Beijing
At dusk, the streets are bustling with people. The shops and restaurants along the way are all lit up, making them look colorful and bright. The sides are filled with small baskets, and wontons, dumplings, pancakes and steamed buns are everywhere.
The Baihua Building stands on the north side of the street, with Zhu Yingqing's steps facing the street and hanging lights. There are thirty or forty guests sitting in the hall downstairs, gathering together in twos and threes, their faces flushed with wine.
Ren Wei was wearing plain clothes and watching from the window on the third floor, seemingly preoccupied, while a scholar beside him was wearing a white robe, starched clean, and looked to be about thirty years old.
Ren Wei turned around: "Zhou Zhiyuan, do you understand everything I ordered?"
Zhou Zhiyuan said: "Mr. Ren, since you have contributed one hundred taels of silver, I must make sure that your affairs are done beautifully."
"Okay, I'll see how you arrange it." Ren Wei smiled, and Zhou Zhiyuan didn't say much. He just clasped his hands and went down. He didn't go to the lobby, but just waited at the entrance to the second floor.
Someone came up the stairs and saw that there were all elegant seats, the floor was clean, there was a file in the corner, all the pens, inks, paper and inkstones were available, and there were already people there, more than a dozen people, in small groups, reciting poems and lyrics, and discussing stereotypes. Art, and Zhou Zhiyuan came out: "Brother Li, you are here, please."
Li Shusheng, a middle-aged man, nodded: "I'm late, please forgive me."
Before he finished speaking, he heard someone inside say: "Have you heard? King Lu came to the capital and lost another city."
Hearing the voice, Zhou Zhiyuan's face condensed and he sighed: "Brother Li, the world has only been at peace for a few years, and it is in chaos again. Why do we invite a small banquet to talk."
"please"
This is a small gathering of scholars. It is not big, but they are all well-known scholars in the circle and have considerable influence in Shilin.
Li Shusheng had just arrived upstairs when someone shouted: "Li Sheng is here."
"I've met Brother Chen."
Zhou Zhiyuan took his seat, looked around, and saw that everyone he invited had arrived, so he said, "Everyone is here, let's have a banquet."
"Great, great." One person tapped the table with a fan.
Zhou Zhiyuan shouted: "Brother, let's serve the food, and another jar of jade altar dew."
Yutanlu is a good wine in the capital. After hearing this, the waiter responded quickly. In just a moment, he put the food and wine on the table one by one.
When scholars use wine, they naturally have to engage in literary youth, and they serve Liushang Ling, which is a kind of wine order with forty-eight wine chips, divided into "red chips" and "green chips".
The top of the red chip is carved into a convex shape and painted with red; the top of the green chip is carved into a concave shape and painted with green. The red chip is engraved with the words "drink someone's wine", that is, who is pouring wine for the person at the table, and a corresponding sentence Ancient poems, green chips describe how to drink wine and what orders to follow.
"I'll come, I'll come!" One person hurried up, drew out the lot, and read: "The seat on the left will drink for you, haha, Brother Shen, you are at my house, have a drink quickly!"
Everyone immediately started cheering, and then they heard the sound of the wine being poured. The man drank, smelled the smell of wine, and smoked, saying: "Have a drink with the leader. Come on, Brother Zhou, the leader, come and cast a lot."
Zhou Zhiyuan had no choice but to pick a green chip from the chip tube containing green chips, read it, and smiled: "Go through the bamboo festival three times and pass the customs three times. If you can't pass, you can drink a cup to pass the order."
The sound of pouring wine, sipping, and laughter could be heard all the time, and soon the wine started to make his ears warm. Seeing that he had almost finished drinking, Zhou Zhiyuan glanced at it and suddenly sighed: "Brothers, the world is in chaos recently, the emperor is ill, and the prince is supervising the country. , first there was the rebellion in Yingzhou, and then there was the rebellion of King Lu. How could we, as students, stand by and watch? Although we are among the people, we should contribute to the court and think about the people. This is the time for us to offer our advice and suggestions. .”
