Ten days later, good news came from the Western Region. General Cao Zhen, the general of Zhenxi, and his army of prefectures and counties defeated Hu Zhiyuanduo, Lu Shui, Fengshang, etc., beheading more than 50,000 people, and gained 100,000 lives, 1.11 million sheep, and 80,000 cattle. The Hexi area was completely destroyed. put down.
The emperor looked at the battle reports sent from the front line and was extremely excited.
Since the previous dynasty Huan Ling, due to the weakening of the country, the Western Regions have not been reopened. Today, Zidan defeated the rebels and showed his power in the Western Regions. It seems that opening up the Western Regions again is just around the corner!
Cao Pi smiled and said:
"In this battle, I launched my plan within the curtain, while Zidan's generals fought thousands of miles away. They fought front and back to defeat the captives, as if they were using their arms and fingers. I am afraid that no monarch or minister has ever been like this since ancient times."
——
It snowed for several days in a row, and before I knew it, it was the 29th day. One day later, it would be New Year's Eve.
Gu Ting, the housekeeper, started busy early in the morning. First, he replenished various New Year's goods that were not yet complete. Then, the head of the family was about to come back from Jingzhou. He also had to take care of the reception affairs in the house. Finally, there were also the things that the young master had given him. The mission is to find 'Amo'.
Xia Houxuan was naturally a little afraid of the cold, so every time in the middle of winter, Gu Ting would add more braziers to the young master's room.
"Young Master, I have been helping you search for Amo these past few days. However, there are really many affairs in the house these two days, and there are not many people sent there... But don't worry, Young Master, we will find him sooner or later." Gu Ting placed a plate of animal charcoal next to the brazier to comfort the depressed Xia Houxuan. [Note 1: Beast charcoal is charcoal carved into animal shapes in ancient times. 】
"Thank you, Uncle Gu." Xia Houxuan picked up a piece of animal charcoal and put it into the brazier. After looking at the flames in the charcoal basin for a while, he stood up and said, "I don't know when father will come back."
"Master, I hope we will go to the pavilion in the suburbs tomorrow evening." Seeing Xia Houxuan stand up and look outside, Gu Ting understood that the young master was about to go out. He hurriedly took the white fur hanging on the wall and handed it to Xia Houxuan. He said: "It's freezing outside. If you want to go out, young master, remember to put this on."
"Thank you, Uncle Gu." Xia Houxuan smiled warmly at Gu Ting, put on his fur, and strode out: "I'm leaving."
There was thick snow on the ground, and pedestrians stepped on it from time to time, making a "squeaking" sound.
The water surface of Yangqu near Dongshi has long been frozen like a glass of ice.
Xia Houxuan was afraid that the weather would freeze the horse's hooves, so he did not go out on the "White Que". He had already lost his "Amo" and did not want to let the "White Que" get into trouble again.
He originally called Cao Xi to come out, but happened to meet Sima Zhao, the eight-year-old second son of Sima Yi [Note 2], the servant in the middle of the road and the Hou of Anguo Township. So Xia Houxuan came to Dongshi with his two children. [Note 2: In the second year of Huangchu, Sima Yi was appointed as a minister and was given the title of Marquis of Anguo Township. 】
"Axuan, why did you bring us to the East Market? Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, the vendors have all gone home, and there is no market to visit." Cao Xi saw that the entire East Market was empty, except for some people playing in the snow. There was no one else besides the children, so they couldn't help but start to complain. Sima Zhao also looked at Xia Houxuan with confusion.
"Why don't you let me play a game with you?" How about the rules of the game?"
Cao Xi and Sima Zhao looked confused. They didn't know what game Xia Houxuan wanted to play. They nodded and expressed no objection.
"Listen up, everyone. We will start from this place later. Xi Di will go to the south, Zhao'er will go to the west, and I will go to the east. Within two hours, among the three of us, who will be within the east city first? , if you find my Amo, then you will win this game."
"Amo... what is it..." Sima Zhao was confused and asked in a low voice.
"Amo is just a black, chubby puppy." Seeing that Sima Zhao didn't know, Cao Xi immediately explained patiently to Sima Zhao.
"Oh, I know, puppy." Sima Zhao nodded thoughtfully: "It turns out that brother Xiahou lost his playful dog. A playful dog is worth tens of thousands of dollars now. Horses are still expensive.”
He didn't know that what Xia Houxuan lost was not the playful dog worth ten thousand dollars, but just a chubby little black wild dog brought from the Jingxiangchu area.
"Then, it's decided." Xia Houxuan said with a smile: "Whoever finds 'Amo' first, I will buy the most delicious candied haws and bait [Note 3] from Luoyang Restaurant to eat. This is the reward. "[Note 3: Bait is a kind of food that is ground into powder from rice, mixed with minced meat, and steamed. Because of its delicious taste, everyone loves it, and it is attractive, so it is called "bait". 】
Cao Xi and Sima Zhao swallowed unconsciously. Although they usually had no shortage of delicious food, when they heard about the most delicious candied haws and rice bait in Luoyang City, they instantly became very curious and greedy.
"Let's begin!" Xia Houxuan shouted and ran towards the east direction he chose. The two children also hurriedly started searching towards their south and west.
"Amo..." Xia Houxuan wrapped his white fox fur tightly around his body, trembling while shouting: "Amo..."
Not only did he rummage through the city to the east, he even found no trace of the nearby streets, but there was still no sign of 'Amo'.
