When the early birds pick up a ray of dawn and urge the morning glow to light up the sky, it is the summer of April, when "the mountains are green and the rivers are white, and the rain is like smoke in the sound of the rules" has quietly arrived.
From the side entrance of Anningtinghou's residence, five riders filed out, looking towards the north gate of Luoyang City.
They are Xia Houhui, Xia Houhe and three retinues.
The destination is the bank of Yangqu in front of Mang Mountain.
As for what he was going to do in Yangqu, Xia Houhui claimed that he had been away from Luoyang for too long and wanted to go out for an outing, but Xia Houhe knew that this was an excuse - the sixth brother did not want to follow the eldest brother's instructions and go to visit Zhendong.
General Xiahou Mao.
Yesterday, when Xiahou Hui returned home and said he would not take a bath today and invited Xiahouxuan to come to the family banquet to no avail, his eldest brother Xiahouheng asked him to take advantage of his free time to pay a visit to his peer Xiahou Mao.
This is what Xia Houheng considered for his career.
Because Xia Houyuan and his family are already showing signs of sunset.
Except for one son who was given up during the famine years, among Xiahou Yuan's seven sons, the third son Xiahou should be called Xiahou, and the fifth son Xiahou Rong was the best in learning.
For example, Xia Hou claimed that he could shoot tigers at the age of sixteen, which made Cao Cao of Wei Dynasty pay attention;
However, it's a pity.
Both of them died young.
Among the remaining five, Xia Houheng, the eldest son of Sijue, was a middle-aged man and only held idle posts in the court.
The second son, Xia Houba, served in Guanzhong. He was more than brave but lacking in strategy. Now he is no more than a partial general. Unless something unexpected happens, he will never have the same achievements as his father in this life.
The fourth son, Xia Houwei, had the ability to recognize people, but he was a knight-errant and had no intention of pursuing an official career.
Although he now embarks on an official career for the sake of his family, serving in the hinterland of the Central Plains has no hope of accumulating meritorious service and entering the temple.
The seventh son, Xia Houhe, was sixteen years old and had not yet entered official service.
Therefore, Xia Houhui, who had just been appointed as a close minister of the emperor, was naturally placed high hopes by his family.
Sanqi is an official position created to promote important officials of the country.
The reason why Xia Houhui went to visit Xia Houmao was to make his official career smoother.
Although Xiahou Dun's disciples were equally mediocre, Xiahou Dun, who was the only one who was given an important position and went out to control Guanzhong, was transferred back to Luoyang because of his lack of military strategy. He was first appointed minister and then took up the empty post of general Zhendong.
But Xiahou Mao's fortune was very good.
He was the first to be friendly with Cao Pi, Wen of Wei, and his wife was Princess Qinghe. Therefore, his son Xiahou Xian (historical records are ominous, let's use this for now) was appointed as a Sanqi during the Wei Wen period. He was also friendly with Emperor Cao Rui, and has now been transferred to the Forbidden Army.
If nothing unexpected happens, he will serve as the leader of the Central Committee in a while and become a lowly and powerful confidant of the emperor!
In this way, in the name of returning to Luoyang, Xiahou Hui went to visit Xiahou Mao, and he could also let Xiahou take care of him for a while, and occasionally say a few kind words for him in front of the emperor Cao Rui.
In any case, the two families are related by clan.
Although the fifth server has been released a long time ago, if we can move around frequently, we can still support each other.
However, Xia Houhui seems to be quite repelled by this kind of human sophistication. Last night he wholeheartedly agreed in front of his eldest brother Xia Houheng, but this morning he went out for an outing without even bothering to show off by asking his family servants to send him a famous assassin.
Originally, Xia Houhe didn't intend to pay attention to this kind of thing.
There is no way, he is the last among the brothers in the family, and he is not qualified to comment.
But now the sixth brother has pulled himself out to keep him company!
If the eldest brother Xia Houheng starts to scold him then, he will also be in trouble!
The so-called elder brother is like father.
Xia Houhe was young and lonely, and his achievements were not much better than Xia Houheng's eldest son. Therefore, Xia Houheng played the role of a strict father without hesitation, and discipline was indispensable in his daily life.
Although it is no big deal to receive a scolding, who is willing to accept it for no reason?
With this kind of thinking, Xia Houhe was a little absent-minded along the way.
After leaving the city and arriving at Yangqu in front of Mang Mountain, I had no interest in the beautiful scenery in April, and I couldn't feel the joy of an outing at all.
But Xia Houhui is not like that.
