The room goes through the late Ming Dynasty, and the back door leads to North America at the beginni

Chapter 310 Hou Xun wants to make progress too much

Hou House.

This is the plaque that Hou Xun had someone change after he came back from Maoshan - before, he only regarded this property in Nanjing as a separate courtyard and did not want to draw attention to himself, so he only named it "Hou Zhai".

At this time, ordinary people's houses could only be called "houses", while officials and nobles could only call them "a certain mansion".

Hou Xun changed "Hou Zhai" to "Hou Mansion", firstly, he wanted to show that he was an official of the Weibu, and secondly, he wanted to show Liu Sheng his determination to serve the Weibu.

Although he coincided with the great victory of Maoshan, it actually did not play a big role. However, after returning, Liu Sheng still awarded him an official and rewarded him.

He was granted the position of Counselor of the Military Academy, and was also rewarded with a hundred taels of silver and ten bolts of silk and satin.

Hou Xun inquired and found out that the rank of this military counselor was unknown, but those who could obtain this position were all "talents" valued by Liu Sheng.

For example, Li Changwen and Yan Ermei who surrendered to Wei earlier, and Du Yinxi and Zhang Kuang who later surrendered to Wei, were all reused.

Therefore, when he first got this position, Hou Xun was very happy. He felt that the previous feeling that Liu Sheng didn't like him was all an illusion.

Going to Maoshan to persuade Zuo Liangyu to surrender was Liu Sheng's test for him. If he passed the test, he would be reused.

Unexpectedly, after being appointed an official, Hou Xun was not summoned by Liu Sheng for several days in a row, which made Hou Xun feel inexplicably disappointed.

Seeing Hou Xun in the courtyard, looking in the direction of the Forbidden City, like a resentful woman longing for her husband, Hou Fangyu couldn't help but said: "Dad, can you stop staring at the Forbidden City like this all day? What's the use of staring if they don't summon you?"

"The king must be busy with other matters and doesn't need me for the moment." Hou Xun said firmly.

"Don't deceive yourself." Hou Fangyu came up and stood side by side with Hou Xun, "Haier has already inquired that counselors can not only participate in discussing military affairs, but may also be questioned on government affairs.

But now you have been in this position for more than ten days, and that person has not been summoned once. He probably sent you away as a false post without any thought of granting real power. "

"Impossible!" Hou Xun didn't want to believe his son's words, "Your Majesty would never treat me like this. Don't make any assumptions!"

"Dad!" Hou Fangyu couldn't help but raise his voice, "Wake up quickly..."

Before Hou Fangyu finished speaking, the housekeeper ran over excitedly, "Master, someone is coming from the palace!"

Hou Xun was also excited when he heard this. He looked at Hou Fangyu who was in a daze and said with a smile: "Look, isn't the king summoning me to the palace now? Go and invite people in!"

"Yes, sir!"

The housekeeper went crazy.

Hou Xun took Hou Fangyu to the front yard to greet him.

The person who came was a guard. After seeing the Hou family father and son, he said: "The king has spoken, Hou Xun and Hou Fangyu enter the palace quickly!"

"Wei minister leads the order!"

The two of them bowed in agreement, and then Hou Xun winked at the housekeeper.

The butler immediately skillfully took out a large ingot of silver and secretly stuffed it into the guard's hand.

Unexpectedly, the guard suddenly took a step back, frowned and shouted: "Our officials in the Wei Department are not allowed to accept bribes, and the guards are strictly prohibited from accepting bribes. Are you trying to harm me?!"

Hou Xun was slightly stunned when he saw it, and then quickly apologized, "The housekeeper doesn't understand the rules, don't blame the general. I wonder why the king summoned my father and son?"

"We'll find out when we get there." The guard looked unhappy, "You should move faster and don't keep the king waiting."

Hou Xun said: "General, please wait a moment. We will change our clothes and come out."

Speaking of which, Hou Fangyu also got a battalion staff position last time, but he was not assigned to which army to take up the position. It was almost like a false position.

