfulness is by no means comparable to ordinary people; disregarded dignity and humility, and killed the boss without receiving the emperor's order, which shows that he was born against the bones. Ambitious; Such a person must be arrogant, but why do they act so low-key? First, it shows that he is cautious; Second, it shows that his mind is deep - most of these people are unreliable, and the appearance of loyalty hides evil intentions, which is likely to be wolf ambitions. The emperor was advised not to be important.

However, this emperor has been on the throne since he was a child, has experienced a lot of bloodshed, and is also in charge of many intrigues. The heart of defending against people is naturally indispensable, but because he was once a young man, it is now smooth sailing when he reaches middle age. Therefore, he doesn't take ordinary people in his eyes, and naturally thinks that a person like Wen Xu who has no background can't make any waves, and he admires Wen Xu's courage and courage very much, and said with a smile: "What I need is a warrior, not a coward and a straw bag!" If he hadn't done that at that time, wouldn't Ma Zhengming have given my 100,000 Northern Xinjiang Army to the Beiyi Barbarians! What's more, the generals are not subject to the orders of the foreign monarchs, thousands of miles away, how can I know the situation there at any time, and wait for me to know the military situation before delivering the will, it will be too late! I commend him for his courage and daring! Young man, I need to have some ideas, what I need is a good general who guards the border and dies on the battlefield for me. ”

The minister was still unwilling, and said: "The Holy Sage is really a blessing for the people, the world, and a hundred civil and military officials." However, this Wen Xu has a heavy mind and has to guard against it! People do not hurt the tiger, but the tiger harms people's hearts -- the saint has good intentions, I am afraid that he does not know what is good or bad, and he does not know the height of the sky, and he will be disappointed. ”

The emperor's eyes widened, and he said coldly: "He dares!" ”

The close minister said again: "Saint, you are the true son of heaven, the heavens are noble, naturally I don't know the narrowness and stinginess in the hearts of these grassroots-born people, it's not that the starving ghost has become a fat man in one bite, just Wen Xu's kind of background, and there are still people who don't show off their martial arts?" Holy Lord, you can't be unguarded, maybe this kid will not succeed enough to fail. ”

The emperor thought about it, and said in his heart that it was also such a reason, and after thinking about it in his heart, he thought about it and said with a smile: "I have my own way." It is imperative to reward and reward, if I can't make the rewards and punishments clear, how can I call on the people of the world in the future, how can I let the virtuous people be used by me! You don't need to say anything more! ”

The close minister sang the praises of virtue again, and what he said was wild, but he was secretly dissatisfied in his heart.

Anyway, Wen Xu's mood has improved a lot after entering Beijing, and the initial worries, self-blame, and regret have gradually disappeared between the staggered and staggered, and the state of being sought after and respected has made his self-confidence unprecedentedly expanded, and the feeling of being close to power is like a pie falling from the sky, which made him a little confused and surprised.

Man, when he stands at the top of his life and is praised by everyone, it is inevitable to be proud, and Wen Xu is not exempt from vulgarity - he doesn't even have enough time to miss and worry about Shen Ruchu.

Tang Mengyao's father, Tang Kun, received Tang Mengyao's letter, and he didn't take good care of Wen Xu, but he also said some rules among the bureaucrats in the capital according to the identity of the elders, who need to be guarded against, and who can be friends, but he also said a lot without reservation, which moved Wen Xu a lot, and said in his heart that this Tang Kun is a little warm-hearted and dignified, compared to many families who have been officials in the past dynasties, he doesn't know how to be thoughtful.

For this, Wen Xu thanked him a lot, but he blamed himself for not being fully prepared when he came, and the things he brought were not elegant, and he couldn't express his heart.

