The fire in the imperial capital burned for three days and three nights, and the scope of the fire spread to more than 70 lifang, and more than 26,000 buildings and buildings suffered varying degrees of damage.

It is no exaggeration to say that most of the city was in flames.

The main reason for such astonishing damage is that the Turks have been planning for a long time and are well prepared.

In the two days leading up to the fire, the Blood Guards imposed martial law on the entire city. After driving all the people of the imperial capital home, they began to quietly lay arson lines and burning nets according to the plan.

A total of 810 fire points in the city were carefully calculated, located in key sections or areas with dense construction, combined with fire oil and gunpowder and a large amount of firewood and hay, once ignited, the fire immediately became difficult to control, and quickly spread to the surrounding area.

Among them, the most serious area is the Imperial City.

Ashina, who was completely in a frenzy, ordered his subordinates to completely seal the gates of the imperial city. Starting from the Suzaku Gate in the south, passing through the Chengtian Gate, until the northernmost Xuanwu Gate, and the east is starting from the East Palace, to the Yeting Palace in the west, this large and vast area contains the Taiji Palace, the Harem Forbidden Garden, the Crown Prince and the Prince Palace, as well as the official offices of the three provinces and six ministries, all of which were burned.

More than 800 years of royal prestige and historical memory were wiped out in the flames that rose to the sky.

The first to rush to the imperial city was Xu Youchang and the First Army of the Wind led by him.

Xu Youchang, who grew up under the roots of the imperial city since he was a child, was stunned and trembled by the scene in front of him: the originally magnificent Shengtang Imperial City was like the end of the world at this time, with black smoke and ruins everywhere, and thousands of prosperity turned into charcoal.

When he stood in place and was stunned, Li Jiangyao had already rode his horse from the rear to the front: "What are you waiting for?" Hurry up and find Ashina! ”

Xu Youchang came back to his senses and hurriedly responded: "I have already sent someone into the palace to search, but it is estimated that it ...... Not much effect. ”

As soon as the words fell, a cavalry lieutenant ran over and knelt on one knee: "Report to Dadu Hu, Xu Shuai, a large number of charred corpses were found in the Taiji Palace, which looked like Turkic Blood Guards!" ”

"Check it out!" Li Jiangyao shook the reins and rushed out first.

Everyone quickly passed through the imperial city and went straight into the palace city, and as soon as they entered the square in front of the Taiji Palace, they saw thousands of corpses everywhere.

Experienced veterans could tell at a glance that those men had killed themselves before they were consumed by the flames. Therefore, the corpses in the entire square are basically arranged neatly and neatly, which is quite spectacular.

Or rather, horror.

Li Jiangyao looked around, and finally landed his gaze on the Taiji Hall in front of him.

said that it was the Taiji Palace, but now it is just a half-black empty shelf. More than half of the collapsed hall no longer has the majesty and magnificence of the past.

Dozens of First Army soldiers were scrambling through the rubble, occasionally calling in helpers to lift the collapsed beams and pillars.

Suddenly, one of the warriors shouted, "Found it!" Come and see, isn't he?! ”

Li Jiang heard the shouting from afar, and hurriedly turned over and dismounted, and rushed into the ruined hall.

"All stand down!" Xu Youchang, who was following him, shouted: "Everyone stands on guard on the periphery, no one is allowed to approach without an order!" ”

When the generals saw that it was Dadu Hu and General Xu coming, they hurriedly retreated into the distance and gave way to the position of the throne.

Li Jiangyao climbed the stairs and was stunned on the spot.

A curled charred corpse fell sideways on the high platform, everything around it had been destroyed by the flames, except for a full moon scimitar inlaid with gems, which remained largely intact and clutched tightly in the corpse's hands.

Xu Youchang said in a deep voice: "That's right. This scimitar should be the Thunder Blade that symbolizes the identity of the Khan of the Turkic Empire. With this sword in hand, he can directly command all Turkic armies, and no one can disobey them. ”

Li Jiangyao nodded silently, indicating that he understood.

Xu Youchang stared at Ashina's corpse for a while, and suddenly sighed faintly: "At the beginning, the first emperor also committed suicide here." ”

Li Jiangyao scolded: "However, the first emperor didn't burn this place!" Ashina is a complete lunatic, he can't get it, and he won't give it to others! ”

"I didn't expect that the invincible Turkic Khan would not dare to fight us in the final battle." Xu Youchang said disdainfully: "He still has the most elite Blood Guard Legion in his hands, but he doesn't even have the courage to fight to the death." ”

Li Jiangyao sneered: "Knowing that he is losing, he still fights a fart." Many so-called great bigwigs, in the face of the critical juncture of victory or defeat, are really not as bold as ordinary soldiers. These high-ranking guys, what they can't live and what arrogant they are in the world, are all fake. ”

Xu Youchang nodded: "Yes, on the day that Ronia was defeated and died, the end of Ashina was completely announced." He decided to destroy everything because he couldn't face his own failures, which was both naïve and selfish! ”

"Okay, let's not talk about him." Li Jiangyao pointed to the ground: "After all, we promised He Sijia, let's have a thick burial." The scimitar is properly put away, this is the trophy of our Zhenjiang army. ”

Xu Youchang agreed, explained a few words to the surrounding soldiers, and then said to Li Jiangyao: "At present, the fire in the city has been basically extinguished, and some sporadic fires are also being gradually investigated and cleaned up. In addition to the Taiji Palace, some other Turkic defenders fought with us, but they were all suppressed. ”

"Did anyone break out?" Li Jiangyao asked as he walked out.

