The first battle of the "Avengers" completely played the prestige of the Tang Dynasty soldiers.

These soldiers have fled for too long, been wronged for too long, and suppressed for too long. Reunited with the long-lost victory, the joy in their hearts could not be concealed, holding a large pile of trophies, and everyone's face was full of joy. While the old general was not paying attention, he hooked his shoulders in twos and threes, telling the joy of this battle.

Tang An is happy because he is the maker and executor of tactics. With such a brilliant record in his first fight, he really couldn't find a reason to be unhappy.

The only thing that made him depressed was the change in Su Meier's attitude.

Seeing those ragged soldiers change into brand-new Xia Kingdom uniforms and ride the tall horses of Xia Kingdom, no matter how dull she is, she knows that her compatriots have now become the souls of this remnant army.

After a few days, Su Meier changed her lively style in the past, and most of the time she leaned against the car window without saying a word, like a lifeless puppet.

A woman in an enemy camp, watching her robes being killed, their relatives in their distant homeland about to face the pain of losing their loved ones, her country losing one hot-blooded young man after another, and she could do nothing but listen to the harshest cheers of the enemy.

Tang An understood her mood and wanted to explain a few words, but she couldn't say anything when the words came to her mouth.

War is cruel and has nothing to do with feelings. No one likes to fight, but sometimes fighting can become inevitable when you're on a different side.

He believes that Su Meier understands this truth, but understanding does not mean accepting it. He didn't expect Su Meier to understand his helplessness, but he simply didn't want to see her depressed.

And this kind of "unwanted" can't be said to anyone, including Mu Rong.

Tang An's depression, which he couldn't mention to anyone, didn't last long, because it soon turned into depression and even despair.

Zhan Lingyun, as the commander, was also seriously wounded, and the only carriage became the temporary command post of this remnant army. But from the second day Zhan Lingyun moved in, Tang An smelled a foul odor, and the air was filled with the smell of rotting wounds.

When Tang An asked to check Zhan Lingyun's wounds, the old guy resolutely refused to allow it, and told Tang An with a serious face that this matter was not allowed to be mentioned to anyone.

Only then did Tang An know that Zhan Lingyun's injuries were far more serious than they had imagined.

Outside the car window, the soldiers were full of relaxation, full of confidence in breaking out of the encirclement of the Xia people. Inside the carriage, there was a gloomy cloud.

After a few days of driving, Zhan Lingyun's body deteriorated.

There is no medicine, no doctors, and there is no way to treat the injuries in time. That stubborn old man has supported himself until now with all his strength.

Sunset.

After a day's journey, the soldiers were hungry, and the team found an undulating mountain area and stopped behind a relatively secluded col.

Zhan Lingyun, who had been asleep all day, seemed to sense the strangeness of the team, opened his eyes in a daze, barely supported his increasingly thin body, and smiled at Tang An, who was sitting opposite with a concerned face: "Accompany the old man to get out of the car and take a walk?" ”

Tang An frowned and said, "General, your injury..."

"Minor injuries, out of the way." Zhan Lingyun grinned, innocent like a child.

Tang An wanted to say something, but was gently pinched by Mu Rong next to him in the palm of his hand. Turning his head to look, he saw that the fairy, who had been as cold as ice, nodded slowly.

Mu Rong seemed to see something, and a trace of imperceptible sadness flashed on his face.

Although Tang An didn't know why, he still nodded and said, "Okay." ”

The two got out of the carriage and climbed up the not-so-rough mountain road to the top of a small hill. In just a short distance, Zhan Lingyun's breathing was heavy, and his face was like dirt.

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the old man's face, reflecting him like a god of war.

"How many years the old man has been fighting in this land, he has forgotten himself." Zhan Lingyun touched the loess on the ground, his face was full of memories, but he instantly threw distracting thoughts out of his mind, stared at Tang An's eyes and said: "Tang An, there are some things I can only say to you alone, you listen quietly first, don't ask, I will answer you when it's time to answer." ”

Tang An was slightly stunned, and a sense of foreboding suddenly surged in his heart.

