It was getting dusk.
Xu Fengnian walked out of Xu Weixiong's medicine-smelling room. The servant girl, Cucumber, was stuck with the prince who hadn't seen him for a long time when she was free these days. Washed away some of the smell of the medicine, but Xu Fengnian shook his head, walked to the yard together, saw Xu Xiao dozing off on the stone bench, Cucumber quietly covered his mouth with a smile, and tiptoed out of the yard, not to disturb the relationship between King Beiliang and His Royal Highness , before leaving the door, she looked back and saw that the son had gray hair, which made her very worried. Just as Xu Fengnian sat down, Xu Xiao, who was dozing off, woke up, rubbed his cheeks, and laughed at himself: "When you get older, you get sleepy. I remember when you were young, whether you were killing enemies or running for your life, it was common for you to not sleep well for three days and three nights." , I don’t see any fatigue, as long as I take a nap and get a full sleep, I can eat four or five catties of cooked meat when I wake up.
Xu Fengnian said with a smile: "Heroes don't mention the courage of the past. When you are old, you are not a Taoist real person who hides in the cave and cultivates longevity. Besides, you want to prove longevity with your comprehension? A second-rank small master in a lifetime. Look at General Gu Jiantang, who is younger than you, and he has entered the martial arts list, aren't you ashamed?"
Xu Xiao wanted to laugh out loud, but he didn't dare to disturb the healing girl in the room. He put his arms around the cuffs and put his hands in the sleeves. He didn't look like a king of Beiliang or a general, but he looked like a village head with no worries about food and clothing. The old idler laughed softly and said: "You don't understand that. I'm already a father, and at my age, I don't like to compare martial arts skills or the size of an official hat. After all, it's better than my own. Son, look at those children of Gu Jiantang, the males are not capable of martial arts, their looks are crooked, and the females are not surprising. Gu Jiantang wants to compare with Xu Xiao? I am not willing to talk to him, While cool off playing with his big knife."
Xu Fengnian laughed and said, "You can think about it."
Xu Xiao turned his head and glanced at the Yellow Crane Tower on the top of Qingliang Mountain, and suggested, "Climbing while chatting?"
Xu Fengnian nodded, and waved his hand to call the big maid in the second sister's yard, ordered two pots of warm rice wine, got up and handed a pot to Xu Xiao, "Drink less green ants, some of me feel my throat is smoky, since you I have been persuaded to drink more rice wine in the future to keep in good health."
Xu Xiao took the rice wine with a smile, took a sip, walked out of the yard, and walked towards the top of the mountain along a bluestone main road. When the palace was built, according to the meaning of the king of Beiliang, this mountain road is full of gold and jade. It was directly paved with gold, and later his wife said that bluestone slabs would do, and it could also have a good meaning of Qingyun Road. If you don't want to be on the same path, even if your children and grandchildren walk hard, they will still ascend to Qingyun. Xu Xiao agreed without saying a word, and personally participated in the hard work of carrying stones and paving roads. The father and son climbed the mountain leisurely, Xu Fengnian said: "Chu Lushan has already gone to be the Protector of Beiliang and awarded the title of Hussar General, because Chen Xiliang is going to start to organize the military positions in Beiliang, and many miscellaneous generals will be cancelled, leaving only eight or nine. One. The title of school lieutenant will be much more valuable than before, starting with the hussar general without the word "big". Yuan Zuozong banned Zhong Hongwu as the commander of the cavalry army, and awarded him a general of chariot cavalry. Qi Dangguo and Ning Emei respectively served as Tiefutu's chief and deputy general, Huang Man'er led the New Dragon Elephant Army, and the three of them will not be awarded generals for the time being. Captain Guo Yi, Huangfu Ping, was promoted to a higher rank. As for whether to be awarded to Youzhou General or not, I have to wait for Chen Xiliang's report The Huishan Guest Qing Hong Piao sent by Xuanyuan Qingfeng is indeed capable of leading the army. Whether to replace Huang Fuping as Captain Guoyi is still under consideration. When the second sister wakes up, she will lead your 30,000-horse heavy snow Dragoons, do you have any comments?"
Xu Xiao smiled and said, "Since I can be a comfortable hands-off shopkeeper, how can I have any objection. It's too stupid to paint an old cucumber with green paint to pretend to be tender."
