At this time, it was noon, although the cold wind was cold, but Luoyang City was still bustling, and several people walked from Zhuque Street to Xiaoyuan Gate in the south of Luoyang.

Luoyang in the Han Dynasty was the most prosperous city in the world at that time, and it was full of characteristics, according to historical records, Luoyang City at that time was "seven miles from east to west, nine miles from north to south" in the city was divided into several districts with different natures.

Among them, the prosperous industrial and commercial markets include Nanshi, Mashi, Sushi and Jinshi. If you have read Ban Gu's "Liangdu Fu" and Zhang Heng's "Erjing Fu", you can experience the prosperity of both the East and the West.

This Suzaku Street is paved with bluestone roads, and the smooth and wide streets are lined with shops, from the necessities of clothing, food, housing and transportation to rare treasures, pen and ink calligraphy and painting are everything.

Because of the large number of pedestrians, several people did not ride horses but led the horses on foot.

Just as Cao Ang and Yuan Xi were laughing, a young man carrying a load of things came to him. In vain, the man staggered and leaned towards Cao Ang.

Cao Ang's skills were quite agile, and at the moment when he was about to collide with that person, he turned sideways and let go of that person. Immediately the young man fell to the ground, and several miscellaneous items in the basket tumbled to the ground.

"It's not small, please don't blame adults, don't blame adults." The young man stood up, picked up the debris on the ground, and apologized to Cao Ang.

Cao Ang felt okay and didn't go to his heart, and was about to leave with the horse. Just as the young man picked up his burden again to leave, there was darkness in front of him, and a tall figure blocked his way.

The young man gasped when he looked at the man, and in front of him was an unusually burly strong man. The strong man has broom eyebrows, copper bells, eyes and nose, a dark complexion, and a beard like a steel needle, which is really ugly and fierce. And he is also equipped with a ring-headed knife around his waist, and when people go to that station, it really looks like an angry-eyed King Kong.

It was Xu Chu who blocked the young man, and he shouted angrily: "Zhuzi, dare to do such an unsightly deed in front of your grandfather Xu, and don't hand over the Peiyu who stole Cao Gongzi!" ”

Cao Ang was stunned for a moment and immediately touched his waist, and sure enough, a piece of fine ancient jade he was wearing was gone.

In the Han Dynasty, people admired jade, and the wearing of jade represented people's social status, and scholars often used jade as a metaphor for people's virtue. Confucianism pays attention to "a gentleman must wear jade" and "for no reason, jade does not go to the body" and so on.

By the time of the Wei and Jin dynasties, some people in the scholar clan believed that jade had the effect of immortality, and whenever they found a good ancient jade, they would crush and swallow it.

The jade ring that Cao Ang tied to his belt was an ancient jade of good color, and this thief was also knowledgeable and skilled, but he didn't happen to meet Xu Chu, a fierce god with first-class eyes.

At this time, a circle of onlookers gradually gathered around.

Yuan Xi couldn't help but look at the young thief when he heard this, and saw that he was wearing a coarse linen coat, he was in his twenties and looked average, his body was a little thin, but his eyes were a little dark.

The young thief still wanted to argue about something, Xu Chu didn't say much to him, stepped forward and grabbed his shirt with his left hand, and waved his stomach with a fist with his right hand.

"Ahh , with only a straight punch of strength, the young thief fell down in pain and hugged his body. Then Xu Chu rummaged through his load of groceries and took out a ring-shaped ancient jade.

Cao Ang took the ancient jade monster and shouted, "Okay, a little thief dares to offend your Uncle Cao!" After that, he picked up the young thief, "Do you know how many thieves your Uncle Cao has caught and entered the palace of the court commander?" ”

The thief covered his stomach with one hand, and begged with the other: "Uncle spare your life, uncle spare your life, and explain that there is a big reason for this." ”

Cao Ang also wanted to see what tricks he could play, so he pushed him one by one and let go of his hand.

The thief then looked a little flustered and said, "The villain was instructed by someone to steal something from an adult, and that person ...... Be there! He pointed to the crowd behind him.

