Li Shenming and Li Guobin rode mules in front, Wang Faxiang pretended to be a long follower and followed behind the two, they were all scholars, Li Guobin was pretending, Li Shenming was a serious scholar, with a sword on his waist, a square scarf on his head, and a long entourage by his side, dressed as a standard traveler.

"Two gentlemen." Wang Faxiang pointed to the black portal under a big locust tree and whispered, "This is it." ”

"Isn't the surname Mao white?" Mao Yuanyi doesn't seem to have a reputation, or at most a showman, anyway, he doesn't have a person or an official body, and now he lives in the mansion of a six-rank official, Li Shenming feels a little strange.

"Mr. Hui," Wang Faxiang said: "This is the mansion of Lord Zuo Zhong Yunsun, he has now been selected to be the emperor's speaker, and he has been preaching in the Qianqing Palace every day for a while, and he will be of great use in the future." ”

"It's Sun Kaiyang." Li Shenming is still very concerned about some potential officials in Beijing, and said at the moment: "He was a young showman, and then he lectured and taught everywhere, traveled to the border passes, increased his experience, and then cultivated and studied in his hometown for many years. ”

Wang Faxiang said indifferently: "I don't know much about these in the next, but in the next to what kind of people live in the Sun Mansion, what kind of party it is, and who are the usual records of it, if Mr. is interested, you can copy a copy to Mr. later." ”

Li Shenming was speechless.

Since it is an official's mansion, Er Li got off the horse early, Li Shenming called his long entourage, and knocked on the door with a prayer post, of course, not to worship Sun Chengzong, but to worship Mao Yuanyi.

After a short time, the subordinates of the Sun Mansion opened the corner door next to it, and everyone entered through the side door.

Not far from the courtyard, a young man under the age of thirty stood in the courtyard, looking at everyone with a puzzled face.

"Student Li Shenming."

"Student Li Guobin."

Erli signed up one after another, and then put his hands together, politely the same as meeting a "friend" at school.

The so-called "friend" is just a name between "going to school" Xiucai, Mao Yuanyi is actually just a famous scholar, not a showman, although he is already a standard party member in the Donglin circle, but there are also quite a few people who speak with his fame, this is also the general situation in Jiangnan, in fact, there are many people who have never studied in the so-called Fushe Genius later, that is, the famous talent, such as the same as the talent who ventured to open up Xinjiang, the Jiangnan literary style is too prosperous, and the so-called talent may be long in knowledge, But in terms of business, he may not be as good as a mediocre talent who learns from the camp, and the competition is fierce, so it is not surprising that he will not be promoted.

However, no matter what, it is Mao Yuanyi's heart disease that he has no merit and fame, no matter how famous he is now, it may be difficult to come from a civil official career.

After all, if you want to become famous, it is generally better to be in the Jinshi in about thirty, and the ranking is secondary, so that you can point to the Hanlin Shu Jishi, the best shortcut to enter the promotion, if you are getting older, and the test is not very good, a lifetime is to wander around in remote places, to the state and county bureau, it is better to be a celebrity in Beijing.

"The two gentlemen don't have to be polite." Mao Yuanyi returned the salute hastily, with an unconcealable arrogance on his face, although these two people are showmen, they are also very respectful to him, but with Mao Yuanyi's current reputation and connections, it is likely that he will be able to become an official all of a sudden, so there is no need to take these two talents too seriously.

Mao Yuanyi said: "I don't know if the two of you came together, what do you have to teach?" ”

Li Shenming said: "The student has borrowed Mr.'s Wubei Zhi, after reading, I can't help but admire, sure enough, Mr. is a generalist, not only proficient in military science, but also proficient in geography, astronomy, instrument manufacturing and other things, the student is really convinced." ”

Li Guobin said: "Mr. Mao is also very proficient in the use of iron, Fujian Fang Mao Iron to make a waist knife ten catties into three catties of fine iron, processing materials cost three taels of a good knife of fine iron, bird guns need to use square hair iron forty catties to practice to eight catties to fit, bird guns work materials and fine iron costs need to be six taels to seven taels to build a party to be qualified, these students are seen in the martial arts, admiration in their hearts. ”

Although Mao Yuanyi was arrogant, these two people had obviously read Wu Beizhi, and they were very flattering to him, so he was proud and said, "The two of you please talk in the room." ”

Mao Yuanyi is a guest in Sun Chengzong's house, but he and Sun Chengzong are half teachers and half friends, they are considered to be the best of the family, and they can also be regarded as half masters, he did not live in the front yard guest room, but lived in the three rooms in the small garden in the backyard.

After everyone sat down, the little servant of the Sun Mansion came up to serve tea, and Mao Yuanyi said bluntly: "Of course, the two gentlemen are not here to talk about the ugly works of despicable people, I think there must be something to invite, and please come truthfully." ”

Li Shenming said with a smile: "Mr. is really a soldier and scholar, and he speaks so cheerfully, okay, the students are invited......

Li Shenming said his request to invite Mao Yuanyi to build momentum, and Mao Yuanyi was noncommittal for a while.

