Cao Dingbang has a very good saying, he said, people have ranks.

And sadly, this rank is largely a gift from God, not one's own efforts.

He said that if it weren't for the experience of following Min Yue to the Western Regions, his ten Cao Dingbangs would not be able to mix with the captain, and if it weren't for the Empress Dowager Cao in power, he would not have become a general in Zhennan with one hundred Cao Dingbangs.

Cao Dingbang explained to Tang Yuan why his brother Cao Dingguo would resign from the Queen Mother every year.

The reason is that Cao Dingguo feels that the power of their brothers is too great and has threatened the imperial power, and he must always be vigilant against himself, and every year he has to apply for resignation to the Queen Mother on the grounds of poor health, so that the Queen Mother feels that she will not live long at all, and she does not want to hold power. Especially the power of the military.

Tang Yuan felt that Cao Dingbang was a person who would win people over, when he spoke, he seemed to be sincere, and he was also very sophisticated, the storytelling context was clear, and his judgment of the current situation was also very accurate, but he perfectly avoided all topics related to the Tang family.

I didn't ask Tang Yuan, who are you listening to now.

Such a question is simply stupid for a person of Cao Dingbang's level, so he will never ask it.

After leaving Cao Dingbang's not-so-luxurious mansion, Tang Yuan went to visit Meng Zhaoyang, the Duke of Jingguo, who is not doing well now, he has to take care of a large family, and his life is by no means as chic as rumored outside. There is not much grain in his warehouse, and the condition is not very good, compared with the previous Meng's gate valve, it is not the same.

Seeing Tang Yuan coming to the door, the young Jing Guogong walked out from afar and greeted him warmly.

Seeing that Tang Yuan had already drunk, he just served some desserts, and Tang Yuan didn't reach out to take them, but talked to this Young Master Meng.

Meng Zhaoyang said: "I learned from my little sister's letter that General Tang took care of his father and mother and little sister when he was in Luoyang, and he never came to the door to be grateful, but let you take the initiative to come to my house, which is really embarrassing." ”

Tang Yuan said with a smile: "I'm not here to ask you to thank me this time, I have two purposes, first, to deliver a letter." Your little sister Meng Tao knew that I was coming to Xiangcheng, Jingzhou, so I asked me to bring a few letters to you and your family, as well as some clothes and jewelry. Second, I'm here for routine business and to meet the prince. ”

Meng Zhaoyang was stunned: "Routine? ”

Tang Yuan said: "There is a letter from His Majesty the Emperor here, and I also ask the Duke of the Kingdom to take a look." ”

Meng Zhaoyang was taken aback, respectfully accepted the letter as if he had received a holy decree, unfolded it, and immediately frowned.

Tang Yuan reminded: "Don't let others see it. ”

"Oh, I understand." Meng Zhaoyang crumpled the letter into a ball, and threw it into the brazier again, and the letter paper burned to ashes before he spoke: "His Majesty the Emperor's requirements for me are not low. ”

Tang Yuan smiled: "But this is also a good thing, at least the emperor is beginning to trust you." If you can handle this matter well, the day when your father Meng Zong will be released from prison is just around the corner. ”

Meng Zhaoyang said: "But my family doesn't have that much money now. ”

Tang Yuan said: "There is no war now, and I am not in a hurry, I think General Cao will consider the matter of food, and the matter of weapons depends on the Duke of Jing Guo." ”

Meng Zhaoyang nodded in embarrassment, he could see that he was trying to find a way, but at this time, even Tang Yuan felt that he was powerless. However, since His Majesty the Emperor had sent all the letters, Tang Yuan would not detain the letter and prevent him from reading it. It remains to be seen how much help he can provide.

After talking about serious things, the two chatted for a while.

Meng Zhaoyang called a maidservant girl in the family and said to Tang Yuan, "What does the general think of this girl?" ”

Tang Yuan's heart moved, he first had to consider, what did Meng Zhaoyang's move mean, was he testing whether he was good at this?

Tang Yuan didn't show his attitude immediately, but smiled and waved his hand and said, "She is worthy of being a woman in a high-ranking family, this woman has an elegant temperament, which complements the temperament of the Meng Mansion." ”

Seeing that Tang Yuan didn't raise his eyes, Meng Zhaoyang waved his hand, and the maidservant went down.

As soon as the maid left, Meng Zhaoyang also left for a while, and after he went out, he seemed to have said something to someone, and then came back.

After a short time, the maidservant, who had just left, came in with a lute in her hand, sat down on a high stool, and began to play a melodious and light tune.

"General Tang likes vocal music?"

"Vulgar people, don't like vocal music very much."

"There is always a good person, I don't know what General Tang likes?"

"I love archery."

"No, no, no, that's just the general's housekeeping skills, how can it be regarded as a hobby. The so-called 'good' is nothing more than seven emotions and six desires, could it be that General Tang has already believed in a certain doctrine and has been disposed of in his heart? ”

It seems that this kid will not give up until he reaches his goal, and he must ask Tang Yuan's hobbies.

In fact, Tang Yuan also has his own little hobbies, but he has never cultivated them, he loves to play chess, but when he was a child, he never even saw Go, he just played backgammon that did not enter the stream, and that thing was more about luck than strength.

He also likes beautiful girls, but he doesn't love one by one like those gentlemen, especially now, when he often misses his deceased wife in his heart, and he is even less in the mood to mess with flowers.

Tang Yuan thought for a while and said, "Jing Guogong is right, everyone has their own hobbies, and I am not a master in the world, so naturally I can't hide from these seven emotions and six desires." It's a pity that now that I am entangled in official duties, a series of problems such as food and equipment for 10,000 people under my command weigh on my heart, but I am not interested in anything. ”

Meng Zhaoyang saw that Tang Yuan didn't say anything, he should have stopped there, but he didn't expect him to say it again: "I remember that when my grandfather was here, he said such a sentence to me, but any man will definitely be tempted by 'money, power, and sex', if he doesn't say that he is not moved, it must be disguised." These three things, at least one of them are extremely enthusiastic, and most people, in fact, are extremely yearning for these three things. To tell you the truth, I, Meng Zhaoyang, am the kind of person who has the least cultivation heart, and I have no resistance to these three things. ”

Tang Yuan said: "I like money, the more the better." And power, in my opinion, is just a tool to make money, and when I am rich, I feel that I will have it together. ”。

"That's right." Meng Zhaoyang smiled with relief: "I think we are about the same age, we are both young people, so we must be honest with each other." You like money, and I like it too, but the first time we meet today, and there is a letter from the emperor here, then please General Tang accept the thin gift. ”

As he spoke, Meng Zhaoyang waved his hand outward, and an old housekeeper walked in with two young and strong housekeepers carrying a red lacquer box.