Xin Xiran had never been to the place where Qiu Ji had made an appointment, and he had never heard of it, he asked Fushimi to inquire, only to find out that it was in the outer city, and he couldn't figure out why Qiu Ji wanted to meet him in the outer city, but since he agreed, he had to go to the appointment, so he had breakfast the next day, and said goodbye to the Yuan family.

Yuan was not worried about him going out, saying that he would let Xin Xiran bring a few guards by his side, Xin Xiran was not happy, and repeatedly promised to come back, Yuan was a little relieved, and told Fushimi to stay by the young master's side at all times, so he was very reluctant to watch Xin Xiran go out.

After a few days, looking at the lively streets, Xin Xiran suddenly felt a little dazed, the bleak situation of the first half of the month was still lingering in his mind, he knew that he couldn't forget that experience in this life, that painful, life is worse than death, lonely experience.

In the past, when he walked on this lively street, he would be attracted by all the lively things, like a naïve child, carefree and looking at all the new and interesting things, but now, he no longer has that mind.

It turns out that the growth of people is really just overnight.

Fushimi also saw that his young master's mood was wrong, but he just sat silently next to him, without a single superfluous word.

The carriage drove out of the inner city and into the outer city, and it took another quarter of an hour to reach the location Qiu Ji said—the Mid-Mountain Residence.

It is said to be a half-mountain residence, but in fact, it is a pavilion halfway up the mountainside, Xin Xiran came to the half-mountain residence, and saw that Qiu Ji had already sat down in the pavilion, and two cups and a pot of wine were placed on the stone pier.

He walked into the pavilion, sat down opposite Qiu Ji, and saw that there was already wine in the cup, so he raised his head and drank it all, and suddenly sighed: "This is the first time we have sat and drunk face to face." "It's like old friends, but they're no longer friends.

Qiu Ji also drank the wine in front of him, and then Wei Za filled it up for the two, and then stepped aside to be transparent.

This time, Xin Xiran didn't serve a wine glass, he knew that Qiu Ji definitely didn't invite him over to catch up with the old days, and he came to such a remote place, although it was not good to meet in the house, but there was a wine shop everywhere in Beijing, why did he come here?

He looked around and found that the location of this half-mountain residence was on the periphery of the mountainside, with a mountain on the back and a low cliff on the front.

The location of the Mid-Mountain Residence is actually not very high, but looking down from here, you can see the whole picture of the next head, but it is not as prosperous as the inner city, but it is a ---- chaos here.

Below it looked like a slum, dilapidated houses, and the streets that crossed were also gray and white, and I don't know what was going on in the streets, but I could see groups of people crowded and pushing.

And in other places, there are also occasional people who have experienced it, although they can't see it very clearly, but Xin Xiran can also see that those people are thin and shabby, and the beggars are not much better.

It was already cold on the mountain, and as soon as the cold wind blew, Xin Xiran shivered coldly, and he stared at the situation below, silent.

"Do you know what they're doing?" Qiu Ji asked suddenly.

Xin Xiran glanced at him, and then lowered his gaze to the position below, "What do you want to say when you called me?"

If it was before, he would not have asked such a straightforward question, but now, he only looks at the important questions, and he will definitely ----- never allow himself to act impulsively and recklessly.

Qiu Ji didn't answer him first, but said to himself: "This is the location near the edge of the city, and below is one of the many slums in the outer city, and these people are stealing rations from other people's mouths every day. ”

Sneaking and robbing here is not uncommon, to put it bluntly, this is another world that people in the inner city can't see on weekdays, but this is the situation in most places in the West Night Country now.

In the inner city of Kyoto, you can see the natural prosperity, but out of the bustling inner city, the outside is already filthy.

Xin Xiran listened, but he didn't say anything, and after a while, he picked up the wine glass and drank it all, and Wei Za was about to pour him wine, but he waved his hand and refused.

Qiu Ji continued: "Please come to ----- today"

Xin Xiran finally turned his head to look at him head-on.

"I asked you to help these miserable people. ”

Xin Xiran was puzzled: "How can I help? Even if I scatter all my wealth, I may not be able to help these people." ”

Qiu Ji simply didn't sell it, and said bluntly: "In the future, more than half of the officials in the court will come to the court, and they will ask for a large-scale expansion of the army, smelting weapons, and casting walls on the basis of the rampant Weizhou Righteous March." ”

Xin Xiran became more and more puzzled, not to mention where Qiu Ji came from, even if he knew it from Qiu Ji's father, this issue didn't seem to be something that he could discuss? !

Qiu Ji was not in a hurry to explain, and continued: "Since ancient times, the large-scale expansion of the army will definitely involve an increase in taxes, and the common people are already miserable, they are already poorly clothed and hungry, and then collect taxes, which is more difficult than taking their lives." ”

Xin Xiran lowered his head slightly, if he hadn't experienced the painful days of more than half a month, he would definitely not be able to empathize with him at this time.

But because he had felt it, he knew that it was painful, cold, cold and hungry, and there was no one around him who could help him, and that kind of despair was really worse than death.

"Even if I want to do something for them, I can't do anything, this is a matter for the court, it is a matter for the elders, these things are not our turn to worry about, and it is impossible for us to control them. "He hasn't entered the ranks yet, and he really can't do anything about these things.

Qiu Ji leaned forward slightly, he played with the wine glass in his hand, it seemed to be bland, but in fact he had a certain indescribable confidence, "As long as you stop this minister's proposal, you can stop the expansion of the army."

Now that the righteous march army is still safe in Weizhou, the strength of the Western Night Kingdom has been competing with it for ten years, and there is no need to rush to expand the army at this time. Therefore, as long as the actions of the ministers can be stopped, these suffering people can avoid a disaster. ”

Xin Xiran looked at Qiu Ji for a long time, and from Qiu Ji's face, he couldn't see any playfulness, let alone any innocence, it was a kind of self-confidence that he didn't understand. He suddenly felt that the boy in front of him, who was no more than two years older than himself, had a much wider vision than himself.

And what surprised him even more was that Qiu Ji actually cared about the affairs of the imperial court? Those were the decisions of the senior officials of the court, and he was a young master who had not yet been released, even if he was the son of the first assistant, what role could he play?

He asked, half-suspicious and half-curious, "What will you do?" If the imperial court really wants to expand the army and increase taxes, it is impossible for them to participate in this matter at their age.

What's more, at the beginning of spring, Yangshan Academy will be enrolled.

Qiu Ji looked at him and said lightly: "It depends on whether you are willing to help me." ”

Xin Xiran paused, he actually didn't hate Qiu Ji in his heart, on the contrary, because he was a childhood playmate, he cared a little about it. It's just that care, after getting to know Yao Shi, gradually faded.

He knew that Qiu Ji and Yao Xi had a close relationship, and even Qiu Ji knew Yao Xi earlier than him, and he could often see the indescribable subtle atmosphere between the two, which made him really uncomfortable.

To help or not to help? How to help? He looked at Qiu Ji and asked, "How do you want me to help you?"