Fang Jie has nothing to do these days, he has nothing else to do except go to the Academy of Martial Arts and study with Professor Qiu Yu every day. On the fourth day after Prince Yi's case, a visitor suddenly came to the shop. The person who came was about twenty-five or six years old, dressed in brocade clothes, and accompanied by two burly men. These two people are definitely not servants. Although they are dressed in ordinary clothes, they can be seen from military backgrounds because of their straight posture when they walk.
This young man has an extraordinary appearance, and his inverted triangle figure is even more eye-catching. He looks amiable, but the arrogance and sternness between his brows can't be hidden.
Fang Xie's newly hired servant led them in. After the young man came in, he casually glanced at the furnishings in the room and then raised his lips. Fang Jie's shop has two floors, and the tailors have not moved out for a long time, so it is still a little messy. There are no decent calligraphy and paintings in the living room, just a few pots of evergreen plants in the corner.
Fang Jie bought the abandoned house on East 18th Street with almost only a small fee, and the recently hired craftsmen are repairing it. The yard was too dilapidated, with weeds all over the ruins. Moreover, the craftsmen really dare not go in because of the vicious reputation. If Fang Jie hadn't let Qi Lin and Nie Xiaoju, two door gods, guard him somewhere, the craftsmen might not have dared to take up the job.
Later, the craftsmen found out that Master Xiao Fang, who was well-known in Chang'an City, bought this house, and many people came to persuade him kindly, but Fang Jie just smiled and said thank you, but he had no intention of stopping. The title deed of this house is in the hands of the Chang'an Mansion, the Governor of Chang'an knew that Fang Xie wanted to buy it, and kindly persuaded him, but Fang Xie's attitude was firm, so the Governor had no choice but to send someone to complete the formalities.
It has been abandoned all the time, and no one cares about this house. In addition, the news that Fang Jie was named a first-class township by the emperor has already spread, and the governor of Chang'an is also happy to be a favor. It's just a symbolic collection of some money to block people's mouths, but in fact it's no different from giving away for nothing.
In order to reassure the craftsmen, Fang Jie also asked Chang'an Mansion to assign a team of yamen servants to go back and forth to inspect. At the beginning, the craftsmen were worried, but after two days they saw that there was nothing wrong and they gradually relaxed. In fact, the so-called haunted house is mostly the product of rumors. Fang Jie never believed in the theory of ghosts and gods, even if he was reborn, there is still no change. At that time, the house was so fierce that most of it could not be separated from the struggle in the market and the competition for family property.
People in this era have a much stronger reverence for ghosts and gods than Fang Jie. The longer the rumors, the more miserable it became. As time passed, the house was abandoned and no one cared about it.
Two days later, the worries of the craftsmen have faded a lot. Fang Jie set up another trick, asking Da Quan to bury a wooden box in the house, and then dig it out. The wooden box was bought in a second-hand market, and it has been around for decades. Write another so-called suicide note of the old owner of this house, and find someone to make it old. Naturally, no one will doubt it. Fang Jie made up a bleak story, attributing all the murders to the robbery of the family property. After the craftsmen dug out the box, the will spread. They didn't have any doubts about this kind of thing, so the worries in their hearts were even lighter.
What's interesting is that when they heard that there was nothing dangerous in this house, many people felt sorry for themselves, wondering why Fang Jie took such a huge advantage.
The house took up quite a lot of land, and Fang Jie planned to build a workshop in the backyard and in front of the people. In the future, ready-made garments will be made here. Anyway, only a small part of the money funded by Wu Yidao is enough.
Just because I plan to move there in the future, there is not much decoration in the shop. When the young man came in, he found that the shop was rather crude, and he was obviously disdainful.
When Fang Jie came down from upstairs, the young man clasped his fists and said with a smile on his face, "I have met Mr. Fang. I am Lu Ou, a general under General Luo in Yongzhou in Southwest China. I am here to visit."
