Royal road

In the hall, there are piles of brocade and fur, and the charcoal stove is warm. Several men in fine clothes are sitting around the banquet, just like ordinary noblemen.However, the dish in front of them was not a rare vegetable in winter, but a large piece of lamb bone on a silver plate.The lamb that has just been taken off the rack is grilled with glistening oil and smells delicious, just looking at it makes people move their index fingers.It's a pity that there are too many bones and too big to eat with the ivory chopsticks and silver spoons in front of you. If you want to eat the meat, you have to use your hands.

After a short silence, the man sitting upright on the left laughed and reached out to grab the lamb bone: "Xiangguo roasted a good lamb!"

As he spoke, he opened his mouth and bit hard, a large piece of mutton fell off the bone and rolled into his mouth.Grease slid down the beard and dripped onto the gorgeous brocade robe.

Another younger man on the right smiled, pulled out a silver dagger from his waist, stroked lightly, sliced ​​a piece of tender meat, and brought it to his mouth. After chewing gently, the man said with a smile : "Winter suckling sheep are also rare, Xiangguo has taken care of it."

On the main seat, the old man with white beard and hair stretched out his hand, tore a piece of mutton and put it in the rice, grabbed it twice, rolled it into a ball, and put it into his mouth.The mutton is fresh and tender, and the barley rice is sweet, even if the teeth are loose, they can be chewed easily.The old man ate up the rice in a leisurely manner, and then said: "Using spoons and chopsticks in the past, I always feel uncomfortable. Such a good sheep should be eaten in this way."

This is how the Huns eat.Sitting upright in the big tent, grabbing rice with bare hands, and cutting meat with sharp knives, this is the only way to eat heartily.However, everyone here is dressed in a Han family.The robe has wide sleeves, the hair is pulled up in a high bun, and even the beard is neatly trimmed.Dressed in fancy clothes, but eating vulgar, indescribably weird.

"Hahaha!" The middle-aged man holding the mutton laughed loudly, "Xiangguo is right. There is a way to eat what kind of food. If you choose the wrong one, you won't be able to eat it." mouth."

"It also depends on when the meat will be cooked and who will eat it." Another piece of mutton was cut off, and the man on the side sneered, "The hundreds of cavalry on the left can also be defeated by the Jin army, can they be appointed?"

"It's just a few hundred rebels, what can they do?" Liu Xuan's face also turned cold, "Taiping has been too long, has the right side forgotten the power of the royal court?"

The Xulianti clan of the Huns royal family has declined, and now among the Southern Huns, the Tuge tribe is the strongest.As early as 50 years ago, Liu Yuan's father, Liu Bao, briefly unified the five tribes of the Huns, which aroused Sima's suspicion and forcibly split the five tribes again.But Liu Bao's prestige has been handed down in the five parts.Now that Liu Yuan is in charge of the various ministries of the slaughter, Liu Xuan has given up the title of King Zuo Xian to this grandnephew. It can be said that he is the well-deserved Great Shanyu of the Xiongnu.The Wang Ting is the Wang Ting, no matter what the surname is, it cannot be underestimated.

The man immediately shut his mouth.No matter how arrogant he was, he couldn't bear the charge.

The man next to him holding the sheep bone laughed and said, "Xiangguo's words are serious. It's just that the disturbance on the left is an opportunity. It just so happens that Sima Teng is trapped in Luoyang. Why don't you take this opportunity and send troops directly?"

Liu Xuan pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "It is not suitable to raise troops in winter, and Yuanhai is still in Yecheng. If there is no big order to sit in the town, how can the five departments be in harmony? Today I have a banquet for the two of you, but I just want to be accurate. Do you want to eat this sheep?"

The two looked at each other, and the younger man said with a smile: "The yellow-mouthed people should divide it up. As long as the Prime Minister is true to his word, the five departments should belong to the royal court."

"Good." Liu Xuan nodded, "If that's the case, I hope you two will keep the king's order firmly in mind. Things like the one on the left can't happen again. Why use cattle and sheep to exchange extravagant things?"

These words came to the hearts of the two of them.Yes, the ancestors of the Huns have relied on knives and bows for generations, and it is so stupid to exchange cattle and sheep for wealth!Just like when there were 30 archers in the royal court back then, wouldn't the big man also bow his head and proclaim himself a minister, paying tribute and getting married?

"What Xiangguo said is true! The soldiers and horses on the right are all ready, and they are only waiting for Wang Tingjun's order."

It took more than half an hour for a meal.After seeing off the guests, Liu Xuan sat in front of the table and picked up the teacup.After all, when he was old, no matter how fresh and tender the mutton was, it would be difficult for him to overcome it, so he had to drink more tea to get rid of the greasy smell.

Although the right side has been used to a good life in the past two years, the soldiers and horses are still strong.As long as they don't stop thinking about it, it's good enough.It's a pity that Yuan Hai failed to come back during the autumn harvest, and now he can only wait for next year.When the wheat is harvested and the horses grow fat again, it is the day to send troops.Even if he fled, Yuan Hai had to escape back.

I just closed my eyes and thought for a moment, and someone outside the door informed me.It was the explorer who went to Gaodu and came back.

Liu Xuan opened his eyes: "Let him in."

"Xiangguo!" The confidant reported after entering the door, "The battle in Gaodu was indeed as the battle report said."

