Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 117
With the imperial edict, Shao Youliang appeared in the camp of the Xiangzhou Prefecture Army in a spirited manner. The general of Xiangzhou Liao Shijie also knew that Shao Youliang had contributed to the seizure of the throne, so he greeted him with a smile, and was polite to him in his actions. He also lent him people, not only that, there were generals and bureaucrats in Xiangzhou marrying him, and Liao Shijie did not stop him.

"Mother, if it's not my wife, I won't marry." Ling Ruya didn't expect that her father would marry her to a general who betrayed her cousin, or become a concubine. She found excuses not to go.

"My son, do you know how many people are fawning on you now, if you didn't squeeze your head for your mother, you wouldn't be able to get in."

"Mother, I don't want to marry such a person."

Mother Ling said: "What's this kind of person', that man has no ambition, is he still called a man without ambition?"

"But my cousin doesn't have one." Ling Ruya replied angrily.

"How do you know your cousin doesn't have one?"

Ling Ruya said: "If uncle is not here, cousin might not even enter the barracks."

"how is this possible."

"Really, mother, I have heard it with my own ears."

Mrs. Ling didn't believe it: "It must be because he is young and ignorant that he would say such a thing. When he grows up, he will know the benefits of having power. How can he not have ambitions and not climb up!"

Ling Ruya couldn't understand her mother, so she shouted: "I don't care, if you don't let me be a regular wife, I won't marry even if I die. If you insist on me being a concubine, I'll let you die."

"Ya'er, you..."

"I'm telling the truth." Ling Ruya ran back to her room angrily, lay down on the bed and cried.

The next day, Ma Min'er woke up after a full sleep, Shan Xiaodan had been sitting on the porch, and when she heard the sound of the door opening, she quickly put down her sewing, "Er Niang—"

"It's past afternoon!"

"Yes, Er Niang, are you hungry? There are prepared meals in the pot."

"I'm really hungry!" Ma Min'er asked while going down the stairs, "Where's my father?"

Shan Xiaodan replied: "Probably school is over, and I'm enjoying the shade in the lotus pond pavilion with Master Jiang."

"Oh, then I'll go there later."

There is still more than an hour until dinner time, Ma Min'er didn't eat much, after eating, she went to the pavilion in the lotus pond: "Father, Master Jiang."

Feng Jiangyi tuned in: "Don't call me Daddy anymore?"

Ma Min'er smiled slightly: "I still think Master is more suitable for you."

"Haha..." Feng Jiangyi raised his head and laughed.

Ma Min'er entered the gazebo, "Father—"

"Min'er, sit down." Ma Qifeng said with a smile.

Ma Min'er sat down and asked, "Father, have you given away the summer gift from the Mo family?"

"not yet!"

"Go and deliver it when you have time."

"Okay, Dad knows."

Ma Min'er worriedly asked: "Father, the emperor is dead, what is the wedding date?"

"The folks can get married in more than half a year." Feng Jiangyi said with a smile, "However, you have to wait for more than a year."

Ma Min'er replied without thinking, "I won't marry for a year, I'm only 13 years old now, at least eighteen years old."

"Haha..." Feng Jiangyi laughed loudly, "I'm afraid your in-law's family won't be able to wait."

"If you love to wait, wait, don't wait to be pulled down." Ma Min'er curled her lips.

"Haha..." Feng Jiangyi laughed loudly, "Little lady, do you have a husband's family, how do you know whether he will wait?"

"It wasn't you just now..." Ma Min'er just realized that the old man was just digging a hole for herself, "I won't tell you anymore." She picked up the cup and drank tea with a guilty conscience. To tell the truth, for a moment just now, she He really regarded Xia Zhen as his marriage partner.

Feng Jiangyi laughed again, the laughter stopped, he narrowed his eyes and said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to make a knot if you want to."

"Uh..." Both the father and daughter of the Ma family looked at him, but he acted as if he hadn't said this just now. Take a walk outside in the fields, little lady, do you want to go?"

"Of course I want to go to my field. The wheat is about to be harvested. It feels really good to go and have a look."

"Haha, that's right, smelling the fragrance of wheat, I feel at ease in my heart, it feels really good, let's go, let's go."

Ma Qifeng smiled and followed them out of the gazebo, but did not follow them out of the courtyard. He had to prepare for the summer ceremony.

The old and the young are walking on the rural path, the sun has not completely set, and there is still mist, but seeing the rolling wheat waves, the sense of serenity and affluence spontaneously arises, which is really wonderful.