There is nothing difficult about him, although he said that he used Fujian Fang Mao Tie Fang for the Chinese style, and even the specific county has been said, but in fact, if the North Iron has excellent replaceable people, it is not indispensable, of course he understands that the two people in front of him want to buy from the Ministry of Industry, which is a large amount of income, in addition, if Lingqiu Iron can replace Fujian Fang Mao Tie, it is also very important to make a name, there is still a shortage of tens of millions of catties of Mao Iron in the north a year, and the demand for fine iron and various iron tools is also very large, but although the gentleman does not say profit, But you don't have to agree to this just because these two people came to the door.

"Sir, don't hesitate." Li Guobin said with a warm face: "Make a noise, although my generation is not a businessman, I can't talk about profit, but I can't call Mr. in vain...... I heard that Mr. wants to engrave the Wu Beizhi, this is a strange book, I believe that there are not a few engraved capital, if Mr. does not give up, students are willing to serve. ”

Mao Yuanyi frowned slightly, but he still felt some joy in his heart, his "Wubei Zhi" covered a wide range of things, and all kinds of things were said, which led to not only military science in the book, but also a lot of miscellaneous stories such as casters, etc., which led to the book to be divided into many volumes, and there were many pictures, which had to find a painter to carefully depict and then engrave and print, now Sun Chengzong is famous, and promised him to find some silver to help him engrave the book, so that he can become an official from other ways in the future, if he solves this matter now, he does not have to owe Sun Chengzong more favors, It's good to think about it.

"This matter is very big, and the contemptible person cannot rush to agree." Mao Yuanyi said lightly: "Please wait a few days, let me think about it carefully." ”

This is not a refusal, Er Li knows that there is a door, as long as there are no unexpected variables, this matter will be done.

At that moment, Li Shenming and Li Guobin got up together, and both said: "Please don't refuse, sir, the students don't dare to disturb more, so I will leave." ”

They are not familiar with Mao Yuanyi, and they came to the door for the first time, and it was right to say goodbye after talking about business, and Mao Yuanyi did not stay, but said: "I will send two gentlemen." ”

The three of them went to the courtyard again, and at this time the gate opened, Sun Chengzong, who was wearing a blue official robe with a heron pattern embroidered on his chest, was getting down from the sedan chair, and beside him there was a short and fat man who was also stepping on the dismount stone and getting off the horse, and the two were still talking.

Sun Chengzong has a beautiful beard on his face, he is a middle-aged man with a tall body, a straight waist and back, an elegant appearance, and a very comfortable image to look at, his eyes are also very smart, and he is kind, when he saw Li Shenming and Li Guobin, Sun Chengzong nodded to the two first.

Of course, Li Shenming and Li Guobin knew the severity, so they saluted for a long time, and then turned around and left, without stopping.

After the two left, Sun Chengzong said to Mao Yuanyi: "This is the old predecessor of Yushi Liu, and he is also quite knowledgeable about Liao affairs, and when he talks about you with me in private, he also has a lot of praise. ”

Mao Yuanyi knows this person, Liu Guojin's name is far before Sun Chengzong, according to the rules of the great Ming scholar, one earlier subject is called senior, Liu Guojin is more than ten years earlier than Sun Chengzong, at least four or five subjects, although the official position is under Sun Chengzong, and the achievements of the field are also below Sun Chengzong, but in terms of title, Sun Chengzong always has to call him an old-timer.

This person is born as a border scholar in eastern Liaodong, I heard that he used to be Li Chengliang's family, and later took the examination as a military household.

Mao Yuanyi stepped forward to kneel and bow to him, but the two Li were both students, so they didn't have to kneel, but he was white.

Liu Guojin was very polite, stepped forward to stop Mao Yuanyi, and said with a smile: "You don't have to be polite, you are Brother Kaiyang's protégé, you and I are kind brothers, if you don't give up, just call me Uncle Shi." ”

"Mr. Liu is polite, I don't dare."

Sun Chengzong said with a smile on the side: "We don't have to say much kind words, the old-timers came in vain, there must be something important, let's go into the study and talk about it." ”

Liu Guojin smiled and said, "Okay, but I want to disturb you." ”

Sun Chengzong laughed loudly when he heard this, and at the same time instructed his subordinates to prepare wine and food.

The three of them went to the study, each sat down according to the host and guest position, Mao Yuanyi played horizontally to accompany each other, it was inconvenient for him to say anything on such an occasion, he could only be regarded as an accompaniment.

Sun Chengzong felt a little strange in his heart, it was impossible for Liu Guojin to come without incident, since he came, there must be close and important matters, but he did not ask Pingke to talk secretly, which was strange.

Liu Guojin said: "I have nothing else to do this time, I really say a word as a Liao person, Xiong Tingbi can't do it, keep him in Liao, Liao affairs will not improve, and sooner or later the land of Liaodong will be lost." ”

Sun Chengzong is in the Donglin Party, or in the court, he has always been famous for knowing the border and military affairs, and recently many people have recommended him as a squire of the military department or even a secretary of the military department, but Sun Chengzong knows that he can't leave the court for the time being, the emperor of the apocalypse trusts and relies on him very much, and the holy school is also very important, and even from a selfish point of view, he and the emperor have just established a shallow teacher-student friendship, and it is not a good policy to leave suddenly.