Three Kingdoms

The surging Wei River irrigates both sides of the river, making the fields of Sanfu in Chang'an abundant. The Wei River starts from Tianshui, passes through Chencang, Weibin, Jintai, Qishan, Meixian, and Fufeng, then passes through Xianyang, Wugong, and Weicheng, then to Huxian, Chang'an, Weiyang, Baqiao, and Gaoling, and then through Huayin to It merges into the river at Tongguan.

It can be said that without the Wei River, the fertile land in Sanfu, Guanzhong would be reduced by at least half. It is also an important waterway between Guanzhong and Longyou.

The Weishui River not only plays an important role in people's livelihood and political affairs, but is also a good place to go in daily leisure time. On the side of the Weishui River, there are always some manors and pavilions. Whenever autumn is high, people will hold banquets or enjoy entertainment in them. There is an endless stream of visitors, admiring chrysanthemums or meeting friends.

Chang'an has been restored and expanded by Fei Qian. Now, although some people are unwilling to admit it, Chang'an has indeed reproduced some of the majesty and prosperity of the Western Han Dynasty, except that the royal palaces are only under maintenance for various reasons. Apart from the expansion, basically the rest of the area is not inferior to the grandeur of the past, or even worse.

Winter is about to enter, and there are not many autumn scenes left. The banquets around the Wei River have become more intensive, perhaps to retain the last autumn scenery, or perhaps for other reasons.

Among these many manors and pavilions, naturally most of them belong to the villas of the children of these noble families. When Dong Zhuo turmoiled the Third Assistant, these other businesses could not escape the murderous hands, and many of them were destroyed. However, after Fei sneaked into Chang'an, some people gradually took care of it again. After all, he had spare money on hand, and there was no need to use it. Buying a house, what can you do?

This is naturally related to Webster's manor.

Before, Webster's popularity didn't seem to be very good. Wei Duan kept his head at home with his head down, but during this period, after Wei Duan took office in the Senate, Webster's reputation seemed to suddenly He is feeling better again, and he often starts to entertain guests generously. Today, he set up a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet in this Weihe River villa. Of course, the guests invited were some noble people.

After the news came out, more people came than originally invited. Naturally, many of them came to the banquet shamelessly. Wei Duan also greeted them all with a smile and invited them to take a seat. His words were gentle and polite. Despite his boredom, he was praised by the sky, adding a lively atmosphere in the other industries.

Since it is a banquet for appreciating autumn, the main focus is "appreciation", so of course the etiquette is not so strict. The banquet seats are relatively scattered, depending on the terrain and pavilion corridors. Guests can have their own table, or they can share a table with each other. No restrictions on movement, everyone finds convenience. So in the courtyard, among the pavilions, guests were coming and going, drinking together, chatting, throwing pots, admiring the scenery, whispering, laughing, wearing light clothes, neglecting their manners, and many of them singing wildly...

The children of the noble family drank until they were drunk and exposed their breasts, which was also called elegant and slutty, but the ordinary people drank until they took off their clothes, which was called immoral. Most of the exposed flesh of the descendants of the Gein clan is fair, and the skin color of the working people is copper-black...

As the host, Wei Duan naturally walked between the tables, smiled and said a few words to this person, and then chatted with that person for a while. He looked handsome and had long sleeves flowing, giving him the air of a celebrity.

Everyone knows that the word "Shen Lv" in the Shen Lv Yuan can be big or small. If you get the center of the cavalry and take control of legal matters, you will gain a lot of authority. You can also use Shen Lv to legitimately enter. The Feiqian Political Center participates in major affairs...

It's just like a person who knows whether drinking water is cold or warm, only Wei Duan himself knows whether the Law Academy is a long-term fortune or a miserable one. It's just that in life, especially when people reach middle age, even if their faces are swollen, they still have to pretend to be fat. After all, there are old people and young people. Although the current Shenluyuan may not be as "Shenluyuan" as other people imagine. ”, but you also have to put on a pretense, just like you are doing the work of a salesperson but also have the title of director.

In fact, Wei Duan, like most of the nobles, looked down on Fei Qian at first.

It’s normal to despise chains.

The nobles of Shandong looked down on those from Shanxi, and those in Guanzhong looked down on those from Longyou and North, those from the main family looked down on those from the side branches, those from the side branches looked down on the Han clan, and the Han clan looked down on Bai Ding...