The old man said with emotion: "The farmland in Pingding area is the best farmland I have ever seen."

Ma Min'er said: "No way, some places in the south of the Yangtze River grow for three seasons. The land there is black and thick, and the food grown makes people feel richer."

"Have you been to Jiangnan?" the old man asked back.

"Uh..." Can Ma Miner say that she has been there in her previous life? She was simply fascinated by the scenery of the land of fish, rice and water. Green fields, clear rivers, and quiet villages are everywhere. Beauty, there is no place where people linger.

The old man said with a smile: "I have been to the south of the Yangtze River. The land is fertile, the crops are growing well, and the people are at ease. What is missing?"

Ma Min'er glanced at the old man, "Isn't it less grand and grand?"

"Yes, yes, that's how it feels."

Ma Min'er said: "Jiangnan is inherently graceful, if you have the feeling you want, then why is it called Jiangnan!"

"Anyway, the old man likes it here."

Ma Min'er snorted: "The military power is greater than the administration here, so of course you have the arrogance you want."

Feng Jiang Yi turned his head to look at the little lady, "You mean that military forces have interfered with civil governance."

"It doesn't mean that. Pingding is a county with a military strategy. It's normal that the military power is greater than civil governance."

A little girl can understand these things, and she speaks to the point. Is it because she often follows the little general Xia Zhen?No, no, since I saw her for the first time, I felt that her fate was different from ordinary people. Why?

"Master Jiang, staring at a little lady for a long time, it's inappropriate." Ma Min'er kept her eyes on the wheat field, and she didn't dare to meet the eyes of this magic stick, for fear of being discovered by him, but the old man also stared for too long Yes, did you really find something?Hurry up and sound a reminder.

Feng Jiangyi looked away with a smile, and also looked at Tian Ye, "You are rich and honored."

Ma Min'er turned her head and asked intentionally, "How rich are you?"

"That depends on how ambitious your man is?"

"My man? Cut, my man!"

Feng Jiangyi smiled and said nothing.

Ma Min'er felt guilty because of the old man Jiang's laughter, no way, firstly, I don't want to marry Xia Zhen yet, secondly, Xia Zhen has ambitions?No way, he has an impulsive and irritable character, if it weren't for the five generations of officials, would he be able to achieve great things?

Thinking of the general who fled and went to the new emperor, and the general who disappeared suddenly for ten years, Ma Min'er felt that life in Xia Zhen's family was really difficult. However, if he was a commoner, just like herself, it would be good to marry him !

If Xia Zhen knew that the little daughter-in-law wanted to marry him who was a 'commoner', she didn't know how to feel, maybe she would reply that the Xia family would either survive or disappear in the Great Wei Dynasty, and there was no possibility of being a commoner.

Two or three days later, Ma Min'er accompanied her father to Pingding County to invite Mrs. Wen and send summer gifts to the Mo family.Ma Qifeng and Mrs. Wen went to Mo Mansion together, and she went to her own shop.

When they arrived at the main shop, Qiu Baiyan was about to send someone to look for her, "What can you do with me?"

"Everywhere in Yizhou is under martial law."

Ma Miner asked, "How could this be?"

"I don't know, business is not easy anyway."

"Oh." Ma Min'er didn't ask any further questions, and came back with Xia Zhen. She had a little understanding of the current situation, but she didn't expect that it would affect the business so soon.

"Little boss, that business..."

Ma Min'er said: "Since this is the case, then we should reduce foreign trade and keep it safe."

"Okay." Qiubaimian also meant the same thing.

Ma Min'er thought about it: "This year's grain will not be sold outside."

"Little Boss?"

"Be prepared for danger in times of peace."

Qiu Baiyan said: "But we have a lot of fields, but we have so little food!"

"That's not for sale, it's all stored in the granary."

"Oh." Qiu Baiyan showed Ma Min'er the shop's account again. Generally speaking, the business is good and the profit has increased a bit. However, if Yizhou remains under martial law, it will drop.

It's almost time, Ma Min'er is about to go out of the shop to meet her father, Guo Daping comes out from the account room, "Er Niang—" Seeing her excited.

"Brother Daping."

"Erniang, I heard you're back, are you okay?"

"Oh, that's alright."

"That... that's good." Guo Daping smiled happily, but didn't know what to say.

Ma Min'er liked the young man he saw as soon as he opened his eyes. He was simple and honest. He regarded him as his younger brother and asked with a smile, "Is the job easy?"

