Yang Yuanqing's main team went south from the east of the river to the Yellow River, along the Lishi County, Longquan County and Wencheng County all the way south, six days later, 10,000 cavalry entered Jiangxian County, crossed Fenshui from Zhengping County, and walked for another day, the team entered the territory of Wenxi County.

The mountains here are thin and lush, and the brook flows down from the mountains, which is a little more beautiful than the mountains of Mayi County.

In the middle of the mountain, there is a large field, the wheat has been harvested, the field is full of green rice, the huge waterwheel next to the ravine is slowly turning, countless farmers are busy in the field, when the large cavalry passes by them, many people stand up and watch in surprise, but they do not panic and run, this cavalry has bright armor, red flags, it is obvious that it is not a bandit who robs the house, but the Sui army.

Yang Yuanqing reined in his war horse and asked an old man who was picking up cow dung on the side of the road, "Old man, where is Peijia Village?" ”

The old man glanced at them, and slowly pointed to a mountain in front of him, "You can go around that mountain when you climb over that mountain." ”

"Thank you, old man, is Pei Xiangguo's mansion also here?"

The old man laughed, "There is only Pei Laohan who picks up cow dung in the village, and Master Pei who rides the ox cart has gone to the county seat, you should go to the county seat." ”

"Thank you!"

Yang Yuanqing arched his hand, and then ordered: "Go to Wenxi County!" ”

10,000 cavalry continued to drive in the direction of the county along the official road, and on the side, Xu Shiji asked with a smile: "Since you came to visit Pei's family, why didn't the chief manager bring Pei Jin here?" ”

Yang Yuanqing smiled, "I'm just temporary, if I can think of it earlier, I will bring him." ”

Xu Shiji served as the marching Sima of the Southern Route Army this time, followed by Yang Yuanqing, everyone got along for nearly a month, Xu Shiji has gradually become familiar with everyone, and he is no longer as cautious as when he first came, and sometimes he will talk and laugh.

Xu Shiji looked at the mountains in the distance, and a complicated look flashed in his eyes, "Five years ago, my father also wanted me to come to Pei Xue to study, he found a lot of relationships, and finally Pei Xue agreed, but I refused to come, quarreled with my father, ran away from home for a while, and ended up in Wagang"

"Why don't you come?"

"I think troubled times are coming, where can I still have a desk."

Xu Shiji sighed softly, his expression looked a little lonely, and he smiled bitterly: "Actually, I should listen to my father's words, come to Pei to study for five years, my fate may be different for me." ”

Yang Yuanqing glanced at him, he faintly heard a trace of melancholy hidden behind Xu Shiji's words, and asked, "Do you regret going to Wagang?" ”

Xu Shiji was silent for a long time, Yang Yuanqing's words hit his heart, he participated in the rebellion prematurely, and in the end, all the rebels made a stepping stone for later generations, Yang Xuangan fulfilled Li Yuan, Zhai Rang fulfilled Li Mi, Gao Shida fulfilled Dou Jiande, including Liu Wuzhou also fulfilled Yang Yuanqing.

He followed the wrong lord and wasted five years, which was a regret in his heart, but he didn't want to mention it to anyone, including Yang Yuanqing, and he didn't want to say it.

Xu Shiji was silent, and Yang Yuanqing didn't ask any more, urging the horse to say to the soldiers: "Speed up and camp outside Wenxi City to rest!" ”

…….

Half an hour later, the team came to Wenxi County, Wenxi County is located in a basin, surrounded by mountains on three sides, surrounded by large farmland, a small forest distributed in the farmland, Luanshui flows close to the east of the county.

Like other county seats, Wenxi County also increased the city wall, widened the moat, recruited thousands of young and strong people in the hometown to protect the land and prevent thieves, and a cavalry went to report.

Wenxi County Commander named Zhao Shou'an, more than 40 years old, the great cause of the five-year imperial examination high school, is the son of Pei Fu's disciples, recommended by Pei Ju to serve as Wenxi County Commander, has served as a county commander for five years, build roads and bridges, persuade farmers to help the poor, build a school, excellent reputation in the local area, quite popular, he heard that Yang Yuanqing, the governor of Fengzhou, came, and hurriedly went out of the city to greet him.

