After meeting with Li Congjing, when Li Cunqiao returned to Wansheng Town, the army had already prepared for the class according to the order. Li Siyuan has occupied Daliang, and there are many fugitives in Li Cunqiao's army, and this battle can no longer be carried out, so he has to return to Luoyang first, and then move later.

On the way back, the soldiers continued to flee, and Li Cunqiao could not control it. By the time they reached Bishui Pass, half of the guards had fled. Li Cunmiao was full of grief and indignation, and his heart was painful, but he could only sigh in vain. Although there was no battle in this Eastern Crusade, it was a greater blow than the defeat to Li Cunmiao.

Leaving Zhang Tang to garrison Bishui Pass, Li Cunqiao led the rest of the army to continue westward.

The way home is long, and Luoyang, which is close at hand, has almost become an unreachable place. As the sun sets, Li Cunmiao has mixed feelings in his heart, and he has his own pain points that he can't talk to. The horse groaned, and Li Cunqiao recalled Li Congjing's words, angry and angry, and also uneasy about being poked in the sore spot. Seeing that the marching team was gloomy, the soldiers were scattered, and their morale was low, as if the sky had fallen, Li Cunmiao's heart was even more like being fried.

He is a horseman, how high-spirited he was in the past, and now he is just past the year of not being confused, it is the heyday of the Spring and Autumn Period, is it necessary to go to the grave with unfinished business? Li Cunmiao is unwilling, and he can't accept it, he thinks that he is still young, if he has time in the future, he may not be able to do a lot, today's setback, although it is deep, is it really impossible to overcome?

The mountain road in front of them was treacherous and narrow, and the road became more and more difficult to walk, and the speed of the marching team could not help but slow down. Li Cunqiao stopped his horse, raised his eyes and asked the people around him: "What a dangerous place, where is this?" ”

"Poppy Valley." Left and right replied.

Li Cunmiao nodded, and was about to say something more, when he suddenly heard a noise, as if someone was screaming, Li Cunmiao frowned, and asked him to go and check.

After a while, the guards came back and reported: "The mountain road is dangerous, the soldiers are walking slowly, and some officers are worried that they have missed the itinerary and are whipping the sergeants." ”

Seeing that this was the case, he took off the horsewhip in the officer's hand and scolded: "What is the crime of the soldier, how can he be whipped at will!" ”

When the soldiers and officials saw that it was Li Cunqiao, they stopped talking. Li Cunmiao stepped forward to personally help the whipped soldiers, and he had no intention of reproaching the officials, he looked around at the soldiers in front of him, and said with kind words: "The defeat of the expedition, the situation is not good, I know that you are uneasy. But even if he held his breath in his heart, the generals should not vent their anger on the soldiers, and the soldiers should not delay the journey. The day before yesterday, I received a military report that the King of Wei would soon enter Beijing, and the King of Wei brought back 500,000 gold and silver from Xichuan on this trip, and I would like to reward you with all these treasures as a reward for your war for the country! ”

When the soldiers heard this, they reacted differently, and the official said bluntly: "Your Majesty has only been generous so far, and it is too late, I am afraid that those who receive the gift may not be grateful for the grace of God." ”

Li Cunmiao's face changed greatly, and his hands couldn't hold it and trembled lightly, but he didn't get angry, but was full of remorse, and almost burst into tears. After a while, his expression eased, and Li Cun sighed: "All the soldiers fought for the country, and they made great contributions to the country, and it was my fault that the country failed you before. Someone came, and Brother Zhang Rong, the envoy of the inner treasury, will share all the wealth of the inner treasury with all the soldiers! ”

Brother Zhang Rong was a eunuch, and he rushed over from the team, already out of breath, and asked Li Congjing what the edict was. Li Cunqiao said to him: "How much property is left in the inner treasury?" You count, I want to distribute it to the soldiers, you can do it! ”

Brother Zhang Rong was immediately stunned when he heard this, and his expression changed several times, "Back to Your Majesty, there is no money left in the inner treasury." ”

"No money left?" Li Cunqiao was suspicious and angry.

