In the second year of the Second Emperor, the uprising in Daze Township had come to an end, and the princes from all walks of life had come to an end

Chu attacked Loucang, Liu and Xiang Liang reached an agreement to give up Loucang, withdraw from Surabaya County, and began the Long March that lasted nearly half a year.

And almost at the same time, Baman, who had already taken Hanzhong, burned the plank road leading from Neishi County to Hanzhong at the suggestion of Tang Li. On the one hand, it was to cut off the Qin army's way to attack Hanzhong, and on the other hand, it was also to express to Xianyang that Bashu had no intention of making it difficult in Xianyang. At that time, Guanzhong was in the midst of a period of emptiness of troops, and Xianyang was naturally happy to ignore Bashu's expression.

As the war in Shandong became more and more intense, Bashu was left behind for a while.

In July of the fourth year of Qin II, a group of men and horses traveled through the reckless mountains of Nanshan. Nanshan, that is, the Qinling Mountains in later generations, is also the southern barrier of Guanzhong. The number of this group is not very large, about three or four thousand. The flags were folded, the horses were wrapped in hooves, and the mouths were tied to pieces, and they quietly walked through a canyon 660 miles long. The procession marched in an orderly manner, and at the same time there was silence.

This canyon, before that, was untouched.

Two mountains are stacked, and the cliffs are craggy...... On the ground, there are potholes, uneven heights, and in many places there are shrubs and grass, almost as tall as a person.

A young man who was nearly a foot tall walked on foot.

Holding a bright mountain opening knife, the knife flashed, and pieces of grass and shrubs fell down one after another.

Behind him, there were still a hundred burly and sturdy men, all of them like young men, holding mountain knives, cutting a path from the bushes and stones.

"Nobukomi. The military advisor said to rest for half an hour. Pause to move forward! ”

A strong man who is eight feet tall. Hurriedly ran from behind. Hold your voice down. The order was conveyed.

The young man held up his mountain-opening knife, which was one size larger than the others. Hundred big men. Qi Brush stopped. He took off the shackle. Removed the black windshield on his face. After spitting. The sound of the urn said angrily: "Everyone rest." Continue after half an hour. ”

A hundred big men. Immediately bow down and answer the order. Sit on the floor.

Take dry food and water out of your carry-on bag. Chew silently.

And the young man. He put his nearly six-foot-long mountain knife into the black snakeskin scabbard. and the big man who came to deliver the letter. Go back.

In the middle of the Chinese army, a thin and thin man stood quietly in front of a boulder.

A blue-gray long-distance runner with a black crown on his head. Delicate appearance, fair skin. The black beard under the jaw moves with the wind, and it has an elegant atmosphere.

A soldier held a torch beside him, and the young man spread out a map on the boulder and looked intently.

"Uncle Tang, this road is also difficult!"

The young man who was too tall walked over and complained angrily: "When do you have to go out like this?" ”

"Faith, why don't you have the strength?"

"It's not that I don't have the strength, it's just that this road is really too difficult to walk."

The strong man who went to report also said: "Strategist, this road is indeed not easy to walk...... There is no way out. I have been careful along the way, and in only three days, I have lost 200 horses. If you can't get out again, I'm afraid that your morale will be affected. ”

When the military advisor heard this, he laughed.

"This is the idea of the king."

He said softly: "If it weren't for the king's mention, I would have been in Hanzhong for two years, and I wouldn't even know that there was such a canyon that could lead directly to Xianyang." ”

The strong man also showed admiration, "Strategist, don't talk about you, I grew up in Hanzhong since I was a child, and I didn't know that there was such a way." ”

"It's hard to walk!"

The young man complained, but his voice was much lower.

The military advisor said: "If you have any opinions, go and complain to your second uncle." ”

When the young man heard this, his face became bitter, and he scratched his head and walked aside, and went to eat.

This young man is none other than Liu Xin.

And that military advisor is Tang Li who Liu stayed in the land of Bashu back then. Tang Li glanced at Liu Xin with a smile and shook his head slightly.

"Ji Xin, don't worry!"

He said softly: "According to the information we found earlier, this Meridian Valley is six hundred and sixty miles. In the past three days, we have walked more than 500 miles, and one more day, at the latest tomorrow at sunset, we can go out...... Out of the Meridian Valley, it is to dominate. ”

Ji Xin is a Chinese person.

