Cui Shizi stood up and soon brought out an envelope with the paint on it intact. It had been a long time since the young master asked him to deliver it. Zhou Xu sat on a chair, opened the envelope and took out the letter.
The letter started by asking him how his old father was doing, and then went on to talk about the war between Youzhou and Taiyuan. Except for the fact that Wushuang almost hit Taiyang County by surprise, Youzhou has regained its decline and firmly defended Wushu. Yu, there were occasional restless tribes outside the Great Wall who were tightly held down by Tuoba Agu, and the border defense was stable. It was just that General Yuwen Qian who led the team was a little more aggressive in the war, and there were occasional mistakes, but it was not a serious problem for the time being.
Zhou Xu looked at the group. In fact, this all happened last year. He was also paying attention to the situation of the war in Youzhou. Generally speaking, the two sides are still in a stalemate. You advance and I retreat. The winner is still undecided. Yuwen The Beifu Army led by Qian Qian, like Yuwen Qian, likes to rush in and lead the charge.
The wording in the letter was strict, respectful, and impartial. At the end of the letter, he wrote about his personal affairs, that is, things about the Lu family. The wet nurse who had taken care of him when he was young was not sure whether his son was alive or dead on the battlefield. The wet nurse begged him, and he asked Lu. Lu Siyuan from home went to look for it.
Zhou Xu rubbed his forehead, and it took him a while to remember that his son's wet nurse when he was young was an honest and honest woman. She was also a child of the Lu family. His mother had left him his son. He was almost brought up by this wet nurse when he was a child. , and the two children of the wet nurse often play together.
"It's really..." Zhou Xu laughed, his laughter filled with emotion. He handed the letter to Cui Shizi and looked at Cui Shizi: "Is this the case that like father, like son?"
He loved his wife deeply, and he loved his daughter as much as he loved her. He handled everything with care and showed partiality and love.
As for his son, everything is going well, but he can't let go of his intolerance for his biological mother. He is still unraised, and Qingxue's feelings for his wife will only become deeper and deeper. This is why he is so insecure about asking for power.
Cui Shizi read it roughly and said: "The young master is really simple in nature. This time he let the Lu family leave Xunjiang because of his old love. It should be noted that some feelings become less and less the more they are used. I think the last words in the letter are quite uneasy. My lord, are you there again?" After keeping the young master in the dark for so long, it has served as a wake-up call."
You can't really let the young master completely ignore his mother's family, not to mention that the road paved by the Lu family for the young master is full of the lives and blood of the Lu family.
"In fact, after the news of the princess's disappearance reached Langge, the young master has been advocating search and rescue, and promoted the princess to Dou Langguan and Judge Zhou."
"The relatives and friends of the branch of the Zhou family were angered by the young master, and many of them were deposed. The extensive involvement made many elders of the Zhou family dissatisfied, and they were severely suppressed by the young master." Cui Shizi thought of last year when Langge learned that the princess was missing. The young master lost his temper for a moment, and then dealt with those people vigorously and resolutely. His protection for the princess was evident.
"The young master never mentions these things in front of the lord, so I will just say a few words. Don't blame me, lord." Cui Shizi said: "Actually, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the young master's emphasis on love and justice as long as it is within a general scope. .”
Zhou Xu shook the bottle and looked at Cui Shizi: "You didn't drink tonight, why do you talk more than me?"
Cui Shizi smiled bitterly in his heart. He didn't want to see the rift between his lord and his young master. Once the estrangement was created, it would be hard to erase.
"I sometimes think." Zhou Xu looked at the moonlight all over the ground, with a touch of nostalgia and sadness deep in his eyes: "It would be great if Shen Zhi and Qingxue never grow up, and live under my protection, carefree, Childish and innocent.”
"But everyone grows up. Sometimes it takes many years to grow up, but sometimes it only takes a moment." Zhou Xu hooked the wine bottle and found that there was no more wine.
"You don't know when this moment will come, but it will come eventually."
