On January 22 of the tenth year of Yanli Pingguang, this day was not a good weather, and the hazy weather shrouded Yanjing City.

Ten miles away from Nankangmen in Yanjing City, a grass shed has been temporarily erected at this time, inside and outside the grass shed, there are dozens of officials waiting, although the court is very busy now, but the cabinet officials have come to this ten miles of grass shed, waiting to send Xiao Taishi on his last journey.

When Xiao Taishi was less than 20 years old, he came to Yanjing City from his hometown, and after more than 40 years of ups and downs, he experienced countless open guns and hidden arrows, and today, he is finally going to embark on the road of retreat.

In the past 40 years, Xiao Taishi has indeed made a lot of contributions to the Yan State, during the last ten years as the Taishi, and his son Xiao Huaiyu cooperated inside and outside, Xiao Huaiyu ensured the security of the Yan Kingdom's borders, and Xiao Taishi controlled the cabinet with the respect of the first assistant of the cabinet, so that the political center of the Yan State operated in an orderly manner.

It is undeniable that although the momentum of the Xiao family is not as good as before, the prestige of Taishi Xiao is still there.

Han Xuandao and several other cabinet officials sat in the grass shed drinking tea, while other officials gathered around the grass shed in twos and threes, talking and laughing, waiting for the arrival of Xiao Taishi's carriage.

Without letting these officials wait too long, two carriages slowly woke up from the official road, and more than forty guards gathered around the two carriages.

When the officials saw the carriage coming, they tidied up their official uniforms one after another, and they all stood solemnly according to the level of their official positions.

The two carriages, the first one was ordinary and not luxurious, naturally it was ridden by Xiao Taishi, and behind this carriage was a flatbed cart pulled by a horse, and the cart was loaded with two large black wood boxes, and there was nothing else.

Steward Xiao of Taishi's Mansion followed the carriage of Taishi, and when the carriage stopped next to the grass shed, Steward Xiao stepped forward and lifted the curtain of the car and helped Taishi Xiao get out of the carriage.

Xiao Taishi was wearing a gray cotton robe, a cotton hat, and a cane in his hand, and at this time, he looked like a kind rich man, where was he still a powerful minister who used to dominate the court.

Han Xuandao and the others had already greeted him, and saluted in unison: "Master! ”

Taishi Xiao waved his hand and said with a smile: "Don't dare, don't dare, the old man has now resigned and retired to seclusion, and this title of Taishi can't afford it." ”

Han Xuandao said solemnly: "The Taishi has dedicated his life to my Dayan, and only you can afford this Taishi." ”

"Laughing." Master Xiao bowed his hand to everyone and sighed: "I have been a minister with you for decades, so don't mention the ups and downs." The old man is a strange character, when he was an official, sometimes he was stubborn, and he was a little stubborn because of the different political views of many colleagues, you don't take it to heart, take advantage of today's opportunity, the old man apologizes to you! ”

"Don't dare, don't dare!" Everyone said in unison: "The old lady is dedicated to the public, and she is a model in our hearts." ”

Taishi Xiao smiled gently, turned his head, looked at the towering Yanjing City, and sighed lightly: "When the old man entered Beijing, he had a horse and four entourage, but he didn't even bring clothes. He pointed to the two big black wood boxes and said with a smile: "After decades in Beijing, the old man has left now, but there are more things." But don't get me wrong, it's not gold or silver, it's not a pearl and jade, it's just some clothes for the old man, and the books that the old man has saved over the years, by the way, there are a few volumes of calligraphy and paintings, which are not worth a few dollars! ”

Fan Yun sighed proudly: "The old lady's character, don't we juniors know it? You are old and clean, and those of us who are officials must learn more. He whispered: "The white dog of the clouds is gone, just asking for a glass of wine!" ”

Master Xiao laughed and said, "These two sentences, the old man must remember in his heart." In the old man's life, the merits and demerits of his own descendants have commented that if the name is worth a glass of wine, it should be the happiest thing in the old man's life! ”

"Bring the wine!" Han Xuandao said loudly.

Immediately, someone came over with a jade plate, and on top of the jade plate, there was a pot of wine and three golden cups.

Han Xuandao picked up the wine jug with his own hands, poured a glass of wine, respectfully presented it to Taishi Xiao with both hands, and said sincerely: "This cup of wine is for our ministers of the Yan State to respect the Taishi, the Taishi has been working hard for decades, and I am a great Yan immortal, please drink this cup!" ”

Taishi Xiao thought about it, handed the crutches in his hand to Steward Xiao beside him, took the golden cup with his dry hands, and said calmly: "The old man has been an official for decades, and there may be something inappropriate, but there is one thing that the old man is not ashamed of, that is, he has indeed done a few useful things for my Dayan, this glass of wine, thanks to everyone's affordability, the old man is full of drink!" After speaking, he drank the cup and drank it all.

Han Xuandao poured the second glass of wine again, and said: "This second cup of wine, the people who respect the Taishi, the Taishi is highly respected, and today he is reluctant, my colleagues are reluctant to give up, this cup of wine is our admiration for the Taishi!" ”

Taishi Xiao smiled kindly, took the golden cup, and drank it all again.

"This third cup of wine, may the Taishi have a smooth journey and live a long life!" Han Xuandao toasted the third glass of wine.

Taishi Xiao took the golden cup, glanced at the officials, suddenly raised the golden cup above his head, looked at the sky, and after a long time, he drank it all and put the golden cup in his hand back on the jade plate.

