These are all the loyal people of our Great Xia!

A bunch of officials gritted their teeth and continued to praise them.

They all knew for whom, only the little bastard didn't appreciate it.

[Eh... why do I feel... as if the words they use to praise the old emperor suddenly became stiff? Are they out of words? ]

[Yeah! I guess it's been too long since we did this. After all, they are a group of high-ranking officials. How can they flatter them every day! ]

The Minister of Revenue had a cold face.

All wrong. I gritted my teeth and continued to praise you because I was afraid that you would find out that your voice could be heard by others.

The old emperor grinned: "Okay, I'm not the kind of emperor who likes to be praised..."

[Ah? Isn't it? But I seem to remember which state capital it was two years ago? The government officials specially carved a stone tablet for the old emperor, praising his achievements. Although the old emperor did not give him anything, he laughed his teeth out privately. 】

The officials buried their heads, and almost found a crack to drill through the rock. They

were complaining in their hearts -

Xu Lang! Please! Stop talking! Let us go!

The old emperor tried hard to smile, tried hard to smile.

I am not angry, yes, not angry...

【Ah! Yes! It's this kind of smile now! But I feel that the smile at that time was much happier than this one. Although this one also shows teeth, it's... so strange, why does it feel a little... creepy?】

... Angry.

The old emperor forced himself to put away his smile little by little, pretending that he had laughed enough.

Suddenly, he exerted force with his arm, and the bow that had been bent shot out the arrow that had been put on it. "Wow--" the arrow flew through the air. His hand was quick, and the arrow went straight to the chest of the barbarian. The opponent could not dodge in time, and fell down screaming. The mace that was smashing at the barbarian officer in his hand fell to the ground with a bang.

The barbarian officer was swinging his sharp blade to separate the barbarian's club, and suddenly heard a scream from behind. He realized that he was saved.

And it was saved by your majesty himself!

The barbarian officer was surprised, and his eyes were red with emotion. He turned around and rushed to another barbarian with a roar. His fighting style was crazy and desperate. As for

the roar, it was mainly because he was used to being a barbarian. He was used to roaring a few times when hunting to scare the beasts and boost the morale of his side.

The old emperor slowly relaxed his arm and bowstring, his eyes looking straight at the battlefield.

Well, he was really afraid that his soldiers would be in danger, not looking for an opportunity to justify himself not smiling. The

barbarians

were temporarily repelled, but we were outnumbered, and I am afraid that they will catch up again immediately after a little recuperation.

Seeing that the man who should be the leader of the barbarians rubbed his face, he walked towards the old emperor very nervously, performed an unconventional etiquette, and said hesitantly: "Your Majesty, I am afraid you have to go back to the tribe with me first. The path there is hidden and the entrance is narrow. Only one person can pass through. Even if the barbarians find us, they can't get in."

- But at the same time, if the entrance is blocked, it may be difficult for them to get out.

The leader of the wild soldiers was afraid that the old emperor would think he was going to harm them, so he quickly explained: "It's not that I don't want to lead Your Majesty out of the mountains, but I can't find the way. There are many bushes in this mountain, most of which are thorny. We often have to take detours. Sometimes we can't find the way after taking a detour. We were finally found back to the tribe, but we didn't know why we were lost for more than ten miles."

"These trees are also very tall. It's hard to see the sun during the day. If it's night, wolves, tigers, leopards, and blind bears will appear. It's even easier to get hurt. It's hard to find medicine if you get injured. When I first got lost, many of my men died there."

"There are also ticks... People in the tribe call them grass crawlers and dog beans. They are the size of sesame seeds and can suck human blood. After being bitten, you will itch, blister, have a persistent fever, become unconscious, and have body aches... The most serious ones will bleed to death."

"I have spent a lot of time avoiding these insects in recent years and have been unable to leave the mountains."

The old emperor glanced at Xu Yanmiao and heard him complaining in his heart about how many of these wild officers and soldiers died. He sighed in his heart: These are all loyal people of my Great Xia!

He nodded slightly to the wild leader: "Of course I believe you."

The wild leader's chest rose and fell excitedly: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Please let me lead the way."

The old emperor helped him up and patted his shoulder.

Then, he glanced at the face of the wild leader without leaving a trace.

Come to think of it... which minister of his is this?

