Harue Kagetsu - Chapter 128

Behind the crenel above the city wall, a row of crossbowmen poured out.

Dozens of bows and crossbows shot arrows in unison, aiming at Li Mu who was heading for the city.

Li Mu stopped.

He came after a long journey, dressed in commoner clothes, covered with dust and dust, facing the body, but without fear, independent from the city wall, with only a general’s long sword hanging from his waist, robe sleeves like the wind, Yuanding Yuezhi, body shape Clank, not angry.

“I’m Li Mu! Where is General Yang? Please meet me!”

He walked towards the city and raised his voice.

The sound was far and wide, carried up by the wind, and everyone in the city could hear it.

When the voice fell, outside the city head and the city, in front of and behind, the army of tens of thousands was silent, only the sound of hunting and hunting made by the strong wind from the wild raging in the sky.

After the crenel, there was no movement.

“General Yang, I know you are nearby!”

“It’s not bad for a scholar to die for his confidant. Of course you have the meaning of Yu Rang, but Xu Mi, how did he come to be so fierce as a Zhi Bo? For the selfishness of a single thought, for the fierceness of fighting. For the hat he wore on his head. To hold the crown of the Song Emperor, how many people have been shouting, and how many soldiers have died in vain?”

“People from the Southern Dynasties, when it comes to Hu Li, are all gnashing of hatred. Why? It’s not the hatred of different races. What we hate is the Hu people who are brutal and tyrannical. Once they gain power, they will be slaughtered at every turn. The people are like ants, and their lives are ruined! Although the name of the government soldier has a family name, has the court been lacking in support over the years? Where does the court provide support? The people support our soldiers and hope that we will keep one side safe and guard the four sides without offenses.”

“General Yang, you and I are both soldiers. The so-called kindness does not control the army. It is only natural for soldiers to die in battle.”

His gaze swept across the faces of the soldiers at the top of the city who were drawing their bows towards him one by one.

“…But at this moment, which of these soldiers in the city headed at me with bows and arrows, is not a warrior among my southerners? Since he is a warrior and is nurtured by the southerners, he will not kill those Hu Li who took the land of my ancestors, In order to bring Xu Mi and his likes to the throne, they fought with the brothers behind me in the same room and killed each other!”

The strong wind swept past him, and the long sword around his waist made a slight tremor.

“I, Li Mu, made the northern expedition to the Central Plains and expelling Hu Lian as the first choice in my life. I expect General Yang, and the soldiers around you who have gathered because of you, are by no means confused and cold-blooded! If you know the truth and are warm-blooded, why not Do you have to follow Xu Mi’s drive to do such a stupid thing? Just let him kill a son for you to see?”

“Xu Mi’s son, greedy for merit and rashness, that day for his own selfishness, how many soldiers died in Yingchuan?

His voice came with the wind and was deafening.

The crossbowmen on the city wall looked at each other with hesitant expressions on their faces. Zhang Gong’s arms slowly relaxed, and they turned their heads to look at Yang Xuan who was standing not far behind.

Yang Xuan was dressed in military uniform, his figure was frozen, his eyes were fixed.

The lieutenant standing next to him was Xu Mi’s henchman. Seeing this, his face changed slightly, and he immediately shouted at the crossbowmen: “Li Mu came from a humble background, but he was just a dog of His Majesty! He did not want to repay his kindness, and now he is against His Majesty. Oppose, sow discord! Shoot arrows! Shoot him to death immediately!”

Li Mu used to be humble, and when he was still under Yang Xuan’s command, he was not only invincible in battle, but also admired by his companions. When he was in danger, he would let his companions retreat first. He was often the last to leave, and he was always popular. What’s more, in the past few years, he has been born out of nowhere, and he has gained power and power. Instead of fighting with the southerners, he has really beaten the Hu people to find their teeth and shine in Jiangbei.

These soldiers, who has not secretly admired? Hearing this vice general slandered him so much, he was very dissatisfied.

A crossbow soldier simply put down his bow and arrow.

The lieutenant was furious, walked up to the crossbow soldier, waved the whip in his hand, and slapped him with his head covered, shouting: “Disobeying orders, according to military law, kill without mercy!”

The crossbow soldier’s face and neck was immediately drawn with a blood stain, and he gritted his teeth and said, “I only listen to General Yang’s order! If General Yang has not issued an order, I will not shoot!”

Crossbow soldiers rarely fight alone, they often form a formation, advance and retreat together, and their partners are the people who guarantee their survival on the battlefield.

The outside of the city has been surrounded by the imperial army for several days, and everyone in the city knows that the final battle is coming.

