Everyone's expression changed. It should be said that except for the generals in the surrender city, everyone else's expression changed.
The generals looked at Liu Tan who had returned to his seat, including Li Buyan.
Liu Tan didn't show any panic on his face. He picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and said with a smile, "It's just right. It's New Year's Eve, so it's time to wear some red, it's festive."
Soldiers: ???
He looked around and said, "Li Buyan, you can continue to do what you did in the past. However, today is different. You must drive the Xiongnu away as quickly as possible and not delay everyone's New Year's Eve celebration."
Li Buyan responded and began to call out the names of his generals. Liu Tan watched coldly from the side and found that the soldiers in the surrender city didn't seem to care much.
But before they left, they did one thing - they gave all the gold cakes to Li Buyan.
Liu Tan was a little surprised. After they left, Li Buyan forced a smile and said, "This is the unwritten rule of Shoujiang City. Before going out to fight, you leave something behind. If you die in battle, the survivors will take the things back to their hometowns so that their souls can return home."
Forget about returning to one's roots. Basically, you are buried where you die, but people always have an obsession with their hometown.
Liu Tan was silent for a while, then sighed: "What's the situation in Shoujiang City now?"
Li Buyan could be silly sometimes, but he was never vague when it came to business. He immediately said, "No problem. There may be spies, but they definitely won't have access to confidential information!"
Liu Tan asked, "How many archers are there?"
Li Buyan's eyes lit up: "Three hundred and seventy-one people in total."
One city... Three hundred and seventy-one archers. Liu Tan looked at him and said, "So few? How can we really use them in a war?"
Li Buyan said pitifully in a low voice: "It's not that... there are not enough bows."
Liu Tan glanced at him, then looked up at Huo Guang without saying a word.
Strictly speaking, the Surrender City now belongs to the Northern Border Kingdom. If he wants to increase the armaments of the Surrender City, he can't just pay for it. It depends on the national treasury.
Of course he also wanted to pay, but Huo Guang would not agree.
Huo Guang received Liu Tan's gaze and, without saying a word, nodded, "That's enough."
The tacit understanding between the two of them was enough for him to know what Liu Tan wanted to say without waiting for Liu Tan to speak.
Although the scene just now was tragic, it was nothing compared to what Huo Guang had seen and heard. However, when he thought about it carefully, he always felt a sharp pain in his heart.
He suddenly remembered that every time Huo Qubing went to war, he would take something from him. Most of them were things he had always carried with him, such as the Ruyi lock he wore when he was a child and some accessories later. At that time, he didn't understand and thought that his brother was worried about him. Now he suddenly remembered that Huo Qubing took these things not because he was worried about him, but maybe so that he could find the way home one day.
He is the one who has the deepest bond with Huo Qubing.
When he thought of Huo Qubing, no matter how much money was left in the national treasury, as long as Liu Tan did not cause trouble, Huo Guang would support him.
Seeing him nod, Liu Tan said, "Select at least a thousand people later, and then I will send people to train those archers."
Huo Guang's face changed when he heard him say that. He looked up at Liu Tan and said, "Your Highness..."
Liu Tan raised his hand to stop him and said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'm just teaching them how to use the scope."
Huo Guang immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Liu Tan would bring the elite regiment's tactics with him. By then, even if Liu Che doted on him, he would still have to deal with him. It wasn't necessarily out of suspicion, but he just wanted to stop this trend. What if other princes saw that Liu Tan did this and was not punished, and turned around and followed suit?
Other places are okay, but King Yan Liu Dan is the most convenient one.
Liu Tan did know what was going on, as could be seen from the fact that he did not interfere too much after sending Li Buyan.
It’s just… If you hadn’t come, I could have pretended not to know, but now that you’re here, I really can’t stand it.
Li Buyan certainly knew how precious a bow and arrow with a sight was, and he almost cried again at that time.
Liu Tan said expressionlessly, "Hold it back."
Li Buyan really didn't dare to cry.
Liu Tan turned to look at Huo Guang and said, "It's not safe here. Take Huo Shou away first."
