In late spring in March, Luoyang is raining silver.

Xu Shiji is seventeen!

Seven feet eight inches tall, slender and straight.

Tiger eyes and sword eyebrows, thin waist and back. Dressed in a white robe, with black hair in a bun and holding an oil-paper umbrella, he walked on the bluestone arch bridge over the Luoshui River in the drizzle. The name of the arch bridge is Chengfu, and it is named because it is facing the side door of Chengfu Fang. The bridge is not too wide, and can accommodate six horses in parallel. However, the bridge does not allow horses to walk and only pedestrians cross on foot. Standing on the bridge railing, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Luoshui, as well as the distance...... Copper camel twilight rain scene. This copper camel twilight rain is a very famous scenery in Luoyang City.

"Lao Xu!"

Someone shouted behind him.

Xu Shiji stopped and turned his head to look.

I saw a tall, round-faced boy running up the bridge from the north bank.

He was out of breath, glared at Xu Shiji and said, "Old Xu, why are you walking so fast?" ”

"Brother Wuji, is there something wrong?"

The young man is the eldest grandson Wuji.

He is 14 years old this year, and he is the age to enter the official school.

The eldest grandson Wuji said: "Yuanqing has come back from Emei, and tonight we will hold a banquet in the Cuiji Building, let us all go...... You were in such a hurry that I forgot to inform you. Oh, there are no other outsiders, in addition to you and me and Yuanqing, there are also two brothers Xiaoxuan and Shaoxuan of the Dou family. ”

Pei Xingyan stayed in Emei for more than a year and finally came back.

However, he came back alone, and it is said that Pei Shiju sent someone to Emei Mountain to deliver a letter and urgently recall him to Luoyang.

What's the matter with going back to Luoyang at this time?

The answer is actually not difficult to solve: Emperor Yang of Sui mobilized the whole country and wanted to use troops against Goguryeo. Pei Xingyan is almost sixteen years old, and he is not good at studying, so it is more difficult to embark on a career in office. He was born in the second grade, and the most advantageous way is to enter the career from Wuxun.

Previously, there was already an excellent example: Yuwen Chengdu.

Yuwen Chengdu entered the career with martial arts, and obtained the title of Qianniu Preparation. Then when he used troops against Tuyuhun, he captured the flag and won the favor of Yang Guang, and at the age of twenty-two, he became the Tianbao general of the fourth grade in one fell swoop, and now he is guarding the forbidden palace.

It's a great way to go!

Pei Shiju was named the general of the tiger and will accompany the holy driver to Zhuo County.

That is, the tiger general, how can there be no tiger under his command? It was impossible for him to draw people from outside, because it was a good opportunity to promote his people. So Pei Shiju was the first to think of Pei Xingyan, who was far away in Emei Mountain. The others were still in Turkic, so they sent people into Shu and asked Pei Xingyan to return to Luoyang.

Pei Xingyan is now also a thousand cows and will accompany him to Zhuo County...... Of course Xu Shiji wanted to go.

On the one hand, Dou Xiaoxuan and Dou Shaoxuan are the sons of Dou Xian. Because of Yanqing's relationship, the relationship with Xu Shiji is also very good.

On the other hand, Zheng Yanqing has been in Shu for more than a year.

Although there were letters exchanged during the period, after all, the distance was too far, and Xu Shiji was also very concerned.

After Yanqing entered Shu, Zheng Shi'an sold the land left by Duoduo and left Luoyang with his family. The person who came to take over the Luoyang industry was Zheng Renji's cousin [***]. In contrast, Xu Shiji and [***] don't have much friendship. Although [***] still behaved very enthusiastically and asked his son Zheng Hongjun to call Xu Shiji's brother, Zheng Hongjun's age is too young, and Xu Shiji has grown up Chengren.

According to the law of the Sui Dynasty, he became a Ding at the age of twenty-one.

But among the big families, fourteen years old is considered Chengren.

Zheng Hongjun is only eleven years old, a very honest child, and he is also very easy to get along with. It's just that I've been with Yanqing's kind of demon for a long time, and this normal eleven-year-old boy looks a little awkward in Xu Shiji's eyes. In addition, it has nothing to do with [***], so Xu Shiji simply moved out of Zheng's mansion and lived in Huairenfang, that is, Wang Zheng's house.

Wang Zheng followed Zheng Shi'an to Gong County, but the house was still there, and it was taken care of by Xiongwei.

Since Xu Shiji was going to move out of Zheng's mansion, Xiongwei vacated Wang Zheng's house. At the same time, Xu Gai also sent slaves and maids and family members to take care of them.

For more than a year, living in Huairenfang is also comfortable.

It's just that after missing Zheng Yanqing, Xu Shiji always felt that there was a little less fun in Luoyang City.

He really wanted to meet Pei Xingyan and inquire about Yanqing.

