"This Jiang Boyue, after returning without success, was able to win the position of general and grant the governor the power of Chinese and foreign military affairs. It seems that it is really not easy!"
Master Sima was quietly reading the latest newspaper in his study. When he was lost in thought, a school official came to the study:
"General Qi, my subordinates recently found some information in the market."
The school affairs officer of the school affairs office respectfully knelt on the ground and carefully stated his purpose.
The school official was an assassination official created by Emperor Taizu Wu, Cao Cao. Later, it was directly under the jurisdiction of Emperor Cao Wei and only served the emperor and the royal family.
The reason why the former general Cao Shuang was able to mobilize school officials was not because of his status as the chief assistant of the general, but because of his royal family status.
But now, Master Sima has blatantly brought the school affairs office under his command, and no official in the entire empire has raised any objections.
"speak!"
Master Sima coldly squeezed out a word from between his teeth.
"I heard from my humble position that Zhongshu Ling Li Anguo seemed to have recently visited the residences of Changling Marquis and Taichang Xiahou Taichu together with Zhang Ji, Zhang Guojiu, and Xu Shizong!"
Sure enough, there is no airtight wall in this world, let alone under the supervision of school officials!
Xia Houxuan didn't show any flaws for several months, but Li Feng and others exposed their whereabouts in just one night!
"I know, let's get down!"
"only."
After Master Sima was silent for a long time, a cold look with strong murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
Two days ago, Li Yi, the governor of Yanzhou, requested to go to the Hajj. Master Sima didn't take it seriously at first, but today's remarks about school affairs made him wake up.
It seems that Li Yi requested to enter the court, most likely because he wanted to bring troops to Beijing to cooperate with his brother Li Fengli!
Li Feng and Li Anguo used to play tricks on Cao Shuang and his father Sima Yi in order to protect themselves wisely, and they were always known as "You Guang".
Although he is promoted by himself and holds an important position now, who can guarantee that he will be completely used by himself?
It seems that I want to trick this Li Anguo and see if he uses his trust as a bargaining chip against me.
If not, that's best.
if so……
"snort!"
Master Sima snapped a bright white camellia that was blooming in the courtyard.
After hearing what the school official said, Wang Yi, who was standing by, naturally would not let go of this opportunity to express himself:
"General, since Li Feng has this plan, please go to Li Feng's house and bring him to see the general! If Li Feng is not prepared to rebel, he will definitely come to see the general. If his excuse is not available, just one person can stop him." Of.
If Li Feng is not summoned in time and realizes that the plan has been leaked, he will jump over the wall in a hurry, lead the palace guards to defend themselves with long halberds, enter the Yunlong Gate, take the emperor with him, climb to the Lingyuntai to play drums and gather in the audience, I am afraid that there will be trouble then! "
After listening to Wang Yi's words, Master Sima thought for a while, nodded and said:
"Wang Yi, in that case, you should personally send a letter to Li Anguo and ask him to come to the General's Mansion immediately!"
"Yes, General!"
——————
When Li Feng received the summons from General Sima Shi, he was startled subconsciously. When he thought that he had just discussed a top-secret matter with Tai Chu just a few days ago, he was even more shocked and frightened like a thunderbolt.
At this moment, at this juncture, why did Master Sima suddenly summon him?
Could it be that the secret between himself, Taichu and Shizong was really discovered?
Li Feng shook his head and comforted himself in his heart. If Master Sima had known about his plan, he would have sent the imperial army to arrest him long ago.
Hope nothing happens.
Li Feng tried his best to collect his thoughts, and after arranging his clothes and face in front of the bronze mirror, making sure that he had restored his former demeanor as a great celebrity, he went to the General's Mansion with an uneasy mood.
Although the Sima Mansion has been expanded a lot, its original area was not huge. The corridors and pavilions that Li Feng was used to walking around on weekdays seemed to have been extended countless times. Li Feng's legs felt numb after walking.
Before pushing open the study room, Li Feng once again tried his best to collect his thoughts, and then he mustered up the courage to step into the house.
"Anguo, I heard that you have been very close to Xiahou Taichu recently?"
This was the first sentence Master Sima said to Li Feng after he entered the palace.
Li Feng's forced composure was soon broken by Sima Shi's sudden question.
Master Sima hopes to see a Li Feng who is calm and able to show his innocent side.
If Li Feng was not so frightened under his sudden questioning, it meant it was nothing.
However, Li Feng's reaction made Master Sima very dissatisfied.
After Li Feng heard Sima Shi's gloomy questioning, he changed his usual cool and elegant calm demeanor. Instead, he became like a frightened golden pheasant after being beaten with a stick, trembling and sweating all over his face.
