cloud temple phoenix hairpin

Chapter 109

Chapter 96

In the third month of spring, when Ming Yu was five months pregnant, news of the war came from Hexi.

The fuse of the incident was that a few Xiting soldiers guarding the border sneaked into the border of Jokhang during the night and plundered and killed a local herdsman. Even the pregnant daughter-in-law of the family did not escape the fate of being raped and murdered.When Xie Nanjin heard the news, he drew his sword and cut off a corner of the table in anger, and the battle broke out immediately.

This is a war that both sides have prepared for a long time.Decades of border friction between the two countries, once it breaks out, it will be a battle.A month later, after several bloody battles, Xie Nanjin led his troops to capture Yuncheng.

Yuncheng is three hundred miles south of Yingshui.At the beginning of the founding of the country, Dazhao was just a settlement formed by business travelers passing by. Due to its strategic location and its importance, Emperor Gaozu ordered the city to be surrounded by walls and migrating soldiers and civilians. The nearby pastures for hundreds of miles originally belonged to Dazhao.When the first emperor was in power, it was occupied by the Western Court for more than 30 years.Now that Yuncheng is finally recaptured, the Jokhang army will continue to advance without any worries, and it can be said to be decisive in the battle situation.

Just when the Jokhang army was rejoicing and was about to march westward in one go and completely drive the Xiting army out of Hexi, a bad news came.General Xie Nanjin was poisoned with a crossbow in his chest and was in critical condition.

His accident was very accidental, it could even be said that it was an accident.

More than 30 years ago, when Yuncheng was occupied by the Western Court, Du Yan, then the coach of the Western Court, ordered the massacre of the city. The Han people in the city either fled or were driven to death. And the people of Xiting who entered.After Xie Nanjin captured the city, facing the terrified people, he not only vetoed the general's proposal to massacre the city in retaliation, but ordered the whole army not to harass the people.

The incident happened on the third day after the capture of Yuncheng.Xie Nanjin took his personal guards to patrol the city defense, and rode back to the original governor's mansion in the city. When he was planning to formulate the next strategic attack, a child ran out on the road, probably because he was startled by the horse team galloping from the opposite side and forgot to dodge , standing in a daze on the road.

This child is only four or five years old, and has not grown his hair yet.Xie Nanjin hurriedly reined in the horse, and the horse's hoof could barely pass over the child's head.Only then did the child pounce on the ground and cry.Xie Nanjin was afraid of hurting him, so he got off his horse and wanted to see what happened, but at this moment a woman snatched it out, hugged the child in her arms, then knelt down to Xie Nanjin and kowtowed, begging for forgiveness repeatedly.

Xie Nanjin has been in Hexi for many years, so he can naturally speak Xiting language.Seeing the woman's sallow complexion, shabby clothes, begging for mercy, and thinking of the injustice between the two countries for many years, not only the soldiers who were far away from their homeland suffered, but the people's livelihood was even more difficult, she felt pity in her heart, and asked for a piece of silver from the people around her, He stepped forward and was about to hand it to the woman, but he didn't want to make a sudden change when the woman actually hid a secret crossbow in her sleeve that was ready to be fired.Xie Nanjin reacted and dodged.In the end, because the distance was too close, when the guards behind realized that something was wrong, the poisonous arrow had already shot into Xie Nanjin's shoulder, and within a moment, he fell to the ground from the poison.As soon as she succeeded, the woman turned the dark crossbow upside down, and when she was about to shoot at herself, she was restrained by Gao Ling.The woman laughed wildly, saying that she was the wife of a Xiting captain who died on the day the city was broken.The original son in the family died of illness, and now that her husband is gone, she no longer wants to live.The border people of Xiting have always been tough, and women also shoot arrows and hunt.She stole a child who was separated from her parents due to the chaos, and guarded Xie Nanjin on the way back to the governor's mansion, and designed this situation.

In a rage, Gao Ling chopped off the woman's head with a knife, and the blood spattered three feet.

