my wife is mulan

Chapter 924 A Pot of Cold Water

Since entering the customs, the soldiers and horses of the army have been organized by officials from various governments along the way to organize subordinate officials and common people to prepare food, wine and meat along the way to welcome, reward and condolences. enough.

From Jilusai to Chang'an, the distance traveled for a full month, and it was already September when we arrived in Chang'an.

The golden autumn and September is the harvest season. It took five months for the army to return to Chang'an from the expedition at the end of April. The actual time for fighting was only more than two months, only half of the time was spent, and the other half was spent on On the way back and forth.

When the army arrived at the north end of the Xianyang Bridge, Zhao Junsheng and the accompanying ministers and generals saw a dense crowd of people standing on the bridge head and the river beach on the north bank. Eighty thousand.

In order to ensure the safety of the emperor and the accompanying ministers, and to prevent riots, Gao Xu, who stayed in Chang'an, had already sent guards and vigilance along the way from the bridgehead to the palace to isolate the people far away.

The warning lines on both sides of the road moved forward by ten feet, and there were still soldiers standing guard on the high places along the way.

The soldiers and generals walked across the Xianyang Bridge, led by General Bai Jinguang, who opened the way with his men and horses. Not long after, the common people saw the emperor's dragon flag and canopy coming. Under the dragon rider and canopy, there was a man wearing Golden Armor, go on horseback.

The officials and people on both sides of the road did not dare to look more, they all fell to their knees and shouted: "Long live, long live..."

Sitting on horseback, Zhao Junsheng saw the welcoming crowd on both sides of the road fall down one by one like the wind blowing wheat waves. If someone wanted to assassinate someone at this time, his every move would be seen clearly. The soldiers standing guard on both sides and accompanying them The generals can deal with it calmly.

"No wonder it is stipulated that the people along the way should kneel down to greet each other. It turns out that it also has the effect of preventing assassins from being assassinated!"

Zhao Junsheng was muttering something in his heart.

When they got to the gate of Chang'an City, they saw Empress Hua Mulan, princes, princesses and court ministers waiting outside the city gate.

Li Song followed up on horseback and said to Zhao Junsheng, "Your Majesty, this scene seems to be lively, but there is no preparation for the triumphant entry ceremony. Isn't it a waste of time for us to prepare so many captives to show His Majesty's might?"

Zhao Junsheng's face was calm, but his heart was cold. He didn't make a sound. Li Song looked at his expression, slowed down silently and opened some distance.

At this time, the other accompanying ministers and military generals were not happy seeing this situation, and they were thinking in their hearts that the brothers sacrificed their lives in the bloody battle with Rouran in Mobei, but when they returned to Chang'an City, they didn't even have a decent welcome ceremony Not at all, let alone big battles, at least there must be drums playing triumphant songs, right?

But the actual situation is that apart from the large number of people watching the excitement, there are no banners, no drums, no singing and dancing, no ceremonial officers and triumphant entry ceremonies.

"Your Majesty and all the officers and men of the army are welcome to return home!" The remaining ministers, led by Hua Mulan, bowed down and shouted together.

Zhao Junsheng stopped outside the city gate, glanced at the remaining ministers and generals kneeling on the ground, but did not speak.

As time passed, the remaining ministers, officials and generals began to beat their hearts.

After a while, Zhao Junsheng shook the reins and rode his horse into the city. The soldiers and soldiers behind him entered the city in order, and the horseshoes hit the bluestone on the ground with crisp sounds.

After Zhao Junsheng entered the city on horseback for a while, Hua Mulan got up first, and the other civil servants and generals also got up in fear and anxiety.

Everyone looked at each other, and someone said: "Pei Gong, Liang Gong, I have a bad feeling, we have gone too far this time, even if there is no money in the finances, it is not short of the money to hold the entrance ceremony Your Majesty is obviously very unhappy, I am worried that someone will make a big fuss about this matter, and once Longyan is furious, this matter may not end!"

Shangshu Youcheng Murong Ju cupped his hands and said to the ministers: "My lords, it was the suggestion of the lower officials not to hold the triumphant entry ceremony. If your majesty wants to pursue the matter, the lower officials will take full responsibility!"

Shangshu Zuocheng and Youcheng are the assistant officials of Shangshu Province. Among them, Shangshu Zuocheng is the assistant of Shangshu Ling, who is in charge of the discipline; Shangshu Youcheng is the assistant of Shangshu Pushe, and is in charge of money, grain and grain.

The positions of these two official positions are not high, the salary is not high, but the power is not small.

Liang Ji said: "Although this matter was suggested by you, it was also agreed by me and Mr. Pei. If Your Majesty wants to blame, how can we make you, an official of four hundred shi, bear the responsibility?"

