76 Hu Bing
◎Huo Yan: Move out.◎
The number of people Wei Qing beheaded and captured depended on the number of Xiongnu he encountered. He always fought wars to annihilate nations, emphasizing stripping off clothing for passing humans, adding food to passing geese, and tying the necks of passing cattle and sheep to lead them away. Therefore, Huo Yan never worried that his uncle would lose money in the wars, because he actually made a profit. To put it bluntly, the hard currency in the Central Plains was grain, while on the grasslands, horses were raised for war, and the hard currency was cattle and sheep. In this battle, his uncle brought back the coffins and wives of all the Xiongnu from the Right Xian King's tribe.
Liu Che cared about these things because they would all contribute to his achievements as an emperor. Huo Qubing cared about them because they were his goals. But Huo Yan honestly didn't care how many Huns died. Although he knew the Huns were going to fight, as a profit-seeking man, even if meteorites fell and crushed them all, he wouldn't have gained anything, and it wouldn't be of much interest. In fact, these captives weren't as important as the cattle and sheep. The old foxes at the Ministry of Agriculture knew better, so when they heard about millions of cattle and sheep, their faces broke into laughter.
Now that both sides are engaging in large-scale military operations, the competition is about who can rob more and spend less. Based on this point, Wei Qing has already firmly grasped these people who are looking for money and food.
General Wei is truly a god-like figure. It is no wonder that they have been cheating and plotting evil schemes for the past few months.
Since ancient times, don’t say anything about since ancient times, just say that throughout history, those who manage money are the most stingy, but those who manage money will definitely give you money.
Just like now when Huo Yan said that he would give 70% of the money from the White Deer Coin to Wei Qing, all the stingy people smiled, and there was no sign of their cruelty that usually kills people just because a department transfers a little more money.
Hun land.
The February wind in Hutian was still strong, and sand particles hit the cowhide tent. The tent was filled with the smell of rotten grass and blood scabs.
"Old Han!" The tent curtain was suddenly opened, and Gongsun Ao rushed in, covered in ice. His face was full of a silly smile, revealing two rows of shiny front teeth. "The general wants to inspect the camp!"
Outside the tent, a north wind whipped up snow foam. Wei Qing slapped him from behind, laughing and telling him to get out of the way. He was blocking the door for nothing. It was a cold day in the Hu land, and icicles formed on the red tassels on his silver armor's shoulders. As he approached the wounded's tent, even though his nose was red from the cold, he could still smell the strong odor of alcohol, tinged with the bitter taste of Panax notoginseng powder and coptis root water.
This tent was different from the other Han army tents. It had multiple vents on the roof and sides. A breeze seemed to be blowing again, dissipating the bitter smell a little and causing the thin curtains to flutter. Wei Qing examined the wounded soldiers one by one, then smiled and gestured to the white-clad doctor.
The people coming and going were the disciples that Chunyu Tiying had taken in over the years as mentioned in Huo Yan's letter. More than a dozen of them were busy all the time. Everyone was wearing white plain cloth and was distributed according to their age in the first aid area, the seriously injured area, the lightly injured area, and the rehabilitation area.
Huo Yan and his hoof trimmer had brought these men here on the fast trade route. They carried the jade token Liu Che had given them. They set up a white tent behind them and bustled around treating the wounded. Huo Yan had sent dozens of carts of alcohol, all transported in iron-clad porcelain containers to prevent them from falling, but the aroma still wafted far. Gongsun Ao had initially assumed they were drinking and even considered trying a sip, but upon arrival, the alcohol was taken to the wounded camp, where it was poured, free of charge, on bloody wounds by these young witch doctors. When he questioned them, the children claimed it was for disinfection and saving lives, and he dared not question them again.
Anything that can save lives is a good thing, how can it be used to sacrifice to the internal organs?
Gongsun Ao thought about it and chuckled. He sat down on Han Shuo①'s small wooden bed in the rehabilitation area. Like a big bear, he pointed at his ribs and said, "Old Han, the location of your arrow wound is quite coincidental. When we get back to Chang'an, go to the East Market and ask Wang the blacksmith to make a copper buckle for you. I guarantee the ladies will be eager to see it."
