The rising sun dragged the shadow of the three-story wooden building of the Red Sleeve Zhao far away, and after coincident with the shadow of a big tree next to it, standing on a high place, the shadow looked like a one-armed giant.

Perhaps only in the early morning and dusk, the imperial capital Chang'an will be a little more gentle and a little less solemn.

If the Red Sleeves want to reopen in Chang'an City, the procedures required are cumbersome and complicated. So early in the morning, the housekeeper Tu Wu took people to prepare gifts and went to the Yamen of Chang'an Mansion, even if the people in the official government didn't make it difficult, they couldn't complete all the formalities in a day or two.

The thrush who hadn't slept all night stood in the back window, looking at the scenery in the backyard and the people in the landscape. Just when she was a little stunned, several military officials wearing official uniforms walked into the door of the red-sleeved move. The servants who were tidying up the main hall hurriedly stepped forward, and after asking, they realized that these people were actually here to find a solution.

The servant beckoned the officials to sit down, then served hot tea, and hurriedly went up to the third floor to report to Aunt Xia, Xi Thrush pondered slightly for a while and said: "Since it is the official who is looking for it, there will be nothing to do, you go and find Fang Jie, by the way, call Luo Ye too, I have something to discuss with him." ”

The servant answered, and went downstairs straight to the backyard. Fang Xie and Luo Ye walked back together after hearing this, and out of politeness, Fang Xie first went up to the third floor to say goodbye to the thrush.

Xi Thrush glanced at Fang Untie the severed arm of the half-dead branch, picked up a packet of wound medicine from the table and handed it to him, "Sometimes it's not a good thing to be too paranoid. ”

Fang Xie thanked him and smiled: "At this time, it is inevitable that I will not be sure. ”

Xi Thrush didn't mention the matter of practicing the knife anymore, thought about it, and said in a gentle voice: "The imperial capital is not a small town in Fangu, and the people here are no better than the villagers in Fangu. Especially the people on the official face, after seeing it, they can bow their heads more and don't raise their heads more. You can nod your head, even if you are embarrassed, try not to shake your head. ”

Fang Jie's heart warmed, and he bent down slightly to say goodbye.

The thrush didn't say anything more, but he didn't know why he sighed slightly as he looked at the back of the young man going downstairs. The old lame man seemed to see something, and asked softly, "Is it proper?" ”

The thrush shook his head slightly, thinking to himself that maybe he was thinking too much.

When Fang Xie arrived at the lobby on the first floor, the officials of the military department couldn't help but be stunned when they saw his embarrassed appearance. Especially the broken arm hanging around the neck, it looks really miserable. The official at the head glanced at Fang Xie and only said a word to follow me to the military headquarters for discussion, then turned around and walked out.

Fang Xie nodded humbly, showing enough respect for these little officials. You must know that in the imperial capital, perhaps any small official with no real power can cut off his future. For example, those six- and seven-grade directors of the Ministry of War, if they refuse to stamp his application for participation in the martial arts academy, it will be disgusting enough.

For such an indifferent and arrogant attitude, Fang Xie could only smile and shake his head.

The biggest difference between the imperial capital officials and local officials is that they are more pretty. A seven-grade official, placed in the local area, is a county commander, in charge of a county's punishment and people's livelihood power, in his territory he can say the same. But when it came to Chang'an, the imperial capital, there were many officials in Qipin, and most of them had no real power. But even so, the posture raised by the officials of the imperial capital is still a little uncomfortable.

Out of the gate of the red sleeves, Fang Xie saw a carriage parked on the side of the road.

And when he saw this carriage, Fang Xie couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

There are no markings on the carriage.

In the Great Sui, whether it is the yamen of various ministries or large families, there are imprint patterns that belong to them that represent their identity. For example, on the carriage of the military department, a black pattern of a shield and a sword is usually drawn. The carriage used by the household is usually painted with a scale, and a book is placed on one side and a silver ingot on the other.

And the big families mostly use flowers and trees and wild beasts as the mark of their family.

For example, in the Yu family, the carriage is painted with green and bright ivy, representing the longevity of the family. The carriage of the Li family in Longyou is painted with a tiger with two wings, which was set by the first emperor himself, representing the Li family's military background and bravery.

And this carriage, very ordinary.

