Chapter 120:
It has been almost two months since the eruption of the Heavenly Teachers Rebellion in early September. Gao Qiao has entrusted the court affairs to Feng Wei, who is also a nobleman and has always been a stable servant of Zhou Zheng. He has been working in Jiankang and other counties. He ran back and forth, traveled to various places, deployed the military in person, and appeased the people.
The last time he showed up at home was ten days ago.
Gao Qizhi, the head of the family, was very happy, and ran out of the gate to meet him from a distance, leading a horse to bring him in.
Gao Qiao asked the eldest princess, knowing that everything was fine with her, and hurried inside. When approaching the bedroom, Aju, who had been left at home by Luoshen to take care of her mother, just came out with several maids. Seeing that he suddenly returned, she was also pleasantly surprised and hurried to welcome him.
"The eldest princess was taking a nap, she slept for a while, and she should wake up soon. I was very happy to hear the news of the Liyang victory yesterday. I ate a bowl of rice at noon, rested for a while, and walked in the courtyard as instructed by the imperial physician. , she didn't walk around a lap, she shouted that she was struggling, and said her feet were heavy, so I helped her come back... This morning, the imperial doctor also came, looked at it, said it was all good, and told An Xin to wait for the delivery. Counting the days, It should be the end of the month. It will be ten days at most…”
Without waiting for Gao Qiao to ask, Aju herself told him Xiao Yongjia's daily life.
Gao Qiao walked through the courtyard, took a few steps up the eaves and came to the door, pushed open the hidden door, walked gently to the side of the bed, and sat down slowly.
This pregnancy has not only made her body bloated, but now even her hands and feet are completely swollen. No wonder Aju said that she was struggling to cry before she walked around.
Gao Qiao stared at his wife's sleeping face. The brows that had been knitted together for so long were finally slowly resolved.
He stretched out his hands, Bao grabbed her kicked foot in white soft gauze socks, and gently rubbed the soles and insteps of her feet.
Xiao Yongjia's eyelashes moved slightly, he woke up, opened his eyes, and saw that her husband was sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his feet for him, he was surprised, called him, sat up and said, "I thought you still In Liyang. When did you return?"
Gao Qiao answered her. He put a pillow on her back, helped her lean up, moved to her side, and asked how you were feeling these days.
Xiao Yongjia said: "I'm fine. Now I just want the baby to come out soon. The imperial doctor said that it will take a few more days. It's really urgent!"
Gao Qiao put his ear to his wife's bulging belly, as if listening to what was going on inside, and said in his mouth, "You used to be impatient, but you still can't change it now. When it's time to come out, the baby will come out naturally. "
Xiao Yongjia said: "Fortunately, Ami doesn't follow you. Bless this child in my stomach, no matter my son or daughter, don't have a temper like you. Slow down, it will make people angry."
Gao Qiao laughed: "A-ling, my temperament really makes you look down on me so much?"
Xiao Yongjia snorted: "What do you say? I'm just surprised. How did I fall in love with you back then? I cried and robbed you. I just wanted to marry you, but it made you aggrieved!"
Gao Qiao laughed until his shoulders were shaking, and said, "It's too late to regret it now!"
Xiao Yongjia didn't know why he would say this to his husband. Thinking of the girl's past, he couldn't help but laugh a little.
She raised her eyes and looked at her husband's face. After a while, the smile slowly disappeared. She raised her hand and gently stroked his brow with her fingers. Now, what seems to be deeply engraved is the laughter that can no longer be calmed down. The Sichuan character pattern, sighed: "How long has it been, you are getting thinner and thinner. If you are tired, sleep for a while."
Gao Qiaodao is not tired.
Xiao Yongjia saw the dust on his body, and the battle armor on his body had not been taken off. How could he not be tired? After joking a few words, he stopped, got up, asked someone to bring water in, cleaned his face and changed his clothes, and ate something. After he rested, his spirits improved, and he asked, "How is the situation outside? When Ami left earlier, he said that he would come back when I was about to give birth. I was a little worried."
The smile on Gao Qiao's face just now disappeared slowly.
"I have previously instructed Zi'an to send a letter to Ami, to stay in Jingkou for the time being, and not to return to Jiankang," he said.
When Xiao Yongjia heard this, his expression changed slightly.
