After living in Bachuan for almost a month, Li Longji spent every day touring the mountains and rivers, entertaining guests, and had a great time.
When he thought of returning to the palace, there were not many days left before New Year's Eve.
Reluctant to give up, Li Longji had no choice but to order his return to the palace.
As the emperor's rituals were withdrawn in batches, the tranquility of the past gradually returned to the garden.
Pang Gong was old and no longer had the energy he once had. He served continuously for more than a month. After seeing off the saint and his entourage, he relaxed and got cold and could only stay in bed to rest.
Zhou Jun was busy resuming the business of the market and dealing with the long-backlogged affairs. He was busy until the Chinese New Year.
At noon on the day before New Year's Eve, Zhou Jun called over the accompanying soldiers and troops, and specially invited a banquet in a wine shop in the market.
At the banquet, the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty looked at each other, and finally pushed Sun Aying to speak.
Sun Aying first offered a toast to Zhou Jun, but hesitated for a long time without speaking.
Zhou Jun looked at the Tang soldiers present, remembered something, and asked, "Is it possible that some of you have found your mother-in-law again?"
Many soldiers in the banquet nodded.
Sun Aying said to Zhou Jun at this time: "In the past few days, another twenty people in the team have said they are getting married, but because of the girl's household registration, it is difficult to make a big deal about it."
Zhou Jun said with a smile: "I have said before that if someone finds a mother-in-law, it will not be a problem whether she escapes from humble beginnings and becomes a good woman, or she hires a matchmaker. Aying, please compile a directory and show it to me.
"
Sun Aying smiled and nodded.
Seeing that the marriage was finalized, all the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty were convinced. They were grateful to Zhou Jun and kept toasting.
After three rounds of drinking, Sun Aying took advantage of the soldiers to have a banquet and approached Zhou Jun and said: "These days, brothers have talked a lot with the palace people in the street, and they know that those women also have a hard life. First, they are dismissed from the palace.
After leaving, it is difficult to return to his hometown; secondly, he is not young and is from a lowly household, so it is difficult to find a husband. And in Hexi and Longyou, there are many soldiers who cannot marry a wife. If they can be matched and introduced, the army officers and soldiers
I must be grateful to Erlang for his kindness."
After hearing this, Zhou Jun took a sip of his wine and said softly: "Everything has to have a process. Matchmaking is a good story, but if you act rashly, it will cause trouble..."
Sun Aying nodded in understanding.
That night, Zhou Jun set up a warm tripod and prepared wine and food at his home in Bieyuan just like last year.
At sunset, when the moon was drawing, Xiao Qingchan finished her duties in the market and rushed back to the Weiwei Courtyard. Xie Qin and Song Ruo'e had received the news in advance and entered the table first.
Compared to last year's rawness and restraint, the four girls who came to the table this year were much more familiar with each other.
Everyone was cutting meat, pouring wine, choosing vegetables, and chatting while busy, and it was a good time.
When the water in the cauldron was boiling and the ingredients were put into the pot, Zhou Jun raised his wine glass and drank with the four women.
After having a few drinks, Zhou Jun said: "If everything goes as usual, I'm afraid I will go to Dunhuang, Shazhou next year to supervise the reconstruction of trade routes."
Among the four women present, only Hua Yue could understand the deep meaning behind these words. The others were just shocked after hearing this.
Xie Qin first asked: "Shazhou is a desert and sparsely populated. Although there are trade routes in Dunhuang, it was more than a hundred years ago. Why was Erlang moved there?"
Song Ruo'e frowned and asked, "Is it possible that you have offended the powerful and are about to be demoted and sent to a new position?"
Zhou Jun shook his head: "It was my own initiative to go to Shazhou to rebuild trade routes."
Song Ruo'e was even more puzzled: "Did you propose it yourself?"
Zhou Jun: "Yes."
Xie Qin: "Although Chang'an City is undercurrent, it is still better than the desert with thousands of miles of yellow sand. Why should Erlang go there?"
