Volume Two, The Lake of Winter Chapter 260: What happened back then, how is it now?
Volume 2: The Lake of Winter, Chapter 260: What happened then, how is it now?
Ning Que met Xiahou for the first time last year at the shores of the Hulan Sea, and then had a close meeting in Tuyang City. At that time, although Xiahou failed in the fight for the Book of Heaven, he was forced to reach an agreement with the academy to disband.
Although he has returned to old age, his demeanor is still calm and confident, and he even has a hidden domineering air.
However, today's Xiahou has obviously become a bit older. Although he is wearing a brand new armor, although his eyebrows are still cold and indifferent, and his body is still as tall as a mountain, Ning Que can faintly smell that from the general's face.
There was a musty smell coming from a damp woodshed that had been there for many years.
The news that Xiahou was successively assassinated by strong men from the Demon Sect in the wasteland was strictly kept secret by the Tang military headquarters, but it gradually spread and naturally reached Ning Que's ears.
"The Demon Sect's method of purging traitors is more direct and powerful than imagined."
Ning Que looked at Xiahou's back in the distance, which was obscured by the crowd, and thought that if the armor on Xiahou's body was really chopped off by the giant knife in Tang's hand, his originally extremely pitiful hope of success might be much luckier.
Previous point.
Xiahou is an imperial general with an honorable title. He is not a person like Zhang Yiqi or Huang Xing, who can be assassinated at will. The most critical problem is that Xiahou, who is getting older, is still so powerful. Ning Que wants to succeed in the assassination, and
It is basically impossible to leave no evidence behind.
The imperial court and the academy silently allowed Xiahou to return to old age peacefully. Xiling didn't know what he was thinking. In short, Ning Que seems to have countless backers behind him. In front of Xiahou, these backers will not contribute at all. So in this situation
Next, how can he kill Xia Hou?
In the days between spring and summer in the fifteenth year of Tianqi's reign in the Tang Dynasty, a plan gradually took shape in Ning Que's mind. But every time he thought of this plan, even he felt a little ridiculous, because no matter how he looked at it, it had no success.
It is possible that if others knew the true content of his plan, such as Li Yu, such as Ye Hongyu, such as Chen Pipi, they would think that there must be something wrong with his brain.
In the whole world, probably only two guys, Second Senior Brother and Chao Xiaoshu, would agree.
Sangsang held her chin up and looked at the crowd below the teahouse. Suddenly she turned her head and looked at Ning Que, with a worried look on her face, and said, "Why are you so anxious?"
Ning Que said: "I have been waiting for fifteen years, and I feel that my patience is already very good."
Sangsang said seriously: "Wouldn't it be more reliable to wait until he is older and we will be stronger? Wait until he has grown old in the country for a few years and then we can take action?"
Ever since she was little, Ning Que didn't want Sangsang to think about things that were too bloody and cruel, but that didn't mean that he hadn't taught her. In fact, whether in the Min Mountains or on the grasslands outside Weicheng, he had always taught her
He instilled a certain concept into the little maid - no matter whether the enemy is old, weak, women or children, as long as he can defeat the opponent, he can use any shameless means and endure any sad emotions until he is most confident.
Take action, and if you take action, the opponent will die.
Ning Que smiled and said, "If we don't kill him anymore, Xiahou will be really old."
Sangsang asked in confusion: "Isn't that bad?"
Ning Que said: "When he is older...it will be more certain to kill him, but I am worried, what if he dies of illness? What if he really dies of old age?"
Sang Sang couldn't understand what he heard and thought if Xiahou died of old age and illness like this, what would be the problem?
She asked: "Isn't that bad?"
Ning Tu nodded and said: "It's very bad."
Sangsang frowned slightly and asked, "Why?"
"Because Xiahou is not my enemy."
After Ning Que paused for a moment, he continued calmly: "He is my enemy."
At this moment, the teahouse owner and the waiters returned to the building, talking excitedly about the team they had seen on the street earlier, and praising the might of General Xiahou.
Ning Que quietly listened to the discussion in the teahouse and shook his head.
"The enemy can die from natural disasters, tsunamis, river collapses, but as long as he no longer stands in front of us, blocks our way forward, or destroys our affairs, it doesn't matter even if he chokes to death while eating or dies from the smell of toilets."
"But the enemy is different."
"If things like revenge are delayed for too long, they will gradually ferment and evolve into another flavor. Compared with letting the other party die and paying the price for the story of the year, the more important thing is to pass
Kill the other person so that you can forget the story of the past and get real relief."
He looked at Sangsang and said: "However, whether it is to make the enemy pay the price or to be freed, the most critical link is ultimately inseparable, which is to kill the enemy. And he must die in the hands of the avengers, not by himself.
Death cannot be caused by God, nor can one die in bed overnight."
Ning Que thought of the rainy East City of Chang'an that year, thought of the old blacksmith in the blacksmith shop who refused to die, and thought of his pale hair that was wet by the rain, and he looked slightly confused.
"He can't even grow old, sick, or haggard. It's best to be at the peak of his life. Only in this way can he bring enough pleasure to the Avengers, and this is the focus of revenge."
"Xiahou is already old."
Ning Que repeated what he had said before very seriously.
"If we don't kill him, he will be really old."
