During the time that Liu Xiu was not in Buyun, the father and son of the Lu family had a hard time. Dozens of people, large and small, have to eat, pay rent, and use money every day, Lu Zhi has been a Lujiang Taishou for more than half a year, and he has not saved a single money, and he almost returned to Luoyang empty-handed. As soon as he arrived in Luoyang, he saw a full family, and he didn't care too much at first, Liu Xiu was responsible for all the expenses at that time, and he didn't think about how much it would cost a month.

First of all, he had to eat, nearly twenty people, and he wanted forty stone of grain a month, not to mention that his money was only on the books, even if he could really get it, it was not enough, he had to go to the market to buy it, according to the current current price, 1,300 yuan a stone, and it would cost 40,000 or 50,000 yuan a month just to eat. The second is the rent, a large courtyard, with a monthly rent of 10,000 yuan a month, which is still the price given by Liu Xiu in terms of face. Secondly, the servant of a dozen servants was two or three thousand yuan each, and more than forty thousand yuan a month.

Coupled with the clothes and cosmetics of more than a dozen people, no matter how much you save, you will definitely not be able to get ten gold a month.

It's not that I don't know, but I'm shocked, Lu Zhi has either been working hard outside with Lu Min's father and son before, or a family of four has lived in his hometown, and he has never encountered this situation. In the past, I was used to living a bitter life, and I didn't feel how bitter it was, but now that I have a good life, and then I have a hard life again, it is not a concept at all. Although under the majesty of Lu Zhi, from the Zhang family to Lu Shen, they didn't dare to say anything, but from the frequency of Liu Bei and Mao Zong running to the Taiji Daoist Hall to fight tooth sacrifices in three days, they felt great pressure.

What's more, now that they are going to Yuan's Mansion as a guest, Lu Zhi found that he had no car, Zhang found that he had no new jewelry, Lu Shen and they had no new clothes, since Liu Xiu left Buyunli, they had not made new clothes, and they were still wearing what they did two months ago.

A penny is still forcing a hero to death, let alone so much money. Not to mention the food that Lu Min wanted, Lu Zhi had nightmares when he thought about it.

Liu Xiu looked at Lu Shen who was embarrassed, sighed, didn't say anything, and asked people to arrange a delicious meal for them first. Liu Bei and Mao Zong often come, Lu Shen is embarrassed, he hasn't been here once, his chin is sharp, compared to Tang Yingzi, who was raised by him and fat, Lu Shen is a little cold.

"How are you and your grandmother?"

"Okay." Lu Shen took a small bite of noodles and said: "It's just that the palace is urgent, the queen mother sent someone to let a few of us enter the palace to accompany her, and the eldest prince also cried and asked for Yingzi." ”

Liu Xiu didn't speak, he wasn't in Buyun, Lu Shen didn't dare to enter the palace to play money with the Queen Mother, how could they play if they didn't have money, and they had capital to play with the Queen Mother. After Tang Yingzi arrived at the Tai Chi Dao Hall, he was reluctant to enter the palace, how fun it was here, from Liu Xiu to Hu Maid, she was treated as a baby bump, who was willing to go to the palace to accompany Careful. The Great Prince? Who knows him, he deserves to cry.

Now only Zhang Fei is the only one who normally enters the palace, and he is not voluntary, but he has to go because of the heavy responsibility arranged by Liu Xiu, but he is not in Yongle Palace most of the time now, he follows the court to order Bi Lan and them to do painting. Since the beginning of June, he has been selecting show girls in Luoyang, Zhang Fei's painting skills are first-class, and he is Liu Xiu's disciple, Bi Lan can't help but give face, of course, this beauty difference must be left for Zhang Fei.

In fact, speaking of which, none of the painters in the palace can surpass Zhang Fei in business, and even those famous painters in history have no objection to this.

After two months of preliminary screening, a total of more than 1,000 women from official eunuch families between the ages of thirteen and eighteen were selected, and Wang Chu was among them, according to the preliminary evaluation, it was probably within 200, which was neither very good nor bad, and the probability of final selection was between two. This result made the Wang family father and son full of hope at the same time, but also a little anxious.

Of course, these were what Liu Xiu told him personally when he took time out of his busy schedule to go to Wang Chu's night meeting.

"What has Mr. been up to lately?"

