When they were about to enter the city, Qin Mubai and the others found a hidden forest, changed their robes and armor, and changed their clothes, and then disguised themselves as merchants as they did at the beginning, and then rode into the city and returned to the inn.

was just about to enter the room, and collided with Chen Yan, who was about to go out. Chen Yan was stunned for a moment when she saw Qin Mubai, and then laughed: "You turned into this, I didn't recognize the danger for a while, and you are more than ten years old in an instant!" ”

"Huh!" Qin Mubai greeted her into the room with a smile, removed her disguised beard and hair accessories, and said to her, "I'm about to go to the Assassin's Mansion, why don't you go with me?" Anyway, Li Ke, you are also familiar with each other. ”

Chen Yan thought for a while and nodded: "It's okay, just have nothing to do, I just want to go out for a walk." ”

"Then let's go! I was just about to talk to Li Ke about the water ghosts in the West River Trough, and you know a little about it, so you might be able to tell us something. ”

The group left the inn and headed for the Assassin's Mansion.

Li Ke took office as a new official, and everything was hastily done. He did not set up another palace, but simply cleaned up the back house of the Thorn Mansion, and used it as a residence. The officials of the Assassin's Mansion and the soldiers of the palace were all familiar with Qin Mubai, so they traveled unhindered. Zhou Laojiu, the head catcher, was even more excited when he saw Qin Mubai, and greeted him step by step and led him to Li Ke's residence in the back house.

When Li Ke heard that Qin Mubai was coming, he walked out laughing loudly, and laughed from afar: "Oh, rare guest, rare guest!" ”

"Just taunt me!" Qin Mubai said with a smile.

"Who greeted you, I obviously said hello to Lady Chen." Li Ke smiled, "It's been a long time, Chen Nuxia, everything is okay?" ”

"Okay." Chen Yan replied with a smile, "It's just that I almost became a decapitated ghost who died unjustly in the treasure land of Xiangzhou." ”

"Oh, it's none of my business, I wasn't in office yet! Now, I, a Qing official, have been appointed in history, how can there be any more unjust cases? Besides, even if I'm a fool, no one dares to wronged Chen Nuxia, otherwise someone will definitely fight with me, haha! Li Ke laughed loudly.

"I really can't stand you, I'll brag nonsense when we meet." Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled, "I have some serious things to talk to you about, do you just stand on the edge of the stairs and say it openly?" ”

"Oh, it's Xiao Wang's rudeness, rudeness! Two distinguished guests, please come in and talk! Come and make tea to welcome guests! Li Ke swaggered into the house.

Qin and Chen looked at each other and shook their heads and smiled, and followed.

Li Ke is still an old habit, he can't leave tea anywhere, and he specially brought the exquisite and expensive gold tea set from Chang'an to Xiangzhou, and even the Meiji who brewed tea was still the same.

The three of them sat and chatted leisurely and waited for tea, and when the tea was ready, Li Ke dismissed the idlers and began to get to the point.

"Tell me, what did you gain from your parade today?" Li Ke got straight to the point.

Qin Mubai said: "The people in the military government don't work hard, they just make a show. The Shenyu spaceship is good-looking and useless, and the White Wave Navy has its surface. All in all, the Xiangzhou Military Government did not intend to seriously suppress the thieves, but was doing all kinds of tricks to confuse the public. ”

"Expected." Li Ke nodded, took an account book and threw it to Qin Mubai, and said, "Quan Wanji checked the account books of Yincao, Liangcao, Juncao and Facao, and also found these problems. Over the past few years, Xiangzhou has paid countless amounts of money and grain for the suppression of thieves, ranking first in all expenses, far exceeding the persuasion of agriculture and mulberry. In fact, Xiangzhou is very wealthy, and those few wharves alone can bring rolling financial resources. But most of these incomes were used to raise soldiers, but the water ghosts in Xihe Cao were getting more and more fierce. I wonder if the money was used to raise soldiers or thieves. ”

Qin Mubai looked through the account book for a while, twisted his brows and said: "The military government is inactive, and the assassin mansion seems to be colluding with the military government. Xiangzhou is appeased and nurtured together, no wonder the water ghosts in Xihe Cao are becoming more and more lawless. Now I'm thinking about a question, the reason why His Majesty the Emperor sent you here and asked me to be your assistant is probably because I have heard about the Xihe Caoshui ghost. Otherwise, how can a small Xiangzhou send you to sit in town? ”

"Sitting? I like this word, it seems like I'm very capable. Li Ke smiled playfully, "Let me tell you this, it wasn't my father who sent me, I myself had already taken care of this place." As early as when I was in Anzhou, I heard that Xiangzhou was very rich, but the history of Xiangzhou thorns was as diligent as watching flowers. At that time, I didn't know why, so I was very curious - is it that people don't want to do such a good thorn history? Why do you have to leave after a few days? In recent days, I've only vaguely figured out why. ”

"Is there any other reason besides the repeated prohibition of water ghosts?" Qin Mubai asked.

