Chapter 4: The Thief (Part I)

After killing people and establishing power, the second holy decree from Jingshi has arrived. The edict ordered Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia, to sit in Luoyang and be responsible for continuing to stabilize Henan; The edict ordered Li Shentong, the king of Huai'an, to lead Liu Hongji, the eldest grandson Shunde, Zhang Liang, Niu Jinda, Xiahou Wei and other civil and military officials to immediately lead 50,000 soldiers and horses to the north to accept the counties under the jurisdiction of Dou Jiande, the king of Xia; The edict ordered Li Shimin, Li Yuanji, and Qin Shubao, Cheng Zhijie, Wei Chi Jingde, and others, who had made great contributions in the Battle of Luoyang, to hand over local affairs, escort Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande, and return to Beijing to offer prisoners.

After the lieutenant read the decree, everyone found it incredulous. After inquiring carefully, it was learned that the left servant under Dou Jiande's command shot Pei Ju and the right servant shot Qi Shanxing, and the two of them had already brought Dou Jiande's young son to the Tang Dynasty a few days ago, and the eight counties in southern Hebei would not fight.

Now that the rest of Dou Jiande's troops have surrendered, there is no need to bother Li Shimin to lead the generals of Tiance Mansion to kill chickens. Therefore, it is reasonable for the class teacher to return to Beijing. It's just that everyone has been working hard to plant the fruit for a year, but it was picked by others before it was ripe, which is a little cold. Li Shimin expected that his father had listened to the slander again and was ready to weaken his own strength, and he was very unhappy. Therefore, on the way back, he ordered the generals to put on the posture of a triumphant division, passing through the state and county, and being proud. Some local officials were overwhelmed and complained to Li Yuan. After Li Yuan read these recitals, he was silent for a long time, and ordered the eunuch to burn them outside the room.

As the meritorious generals of the Luoyang Campaign, Cheng Mingzhen and Wang Ermao were also among the people who returned to Beijing to receive rewards.

Wang Ermao was on the bank of the Yellow River that year, with 500 light cavalry to shake the bitter guard Wensheng 5,000 iron armor, at a critical juncture, he was once rescued by Li Shiji led the Wagang army. Later, Li Shiji tried every means to win him over, hoping that he would stay and work for Wagang. But Wang Ermao never let go of the Julu Ze brothers in his heart, so he took advantage of Li Mi's eagerness to infiltrate Hebei and ran back. Now Juluze and Wagangzhai have become a passing cloud, but Wang Ermao and Xu Maogong met in Tangying, and they were embarrassed to mention the past of the year.

Yu Wenshi and half of his life have experienced vicissitudes, so he has become cautious in his words and deeds. No matter how enthusiastic Wang and Xu were, they just listened silently on the side and never interjected. Cheng Mingzhen was originally a saw-mouthed gourd, but at this time, he was feeling sad about the killing of Yin Qiu and others, and he was even more silent, and it was rare to open his mouth once a day.

In the evening, the army camped on the banks of the Yellow River. Cheng Zhijie and other old Wagang generals came over to Xu Maogong for a drink, and invited the other three over by the way. Cheng Mingzhen drank a lot of wine, drank a few glasses, and then withdrew under the pretext that he was too strong to drink. When he returned to his tent, he was so uncomfortable by the heat that he had to change into a large silk shirt to blow the wind outside.

Ten miles of joint ventures, laughter and laughter everywhere, brilliant lights. The generals who have made great contributions have received a lot of rewards and are full of pride. The soldiers were also excited to see the hope of returning home. The sound of guessing fists and orders, mixed with the slang songs one after another, carried far away along the night wind, until it was swallowed up by a louder sound from the north, and then slowly dissolved into the summer night and into the darkness of the four fields. And in the darkness, the sound of a dragon's groan, but it is always impassioned and continuous.

It was the sound of the waves on the Yellow River, which had not been weakened by Yao's meritocracy, nor was it fierce by the brutality of Yao. From ancient times to the present, thousands of years have remained.

