There are three similarities in the official circles of Liyang, that is, the same family and the same year, Zhao Youling, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and Yuan Guo, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, are such a coincidence. Participating in the imperial examination together, one champion and one second place, made Kinmen County, where there were very few Jinshi and ranks in the past, become famous overnight. If you add a like-minded person, Zhao Yuan and Zhao Yuan can be said to have four similarities. The distance between the two mansions was only two to three hundred steps, and they visited each other very frequently, and the neighbors had long been familiar with each other. Today, not only Yuan Guo came to the Zhao residence, but also Zhao Shangshu's in-law Yin Maochun, The two important ministers and ministers of the current dynasty both brought their children with them. The younger generations were all about the same age, and the children of the three surnames were mostly friends with each other. The hornet's nest, not to mention beating up Han Xingyan, the only son of the Minister of Justice who came out to persuade the fight, so he offended the four families in one breath, but "it was a blessing in disguise". Afterwards, he was dragged to the gate of the Zhao Mansion by his father, who was the Minister of the Household Department, and knelt for half an hour, but this did not prevent the prince from being in the limelight in Tai'an City for a while. Yuan Guo has no wife and no children, but he is the most popular among the younger generation for children. When Zhao Youling and Yin Maochun's parents made tea with Dongxue stored in the cellar, Yuan Guo still mingled with a large group of young men and women to drink and warm up the tea in person. Passing the wine, I don't think it's inferior. A dozen or so juniors are used to it, but they think it's justified. Like Yin Maochun's eldest son, Yin Changgeng, who sat on Uncle Yuan's neck to pee every day when he was a child, and the uncle and nephew even joked about it. In the future, Yin Changgeng will take care of Yuan Shilang's retirement. Like Han Xingyan, when he went to drink flower wine for the first time when he was young, he was abducted by the disrespectful Yuan Guo. He ran to the closed gate of Yuan Mansion and scolded for a long time. Yuan Guo was not guilty at all. When he opened the door, he took out his earwax in one hand, and in the other he carried the flagon he had just picked up from the brothel. He asked Han Shilang if he wanted to drink with a playful smile Han Lin was so angry that he broke up with Yuan Guo from then on, but after that, Han Xingyan often went to Yuan Guo secretly to beg for drinks, and Han Lin couldn't control him if he wanted to.
Yin Changgeng and Han Xingyan said that both of them, as serious Beijing officials, participated in that early court, but their ranks were not high enough to enter the palace, and the turmoil in the palace was turbulent, so they couldn't hear it clearly. At this time, Yuan Guo was sitting on the couch, Holding Yin Maochun's eldest grandson in his arms, while dipping chopsticks in wine to let the child open his mouth to smack, he vividly told them about the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea in the temple. Jing Yuan Shilang added fuel and vinegar to them, which surprised everyone. The daughter of Zhang Shoufu's boudoir and Yin Chuxiang's youngest daughter also entered the house. Yuan Guo, with a shy face like an old urchin, wanted two girls to be his uncles, rubbing his shoulders and knocking his back. He was "notorious" among the children of Tai'an City Zhang Gaoxia glared at her, she drew her sword two inches and put it back into its sheath fiercely, Yuan Shilang, who was familiar with this heroine's temperament, could only smile smugly, but fortunately Yin Heyun was much more well-behaved, sitting on the side of the couch, rubbing the uncle's shoulders. Yin Changgeng glanced at the tall Zhang Gaoxia, quickly looked away, and chatted with the daughter-in-law who returned to her mother's house today about trivial housework, Han Xing said nothing, but sighed in his heart, why didn't he know Brother Yin's thoughts on Zhang Gaoxia, and became the bridegroom official? , all friends of the same age are congratulating Brother Yin on becoming Zhao Shangshu's son-in-law, saying that the two families of Yin and Zhao are well-matched, and they are even more talented and beautiful. But that night, Yin Changgeng just dragged Han Xingyan to a small restaurant for a drink. Han Xingyan exhaled, how could it be said that easy knots are the most difficult to solve? Strange to say, in terms of beauty, Zhang Gaoxia is not even as good as her current sister-in-law. She has the same pair of blue eyes as her father, Chief Assistant, and if a woman has no talent and virtue, Zhang Gaoxia really deserves not to be married. The crown princess of "Bachelor" has competed with each other, so far no man can compare her, and her swordsmanship is also extremely good. She has studied under Song Nianqing, the great master of Jianchi in Dongyue, and Qi Jiajie, the number one master of swordsmanship in the capital. She is naturally an embroidered pillow , even Tangxi Sword Fairy Lu Baijie praised her talent for swordsmanship. The eldest prince Zhao Wu had suffered at the hands of Zhang Gaoxia. This woman is indeed a heroine who can walk sideways in Tai'an City. Anyway, if she is alone, Surely no one can beat her, fight her family background? I'm sorry, her biological father is Zhang Julu, her adoptive father is Huan Wen, and there are a large group of famous officials like Yuan Guo who have left the Zhang party but are still in love to support her, who dares
Yuan Guo also wanted to dip the young grandson of Prime Minister Yin into a drink with chopsticks, but Zhang Gaoxia, who couldn't stand it anymore, snatched the child away. Yuan Guo had to change the subject and asked, "Where did you just say?"
