National color raw owl

What Chu Huan expected was not wrong. Qiao Mingtang is indeed like a frightened bird now. In just a short time, he seems to have aged by more than ten years.

Qiao Mingtang has always paid great attention to the way of keeping in good health, and he also pays great attention to three meals a day. Every morning, he will drink a bowl of millet porridge and eat a basket of crystal bags.

Even if you are away from home, this habit will not be interrupted.

But now this habit has been broken. Although Mrs. Qiao has prepared everything, Qiao Mingtang does not have the slightest appetite when looking at the delicately made crystal bag.

"Master, you haven't eaten since last night." Madam Qiao sighed, "Eat as much as you want."

Qiao Mingtang shook his head and said: "Let's clean it up... that Feng Polu will come over at some point, if he sees the food on the table, I'm afraid he will have something to say again .”

Mrs. Qiao frowned and said, "Master has dinner, does he also want to ask?"

"After these days, don't you know the ability of this Beiyonghou?" Qiao Mingtang sneered: "Now when he enters my governor's mansion, he rushes in and out, coming and going like his own home, and has not released me as the governor. In the eyes."

Mrs. Qiao said with a trace of anger: "Master, that Feng Polu is too much. He is a reinforcement sent by him. Naturally, the affairs of Xishan should be taken care of by the master. Now it seems that he is the master of Xishan... ..!”

"Ma'am, what you said is wrong." Before Madam Qiao finished her sentence, a loud voice suddenly sounded outside. Amidst the sound of footsteps, Feng Polu, the tall and powerful Marquis of Beiyong, had already walked in with a smile on his face. "This West Mountain Road is not owned by me, Feng Polu, nor by Governor Qiao, but by the Great Qin Sage. Madam, if your words just now reach the ears of the Sage, the Sage will mistakenly think that you are going to the West Mountain Road. Treat it as your own private property, and the consequences will be troublesome."

Mrs. Qiao didn't expect that Feng Polu was like a ghost, she came as soon as she said it, her pretty face turned pale, Qiao Mingtang was also slightly startled, but she was experienced after all, her expression was still calm, she glanced at Feng Polu, and said lightly: "Hou Grandpa got up early."

Feng Polu came forward and sat down at the table. With a "click", he put his saber on the table, glanced at the food on the table, and said with a smile: "It's not that I got up early. , but didn’t sleep at all last night.”

"Oh?" Qiao Mingtang said calmly, "Could it be that Master Hou is not acclimatized?"

Feng Polu didn't answer immediately, but asked with a smile: "Has the governor already used it earlier?"

"Isn't this waiting for Master Hou to use it together?" Qiao Mingtang sat upright, expressionless.

Feng Polu laughed and said: "So it turns out that it's better to come early than to come by coincidence. It seems that I came at the right time." Mrs. Xiang Qiao smiled and said: "Madam, please help me to serve a bowl of porridge. It was here last night, and I haven't even dripped water yet." Zhan, this stomach is very hungry."

Mrs. Qiao frowned, and glanced at Qiao Mingtang. Qiao Mingtang nodded slightly. Mrs. Qiao had no choice but to serve Feng Polu a bowl of porridge. She didn't have any affection for Feng Polu, and was about to leave, but Feng Polu smiled. Said: "Madam, don't you want to eat some together?"

Mrs. Qiao said lightly: "You can eat." She turned around and left.

Feng Polu picked up the porridge bowl, drank it in two or three mouthfuls, put down the porridge bowl, and said: "This bowl of porridge is really comfortable for the stomach..., Your Excellency Governor, it seems that Madam does not welcome me."

Qiao Mingtang said calmly: "Master Hou misunderstood, the West Mountain is restless, the army is in chaos, no one will be happy."

"That's true." Feng Polu leaned back on the chair, stared at Qiao Mingtang and said, "The Governor just asked me if I was not acclimatized, that's really not the case. I have strong skin and flesh, no matter where I go, I can Adapt. Moreover, Xishan and Hexi are both in the north, and there is not much difference in climate."

Qiao Mingtang said "Oh", but Feng Polu reached out to take a crystal bag, took a bite, and said, "I couldn't fall asleep last night, because I was worried by those barbarians."

"Barbarians?"

Feng Polu took another bite, and threw the remaining half of the bun on the table. He was very rude, but he still had a smile on his face, "Governor Qiao, you are a smart person. It’s not for food and grass. Although you allocated some food earlier, there are tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, and the barbarians’ appetites are so big that one meal is worth three or four meals for ordinary people. There is no food in the army. Today you can no longer Allocating food, I am only worried that this barbarian will cause trouble."

Qiao Mingtang frowned and said: "Master Hou, I have already told you that there is not much food in Xishan Road. When Xiliang people attacked the Northwest, the food in Xishan was emptied, and the taxes collected in those years were very high. In the past two years, in order to allow the people to recuperate, it is necessary to lower taxes, and naturally there is not much food in Xishan."

Feng Polu frowned and said, "Governor Qiao is crying poor to me?"

"Of course it's not about crying for poverty, but telling the truth." Qiao Mingtang sighed, "Master Hou, to be honest, the previous defeat has already lost a lot of food and grass, and we need to supply food to tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. , Xishan is already stretched...!"

