Huan Rong

The first year of Xian'an, the first month, the dark day

In the early morning, a light rain fell in Xuyi.

The rain was pattering down, obscuring the entire city in a blink of an eye.When the wind passes, the transparent rain and fog are gently blown away, bringing the breath of green grass and soil.

The shops on the side of the street opened their doors one after another, and the clerks rushed in and out, and their shoulders were quickly drenched by the rain. They wiped them with a cloth towel twice, and they didn't even sneeze, but they were much more awake.

"It's raining well!"

Several state soldiers in coir raincoats and bamboo hats patrolled the street, and their spears hit the ground, making a blunt sound that spread far away in the rain.

It was still early, the gates of the city had not yet opened, the peddlers carrying their burdens were nowhere to be seen, the bustle of the city was no longer as it used to be, and the long streets seemed deserted.

Only the restaurant selling breakfast became lively.

There was even a long line of shopkeepers and shopkeepers from nearby shops.

In front of the shop, steamed pancakes and hummus pancakes are placed in stacks. Millet porridge and Daozhou porridge are steaming hot, together with steamed buns and steamed buns from the governor's mansion, each of which is as big as a fist and has no sour taste at all. I can't move my feet.

Zhou Bing passed by a steamed stuffed bun shop, and it happened that a basket of meat buns was steamed.

The man slightly lifted the lid of the cage, and the aroma filled the air in an instant.

The state soldiers couldn't move their legs, their stomachs roared, and they looked at Shi Zhang longingly. Since they met, can they buy two before leaving?

Shi Chang snorted and slapped a state soldier on the head, "Look at how promising you are!"

"Brother, aren't you hungry?" Zhou Bing smiled and covered his stomach, "Besides, this bun is really delicious. The cooks in the camp are good at cooking, but they always try to save trouble. Except for steamed cakes, steamed buns, Occasionally, when I come to steamed buns, everyone is crazy about grabbing them. I can't grab others, and every time..."

"Okay!" Shi Chang's expression turned cold, and he slapped the state soldier again.Unlike before, this time he used [-]% of his strength to beat the Texas soldier staggeringly, almost tripping to the ground.

"It's only been a few days, have you forgotten about it?!"

Shi Zhang refused to leave at all, his tiger eyes glanced at the crowd, and he said firmly: "We are all from the same hometown, and we joined Xuyi together. What kind of life did you live before, have you all forgotten?"

"Not to mention two meals a day, you can't eat half a bowl of bad food in two or three days!"

"Nowadays, there are two meals a day, not to mention the steamed cakes, and the hot broth. The clothes and robes are all new, and there are jackets in the cold weather. Counting on my fingers, I have just had a good few days , and started to raise his tail, dislike the East and the West?!"

"Being a man must not forget his roots!"

Everyone was ashamed, and the state soldier who spoke out even lowered his head, wishing he could find a crack in the ground and sneak in.

Yes, after just a few days of full stomach, you become dissatisfied?

Outside of Xuyi, and even in Youzhou, there were also people who couldn't get enough to eat.

If it weren't for the assassin's benevolent government, and the tyrants in the state were subdued, how many people would freeze to death and starve to death after this winter, and how many would become private slaves?

"Excuse me, I will know my mistake."

"It doesn't count to know a mistake, but to be able to change it!"

"promise!"

Everyone agreed in unison, which attracted the curious eyes of the shop assistants.Seeing the leader looking over, he immediately turned his head, muttering in his heart, this is a great solar term, don't let others find it bad luck.

To be honest, the buddy's worries are purely superfluous.

The military regulations of the state soldiers are very strict, one of which is that they are not allowed to harass the people.Even the Hu people who took refuge in him did not dare to defy the law.Every time I enter the West City, it is a fair transaction, quite polite.

"Man!" Shi Chang stepped forward, took out the cloth bag containing the copper coins, untied the bag, grabbed a handful of copper coins, and said, "I want all the steamed buns, and I'll add another twenty steamed buns."

"Good Le!"

Seeing that there was business to do, the man immediately smiled.

Seeing the heavy rain, he kindly said, "It's cold today, so I'll put it in a cloth bag for you, but please add two more copper coins. Return the cloth bag tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, and the money will still be given to you."

"Put it on."

Shi Chang nodded and left a few copper coins behind.

