has become a demon

Chapter 74 The Devil

"Change horses!"

At noon on the second day, a group of more than a hundred cavalrymen appeared on the post road from Xi'an to Hanzhong.

This group of people and horses looked in a hurry, when they passed by Chenjiayi, they were exhausted, several horses stopped at the entrance of the station with their feet floating and foaming at the mouth, and before the riders dismounted, they screamed, neighed and fell to the ground, gasping for breath.

The postman inside heard the noise and came out to see that the man who fell from the horse raised a knife and stabbed the horse's artery, ending its last painful struggle.

Duan Baozhai wiped the blood off his face, turned his head to look at the postman with his only right eye, and asked, "What are you doing in a daze, change horses."

The postman responded with a jolt, and took the cavalry without mounts to pick up horses.

Although the front line of Shaanxi suffered from wars, although it is unclear whether the person in charge is Su Wang or the current emperor, the post road has not been interrupted, and it is still running smoothly. There is more or less a place to rest along the way.

At the post station in Kaifeng Fujin, I found a carriage temporarily stored by some high-ranking official. The interior of the carriage was quite comfortable, so I placed Xie Taichu in the carriage.In addition, the post horses in each post station were searched to replace the army horses that died of overwork, and the surplus was distributed to the cavalry to ride in turn.

This hastily formed team, which traveled day and night, managed to pass Xi'an in the past ten days.After a little rectification in Xi'an, I passed Fengxiang without looking back, and came towards Hanzhong.

The cavalry rectified inside and outside the post station, and the carriage was taken to the most densely populated place. After a while, Zhao Yuan got out of the carriage, all in armor.

Everyone stood up and clasped their fists: "My lord!"

Standing in the crowd, he looked around the faces of the soldiers without getting angry, and then said: "Let's take a rest, and continue on our way in a quarter of an hour."

After everyone dispersed, he entered the station and took a seat under Duan Baozhai's guidance.A post station official was very alert, knowing that the visitor was extraordinary, he had already stepped forward to pour tea for him, bowed to him before retreating.

"How is Taoist Priest?" Duan Baozhai asked Zhao Yuan.

"It's not good." Mentioning Xie Taichu, Zhao Yuan showed a tired face, "When I came to Xi'an Mansion, Tao Jian, the genius doctor I hired, gave some improvement at the beginning when he gave acupuncture and prescribed medicine, but then it didn't work. Sleep more and wake up less , I was also groggy when I woke up, not very sober, just staring at me."

Having said that, he fell silent.

With his hands on his knees and his back tensed, he sat on the spot, watching the silence of the yellowed cup of tea in front of him.

"Having arrived in Hanzhong, the next road is going to Shu." Duan Baozhai said, "Worrying now is meaningless except to waste your mind."

"Yushu, should I hate him?"

"...That depends on whether the lord still loves him." Duan Baozhai said after a while, "There are some things that only you know, others can't do."

After hearing his words, Zhao Yuan took a deep breath: "Forget it, now is not the time to think about this, is there any news from Xuzhou?"

"We are in a hurry, and the scouts can't catch up. There is no news for the time being." Duan Baozhai said, "When we arrive in Chengdu, we may hear something. Our army has the right time and the people are peaceful, and the battle in Xuzhou must be worry-free."

He took out the rolled sheepskin map from his waist, spread it out and said to Zhao Yuan: "The road to Shu is steep and numerous, and there are natural moats to resist it. It is extremely difficult to walk. It is said that the location of Qingxing Pavilion is in Qingcheng Mountain. You need to pass by." Chengdu... I have studied the road to Shu in the past few days. Now the common road is to take the post road official road, enter Guangyuan from Hanzhong, go around Yanting, and arrive at Chengdu. In the past, it took only ten days to rush to Chengdu."

