Halfway through, Gu Shi taught Xiao Cicada to find Yue'er and them by himself. If there are no outsiders, of course he can be cheeky to bring his daughter over, but now that He Lunar New Year and the first three are also there, he can't play such a rogue trick.

When he entered the courtyard of the outer study, he had not yet reached the stone steps of the hall when he heard someone talking loudly in the room.

“…… The battle on September 23 was the most thrilling. As soon as the light of day dawned, they began to attack the city from all directions, and the shouts of killing on the city wall did not stop for a moment. I was running the dispatch at the East Gate. The rolling wood and stones on the head of the city are gone, so the house is demolished, and the beams and pillars of the house are lying on the foundation stone, as long as they can be thrown out and smashed people, they are all transported to the city wall. The people in Duanzhou City all understand the situation, and everyone knows that once the city is broken by the Tuqi people, it will be a chicken and a dog, so no one complained, and helped us demolish our own houses. The wooden stakes and stones that were dismantled here were moved up the city, and the wounded soldiers and fallen soldiers on the other side of the city were constantly being sent down. Before noon, the Chaotian Temple on the east side of the east gate was full of wounded soldiers and civilians. Let me tell you, how tense it was! I am an old man who has been with the general for many years, and I am very familiar with the situation of first aid for blue and red injuries on the battlefield, so Chaotianguan prepared eight large copper pots early in the morning, which were only used to boil water and boil raw cloth, just to clean and bandage the wounds of the wounded. As a result, the boiling water and raw cloth of the eight pots are not used! ”

The man spoke the official dialect of the Central Plains, but Yanshan's accent was very heavy, and some of the words were even more vague and confusing, and Gu Shi didn't even know what the man was talking about.

He thought that it was an old subordinate of Shang Cheng sitting in this room, and he stepped on the three stone steps and looked in along the open hall door, only to see a middle-aged man in his forties sitting on the right side of the hall, with a thin face that was not slippery, and two sparse drooping eyebrows were clustered into a deep "Chuan" character in the center of the eyebrows, and with the hard lines on both sides of the mouth, it was the hard work and life recorded in the photo book. This man not only has two handful of funny rat whiskers, but also a goat's whisker under his chin, his appearance is not good, but his demeanor is calm, and he sits opposite the first three and the New Year, and is talking with his eyebrows fluttering. The man also saw him, but he didn't pay any attention, his eyes only glanced slightly, and with a slight head he turned his face and continued to speak:

"I was in Chaotianguan, and the guards heated the bread, food, and soup over and over again, but the sound of fighting was heard on the top of the city, and the heralds who urged the wood, stone, and arrows came one after another, and the horizontal and vertical were not called to deliver food; asked people to ask, but there was no response. Seeing that the sun was gradually moving westward, I turned my heart sideways, casually called a few guys who cooked on the fire, picked tea and rice and sent it directly to the city. Before he reached the city, he came down a few stretchers along the galloping road, one of which was Qiao Zhun of Duanzhou Mansion. He was struck by an arrow in the neck, and his iron leaf armor was slashed on his shoulder, and blood was sprinkled everywhere on his chest. When we had only reached the top of the city, a section of the wall suddenly changed hands, and twenty or thirty large tent soldiers of the Turpentine screamed and cut down a group of soldiers who had gone up to plug the gap. There were still people at the head of the city who helped defend the city, but after all, they didn't eat rations, and they could still do things like helping to lift some stones and throw a log at the bottom of the city. As soon as the big tent soldiers came to the city, they panicked, and two groups of soldiers failed to drive the enemy down, and they were in chaos, and they did not know who shouted that the city was broken, and half of the city wall was full of wailing and crying. I'm a person who has been with the general for many years, I haven't eaten pork and I've seen pigs run, I know that it's really bad if it's messy at this time, so I was red-eyed on the spot, grabbed a knife, and went up to cut down a Li Zheng who took the lead in escaping, which stabilized the situation a little. He also joined more than 20 brothers in the guards, took the hot soup we sent to open the way, and fought desperately to kill back, and most of the people died, and finally chopped up the group of big tent soldiers. I also cut down three big tent soldiers, and ran to touch the trophies between battles, and as soon as I touched them, I found a gold medal. As he spoke, the man held a golden sign hanging from his waist in his hand.

