Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 376

Chapter 376 Who Was Willing to Die in the Name of Nobody? !

Black clouds billowed as the wind and rain approached, and tens of thousands of feet of yellow sand surged between the heavens and the earth, causing a howl to resound.

Liangzhou was more desolate than Lanzhou. More sandstorm, less vegetation, hot summer and cold winter environment is bad.

Above the female walls of the city walls, neat red banners were fluttering about.

Qin Mubai and Xue Wanche stood side by side on the city wall and looked into the distance. The armor on their bodies was rustling from the gravel in the wind.

“The sky is filled with sand and clouds, and the devil is dancing. The storm is coming. Liangzhou is a poor place, and even the weather is hard to come by.” Xue Wanche said emotionally as he looked at the rolling yellow sand and the surging black clouds.

The corners of Qin Mubai’s mouth curled into a smile, “I think it’s a picturesque landscape.”

Xue Wanche was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, “Young Admiral, you have a broad mind.”

“I’m just optimistic.” Qin Mubai smiled and asked, “Haven’t you found Hou Junji yet?”

“Ah! Xue Wanche shook his head with a bitter smile and said, “He came to Liangzhou alone. He did not have a house or family. Sometimes, he was huddled with the officials in the yamen’s ears, sometimes he was hung over at a wine shop or an incense garden, and even slept on the street, in the bridge, and was dragged out of the horse pen.” His behavior was grotesque and unpredictable, and because he was once an eminent official with a fierce temper, he was also one of the best officials in Liangzhou, so no one dared to ask him. I, the Liangzhou Governor, was once his subordinate general, so it’s even harder to say anything about him. “Now, we have sent over a dozen people to search for him in Manchuria City, but we can’t find him.”

Qin Mubai nodded and said, “There’s no hurry. Anyway, we still have a lot of other things to do. Maybe he’ll come back by himself sometime. Let’s go to the military camp and see how things are going.”

“That’s good too.”

Not long after, a torrential rain poured down, enveloping the entire Liangzhou. Lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and heavy rain poured down on the barracks, making it a muddy place. The baggage and other things are not convenient to move and unload, so the troops have to rest for the time being. Qin Mubai and Xue Wanche inspected the barracks once. The generals in the barracks never took umbrellas, so they were drenched in water.

In the evening, Xue Wanche said that the food in the army was poor, and that the young marshal was afraid of the cold after being caught in the rain. He decided to find a better wine shop to take a warm bath and drink some wine to drive away the cold.

Although Liangzhou is desolate as a whole, since the “Great Development” of Lanzhou, it has become a transit station for business travelers, so there are quite a lot of wine inns and Hu merchants.

Xue Wanche invited Qin Mubai to a Qingyuan Pavilion in the prefecture city for a drink. He said that the Sanle Juice and Moxibustion Lamb Legs there were more famous than Qin Xianjiu and Chang’an’s famous dishes, but they also had a different flavor than Qin Xianjiu and Chang’an’s famous dishes. Qin Mubai naturally did not refuse.

The two of them brought three or five followers and disguised themselves as casual clothes before heading towards the Qingyuan Tower in the city. Qin Mubai asked his subordinates and said that he still hadn’t found Hou Junji, so he had to give up temporarily.

If a large Liangzhou City, a large area is mud tile fence wall bungalows, only the central street of the city built a few neat brick-and-board buildings, is to travel to and fro business taverns. Normally, this place was also bustling with activity, and there were countless shouts coming and going from business to business. Because of the recent war in Liangzhou, many shops were closed because of panic. Some of the merchants were so anxious that they were forced to stay here and temporarily couldn’t leave.

After walking for a while, they entered the commercial street, and the surroundings seemed somewhat deserted.

Xue Wanche sighed, “In the past, this was the busiest and most bustling place in the Prefecture City. It was always filled with people. Liangzhou was much more desolate after the battles of the Moon Continent!”

