75 Pray to God
Huo Qubing: I will step forward alone to fight shoulder to shoulder
In the autumn of the fifth year of the Yuanshuo reign, Wei Qing launched his fourth campaign against the Xiongnu. Huo Yangang's appointment as the Chief of the Ouguan (Wuguanchang) meant he had no authority to participate in the formulation of national fiscal policy during this wartime. Yet, shamelessly, he leveraged his position as a minister to the emperor to coax himself into Zheng Dangshi's presence. The princes were still languishing, and the treasury had been depleted by four years of war against the Xiongnu. He feared that if he didn't keep an eye on things, these old men would leave his uncles with nothing to eat. He still didn't understand the moral principles of money management; he wanted the horse to run without the grass.
He had to see that the military budget was not allowed to be reduced. His uncle was on the battlefield and his brother was going to be there soon. If the military budget was reduced, they would go hungry while fighting. When he thought about it, he wanted to kill them.
Therefore, before the morning mist had dissipated at noon, Huo Yan squatted in front of Zheng Dang's office to please him, and deliberately hung the silver seal of the Minister of the Interior on the outside of his modified belt.
Take me with you, I'm a minister, and I'm a very well-behaved person.
Zheng looked at him helplessly at that time and stretched out his hand. Huo Yan immediately stepped forward obediently with a pleasing smile.
"Sir, I will help you."
Zheng cheerfully put his hand on his arm, like an ordinary elder, and chatted with him casually.
"If Changru saw you acting like this, he'd definitely give you a lecture. He always says you're strong-willed, full of energy, and unyielding."
Changru is Ji An's courtesy name.
The smile on Huo Yan's lips remained unchanged, and he remained polite and restrained. "Your humble servant does not deserve the praise from Master Ji."
If Zheng had not seen him acting coquettishly towards Wei Qing when he was young and smiling when he played with Huo Qubing, he would have really thought that this young man who was favored by the emperor was always so calm.
As long as he doesn't care about the person, he doesn't care about how they praise or criticize him.
He doesn't care. No matter what you give him, he will return it and he will distance himself from you.
Zheng was very sorry to find that neither he nor Ji An could get close to Huo Yan.
The young man lowered his eyes, making it difficult to discern his emotions. Zheng felt even more regretful at the time.
What he didn't know was that Huo Yan had already seen his ending in the barrage of comments that filled the screen.
Zheng was also in a miserable state. He was about to enjoy his retirement, but because the people he recommended and their guests owed a lot of money for transporting goods for the Minister of Agriculture, he was implicated and reported by Sima An, and was convicted. After apologizing, he was demoted to a commoner and later served temporarily as the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office. Emperor Wu of Han, considering his advanced age, made him the prefect of Runan County. A few years later, he died.
We've already saved him once. In the fourth year of the Yuanguang reign, during the debate between Dou Ying and Tian Fen, Emperor Wu of Han asked his ministers to express their opinions. Zheng initially believed Dou Ying was right, but later hesitated to insist on his own opinion and reply to the emperor. Emperor Wu angrily rebuked him for being as timid as a colt under a chariot, and he demoted him to the position of Chancellor.
"My lord, be careful with the gravel."
Zheng was thinking about it when he heard Huo Yan's reminder.
The young man spoke calmly as if he was chatting with him.
"Sir, cranes cultivate plump wings, cherish them, and constantly preen their feathers as they fly through the fields. Yesterday, I saw a crane in Shanglin Garden plucking off its own dead feathers. Do you know why?"
Zheng Dang looked at him, chuckled and nodded, "I've taken note of Minister Huo's reminder."
There is no need for words between wise men.
Cranes pluck their feathers, humans get rid of villains, all for the sake of landing safely. Someone close to him had committed a crime, so he couldn't land. Right or wrong, Huo Yan's status as a close minister to the emperor was a good omen, and he was willing to remind him.
Huo Yan's pretty face was filled with smiles.
"Now is the time to report me, sir."
When Zheng saw him smile, his heart skipped a beat.
It's not good for this kid to laugh like that.
Huo Yan knelt at the end of the table, listening to a group of people using their abacus, squeezing a few cents here and there. Huo Yan was annoyed, but as a low-ranking official, he could only suppress his temper and stare at the abacus. This abacus was only given to everyone by Emperor Wu of Han because he had fleeced him, and yet the court was so poor.
