Overlord's Road to Ancient Emperors

Li Xu spent New Year's Eve in the palace this year. A large group of people looked lively, but in fact it was extremely deserted. There is no further article on the minister's gold, silver and jewelry.

Li Xu was impatient to socialize, he would rather go home and write a letter to Kou Xiao, because the road was blocked by heavy snow, he hadn't received Kou Xiao's letter for a long time, and the official documents from Northwest were not delivered in time, and he didn't know what Kou Xiao's matter was going on. Whether it's smooth or not.

The palace was full of wine and wine, warm as spring, and there were batches of beautiful dancers and singers to add to the fun. Even if he was in a bad mood, Li Xu had to admit that such a banquet looked grand.

Kou Xiao, who is far away in the northwest, did not receive such treatment. Li Chengtao's General's Mansion has now become the General's Mansion in the Northwest. The brothers of the Li family originally had their own houses outside, and the move was fast and smooth. In order to please Kou Xiao, Kou Xiao didn't take any large pieces of furniture or valuable decorations with him, so Kou Xiao directly checked in with his bags.

Although the Marshal's Mansion is large, it can't accommodate 5000 people. The Kou family army was divided into two groups by Kou Xiao. One group served as his personal guards and lived in the Marshal's Mansion. Army leaders at all levels.

The Northwest Army was originally unconvinced, so why do these small soldiers from the south think they are on the peak?However, after the competition, everyone found that none of the Kou family's troops were weak. Those who became captains had the strength of captains, and those who became young generals had the strength of young generals. They were not arranged based on relationships.

For the Chinese New Year, the imperial court issued a decree, saying that it would give the generals family leave, and also gave the soldiers annual gifts. The welfare of the Northwest Army has always been very good, and such annual gifts can only be regarded as icing on the cake.

Wei Lan's heart was bleeding when he distributed a large amount of supplies. The Northwest Army's life was much better than that of ordinary people. He originally wanted to distribute these things to the people so that they could have a good year.

However, Li Xu promised that he would send some small officials who are proficient in business to the Northwest to help him develop the Northwest's economy. The common people can't live on government relief all the time, they still have to be able to make money themselves.

"It stands to reason that the Northwest Army has such an easy life and enough military pay, why are so many people unwilling to join the army?" Wei Lan asked the Northwest officials beside him.

According to the news he had heard, in addition to forcibly recruiting civilian husbands, the Northwest Army also forced young men to join the army. If they didn't want to, they would have to spend money to redeem themselves, which sounds nonsense.

"My lord... this... the lower officials are not very clear, maybe, maybe they are afraid of going to the battlefield." The official who was asked was in a cold sweat, but he didn't seem to be clear.

Wei Lan nodded and did not continue to ask. Anyway, he is in the northwest, so there is nothing that cannot be found out.

Sure enough, within a few days, he learned the reason. The various armies of the Northwest Army also had territory. Like Liangzhou where he was located, it was previously the territory of the Li Family Army. In order to compete for resources, the Northwest Army was also constantly fighting internally. , and the number of deaths reported every year is not at the hands of the Huns, but many of them died in internal fighting.

When a person dies, of course he needs to be recruited, and generally they will be over-conscripted just to ask for more military pay and rations from the imperial court. The northwest is sparsely populated, and there are not many young and strong men. Many of them are still the pillars of the family. If you join the army and die, what will your family do?

So later on, it became more and more difficult to recruit soldiers, so there was a custom of compulsory enlistment. If you really can't let go of your family, you can buy this quota with money, and you don't have to enter the military camp. Of course, the military salary will be gone.

"It's really good at calculating. It's a pity that these people don't go into business." Wei Lan mocked, and he asked his entourage: "What is General Kou doing recently?"

The entourage replied: "General Kou has newly recruited the troops of the Li family and the Xu family, and is re-registering and sorting out the roster. It is said that nearly ten thousand people have been driven away, saying that they are unqualified and not suitable to stay in the army. Those vacant places have also been checked one by one, and it must be a drastic rectification."

Wei Lan thought of Kou Xiao's actions in the past few months, and the coldness on his brows receded a bit. He thought that this person relied on King Shun to ascend to the throne, but he didn't expect that he still had some real skills. One-fifth of the military power is just a bit harsher.

Others don't know the cause of Li Ting's death, but he still knows it. If Kou Xiao hadn't gone for justice, he would never have shielded him, and even planted it on Xu Shoujiang.

"General Kou is very famous in Liangzhou City now. He has allocated those vacant places and refunded all the money collected in violation of regulations. This alone is very popular."

"It is estimated that someone instructed him to do it, otherwise how could he think of such detailed methods as a general."