Qin Mubai knitted his brows and said, “It will be good after this period of time.” Only by expanding the frontier defense and defending against the enemy in the wild could Lanzhou be at peace. This is also one of the reasons why I asked you to switch to Yumen Pass and Yangguan Pass. After a series of fierce battles, even though we were able to win and not lose the city, the people would still be afraid, and the business trip would be cut off as a result. In the end, when fighting against the Hu, we who live in the city will always suffer even more. Apart from the casualties on the battlefield, it is difficult to estimate the losses suffered by the city and the people as a result. ”

“What Major Marshal said is true.” Xue Wanche said with deep emotion, “Since last winter, Liangzhou has suffered a military disaster.” From then on, nine out of ten taxes were levied, and the people’s hearts and commerce were cut off. The entire city was no longer as prosperous as before. Panic and nervousness filled the sky, and even more criminals were committing crimes. “I only hope that this battle will be over soon. Otherwise, Liangzhou will always be so lifeless. It really isn’t a place for people to stay.”

Qin Mubai nodded and smiled, “I remember that not long ago, two years ago, Lanzhou was about the same as Liangzhou now.” Don’t be anxious, it depends on people. As long as you quickly expand the defensive line and stabilize it on the line from Jade, Yang to Pu Changhai, when my father builds the Anxi Protectorate in Gaochang, the Helong area will gradually become as stable as a rock. Since then, General Xue has contributed greatly to the expansion of the Tang Empire! ”

Xue Wanche was flattered. He was a little overjoyed. He cupped his hands and said, “If this lowly position is able to obtain a small amount of merit, it will all depend on following the young marshal and his son to take advantage of it. If the merit is great, then Lord Linghun and the young marshal will definitely go down in history!”

“Haha!” Qin Mubai laughed loudly, and the group of people also began to laugh very cooperatively.

Just as everyone was chatting and passing by a small green building, the originally tightly closed wooden door was suddenly pulled open. Several burly men carried a mud drunk out and led him down the street to the ground. Clapping his hands, the big fellows didn’t say much, but spat at the mud drunkard with hatred and disgust, and then went back to close the door.

The mud drunkard was thrown into the street and immediately attracted some people to watch. A few people who were getting closer glanced at each other and covered their noses and frowned as they quickly walked around. The man lay motionless on the ground as if he was dead. Occasionally, he would twitch a few times and spit out piles of filth from his mouth.

Qin Mubai looked up at the small green building and knew that it was a prostitute. Thus, he didn’t care and prepared to take a detour. At this moment, Xue Wanche exclaimed in a low voice, “Hou Junji?”

Qin Mubai couldn’t help but be stunned. She looked at him suspiciously, “Really?”

“Really!” Xue Wanche immediately revealed an awkward expression as he knuckled at the two pawns beside him, signaling them to carry Hou Junji away so that he wouldn’t be embarrassed on the streets.

“Wait.” Qin Mubai stopped his followers and walked over to squat beside the mud drunkard. He stretched out his hand and pulled him over. At a glance, it wasn’t Hou Junji?

Although he did not have much interaction with him, he did not look up when he was working in Chang’an in the past, so he was still recognized by others.

Hou Junji, from Rong Wu, was famous for his bravery when he was young. At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Li Shimin brought him to the shogunate, and because of his heroic deeds in battle, he was entrusted with the important task of advancing step by step by Li Shimin. During the Black Warrior Sect’s change, he had also given Li Shimin advice and contributed to his support. From then on, he was deeply relied on by Li Shimin as one of his confidant generals. Its limelight was not inferior to Yuchi Jingde, one of the Four Great Meritorious Heroes of the Origin Opening Realm, or even far superior to Qin Shubao, Cheng Zhijie, and the others.

After Li Shimin ascended to the throne, Hou Junji successively held the important posts of General Zuo Wei and General Right Wei in the military headquarters, and conferred the title of Duke Lu. Born into a military general, he also transferred to the civil service, and successively held the posts of Minister of War and Minister of Officials, so he did a good job. The most important thing was that he was instructed by the Emperor to learn military arts from Li Jing, and to follow Li Jing in his expedition to the north and south. He made great contributions to the war and became the most active middle-aged general of the military after Li Shimin ascended to the throne. For a time, no one was able to catch up with the limelight, but he could keep pace with Li Ji. When he was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Officials, he also took care of the Hongwen Library Pavilion, which meant that he had the real power to participate in government affairs!

