Big man: I am the Champion Marquis!

Wei Qing had his concerns, and Huo Shan naturally had his own things to worry about.

In fact, everyone understood that the emperor's temperament was becoming more and more difficult to understand. Even Huo Xian, who was recognized as the confidant who could best guess the emperor's thoughts, did not dare to be overconfident at this moment.

In later words, Liu Che now seemed more and more like a lunatic. Who would dare to be careless in the face of such an erratic emperor?

After so many years of success, Liu Che had gotten used to the fact that everything was under his control and no one could go against his will.

Whether it is Wei Qing or Huo Shan, in essence, they cannot disobey the emperor's will, otherwise they will not escape a miserable ending.

The emperor was anxious to fight the Huns, not only because he was ambitious but also because he was superstitious. He needed more achievements to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, and only when he had such great achievements, unprecedented in history, could he continue to seek immortality.

Others were not clear about these principles, but Huo Xian was very clear about them. This was also the reason why he could only cautiously advise the emperor, who was now urging them to start the war intentionally or unintentionally.

If Huo Shan refused, the emperor could have used Li Guangli and others. This war was a reflection of the emperor's will, not something that Huo Shan would have led.

Wei Qing looked at Huo Xian and asked seriously, "I have carefully studied the number of soldiers and horses. If Li Guangli and others go to the grassland, they may encounter the main force of the Xiongnu."

Huo Xian was silent for a moment before he said, "There are always casualties in war. It would be best if all three armies win. But if one of them fails, it will be worth it as long as I can destroy the main force of the Xiongnu."

Although Huo Xian's words were cold-blooded and ruthless, Wei Qing could fully understand them. As a general, he was not an absolutely kind-hearted person. People would die in war, and no one knew this better than him.

"But in this case, you must win." Wei Qing's biggest worry was actually very direct, "If you can't find the main force of the Xiongnu and destroy their headquarters, it will be difficult for my Han Dynasty to defeat the Xiongnu."

Defeating the Huns was not the most direct approach, because neither Liu Che nor Wei Qing cared much about victories in some local battles; what they cared about was strategic victory.

If they could completely wipe out the Huns in one go, that would be their ultimate pursuit, and that is why they are now pushing forward with a decisive battle.

"I am also worried about this. I wanted to go around Tianshan Mountain so that I could attack the Right Wise King." Huo Xian said helplessly, "But that guy is also cunning. Not only did he block my way, he also counterattacked."

Wei Qing smiled. He and the emperor both knew that Huo Shan was planning to attack the Western Regions by robbing straw to catch rabbits. He wanted to go through the canyons and deserts and then directly attack the Right Wise King.

However, plans cannot keep up with changes. The most important thing is not to underestimate anyone. Even the Right Wise King of the Xiongnu is a powerful figure and will not give Huo Shan any opportunity to take advantage of.

The result was obvious. Huo Xian could not even get into the canyon, let alone the grassland. The Right Wise King did not gain any advantage either. He suffered a minor defeat in the surprise attack and basically lost the Western Regions.

Wei Qing thought for a moment and said, "We need to discuss these matters slowly. Let's make more preparations. Whether it's fighting or planning, we must not be impatient. We will act according to the situation."

Huo Xian definitely had no objection, as these seemed to be the most appropriate choices.

In the final analysis, the emperor was too powerful, so even the Grand Marshal and the Grand Marshal of the Cavalry did not dare to say anything more.

Even if we include the crown prince and the prime minister, it is useless because these two have noble status but no real power.

The power they hold is not even as great as that of the Queen. The Queen is still in charge of the arsenal. The weapons of the Yulin Army and the Qimen Army do not need the Queen's allocation, but the weapons and equipment of the Southern Army all depend on the Queen's mood.

Huo Xian whispered, "Your Highness is a little anxious. Pingyang Hou and the prince were a little close before. I noticed it, but I don't know how much Your Majesty knows now."

Wei Qing also became serious and said, "Last time you sent a message back, I went to the palace to discuss it with the Queen and the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince also knew that he was anxious, and he helped to clean up the matter later."

Huo Xian let out a long sigh and said, "Your Majesty is always testing me, fearing that I will get too close to the Crown Prince."

Wei Qing praised him, "You know your limits, so you don't have to worry too much. The prince also said last time that he got closer to Pingyang Hou only because you didn't want to get too close."

