When Bailixi arrived in Qin, Duke Mu of Qin saw that he was an old man with gray hair. He was a little disappointed and asked, "Sir, will you live long this year?"
Bailixi said: "Seventy years old."
Duke Mu of Qin said, "It's a pity that he is a bit old."
Baili Xi said: "Even if Jiang Taigong is eighty years old, he can still help King Wu of Zhou conquer the world. If your lord asks me to hunt tigers, I will definitely not be able to do it. If you ask me to sit down and discuss national affairs, I will be ten years younger than Jiang Taigong."
age."
When Duke Mu of Qin heard this, he felt that although Baili Xi was old, he was quick-witted and spoke out of the ordinary, and he had the air of an outsider. Duke Mu of Qin was interested, and he respectfully asked Baili Xi to sit down. Then the two of them
People started talking for a long time.
Baili Xi was well-read in poetry and books. He had traveled among various countries over the years and had an understanding of the politics, economy, people's sentiments, and even the military situation of the major vassal states in the Central Plains. In addition, he always had a dream of becoming an official in his heart.
Every time he visited a country, he deliberately paid attention to it and even inquired about the situation in that country, thus accumulating rich experience in inspections. He talked about the political gains and losses of various countries, and the military successes and failures were as precious as his own. The more Duke Mu of Qin listened, the more excited he became. The two of them became more and more excited.
They talked until dusk. Duke Mu of Qin was still unfinished and asked Baili Xi to talk again tomorrow. In this way, they talked for three days in a row. Finally, Duke Mu of Qin concluded that Baili Xi was indeed a well-informed and rare talent.
After the conversation on the third day, Duke Mu of Qin said on the spot: "Sir, he has been traveling for half his life and knows the situations of various countries very well. His knowledge is extraordinary. As far as I am concerned, there are very few people who can compare with you. Also, your knowledge of governing the country is very high."
Anbang's idea is quite consistent with that of me. Our country of Qin is located in the remote northwest and needs capable people like you. I sincerely ask you to be the prime minister of Qin. What do you think, sir?"
Bailixi stroked his beard and said: "I have a friend named Uncle Jian. This man's ability is better than mine. Since my lord is recruiting talents from all over the world, why not ask him to help? If you can get this man's help, then you will be better."
It’s like adding wings to a tiger.”
Duke Mu of Qin heard that there was an expert behind Baili Xi and was very interested. He immediately asked Baili Xi to write a letter and sent Prince Ji to Luming Village with the letter to invite Uncle Jian to come out.
Prince Ji pretended to be a businessman and went to the Song Dynasty with only two followers.
After wandering for a long time, they came to Luming Village. They saw that the village was hidden between two mountains. Entering from the gorge, it suddenly became clear. There were flat fields in the valley, and the crops were growing well. One area to the east and one to the west were all green and full of life.
A vigorous stream flows through the foot of the mountain. The water is clear and yellow sand can be seen at the bottom. Gongzi Jie and his men ran to the stream, grabbed the water and drank it. It tasted sweet and refreshing. Gongzi Jie couldn't help but praise: "Good water."
He squatted by the water and looked around. He saw that most of the farmhouses were on the side of the mountain. They were all built with earthen walls and thatched grass and surrounded by green trees, looming. The entire valley and villages formed a beautiful and peaceful picture. Gongzijie said to himself: "
This place is called Luming Village. Are there really deer crowing in the mountains?"
One of Young Master Jie's subordinates said: "General, let's find someone quickly."
Young Master Jie laughed and said: "This is the realm of gods and immortals, but you don't feel anything at all. No wonder you are so good at it."
The subordinate said: "General, I am an errand, I just want to do errands."
While the two were talking, they saw two people approaching from a distance. Gongzi Jue and others quickly got up and waited for the people to approach.
Two young men in their twenties came. When they came closer, Gongzi Jie saw that they were both handsome young men with thick eyebrows, big eyes and rosy complexions. Gongzi Jie first bowed his hands and saluted, and then asked for directions:
"You two gentlemen, is there a man named Uncle Jian in Luming Village?"
"Who are you?"
"We are businessmen from the State of Qin. We are entrusted by a friend to send a letter to Uncle Jian. What are the names of the two young masters?"
"Guest, don't call us young master, we are just farmers in the countryside. My name is Bai Yibing. This is my brother, his name is Xiqi Shu." One of the young students said.
"So, do you recognize Uncle Jian?"
Bai Yibing smiled and said: "You asked just right, Uncle Jian is my father. Come with me, I will take you there." After that, he said to Xiqi Shu next to him: "Go back first and tell your father.
There are guests visiting.”
Xiqi Shu agreed, carried the hoe, and left as fast as he could. Here, Bai Yibing, accompanied by Gongzi Jie and others, followed slowly.
