The winter in Liaodong is very cold, and compared with the capital, it is much colder. Since October, snow has been falling from time to time, and in November it has been snowing heavily. The rivers in Liaodong have been closed, the mountains and fields are already snow-white, and the snow has reached people's knees in thick places.

This snow has come down in the summer, and it has stopped falling, but it has no intention of sunny days. With the whistling north wind, it can be said that it has already turned into ice.

Liaodong Governor's Mansion, in Xiong Tingbi's study.

Since coming to Liaodong, Sun Chengzong has lived in the Governor's Mansion, the house here is big enough and there are enough, Sun Chengzong and Xiong Tingbi have an extraordinary friendship, and it is also a beautiful thing to talk about each other in the morning and evening.

At this time, the two of them were playing chess in the study, and there were two charcoal braziers in the room, and the red charcoal fire brightened the room a lot. Sun Chengzong was wearing a mink robe, and inside was a thick cotton coat, if it weren't for this, he really couldn't stay in Liaodong.

Gently putting a chess piece on the chessboard, Sun Chengzong sighed and said helplessly: "This winter is really cold, the old man has been in Liaodong too much for the first time, and he is somewhat unaccustomed to it!" ”

Nodding with a smile, Xiong Tingbi was also quite touched, and said with emotion: "When I came to Liaodong in the first year, I couldn't stand this kind of cold in winter!" After two or three winters, I gradually got used to it. ”

"What is the life of the soldiers and the people? Don't you have any problems on such a cold day? Looking up, the snow outside was still falling, and Sun Chengzong said with a worried face.

Shaking his head, Xiong Tingbi said firmly: "No, adults are too worried!" It's not the first year that the barracks have spent the winter, but this winter is much colder than every year. This year, because it was before the emperor's internal funds were sent directly to the army, the salaries of the soldiers were not in arrears, and the marshal watched it closely, and all of them were paid in full. ”

Xiong Tingbi's tone was very happy, he had been in Liaodong for many years, and it was not easy to celebrate the New Year like this year. Don't worry about food and grass, don't worry about the mutiny, it can be said that it is the most comfortable year.

"It's not easy for the soldiers! There are always dead and wounded in battle, that is to protect the family and defend the country, if there is not enough food and salary, where can they be worthy of! Sun Chengzong's tone was quite sad, he had a deep understanding of military affairs for so many years, but it was not easy to change.

In Sun Chengzong's heart, he deeply understood that the guard was rotten to the bones. If you want to change the drawbacks of the Ming Dynasty, you can only change the guard system to the recruitment system. He knew in his heart the difficulties of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, but he didn't want to let go of such an opportunity.

Since he came to Beijing, Sun Chengzong's heart has always been uneasy, and the gains and losses that have not been experienced for many years have finally appeared again.

Seeing the worry on Sun Chengzong's face, Xiong Tingbi shook his head, and said with relief in his tone: "Dashuai doesn't have to be like this, now there is the Shengtianzi in power, and there is a virtuous minister like Dashuai to assist." The Ming Dynasty will get better and better, and the border army will not be short of pay in the future, and it will definitely be able to train a Jing soldier! When the time comes, I will definitely take people to the grassland desert and chase the Huns in the north, what a lofty ambition! ”

Looking at Xiong Tingbi's proud appearance, Sun Chengzong shook his head with a wry smile, and said helplessly: "You go!" The old man is old, and if there is one day, the old man will resign and return to his hometown. Raise flowers, plant trees, and make fun of grandchildren. ”

"How could an adult think that? Hasn't it always been the ambition of adults to contribute to the imperial court? Xiong Tingbi was slightly stunned, looked at Sun Chengzong with a puzzled face, and asked hesitantly.

Took the wine glass placed on the side of the carbon basin, poured a glass of wine for himself, and after drinking it all, Sun Chengzong said quite seriously: "At that time, there was nothing to do with the old man, the country was strong, and the old man's wish was enough." When you're old, your head is not easy to use, so it's a good choice to go home and recuperate! As he spoke, he poured himself another glass of wine, and said helplessly: "The old man rarely drank alcohol before, but now he can't leave, and he blames the weather in Liaodong." ”

Looking at Sun Chengzong with admiration, Xiong Tingbi hugged his fists and said respectfully: "Retire after success, wipe it away, and hide your merit and fame." Dashuai is really a high realm, Feibai admires! ”

Shaking his head with a smile, Sun Chengzong asked quite seriously: "Just talking about the soldiers, what about the people?" After all, in this land of Liaodong, the harvest is very small, and the apocalypse is so cold, how can the people live? ”

"Your Excellency, Lord Yang, the governor of Liaodong, is worthy of being the emperor's valued minister, since he came to Liaodong, inspected the fields, punished the landlords, and won the hearts of the people. Although the increase in the yield of the fields is not much, the people can still live. Moreover, although it was cold in this winter, the Tartars did not come, and the people could rest assured that they would go into the mountains to hunt. Although it is a little bitter, many people are also happy to do it. Xiong Tingbi laughed loudly, with a hint of ridicule on his face.

Stretched out his finger and pointed at Xiong Tingbi and laughed too, obviously he also knew who Xiong Tingbi was talking about.

