Thousands of miles southeast of Chang'an is the feudal state of King Huainan.
There is an alchemy pavilion deep in the grand mansion, which is used for alchemy.
The dignified old man sat behind a low mat, holding a bamboo scroll in his hand, stroking his beard and reading, and occasionally glanced at the red-fired alchemy furnace in the center of the room, which was quite comfortable.
"Your Majesty, there are news from the north and Chang'an." A middle-aged man walked in with a sword on his waist.
"Say."
The old man is Liu An, King of Huainan and uncle of Emperor Liu Che.
His eyes were reserved, still looking at the bamboo slip in his hand.
"News from the north says that Huo Qubing was injured on the battlefield, but he is fine and has returned to Chang'an?"
The middle-aged attendant said:
"There is a current rumor in Beiguan that if Huo Qubing reaches the realm of heaven and human beings, he is expected to become a god general who can destroy the country. The Huns will be greatly affected, so the Huns Shaman Enchi personally took action."
King Huainan straightened up: "The Xiongnu shaman Enchi has the ability to communicate with ghosts and gods. I'm afraid he saw something we don't know.
However, this praise seems to be too high."
The middle-aged man responded: "There is another possibility that Enchi has other plans and introduced Huo Qubing to cover up his true purpose?"
The King of Huainan nodded slightly, obviously having a similar judgment.
The middle-aged man said: "There is also news from Chang'an. Lord Liu Ling said that the Crown Prince sent people to Beiguan to kill Huo Qubing, but unfortunately they failed. The whereabouts of Li Shang who was sent is still unknown."
Huainan King Liu An’s talents and fame were passed down to later generations.
But it is also well known that he doted on his eldest son Liu Qian and his youngest daughter Liu Ling.
When he heard that his son sent people to kill Huo Qubing, although he disagreed, he sighed: "Qian'er has been in Chang'an for several years, and it has been difficult.
Go and send an edict to ask him to return to Huainan, and see if he can be released there."
The King of Huainan means to let his son leave Chang'an and return to the Huainan Kingdom. This is also a test to know Liu Che's attitude.
The middle-aged man bowed and retreated, and the alchemy room became quiet.
The King of Huainan thought for a while, took out a blank bamboo slip, and wrote: "What are your plans?"
Strangely, a line of writing appeared on the bamboo slip, which responded: "The Huns and Han will fight again in the near future, and we can wait for the opportunity. The Huns have begun to prepare, and the grassland will engulf the Han army.
Once the Han Dynasty is defeated, Huo Qubing's fate will be shattered. His Majesty who is in charge of Chang'an has been planning for many years, but in the end it will only be in vain."
Changes in handwriting: "You should start, give things to the Xiongnu, and then wait and see how things change."
"Is Huo Qubing so important that you personally kill him?" King Huainan asked.
"His life and death will not affect the victory or defeat of the Han and Hungarians..." The writing on the bamboo slip disappeared.
————
"Why did the princess climb over the wall at night?"
Huo Qubing blinked and looked at Liu Qing who climbed over the wall.
She wears a dark-colored Hanfu with closed sleeves. The lower skirt is lifted up and pinned into the girdle to facilitate walking and movement. The inner skirt is soft, vaguely revealing her long, straight and well-proportioned legs, and her figure is graceful.
Her Royal Highness seemed to be very excited by the move over the wall. She jumped down from the wall and patted her chest out of breath: "I have something to ask you for, so no one knows about it."
"Let's talk in the room." He followed Huo Qubing to the study.
The big cat also jumped down from the eaves and landed in Liu Qing's arms. It cocked its neck and looked at Huo Qubing, meaning: You have another horse, and I am not bad either. I have a wet nurse.
Huo Qubing ignored it, and it raised its paws to try to attract attention.
"What's the matter with the princess coming here in person?"
"When you were attacked in Beiguan, I was actually on the battlefield in Beiguan."
Liu Qing took out a mirror and flicked it with his hand.
A Taoist talisman appeared on the mirror, reflecting a big bird with colorful wings, which was quite beautiful.
"Is this the bird where the princess divides her soul?"
Huo Qubing glanced at Liu Qing.
This princess has a long history of dividing her soul and relying on animals to travel around the world. She is a habitual offender.
In a sense, this can be regarded as a thousand incarnations.
The image that appeared on the mirror changed. Liu Qing transformed into a big bird. It flapped its wings and flew in a certain direction. It was suddenly attacked by an unknown force. Its neck was broken in flight and blood spattered.
"At that time, I divided my soul and controlled the bird to go to Beiguan, overlooking the battlefield."
