Bend Over [ 折腰 ] - Chapter 38

[Chapter 38]

Wei Shao didn’t go back to the room that night, and went straight to the ya office with Wei Liang. He summoned Li Chong, Li Dian, Zhang Jian and other generals, as well as the chief secretary Wei Quan and others, to discuss matters.

Li Chong and Li Dian both advocated abandoning Yanzhou and fighting Shiyi.

Li Chongdao: “Except for the 50,000 permanent troops stationed to defend the Huns, the total number of troops that the lord can call now is about 150,000, which is equivalent to Chen Xiang’s troops. If the troops are divided into two groups, they will not only fight against Shiyi, but also protect Yanzhou. The two ends cannot be taken care of.”

Li Dian said: “Yanzhou is not my place, and it cannot be concentric with me, it is like a tasteless, since the two ends are difficult to care about, let them be the best.”

The chief secretary Wei Quan also said: “In my humble opinion The lord should quickly deploy all the troops and horses to Shiyi, try to keep Shiyi intact, and then fight against Chen Xiang, relying on the Yu Wei of last year’s Boling and Shiyi wars to march into Jinyang in one go, level Chen Xiang’s foundation, and the great cause of northern unification can be Completed. After the unification of the north, it is not too late for the lord to recapture Yanzhou, and then go south. Although the lord marries Qiao’s daughter, but the picture is the land of Yanzhou, not from the Qiao family. Qiao Yue is cowardly and everyone knows that Qiao Ping has no We can’t be the master of the situation, and now I can take this opportunity to call the Qiao family and Xue Tai to fight first, and both will suffer. No matter which of the two sides wins in the end, each of them will lose their vitality. If the Qiao family is lucky enough to hold Yanzhou, nothing will happen. Qiao Jiashou Can’t stop, even if Yanzhou falls into the hands of Xue Tai, he will not be able to take root for a long time because of Xue Tai’s tyrannical levies and unpopularity. It is expected that he will not be able to take root for a long time. When the lord dominates the north, if there are still people in the Qiao family, the lord will send troops in the name of helping the Qiao family. , If there is no one in the Qiao family, the lord will send troops in the name of revenge, then why worry that the army and people in Yanzhou will not be grateful, and the lord will not be able to accomplish

the important thing?” Wei Liang, Zhang Jian and others nodded in succession.

Wei Shao sat on the sword, his figure was dignified, and the candlelight on the desk beside him reflected on his face, making his eyes half-bright and half-dark, and some couldn’t see what he was thinking at the moment.

After Wei Liang and others finished their discussion, they waited for a while. Wei Shao finally said slowly: “I already know what you said. You all go away first, and listen to my orders tomorrow.”

After Wei Liang, Li Chong, Li Dian and others dispersed, Wei Shao stayed alone in the council hall of the government office. Bright till dawn.

It was dawn in the east, Wei Shao walked out of the ya office and rode back to the Wei house. He did not go back to the west room, but went straight to the north room.

Mrs. Xu got up early as usual, and after finishing her grooming, Zhong Li came in and said that the man would see you outside Hou Hou.

It was still early, and Mrs. Xu was slightly surprised and called him in. Wei Shao entered and knelt down to Mrs. Xu and sat back. Madam Xu asked when he saw that his eyes were slightly bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept well last night.

Wei Shao said: “My grandson encountered something last night, and it was difficult to make a decision. When it was dawn, he came to my grandmother’s place and wanted to listen to my grandmother’s instructions.” After that, he presented Gongsunyang’s letter and recounted the process of discussing with everyone last night.

After Mrs. Xu read the letter, she looked up at Wei Shao: “What do you think, Yanzhou will save or not?”

Wei Shao said: “Yanzhou’s urgency is not my Wei family’s urgency. The priority, the grandson thinks that the north should be the priority.”

Mrs. Xu Said: “If that’s the case, why are you still looking for me?”

Wei Shao hesitated for a moment, then suddenly raised his eyes and met Madam Xu’s one eye: “Grandson dare not hide it. It’s not that there is no countermeasure to save Yanzhou. It’s just that The grandson is hesitant to decide, considering the injustice of the Qiao family back then, is it worth my trouble to save?”

When he said this, there was a trace of forbearance in his eyes.

Mrs. Xu’s single-eyed eyes flickered slightly: “The two families have in-laws, so they regard it as an alliance. You are strong and weak, and now he is in danger and turns to you for help. If you don’t save it, you will abandon your relatives, just like abandoning your faith. What was the difference between the actions of the Qiao family back then?”

Wei Shao said nothing.

“Faithfulness can be big or small, it can be real or false, it can be successful, or it can fail. Duke Xiang’s hegemony was broken because of his act of faith. The great ancestor also achieved great things in the name of faith.”

Madam Xu looked at Wei Shao and said slowly: “It can be seen that faith is nothing but a dead thing. It’s all a matter of people’s choice. To save or not to save, it’s all in your heart. Since grandma let go at the beginning, she won’t intervene anymore. I believe you can make your own decision.”

