On the chess scale carved in bluestone, the warp and weft are vertical and horizontal. The blacks and whites are staggered, and it seems that they are inseparable. The people who played chess and the people who watched the chess next to them were a little absent-minded.

"You say, where are they now?" After pondering for a long time, He Zhizhang finally put down a white child, leaned back on the chair, and asked in a low voice.

"You are the writer of the imperial court, you don't know something, come and ask me, a country man!" Zhang Ruoxu responded to a sunspot and counted it suddenly.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be so upset!" He Zhizhang raised the teacup and poured himself two sips, the expression on his face became even more anxious, "Two thousand seven hundred and thirty miles from Chang'an to Yumen Pass. The news received by Chang'an here is at least what happened over there seven or eight days ago. After leaving the Yumen Pass, the letters were difficult to pass, and even the documents reported to the imperial court were sent every half a month. I want to find out where they are now, and it is even more difficult. ”

"Where was he when the paperwork came last time?" Seeing that He Zhizhang's mind was not on chess at all, Zhang Ruoxu felt that he was not martial, so he also picked up the teacup and drank it while asking patiently.

"What is written on the paperwork is Pu Changhai, I told you!" He Zhizhang put down the teacup and rubbed his forehead with his hand irritably. In an instant, it seemed that the hair on his head was becoming more and more thin. But when the documents were delivered to Chang'an, he was no longer in Puchanghai. According to the documents passed to the imperial court, he was there to divide into two ways with the Niu Shi Prize. Then, both of them were not heard from. Alas, the old man is really skeptical now, whether it was the right choice to recommend him to join the company last year. ”

"This? Alas-" Zhang Ruo sighed and sighed.

In September last year, he and He Zhizhang held a chrysanthemum appreciation party at home, and took the opportunity to recommend Zhang Qian to Bi Gou and Zhang Shuo. Immediately, there was a miracle that Zhang Qian was named the chief of the ordnance supervisor because of his meritorious contribution to the "gunpowder", and then he rose all the way.

For more than a year, Zhang Qian has repeatedly made new achievements, and Bi Gou and Zhang Shuo have also gained the reputation of discerning pearls in the officialdom. He Zhizhang himself, because of his recommendation, was promoted to the five-grade writer. And with the full support of Zhang Qian, he led a group of young people to compile the first "Dictionary" ever.

Although the dictionary is called a primary school, the quality and efficacy are far better than the previous dynasty's "Shuowen Jie Zi", which was launched more than two months ago, and sold Chang'an paper expensive. made He Zhizhang, the editor-in-chief, famous, unique in the Tang Dynasty literary circle.

However, unlike the bustle of last September, this September, Zhang's family was particularly deserted. From Chongyang to the present, there have been no more than three waves of guests. Seeing that it has entered October, the flowering period of chrysanthemums is about to pass, and the young people who performed the most dazzling last year have all been silent!

If Zhang Qian, Wang Han and Wang Zhilian really disappeared into the Western Regions like meteors. He Zhizhang will definitely not be able to let go until he dies.

Zhang Qian didn't show much desire to chase fame at first, it was he who made his own assertions, thinking that Zhang Qian's talent was rare and should not be buried in the countryside, so he forced this person into the official career. And more than two months ago, Wang Han and Wang Zhilian resigned to him, saying that they wanted to travel after compiling books for a long time, and he knew that the two wanted to find Zhang Qian, but they thought that this would allow the latter to have two more right-hand men, and did not do anything to stop him.

