Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Huo Xian's way of being an official is obviously not suitable for everyone. Even some of his experiences seem to be aimed at the emperor, but they are not effective for everyone.

But no matter what, these are still some words of experience. If you really listen to his advice carefully, it will still be of great help, especially for a "newcomer" like Shangguan An.

The parade is over, and now the huge team is heading towards Chang'an. They are finally going back to Chang'an.

Liu Che waved his hand and said to Huo Xian, "Let those county soldiers go back, and you just need to escort me back to Chang'an."

Huo Xian immediately said, "Your Majesty, we still have one more day before we can let them go, so we don't mind taking one more day."

Liu Che couldn't help but joked, "Everyone says you are swift in deploying troops, but I think you have the style of a great general. If you are so cautious, it will be difficult for you to achieve extraordinary success in the future."

Huo Xian said disapprovingly, "Your Majesty, I am not happy when you say that. When it comes to protecting Your Majesty, we naturally want to be cautious. I don't use troops like a great general. How many of these great men can be as swift as I am in using troops?"

Mrs. Zhao's heart was pounding. Although she was deeply favored by the emperor, she did not dare to act unruly in front of him.

But this Marquis of Champion really dares to say anything in front of His Majesty just as the rumors say.

Huo Xian said proudly, "Your Majesty, I have led the army to war several times, but the cavalry was the main force. Whether it was to attack Dayuan or to conquer the Western Regions, every time I did I not lead the cavalry to move back and forth?"

Liu Che smiled and waved his hand, saying, "That's true. Although you also use infantry, you are more experienced in using cavalry."

Then Liu Che joked, "You are a good Grand Marshal. Everyone in the court says you are extraordinary and brave. Why don't you be more magnanimous and get angry with a small Grand Historian? Do you still want to have a good reputation?"

Huo Xian complained in frustration, "Your Majesty, I think I am still very virtuous. I have never bullied men or women, or done any evil. But some people think I am a jester and a flatterer."

Zhao's little heart was beating even more violently. This champion marquis really dared to say anything!

Liu Che said, "You are only bullying powerful people. These people are not ordinary people."

Huo Xian joked, "It's boring to bully ordinary people. It's fun to bully the rich and powerful and the gentry."

"Then you have a bad reputation because of yourself, you can't blame others!" Liu Che laughed and said, "Others are associating with those powerful people. It would be fine if you didn't associate with them, but you still provoke them. If they don't exclude you, who else will they exclude?"

Hearing Liu Che say this, Huo Shan couldn't help but laugh, it seemed that this was really the case.

Huo Xian bullies the "people", those who can speak up. These people have considerable power of speech, and sometimes they can't help but frame people.

Huo Xian smiled and said to Liu Che, "Your Majesty, I just don't like people who bully the weak and fear the strong. I don't like those who have ulterior motives towards me. It's better to be straightforward and don't beat around the bush."

Liu Che nodded at Huo Xian and said, "You are arrogant because I am here to protect you. Even if those people have some small thoughts about you, they dare not go too far. You are just relying on these to act arrogantly."

Huo Xian nodded repeatedly, as if he still agreed very much with what the emperor said. It was indeed the emperor who was his backer.

But God is my witness, if Huo Xian had not been trying hard to maintain his relationship with the emperor, such a backer might have given up on protecting him long ago.

A person like Sima Qian might do something today to make the emperor dissatisfied with Huo Shan, and might do something tomorrow to make him seem unreliable. It wouldn't be long before this so-called first close minister would be disliked by the emperor.

It is obvious that Liu Che did not consider these things. All he saw was his trust and love for Huo Shan. These were all things he did. These were all his grace and trust, and had nothing to do with other people.

Liu Che waved his hand, and Huo Shan rode away on his horse again. He had some other things to arrange, and everyone was busy.

Watching the Tangqi coming and going, Shangguan An was carefully recording some things, and he could also feel how powerful his brother-in-law was.

No matter what others think, maybe Guanjun Hou is flamboyant and domineering, and sometimes seems to be careless, etc. But as a general, he is definitely an excellent general.

This is the real rough but meticulous approach. The arrangements for the march and formation are well organized, and the camping and forward scouts are flawless. Even if this is in the territory of the Han Dynasty, it is not difficult to make such arrangements.

