On the day of the Northern Expedition, it was sunny and the people seeing off the soldiers lined up all the way to the city gate. The disaster victims outside the city were also eagerly waiting to see the army leave.
Gu Chen sat astride the war horse, his expression indifferent, showing no emotion.
General Meng turned back to look at him then slowed down to ride side by side with him. He said in a low voice: "If Your Royal Highness regrets, there is still a way to turn back. Once you cross the city gate, it will be too late."
Gu Chen raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why does General Meng say this?"
"In my opinion, Your Highness's action are of no use. With Zhu Wei's fall, the Eldest Prince has lost his most powerful support. Your Highness's stay in the capital at this time will serve as a check and balance. If Your Highness go to the northern frontier and the two armies fight, any accident may happen. By then, Your Highness may not even be alive so what will he fight for?"
Gu Chen only smiled faintly and did not answer.
Meng Tingwei's shrewd eyes flashed with surprise and asked: "Why is Your Highness laughing? Did I say something wrong?"
Gu Chen said: "If others said this, gu would not find it funny but it was just said by General Meng. It's quite interesting. If you have to question the stakes first in everything, then gu dares to ask the General, what is the benefit of leading an army of 50,000 in the Northern Expedition at the age of sixty-years-old?"
Meng Tingwei's eyes were bright. He looked at the vast sky, raising his hand to cover the dazzling light, he said: "I spent half of my life on the battlefield, sacrificing my life for the country and wrapping my body in horse leather. This is my lifelong ambition."
Gu Chen smiled and said: "The General's righteousness is far superior to that of gu. Gu just privately thinks that the Gu family's country should be guarded by someone named Gu."
Meng Tingwei's hand holding the reins trembled. He looked back and saw that the boy's face was still childish but his black eyes were deep and sharp, making it hard to see through.
Through this face, he seemed to see Emperor Taizong's appearance when he was young. He was equally unfathomable with a restrained edge but with the potential to swallow the sky. The Emperor once stood on the top of the clouds in the Tianshan Mountains, pointed to the great rivers and mountains and said to him: "Fansheng, do you see that from now on, the surname of these thousands of miles of rivers and mountains is Gu!"
Meng Tingwei looked away, his face stained by the wind and frost of the years. A smile escaped from the corner of his mouth and he said: "I am ignorant."
- Your Majesty, can you see that the grandson you personally selected is worthy of great responsibility.
Among the crowd seeing them off, there was a white-faced scholar with a child in brocade clothes. They were squeezing around in the crowd and looking embarrassed. It was Liu Jinyun and Lu Ziyan.
Lu Ziyan rode on Liu Jinyun's shoulder and urged: "Master Liu, no matter how high it is, I still can't see."
Liu Jinyun complained incessantly. He must have been stupid to agree to Marquis Lu and be his nephew's teacher. It is better to be ridiculed by the novice monks in Jinguang Temple than to battle wits and courage with this youth every day.
He stood up on tiptoes with difficulty and advised: "Brother Yan, if you have seen enough excitement, let's go back to your house and study. If the Marquis finds out, we will both suffer."
Lu Ziyan said: "Wait a little longer, I haven't seen A-Jin yet."
"A-Jin? You mean that Young Master A-Jin from the Ye family? That Young Master is so precious, how could he come to join in the fun." There was another sentence that he kept in his heart. He is obedient, not like you who can't be controlled at all!
Lu Ziyan shook his head, still searching around and muttered: "His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince is going on an expedition. A-Jin and he have always been close so there is no reason why he doesn't come..."
Liu Jinyun was stunned and hurriedly pursued after the army, trying his best to look inside the Northern Expedition team, "You just said that the Crown Prince has gone out with the army? Where is he? Where is he?"
Lu Ziyan pointed to the front and whispered: "Well, the young general in silver armour next to the General is His Highness, the Crown Prince. My uncle said that he, himself, insisted on going with the Northern Expedition and the Emperor agreed in order to boost the morale of the front line."
Liu Jinyun looked from a distance and next to Meng Tingwei, a young man was riding on a red and black horse with a tall and straight posture and an intimidating aura around him. His aura separated him from others. Even General Meng, who had spent half his life in the military, lacked a bit of awe-inspiring power around him.
He felt that he looked vaguely familiar but felt more of an indescribable excitement. He was doing everything possible to obtain fame in order to one day be able to assist the wise emperor and become a famous minister. Emperor Qingzong was not a wise king. He had long been aware of this so he had set his sights on several princes early on.
"Your Royal Highness, you are truly of extraordinary magnanimity..." Liu Jinyun sighed sincerely.
