In the backyard, Mrs. Liu Zhang gently held her son's hand and asked about the current matter.

Xiao Wu ran back and forth to serve them food. After taking it, he sat next to Liu Taozi and listened to the adults' conversation with a smile.

"I heard that Hu Luguang also came to Pingcheng?"

"Yes, I just saw him a few days ago."

"Then what did he say about starting a family?"

"Never said."

"What did that say?"

"Talked about leading troops to guard the border fortress."

Liu Zhang's face was full of helplessness. She looked in the direction of the inner room and couldn't help but said: "Taozi, you are already in your twenties, how can you not start a family?"

"Don't imitate your grandpa. Your grandpa got married late, just because there were many wars in the past, and he had no fixed place to live, and he was homeless. Now that you are in charge of the North Road, I don't urge you to get a wife, but you have to take concubines, right?"

"

"I see that there are no female relatives around you, they are all soldiers."

"It's inappropriate, it's inappropriate."

Liu Taozi's expression was serious, "Mom, the current situation is even more chaotic than in the past."

"I'm in Pingcheng today, outside the Great Wall tomorrow, and maybe in Zhoujing the day after."

“How can we take care of these things if we haven’t completed the big things yet?”

Mrs. Liu Zhang knew her son's temper, so she didn't try to persuade her. She simply skipped the topic and asked again: "You went on a big war in the north this time and killed many people. Many people said that you were practicing tyranny and fled to Henan."

Well, why didn't you take over the southern lands in one fell swoop, instead of using the river as the boundary?"

"There are not enough officials and there are not enough soldiers."

"There were frequent Turkic incursions in the north. The Zhou people sent Wei Xiaokuan to Xiazhou. Wei Xiaokuan frequently mobilized troops with evil intentions. The Chen people purchased a large amount of supplies and calmed down the domestic turmoil. Now they are ready to make a move."

"If I rush to capture the south, I'm afraid I will be attacked on all sides."

"My counselors told me that we must first stabilize Hebei, the treasure land of Hebei, and if we manage it properly, we can conquer the world."

Mrs. Liu Zhang laughed and said, "I only thought that my Taozi was radical and violent. When I heard about your military use, I thought that you were going to march to all parts of Qi State and never return until you were defeated. Unexpectedly, you actually reined in the horse and returned in the river."

"I have despised my son. My son is still able to listen to advice. Yes, yes."

"Wei Xiaokuan is not easy to deal with, right?"

Liu Taozi said calmly: "It's still unknown."

Mrs. Liu Zhang then said slowly: "Wei Xiaokuan's people have been spread all over the country for a long time. I don't know how many of his people are hidden in the newly acquired land. Your grandfather has fought against them many times in the past. Maybe you can

Let him help you deal with the bandit army."

Liu Taozi said nothing.

Liu Zhang just ordered it till now.

While the two were chatting, the sergeant just now opened the door again, walked quickly in front of them, glanced at Mrs. Liu Zhang, and whispered to Taozi: "My lord, Zhang Qianxiong wants to see you."

Liu Zhang was stunned, "Qianxiong? Didn't he say he was serving as a county magistrate in Youzhou?"

Liu Taozi looked at the sergeant and said, "Let him come in."

The sergeant turned around and walked out. Liu Taozi looked at her mother, "He protected his subordinates from committing crimes in Youzhou, deceived the governor, and contradicted the governor."

"I was dismissed from office and flogged."

Mrs. Liu Zhang was a little surprised. Before she could continue to ask, Zhang Qianxiong limped into the house.

When he saw Mrs. Liu and Zhang, he immediately cried and knelt down with great ceremony.

"Sister."

Mrs. Liu Zhang quickly stood up and walked to his side. The two of them had not seen each other for a long time.

"Get up, get up."

"What's wrong with your legs?"

"Sister, Tang Yong, the governor of Youzhou, has a tyrannical administration. He kills people at will just for some small crimes. I just gave him a few words of advice, and he beat my legs like this!"

Zhang Qianxiong wiped his tears and began to complain.

Liu Taozi sat aside, not even getting up or even looking.