How could she not understand the meaning of her husband's words?
Moreover, these days, she has heard some rumors outside.
"What do you mean? Could it be that Jiankang... really can't hold it anymore?"
She hesitated and asked.
"A Ling, I just want to tell you about this when I go home. Not only Ami, but you can't stay in Jiankang anymore. I have arranged a safe place for you. I will personally take you there. You can be there. Rest in peace."
Xiao Yongjia frowned slightly. "Where's Your Majesty? You also have arrangements?"
"Yes." Gao Qiao nodded, "His Majesty and his party will temporarily move the palace to Qu'a. It is safer there than Jiankang. There are also people who should be evacuated."
Xiao Yongjia looked at her husband fixedly: "What about you? What are your plans?"
Gao Qiao smiled slightly, and immediately held his wife's hand that quickly became a little cold.
"Don't get me wrong. Jiankang is indeed in danger of falling, and I am not sure that I will be able to defend it. For the sake of safety, I made such an arrangement. The reason is that I can give it a go without worrying about the future. If I can defend it, I will try my best. , If you really can't hold it, you can only retreat temporarily and retake it later."
He squeezed his wife's hand hard.
"Don't worry. When Ami is old, she is biased towards outsiders. I have to wait for the baby in your belly to call me Aye in the future and focus on me!"
Xiao Yongjia saw a faint joyous brilliance in the bottom of his eyes, so he put down his heart and nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to your arrangement. You have a lot of things to do, so you don't have to send me specially, I'll just go over by myself."
"I haven't been with you these days. I'll take you there. You ask someone to pack up first, and then follow them."
Gao Qiao's tone had a tinge of refusal that was rarely seen on weekdays.
Xiao Yongjia hummed softly and obeyed her husband's arrangement.
Gao Qiao stroked his wife's hair and stood up: "You rest, I'll go to Xitaicheng first, I have something to do."
…
In order to cooperate with Gao Qiao's plan to defend the imperial capital, the emperor temporarily evacuated Jiankang and moved the palace to Qu'a. The news has spread quickly among the officials.
When Gao Qiao came to Taicheng, he saw that inside and outside the gate of his government office was full of civil and military officials who had heard the news. Everyone was discussing with each other, with different expressions and loud voices.
These days, Feng Wei, who was entrusted by Gao Qiao to represent Shang Shuling's affairs, was surrounded by more than a dozen officials to ask for details. He couldn't hide. He took a breath, hurriedly pushed the crowd away, and hurriedly greeted them.
Seeing that Gao Qiao finally appeared, Baiguan slowly stopped talking and leaned towards him.
Feng Wei brought everyone to greet Gao Qiao, and when Gao Qiao was seated, he couldn't wait to ask questions.
Gao Qiao's eyes swept across the familiar faces of civil and military officials in front of him and said, "It is indeed my proposal, and His Majesty has accepted it. The matter has been decided, it should be sooner rather than later. These two days out of the palace."
The buzzing sound was incessant. Many people secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At the beginning, the chaos of the Tianshi teaching was nothing, with Gao Qiao on top, Jiankang should be safe, but with the fact that Xu Mi rebels attacked Jiankang later, things were completely different.
Gao Qiao's double fists are invincible to four hands, and he has fallen into passive news, who does not know? Some of the people standing here are either afraid of fighting, or afraid that Xu Mi had fallen for him when he was unlucky in the past. If this time he really fights back, revenge is inevitable, and fear is inevitable. Hearing that Gao Qiao made such an arrangement, he was secretly delighted.
Feng Wei asked: "Gao Xianggong, civil and military officials, what should I do?"
Gao Qiao said: "If you are willing to stay with me to snipe the rebels, stay. If you don't want to stay, go to Qu'a with Your Majesty."
The surroundings suddenly fell silent, and no one made a sound. Gradually, everyone's eyes turned to the man standing beside Feng Wei, Liu Hui, a conscript general from the Liu clan in Yingchuan. After Lu Guang died, he was recommended for his prestige and succeeded Lu Guang.
After the Xu Lu family left the dynasty, now the great nobles in the dynasty, with the exception of Gao Qiao, have this Liu Hui and Feng Wei, who has served as a servant for many years, as the greatest.