The attendant thought of one thing and said loudly: "It should be so. A few days ago, my subordinates saw a group of people enter the Marshal's mansion. I heard that they were the former military advisers of the Kou family army. I don't know why they just came now."

"The military advisor of the Kou family army? Have you heard of this character before? Didn't he follow Kou Xiao to the capital?"

The subordinate said he didn't know, "If you want to know, please go ask."

"Well, just ask casually, it's too difficult to forget, so as not to offend Kou Xiao, this Northwest official governs with him, it's not good if the relationship is deadlocked."

His entourage has followed him since he was a child, and his status is more dignified than ordinary officials. Everyone thinks highly of him when he goes out, and he doesn't pay much attention to generals from a small place.

He said: "General Kou is a military commander, and it is up to you to govern the people, and it is our job to ask who is here, and we will not offend General Kou."

Wei Lan was noncommittal, and the more important issue now was how to spend New Year's Eve. As a new official, he certainly wanted to take the opportunity to win over officials from all walks of life. "Have all the posts been sent out? Are they willing to come to Liangzhou for the New Year's Eve to celebrate the festival?"

"Don't worry, you invited them here to show them face, who would dare not come? Even if something happens and you can't come, you must send someone here."

Wei Lan frowned, nodded and said, "That's good, don't forget about Kou Xiao, just let everyone get to know the new commander in chief."

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In the Marshal's Mansion, Kou Xiao is writing a letter with his head down. He knows that the road is impassable and the letter will not reach the capital for a while, but the frequency of writing letters cannot be changed, not to mention he has a lot to say to Li Xu.

Jiang Qiuming sat drinking tea and looked at the study while drinking. The style of this mansion did not look like a general's residence at all, and the study was decorated very elegantly.

He arrived three days ago, and the journey was really difficult. As a native of the south, he had never seen such heavy snow, and it was difficult for the carriage to move an inch. Later, he could only walk slowly with people on horseback. Once he arrived in Liangzhou I fell ill, and today I am sober.

That's why today was his real meeting with Kou Xiao. As a result, just after the meeting, before the ceremony was finished, the other party asked him to sit and wait, while he himself was busy writing.

Jiang Qiuming didn't understand when his general loved to write so much. Before, he didn't even bother to review official documents.

After he finished drinking three pots of tea, the other party put down his pen, stuffed a stack of thick paper into a big envelope, and called someone to deliver the letter.

He couldn't help reminding: "General, the road is really difficult, and it will be difficult for you to send your letter to the capital."

Kou Xiao glanced at him and replied: "I know, but no matter how slow it is, it will be delivered. I feel uncomfortable if I don't write it down."

Hearing this, Jiang Qiuming moved his buttocks a few times, as if restless. He remembered that he hadn't written to Ji Hanyu this month, and the two had been keeping in touch with each other.

"By the way, I heard that the prince is going to transfer Mr. Ji to the capital, is there such a thing?"

Kou Xiao had heard Li Xu mention it, but the news probably hasn't spread yet, how did Jiang Qiuming know about it? "Who told you that?"

Of course it was Ji Hanyu who said it in the letter. In order to prevent him from sending the letter to South Vietnam next time, Ji Hanyu told him that he would go to Beijing in the next year, and he could send the letter to the capital again.

"Master Ji said, is this some kind of secret that cannot be revealed to outsiders?"

The corner of Kou Xiao's mouth curled up, "No, this general just didn't expect that you two have such a good relationship, and there is still communication after a long distance."

Jiang Qiuming coughed uncomfortably, "Well, we are neighbors after all, we should have a good relationship."

Kou Xiao took one more look at him, his heart moved, and he pretended to ask, "Oh? Then do you know that Lord Ji is going to get married soon?"

"What?" Jiang Qiuming turned pale with shock, "Ji Hanyu is getting married? With whom? When did it happen? Why don't I know?"

Kou Xiao continued to tease him: "Yeah, why didn't he tell you? Don't you have a good relationship?"

Jiang Qiuming looked shocked, and sat on the chair sleepily, with an unpredictable expression, holding his teacup tightly, as if he wanted to get angry but couldn't.

"Why are you excited? This is a good thing. Remember to prepare a congratulatory gift, and I will give it to him for you then."

Jiang Qiuming squeezed out a little smile, "I think it's better to forget it. Since he didn't say anything, the gift will be waived. He has a high position and authority, and he doesn't like the gift from a small official like me."

Kou Xiao leaned in front of him, stared at him carefully for a while, and finally asked, "You seem very sad."

