The Zhongyuan Festival of the Tang Dynasty is not only the folk autumn taste ancestor festival, but also the Taoist Zhongyuan Festival and the Buddhist Bon Festival, which can be called the three-stream integration of lay monks and monks.

It is said that on the day of the middle of the year, the underground palace opened the gate of hell, and it was also the day when the hell opened. All the demons will leave the underworld and take the examination, and the ghosts who have the Lord will go home, and those who have no Lord will wander the world, wandering everywhere in search of something to eat.

Therefore, the Zhongyuan Festival is also known as the Ghost Festival, and all parts of the Tang Dynasty generally carry out activities to worship ghosts, and light lotus lamps to light the way home for the souls of the dead.

At this moment, it was not long before the city gate was opened, and Li Xuan, the longevity king who was the grandson of the dragon and the phoenix, left the Ten Kings' Mansion and passed through the Yanping Gate in the west.

With only a personal eunuch by his side, he came to the exclusive cemetery of nobles outside Chang'an City alone. It is deserted on weekdays, but today it is different, and many tombstones are placed in front of sacrifices.

However, the cemetery is probably because it also belongs to the relationship between the people, so the inequality of the human possession is not bad here.

The degree of newness of different tombstones varies greatly, and so does the size of different graves.

Some of the tombstones are rich in offerings, not only garlands, incense candles, incense cases and other items, but also traces of burned paper money.

Obviously, the family is thriving, the family remembers it, and it has just been worshipped.

However, in front of some tombstones, there are already overgrown weeds, and no one has been cleaning them for a long time, let alone worshipping.

These desolate tombs may be eradicated by those who care about them at any time to make room for others.

Shouwang Li Xuan came to an ordinary tombstone that was clean and tidy, there were no weeds, but there were no sacrifices, and his right hand stroked the stone tablet, his face was soft and complicated.

The tombstone reads "Tomb of the Taizhen Monk". is ordinary, and he didn't even understand the name of the owner of the tomb, and it was intentional at first glance.

Shouwang Li Jing sighed softly, and asked the personal eunuch to offer the melons and fruits he carried as sacrifices, and then lit incense candles and put incense on the incense table.

After retiring from the eunuchs, Li Xuan began to burn paper money by himself.

It's been four years, and it's been four years since Huanhuan passed away!

Those past events, for Li Xuan, seem to have happened yesterday.

"Huanhuan, I come to see you every year, and that beast has never been here, he has completely forgotten about you, fooling around with your three cousins.

He took you away from me, but now he doesn't remember you at all!

Huanhuan, did you see that? If you had knowledge, would you regret it?

Don't you mind that he won't even write your name on the tombstone? ”

Li Xuan asked calmly.

It's just that the quiet tombstone doesn't say a word, only the birds chirp all around, and I don't know what it means.

A drop of rain fell on the face of Shouwang Li Xuan, he looked up at the sky, only to see the raindrops the size of beans falling, fierce and urgent, extinguishing the burning flame on the paper money!

"Hahahahaha! Huanhuan, you regret it too, right? You're crying now, aren't you?

Why didn't I turn it down in the first place? Why am I so cowardly!

If only I had rejected him then! I'm the one who hurt you! ”

Shouwang lowered his voice and howled, while slamming the ground with his fist!

The rain poured down from the sky and wet his brocade robe. At this moment, he is like a wild dog stumbling in the wind and rain. completely lost the demeanor that the Tang Dynasty prince should have, and his handsome and mature face became unpredictable.

At this moment, Shouwang Li Xuan felt that the rain on his head had become much less, and it had become almost none!

He looked up, and a red bamboo umbrella shielded him from the heavy rain falling from the sky. In the haze of tears, he vaguely saw that this young and slender girl seemed to slowly coincide with Yang Yuhuan's figure at the beginning.

"Ring Ring! You're back, Huanhuan!

I was wrong! I was wrong! I shouldn't have let him take you away, I'll never be weak again!

