The so-called filial piety of parents and pay attention to serving day and night, for the family of etiquette, it is essential to greet each other in the morning and evening. After Li Congjing www.biquge.info who finished a day's political affairs in Chongwen Palace, came to the palace of the Empress Dowager Cao, preparing to have dinner with the Empress Dowager Cao.

Seeing Concubine Shu's palace maid outside the door, she knew that Ren Wanru was also there, and after entering, she found that Empress Dowager Cao was taking the exam for Li Chongzheng's studies, Ren Wanru sat quietly on the side, with a proud smile on her face, and Concubine De Dou Niang was also there, sitting quietly aside.

Tang because of the Sui system, under the queen, there is a noble concubine, a lady concubine, a virtuous concubine, a lady, a product. Later, there were changes, in the past, there were concubines Hui, Concubine Li, and Concubine Hua as the three ladies, and now the old system is still used.

"See Your Majesty!" After Li Congjing arrived, except for the Empress Dowager Cao, everyone got up to salute and greet him.

"Get up." Li Congjing sat down next to the Empress Dowager Cao, "The Empress Dowager is taking the exam for the imperial grandson's studies?" ”

Empress Dowager Cao is so old that her face is wrinkled, but her spirit is not bad, she was a little sad some time ago, but now she has recovered almost completely, and she said with a smile: "Where do I have any knowledge, I can take the school political examination." It's just a show, and it's just a matter of getting closer to him, which is the same as when you were a child. ”

Li Congjing smiled: "Mother is very knowledgeable, but I have always thought so, and I believe that everyone also sees it this way." ”

Ren Wanru and Dou Niang even claimed to be, and Li Chongzheng, who was nine years old at the time, also said it seriously, which made the old man very happy and seemed more energetic.

After dinner, Concubine Ren Wanru and Concubine De Douniang left, and Li Congjing stayed to talk to Empress Dowager Cao. When the lights were on, the Empress Dowager Cao took Li Congjing's hand and said seriously: "Congjing, who do you plan to make the queen?" ”

"Do you need to ask? What does my mother think? Li Congjing said with a smile.

Empress Dowager Cao didn't seem to ask casually at all, and sighed: "I know what you think, are you thinking about the woman of the Wang family in your heart?" ”

Li Congjing restrained his smile, was silent for a moment, and then said: "In the future, it is naturally Concubine Shu who will be the queen, whether it is the Qin Palace's Mansion or the East Palace, Concubine Shu has worked hard, and now Zheng'er is getting older, and his own temperament is good, and this matter will not mess up with the rules." ”

Empress Dowager Cao patted Li Congjing's hand, wanted to say anything but didn't say anything, and finally just said: "My son has a family and a country in his heart, so naturally he won't go wrong in such a big thing." ”

......

The northwest border is heavy in Lingzhou, Shuo Fang Jie Du envoy is to govern Lingzhou, in the past here is also a land full of glory, the main force to pacify the Anshi Rebellion is the Shuo Fang Army, Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi is the Shuo Fang Army generals.

However, with the pacification of the Anshi Rebellion, the Shuofang army finally gradually disintegrated into several departments under the suspicion and power of the imperial court, and its combat power and power were not as good as before.

When the world was in turmoil, the princes competed for hegemony in the Central Plains, and Lingzhou was completely reduced to a border land that was not taken seriously.

However, in any case, in the northwest of this acre and three points of land, Lingzhou controls the western section of the Yellow River basin, choking the throat of Helan Mountain, and the Shuofang army is still an important force that cannot be ignored.

Lingzhou City is south of the Great Wall, and the adjacent Dingyan Festival to the east is to govern Xiazhou, but the city is north of the Great Wall. Judging from the territory of today's Tang Dynasty, Lingzhou is like a wedge protruding northward, separating Hexi from Xiazhou.

Historically, when the party members marched west to Hexi, they first attacked Lingzhou. After exhausting countless efforts, he once occupied Lingzhou, that is, to build the royal capital in Lingzhou.

In spring, there is no rain, strong winds, yellow sand is all over the sky, and the weather is overcast and cold.