I heard He Nian scream in surprise, and asked strangely: "Is it really a gold medal?" That's a big deal, why didn't you hand it over? ”

The man smiled and said, "I'm not in the military, and I can't be promoted to the rank if I pay this thing." A few years ago, this thing was valuable, and a brand could be exchanged for an acre of Xuntian from the hands of the imperial court, which was really a glorious lintel. But in the past two years, we Yanshan have won too many gold medals on the battlefield, and if we pay it out, we will give out a few copper coins at most. I only have the fame of Xiucai, and now I am the eighth grade, and my career has come to an end, even if I pay another ten gold medals, I may not be able to go further; I don't have a lot of money, and I don't have a few acres of land at home, so it doesn't matter to me whether I am exempt from field tax or not, and I think that if I pay it, I will have no place to receive one and a half acres of Xuntian, so I will simply leave it. ”

I heard He Nian smile and said: "You are open-minded......"

Gu Shi stood on the stone steps and had already seen the situation in the hall clearly, Shang Cheng was not in the house, so he turned around and came out again, wanting to find the guard at the door to inquire about Shang Cheng's whereabouts.

He just walked out of the courtyard gate and saw Shang Cheng.

"These ***, my eyes are very uncomfortable, and I went back to the house just now to change a new medicine sponge." Shang Cheng rubbed his eyes through the blindfold and said to him, "I met the little cicada when I came over." I thought you were all in the house, why don't you go in? Lao He and the first three are all there. I've already said hello to the stove, let's get a few good dishes at noon, let's have a drink. By the way, I would like to introduce you to a competent ......"

Gu Shi knew that the capable person that Shang Cheng said in his mouth must be the Yanshan man who took the gold medal of the Purple Soul as an object. Although this person's tone is very big, and Shang Cheng is more respectful, Gu Shi doesn't think that this person can have much ability. No matter how big the ability is, can it be bigger than the Chinese New Year? That night in the Hanyuan Palace, the Son of Heaven ordered him to recite and recital, and the prime minister named him to participate in the planning of the Eastern Widow strategy. As long as you can control your mind and not be arrogant and cautious, your future future is limitless. Alas, it's a pity that the Gu family is in trouble now, and they really can't spare their hands to be distracted; Otherwise, with only two rounds of collusion in the East and the East, it is completely possible to make friends with the Chinese New Year, and over time, this person will definitely become a big help to the Gu family......

Where could Shang Cheng have thought that Gu Shi had thought about so many things in a blink of an eye, he had crossed the threshold, turned his head and saw that Gu Shi had not followed, turned back again, and asked half-jokingly: "What, Gu Hou, why don't you leave?" Isn't there something you want to teach me? ”

"......" Gu Shi was silent for a moment and said, "Zida, I have something to say to you." He tugged at Shang Cheng's sleeve and asked him to follow him to the courtyard wall.

Shang Cheng was puzzled and asked suspiciously: "What are you doing sneakily about?" Looking at Gu Shi's heavy expression, he felt that something should be wrong. He knew very well the terrible situation that Gu Shi was facing now, but Gu Shi had never told him the details of what had happened, and he didn't have the slightest clue, so he didn't lend a hand. And he thought that even if Gu Shi didn't hide anything from him and Pantuo, he wouldn't be able to play much role in such a big matter, so he kept silent. In addition, he felt that even if something really happened to the Gu family, he would be able to keep the Gu family safe, of course, there would be no way to do anything about those altars and jars. However, even if something really happened to the Gu family, it couldn't be right now, right? At least until the selection of the new crown prince is clear and the new owner of Ganquan Palace is seated, and then he will slowly cut off the side branches and wings of the Gu family; When the liquidation is on Gu Shi's head, it will be after the third five, to say the least. He thought, even he could figure out this truth, and Gu Shi must know it. So what is Gu Poyang still panicking about?

Gu Shi stood still, stabilized his mind, gritted his teeth and said, "Zida, you have to help me this time!" ”

“…… What's going on? ”

"As long as you help me cross this hurdle, whatever you say in the future, my Gu family will do something to you!"

Shang Cheng was stunned for a moment. What does that mean? Gu Shi is a well-known figure in the military in the court, and the Poyang Gu family is the first family outside the Chen clan...... Then didn't Emperor Dongyuan immediately chop himself into minced meat? He hurriedly interrupted Gu Shi's words: "Just say it, what's the matter?" ”

Gu Shi couldn't force Shang Cheng to say the promised words immediately, but he still added: "The wind knows the strength grass, I won't say any extra nonsense!" One by one, you remember the before and after on the Hanyuan Hall that night, right? ”

Shang Cheng nodded solemnly and did not speak. It has only been three days since the Hanyuan Hall meeting, and it is obviously impossible to forget.

