Huan Rong

In the second year of Ningkang, at the end of December, Xihe County

In the middle of winter, it snowed heavily for several days in a row, the official road was blocked, the river was frozen, and the ground was silvery white.

The entire Xihe City was covered in heavy snow, and the walls made of earth and stone were covered with a thick layer of ice. From a distance, it looked like a snow fortress standing in the vast plain.

噍——

On a rare sunny day, the resounding hawk cries pierced the sky, and two majestic figures pierced through the wind and flew into Xihe City one after another.

The soldiers guarding the city happened to pass by. Hearing the sound, he looked up and saw the goshawk returning from the south, which must have news about Chang'an.

"I heard that after Chang'an came down, Fu Jian died. I don't know when the prince will mobilize the army, send troops to wipe out all the Central Plains, and drive the bandits away completely?"

In the palace, Qin Ce was summoning civil and military affairs to discuss matters. As soon as he mentioned the land reclamation and resettlement of refugees in spring, he encountered goshawks and golden eagles flying there one after another.

Raising his arms to catch the goshawk, he untied the two bamboo tubes with his own hands. After looking at the silk cloth inside, Qin Ce frowned first, then showed his face, laughed a few times, and handed a piece of silk cloth to the suspicious-looking Zhang Yu said: "Uncle Chen, the matter of Chang'an has been settled. It is half as expected. This son really wants to go to the Western Regions."

Zhang Yu took the silk cloth and read it twice from the beginning to the end. His brows were frowned, and his mood was not as relaxed as Qin Ce's.

"Huan Jing Daoxiong's talent is general, not a thing in the pool, and he will travel thousands of miles in the future. Huan Yuanzi failed to replace the Jin Dynasty, and this son will inherit his ambition. It is not a good thing to let his power expand."

"How do you know?" Qin Ce put away his smile.

"Huan Jingdao became an official in the year of Wuxiang. He first served as the county magistrate of Yandu, and later was promoted to the governor of Youzhou. He managed his subordinates in an orderly manner and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. During the period, he followed Huan Yuanzi on the northern expedition and made great military exploits. His reputation spread throughout the north. "

"Besides, he has capable people under his command, but none of them are competent in government affairs and military affairs. Not to mention anything else, Shi Shaoshi respects virtue, and the God of Wealth in the Northland took refuge in him. Otherwise, how could Yandu and Xuyi have the scale they are today?"

"Not to mention the Youzhou Caravan, Yandu Maritime Trade, controlling Haiyan White Sugar, and several caravans under him, it is not an exaggeration to say that he holds a cornucopia."

"The Second Young Master and the Fourth Young Master captured Chang'an, and Jin soldiers took advantage of the situation to capture Fufeng, Lueyang and other places. Huan Jingdao made it clear that he would go to Longxi and reopen the Western Regions trade routes. His intentions should not be underestimated, and he was definitely not looking for money."

After Zhang Yu finished speaking, everyone thought about it and couldn't help discussing it.

Some people think that this statement is justified and needs to be guarded with caution, but some people think that his worries are unfounded, and it has reached this point.

Although Huan Jingdao was ambitious and had capable men under his command, he was still a courtier who left the Jin Dynasty. If he wanted to proclaim himself emperor and establish a system, he would have to bear the infamy of "rebellion".

What's more, the southern land seems to be stable, but there is a dark tide behind it.

The Jiankang gentry, the mighty Wu surnamed, and Xi Fanghui, the prime minister who held the military officer of the Beifu, were not easy to be with.Huan Rong has a long way to go if he wants to successfully ascend to the throne, not to mention the difficulties.

"Does Uncle Chen think too highly of this son?" someone asked.

Zhang Yu shook his head, sighed secretly, and did not argue with everyone, but only set his eyes on Qin Ce, waiting for the latter to make a decision.

After a long time, Qin Ce put down the silk cloth, glanced at the crowd, and said in a deep voice: "This son is indeed extraordinary and should not be underestimated. However, the Central Plains is still undecided, with Rouran Chile in the north, Diqin remnant soldiers in the west, and Murong Xianbei entrenched in Sanhan. Shuofang and Wuyuan are still adjacent to Tiefuchile and other tribes."

At this point, Qin Ce deliberately paused to give everyone time to think.

The room fell into silence, and the hearts of all civil and military personnel present were heavy, and Zhang Yu was no exception.

"The Qin family started from Wubao, struggled and exhausted, and was on the verge of extinction several times. The ancestors blood-stained the battlefield and fought the enemy to the death, so they have today's achievements. The Hu bandits have not been wiped out, the Central Plains has not been restored, and the people have not been safe. How can we say anything else? ?”

Qin Ce's tone was extremely heavy, every word was like the sound of a golden drum piercing into everyone's ears.