Cui Shizi knew that his lord was talking about Miss Xiao. Just yesterday, Miss Xiao had grown up.
She has her own thoughts and ideas.
"You let Mrs. Xiao not only have her own horse farm, military power, and staff, but also the equipment warehouse and city defense of Stone City when Jiang Da and others arrive, my lord." Cui Shizi said calmly: "This is your own help. Miss Xiao’s growth, if you don’t want it, she will be a child.”
"Yes." Zhou Xu said softly, "I am letting her go."
One day, the power of her and her wife will expand to a startling level, and there will be a large group of people behind them. That group of people will be their shields to protect them, and they will also become spears and spears to fight for their interests.
Cui Shizi said in confusion: "You have given enough to Miss Xiao. If you give more, you may get into trouble. You must be aware that you don't worry about scarcity but about inequality."
The supporters behind each force will be hostile to the other.
"I know." Zhou Xudao.
Cui Shizi saw that his lord was so awake. He knew what he was doing and the series of consequences it would cause.
"I still don't understand." was all he could say.
Zhou Xu was a little drunk: "You have a lot of things to do every day. After you finish your business, if you have free time, you may go for an outing outside the city. If you are in Langge, Granny Cui will help you get dressed. Go meet this little lady."
Cui Shizi coughed. This would indeed be what his sister would do. He was already bothered by her urging her to get married.
"I will buy some snacks from the snack shop and clothing materials from the tailor shop. Regardless of whether it is successful or not, you and Granny Cui will go home together." Zhou Xu briefly told the daily life of his staff.
"Does this have anything to do with what we just said?" Cui Shizi asked.
"Of course, it is your whole life. When there was no war in Langge, your world was like this." Zhou Xu said: "But what if one day, your world changes? For example, no matter where you go, you encounter No matter who you meet, you find that they are like the monsters in ancient books, and you can't find the way back, and you can't leave this world of monsters and monsters."
Although the words were spoken calmly, Cui Shizi felt like he had just heard the most terrifying ghost story in the world, and his hair stood on end.
Zhou Xu looked at the shadows of the trees outside the window. Madam and the others were afraid of this world.
How could he not think more about the mother and daughter?
There is only him in their world.
Chapter 311
He Jinzhao looked at Mrs. Xiao in front of him with complicated eyes. He already knew the purpose of coming to Jinling this time from his father. Before coming, he had also thought about what choice Zhou Youzhou would make.
He actually doesn't resist marriage. For people like them, they can't make the decision on their own marriage. It's more about the elders in the family weighing it and then deciding on it.
Marriage is a combination of interests.
Before coming to Jinling, He Jinchao had the same idea as his father He Jingzhou, which was that he would marry Miss Xiao, or else, his third sister would marry Young Master Youzhou.
In short, he will give his father a result when he returns to Jingnan.
Of course, the possibility of being rejected was extremely small in He Jinchao's heart.
Now, the imperial court and the Wei State have joined forces. Not only did they not take advantage, but they fell into the inferior position.
Seeing that with the great victory over Lujiang, the fortresses in Xuzhou and other places were completely controlled by Zhou Youzhou, and the two Zhejiang provinces returned to their own country, and whether the He family wanted to or not, they would always face the behemoth Zhou Youzhou, it was just a matter of time.
Those who know the current affairs are heroes, and the He family must find a way to survive in these troubled times, but he never expected that it would be Zhou Youzhou who went back with him this time.
On the banks of the Han River, we are bound to Jinlan.
When He Jinchao learned the news, he was immediately struck by the importance that Zhou Youzhou paid in person, and felt a surge of excitement in his heart.
His father was seriously ill, and Jingnan was too important. According to the Holy Emperor's dislike of all kinds of Jiedushi, when his father died, he would definitely take back the Jiedushi's power and send a new Jingzhou Jiedushi to take over. But how could the He family Can you be willing to let your eldest brother go to Chang'an to serve as a hostage for more than ten years, enduring humiliation and heavy burdens, and in the end, he will end up being dismissed from his position by the emperor, and his whole family will be executed?
