There are many good deeds in the capital, especially after the nobles, the emperor's relatives and relatives, as well as the powerful disciples of the DPRK and the central government, have always been idle in the capital, and they are also in groups of 35, 781 parties, and gangs and factions in the capital.

Although Zhao Lanjiang was named the king of Yinyang, first, he was a king with a different surname, not Zhu, and his real status was not even as good as the duke in power in the imperial court; second, he had no foundation in the capital, and those who could gain a foothold in the capital over the years were not intertwined, but Zhao Lanjiang had only been the lord of the city for less than a year, and to put it bluntly, he was in charge of less than 100,000 people, and he was not even as good as a prefect to govern people.

So when these gentlemen and disciples heard that Zhao Lanjiang had entered the city, they all came to join in the fun, thinking in their hearts that they wanted to give him a dismount.

Zhang Shubao, the son of Lu Guogong, is one of them. This young man, who has been in the limelight in the capital recently, has suddenly become one of the hottest people in the capital by virtue of his father. He is no different from other sons, and he wants to be in the limelight, so he boasted about Haikou and asked a few sons and brothers who were also from famous families to come to Yongding to block the road.

Zhao Lanjiang's matter was spread too miraculously.

Zhang Shubao didn't believe it, especially the general Zhao Lanjiang who listened to the story of Chaliao and the god of war in Kuacheng, his heart was full of disdain, the results of the war in Western Xinjiang, that was His Majesty's wise layout, Xue Huai, the king of Dingbei, was restrained in Northern Xinjiang, and Zhao Lanjiang just picked up a bargain and happened to make a great contribution. In other words, I believe it will not be too bad. At least, when he was about to fight, he wouldn't be like the useless son of the squire of the military department, and he hurriedly transferred back to the Red Cavalry.

Five people immediately stopped in the middle of the long street.

Song Renyu was in the Red Cavalry Army, and he was also a high-ranking official in the capital, but unlike them, his father was extremely strict with him, and it was strictly forbidden to mix with these gentlemen, so he sent him to the frontier and let him make meritorious contributions, but after being in the capital for a long time, he still knew these four people.

Song Renqi said, "Zhang Shao, today I came to welcome Prince Zhao into Beijing, waiting for His Majesty's edict to see you, what do you want to block the road like this?"

Zhang Shubao said with a smile, "I have long heard that the King of the Hidden Sun has a golden knife, which is invincible in the world, and our brothers admire it very much, and want to see if this knife is as legendary as it is. ”

Song Renxiao's face changed, this kid is here to find trouble, he now has official business, it stands to reason that he can disperse them, but he is not an ordinary person, he Lao Tzu said a word in front of His Majesty, Song Shilang's official position will be lost.

Zhang Shao said and laughed, who in the world doesn't know that there is an arsenal in the Lu State Mansion, which collects the world's famous knives, and the people in the rivers and lakes call the world's knife storehouse. ”

Zhang Shubao listened to it very useful, and said, "Although the knife library is large, but there is no knife I like, I heard that Zhao Lanjiang used this golden knife to make a great deal of power in Hengduan Mountain, and it happened to be in the house for my town treasury, Zhao City Lord, make a price." ”

Zhao Lanjiang frowned slightly.

If he was in the usual temperament, when he encountered this kind of thing, Zhao Lanjiang would definitely ask Song Renqi first, "Does Lu Guogong have only one son", or "What is Lu Guogong's age, I don't know if he can still have children", but he is no longer the reckless hero who killed Sun Shaoming and Li Renjie in anger back then, but the lord of a city.

Nourish qi and transfer the body.

In his career as a city lord for a long time, Zhao Lanjiang already has a city government in his chest, so he naturally will not be angered by this kind of kid's arrogant words.

What's more, before coming, Chai Junshi also told him that the water in the capital is deep, and if a brick goes down, kill a king and bring out the shrimp, even if he sweeps the floor and guards the door, there may be a dignitary relative in the palace. These people have a good face, usually these poor relatives go to borrow money, they may not necessarily pull a hand, but if you bully these poor relatives, then he will fight with you to the end, no matter how bad it is, it will make you a stumbling block.

Therefore, when Zhao Lanjiang entered Beijing, the principle pursued was that he did not understand and did not dare to ask questions. After all, there were 100,000 people and a city behind him.

When he learned that he was the son of Lu Guogong, Zhao Lanjiang also smiled, "This golden knife is the thing of the Hidden Yang City Lord, if the prince wants it, there are two ways, either to be the Hidden Yang City Lord, or to ask His Majesty for the decree, I don't dare to give it away easily." ”

This sentence was right, and the ball was kicked to the palace, and even Zhao Lanjiang was very satisfied. Even if he borrowed a chapter book to protect ten guts, he didn't dare to go to the palace to ask for a knife.

However, Zhang Shubao was not discouraged.

"That's a pity, but, since the knife is not sold, it is said that the martial arts of the King of Hidden Yang are transcendent, and it is a coincidence, and he is also a good martial artist, I don't know if I can ask for a trick and a half, so that the people in the capital can see, is the martial arts of the city lord of Zhao exaggerated?"

