His Majesty the Emperor loves jewelry, an obsessive fondness. When he learned that Xu Zi was seeking vacancies everywhere, he personally said: Instead of bribing others, you should come and bribe me. Xuzi expects this to be just a joke, but one of the reasons why Yuwenshu is still favored despite repeated defeats is that he always sends the best and most valuable things he has looted into the palace.

Although the truth is not happy, Xuzi is no longer surprised by it. In recent days, he has suddenly figured out a lot of things. In the past, he was superstitious about the words in the book, firmly believed in eternal friendship, firmly believed in the preciousness of family affection, firmly believed that the emperor was holy, and the reason why the people had so much suffering was because the courtiers with bad conduct blinded the saint.

But now, many facts from personal experience have overturned those unrealistic fantasies. Today's Xuzi believes more in what he has seen and heard with his own eyes. Although Master Yang once taught that what people sometimes see with their own eyes is not necessarily the truth.

Between clarity and obscurity, it is always the most disorienting. Asahiko didn't understand whether what she was doing now was right or wrong. According to the requirements of life in the book, it is basically all wrong. But if you don't, you're even more wrong.

"In the past two years, the library has been tight, which the old man has also heard. If you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are not at home, let the emperor embarrass you, we courtiers really have a guilty conscience! "The same thing, when it comes out of Mr. Pei's mouth, it will always be so high-sounding.

"The last time I exterminated the bandits in the North Sea, there was a pearl jade glass lamp in the thief's dirt, and no one could afford it for several months. It is better to dedicate him to His Majesty, so that the court will know the loyalty and courage of my county children. Second, just as General Li said, His Majesty's reward for the triumphant soldiers is also a lot of money! After listening to Pei Caozhi's words, Zhang Xutuo took the initiative to propose.

"I'm afraid that a pearl glass lamp is too thin, and there are millions of troops who triumph with Your Majesty, and we local officials can't serve in front of the army, so we should make up some military salaries. Beihai County was robbed this year, and I heard that the new county guard had also collected 100,000 yuan in military salaries. Our Qi County has always had the reputation of being rich......" Pei Caozhi shook his head with a smile.

Before Li Xu arrived, he was still a little undecided. Since even His Majesty's most trusted General Li proved that His Majesty's hobby was gold, silver, and jewelry, the old lady knew how to make it beautiful.

"I just received a levy donation at the beginning of spring!" Xuzi didn't dare to openly interfere in local political affairs, and muttered a reminder in a low voice. He remembered that in the spring, several colleagues in the Taishou Mansion had scratched their heads for the people's livelihood this year, and after the summer, Master Pei suddenly became generous.

"I'll send someone to tell the big guys that this is the last time. Goguryeo has been flattened, and His Majesty will not conquer Liao again. Pei Caozhi thought about it and found a very reasonable excuse for his behavior.

"Won't Your Majesty conquer Liao again?" Asahiko wasn't sure. If Your Majesty raises soldiers and horses again next year, won't the old lady guard lose his trust in the people? He looked at Zhang Xutuo again, but saw Master Tongshou shaking his head slightly, his eyes full of suggestiveness.

Xu Zi knew that Zhang Xudao was very honest as an official, and he also knew that Pei Caozhi was not a corrupt official without conscience, and judging from the actions of the two bosses at the beginning of the year who would rather risk being blamed by the court for the conquest of Liao, but also to protect the local people, the character of the two bosses can be called integrity. However, this did not prevent them from sitting together and discussing how to bribe the emperor.

From Zhang Xutuo's gaze, Xuzi knew that he shouldn't say anything that was disappointing. The old lady Shouken called herself over to discuss the matter, making it clear that she did not regard herself as an outsider. If you don't know how to lift yourself, I'm afraid that it will embarrass many people in the future.

If you want to make a difference, you first have to adapt to the environment around you.

Asahiko took a deep breath and decided to compromise with the old lady. Suddenly, he remembered Xie Yingdeng's words: In this world, the so-called officials and thieves are just one robbing with a big seal, and the other with a knife and gun!

