Since entering the customs, the soldiers and horses of the army have been organized by officials from various places along the way, and subordinate officials and people have prepared food, wine and meat, and welcomed, rewarded and condoled all the way.

From Jilusai to Chang'an, this distance took a whole month, and it was already September when I arrived in Chang'an.

The golden autumn of September is the harvest season, the army from the end of April to return to Chang'an, a total of five months, the real time for the war is only more than two months, only half of the time, the other half of the time is spent on the way back and forth.

When the army arrived at the north bridgehead of Xianyang Bridge, Zhao Junsheng and his entourage of ministers and generals saw that the bridgehead and the river beach on the north bank were full of dense crowds, which was simply a sea of people, and the crowd of people who welcomed them on the road was lined up from the Xianyang bridgehead to the gate of Chang'an, and there were 80,000 if there were not 100,000.

In order to ensure the safety of the emperor and the accompanying ministers, and to prevent riots, Gao Xu, who stayed in Chang'an, had already sent him to stand guard and guard along the way from the bridge to the palace, isolating the people from afar.

The cordons on both sides of the road have moved forward ten feet, and there are soldiers standing guard on the high places along the way.

The soldiers walked across the Xianyang Bridge, the first was the general Bai Jinguang, he led the men and horses in front of the road, not long after, the people saw the emperor's dragon flag, canopy coming, under the dragoon and canopy there was a person wearing gold armor, riding a horse.

The officials and civilians on both sides of the road did not dare to look at it, and they fell to their knees one after another, shouting: "Long live, long live······

Zhao Junsheng sat on horseback, and saw the crowd of people on both sides of the road falling down one after another like the wind blowing wheat waves, if anyone wanted to carry out assassination activities at this time, their every move would be unobstructed, and the soldiers and generals standing guard on both sides and accompanying the escort could deal with it calmly.

"No wonder it is stipulated that the people along the way should kneel down to greet each other, it turns out that it also has the effect of preventing assassination by assassins!"

Zhao Junsheng muttered in his heart.

When I walked outside the gate of Chang'an City, I saw Queen Mulan with the princess and princess and the ministers of the court to greet her outside the city gate.

Behind him, Li Song rode up and said to Zhao Junsheng: "Your Majesty, this scene seems to be lively, but there is no preparation for the triumphant entry into the city, isn't it in vain that we have prepared so many prisoners to show Your Majesty's heavenly might?" ”

Zhao Junsheng's face was like water, but his heart was half cold, he didn't make a sound, Li Song looked at his face, and silently slowed down and opened up some distance.

At this time, the other ministers and generals who accompanied them saw this situation and did not feel good in their hearts, thinking in their hearts, the brothers sacrificed their lives and died in Mobei to fight with the Rouran people, and when they returned to Chang'an City, they didn't even have a decent welcome ceremony, not to mention the big battle, at least there must be drums and music to play triumphant songs, right?

But the actual situation is that in addition to the large number of people watching the excitement, there are no flags, no drum music, no singing and dancing, no ceremonial officials and triumphant entry ceremonies.

"Ministers and other ministers welcome Your Majesty and all the soldiers and soldiers to triumph!" The ministers who stayed behind bowed down and chanted together under the leadership of Mulan.

Zhao Junsheng stopped outside the city gate, and his eyes swept over the ministers and generals who were left behind on the ground, but he did not speak.

Time passed little by little, and the ministers, officials, and generals who stayed behind began to beat drums in their hearts one by one.

After a long while, Zhao Junsheng shook the reins and walked into the city, and the soldiers and horses behind him entered neatly in turn, and the horseshoe hit the bluestone on the ground with a crisp sound.

After Zhao Junsheng rode into the city for a long time, Hua Mulan got up first, and the other civil and military generals also got up in fear and anxiety.

