Battle of the Red Mansions

The snow was getting bigger and bigger, and it was just after noon, and the sky was already getting dark.

Xie Qiong narrowed her eyes and looked at both sides of the calm road, patted Fei Huang who was rubbing against her body, and said calmly, "The weather is bad today, the road is snowy and slippery, so we will stay in the city for one more day."

Ready to let those ambushing outside see his long spear later, Lin Xuan stared blankly at their general who played cards unreasonably, opened his mouth but still said nothing.

The snow at Hangu Pass will not stop in a short while. Judging by the posture, the snow will not stop for two days. If they don't leave today, they won't be able to leave in two days.

As for those people in ambush outside, they should just be buried in the snow so honestly.

"Take Li Feisha and enter the city." Hardly leaving behind a sentence, Xie Qiong followed Shun Fei's yellow mane and led the rein towards the city gate, "Ru Jin, you take a step first, and then let Xie Wan put down her hands." Come over here for your job."

"Yes."

Han Rujin clasped his fists to accept the order, then got on his horse and quickly entered the city.

Knowing that Xie Qiong has many secrets that he doesn't know, Lin Xuan is very self-aware, never asks what shouldn't be asked, what is the safest way to be as quiet as a chicken.

General Xie didn't intend to ride a horse, but just pulled the reins and walked towards the city gate. Seeing this, Lin Xuan couldn't get on the horse, so he had to pat Li Feisha's horse on the head and followed.

"Ah Xuan, what should be said has been said now, what do you think?" Xie Qiong said as he walked casually, Xie Qiong glanced at Lin Xuan, and did not hide what he had done before, "Your brother and I have already said that, although In the end, it is you who decides, but you must know that he does not want you to stay in Hangu Pass."

Looking up at Xie Qiong, Lin Xuan asked instead of answering, "What does the general think?"

Walking forward without changing his face, Xie Qiong's tone did not fluctuate too much, "Although you are always annoying, you are a rare good seed. If you want to stay, I, Xie Qiong, will naturally not let you waste it." talent."

"That's fine." Shrugging, Lin Xuan walked to the front in two steps and looked backwards at Xie Qiong, "General, you know what kind of person I am, the intrigue in the officialdom is really not suitable for me, if If I really enter the imperial court like my brother, I’m afraid that within a few years, I’ll be skinned and torn apart to eat nothing left, to be honest, the military camp is more suitable for me.”

"Marching and fighting is not all about brute force. Being in the army is not much easier than being in the court. Are you mentally prepared?" Afraid that Lin Xuan was just on a whim, Xie Qiong added another sentence.

If it wasn't for Lin Xuan's great talent and his friend's younger brother, he wouldn't have put so much thought into this half-old kid.

"Think about it, I will not let go of what I should learn, as long as the general is willing to teach, I will learn." Looking at Xie Qiong seriously, Lin Xuan turned around and fell behind a little, "Protect the family for the general Wei Guo, General, I understand everything."

Even if he can't keep the soul of the Tang Dynasty, he still needs to keep the people safe here. Defending the family and the country is the bounden duty of a soldier, even if he has to endure hardships, it's worth it.

After being serious for a while, Lin Xuan suddenly remembered what Han Rujin had said to him before. Lin Xuan blinked and looked at General Xie next to him, "General, do you really want to take me in as an apprentice?"

"If you are willing, the matter here will be settled." Xie Qiong nodded, affirming Lin Xuan's question,

However, looking at General Xie with a strange expression, Lin Xuan asked again cautiously, "Then does my brother know? If the general becomes my master, what will be the seniority of the two of you?"

Pausing for a moment, Xie Qiong, who really didn't think about it, frowned, why does this kid have so many things?

"At that time, we will talk about each other, don't worry about it."

Silently, she followed behind Xie Qiong, Lin Xuan was excited, but she didn't show too much, the two of them walked and talked and arrived at the city gate after a while.

Because of the falling snow, there were no traces of pedestrians on the street, and the vendors packed up their things and rushed home. The defenders at the city gate saw Xie Qiong return, and let people in after saluting.

There are 10,000+ guards at Hangu Pass. Although there are no more than [-] soldiers loyal to Xie Qiong, this number has reached a shocking level.

Lingbao City is the most important city near Hangu Pass, and the people guarding the city are all Xie Qiong's people, so no matter what time the situation in this city can't be hidden from Xie Qiong's eyes.

After entering the city, the two did not go to the small courtyard where they changed clothes before, but headed towards the General's Mansion in the city.

Although Xie Qiong doesn't go back often, but as a defender of Hangu Pass, he has all the equipment he should have, "Ah Xuan, you have been with me for half a year, do you know why I came to Hangu Pass in the first place?"

