Pihanjin

Changping Guancheng, which was once regarded by the King of Qi as blocking Xie Changgeng's eastward footsteps, has already changed hands. Because it is located in the middle, it is convenient to communicate with Shangjing and receive news from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and because the terrain is like a natural military training ground, last month, Xie Changgeng withdrew his army after the war against King Zhao was over. , temporarily stationed here.

On this day, Xie Changgeng received a secret message from Shangjing.

Zhao Xitai had previously communicated with Liu Hou through the old forces loyal to the Zhao royal family in Shangjing, saying that he was now like a lost family, and it was even more difficult to ride a tiger. Now the situation is different from a few years ago. Because of the existence of his own Eastern court, Xie Changgeng allowed her to sit in her seat all the time. let her live. He said that he was very frightened now, and he had no choice but to beg Empress Liu to think of Xie Changgeng. In this way, he was not only saving him, but also saving himself. He also promised that if Liu Hou returned to the imperial court in Shangjing in the future and promised to pardon his father and son for their previous crimes of rebellion, he would bow his head and surrender to Liu Hou. Empress Liu was terrified and could not sleep at night.

Xie Changgeng passed the secret letter to Liu Guan and several others to read it, and several people read it with a solemn expression.

Liu Pipeline: "No wonder Empress Liu proposed marriage in front of the old lady in the name of serving the old lady a few days ago. I think it is not to please the old lady, but she is at the end of the road and has other plans."

Liu An sneered: "King Qin has made offerings to the people in the palace so far, but there is no reason to turn his face. Now the time is almost up. Since they are not happy, King Qin might as well respond, and we will see how they try, when the time comes. Pushing the boat along the river, taking the opportunity to fight back, just in the name of being forced to clean up the people, we will immediately support the King of Qin to ascend the throne, and there will be no future troubles, when the time comes, we will send troops to sweep the Jianghuai, and see who dares to say no in this old dynasty!"

People call it yes. In the voice of approval, one person suddenly said: "Zhao Xitai is here to provoke Empress Liu to deal with the King of Qin, and for the sake of safety, he will definitely seek the alliance of Changsha. The current troops and horses of Changsha are not general, and if the two sides join forces, resistance will definitely be Increase, it is better to call Fuzhou Li Liang to send troops to Changsha..."

As he spoke, he suddenly seemed to realize something, he suddenly closed his mouth, glanced at Xie Changgeng in the seat, coughed, and changed his words: "I didn't really fight, I told him to keep the situation still, and made Changsha country have some scruples, too. Same."

The excited atmosphere just now gradually faded away. Several glances were directed towards Xie Changgeng who was sitting in the seat.

Xie Changgeng was silent for a long time, and said, "Changsha country, don't need to move for now. Send someone to spy on the news. If there is a sign of joint troops, it will not be too late."

Although he had broken the relationship between husband and wife, the regent of Changsha, he had a past, and everyone present had a very good impression of Wengzhu. When they raised objections, they responded in unison. At this time, it was reported from outside the door that a young boy had come from outside the door. It seemed that he had traveled a long distance and asked to see the King of Qin. The soldier originally ignored it, but the little boy took out a sword, saying it was a token given to him by the King of Qin before, and called it to pass in on his behalf. The soldier did not dare to be lighthearted, and told his boss. The general followed the King of Qin for many years and recognized the sword that King Qin used to wear, so he sent it in.

Before Xie Changgeng could finish speaking, he got up and walked in front of the lieutenant, grabbed the sword in his hand, glanced at it, and raised his eyes suddenly: "What about the child?"

"Waiting outside the gate..."

Xie Changgeng left the surprised people in the hall, hurried out, and hurried to close the door.

A thin young man with a slack in the dust, holding the reins and a healthy horse in his hand, was standing alone in a corner of the open space outside the closed door, waiting quietly. He heard the heavy opening sound of the two closed doors beside him, turned his head and saw the adult rushing out from the door, his eyes lit up, his face showed surprise, and he called him "Thank you sir" , immediately ran towards him.

