Chen Caozhi and his sixth uncle Chen Man went to the county to handle Chen Liu's funeral affairs. Gu Kaizhi, Xu Miao, Liu Shangzhi, and Ding Chunqiu also went with them. Wang De ordered Wu County Lieutenant to send ten infantry archers to protect Chen Liu.
Cao Zhi and others were once again attacked by the Lu clan. Master Lu was dead and Lu Jun was detained. The originally arrogant and domineering Qiantang Lu clan had no backbone. Chu Wenqian was also in disarray and was unable to support the Lu clan. Chen Liu's wife Pan was a little
Upon interrogation, he confessed to his adultery with Master Lu, and admitted that Chen Liu's three-year-old son was the blood of the Lu family——
Chen Man was so angry that he cursed Pan as a whore. Previously, he had been thinking of taking Chen Liu's son back, but now he was extremely disgusted when he saw the white, fat and cute three-year-old boy. According to the Jin's household law, Pan
When he died, the three-year-old boy Lu refused to take him in and was sentenced to be raised by Pan's mother's family. The Lu family allocated 30 acres of land to the Pan family to raise their son.
Chen Man still had feelings for his son Chen Liu. He caressed the corpse and cried bitterly, but found a bloody suicide note in Chen Liu's arms. Chen Liu believed in the instigation and instigation of the Lu family and the Chu family, and plotted against his clan brother's property and framed the clan.
My younger brother Dingpin felt extremely regretful for his misdeeds. He was ashamed of his ancestors and his parents. He only asked his sixteenth younger brother and the clan leader to allow him to be buried in the Chen family cemetery so as not to become a lonely ghost——
Chen Man read the letter and burst into tears. He showed it to Chen Caozhi. Chen Caozhi felt pity in his heart and said: "Uncle Six, I will not object to Chen Liu being buried in the Chen family cemetery. Let's stop the coffin in Lingyin Temple first and wait for it later."
When Fourth Uncle comes back, it will be up to Fourth Uncle to decide."
Ding Yi joined forces with the Quan, Zhu, Gu, Fan, Du, and Dai families to supervise Wang Deyi's trial of the case in the name of Lu's impersonation of scholar status, which seriously endangered the reputation and interests of the Qian and Tang gentry.
Chu Wenqian couldn't do anything alone, so he quickly sent someone to report to his uncle Chu Jian in Wu County. By the time Chu Jian arrived from Wu County, it was already half a month later.
The crime of tax evasion has been clearly investigated, and Chu Jian cannot overturn the case with one hand, because it involves the interests of most of the gentry in the Qian and Tang Dynasties. Chu Jian can only clear up the relationship between the Chu family and the Lu family, and the Lu family's fall is inevitable
, the slaves and servants were dispersed, and all the sixty hectares of fertile land that had been occupied were turned over and used as official land. The Lu family was also a large family in the Qiantang Dynasty, with a prosperous population. Originally, there were twenty hectares of land for Ding, but now it has been reduced by half. The Lu family is sixteen
Men over the age of 10 must serve three months of labor every year, and no one else is allowed to serve on their behalf. Most of the family's assets were confiscated to the government as unpaid taxes and taxes, amounting to as much as two million. County Magistrate Wang was about to step down.
On this occasion, such a big case was solved, and it was a moment of pride. Chu Jian was so angry that it was useless. Wang Deyi was no longer under the jurisdiction of Wu County in Yangzhou. He is now the magistrate of Wan County, Nanyang County, Jingzhou.
Although Chu Wenqian took over as the county magistrate of Qiantang, he lost the assistance of the Lu family, which can be said to have broken his arm. The other seven noble families in Qiantang looked down on the Chu family, and privately said that Chu Jian, Chu Wenqian's uncle and nephew had no official positions.
I can't sit still, let's wait and see.
Chen Caozhi did not intervene in the Lu case. He came to the county to deal with Chen Liu's funeral affairs. He returned to Chenjiawu that night and continued to serve his mother. He asked Gu Kaizhi for advice on figure painting techniques and talked with Xu Miao about mysteries and Confucianism.
