Chapter 182: The State Has Its Lonely Ones

capabilities.Leave the rest to others!The Department of Celebration Fire, within the Hearth Shrine.The warriors guarding the stone tablet chessboard reported on the progress of the life-and-death game...There is a secret concerning Xi Mengfu's mansion, one that almost no one ever discusses publicly.

But at this moment, all those in Baohua Palace are the highest-ranking officials of Xia Country, naturally, they all know...

When Xi Mengfu was born, he had six toes on each foot. His biological parents considered him a deformed monster and threw him into the river...

...just happened to be rescued by a boatman.

The boatman was a widower who had lived alone on the boat his whole life, not caring about idle chatter. He adopted him then.

But the good times didn't last. When he was seven years old,

One day, a passenger on the ship saw his six toes and thought he was a monster's descendant. They wanted to tie him up and feed him to wild beasts.

The boatman came to intercept them, and was beaten to death.

He took advantage of the chaos to jump into the river and escape, then he went to report the incident to the authorities.

The man who killed the boatman said he was killing demons to protect the demon race, and that those who protected the demons deserved to die.

At that time, she was still called Xi San'er's child. She stripped herself naked in the hall and asked the adults present, where was she a demon

That official was a reasonable man. He sentenced the murderer to a just punishment.

What should be done with Xi San'er That was the difficult question.

The boatman is gone.

After much hardship to find his biological father, the other party firmly denied having given birth to such a thing.

The official had no choice, so he raised the child himself, considering him a servant.

But this period didn't last long.

By the time Xi San'er was nine years old... a fire broke out at the county government offices, and all the officials and their families were burned to death.

Only Xi San'er was out buying things at the time and escaped unharmed.

Some say he is a bringer of misfortune, that everyone who gets close to him dies a terrible death. Some say that it was he who burned down the official's family, that he harbors hatred in his heart and doesn't want to be a servant, but rather the son of the official...

Someone caught him to question him, but they couldn't find any evidence of wrongdoing and had to let him go.

And just like that, he was homeless again.

This time, no one dared to adopt him.

This matter somehow came to the attention of Emperor Xiaoxian of that time, who personally decreed that the child be sent to the National Academy.

"A country has its own people, and a country takes care of them."

Xi San'er read books and gave himself the name Xi Mengfu. He thought that he had a home, he was the eldest son of that family, so called "Meng", but he was also homeless, that widower lived on a boat all his life, so he took another "Fu" character. Hoping to have his own home.

Once upon a time, Emperor Xiaoxiang visited the National Academy and on a whim decided to test the students' knowledge.

The teacher selected six students in total and sent them to the emperor. Among them, there was no Xi Mengfu, who had the best performance.

Xi Mengfu naturally understood the reason for this.

A national academy is a place where scholars gather, but not all scholars are able to be discerning.

"Oddity" itself is a crime.

He had long since become accustomed to it.

But Emperor Xiaoxiang said that the selection by the teachers was not satisfactory. He didn't want to see the intricately woven flowers and brocades, but rather the thorns and wild grasses that grew on their own. He had the list brought over, covered the eyes of the prince accompanying him, and asked the young prince to randomly circle names.

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The young prince held a brush and selected seven students after circling ink.

Emperor Xiaoxiang personally took the exam after, he was very pleased because one student performed too well.

He patted the student's shoulder and said, "You are a fine talent of our Xia Kingdom."

This student knelt down and asked the emperor, "Do you know I have six toes on my foot"

Summer Emperor was taken aback and said, "I see. So do you have any special abilities you want to demonstrate to me"

This student is naturally Xi Mengfu.

Past events needn't be mentioned.

But Liu Xiyi's use of the term "Six-toed Thief" today is undoubtedly a grave humiliation to the Xi Mengfu household. It represents a significant denigration of his character and morality!

At that time, there were some civil and military officials who wanted to support Liu Xiyi. However, they all fell silent at once.

I dare not speak any longer.

On the throne to the right of the second-tier platform, King Yu Liyang of Min displayed an unnatural expression. After all, he had led five real people to besiege Jiang Mengxiong, only to return with nothing and even lost Taixia, a true monarch from the renowned Daoist family of Zhending...

Everything Xi Mengfu said seemed to be pointing out his flaws.

As for the six-toed thief and what Xi Mengfu couldn't speak of... those are insignificant matters.

On the left throne, King Wu Wang Ji remained silent with his eyes closed, already lost in contemplation.

On the highest throne, Xi Xiazi sat calmly, observing the officials and ministers below, just as he had for many years. He watched, but did not speak.

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And from within the beaded curtain hanging behind the throne, a majestic female voice suddenly rang out: "Minister Liu, you have disgraced yourself!"

Although Liu Xiyi had a fiery temper, he was extremely respectful towards the Empress Dowager. Especially now, he knew he had spoken out of turn. He bowed to the imperial throne and retreated back to his original position.

