Zheng Pu walked slowly, following Xiang Lang, towards his residence.
When I arrived, I couldn't help but be surprised as soon as I entered.
I had heard before that Xiang Lang had the greatest collection of books in Shu, but now I know that the rumor is true.
I saw that the furniture on both sides of the office room was piled high with books; even on both sides of the desk and in the corner of the couch, there were many bamboo slips piled up in every crack. The space, which was not large, became even more cramped.
Zheng Pu felt cramped even where he was.
There was already someone in the house.
He is about about the age of a weak man, more than seven feet tall, with a light beard and a dignified appearance.
He is wearing the official uniform of a scholar and has an unusually strong scholarly atmosphere. He should be a member of Xiang Lang's family, not a lieutenant.
Seeing Xiang Lang and Zheng Pu walking in, he was sitting in front of the couch reading, so he stood up, bowed, and moved to stand by the side wall.
"Zijin, this is the youngest son of my deceased brother. His name is Chong, and his courtesy name is Wen Gao. Because his eldest brother favored him, and his second brother Ping has already appointed ministers, and he is not yet old enough, I will stay by your side to take care of him."
As the host, Xiang Lang introduced Zheng Pu with a smile.
After saying this, he did not forget to wave to Xiang Chong, "Wen Gao, come quickly to see me. This is the prime minister's office joining the army to lead the captured general Zheng Zijin."
"Chong, meet Zheng Canjun."
Xiang Chong followed his words and met him again.
He has a gentle voice and calm demeanor, quite gentle and elegant.
It also made Zheng Pu feel good about it.
He returned the salute with a smile, then turned his head to look at Xiang Lang and praised, "In the past, the late emperor once praised Xiang Zhong for his ability, and the prime minister also praised him for his good nature and conduct. Today, we can see that he is elegant in writing, conducts well, and has a special grace. Therefore.
It can be said that there is no shortage of talented people in the Xiang family in Yicheng!"
Well, Xiang Chong's current official position is the leader of the Central Army, and he lives in the Wei Palace.
"Hahaha~~~~~"
Hearing this, Xiang Lang couldn't help but laugh heartily, waving his hands and saying humbly, "Zijin, you are too praised! You are praised too much!" After laughing, he stretched out his hand to invite Zheng Pu to sit down, "Zijin, please."
"Changshi, please."
Xiang Chong, who was already quite knowledgeable, stepped out, closed the door and left.
After sitting down, the two of them exchanged a few polite words. Xiang Lang smiled solemnly and said softly, "When Zijin's book arrived in Ji County, the Prime Minister summoned me to discuss it privately. Many of the strategies in the book were against me.
The great man benefited. The only way to do this was to 'spare a small family into an acre'. The Prime Minister hesitated for a long time. It was not because he felt that Zijin was not thoughtful, but because he was afraid that it would be detrimental to Zijin in the future."
Will it be detrimental to me in the future?
Oh, it should be because once this policy was implemented in Hanzhong and Wudu, the wealthy people in Yizhou were alarmed and thought that it would be implemented in Bashu in the future?
After thinking for a moment, Zheng Pu cupped his hands in salute and said humbly, "I wonder why the Prime Minister is worried about me? Please forgive me, Chief Minister."
"It's because of the nobles and nobles of the imperial court."
But he didn't want to, and Xiang Lang gave a completely different answer, "The late emperor was kind. When he recaptured Hanzhong County in the past, he gave many acres of land to meritorious people because the population of Hanzhong was desolate."
After Zheng Pu heard this, he understood in his heart.
In the past, after the late Emperor Liu Bei conquered Shu, he originally wanted to give the houses in the middle of Chengdu and the mulberry fields outside the city to the generals. However, Zhao Yun admonished him and only rewarded those with high achievements. After he captured Hanzhong County, he assigned the fields in the county to the generals.
The mother gave generous rewards to the meritorious officials.
Among them, most of the officials of the Jingxiang clan had acres of mulberry orchards in Hanzhong.
Because when Chengdu was captured, most of the Yuan Cong clan and Dongzhou scholars had already received rewards.