"Handsome! I've come to see you! Just as the two of them were laughing, the voices outside shouted loudly, and there was a noise of footsteps outside.

After a short time, the room was pushed open, and suddenly a cold wind blew in. When the man came in, he turned and closed the door. Seeing Sun Chengzong and Xiong Tingbi playing chess, the man said loudly: "Two adults, how boring this chess game is!" I've just shot a couple of the top prey, and in addition to the roe deer there is also a bear. Wait a minute, let the cook do it, and we'll eat bear's paws in the evening! But I haven't been for long, and the two adults have to bring their own wine! ”

Looking at the people who came in, Sun Chengzong and Xiong Tingbi both laughed. This person was wearing a thick bearskin jacket, a tiger skin apron tied around his waist, and a wolfskin hat on his head.

He Shixian was one of the few people who liked winter, and every winter he couldn't stay idle, and took his more than 2,000 personal soldiers to hunt everywhere. Sometimes it takes half a month to leave, and his level of hunting is much higher than that of fighting. Every winter, you can hit a lot of things, because there are many people and good equipment, and the harvest is naturally a lot.

Seeing Sun Chengzong and Xiong Tingbi looking at him and smiling, He Shixian was a little confused, and it was not polite to walk to the side of the two people. He picked up the flask and drank it mouth-to-mouth.

Seeing this scene, Xiong Tingbi suddenly said distressedly: "My fifteen-year-old Moutai!" ”

Before he could speak, as soon as his words came out, He Shixian had already drunk the wine jug. Xiong Tingbi could only shake his head and smile bitterly, except for laughing and scolding, he couldn't do anything about He Shixian. He Shixian didn't care about it, but was not ashamed but proud, and looked at Xiong Tingbi with a smile, as if it was a glorious thing to be scolded.

Looking at the two of them, Sun Chengzong's mood also improved a lot, and he couldn't help but smile and said: "General He, you are dressed like this, if you are caught as a bear, how good do you say!" ”

Smiling wryly, He Shixian's face was flushed, and he said stupidly: "This is the sign of a good hunter, my father was the best hunter back then, I naturally can't embarrass him!" ”

Nodding with a smile, Sun Chengzong said appreciatively: "Okay, don't forget your roots until now, it's very good!" ”

"My lord, Chen Hong and Chen's father-in-law are here, and now they have arrived in the hall!" A servant stood outside the window and said to a few people in the room.

The three people who were originally talking and laughing were all stunned when they heard this, why did Chen Hong come here at this time? But no one dared to slack off, after all, Chen Hong represented the Emperor of the Apocalypse. And Chen Hong is still in charge of the money bag, such a person can't be offended.

Xiong Tingbi glanced at Sun Chengzong and said in a deep voice: "Dashuai, I'll go out and have a look!" Sun Chengzong naturally didn't go back to pick up Chen Hong, he didn't have that qualification yet.

When Xiong Tingbi came to the hall, Chen Hong was sitting on a chair drinking tea, although he looked very leisurely, his trembling body told him that he was cold. Sun Chengzong and Xiong Tingbi rarely discuss in the hall, so there is no charcoal fire here, and the weather here is naturally very cold.

"Grandpa Chen, this is not the place to talk, let's go to the back study!" didn't salute or anything, Xiong Tingbi walked to Chen Hong's side with a smile and said with a smile.

Chen Hong nodded slowly, everyone is very familiar, and it is already a habit to not be polite to each other. Besides, it's so cold here, if Xiong Tingbi is really polite to death, then I'm afraid it will be ill-intentioned.

Xiong Tingbi took Chen Hong back to the warm pavilion, followed by He Shixian, who was dressed strangely, and there was also a eunuch, very young, Xiong Tingbi had never seen it.

Chen Hong didn't say anything when he entered the house, Xiong Tingbi naturally didn't say anything, and the young eunuch also walked in.

As soon as he entered the house, he saw Sun Chengzong, Chen Hong hurriedly walked to Sun Chengzong's side, and said with a respectful expression: "Lord Sun is also here, our family is polite!" "Sun Chengzong is the teacher of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, and Chen Hong is the slave of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, and he distinguishes this identity very clearly.

"It turned out to be Father-in-law Chen, it's rare for Father-in-law to come to see the old man on such a cold day!" Sun Chengzong looked at Chen Hong and said with a smile.

"My lord is joking, our family has nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace!" As he spoke, he glanced back at the young eunuch and commanded softly, "Do what you have to do!" ”

"Yes, Ancestor!" The young eunuch bowed respectfully, and smiled deliciously on his face. But the next moment, his body stood up straight, and the look on his face became serious, and he saw him take out a yellow scroll from his arms.

Seeing this scroll, everyone was stunned, the Holy Decree of the Emperor of the Apocalypse. Hurriedly picked up his clothes and knelt down, and said loudly: "Respectfully, please St. Ann!" ”

The young eunuch held the holy decree in his hand and said with a solemn face: "Holy bow! Cabinet University Scholar Sun Chengzong received the order! ”

Sun Chengzong hurriedly replied: "The minister received the order, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" (To be continued.)

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