Harue Kagetsu

Gao Qiao came to Jingkou from Jiankang on horseback, and went on the road in simple clothes, with only Gao Yin and a few attendants by his side.

He has always paid attention to his appearance, in front of others, he is well-dressed and his socks are not stained with dust.

But at this moment, it is dusty and dusty, and the corners of his clothes are stained with dust, which shows that he is in a hurry.

He was sitting in the living room, and Gao Yin sat next to him. He talked with Lu Shi, and both of them were smiling and talking happily.

"Aye! Why are you here?"

Luoshen ran in and cried out happily.

Gao Qiao turned her face and saw her daughter rushing in with a smile, and when she stopped beside him, Fang whispered rebuke: "A family is in front, don't be so rash and ignorant of etiquette."

Luoshen pursed his lips and whispered, "My daughter knows."

Lu Shi smiled: "Duke Ming is out now. How can Ami be ignorant of etiquette? It's just that he treats me as his own family, so I like it very much."

Luoshen smiled at his father and called Gao Yin, brother.

Gao Yin smiled and nodded.

Gao Qiao had no choice but to shake his head and smile.

Li Mu entered. Lu Shi recognized the sound of his footsteps, and immediately said: "Mu'er, your father-in-law has come from Jiankang, come and meet him!"

With a smile on his face, Li Mu stepped forward to salute Gao Qiao respectfully, and said, "Today, I happened to take Ami and my sister to Jinshan to watch the tide before returning. It's a little late. I don't know that my father-in-law is here. It's really rude."

After finishing speaking, he and Gao Yin greeted each other again.

Gao Qiao's eyes fell on him, looked at him, saw that he was calm and unhurried, a ray of darkness flashed across his eyes, but he nodded with a smile: "It's okay. I'm just here."

"Aye, is there something wrong with you coming?"

Luoshen asked with a smile.

Gao Qiao said, "My daughter is married to Jingkou, so Aye can't come if he has nothing to do?"

"Aye! You know that your daughter doesn't mean that!"

Luoshen is reluctant.

Gao Qiao stroked his beard and smiled.

Mrs Lu said, "Father-in-law and eldest brother have worked hard all the way. Mu'er, do you invite them to eat some food and rest early?"

Gao Yin hurriedly said: "Amu no need to worry. Uncle and I have already eaten on the road."

Li Mu looked at Gao Qiao.

Gao Qiao said: "Jingchen, if you have nothing to do, you can show me around. When I came, I saw some scenery by the river, and it looked good."

Li Mu said respectfully, "Please come with me, father-in-law."

Gao Qiao smiled and said goodbye to Lu Shi, and walked out.

Li Mu asked Luoshen to go back to his room to rest first, and he also followed Gao Qiao away.

The two got out of the door, mounted their horses each, and galloped away from the town.

After a while, the sound of a river flowing faintly poured into my ears.

The ferry has arrived.

During the day, people come and go in the ferry area, and boats and boats compete to cross. At this moment, people are going to the empty ship, and only Jiangyue is on his head, quietly illuminating the world.

Gao Qiao dismounted and stood by the river.

The river wind blew his beard to his face, and the sword hilt fringe around his waist also danced wildly with the wind. A few jade beads on the spikes slammed against the scabbard, making a lingering sound, as if a long sword was buzzing and trembling in the box, and it was about to break out of the scabbard.

"Can you receive my letter?"

His attitude towards Lu Shi and his daughter was completely different from just now, and he asked coldly.

"I received it at noon. I should have followed my father-in-law's order and went to Jiankang immediately. It was just at the right time that Ami was traveling, and I couldn't bear to disappoint her, so I delayed it for half a day and wanted to leave tomorrow. My son-in-law was terrified."

Gao Qiao stared at the man opposite, frowning.

"That's all. I have something I want to ask you. You have to be honest and not hide anything!"

"Father-in-law asked."

Gao Qiao narrowed his eyes.

"Your Majesty intends to use you as a prefect? ​​Not only that, but I heard that you recruited private soldiers in Berkshire before. Those private soldiers have not come back with you now, they are still in place, waiting to be dispatched?"

"The so-called governor is just an empty title, not even a bicycle."

Li Mu said.

"Father-in-law also knows that after years of war, Yicheng is now like a barren land. Your Majesty is ambitious and wants to push the country back to the north, so he took advantage of the previous victory in Ba County and sent me to Yicheng to open up wasteland. My clothes are educated and I praise my emperor's grace, and it is also for the future when I will expedition to the north again, there will be a place for prosperity."