The scholar's small banquet was of course about commenting on world affairs. This was a proper topic. After hearing this, everyone present agreed: "Brother Zhou is absolutely right. As scholars, how can we Stand back and watch.”
Speaking of Yingzhou's quelling the chaos, someone else said: "Although Pei Ziyun has little merit, he is a Taoist. If he is officially awarded a reward and ranked among the princes, he will be a Taoist who disrupts the government."
"Yes, that's right. A Taoist is not a court official, so how can he be involved in politics?"
The scholars all responded with anger on their faces. Although this person was once a scholar, he betrayed the scholar by becoming a Taoist. It is really abominable.
People who were usually slightly jealous were even more righteous: "The Taoist priests of the Zeng Dynasty, Chang Zhenzi and Yuan Huanzi, didn't have any merit, but they caused great disasters, led to civil strife, and even caused the violent death of Emperor Zeng Jing."
"It can be seen that even if a Taoist like this has a small merit, it will definitely lead to a big disaster."
Zhou Zhiyuan looked around and saw that the person speaking was Zhu Zizi, a juren with the same name as himself. He had a slightly extreme temperament. He spoke loudly, arousing a response from the audience.
"We, Shufa, read the books of the sages immediately after being taught. The strange power and chaos of God are silent. Where is the great road, how can heretics be allowed to flourish? Everyone, now that King Lu is in chaos, we must not let Pei Ziyun take charge of the military. Are we so dignified? , Can't find a good minister? Do you have to let a Taoist override officials? This is a shame for the court. I am ready to remonstrate with the court and punish the Taoist who disrupts the government."
The somewhat mature person heard this and smiled: "Brother Zhu, the Taoist has not committed any serious evil yet, and I have heard that the prince appreciates it. I'm afraid it will not be easy to do so."
"It's because of the prince's appreciation that we want to eradicate this evil. If the prince ascends the throne, won't this evil way become the norm?" Zhu Ziyi seemed to hate Pei Ziyun very much, raising his arms and shouting.
"It's difficult, it's difficult. King Lu led his troops to attack the capital. Pei Ziyun won the battle in Yingzhou. Not to mention the reward, it was just to be prepared and avoid any trouble. The imperial court had to protect it. Ming Zhengdian punishment was not too difficult at this time. Maybe." Another scholar stood up and said, "I think it's better to knock down the power of this demon first, and then plan to annihilate it in one fell swoop. Things have to be done step by step."
"That's true. It's absolutely true."
Someone else said: "Uncle Zhongqin is a scholar and is familiar with military books. He was sworn by the emperor when Longxing of this dynasty (the founding of the country) and offered many strategies. He has experienced many wars and has made many achievements. I think this time Yingzhou The great victory was due to Pei Ziyun taking away the credit of Uncle Zhongqin."
"Pei Ziyun is only one Jieyuan of Yingzhou, has never fought in a battle, and is less than twenty. How can he unite the overall situation and still win?" The man scanned the crowd and raised his doubts. After a pause, he said: "I I once heard that Pei Ziyun was once a guest in the prince's palace. I think the prince was in charge of the country and gained some affection. He temporarily deceived the prince and took away the credit of the loyal and diligent uncle."
"Very true, we want to give Uncle Zhongqin justice." There were people with bulging veins on their foreheads, raising their arms and shouting, as if they were sworn in with Pei Ziyun.
The atmosphere in the venue seemed to have reached a climax. Although Zhou Zhiyuan was the initiator, he had the urge to leave after hearing the words of these scholars.
"Literaturemen look down on each other. Isn't it because you are jealous of Pei Ziyun's talent?" Although Zhou Zhiyuan thought this way, he still said sternly: "What you are saying is that I inherited the teacher's teachings, and the Taoist sect is just a small letter and a small favor, but it is not a cultivation. The world is a great way for people to live their lives, so the sage ignores it."
"If a Taoist is allowed to live in the court, even if it is a temporary success, it will cause disaster for a hundred generations. This matter is not the gain or loss of one person, but the rise and fall of the Taoism of us scholars."
