In a quiet room, a middle-aged man wearing single clothes and a resolute face was sleeping soundly with his eyes closed.
Although the man was asleep, his brows were furrowed tightly and his body was shaking from time to time, as if he was having a nightmare.
At this time, there was a craftsman talking outside the quiet room, and the noise of work came. The man seemed to be disturbed by the noise, and sat up suddenly, shouting urgently:
"No……"
But after he stared around with bloodshot eyes, he was suddenly stunned again, his back slightly hunched down, and a look of despair and frustration flashed in his eyes.
Outside the quiet room, Dongchang Fanzi heard the noise, opened the door suddenly and walked in. When he saw that the man was fine, he breathed a sigh of relief, clasped his fists and said:
"General Qiu, do you have any orders?"
This middle-aged man was surprisingly Qiu Tianlu, General Xia Zuo who was defeated in the Battle of Zoumaling and captured by the Yun Army!
Qiu Tianlu calmed down, slowly raised his head, looked at the few Dongchang fans who rushed in, looked slightly cold, shook his head and said:
"It doesn't matter...what's going on outside?"
Dongchang Fanzi heard this and said:
"Ah, it's the craftsman who came to change the plaque... This place was originally a temple and a temple worshiped by the dignitaries of the court. Later, the monks here were involved in a major rebellion and were taken back to the court. Your Majesty wants to be captured by Dayun in the future.
The civil and military officials of the Xia Kingdom were placed here. Perhaps they felt that it was not appropriate to use the original temple name, so they gave it the name 'Gong De Lin'."
When Qiu Tianlu heard this, his eyes twitched and his face became even colder.
In the battle of Zoumaling, the army fought hard for most of the day, but was blocked by the Yun army and could not advance. Then the pursuers came and the morale of the army was exhausted. Qiu Tianlu fought hard, but seeing that the situation was irreversible, he immediately drew his sword and wanted to commit suicide. However, Qiu Tianlu fought hard and saw that the situation was irreversible.
Unexpectedly, Yang Zaixing had already set his sights on him, led his troops to capture him, and sent him to the capital of Yun Kingdom.
At this time, when Dongchang Fanzi mentioned "Gong De Lin", it was like ripping off his scars. How could he look good?
Qiu Tianlu felt more and more depressed. He immediately put on his clothes and stood up, saying in a deep voice:
"I want to go out for a walk!"
Several Dongchang fans received the instructions from their superiors and did not stop them. They just reminded:
"Your Majesty has told me that General Qiu can do nothing except not go out!"
When Qiu Tianlu heard this, he snorted coldly and quickly walked out of the quiet room.
Gongdelin was originally a place where dignitaries from the imperial court worshiped Buddha in the city. The environment was elegant and had a Zen feel. Wandering around for a while made Qiu Tianlu's depressed heart feel a little calmer.
After turning around a pavilion, Qiu Tianlu suddenly heard the sound of someone laughing and joking from the front.
Taking a closer look, he saw a young man with a handsome appearance and an outstanding bearing. He was holding a baby in his arms, leaning on the water pavilion in front of him, pointing at the koi in the pond and teasing him.
The baby in her arms is white, fat and cute, with lively eyes, looking at the fish in the pond, and her mouth is wide open, showing an innocent smile, which makes her very cute.
Qiu Tianlu looked at the man in front of him, frowned, and asked:
"Besides me, is there anyone else in this Merit Forest now?"
The few Dongchang fans who were following him were slightly startled when they heard this.
This Merit Forest has just been opened not long ago. Apart from Qiu Tianlu, the general of the Xia Kingdom, I have never heard of anyone else coming here.
As if noticing the sight of Qiu Tianlu and others, the man holding the baby turned slightly, looked at Qiu Tianlu up and down, then nodded slightly and laughed loudly:
"This child likes to watch fish. He cries as soon as he leaves here, which is really annoying. If you have any leisure time, please come over and talk."
Several Dongchang gangsters couldn't figure out the details of the person coming, and they deliberately wanted to stop him.
But he didn't expect that Qiu Tianlu had already taken steps towards the young man.
Since the superiors have told him that as long as Qiu Tianlu does not leave Gongdelin, there will be no interference, so the few Dongchang gangsters cannot stop him now.