Scratching her head in embarrassment, Lin Xuan couldn't speak, but seeing that Xie Qiong didn't seem to be joking, she had to say, "I heard that when you were young, General, you were full of blood, and somehow you had a conflict with Prince Yizhong, and then you were killed down here"

Of course, Lin Xuan didn't dare to tell the various versions of the stories he heard, otherwise, he was afraid that he would be wiped out by his future master if he couldn't reach the general's mansion.

After all, there are not many good versions out there.

Among them, Lin Xuan, who is the most popular, remembers the most clearly. If he has a gavel in hand now, he can instantly turn into a storyteller and tell a paragraph.

It is said that General Xie Qiongxie is a rare young talent in the capital~ What a pity~ A hero is sad to pass a beauty~

When General Xie was young, he fell in love with a woman at first sight, fell in love with him at first sight and fell in love with him at third sight, and decided for life. Unexpectedly, when Prince Yizhong saw the woman, he reported to the emperor in advance to make a decision. The confidante went directly to Yizhong Prince's Mansion~

General Xie is just a son of a noble family, how could he possibly win against Prince Yizhong, so, what a young talent, he ruined half of his face and was demoted to the outside of the pass, what a pity~

Lin Xuan's face changed again and again, Xie Qiong saw a big show on this kid's face in a short while, if it wasn't for the fact that she had just agreed with this guy to take him as a disciple, Lin Xuan could still He is not called Xie Qiong when he laughs!

Taking a deep breath, Xie Qiong opened his eyes again and returned to his expressionless face, but what he said seemed to be mixed with ice scum, which was more freezing than the snowflakes outside, "The one in the rumor The woman is my elder sister."

The expression froze on his face, and Lin Xuan looked at Xie Qiong, who only left him with a back, with regret flashing in his eyes, "I'm sorry, General, I don't know."

God damn it, who made such a rumor, and it has been spread for so many years. Isn't this embarrassing their general?

"It's okay." Without letting Lin Xuan finish speaking, Xie Qiong just said to himself, "Because of Prince Yizhong, the eldest sister faked her death and fled, I came to this Hangu Pass. Being involved, the emperor felt that his reputation was a bit difficult, so he asked my eldest brother to stay in the position of Wucheng Bingmasi for five years, Ah Xuan, do you understand what it means to be by my side?"

Never knowing that their general was so miserable, Lin Xuan gritted her teeth and said firmly, "Don't worry, as an apprentice, how can you watch your master being bullied? Those who bullied you before will all bully you back when I grow up. "

Xie Qiong looked at Lin Xuan with a sneer and a little warmth in his eyes, "He has power and power, how can you bully him back?"

Looking at Xie Qiong seriously, Lin Xuan showed two small canine teeth, "Draw a circle and curse them~"

He remembered that in the Dream of Red Mansions, there was a righteous and loyal old thousand-year-old. He was a prince who had died since he appeared on the scene. The number of appearances was not as many as his coffin board. How could such a person be the future emperor?

So, no matter what happens in the future, there is nothing wrong with him drawing a circle.

Feeling that she was very witty, Lin Xuan waved her fist, and was about to say something to Xie Qiong when she was hit hard on the forehead the next moment.

"Be careful."

Rubbing her forehead and closing her mouth, she followed Xie Qiong into the General's Mansion. Seeing Li Feisha and Fei Huang being taken down to enjoy today's horse grass, Lin Xuan subconsciously wanted to follow, but was picked up by General Xie within two steps. came back.

Waving his hand to let Li Feisha and Feihuang get along well, Lin Worrying's old father Xuan let out a sigh, and then followed Xie Qiong into the house against the wind and snow.

Han Rujin and Xie Wan were already waiting in the room, and when they saw Xie Qiong and Lin Xuan coming over, they quickly greeted them, "General."

She had never seen a woman beside Xie Qiong. At first, Lin Xuan thought it was the sister of their general who had faked her death and escaped. Only after she called out the title did she realize that he was overthinking it.

There are no women in the army, but the Xie family has them. This is probably the property of their general.

He nodded and motioned for several people to find a seat to sit down, and after the servants brought hot tea and added a brazier, Xie Qiong rubbed his brows and closed his eyes and said, "Whose person do you think is most likely to be the ambush outside the city? "

"The general hasn't gone too far out of the city, how can you be sure that there is an ambush outside?" Seeing the snow falling more and more outside, Xie Wan really couldn't think of anyone who would be so careless to come out to assassinate in this kind of weather.

It's fine to be sure that their general will leave. If it's like this, it's buried in the snow after ambush for a day. Isn't this a waste of manpower and fuss?

The ruthless General Xie didn't think it was a bad thing to throw the person who would assassinate him outside the city to be frozen for a day. After taking a sip of tea, Xie Qiong explained slowly, "Fei Huang and um have a warning. There is movement."

