Zhang Yang changed his clothes and the family tidied up before going out.
In a pavilion in Chang'an City, Xu Jingzong stood on the second floor balcony and looked down at the lively Zhuque Street.
Behind you are the lively chatter and yelling of diners, and if you listen carefully you can still hear scolding.
Li Yifu walked up to the second floor wearing the black and gray official uniform of a provincial civil servant, and walked all the way behind Xu Jingzong, "Thank you so much, Mr. Xu, for the arrangement."
"Easy to do."
Li Yifu took another step forward, "Xu Shilang first went to see Duke Zheng, and then went to see Zhang Shangshu for the sake of Liaodong?"
Xu Jingzong nodded, "Although we have known each other for a short time, I naturally appreciate you a little more because you are very energetic."
Li Yifu sighed: "In Chang'an City, there are many people like Xiaguan who come from a poor background. They have no family to rely on, and no help from powerful people. If you want to go all the way up, you have to show perseverance that others don't have, and you have to be decisive. Decisive."
Now Li Yifu is still a civil servant in the province, with a simple background and no one appreciates him.
This made Xu Jingzong think about how he was not like this back then.
People were coming and going on Zhuque Street, and Li Yifu said in a low voice: "I heard that Zhang Shangshu and Her Royal Highness the Princess are quite accomplished in numerology?"
Xu Jingzong nodded, "What? You also know arithmetic?"
"I don't understand. I just listened to many scholars talking about it. There is a math question in the imperial examination. It is very annoying when thinking about it. There are very few people who can solve this question, let alone understand the meaning of the question."
"Did you see that? The one pulling the cart is Zhang Shangshu."
Li Yifu looked down and saw a man of his own age, wearing a coarse short coat, pulling a cart.
"Is this Zhang Shangshu?"
Xu Jingzong smiled and said: "It looks very ordinary, right?"
Li Yifu hurriedly saluted respectfully, "Zhang Shangshu has a firm step and an aura of pride in his eyebrows. At this age, he has been granted the title of Marquis, and he will not be far away from becoming the prime minister in the future. I am willing to follow Zhang Shangshu all the time."
Listening to his words, Xu Jingzong smiled and once again firmly believed in his judgment. If a person like Li Yifu was thrown into Liaodong, he would be able to come back alive even if the King of Goguryeo died.
It would be most appropriate for him to serve as an internal correspondent for the Foreign Affairs Council.
Xu Jingzong nodded and said: "Now His Majesty asked Shangshu to read more books of sages. Zhang Shangshu often told us that we should be a correct person, do good deeds, and do the right things, so that we can have a clear conscience. When Tuyuhun was originally designed, Tuyuhun was killed. Across the country, the Tuyuhun royal family fled to Chang'an City. Zhang Shangshu took them to the dungeon with a memorial and executed them after Qiu."
Li Yifu swallowed his saliva, his eyes filled with awe.
Xu Jingzong added: "Two years ago, when the prince of Gaochang entered Chang'an City, Zhang Shang wrote a strategy and handed it to Gaochang. In order to govern Gaochang, he also sent people to help. However, a year later, Gaochang rebelled. Prince Gaochang and his son asked for help from the Ministry of Rites. The minister beat him back to Gaochang, and the king of Gaochang and his son were hanged alive in front of Gaochang City."
Li Yifu was silent.
"Then Gaochang began to conquer the Western Turks. The entire Gaochang army was ordered by Zhang Shangshu. The Kucha envoy provoked the Ministry of Rites with words and denounced Gaochang and Zhang Shangshu for the Western Turks. Kucha died the next year."
Listening to these words, Li Yifu picked up the kettle on the side and poured some wine into his mouth.
Xu Jingzong folded his hands and said, "You must have heard about the Tubo thing, so I won't talk about it. Now everyone in the Ministry of Rites is rectifying the Western Regions. Zhang Shangshu allowed the descendants of the Western Turks Khan to regain the position of Khan and give him Help, the Western Turks are now in dire straits, and the people are in dire straits. The water of the Yinli River often carries human blood, and the killings have not stopped until now."
】
With another sigh, Xu Jingzong said: "If we continue to fight like this, all the people in the Western Turks will die. The vision of our Diplomatic Academy is that the world will be peaceful and all countries in the world can live in peace. We have been working hard for this goal. .”
"Li Yifu, what do you think?"
Li Yifu was still a little confused when he heard the question. He came back to his senses and said, "What Shilang Xu means..."
Xu Jingzong lowered his voice and said, "There will always be those who destroy the country and kill people. Even though Zhang Shangshu always warns us to be a good person, young leaders like this are the role models we should look up to. Is this right?"
