65 Waves in the Waves
◎Huo Yan: I'm bringing my brother with me this time, we'll definitely win!◎
Huo Qubing said he was going to solve Huo Yan's problem, but in fact he was just visiting Zhang Tang.
Zhang Tang was extremely smart. As soon as the news of Huo Yan beating someone reached his ears, Huo Qubing came to his door. Of course, he knew the whole story because he was the one who recommended the person. Now that Huo Yan had been offended, Huo Qubing naturally went to him to settle the matter.
Huo Qubing strolled over. His almond-shaped eyes and red lips would have been the most beautiful of features, but his brows and eyes were cold and fierce, his gaze stern and intense. He was like a cold arrow, poised to be released, making anyone afraid to look directly at him. The young man walked half a step away from Zhang Tang. After a half-salute, he stopped and stood still, his expression cold, as he addressed him as "Master Zhang." His attitude was not arrogant, even polite, but his posture and demeanor betrayed a sense of coldness and arrogance.
Under those eyes, Zhang Tang suddenly felt annoyed that Wang Wenshu hadn't acknowledged him. He had somehow provoked Huo Yan. The last time he saw Huo Qubing was when he was among the attendants. He hadn't been so full of youthful vigor then. What a young talent! He praised inwardly.
"Is Minister Huo here to ask me to go with him to meet the Emperor?"
He stroked his beard and asked with a smile.
Seeing Zhang Tang take the initiative, Huo Qubing didn't hesitate and directly explained the whole story of Huo Yan's concern. He bowed again and said apologetically, "Ah Yan is young and inexperienced. When the jade Your Majesty gave him was lost, he became anxious and focused on looking for it. He even caused a lot of trouble and made Mr. Zhang and me go all the way."
His words were flawless, even better than those of his uncle Wei Qing, who held a high position. However, they were too flawless, coming across as mere formalities.
Zhang Tang suddenly thought of Wei Qing. As expected, compared to Huo Yan and Huo Qubing, he still preferred talking to Wei Qing. General Wei said whatever he wanted to say, and everything was shown on his face. At least General Wei was too embarrassed to say that Huo Yan was young and ignorant. General Wei usually said that Ah Yan was a bastard, and he was also wrong in this matter. You and I should explain it to His Majesty, and I will scold him when I get back. Huo Qubing's words were all about others' faults. Huo Yan was young and was bullied. It was obvious that he was biased. Although he had decided to give up Wang Wenshu, if you say that Huo Yan had done nothing bad, no one would believe it. Huo Yan was as smart as a monkey, and he even lost the jade. Why didn't he say that he lost his child?
But he could only think about these words in his heart. If he said them out loud, even the emperor would probably scold him for wrongly accusing his two beloved ones.
"Then let's go."
Huo Qubing nodded and went to the Weiyang Palace with him.
Liu Che was teasing his son. He loved his only precious child so much that he didn't care about wanting his grandson over his son. All he had in his eyes and heart was his precious son. "My dear son, look who it is."
When Liu Ju saw Huo Qubing, he immediately opened his arms and called him cousin. Liu Che immediately smiled so hard that he couldn't stop, and asked Huo Qubing to come forward and put Liu Ju directly in Huo Qubing's arms.
Liu Ju loved to stick to his relatives, not only his mother and sister, but also his uncle and cousin. He was extremely affectionate with them whenever he saw them. He liked Huo Qubing, his handsome brother, and threw himself into Huo Qubing's arms, calling him "cousin" sweetly. He looked around, then raised his chubby little hand and pointed randomly at Huo Qubing's back.
"Yan, cousin?"
The baby's body was soft, and Liu Ju was not Huo Yanjing who would fall. Under Liu Che's teasing gaze, Huo Qubing didn't even dare to touch the baby, let alone hold him. He was afraid that the child would fall, so he could only hold Liu Ju tightly in a panic.
Liu Che laughed beside him and directed his fat son to climb up.
Liu Ju didn't know what he was looking for, and was crawling around in Huo Qubing's arms.
Huo Qubing didn't dare to move. The young man who had just been planning something maturely had to open his arms to make it easier for Liu Ju to climb up.
