Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Chapter 233 Prepare for a rainy day
It is embarrassing to say that Huo Xian's title of Grand Marshal and General of Cavalry is somewhat unworthy of his title.

These can also be reflected from all aspects. It is not to say that he does not have the official seal of the Grand Marshal in his hand now, but it can be shown in other aspects.

Theoretically, the Grand Marshal General is here, and he is the number one person in the military. The number two person is the Grand Marshal General of Cavalry, who is in charge of the cavalry of the whole country.

This meant that he had to take care of all aspects of the army, including the major and minor affairs. However, Huo Xian, the Grand Marshal and General of Cavalry, only managed the wars and was not responsible for the daily management of the army.

Not only because Wei Qing was busy with these things, but also because Emperor Liu Che was personally arresting him, Huo Shan seemed a little redundant.

"Uncle, I think that this time His Majesty is not only training my cousin the Crown Prince, but also me." Huo Xian said confidently, "I don't think I can do anything else except fighting in these years."

Princess Pingyang couldn't help laughing. "You are quite self-aware! You can't bear to attend the court. You find it troublesome to participate in the political discussion. You find it boring to go to the Northern Army and the Southern Army frequently."

Huo Xian said shamelessly, "Avoid suspicion, avoid suspicion. I am young, have great military achievements, and come from a good family. If I interfere in everything, I won't last long."

Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang could understand Huo Xian's half-true and half-false words, but they obviously did not believe them.

Princess Pingyang smiled and said, "You were raised by His Majesty, and he loves you the most. Not to mention the future, even now the court needs a great general, who else can it be but you?"

Therefore, Huo Xian's worries were seen by some as groundless worries. Moreover, if he really had such worries, he would not have spoken out so openly.

Huo Xian not only said this in front of Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang, but also dared to say it in front of the emperor. Everyone just laughed it off, thinking that he was just afraid of trouble and wanted to avoid being idle.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Huo Xian was a fearless person. If someone could hold the situation in hand, he would hide behind and enjoy a peaceful life. If there was no one to rely on, he would go forward bare-chested.

Now some of his seemingly sensible behaviors are seen by the elders as just being lazy, and not the so-called avoiding suspicion or polluting oneself at all.

Wei Qing also said, "Xian'er, His Majesty really wants to let you experience this time. You, you just won't listen after being told so many times. Think about it yourself, why didn't His Majesty give you the Grand Marshal's Seal?"

"I don't care about military affairs?" Huo Xian couldn't help but complain, "When I don't care, His Majesty praises me and says I know my limits. When I don't care, His Majesty also scolds me for not making progress!"

It was really difficult to be a minister of Emperor Wu of Han, because even if Huo Shan didn't care about the daily affairs of the army, the emperor could change his mind at any time and start to interpret things differently. It seemed that no matter what Huo Shan did, there were always flaws.

"Then you should also try to manage it?" Wei Qing said earnestly, "Take Pingyang Hou for example. You are of similar age, and he is doing a great job in the Southern Army now! He is steady and measured, without any arrogance of the rich and powerful."

Cao Zong is indeed a rising star among the powerful and the best among the foreign relatives. In addition to his good family background, he has also performed very well in the past two or three years.

Huo Xian chuckled and said, "I'm not Cao Zong. Come to think of it, my eldest cousin criticized him last time, saying that he didn't know how to advance or retreat, and didn't know how to restrain his aggressiveness."

Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang felt that Huo Shan never spoke a word of truth. Cao Zong's mother, Princess Wei Chang, might have said a few words, but they were just polite remarks.

They all understood that Huo Xian could understand the meaning, but now he pretended not to understand and took the polite words seriously.

This is also Huo Xian's usual style. His standards have always been very flexible. If necessary, he would act like a dandy and ignorant person, and he would not feel embarrassed at all when pretending to be stupid.

"What about the Yulin Army and Qimen Army? You don't care about them?" Wei Qing continued, "Since Marquis Piao is still outside and hasn't come back yet, I haven't seen you go to inspect the military camp?"

Wei Qing was the name that was used to address Huo Shan, and he also addressed younger generations like Cao Zong and Zhao Po Nu by their titles. The humility and prudence of this great general can be said to be a model for a generation of ministers.

