It was the fifth day of the New Year in the year 184 of the Linghai calendar.
Zhao Jin brought Fang Qiongwei to pay New Year's greetings to Yamazaki. Speaking of it, Yamazaki was their real matchmaker. Without Yamazaki, Zhao Jin would have gotten into trouble, and it was impossible for the two to confirm their relationship now.
Fang Qiongwei looked at him, "Are you the old gentleman in the mountain?"
"I just came here just to eat."
"Are you really that powerful?"
"I am just eating the king's salary and sharing the king's worries."
…
Fang Qiongwei didn't find anything remarkable about Yamazaki. He looked like an ordinary old man, not a reclusive master.
In the end, he left in disappointment. Yamazaki didn't care. If he didn't believe that he was good, then the cause and effect would be settled.
…
On February 2, Zhao Jin, Zhao Wenrui, the young marquis of the Hou Mansion, married Fang Qiongwei, the legitimate daughter of Fang Guogong's third wife.
Since they were thousands of miles apart, they had to fly to get married, and the sky was filled with flowers wherever they passed, which was really beautiful.
The momentum was huge, with Zhao Jin riding a monster dragon and horse, hundreds of servants and maids surrounding Fang Qiongwei's luan frame, and the three thousand generals and soldiers of the Fang family wearing bright battle armor.
There were also many academy students joining in the fun, flying together in the sky.
Both families set up running-water banquets at the same time. For three days and three nights, people, demons, spirits, and monsters were all welcome to eat and drink.
Yamaqi and Gu Ling'er left after watching the ceremony. It was too noisy and they didn't like it.
…
Yamazaki noticed that the person sitting at the table was dressed in fine clothes that were not conspicuous here. He looked like he was forty years old, but he was called grandpa.
But he didn't pay too much attention, and he didn't know that he would be here. It could be said that it was this man who kicked him here. It was this man who united with the Fang family to force him into the palace.
This is the fifth brother of the current King of Zhao, the fifth prince. He is over sixty years old, but he has good looks. He said that when he was outing today, he saw flowers scattered and came to join in the fun.
In fact, he was here to set up a line so that he could use Zhao Jin in the future.
Even Fang Qiongwei's father didn't know that Fang Guogong had thrown his daughter into a chess piece and pulled the Hou Mansion onto the Fang family's rebellion.
If the Fang family takes the initiative to marry the royal family, they will be suspected, but if they are passive, it doesn't matter.
Without it, no matter how many merits Zhao Jin has, he can only be the Marquis. As a member of the royal family, it is impossible to rebel against Southern Zhao. The king can use him with confidence.
It just so happens that Zhao Jin is talented in literature and martial arts, so he can be put to great use.
In this way, Zhao Jin will be able to see the heavy troops he holds in the future.
In this case, it is natural to make friends in person.
…
Zhao Jin's happy life after marriage did not last long. Before the honeymoon was over, she was pulled into reality - robbers also appeared in Taihou County.
Seeing that the current situation was chaotic, Zhao Jin volunteered to join the army to gain experience and help his father take care of his worries.
In the past year, I have been maintaining public security everywhere and fought more than a dozen times with bandits, large and small, but I didn't gain much.
The reason is that the place is vast, the troops are insufficient, and the thieves are quite cunning and will slip away as soon as they see something wrong.
He once went into the mountains to pursue the case, but was ambushed. He never dared to go into the mountains easily again.
When I was depressed, I suddenly discovered that the whole of Southern Zhao was infested with bandits, and Taihou County was not the only one who was unlucky, so I felt better.
…
Linghai calendar year 185, after the New Year.
There is a decree to let Zhao Jin enter the capital as a general.
The general idea is that King Zhao heard that Zhao Jin was both civil and military and had been quite effective in suppressing bandits in recent years. It was the time for the court to employ people, so it appointed people from the royal family arbitrarily.
I hope that Zhao Jin can be in tune with heaven's heart, respond to the will of the people, and be self-denial and serve the public.
