Chapter 2247: Spring Cold Embraces the Pine

Spring arrives, but the old tree withers from disease. The cold wind howls and sweeps through the wilderness.

In the Nine Rivers military camp, Du Yuhu takes off his helmet at the front, sitting straight and silent. His majestic body, compared to the past, lacks some of its ferocity.

Yang Yin, who has partnered with him for many years, stands in front of him.

Yang Yin is fully armored, his eyes deep and his face solemn. "General, you want to leave?"

Du Yuhu was once a very reckless man. After several years as Zhuang country's great general, he has actually gained some steadiness.

But this steadiness makes Yang Yin feel strange.

He is used to following behind Du Yuhu to charge, used to checking and filling gaps for Du Yuhu, used to that superior with a fierce temper like fire, who treats people warmly, that straightforward tiger general.

Now, however, he is so restrained, he can let go of all military power, abandon all his brothers. His ideals have all become jokes.

Du Yuhu makes a virtual grip with his right hand and rubs his forehead. "I should leave."

Yang Yin presses his hand on his knife, leans forward, and for the first time in his life shows such a posture to Du Yuhu, his voice fierce. "You want to abandon so many brothers and go to Qi country to throw yourself at Shan Junwei?"

Shan Junwei was originally a general from Mo country. He initially defected to Zhuang country and was arranged by Zhuang Gaoxian to come down and replace Du Yuhu's military power.

At that time, Yang Yin led people to Xin'an, just prepared to first draw his knife and deal with this fellow. But when he drew his knife into the tent, he only knew that this person had already been counter-espionaged by Zhong Xuan Sheng and was actually raising the flag together with them.

After overthrowing Zhuang Gaoxian, Du Yuhu became the great general. Shan Junwei then defected to a new patron and went to Qi country to develop.

Mo country is not comparable to Zhuang country, and Zhuang country and Qi country are fundamentally not comparable.

Shan Junwei's life perfectly illustrates the saying, "people go to higher places."

Yang Yin's words cut to the heart!

He is prepared for Du Yuhu to suddenly get angry, punch him, even beat him to death on the spot.

But Du Yuhu only looks at him listlessly.

On his thick bearded face, there is a kind of fatigue he has never seen before.

"Yang Yin ah." Du Yuhu says with a hint of world-weariness. "People's talent is limited, you know?"

Yang Yin doesn't understand why the general would say this.

They are military men like this, they just draw their knives and fight for their lives. Whose talent can be said to be unlimited?

Du Yuhu looks at him. "If there are no earth-shaking changes, you will have no opportunity to achieve Shenlin in this lifetime."

Yang Yin is on the verge of anger. "Understood! General despises my talent! If you leave here, you can have more excellent subordinates, and each of them can achieve Shenlin?"

Du Yuhu says to himself, "My qi and blood are surging, I walk the path of an ancient military strategist, risking my life nine times out of ten. I can slightly catch up with my peers in cultivation, but I am still far behind. Before I reach forty years old, I have hope for Shenlin, but if I reach fifty and still haven't, I can't. I fight life-consuming battles. A person like me is not qualified to grow old."

Yang Yin says coldly, "So you want to leave here and find your opportunity for Shenlin. You feel now that the brothers who have followed you for so many years are all your burdens!"

Du Yuhu laughs instead. "You are always advising me, but today you are more impulsive than I am."

Yang Yin bangs his hands on the military desk. "We haven't lost yet, what do that group of old Taoists in the council of elders know! The brothers all support you, I don't understand why you don't fight!"

"This old man doesn't have that talent! Do you understand?" Du Yuhu leans back and grins at him. "This old man quit drinking, but his brain is still not good. This old man seriously reads military books, and I have to flip through the dictionary on every page. This old man wants to let the common people all live good lives, to let the past pains not happen again, but this old man can't do it! I don't have that ability— do you understand?"

As Du Yuhu speaks, there is an instant of emotional excitement, but he sits back down again and lightly presses the desktop. "We tried, we failed, we did not do well in this position, we should let more capable people come and do it. The Nine Rivers Xuan Armor are not Du Yuhu's, they belong to the people of Zhuang country. Things are just this simple."

