In the sixteenth year of Yongchang, the Yan Kingdom invaded on a large scale.

Yan was originally a small border country that was divided into princes Yuan Ye after the Great Chu fixed the capital. Although the territory of Yan is small, its military strength is extraordinarily strong. Taking advantage of the favorable time and place, the people of Yan have been good at riding since they were young, and most of them are military generals in the country. During the reign of Emperor Yu Qian, he more or less withdrew some of the military power of the Yan State to prevent them from rebelling. On the other hand, it adopted the policy of "Huairou", although it was to unify the Central Plains, but it was still extraordinarily lenient to Yanguo. Therefore, there has been no war between the two countries for 100 years.

However, in the twelfth year of Yongchang, Yuan Yi ascended the throne as the king of Yan, changed the peaceful coexistence of the past, trained elite soldiers, and four years later, attacked the imperial city. This invasion was a devastating blow to the unstable Great Chu Dynasty. The Yan people adopted a policy of "slaughtering the city", but wherever they passed, there were soldiers who resisted vigorously and surrendered without disarming, and they all slaughtered the city. In just one month, the population of Chu has decreased from more than 90 million to more than 80 million, and the army of the Yan people is still growing, while the army of Chu is completely unable to resist foreign invasion.

The treasury was empty, the army was tired, and the pressure fell almost all on Chu Luo alone.

The emperor, who was only thirty-seven years old, seemed to be much older in this night.

Chu Luo knew that the national strength was lacking, so he sent officials to the front to sue for peace.

However, the envoys who sued for peace were gone.

Chu Luo also understood Yuan Yi's plan, he was now the time when the country was strong and the soldiers were strong, how could he be committed to peace? As the emperor of Great Chu, as long as there is still a breath left, he can't be the king of the dead country, so since this is the case, there is only a battle against the water.

However, when choosing a general, Chu Luo's heart was difficult.

The generals who went to the battle have all been defeated one by one, and there are really few people available in the Chu State. Chu Luo reigned for sixteen years, and he still used the important ministers left over from the reign of his second brother, and most of them were civil officials. And those brave and warlike generals died in the city when King Mingyang usurped the throne.

The consequence of this chaotic situation became this scene in the sixteenth year of Yongchang.

In order to protect the foundation laid by the ancestors, and for the safety of the people of Chu, Chu Ying, the king of Jiangling, invited himself to go on the expedition.

Chu Luo's face was heavy, and in the face of Chu Ying's request, he knew that he shouldn't promise. There are only three of them left behind by the first emperor, and the king of Xiangyang is incompetent, and the only available material is Chu Ying. Although because of the affairs of Chang'an before, Chu Luo demoted him to Lingnan. But in the end, blood is thicker than water, and such a dangerous situation made Chu Ying go, and he shouldn't agree to it. Moreover, Jiangbei was lost, Longxi was lost, and the garrison was almost completely annihilated.

Chu Luo stared for a moment, and then said, "I don't allow it." ”

"Brother Huang! The Yan people invaded on a large scale, and the people were in a sea of suffering, so how could we be greedy for pleasure and sit back and wait for death! ”

"I said, don't go!" Chu Luo's face was even colder, and there was an irresistible majesty in his tone.

"Brother Huang!"

"Go down!"

Chu Ying retreated unwillingly, Changle witnessed this scene, and couldn't help but say to the emperor, "Your Majesty, why don't you let King Jiangling lead his troops to the battle?" ”

Chu Luo glanced at her and looked at her coldly, "I have my own plans, I plan to send Zhou Chuan to fight." ”

Changle's heart sank, she knew that Zhou Chuan was the eldest brother of Concubine Zhou Ruohua, the general of Huaiyuan of Chu State, and Concubine De had just given birth to the Seventh Prince, once Zhou Chuan went on the expedition, if he died on the battlefield, it would be better to say, if he won a great victory, it must be to be added to the official rank, and he was rewarded with the harem. She has been staring at the position of the crown prince for a long time, and she must not be easily shaken, thinking of this layer, Changle has another plan in mind.

After all these years by the emperor's side, she knew too well what the emperor was thinking.

Changle approached Chu Luo's side, and without a trace, he smiled like a cold mist, and whispered in his ear, "Your Majesty, the concubine thinks that it is the King of Jiangling who is more suitable." One of them is that the prince has been on the battlefield for a long time and has his own outstanding strategy, and the prince also has a group of excellent cavalry under him, who have been trained for a long time and can serve Da Chu, which is the second ......"

Speaking of this, Changle quietly smiled and lowered his voice a little, "Hasn't the emperor always been afraid of the prince?" If the prince triumphs and keeps the world of Chu, it will naturally be great, if not, the emperor can also take the opportunity to get rid of the troubles in his heart, and then send General Zhou to go, which is also good......"

"It's ridiculous!" Chu Luo was stunned and annoyed, the sharpness of his words was obviously exposed in his angry tone, he looked at Changle, his eyes almost wanted to breathe fire, "When the national disaster is at hand, not only do you not think about the people of Great Chu, but you say such rebellious words, if you dare to say a word again, I will abolish you and enter the cold palace and get out!" ”

Changle was suddenly startled, and he didn't dare to take a breath, so he hurriedly retreated from Chu Luo's eyes.

He Sheng waited outside the hall, watched Changle being humiliated, lowered his eyes slightly, and respectfully walked into the hall.

"Your Majesty, the prince is kneeling outside, inviting himself to go on the expedition......"

Chu Luo suddenly looked at He Sheng with an angry gaze, "I said no, he is willing to kneel, let him kneel outside!" ”

"The Emperor's ......"

"Don't even you want to die!"