Liu Che's eyes fell on him and Zhang Tang for a moment, then he raised his eyebrows, "Which piece of jade did that bastard lose?"
Huo Qubing was about to kneel down, but Liu Che waved him off. Huo Qubing casually pulled out a jade pendant from his body, placed it on his hands and presented it to Liu Che.
Liu Che glanced at him and smiled.
"You idiot, you don't have to use your younger brother's rhetoric. Just say that." He turned to Zhang Tang. "What's the name of the person you recommended?"
He called him a bastard, but he couldn't hide the smile between his eyebrows.
Zhang Tang quickly responded, "Wang Wenshu, serving as a court official under me, is indeed misbehaving."
Liu Che raised an eyebrow, but did not expose his speculation. He used different words each time and simply asked Huo Qubing, "I want to use this man, and he has always been polite. How did he offend that bastard again?"
Huo Qubing wanted to apologize again, but Liu Che waved his hand and asked him to tell the truth.
Huo Qubing then told the whole story again. Unlike his simple explanation to Zhang Tang, this time he told it in detail.
After hearing this, Liu Che smiled and looked at his expressionless face, his eyes full of curiosity.
"Qubing, do you think your younger brother really likes the one from Sima Tan's family? I didn't expect that boy to be so infatuated."
Huo Qubing hadn't expected Liu Che to promote Wang Wenshu. He had thought the emperor would scold Huo Yan, but Liu Che hadn't expected him to ask this. Facing the gossipy glances from Zhang Tang, who was pretending to be invisible, his usually clever mind was spinning rapidly. Finally, he said bluntly, "This is pure nonsense. Ah Yan and Sima Qian were friends of gentlemen. Ah Yan didn't care about Sima Qian. He just didn't like people bullying the people he protected."
Liu Che tutted his words, "Just because Ah Yan doesn't want to, doesn't that mean others don't want to? Sima Qian is completely obedient to Ah Yan's every word."
Huo Qubing was silent for a moment, remembering how Sima Qian had been coaxed into a placenta by Huo Yan. He was suddenly speechless, but upholding his love for his younger brother's reputation, he stiffened his neck and said, "I can swear on my life that Ah Yan has absolutely no such intention towards him!"
As for Sima Qian, he was not familiar with him and he didn't know him.
Liu Che also understood his implication, "It turns out that the King of Xiang has feelings, but the goddess has no dreams."
Huo Qubing fell silent again. "Your Majesty, if Ah Yan knew about this, I'm afraid your money this year would be in trouble."
Liu Che sat up straight, took the little fat boy back into his arms, clenched his fist and coughed twice, clearing his throat before saying, "Qubing, I taught you not to gossip."
Huo Qubing's expression suddenly softened, and he smiled slightly at Liu Che.
Liu Che also laughed.
"Given that bastard's temper, he should have come to his own way. He's quite right. I bet he'll have to ask for some benefits in return."
Huo Qubing said bluntly, "Ayan made a mistake and was taken to his eldest uncle by his uncle Guang to be scolded."
Judging from the way he and Ayan have behaved these days, Ayan must be trembling with fear after being scolded.
Liu Che could not help but smile in gloating. He was in a good mood and even waived the punishment Zhang Tang had asked for. He only asked him to recommend a new capable person. Zhang Tang thanked him and left, leaving Huo Qubing to face his old uncle.
Liu Che casually changed into a comfortable posture, reclining on the couch, beckoning Huo Qubing to sit in front of him, gently stroking his hair, and said lazily, "I'm still confused. Ah Yan can handle this little matter by himself. Why did you invite my little Qubing here?"
He looked at Huo Qubing with a teasing look and tapped his forehead with his slender finger. "It turns out that my little Qubing doesn't want to be scolded! Ah Yan is about to cry."
Huo Qubing blushed.
He abandoned his brother because he was annoying.
Wei family.
It was late at night and the lights in the Wei Mansion were already on.
Huo Yan sat at the last seat in the main hall, and sitting opposite him was Gongsun Jingsheng.
Gongsun Jingsheng still said that he didn't do it and that Huo Yan was just making up stories.