The small folding wooden bed made a strange creaking sound. Han rolled his eyes and said, "Get out!"
If Gongsun Ao doesn't leave, he will say that his life was saved by Huo Yan's people. Huo Yan is Wei Qing's nephew, so it was Wei Qing who saved him. Wei Qing is his younger brother. To round it off, Han said that he saved him. How could he treat his savior like this?
Han said he wanted him to get out.
As they were kissing, a young woman in white looked at Han's bed number, then looked under the silk cloth at Han's wound. She quickly took out a charcoal pencil and a piece of paper, wrote Wei Qing's name on it, and hung it with wire. Then she said to Han, "You can go now. Don't move. Come back in three days to change the dressing."
Han said he didn't react until he heard the little girl yell, "Master, there's an empty bed here."
Chunyu Tiying, who was stitching up Wei Qing's reopened shoulder wound, received the news and agreed. The scar on her forehead suddenly caught her eye as she looked up, but she didn't mind it. Her eyes were clear, and she was as clean and efficient as she had been in previous years. But facing Wei Qing, her brow furrowed, a look of disappointment at the patient's lack of care for her.
"No wonder Ah Yan sent three letters a day and forced an old man like me to come all the way. If you can do a few more things, he won't have to worry about it anymore and will just have to carry the coffin."
When the distilled liquor was poured on the wound, Wei Qing bit the licorice in his mouth in pain, but he was still smiling.
He was younger than Chunyu Tiying, and faced with her pure concern, he did not think she was being presumptuous, and just listened to her complaints as he did a few years ago.
"Thank you, Madam, for coming all the way here. Qingweiqing's comrades thank you, Madam."
After a moment, he suddenly said that he was much darker and thinner than before. Facing the cold-blooded and ruthless jade-faced killer of the Huns, his smile was as gentle as when they first met.
A gentleman is calm but not arrogant.
Chunyu Tiying paused, and stopped scolding. She waved her hand, her eyes clear and powerful. "I am Chunyu Tiying of the Han Dynasty. They are the children of the Han Dynasty. You are a general of the Han Dynasty, and your comrades are the children of the Han Dynasty. So, General, there is no need to say a word of thanks. If you want to thank someone," she paused, her smile widening, "thank you for your good nephew who brought me here."
Wei Qing wanted to bow for a long time, but Chunyu Tiying ordered his free disciples to force him to rest.
Wei Qing was about to refuse, but the effect of the anesthetic had not yet worn off, so he was carried to the bed by several young boys and girls and forced to cover himself with a cloth quilt. One of the boys even kindly tucked the corner of the quilt for him. Wei Qing did not struggle. He thanked them good-temperedly, then supported himself on the bed with one hand and lay on it, chatting with Gongsun Ao and the others.
Only then did he feel that the war was over.
A strong bitter smell lingered at the tip of his nose. It was this bitter smell that saved his soldiers and miraculously brought them back to life, soldiers whose wounds had festering and who were supposed to die.
This time, the men he brought with him made great achievements, but far fewer people lost their lives.
He couldn't help but review the battlefield.
This time the armor is good, this time the horses are good, this time the food is good, this time the bows and crossbows are good.
He still remembered charging down the hillside at the head of the pack, braving the white-haired wind, his iron-shod warhorse steady as a rock on the snow. The Xiongnu's cries were cut off by the gust of wind. They had no time to wrap their horses' hooves with felt, and their horses repeatedly slipped on the ice. A crossbowman, concealed in a modified leather quiver, fired three arrows in rapid succession. The poisoned arrowheads pierced the leather tent and pinned the awakened Xiongnu nobles to the woolen felt.
He also remembered that the Right Wise King fled north in a hurry with his personal guards, and the golden crown was left in the royal tent. He picked up the crown inlaid with wolf teeth with the tip of his sword. He looked back and saw that none of his 500 light cavalry fell off their horses, and even the number of wounded was far less. This was simply unimaginable in the past.
