As soon as late autumn comes, the long days of winter follow. The first snow arrives as promised, covering the branches and alleyways, and the cold breath permeates the entire city of Changyang.
This year, Tsuneshiro was no longer interested in taking the flower girl to enjoy the snow. Sitting in the palace, his face was full of worry that could not be concealed.
"Chen Que, is this all true?"
"I dare not hide it from the King of Yuzhou, it is all true." Chen Que, who was called into the palace, sighed deeply, "Forgive me for my incompetence, Mr. Zhongde's body can no longer be saved."
Changshiro was silent and closed his eyes. Ever since Lao Zhongde said he wanted to swear an oath to the army, he had been doubtful. He never thought that he had guessed it right.
"Chen Que, is there really nothing we can do?"
"No more." Chen Que looked up with a tired face, "If the King of Yuzhou wants to blame, just kill one of me. I also ask the King of Yuzhou to spare my disciples."
"Sir, you are joking." Changshiro slumped down weakly, his eyes a little dazed. Since he started his business, Lao Zhongde has been with him. Without Lao Zhongde, he would not be able to conquer half of the country in the north.
In this world, the second of the three people he values the most is already ready to leave him.
Thinking of his sadness and ignoring Chen Que's presence, Chang Silang's eyes turned red and he began to sob while cursing his mother.
"Young Master... today is the day to swear an oath to the army." Chang Wei, who was standing next to him, spoke hesitantly.
After a long time, Chang Shiro rubbed his eyes, regained his appearance, and stood up again. Without taking a step immediately, he turned around and looked at Chen Que.
"Sir, let's go back to Shu. If you want to pay for the medical consultation, I'll have someone send it to you later. When I get back to Chengdu, I'll see my little boss and say hello to me."
Chen Que's face was moved, "King of Yuzhou, do you want to bring something else?"
"No need, just say hello. If you really have something to say, I will talk to him personally."
"Yuzhou Wang Dayi." Chen Que clasped his fists and bowed.
Chang Shiro closed his eyes, softened his expression, and then walked out of the hall with Chang Wei.
As Chang Wei said, today is the day when Beiyu pledges its troops. Except for the town border generals like Le Qing, the rest of the people rushed back to Changyang.
After walking out of the palace, the first time he looked up, Tsuneshiro saw old Zhongde who had put on a thick cloak. It was probably because of his reflection that he even walked much more steadily.
Tsuneishiro's heart and hair were aching.
"Lord." Old Zhongde took a few steps closer, with unspeakable joy on his face.
"Zhongde, look, I followed your wishes and took the Winter Pledge." Chang Silang smiled and supported old Zhongde with difficulty, and the two of them walked down the royal road.
Under the royal road, Beiyu's generals and staff were already standing. A large group of people, more than a hundred in number, had quite a reputation.
"My lord, how about you let me take care of today's pledge?"
"It's all according to Zhongde's wishes."
Turning his head, Chang Shiro saw Chang Wei wiping tears behind him and quickly kicked him away.
"I took advantage of my free time and organized some more last night. Not including General Pi, we have a total of seventy-nine generals in Beiyu, and fifty-four army staff. These people are all the mainstay of our Beiyu.
From now on, I will follow my master and continue to conquer the country."
"This time, I will help the lord in ordering generals."
Chang Shiro didn't speak, and endured his sadness, carefully pulling off the thick cloak on old Zhongde's body. He already vaguely understood that there was another meaning behind Lao Zhongde's insistence on holding this pledge.
"Dayu is orthodox, with strong soldiers and horses, and Changyang, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, is loved by the people of the aristocratic families. There is only one step left, and the lord can unify the Central Plains and open up a new dynasty."
"My lord, please see, this is the defense line map I drew last night. In the next two or three years, my lord can use this map to defend Western Shu from going north. Don't forget, the poisonous owl and the lame man are the biggest enemies in the world."
Gamblers are good at winning more with less. Besides, Xu Buyi also likes to make surprise moves, so we have to guard against this."
With trembling hands, Changshiro took the drawing from old Zhongde in the wind and snow.
"Lord, do you remember the list of famous generals in the world?" Old Zhongde coughed twice.
"Of course I remember."
"The third Shentu Guan has already joined me in Beiyu. The fourth Jiang Meng has been a logistics general for many years. I suggest that your lord can be appointed as the marshal of the East Road. Together with Shentu Guan, one in the west and one in the east, he can be the candidate to guard Qingzhou when the time comes.
.When the war begins, we will lead an army from Qingzhou, cooperate with the army in the middle, and cross the river to attack Shu!"
"In addition, there is a Huo family in Huzhou, Hebei Province. They migrated from the south twenty years ago. The head of the family, Huo Fu, was once a famous naval general in Chuzhou. The lord can also find and use them."
Tsuneishiro nodded bitterly.
In fact, the most reasonable arrangement is for Shen Tu Guan to stay on the east road. However, considering that the land of Donglai was originally the home of Shen Tu Guan, safety is the top priority, so this arrangement is the best.
"Le Qing stopped moving and continued to garrison Hezhou."
"Of course, the Central Plains can fight with each other, but we must not let foreigners take the opportunity to enter the Central Plains." Old Zhongde coughed again without any objection.
"My lord, I want to recommend another person to you. If I...are no longer here, he will be my lord's chief military advisor."
Tsuneshiro finally couldn't hide it, his face was filled with sadness.
"Zhongde... Doctor Chen told me all this. How can I, Chang Silang, let Zhongde leave!"
Old Zhongde paused and laughed calmly. In the wind and snow, his hunched figure seemed to slowly stand upright.
"My lord, my great cause has not yet been accomplished. I really want to ask God to borrow another ten years of my life. But I am already old, and I suffered the pain of losing my son last year. I thought at that time that I might not be able to survive."
Old Zhongde turned around, with tears in his eyes.
"The most commendable thing in this life is to worship the Lord. If the Lord trusts me, let me finish my words today."
"When I go to Western Shu, there are still poisonous ospreys and lame people, so I'm worried. I've thought about it for a long time, and in this huge city of Beiyu, only Changsheng can take my place."
"He is a scholar-general in fighting, but he is most suitable as a staff advisor. The fact that he was able to conquer the three states of Donglai and achieve constant victory must be at least half of his contribution."
"Zhongde, I will listen to you..."
In the wind and snow, the old counselor's face gradually turned paler.
"I know that deep down in my lord's heart, I have never wanted to be an enemy of Xu Buyi. I also don't want to use military power to take down the entire world. But this is wrong."
"My lord, please raise your head, look at the soldiers below, and then look at the people outside the palace. Only by settling the affairs in one battle and opening up a new dynasty can the world be balanced."
Changshiro raised his head and looked at the ant-like figures in front of him, the entire Changyang wrapped in white cloth, and beyond Changyang, the snow-capped mountains and rivers.
"My lord, don't help me anymore. I will finish this journey and help my lord take the oath of war for the last time."
Old Zhongde raised his head, and there was no trace of blood on his face. His extremely pale face was exactly the same as the white of heaven and earth.
Changshiro let go, and a seven-foot-long man, the king of Beiyu, cried loudly in the snow without any cover.