Chapter 511: Conferred the title of Grand Commander to Suppress the Rebellion
Chapter 511: Conferred the title of Grand Commander to Suppress the Rebellion (5k)
What a sword dance...
Inside the hall, Zhao Duan and Yuxiu were both startled when they heard the voice suddenly. They turned their heads to look outside the hall. Through the entrance hall, they were shocked to see that the female emperor in white clothes in the courtyard had appeared outside the hall at some point.
There was no expression on Xu Zhenguan's pale face, his long black hair hung down behind his head. His right hand was raised in front of his chest, his slender fingers holding the jade flying sword.
The flying sword that was originally extremely powerful and could destroy everything in its path became as obedient as a quail in the hands of the empress, motionless and as if dead.
Behind the empress and around her, the Zhao family's servants and Eugene Hua and her daughter also came out, but did not dare to approach.
"Your Majesty?" Zhao Duan's mind buzzed, and his instinct as a man told him:
The big thing is bad!
Fortunately, Envoy Zhao was a man who could adapt to changing circumstances. After a brief moment of surprise, a bright smile instantly appeared on his face. He stood up and eagerly greeted him:
"Your Majesty, why are you here? Why didn't you notify the palace servants earlier so that I could prepare the bed for you."
Xu Zhenguan sneered and did not answer.
"Yuxiu greets Your Majesty." At this time, the Taoist nun also stood up, walked out leisurely, and bowed to the empress calmly.
Xu Zhenguan's phoenix eyes were cold and sharp. His gaze moved back and forth between the man and woman in front of him. He looked at Yu Xiu with a fake smile:
"It's you. When did you return to Beijing? I didn't know you were here."
As she spoke, she threw the dead jade flying sword in her hand casually, and it swam back into the nun's waist like a fish.
After a pause, she looked at Zhao Duan again and said calmly, "Won't Zhao Qing explain?"
Danger…danger…danger!
Although Zhao Duan had little experience in love, he could sense something was wrong, and said hurriedly:
"I was not aware of the sudden visit of the Jade Sleeve Priest."
As he spoke, he looked at Yu Xiu for help.
Although the two of them were innocent, Zhen Baogang was unhappy because of Xiao Dong'er's existence, and then another woman came to his house... The key point was that he did not expect that the empress would come home after he took some time to come back for a while.
"I have heard of Lord Zhao's reputation for a long time and have been curious about him, so I came back to the capital to seek his advice." Yuxiu explained calmly.
The empress said, "Oh," and said, "Please teach me."
"Yes, yes, yes." Zhao Duan recalled the Golden Crow Flying Knife and smiled as he bowed to Yu Xiu:
"Thank you for your guidance, Priest."
Yuxiu looked at him with complicated eyes, and suddenly shook her head:
"Since Your Majesty is here, you must have something to do. I will not bother you any more. I will take my leave now."
After saying that, she nodded to the empress again, then turned and left.
The shock in my heart gradually spread.
Just now, although she suppressed her own cultivation, she was actually slightly inferior to Zhao Duan in the contest... This result was hard for the proud Yuxiu to accept.
Considering his previous comments on Zhao Duan's strength, he couldn't help but feel flushed.
"The Son of Heaven and Earth... is it really as rumored, with a talent that is beyond the reach of others?"
After walking out of Zhao's house, Yuxiu turned her head to look back at the plaque on the lintel. She was not depressed, but her eyes became brighter.
The revelation from the gods in the Liao people's altar was more accurate than she expected.
Thinking of some of the words in the secret intelligence she had obtained from Southern Xinjiang, she pursed her lips and became more determined to get Zhao Duan.
——Obviously, what she had just said to Zhao Duan was still reserved and not all.
……
……
She waved her sleeves and left, just as quietly as she came.
Zhao Duan was left alone to face the female emperor who came to him angrily.
"Your Majesty, there are too many people outside, why don't you come inside and talk?" Zhao Duan forced a smile.
Xu Zhenguan looked calm. Feeling the gaze of Eugene Hua and her daughter, she turned her head and smiled warmly at them.
"Madam Zhao, please go and do your work. I want to discuss some matters with Lord Zhao."
The main focus is on attitude differentiation.
Then, with the mother and daughter looking flattered, she followed Zhao Duan to the study in the mansion.
In the study room.
The door closed with a creaky sound, and Zhao Duan turned around to look at the empress's back:
"Why is Your Majesty here?"
After Xu Zhenguan entered the room, he stopped pretending. His face turned cold. He walked to the main seat of the desk and sat down angrily, looking like an official interrogating a criminal. He looked down at the scumbag Zhao with his phoenix eyes and said, "I'll punch you."
"I can't come? I disturbed your meeting with Yuxiu?"