The people around also thought that Huo Yan might have seen it wrong, after all, Gongsun Jingsheng was too soft.
Gongsun Jing on the other side was so confident in his words that he was almost swearing an oath.
Huo Yan said nothing, letting the people around him make noise. He was too lazy to argue with Gongsun Jingsheng, so he just looked at the sky outside, as if thinking about something.
The weather is getting cold, so let’s have hotpot today.
Although there's no such thing as hot pot these days, there are cooking utensils like cauldrons and pots that can be used to cook meat, vegetables, and a variety of other ingredients. Huo Yan thought about what to add to the dish, first adding mutton bone soup, then cornel and Sichuan peppercorns, and well, hot pot.
After thinking about what to eat today, he yawned, stood up, bowed to all the elders, and said, "Maybe I saw it wrong. I am here to apologize to my cousin Jingsheng. It's getting late now, so I will go back first."
Anyway, he just wanted to pull Gongsun Jingsheng out today to attract attention. He didn't have any evidence. He just wanted to give him a reminder. If Gongsun Jingsheng didn't listen, he would just wait until the day he chopped off his hands.
After he finished speaking, he didn't wait for Gongsun Jingsheng to take action. He just gave a few words of advice about Wei Shaojun's condition and walked out.
He started this big drama, but he let it go easily.
For a moment, no one reacted, and naturally no one thought of stopping him.
He strode out of the house at a brisk pace. If he hadn't maintained his demeanor, he would probably have started to jog.
Hehe, it didn't take long after being scolded that he realized that keeping Gongsun Jingsheng was useful, so he would look for Gongsun Jingsheng next time.
[Ah Yan, stop laughing.]
[The reason why Gongsun Jingsheng was able to survive in the casino for so long without getting his hands chopped off has been discovered.]
[You really don't treat him as an outsider.]
…
Huo Yan was planning to invite people to have hotpot in the evening when he ran into Huo Qubing.
Liu Che originally wanted to keep Huo Yan for dinner, but Huo Qubing thought of Huo Yan and was afraid that Huo Yan really thought he had abandoned him, so he refused Liu Che's order and came to pick up Huo Yan.
Huo Yan was hit by the incoming person, and his nose hurt. He rubbed his nose and frowned, saying, "How come you are so stubborn?"
Huo Qubing's gaze fell on the top of his head. A spring breeze suddenly blew across the cold northern wilderness, and even the long mountains curved into gentle arcs.
"It's probably innate."
Huo Yan immediately raised his head upon hearing this, and after meeting his gaze, his eyebrows curved instantly, his eyes filled with a thousand-mile spring breeze. He jumped up and threw himself into Huo Qubing's arms, clearly in a very good mood. Huo Qubing subconsciously caught him.
"Brother, you have tough bones but you are thin. Let's make something delicious today. Let's have hot pot. It will be so warm and cozy."
He held Huo Qubing's hand, looked at the stars in the sky, and jumped around like he did when he was a child.
"The sky is full of stars tonight, and the weather will be good tomorrow. I want to make a kite. Brother, can you accompany me to fly the kite?"
Huo Qubing also waved his hand and did not ask what hot pot was, but only asked about kites.
Huo Yan then said that he wanted to make a small pretty doll out of paper, and it had to be big so that it would be worthy of the beauty in his house.
Kites already existed by this time, and their design was largely the same as that of later times. The frame was typically made of bamboo, split and smoothed, then bent over fire to set the shape. The kite's surface was made of silk or thin cloth, or perhaps paper, but papermaking was not yet mature before Huo Yan's arrival, making it less common. However, for military purposes, kites were kept small for ease of portability and operation.
Huo Qubing was very sensitive to this.
"Show me how to use your kite to spread the message among the army."
Huo Yan didn't understand how to use it, but when Huo Qubing asked him to make it, he readily agreed. "Make it! I'll make it for you, brother. But let's eat first. I'm hungry."
Huo Yan was really hungry. As soon as he got home, he started preparing hot pot. He asked people to set up the iron pot and prepare the dishes. He even spared Sima Qian and only asked him to call Su Wu.
Sima Qian was worried about Huo Yan and had not left. When he saw Huo Yan coming in and greeting people with great enthusiasm, a smile appeared on his face.
