Xian Dynasty Era

Chapter 160
In Fengle County, next to Mengshan Mountain in the south of the city, it is a luxurious manor built on the foothills and streams.

This place is the wealthy area of ​​Fengle County.

More than a dozen noble families in Fengle County all set up properties here.

Among them, Zhou, Song, Li, Zhao, Wu, Fang, Jiang, and Du were the most powerful.

The ancestors of these families also served as Ministers of the State of Su, and they were prominent for a while, and some of their children served as subordinate officials in the county. , There are also a lot of connections.

The world is vast and gloomy, with torrential rain and crackling, and the Mengshan Mountain in the distance seems to be covered with a layer of mist. The green pines and cypresses stand proudly in the wind and rain, with luxuriant branches and leaves, lush and green.

The bamboo forest is secluded and rustling, covering the small bridges and flowing water with winding paths and exquisite pavilions. It is clearly a large house with carved beams and painted buildings, green walls and black tiles.

In an octagonal pavilion with flying eaves and brackets, a branch of pines with strong branches sticks out, and beads of water roll on the dark red trunk.

Inside the pavilion, there are curtains everywhere, and a few people are sitting on the stone bench, looking up at the hundreds of Limeng Mountains shrouded in rain and mist, listening to the sound of the waterfall falling into the pool, boiling a pot of tea, Quite a bit of contentment.

The maids and servants not far away are serving with bowed heads.

A purple sand teapot is cooking in a small red clay stove. The mouth of the pot is "gurgling" and steaming. A pair of slender hands as white as jade lift the handle of the teapot and fill it into a white and warm teacup. In the amber tea soup, tea leaves Unrolled, swirling, green and lovely.

Just in response to that sentence, the people around him are like the moon, and their bright wrists are covered with frost and snow.

The white-haired old man reached out a pair of thin palms, took the teacup, smiled peacefully on his old face covered with age spots, and raised his glass: "Nephew Wu Xian, this is Yantong tea from Yuntai Mountain, the tea color is clear. , pure, can be first-class.”

A middle-aged man surnamed Wu, dressed in a moon-white Confucian shirt, with a face like a crown of jade, thick eyebrows and deep eyes, straight nose and cheeks, but there was a hint of worry in his brows, "Old Zhou, you know, you arrived in Fengle County the day before yesterday? "

This middle-aged man surnamed Wu, named Wu Deben, his ancestors were also the governor of the Su State, but later on, no one in the family became an official because the young and old were not accepted.

Now he runs the Mengshan Iron Mine Workshop in Fengle County, and most of the iron farm tools sold by the government are made by him.

The old man's name was Zhou Guangji. His father was Situ, one of the former Six Ministers of the State of Su. He himself served as the magistrate for two terms. Later, he resigned at an old age and lived in seclusion in Fengle County.

Now he is even richer, running the grain and cloth business in Fengle County.

"Why don't you know? The incompetent sixth child of my family is still in charge of recording the history of the county chief, and I just met Jun the day before yesterday." Zhou Guangji sipped his tea soup and smiled slightly.

Recording affairs and history, that is, clerks such as pen posts and book offices, did see Su Zhao from a distance the day before yesterday.

Wu Deben sighed, and said: "Old Zhou, Your Majesty came to Fengle County, but he didn't summon me to wait. This matter is quite strange."

In the history of the State of Su, it is not that there are no monarchs of the State of Su to inspect and rule the counties and counties, but when they arrive at the counties and counties, they often summon the county magistrates and county magnates at the first time, but the young prince in front of him did not act like this after he arrived in Fengle County .

Naturally, Wu Deben had some doubts.

Zhou Guangji smiled and said: "Nephew Wuxian is too worried. I heard that the Lord came here specially to inspect the river embankment. If he didn't summon us, he might be in a hurry to control the river. If Nephew Wuxian is worried, You can hand over the greeting card and beg to see the king's face."

Wu Deben shook his head, and said: "It's okay if I wait to hand in the worship stickers together, but my nephew alone would be too eye-catching."

Moreover, he doesn't know the likes and dislikes of the new ruler, so how dare he act rashly?

This new prince is young and successful, with a strong and decisive temperament, and ruthless methods. He has only succeeded to the throne for a few years, and the two six officials have been imprisoned and convicted.

Of course, since Su Zhao succeeded to the throne, no matter whether it was the clean-up of Yuan Ni, or the rectification of officials and the fall of Su Mao some time ago, after all, the knife was aimed at the bureaucracy, and the knife did not fall on these prefects and tyrants.

In counties and counties, clan forces are still deeply intertwined.

In other words, Goose City is still Mr. Huang's Goose City.

In fact, even in Su Zhao's previous life in Huaxia, since ancient times, it was not uncommon for the gentry and gentry of the village to invade and violate the law in the local area, intervene in litigation, and even use family law and family rules instead of national law for trial.