Just as everyone was looking, the thief squatted down and kicked his legs, and actually drilled under the belly of Cao Ang's green leaf horse. Without waiting for Yuan Xi and others to reflect, he slapped the horse's buttocks with a sharp object in his left hand.

The green leaf horse was in pain, and the front hooves kicked up the old high, and everyone took a step back for fear of being injured. Then the Aoba horse was frightened and ran wildly forward. The onlookers dared to stop them, they all got out of the way, and one of the vendors was a little late, only to be knocked out seven or eight feet away by the Aoba horse.

Cao Ang didn't care about anything else, and hurriedly ran to catch up.

Just when the thief wanted to take advantage of the chaos to slip away from the crowd, the collar behind his back was pulled, and his body instantly fell backwards. After a heart-wrenching punch, he fainted as soon as his eyes went dark.

Xu Chu put down the thief again and asked Cao Ang's entourage to tie him up. Yuan Xi was worried that the frightened horse led Xu Chu to catch up with him.

Besides, after the green leaf horse rushed out of the crowd, he snorted and ran wildly on Suzaku Street like a frenzy. Many stalls were knocked over, and several people were knocked down. But because there were more obstructions on the street, it didn't run very fast.

Cao Ang finally caught up with the Aoba horse after a few accelerations, and he rushed forward and grabbed the reins from the horse's back. The four hooves of the green leaf horse kept plowing the ground, pulling Cao Ang to spin in place, and after a few back and forth, Cao Ang's hand was sore and was hit by the body of the green leaf horse, and he was immediately thrown out of the side.

The Aoba horse became even more frantic without anyone to restrain him, and this time it ran in the direction of turning back, and it ran to a treasure store. The trouble is that there are several overwhelmed ladies standing outside the store, including a girl in palace clothes who is supported by a young girl.

The green leaf horse had a frightening nose, and its front hooves kicked high as soon as it was plowed, and the two servants standing next to it were dumbfounded with fright, not daring to move, seeing that the horse's hooves smashed into the two girls.

At this time, Yuan Xi finally caught up, and he couldn't care about it when he saw that the horse was about to hurt people. He stepped forward with one stride, turned sideways, pushed the servant away with one hand, and led the maiden in palace clothes with the other to avoid the horse's hooves.

Qingye Ma kicked on his hind legs, and he was about to bump forward again, but Xu Chu followed behind Yuan Xi, how could he allow this beast to hurt people. The big fan-like hand grabbed the reins and the horse's sideburns and pressed down angrily, the green leaf horse was in pain, and the four hooves were screaming and fluttering, but they couldn't move a bit, and after a while, they finally quieted down, and Xu Chu let go of his hand.

Seeing this scene, all the passers-by on the side of the road couldn't stop applauding, what a miracle!

Yuan Xi saw that Qingye Ma recovered, and then he looked at the person he saved, the other party was a girl dressed in a luxurious silk palace dress, and her expression was a little flustered and pale because she was frightened.

"Male. Host!? Yuan Xi was surprised, what is this, Princess Wannian actually left the palace without permission.

"Yuan Xianyi, why are you here," Princess Wannian Liu Yan was also slightly stunned.

And the girl next to Liu Yan made Yuan Xi feel bright, she was only fifteen or sixteen years old cardamom Fangling, but her face was white and pink, her facial features were delicate and picturesque. What Yuan Xi cared about the most was that he felt a charming style from the girl, Yuan Xi's heart beat faster, as if he had been touched by something, and he felt indescribable.

But he immediately took a breath and came back to his senses, and said to the girl in the palace costume with both hands: "Miss is frightened." ”

"Hmph, hum!" Liu Yan, who had bright eyes and bright teeth, was dissatisfied that Yuan Xi didn't ask her first.

The palace girl nodded slightly under Liu Yan's support, "The concubine still wants to thank the son for coming to the rescue, I don't know which son your Excellency is?" ”

Yuan Xi replied: "It's just a matter of raising your hands, Captain Yuan of the Chinese Army is the father of the family, and his name is Xi. ”

Cao Ang also stepped forward, and Yuan Xi introduced: "This is Cao Ang, the eldest son of Captain Cao of the Dian Army. He gave a brief account of what had just happened.

