Farmer of Shu Han

After mid-October, the weather has turned cold, and Guanzhong has already had two light snowfalls.

After the light snowfall, Chang'an seemed to be lightly covered with a layer of silver-white gauze, revealing an indescribable coolness and tranquility.

The air was filled with a crisp and moist breath, and every breath seemed to be able to inhale the biting cold, making people unable to help but tighten their collars.

Even the gate of the Sima Mansion, which was usually busy with traffic, seemed to be affected by the cold, and no longer had the bustle and noise of the past.

The base of the Sima Mansion gate was several feet high, and the steps were built with hard bluestone. The large pillars at the gate of the mansion were shiny and smooth.

The lintel was carved with a tiger, with its mouth open and teeth exposed, its eyes showing fierce light, and it was extremely powerful - the prime minister once said in "The Later Expedition to the Imperial Academy" that "in the northern Liangzhou, fierce tigers are waiting for orders."

For thieves, especially the aristocratic families, the Han Dynasty's peerless tigers will open their mouths to eat blood and flesh, and will never be satisfied unless they eat enough blood and flesh.

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the entire Sima Mansion was covered with golden light, adding a bit of mystery and majesty.

At this time, in front of the empty gate of the Sima Mansion, a man was standing there quietly, waiting for the Sima's summons.

His shoulders had been dyed white by frost and snow, as if covered with a thin layer of silver powder.

His face was red from the cold, and his skin was tight, as if it was about to crack.

His eyebrows and beard were covered with tiny ice crystals, flashing with cold light.

It can be seen that he has been standing here for a long time.

And from his firm eyes looking at the Sima Mansion, it can be seen that he still intends to wait.

After the Tuoba Xianbei's eldest prince Tuoba Shamohan escaped from the grassland, only two of his followers were left.

These two people were able to escape the disaster because they stayed in Chang'an as contacts when he was doing business with Zhang Miao.

This trip to the grassland was full of confidence.

Tuoba Shamo Khan thought he would bring peace and prosperity to the tribe, as well as all kinds of supplies.

Who would have thought that the tribe wanted to kill him, and in the end he could only return alone in embarrassment.

Tuoba Shamo Khan, who returned to Chang'an, could be said to have nothing.

He didn't even know how he would face Zhang Miao.

Fortunately, he had exposed his identity when he was being hunted.

Perhaps the court thought he still had some value, so after sending him back to Chang'an, he was placed in the barbarian residence, so he didn't have to worry about freezing to death or starving to death.

Who knew that Zhang Miao didn't know where he got the news from, and one day, he took the initiative to find the door.

The first words he said were reproachful:

"Brother Tuoba, you have kept it a secret from me! If I knew you were the eldest prince of the tribe, I would have doubled the cargo the last time I went out to the border."

When Tuoba Shamo Khan heard this, he thought Zhang Miao was speaking in a sarcastic way, and he was so ashamed that he wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

He bowed to Zhang Miao:

"Brother Zhang, it is my incompetence that caused you to lose so many goods..."

What Tuoba Shamo Khan did not expect was that Zhang Miao did not blame him, but comforted him:

"Brother Tuoba, what are you doing? How can there be no risks in doing business? Not to mention the opening of trade routes, you have to be prepared to lose all your money."

Just a few simple words almost made the man on the grassland cry.

Seeing the other party's look, Zhang Miao seemed very satisfied, and said half jokingly and half seriously:

"Do you think I was lying when I said I would double the goods? Brother Tuoba, you underestimated me too much."

"With your status, I wish you would owe me more. The more you owe me, the more you will not forget me when you become rich in the future."

Listen, listen!

Brother Zhang not only did not blame him, but also expressed his intention to continue to cooperate with him.

At this moment, Tuoba Shamo Khan determined that Brother Zhang was his half-brother.

"Brother Zhang, how can I...how can I deserve your trust?"

Tuoba Shamo Khan choked a little.

Being hunted by his closest relatives and tribesmen on the grassland, that kind of betrayal made Tuoba Shamo Khan doubt his life and feel hopeless.

Who would have thought that there was someone who was as close to him as flesh and blood in Chang'an?

Under such circumstances, this friendship was very precious to Tuoba Shamo Khan.

It is not an exaggeration to say that he encountered a sweet spring before dying of thirst in the desert.

"Because you are the eldest prince of the tribe!" Zhang Miao said as a matter of course, "and I have inquired about it. Now Tuoba Xianbei is the largest tribe on the grassland."

"So," Zhang Miao said confidently, "as long as you can return to the tribe in the future, no matter how much goods I lost, I will earn back a hundred times and a thousand times."

