As the founding ceremony approaches, Xianyang is lively day by day. Merchants of all sizes across the country have come to Xianyang to open branches, and many bosses have dragged their families to Xianyang to wait for the ceremony. The generals and county guards who were outside were also recalled to Xianyang to participate in the ceremony.

The mansion in Montenegro was also full of people, and many guards brought their relatives to live temporarily, just to watch the founding ceremony. Montenegro was boredly playing with his children in the backyard, and the guard at the door came to report: "General, there is a visit from Chen Ping, who claims to be your old friend at the door!" ”

When Montenegro heard this, he immediately put down the child and rushed to the door, seeing that Chen Ping was still dressed in white cloth and had a tall figure.

"Haha! The hot sun in the south has tanned you, and you are less bookish and more masculine than before! Montenegro patted Chen Ping's shoulder and laughed.

"It's all said that it's close to Zhu Zhechi! Can I, the ink nearer, not be black? Chen Ping replied humorously.

"Let's go, let's go in and talk!" Montenegro took Chen Ping's hand and walked inside.

The two came to the study and chatted while making tea.

It turned out that Chen Ping and Brother A Hei were in Baiyue, and first took advantage of the hatred of the Baiyue people for the Chu State to incite the leaders of Baiyue to oppose Chu, so that the north and south of Chu could not take care of each other, so that the Zhao and Jing clans of Chu had to go south to quell the rebellion. Directly supported the Qin army's great battle to destroy Chu. Every time they conquered a place, they immediately suppressed the local slave owners and large landowners, freed the slaves, and distributed land and livestock to the peasants and civilians. Therefore, it was supported by the majority of slaves and subordinate farmers, and the team also developed rapidly. By the time the King of Chu surrendered, they had grown from a thousand men at the beginning to a 30,000 strong army. After the fall of the Chu State, Wang Jian led his troops south, and with the cooperation of this team, he quickly captured Changsha County and Qianzhong County.

Originally, Chen Ping should have led the troops to continue to open up to the south, and after a year, the accumulated military exploits could at least be an official at the county level. However, he gave up a great opportunity at this time, handed over the troops to Brother Ahei, and returned to Montenegro along the newly built southwest five-foot road through Shu County, and continued to be the doorman of Montenegro.

"If you come back at this time, you will lose many opportunities to be knighted for meritorious service!" Montenegro said sadly.

"The soldier dies for the one who knows it, as long as he stays by the general's side, he can do what he wants!" Chen Ping replied.

"Okay, in that case, I'll immediately ask Uncle Chen to arrange an independent courtyard for you to live in, and then repair a letter and ask Xiao He to send your wife and children to Xianyang to reunite with you!" Montenegro said.

"Thank you, General!" Chen Ping bowed to Montenegro.

"When you enter a family, they are all your own family, so why be polite! Now that you've come back, I just have a doubt, so I'm going to take a closer look at you. Montenegro said.

"I want to hear about it!" Chen Ping replied.

Montenegro poured a cup of fragrant hair tips for Chen Ping, and said slowly: "Some time ago, the King of Qin once asked me, which side do you like to go to when you conquer Baiyue in the south, the six countries in the east, reject the Xiongnu in the north, and expand the Western Regions in the west?" Tell me how I choose? ”

Chen Ping took a sip of tea, pondered for a while, and said: "Although the Southern Expedition and the Western Expansion still have the merit of expanding the territory, they are just icing on the cake for you, and they have little significance. The Six Kingdoms of Dongzhen, although important, did not do much. The Xiongnu in the north are now far away, with no work to earn, and they need to be defended all year round, which is the most painful and tiring errand. Didn't King Qin give you a fifth choice? ”

"Haha, I can't hide anything from you!" Montenegro replied with a smile, "There is also a black ice platform servant shot by the middle doctor!" This position is equivalent to the current deputy director of the National Security Bureau, but in this era, this position is far less important than that of later generations.

"The above general's position was changed to the position of Black Ice Terrace, which is indeed low! At the time of the great dispute, this black ice platform was in charge of spying on the intelligence of the six countries, which was an extremely important job, and now that the world is unified, this position does not seem to be so important! But if King Qin is going to use the Black Ice Platform to observe the people's situation and supervise hundreds of officials, then the nature will be different! Chen Ping muttered to himself while pondering.

"What do you mean, suggesting that I be this little black ice servant?" Montenegro asked.

"Guarding the Quartet, although the power is great, but far away from the center, the ability is too weak, it is easy to lose the army, the ability is too strong, and it is easy to arouse the suspicion of the court. Not every generation of kings is like King Qin, who knows people well and uses people without suspicion! ”

Montenegro listened to Chen Ping's words and was full of emotion: "Since ancient times, how many loyal ministers and good generals have died not in the hands of the enemy, but in the suspicion of the emperor!" ”

"The Black Ice Terrace does not have a heavy army like the general of the town guard, and thousands of people are scattered all over the country! The servant only listens to the monarch and is not subject to the constraints of the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Governor's Mansion. If we manage it properly, we are in control of everything we do. If you want to get this small position, you have to get the absolute trust of King Qin! Chen Ping analyzed.