Jiang Qiuming jumped up and retorted excitedly: "Don't be joking, general, this subordinate is not sad...The subordinate is just angry because I regard him as a good friend, but he is not. It is so unfair that I was not notified of such a big event. It doesn't mean anything else."

Kou Xiao himself had pursued Li Xu painstakingly at the beginning, and he especially understood the feeling of not being able to get what he wanted. Jiang Qiuming's reaction was obviously wrong, and it didn't seem like he was angry because the other party didn't tell him.

"Oh, that's it, this general lied to you." Kou Xiao sat back and didn't blush at all. He was [-]% sure that Jiang Qiuming's thoughts on Ji Hanyu were not pure, but he didn't know that the two were in love with each other. It was Jiang Qiuming who was the only one who was hot.

Jiang Qiuming was dumbfounded, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses, "What did you say? Which thing lied to me?"

Kou Xiao laughed loudly, and threw a mirror at him, "Look at yourself, your expression is really rich, everything you think is written on your face, Mr. Jiang!"

Jiang Qiuming's face turned red and then turned pale, turned pale and turned blue, and he was really angry. He was angry because he was tricked out of his mind so easily, and because he hadn't written a word about this matter, he was extremely guilty.

"Okay, okay." Kou Xiao comforted him: "If you like Ji Hanyu, you like it. It's no big deal. You have no wife, so what if you like a man? But does the other party know?"

Jiang Qiuming shook his head and denied, "I don't know what you're talking about, I don't, I don't like Ji Hanyu!"

Kou Xiao didn't bother to talk to him, and threw a thick booklet to him, "Since you are not troubled by love, then go to work. This is a newly registered booklet. Go and check it to see if there is anything missing."

On the way here, Jiang Qiuming had a general understanding of the situation of the Northwest Army. He was in a daze for the past few days and didn't bother to ask. He opened the roster and saw that the number was only [-], which was far from what he had known before. many.

He asked curiously: "Before, there were 11 people with all the money, so why only [-]?"

"There are more than 2 vacancies. There are also some who are too old, too young, and too weak. This general will drive them all away, and that's all that's left."

Jiang Qiuming shook his head and smiled wryly: "It is absurd that the defenders of such an important northwest frontier are so absurd. If the Huns really come to fight, they will definitely lose."

"The prince also knows this, so he has to expose the situation in the northwest. It doesn't matter if you come, this general will be very busy."

Jiang Qiuming muttered softly, "I'm too busy to write love letters, and I'm lying."

Kou Xiao walked up to him and pressed his shoulder and whispered, "Don't mutter behind this general's back, we can return to Beijing one day sooner if the errands are done, you don't want to stay in the northwest for several years, right? Mr. Ji, I'm afraid the child will be soy sauce."

Jiang Qiuming answered him unceremoniously: "Don't just talk about me, the capital is urging King Shun to take concubines and have children every day. It is said that many officials go around privately to find a woman who can be in the eyes of King Shun. If you don't go back for several years, can King Shun hold on?"

Kou Xiao was told what was on his mind, and gestured to him with his fists clenched, "Okay, if you know I'm in a hurry, go to work quickly, three days' rest will be enough."

Jiang Qiuming wailed, "I'm still a patient!"

"On the battlefield, it doesn't matter whether the sick or the wounded, everyone has to go." Kou ruthlessly left his sad military adviser and left.

Before leaving the house, the new butler of the Marshal's Mansion came to him with an invitation, "General, this is a message sent by Mr. Wei, inviting you to the mansion to celebrate the New Year's Eve, take a look. "

Kou Xiao and Wei Lan didn't have much contact with each other. Except for the incident of convicting General Xu Shou last time, the two of them were almost inseparable. Why did Wei Lan think of sending an invitation to himself?

Looking at the time and place, Kou Xiao curled his lips. On this great New Year's Eve, he can't go home and reunite with his family. It's the same with anyone. Instead of chatting with a group of civil servants, it's better to go to the military camp to strengthen his relationship with his soldiers.

The two newly recruited teams are not on the same page, and they don't have much sense of belonging to him. They still need to cultivate their feelings.

"If you refuse, just say that the general can't go because of something."

The steward promised, and then asked: "Then do you want the slave to prepare a gift?" The gift has not arrived, but it is also a gift.

Kou Xiao thought about it, the Northwest officials are not good people, otherwise it would be impossible to let the Northwest be harmed like this, Wei Lan didn't make any big moves after he came here, Kou Xiao thinks his methods are too gentle, so he still has to remind his own people.

"Let Jiang Junshi go for General Ben that day, and He Li goes to discuss with Jiang Junshi."

The butler hadn't dealt with that military adviser yet, but he thought that a scholar would be easier to talk to than this one, so he happily agreed.