In the southwest corner of Helan Mountain, there is a Great Wall in the low and gentle part of the mountain.

There is no wood or grass on the mountain, and the sand and gravel are bare, all yellow.

There are border passes on the Great Wall, and the years are eternal.

The setting sun is blurred, hanging over the castle tower.

Looking from the west of the border, beyond the undulating mountains, is the desert.

The desert is endless, crying in the yellow sand.

There was a group of men and horses, about twenty or thirty people, marching on the edge of the desert in the wind and sand, burying their heads towards the Great Wall.

The wind swept the yellow sand, and the yellow sand rolled up the clothes.

This group of people is extremely small, and it is very difficult to walk.

There was a man in his thirties and forties, with a beard, square eyebrows, and rough skin, a typical border man.

His name is Cao Yicheng, and he is the younger brother of Cao Yijin, the envoy of the Guiyi Army, and he is also a few fierce generals in the Guiyi Army.

After trying to look forward in the wind and sand for a while, he shouted to the people beside him: "The sun has turned west, can you reach the Great Wall today?" ”

The man next to him was about thirty years old, but he was one of the two people who followed Jianzi and went to the Qin Palace, named Zhang Jinlai.

Zhang Jinlai looked for a reference object left and right for a long time before responding loudly: "There are still more than thirty miles away from the Great Wall, and the wind and sand are too big, I'm afraid I won't be able to catch up today!" ”

Cao Yicheng lowered his head and fell silent, in order to prevent wind and sand, the lower half of his face was wrapped in gauze, and at this time, only a pair of eyes were like sharp swords, which could be chiseled through gold and stone.

"Judge Cao, why don't you choose a place to camp and leave tomorrow?" Zhang Jinlai asked.

"No!" Cao Yicheng hadn't spoken yet, and someone behind him had already spoken first.

This person's voice is like a duck, it is Zhao Xiangyao, he said: "We must rush to the Great Wall today, and it will change later!" ”

Cao Yijin and Zhang Jinlai's eyes were awe-inspiring.

At the beginning in Liangzhou, Cao Yijin and others were intercepted and killed, and the situation was critical, if it wasn't for Zhao Xiangyao to save him in time, everyone's lives would not be long.

Traveling eastward, there are several troubles, there are groups of sand bandits, and there are also unknown elite killers.

The team of more than 100 people is now less than 30 people.

"Who is it that wants to prevent me from returning to the Righteous Army?" When Cao Yicheng said this, he was full of grief and injustice.

Zhao Xiangyao can't say it lightly.

Zhang Jinlai said angrily: "Hexi chaos, the invasion of all departments, I returned to the righteous army first from General Zhang, after a bloody battle, to recover the land of ten states, and then from General Cao, decades of desperate fighting, for the Tang people to guard the blood of Hexi, hardship, casualties are incalculable, and now the east is returned to the dynasty, there are people who obstruct it in every way, what kind of thief is this, dare to do so?!" ”

Zhao Xiangyao didn't speak, and Cao Yicheng sneered: "Hexi Tribes, who wants me to return to the east and lead the king to the west?" ”

At this time, not far away, a horse team of more than 100 people was gathering.

The leader, one strong and one young, although wearing the clothes of horse bandits, could not hide the iron armor inside the sackcloth.

Elderly, Liu Zhiyuan; For the young, the stone is valuable.

Shi Chonggui's face was complicated, and he couldn't help but ask Liu Zhiyuan, "General Liu, do you have to do it this time?" ”

"Don't do it at this time, once they enter the Great Wall and enter the realm of Lingzhou, you and I can't help them." Liu Zhiyuan was murderous, "This is the last chance, if you don't do it, when will you wait?" If it weren't for the fact that those people before were too useless, Cao Yicheng wouldn't have been able to get here, so why would you and I risk our lives to intercept and kill this fang in front of the Great Wall? ”

Shi Chonggui said: "No one expected that the military intelligence department in Hexi would have laid so many chess pieces. ”

When the words came out, he felt that something was wrong, Shi Chonggui was irritable, and ripped open the cloth that wrapped his mouth and nose, "The righteous army is returned to the east and enters the dynasty, why should I stop the difficult army?" ”

Liu Zhiyuan didn't squint, and said coldly: "Those who win the west of the river will be a difficult army." If the Guiyi Army says that the imperial court will send troops to Hexi, then Hexi will no longer be our gains! ”

"Why does the Dingyan Army have to get Hexi?" Shi Chonggui can't understand.

