Suzaku Street is an avenue that leads from north to south to the wharves of Luoxiawan in the south of the city, and the two sides of the avenue are from Suzaku Toutiao, two and three...... Up to the ten-sided fork of Suzaku Jujo, it leads to all directions of the southern city. However, to get to the pier, go straight along the avenue for the quickest and widest route.

It has been five days since the news of Emperor Ming's capture reached the national capital, and the rich and noble families in the northwest have almost fled, leaving only the number of people in the southern city basically unchanged.

However, there are still some official eunuchs who have not left.

Some people have received the favor of the emperor for several generations, and they themselves are close to old age, and they feel that it is far more important than fleeing the country to survive for a few years as it is to stay and keep their name, so they bombard the young children and grandchildren of the family to the south, leaving only a few servants to guard themselves, preparing to achieve the name of loyal martyrs.

There are also some people who are hanging on to the post of small officials, and they barely squeezed into the northwest grid to mix in the powerful and celebrities, but in fact, they are poor for several lifetimes, if the family members are even seriously ill, they may be consumed and bankrupt, and they want to escape when the country is in trouble, but they are so shy that they are no different from the people in Nancheng, so they have to pretend to be clear and closed, and they can't live in fear.

Some people want to gamble, what if the resourceful Emperor Ming still has a chance to turn the tables? After all, there are examples of Qingguo Gong being removed from the imperial register and being demoted to a concubine, on the other hand, if he is willing to stay in the national capital, he can prove that he is a loyal minister of His Majesty more than anything else, and the officialdom will be on the horizon in the future. As an official, your talent is not enough, so you naturally have to make up for it with loyalty.

But the Lu clan in the northwest grid is different from any of the above types of people.

They did not leave the national capital, nor did they have the slightest sign of transferring their family property, but the servants at home were a little timid and wanted to go back to their hometown, and Lu Xingyuan also ordered the account office, and all gave twenty taels of silver as a coil.

Lu Xing saw that the capital of the country was becoming more and more deserted, the Ming Emperor was trapped in Linzhou, and Zhu Zhiling, the superintendent of the country, had also passed away for more than a month.

The building will fall, and all of them are in danger.

Lu Xingyuan looked at the overcast sky, turned the snow into snow, and sighed. He boarded the eight-horse treasure car that Lu Wenchi honored him, and commanded in a low voice, "Go to the gate of Taiye City." ”

Lu Wenbi, the commander of the Nine Gates, is the fourth son of Lu Xingyuan, and from the day the Ming Emperor left the city, he personally guarded the end of Suzaku Street every day ------ the gate of Taiye City.

At this time, Lu Wenbi looked at Suzaku Street with a cold face as usual, these days he could watch the carriages galloping towards Nancheng every day, and those people in the carriages may have been officials in the same dynasty, but they may never see each other again.

At some point, a carriage stopped near the city gate, and Lu Wenbiao knew that it was his father's carriage and hurriedly greeted it.

"Father, why are you here?"

"The old man came to see how many old faces would appear on the way out of the imperial city. Anyway, they are also former colleagues, and they should be sent to them. Lu Xingyuan trembled and held his son's hand and got out of the carriage.

"Almost...... It's all gone. My son has been watching here every day for the past few days, but I am afraid that eight or nine out of ten of the people in the northwest grid will never look back. Lu Wenbi's words revealed a sense of disappointment and a hint of helplessness.

"Father...... The son just watched these people leave His Majesty one by one, and the son really didn't understand! Didn't they wear black yarn and eat the imperial grain? Don't you have a sense of loyalty and reverence for Your Majesty? The more Lu Wenbiao spoke, the more unjust he felt, "Why don't you let your son simply seal all the nine gates?" It's also good to let these people reflect on the proportions of being a man! ”

Lu Xingyuan waved his hand.

Wen Bi ...... The 8,000 soldiers you have are for guarding the imperial city, not for reorganizing the rulers. Can you seal the nine doors and seal the hearts of the people? ”

"But......" Lu Wenbiao just wanted to defend himself, but was stopped by his father with a look.

Lu Xingyuan pointed to the west side of Suzaku Street and said: "Today looks more and more cold, my father remembers that there is a good restaurant in Suzaku Sanjo, and I accompany my father to the side to have a hot bar?" ”

Lu Wenbiao rarely sees his father drinking, even if it is above the official banquet, unless the Ming Emperor gives wine, otherwise he will not drink at all, and today he even proposed to go to the restaurant with him.

Lu Wenbiao was just about to order someone to sign the horse, but Lu Xingyuan said again: "No need, the three Vermilion Birds are only hundreds of steps away, you can go over with your father." Then he summoned a few of his followers and ordered them to follow far behind him.

Lu Wenbiao is not allowed to accompany him according to his words.

"Untie your knife too, don't scare passers-by."

Lu Wenbiao untied the knife again.

So the old father and son walked slowly on the bare bluestone road.

"Wen Bi, do you remember that when you were a child, your father would sometimes take you to hang out in the Suzaku West Market?"

"Remember ......"

"Your brothers, they have been fond of luxurious things since they were children, and they would be very happy when they heard that they were going to Nanchi Street, and when they heard that they were going to Suzaku West Market, they all shook their heads and refused to follow. Only you...... I love it. ”

"My brothers are all scholars, and when they read more, they naturally know the quality of objects, and then they have likes and dislikes. I've been reading a lot since I was a child, and I like the jugglers and sugar men in Suzaku West Market, so I like it. ”

"But you never dislike things that ordinary people don't see."

