Chapter 6 Chapter Thirty-Eight

The emperor said that the empire is waiting to be rejuvenated, but this is just right.The snake people were eliminated, and the whole country celebrated with joy, and with the New Year approaching, it was even more grand.The emperor pardoned the world, and the people cheered thunderously. Although the imperial capital still seemed to have lost its vitality, it already had some scenes of peace and prosperity. I hurried along the road, pulling up the collar of my windbreaker to cover my face.Xue Wen also invited me over for dinner today, saying that it was Chinese New Year, and he also asked his son Xue Tingxuan to meet me.After the new year, his son is six years old.It is very different from Xue Wenyi, his son loves to use a gun, and he has already started to learn how to use a gun before he is enlightened.Xue Wen also asked him to worship under me, but I usually don't have the time to teach, so I can only say that I find time to give pointers.Xue Wen also hopes that his son will become a dragon. He himself has been in the army for a long time, but he has never learned swordsmanship.

Because it is almost the Chinese New Year, the streets are very lively, and there are bustling crowds everywhere.When I walked through an open space, it was full of people, and a banner was pulled in the middle, and a man with a red cloth strip tied on his head was standing on a temporary stage and was saying something loudly, "Swear to serve the country to the death" ", "Loyal to the country" and other words.When he said a word, the people around him burst into cheers.I stood and glanced at it, and a young man with a stack of papers ran over immediately and said, "Sir, do you want to join the King's Group?" He said and handed a piece of paper to my hand.

Royal group?I couldn't help feeling a little surprised.This organization has been around for a few years, and at the beginning they sent representatives to work in the army. Although they felt that they were a bit boring to shout about loyalty and patriotism all day long, they took to the streets to parade at every turn, forcing passers-by and shops to donate money.But they all talked about the big truth, and it was hard to say anything. I didn't expect it to grow to such an extent.I took it over and took a look. It said "Registration Form for the King's Regiment", and below it were some small columns, which were very detailed, such as name, gender, place of origin, age, and so on.I said: "What is this?"

"This is the registration form for the king's group." The young man probably felt that I might join the king's group, and his interest also rose, pointing: "After filling out this form, a certificate of the king's group will be issued, sir, you are the king Members of the regiment. Sir, as citizens of the empire, each of us has the obligation to contribute to the country, and only by joining the King's Honor Group can we be true heroes." The paper was very smooth.Since the Ministry of Industry made bark paper, because the cost of paper is so cheap that it cannot be compared with cow and sheep skin, it has developed very fast. Now paper can be made from rags and sawdust. In the past, these wastes have become useful things, so there are more than a dozen in the imperial capital. Paper workshop.It's just that even though there is a lot of paper, I didn't expect it to be wasted like this, not to mention the cost of copying.Zunwangtuan has this financial resources, if copying some literacy textbooks and the like, that is also a practical matter.In addition, he said that only those who join the King's Group are the real heroes. I couldn't help but feel a little disgusted in my heart, and said: "Snake people don't just talk about death."

The young man said: "Sir, you can't say that. The bloody battles of the soldiers are of course meritorious, but many of them are soldiers for the sake of living, and they are not really loyal to the king and patriotic in their hearts. Our King Respect Group enlightens the wisdom of the people and lets the people of the empire know Human relations and righteousness, that is the immortal merit, laying the foundation of the empire forever." This young man has a good appearance and was not annoying at first, but now I find him more and more annoying.I returned the paper to him and said, "Forget it, I'm not interested."

The young man didn't give up, and said behind me: "Sir, your idea is very dangerous. In the whole world, is it the king's land? If there is no emperor, how can we have such a peaceful life?" I ignored him.If you want to refute, just tell him that there is no emperor in Wuyang City.It's just that saying this may cause him to make a lot of comments, but I'm still the commander of the local army.I walked on my own, but I heard the commotion behind me, someone was crying "Long live the emperor" and so on, it must have just joined the royal group. When I entered the inner courtyard of Xue Wenyi's house, I could smell a fragrance. I saw Xue Wenyi was in the corridor, and Xue Tingxuan was dancing with a small wooden gun.I smiled and said, "Brother Xue, I feel so at ease."

When Xue Wenyi saw me, he smiled and said, "Brother Chu, you're here, and I'm waiting for you. Tingxuan, call Uncle Chu." Holding the gun, Xue Tingxuan came over and bowed to me, and said, "Uncle Chu." The last time I saw him, he was not very articulate, but now he speaks fluently.I picked him up and said, "Ha, I've grown a lot taller." Xue Wen also turned the wheelchair, came over and said, "Come, sit inside." I was about to follow him in when Shao Fengguan's voice suddenly came from behind: "Servant Xue, I'm sorry for disturbing you."

Xue Wenyi doesn't have a deep friendship with Shao Fengguan, so he made an appointment with Shao Fengguan because he wanted him to accompany me.I turned my head and said with a smile, "Brother Shao, you're here too." Shao Fengguan was still holding a bag made of straw.He smiled lightly, and said: "Coincidentally, A Fang brought a marinated chicken with chicken at home, just to taste it." He handed the straw bag to a servant next to me, seeing that I was a little surprised, and said: "Mao The pickled chicken is the local flavor of Afang and the others. Every year when the frost comes, a fat chicken is killed, the belly is cleaned, rubbed with salt, stuffed with herbs, tied tightly with straw and hung to dry. It can be eaten during the Chinese New Year. It is best to make hangover soup, it is extremely delicious."