Of course, Zhao Shouan knew why Yang Yuanqing came, and he sent people to inform the Pei family on the one hand, and led the county officials out of the city to pay respects.

Zhao Shou'an saw that the other party was huge, there were 10,000 people, and he was secretly a little worried, it happened that Pei Lin was also in the city today, what if they met him?

Zhao Shouan had no choice but to walk quickly to Yang Yuanqing's horse, bow down and salute, "Xia Guan Wenxi County ordered Zhao Shouan to see Manager Yang!" ”

Yang Yuanqing bowed and smiled: "We are just passing through your county and disturbing the county order." ”

"Chief Yang has not committed any crimes all the way, and the lower officials and county citizens are grateful, I don't know if the small county may work for Chief Yang ?"

Although it was a kind of politeness, Zhao Shouan regretted it after speaking, what if Yang Yuanqing wanted to enter the city?

Yang Yuanqing understood the change in the expression on his face, so he said lightly: "We don't go all the way into the county, if necessary, we will pay for it, Fengzhou Sui Army has strict military discipline, don't worry about the county order." ”

Zhao Shou was uneasy, he hurriedly turned around and pulled the county Cheng up to introduce, "This is our Pei County Cheng, it is the son of the Pei family." ”

Pei Xiancheng stepped forward to give a salute, "In Xia Pei Tongji, the grandchildren of Qingshifang, welcome my uncle back to his hometown." ”

Yang Yuanqing knew that the Qingshi room was Pei Yun's room, this person should be Pei Yun's grandson, seeing that he was about thirty years old, delicate and elegant and shrewd and capable, he immediately had a good impression of him, Yang Yuanqing dismounted and smiled politely: "Then please ask Brother Pei to take me to Pei's mansion." ”

Since Yang Yuanqing came to Wenxi County in the name of Pei Fu's grandson-in-law, Zhao Shouan was completely relieved, at least he would not tear his face with Pei Lian, and he also knew that the cavalry needed fodder, so he hurriedly ordered the officials to take Cangcao to the city to buy it.

Yang Yuanqing asked Yang Sien to arrange for the soldiers to be stationed in the camp to rest, and he took Xu Shiji and hundreds of guards into the city to visit Pei's mansion.

People come and go in the county town, quite lively, all kinds of shops are full of items, the business in the wine shop is prosperous, especially the bookstore and the school house are numerous, you can see the figure of the scholar wearing the Confucian robe and the long gown everywhere, an ox cart passes by, only to see a young scholar sitting on the ox cart holding a book and reading aloud, if no one is around.

"Wenxi County has a very prosperous style of study, even rural farmers will find a way to let their children study for a few years and be able to read and write, and generally middle-aged families will let their children study for more than ten years, which is all influenced by the Pei family's style of study."

Pei Tongji pointed to a tall tower in the distance and smiled: "Did the chief see that tower?" That is Wenchang Pavilion, which is also the famous Pei Xue Institute, with 3,000 students at its peak, and hundreds of people now. ”

Yang Yuanqing stared at Wenchang Pavilion, he knew that the reason why Cui and Pei were famous for hundreds of years was that they emphasized education, they not only cultivated the children of their own clan, but also cultivated a large number of outstanding talents, these outstanding talents were in high positions, or they were local clans, and they became a kind of force of famous clans.

For example, the officials of the counties and counties in Hedong are at least twenty percent related to Wenxi Pei's family, which is also the most important reason why the major scholars in Shandong can compete with the Guanlong aristocracy, not only their own children, but also a large number of their outstanding protégés, so Wenxi's Pei Xue, Qinghe and Boling's Cui Xue, Taiyuan's Wang Xue, Fanyang's Lu Xue, these are all famous schools in the Sui Dynasty, and almost all the students who can go in to study are the famous children of each county and county.

This place is not far from Pei's Mansion, Pei Tongji saw that there was no one left and right, so he whispered to Yang Yuanqing: "Yuanqing, there is something I want to tell you, Pei Lian is also here, he just arrived today, and he is in Pei's Mansion." ”

Yang Yuanqing was stunned, Pei Lin didn't like Pei's family! What did he come to do?