Before the Crown Prince Incident, Hou Junji had even overshadowed Li Ji, who was keeping a low profile and stationed troops outside. He was precisely the most prominent military representative in the Imperial Court. However, it was this sudden political storm that dragged the spectacular Hou Junji from the clouds into the mud and shattered him to this point.

At that time, when Changsun Wuji tried the case of the Crown Prince’s conspiracy to rebel, there were many people who had been killed and excluded, and Hou Junji was one of the most famous. Because of Hou Junji’s outstanding achievements in the past, Eldest Sun Wuji did not (or “could not”) completely exterminate Hou Junji. He only charged him with “accessory conspiracy to rebel” and demoted him to Liangzhou.

Hou Junji, who was in his early forties, was at the peak of his life when he was kicked over by someone. He was probably the only one who could experience this feeling. Qin Mubai did not know whether he really participated in the rebellion, but the eldest Sun Wuji “needed” Hou Junji to set up the rebellion, so he had to be “rebelled”.

At this moment, Hou Junji, who was covered in mud and dirt, was looking up at Qin Mubai with his drunken eyes. He was still spitting out wine stains from his mouth without stopping.

“Quick, carry it away!” Xue Wanche waved his hand in annoyance, signaling for his followers to hurry up and get him back, so that he wouldn’t be embarrassed here.

“Bring him to the Origin Cleansing Building and arrange for him to bathe and change his clothes so that he can wake up and rest.” Qin Mubai said casually, but there was no room for rebuttal or doubt.

“Young Marshal, isn’t this bad?” Xue Wanche said somewhat disgustedly, “Such a filthy description of a lost place might disturb the young marshal’s wine spirits.”

“Everyone has their moments of frustration.” Qin Mubai stood up and said indifferently, “Brother, are you disgusted?”

“Alright!” Xue Wanche sighed and looked at Hou Junji with a frown. “Ah, it’s quite pitiful, but it’s also quite irritable. Young Commander, I can’t reach it-you guys are still standing there, stand up and go!”

Just as the group was about to leave, the door of the prostitute hut opened again. A turtle slave rushed out and bowed to the crowd. He said flatteringly, “The few of you must be friends of the duke. You must also be distinguished officials. I didn’t dare to disturb you, but the owner has an order, so I have to beg you for something with a thick mouth.”

“If you have fart, then let it go!” Xue Wanche shouted as he was unable to vent his anger.

“Yes, yes, yes.” The turtle slave stammered, “This Marquis … has stayed in the store for more than ten days, and he has spent all the money he brought with him, all on credit.” Originally, the store did not dare to ask for it, nor did it dare to bully him into reneging on his debts. However, the store was indeed unable to afford to underwrite it with small profits. For the past few days, this Marquis had been full of fish and meat. Every day, eight girls accompanied him to eat, drink, and play. They were drunk and even scolded others for smashing tables and chairs … So … so! ”

Qin Mubai gritted her teeth in annoyance. She took off a money bag from her waist and weighed it in her hand. “How many girls are there in your shop? How much is the whole shop worth?” She said.

“Ah?” Slave Turtle was shocked and didn’t know how to answer.

“I’m asking you something!” Xue Wanche shouted, “Answer!”

The turtle slave timidly said, “Uh … there are only about ten girls in the store. There are no more than twenty people in the store. The store is rented by the landlord. We can’t be the owner …”

Qin Mubai casually tossed the money bag to him and said, “It’s yours. Help me set up this brothel. From now on, you will be the shopkeeper here. If the Marquis wants to spend more money, you must not collect any money. You must serve him like an ancestor. As for how to negotiate with your employer and how to run the brothel, that’s all your business. Do you understand?”

Slave Turtle stood there in a daze, at a loss for what to do.

Xue Wanche hurriedly snatched the money bag from his hand and pulled open the rope, causing a pile of golden lumps to fall out, causing the Turtle Slave’s eyes to blur.