He sniffed the bitter smell of the medicine and suddenly remembered that Ah Yan seemed to have the same scent, though it was very faint. Ah Yan always wore the incense he was selling, sometimes the scent of pear, sometimes the scent of tea, just like His Majesty, always exquisite.
Your Majesty, have you received the battle report in Chang'an? Your Majesty must be very happy and smiling in Chang'an.
Qubing is still practicing archery, so let that kid come with him next year.
When I go back this time, I wonder if they can crawl. Last time they were just little balls.
He felt safe and happy.
The general was easily contented. He felt fulfilled silently, raised the corners of his lips, pulled the corners of the quilt, and fell asleep.
It's a nice day today.
When he wakes up, he will write a battle report.
Han Shuo was still chatting and laughing with the soldiers, but when he saw that he had fallen asleep, he stopped talking and walked out.
Chang'an.
Everyone was paying attention to the prisoners and cattle and sheep, but Huo Yan wanted to see other things, such as the casualty rate and post-war subsidies for soldiers, which worried him the most. However, Wei Qing only sent back the battle report and had not yet counted the casualties. If he wanted to know the details, he could only wait for the second letter.
Fortunately, these two letters will arrive soon.
After reading it, Liu Che immediately sent someone to find Huo Yan.
The underground heating in the Grand Minister of Agriculture's Mansion was blazing, but Huo Yan felt a chill on the back of his neck. He stared at the scroll on his desk titled "Record of Military Supplies in the Winter of the Fifth Year of Yuanshuo." The words "Three Thousand Pairs of Iron Horseshoes," still wet in ink, were particularly striking.
Outside the window, the first snow of this winter drifted, tiny flakes hitting the window lattice. This year's snow arrived later, in February. The rustling sound was reminiscent of the clinking of armor on the day Wei Qing set out for battle.
"Lord Xiao Huo, His Majesty summons you." The eunuch's voice startled him so much that the tip of his pen trembled, and the ink spread out like a black flower on the bamboo slips.
[Baby, uncle won!]
[When I return, my three sons will be made marquises.]
[Oh, brother will soon be a marquis too, a champion marquis, five marquises in one family.]
…
Huo Yan frowned slightly, hurriedly gathered his fox fur coat, and followed the palace maid through the long corridor. The warm fragrance of the peppercorn walls, shrouded in the air of snow, reminded him of the Western Region incense Emperor Liu Che had given Wei Deng on his birthday the previous year. That day, when Wei Zifu came to congratulate him, holding the newly born baby, Wei Kang, Emperor Liu Che had personally fastened the jade belt hook on him.
The one with jade hook is a marquis.
There are three marquises in one family, and the emperor favors them very much.
The Wei family's kite has flown to its highest point.
Whether it is to go down, whether it will land smoothly or fall into irretrievable disaster, all depends on the line in Dongjun's hand.
The Wei family is not even a crane, they are a kite.
Huo Yan walked and thought, his mind was full of twists and turns.
He thought that the barrage still had an impact on him. He was still afraid that Liu Che would become suspicious and turn against him. Even though Liu Che had been so good to him, he was still afraid of Liu Che's suspicion.
He is not afraid of being doomed, he is afraid that his loved ones will be doomed.
He had to test Liu Che's attitude. If there was really something wrong, he would advocate the separation of Wei and Huo and openly go against his uncle.
"Yan'er has lost weight recently." Liu Che's voice came from behind the smoke rising from the beast furnace, startling Huo Yan. Wei Qing's report lay spread out on the golden nanmu table, the half-dried "appropriation" in red ink glaring. He felt the emperor's gaze flicker across the back of his neck. He rubbed his neck. It wasn't like his uncle had written a letter to offend Liu Che, but Liu Che was going to kill him.
He knew that Liu Che was not a good person!
"I have been eating less recently, but working harder. I also want to teach the prince to read. Your Majesty, rest assured that I will do my best."
Lao Deng, you can’t kill me!
When the copper clock in the greenhouse hall of the Weiyang Palace ticked to three quarters past the hour of You, Liu Che's hand holding the chess piece suddenly stopped. He was a shrewd man and just waved for Huo Yan to come over.