"Xiazhou, the place where the party people live, the position of the party leader has always been controlled by the party leader, Shi Shuai moved to Xiazhou, the party people closed the door, the two armies fought for more than a year, if it wasn't for the later Shi Shuai promised to seize the land west of the river and conspire with the party people, how could this generation accept Shi Shuai?" Liu Zhiyuan said.

"It can prevent the righteous army from entering the court, which is like chaos!" Shi Chonggui shouted.

"So just hide your identity and act in secret!" Liu Zhiyuan said.

"But it's still a mess! Why can't the Dingyan army beg for advice from the imperial court and pacify the party members who are in rebellion? Shi Chonggui asked loudly.

"Because the imperial court will not send troops." Liu Zhiyuan said.

"Why is that?" The stone is incomprehensible.

"Okay, young marshal, why don't you go back and ask the military marshal about this matter? The military order received by the last general is to prevent the Guiyi army from returning to the east! Liu Zhiyuan didn't say anything more, covered his mouth and nose again, and pulled out the horizontal knife, "Wait for the order: follow me!" ”

Shi Chonggui's heart was in a mess, and he could only keep up at this time.

"Not good, enemy attack!" Zhao Xiangyao's eyes were sharp, and he was the first to spot the horse army rushing in the yellow sand, and hurriedly turned over and stepped on the war horse, "Meet the enemy!" ”

"The straight lady thief of the dog day is here again!" Cao Yicheng scolded, and stepped on the war horse with neat movements.

The wind is getting lighter, but the sand is more blowing.

When I saw that there were more than 100 people on the other side, Cao Yicheng, Zhao Xiangyao and others all lost their color.

Twenty or thirty people who had been on the road for most of the day were already tired, and there were wounded in the team, so they were surrounded by Liu Zhiyuan's more than 100 horsemen, and immediately fell into a situation of being besieged.

Liu Zhiyuan was anxious to solve the war, leaving a part of the Ma army to defend the periphery, and personally led the main force to rush over with a sword.

"Straight lady thief, a certain and you don't share the sky!" Cao Yicheng scolded and galloped to meet Liu Zhiyuan, and the two immediately fought.

Zhang Jinlai was also sad and indignant, carrying a knife and riding a horse, fighting each other with the comers. It's just that he was slightly injured earlier, and this time he fought with the other party for a while, and the wound cracked, and after a short time, his robe was stained with blood, and he gradually lost his strength.

From time to time, Zhang Jinlai was fascinated by the yellow sand thrown by the opponent, the defense showed a gap, and he was slashed on the shoulder with a knife, bleeding profusely, and fell on the horse's back.

The team of twenty or thirty people, when the battle was not long, nearly half of them were killed and wounded.

The seriously wounded man on horseback was already confused, and within two swings of his knife at this time, he was cut off from his horse, hacked to death with a knife, and his blood stained the yellow sand.

Seeing all kinds of scenes, Zhang Jinlai's eyes were broken, he got up from the yellow sand, spit out the sand in his mouth, ignored the bleeding wounds, and waved the long knife vigorously, looking like a madman, "Dog thief! What a loyal and courageous man of the Guiyi Army, at the time of the invasion of the various departments, in the midst of the chaos of the army, with a blood to defend the territory for the Tang Dynasty, hanging alone in Hexi for decades, still fighting endlessly, throwing his head and spilling blood, today he was killed and injured by you, and he will not die! ”

His angry roar did not lead to the scattering of the enemy, but his comrades fell from their horses one after another, and the more they died, and he himself was once again slashed and fell in the sand.

