"Minister Wei Ge see the Queen Mother." Wei Ge was dressed in a second-grade court dress and respectfully bowed to Cui Xiaofu.

Cui Xiaofu was full of smiles, she waved her hand slightly and said, "Wei Aiqing, please take a seat." ”

"Empress Dowager Xie!"

Seeing Wei Ge sit down, Cui Xiaofu went straight to the point and asked, "It seems that you are the only one of the cabinet members who did not go to greet Zhang Shangshu today, why is this?" ”

Wei Ge snorted coldly, "The minister's son is also going home today, and the minister has no time." ”

Cui Xiaofu nodded, and sighed slightly: "It seems that Wei Aiqing's waist is the hardest in the court, and the mourning family doesn't want to go, but he has to go, it's not as good as people!" ”

Wei Ge's face was pale, and he didn't say anything, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the room seemed a little dull.

Although Wei Ge is recognized as a member of the Queen Mother's Party by the government and the opposition, in fact, he and Cui Xiaofu are just a cooperative relationship, a loose strategic alliance, just because there is a common enemy, once this enemy is eliminated, then the cooperation between them will come to an end, so Cui Xiaofu will never talk to him as much as he wants to Li Mian, but cautiously test and lead him step by step to the road.

Similarly, Wei Ge doesn't know everything about her, they just cooperate with each other tacitly in many things, such as the US robbery case that is about to trigger the Central Plains War, in fact, Wei Ge planned it single-handedly, the purpose is to let Wei Deqing defeat Cui Qinggong in one fell swoop, occupy the entire Central Plains region, and become a third force that can really compete with Zhang Huan and Pei Jun as soon as possible.

And Cui Xiaofu's tacit understanding is to seal Wei Qing as Chen's assassin in a timely manner, which can be said to know Wei Ge's heart well, and now Cui Xiaofu summoned Wei Ge to urge him to do it as soon as possible. Don't let this Central Plains War end with Zhang Huandi's return.

On the one hand, she hopes that Wei Ge can become the third force to restrain Zhang Huandi as soon as possible. The Wei family's occupation of the Central Plains also greatly increased their strength, and they were able to deal with Zhang Huan's aggressive momentum after the Anxi War, and Cui Xiaofu also had another layer of selfishness, that is, if Cui Qinggong was not removed one day, he would be planted in his hands sooner or later.

Now Cui Qinggong's people are in mourning and food is cut off. It was the perfect time to get rid of him.

At this time, Wei Ge coughed, breaking the embarrassing atmosphere in the room, he straightened his waist and said solemnly: "Cui Qinggong doesn't care about the lives of the people, vainly trying to provoke a war, we must not tolerate it." My son just came from Chenliu. Now that General Deqing has completed the army, as long as Cui Qinggong dares to cross the line, he will definitely not be spared by him, but

It's just two words. Wei Ge's tone paused, and glanced at Mrs. Lu next to him, Cui Xiaofu understood, waved his hand, and ordered Mrs. Lu to go.

Seeing that there was no one left and right, Wei Ge lowered his voice and said to Wei Ge: "Wei Deqing must not make the first move, now Cui Qinggong has shown signs of retreating,"

"What can you do?" Cui Xiaofu no longer hides her eagerness to go to war.

"I have a way to kill two birds with one stone." Wecker stroked his short beard. He smiled a little proudly: "The Queen Mother can be crowned the general of Cui Qinggong's subordinates." Cui Qinggong will be jealous, even if he doesn't fight at that time. Cui Qinggong will also have internal turmoil, and Wei Deqing can use the excuse of protecting the people to send troops south. ”

Cui Xiaofu pondered for a long time, although this may lead to a warlord scuffle, but it is indeed the best way to get rid of Cui Qinggong, she suddenly thought that Zhang Huan was about to go to the court tomorrow, and a sense of crisis was burning her patience, she resolutely made up her mind, "Okay, just do it according to your strategy!" ”

Night gradually fell, Zhang Huan's family was tired from the journey, they all rested early, Zhang Huan was still engrossed in the study to review a few books, at this time, the door opened gently, Zhang Huan's concubine Hua Jinxiu walked in lightly with a cup of ginseng tea, she was Zhang Huan's personal maid when he was in the old house in Taiyuan, when she was only eleven years old, she was a thin and weak yellow-haired girl, when she was in the East Inner Garden, she washed Zhang Huan's clothes and quilts all day long, to show that she was useful, six or seven years have passed, she is eighteen years old, She was slim, her skin was delicate and white, her goose egg face was bent and her eyebrows were bent, and her dark and quiet eyes always had a hint of shyness, as if she were a new pear that had just been plucked from a tree and was still carrying dewdrops.

