This time the Han Dynasty sent troops to attack Wei. In addition to some guard troops left in Yong'an and Nanzhong, there were also 20,000 garrison guards in Hanzhong to guard the emperor and prevent the thieves from coming up the Han River.
In the remaining places, almost all the troops have been mobilized, even Jincheng is no exception.
It can be said that this can be regarded as a nationwide effort.
It's just that this time, the battle to defeat Wei, which the Han Dynasty had placed the greatest hope on, was full of depression from the beginning.
The Prime Minister's army was blocked at Wuzhangyuan, there was no news from the Liangzhou army, and the Longyou army was forced to retreat to Xiaoguan...
There is no good news among the three armies.
Hanzhong is under the greatest pressure.
Not only because the emperor was stationed here, but also because Guanzhong, directly north of Hanzhong, was like a huge shadow that had been hanging over Hanzhong since the founding of the Han Dynasty.
Whether it is taking Longyou or running Liangzhou, in the end, preparations are made to dispel the dark clouds above Hanzhong.
Only when the old capital is returned can the Han Dynasty be truly qualified for revival.
On the contrary, even the whole country cannot dispel this dark cloud.
Then most of the confidence that the big man has finally built up over the years will be destroyed.
Just when everyone thought that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment, one after another good news suddenly broke out.
"The Prime Minister retreated Sima Yi, defeated the Wei thieves with tens of thousands of elite troops at Wuzhangyuan, and forced Chencang and Qianxian to surrender..."
"General Jiang has conquered Qiaoshan and entered Guanzhong from the north..."
"Feng Junhou fought thousands of miles away, killed 40,000 barbarians, conquered Bingzhou, and marched to the east of Hedong..."
In the past ten years or so, Hanzhong has become the actual center of the Han Dynasty, starting from the development of Nanxiang and then the emperor's stay.
Not to mention that over the years, there have been many well-informed merchants traveling from north to south.
After hearing the news, many people immediately exclaimed:
"So, haven't the big men already surrounded Guanzhong?"
"Tsk, tsk! I can't complain that there has been no news for more than half a year. I was just waiting for Feng Junhou to take a detour to Hedong!"
"Isn't that right? If Jingzhou is still there, these Wei thieves will all be blocked in the pass?"
There was a sigh from the crowd.
The topic of Jingzhou was a sensitive topic in the past.
Those at the top don’t want to talk, but those below don’t dare.
However, with the continuous victories of the Han Dynasty on the front line in recent years, and the establishment of the Loyalty Shrine in Hanzhong, the legends of "Three Brothers in Taoyuan" and "Unparalleled Loyalty and Righteousness" have become more and more popular.
It is no longer taboo for men and women to talk about this issue.
"Hmph, if it weren't for the rats from the Wu Kingdom..."
"Quietly, Wu is now an ally of the Han Dynasty!"
"Hi!" Someone sneered, "The Han Dynasty has been sending troops for more than half a year, right? Guanzhong has almost been defeated. Where are the troops from the allies?"
"Didn't you say you have already set off from Chaohu?"
"The battle between the Han Dynasty and Han Dynasty is almost over, and the Wu people are setting out?"
"If the news hadn't come through, we ourselves wouldn't have expected that Guanzhong would be like this, right? The Wu people probably wouldn't have expected it even more."
Some "folk think tanks" are talking loudly, "I think the Wu people just want to see the Han and Wei people fighting each other, so that the fishermen can benefit."
"Hey, I'm afraid what you said hit home what Wu is thinking! It's just that this tiger is actually a real tiger, but it's a pity that a disadvantage may not necessarily result in a benefit!"
"Who says it's not true! Let's face it, among the princes of the Han Dynasty, there are still some experts. Maybe they have expected it a long time ago. They just don't want the Wu people to take advantage of it, so they attack Guanzhong like this!"
Everyone laughed knowingly.
The so-called real tiger refers to Guan Laojunhou's fourth son, Guan Suo.
I heard that Feng Junhou sent Guan Suo as the vanguard this time, and his cavalry was unstoppable. This allowed the Liangzhou army to march to the east of Hedong with lightning speed.
At that time, Guan Laojunhou was the former emperor's tiger general. Guan Suo was regarded as the son of a tiger general. It was not an exaggeration to call him a tiger general.
Someone chuckled:
"Back then, Mr. Guan Laojun forced Xuchang from the south, and now Guan Silang is pushing Luoyang from the north. This Guan family is worthy of being a loyal man!"
