The Bamboo Horse Dressed as the Emperor

Song Jiao is still recovering from illness, and the two grandfathers have rushed over from Fengxiang City.

Song Jiao was lying on the bed and was not allowed to sit up, so she was covered with a quilt and lay down obediently.

Old Master Xie patted his head, crying: "Grandpa's Mao Mao has suffered, don't be afraid, Grandpa will seek justice for you."

Grandpa Song coughed hintingly, but Mr. Xie stopped it.

Grandpa Song stepped forward with a serious expression: "Maomao, what else is uncomfortable? Is there anything you want to eat or play? Tell Grandpa."

Song Jiao tugged on the quilt, shook his head: "I don't want anything."

Then Grandpa Song took out a little rooster felt from his sleeve without changing his expression, and stuffed it into his hand.

Come on, grandson, play with your toys!

The red comb and yellow beak are very cute.

Grandpa still treats him like a child.

Song Jiao didn't dare to complain, so she could only hold the little cock in her hand and squeeze it.

He thought for a while and asked, "Grandpa, teacher Tai..."

Prime Minister Song said: "It won't happen. Emperor Qing still expects the teacher to go on missions a few more times, and he will definitely provide him with delicious food and drink. Gongyi's family is in Qing Kingdom, and it can be regarded as a big family with thousands of people. , the teacher still has three thousand disciples, Emperor Qing dare not touch him."

"Okay." Song Jiao nodded, and asked again, "Grandpa, you two are here, that side of Fengxiang City..."

Master Xie waved his hand and said, "It's okay, with your godfather, your safety is the most important thing."

"Yeah." Song Jiao lowered her eyes in embarrassment, and continued to hold the toy in her hand.

When Grandpa Song saw it, he really thought, Mao Mao must like it.

Then Mr. Xie turned his head to look at Xie Chen, and said seriously: "You have suffered too. I heard that you were frightened. I will make up for you these few days."

Xie Chen said, "I'm not scared."

"Hey." Mr. Xie pointed at him, "Find a mirror yourself and look at the bruises on your face. Are your hands healed? Didn't it mean that the tiger's mouth was cracked?"

Xie Chen raised his hand: "Okay."

"Okay, that's good. In a few days, grandpa will take you two..."

Before Mr. Xie could finish talking, he was dragged out by Prime Minister Song.

It is not suitable to tell children about wars.

The two turned around and went out, Xie Chen tucked the quilt for Song Jiao, and followed them out.

They were talking right outside in the yard.

Xie Chen said firmly: "Grandpa, I want to go to war with Qingguo."

"Got it, got it." Master Xie said, "Grandpa came here to start a war."

Prime Minister Song said, "Now is not the time for war, the people are not yet fully affluent, and the national strength is still..."

"Prime Minister, you have to listen to me on this matter." Mr. Xie said sternly, "My child has been bullied, but he can still swallow his anger. If it spreads, we will be laughed to death. You don't understand war, I'll take care of it, and I'm sure I'll win the battle."

Prime Minister Song looked at him and stopped talking.

Mr. Xie continued: "I think back then I only had a few hundred people, and I still took down Liangzhou City. Now I have tens of thousands of people, how many Liangzhou cities are there in Qing Dynasty?"

Prime Minister Song knew that he couldn't persuade him, so he thought about it again and again, and didn't object anymore, so he let him go.

Before Song Jiao knew it, Mr. Xie had assembled an army of 20 soldiers to conquer the border of the Qing Kingdom, preparing for a personal conquest, threatening to make the Qing Emperor kneel down and kowtow to his two grandsons to make amends.

Song Prime Minister translated in the memorial: "Qingguo is rude, how dare you fight bravely with your father's country?"

When Emperor Qing saw the memorial, he sent another envoy to seek peace overnight, trying to restore the situation.

Qi country can't afford it, and of course Qing country can't afford it.

Emperor Qing originally wanted Gongyixiu to go again, but Gongyixiu was seriously ill, and the Seventh Prince went to the memorial and begged for Gongyixiu's favor.

So the new envoys rushed to Qi State, and the Seventh Prince took Gong Yixiu away from the battle line and returned to the capital of Qing State.