In addition, there are no formal official robes in the Yibu department now. Many officials wear official uniforms corresponding to the Ming Dynasty when working, such as county magistrates, magistrates and other people-friendly officials.

Military Counselor and Staff Officer were positions only available in the Wei Ministry. The Hou family and his son did not know what official uniforms to wear, so they could only change into decent clothes and enter the palace with the guards.

After the two met, Liu Sheng asked, "I heard that Mr. Hou is from Guide Mansion?"

Hou Xun responded: "Your Majesty, I am from Shangqiu, Guide."

"When was the last time you came home?"

"After I was released from prison in Beijing last summer, I went back to Shangqiu once."

"Where's Counselor Hou?"

Hou Fangyu was stunned for a moment before he realized he was asking him.Even though he didn't even call Liu Sheng "Your Majesty" in private, he was more respectful than his father in person. He bowed and said, "Back to your Majesty, I came to Jiangnan after the Chinese New Year in Shangqiu."

"Okay, very good." Liu Sheng smiled, "Both of you are from Shangqiu, and the Hou family is also a famous family in Shangqiu. They can help Gu solve an urgent matter."

Then Liu Sheng talked about the current situation in Guide.

Finally, he said: "You must have seen what happened after Li Zicheng's invading army occupied a place. You two don't want your hometown to be destroyed by the invading army, right?"
If the four remaining cities in Guide, including Shangqiu, can surrender to our Wei tribe, even if Gu does not send troops, Li Chuang will be afraid and will not dare to invade Shangqiu and other places.

Therefore, Gu hopes that the two of them can go back to their hometown and persuade the officials, gentry, soldiers and people in Shangqiu and other cities to surrender.Are you two willing? "

Hou Xun and Hou Fangyu were stunned after hearing this.

Unexpectedly, Liu Sheng actually asked them to persuade them to surrender.Although they were returning to their hometown to persuade them to surrender this time, they seemed to have a home field advantage. However, since the Ming troops in Shangqiu and other places were still holding the Ming flag during the invasion and encirclement, they were probably loyal to Zhu Ming.

Under such circumstances, if they go back to persuade Zuo Liangyu to surrender, the danger will be greater than the last time they went to Maoshan to persuade Zuo Liangyu to surrender.

It may even harm your relatives!

"Why, you two don't want to help me solve this matter?"

Hearing Liu Sheng's questioning, Hou Xun gritted his teeth and said, "I am willing to go through fire and water for the king, no matter what!"

Liu Sheng smiled and said: "Mr. Hou, there is no need to say it so tragically - now the situation in the world is gradually becoming clear, and the Ming Dynasty will soon fall.

Shangqiu and other cities are surrounded by our army and the invading army. Unless the chief officer there wants to drag the people of the four cities to die together, he will eventually have to choose one side to surrender.

Mr. Hou went to be moved by emotion and reason with those people, and believed that they would choose to surrender to our Wei tribe. "

After listening to what Liu Sheng said, Hou Xun also felt that this matter was not so difficult and dangerous.

On the contrary, Liu Sheng allowed his father and son to do this, which was a sign of their trust in him.

He immediately expressed his position again, "I will do my best to make Shangqiu and other cities submit to the Wei tribe!"

"Okay, I'll be waiting for the good news from Mr. Hou in Nanjing!"

···
After receiving the decree, the Hou family and his son set off on the same day.

Crossing the Yangtze River, he then rode horseback to Guide Prefecture, changing horses without changing people along the way and rarely resting. He completed the [-]-mile journey in two days and entered the area controlled by the Ming army from Yongcheng, Guide Prefecture.

At this time, they learned that Li Zicheng had successively conquered the former Luo Rucai generals, and successively took over the cities of Chenliu, Qixian, Tongxu, Suizhou, Ningling, etc., and was about to attack Shangqiu.

So the father and son did not dare to delay and rushed to Shangqiu overnight.

Hou Xun and Hou Fangyu were both famous people in Shangqiu, and they only brought a few followers with them without any troops, so they naturally entered the city easily.

