When the Qing army began to organize and bury the pot to make rice, Li Xiao, who led all the cavalry of the Tang Army to break into the city of Zhuozhou, under the leadership of the Ming army defending the city, took a group of guards and hurried to the official residence in the city to see Lu Xiangsheng, who had been carried back to the official residence. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

At this time, Li Xiao had already learned the specific situation of the defenders in the city.

That is, it was originally a 5,000-strong Ming army defending the city, and after this bloody battle, the number of soldiers and horses was less than half, and Lu Xiangsheng's fourth brother Lu Xiangtong and fifth brother Lu Xiangkun were all in the battle to defend the south gate of Zhuozhou and died heroically.

In addition, Yang Tinglin, the squire of the military department, although he was a civilian official, was also seriously injured because he raised his sword to kill the enemy, while Lu Xiangsheng's second brother Lu Xiangjin and third brother Lu Xiangguan were slightly injured respectively.

The entire Zhuozhou defense battle can be called extremely tragic.

Li Xiao, who led a group of guards and shuttled through the streets covered with corpses and blood, had a solemn face and an extremely heavy mood.

When Li Xiaofang entered Lu Xiangsheng's mansion, he saw Chen An, the captain of the family, walking out of Lu Xiangsheng's room with a medical officer with a worried face.

"Medical officer, Lord Lu's injury, what is the matter, but can it still be saved?" Chen An asked urgently.

"Captain Chen, forgive the little old man for telling the truth, Lord Lu has been cut off by the Tartars in his abdomen, his liver and intestines are broken, and he has lost too much blood. The medical skills are shallow, and there is really no power to return to heaven, so please arrange the aftermath as soon as possible. ”

The medical officer's voice was very low, but Li Xiao, who was still approached quickly, heard it clearly.

Hearing this terrible news, Li Xiao's heart, which was originally full of hope because of the retreat of the Qing army, instantly sank to the bottom of the ice lake.

This Lu Xiangsheng, who led the army to fight to the death with the Qing army, was seriously injured? !

How so?!

Why has he done his best to change history, but this Lu Xiangsheng will still sacrifice his life in the end like real history, is it really God who is not blessed?

Li Xiao suddenly felt that in his heart, it was like pressing a boulder, which made him extremely uncomfortable.

At this time, Chen An and the medical officer saw that it was Li Xiao, the commander of the Tang Army, who was coming, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Li Xiao snorted, didn't say much, hurriedly pushed open the door, and rushed into the room.

Li Xiao saw that Lu Xiangsheng was lying flat on the bed, his armor had been removed, his eyes were closed, his face was pale, and a terrible big hole had been cracked in his abdomen, and the blood stains that had dried up stained the clothes in the entire abdomen into a large dark red patch.

Standing next to him were his two younger brothers, the second brother Lu Xiangjin and the third brother Lu Xiangguan, both of whom were wrapped in bloody bandages, and their eyes were red and swollen with sadness.

Hearing the sound of a large number of armor iron blades rubbing against each other outside the room, Lu Xiangsheng, who had fallen into a semi-coma because of excessive blood loss, slowly opened his eyes.

"Yes, is Tang Guogong here?" Lu Xiangsheng's voice was very low.

"Governor Lu, it's me, it's me Li Xiao who has come to see you."

Li Xiao walked quickly to the bed, pulled a chair and sat down, and said in a soft voice.

Lu Xiang's eyes were already dull, and the light was revealed, he turned his head with difficulty, and after seeing Li Xiao next to him who was wearing a stainless steel armor and covered with blood, his original indifferent expression suddenly became excited.

"Tang Guogong, I am the governor, I 。。。。。。" Lu Xiangsheng gasped, but his throat choked and he couldn't speak.

"Governor Lu, there is no need to say more. What you mean, my father knows it in his heart, and you should take good care of your injuries. Li Xiao took his hand and comforted him softly.

Listening to Li Xiao's comforting words, Lu Xiangsheng had a wry smile on his face.

"Tang Guogong, Lu is seriously injured, and he knows that the deadline is approaching. It's just that before Lu died, he still had a few words of confidant that he wanted to say to you. Lu Xiangsheng coughed and said with difficulty.

"Governor Lu, you say, Li is listening."

Li Xiao tightly held Lu Xiangsheng's gradually cold hand, and brought his head closer and closer, and tears flashed in his eyes.

"Tang Guogong, there is a way, people are about to die, and their words are also good; The bird is dying, and its song is mourning. I, Lu Xiangsheng, self-proclaimed as a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty, dedicated to the country, now think about it, Lu died here in this battle, although he has done his best and morality, but in the country and the king, what is the benefit of ridicule! Lu Xiangsheng said with tears in the corners of his eyes.

"Governor Lou 。。。。。。"

"Tang Guogong, you advocated peace with the Qing court before, and decided to settle the internal and then external plans, I, Lu Xiangsheng, oppose it with all my might, and now I think about it, how stupid! In today's battle, Lu knew that our Ming army was so weak that it was not the opponent of the Qing army at all! With such a soldier, it is still difficult to exterminate the bandits in the country, how can they fight with the Tartars outside the pass! ”

Speaking of this, Lu Xiangsheng coughed violently, like a shrimp, with a bow on his back.