But...... Xu Shiji scratched his head and said with some distress: "I'm afraid I won't be able to go over today." At home, I went to the school at noon to inform me that my father was here...... I'm afraid I'll have to go back first and see what the hell is going on. ”

The eldest grandson Wuji frowned, and said with some regret: "That's a pity...... Yuanqing will go back to Hedong tomorrow, if you can't go over, I don't know when I'll see you next time. But it doesn't matter, if there's anything interesting, I'll tell you. ”

Xu Shiji nodded and said goodbye to the eldest grandson Wuji on the bridge.

He walked down the bridge and walked down the street. As I walked, I thought about things.

Xu Gai came to Luoyang this time, I am afraid that he has something to discuss with him.

As Xu Shiji gets older and older, although he is not in his hometown, if there is anything at home, Xu Gai will send someone to ask for his opinion.

This time Xu Gai came in person, could it be something big?

In Xu Shiji's heart, he began to calculate.

In my hometown, it seems that there is some unease. Since Wang Bo raised troops in Changbai Mountain and Zhai Rang gathered people in Wagang, there was Liu's domineering uncle's army, which ravaged Pingyuan County.

Liu Badao is a strong man in the plains, and he is also a family of eunuchs.

This person has a lot of money and is good at reading the biography of the rangers, so he keeps hundreds of diners. This time it was also to avoid military service, so it gathered people in Douzihang to make trouble, which has gradually become a scale. In addition, there is also Sun Anzu, a native of Zhangnan in Qinghe, who assassinated Zhangnan County and rebelled in Gaojibo; Gao Shida, a native of Xindu, rebelled in Qinghe and proclaimed himself the Duke of Donghai; Zhang Jin claimed to have rebelled in Hequ and defeated local officials and troops several times...... Shandong Shima rose up one after another, making the entire situation in the Kanto region confusing.

Presumably my father also felt the pressure in this regard! The Xu family lived in Lihu and later moved to Huaxian County. The tile gang thieves are now getting more and more powerful, and they are afraid that they will pose a great threat to the family industry. Could it be that my father came here this time to discuss this matter with him?

The more Xu Shiji thought about it, the more he felt that it was possible.

He returned home full of worries, and Xu Yansheng took the umbrella from him, "Childe, the old lady is inside, it seems that he has something on his mind." ”

"Daddy...... Did you come by yourself? ”

Xu Yansheng nodded.

Xu Shiji then walked into the middle hall and saw Xu Gai sitting in the hall drinking tea.

He hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, "Dad, the child didn't know that his father had suddenly arrived, so he didn't greet him at home, and I ask my father not to blame." ”

"Shiji, sit down!"

Xu Gai is forty years old, compared to six or seven years ago, when he sent Xu Shiji to Luoyang, he seemed to be aging a lot.

But it's also a lot richer, with a round face, and it doesn't look bad.

"I came here this time without informing anyone, because I have something to discuss with you."

Xu Shiji hurriedly sat down and asked Xu Yansheng to guard at the door.

He asked in surprise, "Dad, what happened, and you want to come to Luoyang to discuss with me?" ”

"That's the case......" Xu Gai hesitated, "Although you are in Luoyang, you must also know about the Wagang thief." Wagang has been making a lot of trouble recently, and has invaded the surrounding county several times. Huaxian is near Wagang, and I'm really worried that they will target us. ”

Sure enough, this is it!

However, it is normal to be targeted by Wagang.

The Xu family is a wealthy man in Huaxian County, with rich goods, so he is naturally a piece of fat in the eyes of those thieves.

Xu Gai said: "Our Xu family is in Huaxian County, and the foundation is not deep. Although there are a thousand slaves, I am not at ease after all. Those guys, don't you have to worry about it...... Before I left the house, a nearby village was raided. Those guys are panicked and seem to have bad intentions.

I'm worried that if the Wagang thieves target us, we won't have much resistance...... Your little lady came up with an idea, saying that I should send a family of people up the mountain to join the gang, maybe I can keep the Xu family's property. ”

The little lady Xu Gai mentioned is Xu Shiji's stepmother, a woman from a local family in Huaxian County.

After she married Xu Gai, she gave birth to two more sons.

Xu Shiji's eyes narrowed, and he was suddenly sharp.

Xu Gai was stared at by Xu Shiji, and his heart couldn't help but tremble.

Even when facing those officials, and even dealing with the Zheng family, he had never had such a sharp look. In my impression, it seems that Zhang Zhongjian once had such eyes. It seems that the world has been away all these years, and it is not a waste of time!

Xu Shiji's little mother's abacus, how can Xu Gai not know?

I'm afraid that what she is thinking about is Xu Gai's share of the family property. The person who is most likely to take over Xu Gai's family property now seems to be Xu Shiji.

Let him go up to the mountains and be a thief, so that he can keep his family's inheritance; In the future, if the Wagang thieves are exterminated, Xu Shiji will also lose the inheritance of the property, and when the time comes, the family property will naturally fall into the hands of Xu Shiji's two brothers.

"That daddy means ......"

Xu Gai said: "I've thought about it for a long time, and what your little lady said is not unreasonable. Xu Shiji frowned, his cheeks twitched, and said, "If my father thinks so, then the child will go to Wagang." ”

In my heart, for no reason, there was a trace of sorrow.