A hint of murderous intent suddenly flashed in Master Sima's eyes, but that murderous intent was fleeting.
He would not take action against Li Feng until he could not confirm that he had betrayed him.
"Anguo, why don't you answer Gu's question?"
Li Feng was excited and immediately waved his sleeves to wipe the sweat from his forehead. After trying to calm himself down a little, he replied:
"General Qi, my humble position is just the same as before. I went with Xu Shizong to talk to Xiahou Taichu about literature."
"Oh? Then, what are you talking about?"
"The humble post, what I was talking about with Taichu was about the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties."
Li Feng responded by talking nonsense.
"hehe……"
Master Sima smiled and continued to put pressure on Li Feng:
"The affairs of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. Very good, then, what do you think about Gu now taking charge of the government and holding great power?"
Li Feng's face became paler, and his voice was already trembling.
"The general... is naturally... the Yi Yin and Zhou Gong of this generation."
Master Sima nodded with a smile. He did not change the topic, but continued to test Li Feng's reaction.
At this moment, Master Sima suddenly stood up and shouted loudly:
"I'm afraid you guys don't compare Gu to Yi Yin or Duke Zhou, but to Wang Mang or Dong Zhuo!"
After Li Feng heard these words, the last line of defense in his heart was finally shattered. He now firmly believed that Master Sima had known about the plans of his men.
If just now Li Feng was in an unknown fear of not knowing the other person's thoughts at all, then at this moment Li Feng's heart is filled with the courage to risk his life and survive.
Suddenly, Li Feng straightened his originally rickety back, changed his conscientious posture, and looked up to the sky and laughed.
"Hahahaha..., Master Sima!"
I saw Li Feng pointing angrily at Master Sima and yelling:
"You father and son have evil intentions and have long wanted to overthrow the Wei State. Unfortunately, I, Li Feng, am unable to capture and kill you!"
Master Sima was extremely angry at this moment. Like a hungry wolf staring at food, he stared fiercely at Li Feng, who was not afraid of death.
He slowly pulled out the "Fying Shadow" sword on his waist and walked step by step towards Li Feng, who was scolding him angrily.
"Those who betray me will die!"
Master Sima was furious at this moment. He did not stab Li Feng to death with his sword. Instead, he hit Li Feng's head with the iron ring on the sword's head. In an instant, blood spattered everywhere. Master Sima did not stop his bloody behavior. He just hit Li Feng on the head and neck again and again!
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, I can't help but eliminate thieves for the sake of the country..."
After Li Feng, who was completely disfigured and bloody, shouted these words at the top of his lungs, he fell to the ground and died!
"Somebody come!"
At this moment, the Sima Master, whose hands were covered with blood and looked like a Shura from hell, shouted:
"Send the traitor's body to Tingwei Mansion!"
"Yes!" Two soldiers not far away shouted loudly, then picked up Li Feng's body and dragged it out of the house.
——————
When Xu Yun heard that Li Feng had been summoned by the general, he was very restless.
After much thought, he finally decided to take the initiative to go to Sima Mansion to dispel Master Sima's doubts.
"Come here, prepare the chariot and go to the General's Mansion."
In any case, he should go and check the situation at this moment. Just when he went out and stepped onto the chariot, he suddenly saw two soldiers not far away, dragging a corpse with a bloody face along the street.
"Excuse me, two brothers of the Forbidden Army, what is going on?"
"According to the order of the general, drag the body of the traitor Li Feng to the Tingwei Mansion!"
After hearing this, Xu Yun looked at the unrecognizable and miserable corpse of his friend Li Feng. Suddenly, Xu Yun was filled with grief and fear. There was a roar in his head, and he felt the world spinning, and he almost fell off the chariot.
——————
Changlinghou Mansion.
He was still hoeing the weeds planted in the garden as usual.
For no reason, he remembered an article in "Poetry" taught by Dr. Yu Lexiang when he was a boy and studying at Taiyuan University.
"Picking weeds and picking weeds, the weeds also stop.
It's said to be returned, it's said to be returned, and the years are endless.
The reason why the house is so spacious and the house is so luxuriant is because of the wild beasts.
Not to mention Qiju, because of the 烃狁.
Picking weeds, picking weeds, the weeds are soft and soft.
When I say return, I say return, and my heart also stops worrying.
…”
Why don't I look like the person picking flowers in this poem?
The person in the poem is unable to return home because the war is still ongoing.
He himself was unable to reunite with his wife and children immediately because the national traitors had not been eliminated.
He recalled the scene when he first met Huigu in Qingzhou. At that time, he was trapped in a hunting pit, and she brought him food and some weeds every day, and listened to him telling some weird stories. story.
