Chen Caozhi was in the ninth rank of the Western Expedition. The military government assigned a minor official to handle daily chores for Chen Caozhi. The official's name was Zuo Lang. He came from a poor family. He was over thirty years old and was still the lowest-ranking official.
Humility has penetrated into the bones, and he is respectful to Chen Caozhi. Although he is not quick in handling things, he is fortunate to speak little and is honest.
On April 30th, it was a holiday in Xifu. It had been six days since Chen Caozhi came to Guzhu. He had settled down, so he wrote a letter to his third brother Chen Shang, his friend Gu Kaizhi, and Lu Weirui respectively, and sent Lai Zhen to deliver them.
In Jiankang, Xie Xuan also sent a messenger to accompany Lai Zhen back to Beijing to deliver a message to his fourth uncle Xie Wan and his sister Xie Daoyun.
As soon as Lai Zhen left the house, Zuo Lang came in and said, "Zhou Lin from Runan is here to visit."
Chen Caozhi had a relationship with Zhou Jiong of Runan. Zhou Jiong was also one of Xie Daoyun's suitors, but Zhou Lin had never heard of him. When he asked Zuo Lang, Zuo Lang also said he didn't recognize him, only that he was a ten-year-old.
Two or three year old boy.
Chen Caozhi then ordered Zuo Lang to invite Zhou Lin in. Zhou Lin was dressed as a boy, about the same age as Zongzhi, with a face like a hibiscus and a decent manner. When she saw Chen Caozhi, she respectfully saluted and said, "My sister ordered me to come and thank you."
"Brother Chen..." Seeing the doubtful look on Chen Caozhi's face, he explained: "My brother-in-law is Xi Jinping, and I came here from Yuzhou the day before yesterday to visit my sister."
Chen Caozhi suddenly realized that when he left Beijing, Xi Chao asked him to bring some items to his wife Zhou. The day after Chen Caozhi arrived at Gushu, he asked Xiaochan and Huang Xiaotong to deliver the items to Xi's wife Zhou, but Xi Chao was not there.
, Chen Caozhi was inconvenient to visit, so he only wrote a letter to express his greetings. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Xi would ask his young brother to come to express his gratitude. Chen Caozhi once heard Xi Chao say that his father-in-law Zhou Min had no children, so his younger brother
Zhou Yi's son Zhou Lin was the heir.
In the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, aristocratic women had good names, especially the names of queens. Cao Pi’s queen was named Queen Guo, Emperor Hui of Jin Dynasty, Queen Jia Nanfeng, the empress dowager Chu Suanzi, and the daughter of Wang Xianzhi and Sima Daofu later also became a
The queen’s name is Wang Shen’ai—so it’s not too strange that Mrs. Xi Chao’s maiden name is Zhou Matou—
Mrs. Xi, Zhou Matou, was born into the Zhou family of a wealthy family in Runan. Her father, Zhou Min, was the official of Shangshu Pushe and led the Jia Zhong Army. Her grandfather was even more famous, that is, Zhou Boren, who was known in history as "Although he has been criticized by the times, his shortcomings cannot be concealed.
"It is enough to show its beauty." Chen Caozhi was deeply impressed by this Zhou Boren, not only because Zhou Boren had disrespected his concubines, but also because of the grudges between Zhou Boren and Wang Dao. When Wang Shi rebelled, Wang Dao was from the Wangdun clan.
My brother, afraid of being implicated, knelt down outside the palace to plead guilty. When Zhou Boren entered the palace, Director Wang begged and said, "Bo Ren, my whole family will be entrusted to you." Zhou Boren ignored him and entered the palace to tell Emperor Ming that Director Wang was loyal.
, even when he asked for help, the emperor accepted his words and left Zhou Boren to drink. Zhou Boren got drunk and left the palace. Director Wang was still in front of the palace gate and asked Zhou Boren again. Zhou Boren didn't answer, but breathed wine and said: "Kill all thieves and slaves tonight."
, Taking the golden seal is like a bucket tied behind the elbow——" Wang Dao naturally thought that Zhou Boren did not save him, and hated him very much. Later, Wang Dun went to Jiankang and asked Wang Dao for his opinion, asking whether he should do it for Zhou Boren, a high-ranking official, or kill him.