Wu Deben took a sip of tea, and pondered: "Mr. Zhou, you have insight into the world and are well-versed in human relations. Now that the Lord and Marquis are here to patrol the embankment in person, shouldn't we give some money and food to comfort him?"

Zhou Guangji's old eyes shone brightly, and he said with a smile: "If my nephew has the heart of being loyal to the country, you might as well go and have a look. If you can't say that you are a gentleman, I will reward you with an official position."

Wu Deben smiled mischievously, and said, "Old Zhou is joking."

"Our young lord is too murderous, and he is a strong master. If you say something that is not afraid of old Zhou's jokes, my nephew will be terrified." Wu Deben said with a self-deprecating smile.

Just like what Zhou Guangji said, county prefects and county magnates can naturally offer courtesies, bring heavy gifts, and ask to see Junyan, but Wu Deben obviously has doubts.

Zhou Guangji said with a smile: "Don't do anything wrong, why are you so angry? When I was young, I often went in and out of the palace. I was the guest of the former monarch and lord, and I talked and laughed happily with him."

"It can't be compared to Zhou Lao's virtuous deeds. Even a prince will respect him a little bit." Wu Deben gave a compliment with a smile on his face.

Zhou Guangji's eyes moved slightly, and he said meaningfully: "Nephew Wu Xian, don't worry too much, just wait, Your Majesty will meet us soon."

"That's very good." Wu Deben nodded.

Zhou Guangji changed the topic, and asked with a smile: "The marriage between the sixth boy of my third family and your family's Xianzhi should be completed by now."

When mentioning his own daughter's marriage, Wu Deben said with a smile: "I heard what Xian Zhiniang said, it's for divination to count an auspicious date."

"Wenji, six rituals, we must choose a good day." Zhou Guangji smiled and said: "From then on, you and Zhou Wu's family can be regarded as in-laws. Back then, the old man and your father made an agreement that their children would be married to Qin and Jin. Okay, but twists and turns continue, it has been more than ten years in a flash, your father is also driving west, and I don’t know when I close my eyes, I will..."

Zhou Guangji and Wu Deben were talking, recalling the past, somewhat sighed with emotion.

At this moment, under the ginkgo tree in the distance, a withered yellow bamboo umbrella moved quickly, but a servant ran over, stopped at the stone steps under the gazebo, and said, "Master, Mr. Zou sent someone to deliver it to you." Please post, saying that I have something important to see your old man."

"Pretend to guard Zou Yi? Is there something else important?" Zhou Guangji frowned, suspicious in his heart, raised his head, and said with a smile, "Nephew, come with me to meet Master Zou."

As he said, he got up, and there were boy servants holding umbrellas, supporting others, and rushing away.

In the flower hall, the decoration is luxurious and rich.

The painting scroll of Gu Yanqing, the former national champion of Danqing, hangs in the middle hall.

Next to it is an ink glass screen with beautiful landscapes, and the square beams and columns are inlaid with Lantian Mingyu, which faintly glows.

The wooden floor covered with woolen carpet is obviously made of golden nanmu.

Zou Yi took a sip from the blue-patterned and white-bottomed teacup, tapped a few times on the century-old huanghuali wood case with her fingers, and said to herself, as expected of a wealthy family, the furniture in front of me probably cost as much as It is forbidden to leave the palace.

"The fields of the rich are connected with fields, but the poor have no place to stand." Zou Yi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This is clearly what he has heard, seen, and felt in his heart as an official for more than [-] years.

"Master Zou, Jiayan will be there in a while." Zhou Wenhuai, the son of Zhou Guangji who was accompanying him, looked at Zou Yi, who still had mud on his official robe, and sneered in his heart.

"Three generations can't raise nobles. This Zou Yi looks around, looking ignorant, like a country bumpkin who has never seen the world."

Zou Yi was originally the magistrate of Zhulin County. He had just assumed the post of false guard for a short time, and had not had much contact with the family of the prefect of Fengle County.

The Zhou family is the head of the prefect of Fengle County, and the deceased old man of the Zhou family was also one of the Six Ministers of the Su Kingdom, so he didn't take Mr. Zou too seriously.

"Lord Zou, I've been waiting for a long time. The old man is late, so I still hope Haihan."

At this moment, a white-haired old man among the stars in the courtyard came under the eaves and said with a smile on his face.

Zou Yi stood up, cupped her hands and bowed, "Mr. Zhou, I haven't waited too long for my appointment."

Seeing Zou Yi like this, Zhou Huaiwen, who was on the side, nodded secretly, thinking, this fake guarding Zou Yi is still polite.

At this time, Zou Yi turned to look at Wu Deben beside him, with a look of surprise on his face.

"This is Wu Deben, nephew Wu Xian, his grandfather, who was the governor of Changshui County." Zhou Guangji, supported by his servants, sat on the grand master's chair under the middle hall and introduced.

Wu Deben gave a deep salute, and said: "Wu Deben, a grass-roots man, has met Mr. Zou."

(End of this chapter)