"As for recruiting soldiers, the Naiba people at that time shared the same hatred of the enemy and voluntarily joined the army. After the war, there were only one or two people who were willing to continue to join the army.

Gao Qiao stared at him with an unpredictable expression. After a while, he nodded.

"You have the ambition of the Northern Expedition, which is very good. Why didn't you come to my Guangling? As long as you come to my Guangling, when the time comes, my Gao's soldiers can be dispatched by you, and you can go deeper into the north and open up the land than you are now. Wouldn't it be cheaper to open up the mountains and forests with the blue threads of the road?"

"Li Mu is grateful for his father-in-law's support and trust. It's just this matter, one is a life. Second, Guangling is like my father-in-law's gateway to the north of the Great Yu Jiang, and it is necessary to always guard against the invasion of the northern summer and the south. Dangerous. The Northern Expedition is my life's ambition, but Li Mushang can tell which is more important."

"Sure enough, you have a talent for arguing, but unfortunately, you can hide from others, but you can't hide from me, Gao Qiao!"

His expression suddenly became severe.

"In the eyes of others, Yicheng is indeed a barren land, but when I was on the northern expedition, I took a route nearby and surveyed the terrain. This place is connected to Bingzhou in the north, and Jinyang and Chang'an can be taken, and Xiangyang in the south, guarding Jiangling. Management is a strategic place! Your Majesty is indeed ambitious, but his talents are ordinary, and his first thought in his life is definitely not the Northern Expedition! How could he think of sending you to Yicheng Kaijing out of thin air? It is clearly your own plan This matter, through His Majesty's mouth, to achieve the goal!"

Gao Qiao's expression suddenly turned severe.

"Li Mu, you are seeking land for the Northern Expedition. I suspect that you have other plans!"

"Today the world is in turmoil. Hu Lian in the north, whoever has the slightest chance to occupy a small land, will be proclaimed emperor in a guise, and the crusade will continue, causing the army to be in chaos and the people's livelihood. My Southern Dynasty is also plagued by disasters. The royal family is weak and rebellion is endless. These Over the years, Langzi's ambitions have jumped beyond their means, and they have emerged one after another."

"When you forcibly married my daughter, I knew that you had a deep mind and were not willing to be inferior to others. I am Gao Qiao, I am here to tell you today, if you want to be a chaotic courtier and thief, even if I have retired to the forest, as long as I With a breath left, I will be the first to refuse!"

Gao Qiao looked upright and awe-inspiring, and his eyes were solemn.

This is a warning issued by a powerful minister who has been in charge of the Southern Dynasty for many years to careerists.

The voice of the words, and the river behind him, were deafening and powerful.

After waiting for a while, he didn't hear an answer. Gao Qiao sneered again: "Why, you have nothing to say?"

"Recovering Shenzhou should also be the long-cherished wish of my father-in-law's life. My father-in-law also raised the army twice in the past, but Rong Li Mu dared to ask, like his father-in-law, has he followed the rules, has the Northern Expedition ever been successful?"

Gao Qiao couldn't believe his ears.

This young careerist finally spoke up under his own pressure.

But what Gao Qiao didn't expect was that instead of defending, it was equivalent to acknowledging that he was so offended that he directly exposed the indelible old scar in his heart.

He heard him continue: "Father-in-law's two northern expeditions, the victory once forced the Eastern Capital, but in the end it was unsuccessful. Except for the blocking of strong enemies, the court behind father-in-law, from the royal family to the clan, has many constraints, and the tail cannot be lost. 200,000 soldiers and horses, but there is no food and grass behind them, making it difficult to move, and the great cause is sinking!"

"Father-in-law, have you ever thought that if you could control the court with one hand, how could you know what the situation in the Central Plains would be today?"

"The Northern Expedition to the Central Plains and the restoration of the two capitals was the wish of my father and grandfather back then, and it was also the wish of my Li Mu. My father-in-law asked me to go to Guangling, and said that he would borrow troops from me in the future to start the Northern Expedition. Although my father-in-law still has the ambition of the year, it is a pity. He is deeply feared by His Majesty. Even if His Majesty trusts, there are still many clansmen, all of whom have their own thoughts and covetous eyes. How can my father-in-law be sure that with such a chaotic and weak imperial court, we can ensure that the Guangling soldiers who go north will not repeat the mistakes of the past?"

Gao Qiao was stunned.

