"Conquest and control, control and governance are not the same thing, but conquest is not governance, and once they lose their general momentum, the land they have conquered will fall apart again."

Telling my daughter-in-law about this is also hoping to change her perspective on the world.

This world is very big, don't just look at a corner, look far, there is more wealth in the distance of the whole world.

Approaching the end of the year, the DPRK and China also entered the stage of recess of the dynasty.

Officials in all ministries have stopped what they are doing.

Looking at the Imperial City, it used to be the busiest place every day, but now it is empty with only a few scattered officials.

And these officials are the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

It is rare for envoys from various countries to come to Chang'an City, and it is the best time for the Foreign Affairs Yuan to collect intelligence.

Xu Jingzong often accompanied the Persian prince to eat, drink and have fun all over Chang'an City.

By the way, I got the news about Persia and the Great Eclipse from his mouth.

From the mouth of this Persian prince, it was learned that now that Muhammad was dead, Persia was ready to raise an army against the Great Eclipse.

Xu Jingzong only listened to this kind of words, and according to the news from the Foreign Affairs Yuan, the words of this Persian prince may not be true.

He also wanted the help of the Tang Dynasty, and even visited Tibet.

After drinking with the prince and sending him to rest, Xu Jingzong returned to the Foreign Affairs House worriedly.

Zhang Daxiang and Zhang Dasu are sorting out the files here, and a huge map hangs on the wall.

Xu Jingzong looked at the territory of this map, "The territory of the Great Food is so big. ”

"This is the news that the staff of our Foreign Affairs Yuan got from some people in the Western Regions, all of whom are businessmen who wander west of the Tianshan Mountains, and they can often hear about the West."

Zhang Daxiang explained: "This is what we heard from the words in their mouths, and we roughly drew the territory, maybe it is really so big. ”

In the middle of winter, the Foreign Affairs House was not idle, constantly collecting information about Persia.

Fortunately, the Ministry of Rites has always had eyes and ears outside two years ago, and after sorting out these news, several people also know about it.

People thought that the Central Plains was already very large, the Turks were also vast, and Tibet was the end of the West.

But after really understanding, everyone found that there is a big country in the west, and this country is separated from the Central Plains by the entire Western Regions.

There are also Tien Shan and Snow Mountains as barriers.

It is very difficult for what happened to Persia to affect the Western Regions, let alone the Tang Dynasty.

Zhang Daxiang pondered, "If it is really as the Persian prince said, this time Persia can fight back and win, why should he, a prince, go all the way to the Central Plains?" ”

Xu Jingzong sat down, "This prince didn't tell the truth, it seems that his words are true or false, have you presented it to Your Majesty?" ”

"It has been submitted, and when all these matters in Persia are understood, this piece will also be presented." Zhang Dasu said, the pen in his hand was still writing.

When he came back from Tubo, Zhang Dasu had yellow muscles and thin bones.

This trip made him suffer a lot, and now he has recovered his complexion when he comes back, Zhang Dasu has been eating and drinking nonsense for the past two days, and he wants to eat everything he hasn't eaten for a year.

As he was writing the recital, he also took a bite of the naan cake and ate it in his mouth, and it was written on his hand.

There are still a few days left before the eighth year of Zhenguan, Zhang Yang and Li Yue packed up their home and took Xiao Wu to Lishan.

At the end of the year, the village was very lively, listening to the daughter-in-law talking loudly to the women in the village, and each family gave the usual money to celebrate Chinese New Year's Eve.

Zhang Yang stood aside and muttered in his heart, he only had fifty yuan of pocket money a day, and if he wanted to add another penny, it would be like cutting meat for his daughter-in-law.

As soon as he made a move to the villagers here, he was always money, and his daughter-in-law, a big landlord and rich woman, was really atmospheric.

After thinking about it, I don't think it's anything, my daughter-in-law is doing this to boost the productivity of Lantian County on the other side of Lishan, as long as the people of Lantian County can also join the production and contribute to the construction of the factory, they can also share the money.

The first is to win the hearts of the people, and the villagers get substantial benefits at the same time, but also to show the people of Lantian County.

The construction of Lishan requires too much manpower.

It is a pity that Lantian County has so much manpower to put it away, and Lantian County has been lobbying the county citizens for half a year, as long as Lantian County also joins the construction in the coming year, the completion of Lishan's large industrial cluster is just around the corner.

The daughter-in-law asked her aunt and Xiao Yuyi to divide the money, and she happily returned to her residence to clean the courtyard.

Zhang Yang sat at the door and looked at Li Tai on the side, "It's Chinese New Year's Eve soon, and His Royal Highness King Wei will not return to the palace to celebrate." ”

Li Tai's eyes looked at the lively village in front of him, "It's too early to go back, wait for Chinese New Year's Eve to go back, there are some things I want to ask my brother-in-law." ”

"Say it."