“Dead Turtle Slave, are you stupid or idiotic?” Xue Wanche said angrily, “This gold is enough to cover three small and shabby shops like yours. You’re lucky, stupid brat! Are you still dumbfounded? Why don’t you scram?”

“Ah! Yes, yes!” Only then did the turtle slave regain his senses, holding the pile of golden lumps in his hands as if he had obtained a precious treasure, and ran back to the prostitute’s house like a dog with its tail chopped off.

Xue Wanche sighed and laughed, “Young Marshal, you don’t have to be so spoiled by Hou Junji, do you?”

“Why are you accustomed to this?” Qin Mubai smiled and said indifferently, “If I feel lonely and frustrated, I will want to get drunk. At this time, even a beautiful woman from the Silver Mountain of the Golden Mountain is inferior to mud dung in my eyes. At this time, if someone can buy me a large urn of wine to drink with me, that person will definitely be my best friend.”

“I understand …” Xue Wanche nodded and sighed. “Young Admiral, I didn’t expect that you would be a meticulous person. You are also very loyal.”

“Could it be that you used to think that I was unloyal?” Qin Mubai smiled.

“Uh … lowly position doesn’t mean that! … lowly position means that having a friend like Major Marshal is a great blessing!”

Everyone came to the Qingyuan Building, and a few attendants ordered the waiter to drink. Hou Junji took a bath, changed his clothes, and drank the sober soup. Qin Mubai and Xue Wanche sat in an elegant pavilion. There were also some strands of bamboo zheng sounds in the pavilion behind the bead curtains. The wine was acceptable, at least in Liangzhou, it could be considered a “high standard” treatment.

“Young Marshal, you’re laughing.” Xue Wanche smiled bitterly and said, “Liangzhou has broken through the shelter and can’t offer any decent hospitality. In the Governor’s Mansion and the Governor’s Mansion, they have been relocating for several days and are even more unusable. We can only wronge Major General a little.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m not particular about these things.” Qin Mubai smiled faintly and replied, not paying any attention to these matters.

He had been thinking about how to “deal” with Hou Junji.

To deal with this word, it appeared in Qin Mubai’s mind. It was really strange.

In his impression, Hou Junji was a strong-tempered and arrogant lord. In the past, even if it was Qin Mubai, the prince’s son-in-law’s commandant, the emperor, the young master of the Qin family, the new lord of Lanzhou, or Hou Junji, they would not put it in the corner of their eyes.

Everyone who had been in the court knew that Hou Junji had only respectfully accepted one person in his life, and that was Emperor Li Shimin. Apart from that, even if Fang Xuanling was his master Li Jing, he didn’t really care about the Eldest Sun Wuji.

Therefore, although Hou Junji and Li Jing had the name of Master and Apprentice, their relationship was not harmonious, and they didn’t even have any contact with each other until later on. It was rumored that Hou Junji wanted to learn military arts from Li Jing, but Li Jing was unwilling to teach him. It was only because Hou Junji’s unruly temperament was wild and fierce that if he learned military arts in the future, it would be a disaster for his country. Hence, Hou Junji found the Emperor and asked the Emperor to give a decree for Li Jing to accept Hou Junji as his disciple.

Feeling helpless, Li Jing could only encourage him to do so. However, when he taught Hou Jun the art of war, he naturally had reservations. For this reason, Hou Junji was extremely angry and even sued Li Shimin, saying that Li Jing was “obedient to the imperial decree” and did not do his best to impart the art of war. Li Jing explained to Li Shimin, saying that if those military techniques I taught him were learned profoundly and comprehensively, it would be easy for him to defeat the enemy before the formation. No matter how much he wanted to learn, it would mean that he had a bad conscience.

Li Shimin naturally couldn’t blame Li Jing. He also understood Li Jing’s intentions. If Hou Junji inherited all of Li Jing’s abilities, who would be able to suppress Hou Junji when Li Shimin and Li Jing, the older generation, passed away in the future?

It was precisely because of this that Hou Junji turned hostile to Li Jing.

Qin Mubai thought that if he used his identity as a “fellow disciple” to get close to Hou Junji, not only would it not be good, it would also be bad.