Yang Yin is silent for a moment, finally saying, "You just don't want to fight to the death and drag in Jiang Ge Lao?"

Du Yuhu only says, "If our ideals were correct, I would spare no effort. But it has already been proven wrong— people cannot make one mistake after another. Especially since the price ultimately has to be borne by the people."

Yang Yin says again, "With Jiang Ge Lao here, General's life is without worry. Where do you plan to go?"

"Are you following me?" Du Yuhu asks.

"What's the difference?" Yang Yin counters.

Du Yuhu says straightforwardly, "My choice will be different."

Yang Yin looks at him and only says, "I am a person of Zhuang country."

Du Yuhu stands up, pats his shoulder, and finally walks past him.

Yang Yin stands straight and presses his sword, gazing at the military desk without saying a word. In the Zhuang country great general's military tent, only the Zhuang country great general's helmet remains.

His comrades-in-arms of many years, then, part ways with this moment.

Walking out of the military tent, Du Yuhu then sees Li Jianqiu.

This fellow has changed his official clothes to an ordinary long robe, his hair tied with a dao hairpin, and a sword hung at his waist. He stands casually in the open ground outside the tent, a good appearance of a heaven and earth swordsman.

Today the general takes off his helmet, the prime minister changes his clothes. They look at each other, and both smile.

Those years of wholehearted cooperation, the harmony between the general and the prime minister, are all contained in this sparse smile.

"Du brother, where do you plan to go next?" Li Jianqiu asks. "Cloud country or Star Moon Plain?"

If Yang Yin and these old brothers still followed Du Yuhu, he would try to find a future for these brothers. Now he only says, "I plan to walk everywhere— and you?"

Li Jianqiu lifts the corner of his mouth. "I plan to walk everywhere with Du brother!"

In each other's eyes, they both see a kind of unwillingness. Not unwilling because of political failure, but unwilling to see their ideals extinguished like this.

In that night, the faint sky light that was lit, swayed, swayed, and finally did not appear outside the window.

These hot-blooded, uncooled young people had a desire to change the world, but their understanding of this world was still very shallow. The ideals built upon this were no different from a castle in the air. And finally, in the changes of the world, they saw their naivety.

So they, without prior consultation, wanted to walk everywhere, to go to the various corners of the world, to see how people live, to see how wise men in different places face this world. To see if they could find the road that truly leads to their ideals.

At this time, a laughing question comes through the air. "Where are you all planning to walk?"

Song Qingyue steps on the light and lands, complaining, "Why didn't you bring me?"

Du Yuhu looks at him and asks, "Qing Zhi?"

"Sent her to Cloud country to find her close friend." Song Qingyue waves his hand, and then says seriously, "You two can't be isolated, we are the remnants of the same boat."

Li Jianqiu says, "A broken boat and remnants, just right."

Du Yuhu opens both hands, making a forward pushing gesture. "Let's go together, let's go together!"

The three people then leave together.

Du Yuhu's prestige in the army is extraordinary. When they leave the military camp gate, the soldiers who received the news and came to see them off almost block the entire area.

But no one makes a sound.

The warriors silently make a path, letting the three people pass.

The three people are also silent.

This is a silent farewell, the soldiers bidding farewell to their general.

They are already far from the military camp, but looking back, they can still vaguely see the crowd.

After becoming prime minister, the increasingly dignified Li Jianqiu sighs leisurely. "This scene makes me suddenly think of a word."

"What word?" Du Yuhu strongly cheers up and asks with interest.

Li Jianqiu says, "Defeated family dog."

He shakes his head and laughs self-mockingly. "My whole life has been a failure."

The stone inscription of the defeated family dog Li Jianqiu is still on Upright Pen Peak, and often ink guests and poets go to pay their respects.

Of course, in the first few years, it was all praise, what a prodigal son returning, what knowing shame then being brave, what heroic spirit not late... This half year, however, resentment is frequent.

