Fletcher's Descent into the Abyss Chapter 4

The combat boots stepped through the snow and came around to Fletcher Shen's side. The man used his toes to straighten Fletcher Shen's face, and the boots rubbed some blood. The voice under his helmet was muffled, saying: "Marlon Shen is your father?"

Fletcher Shen couldn't hold the blood between his teeth, and he couldn't cover it with his hands in a hurry, so he didn't answer.

The man looked at him condescendingly for a moment and said, "I want to ask you a question."

Fletcher Shen, with blood foam in his mouth, lowered his head and said "hmm".

Ashton Ji took advantage of the opportunity and said, "It's Marlon Shen's eighth son, named Shen..."

The man raised his arm and took off his helmet, revealing a young face. The Saker Falcon circling in the sky landed on his shoulder with a cold wind, blowing up scattered snow flakes. He treated Fletcher Shen like a worn-out shoe, and his eyes could not be described as contempt or disgust, but as cold as a knife.

Fletcher Shen didn't recognize him, but he recognized Libei Iron Cavalry.

Marlon Shen retreated westwards in a panic, and when he arrived at Cizhou, he was already the last line of defense in Zhongbo. The Libei Iron Cavalry marched south from the north, and the Crown Prince Xiao Jiming marched in the snow for three days without stopping, crossed the glacier, and drove straight to Cizhou. Who knew that Marlon Shen could not even defend Cizhou, causing the Libei Iron Cavalry to be surrounded. If Xiao Jiming had not provided backup, I'm afraid it would be another fierce battle.

After this battle in Libei, the one who hated the most was the Zhongbo Shen family.

This man is not Xiao Jiming, but since he can ride a horse and carry a raptor on his shoulders, he must be Casper Xiao, the youngest son of King Libei and Xiao Jiming's biological brother.

Ashton Ji originally intended to instigate, but when he saw Zhao Hui, the deputy general behind Casper Xiao, he did not dare to fan the flames again.

Casper Xiao casually threw the helmet to Zhaohui with a smile on his face. The blade-like gaze just now melted away like ice, and his frivolous temperament suddenly emerged, making even the armor seem inappropriate.

"Master Ji." He and Ashton Ji put their arms around each other, "I've been waiting for a long time."

Ashton Ji and Casper Xiao looked at each other and laughed, saying, "Second Master, we haven't seen each other for two years, how come you feel so unfamiliar?"

Casper Xiao pointed to the knife at his waist and said, "With the knife, it counts as half a soldier."

Ashton Ji seemed to have just seen it, and then laughed and said: "Good sword! Second Young Master, you must have worked hard on the way to save the emperor. After meeting the emperor later, we will have a drink tonight!"

Casper Xiao felt quite regretful and motioned to Ashton Ji to look at the deputy general Zhao Hui who was following him, and said, "Brother sent someone to keep an eye on me. How can I enjoy myself while drinking like this? When I regain my strength in a few days, I'll treat you." "

Zhaohui saluted Ashton Ji expressionlessly.

Ashton Ji smiled and said to Casper Xiao: "Then go to the palace first, the honor guard is still waiting."

The two chatted and laughed freely, and walked all the way into the palace. Zhaohui followed behind and glanced at Fletcher Shen as he left. The Jin Yiwei beside him understood and dragged Fletcher Shen back again.

Ashton Ji watched Casper Xiao enter the palace, and when he saw that everyone around him was his own people, he spat in an unlucky way. The smile on his face disappeared, leaving only a belly full of complaints.

He originally thought that this idiot was usually reckless and daring, so it was natural for him to kill someone. But he didn't expect that this idiot was so cunning that he handled the person with care and kicked him, thus letting Fletcher Shen go.

Casper Xiao entered the palace. Zhaohui handed him a handkerchief and he wiped his hands as he walked.

Zhao Hui whispered: "The move you took just now was too risky. If the remnant of the dog is killed on the spot, the Queen Mother will probably be displeased."

Casper Xiao's smile disappeared, and there was gloom between his brows and eyes. He just retreated from the battlefield, his murderous aura unable to be concealed, forcing the eunuch who was leading the way to dare not listen.

Casper Xiao said coldly: "I just want to kick him to death. Shen Laogou made Zhongbo's blood flow, and the sergeant in the tea stone sinkhole was buried for half a month. The Hua family now wants to protect this old man for his personal affair. Dog remnants, there is nothing like this in the world. Besides, my eldest brother has been running for thousands of miles. After this battle, I have reached the top and have become a thorn in the side of the Queen Mother."

Chaohui said: "Your Majesty, the moon always waxes and wanes. This time the reward from Qudu is probably a Hongmen Banquet. Young Master, the army is stationed a hundred miles away from Qudu, and the city is full of aristocratic eyes and ears. You must not act impulsively at this time."