Li Feisha is hard to say now, but they all know Feihuang's vigilance. If Lin Xuan just said that there was an ambush outside, he might still have some doubts. early warning.

Heaving a sigh of relief, Xie Wan stood beside her and rubbed her forehead, "Not many people know about King Ning'an's presence in Lingbao City, but most of the people who came for the general in this wave have already found out who intercepted the news." Yes, they are under the King of Nan'an."

"Although the king of Nan'an has always been in the middle and did not favor any side, it seems that he is not sure who he is." After Xie Wan finished speaking, Han Rujin immediately followed, "Since he can intercept the news Come down, the situation in Lingbao City must not be hidden from his eyes, so it is very likely that the mastermind behind today's scenes is King Nan'an or the people behind King Nan'an."

Not clear about the power entanglement in the court, Lin Xuan didn't speak rashly, but just remembered bit by bit from the side. Most of the things in his memory were confined to the inner house, and the proportion of court disputes in the whole Dream of the Red Chamber was extremely small. He can't do anything with that bit of news, and he can only rely on himself in the future.

With only one Xie family involved so much, there can only be more entanglements in the court, and I don't know how the eldest brother can manage with ease in these messy relationships.

Sure enough, the eldest brother is the one who has truly inherited Gusu Lin's talent for being an official. It is better for him to honestly find a place where the relationship is not so complicated.

He listened to Han Rujin and Xie Wan's one-to-one reports with his face propped up, seeing that Lin Xuan lowered his head and didn't know what to write, Xie Qiong waved his hand to signal that he could go to rest first.

Although Lin Xuan must know sooner or later, it is still too early. What can a half-grown child understand?

He and Xie Qiong had been to the General's Mansion a few times before, and Lin Xuan would not get lost here alone. He felt that he would make others unable to let go, so he followed the words and left the room.

When Lin Xuan walked away, Xie Qiong frowned and buckled on the table a few times, then ordered in a cold tone, "No matter who is outside, let them all stay outside the city tonight, and send a letter back to the capital by the way." Let big brother beware of the one on the dragon chair, don't believe anything, just give some rewards and be grateful."

The King of Nan'an did not lean towards any side, but don't forget that everyone in the court is loyal to the emperor first, and then they stand in the team of the princes.

The emperor wanted to use him as an example to others!

After understanding the meaning of Xie Qiong's words, both Han Rujin and Xie Wan couldn't help but gasped, they never thought that the emperor would be involved in this matter.

"General, what should we do in the future?"

"Wait." The corners of Xie Qiong's lips curled up coldly, Xie Qiong didn't mean to panic at all, "When Prince Ning An comes to look for him again, he doesn't want Prince Yizhong to succeed to the throne more than anyone else. Us, but them."

Of course, they can't act rashly. After all, the change of the emperor's throne is their own business. No matter how noisy it is, outsiders like them can only watch and have no right to really intervene.He didn't want to rebel yet.

The sky was getting darker and darker, and it was already dark outside before evening. As Lin Xuan expected, the heavy snow fell like a goose feather all night, and it didn't stop completely after getting up the next morning.

Needless to say, all the roads outside have been blocked by snow, and they can only stay in the city for a few days.

Fortunately, the pigeons they kept in the army were quite frost-resistant, and they still flapped their wings in such a cold day. Early in the morning, Lin Xuan released his own carrier pigeons. Lin Xuan first reported the safety of A-Gump who was staying in the barracks.

It snowed heavily all night, so they were naturally not the only ones who were stopped in the city, and Sun Yong who was going back to the barracks at night in the medical center did not go back either.

He simply had nothing to do in the General's Mansion, so he greeted Xie Qiong, and then Lin Xuan turned around and went to the medical hall to chat with Sun Yong.

Lin Xuan has an angry temper when he is noisy, but it is enough to make people feel at ease when he is calm. He has always had an inexplicable affection for the profession of doctor. Even if he is a military doctor, Lin Xuan still maintains some respect when facing him. .

The medical clinic opened early, but today it is not as crowded as yesterday. It is freezing cold, and if it is not some serious illness that is really unbearable, no one wants to go out at this time.

Expecting that Lin Xuan and the others would be trapped in the city, they were not surprised to see the young Sun Yong exuding vitality, so he beckoned someone to come in and help organize the medicinal materials.

Although he looked carefree, this kid was also serious about what he did. The work of arranging medicinal materials was comparable to that of the medicine boys in the medical hall.

"There won't be too many people in the medical hall today, let's go back to the general's mansion together later." Sun Yong said without raising his head while reading the medical books and preparing the medicinal materials, "Chen Jianjun came back last night. In Lingbao City, his body seems to be more than just sick."

Although their army didn't like Chen Ying as a man, they were not so vicious as to use poison to harm others, someone secretly tripped them up.

Feeling that a lot of things happened in the past few days, Lin Xuan rubbed his face, feeling that his brain was not enough.

