Before Fang Jie went upstairs, the self-talk that he could not keep a low profile was completely out of his mind. The reason why he chose to appear in the Red Sleeve Trick on the first day after he left the prison of the Ouchi guards was because he wanted to keep a low profile. His name hadn't been floating around in Chang'an City for half a year, and he needed a high-profile appearance to bring himself back to the common people's gossip.
There was no news for more than half a year after entering the Yanwu Academy, and many people in the court were speculating. The excuse that Fang Jie practiced alone in the back mountain could not fool everyone. It's just that no one can see the truth, so it's just speculation. In the past half a year in prison, although he didn’t suffer much, Fang Jie still realized a lot of things. Low-key things are something for those who have great achievements. Those who have no achievements want high-key .
How to be high-profile
What could be more high-profile than appearing in the gold-selling cave of Hongxiu Zhao, and doing something that others can't do? But the latter is obviously extremely difficult.
In fact, as soon as Hongxiu Zhao entered the door, he had already made the other guests jealous. Even though she was young, she was very noble and glamorous, and she had many guests come downstairs to greet her in person. Maybe the one who flirts with her is the only one who can explain this person. Immediately after Mrs. Xi called Fang Jie up to the third floor, the guests were even more surprised. You must know that since the opening of Hongxiu Zhao, there are only a handful of men who can go up to the third floor to enter the aunt's bedroom.
Fang Jie couldn't get much from Mrs. Xi, although he was sure that this woman must know more. But if people don't tell him, Fang Jie has no way to force him.
However, following Aunt Xi's words, Fang Jie had a new idea. On the way here, I actually ignored a very important piece of news, I really shouldn't. Big Dog and the others were all Shang people who had been exterminated by the Sui Dynasty. Only Tie Nu and Ye Xiao were from the Nanman tribe, but they were also very close to Nanyan.
From this point, Fang Jie thought that he is also from the Shang country
After all, there was something wrong with the timing. When he was born, the Great Shang had already destroyed the country for several years, and Fang Xie was sure that he could not be on the same side as the royal family of the Shang country. If it wasn't the royal family of Dashang, who would have the ability to coerce a group of people to protect themselves
Besides, if that man was really from the Shang country, it would never have been so smooth when the Great Sui eradicated the Shang. From the narration of Da Quan and Shen Qingfan, Fang Xie was sure that the man's cultivation base was rare in the world, and there were few enemies. Even Luo Yao, the vanguard general who led the army to destroy the merchants, should be much inferior. If that man is really from the Shang country, it is impossible to watch the country go bankrupt and his family die.
It seems that there are some clear clues, but it is still chaotic.
Fang Jie shook his head, shaking off the disturbing thoughts.
"Ma'am, can you tell me about Prince Zhong?"
he asks.
Xi Huamei fiddled with the ashes in the incense burner, and said softly after a moment of silence: "I guess you already know a lot about his story. Luo Weiran, the commander of the Ouchi Guard Office, is his younger brother. Since you are in the Ouchi Guard Office Close, he must have mentioned something about Prince Zhong to you. What I know is almost the same as what he knows, and there is nothing new to say. It has never been a story that can be arranged casually. He left it to people. Not much at all... If you are just curious about him, there is no need for me to tell you again."
Fang Jie had already suffered from this kind of closed door at Xihuamei's place more than once. To be honest, Fang Xie knew that Xi Huamei had no special opinion of him. Whether she became rich or decadent, it had nothing to do with her. If it wasn't for Prince Zhong's relationship, I might not be able to walk into her room and sit and talk face to face like this.
Fang Jie was neither angry nor disgusted.
This is the most normal phenomenon in this world.
If you have enough capital, you are not afraid that others will not value you. If you are a penniless poor boy, why do you expect the rich family to treat you like a guest? The people Xi Huamei came and went to and from on weekdays are all people who can see Daoist Xiao with one breath, and people like Huai Qiugong, the Minister of Rites. Fang Jie, a young man with no achievements, has already reached the sky in the eyes of ordinary people, but in the eyes of people like her Still standing at the foot of the mountain.
So Fang Jie wisely put away his thought of inviting Candlewick Dance to Liuhuashuishou, then stood up and cupped his fists: "If you have nothing else to do, I'll take my leave first."
"Go."