"No, my son followed his father to visit the West Market, and I was happy."

Lu Xingyuan smiled slightly.

He knew the temperament of this son, and he did what he wanted, and he never pretended to be. However, it is true that Lu Wenbiao likes things in Suzaku West Market, and there is another reason why he didn't say it, that is, he can be alone with his father.

Lu Xingyuan has many sons, and the eldest son Lu Wenjun has shared half of his favor, and even if the rest is taken care of evenly, Lu Wenbi, the fourth son, has no advantage at all. Suzaku Nishi is a rare treasure in his childhood memories.

"Actually, the old man also likes Suzaku West Market very much, even better than Nanchi Street. You know why? ”

Lu Wenbiao did not speak.

He knew the reason, and Lu Xingyuan once said that at that time, the Imuran Merchant House had not yet opened on Nanchi Street, and in the Vermilion Bird West Market, he would occasionally meet the foot merchants of the Blade Clan who came from Imuran, and they would sell some gadgets with the style of the Blade Clan, such as small daggers, small wine jugs, or pendants inlaid with some colorful stones.

People always think about their roots.

's father was a fugitive slave from the Blade Clan, and although he came from a humble background, this bloodline of the Blade Clan can't be changed. My father said that when I was a child in Baodi City, I was poor, and I didn't even have a meal to eat, let alone something to play, so visiting the market was the greatest enjoyment of the children's generation. Sometimes it's satisfying just to look at the shiny things.

Later, when I came to the capital of Taiye Country, I would go to Suzaku West City from time to time to look for that feeling of childhood.

"The son knows that his father is a man who misses the old."

"Wen Bi, although a few of you know that you are a blade clan, your father will not let you let outsiders know, after all, this is the country of the blue sea, and there are some things above the court that cannot make Your Majesty too embarrassed, but being a father does not mean that you forget your bloodline and origin. On the contrary, the Father wants you to remember and admit that you are a member of the Blade Clan. Except for Wen Jun, who was originally from the south, none of your brothers said anything about their bloodline. On the surface, they obeyed their father's orders, but in fact, they looked down on this humble background in their hearts and felt that it was insulting to the lintel of our Lu family. However, although a person's blood is noble or low, it cannot determine fate, isn't being a father the best example? ”

"Father is absolutely right."

"Whether you are noble or low, loyal or treacherous, people's hearts are ups and downs, but just a thought. If you want to not be dishonored by others, you must first dishonor yourself. I can't look down on my background, how can others look down on it? Lu Xingyuan sighed and said, "It's a pity...... Wen Chi didn't understand this truth until he died. ”

He turned his head to look at his son, and his eyes showed a little appreciation: "But you have long understood that you are very different from them in this regard, and I am very pleased to be a father." ”

While the two were talking, they had arrived at the intersection of Suzaku Sanjo, only to see that the road was deserted and not a single store was opened.

"Father...... Since it's not open, let's go back first, shall we? ”

"It's already here, why don't you go over and have a look, maybe it's still open?"

Lu Wenbiao had no choice but to follow behind.

Lu Xingyuan approached the restaurant, only to see that the door was hidden, and he didn't say that he wouldn't do business, but just pushed the door open, and there was no one inside, only a guy at the counter was dozing. The guy vaguely heard someone coming in the door, opened his eyes, and asked in surprise, "Guest...... Sir...... What do you want to do? ”

"You guy said it funny, this restaurant is open for people to eat and drink, isn't it just a table and chairs for people to see?" Lu Xingyuan smiled: "Isn't there even a cook left?" ”

The guy saw that the two of them were dressed extraordinarily, so he didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly responded: "Yes, yes, please two of you." ”

Lu Xingyuan took out a small ingot of gold and put it in front of him and said: "The old man wants to find a secluded place to drink some wine and talk, the old man of this restaurant will cover it today, you just cover the door, don't disturb the quiet, the few entourages behind me will naturally guard the door." ”

In fact, the whole restaurant is empty, so why charter it? Seeing that the person came to make a generous move, and seeing that his bearing was extraordinary, he nodded his head like a chicken pecking rice and said, "The villain will go to the back kitchen to order." For a while, I didn't even dare to ask what to eat and drink, I just wanted to serve the best food and drinks in the store.

The father and son went upstairs to the private room, and in a short time there was a table full of eight plates and eight dishes in front of them.

Lu Xingyuan looked at the young man with clear eyebrows, and couldn't help asking, "The people in this city have almost fled, why didn't you leave?" ”

The young man smiled and pointed to his legs: "My leg is not good, I have fallen ill before, and my family has fled to the south last month, I said that I am also a burden to follow, so I simply stayed in the national capital and could see a home, so I didn't leave." ”

The words are soft, but they can't hide a trace of sadness.

Lu Xingyuan watched the young man go downstairs with one foot high and one foot low, and said to himself: "It's a curse or a blessing, you have your own fate, you can investigate these at such a young age, and it's rare to think about not dragging down your parents and brothers." ”

Lu Wenbiao didn't have any mind to think about the man's situation, he lifted the wine jug and poured a glass for his father, and asked in a low voice: "Father, the son is willing to defend the capital with his father, but the Imulans are menacing, I don't know what my father plans next?" The son still has these 8,000 soldiers in his hands, although it can't be a big climate, but the son has thought carefully, if he lies near the Pangu Palace on the north side of the national capital, he sees the opportunity and waits for the Imulans to reach the foot of the mountain......"