When the spies reported the news, Mr. Xie scoffed: "You trash, you know how to run if you're going to war. My two grandsons didn't run away."

He was going to let Xie Chen and Song Jiao stay, to have a close contact with the war and learn more.

In a few days, the new envoy also arrived outside the border, prostrated three times and kowtowed five times, and brought money and a map of the Qing Kingdom—meaning that Qi State made conditions, he crawled to the gate of Qi State.

Mr. Xie asked the envoy to be taken back and stayed for one night.

But this night, the envoy did not sleep well.

The sounds of Qi people sharpening their knives, exercising and shouting, and swords clashing were always heard in his dreams.

After waking up, he realized that this was not a dream.

The envoy opened the window and heard the voice in the night wind. He felt cold sweat and his back was drenched.

The people of Qi did it on purpose.

Of course they did it on purpose.

The envoys of the Qing Kingdom fidgeted restlessly in the room and stayed up all night like this.

In the early morning of the next day, someone came to invite the envoy to a banquet.

It turned out that the Hongmen banquet was arranged until the morning.

The envoys dressed neatly and followed the attendants to the banquet nervously.

He was led to a high platform, or it could be said to be a general platform.

A banquet is held on the high platform, with cushions, jade plates and delicacies. Under the high platform, there are thousands of neatly dressed soldiers with weapons in their hands.

The soldiers all looked solemn and majestic like heavenly soldiers and generals.

The envoys of the Qing Kingdom passed between them, their legs were trembling, and it was difficult for them to even walk.

Mr. Xie held on to his belt, stood on the high platform, facing the wind, his curly beard was blown by the wind.

Xie Chen and Song Jiao sat on both sides of him respectively - Song Jiao was coaxed out of bed by Mr. Xie early in the morning.

Master Xie said softly to him, "Maomao, Maomao, get up quickly, grandpa will take you to the big show, and I will vent your anger on you."

Song Jiao still didn't understand what was going on, so he yawned, and Mr. Xie patted him on the back again, and said warmly, "Quick, go and read it before coming back to sleep."

Song Jiao had no choice but to come over.

After coming over, I realized that there seemed to be something wrong.

The formation is so big.

He cast doubtful eyes on his grandfather, and Prime Minister Song was also sitting beside him, giving him a stable look to make him feel at ease.

Song Jiao could only look away, and looked at the envoy of the Qing Kingdom who was walking up to the high platform.

He was stepping up the steps step by step, walking with fear, as if he was walking on the tip of a knife with every step.

When he reached the steps, he knelt down in front of Master Xie with a plop: "Your Majesty..."

But before he had time to say what he had prepared, Mr. Xie winked at the attendants, and the two attendants stepped forward, took his arms from left to right, and lifted him up.

"Envoy, please take your seat."

Then an attendant said loudly: "Open the table!"

The dishes were brought up like flowing water, the envoys of Qing Kingdom didn't dare to move, they just sat upright.

Master Xie sat down in his seat, turned his head and said to the children: "Brother Shen, Maomao, eat, the breakfast that grandpa specially prepared for you."

Xie Chen and Song Jiao nodded: "Thank you, Grandpa."

Mr. Xie followed closely and said, "Enjoy the show when you are full."

Hearing this, the envoy of the Qing Kingdom trembled again.

Then four attendants carried a lamb and passed behind the high platform. The sound of the lamb's screams startled the envoy again.

Then the attendants put the lamb on the ground and began to slaughter it on the spot.

The envoy broke out in a cold sweat, and thought, now the entire Qing Kingdom is like that lamb, if he can go back safely, he will be thankful, this family is a bandit, and it is the rule that the two countries do not kill each other when they go to war, yes It's not a rule for bandits at all.

Finally, when they finished killing the sheep, Mr. Xie wiped his mouth, threw the wine glass aside, and stood up.

As soon as he stretched out his hand to the side, Fan Kai handed a long halberd into his hand.

Taking advantage of the wine, the morning wine, Mr. Xie walked to the middle of the high platform and swung his halberd.

The envoy sat kneeling on the cushion, put his hands on his lap, and looked up in fear.

