Section XVII

The Guards Battalion is about to return to Korea. In the past few days, the streets and alleys of Nanning City have been reciting this matter. Accompanying the people of the city was widely disseminated the information that General Zhendong was able to fight well. The battle of the West gave Wu Ming a foundation for establishing himself in the Southern Han Dynasty, and also achieved his undefeated myth. The thinking of the common people is very simple, whoever can lead them to victory, who can give them hope of victory, they will support whomever they want. There are still ten miles away from Nanning City, and both sides of the post road are already crowded with people welcoming them. Everyone wants to see how this undefeated and prestigious general looks like him.

Wu Ming controlled the horse and walked slowly at the front of the team. He kept waving to the cheering crowd on both sides, looked at the faint head of Nanning City in the distance, and then looked at the dark and oppressive flow of people around him, he couldn't help but feel dizzy.

His mind had already flown to the Commander's Mansion in Nanning City and to the delicate wife. But these people came to welcome them, and it was impossible for them to gallop and rush to Nanning regardless of it. But if you go on like this, slow as a snail, when will you come to the end?

Just a little anxious, there was a sudden shouting in front of him, and someone eunuch pulled the male duck's throat and said loudly: "The Empress Dowager Xianzhuang has arrived, and the idle people will quickly avoid it." ”

The surging crowd in front of them scattered in all directions, and a ten-horse cart surrounded by hundreds of people greeted it head-on? At the front of the team, Lei Fei'er led a few female warriors to open the way, and there were also warriors around to protect her. And in the middle is a large group of eunuchs Gong E walking slowly.

The Queen Mother actually came to greet her in person? Wu Ming was quite surprised, he jumped off the horse, took a step forward, walked to the side of the luxurious phoenix, knelt down on one knee and said: "Minister Wu Ming has seen Niangniang, please forgive me for the crime of not being able to pay full salutes with armor on my body." ”

The Queen Mother seemed to be very satisfied with Wu Ming's courtesy, and she chuckled from the car, and then said: "General Wu is really a man, crisscrossing China and the West, destroying Liao thieves in the fingers, and raising my Han Tianwei, this palace is also very pleased to hear it." Speaking of this, she said "ah" and said hurriedly: "General Wu doesn't need to be so polite, let's be even." ”

Wu Ming got up and said respectfully: "Xie Niangniang." ”

Tao Yu sighed leisurely in the cart, and then said slowly: "I said a long time ago that the general is not a thing in the pool, and now it seems that what this palace expects is indeed not bad." Now the general is a blockbuster, and it is not in vain that the previous king entrusted him. ”

Wu Ming's heart moved. Although Xuanyuan was the crown prince and the only legitimate heir of the Eastern Han Empire, he was not called emperor when he fell in front of the cang. The first king in Tao Yu's mouth naturally refers to Xuanyuan. Just thinking about it, Tao Yu said again: "Hearing the general's triumph, the palace is very happy, and is ready to feast on the soldiers of the western expedition in the imperial palace, and I hope that General Wu will take the time to attend tonight." ”

As soon as these words came out, all the generals who were still whispering and laughing all stared at Wu Ming, and there was silence in the field for a while, and it was almost audible that a needle had dropped. Those court officials who accompanied the Queen Mother to welcome them also set their eyes on Wu Ming. Wu Ming's face was unmoved, but his heart turned quickly. This is Chiguoguo's wooing, if you participate, it is equivalent to sending a message to everyone, that is, the three provinces of Central and Western China and the Northwest will stand on the side of the Queen Mother in the future.

"Join the weak to resist the strong." This is the diplomatic path that Shang Yukun pointed out to China and the West. However, the degree in the middle of this "alliance" should be grasped well, and the so-called "alliance" refers to the alliance, not to be annexed or surrendered. Now that the Queen Mother is in the limelight in the court, if she accepts tonight's banquet, then in the eyes of everyone, she will become the queen mother's faction, and she will lose the qualification to stand on her own in the court. Even many officials who intend to take refuge in themselves are afraid that they will retreat.

But the Queen Mother's reasons are high-sounding and impeccable. If she didn't agree, she would be infuriated by this deep woman, and God knows what tricks she would play. And I will definitely get closer to her in the future, and if I refuse, it will inevitably have an impact on future cooperation. He thought about it left and right, but he couldn't find a suitable reason. Tao Yu's tone became cold, and he said lightly: "What, is General Wu unwilling?" ”

Wu Ming gritted his teeth, and was about to make up a reason to prevaricate, when there was chaos in the rear. Before he came back to his senses, Steward Hu had rushed in with a few healthy servants, and as soon as he arrived, he didn't care about Tao Yu, but only saluted Wu Ming: "Uncle, the master has prepared a thin meal of wine at home tonight, so that you and Miss can take the time to go down to show the family reunion."

This is simply a slap in the face, Tao Yu was immediately furious, and shouted: "Team Lei, take down this old thing with no royal eyes." ”

The Queen Mother's order, Lei Fei'er had to obey, but she just responded: "Yes." His eyes glanced at Wu Ming on the side.

