"Brother, don't blame me... If I had redeemed you and returned to my country, I might not have been able to secure the throne..."

In the evening of that day, Li Hou Han Wu stood at the window of his study room in his residence, and his younger brother Han Wangran's words echoed in his ears.

At this time, a guard walked into the study and raised his hands and fists towards Lihou Han Wu: "Lihou."

This guard was called Han Hou, and he was a close clan brother of Han Wu, Marquis of Li. However, he could not inherit the family business because he was a commoner, so he defected to Han Wu, Marquis of Li. He was a loyal and reliable man. Han Wu, Marquis of Li, served as a hostage in Wei for nine years. He has been with him for nine years and is one of the most trusted people by Marquis Han Wu today.

"Marquis Li, I've asked about this." After approaching Han Wu, Marquis Li, Han Hou said in a low voice: "This mansion has been under renovation since Han Ran moved his capital to Jicheng, but it has never been hung with a plaque and has been vacant. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I hung it up..."

The mansion he mentioned is the mansion where Lihou Hanwu and his family currently live.

"Yeah."

Li Hou Han Wu let out a long breath and nodded to signal Han Hou to step back, while he still stood at the window.

He did not doubt the authenticity of what Han Wangran said to him today. In fact, objectively speaking, it was a good thing for him, Han Wu, and Han Ran that he stayed in Wei as a hostage.

On the other hand, if he had returned to South Korea at that time, it would have caused the brothers to completely turn against each other - after all, at that time, Han Ran had designed to kill Kang Gong Han Hu and Li Hou Han Wu's confidant Wu Anshou Zhu Man. Of course, all previous efforts will not be wasted because of concern for brotherly feelings. If Han Wu was still in South Korea at that time, the two brothers would most likely turn against each other because of the struggle for power, and even fight each other with swords.

This is why when Han Wu, the Marquis of Li, was captured by the Wei army and became a prisoner or hostage of the Wei state, instead of trying to redeem him, the King of Han secretly asked Wei King Zhao Run not to release Han Wu back to South Korea.

However, from the fact that Han Wangran renovated the Lihou Mansion after moving the capital to Jicheng, it is not difficult to see that he actually misses his sworn brother Lihou. However, Han Wangran has always been concerned about whether to welcome Han Wu back. There was some hesitation - the reason was simply that he was afraid that Han Wu would come back and compete with him for power.

The so-called "fear" here does not entirely refer to the fear that the power will be taken away by Han Wu. It also includes Han Wangran's worry that he must get rid of Han Wu for some reasons. Instead of doing this, it is better to simply let Han Wu stay in Wei.

But this time, the situation is a bit special.

Because Han Wangran seemed to be terminally ill.

Perhaps it is for this reason that the relationship between brothers Han Wu and Han Ran has become more complicated.

The next morning, Lihou Hanwu got up early and sat in the lobby drinking tea, looking at the people in the house who came and went from time to time, and at the strange faces.

Once upon a time, he was the most powerful official in this country, but now, returning to his homeland after many years of absence, he feels inexplicably uncomfortable even in his own mansion.

At this moment, there was a clicking sound in the courtyard. Li Hou Han Wu turned his head and saw a young general wearing military armor hurriedly running towards the hall.

Before Han Wu could react, he saw the young general running into the hall, knelt down in front of Han Wu with a thud, and said happily: "Father."

Li Hou Han Wu was stunned for a moment, then put down the tea cup in his hand and looked at the person carefully: "Are you... Chi'er?"

Only then did he see clearly that the young general in front of him was actually his eldest son Han Chi.

Mentioning this eldest son, Marquis Han Wu felt warm in his heart.

If after the death of Kang Gong Han Hu, Han Wangran unceremoniously confiscated the former's family property, then after Li Hou Han Wu became a hostage of Wei, Han Wangran did not touch his family property, and even deliberately cultivated Han Wu, who was only 10 years old at the time. The eldest son Han Chi, who is in his teens, is probably looking forward to inheriting his father's family business when Han Chi grows up.

Only Han Xin, Han Wu's youngest son who was only a few years old, was sent to Wei by Han Wangran along with Han Wu's wives and concubines. Probably Han Wangran did not want his sworn brother Han Wu to live alone in Wei.