Xu Fengnian stared and said, "You sound very resentful?"
Xu Xiao quickly waved his hands and said, "It's nothing."
Xu Fengnian sighed and said, "The Beiliang army has turned upside down, and there have been a lot of changes from high to low. If there is a sharp conflict, and I can't suppress it, I may need you to come forward to appease."
Xu Xiao said flatly: "It won't be a big deal. The Zhao family's 'family in the world' has been around for twenty years, and our Xu family's 'family in Beiliang' has also been around for twenty years. The old man in Beiliang who is about my age, dad Ask yourself, if you don’t owe a single one, let alone Fuze’s descendants, they should be content. I know about Zhong Hongwu’s affairs. If he dares to secretly connect with Yan Wenluan to make small tricks, I don’t mind letting him drink the Northwest Wind completely, General It's not right, even the titles are removed, and you can be a rich farmer with peace of mind. As for Yan Wenluan, he and Changling tried their best to persuade me to rule the world together. The leader of the group has attracted a lot of old guys who have complaints in their hearts, and the group of young and strong generals that Yan Wenluan single-handedly promoted are mostly the descendants of veterans who retired from Fulong Wuwang back then."
Xu Fengnian took a sip of rice wine, "It's almost twenty years of rotting meat, thanks to your courage, you have already let Yan Wenluan stand alone in the family, and you didn't let this vine climb up to the cavalry, so you didn't let the whole North Liang Tieqi is dying."
Holding the jug, Xu Xiao sighed and said, "There is no other way. During the Spring and Autumn War, nine kingdoms fought side by side, and our Beiliang army wiped out six kingdoms in one go. It was all in exchange for head-to-head fighting. How many heroes do you think will die? I don’t want to be called emperor. Later, my horse stepped into the rivers and lakes. Fortunately, all the veterans who have been involved in the rivers and lakes left. As soon as they had no choice but to withdraw, Beiliang's army began to lose morale. The reasons were complicated, but the result was the loss of a large number of captains, and many old people who originally wanted to make great achievements by relying on a tense breath also faded out of sight. So it is said that scholars govern the country, It's very difficult. It's easy for scholars to harm people. You have to be extra careful about Yuan Benxi, a counselor who is as famous as Yishan. The secret decree came from him. During the Spring and Autumn Wars, the hard knives depended on me and Gu Jiantang, a group of warriors. This kind of bloodless Most of the soft knives are written by him. It is also his instruction that Zhang Julu, who is blue-eyed, jumps so many steps from a little Huang Menlang, and becomes the chief assistant three years later. In my opinion, scholars are naturally better than We reckless men who ride horses and carry knives must have talents and learning, but most of them have high eyesight and low abilities, and they can't achieve great things. The talents are extremely high, but they rarely succeed. What is really scary is that a scholar like Yuan Benxi who can take advantage of the situation and display his ambitions. Before the current emperor ascended the throne, he once Sincerely said, 'I would like to be the puppet of Mr. Yuan', so Yuan Benxi made him the Ninth Five-Year Lord. That woman Zhao Heng must have hated the one who made him lose the dragon chair when she was dying. Mr. Yuan, haha, Zhao Heng, a resentful woman, is a rare man before he dies. He traded his death for Zhao Xun's hereditary succession. If he had had this mentality twenty years ago, it would have been a long time ago. That blind man named Lu Xu, who is blind in his eyes and hard on his mind, writes beautifully, even I can understand it. I heard that you played chess with him in Yongzixiang? Why didn’t you just arrest him in Beiliang? Counselor?"
Xu Fengnian shook his head and said: "I didn't take care of him at the time, of course the main reason was that I didn't believe in my gambling luck, so I missed it. There are some regrets, but I can't talk about how I regret it. Zhao Xun, the King of Jing'an, I have learned his skills, and he is very good at it. Forbearance, but it is still worse than his father, if there is no Lu Xu, Jing'an Wang Fandi must be replaced by a talented person to guard, then Beiliang will be more uncomfortable, it is better to let Zhao Xun over there The vassal prince is making troubles and tossing around. As usual, the vassal king enters the capital for four years. If he dares to bring Lu Xu, I am worried that he will be poached. At that time, he, the civil servant vassal king who meets once in a century, will become a big joke. "
Xu Xiao smiled happily and said, "As expected of my son, Xu Xiao, domineering."
