allonlinenovel Chapter 788 The Bad Guys
Chapter 788 The Bad Guys
The desert wind howled between heaven and earth, making a low whimper.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the vast Gobi Desert, dyeing everything golden red, like a magnificent painting.
Pei Xingjian rode on a chestnut horse, his posture upright, his eyes gazing into the distance deeply.
Behind him was a mighty army with flying flags and shining armor. They were marching in orderly steps, slowly heading east.
Today, there are three troop transport trains connecting the Tang Dynasty to Constantinople.
The three tracks extending straight into the distance are like three giant steel dragons, stretching across this ancient land.
The manpower, material resources and financial resources consumed in laying tracks and building trains are simply incalculable.
Every cornerstone under the railway track embodies the hard work of countless craftsmen.
The construction of each train cost a huge amount of money.
This grand project demonstrates the current ambition of the Tang Dynasty.
Pei Xingjian did not choose to take the train, but decided to move slowly forward with the army.
In his view, this journey was not only a return to his homeland, but also an inspection and pacification of this newly conquered land.
He wanted to see with his own eyes how deeply the influence of the Tang Dynasty was rooted in this land.
Along the way, Pei Xingjian saw many Tang Dynasty merchants.
They drove a loaded cart, and the wheels of the carts rolled over the sand, leaving deep ruts.
There is shrewdness in the eyes of these businessmen. They are not afraid of long journeys and dangerous environments, just to find business opportunities in this land full of opportunities.
There were also those soldiers, who were either stationed at outposts along the way or patrolling on fast horses, guarding the borders and trade routes of the Tang Dynasty.
What surprised Pei Xingjian the most was that many Tang Dynasty civilians also followed the army.
These people brought their families with them, with longing and hope for the future on their faces.
They followed the army all the way, looking for opportunities to make money.
In their eyes, the wastelands conquered by the army were precious treasures.
They planned to reclaim the wasteland, grow vegetables and crops, and turn this originally barren land into fertile farmland.
In their hearts, this place will all belong to the Tang Dynasty in the future. As long as they are diligent and hardworking, they can live and work here and lead a good life.
As for those merchants, when the army sets out, daily necessities are naturally indispensable.
No matter how delicious the military rations are, you will get tired of them every day, and soldiers always want to change their taste sometimes.
There have been merchants accompanying the army in the past, but never as many as this time.
Pei Xingjian even saw many businessmen setting up small stalls and selling snacks.
Various familiar aromas filled the air, including the Chang'an-style roujiamo, with its crispy bun skin filled with juicy braised meat, and the aroma was overflowing.
There is also Luoyang's Hu La Tang, which is spicy, fresh and fragrant, making people salivate.
These snack stalls were crowded with soldiers and civilians, with constant laughter and chatter, adding a touch of homeliness to the monotonous march.
When the army arrived in Isfahan, the afterglow of the setting sun fell on this ancient city.
A team of people wearing special official uniforms were already waiting here quietly.
Their clothing was unique in style, very different from the official uniforms Pei Xingjian had seen before.
Pei Xingjian frowned, his heart full of doubts.
At this moment, the leader took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his arms. Seeing this, Pei Xingjian quickly dismounted and took the imperial edict with a solemn expression.
The content of the imperial edict was very simple, which was to let Pei Xingjian take the train back to Beijing quickly, and the returning troops should march slowly behind him.
After reading the imperial edict, Pei Xingjian looked calm and put it away.
He raised his head, his eyes fixed on the people in strange official uniforms before him, and asked, "Excuse me, what are your official positions?"
Seeing Pei Xingjian's politeness, the leader immediately bowed and said, "General Pei, we are all newly promoted bad men by His Majesty."
"Bad Guys?" Pei Xingjian repeated, his eyes filled with even more doubt. The Tang Dynasty had always had Bad Guys, active among the people, responsible for gathering intelligence and maintaining public order, much like spies in the marketplace.
In Pei Xingjian's impression, most of these bad guys were of humble origins and behaved somewhat unruly, just like street thugs.
In the past, the Bad People could be used among the common people, but now, they have reached the point of conveying imperial edicts.
Your Majesty is going to promote the Bad Guys to be the next Jinyiwei!