Therefore, Fang Jie's expression changed slightly, and then he looked down at his broken right arm and frowned slightly. I don't know if I'm worried about anything, or if the pain in my broken arm is a little unbearable.

When the official sent to the side of the carriage, his attitude was much gentler, and he even opened the curtain of the carriage for Fang with his own hands and said a word of please. Fang Xie hurriedly made a flattered expression, and after a few words of resignation, he boarded the carriage. The leader came up later, but the others did not follow.

"You're in luck today."

After getting into the carriage and lowering the curtain, the official's attitude became more and more enthusiastic. Maybe he deliberately pretended to be indifferent in front of others, or maybe it was to hide the unnaturalness on his face.

"How so?"

Fang asked.

The official said with a smile: "We don't have to go to the military department, but go directly to the martial arts arena outside the city." Today is the last competition of the top three in the martial arts academy, and the adults of the military department have to go to the martial arts arena to watch. You're lucky enough to get in, and I'll have to wait outside when I get there. ”

"What is the matter with the Lord of the War Department summoning me?"

Fang Xie asked cautiously.

"How do I know, I'm just an order."

The official smiled self-deprecatingly: "Those who can enter the martial arts arena to watch the battle are all big shots, and even Prince Yi went on behalf of His Majesty, which shows that the imperial court attaches great importance to the last competition of the top three in the martial arts academy." ”

"Forgive me for being so lonely."

Fang Xie asked: "Who is the top three in the Martial Arts Academy?" ”

"Yu Xiao, the son of the Yu family, Luo Wen, the son of the Luo family, and Li Fubo, the son of the Li family."

Speaking of this, the official immediately opened the conversation box: "These three are amazing characters, they have been acting in the martial arts academy for three years, and the positions of the top three have been swapped, but no one else has anything to do, and it has always been controlled by these three sons." Today is their last competition at the end of their three-year term, but it's about the future. ”

……

……

The official errand talked more and more along the way, and Fang Xie heard a lot about the martial arts academy. It's just that I don't know how much of what he said is the real situation, and how much of it is made up out of thin air, you must know that there are two kinds of people with the strongest gossip heart, one is a long-tongued woman, and the other is an errand man.

"According to the usual practice, the first name of each issue of the Yanwu Academy will be directly named as the general from the fourth rank, and directly enter our sixteen guards of the Great Sui Dynasty, and the future is immeasurable. The second and third places are generally awarded the title of special generals of the fifth grade, but they cannot directly enter the soldiers, and they often have to go to the border armies in various places to experience first. ”

The official cha smiled proudly because of his erudition: "This is not just a difference in official rank, but an honor." ”

"Yu Xiao is the eldest grandson of the Yu family, and it is said that the old lady of the Yu family attaches great importance to him. Before entering the Martial Arts Academy, they gave Yu Xiao the heirloom tiger beads of their Yu family. This treasure can only be worn by the heads of the Yu family. The old lady did this, and the meaning is self-evident. ”

"The son of Luo Wen is the only son of Luo Yao, the general of the left avant-garde in Yongzhou. Since he was a child, he has been extremely intelligent, General Luo Yao is an invincible powerhouse in the world, and his martial arts are like this, and the ability of Luo Wengongzi can be seen. And unlike the other two sons, he has been fighting with General Luo Yao since he was a child. Yongzhou is located in southern Xinjiang, and there are many stubborn indigenous tribes rebelling, and every year the general will kill 800 people. ”

"As for Li Fubo, the son of the Li family, he is the most low-key of the three sons. Three years ago, he himself rode a bad horse and carried a bag into the imperial capital. No one knew that he was the son of the Li family, and no one even noticed him for a while after entering the Yanwu Academy. But from the first assessment, he was a blockbuster. It is said that even Dean Zhou of the Academy of Martial Arts was full of praise for him. ”

Fang Xie couldn't help but sigh in his heart after listening to the official messenger's introduction of the three hot characters in the martial arts academy.

The Yanwu Academy is known as the most special place in the Great Sui, but the people who are still brilliant are still from the family. Even if the children of the poor family have the opportunity to enter the martial arts academy, they are afraid that they will mostly do nothing. But Fang Xie also understood that this situation was by no means that the professors of the Performing Arts Academy favored the children of the family, but that the people of the family had been exposed to and learned since childhood, which was far from being comparable to the children of the poor family. When the people from the poor family were still worried about food and clothing, the children of the family had already read through the classics and military books.