Zhao Duan broke out in a cold sweat and swore that he had nothing to do with it.
Xu Zhenguan didn't really think that the two had any relationship, he just felt a little unhappy, so he just listened with a straight face and didn't comment.
Seeing this, Zhao Duan gritted his teeth, walked boldly to the side of the empress, and started to talk:
"Your Majesty, you haven't been here for a long time. Speaking of which, last time Your Majesty taught me painting skills. I have been studying hard these days and have made some progress. Why don't I paint another picture for Your Majesty?"
Last time, the two of them did teach painting in this study.
At this moment, there was an ink-and-wash portrait of the empress hanging on the wall.
Xu Zhenguan snorted: "I have been reviewing memorials for most of the day, and you still want me to be your 'model'?"
The word "model" is a "new word" invented by Zhao Duan, and she remembered it last time.
Zhao Duan's eyes turned:
"Your Majesty must be tired from state affairs, so your body must be sore. I just learned a set of massage techniques that can relieve fatigue."
As he spoke, he placed his two dirty hands on the empress's tender shoulders and began to knead them gently.
Xu Zhenguan first twisted his body and "struggled" symbolically, then he snorted and let him do what he wanted.
Zhao Duan smiled slightly, and his ten fingers skillfully changed their techniques, circling the beautiful woman's neck and exerting force on her shoulders.
This was also what he learned from a blind masseur near his workplace in his previous life in order to advance himself.
"Hmm..." The empress didn't care at first, but gradually, she felt a tingling sensation emerging. She couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly in comfort, and a light hum came out of her nose. Her tense skin also relaxed.
She was never really angry, and she didn't really think that there was any relationship between Zhao Duan and Yuxiu.
The reason why she pretended to be angry was more due to the woman's mind - as an emperor, her possessiveness was higher than that of others.
Now that she had a way out, she took advantage of the situation and softened her tone:
"Why did she come to you?"
Zhao Duan did not hide anything and told the story in detail. It couldn't be concealed anyway.
"The missing imperial guards of the previous dynasty? The national treasures?"
Xu Zhenguan frowned slightly: "Is she looking for those things?"
Zhao Duan was very familiar with massaging shoulders, and his mind suddenly recalled a short video he had seen in his previous life - a customer who was having a foot massage asked the technician to sit down, and then he rolled up his sleeves to massage the technician's feet...
His eyes couldn't help but move downwards to glance at the embroidered shoes embroidered with gold thread under Zhen Bao's skirt.
He asked, "Your Majesty, do you know what those national treasures are?"
Xu Zhenguan said: "I know a little about them. They are all very tempting objects for practitioners. However, many people have tried to find them over the past few hundred years, but to no avail.
There is a high probability that she will also be empty-handed.
As for the divine revelation of the Great Laba...it may not be true. If you are interested, you should at least reach the peak of the world, be fully confident, and bring enough experts with you before going."
As an emperor and a "celestial being", Xu Zhenguan had little interest in searching for treasures from the previous dynasty six hundred years ago.
"I thought so too, and I didn't agree to her request." Zhao Duan agreed.
Xu Zhenguan said "yes" with satisfaction, and suddenly said:
"I have met that Xiao Dong'er. According to your proposal, the court will appoint officials and send an army from the Five Military Camps with the assistance of the Xiao family to quell the remnants of the Qingzhou Dao."
Zhao Duan hurriedly said: "I have absolutely nothing to do with that widow..."
Xu Zhenguan raised the corner of his mouth and interrupted him: "I know."
Huh... You know everything, yet you're still jealous for no reason... Zhao Duan kneaded his shoulders and said:
"Your Majesty has a keen eye. I know that those rumors will not go down well with Your Majesty... After all, everyone in Dayu knows my love for Your Majesty..."
Xu Zhenguan enjoyed the sweet words of the loyal dog and his mood improved, but he suddenly opened his eyes with anger in his eyes:
"Where are you going with your hands?!"
"...Haha, my hand slipped, my hand slipped." Zhao Duan embarrassedly pulled Lushan's claws back from the empress's collar, only to feel the slippery feeling on his fingertips, which was soul-stirring.
The empress sneered, not bothering to expose the thief's despicable thoughts, and said:
"During the day, before you came back, Ma Yan sent me some memorials, saying that the interrogation of Li Yanfu and other officials had come to an end."
Zhao Duan tentatively kneaded her fair, fuzzy neck with his hands and said:
"What is your majesty going to do?"
Xu Zhenguan said calmly and firmly:
"Execute them immediately. Anyone from Li's party who participated in the rebellion will be beheaded in public at Caishikou in the next few days. All three clans will be exterminated." Well, the latter one cannot be carried out for the time being because most of the families behind Li's party are in the Huai River, which is an "enemy-occupied area."
