Sima Zheng's brief visit made Zhang Xing feel a strange emotion. He was obviously aware of this man's struggle and helplessness, and this struggle and helplessness probably meant that this dragon among men was still willing to do something for some people who had grown up since childhood. Just stick to some positions along with his ideas... This inevitably made Zhang Xing's last bit of persuasion pale.
Zhang Xing felt sorry for him, but at the same time, it also made Zhang Laosan further realize how much family background and educational experience from childhood can have an impact on a person... To put it bluntly, everyone's life history is completely different. , everyone’s decision may not be understood by others.
Sima Zheng is like this, Li Ding is like this, Bai Yousi is like this, Qin Bao is like this, Yueniang is like this, Yueniang's father is like this, He Ruohuaibao is like this, the two great masters Cao Huangshu and Zhang Fuzi are like this, and he, Zhang Xing, is like this.
Even the emperor is like this, the King of Qi is like this, and Sima Changying is still like this.
But the corresponding key point is that everyone should also give others a decent or dignified choice opportunity. Relying on one's own identity, violence, and authority to be unwilling to give others the dignity of choice is probably the best strategy for censorship. ...As for making a choice and then bearing the corresponding consequences, that is a matter on another level.
After thinking about this, Zhang Xing couldn't help but have a childish mentality, but he was determined to wait until his future had a rough conclusion before he would be with Qin Bao and Yueniang.
Only Qin Bao is beautiful, and Yueniang is not easy to get along with. I'm afraid she won't be able to hide it from them.
But that's okay, letting things take their own course may be a better way of expressing it.
Turning back to the present, Zhang Xing did not wait for other guests that night. Instead, he ate and drank early, went to bed in the snow, and held the "The Biography of the Heroine Li Yue" that he had not read for a long time to read by candlelight at night... but he actually read it at night... I reread the last volume of this book completely.
This last volume tells the story of the former "Wandering Dragon" and today's Prime Minister of Eastern Chu, Qian Yi, who joined forces with the heroines of Eastern Chu, Li Yue, and Long Huang to reform and prepare the army, and finally fought hard to defeat the enemy in the east. The ancestor emperor was forced to throw his knife at Yan Mountain, cutting off the north and south of the mountains, and saved Zuo, the state of Eastern Chu.
Unexpectedly, because of the reform, the internal demon clan aristocrats had already become extremely dissatisfied.
Therefore, with the death of the ancestor emperor, the external threats were reduced, but the internal conflicts in Dongchu broke out... The two islands of the southern demon tribe suddenly rebelled. Qian Yi went to Dongyi Island to organize troops, but unexpectedly he rode to the east border and east When he was on the shoal of Yi Da Island, he was attacked and killed by many monster nobles who had been prepared for it.
And this is how Luolongtan got its name.
After this incident, the demon nobles took off Qian Yi's head, cut off his hair, nose, tongue, ears and eyes, put it in a dung bag and gave it to Li Yue who was still in the east. When the heroine Li Yue saw her beloved end up like this, she collapsed on the spot, so she committed suicide in the Red Emperor's Temple as an orthodox body of the demon clan, sacrificed her blood to the Red Emperor, and cursed the future of the demon clan.
With this move, the Red Emperor Empress was so excited that she personally manifested herself as a saint, resurrected the two of them, and transformed them into dragons with the flesh and blood of the Supreme Being.
But in the end, after this incident, Dong Chu lost all its territory on the Central Plains continent, and the Dongyi Island and the two southern islands of the Yaozu became independent. The traditional power that defeated the ancestor emperor collapsed together with the ancestor emperor's foundation. Moreover, unlike the human race, which is destined to make a comeback, the demon race has completely withdrawn from the center of the world.
It was so clean that it was completely white.
It can only be said that it is indeed a masterpiece with realistic themes. Although I have read it several times, Zhang Xing was still filled with emotion and sigh after reading it all night long, and he wished he could copy a few poems out of it.