"Well, it's quite easy." Guo Daping was very happy when he answered.

"That's good." Ma Min'er said with a smile: "How about we go out and have a snack together (in ancient times, dim sum was not a dessert such as cake, but a meal between two meals that was not a main meal, collectively referred to as dessert.)?"

"Okay, okay!" Guo Daping couldn't wait to have a snack on the street with Erniang, he was so happy that he could only dance a few times.

Ma Min'er called to the side, "Shopkeeper Qiu, do you want to come together?"

"No, I still have some things to deal with, you guys go." Qiu Baiyan smiled.

Ma Min'er smiled and said, "Then I asked Brother Daping to bring it back for you."

"Thank you little boss."

Ma Min'er waved to him and smiled at Guo Daping, "Let's go downstairs."

"it is good."

It's almost evening, the sun is slanting to the west, and the sun shines on the street, half bright and half shady, the two walked in the shade, "Brother Daping, what do you want to eat?"

"What does Er Niang like to eat?"

"Eat a bowl of cold skin."

"it is good!"

The cold noodle shop is run by the family, and the waiter in the shop knows Xiao's owner. Seeing her coming, she greeted her happily, and said with a smile, "It's full of customers."

"It's also fine outside, set up a table and put a few small stools."

"Okay!" The waiter went in happily, and shouted loudly, "Two bowls of Liangpi..."

After shouting, he moved out a small table, and Ma Min'er hurried to the back to help him carry the small stool, Guo Daping also followed, big and small, the two took seven or eight out, and placed them at the door .

Before Ma Min'er could sit on it, guests came and took up all the stools.

Ma Miner and Guo Daping looked at each other and smiled, "Then eat standing up."

"Okay, let's eat standing up." Guo Daping was happy to do anything with the person he liked, and Guo Daping smiled.

The waiter in the shop looked at the customers, and wanted to say leave a stool for our boss, but he didn't say anything, who made the boss easy-going!
Ma Min'er and Guo Daping stood at the door of the store and ate their own cold noodle. They were refreshing and pleasant. They chatted while eating. It was a peaceful and beautiful evening. In just a moment, the ground seemed to vibrate, and everyone was startled. People came out one after another and ran towards the main street.

"What's the matter?" Ma Min'er also put down the bowl, and ran towards the main street. Her shop is not a main street, but a cross alley.Guo Daping also followed.

On the wide main street, the entire street was lined with well-armed soldiers. They headed for the gate of the city with guns and knives aside.

Ma Min'er's heart was beating violently, listening to the crowd's discussion.

"It seems that the Turks have invaded again."

"It must be, the summer harvest is coming soon, they must have come to grab food."

"Let them come and go."

"Yes, the little general is mighty, let them come and go."

……

For some reason, Ma Min'er vaguely felt that this was not a war against the Turks or against other races, but rather an... civil turmoil, so she suddenly raised her head to look for the general - Xia Zhen.

The long queue continued to the gate of the city.

After waiting for a while, I saw Zhang Nianmei and others appearing with Xia Zhen in their arms. Seeing him sitting on Gao Zhan's horse, Ma Min'er subconsciously shrank back. She felt that he was so majestic and stern, like the god of war descending, and domineering. She felt it was very strange.

Ma Min'er lowered her head quietly, then shrank back, so many people should not be able to see her.

Xia Zhen was sitting on the big horse, wearing armor and battle robe, looking straight ahead, she still caught sight of her out of the corner of her eye. Originally, he planned to go to Xiaowang Village to meet her, but Shao came too fast. There was no time for a long-term relationship, and suddenly found her standing on the street.

Reining in the rope, he jumped off the horse, and walked to the place where Ma Min'er was watching in three or two steps with long legs.

Zhang Nianmei and the others were surprised, and when they found out that it was the old sister, they also jumped off their horses and followed the young general.

Seeing that Xia Zhen jumped off the horse, Ma Min'er yelled at him, "Wait a minute." After speaking, she ran into the alley.

"What is my sister doing?" Zhang Nianmei overlooked the crowd and looked into the alley.

"Tell me to eat Liangpi."

"Ah!" Zhang Nianmei looked at the little general as if he had seen a ghost, "Do you often eat here?"

"No."

"then you……"

"It's just a smart guess."

Zhang Nianmei shrugged her shoulders towards Zhuang Hao. For some reason, the tension of going to face Shao Youliang suddenly eased a lot.