Xu Fengnian smiled helplessly.
Xu Xiao laughed and said, "Outside Dunhuang City, one person guards the city gate with one sword, which is quite domineering. No wonder that girl Sweet Potato is so devoted to you."
Xu Fengnian stopped when he was still some way from the top of the mountain, and together with Xu Xiao, he looked at the panorama of Liangzhou city, "Ye Xizhen and Chu Lushan are in control of the Beiliang spy agency, since Lu Qiuer has become the Northern Liang governor, I have to spit out one piece of meat, and I plan to let Chen Xiliang take care of it. Do you have a suitable candidate for Ye Xizhen's piece?"
Xu Xiao asked softly, "Why didn't you choose Xu Beizhi?"
Xu Fengnian shook his head and said: "I want him to focus on being the next strategist. He will be tainted with spies and work hard, which will distract him too much. Spies plan small tricks, but strategists require big plans. Besides, Xu Beizhi is not in good health, and I don't want him to follow in my master's footsteps."
Xu Xiao nodded, looking into the distance, his figure was lonely.
Continuing to climb the mountain, Xu Xiao said: "Wu Qi should have entered Shu from Beimang to join Chen Zhibao."
Xu Fengnian said bitterly: "This trip to Beimang was difficult, but I didn't even see this uncle's face."
Xu Xiao shook his head and said, "Maybe I've seen it before, but you don't know it. You don't need to think too much about it, the fate between relatives is over."
Xu Xiao continued: "No one's son is born rich and honored, and there is no reason why no one's son must not die. My son Xu Xiao is no exception. If you want to inherit the family business, you have to work hard on your own. This For twenty years, I have been waiting for you to grow up, and Chen Zhibao is waiting for you to die. The relationship between me and the old Chen family disappeared after he went to the iron gate and thought about beheading you and Zhao Kai together. Well, no one is sorry for anyone. Feng Nian, father forced you to go out and travel three times, don't blame father for being cruel."
Xu Fengnian jokingly said: "I know, you have held grudges so many times and I beat you with a broom."
Xu Xiao almost burst into tears from laughter, coughed a few times, and took a sip of warm wine to calm down.
Finally climbed to the top of Qingliang Mountain, the weather was clear and the view was excellent.
Xu Xiao hunched over his body and squinted his eyes towards the west gate, "Except for father among the current six vassal kings, Yan Chi Wang Zhao Bing is the most powerful and powerful. When the emperor asked Chen Zhibao to be the king of Nanjiang in the main hall, it may be that he did not have an attempt to check and balance Zhao Bing. The king of Guangling, Zhao Yi, came from the same mother as the emperor, and was highly regarded. The beatings on the surface were nothing more than acting out for outsiders. The left servant of the door, Sun Xiji, was appointed as the economic strategy envoy of Guangling Dao. It has caused criticism, and it is difficult to guarantee the third hereditary replacement of the Liyang Dynasty. The emperor's treatment of these two people shows their closeness. Zhao Sui, the king of Jiaodong, has some friendship with me because he is in charge of the two Liaos. One after another, he took a gun and a stick to clean up. The situation is indeed a bit bleak, but although this person was born in the emperor's family, he is rare and straightforward. The old emperor is just lacking energy, and he himself had to be ascetic. Among the five clan vassals, he was the most severely suppressed, without any real power. This time, the vassal kings will come to Beijing as usual, and I will definitely not go , but Chen Zhibao, who has not yet been crowned king, is destined to go, so it will be a big scene for the six kings to enter the capital."
Xu Fengnian shook the empty jug, and asked, "Has the prince settled yet?"
Xu Xiao smiled and told the secret: "No accident, before those princes can be crowned king, the fourth prince Zhao Zhuan will be established as the prince. Who made this kid favored by Yuan Benxi."
Xu Fengnian frowned and said: "Isn't it true that the elders should not be established and the young should be passed on to the descendants? Although Zhao Zhuan is the son of the legitimate son, the eldest prince Zhao Wu is the legitimate eldest son."