Montenegro pondered for a while and said, "The fierce generals of the Qin State are like clouds, and there are no less than twenty people who have been trusted and reused by the King of Qin. It's not so easy to be a servant of the black ice platform. ”

"As long as we are prepared, the chances are still relatively large! Although this official position is not large, it is very important, and the king of Qin will definitely appoint the person he trusts the most. Among the qualified generals, only you are a concubine, and the fourth princess is the favorite daughter of King Qin. If you let the fourth princess go to King Qin to blow the wind, she will say that she doesn't want to leave Xianyang, and she doesn't want you to leave her, this matter is at least eighty percent certain. Chen Ping said, with a sly smile on his face.

Montenegro thought for a while, and felt that this was indeed a good way, so he sighed: "Since the fourth princess and I got married, we have loved each other, but I didn't expect to have to use her again!" ”

As the day of the founding ceremony approached, new decrees were sent to all corners of the Qin Empire every day, unifying weights and measures, unifying writing, and unifying tracks; Demolish the city, repair the road, and repair the canal...... Officials are leading the people of the whole country to build this new country in full swing every day.

In Xianyang in early winter, although it has not snowed yet, a gust of north wind has caused passers-by to shrink their necks, and the golden leaves are fluttering. The two bronze hedgehogs as big as oxen at the gate of the Tingwei Mansion stared at each other, as if they were glaring at all kinds of people at the gate, adding a bit of slaughter out of thin air. The tea room in the concierge room for the clerks to wait was already full of officials at all levels waiting for Li Si to meet, and some low-ranking black-clothed officials could only stand outside the gate, basking in the warm sun. More Confucian scholars, who were dressed in various colors of silk, also stood beside the tall hedgehog and talked loudly, hoping to meet Li Si and seek an official position.

Li Si has been entering the palace several times a day recently, and the national plan discussed with King Qin far exceeds that of Prime Minister Wang Juan. He has been very busy for the past few months, and he has been very happy with this busyness, and although he is slightly tired from the daily routine of official business, it has made him more fulfilled and mentally refreshed. As soon as I got out of the palace, I sat on the bronze chariot specially given by the King of Qin, squinting my eyes slightly, but my heart was beautiful. It turned out that the King of Qin had just handed over the inspection of many officials to him, which was the main work of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Master Li goes home, idlers get out of the way!" As the doorman shouted, a team of thick-shouldered guards immediately ran out of the gate, blocking a six-foot road at the door. The doorman ran over quickly, put a handful of oranges under the car, pressed it with both hands, and shouted when it was safe: "Master Li get out of the car!" ”

Li Si habitually tidied up his clothes, and when he was looking at the jade crown, he lifted the curtain and walked out of the car steadily.

"Master Li......!" The Confucian scholars gave salutes one after another, held their names aloft in the air, and shouted in unison. How much they hope that Li Si can take a look at himself, accept his name, and soar is just around the corner.

"Ahem! Cough! Li Si coughed lightly, glanced at everyone, and the surroundings suddenly fell silent. I saw him pacing square steps, and he actually walked straight into the mansion.

"Let all the officials who come to do business enter the house and wait, and gather around the door, what kind of system? If you can't sit in the tea room at the door, you can sort out the side room! Coax those cloth-clothed Confucian students to disperse, this is an important judicial place, not a prime minister's mansion for electing officials. Li Si shouted angrily at the doorman, his voice was not loud, but it was sonorous and powerful.

"No! Subordinates do it immediately! The doorman immediately answered.

As soon as the doorman left, Li Si felt that it was inappropriate to coax the cloth soldiers away, and he was afraid that he would be infamous for disrespecting the virtuous and loving talents, so he turned around and wanted to call back the doorman, but saw that the doorman had already gone out of the gate, so he had to give up.

"I've seen the Lord!" (Lord, the honorific title of the ancient doorman to the master) entered the study, Li Si saw that his protégés Yao Jia and Dun Weak were also there, and he was bowing to himself, so he said to Yao Jia: "You go to the door to meet those scholars first, check it, if there are available materials to bring into the mansion another day, now Daqin is short of talents everywhere!" ”

"No! Students do it now! Yao Jia immediately retreated.

Dun Liang and Yao Jia were originally Li Si's protégés, and under Li Si's recommendation, they were both reused by the King of Qin, and they have been serving as the positive and negative pawns in charge of diplomatic relations and in charge of the Black Ice Platform. After the unification of the world, the two of them had no state to make friends with, and they became idlers, but became Li Si's right-hand man. Today I came to the Liss Mansion.