The youngest son of Zhao Shangshu, Zhao Wenwei, was still a teenager, and he said happily: "Uncle Yuan just mentioned that Jin Sanlang of the Imperial College has a black nose and a swollen face for some reason!"
Yuan Guo laughed and said: "Yes, this old punch was made by our old man Tan Tan Weng Huan. He is really tricky and old-fashioned. Poor Jin Jijiu first angered everyone Yao, and now he is still used by half of his officialdom. Mr. Huan, who led the way, was beaten up. Blessings are unparalleled, and misfortunes never come singly. So you melons, in the future, you must remember that when you are an official, you have to keep your tail between your legs. Regardless of father, the tall hat is not small, right? Hey, it's still not exempt."
The three families know all about it, and with Yuan Guo around, there is no taboo at all. Han Xingyan frowned and said in a low voice, "Uncle Yuan, even though Jin's sacrificial wine habit is a blow to Beiliang's defection, it is used to earn fame and reputation in the court and the opposition. It's a bit vulgar to eat, but it is beneficial to the court and society after all, and he does have many brilliant insights from a strategic height, which makes people can't help but praise him. He and everyone in the Imperial College have to confront each other. It’s a good thing to shoot the Lord, why do you want to fight? Are you not afraid that it will be heard by His Majesty?”
Yuan Guochi took a sip of shochu, rubbed his ears subconsciously, and said with a smile: "Mr. Huan wouldn't care about such a trivial matter, you guys are too young. When your father and I entered the court as officials, Mr. Shoufu He has a very good temper, but it is Mr. Huan who is worse. Uncle Yuan was often scolded by Mr. Huan by his ears. By the way, you have heard about Mr. Huan beating Jin Lanting. It's not good to go out, otherwise I will have a headache from your father talking about it."
Seeing that Yin Changgeng hesitated to speak, Yuan Guo drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, shouted happily, stretched out the wine glass for Han Xingyan to fill up the glass, grabbed a peanut and threw it into the wine glass. The wine is good wine and can be hung on the glass , so even though the wine was already higher than the rim of the glass, it still didn't overflow at all. The waiter looked down at Ripples, a little dazed, and then regained his composure after raising his head. He gently shook the wine glass and said with a smile: "I know what you want to ask the most. Well, it’s not impossible to say, but…”
The heroine who was teasing Yin Maochun's grandson said angrily, "I just pretend I didn't hear."
Yuan Guo chuckled, raised his head and drank the spirits in one gulp, chewed the alcohol-smelling peanuts, and said intoxicated: "Wu Feng eighteen, the word Li is a real bad posthumous posthumous title, old master Song When "Jie Shi" was written, it was the first emperor's order to change this word from evil to beautiful, but it was the last among the eighteen beautiful posthumous titles. Father's master has always had great resentment towards the King of Beiliang. The late emperor did not have a unique idea in this move. This idea did not surface until this year's Waking of Insects. Today, His Majesty bestowed this word, even more so. Sincerely. With His Majesty's attitude, he will not give General Xu any bad posthumous posthumous titles. If the other seventeen characters are generously given posthumous posthumous titles, there will be chaos in the hall that day. I have said that the imperial court Now, let’s talk about Beiliang, the young man who became the King of Beiliang from His Royal Highness, should he accept such an incomparable posthumous title? If he does not accept the imperial decree... "
Han Xingyan said with a smile: "Does this guy want to tell the world that their Xu family is going to rebel?"
