"Shizi, please."

Hearing the words of the Luyang Xianghou, the chief steward Cao Ju stood up, walked in front of Zheng Qian, the prince of the Marquis of Ruyang, and bowed his hand with a smile.

Zheng Qian couldn't believe it.

Don't look at him with the title of 'son of the world', but in fact, he is a few years older than the Marquis of Luyang, and they are also of the same generation in terms of generation, but his father Marquis Ruyang has a relatively long life, once his father Marquis Ruyang dies, then he can inherit the title of Marquis of Ruyang.

Knowing this, the father and son of the Luyang Township Marquis actually gave him so little face?

Zheng Qian was shocked and angry, looked at the Luyang Township Marquis and said coldly: "Zhao Gongyu, you have to think clearly." …… My Ruyang Zheng clan is a Henan wang clan, and offending my Zheng clan will not do you any good. As far as I know, in order to provide relief to refugees through work, your county has received a lot of money and grain from my Rushui counties, but as long as I say a word from the Ruyang Marquis' Mansion, there is no doubt that the Rushui counties will cut off the money and grain to support your county! ”

“……”

Hearing this, the three of Luyang Xianghou, Zhao Yu, and Cao Ju all frowned in unison.

Putting down the tea bowl in his hand, the Marquis of Luyang frowned and said: "Shizi, don't be rash, I don't doubt the power of your government in Henan, but the prince should also know that in the matter of refugees, my Luyang County and Rushui counties are on the same rope, if your government asks Rushui counties to cut off the money and food subsidies given to me Luyang, which will affect our county's work for relief, it will not be for me Luyang to suffer from the disaster of refugees, and Rushui counties will not be able to escape being implicated." ”

"Humph!" Zheng Qian sneered: "I have heard of this statement, from the mouth of my Wang Dan and Wang County Commander in Ruyang. At that time, the townsman and the county magistrate of Gui County, Liu Wei and Lord Liu, were so intimidating the county commander of Wang, right? If our Rushui counties refuse to help, they will instigate the refugees to go north and pour into our Rushui counties...... Hmph, that's not a commendable measure. …… Right now, you, Lu Yang, have roughly pacified the refugees in the territory and arranged them to various work sites, and you still want to threaten me with these words? I don't believe you really dare to instigate the refugees to go north and disturb the law and order of my Rushui counties! ”

After a pause, he added: "If my Rushui counties are really corrupted because of the refugees pouring in from your Luyang, when the court asks for it, we will definitely tell the truth and ask the court to punish you, and I am afraid that you will not be able to keep the title of Marquis of Luyang Township!" ”

“……”

The Marquis of Luyang frowned and looked at Zheng Qian expressionlessly.

And Zhao Yu, like his father, frowned, as if he was thinking about something.

Seeing that neither of his father nor son spoke, Zheng Qian thought that he had shocked the father and son, so he slowed down his tone and said lightly: "Of course, I don't want the matter to end up in the end, as I just said, I just want an explanation, as long as the townsman is willing to ask Lingzi to come to the door with a gift to apologize, and then let this slave named Cao An be punished, this matter will be over, and it will be written off." ”

Hearing this, the Marquis of Luyang and Zhao Yu frowned and said nothing, as if they were weighing the benefits and disadvantages.

In all fairness, if he just let himself come to the door with a gift to apologize, Zhao Yu could agree, after all, he didn't care much about Zheng Qian's so-called 'face', but Zheng Qian asked for a heavy punishment for Cao An, which Zhao Yu couldn't tolerate.

Did Cao An do anything wrong that day?

Not really!

The first person to act that day was indeed him Zhao Yu, it was he who couldn't hold back the anger in his heart, and directly put the hot porridge with the bowl on Wang Zhi's face, Cao An just rushed forward and pushed the other party away when Wang Zhi was angry and wanted to reach out to grab him Zhao Yu.

At best, this is an act of the Protector.

As for the intensification of the conflict later, Cao An and Wang Zhi scuffled to the ground when everyone was fighting, and beat Wang Zhi to the ground with a black face, which was only forced by the situation - if I remember correctly, Cao An was also beaten by Wang Zhi at that time with a nosebleed.