"Let's play a round."
Huo Yan knelt down, tucked up her skirt, sat opposite the chessboard, took over the red square casually, jumped the "horse" diagonally two squares, and rushed out from the side.
As soon as he made a move, it was a surprise attack.
Liu Che dropped a piece and glanced at him sideways, deliberately teasing him.
"Your uncle has offended me, and now you want to die too?"
Huo Yan timidly returned his pawn and passed it to Liu Che, who proudly captured his pawn.
"continue."
Huo Yan felt aggrieved, so he fed him the baby.
"Can you not kill them? My uncle is stupid. I will take him back to set the horses. I will go too. Your Majesty, don't worry. Just give me a name and I promise to lead them away."
Liu Che casually messed up the chessboard, and the gilded candlestick reflected the depth of his eyes.
"Hmm? Afraid of me?"
Huo Yan swallowed his saliva. What a guy! He just won a battle and now he’s killing people!
Niang Xipi.
"Your Majesty, I am not afraid. I just want Your Majesty to kill me without putting away the knife. It will also damage Your Majesty's dignity... I can completely move to Shuofang and guard Your Majesty's gate."
Just tell me, killing people will ruin your hands, I will take my people and run away immediately, I am aware of it.
The moment he spoke, the floor dragons in the greenhouse hall seemed to suddenly go out. Huo Yan stared at the golden threads winding through the cracks in the brickwork—the coiled dragon pattern unique to the Weiyang Palace. He heard the soft clink of jade clashing against each other, and the hem of Liu Che's dark robe came into view, the twelve-chapter pattern flickering in the candlelight.
A warm hand suddenly touched the back of his head, and Huo Yan stiffened. The emperor's fingertips, warm as they slid down his hair to the side of his neck. "Silly boy, someone's whispering nonsense in your ear." A low laugh, a trembling sound, was close at hand. "You and Qubing, I watched you grow up. I am your king and your father. I feel deeply for you if you get hurt even a little. Besides, the lamb has grown into a beautiful one. How could I bear to let it go?"
Huo Yan's throat tightened because Liu Che was deliberately stroking the silk ribbon that tied his hair slowly with his hand, as if he was playing with some rare treasure.
It’s fun to entertain children.
"Uncle, don't come over here!"
The boy screamed, three meters away from Liu Che.
He won’t lose his innocence!
Liu Che could no longer hold back his laughter.
"Ayan, what do I look like in your heart?"
Huo Yan sat up straight in silence.
What kind of person is he? A sex-hungry ghost, a weird psychopath, but he loves me very much.
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven."
He smiled as he finished speaking, and the little red mole under his lip became even more red.
"Son of God."
Before he could finish his words, His Majesty slapped him on the head.
"Your Majesty." The eunuch ordered someone to come forward with a lacquer tray of snacks.
Huo Yan knew at a glance that it was for him. He winked at Liu Che, and with the emperor's indulgence, he reached out and grabbed a piece.
"My uncle treats me well. Master Zheng makes me settle the bill and doesn't even give me food."
He acted affectionate and coquettish on purpose, and his eyes seemed to be full of childishness.
"Then you have to run away from Chang'an." Without waiting for an answer, the emperor was so angry that he slapped him on the back again, causing him to grimace in pain.
"Wei Qing is a great general I cultivated. I love him so much that I can't even begin to appreciate him. I even feel that he is one too few. You and Qu Bing need to work hard and relieve my worries."
Huo Yan responded and ate his snack obediently. Then he knelt forward on the ground, hands raised. Liu Che naturally reported the report to him, "Read it yourself."
At the beginning was Wei Qing's usual rambling, his secret conversations with Liu Che. Huo Yan didn't read it. He flipped to the end of the volume and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the thousands of wounded and dozens of dead. Compared to the hundreds or even thousands of deaths in a war, the current death toll was reduced to this level, thanks not only to generals like his uncle, who were like gods, but also to logistics. The enemy was killed and killed, their entire economic support destroyed, while we survived and survived. This was the true meaning of annihilation war.