"I have left in the past, and the willows are still there,
Now that I'm thinking about it, it's raining and snowing.
The journey is slow, full of thirst and hunger.
My heart is sad, but I don’t know how sad I am…”
Xia Houxuan recited Weiwei while recalling the past.
He suddenly remembered the story he told Huigu back then.
When he was a boy, he could not understand why Shuqi and Boyi were so loyal to the Yin royal family and were willing to starve to death in Shouyang Mountain.
Now, he finally understands.
Just like myself, if I am a great minister of Wei for one day, I will be a great minister of Wei for the rest of my life.
"Tum! Tum! Tum!"
"Who is it? It's coming!"
Gu Ting heard someone knocking on the door and thought it was Li Feng and Xu Yun who had been here two days ago, so he agreed and went to the front yard to open the door.
When he opened the door and saw the person outside, he couldn't help but be shocked. He was so frightened that he couldn't speak. It was as if he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world!
——————
In the back garden of Xiahou Mansion, the visitor looked at Xiahou Xuan, who was leaning over to hoe vegetables with his back to him, feeling a little dazed for a moment.
After a while, when Xia Houxuan didn't respond at all, he took the initiative to say hello.
"Taichu, it's so elegant. I didn't expect that after so many years, you and I would be reunited in this vegetable garden!"
Xia Houxuan was startled when he heard the voice of the visitor, but soon he returned to normal and continued to take care of the weeds in the vegetable garden.
"General, right now, shouldn't he be participating in the ceremony of canonizing nobles in the palace? How come he has time to come to his humble residence as a guest?"
"For such a trivial matter as canonizing a noble person, I don't need to be present in person!"
Master Sima was not polite and went straight to the garden and sat down on the ground in front of the stone table. Looking at the familiar scenery in Xiahou Mansion, he couldn't help but think of the voice and smile of his late wife.
But he was only in a daze for a moment, and the flash of melancholy in his eyes was replaced by cold murderous intent.
"Taichu, if you are interested, can you play a game of chess with me again?"
The two of them were wandering in their thoughts at this moment, as if they had returned to the second year of Emperor Wen Huang Chu's reign, more than thirty years ago.
The past is vague.
"More than thirty years ago.
At the Yuanri Banquet in Luoyang Palace, the palace's brazier was lit, so even if there was heavy snow in the sky, the children would not feel cold.
In the pavilion, the eldest son of the emperor, Cao Rui, Duke of Qi, who was taking the princes to watch the snowy scenery in the palace, suggested that they play chess here.
"Looking at the situation, it seems that Mr. Xiahou is going to win." Cao Rui looked at the chessboard for a long time before he said.
"Otherwise, look at it, Your Highness." Cao Rui's attendant, Cao Zhao, pointed at the chessboard and whispered, "Young Master Xiahou just made a wrong move..."
Sure enough, after Xiahou Xuanluozi, Sima Shi sealed up a big dragon belonging to Xiahou Xuanbaizi within ten steps, turning the situation around.
"I lost." Xiahou Xuan was stunned for a moment, and then he said in admiration: "Brother Sima's chess skills are indeed very good."
Brothers Cao Shuang and Cao Xi all remembered that their father once said that this chessboard with vertical and horizontal traffic is like a battlefield and even more like an officialdom. If you are not careful, you will lose everything.
"I want to play too, I want to play too!" Five-year-old Cao Zhi started shouting.
"Xiao Caozhi, when did you learn Go?" Cao Rui smiled and touched the back of his cousin's head.
"I...I actually don't know how to do it..." Cao Zhi muttered sheepishly.
"It's okay." Cao Rui smiled and said, "Brother will teach you. Look..."
A group of children back then felt only carefree happiness while playing chess.
Maybe they still don't know that the world in the future will be a chessboard in their hands, and this chessboard will never be as clean and pure as it was back then. 』
Xia Houxuan collected his thoughts for a moment. He stood up slowly, turned around and washed his muddy hands in the pool beside him. He also asked Gu Ting to fetch a set of Go and placed it on the stone table in the garden. .
The two of them were speechless, just staring at the chessboard.
Sima Shi holds the black position and takes the lead to establish a certain position.
Xiahou Xuan's queen hand dropped the white piece and also took a corner.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of chess pieces fell, and the black and white formations clamped down on each other. For a moment, the winner could not be determined!
———————
Tingwei Mansion.
After receiving the order from General Sima Shi, Ting Wei Zhong Yu and Ting Wei Superintendent Gao Xun immediately dispatched officials to Li Feng's house with the imperial army to capture Li Feng's son, the husband-in-law of Princess Qi, the sister of Emperor Cao Fang. Li Tao.