In that case, why should Cao An be burdened with this responsibility?

In the final analysis, it's just that the power of his Luyang Township Marquis Mansion is not as good as the other party's Ruyang Marquis Mansion, if they change positions with each other, then Zheng Qian will have the courage to come to Xingshi to ask for guilt!

This is also the reason why Zhao Yu refused just a bite.

But even he didn't expect that Zheng Qian actually used the money and grain subsidies given to him by Rushui County as a threat, which made Zhao Yu hesitate a little.

After all, although he wanted to protect Cao An, if the price was to lose the funding of Rushui County, then the price would obviously be too big, so big that he Zhao Yu would not dare to make a claim.

However, do you really have to sacrifice Cao An? That's forty battles...... Even if he was beaten to death, it is not surprising.

Just when Zhao Yu gritted his teeth and hesitated, suddenly Cao An smiled and said, "It's only forty battles, I can get through......"

Zhao Yu suddenly looked up at Cao An: "Cao An, you ......"

Under the encouragement of his uncle Cao Ju's gaze, Cao An said with a smile on his face: "Young master, you don't have to worry about me, although I am thin, I am actually quite strong. ”

“……”

Zhao Yu opened his mouth, and suddenly his face sank.

At this time, Cao An had already turned his head to Zheng Qian and asked, "Shizi, as long as I suffer those forty battles, this matter will be written off, is that so?" ”

Seeing that the father and son of the Luyang Township Marquis were silent and did not protect their servants anymore, Zheng Qian was a little proud in his heart, looked Cao An up and down a few times with interest, and chuckled: "I can't see it, you are also loyal." …… Not bad! Don't worry, since I said that if I don't take your life, I will definitely leave you a small life, and the forty heavy battles will make you unable to stay for a few months or half a year at most, just raise one. ”

"Then I'll be relieved." Cao An grinned.

At this time, the Marquis of Luyang was secretly looking at his son Zhao Yu, looking at his son's gloomy face.

Picking up the tea bowl again, he suddenly said, "Cao Ju, what's the matter?" Didn't you hear me? Send off the son! ”

“……”

This sentence stunned everyone present.

"Townsman?" Cao Ju and Cao An's uncle and nephew looked at the Luyang townsman in surprise, and even Zheng Qian and Wang Zhi looked at the latter in disbelief.

Of course, the most incredible thing has to be Zhao Yu.

"Forgiveness of sins."

After a moment of distraction, the chief steward Cao Ju immediately came back to his senses and said to Zheng Qian with a smile: "Shizi, please." ”

Looking at Cao Ju and then at the Luyang Township, Zheng Qian couldn't believe it, he left his seat angrily, pointed at the Luyang Township Hou and said angrily: "Zhao Gongyu, you don't have to regret it!" …… Walk! ”

With that, he took the king straight and went away.

Looking at the back of Zheng Qian and the others leaving, Zhao Yu turned his head to look at his father, but saw that the Marquis of Luyang stood up at this time.

When the Luyang townsman passed by him, Cao An couldn't help but speak: "Townsman, Cao An is willing to be punished." ”

The Marquis of Luyang glanced at Cao An in surprise and asked, "Do you think Yu'er did something wrong?" Or are you doing something wrong? ”

"Uh......" Cao An was speechless and stammered: "No, no, the young master did nothing wrong in the day's affairs, the little one...... The little ones didn't ...... either."

"Then you don't have to suffer it, and you don't have to suffer it."

As he spoke, the Luyang townsman walked outside the house and said, "Yu'er, go outside the house with your father." …… The three of you will each step back first. ”

"Yes." Cao Ju, Cao An, and Jingnu each bowed and did not follow.

Walking with the Marquis of Luyang in the courtyard next to the garden in the inner courtyard, Zhao Yu was a little apprehensive in his heart.

He was not worried about his father's scolding, but worried about the consequences of this incident - if the Marquis of Ruyang really succeeded in instigating the Rushui counties to cut off the money and grain subsidies given to him in Luyang County, this would undoubtedly be a bad thing with a huge impact on him Luyang.

