In a small settlement in the west of Luoyang City

Yan Xing took two personal guards, followed the servants who led the way, stepped on the pale moonlight, and led the horse slowly into this settlement, this was the second time he came here, Yan Xing still remembered that the last time he met Li Ru, it was also about this small settlement.

Although it was not the end of the year, but now that he has returned to his hometown, Yan Xing has a feeling of being in a different world.

When I came here at the beginning of last year, I heard the sound of drums, and every house, a lively scene of expelling the gods and worshipping the gods. But now, there is no sound, the countryside is dilapidated, and there is no shadow of half a living person in sight, only their own footsteps, as if walking in a ghost.

After walking for a while, Yan Xing and the others still turned to the house where they met last time, the chai door had been opened, and there were two soap-clothed servants in the courtyard. When he heard the sound of people and horses, he immediately stepped forward to greet him, and one of the servants knew Yan Xing, and he said to Yan Xing respectfully:

"Yan Jun, the head of the family is already waiting in the house, please!"

Yan Xing nodded, did not speak, handed the reins to the guards, asked them to stay outside to guard, and then stepped inside.

The empty courtyard was still the same as before, but under the pale moonlight, the mottled and sunken earthen walls were black and white, and with the dead silence atmosphere of no one in the world, Rao is Yan Xingyi was bold and courageous, and when he walked into it, he still felt a slight chill on his back.

This time there was neither warm wine nor delicacies in the house, and even the desks, beds, and wooden frames were moved cleanly, only a choking candle was lit, and Li Ru was in the dim candlelight, with his back to the door, and the flickering candlelight made his figure change back and forth, and he stood with his hands in his hands, not moving.

"Li Gong!"

When Yan Xing saw Li Ru's figure, his heart moved, but his footsteps did not stop, he walked straight into the house and saluted Li Ru.

"Yanming is here."

Hearing Yan Xing's voice, Li Ru also replied, and finally turned around slowly, Yan Xing, who had just finished saluting, raised his head, and his eyes just saw Li Ru's turned face.

Li Ru's horse face looked a little thin, which made his cheekbones more prominent, and a pair of black and white eyes turned uncertain in the dim candlelight, as if he was thinking about something.

After Yan Xing glanced at it, he quickly withdrew his gaze and made the appearance of looking at his nose and nose. Li Ru began to slowly scan his eyes back and forth on Yan Xing, and after half a sound, he said leisurely:

"Yan Ming Rong is handsome, and he turns to all parties. Ordinary people talk about the hardships of conquest, but I see that Yan Ming is still full of expression, and he knows that he is born to plant, and he is only granted by God, and his qualifications are different from ordinary people! ”

Yan Xing lowered his head slightly, his attitude was modest, and he said lightly:

"Li Gongbai praised, he was originally a contemptuous person, and he was used to galloping on horseback, so he didn't think it was bitter, but his qualifications were still no different from ordinary people, where could he be called a general."

Listening to Yan Xing's words, Li Ru sneered.

"Neither a general, but with the courage to disobey military orders, go deep alone, burn the enemy's grain and grass, and establish meritorious deeds, could it be that he has already failed to plan?"

As soon as Li Ru's heart-wrenching words came out, Yan Xing's face changed instantly, the faint smile on his face was gone, and he hurriedly bowed down and said:

"My subordinates have had, and I shouldn't have formed a gap with General Xu Zhonglang, and I missed the painstaking efforts of Li Gong when he was drawn into the army!"

Looking at Yan Xing, who bowed down, Li Ru also put away his sneer, and after a while, he seemed to think of something again, and said lightly:

"That's it, it's different now, you are now also in the position of lieutenant general in the army, although Xu Rong is a veteran general in the army, but I also know about favoritism and suppression of dissidents. Now you are sent to Hedong, it is also a good thing, you have defeated a strong enemy, there is no merit, there is no need to be polite! ”

Only then did Yan Xing respectfully stand back in place, and then he heard Li Ru continue to ask:

"This time I sent you to Hedong, I recommended it to Xiangguo, Xiangguo did not personally summon you to teach in person because of his hard work on state affairs, but you also need to be prepared. Now that the white waves in Hedong are menacing, even down the city, the situation in Hedong is precarious, do you have a strategy to calm the chaos in your chest? ”

Hedong was originally Yan Xing's preferred foundation, for how to calm the chaos in Hedong, he had thought about it many times before, and now he heard Li Ru ask, although he didn't know whether it was Li Ru's original intention or Dong Zhuo's instructions, but he still quickly replied:

"The rebellion in Hedong has been protracted for many years, and the prosperity of Baibo is not a rebellion caused by Xiaoxiao Caokou. This time the white wave returned, the strength of the army was better than in the past, even Yong'an, Yangxian, Xiangling, Pingyang, Linfen and other cities, even Puzi and Beiqu also fell successively, and the Pi family was in danger. If Pi's is lost, Bai Bonan can threaten Fenyin, Xie County, Anyi and other places, and the west can cross the river into Sanfu and harass the important places in Guanzhong. ”

"Xingmeng Xiangguo is trustworthy, Li Gong is gracious, and he can command Xiao Rui, and after rushing to Hedong, he and Niu Zhonglang will work together to fight against thieves. There are tens of thousands of white wave thieves, and there is no shortage of outlaws who dare to die, and now they are several cities in a row, and the momentum is flourishing. ”

"The meaning of the line is to first lead the army to stabilize the defense line, stabilize the morale of the army, wait for the opportunity to find the gap between thieves, and break the enemy, so as to demoralize Baibo. When the Baibo army turned into decline, he recovered Linfen, connected the east and west, and finally marched together to recover the northeast border of the river. ”

Yan Xing talked eloquently, bringing together the situation and cities in Hedong, Li Ru listened to it, although he didn't say anything in his mouth, he also nodded secretly, knowing that Yan Xing had done a lot of work.

"Plan and fight, avoid the real and attack the false" is Yan Xing's consistent combat style, using him as a general, I dare not say that the chaos in Hedong can be completely calmed, but at least the situation can be stabilized, and the war situation will not be allowed to erode, threatening the safety of Luoyang and Chang'an.

Thinking of this, Li Ru also said out loud:

"Okay, my military strategy, I will naturally convey it to Xiangguo. Now is an eventful autumn, you lead the army to fight the thief, remember not to let other chaos happen in Hedong. ”

"Okay, understood!"

Li Ru saw Yan Xing respectfully agree, so he nodded with satisfaction, and he turned to say:

"The matter of the Hedong Pacification Rebellion, after all, Niu Zhonglang will be the main general, although Xiangguo has ordered him to appoint the former military affairs to you, but you also need to be cautious, humble and servant, and do not repeat the previous things like Xingyang."

"The imperial court has moved west to Chang'an, Hedong and Sanfu are only separated by a river, if you send troops from Hedong, the army will be able to come to Chang'an City in less than ten days, this is the place where the lips and teeth die, which is why I strongly recommend you to go to Hedong, do you understand?"

Yan Xing sensed the deep meaning of Li Ru's words, and his heart moved, he saw Li Ru's solemn face again, and knew that this matter was very important, so he quickly nodded, saying that he would calm down the chaos in Hedong as soon as possible. At the end, he expressed his loyalty again, and frankly said that he would lead the soldiers and horses, and only obey Li Ru's orders in Hedong.

Li Ru was not at ease about the situation in Chang'an after all, this could be regarded as a precaution, and he would not say too much to Yan Xing, seeing that Yan Xing promised and expressed his loyalty, he smiled, and then said:

"Yanming is the heart of the country, I already know that the matter in Hedong is related to the overall situation, and there is no room for mistakes, you went to Hedong to quell the chaos before, but what other requests do you have?"

When Yan Xing heard that it was finally his turn to make a request, he thought for a moment and began to say:

"This time Hedong quelled the rebellion, after all, it was to defend first and then attack, and among the more than 1,000 soldiers and horses under him, he wanted to make a song to defend against the white wave thieves."

Li Ru heard that Yan Xing didn't ask for anything else, but wanted a song of Zhang Shi, and after thinking about it, all the weapons in the Luoyang arsenal were under the control of Dong Jun, and the bows and crossbows among them were already equipped with many soldiers, and it was not difficult to transfer a song of Zhang Shi to Yan Xing's department, so he quickly agreed.

In the end, just after Yan Xing thought that everything was explained, Li Ru suddenly changed his words and said with a smile:

"Yanming, I heard that you still have a concubine room in Luoyang?"

When Yan Xing heard Li Ru's words, his eyes rolled, and he responded:

"Exactly, I don't know Li Gong-"

"After all, Hedong is in turmoil, you take the risk of national affairs, how can you take care of your family, Chang'an has been Kyoto, there is a risk of Kunhan in Guanzhong, you will place your family in Chang'an, you can protect both, I don't know what you think?"

Yan Xing was silent when he heard this, hesitated for a while, and then said with some reluctance:

"Li Gong's good intentions, everything is in accordance with the public will."