*

Savage tribe.

"Your Majesty! I'll serve you some soup!"

Normally, the leaders of the barbarian officers and soldiers would not be so attentive. Generally speaking, his rank is not high enough for him to be so attentive.

But, forgive him, he hasn't seen anyone other than the barbarians and his soldiers for many years!

Moreover! Now! The time, the place and the people are all right!

The leaders of the barbarian officers and soldiers stared at the old emperor with burning eyes, more eager than Grandet seeing gold.

The emperor is missing in the mountains, how can people outside not look for him! The emperor can walk here by himself, and if a hundred thousand troops come in from outside, they will definitely be able to rescue the emperor and them together!

- I'm really tired of being a barbarian!

I also saved your majesty! I can return home in glory!

The soup was chicken soup, made from pheasants that were born and raised in the mountains, so the meat was particularly tough. But in this situation, with the heavy rain and the pursuit, it was good to have a mouthful of hot soup.

While drinking the soup, Xu Yanmiao listened to the leader of the wild officers and soldiers expressing his loyalty to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I thought I would never see Your Majesty again in this life!"

"Hmm..."

"Your Majesty sent me to the Western Regions that year and shocked the thirty-eight countries in the Western Regions. Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission and made the four barbarians come under the rule of China."

"Hmm... My dear minister, you have worked so hard."

Xu Yanmiao buried his head and gulped down the soup, his eyes not forgetting to stare at some of the content in the gossip system.

[I didn't recognize you, but you kept calling me dear minister. You really deserve to be the emperor. Many ministers

took the time to look at Xu Yanmiao, and were particularly surprised.

Little Bai Ze actually came to his senses today! He could even tell that His Majesty was just being perfunctory? They couldn't tell!

The old emperor didn't have time to deal with Xu Yanmiao for the time being.

He was recalling and racking his brains over and over again .

Who is it? Which noble of his is it?

The 38 countries in the Western Regions are in a state of high mountains and long distances, and they fear power but not virtue. It is indeed his style to send people to intimidate them, but how come he has no impression of it at all!

However, when the country was founded, there was a period of time when he was very busy. I guess it was a task he casually assigned, but he forgot about it later.

The Minister of Revenue realized: "But the Western Regions are in the northwest, and Shanhaiguan is in the northeast..."

How did you get here?

The back of the leader of the wild officers and soldiers stiffened suddenly, and his eyes wandered for a moment: "On the way back from the Western Regions, we encountered a very strong sandstorm, and the guide and we were separated..."

[It was quite euphemistic. What do you mean by separated? It was obvious that after the storm, the guide directly abandoned them and fled for their lives. They didn't even need the camel, and they ran for their lives on their own. 】

As he was speaking, the leader of the barbarian soldiers paused, and keenly noticed something was wrong.

...Strange, I always feel that there is something wrong with the expressions of his colleagues when they look at him? Oh, is it because he is dressed like a barbarian now, with his hair disheveled and cut short?

There is no other way, keeping long hair without a crown in the deep mountains and old forests is simply seeking death.

He continued: "My men and I don't know the way, so we can only walk eastward, hoping to return to Kyushu. And then..."

Everyone understood.

Then this group of people walked and walked, and they went into the mountains again, and then they went deeper and deeper, and then they couldn't get out.

The Minister of Revenue looked at him with pity.

It's really... so unlucky.

Then he sighed: "The general has now met the royal army and can finally return to his homeland."

Hearing this, the eyes of the barbarian officers and soldiers were red again: "Yes, I never thought that I could meet your majesty again in my lifetime! Meet my colleagues again!"

The old emperor felt that the other party raised his eyes and immediately showed a gentle smile and nodded gently at him.

He felt that he was nothing.

Others were devoted to the country, and even if they became barbarians, they still cared about him as the emperor. He was so good that he just forgot about people!

- Even if he just remembered a surname! At least he could call him so-and-so to show closeness!

"Oh, right." The leader of the barbarian soldiers looked at the Minister of Revenue and asked awkwardly but politely, "What should I call you, sir? I've been away from Beijing for a long time, and many people can't recognize me."

The Minister of Revenue was stunned and said subconsciously, "With the grace of your majesty, I, Yuan Zheng, have been appointed as the Minister of Revenue."

