Zhuoying

At the beginning of the seventh year of Yongle, the barbarians borrowed Zhong's family from Jiangtang to cross the Water Gate of the Outer Mansion, and approached the capital of Dalan.The capital defended the war, the emperor went in person, and the hearts of the people were enthusiastic. Ten thousand capitals swore to defend the capital to the death.At that time, Wuhan and the south all dispatched troops to return to aid. They rushed for four days and finally pacified the foreign barbarians.

This battle was known as the "Kyoto Defense War" in history.

The barbarians who went south retreated after hearing the sound, and retreated when they went north to Dayuan to make a surprise attack.Although the strategy of dividing Dalan by three groups of soldiers and horses failed in the end, the hinterland to Xuhang has been through the flames of war.Dalan's granary was severely damaged, and there was still a private flow of tobacco and millet. It was imminent to recuperate after the war.

Between many important matters, Zhong You went to Zhou Mansion to see Zhou Pu.

Zhou Pu lives in a side courtyard, and Zhong You came here three years ago.The yard was well maintained before, although no rare plants were planted, but it has a style of Confucianism and elegance.Now when I started again, it was all withered grass and no scenery.

There was a bell hanging from the eaves, and Zhou Pu leaned over his desk on the porch, listening to Zhong You coming over, he didn't stop writing.

Tea is prepared early, just waiting for him to come.

Zhong You sat down across from the case, Zhou Pu said, "Come here?"

"Come here on horseback." Zhong You straightened his sleeves, "Didn't you smell the dirt all over me?"

"Since you've been hanging out with that kid, you've always smelled earthy."

"I don't know about that." Zhong You raised a cup of tea and said, "You have always been elegant, why are you so romantic. That man smells like rouge, how can I make tea for you?"

Zhou Pu hesitated at the tip of his pen, simply put down the pen, and raised his head.He said: "Idle clouds and white gulls... Even if you go to the mountains, you are not idle clouds. When do you doubt me?"

"I'm interested in Liu Qinghuan's case. When I think about it deeply, he is a man of Changlehou. If no one is interested in attracting him, how can he know how important the secret hidden by Shi Tingzhou is?" Said: "After this case, I guessed that Changlehou must have a grudge, and Ruchen went to Liantie Village to remind me to be vigilant of Changlehou. hand. I feel that there is someone else, and then you go to find me, I'm afraid it's not Ruchen who gave you the wind."

"He's always cheating when he's drunk, so what's the problem?"

"That's a side matter." Zhong You looked up, "He has always treated his friends wholeheartedly, and he will never disappoint. It didn't take long for the smoke to flow in. It was not Zhong Liuqing who colluded with Haishang first, but Zhong Ze."

Zhou Pu looked at him quietly, and Zhong You continued: "Maritime merchants were the first to enter Yuliu Chuang, mostly to explore the way. Yansu was postponed until last year, because you were in Kyoto last year and knew that the Holy Majesty decided to dig a canal, and Yansu was the last The huge profits in the first place are the reason for it to enter the country. Now that I think about it, the Zhong family is just a cover for the two of you. Zhong Ze gave the first batch of private goods to Chang Lehou, and through the hands of Chang Lehou, they transferred Liu Jingdu. Marquis Changle already had a personal grievance with me. Later, when I found out that I would investigate this matter, I would definitely be restless and murderous. This line has been buried since Liu Qinghuan, and we are just pawns in the game between you two. "

"Too flattering." Zhou Pu stroked the paper with his fingers, "He...Zi Run was not favored by Zhong's family. When the merchants entered the country, he was just the mud under Zhong Zi's feet. In front of Zhong Liuqing, he was no match for you. You Why do you think he can do it?"