"I only heard that the Guan family has two sons and one daughter, but I didn't expect that there is a fourth son."
"It is said that during the Jingzhou Incident, Guan Suo was still young and was sent to the countryside to remain anonymous. Later, when he was a little older, he thought of a way to return to Shu."
"Yes, yes, I also heard that Guan Suo is the bastard of the Guan family, so he was abandoned in Jingzhou. During the southern expedition, he stayed with Feng Junhou..."
This is not completely nonsense. After all, when the Xinghan Society was first established, wasn't it just a group of second sons or concubines of the family?
No wonder he can follow Feng Junhou.
Someone tutted:
"No wonder, he turned out to be a lucky man. I'm afraid it wasn't because of Feng Junhou's careful instruction. No wonder!"
Feng Junhou is a leader of the new generation of the Han Dynasty with his outstanding talents and intelligence. Guan Jiashilang must have learned a lot of skills by being with him all year round.
Look at the current Xinghan Society. Are second sons and concubines important?
Someone had a sudden thought:
"I have never heard that the Guan family has a third wife, so does Guan Shilang not have a wife yet?"
Some people in the crowd seemed thoughtful.
"What are you thinking about? It's not your turn to care whether someone marries you or not."
"We don't care, but someone does!"
Some of the words of private think tanks may be conjectures, but some of them do speak to the thoughts of some people in their eyes.
Judging from the current news, it may be difficult to say whether the Han Dynasty can pacify Bingzhou Hedong, but regaining Guanzhong is a matter of great probability.
This is already an unprecedented victory.
It is conceivable that as long as Guanzhong is captured, the emperor will definitely give a big reward after this battle.
No one knows how many important ministers or future ministers will emerge by then.
As long as there are people who want to go further, who dares to ignore this?
In this battle, the Prime Minister and Feng Junhou were naturally the biggest contributors.
Needless to say, the Prime Minister is dedicated to the country and is fair and strict. Who dares to go to the Prime Minister's house to engage in some evil spirits, fearing that he will be kicked out?
As for Feng Junhou, not only did he win the trust of both the emperor and the prime minister, but he also had a tiger girl guarding the house inside and a female official waiting on his side outside.
It would be difficult for anyone other than the Guan and Zhang families to be qualified to come and join them.
The only thing that can be obtained is that the number of wives and concubines in Feng Mansion seems to be less.
It's just that Feng Junhou has never been fond of women. Unlike ordinary rich and powerful people, he likes to keep kabuki and dance performers in his house.
I heard that among the three concubine positions given to Feng Junhou by the imperial court, there is still one vacant position.
But look at the two concubines in the Feng Mansion. One controls the operation of nearly half of the Han Dynasty's textile workshops.
Not to mention the other one, the whole big man and countless students would call her Mr. Mei when they saw her.
From this point of view, even the position of a concubine in the Feng Mansion is not something that ordinary women can care about.
But it doesn’t matter. If you can’t reach the relationship between the Prime Minister and Feng Junhou, how can you not reach the relationship with others?
For example, the man who led the army to break through Qiaoshan might be Jiang Wei who was the first to reach Chang'an City.
This first is very important, very important.
Because this means that the desire of the two generations of Han Dynasty to return to the old capital is already within reach.
And naturally it was Guan Suo, who was known as Jiangmen Huzi.
Coincidentally, I heard that Guan Silang was born as a concubine, and he had been with Feng Junhou in these years, and he had never married a wife.
General Guan is going through life and death for the sake of the big man, and he has delayed his own life-long event!
The soldiers are fighting for the country at the front, but they also need someone to help them take care of the housework in the back, right?
It wasn't because of anything else but the loyalty of the generals...
Guan Tong, Guan Xing's legitimate son, has not yet officially tied his hair, but in these days, he has personally received many prominent people.
The way he treats people and everything he does is commendable, and the guests who come to his door praise him saying that he is the successor of the Guan family.
After the heir apparent sent away all the guests and closed the door of the palace, his face began to turn pale and his hands and feet were trembling.
These guests who came to visit Guan Mansion were all asking about their famous fourth uncle.
But as the legitimate son of the Guan family, Guan Tong naturally knew that he had no fourth uncle at all.
Because the third aunt who married into the Feng Mansion is your youngest sister.
Okay now, the whole world knows that there is a tiger in the Guan family, Guan Suo.
