Main Text Chapter 1801: Backup Plan
Qingzhu led some ministers out of the house, listening to the crying inside and outside, and their faces were solemn.
No matter what grievances they had with Xiahou Tuo, they were over. The scene of Xiahou Tuo's death was like a heavy stone pressing on their hearts. They didn't know if they would have such a day.
Qingzhu and a group of ministers left without staying. Xiahou Chengyu still didn't leave. It was estimated that he would not leave until Xiahou Tuo was buried. In fact, there was nothing to bury. The person was gone. If you want to make a tomb, you can make a tomb. However, the necessary process still needs to be done. It is estimated that the Xiahou family does not want people to say that their descendants are unfilial. This face of a big family is especially important. There are too many people watching.
The funeral was held in a grand manner!
During this period, Xiahou Lingtianweng's title was implemented. There was almost no resistance when it was passed in the court. It went smoothly.
The news of Xiahou Tuo's death spread all over the world, and people began to discuss Xiahou Tuo's legendary life over and over again.
After hearing the news, Miao Yi immediately sent a message to the Queen Xiahou Chengyu, asking for condolences, and at the same time expressed his intention to go to the Xiahou family to pay homage. He usually said this and that under the banner of Xiahou Longcheng, but now that Xiahou Tuo has passed away, it would be a bit strange not to go.
Xiahou Chengyu agreed, but asked him to contact Emei. Miao Yi naturally knew the reason, and he and Xiahou Chengyu had to pretend that there was no direct way to contact each other.
Here, Emei was contacted, and Emei quickly asked Wei Shu, who immediately asked Xiahou Ling's opinion. Unexpectedly, Xiahou Ling agreed very happily.
After a little preparation in the Netherworld General Mansion, Miao Yi led a team of people to set off quickly.
Before leaving, Miao Yi suddenly received a message from Xu Tangran, saying that Yuan Gong was fake and his whereabouts were unknown. Miao Yi was surprised. Did Yuan Gong also rush back to pay homage? It should be impossible. Yuan Gong dared to reveal his identity?
In Xinyi Pavilion, Cao Man was sullen in a dark room. There was an incense burner in the room, with smoke curling up. Cao Man, dressed in white, sat quietly on a chair.
There was a knock on the door outside, and then Qi Jue came in without asking. Cao Man, who was slumped in the chair with his eyes closed, said lightly, "Didn't I tell you? Don't bother me if it's not important."
Qi Jue held a letter in his hand, not a jade book, but a letter sealed with paper, "Boss, someone said that he is your good friend and wants to see you. He said that you will know who he is after reading the letter."
Cao Man raised his eyelids, and a strange look flashed in his eyes. Someone actually contacted him with such a letter. Isn't he afraid that the content of the letter will be exposed?
After receiving the letter, he took the sealed envelope and read it repeatedly, and then tore open the envelope and pulled out a piece of white paper as thin as a cicada's wing from it. What's even more strange is that the white paper is clean, without a single word. After casting a spell to check it, there was no trace left on it.
Cao Man frowned, then stood up and walked to the corner of the room, poured water into a silver basin, and placed the white paper in his hand lightly and evenly into the water.
The white paper was soaked and discolored, and a handwriting appeared on it, just one word, a "six".
What does it mean? Cao Man was stunned, and the handwriting quickly disappeared, and the paper also quickly became mushy and disintegrated, gradually dissolving in the water without leaving any trace.
Why is it so mysterious when only a "six" is passed on? Is this "six" important? Cao Man thought in his mind, and his eyes suddenly bloomed with a strange light, as if he thought of something, and suddenly turned back and said: "Where is the person?"
Qi Jue couldn't send anything dangerous here. He had cast a spell to check the contents of the envelope in advance, but didn't find anything. At this time, he didn't know what Cao Man had found, and he replied respectfully: "Waiting in the living room downstairs."
Cao Man: "Please come in!"
Not long after Qi Jue left, he led a bearded man in. It was obviously disguised, and you can tell at a glance
After this person came in, he and Cao Man looked at each other for a while, and then they looked at each other. Then the person looked at the environment in the room, and his eyes fell on the incense burner, which seemed a little gloomy.
Cao Man waved to Qi Jue, "You leave first, no one is allowed to disturb without my permission."
"Yes!" Qi Jue went out and closed the door.
Cao Man stared at the other person at this time and said calmly: "I don't know who you are, why do you pretend to be Cao's friend?"
The person sent a voice message: "Third brother, why do you ask when you know the answer? Since you can let me come up to meet you, it means that you understand the meaning of the letter."
Cao Man also changed the voice message, "Are you Lao Liu?"
The person nodded.
Cao Man: "If you don't take off the mask, how can I believe whether you are real or fake?"
The visitor chuckled, "You and I have never met each other. Can you recognize me after taking off the mask?"
Cao Man: "Since you come to see me, shouldn't you show your sincerity?"
The visitor shook his head: "The old man had a rule when he was alive. Before the identity can be made public, we brothers cannot reveal each other's identity. This is also for my safety considerations."
