In Pang Gong's courtyard, Li Hao sat on the banquet in the side hall, eyes wide open as he watched the food being served like flowing water.
Pointing to a dish of cooked whole fish, Li Hao asked: "What kind of dish is this?"
Zhou Jun: "Roasted fish with waist water chestnuts."
Li Hao was stunned: "Waist water chestnut? But that water chestnut in the pond?"
Zhou Jun replied: "Yes, peel the kidney water chestnuts, blanch them in water, remove the scales and remove the internal organs, fry them until crispy, and cook them together with the kidney water chestnuts."
Li Hao picked up a piece of kidney water chestnut with chopsticks, put it in his mouth and chewed it.
The kidney water absorbs the fresh aroma of the fish meat and maintains its original crispness. It leaves an endless aftertaste in the mouth, but it is a delicious taste that has never been tasted before.
Li Hao's appetite was so great that he kept using his chopsticks and tasted fried tripe, diced chicken, mutton and other stir-fried dishes, and was full of praise.
Pang Gong looked aside, as if he were looking at his own son-in-law, and just smiled.
In the blink of an eye, Li Hao ate two large bowls of Qingfeng rice and swallowed a steamed cake. His belly stretched out, but he couldn't eat any more.
Although he couldn't finish the meal, Li Hao was in high spirits and kept drinking wine in his glass.
Zhou Jun accompanied him at the banquet and listened to him tell a lot of interesting things about the palace, as well as the new poems and essays he had written in recent days.
When Pang Gong saw that the sadness on Li Hao's eyebrows had faded a lot, he felt happy and drank a few more glasses with the latter.
A jar of Shaochun was quickly consumed.
After all, Li Hao probably drank half the jar.
His face was red, he was still mumbling words, but his body slowly fell down on the table.
Pang Gong looked at him, first sighed, then clapped his hands, and called the servants in the palace.
After telling them to take good care of King Shou, Pang Gong asked Zhou Jun to push him to the study.
After gargling his mouth with green salt water, Pang Gong motioned for Zhou Jun to sit down, and then he said, "The Yin Bao family went to the palace to find out more about it."
"Shuo Fang's order to dispatch troops has been issued. At this moment, I am afraid it has been delivered to Wang Zhongsi."
"As for the position of military governor, there are rumors in the palace that it is probably the internal affairs of the Xiguan Bureau. He is from the fifth rank, Fan Jinnian."
Zhou Jun nodded when he heard this.
Pang Gong said to Zhou Jun: "When the Yin Bao family was still serving as a regular servant in the Xiguan Bureau, Fan Jinian was his right-hand man, and the two had a good relationship."
"Let me know, it shouldn't be difficult to arrange you to be a supervisor and give you some credit."
Zhou Jun quickly handed over his hands and thanked him.
Pang Gong said again: "There is something I must remind you in advance."
"The border generals raided the bandits and captured many people in each battle, but not one out of ten was sent to Yeting to work as a farmer. You were once a slave Yalang, do you know the reason behind it?"
Zhou Jun said: "Plunder and sell prisoners to make money."
Pang Gong nodded and said, "Yes."
"The way that border generals make money is probably to confiscate and sell prisoners. Everyone doesn't say it, but they all know it."
"Fan Jinian is an all-around versatile character. If he takes over the position of military governor, he will naturally know how to deal with those Qiu Ba."
"When you see me, don't be surprised and don't make any noise."
Zhou Jun agreed.
When Pang Gong said this, he also smiled: "Your ancestor was Nu Yalang, so you know all these things. No matter how long-winded our family is, it will make you look like a mother-in-law."
Pang Gong paused for a moment, then changed the topic and talked about King Shou.
"Qinglang was raised by our family. His mother, Queen Zhenshun... was still Concubine Hui back then. She had a strong temper and acted decisively. She also strictly disciplined her children for fear that they would go astray."
"King Shou has been subject to strict laws since he was a child, and his temperament is naturally a bit weak. He doesn't like to argue with others, nor does he like to make things difficult for others."
"On weekdays, I always talk little and rarely interact with others."
"In that palace, the only person who can have a heart-to-heart relationship with him is probably his uncle, Prince Xian."
Pang Gong sighed: "Back then, on the wedding day of Princess Xianyi, Prince Shou fell in love with the young lady of the Yang family at first sight, and he married Concubine Hui when he came back."
"Concubine Hui first sent our family to the Yang family's house to see the young lady."
