Chapter 630: Use One Lie to Cover up Another Lie!

The complete defeat of the Wei army came as expected.

Guan Yu had no intention of chasing.

Because of this, after Zhao Lei made this request to report to him alone, Guan Yu agreed without hesitation.

Both of them got off their horses and walked to the side.

The Guan family army led by Zhou Cang deliberately stationed fifty steps away from the conversation between the two to ensure that they could not hear the conversation and no one else could disturb the general.

"What is it? Do you need to talk about it in private?" Guan Yu spoke first.

Zhao Lei's eyes flashed with complex expressions, as if carrying thousands of words but difficult to speak.

He pondered for a moment, as if he was sorting out his thoughts, and seemed to be looking for the right words.

Finally, he took a deep breath, slowly opened his mouth, and told Guan Yu the whole story. "Second General, let me tell you a story about... the third son!"

——"The third son? 』

Guan Yu didn't react for a moment. He pondered for a moment and then murmured subconsciously.

"Hmm... It's An Guo (Guan Xing)?"

Obviously, when this name was mentioned, Guan Yu's expression suddenly became solemn, as if he thought of a past memory that he couldn't bear to look back on, and it instantly flooded into his mind.

Finally, Zhao Lei told Guan Yu the whole story. "It was a few years ago. Once, I went to suppress bandits with Prince An Guo. It was a great victory... But..."

With Zhao Lei's low and heavy voice, an unknown past about Guan Xing, the third son of the Guan family... vividly appeared in front of Guan Yu.

That time, Zhao Lei took the young second son of Guan to suppress bandits, and as expected, they won a great victory.

In fact, this level of opponent is just a piece of cake for the Guan family army.

But...the accident happened after the war.

At that time, the battlefield was littered with corpses... All the rebellious bandits... except for a few who were captured, most of them fell to the ground, in pools of blood.

After the battle, Zhao Lei looked around the cruel battlefield to clean up the battlefield, but Guan Xing had already started to use a dagger to finish off the fallen enemies one by one.

This is a complicated process, and finishing off the enemy can also effectively prevent the enemy from pretending to be dead, or faking death!

But often, because of the huge workload, and the victory of the side will be a little lax after the victory.

Therefore... this finishing action, even in the Guan family army, is often perfunctory.

But Guan Xing's finishing is extremely serious, and each corpse must be stabbed three times with a dagger.

They are the chest, lower abdomen, and ribs--

These three knives, let alone the dead enemy, even if there are enemies faking death, they can't escape the bad luck and die.

Zhao Lei looked at Guan Xing's hard work and couldn't help but persuade him: "Master Anguo, you are still young. In my opinion, you can tell who is pretending to be dead and who is really dead at a glance. Why do you have to work so hard to check? After all, finishing off a knife will hurt your virtue... If you have time, go back and rest. We should return triumphantly..."

Guan Xing said nothing about Zhao Lei's proposal. Although he was only thirteen or fourteen years old at that time, he was extremely serious in the process of finishing off a knife.

He didn't even bother to reply to Zhao Lei.

"Alas..."

Zhao Lei couldn't help but sigh, thinking... I have to spend time here with Master Guan again today.

Danger often appears in the most colorful places, and also in the most paralyzed and careless places.

Just as Zhao Lei sighed, a thief behind him suddenly jumped up. I don't know where he got the dagger from, but he pierced Zhao Lei's neck directly--

This incident happened too fast and too quickly.

Even Zhao Lei did not expect that this enemy, who in his eyes... did not need to finish off the enemy and could not fake his death, would suddenly become like the sickle of the god of death and want to take his life, no, to die together with him.

Coupled with the previous carelessness and lack of preparation, Zhao Lei could only be slaughtered at this moment.

But at this moment, the sound of a "sharp blade" breaking through the air sounded in his ears, and then... without any warning... a saber flew past Zhao Lei's side, with incredible decisiveness... directly inserted into the chest of the thief.

"Clang clang clang--"

First, the dagger fell to the ground, colliding with the ground and making a unique metallic sound, and then... accompanied by a dull "dong", "dong" sound, the thief fell to the ground with the knife.

"General--"

At this time, a group of personal guards arrived late and immediately escorted Zhao Lei.