That is to say, don't use the wedding as an excuse, and come and take office as soon as possible.
…
This is actually the result of Fang Guogong's activities, which promotes their plan to force the emperor to marry.
However, the Hou Mansion did not dare to respond to the decree. The Marquis was worried about Zhao Jin, so he personally visited Yamazaki and asked him to enter the royal capital with Zhao Jin.
Yamazaki didn't want to go, but he was short-tongued and soft-handed. As a guest, he couldn't refuse the host's house, so he had to accept it.
It feels like there is only one pit. Instead of getting smaller, the pit is getting bigger.
…
The capital of Southern Zhao.
Fang Guogong prepared a large house for Zhao Jin in the north of the city. It was a former official who was confiscated after committing a crime. There were slaves and handymen there, so there was no need to go to the market to choose.
Zhao Jin went to take office with his family, wife, two attendants, four maids, ten guards, a housekeeper, a team of soldiers, and dozens of retainers, including Shan Qi and Gu Ling'er.
Although the house is large, there is no room for a small courtyard for a guest like Yamazaki. After all, everyone must be treated equally.
Yamazaki also said goodbye to Zhao Jin and moved out with Gu Linger.
…
We first found a teahouse to stay, ordered a pot of tea worth one tael of silver, and then asked the waiter for information.
The waiter was chattering, and Yamazaki gave him ten coins speechlessly. Then he took the money and revealed the news, introducing a Yaman named Ma.
I stopped drinking tea and took it away with my own teapot, along with melon seeds, peanuts and dried fruits.
Take him to the broker and invite him to drink tea for one tael of silver, so that he won't waste a tael of silver.
Gu Ling'er suppressed a smile, the old uncle was out of his depth.
…
Ma family.
If you open the door for business, it will be easy to get in.
The teapot was put on the table, the tea was served, and the conversation began.
Tea worth one tael of silver is naturally not expensive, but it is enough for a commoner to live on for several days. It is not only not shabby, but also considered to be of the upper-middle class when used to entertain Yaren.
After drinking a pot of tea, Yaren also introduced some places to stay.
Yamazaki calculated the money in his pocket and the price of the house, and chose a place with a higher average price.
Then I went to see the house with Ya Ren. It was a two-entry courtyard located near the middle section of the north city wall.
The courtyard upon entering is about twenty steps deep and has a well.
Main hall, large kitchen, large woodshed, servant's room with a bunk floor, and toilet.
The second entrance is divided into three courtyards, the main courtyard in the middle, the female dependents courtyard on the left, and the male dependents courtyard on the right, each with several rooms.
The place is big enough, but the terrain is not good and it is far from the city gate, which is inconvenient.
Yamazaki thought it was just right and could stay at home.
…
Later, I bought furniture, kitchen utensils, and quilts through Yaren.
The people who brought the things came to help with cleaning - let everyone work together, and the new home was quickly cleaned up and ready for living.
They were indeed professionals. They filled the water tank when they left, chopped firewood for help, repaired the door shafts, and provided locks.
…
Yamazaki and Gu Ling'er did not avoid suspicion and stayed together in the master's yard.
Then take care of the open space at home and continue to plant food, vegetables, and snacks.
This is something to exchange for money. With the money, the retainer's salary can be kept and used to do good deeds in the future, so that there will be less karma with the Hou Mansion.
If he weren't worried about being recognized, Yamazaki would have wanted to write a letter.
…
Zhao Jin quickly entered the military camp, and then he could only go home during the New Year.
Fang Qiongwei was not afraid of being gossiped about, but she often visited him and got him some supplements.
Zhao Jin felt bitter in his heart. This was completely different from when he was in Taihou County.
On the one hand, the laws in the military are strict, but on the other hand, due to intricate relationships, they can only turn a blind eye.
In addition, the soldiers always went to burn incense and worship Buddha, so there were many people queuing up, and the delay lasted for a whole day. There is no way to train troops into an army, and he is also overstaffed in the military camp.
But when facing his wife, he couldn't complain and could only force a smile.
…
