Chapter five hundred and thirty fourth: Empress Dowager Xiao
After listening to Chen Leng's report, Li Jing also nodded vigorously and said to Chen Ling: "General Chen, thank you for your hard work. By the way, the late emperor's concubines are all safe."
What Li Jing asked about was Yang Guang's harem concubines. Although Yang Guang died, his harem concubines were still there. The young and beautiful ones among them were all occupied by Yu Wenhua. And such as Empress Xiao Yu Wenhuaji did not dare to take action against the higher-status concubines. He could only take them with him. And now that Yu Wenhuaji was dead, Li Jing could not ignore these concubines in the harem. After all, Wanhe now In name, he was still a minister of the Sui Dynasty.
Hearing Li Jing's question, Chen Leng hesitated a little. But he still replied: "Report to the general. The battlefield was too chaotic just now. Many empresses in the harem were killed by random arrows." Chen Leng also felt helpless when he said this. After all, Liang Jun did not have as many soldiers and horses as the rebels. If you want to ambush and win, the previous arrow suppression is indispensable. And the arrows do not have eyes. How to know who is the rebel and who is the empress. Li Jing obviously I understand this, but I'm not too demanding.
After thinking about it, Li Jing decided to visit Empress Xiao. However, she should be called Empress Dowager Xiao now. After making some arrangements for the brothers, Li Jing turned around and followed Chen Leng to the back of the official road. Soon, I saw the large group of cars in front of me. They were the cars used by the concubines in the harem. Around the cars, there were many corpses of women in palace clothes. Needless to say, they were exactly the same cars. Those harem concubines and palace maids, as for those who survived, are now hiding in the carriages. You can still hear the crying sounds coming from inside.
Under Chen Leng's guidance, Li Jing went straight to the largest carriage. He cupped his fists in front of the carriage and saluted, and shouted: "The last general, King Liang, is under his tent. General Li Jing of the Right Guards, please see the Queen Mother. She is a thousand years old." Thousands of years old. The general's rescue came late and frightened the empress. It is really a crime worthy of death. Please punish the empress." Logically speaking, Li Jing should have knelt down and worshiped Empress Dowager Xiao. But at this moment, Li Jing stood up straight. Obviously, the Queen Mother Xiao in front of her did not have a high status in Li Jing's eyes.
It is not difficult to understand that Li Jinghui was like this. There were two dynasties in the Sui Dynasty. Under the rule of Emperor Wen, the Sui Dynasty was governed in an orderly manner. The people had enough food and clothing. But when Yang Guang came to the throne, in just over ten years, the great Sui Dynasty was brought to an end. It must be torn to pieces. Yang Guang is certainly hateful, but as the head of the harem, Queen Mother Xiao, shouldn't she be warned that she should not do anything wrong?
After a while, a slightly hoarse voice came from the car. Empress Dowager Xiao was heard to say: "Prince Liang, oh, it's Duke Liang, right. Well, Prince Liang is a disciple of the late emperor and the emperor's consort. Yes. The loyalty of the late emperor can be learned. General Li killed the rebels and was a meritorious minister. Why should he be punished by death? There is no need for General Li to be polite. General Li saved the lives of the Ai family. The Ai family should thank General Li. That’s it.”
"I don't dare." Li Jing replied firmly. Then he said again: "I would like to inform the Queen Mother. In order to kill the rebels, the soldiers under the general's command accidentally injured many empresses in the harem. Please ask the Queen Mother." Forgive the officers and men. If you really want to answer the questions, the general will be willing to take the blame for the officers and men."
This accidental injury to the concubines in the harem is neither a big deal nor a small matter. The soldiers fought bravely under his command, Li Jing. Li Jing could not stand to see the soldiers having their homes confiscated and executed because of this incident in the future. .So Li Jing also took this opportunity to settle this matter first, so as to avoid Empress Dowager Xiao settling accounts in the future.
"Humph." Hearing Li Jing mention the concubines in the harem, Queen Mother Xiao's face immediately darkened in the carriage. However, Queen Mother Xiao's anger was not directed at the soldiers. She coldly snorted: "Those bitches If you die, you will die. What does it matter? General Li. The Ai family has a request. Please make sure General Li agrees to it."
At first, he heard Empress Xiao's cold snort. Li Jing was still worried. He thought Empress Xiao was going to hold on to this matter. But when he heard Empress Xiao's words later, Li Jing frowned. But he didn't understand. What were they going to do? So Li Jing didn't dare to speak. However, Queen Mother Xiao didn't wait for Li Jing's answer. She just snorted: "These bitches are unworthy of the late emperor. Please ask General Li to kill all these bitches." "
There was a hint of chill in the words of Empress Dowager Xiao. Li Jing and others couldn't help but shudder when they heard it. They didn't expect that Empress Dowager Xiao had such murderous intention. Li Jing didn't know anything about it. Since the Jiangdu Incident. These concubines in the harem became Yu Wenhuaji's personal favorites. Those who refused to submit were all tortured and killed by Yu Wenhuaji. The remaining concubines turned around and competed with Yu Wenhuaji. If it were just this, it would be fine. But in order to please Yu Wenhuaji, these concubines went to the Empress Dowager Xiao to persuade her to remarry Yu Wenhuaji. If it were not for the special status of the Empress Dowager Xiao, they would rather die. How can it be stable from now on? In the eyes of Empress Dowager Xiao, these concubines are all Yu Wenhuaji's accomplices. They are even more hateful than Yu Wenhuaji.