Cheng Mingzhen walked out of the camp and slowly walked towards the bank of the Yellow River. Several loyal guards tried to follow, but he waved his hand and refused. "It's okay, I'll go to the river and blow the wind. With such a big camp on display, who would dare to come and provoke me? Looking at the panicked guards, he explained with a smile. Then spread your legs and leave all the hustle and bustle behind.

It is already the height of summer, and the flow of water in the Yellow River has become abundant. Before he could get closer, all that was left in his ears was the roaring sound of the waves. The sound of the waves was like a thousand horses galloping, like thunder rolling, beating his chest, slapping his shoulders, and making him feel all the heat. But another hot taste surged up from the depths of his heart again, burning his mouth dry.

"What is the difference between the Tang Dynasty that you are loyal to by the Nine Heads Jiao and the Great Sui that has been smashed by us?" Yin Qiu's questioning that day unconsciously tapped his ear drums again. So many days have passed, and Cheng Mingzhen still clearly remembers the disdainful eyes of the generals of the Dou family army when he went to persuade him to surrender. In their eyes, today's Cheng Mingzhen is a complete coward! Defector! And are you really cowardly? Cheng Mingzhen didn't dare to admit it anyway.

From the moment I was forced to pick up a knife, I almost forgot what it meant to be afraid. Although he has been trying to survive, he has never been afraid of fighting and dying. Yin Qiu and Wang Kuan, those who used to look at him with contempt back then, never moved forward as bravely as he did when they fought. "Who do they have to look down on me? Who am I to question them? Is there really a difference between Datang and Dasui? Li Laoyu and Yang Guang are two cousins, what is the difference between who is the emperor? These questions tormented him, baked him, and made his chest heavy, barely able to breathe properly.

And all he asks for is to live like a human being. What is the difference between Da Sui and Da Tang, what is the difference between Li Lao Yu and Yang Guang, these problems are too big for him to explain. Yin Qiu and others laughed at him for being cowardly and laughing at him for being afraid of death. Some people in Tiance Mansion laughed at him for his bad intentions, and laughed at him for his futile use of hot faces to stick to his cold buttocks. And he just wants other people to live well, live well like himself, and don't give his life easily.

Is it wrong to save people? In the dark, there is no answer in sight. The water of the Yellow River is tumbling and rushing, and there is no time to pay attention to the confusion of an ordinary man. It was too long, too wide, and between each wave, thousands of lives were undulating. Ordinary individuals are involved in it, and they can't make a splash at all.

Another wave swept by, crashing through the narrow channel. Under the light of the lights in the distance, the river that should have been golden suddenly turned a deep red. Yin Qiu and the others were beheaded on the bank of the Luoshui River, the downstream of Luoshui was connected to the Yellow River, Cheng Ming shook his head excitedly, and threw the miscellaneous thoughts out of his head. He didn't dare to face the blood, and turned around, ready to go back to the camp to sleep, but he almost collided with another person.

"Who?" The two men who almost collided almost took half a step back at the same time and drew their horizontal knives with one hand. The awe-inspiring feeling of being on the verge of war washed away all distractions. Through the starlight reflected by the blades, they could see each other's faces. "General Yuwen?" "General Cheng?" "Why are you here?" "You're going out for a walk, too?" , The two embarrassedly put away their knives and shook their heads and smiled bitterly at each other. After laughing, a feeling of sympathy came to each other's hearts again.

"It's too hot!" Yu Wenshi shrugged his shoulders and found himself under the steps, "I came out for a walk, but I didn't expect the black light to be blind, just in your way!" ”

"yes, it's too hot. It's so hot that people are dizzy! Cheng Mingzhen responded with a smile, the starlight illuminated his snow-white teeth, "I didn't hear your footsteps, otherwise, I wouldn't have crashed into it!" ”

"Well, well. I'm so thin that I can't hit you. Yu Wenshi laughed and laughed at himself. It's better to knock you down and pull me up than to draw knives and slash at each other! ”

"How dare I reach out to General Yuwen. On that day by the Bishui River, you were a hero who led 300 horsemen to break down the Dou family's army! Cheng Mingzhen didn't expect Yu Wenshi, who had never liked to talk, to be so humorous, smiled and complimented him in a low voice.

