Princess Gaoyang and Chu Suiliang set off from Chang'an and went to Lanzhou.

Before leaving, Princess Gaoyang did not go to Li Shimin to say goodbye. Although she is also very reluctant to give up her father in her heart, for some reason, there is a trace of hatred lingering.

Although Li Shimin was also worried and sad during the time when he fainted, the heartfelt words he said when he woke up also moved Princess Gaoyang to tears. However, with all the past, Li Shimin is no longer the loving father who was arrogant to her in her early years. Especially this time, his attitude towards Qin Mubai, indirectly "forced" Qin Mubai to resign, it was like planting a thorn in Princess Gaoyang, and he couldn't pull it out.

"Father, I know that you want to be a good emperor through the ages, and you also want to be a good father who is loved by your children. But when there is a conflict between the two, you always choose to take care of your hegemony and give up your family affection. Princess Gaoyang sighed in her heart, "As an emperor, your choice is undoubtedly correct, and you are destined to go down in history and be praised by future generations; But as a father, you are so disappointing! …… In contrast, I was luckier than my brother, the crown prince and the king of Wei, and even the king of Wu! It's a good thing I wasn't born a boy, otherwise my fate would have been even more tragic than theirs! Therefore, as a subject of the Tang Dynasty, he is lucky and happy; But as your children, it is sad and unfortunate! ”

The carriage and horses gradually traveled westward, and Princess Gaoyang's heart was full of mixed feelings, and there was nothing to say. First, she was reluctant to let her mother live with her hometown for so many years, and second, she looked forward to reuniting and staying with Qin Mubai.

"Why can't you take care of both at the same time?" Princess Gaoyang was sullen, "I still haven't figured it out, why did Mu Bai resign?" Is my father really going to attack him? …… When we meet, I'll have to ask clearly! ”

A few days later, Princess Gaoyang and Chu Suiliang finally arrived in Lanzhou. But Qin Mubai has been gone for many days, and the people of Qiongyu Villa have gone to the empty building.

Princess Gaoyang was angry, and Chu Suiliang was also stunned. found the assassin Shi Xiaoliang to question, only to know that Qin Mubai had already moved his family north to the northern grassland, saying that he was going to hold a wedding with Princess Ashina!

"Thief Military Academy, stinky man, don't wait for me!" Princess Gaoyang stomped her feet in anger and scolded, and immediately decided-"I'm going to the grassland to find him!" ”

Chu Suiliang and others will be in trouble. They came to marry on the orders of the emperor, and at the same time brought His Majesty the Emperor's gift to Qin Mubai, intending to use both prongs to persuade Qin Mubai to return to the court.

But now that there is no voice, how can it be good? Could it be that together with Princess Gaoyang, go north to look for it? What if I miss it again? Traveling thousands of miles to the north, going back and forth for months, the court is still waiting for a response!

Just when everyone was hesitating, someone came to ask to see Princess Gaoyang. It turned out to be one of the shopkeepers of the Wu family's firm, and now it is still in Lanzhou. He brought two letters left by Qin Mubai.

One of them was left by Qin Mubai to Princess Gaoyang; The other letter was written by Qin Shuang'er and forwarded to King Wu.

Princess Gaoyang hurriedly opened the letter and read it, and wrote that after Qin Mubai asked Princess Gaoyang to come to Lanzhou, she didn't have to go north to the grassland, but went directly to the west and met in Gaochang. At the same time, he told Princess Gaoyang that if Li Ke came to ask Qin Shuang'er to kiss her, let her forward the letter left by Shuang'er to Li Ke, and he would naturally understand.

"This guy, do you expect me to come back or wait for me? It's disgusting! Princess Gaoyang read the letter, and her heart sank a lot. Although she was still scolding in pieces, she also did what Qin Mubai said, handed Qin Shuang'er's letter to Chu Suiliang, and asked him to take it back to Chang'an for business.

Chu Suiliang was embarrassed when he took the letter, he didn't find the emperor and didn't do it, but he only brought back a letter, how is it good?

This marriage, anyone with a discerning eye knows, is not just a marriage of children. In the current situation, it can be said that it is a political marriage that affects the overall situation. The emperor's intention is very obvious, that is, to make Qin Mubai the leader of the military, stand behind Li Ke and fully support him to sit in the East Palace, and take over the Tang Dynasty in the future.

Chu Sui's conscience was worried, and with Qin Mubai's wisdom, it was not difficult to associate this layer. However, he slipped away before the emperor rewarded and married, obviously trying to escape with other ideas in his heart.

The emperor and Qin Mubai were playing, what did the two of them think in their hearts, and where did the people who were chess pieces guess and think clearly? If you break the chess game by making your own decisions, no one can afford it.

In desperation, Chu Suiliang had no choice but to take this letter and immediately return to Chang'an to hand over to the emperor.

Princess Gaoyang is so happy - finally completely free!

She didn't stop for a moment, urging her escort chariot to fight, and immediately went west, out of Yumen Pass, and went to Gaochang to join Qin Mubai. Although Princess Gaoyang has always been with a hundred cavalry guards given to her by the emperor in the early years, Xiao Liang did not dare to be slack, and still sent more than 1,000 soldiers and horses from Guanxi to escort her along the way.