"I think Uncle Zhongqin can pacify Yingzhou, and he will also be able to quell the rebellion in the north. We should support Uncle Zhongqin, and we must not let the Taoist give us the crown."
"Yes, we must not let the Taoist mess up the imperial court!" After drinking, these scholars felt that every word was spoken to their hearts, and they all shouted loudly.
One person said: "I have a clan brother, Zhu Cheng, who is currently serving in the Yushitai, so he can submit a letter!"
"My father has a protégé, Li Zhi, who is now serving in the Ministry of Rites. You can submit a letter!"
"Yes, I also know many students. We can jointly submit a letter." The scholars were full of joy and joined forces. One of them shouted: "We are all upright and will be able to bring order to the chaos - come on, cheers!"
Everyone toasted together and drank. After getting drunk, everyone gradually left. Only Li Shusheng and Zhou Zhiyuan were seen at the end. Li Shusheng said with a half-smile but not a smile: "Brother Zhou's expression has been different recently. It seems that he has something." opportunity."
"Brother Li is really smart, but this time you thought wrong." Zhou Zhiyuan waved his hand: "Brother Li, can I give you a ride?"
"No need, I'll go back by myself!"
Zhou Zhiyuan sent everyone off, and after returning for a while, Ren Wei turned around and walked out from the next box: "Who is Li Sheng?"
Zhou Zhiyuan took the sober tea on the table and took a sip: "It's Li Siwen. He's an old juren. He has lived in Beijing for five years and is well-known in the capital. However, he is cautious. Although we can guess that we deliberately let it go, can it be? Don’t dare to act rashly.”
"By the way, how do you think I did this errand?" Zhou Zhiyuan asked curiously: "Why did Pei Jieyuan adopt this self-destructive strategy?"
Ren Wei couldn't help but smile after hearing this and said: "You did a good job, here's it for you."
After saying that, he handed over a one-hundred-tael banknote, and when Zhou Zhiyuan accepted it, Ren Wei sighed sadly and said, "Why, actually you saw it too."
"Pei Jieyuan passed the national examination at the age of seventeen. Scholars all over the world are envious and jealous, and his poems are famous all over the world. Although he has to accept it openly, how many people are gritting their teeth secretly?"
"He led the army to quell the chaos and accomplished great things. He was only twenty years old."
"Even if you are Zhou Zhiyuan, don't you hate me secretly?"
Zhou Zhiyuan was startled, then raised his palms and smiled: "Brother Ren is really interesting. It speaks to my heart. I studied at the age of seven, was a scholar at the age of fifteen, and passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-one. Now that I am thirty, I still have no chance of becoming a scholar. , I was wasting my time in Beijing and usually only ate green vegetables and tofu. When I thought about someone who was under 20, he would be in trouble, and I was so angry that I tossed and turned in bed and couldn't sleep."
After saying that, the two of them laughed, and Ren Wei said with a serious face: "Rewarding is a grand ceremony of the court, but public opinion also has to be taken into consideration. You see, it exploded just now. It is really terrible, and my young master has no choice but to taint himself."
Zhou Zhiyuan smiled: "This is human nature and has happened in all dynasties, so I won't hesitate to take this money. If you want other things, I really don't dare to interfere."
After saying that, Zhou Zhiyuan patted Ren Wei on the shoulder, said no more, and walked out. Looking at this man's figure, Ren Wei couldn't help but be startled. This plan went with the flow, and with only a little effort, the Shilin bureaucracy immediately took the initiative. On board the ship, he calmly laid out the overall situation, and the whole world was changed. However, Zhongqin Bo, no matter how much he had, he was afraid that he was not far from death.
Unless it was revealed, who would know that Pei Ziyun wanted to kill Uncle Zhongqin? Even if someone like Zhou Zhiyuan saw through it, they would only think it was self-defeating and self-protection.
Sighing: "Such power and tactics are so miraculous that they are almost the same as the Tao."
(End of chapter)