Unexpectedly, Tang Kun said a word, and said with a smile: "You don't have to thank me, if you want to thank our family Yao'er, she told me in the letter to take care of you, saying that you are the husband of one of her good sisters, her friend in Anyang, she is there to thank your whole family, she is very grateful, let me do my best to help you." General Wen, such a civil and military, quiet and strategic, where do you need this girl to worry so much, haha. ”

Wen Xu hurriedly said: "I see. It bothered my sister. Lord Tang, please call me Wen Xu, this general really can't afford it. Thank you sister, thank you Lord Tang for your advice, Wen Xu remembered it in his heart. ”

Tang Kun smiled: "I have seen Yao'er mention this good sister more than once in Yao'er's letters, that is, your wife. What kind of strange woman is this, next time I come to Beijing, I must receive it well. Yao'er is full of praise, I heard that she rejuvenated and saved people with medicine, which is very good. ”

Hearing Shen Ruchu's name, Wen Xu's heart sank suddenly, and he said gloomily: "Now that he is being taken away by the Beiyi people, he is missing. ”

"What's going on? Let's hear it. Tang Kun exclaimed.

Wen Xu briefly told the story of how the Beiyi people sent a small army to infiltrate Anyang City and how Shen Ruchu wanted to protect everyone, and Tang Kun sighed for a while, and praised Shen Ruchu for being a strange woman.

"By the way, how about my youngest son Tang Tianrui? Yao'er only said in the letter this time that she was okay, but did not talk in detail, this child has not written for a long time, and the letter I wrote has not been replied to, which makes his mother very worried. Tang Kun asked.

Wen Xu remembered Tang Mengyao's advice when he came, and immediately replied: "Tang Gongzi is fine, I also saw him when I came, busy settling the displaced people and comforting the soldiers." ”

Tang Kun didn't believe it, and said: "He's just a scholar, where do you need him to do this!" It must be that he is playful. ”

Wen Xu Zhengse said: "Lord Tang, Anyang is not as good as the capital, Anyang is desolate, not only lack of materials, but also extremely short of talents, so Tang Gongzi is extremely valued in Anyang, he is really young and promising, and has a good reputation." Although Tang Tianrui is not talented, he is not the legendary son, so he still did a few things in Anyang.

After hearing this, Tang Kun was slightly happy in his heart, so he didn't ask any more. suddenly remembered one thing, and said: "General Wen is a hot figure now, young and promising, and when he returns triumphantly, the emperor will definitely reuse it, and there are not a few people who want to make friends with generals...... I originally thought that I would leave the general to dine in the mansion, and we would have a good chat at first sight, and by the way, we would learn about the situation of my unscrupulous children, but ...... There are many people and mixed mouths, and if it reaches the ears of the emperor, it will inevitably cause some estrangement. Forgive me for not being able to entertain me, I have a slight gift here, please be sure to accept it from the general. ”

Wen Xu naturally understood what he meant, and immediately politely resigned.

After staying in the post house for two more days, the eunuchs in the palace came to announce the decree, and Xuan Wenxu, Shi Lei and other people entered the palace to face the saint and reward them, and brought them a powerful and beautiful armor.

The reward was far smoother than they imagined, and the scene was also extremely grand - although Wen Xu and the others didn't know how Yan Guo rewarded the generals who returned triumphantly before, and what scale it was, but according to what they saw, it was also huge and very impressive, which made Wen Xu and the others surging in their hearts for a long time.

When the emperor of Yan Kingdom saw Wen Xu and the others, he was happy in his heart, looked at a few of them carefully, and found that all of them were mighty and upright, heroic, and resolute in their simplicity, and said with a smile: "Since ancient times, heroes have come out of youth, and they are really young and promising, I am deeply grateful!" Haha...... "Then let the chamberlain read the holy decree and reward them according to their respective merits, Wen Xu received the greatest reward, and was awarded a four-rank forward staff - this promotion surprised Wen Xu. You must know that Ma Zhengming was just a third-grade military attaché, but he was a person who had been camping in the court for many years, how could he be a military attache of the fourth grade all of a sudden?

Shi Lei, Liu Lijun, Zhang Biqing and others also received their own rewards. (To be continued......)