Everyone has come to inquire now, and they want to know whether Guan Jiashilang, who is deeply favored by Feng Junhou, is not married yet, as rumored outside?
What is this thing called?
What kind of marriage?
Married to whom?
"Brother, are you okay?"
Guan Xing's concubine Guan Yi asked with concern.
Guan Tong took a deep breath, calmed down, shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Nothing."
After the two and a half-year-olds supported each other and walked back to the house, Guan Tong was still only a boy in his teens. No matter how young and mature he was, he could not withstand such a fight.
He finally couldn't help but said:
"Erlang, tell me, it is said everywhere that we have a fourth uncle in our family. Do you really think there is a fourth uncle in our family?"
Guan Yi didn’t know whether he was crying or smiling:
"Probably, maybe there is?"
Guan Tong patted his face and shook his head to wake himself up:
"I'm too tired, so I'm talking nonsense. Let me take a rest first."
"Brother, I'm afraid it won't work like this. It's better to stay in our house behind closed doors tomorrow and thank guests. I'll accompany you outside to relax."
Guan Tong sighed:
"I'm just afraid that some people will say that our Guan government will look down on others once we gain power."
Guan Yi was a bystander, but he saw him sneer slightly:
"When our family was in dire straits, did those people say a word for the Guan family? It would be nice if they didn't slander the Guan family behind their backs."
"Our Guan family is now on the rise again. Do we need these people to help us speak?"
As soon as Guan Yi heard this, his eyes began to regain clarity. He looked at Guan Yi suspiciously, thoughtfully.
"Although in the past few days, our house has been full of cars and horses, but how many of these people can speak to the government?"
Speaking of this, Guan Yi lowered his voice:
"It's just guys who don't know anything who come to the door eagerly at this time. They just want to bully us because we are young and think we don't understand the rules here."
After hearing Guan Yi's analysis, Guan Tong suddenly realized: "This statement is very reasonable!"
He looked at his concubine and sighed:
"Erlang, I didn't expect you to have such knowledge. You are much better than your brother!"
Guan Yi chuckled:
"Why do I have such ability? It's just someone telling me to listen."
Guan Xing blurted out and asked: "Who taught Erlang?"
"Fourth Aunt."
"Fourth Aunt?" Guan Tong was a little confused, "What Fourth Aunt?"
"She is the fourth uncle's wife."
Guan Tong was stunned: "What fourth uncle?"
"It's the fourth uncle that people have been talking about outside."
Guan Tong's eyes were dull, he looked at Guan Yi in disbelief, and murmured: "Then you just... No, we really have a fourth uncle?"
Guan Yi sighed: "I don't know either, but the fourth aunt has already appeared. I guess the fourth uncle is there too, right?"
Guan Tong suspected that he was in a dream: "The fourth aunt...appeared?"
Guan Yi nodded:
"Yes, she came over quietly when my brother was receiving guests in the front hall. Now he is waiting in the side hall. This is the letter she sent."
Guan Tong saw the familiar handwriting on the envelope and opened it hurriedly.
Unexpectedly, when he finished reading it, his eyes were lifeless, and his feet seemed to be floating on floating clouds.
The woman who called herself the fourth aunt of the Guan family couldn't help frowning when she saw Guan Tong looking like this:
"You are the legitimate son of the Guan family after all. Why have you become like this? You are not afraid of being laughed at!"
As soon as Guan Tong saw his "fourth aunt", he was scolded. He quickly cheered up and looked at her carefully.
But I saw that this woman was small in stature, barely as tall as myself, but her appearance was quite moving.
His bright eyes are good at gazing, and when he looks around, the water ripples rise up, and the dimples support the power, and the words are not uttered, just like an elf.
Seeing the true face of this woman, Guan Tong couldn't help but groaned and swayed. At such a young age, he seemed to be unable to withstand the impact of this incident.
"Flowers... flowers..."
"Call Fourth Aunt!"
Hua Wan raised her chin, sat on the chair, and said to Guan Tong and Guan Yi in an old-fashioned manner.
The two brothers looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
Seeing this, Huawan was very dissatisfied and snorted:
"If I hadn't been entrusted by others, I wouldn't have bothered to take care of the Guan family's affairs. Since you don't want to call me, I'll leave. If someone pursues me in the future, don't blame me!"
She simply stood up and left when she said she wanted to leave.
How could Guan Tong dare to let Hua Wan leave like this?
"Flower lady, please stay!"
"Um?"
Hua Wan turned her head and looked at him.