It has to be said that apart from refusing to welcome Han Wu back to the country, Han Wangran did not treat his sworn brother and his family badly. Han Wu's ending was indeed much better than that of Kang Gong and Han Hu.

The father and son met again after many years, which made Li Hou Han Wu temporarily forget about Han Wangran's affairs. He looked at his son's military uniform with a smile on his face and asked with a smile: "Chi'er, we haven't seen each other for a few years, and he has become a little more like a man. You’re a loser..."

Han Chi was praised by his father, and his face showed a bit of joy, and he said impassionedly: "My uncle once taught me not to ruin your reputation, father. Therefore, I have not dared to slack off in these years..."

Han Wu was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that the uncle his son referred to was his younger brother Han Wangran.

When Han Wu was lost in thought, Han Chi looked at his father and said with great interest: "In the battle of Julu, although my father was unfortunately defeated, you refused to surrender to Wei. In the end, you loudly ordered Lord Han Yang, the Marquis of Dangyin, to attack Julu. His heroic spirit has made the world admire him greatly..."

This is indeed true. After Han Wu, the Marquis of Li, was captured alive by Wei General Wu Ji, regardless of his own safety, he still shouted and ordered Han Yang to step up the attack on Julu City. Not to mention that the Koreans admired him extremely, even the Wei people, and even the Wei The king of the country, Zhao Run, was impressed by it.

But after hearing this, Han Wu felt inexplicably embarrassed. Firstly, he was defeated in that battle and became a prisoner of Wei. Secondly, it was his son Han Chi who was praising this matter. , which made him feel very uncomfortable.

Therefore, after he smiled faintly, he immediately changed the subject: "Look at the armor on your body. Are you on duty in the army now?"

Hearing this, Han Chi chuckled and said with some pride: "Reporting to my father, the boy is now under the command of General Qin Kai of Yuyang Shou, serving as a general with two thousand men..."

"..."

Li Hou Han Wu looked at his son silently.

"So similar..."

Looking at Han Chi in front of him, Li Hou Han Wu secretly thought in his heart.

Looking at his son, he seemed to see his former self.

When he was young, he was also cultivated by Han Wangqi, who was both his uncle and adoptive father. This led to the future Lihou Han Wu. On the contrary, if Han Wangqi had not deliberately cultivated him, he would have been allowed to eat, drink and have fun like an ordinary dandy. , how could he later compete with Kang Gong and Han Hu for power and become the most powerful official in South Korea?

When thinking about the rise of King Han, Marquis Han Wu's mood was inexplicably complicated: apart from his refusal to return the throne to him, this uncle had never treated him badly.

Of course, it is precisely because of this that Han Wu regards Han Wangqi's son Han Ran as his own brother.

But now, it seems to be copied from decades ago...

"...After this disaster is over, I am willing to return the throne to my sworn brother."

In the ears of Li Hou Han Wu, the promise made by his younger brother Han Wangran yesterday seemed to echo again.

"Chi'er..." he called.

"Father?" The eldest son Han Chi looked at his father in confusion.

I saw Li Hou Han Wu staring at his son for a long time with a complicated expression, and said: "Do you want to be... No, it's okay." He shook his head and said: "Go to the house to say hello to your mother."

"Yes, father."

Han Chi bowed his hands, said goodbye to his father, and happily walked quickly to the house to say hello to his mother, who had been away for many years.

Looking at his son's leaving figure, Li Hou Han Wu's expression was inexplicably complicated.

After returning to the study and sitting in silence for a while, his confidant Han Hou walked in and said with seemingly profound meaning: "Marquis Li, Wei Qing Ma Kuo came to pay homage and said that he would invite Marquis Li to... have a drink."

Han Wu nodded after hearing this, and then took Han Hou to the lobby of the outer courtyard to meet Ma Kuo. Then, at Ma Kuo's signal, he went to the palace again.

In the carriage, Ma Kuo asked intentionally or unintentionally: "Marquis Li, have you ever seen Prince Ling?"

The prince he refers to refers to Han Chi, the eldest son of Han Wu, Marquis of Li.

Li Hou Han Wu glanced at Ma Kuo and said coldly: "I see you... I wonder what Sir Wei Qing wants to ask?"

I have to say that after all, Li Hou Han Wu was a man who had seen the world, and he was once a powerful official with great power. How could Ma Kuo hide his little thoughts from him?