After arriving at the foot of Mang Mountain, he led his horse and walked slowly, feeling very excited about the game.
The mountain breeze here is gentle, the trees are green, old wildflowers and vines are climbing among the shadows of the rocks and trees, and the occasional chirping of birds comes from the depths of the forest, seeming to cheer for the green wheat seedlings on both sides of the Yang Canal.
It also made him marvel at the bright flowers in the dark willows, and murmured strange words that were neither rhetoric nor poetry: "The beauty of April in the world is gone, and the peach blossoms in the mountain temple are beginning to bloom." He also asked one of his followers to find a place where the water in the canal was slow to fish.
One of the retinue went to the surrounding farmers to buy chickens or ducks and came back to prepare for a picnic. They were so happy to return home.
Xia Houhe didn't know what "mountain temple" meant, and he didn't find any peach blossoms here, nor did he have any taste for picnicking here.
He knew that it was not rude to ask his subordinates to send the famous assassin's invitation to Xia Houmao's house now. He also knew that if he did not remind him, the sixth brother would definitely return home at dusk.
Therefore, he hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and walked side by side with him, whispering, "Eldest brother gave me an instruction last night. Sixth brother, please don't forget it."
"ah?"
Hearing this, Xia Houhui was stunned for a moment before reacting, "Oh, I didn't forget."
Since you haven't forgotten it, you should ask your subordinates to send you a greeting note!
Xia Houhe Wuyu suppressed his mood and continued to remind, "Today the emperor is attending court, the sixth brother will be sent to pay homage at this time, or it may happen to coincide with the time when brother Zilin leaves the palace and returns to the house; if it is later, it may be rude.
Already."
"What Yi Quan said is absolutely true."
Xia Houhui nodded slightly in agreement, but the look on his face showed no signs of urgency, "However, I have been away from Luoyang for many years, and I have not had any contact with Brother Zilin for a long time. It would not be good to rush over and disturb me. It would be better to wait until the future.
We have met during the ceremony, and then we will go over to visit him."
really.
You have no intention of obeying brother's instructions
Xia Houhe sighed in his heart and said no more.
Because he knew that since the sixth brother fell into the water by the Yanshi River in his early years, his behavior and temperament had changed drastically, and he was particularly opinionated. Even his elders could hardly persuade him, let alone himself. Rather than continue to waste words and words on persuasion,
, it would be more realistic to think about how to avoid the scolding of eldest brother Xia Houheng.
Perhaps, he seems to be aware of his depression.
Xia Houhui, who was still walking ahead to look at the mountains and flowers, explained a few times in a low voice without looking back.
"Brother Zilin has no strategy for governing the country, and he is good at managing people's lives. In the past few years since I returned to Qiao County, I have witnessed with my own eyes that many acres of land in Sangzi were taken away by guests from his family, causing the common people to lose their homes. The elders and elders in the village still don't think about it.
I don’t want to get close to people, nor should I get close to them.”
Uh~
After hearing this, Xia Houhe, who had no intention of persuading him, couldn't help but feel helpless again.
Because he felt that what Sixth Brother said was inappropriate.
Since ancient times, clans have relied on each other.
Don’t you see that Cao Hong, the current general, is greedy and stingy by nature. During Emperor Wu’s period, he often used his power to seek wealth. Didn’t Emperor Wu complain about anything?
Xia Houmao was good at managing the property, so taking away the land from the common people was a matter for the state and county officials to worry about!
The emperor didn't say anything, so what does it have to do with you?
Furthermore, the eldest brother asking you to visit him is an ordinary interaction between clans, and he is not asking you to come and get attached to him. So what is there about "not wanting to get close" to him?
For the sake of career and family, how can you act based on personal preferences alone?
Could it be that this sixth brother had been far away from Luoyang and had been studying in the countryside for too long, so that he was not familiar with the world of people in the official career?
With such speculation in his mind, Xia Houhe felt that it was necessary to give him a few more words of persuasion.
However, before he could think of his words, Xia Houhui suddenly stopped and turned around, almost missing him.
He didn't realize it yet, but grabbed Xia Houhe's shoulder and whispered, "My eldest brother took up a post in the court after the ceremony, and he took charge of the family very early. As time went by, he became very concerned about the family and his career.
It is also inevitable that the authorities will be confused. As we get older, we should have our own opinions and follow those who do what is good for our brothers."
Are the authorities obsessed?
Suddenly, Xia Houhe's eyes were full of surprise.
He couldn't understand that he had a thin beard on his upper lip, but it was taboo for ordinary clan members to move around between each other?