The halberd was facing him.

Master Xie withdrew his hand as soon as he went back, then took the halberd back, sent it forward, and sent it to him again.

Master Xie waved his long halberd, every step he took was very solid; every wave he swung was sent in front of Qing.

Even though his eyes were cloudy because he was middle-aged, his gaze was still as sharp as an eagle, with a murderous look.

It seemed that for a moment, everything in the world was trampled under his feet.

The envoys fought back and forth, and kept retreating.

At the last stroke of waving the long halberd and sending it to the envoy, Mr. Xie suddenly shouted loudly, causing the envoy to fall back in fright, almost falling off the high platform.

Master Xie looked up to the sky and laughed, then retracted the halberd slightly, smashing the table in front of the envoy with a single swipe.

All of a sudden, soup and water spilled all over the place.

"Hurry up and go back and tell your little emperor, half an hour later, I will raise my troops across the Yinma River and start attacking the city. Within three years, I will ask him to kneel down to greet him."

"His Majesty……"

"I don't ask for peace, don't you value face the most? I beat all the envoys, and you are ashamed. I want to go to war! Come and go to war with me!"

The envoy was so shocked that he couldn't speak, Mr. Xie was like a tiger, and shouted again: "Why don't you go soon?!"

"Yes Yes……"

Not to mention asking for peace, the envoys came and were driven back before they could even say three words.

He didn't dare to make more entanglements, he got up from the ground, and rolled down the steps without hesitation.He tried to get out of the formation of soldiers as he had come, but he didn't want to get lost in it.

The soldiers stood still, just reaching out and pushing him, which sent him reeling.

The envoy of the Qing Kingdom fell to the ground, his face pale, his lips trembling, and only the soldiers' laughter could be heard.

The envoy is the face, and Mr. Xie wants to tear Qing's face and let them fight.

The envoy rode a fast horse, stumbled out of the city, crossed the Yinma River, and entered the Qing Kingdom.

As he ran through the streets of Qing Kingdom, he shouted: "Qi Kingdom is attacking the city! Qi Kingdom is attacking the city! Quickly... quickly report to Your Majesty..."

He thought of the tiger-like figure of Mr. Xie, who tilted his body and fell straight from the horse: "Run...run..."

The ancestor emperor made fun of the envoy's courage, and one day not long after, he also entered the ceremony.

He kept his word, and half an hour later, he led the soldiers of the Qi State with high morale to attack the city.

The flames of war between the two countries were thus ignited.

Mr. Xie became more and more courageous in his battles, sweeping thousands of troops along the way. Xie Chen started fighting with his master, and after his 17th birthday, he began to lead the army alone.

Song Jiao said goodbye to him, and followed his grandfather back to Fengxiang City. At the age of 16, he took the Xie Yuan examination in Zhongxiang, and at the age of 17, he began to prepare for the examination.

The state of Qi adjusted the old national policy. The imperial examination is held every year, and there is no limit to others. As long as you have a household registration in the state of Qi, you can participate.

Taixue does not set restrictions on students taking scientific examinations. As long as they like it, they can take the examination every year.

Song Jiao passed the provincial examination Jieyuan in the second year of entering Taixue, and two friends, Wen Zhi and Chu Heng, were with him, both of them were Yayuan.

Others said that if they each staggered one year, they should be able to be the champion in their respective years.

But they are unwilling to stagger, and must compete in the imperial examination room.

This year's exam is scheduled for March, and Song Jiao has been studying in Taixue seriously for a while.

A few days before the test, Grandpa Song, who had been on the go, came back to see him.

Mr. Xie went to war outside and went through life and death, but he didn't know anything else, he just kept rushing forward.Prime Minister Song will be responsible for coordinating the overall situation, planning tactics, and dispatching food and grass to stabilize the ruling and opposition parties.

So speaking of it, the busiest person should be Prime Minister Song.

That night, Song Jiao and two friends were still lighting up the lamp to read at night. There was a knock on the door outside, and then Grandpa Song's voice: "Mamao, are you asleep?"

Song Jiao put down the scroll, stood up hastily, and trotted over to open the door for grandpa.