"Inheriting the legacy of our ancestors, we should restore China and wipe out bandits first!"

Although there is an ambition to dominate the world, it must be done after driving out the bandits.If he can't completely level the Central Plains and drive the foreigners out of China, he will never easily send troops south.

Zhang Yu wanted to persuade him again, but when he saw Qin Ce's serious expression, it was obvious that he had made up his mind, so he swallowed the words again.Thinking of the previous thoughts, it is inevitable to be a little ashamed.

"The king has the world in his heart, which is the blessing of the people. Yu is ashamed."

"Uncle Chen doesn't need to do this." Qin Ce's expression slowed down, and he said, "There is something in Ah Zheng's letter, and he made an agreement with Huan Jingdao. Yijian."

Zhang Yu didn't interrupt, but cheered up, waiting for Qin Ce to continue.

"Since Gu Zang is down, both parties will be in charge." Qin Ce said with a smile, "This is in my interest."

Zhang Yu thought about it carefully, and couldn't help but also laughed, and immediately said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, Yu will definitely choose the officials sent to Guzang himself."

"good!"

The two parties cooperated, and the Qin family sent cavalry to ensure the safety of the caravans, and drove out the thieves entrenched nearby to ensure that the trade routes would not be threatened.At the same time, by contacting Youzhou officials, you can master certain ways of making money.

In the future, if the two sides turn against each other, they will not be immediately grabbed by the throat.What's more, he can take over the Western Regions and take over the situation that Huan Rong made.

Qin Ce didn't say anything about this, but Zhang Yu and others knew it well.

If the Qin family wants to level the Central Plains, the financial and material resources needed are astronomical.Years of floods, droughts and natural disasters in the north, coupled with the raging bandits, have limited grain storage in Xihe and other places. It is not advisable to increase taxes for sending troops.

The instability of people's hearts is a problem Qin Ce faces.

Huan Rong manages the Western Regions, develops trade routes, and proposes to cooperate with the Qin family, which can be regarded as a sleepy gift of pillows.

At present, they are united with each other, and Qin Ce will not order to do anything.In the future, swords and soldiers will face each other, and it will be a matter of course to win the Western Regions.

"Leave this matter to my uncle to arrange." Qin Ce said, "Since the agreement is made, we should take down Yongzhou as soon as possible and wipe out the remnants of the Di thieves."

The sooner the Western Regions are opened up and the caravans pass through, the worries in the north will be solved.In the coming year, you can also go all out to open up wasteland, without worrying about the lack of food and grass, and the lack of military pay.

Sending strong men to join the army requires food, recruiting refugees requires food, and all states and counties also need food for disaster relief and stability.

It can be said that the commercial roads of the Western Regions are very important to both Qin Ce and Huan Rong. The two sides have their own calculations. On the surface, they are friendly and call each other allies.

Co-management of Guzang will benefit both parties, but they will also bear considerable risks.

The Qin family could think of taking over the Western Regions in the future, while Huan Rong also planned to encroach on the east and recruit people with money and food.The comparison between the two is not only patience, but also means, strategies and even the grasp of people's hearts.

As for who wins the game, and who will have the last laugh, only time can tell.

Qin Ce wrote a reply letter on the spot, and flew one to Chang'an and the other to Changli.

When Qin Jing and Qin Ju were stationed in Chang'an, Murong Xianbei, who was entrenched in Sanhan, was ready to move, and invaded the border several times, which was very dishonest.The people in Pingzhou suffered so much that they didn't care about the newly opened arable land, and their families moved inward, and the border villages were abandoned one after another.

Qin Yu received the urgent report and ordered to send troops to suppress the bandits.

As long as they heard a little wind, the Xianbei cavalry ran away, not intending to fight at all.With the looted property, he quickly returned to Sanhan without even a trace.

After several times, Qin Yu finally became angry, and sent a letter to Xihe, please send troops to Maruto to wipe out these bandits completely!Even if they can't be wiped out, they still have to be beaten until they cry for their fathers and mothers, and dare not set foot in the Central Plains again!

To this, Qin Ce's reply was very simple, just one word: Yes.

Murong Xianbei was unstable internally, Murong Chong and Murong Ling were suppressed by Murong Chui, and they didn't use weapons for a while, but they had already formed a deadly enemy.This time the Xianbei cavalry harassed the frontier, I am afraid it was not Murong Chui's work, more than [-]% was Murong De.

That being the case, why should you be polite to the other party?

Call back directly!

With a new source of income, Qin Ce doesn't have to live on the grain.If you can win the land of Sanhan and borrow the grain of Goguryeo, it will definitely be a good thing.

What's more, if they can take the opportunity to destroy Murong Xianbei and kill Murong Chui, the northeast border will be worry-free, and the Qin family will be able to devote all their efforts to clearing the Central Plains and expel the bandits from China as soon as possible.