A few days ago, he entered the palace to see the emperor privately because he was concerned about Li Mu's future arrangements. After three or two clichés, I learned of the plan from the emperor's mouth. After returning, the more I thought about it, the more inappropriate it became, so I repaired a book and ordered someone to rush it to Jingkou, ordering him to come to see him immediately.

It was only one night after the letter was sent, and I was driven by doubts in my heart. Because of the importance of the matter, I was still impatient, so I rushed over myself and questioned him face to face.

With the keen sense of smell that Gao Qiao has acquired over the years in politics, how could he not understand what his son-in-law is saying?

Obviously, it was expected by himself.

He wants to take this opportunity to start a new business and lay a foundation.

In the future, if he is truly full-fledged and independent, beyond the Northern Expedition, his plans will probably not be able to be restrained by the imperial court.

He stared closely at the man in front of him.

"Li Mu, of course the Northern Expedition is my wish, but I will not allow anyone to conspire and corrupt the country's guidelines! I will ask you one last time, will you come to Guangling?"

Li Mu Ying met his two staring eyes and said, "Thank you, father-in-law. But I still say that, Guangling is not my place."

Gao Qiao was furious, raised his hand suddenly, held down the hilt of the sword at his waist, and drew the sword out.

A cold light swept past, and the sword edge was placed on the side of Li Mu's neck.

"Looks like you're going to make up your mind about this chaotic courtier and thief. Well, I'll kill you now to avoid future troubles!"

A wisp of dark clouds covered the moon, and the night by the river suddenly dimmed.

Gao Qiao's eyes were like electricity, staring coldly at the man who was covered by the night.

"Don't think I'm intimidating you, and don't think that if you marry my daughter, I will tolerate it! I told you before, if you let me know that you have other plans to kill you for the sake of the world, How can it be?"

His hand holding the sword suddenly exerted strength.

The sharp edge of the sword easily cut a hole in the skin.

"There is death in life. With a body of seven feet, if you have a vow, why should you cherish your head? I only hate that my ambitions are not fulfilled, and there is no place to die!"

Li Mu said suddenly.

"If my father-in-law thinks that he kills me, then the Southern Dynasty can live forever, just do it."

The night wind blew away the clouds that covered the moon.

A streak of dark red blood was winding down from Li Mu's neck along the sword's edge, dyeing his collar red.

His face became clear again under the shadow of the moon, and his eyes were grim.

Gao Qiao's face was ashen, and the hand holding the long sword had blue veins intertwined on the back of his hand.

Li Mu always stood with his hands down, looking directly at him, his figure stood still.

Gao Qiao's eyelids twitched, and after a long while, he gnashed his teeth and said, "If I kill you like this today, you will not accept it. Well, I will leave you alone for now and let you go to Yicheng. I want to see how capable you, Li Mu, are. You are only a general of the guard, but you have arrogantly planned to this extent! Remember to me, in the future, if you really do something wrong, my Gao clan's soldiers will not only kill Hu Lian, but also destroy the traitors!"

He changed his words.

"I won't let you die today, but Ami, I must bring it back from your Li family! The daughter of the Gao family can marry a poor family, but she must not marry someone who is scheming. Hope you know!"

After Gao Qiao finished speaking, he abruptly retracted his sword, put the blood-stained sword into its sheath, turned around and left.

Li Mu looked at his back and said suddenly: "Within a year, I will take Xijing. Gao Xianggong, do you dare to bet with me?"

Gao Qiao stopped and turned back slowly, unable to hide his surprise.

Xijing is the capital of Chang'an, the capital of Beixia. The Jie people have been active in the west of Chang'an in the early years. After their rise, they seized the chaos and managed them carefully. They planned to take advantage of the defense of Tongguan and build the gate into their own rear, which could be attacked and defended. After the defeat of Jiangbei last year, Luoyang, the capital of the Xia State, was in jeopardy, and the strategic deployment of Xijing that year became more and more important.

The importance of garrison now can be imagined.

Li Mu's private army, now at most no more than 2,000, has released such words, how can Gao Qiao not be surprised?

Li Mu came up.

"Gao Xianggong, I just ask you, do you dare to bet on me?"

"How to gamble?" Gao Qiao said lightly.

"Bet Ami."

"You are Ami's father. Although Ami is now my Li family member in terms of etiquette, but if you really want to take her away, I will not stop her. After a year, I will hire Xijing and go to welcome her again!"

"Do you dare to bet this game with me?"

Gao Qiao stared at Li Mu for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"I don't know the arrogant junior, I have seen a lot in Gao Qiao's life. But you gave me another insight!"