The girl in the palace costume said crisply: "It's no wonder you." She smiled slightly and said to Yuan Xi: "I know you, Sister Yan'er often mentions Yuan Gongzi to me."

This time it was Yuan Xi and Liu Yan's turn to be embarrassed, only to see Liu Yan running to Yuan Xi's side and lowering her voice, "Yuan Xianyi, she is my eldest brother's unmarried wife Tang Ji." "Little Liu Yan is just as afraid that she has thoughts about Tang Ji like the little hen, although she does have ideas.

Yuan Xi was taken aback, it wasn't that the girl recognized him, with his reputation as a young talent today, the prince's companion, it was nothing to be recognized.

He was surprised to see the beautiful and charming appearance of the girl, and then contacted the princess Tang Ji of Hongnong. Distinguish between dance and abolished emperor Liu, how can this not surprise him at the girl in front of him, although the girl is not yet beautiful, but she does have the capital of the city, no worse than Gao Yue.

Tang Ji, the Han Dynasty Emperor Hongnong Princess also. Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty collapsed, Zi argued, Dong Zhuo abolished it, and placed it in the pavilion, so that Lang Zhong ordered Li Ru to enter the palace. The king said, "They want to kill my ear." "I won't drink it. Strong, it is to say goodbye to Ji and the palace people. Wine shop, Wang Beige said:

"The way of heaven is easy for me, how difficult it is for me, abandon ten thousand times and retreat to the domain. The rebel minister saw that his life was not delayed, and he would pass away. ”

Because Ji danced, Ji resisted his sleeves and sang:

"After the emperor collapsed, the earth fell, and as the emperor, his life was destroyed. Death and life are different, and he is sad in his heart. ”

Singing, weeping and whimpering, everyone who sits. Wang Wei Ji said: "The princess of the king is no longer the wife of the people, and she is fortunate to love herself!" Since then, he has been resigned for a long time. Then he drank and died, at the age of fourteen. Ji returns to Yingchuan. The father will guard the marry, but Ji swears not to allow it. and Li Dao broke Chang'an, banknote Guandong, got Ji, and wanted a wife, but he didn't listen, and he didn't know himself. Shangshu Jia Xu knows it, and the white Han is the emperor. The emperor was sad and welcomed Ji in the garden. Make the servant hold the festival and worship the princess of Hongnong.

Under Yuan Xi's fierce inquiry, he learned that Liu Yan secretly pulled Tang Ji out to play. Yuan Xi looked around and said, "It's not peaceful now, let's escort Miss Liu and Miss Tang back to the house." ”

Tang Ji didn't shirk and bowed slightly: "It's so good, then it's troublesome for the son." ”

Only Liu Yan expressed her dissatisfaction on the side, "Bastard, Yuan Xianyi" The two servants let Liu Yan and Tang Ji get into the carriage, and Yuan Xi, Cao Ang and others led the horse to find Cao Ang's entourage, and the entourage had already tied up the thief.

Cao Ang's heart was on fire, and he stepped forward and whipped the thief a few times, making him wail. Yuan Xi's mind moved, and he persuaded: "Zixuan, I will send him to the Tingwei Yamen later, and I am not afraid of being known by Uncle Cao Shi if he is lynched on the street." ”

Cao Ang glared hatefully, and the thief called for his retinue to follow behind the carriage. Soon Yuan Xi and Cao Ang sent Liu Yan and Tang Ji to the vicinity of the palace gate, and then took their leave and left.

Yuan Xi and Cao Ang led the thief to the east side of Nangong. The east side of the South Palace of Luoyang City in the Eastern Han Dynasty is the concentration of government offices, Situ Mansion, Sikong Mansion and Taiwei Mansion are also in the southeast corner of the South Palace.

Yuan Xi said to Cao Ang: "The prisoner will be escorted by me to the Tingwei Yamen, you hurry up and take care of your horses, and tell Uncle Cao Shi about the situation." ”

Cao Ang was worried about the reproach of Aoba and his father, so he thanked him and left with him.