Hou Junji, this is a fierce and fierce horse. Of course, if you use it well, it is also a peerless horse. How to control it depended on one heart.

The two drank for a long time, and after about two hours, it was already dark, and Hou Junji was still bathing. Xue Wanche said impatiently, “Major Marshal, why don’t you go back to Xingyuan and rest first? When Hou Junji wakes up from his drunkenness, I’ll ask him to pay his respects to Xingyuan himself.”

“We are all warriors, why bother to disturb us so much? If he doesn’t come, I’ll go take a look.” After saying that, Qin Mubai stood up and casually picked up a plate of hot lamb leg meat and a pot of wine. He smiled and said, “Fortunately, he is also my senior brother. It’s fine to serve him as a junior brother.”

Xue Wanche snorted coldly. The dignified Lord of the Governor’s Mansion of Lanzhou, who ruled over the thousands of troops under the command of the people, was humiliated to treat such a trash who had lost his position as a demoted official!

Hou Jun gathered all his helpers and soaked them in the bathtub. Beside him, there were two disgruntled followers, who were trying their best to wipe their backs and rub their shoulders patiently. Hou Junji poured his hands over the bucket and covered his face with a hot towel. He waved his fingers and commanded the two soldiers to wipe and press wherever they pleased.

Qin Mubai walked in and gestured for the two soldiers to leave. The two of them seemed to have been granted amnesty, so they let go and ran away. Xue Wanche couldn’t bear to watch any longer, so he gently pulled the door open and left.

“Don’t stop. Keep squeezing. Here on your shoulder, it’s sour.” Hou Junji was still covered in a towel as he snorted.

Qin Mubai smiled and put down the mutton and wine jug. He walked behind Hou Junji and placed his hands on his shoulders.

Perhaps he still had the strength to drink, but Hou Junji’s reaction was somewhat slow, and he didn’t react strangely at all. The hot towel on his face was a little thick, and he seemed to be dozing off.

Qin Mubai didn’t call him either. She really massaged him for a while, at least for an incense stick of time. Hou Junji lay in the bucket like a dead man, not moving at all.

After a long time, Hou Junji reached out to his face and took a towel to soak in the bucket. Without turning his head, he said indifferently, “The water is cold.”

“I’ll call the waiter to change.” Qin Mubai said.

“No need.” Hou Junji paused for a moment and turned around. He looked at Qin Mubai with a faint smile and said, “Not bad, Commander-in-Chief.”

Qin Mubai smiled and handed over the meat plate and wine jug. “Come, eat. You were drunk just now. We didn’t wait for you to eat first.”

Hou Junji did not hesitate. He stretched out his arms from the bucket, grabbed the mutton with his hands and stuffed it into his mouth. He picked up the wine jug with the other hand, raised his neck and poured it down his throat.

Qin Mubai stood by the side like a servant, holding onto a meat dish. A smile still hung on his face.

Hou Junji was like a prisoner who came out of a hungry prison. He ate up all the meat and drank all the wine without the slightest bit of gentlemanly demeanor. He put the wine jug on an empty meat plate with a long tsk and burped coldly, “If you have nothing to offer, you can either rape or steal it. Tell me, Commander Qin, what are you looking for, trash? Oh, they call you Major Marshal.”

“You’re right. I do have something to do with you.” Qin Mubai didn’t care either. He threw the plate and the wine jug aside and clapped his hands. “I know you’re unwilling and unconvinced, but you’re afraid you won’t be able to escape from an unjust death. So now, you have to live in extreme pain every day. You can only use wasteland to anesthetize yourself.”

“How I live is none of your business.” Hou Junji’s back was facing Qin Mubai. He slowly wiped his body with a towel and said coldly, “Tell me why you came. Although I, Hou Junji, have been a civil servant for a few years, my bones are all bow-and-arrow martial artists. I don’t like to beat around the bush.”

“Alright, it’s straightforward!” Qin Mubai clapped his hands and said, “Since we are on the same boat …”

“Wait!” Hou Junji suddenly interrupted Qin Mubai loudly, “Who is on the same boat as you?”