In his words, he couldn't hide his ridicule.

"How dare you do such a reckless act after winning only one Yuan Jie!"

"Alright. I'll see what you'll be like in a year's time!"

Gao Qiao sneered, and without looking at Li Mu again, he walked away.

…

No matter how naive Luoshen was, he could see that Aye suddenly arrived like this tonight, something must have happened.

After the two of them left, she saw Lu Shi's expression was solemn, as if she was thinking, and she knew that she must also be worried, why did she feel in the house to rest? Brother Chao kept losing his eyes, and finally called him to an empty place in the courtyard, held him back, and asked his father the purpose of his trip.

Not to mention that Gao Yin didn't know why, even if he knew, he wouldn't be able to talk to Luoshen, and naturally it would be fruitless. Luo Shenjian couldn't ask anything, and the eldest brother only comforted himself, telling her not to worry, but instead became more and more uneasy.

It's been a while since my father went out with him, but he hasn't come back for a long time.

The more I waited, the more anxious I became, and I had a bad premonition.

Just when I was restless, I suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside, my heart skipped a beat, and I hurried out to greet him. Sure enough, I saw my father and Li Mu coming back.

The two entered in tandem.

From the looks on their faces, it seems that nothing bad has happened.

It was as if Weng and his son-in-law really just went out for a walk together and just came back.

However, before Luoshen could breathe a sigh of relief, he was startled by what he saw.

After going out, there was a wound on Li Mu's neck.

Although the blood was slowly solidifying after seeing that it had been easily disposed of, the wound, I don't know what was cut, was as wide as a slap, and even the collar was stained with blood. shocking.

She was surprised, and was about to go up to ask, but saw him smiling at her and waving his hand.

She immediately understood what he meant.

It means that he is fine and told her not to worry.

Luoshen glanced at Lu Shi, and temporarily forcibly endured the doubts in his heart.

But he saw that Aye had already stepped forward and said to Mrs. Lu, "Mrs. Li, I came to Jingkou tonight to convey the imperial edict on behalf of Your Majesty. Your Majesty is very talented, and His Majesty appreciates it very much. I want to entrust you with an important task. Congratulations to Madam Li."

Lu said happily: "My son can serve the court, and he should do his duty. Thanks to the help of Duke Ming, the old man is very grateful."

Gao Qiao said with a smile: "Mrs. Li is very polite. Jingchen can have what he is today, all because of his own talents. How can I help him? There is one thing, I'm afraid that if I say it, I will offend Mrs. Li."

Lu Shi hurriedly said: "Ming Ming doesn't have to be so outspoken. There is something to say, but it's okay to say it."

Gao Qiao said: "Because I have other important things, I have to leave to go back to Jiankang after preaching the Holy Will tonight. My wife and I have only one daughter, Ami, and she married here. It's not a secret. I miss it. Jingchen is going to leave home soon to do things for His Majesty, so I thought, why don't I take the opportunity to drop by tonight, I will pick up my daughter and go back to Jiankang with me. Can Madam agree?"

Lu Shi was obviously taken aback. Before he could speak, Luoshen said in surprise, "Aye? Why is it so urgent? I..."

She subconsciously wanted to say, I didn't want to answer yet, and she stopped halfway through the sentence.

Mrs. Lu also came to her senses, and during a hesitation, Li Mu stepped forward and said to his mother, "Mum, my father-in-law and I have already agreed to ask Ami to return first. Don't blame Mum."

Mr. Lu seemed to have gradually calmed down, smiled and nodded: "As long as you and Ami have agreed, I'll be fine. If you're not at home, Ami lives in Jiankang, and I'm more at ease."

The sudden decision made Luoshen unable to understand for a while.

But she knew that this decision must be made by her father.

"Aye! Why do you suddenly want me back? I won't!"

She couldn't take it any longer, cried.

Gao Qiao didn't say a word, and only cast two eyes on Li Mu coldly.

Luoshen watched Li Mu walk towards him and held her hand.

"Ami, I have something to tell you."

…

Luoshen suppressed his full of dissatisfaction and doubts, and followed Li Mu back to his room.

Once inside, she gently wiped the blood on his neck with a handkerchief.

As the distance got closer, I could see clearly that the wound seemed to have been cut by a sharp blade, and the bloodshot was still slowly seeping out. I was shocked and scared, and even more angry, I asked him: "It was fine when I went out, Why did you come back like this?"

