Luoyin City was once a city with a low reputation. Now, with the arrival of more and more merchants, countless traders and various rare and rare items have also followed the merchants to Luoyin City.
The more people there were, the more goods there were, and the more restaurants there were. The gentry children with status and background also preferred to come to Luoyin for recreation. Naturally, Confucian scholars and knight-errants who curry favor with the powerful also came with the gentry children.
If these were placed in later generations, they would be called a virtuous cycle.
But in this world, it is not well known. Even in the situation of endless wars, among the vassal states, except for Qi, more people still focus on farming and war. Although there are merchants, most of them are still not known by the king. happiness.
This was the case with Shang Yang in the Qin State. If the people all devoted themselves to doing business, who would do the farming and who would go to war?
Inside Luoyin City.
Bai Yan brought Lu Gong, Lu Ze and others to his mansion. When he saw that the courtyard and the rooms were all empty, not to mention Lu Gong and Lu Ze brothers, even Lu Pheasant was all empty. Face confused.
This is really far from the Wu Liejun's mansion they imagined.
But Mr. Lu was the first to react. After thinking of something, he looked at Bai Yan.
"Uncle Ping once heard that Lord Wu Lie was in the Chu land, buying property from sellers in exchange for food. When I saw him today, I was really moved with emotion!"
Lu Gong said, Lu Gong's famous name is Shuping.
Lu Gong thought that when he was in Wei, he vaguely heard that Bai Yan had exhausted his family wealth in exchange for grain and grain for the soldiers of the Qin army. At that time, Lu Gong was filled with emotion. However, he did not expect that the so-called exhaustion of family wealth was actually So thorough.
How is this depleting the family wealth? This is completely selling off the family wealth!
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Mr. Lu wouldn't have believed it.
In Lu Gong's eyes, it is not uncommon for civil and military officials in the court to seek personal gain. What's worse, there are people like Guo Kai who collected the wealth of Qin and destroyed the state of Zhao.
This was the first time Lu Gong had seen a person like Bai Yan.
"The general will bear the king's command and lead the army to conquer the country! The king's trust, the king's courage, and the soldiers are not afraid of death. These three are a great victory! Bai Yan used up all his wealth in the past, and the soldiers fought hard with full stomachs. The king gave him thousands of gold And yet, Bai Yan is filled with emotion. He is so lucky to be able to meet the loyalty and bravery of our soldiers and to have the trust of our king! It is Bai Yan’s good fortune to look at the king from above and say that Bai Yan is not as good as the soldiers from below! I feel guilty!”
When Bai Yan heard Lu Gong's words, he shook his head and sighed with melancholy as he walked away. He had a melancholy look on his face, as if he had been lucky enough to meet such a good king and command such brave soldiers, so his life was already in vain.
Lu Ze and Lu Shizhi all watched the conversation between Bai Yan and Lu Gong. When they looked at Bai Yan's appearance, they couldn't help but think of a wise king and a good minister.
But the two brothers really didn't have a good impression of Ying Zheng.
The friends around them used to be well-known in their hometown. However, today, some are being caught and some are on the run. Some of them can only survive by hiding in the mountains.
All this is because of Qin's strict laws and regulations.
This makes them like Qin State and like Qin King Ying Zheng.
"It seems that Lord Wu Lie is in Qin and has met a wise Lord!"
Lu Gong said softly, and then sighed.
After crossing the river, they talked all the way to the mansion. After being in contact with him for a long time, he realized that Bai Yan was approachable and not malicious, so Mr. Lu finally let go of his guard.
"Thanks to God's kindness, you can meet my king!"
Bai Yan said that any praise given to Lu Gong was filled with gratitude to Ying Zheng, and he attributed all the credit to the sky and Ying Zheng.
Although Bai Yan is young, he already knows that it is okay if good words are not spread. However, if the words of someone who is arrogant and has no regard for the king are accidentally spread and someone with intentions informs the king, no matter how good-hearted the king is, he will not be able to help it. Feeling alienated.
