Also close to noon, Yanjing in the Northern Wei Dynasty had already snowed heavily, and even the golden roof covered with yellow glazed glass and the red city wall had already lost its original brilliance in this heavy snow, leaving only the vast white.

In one of the palace's houses, the two sat around the blanket by the stove and watched the bubbles in the pot tumble and the aroma was overflowing, putting mushrooms, meat slices, and cabbage into it, waiting to be eaten.

Many eunuchs and palace maids on the side stood respectfully, ready to be dispatched at any time, and did not dare to make the slightest move.

The man sitting on the throne had a faint wrinkle on his face, his eyes were bright, his eyes unconsciously revealed the majesty of the Son of Heaven, with a beard that was neither long nor short, his skin was slightly yellow, he was wearing a golden crown, and his body was wrapped in a plush coat, obviously a little chilly. This person is the current Northern Wei Emperor Mo Leng Luo Shang, who is now forty-five years old, that is, the great-great-nephew of the old Mo Leng Jianhan.

The person sitting opposite was slightly older, dressed in official uniform, very thin, with a sparse goatee, small eyes, a slightly wider forehead, and cheekbones protruding on his skinny face, this person was Cao Xiuming, the first assistant of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and now he was fifty-six years old.

Emperor Wei picked up the wine glass and drank it all with Cao Xiuming, picked out some mushrooms with chopsticks and put them in Cao Xiuming's bowl and said: "This mushroom is a good thing, no matter what it goes with, it is very delicious, and it can be eaten in a hot pot." I knew that Cao Qing was so good, so I specially prepared more in the imperial dining room. ”

"Your Majesty has a heart, on such a snowy day, this small hot pot is really comfortable, it is really like the ancients' saying 'green ants new roasted wine, red clay small stove', wonderful! Cao Xiuming picked up the bowl with chopsticks and ate it slowly, without any regard for the etiquette of the monarch and the minister.

"Hahaha, Cao Qing is not polite, don't care about those red tapes, open up to eat, in this world, only food can not be disappointed. Saying that, Emperor Wei himself also brought a piece of cabbage dripping with red soup, and put it in his mouth and ate it, obviously a little hot. But it's really delicious, and you have to eat it like this on a snowy day to be strong.

Cao Xiuming poured wine for Emperor Wei and himself, and said: "If the doctor of Yushitai is here, it is estimated that Your Majesty and I will be unlucky again." There must be a pass to the ancient monarch Xianyunyun first, talking about the ministers and Your Majesty. Then he reprimanded the ministers for ignoring the courtesy of the monarch and the ministers, and said that His Majesty did not have the rites of the Holy Emperor. ”

Emperor Wei laughed and said: "What Cao Qing said is extremely true, especially Yan Lao of Yushitai, I am really afraid! You don't know that just after retiring from the court, Yan Lao gave a lot of advice, I don't dare to look at it, it is all a teaching." ”

Hearing this, Cao Xiuming laughed and said: "Then Your Majesty should eat more and taste this tripe, which is a sundry in the cow, but through this hot pot, the taste is extremely rich." ”

"Yes. Emperor Wei felt a little crunchy in his mouth when he ate it, "This is really good, much better than any big banquet dish." ”

Hearing Emperor Wei's praise, Cao Xiuming couldn't help but smack his lips and brought himself a piece of enjoyment, which was full of enjoyment in his mouth.

Emperor Qiandi picked up a spoon and scooped up some soup, drank it all, wiped his mouth with his sleeve and said: "I see that this hot pot is still the most delicious soup boiled with beef bones, and the beef fragrance lasts in the mouth for a long time, and this sip is really comfortable to drink." ”

The palace maid on the side saw that fine beads of sweat had appeared on Emperor Wei's forehead, and hurriedly wiped it with a warm facekerchief, and took Emperor Wei's faded big hair aside.