"Seven years ago when the new emperor ascended the throne, the Hanlin Academy was opened. At that time, Zhong Zi was away on business. Only the eldest brother in the family was considered to be in the official career. Zhong Ze was just at the right age, so Zhong Liuqing picked him. Hurriedly go back to Jiangtang." Zhong You said: "Going home this time, Zhong Zi was dissatisfied and took away his pharmacy business in front of Zhong Liuqing and deliberately suppressed him. He was a concubine with no business and no official position, so Zhong Liuqing let him go. The most difficult part of Hang is that he has to deal with the merchants in Xu Hang." Zhong You knocked his tea, and his face became gloomy: "Father belittled him, brothers bullied him, and he suffered a lot in Xu Hang, just now , next to the maritime business, right?"

Zhou Pu looked at the shaking bell and murmured: "He is so proud... how can he bear it. In this regard, no one can compare with you, Zhong Baiou." He turned to Zhong You: "Zhong Ruchen took your seat, your Officer, your fate, you still have no friends with him. He went to Jiangtang these years, and Zhong Liuqing treated him well." Zhou Pu sneered: "After all, he secretly replaced the son of Jin's grandson, how dare you not pain."

Zhong You said softly, "Who said he is the son of Zhong Liuqing?" Zhou Pu was stunned, and Zhong You sighed: "He is the son of the owner of Ping Township, the grandson of the Zhong family in Kyoto, and a noble son. If he is How could Zhong Ziming not notice if it was fake?"

"But……"

"It's nonsense." Zhong You said calmly, "I just want to ask, did you entrust someone to send you the order to hold the gold?"

Zhou Pu didn't answer, Zhong You sat quietly.

Bells jingle.

After a long time, Zhong You stood up and nodded to Zhou Pu: "I understand. Chunjing, take your leave." He turned to leave, and when he was about to leave the cave, he suddenly heard someone behind him ask: "He... is he here?"

Zhong You didn't look back, but saw that the sky in Kyoto was clear and blue, and the weather was beautiful.After a long while, he said: "...Here we come."

Within three days, Zhou Pu wrote a book of guilt, covering all the crimes of collaborating with the enemy and treason, and handed it over in one book. When the Jingwei raided the door, he had already hanged himself in the corridor.

The man did not come.

He went on the road alone, was criticized by others, and spurned and abused by the people.

When Zhong Xie was released from prison, the sunlight was dazzling, he squinted his eyes for a long while before he recognized that the person waiting outside was Shi Yu.Shi Yu lifted the curtain of the carriage and signaled him to get on the carriage, when he walked beside Shi Yu, he suddenly asked, "Where is Zhong Baiou?"

"Going home." Shi Yu brushed his hair, exposed his forehead, and was sweating, he said: "There are still a bunch of boys waiting for him to teach, so there is no delay."

Zhong Xie didn't move, he was very depressed, probably "can't figure it out", he asked: "Why didn't he see me."

Shi Yu put his arms on the shaft of the car, and said very dangerously: "What's the matter if he doesn't see you, he must see you?"

Zhong Xie was immersed in the sadness of "who is who?", he was taken aback when he heard this, and subconsciously said: "We are..."

Shi Yu raised his eyebrows slightly, "Is it a bamboo horse?"

"No..." Zhong Xie gradually came to his senses, and he frowned, "That's not what I meant. I have business with him..."

"Get in the car." Shi Yu lifted his shoulders and carried him up.As soon as the curtain was pulled, it blocked Zhong Xie's words, and then drove around all the way to Zhong's mansion, turned around and left, even if the task assigned by Mr. was completed, there was no extra nonsense.

Zhong Xie chased him out again with his messy hair, grabbed Shi Yu's clothes, and said out of breath, "Is he not going to see me again? I only believe what he said about it! Even, even if it's true ……I……"

Shi Yu looked back, "I just forgot. This year's Duanyang Festival, please come and sit at home. I invite Mr. Zhong to drink." After thinking about it, he added: "Wedding wine."

Seeing Zhong Xie staring wide-eyed, he looked stunned.Shi Yu pulled out the corner of his clothes from his hand, turned around and left quickly.Zhong Xie saw that he was tall and straight, and his clothes carried the wind, which was just a proud spring breeze, showing off in a sullen way.