Wei Qing had nothing to do with arrogance and pride. He would not disobey the emperor's will, nor would he be arrogant to his colleagues and subordinates.

This is also the charm of Wei Qing, so even though he has not been in charge of the army for a long time, he still has supreme prestige. Even though Huo Xian has been in the limelight in recent years, no one thinks he can replace Wei Qing's position.

Huo Xian immediately had a basis for his argument. "Your Majesty doesn't allow me to go. I am not even worthy of the title of Jianzhang Weiwei. Last time I went to inspect the palace guards, many things were not explained to me clearly. I knew what was going on, so I didn't ask any more questions."

Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Huo Xian looked frivolous and unruly, but he was very sensible, even too sensible.

Sometimes Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang also felt that Huo Shan looked a bit like Huo Qubing in the past, but in essence she was more like Wei Qing.

Huo Xian looked at Wei Qing and asked seriously, "Uncle, I am accompanying His Majesty on this tour. Is there anything I should be aware of?"

Wei Qing smiled and said, "As long as you work diligently, everything will be fine. You know it yourself. I asked you to arrange many things, but how many of them did you do yourself?"

Huo Xian suddenly felt that Wei Qing's attitude towards him had changed a little. He was still as close and loving as before, but now he treated him more like an adult and not just a child.

But this is understandable. He has just turned 20, has children, and is now wearing an adult hat. No matter how you look at it, it meets the requirements of being an adult in this era.

Princess Pingyang smiled and encouraged him, "If we talk about the tour, you have been with His Majesty the most and you understand His Majesty's thoughts the best. If we really want to talk about it, I should ask you."

Wei Qing nodded beside him, obviously agreeing with the same opinion. This was not flattery, but the unanimous understanding of everyone.

Huo Xian suddenly felt a lot of pressure and complained, "I am afraid of these things. Everyone knows that I often accompany His Majesty on tours, but I haven't been on tours many times in the past few years."

This was also what Huo Xian was worried about. In the past four or five years, he had not accompanied the emperor on tours. He was either fighting outside or inspecting the border. He had been absent from accompanying the emperor on tours for a long time.

Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang were also stunned for a moment, and then they reacted subconsciously and felt that this was indeed the truth.

Huo Xian went on his first expedition when he was seventeen years old. Now he is twenty-two years old. He has not accompanied the emperor on a tour for five years. It is not that the emperor did not go on tour, but that he was simply absent.

Huo Xian continued, "Although I think I know some of your majesty's thoughts, I have spent less time in front of your majesty in recent years, and I know even less about what's going on outside." Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang also became serious. Huo Xian's concerns were not unreasonable, and could even be said to be very reasonable. This might be the most important thing to pay attention to.

It is obvious that everyone seems to view things as unchanging, and always feels that the emperor and Huo Shan have not changed.

It seems to make sense, but there are actually so many changes involved, how could it be possible to remain unchanged?

Wei Qing was a little worried and asked, "Xian'er, do you have any problems?"

"If I can't find the fairy island and the fairy trail this time, I will definitely be blamed." Huo Xian sighed and said, "If those local officials forged the fairy trail to please Your Majesty, I have to verify it."

Princess Pingyang immediately became serious, "Shan'er, you must not verify it. If you do, His Majesty may not be happy."

Everyone knew how sincere the emperor was in his quest for the truth. To say that he was possessed by a demon was not a big problem, because the emperor was indeed like that.

The emperor was always seeking immortality, marrying his beloved eldest daughter to a Taoist priest, firmly believing that the Taoist priest was not dead but had ascended to heaven, saying that any huge footprints he saw were those of an immortal, drinking dew every day, and so on.

Huo Xian had previously revealed that the elixirs made by alchemists using gunpowder were inedible, so the emperor changed his approach and ordered people to continue searching for the immortals.

What the superior likes, the subordinates will like even more. This is not just a casual saying. In order to please the emperor, many local officials always report auspicious signs. There will be some traces of immortals on the emperor's route when he goes out for inspection.

Even though many people thought these things were absurd and unbelievable, this trick was very effective for the emperor because he believed in it firmly and felt that his chance to become an immortal was just around the corner.

