Yannan Qiao County, it was evening.

On the whitewashed stone road that runs through Xiuhe Town, there are few people coming and going.

In a courtyard, the bamboo door is half-hidden, and two teenagers of twelve or thirteen years old are putting down the books in their hands, and from the shade of a lush locust tree in the courtyard, one is in front of the door, and the other is turning inside.

"Why is Lang Jun here again?" The young man who greeted him stared at a pair of clear eyes, trying to hold his chest and raise his chin, as if he wanted to show his unflinching demeanor in front of the man in Tsing Yi with outstanding bearing.

Outside the bamboo gate, the man in Tsing Yi smiled in front, and behind him stood a row of three people, a white-faced young man wearing caftan brown, a black-faced warrior with a long sword hanging from his waist, and a young man in a light gray cloth coat, who was behind him, just looking at the surrounding street scene.

"Come here to meet your master." As soon as the man in Tsing Yi finished speaking, he saw a middle-aged scribe in a row of simple bamboo huts in the courtyard, still wearing a slightly white black robe, with half-pulled cuffs, a shallow beard under his chin, and a fingertip of flour on his square chin.

Jiang Han restrained his gaze at the legendary "hermit" at this time, stared directly at the legendary "hermit", counted his breath, showed a shallow surprise in his eyes, covered the corners of his mouth with one hand, and whispered to the little servant Qingtian: "I vaguely understand why the prince waited until the evening to come to visit." ”

He had heard Qingkong say that Qiao Jizhong's stubbornness and arrogance were related to several characteristics - heavy righteousness, small profits, and especially his wife.

Qiao Jizhong's current identity is the town's teaching gentleman, but not all students can become his protégé disciples, because a large part of them are the sons of the town's rich armor and merchants, most of them are sent to the people's disciples, and what they ask for is just literacy, which is also helpless, and the hermit also has to support his family, and most of the disciples who let Qiao Jizhong have green eyes, outstanding qualifications, and proud character to formally apprentice, most of them are from poor families, not to mention paying for education, and sometimes even have to rely on teachers to help.

In order to make a living during the day, they are busy teaching and educating people, and only in the evening can the people be idle, "wash their hands and make soup" with their wives, and prepare a dinner for their children and the disciples at home.

Shizi said that the evening was the best time for Mr. Qiao, and it was a few more points to talk to him at this time.

It is said that when the prince visited for the first time, it was in the afternoon, and when Mr. Qiao taught the wealthy businessmen to "read", he should have been in an impatient mood, so the prince was turned away.

Jiang Han was full of admiration for the wisdom of the prince to "choose the time", and when he saw that Qiao Jizhong had arrived at the door, his eyes were cold, and he opened his mouth to say: "The prince, please go back." ”

Kindness? Could it be that the son of the world is self-defeating, originally the family was intimate with his beloved wife, and naturally he did not have a good face for uninvited guests.

Jiang Han pursed the corners of his lips, and whispered again: "The genius son of the world, there are times when he makes mistakes." ”

Qing glanced at Jiang Han, who was in schadenfreude, puffed out his cheeks, and angrily expressed his silent dissatisfaction to Qiao Jizhong.

Yu Feng just smiled lightly and waved his hands: "When you also ask Mr. to give a certain cup of tea, because there will be no fourth visit." ”

Although he saw that Qiao Jizhong was silent for a few breaths, turned to one side with a complicated expression, let the prince in, and invited him into the inner hall, Jiang Han was still not optimistic about this, and patted Qingtian's shoulder: "I bet with you, the prince will return in vain this time, and the gambling money is ...... A tael of silver. ”

Qingtian was deeply disdainful, and snorted lightly: "Gold and silver vulgar things, what is there to bet on?" ”

Ash Du expressed his interest for the first time: "I bet with you, the prince will definitely be able to convince Mr., but if I win, I don't want your silver, as long as you tell the truth, go to Qianrao Pavilion to ......."

Jiang Han's face darkened instantly.

