Longquan County Magistrate Wu Yuan left the Li family's mansion on Fulu Street with a confidant, Secretary Lang. Wu Yuan, who was wearing official uniform, was walking when he suddenly became independent, bent down, took off his boots, and poured out The grit in it. The secretary-general who was born in a noble family was not surprised by this, but now Fulu Street was far more lively than before. The young man, who was still a subordinate for the time being, immediately tried his best to help the chief officer to cover up, and at the same time said softly: "Then Li Hong had clearly relented before and was willing to take the lead in giving in on the matter of the Immortal Tomb. Why did he suddenly change his mind? Isn't he afraid of giving you the impression of being a snake and a mouse?"
Wu Yuan, who looked tired, said helplessly: "It's probably Li Hong's second son, Li Baozhen, who has made a name for himself in the capital. Maybe he has secured a backer and sent a secret letter home to ask Li Hong not to act rashly. Or something like that." The eldest son, who lives in seclusion, reminded Li Hong to stop quietly. It's hard to say. In short, we are in trouble now. We have no choice. The original arrangement was mostly based on my husband... Well, let's not talk about it. The ship is here. The bridge is naturally straight. Let’s go have a drink. Let’s have two pots of Peach Blossom Spring Roast first. I’ll treat you. You pay and it will be recorded in Mr. Fu’s account.”
As for this Shangguan’s credit, my last name is Fu's secretary, who was already numb, just asked curiously: "It is said in the town that the two sons and one daughter of the Li family on Fulu Street were once criticized by a fortune teller and hailed as dragons, lins and phoenixes?"
Wu Yuan rubbed his pale and thin cheeks, and said with a casual smile: "Do you believe these things? We in Lijing City want to get ahead, especially those who are born in Baiding Hanshi, and they have high hopes for celebrities. , Who doesn’t have some unique experience in accumulating reputation? Even if you are a wealthy person, how can you be so good? Whether your Fu family’s statement of being “glorious and dazzling” contains any water or not, outsiders don’t know, but you Fu Yu yourself doesn’t know. Number?"
Fu Yu, who was exposed, said angrily: "Mr. Wu, are you embarrassed to talk about our Fu family?"
Wu Yuan felt better, laughed, and patted his confidant. On the shoulder of a good friend, "We are colluding together."
Fu Yu then laughed, "We are like-minded and have the same spirit, doesn't it sound better?"
Wu Yuan laughed and scolded: " Isn't it pretentious? Being a hypocrite is very tiring, but being a true villain is a pleasure."
Fu Yu shook his head and said regretfully, "Master Wu just followed the trend."
Wu Yuan lamented. He changed the subject and said, "I miss my wife a little bit."
Fu Yu smiled and said: "Your Excellency, County Magistrate, is it time to relax the ban on brothel hookups in Longquan County? Drinking and debauchery, only "Wine is nothing."
Wu Yuan nodded and said seriously: "Among the migrant prisoners of the Lu Dynasty, there are some women whose identities fit the bill. Rather than die working hard in the mountains and wild forests, it is better to give They have one more choice. Of course, this matter cannot be forced. The key is up to them. Fu Yu, you don’t have to accompany me to look down on others every day. You will be responsible for running this matter yourself."
This time it was Fu Yu's turn to be surprised. He had just mentioned it casually before and then asked doubtfully: "Seriously?"
Wu Yuan tugged at the collar of his official uniform and smiled: "What are you serious about? It's fake. So many hills have been opened up. In the future, most of the gods on the mountains will live in the mansion of the immortal family. If you want to retain these visionary and wealthy uncles and let them spend a lot of money in our town, rely on me to do it right away. Should I lose my status as a small county magistrate and rely on you, Fu Yu? I heard from my husband in the past that those people in the mountains who have high standards often have little interest in the so-called beauty of secular women. Because compared to the fairies who practice Taoism, there is a big difference inside the skin, so the women under the mountain are only left with their identities, such as the golden branches and jade leaves of the country, and the wealthy women whose homes were confiscated. This is somewhat tempting, Lu. There is no shortage of prisoners in the dynasty."
