Invincible son

Chapter 995 996 [Ashamed to Pitch]

"Peihou, please sit down."

Fang Xun pointed to the chair beside the bed with a complicated smile on his face.

Before sitting down, Pei Yue looked at the furnishings in the bedroom. It was not elegant, but it was not too poor either.In fact, on the way here, he had a rough idea of ​​Fang Xun's situation in the past few years from the information of various messengers.Putting aside past grievances and grievances, Fang Xun's ability to handle political affairs is not bad, otherwise he would not have been able to become Yushi Zhongcheng.

It's a pity that the natural coal mine in Yunzhou is located in the Gaotang Mansion to the east, so no matter how diligent and caring Fang Xun is, the achievements of Xing'an Mansion will always be overshadowed by the light of Gaotang Mansion.He didn't worry about it, but instead devoted himself to government affairs. In the past few years, the people of Xing'an Mansion can be said to live and work in peace and contentment.

But Pei Yue wouldn't stand in awe because of this, because Fang Xun was demoted from Yushi Zhongcheng to Xing'an magistrate, if he said he didn't want to return to the court, it would be a joke.As for the achievements he has made here, it is his duty as the magistrate. Pei Yue is considered generous if he does not deliberately suppress it because of the grudges at the beginning, so naturally he will not praise it.

For many years in the court, he has seen too many demeanors of civil servants, such as the unfathomable Mo Haoli, Luo Ting's loyalty and uprightness, and even the greedy Sun Dacheng, from another perspective, they can all be regarded as capable. official.

Fang Xunlue was breathing with some difficulty, and the barbarian stabbed him in the lower abdomen for the last time, and then he insisted on standing under the tower for a long time, and finally relied on the support of Bingyong to not fall down.After delaying for so long, even the imperial physician couldn't achieve a wonderful recovery. In fact, he already knew that he couldn't make it through, but there was still a ray of obsession in his heart that supported him to see Pei Yue.

Looking at Pei Yue's cold eyes, Fang Xun could probably understand the thoughts of the young prince, so he said slowly: "Pei Hou, in fact, at the moment when the barbarian appeared, the lower official was still thinking about himself, if this I was able to repel the barbarians for the first time, and keep the city and the people in the city. This should be regarded as a great contribution, and most of the officials can return to the capital by virtue of this."

Pei Yue nodded and said: "I have seen your request to Ge Shuyi, although it is not appropriate to do so according to the regulations of the imperial court, because the local state government absolutely does not allow private recruitment and training, but this is a special period after all, and barbarians do appear in the city. In addition, as the prefect, you have more credit than fault for keeping this city. If you were not seriously injured, maybe after the battle is over, His Majesty will transfer you back to the court."

Fang Xun was slightly taken aback, and then said calmly: "After the city was defended, the lower officials also thought about it... Ahem... Maybe there are two possibilities. The first is that the strength of the barbarians hides most of them. The defeat in the wilderness is probably not accidental, the second possibility is that there are barbarians in the Jiuliguan guards."

Pei Yue adjusted his sitting posture slightly, and suddenly asked: "Prefect Fang, what do you think of the fall of Jiuli Pass?"

Fang Xun shook his head, showing a wry smile and said, "That's not what I want to say."

Pei Yue asked, "Why don't you run?"

Pei Yue nodded sincerely.

Pei Yue said in a low voice: "Prefect Fang, it's not like this."

Fang Xun expressed his gratitude, and then said: "The lower official is from the Songning Mansion of Qinzhou. He studied hard day and night in the cold window. He became a scholar at the age of 15. He was promoted at the age of 21. He was ranked first in the list at the age of 22. Since then, he has entered the imperial court. .When Xiaguan was studying in the Imperial Academy, he often thought about becoming a capable minister in the future. At the age of 28, he was promoted to serve as a censor, and at the age of 36, he was promoted to be a censor. However, when he was in his early 40s, he was demoted from Kyoto. This bitter cold place in the mansion."

He choked up, tears intertwined with the blood at the corner of his mouth, the official's most important appearance was completely destroyed, but he didn't pay attention to it at all.

Fang Xun said intermittently: "Pei Hou, at the beginning, I wanted to send charcoal to the eldest prince, and I hoped that he would remember the benefits of being an official after he inherited the throne, so he conspired with Sun Dacheng to trip Pei Hou's auspicious cloud number." -"

Pei Yue noticed that his complexion was getting uglier and ugly, the wound was hard to heal, and it was all due to the breath in his chest that he could survive until now.