His steps were a little unsteady, as if his legs were inconvenient, but he never stopped.

Although he hadn't seen him for three years, this little boy outside the door was no longer what he thought of as a child, but Xie Changgeng recognized him at a glance. He was Xi'er.

When he saw the sword he gave him just now, he didn't believe it. How could this child suddenly arrive at this time, and how could the woman let him come to him?

His heart was full of unbelievable feelings, but at the first sight of the child, he heard the long-lost "Thank you, Lord", in his heart, a feeling that he had originally It was a feeling of joyful excitement that had not been seen in a long time.

He strode up in front of the little boy, staring at him without blinking. After a while, he slowly raised his hands and gently placed them on the boy's still childish shoulders. Immediately, he tightened his palm, shook it heavily, and smiled.

"Xie'er! How did you come here? Come alone?" he asked.

The little boy seemed to feel the familiarity conveyed by his Shen Lian palms resting on his shoulders.

"Yes, it's me. Sir Xie, I rode a little dragon. People in many places on the road are saying, Sir Xie, you have just pacified King Zhao, and the troops are stationed here, and you are about to fight the Eastern Court, so I inquired all the way. found it."

He replied, his eyes slightly red.

Xie Changgeng glanced at the already majestic Hexi war horse behind him, his gaze swept over the sack hanging beside the saddle, and he held his palms tighter.

He nodded. "Go, follow Mr. Xie in first, and talk slowly if you have something to say."

Among the countless gazes cast from the city gate, he led the little boy into the gate.

"Are your legs and feet injured?" Xie Changgeng asked as soon as he entered.

"I'm fine. Mr. Xie, I'm here to verify something with you." He said impatiently with no one around.

Xie Changgeng nodded: "What's the matter, you say."

"Mr. Xie, I remember you said to me before that you would never embarrass my mother again. I want to know if what you said to me back then counted?"

Xie Changgeng was stunned for a moment, met the eyes of the young man who was watching him closely, and paused: "You came out of Changsha by yourself and you are looking for me for this?"

"Yes." He nodded, "This is very important! Mr. Xie, my mother doesn't believe you, and she told me not to believe it, but I believe you. So I want to find the Lord to verify again, so that my mother can rest assured! "

"Master Xie, are you still serious about what you said to me?"

Xie Changgeng immediately understood everything.

He stared at the young boy in front of him, was silent for a moment, and said slowly: "Xi'er, Lord Xie told you that day that you will not take back what you send out. The same is true of what Lord Xie said to you. "

"You came at the right time. After you go back, tell your mother that in this world, there are things that cannot be resolved without war, and there are things that cannot be resolved with war. Xie is certainly a flood and a beast, but as long as the country of Changsha does not move forward to meet it, Xie would not send a single soldier to Dongting in one day.”

"There are things that cannot be resolved without war, and there are things that cannot be resolved without war."

Xi'er's eyes gleamed with joy, and she quickly recited it twice before saying, "I remember it! Lord Xie, I knew you wouldn't lie to me! That's great! I'll go back and tell me. Mother, let her rest assured!"

"To tell the truth, I sneaked out on my own, and I have to go back as soon as possible." He whispered and bowed deeply to Xie Changgeng.

Xie Changgeng smiled slightly: "I see it."

He stopped the young boy who was in a hurry and pressed him down. "Why are your legs and feet injured? Rest for a few days. When the injury is healed, I will send someone to take you back. Don't worry, there are post stations all the way down the south. Send your news to your mother first."

Xi'er said gratefully: "Thank you, sir, you are so kind. Then I will write a letter to my mother, please help me, sir!"

Xie Changgeng nodded with a smile, took the pen and ink for him himself, watched him write the letter quickly, and after the successor delivered it, he squatted down and personally checked the wounds on his legs and feet. Rolling up his trousers, he saw that it was a wound on his hind calf. Although the scar had not yet formed, the wound was slightly abscessed, but fortunately it stopped at the flesh.

