Changsui City.
The Zhao residence.
Since the Zhao family took power, guests have been coming to visit every day. Although Zhao Huan himself does not receive guests, he no longer cares about the affairs of his sons, Zhao Cheng and Zhao Zhan.
Some people, unable to see the main figures like Zhao Cheng and Zhao Zhan, even targeted officials in the Prime Minister's office and servants with status in the Zhao family, desperately trying to gain access to the household in order to establish a connection with the Zhao family.
After the news of Zhao Cheng's great victory over Yang Qingzhi reached the Zhao residence, the area in front of the mansion was bustling with people, all vying to come and offer their congratulations.
Dong Hua, heavily pregnant, stood at the door directing the work, while Xia Qi carefully protected her from the side.
Time has passed, and Donghua is about to become a mother, while Xiaqi is no longer a teenage girl.
Xia Qi said, "Your belly is so big, you should go back and rest. There's no need for you to do things here personally."
A servant immediately chimed in, "Sister Xiaqi is right. We're here. Lady Donghua should go back and rest properly during her pregnancy."
"It's been raining outside for a month, and I've been lying at home for a month. I'm practically moldy from lying around like this. Today the sun is finally out, so I have to sunbathe properly, right?"
With one hand on her waist and the other pointing at the visitors, Dong Hua said, "The war in Yun Jing County is not over yet, and the General has not returned. Who among you is here to visit the General? Just leave your things and make a note of your names, and I will pass on your message to the General!"
The visitors were delighted to hear this and immediately rushed forward.
"Stop them! Stop them! Don't let them bump into Lady Donghua!"
The gatekeeper, with a mournful face, approached Donghua and said, "Oh dear Donghua, you should at least be careful about your own safety. If something happens to you, how are we supposed to live?"
"Okay, okay, then let them line up!" Donghua said impatiently.
The gatekeeper asked doubtfully, "Is it appropriate to accept their gifts when the young master isn't here?"
Dong Hua rolled her eyes at the gatekeeper and said, "What do you know? If you don't accept them today, they'll come back tomorrow. Will that ever end? Besides, how much military pay and food has the young master personally contributed to protect the country? Do you think he doesn't feel the pinch? If we help him recoup some of his losses, he won't blame us; in fact, he'll be grateful to us."
"Are you sure you won't blame me?" the doorman asked, half believing.
Dong Hua and Xia Qi exchanged a glance and both smiled.
Xia Qi said, "Don't worry, we know our master's nature better than you do."
"Since both Lady Donghua and Sister Xiaqi have said so, then I have nothing to fear."
The doorman nodded repeatedly to the two men, then called out to those outside, "Gentlemen and distinguished guests, please line up properly. Anyone who breaks the rules will be refused service!"
The area outside the mansion was bustling, and the area inside was not exactly quiet either.
While Zhao Huan and Zhao Zhan were eating, Zhao Changxin, who had just learned to walk, chased after his older brother Zhao Changli, while Zhao Changgong, who couldn't walk yet, crawled around at Zhao Huan's feet. Zhao Huan told Zhao Changge to keep an eye on Zhao Changgong, but the mischievous Zhao Changge treated Zhao Changgong like a toy.
The four children surrounded Zhao Huan, making a ruckus, which made Zhao Huan both annoyed and amused.
"If I had known that taking care of a child would be this hard, I would have gone to fight in Yun Jing instead of the eldest brother!" Zhao Huan said, blowing his beard.
Zhao Zhan shook his head and laughed, "Father, I think you just enjoy it!"
Zhao Huan bent down, picked up Zhao Changgong, and placed him on his lap. He tugged at Zhao Changgong's little ear and said, "When I was young, I was fighting in the east and west, and I didn't have time to spend with you brothers. Your mother had to take care of the whole family's food, drink, and daily needs. You brothers were all raised by the eldest son, and she suffered a lot. Now that I'm spending time with these children, it's a way of making it up to him."
“Big brother has really had a tough time.” Zhao Zhan nodded.
"It's not easy, but there's nothing we can do. Who told him to be the eldest brother?"
Zhao Huan lifted Zhao Changgong up and poked him with his beard, saying, "Unlike you, unlike our Gong'er, being a little brother is so much better, why is it so tiring?"
Zhao Zhan understood the implication in his father's words, paused for a moment, and said, "Whether it's the older or younger brother, once they grow up, they should all take on some responsibilities for the family."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan said to the maid and old woman outside the door, "Take the children to bed."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao Changli, who was running, stopped and said, "Grandpa, I don't want to sleep!"
Zhao Changge also said, "I don't want to sleep either!"
Zhao Huan asked, "Have you finished your homework for today?"
Zhao Changli and Zhao Changge exchanged a glance and ran towards the door together.
"I want to take a nap!!"
Once only Zhao Huan and his son remained in the hall, Zhao Huan picked up a piece of food and put it in his mouth, asking, "What do you think of the battle situation in Yun Jing?"
Zhao Zhan said, "Brother will surely win."
Zhao Huan asked, "How do you know?"
Zhao Zhan said, "If Yang Qingzhi could continue to win and steadily advance north, then my elder brother might still be defeated. But now Yang Qingzhi has suffered a major defeat, and just this one defeat is enough to make him feel bad. The Yang family in Southern Zhou is different from the Zhao family in Eastern Jing. Our Zhao family can make decisions on important military and political affairs of the court, but not in Southern Zhou, and even less so in the Yang family."
Zhao Huan nodded and said, "You've come up with this idea, which shows that you're quite knowledgeable about matters of the court. However, it's too early to conclude that your elder brother will win based on this alone. There are still three variables in the situation in Yun Jing."
Zhao Zhan poured wine for Zhao Huan and said, "Please instruct me, Father."
"Firstly, the Yang family has deep roots in the court and the army. Although there are many who oppose them, there are still many who support them. The court may well give Yang Qingzhi another chance. As long as they are provided with food and reinforcements, the decisive battle in Yunjing County will be inevitable."
"Secondly, we now know that Feng Jing and Xiao Luofeng's failures were due to the appearance of a wise gray-robed strategist by Yang Qingzhi's side. Even the boss almost fell into his hands. What if he has a brilliant plan to turn the tide?"
Thirdly...
Zhao Huan picked up his wine glass but didn't drink it. Instead, he looked at Zhao Zhan and said, "Think about it. If you can figure it out, just say it."
Knowing that his father was considering his abilities, Zhao Zhan quickly put his mind to it.
The first person he thought of was Feng Jing.
wrong.
Even if Feng Jing suddenly appears, he won't help Yang Qingzhi fight Dongjing, so he poses no threat to Zhao Cheng.
Is that Xijing?
That's even more wrong.
Wen Hu is currently attacking the Western Regions, and the fighting is even more intense than in Yun Jing County. He has no time to worry about the east.
Hou Cang?
That shouldn't be the case either; they've been quiet for so many years, they wouldn't actively disrupt the peace in their own country.
What is that?
"Fourth brother, if you can't even think of this, I will be very disappointed in you. You might as well not drink this cup of wine."
Zhao Huan sighed and said, "You are a smart person, and it is right to think about problems comprehensively, but sometimes, to understand something, you have to focus your thinking on one point, because the answer may be right there in the question."
Upon being reminded by Zhao Huan, Zhao Zhan immediately said, "Yang Qingzhi has gone mad!"
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