If "dividing children into acres" is implemented in Hanzhong County now, it will definitely damage the interests of these nobles.
After all, according to the prime minister's rule of fairness in governing affairs, these nobles must first set an example by dividing a small family into a small family, and there is no paradox in allowing the children of wealthy families to move to Hanzhong County.
Therefore, the Jing and Xiang clique's officials whose interests were harmed did not dare to bear grudges against the Prime Minister, but they would gnash their teeth at Zheng Pu, the instigator.
In particular, Zheng Pu was a scholar from Yizhou.
He was born not to please Jing and Xiang.
The Prime Minister had always recognized Zheng Pu's talents and had already trained him as a successor to the Han Dynasty. Naturally, he had some concerns about Zheng Pu not being able to be integrated into the Jing and Xiang clan in the future.
"Thank you, Prime Minister and Chang Shi, for your support."
Zheng Pu, who was silent for a while, raised his head and said, "However, as a minister, I only seek to benefit the country and do not dare to favor myself. Although I am not a useful person, I will not be criticized by others in the future."
"nice!"
Hearing this, Xiang Lang's voice was mute, and he raised his hands and praised, "Zijin's heart to serve the country can be expressed in the sun and the moon!"
After praising him, he smiled again and said softly, "The Prime Minister knows that Zi Jin is doing things for the country, and he always does not hesitate to do anything for himself. Therefore, he called me to discuss it, just to see if he could be of some help."
oh?
The Prime Minister has actually done something evil for me?
Zheng Pu raised his eyebrows, looking a little surprised.
However, when I thought about it again, I found it was not surprising.
According to the Prime Minister's meticulous and cautious character, he always has the habit of eliminating many hidden dangers before putting things into action.
Alas, the prime minister has to worry about it again.
With an inaudible sigh, Zheng Pu grinned, "I'm stupid, please give me a clear explanation."
"Haha~~Zi Jin is so humble."
Xiang Lang stroked his beard and smiled, but did not answer the question, "Zi Jin still remembers that before His Majesty granted you a marriage, did the Prime Minister once say that he would find a match for you?"
"Prime Minister's kindness, I dare not hope for it."
Immediately, when Zheng Pu heard the words, he frowned, raised his hands and walked to the prime minister's right side.
"However, Zijin may not know."
Raising his head slightly, Xiang Lang said in a somewhat sad tone, "If Your Majesty does not propose a marriage, the Prime Minister will find my youngest daughter, or the daughter of Ma Jichang, an old servant, and marry it to you!"
Uh~~~~
Is this happening?
The emperor gave Zhang Chaqi's daughter a gift for marriage, but it was not the prime minister who told her about it!
For a moment, Zheng Pu was stunned.
After Xiang Lang sighed, he continued to ask without waiting for him to speak, "Zi Jin has just met my nephew Wen Gao. I wonder what Zi Jin thinks of his talent? If he embarks on an official career, he will be a benefit to the country."
no?"
But after we met for a long time, I was asked to make a conclusion?
not.
Hearing this, Zheng Pu had a vague realization in his heart and did not refuse.
"When a long history has a question, I dare not not answer it. Let me put it bluntly. If there are any mistakes, I hope the long history will not blame you."
After thinking for a moment, Zheng Pu first said something polite with a smile, and then said, "I think the writer is tall and handsome, with a seven-foot tall body. He walks calmly and calmly. It can be said that he has the spirit of poetry and calligraphy in his belly!"
"Hahaha~~~~"
Xiang Lang laughed loudly and showed no humility, "The Prime Minister is also very fond of literary talents. He has already told me that if he reaches the imperial examination next year, he will be promoted to the Prime Minister's Mansion as his assistant."
"I tasted it and found that the cone was in the sac, and I could see the end immediately."
After hearing this, Zheng Puxian smiled and said jokingly, "The right way is to 'do not avoid relatives when you are promoted internally'. At the time when the country is employing people, there is a nephew who has become a talented person in the long history, but he is asked to stay on the left and right, which is a disgrace to his talent!"
"
"Hahaha, Zijin couldn't be more impressed."
Xiang Lang, who was smiling happily, waved his hands modestly again and again, and finally saw his face.