Zhao Lanjiang looked at Zhang Shubao, his steps were vain, the true yuan in his body was weak, and it was good to be able to enter the realm, and he might be able to fight three or five with ordinary people. With this body, he can't even be a gatekeeper in Hidden Yang City.

But he is the son of Lu Guogong.

Lu Guogong didn't know him, but he couldn't help but give face.

"How dare I do it with Zhang Gongzi, no matter how high my martial arts are, I can't beat the cabinet scholars. ”

When the other people heard this, they immediately said in a loud voice, "Did you hear it, the dignified Hidden Yang City Lord, Zhao Lanjiang, the king of the Western Frontier, is not Zhang Gongzi's opponent!"

Zhao Lanjiang didn't want to participate in the battle of words, so he just let him go. He said to Song Renqi, "Commander Song, since this is the case, we might as well take a detour." ”

Song Renqi was in charge of the reception of the King of Yinyang, for fear of causing trouble and messing things up, at first he was worried that Zhao Lanjiang would do it, but he was relieved to hear these words, and breathed a sigh of relief, "It's better to take a detour to Zuo'anmen." ”

One of the tiger cavalry soldiers who accompanied him was dissatisfied, "We came to the capital, and we were so damn sick of birds." ”

Zhao Lanjiang glanced at him, and the man was silent.

"This is the capital, not as good as Yinyang, it won't show off its might, if you can't stand it at all, how can you do great things in the future?"

When the tiger cavalry heard this, they even bowed their heads and admitted their mistakes.

Seeing that they were going to take a detour, Zhang Shubao and the others burst into laughter and said, "The city lord of Yinyang is nothing more than this, he is a dragon outside, and when he comes to the capital, he has to coil the same." ”

Zhao Lanjiang listened to it in his ears and sneered silently.

At this moment, I suddenly heard someone say, "Slow!"

An old man in regular clothes, riding out of the crowd, this man was burly, sitting on a horse, almost the same height as Zhao Lanjiang, and his face was even more solemn, looking not angry and arrogant.

When Zhang Shubao saw the old man, he knew that something was wrong, so he was about to slip away.

The old man said again, "Slow!"

A few people stood there as if they had been immobilized, and did not dare to move.

The old man spoke, "I am a Ming soldier, guarding the country for the Son of Heaven with flesh and blood, and guarding the country with blood and loyalty, and now that I have come to the capital, I can't even leave Yongdingmen?"

Zhang Shubao hesitated and said, "Old prince, we're just joking. ”

"Jokes?"

The old man raised his eyebrows and said, "You let Zhang Shihe come over, I want to ask, how did he discipline his son?"

As soon as Zhang Shubao heard the call to his parents, he immediately panicked, "Old prince, my father was summoned into the palace by His Majesty today, and he hasn't come back yet, I know it's wrong, don't tell your father." ”

Zhao Lanjiang looked at the old man, but he didn't know the identity of the other party, Zhang Shubao saw that he was like a mouse seeing a cat, he opened his mouth and shouted Lu Guogong directly by name, I am afraid that it is not small.

Song Renqi reminded in a low voice, "This is Xue Huai, the king of Pingbei." ”

Zhao Lanjiang was stunned, no wonder there was such majesty between gestures. This is the king of Pingbei, who was nicknamed the turtle king by the Northern Zhou people, and led the army to capture the fairy ditch not long ago. He is a veteran of the Three Dynasties, and his ancestors are from a military family, commanding the Dingbei Army, and he has great influence in the imperial court.

Lu Guogong is now favored, but he is only an upstart, not a powerful man. If the emperor wants to kill him, all he needs is a verbal message. But King Pingbei is different, his identity, the family behind him, is enough to shake the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, so even the emperor is polite to him.

Zhao Lanjiang was about to get off the horse, but was stopped by Xue Wangye, he said, "The road is high and the road is long, and the boat and car are tiring, I will lead the horse for General Zhao." ”

The King of Yinyang, the King of the Golden Sword, the Lord of Zhao, and the names of Zhao Lanjiang are innumerable, but this General Zhao is the only one who was crowned the King of Yinyang by the imperial court, and at the same time he was crowned a general who stayed behind in Yinyang, as compensation for failing to be named the governor of the Western Army, which is his position in the military.

This made Zhao Lanjiang feel very cordial.

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I can't help it!"

Xue Huai said, "Make!"

Zhao Lanjiang wants to resign again.

Xue Huai said unhappily, "Do you think I am leading the horse for you? This king is leading the horse for the hot-blooded men who sacrificed their lives for the country outside Hengduan Mountain, and for the thousands of soldiers stationed on the frontier!"

When these words came out of his mouth, they were full of pride, and they reached everyone's ears, and they were also full of blood.

Without the soldiers of the frontier, where did the Haiyan River come from? Without the blood of loyal souls, how could there be a peaceful and prosperous era of the Ming Dynasty today?

Zhao Lanjiang was in awe.

His understanding of the king of Dingbei had only heard some rumors before, and even Yuwen Tianlu had said something like "I am not as good as Huaigong", this person is by no means the mediocre prince who drinks all day long and can't shrink out of the legend.