Because of his excellent knife skills, Huo Qubing, who was being directed to cut the mutton, saw his smile and his gaze on Huo Yan. Liu Che's words suddenly echoed in his ears, "Ayan."
Huo Yanzheng grabbed a handful of peppercorns and put them into the mortar, pounding them vigorously. Upon hearing this, he looked up and said, "Brother."
Huo Qubing said directly, "Someone has misunderstood you and Sima Qian."
He always speaks his mind and never beats around the bush.
Having been together since childhood, Huo Yan immediately understood his expression. He didn't ask who had misunderstood, nor did he rush to explain, because he didn't need to explain it to Huo Qubing. He just said, "He regards me as his lifelong friend."
Huo Qubing knew that Huo Yan was always sensitive to emotions, so whatever he said was what it was.
The fire flickered, and he asked, "What does Ah Yan think?"
Huo Yan said directly, "I don't like people bullying the people I protect."
Huo Qubing laughed.
"Me too."
[The Tao is ruthless yet compassionate. Ah Yan meant that he didn't like people bullying Sima Qian, and he got hurt.]
[Eating everything will only make you malnourished.]
[I'm a pervert, I'm into orthopedics.]
[Ayan and Qubing are the best in the world!]
[What Qubing meant was that he also didn't like people bullying his younger brother because he was protecting his younger brother.]
[Sima Qian loved it even more.]
[Why don't you just say Liu Che's name?]
…
As soon as Su Wu entered the yard, he was attracted by the lively scene and the tempting aroma. He quickly rushed to Huo Qubing and said, "Brother Qubing, what is Brother Yan cooking? It smells so good."
When Huo Yan saw him coming, he directed everyone to place a large iron pot on the stove in the courtyard and poured carefully prepared mutton bone soup into the pot. As the fire heated up, the soup base gradually began to boil, emitting a rich aroma.
The various ingredients were neatly laid out on the stone table. Fresh lamb slices, thin as a cicada's wing, shone enticingly in the light. Emerald green sunflowers, white radishes, and tender mushrooms each exuded a refreshing aroma. In a nearby iron pot, mutton bone broth simmered, its rich aroma filling the courtyard. Huo Yan poured crushed Sichuan peppercorns, dogwood, and other seasonings into the pot. Instantly, the aroma intensified, stimulating everyone's taste buds. He thought to himself: Without chili, it really isn't tasty.
Su Wu swallowed his saliva helplessly. When Huo Yan finished introducing the cooking time and best ways to eat various ingredients, he was the first to pick up a piece of mutton and put it into the pot. After a while, when the mutton changed color, he took it out, dipped it in a special sauce, and put it in his mouth to chew.
"Ayan loves me so much that he doesn't even forget me when he's eating!" Su Wu said vaguely while eating.
Huo Yan gave him a few more sliced mutton slices and patted his head. "Eat as much as you want. Eat whatever you want."
Su Wu smiled at him, revealing a subtle dimple.
He was still a young man, quite fond of the taste of food. Although he was only a few months younger, he was the youngest in the group and the most loved.
At this time, his cheeks were flushed from eating, and he called everyone "brother".
Huo Yan agreed, his eyes tender and he picked up another piece of food for him with his chopsticks. Huo Qubing and Sima Qian also watched the child eat with gentle eyes and brows.
[Woohoo, woohoo. I feel like I've become a kettle spirit.]
[Xiao Wu clearly loves to eat, but for the ten years he's been herding sheep, he's only been able to eat felt. How can he possibly eat this? Woo woo woo.]
[Awu baby, Qubing baby, Qianqian baby, Yanyan baby, eat well, grow up well, and never suffer in this life.]
[We only eat, not suffer.]
[Awu loves to eat so much.]
[It doesn't taste good without chili peppers. You can go do business with people from the Western Regions.]
[Wait a minute, Western Region!]
[Fuck, Ah Yan, I’m going to die.]
[Zhang Qian!]
[Zhang Qian!]
