Wei Ni

Xia Houhui, who led the steed into the manor, handed the reins of the horse to the soldiers on duty to take him to the stables to settle down, while he walked to the well with ease, drew water to clean his face and tidy up his appearance.

Then he walked slowly along the corridor to the small pavilion on the side of the rockery, intending to rest there for a rest.

But he didn't want to, and after turning around the rockery, he found that someone was already in the small pavilion.

Xia Houhui had never seen it before.

They are all about 60 years old, sitting opposite each other in front of the chess field and playing chess. They are all elegant and dressed in very ordinary swallow clothes, but the green jade rings on their waists are enough to show that their identities are very noble.

But think about it.

How can a person who can appear in the Emperor's Play Manor be an ordinary person?
The person who was facing Xia Houhui also saw him coming, and was looking up at him with his beard on his head. There was no surprise or strangeness in his eyes, but a sense of scrutiny.

It also made the person sitting opposite him feel it, and follow his gaze to look back.

Similarly, he did not speak, but his eyes were full of novelty.

It seems that both of them know who I am?

Xia Houhui, who was suddenly stared at, thought to himself, without changing his face, he just cupped his hands and made a bow to express his guilt for disturbing their elegant mood, then turned and left.

He had no intention of chatting.

Especially when he didn't know the purpose of Emperor Cao Rui recruiting him here, he should be more cautious.

However, he had just turned around and walked a few steps, and before his figure turned around the rockery, an old voice sounded behind him, "Stay here and stay. Dare I ask, is Xia Hou childish?"

It was the old man who was talking to him.

Turning around helplessly, Xia Houhui met the old man's gaze and saluted again, "This is Xia Houhui, what orders does the elder have?"

In today's world, respecting the elderly is an essential virtue.

He dared not be rude.

"Come and sit down."

The old man waved his hand and smiled kindly, "There is no quietness here, since you are here, come over and have a chat with the old man."

uh~
Could it be that the emperor Cao Rui ordered me to come here because it has something to do with these two old men?
With this kind of doubt, Xia Houhui respectfully replied "Wei", then strode over to the small pavilion, and sat down on the side of the chess field.

Unexpectedly, just as he sat down, the old man began to give his name.

"Childish, the old man is Wei Zhen."

ok~
I said old man, can you stop panting when you keep talking!

Xia Houhui complained in his heart, and got up again to salute respectfully, "Hui, I have seen the guard."

Wei Zhen, courtesy name Gongzhen, was born in Xiangyi, Chenliu.

His father, Wei Zi, was Chen Liu Xiaolian. In the sixth year of Zhongping (AD 189), he sponsored Wei Wu Cao Cao to fight against Dong, and then followed Cao Cao to Xingyang and died in the first battle.

But in any case, he was the first person with a foreign surname to help Cao Cao start a business with his family money and life.

So it left a legacy for future generations.

After Wei Zhen became an official, he was repeatedly promoted by Cao Cao, and he was a servant in Cao Pi's time.

Emperor Cao Rui had a good personal relationship with him when he was in the East Palace. The two often discussed political strategy and literature together.

And this post of servant is not just for showing favor, but it is really authoritative!

As for Xia Houhui, who once served as the servant of Sanqi, why haven't I met him~
He has been working in the Shangshutai for these years, as the right servant shooter, in charge of the selection and relegation of court officials, and his authority is no less than that of Jiang Ji, the general of the army.

What is rare and valuable is that his military strategy is also quite outstanding.

Although he is not as famous as Liu Ye and Jiang Ji, he always hits the mark with every advice.

So Xia Houhui treated him very respectfully.

And I was quite happy in my heart - the emperor Cao Rui summoned him to accompany him, and also called Wei Zhen to accompany him. Does this mean that in Cao Rui's heart, he can already participate in the plans of the important officials in the temple?

I just don't know who the old man next to me is.

Well, the old man on the opposite side has not spoken, nor has he paid much attention to Xia Houhui.

When Wei Zhen greeted Xia Houhui to come over, he just nodded slightly and smiled, and even bowed his hands back to Xia Houhui's salute.

From the small details of the return gift, it can be seen that his official position must not be high, otherwise he would not be so polite.

After all, elders are respected.

Even Sima Yi, who treats others with humility, will not return courtesy when facing juniors whose official positions are lower than his own.

But in Xia Houhui's heart, he was even more afraid of him.

Because the old man's gaze seemed to be peaceful, but occasionally a ray of light flashed across it.

And he obviously drooped his eyelids, and seemed to be closing his eyes to rest his mind, but Xiahou Hui faintly felt that the old man had been looking at him secretly, which made him feel very uncomfortable.

Well, what about that feeling?

It's a bit like being stared at by a poisonous snake hiding in the dark.

It's a bit similar to hiding secrets in my heart, but this old man's eyes are like sharp knives, breaking through his hiding layer by layer, and peeling out all his secrets one by one.

