Xia Guogong Mansion.

The main courtyard, the study.

Xia Mochou, the old man of Xia, teased the thrush in the birdcage, and said to the old housekeeper standing behind him:

"It's snowing, it's cold, this bird is afraid of freezing, remember to make a charcoal fire in that bird's house."

The old housekeeper Chen Chun bowed and saluted: "The old slave knows." ”

Xia Mochou turned around, handed the bird cage to Chen Chun, and asked, "Where has the general been in the more than ten days since he returned to Kyoto?" ”

Chen Chun took the birdcage and replied: "The day after he came back, he was summoned by the emperor to go to the palace. ”

"On the third day, the prince held a banquet in the East Palace, and he went to the East Palace."

"On the fifth day, I went to Qiuzhuang and stayed in the study with the old man of the Qiu family, Qiu Candle, for a long time, and also had dinner in Qiuzhuang."

"On the seventh day, he went to Wu'anhou's mansion, played chess with Wu'anhou's eldest son Che for half a day, and also had dinner together."

"Early yesterday morning, he went to his uncle's mansion...... He only stayed for a few hours before he came out, but Uncle Qi personally sent him outside the gate. ”

"In the evening, Empress Qi's guard of honor returned to the uncle's mansion once."

"That's pretty much it."

Xia Mochou bowed slightly, "Go down and call Lao Tzu's two unlucky sons!" ”

Chen Chun left the study with the birdcage, and Xia Mochou stood in front of the window and looked at the newly blooming plum tree outside the window.

A smile suddenly appeared on his old face.

"Paper can't contain fire after all!"

"This eagle also seems to know the news of the Boundless Pass, this is in a hurry!"

The smile on his face slowly retracted, revealing a deep expression: "It's good to be in a hurry, but you don't have the wings to fly to Zhaohua City!" ”

"The news of the fall of Zhaohua City should be sent to Kyoto!"

"Sixty birthdays, but it should be more lively!"

There was a sound of footsteps outside the door, Xia Mochou's face returned to its original state, he turned around, and Xia Liu and Xia Li bowed down and stood in front of him.

"Father!"

"Sit!"

"Thank you, father!"

The father and son sat down, and Xia Liu took the fire and boiled a pot of tea.

Xia Guogong stroked his long beard and said with a kind face: "How long has it been since our father and son have been making tea around the stove like this?" ”

Xia Li sighed for three breaths, "The child remembers that the last time I sat here to make tea was in that winter eight years ago. ”

"Oh, it's been eight years, and it's rare to be able to sit together today."

"Xia Liu,"

"Ah, the baby is here!"

"Are you still angry that you didn't get the prince's invitation?"

Xia Liu's hand paused slightly, took a teapot and took a pinch of tea and put it in the teapot, and then said:

"The child thinks that he is quite conscientious in the position of the secretary of the military department...... At least when it comes to the purchase of armaments and materials, the child does not reach out and take a penny. ”

"On the contrary, it is the ...... of the household"

Xia Guogong waved his hand and interrupted Xia Liu's words, "How can the household department care about your!" ”

"Do you think it's good to accompany the emperor in the palace for his birthday? Or is it better to drink tea with Lao Tzu at home? ”

Xia Liu was stunned, thinking that he could accompany you to drink tea at home at any time, but the emperor's sixtieth birthday is only this time, can this be compared?

Xia Guogong's face suddenly darkened, "You conscienceless thing!" ”

"No, Daddy......"

"Daddy, I'm not your father!"

Xia Li took a look, the older this father is, the more difficult his temper becomes, how can he be angry with his eldest brother every day?

He hurriedly made a round: "Father is angry, isn't the eldest brother for our Xia family!" ”

"The eldest brother has a firm foothold in the court, and after the crown prince ascends the throne, our Xia family will be better off!"

Xia Guogong glared at Xia Liu fiercely: "He has a fart to stand firm!" ”

"In the country of Wu, if you want to stand firm, you must master the power of the army!"

"It sounds good, you are a military secretary, and if you say something ugly, you are doing miscellaneous work for the major border armies!"

"Forget it,"

Xia Guogong waved his hand again, but looked at Xia Li, and his words became much softer:

"Xia Li,"

"Ah, Father!"

"It seems that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has forgotten about you, and Dad originally thought that he would let you be a general guarding the city in the city guards...... It seems that he is really not at ease with our Xia family. ”

"But the opportunity has come, you are ready to prepare these days."

Xia Li was stunned, "Where are you going?" ”

"Where else can I go? Go to your old place...... Shimohara State! ”

Xia Li looked at his father suspiciously, "Isn't it in Xiayuan Prefecture?" ”

Xia Guogong grinned: "He's running for his life!" ”

Xia Li and Xia Liu were stunned, "...... Lost at the end of the world? ”

Xia Guogong raised his eyebrows: "It's not just Wuyanguan, the entire Xiayuan Prefecture has been lost!" ”

"The Seven Cities are over? Zhaohua City is also gone? ”

"The Seven Cities must be finished, as for Zhaohua City...... It should be gone! ”

Xia Li swallowed in disbelief, "The Red Flame Army has occupied Xiayuan Prefecture? ”

"No, the Red Flame Army just captured the Boundless Pass, and by the way, eliminated the main force of the Seven Cities Walled City, and Zhaohua City was lost to the Divine Guard Army."

The water has been boiled and the tea has been boiled, but the brothers Xia Liu and Xia Li were confused by the news that Xia Lao Guogong said.

Hook lost the boundless pass, and also lost the entire Shimohara state......

It's a big thing when the sky falls!

But there was not the slightest rumor about this in Kyoto.

Xia Liu couldn't believe it, so he asked again:

"Father, how do you know?"

"Pour tea!"

“…… Be! ”

Xia Liu poured tea, but Xia Guogong didn't tell him how to know the news.

He looked at Xia Liu: "To rebuild the Seven Cities, this requires the recruitment of 100,000 soldiers!" ”

"You are the secretary of the military department, you remember to Lao Tzu that Xiayuan Prefecture is the Xia family's reliance on the court!"

"The soldiers of the Seven Cities Walled City, they want the best soldiers! To be the best war horse! And the best weapons and armor! ”

"If you can't do this little thing...... Lao Tzu beats your ass! ”

Xia Liu nodded hurriedly, "As long as the second brother returns to Xiayuan Prefecture, these things will definitely be handled properly!" ”

"Well, Xia An has been in Beifu for three years in the blink of an eye, and after the matter of the second child is confirmed, Xia An will be transferred to Xiayuan Prefecture...... When you go back, ask Qiuqin to see how much more money Miao Mansion can come up with. ”

Xia Liu was stunned again: "The silver for recruiting troops and buying horses is the expenditure of the treasury!" ”

"You know a!"

"Don't ask, just do what Lao Tzu says!"

Xia Liu's neck shrunk and he didn't dare to say anything more.

Xia Li asked very solemnly at this moment: "Father, Zhaohua City is a majestic city!" ”

"Back then, you built the walls of Zhaohua City so high and so strong...... Now that it has fallen into the hands of the Divine Guard, if you want to get it back, I am afraid that it will cost you a lot! ”

Xia Guogong smiled indifferently: "You'll know when you go." ”

“…… Why is the father sure that the emperor will use the child? ”

"Because no one can take back Zhaohua City except you!"

Xia Li was stunned again, the meaning of her father's words was a little deep.

He looked at Xia Guogong and thought...... I don't dare to think about it!

At this moment, the old housekeeper Chen Chun hurriedly came over again.

"Master, the chief eunuch in the palace, Grandpa Zhang, asks to see you!"