On the fifth day of the fifth day of the fifth month of May, Xu Wei's mansion was lively and non-noon, and it happened that Xu Zhilie's children and brothers were all in Shaanxi, so Xu Yuan and Xu Sheng each brought their wives and children to the ninth brother's mansion to reunite. In the back hall of the Yamen of the Dingrong Zhijun, wormwood and Ge Pu were hung on the doors of various rooms. Ge Pu is also called the water sword in the north, and it is said that it can kill the evil of the year. Wormwood represents blessing. Hang it at the door to keep you healthy.

Xu Wei took off his official robe and replaced the gold belt. Just dressed as ordinary, wearing a cyan straight dress, wearing a headscarf with a horn on his head, and asking the servant woman to put the jars of good wine sent by Hu Maochang on the table.

"Ninth brother!" A call rang out in the courtyard. Xu Wei walked out of the guest hall to take a look, but it was the fourth brother Xu Sheng who came with his fourth sister-in-law and nephews and nieces. Xu Sheng is currently the deputy envoy of Shaanxi Huajingluo and the deputy head of the military and horse capital, although he is his younger brother's deputy, but this is a family banquet. He is an elder brother, so he is naturally respected.

Xu Wei greeted him and said with a smile: "Fourth brother and fourth sister-in-law, if you don't come to the food, it will be cold." ”

"It's a shame that you said that you set off before dawn, and the girl hasn't woken up yet." Xu Wang was holding a baby in her arms, the third baby between her and Xu Sheng. Xu Wei stepped forward to see that the girl was not yet a year old. At this moment, she was nestled in her mother's arms, sleeping sweetly. The mouth and nose. Like the fourth brother.

"I said, do you two understand the rules? Kowtow to Uncle Nine! Xu Sheng saw his two sons standing there stupidly, and shouted.

Xu Sheng's eldest son is called Xu Zhong, he is fifteen years old, Xu Zhang died of illness on the front line, the court is sympathetic to the Xu family, and he is loyal and good, and he has supplemented Xu Zhong's nine-rank martial arts, and has now followed his father to serve in the army. The second son is called Xu Liang. He is only nine years old and is studying literature and martial arts. But these two children were like their mothers, and they were born well-behaved and white.

Listening to his father's shout, he hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to his uncle. Xu Wei clasped his hands together and said with a smile: "Xu Zhong, you have to learn from your second brother, since he recruited Hedong, he has made many military exploits. "Xu Cheng is the second son of Xu Yuan, and he ranks second in the third generation of the Xu family.

Xu Zhongna bowed his head and replied, "My nephew remembers." ”

Xu Wei touched the head of Xu Sheng's second son, Xu Liang, again: "You are still concentrating on learning literature and martial arts." ”

Xu Wang looked at it and asked, "What about my brother and sister?" ”

"It's busy in the kitchen." Xu Wei said, then turned sideways and welcomed his brother and sister-in-law into the living room. Before the foot could cross the threshold, there was a thunderous roar behind it, and you didn't have to turn around to see it. It must be the boss of the Xu family who is here.

Xu Yuan deserves to have spent half his life in the Western Army. This came to the brother's house for a banquet, although he did not wear armor or battle robes, but the knife in his waist never left his body. Behind him, he followed his wife Xu Wu and his eldest son Xu Chan. He has been sent to Jingzhou to be imprisoned.

"Big brother, big prostitute, please come inside." Xu Wei turned around again and said with a smile on his face.

Xu Yuan also looked into the guest hall, frowned, and said, "Xu Cheng didn't come?" This kid, I don't know, what's going on! How could he make his uncle wait for him? ”

"Haha, big brother doesn't need to scold, the army is busy with affairs. I have sent for a summoning, and it will be in a moment. Come on, come on, brother and sister-in-law sit inside. Let's get drunk today! Xu Wei asked diligently.

The three cooperative families all sat down in the guest hall. Zhang Jiujiu wore an apron around his waist and came out with a bamboo basket of buns in person. Seeing that the brothers and sisters-in-law had arrived, they hurriedly put the buns on the table and made a sink

"I said brother and sister, you are a four-grade wife, why do you still do these jobs? Is the ninth brother treating you badly? Tell my sister-in-law, see if I don't teach him! "Xu Wu's is more than forty, perhaps because she has been at the border for many years, she looks better than Xu Wang's. Zhang Jiujiu's two pomelo surnames are much older, and they can almost be their mothers.

"Sister-in-law, I'm wronged! I've said it countless times. What can I do if she doesn't listen? Xu Wei spread his hands and said helplessly.

Xu Wangshi glanced at him: "If you get cheap, you can sell well." Obtaining such a good wife is the creation of your previous life! ”

"Hey, it's me who is not right? Let's go. I'm going to cook at the head office, right? Xu Wei smiled bitterly. Everyone knows that he is joking, a gentleman is far away from cooking, let alone a military minister who fights in battle?

Zhang Jiujiu also looked very happy, and said with a smile: "My brother's surname and sister-in-law are joking, the dishes are ready, please come to the table." ”

Xu Yuan roared again at this time: "I said that a few of you are small wood? Auntie won't scream? Several nephews hurriedly saluted Zhang Jiujiu again, calling him aunt. Coincidentally, Xu Cheng came in a hurry again. A large family gathered around a table. By the rules. Women's families don't serve at the table. But Xu Wei proposed that it is not easy for our family to get together in this environment, so how about making an exception?

The home is his, and Xu Yuan and Xu Sheng have no opinion. So Geren and the woman sat at one table, and the juniors sat at another table and drank heartily. It's not lively. At the family feast. The three brothers are very knowledgeable, and none of them talk about official affairs, only family affairs.