Zhou Jun: "Jun and you all know each other well, and I only regard you as family. I will tell you some of my inner thoughts today. I don't want to hide anything, but please keep it secret." The four girls listened and nodded in agreement.
Zhou Jun: "At present, the Tang Dynasty is peaceful and peaceful, and the world is at peace. However, there are dangers lurking in both the court and the feudal towns. Jun's reconstruction of the Dunhuang trade route is leaving a way out for the future."
When Song Ruo'e heard these words, the more she thought about it, the more confused she became, so she asked Zhou Jun: "What is the danger you are talking about?"
Jie Qin gently pulled Song Ruo'e's sleeve and said, "Erlang always makes decisions before taking action. Since he has mentioned this, he must be on target."
Seeing that everyone had no doubts, Zhou Jun looked at Hua Yue, who nodded slightly to him.
Zhou Jun said: "After the Lantern Festival, when the ice and snow melt in spring, I will set off for Liangzhou. On this trip, I plan to take Hua Yue with me. After she leaves, all the affairs of Bachuan Market will be entrusted to her.
There are three of you."
Upon hearing this, Xie Qin looked at Hua Yue, thoughtfully; Xiao Qingchan had a sad look on her face, lowered her head and said nothing.
Song Ruo'e was stunned for a moment, then asked: "Why only bring her with you?"
Zhou Jun: "Hua Yue is a big cannibal and knows more about the Western Regions. With her here, it will be more advantageous for me to deal with the people there."
Song Ruo'e wondered: "Dashi is still thousands of miles away from the Western Regions. Although both are close to the desert, they are not..."
Jie Qin pulled Song Ruo'e's sleeve again, stopped her from talking, and said to Zhou Jun: "The affairs of the market are on track, we can handle it, Erlang, feel free to worry."
Zhou Jun asked Xiao Qingchan, who had been silent, "I saw the musicians from the Jiaofang at the banquet. One of the girls had a very similar appearance to you, except that she had an extra star on her right eyebrow."
Little mole."
When Xiao Qingchan heard this, she suddenly raised her head and said to Zhou Jun: "That's my second sister, Xiao Yingluo!"
Zhou Jun nodded: "I'll think of a way to see if I can bring her to the other garden."
Xiao Qingchan knelt down on the ground with a plop, and wailed to Zhou Jun: "Erlang is so kind..."
Zhou Jun: "Don't say this, just get up first."
Xiao Qingchan knew Zhou Jun's temper, so she stood up and stopped talking.
After that, Zhou Jun talked about the customs and customs of Hexi and praised the performance of The Legend of the White Snake that day.
This meal lasted until the middle of the moon, and everyone dispersed one after another.
Zhou Jun entered the bedroom, looked at Huayue who was busy arranging the bedding next to him, and said softly: "With this trip to Shazhou, I plan to take a look at the Western Regions."
Huayue responded.
Zhou Jun: "After leaving the city gate of Atami City in the Western Region, and then walking west for two days and two nights, you will reach the great food province of Khorasan.".
Hua Yue stopped what he was doing.
Zhou Jun: "I plan to accompany you back to Dashi."
Huayue struggled for a while and said, "I told Erlang that I have more important things to do in Datang."
Zhou Jun: "You and your family have not seen each other for several years. They don't even know whether you are dead or alive. It is natural for you to go back and report that you are safe."
Huayue turned around and looked at Zhou Jun: "If I return to Khorasan and see my father again, do you think he will allow me to leave again?"
Zhou Jun looked at Hua Yue's amber eyes and said, "I have a way to convince your father to let me take you away."
Huayue felt a little funny: "You have never met my father, how can you be sure that he will agree with you?"
Zhou Jun's face was as pale as water, and there was no trace of anxiety in his expression, but he looked confident.
Huayue gradually realized that something was wrong, and asked Zhou Jun tentatively: "I almost forgot that you have the ability to predict, but what did you see?"
Zhou Jun: "Next year will be the seventh year of Tianbao. If you go to Dashi with me, you will naturally know."
next chapter
This chapter has been completed!