On the silent river, a small sail of boats fluttered leisurely on it, startling a little wave, just faintly hidden by the moonlight and the belly of the sky.

The boatman was an old man in his sixties, dressed in a cloak and wielding the oars very fast.

Zhang Youtao leaned on Jiang Yiling's body, and her heart was at peace after worrying for several days.

"When you're tired, you can sleep, and it will take you two days to reach the next city." Jiang Yiling gently hugged her shoulder, his voice was hoarse, but there was no doubt that his tone was gentle.

When they hurried to the gate of the city, only this sail and boat were waiting, and they had no choice but to settle. As soon as the boat had crossed the city line, they saw soldiers surrounding the gates. Luckily, they went one step faster. Otherwise, they might already be on their way back to Beijing at this moment.

Ji Yu and Xi Liang stood on the tail of the boat, speechless one after another, but they seemed to say a lot. They are the same kind of people, and they can feel each other's emotions better, even if they don't say anything like this, it is a comfort.

Maybe even Ji Yu himself didn't think that there would be this day, the cold-blooded and ruthless murderer has understood what the result of his life will be since he was sensible.

The only thing that did not take solace was Lin Mu, who sat at the bow of the boat, his thin back like a crescent moon reflected in the middle of the river, and from time to time he said a few words to the boatman.

This quiet and tense atmosphere made everyone reluctant to say more, even now they are not completely safe, but Fan Xiao Meng thought about it a little, 20,000 iron horsemen chased after him, and they were like fish and meat on the board in this endless river, at the mercy of others.

"I want to go back to Zhangjia Village." Zhang Youtao said suddenly.

At this time, they should hide their whereabouts, and after the person in the capital is discouraged, they will make a decision.

But for some reason, Jiang Yiling agreed, "Okay." ”

In this dark environment, Zhang Youtao could only look at his vague shadow, and a lot of stubble grew on her resolute and hard chin, but it was this unkempt appearance that made her sink.

Listening to this, Lin Mu tried to open his mouth, but in the end he didn't say anything.

When they are apprehensive.

In the distance, the border fortress was broken by the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, and the Xiliang Iron Cavalry had occupied three cities.

At a glance, the entire city is like hell, and people can't help but shudder. Weeping wails resounded through the sky, and the soldiers, like demons, opened their bloody mouths and pushed innocent people into the abyss with their own hands.

The one-sided slaughter lasted all day, and the city was filled with the smell of blood and the piles of corpses were higher than the city walls.

Da-da-da-da!

The sound of horses' hooves stepped in from the city gate, and Yale Mountain, the chief general of Xiliang, looked at all this indifferently, raised his hand, and the deputy general behind him rode forward.

"Hang the heads of the lords of the cities to Lao Tzu at the gate of the city."

"Yes."

The lieutenant turned the horse in one direction and walked away.

Xiliang has been preparing for this war for a long time, and now that it has begun, it will not end so easily.

This war came so fast that people didn't react at all, and even when the imperial city knew the news, it was dozens of days later.

Inside the Imperial City.

Syllable!

There was a loud bang, and the eunuchs of the entire Zhengwu Hall were startled.

The emperor's chest and abdomen rose and fell, and he pinched the secret letter in his hand and trembled, and the content of the letter made him panic. But after calming down, the emperor sat down on the dragon chair decadently, sweating profusely on his forehead.

He suddenly realized that Xiliang was coming, and there was no one in the huge imperial city who could use it.

Summoned the civil and military officials who had fallen asleep into the palace overnight, and after hearing the news, the civil and military officials instantly woke up from their daze, and they were a little more sober than usual.

On the huge palace, it was very different from the past, and the ministers were worried between their eyebrows.

The emperor came out.

"Meet the Emperor."

The emperor waved his hand, his temples were clearly pale, and his eyebrows were dyed with sorrow, "You love Qing Ping, now that Xiliang has come to invade, he has occupied my three cities, do you have a good plan?" ”

The main hall, which was still bustling just now, is so quiet that you can even hear your breathing. Ministers, look at me, I look at you, and your dry eyes are generally a 'whoever does it' attitude.

If the previous emperor still had a glimmer of hope in his heart, then now he was only left with despair in his heart, and he couldn't help but feel compassion, "The hundred officials of the Manchu Dynasty, in times of crisis, no one can use it, God will not bless me Dayuan." ”

Suddenly, the civil and military officials in the main hall knelt down one after another, "Weichen is incompetent, please ask the emperor for forgiveness!" ”

The angry emperor almost didn't catch his breath, what's the use of talking all this nonsense at this time? If it is really a time of crisis, you can see the true face of these sanctimonious guys. Grave

Although the emperor's heart was swollen, he didn't have the heart to blame at this time, he had a bitter face, "Gong Shangshu has a plan?" ”

Gong Shangshu, who was originally prostrate on the ground, heard this, immediately got up and took a few steps forward, "Back to the emperor, Xiliang's offensive is so fierce and fast, I'm afraid I have already made a plan." For the sake of today's plan, the minister thought that General Xiao should be recalled as soon as possible. ”

To put it mildly, now Xiao Meng still has a bit of a brain to lead troops to fight in the entire imperial city, and the rest of the generals are guarding all sides, and no one can move! If one moves, I am afraid that the surrounding countries will be ready to move.

