Nightfall Chapter 100: I have been to Weicheng (Fifth)
The Tao in the word “tongdao” not only refers to the magical way, or the cultivation way.
The queen had read Ning Que’s files many times in order to deal with him, because he killed her only brother Xiahou. The relationship between the two of them was very complicated, and the emotions that echoed each other were very subtle.
Back in Helan City, the subtle emotions still echoed between Ning Que and Empress Empress until he entered the quiet room of the pavilion and saw the gray coffin.
The coffin is very large, made of dozens of pine woods from the cliffs of the abandoned mountains.
The bark on the pine has not had time to peel off, it looks too simple and crude. Especially when compared with the status of the person lying in the coffin.
Ning Que was silent for a long time, then walked to the pine coffin and knelt down and met down.
The empress said calmly: “When you saw him in the palace, you never liked kowtow. Now he is dead. No matter how many kowtows you have, he can’t see him.”
Ning Que stood up, stretched out his hand and gently stroked the rough bark of the pine tree without saying anything.
The queen thought he would be like before, smiling and saying that the deceased is the greatest, and then she can mention the dead Xiahou by the way, and then go on to more serious topics.
Ning Que stood beside the pine coffin for a moment, then looked at Master Huang Yang and several generals, and said, “What is the situation now? Why are you staying in Helan City?”
“The dean and your majesty passed away, and heavy rain fell, and the Zhenbei Army was forced to stay in Helan City. After that, the news was cut off. We don’t know what is happening in the south, but we can guess something…”
Master Huang Yang said slowly, and then explained the situation these days.
“Since the King’s Court of the Golden Account dared to besiege Helan City, then Shan Yu must have taken his army south.”
Ning Que folds a small section of the charred bark from the pine coffin, squatted on the ground, and drew a very simple map. He drew a horizontal line below the map and said: “Seven Castles…”
He was silent suddenly, and the line drawing fingers stopped.
The room was quiet, and people knew that Ning Que was from Weicheng. Weicheng is a frontier fortress in the Seven Castles.
The expression on Ning Que’s face remained unchanged, and continued to calmly said: “The Seven Fortresses must be broken, and the cavalry of the Golden Account has even passed Pingling Pass and is approaching Hebei County.”
He threw away the bark in his hand, looked up at the crowd, and said, “One third of the cavalry of the Zhenbei Army is in Helan City. Is there enough military strength to resist the North Camp? If Chang’an City is from Gushan County, Even Tuyang City transfers troops, what about the Eastern Border? Longqing will definitely not miss this opportunity.”
The order of his speculation and actual situation has changed slightly. But the conclusion reached. There is no essential difference with the actual situation, and the view of the empress is completely consistent.
“We must leave now.”
The queen said: “Withdraw south at the fastest speed.”
History said: “The journey is far away, what should I do with grain and grass?”
A general of the Northern Army said: “Fetch firewood all the way. Just grab a few more golden tent tribes.”
Ning Que shook his head and said: “The Golden Tent Palace must have made arrangements. Their elites will go south, and the wasteland will be empty. They will certainly not give us a chance. Those tribes are afraid that they will withdraw to the north after the rain stops. If we want to chase, the journey will be longer, and we will go deep into the wasteland without food, which is too risky.”
The queen asked: “What can you do?”
“There is no good way.”
Ning Que stood up and said, “First of all, all the food in Helan City must be taken away, and calculations must be made. All the food and grass must be supplied to the horses first. People can be hungry and will not die if they are hungry for a few days. And if you have a horse, you can continue to move forward. If it doesn’t work in the end, then kill the horse.”
The generals were silent for a moment, and then answered in a deep voice.
History frowned and said: “Take all the food from the city. What about the defenders?”
Ning Que said: “The defenders in the city followed the Zhenbei Army to the south.”
His history was astonished and said: “The defenders are retreating southward, don’t you want Helan City?”
When Ning Que was about to say something, the queen said: “As long as the person is still there and the Tang Dynasty is still there, Helan City will be lost. One day we can take it back.”
Time is pressing, after the negotiation is over. The generals hurriedly left, arranging various matters concerning the retreat of the army, Master Huang Yang went to meditate and healed his injuries, and the queen went to visit the six princes who had been frightened.
In the quiet room at this time, apart from the gray pine coffin, there were only Ning Que and History.
“When you and the daughter of Hades crossed the barrier in a black carriage, I was watching you at the top of the city.”