A group of people and horses marched westward.

At the same time, Qin Mubai and his entourage went north along the Yellow River, followed the Helan Mountains, crossed the Yellow River, and crossed the Yin Mountain, and had arrived at the Mobei Grassland, where they came to the habitat of the Ashina tribe in the past, at the foot of the present mountain.

It's a long way along the way, but fortunately, I was traveling with my family, and it was all sightseeing. Stopping and touring along the way, I was not tired at all, but very happy and relaxed.

Since Li Tao led the army to quell the rebellion of Xue Yantuo, he established a new Shan Yu Jiandu Governor's Mansion in the old land of the original Turkic tent in the capital of Jinshan, opened a garrison and governed the steppe. The Hui tribes who assisted in the rebellion were attached to the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty also opened the Hanhai Governor's Mansion in their territory, which was subordinate to the Shan Metropolitan Governor's Office. The original leader of the Hui Ministry, that is, Ashina Xuelian's uncle Tumidu, was named the first governor of Hanhai by the Tang Dynasty and became the feudal official of the Tang Dynasty.

When Qin Mubai and the others arrived at Yudu Jinshan, someone had already informed Li Tao that he knew. Li Tao personally led the troops to greet him, and took Qin Mubai and his entourage to the Governor's Mansion. After hearing Qin Mubai's intention, Li Tao readily agreed immediately to host the wedding of Qin Mubai and Xuelian, and sent someone to Hanhai to bring Xuelian's uncle Tumidu and sister-in-law Xiyan to Yudu Jinshan.

"Mu Bai, although I am far away in Mobei, I have heard a lot about you." Li Tao said to Qin Mubai, "I think about it, His Majesty the Emperor and the Tang Dynasty have not done anything very excessive to you, why do you want to resign and run away?" ”

"Uncle Shi, this is a long story." Qin Mubai said, "Your Majesty and the imperial court have always treated me well, I know this. Although some unpleasant things have happened before, those are not all the reasons for my resignation. I, Qin, am not so narrow-minded. ”

"Then why did you resign? Just because I am worried that I am high in merit, I want to avoid disasters and go away to be alone? Li Tao said, "If that's the case, then you're really thinking too much." I have been following Your Majesty for many years, which one of them is not meritorious? But you have never been like you! ”

"It's not." Qin Mubai smiled indifferently and said, "I know that His Majesty the Emperor does not harm me, and he has tried many times, and he just wants to entrust me with important tasks in the future. If I return to the court, I will definitely enter the prime minister and assist the new prince to enter the East Palace. ”

"Isn't that great?" Li Tao said puzzledly, "You and I, military people, have been fighting desperately for so many years, aren't they just waiting for this day?" ”

"Not yet." Qin Mubai shook his head and said, "In the past, it was the strong and the weak in the military, and the eldest grandson Wuji and others were in charge of the authority of the court. But now, as long as I lead the Kwantan Army back to the court, with my friendship with King Wu, as well as the previous military exploits and the support of many generals under my command, I am bound to go on a steady journey, and sooner or later I will surpass the eldest grandson Wuji. In this way, the balance of the court was broken again, and it became strong and weak. At this time, what will His Majesty the Emperor do? ”

Li Tao suddenly realized, nodded, but did not break the words, just said: "It turns out that you are concerned about the overall situation...... That's right, to destroy Tibet and the Western Regions, you have made great achievements in the world; The Kansai army was invincible and invincible, with great momentum, and good generals were like clouds. After these soldiers return to the court, they will also be rewarded for their merits. When the time comes, you will be a protégé and a former official all over the world, and your prestige and power will be unmatched. said that he wanted to surpass the eldest grandson Wuji...... It's not that hard! ”

"But Datang doesn't need a minister." Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said, "And I, Qin, am very self-aware, if I want to govern the country and the country, I am far inferior to the eldest grandson Wuji, Chu Suiliang, and Fang Xuanling." In the next few decades, the Tang Dynasty must cultivate the literature with martial arts, and I don't want to return to the court to take power but become a stumbling block for the eldest grandson Wuji and others, and become a stumbling block for the Tang Dynasty's cultural governance, thus causing many unnecessary fights and internal friction. Moreover, everything is contrary. Today, I, Qin, was an early supreme minister, as if I had already climbed to the top, just waiting for my whereabouts. As the saying goes, the higher you climb, the worse you fall, rather than this, I might as well retreat bravely and give up power and responsibility to those who come after me, so that they can also make contributions to Datang. ”

Li Tao nodded with relief and approval, and said, "Mu Bai, it's rare that you can be so enlightened. But anyone who is trapped in Vanity Fair just wants to sharpen their heads and climb up, but you can clearly recognize the overall situation and situation, and make such a decision, which must be done with great wisdom. ”

"Haha, Uncle Shi has won the award." Qin Mubai smiled, "Actually, I don't have anything, it's just that this official is tired of doing it." And the most important point is that Datang has no shortage of talents. Without me Qin Mubai, there will be Zhang Mubai and Li Mubai, and they will emerge endlessly. Therefore, no one is indispensable! No one can do it all! - When I realized this, I was relieved! ”