It is precisely because he knows this truth well that the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty can't think of a single plan.

At this moment, Gong Shangshu naturally has his reason for proposing this.

"Father, my son thinks that Gong Shangshu is right." Jiang Luowen immediately agreed, for fear that if he slowed down a little, he would not be able to take credit.

"Please ask the emperor to recall General Xiao quickly!" Unexpectedly, the civil and military officials were not slow to react, and they actually echoed it one after another.

The emperor hurriedly raised his hand, "Someone is coming, recall Xiao Meng immediately!" ”

Although the people were recalled, the problem is still not solved. Xiliang has been forced to such a point, if they endure not sending troops, they are afraid that they will make several surrounding countries laugh, and even can't help but want to step forward to get a piece of the pie, what should they do then?

After thinking about this, the emperor was still uneasy, "Who do you think should be sent to support first?" ”

Even if you don't snatch the city back, you have to send someone to go over first to express it, and it will be successful if you don't fight.

The civil officials naturally can't do this matter, but when they look at the military attaché, they are suddenly helpless. Because of the peace of the prosperous era, there are few military attachés in Dayuan, and when it comes to this kind of employment, it is time to worry about people.

Looking at the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty that had quieted down again, the sullen breath in the emperor's heart rose again, and he hated the posture of iron but not steel, this method was all thought up, and this look was a group of people waiting to eat white rice, and they couldn't count on it at all.

"Father, the son is willing to lead the troops to the border and snatch back the three cities that Xiliang took away." Jiang Yueting suddenly stood up with firmness in her eyes.

"The three princes are brave and brave, and they will not disappoint the holy hope."

"If the third prince goes, it will be a good candidate!"

The civil and military officials immediately praised them without words, and even Jiang Luowen, who was a sworn enemy with Jiang Yueting on weekdays, also looked like he thought it was true.

At this time, the emperor hesitated, and if he was not absolutely sure, he did not want his son to go to war. Especially Jiang Yueting has no experience in leading troops to fight at all, and even if he goes, he is not an opponent of others, and if he loses the battle, he will really lose the face of Dayuan and the royal family.

Unconsciously, at this time, the emperor actually missed Jiang Yiling a little in his heart, and if he was now, these troubles could be easily solved.

Although he was very dissatisfied with what Jiang Yiling had done this time, the emperor's heart was very bright, and he was the most capable among his sons.

As a monarch, he is different from the family in terms of treating his son, and the waste will naturally be kicked out of the category of the heir to the throne early on, but being too good is also taboo for the monarch, after all, no one wants to admit that others are better than themselves, even if it is themselves and they can't.

"Father!" Jiang Yueting was originally disturbed by the praise around him, but there was no emperor's voice for a long time, and he couldn't help but amplify his voice.

At this moment, the emperor seemed to be more than ten years old, and his voice was full of helplessness, "Rong Zhen thinks about it for a while, and retreats from the dynasty!" ”

Without waiting for everyone's reaction, the emperor took matters into his own hands and left.

The civil and military officials who reacted were surprised, and they became more and more confused about the emperor's thoughts, and they were still worried that no one asked to go to war, and now that someone asked to go to war but was unwilling, it was really hard to serve.

The most aggrieved was Jiang Yueting, he finally seized such an opportunity, but he still slipped away from him.

And even now he doesn't understand why the emperor disagrees, he is obviously the best candidate now, and he deliberately stands up when everyone is backing down, only in this way can he show his talent.

Seeing the civil and military officials bury their heads and leave, Jiang Yueting's heart was filled with anger, the dignified Abyss Kingdom actually raised such a group of useless waste.

With this in mind, he turned and went to the cabinet.

In front of the palace.

"The third prince, no one has been seen after the emperor has ordered it." For the first time, Gonggong Cai felt that this seemingly smart Jiang Yueting was actually very stupid.

At this time, the last thing you should do is to go up, not to mention, the emperor's attitude just now is clearly not to adopt, and he is in a hurry to find a scolding?

Jiang Yueting's heart was blocked, and even his brain was blocked, his face was black, and his hands in his sleeves were clenched into fists.

"His Royal Highness has an urgent matter to find his father, and I also ask Gonggong Cai to report it once."

Gonggong Cai sighed slightly, the so-called bystanders are clear, but even if he is clear, what if he is clear? Some words are destined not to come out of the mouth of a minion, "Third prince, wait a minute! ”

The man in a high position had a face full of vicissitudes, and his cloudy eyes were darkened and devoid of light. After a long time, he raised his hand and said in a dark tone, "Let him in." ”

Gonggong Cai's heart suddenly relaxed, and he hurriedly retreated.

I don't know how many times Jiang Yueting has been here, but he has never felt desolate as he does now.