But knowing this, why did his father still drive away Zheng Qian?

With the feeling of suffering from gains and losses, Zhao Yu didn't know where he followed his father, so that he didn't pay attention when the Luyang townsman stopped, and hit his father's waist headfirst.

"Dad, you don't say a word when you stop suddenly."

Seeing that the Marquis of Luyang turned his head to look at him, Zhao Yu complained a little weakly.

Hearing this, the Marquis of Luyang snorted coldly and said, "If you don't look at the road when you walk, you still have the face to blame your father?" ”

Rubbing his head, Zhao Yu looked around, and then he realized that the Luyang townsman led him to the courtyard in the front yard, and the big tree standing in front of the father and son at this moment was not the one he fell down from?

"What are you bringing me here for?"

Zhao Yu wondered in his heart.

Just when he was wondering, he suddenly heard the Luyang Township Marquis ask: "Yu'er, you just want to protect Cao An, right?" ”

Zhao Yu nodded, then shook his head again, and said: "That's not protection, Cao An didn't make a mistake that day, he just took ...... for me."

"I have received it on your behalf, which means that Zheng Qian has actually left a face, although it is still unkind to you and me." The townsman of Luyang stretched out his hand and patted the trunk of the tree in front of him, and at the same time asked, "Then why didn't you squeak in the end?" ”

"I ......"

"Is it because you are afraid of Zheng Qian's threat?"

"Yes......" Zhao Yu said in a low voice: "Although the child does not agree that Cao An has received it on my behalf, if this matter involves the funding of Rushui County, the child ...... Children don't dare to assert themselves. ”

Hearing this answer, the Marquis of Luyang nodded slightly and said, "This shows that you are very calm, which is very good." ”

"But...... Dad, why did you drive away that Zheng Qian? Zhao Yu asked tentatively.

"Isn't it good? The Father did what you wanted to do for you. Luyang Xianghou said lightly with his hands behind his back.

"Uh......" Zhao Yu was stunned and asked hesitantly, "Is it good...... But what about the funding of Zhushui County? ”

Carrying his son on his back, the Marquis of Luyang said calmly: "The grain storage in the county's official warehouse is enough to support until the beginning of spring next year, and before that, you can come up with countermeasures...... As he spoke, he reached out and patted the trunk of the tree in front of him, and then raised his head to look at the crown on the top, and said: "Yu'er, look at this tree, the crown on its top is lush and green, whether it is the scorching sun or the wind and rain, it shelters the flowers and plants below, and the same is true for the superiors." …… The higher ones shelter the people below, and the lower ones shelter the lower ones, and the lower ones shelter the lower ones. Although Cao An is a servant in the house, you must know that just for your father and your mother, or you two brothers, the four of them can't support a huge family, not to mention, throwing out the people below them at every turn to take it for themselves, which is a manifestation of the incompetence of the superiors! …… You are afraid of Zheng Qian's threat and focus on the overall situation of Luyang County, which is very good, but if you can't keep the people under you, you are destined to not be able to go far. Got it? ”

"Got it."

Zhao Yu nodded, and then couldn't help but say, "Dad, the child suddenly admires you." ”

"Huh." The Luyang townsman smiled faintly, and immediately seemed to realize something, frowned and asked, "Suddenly?" You mean to say, before that......"

"Hehe...... Zhao Yu smiled and diverted the topic: "That...... What should I do with the Marquis Mansion of Ruyang? ”

"The soldiers will come to block, the water will come to cover the earth, in short, act at the opportunity." The Marquis of Luyang said calmly: "To be a man, you must stick to your own principles, since you think you have done nothing wrong, then you don't need to give in." What's more, obedience can't win respect! ”

"Father was right ......"

Zhao Yu nodded, thinking in his mind about countermeasures against the Marquis of Ruyang.

At this time, in the corridor in the distance, the chief steward Cao Juzheng was hiding in a corner with Cao An, looking at the father and son of the Luyang Township Marquis from a distance, as if he was eavesdropping on the conversation between the father and son.

I don't know what I overheard, Cao An's eyes were red, and his face was full of excitement.