"What is the emperor, is it considered to sit on the ground and share the spoils?" Asahiko was taken aback by the thought that popped into his mind, and looked around, trying to make his expression less strange.

"Well, 100,000 will come out of the local government, and another 50,000 will be moved out of the treasury. 150,000 yuan, a pearl jade glass lamp, the summer grain is about to enter the warehouse, move another batch of ballast grain left in the county in the spring, and load it to the eastern capital! Seeing that Zhang Xutuo and Li Xu had no objections, Pei Caozhi waved his hand angrily and decided.

"Your Excellency has thought it through!" Li Xu smiled and nodded, flattering.

"Will it be safe on the road this time?" At the same time, another strange thought popped up in his mind. He remembered that in the spring, Qi County had defaulted on taxes that should have been sent to the imperial court on the grounds that the roads were unsafe. This time it was also sent to Luoyang, the eastern capital, passing through so many bandit-ridden areas along the way. "Lord Taishou won't send county soldiers to escort the emperor's congratulatory gifts!" Xu Zi secretly smiled bitterly, if that's the case, I'm afraid I'm going to meet Xu Maogong again.

He suddenly realized that he was expecting a little bit from this.

When Xuzi and Zhang Xutuo came out of the two Taishou Mansion Offices, the sun had already set down the mountain. The streets are bustling with activity towards the end of the day, and people who have been busy all day take advantage of this rare opportunity to relax before darkness sets in. Most of the people here have a good habit of going to bed after dark, or rather, most of them don't have the money to buy lamp oil. Therefore, the period between sunset and before dark is the most cherished time of the day

Some people hold wine bowls and sing on the side of the road, which is one of the ways for the people of Qi County to express their happiness. Their happiness is always very simple, it is good to earn an extra piece of meat, or if the son's intelligence is praised a few times, it will be very satisfying. Someone is loudly telling some heroic stories that have been circulated for a long time, and to the ears of generals like Xuzi and Zhang Xutuo, who have really led the army, every sentence is absurd, but it can always win the attention of many listeners.

Asahiko knew that he had been so satisfied, but now his heart was empty. Compared to these people who don't know if there will be enough rice for next month, he has already gotten a lot. But human desires seem to be endless, and the more you get, the greater your expectations.

Especially recently, he seems to have everything, but he feels that he can't grasp anything. Sometimes I especially want to get drunk once, but Qi Jun's wine is far worse than my uncle's private brew, and drinking a whole jar still makes people's eyes shine.

"Zhong Jian hasn't been happy lately?" Zhang Xutuo, who was walking slowly with Li Xu, saw that his confidant Ai Jiang was not in a high mood, and asked with a smile.

"Maybe it's the weather, it's much hotter and wetter here than in my hometown!" Li Xu thought about it and replied. No matter who is in my position, I will not be too happy, the most respected elder is the thief, the best friend is the enemy, and His Majesty, who once thought that he was a backer, is a dishonest, casual and greedy guy. He thought so in his heart, but his eyes were as calm as water.

"Boy, you're very good!" Zhang Xutuo slapped Xu Zi with his thick palm, his people and horses were shorter than Li Xu, so it was very difficult to do this encouraging action. "Why don't you go to the side of the road and have a bowl, it looks a little dirty here, but the food is very authentic!" After retracting his arm, he suggested loudly, and then, without refusal, pulled the horse to the side of the road.

The young man at the roadside hotel didn't expect that the two guests who couldn't please would suddenly fall from the sky, and he was so shocked that he even changed the tone of welcome, "Two masters, two adults, please upstairs, please in the elegant seat upstairs!" Xiao Qi, hurry up and find someone to clean up a window seat and come out, Lord Zhang, Lord Zhang has come to our store to eat! ”

"No, no, just the lobby downstairs, the old man loves the excitement downstairs!" Zhang Xutuo was very easy-going and told him. Then he threw the reins of the horse to Xiao Er, pulled over a bench by himself, and sat down without looking. Several guards who followed the two into the store tried to step forward to help clean up the table, but they were pulled by Zhang Xuluo with a big hand, and they all rushed to the other side of the street.

