In February of the 15th year of Jianxing, the cavalry general Wei Ba came to Miudao again, and with him came ten giant ships and 30,000 naval troops.
Elk Island became a large military camp.
During the period when Wei Ba was dormant in Jiaozhou, there was no big move on Miudao. It was more of a commercial base with armed protection than a military base. Businessmen traveling from south to north rested and did business at this time.
The goods coming from Jiaozhou, Jingzhou and even Yizhou are unloaded here, and then loaded with raw silk from Qingzhou and Yanzhou, velvet antler, ginseng and mink skins from Liaodong, and then return to the south or the Yangtze River.
Mi Fang was mediocre in fighting, but he was very savvy in business. Miudao was well organized under his management. It can be said that business was booming all over the world, and the wealth was abundant in Sanjiang. Miudao was almost replacing Luoyang and became the most important big city north of the Yangtze River.
City. This emerging city has little impact on important cities south of the Yangtze River such as Wuxian and Jiangling, but it has a profound impact on traditional northern cities such as Luoyang, Handan, Linzi, and Jixian.
In Wei Ba's plan, Miudao functioned not only as a naval base, but also as a blood pump that sucked the financial blood of Wei State and caused Wei State to unknowingly fail.
Not many people know how much money Mi Fang has earned over the years. They only know that the services Mi Dao can provide are getting better and better. Mi Dao has more and more merchant ships and is getting bigger and bigger.
The cost of carrying it is getting less and less. Let nature take its course, more and more merchants are willing to take his cargo ship to Miudao to trade. Even the governor of Wei State, Chen Tai, governor of Youzhou, Pei Hui, governor of Jizhou, and governor of Yanzhou,
Zhong Yu and Wang Ling, the governor of Qingzhou, came up with various methods, but still could not stop this trend.
Money is like water, and businessmen pursue profit, and it is as pervasive as water. It cannot be blocked by interception alone, and Wang Ling and others are also somewhat powerless to compete with Mi Dao for profit.
A considerable part of the money Mi Fang earned was used to support the navy under Xia Houxuan and strengthen Mi Island. After several years of management, Mi Island has become an unsinkable super ship.
Wei Ba toured the entire island and was very satisfied with the work of Mi Fang, Xia Houxuan and others. Before Wei Ba came, Xia Houxuan was the general manager here. After several years of war tests, he has changed from a famous scholar to a
A general with both civil and military skills, he has a dark face and a strong body. His voice is loud and clear, and he always gives people the excitement of commanding operations.
Seeing Xia Houxuan, Xia Houhui was filled with emotion. Xia Houxuan looked more and more like his father Xia Houshang.
Probably because of the blood relationship, Wei Zheng also fell in love with Xia Houxuan all of a sudden. He kept chattering and asking questions like a little tail, which made Wei Ba a little jealous.
"How come my son is so close to you? You haven't met him very often."
"My nephew is like my mother's uncle." Xia Houxuan smiled, held Wei Zheng on his lap and sat down: "It's just because we don't see each other often that we kiss him specially."
"What about yourself?" Wei Ba asked calmly: "You are now twenty-eight this year, and your career is successful. It's time to marry a real wife and live a good life. Do you have someone you like?"
Xia Houxuan smiled: "I have been busy with wars these years, and I have been in some wild places. How can I talk about marriage? Wait a few more years, wait for the world to be peaceful, and it will not be too late to marry again. If it doesn't work,
Anyway, I took a concubine and gave birth to two sons and a daughter. When the time comes, I will choose one of them as my heir."
"Is there anyone around you who likes you?" Wei Ba asked again.
Xia Houhui suddenly had an idea. She glanced at Wei Ba, who blinked his eyes. Xia Houhui suddenly woke up as if from a dream. He couldn't help but feel his scalp numb and almost shed tears. Xia Houxuan saw it and asked with concern:
"Airong, what's wrong with you?"
"It's nothing. It's nothing." Xia Houhui hurriedly concealed her smile, lowered her head, and wiped the corners of her eyes. She walked to Xia Houxuan and pulled Wei Zheng off Xia Houxuan. At the same time, she winked at Xia Houxuan.
Xia Houxuan didn't understand what he meant, but Wei Zheng shouted: "I want to be with uncle, I want to be with uncle."
"Don't make trouble. Uncle wants to talk to dad about business. You go and accompany Aunt Guan and Aunt Lan. Go quickly."
Wei Zheng pouted, saluted, and ran away quickly.
Xia Houxuan was a little surprised: "Mrs. Guan and Miss Lan are here too?"
"Well, let's take it out to relax." Wei Ba said with a bad smile: "My sister Yinglan is not young anymore. The last marriage with the Li family was disturbed by the Prime Minister, and she has not married yet. I am a little embarrassed at home.
Why don't you come out with me to relax. Alas, this girl is good at everything, but she doesn't do her job properly and doesn't learn about female celebrities or anything like that. She likes to talk about mysteries, which is really annoying."
"What's wrong with talking about metaphysics and Taoism? How can she be a female celebrity in her own right?" Xia Houxuan said seriously.
Xia Houhui was almost crazy with anxiety and couldn't help but spit: "Did you have your brain damaged in the war and you still can't hear it now?"
Xia Houxuan was stunned for a moment, then turned red and stammered: "This... this... can't be right?"
"You're not your size!" Xia Houhui, who never said bad words, couldn't help but break the rules. He turned around and walked to Wei Ba, leaned on his shoulder and said: "Husband, this is all your fault. You must let him lead the army in battle."
.Look, when you are with those rough people, you become stupid."