Guan Tong lowered his head, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly: "Fourth Aunt, please stay."
When Hua Wan heard this title, she didn't know what she thought of. Her face changed with sadness and joy, and finally she sat back downcast.
"Now, there are rumors about Guan Shiro outside now. If someone really asks you about it in the future, just answer it directly and say that there is indeed a Guan Suo Guan Shiro in the house."
Hua Wan said the words "Guan Suo Guan Shi Lang" with a sullen face and gritted teeth.
"But this Guan Silang, he is a concubine of the Guan Mansion. He has been with Feng Junhou since the Southern Expedition."
"It was also during the Southern Expedition that he met me," Hua Wan said, pointing to herself, "Then we didn't know each other for a long time, and eventually we became husband and wife."
Huawan has the unique frankness of a southern barbarian girl. When talking about this kind of thing, she is not shy at all - she even grits her teeth a bit.
"If anyone asks about you again, just say that you are a junior and don't say more."
The world is in chaos, wives and children are separated, and it is very common for any family to suddenly have an extra relative.
For the concubine of the Guan family to marry Meng Huo's daughter was not a strange thing, let alone a big deal. It sounded reasonable and reasonable.
But when things happened to him, there was an extra fourth uncle and an extra barbarian aunt, which made Guan Tong finally unable to bear it:
"Why is this? Why do you do this?"
Hua Wan said angrily:
"How do I know? But as far as I know, this matter is still an arrangement from Liangzhou, but your family also agreed."
Guan Tong plucked up the courage and asked: "Then... that flower... well, why is Fourth Aunt willing to do this? This reputation..."
Hua Wan curled her lips: "I have such a big business in the south, how many people have to rely on me to make a living! If I could really establish a relationship with the Guan family, it would be too late to be happy."
"Besides, I am now the clan leader of the Zhurong tribe. Even if I marry your fourth uncle, according to tribal customs, I still own the tribe alone and do not have to join the Guan family."
"So besides me, who else is the most suitable for this fourth aunt?"
Hua Wan finished explaining to the two of them and left without saying much, leaving Guan Tong and Guan Yi sitting frowning at each other.
"Brother, what do you think is going on?"
"How do I know? I have a bigger headache than you now!"
"Then what should we do? Is it possible that we really have to do what the flower girl said? What good will this do to our Guan family?"
"If our Guan family really has such a distinguished fourth uncle with great military exploits, how can it be no good?"
Guan Tong stood up and scratched his head, "It's just that this matter is very important. I have to find someone to ask."
"Who are you planning to hit, brother?"
"Of course she is the queen."
The Guan family has become more and more prominent in recent years. As the legitimate son of the Guan family, Guan Tong has been scheduled to marry the princess a few years ago. When he reaches adulthood, he will choose a date to marry the princess.
For him, the sudden appearance of his fourth uncle and fourth aunt was a major event in the Guan family. He did not dare to make any independent claims, so he naturally found a way to find out.
After learning that Guan Tong requested to enter the palace to pay his respects, Zhang Xingcai smiled and said to Adou:
"Although the son of the Guan family is somewhat mediocre in talent, he is quite cautious in temperament and knows how to advance and retreat, which is quite impressive."
The emperor of the Han Dynasty was half lying on the recliner a little tired. Hearing Guan Tong's request to see him, he had to stand up and pretend to be sitting upright, but he sighed and said:
"I finally wanted to lie down for a while. Why did he choose to come here at this time?"
In the past two years, with the decentralization of the Prime Minister's Office and the return of the functions of the Chancellor's Desk, Adou no longer has the ease before and has to deal with a lot of government affairs every day.
Especially since this year, the prime minister has led the troops on an expedition, and the emperor's workload has increased dramatically, making the little fat man who is used to ease miserable.
Over the past six months, the originally chubby round face has actually lost some weight, and it no longer has the cheerfulness it once had.
Zhang Xingcai looked at the emperor with some relief and said softly:
"If your Majesty is tired, why don't you go inside and rest? I will talk to him about family matters."
The little fat man shook his head:
"Forget it, we are still a family after all. What's the point of avoiding us? This matter of the Guan family concerns Jingzhou. I'll see how the boys of the Guan family react."
Zhang Xingcai nodded:
"The Jingzhou Incident is a hurdle that the Guan family has always wanted to overcome. For it, the Guan family brother and the Guan family sister risked their lives. It would be good to see the reaction of the Guan family eldest brother at this time."