He howled "Aww", and then hugged his grandfather: "Grandpa!"

Grandpa Song raised his hands and lifted the food box in his hand to prevent him from knocking it down. There was also a big yellow dog and a big white cat. These things were not allowed in Taixue, so Song Jiao could only keep them. At home, when Grandpa Song came over this time, he brought them along so that Song Jiao could have a look.

Song Jiao hugged Grandpa hard, then let go, and looked up at him: "Grandpa."

Grandpa Song came back in a hurry, traveling day and night, full of travel and dust, just to catch up with Song Jiao's exam.

Wen Zhi and Chu Heng in the room also got up and bowed: "Prime Minister."

Song Jiao pulled grandpa in, brought in the big yellow dog and the big white cat, and while laying out a soft seat for grandpa, asked, "Grandpa, when did you come back? Did you just come back? Have everything been resolved? "

"Well, it's all settled." Grandpa Song nodded, and put the food box on the table, "Look."

Song Jiao opened the food box: "Wow!" He returned to normal: "What is this?"

"When you came back, His Majesty specifically asked to stew it for you. Confucius Shengren Yiqi Soup, drink a little tonight, and don't drink any more tomorrow. Be careful if you make up your stomach."

Song Jiao took out the soup bowls in the food box, there were three bowls in total, he turned to greet his friends: "My champion friends, come and drink, Kong Shengren Yiqi Soup."

Three children, each holding a bowl of soup to drink, Song Chengxiang looked at, very pleased.

"Drink slowly."

Song Jiao and grandpa were sitting together, with the cat in their arms and the dog by their legs: "Grandpa, how long can you stay here this time? Are you going to leave again in a few days?"

Grandpa Song said: "No, we can stay longer this time, the situation ahead is stable, and the world will be settled in a few years. At that time, we will move our capital to Yong'an City."

"Okay."

After Song Jiao finished drinking the soup, he went to look through the food box again, hoping to find some other delicious food from it.

Grandpa Song flicked his forehead: "Oh, grandpa just came back. He has been stewing this soup for a long time. There is nothing else to eat. I will bring it to you tomorrow."

"Okay." Song Jiao began to order, "Then I want to eat siu mai with tofu skin tomorrow."

"Got it, got it, tell them to do it tomorrow morning, and grandpa will send it to you in person."

Song Jiao smiled and looked at her friends: "My champion friends, what are you still doing? Hurry up and order food, my grandpa personally delivered it."

Chu Heng said: "I don't care what to eat, it's just given by Grandpa Song himself, it's not the same, it's full of culture."

Song Jiao smiled and said, "Then I'll just order my favorite food."

Wen knew: "It's fine."

Grandpa Song patted the back of Song Jiao's hand, put away the empty bowls that the children had finished drinking, and put them into the food box.

"Okay, grandpa is leaving first, don't study too late, go to bed early."

"Okay." Song Jiao stood up, led the cat and the dog, and supported the grandfather, and helped the grandfather to the main entrance of the Taixue, and sent him outside to take a carriage.

The grandfather and grandson talked while walking.

"Grandpa, is Grandpa Xie okay?"

"He's very nice." Grandpa Song thought for a while, and used one word to describe him, "He's very energetic."

"That's good." Song Jiao paused, "Then... is Brother Shen okay?"

Grandpa Song shook his head. Before he could speak, Song Jiao became a little nervous: "Ah? What's wrong with him?"

Grandpa Song said slowly: "Going out this time—"

"what?"

"Grandpa didn't see him."

"..."

Grandpa Song smiled and patted his hand. Neither grandpa nor grandson mentioned Xie Chen again.

Song Jiao looked down at the cat and dog walking in front of her, and said, "Grandpa, are they both okay?"

"All good, all good."

Outside the main gate, Song Jiao helped grandpa into the carriage, then carried the cat and dog up, and waved goodbye to grandpa.

When he returned, the system lay on his shoulder: "Mamao, that big yellow dog is really old, I can hear the bones on it creaking when I attach to it."

Song Jiao sighed and calculated: "It seems to be 12 years. I was five years old when I came here. Grandpa brought it back from the suburbs and gave it to me. It was just born at that time. Now I am 17 years old, 12 years old."