"That's true." Brother Zhang Rong said, "For this expedition, Your Majesty has rewarded the army in advance, and there is no money left in the inner treasury." ”

Li Cunmiao's face was cloudy, and after half a sound, he said with a gloomy face: "In this case, take the robe and bring it, I will give it to the ministers!" ”

"This" Brother Zhang Rong still refused to move, "Your Majesty, all the things in the inner treasury have really been awarded."

Before Li Cunmiao could say anything, the official was already furious, stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Rongge's collar, and reprimanded loudly: "You eunuch, you are so hateful, you accept bribes and bend the law on weekdays, but today you dare to be so perfunctory in front of Your Majesty, the corruption of the country is really caused by you, you still dare to pretend to be here and talk nonsense!" ”

The voice fell, and Zhang Rongge was punched and kicked, and the left guard, even the person who had been whipped by the official before, rushed up and wanted to raise a knife to kill Zhang Rongge.

Brother Zhang Rong's wolf rushed to the pig, screaming and fleeing, Li Cunqiao was stunned and stood frozen on the spot.

The guards did not give up, where could Brother Zhang Rong escape, and he was forced to the river in a moment, and there was no way to avoid it. Face to face the guards who were about to hack him to death, Brother Zhang Rong stood on the riverbed and shouted angrily: "I am not greedy for military resources, and I am not greedy for rewards, and the reason why you have no gifts is obviously because the queen is stingy!" How can it be unreasonable for you to put all the blame on me today and want to kill me to vent your anger! ”

After that, he knew that he couldn't escape, so he didn't say anything more, but he jumped into the river and committed suicide!

Li Cunmiao watched Brother Zhang Rong being forced to die, and then heard Brother Zhang Rong's dying words, he couldn't help but feel sad, and saw that the soldiers ignored him, the emperor, and killed the ministers without permission, and felt even more powerless in his heart, and he was embarrassed for a while, so that he cried bitterly.

At this moment, he remembered the other party's question when he was separated from Li Congjing: "Does Your Majesty think that you are worthy of the military and civilians of the world?" ”

Li Cunqiao thought to himself: Probably, I am really responsible for the military and civilians of the world

Returned to the west of the stone bridge outside Luoyang City, Li Shaorong caught up because of the retreat, and Li Cunqiao put wine on the bridge and drank with the soldiers. Before drinking three glasses of wine, thinking of the broken mountains and rivers and the separation of people's hearts, Li Cunmiao had already shed tears, and said to Li Shaorong and others sadly: "Since the collapse of the first emperor, I have been ordered to be in danger, and for decades I have swept away the pseudo-Yan, walked the Khitan, and destroyed the pseudo-Liang. Now that the rebellion has suddenly arisen and the society is dying, don't you have no way to save each other and save each other in the Tang Dynasty? ”

Li Shaorong got up and took the cup, pulled out a horizontal knife, cut off his hair, put it on the ground, knelt down in front of Li Cunmiao, and said angrily: "Your Majesty don't worry, Xiaoxiao is never afraid, as long as Your Majesty straightens out the soldiers and horses, you will definitely be able to defeat the enemy with one blow in the coming day." We will swear to serve Your Majesty to the death, and we will have no two hearts! ”

More than 100 generals and guards nearby drew their knives and cut off their hair, knelt in front of Li Cunmiao and swore: "Swear to serve Your Majesty to the death, and there will be no two hearts!" ”

Only then did Li Cunmiao turn his worries into joy, and he hurriedly helped Li Shaorong and others, and said with relief: "As long as we and other monarchs and ministers are of the same heart, and all the soldiers and soldiers work together, there are only traitors, so why be afraid!" ”

Returning to the palace on the same day, Li Cunqiao entered the Qinzheng Hall without untying his armor and summoned the ministers to ask the right questions. When Empress Liu heard that Li Cunqiao had returned, she wanted to come to serve, but she was blocked from the Qinzheng Palace.

