His merits are greater than those of opening a border, and he will be promoted to the king of the county.

The holy edict was posted all over Chang'an City and widely publicized, and the people of Chang'an were shocked.

All of a sudden, all kinds of rumors started to spread.

Today, the Anxi Army suddenly mobilized troops and horses into the city. This thing is very unusual. Of course, some sober courtiers will not be deceived by Li Heng's imperial edict.

In this era, there must be an extremely strict process for deploying troops into the city. From the imperial edict to the troop deployment documents from the Ministry of War, from the fish charms to the clear instructions to the officials in the court, these are all procedures that must be followed.

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, there has never been a precedent of suddenly sending troops into the city.

Yes, indeed, Li Shimin did it, Wu Zetian did it, and Li Longji did it, but it was a mutiny and a seizure of the throne.

According to normal procedures, it is absolutely unusual for the emperor to suddenly mobilize troops into the city and surround the palace. Even if the emperor suddenly mobilizes troops, it is absolutely impossible for the emperor to send troops to surround the palace where he lives.

As for the idea of ​​​​killing Li Fuguo for rebellion, that is even more nonsense.

Who is Li Fuguo? He is just an eunuch. He has neither party affiliation nor wings in the court. Does he have the courage to talk about colluding with the palace people to rebel? Can he become the emperor by killing the emperor? Even if he wants to regicide

, there are still 30,000 Shuofang troops in the Taiji Palace, colluding with a few palace people, Shuofang troops just stretched out their little fingers and crushed these clowns. Why should they mobilize the Anxi army, which has always been deeply feared by the emperor, to enter the city?

There are too many doubts about this matter, and there are as many loopholes as a sieve. All the ministers who serve as officials in the court are human beings. How can you believe it?

Unfortunately, Li Heng's imperial edict was written in his own hand, and it was written quite vividly and vividly, as if it really happened. Although the courtiers were suspicious, some even vaguely guessed the truth.

But since the imperial edict said so, the courtiers did not dare to say anything. The water inside was too deep and they did not have the strength of Gu Qing. It was best not to talk nonsense. Otherwise, even if the emperor could spare him, Gu Qing's temper would not be very good.

.

As for the common people and merchants in Chang'an, some who have access to the secrets of the palace naturally do not believe in the content of the imperial edict, but the vast majority of people who eat melons do not doubt it.

These days, the credibility of the Holy Spirit among the people is still very high. Since the emperor said so, it must be true. Didn't you see that Duke Gu was granted the title of county king because he mobilized his troops more diligently than opened the border?

This shows that the emperor is thinking of Gu Qing's kindness. When the emperor is in danger, loyal ministers will lead the army to protect him. If loyal ministers perform meritorious service, the emperor will not hesitate to reward him.

It is truly a clear and bright scene where the king is a sage and his ministers are virtuous, and the prosperous age is about to be restored.

As for the various rumors in Chang'an City, some of them are even very close to the truth, but they are not important.

An imperial edict has basically blocked everyone's questions, and the remaining rumors can only be reduced to gossip and cannot replace the mainstream voices at all.

So under the joint efforts of Li Longji, Li Heng and Gu Qingjunchen to cover up, a shocking mutiny turned into a gentle breeze and disappeared.

But, can the torn face return to normal? Can it really be treated as if nothing happened?

While escorting Li Fuguo and others to the refugee camp outside the city, Gu Qing was silent all the way, without saying a word, and his face was terrifyingly gloomy.

Contradictions accumulate one thing after another, and conflicts become more and more acute as the contradictions become irreconcilable.

The conflict between Gu Qing and the two emperors became more and more acute by leading his army to force the palace today. It was almost time for them to meet each other, and it was getting closer and closer to the day when the two sides would really break up and start a war.

A mutiny is like a milestone. The inscription depicts the color of the sky and the flag at the top of the city. Under the flag, a horse is jumping and a whip is raised, and the sword is pointed at the person in front. Is the surname Li or Gu?

Seeing Gu Qing frowning in silence, Duan Wuji, who was riding a horse next to him, couldn't help but ask: "Master, what are you thinking about?"

Gu Qing snorted and said: "There are more and more refugees outside the city. I am afraid there will be hundreds of thousands of them after the spring. The refugees have families, mouths, hands and feet, so always relying on our relief is not a long-term solution...

…”

"My father-in-law means..."

"Spring is not far away, they should be allocated land immediately, and the government should re-register them. Due to rebellion in Guanzhong in recent years, many people have been killed or injured. Some villages were even massacred. These refugees fell into those villages.

From now on, it will be the people of Guanzhong, and the Anxi Army will dispatch some soldiers to go to various villages to build houses for them, measure the land, and distribute grain seeds, so as not to miss the spring sowing."

Duan Wuji nodded: "My father's method is to treat the root cause, which is much better than giving them relief."

Gu Qing added: "By the way, let the soldiers experience the baptism of their souls and go deep into the common people, so that they don't forget their origins. When they go to war in the future, at least they won't risk their lives purely for rewards."

