On Zhang Xing's way back, light rain began to fall on the sky street, then turned into light snow, and sometimes turned back to light rain.
But it doesn't matter, none of this can change the obvious slackness and chaos on Tianjie - the Jinwu guards have also begun to patrol out of Ziwei Palace, but they appear lazy and casual, the queue is irregular, and the number of people is not uniform, and the departure is slow; the entire Dongdu City
The village officials seemed to be beating gongs, but they seemed disorganized; the vendors and pedestrians on the street were more casual, and some even cursed God for being unkind while slowly walking into the village carrying a basket.
Zhang Xing rode his horse slowly and walked through the light snow. After walking for a long time, he arrived in front of the gate of the square. By this time, the sound of gongs had already stopped, but Chengfu Square was not closed yet - this was unimaginable before.
At that time, although powerful people could directly drill through the walls of the houses from their homes, some middle-level officials with real power could also privately build high-rise buildings over the walls of the houses, and some gangs secretly dug holes in the walls of the houses and hung ladders, but the most superficial gates of the houses were still there.
A little rigor was maintained to demonstrate the order of the capital and the deterrent power of the state machine.
But now, the tower has collapsed.
Da Ma walked into the square. It was already dark. As he entered the house, Qin Bao came to meet him and told him that someone was waiting.
Zhang Xing was not surprised that someone was waiting. Since he was back, there must be many people or things waiting for him. However, the first person to come was Sima Erlong, which was unexpected.
"Zhang Sanlang."
Sima Zheng, who was dressed in casual clothes, stood up proudly and saluted with his hands in hand. He was as lovable as ever. "I was just chatting with Qin Erlang about the siege of Yunnei. When I talk about your behavior, it is really manly. I am ashamed of myself."
Zhang Xing returned the gift and laughed in surprise: "What are you talking about, General Sima? In the siege of Yunnei, I am just a messenger and have no special honors...Besides, if you, Sima Erlong, are here and join forces with my Chang Jian, you will not be able to leave the city."
Counterattack without causing the army to lose its spirit, how can I, a person who has just gained access to the Qi Meridian, compare to me?"
"I'm not talking about that." Sima Zheng said with a bitter smile. "What I admire is Zhang Sanlang, whether he encounters plundered local women, confronts enemy troops who have lost their elders, or even fights with imperial reinforcements and local rebels.
When dealing with people who can't tell whether they are soldiers or bandits on the way back, they can always act on the spot and make quick decisions... But looking back, the decisions they make always make people feel that they are the most appropriate... This skill
What I admire the most is the handling of things without being sloppy but as leak-proof as possible."
Zhang Xing was stunned for a moment, said nothing, and just raised his hand to signal.
The two of them and Qin Bao also returned to the main room and sat down safely.
After taking a sip of tea, Zhang Xing did not ask the other party why he came, but asked about some gossip first: "General Sima is well-informed in Dongdu. He dared to ask whether three thousand honors, plus two hundred or four hundred special honors, the imperial court."
Have you decided yet?"
"Two hundred special honors...how could it be so fast?" Sima Zheng said seriously. "But there shouldn't be any problems again, because this time Cao Zhongcheng took it over personally. It is estimated that the results should be available around the New Year."
Zhang Xing nodded, he couldn't care less about this matter, because it was related to the only serious thing he had to do at the moment - Uncle Cao Huang was capable and prestigious, but he was old and stubborn, and he was an old-style Guanlong military aristocrat who had no common people in his mind. The so-called
Dao different people do not work together; and King Qi Tianzhen seems to be able to manipulate, but his father's ambition has been suppressed, and he dare not raise it, as if he cannot help him... In this case, it is just as discussed with Bai Yousi before,
Find an opportunity to go to a place and prepare to start struggling.
It's just a pity that my rank is neither above nor below, and my merits are probably neither above nor below. If I could take advantage of the situation and become a powerful county magistrate, governor, and palace envoy, holding the military and political power of a place, that would be called it.
Act wantonly.
Of course, it's not impossible to take a step back.
Just this saint, this omen, what kind of bicycle do you want?
"Did the Babel Tower collapse?" After thinking this, Zhang Xing's expression remained unchanged, and he suddenly asked again, causing everyone in the room, including Qin Bao, to suddenly stay on the spot.
"Yes..." Sima Zheng thought for a moment and gave a frank answer that was not unexpected. "But this is not something we should say as ministers."
"Did it collapse around the Mid-Autumn Festival?" Zhang Xing didn't care at all and continued to verify his idea.
"Yes..." Sima Zheng was silent for a long time before answering again. "Zhang Sanlang, this matter is of great importance. I really don't want to ask anymore. If you are serious, you can go and investigate on your own. You can't hide it from a smart person like you."
, and when ministers discuss this matter, they always have the intention of mocking the king."
"As I expected, this matter is directly related to what you want to ask me when you come to see me this time." Zhang Xing said in a surprising way. "So, I also want to ask you clearly."
"You know what I want to ask you?" Sima Zheng was surprised for a moment.
"Did your grandfather encounter anything during this trip... Why did he suddenly become a person who flattered the saints and was so outrageous that many of the Guanlong clan despised your grandfather's behavior?" Zhang Xing looked into the other person's eyes and asked for confirmation seriously. "Except for this.
Things, I can't think of anything else that will make you lose your footing and make your thinking difficult... By coincidence, I happen to be one of the two people you can ask about the whole story... But you shouldn't have thought of it, so it should be your fault early
I went to ask my family inspection first. Due to the situation, I cannot tell you directly. I asked you to wait until I come back and then ask me again, right?"