Wei Shao was silent for a moment, then sat down and knelt down to Mrs. Xu: “Grandmother’s words, grandson remembered. Grandson still has something to do, please retire first.”

Mrs. Xu smiled at him and nodded.

When Wei Shao came out of the north house, the color of fish maw was just beginning to appear in the east. The cool morning breeze in the northern April and late spring blew toward him, stroking the corners of his clothes slightly. He walked slowly to the Westinghouse, to the courtyard. When the servants who got up early and were cleaning the courtyard saw him come back, they hurriedly greeted him and saluted him, saying, “The lady has already got up and is grooming in the room.”

Wei Shao stopped under the porch, put his hands behind his back, and faced the Fan could still faintly see the candle halo of the window, and he was alone for a while, but finally did not enter, turned and walked away under the slightly puzzled gaze of the servant girl.

…

Wei Shao was suddenly called away last night, and no one came back. Leaving Xiao Qiao alone, wake up to sleep, wake up to sleep, sleep is not stable, got up early this morning. Seeing that Wei Shao has not returned. When it was midnight, I went to the north house to visit Mrs. Xu first.

In front of Xiao Qiao, Mrs. Xu didn’t mention Wei Shao’s visit to her this morning. Talk to her as usual.

Xiao Qiao left the north house and went to the east house.

Mrs. Zhu was punished for thinking some time ago, and only said she was sick to the outside world. Now that I came back, I was probably ashamed, and I didn’t show up much on weekdays.

Xiao Qiao waited in the corridor for a while, when a maid came out, saying that the madam told the maid that the maid did not need to come to kowtow.

Xiao Qiao knew that she didn’t want to see her. It’s just out of courtesy to come here. Hearing this, he returned to the Westinghouse. After entering, Chunniang said that the maid saw the male gentleman in the courtyard early in the morning. She seemed to be returning from the north house, but for some reason, she only stood under the steps for a while, did not enter, and then left.

When Chunniang said this, her expression was a little puzzled.

Xiao Qiao is also puzzled.

For some reason, Wei Shao’s abnormality made her feel a little uneasy. Thinking of Wei Liang’s sudden arrival last night that he was called away, I felt even more uneasy.

It always felt as if something had happened. And it’s something bad about yourself.

Soon, she knew what was going on.

The Yanzhou fast horse messenger flew to Yuyang at Chenshi. In addition to immediately forwarding Wei Shao’s letter, he also brought Xiao Qiao a letter from home.

The family letter was written by my uncle Qiao Yue. In the letter, Qiaoyue explained the troubles that Yanzhou encountered, and asked Xiao Qiao to turn around in front of Wei Shao, and ask for his help, otherwise Yanzhou would be in trouble.

Qiao Yue repeatedly warned, the words are sincere and earnest, and the state of anxiety is between the lines.

Xiao Qiao was taken aback, and her heart jumped.

Yanzhou is her natal family. Apart from her uncle and aunt, the Qiao family also has her own father and younger brother. Xuzhou Xue Tai has always had the reputation of being violent and evil. One hundred thousand heavy troops pressed against Yanzhou. With the current situation of Yanzhou, even if the army and the people fought together, I am afraid that in the end it would be more fortunate than for good.

Xiao Qiao was distraught for a while, holding the letter and walking back and forth in the room.

She finally knew that Wei Shao didn’t enter the school this morning, which should be related to the incident in Yanzhou.

He must have received the news earlier than himself.

But what happened in Yanzhou should not be the only case. Otherwise, Wei Liang would not have rushed back from Shiyi in the middle of the night to call him away.

Xiao Qiao stopped, pondered for a moment, and finally changed her clothes again and went to the north house.

Mrs. Xu was planting her beloved flowerbed in the courtyard, accompanied by Concubine Zhong. When Xiao Qiao approached her, she was planting flowers, her hands were stained with dirt, and she looked very focused. Seeing Xiao Qiao coming, he washed his hands and motioned her to come in with him.

Xiao Qiao went in, knelt on the ground, and said, “Daughter-in-law Sun just received a letter from her family, and she learned that Yanzhou was in an emergency, and her uncle asked her husband for help. Daughter-in-law Sun also knew that now I am a member of the Wei family, and things in Yanzhou should not have happened. I ask more questions. It’s just that I was born and grew up in my homeland. I have relatives in my family that are hard to give up. I really can’t let go. I didn’t see my husband this morning, so I dared to come to my grandmother, and beg my grandmother to look at the face of the two in-laws, as appropriate…”

Xue Tai’s attack on Yanzhou did not happen in his previous life.

In fact, Xiao Qiao also knows that the old feud between the Qiao and Wei families is there, although the Qiao family wants to resolve it by marriage, and this is also a very common method among the aristocratic families nowadays to resolve grievances or make a covenant. However, how could this hatred of the Wei family for the Qiao family be completely eliminated by sending him a woman?