Fu Yu said angrily: "The imperial court intends to appoint a new kiln supervisor. What have you been doing these past two months, sir? , walked through more than 60 hills step by step, and talked to those old foxes, from the county government to the groundbreaking of the Chenghuang Pavilion, to the site selection negotiations, preliminary measurements and wood preparation of the two civil and military temples, to the Lu family The resettlement of the survivors is done in every detail. How can I sleep for more than three hours? Well, the court officials are just talking. Maybe Master Wu is really doing things poorly? ! I intend to make your official career start in Longquan County and end in Longquan County!"
Fu Yu probably felt that the last statement was too unlucky and unrealistic, so he said gloomily: "At least I can. I thought that the master would not be able to successfully take charge of a department before he was fifty, so he could only rely on boiling words to get to the high position of the department little by little."
Wu Yuan opened his chapped lips, and finally opened his chapped lips. Still didn't say anything.
Fu Yu laughed suddenly, Wu Yuan turned around and asked, "What happy things did you think of?"
Fu Yu nodded and said, "Longquan County is a small place. But compared to the bustling capital, I still like it here, with soju, pastries, and meat buns every morning. Whenever I want to eat, I can walk there and buy them, and the trip back and forth can take up to half an hour. , just sitting in the wine shop, ordering a pound of loose wine, I, Fu Yuneng, could sit quietly for an hour, and no one would come over to call me Mr. Fu. I would also have a small bowl of soy sauce meat and a plate of pickled vegetables. I really want to live forever. Let's live like this. So now, I want to make some achievements here, no matter how difficult it is, I won't be afraid." Wu Yuan hummed, "If I just lie down and enjoy it, I will be supported by others. If you are rising through the ranks, what's the point of being an official? You have to be down-to-earth and do something for the people. You are better than me because I was born in poverty and know how difficult it is for the people in the city and the countryside. You are a noble son of the Fu family who has been around for generations. You can do this. I think it surprised me."
The two walked side by side.
Fu Yu said helplessly: "But the problem is, you have done practical things, and the people may not think well of you. In the history books, capable ministersIsn’t it rare for an official to pioneer and enterprising in a local area, only to end up being scolded and left in despair? Hundreds of years later, the government and the public finally realized what had happened, and in the end only a few poems praising virtues were handed down, which were of no use.
Wu Yuan shook his head and said: "It's wrong to think so. Doing things is just doing things. Your original intention is to do something that makes you feel particularly proud. As for whether the people will appreciate it after you do it, the court will do it." Do you agree or not? You don’t have to think about this now. If you think about it too much, you will only be looking for trouble. One misguided thought may even cause you to lose your fighting spirit altogether. We Confucians are different from Taoists who pursue how high Taoism is, and different from Buddhism who pursue how far Buddhism is..."
Fu Yu sighed.
Wu Yuan seemed to have He said to himself: "Among the three religions, Taoism pays attention to purity. It is a matter of one person. If the world collapses and the earth breaks apart, it is enough for me to live forever. I don't pay attention to the past life and the next life. Instead, I care about this skin in this life, because I need to rely on this skin." Go to enlightenment and walk across the Changsheng Bridge. According to legend, Buddhism is divided into small and large ones. The small one is similar to Taoism, while the large one tells ordinary people about the sufferings in this life and the blessings in the next. In the end, it gives people a lot of thought. Only our Confucianism is the closest to the secular world and has the deepest entanglement. We also have the dilemma of "near one is not as good as the distant one". The greater the knowledge and the higher the cultivation level, the more constrained we are. We always feel that if we stretch out our legs or raise our heads, we will touch something. I've hit a wall of rules. For example, my husband put forward the purpose of learning, which emphasizes learning more than merit. He hopes to eliminate those rotten scholars and cynics. It is a bit like cleaning up the family. Those who do so will make enemies on all sides and will inevitably be ostracized.
