Liu Qi said in a deep voice: "Xia Houyuan wanted to seize my Hanzhong, but was defeated and captured. If it weren't for the sake of my third uncle, he would have beheaded him in public. You guys still want to redeem me."
"This..." Xia Houmao looked stunned, "Isn't it... always like this?"
Liu Qi sneered and said: "We were all Han ministers before, and we still had some sympathy. Now Cao Cao has openly established a national title, and his intentions are even more sinister than Dong Zhuo. How can I allow the enemy to cause trouble?"
Xia Houmao was stunned on the spot. Although Cao Pi did not blame him for the fall of Chang'an, he felt guilty, so he took the initiative to go to Xiangyang to redeem his people. He thought he could redeem his crimes by relying on his friendship with Liu Qi, but he didn't expect this to happen.
In desperation, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and beg for mercy: "I hope the general will give me some mercy in view of our past friendship."
"Face is always earned by oneself, not given by others!" Liu Qi glared at Xia Houmao and said coldly: "Go back and tell Cao Pi that if you don't take the initiative to abdicate and serve the emperor, everyone will be his own master from now on. There is no need to show any mercy. , the hearts of the people in the world are against the Han, and if you insist on going your own way, you will be wiped out, and it will be too late to regret it!"
Xia Houmao was very anxious and said hurriedly: "General Liu..."
"Seeing off guests——" Liu Qi turned around and ignored him.
Xia Houmao looked bitter, shook his head and sighed, then turned around and prepared to have the gold and silver jewelry carried away.
Liu Qi said calmly: "Xia Houyuan and his son spent a lot of money on food and drink in Jingzhou every day. Let's just use this money as room and board expenses!"
Xia Houmao's face changed drastically. He suddenly turned around, pointed at Liu Qi and said sternly: "Liu Qi, don't go too far!"
"Is this called bullying? You are telling lies with your eyes open!" Liu Qi's eyes were slightly stern, and he glanced sideways at Xia Houmao: "Compared to Cao Mengde who bullied ministers and killed innocent people indiscriminately, I have done my best to benevolent and righteous. Your Excellency keeps saying that I am bullying, why don't you Reflect on yourself? How have you been doing in business these years? Have you ever seriously studied the art of war and strategy? Why do you keep losing in battles?"
"You...you, you, you -" Xiahou Mao blushed at the words, and immediately turned pale again. He was trembling and pointed at Liu Qi, unable to speak. He yelled for a long time: "Liu Boxei, don't be so arrogant, I, Xiahou I will come again one day."
Liu Qi cupped his fists and said with a smile: "I'm waiting for you in Luoyang!"
Xia Houmao snorted angrily, threw up his sleeves and strode out. He didn't even visit Xia Houyuan, but went straight out of the house to ride and leave Xiangyang. He wanted to go back to study the art of war and avenge his previous shame.
There was silence in the lobby for a moment, before Yi Ji said in confusion: "My lord took Xia Houmao's golden pearl, but humiliated it. If the news spreads, the world will laugh at it."
"It's just floating clouds and flowing water, let it go!" Liu Qi didn't care. There are too many self-righteous people in the world. They only believe in the facts they imagine. No matter how much they explain, it is in vain.
Pang Hong said: "My lord is the pillar of the Han Dynasty. He wants to carry out the great cause of rejuvenation and lead the world with benevolence, virtue and faith. He cannot overwhelm others with power."
"Isn't this all forced by you?" Liu Qi spread his hands helplessly, "Xia Houyuan is a famous general in the world, how can such a powerful enemy be let go at will? Everyone in Cao Ying thought that they could come and go freely if they had money, how could they be worthy of those dead soldiers? ?”
Pang Hong looked at Liu Qi, who looked innocent, and could only clasp his fists and said: "What the Lord said is absolutely true. It is really inappropriate for us to accept the gift without reporting it."
"Of course it's not appropriate!" Liu Qi stood up and came to the row of boxes. He opened the lid and the hall was filled with jewels. He pointed at the boxes and said, "What's so good about these treasures? Cao Pi and the others regard me as someone who loves money as much as his life." , You two shouldn’t be like this! I am a member of the Han clan, a great general, and the Marquis of Xiangyang. I am determined to support the world and support the imperial court. How can I be a person who is greedy for money and ignores the overall situation? "
"Yes, yes!" Yi Ji lowered his head and could only agree in a muffled voice.