"Shi..." Zhong Xie murmured: "You are so brave... Teacher and elder brother must not kill you..."

In the end, before Hou Ke and Zhong He could get out, Shi Yu was trapped in the capital.That day outside the gate of Kyoto, Xin Ming once promised that whoever would take the head of the enemy would be made a marquis.Shi Yu not only took this one, he also took a share when he led the barbarians back into the Long River Valley.Zhong You left Beijing early and returned home because of the fact that Zhong's family was not rewarded or punished, but Shi Yu failed.If he doesn't answer, Xin Ming will refute this "one promise, a thousand dollars". If he accepts...he doesn't want to accept it.

The person didn't show up for a long time, so Xiao Jin had no choice but to make a trip.His selfishness also fell in love with Shi Yu, taking advantage of the fact that both the Jing Army and the Shanyin Army didn't want anyone, he wanted to stay in the middle of the capital, confer the title of Marquis, and work hard in the future, so that the Jingwei Division will have someone to follow.

Zhong You asked his elder brother to tidy up a yard, and Shi Yu lived here.Xiao Jin met Hou Ke as soon as he entered the door, and the two almost ran into each other.Xiao Jin saw that Hou Ke's complexion was not good, so he couldn't help looking into the courtyard, but he didn't see anyone, so he asked, "How come Prime Minister Hou is here?"

Hou Ke threw down his sleeves, stomped his feet angrily, and said, "Absurd!" Without explaining, he pushed Xiao Jin away and left.

Xiao Jin went in, and met Zhong He again, Zhong He's expression was also ugly, he bowed to him and was about to leave.Xiao Jin stopped the person and asked, "Why is your teacher so angry?"

Zhong He said: "This son is not serious, just talking nonsense!"

Xiao Jin was shocked: "How dare he tease your teacher?!"

Zhong He choked for a moment, and said solemnly: "...Master Hou, turn around and persuade the Holy Majesty carefully, this son can't be kept! Just beat him out!" His sleeves trembled slightly with anger, and said: "How can you let him be a marquis? There are countless good men on the battlefield! Which, which one is not better than this?" The more he said, the more heartbroken he was: "Bai Guu is really... this guy is rude! I don't recognize it!"

"Hey..." Xiao Jin became more and more curious, seeing people go out with anger, "What's the matter... Let me explain it to Lord Hou!"

When Shi Yuzhen appeared in front of the various factions in Kyoto, it would be March.Xin Ming appointed him to the table and sat under Xiao Jin.This banquet not only belonged to Prince Pingding, but also brought Meng Chen who was far away in Jingzhen.Wu Yu has the duty of guarding, so he can't leave the post easily, Xie Jing can't escape even if he escapes, let alone return to Beijing to show his face, only he is here.

What Xin Ming meant was to be granted the title of "Marquis of Changhe", because the emperor had been avoiding him before, so he didn't make it clear at the banquet, and only announced someone to accompany him when he was about to leave.

Shi Yu accompanied the servants all the way through the pavilion and arrived at a courtyard inside.As soon as he entered, he could see that the stone table under the tree was bright and majestic, and there were three people sitting there, and his master Meng Chen was standing beside him.

"This is the one." Taishang Huang Xin Yi looked at his tender face, unlike a father, when he showed people to King Ping Ding, he had a dimple in his smile.

Shi Yu and Xin Yi had seen each other on the road, and they were no strangers, but this was the first time he had seen King Pingding.This person... is indescribable.After 50 years of Hongxing, many things in Dalan are inseparable from this person's name. In the early years, Qingliu called him the King of Hades, and called him "a minister of power". too emperor.

This person and the Supreme Emperor... There are many rumors circulating among the people.

Although the temples are covered with snow, they do not look old.Narrow eyes hit Shi Yu here, Shi Yu rarely felt a chill on his back, he lowered his eyes and didn't look any more.

