After more than ten days in Yan'an, Xue Shao spent almost all his time and energy on pacifying the people's livelihood. Although it was impossible for the anger of Suiyan Erzhou to fully recover in such a short period of time, there was finally some improvement. At least the yamen in the prefectures and counties have resumed normal operation, local law and order has been guaranteed, and many people who have fled have returned one after another.

The imperial court finally got a reply, saying that the three provinces and six ministries were already focusing on the post-war pacification of Suiyan and the two prefectures, many newly elected officials were about to take office, and a large number of disaster relief materials were about to be delivered. After the beginning of spring, the imperial court will also allocate a group of people to move to Suiyan Erzhou to make up for the loss of men here, replenish the labor force and balance the proportion of the population.

In today's era of the Tang Dynasty, population is the most important productive force. As long as there is a population moving in, it will be able to restore the vitality of the two prefectures of Suiyan.

Xue Shao let out a long breath. These things are really not something that a minister can handle alone. Fortunately, the Tang Empire has a strong family foundation, and the power of the state is immeasurable.

With the court's takeover, Xue Shao can finally go home now.

In the reply letter of the imperial court, it was inevitable to praise Xue Shao, and summoned Xue Shao and others to return to the court to listen to the reward as much as possible. Hearing the news, all the thousand cavalry soldiers were more excited. In the past, Emperor Li Zhi gave thousands of horses a reward, and each person was rewarded with silk silk for playing football. But that kind of reward is simply useless, and the soldiers of the thousand horsemen take too much, so they take it out and take it numbly, feeling like "deserved" and "love or not".

Only this time the "listening to the seal and receiving the reward" was made by the thousands of cavalry soldiers themselves. This made them very proud and excited, and for the first time they realized what the real "military honor" is.

Everyone in Qianqi "empathizes" with Xue Shao, and they already understand that no matter how expensive the food is, there is nothing they have earned with their own hands, and they can eat sweetly and comfortably.

There were only seven or eight days left before the Chinese New Year, and Xue Shao led a thousand horsemen to set off and return to Chang'an.

When the people of Suiyan and the two prefectures heard about this, they rushed to the road to say goodbye.

In order to avoid a repeat of the accident that day, Xue Shao tied Bai Tieyu and blocked his mouth, put it in a breathable coffin, and dragged it in a carriage. There are several similar cars, all of which contain the ashes of fallen soldiers.

The people of Datang are simple and kind, as long as they feel a little bit of goodness for officials, they will be grateful from the bottom of their hearts. When Xue Shao and his party left, the frozen streets were full of grateful and weeping people, many of whom took out the few food or goods left at home to give to Xue Shao and the thousands of cavalry soldiers under his command. There are also some people who wear linen and filial piety to the soldiers who died in battle, and kowtow to offer blood and food, as if serving their own ancestors.

Xue Shao and the soldiers of Qianqi were very moved, and many of them were provoked to tears, and they couldn't bear to leave.

finally left Yanzhou and embarked on the way home.

Maybe it was exhaustion or nostalgia, and when they returned, the soldiers were relatively silent, not as fierce and generous as they came. It seems that everyone has something on their minds to ponder, and everyone's heart is also carrying out self-precipitation and understanding.

Xue Shao knew that the first expedition was like a baptism of life for the thousands of cavalry soldiers. A soldier who does not go to war is not a real soldier. From now on, the soldiers of the Thousand Cavalry have completed a great transformation, they have all changed from boys to men, all of them have changed from an old soldier who eats empty salaries to a real warrior who can fight.

On the evening of the second day after the team set off, Xue Shao and the others had not completely left the boundary of Yanzhou, and camped in a mountain forest, fetching water and drinking horses, burying pots and cooking to prepare for a night's rest.

Just as Xue Shao was lying down in the tent and preparing to take a nap, he suddenly heard a scream and noise outside. Xue Shao jumped up, and Guo Yuanzhen had already rushed into the tent.

"Something's wrong!!"

Xue Shao didn't say a word, and ran quickly to the place of the incident with Guo Yuanzhen.

Many people formed a circle, and when they saw Xue Shao coming, they made a way.

And one of the thousand horsemen drew his sword and killed himself.

Xue Shao shook his head and sighed when he saw the man. No need to ask, he already knows what is going on.

"What's going on?!" Guo Yuanzhen asked loudly.

The guards on the left and right shook their heads together in confusion, "I don't know." Just now, Huo Chang asked him to deliver food to Bai Tieyu, and when he came back, he pulled out his knife and committed suicide. ”

"Bai Tieyu?" Guo Yuanzhen was very angry, "Could it be that he can still be bewitched by Bai Tieyu?" ”

"I'm going to slaughter that crumb!" The sergeants shouted excitedly.

"Don't make a noise!" Xue Shao shouted, and everyone quieted down, and they all looked at Xue Shao quietly.

Guo Yuanzhen stepped forward, "What can I do?" ”

"Cremate him and bring his ashes back to Chang'an with him." After Xue Shao finished speaking, he added, "Regarded as the same as a martyr who died in battle." ”

Guo Yuanzhen and all the soldiers silently agreed and began to busily handle this matter.

Xue Shao turned his head and looked at where Xuan Yunzi lived. happened to see her standing quietly in front of the tent, also looking at Xue Shao.

Xue Shao didn't speak, and walked into the forest alone. Xuan Yunzi understood, and after a while, he followed.