"Haha, okay, then you go to Hedong tomorrow, you can send your family here, and enter Beijing with the families of other generals, don't worry, I will send someone to properly settle your concubine in Chang'an, and after you return successfully, your family will be reunited and crowned as your wife, wouldn't it be beautiful!"

After saying this, Li Rucai finally finished explaining everything, and Yan Xing immediately bowed and said goodbye, leaving this ghost-like dwelling.

After Yan walked, Li Ru stood in the middle of the room with his hands in his hands, and only then did he speak out again:

"Come out!"

As Li Ru's voice sounded, another person turned out in the dark inner room on the side, he was hiding in the dark part of the inner room just now, and had been listening to the conversation between Li Ru and Yan Xing.

He was short and fat, with a yellow complexion, just like Zhou Liang.

"That Yan Xing's concubine room, can he really worry about him again and again?"

Facing Li Ru's question, Zhou Liang salivated and hurriedly replied:

"This concubine of Captain Yan is the person he likes, and he was already worried about it in Xingyang before, and this expedition to Hedong originally wanted to bring her to Anyi for settlement."

Hearing Zhou Liang's affirmative reply again, Li Ru slightly hooked the corners of his mouth, Yan Xing is now the time when his blood is strong, and he is also the age of knowing lust and Mu Shaoai, it is normal to be worried about the love of his children, and he can take advantage of this, tie half of his heart, let him have some scruples, and Li Ru can be completely relieved.

Looking at Zhou Liang who greeted him with a smile, Li Ru couldn't help laughing again:

"You used to be my subordinate sword, but now under Yan Xing's command, is he suspicious, and can he specifically avoid you?"

"Captain Yan Zhiliang was originally a person under Duke Li's account, and he treated each other politely, but he never specifically avoided Liang, but occasionally there were some things, but he only discussed with his henchmen and military officials."

Li Ru nodded after listening, he believed that Yan Xing also knew that Zhou Liang was the person he put beside him, and being able to do this proved that he was still loyal to himself and had no second thoughts for the time being, as for some things, he didn't discuss them with Zhou Liang, and Li Ru didn't think it was strange.

If Yan Xing consulted with Zhou Liang about everything, it would be a strange thing, but I was afraid that Li Ru would not dare to recommend him to Hedong to quell the chaos.

"Yan Xing is a person who can be used, but he also needs to take more precautions, and it can also be known from Xu Rong's incident that this person is a fierce tiger, and he can't use it, after all, he has to break free from the shackles and run into the mountains and forests. You are by his side, do things with things, and I don't need you to do anything, I just need you to report his daily actions to me as usual, and I have written down all your credits! ”

"No, thank you Gong Li!"

"Okay, it's not too early, you should go back early, so as not to make people suspicious!"

"Yes, Gong Li take care, Liang is leaving!"

After Li Ru finished explaining, he sent Zhou Liang back. Zhou Liang saluted respectfully before turning around and retreating.

It's just that after exiting the house, Zhou Liang's respectful look immediately became a little playful, and he, the chess piece that Li Ru buried beside Yan Xing, now seems to have turned black to white, he secretly thought in his heart.

"Gong Li, you are also a resourceful person, but unfortunately this time, your plan will be in vain after all. Tiger, hehe, the dragon walks the tiger, how can Yan Jun treat him purely with the method of subduing the tiger. The hidden dragon is in the abyss, Teng will be nine days, Zhou Liang is not talented, and he will also climb the momentum of the dragon, parting words, you can take care of it! ”

···

Yan Xing, who returned to his camp, after dismounting, groaned for a while, and did not return to his military tent as usual, but walked towards another tent.

When he walked outside the tent of his "beloved concubine", Yan Xing suddenly stopped again.

For he saw that the lamp in the tent was still on.

From the light outside the tent, Yan Xing could see the silhouette of the busy figure of the person in the tent.

Presumably she is also busy packing her bags, preparing to leave the place of Luoyang tomorrow and follow her to Hedong.

The people in the tent, from the very beginning, Yan Xing has been using her, and her escape from the sea of suffering is just because Yan Xing temporarily made a decision in the female lu, intending to use this to confuse Xu Kun and even Xu Rong.

He exposed the flaws he wanted to expose to others, and he told others that he was no different from other Dong Jun generals, he would be promoted through meritorious service, and he would also be obsessed with beauty.

Now, Yan Xing has succeeded, he not only confused Xu Kun and Xu Rong, but also exchanged a woman who met in Pingshui for Li Ru's peace of mind.