"I'm writing a book." Lu Shen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth carefully, and thanked the shopkeeper Luo who brought the tea, and then continued: "He wrote a "Three Rites Commentary". After Lu Shen finished speaking, he looked at Liu Xiu with some embarrassment, Liu Xiu blinked and understood what he meant. Lu Zhi was forced to have no choice, so he showed his old face and prepared to write a book just for Daoliang. For a Confucian who regards learning as a business that has passed through the heavens and latitudes, mixing up to this step can be regarded as a sweep.

"The eldest brother asked for food, but the money he sent ...... It's not enough. Lu Shen explained with little confidence, he lowered his head, and felt very ashamed. Of course, Lu Zhi spent energy writing this book, and his knowledge can't be said to be bad, but if he wants to rely on this kind of book with a very strong professional surname to earn money to buy food to support Lu Min, it is better to deceive himself.

But from another point of view, Lu Zhi actually knew that he had to earn money to support his family, which could not but be said to be an improvement.

Liu Xiu sighed, not knowing if he had done a good thing or an evil thing. "Sir's knowledge, of course, there is nothing to say. You go back and ask him, and if you don't worry, give me the manuscript when the time comes, and I'll take care of it for him. I probably don't have much to do with my studies, so I can only contribute to this. ”

Lu Shen was overjoyed, he knew that only Liu Xiu could take over this matter, Liu Xiu opened his mouth, and the matter was done.

Liu Xiu asked people to buy new clothes and gifts in the market, and then went back to Buyunli together, Lu Zhi and his wife sat in the hall, and saw Liu Xiu walking in with a smile on his face, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, Zhang's face was full of smiles, and he was very affectionate, but Lu Zhi was still holding the shelf, refusing to lose his majesty, twisting his beard and saying, "You have thought about it behind closed doors, how do you think?" ”

Liu Xiu coughed dryly, and said seriously: "I haven't figured it out yet, maybe I have to think about it for a few more months." ”

Lu Zhi's eyes rolled and he stopped squeaking, Liu Xiu thought about it for a few more months, and he was about to run out of cooking. Although he is a little roundabout, he is not stupid, and he knows that the "Three Rites Interpretation" he wrote really wants to sell money, and he must not be able to sell Liu Xiu's "Luoyang Chronicles".

Seeing that they were about to choke again, Zhang was afraid that the two teachers and students would fall apart again, so he hurriedly said, "Deran, why are you so sincere, why are you so sincere, there is no need to stay in the gym every day after thinking about it behind closed doors, it is very noisy there, how can it be quiet here." I've got your house cleaned up, so you might as well move back in. Your husband can discuss with you if there is anything, I am a woman's family, and Ziyan is a child, what ideas can they have......

Liu Xiu said yes again and again, and the Zhang family was relieved, and asked people to bring wine and food, let their teachers and students talk, and hide in the inner room to eavesdrop, so as to prevent Lu Zhi from quarreling with Liu Xiu again.

Lu Zhi drank the wine silently, and it took a long time before he spoke: "Deran, do you know how much the price of grain in Luoyang is?" ”

Liu Xiu nodded, he had to read the accounts of the Tai Chi Dao Hall every day, how could he not know.

"One price a day, often can't buy food, the famine has begun to spread, you also wrote a book to ask the Son of Heaven to recruit the world's Taoist people to enter Beijing to discuss the Tao, how many people do you have to come, how much food do you want to eat?" Although Lu Zhi forcibly suppressed his unhappiness, his tone still revealed strong dissatisfaction.

As soon as Liu Xiu heard it, he knew that this was Yuan Kui's hair on Lu Zhi, he tilted his head and thought about it, and said with a shameless face: "What does this have to do with me?" ”

Lu Zhi didn't expect Liu Xiu to push the responsibility so simply, he couldn't help but choke for a while, and said for a long time: "It's your book, why does it have nothing to do with you?" If it doesn't have anything to do with you, who does it have to do with it? ”

"I went up the book, but it was the Son of Heaven who gave the edict, and it was Situ who was responsible, what does it have to do with me?" Liu Xiu said very calmly: "I'm just making suggestions, if I make suggestions, I will be responsible, then I propose to kill all those corrupt officials and corrupt officials." ”

"Deran, what are you talking about?" Lu Zhi couldn't suppress his anger a little, Liu Xiu's words were obviously a little unreasonable, the suggestion was made by you, of course it has something to do with you, although it can't be said that you are fully responsible, but it can't be said that there is no responsibility at all.