"When the enemy meets, he is very red-eyed. It was hatred at the time! It's not a real skill! Yu Wenshi smiled and replied lightly.

"Oh!" Cheng Mingzhen smiled and nodded. I don't know what to say next. He had heard of the hatred between Yu Wenshi and Dou Jiande. Just about a year and a half ago, Yuwenshi's elder brother, younger brother, nephew, son, and dozens of other families surnamed Yuwen were captured by Dou Jiande and beheaded on the banks of the Lishui River. Only Yu Wenshi and his wife survived by luck because she was the princess of Nanyang of the Great Sui. At that time, Yu Wenshi and the leading troops were outside, and they had no time to return to help, so when they heard the news, they defected to the Tang Dynasty with hatred. Then he was determined to take revenge and taste his courage.

But when the Yuwen family usurped the throne, how could they have pity on Yang Guang and his children and grandchildren? Isn't Princess Nanyang spared because she married Yu Wenshiji? Pushing it farther away, when Yang Guang killed his brother and chased his brother, it was not the same as a river of blood? In the game of chess, which one dares to call it innocent?

Only those who are forced to get involved in the promotion of the small people, who do not share any benefits of the winners, but have to pay all the price they can. They are eternal losers, no matter who wins or loses, Jiangshan's surname is Li or Yang!

"Do you think it's boring for me to say that?!" Seeing Cheng Mingzhen's eyes flickering, Yu Wenshi smiled and asked quietly.

"Don't dare!" Cheng Mingzhen put away his smile vigilantly and stepped back, "Xincheng is serious. Revenge for your family is a matter of course. No one can single out what is wrong from them? ”

"Then should I call you Dongping Gong!" Yu Wenshi grinned bitterly, his tongue smacking at the tip of his teeth, "If it weren't for the Duke of Dongping giving His Royal Highness the King of Qin a plan to fly to capture the Tiger Prison Pass, how could Dou Jiande have been destroyed so quickly?" ”

Cheng Mingzhen was caught off guard, and his face suddenly turned pale, "What do you mean by Xinchenggong?" Don't you think Cheng can be bullied? ”

"It's not interesting, I was born with a poisonous mouth! Don't mind! Yu Wenshi suddenly regretted it again, smiled, and apologized, "Don't call me Xinchenggong, and I won't call you Dongpinggong." Since neither of us likes to be lively, it can be regarded as fate. Don't rush back, stay with me for a while. I'm a little stuffy alone! ”

The second half of the sentence obviously has a taste of prayer. Cheng Mingzhen couldn't laugh or cry, shrugged his shoulders, and responded in a low voice, "It's up to you!" Anyway, Cheng is not on duty tonight. ”

With that, he walked slowly, listening to the waves along the riverside. Yu Wenshi slowly chased a few steps, and walked side by side with Cheng Mingzhen, but kept an appropriate distance, "I feel uncomfortable in my heart. That's why I came out for a walk. Before I took revenge, I thought every day about how to see Dou Jiande ruined. Now that he's really ruined, I don't think it's interesting! ”

Cheng Mingzhen looked sideways, not quite understanding Yu Wenshi and why he was telling him this. The two have not had any contact with each other before, and they will probably not have a deep friendship in the future. After all, in the newly established Tiance Mansion, Yu Wenshi Ji was already one of the key figures. And Cheng Mingzhen himself has never been able to get too close to King Qin.

"I've been born for my family since I was a kid. I will do whatever my family tells me to do. Practice, practice martial arts, refer to Tao strategy, speak, walk, and interact with people......" Yu Wenshi sighed, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I will harm whoever the family asks me to harm, and I will make friends with whoever the family asks me to be." Even marrying a daughter-in-law is arranged by the family. I can't choose myself, including taking concubines! ”

"My family is poor and can't afford to take a concubine!" Cheng Mingzhen smiled and responded angrily.

