Volume 1: Painting Spring Chapter 48: Three Choices
In the residence of the commander of the Southwest Army, military doctors were changing the dressing on Xiao Yizheng's right arm.
"His Highness's wound has healed quite well, but he still needs to rest quietly."
The military doctor re-bandaged the wound.
"Thank you." Xiao Yizheng smiled lightly and rolled up his sleeves.
Since coming back from the training ground that day, he has not left the commander's mansion despite everyone's tireless efforts to stop him. Originally, if he really wanted to go out, no one could stop him. But he thought in his mind that it would be better this way.
I just spent a few days enjoying myself in this handsome manor to see what the people outside would take advantage of this opportunity to do.
Sure enough, Xu Yongsheng used Lin Yuan's negligence as an excuse and instead of rewarding him for winning the exercise, he suspended him from his duties.
Lin Yuan, who is unemployed, comes to the commander's house every day to report.
The first time he came, he knelt straight in front of Xiao Yizheng and said in a sonorous voice: "Lin Yuan can't repay your highness for saving your life. If your highness is of any use to me in the future, you will never hesitate to die."
Xiao Yizheng stood up and helped him up, smiling and saying: "You don't have to be like this, Lieutenant Lin. I also learned some tricks of horse riding when I was traveling in the world. Don't take it for granted, and don't trust me either. I won't let you do it either."
What a desperate matter."
The corner of Lin Yuan's mouth moved slightly. Xiao Yizheng's friendly and casual attitude surprised him. He clasped his fists again and said, "I'm stupid, but Lin Yuan has kept this in mind."
Xiao Yizheng patted his arm and asked: "I wonder why you were holding on to the reins and were reluctant to let go?"
A hint of emotion appeared on Lin Yuan's dark and resolute face: "That horse has been with me for many years and is my comrade. I can't give up its life easily."
Xiao Yizheng nodded clearly and looked at him with admiration. "Then do you know why that horse suddenly went crazy?"
Lin Yuan frowned: "Although I am stupid, I also know that someone may have done something to the horse at that time."
Xiao Yizheng nodded.
"Your Highness, I would like to ask you to investigate this matter thoroughly." He looked determined.
Xiao Yizheng looked at him with a smile and spoke slowly: "There were so many people around you at that time. It was difficult to obtain evidence. This matter is difficult to investigate."
"My brothers in the camp will never do this. It can be ruled out. I can guarantee this with my life."
Xiao Yizheng's smile deepened: "You don't care about your life."
Lin Yuan paused, and then said in a loud voice: "This life and this life serve the people of the world. Apart from that, there are very few things that have blocked my life, but the two things I mentioned today are just examples."
Xiao Yizheng's eyes lit up and he said in a deep voice: "Then, do you know that if you insist on investigating this matter, it may involve many people and offend many people?"
"Know."
"So, you still insist?"
"persist in!"
"Why?"
"For the sake of right and wrong, and for the sake of being open and honest. There should not be such dirty behavior in the military!"
Xiao Yizheng took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Very good, I admire Captain Lin."
Lin Yuan bowed his head respectfully: "Your Highness also surprised the brothers in the army."
"Oh? So what?"
"You are a nobleman of the Tian family and your highness has the temperament. Everyone thinks that you cannot bear the hardships and control the Southwest Army. But your heroic rescue of people on the battlefield today has earned everyone's respect."
Xiao Yizheng smiled and didn't care much. "I promise you this, but I can't rush it. Maybe you will suffer some grievances recently, but I hope you will believe what you believe and don't waver in the belief in your heart."
After this meeting, Lin Yuan went to the handsome man's house every day.
At first, he just asked if His Highness's injury was getting better, and left after getting the answer without asking to see him. Later, he would bring some Chinese herbal medicine unique to the southwest mountains. Knowing that Xiao Yizheng's wound healed well, he smiled innocently. Later, Xiao Yizheng learned from Zhao Xin
I learned from my mouth that he came to ask me every day, but I refused to let him know. He smiled and shook his head and said: "He has such an upright temperament and doesn't know how to avoid suspicion. He is afraid that others will not know that he is close to me."
"Your Highness saved his life. It is not an exaggeration for him to be so concerned. No matter how Xu Yongsheng and the others ostracize him, they will not find this fault."
"Then let him talk to us about the Southwest Army in his eyes."
Therefore, Lin Yuan went to the Commander's Mansion every day to explain to Xiao Yizheng his ideas on the current problems of the Southwest Army and how to deal with them. They usually talked for several hours.
The so-called heroes cherish each other, Xiao Yizheng had longer-term expectations for Lin Yuan; and Lin Yuan had a deeper admiration for Xiao Yizheng.
Xu Yongsheng also came to visit several times. Xiao Yizheng did not mention to him the investigation of Lin Yuan's mount being assassinated. Instead, he told him earnestly and sincerely about the letter from Beijing, saying that there had been a major breakthrough in the corruption case of southwest officials.
Xu Yongsheng first nodded solemnly and maturely, and then pretended not to care much to explore the specific situation.
Xiao Yizheng pursed his lips and smiled, stepped back, and then said very sincerely: "Shuai Xu, I have been in the southwest for a while. You should be very clear about my character. I would like to speak to you from the bottom of my heart today."
Xu Yongsheng was slightly surprised and said hurriedly: "Your Highness, please speak."
"Generally speaking, the Southwest Army is a united and high-spirited army. No one can erase the hard work that Uncle Jiu and you have put into the Southwest Army."
