Wu Qian was supported by others and walked slowly through the ruins. He pointed at a few places and arranged for the people to dig ditches and build forts in case they were defeated and the Mongolian army came back.
Ordinary soldiers only see victory and do not think about other changes in the situation.
But Wu Qian was a person who had been the prime minister of a country. When doing things, he must consider all aspects. When others only do one thing, he may have to make ten preparations.
After walking around in the charred rubble field, the old man was exhausted and sat down on a big stone with his crutches.
Someone came here after a long journey, it was his third son Wu Ding.
Wu Qian had four sons, the eldest son, the second son passed the imperial examination and became an official in the Song Dynasty; the fourth son Wu Shi died in the war; but the third son Wu Ding never entered the official position and originally stayed in his hometown, but in recent years he has served by his side.
It is said that he is not an official, but in the situation in Guanzhong, how can Wu Ding be free now that he is here?
"Father." Wu Ding was also over forty years old. He finally climbed into the ruins of Languan. Seeing Wu Qian's haggard face, he hurriedly said with concern: "Father, this is..."
Wu Qian raised his hand slightly, indicating to stop gossiping, and asked: "How is the situation in Guanzhong?"
He is not the guard of Wuguandao, but is in charge of the entire Guanzhong logistics.
These days, he has left behind his duties and came to Languan. Of course, he is worried and anxious about the situation in Guanzhong.
Without waiting for Wu Ding to answer, Wu Qian immediately asked: "Did Yang Xi'an scold me for taking away Chang'an's defenders and artillery?"
What Wu Qian was afraid of was not being scolded by Yang Guo.
The reason why the artillery was left in Chang'an was because not only would the enemy troops come to Chang'an if the Blue Pass was broken, but more importantly, the enemy troops might attack from elsewhere.
Wu Qian was afraid that Chang'an would fall because he had transferred the defenders' artillery.
Fortunately, Wu Ding immediately responded: "Don't worry, father, Chang'an is fine for the time being, but..."
"Say it."
"Lian Gong sent a letter to remind us to be on guard against the west, saying that there will be a big war in Longxi in the near future. Yang Gong urgently asked his father to transfer the artillery and troops back, otherwise the people of Chang'an will be in chaos."
Wu Qian was terrified and secretly thought that he was lucky this time. If he were to defeat the enemy one step later, it would be too late.
He was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat, but with a calm expression on his face, he said: "Okay, I will teach my sons to go back to defend Chang'an as soon as the soldiers and horses come back."
At this point, Wu Qian thought that he had told Wu Ze to return to the army immediately before chasing him to Shangzhou, but at this time there was no movement, and he couldn't help but feel worried again.
Until evening, a horse hurried back to Languan.
"Good news! Good news! Our army joined forces with the Zhongyi Army in Shangzhou to attack the Mongols, a great victory, a great victory!"
"..."
After hearing the battle report, Wu Qian burst out laughing, then wiped his tears with his sleeves, turned his back on others, and was filled with emotion to Wu Ding.
"Children are great at breaking thieves, children are great at breaking thieves... Xie Anshi is magnanimous, and when he hears the good news, his expressions and actions are normal. He laughs at my short-sightedness and is overjoyed. He even dares to say that Xie Anshi's merits are not enough, and laughs at my arrogance."
"My father is not ashamed of his words. Looking at the world today, besides my father, who else can compare to Mr. Xie?"
"It's so difficult to win, how can you not show joy?" Wu Qian muttered to himself, tears streaming down his face.
He also wanted to make arrangements to return to Chang'an.
But after hearing the good news, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief, his expression quickly became depressed, and he suddenly fainted while talking that night.
…
I don't know how long it took, but when Wu Qian woke up again, he saw many people standing around him.
He couldn't help but get angry, coughed a few words, and cursed endlessly. He suddenly thought that he was scolding loudly, but in fact, others heard him as if they were angry.
The generals were scolded by Wu Qian and retreated with their heads lowered.
Wu Ze knelt aside.
Wu Qian obviously had something to say to his grandson, but he saw a figure coming forward.
"Xianggong Wu."
"Is...is it Song Rui?"
Wu Qian perked up, tried his best to stand up, looked at Wen Yunsun, and sighed: "I can still see you before I leave, good, good."
Wen Yunsun and Wu Qian's eldest son and second son were of the same year. They were both Jinshi in the fourth year of Xingchang and were close to the Wu family. At this time, he took two steps forward and looked at Wu Qian's face with some disbelief.
He had heard about Wu Qian's death in Xunzhou; in recent years, he had also vaguely heard that a certain old prime minister in Guanzhong was Wu Qian; on the battlefield in Shangzhou, he was also thinking about who was commanding the troops and who could
Defeated the Mongolian army in the capital.
It wasn't until Wu Ze came all the way that he learned the secrets of that year on the way.
But if you don’t see it with your own eyes, how can you make people believe it?
The dignitary of the imperial court was poisoned, faked his own death and escaped. He ruled Guanzhong for two or three years without any news coming from the imperial court? Unbelievable, unbelievable!
"Xiangong Wu." Hearing Yun, Sun's eyes were a little shocked, and he didn't know how to speak, and said: "Students once heard a poem by Xianggong Wu, and they wanted to know that the heroism of thousands of years is all in a night of wind and thunder."
"I know what you want to ask. Yes, I didn't die in the thunderstorm in Xunzhou that night, and lived quietly for a few years. Looking back, I have failed to achieve many wishes in my life... Do you know that I have guarded the thousand-year-old capital of Chang'an...