Who can bear such an ending? !
There are also those messy things at home. The children in the clan only know how to fight for power and gain.
But what should he do with his eldest brother who stayed in Chang'an? He Jinchao couldn't help but feel painful when he thought of this. By sending him here this time, his father was obviously giving up his eldest brother who was a hostage in Chang'an in exchange for the future of their family.
He Jinchao recalled that his father did not even dare to let anyone in the court know that his father was seriously ill. He was afraid that people from the court would come to see him. His condition was locked behind heavy curtains, not only to prevent the court, but also to stop the tooth soldiers below. They have two minds. At this time, a strong alliance is essential.
He Jinchao stood not far away until Mrs. Xiao finished talking to Zhou Youzhou. It was still dark now, and she was surrounded by Qingqi who followed Zhou Youzhou to Jingzhou. The leader was General Lin Wenjue, who had always been low-key. These At first glance, Qingqi looked like the first-class powerful elites in the North. They stood quietly in the night, like pig iron cast in silence, surrounding their master.
Zhou Xu got on his horse and looked at his daughter who was seeing him off before dawn. He couldn't help but think of a small thing and waved.
Xiao Qingxue ran over quickly and looked up at her father. Even though she had already said goodbye, she was still very reluctant to say goodbye: "Dad, is something okay?"
Zhou Xu bent over, the faded sachet on his waist knife kept dangling, and he whispered in a low voice: "Go back and sleep for a while."
He remembered that his daughter liked to stay in bed very much. She got up so early today and was a bit obedient.
Xiao Qingxue's eyes were filled with heat.
"Okay, dad is gone." Zhou Xu straightened up.
Xiao Qingxue turned her back and listened to their departure, wiping her tears with her hands, as if she could not say goodbye without saying goodbye.
Riverside.
An extremely huge and majestic building boat was riding the wind and waves on the dark river. There were spears on the boat, and the banner with the word "You" was fluttering in the wind. The military discipline on the boat was strict. When Lin Wenjue came down from the bird room above, he looked down and saw the front For Jingzhou's big ship, the lord asked them to lead the way. It was actually a kind of courtesy and humility. He couldn't compare with his own big ship. The fighting ship was strutting in front, while the Jingzhou ship was at the bottom.
Going that way would not be a good relationship, but more like enmity.
Now that the lord is treating Jingnan with courtesy, the Jingzhou soldiers who came with He Langjun are relieved. They are most afraid of Zhou Youzhou using his power to suppress others. He Jinchao is a guest on Youzhou's boat. It has to be said that Zhou Youzhou's actions just now make He felt better.
I just hope this trip goes well, He Jinchao thought.
Zhou Xu looked at the dark mountains by the river in the distance and the turbulent river water on the building boat. His eyes seemed to penetrate through the mountains and fall on Jingzhou, Xiangyang, Jiangling and other places. The ambition in his eyes was like this dark The canopy covers everything.
Jingzhou and Yizhou both belong to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Among them, Jingzhou is the closest to Jinling. If you go down the river, it will take a day or two at most. Since occupying Jinling, Zhou Xu has also been secretly observing this behemoth in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. He will The Youzhou naval force was stationed in Jinling, probably without the intention of guarding against Jingzhou upstream.
But the information he obtained was that Jingzhou seemed to have been unusually quiet since last year. It did not accept the imperial court's call to become a member of Fanyou. When he attacked Guangling, occupied Jinling, and captured Xuzhou, it did not move. .
Now, Zhou Xu remembered He Langjun's half-hidden words in the building boat. The ultimate destination of this trip was not Jiangling, the capital of Jingzhou, but in Xiangyang. A stiff look appeared on Zhou Xu's slightly cold face blown by the river wind. Smiling, he prefers the quiet and empty Jingzhou to the peaceful and energetic Jingzhou.