Now Yanzhou is in danger again. Wei Shao’s rescue was to help the Qiao family in trouble. It was human nature not to save them. It is not appropriate for her to speak in front of Madam Xu so rashly.

But she really had no choice at the moment.

She has a deep bond with her father and brother in Yanzhou. I know that my father is in charge, and my younger brother is a minor. Since Wei Shao didn’t get started this morning, it could be seen that he was unwilling to rescue him. Feeling anxious. Although I knew it was wrong, I could only find it. Having said this, I really can’t go on, so I stopped, and only bowed deeply to Madam Xu, her forehead not touching the ground.

Mrs. Xu sat on the couch, looking at Xiao Qiao who could not afford to bow down to her on the ground, and said after a while, “Zhong Lin came to me this morning and said a few things about Yanzhou. You probably don’t know, it’s not that Zhonglin doesn’t. I wish to save, but there is another reason.”

Mrs. Xu briefly explained the fact that Chen Xiang and Xue Tai agreed to send troops to attack Shiyi and Yanzhou at the same time.

Little Joe was stunned. A heart kept sinking.

Wei Shao originally hated the Qiao family, and even if there was no Shiyi’s urgency, I’m afraid he would not be willing to save the Qiao family.

What’s more, there is such a secret.

It is only natural that he does not save.

“Grandmother, granddaughter-in-law is bold and wants to ask grandmother to tell her, what did the husband say when he came to see grandmother this morning to mention the military affairs in Yanzhou?”

She calmed down and finally raised her head and asked.

Mrs. Xu looked at Xiao Qiao with one eye and said, “Zhonglin has not decided yet. Grandma doesn’t know either.”

Xiao Qiao bowed to Mrs. Xu again to thank him, got up and walked out.

Zhong Ni sent Xiao Qiao two steps, and when she came back, she saw Mrs. Xu still sitting there, as if she was thinking about something, and couldn’t help but ask, “Does the old lady think the prince will come to the rescue?”

Mrs. Xu said: “Save or not, it’s in his own heart. He should know. It’s just that hurdle, it’s a little sad.”

…

Xiao Qiao returned from the north house and asked the next person.

Just now, Wei Shao did not return, nor did he say a word.

She sat alone in the room for a while, then suddenly got up and ordered Chunniang to come in, change her clothes and make up, and open a box of rouge that she had never used before. After dressing up, the face is like a peach blossom, bright and charming, very moving.

She put on a cloak, ordered to prepare a carriage, boarded it, and went to the Wei Shaoya Office.

The Yas Office is not very far from the Wei House, just across a street.

This time is still very early, and it has not yet come. There are not many people on the street. The carriage carried Xiao Qiao and walked slowly on the flat stone-paved street. The wheels pressed over the road, making a constant sound of a hollow sound.

…

It has never been like this before, Xiao Qiao clearly realized that in this chaotic world, no one can be trusted, and only one’s own strength is the guarantee of being able to live in peace.

A person is like this, a city is like this, a family is like this.

If the Qiao family continues like this, pinning their hopes on the generosity and kindness of others, and living by relying on others’ breath, even if they get through this crisis by luck, there will be the same situation next time.

In the previous life, the flowers and fruits of the Qiao family were scattered, and the ending was like this.

In her nature, there was originally a bit of indifference. But at this moment, she deeply felt that she must do something for the Qiao family in the future, so that the family can stand up again on their own, and gain a foothold in the surrounding plans and tigers’ eyes. Even if the process is very difficult and the results are slim, it is better than doing nothing, just waiting for others and begging for mercy.

She really didn’t want the Qiao family to repeat the mistakes of the previous life. Fortunately, there was still some time left before those last things, and she was able to plan slowly and calmly.

But now, Yanzhou’s eyebrows are on fire, all she can do is to help Yanzhou overcome this difficulty first.

This time, her “husband” Wei Shao must help. Otherwise, Yanzhou will become a nest.

…

The carriage stopped in front of the gate of the government office. Xiao Qiao got off the carriage and asked the guard at the gate. Knowing that Wei Shao was inside, he went straight in.

The guard recognized the lady and did not dare to stop her, so he watched her come in from behind.

Although it was still early, Wei Liang and others had gathered early in the discussion hall outside, just waiting for Wei Shao to issue the talisman.

Wei Shao hadn’t come out yet, and was still alone in a study in his back hall at this moment.

The library is private. He had a strict order that no one could enter without permission.

The guards outside kept in mind that when Mrs. Junhou suddenly came, although she recognized her, she did not dare to disobey Wei Shao’s order, and respectfully asked her to wait for a while, allowing herself to report to her.

Joe stopped.

Soon, the guard came out and bowed to invite Xiao Qiao to enter.

Xiao Qiao walked to the door, paused for a while, took a breath, and after calming down, pushed the door open.

[End of This Chapter]