Shao Fengguan is very particular about food and drink, the food he eats is always weird.I smiled and said, "Brother Shao, when you talk about eating, your eyebrows are beaming." Shao Fengguan said with a smile: "I ask for three meals a day, and one night at night. Everything else in the world is fake, and it is true to be able to eat and sleep." Shao Fengguan said it easily, but I always feel a kind of desolation in his words.This peerless famous general became more and more decadent.He abandoned Wenhou to join the emperor, not for fame and fortune, but because he instinctively refused to get close to Wenhou.Even if he becomes the emperor's confidant, his heart may not be at peace.Shao Fengguan didn't care about anything, he stretched out his hand to take Xue Tingxuan from my arms, weighed him and said: "What a fat boy, haha, Lord Xue, he looks more like Ling Zheng, not quite like your face."

Xue Wenyi is fat now, and Xue Tingxuan is immature, but quite heroic.Xue Wen also smiled dryly and said, "Come on, let's go in and have a seat, it's just time for the banquet." I said, "Is there no one else?" Xue Wen also said: "It's just you two today. Just kidding, I'm an official in the court, but my temper is too bad and I don't have many friends." Xue Wen also has a tranquil temperament, never forms a clique for personal gain, and probably keeps a certain distance from others. The only ones who can be called friends are the four of us who escaped from Gaojiu City together.But now the four of us have become too many, I felt a little pain in my heart, and said, "Where is Wu Wanling? Is he in the imperial capital?"

The corners of Xue Wenyi's mouth twitched slightly, and he said, "He is now a popular person beside General Bi. He has been stationed at the front line and has not come back." He spoke plainly, but there was some dissatisfaction in his words, presumably Wu Wanling was becoming more and more alienated from him.Now that Shao Fengguan is here, I don't have much to say, so I said, "Okay, let's eat. Brother Xue, what kind of food are you cooking? It's so delicious." Before Xue Wenyi said anything, Shao Fengguan shouted, "I guess Master Xue must have got some flying dragons!" Xue Wen also smiled and said: "General Shao is indeed amazing!" He turned to me and said, "Brother Chu, you probably haven't heard of Feilong?" I really have never heard of such a thing, said: "What is this?" "It's a bird that lives on the snow-capped mountains of Juluo Island. It is said that it was born from the ambergris in the sea. It was originally a small fish. On the night of the full moon in August and September, it came out of the sea and gave birth to a pair of wings. It turned into a flying bird. It's not very big. It is extremely rare, and the taste is extremely delicious." Xue Wenyi said, his face suddenly felt a little sad, and said: "This is given to me by the Juluo mission that came to pay tribute this year. One of the missions was originally Li Yaotian. The general’s old department said that General Li Yaotian had planned to send me a pair to try something new in order to thank me for equipping his ship with equipment. It’s just that this flying dragon bird is extremely difficult to catch, and usually all it catches is tribute, or it’s also a sentence. Wang Yanchen used it, and only caught a few more pairs this year." When it comes to Li Yaotian, I can't help feeling a little sad.Li Yao is a genius with a high reputation, a gentle temperament, and an excellent reputation in the empire. However, this talented navy general did not have the luck to match his talent, and died in the line of duty during the Japanese conquest.I said, "General Li Yaotian has passed away for three years." "It's been three years since the new year, so that's four years." Shao Fengguan suddenly added.Shao Fengguan has always been a little lonely, but he got along very well with Li Yaotian when he cooperated, and they can be regarded as close friends.He sighed, and said: "Thinking about the old friends who died, our bad lives are really tough." Xue Wen also said: "Whatever you say outside, let's go in quickly. The envoy Luo also gave me a jar of assorted kimchi, which tastes very different from the kimchi here. Let's try some fresh ones first, and clear our mouths." Bar." We sat down.Xue Wenyi's house was cleaned very neatly. Although his wife is a small family, she also manages the house well.I held some kimchi in my arms and said, "If I come back with my life, I should be satisfied after thinking about it." I heard from Li Yaotian before that everyone in Juluo eats kimchi.Kimchi is also produced in various parts of the empire, but the production methods are quite different, and the taste is also quite different. Juluo kimchi is somewhat similar to the kimchi in Tianshui Province, but the taste is also quite unique. Not fancy, but good taste.Shao Fengguan also took a sip, and said: "It's not a battle to put your head on your belt, and you should thank Tianjun if you can come back intact." Xue Wenyi picked up the cup and said, "It's all right now, the war is finally over. I wish you both smooth sailing and good health in the future." Is