The revival of the Han Dynasty must start with Dong Zhuo

Chapter 177 Volume Old Friend
Seeing that Xun You looked tired, Liu Xie took out something from his arms and handed it to Xun You.

"I was originally planning to give it to Weiyang Jun."

"This thing is called 'honeysuckle', and it is said to be unique to Longyou. If Gongda doesn't mind, please accept it."

It grows like a vine and does not wither in winter, so it is called honeysuckle.

However, the honeysuckle that Liu Xie gave to Xun You was used in a fancy way and made into a war horse that looked like it was flying on a swallow.

Xun You couldn't help but smile at this toy-like thing: "Since this thing is what Your Majesty wants to give to Lord Weiyang, I'm afraid it's not appropriate for me to hold it, right?"

"Nothing inappropriate."

Liu Xie put the wooden horse made of honeysuckle in Xun You's hands, and Xun You had no choice but to thank him.

But he didn't know why the emperor suddenly gave him this gift.

Liu Xie was not so sure: "I once received a gift when I was feeling down."

He reached for his waist inconspicuously, where a purse was hidden.

"I saw that Gongda seemed a little unhappy, so I thought of using this item to cheer him up."

"I also know that Gongda just came back from Liangzhou and is extremely tired. But the affairs of the court cannot be delayed after all. Winter is coming soon, and the people in Guanzhong and Longyou can't afford to be as capable as honeysuckle."

"The Han Dynasty is now experiencing a cold winter, and I and the nobles are like this honeysuckle, and can only persevere. But the cold winter will eventually pass, and then there will be flowers blooming all over the mountains and plains."

"I am the same as Gongda. Even if I can't help it, I have to endure it often. Now the court has pacified Yongliang and captured Hanzhong. But even so, the people of the thirteen states and eleven states of the Han Dynasty are still restless. The cold winter of the Han Dynasty has just begun. I hope Gongda will forgive me."

Xun You's hand holding the wooden horse trembled slightly.

He immediately knelt down and said, "I shouldn't have refused! I am guilty!"

Liu Xie quickly stepped forward and helped Xun You up: "What crime has Gongda committed? If he is guilty, then even if I, the emperor, blame it, it cannot be Gongda. Gongda does not need to do this."

The shame on Xun You's face after he was helped up not only did not fade, but became even more severe.

"Gongda, just do your best on this trip. Apart from busying yourself with trivial matters, it would be best if you go and thank Liu Jingzhou on my behalf. If it weren't for his food, Guanzhong would not have been able to survive until today."

Xun You kept in mind every word Liu Xie said, and the last bit of resentment in his heart towards the court and Jia Xu seemed to disappear at this moment.

"Your Majesty's order!"

"I will definitely not let down your Majesty's teachings today, nor will I let down Lord Weiyang's gift."

……

"Where did the gift come from?"

Dong Bai suddenly appeared out of nowhere, scaring the king and his minister so much that their heartbeats slowed down.

"Can't you just come in through the front door? Isn't there a guard at the side door?"

"Yes! But they don't dare to stop me!"

Dong Bai was very proud. He rushed over and kept signaling Liu Xie: "Where is the gift? Where is the gift?"

However, when Dong Bai saw the extremely shabby and ugly wooden horse in Xun You's hand, his eyes turned dim.

"Forget it. I'm leaving now."

It was as if three of his seven souls had been scattered, and Dong Bai had completely given up on the aesthetic taste of a certain emperor.

However, Dong Bai, who had walked to the door, suddenly turned back, and Xun You also left tactfully, but before leaving, he carefully put the wooden horse in his arms, fearing that it would be damaged in any way.

Dong Bai turned back because he remembered that he had come to find the emperor for some important business, so he asked Liu Xie:

"Your Majesty, can you agree to one condition of mine before going to Lintao?"

"As long as it's not too costly, it's fine."

What a waste of time and money!

Dong Bai jumped up, put his hands on his hips and said, "Does your majesty think that I am a person who only knows how to play and enjoy luxury?"

Liu Xie did not answer.

But a pair of dead fish eyes says it all...

Dong Bai's big eyes suddenly began to ooze tears, and his cheeks bulged up at a speed visible to the naked eye, just like a hamster.

"no……"

Cai Yan is not in Shanggui now, but there is really no one who can coax Dong Bai.

So Liu Xie had no choice but to put his palms together, raise them above his head, and pray devoutly to the White God: "Don't mention one condition, even if it's ten conditions, I will agree to them!"

That's pretty much it!
Dong Bai retracted his magical power and whispered to Liu Xie: "Can we not use the emperor's ceremonial guards when we go to Lintao this time? That thing is really an eyesore."

Liu Xie looked at Dong Bai in surprise.

It is naturally a good thing not to use the emperor's ceremonial guard, and it also saves the people from trouble.

But when did Dong Bai start to like the White Dragon Fish Costume?

Liu Xie thought about it and thought it was feasible.

"It's only seven days anyway. It would be faster to travel with light cavalry."

Although he didn't know Dong Bai's intention, Liu Xie, who liked to keep things simple, seemed to have no reason to refuse.

Leaving Gao Shun to guard the Shanggui camp, Liu Xie and Dong Bai led only a few dozen cavalrymen to Lintao.

The original intention was to let Lu Bu stay behind.

But Lu Bu refused to do so, and said that he was the adopted son of the Grand Tutor after all, and it was his responsibility to go to the Dong clan temple to pay homage.