He then restrained his face, looked at Zheng Pu and said, "My nephew is young and lonely. Although he is very miserable, he is rarely good in character and has good talents and learning. As a respected elder, I feel very relieved. And because he is about to reach the crown, I will
I am determined to find a good match for him. I heard that there is a daughter in Zijin’s family who is very talented and virtuous, but I don’t know if she is a match for her?”
They really want to get married.
After Zheng Pu heard this, he couldn't help but say something in his heart.
However, there is nothing strange about the Prime Minister's arrangement.
Xiang Lang had a very good reputation. He often borrowed books from his family's collection and was praised as an elder. He was also older, and his official position was the Chief of the Prime Minister's Office. He was implicitly one of the leaders of the Jing and Xiang clan. His nephew Xiang Chong had great talents and character.
He was praised by the late emperor and the prime minister, and stayed in the palace to protect the emperor. He will definitely become an important minister of the country in the future.
If the Zheng and Xiang families become in-laws, even if they offend some of the Jingxiang clan by suggesting that they share the family, they will not be criticized by the Jingxiang clan because of the kindness of the Xiang family.
Furthermore, Zheng Pu has already made a marriage arrangement with the Zhang family, a relative of the Yuan Cong family.
If another trace of the Jingxiang clan is added, no courtiers in the Han Dynasty will regard him as a Yizhou scholar and guard against him in the future.
In other words, the prime minister was helping him with his future career.
Zheng Pu was impressed by such good intentions.
And Xiang Chong and his senses are quite good.
Although he is determined to pursue an official career, he can allow his marriage to be utilitarian.
However, he never thought about treating little Zheng Yan's life events as a stepping stone for his own career.
Even today's worldly principles are based on parents' orders and matchmaker's words of blind marriage.
Alas, that’s all.
If he refuses, it means he does not appreciate the kindness.
After a short silence, Zheng Pu raised his hands in greeting and said softly, "I know what Chang Shi means. However, I don't dare to specialize in such a big matter. Please ask Chang Shi to wait until I return from delivering a message and ask about my mother's wishes."
I will make the final decision later according to my brother's wishes, and I hope that I will be able to do it for you."
Um?
This answer made Xiang Lang slightly stunned.
Immediately, he smiled sternly and nodded lightly, "I forgot that there is an elder brother who makes the decision in Zijin's family. That's all. It's better to wait until Zijin informs his family before making a decision."
There was no shame or anger in his heart.
First of all, given his reputation and family status, if Zheng Pu didn't refuse immediately, how could Zheng Yan, who was far away in Shu, refuse?
Besides, his nephew Xiang Chong is considered a good match among the descendants of the Han Dynasty.
On the other hand, I quite appreciate that Zheng Pu has no utilitarian intentions.
With Zheng Pu's talent and knowledge, it was impossible to predict the benefits he would gain from becoming in-laws to the Zheng family.
However, he did not respond.
It can be seen from this that this boy has no intention of working hard.
In other words, in the future, he will not become a monoman who does not recognize his relatives and is only interested in profit because of his desire for power.
After all, everyone has a beast trapped in their heart. When power is in hand, that beast breaks free from its cage. Whether it is good or evil depends on each person's character.
After the business was settled, the two chatted for a few words, and then Zheng Pu said goodbye and left.
Returning to the road, with the bumps on the horse's back, I felt the fatigue mixed with the things like flies and dogs, making my heart even more haggard.
Simply, he casually found a small pavilion to rest on the bank of the Wei River, and took a nap while waiting for Zhuge Qiao.
Just in the small pavilion next to the official road, cattle, horses and vehicles were passing by, and petty officials and other officials were walking along the road, making it endlessly noisy.
If you look closely, you can see that there is no look of panic or numbness on everyone's face. Instead, their eyes are burning with energy.
The war was over, and it had only been a month since the subordinates had changed their flags, but Li Shu was already safe and sound, which was really rare.
Zheng Pu was very surprised.
Then he asked his subordinates to stop a small official and ask him in detail about the situation in Longyou recently.