the war over?I smiled wryly to myself, and looked at Shao Fengguan, he was also a little dumbfounded.One war is over, and another is imminent.It’s just that in the eyes of people like Xue Wenyi who are far away from war, peace has arrived, and they don’t have to worry about going to sleep tonight and waking up tomorrow in a sea of ​​flames.However, in any case, it would be great if peace really came. This meal was very hearty, even Shao Fengguan, who is most particular about appetite, ate with great interest, and his mouth was full of eloquence, eloquent, all over the world, eating and drinking men and women, he said that he got excited, and we were dumbfounded when we heard it.Shao Fengguan is both knowledgeable and eloquent. Even if he is not a general, he should be a famous minister as a civil servant. At the end, the soup made with Maoyanfeng chicken was served.Shao Fengguan was right, the marinated chicken didn't look very eye-catching, but when it was made into soup, it tasted so delicious that even Xue Tingxuan, who climbed up to the table later, drank two big bowls and ate up both chicken legs. After eating and saying goodbye to Xue Wenyi's family, I went back with Shao Fengguan.Shao Fengguan came on horseback, because I was on foot, he led the horse and walked with me for a while. New Year approached.Now until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhi Jinwu no longer prohibits the night, and people who go shopping in the night market on the street are crowded with each other, all beaming.Shao Fengguan and I were chatting nonchalantly, and when we walked past the open space, someone shouted, "Come and join the king's group, and be proud to sacrifice your life for the country." Shao Fengguan turned his head and made a gesture Kuxiang said: "Brother Chu, we will organize death squads in the future, so we don't need to recruit people, so let them go." I also smiled wryly: "I'm afraid that the Death Squad will charge backwards then." Shao Feng sighed and said: "That's not necessarily true, those people below will really think that death in battle is a happy thing, and these people who tell others to die, you won't join the Death Squad even if you kill them." I said: "Anyway, they still know that they are loyal to the emperor and patriotic, so there must be merits." Shao Fengguan twitched his lips, and said, "Speaking well, what can I do?" Although Shao Fengguan said it harshly, I also think he is right.We were speechless for a while, and we walked past the group of people with dull heads. Behind them, they were still talking impassionedly, and some people were cheering from time to time. It must have been in the middle of the night, and I don’t know where they got such strong energy.While walking, Shao Fengguan suddenly said: "Brother Chu, I really didn't expect that Bi Huzi would turn his back on your lord." I smiled lightly and said: "Although it was a little unexpected, Deng Canglan also turned around, which made me even more unexpected. Although the person who knows the current affairs is a hero, Lord Wenhou will definitely not let it go. I don't know who will win in this vicious fight .” "Your Excellency, the chances of winning should not be great." Shao Fengguan's mouth curled into a sneer, "For this expedition, Your Excellency has exhausted all means, let us do it. It is good to win, but it is also our fault to lose, not Bi Huzi and Deng Canglan's fault. It's just that the emperor's methods are more ruthless, and he actually came to the bottom of the pot. Deng Canglan is not a person who falls easily, and will be threatened by Bi Huzi, probably the lord did not expect it." I said: "I heard that Master Nangong's wife wrote him a letter, declaring his interests." Shao Fengguan laughed, and said: "A hero is sad for a beauty. Deng Canglan pretends to be an infatuated species, and he fell in love with Ke Na at the beginning. He was so courteous at that time, but he was not willing to give up when he was ignored. Now that he is married as a woman, he actually It’s still a letter that can be transferred back. It’s really easy to change the country, and the nature is hard to change. He is also really affectionate and heroic.” I don't want to follow Shao Fengguan to ridicule Nangong Wenli's wife, so I just laughed and said: "It's time to go back, where will Brother Shao go after the new year?" Shao Feng said: "Your Majesty ordered me to guard Dongping City, probably because he is responsible for monitoring Bi Huzi and Deng Canglan." I said, "Really? I didn't receive it." "Of course you won't receive such an order." Shao Fengguan's mouth curled up with an unfathomable smile, "At the beginning, the second prince took advantage of the emptiness of the imperial capital to revolt, although he fell into Wenhou's tricks, His Majesty will not repeat the same mistakes now, your clan The general will be guarding the imperial capital." At this point, his face suddenly sank, he looked around, and whispered: "Be careful, my lord may die soon." My heart skipped a beat, and I said, "Really?" Seeing that Shao Fengguan just nodded slightly, he didn't speak.His eyesight is better than mine, he