Chapter 480: Hong Xingping

Pei Ye picked up his sword and stood up: "Where is the station of the Gate Guard?"

"... In the Imperial City." Xie Chuantang also reacted, held her saber and stood up, and strode back.

The two flipped onto their horses and galloped toward the northeast. The daylight was already at the Si hour. On the big street, there was indeed no trace of silver armor.

Hong Xingping had been in the position of Zhonglang General for nine years.

For some people, this was a node of exertion, but for more people like Hong Xingping, this was already an upper limit that could not be broken.

He was from Duanzhou, Hebei Road, the same as Li Zhao. He was fourteen years older than Li Zhao and had entered the capital more than ten years earlier than Li Zhao. He was also from a humble background and had nothing to rely on except his martial arts.

He was also a young man who entered the capital with high ambitions.

Relying on his excellent muscles and bones and outstanding talent, he was soon selected into the Sixteen Guards. This was the Great Tang Divine Capital Forbidden Army, remotely leading the world's troops, absolutely enough for anyone to display their ambitions.

The promotion at the beginning was very hard and rare. New soldiers from the countryside who entered the camp had no roots, and even if they had outstanding talent, there was nothing logical. Several promotions were nameless, and Hong Xingping gradually opened his mind, made friends with comrades, talked more and did more. After half a year like this, he was finally promoted to a squad leader.

On the second day when he went to the drill ground, looking at these nine sturdy and tall forbidden armored soldiers in front of him, that was almost the most surging day of Hong Xingping's life.

For several days, he played with that small waist card and couldn't put it down, and wrote three letters to his hometown in a row.

The promotions in the next few years were more and more smooth. New soldiers admired him, comrades were friendly, superiors looked at him with favor, and with the flying leap of cultivation, Hong Xingping was promoted step by step to a team leader, holding the eighth-rank position of Sige, leading one hundred and fifty armored soldiers.

That year he was only twenty-five years old.

On the first day he put on the blue robe and silver armor, Hong Xingping couldn't bear to take it off for a long time when he returned home that night. That night, he felt that the dream of achieving merit and being granted a title was within reach, and he didn't know that his head had already hit a certain invisible upper limit.

He spent six years figuring out this sky above his head.

There were seven hundred and fifty people in a camp, with a total of five team leaders. Below this, he had been promoted under the old camp leader. The level of ability and the relationship of interests were all in one camp. But if he wanted to reach this position of leading seven hundred and fifty people, he would enter another world.

Later, Hong Xingping thought that that was the real world.

When the old camp leader left, he was the most outstanding team leader in the camp and had the highest voice, but he could not get a promotion for a long time. Every time he went to ask, it was because the promotion conditions required a sixth-rank military merit, which he had not yet reached.

But most of the time, military merit was granted together with the rank, not to mention that he captured thieves, caught many alien sect demons and jianghu evil people, and the area he managed was always the most orderly. The accumulated achievements were enough for promotion.

It wasn't until he had been in the Divine Capital for a long time, when he was thirty years old, that he finally understood—the things further up were not obtained by his own efforts, but were given by others.

Three years later, a man named Wang Wujiao gave him this position.

That young man was only twenty-four years old, half-open his official uniform and feasting on a painting boat in the East Pool. He was just a ninth-rank Wenlin Lang, but he brought him to meet the Zhonglang General who was his superior. Three months later, he commanded that camp.

Of course, he would pay something.

It was also from that time that he was almost unimpeded, experiencing the high position and power he had obtained in an unreal way. Every promotion naturally made him feel satisfied, and watching more and more people obey him naturally made him feel refreshed and satisfied... but he never felt the weight of the waist card when he first got it.

To be fair, most of the time, the days were no different from the past, but he suddenly had a camp, and he suddenly had enemies—there were many predecessors in the business who he had imagined in his youth, and now he had to guard against them, attack and erode them, and never let them reach the Longwu Army.

