Wei Bo's case was resolved vigorously, the crown prince Li Jian was ordered to Hongzhou to pacify the Zhennan army, in order to prevent the border army from mutiny, Lin Heishan was promoted from the Zhengwupin garrison to the Zhengsipin Zhongwu General, and was in charge of one of the eight guards of Jinling, Zhongwuwei was nominally under the jurisdiction of the Wei general Huangfu Jixun, but in fact it was the garrison army led by the East Palace, Huangfu Jixun was now sick and had no energy to strengthen the control of the Jinling Eight Guards.

The spring palace painting with Princess Qingle as the model only drew an arc on the first day, and the second day was March 11, Princess Qingle sent Feng Ajian to invite the Marquis of Xinzhou to Jingxu Palace, but Zhou Xuan was too busy that day, Lin Heishan was going to be promoted, and the crown prince Li Jian was going to leave Beijing, how could he be free, and Gu Changshi had already sent someone to find out the details of Da Luo and Xiao Luo, and it was actually the righteous son of Wang Shizhang, a salt merchant in Guangling, and a member of the young Keju team of the Wang Circle Society, which surprised Zhou Xuan, the opponent of the "Royal Shinzhou Round Society" tomorrow is the Wang Circle Society, could it be that Wang Shizhang sent Da Luo, Xiao Luo is going undercover? No, the strength of the "Royal Shinshu Circle Society" is far inferior to the Wang Circle Society, is it necessary for Wang Shizhang to do this? According to Gu Changshi, this Wang Shizhang has a close relationship with Zuo Xiang Wei Xuan, and he also sent a daughter to Wei Xuan as a concubine, is there a conspiracy other than Keju?

Because it was Feng Ajian, Zhou Xuan was very polite and said: "Feng Ajian, I really don't have time today, I bother to tell Her Royal Highness the princess, I will enter the palace again in three days to paint, please don't worry about the princess, I will definitely paint a portrait for her." ”

After sending off Feng Ajian, Dr. Fang Xuemin of the Imperial Medical Department came to the door, visited Zhou Houye, and sent three bottles of ancestral secret safflower oil, Zhou Xuan immediately gave two hundred taels of silver, and asked Dr. Fang to lead the Sun brothers as well. Relieves sore muscles and bones.

Afternoon. Zhou Xuan went out of the south gate to send the prince Li Jian to Hongzhou, and when he returned to the city, he ordered someone to invite Wang Shizhang to the "Wuwei Zhai" restaurant in Xiangluanfang for a dinner.

As soon as Wang Shizhang heard that the Marquis of Xinzhou invited him to the banquet, he said "Geden" in his heart: "Oops, it must be the Luo brothers who were careless in their words and showed their mouths, and the Marquis of Xinzhou was suspicious and sent it to me." But don't flatter and complain if you don't succeed, then my old Wang Ke will be miserable. ”

Wang Shizhang thought about it and made up his mind, and in the evening, he brought two gentle-looking and martial arts masters to Xiangluanfang "Wuwei Zhai", and asked the restaurant guy, who said that the Marquis of Xinzhou had not yet arrived. I had instructed Mr. Wang to wait at the private seat on the second floor in advance.

Wang Shizhang refused to go upstairs, so he stood downstairs and waited for Zhou Xuan.

After waiting for about a moment, three people came on foot from the south, Wang Shizhang has been an enthusiastic fan of the "Royal Shinshu Circle Society" these days. How could you not recognize these three men!

The thick eyebrows and phoenix eyes in the middle are the scholars of Jixian Palace, Hou Zhouxuan of Xinzhou; The steward on the left is Ding Laifu, the chief of the Hou Mansion who has won the trust of the Marquis of Xinzhou; The thin man on the right is named Zhou Xiaojian, and Zhou claims to call him the fourth. The name is the master and servant, but he is like a brother, and the fourth child is also a good Keju, the main scorer of the "Royal Shinshu Circle Society", and he is also a Go master. even injured the martial arts master of General Wei Huangfu Jixun. Wang Shizhang hurried up to meet him. Ten steps away, he reached the ground: "Master Hou, Guangling Wang Shizhang is polite." ”

Four idiots are sharp-eyed. Ten years of assassin career made him pay attention to everyone around him, and said in his ear: "Master, this person came to see us play every day a few days ago, and it turned out that he was Wang Shizhang. ”

Zhou Xuan nodded with a smile and said politely: "Mr. Lao Wang has been waiting for a long time, Mr. Wang, please." Knowing that Wang Shizhang would not go first, he took the lead to go upstairs and sat down in the private room on the second floor.

