In order to avoid leaking the news, Xia Houyuan inspected the camp thoroughly overnight. All suspicious people were detained in the back camp first, and 10,000 elite soldiers were selected as backup.
Early the next morning, he sat in the tent and waited for the military situation. He seemed to be calm, but in fact he was very anxious.
Unexpectedly, after a day, there was still no movement on the mountain. He only drank a bowl of water all day, and he became anxious at night.
Xia Houshang advised, "Don't worry, uncle. It's not convenient to march from the small road to Taibai Road. I'm afraid it will take two days to get back."
Xia Houyuan waved his hand and said: "I am not worried about Ji Quan. This plan is related to success or failure, so I have to be cautious. If the news leaks out, all the previous efforts will be wasted!"
Xia Houshang said with relief: "There are military advisers in the camp to arrange the deployment, so everything will be safe. We will have to fight against the enemy later. It's important for my uncle to take care of himself."
Xia Houyuan realized that he had lost his temper and ordered: "Ask the kitchen to bring a bucket of rice, plus two chicken drumsticks."
Xiahou Shang was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered the meal to be cooked. As a general, if he did not eat or drink, it would definitely affect the morale of the army.
Looking forward to dawn again, Xia Houyuan's eyes were covered with bloodshot eyes. He sat in the tent and sighed. He was in a very complicated mood. He was afraid that Liu Qi would come and that he would not come.
At noon, drums suddenly sounded in the camp. Xia Houyuan was refreshed and hurried out of the tent. He raised his head and looked towards the top of the mountain. Sure enough, a group of people and horses were coming down the mountain. He hurriedly ordered: "Wear clothes and wait!"
After they were dressed up here, the defenders came to report that Liu Qi sent someone to tell him that he was going to have a conversation with Xia Houyuan on the mountainside and that he was only allowed to bring 500 guards.
Xia Houyuan did not hesitate and left Xun You to guard the camp. He took Xia Houshang and his confidants and galloped up the mountain. There was a grassy slope on the mountainside and saw Liu Qi waiting with only 500 troops.
With a smile on his face, Liu Qi cupped his fists and said, "I have heard for a long time that you are a general who travels thousands of miles to get sick, and often catches the enemy unawares. When I see you today, you are indeed worthy of your reputation."
Xia Houyuan's face was gloomy, and he had no intention of quarreling. He shouted coldly: "Liu Qi, don't be so weird. Where is my son?"
Liu Qi smiled and said: "My good brother is enjoying good food and drink in the army. He is happy to miss Wei. He is ready to go to Xiangyang to see his sister."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Xia Houyuan was shocked and yelled: "How can my loyal son be willing to betray the Lord and be ungrateful? You must have kidnapped him by force and asked him to confront him face to face."
"Sure enough, there is no better son than a father!" Liu Qi sighed with emotion and said: "Since the general knows that Xiahou is powerful and loyal, he should also understand that although I will not kill the prisoners, I will never tolerate those who swear to death and refuse to surrender, leaving it as a future trouble."
After saying this, Zhang Yi moved his hands and escorted Xia Houwei out. His hands were tied, his mouth was covered with cloth so that he couldn't speak, and a bright knife was placed on his neck.
Xia Houyuan shouted sharply: "Liu Qi, what do you want?"
Liu Qi said: "As the saying goes, a tiger's poison will not eat its young, but the love of a calf is deep. How about I give you and your son a chance to live, and exchange my life for another?"
"Presumptuous!" Xia Houyuan said angrily: "How can a certain high-ranking general and commander-in-chief of the armed forces lose big things because of small things?"
Liu Qi's face darkened: "So, the general is not willing to redeem his life for your son?"
Xia Houyuan's face turned livid, and he gritted his teeth for a long time before saying: "Let him go and let him answer on his own."
Liu Qi signaled to take off the cloth ball, and Xia Houwei gasped for air and shouted: "Father, my child is not afraid of death. You must not make fun of me because I missed a big event by myself."
"Good son!" Xiahou Yuan was greatly pleased and gritted his teeth and said: "Liu Qi, you underestimate my Xiahou children too much. Although my son is young, he is not greedy for life and afraid of death. If you want to threaten someone with state affairs, then It’s a daydream.”
