When we arrived at Lu's shop, we had breakfast with the merchants. When the opening bell rang, the merchants in each shop took their places, and those who were waiting for transactions outside the city rushed in. A new day has begun.
The three of the Lu family shuttled back and forth between various shops, watching the Yongbao people receiving customers and handling various matters. While Lu Buwei greeted the familiar customers enthusiastically, he adjusted the placement of goods in the shop so that every item was in its proper place.
The Lu family mainly deals in cosmetics and jewelry in Yangzhai. To attract the attention of male buyers, these goods, which are mainly targeted at women, must have special skills. Lu's technique is to make the mediocre people in the shop wear these ornaments to show their enchanting posture. After Lu Buwei arrived, he also put a hairpin on his head and hung a string of jade pendants on his belt. As soon as he moved, he saw the hairpin swaying and the jade pendants jingling. He walked through the market ostentatiously, attracting a group of children to watch.
After a while, a man who looked like a retainer came over and said, "Lü Zhong has returned!"
Lu Buwei recognized him and quickly replied: "I dare you to be Uncle Han!" Then he asked him to sit in the middle of the shop and put out the fruits.
Uncle Han said: "I heard that Lu Zhong was very successful in Handan and returned home in rich clothes!"
Lu Buwei laughed and said: "A word that travels thousands of miles away is like a pheasant, a dog, a dog, or a tiger. It is just for the sake of profit!"
Uncle Han said: "I also know that your words are very useful and your appearance is pretty, which will surely please the young master!"
Lu Buwei was unhappy, but with a smile on his face, he said: "Uncle Han made fun of me!"
Uncle Han said: "How many young masters have you met in Handan?"
Lu Buwei said: "If you want sharp ears, how can you take care of the young master? If you are not like Uncle Han in the countryside, he will protect you day and night!"
Uncle Han smiled and said: "I am here now to serve as the master. We will send the envoy to the east to Qin. I heard that Mrs. Huayang and her sisters are all good at color. In Yangzhai City, the one who knows about color is none other than the Lu family. I wish. Ask for advice!"
Lu Buwei said: "How can a barbarian in my hometown know the heart of a noble person? Uncle Han will tell you in detail!"
Uncle Han said: "Mrs. Huayang, she is from Chu. Her clothes are beautiful and colorful, and her decorations are rich and strict. She is very favored by the prince! She has no children yet. She has a graceful waist and a graceful train."
Lu Buwei said: "After hearing Uncle Han's words, I was also fascinated! This immortal is extraordinary and extraordinary, so I should raise him with the appearance of an immortal!"
Uncle Han said: "I would like to hear the details!"
Lu Buwei said: "The inner part is made of fine silk, which is smooth and smooth on the muscles. The middle part is a brocade dress, which is graceful and graceful. The outer part is covered with a large red robe, which is gorgeous and eye-catching. The one that is especially frightening has a veil on the outer part, which restrains the brilliant light and fills it with ripples." The face cannot be painted with red rouge, but it should be colored with red flower rouge. Apply it thinly without leaving any trace, but it will add luster. The lips should also be rouged with rouge, and apply sparingly and thickly, whichever suits their needs. If the face is light, wear a hosta. If you put the essence on it, it will shine inside; if you apply it thickly, it will be decorated with strings of beads, illuminating the room. What do you think, Uncle Han?"
Uncle Han said: "I am confused by what you say. I listen to what you say, and I am willing to hear its value."
Lu Buwei said: "May I ask when the envoy will be sent?"
Uncle Han said: "Maybe on the due date."
Lu Buwei said: "I will supervise it day and night, and it will come true. I only wish for a hundred gold!"
Uncle Han said: "How can you deceive each other?"
Lu Buwei said: "I dare not deceive you. The two belong to Uncle Han!"
Uncle Han said: "Come on, I will follow your words. You offer one hundred and thirty gold, and I will give you one hundred gold in return!"
Lu Buwei said: "Don't dare to make any mistakes!"
Uncle Han stood up to leave. Lu Buwei said, "Uncle Han, wait a minute. I got a fur from Handan. It's very soft. Uncle Han should wear it!" The attendant took out a piece of tiger skin from behind.