He thought about it for a long time, but couldn't figure it out, so he asked, "How do you explain what Sixth Brother said?"
"Without him, grace comes from above."
Xiahou Hui smiled gravely, "I am a Sanqi, and the emperor remembers the merits of his fathers. If I continue to rely on my clan to seek fortune and advancement, it may be counterproductive."
Imperial Palace, East Hall.
Emperor Cao Rui, who had taken charge of today's state and county affairs, did not return to his palace immediately.
Instead, he put the pen down on the case, stood up and leaned on the couch, gently rubbing the root of his nose with his hands to relieve the sore eyes. He also recalled in his mind what Qin Lang had just said about Xia Houhui's behavior after he took office.
Indeed, it was his special instructions to make Xia Houhui wait outside the palace for a long time, to sit at the same table with Mao Zeng, and to deliberately not let him accompany him.
In order to test Xia Houhui's personality.
This is not because he was bored in the palace and looking for fun.
But it was really a helpless move.
Because Cao Wei had "replaced" the Han Dynasty for less than ten years, the clan and Qiao Pei heroes who relied on them to control the border could no longer survive - Xia Houshang died in his prime and Cao Xiu died after the Battle of Shiting, so Huainan,
There are already two candidates for the governorship of the three war zones of Jingxiang and Yongliang who are not clan members or patriarchs.
This is because Wei Wen and Cao Pi's reign was too short and did not cultivate the pillars of the society.
It has also become Cao Rui's top priority.
After all, people's hearts have been lost since Dong Zhuo's rebellion, and the process of the Wei Dynasty replacing the Han Dynasty was not a destiny like Shang Tang's destruction of Xia or King Wu's defeat of Zhou. So, as an emperor, how dare you not foresee the loss of military power?
But Cao Rui is now helpless.
Looking at the many underachievers in the clan and Qiao Pei, he could not find a good man.
There is no need to mention Xia Houxuan who offended him.
Cao Shuang, who was promoted to the palace and held an important position by him, was courteous but indecisive and had no opinion; Xiahou Xian and Cao Zhao were talented but conceited; Qin Lang was cautious but had no passion to kill himself to serve the country.
Each has its shortcomings, and none of them are outstanding.
In other words, they are not too old and there is still the possibility of improvement or gain.
In other words, the most important thing when choosing to be the emperor's commander in chief and the commander-in-chief of the town is loyalty, and a little bit of ability is not a problem.
However, things are not peaceful now!
Shu and Wu were disobedient and raised troops to invade in successive years. The swords of the world were not extinguished. Out of concern for the long-term peace and stability of the country, Cao Rui's heart of "thinking of good generals in times of national calamity" became increasingly intense.
This was the main reason why he tested Xia Houhui's character.
Because Xia Houhui looked very different among other clans and heroes, even Cao Rui felt that it was unusual.
First, he has filial piety.
After the death of his father Xia Houyuan and his mother Ding, Xia Houhui observed the period of filial piety for them, but now few people can abide by it.
Especially the children of nobles or nobles who can enjoy the lovable influence of their fathers.
Secondly, he does not seek fame or popularity.
In his early years, Xia Houxuan, who was famous in the capital, repeatedly invited Xia Houhui to travel with him. However, instead of taking the opportunity to make friends with the powerful and make himself famous, Xia Houxuan left the capital and returned to his hometown of Qiao County to study in isolation.
Fame and fortune are at your fingertips, but those who practice diligently are certainly impressive.
Finally, people will behave differently after suffering great calamity.
Cao Rui knew that Xia Houhui had a young literary reputation, but after being drowned and killed several times, he changed his behavior drastically and began to study behind closed doors and practice archery and horsemanship diligently.
Therefore, he felt that Xiahou Hui should be "enlightened" and no longer superficial as a son of a distinguished nobleman.
Now after listening to Qin Lang's answer, he realized that Xia Houhui was not dignified enough to maintain his identity during the test. After facing the unusual calmness, Cao Rui also felt that it was time to take him with him for investigation.
"Come, summon Xiahou Zhiquan to accompany you."
"only."
The small yellow door waiting outside the hall responded respectfully.
After a while, he came back in small steps, bowed and bowed, "Your Majesty, Xiahou Zhiquan is not allowed to take a bath today. It is not forbidden."
"Hugh Mu?"
Cao Rui, who was about to get up and go back to the palace, heard this and repeated it in surprise.
When he unconsciously glanced at the pile of documents that he had just approved, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.