Although it is the busy farming season, Luoyang City is, after all, a metropolis with a population of hundreds of thousands, and the city is extremely lively every day. Moreover, Taixue University and Luoyang University were on their tenth holiday, and students gathered in Nanshi to gather friends and enjoy the rare holiday. The whole city was bustling with people coming and going.
At this time of the day, the "Advance with Food" restaurant located at the east gate of Nanshi City was crowded with students coming to dine: this restaurant has a beautiful view, many dishes and delicacies, pure and unadulterated drinks, and reasonable prices, so every day There are a large number of diners coming together, and the business is extremely hot.
Outside the door, Yang Ji got off the carriage and looked at the "Yushijin" wine shop. This is one of his family's many businesses, but Yang Ji has never been here before. Now when he saw this "Advance with Food" wine shop, he couldn't help but admire in his heart:
This wine shop has white walls, black tiles, cornices and brackets. Its style is very southern. Compared with the "until you get drunk" in Daxing City, it is less solemn, rough and majestic, but it is full of low-key but luxurious elegance. If you hadn't known this, It was a wine shop. Yang Jizhen thought it was a large brothel that relied on literature and art.
The wheels rolled, and a carriage stopped not far from Yang Ji. Yang Ji's uncles, Xiao Jing and Xiao Xun, got out of the car.
Xiao Jing is Xiao Kui's fourth son and has never had a sense of presence in the Xiao family. When Xiao Cong, the deceased former head of the Xiao family, faced the strong rise of Yang Jizhi, he felt that it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between public and private matters. In order to separate official matters from personal relationships, he inherited Xiao Jing to Xiao Ying's mother and made him Xiao Ying's biological brother, responsible for discussing family relationships. When he, Xiao Jue and others faced Yang Ji, they dealt with official business, regardless of family ties, and put the interests of the Xiao family first.
Although this move is suspected of being deceptive, it is actually a very good arrangement in front of the emperor and the aristocratic family. To a certain extent, if something happens to Yang Ji, only Xiao Jing will be implicated, and the rest will be safe.
The Xiao family's "clear distinction between public and private" is actually in line with Yang Ji's wishes, and he has become closer to Xiao Ying's "brother" Xiao Jing; for other people, they all put their own interests first, and both parties also because At the same time, Xiao Jing acted as a "mediator" to avoid misunderstandings and troubles.
"Wenhui, you are really good at doing business. You actually let me, the host, come to your wine shop to treat guests." Xiao Jing is the chief officer of the Provincial Shangyi Bureau in the palace, Shangyi Fengyu, and his rank is the fifth rank. I originally wanted to entertain Yang Ji at an elegant brothel in Wenwenfang. Unexpectedly, although Yang Ji agreed to attend, he said he was afraid that Xiao Ying would misunderstand, and then asked him to host the banquet at "Advance with Food".
As Xiao Ying's brother, what can he do? You can't force your brother-in-law to visit a brothel, right?
"Brother, that's wrong!" Yang Jichao cupped his hands towards his two uncles and said with a smile: "The scenery is beautiful and the environment is elegant. There are not only barbecue knives, bamboo wine, and wine from the Western Regions, but also palace delicacies, folk The food is no worse than other places, and it’s safer to eat and drink in your own restaurant. If that’s the case, why give your money to others?”
Xiao Xun, who was next to him, couldn't help laughing and joked: "Wenhui, if you are short of money, there will be no rich people in the world. If you are temporarily short of money, I can help you as a brother."
Yang Ji took advantage of the situation and said: "My family is not short of money, but all the money at home is in the account books in Aying's hands. Your brother-in-law and I don't even have a copper coin on me. If my brother donates tens of thousands of taels of gold, I will never be too little." "
"I can't defeat you." Xiao Xun surrendered. After all, Yang Ji expressed his full respect and love for his sister. It would be boring if he, as his uncle, continued to joke.
"Guye, Alang, the private room has been arranged." The steward of the Xiao family who was responsible for arranging the banquet was very discerning. Seeing that their uncle had "finished greetings", he came to the rescue "in time".
Yang Ji stopped when he was ready, then he bowed his hands to Xiao Jing and Xiao Xun, and said with a smile: "Brother, please!"
"Wenhui, please!" Xiao Jing and Xiao Xun returned the courtesy.