Something must have happened to Lao Jingzhou, at least something that could cause him a crisis, so he was in Xiangyang.
Soon, Zhou Xu knew.
Xiangyang City.
Zhou Xu's tower ships and fighting ships and the accompanying Mongoose have arrived at the throat of Jingzhou, and the Han River is flowing continuously. When Zhou Xu set foot on Xiangyang City, there were already people from the He family waiting in advance, and He Jinchao was in advance. After getting off the boat, he led the way for Zhou Youzhou.
Zhou Xu and his party arrived at the He Mansion in Xiangyang City and received a warm welcome. He Jingzhou, who had been staying at home all year round, showed up. The candlelight in the lobby was not bright. Everyone in the He family seemed flattered by Zhou Youzhou who came. There were frequent banquets. A toast to Zhou Youzhou.
Zhou Xu did not reject anyone who came and accepted them all.
He Jingzhou only said something to welcome Zhou Youzhou at the beginning of the banquet, but he never spoke again or drank. His body could no longer support him in raising his hand to raise a glass. His once strong body had shrunk to a fragile state. He had already The weak cannot be any weaker.
Old Jingzhou's sick appearance has completely lost his appearance, his cheekbones are protruding, and his face is like gold paper. The smell of medicine coming from his body cannot even be covered by the aroma in the room. He Jinchao carefully serves his father and serves as His support allows him to sit upright.
Zhou Xu only took one look and knew that old Jingzhou was going to die soon.
He then looked at the unconcealed panic on the faces of everyone in the He family and their obvious dependence on him to please him. This banquet was all held by the He family, not even a single soldier or general.
After the banquet.
Lao Jingzhou deliberately left Zhou Youzhou behind.
Zhou Youzhou looked at the old man. He coughed and vomited blood. The people around him knelt forward to serve him, but Old Jingzhou waved them away.
Old Jingzhou wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and said to Zhou Youzhou: "As you can see, I am going to die."
Zhou Xu nodded: "I saw it." He looked at the empty banquet hall: "Can't you suppress your soldiers?"
Old Jingzhou coughed again and suddenly laughed. This smile made He Jinchao on the side especially puzzled. What Zhou Youzhou just said was heartbreaking.
Old Jingzhou took a breath and said, "After all these years, Zhou Xu, your words can still poke people's lungs. No wonder Wushuang will hold you in his heart, resentment and jealousy."
Zhou Xu smiled and looked at Old Jingzhou. In fact, there were very few Jiedu envoys from various major states who didn't know the details at all. Most of the time, they knew each other.
Naturally, he also knew Lao Jingzhou, he had known him a long time ago, and he had met him once during the reign of the late Emperor.
Old Jingzhou borrowed the tea cup in his son's hand, gargled his mouth, and spat out the smell of blood in his mouth: "My He family is... Jingxiang's family. Back then, the late emperor appointed me as the governor of Jingzhou." He gasped: " I, Xingran, agreed, thinking that it would ensure the prosperity of my clan..."
"But, my family is unfortunate." Old Jingzhou closed his eyes: "The children of the clan are fighting against each other. After I have grown old, they are fighting among themselves. They are vying to make huge profits to Jingzhou's tooth soldiers and reward them for no reason. As a result, their hearts are broken. Big.”
The legitimate son was a hostage in Chang'an, but none of his remaining children became talented. The youngest son was more than elegant, but not brave enough, and had never been on the battlefield.
Zhou Xu found that old Jingzhou was like a candle in the wind, which seemed to be extinguished as soon as it was blown.
The Yabing were originally soldiers drawn from the elite of the army, that is, He's personal soldiers. It was obvious that when Lao Jingzhou was originally formed, he wanted to have a private army that would obey him just like other Jiedu envoys.
But now, these soldiers are out of control.
Presumably, in their struggle for power, the children of the He family often promised the tooth soldiers heavy profits, which made those soldiers start to have their own ideas.