More than half an hour had passed, but there was not even a shadow of the puppy. Xia Houxuan gradually became anxious. The two hours were almost up, and when he was returning to the original location, suddenly, there seemed to be a scream in the distance.
It's a child's scream!
Something happened!
Xia Houxuan was startled and hurriedly ran in the direction of the sound.
That seems to be the west direction of Dongshi.
When Xia Houxuan arrived, he saw Sima Zhao sitting in the snow, crying, and four eye-catching tooth marks were left on his forearm!
"What's wrong!" Xia Houxuan hurriedly knelt down and looked at Sima Zhao's wounds. But I accidentally caught a glimpse of a limping puppy in the snow. It seemed that its leg was injured. It was Amo!
He hurriedly tried to pick up the puppy, but he heard Sima Zhao yell: "Be careful, it bites!"
Xia Houxuan was startled before he realized that Amo had bitten Sima Zhao. He glanced at the puppy and then looked back at Sima Zhao's wound. There was no bleeding, but the wound looked quite deep. He couldn't delay it. , I heard that dog injuries can also kill people. He hesitated for a moment and then said: "Brother Xi, let's take Zhao'er to see the doctor quickly."
"Okay." Cao Xi said and hurriedly helped Sima Zhao onto Xia Houxuan's back.
Xia Houxuan turned around and glanced at Amo limping towards him with his peripheral vision. He felt cruel and finally walked faster towards the nearby medical center.
"Woo...Woo..." The puppy was injured on one leg and limped very slowly. It watched the back of its little master gradually disappearing at the corner of the street in the distance, so It could only follow the footprints in the snow, but the wind blew tears into its eyes...
"Woo... Wu..." The sound of the wind seemed to be mixed with a hint of whimpering. Xia Houxuan paused and felt sour in his heart. However, he only paused for a moment, then hurried forward again, The cold wind blew into his eyes, making him want to cry.
Not long after, Xia Houxuan and Cao Xi took Sima Zhao to a nearby medical clinic.
The old doctor took Sima Zhao's pulse for a while, shook his head and sighed.
Sima Zhao was immediately frightened.
"Mr...Mr. Zhong, what...what's wrong..." Cao Xi was frightened when he saw the doctor shaking his head and sighing. He cried and asked: "Zhao'er, what's wrong with him? Please tell me quickly!"
"Alas..." The old doctor shook his head and sighed: "How could you kids let such a young child play with wild dogs? Fortunately, there is no big problem. Otherwise, let's see how you explain to their parents!"
"Then, what happened to my brother Zhao..." Xia Houxuan asked softly.
"Fortunately, this dog is still young and has never been bitten by a rat, so the tooth poison is not serious and it is not a serious problem." The old man took Sima Zhao's hand pulse and checked the wound again. After making a good judgment, he stood up. He took out a bamboo slip from the medicine cabinet and said: "This is the prescription. According to the prescription above, go to the nearby drugstore to grab two doses of the medicine. Decoction it and take it every day. Once the fever occurs, it will be fine."
"Huh, that's good, that's good..." Cao Xi, Xia Houxuan, and Sima Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. It's just that this old doctor has nothing to do, why would he scare people? Really.
Xia Houxuan felt at ease. He had long heard that dog poison was very powerful. If something really happened, he would not be able to forgive himself.
As soon as he returned home, Xia Houxuan saw Amo in his sister's arms.
"Be careful! Give it to me quickly." Xia Houxuan was startled and immediately rushed forward and shouted.
"Oh my God, brother, please keep your voice down, you scared me. Brother, please don't worry. What can happen to Amo in my arms?"
"I'm afraid it will bite you." Xia Houxuan took the puppy from his sister's hand. The puppy licked the palm of its little master affectionately. Xia Houxuan sighed and touched the puppy's cold little head.
"I have been taking care of Amo for more than a month, and he still bites me." Xia Houhui said with a smile: "Besides, if I am so kind to it, it must be very happy and treat me well."
On the dusk of New Year's Eve, snowflakes were still flying all over the sky. The heavy snow for three days in a row actually became more and more beautiful. On New Year's Eve during the period of national mourning, without the silk and bamboo vomit, there is actually a bit more quiet and peaceful beauty.
In Changting Pavilion in the southern suburbs, Xia Houxuan's brother and sister, Gu Ting and the whole family are waiting for Xia Houshang's return.
The sound of horse hooves and neighing in the distance, as well as the clang of the guards' ceremonial weapons, gradually became clearer, like the music of a reunion.
"Father, mother!" As soon as he saw the chariot and honor guard vaguely visible in the distance, Xia Houhui became extremely excited and ran towards the honor guard.
"Hui'er, be careful if you fall." Xia Houxuan shouted and chased after her.
Xiahou Shang heard the shouts in the distance, got off the chariot, and saw Xiahou Hui running towards him.
"Oh, we haven't seen each other for a year, Hui'er has sunk a lot!" Xia Houshang picked up Xia Houhui and let his daughter sit on his arm.
"Husband, take the children into the city quickly. They must have been frozen after waiting for a long time." Ms. Cao said as she lifted the curtain of the chariot.
"Okay." Xia Houshang pinched his son's cold cheek and said with a smile, "Madam, close the curtains and be careful of catching a cold."
"Welcome to you, Your Majesty!" Gu Ting and everyone in the house shouted together.
"Brother Gu, please take everyone back to the city quickly. Thank you for your hard work." Xia Houshang put down Xia Houhui and helped Gu Ting up.
"Okay, sir." Gu Ting, who had always been calm, was smiling from ear to ear at this moment.
