Volume Two, The Lake of Winter, Chapter 259: After all, I am old
Volume 2: Winter Lake Chapter 259: Finally, I’m old
According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, soldiers who went on an expedition had to go through the East City Gate when returning to Chang'an. Therefore, the post station called Gongxun Post more than ten miles away from the East City Gate became a very important place. For thousands of years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, there is no known place.
How many generals and warriors passed by here with their glory and achievements. The stables in the inn and the poplar trees beside the straight official road, I don’t know how many historical scenes I have seen with my own eyes. //.com Novel Network //
Xiahou looked at the majestic city in the west and remained silent. According to the court rules, he and his subordinates had to spend the night in Gongxun Post, enter the city early tomorrow morning, and then go directly to the palace to meet His Majesty.
Chang'an City looks extremely majestic in the twilight. The black and blue city walls reflect the brilliance of the setting sun and glow with copper color. They look so indestructible and magnificent.
As one of the four most noble generals in the Tang Empire, Xiahou, who has served in the army for many years, naturally has deep feelings for the city of Chang'an. However, not many people know that although he often returns to Beijing to report on his duties, the General's Mansion of the General of the Zhenjun Army is
It was in Beicheng, but he didn't spend much time living in Chang'an City.
For decades, he spent most of his time commanding tens of thousands of cavalry under his command, stationed in the cold northern border, opening up territory for the empire, and shocking the cavalry of the Yan Kingdom and Zuozhang Royal Court.
Now that he has finally left the cold northern Xinjiang, tens of thousands of cavalry have all stayed near the northeastern frontier army camp in Tuyang City. The imperial court has appointed General Shu to take over, so there should be no problem.
Only dozens of soldiers followed him back, and the imperial court explicitly allowed him to bring more soldiers back to Chang'an. However, on the eve of his retirement, he was very cautious and did not take any steps that might arouse suspicion among civil servants.
In order to reassure the court, Xiahou's two sons are still in Chang'an City, confined in the general's mansion, while his wife, relatives, and loyal old servants returned a few months ago.
In his hometown, he tidied up the old fields, took out the pickles from the old cellar and dried them, in preparation for his return to old age.
Of course, that is not Xiahou's real hometown. His real hometown is in the extreme northern cold region. It is the largest tribe of the desert people. As the desert people move south, he will never be able to return to that hometown. Perhaps from his original betrayal,
Since that day of Mingzong, he has been unable to go back.
"Gu Xi is dead, Lin Ling is dead, many of the people who followed me back then are dead..."
As the sun sets, the sky becomes darker and darker, and the copper-colored Chang'an city wall is gradually painted with an ominous blood-red color. Xiahou squints at that side, thinking about his cronies who have gradually left him at the cost of death over the years.
, can’t help but feel a little sentimental.
In the spring, the news of Huang Xing and Yu Shuizhu's death spread from Chang'an City to the military camp. This news did not make him sad, but it made him a little vigilant.
Sentiment and vigilance are not emotions that a strong person should have. Xiahou has been suppressing these emotions forcibly, so he began to feel tired and coughed in the dusk.
The military of the Tang Dynasty is a place that worships the strong. If it is an ordinary general, he will never cough in front of his subordinates and show his fragile side. (See the latest update of this book) But Xiahou didn't care, because he knew that under his subordinates'
In his eyes, he saw how powerful he was, and he knew that he was still powerful.
Just like General Xu Shi, who has been coughing for more than ten years, he is still the number one person in the military of the Tang Dynasty. Whether it is prestige or His Majesty's favor, no one can ever replace him.
Xiahou coughed repeatedly, probably thinking that after entering Chang'an City tomorrow, he would be naked and light, without even the last trace of fear, so he coughed with great pleasure and even seemed a little wanton.
The soldier captain standing at the door of the inn looked at the general's generous figure in front of him, and listened to the sound of coughing, with a worried look on his face. In his eyes, the general was indeed still powerful, but he had seen that demon with his own eyes in the wilderness. There were several battles between Zong strong men and generals, so he was very worried.
