Pei Ying has been back in Chang'an for many days, she has been living in her grandfather Yan Zhenqing's house, waiting for the old man's last years, it was night, Yan Zhenqing died.

In the next few days, Pei Ying and the Yan family handled the funeral and the obituary together, and she was busy for three or four days before she gradually withdrew, and that evening, Pei Ying, who was tired, finally returned to her parents' home.

"Miss is back!" The old housekeeper who has been in the Pei family for 30 years saw her from afar and ran over to greet her happily.

"Steward Wang, we haven't seen each other for a long time, is my father in the house?"

"In! At! Today, the master went home very early. The old butler smiled kindly, and immediately ran to report to the master.

In the past two days, Pei Jun's mind is not on official business, he has been waiting for the news from Shandong, according to Pei Danming's report, his secret agents have completely controlled Cui Xiong, and Cui Xiong sent three urgent secret reports to Shandong, and the person sent to follow Cui Yuan also sent a pigeon letter the day before yesterday, Cui Yuan was in Xingyang County, and mobilized 5,000 Cui Jiajun stationed in Xingyang to accompany him, everything is going according to the trajectory that Pei Jun expected, if it is not expected, there should be the news he expected in the next two days.

"Master, Miss is back." Outside the door, there was a sudden urgent report from the old housekeeper, Pei Jun has a lot of daughters, but it is generally said that the third miss, the fourth miss and other rankings are distinguished, and only Pei Jun's only daughter, Pei Ying, can be called Miss without ranking.

Although Pei Jun was anxious to wait for news from Shandong at this time, out of consideration for easing relations with his daughter, Pei Jun still ordered: "Let her come to see me!" ”

On the surface, the contradiction between Pei Jun and Zhang Huan began at the end of last year. Pei Jun wanted to take advantage of Cui Yuan's retirement due to illness to seek the position of right minister. ordered Zhang Huan to capture Fengxiang, but Zhang Huan did not obey his fate, which caused a discord between the two, but this reason is somewhat untenable, after all, Zhang Huan led his troops to Fengxiang, and the garrisons of Kaiyang and Longxi were also transferred to Fengxiang, and in the end, Pei Yi broke the big thing. At least the two didn't tear their faces apart because of this.

In fact, the root of the contradiction between the two was planted as early as when Zhang Huan led the Tianqi camp to leave Chang'an, Pei Jun wanted to make Zhang Huan his own high-level eagle dog, so he even did not hesitate to use his daughter as the capital to win him over, but Zhang Huan did not obey his fate, but embarked on the road of self-reliance. At the beginning of Wuwei. Zhang Huan was regarded by Pei Jun as a springboard for westward expansion, and spared no effort to win him over and support him. At that time, Pei was strong and Zhang was weak, and the relationship between the two was also harmonious, but since Zhang Huan seized Longyou and began to appeal for equality, the contradictions between the two of them began to gradually appear, until Pei Jun took advantage of the situation to occupy the northern part of Guanlong, and the contradictions between the two reached a white heat.

But as a discerning politician, Bae Jun didn't want to push Zhang Huan to Cui Yuan's side too aggressively. After vested interests are realized. He also intended to ease relations with Zhang Huandi, therefore. He has always remained silent on the two matters of Zhang Huan's unauthorized opening of the government and the appointment of Hehuang officials to avoid provoking Zhang Huan more deeply, and Pei Ying is a bridge between him and Zhang Huan.

At this time, a familiar voice came from outside the door, "Father, can I come in?" ”

"Come in!" Pei Jun quickly sat up straight, and looked at Pei Ying, who was dressed in white, walking into the house with a smile, Pei Ying stepped forward and saluted lightly, "Ying'er greets her father." ”

Seeing that his daughter was dressed in white, Pei Jun suddenly remembered Yan Zhenqing, who had just passed away, and he also looked gloomy, "I am also very sad about my grandfather's affairs, but birth, old age, sickness and death are human nature, I hope you can get out of your grief as soon as possible and return to normal life as soon as possible." ”

Pei Ying nodded silently, she is a generous woman, although she is sad that her grandfather died of illness, but she will not indulge in grief and can't extricate herself, now, since she appeared in her father's study, it means that she has begun to start her second step plan to enter Beijing, alleviate the contradiction between Zhang Huan and her father, and strive for development space for Zhang Huan.

