Chapter 4246 Hu General
The rain fell, the Wei River surged, and the city of Xianyang was shadowy. The vast night shrouded a wasteland on the south bank of the Wei River. Under the fallen weeds washed away by the rain, the debris of Qin bricks and Han tiles were mixed in. This was once the site of Chang'an of the Han Dynasty. city.
The Xianyang Bridge spans the Wei River. The river flows under the bridge, and you can look at the ancient land of Qin and Han Dynasties and the rebuilt Chang'an City in the Sui Dynasty in the distance.
In the third year of Jianyuan of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, a bridge was built over the Wei River. Because it was opposite the gate to the north of Chang'an City in the Han Dynasty, it was called "Bianqiao". Because it was to the west of Zhongwei Bridge, it was also called "West Wei Bridge". By the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was called It's called "Xianyang Bridge".
Compared with the Zhongwei Bridge, the Xianyang Bridge is wider and stronger, but it is slightly farther from Chang'an City. Therefore, it has become an important transportation route to and from the Western Regions since the Han and Tang Dynasties. From here, you can go west to Chencang and enter Shu...< br>
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In the north of Xianyang Bridge, a military camp stands among the rainy grass and grass. The shadows stretch out and reach as far as the eye can see under the night. Wind lanterns were hung at important places in the camp, swaying with the wind and rain. Guards stood on both sides of the camp gate. Teams on night watch were still passing through the camp, and the guards were tight.
Even though it was raining heavily and it was late at night, there was an atmosphere of preparedness and full vigilance.
In the central military tent, Qibi Heli, who had taken off his armor and wore a silk robe, was sitting on a stool with a golden sword. His beard was neat and shiny, the middle coat exposed at the collar was white and neat, and the nails of the right hand holding the pot were trimmed. With a clean face and a smile on his dark face, he looked like a high-ranking official of the Tang Dynasty, rich and luxurious. How could he look like a Khan of the Turkic Qibi tribe?
It's just that a piece of his left ear is missing, and the scar is hideous, showing his fierceness...
He filled up the wine glass for Yuwen Shiji opposite him and raised his glass with a smile. Yuwen Shiji also raised his glass in response and drank it down in one gulp.
There was a copper hot pot placed on the table between the two of them. The soup was boiling and rolling at this moment. Qibi Heli picked up a plate with mutton, used chopsticks to put the mutton into the pot, and put a few vegetables into it, the fresh and tender mutton. It was instantly submerged in the boiling soup. After a few tumblings, it changed color and the vegetables became increasingly green.
The two of them each took a chopstick and put it on a plate, dipped it in a dense mixture of sesame sauce, chive flowers, fermented bean curd, and chili oil, put it in their mouths and chewed it. The meat was immediately fragrant and spicy, and the two of them praised it repeatedly. .
After eating several chopsticks in a row, a layer of sweat appeared on Yu Wenshi's forehead. He raised his glass again and took a sip. He praised: "Although this kind of delicious food is slightly inferior to etiquette, it is closer to nature. The Tang people may not be able to accept it, but for Khan It is definitely more suitable.”
Qibi Heli put down his chopsticks, chewed the mutton in his mouth, swallowed it, took a sip of wine, wiped his beard with a handkerchief, and said with a half-smile: "I haven't heard the name 'Khan' for many years, it was just a servant under my command in the past. I don’t call you that anymore, but you still remember it, Lord Ying. Now, please call me 'General', because I feel more powerful and domineering."
When he entered the Tang Dynasty in the sixth year of Zhenguan, His Majesty Li Er appointed him as the "General of the Left-Leading Army Guard" and reorganized more than 6,000 old Turkic tribes and Tang people brought under his command, with an elite force of about 30,000. To this day, he has never changed as "General of the Left Leading Army Guard", and his troops have become a powerful force with outstanding military achievements among the Sixteen Guards.
I am already a soldier of the Tang Dynasty, why should I mention "Khan"?
