Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

Chapter 878 Departure
"That's good!" Hu Liang said with a smile: "Originally, I went to Shanzhou City to meet Liu Gong, but now I only have to trouble Liu Gong!"

The knight of the Tang Army was right. That afternoon, Liu Rengui came to the camp of Brother Hu Liang. The two Hu Liang brothers greeted them outside the camp gate. Liu Rengui got out of the carriage and looked at the faces of the two young men in front of him.

"You both look a lot like your father!" Liu Rengui sighed: "Especially you, Mr. Hu Liang, if you grow some beard, you will look more like me. I was in a trance when I saw you just now. It seems like I first met your father in Sixi City, Baekje more than ten years ago!”

"Really?" Hu Liang laughed and glanced at Yan Liang: "What kind of beard did my father grow at that time? Please let Mr. Liu tell you so that I can follow suit!"

"He was just a junior captain at the time, and he was in the war, so he had no time to trim and comb it!" Liu Rengui laughed: "It was just left here casually!"

"Okay!" Hu Liang sighed with some disappointment, and he stretched out his right hand: "Then Mr. Liu, please follow me to the tent to rest!"

Hu Liang's tent was not big, and the furnishings were very simple. There were only a few desks, a bed, and a shelf for hanging weapons. Hu Liang didn't waste time. He spread out the map on several cases and said to Liu Ren: "You see, my father asked me to lead the troops out of the Huanghe River Valley, then turn south, pass through the Riyue Valley Road, and reach the Qinghai Lake. Destroy the nest of thieves!"

Liu Rengui stared at the map on the table, on which the marching route was clearly marked with a red pen. After a long time, he sighed: "It seems that your father is planning to go back to the old path of General Xue!"

"Not bad!" Hu Liang nodded: "But the situation is no longer the same as back then, and we are more prepared!"

"The situation is indeed different!" Liu Ren said: "At the beginning, the Tang Dynasty and Tubo were divided into two groups. Now Tuyuhun is owned by Tubo. Moreover, Tubo has built a stone city at the dangerous place of Riyue Mountain Pass. Your Majesty should not Don’t you know this?”

"My father is fully prepared!" Hu Liang told the story about the hot air balloon and the telescope, and finally said: "With these two things, no matter how dangerous the fortress is, it will not be able to withstand the attack of our army!"

"Able to take people flying in the sky? Can clearly see the enemy in the distance? Tsk!" Liu Rengui sighed: "My father is still the same as before, always surprising people. He has such a sharp weapon, why didn't he do it earlier? How about bringing them out? In that case, the Tubo people could have been defeated long ago. It must be to leave such a great achievement to his son and establish his reputation." At this point, he suddenly asked: "You two gentlemen, your Majesty. Are you planning to become an official?"

Liu Rengui's question was completely unexpected by Hu Liang. He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. Yan Liang, who remained silent next to him, nodded: "Yes, my father does have this plan. After the Tubo is pacified this time, he will resign from his official position in the court and return to Hebei to retire, leaving Hu Liang to stay in Chang'an to take over his official position! "

"To confer official positions in the imperial court privately, this really seems like something Wang Wenzuo can do!" Liu Rengui laughed, but both Hu Liang and Yan Liang could feel that there was no anger in his words.

"Liu Gong——" Hu Liang was just about to explain something, but Liu Rengui raised his right hand and interrupted him: "You don't have to explain anything. Your Majesty naturally has his reasons for doing this. After all, the Tang Dynasty has already left. If you don't use his jade pillar to support the sea, you have married the emperor's sister again, so that you can inherit the power of your father and guard Chang'an."

"Mr. Liu!" Hu Liang didn't expect Liu Rengui to be so open-minded. He opened his mouth, wanting to thank him but not knowing what to thank him for. Liu Rengui waved his hand: "That's all, I have known your father for many years, and I still know what he is like. When he was in Baekje, Liu Renyuan was his boss. Later, Liu Renyuan offended someone, and his family was exiled to the smog-stricken southwest. He died half way through. If he was unlucky, who would come forward to help? Only your father-in-law offered money and effort, and even spoke well for the dead man in front of the saint, so that his body and descendants could be brought back to Chang'an. Come, otherwise he would have died over there. Even if the Tang Dynasty got to this point, we can’t blame him. If the dynasty really changed, it would be better to fall into his hands than others, at least like me. The old guy doesn’t have to worry about his family being confiscated and his family exterminated.”