"Hehe, sir, is Lord Situ resenting me?" Liu Xiu smiled gloomily: "He is Situ, His Majesty issued an edict, if he thinks that this matter should not be done, he can refute it, if he thinks that this matter should be done, and he does not have the ability to solve this problem, he should resign, and now he has not done both, then I have a malicious conjecture." ”

Lu Zhi frowned, and involuntarily followed Liu Xiu's topic, "What conjecture?" ”

"He knew that this matter would exacerbate the famine, but he did not stop it, he wanted to see His Majesty's jokes." Liu Xiu said a very heart-wrenching sentence as if he were saying something very ordinary. Lu Zhi's complexion changed drastically, and he shouted: "Deran, you are too presumptuous!" ”

"What does the gentleman think he thinks? Do you dare not refute Your Majesty's edict, or are you greedy for power and refuse to let Xian? ”

Lu Zhi took a deep breath, was really angry, and stood up: "Let Xian? If you can solve this problem, I will write to Yuan Kui tomorrow and advise him to give way to you, can you? ”

Liu Xiu smiled slightly, smiled but did not answer. He knew what this meant, the Son of Heaven did it on purpose, Song Qi brought nearly 30,000 gold to Jiaozhou to buy grain, and he could return to Luoyang in two months at most, when the famine in Luoyang was at its worst, millions of stone grains fell from the sky, and the famine in Luoyang could be greatly alleviated. The problem of famine seems to be very big, but it is not the same thing for the Son of Heaven at all, and if he does not embarrass Yuan Kui at this time, it is really impossible to say. If Yuan Kui knew the interest, he should take the initiative to resign, but he was in love with the stack, and he refused to take out food to solve the crisis, and he refused to take the initiative to give up the position of the third prince, so of course he would be humiliated by the Son of Heaven.

At this time, he helped Yuan Kui solve the problem, wouldn't that offend the Son of Heaven.

Liu Xiu didn't want to have another conflict with Lu Zhi on this issue, so he took the initiative to change the topic: "Sir, I heard that you wrote a "Three Rites Interpretation", can you give me a sneak peek?" ”

Lu Zhi also felt a little embarrassed, turned his face and waved his hand to Zhang, who rushed out after hearing the news, and asked her to take out the manuscript and give it to Liu Xiu. Zhang Shi heard Lu Zhi's voice getting louder and louder, thinking that they were stiff again, but now seeing that the two of them were quite restrained, he breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly took out the manuscript and put it in front of Liu Xiu, and said with a smile: "Deran, your husband hasn't finished writing yet, so he said that he would let you read it first." ”

Liu Xiu smiled politely and flipped through a few pages of the manuscript, if you don't care whether these studies are useful or not, just about the knowledge itself, I have to say that Lu Zhi's knowledge is still very sophisticated. He looked at a few pages, closed the manuscript, and patted it gently: "If you are at ease, sir, you can do your studies with peace of mind, you are the master, and let me attach Jiwei to be a tribute, how about it?" ”

Liu Xiu and Lu Zhi have been talking for so long, so this sentence is the best. Although Lu Zhi felt that Liu Xiu's words were too presumptuous, his face softened a lot. Liu Xiu struck while the iron was hot, and then said, "Sir, I happen to have something to ask you for. ”

"I'm afraid it's not a good thing to say so politely, right?" Lu Zhi made a rare joke.

Liu Xiugan laughed twice, put away his smile again, and said helplessly: "It's really not a good thing, if you don't get this thing right, you will be scolded." However, this is really a matter of gentlemen. ”

Seeing that he said solemnly, Lu Zhi also put away his smile and said lightly: "Tell me, as long as it is beneficial to the country and the people, it doesn't hurt to be scolded a few times." ”

Liu Xiu sighed secretly, Lu Zhi, like Lu Min, is the kind of gentleman who can be bullied, although most of the gentlemen are not very popular, but in general they are still much better than the villain with a sweet mouth, otherwise there would be no saying that it would rather offend the gentleman than the villain.