Zhao Yuan looked at the map he had spread out, shook his head and said, "Our army's strength is not as strong as Sichuan's. If we take the official route, there must be garrisons guarding it. When we know that I am here, we will chase and intercept it. If I am here, the ones in Xuzhou will be there." And who is it? When the news gets back to Kyoto, Xuzhou will not be safe. This road seems to be smooth, but it is actually dangerous."

Duan Baozhai nodded: "The ancient road repaired by the tea merchants when they entered and exited Shu to do business, there is a road leading to Chengdu, but because the official road is smooth, it has been in disrepair for a long time."

"What ancient road?"

"Jinniu Road. It is also going to Guangyuan, but it does not go around Yanting, and goes directly south, passing Jianmen Pass, passing through Zitong, Mianyang, and Deyang to Chengdu. It only takes nine days."

"Jianmen Pass..."

"That's right, the Jianmen Pass where one man guards the pass and ten thousand men cannot open it." Duan Baozhai said, "Back then Zhuge Wuhou saw that there were thousands of feet of walls standing on the Jianshan Mountain and a line of sky opened, so he built a stone as the pass and called it Jianmen Pass. It has been a dangerous pass since ancient times. , is also a battleground for military strategists. It’s just that our Daduan territory is vast, and Sichuan has not had wars for many years. If it is destroyed, the time cannot be measured. It is up to the prince to decide which way to go."

"This road seems to be difficult, but there are few people, and even Jianmen Pass cannot be regarded as a natural barrier due to disrepair." Zhao Yuan pondered, "If you can go faster, it will be a day. Take the Taurus Road."

After saying this, he stood up: "Time is running out, so people have packed up all the stage horses in the post station and are ready to go."

After Duan Baozhai rolled up the cowhide, he greeted everyone.

Just after noon, a group of people went straight to Guangyuan Jinniu Road.

The middle of Sichuan is warm and moist with little rain, and even autumn and winter are not cold, but they have already felt the vision of heaven and earth since they passed Jianmen Pass.The Mid-Autumn Festival was about to come, but it was bitingly cold. After detouring around Chengdu, it started to snow. Although the snow was not heavy, it continued.

On the way to Mount Qingcheng, it was gradually covered with a thin layer of white snow.

In the snow, everything becomes quiet.

Horses walk along the shore.

The light boat goes up the river.

Zhao Yuan grabbed the reins, Dahei under him stood still, he looked up to see Mount Qingcheng surrounded by mist on the river, he couldn't tell where he was. Shou Shan came, it seemed that Xie Taichu was behind him and tightly protecting him on his chest.

Those determinations to struggle to survive became a dream.

Even the ups and downs that have been dormant for a long time... all became a dream.

King Su was stunned for a moment.

Duan Baozhai had led his horse over at some point, and said beside him, "20 years ago in Zechang, visions appeared one after another in the world. It was extremely cold, and many people froze to death. Even the climate in central Sichuan has changed. I just asked the guide, they used to have a pleasant summer climate, I don’t know why the summer has gradually become cooler these years...there are signs of frost since last year, and I didn’t expect to be out of school this year.”

——Da Duanchao's body is seriously ill, and the signs of troubled times have appeared.

Zhao Yuan remembered Xie Taichu's words, and for some reason his heart became more depressed.

He turned around and asked Duan Baozhai, "How far is it to Mount Qingcheng?"

"There is still a day's journey. We can't make it today." Duan Baozhai said.

Zhao Yuan nodded: "Everyone is tired, so let's choose a place to rest and leave early tomorrow."

"Okay..." Duan Baozhai paused, "Qingxing Pavilion is between Qingcheng Mountain, but few people know the exact location. When we get to Qingcheng Mountain... what should we do?"

Zhao Yuan was silent for a moment: "I don't know. Let's talk about it when we get there. If it doesn't work, just visit the caves one by one. Someone will know. Let's rest early."

"Yes……"

In the shoal on the side of the Jianjiang River, only about 70 people left to stop and rest.