The starting point is different, and the future is likely to be different.

"This poor master, what is this last competition for?"

Fang asked.

"It's said to be offensive and defensive...... There is an earthen city with a radius of four miles in the martial arts arena, which was specially built for the purpose of practicing siege and defense. How many soldiers and horses each of the three sons brought to attack Tucheng depends on their merits. ”

The official laughed at himself: "How can I know the specifics?" ”

"This poor master, can you tell me what the adults of the military department have called me? I'd better be prepared, lest I lose my courtesy. ”

Fang Xie took out a silver ticket from his cuff and stuffed it into the official's hand, but the official refused to accept it.

"I don't know"

At the mention of this, the official's face suddenly turned cold again: "After you arrive at the place, someone will take you in." As for what the adults ask you about, how do I know? ”

Fang Xie hummed and didn't ask again.

He looked down at his severed arm, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

Red sleeve moves

The old lame man looked at the thrush and asked, "That kid was suddenly found by someone from the military department, can't there be any problem?" That Nizi didn't know where to go, so I had to retreat and teach this stupid boy, if this was gone, wouldn't I fancy a person who didn't fall behind? ”

Xi Thrush frowned slightly, stared at the scenery in the backyard and was silent for a while and said, "Master Luo...... Do you think Fang Xie has some similarities with him? ”

"Paranoia?"

Luo Ye asked after being stunned.

The thrush didn't answer, looking at a sandalwood box on the table with a hesitant expression.

"Just back to the imperial capital, I don't want to cause any trouble for the red sleeves."

She said.

The old lame's face changed, and he nodded and said, I understand. He turned around and went out, his back looking a little lonely and depressed.

……

……

Martial arts arena

Viewing platform

Sitting in the center is the sixth brother of His Majesty the current Emperor, and the only one among the princes who still remains in Chang'an City. At the beginning, after the seven sons seized the heir, the eldest prince and the third prince failed, one was assigned to Ning'an Tower, and the other was confined in a remote place in southern Xinjiang to sit in a well and watch the sky. The Seventh Prince, later Prince Zhong, disappeared ten years ago, and there has been no news until now.

The second prince was named Prince Guo, and his fief was on the coast of eastern Xinjiang. The fifth prince died of illness and was posthumously named Prince Jia. The sixth prince, who is now sitting on the viewing platform and talking and laughing, was named Prince Yi. He stayed in Chang'an and did not return to his fiefdom in Boling County in the northwest, and it is said that when he resigned to the emperor, he wept bitterly, and the emperor was grateful for his brotherly affection, so he left him behind.

This Prince Yi is not very involved in court affairs, and every day he either raises flowers and walks birds or fishes by the lake. Hundreds of miles of Chang'an, but he walked it all over again.

However, because he is the only prince in Chang'an today, plus he is easy-going, generous, and the least important about money, easy to travel, and more righteous, so he has a high reputation among the courtiers. This Prince Yi is also an elegant man, and it is said that there are many admirers in the Qinglou on the bank of the Xinshui River in the imperial capital.

Although he has entered middle age, he is personable, elegant, and heroic.

There is more money and more leisure, how can women not like it.

Prince Yi is a person who knows how to enjoy life very well, so even if he is watching the battle of the top three in the martial arts arena, he still brings four maids who are like flowers and jades, drinking wine from the Western Regions, and the wrench on his thumb is verdant and green, which is the stuff of the royal family of the previous dynasty and is priceless.

He likes to taste tea the most, but he only uses the clear spring water of Qianshou Mountain, thirty miles outside the imperial capital.

He doesn't wear a sword and hang a sword, but the sword of the Moon Invitation in the arms of one of the maids was offered by the emperor of the Eastern Chu State in exchange for a big city.

He likes good wine, beautiful people, beautiful scenery, all beautiful things.

His name is Yang Yin, and he is a prince who looks idle and messy.

"When does it start?"

He asked the person sitting next to him with a smile.

Sitting next to him was an old man who looked very tall, with shiny black hair and no white hair. Wear a soft and comfortable cotton robe, cloth shoes, white socks, crossed legs, and hold two walnuts in your hands. His face was ruddy, and he couldn't find a few wrinkles, but he felt that he should be not young.

Prince Yi Yang Yin asked, but did not answer.

He looked sideways and couldn't help but laugh.

The old man fell asleep.