Li Si knows the two very well, both of them are erudite and brave and eloquent, and it is difficult to distinguish between them in terms of ability. But Li Si prefers Yao Jia's tactfulness, while he is weak but more upright, so Li Si has some confidential private affairs and always leaves them to Yao Jia.

"Prime Minister Wang returned to his hometown after the founding ceremony, it seems that the prime minister's position is none other than the monarch!" Don Weak personally poured a cup of tea for Li Si and asked tentatively.

Although Prime Minister Wang is old, King Qin is reluctant to let him go, and he is afraid that he will be tired, so he temporarily handed over many matters of the Prime Minister's Mansion to the old man, which is the king's trust in the old man. As for the position of prime minister? Daqin is full of talents, and he doesn't dare to hope for it! Li Si picked up the teacup and took a sip gently, his heart was sweeter than honey, but his mouth replied very modestly.

"Don't worry, when Prime Minister Wang returns to seclusion, his subordinates and Yao Jia and others will fully recommend King Qin, and it is only a matter of time before the monarch enters the Prime Minister's Mansion!" Said weakly.

"Don't be too happy too early, the brothers Feng Quji, the imperial historian, and Feng Zheng, the elder historian, are not only capable in politics, but also have outstanding military achievements, and are quite valued by the king of Qin, and there are still variables in the position of prime minister. It's a pity that under my Li family, there are many civil officials, but there are no military generals, which is not as good as the Feng brothers after all! Lees shook his head and sighed.

"The third son, Li You, is both civil and military, known as the Four Masters of Xianyang, and is the best horse today, let him go to the army to experience it, and the future will be limitless!" Said weakly.

"Li You's talent, how much water he has participated, I still know it, now with his military merits, it was not possible to put it ten years ago, and it is not enough to be a county lieutenant now! Not to mention the generals! Lees sighed.

Suddenly thought for a while and said: "There is a position, although the level is not high, but it is very important, and it only obeys the orders of the King of Qin, and the third prince is a court horse, which is just right!" ”

"Oh! Are you talking about the Black Ice Terrace? Li Si reacted immediately.

"Exactly! This black ice platform servant, although he is only a middle doctor, if he can become a third son, he will not change a general! He smiled weakly.

"Good! With Li You's military exploits, it's still okay to be a servant! Li Si smiled with satisfaction.

……

At the end of September of the 26th year of King Qin, almost all the generals and county guards who were abroad returned to Xianyang to prepare for the founding ceremony. In the Black Mountain Mansion, all the old subordinates gathered together again, Baturu, Na Bu, Veterinarian, Shi Fatzi, Carpenter, Dong Jian, Meng Hao, Mi Long, and Qin Zhong who rushed back from the most distant Ile County, Brother A Hei who came back from the Baiyue front, plus Zhang Jin, Da Xiong, and Meatloaf around him were exactly thirteen people. Montenegro looked at the familiar faces, a slightly fat figure, they are now the worst is already the general of Zuo Genjue, everyone, you punch me, I push you with a palm, and I am so happy that I can't open the glue.

"Shuai, it's been a long time since I've heard you lecture us, I miss it, or you will teach us a few words today!" Shi Fatzi said.

"Good! Good! The rest of the people immediately began to laugh.

Montenegro smiled: "If you have itchy skin, ask Instructor Baturu to whip it with a stick, Lao Tzu doesn't have that kind of idle work." I remember the first time I saw you in the new barracks of Nanyang County, you were all dirty and broken, like a starving ghost calling Hanako, and the dead fat man was eager to lick off a layer of rice bucket, and catch fleas for meatloafes to eat. Eleven years have passed in the blink of an eye, and now you are either generals or county lieutenants, all of you are the pillars of the country! ”

"Back then, Shuai Chang not only forced everyone to get up one hour early, but also spent half an hour in the evening practicing singing and literacy, can you have today's achievements? Maybe you'll die on a battlefield and turn to dirt! Meatloaf said.

"Yes! In order to improve everyone's physical fitness, Shuai Chang also paid out of his own pocket to ensure that we had meat and vegetables for a meal. Dong Jian also sighed.

"Don't mess up so many things. Everyone who has to get a whole pile at once, drink and go, and don't go back if you don't get around! Miron suggested.

"Good! Drink and go, don't get drunk and don't go home! The crowd agreed.

"Let's go, take you to a strange place and eat a familiar taste!" Montenegro also came to be interested, "Zhang Jin, lead the way in front, target Xiao Feiyang!" ”

"Long live the handsome man!" When everyone heard this, they shouted happily and followed Zhang Zhi.