Cao Xiuming ate a mouth full of soup, and even his beard was stained a lot, "What Your Majesty said is very true, the old minister is still slightly inferior in terms of this food." But if you nibble on some beef bones, it will be amazing. ”

As soon as this remark came out, Emperor Wei laughed and pointed at Cao Xiuming with his hand and said: "Cao Qing's amount of food is not small, why don't you see the long meat, I don't know and think I didn't give you a fortune."

"I'm ashamed, the amount of food is quite large, but I can't grow meat just by eating, and I'm also old, and now it's difficult to grow up. On such a snowy day, the wind is blowing, and it is thanks to His Majesty that I am allowed to eat, otherwise I am really afraid that I will be blown away by the strong wind. Cao Xiuming said jokingly.

"Hahaha, you old thing, you will eat. Come on, serve food to Cao Qing. Emperor Wei said to the four sides.

I saw the eunuch come up with a plate of boiled beef bones, obviously prepared a long time ago, and only needed to put them in the pot to heat up.

Cao Xiuming looked at the tempting big bones, especially the ones with muscles and flesh on them, and he was particularly appetizing, swallowed his saliva and squirmed: "Your Majesty Shengming, the minister will lose two chips." ”

"I said Cao Qing, I regret leaving you for lunch, but you have eaten up the rations for a few meals. No, no, I have to be taken out of your money. Emperor Wei looked at Cao Xiuming, who was waiting for the hot beef bones in the pot, and teased.

"That can't be done, that can't be done, Your Majesty don't have to cheat, one yard is one yard, otherwise the minister can go to Yan Lao to complain." Cao Xiuming scooped up the beef bones in the pot, pinched his ears while burning his hands and said.

"Don't, I'm scared of you. Kindness...... This hot pot is really delicious and fragrant. Emperor Wei picked up the first big bone that Cao Xiuming handed him and gnawed on it, saying that he still used chopsticks, and directly nibbled on it with both hands.

"Your Majesty has been waiting for this meal for a long time, this beef bone has not been so rotten for two hours, and the meat and tendons have come down after a little bite. Cao Xiuming couldn't help but sigh when he ate it, and the cooking skills in the imperial dining room in this palace were not bad, and they were quite level.

"Cao Qing seems to be in the kitchen at home, Cao Qing wants to know that 'the gentleman is far away from cooking', but don't be known by the doctors of the Imperial Observatory, otherwise I am afraid that it will be all criticism of you. Emperor Wei lowered his head and pretended to be very quiet.

Cao Xiuming was stunned for a moment, and suddenly patted his head, "Oops, it's sloppy, it's sloppy, it's exposed." ”

"Hahahahaha, come on, come on, drink and drink. ”

"Ah...... Wine. ”

"How about trying this duck intestine?"

"This lamb is not bad, either. ”

"Hey, I said I'll leave one of the old thing's bones. ”

"It's rare for the old minister to eat His Majesty's once, of course he has to eat enough. ”

After three rounds of drinking, the two gentlemen and ministers half-lay on the blanket with their stomachs bulging, looking at the snow scene outside the door, and burping from time to time, they really didn't have any manners at all.

The palace maid and the eunuch hurriedly cleaned it up, took a warm handkerchief and wiped it clean for Emperor Wei and Cao Qing, but after a while, they brought a plate of snacks and tea.

"I said Cao Qing, the group of people we sent to Daqian will set off for some time. Emperor Wei asked as he looked at the falling snowflakes outside with a ruddy face.