"Wuji, you will write a memorial in my name later on about the refugees' settlement and distribution. Write down all the things I just said. In addition, please ask the emperor to summon the governors and governors of Guanzhong and Henan states to come to Beijing to report on their duties and discuss matters.

This matter will be implemented before spring.”

"yes."

After Duan Wuji responded, he was silent for a moment and couldn't help but said: "My father-in-law has worked hard for the livelihood of the refugees, but the refugees are still accusing and insulting you. There are all kinds of unfair opinions about you between the government and the public. The students feel that your father-in-law is not worth it if they think about it."

…”

Gu Qing said calmly: "But when you do good deeds, don't worry about the future. You don't do things to be praised by others, but because you think you should do it, so just keep doing it and don't care about what others think about it."

…………

The refugee camp was filled with all kinds of unspeakable rancid smells. Fortunately, it was winter, and some infectious diseases in crowded places did not spread so fast. In addition, Song Gensheng followed Gu Qing's suggestion and adopted the partition isolation method to isolate symptomatic patients.

They were quarantined in the ward in advance, so although the refugees were living a difficult life, at least there was no outbreak of the plague, which was considered a blessing among misfortunes.

At this moment, there is a lot of anger in the refugee camp, and the reason is a woman.

In the early morning, Princess Wanchun appeared in the refugee camp. She led hundreds of Yulin guards and swaggered to the place where the crowd was most concentrated, and then... put her hands on her hips, raised her hand and swept around, pointing at the refugees.

The nose started to curse.

It's hard to imagine that a noble princess could curse so harshly.

Farm slave, ungrateful, white-eyed wolf, animals know how to repay kindness, but people turn back on their benefactors, etc. The more the curses became, the worse they sounded. The refugees were angered and gathered around her, staring at her with evil expressions.

Fortunately, Wan Chun brought hundreds of imperial guards with him today, and used the banner of the princess brightly, otherwise he would have been torn apart by the refugees today.

Although the refugees did not dare to attack Wanchun, Wanchun was surrounded all morning, but Wanchun was not afraid. He continued to scold him from morning to afternoon, and refused to shut up until his throat was filled with smoke and hoarseness.

There is always someone silently paying attention to Gu Qing in a remote corner.

When there were noisy rumors in Chang'an City and the sword was pointed at Gu Qing, Wanchun had already heard about it. She was anxious and angry at the time. She wanted to use all her strength to shout in Chang'an City and defend Gu Qing. Until today, Wanchun finally

Unable to bear it any longer, he took the guards to the refugee camp in person.

I couldn't think of a way to defend Gu Qing. At least I could scold them and vent my anger on Gu Qing's behalf.

Wan Chun, who is simple-minded, acts so innocently.

After scolding for a long time, Wan Chun became more and more energetic. Of course, he also successfully aroused the anger of the refugees.

But Wan Chun didn't care. Anyone who hurt Gu Qing was her enemy. She didn't need to be too polite to her enemies. It would be better to piss them off to death.

"...animals are grateful when they receive favors, and crows are also grateful. If you throw a bone to the guard dog, it will wag its tail. What about you? You have eaten so much food from the Anxi Army these days, but you are scolding the Anxi Army secretly.

, scold Gu Guogong, your conscience has been eaten by dogs?"

Surrounded by refugees, Wanchun still pointed at the refugees with her hands on her hips like a teapot. She was surrounded by guards protecting her. These guards used their halberds and spears to block the people who were surrounding them from all directions.

refugee.

"...the food you eat is the ration of the Anxi Army, do you understand? The soldiers gave half of their rations to you, because Gu Guogong and the soldiers of the Anxi Army cannot bear you to starve to death. If Gu Guogong doesn't care about you, the Anxi Army will also

Regardless of you, if you are left to fend for yourself outside the city, how many of you people surrounding me today will still be alive? How many of you will have the strength to scold Gu Guogong?"

"You are all blind. You don't know who fed you or saved your lives. Instead, you believed those rumors. You ate the Anxi army's food and scolded the Anxi army when you were full. From the founding of the Tang Dynasty to the present,

Have I ever seen such ungrateful people like you?"

"More than a hundred people were poisoned to death, and you all blame the Anxi Army. If the Anxi Army really wanted to harm you, would they use their own food to help you? With pig brains, it is clear that someone framed Gu Guogong and the Anxi Army.

, but you are so stupid that you actually believed the rumor. It is really not worth it for Gu Guogong and the Anxi Army. If I had known today, the food that was given to you at the beginning would have been better fed to the dogs than eaten by you. At least it would have been better to feed the dogs.

It wags its tail."

The words were hard to hear, but the angry agitation of the refugees stopped unconsciously. Many people looked thoughtful, and those who had woken up earlier had already looked ashamed and lowered their heads in silence.

But Wan Chun became angrier as he spoke, so angry that his eyes turned red.

She was also working very hard these days. Gu Qing came up with a way to raise funds for charity, and Wanchun responded most actively. He spent all day long raising donations for the refugees, visiting the dignitaries in Chang'an City, and grabbing some money and food from their hands. Thinking of himself

Wan Chun felt very satisfied that his efforts could save countless lives. No matter how hard it was, it was worth it.