But I was thinking in my heart that the young man who took charge of Jingzhou at the beginning, tried his best to develop business, encouraged businessmen, and tried every means to make money from everywhere, now he has become the overlord of one party, and his demeanor is very different.
Pang Hong secretly pouted at the side. Liu Biao died of illness. The treasures hidden in the treasury were priceless. Liu Qi actually sent someone to "auction" the palace belongings, causing an uproar in Jingzhou. Three pieces of gold, silver and jade were sold for 80 million. .
Half a month ago, he sold three volumes of "Five Classics Chapters and Verses" to Shi Xie for one million yuan, claiming that it was for the people of Xuanhua Jiaozhi. It was not for money, but for some "copyright fees", so that he could be worthy of his dead old father.
Today, Xia Houmao's property was impounded again, and he even said something about "board and lodging expenses" that was completely unheard of, but he was so plausible that it was impossible to refute him. This was probably the overbearing spirit of the king, right?
The two of them were each thinking about Liu Qi's recent changes, but they heard Liu Qi say: "This batch of money does not need to be deposited in the treasury. It can be converted into cash notes and transferred to Luoyang to build a Hanxing altar at the old site of Nangong. There does not need to be many pavilions and the courtyard walls must be certain." Be tall."
"A fierce battle is going on in the Central Plains. It's the time when we are ready to prepare our troops. It's really not appropriate to carry out large-scale construction. I hope my lord will think twice." Yi Ji was surprised. Liu Biao had just died, and Liu Qi was already ready to enjoy himself?
Pang Hong also advised: "The world is uncertain, generals must guard against arrogance and impetuosity!"
Liu Qi laughed and said, "You two are overly worried. I built this altar not for personal use, but specifically to imprison Xia Houyuan and others. After all, he is a son of the Cao family and the father-in-law of his third uncle. Imprisoning him in prison would be too much. If I stay in Xiangyang for fear of causing trouble, I have no choice but to put him under house arrest here."
Yi Ji wondered: "Wouldn't it be better to send him to Wancheng, Jiangling or even Hanzhong?"
Liu Qi shook his head and said: "Luoyang is the old capital. I built this altar to commemorate our ancestors, to admire the famous Yuntai generals who revitalized the Han Dynasty, and to remember the ancients and inspire today. There are still many loyal and righteous people in Cao's camp, but they were deceived by Cao's thieves. , or if he cannot help himself, he can be captured and imprisoned here, so that he can calm down and reflect on himself. If he still feels Han Dynasty in his heart and repentes, wouldn't everyone be happy?"
Yi Ji was greatly impressed and said with emotion: "My lord has the great ancestor's mind for employing people, and also has the ancestor's ability to use troops, so why worry about the Han Dynasty not being prosperous?"
While discussing the role of the Han Xingtan, the personal guards came in to report. Sun Quan sent Xu Xiang, the envoy from Jiangdong, to mourn Liu Biao on behalf of the Marquis of Wu.
Liu Qi frowned and said: "Sun Quan was defeated in Shouchun, and was dismissed by Yangzhou Mu and Cao Pi. It's time to rest in peace and recuperate. Why did he send people to Xiangyang again?"
Pang Hong tugged at his beard and sneered: "I'm afraid it's the weasel who wishes the chicken New Year greetings, and it's not a good idea!"
Liu Qi couldn't guess the purpose of his visit, so he just had to go out of the house to greet him first. Although Jiangdong had sent people to mourn him before, this time they represented Sun Quan, and the meaning was different.
Everyone met at the gate of the mansion. Liu Qi first took Xu Xiang to the mourning hall to burn incense and place memorial objects. After the ceremony, he took Xu Xiang to the mansion.
Liu Qi asked: "I heard that Wu Hou was hit by an arrow before the battle. I wonder how injured he is?"
"Alas, the situation is not good!" Xu Xiang shook his head and sighed bitterly: "When Guotai saw that Wu Hou was seriously poisoned, he was so frightened and angry that he fainted and died on the boat that day."
"Is this happening?" Liu Qi was surprised and said hurriedly: "I don't know how your mother-in-law is doing?"
"The old lady has not improved yet, and both mother and son are ill in bed today!" Xu Xiang looked sad, and took out a brocade box and handed it over: "Before leaving, the old lady made pineapple cakes with her own hands while she was sick, and asked General, I express my condolences and please take care of yourself."