After Xu Yuan drank a glass of wine, he shouted, "Xu Cheng, come here." ”

Xu Cheng was helping to train the soldiers in the morning, and he was so hungry that his belly was pressed against his back, and he was eating Haisai nonsense at this time. Hearing his father's call, he quickly wiped his mouth, got up with a wine glass, and walked over with a wine jug. Gong Tou gave his uncle's cup to the brim, and he was exquisite. The wine must be full. Can't drip. This is called "full satisfaction". Then he poured himself again, holding his glass in both hands, just about to speak. was preempted by his father again.

"You have today, and it was all cultivated and promoted by your ninth uncle. If it weren't for your ninth uncle. You can only mess around with those sloppy people in Weizhou City, don't do your job, idle around, eat and wait for death," Xu Yuan couldn't hold back as soon as he spoke.

Xu Wei actually knows very well that his nephew is good at martial arts, and he also has the talent of generals, and since he joined the Hujie Army, Chang'an at all levels has a good impression of him. But the fourth brother said that Xu Cheng made the eldest brother hurt his brain, he was a father in his twenties, and he still caused trouble all the time, he was simply a big worm. Xu Wei didn't dare to agree with this opinion, it was not that Xu Cheng was unambitious, it might be because of his eldest brother. At least if my son becomes a father in his twenties, I will never shave him like this in front of others.

Therefore, he immediately cut off Xu Yuan's words: "The eldest brother is serious, and I should be my uncle." Xu Cheng is also very competitive for you, and Hedong and Shaanxi have repeatedly made military exploits. What I'm most afraid of now is that my eldest brother will ask him back, so that the Hujie army will have one less cadre. ”

This hat was buttoned up to Xu Yuan very comfortably. His face softened slightly, and he raised his chin: "What are you stunned about?" ”

Xu Cheng held the cup in both hands, leaned over, touched the bottom of Xu Wei's cup, and said nothing. I called my uncle. Xu Wei glanced at him and nodded slightly. He drank all the wine in his cup.

Before the cup was put here, Xu Yuan's eldest son, Xu Yan, got up with the wine jug and walked over with a smile on his face. He is nearly thirty years old, not a few years younger than the fourth uncle Xu Sheng, and a few years older than the ninth uncle Xu Wei. With a smile, he filled Xu Weiman, held the wine and said loudly: "Uncle Jiu, this cup of nephew respects you." One is the Dragon Boat Festival, I came to bother my uncle, and I came empty-handed, which I really shouldn't have. The second is that the nephew is the eldest brother, and the second brother is cultivated by the ninth uncle, so he should be grateful. Three, the prestige of my uncle's Zijin Tiger has shaken Shaanxi, and my nephew wants to congratulate my uncle on his promotion

In these few words, two brothers born to the same mother, made a judgment. Xu Wei was about to pick up his wine glass, and then heard Xu Yan add: "In addition." Now that the Jin people are making a comeback, Quduan's gang is self-respecting. He is the ruler of the six roads, he is like this, why should our Xu family come out? It's better to say this, and suddenly caught a glimpse of Uncle Nine raising his head and looking at him. Just glanced at him, and I didn't know how to say what he was saying.

Xu Yuan probably didn't think it was appropriate, and said loudly: "This is a family banquet, don't talk about business, don't disturb your ninth uncle's interest." ”

"Yes, my nephew is abrupt. Make amends to Uncle Nine. Xu Yan's face did not change. Leaned down to toast his uncle. Xu Wei only said, "Okay." And he drank the wine.

Full of wine and food, the three brothers went to the melon shed in the courtyard to eat, and the servant woman served fresh melons and fruits for hangover, and Xu Yan should accompany him. But Xu Cheng deduced that there was still something in the camp, so he left first. Xu Wei could see that he didn't want to stay with his father.

After a few bites of watermelon, I felt a little more comfortable. Xu Yuan said: "I heard that the Preparation Division ordered Qu Duan to send troops to rescue Yan'an several times, but this guy ignored it. I estimate that sooner or later, the two directors will have to send our brothers. ”

Xu Sheng held a crisp pear in his hand, sighed and said, "Quduan supports the army and respects himself, and Yan'an may not be able to keep it." ”

This time, the eldest brother and the fourth brother guessed wrong, Qu Duan had already promised to send troops Xu Wei said this, Xu Da and Xu Si were taken aback. Qu Duanken sent troops? Is there a good conscience?

I saw Xu Wei take out two letters from his body: "These two letters." First, Li Xuanfu gave me and asked about the events in Danzhou that day. The second is the military order issued by Qudu. I am required to keep to the Pujin pontoon bridge and not to make any mistakes

Xu Sheng was furious at that time and slapped the table. Smash a crisp pear to the ground!

"What does this mean? He knew that the Jin army had landed from Danzhou, which was equivalent to going around the back of the Pujin defense line, so how could the pontoon bridge be guarded? Let the Jurchens squeeze our army into the Yellow River?.

Xu Yuan took a sip: "This handful of birds, become a stumbling block!" I think that at the beginning, when I was in Jingyuan, I saw that he was rigorous in governing the army and quite talented, so I recommended him as a deputy marshal. Who would have thought. If you don't remember me, it's fine. It's still everywhere, just mention it and give him a headache. Ninth brother, ignore him, withdraw the troops to the south of the Wei River. As the ruler of the capital, he only cares about self-preservation. Why should we rush to be the first. ”

"In that case, would not he be given the truth? If we are accused of violating moderation and resisting military orders, how can we be good? Xu Sheng asked.

Xu Wei chuckled, shook his head and said, "He doesn't really want me to guard the pontoon bridge, and he also understands that the pontoon bridge can't be held at all." The reason for this order is related to Li Xuanfu's letter (to be continued)