The clerk was overjoyed, after digging out those two pieces, the rest must be money rewards.

"Please wait!"

Immediately, he quickly fetched two cloth bags and packed the buns and steamed buns.

Freshly baked steamed buns are hot to the touch.The man wiped his hands, picked them up one by one, grinned from time to time, and finally pulled his ears.

"The bag is hot too, be careful!"

"understood."

Shi Chang grabbed the cloth bag, thought for a while, and said, "I'll come back later, and leave me two baskets of steamed buns, and another basket of steamed buns. I know your shopkeeper is skilled, and the pasta is very good. You Tell him that Liu Wu wants it, lest he scold you."

The clerk repeatedly agreed and watched Shi Chang leave.

The shopkeeper just came out, holding the drawer cloth in his hand, and he couldn't help showing surprise when he saw that the steamed bun basket was empty.

In the blink of an eye, a basket of steamed buns was sold out?

"It's a state soldier who patrols the square, and his surname is Liu." The clerk lifted up the empty steamer and said to the shopkeeper, "He also wants two baskets of steamed buns and one basket of steamed buns. He said he would keep them all."

"Surname Liu?"

"Say it's Liu Wu."

"Okay, I know about this. Don't be too busy, wait for him to come."

The man asked curiously, "Do you know this Liu Shichang?"

"It's not just acquaintance." The shopkeeper looked nostalgic, "Just the year before last, I went to Youzhou with him. There was nothing to eat for several days, and no one wanted to work hard. I didn't want to be a private slave of a powerful gentry, so I simply hid in the city. Besides, I almost became a bandit."

drink!

The guy was taken aback.

"Later, when a new assassin took office and recruited state soldiers, the two of us signed up with our fellow countrymen, but he was recruited, but I failed."

Speaking of this, the shopkeeper's face was full of regret, and he sighed repeatedly.

"After the salary was issued, he didn't move a penny. He gave it to me, saying that he would lend it to me so that I could make a living. That's how this shop came into being."

The shopkeeper sighed and rubbed his flour-smeared fingers, "Thanks to this skill, I can also subsidize a few fellow villagers nowadays, which is rare these days."

When the shopkeeper spoke, the sky had already brightened.

The gate of the city was opened, and the villagers and peddlers guarding outside the city poured into the city, most of them rushed to the west city, thinking that there must be a lot of gentlemen and girls visiting for the festival today, and those who have spare money would not mind spending a few, Business is bound to be good.

As Chen approached, the gates and gates of the squares and gates of the four cities were all open, and more and more pedestrians were walking on the street, and sometimes ox carts and horse-drawn carts could be seen.

The square market in the west city is even more noisy, with all kinds of calls for buying.

Xuyi City, which had been quiet all night, suddenly became lively.

In contrast, Nancheng was a little quieter.

The patrol team returned, and the handover state soldiers were already ready.

There were hot soup and steamed cakes in the camp, and most state soldiers and private soldiers had just finished their morning exercises and were queuing up to scoop up soup and get cakes.

Liu Wu returned to the camp with two sacks in his hands, stamped his fingerprints on the duty booklet, and the clerk stamped it. He didn't go to collect the food, but distributed half of the bag of buns to the soldiers in Shinei, and took the rest back to the barracks. Finding a few servants of the Qin family who were packing their luggage, they said, "Qin Fang, didn't you say that you will leave in the afternoon?"

"It's indeed afternoon, but it's an early preparation."

The servant who spoke turned around, with a square face, a short beard under his jaw, a long scar on his forehead, and his tendons almost tore through the leather armor.

"Fortunately, in time!"

Liu Wuchang let out a sigh, put the two bags on the couch, left a sentence "for you", turned around and found a money bag, grabbed it and walked out.

"and many more!"

Qin Fang moved extremely quickly and grabbed Liu Wu's shoulder.

"What's going on? At least make it clear."

"This is the pasta from Xupu in Xicheng. It's still warm. You and a few brothers are stuffing your stomachs. I'll go there again, and you can take it with you to eat on the way!"

Qin Fang didn't move, asked her companion to fetch the copper coins, and said, "Take it!"

Liu Wu was dissatisfied, did he not treat him as a brother?

"Tell you to take it!"