The system smiled and said, "It's already an old yellow dog."

"Well." Song Jiao said, "Actually, sometimes when I think about it, I feel sorry for it. When I was with it, it was always possessed by you, and I didn't have much time for myself. You haven't possessed me for a few years. Don't stay with it again."

"Isn't grandpa taking care of it? Maybe he likes grandpa more than you."

"Yes, it should be very happy to stay with Grandpa."

Song Jiao cheered up, went back to the room, picked up the scroll that had just been put down, and continued to read.

When it was later, it was time to wash and go to bed.

Song Jiao put the books on the shelf, and stood in front of the shelf, washing his face while reading.

There are only friends who are more serious than him, and no one is more lazy than him.

After washing up, blowing out the candles, and going to bed, we entered the daily night chat session.

It's just that the night chat in their room is different from that of other students.

Wen Zhi lay flat on the bed in an orderly manner, and asked them questions: "'Reward for loyalty', history theory."

"'Strategy against the enemy', Ce asked."

"'Safe the country and the whole army', asked Ce."

The three spoke in turn in their respective tents.

Soon the test day will come.

After so many exams, the system is already familiar with these things.

The night before, I helped Song Jiao pack up his pens, prepare the clothes for tomorrow, check the seats in the exam venue, prepare dinner, check the food he brought in, urge him to bed early at night, and set the alarm clock.

The next morning, prepare a nutritious breakfast for Song Jiao, Wangwang Snow Cake is essential.

Even if he is proficient, the system can't help being nervous.

The exam was in Taixue. Song Jiao and his friends went there together, and it was only two steps away.

After Song Jiao went in, the system ruled alone, squatting outside waiting for him, still couldn't help being nervous.

He couldn't help touching the location where his core electronic components were, and it was burning badly.

He was too nervous. Every time Song Jiao took an exam, the old father couldn't help being nervous.

At noon, the bell rang, Song Jiao and his friends came out of the examination room, and Grandpa Song also arrived.

He brought lunch for Song Jiao and his friends.

Going back to the room to eat, Song Jiao and grandpa were still sitting together.

Grandpa Song said to them: "I asked for leave from Taixue for you. After the exams are over in the afternoon, Grandpa will come to pick you up and take you to Tianranju to eat roasted lamb."

Song Jiao held the bowl, took a big mouthful of pork ribs and rice, and nodded vigorously: "Okay."

Wen Zhi and Chu Heng hurriedly said, "Thank you, Grandpa Mao Mao."

"You're welcome." Grandpa Song looked at Song Jiao with a smile, "Grandpa Xie paid for it. He's not here, so he feels a little sorry for you."

"It's okay. I have to take the exam every year. It doesn't matter if Grandpa Xie is not here."

"That's good." Grandpa Song touched his head, "Go to take a nap quickly after eating and rest for a while."

"it is good."

Song Jiao was obedient, took a nap, and was called up by the system.

He and his friends entered the examination room again.

Another two hours.

In the evening, the bell rang again, and Song Jiao rushed out of the examination room cheerfully, pulling his friends, but did not see Grandpa.

The prince and princess stood not far away and waved at him: "Maomao."

Song Jiao's footsteps paused, and then he pulled his friends forward: "Godfather, godmother."

The prince is not very good at talking, so he hid behind Mrs. Xie. Mrs. Xie smiled and said to him: "Mamao, come to report in the afternoon, something happened suddenly at the front line, your grandpa rushed over, and he didn't have time to eat with you, so let him Come over and eat with Auntie."

Song Jiao was a little disappointed, but she didn't want to thank Madam, so she nodded with a smile: "Then I will eat with Auntie."

"Okay, let's go."

Mr. Xie's arrangement for his family is that his son stays in Fengxiang City to take care of the government, and his grandson fights with him to accumulate experience in the army.

The prince was fighting outside in the early years, and he has seen everything, so there is no need to fight again.And these years, the prince studied with Prime Minister Song, and indeed he learned a lot, he is a gentle and conservative king.