Above the court, you should walk on thin ice to achieve a happy ending! Bai Yan has always kept this truth in mind, which is why no matter what achievements Bai Yan made, Bai Yan never thought of taking revenge in private against those who insulted him in court, like Cai Chao.
Sometimes there are some incompatible people in the court, which is a good thing.
Who can know better than those who hate themselves where they have made mistakes and where their words are inappropriate? On the contrary, if no one supervises their actions and a slight negligence will eventually lead to big mistakes, let alone the Spring and Autumn Period, this situation will happen in later generations. There are also countless people who have been ruined and even died because of this.
at the moment.
Listening to Lu Gong's words, I heard that there was something in Lu Gong's words. He used the word "virtuous king" to describe Ying Zheng, and then specifically mentioned him and Qin. The hidden meaning was nothing more than an allusion that he, Bai Yan, was from Qi.
Thinking of this, Bai Yan thought for a moment, then followed the eaves and looked at the sky above the courtyard.
"When he was young, Bai Yan once looked at the sky in front of the window and wondered why the scenery inside the house was not as good as what he saw outside."
Bai Yan came to the main hall door, stopped, and then looked at Lu Gong.
"Bai Yan was once puzzled, and his mother told him that the house covered his eyes! When he was older, Bai Yan asked again about the differences between Qi and other countries. A businessman smiled and explained that they were all the same. They were all under the vast sky. ! Bai Yan asked again, all countries are the same, so why are they divided? The merchants didn’t say anything!"
Under the gaze of Lu Gong and others, Bai Yan showed a slight smile after finishing speaking, and turned to look at the sky outside the eaves.
"In the past, the State of Xiang was destroyed and was later called the Chu people. The Zhongshan State was destroyed and was later called the Zhao people. The Zheng State was destroyed and was later called the Han people. The Lu State was destroyed and called itself the Wei people and the Qi people..."
Bai Yan stood with his hands behind his hands, frowning slightly, and stared at the sky: "Bai Yan wants to see what it is like for all the people in the world to live together under the same sky and call themselves one country. Bai Yan even wants to see it with his own eyes. How different is the sky in the foreign mountains and rivers outside the Central Plains!"
In front of the main hall door.
After hearing Bai Yan's words, not to mention Lu Gong, Lu Ze, Lu Shizhi, and even Lu Fei were all shocked by Bai Yan's words. Even Lu Fei, a woman, could hear Bai Yan's influence from Bai Yan's words. That great ambition.
From the wooden house to the State of Qi, from the State of Qi to the world, then look beyond the Central Plains!
Lu Gong and Lu Ze wanted to refute, but what Bai Yan said made them frown. Indeed, those vassal states that were once destroyed gradually integrated into other vassal states after being annexed. point.
At present, Qin's destruction of various countries is just a repeat of past annexations. This kind of thing has happened countless times in the past hundreds of years.
Even after Qin annexed Qi and all Qi people became Qin people, even Bai Yan would not be considered a traitor in the eyes of future generations. This kind of thing was not uncommon in the Spring and Autumn Period.
"Ke Qi..."
While Lu Shizhi was thinking, he wanted to retort, saying that you, Bai Yan, are from Qi, so why don't you help Qi people annex the world and make the world full of Qi people, but just as he opened his mouth, Lu Shizhi suddenly remembered.
Bai Yan was originally driven out of Qi State by Tian Ding!
It’s not that Bai Yan doesn’t want to serve Qi! ! !
Lu Shizhi was speechless for a moment. When the words came to his lips, he could only swallow them.
"But not everyone in the world is as Wu Liejun thinks!"
Lu Ze finally chose to speak and said to Bai Yan.
In fact, on the way here, his father Lu Wen had already hinted to Lu Ze, asking them to talk as little as possible and hide their clumsiness.
This is why Lu Ze rarely opened his mouth along the way. Even if Bai Yan deliberately brought the conversation to Lu Ze, Lu Ze kept silent.
But at this moment.
Listening to these words from Bai Yan's mouth, even when Lu Ze gathered with all his friends in the past, no one had mentioned it or even thought about it.