Pei Yue sighed lightly.

Fang Xun's eyes suddenly burst into light, but dimmed after a while.

Fang Xun said sadly: "The lower official has actually hated Pei Hou for several years, but after last night, the lower official finally realized what kind of person he is."

Pei Yue got up and sat on the side of the bed, stretched out his hand to hold his hand and said, "Master Fang, I don't know if you haven't heard a saying that a saint doesn't care about his deeds, no matter what your original intentions are, but you have paid for keeping the city after all." Everything, including your life, all the people in the city will thank you, that's enough. No third person will hear what you said to me today."

It's just that at this time, there is no guilt or sadness on his face, only calm and calm.

Fang Xun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said in extreme pain: "After reading the sage books for so many years, I always thought that I had a heart for the world, that I was loyal to His Majesty and the court, and that I loved the people like a son. But what have you been doing for so many years? When those barbarians slaughtered the defenders and the common people, what the subordinates still thought about was their official position, and they still fantasized about returning to the center to take power as soon as possible!"

Pei Yue looked at him puzzled.

Fang Xun opened his mouth slightly, a cloudy tear flowed from the corner of his eye, but soon he smiled bitterly and self-deprecatingly, shook his head and said: "Pei Hou, I would like to thank those guards under your command, especially the one named Xu Mo The young man. If he and his companions hadn't insisted desperately, the officials would have been scared out of their wits, and Fucheng would definitely not be able to hold on."

Pei Yue shook his head slightly and interrupted him: "Master Fang, the past is over, why bother to bring it up again?"

He raised his hand to press his chest, and continued: "He is going to die with that barbarian. At that time, the officer's mind was in chaos, fear, fear, and confusion. He couldn't figure out why? He was still so young, and his abilities exceeded Most of my peers are still Pei Hou's trusted confidants, and they will definitely have a bright future in the future, but in this strange place, for so many strangers, what are you doing?"

Fang Xun continued: "I have read the books of sages and sages all my life, and I know the ups and downs of life, so I am not discouraged because of this. I only want to make some achievements in Xing'an Mansion, so that His Majesty and the ruling people can see it. Returning to the court, there is still a chance of recovery in the future. After hearing the news of the barbarian invasion to the south, Xiaguan asked Marshal Geshu for help according to the rules. It may become the target of barbarian looting."

Pei Yue said: "Please."

Fang Xunxing stared at him, and asked in a trembling voice after a long time, "Really?"

Pei Yue nodded slightly, and signaled Fang Xun to continue with his eyes.

Fang Xun's breathing gradually became a little short, and he said softly: "If Marquis Pei doesn't mind, I want to talk about the past."

He raised his head with difficulty, looked at Pei Yue and said, "Xiaguan... Xiaguan feels ashamed!"

Fang Xun said with shame on his face: "At that time, the lower official thought, if he ran away like this, the soldiers would definitely collapse, and the city would not be able to defend, so wouldn't everything he had done before be in vain? Not only will the lower official not be able to return to the court , and may be charged with crimes, I am indeed afraid of death, but I don't want to be a criminal accused by thousands of people."

In the end, he couldn't help showing a perplexed look on his face. He couldn't figure out how the barbarians could develop an internal response after the Daliang army was stroked, and it was obviously difficult to successfully attack Jiuliguan with a single internal response.

As soon as he thought of this, he gave up the idea of ​​stopping the other party, and said in a slow tone: "It is human nature to be afraid of death, and there is nothing to blame for worrying about your reputation. Fang Zhifu, I am actually not very clear about the reason why you must see me , but what you did last night deserves my respect."

Pei Yue didn't interrupt, but just listened quietly.

I can't cry anymore.

He coughed involuntarily.

Fang Xun smiled with difficulty, looked at Pei Yue and said, "Pei Hou, I was hesitating to be an official last night, because the battle was too tragic and the soldiers guarding the city were in danger. If I ran away at that time, I might be able to keep this fate."

He said, "Thank you."

Pei Yue sighed, "No need."

Fang Xun gradually closed his eyes, and then stopped breathing.

Pei Yueku sat for a long time, speechless for a long time.

(End of this chapter)