"What about the words of the Son of Heaven who later approved me?"

Shang Cheng thought about it for a while, and said uncertainly: "It seems that 'Gu Hou is diligent in state affairs, and he has also worked hard'." That's what you said, right? ”

"Yes." Gu Shi said. There was no need for him to say any more, he just raised his eyes and stared at Shang Cheng, quietly waiting for him to make a decision. In his opinion, even he, a person in the bureau, can think about things that he understands, Shang Cheng is watching the fire from the other side, and he is naturally even more insightful!

Shang Cheng frowned and thought about it, but he really couldn't think of any hints hidden in these words, so he had to humbly ask Gu Shi for advice.

Gu Shi didn't have time to pay attention to Shang Cheng's pretending to be crazy and stupid, Emperor Dongyuan hinted so clearly and clearly, you can draw a map of the geography of the Eastern Kingdom while sitting at home, and you can't see the clues? He had no choice but to tell Shang Cheng his speculation and speculation as it was, and finally said: "The current situation is like this, the Son of Heaven is angry, but he is angry, but my opponents will not let me go." Especially the two princes of Jinan and Chengdu, in order to please the Son of Heaven, they want to kill my Gu family. I'm old, and I'm fearless whether I'm migrating or sending Lingnan to Lingnan, but I'm just dying, and I'm just my family, so I can only ask you. As he spoke, his face was already full of Qi Rong. But the lonely, desolate, and helpless expression was just a flash, and then it was the calm face that only when talking about official business and reasoning on weekdays. He took two steps back, straightened his clothes, fluttered the sleeves of his robe, and respectfully prepared to give Shang Chengxing a big gift......

Shang Cheng leaned over, accepted his salute, and said with a smile: "Old man Gu, you came here today to entertain me, right?" ”

Gu Shi Yileng. Where does this begin?

"Everyone is for the affairs of Dongwei, you have been praised by the Son of Heaven, and Zhenqian is also in charge, only I was fined for three months' salary and banned for twenty days." Shang Cheng muttered a vulgar word, and then said, "You're not satisfied, so you have to show off in front of me?" Take his! I fought with Yang Du before, and you were even biased at that time! That time I was fined half a year's salary, and this time it was a month, and this year was a wasted effort, and the whole family had to drink the northwest wind! He cursed and said with a grin, leaving Gu Shi and turning to leave.

Gu Shi was stunned for a long time, and suddenly his heart was fascinated. He clapped his hands with joy! Ha, thanks to his self-proclaimed resourcefulness and decision-making, he didn't expect that Emperor Dongyuan's words would have such a meaning. The strategy of Dongwei was planned by Shang Cheng, and he and Zhenqian were just jointly signed, but Shang Cheng did not fall behind in the last half of the good, and he was punished. Although this punishment is not unreasonable, it is also a fact that merit is not rewarded. In this case, Emperor Dongyuan naturally couldn't add more colors to others, otherwise wouldn't he be even more angry? So the Son of Heaven said that he was "hard", this is the best reward, but Zhenqian didn't even get a "hard" compliment! As for appointing Zhenxiang to preside over the Dongwei strategy, that was originally his duty, but it had nothing to do with praise and praise.

Thinking about this layer, his eyes suddenly opened up, and he suddenly felt that the sky was blue and the sun was shining, and it was the mottled moss crawling under the corner of the wall, which was also very pleasing to the eye.

He let out a long breath, straightened his clothes, and followed him into the courtyard with a smile.

What kind of trouble is the trouble that Zhenqian encountered?

He entered the hall and greeted the three before the New Year. Shang Cheng didn't mention what happened just now, pointed to the Yanshan man who stood up to introduce him, and said, "Gu Hou, this is my old partner when I was in Yanshan, Beizheng Jiang Jun. He worked with me when I was the commander of the North Zheng Xima Zhi, and when I arrived in Yanzhou, the two of us were still stirring spoons in the same pot. Then he said to Jiang Jun, "This is the Marquis of Poyang that I mentioned to you last night." ”

Jiang Jian hurriedly gave Gu a big gift for the junior to see the elders.

Gu Shi did not receive all his gifts. returned the salute and sat down, still thinking about Jiang Yan's coming. This looks like a country gentry's housekeeper Jiang Jun, he hasn't even heard much of his name, most of them are not any generals and famous generals in the Yanshan army, but Shang Cheng Shao is so solemn when he introduces things, obviously he is not a person who can be sent casually...... He suddenly remembered that not long ago, he seemed to have heard of this man somewhere, but he could no longer remember what he had heard about.