"Can wool really make us rich?"

"You can't become fat in one bite, we still have to keep the secret of wool, and we will make plans after we get the ten-year contract right for more grasslands."

Li Tai understood, "We don't show our true purpose until the last minute." ”

After thinking about it again, Li Tai folded his hands and sat down, "Brother-in-law, can't you let me see the use of wool?" ”

Zhang Yang snorted coldly: "What if you say it." ”

"I'm the strictest, brother-in-law rest assured."

"What if you say that you slipped through your dreams?"

……

Li Tai took a deep breath, stood up and slowly left.

Zhang Yang asked again, "What is His Royal Highness King Wei going to do now?" ”

Li Tai stopped with a sad face, "Go back to Chang'an City and read more sage books, I found that I have been with my brother-in-law for a long time, and the character of this king is getting worse and worse, read more sage books to improve my character." ”

This brother-in-law is gone, and he is still a little lonely when he leaves.

The day after Chinese New Year's Eve, a banquet was held in the village, and two pigs and more than a dozen chickens and ducks were killed.

The cabbage was planted in the ground, and Zhang Yang cut off the cabbage, leaving the roots to continue planting.

The couple went to the teacher's house with the vegetables and cooked for the teacher and his wife.

Not long after, the three brothers Zhang Daxiang, Dasu, and Da'an also returned.

The wife looked at the three children and had a smile on her face.

At the dinner table, Zhang Daan said his plan, "I plan to participate in next year's imperial examination." ”

Zhang Gongjin ate his meal without words.

Children also have their own choices when they grow up.

My wife takes care of the family on weekdays, and she never asks about the affairs of the court.

Zhang Daxiang was puzzled: "Your affairs in the East Palace were arranged by your father, do you plan to go to the Six Ministries or the Three Provinces after participating in the imperial examination?" ”

Zhang Da'an thought about it: "I want to enter the middle school province." ”

Zhang Dasu said with a smile: "Silly brother, do you know how difficult it is to enter the middle school province? Even if you have passed the Ming Sutra, do you have any experience in strategy and strategy? ”

"My brother has read a lot of books, so maybe he can answer some questions."

Sitting next to his daughter-in-law, the expressions of the three brothers were clear at a glance.

Zhang Daxiang is very unkind to his younger brother's behavior, with his understanding of Zhang Da'an, he is still stuck in the past, as if Zhang Da'an has a high eye, and he is so anxious to go up.

And Zhang Dasu doesn't have much confidence, and he won't stop Da'an from wanting to participate in the imperial examination.

Zhang Daxiang said again: "It's good that you stay in the East Palace, and you can take care of the prince, as long as you concentrate on assisting Prince Zuo, you may be able to get a good position in the court in the future, why bother to participate in the imperial examination?" If this spreads, I think you are dissatisfied with the prince. ”

Facing his brother's question, Zhang Da'an said in a low voice: "If you stay in the East Palace, you may not be able to advance for several years, even if you fail in the imperial examination, I can come to the village to work as a coolie, and I have discussed it with the prince, and I will leave the East Palace after the New Year." ”

Zhang Daxiang shook his head again, wanting to hear Zhang Da'an make such a self-assertion during the interrogation, and sighed and said goodbye to his parents.

Zhang Dasu chewed food in his mouth and saluted, "There are still many matters in the Foreign Affairs Yuan, so my son will go back first." ”

The master mother said goodbye to the two children, and the meal on Chinese New Year's Eve was not pleasant.

Li Yue helped his wife tidy up the bowl quickly and comforted him all the time.

Zhang Daan sat upright.

Zhang Gongjin said in a low voice: "Are you really thinking about participating in the imperial examination?" ”

Zhang Da'an nodded, "It was also arranged by my father to enter the East Palace at the beginning, and my son doesn't want to stay in the East Palace under his father's care all the time, even if he continues to stay in the East Palace for ten or twenty years?" The son also has no inch of progress and wastes his time. ”

Looking at his youngest son, Zhang Gongjin said in a low voice: "You have such thoughts, the old man is very satisfied, but you must know that it was Your Majesty's arrangement to send you to the East Palace, and Your Majesty is also looking at the old man's merits. ”

Zhang Da'an saluted again, "My son doesn't want to continue to be taken care of by His Majesty, I have read a lot of books and thought about a lot of things in the past two years, even if I test what I have learned in this life, even if I fail in the imperial examination, the child will not regret it." ”

Nodding again, Zhang Gongjin smiled with relief, "You just live in the village, read more books at home, and prepare for the imperial examination next spring." ”

"Got it."

