Chapter 136 Hou Mansion

It started snowing in the capital, and Huainan's memorial flew into the imperial city like snowflakes.

Yàn Ni wanted to borrow from Mei Yin in Huai'an and Xu An in Fengyang, and wanted to go to the imperial tomb to worship and burn incense, but they were rejected.The envoy of the King Yàn was also cut off his ears and nose by Mei Yin.

Then Sheng Yong wrote a letter to rely on the Huaihe River to delay the teacher.

Unexpectedly, within a few days, Yàn crossed the Huai River and detoured to attack Shengyong Camp.

Sheng Yong's army was about to collapse and was defeated, and retreated to the river.

The emperor then sent Xue Yan, the minister of Dali Temple, to cross the river to question Sheng Yong.

Inside the Imperial Gate, Zhu Yunwen's face was haggard and his hair was a little messy.At this time, people reported that Xue Yan had returned to Beijing, so Zhu Yunwen announced his visit.

After Xue Yan finished the bowing ceremony, Zhu Yunwen immediately asked: Sheng Yong said that he could block the Yàn Master by relying on the Huaihe River, why did he be defeated in a few days?

Report to the emperor, an official in the upper reaches of the Huai River privately surrendered to the enemy, and then got a boat to cross the river, and then went east to attack Sheng Yong.Sheng Yong's troops were unable to stand the battle and were defeated.Xue Yandao.

Zhu Yunwen clenched his fists and placed them heavily on the imperial desk. Sheng Yong wrote another letter to retreat straight to the river. Will Huainan give in?

Xue Yan said: I have also asked Sheng Yong in person.He replied that when the rebels arrived in Huainan, people would be in turmoil, and those who surrender would have to win. At this time, a victory would be required to inspire the military and civilians and allow those who wait and see to support the imperial army.However, Sheng Yong had no elite troops, so he wanted to retreat to Puzikou City and urged the court reinforcements to cross the river. He went north to face the Yàn Division.

How long has it been?Master Yàn is actually coming to the river!

Zhu Yunwen stood up from the imperial throne, paced back and forth, his face very pale.

His hands were a little trembling, and he suddenly stopped walking: He immediately ordered Sheng Yong to control all the troops in Huainan and strictly ordered him to fight against the rebellion in Huainan!

Unexpectedly, ten days later, a pond reported to Beijing, and Sheng Yong led his army to fight against Yàn in Liuhe and was defeated!He himself had already gone straight to Urakokou on the banks of the river.

Zhu Yunwen was furious.The official army was defeated from Shandong, Huaibei and Huainan, but never really won a battle!

Sheng Yong was unique in his heart about Puzikou, a new city that was only built during the Hongwu period. It seemed that he had chosen a place long ago. When he was still in the Huaihe River, he said he wanted to go to Puzikou.

Now I finally got my wish and retreated straight to this city, looking at the riverside.

At that time, Fang Xiaoru's advice was still based on the views of the front-line general Sheng Yong, and he had to gather elite troops to defeat the Yàn army to stabilize the hearts of the people.

It is recommended to transfer a group of elite troops from the Beijing camp to join the garrison troops that have arrived in the capital, and to cross the river and join Sheng Yong's hands in order to fight to the decisive battle.

Zhu Yunwen was unwilling to do so. If he wanted to move the final foundation of the Beijing camp, why did he get back in Lingbi?

So Fang Xiaoru offered another suggestion and sent Dali Temple Minister Xue Yan to escort Princess Qingcheng, the cousin of King Yàn, to cross the river, pretending to discuss peace with King Yàn, and delay the army with a slowdown in order to gain time for reinforcements from various provinces to gather.

The emperor allowed.

But King Yàn is obviously not so easy to be fooled.A few days later, the plan to delay the troops failed. When King Yàn met, he saw through the court's plan and said in public: The treacherous ministers of the court want to ease me and wait for foreign troops.

Xue Yan went to the enemy camp and saw that the Yàn division was strong and strong. After returning to the capital, he actually persuaded the emperor to give more benefits to the rebellion and cut all the territory north of the river to seek peace.

So Fang Xiaoru scolded Xue Yan so bloody!

Fang Xiaoru once again advised the emperor to transfer reinforcements from the Beijing camp and the garrison to immediately reinforce Sheng Yong.This time the emperor finally agreed.

……

Xue Yan was no match for Fang Xiaoru in the verbal battle. He was named for being unfaithful and unfilial, and he was so angry that he went home. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that the court ministers could not do anything!

So he wrote a secret letter to King Yàn in private, wanting to surrender.

After receiving the secret letter, King Yàn responded immediately, praising Xue Yan for abandoning the dark and throwing into the light, and choosing good birds and living in trees.

I don’t know how King Yàn learned that Xue Yan had a close relationship with Wuding Marquis Guo Ying, so he asked Xue Yan to persuade Guo Ying to surrender together.

Xue Yan then took the risk of visiting Guo Ying's mansion, trying to test Guo Ying's attitude first.

Xue Yan complained in front of Guo Ying, and when he talked about his experiences, he deliberately emphasized that the army was huge and powerful, implying that the King of Yàn could win.

But Guo Ying was unmoved. He sighed: I have been entrusted with the country's salary for decades, but now I am old and cannot serve the country, I can only die in the country.

...Guo Ying's second son was Guo Ming. He was originally an official in the Liao Palace. When the Liao King was recalled to the capital, Guo Ming also came back.

After he returned from Liaodong, his whole family lived in his father's marquis's mansion.Xue Yan's words had no effect on Guo Ying, but Guo Ming was very concerned about it.

Guo Ming paced down the eaves outside the hall, blushing in a hurry.

The Liao King has lost his power and must be unable to hold on to the big tree. Now Guo Ming has nothing to do all day.

