Princess Gaoyang returned to the back house, hurriedly found Chen Yan, and said to her, "Sister Yan, we can't stay in Lanzhou for a long time!" ”

"Why?" Chen Yan asked in surprise.

Princess Gaoyang's eyebrows were deeply locked, and she gritted her teeth a little and said with hatred: "In the court, I don't know who slandered my father and the emperor, saying that Mu Baigong is high and shocking the lord or has a heart of disobedience. No, my father sent Chu Suiliang to invite us back to Chang'an together. Fortunately, Mu Bai took a step earlier, and Chu Suiliang wanted to take me and Xiao Di'er back to Beijing, but I refused to prevaricate. I'm thinking, my father is saluting first and then soldiering. This time it's please, and next time, it may be 'catch'. Therefore, we must leave Chang'an, go to the Western Regions, and stay with Mu Bai! ”

Chen Yan was slightly taken aback and pondered for a long time, but she shook her head and said, "Princess, I am the opposite of what you think. ”

"Oh?" Princess Gao Yang was surprised, "You mean to say that we can't go?" ”

"Absolutely not to go." Chen Yan said, "I don't know what the emperor and the ministers think in their hearts, I just think that people are not afraid of shadows, since Mu Bai does not have any disobedience and disobedience, why should he be afraid?" He is now leading an expedition to be loyal to the country, and he is not trying to be treacherous. What are we panicking about? - But if we run away at this time and go to the Western Regions to find him, it will confirm that Mu Bai has different intentions! Therefore, we can't go! ”

Hearing this, Princess Gao Yang nodded silently, and her expression suddenly darkened.

"Princess, what's wrong with you?" Chen Yan asked with concern.

Princess Gaoyang took Chen Yan's hand and said helplessly and sadly: "Sister Yan, if one day, Mu Bai and my father fight, who should I help?" ”

Chen Yan was stunned and hurriedly said: "There will be no such day." ”

"I mean—what if!" Princess Gao Yang said stubbornly, "Now, I seem to have seen some bad signs. My father, the Emperor, did not trust Mu Bai as much as we thought. In other words, the emperor never fully trusts a courtier. ”

Chen Yan sighed softly, shook her head again, and said, "I don't know either." To be honest, I have never had a good impression of officialdom, and Mu Bai is the only exception. In my opinion, whether it is an emperor or a general, anyone who is in the power field will sooner or later seem to be obsessed with it, and he can't help himself. In their view, anything but power and profit can be discarded. Including family affection, love, and even others. ”

"Is this why you left Mu Bai to give birth to a child alone?" Princess Gao Yang asked.

"Sort of!" Chen Yan smiled slightly and said, "Although Mu Bai is pure and not a treacherous person, as long as he is still an official for a day, he will inevitably be troubled by officialdom for a day." We know Mu Bai and know that he has no disobedience, but outsiders don't think so, especially his political enemies in the court don't think so. Princess, you don't have to think too badly. The emperor just wants to invite you to go home and have a look, maybe he doesn't mean anything else? ”

"Sister Yan, you don't know my father." Princess Gao Yang said, "No matter what kind of thing he does, he is a resolute and iron-fisted method. Only this time let Mu Bai and I go back to Beijing, but I used a rather soft word 'please', and said to let Mu Bai decide whether to go to Chang'an and when to go. This is so abnormal - after all, my father is a little jealous of Mu Bai now. Otherwise, he could have issued a holy decree, do Mu Bai and I have any reason not to go? ”

"In other words, even the emperor is a little scared now, because he accidentally offended Mu Bai?" Chen Yan was also a little surprised.