Lu Ziyan nodded then shook his head. It was good now but unfortunately he became confused after taking the throne. He favoured a eunuch and ran rampant which made the civil and military officials of the court dissatisfied and he lost the support of the people.
In the teahouse, Ye Chonghui stood in front of the window, looking at the marching team that looked like a long snake. He said to the person behind him: "Since you're here, let's take a look."
The child held a cup of tea in his hand and remained silent. If he takes a look outside, His Royal Highness might not be able to leave today. Gu Chen kept this secret, not because he was afraid that he would know, but because he was afraid that he, himself, would not be able to let go.
Ye Chonghui took the white porcelain cup in his hand and poured out the cool tea. He added hot tea then stuffed it back into the child's soft hands, saying softly: "A-Jin, you don't have to worry about much. As long as you want to - whatever you want to do, just do it. You have the support of the entire Ye family and today..." He frowned slightly then said: "Even today, if you want to keep the Crown Prince, there is nothing wrong with it."
The child's jade-white fingertips rubbed the rim of the cup carefully, "There is something that A-Jin can't understand. My Brother hates the Crown Prince so why should he tell A-Jin about it? If Brother didn't tell me, by the time I find out, he will already be gone from the capital. Wouldn't that be more in line with my Brother's wishes?"
Ye Chonghui's handsome face was slightly dull and he smiled helplessly. This was Gu Chen's brilliance. That day in Longzhi Mountain, he said that he would go to the northern frontier in the near future and hoped that he could stay with A-Jin in the last few days. The sincere words almost moved him but looking back and thinking about it, it turned out to be a well-dug trap.
If he didn't say anything, after Gu Chen left, A-Jin would know that he knew what he knew but didn't report it. There would inevitably be a rift between the brothers. But if he did report, it would be inevitable to see A-Jin worrying about him and feeling depressed. It doesn't matter whether you say it or not.
Even if His Royal Highness wants to leave, he will be troubled before leaving.
He looked at the child's delicate side cheeks and frowned slightly. He said: "It's not so much hate but jealousy. Every time I stand next to you two, Brother feels like an outsider. Sometimes I even think, A-Jin and him are more like relatives. Because I don't want A-Jin to be taken away, I oppose him everywhere."
He paused and said seriously: "From the perspective of a minister, in fact, I admire His Highness, the Crown Prince very much."
The child's pale pink lips were attached to the edge of the white porcelain cup. He took a small sip then pursed his lips and said with a smile: "His Royal Highness should be the same."
Ye Chonghui walked to the window and looked at the young man in silver armour far away. Looking at each other, the two of them smiled tacitly at the same time.
"A-Jin, we're here, why don't you come and take a look?"
They all knew very well that once this handsome child appears in front of the window and calls "Brother Prince," no matter how many ambitions lay ahead, Gu Chen would stop and step down.
Time seemed to have stopped and the noise from the crowd seemed to disappear in an instant, leaving only these three people.
It is not known how much time passed, it seems like years have passed, but in reality it is just the blink of an eye.
"Brother, look at it for me..."
Ye Chongjin asked: "What kind of armour is he wearing today? What kind of horse is he riding? What is the expression on his face? Is he majestic?"
Ye Chonghui said: "He is wearing silver armour with a dragon-scale helmet and riding a red and black horse with neither happiness nor anger on his face and he is very majestic."
After hearing what he said, Ye Chongjin curled his lips. He can imagine how majestic that man is at this time.
The sound of the crowd gradually died down. Ye Chonghui walked up to him and said, "A-Jin, let's go home."
"Okay."
There is one person in this world. You clearly know his good, bad, strong, and weak points. You always want to hide, always looking forward to having some room to breathe but when that person really wants to leave, you can't help but feel disappointed.
Perhaps only time can give the answer.
========
In the winter of the 10th year of Emperor Qingzong's reign, Meng Tingwei was named the Grand Marshal of the kingdom's military forces and led 50,000 soldiers to the north. At the same time, Zhu Wei, the criminal general, was escorted back to the capital. The Eldest Prince and his family suffered heavy losses and Emperor Qingzong became increasingly cold towards him. The Third Prince Gu Xian took this opportunity to gradually gain a foothold in the court.
After the New Year, Princess Ancheng had her confinement lifted and everyone inside and outside the Palace was preparing for the wedding. However the bride suddenly disappeared and the Luo Mansion once again became a laughing stock. In order to make it up to the Luo family, the Emperor changed the transfer order for Luo Wenqing, the eldest son of the Luo family. He took up the post of Deputy Chief of Dali Temple.