Song Qingyue thinks, "If we must discuss, I can be counted as a Jiaolong."

"Then I am a tiger," Du Yuhu says.

Song Qingyue laughs. "Then we are the remnant party of Qiming, dogs, Jiaolong, and tigers—"

"Hold on!" Li Jianqiu quickly interrupts. "Dog is too unpleasant, I may not take this as a title."

When Zhu Weiwo rushes to Zhuang country, the "Dog Jiaolong tiger" has already left the country.

The coup stirred up by the council of elders has been completed in an extremely short time.

With the support of the Daoist sect above, the methods of Zhang Ren in the middle, the letting go of the Qiming new party, and the orientation of the people below, the coup itself is without suspense.

Zhu Weiwo has already received the news and rushed here, but things have already gone from bud to fruit.

Fortunately, it is not too late, and Du Yuhu and the others are safe.

Once cultivated as a leading figure of the next generation of the nation, Zhu Weiwo has a certain political intuition. Ancient coups were always bloody, and this time the prime minister's power, the general's power, and the water mansion's power were all overturned, the coup side had an absolute advantage, yet it ended so peacefully...

One can only say that Jiang Ge Lao is indeed famous and illustrious. His madness in Heavenly Capital City truly established deterrence— no one is willing to face that kind of Jiang Ge Lao.

Zhu Weiwo, who has stepped into Xin'an city, after slightly probing the situation in the prime minister's mansion, prepares to leave.

But at this moment, he hears cheers from afar—

"Good ah, kill! Kill!"

"Bringing disaster to the country and the people, should be killed!"

Zhu Weiwo casually grabs a Jixing Si cultivator beside him. "Who was executed just now?"

This cultivator actually recognizes Zhu Weiwo and is shocked. "Zhu—"

Zhu Weiwo pats him. "Tell me about it."

Looking at the pride of the empire at one time, and later one of the main forces that overthrew Emperor Zhuang Gaoxian, this Jixing Si cultivator's eyes are complex. He pauses and then says, "It was the former Regent envoy... Fu Baosong."

Zhu Weiwo's sword-like eyebrows raise. "Fu Baosong?!"

This is too surprising an answer.

Zhu Weiwo is proud in his heart. In the entire Zhuang country, there are only a few people he can look up to. Fu Baosong from Wangjiang city is one of them.

This person is loyal, upright, benevolent and stubborn, clean and self-guarding. He has an extremely good reputation in court and in the countryside. He was also once highly valued by Du Rujui for his talent.

Most importantly— regarding the Qiming new policy, Fu Baosong initially agreed to reform, but only agreed to a part of it, and in the second year, he thought the reform was not practical and raised objections.

Now the new policy has been abolished, and several people who led the new policy have already left the country. It should be the time for Fu Baosong, this opposition party, to rise.

How could he actually be beheaded?

The Jixing Si cultivator answers, "Fu Baosong colluded with foreign thieves, corrupted court discipline, was corrupt and embezzled, oppressed the people, formed a party for private gain, and excluded dissidents—"

Zhu Weiwo looks at him. "Since you recognize me, tell me something real."

This Jixing Si cultivator grinds his teeth and finally says, "The prime minister stepped down, the great general resigned, the water monarch abdicated, and the Qiming new policy was completely abolished. Fu Baosong firmly opposed this in court, thinking that reform cannot be completely denied. And he said that although the Qiming new party failed politically, they had achievements in people's livelihood, and the merits and demerits of the Qiming new policy should be divided into six and four, and their contributions to the country cannot be completely erased. The council of elders repeatedly asked him to change his words and admit his mistake, but he just wouldn't... He was executed as the chief culprit of the Qiming evil policy."

For a time, Zhu Weiwo doesn't know what to say.

Political struggle is cruel, and life and death are the norm. But the scene before his eyes is inevitably somewhat absurd.

The people who truly led the Qiming new policy, because of their relationship with Jiang Wang, safely walked out of the country. Jiang Wang himself didn't even know about this matter— during this period, Jiang Wang went to the demon clan again to seek trouble with Zhen Yao and was unable to contact him through the Taixu Illusion. So Zhu Weiwo personally flew here.

