Wei Ni

The new year opens the seal, and the third year of Qinglong (235) arrives.

The city of Luoyang became increasingly noisy about Xia Houhui's fall from favor and being idle.

Because when the emperor Cao Rui gave a banquet to his ministers at the beginning of the year, he did not call him back to the city to attend the banquet; even the rewards given to the commanders of the central army did not include him. You know, all the commanders and officers of the various camps of the central army who had ranks received some wealth.

But this is just the talk of busy people in the market.

The officials who were really high up in the temple sensed something was wrong.

Because when something goes wrong, there must be a monster.

They all know that Emperor Cao Rui is not a man of small means.

Not to mention being very tolerant to Xia Houhui, a descendant of Qiao Pei's father-in-law, even Gao Tanglong and Yang Fu, who had repeatedly offended Yan Zhijian, were polite and generous!
The most important thing is that they suddenly discovered that Xia Houhui had not been rewarded for his previous efforts in rushing to the aid of Xuzhou, recapturing Huaiyin City, killing Wu general Tang Zi, and capturing more than a thousand Wu soldiers.

How many months has this been delayed?
Even in the battle of Yongliang against Shu that ended much later, the temples had finished judging the merits and demerits of each general, and each army was gradually disbanded and returned to the field, or transferred back to Luoyang to garrison!
In addition, the emperor Cao Rui accepted the suggestion of the minister last year and began to adjust and reform the Chinese army.
If nothing unexpected happens, Xia Houhui may usher in extremely high authority.

Many ministers have this realization.

Qin Lang, Xia Houxian, Cao Shuang and others are no exception.

Just when the emperor Cao Rui issued an edict to reward the generals and generals, they looked at the wealth and treasures that were given to them, and there was no joy in their hearts. After the angels and the many rewarded generals left, the three of them came to the brazier at the same time, and under the cover of warming their hands by the fire, they whispered their respective opinions.

"Perhaps it is because of my previous advice that your Majesty felt that I was greedy for power."

The first one to speak was Xia Houxian.

He was referring to the fact that when he was at Beimang Mountain Manor, he took Xia Houhui's shooting of Wu general Sun Shao as an opportunity to suggest that Emperor Cao Rui keep Xia Houhui there for training. Nowadays, the Chinese army is undergoing changes. Even the backbone battalions have been included in the Forbidden Army and have no longer gone out for expeditions. The emperor still has not transferred Xiahou Hui to another position. From this, we can guess the emperor's intentions.

"Yun Jin, don't say that. The previous words were discussed by the three of us and were not made by Yun Jin alone."

Qin Lang, who also looked a little confused, quickly explained in a low voice, and also cast his eyes on Cao Shuang, saying with a hint of annoyance, "Uncle He Ping and Xiahou Taichu are famous in the capital, but they are not intelligent people. Uncle Zhao The previous breakup of friendship with Ding Yanjing caused us to miss out on a lot of help."

"I"

Cao Shuang opened his mouth, and just wanted to tell the difference, but he closed it again.

Because the trick to squeeze Xiahou Hui out of the Chinese army was planned by He Yan and Xiahou Xuan for him, and he also tried hard to have Xiahou Xian and Qin Lang give advice to the emperor.

Now that it was counterproductive, he naturally couldn't refute the accusation.

"Okay, the three of us all agree that things are not going smoothly now, and it is not Uncle Zhao's fault."

However, Xia Houxian, who had the highest official position, was quite responsible. He first stopped Qin Lang from criticizing Cao Shuang, and then asked, "Yuan Ming, you and King Yan are on good terms, can you go further?"

Cao Yu, King of Yan?

Hearing this, Qin Lang raised his eyebrows and did not answer immediately.

King Cao Yu of Yan had been close to the emperor Cao Rui since he was a child, so at the end of last year the emperor specially invited him to Luoyang to visit the Ancestral Temple together, and also planned to keep him in Luoyang as a companion. Now that Xia Houxian mentioned him, he naturally wanted Qin Lang to see if it was possible to bring Yan King Cao Yu into his own small group.

After all, he is a person who is close to the emperor.

Speech is very weighty and can affect the emperor's decision-making.

But there's also a bit of a downside.

Due to the relationship between the Wei Dynasty and the Wei Dynasty in the early years, after Emperor Wen Cao Pi came to the throne, he monitored the princes of the nearby branch very closely.

It is also a grave sin for a courtier to associate with a prince.

Now Xia Houxian suggested that Qin Lang should plot against Cao Yu, the king of Yan. Once this happened, no matter how kind the emperor Cao Rui was to him, he would not tolerate it.

"I know Yun Jin's intention."

After a moment of silence, Qin Lang shook his head slightly and sighed quietly, "It's just that King Yan is respectful and gentle, and he never treats others unfairly. Although he and I are very close to each other, it is very difficult to get him to support me."

"Yuan Ming, let's give it a try. There's no need to rush."

Nodding, Xia Houxian still tried to persuade him, "I am not trying to force Yuan Ming, but because King Yan never treats people wrongly, so it only takes one sentence to change the emperor's mind."

uh~
Cao Shuang, who had been listening silently, showed a look of surprise, and cast his admiring eyes on Xia Houxian.

Qin Lang had no feelings at all.

He just continued to ponder for a moment, and finally nodded reluctantly, "Okay."

The matter was settled and the three of them dispersed.

But what Qin Lang and Cao Shuang didn't know was that Xia Houxian, who had no specific affairs, was walking slowly and happened to meet Cao Zhao, the captain of the garrison and cavalry school.

The two laughed heartily and exchanged a few words, then said goodbye.