"He is also a child of the Pei family?" Yang Yuanqing asked suspiciously.

"He is the Pei clan of Sangquan County, Hedong County, and he used to be a partial branch of the Wenxi Pei clan, but the two Pei have not been in contact for a hundred years, and Li Yuan named him the Duke of Wenxi County, so he came to discuss the merger of the two Pei."

Yang Yuanqing sneered, he knew Li Yuan's intentions, occupied Guanzhong, and got the full support of the Guanlong nobles, and he wanted to fight the idea of the Shandong Shi clan, and wanted to get the support of the Shandong Shi clan, so that he could seek the world, and the Pei family was a breakthrough, and he wanted to use Pei Lin as a bridge.

"What is the attitude of the Pei family?"

Pei Tongji also said coldly: "The head of the family is in Fengzhou, the ancestor of the Qing Shifang is in Jiangdu, Li Yuan betrayed the Sui Dynasty and colluded with the Turks. ”

Yang Yuanqing nodded, he estimated that the Pei family would not agree, the Duke of Wenxi County was the title of Pei Ju, and he Pei Lin was also named a Duke of Wenxi County, is this considered a dove occupying the magpie's nest?

"Yuanqing, it's best that you can garrison troops in Wenxi County, so that Li Yuan can't put pressure on us."

"I know, when I take Taiyuan, I will temporarily move the Pei Family Ancestral Hall to Taiyuan to prevent Li Yuan from forcing you to Chang'an."

Speaking of this, Yang Yuanqing suddenly had an idea, since Pei Lin is here, then Li Shuliang's army will not be too far away, and it must be nearby.

"How many people did Pei Lin bring?"

"Bring more than a hundred guards, all of whom live in the inn."

Yang Yuanqing turned around and beckoned, Luo Miao, the captain of the pro-soldier school, immediately stepped forward, Yang Yuanqing whispered a few words to him, Luo Miao nodded, and immediately left with more than a dozen people.

"Yuanqing, what are you ......." Pei Tongji asked puzzled.

Yang Yuanqing smiled faintly, "It's nothing, I just want to get some information from Pei Lian's entourage." ”

……

Pei Mansion is located in the east of the city, is a large mansion covering an area of 100 acres, due to the impact of the war, hundreds of children of the Pei family have moved into the city to live, the children of the Pei family style is rigorous, the children are well-known and courteous, the reputation in Wenxi County is very high, I heard that it is the children of the Pei family, the people in the county will be polite and give three points.

At present, the head of the Pei family is still Pei Ju, and most of the children of Pei Ju and Pei Yun live in Luoyang, the eastern capital, but due to the attack on Luoyang by the Wagang army, a large number of people in Luoyang City fled, including more than 100 clansmen of the Pei family, all fled back to Wenxi's house.

When Yang Yuanqing arrived, he happened to meet a large number of Pei family members returning from Luoyang, and at this time, Pei's mansion was full of people who welcomed him The children of the Pei family, including Pei Minqiu's father Pei Wenyi and mother Wang, everyone's eyes were full of excitement and anticipation for the reunion.

In a cheer, Yang Yuanqing finally came to the door of Pei's mansion, he also saw his father-in-law, hurriedly turned over and dismounted, and knelt down to salute, "Son-in-law Yuanqing salutes his father-in-law and mother-in-law!" ”

Pei Wenyi smiled happily, and hurriedly helped his son-in-law up, "Hurry up!" ”

Yang Yuanqing gave his mother-in-law Wang's gift again, Wang's favorite son-in-law, and asked him why Minqiu didn't come back together, but was glared at by her husband, "Yuanqing is here to fight, what is Minqiu doing with him?" ”

At this time, Yang Yuanqing felt something, he turned his head, and saw Pei Lin appear next to the gate more than a dozen steps away, followed by several guards, looking at him coldly, everyone also found Pei Lian, and it was quiet all of a sudden, and the atmosphere in front of the gate of Pei's mansion became awkward.