When he was about to arrive at the Dali Yamen, the thief begged: "Son, listen to me, I am really doing cheap things." Yuan Xi sneered: "Is it possible to ignore the national law and do some disorderly deeds if there are difficulties?" ”

The thief dragged his body full of whip marks, knelt down in front of the street and said, "Please forgive the villain once, and the villain is willing to repay the son by tying the grass and knotting the ring." ”

Yuan Xi couldn't help but be interested when he heard this, since a hairy thief also knew about the grass knot. You must know that in this era, education is concentrated in the hands of the scholar and doctor class, and ordinary people rarely have the opportunity to study.

Yuan Xi asked Xu Chu to take the thief and follow him to a secluded corner.

The thief arched his hand and said: "The villain wishes the people of Auburn Yuzhou, a few years ago, he followed the villagers all the way to Sili, and he has been adrift all the way to Sili until the year before last, when it was really difficult to make a living, he came to Luoyang to eat, but the villain was really incompetent and had no skills, so he had no choice but to get acquainted with some idlers in the city and started this business. The little one is hungry and cold, but the villain also has an old mother and brother, you are a reasonable nobleman should know what the 'poor family is old', the little one must not be able to eat the official but also can't bear to see the old mother suffer, begging the son to let the villain live. ”

Yuan Xi listened to him say nondescript, but he was also well-organized and clever, if he was really a filial person, he might as well take it for his own use. Then asked, "Have you ever read?" ”

"No, I just learned words from a divination gentleman for a few days when I was in my hometown." Yuan Xi sighed in his heart, because of the war and the exploitation of officials, I don't know how many people have been displaced. It's better to live than a pig or a dog, and he knows this.

Yuan Xi asked again, "Are you willing to do things for me?" Zhu Ao sighed, he didn't expect Yuan Xi to make such a request, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "It's a blessing for a villain to be able to make a cow and a horse for Gongzi, and I don't know the name of Gongzi?" ”

Yuan Xi said: "My surname is Yuan, you can call me the second son, you make an oath of allegiance to me, and you will talk about the contract of your slave another day." ”

In this era of the Eastern Han Dynasty, people still attach great importance to faithfulness, and you don't see Liu Bei doing the world with faithfulness, although he will not die despite a hundred defeats, it is the power of faith.

"Second Prince Yuan? Mo is not a genius of the Yuan family! Zhu Ao was pleasantly surprised, you must know that although he is a slave, he has a life to rely on with a powerful master.

At this time, the signboard of the fourth and third princes of the Yuan family was still very valuable. Of course, he had heard of the names of the Yuan family and Yuan Xi, and people like him were the most well-informed. Yuan Xi also valued this point.

Zhu Ao did not hesitate to make an oath of allegiance. Yuan Xi asked him to wait at the back door of Yuan's Mansion tomorrow, and he and Xu Chu rode back to Yuan's Mansion on horseback.

At this time, it was dark early in January, the sunset had set, and the remnant sun reflected a blood-colored red light in Luoyang City, and pedestrians on the street were gradually becoming scarce.

"There are many servants in the family, why does the son accept such people with unclean hands and feet?" Xu Chu asked.

"Zhongkang, everyone has their own good side, some things have to be done by people like him, use people's strengths, the sky is going to change, we also have to make some preparations, you will go to the 'gambling house' and ask Hua Xu to check this person."

Xu Chu touched his head and said: "I don't understand much, but Gongzi is a talented person in the Han Dynasty, and what he does will not be wrong, I just need to follow Gongzi to eat meat, drink wine and fight." ”

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "You are really okay with those two hits today, go back and ask Mr. Wen to bring you a pot of old wine." ”

"I've thanked my son!" Xu Chule said. Back at Yuan's mansion, Yuan Xi asked Xu Chu to fetch wine, and he came to the front hall by himself.

He was just in time for dinner, which was "飧". In fact, during the Qin and Han dynasties, people only ate two meals a day.

Due to the underdevelopment of agriculture, food is limited, and even two meals depend on the person. The first meal is called "morning food" or "饔", and the second meal is called "飧" or "食". Of course, families like the Yuan family have three meals a day.