"The straight bitch thief of the dog day!" Cao Yicheng was besieged by several people, and the defense line finally collapsed, he was slashed several times, and was forced to roll off his horse and roll with Zhang Jinlai.

"General Cao!" Seeing this, Zhao Xiangyao's eyes were bloodshot, and he struggled to drive his horse to kill, galloping back and forth in the chaotic army, ignoring the blood.

Seeing the enemy troops surrounding, Cao Yicheng lifted Zhang Jinlai up from the sand, held his arm, and struggled to kill the two enemies who abandoned their horses and rushed up, and he was also wounded in the thigh and unsteady on his feet.

"General Cao......" Zhang Jinlai spat blood, supported each other with Cao Yijin, his body kept shaking, he took several steps back, and finally did not fall.

Cao Yicheng stared at the enemy who fell at his feet, and suddenly his face changed, and he could see clearly the armor of the Tang Army under the other party's sackcloth.

The long knife was pointed directly at the condescending enemy on horseback, Cao Yicheng gritted his teeth with hatred, and if there was blood and tears in his eyes, "Who is the instructor!" As a royal teacher, why do you want to kill my soldiers of the Guiyi Army?! My Guiyi army has been bloody day by day, defending the territory for the Tang Dynasty, and over the past decades, more than 100,000 people have been killed and wounded! The bones are piled up, and the blood is gathered into a river, why do you want to kill me as a soldier of the Wangshi Army?! Why?! ”

None of the thieves at the horse could speak.

Zhang Jinlai clutched the horizontal knife tightly, and said sadly while fighting: "I return to the righteous army to fight bloody battles every year, and I look forward to Wang Shi's help every day, but I haven't seen a single soldier of Wang Shi for decades!" Now I finally got to see Master Wang, but I never thought that Master Wang was here to kill me! General Cao, so far, why don't you say more, even if you and I die here today, we will turn into ghosts in the coming day, and watch these dog thieves stay in front of the couch night and night to see how they are stripped of their hearts and eaten meat! ”

Liu Zhiyuan's eyes were cold, and he didn't let the two of them say more, "Kill!" ”

Just when Cao Yicheng and Zhang Jinlai were about to be besieged to death, suddenly, a shout came from behind Liu Zhiyuan, "General, it's not good, someone is coming!" ”

"Who is going to do my good deeds?" Liu Zhiyuan turned around angrily.

The sunset hangs on the mountain, the mountain city is the same, the loess is thousands of miles, and the fine ride out of the mountain pass.

The first one, with purple leather armor, rode on a horse, held a long lance, and his long hair danced wildly.

Suddenly, like an arrow, rushing to the ground.

Entering the horse team, the long lance is like a dragon, and those who block it all fall from their horses.

The face is like frost, the eyes are like a clear pool, the thief is like mowing grass, and the danger is like flat ground, and he went straight to Cao Yicheng and Zhang Jinlai, who were besieged.

Liu Zhiyuan was shocked, "Who is this, so brave?" ”

Shi Chonggui's eyes widened in disbelief.

Zhao Xiangyao, who was covered in blood, laughed three times when he saw this person, "Big boss, you are finally here!" ”

Ten years have passed, how many people still remember that in the past, under the Immortal Mountain, there was a chivalrous man riding a horse and holding a lance, and he fought with Li Congjing for dozens of rounds?

Ten years have passed, who still remembers that in the past, when the Hundred Battles Army attacked Zelu, there was that brave horse into the battle to block Dong Zhang's iron spear for Li Congjing?

Ten years have passed, but some people still remember that the woman wearing purple leather armor, wearing an eye patch, and messy long hair once created a paradise for the people at the foot of the fairy mountain?

Now, she is no longer the big boss of Immortal Mountain.

Now, she is the commander of the military intelligence department of Datang, and she only fights because of the orders of one person.

Her name is Tao Xiaoxiao.

Horses can be driven into battle, meditation can teach students, alone can go to the grassland, and everything can be taken care of.

She only drinks water.

She only has one eye.

She has always been independent.