"Find your own place to eat, and don't follow everywhere you go. This is the city, not the battlefield of the two armies! The old general pointed to another tavern across the street and ordered with a grin.

Li Xu was a little surprised. Although he often helped out in his uncle's shop before joining the army, since becoming an officer, he rarely invited people to drink in the lobby on the ground floor. First, it's too noisy and you have to shout it to make it clear. Second, the little two who run the hall are not respectful enough to the people at the bottom, and it always takes a lot of calls to add a dish. Another point is Asahiko's own vanity, after having money, he instinctively hopes that he will live more comfortably and be more respected.

But since Zhang Xu Camel sat down, he had to sit down with him. Seeing this, the two pro-soldiers beside Xuzi did not wait for the orders of their superiors, and took the initiative to run to sit down with Zhang Xutuo's pro-soldiers. They tried their best to choose a table close to the entrance, and the two taverns with seven or eight tables each had seven or eight tables across the street door to the door, and if there was any danger on Zhang Xuluo and Li Xu's side, they could rush over at any time.

"A jar of freshly roasted, a plate of bad beans, and a few fresh dishes for other dishes." Zhang Xutuo was obviously very familiar with the food in the roadside shop, so he didn't look at the water sign handed over by the guy, and told him.

"A jar of fresh roast, a plate of bad beans, and the rest of the pickers!" Out of excitement, the young man's voice was long and loud. provoked the surrounding drinkers to turn around one after another, looking with interest at the two nobles who were wearing the regular clothes of military generals, but drinking between them. Soon, someone recognized the names of the two and boldly raised the wine bowl to this side. "Master Zhang, come and drink mine. The seal that has just been opened has not been touched yet! ”

Zhang Xutuo smiled and clenched his fists back, "Slow use, my wine will arrive in a while!" ”

"Master Zhang, drink mine first!" The drinkers who got the response were even more excited, and they picked up the wine jar in front of them and greeted Zhang Xutuo.

"Everyone, I'm in for a treat today, it's not good to borrow someone else's wine!" Zhang Xutuo pointed at Li Xu and took the other party as a reason to thank him.

"Then my lord, please use it slowly, we won't be reluctant! If he has the opportunity one day, he will definitely give a bowl to the adults" The drinkers turned their heads and returned to their previous bustle.

A long-lost warmth emerged in the bottom of Xuzi's heart. He found that he actually liked the comfortable life of the drinkers, or rather, he still had nostalgia for the life at the bottom. The years after joining the army made him live a wonderful life, but he never had a chance to be peaceful and peaceful. But Lord Zhang Xutuo easily fits the two lives together. Looking at the lazy appearance of him sitting on a greasy stool, it is difficult for anyone to associate him with the delicate old general in the officialdom.

"I'm a little disappointed that I missed the last chance to conquer Liao, isn't it?" After the wine and food were served, Zhang Xuluo sifted a bowl for himself and asked while drinking.

"Sort of!" Li Xu also followed Zhang Xutuo's example and poured himself a bowl of wine, poured a sip of it, and responded.

"To be honest, I heard you say last year that Your Majesty wanted to transfer the two of us to Liaodong, and I was also looking forward to it. As a result, the emperor later made other arrangements" Zhang Xutuo shaved a pod with his hand and threw the emerald green beans into his mouth, his voice became a little vague, but the meaning was very clear, "The old man is also unwilling." But if you say it, don't say it, forget it, this is my common practice. The old man has encountered many similar things in his life, and he has become numb! ，”

"It's the last general who accidentally passed the word!" Li Xu put down the wine bowl and apologized. The arrangement that the two of them would be transferred to Liaodong at the same time was revealed to Zhang Xutuo by him personally, but he didn't expect His Majesty the Emperor to have such a bad memory.

"It's none of your business." Zhang Xutuo quickly peeled the pods with his thick fingers and ate them with relish. "Those cats in the court, the old man knows much better than you." He sipped another bowl of wine and savored the bitter and sweet flavors like a memory.