"It's better to be stupid. You're too smart, but I'm worried." Wei Ba patted Xia Houhui's hand and said with a smile: "Taichu, I've made it clear. Just tell me what your attitude is. I, the girl of the Wei family, don't worry.
Marry, if you don’t like it, I can’t force you.”
"This... the orders of my parents and the words of the matchmaker. Although my father has passed away, my mother is still here. How about I ask my mother for instructions?"
Wei Ba nodded and agreed. Xiahouxuan's mother, Cao, was Cao Zhen's sister. Xiahoushang died, but Cao was still there. During the years when Xiahouxuan's brother and sister were in Shuhan, they sent people to Luoyang every year to pay respects, but
I have never seen him. Even though Xia Houxuan led the army in battle, under Wei Ba's arrangement, he has not fought head-on with the Wei army so far. Coupled with Cao's background, her life in Luoyang was not easy.
, but no one dared to embarrass her.
It is true that Xia Houxuan is one of the founders of metaphysics, but he still abides by the moral habits of Confucianism. It does not matter if he takes concubines. If he wants to marry a wife, he must first obtain the consent of his mother Cao. However, this is just a formality. Cao
How could I not agree? This matter is almost settled.
Xia Houxuan doesn't have any good impressions of Wei Yinglan, but he doesn't have any bad feelings either. Considering the current situation, marrying Wei Yinglan as his wife certainly has only advantages and no disadvantages for the Xiahou family. Don't say that he doesn't hate her, even if he does, I'm afraid.
He will also happily obey.
On the hillside not far away, Wei Yinglan, who was holding hands with Guan Feng and admiring the scenery of Elk Island, was blushing. Wei Zheng had just told them what had happened. Wei Yinglan was shy and nervous, wrapping her fingers around the corners of her clothes, not knowing what to say.
good.
"Okay, your brother has come forward for you, and this matter is settled." Guan Feng patted Wei Yinglan's hot little face and said angrily: "Little girl, no wonder I am always so close to your sister-in-law. It turns out that the drunkard didn't mean it.
Wine."
"Sister-in-law, that's not what I meant."
"What does that mean? You dislike my sister-in-law for being uneducated?"
"Not at all." Wei Yinglan twisted her body and said shyly: "My sister-in-law and I are close because we have been together for a long time. You were living with your brother in Wuling at that time. How could I have the chance to see you? I followed you every day.
Ai Rong and sister-in-law are hanging out together, so of course we should be closer."
"There are quite a few reasons." Guan Feng said half-truthfully: "Little girl, I can tell you that this was not your brother's original plan. He had someone else in mind. When he came back this time, he originally planned to tell you.
I didn't expect that you already have someone you like. He didn't want to wrong you, so he didn't say anything. However, he was worried about you marrying Xiahou, so he told me. I advised him not to worry too much and waste your life, so he agreed to take your place.
You make the decision. When you marry Ruyilang, you can't forget my sister-in-law's contribution."
"Don't worry. Don't worry. If it happens, I will definitely not forget my sister-in-law's kindness. My sister-in-law is responsible for half of my brother's family."
"Glib tongue." Guan Feng pinched Wei Yinglan's nose and sighed: "It's really hard for your brother. I have been fighting with the Prime Minister for ten years, but I have never seen him put so much effort into it. I don't feel sorry for you, I feel sorry for you.
he."
"Yes, in these ten years, my brother seems to have aged thirty years."
Guan Feng was silent and let out a long sigh. She suddenly turned her head and saw Xia Houhui standing not far away, his eyes red, wiping tears with a handkerchief. She couldn't help being stunned and said: "When did you come?"
"I just came." Xia Houhui came forward, took Guan Feng's hand, called "sister", and already broke down in tears.
Guan Feng hesitated for a moment, then held Xia Houhui in her arms and patted her shoulder gently: "Okay, okay, it's my sister and I'm being petty."
"It's not that my sister is petty, it's that I'm too nervous. I'm careful about everything, for fear of making mistakes."
Wei Zheng raised his head and blinked, wondering what happened.
…
In the hall, Xia Houxuan spread out the map and said with enthusiasm: "Where are you going to take first?"
Wei Ba frowned slightly: "Tell me about the situation in Ta County first. My previous plan was to take Ta County first. Times have changed, and I don't know if this plan can still be implemented."
"The plan has indeed changed." Xia Houxuan smiled slightly: "After Chen Tai was appointed governor of Youzhou, he sent people to meet with Gongsun Yuan. Later, he contacted Wang Ling to increase troops in Yingzhou and Da County. But..." He paused.
, "Although there are changes, it does not affect our decision to take Ta County first."
Wei Ba raised his eyelids and looked at Xia Houxuan.
"I have made contact with Luoyang in accordance with your request. If you are still willing to keep your promise, he can give up Liaodong and even part of Qingzhou." Xia Houxuan roughly drew a straight line on the map: "Everything east of the Beihai can be given
With such great military exploits, you should be able to be crowned king."
Wei Ba was silent for a moment: "Isn't it possible?"
Xia Houxuan nodded: "The imperial doctor said that he will definitely not survive this summer. Now he is looking for witch doctors everywhere, and he is already in a hurry to seek medical treatment."
Wei Ba thought for a while: "It can only be Wei County or Qiao County, certainly not Jizhou. This is the way to create chaos."
Xia Houxuan lowered his head and said, "Okay, I'll convey your opinion to him."
Wei Ba added: "Don't worry about Luoyang's attitude. Ta County is based on self-improvement. Not only must we fight, but we must also show momentum. If we don't show some prestige, how can I prove myself."