Liu Qing snorted softly: "Not only was the neck of the bird that my divided soul rested on, but there was also a force secretly using this bird to hurt my soul."
"You mean the secret writer?
His power is mysterious and powerful. You divided your soul into a bird at that time. Why would he hurt you? Unless...you are also looking for him?"
Huo Qubing immediately grasped the key: "Have you known about the existence of the secret writer?"
"That's right."
Liu Qing said calmly: "When you first attacked Zonghengdao, I entered the cave of Zonghengdao before you. The fundamental reason is related to this writer."
Huo Qubing: "Afterwards, you said that you participated in the Zonghengdao because of your master's order?"
"Yes, Zonghengdao is also related to the secret author. He also disguised his identity and lurked in our Taoist sect for more than ten years."
Liu Qing took a seat behind the low mat in the study, his thighs and calves overlapped, with full and round curves.
"He is dormant in Taoist Gate? What is his purpose?"
"Taozu's hand scroll!"
Liu Qing said: "He has been dormant for more than ten years. Not only did he learn many magical powers of our Taoist school, he also found an opportunity to steal the most precious treasure of our Taoist sect, the hand scroll written by Taoist ancestors."
I have a hand scroll handed down from generation to generation... Huo Qubing was surprised.
"This man is extremely tolerant. He has been hiding in our Taoist sect for more than ten years, and no one noticed anything unusual about him. It wasn't until he stole the scroll and disappeared that Master and others deduced some clues and suspected him.
But he had disappeared at that time, and we have been searching for him for all these years but have not been able to find him."
Liu Qingdao: "When I came down the mountain and returned to Chang'an, the only thing my master told me was to try my best to find the Daozu hand scroll."
"Master said that person should be cultivating the vertical and horizontal path, plotting to subvert the world, using the technique of vertical and horizontal manipulation, and stealing power to increase his practice."
Huo Qubing thought that this was quite appropriate. The secret man wanted to balance the situation between Han and Hungary.
"This person's treacherousness and deceit are rarely seen in ancient times. Master suspects that today's world is uneasy, and many things are related to him."
Liu Qingdao: "I didn't expect that he would personally deal with you.
This matter is quite unusual. With his forbearance, he will never waste time on useless things. He does not hesitate to take action personally. There must be something special about you that is very important and indispensable to him."
"So you came to me and wanted to work with me to find the author of the secret?"
Huo Qubing glanced at Liu Qing and said with some humor: "Is this why you climbed over the wall and came in?
Don’t you still doubt that the person in the dark can monitor you all the time, why should you be so careful when you come to my place?”
Liu Qing actually nodded with deep understanding: "That man's practice is weird. Unless I am in the palace, the core of the Han Dynasty's national destiny, his power cannot penetrate. Otherwise, it will be very simple for him to find someone." Huo Qubing couldn't help but laugh: "Are you sure he practiced the Zongheng technique?"
"It's just Master's judgment based on some signs.
He seems to have integrated the practices of the three major schools of Confucianism, Taoism, and Zongheng into one, forming his unique strength."
Liu Qing closed his eyes and said, "You have been in contact with him, do you have any other clues?"
"Why didn't you go to His Majesty for help instead of coming to me?" Huo Qubing asked without answering.
When Liu Qing saw Huo Qubing looking at him with dark eyes, he suddenly felt shy and subconsciously looked away:
"My master said that the military strategist is the master of killing evil and vandalism, and the Confucianists and political strategists are in conflict with each other. You are the most suitable person for this matter."
The two communicated for a while, and the princess made an appointment with Huo Qubing to exchange news, so she took the big cat over the wall and returned to the palace in high spirits.
Huo Qubing seriously doubted that the main purpose of her coming to him was not to experience the pleasure of jumping from house to house, and that of chivalrous women walking around the world.
After Liu Qing left, Huo Qubing also left Huo Mansion.
The night is dark.
South of Chang'an City, Huainan Palace.
Huo Qubing appeared outside the palace, and Yue Rao, Xiao Ying, and Song Ran also appeared outside the wall.
The military strategist has a strategy to alert the enemy and turn against the enemy.
When Huo Qubing comes over, he can also try his skills after breaking into the realm of heaven and humans.
In his sea of consciousness, snakes swallowed clouds and mist, and his whole person seemed to be surrounded by a layer of mist, disappearing silently into the darkness.
Ps: I beg you all to read along for a while. It will probably be available on the 1st. This period of following along is the lifeblood of the book. Please. This paragraph will be slightly adjusted and there will be a highlight...Thank you