A younger servant stuffed the money bag, patted Liu Wu on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Brother, what you mean is that we will accept your kindness. However, there are not a few who go back, and your money is not enough. Take all of these, and buy as many as Xu Pu’s buns. Otherwise, we’d be ashamed to eat these ten or twenty buns in front of our brothers.”

Liu Wu understood, patted his chest and smiled, "Success, I'll go right away!"

If it were someone else, this might not be possible.

After all, Xupu's steamed stuffed buns are quite famous, and at this time, more than a dozen baskets may have been sold out.But he and Xu Kun are old acquaintances and have a close friendship.Calculate the time, and it is too late to do it now.

After Liu Wu left, Qin Fang and others continued to pack their luggage.

In Xuyi for a few months, I ate and lived with state soldiers and private soldiers. They had all the state soldiers had. They had two jackets alone, and leather boots made by Yandu. The soles were not hard but kept warm. , Put it on and don't want to take it off.

"Speaking of which, we may not be able to meet again after we leave." A servant tied up his package and said, "Qin Lei and the others will go back with them. Ten to ten is because the strength of the troops is tight, and the Di people are not kind to those who come."

"Don't talk about being discouraged!" Another servant glared at him, threw the burden away, opened the cloth bag, grabbed a bun, ate it in two or three bites, and his cheek bulged.

"When did those Hu thieves get better?" Qin Fang sat on the edge of the couch and grabbed a bun.

"A few years ago, Wubao was caught among the thieves, and life was even more difficult. There were constant swords all year round! My eldest father, uncle, and several uncles all died at the hands of the thieves."

Qin Fang took a bite of the steamed stuffed bun, as if gnawing on the flesh and blood of an enemy.

"Whatever you say to be kind to people is all false! You reason with wild wolves, do they listen? It's better to kill them with one knife, and it's more real to peel and cramp!"

Several people nodded one after another, and you shared the buns and steamed buns one by one, and the two bags were emptied in the blink of an eye.

"Qin Lei said that there was a traitor in the castle, and Mr. Wulang lost an arm."

"En." Qin Fang swallowed the steamed buns, gulped down half a bowl of water, "The thief slave took refuge with Di Kou, and almost killed Mr. Wulang! He is said to be dead."

"Dead? Really cheap him!"

"Yes, it's time to behead the body and throw it to the wolves!"

Several people gritted their teeth and slapped the table hard.

When Qin Lei brought people over, he happened to see this scene.Sweeping through the empty cloth bag, he didn't say much, but asked Qin Fang and others to bring their luggage and let him go to see Qin Jing.

"Leave now?" Qin Fang was taken aback for a moment.

"There was another news last night that Di Kou stationed troops in the east of the river and was approaching Luozhou. I can't wait to return to Pengcheng, so I rushed directly from Qiaojun to Yuzhou to meet Qilang-lord."

Without another word, the servant immediately grabbed his luggage and strode out of the house.

"There is one more thing I need to remind you."

Qin Lei suddenly opened his mouth, and said to Qin Fang and the others: "After returning to the Northland, you must not contact Xuyi again unless you ordered it from your lord."

The Qin family and Yi Jin were destined not to be friends, and Huan Rong, as a minister of Jin, unless the political situation changed, the covenant between the two parties would be invalidated sooner or later, and they would even meet on the battlefield.

If they don't want to be abandoned, these servants who have been to Xuyi are bound to cut off their connection with here.

"promise!"

Everyone agreed in unison, glanced at the cloth bag left behind, gritted their teeth hard, and their expressions instantly became firm.

When Liu Wu returned excitedly carrying the cloth bag, except for a few state soldiers who lived with him, the servants of the Qin family had long since disappeared.

Seeing the empty cloth bag, Liu Wu was stunned for a moment, until Wang Shichang from the same team walked behind him and patted him on the shoulder before he managed to recover.

"You take turns to rest today. If you don't rest in the camp, what are you doing running in and out?"

Liu Wu turned around, the bag on his shoulder fell to the ground, rubbed his face vigorously, and forced a smile: "It's okay! Qin Fang and the others left today, and they wanted to send some buns from Xupu in Xicheng..."

Wang Shichang grinned and said with a smile: "They have no food, let's eat!"

Grabbing a heavy cloth bag, he said to the state soldiers who had smelled the aroma earlier: "Call all those who are not on duty to come over, and leave half of those on duty. If there is not enough, break it open, and everyone will taste it!"

