The rising sun dragged the shadow of Hongxiuzhao's three-story wooden building far away, and when it overlapped with the shadow of a big tree next to it, from a high place, the shadow looked like a giant holding the sky with one arm like.
Perhaps only in the early morning and dusk, the imperial capital Chang'an will be more gentle and less brutal.
If Hongxiu Zhao wants to reopen the door in Chang'an City, the procedures required are cumbersome and complicated. So early in the morning, the butler, Tu Wu, took people to prepare gifts and went to the Yamen of Chang'an Mansion. Even if the people in the government did not make things difficult, it would not be possible to complete all the procedures in a day or two.
Xi Thrush, who hadn't slept all night, stood at the back window, looking at the scenery of the backyard and the people in the scenery. Just when she was in a daze, a few military officers in official uniforms walked into the gate of Hongxiu Zhao. The servants who were tidying up the main hall hurried forward, and after asking, they realized that these people came to find a solution.
The servant greeted the officials to sit down, then served hot tea, and hurried up to the third floor to report to Aunt Xia, Xi Huamei thought for a while and said: "Since it is someone from an official position who came to look for it, there will be nothing wrong with it." You go and find Fang Jie, and by the way call Lord Luo, I have something to discuss with him."
The servant responded and went downstairs to the backyard. After Fang Jie and Master Luo heard this, they walked back together. Out of politeness, Fang Jie went up to the third floor to bid farewell to Xi Huamei.
Xi Huamei glanced lightly at Fang Jie's severed arm tied with half a dead branch, picked up a pack of wound medicine from the table and handed it to him, "Sometimes being too paranoid is not a good thing."
Fang Jie thanked him, smiled and said: "At this moment, it is inevitable that I feel uneasy."
Xi Huamei didn't mention the matter of saber practice anymore, thought for a while and said in a gentle voice: "The emperor is not a small town of Fan Gu, and the people here are no better than Fan Gu's folks. Especially the official people, how much can they bow their heads when they see it?" Look up more often. If you can nod, try not to shake your head even if it’s difficult.”
Fang Jie's heart warmed, and he bowed slightly to say goodbye.
Xi Huamei didn't say anything more, but for some reason, she sighed slightly when she saw the young man's back going downstairs. The old cripple seemed to see something, and asked softly, "Isn't it right?"
Xi Huamei shook her head slightly, thinking that maybe she was thinking too much.
When Fang Xie arrived at the lobby on the first floor, the officers of the Ministry of War couldn't help being stunned when they saw his distressed appearance. Especially the severed arm hanging around the neck looks really miserable. The chief officer took a look at Fang Jie, and said, "Follow me to the Ministry of War to discuss matters," then turned his head and walked out.
Fang Xie nodded humbly, showing enough respect for these little officials. You must know that in this place of the imperial capital, perhaps any petty official without real power can cut off his future. For example, it would be disgusting if the heads of the sixth and seventh ranks of the Ministry of War refused to stamp his application for participating in the Martial Arts Academy.
Faced with such an indifferent and arrogant attitude, Fang Xie could only smile and shook his head.
The biggest difference between imperial officials and local officials is that they are more able to pretend. A seventh-rank official is a county magistrate in a local area, and he is in charge of the power of punishment and people's livelihood in a county. In his territory, he can say nothing about it. But in Chang'an, the capital of the empire, there are many seventh-rank officials like lackeys and most of them have no real power. But even so, the attitude raised by the officials of the imperial capital was still a little too high for people to get used to.
After exiting the gate of Hongxiu Zhao, Fang Jie saw a carriage parked by the side of the road.
When Fang Jie saw the carriage, he couldn't help being slightly taken aback.
There is no sign on the carriage.
In the Sui Dynasty, whether it was the government offices of various ministries or the big families, they all had their imprint patterns representing their identities. For example, on the carriage of the Ministry of War, there are usually black patterns drawn with a shield and a knife. There is usually a balance painted on the carriage used by the household department, with books on one side and silver ingots on the other.
As for the big families, most of them use flowers, trees and wild animals as their family marks.
For example, in the Yu family, the carriage is painted with bright green ivy, representing the family's longevity. The painting on the carriage of the Li family in Longyou is a fierce tiger with two wings.
And this carriage is very ordinary.