I still remember yesterday, when Han Wangran proposed to return the throne to Han Wu, Han Wu noticed that Ma Kuo's expression changed and he showed an expression that he was hesitant to speak.

The meaning is self-evident.

Perhaps seeing the cold expression on Lihou Han Wu's face, Ma Kuo said with a scornful expression, "It's just a casual question."

"snort."

Han Wu snorted softly, closed his eyes to rest, and ignored Ma Kuo.

To be honest, Han Wu didn't have a good impression of Ma Kuo. Who told him that when Han Ran seized power, it was Ma Kuo who tipped off the latter? Ma Kuo even killed Han Wu's confidant Wu Anshou. Zhu Man.

Han Wu had no hatred for Han Wang, because the two brothers had a deep relationship since childhood, but to Ma Kuo - who do you think you are?!

It's no wonder that Han Wu is so arrogant. After all, back then, even if Ma Kuo's father came to guard Ma She in the valley, he would have to clasp his fists in salute and call him "Lihou" respectfully.

Under the leadership of Ma Kuo, Li Hou Han Wu followed the road he had visited yesterday and once again came to the palace where his brother Han Wangran was resting.

When Han Wu approached the couch, Han Wangran was still lying on the couch, looking attentively at a map of the Central Plains countries spread out on the quilt, his face still haggard.

"Didn't I say that the palace doctor in the palace told you to take a good rest?"

After taking a look at the rough map of the Central Plains countries, Li Hou Han Wu said with some persistence that even he himself could not explain why he felt angry when he saw Han Ran disobeying the doctor's instructions - it was obvious that this person had My beloved brother stabbed him when he needed help the most, didn't he?

"I've had a good rest, but I can't sleep, and there's nothing I can do about it..." Han Wangran raised his head and explained with a smile.

Immediately, he asked Han Wudao: "Sister-in-law, how are you thinking about it?"

Of course, Li Hou Han Wu knew what Han Ran meant. After looking at the latter for a few times, he said calmly: "Do you think I returned home this time because I want to fight for the throne?... If I, Han Wu, want to fight for the throne, Can you still sit on this throne now?"

His words are absolutely not lies. In fact, after the second Northern Battle between Wei and Han, Kang Gong Han Hu had already been kicked out of the center of power due to defeat. At that time, Li Hou Han Wu was in power. If he had not worried about his relationship with his younger brother Han Due to his strong brotherhood, the position of king was easily within reach for him at that time.

Even Shen Buhai, the prime minister at the time, could not stop Li Hou Han Wu. He could only persuade Han Wu through persuasion: You have obtained the power equivalent to a monarch, so don't plunge the country into chaos by seizing that false name. .

It is no exaggeration to say that if Lihou Han Wu had not been too stubborn and refused to escape first on the Julu battlefield, which caused the morale of the army to collapse, Han Ran would not have been able to regain the royal power.

This is the reason why the King of Han has been hesitant to redeem Lihou Hanwu from Wei: as the only son of King Jian of Han, Lihou Hanwu's prestige in Korea is too high.

"Brother-in-law has misunderstood."

After hearing what Li Hou Han Wu said, Han Wangran was stunned, and then quickly shook his head and explained: "That's not what I meant, I meant..."

"I didn't misunderstand anything."

Han Wu, the Marquis of Li, interrupted his brother's words rudely and said in a deep voice: "I did not flee back to the country because of the throne."

"What's the reason for that?" Han Wangran asked subconsciously, and then he realized his gaffe and smiled awkwardly.

"Why..."

Li Hou Han Wu glanced at Han Wangran's lapel.

In fact, on the way back to the country, he had imagined this scene many times, in which he grabbed Han Wangran by the lapel and asked him loudly, "Why did you do that to me in the first place?!" - Of course, the premise was that his brother Han Ran was still alive.

Yes, this is the reason why Han Wu fled back from Wei: to see if his brother Han Ran is dead or alive. If he is really dead, he will see him for the last time and end the brotherly love; if Han Ran is not dead... …hum hum.

But looking at his brother's haggard look yesterday, Li Hou Han Wu finally didn't take action.

After a moment of silence, Li Hou Han Wu said calmly: "The throne is not divided between brothers, there is no need to give it to others... I have heard about everything you have done in Wei over the years while sitting in this position. good……"

"..." Han Wangran looked at his brother in surprise.
To be continued...