Wang Feng came into the house, and without waiting for Wang Kunjun and others to ask, he said: "It turns out that several brothers are here, but I don't have to inform them one by one." ”

"What do you have to inform us?" Wang Kunjun asked puzzled.

"That's right," Wang Feng explained, "Just now the housekeeper Sun from Zhao Anyi's house came to pass the word, saying that his uncle happened to return to the mansion two days ago, and just now he heard that Zhao Anyi was robbed and rescued on the road, so I want to have a banquet at home tonight to thank us for saving our lives." ”

"Didn't that Zhao Anyi invite him at Chenqiaoyi yesterday, why did he invite him again?" Xu Shaoan asked.

"This time is different," Wang Feng continued to explain, "Yesterday we invited Zhao Anyi, the second master of the Zhao Mansion, and today it is Zhao Pu, the uncle of the Zhao Mansion, who invited us. ”

Hearing that Zhao Pu was going to invite himself, Wang Kunjun and the others were a little surprised, but it was reasonable to think about it carefully. Whether it is Zhao Anyi or Zhao Lihua, they are all close relatives of Zhao Pu. For their life-saving benefactor, Zhao Pu, who is the eldest brother, naturally wants to come forward to express his gratitude. Therefore, Wang Kunjun and the others felt that they should still accept the invitation of the Zhao family. On the one hand, it is good for the team to make friends with a powerful minister who may be in a high position in the coming years. On the other hand, for Wang Kunjun and other traversers, it is also a very attractive thing to be able to drink with Zhao Pu, the famous prime minister of the Great Song Dynasty in history. So, Wang Kunjun immediately ordered: "Xiaofeng, you go and reply to Steward Sun, just say that our brothers will definitely attend at that time." ”

Wang Feng agreed, and after a few people in the room discussed it again, they went separately to inform the other brothers, so that everyone could clean up and prepare to go to the banquet for a while.

At the beginning of the evening of the same day, the brothers of the "delegation" and the personal guards of a class came to Zhao Pu's private residence under the guidance of Steward Sun, who had been waiting at the inn. There was still some distance from the gate of the house, and from a distance, I saw that there were already several people waiting there with lanterns at the door. When everyone got closer, they found that it was Zhao Anyi leading Xu Xinsheng and the family members in the mansion to wait to greet him. Seeing this, Wang Kunjun hurriedly walked a few steps, came to the front, clenched his fists and arched his hands: "How can you wait for him, I really don't dare to wait here for Zhao Gongzi." ”

Zhao Anyi smiled and saluted: "The king is too modest. Daoist Yuxuzi, Wang Yuanwai and all the members outside are all life-saving benefactors below, and it is appropriate to wait here below. Afterwards, Zhao Anyi greeted everyone again, and invited everyone into the house.

Although Zhao Pu was only a seven-rank military judge at this time, and Kaifeng was not the place where he served, the Zhao family was quite solid, so the scale of the Zhao Mansion as a private residence was not small, and it was also a house with three entrances and cross-courtyards. In terms of area alone, I am afraid that it is slightly larger than the "Qing Garden". Zhao Anyi led everyone through the corridor and walked around the building, and came to the side hall of the Zhongjin Hospital, which is specially used to receive ordinary guests.

At this time, Zhao Pu was already waiting at the door, and when he saw his younger brother inviting the guests in, he walked down the steps to greet him. Walking in front of the brothers are Yu Xuzi and Wang Kunjun, although the two do not know Zhao Pu, but they have already guessed from the dress and movement of the person who came that he should be the master Zhao Pu here. However, at this time, Zhao Anyi has not yet introduced the two parties, and it is not easy for the two to meet in advance.

When he got closer, he heard Zhao Anyi say: "Yuxuzi Dao Chief, Wang Yuan, this is the brother below." ”

Hearing this, Yu Xuozi, Wang Kunjun and others hurriedly stepped forward and saluted, saying: "I have seen Judge Zhao in Xia, and let Judge Zhao lower his rank to greet him, I really dare not take it in Xia." ”

Zhao Pu waved his hand when he heard this, and said, "Where did the Daoist of Yuxuzi and Wang Yuanwai come from. You saved the lives of your brother and sister, and you should treat them with courtesy. With that, Zhao Pu invited everyone into the main hall.

However, it is slightly different from when Zhao Anyi invited Wang Kunjun and others to a banquet at Chenqiaoyi, Xu Xinsheng, as one of the life-saving benefactors of the Zhao family's brothers and sisters, did not follow everyone into the side hall, but left on his own after sending Wang Kunjun and others to the door. Seeing his actions, Wang Kunjun and the others were stunned at first, but immediately reacted to the reason - when he was in Chenqiaoyi last night, Xu Xinsheng had not yet agreed to Zhao Anyi to enter the house as the head of the nursing home, and the relationship between the two parties was still equal, so Zhao Anyi would invite him to eat and drink together. But now, Xu Xinsheng has agreed to do things for the Zhao Mansion, and the two sides have become a master-servant relationship, and it is not in line with the rules of this era for Xu Xinsheng to eat and drink together at this time. ,

Although Wang Kunjun and other traversers are a little unaccustomed to this strict hierarchy, they are now guests, and everything should still be done as the guest is done, and the noisy things cannot be done. Therefore, Wang Kunjun and the others were only slightly stunned, and immediately returned to normal, as if they didn't see Xu Xinsheng leaving.