"Everyone, three glasses of wine, the old man drank it all, thank you for being able to come and send it off today." Taishi Xiao arched his hand and said: "You are busy with official business, the old man does not dare to delay more, I only hope that you will take Dayan Sheji as the most important thing in your hearts...... God bless me Dayan! ”

All the officials bowed down one after another, and arched their hands and said, "Taishi has a good journey!" ”

Taishi Xiao glanced at Yanjing City again, his face showed a look of loneliness and vicissitudes, he groaned slightly, and finally sighed lightly: "Let's go!" With the support of Steward Xiao, he returned to the carriage, and before entering the carriage, he glanced back and waved his hand: "Everyone, please go back, state affairs are important!" ”

The officials saluted again, Xiao Taishi finally entered the car, the coachman flicked the horsewhip, and the carriage began to move forward slowly, Xiao Huaijin, Xiao Wanchang and Xiao Tongguang were the immediate family members of Xiao Taishi, so they naturally rode horses to send them off.

The officials watched the Taishi's carriage go away, and then got on the horse and returned.

……

After traveling more than ten miles, Taishi's carriage stopped, Xiao Taishi lifted the curtains, and Xiao Huaijin and the three hurriedly turned over and dismounted and came to the car window.

Xiao Taishi's gaze swept over the faces of the three of them one by one, sighed lightly, his eyes stayed on Xiao Tongguang's face, and said warmly: "Second brother, after I leave, Jingzhong will rely on the three of you to support you, you are old, those things that hurt your body, it is better to be modest." ”

Xiao Tongguang entered Beijing in his early years, he had no talent, and he had always been protected by Xiao Taishi, and today Xiao Taishi left, Xiao Tongguang only felt extremely lonely in his heart, and his expression was gloomy, "Brother, I ...... I want to go back with you, too. This is ...... in Kyosato! ”

"Nonsense!" Taishi Xiao didn't wait for him to finish speaking, and immediately reprimanded: "You stay in the household department, our Xiao family has a root in the household department, and there is a force, if you leave with me, the foundation in the household department will be completely broken." Shaking his head and sighing: "Don't think that if I leave, the Xiao family will have no place in the court, you are all descendants of the Xiao family, the more difficult it is, the more you have to go on!" ”

Xiao Tongguang didn't say much, just nodded slightly.

Taishi Xiao looked at Xiao Huaijin again, and said softly: "Huaijin, since you were a child, you have been scolded by your father a lot. You always think that the old man loves Huaiyu, but how do you know the heart of a father? Your two brothers have different talents, but in your father's heart, you and Huaiyu are the same as the meat in your father's heart, and your father scolds you, just hoping that you can grow, this Yanjing is different from other places, and the court is the most sinister place in the world. For the father to leave now, you have to be more cautious, discuss everything with Wan Chang, Wan Chang's strategy is better than you, you ask him for advice on everything, the so-called brothers work together to break the gold, as long as your two brothers are together, the Han family may not be able to help my Xiao family! ”

Xiao Huaijin's eyes were a little red, he glanced at Xiao Wanchang, nodded and said, "Father's words, my son keeps them in mind." The son is dull, he has worried his father everywhere over the years, it is the son who is not filial, and the son will be careful in everything in the future, the Han family will and pee on my head, and the son will endure it! ”

Taishi Xiao nodded lovingly, looked at Xiao Wanchang, his expression calmed down, and said softly: "Wanchang, the future of my Xiao family depends on you to support it!" ”

Xiao Wanchang's expression was also solemn, and he said respectfully: "Uncle, Wan Chang understands that although Wan Chang's talent is not good, as long as I live for one day, I will definitely hold on!" ”

"When you encounter a big event, you can fly to me, and you must not act recklessly in everything." Xiao Taishi said solemnly: "Remember the old man's words, a knife on the head of the word forbearance, prosperity will decline, the Han family is now infinitely beautiful, but the old man has laid the root of the curse for them, as long as you endure it, one day my Xiao family can still laugh and be proud of the court!" ”

Xiao Wanchang nodded solemnly.

Taishi Xiao smiled slightly and said, "Go back, go back to Yuanjin City, and I will report to you by flying a message!" ”

Xiao Tongguang and the three of them straightened their clothes, and saluted respectfully to Xiao Taishi, Xiao Taishi nodded, and gently lowered the curtains.

Xiao Wanchang walked to the side of a guard and said in a deep voice: "Be careful on the road, none of your thirteen people can leave the Taishi's side, as long as you thirteen people protect you, the Taishi will be able to return safely!" ”

The guard was dressed in a black bodysuit, draped in a black hat, and wore a hat on his head, and in his hand he held an ancient sword with an extremely strange style, which itself exuded a cold murderous aura.

On his chest, there was a gray pattern embroidered with the length of a finger, which was an ancient sword.

Although the forty guards were dressed in the same attire, but the ancient sword pattern was embroidered on their chests, including him, there were only thirteen people, and these thirteen people were the most powerful killing weapons of the Xiao family.

Thirteen swordsmen!

This man's hand was wearing a black glove, riding on a horse, clenching the ancient sword in his hand, and his voice was hoarse: "If the Taishi hurts a single hair, it only means that all thirteen of my people are dead!" ”

Xiao Wanchang obviously trusted the strength of the thirteen swordsmen, nodded and said: "You thirteen people were personally trained by Huaiyu, and with the strength of your thirteen people, I am afraid that there are few people in this world who can be defeated!" ”