Zhao Lanjiang was sitting in danger.

At this moment, he is no longer the King of Yinyang, no longer the Lord of Zhao, but represents the entire Western Xinjiang Expeditionary Army, and is subject to Xue Huai's gift of leading the horse, which is the supreme glory as a soldier.

In front of everyone's eyes, an old man and a young man walked out from the Yongding Gate, and everywhere they went, everyone gave in and cast admiring glances at the two military generals.

Zhang Shubao and a few people, while they were not paying attention, had already left in disgrace.

Of course, it is a long way to go to Anguo Mansion from here, and Xue Huai will not always lead the horse, and he came here today to show people and show the attitude of the Ming military.

And his behavior, in the eyes of some well-intentioned people, looks more like a kind of co-optation, I believe that it will not be long before rumors will spread, and even some imperial historians will play impeachment, saying that the two major military generals are conspiring to discuss matters and plot misdeeds, etc.

When the others dispersed, Zhao Lanjiang dismounted and saluted Xue Huai.

Xue Huai accepted it calmly.

"If you hadn't delayed in the Western Xinjiang and killed Tuoba Invincible, this king would not have easily taken down the fairy ditch, and this turtle king's hat would have to be worn for a few more years. Haha!"

The people in the army, speaking straight and straight, did not detour around the corner, and immediately won the favor of Zhao Lanjiang, and he was even more devoted to this prince.

"Why did you come to Beijing?"

Zhao Lanjiang said, "I am waiting for the edict, and I dare not come." ”

Xue Huai said, "Since you're here, I have a few words to send you." ”

Zhao Lanjiang listened attentively. ”

Xue Huai is an old man of the imperial court, and he has a deeper and farther view of the imperial court, the capital, and even the whole world, although His Majesty did not say it explicitly, he almost guessed the intention.

"The capital is an official, everywhere is full of dangers, no better than the hidden sun, straight to solve the problem with a sword, talk and do things, be careful everywhere, act and speak, see ten points, listen to seven points, believe five points, say three points, in order to mix in Beijing. ”

Zhao Lanjiang asked rhetorically, "Is it the same for the prince?"

Xue Huai laughed, "If others asked, this king would have slashed down with a knife." However, I'm afraid I won't be able to beat you, so I have to tell you honestly that this king is not. ”

"Then why did you teach me that?"

Xue Huaidao, "Because this king is a veteran of the three dynasties, his ancestors are the founding heroes, loyal to the court, loyal to His Majesty, and have three thousand protégés, do you have the confidence of this king?"

Zhao Lanjiang shook his head.

Xue Huai advised, "Martial arts are not good in the capital. ”

Zhao Lanjiang Zhengrong thanked him, he first came to the capital, he was not familiar with the place, the king of Dingbei disregarded his identity, and personally came to lead the horse to give a speech, and he was grateful.

"Today, the king comes in civilian clothes, not on behalf of the military, these words come from my mouth, into your ears, just listen. His Majesty will see you, no matter what conditions you propose, you will agree. ”

After that, someone led the horse to come, Xue Huai turned over the horse, rode away, and when he was leaving, he suddenly said, "One day, I look forward to joining forces with General Zhao to fight the enemy!"

When he left, the eyes of the alley receded, and they all reported to their respective masters.

Zhao Lanjiang and his entourage came to the Anguo Mansion, and the plaque of the imperial pen had already been removed, and some maids and servants packed it up and welcomed everyone into the mansion.

Originally, Song Renqi arranged a banquet, but Xue Huai's words made Zhao Lanjiang have to push it away, Song Renqi expressed his understanding, and after the arrangements were made, he returned to the palace to resume his life.

It is a big crime for a Beijing official to make friends with foreign ministers.

With Xue Huai's guidance, Zhao Lanjiang also put away his mind and decided not to deliberately make friends with the hundred officials in the city, he is the lord of Yinyang City, and he manages one acre and three points of land, just using this time to accompany his wife and son to visit the capital, which can be regarded as satisfying Yang Xiaoxiao's wishes.

Zhao Lanjiang also didn't expect that when he came to Beijing for the first time, he would live in Yuwen Tianlu's mansion, and in the previous period of time, he didn't want to kill Yuwen Tianlu all the time to take revenge. But fate played a joke on him, and the conversation in the Hidden Yang Cave made him completely change his opinion.

An Guogong is not small, but it is by no means luxurious.

Especially this study, it can be described as simple, the rows of bookshelves have long been emptied, there is silence all around, and in the empty room, it is almost audible that a needle has fallen.

The furniture in the room is a little old, not precious wood, the Taishi chair and bookcase are polished, and one armrest has even been broken, and it is re-nailed with rivets and continues to be used.

Presumably, when the house was raided, the officers and soldiers did not bother to remove these worthless items.

He didn't expect that the former first magnate would work in such a humble study. Zhao Lanjiang stood in the center of the house and suddenly sniffed his nose.

He smelled the smell of wine.

The taste is light, but familiar.

It is the Chishui wine aged by Li Ji in Yinyang City.