On the other hand, the Imperial Guards guarding the military camp immediately rushed to the palace, intending to arrest the uncle Zhang Ji, the Huangmen Supervisor Su Shuo, the Yongning Palace Administrator Letun, and the servant Liu Xian who were participating in the ceremony of canonizing nobles. people!
——————
"Taichu, it's been more than thirty years, I didn't expect your chess skills to improve so much."
Sima Master, who was a little embarrassed by Bai Zi, looked at Xia Houxuan with approval.
After he thought about it for a long time, a sunspot came to his mind.
Xia Houxuan still placed and raised his pieces calmly. He said calmly:
"More than thirty years ago, Xuan remembers, Ziyuan, you said something that Wu General Lu Meng once said: After three days of separation, you should look at each other with admiration."
The white pieces fell, and the black pieces were instantly cut in half, lifeless.
"Good chess skills!"
Master Sima did not make any more moves, so he admitted defeat:
"Go can be compared to the battlefield, and it can also be compared to an official career. Taichu thinks this is correct?"
Xia Houxuan nodded, noncommittal:
"That's not bad."
"Official career on the battlefield changes rapidly, and every small decision made in advance may become the key to success or failure in the future."
Master Sima looked at Xia Houxuan with his wolf-like eyes:
"Taichu, do you know that you made a wrong decision from the beginning."
"I don't know what Zi Yuan is referring to, why?"
"The wrong decision Taichu made was to help the Cao family but not me, Sima!"
"Ha ha ha ha……"
After hearing what Master Sima said, Xia Houxuan seemed to have heard some joke. He waved his sleeves and smiled detachedly and said:
"Some things cannot be judged right or wrong just because of their success or failure."
At this time, there was a rush of footsteps outside the courtyard. The sound was very heavy, and it was known that the people coming were a group of soldiers wearing heavy armor.
"General Qi, the traitors Zhang Ji, Li Tao, Su Shuo, Le Dun, Liu Xian, etc. have all been arrested and are now in custody at Tingwei Mansion! And... General Su Mu also participated in Zhang Ji's The plan of others..."
"Su Mu..."
Master Sima's brows twitched slightly:
"Where is he now?"
"Su Mu...he has disappeared."
Although Xia Houxuan felt a little disappointed at this moment, he did not feel any fear or confusion.
He knew that Su Mu was the deepest thorn in Master Sima's heart, and Su Mu's escape would definitely make Master Sima feel anxious for the rest of his life.
"Somebody come!"
The painful look in Master Sima's eyes only lasted for less than a few seconds. After he adjusted his emotions, he slowly stood up and straightened the Wu Bian crown on his head. At this moment, he could no longer see anything in his eyes. To the slightest warmth:
"Xia Houxuan, the Marquis of Changling in Taichang, conspired with Zhang Ji, Li Feng and others. He is now being taken into custody and sent to the prison of Tingwei Mansion to await his fate!"
"promise!"
A group of "Da Wei" soldiers wearing strong armor and fierce looks gave a loud shout and walked towards Taichu, who was always calm.
At this moment, Xia Houxuan suddenly had a thought in his mind, that is, did he win or lose this game of chess?
——————
In the prison, there seemed to be nothing that could frighten Xia Houxuan at this moment.
Outside the cell, Ting Wei, Dingling Marquis Zhong Yu, his younger brother Zhong Hui, and Ting Wei Superintendent Gao Xun were sitting on the banquet in a leisurely manner. The three of them were drinking while waiting for the results of the interrogation by their officials.
Not long after, a jailer walked out of the cell and came to Zhong Yu.
"Why, Xia Houxuan still refuses to plead guilty?"
Zhong Yu picked up the wine bottle and drank a bottle of hot wine.
"I would like to report to Lord Tingwei that I have used all the punishments to force a confession, but Xia Houxuan refuses to admit his guilt. I am afraid that if I torture him again, someone will die..."
Zhong Yu put down the tea cup in his hand and sat quietly for a while, meditating.
"Shi Ji, you come with me to Xiahou Xuan's cell, and we will interrogate him in person!"
"yes, Sir."
Zhong Hui, with sly eyes, smiled slightly and followed his elder brother Zhong Yu towards the depths of the cell.
——————
When Zhong Hui saw the bloody man in front of him who was tied to the torture rack and covered with bruises, he couldn't help but feel a little shocked.
He is indeed a celebrity that I once admired!
He was covered in wounds, but still refused to give in easily. This is the Xia Houxuan in his mind!
Zhong Hui secretly praised in his heart.
In the past, the reason why I admired Xia Houxuan was probably because his talent and reputation made people envious and amazing.