The next day, Luoyang received an urgent report from Bishui Pass, saying that Li Siyuan, with Li Congjing as the vanguard, led a hundred battle troops to the outside of Bishui Pass, and asked the imperial court to send reinforcements quickly.

The prime minister, privy envoys and other important ministers all said that the king of Wei was about to return, and at this time, the imperial court must control the Bishui Pass, and Li Siyuan must not be allowed to break through the pass. When the army returns from the expedition to Shu, with this elite division as the backbone, the imperial court will no longer be afraid of Li Siyuan, and it will be much easier to calm down the chaos.

As a result, Li Cunmiao reorganized the army and horses, made an appointment to go to the expedition, and prepared to drive the expedition again and go to Bishui Pass.

On the first day of April in the fourth year of Tongguang, the soldiers and horses of Luoyang were ready to go, the horse army lined up outside the Xuanren Gate, and the infantry army lined up outside the Wufeng Gate, waiting for Li Cunmiao to drive out.

At the end of the day, everything was ready, Li Cunqiao dined in the Qinzheng Palace, and Queen Liu waited by the side. After this meal, Li Cunmiao was about to go on another expedition.

"Qi'er is about to return, why don't Your Majesty wait for the triumph of the Shu army before setting out on the expedition? I'm not in a hurry at this time," Empress Liu said while serving Li Cunmiao for dinner, and her words immediately attracted a cold look from Li Cunmiao. Seeing that Li Cunmiao was unhappy, Empress Liu hurriedly changed her words and said: "The concubine means that Your Majesty's dragon body is valuable, and you don't have to go out in person, and this time the morale is high, as long as the two Sichuan kings return, let them go to crusade against Li Siyuan."

"Shut up." Li Cunmiao said coldly, "Women's Taoist people, how dare you talk about military affairs!" ”

Li Cunmiao's sudden reprimand made Empress Liu stunned, Li Cunmiao had never been so unpretentious to her for many years, and she was both aggrieved and annoyed in her heart. This time, Li Cunmiao returned from the Eastern Expedition, and every day in the Qinzheng Palace, she was suddenly left out in the cold, although she didn't know why Li Cunmiao was like this, but this made her extremely worried.

Empress Liu pursed her lips and was about to say something more, when suddenly there was a commotion outside, and there was a faint sound of shouting and fighting.

Li Cunmiao put down the dishes and chopsticks, jumped up with a knife, and rushed out of the door, "What's the matter?" Where is the noise? ”

"The voice is coming from the Xingjiao Gate!" Konoe Road.

"There must be a rebellion!" Li Cunmiao gritted his teeth and was furious, "These rebels and thieves are simply lawless!" Order, cavalry assembled, follow me to resist! In addition, quickly go to the Xuanren Gate and summon the cavalry commander Zhu Shouyin to come and encircle and suppress the rebellious party! ”

The guards took the order and left, Li Cunmiao was about to get on the horse, Empress Liu rushed out and pulled him out, crying: "Your Majesty, the chaos is huge, I don't know how many people there are, Your Majesty must not take risks in person!" ”

"Get out of the way!" Li Cunmiao shook his arm, ignoring Queen Liu's fall to the ground and riding away.

Walking to the left gate, I saw that the rebels had rushed into the door, the momentum was violent, murderous, and the leader was the eunuch Guo Congqian, who commanded the envoy from Ma Zhiyu.

"Kill the traitor with me!" Li Cunmiao was furious, waved his guard horse, and attacked head-on.

Guo Congqian never thought that Li Cunqiao would be so brave today, and it didn't take long for him to resist, so he had to lead the chaotic army to withdraw from the door.

