Cao Bin rented a private house in the city. When he came to the door, he was having lunch at home. Hearing the news, he sighed and said to his wife: "You can eat, you don't have to wait for me."
After saying that, he straightened his ceremonial appearance and strode to the main hall. From a distance, he saw a scarlet-robed young man in the corridor. He was tall and straight, with a high bun and no crown, standing with a sword in his hand. He thought it was the man who had been in great trouble for the past two days. The eldest grandson of the immortal emperor, Guo Zongyi, is gone.
"I have met Your Highness, Your Highness Jin An." Cao Bin bowed respectfully.
Guo Zongyi quickly helped him up and said eagerly: "My cousin, there is no need to be polite."
The corner of Cao Bin's mouth twitched. He was right to call him his cousin. His aunt Zhang was Guo Wei's third wife. She was killed during the Qianyou Rebellion and was posthumously named a noble concubine after ascending to the throne. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to get along. This is the worship official.
But he did not dare to call him his nephew. He only said: "The courtesy cannot be discarded. Your Highness is here to visit my humble residence. I am deeply honored, so I invite you to speak in the room."
The two of them entered the room, and Cao Bin invited Guo Zongyi to sit at the head of the table. He accompanied him at the side and served tea to him in person. His demeanor was extremely respectful, which was consistent with historical records.
"Cousin, what is your age this year?" Guo Zongyi asked.
"Twenty-one." Cao Bin answered honestly.
"What is my cousin's current position?"
"With the grace of His Majesty, I have been appointed as the enshrining officer of Chanzhou." Cao Bin raised his hands in the sky and said respectfully.
"My cousin, as a worship official, what exactly does he do?"
Cao Bin's expression froze and he said sarcastically: "I don't do anything, I'm just a benevolent idle official."
"How much is the monthly salary?"
"The monthly salary is fifteen guan."
Guo Zongyi's expression suddenly changed, he suddenly stood up and shouted loudly: "Eating the emperor's salary is not loyal to the emperor. This is an act of great rebellion!"
Cao Bin was frightened. The hat was too big. His face instantly turned pale and he couldn't sit still. He hesitated and said: "Isn't this the case for all ministers..."
Guo Zongyi snorted coldly and said: "No one says this is the case! Although the official rank is mostly for the promotion of the noble son, there are no less than dozens of people holding this official position in the court, and they all have their own duties, and you come to Chanzhou It’s been a year, have I, Aye, sent you any practical tasks?”
"That...that's not the case." Cao Bin replied calmly, sitting on pins and needles.
"Then why don't you take the initiative to ask me, Aye, to do some errands, so as to share your Majesty's worries? Therefore, Concubine Zhang is your aunt, and you are a relative, so you should do your best to share the king's affairs and assist me, Aye Govern the important town of Chanzhou well. Did His Majesty recall you from Chengde Town specifically to make you lazy? Is it possible that my cousin's way of serving as a minister is to rely on kindness to favor him and stay in a vegetarian position? "
The righteous and awe-inspiring words were uttered in a sharp voice, which made Cao Bin ashamed and ashamed. He hurriedly bowed down and said hurriedly: "Please teach me, Your Highness!"
After successfully frightening this honest man, Guo Zongyi laughed in his heart. Moral kidnapping is very useful in any era.
He stood up and helped Cao Bin to his seat. After all, he was the future founding general. Although he was still young and inexperienced, in history, he was also the second-ranked figure among the twenty-four heroes of Zhaoxung Pavilion. At this moment, he was bluffed by Guo Zongyi. He was as panicked as a young deer, and he felt very sorry for a while, so he comforted him with gentle words: "Cousin, don't panic. Yi is here today not to ask for guilt, but to find you a job. I wonder if you are willing."
Only then did Cao Bin come back to his senses. His expression changed rapidly. After a while, he sighed quietly and said, "Your Highness, if you don't get straight to the point, Bin is not a person who doesn't appreciate praise."
Guo Zongyi smiled sheepishly and said: "Then let me tell you the truth. After the Lantern Festival, I will go to Tokyo. I have heard for a long time that my cousin is humble and respectful, and has a reputation as a virtuous man. Even the current Henan Yinwu is virtuous and treats you well."
I admire you so much that I specifically asked my father to ask you to come. I want to rely on you as my arm to assist me in important matters."
Cao Bin was speechless, thinking that you, an idle grandson, could accomplish something big by dancing like a child, and he was just trying to find a few people to kill him.
After weighing it up, he simply agreed: "Okay, I am not a pedantic person. Your Highness thinks highly of me. As long as Your Majesty does not blame me, I will leave this small life to Your Highness."
After saying that, he stood up, straightened his crown and clothes, and bowed three times in succession, thus confirming the title of master and slave.
Guo Zongyi clapped his hands and laughed, took Cao Bin's hand, and said with emotion: "A lonely person has a minister, just like a fish has water."
Cao Bin couldn't bear it any longer and said sternly: "I am just a warrior, and Your Highness is just an immature child, so don't follow the ancient methods of choosing wise ministers. Besides, you haven't been crowned king yet, so you can't claim to be king."
To be alone."
Guo Zongyi was stunned. He got into the state so quickly? He is indeed a famous general who is humble and disciplined in his retirement.
Letting go of Cao Bin's hand, he said: "I will send a letter to your majesty to explain. Cousin, just relax. By the way, has cousin had lunch?"
Cao Bin shook his head. The two mouthfuls of food he was able to eat were almost digested by his shock.
"Very good. I'll be the host today and invite my cousin to have a drink." After saying that, Guo Zongyi took a big step and walked out. Cao Bin opened his mouth and wanted to invite him to eat at home, but he saw that others had already arrived at the door.
Besides, I had no choice but to swallow my words and follow him.