"After we returned to the palace, our family learned from Concubine Hui that the Yang family's daughter is very beautiful, but she has a lively temper and likes to play. I'm afraid she won't be able to discipline her once she's married."
"After hearing this, Concubine Hui wanted to reject the marriage, but she couldn't bear Prince Shou's repeated pleas and finally agreed."
After hearing what Pang Gong said, Zhou Jun was also a little curious about Yang Yuhuan.
She has a peerless appearance that can charm the two fathers and sons of the emperor's family. She also has a lively temperament and loves to play. What kind of woman is she?
Pang Gong continued: "We can't keep those who have to go. It would be better to end them earlier."
"It's just that King Shou is single-minded in his love. Ever since the daughter of the Yang family changed her heart, it's like she has lost her soul."
"My family has tried to persuade and scold her, but it's no use."
"Who knew that today, when I met Erlang for the first time, it only took an hour for me to realize the story of the beloved girl there."
"Tell me, Erlang, how did you tell King Shou?"
Zhou Jun cupped his hands and said, "A certain person has heard several Buddhist verses. Seeing that King Shou was depressed, he told him that he had listened to them."
Pang Gong: "Story? Tell it and listen."
Zhou Jun repeated the story on the boat.
After listening to this, Mr. Pang didn't say anything for a long time, and finally said with a sigh: "Heart disease requires heart medicine. Erlang's story only contains a few words, but it is the right medicine."
After sighing for a while, Pang Gong remembered something and said to Zhou Jun: "The slave you newly acquired is named Kong You. Our family is looking for him."
Pang Gong first told Kong You's family background and experiences. Zhou Jun listened and found that it was almost the same as what he knew, so he just nodded.
Pang Gong added: "In the early years, when Kong You was on duty at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he gave several advices to the doctor and predicted the battles in Mozhou, Heishui and Shibao in advance."
"It's a pity that the doctor on duty despised Kong You as an official slave and didn't even take a look at it, so he suppressed the case without making any progress."
Zhou Jun couldn't help but be surprised when he heard this.
Pang Gong added: "Later on, Kong You no longer wrote policy papers, but just pretended to be stupid."
Zhou Jun couldn't help but ask: "Why doesn't he write again? Since he can predict the war, it means that this person has great talents. There are always officials in the Ministry of War who can recognize heroes with a keen eye and share his future."
Pang Gong pondered for a moment: "We speculate that Kong You no longer writes policy papers and is willing to remain silent. Maybe it has something to do with his family?"
Zhou Jun: "Family?"
Pang Gong: "When Kong You first joined the Fang Division, his father, brother, mother and sister were still alive."
"Later, her father and brother who were exiled died in a foreign country due to wars on the border; her two sisters, unable to bear the humiliation of the feudal generals, committed suicide by drowning themselves in a river; her mother was hit and died of a sudden illness."
After hearing what happened to Kong You's family, Zhou Jun was stunned and did not recover for a long time.
Pang Gong: "When Kong You's family encountered such a catastrophe, I'm afraid that any ambitions for progress that were still there have completely died."
Pang Gong paused and then said to Zhou Jun: "Kong You is talented, there is no doubt about it, but he has a careful mind and endures hardships. You should be cautious when using this person."
Zhou Jun cupped his hands and nodded in agreement.
Pang Gong: "In the past few days, Erlang has been accompanying King Shou to enjoy the mountains and rivers, and his works are to express his feelings."
"When things are settled, the palace supervisor should also have news. By then, pack your bags and go to Shuofang."
Zhou Jun responded again.
In the next few days, just as Pang Gong ordered, Zhou Jun accompanied King Shou, traveling around the mountains and rivers during the day, and returning to the garden to listen to the opera at sunset.
With his good cooking skills and the occasional good words, Li Mao introduced Zhou Jun as a confidant, and even hinted to Pang Gong in a subtle way that he wanted to recruit him as an aide to the palace.
However, Pang Gong had other plans and did not let go.
As for Kong You, Zhou Jun chose a day when the market was open and signed a slave contract with him, officially accepting him as a domestic slave.
On the day the slave contract was signed, Kong You looked at the piece of paper with excitement beyond words. Zhou Jun felt deeply surprised when he saw it.
Soon, more than ten days passed.
A temporary transfer order came and everyone was involved in a lawsuit.
It says: There is a book in the history of the order, a man named Zhou Jun, who is proficient in planning and comes from a slave family, so he appoints people well and supervises the duties of Fu.
