Noon in Changyang City was no different. The bustling market was still lively and there was still an endless stream of people coming and going.
Standing on the Fugui Restaurant, Xu Mu didn't look back until his eyes were tired.
According to Zhou Fu, someone will come to Fugui Restaurant today to talk to him about the boat and the oiran.
Xu Mu didn't understand. Logically speaking, he, a foreigner, should be the one to visit in person.
"Dong Xu's family! Dong Xu's family!" A waiter ran up from downstairs.
"Dong Xu's house, when that person comes, he will be waiting in the room A."
Xu Mu paused, straightened his clothes, and followed the boy to the inner compartment not far away.
Before entering, Zhou Fucheng's fearful voice could be heard. Several guards stood coldly outside the door, holding their long swords.
"Xu, Brother Xu, come in." Old man Zhou Fu's voice even trembled.
After missing a few guards, Xu Mu raised his head and found a young man in white, with his back on his back, sitting elegantly and upright.
"Brother Xu, come and see me." Zhou Fu wiped away his sweat.
Xu Mu frowned slightly, guessing that the person who came today probably exceeded Zhou Fu's expectations.
The door of the inner compartment with the word A was slowly closed by the guards from outside.
The young man in white finally turned around and smiled twice at Xu Mu, but Xu Mu was stunned for a moment.
This person was clearly the one who eavesdropped inside and outside the compartment yesterday.
"Brother Xu, let's meet and greet you."
After Zhou Fu pushed twice, Xu Mu raised his fists and spoke in a solemn voice.
"Xu Mu from a certain family has met the young master."
"My little boss is polite. I'm a few years older than you. If you don't mind, just call me Brother Yuan."
The surname Yuan?
"Guo, Guo's surname is Hou." Zhou Fu grimaced and his voice was hoarse and low.
"Shopkeeper Zhou, if nothing happens, go get two bottles of wine. How about that?"
This sentence made Zhou Fu hesitate for a while, looked at Xu Mu twice, and then walked out.
"My dear boss, take a seat."
Xu Mu's face was solemn, he took a seat from the side and sat down firmly. Deep down in my heart, I didn't know what this prince with the surname of the country from the Daji Dynasty was doing to find him. Do you really want to talk about the business of being an oiran? Isn't this idle?
In just three days in Changyang, he had heard the name of this Hou with the surname of Guo more than once. It is said that he was the son of a good general. After his father and brother were all killed in battle, the late emperor adopted him as his adopted son and gave him the national surname.
The surname Yuan has the single character Tao. At the age of fifteen, he went out with the army and made great achievements in battle. He was once granted the title of Marquis and was planned to be the general of Zhuguo in the Northern Daji Dao. But later the late emperor died and the young emperor ascended the throne. He was forced to get involved in court battles, was relieved of his duties, and returned to Changyang to become a happy marquis.
"What are you thinking, little boss?" Yuan Tao smiled and poured a cup of tea for Xu Mu.
"In this huge inner city, there are no more than three people who can allow me, Yuan Tao, to pour tea myself."
Listening, Xu Mu had a strange look on his face. Chang Silang always liked to talk about this.
"Master Marquis, if I remember correctly today, it was about talking about the boat and the oiran." After receiving the tea, Xu Muping raised his hand and respected each other from a distance.
"This matter was taken care of for you yesterday. If you have time, just go to the small canal and ask a few more questions."
Xu Mu felt even more uncomfortable in his heart. If you want to spend money, it doesn't matter if you pay more. The payment will be settled on the spot and we will not be responsible for leaving the counter.
But listening to Yuan Tao's tone, it was clear that he was trying to please others.
"Master Marquis, this is five hundred taels, thank you in advance."
Xu Mu calmed his voice, took a bag of gold cakes from his arms, and placed it carefully on the stage.
"My little boss is a smart man and knows how to protect yourself wisely." Yuan Tao sighed and took out only one gold cake, "One is enough. I just passed on a message and I will take back the rest."
"I understand that you are afraid of owing a favor."
These words made Xu Mu feel relaxed. Chang Shiro hangs one, and hanging another marquis with a national surname will lead to self-immolation.
"Sit down for a moment and let's chat."
"Honored."
Yuan Tao picked up the tea cup and took a sip. He raised his eyes and kept looking at Xu Mu.
"May I ask my little boss, how does the scenery in the inner city compare to Wangzhou Border Pass?"
"It's even more beautiful." Xu Mu replied calmly.
He still couldn't figure out what the Marquis with the surname Guo in front of him wanted from him.
