"Sages like this, we should also be self-disciplined. If we have strange thoughts, we will inevitably feel guilty, uneasy, and trembling in our hearts."
"The sages set an example for me, and I set an example for the younger generations. Thank you, Fu, do you think this name should be the right one?"
Xie Fu Xinyue said sincerely: "Master Lu's words are really touching. Xie Fu was so drunk after listening to them."
Lu Tao said with a smile: "It's not too far away. The people under the rule are well-clothed and well-fed. I can dress comfortably in my rich clothes and drink two glasses of water and wine. As for music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and entertainment, I can also do it."
Shamelessly speaking, it means sharing the same interests and joys with others."
"Your Excellency is so noble."
Lu Tao laughed loudly: "No matter this matter or this person, he is most afraid of talking about noble moral character, which will change the taste. Let's put it this way, thank you, Fu, you love beauty, I, Lu Tao, love fame, I will never live forever.
Are you all pursuing it?"
These words made Xie Fu, a young man and a boss, embarrassed, but Lu Tao laughed and said, "I'm just kidding."
Xie Fu changed the topic: "By the way, cousin, thank you for taking care of me."
Lu Tao responded: "I have to take care of Gezhi now and I can't take care of him anymore."
Xie Fu was surprised: "How do you say this?"
"The quality has risen."
"Promoted?"
"Don't you know? Ge Zhi has been transferred to Chang'an to serve as Taishi Zhongcheng."
Xie Fu was slightly surprised, and Lu Tao added: "The appointment of Zhongshu Province, the imperial edict was handed over by His Highness the Crown Prince himself."
When Lu Tao said this, Xie Fu immediately understood that his cousin Xie Li had become a key concern of the imperial court, and the appointment of a small seventh-rank Taishi Zhongcheng did not need to be so grand.
Lu Tao smiled and said: "Although Taishi Zhongcheng is only a seventh-rank official, he is still a capital official. The center of the temple in the recent dynasty can look forward to the emperor. Gezhi's future is unlimited."
Xie Fu smiled and said: "Master Lu, if you and I have anything to say, please speak directly."
Lu Tao said: "Obviously the imperial court wants to reuse you, Xie Fu, but it also has a plan in advance to keep your brother in Chang'an as a hostage so that it can become the key to controlling you in the future."
Xie Fu Xiaoxiao didn't say much. As he became a higher official and became more powerful, he would always have to take this step. It would be impossible for his cousin to give up his official career.
Lu Tao asked: "Thank you, Fu, don't you want to say something?"
"Master Lu, I can only say that my brother is the heroic son of my Xie family. He is invulnerable to sword, water and fire."
Lu Tao exclaimed, obviously not expecting Xie Fu to thank him so highly.
"If something unexpected happens..."
Xie Fu pondered for a moment and then continued: "If something unexpected happens, my brother will definitely be able to do it well, but... I am indecisive and I am afraid that I will not be able to make a decision."
Lu Tao said lightly: "I'm afraid that Gezhi's character is too loyal and will be taken advantage of by others."
Xie Fu smiled with relief: "Well...to paraphrase a Buddhist verse, nothing can cause dust."
Lu Tao was confused, but Xie Fu managed to figure out how to explain: "Some small things may be able to deceive my cousin. When it comes to right and wrong, my brother's sharp eyes can distinguish between evil and evil."
Lu Tao was surprised: "Gezhi actually has such magical powers!"
Xie Fu didn't know how to explain it. It was a feeling that brothers had been together for many years. Let's get back to the topic: "My cousin went to Chang'an to take up a post without notifying me."
"How come I didn't notify you about such a big thing? It happened these days. You happened to be away from Suzhou. You should have left a letter."
"Oh, I just came back. There are piles of letters in the study. I haven't had time to read them all."
Lu Tao smiled meaningfully and said: "You have a lot of faith. Once you become an official, it will be difficult to have any leisure time."