Mrs. Liu Zhang helped him up, let him sit aside, and then began to ask about his situation. The two talked for a long time. When Zhang Qianxiong's mood calmed down, she reprimanded: "The ten governors of this place,

Which one is not Tao Zi’s important minister? Which one is not trusted by him?”

"When they arrive, they all do things under Taozi's orders."

"How can you not tell the difference between closeness and distance?"

Zhang Qianxiong is a little surprised, I don’t understand??

Liu Zhang continued: "As Tao Zi's uncle, why don't you support what Tao Zi wants to promote, but go against him?"

Zhang Qianxiong thought for a moment and then replied: "I am not against Taozi, but what Tang Yong did is definitely not the right way."

"Why didn't I see you so strong when I was in Yecheng?"

"When a villain like He Shikai was in charge of the government, why didn't you stand up against him?"

"When you came under Taozi's command, you started to prioritize public affairs over private affairs?"

Zhang Qianxiong was overwhelmed by Liu Zhang's few words.

Mrs. Liu Zhang sighed, and then said: "What's more, Duke Tang is an old official in the country. He has assisted several generations of kings before he can be known to the world. How can you know how to manage government affairs better than him?"

"Of course he has his own reasons for what he wants to do. When you first became an official, you didn't even think about anything, so you relied on your status to fight against the governor. Oh, what are you thinking?"

Listening to Mrs. Liu Zhang's words, Zhang Qianxiong was a little dumbfounded, with a trace of confusion in his eyes.

Mrs. Liu Zhang then looked at Liu Taozi and said, "Taozi, just listen to me. Don't let him hold any official position for the time being. Let him study more and study more. With his current character, no matter where he is an official, he will

They’ll all cause trouble!”

She looked at Zhang Qianxiong seriously, "From now on, you will stay with us, read your books and write your articles with peace of mind! Don't cause any trouble for me!"

Zhang Qianxiong slowly lowered his head, "Wei."

Liu Zhang's attitude became gentle again, and she chatted with her brother for a long time before letting the sergeant send her brother back.

After Zhang Qianxiong left, Ms. Liu Zhang sighed and looked at Liu Taozi.

"Your uncle is not a bad person, nor has he done anything bad. It's just that he has been hanging out with the children of wealthy families since he was a child. Naturally, his thoughts are different from yours."

"Don't blame him. I will keep an eye on him from now on and won't let him come out to cause trouble for you again."

Liu Taozi nodded.

"Will you stay at home today?"

"I'll make you something to eat."

Liu Taozi was silent for a moment, "I still have some things to do."

"Then come back during dinner? You have to eat, right?"

"good."

Walking out of the backyard, Liu Taozi hurried to the lobby of the General's Mansion.

As the territory expanded, Liu Taozi had to do more and more things. Although Gao Jun could solve most of the things for him, Gao Jun's orders had to go through Liu Taozi first, otherwise it would be difficult to actually issue them.

implement.

In the lobby, there was already a person waiting for Liu Taozi.

When this man saw Liu Taozi appear, he jumped up from his seat and came over with a smile on his face.

That's right, it's Zu Jue.

"My lord is finally back."

Zu Jue's eyes were bright. He walked to Liu Taozi's side, immediately looked at the other officials, and motioned for them to step back.

The officials did not dare to refute, lowered their heads, and left one after another.

Liu Taozi sat in the upper seat, and Zu Jue was very close. He asked with a smile: "Is there no need to worry about the border fortress?"

"The Turks should not invade the border again in the near future."

"I am going to let Hu Luguang command the border troops as General Wei, and be responsible for the defense of the North together with Bao Xian."

Zu Jue narrowed his eyes, "Hu Luguang and Baoxian are enough. Hu Luguang's younger brother is also quite talented and can send him to King Lanling's side, but the army they brought cannot

Continue to give them to them, they are elites and can be divided into the armies to disperse them."

"Hu Luguang and others have also arrived, leaving only Duan Shao in Jinyang."

Liu Taozi said slowly: "Hu Luguang told me that Duan Shao was unwilling to come. He also said that if he wanted to destroy Qi, he must be killed first."
To be continued...