Originally, he worked for the Qin brothers, but in the second year of Qin II, Baman united with the Yandao aborigines and won Hanzhong in one fell swoop. The Qin brothers had no choice in the face of Baman's ferocious attack. In the end, I had to surrender and stop making that useless resistance.

This Ji Xin was the general at that time.

However, this man has a strong temperament and is extremely loyal.

When he first surrendered, he tried to be loyal to the death several times, but he failed to succeed. In the end, it was Barman who personally stepped forward to appease and solicit him.

Tang Li saw that he was loyal, rude, and brave, so he wanted to come over and serve as a general by his side.

Among the Ba people, there are few who are skilled in cavalry warfare......

Even if you are proficient, you don't have a chance to use it. Ji Xin can be regarded as the only military general who knows the art of war, except for Meng Ke.

This is obviously very important to Tang Li.

Looking up at the sky, I saw that the moon was dim and the stars were gone.

couldn't help frowning slightly, beckoning Liu Xin to come over, "Xin, the weather in Nanshan is unpredictable." It's the turn of summer and autumn, and it's even harder to predict. Depending on the weather, there is a good chance of light rain tomorrow. You tell you to go down, bring rain gear, and speed up the walk. ”

Liu Xin is no longer the ignorant teenager who entered Shu four years ago.

Liu Xin, who is twenty-five years old, is even taller than Liu, but compared to Liu and Liu Ju, he is a little thinner.

The round face of his youth has now become oval

The eyes are long and narrow, and the forehead is high and the mouth is wide. Yasai has short hair like a steel needle, curled and knotted, revealing a mature and steady atmosphere.

He frowned and said to Tang Li: "Uncle Tang, it's not that I'm unwilling to speed up, it's really that the road is too difficult to walk...... If it rains lightly tomorrow, I'm afraid it will slow down. In the past three days, the children have been very dedicated and have used all their strength, I am afraid it will be difficult to speed up. ”

Tang Li smiled, "I don't care about this, anyway, before sunset tomorrow, I will arrive at the valley."

In this way, if you do it, I should ask your second uncle for a piece of credit for you. When you get to Taniguchi, you can rest and recuperate. ”

After speaking, he pointed to a line on the map, "If my estimate is correct, your Aunt Man and Meng Ke Shaojun have already passed the Chen Cang Trail."

Once your second uncle attacks, we, the centaurs, must assume the role of containment and surprise attack, so as to facilitate your Aunt Man's capture of Wugong County...... Faith, do you know who our opponent is this time? It's Liu Ji, don't you look down on him the most? ”

When Liu Xin was a child, he was bullied by Liu Bang's ruffians in Pei County.

Hearing this, a fierce light flashed in his long narrow eyes, and he said angrily: "Uncle Tang, don't worry, I promise that we will arrive at the valley before sunset." ”

Half an hour passed quickly......

Liu Xin led his troops to continue to advance, and three thousand soldiers and horses took advantage of the dim moonlight to disappear into the narrow valley!

―――――――――――――――――

Yinghu~ is seventeen years old.

At the age of seventeen, he has rarely dealt with political affairs since he ascended the throne. Except for a court meeting when he ascended the throne, Hu ~ only showed his face when dealing with his brothers and sisters. Then, after Li Si was sent to prison, Hu Hai sent someone to interrogate once, but there was no more action. Most of the time, he was immersed in the sound of singing and dancing. Sometimes, even for days on end, I get drunk.

Although he is only seventeen years old, his body has long been emptied because of the color of wine.

Pale and a little sickly. The chubby little face is now even fatter and can't even open his eyes......

However, as he grew older, Hu Hai was not as ignorant as he was when he was twelve or thirteen years old. Especially after the situation in Shandong became worse and worse, and Wuguan was broken, Hu ~ began to have a kind of vigilance and warmth that he had never had before when he had always trusted Zhao Gao.

It's just because he doesn't have any available people, and most of the guards in Xianyang Palace are from Zhao Gao's Zhongche Mansion. This made Yinghu~ unprecedentedly panicked, so after thinking twice, he made a temporary decision to serve as the guard captain by Bailishu and take over the post of guard. Ying Huhai, who was born in the deep palace, found it difficult to trust anyone, so he had to trust the eunuchs around him.

Unexpectedly Yinghu~, when he appointed Baili Shu as the guard captain, Zhao Gao did not resist too much.

Either Zhao Gao and Baili Shu are in cahoots, and it doesn't matter who takes over the guard; Either Zhao Gao is now, and he has no time to ask.

Ying Huhai chose the second possibility.