He entered a brand-new world, listening more, looking more, thinking more, and considering more, replacing cultivation, practicing martial arts, and studying military strategy. Those ambitious ambitions of achieving merit and being granted a title rarely surged. He took the power granted by others and did things explained by others, framing and squeezing out, pointing at a deer and calling it a horse, helping those young masters and young ladies to bully the private with the public...

Years passed bit by bit. Sometimes he looked at the figure in the mirror in a daze, sometimes he touched his neck for no reason. He sat in such a powerful military position but couldn't find the feeling of holding his head high in his youth... The older he got, the more this inexplicable floating and oppression made him unable to sleep all night.

Until the day Li Zhao came to him.

He knew this fellow townsman. They had drunk and chatted together several times and said a lot of heartfelt words. In the past few days, he had also heard about the Carp Pavilion case that was boiling over.

When this young man, who was less than thirty and held the sixth rank, stepped into the door with his sword, the tall and cold figure made him see himself many years ago.

The first sentence he said when he saw him was: "Zhonglang Hong, there is an opportunity to untie the reins, are you willing?"

Hong Xingping really couldn't find a reason to refuse at that moment.

It had really been too long.

Wearing armor bestowed by others, holding a waist card thrown by others, doing things for others... No matter what high position he stood in, his neck seemed unable to straighten up. Twenty years ago, he captured evil people, always holding his gun and showing his card, shouting "The Sige of the Left Gate Guard is here," but later when he performed official duties, this upright and upright shout was always swallowed by silence.

The troops under your command listen to your orders, but do you really dare to have your own orders?

Hong Xingping, Zhao Xingping, Li Xingping, it didn't matter who it was. Whoever was willing to lie at their feet was this 【Zhonglang General】.

So when Li Zhao stood in front of the desk and looked at him with burning eyes, Hong Xingping only felt his blood boiling hot bit by bit, and his voice trembled as he asked: "... What opportunity?"

"..."

It was indeed a good opportunity.

Li Zhao was not fighting alone. Magistrate Di of the Dali Temple was the newcomer with the greatest potential in the imperial court in the past two years. Now, although he had not yet held power, if this case was handled, the person who was pulled off the horse would definitely make room for him. Behind him, there was also support. In the foreseeable future, he might not be a pole of the Southern Yamen.

And the Sixteen Guards were under the Southern Yamen. Why couldn't he vote under Magistrate Di?

As long as he dared to gamble on this.

The struggle in the Divine Capital was complex and difficult to describe, and extremely simple. If he turned into a spear stabbing at the aristocratic group, he would definitely be able to receive support from the scholar class.

And he, Hong Xingping... was originally from a humble background like Li Zhao.

Do the things he wanted to do, lead the troops he wanted to lead. At that time, Zhonglang General would not be his end; he would be his own Zhonglang General.

Li Zhao left. Hong Xingping leaned on the chair for a long time, thinking about the ambitions of his youth, thinking about the way out after the matter, thinking about how many years he hadn't had such a surging desire to take the initiative to complete something.

Hong Xingping responded to this matter and turned into a promise two days ago.

In two days, he made countless preparations. The Left Gate Guard was where he had been promoted all the way, and there were many personal soldiers brought up; as a Zhonglang, the 【Law Guard Order】 was held on his body; he had also calculated the route from the station to the West Pool many times.

Until noon yesterday, the confidant said that a line of magnificent canopies had arrived at the Jingzhao Prefecture. He ordered him to monitor the news, and it wasn't until the beginning of the Wei hour that the reply came.

"Checked clearly, the magistrate is Yu Sicheng's carriage."

Hong Xingping's heart stopped beating in an instant: "... Who?"

"Yu Sicheng, magistrate."

"... It's over."

The confidant hesitated: "No, magistrate, Magistrate Di doesn't seem to have compromised. After the motorcade left, Magistrate Di set up tables and chairs in front of the yamen and wanted to publicly judge the injustice of the Taiping Cao Gang."

Hong Xingping looked at him in astonishment: "... Didn't compromise?"

"No, magistrate. We can still handle the Taiping Cao Gang."

"We still have to handle the Taiping Cao Gang." Hong Xingping repeated, but suddenly felt his whole body a bit cold.

"... Magistrate?"

