The second year of Xuande, May.

Guangling.

Both sides of the long table were filled with the leading figures of the Guangling Chamber of Commerce, most of whom were elderly middle-aged men, either rolling up their sleeves or playing with walnuts, and they were gloomy; There are also ostentatiously dressed women, with raised eyebrows, glaring back at everyone who peeks.

The girl seated on the throne was too young to speak, and the beauty of the famous Joggie was thrilling even without powder. Jiang Qiao was wearing a lake-blue shirt, with a white hosta hairpin between his long inky hair, lined with snow-white earlobes, which inevitably made people's hearts shake.

"President Jiang summoned us this time, I don't know what he wanted?" Someone couldn't help but say.

"Jiang is young, thanks to the love of his peers, he sat in the position of president." Jiang Qiao said humbly, "So there is something that Jiang has to reveal to you in advance, so that it will not be too late for you to regret it." ”

The people in the seat couldn't help but be suspicious.

Jiang Qiao disappeared for a period of time after Qiao Ji's death, and later the son of the Jiang family died in the imperial capital for no apparent reason, and the power of the Jiang family was once in the hands of several clan relatives. But a few years ago, Jiang Qiao was born, got rid of all the difficult clan relatives, and took the position of the head of the family in his pocket.

Not long ago, the Guangling Jiang clan sent all the five million stone grain they had hoarded over the years to Yongxue Pass. People can't help but wonder if Jiang Qiao relied on the power of the Chu clan in the clouds to gain his current status.

"You should also know that at the beginning of this year, the former king of Zhenbei, also known as General Long Xiang, was martyred, and Jiang went to the clouds to mourn. In the clouds, Jiang met a dignitary from the imperial capital, and he had some friendship with Jiang, so he said a few more words. ”

The dignitaries who went to the clouds from the imperial capital to mourn Chu Mingyan, who else was the young master of the Pei family in Guanzhong? Pei Zhang's nephew is the new emperor's most beloved younger brother, and the Pei family in Guanzhong has a prominent reputation and is extremely favored. The news that Pei Zhang leaked out also represents the meaning of the new emperor to a certain extent.

There was an uproar in everyone's hearts, and they were anxiously waiting for Jiang Qiao to say something.

"The dignitary said that His Majesty was quite dissatisfied with the increase in grain prices in many places."

Jiang Qiao said slowly: "The war in Yongxueguan is tight, General Long Xiang was martyred, and His Majesty hates the flies and dogs the most in his life." The Cabinet may begin to rectify the speculative ones this year, with the minor fines confiscated and the exiled to the army in order to replenish the armament of the Snow Pass. ”

"Therefore, Jiang Mou was ruthless and sent five million stone grains to Yongxue Pass to show that the Guangling Jiang clan was slightly more effective than dogs and horses." Jiang Qiao stood up, bowed slightly to everyone and said, "How to choose, it's all up to you, Jiang Mou's words are all here." ”

Jiang Qiao left the box where the sound sounded, and bumped into a young man dressed in black and holding a long sword. Jiang Qiao twisted her eyebrows slightly, she smelled a smell of blood on the young man's body.

Luo Nanshan pointed to the roof and said, "Cutting off people's wealth is like killing your parents." I have tried for you, and it was your uncle who sent someone to kill you. The head of the house asked me to protect you and listen to you, do you want me to kill him for you? No gratuities are charged. ”

"Not for now." Jiang Qiao said politely.

Luo Nanshan didn't care, shrugged his shoulders, and walked out of the restaurant with Jiang Qiao. Outside, it was raining lightly, and passers-by ran to hide in the shops on both sides of the street. Deng Mian ran over with his sleeve covering his head, stuffed a steaming bag of oiled paper into Jiang Qiao's hand, and laughed stupidly.

"What is this?" Jiang Qiao asked good-naturedly.

"Delicious." Deng Mian said, "You can taste it and see if you like it." ”

Jiang Qiao didn't open it immediately, but smiled and said, "Thank you." I love it. ”

Deng Mian put a hat on Jiang Qiao's head, and the two walked home slowly, followed by a Luo Nanshan. They parted in front of Deng Mian's rented yard, and Jiang Qiao walked in the cool drizzle and exhaled slowly and long.

"Does he like you?" Luo Nanshan asked suddenly.

Jiang Qiao looked at Luo Nanshan with a little surprise.

"I think the head of the family is like this to His Royal Highness the King of Zhenbei." Luo Nanshan said matter-of-factly, "But His Royal Highness is also very good to the head of the family, and he is very willing to coax the head of the house." She won't be like you, saying she likes it without even tasting it. They say, it's called perfunctory. ”

"You can see it all, what are you asking?" Jiang Qiao walked towards the Jiang Mansion easily and comfortably.

"And what kind of people do you like?" Luo Nanshan didn't speak like an assassin.

Jiang Qiao was quiet for a moment and said, "Maybe it's someone who can fix the piano for me." ”

Luo Nanshan didn't understand.

He protected Jiang Qiao for several days, and Jiang Qiao's best skills were actually arithmetic and playing the flute. The not-so-expensive lyre was idle by the window, and Jiang Qiao would wipe it when he was free, but he never played it.