sees things deeply and pertinently, thinking about it, Dijun and Zhang Longyou definitely expected that Marquis Wen would not be reconciled, now the more Marquis Wen keeps a low profile, the more defensive they will be.Dijun and Zhang Longyou must have breathed a sigh of relief when the expeditionary force returned to the imperial capital.And after we come back, the blow to Marquis Wen will definitely be further deepened.It seems to be calm now, but there is an undercurrent surging, and it will rush out at any time.I don't know if I can survive this tide. Too many waves, how many lives have been swallowed... In the twilight, a high-pitched voice suddenly came: "The sky collapses, the ground cracks and the prison roars, the sun rushes to the moon and devours the stars, the monster dragon in the clouds eats people's heads. The wind blows ghosts and rains down the empty streets, the rats on the building peep at the corpses, and the skeletons are still filled with seven treasures." hairpin." The voice was rather old and abrupt. It must be someone who was drunk and sang nonsense, but the lyrics were too appalling, and it didn't sound like it should be sung during Chinese New Year.Both Shao Fengguan and I were taken aback, we stopped at the same time and listened to the man singing.But the man continued to sing: "The broken eaves sound like iron horses, and the mandarin ducks are stained red with green blood. In the coming year, the bones will cover the whole field. Poor swordsmen are raised every year. I don't know when peace will come. Such a world is desperate for life. The kite flies violently and the sky is as powerful as it is." Fatigue, fish dive in the abyss without a deep gorge, and in the end, the common people have many sins, and there is no reason to respond to this vast calamity." When the old man sang the three lines "Poor every year he starts fighting, I don't know when peace will come, so the world doesn't want to live", I felt a pain in my heart, and I heard the last sentence "It is the common people who have many sins, and there is no reason to respond to this vast calamity." "Those two sentences brought tears to my eyes.This old man must be a poet. Although I don't know if this poem is well written, I can feel the compassion in it.In the protracted war with the Snake Man, countless people lost their lives innocently. Is there a second time now? I looked at Shao Fengguan on the side, there were some tears in his eyes, and he was holding the rein tightly in his hand, as if he was thinking.In the twilight, the old man's singing had stopped, only the cold wind blew past, shrill as a knife. Shao Fengguan led the Feng Corps and the 10,000 Xifu Army newly incorporated into the regular army to Dongping City on the third day of the new year.After the Snakeman is eliminated, the sphere of influence discussed with the Republican Army should be implemented step by step.According to the agreement at the time, Minrong Province should be assigned to the Republican Army, so that Zhijiang Province would become the border between the Empire and the Republican Army. Once there was a war, Dongping City would be the most important town at the forefront.Although there is a scene of harmony now, I also know that all this is an illusion. However, even if there is a one in ten thousand chance, I can't give up. On the first day of the lunar new year, the promotion order was issued, and the entire Four-Phase Corps was promoted to one level, and Deng Canglan, Bi Wei, and Shao Fengguan were promoted to deputy generals at the same time.Although they are both deputy generals, according to the ranking, I am ranked first, Shao Fengguan is second, Bi Wei is third, and Deng Canglan is fourth, so Shao Fengguan said that he was sent to monitor the Second Water and Fire Army, which is completely true. According to his military merits, the four commanders of the four-phase legion could have been promoted to deputy generals long ago.But since there are very few deputy generals, it has always been regarded as a similar honorary rank. Now only some veterans who have retired from the army can be appointed as deputy generals. Our four deputy generals, all under 40, are not big or small in the imperial capital. news.However, because the little prince is a military supervisor and has not been awarded a military rank, my prediction that he would worship the commander-in-chief fell through, and the title of marshal went to Marquis Wen, but no one knew that it was an empty shelf.Similarly, Tu Fang's promotion to the rank of general was also a vain job, but Tu Fang had no ambitions, and enjoyed himself, but Wenhou must be unhappy when he was promoted and surrendered secretly. On the fifth day of the new year, the envoy sent by the Republican Army began to formally negotiate with the empire to discuss the way to jointly govern the country.The Republican Army put forward two proposals, one is to draw the river to divide the rule, the south of the river belongs to the Republican Army, and the north is the Empire, and the Republican Army pays taxes every year as a part of the Empire.This is equivalent to expanding the authority