After sending out the letter, Qin Ce turned around and mentioned the spring plowing in the coming year.

In the back house, Mrs. Liu had to report back from her servants, knowing that Qin Jiu had contracted a cold, but she refused to take medicine for a long time, with a slightly cold expression.

"Sister," Mrs. Liu persuaded, "I think it will be all right after a while."

"After a while, how many days have passed?" Madam Liu said coldly, "Why don't you think about it when you make a mistake? With today's results, you don't think about your own mistakes, but act like this, how can you look like an upright person?" Big man!"

Madam Liu stood up suddenly with frost on her face, her long sleeves fluttered slightly, and she was about to walk out of the inner room.

"Sister?" Aunt Liu hurriedly got up and walked quickly behind Mrs. Liu, "Sister, don't..."

Mrs. Liu stopped in her tracks, stood on the porch, let Shuofeng bulge her dress, and said in a deep voice, "A-mei, if you make a mistake, you have to teach it. I didn't deal with it immediately when I made a mistake before, so I let him go further and further away." .Nowadays, I can't watch him go into a corner again."

Aunt Liu was silent.

"He is no longer a child. He should know the seriousness of the matter. If he did something wrong today, he should sincerely repent. Even if he is a king of idleness in the future, he will always be safe. If he does not admit his mistakes, he is so irresponsible and unworthy." Qin's name!"

After saying that, Madam Liu looked even colder, facing the wind and snow, she walked straight through the corridor.The sleeves of the long skirt dance wildly in the wind, making loud noises.

Aunt Liu bit her lower lip, and immediately followed.

In the west courtyard, Qin Jiu was sitting on the porch, ignoring coughing, grabbed the wine jar, and took two gulps.

The servant girl stood by, not daring to persuade her easily.Seeing that the wine jar was getting empty, Qin Jiu didn't intend to stop at all, and couldn't help showing anxiety, and when he was about to bite the bullet and speak, there was a sudden burst of footsteps from down the corridor.

The sound of footsteps was very regular, and when they came close, there was a bit of a chill.

"Ma'am." Seeing the person coming, the servants hurriedly blessed themselves and saluted.

Qin Jiu looked up and saw Mrs. Liu, whose face was covered with frost, her expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously put down the wine jar.

"Mum..." After the words came out, Qin Jiu burped suddenly.Knowing that he lost his composure, his face turned red.

"So you're not drunk enough to know that I'm your mother." Mrs. Liu took half a step forward, looked at Qin Jiu, and said, "What do you want to say about your mother?"

Qin Jiu lowered his head and coughed violently.

Madam Liu looked at him, then swept over the crooked wine jar, her expression became even colder.He suddenly took off the golden hairpin, pulled Qin Jiu up, stuffed the golden hairpin into his hand, put his five fingers together, and with a backhand, the sharp tail of the hairpin reached Qin Jiu's throat.

"If you don't want to live, you just need to use your strength. Just give it away lightly, and everything will be over." Mrs. Liu said.

"Aunt..."

"Why, don't you dare?"

Qin Jiu's face was slumped, and Mrs. Liu was even more angry.

"You read poems and books in vain, you forgot the precepts of your ancestors, and you didn't know that you were causing trouble to Xiao Qiang, but you wanted to fight against each other!" Mrs. Liu said word by word, "You have forgotten all about how a man established the world and how the ancestors of the Qin family taught!"

"You have forgotten why the ancestors of the past dynasties stained the battlefield with blood!"

"How did your eldest father, uncle and uncle die? How did Liu's Wubao be destroyed? How did your concubine mother and concubine brother die under the arrows of bandits? You have forgotten all about it!"

"Qin Jiu Qin Boqiong, what do you remember? What else do you remember?!"

"You are not worthy of being called the Qin family, and you are not worthy of being a son of the Han family!"

Qin Jiu's face flushed red, and then turned pale again.

"Mom, I don't, I really don't..."

"Nothing? Didn't join forces with the bandits to harm your brother?" Mrs. Liu's voice became colder, "Yes, you did not join forces with the bandits, but you didn't report it and just ignored it! You let the bandits go and almost harmed your brother What is the difference between life and accomplice?"

Qin Jiu was speechless, with no blood on his face.

"Azi, how did you come to this day, don't you know in your heart?"

Mrs. Liu took back the gold hairpin, stared at Qin Jiu, and said disappointedly, "If it were my early years, I would have whipped you until you woke up. But you are already an adult, and you have a son and a daughter under your knees. I will give you face." , let yourself think clearly, but what about you? How do you do it? You stay with alcohol all day long!"

"Son, you've disappointed me so much."

Mrs. Liu straightened her back, and said word by word: "You are ashamed of the name of the Qin family, and of the ancestors of the past generations!"

Qin Jiu trembled his lips and coughed violently again.

