*

In a camp tent in Zhongying, outside the bamboo screen used to divide the hall, the two were talking softly.

"How is Your Majesty's health?" The person who asked the question in a low voice was none other than Helan Chu.

The military doctor who stood respectfully across from him bowed his hand arched his hand and said, "Back to the Taishi, Your Majesty's health is fine. It's just that because of the long hours of work and mental tension, the body is tired and tired, and it needs to be fully rested. There are also thorny scars on the hands and feet, and blisters on the soles of the feet, which are just skin wounds, so there is no need to worry too much. The villain will go to decoction a pair of tonic and conditioning medicine for His Majesty, and take it when His Majesty wakes up. ”

"Well, there you go." Helan Chu nodded slightly.

As soon as the military doctor retreated, a message from the sergeant came from outside the tent: "Taishi, General Xiahou asks to see you." ”

Helan Chu turned around and walked to the tent door, lifted the tent and walked out.

When he walked out of the tent, Xiahou Yuan glanced at the camp tent, hugged his fist at him with a solemn expression and said, "Taishi, there will be something important to tell Taishi alone." ”

The two came to Xiahou Yuan's tent. As soon as Helan Chu sat down, Xiahou Yuan stepped forward and knelt on the ground, with a sad expression and a sad tone: "Taishi! How so! ”

Although he didn't say it, Helan Chu already knew what Xiahou Yuan was referring to.

What Xiahou Yuan wanted to ask was why he wanted to march at full speed to Ziyang to rescue the driver, and why he did his best to rescue the empress who should have died in the hands of the enemy - this effect that they couldn't achieve after many painstaking deployments, and now that it was about to be arranged by heaven, why not only didn't they grasp it firmly, but they also destroyed it with their own hands. Even last night, when it was a critical moment. He only needs to delay for a moment, and the empress will die at the hands of the thieves; No one can blame the empress for not being recognized in disguise and failing to get timely rescue. No one needs to take responsibility, so that he can still reap both the name of loyalty and the benefits of succession. And yet he didn't!

"Old General Xiahou, please get up." Helan Chu got up. He helped Xiahou Yuan up with both hands and helped him to sit beside him.

"I am deeply grateful to the old general for attaching so much importance to this seat, following this seat for many years, and doing his best and never giving up." Helan Chu pondered for a moment, looked up into the distance, and said in a deep tone: "I don't know, the old general still remembers why he was like-minded with this seat that day." Why are you willing to give advice, put your heart into your heart, and spare no effort? ”

Xiahou Yuan didn't know what Helan Chu's intention was to ask this, so he had to calm down his emotions, and after thinking for a while, he sighed slightly: "Taishi has great talents and strategies, and has the world in mind, and he is the mainstay of my Great Zhou. It has always been admired and admired by the last general. Before his death, Emperor Wu wanted to pass the throne to the Taishi, but the Taishi insisted on not accepting it, which shows the high style of the Taishi. After Emperor Xiao ascended the throne, he listened to and believed partially, killed ministers, was arrogant and luxurious, and was absurd in political affairs, and failed to uphold the legacy of Emperor Wu. also listened to slander and attempted to murder the Taishi...... The last general, together with Master Zhang, is just like the Taishi, caring about the world, and taking it as their responsibility to support the community and maintain the clan. It is precisely because of this that we have lost confidence in Emperor Xiao, Emperor Hui, etc., and only hope that the Taishi can inherit the unification, and then assist the Taishi to level the four seas and dominate the world, and do not want to see the fate of the national society that countless loyal people sacrificed their lives and forgot to die finally fell into the hands of the unenlightened monarch. Let it wither. I hope that the Taishi can uphold the public spirit, not be informal, and support the society for Kuang, and do not hesitate to bear the name of stealing the country. ”

Speaking of this, Xiahou Yuan became excited, "Taishi, everything that has been in business for many years is now close at hand and is within reach, but why did Taishi get this opportunity and let it go so easily!" Could it be that the Taishi wants to betray us and the vows of the year? ”

Helan Chu looked at Xiahou Yuan, who looked sorry, and his eyes trembled slightly.

"Old general," Helan Chu said calmly, "This seat has always respected the old general's uprightness, love and hatred, loyalty and observance, and deep understanding of righteousness. This seat is well aware that among the people who follow this seat, not all of them are dedicated to the country and have no selfish thoughts. However, the old general's sincere heart is well understood. ”

"The heavy responsibility of supporting the community and maintaining the clan is the wish of this seat in my life, and I dare not forget it for a moment. It's just—" Helan Chu's voice became low, "I've gone too far on this extraordinary path, and it seems that I've forgotten the reason why I set foot on this path in the first place. ”

Xiahou Yuan looked at Helan Chu, and a trace of astonishment appeared on his face.

Helan Chu sighed silently, and continued: "For example, if you set sail and travel all over the world, intending to find the ideal other side, but you have been adrift on the journey for too long, and when the Immortal Mountain is in front of you, you can only use it as a mirage, and you can't believe that it really exists. At this time, if you still follow the habit and sail all the way, you will eventually miss out and never get to the other shore you were looking for. ”

Xiahou Yuan's eyes lowered, and he pondered for a moment before slowly raising his head again, "Taishi means ......"