After taking a little breather, Lu Xiangsheng said intermittently: "Some time ago, due to the instigation of the villain in the court, Lu Mou also quarreled with the Tang Guogong sword soldiers, and now that I think about it, I am really ashamed!" Today, if it weren't for Tang Guogong, regardless of his past suspicions, he personally led the army to rescue him, and this Zhuozhou city would have already fallen into the hands of the Qing captives, and Lu's head would have been cut off to the Qing army for credit. Tang Guogong's great kindness to save him, Lu can only repay it in the next life. “

"Why did Governor Lu say this! There is no need to talk about the past. Everyone is a Ming official army, fighting against the Tartars, watching and helping each other, it is natural and natural. Governor Lu only needs to recuperate from his injuries with peace of mind, and he will be Huo Ran in the future. Li Xiao squeezed out a smile on his face, but still comforted him softly.

Lu Xiangsheng shook his head slowly, and his voice became more and more difficult: "Tang Guogong, Lu Mou's deadline is approaching, and it is difficult to live, and you know from your heart, you don't need to comfort you more." In addition to Fang Cai's words, what Lu also wanted to say to Tang Guogong was that in this Zhuozhou City, these remnants of soldiers and horses, I don't plan to let them return to Xuanzhen, I hope that Master Li can take them in and let them serve in the Tang army. ”

"Governor Lu, this 。。。。。。"

Lu Xiangsheng sighed lightly: "Tang Guogong, the reason why this governor has arranged it like this is also a last resort. Because Lu led the army to the expedition, now that he is the governor of Xuanda, the imperial court has ordered Chen Xinjia, the governor of Xuanfu, to temporarily act as the agent, and Lu Mou died, Chen Xinjia is bound to officially take office. If you return to Xuanfu Town, then Chen Xinjia is not a person who can tolerate people, and they will inevitably be excluded and neglected after they go back. Therefore, Lu was thinking, anyway, no matter where he was a soldier, he would serve the Ming Dynasty, so why should he be in one place. If they can join your army, although their combat power cannot be compared with your army, they can also rely on their help and serve Lord Li loyally. ”

After Lu Xiangsheng finished speaking, a pair of dilated pupils in his eyes stared straight at Li Xiao, his face full of expectation.

Li Xiao held Lu Xiangsheng's hand tightly, nodded heavily, and said in a deep voice: "Lord Lu, you can rest assured." Since you have arranged it like this, Li has accepted all these soldiers and horses. My father will treat them the same as other officers and men of our army, and will never treat them in the cold. ”

Lu Xiangsheng's face was moved, and he hurriedly whispered: "Tang Guogong, after this battle, although two younger brothers went before me, fortunately, the Lu family was endless, and two younger brothers survived. They don't have official status yet, but in my opinion, if the two of them are willing, let them also serve under the Tang State Prince's account. ”

As soon as Lu Xiangsheng finished speaking, Lu Xiangjin and Lu Xiangguan on the side knelt on the ground, and whispered to Li Xiao: "Since the eldest brother has made a decision, how dare the two of us disobey our fate!" I implore Lord Li to take in the two of us, and I will do our best to repay the kindness of the adults! ”

Li Xiao hurriedly helped the two of them up, and said in a loud voice: "You don't have to be polite, since the two of you are willing to come to my account to serve, it is really a help for Li, which is something that Li can't ask for!" ”

After Li Xiao helped the two of them, at this time, Lu Xiangsheng's faint voice came again: "Two virtuous brothers, and quit the room, for the brother and have a few words, I want to talk to Master Li alone." ”

Lu Xiangjin and Lu Xiangguan glanced at each other, then gave a salute and hurriedly exited the room.

In the room, only Lu Xiangsheng and Li Xiao were left.

Lu Xiang gasped and stared straight at Li Xiao's handsome and resolute face, like a kind brother looking at his own brother.

"Li Xiao, now in the room, only you and I are here, they are really like brothers, and I will no longer call you a knight."

"Brother Lu is very good to call him like this, and so is Li's heart."

"Li Xiao, then you tell Brother Wei a heartfelt word, you, in the future, will you really not betray Daming?"

Lu Xiangsheng's expression became excited, and he continued to say one sentence, he looked directly at Li Xiao, his eyes were full of expectation.

Li Xiao looked at him directly, his expression was very solemn, but he never spoke.

There was an oppressive silence in the room.

"Li Xiao, this governor is no longer good, can't you talk to me about your heart?" Lu Xiangsheng's words obviously carried a hint of sadness.

Li Xiao sighed lightly, and finally replied: "Brother Lu, forgive the junior brother for being blunt, if the Ming Dynasty is saved and the king can assist, then Li Xiao will do his best to assist him." If the Ming Dynasty is really exhausted, and it is difficult for the monarch to complement each other, then the younger brother can only first protect the righteousness of the whole family and the country, and strive to protect the Chinese country and the people of the Han family, so that they will not fall into the hands of the Tartar barbarians, and use the whole Han family clothes and culture of the country. Little brother's suffering, I hope Brother Lu understands! ”

After Li Xiao finished speaking, he left the chair and bowed to Lu Xiangsheng on the bed, slamming his head on the ground.