Yuan Guo put down his wine glass, laughed at Han Xingyan's judgment, and continued: "If Beiliang accepts this imperial decree swallowed, with Beiliang's loyalty to the old vassal, the new vassal will undoubtedly lose the morale of the army and the people, it is tantamount to demolishing himself. Family. After Uncle Yuan told you this, do you think the young King of Beiliang will accept or not accept the imperial decree? Wake up and ask you!"
Han Xingyan thought for a while, then smiled and said, "I bet that guy still doesn't dare not answer, he just tried to make big things into small things, pretending to be calm, and trying his best to suppress the posthumous title."
Yin Changgeng frowned and said, "It's difficult. The scholars went to Liang, but they were all watching. Even if the Beiliang Road blocked the news, the people didn't know much about it, but how could so many scholars have no sources of information. What's more difficult is that they received the imperial decree. It is unfilial, and the 300,000 cavalry will despise the new king. Not being accepted is disloyal. Many scholars who rushed to Beiliang will also have ideas. not human."
Yuan Guo glanced at Zhang Gaoxia, twirled the wine glass with his fingers, and said with a soft smile: "This is just the beginning of the new chess game between the imperial court and Beiliang. Next, the new feudal king will have to observe filial piety for three years. No one in the imperial court is willing to fight for the new feudal king." Seeking a recovery, this middle game that takes three years is even more troublesome. Even if you get through the middle game and solve the worrisome internal troubles, I am afraid that you will face a hasty end. If Bei Mang insists on fighting first Beiliang, hey..."
Yuan Guo stopped talking.
Han Xingyan whispered, "It sounds like the king of Xinliang will have a miserable life in the future?"
Yin Changgeng sneered and said, "It's extremely miserable."
Yuan Guo left the small couch, staggered and said, "I'm drunk, I'm going to ask your father for a hangover tea."
Yuan Guo habitually rubbed his earlobes with both hands, and swayed out of the house. At this time, the spring breeze was still engulfing in the cold air, and he was shocked by the wind. He turned his head and saw Zhang Gaoxia following behind him. He slowed down and laughed at himself: "I Yuan Guo is the most unpromising one in the 'Spring of Yonghui', and in those years, Mr. Huan scolded the most and most fiercely, which also disappointed Lord Shoufu."
Zhang Gaoxia said something coldly, then turned back to Yin Changgeng and Han Xingyan.
“It is indeed the biggest disappointment!”
Yuan Guo didn't seem to hear anything, and continued to walk forward, staggering.
This Yuan Bang No. 2, who was only a servant in the Ministry of Industry, stopped in front of a boulder in Chunshen Lake that was as tall as two people, and smiled heartily.
…
Strange to say, in such a big family, Zhang Julu, the first assistant, is neither a strict father nor a loving father. Inheriting the knowledge and talents of Shoufu's father, he did nothing but served as the county magistrate in a lower county with a population of less than 3,000 households on the edge of Gyeonggi. Even the county officials don't know that this person is the son of Lord Shoufu. The second son was just a nerd, and he failed to rely on his family's blessing to enter the Hanlin Academy and become a Huangmenlang, so he was unknown. The youngest son can only be regarded as idle, but he doesn't even have the courage to be half evil. After a long time, even if he is Zhang Shoufu's young son, Wang Yuanran, who has lost a lot of his family background, doesn't like to play with him anymore. , I feel that this guy is too worthless, and it would be embarrassing to take it out. Zhang Shoufu's daughters are also married to mediocre families. Every time they go back to their natal home, they don't even see their father. Even if Zhang Julu has nothing to do at home, he just stays in the study and never shows up. Seeing Shoufu's husband, who was unsteady on his feet, standing at the door of the study across the door, he timidly greeted him a few times, but Zhang Shoufu would at most just hum indifferently, and most of the time he simply ignored him.
Zhang Shoufu occasionally smiled slightly when he saw his grandson who could only walk. So in the mansion, the only one who can talk to this powerful father is Zhang Gaoxia who is not yet married.