Wei Qing also fell silent. "Xian'er, if you expose it directly, His Majesty will definitely be unhappy. But if you don't investigate, His Majesty will also blame you later."

Look, this is the most realistic portrayal, and this is the real problem that Huo Xian is likely to face next.

If you shatter some of the emperor's dreams and expectations, don't think that it is a merit. Even if you think you are preventing the emperor from being deceived, it is a thankless task.

But if he pretended to know nothing and allowed some alchemists to cheat the emperor, once something happened, he might be implicated in the future.

There are precedents for this. After the emperor realized he had been deceived, he killed many alchemists. And those dignitaries who recommended the alchemists naturally had a hard time ending up well.

Others may not be very clear about these things, but Wei Qing, Huo Shan and others are very clear about them.

Wei Qing looked at Huo Shan and asked with concern, "Shan'er, I'm afraid you will have a big responsibility this time. If you go out, we will have to do something."

Huo Xian did not hide his thoughts, "Uncle, I am thinking of going out with you this time, and I will take care of things along the way. But I also need to be careful about Chang'an."

Princess Pingyang instantly understood what Huo Shan meant, and then said worriedly, "Shan'er, this is definitely not appropriate. Many people were arranged by His Majesty, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince cannot interfere in these matters at this time."

Huo Xian's position is indeed a little awkward, because some things seem to be wrong no matter how they are done.

But if you really do nothing, then you are naturally making a mistake, and this is something that will make the emperor very unhappy.

In the final analysis, no matter what you do, you have to do it. Not doing it is also doing it, and not saying it is also wrong. If you are not careful, you will find yourself in such a seemingly extremely embarrassing situation and position. This is also what Huo Xian and others need to avoid.

"I don't think it's a big problem. Since Your Majesty has asked the Queen and the Crown Prince to supervise the country, you should give them some power." Huo Xian said, "If the Crown Prince wants to purge some people in preparation for war, that's fine."

Wei Qing immediately stared at Huo Shan. He still underestimated his nephew. He also really underestimated some of this kid's methods and schemes. He understood everything, but was just unwilling to show it.

Princess Pingyang felt the same way and said with a smile, "Shan'er, it would definitely be better if you attended court more often, and it would also be more stable for the court."

Huo Xian immediately said with a smile, "Your Majesty knows that I have this ability, but if I go to the court more often, that would not be something Your Majesty would like. Wait a little longer, I am definitely not in a hurry to go to the court."

Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang naturally knew that the emperor had no intention of changing the crown prince, but he absolutely did not want Wei Qing and Huo Shan to be in the court at the same time. These two people naturally supported the crown prince.

Wei Qing and Princess Pingyang also thought about it carefully. The things Huo Shan mentioned did need to be carefully considered and weighed. This matter would definitely not be that easy.

Wei Qing looked at Huo Xian and said, "You still need to discuss these matters with Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the Crown Prince. After all, we are just subjects, and the final decision still depends on the Lord's will."

Huo Xian nodded immediately and said, "Don't worry, uncle. I know all these things and I will definitely not do anything rash."

You can give some advice to the Queen and the Crown Prince, but never act without consulting them first or force them to do something. There are some essential differences here, and you must not cross the red line.

Seeing Huo Xian nod, Wei Qing said seriously, "Xian'er, you are a subject of His Majesty after all. Although we were born here, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is kind and wise and worthy of our support, but you shouldn't go too far."

Huo Xian was of course aware of this, "Uncle, I am naturally your Majesty's subject. It is just that it would be best if your Majesty and your Highness had a better relationship."

Wei Qing was very satisfied with this answer. He and Huo Xian had the same opinion. It was natural for him to support Crown Prince Liu Ju. However, even if he was a loyal minister of the emperor, he could also mediate the relationship between the emperor and the crown prince.

After meeting with Wei Qing and discussing some things, Huo Xian felt more at ease. He would be away for more than half a year this time, so Chang'an, the rear area, needed to be more stable.

When away from home, the house cannot be robbed or messed up. Huo Xian is now feeling a growing sense of urgency.

(End of this chapter)