Therefore, Wei Duan once thought that Fei Qian was just like that. Even if he was lucky enough to rule Guanzhong for a while, he would still cause trouble like Dong Zhuo in the end. After all, governing the country still relies on talents like Wei Duan. Can.

What kind of climate can a martial artist have?

But Wei Duan didn't expect that this Fei Qian would be so successful all the way. Even without the help of Wei Duan and others, his career would skyrocket. It was shocking. He seemed to know everything from people's livelihood to the military!

Among the scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, there is no one that Fei Qian can't play with, so the strengths that Wei Duan can rely on are almost no big stage in front of Fei Qian, and it is extremely embarrassing to not be able to get up or down...

But Fei Qian is not without any hidden dangers. After all, Fei Qian is already a very popular minister, and his status is considered to be extremely high. Whether it is an official position or a mission, it is almost like separating the things from the big man. This Will the people in Shandong be afraid of it, and the emperor has no doubts?

The more Fei Qian shows respect for the Emperor, the more morally stable he will be, but the deeper the hidden dangers will be. Although there are a lot of followers in Guanzhong at the moment, and they all come to join in the fun, but if one day Fei Qian is no longer in charge, will the Fei family still maintain such a high prestige in the court and the third assistant of Guanzhong? ?

Just like the autumn chrysanthemum, all the flowers are in full bloom now, so they can show their beauty, but how long can the autumn chrysanthemum bloom?

Nowadays, everyone is afraid of Fei Qian simply because Fei Qian has a very profound influence on the army. Fei Qian himself rose from the north and fought in the south and north, with great achievements. Most of his generals were promoted by Fei Qian from the ranks, so there is no doubt about his loyalty.

But the question is what about the future?

It's just that now Fei Qian is in his prime, so these hidden dangers are not obvious, nor are they fatal. If they really become a problem, they may not appear until ten or twenty years later. It is precisely because of this that Wei Duan and the others quietly lay on the ground and allowed Fei Qian to fiddle with them.

There is ample time.

Since the founding of the Han Dynasty, there have been no princes for a century, but aristocratic families for a thousand years!

Wei Duan is like a butterfly, hovering gracefully among the guests. Whether they are invited or uninvited, he treats them equally. Even some juniors from the side, Wei Duan talks cordially and everyone can say a few words. .

After turning around the flower hall, Wei Duan arrived in front of Zhao Ji's table, chatted for a few words with a smile, and then invited Zhao Ji to come and enjoy the chrysanthemums together...

Well, of course it's not the asshole on the buttocks, it's the real asshole.

In the Han system, counties and counties need to be counted at the end of the year. Those who are further away can send their planners, while those who are closer can also come by themselves. According to the usual practice, Zhao Ji could send a civil servant to Chang'an on his behalf, but for some unknown reason, Zhao Ji came in person in the past two years, and then stayed in Chang'an for a few days, waiting for the plan. After that, we will return to Longyou. Linjing is not too far from Chang'an anyway.

Wei Duan smiled and said: "I heard that Commander Zhao's plan this time is excellent. It can be said that the people are stable and the government is well governed... I wonder if there is any magic method?" 』

Zhao Ji smiled slightly and said, "The academy is giving you the award." Taxation is a major matter for the country, how can we take it lightly? Although Linjing is remote and has abundant fertile farmland, it is a big plan for the Hussar, so you can only work hard and do your duty with all your heart..."

Wei Duan nodded in praise, "Commander Zhao is indeed fiercely loyal..."

"Don't dare, Wei Yuanzheng is also loyal to the country..." Zhao Ji replied with his hands in hand, and the two looked at each other and laughed.

Zhao Ji actually came here for the Shenlu Academy, and he was really restless. Zhao Ji, relying on his father's glory, can only serve as a county magistrate for one place at most, and can no longer make any progress. However, if there is a chance to practice in Chang'an, then he can find a chance to go to Chang'an in the future. One step forward, becoming the prefect of a county is not a dream.

People always have to have some dreams, otherwise they are different from salted fish.

Salted fish is naturally cheaper, so you have to be willing to spend money on it.

Now that Fei Qian is in power, what he values ​​​​is taxation, so Zhao Ji has also worked hard in this area. Even if some accounts are not good-looking, he would rather pay for them himself to make them look bright. What he wants is that he can't say anything He went one step further than his father and touched the branches and leaves of the three locust trees.