A banquet had been set up in the main hall, and several large candles illuminated the whole room. After everyone humbled each other again, they took their seats. It was only at this time that Wang Kunjun and others had the opportunity to take a closer look at Zhao Pu, a famous minister who had been featured in their history books and was known as half of the "Analects" to rule the world.

But seeing that Zhao Pu's body is not high, he has big ears, although his eyes are not big, he is very energetic, and his hair under his jaw is combed very neatly. Because he was entertaining private guests at home, he did not wear an official uniform, but only a daily robe, and he did not wear a hat on his head. Although Zhao Pu can only be regarded as average in appearance, in terms of behavior, he looks calm and capable, and he looks very like a city government.

Just when Wang Kunjun and others were observing Zhao Pu, Zhao Pu was also looking at the businessmen from Liao who saved his younger siblings. Originally, in Zhao Pu's impression, all businessmen should be people who forget their righteousness and take advantage of profits. The reason why he decided to entertain Wang Kunjun and others was to invite his brother and sister, and secondly, to show his good character of gratitude in front of the world. In fact, as an official of the imperial court, he looked down on businessmen from the bottom of his heart.

However, when he saw Wang Kunjun and others with his own eyes, he found that these businessmen were obviously different. One of the most obvious points is that these merchants do not have the ugly faces of other businessmen who are groveling and flattering when they meet officials, and they all behave very generously and naturally, as if they were eating with them old friends for many years, not officials of the imperial court. Not to mention anything else, just their expressions of not having the slightest fear, and daring to look directly at themselves, are far from being comparable to ordinary businessmen. Although this behavior is somewhat rude, it shows that these people are different from ordinary people. This situation made Zhao Pu both surprised and felt commendable, and then thought of what Zhao Anyi had told him before, the amazing strength of these businessmen's guards, made him gradually put away his contempt, and talked with Wang Kunjun and others seriously.

He didn't know that the reason why Wang Kunjun and others had this kind of performance was, on the one hand, a continuation of the kind of ideology and concepts that they had cultivated in their previous lives, believing in personal value and not fearing authority. On the other hand, when you meet historical celebrities and can get close to each other, everyone will be a little excited, and it is inevitable that they will look at each other a few more times, so they will not pay much attention to the etiquette.

In addition, Zhao Pu is now just an outgoing seven-rank petty official, and he currently has no ability to threaten the development of the crossing team, so when Wang Kunjun and others interact with him, they are naturally much more relaxed than when they deal with Xiao Siwen, Feng Cheng and others. If Zhao Pu can go to the Youdu Mansion of Liao State, he will find that in fact, these businessmen in front of him are still very good at dealing with the government and local shili. Although they pay attention to "courtesy and exchange" and will never give "gifts" that are not reciprocated, when necessary, some of them are no worse than other businessmen in their ability to flatter horses.

Of course, the rescue of Zhao Anyi and others this time was not for the purpose of "courtesy exchanges", because they didn't know who they were saving before they made a move. On the one hand, the reason why they took action was out of a habit, a habit of not seeing evil people doing evil. On the other hand, it is also for the sake of training, when you have the strength of "roaring when you see an uneven road, you will shoot when you should shoot", the traversers will not let go of any opportunity to train the team.

This time, he saved Zhao Pu's brother and sister by mistake, which was just an unexpected joy for the crossing team. But the problem is that Zhao Pu doesn't know these things, Wang Kunjun and others' previous actions, as well as their performance at the banquet, he can't help but be impressed, and there is a little more respect in his words. However, as an official of the imperial court, he still had to investigate this special caravan from the enemy country, so as not to cause him to do something illegal and affect him.

Therefore, after Zhao Pu toasted Wang Kunjun with a glass of wine, he asked seemingly very casually: "This official heard from my brother that Wang Yuanwai and his entourage are caravans from the north, and I don't know what kind of goods are being sold outside the staff?" The official also has some businessmen and friends in the capital, and maybe he can also introduce them to outsiders. ”

For Zhao Pu, asking this question was just to understand the other party's origin from the side through the other party's answer, but the other party's reaction was completely unexpected.

Seeing Wang Kunjun groaning slightly, he hugged his fist to Zhao Pu and said: "Don't hide it from Judge Zhao, although I pulled a lot of furs, medicinal herbs, and northern specialties to Kaifeng City this time, but I and my brothers did not come here to do business. ”

Wang Kunjun's answer surprised Zhao Pu, and at the same time surprised Zhao Anyi. Although the two brothers had previously felt that this caravan from the north was different, and had guessed the possible purpose of the other party's visit, when the other party really showed that he had not come to Kaifeng City to do business, it still made the two feel a little sudden.

However, after all, Zhao Pu was an official of the Zhou State, and he was a person with a deep city government, so although he was shocked in his heart, he didn't show it on his face, and still asked as usual: "Oh, this is strange." As a merchant, Wang Yuanwai came all the way from the north to do business, so what was he for? Is it because you yearn for the customs and customs of my Great Zhou Dynasty and come to Kaifeng City to enjoy the mountains and rivers? But even if you want to enjoy the scenery, you should choose to come when the spring flowers are blooming, and now it is the middle of winter, what is the scenery to enjoy? ”

Hearing this, Wang Kunjun took out a letter from his arms, handed it to Zhao Pu, and said: "This is a letter written by the old fairy of the family teacher Fuyaozi to Zaixia, and Judge Zhao will understand after reading it." ”

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