But the appearance of the man in front of him was so strange that Dongchang Fanzi, the leader, could not make up his mind for a moment, so he could only whisper to his subordinates, saying:
"I'll wait here and watch. Go and find out who this man is and why he suddenly appeared in the Forest of Merit!"
Hearing this, his subordinates quickly responded, turned around and left quickly.
At this time, Qiu Tianlu had already reached the waterside pavilion.
When the baby in the man's arms heard someone approaching, his eyes left the koi in the pond and turned to look at Qiu Tianlu for a while. His big black eyes suddenly curved like crescent moons and he grinned.
A baby's smile is the most innocent and innocent.
Qiu Tianlu had always been serious about his words, and due to the depression in his heart at this time, his face looked slightly gloomy.
But at this moment, facing such an innocent smile, Qiu Tianlu's calm face froze slightly, and then subconsciously squeezed out a slightly stiff smile in response.
I don’t know if the stiff smile on Qiu Tianlu’s face was a bit funny, but the child, who was only a few months old, waved his immature hands, and the smile on his face became even brighter.
The young man held the baby in his arms, looked at Qiu Tianlu, and said with a smile:
"This kid seems to be very close to the general!"
Qiu Tianlu looked at this adorable child, the smile on his face softened slightly, and he said:
"I have always been serious about words and expressions. The children in my family would not dare to get close to me when they see me like this. But your young master is... well, different!"
When the young man heard this, his smile became even bigger, but he said in a tone with a headache:
"Yes, this kid laughs when he sees people. He is the best at pretending to be cute and lovable. But if you really take him with you, you will know that this kid is not easy to take care of! If someone doesn't like him a little bit, he will just pretend to be cute. It's really true.
If it doesn't work, I'll cry and threaten. It only took half a day, but he made my head big."
Qiu Tianlu had a smile in his eyes, and seemed to be suddenly touched by something in his heart. His tone was slightly low and authentic:
"Before I led the troops to go on the expedition, I happened to receive the news that my daughter-in-law was pregnant. If everything goes well, my grandson should be born by now."
Having said this, Qiu Tianlu's heart became heavy again, and he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
When the young man heard this, he smiled and said:
"General, there is no need to worry. There is news from Jinling City that the enemy family has a grandson. Mother and son are in good health. He is named Qiu Shengrui, which is the name left by the general before he went on the expedition."
As soon as these words came out, Qiu Tianlu was startled, raised his head and narrowed his eyes, looked at the young man in front of him, gritted his teeth and said:
"I have been so confused in recent days that I didn't notice that Your Excellency knows my identity, and yet you can appear here with a baby in your arms. You have been talking to me for so long, but no one came out to stop me. Your identity is definitely not simple!"
Having said this, Qiu Tianlu straightened his back and took a step forward, shouting:
"I dare to ask you about your identity and why you want to investigate my family members in Beijing!"
When Qiu Tianlu stepped forward, he heard several loud shouts from beside him:
"Be bold!"
"Escort!"
Dozens of masters of the Forbidden Army guards filed out from the darkness, their swords unsheathed, and the atmosphere suddenly became solemn and solemn.
The man held the baby in his arms, looked around at the Forbidden Army masters holding weapons, and then looked at Qiu Tianlu, who had an ugly face. His eyes turned slightly, then the corner of his mouth curled up, moisture appeared in his eyes, and he burst into tears.
Feng Bao and Wang Zhi rushed out together and exclaimed:
"Shout softly, shout softly, you will scare the second prince!"
"Qiu Tianlu's meridians are blocked all over his body, and he is unable to assassinate His Majesty. Hurry up and put away your sword, so as not to disturb His Majesty's mood!"
With such a battle, and the identity of the baby in his arms, the young man in front of him naturally did not think of anyone other than Xiao Cheng.
Xiao Cheng looked at the second prince Xiao Chengen who was crying with his mouth open in his arms, and sighed with a headache.
He looked at Nan Jiyun who was rushing out with the masters of the Forbidden Army. He immediately stretched out his hand and handed over the second prince in his arms, saying:
"You made me cry, you are responsible for comforting me!"