So Fang Jie's expression changed slightly, and then he looked down at his broken right arm and frowned slightly. I don't know if I am worried about something, or the pain in the broken arm is a bit unbearable.
When the leading official came to the side of the carriage, his attitude softened a lot, and he even lifted the curtain of the carriage for Fang Jie with his own hands, and said please. Fang Jie quickly put on a flattered expression, declined a few words and then boarded the carriage. The leading official came up later, but the others did not follow.
"You are lucky today."
After getting into the carriage and lowering the curtain, the official's attitude became more and more enthusiastic. Maybe he deliberately pretended to be indifferent in front of others, or maybe it was to cover up the unnaturalness on his face.
"How?"
Fang asked.
The official said with a smile: "We don't need to go to the Military Department, but go directly to the Martial Arts Field outside the city. Today is the last competition of the top three in the Martial Arts Academy, and all the adults in the Military Department will go to the Martial Arts Field to watch. You are lucky to be able to go in, I will After being delivered to the place, we can only wait outside."
"What is the Lord of the Ministry of War calling me for?"
Fang Jie asked with a cautious expression.
"How would I know, I'm just an orderly follower."
The officer laughed at himself and said: "The ones who can enter the martial arts arena to watch the battle are all big men, and even Prince Yi went down on behalf of His Majesty, which shows that the imperial court attaches great importance to the last competition of the top three in the Yanwu Academy."
"Excuse my ignorance."
Fang Jie asked: "Who is the top three in the Yanwu Academy?"
"Yu Xiao, son of the Yu family, Luo Wen, son of the Luo family, and Li Fubo, son of the Li family."
Speaking of this, the officer immediately opened the chatter box like a treasure: "These three are extraordinary people. The three top three positions in the Yanwu Academy have been swapping for three years, but no one else has anything to do. These three young masters have always been in control. .Today is their last competition after three years, but it's a matter of future."
…
…
The officials chatted more and more along the way, but Fang Jie had heard a lot about the Academy of Martial Arts. It’s just that I don’t know how much of what an official of his level said is true, and how much he fabricated out of thin air. You must know that there are two types of people who have the most gossip, one is gossip, and the other is errand.
"According to the usual practice, the first place in each session of the Academy of Martial Arts will be directly appointed as the fourth-rank general, and he will directly serve in our sixteen guards of the Sui Dynasty. The future is bright. The second and third place will usually The other generals who have been awarded the fifth rank, but they cannot directly enter the army, they often have to go to the frontier troops to experience themselves first."
The official smiled proudly because of his extensive knowledge: "This is not just a difference in official rank, but a kind of honor."
"Yu Xiao is the eldest grandson of the Yu family. It is said that the old man of the Yu family thinks highly of him. He just entered the martial arts academy and gave Yu Xiao the heirloom of the Yu family, the tiger-pattern bead. This treasure is only available to the Yu family. Only the patriarchs of the past generations can wear it. The meaning of the old man's doing so is self-evident."
"Mr. Luo Wen is the only son of Luo Yao, the left front guard general of Yongzhou. He has been extremely intelligent since he was a child. General Luo Yao is an invincible ninth-rank strongman in the world. His family's martial arts are like this, so Mr. Luo Wen's ability can be seen And what's different from the other two young masters is that he fought with General Luo Yao since he was a child. Yongzhou is located in the southern border, and there are many stubborn indigenous tribes rebelling. Every year, the general will kill thousands or eight hundred people. "
"As for the son of the Li family, Li Fubo, he is the most low-key among the three sons. Three years ago, he rode a bad horse and carried a bag into the imperial capital. No one knew that he was the son of the Li family. No one noticed him for a period of time after he entered the Academy of Martial Arts. But since the first assessment, he has become a blockbuster. It is said that even President Zhou of the Academy of Martial Arts is full of praise for him."
Fang Jie couldn't help sighing inwardly after hearing the official's introduction of the three hottest figures in the Academy of Martial Arts.
The Academy of Martial Arts is known as the most special place in the Sui Dynasty, but it is still people from aristocratic families who stand out. Even if children from poor families have the opportunity to enter the martial arts academy, I am afraid that most of them will be mediocre. But Fang Jie also understands that this situation is definitely not because the professors of the Academy of Martial Arts are partial to the children of the aristocratic family, but because the things that the people of the aristocratic family have been exposed to and learned since childhood are far from being comparable to the children of the poor family. When the people from poor families are still worrying about food and clothing, the children of the aristocratic family have already read the classics and military books.