Feng Polu sneered and said, "Master Qiao, the Holy Majesty's order is to let you Xishan supply all the reinforcements you need. You should understand that tens of thousands of soldiers came to Xishan, but in order to keep you Governor Qiao, everyone worked hard for you , but you let everyone go hungry, I can hardly imagine that they are willing to work hard for you."

"So I want to discuss with Lord Hou whether we can jointly write a letter, begging His Majesty to allocate grain and grass." Qiao Mingtang said: "Even if Hexi cannot allocate grain, it can be allocated from Anyi."

Feng Polu stood up abruptly, and said: "Master Qiao, I thought that I was a minister of the same dynasty and shared my allegiance to the Holy Majesty, that's why I took the trouble to come here every day to urge food. To be honest, this is not my Feng Polu's. Personality. I am a warrior, and I always like to go straight when doing things, and I am not as patient as you, Mr. Joe...!"

Qiao Mingtang frowned, and asked, "What does Lord Hou mean by this?"

"Let me just say it straight. The Holy Majesty ordered me to lead the army here to protect you, Mr. Qiao, but the ultimate goal is to protect Xishan." Feng Polu said with a cold face: "Hexi's money, food, soldiers and horses are naturally There is a purpose for Hexi, since the Holy Majesty asked you, Governor Joe, to raise food locally, it is the Holy Majesty’s plan. Since you and I are entrusted with the emperor’s life, we should keep Xishan at all costs. If Governor Qiao has any other ideas, hehe ...!"

Qiao Mingtang sneered and said, "Master Hou, the governor can't understand what he said. What are other ideas? Could it be that the governor has no food, and you let the governor grab it?"

"Master Qiao is robbing or stealing, this Marquis doesn't care." Feng Polu's expression was not good, "It's just that this Marquis was ordered to suppress the thieves, the soldiers and horses have not moved, and the food and grass go first. If Master Qiao can't even raise the food and grass, how can we suppress the thieves?" Thieves? If this delays the important task of suppressing thieves, you, Mr. Qiao, will add to the crime, and I am afraid that the court will not forgive you lightly."

Qiao Mingtang's face changed slightly, and the corners of his eyes twitched.

Seeing Qiao Mingtang's expression, Feng Polu thought that Qiao Mingtang was intimidated by him, and said with a smile: "Master Qiao, as far as I know, there are many merchants in this Yunshan mansion, and many of them have piles of money and food in their warehouses, which is a time of crisis. At this time, can't you let them do their best? In the end, we worked our lives in the front to keep them. They have piles of money and food, but we have to go hungry and work hard to protect them. It will be uneasy."

Qiao Mingtang smiled wryly and said, "Why doesn't this governor know that they have money and food in their hands. But Lord Hou doesn't know. Xishan has been in a difficult situation these years. This governor has raised money and food from them many times, and some people have complained in their hearts. If they continue to force Zheng, when the time comes, people will be angry and angry, and the consequences...!"

"If we don't collect food, our army will have no food to fight. After the defeat, when the Northwest Army enters the city, will those people still be angry?" Feng Polu sneered: "This Marquis knows that Governor Qiao has been in Xishan for so many years. The Xishan gentry has a good relationship with Governor Qiao, so it’s not good for you to do anything to them, since Master Qiao has concerns, then leave this matter to me.” He reached out to pick up the saber from the table, “Master Qiao, today is my last Once I came to urge the grain, my patience has been exhausted, and if the grain is not delivered to the barracks tomorrow, then I don’t have to bother Mr. Qiao. Just walk.

Qiao Mingtang got up immediately and shouted: "Master Hou, this matter...!"

"There is no need to say more at this time." Feng Polu said: "Master Qiao, remember, this Marquis is here to suppress thieves, not to be a beggar...!" With a cold face, he walked away quickly.

As soon as he left, Mrs. Qiao came out from the side door and said angrily: "Master, this Feng Polu is too much, he...he didn't take you seriously at all. Although he was banned Marquis, but you are the governor, this is Yunshan, how dare he talk to you like this."

Qiao Mingtang's expression was not good, but he sat down slowly, and said with a sneer, "He holds the military power in his hand, and tens of thousands of soldiers and horses are near Yunshan City, so he is full of confidence. What's more, this person was the number one under Feng Yuanpo back then. Warlord, I am used to being arrogant and domineering."

"My lord, I'm afraid he's said bad things about you behind your back." Mrs. Qiao frowned and said, "Since he wants food, you should give him food, so that he won't come to the mansion every few days to act recklessly."

"Women, what do you know?" Qiao Mingtang frowned and said, "There is not much food in the treasury. I can still sit here because it is of value to the court. If all the food is really supplied, they will Don't worry about food and grass, I don't have much use value, I'm afraid the court will do something to me."

"Ah?" Mrs. Qiao turned pale, "Master, you mean...!"

Qiao Mingtang smiled wryly and said: "Don't even think about it. The last time the army was defeated, up to now, the imperial court has not pursued the crime. Is this normal? It is because I am still useful to the imperial court, so they will press the matter of the last time for the time being." , When I am worthless, the court will inevitably bring up the old matter again. Didn’t you hear that Feng Polu said that my crime was added to the crime? The court will still remember the crime of defeat."