"I said you two, can't you go down at all?!" Sun Anzu, who was watching the chess next to him, waited anxiously, grabbed a white piece by himself, and placed the chess title for He Zhizhang. Then, he quickly grabbed a sunspot and responded for Zhang Ruoxu, "Four or five thousand miles away, you two are worried about losing your hair, and you can't help Yongzhao." With that kind of kung fu, it is better to think about how to take care of the academy for Yongzhao, so as not to worry about him. ”

"I have invited Wei Juyuan to come to the academy to give a lecture!" He Zhizhang nodded, looking a little more energetic than before, but he was still frowning. After a few days, Xiao Fushu also promised to come to the academy when he was free. In addition to the things of enlightenment, Chengxian Academy teaches Confucian classics. Neither of them had any reason to excuse himself. ”

"That's pretty much it, having the two of them out of town can make many people discourage prying eyes! It's much better than that Luo from an unknown origin! Sun Anzu smiled and nodded vigorously. And you, people call you one by one. Instead of sitting here and worrying, you should think about how to be a good mountain chief, so that all the people who study in the world will be proud to be able to enter the academy in the future. As for the rest, if you want me to see it, it's useless for you two to be annoyed, it's better to put your heart in your stomach and wait quietly for the good news of Yongzhao! ”

The first few sentences are all good, but the last sentence is a little too shocking. When he landed, he provoked He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu, and they all glared at him angrily.

And that Sun Anzu pursed his lips indifferently and continued: "Ji Weng said that he regretted recommending Zhao to enter the WTO. Then let me ask you, with Zhao's family business, if he doesn't enter the office, how many points can you two keep for him? ”

"This ......" He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu both saw sweat on their foreheads and were speechless.

If Zhang Qian just brewed some liquor, or bought a few hundred acres of land to collect rent, the two of them could still support one or two by virtue of their connections or official positions. But Zhang Qian's toss is the six gods of flower dew, mirrors, glass and iron, which are making gold every day, they say that they are supporting Zhang Qian, just watching from the sidelines, they will inevitably feel frightened!

As the current officials and officials of the Tang Dynasty, they know too well the appearance of those royal relatives and wealthy families. Not to mention the distance, just look at the east and west cities of Chang'an, how many businesses are there, and the shareholders behind them are all princesses of Taiping? Look at the Dou family, who pioneered the use of waste hemp shoes and peat to make "magic candles", why did the family business of hundreds of thousands of yuan be lost after only two generations? It's not that the backer behind it has fallen, and when the Wei family proposed to buy shares, the Dou family reacted too arrogantly?

"When others tried to steal his flower dew workshop, the two of you were close at hand, and you didn't need your help." As if he was afraid that the blow to the two would not be strong enough, Sun Anzu continued to play chess for the two of them, while pouting and continuing to count, "Now that it is thousands of miles away, there is no need for you to worry about him blindly!" ”

In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen hands were made, and the situation was unrecognizable. He still refused to stop, and continued to chant as he went, "He is a disciple sent by the Mo family to re-enter the world, and he has no ability, can the master send him out?" Over the past year or so, how many times have we felt that he had been forced into a desperate situation, and which time, he didn't just take out a magic weapon from his pocket and turn it over directly? ”

"But the things at the bottom of the box that his master gave him will always run out." Zhang Ruoxu's face turned red when he was said, but he still said worriedly.

"Not so fast!" Sun Anzu's confidence in Zhang Qian was far more sufficient than that of Zhang Ruoxu and He Zhizhang, shook his head, and continued to smile and said: "You two, if you care, it's chaotic!" In other words, he underestimated his master. Before he appeared, the evil pill, gunpowder, glass mirrors and other things, everyone said that they had seen it, but I am afraid they had never heard of it. And he, one after another, pulled out. What does this mean, it shows that in his eyes, these things are not rare objects at all, and they can't be hidden! ”

After a few quick moves, he made a game of chess into a final game. Then before being protested by He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu, he continued to add with a smile, "And the real life-saving thing, he will not be easily looked at by others." We all know that it was the fire meteor that destroyed the monk's altar, but where did the fire meteor come from and how it was summoned, does anyone know? Who can guarantee that he won't be more powerful thaumaturgy than the Fire Meteor? ”

"If you want me to say, in this kind of situation, it is more dangerous for Yongzhao to stay in Chang'an, every move is watched by countless pairs of eyes, even if he has a killing move, it is inconvenient for him to use it. And when he went to the Western Regions, the sky was wide, he no longer had to scruple about it, whoever wanted to harm him again would be a mouse with a cat's beard and find death by himself! Okay, the end, the end, this game of chess, Bai Zi has already won! ”

"The end?" He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu bowed their heads in surprise, only to find that the chess game, which was originally evenly matched, had become a one-sided slaughter under the indiscriminate fiddling of a stinky chess basket.