Hearing the words General Luo, Fang Jie's heart immediately understood. It was no secret that the emperor planned to send him to the southwest, and it was only natural that Luo Yao's men came to visit. But the arrogance on this person's face, which was concealed but still clearly visible, made Fang Xie a little disgusted.
He knew that Luo Yao's subordinates were very proud, and even looked at them with contempt for the generals of other guards. Of course the people in the left vanguard thought they were the number one army in the world, and Luo Yao was naturally the number one general in the world. Fang Jie didn't resent the army's temperament, but he resented how aggressive these people were. This is Chang'an, not Yongzhou in the southwest. If you still look like Lao Tzu is the best in the world when you arrive in the imperial capital, then this person is by no means an unfathomable person in the city.
Ya will be the fifth rank, and the Ranger General on Fang Jie's body is also the fifth rank. Although the former is a real lack and the latter is a false title, there is no need for Fang Xie to be inferior. The title of nobility has basically nothing to do with the military position, and there are quite a few people who wear titles but are only minor officials of the fifth or sixth rank.
For example, in the Xie family in the south of the Yangtze River, Xie Fuyao's family still has at least a dozen counties and townships. Xie Fuyao's father is still a hereditary Duke, but he is just a local official of the sixth rank. Officials such as the county magistrate still have to salute how to salute.
So Fang Jie didn't really think that his status as a first-class villager was too cool, or that he came from a real military position.
…
…
After the guests and hosts were seated, Lu Ou looked at Fang Xie a little impolitely. When he saw clearly that there was some stubble on the chin of this young talent who had become popular in the capital, this tooth general named Lu Ou couldn't help but twitched the corners of his mouth, and the disdain was obvious. Or to cover up, he lowered his head and took a sip of tea.
Fang Jie didn't bother to pay attention, and asked with a smile, "General Lu is here, do you have any advice?"
Lu Ou raised his head and smiled and said, "Is there any advice for you, I just came to visit because I heard that the Holy Admiral's trip to the southwest was entrusted to Mr. Xiaofang."
This is very straightforward, you can understand it without thinking about it. Because you are the imperial envoy appointed by the emperor to go to the southwest, that's why I came to see you. If you didn't have this identity, who would come to you to talk nonsense. Masters in official circles always pay attention to ambiguity when speaking, and will never express their thoughts directly. But this person didn't even bother to be vague, and it was no different from saying it directly.
Fang Jie was not angry either, and smiled lightly and said: "Then General Lu should go to the Ministry of Rites first, the officials of the Ministry of Rites are preparing for the ceremony."
Lu Ou couldn't help laughing and said, "Where are there still a few people working in the Ministry of Rites?"
Hearing these words, Fang Xie's expression changed, and he gave Lu Ou a cold look. Perhaps because he realized that what he said was too disrespectful, Lu Ou leaned back to avoid Fang Xie's gaze and explained, "I mean that the Ministry of Rites is short of manpower and they are all busy. Since Mr. Fang, you are For the imperial envoy to the southwest, it is better to discuss some matters with you directly."
"Is there anything to discuss?"
Fang Jie asked.
Lu Ou's heart tightened a moment ago when he was stared at by Fang Jie, and then he realized that the young man in front of him was also a soldier. That kind of cold look can only be seen by people who have killed many people.
"About the eldest princess..."
Fang Xie stopped Lu Ou just halfway through his speech. He glanced at Lu Ou and said indifferently: "It's not time to discuss anything about the eldest princess. Your Majesty just asked me to go to the southwest to have a look and reward me by the way." The soldiers stationed in southern Xinjiang for the country. What does it have to do with the eldest princess?"
Lu Ou was furious at this remark, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled: "Master Xiao Fang is right, it really has nothing to do with the eldest princess."
He waved, and the two attendants immediately came over and put down the gift box they were carrying.
Lu Ou said with a smile: "It's the first time I came to visit, and I brought some Southwest specialties, which are not worth anything, so I just wanted something new. If Mr. Xiaofang doesn't dislike it, I will accept it."