Don't leave me again! Please! Please! ”

Li Xuan hugged the girl and cried.

The soft body in his arms stiffened slightly, and then he hugged Shouwang Li Xuan tightly with his backhand. The red bamboo umbrella fell to the ground, and the two hugged each other tightly in the rain.

"I'm just worried about Ah Lang, so the concubine body came out to take a look, the concubine body is not a ring."

Shouwang Li Xuan's soft and warm voice came from the ears of Wei, who had just entered the mansion, with a hint of the unique naughtiness of his daughter's family, and he immediately showed a helpless look.

Li Xuan doesn't want his weak side to be seen by his new wife, but he has lost his fighting spirit and has no energy to manage a new life.

The two have not been in the same room to this day, so they can only be regarded as raising their eyebrows and respecting each other like guests.

Although Li Heng felt that Webster was indeed a good girl, he was really tired.

"Thank you, San Laya.

I'm sorry, but I still can't forget her. ”

Li Xuan whispered in Wei Sanniang's ear, the rain covered the wry smile on his face, and he couldn't see what the expression was.

"If Ah Lang really forgot her, then the concubine would be afraid. The current highness is the husband in the body and mind of the concubine.

In the future, it will slowly get better, and the concubine will always accompany His Highness. ”

The young Wei Sanniang ignored the rain and hugged Li Xuan tightly. Her chin was naughtily rubbing against the beard on the other party's face, with a girlish posture.

"Go home, I'll carry you back."

"Good!"

Wei Sanniang, who was as light as a swallow, jumped on Li Xuan's back, and the two of them returned to the Ten Kings' Mansion together with an umbrella. The two talked and laughed along the way, as if the rain around them was accompanied by beautiful notes.

At night, Shouwang and Wei Sanniang finally blended together, both physically and mentally, completely accepted each other, and experienced the beauty and hope of a new life.

The wholehearted service of the new wife Wei Sanniang is like a clear spring, which rejuvenates the dry soul of Shouwang Li Xuan.

Huanhuan has gone far, but the living still have to live well. Shouwang Li Xuan decided to forget about Yang Yuhuan, and next year's Midyear Festival, he will not come to sweep the tomb of Brother Taizhen again.

He had waited for his own destination.

……

In a study room in Zhang's house in Shazhou, Dunhuang, and a small city, Fang Chongyong was interviewing Zhang Yi, the leader of a large local household.

He generously handed over Li Linfu's handwritten letter to Zhang Yi for inspection, and then waited for the other party to speak first.

"Fang Envoy, are you going back to Beijing to report on your work?"

Zhang Yi asked with a sigh.

The current time is around the Midyear Festival, and of course Fang Chongyong will not choose to go at this time. But in two months it will be Brother Ji's birthday, and it will be his sixtieth birthday. Until then, I will definitely go back and offer treasures.

In fact, Zhang Yi has long known that Fang Chongyong's talent will definitely not be trapped in Shazhou or even Hexi. His stage will definitely be the center of Datang in the future!

Out and out!

"Yes, after all, he is an official appointed by the imperial court, and it is the right thing to return to Beijing to report on his work."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

"Yes, the things that make you do things are too big, and they are too beautiful. This makes us all forget, in fact, you are also a rogue official of the imperial court, and you will not be in Shazhou for a lifetime. ”

A wry smile appeared on Zhang Yi's wrinkled face.

The so-called banquet that is inseparable in the world is talking about this. No matter how capable Fang Chongyong is, he can't expect the other party to serve the caravan for the rest of his life.

"After a certain leaves, someone in the imperial court will inevitably want to take over the business of the Western Regions in an all-round way. In the past few years, a certain person has not taken a penny, so each family in the caravan can have a bowl of water, and Tong Su is not bullied. Everyone was convinced.

But you can't expect the people sent by the court to take over, and they are also selfless with a certain grand duke.

If you have selfish desires, you will not be able to convince the public and win the trust of others.