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Liu Hui looked slightly embarrassed at first, and then he raised his head and said: "Gao Xianggong, I was very willing to stay with you and advance and retreat with Jiankang. It's just that there is a welcome from Lu Jian in His Majesty's place. Feng, after all, the power is weak, and if the thieves take advantage of the loophole, what if there is a loss? It is my duty to protect the holy driver. Therefore, it is better for me to **** and accompany me."
Gao Qiao smiled: "Liu Zhenglu's words are reasonable, you can **** him."
"I also ask for an escort!"
"Me too!"
There was an echoing sound all around. In the end, there were only five or six people who were willing to stay, and they were all officials who had been promoted from the local government with relatively low status.
Gao Qiao glanced at everyone indifferently, and turned to Feng Wei: "Feng Shizhong, this matter is left to you. Those who are escorting you should return, and prepare as soon as possible."
Feng Wei's face was slightly hot, he hesitated, and said, "I'll stay to help you!"
Gao Qiao glanced at him and smiled slightly: "The servants are civil servants, and this kind of war should be left to the military officers. It's a big matter for your Majesty to move to the palace, and I can't go with you. I have to rely on you for everything. "
Feng Wei saw that his colleagues in high positions were racing to escape from Jiankang, but no one was willing to stay and felt ashamed, so he asked to stay. Seeing that Gao Qiao did not keep himself, he had to give up and agreed.
Seeing that the matter was settled, everyone rushed home to pack up their belongings to avoid the war and leave, and they all retire. Feng Wei and Gao Qiao also hurriedly left to prepare after discussing the plan to arrange the emperor's trip.
The office, which was filled with people just now, became empty, and in the end, only Gao Qiao and a few officials stood behind him.
An official came with an official document he had just written, carefully presented it in front of Gao Qiao, and said in a low voice, "Master, the official document is ready, please review it."
Gao Qiao's eyes fell on the ink on the paper, and his eyes stopped for a long time.
He knew that once this order was issued, more than 200,000 households in the city would have to leave Jiankang.
Although he had ordered to go to the county governors in various places, Qu'a, Dantu, Piling and other counties must temporarily accommodate these residents from Jiankang, but they were forced to leave their homes. Refugees don't know when they will be able to return.
And all of this is due to the incompetence of his Gao Qiao, the Shang Shuling who was once trusted and loved by them.
He seemed to have heard the murmurs of grievances in his ears.
Gao Qiao raised his big seal and dropped it heavily, placing a bright red seal on it.
Li Xie came in and took the paperwork. "Don't worry, Xianguanhui and brothers urge the people to leave the city and go to the place of resettlement."
Gao Qiao nodded: "It's your job."
Li Xie bowed and left in a hurry.
The things that need to be arranged urgently should be almost there. There are still some documents that Feng Wei left behind when he took office in his place, and he needs to decide personally.
Gao Qiao closed his eyes, raised his hand and rubbed his temples on both sides where the blood vessels seemed to be throbbing. The list of death row prisoners that Si sent him a few days ago to be approved stopped.
He remembered something, hesitated for a while, and gave a command to the person nearby, and the man left.
Not long after, the prison officer came in a hurry and bowed to Gao Qiao.
Gao Qiao asked him: "A few months ago, the female prisoner surnamed Shao has been exiled now?"
The prison officer hurriedly said: "Mr. Xianggong, not yet." After speaking, seeing Gao Qiao's gaze, he hurriedly explained: "Isn't there something to be said by the criminal department earlier, should she leave when she is cured? She has not recovered from her illness. Therefore, he has been detained in prison and has not left..."
"Why has it been so long and still not healed?" Gao Qiao frowned slightly.
Seeing him, the prison officer seemed a little displeased, and said with a smile: "She has been living in a clean single cell these days, and the lower officer also asked someone to look after her. The injuries on her body are healed, but her body is still weak. I can't tell what the illness is, and I've been groggy all day long. Before, Xianggong didn't ask, but then there was trouble, and the lower official didn't dare to bother Xianggong with this matter..."
"...Xianggong wants to see her and ask her clearly?"
While talking, the prison officer looked at him secretly. Seeing that he was silent, he asked a question in a low voice tentatively.
Gao Qiao waved his hand: "No need."
The prison officer hurriedly agreed. After hesitating for a while, he asked again: "Gao Xianggong, the next official just heard that the whole city was relocated. I dare to ask, are the Shaw Brothers and the other prisoners in the prison leaving it alone, or disposing of it differently?"
