At dawn, the snow was flying and the wind was cold. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

On a rare occasion, the moon slave was still asleep, and Xue Shao quietly got up first. Cloaked in a thick coat, he strolled through the snow-covered barracks. It seems to be patrolling the camp, and it seems to be aimless.

Attentive people may have noticed that their Xue Shuai seems to be in a bit of a trance today, which is different from usual.

Subconsciously, Xue Shao walked to Xue Chuyu's camp.

Xue Chuyu was about to turn over his horse and personally preside over the training of the Jumping Army, when he was surprised to see Xue Shao coming alone on foot at first glance. So he stepped forward to salute and asked, why is Xue Shuai here?

"It's fine. I'll just walk around. Xue Shao's expression was a little unnatural, he glanced around, patted Xue Chuyu's shoulder and motioned him to walk into the palace, "Come, let's talk a few words." ”

Xue Chuyu let out a "hmm" and entered the barracks with Xue Shao full of suspicion.

The pawn burned the fire and cooked the hot soup, and Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu used the soup as wine and drank it.

"Second brother, what's wrong today?" When there was no one around, Xue Chuyu was more accustomed to calling Xue Shao like this.

"I don't know why, I've been in a trance." Xue Shao's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Especially, when I think of Luoyang. ”

Xue Chuyu's expression froze slightly, and he nodded silently.

Even if he is invincible in commanding thousands of battles, even if he has the undying ambition to conquer heaven and step on hell, his roots are in his hometown. The same person who has been in the army for many years is a brother, how can Xue Chuyu not understand Xue Shao's mood at the moment?

The two were silent for a moment.

Xue Chuyu glanced at the outside of the military tent with vigilance, and whispered tentatively: "Second brother, do you have the idea of returning to the army?" ”

Xue Shao's eyebrows raised slightly in shock. Brothers are brothers, and they know each other. can always be stabbed by his words.

The two were silent for another moment.

"However, there is no turning back from the bow." Xue Shao broke the silence and said, "I know something will happen to Luoyang sooner or later. But if I give up this opportunity in front of me, I am afraid that in this life and this life, I will never have the opportunity to try to unify the north again. ”

"It's hard to say." Xue Chuyu said with relief, "The second brother returned to the army and stabilized the government and the opposition." After the internal peace is settled, it may not be too late to level the north? ”

"It's late, it's not late. But! ......" Xue Shao put the hot soup in his hand on the table, and put it a little heavily, as if he was venting his inner anger.

Xue Chuyu was frightened, and he asked eagerly, "But, how?" ”

"I'll tell you the truth." Xue Shao breathed a sigh of relief, "If I return to the army at this moment, there will only be two results." ”

"Which two?"

"First, I will give up my military power, unload my armor and return to the field, and I will not mess with half of the government from now on." Xue Shao said, "Second, the Great Zhou Dynasty changed dynasties. Everything, plunged into the unknown! ”

"Huh?" Xue Chuyu was shocked, "It's so serious?" ”

"Yes." Xue Shao said with certainty, "I think you should know that anyone who is an important minister or a general will be guessed by the king. You also know very well what my relationship with the Empress has been over the years. In the past, I have had many conflicts with her, but they have been resolved or suppressed for the time being. Only this time, unlike anything else. ”

"What's the difference?" Xue Chuyu asked.

Xue Shao said: "For many years before, the empress was either working hard to move towards the emperor's throne, and urgently needed the help of my military commander; Or, she is facing a huge threat from a foreign enemy and needs me to help her solve her urgent needs. In the face of these major events, the contradiction between me and her seems a little insignificant. ”

"Makes sense." Xue Chuyu nodded, "Xue Shuai and the empress are both far-sighted and extremely open-minded people. ”

"But now, things have changed." Xue Shao said, "After the defeat of the Garqin Mausoleum, the threat of Tibet is no longer there. Wang Xiaojie leveled the Western Regions, and the Western Regions were generally peaceful. Even the Turks, the enemy in front of us, have actually retreated to Mobei, and it is difficult to do evil in a short period of time. The four Yi of Changping in China are afraid of subduing, and I, the commander of millions of troops, is it a little eye-catching? ”

"Hey......" Xue Chuyu shook his head again and again, "Really, is the bird hiding the bow?" ”

"And that's not all." Xue Shao said, "Have you ever thought that the empress is old. What should she do with her successor? ”

Xue Chuyu's eyes lit up, "Yes, yes!" That's the big problem! ”

"Let's not say whether the empress will pass the throne to the Li family or the Wu family." Xue Shao said, "Actually, no matter who she wants to pass it on, the first person to be taken out is me." In other words, in the future, above the court of the new monarch, there should not be my Xue Shao's place. ”

Xue Chuyu's expression was stunned for a long time, and he muttered, "Is the merit high?" ”

"It's a strong minister and a weak king." Xue Shao smiled slightly, "In fact, from the perspective of others, it is not difficult to see that the empress and I have actually been working closely together over the years, and it is not an exaggeration to say that there is one glory and one loss." ”

"Yes, I know." Xue Chuyu said, "Although the second brother has never paid homage to the prime minister, in the eyes of our brothers and many ministers, the second brother is almost on the same level as the empress. To put it mildly, the second brother is almost under one person and above ten thousand. ”

"Then if the Empress is gone, I'm still there." Xue Shao smiled, "So what?" ”

Xue Chuyu also smiled bitterly, "So, the empress has to take you out before she is 'gone'?" ”

Xue Shao nodded.