Hu Liang was already sweating profusely when he heard Liu Rengui say the words "change the dynasty" and didn't know what to say for a while. However, Yan Liang smiled and said: "Liu Gong is joking, how could my father do such a thing? How could he wait until today to seek to usurp the throne? Now the person next to Hu Liang's bed is from the Li family, let alone!"

"That's all, that's all!" Liu Rengui waved his hand: "This is all a matter between your two families, and it's not the turn of us ministers to talk too much. But having said that, if you lose this battle, then everything will be over. Your Majesty has no choice but to leave Chang'an to clean up the mess for your brothers. By then, it will be another matter! "

The Hu Liang brothers exchanged glances. Of course they could tell that Liu Rengui's words were both a reminder and a warning. Old foxes like Liu Rengui who have experienced several dynasties have become refined. Of course they know that people like Wang Wenzuo cannot simply be evaluated as loyal or treacherous ministers, but rather based on the environment and circumstances.

For example, anyone familiar with history knows that King Sima Xuan was a famous treacherous minister in history, who was ruthless and extremely deep. But the problem is that until the Gaoping Ling Incident, King Sima Xuan's evaluation in the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu at that time was Xiao He, Huo Guang, Yi Yinfu, said to be a first-class figure, the successor of two masters, and the order of three dynasties. To put it simply, he was Zhuge Liang of Wei. , very high reputation. Even after the Gaoping Ling Incident, when Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin attacked Sima Shi after his death, they still praised Sima Yi in their memorials such as "He was the prime minister of the country, he assisted the Wei family, and he was loyal throughout history." It was also said that Sima Yi was A kind word. Sima Yi's reputation became bad because after Sima's brothers came to power, they massacred all those involved. After usurping Cao Wei, people turned around and put a lot of blame on King Sima Xuan, saying that this guy was good at disguising and had never been a real person. nice one.

But if Sima Yi died before the Gaoping Ling Incident, or if Cao Shuang didn't act so recklessly after coming to power, there would be an opportunity for Sima Yi to take advantage of. Then King Sima Xuan naturally has a different face in the history books. Of course Liu Rengui understood this truth. He knew that although Wang Wenzuo could not be said to be a foolish and loyal person, he was still quite loyal to the Tang Dynasty and the present. What he did was just in line with his wishes. It should be noted that power can only be given to the right person. If the wrong person gets power, it will not only harm the country, but also himself. In Liu Rengui's view, Wang Wenzuo is a suitable person, so he can acquiesce in Wang Wenzuo's small actions, but whether Hu Liang is the right person depends on him.

"I remember Mr. Liu's words!" Hu Liang said.

"That's good!" Liu Rengui grabbed Hu Liang's arm: "Back then, your Majesty conquered Goguryeo, collected the remains of the children who conquered Liao, and avenged the resentment of his father and brother; now it has been more than ten years since the defeat of Dafeichuan, I hope you can Just like your Majesty, collect the remains of the Tang Dynasty’s children and avenge the past!”

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Watching the army cross the Tunpu village outside Shanzhou City and enter the narrow Huanghe River Valley. Worries about protecting good people are increasing day by day. Although he hid his fear behind a mask of composure, it was still there, growing with every mile they crossed. He was anxious during the day and tossed and turned at night. Every fortress and every riding shadow made him grit his teeth.

He was afraid of Qin Ling. This famous Tubo man had never been defeated so far. Although he was still in Hexi, during the defeat of Dafeichuan, Qin Ling also quickly returned from Anxi and defeated the Tang army led by Xue Rengui in one fell swoop. He was afraid for his brother. He knew that he was not his father's only choice. If he didn't do well this time, there were enough brothers who could replace him. He must be as resolute and resourceful as his father, and he must become a true son of Wang Wenzuo. Hu Liang rode at the front of the team, with the red-edged and white flag of the Tang Dynasty fluttering in the wind above his head. He listened to everyone's opinions, regardless of their status, weighing each statement carefully, just as his father had taught him. He has learned a lot from his father, but is this enough?