Lu Ze couldn't help but stand up and argue with Bai Yan.
This is the persistence that has been thoroughly integrated into the bones of talented people since the Spring and Autumn Period. This is how a hundred schools of thought contend. It is also like this when serving the king and serving as a minister in the court. If you have any doubts, if you have any questions, just debate.
"You talk about people in the world, but do you mean people from famous families in the world?"
When Bai Yan heard Lu Ze's words, he chuckled and shook his head.
Along the way, whether he was talking about Qin, other vassal states, or being appointed as an official, Bai Yan had been observing Lu Ze's reaction during the conversation. Now he finally heard Lu Ze speak. At this time, Bai Yan I also have a rough understanding of Lu Ze.
Bai Yan didn't agree with Lu Ze's words at all.
"At the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, the world has been at war for eight hundred years! Look at the scene in Luoyin City. Many people in the world dream of becoming merchants and sellers. However, the world is in war, with endless farming and fighting, and all the suffering is on the shoulders of the people. Men He died in battle, his wife was left homeless, and his son was left alive, unable to escape..."
Bai Yan turned his head and looked directly at Lu Ze.
Every word is a bloody fact. Bai Yan wants to see how Lu Ze reacts. Is he like other nobles who are indifferent and continue to be obsessed with the war in the world? Or is he a conscience who can see the suffering of the people in his eyes? .
Seeing Lu Ze's expression stunned and unable to refute, Bai Yan breathed a sigh of relief. At least Lu Ze was not an indifferent person. He turned around and saluted Lu Ze.
"Bai Yan is serving the Qin Dynasty today. I hope that the people of the world will no longer ask about the confusion of the past. Bai Yan's actions in leading the army now, I hope that the people of the world in the future will no longer suffer from wars and separations. If this can be achieved, even though they are all together. It’s a human body, but it doesn’t matter if Bai Yan’s body is shattered into pieces!”
Bai Yan saluted Lu Ze seriously. His words not only answered Lu Ze's question, but also showed his determination.
Seeing Lu Ze who was stunned and had forgotten to return the gift, Bai Yan turned around and looked at Lu Gong.
"Lu Bo, please!"
Bai Yan made an invitation gesture to Mr. Lu, indicating that Mr. Lu should be allowed to enter the main hall.
Lu Gong looked at Bai Yan's actions, then came back to his senses, and quickly returned the favor.
"Wu Liejun! Please!"
Lu Gong said, motioning for Bai Yan to enter the main hall.
At this time, the young Mr. Lu looked at Bai Yan who turned around and walked in front, and thought of what Bai Yan said.
For a long time, when it comes to Bai Yan, in the eyes of Lu Gong, the eldest son, the second son, and everyone else think that Bai Yan is a person who was driven out of Qi State and is unwilling to return to Qi.
Whether it was because of being driven out of Qi in the past, or because of Qin's fame and fortune, he didn't want to return to Qi!
All in all, Bai Yan gives people the impression that he is a person who does not care about his mother country Qi because of his own selfishness.
But at this moment, Bai Yan's words and his magnanimous look made Lu Gong's impression of Bai Yan change drastically.
If Bai Yan forgets the kindness of his mother country and is an ungrateful person, then what should he do if Bai Yan cares about the world and the future generations?
Is the state of Qi a big place, or the people of the world?
Seeing Bai Yan entering the main hall, even Mr. Lu began to feel complicated and confused.
In the main hall.
After the wine and food were prepared, the maid left, and Bai Yan was directly above, holding the wine cup, and kept toasting and chatting with Lu Gong and others.
While drinking with Bai Yan, Lu Gong looked at his eldest son Lu Ze and his second son Lu Shizhi, and they talked more and more to Bai Yan. This time, Lu Gong did not stop them.
Recalling the lost expressions of his eldest son and second son, Lu Gong knew clearly that from ancient times to the present, scholars have focused their attention on the feudal princes. The stories of drunken eloquence, intellectual talent, and high-spiritedness also revolved around the war in the Central Plains. There has never been anyone like Bai Yan, who can see the whole world and beyond. There are thousands of theories.
