Xue Shao planned to spend this winter at Niu Ben's house, including Chinese New Year's Eve and Spring Festival.

This made Niu Ben ecstatic. He was so happy that he danced up and down like a bear child, and immediately called his wife Shi Xiaomei and the Tuo Brothers who had been following him to welcome Xue Shao.

Xue Shao settled the troops for a while, and then took Xue Chuyu, Yuenu and Xuan Yunzi, as well as Liu Erniang and Bu Qu and others, to Niu Ben's house together.

A bit unexpectedly by Xue Shao, Niu Ben's family did not live in the mansion of a wealthy official of the fifth grade, but a nomadic tent. He chose his residence in a beautiful area near the foothills of Helan Mountain, cut down a large tree and built a large fence to raise cattle and sheep, and built three tall tents inside, which was his home.

Not far from Niu Ben's home, there are dozens of families living in tents, raising cattle and sheep like Niu Ben, and they are the Tutuo brothers who once followed Shi Xiaomei's brothers and sisters. They all crawled out of the pile of dead people in the Great Battlefield of Nozhenshui, and half of them were left with different disabilities. But they are close to each other and have never been separated, just like an ancient clan and tribe, naturally and harmoniously living together.

Niu Ben is undoubtedly their "tribal leader".

The "Liuhu Prefecture" under the rule of the Lingzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion has always been a fetters used by the Tang Dynasty and the Great Zhou Dynasty to settle the alien people, and there are often criminal prisoners who are exiled to the army, so the folk customs are very strong, and the people are fierce and even fierce. This put a lot of pressure on the security of the local government, but at the same time, it was also a place where excellent soldiers were produced.

Now, this special small tribe where the one-armed god general Niu Ben is located enjoys great prestige in the territory of Liuhu Prefecture. Last time, Xue Shao went out to Helong to conquer the Garqin Mausoleum, and Niu ran out and swayed around and pulled 3,000 elite cavalry, which is his ability.

Now Niu Ben and Shi Xiaomei still follow the behavior of the "Tuo Brothers", because it is particularly in line with the temperament of the Hu people living in Liuhu Prefecture. Many ethnic issues or public security problems that cannot be handled by local governments can be solved as soon as Niu Ben and Shi Xiaomei come forward. Therefore, don't look at Niu Ben as just a five-pin Guoyi lieutenant who manages the local military government, but the important role he plays in the Lingzhou Metropolitan Governor's Mansion is no less than that of Changshi Sima and others. The two governors of Lingzhou, Di Renjie and Tang Xiujing, both attach great importance to and tolerate Niu Ben, which is understandable.

Because of the arrival of Xue Shao, a distinguished guest, Niu Ben insisted on giving up the big tent in the main room where he lived, and set up a few new tents for Xue Chuyu and the tribal scouts to live in. The Tuoban brothers, who were scattered around, gathered with herds of cattle and sheep dragging carts of fine wine, and stuffed the cellar of Niu Ben's house with the fine wine and delicacies to be used for the winter. In the evening, when the bonfire was lit more than two feet high, the Taka brothers and their wives and children sang their folk songs and danced around the golden roast sheep. Countless fine wines were handed to Xue Shao, making him unable to refuse.

So, he got drunk, and was finally carried into the tent by the moon slave and Xuanyunzi.

Although they are not weak women, but to carry a drunk man like Xue Shao, Yue Nu and Xuan Yunzi are still tired and panting, and they are sweating.

"Tonight was a great one." Moon Nu wiped his face with a smile while wiping the sleeping Xue Shao, "It's been a long time since I've been so happy." ”

"Hopefully after tonight, he'll be in a bit more relaxed." Xuan Yunzi said, "Now is probably the most stressful and difficult time in his life. ”

Yuenu frowned, "No matter what, I will accompany him to the end." If one day we do have to die, I won't let him die before me. ”

Xuan Yunzi smiled slightly, "Don't say stupid things. ”

"I'm serious." Yuenu's expression was very serious, "No one can hurt him. Anyone. ”

"Yuenu, you are also a big man, why are you still as reckless and impulsive as when you were young?" Xuan Yunzi was a little joking, and said with a smile, "His enemy is so strong." How many people can you kill with a sword? ”

The moon slave gritted his teeth and looked a little unconvinced, but sighed again, "I know I'm stupid, not as smart as you." I only recognize one reason in my life, I only live for my son, he is everything to me. ”

Xuanyunzi was silent.

"Don't talk about it, let's sleep!" The moon slave fell down and went to sleep next to Xue Shao, pulled the futon covering Xue Shao's body a little to cover half of his body, and then closed his eyes and fell asleep.

"It's really neat." Xuan Yunzi said softly, walked to the couch next to him and lay down, covered the futon and closed his eyes.

At this moment, Xuan Yunzi suddenly longed for himself to be like the moon slave, and lay down beside Xue Shao without distraction, and the two of them fell asleep peacefully as soon as they closed their covers. When I woke up, I looked at each other in pairs, smiled sleepily, and started a new day.

But Xuan Yunzi knew in his heart that he could sleep next to Xue Shao, and he could do it now. But this simple happiness has always belonged only to the moon slave.

The cold wind blowing from the desert began to rage, and half of the mountains of Helan Mountain were already covered with snow.

A few days before the Chinese New Year, Xue Shao received the last secret letter of the year sent by Guo An.