Because he knew that there seemed to be a gap between Zhao Gao and Baili Shu.

On this night, Hu Hai did not watch the singing and dancing, but moved to the Xingle Palace, flipping through the past classics and chapters.

"Baili, what do you think of Beiguang Wujun?"

He asked suddenly.

Bailishu said: "Beiguang Wujun...... This man is a loyal servant, but he has a more upright temperament and does not know how to make any changes. ”

Yinghu~ asked: "Then do you think it is possible for him to be loyal to me?" ”

"Your Majesty is the lord of Lao Qin and a descendant of the Ying family. Beiguang Wujun...... At least one thing the old slave can affirm is that he will be loyal to Lao Qin. ”

The implication is to say: As long as Your Majesty is the lord of Lao Qin, then Liu + will be loyal to you.

A smile bloomed on his fat face.

His eyes were almost invisible, and Ying Huhai nodded lightly and said, "Speaking of which, Beiguang Wujun Yu Zhen also has the grace to save his life." ”

He pondered for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Baili, what about you?" ”

Baili Shu couldn't help but be stunned, "Forgive the old slave for being foolish, I don't know what Your Majesty has heard, what does it mean?" ”

"I mean, are you also loyal to me?"

When Bailishu heard this, he knelt down with a plop and said prostrately: "Your Majesty, the old slave's heart for Your Majesty is clear to the sun and the moon, of course the old slave is loyal to Your Majesty, in this world, who is worthy of the old slave's loyalty?" ”

Ying Huhai nodded with satisfaction.

He asked softly, "Then do you know, Guangwujun...... Oh, it's the king of the Western Tang Dynasty, where is Chen Bing now? ”

Bailishu hurriedly replied: "When the Wuguan was broken before, Zhao Zhongcheng sent people to Beiguang Wucheng to ask Guangwu Jun and the King of the Western Tang Dynasty to send troops.

Guangwujun also agreed at that time that he would send troops as soon as possible.

It's just that where he is now, the old slave doesn't know very well. Your Majesty, you also know that Zhao Zhongcheng will not tell the old slave about this kind of thing. ”

Ying Huhai also knew that Baili Shu was not an excuse.

So he thought about it for a while, and ordered Baili Shu to take a pair of white silk edicts and write a book.

After writing, Hu ~ stamped the seal with the jade seal and handed it to Bailishu.

"Baili, I want you to choose a confidant, set off immediately, go out of Xiao Pass to find the king of the Western Tang Dynasty, and deliver this edict to the king of Tang.

There is a tiger talisman here, with which the Tang King can successfully pass through Xiao Pass and enter Guanzhong.

Let's just say that I need his help, eradicate the petty traitors in the middle of the court, and return my old Qin's style. This is related to the future of my old Qin, so I will ask you! ”

Bailishu's hands trembled slightly, and he took the edict and the tiger talisman.

He said softly: "Your Majesty, just rest assured, the old slave will not fail in his mission and send the edict and the tiger talisman to the hands of the king of the Western Tang Dynasty." ”

Hu Hai nodded tiredly, and waved his hand to signal Baili Shu to go down.

It's never been like this

Tired, for Hu Hai, there is no intention to feel tired.

Bailishu bowed and withdrew from the palace, and after hiding the edict close to him, he quietly left Xingle Palace. However, he did not go home, but went straight to Zhao Gao's mansion.

At this time, Zhao Gao was in a state of hesitation.

Yan Ledi proposed, but Zhao Gaosheng was interested. But this is not a trivial matter after all, this is the crime of killing the king, not to mention how the Marquis of Wu Anhou will deal with him, if it spreads, the four million people in Guanzhong, one person can drown him with a mouthful of spit.

Therefore, he was undecided, and he didn't know what to do.

It was at this time that Bailishu came to visit late at night.

As soon as he entered the study, Bailishu said with a panicked expression: "Zhongcheng, the big thing is not good, the big thing is not good!" ”

Zhao Gao couldn't help but sigh, and hurriedly got up and gave up his seat, "Baili, why are you so panicked?" What happened, why is this so? ”

"Zhongcheng, Your Majesty, he ......"

Bailishu panted and said, "Your Majesty, he...... To recruit the king of the Western Tang Dynasty, Liu Guan...... However, it seems to be detrimental to Zhongcheng. ”

Zhao Gao's face turned pale suddenly.

"Baili, what's going on?"

Baili Shu presented the tiger talisman and said softly: "Just now, Your Majesty summoned me and asked me to try to contact King Tang and ask him to enter the customs secretly. ”

"Oh?"