of the previous Wuyang City by hundreds of times. The empire south of the river has no power to intervene, and the emperor will definitely not agree. Therefore, another proposal of the Republican Army is to establish a coalition government. The five ministries are appointed by the Empire and the Republican Army at a ratio of 70% to 30%, and the national policy is discussed by a cabinet composed of officials led by the five ministries. Appointment, and the emperor has the final veto power, but all affairs are subject to national laws, so the first thing the cabinet does is to formulate new laws, called constitutional law.Because constitutionalization is equivalent to distributing the power of the emperor to the cabinet, this proposal has been approved by many imperial officials, who feel that it is very feasible, and only some details need to be discussed. From a personal point of view, I am very supportive of constitutionalism.The cabinet is not for life, it is elected every five years, and the list is elected by the two parties in proportion.In any case, this can well make up for the disadvantages of the previous emperor who covered the sky with one hand and did whatever he wanted.If it is a wise king, the decision-making may not be omnipotent and wise. If it is a foolish king, then no one can restrain him from doing anything wrong.If the cabinet system is adopted, at least one person no longer has the final say. Any decision must be discussed by the cabinet before it can be proposed. Even if the emperor has any decision, it must also be discussed by the cabinet. useless.The cabinet system not only maintains the authority of the emperor, but also avoids the arbitrariness of the emperor to the greatest extent. Now it seems that it is more important than the empty talk of "people first, people-oriented, and all power belongs to the people" that the Republican Army used to insist. feasibility.Nangong Wenli strongly agreed with this idea, saying that it took the advantages of both the empire and the republic, and both sides could accept it. However, there are many voices in the empire who oppose this proposal, especially Tu Fang, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Ding Ximing, Minister of the Ministry of Punishment.Tu Fang Shangshu said that this proposal was very disrespectful to the emperor, and Ding Ximing said it even more severely in the memorial, saying that "this proposal is called constitutionalism, but it is actually a republic. Over time, the people will regard your majesty as a burden." There is absolutely no way to do this.” On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the rhetoric between the civil servants of the Republican Army and the Empire became more and more fierce, and the whole day was almost spent in quarrels.Henry Ding, as the chief representative of the envoys of the Republican Army, I can also see that he is physically and mentally exhausted, and Zheng Zhao on the other side is even more exhausted.After the snake man was destroyed, because Ding Henry didn't do anything to us, I had no reason to hold Zheng Zhao, so I sent him back.This time Zheng Zhao joined the mission because he knew where the bottom line of the important ministers of the imperial army was, but once the negotiations were really made, he might be surprised by the stubbornness of the imperial civil servants.Even if he can read the opponent's mind, what's the use?People like Ding Ximing who never give up an inch can be said to be the mainstream in the empire.If it was all Tu Fang Ding Ximing, the negotiation would have broken down long ago. During the negotiation, I was only an observer and didn't say much, but my ears were filled with quarrels, and I also felt a splitting headache. I didn't have the mood to attend the banquet after the meeting. I just wanted to go home and take a good bath.My house is still the same small house as before. Feng Qi and his nine people are now living in my house. I bought a house next door to the house and connected the two houses. I still only live with ordinary wealthy households in the imperial capital. .But I am small, after all, there are some servants who clean and cook for me. As long as I go home, I can live a life of putting on clothes, stretching out my hands to eat, opening my mouth, and taking a hot bath every day. This day is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. During the Lantern Festival of the year, there is a custom of watching lanterns. The streets are decorated with lanterns and festoons, which is very lively.When I got home, I asked my servants to heat up the water, and when I was on holiday, I asked them to go to the street early to watch the lights. There were not many people left at home.Anyway, Feng Qi and the others still seldom go out because of what Lu Gongxing did back then, and they stayed at home today. With them around, naturally nothing would happen. I took off my clothes and soaked in the bath.It is still unforgettable to take a bath in the hot spring in Futun City.Although there is no hot spring in the imperial capital, but now I have some money on hand, I asked a master craftsman to set up such a