"Did I, Aye, hurt you?"

Li Mu took her handkerchief, pressed the wound himself, and said with a smile, "I accidentally made it myself, and it has nothing to do with you, Aye. It's just a minor injury, don't worry."

Luo Shen really didn't believe it, and asked him again. Seeing that he only said that he made it accidentally, he had no choice but to wipe the blood off his neck for him, took the wound medicine again, and asked him, "I, Aya, and you in the end. What did you say, why are you suddenly taking me back to Jiankang?"

Just now she put medicine for him, Li Mu kept his head down, silently watching her busy.

After a moment of silence, a smile appeared on his face, and he said, "Ami, what you Aye said is right. Your Majesty wants to entrust me with an important task, and I will leave for Jiangbei soon. You go back with your Aye first, and I will take care of you in the future. Come back to pick you up, okay?"

Luo Shen was surprised, reacted, and threw himself into his arms.

"No, I'm not going back! Wherever you go, I'm going too!"

Li Mu said softly: "The place I'm going to is almost an empty city, with thorns and wolves everywhere. Even if you, Aye, won't come to pick you up today, I didn't want to take you with me..."

"I'm not afraid! I want to join you!"

Luoshen wrapped his arms around his waist tightly, shaking his head like a rattle.

She suddenly remembered.

"You said you wanted me last night! It's only been one night, you don't want me anymore?"

She looked up again and questioned him.

Li Mu was a little afraid to look at her beautiful eyes with resentment.

Although he knew for a long time, in this life, if Gao Qiao no longer died as early as in the previous life, there would be such a day between him and Gao Qiao sooner or later.

But in his original idea, he should have more time, so that he can follow his own pace, after winning Xijing and having enough capital, he will do the next transaction with Gao Qiao - there At that time, he was confident that he would be able to suppress Gao Qiao.

Strength, only the overwhelming strength is the way of the king.

No one knows this better than him.

This is why, he decided to abandon his previous life and rely on the accumulation of military exploits in the early stages, and then successively used the pacification of the Three Wu Rebellion, Xu Mi's proclaiming emperor, and the Northern Expedition, and finally broke the secret net opened by the clan family and completely. Rise, and then seize the center of the imperial court, the official residence of the old road of Da Sima.

That's too long. From now on, it will take him nearly ten years.

And in this life, because she became his woman early, he couldn't wait.

With a low status like him, in order to protect his woman, he must use another faster and more powerful means to rise to the top, to subdue and strangle the various resistances that he may encounter in the future.

But Gao Qiao was still an old fox who had acquired the Taoism, so he smelled the difference in advance and killed him, disrupting his original plan.

He knew that Gao Qiao probably didn't want to let his daughter get involved in the disputes between these men, so as not to add to the annoyance.

He also didn't have the courage, and told her at this time that tonight her father found the truth - if she knew of her father's break with herself, she would still hold herself like this and go with him to Jiangbei , even if it is still a desolate and sparsely populated place today?

Li Mu closed his eyes and opened them. He said again: "Ami, listen to me, I'm all soldiers in the army, and no one will bring their family. As a commander, how can I break the rules? You can rest assured, wait for me at home, at the latest one day. Nian, when the situation there is better, if you still want to go, I will pick you up again, okay?"

Luoshen looked up and looked at him for a moment.

Slowly, tears flashed in the corners of his eyes, but he said, "Then you can go. But if you're gone, how can I leave Ajia and the others and go back to Jiankang..."

Li Mu raised his hand, wiped the teardrop that rolled from the corner of her eye with his thumb, and said with a smile: "You are obedient, go back with your Aye first. After a while, if you miss your mother, you can come back..."

Luo Shen was stunned for a moment, his eyes were red, he threw himself into his arms again, closed his eyes and shook his head: "But... but I just don't want you to go..."

Li Mu was silent. He held her on his lap and patted her back gently, as if she was just a child.

"Li Langjun, little lady..."

Suddenly, A Ju's soft calling sounded outside the door.

"Master is urging-"

She also sounded hesitant, her voice full of doubts.

"Lang Jun-"

Luoshen opened a pair of hazy teary eyes and looked up at him again, his hands still tightly clutching his left and right sleeves.

Li Mu couldn't bear it any longer, he held her face, lowered his head and kissed her lips.

He sucked **** her soft and delicate lips and let go of her suddenly.

"Ami, you can go with your Aye first. Remember what I told you tonight when watching the tide. In the future, as long as you want me, I, Li Mu, will never fail you!"