But she didn't expect that the refugees believed the rumors and actually scolded Gu Qing and the Anxi Army. Wanchun suddenly felt that her many days of hard work had been in vain, and Gu Qing felt even more aggrieved. She, who has always had a proud temper, certainly couldn't bear such grievances.

So today I came to the refugee camp angrily and cursed these ungrateful refugees.

After scolding her heartily, Wan Chun's anger not only did not subside, but the hardship and grievances he had suffered these days became more and more magnified, and he was so angry that he burst into tears.

In today's era, Li Fuguo didn't have time to become a powerful eunuch, but he was betrayed by two emperors for no apparent reason and fell into trouble over such a trivial matter. This can be regarded as the reincarnation of heaven.

Would the world without Li Fuguo be a little less gloomy?

"Han Jie, Ming Zhengdian, behead them all!" Gu Qing said coldly.

Han Jie responded loudly, and the guards immediately raised their knives. The refugee crowd immediately took a few steps back and looked at the row of prisoners kneeling on the ground in horror.

Li Fuguo was shocked and said angrily: "Gu Qing, I have made it clear that I am not the mastermind of this matter, you cannot kill me!"

Gu Qing smiled and said: "The Tang Dynasty has royal laws. After so many lives have been lost, do you think you can still live? Director Li, even if you can't be a good person in the next life, at least be a harmless person."

His smile faded and his expression became cold. Gu Qing reached out and grabbed Wan Chun's shoulder, pulling her whole body back to avoid the scene of murder and bloodshed. He waved his other hand casually.

Han Jie immediately shouted: "Behead!"

The guards acted in unison, swung down the knives in their hands, blood spattered, and their heads rolled. The refugees were so frightened that they backed away again. They looked up and looked at the back again. People's eyes were full of awe.

Only then did people fully understand that Mr. Gu was not without a temper. Looking at his cruel and cruel methods towards these prisoners, he just did not want to use these methods on refugees, but they refugees were still ignorant and fearless.

, wantonly insulting Mr. Gu behind his back.

Looking back on everything, people suddenly feel how ignorant they are and how lucky they are.

When the tide recedes, big waves wash away the sand. Only after passing through the waves can you realize its true character.

Looking up at the gray sky, where patches of white snow were still falling, Gu Qing suddenly felt a little unmotivated.

"Let's go back to the city."

After saying that, Gu Qing and Wanchun left side by side.

Wan Chun was still being held by Gu Qing's shoulders, and he lowered his head shyly. All the grievances and injustices turned into a deep sweetness. There were still tears on his face, but the corners of his mouth were raised unconsciously, and he felt a kind of excitement.

impulse.

"Han Jie, Zhang Huaiyu and Sisi went to the south to collect food and should be back soon. After the food arrives in Chang'an, it will be distributed to the refugee camps immediately." Gu Qing said as he walked.

Han Jie reluctantly agreed.

Wan Chun said dissatisfiedly: "They humiliate you and scold you so much, why do you need to help them? It's so unfair."

Gu Qing was silent for a moment and said, "Do you think I'm kind?"

Wan Chun said without hesitation: "Of course you are kind, you have saved tens of thousands of lives."

Gu Qing smiled: "Isn't my kindness cheap?"

Wan Chun hesitated, then shook his head.

Gu Qing said in a low tone: "I have been misunderstood and insulted, but I still do what I think I should do."

"True kindness is to still choose to chase the light after experiencing darkness."

Wan Chun didn't seem to understand, but looked at Gu Qing with confused eyes.

She may not understand what this man said, but his responsibility and charm are truly visible and tangible.

That's enough, he is so charming.

Behind the two of them, the refugees were still gathering. Everyone stared at Gu Qing's back, the look of shame on their faces getting thicker and thicker.

Suddenly, an old man staggered out of the crowd and said loudly to Gu Qing's back: "I am confused and have misunderstood Mr. Gu. In honor of your kindness for many days, please accept my respect!"

After saying that, the old man pushed away the person who was supporting him, knelt heavily on the ground, and knelt his head in the freezing cold snow and mud in the middle of winter, remaining motionless for a long time.

Immediately afterwards, all the refugees knelt down together with the old man, bowed to Gu Qing's back, and knelt with their heads on the ground for a long time.

Gu Qing paused in his steps and looked back at the kneeling refugees behind him, his expression suddenly becoming very complicated.

After a long time, Gu Qing suddenly smiled and said: "That's it."

After speaking, Gu Qing continued to put his arm around Wanchun's shoulders and walked towards the city gate.

"That's all" means that's all.

It’s just grudges, it’s just grievances, it’s just injustice.

Ignorance is not terrible, as long as you can wake up.

Thousands of refugees knelt and worshiped on the dirt for a long time. Even when Gu Qing's figure walked into the city gate, no one got up.

Heavy snow falls on people's shoulders and bodies, and every snowflake looks so innocent.
Chapter completed!