"Since the Xia Kingdom invaded the border pass, the old man felt that this matter was not normal, but he couldn't find a reasonable reason. So the old man has been thinking, why did Xia Guoren do this? It's a pity that the old man has been focusing on Xia Guo, but ignoring our own problems. ”

Tang An also thought about this question for a long time, but he couldn't find a suitable answer. So Tang An didn't speak, but listened very attentively.

In the past few days, the old man suddenly remembered the incident thirteen years ago. At that time, the three princes colluded with Xia Guo and intended to rebel, do you know about this matter? Zhan Lingyun asked.

Tang An nodded: "The kid has heard of it." ”

"Actually, there is someone else behind it. This person instigated the third prince to usurp the throne, but he was behind the scenes, so that people could not find the slightest handle. Coupled with his high authority, the Tang Dynasty is in danger after the rebellion has just been quelled, even if the emperor knows who this person is, he can't move him. Zhan Lingyun said with an angry face, "Now that the emperor is becoming more and more powerful, he is no longer the cramped and restless child he was at the beginning, so the old man guessed that that person probably felt threatened and joined forces with the Demon Sect again, wanting to seek the country!" ”

Zhan Lingyun said it implicitly, but Tang An had already learned the identity of that person from Qin Tian's mouth - Dongfang Yuanxing.

There are many capable people in the world, and only capable people can seek the country.

If the court is mediocre and incompetent, and the people live in hardship, it is understandable to expose the uprising and ask for the people's lives. But at present, the singing and dancing are leveling, and the internal stability of Datang, if you want to seek the country at this time, you can no longer find a suitable reason except for your own selfish desires.

If, as Zhan Lingyun guessed, he exchanged his selfish desires for the people of Li and put them in the heat and water, then he would be the eternal sinner of the Tang Dynasty when he traveled to the east!

Tang An clenched his fists, only to feel angry, and said, "Old general, why did you tell me such an important matter?" ”

Zhan Lingyun said: "This is just the old man's speculation, and there is no evidence at all. But I'm not afraid of 10,000, I'm just afraid of what happens. If the old man is unfortunate enough to say it, then Datang will fall apart. Ahem—"

Zhan Lingyun's face flushed sickly, he coughed and vomited blood again, and slowly sat down with a painful face.

"Old General!" Tang An rushed over with an arrow step, holding Zhan Lingyun's shoulder, and the worry in his heart was even worse.

Zhan Lingyun waved his hand and smiled weakly: "Tang An, I'm afraid the old man won't be able to do it." This time I came to you, and I really had to do it. The old man gives you two choices: first, you are not a member of the military, so there is no need to risk your life with the old man. After a while, you immediately return to Datang with the fairy, and report the old man's guess to the emperor, so as not to be taken advantage of by the villain to endanger my Datang country. ”

"No way!" Tang An flatly refused, "Although Tang An is not talented, he is not greedy for life and afraid of death. Do you want me to see these pillars die here? ”

"Haha!" Zhan Lingyun laughed loudly, and said with appreciation: "I really didn't see the wrong person. Since you don't leave, there is only a second option left - to take these rabbit cubs for the old man... Bring back Datang alive! ”

Tang An was stunned for a moment, and said: "General, don't laugh, how can you make a group of fierce generals obey orders?" The emperor is still waiting for your old man to triumph in the capital! ”

"Triumphant! Defeat is defeat, is the old man a person who is greedy for vanity and rejoices in great achievements? Zhan Lingyun said disdainfully, and then his expression darkened: "If it is possible, the old man also wants to go back to Bianjing to have a look, but... I'm afraid the old man won't be able to go back. ”

"General!"

"The old man's body knows best, so there is no need to say anything." Zhan Lingyun waved his hand. "Tang An, maybe you don't know yet, the old man saw you for the first time a few days ago, and he made up your mind. Through these observations, you are brave and strategic, dare to take responsibility, if you joined the army in the early years, the old man said that he would take you well. It's a pity, it's a pity! ”

If he heard these words in ordinary times, Tang An would be overjoyed, but now he knew that this loyal and courageous God of War in the Western Regions was about to die, but he couldn't be happy.