He had intended to wait until the others finished talking before offering his opinion, but then he heard someone say, "If all else fails, let's make the people suffer more." His anger instantly flared. Damn it, he produced so many elixirs every year, and the princes could still afford them. Why didn't he do this instead of making the people suffer and raising taxes? Damn it, if this continued, who among the people wouldn't hate war, and who wouldn't be disgusted by his uncle who went off to fight!
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He endured it for a while, but the angrier he got, "You old man, you raised taxes, why didn't you just offer your 1,000 dan salary as a donation?"
Everyone was silent, their eyes fixed on Huo Yan. Huo Yan had adjusted his demeanor, a smile on his lips as he bowed. "The country's finances are stretched thin right now, and I'm truly worried about the soldiers on the front lines struggling to find adequate food and clothing. After much deliberation, I've decided to donate my entire salary to raise food and supplies for our army. I hope our Han army will be victorious."
He raised his arms and shouted, then composed a verse from a Han Dynasty poem: "You all hold precious jade in your hands, your hearts as bright as the moon, and your hearts are attached to the country. You always think of the safety of the people and the tranquility of the country. How can you fear the coming of disaster or care about the abandonment of blessings? You are blessed with the emperor's great grace, and even in the face of difficulties, you remain determined and unwavering. You think of the rise and fall of your family and country, and are willing to sacrifice your life without hesitation. You work day and night, only hoping for the prosperity of the country; you rise early and sleep late, hoping for the happiness and health of the people. Even if you die nine times, you will not regret it, and you swear to be loyal and righteous."
He has brilliant literary talent and is eloquent, a top-notch talent.
It was this proposal that was not popular. The ministers at that time had not been influenced by Confucianism for many years. Most of them were from aristocratic families. Even if they were from humble families, they were impoverished aristocrats. In their eyes, there were no ordinary people.
Therefore, making the people suffer is a normal countermeasure. I have never seen Huo Yan cutting himself like this.
No, we are all workers. If you want to donate, just donate, but don’t include me.
Zheng's heart sank at that time. He finally understood why Huo Yan wanted him to owe him a favor.
Huo Yan needs him to take the lead in this matter before it can be accomplished.
He was about to speak when Huo Yan smiled and suddenly unfolded a modified silk map from his sleeve. On an indigo background, gold powder outlined the boundaries of the various kingdoms, and pieces of colored glass marked the salt wells and iron mines.
"I know you all work for the country, your families are all poor, and your entire family depends on a salary to survive. But we are poor, while those princes and lords are all rich and happy. Now that the country is in danger, they have no interest in their families and are relying on us to increase taxes so that they can find an excuse to make more money."
"Please look, gentlemen." He stepped on the white tiger skin that was tributed by the vassal states, and wore a jade pendant at his waist. "Linzi boils the sea to make salt, Handan smelts the mountains to make iron, and the copper of Wu, Chu and Yuzhang can be used to cast the Three Officials' Coins..." His fingertips slid across the map, and those glazed marks could actually change with the light. This was a sand table technique that Huo Qubing had improved with glass, and it was specially made for Huo Yan to play with. Huo Yan had brought this with him, and he had prepared it long ago.
"We are bitter, and the oil is almost gone from our dishes, but these princes spend their days seeking pleasure, and their deposits are as good as dirt."
So gentlemen, if we don’t deal with them, we will deal with you.
His meaning was clear.
People like to compromise. When you want to open a window, you just remove the door. This works every time.
What's more, except for a few individuals, all officials during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han were mad dogs. It would rather my friend die than let me die.
Therefore, the crowd was excited. Making extra money is always more pleasurable than squeezing money out of people.
"That makes sense. Money isn't something you save up."
Everyone was talking about how to set up vassal states.
Sang Hongyang narrowed his eyes and looked at the formula written by Huo Yan.
This kid is planning to establish a vassal state today.
Huo Yan gave him a flattering smile and shook the white abacus beads in his hand.
Go get them, godfather.
Sang Hongyang laughed. He was also very unhappy with those princes.