I don't want the young man who didn't speak well just now, at this time, he also had a great interest in the topic of a few "Shizi followers", his eyes flickered, and he stepped out of the threshold: "This brother, I bet with you below, if the Shizi convinces Mr., Brother Tai will lose that one or two silvers with me, if it is no different from the previous times, I will lose you one or two silvers?" ”

Jiang Han was suspicious, looked at Gray Du, then looked at the young man, and finally asked Qingkong for verification: "Are you really so sure that the prince will persuade Mr. Qiao?" ”

The clear sky was full of "pride": "How can you not do what the son of the world wants to do?" ”

Gray Du bowed his head, and also looked at Jiang Han with a "must win" gaze, confident. Jiang Han asked the young man again: "Do you also think that the prince can convince the respected teacher?" ”

"Not necessarily." The young man pursed the corners of his lips: "But since I want to bet with you, of course I have to choose a different result, otherwise, wouldn't it be for you to take advantage of it." ”

Jiang Han frowned, obviously did not turn the corner, but Qingtian looked at the young man with "other meanings", and reminded Jiang Han: "You choose the prince of the world and can't be convinced, if the result is like this, you win one or two silver in Gray Crossing, but if this little brother also bets that the son of the world can't be convinced, you can use the silver of Gray Crossing to compensate him, isn't it that you don't have the slightest loss, on the contrary, if the son of the world convinces Mr., you win one or two silver of the little brother, but you don't have to give Gray Du this fool, just say who to see in Qianrao Pavilion, it is really a benefit in vain." ”

Jiang Han then understood, the young man didn't want him to take advantage, so he bet on the Shizi's side, if the Shizi really persuaded Mr., he had to tell the truth to Ashdu, and he had to output one or two silver, but if Mr. Qiao was not convinced, he could win two taels of silver, fifty percent of the chance, win is a double, but lose only one or two gambling funds, in fact, he still took advantage of himself.

After figuring out the "key health", Jiang Han was naturally willing to gamble.

But the young man was overjoyed, as if he had already obtained a tael of silver, and welcomed the three into the courtyard, and then graciously brought out the pestle and invited them to sit down.

In the main hall, Yu Feng and Qiao Jizhong sat a few times apart, looking at the situation is indeed not optimistic.

"If the prince still has that intention, there is no need to waste words, and he has no intention of entering the office." Qiao Jizhong was very categorical.

Yu Feng chuckled: "I know a little bit about Sir's feelings, it shouldn't just be the disappointment of the current officialdom." ”

Joe's eyelids drooped slightly, noncommittal.

"If the gentleman really has no intention of pursuing a career, why do you accept disciples from your protégés and teach them the subset of scriptures and history, the way of courtiers? The gentleman himself does not want to be a leader, but he expects his disciples to be a clean official who can benefit the people and do his best for the government of Dalong. Yu Feng said to himself: "I visited twice, I didn't see him once, and I only got Mr. bluntly refused, but although Mr. didn't explain the reason, he can understand seven or eight points now." ”

Seeing that Qiao Jizhong's eyelids still did not lift, but he was still willing to listen to his ears, Yu Feng smiled again: "Mr. values righteousness, cares about the common people, and is not an unambitious person, but because of some old things, he misunderstands the powerful and court officials too much, this is one of them." ”

Qiao Jizhong finally moved the corner of his eyes and looked at Yu Feng coldly.

"Mr. is Mr. Youtan's protégé, there was a fellow brother back then, the surname Yin Mingjie is false, when Emperor Gaozu, he was a subordinate of Zuo Hanyunmen, and was later implicated in the Zuo family's rebellion, a family, parents, wives and children were all beheaded, Mr. was heartbroken for this, and had thrown himself into the Qin Xiangmen, wanting to be a blood grievance for his brother, but later Mr. was disheartened, because he knew that the Qin family was no different from the Jin family, all of them were competing for wealth and power, and they were not dedicated to the people. In this town with beautiful mountains and rivers, in order to keep the family safe, but after all, it is unwilling, the reason why teaching the disciples, giving the ambition of Hongtu, is to live up to what they have learned in their lives, so that the disciples can be appreciated by Bole upright people in the future, and do their best for the common people in the world. ”