Helan Chu bowed his head slightly, "On the trip to and from the desert, this seat is temporarily away from the world, and my thoughts are clear, so I have the opportunity to think about all this thoroughly." Today's saints are broad-minded, decisive and wise, and can indeed take on the great responsibilities of the world, and Emperor Xiao and Emperor Hui are far from being the same. This seat is willing to fade out of the court from now on and return to your majesty. ”

"Taishi!" Xiahou Yuan's eyes widened, but his gaze quickly dimmed again, and he said dejectedly: "The meaning of the Grand Master, the last general has already understood...... However, the people's hearts are unpredictable, and His Majesty's accession to the throne is still young, and the last general implores the Taishi to think twice before acting, and not to rush to make such a major decision. If those actions that make the Taishi trust are just His Majesty's slackness of the army, the situation has been repeated, and then there will be no regrets! ”

Helan Chu's determined gaze did not flicker in the slightest. A few months is indeed not a long time, but the relationship during this time, the major things that happened one after another, are enough for him to see a person clearly. Although he still couldn't explain her previous pretense of being crazy and stupid, he was sure that this time he wouldn't be wrong again.

"The decision of this seat does not force the old general to accept it immediately. In the future, the old general can have more contact with His Majesty and draw his own opinions. Helan Chu's voice was calm and serious: "This seat only asks that from now on, the 'change of the mound' will not happen again. ”

As soon as he heard the words "the change of the mound", a trace of shame immediately flashed across Xiahou Yuan's face. He bowed his head and said, "The last general will obey the orders of the Grand Master." ”

Helan Chu stood up and said, "After the thieves entrenched in the Xiling area suffered a defeat last night, they knew that our army was coming, and they must pull out their camp and return to Ziyang City overnight to hold on. The 3,000 men and horses led by General Lu Chen must have successfully pursued his rear, seized his grain and grass, and were on their way back in triumph. Early tomorrow morning, our army will pull out the village and move forward, and the troops will come to the city of Ziyang. At tonight's celebration banquet, the old general should not be greedy. ”

When Xiahou Yuan heard this, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but show a smile, he stood up and hugged his fists and said, "Don't dare." ”

Helan Chu nodded, took a big stride, and walked out of Xiahou Yuan's tent.

He returned to the camp where he had just spoken to the military doctor, bypassed the bamboo screen that separated the room, and walked to the bamboo bed in the depths of the camp.

Zuo Ying was lying flat on the bamboo bed at the moment, her eyes closed and her breathing evenly. Her body was covered with a quilt, and her unkempt hair and tattered clothes had not yet had time to be combed and changed, but the deliberately blackened plaster on her face had been wiped away, and she had returned to her original pale complexion, which lacked blood.

Since the fall of Ziyang City, she has never slept for a while, coupled with the high-density and high-intensity evasion of the pursuit of thieves for several days, this weak body has already been physically exhausted, although she has been insisting on exercising before, but her physique can not be improved in just two or three months, so she dragged her still weak body, and as soon as she arrived in a safe place, she was tired and unstoppable. Before the camp could set up a tent for Her Majesty the Empress who suddenly arrived, Helan Chu helped her to sleep in her tent. There were no maidservants in the barracks to drive around, and after Zuo Ying fell asleep, no one could change her clean clothes, so she kept sleeping like this for four or five hours.

Helan Chu lifted his knees, held the saber at his waist, and sat down lightly, trying not to make a sound from the armor on his body.

He looked at the quiet and peaceful expression on Zuo Ying's petite and pale face, and suddenly felt a burst of incredulity. He suddenly couldn't believe that it was the seemingly young and weak little empress in front of him who used clever and generous means to maintain his dignity and achieve his long-cherished wish; I can't believe that when the thieves suddenly rose up and fell into siege, what she thought of was not to immediately run back to the capital to seek self-protection, but to stay on the front line and advance and retreat with the front-line sergeants regardless of her own safety; He couldn't believe that it was she who had stopped him from moving forward on that extraordinary path, and made him pause and recall the original intention of his departure.

But these "incredible" confirmed his inner decision and confirmed his correctness. With these "incredible", even if he is deceived again, he can only sigh that God will do so, and he can only accept it willingly.

He still vividly remembered the irresistible excitement and joy that swelled up in his heart for an instant when he had hidden himself in the bushes last night and recognized that one of the two who had stirred up the enemy was her—a thrill and joy that could not be fully explained by the righteousness of the king.

She said that she was relieved to have him. He didn't bother to see if her words were sincere, because that was what he almost burst out of his mouth at the time. With her there, he is at ease.

"Yu'er......" Zuo Ying's vague murmur from a dream suddenly came from the bamboo bed.

Helan Chu was surprised to find that a crystal teardrop flowed from the corner of her eye, condensing on her fair skin like a dew drop on a flower petal. Although it was beautiful and moving, it was clear in his eyes that he was blaming him for not coming early - although the willfulness made him introspective.

He couldn't help but reach out and gently wipe away the teardrop on her face with the back of his fingers.

At this time, there was a noise outside.

*

*(To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly passes, and your support is my biggest motivation. )