HMAM CH 40 Bixue City
Southwest, Bixue Pass.
It was just after a fierce battle, several soldiers were squatting by the mound, chatting and eating the rations they had received.
"Those Xirong bastards are really like they've taken pills. They don't stop day and night. If this continues, who can withstand it?"
"Endure it, the higher-ups have said that the reinforcements have already set off and will be here soon."
"It's useless even if the emperor comes in person. Look at us, which one of us is not half-dead on our feet?"
"You..." The one who just took over the conversation suddenly saw something and stood up suddenly, "Xirong's army! They're here, quickly..."
The several soldiers hurriedly stuffed the dry rations into their clothes. War drums began beating on the city wall, and the soldiers quickly gathered in rows, spears in hand, waiting in formation.
The city gate opened, and columns of cavalry rushed out and came to the front of the formation.
Everyone's faces were covered with dust and their expressions were exhausted.
The Xirong army had strong troops and strong horses. When the two armies just began to fight, the soldiers of Bixue Pass already lost momentum.
In a corner of the battlefield, the soldier who had just stood up first rolled on the ground and slashed at the front hooves of the Xirong cavalry horse in front of him with a knife. The cavalryman fell into the dust, but before he could get up, his throat was already cut by the soldier, and blood spattered.it everywhere.
The soldier shouted: "Fifteen!"
The scholarly young man not far away thrust his sword into the enemy's chest, turned around and shouted: "I'm fine!"
The soldier rushed over, protected the young man behind him, and shouted: "Go back! This is basically sending us up to be chopped down by the Xirong army. Go back quickly!"
The young man shouted: "You come with me!"
The soldier said angrily: "Stop talking nonsense and leave!"
During the stalemate between the two, the battlefield had already reached a declining situation.
The soldier's eyes were red as he slashed at the enemy soldiers who were rushing towards him: "Damn it…!"
The two fought and killed the enemies as dust flew. Suddenly, there was a faint tremor in the distance, as if tens of millions of people were approaching.
The young man looked up and said loudly: "Look to the north…!"
A black line was rolling over from the far north of the battlefield. Looking closer, they could see the dust billowing up from the ground and the long banners fluttering in the wind.
"Reinforcements are coming—"
The soldiers of Bixue Pass who were in the midst of fighting roared, their morale boosted, and they forcefully pushed back the Xirong army that had approached the city gate.
The huge army came into sight in an instant, and the Xirong army immediately turned their horses and fled. They were ordered to weaken the enemy's morale, but no one said to throw their lives away.
The soldiers here saw clearly the banner raised in the center of the reinforcements and looked at each other.
"What's that?"
"I don't know, but it's quite pretty..."
The military officer on the city wall took a closer look and shouted: "Kneel down quickly! His Majesty has personally commanded the army!"
The emperor?!
In the rustling wind, thousands of people inside and outside the city gate knelt down.
The young man wiped the blood and sweat from his face, pulled the soldier to kneel on one knee with everyone, and laughed softly: "What did you guys say earlier?"
The soldier snorted coldly.
The army entered the city.
By the time everything had settled down for the time being, it was already time to light the lamps.
Li Tingqiu asked Ye Mao in front of the room: "Has His Majesty woke up?"
The latter shook his head and said: “His Majesty slept at noon, and it's been…six to eight hours now."
Li Tingqiu frowned and said, "What did the imperial physician say?"
Ye Mao sighed and said: "He prescribed a few medicines, saying they can improve energy and blood circulation, but it is of no use."
Li Tingqiu was silent, his expression gloomy.
Ye Mao said: "General, what's the matter?"
"It's nothing. If His Majesty wakes up, please send someone to tell me."
Ye Mao nodded and said: "Yes."
Faint candlelight could be seen through the window. Li Tingqiu took a last look, turned and left.
Ye Mao watched him pass through two rows of armored guards and head out of the courtyard. Then he heard a soft "creak" from the door behind him, and Lin Xiaosheng opened the door and came out.
Ye Mao bowed and said, "Gongzi, are you going back to your room?"
"Bring some warm water for cleansing the face." Lin Xiaosheng said, "In addition, ask someone to find Sao Hong who came with me and bring some soothing incense."
Ye Mao said hurriedly: "Yes."
Lin Xiaosheng turned around and entered the room again. Jing Ye was still lying on the bed, brows furrowed as he slept.
Lin Xiaosheng sat gently on the edge of the bed, twirling a strand of Jing Ye's loosened black hair with his fingers, his eyes dark and unclear.
Li Tingqiu pushed open the small fence with a jar of wine. An old man was lying on the lounge chair next to the flower garden, with his hands on the armrests and his eyes closed.
Li Tingqiu stepped forward and said, "Elder He." (TN: polite address to an older and distinguished man)
The old man opened his eyes. He looked back and smiled when he saw him.
"It's you, boy."
Li Tingqiu said: "I haven't seen you for two years, but you are still so robust."
The old man waved his hand and said, "I'm getting old, I'm getting old, ai." He pointed to the wooden stool next to the recliner and said, "Sit."