Yu Wenshi nodded, but the food was obviously not satisfying at the moment. He clinked glasses with Qibi Heli and drank, saying: "The general is loyal and unswervingly committed to the Tang Dynasty. When you entered the Tang Dynasty, many people disagreed. Only Your Majesty firmly believed in the general. As a person, I strongly support , never had any doubts. Even when Zhenzhu Khan took you as a hostage and asked for marriage with the Tang Dynasty, the late emperor agreed to exchange for your freedom with a princess. What kind of courtesy is this? , unprecedented.”
Qibi Heli's face was solemn and he nodded heavily: "The late emperor had a universal mind and conquered mountains and rivers. He was not inferior to the wise emperors of ancient times, and he was even more kind to me. Therefore, I was born as a Hu, but I always consider myself a Tang person. I will never forget the kindness of the late emperor. I have betrayed the empire's trust and am willing to use my body to repay His Majesty's kindness in case of any eventuality."
That's what he said, and that's what he did.
The Tang Dynasty embraced the whole world, and countless barbarians were sent to serve in the Tang Dynasty. However, except for him, Qibi Helihe, who could live in the imperial palace, there was no one else. As the most trusted Hu general by His Majesty Li Er, Qibi Heli led his troops and swore allegiance to him. He fought bravely under His Majesty Li Er's military orders countless times. Even if he was captured by Zhenzhu Khan, he would rather cut off his left ear to show his determination. , will never rebel against the Tang Dynasty.
Yu Wenshi sighed and said: "Yes, even a barbarian like you who entered the Tang Dynasty can still appreciate the kindness of the late emperor. However, many people in the Tang Dynasty who were more favored by the late emperor used to obey the late emperor's orders and swear by them, but now they have shelved the late emperor's legacy. , Completely forgetful, only caring about the little interests in front of you, ungrateful and cruel. ”
Qibi He Li held the pot and poured wine for Yuwen Shiji. It was difficult for him to accept the words and he could not accept them.
A mere Hu man is demoted to a general, no matter how high his status or title is, how can he comment on whether the Dukes of Gongun in the court are loyal or not?
As for Yuwen Shiji's purpose of coming, he was somewhat clear about it...
When Yu Wenshiji saw Qibi Heli not answering, he also understood Qibi Heli's thoughts. He couldn't help but frowned and asked, "Perhaps the general has completely forgotten about the late emperor's love for Long En?"
Qibi Heli glanced at him, took a sip of wine, and said solemnly: "My loyalty to the late Emperor is as strong as a mountain and as long as a river. Wherever the late Emperor orders, I will go through fire and water and die without hesitation. I heard that the late Emperor is driving Collapse According to the news, I had written to the court and begged to be buried in Zhaoling, but His Majesty refused, so I gave up. How many people in the civil and military circles of the Manchu Dynasty are willing to follow the late emperor underground and live as slaves for the rest of their lives? "
This matter was naturally true, but Li Chengqian gave him the reply that "there is no precedent for burial in the Tang Dynasty", so he gave up.
But Qibi Heli's loyalty really shocked the government and the public.
The vast majority of loyalty is limited to words, and few people actually do it. However, there are only a few people who are willing to extend their loyalty beyond life and death.
Yu Wenshiji was aggressive: "Since the general is so loyal, why did he turn a blind eye to, turn a deaf ear to, and ignore His Majesty's legacy, allowing villains to steal the throne while the real successor to the throne is trapped in Tongguan and is about to be destroyed?"