Wu Yuan shook his head and said: "Sir, your idea is good, but you are afraid of going to extremes in everything, and everyone is lazy. It is very likely that after a hundred years of prosperity, there will be five hundred or one thousand years." The world is getting worse, because although scholars are still studying the books of saints and sages, and they are all sanctimonious, in the end, they are no longer doing what the saints call "cultivating the awe-inspiring spirit". They are fine now. They have established virtues and made meritorious deeds. The three immortals of Confucianism are sages and gentlemen. Although everyone is pursuing the word "virtue", but once the teacher's knowledge gradually becomes the moral standard of the world, wouldn't it be forced down to the level of "meritorious service"? For a long time, scholars have despised the idea of studying to cultivate virtue. Reading a few words or turning over a few pages of a book seems to be exchanged for many copper coins. What a terrible scene it must be. "
Fu Yu was stunned at first, but soon his expression changed drastically. He reached out and grabbed Wu Yuan's arm, and whispered: "Wu Yuan! These words must not be said to your husband, absolutely not! You are not a qigong practitioner or a cultivator, and you do not know the cruelty of the battle between the great ways. An unintentional word or an unintentional act can lead to death! "
Wu Yuan patted the back of Fu Yu's hand and said with a hoarse smile: "Of course I don't have the courage. Besides, with my gentleman's knowledge and talent, I may have simply thought wrongly." , sir, I’m sure he will look down on my idea. "
After Fu Yu let go of his hand, "Don't let anything slip. I don't want you to be like Song Yuzhang one day, inexplicably..."
Fu Yu stopped talking. DownGo, too many words will lead to mistakes.
Wu Yuan changed the subject, "If I take the wrong path in the future, no matter how big an official I, Wu Yuan, am at that time, Fu Yu, you must remember to scold me in person, preferably to wake me up. Me."
"Don't worry, I will keep it without saying a word and give Wu Shangshu an old punch."
"Liu Bu Shangshu, it's only the second grade, a little too small. A little bit."
"Not small, think about it. When I, Da Li, occupy half of the Aquarius Continent, I will be a small minister. Anyway, Wu will be very big. Sir, I have made a promise. Apart from making small suggestions, I am also bad at making decisions, so I will follow you to death for the rest of my life. From now on, you will be the minister and serve as a minister to me. How about that?"
The two scholars, who were already in the officialdom, walked back to the official residence of the government office with a smile.
In the Li family mansion, a scholar in green shirt picked up the book again and said with a smile: "Wu Yuan, you are not wrong about the matter of merit, but you are indeed thinking too little."
p>————
The town is becoming more and more prosperous and noisy.
In addition to studying in an abandoned school every day, young Cui Zhang still lives in Yuan's old house. Every day he moves a chair and sits next to the patio that hides the wind and collects water. He often falls into a daze. An hour or two. Occasionally, I would go to the brand new school run by the Chen family in Longweixi. I would leave soon after just a few glances.
Wu Yuan, the magistrate of Longquan County, has officially resigned from the position of superintendent of kiln affairs. The successor is said to be a young man from the Cao family of Shangzhu State, and the future father-in-law of Cao family and Wu Yuan The Yuan family is a well-known rival in the Great Li Chaotang, and can fight on various occasions if they disagree. In the small court of the inner court where Huang Zi Gongqing met, the two high-ranking Shangzhu Guo pointed out each other. Scolding and scolding was commonplace, and His Majesty the Emperor mostly gave kind words and advice. Sometimes when he was really annoyed, he would tell the two meritorious men to go home and start the quarrel. Anyway, the two families have been neighbors since their ancestors. It is said that the children of the two families Since childhood, I have learned to throw various objects at neighbors across a wall. You throw bricks and I throw mud, and we reciprocate.
Wu Yuan came to the door this time to ask his husband humbly: "Sir, the imperial court has always been controlled by the Cao family. Are you planning to move me back when I fail to open up the situation? How many years have you been sitting on the bench in a certain Qingshui Yamen in the capital?"
"No."
Cui Chan was still sitting on the big chair and said calmly: "Cao Ji. What's your family background? What's your ability?"
Wu Yuan smiled bitterly: "My family background is far better than mine, and my ability is quite good."
"It's just right for you to compete with such a person. Does it mean that you, Wu Yuan, are still a little bit fussy? Besides, you are the magistrate of Longquan County, and Cao Ji is just the kiln supervisor. Now that the Long kiln has been reopened, it is just to do some finishing work related to natal porcelain. It is not what you thought. "How serious."