At this moment, the ground outside the inn's courtyard wall suddenly trembled slightly. Neither the courteous officials in the inn nor Xiahou's personal guards noticed this tremor.
Although Xiahou is a master of martial arts and one of the most powerful and terrifying men in the world, he is not a real god, so his cough cannot make the earth tremble.
He quietly looked at Chang'an City under the setting sun, then turned and walked into the inn.
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Someone was waiting for him in the inn room.
He was an extremely tall and burly man, half a head taller than Xia Hou. He had a solemn expression and a straight body, like a mountain that was difficult to destroy.
This man was wearing a piece of cloth. Traces of armor could be faintly seen under the thin cloth, and a solemn aura of runes seeped out from under the cloth.
When Xiahou stood in front of this mountain-like man, he was obviously shorter than the other man, but he felt burlier and more powerful than the other man, so he didn't need to raise his head.
"If someone sees Luo Kedi, the commander of the divine guards of Xiling Temple, suddenly appearing in the station closest to Chang'an City, it will definitely be considered as a provocation to the Tang Dynasty."
He looked at the man coldly and said: "I know you are a proud person, but do you really think that there are no masters in Tianshu of the Tang Dynasty? There are at least ten people in Chang'an City behind us who can kill you easily. You When he appeared in front of me, he was looking for death."
Luo Kedi said: "Since I dare to come, I am naturally not afraid of death. But in my opinion, General Xiahou, you are seeking death when you return to Chang'an City. Can you come out alive again?"
Xiahou's expression remained unchanged and he said calmly: "In the small countries of Southern Jin, Song and Yue, your status in the temple can get you unlimited respect, but here is outside Chang'an City. In my eyes, you are just a leader of education. Dog, what qualifications do you have to speak to me in this tone?"
A trace of anger flashed deep in Luo Kedi's eyes, but he suppressed it with force, and said with a sneer: "I admit that I am just a dog raised by the master, and you are a lion raised by Haotian, and now you have lost it. Ruiqi wants to return to Chang'an City, do you really want to make your enemies happy?"
Xia Hou shouted in a deep voice: "This is an agreement reached between this general and the academy. Looking at the world, who dares to obstruct it? Even your master does not have this ability!"
"The temple is happy to see General Xiahou have a good old age, but are you really willing to do so?"
Luo Kedi took out a letter with a rune fire seal, handed it over, and said: "This is a personal letter from the headmaster. He invites the general to go to Xiling... no, to return to Xiling."
Xia Hou received the letter, his expression still unchanged.
Luo Kedi said: "The temple needs your power very much, and the headmaster said that returning to old age does not mean that you have to live in the countryside forever. There will always be a time to come back."
Xia Hou looked at him, his iron-tough eyebrows slightly raised, and said, "What can you give me?"
Luo Kedi said: "Since you are loyal to the Queen, the Xiling Temple promises that in the future fight for the throne of the Tang Dynasty, the Temple will do everything possible to help the prince under the Queen's knees succeed."
With the terrifying strength of the Xiling Temple, making such a huge bet without any room for a long time in advance must be said to be a very sincere invitation for Xiahou.
However, to Luo Kedi's expectation, when faced with the sincerity of the Master, Xiahou did not show the expected emotional reaction at all, but directly said: "I won't send it away."
Luo Kedi suppressed his anger and said: "The temple needs an answer."
Xia Hou said: "I am very grateful and will seriously consider it. This is the answer."
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…
The ground of the meritorious post trembled slightly again, and Luo Kedi left quietly. The officials and people in Chang'an City who were preparing for the welcome ceremony would probably never know that the chief of the divine guards of the Xiling Temple had been to Chang'an City.
, and tried to lead General Xiahou to another path.
Looking at the autographed letter from the headmaster of Xiling in his hand, Xiahou showed a sarcastic smile.
