The two different species of flying blue cloud-patterned little donkeys were very happy, running with little steps.
Behind the little barking donkey was pulling an extremely ordinary black lacquered carriage. Zhao Xiu was like a wooden statue, sitting upright in the carriage. His face was as sinking as water, his body was motionless, and even his clothes were not wrinkled at all.
Calm and generous, what happened at his front door a few months ago, when people sprayed the front door with horse blood, was as if it had never happened.
The carriage entered Jiuquxi Hall and moved forward along the winding forest road.
Zhao Xiu finally turned around, glanced at the 'Sanshengtang' surrounded by greenery on the side of the road, and frowned slightly.
Out of the instinct of the secret agent of the Cardinal's Palace, Zhao Xiu was full of curiosity about worldly affairs. Although the main responsibilities of the Cardinal Palace are against the two enemy countries of Wei and Dawu, Zhao Xiu has a team of people who are responsible for spying on various secrets within the Jin Dynasty.
He already controls 99% of the owners of the thousands of buildings and courtyards in Jiuquxi Hall.
Only the real owner of Sanshengtang, he has never been able to find out.
The official owner of Sanshengtang is an imperial merchant in Anyang City who specializes in supplying tribute silks and brocades to the royal family. But how could a mere imperial merchant own such a house in Jiuquxi Hall
How many princes with no real power are still eyeing the property in Jiuquxi Hall
However, no matter how Zhao Xiu's people investigated, they could not find out who actually used Sanshengtang on weekdays. In Anyang City, those people under Zhao Xiu are bound to be unable to make much noise, so the real owner of Sanseigang Hall has always been a mystery to Zhao Xiu.
My heart itches terribly.
Zhao Xiu hates this kind of situation that he cannot completely control.
Looking deeply at Sanshengtang, Zhao Xiu snorted softly, almost inaudibly, and casually took out a top-quality large bead the size of an egg yolk, holding it in his hand and playing with it carefully.
The two newly acquired little donkeys ran very briskly, bypassing the extremely exquisite and gorgeous mansions, and finally came to a pale silver bamboo forest. After walking twice along the winding path and crossing a bamboo bridge over a crystal clear stream, the carriage stopped in front of a three-story building called 'Tingfeng Pavilion'.
A few wisps of faint cloud smoke erupted from the silver bamboo forest, and the entire bamboo forest fell into a layer of extremely restrained and mysterious restrictions.
Zhao Xiu got off the carriage, straightened his waist, and looked around.
The white-haired old man driving the car stood tremblingly to the side. He looked like he was in his final years. The cold light in his triangular eyes was extremely sharp, like a knife blade, quickly sweeping across the entire courtyard, with the words "To grow old and not die is to be a thief" The words explain it vividly.
A middle-aged man, covered in brocade and born with grace and splendor, came up to Zhao Xiu from the small building with a bright smile. He bowed deeply to Zhao Xiu respectfully and said, "My lord, you are here to welcome me, please!"
"Yes." Zhao Xiu nodded, followed the middle-aged man with a smile, and walked slowly into Tingfeng Pavilion.
The old man who was driving Zhao Xiu sat on the car's shaft with a smile. He took out a long and large tobacco stick, filled the fist-sized metal pipe with burnt tobacco, and lit the tobacco with a spark from his finger. He started to smoke like "bata bata".
Blue smoke rings slowly ejected from the pipe, turning into large and small blue circles of light and blending into the ban in the bamboo forest.
After a while, the entire Tingfeng Pavilion's restrictions were under the control of the old man. Even if the formation master who originally arranged all the restrictions in Tingfeng Pavilion took action himself, the old man would definitely be alarmed if he tried to invade here.
On the third floor of Tingfeng Pavilion, a large round table inlaid with eight treasures was placed squarely in the middle. Various rare treasures were displayed on dozens of tables around it. There were no lamps or candles lit on the third floor, but all the jewels and jewels on the tables already illuminated the pavilion.
Next to a bill, an old man with a long beard and an ancient appearance was holding his hands behind his back. Surrounded by several men of different heights, the group was laughing and commenting on the various treasures on the bill. .
A group of maids, who were born delicate and graceful, with endless looks in their eyes, were smiling and standing aside with all kinds of charm, quietly waiting for everyone's call.
"Master Gu, I'm so excited!" Zhao Xiu went up to the third floor and burst out laughing: "It's rare to see such a noble person like you."
The long-bearded old man turned around with a smile and bowed his hand to Zhao Xiu: "Ashamed, ashamed, how noble are you talking about? Well, Mr. Zhao Xiu, this is Mr. Wan Hongwan, this... is Mr. Wan Hong's eldest son Wan Xi."
Mr. Gu pointed at a shorter old man next to him. This man was full of jewels and was born graceful and wealthy, but his behavior was quite cautious, even with a hint of restraint. It was Wan Hong.
And Wan Xi was the middle-aged man who welcomed Zhao Xiu to the third floor.
Wan Hong suddenly took two steps forward, bent down with some difficulty, and bowed deeply to Zhao Xiu: "Master Zhao, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I should have gone to greet him in person, but I'm really rude."
