Zhang Yang struggled, "So, it seems that I have offended Duke Zhao."
Zhang Gongjin burst out laughing, "If you had offended Changsun Wuji, you wouldn't sit in front of me. It's because he's not sure about you. This person is cautious and looks down on people who act haphazardly."
"That old fox won't plot against me in the future."
"Don't worry, he doesn't take you seriously."
The offensive words were spoken so lightly, Zhang Yang felt more and more annoyed that getting along with this teacher would be very annoying.
The chat with Zhang Gongjin went smoothly. This guy was like an encyclopedia of the Tang Dynasty. No matter what you asked, he could answer fluently.
Looking at the sky, Zhang Yang thought that it was time to make lunch.
The world's major events, things like the country, the country, and the country are a bit too vague for me. After all, the real power lies in the hands of the elders.
If I, a small minister of etiquette, want power, I still have a long way to go. The road to power is full of high-voltage wires.
"Teacher, has your condition been diagnosed and treated by a doctor?"
Hearing Zhang Yang's question, Zhang Gongjin stroked his beard and said, "I've seen it many times. Whether it's the medical officer at the Imperial Medical Office, the doctors from outside, or Dr. Sun, they all said the same thing."
When all doctors say the same thing, there are only two outcomes, either your disease is cured, or you are dead.
"I have been terminally ill for a long time. Medicine and stone are just in vain. Enjoy your old age and how long you can live depends on God's will." Zhang Gongjin sighed, "Now that the world is peaceful, it doesn't matter if the man dies. It's a pity that he hasn't seen all the fireworks in the world."
It is really a melancholy thing to study under a teacher who can die at any time.
At this point in the atmosphere, it was no longer easy to find other topics. Zhang Yang stood up and said, "Teacher, it's getting late, so the students will leave first."
"I will think carefully about what I want to teach you." Zhang Gongjin said calmly.
After bowing to Shimu's hometown again, Zhang Yang and Li Yue left the house together.
Zhang Gongjin's wife likes salted duck eggs very much. After they left, she changed her kind-hearted look when facing Li Yue, and her eyes became more shrewd, "It's been a long time since I saw an old guy like you talking so much."
Zhang Gongjin sighed, "I don't know how long I can live. I'll say a few words while I'm alive."
"What do you think of this child?"
"We've only met him twice, how do you ask me to get to know him?" Zhang Gongjin smiled bitterly.
"You can't take care of three children at home, and you still want to accept a disciple. Does your Majesty not want you, an old man, to live too long?"
Zhang Gongjin looked at Taiji Hall and reassured, "Don't speak arrogantly, old lady. Your Majesty has allowed my three children to have positions in the court. You have already shown the emperor's favor."
The three sons Zhang Daxiang, Zhang Dasu, and Zhang Da'an already have positions in the court. As long as they don't make big mistakes and rely on official positions and inheritance, as long as these three brothers get along well, they will have no worries about food and clothing in the future.
Zhang Gongjin's wife wailed, "How will we live from now on? Your Majesty, you are going to force Gongjin to death."
After leaving Zhang Gongjin's home, the couple walked in the East Market. It was already noon. The vendors in the market were scattered and there were not many things to buy.
A small puppy caught Zhang Yang's attention. Zhang Yang knelt down and watched the khaki-colored puppy wagging its tail.
The puppy's eyes were full of anticipation.
Zhang Yang took out a piece of dried meat.
The puppy sniffed it vigorously and was about to bite it. Zhang Yang quickly put the dried meat into his mouth.
The puppy whimpered for food as if it was begging for mercy or feeling aggrieved.
Seeing this scene, Li Yue sighed, "Husband, why do you even bully a dog?"
Zhang Yang stood up and said, "Go home."
"Um."
"I'll have braised pork for lunch, and I'll make marinated meat from the rest."
"OK."
Back home, the couple ate a bowl of braised pork and a bowl of egg custard quietly.
After the meal, Zhang Yang felt very good looking at the combination lock he had made.
Seeing her husband smiling, Li Yue said: "A gentleman should neither be happy with things nor be sad with himself."
"Your husband doesn't want to be a gentleman."
"That's at least like a gentleman."
"Everyone has feelings. I can't help but be happy with things and sad with myself." Zhang Yang handed her the combination lock.
Li Yue looked at the combination lock in her hand. The combination lock was large and heavy.
As long as it was turned to six or eight, the latch on the combination lock would pop out automatically. Li Yue became interested and played with it for a long time.
Zhang Yang reinstalled the latch, "Press and hold this latch, and you can set the password yourself."
"password?"