As for Wei Duan, he also wants to take a step closer. When outsiders watch the excitement, they always think that the Shenluyuan is such a beautiful place, is it actually...

never mind.

Wei Duan didn't want to think about these things anymore.

The Council of Laws and Regulations seems to have a high position, but in fact all the power falls in the hands of Pang Tong. The edict of Shangshutai does not require the so-called "Laws of Counciling" at all, and anything that requires "Laws of Counciling" is basically not a good thing. In addition, Wei Duan was forced by the situation and sometimes had to act according to Fei Qian's wishes, and he did some things in Chang'an. Although it seemed to be prosperous, in fact he secretly offended a lot of people. Few people.

For example, when it came to Tian He's harvest some time ago, those manors who acted against the will and did not follow Husband's advice resulted in Zhuang He's poor harvest...

Fei Qian asked Wei Duan to come up with a regulation to deal with it, so Wei Duan needed to painstakingly construct a law among the old papers, saying that "after the crops are born, it will rain." number. Drought, storms, floods, fire, weeds, or other things that damage the crops are often stated as to the number of acres, and those who violate the rules will be punished. ” Then it was said that these manor owners failed to fulfill their responsibilities in urgent reporting, and certain penalties were imposed.

The Hussars were able to deal with it, but Wei Duan gradually became alienated in the hearts of the Guanzhong nobles.

In Wei Duan's view, Husband's status is relatively stable at least in the past few years. As long as there are no big problems, no one can shake Husband's potential authority in Guanzhong, so Wei Duan naturally No choice. You can't say that you are abandoning your own family's life for the so-called benefits of other Guanzhong noble families?

When our family falls, how many of the other Guanzhong nobles who have benefited will be grateful and take care of Wei Duan and his family? It's already a good character if you can avoid adding insult to injury, not to mention those people who talk sweetly but are full of swords, who might even come to bite and devour him!

Therefore, Wei Duan also knows that in this position, there will inevitably be some dirty things in the future, and his relationship with the Guanzhong gentry is also very likely to spoil their friendship, and then they will have to fight openly and secretly.

For the sake of my family, there is nothing I can do about it. After all, after all these years, is it possible that the Han Dynasty has not been able to survive without party struggle? It is not uncommon for former friends to become mortal enemies.

Since he has to prepare for the worst situation, Wei Duan naturally needs to seek more strength and help when the situation is not too bad. Then people like Zhao Ji who were originally unable to enter Wei Duan's eyes suddenly suddenly You can have a good time dating.

Previously, Longyou was desolate and desolate under the Western Qiang rebellion. In recent years, a large number of refugees have been added to the area. Thanks to farming and reclamation, and the majority of the Qiang people have been pacified and no longer rebel, agriculture and animal husbandry have improved. The industry has been greatly restored, and the economy will naturally get better.

At the same time, because Jia Xu served as the governor of Longyou, he recommended many talents to join Fei Qian's command. There was also a hint of the momentum of the Longyou Group. Although it was not comparable to that of Shangdang Taiyuan in Guanzhong, if it could win more people It is always better to be on your side than to have these people side with others and become your opponents.

Based on the above reasons, it became inevitable for Wei Duan to interact with Zhao Ji and compliment each other during the banquet. The two of them had what they wanted, and naturally they hit it off immediately. The so-called viewing of chrysanthemums and flowers was really a drunkard's intention not to drink.

With the preliminary intention of cooperation, we did not continue to communicate in depth. Things like this always require several back and forths before we can understand each other's length and depth. When there is no certainty that the interests are completely tied together, it is always I won’t say too much.

Wei Duan took Zhao Ji and met with several other people, implicitly letting Zhao Ji enter this circle. As for the specific details of subsequent cooperation, of course, we will discuss it slowly.

A few people were sitting together drinking and chatting, and naturally they talked about the current price of food.

Food prices continue to rise, which involves many goods, causing the prices on the market to rise steadily for a while. Under such a situation, some people are eager to get a piece of the pie, but some people feel that The momentum is not right, and I want to test the wind direction here in Wei Duan.

Wealth and romance among noble families naturally require money and goods to support them. Even though Wei Duan repeatedly expressed that the reception was poor and the banquet was superficial, whether he was sitting alone or drinking in a group, the attendants and maids always served him well, but When any dish is finished, someone will serve it quickly and well without asking, and drinks will be replenished as you go. As for the fine utensils, the exquisite dishes, and the juggling and drumming during the banquet, although they are not the most high-end in this era, they are not far behind. With these alone, the cost of a banquet is enough One hundred ordinary households could eat it for a year!