—
The beginning of September was the agreed time for Zongzhi and Runer to go to Ding's villa to visit their mother, Ding Youwei. When Chen Caozhi came back from the county, he asked Lai De and Ran Sheng to see off their nephew and niece. They were accompanied by Qingzhi, Chen
Cao Zhi didn't go this time, he wanted to stay with his elderly mother.
It was the sixth day of September when Lai Zhen sent the letter to Dongshan in Kuaiji. If there was no delay, four days would be enough. However, Lai Zhen did not come back until September 15. Lai Zhen's wife Huang was panicked. Chen Caozhi said goodbye. Wait two days, and if he still doesn't come back, send someone to look for him.
At noon on September 17th, Laifu and Jingnu were already preparing to go to Kuaiji to search. Laizhen came back. Seeing that his son was fine, Laifu couldn't help complaining: "Laizhen, you are also a father, and you still don't know how to do it." To do something, I sent you to Shangyu to deliver a letter, but it took you half a month."
Lai Zhen said: "Dad, my son not only went to Shangyu, but also went to Shan County."
Laifu glared and said, "I asked you to go to Shangyu, but why did you go to Shan County?"
At this time, Chen Cao came downstairs, and Lai Zhen hurriedly said: "Xiao Langjun, Mr. Zhu's husband will be here soon, and Mr. Dai Andao of Shanxi. I went to Yan County with Zhu's servant and was a little late." God will come back."
Chen Caozhi asked: "Which Mr. Zhu is here?"
Lai Zhen said: "It's the Mr. Zhu who accompanied Master Zhi Mindu here last time."
Chen Caozhi nodded and thought to himself: "Xie Daoyun really can't get out. She must be engaged to Wang Ningzhi. The days of freedom are gone forever. That meeting with Cao Eting was the last time I saw her."
Chen Caozhi asked Lai Zhen to lead the way, and he, Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao went to greet him.
Dai Kui, Dai An, is about forty years old. He wears an apricot yellow robe, no turban or hat, and his hair is tied with bamboo hairpins. He has a long and narrow face with a high nose bridge. His face is very sculptural and three-dimensional. Apart from the servant who drives the car, there is only one person holding the piano. The boy, who was simple and free from the world, saw Chen Caozhi, cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I have heard that Chen Zizhong of Qian Tang Dynasty was a master of calligraphy with his left and right hands. He was also good at music. I have been thinking about him for a long time. Today Dai came uninvited."
Chen Caozhi bowed deeply and said: "I wanted to go to Shan County to visit Mr. Dai, but my mother is old and does not dare to travel far -"
Gu Kaizhi on the side forgot to greet Dai Kui, looked at Xie Xuan with wide eyes, and asked Xu Miao: "Is he Zhu Yingting?"
Xie Xuan recognized Gu Kaizhi, whom he had met in Jiankang last year. He laughed loudly and cupped his hands and said: "I have been pretending to be a descendant of the Zhu family for a long time. Today I was exposed by Brother Changkang. Brother Zizhong and Brother Xianmin should not be blamed. I am from Chen County." Thank you, Xuan, and thank you, Youdu."
Xu Miao was greatly surprised. It turned out that Zhu Yingting was Xie An's nephew Xie Xuan. Is this my brother Zhu Yingtai?
Before Xu Miao could ask, Xie Xuan had already said: "Zhu Yingtai's surname is indeed Zhu, and he is my cousin. He can't come this time." When saying this, Xie Xuan glanced at Chen Cao, and Chen Cao Zhi Wenya smiled and nodded, saying that he would help conceal Xie Daoyun's identity.
Gu Kaizhi had already met Dai Kui at this time. When he learned that Dai Kui had brought two paintings, he couldn't wait to enter Chenjiawu and opened them outside the fort to admire them.