Mr. Gu smiled and shook his head and waved his hand: "Mr. Zhao, I asked Mr. Wan to introduce the origin of these rare treasures to me. Haha, Mr. Zhao, please don't be offended. It is true that these treasures here today are... These are not ordinary things.”
Zhao Xiu smiled and nodded, his eyes quickly scanning over a dozen cases.
Then his smile became even brighter, and his breath became quite gentle and full of affinity. Sure enough, as Mr. Gu said, the treasures displayed on these dozens of slips are all rare treasures. Even Zhao Xiu cannot get them so easily.
Zhao Xiu took a deep look at Wan Hong. As a businessman, with such strength, well, it is worth coming here today.
"Please, Mr. Zhao, please!" Mr. Gu smiled and took Zhao Xiu's hand. The two came to the round table and declined each other. After all, Zhao Xiu became the chairman, and Mr. Gu sat beside him. .
Several other men, including Wan Hong and Wan Xi, father and son, all smiled and carefully sat down at the round table according to their status.
The maids walked up like butterflies circling flowers, carrying Qibao glazed wine bottles, and filled the crystal bottles in front of Zhao Xiu and others with amber-colored exquisite wine. The mellow aroma of wine suddenly seemed like substance, filling the entire three-story pavilion, making people drunk without drinking.
Master Gu raised the wine master and nodded to Zhao Xiu with a smile: "Master Zhao, this Wan Hong had some friendship with me in the early years. This time he begged me. I am thinking that in Anyang City, I am afraid that there will be Only Mr. Zhao can help me a little, so I take the liberty to send an invitation to Mr. Zhao. Come, come, come and drink this cup."
Wan Hong and Wan Xi stood up immediately, smiling and not daring to say a word. They just raised the wine statue and looked at Zhao Xiu humbly.
Zhao Xiu glanced at Wan Hong and Wan Xi with some reserve, pondered for a moment, smiled and nodded to Master Gu, picked up the wine bottle, touched it gently with the wine bottle in Master Gu's hand, and then the two of them laughed and drank. And done.
At the round table, the other six men, as well as Wan Hong and Wan Xi's father and son, suddenly laughed at the same time. They were all beaming with joy. They raised their wine bottles and drank the wine in one gulp.
The atmosphere on the round table suddenly became lively.
The name of the ancient master is Gu Haoran. He is the chief bachelor of the "Wenhua Palace" in the Imperial Palace of the Great Jin Dynasty. He is the leader of the four arts enshrined in the palace. He usually stays with the Great Jin Divine Emperor and writes and draws with the Great Jin Divine Emperor. , playing piano and chess, and sometimes even some of the decrees of the God Emperor of the Jin Dynasty were dictated by the God Emperor. He wrote it down, and he was the most aristocratic figure in Anyang City.
Gu Haoran has no real power, but he has great influence and a wide network of contacts. Even a strong leftist prime minister like Linghu Qingqing will give him a weak point.
Therefore, in Anyang City, some people say that as long as you can successfully enter the gate of Gu Haoran's house, there will be very few things that cannot be done.
How close were Wan Hong and Gu Haoran in their early years
Haha, Zhao Xiu naturally didn't believe this. He had Zhao Xiu's eyes and ears in Gu Haoran's mansion. Zhao Xiu knew exactly when Wan Hong came to ask for help and how much it cost, and there was no such thing as him. Don't understand.
Even the origin of Wan Hong was clear to Zhao Xiu.
Just southeast of Anyang City, the most prosperous and blessed place in the Kingdom of Jin Dynasty, there is a country named "Zhongshuo Kingdom", and its leader is a prince from the royal family of Jin Dynasty.
The backer behind Wan Hong's business name "Sijiangyuan" is the prince who is most beloved by the king of Zhongyao and has the best chance to take over the throne. Therefore, Sijiangyuan is prosperous and its wealth is extremely amazing.
Six months ago, the unlucky Crown Prince was suddenly revealed to have had an affair with the concubine of Xin Na, the leader of Zhongyao Kingdom. After a royal brawl, the Crown Prince died suddenly and inexplicably. He had the worst relationship with him on weekdays. A prince took over his throne.
Sijiangyuan is a cornucopia of wealth for the dead ghost prince, and it has long attracted the attention of countless people.
Now that his backer has fallen, Wan Hongman's life is in danger, and there is a risk of his family being destroyed at any time.
Wan Hong was also a ruthless master. When his family's backers fell, he immediately donated money and absconded. The huge Sijiangyuan became an empty frame overnight, and Sijiangyuan's shops and industries in dozens of surrounding countries also disappeared in a very short period of time. After being sold and put on sale, the astronomical sum of money became Wan Hong's private property.
At this moment, Wan Hong begged Wan Haoran, presumably to save his life.
According to Zhao Xiu's original intention, he wanted to swallow Wan Hong's family full of young and old in one bite. He has the strength and the confidence to do it flawlessly.
However, firstly, it is Gu Haoran's face, secondly, it is Zhao Xiu's face, and thirdly, Zhao Xiu knows in his heart that making a windfall is not as good as a steady stream of money.