He knew that this was indeed an autographed letter from the headmaster, because he had received seven autographed letters from the headmaster over the years and was very familiar with the handwriting on the envelope.
What he was mocking was the intention of the Xiling Temple - to help the queen's biological prince ascend to the throne of the Tang Dynasty? If the Xiling Temple knew that the queen was his most beloved sister Xia Tian, and knew that the prince had half of the blood of the deserted people and the aura of Mingzong
, do the big shots in the temple still dare to do this?
The sarcastic smile on Xia Hou's face turned into self-mockery, and he exerted slight force on his fingers, preparing to crush this letter written by the headmaster of Xiling into powder. However, for some unknown reason, he stopped after hesitating for a moment.
…
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General Xiahou, who had been stationed in northern Xinjiang for decades for the Tang Empire, was willing to retire and retire without any conditions. The princes in the court felt a little strange and felt a lot more relaxed. After asking for His Majesty's orders,
The imperial court gave the general great honor and courtesy.
In the early morning, under the enthusiastic guidance of the officials of the Ministry of Rites, and under the loving eyes of the Yulin Army, Xiahou put on a brand-new armor, led dozens of soldiers, and rode towards Chang'an City.
The official road in front of the east gate of Chang'an City has long been cleaned. Amidst the solemn and solemn music, His Royal Highness Prince Li Peiyan of the Tang Dynasty came out of the city with hundreds of civil and military officials to wait for him. Countless celebrities in the city were waiting eagerly.
The imperial court had already drafted a decree and was waiting for it to be issued when Xiahou came to the palace for an audience. At this time, the decree that was quietly resting in the palace contained dazzling rewards and titles.
Looking at the dark welcoming crowd from a distance, Xiahou ignored the persuasion of the officials of the Ministry of Rites, got off his horse in advance, pulled Ma Jiang and walked in that direction.
His Royal Highness the Prince looked at this scene, shook his head with a smile, waved away the admonishing eunuchs around him, and walked towards him at the same time.
They met in front of the pavilion outside the east gate.
Xiahou saluted His Royal Highness with a calm expression.
Li Peiyan was a little unable to calm down. Looking at his face as dark as iron, he said with emotion: "It will be good to come back."
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The court officials of the Tang Dynasty did not like General Xiahou, who was known for his arrogance and extravagance.
Because for decades, there have been rumors in the world that Xiahou killed prisoners, killed innocent people indiscriminately and pretended to be war exploits. I don’t know how many Tang laws he violated. However, there was no evidence, and everyone knew that this general was highly valued by the Queen, so then
This means that he is highly regarded by His Majesty the Emperor.
Probably for this reason, the people of Chang'an City do not love General Xiahou as sincerely as they do the other three generals of the empire. Although the people Xiahou killed indiscriminately were not Tang people, the people of Chang'an who have simple and direct thinking always
I feel that being violent is not a real skill.
After all, Xiahou had been stationed in the cold northern Xinjiang for decades for the empire. Today he was discharged and returned to his old age. He was still warmly welcomed by Chang'an City. The crowds on both sides of the street cheered and applauded from time to time.
There was a teahouse by the long street. The shopkeepers and waiters in the teahouse ran to the street to welcome the general back. No one paid any attention to business. Fortunately, there were not many customers in the teahouse at this time.
Ning Que and Sang Sang sat at the table near the window.
He listened to the cheers and applause coming from the long street, looked at the back of Xia Hou who had just passed the tea house on horseback, and after a moment of silence he said: "Compared with when he was in Tuyang City, he is really much older."
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(I finished it today, and I finished it this month. I feel relaxed, just like Xiahou today. There won’t be many updates tomorrow because my father-in-law and mother-in-law are back from Yinchuan for vacation. I want to go back to my parents’ home with my boss to meet with you. Hold your fists and continue to ask you to vote for me.
Recommendation votes support it. I will regularly send monthly tickets for single chapters at midnight. Friends who have update reminders, please forgive me if it disturbs your sleep.)