After leaving Situ's Mansion, it was already dusk. Chen Caozhi and his third brother Chen Shang went to visit Xi Chao. They met Jia Bizhi who was also at Xi Chao's place. Xi Chao left the three of them to have a dinner. During the national mourning period, they were just sparing themselves. Xi Chao It is known that Chen Caozhi will be sent as an envoy to Di Qin, and he warned: "Since Huan Da Sima's second northern expedition to regain Luoyang in the twelfth year of Yonghe, we have been in peace with Di Qin, but Xianbei and Murong have been at war from time to time. In October last year, Yan General Murong Chen of Zhennan fought with Yuan Pi, the prefect of Chenliu, in Changping. Zhu Bin, the prefect of Runan, took advantage of the opportunity to attack Xu Jing and defeated him. In December, Murong Ping, the prefect of Yan, and Li Hong, the general of Longxiang, captured Henan and joined me in several battles. The battle was very costly. Luoyang resisted the Qin in the west and fought against Xianbei and Murong in the northeast. It was a battleground and it was difficult to hold on. Since Zizhong offered advice to Duke Huan and wanted to watch the Di Qiang and Xianbei fight, I thought we should abandon Luoyang and stick to it. What does Zizhong think of Xuchang and Xincheng?"
Xi Chao was good at strategy and knew many things, and Chen Caozhi also knew that Luoyang was abandoned in this way according to historical records. Only Shen Jin was determined to survive and die with Luoyang. Shortly afterwards, the city of Luoyang was attacked by brothers Murong Ke and Murong Chui. Shen Jin refused to give in and died.
Chen Caozhi was obviously unwilling to accept such an unchanging deduction of history, and nodded superficially: "What Brother Guest said is absolutely true. Luoyang is the place I must pass through on my mission to Di Qin this time. If Duke Huan is willing to grant me the power to do things cheaply, I will We can assess the situation and suggest that the champion general Chen You and the champion commander Shi Shenjin temporarily stay in Luoyang or abandon Luoyang, and it is best to take it easy and take it easy."
Xi Chao said: "Zizhong joined the army from the Xifu, and he has the right to participate in the military affairs. However, most of the generals in Huaibei are unruly. It depends on whether Zizhong can persuade them."
After the dinner, it was still early for Chen Cao Zhi to meet him. It was still early in the year of Xu, so he went to Wuyi Lane to visit Xie An. These important figures in the capital must be visited one by one. Chen Shang went back to Chen Cao Zhi's house to pick up "Happiness in the East Mountains" ", Chen Caozhi went first.
Xie An, Xie Wan, and Xie Xuan were all there, and Xie Daoyun came out to meet them after a while. The topic was naturally Chen Caozhi's mission to Di Qin. Although meritorious service on the mission could lead to promotion, it was also quite risky. After all, it was It is a war-torn place, and it is unpredictable what dangers we will encounter in Chang'an.
Xie An, who was over forty years old, was still handsome and handsome. He played with the jade Ruyi in his hand, glanced at Xie Daoyun, and said to Chen Caozhi: "It is true that A Yuan is not suitable to be a deputy envoy to Di Qin. I agree with Cao Cao on this point."
Xie Daoyun was in her own house, only wearing men's clothes and not wearing powder. She was embarrassed when her third uncle called her by her nickname, and her delicate and slightly narrow face turned red.
Seeing that Xie An no longer concealed Xie Daoyun's identity, Chen Caozhi also felt a little embarrassed. He didn't know how to call Xie Daoyun for a while!
Xie An had an insight into people's hearts and said with a smile: "You can call Cao Zhi how you are used to it, don't be formal."
Chen Caozhi still felt embarrassed, hesitated for a moment, and said: "I admire Xie Yu's talent. If it were not for the hardships and dangers of the journey, I would be very willing to go on a mission together with Xie Yu."
Xie refers not only to officials specifically, but also to all officials in general. At the beginning of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was known as one hundred and two officials, which means that there were more than 120 officials who were highly employed at that time. Of course, the Xie Xie in Chen Cao's mouth was Referring to Xie Daoyun, since Xie An has already identified Xie Daoyun, it would be too pretentious for him to refer to him as Yingtai brother.