bath pool at home. There is a layer of white pebbles on the bottom, and hot water is connected. Two.The bathing pool is cleaned every day, it is very clean, and when you lie in it, it is so comfortable that your bones will be crispy. Just as I was about to ask someone to change the water, there were two knocks on the door, and Lao Zhou, the gatekeeper, said outside: "General, there are guests." Are there any guests at this time?I can't help being a little unhappy.It's hard to imagine who would come to be an uninvited guest at such a time.I said, "Let him wait for a while, I'll get dressed." Old Zhou said: "Yes." I lazily dried myself and was putting on my coat when there were two more knocks on the door.I was a little annoyed, and said, "Old Zhou, didn't you let him wait for a while?" "it's me." This voice was soft and gentle, but I felt as if I had been slapped in the head, and said in surprise: "Bai Wei!" It was indeed Bai Wei's voice.I never thought that Bai Wei would come to my house at such a night, and I didn't even know that she came to the imperial capital with Zheng Zhao.I rushed forward and opened the bathroom door. Outside the door was Bai Wei.She was wearing a large cloak with only one face showing.Under the dim light, her cheeks were as white as jade.I subconsciously wanted to help her shoulders, but before my hands touched her clothes, I couldn't help but put them back, and said, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Zheng, I didn't expect it to be you." Bai Wei's face was fair and smooth, even without blood.She stared at me blankly, and I couldn't help asking in surprise, "What's the matter?" When I looked down, there was a sharp pain in my heart. The dress I was wearing was exactly the one that Bai Wei gave me back then.I said with a dry smile: "Mrs. Zheng, you can sit in the main hall for a while, I will come out after I get dressed." Bai Wei said softly: "No need." I was stunned, still not understanding what she meant, Bai Wei seemed to be staggering, and she fell into my arms.I only knew that she was not standing still, and I stretched out my hand to help her, but my heart suddenly tightened. In Bai Wei's hand, a bright short knife appeared, stabbing at my chest. Bai Wei's sword skills are quite good. If I concentrate all my attention, I can still dodge this knife, but now I never thought that Bai Wei would do anything to me. It was too late to dodge, so I instinctively drew the knife from my waist and handed it to me. It only takes one move to save yourself from being disheveled.Ever since Marquis Wu gave me the Baipi knife, I have never taken it off. Even when I was sleeping, the Baipi knife was on my waist. Just now, because I was taking a bath, the Baipi knife was placed on the side shelf.Taking advantage of the situation, I stretched out my hand and reached the shelf.At this time, Bai Wei's knife had been stabbed halfway. The movement of drawing the knife is very familiar and smooth.If I fight back immediately, although I still can't avoid Bai Wei's knife, at least both sides will be hurt.But the moment my fingers touched the handle of the knife, I couldn't pull it out no matter what.When I fought with Zeng Wanggu, I swore that I would never kill women and children in this life.But if I draw the sword now, I can't hold it steady at all, so I can only use the sword to kill people. No, I can't kill her, even if she wants to kill me. I watched Bai Wei's knife stab straight at me, but I couldn't swing my hand out.Even though it was just an oath, it was like a thick iron bar running through my heart, and I couldn't break through it no matter what.I once thought about how I would die, be hacked to death by the snake man, stabbed to death, entangled to death, it is all possible, but I never thought that I would die by Bai Wei's knife. I can't help but close my eyes. But the expected death did not come.Not even a little feeling.I opened my eyes, only to find that Bai Wei's hands were trembling, the knife was almost touching my body, but it never stabbed.Seeing that I opened my eyes, she scolded: "Coward! Why didn't you fight back?" With a sudden wave of my hand, Baipi Dao was pulled out with a "clang", and shouted: "It's the same now!" Now that he was prepared, the knife flashed, and it was passing by Bai Wei, slashing at the body of Bai Wei's short knife, cutting Bai Wei's knife in half.This knife cut was too easy, although the Baipi knife was sharp, it could not cut through other sharp knives like cutting rotten wood, and Bai Wei's knife head fell to the ground, making a dull sound of wood.I was stunned, stretched out my left hand, twisted Bai Wei's wrist and snatched the half of the knife, stretched out the Baipi knife and knocked on the rest of the knife, the voice was hoarse, it was indeed made of wood.I said angrily, "What are you kidding? You have to know that when I panic, I don't care about the severity. Maybe I will kill you with one knife." Although Bai Wei's sword skills are good, they still can't compare with mine.I snatched her wooden knife, but she didn't realize it, she just stared at me blankly, tears came out of her eyes, and she choked up and