The purple-bearded and blue-eyed Mr. Shoufu is sitting alone in the dimly lit study room today. This study room is the thunder pool of the Zhang family. Even his daughter Zhang Gaoxia can hardly walk in. Naturally, there are only a handful of people who can sit here for so many years. Huan Wen is counted as one, because there is only one chair in the room, and whoever sits down means that Mr. Shoufu must stand.
Zhang Julu has never been interested in good food and wine, nor has he ever taken concubines. His wife is the daughter of his mentor, the old Shoufu. After the first assistant, she was extremely dignified, even if the current queen Zhao Zhi saw her, she would still treat her with courtesy. It's just that the relationship between the two is as light as water, and they can't speak a few words all year round, and they respect each other like guests, even more like ice. Zhang Julu is also not interested in the nineteen ways of vertical and horizontal, but is very obsessed with the chess pioneered by Huang Longshi. Except for Huan Wen, an old friend, he seldom fights with others on the chessboard, and more often he plays against himself. In the coming year, I am not bored either. At this time, Zhang Julu moved the red and black pieces on the chessboard respectively. This pair of chess pieces and the chessboard were all carved from ivory. The expensive chess pieces were sent by Yuan Guo that year. The number one pick comes every year, but the group of "young handsome men" who entered the court's field of vision during the short four years of Yonghui Spring are now famous ministers in charge of power in the temple, so that they are destined to leave a strong mark in history Great words of praise. Among the dignitaries who are not young at the moment, Yuan Guo is the most "interesting" one. It is recognized that he has the highest talent, but the least reputation, the most reckless temper, and the most unscrupulous. Putting it on ordinary civil servants, this is called a celebrity Merry, but for an official who wants to become a cabinet minister, such an image is fatal. So at that time, who should take over the mantle of the Zhang party, and which surname should Zhang Lu change to? To be more outstanding than Yuan Guo, it is hard to imagine that Yuan Guo is the first guy among the five to cross the fourth-rank threshold, but it is a pity that a good first move is not beneficial to the overall situation. Otherwise, there will only be a dismal end in anticlimactic conditions.
Zhang Julu clamped a chess piece between his fingers, tapped lightly on a pile of "dead" chess pieces piled up on the edge of the chessboard, and said to himself: "This chess is a good chess game, but it's not good enough. Wonderful chess. If you close too close at this time, you can only either not let it go, or you have to put too much. But it is also human nature. After losing for so many years, if you don’t make it back, you want to win him once in the future. Not even a chance."
The Chief Assistant looked at the messy chessboard, lost interest, stood up, walked to the window, and saw that the green willows in the courtyard were only half yellow and half-yellow, and it really was spring.
Zhang Julu fell into deep thought, and turned around to pick up a red chess piece on the chessboard, engraved with the word "Xiang".
Zhang Julu smiled.
"Because Yuan Benxi's plan is not in time. One thing for one thing, it's time to leave it to you."
…
When the edict was about to reach the border of Beiliang Road, a rider quietly left the city in the early morning.
The man in white, holding a stick of plum wine, left Beijing along the royal road.
In the early morning of this day, amidst the dull spring thunder outside the hall, the eunuch Song Tanglu, the eunuch who was in charge of the ceremony, read out three imperial edicts: Lu Daolin, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, resigned from his official position and returned to his hometown when he was old. It was supplemented by Yuan Guo, the minister of the Ministry of Industry.
Chen Zhibao resigned his official post, and he was made king and became a domain of Xishu. Minister of the Ministry of War was promoted by the servant Lu Baijie.
The capital shook.
Rumor has it that a number of veteran ministers staggered out of the line and knelt on the ground, weeping uncontrollably, admonishing the emperor in court, not caring for the slightest hint, and bluntly telling that Chen Zhibao must be let the tiger go back to the mountain, and that Beiliang is a lesson from the past, and raising a tiger is enough. , How can Chen Zhibao gain power again.
His Majesty the Emperor answered with the four words "retire without incident".
As a result, the two new ministers of Yuanguo and Lu Baijie, who were promoted to a higher level, did not have much congratulations.