However, because of herself, she will also fall from one bitter sea into another bitter sea, and that bitter sea will be even more dangerous later.

Yan Xing didn't even know her name, originally Yan Xing planned to let her take off that layer of confusing identity after arriving in Hedong, and go to be an ordinary and ordinary maidservant, serving Yan Wan, who was not emotionally stable, but now it seems that she can't do it after all.

Yan Xing sighed, left the guards outside the tent, stepped to lift the curtain, and walked into the tent.

The people in the tent were really busy packing up, and they were inadvertently startled by the visitor, and only after seeing that it was Yan Xing, did they settle down a little. But then a flush flew over his face.

"General, why are you here? The concubine is packing up, there is a little mess in the tent, the general please sit here, and the concubine will serve warm soup to the general! ”

Just like Yan Xing didn't know her name, she still hadn't figured out Yan Xing's real official position in the army.

"No need, what's your name?"

Yan Xing stopped her action of pouring water, and asked calmly.

The woman was stunned for a moment when Yan Xing asked this, and after a while, she said slowly and shyly:

"The concubine grew up in Zhang's mansion since she was a child, and she was a regular servant of Zhang, and the singer who was raised in Zhang's mansion also followed Zhang's surname, and her nickname was Rui. General—"

Yan Xing nodded, didn't let her say more, and quickly said:

"Zhang Rui, I made a note of it. Well, you are the concubine of the lieutenant of this school, so you don't need to do these chores by yourself in the future, and I will find a few maidservants to come and serve you later. ”

Hearing Yan Xing say this, the woman's heart couldn't help but thump, her watery eyes looked at Yan Xing, and she forgot to answer for a while.

"It's just that tomorrow, you don't have to go to Hedong with me, you can't take your female dependents privately in the army, you can go to Chang'an with the families of other generals, there will be special officials to settle you, you don't need to worry."

"This?"

When the woman heard Yan Xing's next words, she couldn't help but be surprised, and looked at Yan Xing with some confusion.

Looking at this woman with a good face who didn't use powder, Yan Xing didn't know why, his heart softened, and the ghost made him say two more words, which were not originally planned.

"When you get over there, you can stay in peace, and in the future, there will always be a day to meet!"

"General!"

After listening to Yan Xing's words, the woman seemed to understand some deep meanings, she was a kabuki raised in the middle of the Chang Servant's Mansion, and she knew more about some things than other ordinary women.

Hearing the woman's soft call, Yan Xing's original steps to leave stopped, he looked at the woman, but he didn't say a word.

Looking at Yan Xing's solemn expression, the woman was stunned for a moment, and then smiled miserably, she finally understood something, and she didn't ask the doubts in her heart again.

She forcibly held back the tears in her eyes, smiled as best she could, and began to speak in the softest voice:

"General, farewell tonight, I don't know the return date, the posture of the concubine Pu Liu, it is a great luck to have to serve the general's side, I will definitely remember the general's advice, the general does not need to worry. Well, at the time of parting, there is nothing to reciprocate, the concubine was born in Kabuki, and she is willing to sing a song for the general to express her feelings in her heart! ”

After the woman's words were finished, Yan Xing also knew that she understood what she meant, he stopped talking, and found a random place to sit in the tent, and the woman also slowly moved the tent, the two people in the tent did not say a word more, and the woman slowly began to sing:

"The line is re-lined, and the monarch is separated.

More than 10,000 miles apart, each at the end of the world.

The road is blocked and long, and the meeting is safe. ”

Although there was no string accompaniment, this did not prevent the woman from showing her most feminine and tactful voice, and she continued to sing with infinite affection:

"Humayi north wind, over the south branch of the bird's nest.

The days are far away, and the days of clothing and belts have slowed down.

The clouds cover the day, and the wanderer does not care about returning. ”

Born in troubled times, her life experience is like duckweed in the wind and rain, she originally thought that she was lucky to find a place to live, but fate still wanted her to drift.

Thinking of this, the woman forced her choked throat to prevent herself from crying.

"Sijun makes people old, and the years are getting late.

Don't give up your donations, and try to add more food. ”

After the song is finished, the hem of the woman's sleeves is lowered, and everything is calm.

Yan Xing also got up again, walked out of the tent, and no longer looked back.

When the footsteps outside the tent disappeared, the candle flame in the tent flickered, and it could not hold on to a glimmer of light, and it was completely dimmed.

In the darkness, the faint sound of a woman's sobs sounded.