It is conceivable that once the news comes out, this group of local nobles will completely stand on the side of the Eight Kings.
"What about the father and son of Prince Heng?" Zhao Duan asked tentatively: "Lock them up? Strip them of their titles? Make them commoners?"
This time, the empress was silent for a while longer before she said calmly:
"The interrogation is complete. Behead him along with the Li Party rebels."
"It's up to you, Your Majesty." Zhao Duan sighed softly. He was not too surprised by the result.
No matter how much the empress cared about family ties, there was no room for maneuver from the moment the princes rebelled.
What's more, as the first prince to be captured, everyone was concerned about what would happen to Prince Heng, because it represented the court's attitude towards the rebellion.
Xu Zhenguan continued:
"Beheading Li Yanfu and Prince Heng and his son is not only to shock people and show strength, but also to serve as a 'sacrifice' for the court's subsequent counterattack."
The news that the empress has returned to the capital has spread. It is conceivable that the rebellious princes in various places should have switched to the strategy of separatism, occupation, and digestion of territory.
As for the imperial court, the most urgent task was to counterattack while those territories had not yet been completely controlled by the princes.
Once we miss this window of time, it will be difficult to eradicate the vassal kings once they have fully taken root.
"Now, the Yanshan King of Tieguan Road is being held back in Jubei City by Luo Kedi's army; the Hejian King is being contained by Duke Tang and is being held back in Xiping Road... The only two rebel forces left that pose the greatest threat are the Jing King and the Mu King.
One of them took over Jiancheng Road, and the other took over Yunfu Road, and the two armies each occupied half of the Huai River Road, with Xue Shence leading his troops to block them at Linfeng Road.
Now that the crisis in the capital has been resolved, the Shenji Camp, the Five Army Camp, and some of the Imperial Guards should be mobilized to Linfeng Road to cooperate with Xue Shence to recover the lost territory." Xu Zhenguan analyzed calmly.
"I was just about to tell your majesty this," Zhao Duan also said in a serious tone:
"This time, the Shenji Camp defeated the Qingzhou Army. Now their morale is high and they are heading south. I intend to lead the army as the vanguard."
Xu Zhenguan was silent for a moment, without moving, but turned his head and stared at him with his lacquered eyes:
"Prince Jing and Prince Mu are different from the humble Prince Heng. Your firearms are indeed powerful, but as the Grand Tutor said, they were unexpected. Now that Prince Heng has been defeated and the news has spread, they will naturally be on guard and respond. It is impossible to replicate the results of the battle."
Zhao Duan grinned and said:
"I know. So, I don't plan to rely on this little firearm to become a general leading troops to fight. I am an amateur at marching and arranging battle formations. I can talk big, but I can't really fight."
Xu Zhenguan was stunned: "Then why are you..."
"Because Your Majesty needs it." Zhao Duan said seriously:
"Right now, the most urgent need at the Linfeng front is neither manpower nor firearms, but confidence and trust. The news of your majesty's return and the defeat of the Qingzhou troops can provide confidence to the front line, but it is difficult for your majesty to give enough trust to those frontline generals, including Xue Shence.
Similarly, the soldiers on the front lines also have to consider the views of the capital. In order to avoid rifts between the emperor and his subjects, many decisions must be submitted to the capital for instructions via letters... This back and forth, the opportunity for war is fleeting, so Your Majesty needs a trustworthy and influential person to go to the front line to supervise the army."
As a "civilian" in two lifetimes, Zhao Duan knew nothing about fighting a war, but he had seen pigs run before.
In his previous life, he had read some historical materials on the "Civil War" and was particularly impressed by the trust issues between commanders and frontline soldiers within the large system.
Especially, against the backdrop of the rebellion by Zhao Shixiong, Wei Xianzong, and the two commanders of the imperial guards in the imperial city, the empress... and the entire court, inevitably had a big question mark over the loyalty of the generals leading the troops outside.
How can we ensure that the generals on the front line will not surrender to the enemy when the feudal lords are fighting for power and joining forces to besiege the city?
Sending out "military supervisors" or "military supervisors" is the only method that can be thought of.
After much thought, the most suitable candidate is Zhao Duan.
It is absolutely impossible for him to rebel, and he has a record of destroying the Qingzhou rebels, proving that he can be a good commander.
With the title and reputation of "Emperor's Husband", he could, to a certain extent, flexibly "execute first and report later" on the front line, so that the combat would not be constrained by the rear area in the capital.
"For me..."
Xu Zhenguan was stunned for a moment, as if her heart was hit. Her eyes softened, comparing the two with what she had just done out of anger... She felt a hint of guilt in her heart.