It seems that everyone in the world is looking at a land of princes, but Bai Yan's eyes are looking at the entire world.
Under this huge gap, the eldest son and the second son became more and more curious about Bai Yan, and they wanted to talk and communicate with Bai Yan more and more.
at this time.
Watching the conversation between Lu Ze and Bai Yan, Lu Shizhi could no longer get a word in. Hearing Lu Ze talk about the shortcomings of Qin's unification of the world, Bai Yan used the idea of unifying the world to merge Baiyue in the south and grassland in the north. And the more they talk about it, the more they talk about it. In many places, not only Lu Ze, but even Lu Gong has rarely heard of it.
As Lu Ze spoke less and less, he listened more to what Bai Yan said. Lu Gong did not speak, and Lu Gong himself listened with great interest. Many times, even Lu Gong, when he thought of the description in Bai Yan's words, scene, even after thinking about it, I couldn’t help but nod.
However, inadvertently, Lu Gong suddenly noticed his daughter Lu Fei. At this time, he also looked at Bai Yan, who was constantly talking to Lu Ze. Seeing his daughter's beautiful eyes twinkling and staring intently, Lu Gong turned to look at Bai Yan, and then thought of something. Somewhat worried.
While in Xianyang, Lu Gong heard that Bai Yan had married Tian Ding's daughter on the order of King Qin Yingzheng.
As for Tian Ding's daughter, Lu Gong had heard of her good reputation in the Qi State when he was single father. He also heard that countless gentry children of the Qi State, and even the princes of Zhao, Yan, Wei, and Chu, had expressed their opinions. I want to marry this girl.
If she had been by the river in the past, if her daughter had missed her, she might have had a chance, but now...
Lu Gong sighed.
……………………
The next day.
In Luoyin's mansion, Bai Yan woke up and looked at Lu Gong, Lu Ze and others who were about to say goodbye early in the morning. This time Bai Yan did not try to persuade them to stay.
After seeing Lu Gong, Lu Ze and others all the way to the gate of the mansion, Bai Yan looked at Lu Ze, whose eyes were no longer as cold and resistant as yesterday, and Bai Yan was not in a hurry to say anything to solicit him.
What Lu Ze said at yesterday's banquet has already been remembered in his heart. The rest depends on Lu Ze's own choice.
For Bai Yan, just as he had thought in his heart, the Lu Gong family was different from the Zhang family and the Zhang Liang family. The Zhang family, who had lived together for five generations, was destined to be a mortal enemy of the Qin State. On the contrary, whether it was Lu Gong or Lu Gong, There is no irresolvable feud between Bai Yan and the Qin State. Even if Bai Yan, Lu Gong and Lu Ze no longer meet each other in the future, it will not prevent Bai Yan from informing Lu Gong and Lu Ze of the concept of unification.
"Wu Liejun, stop, see you later!"
Accompanied by Lu Zhi, Mr. Lu turned to look at Bai Yan and bowed his hands, indicating that Bai Yan did not need to send any more gifts.
"Wu Liejun, stop! See you later!"
Lu Ze and Lu Shizhi looked at Bai Yan who was seeing each other off, and quickly raised their hands to salute. But this time, the two brothers looked at Bai Yan with completely different eyes.
Even though Bai Yan was Lord Wu Lie of the Qin State, and even though he knew that Bai Yan was a favored minister of King Qin Yingzheng, this did not prevent the two brothers from admiring Bai Yan. Regardless of whether Bai Yan's idea was feasible or not, as far as Bai Yan's ambitions were concerned , is enough to make the two brothers respect each other.
Before getting close to Bai Yan, the two brothers were more afraid of Bai Yan's talents, and more of they were wary of their opposing identities. However, after coming into contact with Bai Yan, the two brothers discovered that Bai Yan was also a righteous person. of people, and have a righteousness in mind that is second to none.