"Not really!" Princess Gao Yang was a little anxious, "What will it mean to be a courtier who makes kings treat with care?" ”

Chen Yan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it, her eyebrows locked lightly and pondered for a long time, and she suddenly said: "Princess, why don't you go back to Beijing, meet your father and the emperor, and explain everything clearly to your face." Otherwise, this back and forth, suspicion and estrangement are getting bigger and bigger, and it's really not good! ”

"I can't go!" Princess Gaoyang hurriedly said, "Mu Bai went on an expedition, but my father asked me and Xiao Di'er back to Chang'an, in the eyes of Mu Bai and outsiders, isn't this just taking us back to Chang'an as hostages?" - What a terrible thing to say! ”

"In comparison, these gossips are far less serious than the emperor's suspicion of Mu Bai." Chen Yan said decisively, "The emperor specially sent a prime minister and a close minister, and he very politely invited the three of you to return to Beijing. It's better to go to Chang'an to face the saint, and the little county lord will shirk his illness and be inconvenient to travel far, and stay in Lanzhou to be taken care of by me and the nurses. Between you and the emperor, after all, it is a flesh-and-blood relationship between father and daughter, if he really doesn't even believe you anymore, then Mu Bai's fate when he returns to Chang'an can be imagined. But I believe that rumors stop at the wise, and both the emperor and Mu Bai are wise and wise people. Therefore, if there is any gossip, don't care about him! ”

Princess Gaoyang's silver teeth clenched and pondered for a moment, and nodded decisively - "Okay!" It's just that I went home to visit my father and mother, and it's not Longtan Tiger's Den, what am I afraid of?! After all, this world is still the world of my Li family, Mu Bai is the son-in-law of my Li family, no matter who dares to play tricks on him, I will definitely let him die an ugly death! When I return to Chang'an, I will see clearly which traitors are slandering in the ears of my father and emperor, sowing discord between our monarchs and ministers, father and daughter! If I find this person, I will kill him with a sword, and I will not tolerate it!! ”

"Don't be too impulsive." Chen Yan patiently persuaded her, and said, "In addition, you have to write a letter to tell him that you took the initiative to go back to Chang'an Province because you missed your parents." Otherwise, if Mu Bai learned about these things through other people's tongues, it was really hard to guarantee whether he would think about it. This is how many misunderstandings and contradictions arise! ”

"Yes, yes, yes!" Princess Gaoyang said three words in a row, and said busily, "I still have to tell Uncle Huang and Pang Fei not to report to Mu Bai that Chu Suiliang has come!" Otherwise, he is far away in the heart of the Western Regions, which is not conducive to his peace of mind to use troops to fight! ”

"Hmmm! That's it! ”

A few days later, Qin Mubai led his army to Gaochang, the first stop of the Tang Dynasty in the Western Regions.

At the beginning, Xue Rengui went and turned his sword against Gaochang State, and after Gaochang King Lu Zhisheng surrendered under the pressure of Nanting, it became Xizhou under the rule of the Tang Dynasty, which was under the rule of Anxi Dadu Hufu, and there were five counties under its jurisdiction. Since the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate has not yet been formally established, Xizhou is just a military town outside the Saiwai, with a few generals left by Su Dingfang and more than 1,000 Guanxi troops guarding it.

Today, Gaochang City still retains the former residence of "Anxi Dadu Hufu" where Qin Shubao lived in the past. Qin Mubai, Xue Rengui, Yuwen Hongtai and other generals entered the city together and came here.

The house is not big, and there is a gray and white wooden board hanging at the door, on which are written the words "Dadu Hufu".

Seeing this plaque, Qin Mubai's heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle, and it suddenly contracted into a ball of stinging pain.

This is exactly Qin Shubao's handwriting.

Yuwen Hongtai had already rushed into the courtyard first, and saw that although the courtyard was clean, it was empty. On the left side of the large field courtyard that enters the gate is a row of tethered horse piles and grass and wood arrow stacks, where Qin Shubao and Yuwen Hongtai and others practice martial arts on weekdays.

When they broke through that night, everyone stood in this courtyard and swore goodbye.

Seeing things and people touching the scene, Yuwen Hongtai stepped forward and hugged those arrow stacks and cried, making Qin Mubai and Xue Rengui want to comfort him.

The crowd went into the main hall again, where there were two rows of chairs and a main desk; Behind the hall is a bedroom and a bed, which is so simple that it is shabby, not at all like the yamen residence of a feudal official.

There was silence all around, no one spoke, and everyone's mood was a little heavy.

Qin Mubai slowly walked to the front of the main case, pulled out the handsome chair, and sat down on the front.