Cao Man: "You are so sure that I am your third brother. Have you seen me?"
The visitor said: "You are almost in the open. I think none of the other brothers can resist this curiosity. I believe that others have seen the third brother a long time ago."
Cao Man: "In this case, I am at a disadvantage."
The visitor said: "It should be said that the third brother is taking advantage. We all know the third brother, but the third brother doesn't even know who we brothers are. Who is at a disadvantage?"
Cao Man: "How can I judge whether your identity is real or fake?"
The visitor said: "My identity is not important to Third Brother at this time." He walked to the long case and took out two star bells and placed them on the table. "Leaving direct contact information is more important. , I think Third Brother must know what it means.”
Cao Man also walked to the case, "I don't understand what you are talking about."
Visitor: "Third brother, why bother pretending to be confused?"
Cao Man: "If you are really Lao Liu, do you know what you are doing?"
Visitor: "Of course I know, but the old man is gone, and no one knows what he will do. I have no intention of fighting against the head of the family appointed by the old man. The old man has been wise all his life, and there must be his reasons for doing so. I don't want the Xiahou family either. If something happens to the Xiahou family, none of us will be okay. But we have been hiding from the light for the Xiahou family for so many years, and we have worked hard without any credit. If I am going to be killed just because of the old man's words, I can't do it, at least. You have to give me a reason that can convince me. I still mean that. I have no intention to fight against the old man's decision, nor to fight against the new head of the family, but my life is not up to anyone to take it, at least he doesn't have one that convinces me yet. Qualifications, if he can really show that ability, I will accept it, otherwise everyone is a commoner, why would he act randomly? "
Cao Man looked calm and seemed unmoved at all, "Cao resolutely obeys the old man's decision and firmly supports the new head of the family. If anyone dares to do something unfavorable to the Xiahou family and the head of the family, I will Don’t let him go!”
Are you kidding? He couldn't even confirm the other party's identity. How could he easily believe the other party's words? What if someone sent him to test him? Naturally, he had to express his attitude clearly and resolutely, how could he easily fall into the trap? If that were the case, he would have been in vain all these years.
Visitor: "Third brother, I'm too lazy to guess whether you are telling the truth or a lie, but the old man has put the lives of a bunch of brothers in your hands, and you have to shoulder this responsibility."
Cao Man: "I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you. The old man didn't leave anything entrusted to me during his lifetime."
Visitor: "Some trusts don't need to be said. Usually no one can feel it. Only people in the position can notice it at a certain time. It is difficult for outsiders to understand. This is why the old man's foresight makes people have to A place of admiration.”
Cao Man: "I don't understand what you are talking about."
Visitor: "Is the third brother pretending to be confused or is he a fan of the authorities? Yes, yes, only those who stand in the light of the Xiahou family can hope to take over as the head of the family. From the day we became anonymous, we have cut off that hope. But there is one thing Third brother, don’t forget, although the second brother is standing in the open, third brother, you are also the one standing in the open, at least the one whose identity is semi-disclosed!”
As soon as these words came out, Cao Man's body trembled slightly, as if he understood something.
The visitor continued: "I didn't expect this at first, until the real crisis began to approach, forcing me to consider a retreat, forcing me to want to protect myself, forcing me to have no choice but to find a way out. When the other brothers formed an alliance to protect themselves, my eyes were inevitably fixed on you, third brother. Now I can be sure that I am not the only one who has this idea, but other brothers must also have the same idea as me. Only then did I suddenly realize why the old man wanted to make your identity semi-public, and why he wanted all the brothers in the dark to know your existence. This is a backup method left by the old man. This is the key to the old man’s work for us brothers. There is always a way out!”
Cao Man looked shocked and couldn't hide it.
Visitor: "The old man has experienced fratricide. He knows how cruel it is, but he had no choice. I think if it can be avoided, any father will try his best to avoid it as much as possible. To prevent the same tragedy from happening again in the Xiahou family, I think the old man has already compared the second brother and you, the third brother. This is why the old man asked the second brother to step forward and asked the third brother to step forward. The old man is obviously worried. The second brother's ability is limited, otherwise once he decides to let the second son succeed, he will help the second brother clear our obstacles, but the old man did not do this. This is deliberately leaving a way out for us, and also leaving a way out for the Xiahou family! The old man knows very well that we will not give in obediently, and the power we each control is our last trump card to protect ourselves. We will not easily expose our identities to other brothers, which means that we will not easily resist the old man until we are forced to do so. 2. On this basis, as long as the second brother does not take drastic measures to eliminate us, we will naturally cooperate. After all, we do not want the Xiahou family to suffer, and the collapse of the Xiahou family will not be good for us. As long as he has the ability to lead the Xiahou family to move forward, If he can convince us, we will naturally surrender. This depends on his ability, and it is also the test of the old man. But if he does not do business and only wants to seize power and eliminate us, then we will only retaliate, and the big deal is. Just get rid of him and hide completely underground. Let's work together to do our own thing and push out our own people to talk to Heaven. With the strength in hand, are we still afraid that Heaven won't give in and we can't replace him?" (To be continued.) )