Uncle Han said: "That's fine!" He put it on his body and left. Lu Buwei's jupei swayed, and he gave gifts as gifts.
Lu Buwei was discussing business in the front, while Father Lu and Uncle Lu were listening nervously behind. Hearing that Lu Buwei finally settled the business deal, he was very happy.
The next day, Lu Bo and Lu Buwei got on the car back to Luoyang and traveled day and night to Luoyang. At this time, Lu's retainers had already found buyers for the goods on the ship in Luoyang City. Lu Buwei first purchased things for Uncle Han's use in Luoyang, and then purchased many luxurious things in Luoyang City in large quantities, with such a large amount of money that Lu Bo was frightened.
That night, Lu Bo and Lu Buwei stayed together on the reverse journey. Lu Bo said: "If Wei Wei enters the Qin Dynasty and buys luxurious things, he will definitely become a stranger!"
Lu Buwei said: "Everything depends on time and opportunity. Now that the opportunity has come, if you miss it and do nothing, it is not what you want. My father is old, but I left it to my uncle! But there are difficulties, and Buwei takes them all on, and he doesn't dare to be tired. !”
Lu Bo said: "If you don't act alone, you can't think about your family. If you don't leave here, I will take my father and flee to the rivers and lakes. Don't think about it again!"
Lu Buwei said: "Why are you here?"
Lu Bo said: "I think Buwei is quite unjust towards Uncle Han in the market, and he is already in a state of soaring. If your heart is not dedicated, your intention will not be sincere; if your intention is not sincere, your work will not work; if you do not work, you will fail. Others It’s okay to lose. The king is responsible for the world, and whether he succeeds or fails, what he has done is not small! My father and son are not as good as me. I am afraid of being tired and afraid of disaster, so I hide in the rivers and lakes, so I can find my place."
Lu Buwei said: "If I fail, everything will be over. If I succeed, how can I find my brother?"
Lu Bo said: "In the affairs of the world, even if you win a hundred victories, it is not enough to be happy, but a defeat will be worrying. I should do my job well and don't think about us." Lu Buwei felt sad.
The next day, Lu Bo returned to Yangdi with the goods. After the incident was revealed, the Lu family did not know what happened.
Lu Buwei purchased a large amount of goods in Luoyang and loaded them about a hundred times. He secretly connected with Qin's hidden connections, and after some preparations, he finally set foot on the road to Qin. Due to the recommendation of a foreigner, the State of Qin sent a team of a hundred people to escort him back and forth. After entering Hangu Pass, the passengers did not stay in Hangu as usual, but took the waterway to Xianyang.
After arriving in Xianyang, Lu Buwei and his party of more than a hundred people were arranged to live in the post house. Lu Buwei showed the festival talisman and was directed to the Xianyang Palace.
That night, passers-by from Dianke Mansion went to the post office and asked Lu Buwei about his mission to Xianyang. Lu Buwei said: "Young master has great affection for Zhao and will report it to the king." Pedestrians did not dare to ask more questions and went back to report to their superiors.
Another day passed, Zhang Lu first met with Lu Buwei.
The Prime Minister's Mansion in Xianyang City was already very grand, and Zhang Lu no longer traveled to and from Zheng Anping's house, but only lived in the city. Zheng Anping, Chen Si, and Mang Wei all went to the Prime Minister's Mansion every day after court. They had become popular figures in the Qin State. They all married wives, had children, and took root in the Qin State. When Lu Buwei arrived, he introduced Mang Wei, who almost became Zhang Lu's administrative assistant.
Lu Buwei was led to the hall and entered a room. Zhang Lu cupped his hands in salute and motioned for Lu Buwei to sit down. Lu Buwei returned the favor and sat down on the table next to him. On the table next to it, there is a scribe writing down things.
Lu Buwei didn't wait for Zhang Lu to ask, and immediately said: "Master Zhao Guolou, I will have a secret meeting with you recently..."
With just one sentence, Zhang Lu was startled, and he immediately said: "Stay here!" They sent out everyone on the left and right, leaving only Mang Wei and the scribes. Then he motioned to Lu Buwei to continue.