The old prime minister, Cen Changqian, is already sick and can't get out of the government.

Wei Yuanzhong was demoted again.

The last time Wei Yuanzhong was demoted, he was innocently framed, and within a few days of being demoted, Xue Shao got him back, and the empress also acquiesced. But this time the situation was different, because Wei Yuanzhong was not on top of the court for the first time, openly refuting Erzhang's vain discussion of state affairs and interference in court affairs.

Wei Yuanzhong, as the middle of the imperial history, impeached officials for inappropriate remarks and illegal acts, which is his duty. The empress has always respected Geng Jie's ministers very much, and she tries her best to adopt those who can adopt the advice of the contrary, and rarely punishes those who do not adopt it.

But this time, Wei Yuanzhong actually aimed his gun at Erzhang, which undoubtedly touched Wu Zetian's scales. So he was defeated miserably, and he was directly demoted from the imperial history that held the power to the Jiupin county official in a remote and small county.

Push to the end, kill chickens and make an example of monkeys.

Although he only saw such a result, Xue Shao could imagine how fierce the struggle was in the capital now. Very early on, Wei Yuanzhong was only in charge of the Luoyang Order, and Xue Shao and Princess Taiping once came forward together to support him. Later, Wei Yuanzhong was demoted, and it was Xue Shao and Princess Taiping who worked together to move him back to the court, so that he could be reused. It can be said that everyone in the capital knows that behind Wei Yuanzhong, there are Xue Shao and Princess Taiping.

But now, Wei Yuanzhong was actually swept to the end.

This means that Xue Shao and Princess Taiping have been defeated for a while.

Guo An also mentioned in the letter that now the Zhang brothers and Wu Sansi and others have been closely united. Overthrowing Wei Yuanzhong was just a "tentative" attack on their part. This victory has boosted their confidence, and their next target is likely to be the Feng Pavilion Squire who is about to enter the cabinet to worship the Prime Minister, Yao Yuanchong.

Guo An said in the letter that the empress originally planned to allow Yao Yuanchong to be the third rank of Tongfeng Pavilion Luantai at the beginning of next year and officially pay homage to the prime minister. But Wu Sansi hopes to squeeze out Yao Yuanchong, or even replace Yao Yuanchong completely.

Compared with Wei Yuanzhong, the relationship between Yao Yuanchong and Xue Shao is undoubtedly closer. For more than ten years, Xue Shao has been working hard to manage his own network. He already has a lot of diehards and helpers in the army, but the political center of the court has always been the territory guarded by Wu Zetian, which can be said to be a needle that cannot be inserted into the water. Xue Shao finally pushed a Yao Yuanchong up, hoping that one day Yao Yuanchong could become his spokesperson in the political hall. Now seeing that the plan is about to succeed, Yao Yuanchong is facing an unprecedentedly powerful crisis.

Xue Shao has always been very clear in his heart that Wu Zetian is actually a person who knows talents, loves talents, and cherishes talents. Wei Yuanzhong and Yao Yuanchong are both rare talents, if it weren't for the political needs of a more "high-level", Wu Zetian would generally not have suppressed such a talented person in the world.

drove away Wei Yuanzhong, and had to clean up Yao Yuanchong. This is undoubtedly particularly targeted, to weaken Xue Shao's close henchmen.

Although thousands of miles away, Xue Shao had already felt the lethality of this series of ultimates issued by Wu Zetian.

Wei Yuanzhong, Yao Yuanchong, and then what?

Is it the turn of Guo Yuanzhen, Xue Ne, Dang Jinbi, Guo Dafeng, Zhang Renyuan, Dugu Zhizhi, Sha Zha Zhongyi, and so on? Then it was the turn of Xue Yi and Xue Xu, the clansmen surnamed Xue, and finally Princess Taiping and Xue Shao herself?

How can you sit still and wait for death!!

Xue Shao remained silent, and no one noticed the change in his inner world.

But Xue Shao, the idea has been decided.

He found Xuan Yunzi, and the two discussed in private.

"I need you to do me a favor this time." Xue Shao got straight to the point.

Xuan Yunzi's eyes lit up, because this was the first time Xue Shao had asked her for help.

"You say."

"I hope you'll be able to go to Yudu Jinshan again." Xue Shao said, "The purpose is to contact Ai Yan and Wang Yu. Let them do everything possible to instigate a war between the Turks and the Great Zhou. ”

Xuan Yunzi was stunned, was this what Xue Shao said?

"You heard it right, I just want you to do these things." Xue Shao said, "In the current situation, if there is no foreign war, it will be difficult for me to gather troops. Without an army, I would have to sit back and wait. For Ai Yan, if there is no external intervention, she will never be able to solve the big trouble of Lust Valley. All her life, Krakus, she can only live in the shadow of the valley of desire. ”

"I see." Ai Yan stood up, "I'll go now!" ”

"The snow covers the mountain, you can't go." Xue Shao got up and stopped her, "After the beginning of spring, I will send someone to send you there." ”

"No need. Time was pressing, so I set off immediately. Xuan Yunzi smiled slightly, "You know that I like to be alone, especially I don't like to have a man with me." Besides, this little snowflake is not surprising to me at all. All you need to do is give me a copy of the clearance document that allows me to freely enter and exit the border checkpoints of the surrendered city. ”