After chatting about miscellaneous matters, Xie Fu revealed the purpose of his trip: "Sir, I was just going to ask you what's going on with this military competition?"
"What else could be going on? Things have gotten serious. All forces are treating your military competition as a battlefield. Do you think I have received few letters? They have all given me a hard time."
Lu Tao told Xie Fu eloquently, and Xie Fu gradually understood.
In order to prevent the formation of cliques and separatist regimes, the guards and their subordinate Zhechong military offices were not concentrated in one state or one state. Therefore, the armies of Huainan Road and Jiangnan East Road under the jurisdiction of Xie Fu, the Jiedushi, belonged to different forces.
The scope is so vast that even Lu Tao cannot understand the complexity.
Previously, Xie Fu was just an empty military envoy, and he had the support of the royal family. Naturally, many forces turned a blind eye and were willing to give Xie Fu a face.
Now that Xie Fu wants to engage in military competition within his jurisdiction, anyone with a discerning eye can see that Xie Fu intends to recruit these troops for his own use. No one wants his troops to become the private army of the Jiedushi who cannot be summoned.
This appearance is to show control and dominance over these armies, and at the same time to show his strength to other armies and increase the prestige of the Ministry of Health.
When Xie Fu heard this, he laughed and said: "Killing two birds with one stone is a plan that defeats your purpose. But my armor is not for free. I didn't take advantage of it at all. You have to ask me if I am willing to make wedding clothes for others."
Lu Tao said: "When things have developed to this point, they are no longer within our control. His Royal Highness is also very interested in your military competition and has specially brought two of his own soldiers to participate."
Xie Fu said in surprise: "His Royal Highness is also joining in the fun. Isn't it chaotic enough?"
Lu Tao said: "I don't have much contact with His Highness the Crown Prince, and I don't know enough about what kind of person he is. However, according to rumors, he has a lot of fun. He can't afford to miss such a lively event. Since he meets him, he will definitely participate."
Xie Fu smiled bitterly: "With two of his personal soldiers participating, what else is there to do?" Xie Fu, Qin Chucheng's personal soldier, had seen it before. He was the elite among the elite, and was not comparable to the general Zhechong government army.
Lu Tao smiled and said: "That's not necessarily the case. It depends on whether everyone wants to take action. It's really a competition."
Xie Fu was confused and heard Lu Tao laugh and say: "Take me, the Lu family, for example. I have nine surnames and thirteen hopes. Do you think that I, the Lu family, only belong to the Lu family in Suzhou? Looking at the world, I have more than ten thousand descendants of the Lu family."
thousand."
Lu Tao added: "Don't you think that the Zhu clan has been eradicated? It's just that the leader has been chopped off, so that the rest of the people can't make trouble again."
"Or take your Kuaiji Xie family as an example, how many people should be killed if you want to eradicate them all?"
Fu Xie nodded and understood what Lu Tao meant. Although the Xie family in Kuaiji fell into disgrace, his family lineage spread all over the world.
"Thank you, Fu. Although the development of this matter is beyond my expectation, since you entrusted it to me, Gu Xuan and I will naturally handle it successfully. Gu Xuan and I have already discussed it. You are still young and are not suitable for these forces at the moment.
If there is a big conflict, the guards will take care of each other's face. If you suffer a little loss, you can suffer a little loss. It is also a favor. With this favor in hand, it will be easier to deal with things in the future."
Lu Tao suddenly frowned as he spoke: "Who knew that the royal family Madam Wang would suddenly intervene and completely disrupt Gu Xuan and I's plan."
Xie Fu was confused: "How does Mrs. Wang intervene?"
Lu Tao responded: "How else can I interfere? This woman keeps arranging for members of her royal family to participate. The chessboard is only so big, and everyone puts up one flag. Your family wants to put five or eight flags, and there is no chaos.
Well, how can you give me this worldly humanity?"