Li Tao nodded with a smile: "No one is indispensable, no one can do everything - that's right!" You have a hard time, because not everyone has this kind of awareness, especially those who are in power. Whenever people have power in their hands, their selfish desires and ambitions will swell, and eventually they will become slaves to fame and fortune, losing themselves or even losing themselves. ”

"yes!" Qin Mubai said with a smile, "I was just afraid that I would get carried away after I returned to the court, so I took the initiative to retreat earlier." ”

Li Tao smiled: "I don't think you will." You have seen through fame, fortune and wealth and are tired of power struggles, whether you resign or return to the dynasty, I think you can be at ease. ”

Qin Mubai smiled, "Why does Uncle Shi's words sound like he is lobbying the little nephew?" ”

"Haha!" Li Tao patted his leg and smiled, "To tell you the truth, I don't want you to leave just yet." Datang finally came up with a Qin Mubai. Not to mention anything else, as long as you are here, at least no one will dare to commit the Tang Dynasty in the next few decades. Our generation, the old and the old die, how many days can they flutter? Sooner or later, you will have to assist Datang! ”

"Uncle Shi, I just said that the most important thing in Datang is talent." Qin Mubai said with a smile, "One of the reasons why I went north this time was to fulfill my promise to marry Xuelian. Another motive is to entrust a person to you. ”

"Who?"

"Xue Rengui!"

Li Tao was first surprised, and then overjoyed: "What you said is true? ”

Qin Mubai said with a smile: "Everyone has their own aspirations, although Qin is indifferent to fame and fortune and tired of officialdom, he won't let his brothers follow me, right?" Rengui is a talent, and he has both talent and morality. There is a saying that gold will always shine, and people like Rengui can play an extremely great value no matter what dynasty or generation they are in, no matter what environment they are in. Although he has made a lot of contributions before, he has always bowed to me. With his ability and virtue, he will never achieve more than this. Therefore, I want to entrust him to Uncle Shi, so that he can make contributions under Uncle Shi's promotion! ”

"Yes, yes!" Li Tao smiled happily and gratifyingly, nodded and said, "I really won't hide it from you, the old man has coveted Xue Rengui for a long time, haha!" - A good minister and a fierce general like him is really rare to see in a hundred years! Don't worry, the old man will definitely focus on cultivating him! ”

Qin Mubai smiled and said, "Among the generals of the Kansai Army, Xue Rengui has the greatest ability, but his virtue is the most humble. He is a man like me, and I am too frivolous and arrogant to make the king jealous. However, if one day Rengui sits in my place, he can still reassure the king. Therefore, I am also relieved to boldly hand him over to Uncle Shi, and let him follow Uncle Shi to make immortal feats! ”

"Listening to your words, I seem to understand a little bit why you resigned." Li Tao said, "If you leave, the Kwantan army will be leaderless, and the imperial court will not have to worry about the military power being over-inflated and upsetting the balance, so it will change hands to suppress the military again." On the one hand, you are to take care of the overall stability of the imperial court, and on the other hand, you are also to protect the heroes and good generals of the Kwantai Army, right? ”

"Those who know me, Uncle Shi!" Qin Mubai took a long breath and said with a smile, "Actually, the man has ambitions in all directions, and he should be immortal." Who really wants to be mediocre and die nameless? After working hard for so many years, the achievements in hand are thrown away, and it is a lie to say that there is no reluctance. It's just that after so many years of fighting, I have seen too many lives and deaths, and I cherish life even more. But if I have the slightest achievement today, it is also the bones of thousands of people; In the future, I don't want to use other people's blood to stain my robes and belts, especially ...... Brothers who were born and died with me! ”

"I can hear it, it's from your heart." Li Tao sighed and said, "Mu Bai, since ancient times, it has been difficult to achieve both loyalty and righteousness, and it is not easy for you to do what you are today. Everyone has their own ambitions, and they should not be forced. Although I would love for you to stay and continue to fight side by side with me for the Tang Dynasty, what you said also makes sense. If I were you, I might do the same. But the world is impermanent, if the environment changes one day, Datang really needs you, you ...... Will you be willing to come back and continue to play for Datang? ”

Qin Mubai replied with a smile: "I have seen through fame and fortune and am tired of officialdom, and it is unlikely that I will come back to be an official." But even after I return to the Western Regions, I can still benefit the Tang Dynasty, right? Don't forget, the Tang Dynasty was initially decided, and there was an important neighbor, Zhaowu Kingdom. ”

"That's right. It seems that you chose to retreat to the Western Regions, and it was not all for yourself. With you, the Western Regions will not be chaotic; If you eat a lot, you won't dare to invade easily; Zhaowu Kingdom will always be a friendly neighbor of Datang! Li Tao nodded in approval, and then sighed, "Mu Bai, you have good intentions. I will definitely convey these words to His Majesty and King Wu in the future. ”

"No need." Qin Mubai smiled slightly and said, "Just ask Uncle Shi to convey a word to Your Majesty and King Wu - Qin, you are a Tang person in life, and a Tang ghost in death!" ”