Although there were hot air balloons hovering overhead, everything was clearly visible to the spy's telescope, whether it was the Tibetan fortress, ambush, or scouts. And because the hot air balloon is suspended in the air, there is no need to go far. The propeller on the pod can push the hot air balloon to fly at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour in calm conditions. Eight hot air balloons can ensure an unobstructed view within a radius of hundreds of miles. However, Hu Liang still sent out enough scouts as usual. He did not want the Tibetans to discover any abnormalities on their side. It would be best if the Tubo people never knew they had such a sharp weapon, so they could fight in a daze and lose in a daze.

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"Hu Liang, let me tell you a news!" Yan Liang walked to the stream with a smile, wiped his face with water in his hands: "The Tibetan guard general sent soldiers to the back of the ridge, hoping that when we pass through the valley below, Give us a surprise! We were discovered by the hot air balloon!" At this point, he took the towel handed by the guard behind him and wiped his face.

"What's the result?" Hu Liang asked quickly.

"Of course we won!" Yanliang laughed: "After the scouts on the hot air balloon discovered all this, they wrote everything on paper and slid down the rope. Tenzin took five hundred people there, and Mantis came The Cicada oriole is behind! Catch all the Tubo people, capture more than 300 people, and behead more than 100 people!"

"Well, very good!" Gu Liang let out a long breath: "Father is really thoughtful and recruited Tenzin and his friends!"

"That's natural. This is their hometown!" Yanliang laughed. He stood up and looked at his brother: "Huliang, actually you don't need to be so nervous. There are hot air balloons and telescopes. The Tubo people It’s just a beating!”

"I'm not nervous!" Hu Liang retorted, but under Yan Liang's gaze, he finally lowered his head: "You're right, but I can't lose this time!"

"You were influenced by that old guy Liu Rengui!" Yan Liang sneered: "Why would my father say such things about cleaning up the mess? You don't have to worry. According to the current marching speed, when we arrive at Qinghai Lake, Qinling I guess I just got the news!”

"Well, thank you, Yanliang!" Hu Liang nodded. Due to the hot air balloon, the Tang army did not need to worry about the Tubo raids, so the soldiers could march lightly and throw all the armor and baggage on the carriage. Much faster than usual.

"Brother, what are you saying to thank me?" Yan Liang smiled: "Actually, the only thing we need to worry about now is Shibao City. According to the information given by Longyou, that place is really dangerous!"

"How many days until we arrive?"

"If all goes well, we'll be here in two days!"

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At noon two days later, Shibao City came into the sight of the Tang people's vanguard troops. Of course, their hot air balloons had to arrive half a day early. These guys floating in the air slowly moved around the Tubo Fort on the hillside, and soon caused a stir. The guards' attention.

"Look, what is that?" a Tibetan guard asked, pointing to the hot air balloon in mid-air.

"Which one are you talking about?" His companion looked in the direction of the finger, frowned for a while and then said: "It's a bird? But this bird flies too slowly, doesn't it?"

"It doesn't look like a bird, but looks a bit like a cloud!"

"Cloud? Have you ever seen such a cloud? Isn't this cloud too short?"

"What else could it be? It can't be Tang Bing, right?"

"That's definitely not the case. Tang Bing is also a human being. How could he be in mid-air?"

More and more Tubo soldiers were attracted by the hot air balloon in mid-air. Due to the telescope, the distance between the Tang people's hot air balloon and Shibao City was quite far. The Tubo people could only see such a thing in the sky, but they could not Identify what exactly it is, let alone see someone in the pod underneath the hot air balloon. Finally, the unusual behavior of the Tubo guards alerted the Tubo general stationed in Shibao City. He immediately drove the soldiers back to their posts with whips and sticks, and then began to ask for the reason.

"What? There are strange birds in the sky? Strange clouds?" The Tubo general scoffed at his subordinates' report, but he did not recognize anything suspended in the sky. However, he decided to adopt the attitude of "don't be surprised if you find it strange" when facing new things that he couldn't figure out the origin of. He ordered everyone not to continue staring at that thing, otherwise they would be served with sticks.