It was rare that Yuan Kui, Yuan Shao, and all were there that night, and the eldest son Yuan Tan was taking care of family affairs in his hometown in Runan at this time, and the third brother was arranged to go to Hebei. Yuan Kui is currently the Taifu, and at the age of more than 60, he is also kind and kind-hearted, and he has the style of an elder. Yuan Shao is also dignified and majestic.

Yuan Xi bowed deeply to the two, and knelt at the end of the table under Yuan Kui's greeting.

Yuan Kui smiled and said, "Where is our family's Qilin'er?" ”

"Uncle is making fun of the child, you are the treasure of the Yuan family." Yuan Xidao.

Yuan Kui smiled and ordered the servant to bring the food. Yuan Xi looked at the wheat rice in the kettle and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. You must know that in the previous life, all you ate was rice, but although there was rice in the Central Plains of the Han Dynasty, it was not promoted.

Rice is generally steamed into rice with millet, wheat and beans, and the meat is boiled in an "urn" and cut on a cutting board called "figurin".

Fortunately, the Yuan family is a wealthy family, and there are still some other exquisite dishes. Because at this time, it is a separate meal system. The servants served the dishes to the people one after another.

In the scholar family, especially the Yuan family, the family of "four generations and three dukes", the number of rites is the most important. Yuan Xi also paid attention to this and that when he was dining with his elders, he was very depressed when he ate a meal.

Fortunately, Yuan Kui, Yuan Shao and other elders attached great importance to him, the "Qiliner" of the Yuan family, and did not ask him for anything in some small things.

After the meal, Yuan Xi told Yuan Kui and Yuan Shao what happened in the palace in the near future.

Yuan Kui led Yuan Shao and Yuan Xi to the study and instructed his cronies to guard the door. Yuan Xi knew that this uncle was going to discuss the secret with his father, and he was not qualified to participate, but because he was the prince's companion.

It can be regarded as the eyes and ears of the Yuan family in the palace, and he has reported the situation in the palace to his family more than once or twice, and he is famous. The elders also valued him more and more. So make an exception and allow yourself to deliberate.

Yuan Kui asked him straight to the point: "Xi'er, have there been any changes in the palace recently?" ”

Yuan Xi sorted out his thoughts and said: "The child has been in the palace for three days recently, and His Majesty has not come to see the princes for a long time, and it is said that His Majesty is slightly ill, but ......"

"Huh? What the hell is going on! Yuan Shao asked. Yuan Xi glanced at Yuan Kui and hesitated: "The child privately heard that Your Majesty, his condition is good and bad, but when he gets sick, it is getting more and more serious. And there are many rumors that His Majesty wants to make the Prince Association the prince.

Yuan Kui and Yuan Shao glanced at each other, and they both felt the seriousness of the matter. Yuan Kui said to Yuan Shao: "You have asked the general to step up preparations, once something happens, it will be the best time for us to take action against the eunuchs." Yuan Shao nodded yes.

After sending Yuan Kui out, Yuan Xi said goodbye to Yuan Shao and came to his mother Liu's house. Although the Liu family is a ruthless and poisonous woman in the history books, in Yuan Xi's opinion, in addition to being jealous, this mother from a big family is still quite popular, after all, she is a young lady from a big family.

Liu's maiden name is Yu, Yuan Shao's stepwife, who is only thirty this year, and has a luxurious and graceful beauty. Yuan Shao is still a little jealous or fond of this lady.

Liu Yu attaches great importance to Yuan Xi, the second son, although he is not as good as Yuan Shangke, he is not too favoritism. Some of the things Yuan Xi has done over the years have been carried out with Liu Yu's secret support.

Liu instructed the maid to add charcoal, and then took Yuan Xi's hand and sat down to ask for warmth. When Yuan Xi talked about some things in Runan's hometown, Liu Yu frowned and said: "Your eldest brother has been ill-intentioned towards you since he was a child, you have to be careful." ”

Yuan Xi wants to have a great advantage in the future struggle for power, and he is not completely without opportunities.