Although he doesn't know how to speak, he is good to Song Jiao, even after knowing that Xie Chen likes to seduce Song Jiao.

Seeing that Prime Minister Song was not coming, Song Jiao was a little unhappy, so with a wave of his big hand, he got a whole roast lamb for Song Jiao, and set up a stove in the room for him to eat while roasting.

Song Jiao and his friends, as well as the princess, sat around the stove, and the prince sat on the side, watching them eat, quite like a patriarch, silent but reliable.

Mrs. Xie took out a small plate of mutton slices and gave them to Song Jiao first: "Come on, Mao Mao and friends eat first. How did you do in the exam today? Did you fill up the answer sheet?"

Song Jiao picked up a piece of mutton and stuffed it into his mouth: "Well, it's all written." He pushed the plate in front of Mrs. Xie: "Auntie eats too."

"Okay." Mrs. Xie turned her head and said to her husband, "Come here and eat, what pose are you doing? No one is looking at you."

The prince quickly got up and went to bed, walked to her side, took the meat-cutting dagger from her hand: "Ma'am, I'll come."

As far as he likes to pose, Xie Chen is exactly the same as him.

Mrs. Xie fed Song Jiao vigorously, and Song Jiao was full after a while.

He waved his hand: "Auntie, don't eat, don't eat."

Mrs. Xie said: "Then you can eat later, go for a stroll, there is still so much, you don't need to save money."

"I really can't eat..." Song Jiao hiccupped a little while speaking.

He hurriedly got up and said he was going for a walk, but in fact he was strolling around the room.

He pushed open the window, it was not completely dark at this time, he lay on the window sill to watch the scenery, the prince and princess in the room looked at him.

Mrs. Xie said in a low voice: "The Prime Minister is not here, Mao Mao must be sad."

Not long after, Song Jiao suddenly saw a familiar figure flying in the sky.

Song Jiao blew a whistle quickly, and the eagle, which was flying towards Taixue, turned around in time and flew towards Song Jiao.

Song Jiao untied the small bamboo tube from the eagle claw.

It's Xie Chen's letter.

A chubby little fool with a belt on his head, and the word "No. [-] Scholar" written on the belt.

Song Jiao couldn't help laughing, and the princess in the room said again: "Are you stupid?"

The prince's eyes that see through everything: "Brother Shen sent him a letter."

Half a month after the examination ended, the list was released, and Song Jiaoxi ranked first, and won Huiyuan again.

It is said in the market that he should be the first scholar in Qi State to win three consecutive grades.

One month later it was the palace examination, Song Jiao didn't dare to slack off, and continued to study, and when Grandpa Song was away, Mrs. Xie often brought him soup and meals.

Song Jiao originally thought that grandpa would rush back a few days before the exam like the last time, but this time he didn't.

Song Jiao didn't dare to urge him, instead he asked Grandpa to come back slowly, don't be in a hurry.

Soon it was the day of the imperial examination.

Because Mr. Xie and Prime Minister Song were not there, the palace examination was presided over by several old gentlemen.

Song Jiao, dressed in jade-white tribute clothes, was sitting in the hall, holding his pen upright, with rustling words.

Except for drinking alcohol in the Taixue exam last time, he has never felt so eloquent.

The incense candle on the desk was burning for the third time, just a little bit, when suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

A young eunuch walked into the hall and whispered something to the old gentlemen, and the faces of the old gentlemen changed.

This has already caused panic among many tribute scholars, but Song Jiao didn't notice it and continued to concentrate on writing.

The tributes turned their heads and saw the prince wearing armor and holding a helmet, pacing outside.

Seeing that they could see it, knowing that they were disturbed, the prince stopped quickly and walked to a place where they could not see.

Afterwards, an old gentleman stood up, walked to Song Jiao, whispered in his ear, and said, "Mamao, answer quickly, and hand in the paper if you can."

Song Jiao was puzzled, raised his head, and seemed to notice something through his panicked expression.

"what happened?"

"It's nothing."

Song Jiao lowered her head, pinched the pen, finished the article with two strokes, stood up and handed in the paper.

When he walked outside the hall, the prince said urgently: "Maomao, hurry up, I will take you there, your grandfather..."