Xie An no longer mentioned Xie Daoyun's mission, but only discussed with Chen Caozhi the figures in the Huaihe River and Huaihe River. The governor of Yuzhou leads the governor of Huainan, and naturally knows all the generals in the two Huaihe areas. The governor of Eastern Jinzhou is also in charge of military affairs, and often carries the title of general. It can be said that military and political power are integrated into one body. The governors of counties in the two Huaihe and Henan provinces also lead troops and are called generals. Xie Wan talked about these characters one by one, such as Yuan Pi, the governor of Chenliu, Chen You, the champion general, Zhu Bin, the governor of Runan, Liu Yuan, the governor of Xingyang, and Zhao Yi, the governor of Nanyang. , life experience, qualifications, in-laws, personal preferences, Xie Wan talks about some interesting and elegant things, just like "Shi Shuo Xin Yu", Xie An often interjects, pointing out the temperament, likes, dislikes and advantages of these characters. trend.
Chen Caozhi was very grateful. What he lacked was an understanding of the military and political officials in Huaihe and Huaihe. Xie An and Xie Shi informed him in detail, which was of great help to him. Even Xi Chao did not understand this matter as well as Xie An and Xie Wan. Of course Huan Wen knew it clearly, but it was impossible for Huan Wen to talk to him in detail like this. Chen Caozhi knew in his heart that Xie Daoyun should have asked his two uncles for advice on his behalf.
Chen Shang arrived at this time and presented "Happiness in the East Mountains", a collaboration between Chen Caozhi and Dai Kui. Xie An laughed at the scroll and praised his vivid painting skills.
Late at night, Chen Caozhi said goodbye, and Xie Xuan sent him out of the house to meet Chen Shang and Chen Caozhi walking slowly in Wuyi Lane. The waning moon was as clear as a hook, and the water of the Qinhuai River continued to flow. Xie Xuan said: "Zizhong, I will go to Jingzhou at the beginning of next month." He wanted to say something else, but when he saw Chen Shang standing aside, he just sighed, cupped his hands, and turned around to go back.
Chen Caozhi and his third brother Chen Shang were looking back at the mansion together in the car. Chen Caozhi asked about the Chen family's mansion on the bank of the Qinhuai River. Chen Shang said: "The picture of Beiyuan painted by the sixteenth brother is divided into two parts. The west is the hall and residence, and the east is the hall. It’s the garden, the halls and residences are mostly completed, and the garden started in the New Year and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.”
Chen Cao said: "It's very good. At the end of the year, we can bring our third sister-in-law, our nephew, and our sister-in-law Youwei, Zongzhi, and Runer to live in the capital. It will be lively then."
Chen Shangdao: "My sixteenth brother is on a mission to Qin, and it will take half a year to go back and forth. Why should my sixteenth brother ask for orders for such a hard job?"
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Third brother, don't worry, I will come back with meritorious deeds. Young people are not afraid of hardship, so it is appropriate to work hard."
Chen Shang knew it was too late for persuasion, so he said no more. The two brothers returned to the Gu Mansion. The officer of the Gu Mansion said that Liu Shangzhi would come to visit in the evening and would not leave until the end of Xu Shi when Chen Caozhi did not come back. Come back early in the morning.
Early the next morning, Chen Caozhi went to see Gu Minzhi. Gu Minzhi was quite satisfied with the result of Gengxu Tuduan. The Gu family was not greatly affected. Moreover, Gu Kaizhi was about to join the Xifu as a minister. This was also the reason why Huan Wen paid him a visit. The family expressed their goodwill. In the past, most of the people who entered Huan Wen's military mansion were kings. Thank you to these descendants of the Nandu gentry.
After meeting Gu Minzhi and coming out, Chen Caozhi asked Gu Kaizhi to see the Chen family's residence on the bank of the Qinhuai River. Liu Shangzhi also happened to arrive, and the three of them, led by Chen Shang, entered the Chen family's North Garden to watch, but they saw the pavilions and terraces. The pavilions, pavilions and pavilions are all novel buildings that have never been seen in ancient times. There are moon gates connecting the halls, residences and gardens.
Gu Kaizhi praised highly: "Zizhong has a lot in mind. This is only the North Garden, and the garden part has not yet been completed. If the southeast and west parts are all built, this will be the first mansion in Jiankang."
Chen Cao said: "Build the Beiyuan first so that our Chen brothers can have a place to live in Beijing, and then build the other three places ten years later to avoid being ridiculed by the nouveau riche."
Liu Shangzhi laughed loudly and even said the word "nouveau riche" was perfect. The Chen family of Qiantang could be called the first nouveau riche in Jiangzuo.