"It's just a specific set of numbers. I think it's best to set a password with numbers that have special meaning, such as a special day."
Li Yue patiently set the password.
Zhang Yang looked at it for a while.
"Husband, you want to know the password?"
"Do you want to say it?"
"In no mood."
Then Li Yue picked up the huge password lock and returned to her room, and then set the password.
After half an hour, Li Yue came out of her room, but she didn't take the combination lock with her.
Aunt Wang packed up the clothes that were hanging out to dry and said, "Yesterday, the largest cloth workshop in Chang'an City was bought for ten guan."
Li Yue asked curiously, "Is it the one in the south of the city?"
Aunt Wang nodded, "That's the one. They used to make fabrics for the palace."
Li Yue felt a lot disappointed, "I don't know if the price of fabrics in Chang'an City will become more expensive again in the future. I have made all the clothes this year, and recently I feel more and more that my clothes are too small."
The wife is unhappy.
Zhang Yang was busy at his workbench, "Who just said you shouldn't be happy with things or sad with yourself?"
Li Yue pursed her lips and felt aggrieved, "I'm not a saint."
Li Yue is in charge of all household expenses.
She took out the account book, which recorded the prices of daily necessities, and the price changes from last year to this year were written on it.
Li Yue drew a line in the line of fabrics, "Auntie, buy more fabrics in the next two days and sell all the fabrics needed for this year."
Aunt Wang nodded.
Li Yue put down the pen in his hand and said, "After ten days, I will inquire about the price of fabrics in Chang'an City."
Aunt Wang bowed and responded: "Here."
The largest cloth workshop in Chang'an City was bought for ten dollars without any notice. This was simply a money grab.
In these days, businessmen are like scum in front of the powerful. It is very easy for the powerful to bring down a businessman.
In front of the real powerful people, a businessman with no background is just a fat pig, waiting to be slaughtered by the powerful at any time. This is not only the level of power, but also the situation among scholars, farmers, industry and commerce. The situation of businessmen is so bad that no one will pity the businessmen.
What a cruel reality, some people feel sad and powerless.
Damn nobility.
In the palace, Li Shimin asked people to plant spinach. If the emperor wanted spinach, it was just a matter of words, and someone would arrange everything.
There was very little spinach grown in the palace, and it was only enough for Li Shimin to eat alone.
Sitting in the Li Zheng Hall, Li Shimin fished out a spinach, took a bite and tasted it carefully, then he felt a bit astringent and bitter and spit it out.
This is exactly the same thing as the spinach eaten at Zhang Yang’s house.
Li Shimin stood up and asked: "Why is this spinach so unpalatable!"
Upon hearing this, the eunuch and the palace maid knelt down on the ground.
Empress Changsun was very satisfied to have a son-in-law who could make delicious food, make money and be a craftsman.
Yan Liben was asked to lead people from the Ministry of Industry to make more than a hundred clothes hangers, which were also found at Yue'er's home.
These hangers can also be distributed to the concubines in the harem, and Empress Changsun has something to win over in the palace.
The people in the Ministry of Industry have been a little tired recently and have been building things day and night. They haven't stopped since the beginning of the year and they don't know how their chairs are doing.
Li Shimin took out another piece of cooked spinach, put it in his mouth, tasted it, and then spat it out, "It's simply hard to swallow."
In the Li Zheng Palace of Empress Changsun, Li Shimin couldn't take his anger out on these eunuchs and maids.
How on earth does Zhang Yang cook spinach?
Li Shimin took a sip of tea, his mind was so confused that he couldn't even eat well.
The eunuchs and maids in the palace couldn't understand it, and they didn't know since when His Majesty's appetite became more picky. The food was obviously the same as before.
But now His Majesty finds it hard to swallow.
Eating the small cake that Li Tai had sent to him, and taking out a tea egg from the pot on the side, Li Shimin ate slowly, but it was not like he couldn't eat anything.
But you can’t eat tea eggs every day.
A military report was hurriedly sent to Chang'an.
The next morning at court, another piece of news was delivered to the court, causing a stir and Xue Yantuo was in civil strife.
This news was like a shot in the arm. Li Shimin's expression did not change but his heart was already in turmoil. Xue Yantuo was in civil strife. From the beginning of his accession to the throne, Li Shimin had the psychological shadow of being suppressed by the north.
He did not allow a huge threat to appear in the north, not the Turks, nor Xue Yantuo in Mobei.
There is also news that Ashinadur led the troops of King Gaochang to the north and began to take revenge on Xue Yantuo. Chaos broke out in Mobei and Monan.
Li Shimin immediately issued an order to appease Mobei, but he did not do too much.