He was very satisfied, thinking that the investment in these armament factories was worth it. He expected that his factory would be able to produce berberine and allicin next year and send them to the battlefield.
He continued to flip through the pages. Wei Qing was praising Chunyu Tiying and the others while also taking credit for him. He praised the Ma Fei San, amputation, and Huang Lian Tang he had left behind, saying they were all very useful. The people he sent to repair horse equipment, weapons, horse hooves, armor, doctors, alcohol, bandages and other military supplies were all put to good use. And the Sanqi powder was very useful. Han said that it stopped the bleeding with just a touch of his claws.
But what's funny is that at the end he said to Liu Che, "Please ask Ah Yan what the wooden box he asked someone to bring was for. There was a bag of chalk and charcoal ash at the bottom.① This thing cannot be eaten, so he used it to boil water."
Huo Yan couldn't help but laugh.
So honest.
Liu Che also laughed, touched his head, and sounded a little weird.
"You little bastard, the boat you gave away is yours!"
Huo Yan chuckled and pretended to be innocent.
"Borrowed, borrowed."
Liu Che flicked his sleeves and said, "Pay taxes."
Huo Yan said seriously, "I pay it every year."
I know what you are lacking, sensitive skin.
Liu Che nodded in satisfaction and stroked his hair, "Good boy, your business is still too small."
Liu Che was short of money, so he asked Huo Yan to start with wine and make money for him.
Huo Yan turned his head and straightened out the messed up chessboard, then lightly lifted his horse and repeated the surprise attack.
"How cruel will Your Majesty be?"
Liu Che laughed and played with the chess pieces.
"Stinky boy, tell me your idea."
Huo Yan chuckled and swallowed his cannon.
"If Uncle only wants money, Ah Yan can recommend a better wine for Uncle and petition for an increase in the liquor tax as a magistrate. But I think that's like warm water, it can't be boiled through. I have another plan that I think will suit Uncle better."
Liu Che raised an eyebrow and ordered Huo Yan's troops to retreat. The lamps crackled, and the dim light illuminated the young man's delicate jaw and his eyebrows like a painting. He said calmly, "Salt and iron can be government-run, and so can wine."
Liu Che chuckled, too. Smoke from the gilded Boshan incense burner swirled between the hall pillars. His dark robe swept across the mat where Huo Yan knelt, and the set of belts at his waist clattered like broken jade. The emperor beckoned him to lean closer, like a giant, sleek fox.
Huo Yan leaned forward again, and Liu Che put his head on his shoulder and started to act like a rogue. "Son, the money you gave me on your uncle's trip is almost all gone. Sang Hongyang also proposed a government-run liquor factory and a liquor tax law last time, but the salt and iron factory he proposed is still under trial, and I don't know when it will be available. I have to fight the Xiongnu next year, and I need money now. You'd better find a way, or you can give me some more money."
[The emperor of the Han Dynasty openly asks a young boy for money. How shameless!]
[hhh.]
[Che'er is sure of Ah Yan.]
But Huo Yan fell for it. After all, he and Liu Che had a father-son relationship, and he was a soft-hearted person, so he didn't push his uncle away.
His eyes were clear and sharp. "No wonder my uncle wanted me to be the chief officer."
The officials in charge of salt, iron and wine taxes were in charge, and Liu Che wanted to make money from the wine.
He seemed to be complaining, but also seemed to be relieved.
Liu Che, above, had opened the door wide open. With Huo Yan's reputation in Chang'an, if he had just spread the word that he wanted to take over the small winery, countless people would have come. This would be no faster than shutting down private wineries one by one. Furthermore, if Huo Yan had a monopoly, Liu Che would only need to send people to take over the large winery like he did a paper mill.
Liu Che explained what he wanted one by one. He wanted money, and he wanted it quickly and in large quantities. He wanted to hold the wine firmly in his hands. The bronze crane lamp in the Pepper Room of Weiyang Palace burst into flames. Huo Yan knelt in front of the gilded table, his fingertips stroking the edge of Wei Qing's battle report.
Living dad!