But if, like in history, his three brothers were still taken advantage of by Cao Cao because of infighting. Then you must establish your own civil and military team in advance, so that you can maintain your foothold in this troubled era.

But now that he is still young after all, he has no power, no soldiers, and no power to recruit talents, so he can only rely on the history he knows and make some efforts within his ability, which can be regarded as laying a foundation for the future.

Liu Yu stroked his head and said, "Is your expenses enough?" Turn back and let the hardware be with you. At this time, it was the time to need start-up funds, and of course Yuan Xi agreed.

After eating the "morning food" the next day, Xu Chu was already waiting outside Yuan Xi's house. Yuan Xi and Xu Chu brought the horses and just went out of the door, when they saw Zhu Ao squatting in a corner opposite.

Seeing Yuan Xi come out, he hurriedly stepped forward to salute, Yuan Xi nodded slightly and asked him to follow, and then the three of them came to a "gambling house" next to Luoyang Gold Market.

In fact, this gambling house includes several other small shops in Luoyang City, all of which are properties under Yuan Xi's name.

In the first two years, he raised a sum of money through various methods, and then opened a few shops. The man who helped take care of it was called Hua Xu, who was in his thirties and was originally a businessman, but he was bankrupt because of a conflict with Zhang Rang's nephew.

By chance, Yuan Xi gave him some help, and Hua Xu was grateful to recognize Yuan Xi as the master and help take care of the industry under his name.

Yuan Xi didn't expect these shops to make any profits, but only as an intelligence point for him to hit these places in Luoyang, and he could collect some intelligence after expanding the scope in the future.

The guy led Yuan Xi to a room upstairs, and Xu Chu was watching Zhu Ao in the courtyard. Hua Xu had been waiting for this for a long time, and after he had saluted, he told Yuan Xi to inquire about the situation of Zhu Ao.

Zhu Ao is really a homeless person from Yuzhou, there is an old mother who helps people wash and do chores on weekdays, and there is a teenage brother whose family has a very difficult time. Zhu Ao also worked as a handyman, but because it was difficult to make ends meet, he eventually became a thief.

After hearing this, Yuan Xi said: "I see that he is also clever and has read some books, so let him go to Chang'an to take care of a shop, and recruit some pawns by the way." ”

"If Childe wants to find out some news, it's suitable for a scoundrel like him, and I'll make some arrangements when he gets there." Hua Xu nodded. Yuan Xi asked Hua Xu to go out to do things, and then recruited Zhu Ao Xu Chu.

He said to Zhu Ao: "I know something about you, I know about your mother and brother, but you are in trouble, this time I will give you a chance to go to Chang'an to help me take care of a shop." ”

Zhu Ao was happy, but he was a little hesitant, "But the villain has never taken care of the shop, so I don't know if he can do it." ”

"You can't learn, someone will guide you, but there is one more important thing for you to do. After you go to Chang'an, you are obviously taking care of the shops, but you are secretly going to help recruit some peddlers, pawns, thieves and gangsters. "Ahh Why is that? Zhu Ao was surprised.

Yuan Xi frowned, his gaze a little cold. Xu Chu shouted in a rough voice: "Son, where do you have so many problems, just do it, do it for you, do it for Xu Ye, otherwise I will unscrew your head." Zhu Ao was frightened, "The villain obeys, the villain obeys." ”

Yuan Xi continued: "After you recruit those people, let them go to help find out some news, and I will send someone to tell you about the specific matter, you will only contact that person in the future and only be responsible for me, understand?" ”

Zhu Ao nodded hurriedly, "I must do a good job of what the son explained." ”

"Your mother and younger brother will stay in Luoyang first and help do something in this shop, I won't treat them badly." Zhu Ao was grateful when he heard this: "It was Gongzi who gave my family a chance to regenerate, and Zhu Ao only had this life to repay Gongzi." ”

Yuan Xi nodded, this is the law of the emperor, it is about the combination of grace and power. The four sons of the Warring States period are also widely accepted guests, in case of emergency, his father Yuan Shao is also a doorman with a skill, the so-called father must have his son, the ancients did not deceive me.