Shen Lie stayed in Luzhou for three days and met many old friends who had not been seen for a long time.

Those people were all Zhenjiang Army generals who had fought side by side with Shen Lie in Metasequoia City.

When resisting the siege of the Turkic Iron Pigeon Army, Li Jiangyao only had a mere 700 Pegasus scouts and a local garrison of less than 2,000 Metasequoia. After so many years of fierce fighting, the vast majority of the first batch of 2,700 soldiers have died on the battlefield.

And those who were fortunate enough to survive became the backbone of the Zhenjiang Army.

After being tempered and baptized by the flames of war, they graduated from the Zhenjiang Army's own martial arts hall one after another, and took on the heavy responsibility of commanding the army one after another.

For Lord Shen, who came to Metasequoia City from the imperial capital back then, everyone still had a deep impression and felt very cordial. For three days in a row, the generals came to visit one after another, and the sincere comrade-in-arms also touched Shen Lie.

He suddenly realized that because of the common struggle back then, he had already been regarded as a comrade by these loyal and upright enthusiastic soldiers, and regarded as a member of the Zhenjiang Army.

Three days later, under the farewell of Li Jiangyao, Xu Youchang, Du Jian and other brothers, Shen Lie embarked on the road to the imperial capital.

At this time, from the wide sea in the east to the two passes in the west, the thousands of miles of rivers and mountains north of the river have been under the control of the Shengtang court. The dust of the war finally fell, and the days of peace and tranquility returned. Therefore, Shen Lie also walked smoothly along the way, and his eyes were full of vibrant scenes, which was gratifying and exciting.

After more than ten days, Shen Lie finally arrived at the long-lost imperial capital.

Standing outside the tall city gate, looking at the still majestic capital, he muttered: "First Emperor, Shen Lie is back, back to this city that you have guarded with your life." You have a spirit in heaven, and you can finally be comforted. ”

After that, Shen Lie straightened his robe and bowed respectfully three times in the direction of the palace.

After bowing, Shen Lie strode into the city and went straight to the Vermilion Bird Gate of the Imperial City.

I think that back then, he, the head of the Reverse Scale Division, had passed through this palace gate countless times to meet the emperor. With the golden Pisces waist card given by the emperor, Shen Lie could travel through the entire palace unimpeded.

Today, however, he was blocked by the Praetorian guards.

"Who's coming? This is an important place in the imperial city, and the name is informed! ”

"My name is Shen Lie, and I am ...... Qin Feng Changning Marquis. ”

"Chang Ninghou?" The forbidden army officer in charge of this place originally belonged to the Southern Army and didn't know Shen Lie, he looked at the other party alone, without the pomp of a dignified marquis, and couldn't help but wonder: "I haven't heard of it." Is there any waist token? ”

Shen Lie shook his head: "No." ”

The officer glared: "What kind of mess are you not doing?!" You said you were the Marquis of Changning, and I also said that I was the Duke of Yueyang! Get out of here, watch out for the flesh! ”

Shen Lie frowned slightly, and there was a faint chill in his eyes. Although this kind of vulgar and arrogant guy is common in the military, this is the place where the royal driver is after all, and as a forbidden army, he should know some polite rules.

Shen Lie suppressed his anger and was about to teach the officer a lesson. Unexpectedly, the other party was stronger than him, and seeing that Shen Lie still refused to leave, the officer suddenly became annoyed and scolded: "Bastard, don't get out yet!" ”

As he spoke, he raised the whip in his hand and whipped it directly.

Shen Changshi, known as the Living Hades, how could he have ever been so angry? Don't say that you are a small colonel of the forbidden army, even if the commander of the forbidden army comes, you can't be so rude!

Shen Lie saw that the leather whip was in front of him, and first retreated half a step unhurriedly, which was worthy of the whip, and then took another step forward, and his shoulder happened to hit the officer.

With a whoop, the officer stumbled in pain and almost fell.

"Fuck! This guy trespassed on the forbidden land, take it for me! ”

With the officer's angry shouting, more than a dozen forbidden troops around him surrounded him, and they were about to make a move on Shen Lie.

At this time, a group of officials who had gone home from the Suzaku Gate came out, and one of them couldn't help but turn his head to take a closer look when he saw the commotion here, and was suddenly startled.

"Stop!"

It was none other than Dong Tianxing, the squire of the military department.

The old man's legs and feet were very sharp, and he ran to the front, pointing at the bewildered officer and shouting angrily: "Are you crazy? Looking for death, isn't it? ”

The officer didn't know Shen Lie, but he couldn't help but know Master Dong of the military department. This old man, but even General Ma Hongjie has to give three points of courtesy.

He hurriedly arched his hand and said, "Lord Dong, this guy trespassed into the imperial city and was a lowly ......."

"Shut up! What this guy, that guy's! Dong Tianxing reprimanded: "This Lord Shen is a close minister of the first emperor, and he has a great contribution to the Holy Tang!" The civil and military of the Manchu Dynasty, no matter what grade or level, were respectful and polite when they saw him, and even His Majesty treated him with courtesy. Did your head get the door clamped? Don't hurry up and apologize for your crimes! ”

The officer was yelled at by Lao Dong, and immediately panicked, and hurriedly turned around to give Shen Lie his hand, giving in and begging for mercy.