——

Imperial capital.

Xuanzheng Palace.

"Hugging the snow pass and retreating to avoid the battle, but not knowing how to recapture the lost military fortress outside the pass, now it is necessary to build a new city wall. Chu Zhixia is not worthy of being the king of Zhenbei at all, and I hope that Your Majesty will think twice! ”

"This year, natural disasters are frequent, and it is a time for money to be used everywhere. The world is not only the people who die in battle, but if the snow is tightly embraced everywhere, where will the life and death of the people in the hinterland of the Central Plains be placed? The Chu clan in the clouds is clearly for their own selfish interests and stealing national wealth! ”

Bai Ziche listened patiently for a while, and his knuckles knocked on the armrest regularly, without the slightest change, so that people couldn't guess what he was thinking.

The fierce opposition in the court finally stopped, probably because the scolding was enough, or maybe the words were exhausted. Everyone finally remembered to see what the emperor's expression was, but countless sharp and spicy eyes couldn't penetrate Bai Ziche's young face.

"So, you're just worried about money, aren't you?" Bai Ziche smiled lightly and said, "The Imperial Merchant Guangling Jiang Clan expressed to me that he is willing to work with the Guangling Chamber of Commerce to fund the fortifications of Yongxue Pass. So, do you have nothing to say? ”

"Your Majesty, Yongxue Pass is passive and sluggish-"

"Yan Qing," Bai Ziche interrupted him gently, "You are a Wenchen, you haven't fought a day of war, and you haven't been to Yongxue Pass for a day. The sage said, 'Unity of knowledge and action', you can't do both, at least you can keep silent, and don't casually ignore the decision of King Zhenbei. ”

The courtier stood awkwardly, his face flushed.

"You don't have to be in a hurry to take a stand, stand in line, and figure out my thoughts. If someone has a better plan to resettle the displaced people affected by the disaster, then come and discuss with me whether there is a need for a fortification to support the snow pass. Bai Ziche said lightly, "If not, I don't want to listen to nonsense anymore." ”

The court meeting dispersed, and Bai Ziche returned to Weiyang Palace.

Bai Yan was named Prince of Wei and left the palace early to live. Bai Ziche has not yet married a wife, and he doesn't like to hug each other, he and the little palace maid are often the only ones in the Weiyang Palace, and Sun Yan occasionally enters the palace to report official business. Most of the time, Weiyang Palace is so quiet that you can hear a needle dropping.

Bai Ziche took a pot of cold tea and sat in front of the hanging "Guanyin Dashi Tu".

Everyone in the palace knows that the new emperor is frugal and has no hobbies of poverty and luxury. Some people thought that Bai Ziche had painted a wonderful Danqing when he was a hidden dragon, so he bought a lot of money to pay for the masterpieces of famous families, but in the end he returned in vain.

The only painting on display in Weiyang Palace is the "Guanyin Dashi Picture" made by Zhao Fu of the previous dynasty. This painting, which had been stolen from the court, was revealed, but no one dared to ask the new emperor about its origin. But the new emperor seems to be very fond of this painting, placing it in his resting place, watching the light and shadow change on the painting every day.

In fact, Bai Ziche just used this to remind himself not to forget why he started.

"Ziche, don't forget the way you came."

Huo Wenbai's last words were like a ring scar, seared into Bai Ziche's bones.

The cold aroma of tea spreads in the mouth, dissipating a little bit of heat. Bai Ziche felt like a scholar in the legend of Zhiwei, waiting for the spirit in the painting to appear. Fortunately, Bai Ziche didn't have the habit of talking to himself in front of the painting, otherwise he would really be an idiot.

The dim sunlight gradually tilted, crawling from the edge of the threshold to the hem of Bai Ziche's clothes. Through the layers of palace walls, Bai Ziche heard the sound of the bell striking outside the palace, reminding him that it was time to make dinner. The vermilion palace door was pushed by the cardinal, and from the outside to the inside, one by one.

Bai Ziche turned his head to look at the last ray of sunlight cut off by the palace gate, and suddenly smiled.

"It's like a coffin."

I don't know who I'm talking to.

——

Embrace the snow pass.

The ghost city lord has a deep attainment in the field of mechanical arts, and in order to draw Chu Zhixia's tricky fortification drawings, he is in a violent mood every day, scratching his ears and cheeks, and scolding anyone. The Seven Camp Masters will pass by the door of his room, and they will inevitably splash two spittle stars.

The door was pushed open with a "squeak".

The ghost lord sat unkempt among a pile of bamboo pipes, cardinals, paper, and charcoal, and his sheepbone mask half-hung on his chin. He grabbed the charcoal and scribbled it on the birch paper, and without looking back, he said to the person who entered the door: "If you make any more messy demands, I will stab you to death." I owe Shen Yu a few lives, and it's useless. ”

The comer chuckled, it was the man's voice.

The ghost city lord was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and he pulled the mask back on his face and turned his head to stare at Li Qingbai, who came uninvited.

"You're going to kill me?" The ghost city lord asked vigilantly.