Although it was strange that Huo Qubing had another son, since he had one, he could not let this child be in danger. If he died, Liu Tan would have no place to cry. If he really had a spirit after death, he was afraid that he would be beaten to death by his idol.
Huo Guang was also somewhat helpless. This was the first time the Huns had attacked since Li Buyan took over Shoujiang City, and now they had just happened to catch up with him. He really didn't know what to say.
After hearing what Liu Tan said, he didn't bother to be polite with him. It was really...his brother's only child, so he really couldn't go out.
As a result, just as he stood up and was about to take Huo Shou away, Huo Shou suddenly broke free from his hand and shouted loudly: "Uncle, I won't leave!"
Huo Guang said, "It's no fun here anymore. Uncle will take you back to the market."
Xishi should still be bustling at this time.
Huo Shou shouted, "I want to stay and fight the Xiongnu!"
After hearing this, Liu Tan almost laughed out loud, thinking to himself, this is really the son of Huo Qubing. Is he so obsessed with the Huns?
Huo Guang's face was serious: "You can't carry anything on your shoulders or lift anything with your hands, and you can't even draw a bow. How can you fight the Xiongnu?"
Huo Shou seemed a little unconvinced, but he had no way to refute it, so he had to repeat: "I can!"
Liu Tan thought that he was only about twelve or thirteen years old, and he already had his own logical thinking. Once he insisted on his own logic, adults would not be able to convince him easily.
Otherwise, why do boys of this age hate cats and dogs?
Huo Guang tried to persuade him again, but seeing that Huo Shou still refused to listen, his patience finally ran out, and he prepared to take Huo Shou away by force.
Huo Shou's small arms and legs were like an ant trying to shake a tree in front of Huo Guang.
Liu Tan suddenly laughed and said, "If you teach your child this way, you won't be afraid that he will become more disobedient as he grows up."
Huo Guang's face turned cold: "He dares."
Liu Tan stood up and walked over to Huo Shou, who was being held captive by Huo Guang. He patted his head and said, "Want to fight the Xiongnu?"
Huo Shou's eyes lit up: "I want to fight! Your Highness, please let me go."
Liu Tan asked, "How old are you?"
Huo Shou exclaimed, "Thirteen years old! I'm already grown up!"
Liu Tan laughed and said, "You are grown up, but not old enough. Your father went to the battlefield at the age of seventeen. You have to wait a few more years."
Huo Shou was probably feeling uncomfortable, and after struggling for a while without success, he still shouted: "Daddy is Daddy, and I am me!"
Huo Guang's face turned cold and he was about to say something, but just as he was about to open his mouth, Liu Tan covered his mouth with his hand.
Liu Tan guessed that the child might have been instilled with his father's heroic deeds since childhood. Generally, people would express their expectations for him after saying these things, and these expectations would mostly end with "Don't bring shame to your father's reputation", "Inherit your father's legacy", etc.
Judging from the child's age, he is most likely the posthumous son of Huo Qubing. He may not have any feelings for the father he has never met. Huo Guang is not much older than him and probably does not know how to educate the child. If the child does not have a qualified mother, it is normal for him to rebel.
Liu Tan smiled at Huo Shou and said, "Yes, you are Huo Shou, but if you want everyone to remember your name, you have to work hard. You have to know that even your father was just the nephew of the Marquis of Changping when he first joined the military camp, and no one remembered his name."
Huo Shou was slightly stunned. He had never thought about this before. Or rather, everyone had always told him how great and powerful Huo Qubing was, and how unfortunate it was that he died young, but no one had ever told him this.
Seeing his expression, Liu Tan loosened his hand covering Huo Guang's mouth and, in the process, slapped away the claws that were pressing on Huo Shou's shoulders. He put his arm around Huo Shou's shoulders and said, "There are many ways to prove yourself, but impulsiveness is definitely not the best way. You want to fight the Xiongnu, but do you know what they are like?"
Huo Shou hesitated: "Aren't the Xiongnu...they are enemies?"
Liu Tan knew that his impression of the Huns was very general. In fact, many people only had an inherent impression of the Huns.
