Towards the end of the dinner, Wang Daoxun dragged his drunken body, raised his glass again, and said with a hearty smile, "Those who should come always have to come, those who should go always have to go, life is just a few decades, there is not much that can be done, come on!

Although his words were disorganized, Xie Tong seemed to hear the voiceover, he faintly felt that this general who had been fighting for the empire for half his life had the idea of retreating, although the counterinsurgency was more successful, but for Wang Daoxun, the era that belonged to them was over, and the death of tens of thousands of soldiers, and the westward departure of King Huai, dealt a particularly serious blow to him, and also greatly weakened the strength of the royalists, and the political struggle with the clan would be more difficult. What's more, under such a premise, the clan valve enjoys the fruits of the southern expedition to quell the rebellion, coupled with the original strong strength, it is indeed a big mountain that Xie Tong is facing. Although entering Beijing this time is to accept the reward, it is bound to not be as simple as it seems.

Xie Tong asked tentatively, "My lord, will you go to Chang'an with us?"

Wang Daoxun let out a long sigh and said, "To go or not to go, the result is the same, since there is no difference, why should the old man go more! Previously, he had already taken leave from King Ye, and the old man was infected with typhoid fever and needed to recuperate for a while, and he would not be blamed if he wanted to come to the Holy Lord!"

Xie Tong was not bad, he deeply regretted the resignation of this meritorious veteran, but he also knew that Wang Daoxun's move must have his thoughts.

Xie Tong and the others stayed in Luoyang for three or four days and set off for Chang'an, after all, it was less than ten days before the return date agreed by the saint, and they had to leave immediately. Wang Wanru made trouble for several days, and finally went to Chang'an with the team.

In order to take care of the female dependents, the brigade entering Beijing was equipped with several carriages. Hong Shan and Shang Caiwei shared a car, and Wang Wanru took one by herself. The brigade went to the capital in a mighty way.

After arriving in Chang'an, the imperial court sent the Praetorian Guards out of the city to greet him, which Xie Tong did not expect.

The battle to greet was not large. But it was well prepared.

The cavalry team stood on both sides, beating gongs and drums, and firecrackers in unison, giving everyone a feeling of returning as a hero, and Xie Tong and others were greatly relieved.

After the welcoming ceremony, a young general in silver-white armor galloped up to Xie Tong. He clenched his fists and said, "Dare to ask Your Excellency, if you are General Xie Tongxie!"

Xie Tong was the only one stunned, and said, "It's me, this brother is!"

This person did not answer Xie Tong directly, but turned his height and shouted, "Brothers, do you hear that? It's General Xie, General Xie is back!"

The Praetorian Guards on both sides let out a scream that was stronger than the battle just now.

The young officer said in a loud voice, "The younger brother's name is Li Zeyuan, and he is the deputy commander of the forbidden army, ha." I finally saw the general today, the general showed his might in Jiangnan, and our brothers admire the general very much!"

Xie Tong was a little uncomfortable with this sudden enthusiasm, and he hurriedly smiled and said, "Has Commander Li exaggerated his words, junior brother really doesn't dare to accept this honor!"

Li Zeyuan said with a smile: "The general marched south, led a thousand troops deep behind the enemy, and repeatedly defeated more with less, and the enemy troops killed were frightened and fled. The whole world knows this, and our forbidden army takes the general as an example!"

Xie Tong didn't expect that he would have such a great influence in the army. It is no wonder that soldiers are proud of their heroes, especially generals like Xie Tong, who are courageous, resourceful and famous, and are even more sought after by soldiers. He hurriedly smiled and said, "Xie Mou doesn't dare to be! Although the lone army has achieved some results, it has sacrificed the lives of many brothers, and Xie has survived so far." Shameless to the family of the dead brother, I hope that the commander will not mention these things in the future, and the younger brother is ashamed. ”

Hearing this, Li Zeyuan was in awe, this is a real hero. A chivalrous man, he said respectfully, "It is an honor for the younger brother to get acquainted with a heroic figure like General Xie, the general is invited to enter the city, and the saint arranges for you to live temporarily in the post house, and after the generals from all walks of life arrive, they will arrange the canonization ceremony." With that, he rode his horse ahead and headed for the city.

Huo Zixin leaned in front of Lao Lai and said, "Damn, look at this kid who is proud, without our brothers, can he be so beautiful?"

Lao Lai smiled but did not speak.

Everyone entered the post house to rest, and the post house was already full of people, and other generals from all walks of life also lived here, much more than when they set out on the previous expedition.

Li Zeyuan arranged his residence and was just about to leave, when Xie Tong stopped him and said, "Can King Huai's coffin be transported back to the capital?"

Li Zeyuan said, "The prince's coffin arrived in Chang'an four days ago, and it is now being placed in the palace, and it is the right time for Brother Xie to go to mourn, because three days later, the prince's coffin will be buried in the funeral."

Xie Tong nodded approvingly, he secretly called this Li Zeyuan really brilliant, and it was indeed rare to be able to judge Xie Tong's purpose with just one sentence. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Brother Li."

After Li Zeyuan left, Xie Tong called several brothers to discuss.

Huo Zixin was dissatisfied, "Lao Tzu is tired all the way, and he just rested, why are you so anxious?"

Xie Tong said seriously, "King Huai has passed away, although I have a very unpleasant quarrel with him, but I have to go to worship for a while, do you want to go with me."