It's been four years since she came to Nanning, how could Lei Feier not know the true strength of Steward Hu? If you forcibly arrest it, with the current dozen or so female warriors, I am afraid that I will not be able to catch it. But if it is not implemented, where will Tao Yu's face go? Wu Ming naturally knew Lei Fei'er's difficulties, and hurriedly shouted: "Slow down." He turned his head and said to Steward Hu: "Old Hu, Niangniang is above, and I haven't seen Niangniang yet." ”

Steward Hu is loyal to the Zhu family, except for the Zhu family, everyone else ignores them. He first saluted Wu Ming and responded, "Yes, uncle." Then he turned around and bowed: "The Queen Mother is above, please forgive the little old man for his rudeness." ”

Wu Ming was also a little speechless when he saw him kowtowing there respectfully. The prime minister doesn't know what means he used, so that this Hu steward is so loyal to him, and even with himself some light, presumably he is so deferential to himself now, it is also for Xiaoqing's face, once the prime minister falls out with himself, this old guy is estimated to turn his face immediately.

Tao Yu now also knows that the old man in front of him is very powerful, but he doesn't just want to move. With such a step, she didn't bother to care about it anymore, and snorted coldly: "General Wu." The banquet I hosted was an important general of the Western Expeditionary Army, in order to achieve the purpose of rewarding the soldiers and improving morale. The prime minister is just a family feast. The state banquet and the family banquet are more important, and you have to share it lightly. ”

If it was really as simple as a state banquet and a family banquet, it would be much easier to say. Wu Mingshi didn't expect that the confrontation between the prime minister and the queen mother was so fierce, and before he arrived home, the two sides had already played their own cards and forced themselves to stand in line. But he also knows that he can't express his position now, and he is embarrassed for a while.

Just as he was hesitating, suddenly another knight rushed from behind, and a voice shouted: "Master, uncle! ”

Everyone looked back and saw that Zhu Xiaolong was alone and a horse, and he had rushed into the field at a gallop. The boy is now fully grown, with a gibbon waist, partial and very strong. The horse was very fast, but he sat upright, but his body was like a rock, and he did not move. Wu Ming was taken aback, Steward Hu was so reckless, and this Zhu Xiaolong turned out to be the same, how could he explain this to the Queen Mother?

Zhu Xiaolong rushed into the field, rolled the saddle and dismounted, and said urgently: "Uncle, my sister-in-law is critically ill, you should go and see her." ”

"What?" This is really like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, Wu Ming's body shook a few times, so what kind of loss of etiquette, he jumped on Nanwang, and then clamped his legs, Nanwang hissed, spread his hooves and rushed towards Nanning City. Fortunately, when the queen was later, the post road had been cleared, and although there was still a crowd of people around, there were already people from the forbidden army yamen to maintain order, and he ran all the way without worrying about knocking down pedestrians. Nanwang and he had the same heart, and he already understood the eagerness in his master's heart, and he spread his hooves and ran. After only a short while, he rushed into Nanning City, Wu Ming did not stop, and rushed all the way towards the Commander's Mansion.

Dismounted at the Commander's Mansion, the two Xuanwu soldiers standing at the door were taken aback, and at the same time saluted: "Commander." ”

Although they are disciples of the Holy Land, Wu Ming has been fighting all over the past year, not only winning the Middle and Western Regions, but also beating the Northern Han and Eastern Meng, which can greatly increase the face of the Guards Battalion, so they are also convinced by this commander. Wu Ming waved his hand and said, "Madam, how is it?" ”

One of them replied, "Doctor Ye has already come just now, and Madame's condition has stabilized, so there should be no major problem." ”

Hearing him say this, Wu Ming let out a sigh of relief, nodded and said, "Okay, hard work." ”

This was a casual remark, but the two soldiers stood up at the same time, and made a standard military salute with a "snap", and one of them said: "Guarding the Commander's Mansion is our responsibility, and my lordship is serious." ”

This move was neat and uniform, and even had a solemn atmosphere. Wu Ming's heart moved, although the second team of Xuanwu Suzaku was rectified by Yang Xiong, these people were all disciples of the Holy Land, and it was inevitable that they would be contaminated with some reckless spirit of the rivers and lakes. He vividly remembers that when he set out on the expedition a year ago, these people were still somewhat free. And the second team of the Green Dragon and White Tiger, which belongs to him, is almost all martial arts students from Nanning Academy. Therefore, although the individual combat power of the second team of Xuanwu Suzaku is higher than that of the Qinglong and White Tiger, if it comes to discipline, it is very different. But only a year later, Yang Xiong has made these two teams look the same, which not only impresses him.

Yang Xiong is worthy of being a descendant of Humen Yang, with a family history, and this will be the way of the soldier, even if it is himself, he is willing to bow down. It seems that these people did not suffer less during the Second Battle of Hanning, otherwise the progress would not have been so great. These thoughts only flashed in Wu Ming's mind, and he strode into the meteor and continued to rush inside.

As soon as you enter the Commander's Mansion, you can feel an unusual smell, and the people below are all in a hurry. When he saw him, the head of the family, he was not half happy, but he saluted in fear, as if the sky was about to fall. Wu Ming's heart darkened, these subordinates were still some refugees taken in by Xiaoqing when she got married, she has always been lenient with people, but now the master's mother is critically ill, presumably these servants and maids are also masterless, at a loss.

When I rushed to the third floor of the backyard, I saw a beautiful little maid bending down to decoct medicine in the aisle, it was Xiaoyun. Hearing such hurried footsteps, she raised her head in some anger and opened her mouth to be scolded. But when he saw that it was Wu Ming, he was stunned. Then he was ecstatic, and exclaimed with his mouth open: "Madame, ma'am." The grown-ups are back, the grown-ups are back. ”