Looking at Zhao Lei, he looked at the thief in astonishment, and then looked at Guan Xing in disbelief.

But at this moment, Guan Xing's face was expressionless as always, and he looked cold and indifferent.

He had already run over quickly, pulled out the sharp blade, and then stabbed the thief who pretended to be dead but fell to the ground three times according to his usual three positions, still "left rib", "chest", and "lower abdomen". These three knives were exactly the same as the positions he had stabbed before!

Zhao Lei will never forget this scene in his life, forget this scene that determines his life and death, safety...

He will never forget the "three knives"...

Of course, this matter... is not a glorious thing.

Later, Guan Xing acted as if nothing had happened. They did not mention it, and very few people in the entire Guan family army knew about it.

This time... Zhao Lei told Guan Yu about the past.

It made Guan Yu realize that it was a bit meaningful.

However, he still asked: "Anguo has been beheaded by someone for disobeying military orders. General Zhao, what is your purpose of bringing up the old matter now?"

When he said this, Guan Yu's red phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, as if... he had a strong premonition, which was related to... the dead An Guo.

Sure enough... the moment Zhao Lei chanted the last sentence, Guan Yu's eyes suddenly opened and closed, as if he suddenly became a hundred times more energetic and inspired.

"That Ma Jun... When I saw Ma Jun's body, there were traces of finishing wounds on it, and the position of the finishing wounds... was actually the same as... the usual habits of Mr. An Guo... Therefore, I suspected... suspected... "

Even if Zhao Lei deliberately slowed down his speech, slowed down...

But his deeply worried eyes and tone made Guan Yu subconsciously raise his hand to signal him... not to say any more.

yes…

What else is there to say?

Guan Xing's death was said by his own eyes, ordered by him personally, and witnessed by countless Guan family troops?

Then... can there be a holiday?

call…

Accompanied by a heavy gasp, Guan Yu's expression gradually darkened from the high energy and excitement just now. He turned around and hesitated for a while before opening his mouth: "When the two armies are fighting, the last strike is to clean up the battlefield. The most important part, you say... The location where Ma Jun was hit with a last hit, huh... It's probably a coincidence! That Ma Jun is so important to Ni Wei, it's understandable that the friendly troops who assassinated him need to hit him a few more times... Maybe, it's really It’s a coincidence!”

Guan Yu's tone was obviously hesitant...

But...he didn't want to think too much about it.

He had experienced the pain of losing his son, and he didn't want to take any chances.

He could not experience the pain of gain and loss again!

"Here is General Zang Ba's Taishan Army fighting with the Wei Army. If you want to know the truth, the Second General might as well ask General Zang Ba! Maybe he can know..."

Zhao Lei suggested tentatively.

Speaking of which, Guan Xing's death was more or less deeply entangled with him, Zhao Lei.

In that battle, if he hadn't followed Guan Xing's adventurous plan, why would...why would so many Guan soldiers have died, how would the entire Xiangfan situation be overturned, and why would the Third Young Master be beheaded at the gate!

Alas... alas...

There were countless deep sighs in my heart, and countless nightmare-like flashes of that action.

Now... after finally catching a chance to redeem his sins, Zhao Lei didn't want to let it go.

"Stop thinking nonsense..."

Guan Yu's words interrupted all Zhao Lei's reverie, "There are still many things to do in Luoyang City, don't delay here, let's go -"

Like a cold sentence...

But only Guan Yu knew that at that moment, his heart was really and deeply throbbing.

——"What about Ma Jun?" Was it really my son Anguo who killed him? 』

——"Anguo...Is Anguo still alive?" 』

…

…

"General, your injury..."

On the official road leading from Luoyang City to Guanzhong, horse teams were galloping. In the carriage surrounded by countless soldiers, Li Miao was dressing Xiahou Dun's wounds.

Because it was a battlefield, the medical officers accompanying the army had long since dispersed, and Xiahou Dun had no less than five wounds on his body, so... Li Miao could only simply bandage them.

Of course, in this era, in addition to the six arts of gentleman (ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics), Confucian students often also need medical skills and pharmacology. This will help increase their ability to survive when dealing with complex natural and man-made disasters. possible.

"The general was so seriously injured..."