As soon as Wang Shizhang entered the private room, he said to Zhou Xuanzuo again: "Master Hou is here for the Luo brothers, right?" Master Hou and listen to the explanation-

Zhou Xuan smiled reservedly, and said in his heart: "Wang Shizhang is a big salt merchant, and if he can accumulate such a huge wealth, he must be exquisite, and listen to what he says." He said, "Mr. Wang, please speak." ”

Wang Shizhang is also honest, he knows that at this time, only telling the truth can dispel Zhou Xuandi's doubts, otherwise, if he is suspicious that he and Wei Xuan colluded to play a conspiracy, it would be a bad thing, and immediately made friends with intentions, but no one recommended him, so he wanted to meet friends with Keju, and seeing the lack of players in the "Royal Shinshu Circle", he let the brothers Da Luo and Xiao Luo come to join one by one, and had no other intentions.

Zhou Xuan nodded while listening, and said to Laifu: "Send 1,000 taels of silver to Mr. Wang's residence tomorrow." ”

Wang Shizhang asked in surprise: "What does Master Hou mean by this?" ”

"Transfer fee." Zhou Xuan said: "Da Luo and Xiao Luo are very good rookies, they were originally from the junior team of the Wang Circle Society, transferred to my Royal Shinshu Circle Society, according to my rules, I should pay Mr. Wang a transfer fee, 500 taels per person, Mr. Wang don't refuse, if you do, please take the Luo brothers back immediately." ”

Wang Shizhang said: "Don't dare, don't dare." ”

Zhou Xuan smiled: "Very good, in order to celebrate the successful transfer of the first player of the Royal Shinshu Circle Society, come, Mr. Wang, let's have a few drinks together." ”

Wang Shizhang saw what transfer fee Zhou Xuan was going to pay, knowing that Zhou Xuan was unwilling to accept his love, he felt very disappointed, forced a smile and drank two glasses of wine, got up again and said: "Hou Ye, I admire Hou Ye's high style and righteousness, and sincerely want to take refuge under Hou Ye's door, Hou Ye's mansion newspaper is a must read in every issue, and I deeply feel that Hou Ye is far-sighted and sagmerious, presumably Hou Ye also knows that in response to Hou Ye's advocacy, donate 60,000 taels of silver as military funds?" ”

Zhou Xuan smiled and said: "I once heard the East Palace say that Wang Shizhang, a salt merchant in Guangling, donated 60,000 taels of silver, and the East Palace intends to imitate the story of Hu Shang Abu and reward you, but it's just ----."

Wang Shizhang was really surprised and delighted when he heard that the prince of the East Palace had mentioned him, and hurriedly asked, "Just what?" Please make it clear. ”

Zhou Xuan asked: "Did Mr. Wang and Dongtai Weixiang ever have a quarrel?" ”

Wang Shizhang said in his heart: "Wei Xuan? I sent my young daughter to him as a concubine, and I waited for him every year, so what else could I do with him! He smiled and said: "Hou Ye also knows that he is a businessman, and he has always been cautious and kind to others. ”

Zhou Xuan said: "That's strange, Abu's conferral is Your Majesty's special grace and a special case. I consulted with the East Palace. I want to implement the donation of silver as a permanent system, but this must be signed by the subordinate province, but the subordinate provincial servant Zhongwei did not approve it. ”

Zhou Xuan was telling the truth, and Wei Xuandi did not agree with this edict.

Wang Shizhang hated that in his heart, and decided to let someone go to Weifu tomorrow to pick up his daughter Guining, under the pretext of going back to Guangling to visit his mother. No longer waiting for Wei Xuan's old disgust, it's too annoying, it's just a matter of refusing to help, isn't this tantamount to suppressing him Lao Wang? Donggong and Zhou Xuan are not businessmen, and Wei Xuan's refusal to sign the edict will not harm the family, and the damage to the land is the interests of the businessman.

Zhou Xuan said again: "I know that Wei Xiang is good friends with King Jing, but King Jing is not on good terms with the East Palace. So I and Wei Xiang, who is in favor of the East Palace, will be opposed, and I and Wei Xiang, who is opposed by the East Palace, will be in favor, oops! Knowing this, I should have strictly refused to allow Mr. Wang to donate silver to confer official titles. Maybe Wei Xiang is going to be an official, hehe. ”

Wang Shizhang couldn't help shaking his head in anger. He arched his hand and said: "Hou Ye is high-minded, I have received it in my heart, but I hate that I didn't get to know Hou Ye earlier." "What Wang Shizhang hates most is that his three daughters are all married, otherwise he will marry one to be a concubine to the Marquis of Xinzhou, and his Wang Shizhang's daughters are all stunning.