Regarding her arrangement, Pei Ying originally wanted to marry her to a pro-military lieutenant of Zhang Huan, but on the night of the conversation, she fell ill, and the water and rice were not sticky for a few days, and she was about to die, at this time the doctor who treated her said that she was not actually sick, Pei Ying understood her thoughts, and she was emotional and pityful, so she decided to accept her as Zhang Huan's concubine, and at this time Zhang Huan was attacking Hanzhong.

But it wasn't until a month ago, when Zhang Huan returned from Anxi, that she finally became a woman from other places, although Hua Jinxiu's identity has changed, but her true colors have not changed, and she is still Zhang Huan's personal concubine.

"Master, let's drink a bowl of ginseng tea!" Hua Jinxiu put the tea bowl beside Zhang Huan and said softly.

"Thank you!" Zhang Huan smiled gently at her, put down the pen, took a sip of ginseng tea, relaxed, Hua Jinxiu walked briskly behind him, skillfully pinched his neck, head and shoulders, and said in a low voice: "After walking for four or five days, we are too tired to ride in the carriage, besides, the master is still riding a horse, let's rest early today!" I have to get up tomorrow in the morning. ”

"Are they all asleep?" Zhang Huan asked with his eyes closed.

"Everyone is asleep, and Madame wants to take care of the children, so she tells me to let you rest early. **&***”

"Then why don't you sleep?"

Zhang Huan suddenly smiled and took her to him, hugged her on his lap, held her hand and smiled ambiguously: "Do you want to wait to sleep with me?" ”

Hua Jinxiu's face was flushed with shame, she lowered her head, pinched the corners of her clothes uneasily, and whispered in her mouth like a mosquito: "I don't have it!" ”

Zhang Huan laughed, slapped her buttocks, stood up and pulled her and said, "Let's go, let's go out for a walk." "But it's night!"

Zhang Huan held her face and kissed her on the lips. He said to her gently, "Didn't you always say it to me before. Want to see the night view of Chang'an? I happen to be in the mood for this today, so let's go together! ”

Hua Jinxiu's heart was overjoyed, and she nodded heavily, "Then I'll go get a dress for the master." ”

"Don't wake them up."

"I know!"

Zhang Huan saw that she was so excited that she jumped up and down like a little girl, and remembered that she was busy like a bird all day long when she was in the East Inner Garden, and her heart couldn't help but feel a burst of warmth.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Huan changed into a loose civilian robe. took Hua Jinxiu to take a carriage to tour the street scene of Chang'an, and it was only half a year after leaving Chang'an, but he felt as if more than ten years had passed, and even had a feeling of being separated from the world.

"Jinxiu, do you really not have a relative?"

Zhang Huan saw Hua Jinxiu lying on the window, looking at the street intently. There was a sad emotion in his eyes. He felt pity in his heart, so he grabbed her shoulder and said softly: "I remember you told me that you lived in my former house because you had relatives in Zhang's mansion, so you should have relatives." Why do you tell me they're all dead? ”

Hua Jinxiu felt a little cold, so she shrank into Zhang Huandi's arms, and after a long time, she sighed slightly, "I didn't dare to say it before, I'm afraid you won't want me." ”

"It's time to fight!" Zhang Huan gently tapped her head, "You have served me for so many years, how can I not want you." Again. Is there anyone else in Zhang's mansion that I hold a grudge against? Even Zhang Xuan, I have long forgotten about him. ”

"But Madame is going to marry me to Captain Liu. I, me

Hua Jinxiu snuggled up to Zhang Huan's chest, she bit her lip tightly, and her eyes were a little red.

Zhang Huan smiled, put his arm around her shoulders and comforted: "Madame is a good intention, I, the pro-guard officers, will be the only generals in the future, let you be their wife, it is better than being my concubine, and if you give birth to a son in the future, maybe you can still be a first-class lady, if it weren't for Mrs. said that you have a heart to die, I also advocate that you marry the general of Longyou."