Liu Xiu briefly told him about going to Chang'an, and he quarreled with Lu Zhi as soon as he came back last time, and he never had a chance to talk about it in detail. He visited some architectural sites in Chang'an, such as Biyong and Taixue in the south of the city, and he later checked the information and learned that these were all made by Wang Mang. What surprised him even more was that many of the systems of the Eastern Han Dynasty were followed by Wang Mang's system, and the ancient scriptures were also vigorously promoted by the great Confucian Liu Xiang and Liu Xin father and son, and were supported by Wang Mang before they officially entered the political stage.

This surprised Liu Xiu.

Of course, he looked for Lu Zhi not only because of this incident, but also because of the recent public opinion issues. In his original plan, with the foreshadowing of the Cao Luan incident and Zhang Huan's comeback, the reader will always be gentler and less angry, and can gradually promote the lifting of the party ban. I never thought that these scholars were still too angry, and suddenly thought that spring was coming, and they were unscrupulous one by one, but as a result, the Son of Heaven was scared, and the matter of lifting the party ban was put on hold.

To argue with these literati, to be honest, with his few sentences of Analects and the foundation of filial piety, he is really not an opponent of others, and to talk to these people, not only must be reasonable, but also have a source, not only to quote scriptures, but also to have writing. The reason why I want to pry Lu Zhi for a while is to let him calm down first, and then ask him to come out, using the powerful propaganda machine of the printing house and Lu Zhi's knowledge and fame to guide public opinion in the right direction as much as possible.

Liu Xiu is not against public opinion, but if it is to scold people for the sake of scolding, it will not be interesting. Since it is an elite, it has to say something with a construction surname, instead of just trying to be happy and only thinking about its own name, what is the difference between it and a shrew scolding the street.

Obviously, Lu Zhi has the will and ability to worry about the country and the people.

"I would like to ask Mr. to write a few political essays, which should be to the point of the disadvantages of the times, and not empty words such as empty words and deeds, virtues, or disasters."

Lu Zhi smiled: "Isn't there a ready-made theory of good politics, why do you want me to write it again?" ”

Liu Xiu was puzzled.

"Anding Wang Jiexin (Wang Fu)'s "Theory of the Hidden Husband" and Cui Zizhen (Cui Wei)'s "Political Theory" of this county are all excellent works of the times, why don't you print some out and spread them to the public?"

Liu Xiu has heard a little about "The Theory of the Hidden Husband", but he knows nothing about "The Theory of Politics". He asked Lu Zhi in detail, and then he knew a rough idea, and he was overjoyed, but he refused to let Lu Zhi go. He said that those large articles are of course good, but after all, he is a little itchy about the current situation, so it is better to ask Mr. to write a few articles like a rafter and make those people sober.

Lu Zhi didn't object, and responded happily. His surname is upright, and he has long been unaccustomed to those ugly phenomena, and Liu Xiu asked him to write these articles easily, which can be said to have found someone.

…… Cao Poshi hurriedly walked into the inner room, saw Cao Jie closing his eyes and hanging the curtain, sitting motionless on the couch, hurriedly slowed down and found a place to sit down. As soon as he took a sip of water, Cao Jie slowly opened his eyes and glanced at him lightly: "What's the news?" ”

"Yuan Kui invited Lu Zhi's teachers and students to the banquet again." Cao Poshi put down the water cup and hurriedly told the news he had inquired about. The Yue Cavalry Camp is not far from the Tai Chi Gym, many of his subordinates are frequent visitors to the Tai Chi Gym, he himself has not been to much, recently received Cao Jie's instructions, he went to the Tai Chi Gym, only to know that the shopkeeper Luo Fu is actually his subordinate Wu Bo's wife.

What's more, this woman is really beautiful.

The corners of Cao Jie's mouth trembled, "Yuan Kui slapped his teacher and student, and now he wants to give him a date?" ”

"Possibly." Cao Poshi nodded, "I heard rumors that Yuan Kui might marry the female Yuan Hui to Liu Xiu. ”

Cao Jie suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes fierce: "There is such a thing? ”

"It's not very accurate, but I think it's a little possible." Cao Poshi said with some embarrassment: "I heard that Yuan Shao went to Yuan Feng's Mansion for a trip, and later went to Yuan Kui's Mansion, Yuan Shu was very unhappy, smashed things at home, and mentioned this matter when he scolded people, which seemed to mean that Yuan Shao wanted to take advantage of the fire to rob and meddle in things." ”

Cao Jie narrowed his eyes again, but his eyes became sharper and sharper, his fingers slowly rubbed the jade Ruyi in his hand, and the corners of his relaxed mouth provoked an arc: "Yuan Shao finally can't sit still, what does he want to do?" ”

Cao Poshi scratched his head, although he inquired about some news, but analyzing these things was not his specialty, otherwise he would not have been in such a hurry to find Cao Jie.