"Minister of Revenue? But a new one?"

"I have been the Minister of Revenue since the beginning."

"From the beginning?" The leader of the barbarian soldiers thought about it and felt that he understood, "When Minister Yuan said the beginning, it meant the Minister appointed by your majesty personally after he ascended the throne. Your Excellency is the first one?"

Ah? Do I need to describe it in detail? He has been managing the money for your majesty since he conquered the world.

The Minister of Revenue nodded in confusion and asked, "What should the general be called?"

The leader of the wild officers and soldiers smiled heartily: "I left less than half a year after your majesty ascended the throne. It's normal that the minister doesn't know me."

The Minister of Revenue looked blank.

Is this also a veteran? But... who is it? Those brothers back then... did he really forget which one?

"My surname is Li, my given name is Shi Hu, and I don't have a name.

The minister can just call me Shi Hu!" "Li Shi Hu?" The Minister of Revenue was shocked. It's over. He really forgot. The

Minister of Revenue slapped himself hard in his heart: You are really a piece of shit!

The monarchs and ministers of Daxia who had no chance to communicate were all thinking, are they so arrogant that they even forgot the names of their ministers/colleagues?

Xu Yanmiao was anxious: [Oh! It's so clear! Why haven't these people discovered it yet! Li Shi Hu! Li Shihu!!!

The emperor and the officials were even more ashamed.

Xu Yanmiao knew him! Xu Yanmiao, who had just entered the court a few years ago, knew him. I, a comrade-in-arms who had fought side by side with him, actually forgot him!

Li Shihu: "Your Majesty! Do you still want soup? I'll serve you another bowl!"

"Oh... um... OK."

The old emperor answered absentmindedly, and then racked his brains to recall: Li Shihu... Which general under his command was he? Looking at Xiao Bai Ze's anxious look, could it be that he would never forget him? Which general was appointed to go to the Western Regions? Or which lieutenant general?

I can't remember. But the name is indeed familiar...

"Your Majesty! Maybe you want to eat wild boar?"

"Hmm..."

Li Shihu stood up and went to get a clean meat-cutting knife. When he came back, he passed by the Minister of Rites. He stopped suddenly, and then his brows were full of joy: "Mr. Zheng! Long time no see!"

He glanced at the place where the Minister of Rites was eating. He was relatively close to the emperor, but he was below the Shangshu. He must be a third-rank official.

And because he got lost, he was only a fifth-rank assistant.

It was quite confusing: "Your Excellency has been promoted."

The Minister of Rites was stunned.

It looked like they knew each other before. He didn't even remember which colleague this was! He seemed to have a vague impression of his face... but it shouldn't be! After His Majesty ascended the throne, he changed his previous careless and perfunctory attitude and worked diligently. He would never forget any of his colleagues!

Hesitantly and awkwardly, he bowed: "Long time no see."

When the old emperor came to his senses, he heard that the hero who saved the emperor seemed to want to be promoted. He immediately put aside his memories and held Li Shihu's hand with great courtesy: "My dear minister, you have made great contributions to saving the emperor, and you have been thinking about the court for many years..."

[You are indeed very loyal. You have never forgotten it for many years. You are one of the most loyal ministers. ]

The old emperor was relieved when he heard Xu Yanmiao's words.

He glanced at the corner of his eye and saw the young man sitting in his seat, secretly covering his eyes with his palms, obviously unable to bear to watch what was happening next.

[But he is not thinking about this court! ]

The old emperor:?

What court can there be?

The old emperor did not react for a moment, and continued to look at Li Shihu with expectation: "My dear minister, you have suffered a lot these years. I will confer you the title of..."

[He was an official of the previous dynasty! ]

[After being a barbarian for decades, how could I know about the change of dynasties! ]

The old emperor: ??? ???

The Minister of the Ministry of Rites covered his mouth to prevent himself from spitting out the soup.

What, what the hell? !

Li Shihu continued to look at His Majesty expectantly, with tears in his eyes.

"Your Majesty... I..." He choked: "I have been gone for too long."

"Before I left, Your Majesty was a young and heroic man, only fifteen years old, but now you are this age! I can't recognize Your Majesty!" Things have

really changed!

He turned around and looked at the "colleagues" who were eating at the table, and sighed.