Casper Xiao threw the handkerchief back to Zhaohui and said, "Got it."

"Ano is here?"

Emperor Clement fed the parrot.

This flat-haired beast was very cunning. Following the words of Emperor Clement, he said, "Aye is here! Aye is here! Aye pays respects to the emperor! The emperor! The emperor! Long live! Long live! Long, long live!"

Xiao Jiming held the bait in his hand and replied, "It's time."

"About two years." Emperor Clement teased the parrot, "I haven't seen him for two years. This kid takes after your father, and he's growing fast. He'll probably be taller than you when he grows up."

Xiao Jiming said: "He is tall, but he still has the heart of a child and makes trouble at home."

Emperor Clement wanted to say something, but he started coughing again. Winston Pan served him tea, and Emperor Clement moistened his throat for a while. Before he could continue speaking, he heard a message from outside saying that Casper Xiao had arrived.

"Come in." Emperor Clement sat back in his chair, folding his arms, "Come in and let me take a look."

The eunuch carefully lifted the curtain, and Casper Xiao stepped through the door. He knelt down with a cold feeling and kowtowed to Emperor Clement.

Emperor Clement said with a smile: "Good boy, you look very majestic in your armor. I heard that two years ago, the twelve tribes of Biansha attacked the grain road and the border post, and you also showed your skills and captured several people alive, right?"

Casper Xiao laughed and said, "Your Majesty, I have captured a few of you, but they are all just miscellaneous soldiers."

The year before last, the twelve tribes of Biansha attacked the Guanbei grain road. Casper Xiao led his troops in the first battle, but was beaten to a pulp by the bald man of Biansha. It was Xiao Jiming who cleaned up the mess for him. This incident became a joke that year, and Casper Xiao became a public idiot.

Seeing him like this, Emperor Hamde became even gentler and said: "You are young, and you are already capable of riding a horse and crossing a spear. However, your eldest brother is one of our famous generals, and he must have taught you how to use troops on weekdays." Now that I understand, I see that Aye is very enterprising, so don't be too harsh."

Xiao Jiming agreed.

Emperor Clement added: "This time the Libei Iron Cavalry has made a great contribution to the rescue. In addition to the big reward yesterday, I will also give Aye some small rewards today."

Xiao Jiming stood up and saluted, saying, "It is his blessing that the emperor shows his love. However, he has not accomplished even a single step, so how can he receive this great reward from heaven?"

Emperor Clement paused and said, "You have traveled thousands of miles and crossed the icy river at night. Your merits are immeasurable. This time, let alone Aye, I will reward your wife Lu Yizhi. Aye, Libei is an important border area. You are young and it will be boring if you stay there for a long time. Now I want you to come to this Qudu and be a happy Yiluan commander. Are you willing?"

Casper Xiao originally kept his head down, but when he heard this sound, he raised his head and said, "I am willing to accept the reward from the emperor. My family is full of warriors, and I can't find a place to listen to music on weekdays. Now, When I stay in Qidu, I will only be happy and forget about Shu."

Emperor Clement laughed out loud and said, "You little brat, I asked you to be a guard, but you really just want to have fun! If your father heard this, I'm afraid you won't be able to escape a beating again."

The atmosphere in the hall was relaxed, and Emperor Clement stayed with his two brothers to eat together. When it was time to leave, Emperor Clement asked: "I heard that Qidong also sent someone, who is it?"

Xiao Jiming said: "It's Lu Guangbai from the border county."

Emperor Clement seemed a little tired. He leaned on his chair and waved his hand, saying, "Let him come tomorrow."

Casper Xiao followed Xiao Jiming out, and not long after the two brothers walked away, they saw someone kneeling in the corridor. Winston Pan stepped forward, leaned over, and said with a smile: "General Lu, General Lu!"

Lu Guangbai opened his eyes and said tiredly, "Eunuch Pan."

Winston Pan said: "Stop kneeling. The emperor is tired today and I won't see you until tomorrow!"

Lu Guangbai was silent, nodded, got up and walked out with the Xiao brothers. After leaving the palace gate and getting on the horse, Xiao Jiming said, "Why are you kneeling all the time?"

Lu Guangbai said: "The emperor is not interested in seeing me."

The two of them were silent for a moment, knowing the reason very well. Lu Guangbai didn't complain at all. He looked sideways at Casper Xiao and said, "Did the emperor reward you?"

Casper Xiao held the reins and said, "It's holding me."

Lu Guangbai reached out and patted Casper Xiao's shoulder and said, "This is not trapping you. This is trapping your eldest brother and your father."

