Luo Tianchu and his entourage dismounted in front of the Yamen in Chang'an, which was not only the office but also Luo Tianchu's residence in Chang'an. The government is very magnificent, enter the gate is the concave wall, five zhang high, twenty zhang wide, the brick is engraved with four golden words of "impartiality and judgment". Further ahead is the instrument door, behind the instrument door is the lobby, the face is wide five rooms, into the depth of three rooms, the hall is set up with a public case, on both sides of the column "quiet", "avoid" and other ceremonial guards. Behind the lobby is the second hall, which is the place where the Taishou handles official business, and the atmosphere is solemn and majestic. The second hall is followed by the third hall, which is used to receive guests. Behind the three halls are the gardens and sixteen wings, as well as four independent courtyards. There is a pool of water in the garden, clear and bright, with exquisite mountains and rocks, and green trees. Zhu Yushi sighed: "Those who are officials are too good at enjoying happiness." Luo Tianchu smiled: "You haven't seen the inner city of Chang'an, it was an imperial city in the Tang Dynasty, how magnificent it should be." Zhu Yushi said: "Then I must go to see it, why don't I go sightseeing tonight." Luo Tianchu smiled: "It's okay." ”

Suddenly, someone laughed and said, "Where are you going sightseeing?" Turning his head, he saw that the person who spoke was Jiang Nu'er, and there were He Yuelian and Ling Xue'er beside him. Zhu Yushi said happily: "Why are you here?" Jiang Nuer smiled: "We have been enjoying the flowers in the garden, and when we heard that there was movement here, we came to take a look, and sure enough, you came back." Zhu Yushi said with a smile: "Xiao Luo and I plan to go to the Imperial City for sightseeing at night, do you want to come together?" Jiang Nuer smiled: "Okay, we saw the Imperial City when we were playing in the city, it was so big inside, it was like a city within a city." Zhu Yushi smiled and said, "Is Yuelian going too?" He Yuelian is now angry. The most important thing is that she and Jiang Nuer have become friends and sisters, and gradually moved the idea of the two daughters working together as a husband, so they said tepidly: "It's good to take a look." Zhu Yushi was overjoyed, knowing that Yuelian had forgiven herself. Jiang Nu'er said, "Let's go to the garden and have a look." Zhu Yushi said: "Aren't you from there?" Jiang Nu'er smiled mysteriously: "Stupid, we are standing here, and they haven't said a word." Zhu Yushi realized this, and said busily: "Yes, yes, let's go and have a look." After the three of them left, Gongsun Mingyue and the others also left, and only Luo Tianchu and Ling Xue'er were left in the huge garden.

Luo Tianchu smiled and said, "Are you okay?" Ling Xue'er's eyes were slightly swollen, her jade face was haggard, and her body had lost a lot, looking pitiful, still immersed in the pain of losing her father. She nodded slightly, tears rolling in her eyes. Luo Tianchu was in pain, and couldn't help but hold her in his arms, he just wanted to comfort Xue'er in this move, and had no other intentions. Ling Xue'er's delicate body trembled slightly, her cheek pressed against his chest, and she said softly: "Do you still want to leave?" Luo Tianchu said: "I won't leave until tomorrow morning, and there are still many cities to take." Ling Xue'er hugged his waist and said, "Will it be dangerous?" Luo Tianchu didn't want her to worry, and said with a smile: "There is no danger, you may win without a fight." Ling Xue'er shed tears and said: "I have lost my father, I can't lose you again, otherwise I really won't be able to live." You must come back alive. Luo Tianchu nodded and said: "I will, you have to cheer up, it's not good for your health like this, you have to eat more, see how thin you are now." Ling Xue'er said: "I feel uncomfortable and can't eat anything." Luo Tianchu said: "If you don't eat, how can you have the strength to take revenge?" Ling Xue'er snorted lightly: "Even if I eat, you won't let me go into battle to kill the enemy." Luo Tianchu smiled: "That's right, it's a man's business to go into battle to kill the enemy, and I won't let you take the risk." Ling Xue'er sighed leisurely: "I know you are good to me, hey, but can you be good to me for the rest of your life?"

Luo Tianchu hesitated slightly, his feelings for Ling Xue'er were mostly family affection, his heart was full of major events in the world, and there was no place to accommodate the selfishness of his children, he didn't have that kind of 'non-dividing thought' for any woman now, not just for Ling Xue'er. Thinking that it would be natural to marry Ling Xue'er in the future, and now she needed comfort, she said, "Of course." Ling Xue'er said: "If it weren't for my father's entrustment, would you always be good to me?" Luo Tianchu affirmed: "Yes." His words came from the bottom of his heart, making Cher like his family, and he was willing to protect it with his life.

Ling Xue'er said: "What about Li Qingwan? Do you like her too? To be honest, don't lie to me." Luo Tianchu said with a smile: "I don't like it, okay, don't think nonsense." Ling Xue'er said: "She is different to you, she wants to be good with you, I can see it." I don't really hate her, but I'm afraid of her. Luo Tianchuqi said: "Afraid of her, what is she afraid of?" Ling Xue'er sighed lightly: "I'm afraid that she will snatch you." Luo Tianchu said: "It's nonsense again." Ling Xue'er said quietly: "She is really beautiful, not only beautiful, but also charming, I know that many men like that kind of girl." Luo Tianchu already felt that this topic was very boring, and said: "If I say I don't like it, I don't like it, you have to believe me." Ling Xue'er chuckled: "Okay, I know, I'm hungry now, would you like to accompany me to eat something?" Luo Tianchu smiled: "I'm so willing." ”

The two left the yamen, walked onto the street, and found a nearby restaurant to eat. It's time for dinner, and there are a lot of diners in the store. Xiao Er led them to sit down on the second floor and asked for two dishes, one soup and triangular sake. The two chatted while eating, Luo Tianchu deliberately made Xue'er happy, telling her jokes, which made Xue'er feel better, and laughed out loud from time to time. Both were also hungry and quickly wiped out their meals.