At this time, only Xi Mengfu stood alone in the center of the main hall. The light from the pearl at the apex of the ceiling shone on his figure, casting it onto the ground, like a soul that had given up struggling. He didn't speak for a while.

Of course, he remembered more details about his interactions with the former emperor back then.

For example, the prince who accompanied the former emperor at that time was later the Xia San Prince who was beheaded by the Severing Life Blade when he besieged Chong Xuan Chuliang within the borders.

For example, at that time he actually replied, saying, "I tried especially hard."

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And Emperor Xiaoxiang said, "This is the most special ability."

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For example... That night, he cried silently under the covers for a long time.

>

But now he says nothing.

The Empress Xia's voice continued, "Last year's decision at Jianfeng Mountain was made by the Empress and all the ministers together. What is appropriate for one time may not be appropriate for another. In retrospect, it seems unwise now. But if we can weather this storm, perhaps in ten or even a hundred years, it will once again be the right decision. Who has eyes to see the future Even the wise men of old made mistakes. Let us not dwell on past grievances."

She is not lacking the courage to admit her mistakes, but she cannot bring herself to do so.

Because this "mistake" was led by, Yu Liyang.

This was a result of Yu Liyang's failed counter-attack on Jianfeng Mountain, and Yu Liyang being repelled by Jiang Mengxiong. Even in the situation where he had the advantage of numbers, Yu Liyang couldn't even protect Taihua!

It is not a mistake to be unable to beat Jiang Mengxiong, but Yu Liyang cannot escape responsibility for his lack of clarity about the situation and misjudgment of his own strength!

But...

King Wu of Min, Yu Liyang, attained the status of True Immortal in the 17th year of Emperor Shenwu. For a long time, he has been regarded as the hope for the rise of Xia during the Shenwu era—how could the emergence of a new True Immortal not be a sign of prosperity if a nation could still nurture such individuals

He once gave the Xia people too much confidence and courage, and he was also one of the two true Jun of the Dao in Xia, the root of resisting Qiang.

How can we blame the pillar that supports heaven for what has already happened

Summer Empress's voice was melodious and amiable, with an innate nobility and majesty imbued within it. For countless years, she had always given people a sense of inner peace and strength.

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With these words, she put an end to the matter of Jianfeng Mountain.

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"Then she added, "Negotiation is out of the question. It's not that I am unwilling to give up the country. The foundation laid by the late Emperor, I have guarded it for him for thirty-two years. If we meet in the afterlife, I will not feel ashamed before him. But you lords, may I ask, what kind of man is Jiang Shu"

"Back then, he insisted on conquering Xia, ignoring all opposition. Many countries sent him letter after letter, but he feigned compliance while marching forward. He only withdrew his troops once the Yitian Guan was truly completed. He wasn't persuaded back by us; he was driven back by us!"

“This time, he first secretly undermined Cao Jie, helping Mu Guo capture Liyuan City and instigating the conflict between Mu Jing and Jing Guo. Then, in Xingyue Plain, he battled with Jing Guo and won the Tianjiao competition, forcing Jing Guo to withdraw from Yitian Guan. Step by step, he has reached this point. Choosing the moment when the war between Mu Jing and Jing Guo erupts, he leads a hundred thousand troops eastward. Is his determination not clear enough”

“His ambition to devour the heavens has long been evident.”

What he wants isn't just one or two cities, nor one or two prefectures. He wants the most fertile lands of our twenty-one prefectures in Great Xia, he wants the accumulated history of our Great Xia over a thousand years.

"As long as my Great Xia Empire stands, he will find it hard to sleep soundly!"

Summer Empress's voice echoed in the Baohua Palace, giving everyone a sobering realization and shattering the remaining fantasy of seeking peace through territorial concessions.

“The Empress Dowager is wise!”

The commander of the Zhen Guo Army, Long Jiao, stepped forward.

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This was a valiant Han, born with a majestic countenance. Even in this Treasured Flower Palace, he was the most imposing of them all.

He has a tenacious air, giving the impression of being indestructible.

"At this moment, Ci said: "Jiang Shu is a wolf with ambition that knows no bounds. His greed is insatiable. If we want him to retreat, we must make him understand that the Xia Kingdom, this hard bone, will shatter his teeth!"

He raised his head and faced the supreme ruler of the entire Xia kingdom: “Today, I come clad in armor, ready to march at any moment! Should I die in battle, I ask for no coffin. Let horses trample upon my body, and let my flesh and blood mingle with the soil of Xia!”

“What a formidable Dragon Reef!” Empress Xia’s voice echoed from behind the beaded curtain. “Truly worthy of being a renowned general of our Great Xia, living up to your name!”

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By comparison, Xi Mengfu's timidity becomes all the more apparent.

In the gaze of many ministers, Xi Mengfu's face remained unchanged, as if he didn't know what shame was. He only said: "It is easy for a Xia Dynasty general to die. Thirty-two years ago, many died. But how difficult it is to build a strong army for Xia! General Long, if you die in battle, just trample on your body and end it all. If the Zhen Guo Army collapses, how will you teach me"

After Liu Xiy's slip of the tongue, the Xi Mengfu faction had clearly become more aggressive in their words.