"I have come to guard my little apprentice, lest you cut off your children and grandchildren, and cut off your swordsmanship, as your divination hexagram shows." Li Qingbai leaned against the door frame with his sword in his arms and raised his chin at him, "How are your drawings going?" ”

"I can't draw it." The ghost city lord said viciously, "You tell Chu Zhixia to surrender to Erdan quickly, and take her child husband to hide wherever he wants!" Don't rush to find death day by day. ”

Li Qingbai was noncommittal, and raised an eyebrow to look at him.

The ghost city lord lowered his shoulders in frustration and said, "It's a bit difficult. ”

"I don't know how to do it." Li Qingbai opened the door and said, "Do you want to go out for a walk?" ”

The ghost city lord slowly put on his boots, wrapped himself in the black and white impermanence robe, and walked out behind Li Qingbai.

The sun on the horizon is as warm as a boiled egg.

The soldiers holding the snow pass were training, and the shouts and cheers echoed like a long wind. There was no shortage of young and jerky faces among the soldiers, and the youngest looked to be sixteen or seventeen years old.

"Such a young child is going to war?" The ghost city lord frowned.

"In Yanbei, you can join the army at the age of seventeen, and women can also study, learn martial arts, and inherit the family business, do you know why?" Li Qingbai's tone was lazy.

"It's not as well-informed as your Sword Saint." The ghost city lord disdained to know, saying, "I don't know, and I don't want to know." ”

"Because there are many orphans and widows in the north." Li Qingbai said lightly, "I can't say that I am well-informed, but I am also from the north of the country." ”

"You're from the north of the city?" The ghost city lord was stunned.

"Why do you think I have a relationship with Chu Mingyan?"

Li Qingbai smiled and said freely: "I lost my father and mother at a young age, and I was raised by Jishantang. And the Jishantang in the north of the city rely on the government, or rather, on the Zhenbei Wangfu to live. Children who are particularly talented in martial arts or reading will get the opportunity to enter the Zhenbei Wangfu for further study, and whether they can rise to the top depends on themselves. ”

The ghost city lord was a little unable to answer for a while.

"What is this fortification that makes you so embarrassed?" Li Qingbai asked.

In addition to Chu Zhixia, Shen Zhou, and the ghost city lord, even Bai Ziche, who contributed his efforts, and Jiang Qiao, who contributed money, may not know the specific situation of this fortification. The seven battalions were all kept in the dark, and they were bored to carry out Chu Zhixia's orders.

"There is only one person in this world who can answer this question." The ghost city lord spread his hands and said regretfully, "I'm not the one who can speak. If I say it, your apprentice will probably cut out my tongue. ”

"Okay." Li Qingbai was not a very curious person, so he asked instead, "Have you counted the victory or defeat of this war?" ”

"I've counted it more than a hundred times, and the result is the same." The ghost city lord glanced at him and said, "Aren't you distrustful?" ”

Li Qingbai ignored his run and asked bluntly: "What is the result?" ”

"I don't see the odds." The lord of the ghost city said, "God does not care for her." ”

Li Qingbai was silent for a long time.

The ghost city lord sighed faintly and said, "Your apprentice is less evil than you. I don't know what happened to her, but she seemed to have anticipated it before I did. She is very much like her mother, she doesn't cry when she sees the coffin. ”

Li Qingbai was inexplicably proud and said, "After all, it's my apprentice." ”

The ghost city lord sneered and ignored him.

"I've been in the snow gate these days, and I've heard a lot about Erdan."

Erdan Gultai, the surname given to him by the Khan of the Blue Eagle Tribe, was originally an unknown slave. The old khan of the Qingying Department dreamed one night that the scorching sun was rising in the east of the grassland, the ice and snow of the grassland were melting, and the spring flowers were blooming. The old khan sent people to search for the territory in the east of the Qingying Department, and found Erdan, who was very talkative and knowledgeable, and adopted him as his adopted son, and married his daughter to him.

"The Beidi people like to make up such myths." The ghost city lord said bitterly, "I can't imagine that Erdan is the evil fate that the old khan left behind by showing mercy everywhere." Otherwise, who wants to give up their family business to others? He is not without a biological son. ”

Li Qingbai said helplessly: "Did I say that you spoke very viciously? ”

"Isn't that why you smashed my stall?" The ghost city lord choked.

Li Qingbai supported his forehead.

"I know that the name 'Erdan' was given to him by the old Khan."

The ghost city lord laughed mockingly, and said: "Erdan means 'sun' in the ancient language of Beidi, the mountains and rivers change color and the rivers dry up, but the sun and the moon are eternal. From the first day of his adoption, the old khan had high hopes for him. For the steppe people, they are also willing to believe that Erdan is the 'sun' given by the gods to lead them out of their poor days. ”

"Even I have to believe it." The ghost city lord muttered.

Li Qingbai said surprisingly firmly: "If Erdan is really the sun given to Beidi by God, then the natural Chu Zhixia is to shoot down this scorching sun with her own hands." ”

The ghost city lord scolded and kicked Li Qingbai and said, "Your master and apprentice are sick. ”