Shen Lie didn't bother to pay attention to him, pulled Dong Tianxing to the side, and said with a smile: "Lord Dong, thanks to you for coming forward, otherwise Shen would have lost face today." ”

Dong Tianxing scolded the forbidden soldiers again, waved his hand and said with a smile: "Lord Shen, I didn't save face for you, but saved the lives of those unlucky people." If you had just made a move, they would have died in vain. ”

"Hahaha, am I that scary?" Shen Lie smiled dumbly: "It is said that Shen has really become the king of Hades." ”

Dong Tianxing was also happy to see Shen Lie returning safely from Jiangnan, and when he saw that there was no one around, he asked in a low voice, "Are you going to enter the palace to face the saint?" ”

Shen Lie nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty summoned me urgently, and I will come back." ”

Dong Tianxing said: "Are you in a hurry? If you're not in a hurry, just come home with me first, let's have two drinks, catch up, and try my daughter-in-law's craftsmanship by the way. The eggs she made were fragrant. ”

Shen Lie originally wanted to accept Lao Dong's invitation, but after thinking about it, he might not have anything good to come back this time, and he really shouldn't implicate Dong Tianxing for no reason when his future is uncertain.

Thinking of this, Shen Lie smiled: "It's better next time." When I was done with my business, I visited again and made a special trip to taste my sister-in-law's cooking. ”

Dong Tianxing knew that it might be inconvenient for him, so he didn't force it, turned around and instructed his subordinates: "You go to the palace and look for the attendant on duty, just say that Lord Shen Lie Shen is back and ask for an audience." ”

The officer said yes and turned to leave.

Dong Tianxing asked again: "Lord Shen, what is the matter with the emperor looking for you?" Could it be that you want to know about the situation of the Jiangnan rebels? ”

Shen Lie smiled and nodded: "It should be." The King of Huaiyang has fallen, and it will be time for the Xuanjia rebels next. ”

Dong Tianxing suddenly sighed and said, "Alas, you are not in the court, and many things are not clear. Right now, this court, hey......"

Seeing that he wanted to speak and stopped, Shen Lie couldn't help but ask, "Old Dong, what's wrong with you?" Did you encounter some injustice? ”

"It's really uneven!" Dong Tianxing was a little angry: "The traitor is in charge, reversing black and white." Fighting the Huaiyang rebels, if it weren't for Li Dadu's clever plan and thousands of miles of attack, how could he have achieved a complete victory so quickly? However, after the end of the war, the heroes not only did not receive a reward, but almost took on the charge. You say, angry no? ”

Shen Lie hadn't heard Li Jiangyao mention them before, and hurriedly asked Lao Dong what was going on.

Dong Tianxing explained: "The metropolitan governor Yin Chengyi deliberately found fault, saying that Jiang Yao had no discipline in the imperial court, ignored the formulated strategy, and changed the military orders of the military department without authorization, and had a disobedient heart. ”

"Li Jiangyao has a heart of disobedience? Joke. Shen Lie said coldly: "If he has the heart of disobedience, then there is nothing to do with the emperor now." ”

"That's right." Dong Tianxing sighed: "The people of the Xinjiang Army, they worked hard to recover the Western Xinjiang, desperately wiped out the Turks, and then came all the way to help you fight the rebels. As soon as he made a move, he forced Bao Yuchun back and killed the king of Huaiyang. You don't even say thank you, but you still want to talk about other people's sins? What the! ”

Shen Lie frowned: "The Governor's Mansion is looking for trouble, what is the reaction of your military department?" What does the emperor think? ”

Dong Tianxing responded: "Wang Shangshu is an old slippery head. He refused to follow Yin Chengyi into this troubled water, offending the military for no reason, so he kept dragging it out without a conclusion. Yin Chengyi's group was impatient to wait, so they sued the emperor directly. However, this time, the emperor was upright, ignoring those boring guys at all, and still asked the military department to reward the Zhenjiang army for meritorious deeds. ”

Hearing Lao Dong say this, Shen Lie finally put his mind at ease: "That's good." As long as the emperor can be upright and stable, he will not chill the hearts of the soldiers. ”

"But only this time. Didn't it chill the Zhenjiang Army last time? Dong Tianxing said faintly.

Shen Lie was slightly stunned: "Last time?" What are you referring to? ”

Dong Tianxing looked at Shen Lie, shook his head and said, "Lord Shen, you stay in Jiangnan, and the news has become ill-informed. Last time, it was to destroy the Turks and recapture the imperial capital. Let me ask you, with such a big credit, have you heard that Jiang Yao has received any reward? ”

Shen Lie shook his head: "I really haven't paid attention to this. Don't...... Didn't the emperor reward Jiang Yao and the Zhenjiang army for this? ”

"The reward is a reward, but it's a pity that Jiang Yao declined."

"Why is that?" Shen Lie was puzzled when he heard this: "The imperial court can still refuse the reward of a meritorious general?" ”

Dong Tianxing smiled bitterly: "Can you not refuse then?" The emperor only approved one reward, that is, to give Jiang Yao, the sister of Li Jiong, the king of Huaiyang, and Li Xi, the princess of Fenyang, and let Jiang Yao be a concubine. ”

Shen Lie's eyes widened in surprise: "This ...... However, isn't Jiang Yao already married Xiahou Ninghan? How can the princess still ......"

Dong Tianxing shook his head helplessly: "The emperor said, let Jiang Yao refer to the precedent and turn the main room into a flat wife, and the two daughters serve one husband." Ridiculous, you say? ”

"It's not ridiculous! Shame on you! It's a naked provocation! Shen Lie immediately said angrily: "I said how come even a loyal martyr like Xu Youchang began to be extremely dissatisfied with the emperor and the imperial court, it turns out that the problem is here." Humiliating the military is tantamount to self-destruction of the Great Wall, what does Li Bing want to do?! ”