It made him feel that he had nowhere to hide, no privacy at all, and a feeling that he was completely seen through.

Who is this old man! ?
He is so old and can get close to the emperor Cao Rui. With Cao Rui's practice of treating veterans well, how could he not have a high official position?
Could it be that he is not an official with real power, but was awarded a redundant post with other skills?

"This is a clean and elegant place, and there is no need for etiquette for immature power."

Wei Zhen raised his hand and pressed it down, motioning for Xia Houhui to take a seat, and then asked, "I heard that Your Majesty praises Zhiquan for his ability to plan military battles. Now that I happen to meet you face to face, I can't help but see Lie. Ask Zhiquan about the military matters, whether Zhiquan would like to have some chats with the old man?"

You have always been recruited here by Emperor Cao Rui, how dare I say no?
And you are always in this small pavilion, but you think this pavilion is the only way to enter the manor, so you pretend to play chess and wait for me to "just meet"~
"Hui has little knowledge and talent, so I dare not be praised by His Majesty."

After bowing his hands in the direction of the palace and saying modestly, Xiahou Hui nodded and said, "If the servants don't think that Hui is dull, and you can ask about everything, Hui will know everything and say everything."

"good!"

Wei Zhen lightly clapped his hands in praise, and then said, "In the past, Zhiquan refuted the late Da Sima Fashu old man, and his Majesty also told me what he said in Tianyuanchi. Zhiquan had a history of fatigue before. The plan is not to say that it is not feasible, so the old man is confused. The late Da Sima's attack on Shu did not damage the country's power much, so it should not be called "one moment, then another moment". "

"Returning to the servants, Fei Hui contradicts the front and back, and it is really my Wei Guofu who can fight!"

Hearing this, Xia Houhui said loudly without hesitation, "The previous battle of Lucheng in Longyou shows that our Wei soldiers are not as good at fighting as the Shu soldiers. However, our Wei State occupies all the fertile land in the world and is densely populated. It is not comparable to Bashu, which has a small land and few people." Also. So, as long as our country Wei and the people rest and accumulate national power, regardless of whether the plan of exhaustion is implemented or not, the strong will become stronger and the weak will become weaker."

After speaking, he paused, and then he continued to add another sentence.

"Since Zhuge Liang, Prime Minister of Shu, was entrusted to open the mansion alone, he has made an alliance with the thief Wu in the east, and went south to the barren land of Jing'an. Bashu can be said to have no worries! It is because since the beginning of the second year of Taihe, he has four times raised troops to invade the territory. Therefore, the generals of the Yongliang soldiers of the Wei State will not take off their armor, and the Chinese army of Luoyang will not let go of their saddles! , to wait for the right time."

"Furthermore, if Shu is destroyed, our Kingdom of Wei shall occupy Hanzhong first."

"Hanzhong has been closed since ancient times, and there are mountains and rivers fortified. When Hanzhong was occupied by the original Marquis (Zhang Lu), Emperor Wu sent troops to attack Chencang Road. He sent troops to build camps in Yang'ankou and the mountains. There are dangers to rely on, and our army's food supply is difficult, so we have the idea of ​​​​discontinuing our troops. After the battle of Hanzhong, Hui Xianjun was in trouble. Emperor Wu led his army to go to Baoxie Valley to attack Hanzhong and Liu Xuande. If we don’t fight with our army, it will make it difficult for Emperor Wu to bring in food and fodder again, and then he will stop the army. In this way, if we hadn’t had five years of food and fodder reserves in Wei State, and hundreds of thousands of troops vying for their lives, it would be undeniable to destroy Shu.”

"Well, it should be so."

Wei Zhen, who listened quietly, kept stroking his beard and nodding his head, smiled coyly, "Zhiquan's words penetrate into the heart, and hit the pros and cons of our Wei State and Bashu. It is commendable for Zhiquan to have such a strategy at such a young age. Yan!"

"Don't dare"

The humble Xia Houhui hastily cupped his hands, but was interrupted by Wei Zhen raising his hand.

Perhaps, his question about Fashu was just an introduction.

But what I didn't expect was that Xia Houhui was eloquent, and he uttered a bunch of well-known nonsense!

Because that's what he asked next.

"The policy of defeating the thief Wu, the old man will not ask. Presumably the words of Zhiquan are almost the same as the policy of defeating Shu. Well, the old man once heard that when the former government and the public all wanted to attack the Liaodong Gongsun thief, Zhiquan privately advised Your Majesty can't say that; now the head of the envoy who beheaded the thief Wu was brought to Luoyang, and the princes in the temple want to make him a public and plan secretly to attack Liaodong. Zhuantian Guorang went to the post and went to the state to lead the legacy of Zijing. Liaodong Gongsun's traitor's heart of disobedience has been revealed, and our country of Wei must attack him, but Zhiquan can't say anything, so this old man is confused. I don't know Zhiquan's opinion, when will Liaodong be Cut it?"

uh~
Understood.