The group of people walked a mile and came to the west end of the village, where they found a place surrounded by pines and bamboos. They walked up the stone steps and came to a firewood gate. Gongzi Jie looked around and saw that the courtyard was spacious and clean.
Yi Bing opened the door and said, "This is a shameful house."
Uncle Jian came out of the house to greet him. He had a tall forehead and a thin face, gray eyebrows, slender eyes, and bright eyes. Under the straight bridge of his nose, he had a mustache covering his lips, and under his chin was a thick, slightly gray hair.
He had a long beard and looked quite airy. Uncle Qian stepped forward quickly, cupped his hands and said, "A bird fell on the eaves this morning. I guess there must be something happy. Sure enough, there are distinguished guests coming to the door. Please!"
The young master returned the gift and entered the main room with greetings. After sitting down, he announced his home address, then took out Baili Xi's letter. He said: "Baili Xi is deeply appreciated by the King of Qin. The King of Qin wanted to increase his use, but Baili Xi did not
I highly recommend you."
Uncle Jian waved his hand and said, "General, please sit down for a moment and wait until I read the letter."
Brother Bai Yibing next to him heard that Master Jie and his party came to invite Uncle Jian to become an official, and they were already fascinated. Xiqi Shu had already picked a few melons from the field, packed them neatly in the kitchen, and brought them to the table.
Jie and the others happened to be thirsty, so they ate melons while waiting for Uncle Jian to read the letter.
Uncle Jian read the letter, but he was not excited at all. He shook his head slightly and said: "Now that the world is in chaos, I am old and have no interest in fame, so I don't want to get involved in the troubled times. Please go back and tell Baili Xi, I will accept it."
His good intentions. Please let him do it for himself."
As soon as Bai Yibing heard this, he immediately put down the melon in his hand and was about to speak. Uncle Jian's eyes were quick, and Bai Yibing immediately shut up.
Young Master Ji was anxious and wise, and advised: "If you don't go, I'm afraid Baili Xi won't want to stay in Qin. Baili Xi is your old friend. He has traveled around for half his life, and now he has finally found a wise master. If you always
If we don’t help him, it will be difficult for him to get ahead.”
Bai Yibing finally couldn't help but said: "Father, I have heard you say long ago that the King of Qin's great talent and bold strategies will surely become a success. What a great opportunity this is. Not to mention Uncle Baili is already in Qin."
Xiqi Shu also said: "Father, you taught us the art of war and martial arts. My two brothers have developed a lot of skills, and they will go out in the mountains sooner or later. How can we gain such skills if we stay here in Luming Village all the time?"
use?"
Young Master Jie smiled and said: "Uncle Jian, even if you are not interested in fame, you still have to find a future for the two Young Masters. I think that the two Young Masters are capable of literary and military skills and will become great talents in the future. This opportunity is not to be missed."
I won’t come back again.” Young Master Jie only wants to complete the task, and as long as he can persuade Uncle Qian, he will keep saying good things.
Uncle Jian thought for a while and said: "The general is right. Bailixi is a great talent. It would be a pity if he is allowed to die in the countryside. I should help him. However, after I help him stabilize, he still has to come back to farm.
My land."
At this time, Gongzi Ji just wanted to get Uncle Jian to Qin, and he would agree to any conditions.
Bai Yibing and Xiqi Shu were very happy and kept helping Young Master Jian to encourage Uncle Jian. Uncle Jian had originally wanted to help Bailixi, but now his two sons also wanted to go to Qin to seek a family background, so he agreed.
Gongzijie's request.
After Qin Mugong met Uncle Jian, the two had another long conversation. This time, Uncle Jian talked about enriching the country and strengthening its army. Uncle Jian proposed recruiting talents, developing production, improving people's livelihood, and accumulating national strength, etc.
Many suggestions and many of his ideas were in line with Qin Mugong's wishes.
Duke Mu of Qin felt that Uncle Jian and Baili Xi were capable enough to hold important positions, so he formally asked Uncle Jian to be the right minister of Qin and Baili Xi to be the left minister of Qin.
Duke Mu of Qin made a further inspection of Uncle Jian's sons Bai Yibing and Xiqishu. He felt that these two men were also very good, so he hired them as officials of the state of Qin.
Seeing that Qin Mu Gong was recruiting talents in an eclectic way, Gongzi Jie also recommended a person. This person was called Gongsun Zhi. Speaking of his origin, it is quite dramatic. He was picked up by Gongzi Jie on the way to escort Mu Ji to Qin.