Before coming to Chang'an, Zhang Huan had already had a deep talk with her, hoping that she could make it clear to Pei Jun for herself that she would no longer follow the old path of relying on the Pei family, and asked Pei Jun to accept the fact that he was independent, and if Pei Jun was willing, he was willing to develop cooperation with each other in the form of allies.

Thinking of this, Pei Ying bowed to her father and said: "Father, from tomorrow onwards, I will be holding a vigil for my grandfather for a period of time, so I took advantage of my free time today to visit my father, and by the way, I affirmed to my father that Qi'er will not enter Beijing as a hostage, he is not yet a year old, this decision is too absurd." ”

Letting Zhang Huan's son enter Beijing as a hostage was just Pei Jun's move to test Zhang Huan, and if Zhang Huan flatly refused, it would show that his determination to become independent had been made; If Zhang Huan has a consultative tone, it means that he is still in a contradiction, and there is still room for maneuver; But if Zhang Huan did not hesitate to send the child, then the matter would be much simpler, although Pei Ying categorically refused, which can be understood as the mood of being a mother, but Zhang Huan also acquiesced to Pei Ying's attitude afterwards, which means that he has made up his mind to be self-reliant, and Pei Jun does not need to be entangled in the matter of hostages.

He smiled slightly and said: "It is the queen mother's intention to let Qi'er enter Beijing, I hope that your mother and son can often go back to Beijing to see, at least let me meet my grandson who was born for nearly a year, but has not yet met!" “

Pei Ying then remembered that her father had indeed not seen her grandson yet, and she smiled apologetically: "When the situation calms down, I will bring him to see my father." ”

"Zhang Huan is okay!" Pei Jun suddenly asked with a faint smile.

"He's okay, but after coming back from Hehuang, he looks much older, thank you father for caring about him."

The conversation between the two gradually touched the substance, the atmosphere in the room was a little awkward, and after a while of silence, Pei Jun suddenly sighed and said: "Just a few years ago, you secretly pulled your father's beard, and sometimes locked your father in the study, but since you married him, the relationship between us has become a lot stranger, and now you are also a mother, and you should know the love of your parents for your children, why don't you understand the heart of a father!" ”

Pei Jun's tone became a little excited, and he suddenly turned to look at Pei Ying, "We definitely shouldn't be so rigid between father and daughter, what the hell is going on?" ”

"Don't you know what's going on?" Pei Ying was also excited, she stared at her father's eyes and said, "You keep saying that it is the Queen Mother's intention to let Qi'er enter Beijing, but will the Queen Mother let Pei Yi come to announce the decree?" Don't take me for a fool, you just don't listen to you when you see your illness. I wanted to catch Qi'er as a hostage. They don't think about how I feel. ”

Speaking of this, Pei Ying took a deep breath, and a trace of sadness appeared in her eyes, "Yes!" You never think about me, you keep saying that I don't understand the love of parents for their children, but do you understand me? When you sent 200,000 troops to occupy Guanlong, did you think about the pressure your daughter faced in Longyou? No! Instead of taking my son away. All you think is your territory, your power, and they are your children. ”

"Enough!" Pei Jun interrupted Pei Yingdi in annoyance, "Did you talk to your father like this?" If you dare to be rude to me again, I will not have you as a daughter. ”

There was silence in the room, and neither of them spoke. Half a day. Pei Jun smiled bitterly. "Maybe we should all calm down."

"Yes, we should calm down, I should apologize to you." Pei Ying twisted her head to the side, there was a faint trace of tears in her eyes, Pei Jun slowly walked in front of her daughter, gently pulled her hair, and sighed slightly: "Child." Daddy is the head of the family. I can't help myself, although sometimes I do things that make it difficult for you. But Daddy definitely doesn't want to hurt you. ”

"Daddy!" Pei Ying gently pulled her father's arm, leaning her face on his arm, when she was small, this arm was the most powerful one she leaned on, "Daddy, let us go!" I don't want to be an enemy of my father when I get sick. ”

Pei Ying's words suddenly calmed Pei Jun, and the trace of fatherly love that had just been flashed was immediately replaced by Longyou's interests, and he hurriedly asked, "What did you say!" Does Zhang Huan mean that he wants to reattach himself to me? ”