Nan Jiyun's face turned red, and he quickly asked his imperial guards to put away their weapons, and then he hurriedly took the second prince from Xiao Cheng's hands, slightly embarrassed, and carefully coaxed him.
A group of Forbidden Army masters quickly withdrew. The area around the waterside pavilion returned to its previous quiet state. If it weren't for the extra Nan Jiyun people around them, it would have been as if nothing had happened.
Qiu Tianlu looked at Xiao Cheng blankly, looking up and down.
Obviously, from the conversation just now, he already knew the identity of the young and noble man.
The current emperor of Yun Kingdom, the young emperor, the hero of the world, Xiao Cheng!
Xiao Cheng shook up his broad robe, sat on the goose-neck chair next to the waterside pavilion, waved his hand and smiled at Qiu Tianlu:
"Today I leave the palace incognito, so there is no need to pay attention to etiquette. General Qiu, would you like to have a few words with me?"
Qiu Tianlu's face was gloomy and he was silent for a long time. He sat aside with a cold face and said in a deep voice:
"I wonder why His Majesty Yun Huang came here today?"
The tone was very rude.
Xiao Cheng didn't care much, his smile didn't change, and he said loudly:
"I know the general's talents and am willing to recruit him!"
Qiu Tianlu turned his head slightly and said coldly:
"So, His Majesty the Emperor Yun sent people to check on my family members in Beijing?"
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng shook his head slightly and said:
"The general's words are offensive. I'm afraid he may have misunderstood me and feel that I want to use the general's family as a threat!"
Qiu Tianlu narrowed his eyes and asked, choking:
"Isn't it?"
Xiao Cheng waved his hand casually and said with a smile:
"Hehehe, I just feel that the general is in Dayun, and he will inevitably worry about his family. That's why I said so much!"
Seeing that there seemed to be suspicion in Qiu Tianlu's expression, Xiao Cheng continued:
"My Dayun's East Factory, Shang Yu's backup office, has spies all over Jinling City, and the penetration is very deep. There are spies on the mansions of the Ministers of Civil and Military Affairs of the Xia Kingdom. I am not necessarily as aware of any troubles in Jinling City as Jinshen Palace.
Be slow. This is definitely not directed at the general alone. General, please don't worry."
When Qiu Tianlu heard this, his words suddenly stopped.
Wang Zhi, who was waiting on the side, also said:
"In the Xia Kingdom, there are rumors that General Qiu's entire army has been wiped out and he has died in battle. His Majesty specially ordered to conceal the news that General Qiu was captured. Otherwise, the life of General Qiu's family in Jinling City would not be so easy!"
In fact, the situation of being captured and dying in battle is not much different, but the perception is very different! As long as there is intention, the Yun Kingdom will spread all kinds of half-truth and half-false news, and the situation of Qiu Tianlu's family will be
It can't possibly be good.
This is the reason why Qiu Tianlu wanted to commit suicide in the first place!
It's just a pity that it didn't succeed...
Qiu Tianlu's chest rose and fell, he took a few deep breaths to calm down, and then continued:
"I already know His Majesty the Emperor Yun's love for talents. It's just that I have the intention to imitate the loyal and righteous men of ancient times and not serve the two masters. Therefore, His Majesty the Emperor Yun, please come back!"
Xiao Cheng turned sideways, looked at the koi in the pond behind him, and said casually:
"Five days ago, in accordance with His Majesty's decree, the general was posthumously titled 'General Hussars' and 'Marquis of Hailing'. The eldest son of the general was granted the title of Duke, and his second son and third son were promoted to official positions. They received many gold and silver rewards, which can be described as the most tragic and honorable thing."
.”
Having said this, Xiao Cheng paused slightly, changed the subject, and said in a deep voice:
"General, does he know why the Jinling City has been so hasty to pursue you since your bones were not found?"
Qiu Tianlu was stunned when Xiao Cheng asked him this question, and subconsciously said:
"His Majesty Yun Huang, do you know why?"
"On the day of the battle at Zoumaling, our Dayun Zhengbei general Cheng Bushi led his troops to attack Chengxian County in an attempt to block your army's retreat. Sixty thousand Xia troops defended Chengxian County while sending thousands of soldiers and horses to meet them...