Long Jiao turned to face him, still showing him a measure of respect: "Grand Master, whether we go to war or not depends entirely on the Empress Dowager's word. All I can say is that if it comes to war, I will die without regret. My 100,000 soldiers under my command, bearing the name of 'Guardian of the Nation', dare not die before their country falls!"

Xi Mengfu nodded slightly in respect, then said, "I respect your courage, but your death does not solve the problem. The defeat of one hundred thousand Zhen Guo troops is a huge problem in itself!"

“Dare I ask, National Teacher!” Duke Zhou Ying of Fengguo stepped forward at this moment: “What do you think could solve the problem”

As the head of the prestigious Zhou family, a renowned clan in Xia, Zhou Ying was considered an esteemed figure alongside Taihua. He naturally had the confidence and standing to question the Xi Meng Mansion.

He also didn't mince words.

“Cut a city”

"A tax bureau"

"Table of Gains and Losses"

"Emperor's Cut"

He took a step forward and asked.

The more intense it becomes, the more fierce it gets.

His words were as sharp as swords and as piercing as arrows.

"Like the ruler of Zhao who wagged his tail and begged for mercy, 'I wish to be a marquis along with you'"

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Or perhaps—

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He walked up to Xi Meng's residence, almost touching him: "Do you have to wait until you become the state master of Qi before the problem is solved"

His eyes were already frighteningly cold, and he sneered: "It seems we are not considering the same problem!"

The atmosphere inside the main hall had become extremely solemn.

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But at this time, another voice chimed in: "It's a pity that the State of Qi is too large. With Xi Zhenren's abilities, it seems unlikely that he could become the state teacher!"

The speaker is Guangping Hou Li Fu.

Although He Li Fu was not a contemporary figure, the He family had a long and rich history. As an hereditary marquis, he was not short of confidence in facing the Xi Meng mansion.

Yang Linghou Xue Chang coldly said, "What are you thinking, Guangping Hou! Qi Guo doesn't have a position called 'national teacher' at all!"

“I think I misunderstood.” Li Fu repeatedly apologized, then feigned confusion: “What are some people trying to achieve The imperial court has shown great kindness and rewards. Would it really raise ungrateful people”

Long Jiao had fought for the country for many years, his numerous achievements forged in blood. He was also low-key and modest, enjoying a good reputation in both court and the public. Despite his valiant heart, he was relentlessly pressured by Xi Mengfu's family.

It's really unbearable.

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Even those who previously thought Liu Guoxiang's words were too harsh now found it impossible to sympathize with Xi Mengfu.

For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar.

From Duke Ping of Fengguo, Zhou Ying, to Marquis Li Fu of Guangping, and then to Marquis Xue Chang of Yangling, each one's words became increasingly intense.

Longjiao, at this point, remained silent. As he had said himself, he only had the determination to fight to the death and no desire aimed at anyone in particular.

While Xi Mengfu just quietly watched these people, waiting for them to finish speaking and scolding each other, before saying: "It seems that you all think that seeking peace is not a viable option."

As he spoke, his eyes swept over the assembled officials, as if seeking the opinion of each one.

Seeing that he seemed remorseful, Zhou Ying coldly snorted: "Throughout history, I haven't heard of anyone who could come seeking forgiveness and be granted it!"

“Oh, I see.” Xi Mengfu nodded, as if he had indeed been persuaded.

Then he said, "Since reconciliation is impossible, this old man has one more plan!"

“The Grand Tutor may speak freely,” Empress Xia’s voice came from behind the beaded curtain. “What is called a court discussion is to speak one's mind and argue clearly for right and wrong. Regardless of what others think, this empress is willing to hear your opinion.”

Then Zhou Ying, Li Fu, and Xue Chang all fell silent.

And Xi Mengfu, standing in the middle of the hall, said first: "I believe you all already know about Hou An Guo's trip to Chu and his return without any achievement."

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An Guohou Jin Ling, as the emperor's envoy, went to Chu. Chen said, citing the relationship of "lips and teeth," requesting military aid from Chu. Since after Xingyueyuan, he had already begun...

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But Chu seemed not to care who their neighbor to the east was, or perhaps they had other plans. In any case, they remained unmoved.

This is also one of the reasons why there are dark clouds hanging over Xia Guo.

Looking around the world, there really isn't anyone who can stand up to Qi...

Xi Mengfu said in a loud voice: "I believe that Chu Fei cannot come to the rescue because An Guohou's son is not right! It is necessary to cede all the land south of Huaiqing Mansion to Emperor Chu. In this way, when the Qi army arrives from the south, will they fight or not When the Chu army comes from the west, will they defend or not Let the two tigers fight each other, and our Great Xia will be worry-free!"

In the Hall of Treasured Flowers, all the officials looked at each other in astonishment.

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