After eating, continue to sit and chat. Not long after, three more guests came to the second floor, the person in the middle was Cui Xing, the left was Gongsun Mingyue, and the right was the hotel shopkeeper, the shopkeeper had been doing business in Chang'an for 30 years, and he knew Cui Xing, and he was very stammered, and said with a smile: "I don't know which guest Cui Taishou is looking for, and the small one can also help find it." As soon as Cui Xing went upstairs, he looked around and said, "You don't know that person." Gongsun Mingyue saw Luo Tianchu and said, "It's there." Luo Tianchu also saw them and beckoned to them. When the three of them came closer, Cui Xing Shili said: "The lower official has completed the matter explained by the castle master, and I have come to tell the castle master." Luo Tianchu smiled: "Cui is too hard. Cui Xing said: "The officials of this city are grateful to the castle owner, and they can take office tomorrow." Luo Tianchu said: "Great, is the military advisor also gone?" Gongsun Mingyue smiled: "Yes, we are new to here, and it is necessary to get close to those officials." We didn't want to disturb the lord of the castle, but we did have business to discuss with him. ”

Luo Tianchu said: "Okay, let's go back to the mansion." Ling Xue'er said: "Then you guys go, I'll go around alone." Gongsun Mingyue said with a smile: "The eldest lady doesn't need to avoid it, just come together." Ling Xue'er said: "You men say things, it's not good for me to be there." Gongsun Mingyue said with a smile: "Okay, the castle lord is up to the word, I don't know if the castle lord is willing to join us?" Luo Tianchu laughed and said: "Naturally willing, Xue'er." Let's go together. Ling Xue'erjun's face flushed slightly and nodded. Luo Tianchu took out ten coins and put them on the table, and was about to go downstairs, when the shopkeeper suddenly said: "Your Excellency is Luo Tianchu of the Blood Knife Castle?" Luo Tianchu nodded and said, "It's down." The shopkeeper was so frightened that he hurriedly bowed to the end, and said nervously: "The villain has eyes and doesn't know Mount Tai, and he doesn't know that the king has arrived, so he is lazy, and I hope the king will forgive me." Luo Tianchu smiled and said, "Great King, do you regard me as a bandit leader? ”

Gongsun Mingyue said with a smile: "We just came, and it is normal for the people to misunderstand us, and it will be good after a long time." The shopkeeper hurriedly apologized: "The villain lost his words, damn it." Luo Tianchu smiled and said, "Do you think I look like the king of the mountain?" The shopkeeper shook his head and said: "It's not like it, how can there be such a young and handsome king of the mountain." Luo Tianchu said with a smile: "Your business here is good, and the food is delicious, the tax you have to pay in a year will not be too low, right?"

The shopkeeper was so frightened that he changed color, thinking that Luo Tianchu was hiding a knife in his smile, but in fact, he wanted to rectify himself, and hurriedly said: "The small shop has always been operated in a regular manner, and the annual positive tax, refined money, total money, and monthly pile money are all paid on time, and no one has been missed." If you are ...... The lord of the castle is not trustworthy, we have books of accounts to check. Luo Tianchu said: "Naturally, I can trust it, I just wonder why there are so many taxes?" Gongsun Mingyue said: "The taxes of the Great Song Dynasty are heavier than those of previous dynasties, and the commercial taxes before Jingkang are only two kinds of residential tax and passing tax, and the others are added later." In addition to the commercial tax, the field tax has also increased a lot, the summer and autumn taxes, the body money and rice, as well as the silk silk, rice millet and so on that of the free request, which is about seven times that of the pre-Jingkang period, and the Jin State also followed this tax system. Luo Tianchu sighed: "How can the people bear such heavy taxes, I am the lord of Chang'an, and the system here is up to me, from then on, the tax system will be changed to the tax system before Jingkang, and all miscellaneous taxes will be cancelled." In addition, this year's tax exemption for one year will make the burden on the people lighter. As soon as he finished speaking, Gongsun Mingyue and Cui Xing's faces changed, Gongsun Mingyue was about to speak, but after thinking about it, he held back. The diners in the restaurant knew that he was the new owner of Chang'an, and they all quieted down to listen to him, and when they heard the news of the one-year tax exemption, the whole floor thundered, got up and bowed to Luo Tianchu, and applauded loudly. The shopkeeper danced excitedly and thanked him again and again. Luo Tianchu smiled and returned the salute to everyone, and said, "Strategist, Cui Taishou, let's go." The shopkeeper picked up the ten eldest sons on the table and said: "The great kindness of the castle owner, the people of Chang'an are unforgettable, even if this meal is invited by the villain." Luo Tianchu said with a smile: "It's fair to buy and sell, and if you don't pay for food, you won't really become the king of the mountain." The restaurant burst into warm applause again. Amid a cheer, the four of them left the restaurant. (To be continued.) )