"Old general, this task is too heavy, Tang An is afraid that he will be entrusted by the old general."

Zhan Lingyun smiled bitterly: "If there are generals in the army, why does the old man have to drag his old body to rely on the position of coach for so many years?" But those with outstanding qualifications have long been promoted by the old man, and the remaining rabbit cubs are more than brave, but they are not the material to lead the troops. And most importantly... They have been with the old man for so many years, and their feelings for the old man are like that of a son to Lao Tzu. The old man is gone, it's strange that these rabbit cubs don't look for a beard and work hard! ”

Tang Anxin was bitter, Zhan Lingyun had counted everything in, he had already known that he would not last long, and he had also expected the reaction of his sons, so he needed a person who was both wise and brave to appear and lead his disciples to escape from the sea of suffering. It was at this time that he came into his sight.

No wonder he expressed his closeness to himself when they first met, no wonder he wanted to ask for his opinion in the battle of Soul Valley, no wonder he just wanted to watch the battle by himself in the battle of wisdom, all of this had been calculated by him.

"Alas!" Zhan Lingyun sighed, "To tell you the truth, the old man knows very well why Xia Guo values Gu Cheng so much. Mo Lingtu's kid is a talent, and he knows what kind of blow the capture of the old man will cause to the entire Western Regions and even the Tang Dynasty. Pity my 30,000 good sons, for the sake of the old man's old bones, he stayed there forever... Tang An, people's hearts are long, and the old man is more distressed than anyone else! ”

As he spoke, the old man burst into tears and choked up: "The rest of these people are the only remaining bloodlines of the old man's own soldiers. Tang An, even if you are an old man, please take them out alive! ”

Seeing that his old face was full of pain, Tang Anxin couldn't bear it, nodded firmly, and said, "Don't worry, general, even if Tang An fights for his life, he will definitely do his best to fulfill the general's wish!" ”

"Good, good! If I can meet you, God will treat the old man well. But you have to remember one thing: you must not let the beard know the news of the old man's death. Mo Lingtu, that kid, he will never stop until he catches the old man, you might as well lead him to take a few more turns on the yellow earth, so as to buy some time for our border defense. ”

Zhan Lingyun turned from sadness to joy, holding Tang An's hand tightly, as if he had recovered the decisive victory of the God of War, and said with a cold and arrogant face: "Jiangshan belongs to your young people, and when Mo Lingtu meets you, it can be regarded as a chess opponent." Although you have no military literacy, you are better than you can win by being flexible and surprisingly successful. The fact that Broken Soul Valley can think of such a tactic as beating the water dogs shows how despicable and shameless you are. Oh, the old man is praise, don't get me wrong. ”

What kind of praise is shameless? However, thinking that the old guy's life was not long, Tang An could only accept it gladly, and said with a smile: "Thank you for the old general's praise, the kid's shamelessness is really not worth mentioning." ”

"You kid." Zhan Lingyun laughed, struggled to stand up, and slowly walked to the side of the low cliff, looking at the loess broken mound dyed red by the sunset, with a look of fascination.

The orange-red sunset gilded the old man's face with a layer of gold, which looked sacrosanct.

"Tang An, look at how beautiful the scenery here is. This vast land is my Tang territory! Maybe in the future, the vast frontier of the Western Regions and the beautiful coast of the East will also be replaced with the banner of the Tang Dynasty. We, Datang, will definitely be able to unify the eight wildernesses and prosper forever! ”

"Poof!"

Zhan Lingyun said, knelt down in the direction of Bianjing in the northeast, his face was full of sacredness, like a devout believer, and said loudly: "My emperor - long live, long live, long live, long live!" ”

After shouting this sentence with all his strength, the old man never got up again. Under the burning clouds, only a rickety figure remained. But in the eyes of Tang An, who was choking back tears, this figure was incomparably majestic.

A generation of war gods finally died.

(Alas, this chapter is not very pleasant to write, but it is necessary to carry on the past and the future.) Starting next week, Brother An will lead the troops and bring the obscenity and shamelessness to the extreme, so stay tuned. ）