Brother, didn't he come to join the army to get away from these intrigues, why now I feel more and more confused?

It's fine if someone wants to assassinate their general, even the life of the supervisor Chen Ying is wanted, are you full?

They are so tired of Chen Ying in the army, at most they just let him suffer some flesh and blood. If the supervising army loses his life here, their general will definitely not be able to escape punishment. They are not so stupid yet.Who is behind the scenes?

The more it was sorted out, the more chaotic it became. Finally, Lin Xuan felt like his head was full of paste. Lin Xuan scratched her hair irritably, pursed her lips and did not speak, but hurriedly arranged the herbs in her hands.

Sure enough, he is not someone who plays tricks, so let the general trouble them.

Sun Yong put the arranged medicinal materials into the cabinet one by one, talked to the old doctor sitting in the medical hall, and then prepared to go back to the General's Mansion with Lin Xuan.

However, before they could take a step forward, the door of the medical hall was pushed open from the outside, Chang Yuan walked in with a anxious face, and was obviously taken aback when he saw Lin Xuan, "Master Lin?"

It was only yesterday that I heard Tu Jingyang call him that. Hearing this name, Lin Xuan subconsciously thought of that troublesome Prince Sao Bao.

It's just that he can remember Tu Jingyang very well, but he really doesn't know who Changyuan is.

Glancing at Sun Yong indiscriminately, Lin Xuan heaved a sigh of relief after finding that Dr. Sun's expression hadn't changed, "I'm calling you Lin Xuan, who are you?"

He slapped his head and suddenly remembered the purpose of his visit, Chang Yuan hastily explained something and then went in to find a doctor.

"I'm Changyuan, a follower of Prince Ning'an. My prince has a fever, and this place is the closest to the post house, so I came here to find a doctor."

After hearing Chang Yuan's words, Sun Yong stretched out his hand to stop him, "In this case, I'm the doctor in the medical hall, let's go there now."

The old doctor is getting old, and the road is slippery in snowy weather, so it is not easy to make doctor visits. He just needs to leave, so it’s okay to stop by the post house?

Suspiciously glanced at Changyuan, Lin Xuan followed closely behind Sun Yong, the meaning of distrust couldn't be more obvious.

Yesterday the woman said that not many people knew about Prince Ning’an’s visit to Lingbao City, but today this man named Changyuan said that Prince Ning’an lived in the post house, and they all lived directly in the post house. Does this seem to be a concealment? ?There must be tricks!

Thinking of the recent incidents of continuous cutting and chaos, and thinking about Prince Ning'an who appeared in Lingbao City inexplicably, Lin Xuan squinted his eyes, and felt that the culprit was this prince who wandered around the world every day.

Even if he is not the culprit, it is absolutely inseparable.

I don't know why this young master of the Lin family is so guarded against him all of a sudden, Chang Yuan was in a hurry to find a doctor for their prince, and didn't pay attention to this small detail for a while.

I haven't been sick for so many years, but when I came here, I just fell to the ground after a heavy snowfall. Their prince is also a worry.

Thinking of this, Chang Yuan sighed again, and then led Sun Yong and Lin Xuan towards the post house, but they didn't enter the post house, after all, it was the Hangu Pass that was used to deceive people's eyes and ears. Live in a post house.

Turning a corner not far from the post house, Lin Xuan couldn't react and glanced at the post house with the door wide open, rubbed his chin and was pulled by Sun Yong before remembering to turn.

Didn't you say you were going to the post house?

In a somewhat remote courtyard, Tu Jingyang was wrapped in layers of clothes, with an abnormal flush on his face.

From time to time, he bowed his head and coughed twice. Unexpectedly, Tu Jingyang, who was sick at this time, frowned and looked at the letter in his hand.

I haven't been sick for so many years, and it's really uncomfortable to suddenly get sick.

Tu Jingyang himself was fine, and the followers who followed him seemed anxious for something. If he hadn't kicked them all out, the floor in this room would have been smoothed out.

Outside, Chang Heng who finally waited until Changyuan hurriedly invited Sun Yong in behind, and told others about the symptoms of their prince while showing others tea.

As for Lin Xuan who came with her, she was ignored because she didn't look like a doctor.

Fortunately, Lin Xuan didn't care about these things. He was full of vigilance towards King Ning An, and now he was trying to find something useful from his surroundings.

Tu Jingyang, who came out wearing a coat, looked at Lin Xuan who was standing behind the doctor and surveyed the surrounding environment, coughed, and took the initiative to come forward to say hello, "Meet you again."

Turning her head to look at the sick and weak prince who greeted her, Lin Xuan was silent for a while, and then returned a salute because of his identity.

If you are not in good health, just stay in the capital and fight against each other. Why do you come to harm such a clean place as Hangu Pass?