Huo Xian couldn't help but complain, "I'm not close to the prince? From childhood to adulthood, I have always told everything to the queen and the prince. If I wasn't trusted by His Majesty, I would have been punished long ago."

Wei Qing naturally understood Huo Shan's helplessness. In fact, Wei Zifu and Liu Ju had never doubted Huo Shan's position, nor did they worry about his loyalty.

But to be honest, they all thought that Huo Xian was just the emperor's confidant. And Cao Zong, that kid, had almost made it clear that he was supporting the prince, which was a fundamental difference.

Wei Qing asked again, "I have also carefully observed some people in the army. Many people do want to climb up, but I haven't found anyone who wants to replace you and me and threaten the crown prince yet."

Huo Xian scratched his face and crossed his legs. "What about the court? It is said that many ministers in the court admire the prince. Could it be those people?"

Wei Qing was also somewhat helpless. "The court is not like the army. You and I can investigate the army thoroughly. But the court is not like that. The crown prince and the prime minister do not have that much power. You also know that there are people in the army who are not convinced, let alone the court."

Huo Xian was speechless. The officers in the army basically knew their own limitations. The best they could do was become someone like Li Guangli or Gongsun Ao. It was impossible for them to replace Wei and Huo.

But it is hard to say in the court. Even those who seem close to the prince may not be on the same page with him.

Huo Xian also understood this truth and said with a smile, "I am going to use some excuses to do what the court judge should do. Your Majesty trusts me now, and I am not afraid of making Your Majesty unhappy because of these things."

Wei Qing weighed it carefully before saying, "No wonder you don't need the Queen to help us do something. You probably already have a plan in mind. You should be careful and don't make His Majesty unhappy."

Wei Qing knew his situation. Although he had high prestige and a special status, and was trusted by the emperor, he was also very aware that he had been idle for many years, and the emperor was wary of some things.

There is no need to say much about the Queen and the Crown Prince. They seem to have a stable position, but they are somewhat rootless and have to depend on the Emperor's mood.

Therefore, Huo Xian's status is special. After all, he is the emperor's number one confidant and the most important source of intelligence for the prince's party.

Huo Shan was fully aware of this, "I have known what to do and what not to do since I was young. Once Your Majesty is unhappy, I will definitely behave myself at the first possible moment. You can rest assured about this, uncle." Wei Qing certainly had no objection to Huo Shan's confidence. He always knew that Huo Shan was a smart man, and it was no exaggeration to say that he had a lot of knots in his heart. This child really knew what he should and should not do.

These two great Sima were having a secret conversation in the study. If you didn't know, you would think there was some conspiracy going on. Some of the topics they talked about seemed to include their dissatisfaction with the emperor.

However, both Wei Qing and Huo Shan were loyal to the emperor, but they also had their own opinions and positions on some things, and they were obviously not as obedient as Gongsun He.

They care very much about some matters concerning the Han Dynasty, and their position is also very clear when it comes to some matters concerning the prince.

These things are not only in their interests, but also in the interests of the Han Dynasty and Wei Huo.

Even a humble person like Wei Qing or a loyal person like Huo Shan could not be completely selfless. Liu Che was naturally aware of this, but he did not care much about it. The confident emperor believed that everything was under control.

If he really felt that some things were out of control, Wei Qing would not have been so high up in these years. If he felt that Huo Xian was unreliable, the emperor would not have liked this confidant as always.

After eating and drinking their fill, and having finished their meal, and talking about household matters and business matters, Huo Xian definitely needed to go home.

He was trotting on horseback in Chang'an City. It was estimated that some impeachments would be sent to the emperor's desk in a short while. It was certain that they would be kept in the palace and not issued. The emperor would not punish Huo Shan because of these things.

As soon as they left the city, Huo Xian immediately urged his horse and whipped it, and his followers also increased their speed. This small group of people galloped towards Shanglinyuan at full speed, and they advanced as fast as pigs along the way.

You'll get used to it. Not to mention the common people, even some dignitaries were very calm when they saw this team of people. After seeing it so many times, they naturally won't think there's anything strange about it.

Huo Xian felt relieved when he returned to the Marquis of Guanjun Mansion. "It's still more comfortable to be at home. I will close the door and refuse visitors today. I won't see anyone!"