"... Nothing... Then continue to organize the army."

Hong Xingping was a bit dizzy for a whole day. At night, he stared at the roof beam, and the three words "Yu Sicheng" still lingered in his mind.

He had seen that face many times, welcomed that high and noble carriage many times. In the cold winter night, as if the enthusiasm faded, a kind of fear suddenly climbed up from the bottom of his heart.

Hong Xingping tried hard to overcome it. He knew that it was just a name, and he was arresting the Taiping Cao Gang tomorrow morning according to the transfer of the Three Departments to the Southern Yamen, and he would not violate any military regulations.

But it was still useless. He was no longer the low-level military officer who held his head high in front of his superiors and said "it is within the scope of my duties." If he had bowed and knelt in front of that carriage hundreds or thousands of times, how could he suddenly straighten his body?

He didn't close his eyes all night, and he went out stiffly the next morning. The closer he got to the departure, the more uneasy his heart became.

The Si hour was the time when the official document was agreed to be submitted to the Southern Yamen. He would ride out of the gate on time at that time. Five hundred guards had been checked, and two Daoist deputy officers were ready. The atmosphere in the station was still the usual, and no one found that a garrison was ready to go.

Originally, no one would think of Hong Xingping. This was a strange move that would surely succeed.

Hong Xingping tried hard to calm his mood. He knew that victory or defeat was in this one move. As long as he survived, it would be a rebirth. He naturally wanted to be upright like Li Zhao, and naturally wanted to angrily think why those people could sow power and position like dog food... It was today.

Hong Xingping leaned on the seat in a daze. The daylight outside the window began to bloom. Just at this moment, footsteps came from outside the house, and the confidant who monitored the Jingzhao Prefecture sent news again: "Magistrate, the Southern Yamen issued an edict to take away Magistrate Di's official position."

Hong Xingping trembled.

"But Magistrate Di is still publicly judging, ignoring it."

"... Good, I know." Hong Xingping maintained a majestic expression. "Go down."

The confidant retreated. Hong Xingping closed his eyes in the room and took a deep breath, mobilized true Qi to calm his body, looked at the sky, pursed his lips, and stood up with his sword.

The time was almost up. Five hundred people were waiting outside. As long as the search was completed... Hong Xingping pressed his sword and walked out of the threshold, but was suddenly stopped by a voice from the side corridor: "Where is Xingping going?"

Hong Xingping turned his head stiffly. It was General Qi Wen in casual clothes—his direct superior, one of the family retainers closest to the Wang family. This general had always been gentle and did not get angry easily. His tone at this time was also very casual, as if he was asking because he saw him dressed so neatly.

Hong Xingping actually could answer with any excuse. Changing shifts was a very normal thing, and there were others without him; and even if he took over the guard, there was nothing, he could send the Lang General and other guards to go, and he could still take people to set off.

However, his brain was stiff at this time, and he only felt that the eyes Qi Wen looked at him were indifferent and meaningful. And before he had time to speak, Qi Wen had continued: "If there is nothing, you go to guard the east gates of the city first today. Next time it is your turn, let Nianxiu take over, how about it?"

"..." Hong Xingping stiffly took the temporary order signed by the man, and pursed his dry lips.

Looking down, it clearly wrote "Temporarily send Xingping to lead three hundred people to guard the east gate, Qi Wen."

This piece of paper nailed him like an order arrow. Hong Xingping looked at this casually written order and trembled.

He actually had countless excuses to refuse. Changing shifts was a very normal thing. There were others without him; and even if he took over the guard, there was nothing. He could send the Lang General and other guards to go, and he could still take people to set off.

However, he had to think... This was a warning.

General Qi's handwriting was usually casual, why was it so clear this time?

Nianxiu never lacked a shift, why did he suddenly have something to do today?

The Taiping Cao Gang was in the West Pool, why did he transfer him to the East Gate?

Was this, the superior... the last chance Mr. Wang gave him?

When Xie Chuantang and Pei Ye tried their best to gallop into the Gate Guard station and crashed into Hong Xingping's office panting, what they heard was such a ridiculous reason.