On this day, Chen Caozhi visited Zhang Ping without stopping. The minister ordered Wang Shu, the minister's servant shot Wang Biaozhi, the leader of the army Huan Mi, the guard general Jiang Sixuan and others, and sent people to send letters to Xiaolu Shangshu Mansion.
Asked when he could come to visit? That night, Lu Na sent Banli to reply with a message, asking Chen Shang and Chen Cao's brothers to go to the Lu Mansion for a luncheon tomorrow, and also invited Gu Kaizhi and his wife to attend.
After Banli told Chen Caozhi about Lu Weirui's recent situation in Beijing, he said goodbye and went back, but met Lu Qin in front of the door. Lu Qin came to ask about Lu Daoyu's offer to Gu Minzhi's daughter on behalf of his fifth aunt Zhu, and asked some names.
Trivial etiquette, Lu Qin had already heard that Chen Caozhi had arrived in Jiankang, and when he saw Banli coming out of Gu's house, he thought that Banli was for Lu Weirui and Chen Caozhi's joint song, and shouted angrily: "Where are you going, Banli!"
Banli hurriedly saluted and said: "It turns out to be Mr. Liu Lang. I came to see Mr. Chen on the order of the family leader."
Lu Qin didn't panic when he saw Chestnut, knowing it was true. His third uncle, Lu Na, had been deceived by Chen Caozhi, but he still admired Chen Caozhi, so he asked, "Why did you meet Chen Caozhi?"
Banli thought that he could hold a banquet but could not hide it from the neighbors, so he said: "The master of the house invites Chen Langjun to attend the banquet tomorrow, as well as Gu Langjun and his wife."
Lu Qin coldly "hummed" and waved Banli away. He went into the house to meet with Gu Minzhi and discussed the time of acceptance and asking for names. After the agreement was reached, he returned to the Mainland Shangshu Mansion on the north bank of Hengtang and sent a steward to go to Gu Minzhi who lived in San.
The fifth aunt Zhu in his uncle's house reported Gu Minzhi's reply, and he went straight to the study to meet his father Lu Shi.
In his late fifties, Lu Shi, who has slightly freckles on his temples, is copying the calligraphy calligraphy left by his father Lu Wan under the south window of his study. Although Lu Wan's calligraphy is not as famous as that of his elder brother Lu Ji, it is still valued by the world and his writing is thin and hard.
, has the character of Zhong Yao.
Lu Shi would copy his late father's posthumous writings every morning and evening for decades, and he was diligent in his study. However, both the late Wang Xizhi and the famous Xie An thought that the person who could inherit Lu's calligraphy style was
Lu Na, instead of Lu Shi, who had a rigorous family education, made Lu Shi quite unconvinced.
When Lu Qin saw his father practicing calligraphy on the poster, he didn't dare to disturb him, so he knelt down and waited quietly.
Lu Shi finished the last word of the calligraphy with great energy, put down his pen, and ordered the boy waiting in the study to clean up the pen, ink, paper and inkstone before asking: "Qin, what's the matter?"
Lu Qin then reported to his father that his third uncle, Lu Na, was hosting a banquet for Chen Caozhi tomorrow. Lu Shi was silent for a while and said, "I can't control who your third uncle wants to invite to the banquet, but if you want to marry a daughter, you need my brother's nod.
"
Lu Qin said: "My child is just unhappy to see that Chen Caozhi humiliated my brother in Kuaiji, and now he comes to my Lu Mansion for a banquet with great arrogance. Outsiders don't know the difference between the Mainland Shangshu Mansion and the Little Lu Shangshu Mansion, and they think it is his father who is asking Chen Cao
The clothes are soft."
Lu Shi didn't show any anger, he just said: "Wei Rui was really delayed by Chen Caozhi. I visited all the big families in Sanwu, but no one dared to marry Wei Rui. So I retreated to the next best thing and visited Qiu Nan.
The Dushi clan, Langya Wang clan, Taiyuan Wang clan, Taiyuan Wen clan, Langya Zhuge clan, and Chenjun Yuan clan all have children of similar age, but none of them married Wei Rui. I didn't expect Chen Caozhi to be like this.
His connections and reputation make the big families in the north and south fearful and dare not take away his love."
Lu Qin said in a deep voice: "Dad, there is someone who dares to marry Wei Rui."