Yuwen Shiji sighed softly, "There was a time when I wished I didn't belong to the Yuwen family, so that I could at least make a few true friends. But I can't get rid of it. Everything was predestined. The status of the family is high, and I enjoy the glory and wealth with it. The family has fallen, and there are no eggs under the nest. The family has done good deeds, and I am praised for it. However, our Yuwen family has not done any good deeds in the eyes of the outside world! ”

"General Yuwen is drunk!" Cheng Mingzhen smiled and comforted in a low voice. "Others are far away and can't be seen. If only you knew it in your own heart! ”

"Yes, others are far away and can't be seen. I know it in my own heart. Understood! Yang Xuangan rebelled, and I worked with Li Zhongjian to quell the rebellion, and he saved my life again and again. Afterwards, I watched with my own eyes how my grandfather used tricks to rob him of his military power and credit. The Turks besieged Yanmen, and the soldiers ate only one meal a day. I watched my brother steal military rations and sell them to the Turks. I found out, but I couldn't squeak, because he was my brother, and I was unlucky with him. My brother is going to force the palace to usurp the throne, and I can't squeak, because once the matter is revealed, I can't run away! ”

"You're unlucky!" Cheng Mingzhen slowed down and said sympathetically. Yu Wenshi and this guy must be drunk, otherwise they wouldn't have said anything. It's just that Cheng Mingzhen doesn't like to listen to these words, and it won't be useful to listen to them. The Great Sui Dynasty has become a thing of the past, and the future Tang Dynasty will definitely belong to Li Jiancheng or Li Shimin, no matter who takes over the throne, because of his choice Cheng Mingzhen today, he will only be a peripheral military general standing aside at that time, and he will never participate in the core.

"yes, very unlucky!" Yu Wenshi bent down and wanted to vomit, but he couldn't, and snot and tears flowed out together. Cheng Mingzhen stepped forward and gave him a few beatings, and persuaded in a low voice: "Forget it, don't think about it, it's all over, isn't it?" ”

"It's over! But the feeling at that time remained in my heart! Rubbing the sleeves of his silk robe, Yu Wenshi straightened up and continued to chatter, "That's why I hate this family the most." I wish he didn't exist. But when he was really destroyed, I died of pain again! I have to find a big backer, otherwise I won't be able to avenge my family. So I immediately took refuge in Datang. Now that the revenge is over, the families who were killed can turn a blind eye. I don't know what I'm going to do next! ”

"It's not just you, I don't know!" The last sentence finally resonated a little in Cheng Mingzhen's heart. Sighing, he whispered.

"You don't know?" Yu Wenshi paused for a moment, widened his eyes and asked, "You can get to where you are today, but it all depends on your true ability." Unlike me, the Cheng family, the defeated family! ”

"Alas......" Cheng Mingzhen sighed in a low voice. The friendship is too shallow, and he doesn't want to say so much. There are some words, even if they are directed at Wang Ermao, they can't explain it, let alone Yu Wenshi, who is very different from his own background and experience? Generals who think too much usually end up badly, and Wang Fubao's example is there, and there is no need for him to repeat the mistakes of the past.

"I really didn't see it, we are sick and sympathetic!" Yu Wenshi waited for a long time and didn't wait for Cheng Mingzhen's next sentence, and shook his head with a smile, "Also, you are really a little different from others." When it comes to adding officials to the knighthood, even people like Qin Shubao have their eyes shining, but you don't seem to be very enthusiastic! ”

"Fame and fame are taken right away! Brother Uncle Bao has something in his heart, and he does it fairly! Cheng Mingzhen didn't want to belittle others, so he quickly added another sentence. Among the generals of Tiance Mansion, Qin Shubao is the one who has a good relationship with him. This person is old, has deep experience, and knows how to deal with people and things very well. Never embarrass others, and sometimes I'd rather suffer a small loss myself, but also fulfill the credit of others.

"Yes, husbands were born to be vertical! Those who died under the sword can only be counted as unlucky! Who told them to have bad luck and poor skills, they deserve to be a stepping stone for you and me! Yu Wenshi smiled and said sourly.