…”
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tianlu's eyes widened and he was suddenly startled, looking in disbelief.
Since there were soldiers and horses coming to meet him, why didn't he wait?
Xiao Cheng turned his head, stared at Qiu Tianlu, and continued:
"The general is wondering why he didn't wait for reinforcements?"
When Qiu Tianlu heard this, he nodded immediately and said:
"Yes, from Chengxian County to Zoumaling, the army's urgent march could only take one day. I had sent people to notify the Chengxian defenders before...but why didn't I wait for reinforcements until the end?"
"Because they withdrew!"
"Yang Zaixing is the general who blocked you at Zoumaling. He also sent 300 soldiers to set up a suspicious formation on the way through which Chengxian's reinforcements must pass. The Xia army who came to meet them was worried that Chengxian would be defeated and there would be no way out.
They cut it off, had no intention of fighting, and retreated directly. Later, they reported back to the army and said that the general had already wiped out his entire army when they arrived!"
As soon as these words came out, Qiu Tianlu suddenly exclaimed:
"Impossible, impossible!"
Seeing this, Xiao Cheng waved slightly to Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhixin understood this and quickly took out the Xia Jun Jun Bao, the Jinling City Residence Bao, and the copied imperial edict, and put them into Qiu Tianlu's hands.
"Whether it is true or not, the general decides for himself!"
Qiu Tianlu held the thing in his hand and was about to open it, but he was suddenly discouraged.
In fact, there is no need to open it, he also knows that what Xiao Cheng said is true. Because only in this way can he explain why the troops and horses were delayed in arriving in the first place, and why he was so quickly decreed by His Highness Jin Shen...
…
Xiao Cheng stared at Qiu Tianlu and said loudly:
"How can we carry out a successful war with such insects? The Xia army was repeatedly defeated, lost troops and generals, and lost its territory, just because these people are among the Xia army!"
At this time, Qiu Tianlu's face was dejected, with a hint of unwillingness and anger appearing from time to time, but he did not listen to Xiao Cheng's words at all.
Seeing this, Xiao Cheng also knew that the heat was enough today and he couldn't be impatient.
He stood up slowly and said:
"I cherish the general's talents and want to recruit them. General, you might as well think about it first... No matter what the outcome is, nothing will happen to the general's family in Jinling City!"
Hearing this, Qiu Tianlu pursed his lips, lowered his head in front of Xiao Cheng for the first time, and saluted:
"Thank you for Your Majesty Yun Huang's caring heart... It's just that I can't face the former Pao Ze on the battlefield, so no matter how many times I think about it, I can only reject His Majesty's kindness!"
When Xiao Cheng heard this, he said indifferently:
"It doesn't matter. If the general doesn't want to fight against the former emperor, he can lead his troops to guard Tubo. Or he can wait until the northern border is captured in the future and continue to lead his troops to resist the Turks..."
Speaking of this, Xiao Cheng's eyes flashed and he seemed to say casually:
"If that's not possible, it's okay to stay in Zhongqing City to teach the lieutenant generals and noble disciples. Also, my second prince, Xu's mother, Emperor Rouning, was born in the Xia Kingdom, and she is very close to the general. When he gets older,
It’s okay for the general to teach military strategy!”
When Qiu Tianlu heard this, he suddenly had a strange thought in his heart. He subconsciously looked at the child in Nan Jiyun's arms and said blankly:
"This is the son of Emperor Rouning?"
At this time, Qiu Tianlu knew very well that he was in Zhongqing City of the Yun Kingdom and already a dead man in the Xia Kingdom. Unless he was willing to stay anonymous in this meritorious forest for the rest of his life, he could only surrender to the Yun Kingdom.
side.
If he had been before, he would have refused Xiao Cheng's solicitation without any hesitation.
But at this moment, looking at the prince born by Emperor Rou Ning in front of him, he inevitably had other thoughts in his heart.
Isn’t this also the blood of the Daxia royal family?
Now that the Yun Kingdom is at its peak, it may be possible to unify the world in the future. By then, the infant second prince may not be the hope of continuing the honor of the Great Xia royal family...