…”
Sun's eyes immediately turned red when he heard that, and he said solemnly: "Student...Student will seek justice for Duke Wu! Jia Pingzhang..."
"Whether it's fair or unfair, I don't care anymore. I don't blame Jia Sidao. It's a common practice for criminal officials like me involved in the struggle for the throne to be exiled to a place and then secretly killed."
Wu Qian was talking about exile, not "relegation".
There were three types of relegations in the Song Dynasty. One was to demote to the left, allowing local states and counties to still have power; the other was to resettle, and still had certain freedoms and meritorious duties; the third was to assign.
When Wu Qian was demoted to Xunzhou, he was assigned to a military assignment. He was escorted to a remote and harsh place for control by special personnel. He "presented himself" to local officials on a regular basis, that is, he was imprisoned in Xunzhou.
When it is said to be "relegated", it sounds like the official position is lowered a little, and when he is appointed to another place, he still looks like an official.
In fact, assignment is exile, and assignment officers are criminals.
Of course, this was also the favor shown by the Song Dynasty to scholar-bureaucrats. Even the serious crime of treason was only punished by "relegation".
Wu Qian's casual words today broke the window in front of young Wen Yunsun.
Because he really doesn't care what is fair or unfair, he cares about the world.
"Jiang Guxin once said, 'Song Rui is responsible for the conduct of the world.' Don't let down his high expectations." Wu Qian looked at Wen Yunsun with his old eyes and murmured: "The responsibility for the conduct of the world lies with the young people of our generation."
Wen Yunsun was stunned.
He was deeply touched, but he still hadn't fully understood many things, and he felt at a loss.
Looking again, he saw that Wu Qian still had something to say to Wu Ze, so he had to bow solemnly and leave.
In the tent, only Wu Ze was left guarding Wu Qian.
"I don't know if Longxi can be defended."
"Grandpa, stop worrying about the war and take a good rest."
"I can't do it anymore, I've come back to the light." Wu Qian's thoughts seemed to be wandering, and he talked a lot, and said: "Yang Xi'an is the same age as me. You can see that he is in good spirits. I'm afraid he can still see the returnees from all over the world."
In one day, it is enviable."
Wu Ze cried loudly.
Wu Qian patted him with a smile and said: "Don't cry...it's okay. I will still be a minister of the Song Dynasty until my death."
He didn't give his grandson a chance to cry and say those comforting words. He let Wu Ze get closer and slowly explain what happened after his death.
"If we can block the Mongolian offensive this time, Li Xia's foundation will be established. I have always advised him to be loyal to the Song Dynasty and try his best. But now I can't stop him. It's good that I can't control the things behind him. In the future
You can do whatever you want."
As he talked, Wu Qian felt a little tired, and finally said: "After I leave, your third uncle will keep the filial piety... You don't have to keep the filial piety, you will keep the Guanzhong."
"Grandson..."
"Do you remember what I told you when I came here? You guard the pass."
Wu Ze was in great mourning and agreed on his knees with tears in his eyes.
Faintly, Wu Qian could be heard reciting Tang poetry in a very low voice.
"A letter is sent to the Nine Heavens in the morning, and eight thousand people are demoted to Chaozhou Road in the evening. If you want to eliminate evil things for the sage, you are willing to cherish the decay and cherish the remaining years."
"Where is Yun Heng's home in the Qinling Mountains? The snow embraces the blue gate and the horse stops moving forward. I know that you have come from afar and you should have a purpose, so that you can take me back to the miasma riverside."
This is not Wu Qian's state of mind at this time, this is his state of mind when he was demoted to Xunzhou.
But who would have thought that in the end he did not die by the miasma-filled river in Xunzhou, but guarded Lan Pass.
Thinking of this, Wu Qian felt a little regretful, but also a little proud, and couldn't help but smile.
After a long time, Wu Ze raised his head again and saw the faint smile frozen on Wu Qian's face.
"grandfather!"
Wu Ze burst into tears...
~~
Three days later, an urgent letter was delivered to the Heyang Camp by Kuai Ma.
Li Xia opened the letter and was stunned for a moment, then remained silent for a long time.
He has lost count of how many people he has seen die since his rebirth... In a troubled world, human life is like a drop of grass, and that's not just talk.
It's numbing and exhausting.
"Alang." Han Qi'an walked into the tent, seeming to want to report something.
Li Xia handed over the letter in his hand and said, "I want the Song Dynasty to vindicate him, reinstate him as an official, grant him a posthumous title, and grant him a posthumous title."
Han Qi'an was stunned for a moment, read the obituary, and sighed.
"After all, it would be too troublesome to argue with the Song Dynasty. Wu Xianggong opposed the establishment of Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu was in power for one day. If the Song Dynasty dared to rebel against Wu Xianggong, the emperor's majesty would be lost. It would be difficult. It would be better to wait until Alang is established and then pursue the title.
Wu Xiang Gong Temple.”
"No." Li Xia said: "What he wants is Zhaoxue from the Song Dynasty. He is a loyal minister of the Song Dynasty... I should have helped him Zhaoxue earlier so that he would not have any regrets."
Han Qian shook his head, then nodded. For a moment he felt that it didn't matter whether it was revealed or not, but for a moment he felt that Wu Qian might still have regrets that he couldn't let go of when he left.
Li Xia is not afraid of trouble and wants to break up with the Song Dynasty. Let him leave it up to him. Han Qianhui reported: "Alang, Shi Tianze has sent an envoy."
"do what?"
"It is said..." Even Han Qi'an felt a little embarrassed for Shi Tianze and said, "It is said to give us a chance to surrender..."