After Emperor Wu of Han ascended the throne, he learned from Xiongnu surrendered people that the Dayuezhi, who had migrated westward, were seeking revenge against the Xiongnu, but had no one to help them. He decided to establish contact with the Western Regions, hoping to unite with the Dayuezhi and attack the Xiongnu from both sides, thus "cutting off the Xiongnu's right arm." Zhang Qian set out on his journey, but was subsequently intercepted.
He traveled along the Hexi Corridor, flanked by mountains, which, like the corridor itself, separated the Han Dynasty from the Western Regions. This was Xiongnu territory, and only by seizing it could the Western Regions be subjugated. Historically, especially during the Han Dynasty, the Hexi Corridor held crucial strategic importance for the military defense and transportation links of the Central Plains empire. The Han Dynasty established horse farms there to breed a large number of excellent war horses, such as the Shandan Military Horse Farm, located in the central part of the Hexi Corridor. These horses played an irreplaceable role in strengthening the Han army's cavalry and combating the Xiongnu, providing a solid material foundation for the Han Dynasty's expansion of territory and consolidation of its border defenses.
[The horse farm breeds the Han army.]
[Why are you in such a hurry? Wait until the person eating meat next to you gets better. Then beating up those people will be like playing.]
[Ayan, give your brother some more meat. Look how skinny my baby is.]
…
Huo Yan sat up straight and picked up some meat for his brother. He also felt that his brother was too thin and would be better if he was plump. Who wouldn't eat during a war? How could you have the strength without eating?
Huo Qubing, who was already full, looked at his brother's shining eyes, sighed in his heart, and finished eating silently.
Huo Yan was happy, and when he was happy, he wanted to check his brother's pulse, who was eating obediently. "Well, brother, you are in good health. I will ask someone to make some milk candy for you tomorrow."
Huo Qubing gestured, "Five bags."
Huo Yan bargained, "Three bags."
Huo Qubing smiled and said, "Deal."
All those tricks were used to get candy.
Huo Yan was speechless. Sometimes he even suspected that the Huo Qubing mentioned in the barrage was not the same person as his brother.
But he was certain of one thing: if his brother was determined to fight the Xiongnu, they would have no choice but to kneel down and call him "Daddy." It didn't matter; he still had a certain understanding of his brother's strength.
The comments were posted very quickly and soon went off topic.
Huo Yan mouthed the words silently.
"Where is Zhang Qian?"
He can show the way, be useful, and save!
[Two years ago, because my uncle had been frightened by their attacks, the Xiongnu gradually relaxed their surveillance. Zhang Qian took advantage of the Xiongnu's unpreparedness and led his followers to escape from the Xiongnu's control.]
However, during his stay with the Xiongnu, the situation in the Western Regions had changed. The Yuezhi's enemy, the Wusun, supported and instigated by the Xiongnu, attacked the Yuezhi from the west. The Yuezhi were forced to migrate further west from the Ili River basin, entering the Guishui region near the Aral Sea. They conquered Daxia and established a new homeland in their new homeland. They settled there, fearing the Xiongnu and completely forgetting their once-maligned feud.
Zhang Qian, perhaps understanding this situation, turned southwest, entered Yanqi, crossed the Pamir Mountains, and reached Dayuan, today in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan. He asked the king of Dayuan to escort them to the Great Yuezhi. His resolve remained unchanged, but the Great Yuezhi were no longer the same. Their new land was fertile and rich in resources, and far from the Xiongnu and Wusun, the danger of foreign invasion was greatly reduced, and they put aside their feud.
Zhang Qian and his companions stayed in the Yuezhi for over a year, but were unable to persuade them to form an alliance with the Han Dynasty to attack the Xiongnu. Last year, they set out for home, specifically taking the route through the Qiang people. However, the route was filled with enemies, and the Qiang were like dogs to the Xiongnu. Then, he was kidnapped by the Xiongnu again.
Huo Yan cursed in his heart, "Fuck! There are only Hun dogs outside." No, he picked up another piece of meat for Huo Qubing and said, "Brother, eat more! I want all the Hun dogs to become Han dogs."
[The following year, the Xiongnu people were involved in civil strife over the throne, and Zhang Qian took the opportunity to escape back to Chang'an with Tang Yifu.]
