Land of Peach Blossoms

three

The rain on the Tianjie Street is as crisp as the grass, but the grass color is far away but not close.

The snow outside the Great Wall has fallen six times, and the willow branches in the capital have also turned green six times. This is the third spring of the new emperor's accession to the throne, and the inside and outside of the capital are full of vitality.

Compared with the late emperor, this young emperor seems to have unusual political ambitions. Since he ascended the throne, the whole country can feel his Majesty's determination to develop his ambitions.

But in the streets and alleys, in teahouses and restaurants, what people talk about is not the new decrees promulgated by the imperial court. What the people pay attention to is often the unusual stories and characters in the storytellers.

"There are 10,000+ Qianghu people. They all drink blood and kill people like hemp. That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high. Suddenly, there was a scream in the tent of the Qianghu people. Guess who it is?" In the lobby of the teahouse The storyteller is talking about the wonderful things.

"Whose one?" Someone among the people in the circle couldn't help asking.

"It's the prince of Qianghu!" The storyteller leaned forward, his eyes widened suddenly, "The prince woke up from his sleep and suddenly found that he was missing an arm! Just as he screamed again and again, a figure appeared behind him You barbarian, killed my people and plundered my land, now let me tell you what is the retribution of heaven! I will use your blood to pay homage to my dead soldiers and people! Saying that, the figure swung his long sword, Just picked off the head of that Qianghu prince."

The crowd exclaimed, and someone couldn't help but say, "Is that man General Xie?"

"Isn't that true!" The storyteller slapped the gavel, "If you want to know how Little General Xie can defeat more with less and defeat one hundred thousand enemies, please listen to the next chapter to break it down."

"Hey..." There was a murmur of dissatisfaction and complaints in the lobby, it was so lively.

"Heh... I didn't know, An Nian, you are so brave, did you really tell that to Prince Qianghu?" Han Zhao sat in the elegant residence on the second floor, and asked the man in Tsing Yi with a chuckle.

Xie Yuan smiled helplessly, and he said: "Don't you know, that barbarian doesn't understand our language, so I'll waste my time talking with him about what I do, just kill him and it's over."

Xie Yuan was dressed in a bamboo green military uniform, with sword eyebrows and star eyes, and his stature was upright and tough due to the tempering outside the Great Wall. The little boy in the past is now a strong man.

"But no matter what, the newly-appointed General Xie is now the peerless hero in the hearts of many girls." Han Zhao took a sip of tea and joked with a smile.

"How can I compare to Mr. Han, the new top scholar? It is said that this matchmaker almost broke down the door of Han's house." Xie Yuan raised his eyebrows, and shot back rudely.

If we were to say who is the most popular in the capital today, besides Xie Yuan who just returned from the battle, it would be Han Zhao, the number one scholar favored by the prime minister.

After Xie Yuan joined the army six years ago, with his martial arts and bravery, he has made many achievements on the battlefield. In addition to his background as a general, he has some unusual strategies and tactics. 5 people defeated 10,000+ enemy troops, even killed Prince Qianghu, and dealt a severe blow to Qianghu's arrogance.The current emperor was already in charge of the battle, so he directly named Xie Yuan as a brave general and rewarded him with countless rewards.

As for Han Zhao, who was originally talented in writing and ink, he happened to meet the prime minister as the examiner in the imperial examination this year. It is said that after reading Han Zhao's examination paper, the prime minister asserted: "This is the number one scholar! Ten years has passed. Seeing such people! It is a blessing to the country!" After the imperial examination, Han Zhao's words of prosperity for the country were even more appreciated by His Majesty today. As expected, he was personally selected as the number one scholar. Since then, Han Zhao has also become famous.

The pot of Longjing on the table was already cold, but the two of them still had no intention of leaving. The sky outside the Xuan window was getting late, and the crimson sunset was as gorgeous as the peach forest. Xie Yuan looked at the bustling streets downstairs. The crowd suddenly said: "That's great."

Han Zhao smiled and said, "Yes, that's great."