…………

"Wrap up! Second brother, admit defeat, bring the money! The die is cast! The fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou shouted and put a black piece on the chess scale, very ungraceful with his teeth and claws.

"It's still early, isn't it?" Wu Yanxiu, the Tang Dynasty's concubine, always had a smile on his face, even if the situation was obviously unfavorable to him, he was still calm, "I can still launch a counterattack here." ”

A white piece that he placed in the lower left corner of the board. The situation in terms of chess immediately changed somewhat. Black still has the upper hand, but it can't completely crush white, and after white has gained a foothold in the lower left corner, it may not be without a fight.

"Second brother deserves this hand!"

"Second brother is good at chess!"

"Fourth brother, you got carried away!"

……

The children who watched the chess around scrambled to praise loudly. As if if he didn't shout like this, it would not be enough to show that he was close to Wu Yanxiu. As for the dead fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou, in their wishes, of course, the worse they lose, the better! When he won a lot of money, he never showed mercy to anyone.

The fourth brother of the dead fat man, Wu Yanshou, was not disturbed by the clamor at all, and quickly put a sunspot on the chess scale, and then praised with a smile, "The second brother's chess strength has indeed risen recently." Do you often play chess with people? Which master? Can you bring it another day so I can have a chat with him! ”

"How can there be any masters, I will go down by myself, holding black in my left hand and white in my right hand, and I will fight with myself left and right." A trace of pain quickly flashed on Wu Yanxiu's face, but he answered lightly.

"Go down with yourself, the second brother is the second brother, and everything you do is not conventional!" Wu Yanshou was stunned, and his admiration was overflowing.

Wu Yanxiu didn't pick up his stubble, and continued to fall slowly. Although it is slow, each one has been repeatedly calculated. And Wu Yanshou, it seems that all the three axes have been chopped, and the stamina is obviously insufficient, and a few pieces are off the standard in succession, and in a blink of an eye, he has lost his previous advantages.

However, he was much more straightforward than Wu Yanxiu, and found that he had little chance of winning, so he simply threw himself into the towel. Immediately, he personally pushed the two large pieces of silver cakes in front of him in front of Wu Yanxiu.

The gentlemen who bet on Wu Yanxiu smiled and stepped forward one after another to "fall into the well". The fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou was not annoyed, and ordered his little servant to go downstairs to the carriage to get silver cakes and copper coins, and settle the bill with everyone. Then, with a smile, he stood up and went to the window to enjoy the scenery with a cup of tea.

Although the major shareholder behind it is the Ashina family, the courtyard of Meilou is completely arranged in accordance with the Jiangnan style. Looking from the back window, every stone and tree is ingenious. Especially the red maple lying on the top of the pond, the leaves are like a beating flame, blown by the autumn wind, the flame falls to the water surface colorfully, and in the blink of an eye, there are also "flames" on the water surface that begin to flicker, and the lotus flowers bloom in summer.

"Fourth, have you been in trouble lately?" Wu Yanxiu also followed with a cup of tea and asked in a very low voice.

"Nothing, second brother!" Wu Yanshou immediately shook his head in denial, and the evil spirit rolled on his fat face, "With the second brother and the seventh uncle here, who dares to trouble me?" What's more, I have no intention of pursuing a career and never get in the way of others! ”

"Then why are you restless when you play chess?" Wu Yanxiu has watched his younger brother grow up since he was a child, so he didn't believe that the other party was telling the truth, smiled, and continued to ask.

"It's really nothing, the glass workshop I started at the beginning of the year is completely yellow. Although I bought the Persian formula, the things I made were expensive and ugly, and I couldn't sell them at a loss. Knowing that he couldn't hide it, Wu Yanshou shook his head and explained abruptly.