Cao Jie thought about it for a long time, his face changed and ugly, as if he felt some danger. The nervous look he showed made Cao Poshi very surprised, since the last incident between Dou Wu and Chen Fan, it had been some years since he had seen Cao Jie show such a look.

"Party people." Cao Jie gently tapped the table with jade Ruyi, and muttered to himself: "The hook party is about to reappear again." ”

Cao Poshi looked at him blankly, not knowing why he suddenly pulled into the party's body. Cao Jie saw it in his eyes and didn't explain. He already had a plan in his mind. In his opinion, the Yuan family is a typical internal and external collusion, a mixture of the family and the eunuchs, while Yuan Shao took a different path, he was very close to the party, and the impression in the mouths of the scholars and doctors was very good. Don't look at him as a simple person and unwilling to be benevolent, but he has a very close relationship with He Hao, the leader of the party, and most of the celebrities who flaunt each other also enter and exit his portal. Yuan Shao usually doesn't even go to Yuan Kui's mansion much, and he seems to be clean and self-conscious, but in fact, in Cao Jie's opinion, he is just another back path chosen by the Yuan family.

As long as the sphere of influence can be counted, the Yuan family has considerable strength, to be famous, to be real, looking at the big Han, which family can compare with the Yuan family? The Yang family is also the third prince of the fourth generation, but they are too noble and disdainful of associating with eunuchs, so they have nothing to show for themselves. And these nameless eunuchs of the inner court wanted to associate with the celebrities, but the celebrities couldn't avoid it.

Whether it is the Yang family of the fourth and third dukes, or these eunuchs who seem to be imposing, they are not opponents in front of the Yuan family, which spans inside and outside.

If there is no now, it does not mean that there will be no in the future, Liu Xiu in front of him may be one.

Although Liu Xiu's current strength cannot be compared with the Yuan family, his approach is the same as that of the Yuan family. He is not afraid to deal with eunuchs, Bi Lan, Qu Mu and others are now very close to him, Bi Lan's nemesis Song Dian is now trying his best to get in touch with him, the queen mother of Yongle Palace, Yongle Gate Shi Huoyu are all his favorites, Princess Yang Zhai is a partner with him, the Song family and the Cao family have a close relationship with him, his teacher Lu Zhi is a great Confucian, and he is a capable minister. Eunuchs, relatives, royalty and scholars, he is not left behind, there are more than the Yuan family.

If the time comes, how do you know that he will not become the second Yuan family?

The more Cao Jie thought about it, the more frightened he became, and at the same time understood what Yuan Shao was thinking, if such an opponent could not be won over in time, then it must be eliminated in time, of course, it would be best if he could win over the past. Out of this thought, it is not surprising that Yuan Kui wants to marry Yuan Hui to Liu Xiu, three years ago Yuan Kui once wanted to marry Yuan Hui to Huang Yun, and Huang Yun's fake celebrity is nothing compared to Liu Xiu?

"Do you think Liu Xiu will accept it?"

Cao Poshi shook his head with some envy, "I can't think of any reason for him not to accept it." ”

Cao Jie sighed silently, this younger brother only knows how to bully men and women, but he doesn't know how to use his brain, how can such a person be the opponent of Yuan Shao or Liu Xiu, he is not even as good as Yuan Shu, the loser. He didn't say anything more, just took care of Cao Poshi to be more careful and not to act rashly.

"Brother, let's just watch the Yuan family pull Liu Xiu over?"

"What can you do?" Cao Jie said lightly: "Can you pull Liu Xiu over?" ”

"This ...... Liu Xiu and the Song family are too close, if they can't pull him over, then they can't let him live anymore. Otherwise, once the Song family turns over, we will ......" Cao Poshi did not say any more, but the meaning was very clear. Cao Jie smiled disdainfully, just wanted to say something, but seemed to remember something: "By the way, have you seen Song Qi recently?" ”

Cao Poshi sighed, and also felt a little surprised: "It seems that I haven't seen him for a few months." ”

(To be continued)