However, as the window turned white and the snow on the eaves suddenly slipped, Zhang Sanlang finally came back from his immersion, and then he suddenly felt tired and turned over to sleep.
When I woke up again, it was already after noon.
Moreover, Zhang Xing, as the deputy regular inspector, had given himself and Qin Bao a three-day holiday, so naturally they did not have to work. But even so, unlike someone else, Qin Bao couldn't stay idle at all. He had already swept the yard clean, and then swept all the way from the door to the alley. At this time, he was buying a warm cubby for the stable. Where's the stove?
Yueniang also left food for Zhang Xing in the small stove early, and was sorting some groceries in the main room... They were all the cheapest tea, needlework, and candies... which were intended to be distributed to the poor families in the surrounding neighborhoods.
When Zhang Xing and Qin Bao were there, they were more sensitive to this kind of thing because of the previous incident in Nancheng's siege, so whenever it rained or snowed, there would basically be a period of time like this... Before they were gone, Yueniang was the only daughter. The relationship between the children and their families has not been broken, and now that the two of them are back, it is as usual.
"We're running out of firewood..." Yueniang glanced at the listless Zhang Xing and blurted out.
Zhang Xing actually yawned while eating: "If it's gone, it's gone."
"If it's gone, we won't be able to eat hot food, and the house will freeze to death." Yueniang lowered her head and packed her things as usual. "Mr. Zhang is not afraid of the cold. Starting from Mr. Zhang, save firewood."
Zhang Xing thought for a moment, then took his chopsticks and asked seriously: "Are you worried that the old man who delivered the firewood won't be able to come due to the snow?"
"He hasn't been here for a month." Yueniang raised her head slightly. "At this age, it's normal to get sick or die."
Zhang Xing was startled for a moment, then nodded... This was the truth... However, he immediately remembered something: "How do I remember you? Does he have a son or nephew?"
"My son... used to be a slave, and he came back after a long time... I also sent him off twice." Yueniang blurted out. "I always felt like something was wrong."
"There was no trace of him in the service, and he came back after a while. He basically escaped... But no matter what, even if nothing happens to his family, it's hard to send him off on this snowy day." Zhang Xing blurted out. "So what do you want Mr. Zhang to do?"
"Go to the cross street firewood shop to order a cart of firewood and ask them to deliver it quickly within the next two days." Yueniang blurted out. “But it’s a bit more expensive, and it may not be as neat as the previous ones.”
Zhang Xing nodded.
In this way, the two of them chatted about each other. After finishing the meal, Deputy Changjian went back to the house and put on thick clothes, a machete, and a seal ribbon. Then he condescended to him and walked out slowly. I went to the cross street to order firewood myself. Not only that, after ordering the firewood, the man did not turn back, but turned directly out of the workshop gate and slowly headed towards Tongtuofang.
Not unexpectedly, business in Tongtuofang was particularly prosperous in the afternoon.
Especially after Zhang Xing casually walked into a few unfamiliar shops, he became even more sure of his judgment - pens, inks, papers and inkstones and other middle- and low-level consumer goods were selling well. This was related to the consumption stimulation in the entire Dongdu City, but Another level of business in Tongtuofang, that is, the calligraphy, painting and antique business, has obviously not yet recovered from the previous gold and silver recruitment incident.
However, there are still differences.
There are obviously more calligraphy and painting stocks on the market now, and the prices are also very low...low in all aspects, not only gold and silver, which are in short supply, but also measured in terms of copper coins and silk, which are much cheaper than the previous two years, but the transaction volume rare.
This means that artworks as a whole become worthless in front of currencies and other products.
Or maybe people are no longer willing to collect art as a whole. People who could afford to collect paintings and calligraphy in the past are trying to replace gold, silver, copper and silk with calligraphy and painting for things that are more portable or practical.
The market price was very rare, so Zhang Xing found two calligraphy and paintings, and asked the store to wrap them up and deliver them to his residence to get the money. Then he continued to go to Beishi alone, and then found Yan Qing at the Zhiyefang official in the northeast of Beishi.