The old general seemed to be disappointed in the imperial court. Li Xu held the wine bowl and keenly guessed Zhang Xutuo's thoughts. The tavern is full of people, and this is really not a good place to exchange feelings. If someone accidentally listens to it, you will be stabbed again afterwards. Xuzi knew that he was a little too cautious, but no matter who had suffered so many losses, he would probably feel that there were enemies hidden everywhere.

"As an official in this dynasty, the first thing to look at is the background, some people are born as princes, and some people will never get a title in their lifetime!" Zhang Xutuo spat out the wine and continued to lash out unscrupulously. "A lucky guy like you, when you talk about others, the old man's eyes are hot!"

"In the end, I also know that I can get to this day, all thanks to Your Majesty's appreciation, and a few adults mention it!"

"It's up to you. Others can talk nonsense, your ability, Shubao and I have witnessed it with our own eyes, you can't close your eyelids and talk nonsense! ”

"Shubao, Shixin and a few colleagues are ten times more talented than me, and the ability of adults will be even more unattainable!"

"You don't have to be modest, Shubao, Shixin and Chongmu's skills are all in the middle of you. As for the old man, he could still compete with you when he was young, but now he doesn't dare to brag about himself! Zhang Xutuo smiled and said. He was drinking a little hurriedly, so his face looked like he had begun to turn red.

But Li Xu knew that what came out of Lord Zhang's mouth at this moment was by no means drunken words. "Chongmu was born with a knighthood, so it can't be counted. Shubao and Shixin, like you, all want to gain fame with their skills. When the old man was young, he also had the same thoughts as you, but now that he is old, his heart of fame is a little lighter, but he can't fully see it. The old general spoke intermittently, as if chatting with an old friend he hadn't seen for many years.

"The old man is just like you. I don't want to nest in the local area and deal with bandits and rogues for the rest of my life! He tapped his fingers on the table, and there was a thud. At this time, Xu Zi admired Zhang Xutuo for choosing a place to drink, no matter how high or low the two of them were talking just now, the guests at the surrounding tables were talking and laughing by themselves, and their attention was never attracted by the topic here.

"The kindness that the adults have maintained over the years will surely be engraved in the hearts of the people!" Li Xu saw that General Zhang was a little drunk, put aside his own thoughts, and comforted him with a smile.

"Ender?" Zhang Xutuo's eyes lit up again, and his smile was very playful. "General Li, are you really the Flying General Li Guanghou?" This time, instead of peeling the pods, he crossed his fingers and pressed them on his chin to ask.

"According to the genealogy, I should be the twenty-fifth generation descendant of General Fei!" Li Xu paused for a moment and replied. At the beginning, Xu Maogong once taught him that the descendants of General Fei Li Guang are a golden signboard, and since it is true, it must not be hidden from others.

"Are you sure?" Zhang Xutuo smiled, his eyes like water.

"That's how the family tree works!" Li Xu replied with a smile and raised his wine to cover his sight. Whether or not genealogy is accurate is debatable. Just as Tang Duke Li Yuanneng became the descendant of Li Hui, the king of Liangwu Zhao, and Li Guang, the general of Fei, at the same time, the Li family in Shanggu also listed Li Wei as one of the outstanding figures in their ancestors. But in fact, I am afraid that Li Wei has a heavier Hun bloodline, but there may not be a necessary connection with Li Guang.

"The family tree says that I am a descendant of Zhang Zhao. There were a lot of celebrities in my ancestors, but when I was a child, I had to beg my family for days to eat a bowl! Zhang Xutuo pointed to the pile of pods in front of him and explained with a smile.

"I'm pretty much the same! Wear a new dress and wait for the Chinese New Year! He took up the jar and filled the bowl in front of each of them. Zhang Xutuo's words just now brought the relationship between the two a lot closer. Although the life of my youth was a little bitter, it was full of warmth when I recalled it.