The lanterns of Changxin Palace illuminated the young man's raven-feather-like hair. Huo Yan raised his head, his eyes clear, and bowed deeply, his waist bent into a full circle. "Your Majesty has entrusted you with your whole heart. I..." He couldn't refuse.
Just as he was about to express his loyalty, he suddenly felt a warm cloak covering his head, with the familiar scent of ambergris.
"If Ah Yan does a good job, it's Ah Yan's credit. If he doesn't do a good job, then blame Sang Hongyang. Ah Yan, don't feel any pressure."
The emperor smiled playfully and shook his feet in a way that looked like he was asking for a beating.
"How long have you been an official? Why are you speaking in such official language and pretending to be so serious with your old uncle?"
The big fox taught the little fox how to get others to join the gang. "I've offended someone this time, so I'll just tell them what I've done and find some people to act as my shield."
The little fox shook his head in refusal. The young man's lips were as red as maple leaves, and around his waist hung the jade hook he had given him. He wore a moon-white brocade robe underneath, and his eyes were full of cunning.
"Your Majesty, I can eat it, but too many people will get in the way."
Liu Che smiled and felt very happy. It was obvious that Huo Yan was very popular in his heart.
"How about you stay here today and sleep next to your uncle? I want Li Yannian to play music. Don't you like listening to Yuefu songs? I want them to find some good singers."
When Liu Che tried to get close to people, he not only loved to give them money, but also loved to be intimate with them, asking them to accompany him to do anything. Don't ask how Huo Yan knew this; the answer is that he had seen his uncle being intimate with him since he was a child, and Liu Che wanted to drag his uncle to the toilet with him.
Well, my uncle is not here, is it his turn now?
He doesn't want it!
"My brother will wait for me to go home for dinner, so I won't stay in the palace anymore."
As he said this, he ran out of the Xuanshi Hall as if he was escaping for his life, leaving Liu Che with the sorrowful look of an old father.
Liu Che touched his chin and was pretentious in his letter to Wei Qing, saying that the child had grown up and no longer lived with his aunt.
[Hahaha, Ah Yan is afraid of being Han Yan.]
The copper bells under the eaves tinkled in the night breeze as Huo Yan walked out, stepping on the scattered remaining snow on the bluestone slabs. The February night in Chang'an was still as cold as a thin layer of ice. He wrapped himself tightly in Liu Che's cloak, took a deep breath, slapped his forehead, and quickened his pace.
Huo Qubing was not at home, and only Wei Buyi and the other children were home alone. He was a little worried.
Wei Qing had three sons: Wei Kang, Wei Buyi, and Wei Deng, all born to concubines. They were still young, and the Wei family children were all close in age. Wei Kang had recently turned two, and Wei Buyi was a year younger than him, though they didn't share the same mother. Wei Deng, Wei Kang's younger brother, had just turned a hundred days old. They were all little, warm little babies, their smiles melting hearts.
Huo Yan was so eager to return home that a snowball flew by his ear and hit a newly blossomed cinnabar plum tree on the palace wall. Huo Yan turned and saw Huo Qubing standing on the head of Shi Bixie. His dark black clothes almost blended into the night, but the bright red forehead band tied in his hair dazzled under the palace lanterns.
When the boy saw him looking at him, he smiled and waved, showing his little fangs.
"Little Huo Langjun, Big Huo Langjun is here to take you home."
"Get down!" Huo Yan raised his head and kicked the statue. "If the guards on duty see us, your uncle will punish you by making you copy the Military Strategy again."
Huo Qubing rolled to the ground, the leather bag at his waist clanging. Huo Yan's nose twitched slightly, smelling the familiar spicy aroma of wine mixed with the smell of roasted meat with pepper and salt. "Have you been drinking?"
"I borrowed it to temper arrowheads." Huo Qubing shook his head, refusing to admit that he had secretly taken a sip. He untied the leather bag and shook it towards Huo Yan, making the ice cubes clink. "I left you half a bag of plum juice. It's delicious. But it's too cold now. Drink it when you get home."