Shang Cheng put the tea soup in front of him, and when he saw his absent-minded appearance with his eyebrows raised, he understood what he was thinking, so he said: "Gu Hou doesn't know Lao Jiang, this is very common, out of Yanzhou City, there are very few people who know him." But although the old Jiang people are ordinary and ordinary, what they do is very extraordinary. I only want to tell you two things: First, the contract signed between the Ministry of Industry and Yanshan Huo's Liquor Farm is Lao Jiang's handwriting. At present, Liu Ji Rendan, which is selling hot in various parts of the Central Plains, is also his idea......"

Gu Shi knew that Liu Ji Rendan, and he had several boxes at home for emergency use. This kind of medicine was only available last winter, the vermilion small pill medicine, can relieve the heat, can be damp, clear the heat and open the body to dispel the turbidity, where the boredom and nausea, the chest is full of stuffiness, dizziness, water and soil and other symptoms can be symptomatic, the effect is remarkable, and it is very cheap, a few copper coins can buy a small packet, so ordinary people also have one or two packs at home to prevent accidents. With these advantages, this medicine has only been half a year since it came out, and it has the reputation of "Baixiao Dan" among the people, and the merchants who come and go from the south to the north are buying the whole box, and even exchange it for gold and silver utensils or jade boxes and jade bottles to give gifts to relatives and friends. He also heard that because of the good efficacy of Rendan, even Ouchi and the army are now considering buying it; This also proves its value in another way. It's just that Gu Shi never thought that Ren Dan was actually from the hand of Jiang Jun in front of him. Could it be that this is the secret recipe of the Jiang family's ancestors......

The origin of Ren Dan will never be clearer than Jiang Yan. But whether it is before or after people, if someone plants the merits of Rendan on his head, he will never refute it. At the moment, Shang Cheng introduced his skills, but he just smiled and said nothing.

He Nian knew about Jiang Luan, but he didn't expect that Jiang Luan, who had made the Ministry of Industry disgraced with a paper contract, actually produced Rendan, and couldn't help but praise a few words about the subtle benefits of Rendan.

Gu Shi asked, "Is Mr. Jiang going to Beijing on business this time?" ”

"'Sir' will never dare to be a word." Jiang Jun said. He was Shang Cheng's confidential secretary when he was in Yanshan, and he had a lot of dealings with big people like Lu Ji, Di Xu and Zhang Shao, so now facing Poyang Hou Gushi, he is not stage frightened at all. He humbly said a few words and said, "I used to be the head of a bookstore in the Yanshan Governor's Mansion. After Zhu Xuan took office last winter, I was kicked to work in the concierge of the Admiral's Palace. Originally, I said that I would not be an official anymore, and I was reluctant to change the eight-grade official robe that I had to change back with all my might, so I gritted my teeth and helped him watch the gate. On the seventeenth of last month, I received an order from the Ministry of Works, and I handed over the errand in the Admiral's Mansion on the same day, and came in a hurry early the next morning. ”

Gu Shi understood as soon as he heard it, this must be Chang Xiu's exclusive transfer of Jiang Lu, a veteran of compiling "contracts", for the sake of the patent money of the Huo family's liquor, just to sign contracts with those foreign winery owners. In other words, Chang Wenshi is the real good fortune, originally everyone thought that as soon as the proposal of this "patent money" came out, it would be criticized by someone, but Chang Xiu accidentally lost the written official document on the first day, so he had to go back and rewrite a copy, but the next day he handed it over to the prime minister's office, and happened to encounter the imperial court's decision to send troops to the Eastern Wa Kingdom. Everyone in the six ministries knew that there was a closed-door meeting in Hanyuan Hall that night, but there were very few people who knew the topic of the meeting, and no one dared to guarantee what was discussed at the meeting that only important officials above the waiter could attend, and no one could be sure whether the "patent money" proposed by Chang Wenxiu, the waiter of the Ministry of Works, was a resolution at that meeting, so no one was willing to be this bird. This "Begging for Patent Money and Yanshan Yixian Huo Shishu" was handed over, and the prime minister forwarded it to the six departments for careful examination and consideration, but for two days in a row, the government and the opposition had no objection at all, so the prime minister's office even saved the time of collecting opinions and sorting out the final draft, and directly made a formal draft, ready to promulgate the world.

After saying a few words to Jiang Wei, Gu Shi turned his head and asked the first three mouthfuls: "Great monk, why do you have leisure today?" ”