Cao Xiuming leaned back on the cushion, sat down a little upright, and said: "Back to Your Majesty, it's been some time, according to the time of their departure, it is estimated that they should be able to arrive in the capital of Qianguo around the winter solstice." ”

"It's a pity, it's a pity!" Emperor Wei shook his head again and again: "Cao Qing, you said that I am not an executioner, and more than a dozen lives are going to be buried." ”

Cao Xiuming replied very solemnly: "Your Majesty, don't say that, as the saying goes, 'one will succeed and ten thousand bones will wither', everyone born in this troubled world has their own destiny." If Your Majesty wants to achieve great things, you must put down your small family and take care of everyone. Waiting for Your Majesty to achieve great things in the future, these heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country will be forever remembered in history and respected by all generations. ”

Emperor Wei sighed lightly, "Cao Qing said too much, and if it is ugly, it is just for my own selfishness, why should I be so high-sounding, there are no outsiders here." ”

Cao Xiuming touched his sparse goatee and said, "What Your Majesty said is not right or wrong. ”

"What does Cao Qing mean by this?"

"Your Majesty, you think, the situation of the four kingdoms has been around for a long time since the dispute of the thirteen countries, and the so-called world must be divided for a long time, and it must be divided for a long time. Nowadays, who in the four countries does not want to be the hegemon who dominates the world and achieve immortal achievements.

Let me ask Your Majesty if you don't want to, or Emperor Qian, or Emperor Shu, or Emperor Xia of the Yueshu Kingdom, don't you want to? Since everyone has ambitions, can Your Majesty bear to watch other countries spread the flames of war to the territory of our Great Wei, slowly occupy the cities and states of our Great Wei, and then change the course of our Great Wei to destroy the country.

The old minister said something ugly, even if His Majesty was willing to give away Da Wei. But that was unfair to the people of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the civil and military officials, and the soldiers on the front line. The fact that my Great Wei and the other three kingdoms can stand in this troubled era proves that the people of my Great Wei will not be worse than them, and they can also compete to stand on the top of the mountain. His Majesty felt that the loss of those innocent ten children was a bit cruel, and the minister also felt cruel, but there was no way, the general of the country must have a group of pioneers, and the death was valuable, even if the death was deserved. Your Majesty, look at the current prosperity of the Qianguo, let the Qianguo develop for 50 or 100 years, let me ask me who is still the opponent of the Qianguo in the Great Wei, Nanshu, and Xiyueshu, when the Qianguo has an unrivaled momentum, we will be like leaves from the branches of the tree, let others sweep away.

At that time, we really don't have any chance, we can only be like fish on the chopping board, to be slaughtered. And now the emperor Mo Zhenghao of the Great Cadre is not a simple character, it is reported that he has secretly prepared, the soldiers and horses at the border gates in various places have been replaced, and the soldiers have not stopped, and they have obviously begun to make plans. There is a cloud in the ancient book that "the first is to control people, and then to be made by people", if you don't take advantage of it, preemptively wait until the time when the country sharpens its knives and Huo Huo to the pigs and sheep, my Great Wei will be more difficult!

As long as my Dawei starts to do it, Nanshu and Xiyueshu will not sit on the mountain to watch the tiger fight, and they will count a few catties and taels. Only like a hungry wolf pounces on food, it is unprepared to attack it with lightning speed and carve up the entire Qianguo, and the remaining battle of the Three Kingdoms is the eight immortals crossing the sea to show their magical powers. Therefore, Your Majesty must not hesitate at this critical juncture, sacrificing their egos in order to save the ego of the entire Great Wei. The merits and demerits can be seen at a glance!"

"What Cao Qing said is extremely true, I understand all this, but when I think of it occasionally, I can't help but feel that the troubled times are harmful! My ambition has never been extinguished and shaken, and after the completion of this great cause, it will inevitably be a good story for the ages. After listening to Cao Xiuming's generous statement, the trace of hesitation in Emperor Qian's heart lingered, and was replaced by a face full of determination.