Once the army under the city begins to attack the city, it is still unknown whether he can survive or not. He was swayed from side to side by Li Mufang’s words, and he was confused and doubtful. After the blood was lost, he immediately shared the same hatred, so he put down all the bows and arrows, and glared at the lieutenant.

The lieutenant turned into anger and drew his sword to kill the crossbow soldier. Seeing the dozens of people in front of him blocking him, he timidly turned to Yang Xuan and said angrily, “Have you seen it? Is this the kind of soldier you lead? If you commit the following crimes, are you not afraid that His Majesty will come back and blame you? Li Mu is in the city, this opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You still haven’t ordered someone to shoot him to death?”

Yang Xuan stared straight ahead, his eyes stunned, as if he had never heard it before.

The lieutenant gritted his teeth, snatched the bow and arrow from a crossbow soldier, pushed the crowd away, rushed to the crenel, drew the bow and set up the arrow, and released an arrow towards the figure that had already entered the arrow path under the city.

The feather arrow detached from the string, ripped apart the air, and shot at Li Mu.

Li Mu drew his sword and cut off the feather arrow that rushed in front of him in a blink of an eye.

With a “ding” sound, the cluster of arrows flew out and inserted into the nearby mud.

Li Mu held a long sword in his hand, with a strange light in his eyes, he suddenly lifted his anger, and his voice moved from all sides: “Once the army attacks the city, you will have no way to retreat!”

“Yang Xuan, wouldn’t you rather bring these soldiers who followed you to bury Xu Mi here, rather than lead Erlang to expedition the Central Plains, expel Hu Li, and make immortal achievements?”

The arrow that Jiang Jian released was cut off by Li Mu, he gritted his teeth, pulled the bow and set the arrow again, and aimed again.

Just when he was about to release the second arrow, he felt a chill in his heart, and a blade suddenly came out from the back of his heart.

His body suddenly stiffened, his eyes widened, and the bow and arrow fell from his hands and fell into the mud in front of the city gate.

The general turned his head slowly and saw Yang Xuan standing behind him, two fierce rays of light shot out of his eyes.

The knife that penetrated his heart was in his hand.

Yang Xuan drew his knife, and the lieutenant threw himself on the ground, twitched for a moment, and died out of breath.

Above the city head, the atmosphere suddenly froze.

The soldiers who were originally lined up along the crenel slowly approached. The soldiers under the tower also seemed to feel the difference, and they all climbed up the tower and gathered towards Yang Xuan.

Countless eyes were cast on Yang Xuan.

Yang Xuan looked at the soldier. Looking at the tired faces mixed with hope and hesitation in front of him, he slowly asked, “You have to fight with me, so far, do you want to continue fighting this battle, or go to the imperial court? “

Facing the imperial army that Gao Qiao sent reinforcements, Xu Mi, who had been the Song Emperor for less than a month, also felt a little panic.

Just a few days ago, he personally rushed to Bo Rongkang in Badong, who was still nominally still in the imperial court, and wanted to persuade Rongkang to join forces against the imperial court.

Rongkang is the most powerful feudal governor in Badong. If Xu Mi’s lobbying is successful, and Rongkang’s strength is added, he may be able to continue to fight against the imperial court.

Before leaving, he ordered that before he returned, Yang Xuan was not allowed to send troops, and he only needed to defend the city.

This is the reason why Gao Yin called for war in the past few days, but Yang Xuan never responded.

The soldier was silent for a moment. Finally someone whispered: “I’ll follow the general. Wherever the general goes, I’ll go wherever.”

The people commanded to agree.

Yang Xuan looked up to the sky, closed his eyes for a moment, opened them, strode to the front of the city, looked at Li Mu who was still waiting on the spot, and said loudly: “Da Sima, these soldiers are no longer willing to serve as rebels. If you open the city gates like this, can you guarantee that the court will not hold them accountable in the future?”

Li Mudao: “Standing here today, every word I say is guaranteed in my name, Li Mu! They are all my southerners’ children. As long as you lead them, they will immediately rein in their horses, and they will be treated equally in the future. There will be no difference!”

“Okay! I, Yang Xuan, trust you!”

Yang Xuan turned his head and said to the sergeant, “Have you heard what Da Sima said? I know what you are thinking. Just do what you want.”

The soldier was stunned for a moment, then reacted and was overjoyed.

In recent years, there have been continuous rebellions in the imperial court, and there have been waves of people who want to overthrow the Xiao family and replace him as emperor, but there has been no one who really succeeded in the end.

He had suffered a losing streak and retreated here. The situation was a little stable, and Xu Mi couldn’t wait to proclaim himself emperor. , as if it had become a country within a country. But the soldiers at the bottom had a miserable life, and they had to fight head-on, and they had long been resentful in their hearts. It was only because of Yang Xuan that they managed to stay until today.