In view of this, the collapse of this business is only a matter of time.

Don't have too many extravagant expectations, just let it be. Be less greedy and live a comfortable life. Be decisive when you need to break it, don't drag it out.

After a certain leaves Shazhou, the business of the caravan will definitely be disturbed by Sogdian Hu, so he will not tell them, and even if he does, they will not take it seriously again after he leaves. ”

Fang Chongyong took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Zhang Yi to continue: "I will resign as the president of the caravan today and entrust you to take his place temporarily. After the imperial court sends someone here, you can just give him your position, and you can also find a place for the local big families in Shazhou, and there is only so much I can do. ”

"Envoy ...... Alas! ”

Zhang Yi stepped forward and shook Fang Chongyong's hand excitedly, and then sighed!

"As the king often says: it is easy to go from thrift to luxury, and it is difficult to go from luxury to thrift. We have enjoyed the blessing of the king for three or four years, and now it is all of a sudden, how good is this! ”

Zhang Yi burst into tears, holding Fang Chongyong's hand tightly.

"The green mountains do not change, and the green water flows forever. It can only be said that there will be a period later. ”

Fang Chongyong saluted at Zhang Yi and said with a smile.

"Envoy, slow down, your share of dividends, old decay will be remembered."

As if remembering something, Zhang Yi turned around and rummaged through the bookshelves, and recently found a thick account book and threaded it together with hemp rope.

"Over the years, the king has taken care of the families who have lost their strong men due to the war, and every loan is ranging from ten to twenty, and it adds up to a lot.

The old man calculated that the money in this account book added up to almost 500,000 yuan. The account books are kept by the king, and the people of Shazhou are taken care of by the king, so there is no reason to owe money and not pay it back, not to mention that there is still no interest. In the future, the caravan will send someone to send the money to Chang'an and hand it over to the envoy.

Even if you don't want money, if you are an official in Chang'an, don't you have to use money everywhere? The envoy collects it, these are the shares that the envoy deserves, and it will only be less, not more. ”

Zhang Wei said with emotion, and handed the account book into Fang Chongyong's hands.

Over the years, Fang Envoy Jun has become famous in Hexi, not only because he runs the business of the caravan, but because he has used the dividends he should get to do a lot of things that are beneficial to the local poor households. With him taking the lead, other big families are embarrassed to be too stingy with the people.

In view of this, the reputation of the caravan in Hexi was able to overshadow the original Hu merchants, and it received the widest support and participation.

It can be said that if it weren't for Fang Chongyong's "interest-free loan" policy to help many people, the caravan's business would not have been able to do anything, let alone form a monopoly.

If the locals in Hexi do not support smuggling, then how can the smuggling business be done? The whistleblowers have broken the threshold of the imperial court!

This is actually a very easy truth to understand, but many businessmen are often blinded by interests and cannot see or deliberately pretend not to see.

While he was thinking, Zhang Yi saw Fang Chongyong walk to the wall, pick up the torch hanging on it, and then set the account book in his hand on fire.

"Envoy! Slow down, slow down, I can't help it! It's really unacceptable! ”

Zhang Yi was shocked and hurriedly rushed over to extinguish the flames in the account book. Fang Chongyong took out the Wind Phantom Knife and pointed it at the other party, so that Zhang Yi could not get close.

The other hand held the burning ledger and did not say a word the whole time.

The flames were about to burn in his hands, so Fang Chongyong threw them to the ground and stepped on them with his feet to extinguish the embers. Then he put the Wind Phantom Knife into the sheath and saluted Zhang Yi.

"Alas!"

Zhang Yi sat back on the high stool weakly, and couldn't help sighing.

"After so-and-so leaves Hexi, so-and-so will ask the government to pay for the construction of a righteous warehouse, and you are posting notices everywhere.

Those who owe money in the ledger let them pay their debts with grain in the warehouse. Large local households should have a heart of forgiveness, and do not seek detailed recourse from those households in difficulty, and whether to return or not is voluntary.