"Advance with Food" is mainly aimed at middle- and high-level people, and the overall layout presents a "front yard and back store" layout. The front yard is like a simple garden with a deep courtyard and elegant environment. There is a tree of flowers here, a clump of bamboo there, and a stone table under the willow tree by the water. The steward led a few people through a moon cave door, through a flower stand, and into a spacious nine-curved corridor. In the long corridor, there were many scribes in Confucian attire leisurely watching the misty rain.
Entering the "store", I saw that the lobby on the first floor was full of scribes. They were either talking about the current situation with their friends, or about world affairs, but more importantly, they were talking about the large number of reserve officials who were about to be appointed by the imperial court.
The imperial court captured a large number of corrupt officials in the Longxi Li family case and subsequent anti-corruption operations. The imperial court also conducted many discussions on the vacant positions; according to the wishes of representatives of major factions and major families, the imperial court should assign these positions to good officials with experience in governance; after these people have been promoted, they will be vacant. The positions that were released were assigned to local "gentry" and scholars who had a good reputation.
However, Yang Ji did not agree: firstly, he knew that most of the junior officers and low-level officials under the chief officer were accomplices of the chief officer, and they were also members of major factions: the reason why they were not captured was that they did not It is conspicuous and well protected. If these people go up there, it will not be much different from before.
Secondly, among the reserve officials prepared by the imperial court, most of them are poor scholars who are obviously talented but cannot serve as officials because they have not asked for directions. If they are unable to take office for a long time, it will not only be a waste of talents and further intensify class conflicts, but also be detrimental to Yang Guang. The policy of "diluting" the aristocratic families with poor people. If the hopes of these people become disappointed and desperate, they will definitely think that the court is unfair and the emperor is deceiving them, which will eventually affect more people and intensify the antagonism between social classes.
Yang Guang was definitely on Yang Ji's side, but the "opposite side" was right. After all, the reserve officials were a group of "Zhao Kuo" who were talking on paper and had no experience in governing. If the court rashly let them hold important positions, they would not be able to do it. It will turn an originally peaceful place into chaos.
Yang Ji actually agreed with the views of various factions and Yang Guang's concerns. Therefore, it was suggested that the imperial court select people from the three provinces, six ministries, and temple supervisors to serve as chief officials, so as to temper and test the practical abilities of the central and middle-level officials who "do not eat people's fireworks"; while the middle- and low-level officials should be taken over by reserve officials.
As a result, even if the major factions want to oppose, they cannot stand, because people think that the central officials are strong, and it is completely easy for the court to let them handle "simple" local government affairs at this time; If they dare not take on new arrangements and tasks, it means they have no real ability at all.
Representatives of the major factions and major families could not refute this theory, could not pass this test, and could not deal with Yang Guang perfunctorily, so they had no choice but to agree.
In this dispute, Xiao Xun was actually one of the beneficiaries. He was originally a Secretary Lang with the sixth rank of Secretary Zhengcong. However, after this commotion, he was sent by the imperial court as the prefect of Hanyang County.
Hanyang County is under the jurisdiction of Liangzhou, with Yongzhou Tianshui and Longxi County to the north, and Liangzhou Lintao County to the northwest. Although it is only a lower county, the rank of the prefect is also from the sixth rank; however, when it comes to real power and opportunities, he is at least a secretary general. a hundred times. Xiao Xun, who is about to take office, has a strong backstage and is not afraid of malicious suppression. As long as he makes some political achievements in Hanyang, he will be promoted soon.
Xiao Xun is ambitious and talented. He is neither afraid of doing things nor afraid of difficulties; what he is afraid of is not having the opportunity to do things. Now that I finally got the opportunity, I am naturally very happy.
Xiao Xun also knew that Yang Ji was not aware of these "little things" and did not take them to heart; but as a beneficiary, he must not pretend not to do anything and must show something; so he specially asked his brother to come out to entertain him today. Yang Ji to express his gratitude.
Hearing the scholars talking about it, Xiao Xun smiled and said to Yang Ji: "If these diners know that keeping up with food is the property of the palace, and know that the literary society is right in front of them, I wonder how they will react?"