…
…
General Xiahou returned to Chang'an City. He first went to the palace to see His Majesty, and then accepted the title awarded by His Majesty at the court meeting, and accepted the respect and greetings of the courtiers.
After the court meeting, he declined the invitations of several court ministers and took his soldiers to the military headquarters to hand over military affairs. He stayed for a whole afternoon in a small building surrounded by meadows and green forests next to Zhuque Avenue. It is said that
Had a long conversation with General Xu Shi, the military leader of the Tang Dynasty.
As dusk faded and night enveloped Chang'an, Xiahou left the military headquarters. The soldiers on horseback, holding torches, escorted him to the solemn and luxurious Prince's Mansion in the North City.
The Prince's Mansion was brightly lit in the night. After an ordinary family banquet that revealed old friendship, His Royal Highness Prince Li Peiyan of the Tang Dynasty took him to the study.
There are several files on the black desk. The handwriting on the files is thick and light, obviously not written at the same time. There are some names written on them, and very detailed notes are written densely in small letters next to the names.
Zhang Yiqi, Chen Zixian, Yan Suqing, Lin Ling, Gu Xi, Huang Xing, Yu Shuizhu...
These names may be noble or humble, official, civilian or military, but they all have the same two characteristics. Firstly, these people were once members of the Tang Dynasty's military, and secondly, these people are all dead.
Li Peiyan looked at the names on the file and said calmly after a long silence: "These people are dead, so it means that some people who died long ago are still alive."
Xia Hou looked at a certain name on the file and said expressionlessly: "This person has never participated."
"He was involved in the Yanjing incident."
Li Peiyan sighed, pushed the files aside, looked at Xia Hou worriedly and said: "Although there is no evidence, these names and the stories hidden behind them can prove that our worries are right. Sure enough, there are people in General Wei’s Mansion who are still alive.”
Hearing the name Lin Guangyuan, Xia Hou's two eyebrows that looked like thin iron wires slowly frowned.
Of course he remembered who Lin Guangyuan was.
More than ten years ago, there was a General Xuanwei in the Tang Dynasty military who was famous for his bravery. The general's name was Lin Guangyuan. At that time, many people believed that Lin Guangyuan was another fierce general in the Tang Dynasty after Xia Hou.
In the first year of Tianqi's reign in the Tang Dynasty, Xiahou destroyed Lin Guangyuan's entire family.
It's not because he doesn't like people comparing himself to this general. Although he is known for being domineering and violent, he doesn't have the interest or hobby of destroying people at every turn.
Xia Hou narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression a little complicated.
It wasn't because he felt any guilt towards General Xuanwei. He had killed too many people in his life and had done even more cruel and cold-blooded things. It didn't matter if he beheaded a general's entire family.
It's just that the mention of Lin Guangyuan's name in the Prince's Palace reminded him of many things in the past.
More than ten years ago, the empress died of illness, and the surnames in Qinghe County were ready to take action. Your Majesty took the trouble to travel south to Daze with his concubine named Xia Tian to take care of the disaster.
After receiving His Majesty's secret edict, the Marquis of Xia secretly returned to Chang'an from Tuyang City with thousands of cavalry. He sat in the rear for His Majesty and assisted His Highness in overseeing court affairs for the time being.
He received another secret edict from Xiling Temple.
Facing the secret edict from the Xiling Temple, he was at the peak of his life and wanted to continue to enjoy the respect of the world, so he calmly accepted the other party's request.
A bloody storm broke out in the city of Chang'an, and all the members of General Xuanwei's mansion were executed.
Xiahou knew that doing this would anger His Majesty the Emperor who was touring Daze, but he believed that with his achievements, no matter how angry His Majesty was, he would never attack him without evidence, and he was secretly looking forward to seeing His Majesty. In a rage, he would not canonize the concubine named Xia Tian as queen.
He did not want his biological sister to become the empress of the Tang Dynasty because he knew it was a very dangerous thing. However, he did not expect that His Majesty would still let his sister become the empress.
Compared with these stories, how much blood and dust the stone lion in front of General Xuanwei's mansion was stained has never moved Xiahou, let alone made him sentimental.
…
…
In the study room of the Prince's Mansion.
Li Peiyan looked at Xia Hou and said bitterly: "Lin Guangyuan actually still has blood circulating in the world. This matter is nothing at all, but if the general son who is determined to avenge him has now become the master's personal disciple, he has become the second floor of the academy. Mr. Thirteen, this matter is troublesome."
Xia Hou was silent for a moment and said: "What your Highness means... is that Ning Que is Lin Guangyuan's son?"
Li Peiyan sighed and said: "I don't want to admit that this is true, but other than this, there is no other explanation."
"Back then, I personally supervised the execution of General Xuanwei's palace. According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, there were very few people who could leave the palace without being punished. They were all fish without a contract."
Xia Hou looked at the candle flickering on the desk and said expressionlessly: "Lin Guangyuan only has two sons. Their characteristics are all recorded in the book. I have personally checked them."
Li Peiyan said: "Then this means that someone has tampered with it."
Xia Hou said with an indifferent expression: "Even if Ning Que is Lin Guangyuan's son, what can he do?"
…
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(Old hands, there will be only one chapter today and two chapters tomorrow. This is the first day of the month. Everyone should vote a few times. Hehe, thank you.)