“We have a common enemy, so that’s why they’re from the same boat. Isn’t that wrong?” Qin Mubai said.

Hou Junji paused for a moment and didn’t comment. He continued, “Even if we have a common enemy, then we are not friends. I, Hou Junji, have never had any friends.”

“But you have a robe and comrades.” Qin Mubai said, “Who has accompanied you on the battlefield for so many years? How dare you, Hou Junji, be so valiant and capable of killing thousands of soldiers? How many people do you know and know when you fight? But it’s necessary to work together with your enemies. You don’t need me to tell you such a simple truth, do you, a dying general of the battlefield?”

“You’re right.” Hou Junji seemed to be a little disdainful, but also seemed to be a little desperate as he said, “But what is the purpose of such a big shot like you who has come to find me, a person with a bad soul? Aren’t you afraid of provoking my bad luck and being cleaned up by Eldest Sun Wuji?”

“Heh! If I, Qin, were afraid of his eldest son, Wuji, I wouldn’t have set foot in Lanzhou today.” Qin Mubai smiled and said, “The reason why I came to find you is also very simple. I, Lanzhou, have a hundred thousand soldiers, and I can’t control them. But this is your specialty. Help me.”

Hou Junji’s entire body froze. He turned around and looked at Qin Mubai in disbelief, “What did you say?”

Qin Mubai smiled and said sincerely, “The Lanzhou Governor-General’s Mansion still lacks a marching Sima, and my Yi Manor’s personal decoration lacks a Yi Manor corps commander. If Senior Brother doesn’t dislike it, please come and help me.”

“What did you call me?”

“Senior Brother.”

Hou Junji turned around and fell into a long silence.

Qin Mubai was not in a hurry. He patiently stood aside and waited for his reply.

The room was quiet and silent.

After a long time, Hou Junji said,

“My Hou Junji’s life has been full of ups and downs. I’ve tasted everything. Right now, all I have left in my life is wine, meat and beauty. I don’t want to try that ridiculous feeling of ups and downs again. You can leave now, and don’t come looking for me in the future.”

Qin Mubai was not anxious. If Hou Junji was so easily persuaded and subdued, then he would not be the Hou Junji who dominated the battlefield with a smile on his face. He nodded and said, “I won’t force you. I’m not in a hurry. One year, two years, ten years, twenty years. As long as I, Qin Mubai, am still in Lanzhou, the doors of the Governor’s Mansion will always be open to you. Before that, you just have to enjoy yourself in Liangzhou. As long as you don’t kill or commit crimes, no one will bother you.”

“You’re trying to capture me, aren’t you?” Hou Junji sneered, “Looks like you know Medicine Master Li’s inheritance. Not only is it the art of war, but you have also learned everything you do.”

“Senior Brother, if you doubt my sincerity, you can let time prove it.” Qin Mubai said, “It’s useless to say so much. That’s all I have to say. You can rest. I won’t disturb you anymore.”

With that, Qin Mubai walked towards the door.

Just as he opened the door and was about to walk out, Hou Junji, who was behind him, said coldly, “Qin Mubai, why are you jumping up and down and doing all these things?” In the end, it was all empty. What fame, wealth, honor, achievement, and popularity were all illusory things. After all, you are still young, and you only know how to do such boring and stupid things with a mouthful of hot blood. When you experience what you have to experience, you will be as dejected as I am. Rather than going around in such a big circle, I advise you not to waste your effort. In this lifetime, people should enjoy what they should enjoy and put down what they should let go. This is life. ”

“Perhaps what you said is correct.” Qin Mubai turned around and smiled at him. “As you said, I’m still young.” When he was young, he didn’t do a few stupid things. When he was old, his memories were blank. Wouldn’t that be even more sad? In this lifetime, people should enjoy what they should enjoy, put down what they should let go, and not let go of what they should fight for or snatch. This is the life I, Qin Mubai, want. Who was willing to die in the name of nobody? Is your Hou Junji really willing? ”

“Who … is willing to die to Nameless?! … I, Hou Junji?”