And now, at this moment, what Zhong Hui admires about Xia Houxuan is his unyielding integrity and his spirit that is worthy of the name of "scholar"!
He felt quite regretful that he did not make friends with such famous people when he was young. Now, he only feels that if he misses the opportunity to make friends with Xia Houxuan again, he will regret it for the rest of his life.
"Taichu, you have suffered!"
Almost instantly, Zhong Hui's eyes were filled with tears. He pretended to be shocked and stepped forward to hold Xia Houxuan's blood-stained shoulders.
If you want to impress the other party, you have to do something face-saving. Zhong Hui burst into tears while thinking about ways to get closer to Xia Houxuan.
He firmly believed that Xia Houxuan would not refuse to befriend him again this time.
After all, now I am the most valued counselor of Master Sima. As long as I say a word, Xia Houxuan's life may be saved.
Zhong Hui was thinking proudly, but a burst of hoarse laughter interrupted his thoughts.
"Hehehe..."
Xia Houxuan, who had long, slightly gray hair and was covered in blood, looked at the well-dressed young man in front of him with aloof eyes and let out a long laugh.
He raised his eyes and looked at Zhong Hui. The bright and sharp look in his eyes that held too much made Zhong Hui feel very depressed.
"Although Xuan is a prisoner, he is not a sinner. He does not need mercy from others, nor does he need to receive favors from others!"
This sentence made Zhong Hui feel slapped in the face again.
Zhong Hui, who has always been proud, believed that this was Xiahou Taichu's contempt for him!
Isn't my attitude low enough? Why should he, a prisoner, face himself in such a condescending manner!
Zhong Hui's mentality instantly changed from his previous admiration for Xia Houxuan to deep hostility.
"Taichu, since you dared to conspire with Li Feng, why didn't you plead guilty? If you plead guilty as soon as possible, you can avoid some physical pain."
Zhong Yu, standing proudly on the side, said leisurely.
"Uncle Zhong Zhi, tell Xuan, what crime did Xuan commit?"
Xia Houxuan stared at the law enforcement officer in front of him, who was nominally a Wei Tingwei, with burning eyes. This clear and sharp look actually made Zhong Yu, who was originally calm and composed, break into a thin layer of cold sweat!
Yes, Xia Houxuan was just acting under the emperor's order. If you think about it carefully, what crime was he guilty of?
Zhong Yu couldn't help but feel a little ashamed, and was speechless for a moment.
In this way, after the three of them were silent for a while, the two brothers Zhong Yu and Zhong Hui left.
In the eerie, bloody and dark inner passage of the prison, the two brothers were walking side by side.
"Shi Ji, aren't you good at imitating the handwriting of various families?"
Zhong Yu suddenly stopped and looked back at his brother.
A sly light flashed in Zhong Hui's eyes. He already understood. He nodded to his brother and said:
"Don't worry, brother, you will understand what to do!"
——————
The General's Mansion.
General Sima Shi, who learned about the interrogation process and results, was looking at the black and white pieces placed on the case, his eyes full of struggle.
The last words of his late wife seemed to still be lingering in his ears.
Many years ago, that day when there was a thunderstorm.
Xia Houhui, who was about to die, struggled to open her eyes and took one last look at her husband, the man who had been walking hand in hand with her for nine years. At that moment, she looked into his eyes like this, word by word, slowly. said:
"Promise Hui'er... not to do those things you shouldn't do again, okay..."
"Husband, promise me... okay..."
Master Sima, who was in a daze, closed his eyes. He pressed the painful and swollen cheek under his left eye and couldn't help but shed a drop of turbid tears.
"Brother, what's wrong with you..."
Sima Zhao, who had just entered the study, was startled when he saw his elder brother with tears streaming down his face.
"nothing."
Master Sima wiped the tears from his eyes:
"The wind and sand were so strong just now that I lost my sight. Zishang, are you looking for me? What's the matter?"
Sima Zhao took a deep breath, finally mustered up the courage, and said to Master Sima:
"Brother, I came here today because there is something I want to ask of you..."
"You and I, brothers, can discuss everything we have. How can I ask for help? Tell me, what's the matter?"
"Brother, can you, don't...don't put Taichu to death..."
Sima Zhao, who had always had a clear and clear voice, lowered his head at this moment and spoke his thoughts in a voice as light as a mosquito.
Over the years, he has never forgotten the backbone of the man who carried him on his back in the ice and snow more than thirty years ago to find the doctor.
That backbone may not be very generous, but it seems to hold up a world in his heart.
More than thirty years ago, in the second year of Huangchu, the day before New Year's Eve.