Gao Qiao pondered: "You can send all the people to the prison in Stone City to be guarded."
Stone City is located on the bank of the river to the west of Jiankang. It is a military fort twenty miles away. There is a garrison in it to guard the capital.
The prison officer complied, asking for a warrant from Gao Qiao, and before leaving, he said, "Don't worry, Gao Xianggong, I will arrange for her properly when you get there..." The tone was full of flattery, and he said He bowed and backed out.
Gao Qiao had already lowered his head and started to deal with the official document. Hearing this, he frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something. He raised his eyes and saw that he had already retreated.
…
That night, news of the city's evacuation spread.
As Gao Qiao had expected, the whole city fell into chaos. People who have become accustomed to a stable life are reluctant to leave, and run to the outside streets, inquiring about each other's news, and discussing a lot. Everyone's expressions were filled with strong disappointment and dissatisfaction with the imperial court.
This disappointment and dissatisfaction was quickly transferred to Gao Qiao, the minister who issued the evacuation order.
At Hai Shi, it was late at night, and Gao Qiao was still busy in Taicheng. Suddenly, he received a message that many people rushed to Gao's house. Not only did they block the front and rear doors, but even that street was impassable.
Gao Qiao was taken aback, immediately interrupted his affairs with his subordinates, and hurried back.
At this moment, the gate of the Gao family was closed, and there was a thick wooden bar behind the door. Gao Qi, who was leading the guard here, heard the crowd outside, and the crowd was excited.
Suddenly, there was a messy banging sound at the door, and the door trembled slightly, as if many people were hitting the door together, calling for Gao Qiao to come out, one after another.
Gao Qi's expression was tense, no less nervous than when he was surrounded by Xiao Daocheng's men that night. Immediately ordered his family to take up arms, and summoned a row of archers, who placed them behind the gate, exhorting them when they heard footsteps behind him, turned his head, saw that the eldest princess had come, and hurriedly greeted them, saying: "The villain is useless, and the movement surprised the eldest princess. The eldest princess can go back to rest in peace. I have made arrangements here, and there will be no loss."
Xiao Yongjia was supported by Aju and came over, followed by a few servants.
She stopped behind the door and listened to the constant noise from outside the wall. After a while, she said, "Open the door."
Gao Qi was taken aback and hurriedly said: "Princess, those people outside are crazy, the door must not be opened! Don't worry, I have just sent someone over the wall to inform Li Duwei. He should be very soon. I'll bring someone here!"
Xiao Yongjia said: "Open the door!" His tone was already an order.
Gao Qi didn't dare to disobey, so he had to ask someone to remove the latch, while suggesting that the archers were lined up in front of the eldest princess, just in case.
Xiao Yongjia said: "Everyone let's get out of the way."
Gao Qi had no choice but to remove the archers behind the door and buried them on the left and right sides. He brought people to protect her left and right, looking nervously at the door in front of him slowly opening.
The torches are like day. The door was crowded with people. At first glance, they were all human heads. Even the two stone lions squatting outside the door were swallowed up by the crowd and disappeared.
After waiting for a long time without a response, he became emotionally out of control, and began to push the person who hit the door with his body. Suddenly, the door was slowly opened, and a beautiful woman with a serious expression appeared in the door. Although he had a big belly, he had a noble appearance, so he stood in the door and couldn't help being stunned.
Xiao Yongjia pushed aside A Ju's hand that was holding onto his arm tightly, facing countless gazes from outside the door, took a few steps forward, stopped, and said, "I am the Gao Xianggong you want to see. Wife. He's not here, I'll see you on his behalf. What's the matter with you?"
The noise outside the door slowly quieted down. There was silence for a while, and a voice sounded from the crowd: "We want Xianggong Gao to give a clear sentence, did he abandon Jiankang? If we listen to Xianggong Gao and leave like this, when will we be able to return?"
"Yes! Yes!" The people around agreed.
Xiao Yongjia said: "You are wrong! The evacuation order issued by Gao Xianggong today is not to abandon the city, on the contrary, he is to better defend the city for you!"
Her voice was like knocking on ice and jade, and there was a sound when she landed.