Since Lu Bu is going, Zhang Liao must go too!

Zhang Liao wants to go, and Zhang Xiu also wants to go with him!
When Ma Teng saw that all the people he knew in the military camp had left, he thought it would be inappropriate not to follow them given his status, so he followed the emperor as well.

When Xu Huang saw that Ma Teng was about to go, he immediately became suspicious and followed him.

In the end, only Gao Shun, an honest man, was left to look after the Shanggui camp...

Since Dong Bai set out on his journey home, he was like a colt that had broken free from its reins, galloping freely on the road. Xu Huang rode his horse to guard Dong Bai, keeping an eye on all directions, especially Ma Teng who was right beside the emperor, who was the object of his special attention.

It was also the first time that Ma Teng saw the emperor up close.

After all, the two had met each other in battle before at Meiwu, so Ma Teng felt somewhat uneasy.

However, Liu Xie just brushed it off and started greeting Ma Teng's sons.

Ma Chao, in particular, was the focus of Liu Xie's questioning.

When Liu Xie heard that Ma Chao had secretly stolen Ma Teng's military token, he was also moved by Ma Chao's filial piety.

"Your son is really brave!"

Ma Teng thought the emperor was teasing him and smiled bitterly.

"My son is like that. I'm afraid he will get into trouble in the future."

"If something serious happens in the future, I'm afraid it will bring trouble to the clan."

Ma Teng looked at Liu Xie secretly, wanting to see how the emperor would react and whether he was willing to make a promise to him and Ma Chao.

"Making trouble? Making trouble is good!"

Those who dare to cause trouble are all talented!
Liu Xie laughed and said, "If your son were in the Han area, among the scholars, he would naturally be very unpopular."

"But if the Han Dynasty can restore its former glory in the future, it will naturally open up the Western Regions. By then, whether it is your son or Fa Zheng and Meng Da, who hit it off with your son, I'm afraid they will all be given the position of Protector General!"

Ma Teng was somewhat shocked by Liu Xie's tone.

"Your Majesty has actually begun to think about how to manage the Western Regions?"

"Sooner or later."

Yongliang has been settled, and the Han Dynasty will sooner or later extend its hand to the Western Regions.

Haven’t you seen that the nearest Shanshan Kingdom has already sent envoys to the Han Dynasty?
Moreover, the Western Regions have been an inseparable part of the Han Dynasty since ancient times. If one talks about "restoring the Han Dynasty", what is the point of reviving it if one does not regain control of the Western Regions?
"When Ma Chao, Fa Zheng, Meng Da and others have been trained in Liang Province, it will be the right time for them to be put to use, so the Weiwei really doesn't need to worry."

Ma Teng felt a little relieved.

Although the emperor did not make any promises such as a "golden medal of immunity from death", one can tell from his words that he still admires Ma Chao very much.

Since the emperor likes him, Ma Chao will surely not be punished for no reason.

"How pitiful the hearts of parents in the world are."

Liu Xie's sigh resonated with Ma Teng.

At the same time, Ma Teng was also sure that the emperor would not pursue the previous events, which made Ma Teng finally put his mind at ease.

~~~
The sky in Lintao is very blue.

A few clouds occasionally appear in the sky, but disappear in a flash.

Dong Bai arrived at the gate of Lintao City, where there were few pedestrians. Next to it stood an old locust tree that had no buds.

There is a thatched hut under the old locust tree.

Inside the straw hut, there was an old man with a broken arm, leaning against a tree and taking a nap.

"Uncle Li! I'm here to buy some wine!"

Dong Bai actually remembered this person's name.

The one-armed old man opened his eyes and looked at Dong Bai for a long time before he asked uncertainly, "Are you Uncle Jun Ya's child?"

Dong Zhuo's father was called Dong Junya.

Even in Lintao County, there are not many people who remember this name.

"Yes! Exactly."

"Come to buy your grandfather some wine?"

"Well, my grandfather didn't go back to his hometown. He used to like drinking this wine the most. Let's buy some back for him to try."

The one-armed old man swung his only remaining arm and said, "I remember that Zhongying's favorite wine should be the wine brewed by my father. The taste of my wine is far inferior to my father's."

He skillfully poured the fine wine that Dong Bai had requested into the wine jug, handed it to Dong Bai, and warned him just as he had seven or eight years ago: "Children must not drink wine secretly!"

"I'm not a kid anymore!"

The one-armed old man said nothing.

But later, he asked Dong Bai again: "How is Zhongying doing recently?"

"Grandfather is now a high-ranking official. What a high-ranking official!"

"Really? I've heard from the villagers that Zhongying is a high-ranking official, and many young men have gone to seek refuge with him, but I haven't seen many of them come back in recent years."

The one-armed old man scooped a spoonful of wine for himself: "Where are those people? Are they still there?"

Dong Bai shook his head blankly, not quite sure who the old man was talking about.

"Forget it, what do you know, kid?"

The one-armed old man poured the wine into his throat and burped.

Then another warning: "Remember not to drink secretly! Children can't drink alcohol."

"I told you I'm not a kid!"

Dong Bai stamped his feet, took out a few copper coins from his arms and threw them in front of the one-armed old man, then ran away muttering something.

The one-armed old man silently put away the few copper coins, but after counting them he burst out laughing.

"She gave too little."

Liu Xie had stood in front of the straw hut without knowing when, and added a few more copper coins.

"I'm afraid the price of wine today is no longer the same as it was back then."

(End of this chapter)