Yu Feng sighed: "But after many years, the Jin and Qin parties are still domineering in the court, controlling political affairs, and Mr. is even more disheartened, the reason why he turned me away first, and then bluntly refused, is nothing more than because of distrust, first, I don't believe that as a prince and nobleman, I can have no power; The second is that I don't believe that in the year of my weak crown, I have the ability to eradicate the traitorous party and help the saint implement the new policy; My husband is worried that if I join the office, the result will only be 'aiding and abusing' and taking advantage of it in order to compete for power, and he is also worried that he will repeat the mistakes of Yin Zhongxu in the future, affecting his family, wife and children. ”

Speaking of which, Yu Feng finally saw Qiao Jizhong's face full of frost, and there were traces of shock and melting, and the clenched fist hanging on his knee subconsciously lifted to the tea case.

"At first, Mr. heard about the identity of a certain person, and the bamboo door was not open, so he should be disdainful; Later, Mr. should have also inquired about a certain one or two deeds, to the second visit, there was some interest, only to give me a chance to speak, although still bluntly refused, but there was already a temptation, after that, I asked Brother Wei to come to the door, Mr. and he talked very well, should be to listen to him talk about the things in southern Zhejiang, I have more opinion, but still politely declined, Mr. to the safety and joy of the family as a concern, originally there is nothing to blame. Yu Feng lowered his eyes: "Today, I visit again, and it is very rare for Mr. to give me the opportunity to enter the room and express my heart directly." ”

As Yu Feng expected, Qiao sent the people to refuse several times, first, he did not believe that the prince of Chu could think of "public heart", and secondly, he also thought that the prince was not weak, and he did not have the ability to compare with the Jin and Qin parties.

But among the powerful, how many people are there who value love and righteousness? Even if you really meet a loyal minister like Zuo Hanyun, he sacrificed his life to fight with the traitorous party, but in the end, due to his weak ability, he was defeated.

Although Qiao Jizhong is ambitious, it is inevitable that he has no selfishness, the peace and joy of his family are equally important to him, even if the prince of Chu is really for the government of Qingping, he does not hesitate to compete with the traitors in the court, he is also worried that the prince is not capable enough, and in the end, it is difficult to protect himself, how can he keep his family intact.

Repeatedly tempted, repeatedly hesitated, but also to see how determined the son of the world was, if he encountered difficulties and dangers, and gave up, how could he take refuge with his life?

But Yu Feng came to the door again and admitted frankly, and his words hit the heart of Qiao Jizhong, which obviously has made Qiao Jizhong a big change.

"Sir, this visit is really urgent, Pinan and Tang County have suffered floods, but there are traitors who deliberately conceal it, and a certain person has been ordered to go to Bingzhou for disaster relief, but if you don't find out the cause of the flood, I am afraid that the heavy rain will fall for several days, resulting in floods and more people's lives." Yu Feng followed up and said.

Qiao Jizhong originally didn't hear about the flood, but when he heard about it, he was suspicious: "Could it be that there is no one in the DPRK, and the water conservancy officials of the Ministry of Industry do not know the cause of the flood?" ”

"All of them are as obscure, if not, I don't doubt that there will be a lot of hidden secrets." Yu Feng got up suddenly, and bowed respectfully: "This trip is sinister, I dare not guarantee that Mr. is perfect, but tens of thousands of people in the state, the safety is imminent, I know that Mr. has a deep understanding of water conservancy, so I implore, I hope that Mr. will take the common people as his mind and take this risk." ”

Qiao sent the crowd silently, Yu Feng couldn't afford to be polite, and the two held each other for a while.

Finally, Qiao Jizhong got up and helped Yu Feng: "The prince is invited by the safety of the people this time, and the husband doesn't dare to refuse, but!" In the next only promise to help in the flood, as for the ......"