On New Year's Eve, Zhou Jun returned to his home in Chang'an and had a New Year's Eve dinner with his parents and Zhou Ze and his wife.
On the first day of the Yuan Dynasty, Zhou Jun saw an acquaintance in a wine shop on his way home after attending a court meeting.
I saw Liu Zai sitting in the restaurant, drinking wine.
Zhou Jun tied up his horse on the street, walked into the wine shop, sat down at Liu Zai's table, and greeted the latter.
When the store owner saw Zhou Jun's official robe, he ran out from behind the counter and asked with an apologetic smile.
Zhou Jun asked the store owner for a private room inside, and then he and Liu Zai got up and went to the back room.
As soon as he sat down, Liu Zai, who was very drunk, said to Zhou Jun: "I am very discouraged. I don't want this official position."
Zhou Jun waved his hand to the shopkeeper, who understood the situation and left.
Zhou Jun said to Liu Zai: "What happened to Yi Kuang?"
Liu Zai: "The memorial in Hebei Province was presented to the Shangguan of Yushitai, and it also stated Qing's interests."
Zhou Jun: "Let me guess, the other party suppressed the memorial and kept it silent?"
Liu Zai took a big gulp of wine and said bitterly: "Shangguan burned the memorial in front of me and warned me not to cause trouble."
Zhou Jun was startled and asked: "Burned?"
Liu Zai: "Later I learned that An Lushan in Hebei Province had been granted the title of Yushi Dafu, and the relocation order had been drafted and had already arrived in Shangshu Province."
Zhou Jun: "An Lushan wants to be a censor? The chief minister of the censor?"
Liu Zai: "That's right. In this way, the person I sue becomes my immediate superior."
Zhou Jun: "I see. No wonder your superior burned the memorial on the spot when he saw it."
Liu Zai: "A person who conspires to rebel wants to enter the court and become a censor. This is really the most ridiculous thing in the world... That's why I said that if I don't do this censor's job, I might as well go back to the mountains and fields."
, be an independent person."
Zhou Jun pondered for a moment, and then asked Liu Zai: "If I remember correctly, there is already a chief minister in Yushitai, and he is Wang Fei."
Liu Zai: "Anlushan is on an equal footing with that king's eagle."
Zhou Jun: "One piece and two pieces? The treatment given to An Lushan by the imperial court is really generous."
Liu Zai smiled bitterly and said: "Two years ago, I planned to resign from the official position and go back to the mountains for leisure. It was Zhou Lang's hard persuasion that made Zai change his mind and stay. But now, treacherous ministers are in power and have entered the court in disorder.
All officials only care about their own safety, but ignore the Tang Dynasty. I really can't continue to be an official!"
Zhou Jun drank wine, lowered his head and thought for a while, then said to Liu Zai: "If Yi Kuang is willing, why not follow me to Shazhou?"
Liu Zai: "Shazhou?"
Zhou Jun: "I am going to rebuild the Dunhuang Ancient Road this year, and I am lacking a political talent. If you are willing, come with me."
Liu Zai took a deep breath, drank the wine in the cup, and said to Zhou Jun: "Okay, since Zhou Lang said this, it is useless to stay in Chang'an, so I will follow you to Shazhou!"
Zhou Jun: "I will find a way to deal with your relocation order, and we will set off after spring begins."
Liu Zai nodded vigorously.
At the same time, in Xingqing Palace.
Princess Yin Yu of Wanchun is talking to Yang Yuhuan, and the topic is the opera from two years ago - The Legend of White Snake.
Yin Yu: "Bai Suzhen obviously has great magical power and profound spiritual practice. If she just repays her kindness and gives Xu Xian thousands of wealth, why should she pledge her body to him again?"
Yang Yuhuan, who was playing the pipa, laughed softly and said: "You don't understand, the reason why Bai Suzhen is willing to commit herself to Xu Xian is not just to repay the favor, but more because the two of them have something in common." Yin Yu: "What do they have in common?"
Where?"
Yang Yuhuan: "Xu Xian is an apprentice in a medicine shop. He is honest and honest, and he accumulates virtues and does good deeds. Bai Suzhen knows how to repay his kindness and has kind thoughts in her heart, so she naturally came together with him."