It turns out that what you really want to ask is Liaodong.

I just don't know, is this your personal intention, or the intention of the princes in the temple, or the intention of the emperor Cao Rui?
If it's what the ministers mean, it's okay to say.

Today's emperor Cao Rui is no longer admonishing the ministers when he first succeeded to the throne in his early years.

He has become very strong for a long time, and he will not hesitate to confront the ministers to implement the strategy.

But if the emperor's own mind
Could it be that the emperor Cao Rui began to regret it just as soon as he put into practice the legacy of Qianzhao? !
After hearing that Wei Zhen didn't ask the thief Wu Zhice, Xia Houhui immediately understood his intention.

Doubts also arose in my heart.

Therefore, he was also very cautious and concise when answering.

Said: "Back to the servant, Hui thought that when our Wei State attacked Liaodong, it was the time when Shu and Wu stopped attacking with large-scale troops."

Is it the time when Bashu and the thief Wu no longer raise their troops on a large scale?
Wei Zhen raised her eyebrows and stared at Xia Houhui silently.

After a while, he suddenly smiled, "I know what Zhiquan means. Zhiquan claims that the Gongsun family in Liaodong has gone through three generations, and it is not Youzhou soldiers who can fight alone, but the Luoyang Central Army must be the main force."

"The servants are wise, and the benefits are not enough."

Xiahou Hui said something half modest and half flattering, and then bowed his hands in salute, "Sun Tzu said, 'Know yourself and the enemy, and you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles'. Hui has never been to Youzhou, and he knows very little about Liaodong, so he dare not say more. I hope the waiter will forgive me."

The implication is that I don't want to say any more, and you don't want to ask for details.

If you ask, it means "Soldiers are the way to survive and die, so be careful"!
It’s just that I dare not lie!

"Hey, it's just chatting, how can I forgive you when I'm young."

Wei Zhen, who recognized Xia Houhui's meaning, smiled and waved her hands to indicate that it's okay.

Then, he turned his head again, and said to another old man who had been resting his eyes, "Kong He, haven't you figured out where to settle yet? If you don't settle, you will admit defeat."

"Hand talkers, it's because of elegance, what does it matter if you win or lose?"

The old man opened his eyes and said leisurely.

The movement of his hands was really not slow, he directly landed a black stone on the corner, and took out two white stones, "Wei Gong, it's your turn, don't make me wait too long~"

"Don't rush, wait for me to think for a while."

Wei Zhen frowned, stared at Qiping and replied without raising her head.

Xia Houhui doesn't know how to talk by hand, so he can't tell which situation is better on the chess field; but he knows that the two old men in front of him are not thinking about playing chess.

So after he glanced at the chess surface, he began to close his eyes and rest his mind.

In fact, it is thinking for itself.

The name of this old man is Kong He?

Seems like, it sounds a bit impressive, but why can't I remember who he is?

Well, after returning home, I will ask my seventh younger brother Yiquan.

He grew up in the capital since he was a child, and he often made friends in his daily life, so he should be very familiar with the people in the court.

About half an hour later.

Xia Houhui, who had been dozing off all this time, was about to really fall asleep, and Wei Zhen and the old man had already stopped playing games, and let the manor steward bring drinks, dried fruits, and books for fun, and the emperor Cao Rui was late.

After everyone saw the ceremony, Cao Rui ordered the management of the manor to eat, drink, sing and dance, and the monarch and his ministers had a feast together.

But Xia Houhui was still not sure why the emperor recruited him.

There are two reasons.

One, the emperor Cao Rui came here on horseback, accompanied by only military guards.

He did not bring his close ministers with him, such as Xia Houxian, Cao Zhao, Cao Shuang, etc. who had already served in the imperial guards were not on the list.

So we can know that the emperor didn't want others to know that he summoned Xia Houhui today.

On the other hand, when the emperor was having a banquet, he didn't even mention the political strategy and military struggle.

He just blindly asked Xia Houhui how the wedding preparations were going.

Such as on which day and where it will be held, and have you seen the bride, what do you think of the bride and other common topics, and then let him go back after drinking and eating.

It was as if he was called here just to care about the marriage.

But Xia Houhui knew that there must be something strange in it.

Because of the behavior of Emperor Cao Rui, he faintly felt that Wei Zhen was trying to cover up when he asked him about Liaodong!

It's just a cover to make him suspicious!

But he couldn't guess what the emperor Cao Rui wanted to do and what thoughts he had on him.

He is about sixty years old, and his name is Konghe.
Xia Houhui was thinking silently in his heart on the way home, and just returned to the small house in the west of the city, so he asked Sun Lou to hurry to find Xiahou and come over.

In fact, his intuition was right.

Just when he had just left, Wei Zhen took advantage of the situation and left.

And the emperor Cao Rui also asked the old man named Konghe after dismissing the idlers, "Zhou Qing, can you clear up my confusion now?" (End of this chapter)