The general was invincible on the battlefield, and made the enemy fearful. He didn't want to suffer such a murderous hand because of his kindness, but also because of the negligence of himself and the group of guards behind him.Seeing that Xie Nanjin's face was like silver paper and his lips were blue, he knew it was a sign of poisoning, so he carried him back in a hurry and called for a military doctor.

The military doctor had been in Hexi for many years, and he immediately recognized that what Xie Nanjin was targeting was a kind of poison that the local frontier people used when hunting for furs, and it was extremely vicious.In order to quickly poison their prey, the border people would not think of a solution as long as the medicine was strong.The military doctor reported that the hundred-year-old toad clothes, which are in urgent need of detoxification, are extremely precious and rarely available elsewhere. As far as he knows, the pharmacy of Beijing Zhongtai Hospital seems to have something in store.

The battle was just a preliminary victory, and the [-] enemy troops were still staring at the side, but the coach suffered such an accident.Gao Ling had an urgent discussion with Liang Xia, the military adviser who had followed Xie Nanjin for many years.The general must not be transported long distances back to Beijing for treatment, for fear that the road will be bumpy and the poisonous gas will disperse and attack the heart.Now, firstly, we can only collect herbs as much as possible to temporarily suppress the toxicity; secondly, send people back to Beijing day and night, and quickly bring the imperial doctor and Lao Chanyi over to save lives; The news of the poisoning and coma spread out, lest the morale of one's own army would be distracted, and the enemy would come to sneak attack after hearing the news.After the agreement, the messenger immediately left for Jinjing at night.

Half a month later, late at night, the courier wearing the stars and the moon arrived at the north city gate where Xie Nanjin was sent by the prince that day, and hurriedly knocked on the heavy iron ring on the gate, breaking the tranquility of the night.

Ming Yu was awakened by a sudden knock on the door.She opened her eyes suddenly, and as soon as she moved her body, Xie Zuiqiao next to her immediately patted her on the back soothingly, and quickly rolled over on the bed to open the door.

In the dead of night, Ming Yu recognized Lu Da as the other person speaking outside the door.The two of them were outside the door, their voices were very low, she couldn't hear what they said clearly, but a little uneasiness suddenly arose in her heart.After a while, I saw Xie Zuiqiao walking in with a candle in his hand.

His footsteps were still as steady as usual, but Ming Yu immediately saw the difference in his eyes.

There was sadness and eagerness in his eyes, but these emotions were being suppressed.Maybe he was afraid of scaring himself?

"What happened?"

Ming Yu got up from the bed, and was about to meet him, but he held his hand, helped her to sit gently on the edge of the bed, looked at him and asked eagerly.

His fingers were slightly cold.It was the first time I felt such a chill after being with him for so long.

"Ayu..." He looked at her and said in a calm voice, "A messenger from Hexi came to Beijing just now. My father was in an accident, he was poisoned and passed out, and he was in urgent need of medicinal materials. I..."

He stopped, as if considering the next words, a trace of pain flashed in his eyes.

Ming Yu suddenly understood, her heart was beating violently.The fetus in the womb also seemed to have sensed the change in her mood. She felt that it suddenly pushed her hard, and subconsciously helped her lower abdomen.

Xie Zuiqiao noticed her hand, immediately supported her shoulder, and asked softly: "What's wrong?"

"It's naughty, and it's kicking me." Ming Yu smiled slightly, and looked up at him, "I know you've been restless since the news of the war in Hexi came. The matter between Dad and Hexi is important. Do you want to do it?" Whatever, feel free to go.”

Xie Zuiqiao stared at her.When she spoke, her face was slightly pale, but her eyes were firm and clear.

A burst of warmth surged through his heart, he took her into his arms, hugged her tightly, then slowly slid to the front of the couch, buried his head in her lap, and murmured: "Ayu, I thought I could I waited until I gave birth to our child with you..."

Ming Yu suppressed the pain in her heart, reached out to hug his head, stroked his hair lightly, and said in a low voice: "I will be at home with our child, waiting for you to come back together!"

The baby was full in October, and the midwife who was invited counted the days, and she was about to give birth in a few days.

Ming Yu was being supported by her mother Jiang Shi and Xie Jingzhu, walking slowly in the back garden of the General's Mansion.