These days, he carefully checked and verified the valley that the battle report said.Although the bodies have been transported away, the traces left behind will not disappear.Just looking at the scorched gorge and the remaining blood in the valley, it is not difficult to discern the details of that battle.

After listening to his confidant, Liu Xuan frowned even more: "How is the situation in Gaodu City?"

"The county magistrate of Gaodu has started to take in refugees, saying that he wants to rebuild the city wall and reclaim wasteland." The confidant replied.

"Accommodating refugees?" This is not something that ordinary county magistrates can do.Gaodu county magistrate had never heard of any good names before, how could he be a capable minister and a famous general after the first battle. "What about the Liang Mansion?"

"Liang Mansion has a village gate, and the subordinates really can't spy on it." The confidant said, "However, I inquired in the villages outside the village. It is said that Liang Mansion has also recruited many refugees these days. There are many Jie people. Everyone says that Liang Hou Renshan is the incarnation of the Buddha."

Gently tapped the table with his fingertips, Liu Xuan sneered and said, "He is taking in refugees and gaining fame. Does he want to imitate Emperor Zhaolie? No problem, wait for that cowardly Sima Teng to come back and see him How to deal with it!"

Sima Teng was originally very happy, and he was trapped in Luoyang because he offered the method of epidemic prevention.If he returned to Bingzhou and found that he was no longer there, this Liang Zixi was attending a Fa conference and taking in refugees, maybe he would have some thoughts.Wouldn't it be just right to use Sima's butcher's knife to kill this up-and-coming figure.Lu Pingyuan could have died at the hands of Sima Ying, and it was not surprising that there was one more Liang Feng.

"On the left side, send some more people there. We must control Huyan's lineage well and let them know how to behave!" Liu Xuan put down the teacup and coughed twice.Since his heart attack that day, his health has been worse.I just hope that this winter will pass sooner...

■

"Cough, cough, cough!" Jiang Da's complexion was pale, and he bent down and coughed violently.

A few days ago, he suffered from a cold and coughed continuously.Because of this, he was exempted from the errand of entering the palace, and he just sat in the official office of the Shaofu every day.

The situation in Luoyang is getting worse.Lack of water and food, not to mention the people below, even he, a medical officer in the Shaofu, can't eat enough and don't wear warm clothes every day.The price of grain in the city has risen to one stone and ten thousand yuan. The king of Changsha ordered the princes and relatives to open warehouses several times, but the grain and grass obtained are still limited, and it is still difficult to supply the army.If this goes on like this, I am afraid that all the officials will suffer from hunger.

Whether this battle can be won, Jiang Da has no worries.Like a dying person who is about to die, his heart is numb.Outside the city is the Sima family, and inside the city is also the Sima family. Does it really matter who wins among these Sima?The imperial chariots were all dragged to the front line by the King of Changsha. Perhaps the emperor on the dragon chair is just like a clay puppet to them, able to drive around at will.

Another series of severe coughing.Jiang Da struggled to stand up, took a pill, and swallowed it.At this time, decocting medicine has become a luxury, fortunately he is in the Shaofu, if he is in other places, he might not even have to take the medicine.

Just as he was about to turn around and lie down on the couch, there was a sudden commotion outside.

"The king of Changsha has won again!"

"Zhang Fangjun didn't retreat, so what's the use of winning?"

"It's better to be defeated. If you lose, you will have food..."

"You, shut up..."

That should be the medical officer of Shaofu.With a wry smile, Jiang Da ignored their intentions and lay down on the bed again.A biting chill surged up, he grabbed the quilt and wrapped himself tightly in it.

"Yongzhou has sent troops, and King Hejian is weak." Sima Teng paced anxiously in the room, "Brother, Zhang Fangjun has been defeated one after another. If Chang'an is in a hurry, they may have to retreat!"

As soon as Zhang Fangjun withdrew, Sima Ying couldn't do anything alone, and maybe she would give up.In this way, Sima Ai won the round.Escort meritorious service, but also extraordinary bravery, everyone in the court must return to his heart.This is much more difficult than a Sima Ying!

He is not afraid of lack of food, or even the destruction of Luoyang City.But if Sima Ai controls the overall situation of the DPRK and China, how can these side branches have a bright future? !And he has been away from Bingzhou for so long, if Sima Ying returns without success and turns around to attack Bingzhou in a rage, wouldn't he become a bereaved dog? !

Sima Yue looked gloomy, staring at the smoke curling up from the Cuojin incense burner.The current situation has indeed exceeded his expectations.Sima Ai will never be in power again, and Sima Ying is not a good person.If you want to gain a foothold in the court, you can only do it as soon as possible!Alas, if it wasn't for his younger brother who was also stranded in Luoyang, why should he be in such a hurry?

"You can tell the palace. After the La Ri Festival, take advantage of the situation and imprison Shidu. Be careful in everything, and don't let his generals know about it."

"Do you want to welcome the King of Chengdu into Luoyang?"

"If he catches up with Zhengdan before Zhengdan, he will definitely be moved. If he incites Shidu's generals at that time, he may be able to fish in troubled waters..." Sima Yue's voice became lower and lower, "This time the scheme is huge, you must careful!"

"Brother, don't worry. I will definitely find a good opportunity!" Sima Teng replied with a cold smile.