"Are you satisfied? He committed suicide. Xue Shao said coldly, "You have been talking to him for the past few days, do you think I don't know?" “

"Poor Dao never mentioned the leak to him, but only talked to him about the scriptures, hoping to eliminate the demons in his heart." Xuan Yunzi sighed regretfully and said, "Actually, he already knew that you had already found out, but the young marshal didn't want to picket the inner ghosts in front of Wang Fangyi and the people, so as not to damage the reputation of Qianqi." Once you return to Chang'an, you will definitely have to investigate this matter. Therefore, he was very frightened and did not dare to return to Chang'an at all. Especially after seeing Bai Tieyu, he blamed himself even more and was more afraid. Eventually, he became unbearable and committed suicide. ”

"He's not a qualified ghost." Xue Shao shook his head and said, "Because he only told Bai Tieyu about the movements of you, Sima Chengzhen and Yuenu, but he didn't tell Bai Tieyu about the reality of our troops and military plans. Otherwise, Bai Tieyu would have let his generals lead the army to Yanzhou and annihilate the 800 people in our area in one fell swoop. Or, even Zhou Yunming, the assassin of Yanzhou, can deal with us. ”

"That's why Childe hasn't dealt with him all this time, right?" Xuan Yunzi asked, "Doesn't Childe want to know why he did this?" ”

"I have many enemies. They all wanted me to let me die. Xue Shao smiled bitterly and shook his head, "The guards of the thousand horses, everyone has a family background and a way to come, and the relationship in Chang'an is intertwined, and I can't check and grasp them one by one." It would not be surprising if someone among them had dealings with or even relatives with my enemies. To be honest, when I return to Chang'an, I will investigate, but I will not expose his leaks, I will find an excuse to kick him out of Qianqi, and that's it. ”

"Why?" Xuan Yunzi asked, "Leaking military secrets should be punished." There is no reason for an iron-blooded commander like you to disregard military law. ”

Xue Shao smiled bitterly and said, "I am an iron-blooded military commander, but after I take off my military uniform, I am also a big living person with feelings." As I said, even if my robe stabbed me in the back, I'd rather believe that he was drunk and recognized the wrong person. It's all about making mistakes. Can't I give a little tolerance to a man who dares to give me his life on the battlefield? ”

"But the more tolerant you are, the more guilty he becomes." Xuan Yunzi sighed and said, "I understand his inner feelings very well, he is more painful than anyone else. He respects you, the young marshal, he loves the army of Qiancai, and he is willing to die for his robes. But at the same time, he did not dare to live up to the trust of others. So he 'clicked to the end' and leaked a little secret to Bai Tieyu. He thought that Bai Tieyu would arrest and kill the three of us, so that you would lose a woman you liked, as well as me and my senior brother, two corpses that you couldn't deal with after you returned to the court. In this way, he will probably achieve his goal of repaying you. He didn't betray Qianqi, and he didn't really want to kill you. When the battle really began, he fought bloodily like the other thousand horsemen and saw death as if he were home. But as time went on, the pain and self-blame in his heart piled up and almost broke him. When he left Yanzhou, when the people were offering incense and blood and food to the fallen soldiers, he cried, crying more than anyone else. ”

Xue Shao looked up at the sky, and the dense woods covered the sky with only a narrow triangle.

The woods were very dark, just like Xue Shao's gloomy mood right now.

"Do you still need to say this?"

Xuan Yunzi shook his head and let out a long sigh, "Human nature is so complicated. ”

"When I have time, I should also heal my heart." Xue Shao poked his fingers in his chest and smiled bitterly.

Xuan Yunzi nodded with a smile, "I'll wait for you." ”

Xue Shao raised his feet and left.

After walking a few steps, Xuanyunzi suddenly said behind him: "A few months ago, the mother of the former Qianqi Zuolang General Wu Yougui died, and this person personally climbed the mountain and invited the people of Xuanyunguan to go to open the altar and set up sacrifices to be a dojo for the dead. But when there is no one in the middle of the night, he will go and cry alone, wearing linen and filial piety as if he had lost his own mother. ”

Xue Shao listened to the footsteps in his ears and did not stop, and said in his heart, Wu Yougui is not your cousin, you still can't help but sue me.

A tragic incident occurred in which a colleague committed suicide, and the return of the thousand cavalry soldiers became even more silent, and there was a faint atmosphere of sadness.

Another urn was added to the coffin.

When the soldiers saw them, they remembered that each of them was once a living person, and they had all lived with them, eating and sleeping together, drinking and training together, and fighting together in the wind and snow.

Now, they're all burned to ashes and packed into cold boxes.

On the fourth day, it snowed again. The road became more difficult.

Guo Yuanzhen suddenly tore open his throat and sang loudly in his unpleasant voice - "Cai Wei Cai Wei, Wei Yi Rou stop." When he returns, his heart is also worried. ”

This is an ancient and famous poem describing the return of the expeditionary soldiers, "Book of Songs 61 Xiaoya 61 Caiwei".

Strong, sad and inexplicable.

The soldiers of the thousand horsemen heard it and spontaneously sang aloud.

"In the past, I was in the past, and the willows were still there."

"Now I think about it, the rain and snow are falling."

"The way is slow, thirst and hunger."

"My heart is sad, I don't know how to mourn!"

……

Xue Shao raised his head and squinted his eyes, looking at the goose feather snowflakes flying all over the sky, and sang the song "Picking Rose" in a low voice.

"Brother in heaven, can you hear? Will you also sing along......