The starting point is different, and the future is probably different.
"My poor man, what is this last competition?"
Fang asked.
"It is said to be offensive and defensive... In the Martial Arts Field, there is an earthen city with a radius of four miles, which was specially built for the practice of siege and defense. The three young masters each brought how many soldiers and horses to attack the earthen city, let's see its pros and cons. .”
The official said mockingly: "How can I know the specifics?"
"This servant, can you tell me why the adults of the Ministry of War called me? I should be prepared so that I don't lose my manners."
Fang Jie took out a bank note from his cuff and stuffed it into the official's hand, but the official refused to accept it.
"I don't know."
Mentioning this, the officer's face suddenly turned cold again: "When you arrive at the place, someone will take you in. As for what the adults are asking you for, how would I know?"
Fang Jie hummed and stopped asking.
He looked down at his severed arm, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.
Red sleeve move.
The old cripple looked at Xi Huamei and asked: "The boy was suddenly found by the military department, can there be any problem? That girl disappeared, so I had to take the next step and teach this stupid boy. It's gone, isn't the one I'm looking at missing?"
Xi Huamei frowned slightly, stared at the scenery in the backyard and said in silence for a while, "Master Luo... do you feel that Fang Jie is somewhat similar to him?"
"Paranoid?"
Master Luo asked after being startled.
Xi Huamei didn't answer, looking at a sandalwood box on the table with some hesitation.
"I just returned to the imperial capital, and I don't want to cause any trouble for Hongxiu," she said.
The old cripple's expression changed, he nodded and said, "I understand." He turned and went out, his back looked a little lonely and depressed.
…
…
Martial arts arena, viewing platform.
Sitting in the middle is His Majesty's sixth younger brother, the only one among the princes who is still in Chang'an City. When the seven sons seized the throne and the eldest prince and third prince failed, one was dispatched to Ning'an Pagoda to guard the border, and the other was imprisoned in a remote place in southern Xinjiang to sit and watch the sky. The seventh prince, who later became Prince Zhong, disappeared ten years ago, and there is no news of him until now.
The second prince was granted the title of Prince Guo, and the fiefdom was on the coast of Eastern Xinjiang. The fifth prince died of illness and was posthumously named Prince Jia. The sixth prince, that is, the one sitting on the viewing platform talking and laughing happily, was named Prince Yi. He stayed in Chang'an and did not return to his fief in Boling County in the northwest. It is said that when he bid farewell to the emperor, he cried bitterly.
This Prince Yi didn't take much part in the affairs of the court, he either raised flowers, walked birds or went fishing by the lake every day. The hundred miles of Chang'an, he has traveled all over the place.
However, because he is the only prince in Chang'an, and he is easy-going, tolerant, and the least important to money, easy to make friends, and more righteous, so he has a high reputation among courtiers. This Prince Yi is still an elegant man, and it is said that there are many admirers in the brothel beside the Xinshui River in the imperial capital.
Although he has entered middle age, he is personable, elegant in conversation, and heroic.
How could women not like a lot of money and a lot of leisure
Prince Yi is a person who knows how to enjoy life, so even if he is watching the top three battles in the martial arts arena, he still brings four flowery maids with him, drinks wine from the Western Regions, and the emerald green finger on his thumb The drop is something from the royal family of the former dynasty, and it is priceless.
He likes tea the most, but he only uses the clear spring water from Qianshou Mountain thirty miles outside the imperial capital to make tea.
He doesn't wear a sword or a knife, but one of the maids is holding the Yueyue Baodao in his arms. The emperor of the East Chu Kingdom once offered to exchange it with a big city, but he couldn't.
He likes wine, beauty, beauty, everything beautiful.
His name is Yang Yin, and he is a messy prince who looks idle.
"When does it begin?"
He smiled and asked the person sitting next to him.
Sitting next to him was an old man who looked tall and tall, with shiny black hair without a single gray hair. Wearing a soft and comfortable cotton robe, cloth shoes, white socks, legs crossed, holding two walnuts in hand. His face was rosy, and he couldn't find a few wrinkles, but he felt that he must be quite old.
Prince Yi Yang Yin asked, but received no answer.
He looked sideways and couldn't help laughing.
The old man actually fell asleep.