Meanwhile, a regent envoy who truly had independent judgment, was always sober and self-controlled, and always adhered to principles, was beheaded in the market.

Initially, when he and Jiang Wang discussed the politics of Zhuang country, Jiang Wang praised Fu Baosong endlessly, thinking that the position of regent envoy was really an appropriate official position and could very well embody Fu Baosong's value, and he also deeply agreed.

Now, however, things have changed and people have perished.

A person like Fu Baosong naturally doesn't let people get too close. But when such a person dies, even someone as high-minded as Zhu Weiwo is inevitably sentimental.

"Zhu adult?" Seeing that Zhu Weiwo has not spoken for a long time, that Jixing Si cultivator softly reminds him.

Zhu Weiwo comes back to his senses. "I am no longer in Zhuang country, you don't need to call me adult."

The Jixing Si cultivator says, "In my heart, you are forever the pride of the country. That year when you were at the three countries meeting—"

"Okay, okay, let's not talk about the past. I'm leaving." Zhu Weiwo thinks, and then adds, "If you have a chance, you should also leave."

All is in the past.

This Jixing Si cultivator looks up, and Zhu Weiwo's proud figure has already disappeared.

He turns back, just to see the bustling crowd exiting the beheading market, one by one excited, as if they have won a battle.

They cheer, they laugh, they are beaming with joy.

"The national traitor has been eliminated!"

"Hahaha, I knew long ago that Fu Baosong was not a good person, always pretending."

"When he was a child, he even stole a neighbor's needle. Now he still poses as an upright gentleman, don't you think it's funny?"

"Ah? There's such a thing? But is there evidence?"

"How can there be evidence for this kind of thing, it was so many years ago. But this is what my friend said, how can that be false?"

"You really can't tell, he usually pretends so well!"

"This thief is dead today, the world is saved!"

Of course, there are also people who are sad for Fu Baosong. After all, Fu Baosong has done many real things over the years. But those who cry sadly all hide in their own homes and dare not show themselves.

Looking at the surging crowd rushing towards him, this ordinary Jixing Si cultivator suddenly feels a little cold and wraps his official clothes tightly around him.

The spring of Dao calendar three nine two eight is truly a bit hard to endure for Yue country.

The hidden prime minister, Gao Zheng, died on the Qiantang River dike, not even his bones were left.

Although the hidden prime minister has long since stopped concerning himself with state affairs, although the country's monarch has recently been diligently patrolling various offices, although the Yue court has made every effort to soothe the hearts of the people, although the state has reduced taxes and distributed silver...

People still have a kind of panic like they have lost their backbone.

That broken old bone is the spine of Yue country.

Bai Yuxia returns to his homeland in such a panic atmosphere.

Today, Langya city is still like old times.

Since Ge Fei went mad, and since Bai Yuxia came back to visit once, Langya city has imperceptibly returned to old times— Bai family's definition of old times.

What kind of smart person is Bai Yuxia? He frowns when he sees the arrogant Bai clan disciples on the street. But he doesn't say anything and goes back to his old residence.

He received a letter, which his mother wrote to him. The letter only said, "Nian Er, return quickly." He then put down the accounts of Bai Yujing tavern and returned ten thousand li.

Walking to the hall, he sees his mother coming out to greet him, and indeed he also sees his mother's apologetic eyes.

"My child. The Heavenly family invited mother into the palace for a banquet a few days ago, and the prime minister visited the door the next day... After all, mother has blood relations with the Heavenly family."

Bai Yuxia smiles and holds his mother's hand. "It just so happens that your son also misses you. Seeing that your complexion is still good, your son is very happy."

He sits down and then asks with a smile, "When does the prime minister plan to visit today?"

Wen Juan Ying smiles and hits him once. "You still say you have no resentment in your heart, how can the prime minister's resolve be so poor?"

As soon as she finishes speaking, the doorkeeper comes in to report. "The prime minister is here to visit!"

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