"Third brother, don't worry. Although business is difficult, no one is making things difficult." On the counter of his cattle and horse store, Yan Qing, who had a slight beard, personally offered Zhang Xing a cup of tea, and then spoke simply. "The title of Third Brother is sufficient. There is no additional oppression from Jinwu Guards, Luoyang County Yamen, and Beishi City officials."
"That's what I'm here for." Zhang Xing responded seriously, revealing a bit of his plan earlier than Qin Bao and Yueniang. "I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you from now on. I'll pull off Bai's tiger skin when it's time..."
Yan Qing nodded.
Zhang Xing picked up the tea and took a sip, then suddenly realized: "Are you not surprised?"
"Third brother is already at the sixth level, and he is so capable. Sooner or later, he will have to go abroad. I have done it before." Yan Qing said with a smile. "Besides, the current situation is not good. Everyone is afraid of being fooled again. Third brother wants to leave Dongdu early, so it is normal for him to go somewhere else..."
Zhang Xing nodded and asked again: "The Saint's Tower of Babel collapsed, did you know?"
Yan Qing stood with his hands folded and smiled more bitterly: "Since it is the third brother who is asking, how dare you not know? But since I learned about it from a purchasing office in the palace that day, I have never spread it to anyone else, and no one has passed it on... …The bosses here in Bei City all have laws and they probably all know about it, but no one mentioned it to each other."
Gu Long
Zhang Xing nodded. This kind of message would come to an end if it stayed at this level.
"Are you still preparing for the imperial examination?" Zhang Xing thought for a while and continued to ask. "I see that you have gradually taken over the family business..."
Yan Qing finally fell silent, and after a long time he spoke: "This time the saint's patrol caused such a big fuss. Even here in Bei City, because the princess and her family suddenly disappeared, half of the city was destroyed. It is impossible not to think about childbirth without making relevant considerations, and my father is getting older... However, the course starts every three years, and it only takes two or three months to see it. After preparing for so long, I still can’t reconcile it."
The last sentence is the fundamental one. Zhang Xing nodded immediately after hearing it: "If that's the case, I will try my best to introduce you to the White House no matter what... But even the British prince, no one would dare to be in office at that time. What’s more, it’s me…so, this is only a half-guaranteed statement.”
Yan Qing laughed again: "Third brother always doesn't like to take guarantees, but he can always help. This happened last time. Now that the situation has collapsed, it will happen again... Then I can only deal with it again." Once upon a time, it’s enough to have Third Brother’s words on this matter. In fact, no one knows whether the imperial examination can be held on time or not.”
Zhang Xing nodded again and again: "The point is, who would have thought that you thought the situation would collapse, but it would always collapse again? I don't know if it's still the worst now."
Yan Qing could only smile bitterly.
In this way, after explaining to Yan Qing, Zhang Xing originally wanted to go find Li Ding... But for some reason, maybe because he had seen him too many times on the inspection road before, he couldn't be interested at this time, especially when he saw the husband and wife. Adding to the heartache.
So, Zhang Xing went to visit Bei City first, then left the south gate of Bei City, then turned back along Luoshui... After walking a few cities, he arrived at the south gate of Chengfufang. At this time, he wanted to go home. , but his eyes glanced at the Xinzhong Bridge on one side, but his heart moved slightly, and then, like a strange coincidence, he held the knife in his waist and turned south, crossing Luoshui.
And returned to Xiuyefang where he once lived.
He didn't recognize the officials, nor did he recognize the Jingjiehu who passed by on the road. Even the layout of the square had changed - the former Luling Zhang family's mansion had now been cut into several pieces, with the largest piece It was the residence of a minister. Obviously, when Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment died on that day, although he died in the line of duty on the surface, and the saint also gave him great mourning and honor, it could not delay the complete loss of power of a second-rate southern family like the Luling Zhang family. Based in Dongdu.
Of course, looking back now, it might be a blessing in disguise.