""What's wrong with Zhao'er!"
Xia Houxuan, who was ten years old at the time, hurriedly knelt down and looked at the wound on Sima Zhao's arm. 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 stunned for a moment before realizing that it was Amo who bit Sima Zhao. He glanced at the puppy, then looked back at Sima Zhao, and then said: "Brother Xi, let's take Zhao'er to see the doctor quickly."
"Okay." Cao Xi said and helped Sima Zhao onto Xia Houxuan's back.
Xia Houxuan turned around, glanced at the puppy limping towards him with his peripheral vision, felt cruel, and finally quickened his pace towards the medical center.
"Woo...Woo..." The puppy was injured on one leg and walked 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 It walked forward with footprints in the snow, and the wind blew into its eyes, causing tears...
"Woo... Wu..." There seemed to be a hint of whimpering in the wind. Xia Houxuan paused for a moment, but then hurried forward. The cold wind blew into his eyes, making him want to Cry. 』
To take a step back, even if Sima Zhao and Xia Houxuan had no personal relationship, Sima Zhao, who wanted to leave a reputation as a wise king in the future, did not want Xia Houxuan, a famous scholar all over the world, to die in the hands of the Sima family.
In the study room, it was silent at the moment. Master Sima closed his eyes and said nothing, while Sima Zhao lowered his head and remained silent. The two brothers were struggling with pain in their hearts at this moment.
"Father, second uncle!"
At this time, a woman in plain clothes with frowning eyebrows came into the room. It is Sima Master's youngest daughter who has the most upright temperament and has not yet left the palace, Sima Lingjun.
"Lingjun, what's the matter?"
Lingjun's eyes were slightly red at the moment, and she stared at her father with a pair of autumn pool-like eyes like a sharp sword.
Ever since Master Sima slapped Ling Jun last time, the relationship between father and daughter seemed to have been covered with a layer of estrangement that was difficult to resolve.
"This time my uncle is imprisoned, everyone in Luoyang City is crying out for his injustice. Father, do you really want to go your own way, punish your uncle for his crimes, and even annihilate the three Xiahou clans?!"
Xia Houxuan was usually full of pity for his nieces. Even when Xia Houxuan was under house arrest in the past two years, Lord Ling visited him from time to time.
At this time, Sima Zhao raised his head and looked at his eldest brother hopefully. He knew that although his eldest brother had always been very independent, he almost always responded to the requests of his beloved daughters.
"Nonsense! This is a state crime, how can you, a daughter of yours, be allowed to interfere! Hurry up and stand down!"
After hearing Sima Shi's cold words and looking at his father's cold and unfamiliar appearance, Ling Jun felt extremely sad in his heart.
She clearly remembered that the father in her childhood image was so gentle and kind, but why did he become like the devil in hell now!
Ling Jun's eyes were red at the moment, with tears streaming down her face. She was trembling all over and screamed at Master Sima:
"In a few days, it will be the anniversary of my mother's death. People throughout Luoyang City are saying that my mother was poisoned to death by your own hands back then! Now you want to kill my uncle and his whole family, so why don't you kill me too today? It also ended up clean!!”
"That's enough, shut up!!"
With a bang, the furious Sima Master subconsciously pulled out the "Fijing" sword worn on his waist.
Master Sima was so angry that he trembled with anger after hearing Lord Ling's almost treasonous words. Over the years, his eye disease has gradually worsened, and his body and bones, which were often injured on the battlefield, were not as good as before. Being provoked by Lord Ling, he almost became angry. He fainted, and his swollen cheek suddenly started to hurt violently!
"Brother!"
Sima Zhao saw that his elder brother was in a bad state and hurriedly stepped forward to help Master Sima. But at that moment, when Master Sima drew his sword towards Lord Ling, a sudden change occurred!
Lord Ling, who had been burdened with infamy over the years because he belonged to the Sima family, was already extremely depressed.
At this moment, when he saw his father drawing his sword towards him, the upright Lingjun suddenly felt deep despair.
Instead of living with the infamy and living in gloom, why not go underground to follow your mother and wait for your uncle today!
Lingjun's thoughts ran through his mind in an instant. At the moment when Master Sima was dizzy and in pain, Lingjun actually rammed directly towards the "Fijing" sword, which was cut from gold and jade, and cut from iron like mud. !
Although Master Sima almost fainted, he had already trained his hands to be extremely stable after practicing martial arts for many years. At that moment, Sima Zhao only focused on supporting his elder brother, who would have expected that Lord Ling would be like this!
With a sneer, the extremely sharp sword instantly penetrated Lingjun's chest!
"No! No! No!"