Guo Daping, who was still very happy just now, lowered his head lonely. There is always such a distance between him and Erniang.

Ma Min'er was followed by the clerk from the Liangpi shop. The two of them held food boxes in their hands. When they arrived in front of Xia Zhen, they quickly took them out, "Eat some!"

"Yeah." Xia Zhen lowered her head, but kept looking at the little daughter-in-law, "Wait for me to come back."

"Well, I know, you can do whatever you want, and I'll wait for you."

The chopsticks eating noodles stopped, "Do you know what I'm going to do?"

"It's... that kind of feeling." Ma Min'er paused and replied.

The corners of Xia Zhen's sharp-edged lips twitched, "Maybe it's a road of no return."

"We have done the right thing and done it well, and God will let us go back."

"Min...Min'er..." Xia Zhen, who was as tense as a rock, suddenly found solace in the words of his daughter-in-law. That's right, our Xia family devoted themselves to the Great Wei Dynasty and died on the battlefield. Being manipulated arbitrarily, being stepped on by villains, I don't believe in fate, I only believe in myself.

"Hurry up and eat, I'll wait for you to come back."

For a moment, Xia Zhen saw nothing in his eyes other than the little daughter-in-law. He lowered his head, and took a big mouthful of the cold noodle in the bowl. own mouth.Turn around a few steps and step towards the horse.

"Oh, it's not dirty!" When Ma Min'er stunned and stomped his feet, the guy had already sat on the horse, turned his head to look at her with a smile on his face, and left triumphantly.

"It's really childish." Ma Min'er pinched the wiped sleeve in disgust.

Zhang Nianmei and the others were also stunned for a moment. They were really naive. Similarly, they were under a lot of pressure. Although Shao Youliang was a villain, he now held the new emperor's order. They resisted and refused to hand over military power.

Rebellion, they are all people with their lives on their shoulders, like walking on the tip of a knife, if they are not careful, they will be stabbed to nothing.

Ma Min'er looked at their backs without moving for a long time, and when she came to her senses, she hurried to find his father, "Father, where is Mrs. Mo?"

"It has been sent back by father."

"Oh." Ma Min'er wanted to ask Master Mo why the emperor didn't directly order the general's mansion to hand over military power as shown on TV, and even used the general's affairs as an excuse to copy Xia's house, why did he only send one The fifth-rank general who betrayed the Xia family came to pick up the seal.

She even wanted to ask his grandfather, why?But if she didn't kiss him, she didn't want to go.

When they reached the door of the house, Ma Qifeng reminded his daughter to get off the car, "Min'er, what are you thinking, I think about it all the way, and I don't even know when I get home."

"Ah..." Ma Min'er looked up, saw the gate of her own house, and immediately turned her head, "Father, the little general is going to fight, do you know?"

"I've heard people say that it's spectacular for the army to go out of the city."

The Turks come to riot several times a year, and the people in Pingding seem to be used to the army coming in and out. They don't realize at all what the army is going out for this time.

Taking a deep breath, he jumped out of the carriage, and Ma Min'er entered the house with his father.

In Mo's residence, Mrs. Liu saw the summer gifts from Ma's family, and just wanted to pick out some of her favorite ones to put away, but was stopped by Mrs. Mo, "You can accompany Wanyi's marriage and put on a show, and don't interfere with the rest."

Liu stared: "Master, aren't these things a gift from the Ma family to our Mo family?"

"It's not for the Mo family, it's for Wanyi, let her clean it up."

Liu's quit: "Master, what are you talking about, the married woman, the things sent by the man are not collected by the family, how can a little lady collect them, what will they look like?"

"My Mo family is like this!" Master Mo shouted: "Come here, ask the eldest lady to come over and tidy up the rituals."

"Mo Huaien, don't bully people." Liu's eyes were red with anger.

Mo Huaien looked at Liu's coldly, "If it wasn't for Master Ma's daughter Ma Erniang this time, do you think you can still stay here and be the head of the house?"

"I..." When it came to the pain point, Liu's arrogance suddenly collapsed.

"Please save me, you are shameless, I want more. If you interfere with Wanyi's affairs and make me ashamed, I will divorce you." Mo Huaien's attitude has never been so tough.

"Master... what did you say, master?"

Mo Huaien snorted coldly.

Seeing that there was no sound in the living room, Mo Wanyi turned in the door, "Father, did you call me?"

Mo Huaien's face softened immediately: "Wanyi, you pack up the summer gift from Ma's family and put it in the dowry,"

"Father, this is a gift from the man. At home..."