said: "I just want to die, I want to die by your knife, why don't you kill me?" I was frightened by her, and said: "What's wrong with you? What happened? Did you quarrel with Mr. Zheng?" Although Bai Wei is not a petty person, if she has any problems with Zheng Zhao, I will I don't know what she will do. Bai Wei shook her head and said: "You are such a fool with the number one character in the sky, I can't believe that you can live to this day." I was a little dumbfounded by her scolding, and said: "Yeah, I don't believe that I have lived for such a long time. Only now do I know that a fool can always live longer." Bai Wei didn't pay attention to my jokes at all, but couldn't stop crying.Seeing her cry, I became more and more uncomfortable, and said with a dry smile: "Okay, okay, if you cry again, I will feel guilty for not being killed by you." Bai Wei finally smiled, but her eyes were still full of tears.Bai Wei wouldn't deliberately come to joke with me, there must be something wrong.I patted her on the shoulder and said, "Tell me, what happened?" Bai Wei wiped away her tears, raised her head and said, "Why don't you kill me?" I said, "Of course I won't kill you. I swore that I would never kill women and children in my life." "What if a woman wants to kill you? You don't want to kill her?" "Of course not." I smiled, "But I won't obediently let you kill me." Bai Wei sighed, and said, "No, you fool, it will be too late for you to fight back." I was hit by her.If Bai Wei used a real knife just now, and she really wanted to kill me, I would not be able to lose nine lives.I said, "That's because it's you. I believe you won't kill me." Bai Wei raised her head and said, "Why?" "Because..." I weighed my words.Although Bai Wei didn't really want to kill me, she was an assassin after all. I was afraid that what I said was wrong and she would be paranoid.I said: "She came to kill me for her own reasons, but I don't have the heart to kill a woman." She turned her head, looked at the corner of the room and said, "Chu Xiuhong, you have also changed a lot. I remember that in Gaojiu City, you were unwilling to kill and surrender, but you still had murderous intent in your eyes, but they were much clearer. Now You hold a heavy army in your hands, and lay down corpses for thousands of miles, but the murderous look in your eyes has faded, and your eyes have become much cloudier." I didn't know what she was talking about, so I smiled dryly and said, "People always change, and you have changed a lot too. When you and Zi Liao were in Gao Jiu, I really thought you were just two weak ladies. " Bai Wei bit her lips lightly, her snow white teeth looked particularly bright in the dark.She said: "People often use unscrupulous means in order to survive, don't you think so?" I would like to say that both the Imperial Army and the Republican Army ate human flesh in order to survive when food was scarce in Gaojiu City.You can even eat human flesh, what else can't you do?At that time, I hated Marquis Wu's order to eat people with high-sounding reasons, but after years of fighting and fighting, I seemed to understand Marquis Wu again. To survive.What a terrible thing man can become in order to live!I sighed and said, "That's inevitable." As soon as I said it, Bai Wei suddenly rushed forward, hugged me and said, "No, I don't want it. I just want you at that time." Her body was hot.My head buzzed, and I thought to myself: "Is this also her method?" But the woman in my arms looks so weak and helpless, if she is a weapon, it must be a weapon that can't hurt anyone at all Bar.I hugged her with my left hand, but she didn't say a word, just choked up and buried her head in my arms.In the dark, I smelled her faint fragrance, and seemed to return to the Gaojiu City surrounded by snake men in a trance.I stroked Bai Wei's wet hair with my left hand, and murmured: "Bai Wei, we can't go back anymore. The past has become the past." As the night deepened, so did the chill, but the house was as warm as a spring day.I held the woman in my arms with mixed feelings in my heart. From the kiss when I sent her out of Gaojiu City, I have an inexplicable feeling towards Bai Wei, and Bai Wei towards me.It's just that I also know that it is impossible for Bai Wei to walk with me.She is the daughter of a veteran general of the Republican Army and the wife of an important minister of the Republican Army, but what about me?Now always the chief general of the Imperial Army.No matter what, we can't get together. Bai Wei curled up in front of my chest like a wounded little animal, and said, "Yes, it's all over. I know I can't kill you, but at least I can break your heart." I laughed: "This kind of assassination method is something you can't wish for. When are you going to assassinate again next time?" I felt the soft body in my arms suddenly warm up. Just as I was about to say something, Bai Wei broke free from my embrace and said, "It won't happen." Just now her voice was soft and greasy to the bone, but now it suddenly became cold.There was a sudden chill in my heart, before I could think about anything, Bai Wei suddenly kissed me lightly again, and