Master Sima, who realized that he had made a huge mistake, started shouting like crazy. He did not dare to draw the sword rashly, for fear that the sword would shake and hurt Lingjun again, so he still gently dragged the hilt of the "Fijing" sword in his hand. .
Ling Jun, whose left lung was pierced by the sword, was in severe pain at the moment, but with a determined look in her eyes and kneeling on the ground, she actually took a big step towards her father again!
The sword blade slid a few inches towards Lingjun's internal organs again. Master Sima was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground and did not dare to grasp the hilt of the sword.
Although Sima Zhao was in shock at the moment, he remained calm after all and hurriedly called the servants beside him to tell the doctor:
"Quick, hurry up and call the doctor!"
Sima Shi, who was covered in cold sweat, was bursting with tears at this moment. He could not accept the cruel and terrible fact before him. He accidentally killed the child Yuanrong left behind, his beloved daughter!
Although Lingjun's internal organs were in pain at the moment, her inner feelings seemed to have been greatly relieved.
Due to excessive blood loss and injuries to her lungs, she was unable to breathe or speak normally.
She took one last look at the blue sky outside the window, with a sad but relaxed smile, completely losing her last vitality.
Master Sima was trembling uncontrollably at this moment, and with tears in his eyes, Lingjun's blurry shadow looked very much like his wife back then.
Especially the child's sad smile before leaving was exactly the same as his beloved wife Xia Houhui who died of poisoning!
The Kui dragon pattern on the sharp "Fijing" sword given to the Sima family by Emperor Wen Cao Pi was like a poisonous dragon that had succeeded in revenge, showing a mocking smile towards Master Sima.
——————
Within the prison.
A man quietly and slowly came to the cell where Xia Houxuan was being held.
It can be seen from the respectful attitude of the jailer that this person's status is not low.
Of course the person coming was Sima Zhao.
When Xia Houxuan saw this "enemy" who was like his brother again, a long-lost smile appeared on his face.
The two people who had grown up together and had experienced life and death on the battlefield were sitting opposite each other, silently caring about each other.
After a while, Sima Zhao clapped his hands and saw several people outside the prison carrying several jars of wine into the cell.
He had no intention of telling Xia Houxuan about Ling Jun's death and Ling Yun's serious illness.
Today he just wanted to spend one last time with his old friend Xia Houxuan.
"Taichu, I brought wine today. You and I might as well get drunk today."
Xia Houxuan was not polite. He picked up a jar, patted the mud seal of the wine, brought it close to his nose and took a good smell, then laughed and said:
"This is Pu grape wine. Emperor Wen once said: Pu grape is a wine, cold and cold, with a long and juicy taste. It can relieve irritability and quench thirst. It is easy to wake up and makes people salivate. Wouldn't it be better to have the same fruit from other places?"
What a blessing it is to be able to drink another jar of wine today! Come on, do it! "
Xia Houxuan didn't pour the wine, he just picked up the jar and drank heavily.
[Note 1: Grape was written as Pu Tao during the Three Kingdoms period. 】
"good!"
Sima Zhao took the wine jar, drank the remaining half of the wine jar in one go, and then threw the empty jar behind him.
The two of them drank a jar of wine together, and both felt their blood and energy surge up, feeling refreshed both physically and mentally.
"Taichu, try this again!"
Sima Zhao took out another sealing altar and threw it to Xia Houxuan.
"It's cachaça!"
Xia Houxuan laughed and said:
"Sugar cane wine, also known as 'gin', Xuan is in a good mood today!"
This sugar cane wine is generally called "golden mash", and the preciousness of this wine can be seen from the name.
"There's also a jar of apricot cheese here, come on."
…
"The top one is glutinous rice wine; the middle one is millet wine; the bottom one is corn wine.
Today we don’t care about superiors and inferiors, we just drink! "
…
"Come, Taichu, with this jar of pepper wine, treat me as I accompany you to spend this Double Ninth Festival with you!"
…
"Zeng, the official of Sanlu of Chu State, said: 'I respect the osmanthus wine mixed with pepper paste.', Taichu, I respect you with this jar of peach blossom wine!"
…
The two of them drank and sang like this, and before they knew it, they had drunk all the nine altars.
Xia Houxuan, who had been drinking freely before, now regained some composure. He stared into Sima Zhao's eyes and said word by word:
"Sir..., can you promise me something..."
"Taichu, please speak..."
"I want you to promise me that for the rest of your life, you will not kill Wei with your own hands... okay..."
After hearing Xia Houxuan's words, Sima Zhao shivered as if he had been struck by lightning.
He frowned and hesitated for a long time, as if he was making an extremely difficult decision.
After a long time, Sima Zhao finally regained his determination in his eyes.