"Absolutely." Li Ke said, "Another important reason is that the officials and gentry in Xiangzhou are quite closely connected with each other, and outsiders can't get a needle into the water." The Assassin's Mansion, the Military Government, and the local wealthy gentry formed their own faction, with their own leaders and common interests. In this way, no matter which assassin and lieutenant are transferred, they are all isolated and excluded. On the surface, it seems that the assassin and the captain are the most powerful and the most official, but in fact, they can only be alone. When an official comes to such a place, who can mix for a long time? ”

"It seems that His Highness smelled something." Qin Mubai asked, "Can you see it, who is the 'Earth Overlord' on the land of Xiangzhou?" ”

"Sima Wei of the Assassin Mansion, Du Chengyuan, Captain of the Military Mansion." Li Ke said word by word, "Just these two people." ”

"Sure enough......" Qin Mubai lightly picked the corners of his mouth and nodded.

"So, you feel it too?" Li Ke's eyes lit up and asked.

"I don't know about the Assassin's Mansion, among the military mansions, the generals and colonels are indeed the only ones who are the leaders of Du Chengyuan. The first time I appeared today, he gave me a kick. Fortunately, I have 100 horsemen to follow, otherwise I would really lose face and not be able to come to the stage. Qin Mubai sneered, "But don't worry, it's easy to clean him up after all." But I just don't know how much power they have in Xiangzhou and how many people are implicated behind it. ”

"Take your time! We're new to the city, so we have to stand still. Li Ke nodded and said, "Fortunately, I am a prince, and I have my own people and a faction." Otherwise, the lonely one really has no way to deal with them. ”

At this time, Chen Yan smiled and said, "Why don't I go out for a walk, you can have a good talk?" ”

"Oh? Ha ha! It seems that we are abrupt beauties! Li Ke hurriedly raised the teacup, "It's over!" Come, Xiao Wang respects you a bowl of tea, and you should make amends. ”

"How dare you." Chen Yan returned the salute and smiled, "I feel that the two of you are closer than when you were in Jiangzhou. This time, you worked together again, but the location was changed from Jiangzhou to Xiangzhou. I don't know how much trouble you plan to make this time? ”

"Haha!" Li Ke pointed at Qin Mubai and laughed, "I don't have that guts!" In fact, he instigated me to do everything, and it's none of my business! ”

Qin Mubai shook his head and smiled: "Chen Yan, now you know what it means to sell friends for glory, right?" It is said that it is good to meet in a foreign country, but when you meet someone like Your Highness, you can be regarded as having touched the mold. ”

"Hey, as soon as you say that you have met someone in a foreign country, I think of something." Li Ke hurriedly got up, walked into his study, took out a letterhead and handed it to Qin Mubai, and said, "You really have a lot of friends, and there are old people in Xiangzhou who come to visit you." I couldn't get into the barracks, so I found someone to find the Assassin's Mansion and asked me to pass on the letter to you. ”

"Who could it be?" Qin Mubai opened the letter curiously and looked at it, it turned out to be a letter written by Wu Meiniang. At first, he was excited for a while, thinking that Wu Meiniang had come to Xiangzhou, but after reading the letter, he realized that she didn't come, but just asked someone to bring a letter. What was written in the letter was nothing more than a feeling of lovesickness, and it mentioned that he was asked to find a shop in Xiangzhou. The letter said that after the renovation, the Qinxian Pavilion (the original No. 1 wine in the world) has been opened, and the business is not bad. Now that it has been turned, it must not be long before there is money left to open a branch in Xiangzhou.

Qin Mubai, the person who carried the letter, knew that it was the young master of the Zheng family who had cooperated with Wu Meiniang to open the "No. 1 wine in the world", Zheng Anshun!

"Zheng Anshun?!" Qin Mubai's eyes lit up, and he asked Li Ke in surprise, "He came to Xiangzhou?" ”

"yes, what's wrong?" Li Ke was slightly stunned and said, "You know him very well, why are you so excited?" ”

"It's not—where are the others?" Qin Mubai asked.

"He left a note, saying that if you have a letter to bring back to Chang'an, you can go to him." Li Ke took a piece of paper and handed it to Qin Mubai.

Qin Mubai unfolded it and glanced at it, and stroked his palm excitedly: "Great!" It's really a coincidence, God help me, haha! ”

Li Ke and Chen Yan looked at each other and asked, "Why are you so excited?" ”

"Let me sell it first, and you will know it later." Qin Mubai slapped his face a few times with laughter, called the guards around him, handed them the note, and asked them to go to the city to find Zheng Anshun according to the address, and be sure to invite people to the palace.