"it is good!"

The state soldiers were overjoyed and immediately went to inform everyone.

When there were only two people left in the room, Wang Shichang pressed Liu Wu's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Don't say what you just said in the future, and don't mention Qin Fang and the others. In the final analysis, we have different paths!"

Liu Wu raised his head, the word Chuan twisted between his brows.

"The envoy is an official of the imperial court, and they are from the north. Don't look at the current business, they are very polite to each other, maybe one day they will turn against each other and meet each other directly. You have to think about it, don't be foolish! At that time, if you don’t talk about it yourself, you will implicate Brother Tongshi, and you will have no face to see Hades when you die!"

Liu Wu gave an "en" and said with a wry smile, "I didn't think so much."

"Think about it in the future." Wang Shichang sighed, "My ancestor was an official of Cao Wei, and my great-grandfather was also the chief bookkeeper. How will it end up? In this troubled world, there is no security, and it is not uncommon to be born today and die tomorrow. We are lucky to meet an official like Huan Shijun, and we are lucky to be human!"

"I understand." Liu Wu said forcefully, "Our lives are all given by Huan Shijun. Whoever dares to find Shijun uncomfortable, I will fight with my life!"

Wang Shichang thumped Liu Wu's shoulder hard. The two looked at each other and laughed at the same time. The shadow over their hearts dissipated instantly, and the two cloth bags left on the couch were forgotten together.

Liu Shichang's two copper coins are destined to be irrecoverable.

In the assassin's mansion, Qin Jing is ready to go.

Before leaving, Huan Rong sold [-] leather armors and [-] carts at a low price, including the first batch of refugees sent back by Hu merchants, leaving only a few skilled craftsmen, and handing over the rest to Qin Jing .

"I owe Brother Rong another favor."

"Brother Qin, you're welcome." Huan Rong shook his head and said with a smile, "If Brother Qin feels sorry, and captures Chang'an in the future, you can give me half of the gold, silver and jewels in Fu Jian's collection."

"it is good."

"Give it to me?" Huan Rong was surprised.He was just joking, but Qin Jing really nodded.

"Brother Rong helped me a few times, and even gave me good medicine to save my fifth brother's life. Don't say half of it, why not give it all to Brother Rong?" Qin Jing looked at Huan Rong with a smile, and changed the topic, "It's just that Brother Rong this time Afraid of being disappointed."

Huan Rong blinked, "Why?"

"The Di Kou's attack this time is just a bluff. A few small battles are inevitable, and a full-scale decisive battle is really impossible."

"Brother Qin, do you mean that the battlefield will be limited to the border?"

"Yes." Qin Jing simply picked up the long sword, drew on the ground with the tip of the sword, and quickly drew a simple picture.

"Information came out from Chang'an that Fu Jian's winter conscription has aroused great dissatisfaction from various ministries. It's not that Wang Meng tried to convince everyone, I'm afraid there will be chaos inside Chang'an."

Hearing what Qin Jing said, a thought flashed in Huan Rong's mind, and he thought it was impossible.

"Wang Meng does not agree with this conscription."

"You mean, King Fu Jian is at odds?"

"It's not a discord, it's just that we couldn't reach an agreement on conscription. I heard that Fu Jian got angry twice, and Wang Meng excused his illness to stay away for three days."

Huan Rong: "..." Isn't this called discord?

Qin Jing shook her head, and said: "A few days ago, the ruler captured Shangjun in order to anger Fu Jian. As expected, he fell into the trick and forcibly dispatched troops regardless of the objections of the officials."

Huan Rong's eyes narrowed slightly.

"It's not rude to come and go."

Wang Meng used He Ye's family to plot Qin's family, and almost killed Qin Yu.

Qin Ce will definitely not swallow this breath.

It is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years?

I'm sorry, he is a warrior, he pays attention to kindness and hatred, revenge must be reported immediately, and the enemy must be killed as soon as possible.

Therefore, Zhang Yu made a plan to take down Shangjun, angered Fu Jian, and then spread rumors through the spies in Chang'an. His original intention was to provoke the tribe that belonged to the Di people. Unexpectedly, he wanted to get an unexpected surprise, which caused a rift between the golden partners of Fu Jian and Wang Meng. .