It took a long time to hear Ping Ding Wang Dao say: "Very good." The chopsticks touched lightly, and it was food for Xin Yi, and the fingertips lightly pushed the plate, and then said in a low voice: "It looks quite similar."

I didn't say who I looked like.

Xin Ming hurried to the side and said, "I think so too. You didn't see it, that rider stood out from the crowd, and took the head of the enemy in a blink of an eye." He spared the bright crown and jewels on the table, and even the word "zhen" Without mentioning it, he called King Pingding "You".

Shi Yu was expressionless, but felt a little interesting in his heart.I heard that the emperor called Taishanghuang "Father Emperor" and King Pingding... "Father".

"It seems to have something to do with me." Xin Yi said softly, "Half a junior."

Meng Chen stood beside him and hurriedly said: "That's nothing... You can remember him, it's the blessing of this kid. If you go up, it will be higher. He is only this age, so he can't be called."

"Uncle Meng." Xin Yi looked at him and pointed with a smile, "It's been so many years, you're still being polite. Sit down, and we're going to talk at home today. I stay on Nansui Mountain all year round. I don't know when we'll see each other next time. .There is no other meaning in calling Shi Yulai, just to ask him if he should be that 'Marquis of Changhe'."

This is already supporting Meng Chen.Meng Chen had annoyed Xin Ming because of Yan Su before, now that Xin Ming wants to stay in time, it might be because he wants to close the business that Meng Chen left behind.Xin Yi's ability to say "ask" is to express his attitude towards this matter.Xin Ming didn't make an order for a long time, and it was because of Xin Yi's sake that he didn't force him to stay.

"Why not?" King Ping Ding wiped his hands, his eyes fell on Shi Yu's shoulders, as if exerting pressure.He said: "Let's listen." Meng Chen was about to speak, but King Ping Ding didn't even turn his eyes, and wrote lightly: "Listen to him."

The courtyard was quiet, even the servant's waist was bent a bit more than before.

Shi Yu was silent for a while, raised his head to meet King Pingding, and said: "Wealth and honor are not my business."

Wealth is not my business, it belongs to the White Gull League.The ambition is not here, but in Baiou.When he came out of Qingping, he had only one thought, and now he still said the same thing even if he was asked to be an official of the Golden Palace and a prince.

The atmosphere suddenly tightened until Xin Yi made a sound.

"Everyone has their own aspirations." Xin Yi pushed the plate in front of King Ping Ding, and King Ping Ding closed his eyes. Xin Yi said softly: "Everyone in Changhe, you must be sealed. They are all martyred for the country, so you can't be careless. The ones left behind This one, I don’t force it, it’s completely satisfactory.”

Xin Ming hesitated, looked at Meng Chen again, and said: "Listen to my father... but." His eyes darkened, "I promise you to go home, but I still want to seal you, so I will seal you as Marquis of Changhe. I heard that Zhong Baiou started an academy, you go back to guard the academy, and after a few years, the two of you will hand over a 'Little Hanlin' to me."

Xin Ming will never let Shi Yu go back to take up Meng Chen's business, so he thinks that if he makes such a move, it can be regarded as beating Meng Chen.If there is no accident, Shi Yu, Marquis of Changhe, will have to stay in Qingping until his old age.And he didn't punish Zhong You or Zhong He, but instead gave Zhong You such a burden, which can be said to tell the world that the emperor didn't deal with Zhong You because he was a member of Jiangtang Zhong's family. Son.Zhong You has no real power, no matter how high he is, it's all a false name, so it doesn't matter.Zhong He was not punished, nor was he rewarded. If he does not stay under Hou Ke for eight or nine years, he will never be promoted.

The higher the reputation, the more ruthless Jiangtang Zhong's family will run.

Yan Su made a dangerous mistake, and the emperor cannot bear the responsibility. At this moment, everyone understands that Jiangtang Zhong's family will not be able to make it through.

Selling tobacco millet privately, collaborating with the enemy and treason.

Zhou Pu wanted to bear the responsibility with his life, how could this be possible?