"They are enemies, but not absolutely. You will slowly learn about this later. Now... I'll take you to see the Huns. Do you dare?"
Huo Shou immediately puffed out his chest: "Of course I dare!"
Liu Tan patted his shoulder heavily: "Okay, follow me!"
After saying this, he took Huo Shou away. Huo Guang, who was standing by, was almost dumbfounded. When he came to his senses, he found that their prince had already taken his nephew away!
Huo Guang gasped and hurried after him: "Your Highness! Where are you going?"
Liu Tan said: "City wall!"
Only on the city wall can you see a little bit of things.
Huo Guang ran in front of him to stop him and said solemnly: "Your Highness! The city wall is in danger. How can Your Highness..."
Liu Tan hugged Huo Shou and walked around him and said, "Danger? What's the danger? With so many soldiers here, how can the Xiongnu really cause trouble?"
He knew very well that the Huns who came at this time just wanted to take advantage of the important festival of the Han Dynasty and thought that the surrendered city might be relaxed, so they wanted to take advantage of it, so the people who came should not be too strong.
When Liu Tan passed by Huo Guang, he said, "This child needs a loving education."
When Huo Guang heard him put emphasis on the word "love", his eyelids twitched for some reason. He turned his head and saw Huo Shou looking at him with a smug look on his face. Huo Guang decisively made way, then curled a sneer at Huo Shou: Haha, there will be a time for you to cry.
Liu Tan took Huo Shou up the city wall without any hindrance.
After they went up, the soldiers were all very nervous: Why is this person here? We can't afford to pay for any bumps or scratches!
Liu Tan narrowed his eyes and said, "Listen, do you hear anything?"
Huo Shou was attracted by his expression and subconsciously listened attentively, and then... he heard a vague sound, many sounds mixed together, and it was impossible to hear clearly, but that sound was definitely not pleasant.
Liu Tan stood on the city wall and wanted to see the battle situation, but... the darkness gave him black eyes, and he had nothing to use as light.
At this time, Huo Guang suddenly ran up and said, "The Xiongnu are about to attack the city, Your Highness... let's go down."
Liu Tan was a little surprised standing on the city wall: "Couldn't stop him?"
Huo Guang said, "Just like last time, there will be two teams."
Liu Tan turned to the guard beside him and said, "Give me the bow."
Liu Tan took the bow and arrow and tried it out. He felt it was quite suitable, then he put the arrow on it and said with a smile, "Do you think I can have a good start?"
Huo Shou had already become very excited when he heard that the Xiongnu were coming, and now when he saw that Liu Tan was not leaving, he shouted, "I won't leave either!"
For a moment, Huo Guang wanted to knock both of them unconscious and take them away!
After hearing the sound of horse hooves, Liu Tan said calmly, "Don't worry, our people are almost here."
Huo Guang was stunned for a moment: "Your Highness has brought people here?"
Liu Tan smiled as he drew his bow, "Do you really think I'll just come out with Miao Rui and Bi Gao?"
Huo Guang still frowned: "So many people here have failed to resist the Xiongnu. The elite regiment has followed Your Majesty away. There are not many people left in the city. It is useless for Your Highness to recruit more people."
Liu Tan said, "I asked them to bring honeycomb coal."
Huo Guang shook his head: "This is not a mine."
The implication is that it won't explode.
Liu Tan laughed and said, "They don't know."
As soon as he finished speaking, a huge fireball suddenly appeared in the air and crashed to the ground.
Huo Shou's eyes widened on the spot: "Wow."
Fireballs fell to the ground one after another, illuminating the area in front of the Surrender City.
Many of the Huns were wailing in pain on the ground, and some with broken arms and legs were rolling around.
Liu Tan held the bow and arrow in the pose for a long time, so long that Huo Guang began to wonder what he was going to do. Suddenly, he heard a Hun shout something below, and then the Huns retreated like a tide.
After the Xiongnu retreated, Liu Tan put down his bow and arrow, turned to look at Huo Guang and said with a smile: "See, it works, doesn't it?"
Huo Guang: ...So, you are here just to scare them?
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