Dai Kui brought two paintings, one is an eight-foot-long scroll "Picture of Seven Sages in the Bamboo Forest" and the other is "Picture of Nandu Fu"——
"Seven Sages in the Bamboo Grove" depicts Ji Kang, Ruan Ji, Shan Tao, Wang Rong, Xiang Xiu, Liu Ling, Ruan Xian, and an ancient scholar Rong Qiqi. These eight scholars are all sitting on the ground, with different costumes and postures. , the expressions are very different, and each one is in his best way. In the painting, Wang Rong is leaning on a wooden table with one hand and playing with jade Ruyi with the other hand. He looks up and bends his knees as if there is no one around. The whole painting is full of emotion, humor and skill -
"Nandu Fu Tu" was painted by Dai Kui based on "Nandu Fu" by Zhang Heng of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Nandu refers to Wancheng, Nanyang County, one of the five capitals of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It has beautiful mountains and rivers and magnificent buildings. Of course Dai Kui has never seen it during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The majestic Wancheng was just based on the scene described in Zhang Heng's Fu, and he used his own imagination to reproduce the majestic Nandu in the writing: "The old house in the garden house is decorated with Cui Wei; the imperial room is gorgeous, and even the pavilion is decorated with its emblem."
Gu Kaizhi remained silent and admired it for half an hour outside the fort. Although Dai Kui had traveled a long way to come here, he did not look tired. He stood quietly waiting with Xie Xuan, Chen Caozhi and Xu Miao.
Gu Kaizhi finally sighed: "I have learned a lot from looking at Mr. Dai's two paintings. Mr. Dai's paintings are better than those of our teacher Wei Xie, and Zhang Ink and Zhang Andao are not as good as Mr. Dai."
Dai Kui said lightly: "How dare you." Although he was not arrogant, he had an air of arrogance that did not disdain politeness. He added: "People say that Gu Kaizhi of Jinling was a painting idiot. Today I saw that his reputation was well-deserved. Dai's two
My legs are sore from standing.”
Everyone laughed and entered Wubao together and sat down in the living room on the ground floor.
After lunch, Gu Kaizhi invited Dai Kui to point out his "Spring Rain in Qinhuai" and "Weeping in the New Pavilion". Chen Caozhi saw that Xie Xuan's visit this time was quite different from last time. He often looked worried, so he asked why?
Xie Xuan didn't answer, but said: "Brother Zizhong, how about you come with me for a walk outside the castle?"
Chen Caozhi knew that Xie Xuan wanted to speak to him alone, so he went downstairs with him and exited the gate of Wubao.
The weather in late autumn and early winter is already quite chilly. The setting sun in the afternoon is shining warmly, the willow trees are sparse, the autumn waves of Mingsheng Lake in the distance are vast, and the Jiuyao Mountain behind Wubao is green and yellow, which is different from the green mountains in spring and summer.
It has the beauty of autumn mountains.
While looking at the scenery, Xie Xuan walked slowly westward. The first thing he said was: "Zizhong, my fourth uncle was defeated in Huainan. The news came half a month ago. My fourth uncle has returned to Jiankang to await the court's disposal."
Chen Caozhi sighed and was speechless.
Xie Xuandao: "Four months ago, you told my sister that my fourth uncle might not be able to win the Northern Expedition. At that time, I didn't think so. Only my third uncle was very worried and went to Huainan to advise my fourth uncle. Unexpectedly, it was still the case.
It was defeated. I wonder how Zizhong expected it at the time?"
Chen Cao said: "It's not that I expected it, I'm just worried. The Murong family of Yan State is good at using soldiers. His uncle Xie Yuzhou is talented. He is a weapon of the temple. I'm afraid he is a little unfamiliar with the way of general——"
Xie Xuandao: "What Zizhong said really surprised me. Wang Youjun also said this about my fourth uncle. On the way to the northern expedition, my fourth uncle still recited poems and screamed proudly, as if he was touring the mountains and rivers. He also called his soldiers "strong soldiers".
The army lost morale so much that it led to a great defeat."
Chen Caozhi asked: "Is An Shigong ready to leave the mountain?"
Xie Xuan glanced at Chen Cao, smiled, and said, "Zizhong knows my Xie family of Chen County very well."
Chen Cao said: "If An Shigong doesn't come out, what will happen to the people in the world! Now it's time for An Shigong to show his ambition."
Xie Xuandao said: "My third uncle is already in Jiankang, running around for the defeat of my fourth uncle. I am actually going to Jiankang when I come here this time. My sister and four other brothers are also going to collect money in a few days.
Tang Tong went to Jiankang and lived in Wuyi Lane in Jiankang from now on. He will not return to Kuaiji for the time being, so I came to say goodbye to Zizhong."
