Chen Zhibao was in the front when he left the small manor surrounded by willows, followed by the Tide-listening Pavilion with Bai Hu 'er's face.
Xu Xiao came to this quiet manor without a tree outside the outer wall. Most of the servants in the manor already knew that there was such a person who could make General Chen, who did not like to joke, become abnormal. After sending the old man away last time, he was obviously in a good mood. Some time ago, they were still guessing if the old man could be the Administrator, Li Gongde, but they felt that it did not seem like it. Sir Li seemed to have a bad reputation. With General Chen's temper and status, he would not deliberately flatter him. After guessing, they could only think that it was most likely an old general who had retired from the Northern Liang Army. Perhaps he was General Chen's old subordinate. Only the old manager of the manor guessed the truth, but he did not dare to spread it.
This time, the Prince of Northern Liang came in person, and the old steward did not spend much effort. He still received him under the shade of a tree in the backyard and asked Lu Ci, who he had met before, to bring him the fruits and snacks made by the manor. After Xu Xiao ate a little, he stood up with a smile and asked the maid to lead him to Chen Zhibao's study. The young girl, Lu Ci, did not dare to make a decision on her own, but she could not directly say that General Chen's study was not cleaned by the maids. It was all done by the general himself when he came to the quiet manor to recuperate. Being influenced by what he saw and heard, it became an unwritten rule that the servants did not go to the general's study. Even if the door of the study was open all year round, even if it was covered in dust, no one would go. The maid was in a dilemma. The steward, who was waiting quietly in the distance, quickly trotted over and personally led the general to the study. When they reached the door, the old steward quickly walked away with the suspicious maid, Lu Ci.
Xu Xiao crossed the threshold with his hands behind his back and walked to the study desk. He saw a blank piece of paper on it.
When a woman married and left home, she would bring her dowry. When a man went out, he did not marry into anyone's family. Naturally, he would be alone.
The lychee finally left the branch.
Xu Xiao put the paper in his sleeve and said softly, "This is good."
Xu Xiao looked around. The bookshelves were filled with precious military books and historical records that had been collected. They did not use red sandalwood and yellow rosewood as bookcases to collect them. It was obvious that they wanted something that could be flipped through and read at any time. Xu Xiao was in a daze for a while and thought about the past. He remembered that Zhibao was a very naughty child when he was young. He liked to ride on Brother Chen's neck and pull his beard. When he was young, Xu Xiao himself often carried him around the barracks. This little bastard was full of bad ideas. He would hold it in before he was carried, but when he was halfway through, he would piss.. Since when did he become so taciturn? It was probably on the day that Zhibao knelt at the tomb and buried his head in the yellow soil. Even Xu Xiao did not know whether the child cried or not. Later, the Beiliang army began to grow. Their iron hooves broke the gallbladder of the Six Kingdoms. Afterwards, they were ordered to enter the capital. Before the father and son met the emperor, Xu Xiao had a frank conversation with him. He asked if he wanted to go to Beiliang and become a king with a different surname. He, Xu Xiao, could retire in the capital and become the Minister of War. Chen Zhibao would go to Beiliang and become the only king with a different surname. He would control the throat of the northwest for the dynasty. At that time, the Emperor also had the same idea. However, that time, Chen Zhibao did not agree. He said that the capital was not safe and he was not at ease with his foster father being his hostage.
Later on, when they arrived at the Imperial Court, the Emperor probed again, whether intentionally or not, asking Chen Zhibao if he was willing to work together with the King of Yan to wipe out the barbarians in the south for the Imperial Court. This was practically establishing two kings with different surnames, scaring all of the civil and military officials until their faces turned pale. Even Gu Jiantang, this type of great general who was extremely good at maintaining his composure, immediately flew into a rage. He abruptly swung his sleeves and turned around. The King of Yan raised his head to look at the roof beams of the great hall, not saying a single word. The old Grand Secretary, the current Grand Secretary Zhang's respected teacher, the leader of the civil officials, knelt on the ground and did not get up, continuously kowtowing until blood flowed endlessly, admonishing the Emperor that he could not go against the rules and bestow rewards.
That year, White Clothed Chen Zhibao was only seventeen years old, Hsu Fengnian only about eight years old.
During these years, Xu Xiao began to be unable to see through what this foster son of his wanted, unable to understand where his bottom line was. The more Chen Zhibao had no desires, the more prepared he was, the more Xu Xiao didn't dare to easily die of old age. It was because the Butcher knew that once he died, Chen Zhibao, who didn't seem to fight for anything, would be able to obtain everything. When that day truly arrived, a Beiliang between the cracks might not be able to satisfy Chen Zhibao's appetite. Back then, why did the newly ascended Zhao Family Son of Heaven confer Chen Zhibao the title of Vassal King? On the surface, he was magnanimous and magnanimous, rewarding meritorious service, not minding the two kings of different surnames cooperating with each other in the north and south, but wasn't he also trying to have the father and son mutually restrict each other?
Xu Xiao didn't doubt at all that the independent Chen Zhibao didn't want or couldn't contend for the throne under the heavens.