Casper Xiao listened for a while and then said, "When the emperor mentioned my sister-in-law, I almost broke out in a cold sweat."

Lu Guangbai and Xiao Jiming laughed together, and Lu Guangbai asked: "How are Wang Ye and Yi Zhi?"

Xiao Jiming nodded. His great cloak covered his court uniform, and his armor was gone. He didn't have Casper Xiao's youthful vigor, but it made people unable to look away for no reason. He said: "Everything is fine. Dad is still worried about the old general's leg injury, so he specially asked me to bring the usual plaster this time. Ye Zhi, I have been pregnant since then, and I miss you very much. I wrote a lot of letters, I'll bring it too. I'll see you later when I go to the house."

Lu Guangbai pulled the reins awkwardly and said, "There are only warriors at home, and there is no mother or sister-in-law to accompany her. It is very cold in the north in winter. I led the troops out from the border county. I was worried all the way when I heard the news."

"Yes." Casper Xiao also turned his head and said, "Cizhou is so dangerous, and my eldest brother is in jail. He asked me not to write letters home, because I am afraid that my sister-in-law will be anxious. This battle happened suddenly, and when I left home , my eldest brother and my eldest sister-in-law found out that I was pregnant."

Xiao Jiming has always been restrained. At this time, he only said: "Dad is sitting at home this time just to protect Yi Zhi. Don't worry, I will return home after the new year and I won't go anywhere."

Lu Guangbai sighed: "In recent years, Libei has been at the forefront of the storm. Every time I send troops, I have to think twice. This time, I only regret that Marlon Shen was too timid to fight, leaving such a mess. I fought through the tea stone tiankeng, and the blood was all over it. Crossing the horse's hoof. He was punished by death and burned himself first. But now that it's clear that you captured his son and brought him to the capital, what can you tell? "

Xiao Jiming gathered his cloak in the wind and said, "Marlon Shen has always valued the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. This child is the eighth born out of wedlock, and his mother's family has no support, so it is reasonable that he was abandoned in Duanzhou and raised without knowing the inside story. But the emperor is so persistent, there must be a reason for it."

Casper Xiao put on his helmet and said, "The public anger is hard to dissipate. The emperor personally handed over the garrison power of the six states of Zhongbo to Marlon Shen. Now that something like this has happened, he must kill someone to prove fairness."

However, the one who controls the Zhou Dynasty is not him, but the Queen Mother who is ruling from behind the scenes. Now the situation is at a stalemate, and everyone is watching Fletcher Shen's life. If he can confess his crime and die, everyone will be happy. If he doesn't die, he is destined to be a thorn in the flesh. The Xiao family of Libei is now at the top of the prosperity, and even the Qi family, the commander-in-chief of Qidong, has to retreat three feet. Xiao Jiming was first the "Iron Horse Ice River" among the four famous generals, and he is also the brother-in-law of Lu Guangbai, the border county of Qidong. If you look into it, he can mobilize the Libei Iron Cavalry, and he can also dispatch the border county garrison with the help of his wife's family, so this city has to be on guard.

"The Queen Mother is determined to keep him alive." Lu Guangbai pursed his thin lips tightly, "What we are aiming for is the future. We must raise a jackal who can justifiably regain Zhongbo, and who can also obey orders. When the time comes, he will gain power internally and contain it externally. Li Bei is a serious problem. Now that he knows, he can't stay!"

There was a strong wind and snow on the street, and the blows on my cheeks were like knives. None of the three people spoke. In this long silence, Zhaohui, who had been silent at the back, rode forward.

"Young master kicked him earlier, with an eight-point force, right on the heart. I saw that his energy was weak, and his old wounds were bleeding when he fell to the ground." Zhaohui thought, "But he didn't die immediately."

Casper Xiao held up the horse whip and said, "After being tried for many days and beaten with a stick in the court, he was already hanging on to his last breath. That kick was a kick to the grave. If he doesn't die after tonight, I think he has a tough life."

Zhao Hui frowned and said: "He is thin and weak, and the wind and cold have not subsided along the way. Logically speaking, he should have died long ago. However, he is still breathing, so there must be something weird in this. The prince..."

Xiao Jiming glanced sideways at them, and the two of them remained silent. He looked at the road ahead in the strong wind. After being quiet for a moment, he said: "To live or not to live is fate."

The strong wind roared fiercely, and the iron horses under the eaves on both sides jingled and clashed. The murderous aura in the snow suddenly dissipated. Xiao Jiming sat on his horse and drove forward calmly and calmly.

Chaohui bowed his head on his horse and rode after him.

Casper Xiao's expression was unclear under his helmet. Lu Guangbai hit him on the shoulder and said, "It's your eldest brother after all."

Casper Xiao seemed to smile and murmured: "...fate."