That day, Gongzi Jie's convoy passed by a field and saw a big man plowing the fields. The big man was nine feet tall, with a curly beard on his face, a bare upper body, and a big waist. The big man's hoe was at least twice as big as an average person's. When he hoeed down, it would take
He had two hoes for the average man. The young master was envious, so he ordered to get the big man's hoe to have a look. Two sergeants ran over, and one of them wanted to use the hoe. He wanted to hoe the ground twice, but he couldn't swing it at all.
The big man followed the sergeant to Gongzi Jie, bowed and saluted, and said his name. It was like a loud voice. This man's name was Gongsun Zhi. He was from the Jin State and lived here to work in farming because of his family's decline. Gongzi Jie was immediately moved when he heard his surname.
You know, this man has aristocratic blood.
Prince Jie said, "I will take you to the State of Qin to seek a family background. What do you think?"
Gongsun Zhi said: "General, I would be very grateful for your recommendation. I am willing to accompany you."
Gongzijie lost a slave, but gained a strong man, and he was very happy. He chatted a lot with Gongsun Zhi along the way, and it turned out that Gongsun Zhi's ancestor was indeed a nobleman of the declining Jin Dynasty. In addition to his great strength, he also had martial arts. This made him
Young Master Jie was even more happy.
Duke Mu of Qin asked Gong Zijie to call Gongsun Zhi and inquired about him in person. He was very impressed and appointed him to serve in the army.
The news that Baili Xi and Uncle Jian became the prime minister of Qin spread in the capital of Qin. When a young man from Hengxing Township heard the news, he thought to himself, Baili Xi's name is so familiar.
Could it be his father? So he told his mother the news. His mother said: "It's probably true. But now that he is rich, it's hard to say whether he will recognize us. I have to give him a try."
This mother and son are Baili Xi's wife Du Shi and her son Meng Mingshi.
It turned out that Bailixi had not returned for many years, and Mrs. Du was working alone with her children at home, struggling to make ends meet. When the times were bad, she could no longer survive, so she had to take her son to escape. After several years, the mother and son
When they came to the State of Qin, the Du family barely made a living by doing needlework and helping others. As Meng Mingshi grew up, his mother could not restrain him, and he had a strong personality, so he got together with a group of scoundrels in the market.
Mrs. Du was originally the daughter of a wealthy family. She was fluent in literature and knew how to play piano and chess. Although she lived in poverty, she had a lot of self-esteem. So when she heard that Baili Xi was rich, she didn't want to beg him. Instead, she wanted to
Go give him a try.
In order to get close to Bailixi, Du found a job as a servant in Bailixi's Prime Minister's Mansion, doing some cleaning and washing, and waiting for the opportunity.
One day, Baili Xi hosted a banquet for guests at his house. From a distance, Mrs. Du saw a man in the room chatting and laughing with friends. Although his beard and hair were gray, his voice and demeanor were very familiar. Isn't that Baili Xi? Mr. Du was
She was worried that she could not go forward to speak, and suddenly she saw a woman playing the piano next to her. She had an idea, walked up to the woman, and quietly said to the woman: "Can you let me play a song?"
When the woman saw Du's wrinkled face and gray hair, she smiled and said, "Mom, stop making fun of me."
Du said: "When I play a song, you will know it is not a joke."
The woman was curious and asked Du to sit down. Du gently touched the strings with her hands and sang while playing:
Looking at the seat, Baili Xi,
Enjoy wealth and honor, the whole court is happy,
Have you ever remembered, rice, porridge and vegetables?
Split the door bolt, stew a chicken,
When we say goodbye in tears, we swear an oath,
If you want to be rich and noble, come here to find a wife.
The road is long and the water passes by,
How many times have you remembered your wife and children?
As soon as the piano sounded, Bailixi stopped eating and froze there. He listened carefully. When Du Shi sang the last two lines, he was already in tears. All the guests were surprised and pricked up their ears to listen to Du Shi's playing and singing.
As I listened, I saw Baili Xi slowly getting up, staggering towards the old woman playing the piano. When he came closer, the sound of the piano suddenly stopped. The two looked at each other, and then they rushed towards each other in unison,
Hug my head and cry...
Baili Xi's family was reunited. Duke Mu of Qin was very happy and gave Baili Xi many things so that he could have a good home. Prince Ji recommended Meng Mingshi to Duke Mu of Qin, saying that he was brave and highly skilled in martial arts. Duke Mu of Qin then
Meng Mingshi was asked to serve in the army.
Duke Mu of Qin got two civil servants, Jian Shu and Baili Xi, and four military generals, Gongsun Zhi, Meng Mingshi, Bai Yibing and Xiqishu, and used them freely. In terms of running the country, he would develop production and cultivate people's livelihood.
All matters were left to Uncle Jian and Baili Xi. In terms of military affairs, he appointed all four newly recruited heroes to military positions and asked them to train soldiers and horses to improve the combat effectiveness of the Qin army. After more than a year of painstaking efforts