"When Wang Meng came forward to persuade the leaders of the ministries, Fu Jian would take half a step back, and the rift between the monarch and his ministers would not widen." Qin Jing's expression was filled with regret, "It may be very difficult to find such an opportunity again."

Huan Rong didn't answer.

When it comes to provoking and arson, who is better than Jia Sheren?

After sending Qin Jing away, he decided to ask Jia Bing for advice, and if he encountered this situation, he should do the same.

Chang'an's hearts are not in harmony, and the patched army will not attack with all its strength, and Qin's is not the same.

Qin Ce ordered Qin Jing and Qin Ju to station troops in Luozhou to contain [-] Di soldiers. He went on a personal expedition again, attacking from the south of Shangjun, and continued to grab meat from Fu Jian.

"With the war together, the Di Kou border will not be peaceful." Qin Jing approached Huan Rong and said in a low voice, "Brother Rong, why don't you send a caravan to the border, I'm sure there will be gains."

Huan Rong took half a step back and looked at Qin Jing with doubts all over his face.

If there is no mistake, did Qin Jing let him take advantage of the opportunity?

There is such a good thing?

"In the next few months, the number of refugees in the Northland will inevitably increase, and the miscellaneous people will also show signs of wavering." Qin Jing smiled, "How can such a deal be missed?"

"Brother Qin, what conditions do you have?"

"I will send someone to guide the caravan, avoid the battlefield, and find the miscellaneous people near the border." Qin Jing said.

"After the matter is completed, I want half of the sons of the Han family. It's another matter. If you catch the nobles of the Di people, you can get a good price. I won't take any money, and I will give it all to Brother Rong. It should be used to compensate for the loss of personnel."

Huan Rong smiled.

Is this considered to join forces to cut meat and rip off?

"Of course."

"..." Need to admit so generously?

Qin Jing nodded, time was running out and there was no way to be tactful.

Huan Rong thought about it for a moment, and felt that this matter could be done, and without wasting any time, he made a contract on the way to send Qin Jing out of the city.

"Brother Qin has a smooth journey, and may this battle be won!"

"Borrow a good word from Brother Rong!"

Qin Jing stepped forward immediately, brushed Huan Rong's temples with his cool fingers, whispered "Brother Rong take care", then turned the horse's head and galloped away.

Huan Rong touched his earlobe and sighed, people really need to exercise.If it were two months ago, I'm afraid I'm going to blush right now.Now, his heartbeat is only slightly faster, and his expression has not changed.

Back at the Assassin's Mansion, when Xun You and Zhong Lin heard about this, they felt that Huan Rong was a bit hasty.

"Minggong, this matter is not a small risk."

"I know." Huan Rong put down the bamboo slips and said with a smile, "However, with Qin's servants leading the way, he can also understand the shortcut to Di Qin."

Unlike merchants, Qin's servants must be preparing for war when they explore the way.

This is a rare benefit.

Compared with the Qin family, the Eastern Jin Dynasty is closer to Chang'an.

Huan Rong's ambitions are not limited to Youzhou.The scumbag can control several states, why can't he?And to strive for greater power, military merit and fame are indispensable.

Youzhou and Chang'an are a bit far away, but the adjacent Jingzhou is under the control of Huanhuo, and Yizhou has gradually started to do business.Huan Rong is trying to avoid Sima Huan and Jiankang, and spread a big net with his own strength.

"Duke Ming?" Xun You and Zhong Lin looked at each other, their eyes brightened slightly.

"I did not say anything."

Huan Rong spread his hands and continued to gather the bamboo slips of letters.Turning to the news sent by Mrs. Li, knowing that Sheyang was assigned to the Shiyi of the county princess, some people in the court were about to make a move, and half of the good mood disappeared immediately.

Touching his chin, Huan Cishi began to think seriously.

He can consider paying taxes on the basis of [-] households.After all, he was still an official of the imperial court, so he had to give the emperor some face.

However, if there is someone who is not afraid of death and dares to make an inch, will he be beaten half to death or completely killed?If it's really troublesome, why don't you just talk to your mother, put Sheyang into the fiefdom, and ask Sima Yu to find another place for his daughter?

In that case, the title of the county magistrate might not be enough, he must be the county magistrate.

Thinking of this, Huan Rong raised his eyebrows, tapped his fingers on the table, and slowly fell into deep thought.