"In the future, no matter what gifts the Ma family gives, I've told your mother that she can't interfere, and you can do it yourself."

"Yes, father!" Mo Wanyi was no longer polite, and she agreed quickly, and asked her maids to bring all the gifts from Ma's family to her yard, and went back and forth several times before finishing moving.

Liu's eyes were so red that he could vomit blood.

Qin Hong was so happy that she almost jumped up. As soon as the master and servant entered her yard, she took out a few dimes and gave them to the little girls: "Hurry up and buy candy."

"Thank you, Sister Qinhong." The little girls ran away happily.

Qin Hong's master and servant immediately entered the room and closed the door, "Miss Ma, Master Ma is not only handsome, but also considerate in his affairs."

Mo Wanyi smiled coquettishly, "What are you talking about?"

"Mistress, you can't close your mouth with joy." Qin Hong laughed.

Mo Wanyi happily sat down at the Eight Immortals table, picked up her needlework and started to move.

"Mistress, I heard that the emperor's funeral will be held on the day of the emperor's funeral. Your marriage will not be until next spring at the earliest."

"What's the rush?" Anyway, she will marry him sooner or later, and Mo Wanyi is in no hurry.

"Miss, then you will be one year older."

"what is the relationship."

Qin Hong curled her lips, "But to be honest, Mr. Ma is very authentic in his work. He has thought about the three books and six etiquettes, and all the etiquettes. He doesn't miss one, and there are many gifts every time, which can help you save face. , Ma’am, don’t you think so?”

Mo Wanyi didn't say a word, she acquiesced.

Qin Hong said again: "Besides, every time Mrs. Wen is invited to accompany her, Mrs. Liu can't do anything. Who will let her child be under Mrs. Wen's hands? If Mrs. Wen is annoyed, you can make her look good , Ma'am, do you want to relieve your anger?"

Wen Wanyi raised her head, "I didn't expect the Ma family to be so thoughtful, and they would invite Mrs. Wen. It couldn't be more appropriate."

"That's why I said, big lady, if you marry, you will definitely not suffer."

Of course, he is such an elegant and noble man, how could he make me suffer? Mo Wanyi lowered her head and smiled happily after thinking about it.

It was dark, and when they entered the yard, Niu Dabao quickly put the carriage away, and Ma Qifeng and his daughter went to the bathroom to wash their hands and faces, and went to the restaurant for dinner.

"Boss, let's eat."

"Hmm!" Ma Qifeng asked, "Where is Mr. Jiang?"

"I'll call him." Shi Chunyue replied.

"Oh."

After a while, Feng Jiangyi came over with a cattail fan, "Brother Ma, how are things going?"

"Everything is going well."

Feng Jiangyi smiled, sat down to eat, and looked at the little girl who hadn't spoken all this time, it was strange.

Ma Min'er didn't open her mouth, and everyone at the table didn't open their mouths when they were eating. The lively atmosphere of the past was completely gone. Seeing her sister coming back, Ma Yue'er was in a daze until now, and didn't dare to disturb her. Watching her put the dish into her mouth numbly.

Ma Qifeng thought that his daughter was thinking about the business of the shop, so he didn't think about it and didn't bother him.

Feng Jiangyi glanced at Ma Min'er again, his eyebrows moved, and he knocked on the side of the plate with his chopsticks: "Dangdangdang..."

Ma Min'er was so frightened that she leaned back, looked up at old man Jiang, gave him a dissatisfied look, and continued to eat her own.

"Absent every meal, what are you thinking, girl?" Feng Jiangyi was not used to it, which meant that this girl had something on her mind.

Ma Min'er was not about to talk about the army leaving the city, but suddenly thought of the old man's mystery, and said again: "You know about the new emperor's ascension to the throne, right?"

"How can I not know about this kind of thing, the county has already posted an announcement."

"Oh." That's right, Ma Min'er continued to eat.

"If there is anything else, tell me, and let the old man know."

Ma Min'er said: "Isn't there someone idle in the village to help you bring news from the city?"

"They brought them, and what you say is what you say."

"Want to hear?" Ma Min'er suddenly turned around and asked him.

"That's natural."

"Eat a good meal, and I'll tell you when I go to the corridor to enjoy the shade."

The little girl's expression was quite serious, Feng Jiangyi smiled dumbly, lowered his head to eat, and stopped making trouble with her.