Xu Xiao walked out of the manor, muttering to himself, "I hope there's still time for both sides."
He returned to Beiliang Palace.
In the great hall, there were no armored guards or murderous auras. Half of the six adopted sons had come. Qi Dangguo, who carried the banner, Ye Xizhen, who studied under Yang Cai Zhao Changling, and Yao Jian, who was skilled in Green Bag Geomancy and Dragon Seeking.
Chen Zhibao, Yuan Zuozong, and Chu Lushan were no longer in Beiliang.
Only the four of them were left.
Seeing their adoptive father gently sit on the chair, Ye Xizhen and Yao Jian exchanged a look and slowly knelt down. Qi Dangguo didn't move. He glared at his two brothers who had succeeded long ago, his face full of anger.
Xu Xiao put his hands in his sleeves, leaned back and said, "Our Beiliang spy agency has been divided into two in these years. Lu Qiuer is in charge of one half, Xizhen is in charge of the other half. Not long ago, two people spent one thousand and one hundred catties of gold to buy a life, hiring a blind woman called Xue Songguan to kill Fengnian. Xizhen, your five hundred catties was the first move, the death. Lu Qiuer's six hundred catties was the last move, the purchase. Because this blind female zither player did not go back on her words after taking the money, Lu Qiuer's six hundred catties was a loss, but she stopped when she was needed. Whether or not Feng Nian could survive in the Northern Mang, he still had to give it his all. I know that Changling had a good opinion of Zhi Bao before he died. He felt that if he could control the Beiliang cavalry, not just unifying the Spring and Autumn Period, he could even eat up Beimang in the future. Changling was a peerless scholar who did not play tricks. He never concealed his thoughts in front of me. Before he died, he held my hand. His last words were that Zhi Bao could become a great monarch like the Qin emperor. So Xizhen, you inherited Changling's will. In these years, I could not find out who did not do it personally, and I did not want Lu Qiuer to find out. But I know who was adding fuel to the fire. Also, this was Yishan's original intention for me to hide. I do not blame you for this. Xizhen, you just wanted to fight for your master, prove that Li Yishan was wrong, and prove that Li Yishan was not as good as Zhao Changling. In these years, the hearts of the old subordinates of Beiliang have been scattered, especially those old people who urged me to become emperor. They still have resentment that has not dissipated. "
"As to you, Yao Jian, you always believed in Huang Longshi's words about the white-robed man slaying the boa dragon. You were stubborn from a young age, and wanted to become a state teacher like Beimang's Qilin Spiritual Master. You also had the great ambition of continuing the orthodoxy of the world. If I had advised you openly, the relationship between father and son would have been long gone. You would not have been able to run all over Beiliang with Fengnian in those years, so I endured and did not say anything."
Xu Xiao was really old. He put his hands on the back of the chair and slowly stood up from the chair. The young general who was not afraid of fatigue and death every time he took the lead was actually so difficult. In the end, he said, "Now it's hard for me to say that I'm definitely right and you guys are wrong."
Xu Xiao walked out of the hall. Qi Dangguo was guarding the door with his back to Yao Jian and Ye Xizhen.
Ye Xizhen was the first to stand and stumbled over to pick up the jug of wine his foster father had left behind. He held two wine cups in one hand, and raised the jug to his nose with the other to sniff. The tearful scholar smiled and said softly, "See, I told you it was green ants, but you had to bet with me that it was yellow wine. Yellow wine needs to be warmed. You do not find it troublesome, but I do."
Yao Jian did not stand up and just sat cross-legged.
Ye Xizhen sat in front of him and poured two cups of wine.
Ye Xizhen raised a cup of green ants and used his sleeve to wipe his tears. He said with a smile, "What, Old Yao, you are not willing to part with your rooms of books?"
The expressionless Yao Jian gripped the wine cup and shook his head. "What is there to be unwilling about? It is good to leave them for Fengnian. In the past, he liked to steal books when he was young. This time, he does not have to worry about being scolded by me. Whether I live or die, I am only one person. But you, on the other hand, are you not worried about that family? "
Ye Xizhen laughed out loud. "Of course I am. Do you think I do not trust foster father in this matter?"
Yao Jian nodded.
Ye Xizhen raised his cup to Yao Jian. "Shall we have a toast?"
Yao Jian rolled his eyes. "No, you have never been good at drinking your whole life. When did you not have a few catties of wine under your feet during a celebration? It was all wasted by you. Clinking cups with you would be a disgrace."
The scholar Ye Xizhen covered his face with his sleeve and drained his cup in one gulp.
Yao Jian drank his cup at the same time. He closed his eyes and whispered, "It is a pity there is no food to go with the wine."
The two drank their cups of wine and then knelt in the direction of the door.
Standing at the door, Qi Dangguo rubbed his eyes.
He looked at his foster father leaning against a large red pillar outside the door. Qi Dangguo closed the door and walked to the old man's side. He squatted down and said hoarsely, "I do not understand why they are thinking so much. Is it not good to live well?"
Xu Xiao seemed to be tired of standing. He sat on the steps and said softly, "Foster Father does not know. The people who can tell me the answer, like Changling and Yi Shan, have all left. "
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