If he could swallow up Wan Hongman's family in one go and get a sudden windfall, it's hard to believe that those old guys from the Zhao family would also reach out.
And such a steady flow of money, slowly taking out benefits from Wan Hong's family, such a "graceful and calm" behavior is in line with his identity, in line with the impression he has always given people, and it is more in line with his interests.
Putting down the wine master, Zhao Xiu said calmly: "Mr. Wan Hong, you can rest assured... Wan Xi, do you intend to serve in the military department?"
Wan Hong smiled, while Wan Xi stood up overjoyed, and solemnly knelt down to pay homage to Zhao Xiu: "Master Zhao appreciates me, this is the honor of the common people!"
Gu Haoran also smiled brightly.
When Wan Hongtuo Guan came to him, he had already explained his conditions.
After Gu Haoran collected his share of the tribute, he also relayed Wan Hong's conditions to Zhao Xiu.
Zhao Xiu also explained his conditions and threshold to Gu Haoran.
Under Gu Haoran's operation, all tacit understandings have been achieved.
All the performances at this moment are just the last step in completing the process. They are equivalent to a business contract. Everyone stamps and seals it to completely finalize all the results.
Zhao Xiu nodded and said in a deep voice: "Wan Xi is quite famous and has outstanding talents. I have heard about this for a long time. This year, I have a special recommendation quota, so I will give it to you... Official position Not high, the Grain and Forage Department of the Military Transfer Hall is still short of a sixth-grade fodder chief."
Zhao Xiu said calmly with a smile: "This matter is very leisurely, but it is extremely important. Regardless of the low rank of the sixth-grade chief officer, his subordinates are in charge of at least tens of thousands of large and small pastures, and there are millions of shepherds and soldiers listening to them. You command."
With a raised brow, Zhao Xiu said proudly: "The important thing is that no one dares to touch the officials of the military department, so you can rest assured."
Zhao Xiu glanced at Wan Hong and Wan Xi who looked ecstatic, and smiled softly: "Even if he is the leader of a country, unless he personally holds an important position in the military department, let alone the sixth-rank chief, he is not even a ninth-rank leader. None of the subordinate officials dared to move."
Wan Hong and Wan Xi were overjoyed, and they all knelt down and saluted Zhao Xiu.
After escaping from Zhongyao Kingdom, they have been afraid of revenge from the lord of Zhongyao Kingdom and the prince Wang.
Now relying on Zhao Xiu and the relationship with the military, the lives and wealth of their Wan family have been saved... Although the price paid is a bit high, but think about it, these prices did not belong to them in the first place, so although it is a bit heartbreaking, But it didn't hurt so much that it hurt my bones.
As a result, people were drinking and drinking on the round table, and Zhao Xiu was a little bit wild, eating and drinking heartily with the group.
The other six men on the round table are all Qingqians around Wan Haoran. To put it bluntly, they are a group of gentlemen who eat and drink in Wan Haoran's house. They can't carry their shoulders or lift their hands, but they are proficient in all kinds of elegant and interesting things such as piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. In particular, they are all eloquent and eloquent, making the atmosphere in the attic extremely warm but unconventional.
Just when Zhao Xiu was enjoying himself, extremely thin streams of light flew rapidly from the southwest of Anyang City and quickly landed on the heavily guarded palaces and pavilions outside Anyang City.
The next moment, countless iron cavalry roared out, carrying the messenger and rushing towards the city.
Before these messengers broke into Anyang City, in the palace in the city, from a towering bell tower, a low alarm bell sounded like muffled thunder, spreading throughout Anyang in waves.
Zhao Xiu and Wan Haoran stood up at the same time, looking towards the direction of the imperial city with a hint of horror.
This is the highest-level alarm bell for the Great Jin Kingdom. It is an alarm bell that can only be sounded when facing a full-scale war or when the royal rule is threatened.
This bell only rang once six thousand years ago. Anyang City has not heard this highest-level alarm bell for six thousand years.
Zhao Xiu and Wan Haoran took out their emergency contact letters from their sleeves at the same time.
But no news, no news.
The highest level of alarm bells in the imperial city have been sounded, but they have not received any news yet.
Zhao Xiu took a deep breath and looked at Wan Haoran.
Wan Haoran looked at the seal on Zhao Xiu's hand with a hint of surprise.
As a minister of the Qing Dynasty, it is understandable that he is not very well-informed. There is no need to pass on a lot of information to him at all.
But as the master of the Cardinal Palace, Zhao Xiu has not received any news at this moment... This!
"Lord Zhao Xiu, you'd better rush to the imperial city as soon as possible. You hold an important position in the military department, and you are not comparable to an idle minister like me."
Wan Haoran immediately spoke to remind Zhao Xiu.
Zhao Xiu nodded solemnly, rolled up his sleeves, and carried all the rare treasures on the dozens of items in his sleeves. Then with a straight face, he shook his body, bringing up a few afterimages, and in an instant he came to Tingfeng. In front of the pavilion.
"Go to the Imperial City quickly."