However, are these bad people, who are not worthy of being in the upper class in his eyes, really worthy of His Majesty's trust and reuse?
Can Your Majesty really use them with confidence?
What if they abuse their power and act recklessly? Will there really be no trouble?
These thoughts just flashed through Pei Xingjian's mind.
The king's orders cannot be disobeyed, and it is not appropriate to raise too many questions at this time.
He turned around, facing the soldiers behind him, and said in a loud voice: "Everyone, I have to go first. His Majesty has urgently ordered me to return to Chang'an. You all should walk slowly behind and go home early. There are people waiting for you at home!"
After hearing Pei Xingjian's words, many soldiers involuntarily took a step forward.
The idea of returning to the capital this time was decided by Pei Xingjian alone, and they all knew it without going through the court.
Now that His Majesty has suddenly issued an order for General Pei to return to the capital first, the implications of this have made them worry.
Otherwise, if everything is normal, General Pei can lead his troops back to Chang'an. Why is it so urgent to recall him alone?
Pei Xingjian seemed to notice the change in the soldiers' expressions. He frowned slightly, his eyes full of comfort.
He raised his voice again and said, "Go home and live a good life. Don't cause trouble."
"Remember, each of you is a hero of the Tang Dynasty. You have expanded our territory and conquered countless territories."
He paused, his eyes slowly sweeping over each soldier, "After returning, each of you will be able to open a family tree. Your families will be proud of you."
At this point, his voice choked up a bit. "Those brothers who didn't make it back with me, and their wives, children, and elders, I ask you to look after them and help them!"
The soldiers were both moved and uneasy when they heard Pei Xingjian's words.
They were moved by General Pei's affirmation of them, but uneasy about His Majesty's will and their future fate.
But they still responded in unison: "Yes!" The sound resounded through the sky.
Pei Xingjian said no more, jumped on his horse and looked in the direction of the train.
He knew that when he went to Chang'an, what awaited him might be the end of his life.
But he was fearless. He firmly believed that everything he did was for the benefit of the Tang Dynasty and the peace of the people.
He pulled the reins, and the chestnut horse neighed, raised its four hooves, and ran towards the train station.
The army behind him continued to move forward slowly, and in the setting sun, it gradually became a blurred outline, like a painting that was about to be swallowed by the night.
The train station was not far from the city of Isfahan. When Pei Xingjian arrived, a black train was emitting white smoke and making a "humming" sound, as if urging him to get on board quickly.
Most of the staff at the train station were also from the Tang Dynasty. When they saw Pei Xingjian coming, they all bowed and greeted him.
Pei Xingjian nodded slightly, then boarded the train under the guidance of the staff.
The train started slowly, and the wheels made a "clang clang" sound as they rubbed against the rails.
Pei Xingjian sat in the carriage, looking out the window at the scenery outside receding.
The once familiar cities, villages and fields have now become strange and novel.
This land is undergoing earth-shaking changes under the rule of the Tang Dynasty.
But he couldn't calm down. Why did His Majesty recall him so urgently?
Are they dissatisfied with this retreat, or are there other more important matters to discuss?
As the train sped by, Pei Xingjian's thoughts drifted farther and farther away.
He recalled the days of his battles in the south and the north over the years, and the soldiers who fought alongside him but are now buried in a foreign land.
The scenes of every battle are vivid in my mind, and the joy of every victory and the pain of every defeat are unforgettable.
He has given everything for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, but now he has to face this unknown situation, and he can't help feeling a little emotional.
The train sped through the night, but Pei Xingjian had no desire to sleep.
He sat in the carriage, looking out the window at the dark night. He didn't know what was waiting for him ahead, but he was ready.
No matter what happens, he will face it calmly, because he has only one belief in his heart, that is, for the Tang Dynasty, for His Majesty, and for the people.
At the same time, the Liangyi Hall was brightly lit.
Li Zhi sat on the armchair, his brows furrowed, a look of thought in his eyes.
On the desk in front of him was a secret report on Pei Xingjian's return, which detailed the process of Pei Xingjian's return and the circumstances along the way.
He picked up the secret report, read it carefully again, then put it aside and fell into deep thought.