After Zhang Da'an finished speaking and left, Zhang Yang noticed the teacher's gaze and hurriedly explained: "I didn't expect Da'an to think about participating in the imperial examination and leaving the East Palace, this is not the student's suggestion." ”

】

Zhang Gongjin stood up and breathed in the cold air of the night, "Da'an, this kid is better than kindness and loyalty, it is also suitable for him to let him stay in the East Palace, the court is not as simple as he thought, he is still naïve and self-righteous." ”

Zhang Yang whispered, "Does the teacher need me to take care of him?" If he is not included in the Ministry of Rites, as long as the students are still in the Ministry of Rites, no one will dare to bully Da'an. ”

"This kid is very ambitious, and he wants to directly participate in the governor's affairs and enter the Zhongshu Province."

"Da'an has great ideals and the heart to be a Zaifu."

Zhang Gongjin shook his head, "Then let this kid give it a try, and let him see what people outside the East Palace are like." ”

First cleared his throat, Zhang Yang looked around and whispered, "Do you need help from the students?" ”

"Help what?"

"Actually, the old master Kong Yingda of Guozijian came to the student and wanted me to give him a few math questions as a reference for the imperial examination questions, and I could reveal them to Da'an."

Hearing this, Zhang Gongjin's expression was solemn, "You're not helping Da'an, you're hurting him, the old man's three sons are the kindest and most innocent Da'an, do you really want to destroy him?" ”

"Too kind to survive in the court."

Zhang Gongjin stroked his beard and said: "You are naturally relieved that the old man in the court is assured, you have the means and courage, and you dare to do it, if you say that Da'an, a child, enters the court, with his innocence and loyalty, maybe there will be another future." ”

After a pause, Zhang Gongjin pondered, "Let's see, let the old man live a few more years." ”

Zhang Yang smiled: "You must live a few more years." ”

The couple helped their wife and teacher clean up the house before returning home.

The questions of the imperial examination still can't be revealed to Da'an, Da'an is indeed an innocent and kind child, he doesn't have as many thoughts as secular people.

This little son of the teacher has grown up in shelter since he was a child.

In the East Palace, it is also to protect Da'an.

This also makes Daan's shortcomings very obvious, he is not good at talking to people, and he is not good at arguing with people.

He has changed a lot in the past two years, but he has always retained the pure land in his heart.

At that time, the world was in turmoil, and the teacher was a strategist in the hands of Li Shimin, giving advice to Li Shimin, and even seeking a successor, encouraging Li Shimin to launch the Xuanwumen Change.

A father's son can be seen from the first half of his life.

Maybe it's because the teacher used too much intrigue and trickery in the first half of his life, so he wanted to give Da'an a naïve and let his real heart be at peace.

Seeing that her husband was still looking solemn, Li Yue whispered, "What is your husband thinking?" ”

Holding his daughter-in-law's hand, Zhang Yang's steps were very slow, "Da'an, it may be the peace that the teacher also wants." ”

The fine snow kept falling and drifting on the couple.

You can also hear the laughter of the children in the village.

Zhang Yang took two barrels of things from the warehouse, these are the raw materials that he had saved for artillery battles, and as long as he rebuilt them slightly, he could make fireworks.

Back at his residence, Zhang Yang began to prepare.

Seeing Li Yue coming with an oil lamp, Zhang Yang hurriedly blew out the lamp, "You don't need to be close to the open flame when you do this." ”

When candles are lit in the house, the candlelight can shine outside the house, and Zhang Yang patiently makes fireworks with these lights.

The night was getting deeper and the wind had stopped, but the snow was getting heavier.

Li Yue sat in the middle of the house and looked at the book, and then looked at the husband sitting under the eaves, fortunately, the snow could not fall on the husband.

I am very glad that I have lived another year, and Li Yue can clearly feel that her body is getting better and better, and her strength is also a lot greater.

After the eighteen bamboo tubes were filled with gunpowder, Zhang Yang hid them all in a box, "These are only half-finished products, and I need to add more things to make them real fireworks." ”

Li Yue supported his right face with one hand, and held the scroll in the other, "Why eighteen?" ”

Zhang Yang washed his hands and face, "Because you will be eighteen years old after Chinese New Year's Eve, daughter-in-law congratulations, now you are officially an adult in my heart." ”

Avoiding her husband's gaze, Li Yue's cheeks were flushed and she covered her mouth and laughed softly, the happiness in her heart made her nose sour, and she quietly wiped her tears.

Zhang Yang carried the wine jug, "We should drink wine to celebrate, we have passed this year safely, and there will be many, many years to come." ”

"Well, it's worth celebrating, every year."