Director Wang didn't say a word, so Wang Dun killed Zhou Boren. Later, Director Wang reviewed the story and saw Zhou Boren's memorial to save him. His words were touching and sincere, and Director Wang burst into tears.
, overwhelmed with grief, he said to Zhuer: "Although I did not kill Boren, Boren died because of me, and I lost this good friend in the netherworld." Wang Dao regretted it all his life -
Zhou Boren is a typical Wei and Jin character, both noble and dissolute, hesitant and persistent. The lesson he left to future generations is: if you do good deeds, you must leave a name -
When Chen Caozhi saw Zhou Lin, he thought of his nephew Zongzhi. Zhou Lin was one year older than Zongzhi, but called Chen Caozhi Brother Chen.
"Brother Chen," Zhou Lin said, "I have heard for a long time that Brother Chen's recorder music is one of the best in Jiangbiao. My sister and I both want to listen to it." Xi Chao often praised Chen Caozhi, and Huan Yi Fenglin Ferry presented him with the flute. Zhou Ma Tou and Zhou Lin were all familiar with this matter. Although Zhou Lin was young, she was very good at music. When she heard that Chen Caozhi was about to enter Xifu, she came from Yuzhou, firstly to visit her sister, and secondly to think about it. Listen to how beautiful Chen Caozhi's recorder is -
Chen Caozhi was not a stubborn person. He hesitated and said, "Okay, when will we go?"
Zhou Lin opened her eyes wide and said, "Of course, the sooner the better."
Chen Caozhi said with a smile: "Okay, let's go now." He asked Xiaochan to take Ke Tingdi and Huang Xiaotong to ask Xie Xuan to go with him.
Xi Chao's residence was not at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain, but adjacent to the General's Mansion, both in the west of the city. It was much more spacious and luxurious than the residences of other military officials, and it also highlighted Xi Chao's transcendent status.
Mrs. Xi and Zhou Matou came out to meet each other due to inconvenience, and her younger brother Zhou Lin took over the reception. Mrs. Xi and Zhou Matou met Chen Caozhi across the screen. Xie Xuan and Xie Xuan briefly asked questions, and Chen Caozhi played a tune on Keting's flute. "Remembering an Old Friend", after I blew it a few times, I heard someone whispering behind the screen——
Chen Caozhi frowned slightly, and Ke Ting's flute blew away from his lips, and the flute sound stopped.
Mrs. Xi, Zhou Matou, who was behind the screen, quickly apologized and said: "Mr. Chen, please don't blame me. I have a female guest coming to visit. I'll come as soon as I go. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Her footsteps were hurried and she went to the backyard.
Chen Caozhi secretly wondered why this female guest came from the backyard? It was inconvenient to ask, so he said to Zhou Lin, "I'll leave after playing two pieces of music."
Zhou Lin said: "Okay, mainly because I want to listen to Brother Chen's music."
Chen Caozhi then played the two tunes "Remembering an Old Friend" and "Red Bean Song" once each. The sound of the cave flute was high-pitched and lonely, like the evening of late spring, when the sun sets in the west and the distant mountains are surrounded by green mist; The fragrance brought by the night wind is refreshing, but it is still in the air; it is more like the mist and rain in the south of the Yangtze River, misty and lingering, turning over and over again——
There was a faint sound of footsteps behind the screen, as several people arrived, and then it became silent until the sound of the flute disappeared.
Chen Caozhi clearly heard a sigh from behind the screen. Even this sigh was so gentle and charming.
Chen Cao was stunned and thought to himself: "Is this the sigh of Mrs. Xi and Zhou Ma Tou? No, why does the female guest's cough sound familiar?"
Chen Caozhi couldn't sit still for a long time, so he said goodbye with Xie Xuan, and Zhou Lin sent him out of the house. The thirteen-year-old boy was in awe of Chen Caozhi and said, "Brother Chen, I want to worship you as my teacher." Di, I wonder if Brother Chen is willing to agree?"
Chen Caozhi thought that Zongzhi had also said that he wanted to learn the recorder from him, but now he was thousands of miles away, so he said: "The military mansion is not so leisurely, and it is not a place for playing, playing and singing. Since you like music, I can record some music scores and give them to you." you."
After leaving Xi Chao's apartment, Chen Caozhi and Xie Xuan walked toward Fenghuang Mountain. Xie Xuan asked, "Does Zizhong know who Mrs. Xi's female guest is?"