Hearing Yang Xuan’s words at this moment, he clearly acquiesced in allowing them to open the door to the court.

If someone else came, the soldiers might still hesitate.

But the man outside the city was Li Mu, whom all the soldiers of the Southern Dynasty looked up to. No matter who the family was headed, who would not want to serve under his command?

Immediately pass ten, ten pass a hundred.

Soon, the cheers from the top of the city came one after another. Soldiers swarmed towards the city.

A group of Xu Mi’s personal soldiers rushed to hear the news, and they met head-on. They were soon surrounded by mutinous soldiers, killed three or two, and then rushed to the city gate, opened the door, and ran towards Li Mu. Going forward, he knelt down on one knee and gave him a military salute.

Yang Xuan stood on the city wall, watching the soldiers who had followed him to death run by him in the past, and left one after another. Soon, the head of the city, which was still crowded with people, was empty, and only the Song flag was still fluttering in the wind.

He turned around slowly, glanced at the figure under the city that seemed to be aware of something, and was running towards him, took off his helmet, drew his knife, and pointed it at his neck.

The moment the city gate was opened by the soldiers from the inside, Li Mu ran towards the city gate, wanting to climb up the city tower and take Yang Xuan down in person.

But around, too many soldiers rushed towards him, and his path was blocked.

He looked up and saw Yang Xuan slowly taking off his helmet, a strong ominous omen poured out of his heart.

Fate is impermanent, and people are powerless.

Even if you are brave and unparalleled, even if you can see the unknown. Somewhere in the world, there may still be one hand controlling everything.

That kind of fate may be an ominous thought that cannot be changed by human beings after all, engulfing him in an instant.

He roared to get out of the way, his eyes were split, and he tried to push away the soldiers in front of him who were blocking his way. Go through the city gate and run towards the city head.

He finally made it to the tower.

The empty and flat brick road of the city tower stretched straight forward under his feet.

A tall figure fell on the city wall.

The chest of Yang Xuan’s battle uniform was stained with blood.

Li Mu helped him sit up from the ground, his palms trying to block the blood gushing out of his heart.

But in vain. More blood continued to flow out from between his fingers.

Yang Xuan opened his eyes, stared at Li Mu’s red eyes, stretched out his hand with difficulty, and held his hand.

“Jingchen, the first time I saw you in the army, when you were a teenager, I knew…you will do something in the future…”

A smile slowly appeared on his lips, and the smile gradually solidified.

Gao Yin and everyone finally rushed to the top of the tower, and saw Li Mu hugging the deceased general, kneeling on one knee on the ground, his back like a stone statue, and he didn’t move for a long time.

…

These days, the court has been constantly receiving good news.

The Heavenly Teacher Rebellion in the southeast was completely pacified by Li Mu before. Later, because he rushed to Yiling and successfully persuaded the rebels to surrender, the imperial army recovered Yiling without costing a single soldier. Xu Mi, who had been an emperor for less than a month, not only had his dream broken, but was also killed by Rongkang, the town of Badong Fan, who originally wanted to lobby for a rebellion with him.

The chaos that lasted for more than half a year was finally over.

Although an emperor had just died a few months ago, but at this moment, the ministers have also come out of their original grief, and they are all delighted when they mention the situation that has become more stable.

But these good news were completely unable to dispel the sadness in Luoshen’s heart.

It has been half a year since my mother disappeared.

Her father never gave up looking for her. But the people who sent it, so far, have no news at all.

Maybe the mother is really gone. Otherwise, why did the person who was supposed to kidnap her have not made any movement until now?

But Luoshen was unwilling to accept such a fact.

She couldn’t imagine that her living mother really died like this, and since then, there is no such person in this world as her.

She told herself over and over that her mother was still alive and well, but in a place she didn’t know about. One day, her father would definitely find her.

These days, the only consolation she could get was that Li Mu was finally coming back.

After the upper reaches were settled, he went to the southeast again. According to the news she inquired from her father, the others were already on their way back to the capital.

At the latest, in five or six days, they should be able to arrive.

At the beginning of May, this day is the Hundred Days Festival of Emperor Taikang.

After this day, one hundred officials can eliminate filial piety.

Today, in addition to the sacrifices at the Taimiao Temple hosted by the Ministry of Rites, there will also be a sacrifice in the palace.

The cousin Gao Yongrong, who had been promoted to the empress dowager, sent a message to her from the palace three days ago, asking her to enter the palace to participate in the sacrifice today.