History looked at him and said.
Ning Que said: “I don’t have time to sigh now. Please tell me directly what the general wants to say.”
His history glanced at the gray pine coffin and said: “Your Majesty loved you so much. You already know his death, so what do you think?”
Ning Que said: “Go on.”
His history continued: “Everyone knows that you are close to the princess, but you have old grievances with the empress. Your majesty passes the throne to the six princes… I actually don’t care which side you support, but I hope You’ve made it clear at this time that the journey to the south will be difficult, and then there will be problems…”
The sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
History stopped talking.
The Queen Mother walked in with a young man.
The young man wore a bright yellow prince costume, his eyes turned slightly, and he looked at Ning Que. He appeared curious and timid, as if he was not used to seeing strangers.
Ning Que was silent for a long time beside the pine coffin.
Then he looked at the prince and asked: “Do you want to be Emperor of Tang Dynasty?”
The prince was a little confused, and looked up at his mother.
The queen touched the top of his head lightly, her expression indulgent.
The prince looked at Ning Que, thought about it for a long time, and said: “If my father let me be, then I will lunch.”
Ning Que said: “Very well, what is yours is yours, no one can take it away.”
The queen looked at him quietly and said: “This is the promise of the college?”
Ning Que said: “This is my promise, but it’s just as effective.”
The queen said: “I don’t doubt this.”
Ning Que asked: “Why?”
The queen said: “Because you eventually married Sangsang.”
Ning Que looked at her gentle and beautiful face, and remembered that when she turned to look at herself on the grassland under the city, her black hair flew across her face. The picture was very beautiful, with a thrilling beauty.
He found that the empress woman knew herself well.
So he suddenly understood why his Majesty must marry her back then.
……
……
The grain and grass that had been stored for many years in Helan City were emptied, and the horses that fell dead on the battlefield in front of the city. His limbs were severed by Tang Jun and piled in a trailer as alternate grain.
It didn’t take long for tens of thousands of Tang Jun to withdraw from Helan City. A general in the northern army asked whether to burn the city’s defensive crossbows and buildings so as not to fall into the hands of the king’s barbarians. Empress Empress and Ning Que also made a veto opinion. In their opinion, Datang will always Those who want to come back are the wealth of Tang Guo.
Tang Jun was besieged deep in the wasteland by heavy rain and enemies. Finally started the journey back to the south. Just come. Their country was still the most powerful country in the world, and when they returned, their country was already in turmoil. Just like a broken ship in the ocean, it may be destroyed at any time.
The journey back then seemed a bit silent and depressing. Still a little nervous.
The expression on Ning Que’s face couldn’t tell anything strange, he held the horse’s rein, but from time to time he clenched it for no reason, and his tight knuckles turned white. It was revealed that his mood was more tense and depressed than anyone else.
After a arduous trek, the large troops of the Tang army who had returned south finally reached the middle foothills of the Minshan Mountain. The blue in the field of vision became thicker and stronger, and the autumn trees on the mountain became more and more red.
This place is still far away from Beidaying. Tang Jun was already very hungry and exhausted, and there was not much food left, but as long as no major problems occurred, he should be able to return south smoothly.
Ning Que’s mood that had been tense for many days finally relaxed. The fear and tension that had been hidden deep in his heart also broke out at the same time, and he could no longer control his emotions. Proposes to take a trip to the west.
Several Tang army generals expressed strong opposition. Under the background of the southern invasion of the Golden Tent, no matter how powerful he is, once he is surrounded, there is only a dead end.
Everyone knows why Ning Que went to the west. It’s just that the time has passed so long, what can we save even if we rush over?
In the end it was the Queen Empress who agreed to Ning Que’s request. An elite cavalry team was also sent to escort.
“It is impossible for the Seven City Fortress to persist until now.”
His history looked at dozens of riders rushing to the west of the wasteland, frowning and said: “He has to take a look at this time. It doesn’t make any sense except to make himself suffer.”
The Queen Empress said: “A lot of things, you always have to see with your own eyes to truly give up. Although Ning Que is not an ordinary person, he is no different from an ordinary person in this respect.”
……
……
Weicheng is right in front of you.
In the deserted wilderness, there is a quiet earth city. When the wind blows, the ashes on the wall will fall down, onto the cutting board of the meat stall, and into the wine urn where the cover is forgotten.