Chen Cao said: "I don't know."
Xie Xuandao: "The apartment of Mr. Xi is adjacent to the General's Mansion, and the back garden is connected by a corridor. This female guest is probably the female family member of Sima Huan, and is most likely Li Jingshu."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Then I will retreat."
Xie Xuandao: "Hao Long, you have provoked the two most difficult people in Xifu, but you must not provoke this Li Jingshu."
Chen Caozhi said: "What does Ah Ke mean by what she said? What am I going to do to provoke her?" Chen Caozhi now has a closer relationship with Xie Xuan, and he is known as Ah Ke.
Xie Xuan smiled and said: "Zizhong, you don't know how charming your recorder music is. Back then - let's not mention it." What he was thinking in his mind was: "Back then, my sister was not the first to be fascinated by your recorder music. Are you staying?"
"Absurd!" Chen Caozhi laughed and said, "So I have to break the Keting flute and never play music again."
Xie Xuan smiled and said: "That's a sin - Zizhong, what I just said is not a joke. When Sima Huan summoned his subordinates to discuss matters, he often used female prostitutes to accompany him. It's like the late Han Dynasty scholar Ma Rong, who taught at home in his later years. Sitting in a high hall, covered with silk curtains, teaching students in front of students, and performing female music in the back, in order to appreciate the students' virtues and hone their aspirations - "
Chen Caozhi smiled and thought to himself: "Master, are you tempted? I, Chen Caozhi, am not that lecherous person."
…
On the first day of the fifth lunar month, Huan Wen ordered Shi to summon the chief minister of the West Prefecture, Sima, to join the army, and to serve as Zhong Lang, Bing, Kai, Shi Cao, Camp Army, assassination, the generals of the tents, the foreign governors, and the subordinates, and all went to Zi. Watch military exercises in the city school field.
Gushuzi City is five hundred feet long and three hundred feet wide. It is mainly used for stationing troops and manufacturing and managing ordnance. The family members of sergeants do not live in Zicheng. There is a large area of earthen houses in the south of Gushu City where soldiers live.
The Eastern Jin Dynasty followed the Cao Wei Dynasty and implemented the military system. The so-called military system means that soldiers and civilians are separated. Military households establish separate military registrations, which are strictly controlled by the court and the military government. After the father dies in the military household, the son succeeds, and the elder brother succeeds the younger brother. They serve as soldiers for generations. During the Cao Wei Dynasty, Soldiers also have to implement the "wrong service" system, which means that the place where soldiers serve is separated from the place where they live. If a soldier flees, his wife will be punished. Since the Western Jin Dynasty, this severe punishment law has been abolished. It is impossible for soldiers to leave their wives when they go to war. I bring them with me, just for training in the army and working in the fields, and no longer need to be separated at home.
Since the land occupation system was implemented during the Taikang period of the Jin Dynasty, most of these military households have owned land. Although their situation has improved somewhat compared to that of the Cao and Wei Dynasties, they are still equivalent to serfs. Those who have become soldiers are criminals, refugees and prisoners. The combat effectiveness of such soldiers They were not strong, so Huan Wen used the recruitment system to supplement his troops. The Jingxiang soldiers under his command were the most powerful.
At the beginning of the morning, at the northeastern campus of Gushuzi City, drums were played three times, and horns were blasting. Two thousand infantrymen wearing green, red, yellow, and black formed four teams and practiced culverts, fish scales, and four gates. After waiting for the ten formations, another group of 500 cavalrymen rushed straight from the southeast corner of the school grounds. The sound of huge horse hooves was like Thor's chariot rolling past. In the blink of an eye, they rushed through the ten-mile radius of the school grounds. Various weapons were circling and flying. , with the transformation of a flying dragon and a soaring snake.
Huan Wen was good at meritorious deeds, valued force, and excelled in military training. His great victory over Shu and his two Northern Expeditions were no coincidence.
Huan Wen stood on the general's platform, looking at Jing Xiang's elite cavalry galloping back and forth on the school field. He was full of energy and asked Chen Caozhi beside him: "Chen Yu, can we, with such a powerful army in the West Prefecture, recover the Central Plains?"
Chen Cao said: "You will definitely achieve the ambition of Great Sima."