Everyone looked at each other, and someone said loudly: "Pei Gong, Liang Gong, I have a bad premonition, we have gone too far this time, even if the treasury has no money, it will not be short of such a little money to hold the entrance ceremony to the city!" His Majesty is obviously very unhappy, and the lower officials are worried that someone will make a big fuss about this matter, and once Long Yan is angry, I am afraid that this matter will not be able to end! ”

Shangshu Youcheng Murong Ju arched his hand and said to the ministers: "Princes, not holding a triumphant entry ceremony is suggested by the lower officials, if Your Majesty wants to investigate, the lower officials will be fully responsible!" ”

Shangshu Zuo Cheng and Right Cheng are the adjutant officials of Shangshu Province, among which Shangshu Zuo Cheng Zuo Shangshu Ling, the general leader of the program; Shang Shu Youcheng assisted Shang Shu and was in charge of money, grain and grain.

These two official positions are not high in terms of position and salary, but they have a lot of power and power.

Liang Xiao said: "Although this matter was suggested by you, but it was also agreed by me and Pei Gong, if Your Majesty wants to blame, how can we, let you, an official of four hundred stones, be held responsible?" ”

At this time, Mulan's voice came: "Drive back to the palace!" ”

The eunuchs and palace maids agreed, and under the escort of the forbidden army, Hua Mulan's Luan drove back to the palace, and the ministers and generals bowed one after another.

After Mulan's Luan drove away, the ministers looked at each other again.

Pei Jin groaned for a while and said to the ministers: "Your Majesty has returned to the palace, let's hurry over, don't let Your Majesty wait for us!" As for the matter of Fang Cai, I, Pei Jin, will be fully responsible! ”

Liang Xiao said: "Pei Gong's words are wrong, the decision was made by you and me, if something happens, how can I, Liang, let Pei Gong bear it alone?" ”

The ministers who stayed behind sped up to catch up with the royal car and followed Zhao Junsheng into the palace together.

The palace was very festive, there was a grand welcome atmosphere, Zhao Junsheng rode a horse until he came to the bottom of the stone steps of the Taiji Palace, got off the horse, and the horse was led away by a soldier.

Zhao Junsheng held the war knife and walked up the stone steps of the red carpet step by step, and the ministers followed behind in two columns, civil and military, and walked into the Taiji Hall together.

Zhao Junsheng, who was wearing armor, sat down on the throne, Hua Mulan sat next to him, and all the ministers bowed down in unison: "Welcome Your Majesty's commanding army to return to the dynasty in triumph!" ”

"Flat!" Zhao Junsheng raised his hand expressionlessly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Pei Jin made a decision in his heart, stood up and bowed and said: "This time, Your Majesty led an army of 100,000 troops to the north to win a complete victory in Rouran, annihilated more than 100,000 Rouran soldiers, captured more than 100,000 people, captured millions of cattle, sheep, horses and other livestock, countless gold and silver treasures, and covered the universe, and the ancient sages and saints were not as good as the Holy Emperor!" ”

Zhao Junsheng waved his hand: "If it weren't for the soldiers of the army to die, even if I had great ability, I wouldn't be able to hit Rouran hard!" ”

Liang Lin stood up and saluted: "The ministers ask for merit for the meritorious soldiers who went out on the expedition, ask for the canonization of martyrs for the fallen soldiers, and give good condolences!" ”

Zhao Junsheng said loudly: "Accurate! All military generals and officers have recently submitted a list of meritorious service requests, and they must seek truth from facts and must not make meritorious contributions! ”

The generals agreed in unison: "The ministers obey the order, Your Majesty is Shengming!" ”

Pei Jin said again: "Your Majesty, please sin!" ”

"What are your sins?" Zhao Junsheng asked.

Liang Lin also said: "Your Majesty, the minister also asks for guilt!" ”

Several ministers who stayed behind stood up and bowed down one after another: "Ministers ask for sin!" ”

Zhao Junsheng's face froze, and he said with a cold face: "What's the matter, are you waiting for this to be the first army?" ”

"Don't dare!" The ministers kneeling on the ground said in unison.