Li Yifu straightened his clothes and said: "When a man is a husband, he should have great ambitions. Zhang Shangshu is a role model for our generation, and it is the goal that lower officials should strive for throughout their lives."
Listening to these words, Xu Jingzong felt more and more that Li Yifu was a talent.
It's rare to find someone who can talk nonsense so confidently.
People who wholeheartedly look for opportunities to get ahead but have no means to rely on have goals in their hearts and an eagerness to make meritorious deeds. Such people can be used by the Foreign Affairs Council and Zhang Shangshu.
As long as you give him a goal and a promise of a future, he can risk it all.
Xu Jingzong added: "If you go to Goguryeo, the Foreign Affairs Council will provide you with escort personnel, but this matter has not been approved by the DPRK. If this matter is discussed in the court, the DPRK will definitely choose another person for the sake of safety. This opportunity will not fall on you."
"I understand." Li Yifu bowed and lowered his head.
"You have been in the province for several years and have not been able to find your way forward. The Foreign Affairs Academy can give you this opportunity. You can make preparations in the past two days. When you are able to leave for Goguryeo, you come to the Foreign Affairs Academy and I will tell you to go. What exactly is Goguryeo going to do?”
Li Yifu bowed and thanked, "Thank you, Mr. Xu, for the arrangement."
Xu Jingzong nodded and stopped talking.
It is the summer season in Chang'an City, and everyone walking on the street has sweat on their faces. While the sunshine brings vitality to this season, it also makes people feel hot and uneasy.
The people in Guanzhong are all hard-working. In Chang'an, many coolies who had done strenuous work all morning were hiding in corners to take a rest from the sun.
At noon when people are hungry, they buy a piece of braised pork on the street corner, pour the soup on the millet rice and eat it to their heart's content.
Meat and salt are their sources of energy.
You can have a full meal for only five cents. There is no better deal than this.
Regardless of spring, summer, autumn or winter, the price of these braised pork will not increase.
Li Shan, his wife, aunt, and Xiao Wu are packing up their residence and plan to spend the next few days in the village to escape the summer heat.
Zhang Yang followed Li Tai to the entrance of the village, where Li Ji was waiting.
"General." Zhang Yang saluted with a smile.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that you have a lot of war horses in Lishan Mountain. His Majesty asked me to come and take a look."
Li Tai stepped forward and saluted with a smile, "General, please come this way."
Noticing Li Ji's gaze, Zhang Yang still had a smile on his face. Thinking about the current condemnation of him in the army, it was normal for the general to have a bad face.
Arriving at the other side of Lishan Mountain, there was a horse circle with dozens of war horses here.
Li Ji selected carefully.
Zhang Yang stood under the shade of the tree with his hands folded, "Things are going well in Luoyang. How many people took the bait?"
Li Tai replied: "Not many people take the bait."
Zhang Yang nodded, "Give them a little more sweetness."
While talking about the sugar plan, Li Tai still looked at Li Ji from a distance with a smile on his face, and whispered, "Brother-in-law, is the risk of doing this too great? If they get the benefit, we will stop." Wouldn’t it be a waste of money?”
Leaning his back against the tree, Zhang Yang frowned and said: "Since they are willing to participate in this game, their psychology has changed to some extent. Once some things are involved, it will be difficult to get away, especially the children of these wealthy families. The body, mind, and will have long been worn away by the extravagant life. On the contrary, only the simplest farmers are the ones with the strongest will."
"How can I see it?"
"I've been reading a lot of books recently. To read the books these people like to read, you also need to understand how these people think."
"My brother-in-law has been studying this lately?"
"The Book of Changes has a saying, Heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement. These disciples rarely read the Book of Changes. They like to eat fine food and eat fine food. They also like to choose the good ones and follow them, and change the bad ones. This is My understanding in these two months.”
Zhang Yang continued: "It is one thing to be knowledgeable and eager to learn, but it is another thing to strive for self-improvement. If they lack the desire for self-improvement, then they will easily be eroded by the wind of extravagance and become slaves of wealth. See Look at these villagers, no matter how hard and tiring their days are, they can still enjoy a moment of happiness, can they do the same?"
"Just think of it as an attempt on my part to verify my understanding of the children of these aristocratic families. Is it that my expectations are too high, or that they have become hopelessly corrupted."
As he spoke, Zhang Yang took out another thing, "This is an identity I designed."
The paper Lishan made himself was a little rough, but fortunately it was tough and cheap. Li Tai took the paper and opened it and looked at the contents, "This is..."
"I don't know if this identity will be suitable."
"Why did my brother-in-law do this?"