The young imperial master with a cinnabar on his eyebrows looked at the patio, "Of course Mr. Cao wants to let Cao Ji step on you and go up. Now let's see if you can."This ability has become a stumbling block for Cao Ji in officialdom. If she can't stop her, it's hard to say whether Yuan is still willing to marry her daughter. If you can stop Cao Ji, who has high hopes from the Cao family, the Yuan family might beg you to marry that woman. ”
Cui Yi glanced at Wu Yuan and said, “It is inevitable for your Majesty to employ people who are familiar with each other. You will always be treated preferentially after your meritorious service. But in the final analysis, it still depends on your true ability.” "
Wu Yuan smiled and said: "After listening to Mr.'s explanation, the student feels much better. "
Cui Chan sneered and said: "You are in a much better mood, sir. What should I do myself? "
Wu Yuan pretended to be deaf and mute and refused to speak.
Cui Chan suddenly said out of nowhere, "Do you have any idea about the conflict between Master Ruan's only daughter Ruan Xiu and outsiders? ? "
Wu Yuan thought for a while and quickly said: "Although Ruan Xiu was a little harsher, after all, it was the idiot who claimed to be a romantic who entangled him first. She had reminded her several times that it was unreasonable. , but reasonable and can’t find any major faults. What's more, her father Ruan Qiong fought a big fight and killed many people in the sky above Lizhu Cave. After that, no monk dared to go beyond the rules. Like father, like daughter..."
Cui Chan was a little impatient, probably out of disgust. This student was so stupid. He poured beans out of a bamboo tube and said a lot, "My Lord Wu, please go and find out carefully why that idiot had the leisure to wander around and happened to pass by the small shop in Qilong Lane where Ruan Xiu was. And he happened to not know her identity at all, and at the moment when the family purchased Shantou and became friends with Da Li, he was so unaware of the importance. If one or two coincidences are coincidences, then with so many coincidences, you can't strangeness? There are many stupid and perverted men in the world, but a young man who is qualified to show up here on behalf of his family, and whose own cultivation qualifications are quite good, will have such bad luck? "
What the young man said was humorous and interesting, but Wu Yuan looked solemn when he heard it, and he was not in a relaxed mood.
At the end of the sentence, the young man began to feel sorry for himself again, and rubbed his cheeks with both hands. , "To be honest, I am worse off than that pervert, but I am really unlucky! Wu Yuan, why don't you stick your face over and let Mr. slap you a few times to vent your anger? "
Wu Yuan is not stupid, it is obvious that the beating was in vain, "Sir, I think it's better to forget it."
The young man said angrily: "Once you are a teacher, you will always be a father. You kid has a temperament that is just like mine. You are probably someone who deceives his master and destroys his ancestors." When the affairs in Longquan County are generally settled, you try to take the time to go to the capital and follow me... and that me to continue discussing the construction of an academy in Piyun Mountain. "
Wu Yuan nodded, but there was no change in his expression.
The young man waved his hand and said, "It's your business. ”
Wu Yuan stood up and left.
In this Yuan family’s old house, except for the silent young man with an exquisite face, Wu Yuan brought him back to his mentor Cui Han after a secret trip. A young prisoner named Xia Yulu was fourteen years old. He had a slender figure and was as strong as a young man. He had a face like a crown of jade and a jade tree facing the wind. For some reason, Cui Chang asked him to change his name.Yu Lu, even if the young man was very reluctant, he could only accept it silently.
The tall young man who changed his name to Yu Lu probably escaped from the dire straits, or he may be born with a cheerful temperament. He cleans the Yuan family's ancestral house from the first floor to the second floor when he has nothing to do. In the end, he even climbed up to the roof to renovate the old tiles. If Cui Chan hadn't disliked the young man's noise and shouted and cursed in front of his eyes, the young man might have even painted the walls of the old house.
All the dishes and vases at home were wiped spotless by Yu Lu. Every time Wu Yuan came to visit his mentor, he could see Yu Lu busy there. After seeing himself, he could only smile. Outside, he just stood in the distance, holding the broom, and began to wait patiently for his departure. After politely seeing off the guests, the young man would start to do the servant work of cleaning footprints and wiping chairs. The young man enjoyed it and let Wu Yuan was puzzled. Could it be that this young man's family and country were ruined and his whole family was reduced to a pariah prisoner? So the stimulation was too great, causing his brain to become a little unclear, right?
After Yu Lu adapted to the clean and busy life of the old house, Cui Han, who had a secret letter in his sleeve, quietly returned to the house with a stranger. He was a slender man with a dark face. The girl's appearance can only be considered average, her expression is stiff all day long, but her eyes are still pretty.