It turns out that Longyou is not at peace anymore, but it is because of the Prime Minister's trust.
Because the war at the beginning of the year delayed the Li common people's spring plowing, the prime minister used work instead of relief to feed the Li common people.
For many people's livelihood and military-related matters such as logging, stone removal, road construction, etc., the prime minister raised the common people with grain and fodder, and he could receive the reward upon completion of the work that day.
Let Li Shu trust the Han Dynasty.
This also prompted countless poor people to flock here, seeking to live in the land.
The small Qianghu tribe with weak surrounding power was promised by the prime minister to bring cattle, sheep, war horses, leather horns, etc. in exchange for Sichuan brocade or tea and other goods in high demand along the Silk Road.
And the price is very fair.
Even if they only transport Shu brocade to Xiping County under the jurisdiction of the Wei army, and trade with the Shaodang, Shaohe, Dangjian, Lejie and other Qiang tribes in the Huangshui River Valley, they can obtain a huge profit margin.
Through word of mouth, the stimulation of practical interests induced countless Qiang and Hu tribes from the northwest to come with their war horses.
According to legend, the Wei army in Jincheng County has issued an order that anyone carrying Shu brocade should be punished for "collaborating with the enemy"!
However, all major Qiang tribes scorned this.
Wei Jun provided them with silk and other items for the Silk Road, but the price was too high.
It makes them feel that a flag embroidered with the character "Han" is more exciting than a flag embroidered with the character "Wei".
Especially for the Qianghu tribe that thrives in the Huangshui River Valley.
Since the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Silk Road has been divided into three main lines: eastern, central and western.
The eastern route starts from Guanzhong and takes Xiaoguan Road in Anding County, enters Wuwei County, and goes up the Zuli River to enter the Hexi Corridor.
The middle line and the west line both go from Guanzhong to Longguan, enter Hanyang County and Ji County, and pass through Longxi Didao to Jincheng.
Among them, the middle line runs along the Zhuanglang River through Wushaoling and enters the Hexi Corridor; the west line goes up against the Huangshui River, goes out of the territory of the Han Dynasty, passes through the Datong-Daban Mountains, and then enters from Lenglong Ridge in the eastern section of the Qilian Mountains Zhangye County.
In other words, as long as the Qiang and Hu tribes in the Huangshui River Valley obtained trade items such as Shu brocade and tea, they could avoid the Wei army's garrison points and take a detour into the Hexi Corridor.
The Hexi Corridor is vast and sparsely populated, with yellow sand everywhere.
The Wei army could only trace their whereabouts at Yumen Pass or Yang Pass in Dunhuang County.
However, the two counties of Dunhuang and Jiuquan are the counties with the largest concentration of wealthy people in Hexi. The Qiang and Hu tribes in the Huangshui River Valley trade Sichuan brocade to these wealthy people, and they can return home with a full load.
As for the local tycoons, is there any way to transport Shu Brocade out of Yumen Pass?
If the Wei army did not want the war in the county to continue, they could only choose to turn a blind eye.
Such a situation is the reason why the former Wei Emperor Cao Rui gave up only half of the Silk Road benefits to the temple, which made Yang Fu sad: the northwest Qianghu tribe and Hao You would be more willing to choose to stand because of the profits from Shu Brocade and other items. Under the banner of the Han Dynasty!
This is also the third part of Zheng Pu's strategy of "consolidating the foundation of Yizhou", and is the basis for its implementation: the Silk Road will be reopened, and the profits of Shu Brocade will come.
He advised the Prime Minister to add a "Shu Jin Official Camp" after the "Yalt Iron Official Camp" established by the late Emperor Liu Bei.
Due to the difficult blockage of Shu roads, all Shu brocades leaving Longyou were strictly controlled.
The imperial court would only authorize the Shu brocades that were qualified to pass through the four passes in northern Shu to assist the caravans of wealthy families in the Han Dynasty's Northern Expedition.
By blocking the trade routes and providing eye-watering profits, the Yizhou wealthy families are allowed to make their own choices: Expedition to the north to defeat the Wei Dynasty and conquer the Central Plains. Do you want to be "in the same robe as your son"?