"And now! Will you give me to someone else? Hua Jinxiu looked at her secretly and asked with some uneasiness. *****

"You stupid girl." Zhang Huan pinched Hua Jinxiu's nose and shook his head, he leaned on the couch, looked out the car window at the night and said lightly: "There are some things I can reward my subordinates, such as money and land, but there are two things I will not give to anyone." ”

Zhang Huan lowered his head and looked at her delicate eyes, and said word by word: "One is my woman, and the other is my country." ”

"As long as the master doesn't drive me away, I will serve you for the rest of your life."

Hua Jinxiu sighed happily, she leaned on Zhang Huan's shoulder, and said in a low voice: "My parents died early, and I only have one cousin, who is married to Zhang Xuan, called Hua Erniang. ”

On the eve of the Laba Festival, despite the cold weather, but the street is still full of people, very lively, Zhang Huan's carriage under the escort of more than a dozen personal soldiers, through one neighborhood after another, slowly to the west, he is reluctant to go north, there is too close to the official office, will affect his shopping mood, at this time, the carriage to Guangde Fang, and then go forward is the West Market, now is the time when every household is preparing for the New Year's goods, the West Market is also late, you can see the endless flow of people to the direction of the West Market.

The carriage was about to drive out of Guangdefang, and the gate of the West Market on the opposite side was clearly visible, and suddenly, Hua Jinxiu saw that there were brilliant lights on a small road near the Fangmen, and it was crowded with people, and it was very noisy, and it seemed to be a little more lively than the West Market, so she asked curiously: "Master, what are you doing?" ”

Zhang Huan is also a little strange, he has walked through Guangdefang several times, and he still remembers that there is a deserted road over there, and there is an abandoned temple, when did it become so lively? He ordered one of his soldiers to say, "Go and see, what is in there?" ”

After a while, the soldiers ran back to report, "Governor, there are many people in there who are setting up small stalls and selling snacks and miscellaneous items. ”

"It turned out to be some small vendors, and it didn't mean much, so I kept going." Zhang Huan waved his hand and said.

"Master, take me to see it! I—my headband is broken, and I'm trying to buy one. Hua Jinxiu's eyes were full of yearning, she hugged Zhang Huan's arm, and begged a little coquettishly.

Zhang Huan was rubbed by her towering chest and arm, and his heart couldn't help but wave, so he whispered in her ear: "Then you will serve me well tonight." I'll take you there. ”

"Hmm!" Hua Jinxiu's face flushed. \\\\\ nodded slightly.

"Guest officer, come and see my rattle, this is the authentic goods of Hedong Pingyao, make sure your son likes it, little boy, isn't it?"

"Big brother and little lady look like Peugeot! When I grow up, I will definitely be able to enter the palace as a concubine, if I buy this pearl necklace. Hehe! That's the life of the queen, and the eldest brother can also enjoy the blessings, how about it, let's have a string? ”

Along the way, shouting and shouting are endless, and the path is behind a row of houses. The low eaves of the house are covered with lanterns. Therefore, it looks brilliantly lit, and both sides of the road were originally overgrown with weeds, but now the weeds have long been trampled flat, and there are all kinds of stalls. Most of them are made of wood nails, which looks very simple, and some people don't even have this kind of simple wooden shelf, so they directly spread a piece of cloth on the ground and pile up some old goods and sundries from nowhere.

This is actually a bit like the small commodity market in later generations, selling low-grade goods, and there is no need to pay taxes, so the price is very cheap. It attracted a large number of poor families to patronize. It's almost the end of the year, so I bought a few small toys for my son here. Buying a few cheap jewelry for the lady and daughter can be regarded as an explanation.

The path was crowded with Chang'an people who came to buy things, and groups of girls lingered in front of various stalls to choose wooden combs, earrings and other gadgets.

Although Zhang Huan doesn't look down on the things here, he can experience the life of the lower-class people in Chang'an here, which can be regarded as a kind of private interview with public opinion, but Hua Jinxiu is full of interest, pulling Zhang Huan all the way around, and more than a dozen personal soldiers follow them nervously, lest there be any mistakes.

Hua Jinxiu was born poor, her parents died early, she has been doing laundry for a living since she was eight years old, and occasionally saved a few pennies, she will also go to a similar stall in Taiyuan to buy a little comb, small bronze mirror and other daily necessities, so there has always been an unforgettable feeling for this kind of small stall, at this time, she saw a stall full of boxwood combs, and all kinds of boxwood headbands, she screamed as if she found a treasure, and pulled Zhang Huan forward.