In the twilight, a middle-aged monk in white absurdly brought a woman beside him into the city. Everyone now knows that the imperial court is destroying Buddha. Is the monk coming to Tai'an City to seek death? The people in the capital, who are used to seeing big scenes, also looked sideways, their eyes were almost like watching monsters.
The ordinary-looking woman joked softly: "I wanted to see you back then, but I couldn't see you even if I stood on tiptoe. I had to jump up and down."
The monk in white touched his bald head with a warm smile, "At that moment, I felt that the daughter of some family had really good feet, and she jumped for several miles."
The woman gave him a pinch, and hummed: "When you're in the capital, don't hook up with the vixen!"
"How can it be?"
"As long as a shameless vixen comes to hook you up, see if I don't deal with you!"
"This is a bit difficult... Daughter-in-law, you can do it now."
"Blow, let you blow! Look who recognizes you now? Besides, those women who are still thinking about it are already old and pale, and I don't pay attention to them!"
"Daughter-in-law, don't worry about it, take it to heart. It's better not to worry about it."
"Looking for cuts, aren't you?"
"..."
"Is there really anyone in this world who believes that eating your flesh will make you immortal?"
"well."
"If the heart is not sincere, what good is it for Jiazi to eat fast and keep the precepts? If the heart is not good, what is the use of being a monk for a hundred years to practice the Tao. In my opinion, burning incense and praying to gods and worshiping Buddha is worse than accumulating blessings and becoming a Bodhisattva."
"Huh? Daughter-in-law, you also went to listen to Abbot Huixin's lecture? Don't you like to listen to this the most?"
"Humph! At that time, I borrowed money from the old abbot. The old monk obviously had money, but he said he had no money, so he kept talking to me about it! Monks don't chatter, it's outrageous!"
"Ha, daughter-in-law, Abbot Huixin did not lie when he said he had no money. The silver, in his opinion, is the bricks of Buddhist temples and the pages of Buddhist scriptures..."
"Oh? Didn't you let Ben Nanbei secretly hide those silver coins at the old abbot's side?"
"Haha, daughter-in-law, look quickly, there are so many people in Tai'an City."
"I miss our plums, and I also miss North and South."
"I want it too."
"Hey, who are the two men who are staring at you hard in front? Could it be that besides Huang Longshi, there are other men who want to grab men from me? Be careful, you go and help me find a brick! Are you looking for a shot?! "
"Uh, one is His Majesty the Emperor, and the other is Yuan Benxi."
"Then I went to buy rouge..."
"Shall I borrow some money from them?"
"I'm stupid. I don't have to pay back the money I borrowed from the old abbots. If I borrowed from them, can I not pay it back?"
"Right."
The two people in front put their hands together. Although they didn't believe in Buddhism, they still bowed to the white-clothed monk who had traveled thousands of miles west.
But the monk in white turned around and looked at the back of his wife leaving with a smile.
…
Huaizhou in Nanzhao is not very peaceful. Along the way, people fleeing refugees, slanted wooden beams, and piles of black and green gravel like tombs are everywhere. The ancient wood merchant road on the river where the five streams meet has lost the bustle and bustle of the past, and there is not a single boat staying on the ferry wharf.
A young monk and a young girl stood by the ferry stream. The young girl was lying on the ground, sticking her head out and using the clear stream as a mirror, carefully smoothing the messy black hair on her forehead and temples.
The exhausted girl sat up, patted the dust in front of her, and said helplessly, "Stupid Nanbei, those refugees can't get enough to eat. What's the use of you preaching scriptures to them? You can't fill their stomachs either."
"Master said that intention arises through interdependence..."
"Stop it, stop it, you will feel hungry when you tell people the scriptures, and if you keep talking about it, I will really starve to death."
"Oh. I'll find you something to eat!"