Wu Shen had already booked a private room in the best wine shop in Chanzhou City and was waiting for the Lord's arrival under the eaves.
It was lunch time, and there was an endless stream of pedestrians coming and going on the bluestone-paved Yujing Street.
Chanzhou City has not suffered from war in recent years, and thanks to Guo Rong's vigorous governance in the past year, the government is strict and thieves do not invade the territory. It is gradually prospering, with hooks and tiles and houses.
There are many soldiers and officials in the city, and most of the people who lick blood from their swords spend money like water. They are the big patrons of the gold-selling cave. After all, the richest people in this era, and the ones who least take money as money, are these military lords.
.
Because since the end of the Tang Dynasty, whenever there is a war, you must first reward someone, otherwise you will not be able to send troops.
Capturing a city and plundering it with troops has long been a custom and has become a common practice.
Even a kind-hearted man like Guo Wei promised his soldiers three days of looting when they entered Tokyo.
With the main force of consumption, peace and prosperity, coupled with the status of Prince Guo Rong, preferential policies, tax and rent reductions, the city of Chanzhou is becoming more and more prosperous.
Guo Zongyi and Cao Bin rode horses and arrived in front of the wine shop one after the other. Wu Shen happily stepped forward and held the horse for Guo Zongyi.
"Can you eat it?" Guo Zongyi asked.
Wu Shen was stunned and said smoothly: "I haven't yet."
Guo Zongyi took a look around the store and saw that there were still empty tables, so he said, "Eat some for yourself."
After saying that, he led Cao Bin upstairs.
Wu Shen stood there for a long time, feeling very grateful. He had never seen a master who cared about eunuchs.
"I didn't expect His Highness to be so kind to my maid, and to be like a great sage." Cao Bin lowered his voice and whispered.
Guo Zongyi didn't even look back and said calmly: "What kind of virtuous behavior is this? Treating people as just people."
Cao Bin was slightly startled, looking at the aristocratic young man in front of him in disbelief. He treated people as human beings, which was really rare in this world.
The two sat down opposite each other. Wu Shen may have said hello earlier. At this moment, the shopkeeper personally led the waiter to take out the dishes. The dishes were divided into eight plates. The big plate was lamb cooked with milk, rabbit with green onion, duck, five-flavor chicken, and the small plate was
Spin-cut lettuce, crispy ribs, fresh crucian carp grilled with dogwood, and a big bowl of three-crispy soup.
Another pot of spring was served, but it was placed in front of Cao Bin.
"You don't want to drink?" he asked doubtfully.
Guo Zongyi blinked, shook his head and said, "I'm still young and can't drink."
Then he turned to the shopkeeper and asked: "Do you have any wine?"
"Yes, I'll get it right now." After saying this, he bowed deeply and took the waiter down.
Guo Zongyi wiped his hands, cut a small piece of cooking sheep with a knife, handed it to Cao Bin, and said: "Please, cousin."
Cao Bin quickly stood up and took it with both hands. Both of them were very hungry and ate it immediately.
When the wine was delivered, Guo Zongyi raised his glass and said, "Please."
The sweet and sour juice entered the mouth, but it was refreshing. Cao Bin saw that he was done with it, glanced at the amber Shaochun in his arms, and raised his neck to drink it all.
The warmed wine trickled down from his throat to his stomach, arousing a ball of hot air, which along with the alcohol smell, went up to Tianmen. Cao Bin felt that his limbs were suddenly warm and his acupuncture points were clear. He couldn't help but praise: "Good."
liquor!"
Guo Zongyi held a bowl of three crispy soup, sipped it, and said with a smile: "Of course it's good wine. This is the Jiannan Shaochun that Meng Chang gave to His Majesty. Aye's house couldn't give him three altars, so I took it specially.
Come out in one jar."
When Cao Bin heard this, he put down his chopsticks and said, "Your Highness's favor is so great that Bin is frightened."
Guo Zongyi glared at him and picked up the wine glass: "Don't be afraid, come and have a drink!"
The two exchanged cups. Not long after, Cao Bin had drank three pots. He was a little tipsy at the moment and started chatting. He asked: "Now that today's fate has been decided, Your Highness will not stay in Chanzhou to wait for the changes. Why?
Going to Tokyo?”
When Guo Zongyi heard this, he sighed quietly, picked up the wine and drank it all in one gulp. Seeing this, Cao Bin was amused and asked tentatively: "Why do you sigh, Your Highness?"
Guo Zongyi looked out the window and said in a pensive voice: "My cousin doesn't know something. I, the generals of the Guo family, have jointly promoted the sacred weapon. However, the powerful officials in the court have caused trouble and bullied the three of us, our ancestors and grandsons, so that Ayelian
I don’t even have the chance to go to Hajj to see my father.”
Cao Bin was furious when he heard this, and his tone rose a bit: "Who is this traitor? He is so arrogant!"
"That's the envoy Wang Jun." Guo Zongyi said softly.
Cao Bin calmed down instantly. He lowered his head and stared at the wine glass. After a long while, he slowly said: "Your Majesty, Wang Jun was the first to establish the country. He is two years older than your Majesty, so I always treat him as a brother. If you punish this thief, your Majesty will speak in person."
Only then."
Guo Zongyi was surprised. He didn't expect that Cao Bin, who was far away in Chanzhou, could hit the point with one sentence.
Glancing at him without any trace, Guo Zongyi agreed: "What my cousin said is absolutely true. This beast is at the height of the sun. Even Aye avoids its sharp edges and endures it again and again. If you want to get rid of him, your majesty will have to do it."
Cao Bin leaned forward and asked carefully: "Does His Highness have some concerns in his mind?"
Guo Zongyi smiled and said nothing, picked up a piece of rabbit meat and started chewing it. At this time, there was a noise at the door, which attracted their attention.