Xu Gai coughed twice, "Don't worry, listen to me." ”

He sighed, thought for a moment and said, "Although what your little mother said is reasonable, it is asking you to abandon your own future, and my father can't bear it. Moreover, you now have a relationship with the Zheng family, if you go to Wagang, then the Zheng family's relatives ...... It's not just a family affair, it may even affect our current relationship with the Zheng family. I thought about it for a long time, and I thought that something was wrong. ”

"What's Daddy's plan?"

Xu Shiji's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but ask curiously.

Xu Gai said: "A few days ago, the Guancheng County Ya sent someone to the house and issued a conscription order. ”

"A conscription order?"

Xu Gai nodded and said: "The Fang Qiao County Order of Guancheng County wants to recruit you as a soldier of Guancheng County, from the eighth grade, but not into the imperial court rank. ”

does not enter the rank, that is, there is no money to take.

Because according to the official system of the Sui Dynasty, Guancheng County belonged to the middle county, and there was a limit on the number of officials. The county commander is in charge of military and political affairs, but under the county lieutenant, only the county lieutenant, the county lieutenant, the chief secretary and other positions are in the imperial court. The rest are all officials, and they belong to the government members, but once they are officials, they will be hindered in their careers. Therefore, under the county lieutenant, there are six Cao...... Liucao is a member of the army, who does not have a rank, and is mostly recommended by the county order, or selected from the local gentry. These people have good character, but the gentry and the like are not afraid of these.

"Fang Qiao?"

Xu Shiji immediately remembered this person.

A few years ago, he and Du Ruhui visited Zheng Yanqing.

Fang Qiao's Laozi is now Fang Yanqian, who is now the Eastern Capital.

"How could the Fang County Order expropriate me?"

Xu Gai said with a smile: "This matter is thanks to Zheng Gongzi. Others are in Emei, but they ask someone to go to Guancheng to ask for a background for you. ”

"Oh?"

"Fang County Ling sent someone to say that Zheng Gongzi thinks that you have been studying in the government for three years, and it is meaningless to continue studying. He thinks that you should apply what you have learned, so he asked someone to manage the city and recommended you to the Fang County Order...... Hehe, Fang County Ling also remembered you, and specially sent someone to Luoyang to inquire about your schoolwork, and then issued me an order to conquer. However, Fang County's order was not reluctant, and only asked if you were willing to go. ”

Xu Shiji's heart suddenly swelled with warmth.

Yan Qing didn't tell him about it, because he was worried that he would be arrogant and unwilling to accept his kindness.

In fact, if Zheng Yanqing really told Xu Shiji directly, he might not really nod.

But now...... Xu Shiji said softly: "Dad, if I go to Guancheng to become a leader, then Huaxian ......."

"You don't have to worry about that." Xu Gai said with a smile: "If you are willing to go to the city, my father will sell all the industries in Huaxian County."

When I came, I also went to Gong County to visit Master Zheng.

He said that there is a lot of land in Gong County. Due to the heavy forced labor in these two years, much of the land was abandoned. If I want, he can dredge it up on my behalf and help me buy a property in Gong County. I thought about it, Gongxian is also good, there is a Tongji Canal in the south to connect the Jiangdu, and there is Xingluocang to build on the side. In addition, the distance from Guancheng and Xingyang is also close. If it can really be purchased, it will be much stronger than Huaxian. ”

"However, in this way, wouldn't my father's industry in Huaxian County have to be sold at a loss?"

Xu Gai shook his head, "Who said I want to sell it cheaply." I will keep the field, and after the government clears out the Wagang thieves, it will still belong to me. I'm just buying another property in Gong County. Anyway, in the past two years of cooperation with the Zheng family, the business is not bad, and my father has also made a lot of money. ”

Xu Shiji suddenly had a strange thought.

From the beginning of facilitating the relationship between the Xu and Zheng families, did Zheng Yanqing have a premonition that such a situation would occur?

He shook his head vigorously, banishing the ridiculous thought out of his head.

If Yan Qing really has such a skill, why did he leave Luoyang?

However, Zheng Yanqing's care made Xu Shiji very moved.

He raised his head, looked at Xu Gai, and suddenly made up his mind, "Dad, since you already have a plan, then I will listen to your arrangement."

Kindness...... I'm going to take care of the city! ”

When Xu Gai heard this, he was also very happy, "Since this is the case, then I will immediately send Xu Yansheng back and start arranging the evacuation of Huaxian County."

I also have to rush to Gongxian to discuss with Master Zheng and buy an industry...... You also pack up and get ready to go. ”

As he spoke, he immediately asked Xu Yansheng to come in and explain the matter.

Xu Gai still had to rush to Gong County, so he didn't even have dinner, so he left in a hurry.

Xu Shiji sent Xu Gai out of the house, stood on the steps, and after being stunned for a long time, he suddenly said: "Come on, prepare the horse immediately." ”

"Young master, it's so late, where are you going?"

"I'm going to the Green Bun House for a drink."

(To be continued)