Li Miao gritted his teeth and looked at the scars on Xiahou Dun's body that were scratched again and with blood spilling out. He deliberately pretended to share the same hatred as Xiahou Dun.

"I have been fighting for a lifetime, so this little injury is nothing...but you..." Xiahou Dun faced Li Miao. He couldn't see Li Miao, but he grabbed Li Miao's hand firmly with his hand, "Why do you still call me big?" General..."

ah…

Li Miao was stunned.

Xiahou Dun continued, "What? Have you forgotten what you said when you rushed into the enemy's camp to save me on the battlefield? Didn't you say that I treat you like a son? How can any son in this world abandon his father's safety and ignore it! Ah... Why, he was quite arrogant back then, but now...he still looks like a madman!"

this…

When Xiahou Dun suddenly said this, Li Miao didn't know how to respond, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.

But at this moment...

"Ha ha ha ha…"

Xiahou Dun suddenly burst out laughing. While laughing, he held Li Miao's hand tighter, "Hannan, you don't need to be nervous. You heard what Zizang and I just said. I lost my eyesight first, and then I have lost two beloved sons at this young age. I heard that your father in Shuzhong has also passed away a long time ago. Since you are willing to do so, I will simply accept you as my stepson... From today on, you are a member of my Xiahou family. The genealogy of my Xiahou family, you and my Xiahou family are both prosperous and destructive..."

ah…

Li Miao didn't expect that Xiahou Dun would say such words.

Suddenly, for a moment, he couldn't tell whether his name was Li Miao, Li Hannan, or Xiahou Miao, Xiahou Hannan?

this…

He was just stunned for a moment. The long training in Jiangling City made Li Miao extremely sensitive.

Immediately, he thought of another thing, so he pretended to be moved, but did not rush to call daddy... but solemnly faced Xiahoudun.

"The General loves me so much. If the General did not abandon me, I should have worshiped him as my father, but...but..."

Speaking of this, Li Miao knelt down with a "click" sound, and knelt in the carriage.

He said solemnly: "General, I... I Li Miao is guilty, I... I really deserve death, I dare not... dare not implicate the Xiahou family——"

Guilt?

When Li Miao suddenly said this.

Xiahou Dun was surprised, "Guilt? Hannan, what crime have you committed?"

"I... I regret not getting involved in the fight for the prince of Wei, I regret not getting involved in the vortex of the fight for the throne——" Li Miao simply chanted out what he was most worried about.

In fact, he had to chant...

Because Cao Cao was not dead, this was unexpected, so... the most urgent thing he had to do was to get through Cao Cao's suspicious nature!

He had to use one "lie" to cover up another "lie"——

...

...

The fire in Luoyang City was still going on, but... the soldiers of the Guan family army had already started to put out the fire.

The fire on Beimang Mountain also showed signs of gradually weakening.

For the ground in Luoyang City, these were two days of shock, and these were two days of changing the king's flag on the top of the city.

But for the emperor Liu Xie and the famous scholar Wei Feng and other Han officials who were in the underground secret passage, their degree of shock was no less than that on the ground.

But, all this is over.

When Ji Ping rushed into the secret room where the emperor Liu Xie was, his nervousness was filled with joy, joy and encouragement. He was eager to report to the emperor, "Your Majesty, it's over... Those Wei troops retreated, and General Guan led the Guan family army into the city... Now, now they are putting out fires everywhere... Your Majesty, I congratulate Your Majesty, I congratulate Your Majesty, the country is safe again, the sun and the moon are dark and bright again... Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Ji Ping was so excited that his voice became louder and louder, and more excited.

In the end, he would definitely help the emperor out of the secret room immediately to enjoy...enjoy the victory that belongs to the Han Dynasty.

It was these words...

that made everyone here excited.

"We won, did we really win?"

"Is Cao Cao dead?"

"Are there any remnants of Cao Cao in the city?"

Questions came one after another...

Jiping answered them one by one, "Of course we won, we won without a doubt. As for the life and death of Cao Cao, I don't know. However, General Guan has entered the city, so there is no way there are any remnants of Cao Cao in the city. This is a victory for the Han Dynasty, and it is also a victory for Your Majesty! Your Majesty... Your Majesty..."

At the end, Jiping looked at Liu Xie again, "Your Majesty, I will take you up now. I think... General Guan Yu and all the soldiers of the Guan Family Army are waiting to see your majesty's grace!"

