Sometimes, the practice of protecting oneself and maintaining neutrality may be more dangerous than directly participating in it, and those who dare to do this are either not strong enough, weak in character, and dare not take risks, or they are strong enough to make choices for their own destiny.

Xia Wenkai undoubtedly belongs to the latter.

Xia Wenkai's family is not famous in the area of Guannai and the hinterland of the Central Plains, and many people even have unheard of the deeds and existence of this family, but in the Jiangnan and Jiannan areas, the Xia family is a household name, and few people don't know it.

The power of the Xia clan is mainly in the area of Qianzhong Road, and its family has huge influence and control in Guizhou and Chen Prefectures, Xia Wenkai's grandfather and father have been serving as the envoy of Qianzhou for more than 30 years, and they have tens of thousands of elites in their hands.

The Xia family is now powerful and is a local powerhouse with military power, but this family is still a poor family in the final analysis, and the family inheritance is very short, only forty or fifty years.

Xia Wenkai's grandfather, Xia Zhongzhao, originally clothed, cut wood and sold cloth for a living, his family was poor, because of the rampant banditry in the local area, the government expanded the army, and was arrested like an army enlisted.

In the fifteenth year of enlistment, Xia Zhongzhao had many merits in the suppression of bandits, and was slowly promoted to Lang General, and then in the pacification of the rebellion of Liu Shijie, the envoy of the Qianzhou Jiedu, and the war with the Yue State, he shone brightly, made outstanding achievements, and was exceptionally promoted by Pingzong to the defense envoy of Qianzhou, which was the beginning of the rise of the Xia clan.

In his later years, with 400,000 forbidden troops, he sent troops to conquer Hebei, and finally the whole army was destroyed, and Pingzong fled back to Fengjing in embarrassment.

Pingzong issued an edict that there were soldiers in the world, and quickly entered the escort of King Guanqin, and all parts of the world responded, but there were not many people who really led the army.

Xia Zhongzhao, who was the defense envoy of Qianzhou at that time, received the edict, took active action, dispatched troops, led 8,000 soldiers, and hurried to Guannei, although in the end the five major feudal towns in Hebei took the initiative to withdraw troops, and the war ended, Xia Zhongzhao did not pay any price, but because of his active action, as well as his humble and obedient attitude, loyal and patriotic face, he was greatly appreciated by Pingzong, and was immediately appointed as the envoy and interview envoy of Qianzhou Jiedu, and was in charge of the military and political power of the core of Qianzhong Road.

At the beginning of Zhao Zhi's accession to the throne, a coup d'état occurred in Yueguo, and the powerful minister Zhang Fu usurped the throne.

Relations between Vietnam and Jin began to be strained, so much so that they developed into a final confrontation between hostility and force.

At the beginning of Zhao Zhi's accession to the throne, the whole country was full of holes, and it was still in the fiasco of Pingzong's later years, and he did not break free, and he was unable to take care of the large-scale invasion of the Yue Kingdom.

Out of the safety and stability of the border land, Zhao Zhi is very important and trusting to Xia Zhongzhao's father and son, and Xia Zhongzhao's father and son, born in poverty, can have today's status and power, all given by the imperial court, so their father and son are more loyal to the imperial court, and they have always obeyed the orders of the imperial court.

Xia Zhongzhao's move, so that Zhao Zhi was very moved, knighted Qianzhong County King, five thousand households, this is Zhao Zhi for decades, following Li Zhong, Zhao Bo'an, the only third foreign surname of the county king, and let his son continue to lead his headquarters of soldiers and horses, as the Qianzhou Festival Envoy, but did not give him the position of Qianzhou interview envoy, the local government management back, subsequently, Xia Zhongzhao let his eldest grandson Xia Wenkai enter Beijing to find a job, with the heart of the court and the Son of Heaven, Zhao Zhi did not treat Xia Wenkai badly, appointed him as the general of Jinwuwei, in charge of public security in Fengjing City.

The Xia clan has developed to this day, and its status and power in Qianzhong Dao have been pivotal, and it is a strong guarantee and reliance for the security and stability of the border areas, so no matter who is the final victor in this coup, it will continue to reuse and envelop the Xia clan, Xia Wenkai can be said to be fearless, capable and qualified to maintain neutrality, and no one dares to move him easily.

But now, Li Zhong came, and directly in the name of the military department Shangshu and Zuo Xiang, ordered Xia Wenkai to immediately hand over the military power, with a very tough and resolute attitude, and almost did not give him any choice.

If it were replaced by anyone else, Xia Wenkai would still have that attitude, categorically refused, and even forcibly expelled him, but it was Li Zhong who came, this is a generation of military gods, and he is the idol in the minds of all soldiers in the world, his prestige and qualifications can deter everyone, including him Xia Wenkai.

Xia Wenkai sat there, silent for a long time, he didn't know what to do for a while, he really didn't dare to do anything disrespectful to Li Zhong.

"General, at a critical moment, Prime Minister Zuo does have the right to urgently transfer troops, but there must be the signature and document order of all the ministers in the political hall, Li Zhong is now coming alone, he can only represent himself, without the signature and official order of other ministers in the political hall, the general can justifiably refuse, if Li Zhong continues to play prestige outside, we will ignore it."

Seeing that Xia Wenkai was indecisive for a long time, his henchman, Huang Shi'an, the general of Jin Wuwei, couldn't help it, got up and clasped his fists and said loudly.

In the hall, there were more than 30 generals at all levels, including five officers and generals from Anbei, Huang Shi'an called Li Zhong's name directly, and his words were disrespectful, and some people were immediately furious.

Ding Liangqi stood up violently, pointed at Huang Shi'an's nose and scolded loudly: "Huang Shi'an, shut your dog's mouth, and then dare to be disrespectful to Li Dashuai, labor and management are not finished with you." ”

The other four generals from Anbei also stood up at this time, and they all looked at Huang Shi'an angrily.

Li Zhong has been in charge of Anbei for more than 20 years, loves soldiers like sons, rewards and punishments are clear, and is admired and loved by all Anbei generals.

Zhu Chenghou, the right general of Jin Wuwei, also said dissatisfiedly: "General Huang, please also pay attention to your words, the name of the left minister, even if it is the emperor, he never openly says it above the court on weekdays." ”

Zhu Chenghou's meaning is very clear, Li Zhong has a deep friendship with the emperor, and he has made great contributions to the country, in public, out of respect, the emperor will not call Li Zhong's name, what kind of thing are you, dare to call Li Zhong on the left and Li Zhong on the right?