The Jiang family knew a few months ago that his son-in-law had left his daughter to fight in the frontier fortress. Although there were several elderly people in the mansion, including Mama Zhou and Mama An, there were even a lot of maids waiting on her. He personally brought a trustworthy midwife to Beijing to take care of his daughter.Originally, he wanted to leave An Mo behind, but after he found out, he couldn't help but yell that sister agreed to let him be a guest.Jiang Shi had no choice but to take him along with him.

Xie Zuiqiao went to Hexi, Mingyu saw that her childbirth was approaching, and although she was comforted by two mothers by her side, she was unavoidably a little scared. Seeing that her mother had come all the way from thousands of miles, she also brought her brother whom she had always missed, I almost cried with joy.

An Mo is now six years old.Compared to when Ming Yu got married a year ago, she was much taller.The two siblings were very happy to meet each other.It's just that he just stared at Ming Yu's stomach for the past two days.It was the same at this time. After following them for a while, he suddenly asked cautiously: "Sister, Mother said that after the baby in Sister's womb comes out, I will be an uncle. But how should I be an uncle? Listen to me?"

Ming Yu couldn't help laughing, and seeing his serious face, she smiled and said, "Mo'er, please learn homework from your husband, and learn martial arts from him when your brother-in-law comes home. When Mo'er becomes a young master who is all-rounder in civil and military affairs, the baby will naturally learn martial arts from him." I will listen to you."

Only then did An Mo seem to be relieved, and said happily: "Sister, you don't know, father in spring has already invited my husband to teach me calligraphy at home, and now I can recite elementary school books, and even my husband often praises me. Brother-in-law When you gave me that wooden knife before, you even taught me moves, I have been practicing it diligently and never forgetting it, so I will show you how to do it!"

Although Xie Jingzhu had only been with An Mo for a few days, she liked this thick-headed little guy very much.Seeing that he was eager to try, she hurriedly asked the girl to break off a branch, straighten it out, hand it over with a smile, and teasingly said: "Practice quickly. Only when you finish practicing, will the baby in my sister-in-law be happy."

An Mo took it over, and really started to practice, with a serious attitude and a certain posture, which caused a lot of people around to laugh non-stop.

During these days when Jiang came here, he saw that his daughter was indeed the head of the general's mansion, and the sister-in-law was gentle and amiable, so he was finally relieved.Seeing that Xie Jingzhu was teasing An Mo, she let them play. Afraid that her daughter would get tired from walking, she helped her to sit in a pavilion next to her, and couldn't help but said, "Ah Yu, you married such a family. If Mother has anything to say, she is really out of support. It's just a pity that your father-in-law..." I was sobbing.

Mentioning Father Xie made Ming Yu feel a little sad.

In March, Xie Zuiqiao rushed to Hexi with the medicine and the imperial physician.Although Xie Nanjin was rescued in the end, his life was not harmed, but the poison was so deep that he lost his sight in both eyes.But even so, he still refused to rest, and personally sat in the rear to command, since Xie Zuiqiao had arrived at the battlefield, how could he retreat after the scene?In every battle, you must take the lead and be unstoppable.With a father and son like him as an example, the entire army of Dazhao fought against the enemy. In less than two months, they beat the Xiting army several times, causing them to lose more than a dozen generals. They were driven back to the west of Xingshui in one breath. —The border line that Gaozu and Emperor Xiting had negotiated in those days.Dazhao's army crossed the border and pursued, approaching the capital of Xiting. Xiting's vitality was seriously injured, and he dared not fight again, so he finally proposed a peace agreement.

"Ayu, since the battle is over, is the son-in-law already on his way back?" Jiang looked at the back of Xie Jingzhu and An Mo playing not far away, and asked suddenly.

Ming Yu smiled, and leaned her head on her mother's shoulder: "How could it be so fast..." Halfway through speaking, she suddenly felt a pain in her stomach, covered her hands and frowned.

Jiang's complexion changed slightly, and he shouted, "I'm afraid she's about to give birth!"

(End of this chapter)