Xie Changgeng saw at a glance that it was a scar scratched by a sharp weapon such as a knife.

"Don't worry, my lord, it's a small injury that I accidentally made on the way. Before I came out, I took Jinchuang medicine with me. A few days ago, I was already much better. It's swollen again."

Seeing his frown, Xi'er said immediately.

"Have you encountered a robber?"

Under his eyes that seemed to know everything, the little boy finally admitted in a low voice, saying that it was getting dark one day, and he was greedy to drive away a shortcut that he asked, and encountered two robbers who came up to rob him. There was a conflict between the horse and the belongings, and this was the injury.

"I shot one person with a crossbow arrow, and one arrow hit him in the throat. The other person was scared and turned around and ran away. After that, I changed to Baiguan Road, and I never met any bad guys again."

"Don't worry, my lord. Although I met bad people on the way, I met more good people. Although those people were poor, they were eager to show me the way, and they kept me overnight and told me to be careful on the road ahead. I've seen a lot of things I've never seen before, and I've learned a lot."

"There can't be another time! Do you hear me?" he said to the young boy who used a calm tone to describe the encounters along the way, with a stern tone.

"Understood. After I go back, I will apologize to my mother." He lowered his eyes and said in a low voice.

Xie Changgeng looked at the child's beautiful eyes that seemed familiar, and hesitated.

"Xi'er, why didn't you listen to your mother and come here to find me?" He couldn't help asking.

The little boy slowly raised his eyes and looked at him.

"Sir, although you and my mother are no longer related, if there is a glimmer of hope, I still don't want you to fight against each other. Mother doesn't believe in you, but I believe in what you said to me that day, I have never had any doubts! I remember that when I was young, you took me to pick up my mother in Tianshan Mountain. We met an enemy on the way, and we were anxious to light a beacon. I said that I would go to the next place. Your lord, you would rather go to the next place than agree. That day, the way you looked at me when you spoke to me, my lord, is exactly the same as that time, and I will not forget it."

Xie Changgeng's hand stopped in mid-air.

He stared at the child for a long time, slowly raised his hand, touched his head, stopped talking, and continued to bandage his wound.

He was young, and the wounds were only on the flesh. He recovered very quickly, and after a few days of rest, the scars were formed. This child was in a hurry to go back, but on this day, Xie Changgeng got the report, and all the people sent by Changsha to pursue him had also caught up.

Those Xie Changgeng's subordinates here who didn't know Xi'er before were quite surprised to see that this child was not yet ten years old, and dared to come here from Changsha alone. Liu Anliang Tuan and other old people in Hexi were not surprised by it. When asked, he said some old things he had done when he was younger, and everyone was surprised. In contrast, this is indeed unusual. He was leaving today, and everyone followed Xie Changgeng to send him out of the customs. The distance was close, and they could see clearly. They all stared at the faces of the two of them, wondering in their hearts.

"Little son! It's a smooth journey here!"

Liu Anliang Tuan and others dismounted from their horses and said goodbye, with a very respectful attitude.

Three years ago, after being brought back from Changsha, Mother Xie kept urging people to bring the child back. Later, although Xie Changgeng suppressed it, and Xie's mother couldn't let it go, but several people close to Xie Changgeng had heard about it, and they were secretly suspicious in their stomachs, and no one dared to mention it.

Xi'er said goodbye to Xie Changgeng first, and then returned the salute to Liu Anliangtuan and others one by one, and asked everyone to stay behind. She acted very gracefully. When she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something, turned back to Xie Changgeng and said: "Thank you, sir, If you go back to Beijing someday and pass the Huguo Temple on the way, say hello to Master on my behalf, and say that I am fine now, and if there is a chance in the future, I will go back and visit Master again.”

Xie Changgeng nodded.

"Excuse me sir."

He saluted again, then turned around, mounted his horse neatly, and galloped southward along with those who had come to pick him up.

Xie Changgeng watched the group of people in front disappear from sight, turned around and instructed: "Go back to Beijing."