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "You arrange a person. This person must be trained. He must talk like a member of the clan and act like a noble. Moreover, this person is also hoarding sugar. It's a fluke that three or two people are fooled. To make a decision, Be clear, of course this person is a fake, everything about them is fake, but in the eyes of the children of those aristocratic families, what we want to do is more real than real. This person knows that there is sugar in Luoyang, and rushed to Luoyang from Chang'an City to collect it. A descendant of Baitang’s Chang’an clan.”
Li Tai thought: "It is difficult to pretend to be a descendant of the clan. I have been preparing for a few days. There is a princess left by the former Sui Dynasty. Now she has entered the temple as a nun. However, she has a younger brother who also overheard the conversation between the father, the emperor and the queen. Although he has been mentioned before, few people mention him. Even though he is a member of the former Sui clan, his conversation and behavior are still there, so he is a suitable candidate."
"Which princess?"
"Princess Yongfeng, the granddaughter of Emperor Yang Jian of the Sui Dynasty and Queen Dugu Jialuo of Wenwen, and the eldest daughter of Yang Jian's descendant, King Xiao of Qin Yang Jun. After the fall of the former Sui Dynasty, the emperor came to Chang'an and did not kill all the people. At that time, she wanted to become the emperor of Ni. Then it came true for her, and this happened twenty years ago."
It is naturally hard to ask too much about the secrets related to the former Sui clan and the Tang Dynasty. That period was very confusing.
"Since His Highness the King of Wei has a suitable candidate, you might as well give it a try. Before sending him to Luoyang, he needs to be properly trained. If His Highness the King of Wei doesn't know how to train, you can ask Xu Jingzong to help. He is more experienced."
Li Tai nodded slightly, "I understand."
There are risks in buying and selling sugar, and the risks are not small.
My brother-in-law has money now, so he can use the money to start the game.
Not only do we carefully investigate the children of these aristocratic families, but we also make the situation as real as possible.
The children of these aristocratic families never imagined that in order to study their character and understand their background, my brother-in-law would also need to know what books they read.
The children of the aristocratic family were thoroughly investigated from their temperament to their family background.
Then send people to cooperate to make the whole game realistic.
And it also gives them substantial benefits.
Li Tai had a feeling in his heart that his brother-in-law would definitely succeed. It was during the Taiping Period that the young son of aristocratic family, who was born in the year of Wude and was now about twenty years old, fell faster than expected.
The extravagant life and wealthy days have long since turned them into the most vulnerable people, not to mention that they are constantly improving themselves.
As long as they are indulged in this kind of trading, they will soon sink.
This method of calculating people's hearts is terrifying.
Li Tai asked in a low voice: "Brother-in-law, is there any way to avoid being fooled?"
"Yes, as long as His Royal Highness the King of Wei has a strong and upright spirit, he can distinguish those evil spirits with scheming intentions."
"How to cultivate Haoran's righteousness?"
"Do you know why I have always lived a luxurious and drunken life?"
Li Tai blinked cutely, "Why?"
Zhang Yang raised his head and looked at the sky, "If you have no desires, you will be strong."
Li Tai nodded, "It's a good saying to be strong without desire."
After confirming the horses, Li Ji came over again and said, "These horses are not bad. When I return, I will go to Chang'an City and have someone take the horses away and send them to the Hexi Corridor."
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "Did Your Majesty tell you about the price?"
Li Ji smiled and said, "A war horse costs one hundred and sixty cents."
"Well, it's fair." Zhang Yang said clearly: "There are a total of eighty-seven horses here. Is it cash or silver cakes?"
"Your Majesty didn't say that."
"Should we pay the money first or give it to the war horse first? Or should we pay the money in one hand and deliver the goods in the other hand, and settle the payment on the spot?"
Li Ji added: "Your Majesty didn't say anything, but don't worry, since the court wants to buy these war horses, it won't owe you a debt."
After speaking, Li Ji strode away.
Li Tai nodded and said: "It seems that the general is very satisfied with these horses."
Zhang Yang looked at Li Ji's back with his hands on his hands and said, "Your Highness, King Wei, when the time comes to deliver the war horse, you must clearly explain the price to the other party and ask the Ministry of War to make a deposit."
"clear."
"Leave evidence and documents. If the court wants to default on the debt, we can still ask for it. Compared with your father's criminal record, he has defaulted on the debt not once or twice."
Zhang Yang has always been a fussy person. Sugar sales often cost tens of thousands of dollars. He takes out the money without batting an eyelid.
Only when it comes to buying and selling, you have to bargain with others for a long time.
You can still feel a little cool when the mountain breeze blows.
When Zhang Yang returned to his residence, Li Yue and his aunts had already tidied up the house.
"Xiao Wu went to visit her father. This girl has been homesick for a long time."