At three quarters past noon, the time-keeping mist from the bronze tortoise filled the hall steps. Huo Yan was squeezed onto the jade mat farthest from the main desk. He sat cross-legged, unconcerned, on a mountain of "Equalization Book" scrolls, his abacus clacking with a clattering sound. He had deliberately used South Sea pearls for the beads, and whenever anyone objected, he would plucking them with a series of piercing sounds.
"The princes privately minted salt and iron, and their annual revenue was only 30%..." Amidst the clamor, the young man spoke in a clear voice, "Gentlemen, the first month of the lunar calendar is approaching, and His Majesty will summon the princes to Chang'an."
The whole hall was in a dead silence. He walked leisurely to the center of the hall, the hem of his dark robe sweeping over the scattered counting rods and abacus. "This is the skin of a white deer from the forest garden, bordered with silver thread and embellished with emerald feathers, worth four hundred thousand coins." Suddenly, he shook out a sample of the modified leather coin, which drew gasps.
"The princes will need this coin to pay their respects to the emperor." Huo Yan's fingertips traced the dark patterns on the leather coin, and he smiled softly. "Issuing this order to the princes now will surely relieve our urgent needs."
After saying this, he deliberately paused and looked at Zheng Dangshi, who suddenly started coughing violently and nodded.
Sang Hongyang listened attentively and felt that his eldest son was extremely clever. Huo Yan laughed again, "My suggestion is to add a tax on jade bi recommendations. The tax should be paid according to the grade of the jade bi. Those who pass inferior jade bi off as good jade bi should pay double the price."
Everyone cheered and thought of a vicious plan tacitly.
Anyway, I would rather die than let my friend die.
[Using the white deerskin from Shanglinyuan to make a "Lu Hao Gold VIP Card."]
[The silver-rimmed and bird-feathered piece is priced at 400,000.]
[Forced the princes to buy this "pickup truck" before coming to Chang'an to give gifts]
[They still pay taxes, you’re screwing them to death.]
In reality, these nobles were truly dominated by Ah Yan their entire lives. Year-round, he was buying expensive elixirs, cosmetics, alcohol, black market goods, glass, and tea. Ah Yan used their money to support hundreds of factories and employ over a hundred thousand people. In the entire Huainan area, Ah Yan's account books filled a cart full...
[Ayan now wants to use them to support the army.]
…
When everyone combined the vicious plans and Zheng Dang handed them to Liu Che, Liu Che couldn't help laughing after reading them, "Yes."
After Zheng Danshi left, he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Where's Ah Yan? Let him come over."
At sunset, Huo Yan, feeling impatient, removed the bronze head of the Vermilion Bird from the twig lantern and dipped his brush in ink to write his improved mathematical formula on the palace pillar. He was then ushered into the Xuanshi Hall by the Imperial Guards. He leaned against the bronze dew-receiving plate on the north tower of the Weiyang Palace, watching the setting sun stain the leather coin sample he had modified a bloody color. The cold touch touched the old scar on his left hand.
He chuckled as he chewed a dried apricot. Suddenly, he tossed the imperial seal into the air and held it in his hand again. He handed a dried apricot to the eunuch beside him and asked, "Your Majesty, did you miss me?"
The eunuch was an acquaintance; he was Huo Yan's uncle, who had saved the child from the kidnappers. He smiled upon hearing this and said softly, "His Majesty has asked the young man to come over for dinner."
Huo Yan nodded, and he suddenly remembered the formula he wrote for everyone this morning - the salt and iron revenues of those vassal states actually had an extra zero.
"No wonder my adoptive father looks at me like this..." The young attendant hummed a tune and turned around, the jade pendant in his purse making a crisp sound against his waist. "Then they can just consider themselves unlucky."
"Uncle, do you miss me?"
He came over excitedly.
Then he was dragged to worship God.
The spring rain turned into sleet at midnight. Liu Che knelt before a statue of Taiyi. Twelve goose and fish lanterns pinned his shadow on the mural depicting Yunzhongjun. He also saw a small statue of Chiyou. Liu Che prayed for this and that, and there was also Huo Qubing next to him.
"Gods above, bless Zhongqing."
"Bless uncle."
Huo Yan decisively knelt before the Taiyi God.
"Gods above, please bless my uncle and make a golden statue for him."
Liu Che: "Yes, make a big one."
Huo Qubing: "It doesn't work, smash it!"
