Duke Xia's Mansion.
Main courtyard, study room.
Xia Mochou, the Duke of Xia, teased the thrush in the birdcage and gave instructions to the old housekeeper standing behind him:
"It's snowing and it's cold. The bird is afraid of the cold. Remember to light a charcoal fire in the bird's house."
The old butler Chen Chun bowed and said, "Old slave, I know."
Xia Mochou turned around, handed the birdcage to Chen Chun, and asked, "Where has the general been since he returned to Kyoto for more than ten days?"
Chen Chun took the birdcage and replied: "The day after he came back, he was summoned by the emperor to go to the palace."
"The prince held a banquet in the East Palace on the third day, and he went to the East Palace."
"On the fifth day, I went to Qiuzhuang and stayed in the study for half a day with Qiu Zhu, the master of the Qiu family. I also had dinner at Qiuzhuang."
"On the seventh day, he went to Wu'anhou's mansion and played chess with Wu'anhou's eldest son, Chechi, for a long time. They also had dinner together."
"Yesterday morning early in the morning, he went to Uncle Guo's house... he only stayed for an hour and then came out, but Uncle Qi personally saw him outside the gate."
"In the evening, Queen Qi's honor guard returned to the uncle's house."
"That's about it."
Xia Mochou nodded slightly, "Go down and call my two unsatisfactory sons!"
Chen Chun left the study with the birdcage, and Xia Mochou stood in front of the window, looking at the newly blooming plum blossoms on the tree outside the window.
A smile suddenly appeared on his old face.
"After all, paper can't contain the fire!"
"It seems that this eagle also knows the news about Wuyaguan. It's very urgent!"
The smile on his face slowly faded, revealing a deep expression: "It's okay to be anxious, but you don't have wings to fly to Zhaohua City!"
"The news of the fall of Zhaohua City should be sent to Kyoto soon!"
"My sixtieth birthday should be more lively!"
There were footsteps outside the door, and Xia Mochou's expression returned to its original state. He turned around, and Xia Liu and Xia Li stood in front of him with bows.
"Father!"
"sit!"
"Thank you father!"
The father and son sat down, and Xia Liu took the Huozhezi and cooked a pot of tea.
Duke Xia Guogong stroked his long beard and said kindly: "How long has it been since we, father and son, made tea around the stove like this?"
Xia Li pondered for three breaths, "My child remembers that the last time I sat here making tea was that winter eight years ago."
"Oh, it's been eight years. It's rare that we can still sit together today."
"Xia Liu,"
"Ah, the baby is here!"
"Are you still feeling aggrieved because you didn't get the prince's invitation?"
Xia Liu paused for a moment, then took the teapot, took a pinch of tea and put it in the teapot, and then said:
"Haier thinks that he is quite conscientious in his position as Minister of the Ministry of War... At least when it comes to purchasing military supplies, I haven't taken a penny from my hands."
"On the contrary, it's the household department..."
Xia Guogong waved his hand to interrupt Xia Liu's words, "It's none of your business how Hubu is!"
"Do you think it's better to spend your birthday with the emperor in the palace? Or drink tea with me at home?"
Xia Liu was startled, thinking that he could drink tea with you at home at any time, but the emperor's sixtieth birthday is only this one, how can this compare?
Duke Xia's face suddenly darkened, "You heartless thing!"
"No, dad..."
"Daddy, I'm not your father!"
Xia Li took a look and realized that the older his father got, the more unpredictable his temper became. Why did he take it out on his elder brother every day?
He quickly smoothed things over: "Father, calm down, brother, isn't it for our Xia family!"
"Brother, stand firm in the court. After the prince ascends the throne, our Xia family will be able to live a better life!"
Duke Xia Guo glared at Xia Liu fiercely: "It's useless for him to stand firm!"
"In the Kingdom of Wu, if you want to stand firm, you must have military power!"
"To put it nicely, you are a minister of the Ministry of War, but to put it badly, you are working as a handyman for the major frontier armies!"
"Forget it,"
Xia Guogong waved his hand again, but looked at Xia Li, and his words became much gentler:
"Xia Li,"
"Ah, father!"
"It seems that His Highness the Prince has forgotten about you. Dad originally thought that he would let you become a general guarding the city in the city guard... It seems that he is really worried about our Xia family."
"But when the opportunity comes, you should prepare for it in the next few days."
Xia Li was startled, "Where are you going?"
"Where else can we go? Go to your old place...Xiayuanzhou!"
Xia Li looked at his father in surprise, "Isn't Gou Kuo in Xia Yuanzhou?"
Duke Xia grinned: "He is running for his life!"
Xia Li and Xia Liu were shocked, "...Wuya Pass was lost?"
Duke Xia raised his eyebrows: "Not only Wuyaguan, the entire Xiayuan Prefecture has been lost!"
"The Seven Cities Walled City is over? The Zhaohua City is gone too?"
"The Qicheng Village is definitely over. As for Zhaohua City... it should be gone too!"
Xia Li swallowed in disbelief, "The Red Flame Army occupied Xia Yuanzhou?"
"No, the Red Flame Army only captured Wuyaguan and eliminated the main force of Qicheng Village. Zhaohua City fell into the hands of the Divine Guard Army."
The water has been boiled and the tea has been brewed, but the brothers Xia Liu and Xia Li were confused by the news from Duke Xia.
Gou Kuo lost Wu Ya Pass and also lost the entire Xiayuan Prefecture...
This is a big deal!
But there was no news in Kyoto about this matter.
Xia Liu couldn't believe it, so he asked again:
"Father, how do you know?"
"Pour tea!"
"……yes!"
Xia Liu poured tea, but Xia Guogong did not tell him how he knew the news.
He looked at Xia Liu: "To rebuild the Seven Cities, we need to recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers!"
"You are the Minister of the Ministry of War. Remember, Xia Yuanzhou is the Xia family's support in the court!"
"The soldiers of Qicheng Village need the best soldiers! They need the best horses! They also need the best weapons and armor!"
"If you can't handle this little thing...I'll beat your ass!"
Xia Liu nodded quickly, "As long as the second brother returns to Xia Yuanzhou, the child will definitely be able to handle these things!"
"Well, Xia An has been in the Beifu Army for three years in the blink of an eye. After the matter of the second child is confirmed, Xia An will be transferred to Xiayuanzhou... When you go back, you can ask Qiu Qin to see if the Miao Mansion can still get it. How much money do you have to pay?"
Xia Liu was startled again: "The money for recruiting troops and buying horses comes from the national treasury!"
"You know shit!"
"Don't ask, just do as I say!"
Xia Liu shrank his neck and didn't dare to say anything anymore.
Xia Li asked very solemnly at this moment: "Father, Zhaohua City is a majestic city!"
"Back then, you built the walls of Zhaohua City so high and so strong... Now that it has fallen into the hands of the Divine Guards, if you want to get it back, you will probably have to pay a huge price!"
But Xia Guogong smiled calmly: "You will know after you go there."
"...Why is father so sure that the emperor will use the child?"
"Because no one can take Zhaohua City back except you!"
Xia Li was shocked again. The meaning of her father's words was a bit deep.
He looked at Xia Guogong and thought... He didn't dare to think about it!
At this moment, the old housekeeper Chen Chun hurriedly came over again.
"Sir, Eunuch Zhang, the eunuch in charge of the palace, wants to see you!"
