The war was not so urgent, and just when the heavy rain in early July was intermittent, Xiao Xuan no longer went to the headquarters or even the front line to command as usual. In charge of the defense of the capital, Zhou Dayong and others mainly carried out some basic military orders, Wang Chengen, Cao Huachun and others were responsible for the jurisdiction of the capital and even civil affairs, and Zhou Yuji, Huang Degong, and some officers of the teaching brigade were responsible for the defense of various places. Everything seemed to be okay even if Xiao Xuan was not in command, according to the perfect regulations and principles.

At this time, Xiao Xuan was not in the secret room or the secret courtyard, but in the area of the back garden of the Kunning Palace in the Forbidden City, which was not too far from the Imperial Horse Prison camp, living a life like a normal emperor that was rare since he ascended the throne. For most of the past year or so, Xiao Xuan didn't look like a normal emperor at all. Whether it is Tian Xiuying or Zhou Yufeng and others, they are more like people in the military, even if they can't talk about coarse tea and light meals, they often can't wear too ostentatious clothes and use too extravagant meals, and there are many palace maids around them. If it weren't for Xiao Xuan's relatively approachable behavior and promise that this kind of day would not last long, I am afraid that some of the girls who followed him would have felt unbearable.

However, these days, the old people around Xiao Xuan who believed in the palace felt a truly different life for the first time. Not only can they be dressed and eaten as well as the nobles in the palace, but there are also many well-behaved and trained palace maids selected from the old palace around them, showing respect that they have never had before.

The area around the back garden also seems to have been specially repaired and tidied, and after the rain and sunny days, the flowers that bloom in the summer are under the shelter of the shade, and everything seems to be so comfortable.

It's just that Tian Xiuying, who is used to life in the army and knows a lot of things, still feels a trace of pressure, and finally makes up her mind to persuade Xiao Xuan: "The emperor has a hard time with his concubines, and the concubines are unforgettable. But now is different from the past, the entire capital is still under siege by the army outside, is it really appropriate for us to do this now? ”

Seeing that Xiao Xuan's originally somewhat relaxed and happy expression gradually became serious, Yuan Guifei couldn't help but persuade: "Sister, don't worry, I think the emperor has a full grasp of the defense of the capital... ”

Zhou Yufeng rarely spoke at this time, because Zhou Yufeng felt that now was not the time to persuade.

It's just that Xiao Xuan was silent for a moment, and then suddenly saw an order to let those palace maids in the palace back garden retreat. This made Zhou Yufeng, who was not very bad-minded, and even Yuan Guifei seem to have a bad premonition. A worry also came at this time: Could it be that the war had become very pessimistic, and that the extravagance of these days, and even the return to normal court pleasures, was only a choice after despair?

Xiao Xuan finally said bluntly after the idle people retreated: "Of course, the defense of the capital is not sure. There is still a period of time in the future, a month at most, more than ten days at the least, and it may be the last days for me and you... ”

Hearing this, not only Zhou Yufeng but also Yuan Guifei and others, even Tian Xiuying was also surprised. Tian Xiuying, who participated in the previous war, also knew a thing or two, although the situation in the long run was not too optimistic, but it would not be able to hold on for a month. Could it be that the saint learned some important news about the besieging enemy before he made such a decision?

"Your Majesty, if the situation really has reached such a point, the concubines are willing to face it with the monarch, just hoping to die in battle, even if they drink poisonous wine, it is not the kind of poisonous wine that will attack on the spot... Tian Xiuying also said resolutely at this time.

Yuan Guifei and Zhou Yufeng also said resolutely at this time: "I am willing to go with you... ”

Xiao Xuan, who had already done a lot of thinking, did not intend to hide anything at this time, but rarely said what was in his heart: "Of course, the situation in the capital is not optimistic. Our army is advancing, but the enemy army is also advancing, and it also has the help of Westerners and even at least the human and material support of the entire north. If we continue to defend in this way, we will either be broken by the enemy forces with absolute material and manpower superiority, or we will be confined to a desperate situation in the siege. It was I who was overconfident and underestimated the heroes of the world. A few days ago, I met the Emperor again in a dream. The Emperor of Heaven also foreshadowed that the crisis that the entire capital might face was no longer something that could be solved by ordinary methods. Even if Zhuge Kongming is reincarnated, there is no room for turnaround. However, with the help of the Emperor of Heaven, I saw something unthinkable in the future. In the new era of the future, there has been a new method of army building and training that has always been full of tension and has never been seen before, and it is the method of the Red Army. It's just that once I use this method to save myself, even if I retain the emperor's throne for the time being, it will be impossible to live according to many of the previous rules. It is necessary to abolish the status of spouses other than wives, and follow the example of Nayao Shunyu and no longer have the legal system of the family, and can no longer call himself me. And in the future, at least two or three years, or more than ten years, I will no longer be able to let you live a noble life with me. The life on weekdays is probably worse than that of the ordinary main army, and even the officers and soldiers in the teaching brigade are still inferior, so in addition to taking the risk of arrows and stones. Ten years from now, there may be hope that this temporary emergency will be reversed and the order of the past restored, or perhaps the reversal will not be able to restore the identity of at least two of you in the future... ”

Xiao Xuan's words did not completely detach from the ancients' understanding of the idea of army building, so he did not see the imaginary shock from the words of Tian Xiuying and others, but more support and understanding. Even Zhou Yufeng, who had learned some materials that made people feel fearful, heard that some of Xiao Xuan's preparations were just to get rid of the current crisis, so he gave up his previous plan to persuade and said solemnly: "This time is different from the past, how can the concubine complain about the emperor's expedient measures?" ”

Tian Xiuying and even Yuan Guifei and others couldn't help but feel a little disappointed while supporting them, because no one could predict their future fate. It wasn't until Xiao Xuan directly said that the two daughters' worries were reduced a lot: "You don't have to worry too much, I haven't decided who to keep as my nominal wife for the time being." Even if you lose your name temporarily, you will not lose your due treatment in the future. Since many of the things of the royal family in the past are no longer counted, even if there is no famous descendant, it is not completely without hope of inheriting the unification... ”

(End of chapter)