But just as the two of them passed each other, Cao Zhao asked urgently in a very slight voice, "Yun Jin, how are you? Does Qin Yuanming agree?"

"Ah."

"good."

Stone Spring Pine Forest.

Accompanied by Zhang Li and other retinues, Xia Houhui, who brought Lu Fan and Wei Shu back from hunting in the dense forest, took a pheasant from the prey, then waved the crowd away and returned to the thatched cottage under the pine wood pavilion. Wang Yuanji, who was making tea and reading, showed off with a smile, "Xijun, try the pheasant soup I stewed today." "Okay."

Wang Yuanji put down the bamboo slips in her hands, stood up and walked over with a smile on her face.

He knelt down, rested his hat on his hands, and watched Xia Houhui build a fire on the side of the spring with rocks, and then said, "Husband, why don't you let me light the fire?"

"No, don't get your hands dirty."

Looking up and smiling at her, Xia Houhui skillfully lit a fire, boiled water, disembowelled a pheasant, etc.

She just watched quietly, with a slight smile on her face.

This scene is not the first time since Xia Houhui took a bath. It also made her feel joyful at the beginning, but now she feels a little melancholy in her heart.

Yes, melancholy.

When Xia Houhui was away fighting in the army, she always looked forward to his early return.

But now that she is back, she hopes that he can take up a responsibility as soon as possible, even if he goes out to fight again.

It wasn't that the couple had grown tired of each other after nearly two months, but that she knew her husband was a man with great ambitions.

Therefore, it should not be left idle at home.

Not to mention that one should not spend all day hunting to pass the time and enjoy cooking to relieve boredom.

He smiles all day long and seems to be in a happy mood, but he is actually very troubled in his heart, alas.
Wang Yuanji thought of the market rumors that came with her brother's book to tell the story of the New Year, and sighed quietly in her heart.

But she couldn't say anything, let alone express relief.

After all, she couldn't help with this kind of thing, so she shouldn't mention it to make him sad, let alone expose it and embarrass him.

Xia Houhui didn't know what she was thinking.

Not only because he really enjoys this rare leisure time.

Even more because he knew that he would be given responsibilities soon.

As early as late winter in December, he knocked on the que and asked for an audience. Emperor Cao Rui refused and asked him to continue sleeping. One day later, Leliang sent a letter.

The content is also one sentence.

Said: "The soldiers and horses of Yongliang returned to Luoyang late, and the emperor came to our camp. All things were complicated and I had no time to attend to them. Therefore, at the end of the year, I couldn't go to greet the general in person."

Of course he didn't write a special letter to apologize.

Instead, he secretly told Xia Houhui that the reason why Emperor Cao Rui extended his period of rest was because the return of soldiers and horses transferred from Yongliang to the Chinese Army was delayed and late, and it would take longer to rectify. In disguise, it delayed the time for Xia Houhui to be awarded a new position.

To put it bluntly, it just means that Xia Houhui should not be anxious.

As for why Emperor Cao Rui did not even invite Xiahou Hui to join him when he went to the Beimangshang Manor for fun.
Cao Rui didn't want him to ruin his fortune.

The pressure of Shuwu's invasion was reduced, which made Cao Rui want to celebrate. However, since the meeting in Ganoderma Pond, Cao Rui felt that he must not take Xia Houhui with him when he was having fun!

Otherwise, you will definitely leave in a hurry and return in despair.

So, why bother?

It's better to let him stay at home and continue to "recharge his batteries", while he can also enjoy himself!

Of course, if a ferocious beast is locked up for a long time, it will become depressed.

Cao Rui didn't let him idle for too long.

In the middle of the first lunar month, East Hall.

The emperor Cao Rui, who was just in charge of the administration, went to the apse of Chonghua. He also sent away all his ministers, including Cao Shuang, who had led troops to protect him.

Over there, Situ Dong Zhao and Shangshu Zuopushe Xu Xuan were already waiting. They were warming themselves by the fire and drinking warm wine slowly.

Cao Rui specially asked his attendants to arrange it.

Not only did he implement his usual style of treating veterans favorably, but he also asked the two of them to discuss some personnel changes in advance.

For example, it is related to Sima Yi, the general who controls more than 100,000 troops in Guanzhong and the governor of Yongliang. Now that the Shu soldiers are in civil strife, should the governor of Yongliang be withdrawn?
After all, the Luoyang Central Army only has 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers!

As stated in the previous table above, although the Shu and Wu kingdoms were in decline, they were eager to retreat. The idle troops in the north could be used by Guanqiu Jian, the governor of Jingzhou, on Gongsun Yuan of Liaodong. Although Wei Zhen opposed Guan Qiu Jian's proposal, Cao Rui had already made it clear that he would send Guan Qiu Jian to serve in Youzhou. In this way, we must carefully discuss what duties Wang Xiong, the governor of Youzhou, will take when he returns to the court, and who will succeed him as governor of Jingzhou.

But these ministers Zuopu shot Xu Xuan can make suggestions.

Therefore, it was not the main reason why Cao Rui recruited Dong Zhao, who was nearly eighty years old.

He wanted to hear what this veteran minister of Sheji, who had planned for Wei Wu and Cao Cao to make Wei Gong and Wei King, thought about Xia Houhui.

Because there are some decisions in his mind that require the opinions of die-hard veterans.

"Dong Gong, can you confirm this?"

As soon as they entered the back hall of Chonghua, Cao Rui raised his hand to indicate that they did not have to get up, and asked directly, "How is Xiahou Zhiquan doing?" (End of Chapter)