"As worthy of being a general, I will fulfill the loyalty of your father and son!" Liu Qi was unmoved and said coldly: "Behead him!"
Xia Houwei looked up to the sky and laughed: "Eighteen years later, I, Xia Houwei, am a good man again!"
"Weier!" A cold light flashed over Xia Houwei's head, and Xia Houyuan shouted, his vision turned black and he almost fell off his horse.
"Hahaha, Liu Qi, why don't you dare to take action? You can kill me if you can!"
In despair, he heard Xia Houwei laughing wildly and looked up. It turned out that the knife just slid across the top of his head and cut off a few strands of hair.
"This bastard!" Xia Houyuan cursed in his heart, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief, and was already sweating profusely.
"Killing you, wouldn't it mean that you would be famous for the rest of your life?" Liu Qi touched his chin, shook his head and said, "But I gained nothing, wouldn't it be a huge loss?"
When Xia Houyuan heard this, he immediately felt hopeful and hurriedly said: "Liu Qi, what are your conditions? Tell me quickly."
Liu Qi sighed helplessly: "Everyone in the Xiahou clan is so fierce, which really makes it difficult for me. In this case, we should follow the old rules: redeem people with money. Xiahou Dun is worth five million, and Xiahou Wei is worth three million?"
"Ah?" Xia Houyuan was stunned. Liu Qi's conditions surprised him.
Xia Houwei roared angrily: "Young man Liu Qi, kill him if you want. A man of seven feet tall will never be humiliated. How can you measure it with money?"
"It's true that newborn calves are not afraid of tigers!" Liu Qi had a headache and seemed to have no way to deal with the father and son. He gritted his teeth in pain and said: "For the sake of you and my third uncle's in-laws, let's reduce it by another five hundred thousand!"
"Father, my child is not afraid of death. There is no need to redeem his life for me!" Xia Houwei shouted: "Liu Qi, don't even think about getting a copper from me, don't even think about it -"
Liu Qi was taken aback and hurriedly waved his hand: "Take him down quickly so that he can be guarded."
After Xia Houwei was taken away and the court was cleared, Liu Qi clasped his fists and said: "General Xiahou, I have made some concessions. Your Majesty is only two hundred and five. People cannot be resurrected after death. After all, they are also Xiahou's children. Could it be that they are reluctant to part with this little money?"
"I didn't mean that!" Xia Houyuan looked strange and asked proactively: "Are there any other conditions?"
"Everyone knows that I, Liu Qi, have never recognized people but not money!" Liu Qi shrugged and said helplessly: "With the general's temperament, other conditions must not be agreed upon, so why bother to break up and break up unhappy?"
"This..." Xia Houyuan hesitated, he couldn't take the initiative to withdraw the troops, right?
Liu Qi then said: "I'm also worried that Xia Houwei will commit suicide and end up losing both men and money. Please go back and prepare quickly, so as not to have long nights and dreams."
"Let me think about it!" Xia Houyuan secretly regretted that he had said so much just now, and was so frightened that Liu Qi did not dare to threaten him with official matters, and wished he could give himself a big mouth.
"Wait a minute!" Just as he turned the horse's head, Liu Qi shouted again.
Xia Houyuan turned around quickly and asked, "Has the young master changed his mind?"
Liu Qi said: "Today's meeting in private was just out of consideration for my third uncle's affection. However, when the two armies are fighting, you and I are rivals after all. The general attacked Huang Hansheng in a sneak attack and has not recovered yet. The generals are eager for revenge. I can only give him You have one day to avoid chilling the hearts of our generals."
"This..." Xia Houyuan was speechless again. Should he say thank you in person?
Xia Houshang came closer and whispered: "Liu Qi only cares about money, what should we do?"
Watching Liu Qi and his entourage go up the mountain, Xia Houyuan felt disappointed. He never expected that Liu Qi would not follow the routine and wanted to catch up with Liu Qi, grab him and curse him.
"You are a noble man, have you ever seen that money can't make a difference? You are so worthless, you only have money in your eyes. Don't you know how important the Jigu is and how important the pass is? How can you achieve great things?"
But Liu Qi had already led his troops back to the camp and disappeared, so he had no choice but to sigh and go down the mountain sadly.