Between worrying and doing something, the three chose to worship God and threaten violence.
Then Liu Che threw the tortoise shell into the brazier, and the cracks that appeared in the green smoke were actually a bad omen.
Huo Yan was shocked. He, Huo Qubing, and Liu Che looked at each other and said in unison, "That's not allowed."
Liu Che voted for another one, but it was still a disaster.
Huo Qubing said again, "No."
Huo Yan snatched the tortoise shell from Liu Che's hand and threw it himself, which was a big mistake again. The expressions of the three people changed at the same time.
"Well, this god doesn't work. Smash it and get another one."
After a long time, Liu Che said.
The three men then turned to Chi You. Chi You was very helpful and gave Huo Qubing good luck. The three men agreed that Chi You was the god of war and that fighting was under Chi You's control, and no one else could do anything.
After the three of them had finished praying to the gods, which was what Wei Qing did every time he went on a campaign, they got down to business.
Liu Che pointed at the memorial Zheng Dang had handed him and tapped Huo Yan's nose. Huo Yan acted coquettishly and said, "Uncle, when we pacify the vassal states, can I let my brother go?"
Liu Che nodded.
Huo Qubing's eyes lit up and he gave Huo Yan a bear hug on the spot. When he was happy, he would become like a child again.
Huo Yan hugged him back, "As long as you are happy."
[I'll do everything for you, as long as you're happy.]
The princes were already in turmoil. Isn't this just a waste of money? Is Liu Che crazy?
Then, under the shining eyes of Huo Yan and Huo Qubing, Liu Che gave Huo Qubing five hundred Yu Lin cavalrymen. The elite had been taken away by Wei Qing, leaving only those slightly younger than Huo Qubing. He meant to let Huo Qubing have fun on his own, just to relax and unwind. But Huo Qubing's peers were the ones he knew best. Huo Yan also provided them with free horse harnesses and a military doctor, and prepared fodder and spirits. So, a group of teenagers, following their leader, rode on tall horses and went on a wild and unrestrained romp. Then, like a bandit, Huo Qubing beat up and robbed all the princes and kings close to Chang'an, sorting their distance. He divided the spoils among his men and threw the rest to Liu Che, claiming it was the spoils of war to fill the treasury, which Liu Che kept pampering.
Xiongnu territory.
A northerly wind, swirling with icy shards, ripped the banners and flags. Like an arrow shot from a bow, the Han army plunged into the Gobi Desert. Each soldier carried two bags of mare's milk and a leather pouch filled with roasted millet at his waist. Wei Qing, unaware of his nephew's feat, rode ahead, a sheepskin map in hand, a sharp blade pointed at the Xiongnu king's tent. The cavalry galloped day and night, their hooves muffled by felt, as they skirted Mingdi Mountain, where Xiongnu scouts were stationed, under a halo of the moon. As the Right Wise Prince embraced Yan Shi, quaffing mare's milk, the Han army had already appeared like ghosts outside the yurts—in five days, they had crossed six hundred miles of quicksand!
At midnight, Wei Qing lit torches, and thirty thousand pine torches exploded simultaneously, illuminating the Xiongnu camp as bright as day. The Right Wise King's golden wolf banner twisted in the flames. The Han army advanced in formation, using Wugang chariots. Crossbowmen fired volleys from the gaps between the chariots. The panicked Xiongnu warriors, unable to put on their armor, were entangled by the iron chains of the linked cavalry formation and trapped under the shafts of the chariots.
Wei Qing personally led 800 elite soldiers to attack the king's tent. They split open the three layers of cowhide curtains, but found that there was still warm wine on the table. The Right Wise King escaped from behind the tent wearing only a single layer of clothes. It was a pity that this grassland overlord did not even have time to put on his combat boots.
At dawn, Wei Qing patrolled the battlefield, treading across a meadow frozen in blood. The burned grain carts wafted the aroma of scorched millet in the wind, while two hundred thousand dan of Xiongnu grain reserves rose into columns of smoke. He picked up the Right Wise King's discarded golden wolf-head belt and casually tossed it to the flag bearer, "Send it to the Weiyang Palace and tell them—"
Before he could finish his words, the thunderous sound of horse hooves suddenly echoed from the southeast. It was Li Ju leading his chariot corps, escorting prisoners. Fifteen thousand surrendered Xiongnu were strung together like a long snake, their stumbling footsteps plowing deep grooves into the frozen earth, resembling the trajectory of the Han Empire's expansion into the northern desert.