But the situation is not the worst at the moment. The worst thing is what if King Yàn enters the capital and his father does not surrender, what should he do if he is a son?

Guo Ming is very sure his father will not surrender!

My father is old and wise forever, and will not bear the reputation of being unfaithful for the sake of his twilight years.

As for the descendants?

Marquis Wuding cannot control his twelve sons, but his eldest son Guo Zhen took over the princess...

What could that son Guo Ming have?It’s not reliable to rely on your father. If King Yàn ascends the throne, the Guo family will be wrong, and it’s better not to be liquidated!

At this moment, the voice of Wu Ding Hou came from the hall: Come and see off the guests!

Guo Ming quickly walked to the door and bowed: Xue Siqing, please.

The old marquis’s family’s etiquette is comprehensive.Xue Yan smiled and said, "No need to send it far away, no need to send it far away, please."

Guo Ming led the way and walked up a corridor. Then he turned around and smiled: My father is old and usually likes purity and rarely sees guests.If Xue Siqing comes again, I am afraid that you will be neglected. Xue Siqing will look for me directly, I am idle.

Xue Yan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: OK, OK.The blindsides are welcomed by Guo Dianbao at any time.

Xue Siqing came to the door and said how powerful King Yàn was.Guo Ming suspected that this guy had defected to King Yàn, but Guo Ming did not dare to act rashly, so he had to go back and forth first and see the situation before talking.

Xue Yan's voice said again: The old marquis is in a strong body, not that he cannot go into battle to kill the enemy for the court, but... He paused for a moment and said in a deep voice that the lords in the court did not believe in the marquis very much.When the Marquis was in Zhending City, didn’t King Yàn send someone to catch up with his relatives?Chaoli had known these things for a long time.

Ah?Guo Ming didn't react for a moment.

Xue Yan smiled and said: Mrs. Ling, isn’t she a member of the Xu family?

Guo Ming then suddenly realized: Yes, it’s because of being a little bit related.

Xue Yan shook his head and said nothing, and continued to walk forward.

Guo Ming really didn't expect this to be considered a relative!

His wife is indeed surnamed Xu, so how did she kiss King Yàn?... He thought for a long time before he roughly figured out that the relationship between the Guo family and King Yàn was mainly connected through the relationship between King Xu Da of Zhongshan.

Xu Da's daughter is Princess Yàn; and Xu Da's uncle's daughter is Guo Ming's wife.

Guo Ming thought for a long time and felt a little dizzy in his head.

He sent Xue Yan away and returned to the small courtyard where he lived in the marquis's mansion. He saw his wife Xu rolling up her sleeves and washing clothes there.

Guo Ming immediately walked over and said: It’s snowing, the weather is so cold, and there are so many servants in my father’s house, how can my wife do laundry in person?

Xu raised his head and said: Although he is in his husband's parents' home, our whole family depends on the Marquis' house for food and drink. His father-in-law has so many children to watch... We have to know a little bit.

Guo Ming immediately sighed to the sky, but he didn't expect that my son, the dignified marquis, would fall to this place!He said apologetically, "Mrs. I came from the Xu family, but I suffered such suffering with me, alas!"

Xu shook his head and said: It was just because he was benefiting from the King of Zhongshan. How much does the Zhongshan Wang family have to do with our family?Before I married my husband, my family was not a wealthy family, so don’t say that.

Guo Yan and Guo Weili?Guo Ming said.

Xu said: They are doing other things. The weather is cold, so don’t freeze them.

You are too spoiled.Guo Ming strode to his two daughters' boudoir, pushed open the door and saw that the two girls were doing needlework.They stood up one after another and said: Dad is back.

What are you two doing? Guo Ming asked.

The second daughter, Guo Wei, had just turned thirteen years old, looked childish, and said with a look of childishness: It’s almost the Chinese New Year, my mother asked us to make new clothes for my father. My mother said that my father would interact with high-ranking officials and nobles and wear silk.

After hearing this, Guo Ming was stunned. Seeing that his two daughters were wearing cotton jackets and skirts, he felt sad.He also received a salary, but after he had no power or power, he lived a very difficult life with just a small official salary.

Guo Wei touched the smooth and shiny silk material and looked up and said: Is it good to buy us new silk clothes when my father is promoted?

Don't talk too much, dad is upset about serious matters.Guo Yan pulled her sister's sleeve and whispered.

Guo Wei looked aggrieved and pouted her mouth and said nothing.

My eldest daughter is fifteen years old and is indeed much more sensible.

She was born to Guo Ming's concubine, and the concubine passed away very early and was adopted by Mrs. Xu... However, Mrs. Xu treated her well because she was afraid that she was not her biological daughter, so she favored and accommodated Guo Yan more.

The two daughters are not the same mother and they look different.Guo Yan is a little older and more charming. Guo Wei's body has not yet grown completely, her skeleton and slim figure are thin and slim, but she is pretty and charming.

Guo Ming sighed again, unable to say anything, turned around and walked out of the door, came to Xu again, and asked: Is there any salary that Yuechu still receives?It's almost the Chinese New Year, so I'll buy a new dress for the two girls.

Xu said: They don’t go out, so what’s the best thing to do in dressing like this? Don't worry about these trivial matters, husband.

After hearing this, Guo Ming didn't say much, and was still paced back and forth on the eaves.He put his hands into his sleeves and lowered his head to ponder. When he looked up occasionally, he could see the lady who was washing clothes looking at him silently.

There was hope in the lady's eyes, and her expectations were obviously only entrusted to Guo Ming.

Wow wow wow wow wow... Mrs. Xu rubbed her clothes hard, and she silently took care of her children's family affairs. She had never complained since she returned to Beijing.

But this is true, Guo Ming felt a heavy heart and could not live with him.