At this time, Hua Mulan's voice came: "Get up and go back to the palace!"

The eunuchs and maids agreed that under the guard of the forbidden army, Hua Mulan's luan drove back to the palace, and the ministers and generals bowed and saluted.

After Hua Mulan's luan drove away, the ministers looked at each other again.

Pei Jin pondered for a while, and said to the ministers: "Your Majesty has returned to the palace, we should hurry there, don't let His Majesty wait for us! As for the matter just now, I, Pei Jin, will take full responsibility!"

Liang Ji said: "Mr. Pei's words are wrong. The decision was made by you and me. If something happens, how can I, Mr. Liang, let Mr. Pei bear it?"

The remaining ministers speeded up to catch up with Yu Jia, and entered the palace with Zhao Junsheng behind.

The palace was decorated very festively, with a grand welcome atmosphere. Zhao Junsheng rode his horse all the way to the stone steps of the Tai Chi Hall, got off his horse, and the horse was led away by a soldier.

Zhao Junsheng walked up the red carpet step by step with his saber in his hand, and the ministers followed in two rows, civil and military, into the Hall of Tai Chi.

Zhao Junsheng in armor sat down on the throne, Hua Mulan sat next to him, and all the officials bowed down in unison: "Welcome Your Majesty, the commander-in-chief of the army, returns home triumphantly!"

"Pingshen!" Zhao Junsheng raised his hand expressionlessly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Pei Jin had a decision in his mind, stood up and bowed his hands and said: "This time your Majesty led an army of 10,000 to conquer Rouran and won a complete victory. He wiped out more than [-] soldiers in Rouran, captured [-]+ people, and captured cattle, sheep, horses, etc. There are millions of livestock, countless gold and silver treasures, and the achievements of the world are beyond the reach of the ancient sages and emperors!"

Zhao Junsheng waved his hands: "If it wasn't for the death of all the soldiers in the army, even if I have great ability, I can't severely damage Rouran!"

Liang Ji stood up and saluted: "The ministers and others ask for meritorious service for the soldiers who have made great contributions to the expedition, ask for the title of martyr for the soldiers who died in battle, and pay good compensation!"

Zhao Junsheng said in a voice: "Quite! The generals of each army will hand in the roster of meritorious service within a few days. They must seek truth from facts and not pretend to be meritorious!"

The generals agreed in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Pei Jin said again: "Your Majesty, I apologize!"

"What's your crime?" Zhao Junsheng asked.

Liang Ji also said: "Your Majesty, I also apologize!"

Several ministers who were staying behind stood up and bowed down one after another: "Please forgive me!"

Zhao Junsheng's face froze, and he said coldly: "What's the matter, wait, this is going to join my army?"

"I dare not wait!" The ministers kneeling on the ground said in unison.

Zhao Junsheng sneered: "Don't you dare? Half of the ministers of the imperial court knelt in front of me to plead guilty, the law does not blame everyone! Wait, tell me, why are you pleading guilty?"

Pei Jin cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the army returned in triumph. The imperial court should have held a grand and grand welcome ceremony, but because the imperial treasury was empty and financial difficulties, it would cost a lot to hold such a grand ceremony, so the ministers decided not to give it to the soldiers. A triumphant entry ceremony will be held! I also know that this action will inevitably make the officers and soldiers feel uneasy and fear troubles, so please punish the crime of the minister, so as to calm the anger of the generals!"

Liang Ji also said: "Your Majesty, this matter was discussed and decided by the minister and Mr. Pei. If you want to punish the crime, the minister is also responsible. Please punish him together!"

Zhao Junsheng sullenly couldn't hold back anymore, he slapped the case and said angrily: "You are confident because of the number of people, don't you? I really think I dare not do anything to you? Just welcome the soldiers one by one How much can the triumphant entry ceremony cost? Do you think that I and the soldiers just want to show off their martial arts, and that I am so happy? What the soldiers want is the affirmation of their life and death from the court and the people of the world, even if they die in battle, it is worth it! Why are you able to eat delicious meals at home? Why are you full of children and grandchildren? Why can the people of the world live and work in peace and contentment? It’s all because someone is blocking swords from all directions for you and carrying the burden for you!

In this battle... Xue Andu and tens of thousands of soldiers were buried on the battlefield, and they had no chance to be honored. Couldn't the imperial court allow their heroic spirits to return to their hometowns? "

The generals shed tears one by one silently, and wiped them away secretly.

The kneeling ministers turned pale and trembled all over.

Pei Jin said again and again: "I didn't think carefully, capital crimes, capital crimes are the first

The hall was so quiet that a needle could be heard, but the atmosphere became more and more tense, and everyone had a premonition that the emperor's anger was about to erupt.

At this time, someone said: "Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

Zhao Junsheng glanced over like lightning, "Who are you?"