Eat well, wash well, sit in the corridor to enjoy the shade, and it is still in the countryside. The sky is so beautiful that people can get lost. The bright river of stars is shining on the boundless sky, and the moon hangs above the head like a white jade plate, as if within reach;
Outside the wall courtyard, in the grass, grasshoppers and crickets are playing and singing, treetops and branches, cicadas are singing, and frogs by the pond are not far behind, scrambling to sing, "croak..."

And the vast fields are quietly falling asleep, the wheat waiting to be harvested stands quietly in the night, exuding a clear fragrance, and the gurgling river, the winding and stretching loess road, everything is so intoxicating.

"Girl, why don't you talk?" Old man Jiang waited for a long time, but the little girl just didn't speak.

Ma Min'er called out, "Father, you've been tired all day, do you want to go to bed?"

"Ah... oh!" Ma Qifeng was lying on the bamboo chair, almost fell asleep, when he heard his daughter calling him, he sat up, "I'm going to sleep!" After speaking, he stood up and leaned the bamboo chair against the wall Damn, "You go to bed early too."

"Yeah." Ma Min'er turned her head again, "Yue'er, you should go to sleep too."

"Oh." Xiaoyue'er knocked her head on the railing little by little, and stuck to her sister. Seeing her urging her, she wanted to talk about going back to the room together. Seeing Master Jiang standing by the side without moving, she understood. They had something to say, and they stopped being clingy, and went back to sleep with the round fan.

Shan Erniang and the others cleaned up the chairs and stools in the corridor, and went to sleep separately.

"What's the matter, even your father can't listen?" Old man Jiang raised his eyebrows.

"It's not that he can't listen, and he doesn't want to add trouble to their peaceful life."

"trouble?"

"Ah."

Old man Jiang asked, "What happened in the county?"

Ma Min'er looked towards Shen Kong and replied, "Xia Zhen's army has left the city."

"In Pingding, this kind of situation is very common!"

Ma Min'er smiled helplessly, "This time it may not be external, but internal."

"Inside?"

"Ah."

Feng Jiangyi's face suddenly became serious, "The new emperor sent someone to withdraw the military power?"

Sure enough, this person knew the tail when he raised his head, Ma Min'er turned his head, "Do you know who is asked to take over the military power?"

"I'm not sure about that."

"Father Xia Zhen used to be a subordinate."

Feng Jiangyi sneered.

"What are you sneering at?"

"I'm not laughing at what you said." Feng Jiangyi said: "I heard that the new emperor ascended the throne, many people were not convinced, and many people were suppressed in Beijing, but they didn't use Xia Zetao's matter to make an order directly, but let a Don’t you think it’s ridiculous for the traitor to come over to take over the military power?”

Ma Min'er finally asked the question in her heart: "This is what I want to ask Master Jiang, why didn't he just order to copy the Xia family?"

"Because he is jealous."

"Afraid? I don't understand?"

"Long distance and close attack, do you understand?"

"Proximity, as you said just now, he suppressed many officials in the capital. Inbreeding, does it mean being close friends with the Xia family?"

"Well, that's what it means."

Ma Min'er was puzzled: "But he already sent traitors over to take over the military power, how did they get on good terms?"

Feng Jiangyi replied: "This is the complicated part of being an emperor. If the old man guessed correctly, when he became the king of Qin, he would definitely send someone to let the General Zhenguo's mansion stand in line. The Xia family didn't agree. It's not to maintain the peace of the border. His position will definitely suppress the Xia family, but he knows that the city of Yizhou is so far away that he can't control it, so he can only make friends with him, but if they make friends, he can't lose face, so... ..."

"So he sent a traitor over here. If the Xia family begged for mercy, he would go down the steps, not only giving the Xia family favors, but also making the Xia family under his control."

"That's right, girl, that's the reason."

"Then he thought about what if the Xia family doesn't listen to him?" Ma Miner asked back.

"I must have thought of it."

"What will happen then?"

Feng Jiangyi said again: "If the traitor wins, he has no loss. Not only will he promote those who are not obedient, but also promote those who defect to him. The status of the Xia family, after all, has been passed down by the Zhen Guo General’s Mansion for five generations, and their operations on the border cannot be shaken by anyone.”

Ma Min'er let out a long breath, "It's so complicated."

"It's complicated, so the Xia family can only advance, not retreat." Feng Jiangyi looked into the distance.

Ma Min'er was very worried: "But... why do I feel that things are not so simple?"