The left hand is thin and the right hand inkstone, the right is in front of the three wolf pens and one side of the paper jade flower stone, just like Qin Shubao's furnishings in the study at home, simple and clear, neat to the meticulous.

Qin Mubai put his elbows on the table, crossed his fingers on his forehead, and closed his eyes to concentrate.

The past is vivid. I think of the scenes I used to get along with my father when I was at home.

The picture is vivid, and the sound is like it.

Unexpectedly, when Lanzhou said goodbye that year, Qin Mubai returned to Chang'an to get married, but since then he has been with his father forever.

Later, the death of my father directly triggered a earth-shaking reversal.

Gaochang has been recovered, Tubo has been pacified, and now the Tang Dynasty has penetrated deep into the hinterland of the Western Regions.

……

"Young marshal, there is a letter from Lanzhou to ......" Xue Rengui's voice interrupted Qin Mubai's contemplation.

"Oh, fetch." Qin Mubai took a deep breath and returned to reality.

It turned out to be a letter written by Princess Gaoyang, which said that she had returned to Chang'an Province because she missed her father, queen and mother. Xiao Di'er was too young to travel far, so she stayed at home and let Chen Yan take care of it, so that Qin Mubai didn't have to worry about it.

After reading the letter, Qin Mubai smiled and said, "As expected, not long after I left, the imperial court sent someone to call me back to Beijing. As a result, I was not there, and Gao Yang was worried that the emperor would be suspicious of me, so he went to Chang'an to defend himself. Before leaving, he was worried that I would misunderstand, and he deliberately wrote a book to stabilize me. ”

The generals were a little surprised and asked, "The court invited you back at this time, is it to be unfavorable to you?" ”

Qin Mubai smiled and didn't say much, folded the letter and put it away, and said, "Husband, if you are walking straight, I won't pay attention to those groundless things." It may be that the imperial court is about to establish a prince, so it is necessary to recall some feudal officials who are leading troops abroad, so as to stabilize the political situation. Not good for me? There is no way to say this. I, Qin, have always only contributed to the community! - Don't say anything more about this in the future, so as not to confuse the morale of the army! ”

"Yes!"

"Newspaper - there is a report from the Western Expedition General Su Dingfang and the Fast Horse Army!"

Everyone looked straight, "It's timely, we just arrived in Gaochang!" ”

"Bring it!"

Qin Mubai opened the urgent report and looked at it, and his face suddenly changed slightly, "This matter is new!" Jumping out of such an enemy! ”

"What's the matter, young marshal?"

Qin Mubai handed the military report in his hand to Xue Rengui, "Great Food Invasion!" See for yourselves! ”

All the generals were taken aback by surprise and hurriedly crowded together to check the military report.

"Report - Nanting urgently reports the military situation!"

"Here we go again!!"

When everyone looked at the military information sent by Nanting, their mood became more solemn and the atmosphere became more tense.

It turned out that Su Dingfang led his army to Kangguo Samajian to deal with emergencies, and found the imminent invasion of Dashi there. Originally, the coalition forces had already taken the siege of Gongyue City, but only a few days after Su Dingfang left, the head coach of Beiting suddenly launched a counterattack against Gongyue City. The Nanting coalition army, which had just won the victory, was caught off guard and left in defeat. Nanting coach Ba Ximi died on the spot!

Soon, Ni Shu Si took advantage of the victory to pursue and kill all the way, and directly killed the Suihe Water Tooth Tent in Nanting. At present, the 200,000-strong army led by Ni Shusi is besieging the tooth tent, the morale of Nanting is low, and there is a shortage of major generals in front of the Khan's tent, and the situation is extremely critical, so he has to rush to the doctor, while asking for help from Kangguo Su Dingfang, and on the other hand, he sent an envoy to ask for help from the Tang army on the side of Gaochang.

"Xue Rengui!" Qin Mubai shouted.

"The last general!" Xue Rengui promised loudly.

"I order you to lead the headquarters to ride 30,000 people as the vanguard, and immediately set off to Suiheshui to solve the danger of Nanting!" Qin Mubai ordered, "Remember, you can't fight or pursue, you just need to break the siege!" ”

"No!" Xue Rengui loudly agreed to receive the general's order, and strode out of the clouds.