Xi Huamei said lightly: "Your friends are still waiting for you. I will let Xiao Ding know. Today, you will be free from the cost of the red sleeve move. It can also be regarded as the red sleeve move for you to get out of prison and cleanse the dust."
"Thank you."
Fang Jie didn't refuse, although he really wanted to.
Everyone has pride.
Just to see where this arrogance is going to be used.
Fang Jie walked out of the room where the thrush was breathing, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
He recalled his feelings in prison again, murmured in his heart that life is like a play, and then with a somewhat smug smile on the corner of his mouth, he walked down the stairs slowly. In the eyes of others, he just had a very harmonious and interesting conversation with Aunt Xi.
Therefore, the guests below are even more jealous.
On the second floor, Fang Jie walked up to Xiao Ding Dian, sniffed it, and then praised: "It is said that women's colleges have undergone eighteen changes. When you were in Fan Gu, you still smelled of milk, but now you are full of beautiful women. .”
"Fang Jie! Are you courting death?!"
Xiao Dingdian gave him a hard look and blushed.
Fang Jie sat down next to Xiao Ding Dian, leaned over and said in a low voice, "I have a business I want to talk to you about."
Xiao Ding was taken aback, and subconsciously glanced upstairs: "Why didn't you tell Madam?"
"You can just say it."
Fang Jie sighed slightly: "In front of her, don't talk about business, I can't even talk. Since Hongxiu Zhao is now at the helm, it's the same for me to talk to you."
"Aren't I going to ask my aunt for instructions?"
Xiao Ding said: "I really don't know what's wrong with you. When you are thick-skinned, you can't pierce through the spikes. When you are thin-skinned, you are as coquettish as a woman!"
"Not urgent."
Fang Jie smiled and said, "It will take about a month, let's talk about this matter slowly."
…
…
A private room was specially set aside on the second floor, and Fang Jie asked Luo Weiran to be the first. According to the official position, Luo Weiran is the highest. According to seniority, no matter whether it is true or not, Luo Weiran is his uncle.
Zhuo Buyi and Fang Jie sat next to Luo Weiran, one on the left and the other on the right. After a while, the ordered wine and dishes were brought over like flowing water. The chef of Hongxiu Zhao was hired at a high price, and it is said that he poached a corner from a very famous restaurant in the capital. This chef is best at Jiangnan cuisine, which is a little less strong and a little more light than northern cuisine.
Fang Xie filled up the wine for Luo Weiran and the others. After filling it himself, he held up the glass and respected: "No matter what, I have to say thank you. Without the care of the Commander and Mr. Zhuo, I would not have survived in prison It's so comfortable and comfortable, let's do it first!"
He drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, and Luo Weiran and others accompanied him.
"You will enter the palace early in the morning, His Majesty has ordered you to go to Dongnuange to have an audience."
Luo Weiran said: "I don't need to tell you what etiquette should be done, just remember the way of being a minister."
Fang Jie nodded and said, "I understand."
Luo Weiran hummed, and filled a glass of wine himself: "The war in the Northwest is not satisfactory, and His Majesty is not happy. Early this morning, an urgent report on the Northwest Army was sent to Taiji Palace, and His Majesty did not come out all day. Go through the door... the son of the five thousand guards, almost lost his battle when he came out of Langrushan and Qingxia, although he killed more than double the enemy, but such a big loss, we have not experienced such a big loss for a long time in the Sui Dynasty."
He sighed and said: "Back then when the great merchants were destroyed, hundreds of thousands of troops marched southward, attacking as far as the city of Yongzhou. The general Luo Yao led his troops straight into the capital of the great merchants, captured more than a hundred members of the royal family of the merchant kingdom alive, and then killed them all in the city. Caishikou. Only one remnant of the royal family escaped, that is, the current Nanyan Emperor Murong Shame. After defeating Eastern Chu, the imperial army attacked in three directions. In less than a month, they captured 31 prefectures of the nine counties of Eastern Chu. Most of the country has become the territory of the Sui Dynasty."
"If five thousand elite soldiers go south, it would be enough to scare Murong Shame to his knees and beg for mercy, but this time...out of Qingxia, the first battle with the Mengyuan people was almost lost. His Majesty was very unhappy, and ordered to pay for the dead and wounded soldiers, and reprimanded them in words. General Li Yuanshan, who is not good at backup, ask Prince Xu and Lord Mou Liangbi to write a detailed report, and then discuss the fault."