Qibi Heli's eyes were bright, and he looked at Yuwenshiji without giving in. "My loyalty is not something that you, Yuwenshiji, can comment on. Who else in the world can match the favor you have received from the Emperor in the Long Clan? As a result, you are so powerful that you are so stupid. first When the emperor was on an expedition to Liaodong, he brazenly launched a mutiny to depose the crown prince appointed by his majesty. Why didn't you stand up and stop Changsun Wuji at that time? And I don't know who you call the real successor to the throne. Since I am loyal to the late emperor, Naturally, I obey the orders of the late emperor. Your majesty is now canonized by the late emperor's golden canon, and his name is justified. I don't care what the late emperor thinks. Since the late emperor never deposed the prince from beginning to end, then after the death of the late emperor, the only successor will be the prince. , is where the great righteousness lies. If you can produce the edict that the late emperor passed down to others when he was dying, and it is recognized by the government and the public, I will naturally obey it. If you can't, why bother making noise with me? "
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These words can be said to be merciless, and they almost pointed at Yu Wenshiji's nose and cursed, "If your whole family is a rebel, do you want me to be a rebel too?"
You can't do this even if you are wicked!
Yu Wenshi's face was red, and he was pointed at his nose by a barbarian and a surrendered general and said, "You are not worthy of talking about loyalty with me." How humiliating is this?
However, when the Guanlong clan launched a mutiny to depose the prince, it really had nothing to do with loyalty...
He had no choice but to endure the humiliation and said in a bitter voice: "Do you really not know what the late emperor wanted? Five years after Zhenguan, the late emperor wanted to depose the crown prince more than once. Even though the late emperor was in the army and did not hesitate to 'fake his own death' to condone the mutiny of the Guanlong clan, Could it be Didn't you want to wait for the prince to be deposed? The government and the public knew the late emperor's thoughts, but when the late emperor died, everyone turned a deaf ear to it... It's a pity that the late emperor was always kind and tolerant to his ministers, but he couldn't get the ministers to be sincere. "
Qibi Heli snorted, restrained his arrogance, ate a mouthful of meat, drank a sip of wine, and then said: "There are some things that cannot be judged by the heart, but there are some things that cannot be judged by the heart, and the late emperor has not promulgated them for a day. After the edict of deposing, the crown prince is still the crown prince. How can it be purely based on his mind? What the Duke of Ying said is biased and unreasonable."
After saying that, he poured wine for Yu Wenshi and said: "Whether I am stubborn or lose my ability to think, or even Ashina Simo, we are both barbarians and officials of the Tang Dynasty. When the late emperor was here, we were loyal." The late emperor passed away, and we are loyal to the Tang Dynasty."
Yu Wenshiji took a sip of wine and felt that the originally mellow wine was indeed bitter.
Obviously, Qibi Heli has already secretly communicated with Zhihu Sili, Ashina Simo and others, and reached an agreement with each other. He may adopt a bystander attitude towards the struggle for imperial power, but he will never intervene rashly...
But there is no left-leading military guard with Qibi Heli and Zuo Xiaowei with no thinking power. Ashina Simo's old Turkic tribe and the western front of Chang'an City are impregnable. The Sixth Army of the East Palace has no worries and can fight with all their strength in the front. How can King Jin have even half a chance of winning?
After a long silence, Yu Wenshiji said slowly: "I am sincerely convinced by the general's loyalty, and I am very pleased. Since I have understood the general's intentions, I also want a promise from the general. If the situation suddenly changes one day, the general can Are you willing to stand up and defend the stability of the Tang Dynasty and the survival of the country to repay the kindness of the late emperor? ”
Qibi Heli paused slightly, his heart skipped a beat, and he stared at Yuwen Shiji coldly.
What does this mean?
As long as the western front is stable, Chang'an will be safe, and the imperial court is already in an invincible position. It can advance, attack, retreat, or defend. How can the Jin king who is trapped in Tongguan have any chance?
But since Yu Wenshiji said this, it means that at a critical moment when everyone thinks that the overall situation has been decided, there will be drastic changes, and even defeat will turn into victory...
After pondering for a long time and weighing the balance repeatedly, Qibi Heli did not ask what happened, but nodded slowly and said: "It should be so."
Yu Wenshiji let out a long breath. Since Qi Bi was not willing to raise troops to rely on him, he could only retreat and settle for the next best thing, which could be regarded as achieving the lowest purpose of this trip... (End of Chapter)