Of course, these matters involve harem scandals. Empress Dowager Xiao did not want others to know. She just asked Li Jing to kill the concubines in the harem. Li Jing hesitated for a moment, but agreed. Not because of Empress Dowager Xiao, but because Li Jing wanted to do it next. Returning to Luoyang with troops and horses. It is already very difficult to bring along the Queen Mother Xiao. What's more, there are so many concubines in the harem. This is not the time for women to be kind. If we really have to take all the concubines with us, then Li Jing was afraid that he would be captured by the enemy before he could get halfway.
As Li Jing waved his hand, Chen Leng immediately retreated. After a while, the screams of the concubines in the harem were heard from all around. These weak women were no match for Liang Jun's soldiers. No matter how they struggled. .and soon all of them died tragically under the blade of a knife.
After everything calmed down, Queen Mother Xiao seemed to be relieved. Then she said: "General Li, the Ai family is now protected by General Li. What should we do? General Li doesn't need to ask for condolences." For such a womanly family, it’s all up to General Li to make the decision.”
"Yes. I will obey your orders." Li Jing clasped his fists and saluted again. What he wanted was the words of Empress Dowager Xiao. After all, where is the identity of Empress Dowager Xiao. If she dictates, it will be difficult for Li Jing to deal with it in the future. But Empress Dowager Xiao He was obviously a smart man. He knew what to do and what to let go of. After Li Jing said goodbye to Queen Mother Xiao, he retreated. Then, Li Jing said to Chen Leng again: "General Chen, the next return trip will be difficult. It's easier than when I came here. The Empress Dowager Xiao will be handed over to General Chen for protection."
"Please rest assured, General Li." Chen Leng also knew how heavy this burden was. However, Chen Leng was not a timid person. He immediately accepted the task. Immediately afterwards, Chen Leng gave Li Jing a fist salute and turned around. Let’s arrange for someone to protect the driver and passengers.
After doing all this, Li Jing let out a long breath. Anyway, Yu Wenhuaji was dead. This mission was half done. Next, it was time to return to Luoyang. This time he had to cross again. Dongping also brought along the burden of Empress Dowager Xiao. I don’t know if he can pass smoothly.
No matter how difficult it is, this road still has to be taken. However, Li Jing did not go directly to Dongping County. Instead, he first went to Weizhou along the road he came from. Yuan Baobao, the prefect of Weizhou, was one of the few guards in Hebei who was still loyal to the Sui Dynasty. General. In other words, Weizhou still belongs to the Sui Dynasty. Li Jing can completely go to Weizhou to supply supplies under the banner of revolt.
Five days later. Liaocheng.
Liaocheng is not a small city. It is even a relatively important city in Wuyang County. However, Wuyang County, which has just been baptized by Dou Jiande and Gao Kaidao, except Weizhou, also belongs to the Sui Dynasty. The city has long fallen into the hands of various bandits. And the current owner of Liaocheng is none other than the Shandong hero Wang Bo with the title of Chi Shiro.
Wang Bo took action seven years after his great cause. He can be regarded as the first hero to resist Yang Guang's tyranny. At the beginning of the action, Wang Bo's strength could be said to be the first in Hebei and Shandong. If this continues, Dou Jiande now, Gao Kaidao can't be compared with Wang Bo at all. It's a pity that Wang Bo met his nemesis... Zhang Xutuo.
At the foot of Mount Tai, Zhang Xutuo defeated Wang Bo and forced Wang Bo to flee. Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses were left with less than a hundred men. Then Wang Bo went south to join forces with Sun Xuanya, Hao Xiaode and more than 100,000 coalition troops. He intended to seek revenge on Zhang Xutuo. In the end, he was killed by Zhang Xutuo in Zhangqiu. From then on, Wang Bo also failed to recover. He kept wandering around Shandong and Hebei. Later, Dou Jiande dominated Hebei. Wang Bo was also under Dou Jiande. Ask for Liaocheng to rest.
Although Wang Bo usually seems to be content and self-sufficient, he was able to raise troops to rebel against the Sui Dynasty in the seventh year of the Great Cause. If Wang Bo has no ambition, even a three-year-old child would not believe it. If it were not for his lack of strength, I am afraid that this is Hebei and Shandong. Among the major forces, Wang Bo should also be added.
Even in this situation, Wang Bo was unwilling to be lonely. He had heard that Yu Wenhuaji had come to Wuyang County with a large amount of the Sui Emperor's treasures. Wang Bo was interested and sent a messenger to Yu Wenhuaji, pretending to seek refuge with him. In fact, Wang Bo had already made a plan to kill Yu Wenhuaji when he arrived in Liaocheng and seize the treasures.
But Wang Bo is also smart. He knows that he is still in the care of others. So at the same time, he also sends people to deliver a message to Dou Jiande who has gone south. By then, a share of the treasure will definitely be given to Dou Jiande. Even so, so much treasure is enough for Wang Bo Bo recruited troops and bought horses to improve his strength. In Wang Bo's eyes, Yu Wenhuaji has become a moving treasure. Wang Bo can't wait to swallow Yu Wenhuaji immediately. And it is precisely because of this. In the past few days, Wang Bo I was looking forward to it day and night, just hoping that Yu Wenhuaji would arrive soon. I was just looking forward and looking forward to it. Yu Wenhuaji, who should have arrived long ago, didn't even see his shadow.