"My good reputation is mainly concentrated in the border and the army. And the people who are grateful to me are also the border people who have suffered from the scourge of the aliens." Yang Ji laughed and said: "The scholars in the heartland neither know the ferocity of the aliens nor the people on the border. Despite the suffering they suffered, they didn’t know why I went on a killing spree. So, following what others said, most of them said that I killed too much and ruined the good reputation of the Celestial Kingdom. Some even blamed me for provoking disputes and causing trouble for the Sui Dynasty. I have countless enemies. If these people in front of me knew I was here, they might swarm up and scold me."
"Such self-righteous idiots have existed since ancient times, and there are quite a few of them, and there will be more in the future. What do you care about what they do?" Xiao Xun shook his head and said disdainfully: "If you care about this kind of dog who is more like a slave than a slave, That is to lower one's status and lose what they consider to be their 'good name' of not fearing power."
"What brother said is absolutely true!" Regarding Xiao Xun's argument, Yang Ji nodded in agreement: Although he suppressed the aristocratic family, but according to his conscience, the children of the aristocratic family are indeed very high-end, although they will make some shocks because of conflicting interests. Regarding the affairs of the world, most children from aristocratic families have a balance in their hearts. They know what is right and wrong, right and wrong.
However, many students with short-sightedness, limited knowledge, and limited thinking in "villages and towns" are self-righteous. In order to prove that they are great and knowledgeable and to make up for their poor self-esteem, they always like to show themselves in a way that belittles celebrities and people with lofty ideals. When others use evidence to argue with him about right and wrong, he still shows a face that is not afraid of power. But once someone cares about and pursues him, he is more spineless than a slave and behaves more like a dog than a dog.
The path they took leading to the stairs was separated by rows of lattice-like wooden screens. If the people dining on the first floor were not paying close attention, they would not see the guests going to the second and third floors. When they were about to reach the stairs, they heard someone behind the screen say: "The Turks have been divided into three since the death of Qimin Khan; Shibi Khan, Chuluo Khan, and Jieli Khan each became their own king. It is said that The three Ashina brothers all sent envoys south, hoping to gain the support of the Sui Dynasty. Qimin Khan was the person who was supported by the Sui Dynasty, and he was very respectful to the Sui Dynasty. Although he has passed away now, he will succeed him. Shibi Khan is orthodox, I think the court is inclined to support him, what do you think?"
"Qimin Khan looks loyal and treacherous. He is very similar to Gou Jian, who lives on fuel and tastes courage. His respectful behavior is all to dispel my worries and doubts in the Sui Dynasty. If he hadn't accidentally exposed Bujia Khan when he went south, Without the strength, I, the Great Sui You, have been kept in the dark by him." Another person said: "In comparison, Shibi Khan has not experienced the suffering of the Turkic times, does not know the strength of my Great Sui, and has respect for my Great Sui. He is also far inferior to his father. If we, the Sui Dynasty, help him annihilate Chuluo Khan and Jieli Khan, he will definitely become our enemy in the Sui Dynasty. Therefore, I think the ambitious Turks are not trustworthy or friends. The imperial court makes them If the three brothers continue to fight, it will meet my needs in the Sui Dynasty."
This argument was also the consensus of the court, and there was nothing novel about it. However, after hearing this, Yang Ji looked through the window pane. When he saw the speaker, he couldn't help but laugh.
Xiao Jing took a look and saw that the scholar had an elegant temperament that was different from ordinary people. He also saw the smile on Yang Ji's face. He couldn't help but asked curiously: "Wenhui, do you know this person?"
"We had a chance encounter!" Yang Ji didn't hide it, and said to Xiao Jing with a smile: "These seven people are all from Xingyang, and six of them are descendants of the Zheng family, headed by Zheng Lun; The name of the person who spoke was Zhang Liang. They were candidates for the second rank of the imperial examination last year. I had a simple meal with them, but they didn’t know my true identity. I saw that their conversation was extraordinary, so I paid special attention to Zhang Liang afterwards. He and Zheng Lun have both passed the examination as reserve officials."
"It turns out he is a descendant of the Zheng family in Xingyang," Xiao Jing smiled slightly and asked, "What do you mean, do you think you value Zhang Liang more than Zheng Lun?"
"Yes!" Yang Ji nodded and said: "I don't have any opinion on them. Zheng Lun is a branch of Xingyang. He has lost the protection of the Zheng family long ago. He is no different from Han Shi. Although his talent and learning are not bad, he is quite decent and seems to have no ability." His own thoughts. And Zhang Liang is quick-thinking, able to draw inferences from one instance and has great potential."