"It's the pioneer surnamed Xue again!" Yuwen Hongtai muttered on the side.

"What, do you have an opinion?" Qin Mubai glanced at him.

"No, I don't have an opinion......" Yuwen Hongtai was suddenly quite ashamed, and his neck shrunk.

Everyone couldn't help but think of Yuwen Hongtai's only battle to be a pioneer on the Tubo Plateau, if it weren't for Qin Mubai's sending the Fire God to help him at a critical time, he would definitely be defeated, and he almost lost his life. Since then, the army has ridiculed him as 'Yuwen Pioneer'. But whenever he heard this nickname, Yuwen Hongtai's face turned red, as if the thief had been caught.

"Yuwen Hongtai!!" Qin Mubai shouted.

"In!!" Yuwen Hongtai is in spirit.

"Order you to lead 50,000 elite soldiers in your headquarters, and then set off to prepare to meet Xue Rengui. Remember to bring more medicine and rice, presumably the Nanting tent has been besieged for a long time, and these materials are in urgent need. Qin Mubai said.

"Yes!" Yuwen Hongtai also received the general's order, and ran in stride to chase Xue Rengui.

"The generals will obey!" Qin Mubai shouted, "After each of them returns to the camp, they will order the village to be pulled out and set up for camp!" The army is speeding up, and the target is the Nanting Tooth Tent! ”

"No!!"

Less than an hour after entering Gaochang City, Qin Mubai and the others all came out again and returned to the barracks.

After the order was issued, the sergeants hurriedly buried the pot and cooked to fill their stomachs, and the marching stove that had just been dug was filled, and the huge camp of the 200,000-strong army was immediately pulled up after a short time.

Xue Rengui went into battle lightly and led 30,000 elite cavalry to take the lead, and Yuwen Hongtai then set off with a large number of supplies.

While the camp was busy, it rained heavily. Gaochang is located in the basin, but when the temperature changes, it is prone to sudden showers in spring, summer and autumn.

The rain soon stopped, and a rainbow hung in the far northwest sky. Soon sharp-eyed sergeants shouted - "Brothers, look! Isn't that handsome?! ”

Everyone was stunned, and when they looked down, they saw that among the mountains in the distance, there was really a beautiful man standing with a horizontal sword, standing facing southeast. That posture and aura are indeed like Qin Shubao!

Qin Mubai glanced at it and was also stunned! - Father, how can you stand in the rainbow?!

"The handsome man has appeared, he has appeared!" The sergeants were deeply shocked, and countless people hurriedly knelt down and bowed.

At this time, many people in Gaochang City also saw this strange scene from afar, and knelt down and bowed one after another, shouting "God blesses"!

Qin Mubai was also really shocked and confused for a moment, almost really believing that it was his father who had appeared in the mortal world. He sent people to ask the people, and the people replied, but after a thunderstorm, the "true god" Qin Shubao would show miracles in the northwest of the Flame Mountain! Because of this, Qin Shubao has now become the guardian god worshiped by all the merchants on the Silk Road, and he is the true god that the people of the Western Regions believe in!

After listening to this, Qin Mubai began to be as shocked and even shocked as everyone else. Later, after pondering, I realized that the Gaochang people had built a huge statue of Qin Shubao on this flame mountain to forgive their sins and commemorate them. The rainbow that appeared after the thunderstorm was an optical phenomenon on the meteorological side of the road, and various coincidences made the statue of Qin Shubao also appear in the rainbow. From a distance, it is like a "miracle appearance."

"Order-stop bowing, immediately wave the army and send troops!" Qin Mubai ordered loudly, "With the blessing of my father's handsome gods, the Kansai Army will be invincible and invincible!" ”

"Invincible, invincible!!" Sergeants, the mountains roar and the tsunami.

Morale is booming!!

……

Qin Mubai got on the horse, dressed up, looked at his father's shadow between the ethereal rainbows, and said in a low voice: "Father...... San Lang, you finally set foot on the land of the Western Regions and stood in the position you stood in back then. I swear that I will conquer the Western Regions once and for all my enemies! …… To solace you, your spirit in heaven! ”