After a conversation, the two of them finally understood why Bai Yan would send letters to Gaonu, Yanyu, Yanmen and Daliang in Shangjun, requesting Yingzheng for food.
Looking back on the past when I was drinking with my friends, many of them said that those were ridiculous and false words. Even Yanmen’s handling of the robbery and sale was Bai Yan’s way of excluding dissenters and killing others. The Qin State There are also officials who wrote letters of advice.
Now thinking about the words of their former friends, both of them couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Have a good trip! If you two gentlemen come to Xianyang again in the future, Bai Yan will hold a banquet for you two gentlemen!"
After Bai Yan returned the courtesy to Lu Gong, he looked at Lu Ze and Lu Shizhi, and said with full intimacy, as if he was looking forward to getting together to have a drink next time.
When Lu Ze and Lu Shizhi heard Bai Yan's words, they thought of Bai Yan, who had been rewarded as a king in Xianyang before, and ordered the servants in the mansion to refuse all visitors and not to keep any retainers.
Now facing Bai Yan's invitation, for a moment, not to mention Lu Shizhi, even Lu Ze felt an urge to repay Bai Yan's attention with all his passion.
Fortunately, thinking of Ying Zheng and their former friends, the two brothers could bear it.
"The two of us will definitely not say goodbye!"
Lu Ze didn't say any more words, just remember the gratitude in his heart. Then he glanced at Bai Yan, nodded to each other, and then turned around and left the mansion with his father.
Bai Yan watched Lu Gong, Lu Ze and others leave. When he saw Lu Zhi, who was wearing civilian clothes, looking back, he couldn't help but smile and nod, and then watched them leave.
"General, who is Lu Ze?"
Standing next to Bai Yan, watching Lu Gong and others leaving, Ku was finally able to ask what was in his heart.
Yesterday, Ku was very curious as to why Bai Yan paid so much attention to Lu Ze, and even held a banquet in person to entertain and chat with him. This kind of treatment was rare for Ku, who had been with Bai Yan for so long.
"Lu Ze is a capable person!"
Bai Yan listened to Ku's words and said softly.
In later generations, Feng Wuze, brother of the Feng Jie clan, Wang Li, the grandson of Wang Jian and Wang Ben's son, Li You, the son of Li Si, and Yang Xiong of the Yang clan were all defeated by Lu Ze, and there is no record of the Qin Kingdom. General, there will only be more.
"Prepare your horses. Since they have left, we will set off immediately and rush to Yanmen!"
Bai Yan turned to Ku and ordered.
"promise!"
Ku nodded and then left to prepare the carriage.
A moment later, when Bai Yan changed his clothes and picked up the famous sword Zhanlu, he saw Gu hurriedly walking towards him.
"General, this is what my mother and wife prepared for the general when they got up early in the morning!"
Zhang came to Bai Yan, holding a wrapping cloth. After opening it, it was filled with some corn cakes filled with meat fillings.
At this moment, Zhang was a little embarrassed. Yesterday, Bai Yan promised to send some people who were not afraid of death to go to Yanmen to enlist in the army after the spring plowing. Therefore, after the banquet, Zhang went back to his mansion at night to explain to his mother. He never wanted his mother and wife to know about Bai Yan's plan. When Yan returned to Luoyin, he wanted to cook for Bai Yan, but he gave up after hearing that Bai Yan had guests.
Then he asked Mang to go back to the mansion early in the morning and bring some food to the general.
Despite his shame, he was a little worried that the general would not like eating these millet cakes.
"Let's go! Let's go to Yanmen!"
Bai Yan put on Zhanlu, raised his hand to pick up a piece of millet cake from Zhang's arms, felt the temperature on it, took a bite and ate it, walked out and said.
"promise!"
Hearing this, Mang nodded quickly, put away the package with a naive smile, and left after Bai Yan.
It’s not water!
It was Bai Yan's conversation at the mansion, and it would be spread through the mouths of Lu Ze's friends in the future.
For the first time, Ying Zheng began to suspect that the mysterious old man who cast the bamboo slips was Bai Yan.