He Sheng Nuo bowed his head and didn't dare to say anything more, so he had to retreat quietly. He walked to Chu Ying's side, sighed slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Wang, why is this difficult?" Nine deaths on the battlefield, the emperor is reluctant to you. ”

Chu Ying's eyebrows were clear and introverted, but his voice was deep and determined, "Da Chu is in trouble, as a prince, I can't stand up and only care about coveting pleasure, that is to be ashamed of the ancestors!" ”

He Sheng sighed heavily, and didn't want to persuade him anymore, so he walked away silently.

Spring has not yet begun, and the weather is still bitterly cold. The fine snow poured into the Mingde Palace with the cold wind, but Chu Ying knelt outside the palace without moving.

Cheng Dehai came in through the side door and offered the emperor a cup of hot tea. Chu Luo's expression was gloomy, and he said in a deep voice, "Are people still outside?" ”

Cheng Dehai was stunned for a moment, but immediately understood, and immediately said, "Yes, the prince is still kneeling outside." ”

"I'm going to take a look."

Chu Luo stepped out of the hall gate, and saw that Chu Ying's body was already covered with fine snow, but he still refused to move a step, he raised his eyes for a long time, and said slowly, "You really want to go?" ”

Chu Ying bowed firmly, "Yes." ”

"If you die on the battlefield, have you ever thought about the consequences?"

"It is my fate to die on the battlefield with the majority of soldiers." Chu Ying suddenly raised his head, his gaze was as firm as a rock, "If Da Chu dies, I will definitely not be able to survive!" ”

"You are ambitious, and it is not in vain that your father is so optimistic about you." Chu Luo bowed slightly, but there was still a trace of unconcealable compassion in his eyes, "Since you have made up your mind, then go ahead." ”

When Chu Ying heard this, his face was immediately happy, "Is this true?" ”

Chu Luo sighed heavily, "My Great Chu's soldiers and horses are at your disposal." ”

"Thank you, Brother Huang!"

The news of Chu Ying's expedition soon spread in the palace, and Chu Ying ordered the general and Zhou Chuan to be the deputy general, and he was going to leave on the same day.

When the news reached Taoyao Palace, Chang'an's heart suddenly sank.

As the news of the fall of cities came to Luoyang, Chang'an's heart was naturally anxious. She is the mother of the country, so she naturally has to think about the common people in the world, how can she sit idly by and ignore the suffering of the people? The pleasure of the royal family, let others defend against foreign enemies, after all, the country will be destroyed.

Chu Ying's expedition was also within her expectations.

It's just that when she really heard the news, she felt that all this was changing too fast.

Chang'an sat in the hall, and suddenly burst into tears in the midst of his feelings.

She tilted her head slightly, and suddenly saw a figure standing outside the door, she recognized the figure, so she called softly.

"Lord Wang."

Chu Ying approached quietly, with a faint and clear smile between his eyebrows, "I'll say goodbye to you." ”

There was a silent vibration in Chang'an's heart, she smiled reluctantly, and said forcefully, "Say goodbye to what?" It's not like you'll never see you again. ”

Chu Ying gloomy slightly, "I'm afraid I'll never see you again in the future." ”

Chang'an's heart sank even more, and she couldn't help but show a little anxious look, but she was afraid that such a look would be seen by Chu Ying, so she went over again and said, "I know you will definitely go." But why, it's you ......"

Chu Ying stared at her for a moment, and his voice sank into his ears, "It is our man's responsibility to protect the family and defend the country. ”

Chang'an smiled dumbfoundedly, "But the emperor didn't have a personal expedition." ”

"He is the Son of Heaven, we are courtiers, and everything must be done to protect the emperor." Chu Ying's eyes fluctuated slightly, and there was a shallow smile on his lips, "If the emperor is on a personal expedition, wouldn't you be more worried?" ”

Chang'an's eyes moved, and his heart shook slightly.

But if it were you, I'd be worried, too.

She choked the words deep in her throat and only looked at each other with an honest gaze, "You want to come back alive, you promise me." ”

Chu Ying smiled lightly, his smile was like the moonlight on the horizon, "I promise you." ”

Chang An looked into his eyes and almost cried, she looked away slightly, but saw him take out a jade pendant from his arms and place it in the palm of her hand, "I know you probably don't want to see this." But this is my most important thing, and you must take it, and if I die, you will probably think of me again when you see this. ”

Chang'an clutched the white jade pendant tightly, feeling the coolness of the jade, and in a word, it was indescribably stunned and grateful, "I don't want your things, I just help you put it away, and when you triumph, you must come back to get this jade pendant in person." ”

When Chu Ying heard this, his heart was sad.

Yan Ren is menacing, and he is afraid that he will not return this time. But if he gave up his life, he could save Da Chu and her, then even if he was crushed, he would not give up.

"Take care." Chu Ying smiled softly and stared at Chang'an deeply, "Take care of yourself, and take care of Yun Ke." ”

For a moment, she was moved like a surging river tide, she held back her tears and bowed her head heavily, "I understand." ”

He smiled reassuringly, turned and was about to leave.

She suddenly grabbed his hand, and her eyes were extraordinarily dark and bright, "You must come back, you must come back alive." ”

He stared at her with a smile, hoping that it would be a little longer, a little longer. He met her when he was sixteen, and it had been fourteen years now, and in those fourteen years, he still hadn't seen enough of her.

Looking at her for a while longer, you can make her look deeply in your bones.

"I'm leaving." Chu Ying tried his best to hold back the tears surging from his eyes, and suddenly turned around, he heard a slight footstep behind him, and suddenly said, "Don't follow." ”

Chang'an's footsteps froze, she looked at Chu Ying's back as she gradually moved away, her heart seemed to fall somewhere, only the tears in her eyes fell.