The same is the rule in the future, taking it by bearer and entering it by bearer. It is all up to consciousness, and the government can't control it, but I hope that the local big households will not interfere in this matter.

The people knew that this was leaving a way out for themselves, and they would naturally return the grain, and when there was a sudden change in the future, they would have a way to live;

If they are unconscious, they just can't take it, thinking that this is a cake falling from heaven, then there will definitely be a famine in the future.

This is also self-inflicted, and no one will sympathize with them.

The local people supervise each other and supervise each other, and it is not difficult to borrow and repay. It's for others and for yourself.

In this way, isn't it happier than returning to Chang'an with a bunch of bills and ledgers?

Also, the saint is very taboo about similar things, so don't name this granary after so-and-so. There is a Doulu army in Shazhou, and Doulu has the meaning of righteousness, so this warehouse is called Doulu Cang.

And so the matter was over. ”

After hearing these words, Zhang Yi's heart fluctuated and it was difficult to control himself. He looked at Fang Chongyong with complicated eyes, just shook his head and sighed: "He will definitely benefit the people of the Tang Dynasty if he is the prime minister in the future." ”

For the phase?

Hearing Zhang Yi's emotional words, Fang Chongyong almost didn't laugh out loud.

There is an emperor like Brother Ji, not to mention it in the past, whoever will be the prime minister in the future will not die well!

Fang Chongyong vaguely remembered that it was recorded in the history books of his previous life that the few Tang emperors behind Brother Ji were just cold-blooded and ruthless, and there were many thieves in those gang operations!

Even the meritorious old soldiers of Jingyuan, who were born in the Beiting Metropolitan Protectorate, were forced to rebel.

Is this horse riding something that the emperor can do?

"It's funny, if you talk about being the prime minister, where is that piece of material.

Without further ado, I took my leave. ”

Fang Chongyong bowed deeply to Zhang Yi, and then turned around and left in a dashing manner.

When I left Zhangfu, there were already thousands of lights outside!

Shazhou has prospered a lot and become a lot richer in recent years, but these are all false prosperity caused by the establishment of other places in the bloodsucking Datang.

No matter how beautiful the bubble is, it will eventually burst as soon as you poke it. After the caravan's business can no longer continue, Shazhou will also return to its original state.

By tearing down the east wall and making up the west wall, there is no way to save this dynasty that is gradually sinking.

However, the general trend of the world, where is the road, this kind of thing Fang Chongyong is also a fog in front of him.

"I'm embarrassed to bury a big thunder for Brother Ji, I hope that the person who takes over the plate will not be a wine bag and a rice bag.

Otherwise, it's a lot of fun. ”

Fang Chongyong had a wicked smile on his face and said to himself.

After the incident in Hexi explodes, there will definitely be a storm or even a bloody storm, and then it will depend on who is unlucky.

In short, those bullshit things have nothing to do with other people's ya. The so-called no desire is rigid, how casual it is when you take over, and how relaxed it is when you leave.

I don't take it, so I don't have to be responsible for you, everything is a matter of course.

Soon, he, the Yanei, is going back to Chang'an to be a quiet and low-key man, Fang Chongyong thought beautifully.

The experience of eating locally in Shazhou and wanting to give money but not being able to give money is really bad. Only people like Fang Laique, who have never seen the world, will feel honored.

And Chang'an is so big, who knows who Fang Chongyong is? Return to the ordinary, this is the real life that should be!

"But the king of the world, won the name before and after his death, poor white happened!"

Fang Chongyong put his hands behind his back, walked towards the mansion with a step that the six relatives did not recognize.

He found that he seemed to lack childhood in this life. In the past few years, I have always pinched myself in Shazhou, and I am so tired of pretending to be a big official!

When you return to Chang'an, you don't have to pay attention to your words and deeds at all times like now, and you have to be in line with the personality of high-ranking officials in the Tang Dynasty.

(End of chapter)