"Cao Qing, the 100,000 troops of Beizhai in the Yinshan Mountain Range are ready, right?" Emperor Wei asked, thinking that perhaps the army would march south soon.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, General Ding Jiao Ding has been prepared after receiving the secret letter, and has already sent His Majesty's secret letter to General Ding. As long as there is an accident in the mission, General Ding will take His Majesty's handwritten letter to ask for help. Once the vanguard army on General Ding's side quickly broke through the Nanzhai guarded by the cadre general Zuo Liangyu with surprise soldiers, the follow-up Dingzhou, Qingzhou, Hongzhou, and Luzhou soldiers, horses, and grain and grass will be continuously supplied. At that time, once General Ding stands firmly on the north side of Changping Prefecture, not to mention the capital of Qianguo, I will be able to go anywhere with the Great Wei Iron Cavalry. In less than a month, Nanshu will definitely go out of the Sword Pavilion, and Xiyueshu will march into Xiguan, which will be the grand occasion of the world's expedition. Cao Xiuming made a detailed report on the military affairs.

Emperor Wei nodded and said, "Once my Wang Shi's southern expedition is successful, this will be Cao Qing's first achievement." ”

Cao Xiuming said with his hands in a pretentious manner: "Don't you dare, this proposal was also said by Your Majesty, and the minister just improved it a little and put it into action." ”

"I always feel that it is not so easy, although the Qianguo divided troops to defend the three passes, but it has always been in the Central Plains for hundreds of years. There is Haizhou, the granary of the world in the east, and the Wantong Chamber of Commerce, which is full of traders and pawns all over the world, is not to be underestimated. Emperor Wei looked at the blue and white porcelain teacup in his hand and said with a solemn expression.

"Well, what Your Majesty said is very true. However, the army is impermanent, the water is impermanent, and the battlefield is changing rapidly. My Great Wei is not a weak country, since Emperor Gaozu, over the years, the successive saints have been diligent, enterprising, and the people are rich. He is a tiger entrenched in the Central Plains, and my Great Wei is the lion roaring the world. Cao Xiuming gently blew open the floating tea leaves and took two sips.

"Hahahaha, what a male lion roars the world, just with Cao Qing's words, I should be rewarded. Emperor Wei smiled happily.

"Your Majesty wants to reward it, just have another beef bone hot pot, it's really delicious in the world!" Cao Xiuming looked aftertasted.

"Yes, there must be, when I reach the top of the world, I will use the water of the four countries to invite Cao Qing to cook the delicacies of the four countries on the Tianmen River. "Emperor Wei seems to have seen the grand occasion in front of him, which is really fascinating.

Then Emperor Wei said angrily: "The Qianguo is afraid of hands and feet, Li Xuanzhang, the emperor of Southern Shu, calculates and calculates, and the Xiyue Emperor Xia does not dare to go eastward." Since you don't dare to fight, let me put an earth-shattering firecracker at the end of this Gengzi year, and if you don't fight, you have to beat me. ”

However, when Li Xuanzhang was mentioned, Emperor Wei couldn't help but look a little gloomy, originally Great Wei also had such an amazing character, but unfortunately it became a legend.

"It is our luck to have an ambitious overlord like Your Majesty in this troubled era, if we succeed in one fell swoop, the country will be exhausted. Cao Xiuming touched his sparse goatee, and his already small eyes were almost unable to laugh.

Looking at the snowflakes fluttering in the air, it is like a piece of great rivers and mountains falling in front of your door.

A little bit of grandeur in his chest, full of ambition to swallow the world.

For the sake of the throne, Gaozu did not hesitate to kill his relatives in righteousness, so that he had the inheritance of Emperor Wei in his own vein.

Since he was born in this troubled world, he has the destiny to sit on the head of a country, so he must fight with this troubled world.

Use the bet of the Northern Wei Dynasty to bet on the whole world, and if you win, you will be the king of the third generation.

A cold wind blew, and the palace maid hurriedly draped the big coat on Emperor Wei's body, and with Cao Xiuming's slight snoring, Emperor Wei gradually closed his eyes.

In the dream, Emperor Wei seemed to see the legendary Gao Bomo who was persecuted by Gaozu and stayed away from the palace to become a sword god, and Emperor Wei sat on the supreme throne in the world, admired by the people of the world, but there was an old man standing on top of his head, looking at himself like a sword......