In addition, the northern half of the Xiuye Square, which used to be famous for its cleanliness and orderliness, has now become obviously chaotic and scrawled.
Along Zhang Xing's journey, many idle people came and went in small groups. The snow on the ground was not heavy, but it was also messy and unattended. Most people just cleaned in front of their homes. Unlike Fangshi north of Luoshui, It can still be connected to alleys to some extent.
Before reaching the intersection, Zhang Sanlang completely lost the motivation to continue moving forward. Just as he was about to turn back, suddenly, a gap opened in the street door beside him, and then a hand that was obviously a woman stretched out He came out and hung a peace talisman from Qingdi Temple on the door knocker. Then, the hand immediately retracted as if it was afraid of the cold, but did not close the door again. Instead, it left a gap and kept it ajar.
Zhang Xing stared at the door for a long time before he realized what it meant.
Or maybe he actually realized what this meant from the beginning, but just couldn't believe it - in the past, it was barely a training workshop for middle-class families, and it was the most authentic northern half, and it was also facing the street, and it actually appeared in such a grand manner. A secret door.
I remember that when I first came to Xiuye, I heard colleagues from Jingjiehu analyze why there was so little private prostitution business in Xiuye Square and why it could only be set up in a corner.
Zhang Xing stood in front of this door for a long time, attracting the sideways glances of many men and women passing by. If it weren't for the scimitar slung around his waist with a black ribbon hanging on it, someone would have pointed at him and laughed secretly at his lustful heart but not his courage. Yes, it's also delaying other people's business.
In this way, Zhang Xing watched for a long time and finally ended his journey here. He chose to turn back and returned home before evening.
And waited for Bai Yousi after dinner.
"Are you with Sima Erlong?" Bai Yousi suddenly appeared in the courtyard with a sword in his arms and spoke directly into the house.
"Yes." Zhang Xing, who was admiring today's calligraphy and painting on the desk in his room, answered calmly, without even raising his head. "There is hot tea in the house. Chang Jian will pour it himself."
"Do you know what I did after I came back?" Bai Yousi entered the room, put down his sword, and poured himself a cup of tea.
"It's nothing more than a public or private matter, or a matter of both public and private matters." Zhang Xing saw the opportunity and without hesitation stamped the small seal he had made before on the blank space of the painting in front of him. He didn't know whose seal it was with. Something wrong. "You have to do things anyway...unlike me, who gradually can only think about things and becomes more and more lazy."
Bai Yousi held the tea cup and shook his head slightly: "Then can you think of what I did?"
Zhang Xing thought for a while, and finally asked seriously: "Official matters aside, as for personal matters... Did any of our old friends in Duzhong or elsewhere encounter any trouble, such as the people from Wenroufang? Or the senior brother from Nanyang? And? Or is Taibai Peak’s mentor called?”
Bai Yousi tilted his head and looked at the other person: "I can probably guess that you can think of it, but you actually guessed it all."
"It's just a matter of comparison and coincidence." Zhang Xing looked at his paintings and spoke casually. "When I returned to the capital, my first reaction was to worry that the people I knew would suddenly disappear, or something would happen to me... What? Among the people I know and care about, except for you Chang Jian, all the others are Poor and humble people either simply hide away without encountering any trouble, or they may not even be able to find traces of them... But among your old friends, there are quite a few who can stir up some trouble."
"For example, how many people in Wenroufang know about it?"
"For example, several people in Wenwenfang all know that... it may seem like they are making money every day, but in fact it is just a drop in the rain. If you want to let go and escape unscathed, unless there is a nosy noble like you. Intervene, otherwise they will have their bones and marrow sucked out, and they will be eaten and wiped clean... Once they leave the scene, a local ruffian or even a servant can hold them down."