Fang Jie said indifferently: "This imperial capital is too big, with a city of hundreds of miles, and millions of people... Merchants from all over the world gather here, but they sell everything. I have never been to the southwest, but there is a store three miles west of this shop." In the market, there are many merchants from Yongzhou. I heard that they transport goods from Yongzhou to the imperial capital, and it takes at most a month to arrive by water. General Lu is actually faster than professional merchants. Presumably this Southwest specialty is indeed It's still fresh."
Lu Ou was really annoyed by Fang Jie's words, and the fire in his heart burst out all of a sudden. Fang Jie actually compared him with those lowly businessmen, and what he said meant that they came in such a hurry, they came to ask for favors, and they were more eager to get benefits than those businessmen. Moreover, they came in a hurry because they were not at ease.
"Master Xiaofang has never been to the Southwest, so he might be deceived by some unscrupulous businessmen. I heard that someone brought local products from outside of Gyeonggi-do into the Imperial Capital, so I dare to say that they are special products from the Southwest, and there are still many people who buy them... This businessman is really shameful."
The meaning in the words is obvious, it is to say that Fang Xie has no insight.
Fang Jie hummed and said: "Indeed... Some people are so eager for quick success and want to make a fortune by deceiving people. Today, they want to sell you fake products, so they come to sell you, but they are hard to please. After deceiving people Leave immediately, and pretend not to know each other when we meet face to face. How can this be done? It’s better to be honest, right? General Lu?”
Lu Ou's complexion changed. After a moment of silence, he stood up and said with a smile, "It's too presumptuous to bother you today. This time I came here to ask Lord Xiaofang to show you favor. It was General Ye Jinnan who was sent by General Luo to the capital to handle errands." Take charge, I'm just a layman. General Ye is a fourth-rank general, and I will invite Mr. Xiao Fang to drink at Hongxiu tomorrow night, Mr. Fang, please don't refuse."
"Tomorrow night?"
Fang Jie frowned and did not pretend to be troubled: "I have an appointment with Mr. Huai of the Ministry of Rites to listen to the song at Hongxiu Zhao. If you don't mind, let's go together?"
Lu Ou was not a sociable person at all, his face became more and more gloomy. Holding back his anger, he smiled, said his farewell, and turned to leave.
Fang Jie sneered, turned around and said to Da Quan: "Send away the things that General Lu left behind, and ask him to count the amount, and don't let people say that we are cheap and took other people's 'souvenirs'..."
He got up, stretched his waist and said with a smile: "Three days to invite and one day to call, you are so casual as me? You want to treat me to dinner, have you made an appointment?"
…
…
At the intersection of East Ershisantiao Street, there is Guixian Tea House.
Lu Ou walked in with a look of anger on his face, entered a private room under Xiao Er's guidance, and slammed the door behind him. He sat down with a livid face, picked up the teapot on the table and poured a few sips directly mouth to mouth. The tea was still hot, but he didn't care much about it.
The person sitting across the table glanced at him, couldn't help but smiled and said, "What, you've eaten?"
Lu Ou said angrily: "A fifth-rank ranger general who can't stand on the stage, how dare you pretend to be noble to me. If this kind of thing is placed in the southwest, I will chop it to death with a single knife! When you arrive in the imperial capital, you will be so useless. A big ass Guan'er, just give me a damn face."
Sitting opposite him was the older man who had come with him.
This person's name is Ye Jinnan, Luo Yao's confidant.
"you are wrong."
Ye Jinnan smiled and said: "Fang Jie is not a cat or a dog. I asked you to know that this person is going to contact you, but you didn't listen, thinking that you could bribe him with two thousand taels of silver... I don't want you to go just like this, but I know you will hit a wall. This is the imperial capital, and people's vision is already high. Besides... do you know who he is? Two thousand taels of silver, even if you put twenty thousand taels in front of him, he will Not necessarily heartbroken."
This means that Fang Jie is not here, if Fang Jie is there, he will not tell him, and the 20,000 taels of silver are not tempting? That's absolutely impossible... But two thousand taels, do you really think I'm ignorant