After sending Li Haoxian away, Hou Xuanyan returned to the city, lifted the curtain and looked out, and the streets were crowded with people.

Unlike later generations when the taste of the year faded and was completely reduced to a few days of vacation, today's Chinese New Year's Eve is also known as the twilight of the year, and the people drink and chew and drum music to celebrate.

The people on the street wore hats made of black gold paper on their heads, and the colorful paintings on the hats were called "moths". If the family is a little poor, they will make hairpins from air-dried grass insects and butterflies and wear them on their heads to cope with the festival scene.

Hou Xuanyan watched it with relish, no matter how the year went, at the end of the year, most of the people were happy to celebrate the New Year.

When I came to my residence in Baling City, it was a large courtyard with seven entrances and seven exits, and the outer courtyard was full of guards of the pro-soldier team. Hou Xuanyan got out of the car and saw that several soldiers were posting peach charms, and everyone had a happy look on their faces.

Seeing Hou Xuanyan, the soldiers put down the things in their hands and came over to greet the New Year: "Commander, mark the flag to wish the commander a healthy year and a high step." ”

Hou Xuanyan said with a smile: "I also wish you good health, finish the war as soon as possible, and reunite with your family." Tell Qin He today to let him take some silver taels and buy some wine and meat for the brothers. ”

"Commander Xie!"

When it comes to the family, the guards are a little lonely, but then they resume their festivities and turn around to remove the old and welcome the new. The peach charm of the peach charm class last year has faded, and several people are busy.

Emotions will infect each other, the whole city is jubilant, and Hou Xuanyan is rarely comfortable. Jing Xiang fought vigorously, and although he won the victory, it was not satisfactory. The Manchurian soldiers came slowly, and Wu Sangui ran fast, but he only cut off 200,000 Qing soldiers from the Green Battalion. In one fell swoop, the Manchu minions were eliminated, and the troops in their hands were insufficient, and most of the southern parts of the country were defeated by these green battalions in history.

However, the enemy's main force was not damaged, and the Manchurian Eight Banners were only inlaid with white flags and suffered heavy casualties in Changzhou. Yangzhou Zhu Dadian's defeat shows that their combat power is still strong. Hou Xuanyan clearly remembered that when he fought Yangzhou, Li Shutai's little men and horses could be brave. If it weren't for the complete crushing of their own numbers, the outcome would still be between two sides. In other words, the Battle of Jingxiang only ensured that it would be difficult for the Manchus to launch a large-scale southward campaign, but if they went on their own northern expedition, it would still be difficult and dangerous.

Pacing to the inner courtyard, his two "pro-soldiers" have also changed back into their daughter's clothes. Wearing a garnet jacket and a dark skirt, he was dressed very festively. is on tiptoe, posting door gods, peach charms.

As soon as Miao'er turned her head, she happened to see Hou Xuanyan recently, and she smiled with a smile on her eyebrows, and then saw that the cloak behind Hou Xuanyan was gone, and she hurriedly asked: "The master's body is not good yet, why did he lose the cloak." ”

Although the two people look exactly the same, their temperaments are completely different from each other, and after getting along for a long time, Hou Xuan can tell the difference, and said with a smile: "I sent Li Haoxian back to Zhenjiang, and when I saw that he was thinly dressed, it was inevitable that he would encounter wind and snow along the way on such a cold day, so I gave it to him." ”

The corners of Shuang'er's mouth twitched, and he said: "General Li is such a burly man, I'm afraid that he hasn't been sick a few times in his life, and you, a scholar, are unwell all day long, but you care about others." ”

Hou Xuanyan's old face turned red, his body bones are indeed weaker. If it was still a scholar in Jiading at the beginning, it would be better, but now that the southern and northern wars are fighting, the wind and snow are a little unbearable. As soon as Hou Xuanyan wanted to straighten his face and put on the majesty of the master, he heard the signature loud voice of Hu Bawan, a pro-soldier outside.

"Commander, Zhang Huangyan, General Zhang, please see you."

Hou Xuanyan frowned, and said softly: "Didn't Zhang Huangyan return to Changsha, what are you doing in Yuezhou?" ”

Miao'er went into the house and took a big hat, draped it on Hou Xuanyan's body, and came to the guest room. Zhang Huangyan stood in the hall with his hands behind his back, saw Hou Xuanyan, bowed his head and said: "Governor, congratulations on your health in the New Year." ”

Hou Xuanyan returned the salute with a smile and said, "Sit down and watch the tea." ”

Hu Bawan brought two cups of tea, and after Zhang Huangyan sat down, his expression was a little twisted. Hou Xuanyan secretly wondered, although Zhang Huangyan is a literati, he is also a downright man, this style is not common.

Zhang Huangyan took a sip of tea, his face was slightly red, and said: "Commander, Your Majesty sent an edict to let me go back to Jinling, saying that it was for other purposes. The lower official is here to resign today. ”

Hou Xuanyan smiled and knew it in his heart. glanced at Zhang Huangyan, and was a little cramped, which showed that he also valued his own feelings. At this time, when people have this thought, Hou Xuanyan is already very appreciative. After all, the world doesn't revolve around you, brought into the thinking of the ancients, and Hou Xuanyan doesn't think that he has such a great charm to make everyone resist the holy decree for him.

"Xuan is talented, Your Majesty has a good eye, I see that you will go to Jinling, and you will definitely travel thousands of miles. Now is the time when the country is in crisis, and people like you are really needed to serve the country. I'll let Xia Wanchun send someone to send you back to Jinling. ”

Zhang Huangyan saw that his expression was calm, and it really didn't seem to be a fake, so he couldn't help but have more respect. After saying goodbye, he left the Hou Mansion.

Hou Xuanyan thought about it, Changsha Mansion and more than 100,000 Hunan soldiers could not be without the main thing. The Huozi Battalion left, looking around Jingxiang, there were few people available around him.

Hou Xuanyan snorted lightly, and the soldiers beside him in the Hidden Elephant Battalion walked in from outside, and Hou Xuanyan said: "Go to Changzhou, bring Wang Fuzhi, and let him be in charge of Changsha Mansion." In addition, Gu Youde in Suzhou was informed to take care of my shipyard in Songjiang Mansion. Let Zhao Yuanhua send more people in Jinling and report something in time. ”

After hearing this, the little soldier turned around and left, and the submarine elephant battalion saw Shangguan, and there was no extra etiquette. Even if it is Hou Xuanyan, they are like wooden stakes, and they will leave after listening.

Hou Xuanyan looked at the miserable sky, the sparse snowflakes, floating non-stop.

"When I take Xiangyang, I should go back. When will there be no worries and a vigorous Northern Expedition? ”

Throughout history, the north was invaded by foreign races, and every time a Han hero made a northern expedition to the Central Plains, he was always defeated in the rear rather than at the front. Zu Di swore an oath and sang vigorously along the way, and Shi Le, who was beaten, was frightened, but was suspicious by the court and died of grief. Liu Yu and Liu Jinu, who swallowed thousands of miles like a tiger, were also scared to give up halfway because his henchmen and think tank died in the capital. Not to mention Yue Fei, twelve gold medals, trumped-up charges, and a tragic death in the Storm Pavilion.

To be a loyal and good general, in fact, it is too simple, at most it is just death. When the time comes, it will not be difficult to leave a name in the history of future generations. However, if we want to overcome all difficulties and restore the Central Plains vigorously, there is too much to do.