Xu Yongsheng's heart warmed slightly, and he said slowly: "Your Highness's words are comforting to me."
Xiao Yizheng nodded: "I can tell you the truth. My father will definitely investigate the corruption case in Beijing to the end."
Hearing this, Xu Yongsheng's brows jumped and his heart tightened.
"Uncle Jiu is now in the capital. He cannot protect himself, and he is even more out of reach of the Southwest Army. Perhaps he is hoping that you can become his refuge, but he is wrong."
Xu Yongsheng looked at Xiao Yizheng in shock. He did not expect that His Highness Prince Heng, who always surprised him, would continue his usual style and now say such things so straightforwardly.
"He made the mistake of overestimating the Southwest Army, overestimating himself, underestimating me, and underestimating the people of the world."
Xiao Yizheng turned the teacup in his hand over and placed it on the table. This faint sound struck Xu Yongsheng's heart like thunder.
Xiao Yizheng continued: "Actually, from the moment my father asked me to come to the southwest, Uncle Jiu should have known that he would definitely lose." After he finished speaking, he looked at Xu Yongsheng with a smile.
This smile and these words made Xu Yongsheng feel even more uncertain. He was even sure that he had no idea how much Xiao Yizheng had done in the southwest!
"However," Xiao Yizheng changed the subject and said slowly: "Father, he has always hoped that the country would be tolerant and benevolent. Even now, Uncle Jiu still has a chance to turn around." He stared at him.
Xu Yongsheng paused and then said: "The same goes for Xu Shuai."
Xu Yongsheng frowned, thinking about how to answer.
"I give Xu Shuai three choices. First, you can still be loyal to Uncle Jiu. You can go to the army to raise a new army. As long as there are people willing to follow you, no matter how many people are willing to follow you, I will never stop you.
You can take them away. As for whether to go to Beijing to respond to Uncle Jiu or stay in the southwest, you decide for yourself. If you stay in the southwest, I will grant you a border city and wait for you to settle down and take a breather, and then fight with me in an upright manner.
You have to bear the consequences of winning or losing the battle. If you plan to go to the capital to follow Uncle Jiu, then I will not be able to control you beyond the southwest border. Whether you can lead the team to the capital depends on your ability. I promise you a thousand pieces of gold and will never stop you.
"
Xu Yongsheng's temples were beating fiercely, and he thought that no matter how it sounded, this was a choice for him to die. What's more, today, he was no longer sure whether everyone in the Southwest Army was willing to follow him and Prince Guang.
"Second, you kill me and support yourself in the southwest. If you have this ability, you will definitely be able to withstand the imperial court's attack."
Xu Yongsheng's heartbeat was beating even harder, and the meridians in his clenched hands were clear. This was also a desperate attempt to die.
"Third, take off your armor and return to the fields, and think about your old age." Xiao Yizheng sighed softly and continued: "Xu Shuai has been in the army for half his life. He is better than me in the laws and regulations of the use of troops. Judging the situation is also a quality that a commander should have. I, the king,
I said: The most important thing is not to get drunk when you should be sober."
After saying that, he stood up, rubbed his right arm, and said with a smile: "It is said that my king's performance on the battlefield that day surprised the officers and soldiers. At this time, if I raise my arms and talk to the officers and soldiers, nine
I don’t know how they will feel about what happened to Uncle Jiu. One day, Uncle Jiu’s sins will be known to the whole world, and morality and justice are not on his side.”
Xu Yongsheng's face turned pale and he felt a little weak in his legs. He had seen so many battles and gone through so many winds and rains that he had almost forgotten what it felt like to have weak legs.
Xiao Yizheng's voice was still gentle: "Actually, soldiers have their own reasons for joining the army, but what they protect together is their homeland. This team should not belong to one person." He handed over to Xu Yongsheng and said: "Shuai Xu, I am
What the king said today was from the bottom of his heart, so you can go back and think about it slowly, don't be in a hurry."
At this point, a knock on the door came quickly. Xin Zhao's voice came anxiously: "Your Highness, urgent report from Beijing."
Xiao Yizheng frowned slightly, Zhao Xin was rarely so unstable. Xu Yongsheng also looked out the door hurriedly.
"Come in." Xiao Yizheng ordered.
I saw Xin Zhao vigorously pushing the door open and leaving, holding a copy of the imperial palace newspaper in his hand, "Your Highness, the King..." He quickly stopped talking and glanced at Xu Yongsheng, as if he was debating whether he should say it or not.
Xiao Yizheng's eyes glanced at the newspaper in his hand, wondering what happened to Zhao Xin. The fact that the imperial newspaper was revealed is not a secret. Everyone inside and outside the court, temples and rivers and lakes will know what is so bald at this time.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Xin Zhao seemed to have understood, and opened his mouth and said: "Prince Guang sent someone to assassinate the princess!"
"What?" Xiao Yizheng and Xu Yongsheng both exclaimed.
Xiao Yizheng's face was shocked. He snatched the Di newspaper from Zhao Xin's hand and quickly read a few lines of the Di newspaper. Within a few seconds, he pushed the Di newspaper towards Zhao Xin and walked out.
He moved too quickly, and the wound on his right arm hurt, but he still didn't stop for a moment.
"Your Majesty..." Xin Zhao chased him out.
Xu Yongsheng hurriedly picked up the fallen newspaper and read it, his head dripping with cold sweat.