The name of Keshengju is also very famous in the imperial capital, and it is one of the well-known time-honored brands in Chang'an City, Baili. It is said that when the first emperor went on a tour in micro-clothes, he only ate at Keshengju to check the people's sentiments in Chang'an. Later, he wrote a poem on the snow-white wall of a private room on the second floor of Keshengju. Later, no guests entered this private room again, and the poems on the wall were also protected. Even the tables and chairs in this room became treasures.
Fenghuangtai, a frontier town in the eastern border of the Great Sui Dynasty, is also very famous. It was here that the victorious masters of the Great Sui Dynasty accepted the surrender of the Eastern Chu Emperor.
That war pushed the border of the Sui Dynasty thousands of miles away. After the victory, the emperor ordered the construction of the Phoenix Terrace garrison. It was a stone city that represented the glory of the Sui Dynasty, and of course it was also a symbol of the shame of the Eastern Chu Kingdom.
Mo Xidao, the scout brigade leader of Phoenix Terrace, wants to treat guests at Keshengju. With his background, he can get such a large sum of money. It is worth trying to figure out whether there is any support behind him. After all, the salary of frontier scouts is only so small, and not everyone is as lucky and resourceful as Fang Jie.
Fan Gu opened up a trading market, so it is understandable for Fang Jie to make a fortune by doing business and have savings. But how could a small frontier soldier who was promoted to the brigade rank only after he was born and died, spend so much money to entertain hundreds of soldiers who took the exam at the Academy of Martial Arts? Fang Jie was a little puzzled, always feeling that this dinner was by no means as simple as he had imagined at the beginning.
The soldiers don't pay much attention, especially the frontier soldiers. It is common to eat and sleep in the open air, or even not have a bite of hot food for a few days and nights. Seventy-eight out of ten of the money I got in exchange for my life was sent home to honor my parents. When I have nothing to do, I can enjoy a hot pot meal in a small restaurant and enjoy it, which is very satisfying.
Even a person with extra money like Fang Jie feels a little emboldened when he sees those luxurious and luxurious restaurants in the imperial capital, let alone Mo Xidao who has no money
Fang Jie came by himself, without Mu Xiaoyao.
If he brought Mu Xiaoyao with him, he would immediately drown in the envious saliva of others. The soldiers of the Sui frontier army stationed at the frontier all the year round, and it was not uncommon for them not to meet women for a year or two. Mu Xiaoyao was too eye-catching, Fang Jie didn't want to be excluded because of this.
Since they are all frontier soldiers, then show some simplicity that frontier soldiers should have.
So Fang Xie deliberately changed into the military uniform he had when he was in Fan Gu. It was brand new and straight. Although it was a bit shabby compared to the signboard of Ke Shengju, the pride and pride in his heart after putting on this clothes was not just for anyone. can understand. Only people wearing the same clothes can understand the complex meaning contained in the word "frontier army".
Sadness, hardship, struggle, killing, if you talk and drink today, you may die on the battlefield tomorrow.
After being together for a long time, there will be a kind of brotherhood among frontier soldiers that can depend on life and death. For example, in Fan Gu's time, most of the frontier soldiers who were captured by Wu Peisheng did not betray Fang Xie. People who have not experienced life and death will not understand how respectable the trust that can turn their backs to colleagues is.
As expected of a century-old store, Keshengju is magnificent, but it doesn't appear to be bullying at all. Seeing Fang Xie's arrival, the clerk at the door immediately came up to say hello graciously. The clerk was very clever, and he could tell from the attire that Fang Jie was an examinee of the Ministry of War who had been invited, so he led him directly into the lobby.
The entire lobby on the first floor of Keshengju was taken over by Mo Xidao.
Fang Xie couldn't calculate how much money this was, but he was sure that even though he could afford it, he would definitely bite his finger in distress. The lobby on the first floor of Keshengju can accommodate at least 40 tables, and the green brick floor is so flat that people feel that it is an entire smooth boulder.
When Fang Jie entered, there were already sixty or seventy people in frontier uniforms sitting in the lobby. Seeing someone enter the door, everyone's eyes turned to this side. The man who led Fang Xie to the door asked Fang Xie in a low voice, then raised his jaw and shouted loudly: "The military master of Fan Gucheng has just solved it!"
Hearing this name, the frontier soldiers in the lobby immediately stood up for some reason, and almost at the same time, all of them gave Fang Xie a big Sui military salute with arms crossed across their chests. Fang Jie felt hot in his heart, stood upright, straightened his body, stretched his right arm across his chest, and returned the salute.