Zhou Xuan and Wang Shizhang were drinking. While talking about the way of doing business. Like Abu, Wang Shizhang was extremely fascinated by Zhou Xuan's high view of valuing businessmen and business. I hate to see each other late. Zhou Xuan also accepted this richest businessman in the Tang Dynasty, and promised to find an opportunity to speak to His Majesty, showing Wang Shizhang's sincere heart of loyalty and patriotism, and striving for special awards.

Wang Shizhang was moved to tears, the Marquis of Xinzhou is really a corporal Lixian, and he is so enthusiastic about such a businessman who met him for the first time, which is like Wei Xuan, who received him once, high and slow, and couldn't hear half of the truth, and after he offered a gift, he gave him tea and sent it away.

Zhou Xuan and Wang Shizhang had a good conversation, cup after cup, and the four idiots reminded on the side: "Master, there is a juju competition tomorrow, don't be greedy." ”

When Wang Shizhang heard this, he hurriedly said: "Don't worry, Lord Hou, the Royal Shinshu Circle Society will win tomorrow." ”

When Zhou Xuan heard this, his face lowered: "Mr. Wang, I hate match-fixing the most in my life, if your Wang's Circle Society deliberately loses to me tomorrow, then there will be no friendship between us anymore!" ”

Wang Shizhang hurriedly apologized: "In the next gaffe, in the next gaffe, Hou Ye is a fair and upright person, and he is swearing that if the players of Wang's Circle Club who will play tomorrow deliberately cheat and lose, the sky will tell me that Wang's wealth will be scattered and begging along the street." ”

Zhou Xuan said with a smile: "Mr. Wang doesn't have to make such a poisonous oath, it doesn't matter if you lose, the focus is on participation, come and come, and have another drink." ”

Wang Shizhang drank a full cup and said in his heart: "If you love Keju, you must have the heart to win, which one would like to lose?" I don't play match-fixing, but I'll try my best to play as a substitute tomorrow, this is not a violation of the oath, if your Royal Shinshu Circle can't fight our substitute, then I can't help Lao Wang. ”

"Wuwei Zhai" is not much away from the Xinzhou Hou Mansion, and Zhou Xuan asked Laifu to take a thousand taels of silver and pay Wang Shizhang as the transfer fee for Da Luo and Xiao Luo.

Wang Shizhang didn't shirk either, thinking: "Since I have become acquainted with the Marquis of Xinzhou, what is the value of this bit of silver in the future, I will give some valuable treasures worth ten thousand gold." ”

On the morning of March 12, the top 12 of the Qingming Keju championship began, the twelve teams hedged in pairs, the "Royal Shinshu Circle" and the "Wang's Circle" were to play two games, and the two total winners advanced to the top six, the first of which was carried out in Wang's Keju Field, and Wang's also had a huge real estate industry in Jinling.

Wang Shizhang had already told his Keju players in advance that the Luo brothers had defected to Xinzhou Hou and were going to play today, and strictly ordered everyone not to make fun of or ridicule.

Over there, Zhou Xuan also showed the transfer note written by Wang Shizhang to Da Luo and Xiao Luo, and said that in the "Royal Shinshu Circle", the two of them can play as the main force, and they are still in the junior team in the Wang's Circle Society, and they want to participate in the Qingming Keju championship battle, and I don't know if they have to wait until the Year of the Monkey.

The brothers Da Luo and Xiao Luo are all scheming teenagers, and they deeply agree with Zhou Xuan's words, and they have lived very quickly and comfortably in the Xinzhou Hou Mansion in the past two days, and gradually settled down.

At the beginning of the first contest between the two sides, the "Royal Shinshu Circle Society" on the field was the ball head Zhou Xuan, Xiao Se Four Idiots, Zheng Da Luo, Deputy Xiao Luo, Zheng Field Hu Three Idiots, Deputy Field Hu Lin Ning and Sun Sheng, watching the net Lin Hanyun, and there were three substitutes ---- Sun Zhan and Sun's two family members.

Wang's Circle Club all played as substitutes, but the players did not think that the owner Wang Shizhang wanted to lose, but thought that this was a contempt for Da Luo and Xiao Luo to join the "Royal Shinshu Circle". It means that you can also win them with a substitute.

And so it was. Wang's Circle Society has strong financial resources, and the substitutes pulled out are far stronger than the main force of ordinary Round Society, and several of them are also martial arts, and this "Royal Shinshu Circle Society" lost 4 to 6.

The next day, the second game was played, with both teams playing with the same team. The venue of the game was changed to the Keju Field of the Houfu of Shinshu.