But the difficulty lies in commanding the army. If an excellent general cannot command the army well, it will be basically difficult for him to win a battle.

If we talk about the general who led the most expeditions and traveled the farthest in the Han Dynasty, it is obviously Huo Xian. There is no false reputation under a great name, and this can be said to be the best example.

Wei Deng appeared again and was very happy to see Huo Xian. "Xian'er, how are you these days?"

Huo Xian patted his chest and said proudly, "Uncle, you are joking. Look at me now. I must be in great shape! I just don't like being confined in Chang'an. I am happy now that I am out."

Hearing Huo Xian say this, Wei Deng would not doubt it. Many people who are familiar with him know Huo Xian's personality. He can't sit still and likes to find something to do. He is too active.

After joking, Wei Deng said, "I received your report earlier. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already arranged for all officials to welcome him to the suburbs. Is there anything else that needs to be prepared?"

Huo Xian thought about it carefully before saying, "Is Chang'an almost done? If it doesn't work, I can ask Your Majesty to go back a few days later?"

Wei Deng said very confidently, "Although I dare not say that it is perfect, I have done everything that should be done. Whether it is Your Majesty the Queen or Your Majesty the Crown Prince, you are not unaware of how safe and reliable they are in doing things."

Huo Xian had no doubts when he heard Wei Deng say this, because Wei Zifu and Liu Ju's style of doing things was really subtle and silent, and they considered many things very thoughtfully.

Even though he was busy doing some hard work ordered by the emperor during this period, he was also trying his best to clean up some loopholes left by the so-called prince's party in private, but all this was done quietly.

Don't ever think that the emperor knows nothing because he has been away from home for nearly half a year. If the empress and the prince are too high-profile in Chang'an, or do things that touch the emperor's bottom line, that is obviously not acceptable.

Wei Deng asked in a low voice, "Why did I hear that His Majesty is going to confer another title of imperial concubine?"

Huo Xian explained, "It's because the search for immortals was fruitless. On the way, I heard about a wonderful woman, so His Majesty summoned her to meet her. She will definitely be made a concubine when she returns to Chang'an, and maybe even a wife." Wei Deng continued to ask, "Who are the people behind? Don't let them be someone like Li Guangli, otherwise it will be troublesome."

Huo Xian smiled and said proudly, "I noticed that Madam Quan's father was a convicted official who died in Chang'an. He should be some powerful noble or wealthy businessman. This is not a big deal."

Wei Deng couldn't help but complain, "Isn't this troublesome enough? If you ask me, these people are the most troublesome."

If he is just an ordinary wealthy businessman, then there is no problem because he has no status in the court.

Now he has some connections with some powerful people. Even some of them who are not valued have more or less some foundations in the government and the country. Once he gets the opportunity, he may rise again.

Huo Xian said nonchalantly, "If I can suppress Li Guangli, I can naturally suppress others. Besides, people like Li Guangli do have some abilities. Do the people they put forward have some abilities?"

Wei Deng thought about it and it made sense. He smiled and joked, "The people of Haixi Marquis have returned to the capital now, and the meritorious soldiers who accompanied you to the Western Regions have also been rewarded, just as you reported before."

Huo Xian was immediately happy, "So, my family's Feng Dan and others are also promising?"

Wei Deng rolled his eyes. One of the generals of the Marquis of Guanjun now has a title of marquis. What a great honor it is.

Look at how Huo Xian brought out two marquises since he went to war, and these are his confidants, not counting Li Guangli and others. The speed at which these marquises were appointed as generals is no worse than that of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing back then.

Huo Xian quickly asked, "Which ones are being sealed this time?"

Wei Deng said, "Li Ling was given the title of Marquis of Juncheng, Feng Dan was given the title of Marquis of Yuanqu, and Tan Jie was given the title of Marquis of Chengxi. You and the others were given additional fiefs. It's quite impressive to have three marquises in one battle, as well as seven Nine Ministers and county governors."

There is nothing wrong with this. With three more marquises, the title has reached the top. And with seven high-ranking officials at the level of Nine Ministers and County Governors, this is also a high-ranking official that many people think is out of reach.