Luoshen suppressed the sadness in his heart, wore blue silk buns, and wore a plain suit. He came to the palace from the Gao family by car, and was led by the palace servants waiting at the palace gate into the Yongfu Hall, which was set up as a sacrifice place.

Gao Yongrong took the little emperor, and Luoshen’s four-year-old nephew Deng’er was already there waiting for her.

After a few days, Gao Yongrong seemed to have lost weight. When he saw Luoshen, he asked Deng’er to call her “auntie”, then took her hand and said, “I heard from the imperial doctor that my uncle’s health has not been getting better. During the 100-day filial piety, Deng’er is also inconvenient to leave the palace. After two days, when my uncle is convenient, I will take him to visit my uncle.”

After the news that Tianshijiao and Xu Mi’s rebellion had been quelled one after another, my father seemed to relax all of a sudden.

In the past few days, he has handed over the affairs of the court to Feng Wei, and he has been behind closed doors, and has never seen any courtiers who came to visit or visit.

Luoshen went to deliver medicine to him, and saw that he was either sitting at a desk, or meditating with his eyes closed, which looked very different from before.

Luoshen’s father thanked her and told her that she did not have to take the young emperor out of the palace.

Gao Yongrong’s eyes were slightly red, and he said, “I know that you and your uncle are very sad. I am also the same. I also sent people to inquire about my aunt’s news. You can’t be more worried than your aunt’s good luck, and she will definitely return safely. “

Luo Shen was pulled out of his heart and felt sad, silent, nodded to her, and said in a low voice, “Thank you, sister.”

Gao Yongrong wiped away his tears and took Luo Shen to the sacrificial hall.

After the ceremony was over, it was noon. Gao Yongrong left Luoshen to eat in the palace. How come Luoshen had an appetite to use it in the palace, so he refused. Gao Yongrong knew that she had no intention of eating, so he stopped forcing her to stay and sent her out in person.

Although Luoshen has repeatedly resigned, Gao Yongrong insisted on sending her out of the palace in person, and has been sent to the vicinity of the palace gate. A palace servant hurriedly entered and said: “The Empress Dowager, it is reported from outside that Shi Rongkang, the governor of Badong, took Xu Mi with him. The head has just entered the capital. Knowing that today is the Hundred Days Ceremony of the late emperor, without taking a breath, he rushed to the palace and begged to perform the sacrificial ceremony in front of the late emperor’s spirit. At this moment, people are kneeling outside.”

Gao Yongrong was stunned for a moment, looked outside, and said, “He came quickly. I thought it would be a few more days.” After pondering, he said, “It’s because I came here on purpose, and it’s because of my heart, let’s announce it.”

The palace servant hurriedly turned around and went out to spread the word.

Luoshen glanced at the gate of the palace, and saw that he went out. A man led several Cong officials to kneel there, motionless, knowing that the man should be Fang Borongkang, the most powerful feudal town in the Badong area who killed Xu Mi.

This kind of remote local vassal town, called foreign ministers, has great actual power. After the imperial court moved south, the control power was insufficient, and if Fang Bo in these places would not rebel, it was already a lucky star, and no more control was given.

Luoshen didn’t take a closer look, but turned to Gao Yongrong and said, “So I’ll leave the palace first. Sister, please be busy.”

Gao Yongrong nodded and asked someone to send Luoshen.

Luoshen walked towards the gate of the palace.

Rongkang is tall and powerful, about 30 years old, and his face is handsome, but on the left side of his face, from the corner of his eye to the side of his cheekbones, there is a long scar, which makes his whole face His face became a bit more stern.

He came to the palace as soon as he arrived in Jiankang today. He got up from the ground with a smile on his face when he got the words of the palace servants. Accompanying him, he walked out of the gate of the palace, only glanced at it, his footsteps stopped, and his eyes could no longer be taken away.

At first, he didn’t dare to look straight, but when the woman walked past him and turned her head, she no longer had any scruples, and her eyes fell on the back of the plain clothed body without blinking, until she climbed up. The figure of an ox cart parked by the palace wall disappeared behind the door curtain, and looked at it again. When the ox cart disappeared from sight, there seemed to be that stunning face with black temples and snow in front of him. Turning his face slowly, he asked the palace servant, “Who is that woman just now?”

The palace servant had noticed that he had been staring at Luoshen’s back, and he despised the vulgarity of Fang Bo from a remote town, but he did not dare to show it, and said with a smile: “She is the daughter of Gao Xianggong. Li Mu’s wife. If the prefect is ready, come with me, so as not to wait too long.”

Gao’s daughter. Li Mu’s wife.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Rong Kang’s eyes, and he stopped talking.

He turned his head again, took a last look at the car that left only a blur of its back, and then walked towards the gate of the palace in front of him.