The Qiang and Hu people were already violent, and they were defeated by Xie Yuan this time, and even lost a prince, so they refused to give up. Before Xie Yuan stayed in Beijing for half a year, the battle report came from outside the Great Wall, and the Qiang and Hu Chen troops had millions At the border, war is imminent.

After years of recuperation, the imperial court has recovered a lot of vitality. Facing Qiang Hu's provocation and submission has already made the court and the people resentful for many years. The emperor immediately appointed Xie Yuan as the Great General of Dingbei and let him lead the army to go out.

This battle seems to come suddenly, but for Xie Yuan, it has been a long wait.

It's late autumn, and the red flowers and green leaves have long disappeared in the peach forest. The bare branches are particularly bleak in the autumn wind. Under the bright moon, Xie Yuan and Han Zhao are lying on the open space by the stream, and the air is filled with a strong aroma of wine. , but the eyes of the two are still clear.

"Do you still remember what you asked me when you were here?" Xie Yuan looked at the vast starry sky and said to Han Zhao.

"I ask you, what wish do you have?" Han Zhao said slowly.

"I'll tell you when I come back from victory this time." After Xie Yuan finished speaking, he sat up and looked at Han Zhao beside him.

Han Zhao was dressed in white, with a jade-like face and a peaceful expression. He looked at Xie Yuan, smiled, and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you."

However, this battle is not easy.Perhaps it was because Xie Yuan's previous battle of winning more with less was said to be superb. The expectations of Xie Yuan from the government and the public were too high, but the battle reports from the front could not meet people's expectations.

After the winter solstice, the war seems to have froze together with the ice and snow. Some people in the court began to have bad guesses about the outcome of the war. Under such circumstances, rumors seemed to fall with the snowflakes. Few people began to feel that the fiasco of ten years ago was about to repeat itself.

"I think the war is so tight and the defeat is predictable. Instead of waiting for the defeat to negotiate, it is better to make peace with Qiang Hu now, and maybe we can get more benefits." In the court, some people couldn't help it. The petition has been negotiated.

"I don't think so. Both the Qianghu and our country are going all out in this battle, and the stalemate in the war is a common occurrence. At this time, negotiating a peace will make the previous efforts go in vain. The Qianghu wolf is ambitious, and negotiating a peace is definitely not a good plan. Please think twice. Your Majesty. "Han Zhao frowned slightly, and as soon as he sent the jade plate in his hand, he was already making a statement.

The emperor sat on top of the court hall, his expression was hidden behind the five-color crown, and he couldn't see clearly. After a long time, he said: "This is a very important matter, and we will discuss it later."

The emperor's unclear attitude put the matter on hold for the time being, but Han Zhao still had a feeling of uneasiness in his heart.The cold wind was bitter, the snowflakes were flying, and the battle report came from the border.

"Report—General Dingbei led his troops to attack the enemy camp and was captured. He got the news three days ago that he has surrendered."

four

"The guilty minister Xie Yuan, as a first-rank general appointed by the emperor, didn't know how to appreciate the grace of the emperor, and served the country loyally, so he disregarded the dignity of his majesty and the country, and surrendered easily. What's more, he even helped the Qiang and Hu people to train soldiers for the sake of wealth. I beg your Majesty to severely punish Xie's family for treason, so as to stabilize the morale of the army."

"My minister agrees."

"My minister agrees."

"My minister agrees."

……

It was snowing heavily outside the Jinluan Hall, but the atmosphere inside the hall was full of fire and water. The shock of Xie Yuan's surrender had not yet faded from people's minds. This morning, they received a frontier newsletter saying that Xie Yuan had actually started to help the Qianghu people in order to gain the trust and reuse of the Qianghu people. The military training caused an uproar in the court, and more than half of the ministers in the court had come forward to make statements. Xie Yuan's behavior was already unforgivable in their eyes.