Xu Xiao handed Xu Fengnian the wine jug that still had more than half of the jug in his hand, and said calmly: "Zhao Wu has a strong personality. Now the world is peaceful, what he wants is to keep his business stable, and he doesn't need a prince who is suitable for competing in the world. Zhao Zhuan is different. She has been hiding her clumsiness for many years, and she is destined to become a blockbuster if she does not make a name for herself. Another important point is that the mother of the two, Queen Zhao Zhi, seems to have quietly instilled the idea of the future elder brother as a general in the Northern Expedition and the younger brother as emperor, Zhao Wu. Although he has a bad temper, he has believed in Zhao Zhi's words since he was a child, and his relationship with his younger brother Zhao Zhuan is also very good. I believe that there will be no big twists and turns when the crown prince, who has been vacant for more than ten years, comes to the surface this time. Feng Nian, you have to know that the Green Party that is attached to the eldest prince has already split into disreputable pieces, and the Northland Scholars Group, which is fighting for power and profit with Jiangnan literati, has bet heavily on Zhao Wu, but as long as Zhao Wu can go smoothly Liang Liao guards the frontiers, and Zhao Zhuan, who will ascend the throne in the future, will definitely compensate these people. For them, their personal interests will not be damaged but increased, and their current complaints will not be too big, and they dare not be too big. As for the court The second prince, Zhao Bo, supported by the most powerful faction, Zhang Party, is just a cover-up for Zhang Julu and the emperor to act together, not worth mentioning."
Xu Fengnian took a sip of wine.
Xu Xiao said with a smile: "The newly favored eunuch Song Tang Lu Yinshou, after the human cat Han Shengxuan came out of Beijing, although he has not been able to directly become the superior eunuch, but he has also taken over from his master the inner officer of the twelve prisons. The imperial court knew that I would obviously not pay attention to the good show of the crown prince ascending the throne and the prince going out, so he asked Song Tanglu to come to Beiliang in private, and brought you two sets of supplementary clothes for the son of the vassal prince, one red and one white, and the white one That set is specially made for you. After all, I want you to go to the capital to watch the ceremony. Are you going?"
Xu Fengnian asked: "A narrow escape?"
Xu Xiao shook his head and said: "This trip is different, even if you want to die, the emperor and empress will protect you. Now that Liyang's situation is settled, especially when Chen Zhibao enters Shu to become the King of Shu, if you still think about the great chaos in Beiliang, who will you be?" Come to stop Beimang's millions of cavalry for them? Without us in Beiliang, even if Gu Jiantang built the Eastern Front as solid as gold, not to mention the emperor, the whole capital would be panicked, and those bastards would scold me fiercely, privately I have to be thankful that there are 300,000 cavalry from Beiliang."
Xu Fengnian asked: "The last time you entered Beijing, you beat up an official just after leaving the hall. Why?"
Xu Xiao laughed and said, "That short-sighted guy said Beiliang Iron Cavalry was a watchdog, and I beat him half to death. Look at all the civil and military officials at that time, who dared to say anything? Also, Gu Jiantang took care of that guy afterwards. After a while, this remark scolded him, the great general."
The dead man Yin was elusive, and said softly: "The eunuch Song Tanglu has already arrived outside the gate of the mansion."
Xu Xiao asked: "You really want to go to the capital, but the human cat hasn't been killed yet, aren't you worried?"
Xu Fengnian shook his head and said, "I'm just waiting for him to come to my door."
Xu Xiao hesitated to speak.
Xu Fengnian suddenly said: "I killed Yang Taisui, will you blame me?"
Xu Xiao said calmly, "My old brother deserved his death."
In the case of white clothes in the capital, the mastermind was the emperor of the Zhao family, and it was the sneaky Yuan Benxi who conspired. Among many masters, Han Diaosi is one of them. As for the master of the celestial phenomena realm, there is another person.
Xu Xiao said softly, "Go down the mountain."
On the way down the mountain, Xu Xiao saw that Xu Fengnian was carrying two wine jugs in his hands, and said with a smile, "I'll carry them? No matter how old you are, you can still wear armor and mount a horse. It's not a problem to carry two wine jugs."
Xu Fengnian slowed down, looked at the bluestone slab at the bottom of his feet and said, "When you get old, you get old, but you can't die."
Xu Xiao sighed softly: "I also want to hug my grandson."