Xia Kekang raised his palms to stop the guards' next words. Seeing that only his close guards were surrounding him, he let out a long sigh.
"Nothing, the general is so wise and wise, how could he not understand my difficulty?
Xu Luo saved my life back then. Although Xiaoluo Pass and we deliberately released the water this time, if he hadn't found the passage himself, he would still have to force his way into the heavily guarded pass. Half of the way out would be his.
I earned it myself!
If I don't do this, I will be cruel to my former benefactor, which will make the General's Mansion even more worried."
Konoe felt a little relieved now. After thinking about it, no one would like an ungrateful subordinate. The calculations of these big people were indeed not something that a small person like him could think about.
Xia Kekang couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth when he saw Konwei, who looked stunned, as if he had realized the true meaning of life.
These words could only coax these passionate soldiers, and even he himself did not believe them.
He just let things go on purpose. Even if he and Xu Luo had to fight each other, it would be good if they could delay it for a while.
But what Konwei said was right, Xia Kekang had reached the limit of what he could do now, otherwise not only would it be difficult to pass the test at the General's Mansion, but Xu Luo would be even more in danger if he were to change his generals at the last moment.
"Speed up, we'll be waiting for this old friend in Taohuawu!"
The sound of horses' hoofbeats sounded loudly at first, and then the soldiers raised their whips in unison. The sound of hoofbeats was suddenly as deafening as thunder, and even the farmers in the paddy fields on both sides straightened up and looked over.
Seeing the familiar armor of the Imperial Soldier, the peasants raised their hands and cheered.
Xia Kekang, who was taking the lead, couldn't help feeling excited and sighed secretly.
Xu Luo, you can see that this is the meaning of the existence of the Royal Military Division!
No matter what wrong things it has done, or how many dirty deeds it has done behind the scenes, it is the only one that can protect the stable lives of countless Yan people in Anmo Mountain.
Even if you and the eldest brother have life-saving grace and brotherly relations, the eldest brother will never take a step back in this matter. Don’t blame the eldest brother...
As the name of Taohuawu suggests, it must be closely related to peach blossoms. Along the wide straight road and beside the clear stream, one after another strange-shaped peach trees spread their branches wantonly.
It was almost May, and the green branches were covered with red and white peaches, which were extremely tempting.
Xu Luo walked quickly along the straight road, but when he passed by this place, he couldn't help but take a few more glances.
But with just this glance, his body began to tremble violently, and the car that was rushing forward suddenly came to an abrupt stop.
The slave who had been minding his own business in the carriage almost felt like he was flying.
"Xu Luo..."
"Nothing, don't worry, I met an old friend, you are busy with your business and don't come out."
Xu Luo's gentle reply came from outside, and Ji Nu always felt that something was wrong.
But since Xu Luo has said this, it means that she doesn't want her to know about outside things, and there's no point in worrying about it.
Xu Luo looked at the familiar figure sitting under an old peach tree. A trace of anger appeared on his delicate face at first, but then it turned into endless bitterness.
No wonder there was no movement at the General's Mansion for more than half a month. No wonder Xiaoluo Pass, known as a natural barrier, was passed so easily. It turned out to be waiting here.
Compared with these old foxes in the General's Mansion, he is still too young.
But people have already come to the door, and Xu Luo naturally can't escape. The most important thing is that he has to find out what his cheap brother thinks?
He walked to the peach tree on crutches and sat down calmly at the stone table.
"Brother, I should have thought of it earlier. I'm afraid I'll hurt you this time!"
Xia Kekang withdrew his gaze and looked at the flowing stream quietly. He first looked at Xu Luo happily for a while, then brought up the freshly boiled stream water and poured him a cup of tea.
"It turned out to be the state of body washing, good! What's the matter? Didn't you say before that there are so many things to care about between two brothers in the same generation?
Big Brother has his responsibilities, I just hope you won’t blame Big Brother!”
Xu Luo's heart fell directly into the ice cave. Xia Kekang's words had already made his position clear. He stood with the Imperial Army.
Even if Xiaoluo Pass lets Xu Luo off this time because of the friendship between the two, it will definitely not affect Xia Kekang's next judgment and actions.
In other words, if Xu Luo also decides to follow his true thoughts, then after drinking this cup of tea, the two of them will fight each other, and then life and death will be determined by their destiny, and no one will be blamed!
Seeing that Xu Luo remained silent and his expression changed, Xia Kekang pushed the cup of tea in front of him.
"To be able to achieve what you have today, you are no longer the country boy who just ran away from Sanhebao. Naturally, you should understand that there is no good or bad in this world. Everything is just driven by profit!
Drink it, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to drink the tea I brewed, and it will be difficult for my eldest brother to eat the dishes you cooked. Please take care of each other."
In fact, the first time Xu Luo saw Xia Kekang in Panshi City, he knew that there seemed to be some changes in him, but he never thought that this day would come so quickly!
He finally raised his head, his eyes were as cold as ice shards as if he were meeting Xia Kekang for the first time.
"I understand everything brother said. I just want to ask you one question: do you know anything about Little Rock City, or something like this?"