Listening to Li Xiao's kowtow, Lu Xiangsheng on the bed was motionless like a puppet, only two muddy tears slowly flowed out of the corners of his eyes.

"Li Xiao, you get up, your thoughts are known to my brother."

After listening to Lu Xiangsheng's weak words, Li Xiao stopped kowtowing and slowly got up.

"Li Xiao, in fact, Ben Du also guessed that a hero like you, and a strong army, how could you be like me, succumbing to this pickled environment, surviving and surviving." The corners of Lu Xiangsheng's mouth flashed with a wry smile again, he let out a long sigh, but his face was full of anticipation and said: "Li Xiao, if you want to act like this, you can understand it as a brother." It's just that I have a request for my brother, I hope you can be satisfied with me, otherwise, if you die for your brother, your heart will be uneasy! ”

"Brother Lu, please speak clearly!"

"Li Xiao, in the future, whether you are separating one party or establishing yourself as the emperor, I just ask your subordinates to be gracious, let go of the Zhu Ming royal family, and leave a trace of blood for the Ming royal family." Lu Xiangsheng burst into tears, and his voice became more and more choked: "If you can give the Zhu Ming royal family a way to live, I, Lu Xiangsheng, will be a cow and a horse in the next life, and I will repay you!" ”

Li Xiao burst into tears, his Adam's apple swelled and trembled, and the expression on his face was very complicated.

In the end, he nodded heavily at Lu Xiangsheng.

Seeing Li Xiao's statement like this, Lu Xiangsheng let out a long breath, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, but the brilliance in his eyes became more and more faint.

He raised his right hand with difficulty, stroked Li Xiao's tear-stained face, and muttered in his mouth: "Li Xiao, you are really my good brother, in my life, Lu Xiangsheng, can make a brother like you, it is not in vain。。。。。。 ”

Before he could finish his words, Lu Xiangsheng's hand that was difficult to reach out to Li Xiao's face fell suddenly.

He's dead.

"Brother Lu!"

Hearing Li Xiao in the room start to howl loudly, Lu Xiangjin, Lu Xiangguan and others outside the room also rushed in.

After seeing Lu Xiangsheng's stiff and motionless corpse, both of them let out a loud cry of grief.

Soon, Lu Xiangsheng's captain Chen An, and Yang Tinglin, the head of the military department, also stumbled in, and after seeing Lu Xiangsheng who died in the bed, he also cried incessantly, and the whole room was full of mourning.

In the end, it was Li Xiao who stopped crying first.

"Pass on the order of this duke, decorate the corpses of Governor Lu and a group of soldiers, and bury them outside the city after the Qing army retreats. At the same time, he sent a messenger to Beijing to report the funeral and ask the emperor for a watch. Li Xiao's face was expressionless, and his words were cold.

"Order!"

After the Ming army collected the corpses, the Qing army had already packed up and the whole army was fully fed. With Dolgon's order, all the Qing troops set out of camp and headed straight to the southeast.

"Lord Li, look, the Qing army has set off from camp."

Liu Wenxiu, deputy battalion commander of the Dingbei Battalion, who was standing on the city tower, pointed to the Qing army team from afar, and said loudly to Li Xiao on the side.

Li Xiao just nodded lightly, but his expression was serious and he didn't speak.

"Master Li, you say, the Qing army is going, but where do you want to go?" Liu Wenxiu asked lightly.

Li Xiao's eyes were solemn, and he sighed and said: "My father dares to predict that the Qing army will definitely join up with another Qing army, and then go straight to Shandong." ”

"Oh, why do you think so?" Liu Wenxiu looked surprised.

"Hmph, the Qing army is arrogant, and after being frustrated under this Zhuozhou city, it will definitely recover its losses and face from elsewhere. And when they saw that our Tang army came to help, they would definitely think that Shandong was now empty and could be ravaged at will. Therefore, they went here to avoid the real and attack the false, and came to hit their father-in-law by surprise. ”

Li Xiao paused, and said coldly: "It is more likely that the Qing army will attack our army's Dengzhou land with all its strength in order to retaliate for our army's sneak attack on Jinzhou and Fuzhou, as well as to avenge the Qing court's clan Adali's skinning and weeding. ”

"So what are you going to do now? Do you want to follow and pursue these Qing troops? Liu Wenxiu asked anxiously.

Li Xiao shook his head: "Our army has come and attacked from afar, and the battle has been fought so far, and it is exhausted, and there is no way to fight again." After the arrival of our infantry, they rested in the city for a day, and then hurried back to the seashore, and returned to Shandong by the ships of the naval division, and it was not too late to meet the enemy again. ”

Speaking of this, a trace of ruthlessness flashed on Li Xiao's face: "Those dog tartars, I think Shandong is a fragrant bait, and you can swallow it in one bite." But they would never have thought that after they arrived in Shandong, they would have unceremoniously broken their dog's teeth and made this land of Shandong their eternal burial place! ”