As for Huo Xian, Gongsun Ao, Zhao Anguo, Li Guangli and others who already had titles, they were naturally given additional fiefs.

The fiefs of these three newly-appointed marquises basically ranged from a few hundred to more than a thousand households, which was also the standard treatment for a marquis.

Huo Xian couldn't help laughing and said, "This is also a good thing. Now that I have so many marquises, they should follow me to fight."

Wei Deng was speechless, because no matter whether it was Li Guangli or Li Ling, they were all appointed as marquises and generals following Huo Shan, which was also considered to be bound. If they really did not recognize Huo Shan as their "benefactor", they would be despised.

The most important thing is that no matter whether they are willing or not, if they go to fight the Huns in the future, they will most likely be placed under Huo Xian's command and have to strictly follow some military orders.

Whether it was Li Ling, who had some conflicts with his father, or Li Guangli, who once threatened Wei and Huo, they were all quietly labeled with the word "Huo".

Even if they were at the outermost edge, even if they didn't really agree with each other, only the parties involved understood this. The common people in the world didn't know this, they only knew that they were given the title of Marquis through fighting as Champions.

The so-called enemies have now become Huo Xian's subordinates. This is quite interesting to talk about.

Wei Deng couldn't help but look at Huo Xian more. He felt that this nephew was really amazing. Others only saw him as flamboyant and dandy, but those who had contact with him privately knew that it was just an illusion.

This child is very thoughtful and has a very sophisticated way of doing things. As expected, he has grown up with His Majesty. Sometimes he does things in a completely overbearing style and does not allow anyone to resist.

Wei Deng stopped talking nonsense and said, "It's time to take me to see His Majesty. Now many people are saying that you, the Champion Marquis, are domineering. If you want to see His Majesty, you need your permission."

"You've made me not only a flatterer, but also a treacherous minister." Huo Xian said unsatisfiedly, "I'm not Li Si or Zhao Gao. My reputation has been ruined by people like you."

Wei Deng urged, "I don't have time to waste time talking to you. Take me to see His Majesty quickly. I have to go back after the performance."

Huo Xian rode a horse and took Wei Deng to see the emperor. As expected, the emperor met Wei Deng once and then sent him back. Everyone was used to this.

Even though they are all descendants of meritorious officials, it does not mean that Liu Che likes every descendant of a meritorious official. Wei Deng is not bad. He can occasionally speak in front of the emperor and his name can be remembered by the emperor.

More meritorious officials, who were just living off their ancestors' wealth, had no impression on the emperor. Perhaps when the emperor needed to start reducing the court titles, he would remember that there were still such people.

For example, if Tao Hou and others were suddenly remembered by the emperor, that would not be a good thing.

After Wei Deng left, Liu Che said with some emotion, "We left Chang'an at the beginning of spring, and now when we come back, it's almost summer."

Huo Xian smiled and said, "Not only that, the current Chang'an is not only different in scenery, but also in many aspects of the court structure."

Liu Che pointed at Huo Xian and said with a smile, "You are playing dumb. You have been playing dumb all the time. To believe that you are just a flamboyant person with no scheming is a fool!"

Huo Xian said to Liu Che proudly, "Your Majesty, I have always been smart, and Your Majesty knows it better than anyone else. But some people think that Your Majesty likes me only because I am the son of the Marquis of Guanjun. Those people are ridiculous!"

"Then continue to play dumb. This is good for both you and me." Liu Che said with a smile, "You don't need to be smart now. It's the best thing for you if others look down on you."

Huo Xian nodded quickly and said flatteringly, "Your Majesty, in this case, I will continue to eat, drink and have fun after returning to Chang'an, and I will not attend court, is that ok?"

Liu Che was stunned for a moment, then laughed ridiculously, "You are playing tricks on me! You are using all your clever tricks on me! Okay, if you want to go to court, then go. If you don't want to, then don't go!"

Then Huo Xian would definitely not choose to go to court on his own initiative. Being lazy is one thing, but it also allows him to avoid some right and wrong, and this is what makes him happiest.

What's more, he can clearly grasp some situations in the court without attending court, and he has many reliable channels to know some trends.

Staying away from the court, you can also observe things better!
Huo Xian was very proud. He really didn't need to rush to show his presence in the court. His presence was very noticeable. (End of this chapter)