"How much does it take? I happen to have a few spare money here. I'll give it to you if you need it! Wu Yanxiu smiled again and made a promise very happily.

"It's not about money, it's about losing face!" Wu Yanshou shook his head, the expression on his face became more and more depressed, "As for the money, most of the money won in Meilou at the beginning of the year has not moved." Not to be tight on hand. ”

After a little hesitation, he lowered his voice and asked, "It's you, second brother, why do you play chess with yourself?" You've just gotten married, so you can't even find a staff member at home to play chess with. ”

"The princess didn't like my staff, so she quit. She doesn't know how to play chess herself! Wu Yanxiu looked around, and his handsome face was suddenly full of boredom and helplessness.

Before marrying Princess An Le, he knew that the other party knew very little about things. But at that time, the other party's skin and face were still worthy of his greed. After getting married, they rolled together all day long, and their skins and faces soon lost their attraction to him. In this way, the bond between the two is only the primitive animal instinct.

Princess An Le has a bad temper and a strong desire to control, and often calls him around, not so much as his wife, but his immediate boss or proprietor. And he, the purpose of approaching Princess Anle at the beginning was to gain power and revitalize the lintel of the martial arts. Therefore, although the two parties are now married, the relationship is more like a business partner than a husband and wife.

Such a marriage is a daily torture for the parties. However, Wu Yanxiu must endure until the moment when he achieves his wish. He is the best son of the samurai generation, and there are some responsibilities that he can't avoid at all.

"Second brother, look away." His heart was filled with sympathy in an instant, Wu Yanshou raised his hand and gently patted Wu Yanxiu's back, "Actually, I don't like to soak in the Qinglou all day long, but who let us have the surname Wu!" ”

This was a heart-wrenching sentence, which immediately made Wu Yanxiu feel a little sour in his nose. However, before he had time to sympathize with Wu Yanshou, behind him, there was a sudden shout, "Double! It must be a double! "Single, I said it's single!" "Five hanging, double pressing!" "Ten hangs, I'll press the order." "There's nothing else to play, just grab the chess pieces and place a bet!" ……

With a bit of disgust, Wu Yanxiu turned around and saw a little fat man with curly hair, opening his palm, revealing five or six chess pieces. And the surrounding gentlemen also made the same move. Immediately, everyone put the chess pieces in everyone's palms into the empty box, and carefully counted them, "one, two, three, four......"

It turned out that this group of idle guys disliked playing Go too slowly. actually gambled on odd and even numbers with chess pieces!

"Double! Sure enough, it's a double, let's go, brothers, it's a consignment! ”

"Double, double!"

"Who's coming, who's coming, this time it's still double!"

"Brothers, concede, concede!"

……

The curly-haired little fat man sitting in the village has a vague three-point demeanor of Wu Yanshou when he was young, and with extraordinary luck, in the blink of an eye, he has won five games in a row. In every game, the pressure is double, and the opponent wins like earth.

"This man is the younger brother of the chief of Turgish, the king of Huaide County, named Suowax." As if he could guess Wu Yanxiu's thoughts, without waiting for him to ask, Wu Yanshou smiled and whispered in his ear. "I only met recently, and he is very bold. Among the young generation of protons sent to Chang'an by various tribes, the prestige is extremely high. ”

"Suoge's brother?" Wu Yanxiu's brows furrowed suddenly, and there was a faint cold light flickering in his eyes.

"Before the Niu Shi Award set off, the news that the imperial court was preparing for Suo Ge to soothe and suppress it had already spread on Meilou's side!" Once again, Wu Yanxiu had a heart-to-heart with Wu Yanxiu, Wu Yanshou added with a smile, as if he was watching a chess game, "He also has a brother named Sha Yu, who should be a concubine." I also studied in Taixue, and I am an outstanding person. Last year, he returned to the Western Regions in the name of mourning, so he was left here alone. ”

"There's a kind!" Wu Yanxiu nodded, and her eyes suddenly showed a little appreciation. "According to the princess, more than 20 days ago, Suo Ge raised the army of the Qiang clan and attacked Qiuzi. His younger brother Sha Yu officially led one of the top ten generals. ”

"Yes!" Knowing that it was Suo Wax Detective who heard the arrangement of Datang's side, he transmitted the news back to the Western Regions in advance, which caused Suo Ge to strike first. Wu Yanshou, who was the Duke of Yan Guo, didn't have the slightest interest in reporting this person or arresting this person for the imperial court, so he just looked at this person with appreciative eyes and nodded slightly.