"Then what if the second brother took the initiative to hand over the military power and withdraw from the imperial court?" Xue Chuyu asked.

Xue Shao smiled, "Even if it's a tiger with its teeth pulled out and its claws removed, would you be willing to let it sleep soundly on your couch side?" ”

"This ......" Xue Chuyu's expression was a little ugly.

"It's really that time." Xue Shao smiled, "As long as I can still breathe, it's a sin." ”

"Second brother......" Xue Chuyu hesitated, and even took a deep breath, "You have warned that there are some things that we don't want to say." ”

"Then don't say it." Xue Shao interrupted him with a wave of his hand, "You know me, you know I won't do that." ”

"But what if there's really no choice?" Xue Chuyu asked rhetorically.

Xue Shao didn't speak, his brows furrowed deeply.

Xue Chuyu didn't ask anymore. Because he remembered what Xue Shao once said - there is no choice, but it is also a choice.

He also knew the reason why Xue Shao was "in a trance" today.

Over the years, Xue Chuyu has seen a lot of Xue Shao's various performances in front of many battles. Even in the tragic battle of nine deaths like the Battle of Nuo Zhenshui, Xue Shao never had half a point of hesitation or fear.

But now, he was hesitant, and he was even afraid.

Thinking of this, Xue Chuyu smiled.

"What are you smirking at?" Xue Shao asked puzzled.

"The second brother will even be scared sometimes?" Xue Chuyu said with a smile.

"Chu Yu, it's not that I'm afraid." Xue Shao didn't smile, his expression was very serious, "This is, awe." ”

"Awe?"

"You, I, and many others, have come together at a major turning point in history." Xue Shao said, "This is our own history, our own country, our own nation. This is related to the fortunes of the country for a hundred years and the life and death of tens of millions of people. Shouldn't I have a heart of awe? ”

Xue Chuyu didn't have a smile on his face, and said seriously, "Second brother, although I don't quite understand the deep meaning of your words. But I can appreciate the rationality and discretion that you express. I'm sure you'll make the best choice, as you have done so many times before. I also believe that you will never fail our brothers who were born and died with you. This is also the reason why we brothers have been willing to follow your birth and death. ”

Xue Shao smiled bitterly, "I knew I wouldn't come to talk to you." The more you say that, the more I feel the weight on my shoulders. ”

"Second brother doesn't have to be like this." Xue Chuyu said indifferently, "Since we have chosen to join the army, we have already prepared for the horse leather shroud. No matter how you die, you are dead. If you can die with your second brother, it's worth it. ”

"Stupid man. If you can't speak, say a few words. Xue Shao sighed helplessly, got up and left.

"Second brother!" Xue Chuyu stood up and said eagerly, "If you really can't rest assured, you might as well divide your troops and return to the court." Give me half of the soldiers and horses, and I'll go to the grassland and come back to give you orders!" ”

Xue Shao smiled bitterly for the third time, turned around and patted Xue Chuyu's shoulder, and said, "The grassland, it is uneven. Give you an army of a million, and you can't do it. In this Northern Expedition, Bing Ge could only play an auxiliary role. ”

"Then tell me what to do?" Xue Chuyu asked.

"I can't sue you." Xue Shao shook his head, "Because even I don't know what will happen next." ”

Xue Chuyu was speechless.

"After so many years on the list, I have rarely been as helpless as I am now." Xue Shao sighed, to be honest, "The taste of waiting silly is really uncomfortable." ”

"What are you waiting for?"

"Opportunity." Xue Shao said, "Now I can neither rush back to the dynasty, nor can I attack hastily. So, I'm waiting for an opportunity to make a choice. But when this opportunity will arise, and whether it will appear, is completely out of my control. The so-called dilemma is nothing more than this. ”

Xue Chuyu finally understood. The Xue Shao he knows has always been rational and strong, he is always wise and strong, and he is sure to win. But the things in front of him will make him in a dilemma, hesitant and helpless.

So how important is this "immediate matter"?

Xue Chuyu didn't think about it anymore, and he couldn't think clearly. He only asked, "Second brother, what if this opportunity never appears?" ”

"No way. It will definitely appear. Xue Shao said, "It's not from the grassland, or it's from Luoyang!" ”

"Then I'll be relieved." Xue Chuyu sighed, "It's a big deal, it's just a wait!" ”

Deal?

Wait?

Xue Shao smiled bitterly and was speechless.

He was really envious of Xue Chuyu. At this moment, it would be great if he could be as heartless and troubleless as him!