"Yes, but not much." Xu You said: "Only a very small number of people slipped away while the chaos was made. A team of more than 100 people will not be able to break through our encirclement at all. ”

Li Jiangyao nodded with satisfaction, and suddenly stopped: "Chief, the next thing will be handed over to Horia and them, you ...... Let's go back to the house and have a look. ”

Xu Youchang was slightly stunned: "In the house? Which Furi? ”

Immediately, he reacted again, and said in a deep voice: "Jiang Yao, all the relatives in my family died in the war, and there is not even a half-year-old child left, what is there to see?" ”

Li Jiangyao couldn't bear to pat the other party's shoulder: "Go ahead, even if it's a simple worship." Tell Grandpa that we are victorious. ”

Xu Youchang's eyes were red and he nodded silently.

-

Following the victory in Weinan, in less than half a month, the good news of the recovery of the imperial capital and the suicide of the Turkic Khan Ashina Jin spread all over the world again.

The whole Saint Tang was suddenly immersed in the joy of victory.

The invasion of foreign enemies, which lasted for more than eight years, finally ended in the hands of the Zhenjiang army.

The eastern capital of Luoyi has been set off with fireworks for three days in a row, and every household is lit up with lights and beaming with joy. The wealthy merchants of the city have set up feasts outside their homes, and long flowing water banquets are spread all over the streets, and whoever comes, they can sit down and eat and drink to their heart's content.

In those days, even the beggar called Hanako ate with a round belly and a mouth full of oil, and he couldn't close his mouth with joy.

The palace is also a warm and peaceful scene.

Emperor Li Bing, together with Concubine Ma Yunfang and Concubine Hui Murong Ling, received congratulations from the ministers in Ziwei Palace to celebrate the victory.

Hundreds of scholars, as well as many scholars and scholars, displayed their whimsical ideas, and wrote thousands of poems and songs in one day, all of which praised the great deeds of the emperor and his great deeds of leading the army and people of the whole country to drive out foreign enemies.

What's more, some people also compare Li Bing with the founding emperor of the Holy Tang Dynasty, believing that his glorious achievements far surpass those of his ancestors.

However, in this wave of praise, everyone seems to have forgotten one person they should be most grateful to, intentionally or unintentionally:

Li Jiangyao.

Of course, not all the ministers pretended to be confused, Murong Xue and Dong Tianxing went to the court at the first time, asking the emperor to reward Li Jiangyao and other meritorious soldiers.

So, the day after the celebration banquet ended, Li Bing specially convened a court meeting to let the civil and military officials discuss how to reward the Zhenjiang army.

Murong Xue was the first to stand up and speak. He believes that whether it is the Weinan War or the recovery of the imperial capital, Li Jiangyao has made great contributions to the expulsion of Hu Lu, and his contribution is no less than that of any famous general of the Holy Tang Dynasty in the past dynasties. Therefore, the imperial court should be rewarded with the highest honor of the whole army, the "Shangzhu State".

Dong Tianxing was more powerful than him, and directly proposed a knighthood, at least a first-class duke.

In this regard, Wei Zixuan gave a different opinion: "Although Li Jiangyao and the Zhenjiang Army are meritorious, they also have obvious mistakes. Compared with merits and demerits, the matter of rewarding still needs to be considered in the long run. ”

Hearing Wei Zixuan fart in public, Murong Xue couldn't help but say angrily: "Are you so full that you have nothing to do, and you are talking nonsense here?!" Li Jiangyao defeated hundreds of thousands of enemy troops and recaptured the capital of the dynasty, what was his fault? ”

Facing Murong Xue's stern questioning, Wei Zixuan seemed unhurried: "General, you don't have to be in a hurry to defend your friend. As I said just now, I did not deny Li Jiangyao's merits in resisting the enemy. As for the mistakes, of course, they are not fabricated out of thin air, so I would like to ask Lord Goshi to tell you about this question. ”

The "Imperial Envoy" in his mouth refers to Tian Mu, the imperial historian. Although this person is in charge of the North Ya Reverse Scale Division, his position on the bright side is still the first seat of the Imperial History Tower.

Tian Mu heard Wei Zixuan mention himself, and hurriedly said loudly: "Master Wei is right, our merits are merits, mistakes are faults, one yard is one yard, and we must make it clear." ”

He first arched his hand to Li Bing, and then said to the ministers: "According to the information grasped by the Imperial Historical Observatory, Li Jiangyao has three major faults, which need to be determined by the imperial court. First, the unauthorized release of the Turkic prince Tanli, the princess Hesijia and the blood guard general Yun Qianxue; second, the secret meeting of the Turkic Khan Ashina before the battle; Third, the capital of the Holy Tang Emperor was still caught in flames, the imperial palace and temples were all destroyed, and the people suffered heavy casualties. ”

"Fart!" Murong Xue didn't wait for Tian Mu to finish speaking, and reprimanded angrily: "You are obviously a crime that you want to add!" ”