"In my opinion, the inner city is much uglier than the border." Yuan Tao said in a tone of voice, "On the other side of the border, there are some idiots like Tongziying. But you see the most in the inner city. He is just a scholar who follows the trend."
Holding the tea cup, Yuan Tao suddenly laughed.
"They will say that our country is peaceful and the people are safe, our military is unparalleled, and all nations will send congratulations to us. Finally, we will write a few tooth-crushing odes, hoping that the original memorial will be included in the court and known to the world."
"A few days ago, I met a few scholars who wanted to make a name for themselves. They boasted that they were proficient in bows and horses. Unfortunately, they had to be lifted up and held by guards for fear of falling off their horses."
Yuan Tao spoke with sadness in his eyes.
"At the time of the late emperor, no matter how bad things were, there were still hundreds of thousands of soldiers rushing to the border. But now, I am like a blind man and can't see anything. I can only hear clearly the sounds of ghosts in my ears from time to time, which hurts human ears."
Xu Mu lowered his head, not knowing how to respond.
"These people just want to eat sweet fruits, but they don't know that these fruits are about to rot. No matter how sweet the fruits are, how long can they last?"
"The top priority is to find a way to stabilize the tree first, and then control all the borers and diseases in the roots and stems."
Listening, Xu Mu felt more and more weird.
Changshiro also said something similar, but the temper of that young master Chang was to just pull out the tree and plant a new one.
But the Marquis with the surname Guo in front of him wanted to support the tree and then find a way to cure it.
One teaches him to rebel...the other teaches him to save the country.
What kind of flip-flop is this?
Xu Mu wanted to leave. If he continued to listen, he might even have to drink some ecstasy soup.
"I've heard a thing or two about the little boss."
Yuan Tao returned to normal, stood up, and poured Xu Mu another cup of tea.
"The Xiaodong family must have heard about it. Hezhou is in a hurry. Seventy thousand Beidi people have begun to besiege the city. If the situation is good, I estimate that there will be more and more reinforcements from the Di people later."
"Master Hou, I don't understand this." Xu Mu said calmly.
Yuan Tao seemed not to have heard anything and continued to speak slowly, "I still have an old army at the border. They are all loyal and courageous people."
Xu Mu's heart skipped a beat.
Sure enough, Yuan Tao in front of him had already raised his head solemnly.
"I would like to ask my little boss to go to the border for me and take charge of these three thousand veteran troops."
"Master Hou, I am so virtuous and capable."
"With you, you dare to lead the villagers to repel the Di people who surrounded the village. With you, you dare to set up an ambush and kill two hundred riders. With the riding skills you created. And with you, you are also a bastard!"
"Why don't the Marquis go in person?" Xu Mu gasped, feeling very depressed.
"I can't go. There are a lot of people in Changyang who want to keep an eye on me. According to them, they are afraid that I, a picked mantis, will rely on my military exploits to plot to usurp the throne."
"There are three thousand people. There are 70,000 troops in Beidi. The Marquis wants me to die." Xu Mu said calmly.
Even if he did go to the border, Xu Mu would not expect that the border officers, including Zhao Qingyun, would listen to him.
The down-and-out man with the surname Hou in front of him must have had all his rights drained.
"I am indeed making things difficult for you." Yuan Tao said solemnly, "But in the huge inner city, I can't find any other candidates."
"Your role is to be a surprise soldier and win by surprise. If something really cannot be done...you can dismiss the three thousand old troops and return to the inner city on your own."
Xu Mu sat silently, not knowing how to answer the question.
"Don't worry, you still have time to think about it. This round of reinforcements have just arrived, and those old foxes in the court are still dreaming of winning the battle before negotiating peace."
"When there is another big defeat, at least more than 100,000 troops will rush to help. At that time, it will be your chance to make a surprise attack."
"If I don't agree, will the Marquis embarrass me?" Xu Mu raised his head.
"No." Yuan Tao stood up, with disappointment in his eyes, "You can still stay in the inner city, work on your private liquor business, and be a safe and happy little boss."
"But I know that when Tongziying went to defend the city, you were still in the city."
"Recalling the mountains and rivers of our era, our borders were once strong and the Great Wall could not fall. Seven million of our heroes, armed with halberds and armor, swallowed up thousands of miles like fierce tigers."
"Don't forget, you are also a chronicler."
Xu Mu did not reply. Faintly, the head of Wangzhou City appeared in front of him again, intertwined with smoke and arrow rain.
"Don't be impatient, think carefully first."
Yuan Tao bowed, raised his hand, and placed the golden cake on the banquet table.
"I'll treat you to this meal. I hope it's not a farewell drink."