Xie Chuantang almost wanted to pick up the inkstone and smash it on his face, especially since she knew at this time that Magistrate Di had already been life-and-death to support this timing.

Pei Ye grabbed her arm in time, leaned forward and said sternly: "Magistrate Hong, assuming they really know your movement, if you stop at this time, how can you pretend that nothing happened? The arrow has no turning back. It is still in time. Let's step on the Taiping Cao Gang together, and the matter will be done! I will definitely keep you safe!"

Hong Xingping looked at him stiffly. This seemed to help him clear his thoughts. At this time, he wanted to support his body to stand up, but couldn't help but look at the order. Xie Chuantang tore it up, and the two almost carried him out of the office.

"Zhonglang Hong, what about the five hundred armored soldiers?"

"..."

"Hong Xingping!"

"... I was afraid that people would see it, so I let them go back to the camp to unload their armor a moment ago... I wanted to think about it first..."

Xie Chuantang bit her teeth in hatred. Pei Ye immediately took his token to greet the deputy officer. The quality of the Southern Yamen garrison was indeed excellent. Five hundred people were ready to go in a quarter of an hour. It was too late to let them line up neatly. The two only carried Hong Xingping onto the horse. Pei Ye handed the gun to him and pulled his arm and said sternly: "Zhonglang Hong, don't think about any orders. If this matter is successful, you will be a general in the future!"

Hong Xingping seemed to finally regain his courage and held the gun.

"You immediately galloped to the Taiping Wharf, and we will follow you—"

However, this could only be said halfway.

Pei Ye looked back at the camp gate and silently let go.

A middle-aged man with a handsome appearance and good maintenance got off the carriage with a sigh and looked at this side indifferently.

It was a light red official uniform, slightly lighter than Di Jiu, the color of the fifth rank. He was still holding a volume of poetry in his hand, not knowing which clear position he served.

At the moment of seeing this figure, the Zhonglang General on the horse stiffened.

People who didn't know it had already been delayed for too long, and now they already knew.

"I was filling in a good poem, but was suddenly notified by Eunuch Yu that my family was restless." The middle-aged man sighed lightly and looked at Hong Xingping coldly. "What are you trying to do?"

Xie Chuantang understood who this person was in an instant, turned her head and said angrily: "Hong Xingping! He is a fifth-rank civil servant, how can he manage your Zhonglang General of the Gate Guard?! We are leaving the camp!"

However, the middle-aged man just stood there. Hong Xingping looked at this face that brought him into this real world... as if he woke up in an instant to what he was doing.

The mansion in the east of the city, beautiful wives and concubines, clever children, this official uniform, this waist card, this power... everything was stripped away, leaving only an empty self. The shadow of the gate behind this face, those shadows connected together, and even the whole world he was in... Hong Xingping thought coldly, and the word "rebellion" began to appear in his heart.

He trembled, his knees softened and fell off the horse, kowtowed and lay on the ground, took off the token at his waist and held it high and trembled: "Benefactor... it was Xingping who was confused..."

Pei Ye didn't listen to the conversation behind him, pulled the soul-lost Xie Chuantang out of the camp gate, he held the goose card high, and no one stopped him.

Until he led the horse back to the street, Xie Chuantang leaned on the willow tree in a daze, as if her bones had been drawn. Pei Ye led the two horses and also looked at the camp just now quietly.

The Si hour was almost over. Magistrate Di fell in the Jingzhao Prefecture, but no Gate Guard came out from here.

For a long time, Pei Ye said softly: "He is a Mystic Gate."

"... What?"

"... Nothing, the Divine Capital is really a place that makes people unlike people." Pei Ye said softly, he turned his head. "Don't be discouraged, go back and see Magistrate Di."

Xie Chuantang leaned on the tree without moving, lowering her head: "I didn't mobilize the troops, the case was ruined, what face do I have to see Magistrate Di."

"Isn't this only the sixth day." Pei Ye looked at the woman quietly. "Wait for me for three days, okay?"

"... What do you mean?" Xie Chuantang was stunned.