Huo Yan was speechless, his gaze glued to the other man's shoulder armor. A thin layer of frost coated the black iron scales, clearly indicating he had been waiting outside the palace for a long time. His eyes felt hot.
"Brother, you are so fierce, you won't get into the carriage today."
Huo Qubing suddenly leaned forward, ruffled his brother's windblown hair, and then shook his ponytail nonchalantly, "You are too delicate. It's not cold anymore."
Huo Yan gritted his teeth and walked forward with hatred, taking heavy steps.
Huo Qubing followed him with a grin, and like a magician, he pulled out a paper bag from his pocket. The steam from the freshly baked sesame cakes mixed with the frost and snow on his body, making Huo Yan's stomach growl.
The young man immediately fell on his shoulder with laughter, his forehead band sliding down to the tip of his nose. "Our commander is so hungry that he crows! Tomorrow it will spread throughout the Qimen Army—Ah!"
Before he could finish his words, Huo Yan hit him with his head.
"Shut up and eat yours." The young man's ears turned red as he broke the pancake, and the pepper and salt mixed with the burnt aroma exploded between his teeth.
Huo Qubing kept laughing while eating the cake.
Huo Yan got on the ox cart and told him the battle report sent back by Wei Qing.
"The number of soldiers who died from wounds this time was much less than before."
As the palace lanterns lit up one after another in the Vermillion Bird Palace, a smile flashed in Huo Qubing's eyes, "Great."
Huo Yan couldn't help but smile.
"yes."
Wei Mansion.
Except for Wei Deng who was lying in the rocking chair and couldn't move, Huo Yan was surrounded by several little kids as soon as he entered the house.
"Brother Zhong, please don't just stand there. Come play with us, okay?"
Wei Kang pulled Huo Yan's sleeve. He was a chatterbox and kept talking.
With him taking the lead, Wei Buyi immediately followed suit. Even Wei Deng, who could not speak clearly yet, joined in the "yayaya" shouting.
Suddenly, the room was filled with noise.
Huo Qubing had already decided to leave. Although the little ones in front of him were making a lot of noise, Huo Yan liked them very much. No reason, they were his uncle's children, so he naturally wanted to play with them.
Later in the game, he even teased Wei Deng, who was sleeping soundly in the rocking chair, in a naughty way. As a result, he made him cry loudly, and the nanny was scared to come and comfort him. Huo Yan hugged Wei Buyi and Wei Kang, and the three of them laughed foolishly together.
There is a story behind Wei Deng's name. When he was born, someone gave Wei Qing a horse. Wei Qing, a horse lover, was so happy to receive the gift that he simply named the child Wei Deng.
When Huo Qubing and Huo Yan heard their little cousin's name for the first time, they were dumbfounded. Could this name be used? Their little cousin would definitely be laughed at when he grew up. They had to persuade their uncle.
Wei Qing was incredibly stubborn, and Huo Qubing and Huo Yan were powerless to dissuade him. For the sake of his younger cousin's future, Huo Yan swallowed his anger and reported the incident to Emperor Wu of Han. Liu Che, who was drinking water at the time, sprayed Huo Yan in the face. What a ridiculous name! A father could tolerate it, but an uncle couldn't. With a flourish, he named the child Wei Deng.
Huo Yan laughed whenever he thought about it.
"You little brat, why are you still crying? Later you will know how good your brother Yan is to you."
The barrage of comments filled the air. It was the first time I saw the three children of the Wei family, and I was very excited for a moment.
Huo Yan was like an old mother. Seeing their praise, she hummed a "good" from her throat.
[Baby, so cute.]
[Everyone is fine, but baby Wei Kang is not.]
In the first year of the Yuanding reign, Wei Kang was stripped of his title of Marquis of Yichun because he forged an imperial edict to avoid punishment. Following the death of the General of the Cavalry, the eldest son of the General, Kang, Marquis of Yichun, lost his title due to legal reasons.