A man in brigade costume greeted him with a smile, and said in a gentle tone: "Welcome, we have all heard your name, and we all know Fan Gu, and all eight hundred brothers of Fan Gu died in the Northwest War a while ago. Death, the brothers have admiration in their hearts, we are all frontier soldiers, and we are our own people."
Fang Jie felt a lot in his heart when he said that he was one of his own people.
Mr. Zhuo had already told him about Fan Gu. Fang Jie suppressed his hatred for Li Xiaozong in his heart, but today, facing the solemn military salute of sixty or seventy frontier soldiers, he seemed to be unable to restrain his emotions, and the circles of his eyes turned red unknowingly.
"I am Fan Gu's only surviving frontier soldier, and I will accept everyone's military salute on behalf of my brothers!"
He said.
The soldiers in the lobby had solemn faces, and the scene was so quiet for a while that people couldn't get used to it.
"Come in and sit down first. We were talking about you just now, and everyone is very curious about you. We all admire what kind of a hero the scout who has made 21 military exploits is. By the way... I It's called Zhang Kuang, and it came from the northeastern border of the Great Sui Dynasty."
Crazy!
Hearing this name, Fang Jie's heart tightened slightly.
This kind-looking middle-aged man in his thirties, with fair skin and bright eyes, if he put on a long robe, no one would doubt that he is a scholar with age in his belly. He is not tall, thin and slightly shorter than Fang Jie, and he doesn't look cold-blooded or ruthless. But it was such a kind and amiable person, a cruel person who had been lurking in the tribe of the northern barbarians for two years, married the daughter of the tribe leader, and then sent his father-in-law and wife to hell with his own hands. Speaking of which, the blood debt of the more than 10,000 northern barbarian heads should all be counted on him.
In Anyuan City, Zhang Kuang was promoted to brigade leader because of his meritorious service. When Fang Jie first heard this name in Wu Yidao's mansion, he once thought that he would be a man with a ruthless face and cold eyes.
"I've seen the brigade rate!"
Fang Jie made another military salute.
In terms of status, he was just a deputy of the scout team, so he naturally had to salute when he saw Zhang Kuang.
"Come on, sit with the brothers."
Zhang Kuang said with a gentle smile.
…
…
"Perhaps you are a little curious."
Zhang Kuang pulled Fang Jie to sit down at a table, and said with a gentle smile: "We are all from the frontier army, how can we be so generous and occupy the entire lobby of Keshengju? Look at your expression." I knew that you must not know the allusion, and no one should have mentioned it to you."
Fang Jie nodded and said, "I'm really curious."
"Do you know who the ancestor of the owner of Ke Shengju was?"
Zhang Kuang asked.
Fang Jie shook his head.
Zhang Kuang smiled and said: "The owner of Ke Shengju was also from the army, and his name was Li Sheng. He was also a member of the frontier army. Once he injured his legs in a fierce battle and had to go home. After returning to Chang'an City, Li Sheng used his own The restaurant was opened with money from the salary and military rewards. It was just a small shop at the time. As time passed, the business of this restaurant became more and more prosperous, and it gradually became famous in Chang'an. But Li Sheng did not forget his origin. The soldiers who eat in the restaurant do not charge money. But because they do not charge money, the soldiers are embarrassed to come again. After everyone persuaded Li Sheng, he decided that in the future, all soldiers will only be charged 10% of the meal price. This rule has been established since Li Sheng Since then, his descendants have always followed."
"No wonder."
Fang Jie felt respect for the founder of Hakka Habitat.
"There is another allusion."
Zhang Kuang smiled and said: "Since His Majesty established the Academy of Martial Arts, the current boss of Ke Shengju has made another rule. Every candidate from the frontier army can eat a meal for free as long as he walks through the gate of Ke Shengju." Meal, order casually. After this rule was established, the candidates for the frontier army of the previous Yanwu Academy got together to discuss it, and decided to hold a frontier army gathering in Keshengju, so that everyone can get to know each other. After all, we have No one in the village is rich, and they can’t afford this much money if they want to treat guests. This year, Mo Xidao from Fenghuang Terrace came forward to make arrangements, and I have to thank the boss of Ke Shengju.”
Fang Xie really didn't know these things.