"I don't know what she is thinking. Is she afraid that you, the Jiedushi, will climb too fast and overtake her as a prince, or is she really thinking about you, the future son-in-law? I have wanted to discuss this matter with her several times.
She doesn’t even see me.”
Xie Fu said, Xiao Yun's heart was naturally towards him, and she was not afraid that his power would overwhelm the prince, but he didn't know what Xiao Yun was thinking.
"Thank you, Fu, let's do this. You can talk to your mother-in-law first, and then we can make long-term plans."
Xie Fu asked: "Is Mrs. Wang in Suzhou?"
"He has been in Suzhou, keeping an eye on me and Uncle Du."
Xie Fu said with a smile: "Master Lu, can't you just ignore her?"
Lu Tao patted Xie Fu on the arm: "The Wang and Li families are the nine surnames of the Thirteenth and look to the north and the south. With her words, Jiangnan East Road will change tomorrow. Do you believe it or not?"
Xie Fu smiled and said: "Well, since Mrs. Wang is in Suzhou, I will take the time to go and pay a visit."
"You don't need to go to Shudu and Zhongji's place yet. After you find out more, I will host a banquet and invite them to meet at Suzhou River."
Xie Fu looked at the sky, and Lu Tao smiled and said: "It's not appropriate for me to go at this point. You should just say hello to your future mother-in-law and show your respect first."
Lu Tao didn't know that Xie Fu was worried. He was afraid that if he went there, he wouldn't be able to go home at night. He spent the night outside just two days after returning home. No matter what, he couldn't justify it.
It was impossible to explain these worries to Lu Taoming.
Lu Tao saw the hesitation on Xie Fu's face and said with a smile: "The ugly daughter-in-law always has to meet her parents-in-law. I'm wrong. It should be the ugly uncle who also has to meet his mother-in-law. Besides, this is not the first time you have met. This woman is really powerful. No matter what, you
She will also be measured in the next half of the year, and there is no need to be trembling."
Xie Fu felt quite uncomfortable when he said this.
Lu Tao patted the back of Xie Fu's hand again as a gesture of comfort. His expression was thoughtful and he had no words, but he was trying to infer the character of Mrs. Wang in order to put Xie Fu in a proper position.
Xie Fu felt guilty after being slapped by Lu Tao, so he stood up and said, "Master Lu, I'll take my leave now."
"Thank you, Fu, I'll wait for your good news."
After leaving the Lu Mansion, Xie Fu quickened his pace to see that it was already early in the evening.
I learned from Lu Tao that the place where Mrs. Wang stayed in Suzhou was called Yuyuan, and the Yuyuan was located on Shangshantang Street near Fengqiao.
Hanshan Temple and Fengqiao are together. If you think about it carefully, Xie Fu has stayed in Suzhou for so long and has never visited Hanshan Temple Fengqiao to take a look.
Thinking about it, I smiled unconsciously. You said he was carefree, but he has never even set foot in this scenic spot. You said he was busy, but he could find time.
Looking back from the beginning, the most leisurely days were when I was a teacher in Tantai Mansion, but at that time I was not qualified to travel around and my movements were restricted in every way.
When he arrived at Lumen, there were many shops in the market and it was very popular. Only then did Xie Fu remember that he was empty-handed, not even a souvenir.
After much thought, it was most appropriate to give some food as a gift, so I walked into a shop and bought a box of Suzhou cakes.
Holding Su Cake in hand, I felt something was missing.
We haven't seen each other for several days, and I have no intention at all. She will definitely get annoyed with me, and if I get annoyed, things will definitely not work out.
Jade pendants, hairpins, jewelry, waist ornaments, calligraphy and painting collections...
After thinking about it for a while, I realized that all these items were commonplace, and even if they were given as gifts, they still had no intention.
Just when I was at a loss of what to do, I suddenly saw some pebbles scattered under the stone trough where fish were kept in a fish stall.