"The process is definitely not that simple. How many people will be ruined in this trade-off."

"It's so cruel."

"History has always been like this."

"I hope that we ordinary people will be less affected and live our lives in peace."

"hope so."

Ma Min'er turned her head suddenly, "Master Jiang, do you know some secret?"

"Secret?" Feng Jiangyi raised his head and laughed, "What is secret? I only know the way of heaven."

"The way of heaven?"

"It's getting late, let's go to sleep." Old man Jiang shook his big cattail fan and went back to his guest room.

"This old man must have understood something, what could it be?" Ma Min'er couldn't figure it out.

Early the next morning, Ma Min'er found Fu Xiaoyou, "Find some idlers and help me get some news."

"What kind of news?"

"The little general is about fighting, but just ask, you can't just talk about it, you know?"

"Oh, fine, I'll arrange it."

A few days later, Fu Xiaoyou inquired about Xia Zhen's news, "Er Niang, some of these news are nonsense, and some are brought back by businessmen from outside.

I don't know if it's right or not? "

"Tell me, I just listen to it."

"Oh." Fu Xiaoyou told Xiaodong's family what he had inquired about.

"It was a tie?"

"Ok!"

Ma Min'er felt that Xia Zhen was not a person who could fight in a tie, he would either win or lose, how could it be a tie?
Having won a tie under Xia Zhen's men, Shao Youliang's morale was boosted. After all, General Xia Zhen Cailang was not called for nothing, he was as tough as a Turkic, and he rarely got cheap from him.

The borders of Liangzhou Prefecture and Qingzhou Prefecture were often breached by the Turks, but the Yixiang area was once breached ten years ago. Since he took over, he has never missed it. The entire Wei Dynasty knew that the Zhenguo General’s Mansion In the fifth generation came a mighty general who guarded the true north of the Wei Dynasty like a copper barrel. Because of this, Yizhou was able to recuperate. Both agriculture and commerce developed well, especially after the severe drought. It is because of the double-crop grain that not only alleviated the drought, but also provided grain for the 20 troops in Yizhou.

This is the reason why Emperor Longxiang was too afraid to copy Xia's family directly. He threw out Shao Youliang and let the Yizhou government fight among itself.

After fighting for half a month, Shao Youliang led the army of Xiangzhou Prefecture back to the base camp of Xiangzhou Prefecture's garrison - Xinggu County.

When he arrived at the camp, Shao Youliang patted Liao Shijie, the general of Xiangzhou Prefecture, on the shoulder, "General Liao, if you borrow another [-] troops, this time I will definitely be able to beat Xia Zhen to accept the imperial edict."

Liao Shijie smiled and said: "Someone Liao also wants to borrow, but unfortunately the Turkic people came with the grassland tribal alliance, and I have to fight the Turkic people."

Shao Youliang frowned, "Where have they been?"

"It's found in various places. I heard that Liangzhou Prefecture, Qingzhou Prefecture and other places have it. Some small counties have even been breached. Turkic people burn, kill and loot everything!"

Shao Youliang looked at him: "But when Shao came, the emperor had an order to ask you to help me. If you don't pull out your troops, how can I get Xia Zhen to hand over his seal?"

Liao Shijie smiled meaningfully: "General Shao, you can drive straight in with your people, directly deliver the imperial decree to Xia Zhen, let him accept it directly, and if you don't accept it, sue him for disrespecting the decree, just take him. "

To be able to climb to today's position, Shao Youliang is not a reckless fool, so he changed the subject, "Since General Liao wants to fight the Turks, then I will help General Liao first, and after we beat back the aliens, we will go to Yizhou to deliver the imperial edict together. "

Liao Shijie twitched his eyebrows almost invisibly, then hugged his shoulders and laughed, "Okay, okay..."

Sitting back in his tent, Shao Youliang was so angry that he dropped his teacup and kicked the stool, "You brat, why didn't you say you wanted to beat the Turks when you asked the old master to stand in line?"

The staff said: "General, the pre-Qin king and current emperor surnamed Liao, he is afraid that you will win favor, so he is guarding against you?"

"Damn it, I don't want military power in Xiangzhou."

"General, the only feasible way now is marriage."

"Marriage?"

The staff nodded: "Yes, I asked to marry the daughter of General Liao, and took the daughters of the lieutenants and generals around him as concubines, forming a network of relationships, so that they had to help you."

Shao Youliang thought for a while, then nodded, "Yes, I understand."