Chen Sanlang said directly, "My Lord, I'm afraid this won't work. I've received a lot of visiting cards. Let's not talk about other people for now. It would be inappropriate to block the Marquis from entering the door."

Huo Xian thought about it and it made sense. It was indeed the case. "If An Guo is coming, let him come. He will definitely not be so ignorant of etiquette as to come today. Lei Dian, Yi Dangshi and others will come the day after tomorrow."

Chen Sanlang smiled and said, "My Lord, the Marquis of Piao said he would come in the afternoon and wanted to stay in the mansion for dinner."

Huo Xian looked ashamed to face others. "This An Guo is really rude. I don't bother to say anything to him. Come now. There's no need to rush for others to come."

Chen Sanlang couldn't stand it anymore when his own lord said others were impolite. It was obviously not just the pot calling the kettle black, but lying with open eyes!
But he obviously would not correct anything. If the Lord is willing to say so, then so be it. After all, the Cong Piao Marquis is a family member and will definitely not care about these jokes. If he really cared, he would not rush over.

As for other people, we need to send someone to deliver an invitation. They can only come the day after tomorrow. This is the agreed time. It would be impolite to come earlier.

Those who have not received an invitation should not come uninvited, otherwise they will not only make a fool of themselves, but the prince will definitely be unhappy.

Chen Sanlang was naturally very clear about who should come and who should not come. As the steward of the Marquis of Guanjun Mansion, he was not just a decoration, but still played a significant role.

Our own prince does not care about some red tape, but Chen Sanlang and others need to pay attention to it, so the invitations and other things must be sent out, so that people will not say that everyone in the Guanjun Marquis's Mansion is impolite.

Huo Xian doesn't care about so many things. With his status here, sometimes even if he doesn't pay much attention to etiquette, others will still praise him for being informal, and will say that the champion marquis is respectful to others and so on.

For Huo Xian, the most important thing now is to take care of some housework. After all, he has been away from Chang'an for a long time. Even if he listened to some brief important reports yesterday, he only knew some important things.

Now that you are clear about the important affairs of the court, you should now pay attention to your own Guanjun Marquis Mansion, your own estate, your troops, and so on.

These are all absolutely big things, not to mention that Huo Xian has never forgotten some of his scientific research and inventions.

Even though he suffered repeated setbacks, it did not change his determination. Money does not necessarily have to be spent on pleasure, it can also be used on some serious things.

Speaking of which, Huo Xian also felt that patent protection was very important. The curved plow was invented by him, and now it has become the emperor's "Tianhan Plow", which is another contribution to the emperor's civil governance.

He also created the Ma Sanjian and other weapons, but most of the credit was taken by the crown prince, and Huo Xian was at most an assistant.

Silage did have some reputation, but some people focused on it because Huo Xian and Gongsun Jingsheng had a falling out at that time.

Now the popular saying is that Guanjun Hou loves to eat and drink, so there are stir-fried dishes. It is also said that Guanjun Hou loves to eat pork, so he once bought out all the piglets in Chang'an.

Or the tables and chairs, etc., because the Champion Marquis did not like to kneel and sit, and thought it was troublesome to support his heels. This also made many great scholars who followed etiquette feel distressed, thinking that the Champion Marquis was indeed rude and too frivolous.

As for whether these people also made chairs in the palace privately, that is another matter. Anyway, the story of this champion marquis is widely circulated among the people. Fighting is one thing, and life is another.

There is no way. Huo Xian does not force these things, and he does not necessarily need everyone to understand him.

Chen Sanlang was carefully reporting all the big and small matters in the mansion. Chen Ju and others would occasionally add some information about the situation at the farm, and Huo Xian was listening carefully.

These are obviously not trivial matters. It would be unreasonable if you don't understand your own basic situation.

"Make arrangements to go and pay respect to Aung tomorrow." After hearing the story, Huo Xian said with a smile, "The four of you just follow me, and the rest of you can do whatever you need to do."

Chen Ju and the others had no objection. This had been the custom for many years. When the prince returned, the first thing he would do was to pay tribute to the general, and the four of them would accompany him.

Even Feng Xu, who had lost his legs, followed him. His goal was to be buried closer to Huo Qubing after his death. (End of this chapter)