"So our people have a stronger thirst for fame and are more likely to be disappointed!" Zhang Xutuo picked up the wine bowl, touched it with Li Xu, and concluded.

Li Xu happily poured down a bowl of wine, and the hot and spicy taste rushed straight to his brain. Zhang Xutuo's words were simply his heart, although he didn't want to say it himself.

"Tell us what Your Majesty likes the most today, you're embarrassed, aren't you?" Zhang Xutuo poured wine for the two of them and continued to ask.

"Sort of! Actually, I haven't met His Majesty many times. Maybe it's a random guess! Li Xu smiled bitterly and poured himself a bowl.

"Actually, Lao Pei and I have also heard some rumors, and we came to you just to confirm it!" Zhang Xutuo accompanied a bowl, wiped the residual wine on his mouth, and added.

Li Xu smiled bitterly, the two bosses are human spirits, no matter how careful he is, he still wants the way of others. However, the two adults' actions do not contain any malice, just find someone to come forward, anyway, Li Xu doesn't say it, they can also think of other ways.

"You don't understand why Lao Pei and I suddenly became generous again, do you?" Zhang Xutuo asked as he drank.

"It's still not smooth on the road!" Li Xu shook his head. When he was in the Taishou Mansion, Zhang Xutuo gave him several looks, which still made him full of mysteries.

"Long live the spring of the Liao expedition, many counties and counties violated the yang and yin, and the court law did not blame the public, so Lao Pei dared to become bigger. Now that the army has returned triumphantly, with the temper of Banzai, I am afraid that I will have to find a few people to settle accounts. Therefore, our gifts must not be less than others! ”

"Ahem! Ahem! Li Xu choked on his lungs with a sip of wine and coughed loudly. He didn't expect Pei Caozhi to have such difficulties, and he didn't expect that in the eyes of local officials, the imperial court had become so unbearable. But everyone has to endure such a court, such a majesty. Because when order is lost, the world will be more difficult.

"Drink slowly, not too fast! Actually, I was quite disappointed in the early years, but I was disappointed a lot, and I got used to it! Zhang Xutuo sighed softly and drank the wine in the bowl.

Li Xu sat up straight and silently raised a bowl to accompany him. He didn't expect General Zhang Xutuo to be even more disappointed in the imperial court than himself. If the other party didn't say it, who would have expected that General Zhang, who had worked hard for local law and order and hated to dig out his heart and dedicate it to the Great Sui, would be full of indignation?

"I want to see a court that is considerate of the people, because I was originally a flat-headed common man who ate this meal without a meal. I hope to see an incorruptible officialdom, because they are greedy once, enough for my father to work for three lifetimes. Zhang Xutuo lifted the wine jar upside down, and dropped the elixir in it with Xuzi.

"When the first emperor first built the Great Sui, I thought I had got my wish. But I was disappointed from the age of thirty and continued to be disappointed until I was fifty! His smile was a little bitter, but his tone contradicted the expression on his face, and he looked a little proud.

But the old man never felt sorry! General Lee, do you know why? This time, Zhang Xutuo did not raise the wine bowl in a hurry, but asked in a very, very solemn tone.

"Please give me advice!" Li Xu hugged his fists and gave a salute. These days, he's been confused. After listening to Zhang Xutuo's words, his mood gradually became cheerful. He knew that the old general was instructing him, so he was taught with a very grateful attitude.

"Because I swore to protect this place. Not for their gratitude, though! Zhang Xutuo brought his face close to Li Xu, pressed his arm against the other party's shoulder, and said in a very low voice. You look at them, think about it, think about what is the most precious thing in your life. Think about it, remember? ”

"What is the most precious thing in this life?" Asahiko couldn't think of it. Are these warm memories in the tavern? He couldn't be sure. He knew that he was still young, and he couldn't understand Zhang Xutuo's mentality at this time. But he found himself less troubled than he used to be, because he was now doing something that was just as meaningful.

I swore to protect this place. That night, Zhang Xutuo said.

Note to the alcoholic: I have been extremely unwell this week, and I have to have less, so forgive me. It will start to return to normal next week.

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