The father and son had just taken a hot bath after returning to Hou's house. The disciple came to inform them that the Tongzhi, Tuiguan, County Magistrate and some squires had sent name stickers and wanted to visit overnight.

It was also at this time that the father and son realized that Shangqiu and other cities were isolated from the outside world because they were surrounded by Chuang and Yi armies. They did not know that Zuo Liangyu and other hundreds of thousands of Ming troops were defeated, and that the Yi army had occupied the entire south of Zhili. information.

These people still thought that Hou Xun was the military governor of Jiangnan and other six provinces!
After taking a bath, the father and son each made a bowl of ginseng tea and drank while discussing things in the study.

Hou Fangyu realized that Gui De was promising, and became excited, saying, "Dad, since Yan Zekong and those people don't know what's going on in the south of the Yangtze River and mistakenly think that you are still the governor of the six provinces of the Ming Dynasty, why not take the opportunity to seize military power?
As long as we seize military power, whether we surrender to Chuang, return to Wei, or continue to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty, isn't it all a matter of your words? "

Hou Xun frowned and said, "How can it be as simple as you think? Didn't you just listen to what your family said? Now the county magistrate Liang Yizhang is actually in charge of the city - all the local soldiers and local braves are under his control.

For this person to be able to do this, he must have extraordinary means.Yan Zekong and Wang Shixiu couldn't suppress him. My sudden return to my hometown was already suspicious. How could I easily seize military power?

If things fail, not only will you and I die, but the Hou family will also be exterminated, and it will also ruin the king’s grand plan! "

After hearing that Hou Xun placed Liu Sheng's "big plan" in the most important position, Hou Fangyu didn't know what to say.

He never expected that his father would be more loyal and work harder than when he was the governor of the Ming Dynasty.

He took a sip of ginseng tea to refresh himself and asked, "Then what should we do?"

Hou Xun narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "Don't those people want to see me? We just want to meet together, but they have to come to Hou's house to see me.

In addition, you ask Fang Yan, Fang Xia and their servants to ambush in the house and obey my orders. "

As a prominent family in Guide Prefecture, the Hou family not only has rich property, but also has a large number of members. Among them are scholars like Hou Fangyu who took the imperial examination and were invited to write letters. Naturally, there are also warriors who like to play with guns and sticks and are aspiring to the military.

Hou Fangyu's clan brother Hou Fangyan and his third brother Hou Fangxia are the best among them.

Hou Fangyu was confused after hearing this, "Dad, didn't you say it was too risky to seize military power? Why are you planning this Hongmen Banquet now?"

Hou Xun explained, "It's not the Hongmen Banquet, but just in case. If Liang Yizhang, Wang Shixiu and others are stubborn and insist on arresting you and me as traitors, you and I can't just sit back and wait for death, right?"

If we really want to get to that point, even if we are in danger of annihilation, we will still fight! "

"The child understands."

"Then go and arrange it quickly. After the arrangement is completed, go and invite those people over. If you are tired as a father, just take a nap first."

Hou Fangyu wanted to say that he was tired too and wanted to take a nap before doing anything else.

But he was only in his 20s. If he had the same energy as a father in his 50s, he would be ridiculed, so he endured fatigue and sleepiness to do things...
Liang Yizhang came to the grand marble archway outside the Hou Mansion (building complex).

Behind him were not only dozens of personal followers, but also hundreds of elite rural soldiers wearing helmets and carrying armor. Last autumn, the Chu army actually attacked Shangqiu, but under his organization, the city was defended.He doesn't rely on anything else but the rural soldiers and brave men he trained.

Wang Shixiu, the official recommendation officer, and Yan Zekong, the fellow magistrate, also arrived one after another.

Wang Shixiu and Yan Zekong were surprised to see Liang Yizhang leading many troops.

Yan Zekong asked with a sullen look on his face: "Why did Gongdi (Liang Yizhang) bring so many soldiers when he came to see the Hou Governor this time?"

　Make up one more.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)