Jiping's voice was very high, and Wei Feng immediately bowed, "Your Majesty should return to the palace and open a new chapter for the Han Dynasty... I congratulate Your Majesty!"

The others also knelt down to congratulate the emperor.

However, in this place... only Emperor Liu Xie looked gloomy. Under the eyes of everyone who was looking forward to it, he unexpectedly said: "I will stay here underground, I will not go up!"

Ah...

Ah...

As Emperor Liu Xie expressed his attitude, the people in this secret room were in an uproar. Wei Feng, Geng Ji, Wei Huang, Ji Ping... and his sons Ji Miao and Ji Mu looked at each other with confusion on their faces.

Emperor Liu Xie's voice continued.

"Well, this Luoyang City was finally conquered by Guan Yu, well... well..."

It was obviously an exciting word, but it inexplicably added a bitterness when it came out of Liu Xie's mouth.

"Hahaha...hahaha..." He said with a bitter smile: "You are only concerned about being happy, but have you ever thought about me? Now that Luoyang has won a great victory, the city has changed to the Han flag, hehe...Han flag, it is the Han flag! But although I am the emperor of the Han Dynasty, how can I be myself now that I am out? How can I deal with myself? That's right...whether it is the Shu army or the Jingzhou army, they are all called Han army, but do they listen to me? Or do they listen to Guan Yu? Do they belong to me, or to my uncle?"

Speaking of this, Emperor Liu Xie turned his head and turned his back to everyone. He seemed to enjoy this moment underground. "I would rather be the emperor buried deep underground than be someone's puppet! I...Zheng has been nervous these two days, but I have experienced the long-lost freedom!"

This...

This...

With Liu Xie's sigh, everyone looked at each other again.

In fact, everyone understands the truth.

Even if it is a canary, locked in a golden cage, no matter how luxurious it lives and how good it eats, it has lost its freedom and is just a plaything in people's eyes.

Your Majesty... has been locked in a golden cage for too long.

"Your Majesty..." Wei Feng immediately bowed, "Duke Xuande is a relative of the Han Dynasty, and is also your Majesty's uncle, and is the person entrusted by your Majesty in the imperial edict. He... He will definitely not be like that Cao thief who controls the government and holds the emperor hostage..."

"Hehe..." Emperor Liu Xie responded to Wei Feng with a sneer.

Over the years, he has seen too much and has experienced too many heart-wrenching times, as if... he is too familiar with this game of power transfer.

He sighed faintly: "When the 18 princes fought against Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo kidnapped me and fled to Chang'an. All the princes did not chase him, but Cao Cao led an army to chase Dong and save me. When I returned to Luoyang, I slept in the open air, and there were pursuers and rebels everywhere. Only Cao Cao went to welcome me to Xuchang. Once upon a time... He did not control the government, nor did he force me to do anything... But, power... Who can keep his original intention under the temptation of power!"

Speaking of this, Liu Xie shook his head, as if he had no confidence in himself, Liu Bei, and Guan Yu.

"I have gambled all my life and lost all my life. I don't want to gamble anymore, and I dare not gamble anymore... My uncle, whether he sticks to his original intention or becomes a local hero, I don't care. What I care about now is only two words... freedom. If he can give me freedom, I will give the Han Dynasty to him, so why not?"

The words are sincere and heart-wrenching!

Speaking of which, this emperor Liu Xie, he really had a miserable life!

When he was in his mother Wang Meiren's belly, he was forced by Empress He to take abortion pills... But he took the abortion pills as a tonic and grew up strong!

When he was young, he experienced the dispute between the two palaces, the fight between Empress He and Empress Dowager Dong, and witnessed the fights between eunuchs and literati, eunuchs and relatives...

He never thought of becoming an emperor, but Dong Zhuo forced him to take the throne and poisoned his brother.

In this way, he sat in this position that did not belong to him for 25 years... Haha, in fact, he was imprisoned for 25 years!

No matter how beautiful the golden cage is, it has no freedom...

After 25 years of puppetry and imprisonment, what this emperor most expected and desired was not the throne, let alone the revival of the Han Dynasty, or power. He... What he most longed for was... that is:

——Freedom!

…

…(End of this chapter)