"What, you're not going to help Zhang this time?" Wu Yanxiu suddenly turned his gaze to the fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou, and asked worriedly.

"Last time he was a favor, originally he deliberately left Chang'an and deceived others to kill him. I didn't report it, and the result was the same. Wu Yanshou shook his head and pouted and sneered, "And this time, he is already dead, I help him, the dead will miss me?" ”

"Is there anything else to play? Second brother, fourth brother, come and play! This time, I'm betting instead! "The younger brother of the chief of the Turgish, the curly-haired little fat man Sao Wax became more and more brave as he fought, and shouted and sent an invitation to Wu Yanxiu and Wu Yanshou brothers.

"Come on, whoever is afraid of whom!" Wu Yanshou stretched his arms and sleeves, and strode forward, not afraid of the other party's good luck at all!

"You guys, I'll just take a look!" Wu Yanxiu smiled and shook his head slightly, then turned around and continued to enjoy the autumn colors outside the window.

The wind is blowing, and the red leaves are all over the sky, but I don't know if the autumn wind in the Western Regions is the same bleak!

………………

"Woo woo, woo woo, woo woo ......" The sound of the horn accompanied by the autumn wind resounded through the bleak wilderness.

The scout galloped back and sent the news of the encounter with the enemy to the team. The wagons loaded with supplies were quickly driven to the front of the entire team by the coachmen, lined up in a neat dovetail shape. Guo Jing and Ren Qi each led a group of familiar brothers to remove their armor from the carriage and put it on calmly. Luo Huaizu and Wang Han each held a long lance, one on the left and one on the right, guarding Zhang Qian's side.

"The northwest is full of cavalry. Looking at the flag, there should be fifteen centuries. The leader of the team is playing two tails of wool, and the surface of the flag is embroidered with a silver wolf head, which should be a special service! Wang Zhilian floated down from the roof of a specially set aside lookout car, returned the simple monocular to Zhang Qian with both hands, and reported loudly at the same time. In all other directions, there should be no smoke and dust for the time being, and there should be no enemy troops. (Note: Special service, Turkic official position, equivalent to a prince.) ）

"Agent, Turgish or Turkic?" Zhang Qian's brows furrowed slightly, and the confusion on his face was far more than nervous.

The main Turkic force is far north of the Hetao, and it stands to reason that there will be no special service-level generals in the Western Regions. At present, the Tuqi Shi people are still fighting under the banner of anti-Zhou Yiyi and not anti-Datang, and those who are qualified to play the special service banner can only be Suo Ge himself.

However, he soon had no need to be confused. The enemy came as fast as the wind, and almost at the same time as he was changing his armor with his brethren, he was in his sight.

Taking the initiative to keep a distance of 300 paces from the wall, the enemy troops grabbed their mounts one after another, and reorganized the formation under the command of the big arrows (captains). At the same time, a young Turkish nobleman in his twenties, surrounded by more than twenty cronies, swaggered towards the wall of the car.

"The younger brother of Wang Suage of Huaide County of the Tang Dynasty, the founder of Ye Branch, and the name of Zhang Shaojian for a long time. On the orders of my brother, I came to welcome the young eunuch to Broken Leaf City as a guest. "A hundred paces from the wall, re-pulling the mount, the young Turk nobleman, reported his home and his intentions. A mouthful of Chang'an official dialect, speaking the words correctly!

………………

"Smack!" A chess piece, landing on the chessboard. The white chess dragon was slaughtered and defeated in an instant.

"You've lost!" Princess Taiping Li Lingyue tapped her fingers on the table and said towards the empty seat opposite. The face covered in grease is full of madness.