At this time, the scene in the pergola is like two children and grandchildren waiting for their grandfather to drink tea and chat, the atmosphere is warm and harmonious, where is there a little hostile to each other? The two soldiers were simply stunned, and they really couldn't understand which one this was playing!

The people of Dongning naturally knew Zhou Hongde's virtuous name, but they didn't expect that Zhou Hongde would have such a big face, and even the Feng Lord of Yanling respected him so much, which was really surprising.

Sitting in the pergola, Sima Hongyan and Zhou Hongde were gossiping, nothing more than asking the old man's body, daily diet and other common words. Zhou Hongde also asked Sima Hongyan's age, whether he was married and other trivial matters. The two chatted lively, and the atmosphere became more and more harmonious.

Soon Shi Jinyan made tea, poured it for Zhou Hongde and Sima Hongyan in person, and asked Mr. Zhou to taste it.

Zhou Hongde is a good tea person, from the time Shi Jinyan made tea, he smelled that it was a good Longjing, at this time he picked up the tea bowl and sniffed deeply, and then took a sip carefully.

"Good tea!" Zhou Hongde couldn't help but praise loudly: "Only Yanling is the best famous tea in the world, the old man has loved it for a long time, but I didn't expect that today I was stained with the light of the phoenix lord, and I was fortunate to be able to taste it!" ”

Sima Hongyan smiled: "You are always polite! To be honest, I don't know much about tea, but my sister is a good tea person, and she prepares these teas. ”

Shi Jinyan said: "Mr. Zhou is the only one who likes this way, and the person I have always respected the most in the younger generation is Mr. You, so I also love the house and Wu like this way." It's pure teasing, please don't joke sir anymore! ”

Listening to the people in the pergola talking and laughing, and now talking about the tea ceremony, the soldiers of Yanling and Dongning all stared at it with wide eyes, but they never understood the subtlety.

After gossiping and drinking tea, Zhou Hongde has a new understanding of Sima Hongyan, no wonder this woman can subdue most of the world, and no one can match this bearing and charm alone. If Emperor Dongning could have half of her knowledge, wouldn't Dongning have already dominated the world.

The politeness was almost the same, Zhou Hongde sighed and said: "Lord Feng and Miss Shi treated each other politely, and the old man was very moved. But what should be said by the old man still has to say, after all, you and I are in hostility between the two countries, and this matter is about millions of lives, so the old man has to say it! ”

Sima Hongyan put down the teacup and said: "Mr. Zhou, don't worry, if you have anything to say, it doesn't hurt to say it directly, we treat each other politely as a respectful person, but not to prevent you from talking!" ”

Since Lord Feng is so honest, Zhou Hongde smiled gratefully and said, "Lord Feng is refreshing, the old man admires!" The old man wanted to ask Lord Feng what was the purpose of making such a big move and coming to the city? ”

"Pacify Dongning!" Sima Hongyan replied without hesitation.

Zhou Hongde said: "Dongning and Yanling have their own places, how can they be pacified? ”

Sima Hongyan asked, "Does the old gentleman know about the Dongning royal family's secret kidnapping of me?" ”

At the beginning, Sima Hongyan was arrested by Lan Aoxin and locked up in the secret prison of the Taishi Mansion, and Zhou Hongde later learned that his son did it without him in order to help the sixth princess. He hesitated, but nodded helplessly.

Sima Hongyan said again: "This matter was done by the sixth princess of Dongning and the old gentleman's beloved son Zhou Fanqi, and the old gentleman also knows about it?" ”

Zhou Hongde nodded again, but he subconsciously avoided Sima Hongyan's eyes, and there was a hint of shame on his face.

Sima Hongyan said: "I know that you will never do such a thing, old man, but there are too many wolf ambitions in Dongning, if it weren't for my big life and the help of friends, how could I still sit here with the old man and drink tea today?" The trend of the world will be combined for a long time, even if I don't say the reason why I came here, the old gentleman can understand it! ”

Zhou Hongde said: "The Lord of the Phoenix will naturally not come here for personal grudges, but has the Lord of the Phoenix considered it for the thousands of soldiers?" The war is together, the lives are devastated, and now there are countless soldiers who have spilled their blood on the battlefield, can the Phoenix Lord bear to let the soldiers of the two countries continue to pay for this? ”

Sima Hongyan said: "It is for the sake of the common people in the world that I will leave the land and go on an expedition here." If I can't completely conquer those who are greedy, I'm afraid that even more people will lose their lives. Sir, you know the righteousness of the world, and you know the past and the present, can't you figure out this truth? ”

Hearing Sima Hongyan's questioning, Shi Jinyan felt that something was wrong, so she gently touched Sima Hongyan.

Sima Hongyan pretended not to know and continued: "Old man, I have no intention of being rude to you. As far as the facts are concerned, I want to make this clear. If there's something offended, don't be surprised. ”

Zhou Hongde hurriedly said: "The old man understands that Lord Feng doesn't have to be polite. ”

Sima Hongyan continued: "Actually, you know better than me what the virtues of the Dongning Lan clan are, if they are really good ministers, no matter how great my ability is, I Sima Hongyan will not be able to get here." And you, old man, will not be neglected for decades, and no one will listen to you. ”

Zhou Hongde raised his head violently when he heard this, followed by a darkening of his eyes, and said, "It seems that Lord Feng knows a lot about my Dongning!" ”

Sima Hongyan said: "I know the meaning of the old gentleman standing up today is all your patriotic and sincere heart. But have you ever wondered? Even if you persuade me to leave today, tomorrow Dongning will immediately return to its former darkness and decay. The people have been in dire straits for so many years, don't you want to put an end to this incompetent imperial power once and for all? As the saying goes, if you don't break it, you can't stand it! Maybe you have fulfilled your temporary reputation of loyalty, but you have pushed countless people of Dongning back to the sea of suffering, so isn't the loyalty you did everything possible to protect become foolish loyalty? Have you not become a sinner yourself? ”

In the process of Sima Hongyan's eloquent talk, Shi Jinyan felt that her words were getting heavier and heavier, but this is the avenue of the world, and there is no mistake. Shi Jinyan was only worried that she was afraid that she would say it so directly, and Zhou Hongde couldn't accept it for a while. After all, the old man is old, and it is not wrong to stick to a loyal heart.