Zhao Duan smiled and continued:
"I have already thought about it. After I lead the Beijing troops to help, I will go to see Xue Shence first to stabilize the army's morale. Then... since the two vassal kings have split the Huai River, each occupying half, artificially forming two battlefields on the 'east-west line', I can cooperate with Xue Shumi to deal with the two rebel kings.
Heh… I’m already familiar with that bastard Prince Jing, but I’m still unfamiliar with Prince Mu from Yunfu. And that general of the Southwest Frontier Army, Zhao Shixiong, who is of the same gender as me, I’ve heard his name so many times that I’m almost tired of it, and I’m also curious whether this guy has three heads or six arms.”
Xu Zhenguan smiled softly. She raised her head slightly and looked at the high-spirited "little imperial guard". She said "yes" softly, and there was a hint of admiration in her eyes:
"Now that you have made your decision, just tell me what you need."
Zhao Duan pondered for a moment, staring at the empress with fiery eyes, his gaze peering inside through the open neckline.
Xu Zhenguan just said calmly: "You can't break the defense."
"..."
So Zhao Duan broke down his defense and said, "I need more people, such as Wei Xianzong."
The empress's eyes moved. She already knew about the meeting between Zhao Duan and Yuan Li in the afternoon - Mo Chou had reported it to her in detail.
Knowing that this was Zhao Duan's excuse for himself, he nodded happily:
"Okay, here you go. What else do you want?"
Zhao Duan: "I want a sufficient title, a title that can equal Xue Shence's status."
The empress said: "I can appoint you as the 'Grand Commander of the Rebellion Suppression', which is higher than the governor and has the power of supervision and control. What else do you want?"
Zhao Duan fell into deep thought again, and then he suddenly picked up a chair and turned it 90 degrees with the empress sitting on it.
Then, he squatted down in the latter's blank gaze, ready to make a move:
"Your Majesty, I've been massaging your shoulders for so long, would you like to massage your feet too?"
Xu Zhenguan's expression was dull, with three parts of shock, three parts of bewilderment, three parts of confusion, and one part of disgust in his eyes...
next second.
The embroidered shoes, which were as big as a palm and could be held in one hand, were kicked over: "Get out!"
Zhao Duan dodged in advance, retreated to the door, and muttered:
"You're angry again. I didn't even charge you any money..."
After saying this, without waiting for the empress to get angry, he put on oil on his feet, pushed the door open and walked out.
There was no Taia sword beheading him as expected, only an unpleasant voice:
"What is your massage technique called?"
She thought it was a good idea, and planned to ask her female officials to learn it when she returned to the palace, and give herself massages whenever she had time.
Zhao Duan didn't even turn his head and said something nonsense: "Eighteen touches."
……
……
The setting sun sank into the ground and the sky darkened.
After the empress had a simple dinner at Zhao's house, she returned to the palace.
Zhao Duan did not go to the palace to join in the fun. After eating and drinking, he turned around and returned to his bedroom.
Light the menorah.
Wait for the orange-yellow flames to permeate the room.
He stood on the empty floor, took out the silver scroll, shook it gently, and the crimson half-armor fell off with a "bang".
Along with it, there was the "crackling" sound, and a large number of strange and various weapons and magical instruments.
It formed a hill.
Not only that, Zhao Duan also pulled out two large boxes from under the bed, which were also filled with similar things.
These are all the spoils captured from the battle of Baihua Village, as well as the treasures from the treasury of “Guhuo Zhenren”.
"If we feed all these things to the Scarlet Flame Sacred Armor, it should be able to restore it to its peak state, right?"
Zhao Duan held the book on Zoroastrianism given to him by Zhenbao and turned to the page that corresponded to the "sacrifice" formation.
Using a brush soaked in specially formulated cinnabar, he drew a complex hexagram array on the floor.
After completing the task, he placed the Red Flame Holy Armor in the center of the magic circle.
Then, he stood at the "casting position" of the formation, pressed his palms on the cinnabar on the floor, and let in the powerful aura.
“Squeak—”
The scarlet cinnabar suddenly burned, and the entire magic circle was filled with a mysterious halo, and an illusory blazing flame burned.
The "Red Flame Holy Armor" in the center of the formation lit up, and gradually, the armor began to float up on its own, as if it was worn by an illusory god of fire.
"rumble……"
The black human face mark on the front of the armor suddenly twisted and deformed, opening its "bloody mouth" to reveal a black "hole".
The scarlet armor also turned into a furnace.
Waiting to be fed and sacrificed.
"Is that all?" Zhao Duan swallowed his saliva, turned his head and looked at the mess of magic tools and weapons beside him, and had a strong premonition in his heart:
"Perhaps, the holy armor I feed will be more powerful than in the hands of King Heng."
(End of this chapter)