"No!" Pei Ying denied without hesitation: "I don't want to be attached to anyone, he can help you, but when there is a conflict between each other's interests, he will also be an enemy of you." ”

Pei Jun's face changed, and before he could answer, there was a sudden sound of nervous and hurried footsteps at the door, only to see Pei Danming rushing in excitedly, "Family master, the news from Shandong has arrived!" ”

He suddenly saw Pei Ying, bit his lip tightly all of a sudden, and involuntarily wanted to take two steps back, but Pei Jun didn't care, Pei Ying would know this kind of thing sooner or later, he asked impatiently: "Say it quickly!" What is the news in Shandong? “

"I just got the news a quarter of an hour ago that Cui Qing's 150,000 troops left Shandong and entered Huaibei through Pengjun (Xuzhou)."

"The Cui family is finally split." Pei Jun let out a long sigh of relief, he sat down slowly, and at this moment, he only felt extremely empty in his heart.

At the beginning of July of the third year of Xuanren, when Cui Yuan had just arrived in Chenliu, Cui Qinggong, who had received the news in advance, realized that the crisis was coming, and he took the lead to take the lead and led an army of 150,000 to leave Shandong, marched into Huaibei, and established a new Cui clan in Ruyang, established himself as the head of the family, and proclaimed himself the envoy of Huaibei Jiedu, and the Cui family, the largest family in the world, embarked on the old road of Zhangjiadi in Hedong, and was divided into two sects in the north and south.

In addition to the hot weather in Longyou in July, the popularity was also particularly hot, nearly 30,000 scholars from Guanzhong, Hedong, Shuzhong and Guanlong rushed to apply for the newly established Helong Academy, as early as the beginning of June, Zhang Huan sent a large number of people to various places to preach the purpose of running the Helong Academy: to regain the Tang Hehuang and Hexi lost land to establish a reserve official reserve, regardless of whether they are noble or low, only meritocracy.

Although Hexi and Hehuang are located in remote areas, due to the large number of children of the family encroaching on the number of officials in various places, countless poor scholars have no way to seek employment, but Zhang Huan's slogan of no matter whether it is noble or low, meritocracy greatly resonated with them, and they regained the lost territory of Hehuang in victory

Encouraged by the encouragement, there are still countless scholars who are eager to display their talents to Jincheng County to see the competition for five hundred places, and there are many Jinshi who have already been on the high school gold list.

The voices of people in Wuquan County are boiling, the inns of all sizes have been full, and even the temples and Taoist temples are also crowded with scholars seeking accommodation, and the Wuquan County Ya, which has just resumed its functions, is extremely busy, more than 200 soldiers who are used as government servants are mobilized from house to house, and ordinary people can also accept the accommodation of scholars by subsidizing a certain amount of money and rice by the government, despite this, the scholars who came to catch the examination still came in an endless stream, and the county commander Tang Xianyao had to ask for help from the army, and under the order of Zhang Huan, the 30,000 troops stationed in the city gave up half of the military camp, In the end, all the reference scholars were able to solve the problem of food and lodging.

This time, there was an influx of scholars. The governor of Jincheng County is the biggest loser. They also mobilized the people to arrange some scholars, but these people who did not receive a penny of subsidies were severely punished by the patrol soldiers for the crime of staying without the permission of the county government, and this fortuitous incident strongly hinted to the people of Jincheng County that the real government was the county government and not the state government.

However, compared to this unprecedented college entrance exam, this county-state dispute was just a small tidbit, and it was quickly drowned out by the warm atmosphere in the city.

With five days to go before the exam, the types of questions in the exam site have been announced to the candidates, and the test will be discussed and poetry. And the strategy is the mainstay, which makes many scholars who temporarily memorize the "Analects" and "The Mean" dumbfounded, but many smart candidates have guessed that the strategy will inevitably focus on Hehuang and Hexi, and for a while, the inns and restaurants are full of scholars' debates on the recovery of Hexi and Anxi.

It was noon that day. Zhang Huan took a few servants to pay a private visit to the city. I want to listen to the debate of the scholars that the subordinates always mentioned in the past two days. went around a circle, and unconsciously came to the Xihuang Restaurant in the west of the city.