Li Ke hooked the corners of his mouth and smiled: "This guy is making some strange things again." Whenever I see him look so confident and mysterious, I know that there must be a good show to watch! ”

Chen Yan smiled and said, "You know each other well. ”

"Needless to say!" Li Keyi raised his eyebrows, "Brother! Those who know brothers are also brothers! ”

"Haha! So, Brother Wang, I want to borrow your flowers to offer a Buddha today. Qin Mubai said with a smile, "When everyone arrives in Xiangzhou, it can be regarded as a reunion in a different place, how can you not hold a banquet to celebrate?" ”

"No problem!" Li Ke stroked his palm and said with a smile, "Looking at your expression, I knew that you must be asking Zheng Anshun to help you!" Okay, I'll pay for a table at the banquet to help you. Besides, there are still beautiful women like the table today, Xiao Wang is so happy! ”

Chen Yan shook her head and smiled: "Your Highness, such a noble and romantic person, Chen Yan is like a mustard in your eyes, how did she become a beauty?" ”

"Hey, you can't say that!" Li Ke said with a smile, "Chen Nuxia's demeanor is unique and unmatched!" Even though Xiao Wang has read all the flowers, he has never seen such a strange flower as Chen Nuxia...... Qin Mubai, you are so blessed! ”

"Ugh! ......" Qin Mubai pretended to be stunned, "Why did it hit my head again?" ”

"Load! This guy is the best at pretending! Li Ke pointed at Qin Mubai and scolded with a smile, "I have heard about your glorious deeds of heroes saving beauty a long time ago." The poor cell boss came to me crying and begging for mercy, with your big seal on his face—you are so majestic, General Qin! Take the prisoner out of my prison and leave me an IOU! ”

"Haha!" The crowd burst into laughter.

……

The three of them chatted over refreshments, chatting and laughing with witty words, but they were also happy. Time flies, and it's dusk in the blink of an eye. The banquet arranged by Li Ke has been prepared, and the people sent to find Zheng Anshun have not yet returned.

Just when everyone was waiting a little impatiently, Zheng Anshun came!

Zheng Anshun, the eldest young master of the Zheng family, the richest man in the Tang Dynasty, is twenty-five years old, and he is a talented person, and it is rumored that he is proficient in rhythm and learning, rich and rich, polite, modest and cautious, and is also a well-known romantic figure in Chang'an, and I don't know how many young women in Chang'an will never forget him in the boudoir.

The Zheng family in Chang'an has completely changed the world's prejudice against businessmen.

Historically, people have despised businessmen and are ashamed to make friends with disdain. The social status of merchants is not as good as that of farmers and blacksmiths, and no matter how rich they are, they are in vain.

But this is not the case with the Zheng family in Chang'an, they are an alternative kind of businessman.

As early as the beginning of Wude, Zheng Fengchi, the head of the Zheng family, became friends with Emperor Wude Li Yuan, and repeatedly funded Li Yuan with money, grain and property, and was called "Tang Dynasty Righteous Merchant" by Li Yuan. So far, there is such a gold-lettered signboard written by Li Yuan himself hanging in the Zheng family's home. Since then, the Zheng family has become the royal merchant of the Tang Dynasty. Most of the "money, grain, salt, cloth, iron" and other things sold by the imperial court were represented by the Zheng family. In addition, if there is a war in the Tang Dynasty, the military rations are often handed over to the Zheng family for transshipment and sale.

For more than 20 years, the status of the Zheng family in Chang'an has increased day by day, and most of the friends have been princes and ministers. Although the Zheng family abides by the rules of businessmen, none of their sons and nephews participate in the scientific examination and enter the army, but they have a lot of friends in the officialdom and military circles. The Zheng family's business routes spread all over the Tang Dynasty and Fanbang, and the Zheng family's friends are also all over the world. It is said that the Zheng family's caravan had a group of people who were proficient in all kinds of Hu language in order to deal with foreign merchants. And Zheng Anshun, the young master of the Zheng family, is talented and proficient in several Hu languages, and he has always been alone from south to north, and there is no need to bring someone to translate.

Qin Mubai and Zheng Anshun only have a few faces, and they have no deep friendship. Not long after the first acquaintance with Wu Meiniang, Wu Meiniang also deliberately used words to provoke Qin Mubai, saying that it was far better to follow Zheng Anshun than to follow him. For this reason, Qin Mubai still had a trace of jealousy in his heart.

Seeing the living Zheng Anshun today, Qin Mubai sighed secretly: Lao Tzu's jealousy should be! This guy is so handsome, and his bearing is so elegant...... The family is rich and gentle, erudite and handsome, such a man is simply a female killer!

"In Xia Zheng Anshun, I have seen His Royal Highness King Wu and General Qin." Zheng Anshun bowed his hands with a smile, and his words and deeds made people feel like a spring breeze.

"Tsk!" Li Ke shook his head with a smile, "Mu Bai, this king has a feeling of 'gathering like like things' today. ”

"What do you mean by that?" Qin Mubai asked.

"Don't you think that one of our three big men is more handsome than the other?" Li Ke laughed and said, "Of course, you're a little worse." ”

Qin Mubai and Zheng Anshun laughed together, and Chen Yan next to him couldn't help but shake her head, sighed and said, "I'd better go, I seem to be a little unbearable!" ”

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[Today, I tried my best to double change, more than 8,000 words...... Please ask for some red tickets as encouragement, thank you! ]