"Your Majesty, please listen to my words. General Xie acts filially, is faithful to the scholars, and often sacrifices himself for the urgent needs of the country. He has accumulated a lot of animals, and he has the style of a national scholar. You and General Xie are friends and are willing to use your life. Bao, General Xie did not die for the country after being captured, so there must be other plans.” Han Zhao was no longer as gentle and quiet as before, and among all the officials, he was the only one who stood firmly for the emperor under the gloomy gaze of the emperor. Xie Yuan begged for mercy.

"Master Han, please think clearly before speaking. It is a fact that Xie Yuan surrendered to the enemy. This battle is of great importance. Xie Yuan personally asked for orders to lead the troops to go out. Seeing that the battle situation is not as simple as he thought, I am afraid that he will return to the court if he is defeated. After being convicted, he had no choice but to use a sneak attack to win, but he was captured unexpectedly. He surrendered to the empire for his own selfishness, and even trained soldiers for him. Is Master Han really going to help this traitor who is greedy for life and afraid of death?" Minister of the Ministry of War, Han Zhao refuted his proposal for a peace last time, and he has long held grudges in his heart. Seeing Han Zhao begging Xie Yuan desperately at this time, he didn't coldly snort.

"I have absolutely no selfish intentions. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly." Han Zhao held the jade plate firmly, his voice was firm.

"Xie Yuan's crime is unforgivable, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, please punish Xie's family severely to stabilize the morale of the army."

"His Majesty……"

……

Han Zhao stood in the center of the court hall, his long and narrow eyes were full of waves, the roaring voice in his ear drowned him, his chest was so heavy that he felt like drowning, the lines on the jade plate began to spin, and his mind was in chaos.

"Enough." The emperor said suddenly, and the court fell silent.

"Xie Yuan defected to the enemy and treasoned the country. He was responsible for my entrustment. His crime should be punished. The family of Xie family should have been copied and killed, but instead of copying his ancestors' meritorious service, he ransacked his family and exiled him. "After the emperor finished speaking, he left without waiting for the eunuch beside him to say that he would retire.

"Master Han, you must be cautious when making friends in the future." The Minister of War glanced at Han Zhao who was still standing in the center of the hall, and said proudly.

Han Zhao didn't look at him, but turned and left without saying a word.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Han has been kneeling in front of the imperial study for almost three hours." The little eunuch cautiously said to the emperor who was reading the memorial at the table.

At this moment, the snow was no longer falling outside the house, but the snow accumulated in the past few days had not yet melted, Xie Yuan had been kneeling since he retreated from court, and he was only wearing an official robe, his face was already blue from the cold in the icy world.

"You didn't tell him, who pleaded for Xie Yuan and punished him with capital punishment?" The emperor put down the memorial in his hand, his face darkened.

"Return to Your Majesty, Mr. Han said that Xie Yuan will never join the enemy, and said that he would pledge his life, and ask Your Majesty to spare Xie's family." The eunuch said in the end, his voice became smaller and smaller.

"Hmph!" The emperor threw down the memorial, the anger in his eyes was already at its peak, he said, "I thought that Xie Yuan and Han Zhao would be the pillars of the court with both literature and military, but I never thought that Xie Yuan was such a useless thing! Han Did Zhao think that I would not dare to kill him? After passing on my will, Han Zhao was proud of his talent and didn't know how to advance or retreat. He pleaded for Xie Yuan one after another, despised the grace of heaven, and didn't know how to repent.

The sky seems to be getting more cloudy. Today, during the winter solstice, everyone in the sky jail gave everyone a small bowl of glutinous rice balls.

Han Zhao was only wearing unlined clothing, leaning against the stone wall, even though the black stone was so cold to the bone.His face was frighteningly pale, his whole body was hot, his eyes were tightly closed, but his consciousness seemed to have never been so clear.

The small window at the top of the head revealed the light of snow outside the house. Han Zhao opened his eyes and looked at the small bowl of glutinous rice balls in front of him. I went back to the school in the spring of that year, and I seemed to see the little boy under the crabapple tree again.