In this battle, more than ten deputy kings were captured and millions of livestock were captured, completely defeating the right wing of the Xiongnu.
The bronze Vermilion Bird lamp in the Xuanshi Hall flickered with light. The drizzle of spring night, carrying the fragrance of orchid paste, seeped in through the half-open carved wooden window, but it could not extinguish the burning fire in Liu Che's eyes. He smiled so hard that his jade crown tilted. The scroll with yellowed corners had been stroked by him dozens of times, and the cinnabar annotations on the bamboo slips glowed bloody in the candlelight.
"Two thousand and twenty-eight captives beheaded!" The young emperor couldn't help laughing again, his wide black sleeves sweeping across the pile of reports on the table, "Zhongqing, Zhongqing..."
Zhongqing is me, my imperial sword.
The last syllables faded in the surging night wind, and the unfinished admiration faded into the muffled thud of fingertips tapping heavily on the bamboo slips. Huo Qubing and Huo Yan, standing at the steps, noticed that the emperor's knuckles, gripping the scroll, had turned pale blue.
They looked at each other, then stretched their necks involuntarily, and the jade pendants made a crisp sound.
They were bold, and Crown Prince Liu Ju was even bolder. He tiptoed beside the rosewood table, looking up at his father's profile, which was gilded by the candlelight. His almond-shaped eyes, which resembled Wei Zifu's, were filled with longing, "Father, is my uncle coming back?" The child's voice caused a subtle echo in the empty palace, awakening the spring swallows dormant in the beams.
As Liu Che turned, the pearls of his white jade crown shimmered before his eyes. He reached out and lifted his son onto his lap, the twelve-chapter pattern on his black robe rippled with dark gold as he moved. "Son, do you know how many cattle and sheep your uncle recaptured in this battle?" Before the child could answer, the emperor pulled a silk map from his sleeve. "Millions!"
Huo Qubing's grip on his sword suddenly tightened. He saw the wolf-head symbol representing the Xiongnu Right Royal Court on the map the emperor had unfolded, being slashed with cinnabar. The bloody ink traced the mountain range, resembling the path of Wei Qing's army. The young general lowered his eyes to stare at the bloodstains still lingering on the hem of his battle robe—the blood of the deer from the hunt in Shanglin Garden three days prior.
"When Zhongqing returns to court, I will appoint General Wei Qing as Grand General, and all other generals will place their troops under his command." Liu Che's oath startled the eunuch in charge of the lamplight, causing his hands to tremble. A single drop of scalding wax dripped onto the floor tiles, patterned with coiled dragons. Liu Ju clapped his hands in approval, unaware of the weight of the title "Grand General"—not since Han Xin was beheaded in the Changle Bell Chamber had a Han soldier received such an honor in seventy years.
Huo Yan watched the silver sand slowly dripping from the gilded clepsydra and suddenly realized this was no simple reward. When the emperor bestowed the tiger talisman and jade sword simultaneously, his uncle would hold the spearhead of the entire empire. He saw Liu Ju fiddling with a Xiongnu bone carving on the table, unaware of the shock this edict would cause the nine ministers in the front hall of the Weiyang Palace.
Huo Qubing suddenly felt a tightness in his throat. He recalled the deep winter of his childhood, when Wei Qing had held his hand and taught him to draw the bow, the layers of chilblains on his knuckles. Back then, his uncle was a mere Jianzhang Supervisor, commanding the Imperial Guards, but now he was about to rise to the highest position, commanding all the troops. The young man unconsciously touched the newly forged ring-handled sword at his waist. The cold handle reminded him of the perpetual snow in the Xiongnu lands.
He can do that too! He wants to fight the Huns, too! He'll be just like his uncle!
Huo Yan, who was standing next to him, held his hand tightly. His palms were also covered with cracks and frostbite, similar to Wei Qing's, and no amount of application would get rid of them.
Everyone in the world is under the protection of Wei Qing, except Huo Qubing, who is determined to move forward and fight for a place on equal footing.