Even when she faced the Great Li Imperial Master, she remained expressionless, neither fearful nor flattering. This made Yu Lu admire him. After hearing that she was also a convict immigrant, he wanted to follow her. She was more attentive and warm, but it was a pity that the girl ignored him. She was even more clumsy and full of mistakes when doing housework. She broke the dishes once or twice. Finally, Yu Lu couldn't bear it anymore and asked her to sit down. While resting, he took care of all the large and small matters by himself, from buying vegetables and washing rice, to cooking, to washing clothes. She was not polite, she just sat on the chair carefree every day, and she was more like a master than her master Cui Chan. The girl didn't seem to appreciate Yu Lu's good intentions. She didn't even look at the boy. Instead, she occasionally caught a glimpse of a hint of sarcasm in the eyes of that mediocre face.
Cui Chan clapped his hands heavily and said, "Come here, all three."
Yu Lu, a tall young man from Linfeng in Yushu, a girl with an excellent figure and a young man with exquisite appearance, stood In front of Cui Han.
Cui Chan tilted his head and looked at the three people. Finally, his eyes rested on the tall young man, "Yu Lu, you were the chess piece I fought for from the beginning. As for you, you are the bag that the empress is determined to win." However, now that she has lost her power and is living in a miserable state, she has been banished to the Changchun Palace to cultivate her mind and nature. As for me, who is in the Great Li capital city, after taking control of the Green Bamboo Pavilion, I took advantage of the opportunity to get close to the water. Sending you to me is like taking you out of the pit of fire. You should thank me. According to that empress's usual style of making the best of everything, if you fall into her hands, your fate in the future may not be as good as that of Yang Hua. Okay."
Cui Han shifted his gaze and looked at the girl, "What are you going to do with your last name in the future? Or should you just change everything like Yu Lu?"
The girl has a soft voice. Said: "Master National Preceptor,I just need to keep my last name Xie. "
Cui Han thought for a while and laughed: "Oh? Why don't you just call me by your last name and thank you by your first name? This name is such an advantage. Thank you. Why don't you thank me? "
The girl's face was still expressionless, but there was anger in her eyes. No matter how hard the girl tried to hide it, she could not hide it.
Cui Han said sadly: "I will My name is no longer Cui Zhan. If you like, just call me Cui Dongshan, or you can call me Young Master. ”
Cui Chan’s face was filled with dismay, “Yu Lu, thank you, please clean up and salute, we will set off tomorrow and follow the south post road to Yefu Pass on the border. "
Neither of them questioned anything.
Cui Chan saw the delicate young man full of expectations and said, "You, just stay here, or go to Chen's School You can also study, it’s up to you. "
The young man was full of grievances. Just when he was about to pluck up the courage to pray for his companions, Cui Han glared angrily, "Get out! ”
The young man was startled and left quickly.
Cui Chan stood up, walked to a small study room on the second floor, and started to write a letter.
< p>Nearly 10,000 words are written eloquently.“Too much is not enough, the Dali court overly respected literati, which made many people seeking fame and fame use poetry as a shortcut to official career and a stepping stone to officialdom. We must change the current atmosphere in the capital of Great Li. We must not allow the officials of the Manchu Dynasty to act like peddlers and lackeys, blindly advocating for the superficial style of study that emphasizes beautiful words and poems. We must emphasize classics and meanings, current affairs, and reality, and we must firmly grasp the merits of our work. Two words, even if the Dali Song family changes dynasties, no matter who comes to sit on the throne, they cannot lose the foundation for you and me to achieve greatness. ”
“It is only right to break the strong and conquer it slowly. ”
“The Imperial College must be in our hands. When appropriate, we can take back the arrangements of the Qintian Prison in exchange for complete control of the Imperial College. "
...
At the end of writing, Cui Han suddenly threw his pen on the ground, "What's the use of writing this now? I'm not me anymore. You are a guy who can stand and talk without pain, but you still have the nerve to tell me, "Don't contact me for the time being, take care of yourself." But you gave me half of your wealth. You are worthy of being Lao Cui Chen, an iron rooster who never plucks a dime! You are enjoying happiness in the capital, but I am going to be a disciple of others. Why don’t you just strike me to death with a thunderbolt..."
The young man with a cinnabar mole on his forehead burst into tears and was heartbroken. .