Recently, Xiahou Mao has once again caused a sensation in Ye County. He spent a huge amount of money to buy the Wanbao Pavilion in the center of Fengxianghao Street and changed it to Shuiyue Tower. He also spent a large sum of money to buy four Nanyue singers. He can be said to be making a fortune every day.
Ever since leaving Xiangyang, Xiahou Mao had been obsessed with the black pearl. It took him nearly a year to commission Fengxiang to buy the singer from Nanyue, and he finally got what he wanted.
Today's Ye County has long since turned into a den of money. Although the world is in chaos and people are living in poverty, there are still many rich people. No matter they are from wealthy families or desperate criminals, they all find a place to vent their emotions here.
There are casinos, taverns, brothels, and I heard there is also a secret manor with palaces, attics, and thrones. As long as you have money, you can enjoy the same life as an emperor. It has become the last carnival place in this troubled world.
On this day, Xiahou Mao was hosting a banquet in Shuiyue Tower, inviting celebrities from all walks of life in Ye County to taste wine and recite poetry, and to show off his latest purchase, a dragon head gem.
According to the owner of Hanxingtang, when this object was dug out from Dongting Lake, it was covered by colorful auspicious clouds. It was formed by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and was blessed with great fortune. It was intended to be presented to Liu Qi to help his military prestige.
After hearing the news, Xiahou Mao spent tens of millions of dollars to buy it, three times the price, and planned to present it to Cao Cao as a birthday gift at the end of the year. How could he let Liu Qi take away such a natural treasure with an imperial aura
Everyone was praising the Dragon Head Stone when Zhang Wei suddenly came in hurriedly. Xiahou Mi was so pleased with the praise that his face was flushed.
He called Zhang Wei to his side, gave him a glass of wine and said, "This time, I was able to purchase this treasure thanks to your timely notification. I wanted to thank you, but I couldn't find you. I think you don't have to run around anymore. How about you stay and look after Shuiyue Tower for me?"
Zhang Wei put down his wine glass and sighed bitterly, "Sir, you have caused me so much trouble."
Xiahou Mao frowned and said, "The owner of Shuiyue Tower is also a prominent figure in Ye County. How can he harm you?"
Zhang Wei asked anxiously, "I have something else to discuss with you, sir. Can I have a word with you for a moment?"
Xiahou Mao was in high spirits and asked, "Is it a secret?"
Zhang Wei shook his head and said, "That's not the case. It's just a matter between you and me."
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Xiahou Mao said unhappily, "If you have something to say, just say it in person. Being so secretive makes people think that I, Xiahou Mao, am not a good person."
Zhang Wei pretended to be embarrassed, took out the letter, and whispered: "Why didn't you tell me about the marriage between you and Guan Yu? I was in Wancheng and wanted to see Guan Yu but was not allowed to, and was scolded instead."
Xiahou Mao saw the letter was torn into pieces and said angrily, "It's fine if you don't want to work hard, but why did you destroy my letter?"
Zhang Weiyan said, "How dare I? This letter was torn up by Guan Yu and delivered to me, otherwise how would I know this?"
"Guan Yu is so brave!" Xiahou Mao said angrily, "Why did he tear up my letter?"
Zhang Wei sighed helplessly, "Guan Yu did not agree to this marriage, so I was rejected. The young master wrote a letter and called me to scold him, and the young master was also humiliated."
"How dare Guan Yu do this?" Xiahou Mao's face flushed red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "He dares to insult me?"
One of them said, "Master Xiahou is from a famous family, worth over 100 million, and highly regarded by Duke Wei. How dare Guan Yu speak so arrogantly? What did he say?"
"This..." Zhang Weiwei said, "It's a bit harsh, I dare not say it."
Xiahou Mao clutched the torn letter and gritted his teeth, "Tell the truth!"
"He said... how can a tiger girl marry a dog boy?" Zhang Wei's voice was not loud, but it was just loud enough for everyone around to hear. "He also said that if you bring up this matter again, he will come to Ye County and take... take your dog head!"
Bang-
Xiahou Mao slammed his fist on the table, veins popping out of his forehead, and roared, "Old Guan Yu, you are going too far!"