The sixth-grade official who was originally planning to be sent abroad was directly promoted to a fifth-grade official in the capital. The Luo family had no complaints at all and there was no need to marry Princess Ancheng into the family. The Luo family wanted to set off firecrackers to celebrate but because of the Royal family's face, they made a show of regret to the outside.
In the spring examination of the eleventh year of Emperor Qingzong's reign, Liu Jinyun won the top spot in one fell swoop. It is said that he astonished Prince Sheng with a piece of military strategy.
It was a coincidence. Prince Sheng is known throughout the court to be good at martial arts and not good at literature. He shouldn't have been the one to take charge of the examination. However, the Emperor was angry with Princess Ancheng's escape from marriage so he ordered Prince Sheng to preside over the examination. The purpose of the final trial was to improve his temper.
Before Liu Jinyun took part in the examination, Marquis Lu, for the sake of his dedication to teaching his nephew, gave him a warning: "Don't write nonsense."
Liu Jinyun kept this in mind. Not a single piece of nonsense was found in the policy paper and every sentence hit the point. Prince Sheng was most tired of reading those articles with gorgeous rhetoric and convoluted words. Suddenly he saw an article that was simple, clear and decisive. There was a conciseness and sharpness in the writing and many views coincided with his own. It was like finding a pearl in a pile of gravel and his eyes brightened. He read it again with patience and then he couldn't put it down so he immediately made a decision.
Liu Jinyun's articles may not be better than those of others but he is just lucky enough to meet Prince Sheng, this good judge of talent.
As the top graduate of the provincial imperial examination, Liu Jinyun went to Jinguang Temple alone to fulfil his vow. First, he thanked Marquis Lu for his help and advice. Second, he thanked Prince Sheng for his kindness in knowing him. Third, he thanked Young Master Lu for making things difficult for him every day and tempering his character. The grace that tempers one's mind. There was another thing that he didn't dare to say out loud so he only thanked secretly in his heart.
Fourth, he thanked Princess Ancheng for escaping from marriage. If she was willing to marry well, it would not be Prince Sheng's turn to be the examiner.
In the dark, all fate and encounters are arranged.
When the Northern Expedition arrived in the northern frontier, Yong'an City had been captured. Mocheng and Beiye City were lost one after another. Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the city were massacred. The Northern Tartars went all out then went south, approaching Zhongzhou City. If this city was captured, the Central Plains would be destroyed. The hinterland was truly exposed and the people of Daegu no longer had a peaceful sleep.
The Northern Tartars is the collective name of the northern nomads. The three tribes that invaded this time were the Jinyi, Uke, and Hada tribes. This trip was so menacing that the area north of the Zhongliu River was already regarded as theirs.
Gu Chen stood on the tower of Zhongzhou City and looked into the distance. This time, he wanted to drive these barbarians completely out of the continent.
He will make up for his mistakes in the past life one by one in this life.
In the autumn of the twelfth year of Emperor Qingzong's reign, good news came from the northern frontier. The Grand Marshal of the military forces, Meng Tingwei led his soldiers to regain Mocheng and Beiye City. The Northern Tartars avoided its edge and retreated to Yong'an City. Yong'an City was easy to defend but difficult to attack and the two sides were in a confrontation.
In the winter of the thirteenth year of Emperor Qingzong's reign, good news came again from the northern frontier. The Crown Prince came up with a surprising plan. The Northern Expedition army captured the impregnable Yong'an City in one fell swoop. A young general named Meng Shengnan took off the head of the Eldest Prince of Jinyi and made great military exploits. In just two years, he was promoted to Deputy General.
Half a month later, Prince Sheng personally went north to reward the troops but returned in anger. Liu Jinyun, a member of the military department who was accompanying him, requested to stay at the border to defend against the enemy.
In the spring of the fourteenth year of Qingzong's reign, General Meng rested on his horse while inspecting the border and passed away suddenly. Meng Tingwei, also known as Fansheng, was one of the first heroes to follow Emperor Taizong. He had numerous military exploits throughout his life and was never defeated. When the Northern Tartars heard about it, their expressions changed. Wherever the Meng family troops went, the enemies fled. When the news spread, the whole country mourned. When Emperor Qingzong heard the news, he cried until he fainted.
The Northern Tartars got the news and made a comeback. They thought that after Meng Tingwei, there would be no more talented players in Daegu. However, they did not know that the history of Daegu's famous generals had just begun to be written.
Meng Tingwei's death heralds the arrival of a new era. The group of young generals who were once overshadowed by his glory began to write new myths.