It would be fine if Zhang Miao didn't mention this. As soon as he mentioned this, Tuoba Shamo Khan was full of bitterness:

"Brother Zhang, don't you understand? I am no longer a prince, but a dog who has lost his home."

"A dog who has lost his home? No, no, no! Brother Tuoba, how can you be so self-deprecating? Just having this identity is worth a thousand gold."

If the man in front of him was not his own brother, Tuoba Shamo Khan would think he was mocking him.

"This... Brother Zhang, what do you mean by this? I don't quite understand."

"Oh, Brother Tuoba, now in the northern desert, all the Hu people admire the Han Dynasty, and all tribes and tribes have come here."

"Only," Zhang Miao pointed to Tuoba Desert Khan and then to the northeast, "the Hu tribes in the north of Youzhou have never surrendered."

"And you, my friend, wanted to lead your people to join the Han people, but unexpectedly you were killed by a traitor and almost died."

"However, you have never regretted your return to the Han Dynasty. You came to Chang'an this time just to express your desire to the Han Dynasty."

When Tuoba Desert Khan heard this, he was immediately stunned:

When did I have such thoughts?

Although I do have some yearning for the Han Dynasty, I have no intention of attaching myself to the Han Dynasty.

Thinking of this, his heart suddenly lurched, and a vague idea flashed through him.

Before he could catch him, Zhang Miao could be heard saying with some sadness:

"Brother Tuoba, why are you still confused now? You are the eldest prince of the tribe!"

Tuoba Desert Khan looked at Zhang Miao inexplicably, "I am the eldest prince, yes, but I am the deposed prince who was expelled by the tribe."

"What happened to you this time was precisely because you loved the big man, so you were unfortunately killed by a traitor in the clan, do you understand?"

Zhang Miao emphasized again.

The speaker has no intention, but the listener has intention.

Tuoba Desert Khan's expression suddenly changed, and the vague thought just now suddenly became clear.

Your Excellency has always wanted to unite with Wei to fight against Han. No, in fact, he has actually already formed an alliance with the Wei people.

It was only because he had argued his own interests that the lord agreed to come to Han to try it out.

So... what Brother Zhang said is most likely true.

Someone must have taken advantage of him to leave the tribe and come to the Han Dynasty, taking the opportunity to gossip with the adults, and even deceive the adults and slander himself.

As soon as he thought of this, the figures of several brothers seemed to appear in front of Tuoba Desert Khan:

Tuoba Xilu, Tuoba Chuo, Tuoba Luguan.

Especially Tuoba Xulu, who often competes with himself for favor in front of adults...

The more Tuoba Desert Khan thought about it, the more sad and angry he felt.

What's sad is that adults don't believe in themselves.

Angry that my brother could be so cruel.

"Brother Tuoba, brother Tuoba, what are you thinking about? Did you listen to what I said?"

Zhang Miao's voice seemed to float from a distance, bringing Tuoba Desert Khan's thoughts back to reality.

"Brother Zhang, if so, if this is really the case, what should I do?"

Tuoba Desert Khan took Zhang Miao's hand and asked eagerly.

Zhang Miao didn't expect that the other party was so wise. He was ecstatic and said quickly:

"This is an easy matter. The fact that the imperial court can place Brother Tuoba here means that it recognizes Brother Tuoba's identity."

"What Brother Tuoba has to do is to find a way to tell the court about his experience and beg the court for help."

"The imperial court only sees the Tuoba brothers fighting against Han's heart. Even if they can't send troops to help for a while, at least they won't treat the Tuoba brothers badly."

"As long as Brother Tuoba can settle down in Chang'an, make friends with powerful people, find connections, and wait for the help of noble people in the future, and persuade the court to send troops to help, why can Brother Tuoba not be able to return to the clan?"

When Tuoba Desert Khan heard this, he hesitated:

"I am just a fugitive now, can I really get help from the imperial court?"

Zhang Miao laughed and said somewhat meaningfully:

"If Tuoba Xianbei has surrendered to the Han Dynasty, then the Tuoba brothers will naturally be traitors and runaways, and the court will naturally not care."

"But now, Tuoba Xianbei not only has not surrendered, but has a rebellious heart. Brother Tuoba is the first person in your tribe to abandon his rebellion and surrender. If the court turns a blind eye, wouldn't it chill people's hearts?"

Although the words were not stated clearly, Tuoba Desert Khan had already understood it and felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.

Doesn't this mean that you have to sacrifice your tribe to change your future?

Seeing Tuoba Desert Khan's hesitant expression, Zhang Miao frowned and reminded:

"Brother Tuoba, why are you still in trouble? Have you forgotten about being hunted on the grassland? Or are you willing to suffer for the rest of your life and die in Changan?"

Tuoba Desert Khan was suddenly startled.