Yin Yu: "But at the end of the play, Bai Suzhen said she regretted it, and also said Xu Xian was hypocritical. What's going on?"
Yang Yuhuan paused for a moment, then thought for a while and then said: "The Green Snake has long said that Xu Xian seems to be loyal, but in fact he is cowardly and unreliable, so Bai Suzhen regrets not listening to the Green Snake's advice."
Yin Yu: "Then where is Xu Xian's hypocrisy?"
Yang Yuhuan: "Xu Xian was obviously sincere in his treatment of others. When he learned that his wife might be a monster, he was frightened. He would rather believe in a monk than a married woman. In vain, Bai Suzhen was infatuated with him. Xu Xian's first
The first reaction was to test her. Therefore, the kindness in Xu Xian's heart is only towards people, not monsters. It is a narrow kindness, so Bai Suzhen said that Xu Xian is hypocritical."
Seeing that Yin Yu seemed to understand but not understand, Yang Yuhuan put down the pipa and explained: "It's like you living with another person. You originally had common interests and similar thoughts. But as time went by, you discovered the other person's thoughts and...
It's not simple, and I'm not sincere and frank with you. I didn't understand the other person from the beginning to the end. Those loving feelings when we first met, looking back, there are mistakes everywhere..."
The look on Yang Yuhuan's face became more and more solemn, and his voice became lower and lower.
When Yin Yu saw this, she couldn't help but ask: "Ms. Yuhuan, what's wrong?"
Yang Yuhuan shook his head and whispered: "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."
Yin Yu: "Then take a good rest, madam. I'll take my leave first."
Watching Princess Wanchun go away, Yang Yuhuan leaned on the folding chair and thought about all the past events again. He was in a daze and made no move.
At this moment, the chamberlain outside the door sang a message and his Majesty returned to the palace.
Yang Yuhuan quickly cheered up and went out with a forced smile.
Li Longji walked quickly from outside the door. As he walked, he smiled at Yang Yuhuan and said, "That clan brother of yours is quite a wonderful person."
Yang Yuhuan was puzzled: "Which clan brother?"
Li Longji: "It's that Yang Zhao."
Yang Yuhuan: "How is he?"
Li Longji: "At the meeting, I asked the Ministry of Household Affairs about the registered official property this year. Yang Zhao not only answered fluently, but also explained the shortcomings and improvements. It is really rare for the Yang family to have such a talent."
Yang Yuhuan knew that what Li Longji valued most was the taxes and tributes of the Tang Dynasty. Most of the chief ministers he promoted in the court were related to making money.
Speaking of promotion, Yang Yuhuan remembered something again and said to Li Longji: "On the day of the theater, my concubine mentioned Zhou Jun's marriage. Does Sanlang remember it?"
Li Longji glanced at Yang Yuhuan: "I know what you want to say."
Yang Yuhuan: "Princess Wanchun has also reached the age of marriage. She also has a deep affection for Zhou Jun. Could it be that Sanlang is concerned about Zhou Jun's background?"
Li Longji: "Zhou Jun was born as a slave man, and he got an official status through Liuwaiquan. In terms of status, his status is indeed low."
Yang Yuhuan: "Sanlang loves Princess Wanchun the most. Since she likes her, she can't be as beautiful as an adult."
Li Longji was silent.
Yang Yuhuan: "Does Sanlang have other thoughts about Princess Wanchun's marriage?"
Li Longji: "Zhou Jun is the governor of Liangzhou and the supervisor of Hexi Mutual City. The taxes and tributes he paid last year are more than the sum of the previous one. This year he is going to Shazhou to reopen the Dunhuang Ancient Road. The memorial said,
If it comes to pass, the tax revenue of the Tang Dynasty can be increased by two million yuan per year."
Yang Yuhuan: "What does Sanlang mean?"
Li Longji: "Let him go to Shazhou this year and let him do things freely. If it succeeds, I will recruit him as my consort and let him stay in Chang'an and take up a sinecure. As for Dunhuang, I will find someone to replace him."
He manages the trade routes."
Yang Yuhuan: "What if things don't work out?"
Li Longji: "There is no need to mention the matter of the consort."