"I know that you are all unwilling to leave, so this is your home, where your ancestors are based, who is willing to give up? He is also unwilling! His ties to this city are no less than any of you! But There is nothing he can do! The imperial court has limited troops, and the rebels and the Tianshi rebellion echo each other and are aggressive."
"My husband, he could have done so much without worrying about your life or death. The reason why I issued this order was not for the convenience of abandoning the city, but for protecting you and for him to meet the enemy at that time, so that he could have no worries. , go all out!"
Her two eyes swept across the faces in front of her.
"At this very moment when you came here to make trouble tonight, the rebels are coming from several directions, on the way to attack Jiankang! And my husband, in order to defend the enemy, is trying his best to deploy! He can't promise you. , I will definitely be able to defend the city for you, but I can clearly let you know on his behalf that he will never give up this city until the last moment!"
It was quiet outside the door, not a single sound could be heard.
So many people gathered together, but it was like a no-man's land.
Xiao Yongjia took a slow breath, raised his voice, and said: "Since the chaos, these days, Gao Xianggong has been running around, and I have never seen him a few times. You are dissatisfied with him, gather here, Even if the door is smashed, he will not be able to see him. He just finished the Liyang battle a few days ago, and he did return to Jiankang today. But at this moment, people are not sleeping at home, but are preparing for the upcoming defense. battle!"
There was a low voice of discussion outside the door, and the disappointment and dissatisfaction on everyone's face a moment ago slowly disappeared.
"It's all gone! Hurry back to clean up, get to the place that Gao Xianggong arranged for you early, and you can still occupy a good place! It's too late, but there is nowhere to stay!"
Seeing this, Gao Qi hurried to the door and shouted to persuade him to retreat.
The sound of sighing and sighing was incessant.
The crowd crowded outside finally slowly loosened.
The crowd gradually dispersed.
Gao Qiao hurried back and walked to the street leading to his house, when he happened to meet Li Xie, who was rushing over with a torch in his hand.
Li Xie raised his eyes and saw that the road leading to the gate of Gao's house was full of crows and crows. The people nearby seemed to see Gao Qiao, shouting "Gao Xianggong is here", and they all came running. Afraid of colliding with Gao Qiao, his expression immediately became tense, and he turned back and said: "Gao Xianggong forgives his sins! Just now, Xiaguan is taking his brothers to serve as a deacon in the east of the city. It's too late! Gao Xianggong, let's go, let the Xiaguan deal with it here!" Said After finishing, he ordered someone to protect Gao Qiao and leave immediately.
Gao Qiao was worried that Xiao Yongjia would be frightened, so how could he leave like this? Just as he was about to refuse, a scene that surprised him happened.
The people who rushed in front of him surrounded him, and an elderly man who had just been pushed out to take the lead and wanted to talk to Gao Qiao separated from the crowd, knelt down towards him, and said loudly, "Gong Xianggong, The villains were wrong! Previously, it was the villains who misunderstood Gao Xianggong. Only after listening to the words of the eldest princess did I realize that Gao Xianggong had good intentions! Please forgive me!
"Yes, yes! We are also willing to contribute!"
There was a chorus of echoes from the surrounding crowd. Hurrah, everyone knelt down.
After a while, on that street, only monk Gao Qiao and Li Xie who were unable to react, and the soldiers behind him were still standing, not sure why.
Gao Qiao was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped forward, helped the old man up, and ordered everyone to stand up.
Li Xie also quickly recovered, and immediately said: "It is the responsibility of my warriors to protect the city, and Gao Xianggong does not need your help! All you need to do is follow his orders and leave Jiankang as soon as possible, and you are doing your best to protect the city. It's gone!"
The old man was lifted up by Gao Qiao, and when he saw Gao Qiao nodded to himself with a smile, he turned his head with tears in his eyes, and shouted to the crowd, "You all heard? Follow Gao Xianggong's instructions, go back and pack up immediately and leave the city!"
Everyone kowtowed to Gao Qiao, then got up and wiped away their tears.
When the east gate opened, many people began to leave the city overnight. Li Xie led the guards of the four capitals in the front, back, left, and right to maintain order in the city without being chaotic.
One night, and the next day, more people began to leave the city. On the east-bound road, there are people with sad faces and families walking everywhere, densely packed, like a long dragon, stretching, and at a glance, there is no end in sight.