Montenegro asked people to call Chen Ping, and when he returned to the backyard, he saw the fourth princess with long black hair, a graceful figure, and a white brocade dress cut by Shang Gongfang, which was less childish than when she first got married, and a few more points of mature female beauty.

Seeing Montenegro coming in, the princess floated over quickly, put her arms around Montenegro's neck, and said angrily: "So many old subordinates have come back from all over the country, there must be many new things, you don't take me to listen, I'm alone in the house, bored to death!" ”

"They're all rough people, and they're all talking out of tune, and we're going to go outside to drink and sing, why don't we go together?" Montenegro knew that the princess liked this the most, and asked knowingly.

"Great! You wait for me! I'm going to change my clothes first! The princess excitedly agreed.

"It's not like entering the palace to see my father, don't be so troublesome!" Hei Benegro said, casually took a mink cloak from the hanger and put it on the princess, and praised, "That's it, it's already the most beautiful princess in Daqin!" ”

Recently, there are many people in Xianyang, all the hotels are full every day, because the time is still early, everyone first occupies the most central position of the little sheep, Shi Fatzi shouted loudly to the store guys: "Give us the best wine and the best dishes, and then tell Yang Xiaowu to roll over, just say that his grandfathers are here!" ”

The guy was stunned for a moment, thinking that these people were here to find fault. Hurriedly greeted with a smile: "The guests are all our uncles when they enter the store, wait a few moments, the wine and food will come soon, I will call the shopkeeper immediately!" After speaking, he immediately went to the backyard to report to Yang Xiaowu.

Yang Xiaowu is now as fat as a ball of meat, wearing a fur coat, full of nouveau riche style, as soon as he entered the hall, he saw that it was an old man from the Nanyang new barracks, and his eyes were so happy that his eyes narrowed into a slit, and he shouted loudly: "Instructor Ba, dead fat man, carpenter, it's you who are here!" After saying that, he immediately greeted him.

Everyone saw that the thin cook in the former boot camp had now become a fat, fat, and well-dressed big boss, and they all greeted him with a gossip. was lively, Montenegro came with the fourth princess and Chen Ping, Yang Xiaowu squeezed in front of Montenegro, remembering that the shopkeeper embarrassed Montenegro last time, so he apologized: "General, I was really embarrassed to ...... last time!" ”

Montenegro waved his hand and motioned Yang Xiaowu not to mention it again, and said with a smile: "In the future, you will be the same as them, so you will still call me handsome!" Today, it's rare for old comrades-in-arms to come thousands of miles to take photos, you can watch it! ”

Yang Xiaowu knew that now only the closest people in Montenegro were qualified to call him handsome, and he was suddenly overjoyed in his heart, and said: "Yes, as long as the brothers come to Xiao Feiyang, all the food and drink are counted as Xiaowu." Xiao Er, good wine and good food are served quickly! ”

"You deflated calf, how many restaurants in Xianyang want to pay for us to eat, do you know? While it's still early, go and order more food and drinks, and you'll understand later! Miron said.

"Listen to him, prepare three times the usual dishes, ten times the wine, and today this handsome man will teach you how to do business! Let people move the guzheng in the VIP room first. Montenegro laughed.

"Okay, I'll arrange it right away!" Xiao Wu replied happily.

After a while, everyone first sang a song "Men Should Be Zhiqiang", and the princess played the accompaniment with the zither on the side. The high-pitched singing immediately drifted out of the street, attracting many passers-by around the gate to watch. When another song, "Light of Friendship," floated down the street, the door was already full of people. At this time, someone recognized it and said: "These people are the soldiers who sang in Salted Fish House back then, and they caused a sensation in the whole city back then!" Get in there and grab a seat, or there won't be a place in a while! ”

As soon as everyone heard that it was the people who drank the song in Xianyangju that year, they immediately rushed to the front, and after a while, the hall of Xiao Feiyang was crowded with people.

The song sung back then has already spread all over the world at this time, and those who can't sing will enjoy a few words, driven by Montenegro and others, the atmosphere is immediately mobilized, those who can sing together, those who can't sing learn to sing, and soon the atmosphere reaches a climax, not only the diners in the hall, but also the passers-by outside the hall also join in and sing together.

In the blink of an eye, the night was late, the dishes were exhausted, the wine was empty, and Montenegro was ready to leave. The diners were still unsatisfied, and one person asked, "Will it continue tomorrow?" ”

When the brothers were reconciled, they all turned their heads to look at Montenegro, and Montenegro turned to ask the princess beside him, "Will we come again tomorrow?" ”

The princess, seeing that everyone was looking at her longingly, happy and shy, replied softly, "Come! ”

The hall burst into cheers!

The next day, the fourth princess simply brought the musicians from the house to the scene to accompany the scene, pushing the night of the small intestine Yang to a new climax. Since then, Xiao Feiyang has become famous in Xianyang.