"Close the gates!" Li Cunmiao immediately beckoned the guards to close the door and keep the rebels out.

Guo Congqian saw that the city gate could not be broken for a while, and he couldn't help but be anxious. He previously learned the news that Zhang Rongge was forced to die, and saw that Li Cunmiao had a lot of intention to rectify the affairs of the court after he returned, remembering his previous bad deeds, he couldn't help but be afraid of being held accountable by Li Cunmiao, and ended up like Zhang Rongge. At this time, seeing that the door of the Xingjiao is closed, how can we not be anxious.

"Set fire, burn the door!" Guo is wise from humility.

Not long after, the fire spread and the smoke billowed out, Guo Congqian saw that there was hope for breaking the door, and immediately ordered the soldiers to climb the wall to attack. Those rebellious sergeants naturally knew that there was no way back from the murder of the king, and they rushed to be the first. All of a sudden, the offensive was successful.

Li Cunmiao tried his best to resist, but there were not enough manpower, and when the fire spread, the close ministers and guards fled one after another, leaving only Li Yanqing, the commander of the military academy, Wang Quanbin and dozens of other people on the side.

"Why hasn't Zhu Shouyin come yet?!" Li Cunmiao was in a hurry, and at this moment, a sharp arrow flew and hit Li Cunmiao in the cheek. Li Cunmiao was in unbearable pain and almost fainted.

Seeing this, everyone hurriedly helped Li Cunqiao to retreat to the eaves of the palace. When he pulled out the arrow for Li Cunmiao, Li Cunmiao was already covered in blood and delirious.

"Water, I want to drink water!" Li Cunqiao was thirsty and made a dreamy sound.

Empress Liu, who rushed to hear the news, almost fainted when she saw Li Cunmiao's appearance, and when she heard Li Cunmiao asking for water to drink, she hurriedly asked the eunuch to bring buttermilk and feed Li Cunmiao to drink.

Who knew that Li Cunmiao was fine at the beginning, but when he drank this cup of buttermilk, his eyes suddenly stiffened and he vomited blood.

All the soldiers gathered around, supported with hands and feet, and waited for Li Cunmiao to finally stop vomiting blood, but saw that Li Cunmiao was already silent.

Li Yanqing stretched out his hand to probe, and was immediately shocked and stunned on the spot, "Your Majesty, it's time to die."

"What?" All the soldiers were shocked

Who would have thought that a generation of male lords would lose their lives so easily?

He has been on the battlefield all his life, has experienced countless wars, and the long lance and horizontal knife in his hand have not been stained with the blood of many people, he did not die on the battlefield, but in this palace, he died in the hands of the eunuchs' rebels?

Back then, Liang and Jin fought for hegemony, and Li Ke, the king of Jin, was seriously injured and died in defeat, and Li Cunqiao inherited the throne in danger, repelled Zhu Wen's overwhelming offensive, and turned Jin into peace. Zhu Wen once lamented that giving birth to a son should be like Li Yazi, and also said that compared with Li Cunqiao, his own son is like a pig and a dog.

Since Li Cunmiao inherited the throne, he has repeatedly defeated the Khitan, destroyed the pseudo-Yan and died the Great Liang, and was able to revenge the hatred of the three arrows and sue the Taimiao. When the family feud is snowy and the country is prosperous, he is almost as famous as Xia Shaokang and Han Guangwu.

It's a pity that after that, the woman abused her power, rebelled in chaos, killed heroes, was suspicious of relatives, and did not sympathize with the army and the people, and finally ended up in a situation where the people's hearts were scattered and the soldiers turned their backs.

In troubled times, the wind and clouds will meet, how many emperors want to dominate the industry, and romantic characters are looked up to by the world for a while. And once the vicissitudes of life and fame turn to dust, who can control the fate that seems to have been predestined in the dark?

Li Cunmiao's life coincides with those fourteen words:

Heaven and earth are all working together.

Shipped heroes are not free.