Xia Kekang's whole body trembled slightly, and a few drops of boiling water splashed out of the tea cup in his hand. It fell on the stone table and rolled a few times, then fell to the ground and broke into several pieces.
The two of them were silent for a moment, staring at the water splash that quickly seeped into the ground and was no longer visible.
After a long while, Xia Kekang remained silent, and Xu Luo gradually realized that, just as Xia Kekang said, he was still too naive after all!
But how could Xia Kekang know that Xu Luo would only be naive about the people and things he cares about!
The only reason Xu Luo was so stupid and asked such stupid questions was because he wanted to hear him say it himself. He didn't know.
But Xu Luo has his own bottom line, and Xia Kekang doesn't have his own persistence and pride.
He didn't even bother to lie to deceive Xu Luo. At this moment, even Xu Luo himself didn't know whether to be happy or annoyed?
"Why?"
Xia Kekang did not answer directly, but his eyes were blurred as if he was lost in memories of the past.
"As you know, I am a descendant of the royal family and the only son in the family.
In the eyes of everyone, such a family background must mean that they have been well clothed and well-fed since childhood, and have enjoyed wealth and honor. However, in fact, all the descendants of the collateral line will be sent to the clan mansion as soon as they reach the age of eight.
Of course, the emperor was still generous and would give the family a pension, which was actually the life money of the child.
If all the children of the royal family have the qualifications to practice, they will enter the secret camp of the Royal Military Division to train them.
People with ordinary talents like the eldest brother have worked hard in martial arts for nearly ten years, and then they will be sent to the imperial military divisions in various places to control this huge force for His Majesty the Emperor.
During the late emperor's time, nearly 30% of the entire imperial army were descendants of the Xia family.
If this continues, Dayan's empire will truly be immortal.
However, since the change of the red moon, the disaster of strange and ferocious beasts has become more and more serious. After His Majesty Chongyuan ascended the throne, the control of the capital has become increasingly weak.
The royal family's children in the imperial army are even more disabled and dying, and the reason is quite bizarre."
Having said this, a sarcastic smile appeared on the corner of Xia Kekang's mouth. He poured out the tea that Xu Luo had not touched, filled it up again, and then continued to murmur to himself.
"The eldest brother is considered lucky. He was assigned to Moshui County, a core inland county, where he could marry a wife and have children. He also got a big business at a cheap price, and his family had no worries about food and clothing.
But the eldest brother was unwilling to give in and took the initiative to come to Panshui City.
In the past few years, I have fought bloody battles with my head on my waist like an ordinary soldier. I have fought with Jin spies in the deep mountains and forests, and I have eaten in the wind and dew on the corpses of ferocious beasts...
As we get to know this land and its people better, we gradually understand the difficulties faced by the General's Mansion.
The nobles in Reward City can only see documents reporting meritorious services and strings of numerical records, but who knows how many soldiers’ flesh and blood lives and how many people’s joys and sorrows are buried underneath?
The funny thing is, I am also a direct beneficiary of these things.
On the day when my eldest brother became the commander of the Central Camp, the family letter from the Zongren Mansion was delivered to me. His Majesty Chongyuan actually called me third brother. I was really flattered!
Haha...I thought they had completely forgotten about me.
My eldest brother spent half the night in Zhongxin Temple thinking about it but didn’t remember it. How could I have any family members to reward Beijing?
The father and mother took the money to buy their lives but died in depression. His wife and children were working peacefully as farmers in Moshui County, and the remaining brothers have all been engraved on the memorial tablets of Zhongxin Temple.
Xiao Luo, what would you do if it were you?
Anyway, the eldest brother looked at those spiritual tablets over and over again in Zhongxin Temple, but he still didn’t have the guts to write back a letter of allegiance.
My eldest brother is afraid that he will not be able to sleep at night, because he is afraid that the brothers who have defended me from swords and arrows will come to me.
The eldest brother gave the letter directly to the general, and in exchange for his current position as the general of the central camp, it was considered a good deal!"
"Then Zuo Xingjiang and the gang of bastards who killed people are the so-called secret camp of the Imperial Army?"
Before a look of self-mockery appeared on Xia Kekang's face, Xu Luo had already interrupted him in a deep voice.
He suddenly thought of Lao Sha's young son who was treated as a deserter, Nini, the scholar, Baishi Mountain, Changsheng Village, Little Rock City...
How many people and things like this are there secretly?
Xia Kekang didn't expect Xu Luo to be so determined, so merciless, but this was an unavoidable fact, so he could only smile bitterly.
"Xiao Luo, you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are when you're not a family member.
Did you know that as early as more than ten years ago, Panshi City received only 50% of the supplies, and in the past two years, it has even been less than 20%, and it is often in arrears.
What do you want the general government to do? Cut off your limbs and reduce armaments?
The secret camp has indeed done a lot of underhanded things, but it has also provided nearly 80% of the supplies of the Rock Defense Line over the years, which supports the hard maintenance of the entire Rock Defense Line. Otherwise, the people in this series of cities would still have stability.
Have a good time?
This straight road will be a bloody massacre..."
"So we should be cunning and self-respecting, so all the people in Little Rock should obey the overall situation, or are they willing to die?"
Xu Luo's low roar made Xia Ke resist all the words of defense and swallowed them all in his throat.