Huo Qubing's eyes were always burning with fire.
The night's rain intensified, soaking the newly planted flowers outside the palace. Huo Yan gazed toward the southern sky, where a dazzling meteor seemed to streak across. Ambition, drive, and unwavering determination filled this spring night, permeated by the scent of orchid paste. Huo Qubing's era lurked in the starlight reflected by the Emperor's Sword.
【Author’s words】
(one)
In City A, 2053, neon lights pierced the rain. Huo Yan loosened his tie as his black Maybach rolled through the flooded streets. A yellow figure suddenly flashed in the rearview mirror, and a slight crash was heard amidst the slamming of brakes.
"Mr. Huo, it's a wild cat..." The driver had barely finished his words when Huo Yan opened the car door. Amidst the drizzle, a soaking wet tabby cat sat in front of the headlights, its golden pupils like torches, a tuft of white fur on its forehead gleaming in the rain.
The cat meowed when it saw Huo Yan. Its eyes were like two crystal-clear ambers, the golden pupils in the center shrinking to a thin line under the changing light.
Seeing that Huo Yan was slow to move, it took small steps to under Huo Yan's umbrella and meowed again.
"Send it to the hospital." Huo Yan frowned, suppressing his urge to pet the cat and giving orders to the people behind him. The secretary behind him tried to grab the cat, but then his voice suddenly became sharp, "Mr. Huo... Mr. Huo."
Huo Yan turned back impatiently and saw a cat clinging to the corner of his trousers, its sharp claws already tearing the corner of his suit trousers apart. Seeing Huo Yan looking at it, the cat tilted its head and meowed again, as if confused.
Ah Yan, won't you take me with you? I've been looking for you for so long, and you've aged so much, yet I recognized you. And then I turned into a cat, didn't I? You don't even recognize me, silly little brother.
Its eyes were filled with a hint of breakage and disgust, and it had a sour face, which was very vivid.
Very cute.
I don't know why, but it's cute.
Huo Yan couldn't help but rub its head, and then it slapped him with its paw pads. The cat meowed again, saying, "You are so disrespectful! Don't move your head, brother."
"Help me order a set of pet supplies."
The sound of raindrops was heard. Huo Yan took off his suit, wrapped the cat, picked him up, and after a long time he heard himself say.
(two)
The Huo family mansion was large, magnificent, and spacious. Huo Qubing could hear the sound of raindrops falling on the ivy-covered exterior.
Outside, the rain intensified. Huo Yan unhooked his silver cufflinks. His pale skin shone like jade against the gray-blue silk. The shadow cast by his brow covered the eyes often criticized by his business rivals—a deep black, like a pool of still water. He forced Huo Qubing to take a bath, intermittently drying his hair. The warm breeze made Huo Qubing squint his eyes. Huo Yan suddenly smiled. He didn't know why, but he was just happy, as if the Huo Mansion had finally gained meaning.
Huo Qubing was enjoying his younger brother's grooming, leaving his plum blossom paw prints on the wool blanket. Three days ago, he was watering his horses in the Qilian Mountains, and when he opened his eyes, he was a furry figure. Luckily, he was clever enough to snatch up his younger brother. But had he been bullied? How could he be so old? The vertical wrinkles between his eyebrows could trap a fly.
Huo Yan didn't know why his kitten looked at him sadly, but he enjoyed it. He called out, "Mimi."
Huo Qubing clawed back at him.
Mimi, your uncle, I am your brother!
No up and no down!
(three)
Huo Qubing was very satisfied with the living environment here. The building was full of familiar atmosphere: a map of the Four Counties in Hexi was hung in the study, his old ring-handled sword was locked in the display cabinet, and even the aroma of roasted lamb wafting from the kitchen was exactly the same as the one A Yan usually cooked for him.
Footsteps came from the spiral staircase, and Huo Qubing instinctively hunched his back. A young man in a dark gray robe was wiping his wet hair. Huo Qubing lay down again. His younger brother was now old and still weak.
"Little guy, this is the third time you've knocked over the celadon brush washer." Huo Yan squatted down, pinching the cat's neck with his slender fingers. "You like Han Dynasty artifacts so much? I'll buy you a few later."
He threw an iPad to Huo Qubing and said, "Is there anything else you want? How about you just click on it and buy it?"