When he heard about Mie Da Shang, Da Quan's expression changed unnaturally. It's just that he was drinking with his head down, and no one noticed the strangeness in his eyes. He glanced at Fang Jie and them while raising his glass to drink, and found that no one noticed, then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"It was so brutal?"
Fang Jie was startled, and naturally thought of the soldiers of Li Yuanshan's 500 Jingbu Battalion in his mind. But after thinking about it, Li Yuanshan, such an elite team, would naturally be used at the most critical moment. If the Jingbu Battalion is thrown out in the first battle, and the strength is almost detected by the enemy, it will definitely not be a good thing for future battles.
"It was Li Xiaozong who led the first battle."
After Luo Weiran finished speaking, she glanced at Fang Jie.
Fang Jie smiled, as if he didn't mind hearing the name at all: "Your Majesty's choice is very wise. Li Xiaozong has been in Fangu for three years. No one knows the Mengyuan people on Langru Mountain better than him. I can guess He was the one who led the army, so he was surprised... With Li Xiaozong's ability, it seems that it shouldn't be like this."
Luo Weiran said: "I heard that Mandu Lang, the general of Mengyuan Nirvana City, summoned tens of thousands of herdsmen to besiege, plus 2,000 Mandu Banner Jingqi, it was so tragic... It is reasonable. In any case, this Although the first battle was not beautiful, it did not live up to our reputation of being invincible in all battles in the Sui Dynasty."
Fang Jie wanted to say something was wrong, but he held back the words abruptly. Although everyone at the banquet is a trustworthy person, there are still some things that cannot be said casually.
The vanguard army went out of the canyon to fight the Mengyuan people. Such a tragic fight is definitely not a matter of one or two hours. What about the follow-up? Others Fang Xie didn't know, but he knew that Li Yuanshan's You Xiaowei had a cavalry! Moreover, they were still powerful heavy armored cavalry. From Fan Gu to the opposite side of Langru Mountain, they marched for up to two hours. Why didn't reinforcements arrive
Why did the first battle, which was supposed to be fought steadily, be fought so hastily
No one on the front line can hold back the scene!
Fang Jie suddenly thought of this, and couldn't help being surprised.
The emperor sent Yang Kai, the king of Xujun, to sit in the northwest, and the Minister of the Ministry of War, Mou Liangbi, was in charge of the logistics. It seems that it is not difficult for Yang Kai to convince the public as the royal family. But you need to know that among those generals who are entrusted outside, which one is not a domineering person? The governors of the three northwestern provinces will also be involved, and the relationship of interests is intricate! Xu Jun Wang Yang Kai has not participated in the court affairs for a long time, nor has he led the army, so his prestige in the army is not high. And Mou Liangbi was only activated by His Majesty before the war, and he was still imprisoned before, let alone having any prestige.
These two people seem to be dignified, a king and a minister, but they can't hold back those big officials!
This first battle was fought so fiercely, Li Yuanshan would be punished, Li Xiaozong would be punished, but His Majesty's anger was most directly vented on Yang Kai, Prince Xu!
It's a conspiracy!
Fang Jie's heart tightened suddenly, and he couldn't help but feel a strong anger.
If Yang Kai and Mou Liangbi don't compromise with those big officials in the conspiracy of taking 5,000 lives as the price, such losses will still occur, and some people may even deliberately lose the battle! Once there are repeated disadvantages, the first thing His Majesty will do is Xujun King Yang Kai. Those generals and the governor have contacts in private, how could it be possible for two people who have just started to dictate
His Majesty trusts his courtiers so much that he never thinks about the conflict of interest!
The battle is fought by those generals, if they win, the credit goes to Yang Kai, if they lose? Of course the blame is also on Yang Kai and Mou Liangbi!
Fang Jie was shocked when he thought of this.
wrong! It's not that His Majesty trusts his subjects too much... Is there someone making trouble behind those generals
Seeing that Fang Jie's expression kept changing, Luo Weiran smiled and said, "The reason why I mentioned the Northwest War to you is to make you think about it. If His Majesty sees you tomorrow morning, he will definitely ask you about the Northwest War. Opinion. Remember... you should be smart when you should be smart, and you should be confused when you should be confused. Say what you can say, and what you can't say... don't mention a word."