Regarding Xi Meng Fu, there is a secret that is almost never publicly discussed.

But at this moment within Bao Hua Palace, all are at the highest level in Xia Country, so naturally they all know…

The year Xi Meng Fu was born, he had six toes on his feet. His biological parents regarded him as a deformed monster and directly threw him into the river.

He was just happened to be saved by a boatman.

That boatman was a widower, living alone on his boat his entire life, and didn’t care about gossip. He then adopted him.

Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last long. When he grew to seven years old.

One day, a guest on the boat saw his six toes, thought he was from a monster lineage, and wanted to tie him up to feed fierce beasts.

The boatman came to stop them and was actually beaten to death.

He took advantage of the chaos to jump into the river and escape, then ran to report it to the authorities.

The people who killed the boatman said they were exorcising demons and that it wasn’t a pity for someone from a demon clan to die.

The child, who was still called Xi San Er at that time, stripped himself naked in the hall and asked the adults present, where was he a demon?

That official was a reasonable person and sentenced the murderer to public execution.

But how to handle Xi San Er, however, was troubling.

The boatman was already gone.

With great difficulty, they found his birth father, but the latter firmly denied having given birth to such a thing.

That official had no choice but to raise the child himself, counting him as a household servant.

But these days also didn’t last long.

By the time Xi San Er was nine years old… the county yamen caught fire, and the official’s family all burned to death.

Only this Xi San Er was out buying things at that time and escaped disaster.

Some people said he was a heavenly disaster star, and all those close to him came to a bad end. Some people said he was the one who burned the official’s family to death; he harbored hate in his heart, didn’t want to be a household servant, and wanted to be the official’s son…

Some people caught him and questioned him, but they couldn’t find any evidence no matter how they checked, so they had to release him.

Just like this, he was homeless again.

And this time, no one dared to adopt him again.

Somehow, this matter reached the ears of the Xia Xiang Emperor at that time, who personally issued a decree to send this child into the national academy.

He said, “The country has its orphan, the country shall raise it.”

Xi San Er read books and gave himself the name Xi Meng Fu. He thought he had a home, that he was the eldest son of that home, so he was called “Meng.” But he was also homeless, and that widower had lived on a boat his entire life, so he also took the word “Fu.” He hoped to have his own home.

Later, there was a time when the Xia Xiang Emperor visited the national academy and suddenly had the urge to test the students’ knowledge.

A total of six students were selected by the teaching staff and sent before the emperor. Among them was not the student with the best grades, Xi Meng Fu.

Xi Meng Fu himself understood the reason for this.

The national academy was a place where scholars gathered, but not all scholars could understand reason.

“Weird” itself was a kind of sin.

He had already grown accustomed to it.

But the Xia Xiang Emperor said the selection by the teaching staff didn’t count. He didn’t want to see woven brocade flowers; he wanted to see thorns and wild grass that grew on their own. He ordered someone to bring the roster, cover the eyes of the accompanying imperial prince, and let the little imperial prince randomly circle and select.

The little imperial prince held a brush and ink, thus selecting seven students.

After the Xia Xiang Emperor personally tested them, he was very happy because one student performed too well.

He patted that student’s shoulder and said, “You are a good talent of my Xia Country.”

That student knelt down and asked the emperor, “Do you know that I have six toes on my feet?”

The Xia Xiang Emperor was slightly stunned and said, “Yes, I know. So, do you have any special ability you want to show me?”

That student was naturally Xi Meng Fu.

Past events could not be mentioned on one’s own.

But Liu Xi Yi’s words today, saying “six-toed thief,” were undoubtedly a great humiliation to Xi Meng Fu. It was a great belittling of his character and even his personality!

Thus, some civil and military officials who had originally wanted to echo Liu Xi Yi all fell silent for a time.

They didn’t dare to speak again.

On the throne to the right of the second level of the Dan Bi, Min King Yu Li Yang’s expression was somewhat unnatural. After all, he had led five real persons to surround and attack Jiang Meng Xiong, ultimately returning without merit and even losing the famous array master, True Monarch Tai Hua…

Everything Xi Meng Fu said seemed to expose his shortcomings.

As for the “six-toed thief” or Xi Meng Fu’s unspeakable pain… that was insignificant in comparison.

On the throne to the left, Wu King Si Jiao always kept his eyes closed and didn’t speak, already seemingly lost in thought.

On the highest level, on the dragon chair, Xia Tian Zi sat upright, quietly observing the full court of civil and military officials, just as he had for so many years and months. He only watched, not speaking.

And from within the pearl curtain hanging down behind the imperial seat, a majestic female voice suddenly sounded: “State Minister Liu, you have lost your composure!”

Although Liu Xi Yi had an explosive temper, he was extremely respectful towards the empress dowager, especially at this moment when he also knew he had spoken wrongly. He cupped his hands towards the Dan Bi above and then retreated back to his position.

At this time, only Xi Meng Fu remained standing alone in the middle of the great hall. The bright pearls on the dome reflected his silhouette, which hung down and stuck to the ground, like a soul that had already given up the struggle. He did not speak for a moment.

