That year, that cicada, that sword

Chapter 54

The several major frontier armies of the dynasty, because the leaders and generals are different, each has its own tolerance. Take the Chinese army who sits in the imperial capital of the Central Plains as an example. This is the old team that followed Xiao Huang to fight the world. It is the orthodox of the first generation of the Northwest Army. Continuation, known as the reputation of the son of heaven and the army.Having been in front of the emperor for a long time and being in the most benevolent place, this Chinese army also brought a lot of grace and aura with the highest vision.

On the other hand, the Northwest Army is also a continuation of the first generation of the Northwest Army, but compared with the army of the Son of Heaven, it is inevitable that it will be labeled as a concubine. The army is the first, but it still has to be suppressed by the emperor's army. For this reason, the Northwest Army is full of anger. The army management has been brutal all these years, which is in stark contrast to the emperor's army.

There used to be a great Confucian saying that the Chinese army, known as the Son of Heaven's pro-army, is kingly, and the former army, commonly known as the Northwest Army, is domineering. Today's military disputes in the dynasty are actually the same disputes that have lasted for thousands of years. fight.

Zhuge Gong is not a cruel person, but he does as the Romans do, and he has to do cruel things after taking charge of the Northwest Army. Just like this Northwest Governor's Mansion, there is an aura of swords and halberds from the inside out, even in the scorching midsummer. People are cold in the bottom of their hearts.

Sapphire walked slowly among them, followed by the five right governors behind him.

All the way to the outside of a bedroom deep in the mansion, Lan Yu raised her hand to signal the people behind her to stop.Then he opened the door and walked into the room alone.

The room was a little dark, and after going around a screen, I saw an old man lying on the bed in his dying years. Hearing the sound of footsteps, the old man struggled to open his eyes, and a trace of almost With an imperceptible smile, he said hoarsely, "Mr. Lan."

Lan Yu initially assisted Xiao Huang as a military adviser, and to show respect, the generals at that time called him Mr. Today, some seniors still keep this title.

"Speaking of which, I haven't seen Mr. Lan for some years." The old man lying on the bed struggled to speak, paused and gasped for a while before continuing: "The last time I saw Mr. Lan was in Taiping three years, 20 years have passed, Mr. Lan It's still the same."

Lan Yu walked to the bed and said softly: "I am still the same, but you are very old."

The old man lying on the bed was none other than Zhuge Gong, the left commander of the Northwest Army. Even when Emperor Xiao conquered the world, he could be regarded as the oldest member of the small group.Back then, Xiao Yu had only a few thousand troops, and Lin Han was still the helper behind his brother-in-law. He was already the commander-in-chief. If it wasn't for his limited structure and failure to make great achievements, he should have been like Xu Lin with his qualifications. Generally named kings with different surnames.

Zhuge Gong coughed a few times, and said weakly: "When you get old, you get old. There are not many old brothers who fought the world together. Xu Lin, the governor, was the first to leave, and then came out of Taiping 19 Min Xing and Han Xiong followed in the chaos of that year. Since the new emperor ascended the throne, Xiao Gongyu, Zhang Haijiu, Wei Huang, Sun Ligong and other old guys who surrendered have disappeared one by one. The most pity It’s still Xu Yan, who was less than 60 years old when he died of illness. To put it bluntly, there are not many people who can live as long as me. Compared with those old brothers who left early, I am already enough.”

Lan Yu sighed softly: "I have advised you to go to Jiangnan or Shuzhou to live for a while, it is a good place to nourish people, it is much better than this bitter cold outside the Great Wall, and it can also allow you to take good care of your body, but you prefer Do not listen."

Zhuge Gong turned his head to the south, smiled slowly and said: "When I was young, I always wanted to go south with His Majesty, enter the customs and conquer the world, but when I am old, I don't want to go south again, and I don't want to die in another country."

Lan Yu stretched out her hand to hold Zhuge Gong's palm already covered with age spots, and was stunned for a moment.

Zhuge Gong tried his best to clear his throat, but the words in his mouth were still vague, "I was thinking back then, if one day conquered the world, I would not go to the Central Plains, let alone Jiangnan, but go back to the grasslands. Twenty years ago, I went to the imperial capital, that is, the last time we met, and saw that His Royal Highness, the son of the past, had become His Majesty the Emperor, and I suddenly had an idea, it is time for Ye Luo to return to his roots, and the hometown on the grassland is no longer If you know where it has moved to, then stay in the northwest."

Zhuge Gong raised his head and looked at the curtain above his head, squinting his eyes and said: "Just stay in the northwest, and don't go anywhere. In this life, I have traveled from north to south, been to Shuzhou, and also been to the imperial capital, which is enough for the south. In the first year of Taiping, I should have left with His Majesty, and now I am earning my living."

Lan Yu sighed again, shook her head and said with a smile: "Among the ministers of the dragon back then, you were the most simple."

Zhuge Gong turned his head and glanced at this old acquaintance who was an extremely personable minister, and said slowly: "In my whole life, there are not many things worth caring about. My children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Don't talk about him, the only thing that makes me worry It’s the Northwest Army. I said these heartfelt words to Mr. Lan today, and I also want to let Mr. Lan take care of this last hurdle, and don’t let the Northwest Army entrust anyone who is wrong.”

Lan Yu asked, "Who do you like?"

Zhuge Gong, a veteran who had experienced the smoldering wars in the past, let out a long breath. In this weather that just came out, he seemed a little chilly, and said in a low voice: "Nowadays is peaceful and prosperous, not to mention ordinary people and temple ministers, but many The strong generals have never seen truly magnificent battles, fierce battles, and deadly battles. Jiangnan and southern borders are fine, but the northwest is different! This is adjacent to the grassland. If the grassland army intends to go south, this is the front line. "

"Mr. Lan also knows what Lin Han's temperament is. It was fine when the late emperor was there. After the late emperor and the empress dowager left, no one really could convince him. Wolf ambition, within ten years, the northwest border will inevitably There is a war. Therefore, the new Northwest Governor does not know that soldiers are not good enough, that there is no prestige, and that mediocrity is not good enough. Looking at the inside and outside of the court, there is only..."

Speaking of this, Zhuge Gong hesitated for a moment before slowly saying: "Only the sick tiger Zhang Wu was not sick back then."

Sapphire just nodded, but didn't speak.

Zhuge Gong slowly closed his eyes, unable to hide his fatigue, and said: "Back then, Zhang Wubing followed Han Xuan's younger generation to fight against Mr. Lan, and was kicked out of the court by Mr. Lan himself. I also know Mr. Lan's difficulties. Please come back, it is tantamount to self-defeating, but it has been so many years, Zhang Wubing should know his mistake, and it is also for the sake of the court and society, and I also invite Mr. Lan..."

Lan Yu suddenly said softly: "In a few days, you can write a note and hand it in, and I will ask the cabinet to prepare the draft."

Zhuge Gong regained his energy suddenly, opened his eyes, lay tremblingly on the bed, clasped his hands towards Lan Yu, raised his voice slightly, "Rui Gong Gao Yi."

Sapphire shook her head, turned and walked out the door.

In the early autumn season, there is an autumn wind gradually blowing up, and the coolness seeps into people.

Sapphire put her hands behind her back and hid them in her sleeves.

Xiao Se Qiufeng is here again today, changing the world.

(End of this chapter)