No one in the pavilion of the Li Mansion expected that the young master from Ma Ti Lake would actually have a pleasant conversation with an old marquis who had served in the army for thirty years.
Even Li Xiaowan didn't expect that she was standing in the garden not far away with a face full of joy. Her old father, on the other hand, was so angry that he jumped on his feet and cursed eight times in a row as a "bad guy".
A cold wind blew.
The two people in the pavilion slowly put down their wine bowls.
Li Rucheng burped comfortably, and his voice became serious again.
"My little boss, it's rare that you have a lot of fun today."
"Thanks to the old Marquis."
Xu Mu's voice was steady, but he knew in his heart that it was time to talk about business.
"In the future, when you join the Li Mansion, you will be considered a family member. I will go to the Ministry of War on a certain day and declare you as the assistant general of Dingbei Camp, and you will be in charge of a single sentry."
"Old Marquis, are you drunk?"
Li Rucheng smiled and said, "I'm not drunk. From now on, you will be a member of the Li family after all. Who knows when I leave, the Dingbei Camp of more than 50,000 people may be handed over to you."
"The old Marquis is probably a little drunk. He should know that I, Xu Mu, will not be the husband-in-law of the Li family."
Li Rucheng smiled, "What do you want?"
"I am definitely happy that Wanwan is marrying to Horseshoe Lake. Could it be that the old Marquis is still thinking about being a good match?"
Li Rucheng shook his head, "My little boss, you also know that my Li family is the third generation of a single family. Even if she is a woman, with my ability in the Li family, it is more than enough to find a husband."
"Old Marquis, let's talk openly between you and me."
Xu Mu's voice was calm, and there was no rush in his raised face.
"The old Marquis is not choosing a husband now, but choosing someone who can protect the Li family."
"How to say." Li Rucheng showed a faint smile.
Xu Muping bowed his hands and said, "I admire the old Marquis for his determination to save the country. He finally sided with the Marquis with the surname Guo."
"But you and I both know this kind of thing. If you are not careful, it will be a disaster."
"Wanwan went to Horseshoe Lake. I, Xu Mu, dare not say anything else, but if I have a breath, I will protect her."
"Of course, one day the old Marquis will decide the country. It is not difficult for Xu Mu to enter Chengcheng and buy a big house near Li Mansion on the inner street."
Li Rucheng sighed deeply, "The little boss is useless, so I only have this granddaughter."
"If I, Xu Mu, have a legitimate son, and the second one born to Wanwan, his surname will be Li. Quan should repay the old Marquis for his desire to save the country."
Listening, Li Rucheng sat trembling for a while, his face became excited, he didn't know whether to cry or laugh, and muddy old tears seeped out from the corners of his eyes.
"Marquis Yuan is not wrong, my little boss is a man. As long as the situation changes, he will really transform into a dragon and soar into the sky."
"Old Marquis is so complimentary." Xu Mu was neither humble nor arrogant.
"What do you think about the Dingbei Camp?" Li Rucheng changed the topic and his eyes became intense.
"What do you think, Lord Marquis?"
"As soon as spring comes next year, the young Marquis may not be able to hold on. Therefore, before the end of the year, things cannot wait any longer. I have already mobilized 20,000 Dingbei Camp and are preparing to enter the inner city."
"Where are the other Dingbian generals?"
Li Rucheng threw his head back and laughed, his voice hoarse.
"Someone brought the news that the young marquis was poisoned. Do you think they will make a move? I don't know, these people have been colluding with each other for a long time."
"There is a series of schemes, and the young prince is unable to survive alone."
In a daze, Xu Mu saw the figure dressed in white and snowy again, with a head full of frosty hair, stepping alone into the wind and snow.
"I can't wait to know what the future holds for my little boss."
Xu Mu remained calm and motionless.
"When spring comes, you go to the northwest."
"Why."
Xu Mu frowned slightly. He thought Li Rucheng was still determined and wanted to let him go to Dingbei Camp as a general.
"Remember your words and leave a part of my Li family's blood." Li Rucheng hooked his hand, took out half a bronze tiger charm from his arms, and placed it heavily on the table.
The gold tiger talisman is for the emperor's family, the silver one is for the prince's family, and the bronze one is used by those Dingbian generals in the Daji.
Take half with you and leave the other half with your confidants in the camp. If the merger is correct, troops and generals can be mobilized.
"I originally thought about giving you another try. But time is too tight, so I just let it go. I've heard too many things about you from the young marquis."
"It's just a dowry for Wanwan."
Xu Mu's eyes moved slightly. The half-faced tiger talisman in front of him was so important to him. Previously at the Hou Mansion, Yuan Tao said that by marrying Li Xiaowan, he would be able to take charge of Li Rucheng's Dingbei Camp.
He didn't believe it all.
A little-known little boss, no matter how good he is, can command an army of more than 50,000 people after just eating a bowl of soft rice.
There are too many factors involved.
But now, Li Rucheng actually placed the half-faced tiger talisman in front of him.
"With this tiger talisman, you can only mobilize eight thousand people." Li Rucheng's voice was serious. "I considered the horse bandits in the northwest, the garrison strength, and also the troops who entered the inner city to save the country. The country can be in chaos, but the country cannot be in chaos."
"These eight thousand people can be regarded as Wanwan's dowry."
"If great things can be expected and the world is at peace, then don't move and be a wealthy man with peace of mind."
"If nothing can be done, these eight thousand people are the capital for you to settle down and live."
Xu Mu nodded hesitantly.
"In the future, no matter whether it is Yuan Houye, Chang Zhuangyuan, or Xiao Zaifu, other Dingbian generals, rebel leaders, or the master of Xia'er hall, they cannot be fully trusted."
"You, Xu Mu, are not a dog that lives under someone else's roof. If you want to soar into the clouds, even if I die, I will be watching you take off."
"I have always only believed in myself, not even God." Xu Mu said in a calm voice.
"Okay!" Li Rucheng looked happy and stood in the cold wind. He was already in his late teens after all. He spoke in a hurry and coughed several times.
"Xu Mu will definitely live up to the old Marquis' trust."
"No, after marrying Wanwan, you should call me grandfather."
"Grandpa." Xu Mu raised his head without any pretense.
"Ha, I, Li Rucheng, finally got a virtuous son-in-law!"
Xu Mu raised his head and looked at Li Rucheng's gray hair on his temples, feeling a sense of sadness in his heart. He could probably guess what the two princes of Daji wanted to do.
"My son-in-law, please don't interfere in this matter. The young Marquis also said that by keeping you, at least I will keep a spark of fire."
"Whenever you really burn up, you will burn out the world and bring clarity to the world."
"Xu Mu knows..."
Xu Mu stood up, held his hands together and bowed. Deep in my heart, I felt a sense of admiration for the old man in front of me.
"Sister-in-law, there is one more thing. My dog is not safe if he stays in Chengcheng."
"Then let's go to Horseshoe Lake together."
Although he didn't like Li Shuomo, there was nothing he could do. He had obtained the tiger talisman of eight thousand people, and he was Li Dawan's father after all, so he couldn't lose it.
"Son-in-law, the snow is coming again, prepare for the weather to change."
"It's going to change."
Standing in the pavilion, a chill penetrated from nowhere and made my body tremble.