He naturally remembered more details about his interactions with the former emperor that year.

For example, the imperial prince who accompanied the former emperor at that time was the Xia Third Imperial Prince who was later chopped to pieces by a life-cutting knife during the siege of Chong Xuan Chu Liang in the territory.

For example, he actually replied at that time, saying, “I am especially diligent.”

And the Xia Xiang Emperor said, “This is the most special ability.”

For example… that night, he went back, covered himself in the quilt, and silently cried for a long time.

But he said nothing now.

The Xia Empress Dowager’s voice spoke again: “Last year’s decision regarding Sword Front Mountain was made by the grieving family and all the ministers together. What was appropriate at that time, when time is extended, becomes improper today. But if we can endure this calamity, and time is extended by another ten or a hundred years, perhaps it will be right again. Who has eyes that can pierce the future? Even the former wise Bu Lian made ancient mistakes. We do not need to dig up old accounts.”

She did not lack the courage to admit mistakes, but she could not admit mistakes.

Because the “mistake” that led to this involved Yu Li Yang.

It was Yu Li Yang who failed in the counterattack on Sword Front Mountain, and it was Yu Li Yang who was struck back by Jiang Meng Xiong. In a situation of the many attacking the few, Yu Li Yang couldn’t even protect Tai Hua!

Failing to defeat Jiang Meng Xiong was not a mistake, but being unclear about the situation and misjudging strength, Yu Li Yang could hardly shirk responsibility!

But…

Min King Yu Li Yang achieved true monarch status in the 17th year of Shen Wu. For a long time, he was always regarded as the hope for Xia Country’s rise in the Shen Wu era. How could a country still having a newborn true monarch grow up not be a sign of prosperity?

He once gave the people of Xia Country too much confidence and courage and was himself one of only two derived dao true monarchs in Xia Country, the fundamental force to resist the strong Qi.

At this time, how could he be blamed for things that had already happened, this pillar stone that supported the sky?

The Xia Empress Dowager’s voice was pleasant and kind, with an inherent nobility and majesty deeply contained within. For how many years, it had always given people a kind of inner stability.

She used such a speech to put a final conclusion to the matter of Sword Front Mountain.

Then she said again: “And talking about peace is naturally impossible. It’s not that the grieving family is unwilling to give up the state and the people. The former emperor left this foundation. The grieving family has guarded it for him for 32 years. If we can meet in the nine springs below, we will not be ashamed of him. But all ministers, please consider, what kind of person is that Jiang Shu?”

“In that year, he was solely focused on swallowing Xia, regardless of multi-sided obstruction. Letters from various countries came one after another, and he falsely replied on one side while advancing his army on the other. He was only willing to retreat after Yi Tian Guan was truly completed. He was not talked back by us; he was fought back by us!”

“This time, he first secretly deployed Cao Ji, helped Mu Country take Li Yuan City, and promoted the Mu Jing struggle. Then he fought against Jing Country in Star Moon Plain, won the Tian Jiao struggle, and forced Jing Country to withdraw from Yi Tian Guan. Step by step, he has reached this point, choosing to lead an army of one hundred thousand eastwards during the full-scale war between Mu and Jing. Is his determination not clear enough?”

“His ambition to swallow the heavens is already evident.”

“What he wants is not one or two cities, not one or two prefectures. What he wants are my Great Xia’s 21 prefectures of fertile land, and my Great Xia’s thousand years of historical accumulation.”

“If my Great Xia does not perish, I think he will have difficulty sleeping peacefully!”

The Xia Empress Dowager’s voice echoed within Bao Hua Palace, giving everyone a sobering awareness, breaking that lingering fantasy of ceding land for peace.

“Empress Dowager is wise!”

Zhen Guo Army Commander Long Jiao stepped forward.

This was a tall and sturdy man, with a dignified appearance. In this Bao Hua Palace, he was also fully armored.

He possessed a firm quality, giving people an unbreakable view.

At this moment, he only said: “Jiang Shu has the ambition of a wolf and insatiable desires. To make him retreat, we must let him know that Xia Country, this hard bone, will break his teeth!”

He raised his head, facing the highest ruler of the entire Xia Country: “Your minister is wearing armor today and can go to war at any time! If your minister dies in battle, there is no need for a coffin. Let the horse hooves step on it, and let the blood and flesh mingle with the soil of Xia!”

“Good, Long Jiao!” The Xia Empress Dowager’s voice from behind the pearl curtain said: “Not a disgrace to my Great Xia’s famous general, not a disgrace to a brave name!”

Comparing the two, it showed Xi Meng Fu’s cowardice even more.

Under the strange gazes of many ministers, Xi Meng Fu’s face still showed no expression, as if he fundamentally didn’t know what shame was. He only said: “It is easy for Great Xia to die a general; 32 years ago, many died. But how difficult it is for Great Xia to build a strong army! General Long, if you die in battle and horse hooves step on it, it is the end of everything. If the Zhen Guo Army is destroyed, how will you teach me?”

After Liu Xi Yi’s misstatement, Xi Meng Fu’s words clearly became sharper.