"What you said is as if I saw it with my own eyes... Yes, An Erniang and Xiao Lin both knew that they wanted to leave. As a result, An Erniang sold the building, and their back legs were stolen overnight in Wenwenfang. Jing; Da Lin took the money and went to Xidu first, preparing to settle down in Guanxi, but he encountered robbers on Tongguan Road and died on the spot... Xiao Lin knew that he was careful and didn't even dare to say anything, and waited until I came back. Then she secretly sent someone to leave me a letter. I went to check it myself and found out that it was her servant who had evil intentions on the way. But her servant took the money and left, and was discovered by the Tongguan garrison. They probably guessed that it was What's going on, he just killed everyone in public, but couldn't get any money back." I don't know if it was a characteristic of the Chengdan stage, but Bai Yousi's tone seemed very calm. "I killed a money-grubbing officer who led the gang, and then came back and killed a gang leader from Wenwenfang. I got some money for Xiaolin Douzhi and let her go to Kansai with my family's motorcade."
"What about the Nanyang Wu brothers?" Zhang Xing was silent for a moment and then changed the topic.
"After hearing about the siege in Yunnei, they openly raised the flag of rebellion and even raised the banner of killing Hun Jun." Bai Yousi's eyelids twitched slightly. "Wu Jingfeng was with me. He felt that if he wanted to do something, he had to do something honest. He couldn't always rely on opportunism."
Zhang Xing shook his head. He didn't know who fed him the chicken soup. It was none of his business anyway.
"As for my mentor..." Bai Yousi sighed. "You should know what he wants from me, right?"
"Of course I can guess it. The tower has collapsed. How could I not guess it?" Zhang Xing said disapprovingly, but suddenly he raised his head while holding on to the table. "No wonder Chang Jian is so busy... One more thing, are you planning to wait for the big golden pillar to be completed and then stay in Taiyuan?"
Bai Yousi had no doubts at all: "I knew I couldn't hide it from you... As soon as I came back, I told my father about my experiences on the way. My father couldn't stay in the east anymore, so he should go to Xijing to stay... Fortunately, the big golden pillar is still good. smoothly."
"He has a beautiful idea." Zhang Xing did not give the British public any face. "It is impossible for the Bai family to be a stay-at-home officer in Xijing. That is to say, Taiyuan is in a mess now. It requires a big shot with a martial name and a sufficient family background to clean up the mess. This is only possible... Your father wanted to be a stay-at-home officer in Taiyuan from the beginning."
Bai Yousi nodded slowly, then took a sip of hot tea, and then slowly asked, "Are you hinting at something?"
"Yes...but there is no evidence." Zhang Xing put away his calligraphy and painting and answered calmly. "I also thought of it after Sima Erlong came to me... The Nanya princes are in charge of state affairs, and they are not unimportant, and among them, all the new members of the party actually do not have a good reputation. Instead, they are a group of old ministers, that is, the old-fashioned ones. The party has always had some reputation, but recently it has gradually become useless or lost... But how did they lose it? We have seen with our own eyes that we are not forced by this saint like Sima Xianggong? So thinking about it the other way around, so the so-called new The Jin party, in all likelihood, knows the temper of the saint, so it has been unwilling to get into trouble early on, and has catered to the temper of the saint. This is why it has a bad reputation..."
"My father followed the saint in his early years. You should have known the saint's temperament, so he had anticipated some things... and even contributed to the situation, right?" Bai Yousi took the initiative to get to the key point for Zhang Xing.
"No." Zhang Xing put the calligraphy and painting in the wooden box and asked quietly. "I'm just curious. Who were you playing in the game of chess in front of your Sanhui Golden Pillar? With the sky? So far, have you ever beaten half of the sky? But if you have beaten half of the sky, what are you doing? Where are the chess pieces?”
Bai Yousi's expression rarely changes.
"It's just a guess." Zhang Xing suddenly laughed. "Chang Jian doesn't have to worry about it... By the way, I've discussed it with Li Silang and I'm going to serve as an official when I get back... Does Chang Jian think I can be a county guard to impress your father?"
Bai Yousi looked serious, but seemed a little annoyed: "What a beautiful idea!"
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