The stall owner is an old couple in their sixties, they will not shout, only wait for someone to come forward, the lot is in the corner, so the business is very deserted, they saw someone come up, the old lady hurriedly smiled: "Girl, you buy one!" It's cheap. ”

The old man also smiled innocently, "Buy one!" ”

Zhang Huan heard that their accent seemed to be from the Hedong area, and saw that the old couple's clothes were shabby, so he couldn't help but feel compassion, so he said to Hua Jinxiu: "Just buy a few more!" Bring a little to them too. ”

Seeing that they were willing to buy more, the walnut pattern on their faces seemed to be smiling, "This is all made by my wife, cheap, five cents a handful, I have cheaper ones here,"

The old lady took out a small cloth bag from behind her, and tried to untie it with trembling hands, but she couldn't untie it, she couldn't help but complain to her wife in a low voice: "Who told you to tie it so tightly." ”

Zhang Huan smiled and took the cloth bag, "I'll come!" ”

He unwrapped the cloth bag in two clicks, and there were dozens of combs inside, but they were made of ordinary willow wood, and they were exquisitely made.

"Uncle, did you do it yourself?"

The old man nodded, but he couldn't find anything to say, and the eldest lady next to him hurriedly said: "My old man has been a woodcomber for decades, and he is very famous in Taiyuan, does the Zhang family in Taiyuan know?" Even their own homes! ”

"My lord is

Hua Jinxiu was about to say it, but Zhang Huan stopped her from talking, and he smiled slightly: "I am also from Taiyuan, Hedong, and we are still fellow villagers." ”

When he met a fellow countryman in another country, the old man laughed, "I said that your accent is a little familiar, it turns out that you are also from Taiyuan, come!" Sit down. The old man gave way to the side and gave Zhang Huan a vacant land.

Zhang Huan smiled, then sat down next to him, and asked with a smile while watching Hua Jinxiu choose a comb: "Uncle and aunt are so old, why don't they stay at home and come out to do small business?" Just let your children sell it. ”

Hearing Zhang Huan mention his son, the old man's eyes were gloomy for a while, and he sighed and said: "This year, Hedong suffered a catastrophe, everyone had no food to eat, and the eldest son and daughter-in-law sold themselves to the temple as slaves. The youngest son said that he would go to Longyou to join the army. So far, there is no news, and my wife and I are thinking, we can't starve to death! I came to Chang'an to join my relatives, but they were also difficult and couldn't support us, so they could only set up a small stall to sell small things such as wooden combs to earn a few pennies to make ends meet. ”

Zhang Huan felt sad for a while, and the old man saw it. smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Young man, it doesn't matter, we are old, and we don't have any requirements, just have something to eat." It's not bad compared to them. ”

The old man pointed to a few small vendors next to him. "They are old and young, so they sell this little thing to support their families!"

"Uncle, you sell things here, and the government doesn't care?"

"No matter what!" A vendor next to him said angrily, "We're selling here." It's not enough to make a little money and even sell rice, but the local shops in the West City still think that we have robbed them of their business, so they go to the government to complain, and as a result, every day there are officials who come to look for trouble, and they are as fierce as robbers, and they are smashed by smashing the stalls when they run slowly, and some are also arrested to eat the board, and they can only be released after paying a ransom. ”

"Evening doesn't matter. They all went home. The old man added with a smile: "And we are in the corner here." Although the business is not good, it is easier for people from the government to run. ”

"And said to run. Can you run? The old lady counted him down a little unhappily and said: "I was beaten with a stick yesterday, and my life was almost not given away!" ”

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard that the side of the fang door seemed to have exploded a nest, and countless small vendors rushed to this side against big bags and small bags, and passers-by cried for their fathers and mothers, and became a mess.

"Uncle Yang, run!" The vendor next to him pocketed the four corners of the ground and ran away.

The old man's face turned pale in an instant, and his voice trembled, "Oh no, they're coming." ”

"Old man, come and help me collect it!" The old lady was so anxious that her hands trembled, but she couldn't put it away.

Zhang Huan pressed down the two old men, "Don't be afraid, I'm here, see who dares to touch you!" ”

He stood up and shouted to his soldiers, "Go and fetch them!" ”

The pro-soldiers received the order, and they rolled up their sleeves and rushed to the front.