These words accidentally poked Cheng Mingzhen's sore spot, causing him to frown slightly, "General Yuwen drank too much." Cheng never thought of stepping on someone else's corpse and walking up! ”

"Look at my mouth!" Yu Wenshi slapped himself lightly, "I did drink too much, don't be like me." Whoever is serious when talking to a drunk is stupid! ”

Cheng Mingzhen turned his head away, too lazy to be serious with this guy. Compared to some sinister guys, Yu Wenshi is not too annoying, and there is no need to offend.

"Hey, you're upset!" Seeing that Cheng Mingzhen didn't pick up his stubble, Yu Wenshi asked cautiously.

"Nope! I drank too much just now! It's a little uncomfortable! ”

"Two drunks, drunk all the way! When you wake up, you forget everything! Yu Wenshi pointed to Cheng Mingzhen's nose, and then pointed at himself with a smile. It's okay, I don't have a good memory. What you say, what you don't say, tomorrow morning you will definitely forget it completely. ”

"Me too!" Cheng Ming was heartbroken and responded with a smile.

"You went to visit Yin Qiu and them, and even tried to persuade them to surrender?" Yu Wenshi suddenly put away his smile and asked.

"Been there. Approved by His Royal Highness the King of Qin. My Datang is the time to employ people. Persuading them will be beneficial to pacifying Hebei as soon as possible! Cheng Mingzhen nodded and admitted without hesitation. Before going to see Yin Qiu, he had already paved all the roads, and he would never let others catch the slightest mistake.

"You are a man with affection and righteousness, which is better than many people!" Yu Wenshi reached out and gently patted Cheng Mingzhen's shoulder. This overly intimate action made Cheng Mingzhen's back tighten again, and he instinctively dodged half a step away and distanced himself from the other party.

"Hmm!" Yu Wenshi looked at his palms in embarrassment, "Drunk." Drunk. It's their luck to have friends like you. I also had a few friends like this, but unfortunately, they all went their separate ways. ”

Thinking of the past when he was a teenager, another layer of sadness welled up on his face. That was the first time he existed not as a member of the Yuwen family, but as an independent self. Although the time is only a few months, the taste of it is worth remembering for a lifetime. Li Zhongjian, Murong Luo, Li Anyuan, and now Yingguo Gong Wushi Yu, at that time, everyone was so young and pure, except for himself.

He doesn't qualify for being pure. It's not that I don't want to, but I can't choose. Soon, the sadness on Yuwenshi's face was covered by a drunken smile, "General Cheng, you saved the life of His Royal Highness King Qin, so he wants to repay you a favor this time." Although this favor was not sent out in the end! However, to be honest, this is the first time I have seen His Royal Highness King Qin willing to show mercy to his opponent! In the past, even those who surrendered a little slower, he didn't say a word. This time someone did not surrender, but he gave him another chance. To tell the truth, in front of King Qin, you are the only one. Even Li Shiji doesn't have as much face as you! ”

"I know. So thank you very much, His Royal Highness King Qin! Cheng Mingzhen understood what Yu Wenshi was talking about, nodded and responded in a low voice. Shan Xiongxin wanted to live, but Li Shimin, the king of Qin, refused to agree to Li Shiji's plea because of the tragic death of Bao Shouxin that day, and let this person live. Yin Qiu and the others obviously had a way to survive in front of them, but they generously went to the difficulty.

Things in the world are so complicated, full of twists and turns and helplessness.

"You did your best!" Yu Wenshi glanced at him and commented in a rare serious tone.

"But they're still dead!" Cheng Mingzhen sighed faintly. "I can't persuade them. I can't ask for more love! ”

"But you did what you could!" Yu Wenshi stopped and looked into his eyes with a very serious expression. "A friend of mine once said, do your best and have no regrets. None of us are immortals, so we can't change too many things. But whether it's for friends or others, do your best, and that's enough. ”

"I did my best!" Cheng Mingzhen's heart swelled with a burst of alcohol, and his steps immediately became a little staggering.

"I tried my best. Drink too much and talk nonsense! The Yuwen priest stepped forward to support him, and stumbled back with him. Do your best, do your best! The two drunks slapped each other, leaving a trail of crooked footprints along the riverbank.

"Boom" huge waves surged, splashing water, quickly smoothing out the footprints, leaving no traces.