"Okay, Taichu, I promise you, I, Sima Zhao, swear here today that I will only be a minister of the Wei Dynasty for the rest of my life..."
"When the pool is exhausted, there will be no clouds. When the spring is exhausted, there will be no clouds. ...
In the past, when the kings received orders, they were like summoning a duke, and they expanded their country by hundreds of miles every day. Today, they are shrinking their country by hundreds of miles every day. So sad! People who maintain the present are not still old! "
Xia Houxuan, who was already drunk, sang the Zhaomin chapter in "Poetry" loudly, and unconsciously fell into a dream.
In his dream, he seemed to see the peaceful and blissful Wei Dynasty in his dream.
There, the yellow-haired young people sing happily, the chickens and dogs hear each other, and no one is bored or sad.
——————
Three days later, Xia Houxuan, who was about to be executed in Dongshi, raised his eyes to look at the dark clouds in the sky.
Most of the people under the execution ground have heard of their reputation.
Perhaps because his reputation was so good, the people did not applaud him as they did when he killed Cao Shuang. Instead, they remained silent with confused and sad expressions on their faces.
When Xia Houxuan saw this, a trace of relief and emotion flashed through his heart.
He closed his eyes, and the snowy day in Huang Chu's second year when he and his sister Xia Houhui ran on the snow together appeared in his mind again.
Immediately afterwards, his father Xia Houshang, his mother Cao Jue, his uncle Cao Zhen, his master Yu Gui, his cousin Cao Xi, Emperor Cao Pi, the late emperor Cao Rui, his friends Guan Qiujian, Zhuge Dan, Li Feng, etc., both living and deceased. The faces all flew before his eyes like butterflies.
There seemed to be many voices in my mind like a tidal wave.
Finally, he thought of his Hui Gu, Mingyue and Yun'er.
The butcher knife was raised and then lowered, and a bone-chilling chill instantly invaded Xia Houxuan's whole body.
The whole world seemed to be turned upside down before his eyes, and eventually turned into the color of blood!
On the execution ground, among the slightly numb people, there were a few ignorant and fearless ruffians shouting loudly, but these noisy voices were quickly covered up by the cries of frightened children.
The crying little girl thought that this immortal uncle, who did not change his color before being executed, acted calmly, and even smiled calmly at her, must have some way to escape.
But in the blink of an eye, this immortal uncle fell in front of her, motionless again.
"Although there is no Ji Shengqin, the common people have the same color as Xiahou."
Thousands of years later, Xia Houxuan, who was about to be executed but remained calm, and Ji Kang, who was also calm and composed before execution, were condensed in the same poem.
The people watching the execution watched helplessly as nearly a thousand people from the Xiahouxuan and Li Feng families, young and old, were instantly transformed into ghosts under the sword, and they felt that this incident was extremely cruel.
In their hearts, the Sima family who killed one family after another and always held the butcher knife was more terrifying than the evil spirits in hell.
Xiahou's mansion had been stripped of its plaque and was completely empty.
The old servant Gu Ting placed a few sticks of incense on the memorial tablets of the Xiahou clan of past dynasties. After kowtowing a few times, he resolutely drank the poison prepared in advance.
The whole world finally turned into pitch black.
——————
"The mighty torrent. Take me with you.
Lush green forest. Prosperity and glory.
Fish, dragon and dragon. Mountain birds fly in flocks.
Talk about traveling. I forget to return home day and night.
Thinking of my good friend. As thirsty as hungry. ..."
In a lush bamboo forest, some people often see such a poet driving a donkey cart, singing such a poem.
People call him "rampant Ruan Sheng".
Someone asked him: "Hey, why do you sing and sang daily, crying and laughing?"
"Think about the old man ..."
In a place where there is no one, Ruan Ji murmured to himself like a lunatic.
————
"His Majesty, Yongliang came. Jiang Wei heard that the generals killed Xia Houxuan and Li Feng. I felt that my Dawei Dynasty was turbulent and organized. The quality general defended Xiangwu, but was cut by Jiang Weizhen! Dao Dao Li Jian was handsome and descended to Shu! The population coefficients in the three counties of Heguan, Di Dao, and Lintong were robbed by Jiang Wei to Hanzhong! "
[Note 2: Di Dao, Linyi County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province. Xiangwu, Longxi County, Dingxi City, Gansu Province. Lintong, today, Dingxi City, Gansu Province. 】
"That's unreasonable!"
The emperor Cao Fang was furious for the death of Xia Houxuan, Li Feng, and Zhang Xie. Before he could get angry, he heard such bad news. He fell into a strong copper lamp in the imperial case and fell into it. Fragmented!