Huo Qubing: He knew that A Yan couldn't be without money.
(Four)
At seven in the morning, sunlight filtered through the glass, weaving a golden spiderweb before Huo Qubing's eyes. He squatted atop the smart cat bed, watching Huo Yan fry an egg. Suddenly, flames shot out from the bottom of the gas stove, frying it into a caramel-colored sunny-side-up egg.
"Mimi, have a bite."
Huo Qubing swatted the pot handle away with one paw, and the bronze arrowhead pendant slipped out of the cat tag. Ever since discovering the cat's unusual obsession with Han Dynasty weapons, Huo Yan had been attaching antiques he'd snatched from auctions to its collar.
"Making a sour face again?" Huo Yan tore off the apron with the words "My destiny is in my own hands" printed on it, revealing the hideous scar on his waist. "Who pushed my tie clip into the fish tank yesterday?" He suddenly leaned forward, his nose almost touching the cat's whiskers, but he saw the cat's golden eyes narrowed slightly, looking at his waist, and a meow squeezed out of his throat.
Ah Yan, who hurt you?
Huo Yanhun didn't care. He touched the scar on his waist and chuckled, "It was cut by a knife. It's okay. I won't die."
Huo Qubing's throat was full of sighs.
The kitchen alarm suddenly wailed, and the smart butler chimed in mechanically: "Abnormally high temperature detected in the kitchen. Fire extinguishing procedures activated." Amidst the shower of water from the ceiling, Huo Yan scooped up the tabby cat and rolled under the marble island, his soaked shirt sticking to his back. "I forgot to turn off the stove."
picture
(five)
Outside the French windows, sycamore catkins drifted into the president's office on the 28th floor. Huo Qubing squatted on a rosewood display case, his tail rhythmically slapping a Ru kiln celadon vase. Huo Yan placed his Italian handmade leather shoes on a Ming-style desk. Light refracted from his agate cufflinks swept across the financial statements. Suddenly, he threw a pen at the tabby cat reading "The History of the Han-Xiongnu War."
"Mimi Ho," the tip of the pen was nailed three inches into the page, "you can ask me to turn it for you."
Huo Yan loosened his dark-patterned tie. Just then, the smart coffee machine chimed in, signaling it was done. He stood up and took a cup.
Huo Qubing lightly jumped over the copper-based cloisonné enamel incense burner of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and landed accurately on Huo Yan's shoulder.
"Get out of here." Huo Yan grabbed the cat by the scruff of the neck with one hand, covered in dust. The Warring States period gilt-bronze leopard mat he'd just bought at Sotheby's this morning was etched with several plum blossom paw prints. He suddenly curled his lips in a sneer. "So fond of antiques? I'd rather stuff you into the Mawangdui silk painting as a tomb guardian."
Huo Qubing: He can go, but he is afraid that people cannot bear it.
Meow.
Huo Yan pursed his lips and ordered another set of Han Dynasty cultural relics for Huo Qubing.
(six)
Typhoon-like rain lashed the glass walls, and Huo Qubing scratched the leather sofa in frustration. Huo Yan had been holding a video conference with the holographic projection for the entire morning, and the directors of the twelve time zones were hushed in fear under his fierce gaze.
"...So you're letting me do it myself?" Huo Yan suddenly chuckled. "Then what use would I have for you?"
Huo Qubing leaped onto the conference table, pressing his paw pads against the holographic map of the Hexi Corridor. Huo Yan's pupils constricted, then he relaxed. As long as the network cable wasn't unplugged, it would be fine.
Huo Qubing strolled beside him,
The young man smiled helplessly. He pulled his custom-made suit over the tabby cat and sneered at the stunned directors, "Let's adjourn the meeting. I need to comb the cat's fur."
Amid the roar of a negative ion hair dryer, Huo Yan knelt on the wool carpet, his slender fingers weaving through the tabby cat's fur. Suddenly, he felt a patch of uneven skin, and closer, he saw a crescent-shaped scar. "Who did this? Did someone abuse a cat?"
"Forget it, you don't know either. I'll have someone check the surveillance footage and find the person who hurt you.
Huo Qubing gave him a cat-shaped paw of approval.
Let’s go, A Yan is going to dig the Huns’ graves.
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