After the banquet, Chai Zong was already a little drunk. With no other choice, Xu Mu could only ask Sun Xun to send him back to the mansion first.
Chen Zhong didn't leave. In fact, he didn't even drink too much and looked like he was socializing.
Xu Mu was very satisfied. Of the two generals in the northwest, Chai Zong was a rookie, while Chen Zhong was a steady defender.
"Chen Zhong, did you know that I have something to say?"
"Guess a little. My lord was at the banquet just now, and he only encouraged General Chai to drink, but I rarely drank."
"Not bad." Xu Mu smiled, "There are two things for keeping you here. The first one, I mentioned just now, you must help Chai Zong keep an eye on the Dingzhou border in Western Shu. Don't you Like Chai Zong, you have a cool temperament, are known to be dignified, and have a reputation for being good at keeping things safe. With your help, I will feel relieved."
"Beiyu's general on the west route, Shentu Guan, has unpredictable battles and is familiar with the ancient formations. When the war breaks out, I estimate that he will make it his mission to contain the northwest and then wait for an opportunity to swallow up the four northwest states."
"Although the four states are barren and it is unlikely that Beiyu will attack by force, if it creates a containment, I will not be able to mobilize troops from the northwest."
"Lord, don't worry, Chen Zhong will do his best." Chen Zhong firmly clasped his fists.
"I believe you. There is another thing. After spring, I plan to go to the Western Regions."
"Lord, are you going to the Western Regions?" Chen Zhong was startled.
"Exactly, if the Western Region is unfair, we, Western Shu, will have no benefit at all."
Although Chao Yi gained some advantages in the Western Regions. But now, people from the countries in the Western Regions have formed an alliance and are extremely dissatisfied with the Shu people's intervention in the Western Regions.
"Chen Zhong, what I mean is that after you return to Liangzhou, discuss with Lu Feng of Ma Zhengsi. I need 6,000 camels and 10,000 Liang horses."
"Master, do you want to use it when entering the Western Region?"
"indeed."
Xu Mu had already planned to bring only ten thousand cavalry with him when he entered the Western Regions. Camels were used to drive on the road and increase foot strength for going back and forth. The horses, after entering the Western Region, were used as a deterrent.
"Liangma is not a big problem, but camels will take a little more time. We should be able to get them at the beginning of spring."
"Then I'll be relieved." Xu Mu breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lord... if not, bring more people. I heard that the countries in the Western Region also have a lot of troops."
"There are successive battles in Western Shu, and the number of troops has dropped sharply. It is not advisable to bring too many."
Chen Zhong thought for a while and nodded.
"Go and go back to your home to see your family and relatives. The next time you come back, it may take a long time. I won't hold you back."
Chen Zhong stood up and excused himself with a grateful expression.
After the banquet ended, Xu Mu slumped on the chair helplessly. I thought I would feel a little more relaxed after fighting Dong Ling, but I didn't expect that I would feel even more tired.
"Master, have a bowl of sobering soup." Xi Niang walked in from the outside with the soup.
"Xiniang, thank you."
"Don't talk nonsense, Master. Without Master, we people would have died long ago." Xiniang said gratefully and walked out again. After taking a few more steps, he suddenly turned around again.
"Master, I just saw the princess sitting in the backyard of the palace, waiting for you."
Listening, Xu Mu felt a little guilty. Even after returning to Xishu, he seemed to be busy non-stop.
Only after he finished drinking the hangover soup and felt a little better, Xu Mu started walking towards the backyard of the palace.
Stopping at the entrance of the yard, he waved his hand. The seven or eight secret guards in the dark suddenly dispersed.
Under the cold winter, Xi Niang was right. Jiang Caiwei was holding Xu Qiao and sitting under the wooden pavilion at the entrance of the yard, waiting for his return.
"Dad, dad!"
Seeing Xu Mu, Xu Qiao broke away and ran over, rolling and crawling on the ground. He fell three or four times and was bruised and swollen. Jiang Caiwei, who was so frightened behind her, also ran over quickly.
However, Xu Qiao looked like a normal person, looking up with his swollen face and crooked teeth, and still laughed.
Xu Mu felt a little distressed.
"Slower, it's not good to imitate anyone, but imitate the stupid tiger, the frizzy one."
"Uncle Tiger took me to eat mutton skewers on the street yesterday, and I overturned everyone else's pot."
Xu Mu was a little amused. He picked up the big boy and sat on the back of his neck.
"Where's the little girl?"
"Mom, go put your sister to bed. Dad, I will help you pluck out your white hair, one coin at a time. I was the one who plucked out all the white hair of the old military advisor."
"What do you want the money for? When dad conquers the entire Central Plains, don't take it randomly, or I'll beat you up."
"Grandpa Military Advisor said you can't rob people's things."
"Haha, good!" Xu Mu was overjoyed. He was looking forward to it in his heart, how majestic his great son would be when he grew up and sat on the throne.
"Mother...ah, it's the queen mother."
Jiang Caiwei glared at Xu Qiao, stretched out her hands, and thought about picking Xu Qiao down.
"It's okay, just give him a hug before he grows up. If he really eats and becomes fat in the future, I won't be able to hold him anymore."
"Xu Lang, he sneaked into the kitchen to find Xi Niang while I was sleeping a few days ago. He cried and asked Xi Niang to cook a bowl of fish soup."
"Yesterday, he had no money to buy candied haws, so he defrauded Si Hu of a handful of money."
"You lied to Si Hu?" Xu Mu was stunned.
Xu Qiao, who was on his back, hurriedly spoke up and argued, "Uncle Si Hu and I played counting stones. I won, not lied."
"Then why don't you find someone else?"
"Uncle Tiger is the easiest to win."
"Daughter-in-law, what Xu Qiao said makes sense."
Jiang Caiwei looked helpless and looked up at Xu Qiao again. After all, she was too lazy to say anything.
"Come in, it's cold outside. My hands are freezing looking at you."
Xu Mu rubbed Jiang Caiwei's hand, feeling warm in his heart. Sometimes, what he wanted was not much, but before, in such troubled times, he could not give it. Therefore, he could only find a way to fight.
"Call Xiao Wan and Xu Feng tomorrow. It's time for our family of five to have a family dinner. By the way, there's also Si Hu. I heard that Luan Yu is pregnant. This kid watches eagerly every day. He's probably going to die of greed. He also has a longbow. He is not young anymore. You must have a suitable wife and propose a marriage to him."
"Don't worry, Xu Lang, I'll keep an eye on you these days."
"Dad, there are three more grandfathers."
"Of course, I'll call you over tomorrow too, including the old military advisor and your brother Gou Fu."
"Are they going to shout, you idiots?"
"Xu Qiao, who is the idiot?"
"My golden sword guard was just sealed yesterday. He took two bowls of meatballs from home and has been begging me."
"Stop shouting. If you keep shouting, you won't be able to sit down...Xu Qiao, why are your legs so cold?"
"No, Caiwei, is it raining?"
"Xu Lang...Xu Qiao enurethed again."
Xu Mu was startled and turned back.
He found that at some point, his big boy had jumped down and ran to the front and back yard, crying as he ran.
"Dad, the mutton skewers Uncle Tiger treated me to yesterday must be unclean!"