Zhou Hongde listened to Sima Hongyan's words, his face turned pale, and he was speechless.

In fact, he resented the damage caused by the Lan royal family to Dongning, but at the same time, the other side of his heart told him that the emperor was wrong, and he was the emperor of Dongning after all. And as a courtier of Dongning, he has the obligation to solve problems for his emperor, even if he is a mediocre emperor.

Seeing Zhou Hongde's lonely expression and silent contemplation, Sima Hongyan asked, "Old man, do you know the current situation of Xiyue and Beiling?" ”

Xiyue and Beiling are now Yanling's territories, Zhou Hongde has heard of some, but not much, so he replied: "I know a little bit about it!" ”

Sima Hongyan nodded to Shi Jinyan, and Shi Jinyan understood, so she chose the changes after Xiyue and Beiling became the Western Capital and Northern Capital and talked to Zhou Hongde. Especially in view of the development of their regional characteristics and the earth-shaking changes brought about by in-depth trade exchanges, Shi Jinyan said in detail.

Zhou Hongde really heard this for the first time, and he believed that it must not be a lie to say these things in public with Sima Hongyan's identity. And the changes in Xiyue and Beiling made him deeply shocked, which is really in line with the word Sima Hongyan just mentioned, that is, not breaking and not standing.

Looking at the two girls in his prime, Zhou Hongde suddenly realized that he was really old, and his knowledge was far from keeping up. Originally, I wanted to reason with Sima Hongyan, but I didn't expect that it was I who was speechless when I was criticized.

But Zhou Hongde did not feel the slightest disappointment, on the contrary, he had a feeling of sudden realization. Sima Hongyan's words were like a slap in the face, which made Zhou Hongde suddenly understand.

It seems that after so many years of conscientious work, he has imprisoned himself. Too many truths in my mind have become obstacles blocking my vision, but I don't know that the right way in the world is actually the simplest definition.

Zhou Hongde, who suddenly realized, only felt that his mind was clear, and his whole body was comfortable, in fact, the simplest truth was also the most correct truth. There are too many insistences, and there are many clamps, so why bother losing yourself for a country and a name!

Seeing that Zhou Hongde's eyes gradually radiated brilliance, Sima Hongyan knew that he had figured it out, and he didn't need too many words or explanations for such a person with great wisdom. As long as you pull out a thread of truth, everything will be integrated and will come naturally.

"Hahahaha" Zhou Hongde suddenly laughed loudly, laughing extremely happily and easily. It's like a different person in the blink of an eye.

The onlookers were even more surprised, and they didn't know what these three people said, but the old man was so happy.

When the old man had laughed enough, Sima Hongyan smiled and asked, "What is the old gentleman's plan to do next?" ”

Zhou Hongde said: "Lord Feng's sentence just now is not broken, and it makes the old man suddenly. That being the case, simply letting go of all burdens is the right way. The old man suddenly wanted to walk around and enjoy the wind and sand in the west and the ice and snow in the north. Walking between heaven and earth, crisscrossing the universe. ”

Shi Jinyan was taken aback when she heard that the old man was going to travel, and this change was a little sudden, so she hurriedly asked, "Why did the old gentleman suddenly say that he wanted to leave?" Do you still have to deal with things here or at home? ”

Zhou Hongde said: "The rise and fall of a country does not depend on one person, the old man can only do his best." In fact, we all know what the future will bring, so why bother with it? Fanqi has grown up and knows what she is doing, whether it is right or wrong, she has the ability to bear the result, so why should the old man worry? ”

Unexpectedly, during the time when he had a cup of tea and chatted with Sima Hongyan, this old Mr. Zhou actually put down everything as if he had a big understanding, which was also too amazing. Shi Jinyan secretly thought that Sima Hongyan didn't say anything, how could he have such a big impact on the old man!

And Zhou Hongde is obviously not just talking, he can't wait to stand up.

How dare Shi Jinyan let this respected old man travel by himself, and hurriedly said: "Old man, don't be in such a hurry, I will send someone to accompany you, and there will be someone to take care of you on the way." ”

Zhou Hongde smiled: "No, no, one person and one horse are enough!" I only hope that this world will be stable sooner, and there will be less strife, so that the old man will be happy! After speaking, he looked at Sima Hongyan meaningfully, suddenly bowed and said, "Then there is Lord Lao Feng!" ”

Sima Hongyan solemnly returned the salute and said, "I will live up to the trust of the old man!" I hope Mr. Zhou will take care all the way! ”

Zhou Hongde didn't say anything more, Shi Jinyan arranged a good horse and some coils to be wrapped around the old man. Zhou Hongde was not hypocritical, turned over and rode away in his hearty laughter, never looking back at the Dongning Imperial City.

When Zhou Hongde's figure disappeared, Shi Jinyan immediately looked at Sima Hongyan with a strange look.