Days of running around had made everyone exhausted, and even Dahei was no longer active, so everyone set up a camp stove and set up some simple tents, lit a fire, cooked and ate, and then went to rest.

Only Xie Taichu, no one dared to move, Zhao Yuan got into the carriage and fed some rice porridge to him who was half unconscious, he didn't eat much, but only half a cup, and stopped eating.

"Have you finished eating?" Zhao Yuan asked him, "When you left Shaanxi, you could still eat a small bowl of porridge, but now you don't even want to drink porridge... I must have made it unpalatable. When you find Qingxing Pavilion, let Wu Master Youzi cured your illness, can you cook for me instead?"

He put down the lamp and tucked the quilt for Xie Taichu.

"At that time, we went back to Ningxia and went to Zhangliangbao. You must cook some bacon with millet porridge better than me." After thinking about it, he laughed to himself, "I forgot...then We will be in the capital soon, how can we go to Zhang Liangbao."

The light from the bonfire danced in from the car window*.

Zhao Yuan looked at the flame, his cheeks were half-bright and half asleep in the jumping light.

"When the world is peaceful in the future, if I abdicate the throne, can I..." He asked in a low voice, but he didn't finish the sentence.

Xie Taichu lay quietly on the couch, breathing steadily, without answering.

Only the crackling firewood answered him.

After a while, he got out of the car, drank the half bowl of ginseng porridge left over from Xie Taichu, and then bent down to rest in the tent that had been prepared for him.

The snow is getting bigger.

There was a slight rustling sound as it landed on the top of the tent.

He looked at the roof, and thought of the night when Xie Taichu took him away and hid in the cave during the Yiling Rebellion.

Soon, sleepiness and fatigue hit him, leading him to fall into a gentle dream.

In the middle of the night, the weather turned completely cold, and the snow outside lowered the roof of the tent.

Zhao Yuan woke up suddenly.

The mood moved.

He stooped out of the tent.Then he saw that Xie Taichu had woken up and was walking over with a big cloak.Although he is still thin, he is very energetic.

Zhao Yuan was taken aback for a moment, and said joyfully, "Taichu! You're awake!"

Xie Taichu put the cloak on his shoulders, smoothed his hair, and said gently: "I'm awake."

"Are you hungry? The porridge specially made for you is still hot, come and eat some!" Zhao Yuan took Xie Taichu's hand without doubting him, sat with him by the bonfire, and served him another Bowl of porridge.

"There are ginseng and Ganoderma lucidum in it. They are all things that nourish qi and blood. You are in poor spirits, so eat more." He said, "You, are you okay? You have been groggy after resting these days. Worrying about you."

Xie Taichu took the bowl of porridge in his hand, but he didn't eat it, just looked at him.

Zhao Yuan was a little shy: "You, what do you see me doing?"

"Since Xuzhou fell into a coma until now, I have seen His Highness a few times in a haze... but I can't see it clearly. I miss you very much." Xie Taichu replied gently.

"We will enter the mountain right away. Once we enter the mountain, enter the Qingxing Pavilion, and see Wuyouzi, we will be able to cure you." Zhao Yuan said to him.

Xie Taichu paused and looked up at him.

"You hate me?" Xie Taichu asked, "I have lied to you many times and kept you in the dark."

Zhao Yuan was stunned.

"Hate." He said, but then he said again, "If you don't love, how can you hate."

"I hated you, after Yeling. At that time, I knew that you stood on the sidelines, and I really hated you. If you shot, why would my father and brother die tragically? At that time, only such thoughts could survive. Later, I gradually Calm down, I understand that what I hate is not you, but my powerless self. I am weak and unable to save my relatives, so why blame your choice?"

"But later on, not only the matter of Yeling, you had expected it, but all the other things... are just chess pieces of yours. You are very familiar with the situation in the north, and I have seen the wordless monument you erected in Yinshan. You It took several years to travel all over northern Xinjiang. The filth of Ningxia's officialdom, the staunchness of Ganzhou King Fu, the plight of other vassal kings, and even the thoughts of the third lady in Guihua City... are all within your chessboard. For It is to lay down the chess game of heaven and earth, change fate against the sky, and restore Daduan's luck."