Huo Zixin said with a disdainful face: "Worship that dead fat man, Lao Tzu doesn't have that leisure." He is innocent of death, Xie boy, I didn't say you, have you forgotten how he betrayed you in the first place? Now go to worship, I really don't understand what you think!"

Others didn't say a word.

After a long time, Hong Shan said, "Brother Tong still has some reason to go, after all, outsiders who framed him in King Huai don't know, this time if he doesn't go, he will definitely give a tongue, under the premise of having the big enemy of the Sima family, he really can't make enemies, and now that King Huai has passed away, the royalist faction is scattered, if Brother Tong can grasp a small part of the strength, it can play a decisive role in the future struggle with the Sima family, Brother Tong, Shan'er supports you to go."

Her words immediately stunned everyone, Xie Tong originally planned to mourn because of the loss of face, so he had to go, after Hong Shan's analysis, he suddenly felt that it made a lot of sense, and the future was bright. He smiled and said, "Shan'er, will you go with me?"

Hong Shan sneered and said, "I'm sorry, Shan'er can't show her face, the reason you know, if my father finds out, I'm afraid she will be under house arrest." ”

Xie Tong looked at the other brothers, obviously they all had a deep prejudice against King Huai, and they didn't think they would go. Only Shang Caiwei was in a daze, and he hurriedly said, "How about Caiwei go with me!"

Shang Caiwei was in a daze for a long time, obviously not knowing what everyone was discussing, she hurriedly said, "What's the matter!"

Hong Shan said happily, "Shan'er took a punch, it is indeed more suitable for Miss Caiwei to accompany you."

Only then did Cai Wei understand what Xie Tong was going to do, and she said disdainfully, "This girl's time is so precious. Accompanying you to such an obscure place is really dirty, I don't know what benefits the son can give to this girl!"

Xie Tong was overjoyed and said, "Let Cai Wei mention this by herself", and gave Hong Shan a thumbs up.

Xie Tong hired a carriage, and the two of them took a car to King Huai's mansion.

The Huai Wangfu is very solemn, the palace is framed with white cloth inside and outside, and even the lanterns that used to hang at the door have been removed.

The two stepped out of the carriage, and Xie Tong saw Li Jun waiting at the gate of the palace from a distance, presumably waiting to greet the guests.

Xie Tong stepped forward, greeted him from afar, and said, "Brother Li's festival is mourning."

Li Jun also saw Xie Tong, hugged his fists slightly, and said, "Brother Xie, don't come to harm, please inside!"

Xie Tong followed Li Jun to the courtyard, while Cai Wei followed behind Xie Tong.

The mourning hall was arranged in the backyard, that is, in the place where Xie Tong was under house arrest by Li Zhaorun, and several people walked through the long path, and from time to time officials of the imperial court spared them from both sides.

Xie Tong glanced at Li Jun, Li Jun's whole person is no longer as glamorous as in the past, he is dressed in filial piety clothes, not only has a sad face, but also reveals the indescribable vicissitudes of life, the former little overlord of Chang'an, has also fallen to this. After the death of King Huai, this royal family fell in an instant, from the peak to the trough, it turned out to be so fast. He asked, intentionally or unintentionally, "Where is the prince buried?"

Li Jun was obviously very happy that Xie Tong could come to pay his respects, and he replied mournfully, "The holy decree has been issued, my father's coffin is buried in the fiefdom, and the coffin will be transported to Nanyang in three days."

Although Li Zeyuan had already informed him of this, Xie Tong was still surprised when he heard it. He asked, "Then Brother Li's clan is also going to return to the fiefdom?"

Li Jun sighed, "It should be so! When my father was alive, he was even a saint, and to say something unashamed, the people who befriended my father and the king could be lined up from here to Luoyang, and now that my father is going west, there are only a handful of mourners, which shows that the people are warm and cold, and Brother Xie can ignore the past suspicions, which makes the younger brother very moved. ”

Xie Tong was also embarrassed, and hurriedly said, "What did Brother Li say! The prince sacrificed his life for the country, and it is a matter of course to worship, ha, if there was no reminder from Brother Li that day, the younger brother might have died, let's love for each other, and this matter will be revealed!"

The two chatted, and the mourning hall was in front of them.

Xie Tong took the incense and bowed three times in front of King Huai's coffin.

Before he got up, he only heard a loud voice outside, "Lord Taiwei Sima Xuan has arrived, and General Sima Xiangru has arrived."

The people in the mourning hall leaned to both sides, only to see Sima's father and son coming one after another, and the little prince Li Xiao accompanied him.

For the arrival of Taiwei Sima Xuan, Xie Tong was unexpected, the two have been in a state of hostility since they were in power, and now Li Zhaorun is dead, and no one can compete with Sima Xuan in terms of status and power.

Sima Xuan and the others walked to the mourning hall, he looked at the corpse in the coffin, looked up to the sky and sighed: "Lord Wang, Lord Wang, although you and I have fought all our lives, we have not distinguished a high or low since death, and now you have left the West, making me feel lonely! Your departure is a great loss to the Empire! Your meritorious deeds will forever be engraved on the monument of the Empire, and thousands of people in the south of the Yangtze River will always remember your great grace of salvation." With that, he knelt on the ground and made three great bows. (To be continued.) )