Li Tingqiu sat down as he was told, placed the wine jar on the small table, and patted open the mud seal. The old man sniffed and said with a smile, "I haven't seen you for two years but you still remember this old man's tastes."
Li Tingqiu said: "What Elder He taught me back then is not something Ting Qiu will ever forget."
Three years ago, Li Tingqiu was just a commoner, and Elder He was the famous General He of the imperial court. After Li Tingqiu came to the capital, he paid a visit to Elder He's manor. Elder He saw that he was talented at both civil and military affairs, a dragon or a phoenix among men, and that he had a mature and steady temperament, so he taught him some martial arts and tactics. Though he said it was nothing official, in truth he already saw him as half a disciple.
Elder He first asked a few questions about the current situation in the capital, and then said with a smile: "Martial men don't go around in circles. You have come to me for the sake of the little emperor?"
Li Tingqiu nodded and said: "Now that the war situation is urgent, the imperial court needs someone who can hold the line. Apart from you, I can't find a more suitable candidate."
Elder He put on a serious face and let out a "hmmph": "When you call me, I come, and when you wave at me, I go. What do you take me, He Shaochang, as."
Li Tingqiu sat straight and said: “His Majesty has issued an imperial edict. As long as you are willing, you will be reinstated immediately and welcome back to the army according to the etiquette."
Elder He continued to harrumph but after waiting for a while, he found that the other had stopped talking and said, “That's it?"
Li Tingqiu said: "This is His Majesty's will."
Elder He couldn't hold onto his act anymore and glared: "You rascal, don't you know to say a few nice words? In the future when you have a girl you like, won't you end up scaring her away with just a few words?"
Li Tingqiu was stunned for a moment, and thinking of something, his face turned slightly red. He said seriously: "Now that Xirong is rampant and the common people have no peace, Elder He is not someone who will just sit idly by."
Elder He was silent for a long time, then waved his hands and said: "Fine, fine, I have lived over half a lifetime, and many times I have stepped half a foot in the underworld, vainglory doesn't matter to me. You go back and tell the little emperor that He Shaochang will lead the army but does not receive orders from the emperor on the battlefield. If he is willing, then I will risk breaking all my old bones to drive those Xirong bastards thousands of miles away."
"Elder He." Li Tingqiu stood up, bowed and cupped his hands and said, "Ting Qiu is here to say thank you on behalf of the people and His Majesty."
Elder He nodded: "En, enough, sit down and drink."
Li Tingqiu was busy with military affairs, so he only had a few drinks with the old general, then said goodbye and left.
Elder He lay back on the recliner again, squinted his eyes and dozed for a while. When he heard footsteps, he opened his eyes and saw that it was their family's little troublemaker.
Elder He said: “Just you, where is Fifteen?"
He Yu, the soldier on the battlefield yesterday, frowned and said, "Lin Xiaosheng is here. Fifteen was called over."
Elder He thought about it and said, "I'm afraid it's to take Fifteen away, you should have gone to have a look."
"I wanted to go, but his servant boy won't let me. Fifteen also told me to go back."
"You come back just because you are told to?" Elder He was simply stupefied by the ignorance of these juniors. “Is your head for show? I really don't know who you took after. What if he really takes Fifteen away?"
He Yu pursed his lips: "I won't let him go."
"What if he persists?"
"Then I'll go with him."
Fifteen followed Sao Hong into the courtyard. The guards searched him then took him into a side room.
Entering the room, Fifteen saw the familiar figure on the main seat. He couldn't help but step forward and shouted with a smile: "Brother!"
Lin Xiaosheng raised his head, his eyes softening a little: "You've lost weight."
Fifteen raised his eyebrows and smiled. Lin Xiaosheng said: "Come and sit."
Fifteen obeyed and sat on the chair closest to the main seat. Lin Xiaosheng was not good at being intimate with others, so the two brothers chatted simply about trivial daily matters.
Lin Xiaosheng said: "After the battle in Bixue City, you can follow me back to the capital."
Fifteen was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously said: "I don't want to go."
Lin Xiaosheng frowned: "Is it possible that you still want to stay here?"
Fifteen was a little hesitant, Lin Xiaosheng said with a cold face: "Is it because of that He Yu?"
There was silence in response to him.
Lin Xiaosheng's hands on the armrest tightened. He never expected that the precious little brother he had raised was actually willing to run away with someone else.
Fifteen looked at him and said, "Brother, I... like him. You said that you would give me anything I like."
"So I have to watch you being seduced away by others?"
Fifteen didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "The word seduce is not very appropriate."
"I don't agree." Lin Xiaosheng stood up with a cold face and walked out. Fifteen shouted after him, but was ignored.
After leaving the room, Lin Xiaosheng ordered Sao Hong: "Find a courtyard in the city, clean it up, and have the second young master live there. He is not allowed to live with the He family anymore."
"Yes." Sao Hong bowed and said, "Young master, His Majesty has summoned you to discuss the matter of food and grass."
Lin Xiaosheng returned to his indifferent expression and told Sao Hong to take the account books and follow him to the main house.