[This year, he is still herding sheep in Xiongnu.]
[Does this need saving? He will come back on his own next year.]
Huo Yan's gaze fell on the Xiongnu civil strife. "Is it true? My uncle is preparing to conquer the Xiongnu right now."
[Bao Zhen, cub, the Xiongnu are composed of multiple tribes, and conflicts often rage among them over lush pastures, limited resources, and the power of influence in the Chanyu's court.]
[The Left Xian King and the Right Xian King have long been in dispute over the division of their spheres of influence. The two sides have been refusing to give in to each other in the vast grasslands north of the Yin Mountains, leading to frequent friction.]
Within the Xiongnu's core of power, fierce competition exists among the nobles over the succession and distribution of power to the Chanyu position. Currently, Junchen Chanyu reigns, and his younger brother, Yizhixie, the King of Zuoguli, has long coveted the Chanyu position. He has been secretly cultivating his own power, competing openly and covertly with the forces close to Junchen Chanyu.
After Junchen Chanyu's death, Yizhixie proclaimed himself Chanyu and led his army to attack Junchen Chanyu's crown prince, Yushan. Yushan was quickly defeated and forced to flee to the Han Dynasty. Yizhixie then launched a major purge within the Xiongnu, attacking and slaughtering those who opposed him. At this point, Yizhixie Chanyu officially became the new Chanyu of the Xiongnu.
Huo Yan played with the cup in his hand, his eyes bright and he had a strong desire to cause trouble.
"If we could decide the time of Junchen Chanyu's death, then everything would be fun."
It would be even better if we could kill Yizhixie as well.
Huo Yan looked at Huo Qubing, the GPS, touched the red mole under his lip, and suddenly wanted to leave Chang'an.
"Brother." He leaned close to Huo Qubing's ear and muttered twice. Huo Qubing's eyes became brighter and brighter. Finally, he pulled Huo Yan away from the table early and went into his own room. Huo Qubing took out the map he had drawn based on the descriptions of Wei Qing and others. He pointed to the route and explained it to Huo Yan. First, start from Chang'an and cross the Guanzhong Plain. After passing Xianyang, you will arrive at Yunyang. Then enter the Xiaoguan Road. After passing the customs, go north along the west bank of the Yellow River. Then you will come to the Hexi Corridor, passing through cities such as Wuwei and Zhangye. After leaving the Hexi Corridor, you will enter the desert. Then he pointed to a large unknown area and marked a point accurately. "I estimate that the Xiongnu royal court is here. You and I will try. If we can't find it, we will return."
Huo Yan smiled and nodded repeatedly.
"If I can find one, I'll pretend to be a witch doctor and ride beautifully. You'll be my attendant. First, we'll gain the trust of the Xiongnu Crown Prince Yu Shan. Then, when my uncle and General Li attack Henan, we'll seize the opportunity to kill the Xiongnu King. Wouldn't that cause internal strife in the Xiongnu?"
Huo Qubing rolled up the scroll and said, "Go back and pack up. We will set off tomorrow."
Huo Yan chuckled.
[You two are crazy for doing this right away!]
[It’s too dangerous to go to the Xiongnu!]
[No, you two are still children! No, I don’t agree.]
[It's too dangerous.]
…
The barrage of comments was in full swing. Huo Yan took the hair dye he made from white mulberry and applied another layer of dye to his wig. Then he packed a bunch of cosmetics and decided to paint himself purple lips and put on black eyeliner.
[Why don’t you just draw it like Shiji?]
[Don't waste time!]
[Just wait for someone.]
[You are not allowed to go!]
[Is the Xiongnu King so easy to kill?]
…
Huo Yan smiled and took out his compass and telescope. "Don't worry, I often drive to Mongolia before, and this time I brought my brother and Piaoliang with me. I won't get lost with my brother around."
The barrage is even more worrying.
[Don't let the two of them get caught together.]
[No, Huo Ayan brought a lethal dose of aconite powder. And Qubing is also here.]
[I hope everything is alright.]
[It’s so annoying!]
[Those who drown are all good swimmers.]
【Author’s words】
There is a gap between ideals and reality, but let them have some freedom.
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