"Mom, my son is wrong."

"Wrong? No, you are right." Mrs. Liu closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, the pain and anger all dissipated, and there was no more emotion.

"You admit your mistake with your mouth, but in your heart you believe that your father wronged you. You would rather listen to outsiders' instigation than trust your own family."

Qin Jiu opened his mouth, as if he was about to argue, but when he met Mrs. Liu's eyes, the courage he mustered disappeared in an instant, and he was unable to utter a word.

Madam Liu was even more disappointed.

"Azi, your brother has conquered Chang'an, and your father intends to move the capital. I will tell your father to keep you in Xihe."

"Mum?" Qin Jing was stunned.

"Xihe will become the fiefdom of your eldest son. Although he is young, he still understands the truth. Arranged by the Prime Minister of the State, it may not be impossible to do something. As for you," Mrs. Liu paused, "Since your health is not good, you can rest assured to recuperate. "

Qin Jiu couldn't believe his ears.

"The Central Plains haven't been cleared yet, so you're thinking about what you shouldn't be thinking. If you end up today, no wonder others."

"Mom, how could you treat me like this?"

"Wronged?" Mrs. Liu said in a deep voice, "Ah, if you don't think about it, Ah Zheng may not fight with you. But you made mistakes again and again, and you had a rift with your brother, and you have come to where you are step by step."

"Remember what I said, today, it's not because of others, it's all about yourself!"

After saying these words, Mrs. Liu ordered her maidservant to call the doctor, asked them carefully, and ordered them to boil the medicine, "Watch the gentleman drink it with my own eyes."

"promise!"

From the beginning to the end, Mrs. Liu did not speak.It wasn't until Qin Jiu was sent back to the inner room that the voice could no longer be heard, Madam Liu turned and left, and then took two steps forward to hold Madam Liu's arm.

Feeling the coldness of her palms, Aunt Liu's lips trembled slightly, and her heart was inevitably sore.Holding Madam Liu's wrist firmly, she said in a low voice, "Sister, if you are tired, you can lean on me."

Mrs. Liu didn't make a sound, but shook her head lightly.

"Sister..."

"Let's go."

The two walked through the corridor, Madam Liu's back was still straight.

The long sleeves were blown up by the wind, the dark eyes became more determined, the sorrow and fragility were all buried deep in the bottom of my heart, and I never saw the slightest bit.

Ningkang three years, January

After discussing all matters and setting a contract for the trade route, Huan Rong is ready to leave for the south.

Before dawn, the camp was already full of shouts and noises.

By the light of the fire, the state soldiers began to dismantle the tent, and the cook was busy burying the pot and cooking.The fences outside the camp were pulled down one by one, and the people of Chang'an who had returned from the south volunteered to help, helping to pack up some odds and ends, tidy them up, and send them to the cart together.

After a while, the aroma of broth and steamed cakes wafted from the camp.

Huan Rong was sitting on the military chariot, listening to the noise of people outside the chariot, still sleepy.

Negotiating with the Qin family was exhausting, and with the letter from Xuyi, Yan Jiankang seemed to have plans. He couldn't sleep peacefully for two days, and now his eyes were faintly blue, and he was very listless.

Today, I got out of camp and got up early again. I was concerned about my own image, so I didn't yawn.

Huan Rong patted his cheek vigorously, still lacking energy.Reluctantly, he made up his mind to soak the cloth towel, threw it on his face, and shuddered for a moment, and finally regained some consciousness, and his eyes would blur if he didn't move any more.

"My lord, General Qin is outside the camp."

Hearing this, Huan Rong hurriedly put down the cloth towel, wiped his face with a clean cloth, put on the cloak, pushed the car door open, and said, "How long have you been here?"

"Just arrived." Dian Kui reported back, "General Qin said that he wants to see the envoy off."

Huan Rong didn't say much, and ordered Diankui to drive to greet him outside the camp in person.

walk?

Not to mention whether he is mentally ill and will fall down in the middle of the road, let alone that it is freezing and he will sneeze after two steps, it is safer to take a car.Presumably Brother Qin would not care about these details.

Outside the camp, Qin Jing sat high on his horse, and when he saw Wu Che coming, he immediately rode forward.

The Wu chariot stopped, and the door was pushed open. Before Huan Rong could ask, Qin Jing got off the horse in one step, walked quickly to the front of the chariot in two steps, supported it with one hand, and jumped into the compartment. Blocked" and went back.

Dian Kui who was driving: "..."

The accompanying Qin cavalry: "..."

The state soldier who was dismantling the tent: "..."

Seeing the scene in front of them, everyone stared wide-eyed in unison, with the same thought in their hearts: Look at this situation, you really can't see anything.The relationship between Huan Shijun and General Qin is irreversible, and the friendship is very close, which is not a lie.