This is also Yang Ji's real feeling after contacting them, rather than being influenced by Zhang Liang in history.
"That's it!" The Xiao brothers heard that Yang Ji didn't seem to take it particularly seriously, so they didn't pay much attention to it. This is because there are actually many people like Zhang Liang. It's not that they don't have talent, but that they lack opportunities.
The three of them stopped for a while, then walked down the stairs and headed directly to the third floor where the private room was located.
As soon as I arrived at the stairs, I heard a "bang" sound, and then a woman's cry came from behind, mixed with curses: "I'm just a singer, pretending to be pure and powerful, who are you kidding?" "
"That's right, the Turkic envoys are our most distinguished guests in the Sui Dynasty. It's your blessing that they like you." Another angrily echoed: "The envoys like you and let you have a drink. It's you. The blessings accumulated by our ancestors for eighteen generations, but instead of appreciating them, you have pushed back and blocked me, which is a disgrace to me, the Great Sui Dynasty!"
Hearing this, Yang Ji, Xiao Jing, Xiao Xun, and the followers who followed them stopped at the same time, and everyone's expressions were quite ugly.
At this moment, a chattering voice came from the private room. Although Xiao Jing and Xiao Jing did not understand what was specifically said, they could tell from the voice and tone that the other party was persuading. Xiao Jing glanced at Yang Ji and said: "Wenhui, they seem to be speaking Turkic or Xianbei dialect. Do you know what they are talking about?"
Before the Turks, the various tribes and ethnic groups in the northern grasslands had no common language, no common culture, and no common writing. This lack of ties was actually one of the reasons why Rouran collapsed so quickly. However, after the establishment of the Turkic Khanate, it not only introduced the policy of homonymous words and homonyms, but also created the Turkic script, gradually making the Turkic script a unified and universal script on the grasslands. Turkic languages and Turkic scripts (Altaic languages) are also on the trend, becoming the mainstream languages and scripts across Northeast Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia. Even some areas north of the Great Wall and Liangzhou are also affected by them.
Fortunately, the Turkic Khanate died early. Otherwise, Turkic language and Turkic script would surely become one of the biggest threats to Han civilization.
Yang Ji couldn't write Turkic characters, but he could speak Turkic. After hearing Xiao Jing's inquiry, he immediately said: "They speak Turkic. The Turks said that they highly recognized the talents of singers and dancers, so they followed the Turkic Etiquette toasts to the best dancers to show their recognition and respect. This is indeed the custom and etiquette of the Turks and has no other meaning. In addition, they also advise those accompanying them not to embarrass the dancers, and some even They quarreled with their companions for protecting the showgirls and dancers they admired.”
After listening to Yang Ji's words, Xiao Jing, Xiao Xun and others looked in disbelief. The entourage brought by both the host and the guest even showed extremely angry expressions: they thought it was the Turks who were causing trouble, so they all wanted to kick open the door, and then punish the Turks severely to vent their anger on their fellow tribesmen. However, they never dreamed that it was their own people who were bullying their own people, and that the Turks were actually helping the singing and dancing girls of the Sui Dynasty.
Just when Zong Luohu was about to ask for orders to go inside and kill people, another pretentious and deep voice sounded: "I am ordered by a saint to entertain the Turkic envoys, so I should try my best to show the hospitality of the Sui Dynasty. You are just... Insignificant, ant-like singing girls and dancers actually dare to rebuke the envoys and break the etiquette of the Sui Dynasty. Do you really think that advancing with food is the property of King Wei, so you can ignore etiquette and national laws and do whatever you want?"
"That makes sense!" A series of flattering voices came out immediately.
"Wen Hui!" Xiao Jing's face was already red with anger. He looked at Yang Ji, whose face was as sinking as water, and said in a deep voice: "Although I don't like to fight and kill, but at this moment, I really want to bow down to these people. , the shameless dog slave who has lost his national dignity will be put to death in Lingchi.”
At this moment, Xiao Jing was extremely angry. He was not trying to please Yang Ji, and there was no need to do so. But the Chinese-speaking people inside are really out of character.
His crime should be punished.
Xiao Xun was also furious. He gritted his teeth and said, "Wen Hui, you arrest people, and I'll chop them down."