Zhang Wei hurriedly advised: "Please calm down, my lord. Guan Yu is so powerful in the Central Plains that even General Xiahou avoided him. You dare not scold him."
"So what if I scold him?" Xiahou Mao was furious and shouted, "Guan Yu is just a warrior from Jieliang, who killed people and fled to the ends of the earth. I am a descendant of a general, and I am marrying him. I think highly of him, but he is really like a dog sitting in a sedan chair, ungrateful!"
Zhang Wei held Xiahou Mao in his arms and whispered, "Sir, calm down. Be careful not to be overheard by the spies from Jingzhou."
"What if you heard it?" Xiahou Mao shouted, "Guan Yu, a murderer and a desperado, if it weren't for the Prime Minister's pity and kindness, he would have died eight hundred times. What kind of ungrateful person is reading the Spring and Autumn Annals? It's all gone to the dogs."
"Everyone, go away, go away!" Zhang Wei pulled Xiahou Mi and retreated to the back hall.
Xiahou Mao was still jumping up and down, cursing: "Guan Yu, come and kill me if you dare!"
After finally calming him down, Zhang Wei sighed, "After such a commotion, I dare not return to Jingzhou anymore."
"With me here, you don't have to worry!" Xiahou Mao was furious, pulling at his collar and breathing heavily, "Others are afraid of Guan Yu, but I am not."
The news that Xiahou Mao was rejected by Guan Yu and the two sides cursed each other spread throughout Ye County in an instant, and spread like the wind to Xuchang and Nanyang, and the more it spread, the more it involved more people.
In the end, it is said that Guan Yu regarded the Xiahou clan as pigs and dogs, and Xiahou Mao called Guan Yu a bandit, who conspired with Liu Bei and Zhang Fei to deceive the emperor and steal the world for fame.
In recent days, Xiahou Mi's reputation in Ye County has soared. Everyone praises him for his backbone when they meet him. He is the first person in the world who dares to curse Guan Yu in public.
When Xiahou Mao was feeling proud, Zhang Wei came to report urgently: "Master, hurry up, Guan Yu is coming to kill us!"
"What?" Xiahou Mao was shocked and ran out of the door. Suddenly he remembered that there were still a lot of property at home, so he asked again: "Where are they going, and how many people and horses do they have?"
Zhang Wei replied: "We have arrived at Bowangpo, with more than 300 people."
"Humph, the three hundred men must be family soldiers!" Xiahou Mao calmed down and sneered, "This must be Guan Yu's private dispatch of troops. Liu Qi personally ordered Ye County not to use weapons. How dare he rebel?"
Zhang Wei stamped his feet and said, "If Guan Yu gets angry, even Liu Bei can't stop him, not to mention Liu Qi is far away in Hanzhong. If he rushes into the city, our lives will be in danger. Even if Liu Qi gets the news, it will be too late."
"Oh, what should I do?" Xiahou Mao became panicked again, and was very anxious. All his belongings were in Ye County, and he couldn't just leave.
Zhang Weiyan said: "Guan Yu bullies people by taking advantage of his power. He can lead troops, so why can't you ask for help?"
Xiahou Mao hurriedly asked: "Who should I ask for help?"
Zhang Weiyan said: "Why not report to Kunyang and tell them that Guan Yu has sent troops to take Ye County and attack Xuchang? If Ye County is not taken early, the Central Plains will be in danger!"
"This is a great plan!" Xiahou Mao's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "This is Guan Yu's initiative to provoke, Liu Qi can't blame me. As long as we take over Ye County, won't the money in this city be mine?"
Zhang Weiyan said: "This is a matter of great importance. It must be kept secret. No one except the one you trust can report the news, so as to avoid leaking the information."
"I have left all my property in Ye County, how can I be defenseless?" Xiahou Mao said with a smug smile: "This time, not only will Liu Qi lose more than he gains, but he will also make a great contribution."
Zhang Wei suddenly realized, "So you have been prepared for this. You are indeed very far-sighted. I admire you!"
"Of course!" Xiahou Mao sneered, "Liu Qi wants to use me, but he is still a little naive!"