Xu Jingzong stood there, extremely excited. He started preparing in February. Four months later, he finally heard the result at this moment.
This choice was the right bet.
Xu Jingzong, who was in an excited mood, did not notice that Zhang Yang, who was dozing in front of him, fell down.
Zhang Yang was knocked down and fell to the ground.
Before the morning court ended, Xu Jingzong fell to the ground surrounded by panic, holding on to his official hat.
Zhang Yang looked around sleepily and confusedly.
Li Shimin stood up and waved his sleeves, "Retreat from the court!"
The morning session ended and everyone left one after another.
Zhang Yang sat on the ground and looked at Xu Jingzong in confusion, "Are you asleep too?"
Xu Jingzong nodded nervously.
Zhang Yang struggled to stand up and was patted on the shoulder. He looked sideways and the person patting his shoulder was Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji walked out of Tai Chi Hall with a smile.
Li Xiaogong, Xu Jingzong and Zhang Yang were sitting in the Ministry of Etiquette.
This time Li Xiaogong didn't sleep either, but looked at Zhang Yang as if he were looking at a monster.
Zhang Yang cleared his throat, "Is Yinan Khan also aware of the news?"
Xu Jingzong replied, "The palace has sent people to send the news to Yinan Khan, and there are also some letters from Xue Yantuo people to send to Yinan Khan."
He also sent the news to Yinan Khan. Li Shimin carried out his tortured spirit to the end.
He won't stop until he drives people crazy. Oh, the vicious Khan, can you be a little more humane and take pity on him?
Zhang Yang whispered, "Why does Prince Hejian keep looking at me?"
Li Xiaogong asked in confusion, "Why don't you and the princess have any children yet?"
"The princess is young and in poor health, so we are not in a hurry."
"Aren't you in a hurry? Haha... I became a father when I was fourteen years old."
"That's because you are extremely talented, I admire you."
Li Xiaogong nodded and said, "If you have a queen earlier, I have a feeling that you, my baby, may die young."
"Prince Hejian, are you swearing?"
A minor official came in a hurry and said, "Shang Shu of the Ministry of Rites, Yi Nan Khan held a knife and threatened to die to see him."
Li Xiaogong said in surprise, "Where did he get the knife?"
"I didn't find him hiding the knife before."
"We can't let him die in the post house and invite people here." Li Xiaogong said helplessly.
"Go and bring it here." The clerk left in a hurry.
Xu Jingzong packed up the scrolls and said, "I think there will be news from the Turks soon."
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "Brother Xu has also done a great job."
Xu Jingzong smiled and said, "Everywhere, I borrowed the light of Prince Hejian and Minister Zhang."
Yinan Khan was taken to the Ministry of Rites.
Looking at Yinan Khan's helpless appearance, the arrogance he had before has long since disappeared.
Zhang Yang said calmly, "Khan is not angry now?"
He slowly raised his head and looked at Zhang Yang, dumbfounded and speechless.
"If you don't get angry anymore and don't think I'm neglecting the Khan, please ask the Khan to slap me."
When Li Xiaogong heard this, he almost spit out his tea on the spot.
"Snapped!"
With a loud slap, Yinan Khan slapped himself very happily.
Zhang Yang whispered, "Do you know what happened to Xue Yantuo?"
Yinan Khan nodded slowly, but still said nothing.
Zhang Yang put down the tea bowl and said, "Slap yourself again."
"Pah." Another loud slap hit his own face.
"The first slap is because you offended me, the minister, and the second slap is because you were rude in the Ministry of Rites. Our Ministry of Rites spoke to Xue Yantuo on behalf of the Tang Dynasty. Being rude in the Ministry of Rites is rude to the Tang Dynasty. Do you agree with these two slaps?
deny?"
Yi Nan Khan nodded vigorously, and then he slapped himself one slap after another, as if he was venting his anger.
After being beaten for more than a dozen times, he knelt on the ground in annoyance, gritting his teeth and patting the ground.
Tian Khan, look at how good Xue Yantuo Khan has been tortured by you. Zhang Yang shook his head and sighed.
Yi Nan Khan lay on the ground and said, "I don't ask for marriage, nor do I ask for the title of Great Khan. Now I just want to go back to Mobei."
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "When the Khan came to visit the Tang Dynasty, we have not fulfilled our duty as landlords."
Yinan Khan whispered, "I want to return to Xueyantuo."
Seeing the gentle smile on Zhang Yang's face, Xu Jingzong shuddered. This gentle smile seemed to make people feel cold.
Those who didn't know better thought Zhang Yang was smiling sincerely, but in fact, his smile was meant to eat people.