"And I... am just a necessary chess piece on your chessboard. Because there must be someone to resist the universe, someone must protect the common people. Someone must be the emperor. This person cannot be Zhao Ji, only Me. So you used these things to sharpen me again, even, even..." Zhao Yuan took a breath, his voice choked up, "You even love me, but you want to lie to me to die. You turned yourself into a person who controls me A pawn of will, even love reveals calculations. For you, the great victory in Xuzhou, the safety of all beings, and the success of Jingnan are far more important than the friendship between us. If you want to choose common people, you must force me to choose common people. But I ...I just can't let you go. Xie Taichu, do you have any heart for me like this?"

Xie Taichu put down the porridge, held Zhao Yuan's hands, and looked at it carefully.

"Your Highness's hands..." He felt a little emotional, "When we were in the capital, they were slender, slender, and fair-skinned. They were the hands of a pampered nobleman, but now they have calluses on their palms in just a year. Your Highness is golden branches and jade leaves, but I forced them to It is my fault that Your Highness has embarked on such a path of tempering."

Xie Taichu bent down and bowed his head, gently kissing the back of his hand, like kissing the most precious treasure in the world.

Zhao Yuan was stunned for a moment, then struggled and said, "Thank you Taichu for letting go."

But even though Xie Taichu was extremely weak at this time, he was still able to hold his hand and remained motionless.

"I also thought about it at night, if I could have warned the first prince and King Su and others a year ago... then maybe the Yeling Rebellion would not have happened. Then His Highness is still the pampered King of Le'an County. After the Crown Prince succeeds , the King of Le'an County can return to Kaiping and reunite with his father and brother. After establishing his own mansion, he can marry a lady of the same family, raise children and have fun under his knees, enjoy the family relationship, and live a happy and safe life." Xie Taichu Said to him slowly.

Zhao Yuan looked up at him: "This is not the life I want. I have seen the difficulties in Ningxia, the struggle of the people to survive, and the despicability of those rich and powerful... I don't want to live my life in a daze."

But Xie Taichu didn't seem to hear his words, he just looked up at him, stroked his cheek, smiled and continued: "Both my parents are dead, I'm alone, lonely in the world, I know how hard it is to get such a life. Human beings have such a blissful life, but only one in ten thousand. Even if you are an emperor, even if you have thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, how can you live a happy, worry-free, safe and smooth life. After tossing and turning, I asked myself, why can I count everything? , I can see through everything, but I am stingy in arranging such a life for my beloved?"

"Because you practice the ruthless way, spy on fate, and are determined to save the common people. You gave me such a life, so what about other people? You can't leave these people behind."

"No, I'm not as noble as you think." Xie Taichu denied, "I questioned myself, straight to my heart. I thought that if I spy on the way of heaven, I would have the compassion to save the world. But this is not the case. The moment I saw His Highness From now on, the world, the common people, are not worth the slightest bit of His Highness. You don't know... I found out that you are the person who can reshape the luck for Daduan Dynasty, and the person who can compete with Zhao Ji, how lucky I am , I don’t have to go too far against morality. If I save you, I can save the world, and if I save you, I can save Da Duan, even my conscience can’t condemn me. How despicable I am, I am secretly happy.”

"His Royal Highness has suffered the most in the world. He has suffered from blind eyes, being crushed into dust, and losing loved ones... These sufferings are like emery for polishing gems, which has allowed His Highness to come to this day and live until now. I don't regret it."

"I left the common people behind and trampled on the Tao I pursued for more than [-] years, and I have become a demon."

Xie Taichu looked up at him, tears fell down his cheeks, he said with a smile: "But you are still alive, so I don't regret it."