"I just thought, this is not right." Baili Shu said: "Recruiting the Tang Army into the customs has always been the responsibility of Zhongcheng, why did Your Majesty suddenly intervene in it?" Moreover, since the Tang army was to be recruited into the customs, why did he have to sneak in and let the Tang King enter the customs secretly? ”

Zhao Gaobai's eyebrows trembled, "You mean ......?"

"I thought about it and thought that it was better to tell Zhongcheng about this matter first."

After Zhao Gao pondered for a long time, a smile appeared on his thin face, and he patted Baili Shudi on the shoulder, "Baili, I have written down your affection...... By the way, Your Majesty is going to stay in Xingle Palace for the past two days? ”

Bailishu nodded and said, "Look at what Your Majesty means, I'm afraid I have to stay for some time." ”

"The defense ...... of Nakoraku Palace"

After Zhao Gao hesitated for a moment, he lowered his voice and said, "Can you transfer?" ”

Bailishu's face changed suddenly.

His eyes widened, revealing a look of horror, and he looked at Zhao Gao in a daze. After a long time, he made a dry mouth and swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "Zhongcheng, are you ......?"

"Baili, so far, although I don't want to do some things, I can't help myself."

Zhao Gao sighed lightly, "You also know that the soldiers and horses of the Marquis of Wu'an of the Chu State have arrived to the east of Bashui and may cross the river to attack at any time."

Zhao Ai, I'm afraid he is not the opponent of Wu Anhou.

If the hegemony is broken, Xianyang will not be guaranteed. Originally, I wanted to serve His Majesty to repay the king's kindness. But now it seems that His Majesty is likely to ...... It doesn't matter if I die, but the people of Xianyang are afraid that they will suffer. In private, I have a large family, and my brothers, sisters-in-law and sons-in-law are difficult to protect; Yu Gong, if His Majesty refuses to surrender, when this Xianyang City is broken, hundreds of thousands of living beings are afraid that they will suffer the misery of the Chu people.

Baili, you also have a family of children, don't you think about them? ”

The Baili Shudi family, that is, the eldest daughter who was released from Yan Le Mansion.

When Baili Shu heard this, he showed a look of embarrassment, and after a long time, he let out a sigh......

"Zhongcheng, what do you want me to do?"

Zhao said in a low voice: "Tomorrow, please transfer the defenders of Xingle Palace...... You can ignore everything else. ”

Bailishu hesitated, gritted his teeth, stood up and said, "Okay, just follow Zhongcheng's orders!" ”

―――――――――――――――

When I came out of the Prime Minister's Mansion, it was already the second half of the night.

After Bailishu returned home, he woke up his eldest daughter and called her to the study.

He took out the edict from his arms, weighed it in his hand, looked at his eldest daughter and said, "Eldest son, you will leave Xianyang with Lao Baili early tomorrow morning." ”

"Huh?"

"I'm afraid Xianyang will be chaotic for a while......"

Bailishu said, and put the edict in the hands of the eldest daughter, "After this time, Ying Qin is afraid that it will be completely finished." You have to keep this edict alive. In the future, if the Tang King enters the Guanzhong, with this edict, you can at least mix a glory and wealth, and you will have no worries about food and clothing.

You and Lao Baili will go out of the city tomorrow, find a remote place to hide, and then wait for the situation to calm down, and then come back to Xianyang! ”

The eldest daughter couldn't help but be stunned!

"Father's ......"

"You don't have to ask any more questions, hurry up and prepare, and leave the city as soon as it is dawn."

In the words of Bailishu, there is a sense of determination.

The eldest daughter knew that this was probably going to be a big thing. I had the intention to persuade Bailishu to go together, but looking at Bailishu's expression, she swallowed it back raw when she came to her mouth. After taking the edict, he was deeply blessed by Baili Shu, and quietly withdrew from the study.

Baili Shu found Lao Baili again, and he gave advice.

Then, he took advantage of the night to send Lao Baili and his eldest daughter out of the side door, and then returned to his room and sat down.

Sitting still, Bailishu's whole person seemed to have lost his soul.

When the rooster crows outside the window, he suddenly laughs.

He stood up, walked out of the study, took a deep breath, and his spirit suddenly lifted up.

Tang Wang, an old friend...... I've cleared all the obstacles for you, and it's up to you...... I hope you don't let me down!

―――――――――――――――――――

The neck and shoulders are uncomfortable, and the head is painful......