Since he arrived in the imperial capital, he has not been idle. He has been tricked and tricked others, and most of the information he inquired about was only for the Yanwu Academy's exam. He had never heard anyone mention these things that Zhang Kuang said. After arriving in the imperial capital, he was not like other frontier soldiers who walked around and asked for anecdotes. He's busy with not getting killed in a dead end, and then dealing with wave after wave of enemies both in the open and in the dark.
"What about Brother Mo?"
Fang asked.
Zhang Kuang said: "He is helping to carry the wine in the back, and he will be back in a while."
Just as he was talking, suddenly a group of frontier soldiers rushed out from behind Ke Shengju, each holding a wine jar in their hands. The leader was a tall man, lean, tough, and the most eye-catching thing was the scar on his face from forehead to jaw.
He actually... lost one eye!
Seeing the astonishment on Fang Jie's face, Zhang Kuang sighed slightly and said, "He is Mo Xidao. He sneaked into Dongchu and killed more than a hundred people in a row, but he also lost a trick. .But it’s good if I can come back alive. If it were different, I’m afraid I would have died in a foreign country. And... if I died in Eastern Chu, the imperial court would never recognize this credit.”
desolate!
The desolation in his tone made people feel touched.
He was right, if Mo Xidao hadn't come back alive but was caught by Eastern Chu's pursuers, the court would never have recognized him as a soldier of the Sui Dynasty. Even though Da Sui never put Dong Chu in his eyes, this kind of unprovoked extermination of people would ruin Da Sui's reputation. As a matter of fact, the Phoenix Terrace defender who sent him to Eastern Chu back then really only let him infiltrate Eastern Chu to find out information, and it was Zhang Kuang who decided to kill all the Eastern Chu generals.
"I heard Brother Fang Jie is coming!"
The tall and slender man missing a left eye handed the wine jar to someone else, and asked loudly, "Which one is Brother Fang?"
"I am!"
Fang Jie hurriedly got up and saluted: "I have seen the brigade rate!"
He and Zhang Kuang have made such great contributions, but they were only promoted from the brigade to the brigade leader. It has to be said that the Sui court owed them as well as all the frontier soldiers. Fang Jie has no doubts at all, if such a great contribution is made by the children of the family, he is afraid that they will get far more than Zhang Kuang and the others. Even if the imperial court still won't publicize it with much fanfare, it is undoubtedly their qualifications for promotion and fortune in the future.
But now, the imperial court just gave Zhang Kuang and Mo Xidao a chance to take the Yanwu Academy exam. These humble frontier soldiers were inexplicably grateful.
"Fuck!"
Half a head taller than Fang Xie, the lean but strong Mo Xiedao strode over, laughing loudly as he walked, "I thought Brother Fang Jie, who made 21 military exploits, must be a burly man anyway." , How come he is a handsome young man who looks like a bitch?! Haha, you are not pretending to be my brother Fang’s name, if I see that you are fake, you have to watch out for your asshole!”
Such a vulgar person, but Fang Jie doesn't dislike him at all.
This is the true temperament of the frontier soldiers that Fang Xie is familiar with, each one is as rough as a devastated rock blown by the wind. They opened their mouths and shut them with dirty words, but their hearts were warm.
"There are a lot of people who want to take my ass, but I poked them all! If I knew that everyone knew my name, I would have stood up and ostentatiously cheated."
Fang Jie said with a smile.
Ha ha!
Mo Xidao strode over and gave Fang Xie a bear hug: "Of course he's a man who has killed hundreds of horse thieves! I don't like sissies like Mojiji the most. Come on, I'll know just by looking at your hands." Lies are not lies!"
After hugging Fang Jie, he grabbed Fang Jie's right hand and looked at it.
"What a thick knife cocoon!"
He couldn't help sighing, then raised Fang Jie's right hand and shouted: "This is our little brother, the youngest frontier soldier who took the Yanwu Academy exam this year! You all have to show me his appearance clearly. If you dare to bully our little brother, you are not allowed to pretend to be cowardly!"
Everyone burst into applause.
At this time, six or seven young princes in brocade clothes suddenly walked in from the door of Ke Shengju.
The person in the lead had a face like a crown of jade, but his face was too pale, as if he had put a layer of powder on it. With a high nose and thin lips, seeing a room full of frontier soldiers, the man couldn't help but frowned and cursed in a low voice: "A group of poor people with no money come here to get free food. I don't know why they are so shameless." thick!"
The young man was clever, and quickly let those people in: "Young Master Wang, quickly go to the private room on the second floor."
"There is a fishy smell, disgusting!"
The person behind the prince glanced at Fang to explain them, eyes full of disgust.