Behind the little monk and the girl suddenly came a burst of yin and yang strange words, the girl looked sideways, her brows were furrowed, it was a group of loafing hooligans, there were as many as thirty or so of them, they were strong, and most of them wore animal skins and shoulders. The prodigal son is obviously much more powerful than Kong Wu, and he is probably the so-called Wuxi barbarian in the Jianghu. The girl stood up, tugged at the cuffs of the young monk's cassock, and her eyes signaled that he couldn't afford to provoke him. In the past, she was not so easy-going when she walked in the rivers and lakes. When it comes to fighting and beating people, she is still so-so, but after bringing the stupid Nanbei around, she rarely causes trouble. These Wuxi savages kept swearing, but the two of them outsiders couldn't understand the clumsy dialect, but the eyes of the savages said it all. They fell in love with the girl next to the little monk. Because of the case of the Huangmu struggle for the river, the Wuxi area of Huaizhou was devastated by the flames of war, and the Liyang court had a weak control over Nanzhao. Some powerful people did not do little to rob the merchants of the Central Plains, and many Zhuangzi shops were swept away. , this is considered lucky, the loss of money can still eliminate disasters, and many people even say that they are gone.
The girl said softly, "Let's jump into the stream."
The little monk shook his head and said, "Aren't you hungry? You don't have the strength to swim."
The girl was so angry that she wanted to knock the idiot on the head, but the little monk had already walked forward alone, clasped his hands together, and blocked him in the middle of the road.
A Wuxi savage stepped forward quickly, punched the little bald donkey looking for death, stepped back, shook his wrist, felt a sharp pain, turned his head and yelled a lot.
The next Wuxi savage started to trot with a grinning grin, leaped high, and kicked the weird little monk's chest obliquely.
The little monk swayed slightly, but his expression remained calm.
The group of Wuxi savages were obviously shocked, and several of them began to draw sharp and bright machetes.
The girl was about to step forward and drag the little monk to jump into the stream, but the little monk turned his head and grinned, shaking his bald head with firm eyes.
The little monk turned around again, muttered silently, clasped his palms and stretched them a foot apart, then clasped them suddenly.
Wuxi barbarian was stunned for a moment, mistakenly thinking that he had bumped into an iron plate, but he waited for a while, but there was no movement around him, he laughed loudly, one of the swordsmen hit his shoulder with the back of his knife, and came with a sly smile.
The little monk's cassock was fluttering.
"I'm Buddha Tathagata."
In the calm stream, suddenly there was a stormy wave without warning.
A ferocious green dragon formed by the convergence of streams is in the shape of a king's beard! He bowed his head and roared like thunder at the group of Wuxi savages!
Scared the shit out of everyone.
The girl who had never bought a box of rouge after leaving home this time sat on the edge of the ferry, without any surprises, but with a sad expression.
The little monk scratched his head, squatted beside the girl, muttered for a long time, and finally spoke.
"Li Zi, I'm just a monk. I don't know anything but chanting scriptures."
"Do you have to become a Buddha by chanting scriptures?! Who cares about your relics!"
"Li Zi, are you hungry? Shall I beg for you?"
"..."
"thing?"
"..."
"Li things?"
"..."
The little monk sighed and looked into the distance with his hands on his cheeks while sighing.
The girl with her back to the little monk raised her sleeves and wiped her cheeks.
…
A convoy of one hundred elite Qingqi escorts had already seen the Youzhou boundary marker, and a few steps further on, it was Beiliang Road.
In the carriage hung with bright yellow curtains sat a senior eunuch of the Yinshoujian, holding a golden lacquer box that he dared not let go of while sleeping. Inside the box was the imperial edict bestowed by the Liyang court on Beiliang.
The closer the old eunuch got to Beiliang, the more his eyelids twitched, and he kept telling himself that as long as he set foot on the territory of Beiliang Dao, he would be satisfied. But after all, he was lucky, after thinking about it, he still didn't think that the young new feudal king dared to send someone to assassinate or refuse to accept the imperial edict.
Then the carriage stopped suddenly, and the old eunuch of the Yinshou Prison felt an unusual aura, lifted the curtain and took a look, his heart sank.
Near the boundary marker of Youzhou, there are countless iron cavalry spreading to the end of the post road in sight.
After the spring equinox in the first year of Xiangfu and before Qingming, the convoy escorting the imperial decree had not yet entered Beiliang, and was expelled by two thousand Beiliang cavalry for three hundred miles.
At the same time, 8,000 cavalry troops approached Zhulou Junzhen in Hezhou, and another 6,000 soldiers and horses pointed directly at Tieshuang City in Hezhou.
The imperial decree is not allowed to enter Beiliang an inch.