In the first half, the two sides were evenly matched, and the battle was tied 2-2, and the "Royal Shinshu Circle" obviously played better and better, and Da Luo, Xiao Luo and other players of the Yuan Society have run in place, and the cooperation is becoming more and more tacit.

In the second half, several players of Wang's Circle Club were already a little physically exhausted. signaled to Wang Shizhang on the sidelines to change people, Wang Shizhang turned his face and pretended not to see it.

The main force of Wang's Circle on the sidelines was eager to try to play, and Wang Shizhang whispered: "Use a knife to kill chickens, let the substitutes win." That's the pleasure of it, and now it's two goals ahead. There's no rush. ”

After a while, the four idiots volleyed, and the total score became seven to eight, and the "Royal Shinshu Circle" was only one goal behind in total.

The substitutes of Wang's Circle Society couldn't run anymore, and the main players on the sidelines were anxious. Ask Wang Shizhang for battle. Wang Shizhang said to his righteous sons: "Children, calm down. To be calm, only one ball to win them is the most hateful, this is called hanging neck. ”

After a while, Xiao Luo scored the "Merry Eye" with a wonderful header, and the game was drawn, and time was running out, only the last quarter of an hour was left.

Wang Shizhang was forced to be helpless by his righteous sons, so he had to replace the three main forces, but at this time, the "Royal Shinshu Circle Society" had gone crazy, three idiots, four idiots, Zhou Xuan, Lin Ning, Da Luo, Xiao Luo, one by one, if God helps, they are not fighting alone, they have the soul possession of the past generations of Keju masters.

On the other hand, Wang's Circle Society, although it was replaced by the main force, but these main forces were not adapted to the rhythm on the field for a while, and they did not come to their senses, and they were broken through by Zhou Xuan with the ball and scored a key goal.

At this time, the timer incense on the sidelines went out, and the game was over, and the "Royal Shinshu Circle" defeated Wang's Circle, the second place in last year's Keju battle, with a total score of 9-8, and entered the top six with its head held high.

The newly formed Circle Society participated in the Qingming Keju Tournament for the first time, and reached the top six in one fell swoop, and the "Royal Shinshu Round Society" caused a sensation, and Zhou Xuan's ball name was also known by the majority of Keju lovers in the Tang Kingdom as well as his chess name.

Wang Shizhang pretended to be very annoyed, and even said that the crime of non-war was his mistake.

That night, Zhou Xuan really invited more than ten people from Wang's Circle Society to the banquet, and the friendship between Wang Shizhang and Zhou Hou Yedi has been further developed, and they agreed to have a friendly game of Keju, learn from each other, and prepare for next year's Qingming Festival.

The six branches of the top six were all produced, namely the Jingwangfu Circle, the Wei Wangfu Circle, the Wei General's Mansion Circle, the Guangling Slender West Lake Circle, the Jinling Great Alliance Circle, and the Royal Shinshu Circle.

After the round of 12, there will be a two-day break and the round of six will start on March 16, and it will be a round-robin match, with each team playing five games and one every other day, which is relatively much easier than the previous devil's schedule.

Zhou Xuan sent Gu Changshi to contact the Tai Medical Department, and temporarily invited Dr. Fang to be the team doctor, leading the players, Zhou Xuan and they could defeat Wang's Circle Society in the second game, Dr. Fang contributed a lot, and Zhou Xuan would not treat him badly, the commission was calculated in daily terms, twenty taels of silver per day, and Dr. Fang's annual salary was only one hundred and twenty taels, so he sincerely hoped that the Qingming Juju Tournament could continue to play.

On March 14th, the day of the truce in Keju, early in the morning, Jingxu Palace sent Feng Ajian to ask the Marquis of Xinzhou to paint for the princess, although Zhou Xuan was a little tired, but think about Princess Qingle's slender and round thighs, snow-white and pointed breasts, it was worth being tired.

As usual, Zhou Xuan first went to Shanglin Yuan to play football with Xiao Zhouhou for a while, sat on the sidelines and talked about a "Night Rain and Autumn Lantern Record", and then went to Jingxu Palace, Princess Qingle was very enthusiastic, "Cousin Xuan, cousin Xuan" called intimately.

In the morning, Zhou Xuan still painted the portrait of Princess Qingle in palace clothes, and it could be completed in another day, there was no need for Princess Qingle to lie there on her side, Princess Qingle stood beside Zhou Xuan and watched Zhou Xuan paint her, every fold of the palace skirt and the fine ribs of the fingers were carefully drawn.

Looking at it, Princess Qingle felt that her body was soft, as if Zhou Xuan had drawn it on her with the tip of the soft pen, and staring at Zhou Xuan's silhouette, she was a little nymphomaniac.