Zhao Junsheng sneered: "Don't dare? Half of the ministers of the imperial court knelt in front of me and pleaded guilty, and the law did not blame the people! But tell me, why do you ask for sin? ”

Pei Jin arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the army has returned triumphantly, and the imperial court should have held a grand and grand welcome ceremony, but because the imperial treasury is empty, financial difficulties, and it costs a lot to hold such a grand ceremony, so the ministers decided not to give the soldiers a triumphant entry ceremony after discussion!" The minister also knew that this move would inevitably make the officers and soldiers in the army unhappy and afraid of causing trouble, so please ask Your Majesty to punish the crime of the ministers and appease the anger of the generals! ”

Liang Lin also said: "Your Majesty, this matter was decided by the minister and Duke Pei in consultation, if you want to punish the crime, the minister is also responsible, please punish Your Majesty together!" ”

Zhao Junsheng couldn't hold back anymore with a tense face, and slapped the royal case angrily and said: "You have no fear when there are many people, right?" Do you really think I dare not wait for you? How much can it cost to welcome the triumphant entry ceremony of the soldiers into the city? Do you think that I and the soldiers just want to show off their martial arts, and do you think that I am happy with my achievements? All the soldiers want is the affirmation of their birth and death by the court and the people of the world, even if they die on the battlefield, it is worth it! Why are you able to eat fragrant food at home? Why can you have children and grandchildren and accept joy? Why can the people of the world live and work in peace and contentment? It's all because someone is holding off swords from all directions for you, carrying the weight for you!

The battle ······ Xue Andu and tens of thousands of soldiers were buried on the battlefield, they had no chance to be glorified, couldn't the imperial court let their heroic spirits return to their hometown? ”

The generals silently shed tears one by one, and secretly wiped them away.

The kneeling ministers turned pale and trembled.

Pei Jin said again and again: "The minister is not thoughtful, capital crime, capital crime!" ”

The hall was quiet, but the atmosphere was getting tense, and everyone had a premonition that the emperor's anger was about to explode.

At this time, someone said loudly: "Your Majesty, the minister is unhappy if you don't say a word!" ”

Zhao Junsheng's gaze swept over like electricity, "Who are you?" ”

"The minister is Shangshu Youcheng Murong Ju!"

Zhao Junsheng stared at him: "What do you want to say?" ”

Murong Ju said: "What the minister wants to say is that although the triumphant entry ceremony does not cost much, it is also a lot of expenses, this time the army went out to spend a lot, and before His Majesty's victory, he ordered to build a city in Mobei and garrison troops, and the cost was doubled!" Of course, this is not the most important thing, even if the imperial court is poor, this money can still be paid, but because the Yellow River burst in two months caused serious floods, the imperial court decided not to hold a triumphal entry ceremony in order to call on the military and the people to work together to fight the disaster! ”

Zhao Junsheng asked with a cold face: "The Yellow River bursts?" How come I didn't know about this? Even if the Yellow River bursts, this matter has nothing to do with the triumph of the army, is it because of the disaster relief that even a triumphant entry ceremony is not bothered to be held? ”

"Ahem!" Hua Mulan coughed twice and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I agree to this matter, and I can't let Pei Jin and others bear the blame!" Two months ago, heavy rain for half a month caused the river to rise sharply, exceeding the previous historical water level, the embankment due to rainwater washing, river soaking, unbearable and responsible and bursting, 300,000 people on both sides of Henan and Hebei died in the belly of the fish, millions of people were displaced, the imperial court has done its best to relieve the disaster, now Hebei and Henan are still mourning, this time the whole country is sad, it is really not appropriate to celebrate, so ······"

Zhao Junsheng's face became even more ugly, "For such a big thing, why haven't I received any news?" You ······ Hmph······" After saying that, he got up and left angrily.

The ministers looked at each other and shouted in unison: "Congratulations to Your Majesty!" ”

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