Since he was a child, he had a weak temperament, and he had no acquaintances in the school, and it was not the first day that he had a disagreement with his husband, but why did he open his mouth so rashly on that day, and turned to that person? Did you laugh?

Han Zhao heard himself saying, "My name is Han Zhao, and my name is Jiuxi. I don't know what is your last name?"

The spring of that year seemed to be exhausted on that day. Otherwise, why would the crabapple tree in my memory never bloom?

Then came the years in the peach blossom forest.Han Zhao seemed to see the full moon in the peach forest again. He blew the jade flute, someone picked up the long sword, and the peach blossom stream flowed slowly. The days are so long but they are fleeting. Xie Yuan is leaving. .

"Annian, what wish do you have?" Han Zhao realized at this moment that maybe he didn't really want to hear Xie Yuan's answer at that time, he just wanted to talk about his wish.

He believes in Xie Yuan, just like he believes in his own beliefs, this person will not be treasonous, this person is an old friend who wants to share the beautiful scenery with flying boats and wine.

The body was finally no longer unbearably hot, but instead it was bone-piercingly cold.Han Zhao thought that he was probably going to die, and his only regret was that he didn't hear Xie Yuan tell him what he wanted.

But it doesn't matter, Naihe Qiaotou, he will wait for him and tell the answer himself.

However, Han Zhao finally opened his eyes again, and his family told him that it was the prime minister who went to the emperor to ask for grace for him, and the emperor agreed to spare him.

Han Zhao sat on the bed, looking dazed, but after a while, he picked up the medicine on the table and drank it slowly.

Another good spring, it has been almost three months since Xie Yuan surrendered to the enemy.Thanks to Xie Yuan's military exploits, the Xie family gradually regained its former glory in the capital, but it never thought that it would be reduced to nothing overnight.The generals sent by the imperial court had a difficult confrontation with Qiang Hu, and many people began to think about making peace.

Han Zhao stood on the court hall with a calm face. He watched the minister of the Ministry of War speak sincerely in the middle of the hall, but his thoughts drifted far away.After he walked out of the dungeon, regardless of his unhealed injuries, he personally went to Yuqian and begged for an errand from Xie's family.

He still remembered that the emperor looked at him with an unpredictable expression, and said, "Going to the prison has changed your mind. Why, didn't you become friends with Xie Yuan? Now you go to handle his case, what do you want me to do?" rest assured?"

"I was ignorant before. From the moment Xie Yuan surrendered to the enemy, he was no longer my friend. I thought a lot in the dungeon. May Your Majesty give me this opportunity. I will definitely give His Majesty a satisfactory result." The result." Han Zhao said at the time.

Perhaps the emperor didn't believe him, but he still handed over the matter to him, so some people in the court began to say that his intercession for Xie Yuan was just a play, and in the end he not only got out of his body, but also relied on this The matter got the favor of the emperor, it was really easy to calculate.

Han Zhao knew that he came from a poor family but his official career has made all the nobles dissatisfied for a long time. At first, the emperor may have wanted to use him sincerely, but he never thought that because of Xie Yuan's incident, the Xie family incident was entrusted to him. To do it may also be a kind of flattery.The treacherous battles in the court are really exhausting. Han Zhao thought of Xie Yuan who was thousands of miles away, and his mood was complicated.

"Does Han Aiqing have any insight?" The emperor's voice sounded.

"Your Majesty, I still don't advocate a peace negotiation." Xie Yuan replied calmly.

Minister of the Ministry of War snorted coldly, and was about to say something more, but was interrupted by a high-pitched voice:

"Report to Your Majesty, the latest battle report has been sent from the border. Our army has won a great victory, and Qiang Hu's letter of surrender has been delivered immediately!"

The author has something to say: I don’t know why, but I remember very clearly the part where Sima Qian begged for Li Ling. Some of what Han Zhao said in the court hall were the original words of Sima Qian at that time~ There are many sources of inspiration for this story, high mountains and flowing water, Lu Hua fan songs, cat and mouse, and Sima Qian~ I hope you like it