The old man looked at Zhang Huan with some surprise, "Is the little brother also an official?" ”

Zhang Huan smiled and said, "What does the uncle think?" ”

The old man shook his head, "The officials won't come to us to buy things, let alone sit on the ground with me, I don't think so." ”

Zhang Huan smiled and didn't answer, at this time, the soldiers pushed and pulled more than a dozen errands over, and kicked them over in front of Zhang Huan, "Dudu, it's these people who do evil." ”

"Governor?" The old man's heart pounded.

The servants are not government officials, they belong to the kind that has no formal establishment, and the hard work that the officials do not want to do are let them do, they also have to eat, and they also have to make money, so they squeeze the people ten times more ruthlessly than those officials, no matter which dynasty or generation, they are a big cancer in society, and relying on them to make oil and water is also a big unspoken rule in the officialdom since ancient times.

Zhang Huan walked up to them with his hands behind his back and asked coldly, "Who asked you to smash the stall?" ”

These officers were all mixed up in the market, and they knew that they had met a big man today, and those soldiers called him the governor, and this official was not something they could afford to provoke.

A messenger in the head of the land trembled and said: "It is the order of the county lieutenant of Chang'an County, and we dare not disobey it." ”

"Governor, I'll go and get their county order." A pro-soldier captain stepped forward.

"No!" Zhang Huan turned his head and said ruthlessly to Fang who followed him like a shadow: "You go to the Yanshou Fang next door and find Jingzhao Yin Han Yannian for me." ”

The old couple finally understood, the young man in front of them was a terrible person, and the old couple knelt down, "Master, we don't know, please forgive me!" ”

Zhang Huan hurriedly helped them up, smiled and comforted them: "Don't be afraid, two old people, we are fellow villagers, and your youngest son is still going to my Longyou army, let alone an outsider." ”

"You're an old man, and you vaguely understand.

"Old man, you'll find out later." Zhang Huan beckoned to call two personal soldiers, handed over the two old men to them, and said, "I have settled them well, and I will immediately send a letter to Longyou, ordering Hu Yong to find their son." ”

The pro-soldier received the order, and hurriedly helped the old man to the side, and after a while, Jingzhao Yin Han Yannian rushed over in a panic with Liu Shi, the county commander of Chang'an County, and Liu Shi happened to be in his house.

Han Yannian is the original Taiyuan Yin, Zhang Ruohao is the person who was single-handed, after the fall of the Zhang family, he took refuge in Pei Jun, who was just transferred from Hedong to Jing Zhao Yin at the beginning of the year, he knew Zhang Huan, he hurriedly stepped forward to give a salute, "Jing Zhao Yin Han Yannian see Zhang Shangshu!" ”

Liu Shi, the county magistrate of Chang'an County next to him, saw the errands kneeling on the ground, and he buzzed! The ground was suddenly bigger, and he hurriedly stepped forward tremblingly and said: "Liu Shi, the county commander of Chang'an County, see Zhang Shangshu!" ”

At this time, almost all the small traders came back quietly, they stood on both sides from a distance, looking at everything that happened in a daze, Zhang Huan sneered, pointed at these vendors and said to Han Yannian: "I want to ask Han Envoy Jun for a favor for them, can they be allowed to make a living here in the future, let them make a living?" ”

Han Yannian sighed secretly, he called himself over for this little thing, obviously he wanted to make a big deal in order to gain public opinion, and tomorrow this matter will definitely become a big sensation in Chang'an.

"Shangshu has an order, how dare you disobey your humble position." He turned around and said to Liu Shi: "I'll leave this matter to you!" ”

"Subordinates obey!"

Liu Shi walked quickly to the hawkers and said in a loud voice: "I am the county magistrate of Chang'an County, and this road can be assigned to you to operate in the future, but you must not gather to make trouble, let alone do illegal things." ”

Seeing the ecstasy on everyone's faces, he said before they shouted: "You have to thank Zhang Shangshu of the Ministry of War for this matter, he is sympathetic to the people's feelings and thinks about your livelihood, you must remember."

Before he finished speaking, his voice was drowned out by the deafening cheers, Zhang Huan smiled slightly, and said to Hua Jinxiu: "Let's go back!" ”

"Wait a minute, I haven't paid for my comb yet!"

(Today's 10,000 words, I implore you for a monthly pass, your monthly pass and subscription, which is the motivation for me to work hard to write a book)