Long Jiao turned his face to look at him, still maintaining relative respect: “National Master, whether to fight or not, it all depends on the Empress Dowager’s word. I can only say, if we fight, I will not spare my life. My 100,000 soldiers, bearing the name of Zhen Guo, dare not die at a time of national peril?!”

Xi Meng Fu slightly nodded, indicating respect, then said: “I respect your courage, but your death may not solve the problem. The destruction of the 100,000 Zhen Guo Army itself is a huge problem!”

“Dare I ask National Master!” Feng Guo Duke Zhou Ying stepped out at this time: “What do you think can solve the problem?”

As the head of the famous Xia Country family, the Zhou clan, Zhou Ying was a contemporary real person alongside Tai Hua.

He naturally had the confidence and qualification to question Xi Meng Fu.

And he was indeed not polite.

“Cede a city?”

“Cede a prefecture?”

“Send a letter of surrender?”

“Reduce the emperor’s title?”

He took a step forward and then asked each question.

His severity was increasingly apparent, his intensity growing.

His words were like knives and spears.

“Like that Zhao Country lord, wagging his tail and begging for pity, ‘willing to be a Qi marquis’?”

“Or perhaps—”

He walked to the front of Xi Meng Fu, almost face to face with him: “Wait until you are the Qi Country National Master, then the problem will be considered solved?”

His gaze was already terrifyingly cold, and he let out a cold laugh: “It seems we are considering different problems!”

The atmosphere within the great hall was already very solemn.

But at this time, another voice continued: “It’s a pity that Qi Country is too big, with True Person Xi’s strength, he may not be able to become National Master!”

The speaker was Guang Ping Hou Li Fu.

Although Li Fu was not a contemporary real person, the Li family had a long history and deep foundations. As a hereditary marquis, he did not lack the confidence to face Xi Meng Fu.

Yang Ling Hou Xue Chang again said coldly: “What are you thinking, Yang Ping Hou! Qi Country originally doesn’t have the position of National Master!”

“Then it is this marquis who was mistaken.” Li Fu repeatedly apologized, then feigned doubt: “What are certain people plotting? The national dynasty’s thick grace and heavy rewards, did it truly raise an unfamiliar, ungrateful person?”

Long Jiao had fought for the country for many years, accumulating merits forged with fresh blood. As a person, he was low-key and upright, with an extremely good reputation in court and among the public. His display of willingness to fight was being pressed step by step by Xi Meng Fu.

It was truly unbearable.

Earlier, those who thought State Minister Liu’s words were excessive could not sympathize with Xi Meng Fu at this time.

For a moment, public sentiment was aroused.

From Feng Guo Duke Zhou Ying to Guang Ping Hou Li Fu, and then to Yang Ling Hou Xue Chang, their words became more intense one after another.

Long Jiao himself, at this time, on the contrary, did not speak. As he himself said, he only had the determination to die in battle, and did not have the will to target anyone.

And Xi Meng Fu only quietly looked at these people, waiting for them to finish their back-and-forth, their scolding, before saying: “It seems all lords believe that seeking peace is not a way.”

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the dukes and ministers in the entire court, as if soliciting each person’s opinion.

Seeing that he seemed to have intentions of repentance, Zhou Ying coldly snorted: “Flip through history books, and you will not hear of peace being sought in this world!”

“Oh, so that’s how it is.” Xi Meng Fu nodded, as if he was truly convinced.

Then he said again: “Since seeking peace is not an option, this old man still has one strategy!”

“National Master, please speak without hesitation.” The Xia Empress Dowager’s voice from behind the pearl curtain said: “So-called court discussion is about speaking freely, debating right and wrong clearly. No matter how others see it, the grieving family is willing to listen to your opinion.”

Thus, Zhou Ying, Li Fu, and Xue Chang all quieted down for a moment.

And Xi Meng Fu stood in the middle of the hall and first said: “I believe all lords already know about An Guo Hou’s trip to Chu and his return without merit.”

An Guo Hou Jin Ling, as the emperor’s envoy, went to Chu. The relationship between the two states was like lips and teeth; if one perished, the other would be cold. He respectfully invited Chu Country to send troops. This had been going on since the Star Moon Plain…

But Chu Country seemed not to care who their eastern neighbor was, or perhaps had other plans; in any case, they remained unmoved.

This was also one of the reasons for the current gloomy atmosphere in Xia Country.

Looking around the world, there truly was no one who would give them face or rely on Qi Country…

Xi Meng Fu said loudly: “This old man believes that Chu is not unable to send aid, but An Guo Hou’s method was not right! We should exhaust the land south of Huai Qing Prefecture, cede it, and present it to the Chu Emperor. In this way, when the Qi army comes south, will Chu fight or not? When the Chu army comes west, will they guard or not? This teaches two tigers to fight each other, and my Great Xia can rest easy!”

Within Bao Hua Palace, the ministers exchanged glances for a moment.

Thanks to book friend “Frost Lan” for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is the 280th alliance for Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

Thanks to book friend “An An Jing Jing Jie Men” for becoming the alliance master of this book! This is the 281st alliance for Red Heart Patrol Heaven!

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