During the Han Dynasty, the punishment for falsifying imperial decrees depended on the consequences of the crime, with offenses classified as "falsifying imperial decrees to the point of serious harm," "falsifying imperial decrees to the point of harm," and "falsifying imperial decrees without causing harm." "Falsifying imperial decrees to the point of serious harm" was punishable by beheading, while "falsifying imperial decrees to the point of harm" was punishable by public execution. "Falsifying imperial decrees without causing harm" often did not result in negative or severe consequences and could be considered to have been well-intentioned or meritorious.
In the first year of Taichu, his uncle died, and Wei Kang inherited the title of Marquis of Changping. In the first year of Tianhan, Wei Kang entered the palace without an imperial edict, and was sentenced to life imprisonment by Emperor Wu of Han, and his title of Marquis of Changping was revoked.
In the second year of the Zhenghe reign, the "Witchcraft Incident" broke out. Prime Minister Gongsun He's son, Gongsun Jingsheng, was falsely accused by Zhu Anshi of secretly colluding with Princess Yangshi and using witchcraft to curse the emperor. Wei Kang was implicated and was killed along with Princess Yangshi and Princess Zhuyi.
Huo Yan looked at the comments. Do people who record historical materials always speak half-heartedly?
The little chatterbox on his lap, the chattering little Wei Kang, suddenly grabbed him with his little hands.
"Brother Zhong, Brother Zhong, let me tell you something. Cousin Juer cried last time, saying that Lady Wang is pregnant, and Concubine Li is also pregnant. They're both going to have little brothers, and that his grandfather doesn't love him anymore now that he has a new brother. But I have many brothers, and my grandfather still loves me. Cousin Juer said it's because we are brothers, and they are not. Haven't I always been Cousin Juer's younger brother?"
"Brother Zhong, I also know..."
Huo Yan sighed.
His child just talks a lot, okay, and is a little naive.
"Don't say anything, honey."
Wei Kang's eyes were filled with tears.
Huo Yan sighed again and stretched out his little finger.
"Tell it to me, don't tell anyone else, pinky promise."
After Wei Kang made the promise, he sniffed and continued speaking.
"Brother Zhong, Taohong and the others said that the old man has us now. Sooner or later, you and Brother Qubing will be kicked out by the old man. Does the old man also abandon us like Brother Juer's old man did?"
Huo Yan was covered in the child's tears and snot.
Huo Yan patted his back and said, "No, she was just talking nonsense."
As soon as the words fell, Leng Lianlian looked at Taohong, whom Wei Kang mentioned. The other party's scalp tingled and she knelt down with a thud. She was about to cry when Huo Yan gave a wink. Several servants came up and covered her mouth, and then carried her out. She didn't make a sound throughout the whole process.
Huo Yan was tucking Wei Kang under the quilt when an old servant of the Wei family came over and whispered in Huo Yan's ear, "Those who were gossiping in front of the young master should gather in the front hall as ordered by the young master."
Huo Yan gently stroked Wei Kang's forehead, and a dark light flashed in his eyes.
He stood up and went to the front hall, where, as expected, he saw Huo Qubing sitting at the head of the table.
Huo Qubing held the teacup in his hand and motioned him to come over and sit down, which showed that he knew why Huo Yan was angry.
Huo Yan was about to talk about punishment when he was stopped by him.
The lights in the Wei Mansion were already lit. Huo Qubing said to everyone with a calm expression, "If you are spreading rumors, you will be punished with fifty strokes of the cane. After that, you will be expelled from the mansion."
For a while, there were constant wailing sounds, and many people were breathing in more than out after ten boards.
Huo Yan sat beside him, still smiling gently, but his tone was very cold, without a trace of warmth.
"It's getting late now, don't you know how to get a sepazi?"
The servants agreed, and blood was flowing in front of the front hall. The people in the Wei Mansion looked at the two evil stars with almost anxiety, fearing that they would also be punished, but they only saw the two of them leave hand in hand.
Huo Yan's face was tense. After washing up, he put on a snow-white robe with wide sleeves. He casually picked up a peach wood branch to tie up his hair, knocked on Huo Qubing's door, and went in.
In the flickering light, the first words he said were, "Brother, let's move out of the Wei Mansion."
【Author’s words】
Yanzai is actually very suspicious.
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