Sima Zheng looked at the other party blankly, without saying a word, but then looked at Qin Bao, who was a little confused.
Qin Bao was stunned, got up and left.
Sima Zheng then faced him solemnly: "I can't hide anything from Zhang Sanlang, and I shouldn't have hidden anything."
"How did the tower collapse?" Zhang Xing asked curiously.
"The ground suddenly sank and collapsed out of thin air. The seven-story tower was completely gone. Hundreds of people were crushed to death, including craftsmen and servants." Sima Zheng answered with difficulty. "Then it was August.
Renovation will begin in the second half of the year.”
Zhang Xing nodded, this was consistent with his impression, it was five floors when he left and three floors when he came back.
Glutinous rice
At this time, the snowflakes outside were gradually getting bigger, and the two sides were silent for a while. Zhang Xing waited for a while and found that the other party still did not have the courage to ask questions, so he continued his question.
"Did the saint deal with Duke Gao? Who will build the Tongtian Tower now?" Zhang Xing asked seriously.
"No matter what happens, it's still him."
"Why?"
"Because all practitioners who know a little bit about it know that the Tower of Babel is a tower of practice for saints, masters or great masters." Sima Zheng said with a sigh. "Everyone also knows that whether this tower can be completed or not has nothing to do with the person who built it...
...It was the saint who forced his family to build the grandest nine-story tower, and it had to be completed years ago, so he replaced the obedient Gao Du Gong to build it... Now that something has happened, it is not impossible to blame Gao Du Gong, but it is not inevitable.
It will make people laugh, so it’s better to do the right thing than the wrong thing.”
"Is it also because you are afraid that dealing with Duke Gao will make ordinary people wake up?" Zhang Xing laughed. "The saint knew the news that day and killed more than a dozen messengers without telling them. He was not willing to take the palace people with him. When the servants came back, it was as if they wanted to deceive others and ask Duke Gao to rebuild the pagoda so as to confuse the matter."
"There may be some truth to it..." Sima Zheng became increasingly difficult to persuade the other party not to ridicule the Lord.
"Is the saint's cultivation level really that of a great master?"
"It's hard to say. I guess when I decided to build the Tongtian Tower, I should have reached the level of a grand master, but I may not have. Maybe I felt that I was almost there..."
"I know that in the past few years, after the sage surrendered the Wu clan and before he conquered Dongyi, he often felt proud of himself and said that he was voting for 'democracy' together with everyone in the world. With his intelligence and ability, he must be He will be the emperor." Zhang Xing smiled more and more. "This seems like something he can do... Besides, whether the tower is completed or not depends on whether it is successful or not... His way of being a king is inherently unstable, and suddenly he does it again That kind of thing will naturally collapse."
"What happened around August 15th?" Sima Zheng couldn't hide, not to mention that he came here for this matter. "I only know that the eldest princess was born in early August...my grandfather?"
"The matter couldn't be simpler, and it has something to do with the eldest princess's family." Zhang Xing didn't panic at all, and just told the other party what he saw that night in an understatement. "At that time, your grandfather was forced At the end of the road, I had no choice but to frame the Ma family and his son, and intensified the accusation. From then on, the only priority was to please the emperor... But the emperor is so harsh, and the tower collapsed in response to the situation, but I think it is natural."
After saying these words, Sima Zheng covered his face and sighed, saying nothing for a long time.
Zhang Xing also didn't say a word. He actually felt pity for the other party.
I don't know how long it was before Sima Erlong smiled bitterly and said, "Zhang Sanlang, you said... why is it so difficult to be considerate?"
Zhang Xing immediately responded: "This is natural. We have the same goal all the way. Sometimes, when these things come together, they simply focus on one thing and lose sight of the other, or even become opposites. How can we do everything comprehensively?"
"But if that's the case..." Sima Zheng was extremely confused. "How can we do our best to live up to others?"
Although the chicken soup has not been cooked yet, Zhang Xing still blurted out: "If you want to live up to others, you must live up to yourself first... I don't think there is any need to be harsh on anything. When you encounter dilemmas or even more difficult times, try your best to live up to yourself." Just conscience and ability will do."
"But how can you live up to your heart?" Sima Zheng looked a little confused,
"It's just self-respect." Zhang Xing still did not hesitate. "I usually respect myself and love myself, act magnanimously, and do things naturally and without restraint."
Sima Zheng nodded with all his strength: "Thank you Zhang Sanlang, you are a really smart man. I will try my best to think about it according to this."
With that said, Sima Erlong immediately stood up and left with his hands, and then walked out of the main room and jumped away.
Zhang Xing, on the other hand, seemed to suddenly think of something, and asked from the seat: "General Sima... you should be the Empress Cheng Danqi, right?"
"Not bad." Sima Zheng reluctantly turned around and responded. "What's wrong?"
"There are two more questions..." Zhang Xing smiled slightly. "Let me ask first... have you noticed the changes in the vitality of heaven and earth?"
Sima Zheng was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly: "It's just a little bit... practicing is obviously a little easier."
Zhang Xing nodded and continued to ask: "One more question... I have always been curious, what did General Sima visualize after he condensed the elixir?"
Sima Zheng felt relieved instead: "It's just a family heirloom armor!"
Zhang Xing nodded repeatedly and asked no more questions.
Sima Zheng waited for a while, and when he saw that the other party said nothing, he jumped up and disappeared into the lightly snowy dusk.
PS: Sorry everyone, I got stuck on my writing and stayed up all night to get stuck. This update only has 3,000 words... I'm half asking for leave and half apologizing... I'd like to say hello to everyone.