Lu Buwei said: "Lou Gong slowly approached and met with the young master secretly. He said that there were many people in Zhao and they were unwilling to have sex with Qin. And the princes also wanted Qin to compete with Zhao. If the two emotions are inflamed, their power may be strong. I hope Qin will eliminate it. Of."
Zhang Lu said: "Why eliminate it?"
Lu Buwei said: "I hope Qin will not take the six cities as a thought and quickly consort with Zhao to show the world's situation and ward off the intentions of the princes."
Zhang Lu thought for a moment and said, "I would like to hear about Handan!"
Lu Buwei has been in Handan for a long time and is very familiar with Handan. He started from King Zhao and went all the way to the young masters of Zhao in Handan City. He also talked about the meeting between Mr. Yiren and the other young masters of Zhao in Handan City. Zhang Lu listened very carefully and did not interrupt easily. From his expression, it was impossible to tell what his opinion was on Lu Buwei's words. He always looked directly at Lu Buwei, as if he wanted to see directly from his appearance to his heart. Lu Buwei showed no fear and talked freely, with a calm expression, and what he said was as if he had experienced it himself. He spoke for an hour before stopping. In the meantime, someone came to ask Zhang Lu for something, but Zhang Lu turned him away.
When Zhang Lu saw that Lu Buwei had finished speaking, he asked, "Is this strange young man trusting me?"
Lu Buwei said: "No, it's just what a common man sees and hears!"
Zhang Lu said: "How do you know the young master?"
Lu Buwei said: "We, the common people, heard that the young master was held hostage by the princes and that he was not spared in his carriage. He was living in a difficult place and was unhappy. He was willing to surrender and went to see him."
Zhang Lu said: "Qin and Zhao are at war, and Qin's hostage is actually Zhao's enemy. Are you close to Qin Gongzi, do you think you can go against the Zhao people?"
Lu Buwei said: "The conflict between Qin and Zhao is a matter of state. The friendship between the princes is a personal matter. Although the Zhao people hate Qin, they cannot hate the princes of other people!"
Zhang Lu said: "It can be said that a stranger is like a stranger in Handan."
Lu Buwei then told the story in detail about the foreigner's banquet with the princes of Zhao at Handan Fang. He especially mentioned that the foreigner insisted on using Qin style to entertain guests, and that the best Qin dancer in Handan City had been taken into the prince's room.
Zhang Lu said: "Young Master is very dissatisfied with Qin, but he doesn't want to be dissatisfied with Handan."
Lu Buwei said: "Everyone in Handan knows that the young master is a virtuous man, and the people of Qin should also know it. If you are proud of Handan now, you will surely be proud of Xianyang."
Zhang Lu said: "What did Mr. Lou teach me?"
Lu Buwei said: "No. Lou Gong saw that the young master was very close to him, so he couldn't speak to him, but he said something about Qin and Zhao. He is old and unable to enter Xianyang. I hope the young master will repay the king."
Zhang Lu said: "The son has returned to Xianyang. Is there any other word?"
Lu Buwei said: "Young master, when you are in Handan, every time you think about your parents and Mrs. Huayang, I would like to pay homage! I have a pair of white jade stones again, and I will worship them again and present them to the Prime Minister of Qin." He took out a deerskin bag from his arms, Mang Wei took it and presented it to him. Zhang Lu. Zhang Lu opened it, looked at it, and said, "It is a beautiful jade. Since you are a guest of a stranger, the prince should see you again."
Lu Buwei said goodbye and came out, not knowing what the consequences of his words would be. He followed Mang Lai to the front of the mansion, boarded the post car, and drove the pedestrians to the front of the prince's mansion. A waiter was waiting at the door. Lu Buwei presented the gift list, but the waiter didn't look at it much and led Lu Buwei to the hall.
The prince seemed to be in poor health and could not bear to sit for a long time. He only asked a few questions, but Lu Buwei announced that the interview was over before he could get to the point. Lu Buwei was very regretful.
Returning to the post house, he thought over and over about the meeting with the prince, hoping to find an opportunity to break the deadlock. But it seems that the prince is very cold towards foreigners and indifferent to everything that foreigners do in Handan. Lu Buwei was very confused. Did the prince really have so many outstanding sons?