said: "Chu Xiuhong, tonight is just a dream, forget it after you wake up." I said: "I'm afraid, I will never forget it." "If you can't forget it, you have to forget it." In the darkness, she sat up and dressed silently.Although I couldn't see clearly, I felt some hot water splashed on the back of my hand.I also sat up and said, "No, what are you hiding from me!" Bai Wei's words kept stammering, as if there was something hard to say.I grabbed her hand and said: "You came here today, you won't just scare me, and then say a few inexplicable words to me. What happened?" I pulled it a little hard, Bai Wei shook it twice and still didn't shake it off, but was pulled against me by me instead.She said angrily, "You hurt me!" "That's not what you want to say." I stared at her closely, "Bai Wei, if you have something to say, just tell the truth and don't keep it from me." Bai Wei raised her head.In the dark, I saw tears in her eyes and trembling lips. "I want to kill you." Bai Wei seemed to have exhausted all her strength to say these three words.I thought she would tell some shocking secrets, but when I heard these three words, I breathed a sigh of relief, and said with a wry smile, "There must be many people who want to kill me." "Ding Henry." Bai Wei lowered her head.She seemed to have exhausted all her strength, and at this moment she leaned against my chest as if collapsed.I smiled lightly and said, "Brother Ding really thinks highly of me." Maybe I wasn't too surprised, but Bai Wei was a little surprised, and said, "You know?" "I can guess it." I murmured, "The matter of the coalition government has obviously come to a dead end, and it probably won't work. At this time, no matter which side is ready to fight. Henry Ding is not an idle person, Meng He can see it, and he also regards me as a good opponent. If you eliminate me as soon as possible at this time, then his chances of winning will be much greater in the future." 我感到怀中的白薇颤抖了一下，她轻声道：“那你会对他动手么？” 我叹了口气，道：“我早就有这种想法，可是怎么都下不了手。丁亨利兄是当世人杰，我也不想杀他，何况他提出的立宪制，我觉得很有道理。” 白薇道：“你说，这个提议通得过么？帝君的态度如何？” 我沉吟道：“陛下的意思模棱两可。但今天我谒见陛下，向陛下竭力说明立宪制的好处，陛下已有首肯之意。所以丁亨利兄若是杀了我，那这个提议只怕定要破裂了。”说到这儿，我脑海中忽地一亮，看着白薇道，“你问这些做什么？” 今天我听南宫闻礼说丁西铭又上了份密疏，其中献了一计，说趁共和军的名臣宿将皆在帝都，可密发禁军一鼓尽歼，共和叛军当如汤泼雪，不征自灭。听到这种馊主意，我不由大惊失色。假如文侯当权，他一定不会出这种不顾后果的主意。但现在帝君亲政，信任的已是张龙友。说实话，张龙友对扳倒文侯，玩权谋确实很有一套，但他对大局的把握却不能与文侯相比。回到帝都时，为了当初海老那个与他长得极为相像的弟子阿麟，当时我曾私下隐约问了张龙友一句，结果他一口否认，事后却似乎在刻意回避我了，现在这事更是不与我这个驻帝国军的实际最高将领商量。我与南宫闻礼紧急联名谒见帝君，向他陈说其中利害。现在共和军来的只是几个将领，而共和军军纪严明，故事里说的那样主将落马，余众一哄而散的事在共和军里不可能发生，所以即使突发奇兵杀了使者，一样达不到消灭共和军的目的，反倒使得共和军死了与帝国合作之心。现在帝国军虽说刚得胜而归，但那一战几乎全是我们打的，共和军以逸待劳，一旦交手，帝国军占不到上风。 帝君听我们说了许久，这才有动容之意。只怕，共和军中也隐约听到了这种消息，假如帝国军真要如此行动，势必会动用我这个帝国军最高指挥官，所以白薇才会受命来问吧。 白薇的眼里忽然闪过一丝慌乱，虽没说话，我只觉心头一下阴寒彻骨。白薇这样做，我还以为她其实一直爱着我，所以冒险来提醒我，但现在我也断定这是共和军的计策了。我松开了她，冷笑道：“原来是这么回事啊。郑夫人，这是何城主还是南武公子的意思？我想不会是郑先生的意思了，你还得瞒着他呢，只是很难。” 白薇的脸一下涨得通红。我还想再说几句重话，却见她抬起头，看着我道：“楚休红，你看不起我吧，是，是我淫贱！” 泪水已淌过她的脸颊，她的眼神伤心欲绝。我不由一怔，心道：“想错了么？”何从景和那个南武公子都是不择手段的人，可是郑昭也是共和军中的有数人物，他也与白薇琴瑟甚合，当初在五羊城因为白薇偷偷见了我一次，郑昭就醋意大发，险些与我闹翻。假如知道白薇与我做了这样的事，只怕他火头一上来，什么都做得出，何从景与南武公子再不择手段，也不可能出这种馊主意。 难道是我想错了？白薇已经挣脱我的怀抱，穿好衣服向门口退去。我急道：“白薇……”想说什么，话到嘴边却又觉得无话可说，只是抓过衣服胡乱穿着。 白薇已退到了门口，却又有些犹豫。我跳下床，走过去一把拉住她的手，道：“白薇，别怪我，我现在最会疑神疑鬼。” 我本以为她会犯脾气挣脱我，但她却没有，任由我握住她的手，抬起头轻声道：“没有，你不是疑神疑鬼。” 我气为之结。这真是何从景或南武公子的计策么？我都不敢想象郑昭知道了会有什么反应。可是白薇竟然会直承此事，也让我没想到。白薇毕竟不想骗我。我心里也不知是什么滋味，百感交集。她原本不该陷入这一类阴谋诡计之中，可她还是陷进来了。我觉得自己实在太对不起她，假如在高鹫城里没有认识她姐妹二人，她也不会接到这种命令吧。我看着她，柔声道：“是何城主要你来探听我的立场？” 白薇的脸涨得通红，半晌才点了点头。虽然知道她是有目的而来，我心里却是一阵狂喜。白薇对我，毕竟不能无情，何从景固然不择手段，却低估了白薇对我的感情。我伸出双臂猛地抱住了她，一语不发。白薇也没有说话，伸手也抱住了我的腰。 “别担心，只要我有三寸气在，就定不让帝国军首开战端。”我在她耳边低低说着。 白薇抬起头，她的眼里有些发亮，道：“你能保证？” “可以。”我点了点头。现在我是帝国兵权最大的人，帝君要下命令调度军队的话，已不可能绕过我。我已打定主意，无论如何，我都要竭力促使立宪制的达成，即使动用最后的兵谏手段。而何从景，大概也正盼着这个结果吧。 白薇闭上了眼，嘴角却带着一丝笑意，道：“谢谢你，不然我真不知该如何回复公子。” 我哼了一声，道：“是南武公子出这种主意？真无耻。白薇，要是郑先生……” 白薇有点狡黠地一笑，道：“不要说公子，那也是我自愿的。公子虽然让我来探你的口风，但今晚的事是我们之间的秘密，公子并不知道。” 我心头却有点发寒，白薇说得轻松，南武公子也许没让她和我做这种事，但她瞒过旁人容易，要瞒过郑昭那是不可能的。而他们是夫妻，白薇也不可能不去见郑昭。我道：“万一郑先生会知道，那你怎么办？” 她笑了笑，道：“你到底担心些什么？担心阿昭上门来揍你么？” 也许是得到了我的承诺，她的心情已好了许多，可是我却不禁担心。海老和我说过，要练读心术必要童身，练成后也成了天阉，怪不得当初白薇说到郑昭时吞吞吐吐的，而我也怎么都练不成读心术。白薇显然不知道郑昭有这种秘术，而郑昭即使已是天阉，仍要娶白薇，看来他对白薇确是一片痴心，在白薇面前会当作不知道，只会恨到我身上。 不管怎么样，恨就让他恨我吧，谁叫我对不起他。我笑了笑，道：“白薇，假如共和军与帝国开战了，你的女营也要上前线么？” 白薇道：“是的。”她迟疑了一下，忽然道：“还有一件事。” "what?" 白薇的声音变得很轻，耳语一般道：“不要以为你们那支会在天上飞的部队是独得之秘，如果真有开战的一天，你要小心。” 我吃了一惊，风军团的秘密，共和军早就想知道了，邵风观说起过，风军团一年能抓到十来个前来刺探之人，那些人当然都是共和军。可是我没想到，共和军居然也已经有了足以匹敌飞行机的武器。I said: "What is it?" 白薇摇了摇头，道：“我是听公子偶尔说起，已经试验成功，别的也不太清楚。你也不要多问了，我对你说这些已是泄密。只希望，永远不要有这一天。” 白薇的眼里似有一丝痛苦。她轻轻把我揽住她的手拿开，道：“我也该走了。今天的事，你全都忘了吧。” 现在是上元，虽是午夜，街上仍是人头攒动，热闹非凡，看来会闹个通宵，外面的声响不时传进来。我道：“那么，你什么时候再来？” 白薇退后了几步，道：“恐怕，永远都不会有了。” 我的心突然如针刺一般痛，道：“永远？” 她重重点了点头，突然转过身，推开门，人闪了出去。我快步追上去，却听得门外一阵喧哗，才走到门边，便见有一道人流正走过我屋前，有人在队伍中高吼着“为国尽忠，死得其所”一类的口号，白薇的身影早就消失在茫茫人流中了。 我站在门边，看着那些人走去。这些人定然又是尊王团，平时对他们讨厌，现在简直是痛恨了。我伸出手来，看了看掌心。掌心里仍然留着方才白薇的体温，而她那甜美的嘴唇也似乎刚离开我的嘴。 “永远。”我嘟囔着白薇说的这两个字，心里不知是什么滋味。第一次，即使白薇是在利用我，在骗我，我仍然想着她。 可是，不知为什么，我的心里又有些不安，总是想着白薇说的那个共和军也有飞行武器的事。白薇说是南武公子偶然说起，但我怎么都觉得有些不对。南武公子是不会不小心的。当初我把暗藏天遁音的木雕送给郑昭，即使他没发现破绽，仍然要郑昭把这些收好不拿出来。 一个如此精细的人，在要白薇来向我施美人计打探消息时，会漏出这等机密事的口风？只会有两个原因，一是白薇仍在骗我，二就是这也是南武公子计策中的一环。可是我不相信白薇会有意骗我，更有可能的就是南武公子有意要借她的口来告诉我了。 他是要告诉我，共和军的实力比我想象的更强，让我铁下心来为和谈出力吧。虽然不用他说我也有这个心思，但是现在却总觉得不安。南武公子这样的人，恐怕才是最危险的人……假如联合政府的事告吹，那我要做的第一件事不是取丁亨利的性命，而是取下他的首级。 我站在门口，看着那伙尊王团的人嘶吼着走远，又站立了许久。