The memory of the embarrassed escape on the grassland suddenly came to mind.

Yes, if not for the desperate efforts of his fellow guards to save him and the timely arrival of the Han army, he would have become nourishment for weeds.

Thinking of this, Tuoba Desert Khan clenched his fists, then relaxed them slumpedly, and finally said with some dejection:

"Don't say that I don't know any noble people in Chang'an. Even if I do, how can I get to know noble people now that I have to rely on the government for food and clothing?"

Zhang Miao laughed and asked:

"Brother Tuoba, do you know where to find rare things?"

Tuoba Desert Khan has been accustomed to the culture of the Central Plains for a long time, so he naturally knows this historical allusion.

"Now in my opinion, brother Tuoba," Zhang Miao pointed at Tuoba Desert Khan and said sincerely, "you are my rare commodity."

Then he pointed at himself and said, "Brother, although I am incompetent, I still have some money. I am willing to gamble with you, Brother Tuoba."

When Tuoba Desert Khan heard this, he was choked up and speechless.

"Actually, the person who can speak the most on this matter is Da Sima."

Zhang Miao sighed a little, "It's just that although my aunt is Da Sima's concubine, she dare not say anything about such important national affairs."

But he cheered up and comforted:

"But I have established a good relationship with the concierge and can help deliver your invitation."

After a pause, he continued, "As for whether you can have a chance to meet Da Sima, ultimately it still depends on you."

In front of Da Sima's mansion, I don't know how many people sent greeting cards, but those who had the opportunity to send them to Da Sima must be a very select few.

"Brother Zhang has done this for me. It is already rare and valuable. How dare I ask for more?"

Even if it wasn't for Brother Zhang to return to his original trade route, but for himself to return to the tribe, there was absolutely no reason to back down.

That's why Tuoba Desert Khan stood guard at the gate of Da Sima Mansion for several days in such a cold weather to invite him.

I don’t know how much time passed, but the sun turned to the west.

Under the reflection of the setting sun, the bluestone walls of Da Sima Mansion reflected golden light, and the lines of the walls farther away seemed to be plated with a layer of gold.

Seeing that another day is passing.

Tuoba Desert Khan looked up at Da Sima's Mansion and let out a sigh that he could barely hear. His eyes once again showed disappointment.

Seeing that the curfew is approaching, it seems that today is another day of waiting in vain.

Gently shaking his frozen fingers, he tried to make a fist, letting the palm of his hand warm his fingers, and then spread them out. After doing this several times, his almost stiff body was awakened again.

Just when he was about to turn around, he saw a group of people galloping to the door of Da Sima Mansion.

When the leading knight was welcomed in by the people in the mansion, he looked back at Tuoba Desert Khan, who was trying to regain his mobility.

It seemed that he was a little curious that there were people waiting in front of the Da Sima Mansion at this time.

This person's status seems to be quite high. Not only are the guards on horseback, but even the concierge of Da Sima Mansion is bowing and nodding.

Seeing that the noble man was paying attention, the concierge quickly pointed at Tuoba Desert Khan and seemed to be explaining something.

After hearing the concierge's explanation, the noble man glanced at Tuoba Desert Khan again. His cold eyes and cold expression completely extinguished the fire that had just risen in Tuoba Desert Khan's heart on the spot.

Seeing the other party's figure disappearing through the door, Tuoba Desert Khan felt anxious. He didn't want to rush into the noble man and shouted quickly:

"Is your nobleman a great Sima?"

Regardless of whether it is true or not, this person is the most likely Da Sima he has seen these days.

Even if not, then he must be someone who can see Da Sima.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he said these words, instead of being able to stop the noble man, the guards immediately dispersed and surrounded him like wolves preying on prey.

The two people at the front had their long swords half out of their sheaths, and the blades reflected the afterglow of the setting sun, which was breathtaking.

Seeing those guards not concealing their murderous intentions towards him, Tuoba Desert Khan already regretted it, but at this moment, his whole body had not recovered yet, and his legs were extremely numb.

He wanted to move, but unexpectedly, his body fell to the ground with an uncontrollable "thud".

Most people would hesitate when they see him like this.

But the guards only slowed down their steps, their eyes became more alert, and they subconsciously pulled out the entire blade.

These are definitely elite soldiers in front of the battle. They will not show mercy until their opponents die completely.

His frozen body had not recovered. Lying on the snow, Tuoba Desert Khan looked at the guards who were almost approaching. He had no doubt that if he made a mistake, the other party would kill him without hesitation.

"I am... I am not an assassin. I am here to ask for a meeting with Da Sima."

The more anxious I feel, the less my hands and feet will obey my orders.

Just as the sharp saber was placed on his neck, a voice suddenly came:

"Save someone under the knife!"