What Ling Ruya had been worried about all along happened. Her father, who had always wanted to save her and get promoted, gave herself to the emperor's new general as a concubine.

"Mother, don't want it, I don't want it!"

Madam Ling tried hard to persuade: "Ya'er, listen to mother, the Xia family is about to face disaster, don't miss your cousin anymore, and marry the new general."

"Mother, but cousin will not be defeated." Ling Ruya didn't believe it.

"You silly boy, this is no longer a matter of invincibility. He has resisted the decree, and the emperor can copy the Xia family at any time."

Ling Ruya burst into tears: "Mother, mother... my daughter doesn't want to marry."

"Ya'er, mother heard from your father that General Shao is a man of strategy, and following him will surely lead to great success."

"Mother...you mean Father has..."

Mother Ling replied: "General Liao has already given your father to General Shao, and your father has been named a fourth-rank strong military general. You have written a letter to the emperor, and the emperor has already agreed.

"Mother..." Ling Ruya's eyes widened in surprise.

"Son, if the Xia family doesn't listen to the new emperor, something will happen sooner or later, so don't even think about it."

Ling Ruya lowered her head.

In Jiaocheng County, where Yixiang is connected, apart from a small group of Turkic people sneaking in, Shao Youliang was as quiet as if he had disappeared.

Zhuang Hao said: "Little general, Shao Youliang is helping Liao to block the Turks, and at the same time building his own power."

Zhang Nianmei asked back: "Cultivate your own power on the territory surnamed Liao, can the surnamed Liao tolerate him?"

"This hasn't been found out yet." The hidden guard standing aside replied.

Xia Zhen said, "Try carefully."

"Yes, General!"

Zhuang Hao said: "On the one hand, Shao Youliang consolidated his power through marriage, and on the other hand, he went to various hills to buy bandits to serve as his army. His army strength has grown from 3 to more than [-]. With the support of Liao, there are already five It's all over."

Xia Zhen raised her eyebrows.

"Shao Youliang is so cautious, it is inevitable, little general, we..."

Xia Zhen stood up, "Leave [-] garrisons, and the rest are still mainly allocated by counties."

"Little general, you... you want to go back to Pingding?" Zhuang Hao asked in surprise.

"Correct!"

"If Shao Youliang calls..."

"Then let him call." Xia Zhen raised his eyes, "I hate cautious people the most. If I don't want to fight, I will waste my energy."

"Uh..." Mr. Zhuang and Zhang Nianmei looked at each other. Before, they could tell at a glance whether the little general was going to fight or not, but today they couldn't tell for sure.

"General you..."

"Clean up quickly, I want to go back to Pingding."

Zhang Nianmei was stunned for a moment, and immediately saluted, "Yes, General!"

The old general and his son have been sitting in the Pingding camp, waiting for the news of the battle between the two sides, "Back to the old general, the young general and the surnamed Shao have already met on the battlefield, and the two fought to a draw."

"I already know this, what else?" The old general asked anxiously.

The secret guard replied: "There is also someone surnamed Shao, who is not moving anymore, the little general can't stand it anymore and has come back."

"Ah..." The old general stood up, "Zian is back?"

"Yes, old general."

"What about people?"

The dark guard replied: "The army has entered the city, and the little general is going... to Xiaowang Village."

"Father—" the general looked at his father.

"This... This kid actually has the mood to..."

"Father, Zhen'er is so sure, is he sure of winning?"

Xia Shiyong looked at his son, "You think so?"

"Yeah, if you're not sure, how can Zhen'er feel like a child?"

Xia Shiyong did not speak for a long time.

When he was about to reach Xiaowang Village, Xia Zhen sped up his horse and galloped down the country road. As soon as he reached the gate, he was caught up by the hidden guards, "Little General, Liangzhou Mansion has fallen, and Qingzhou Mansion is in chaos."

Xia Zhen jumped off the horse, "Understood."

Zhuang Hao said, "If it was in previous years, you would have been assigned by the emperor to support you."

"You said it too, it was in previous years." Xia Zhen smiled and strode across the courtyard of Ma's house.

It was getting late, and Ma Min'er and Xiao Yue'er were planting wormwood in the vegetable bed, wearing short brown shorts, when they heard footsteps, they raised their heads, "Hey, why are you back?" The man descended like a god, heroic and awe-inspiring, tall and unrestrained, with a calm and majestic aura in his eyes, but when he looked at her, he couldn't hide his nostalgic affection for her.

(End of this chapter)