Today, the Xihuang Restaurant is as lively as usual, crowded with scholars who come to eat, but today it is particularly noisy, and the shopkeeper told Zhang Huan that there are two scholars who are as if they were born enemies. A heated debate broke out on the second floor of the restaurant.

Zhang Huan became interested. I walked quickly to the second floor, only to see hundreds of people on the third floor and three floors outside. surrounded a window seat, and the two pro-soldiers squeezed a way out of the way and let Zhang Huan go to the innermost.

I saw two people sitting facing the table, both of them frowning coldly, like two roosters who wanted to fight.

These two people are a little older, more than 30 years old, called Li Jifu, Hebei Zhao County, after the famous family, he loves to travel, has followed his brother Li Bai to the north and south of the river, today he came to Longyou is not for the exam, he has entered the office in April, the official worship from the eight products of the water supervisor of the main book, this time is to Longyou business, coinciding with the examination of Helong Academy.

And the other is very young, just to the year of the weak crown, called Niu Monk and Child, a native of Longyou Anding County, born in a poor family, he has nothing to do with Li Jifu, just eat at the same table with him, but Li Jifu when talking about the imperial examination as an official, criticized the children of the Han family for only knowing how to die and studying, not understanding human feelings, lacking good family education, far inferior to the children of famous families, so the door shade system is much better than the imperial examination system that can be an official only if you know a poem and an article.

This remark aroused the strong dissatisfaction of the Niu monks and children, and he said angrily: "In terms of the public, the world is only divided into the noble and the lowly, and the nobles enjoy glory and wealth in their lives, and they hold the power of officialdom alone, and the sluts only need to plough the fields and ridges and let others slaughter them. Isn't the strength of my Tang Dynasty in being broad-minded and winning the world's wise men with imperial examinations? ”

"Yellow-haired son, if you don't understand my meaning, you will make a lot of nonsense." Li Jifu glanced at him contemptuously, tapped the table with his fingers and said disdainfully: "I said that the shade of the earth is not that the children of famous families can become officials without studying, but reading is just a foundation, but what do you need to do to be an official, you must be able to coordinate the relationship between superiors and subordinates, and you must be able to balance the demands of people with different interests, which requires ability, and this ability is not to read to get the land, and furthermore, for the long-term family of the family, how can you not be able to produce elites, in fact, in the past hundred years of my Tang Dynasty, most of the ministers and ministers have come from famous families. ”

"That's because you can't get into the Jinshi to say such shameless things." Niu Shengyu refuted him mercilessly: "Didn't the imperial examination system think of the ability you said? Is it possible to become an official after passing the Jinshi examination? The imperial examination is only to test talent, and then the official examination is to test the ability, not only to use fair means to select the talented, and then use pragmatic methods to select the suitable officials, in this way, I Datang will be talented, strong and rich people, and as you said, the selection of officials only depends on the children of wealthy families, but the tall ones are just short, I heard that Tianzhu has a caste system, suitable for your argument, it is better for me to lend you a horse, and move your family over! Maybe you'll still be there. ”

Niu Shengyu's words aroused laughter and applause, and Zhang Huan couldn't help but nod in agreement, he wanted to openly oppose the imperial court's door shadow system and win the hearts of scholars with fair selection.

At this time, Li Jifu's face was a little unbearable, and he said coldly: "Childish! Do you really think there is justice in the world? Since ancient times, power has been used to protect the interests of the few, when will it be used to preside over justice? When power decays, it will change the dynasty, and then decay and change the dynasty, and so on, for thousands of years. ”

"This brother isn't here for the exam!" Zhang Huan finally couldn't help but come out, although Li Jifu said a little truth, but his words were very harsh in the atmosphere where everyone was eager for fairness to come to Longyou to take the exam, he looked at Li Jifu and snorted: "If Brother Ren is here to take the exam, we welcome it; But if you are cynical and deliberately come to sabotage this college exam, you must beware of the misfortune coming out of your mouth. ”

After speaking, Zhang Huan glanced at him coldly, turned around and went downstairs, and then ordered his own soldiers to say: "Give me an investigation of the background of these two people, the more detailed the better." ”

The soldiers agreed to go, Zhang Huan turned over and was about to leave, when one of his subordinates galloped over and handed over a document and said: "Governor, Hehuang has an urgent letter, General Wang Siyu has won the nine songs."