Weicheng is still that Weicheng, very simple, the city gate is a bit skewed like in previous years, but if you close it from the inside, it will be difficult for a broken city car to break.
Today’s Weicheng seems a bit too quiet. The old ash accumulated under the earth city walls can faintly see black marks inside. I don’t know if it is the color after blood clotting or something else.
Ning Que waved to the cavalry to stop.
He jumped off his horse, walked to the city gate and stretched out his hand to push it. The slanted city gate fell at the sound, and the smoke was light. He stood silent for a long time at the city gate, then stepped inside.
The cavalry were sitting on horsebacks, looking at him walking into Weicheng, the emotions on their faces were a bit complicated.
I don’t know how long it took, Ning Que walked out of Weicheng.
The expression on his face is still calm, his back is still straight, and the right hand resting on the hilt of the knife is still stable. No change can be seen. It seems that he hasn’t seen anything in Weicheng.
“How is the situation inside?” Officer Tang Qi asked.
Ning Que shook his head and said, “Nothing.”
The officer frowned slightly and motioned for several cavalry to enter Weicheng.
Ning Que whispered: “Don’t go in.”
The cavalry glanced at the officer, and seeing that he had nothing to say, they lifted the reins and drove towards Weicheng.
Ning Que didn’t turn around, and shouted, “Don’t go in!”
His voice was loud and violent, like thunder, blasting on the wasteland outside Weicheng. The horses under the cavalry were shocked by the sound, and people stood up.
A broken wine streamer in Weicheng shook gently.
Hearing Ning Que’s angry roar, people finally understood what was happening in Weicheng.
No one tried to go in and take a look.
Ning Que walked to his mount.
Every time he takes a step, his head drops a point and his body strays a point.
“When I left, I said to you, don’t grow old, don’t die, wait for me to honor…what about now? You old fox, always like to talk too much.”
Ning Que muttered to himself.
Then he laughed, a sad smile on his face.
……
……
Although the army did not pass through Weicheng, it finally entered the war zone. The horrific destruction caused by the cavalry of the Golden Horde in the frontier fortresses, as well as the towns inhabited by the Tang Dynasty that turned into ruins, appeared in front of people.
This is a tired teacher, but the blood and fire, ruins and broken walls, and the dead people seen along the way have aroused a nearly crazy fighting spirit. It only takes a period of rest and replenishment. It will become a terrifying military force. Even now, many soldiers are red-eyed and want to fight the golden tent cavalry.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the Tang Army Brigade, which returned south along the Minshan Mountain, never encountered the main force of the Golden Account King Court. After wiping out dozens of prairie riders, it approached the North Camp.
The Tang army returned to the south and the General’s Mansion regained contact. Because of the large number of people and horses, it was naturally inconvenient to enter the Peking Camp at the same time. The empress, the prince, and the coffin of the most important emperor’s majesty were first brought back to the North Camp.
After some temporary discussions, the Tang army returned to the south did not raise any doubts about the military order of the General’s Mansion. The large army rested on the spot, and the empress and the six princes set off with her majesty’s coffin.
Your Majesty’s Lingshu is simple, but very heavy. It weighs dozens of whole pine trees and requires several horses to pull it. All the way back south, this is the biggest difficulty Tang Jun encountered.
Today’s Beida Camp bears the important responsibility of resisting the King’s Court of the Golden Tent. Naturally, it looks a bit chaotic. The Tang Jun staying around the General’s Mansion looks anxious. The soldiers were still ordinary people, kneeling to the ground one after another, showing grief on their faces.
Not many people noticed that Ning Que was sitting in the carriage beside the pine coffin.
Several horse-drawn war horses moved the heavy gray coffin slowly across the street, wheels crushing the hard stone ground, making a monotonous and heart-palpitating sound.
Suddenly there were several loud shouts from the side of the street.
“Kill the demon queen!”
“Wash the shame for your majesty!”
The killing sound shook the sky, and a Tang general led hundreds of cavalry soldiers to charge from the street, Pu Dao Xueliang.
In the carriage ahead, the empress is holding the sixth prince with a calm expression. Ning Que sat beside the pine coffin with his head slightly lowered, his expression calm, as if he hadn’t heard anything.
……
……
(At the beginning of the book, the three sentences Ning Que left Weicheng to General Ma Shixiang are the three sentences mentioned in this chapter.) {Piaotian Literature www.PiaoTian.com Thank you all book friends. Support, your support is our greatest motivation}