So, unless he is really an unworthy son who lost his father's land, that nobleman doesn't love money? But to enjoy money, you also need life. Otherwise, if you close your eyes, wouldn't you be taking advantage of others?

So this time, the price of food is about to be unsustainable, and there are countless gold and silver prices rolling around. Can we fish in the current and make a big fortune, or can we take advantage of the fire and let others benefit?

Half drunk and half awake, someone pretended to mention it unintentionally and wanted to test the tone. However, Wei Duan was originally a cunning person. How could he be easily pinched at his core? Even if he touched the corners, he wanted to refuse. It's welcome, but it's extremely difficult to get it right...

While the two parties were going back and forth, feeling each other out, an attendant suddenly walked in quickly, and then Wei Duan made a haha ​​and left under the pretext of changing his clothes.

"This is……"

"I'm afraid something will change again..."

"Come here, let's go and find out..."

Not all the people attending the banquet were fools. Food and drink were not important, and exchanging information was the first priority. Seeing Wei Duan like this, he had some concerns in his heart and sent people to inquire nearby.

In fact, what happened was very simple, and there was no cover-up or avoidance. Just when Wei Duan and others were holding a banquet in Weishui Villa, a notice was posted at Sanfu in Chang'an almost at the same time.

Chang'an Cross Street.

There was a group of people surrounding the bulletin board, stretching their heads to look in. And at the very back, there was a person shaking his head while reading the contents of the bulletin...

"The five emperors have different rituals and music. Counting changes is the reason for its use. The Spring and Autumn Period was virtuous and the Warring States Period was empty. I resented the Qin Dynasty, the Qingming Dynasty and the Han Dynasty..."

Among the crowd, some were shaking their heads as they listened, seeming to be immersed in it and gaining insights, while others were scratching their heads and just looking around without knowing what was being said.

Under Pang Tong's arrangement, the notices were not spread slowly from Chang'an as was customary before, but were distributed to various places long ago and then posted at the same time as agreed. Of course, doing this will cause the news in Chang'an to fall behind, while places further away will get the notice earlier...

When the notice was announced, more people not only listened, but also copied the notice and hurriedly took it back.

"...Since now, my love has been false in every possible way. The sun is shining brightly, and the strength is gone. The hemorrhoids are licked and the bones are knotted, and the straight color is gone. He bowed to his fame and power and patted the powerful. Yan Jian goes against the customs and causes disaster. The evil man appears and the honest man hides..."

Someone started to frown.

"...White deer in the wild, green cattle and virtuous trees. In the past, Shennong moved to plant, and Yan and Huang consolidated the roots. In the Qin Dynasty, the officials were appointed, and in the Han Dynasty, the generals sat there, either hanging down in the frost and dew, or shaking in the wind and smoke, filling the community of the East China Sea. , obtain the grain of the Western Region, raise the soldiers of the Northern Desert, and support the people of Jinan. It is the blessing of heaven and earth and the hard work of the people..."

Someone started picking teeth.

"Sell new silk in February, sell new grain in May." Healing the sores in front of the eyes, but cutting out the flesh in the heart. Those who sit back and enjoy the sage do not know the hardships of life for the people, and they do not hesitate to waste natural resources and destroy rice and grain. The cost of raising animals for one day is enough to feed a hungry family. It goes against the virtue of God and goes against the wishes of saints and sages. Every grain and grain should not be discarded lightly. Therefore, if anyone destroys or discards rice grains in Guangbu prefectures and counties, both officials and civilians will be held responsible without mercy..."

Someone started to think.

Then soon some people gathered together, discussing and interpreting.

"This order from Qiaoqi... Well, it should be signed by Pang Lingjun... Everyone, everyone!" What is the purpose of this order? 』

"Promote frugality? Don't waste it? 』

"Isn't this matter brought up every year? I didn’t see him doing anything serious that year, either? 』

"This matter is inherently difficult to define. What is waste? If you spend an extra grain of millet or eat an extra grain of grain, is it considered a waste? According to Yi, it’s just a formality! 』

"That makes sense...but I still feel a little uneasy..."

"Uneasy, why are you uneasy?" 』

"This... I can't even tell you..."

"Isn't this what it is? Stop being so worried! It's hard to say that this is Pang Lingjun's intention to mess with you and me and slow down the price of food in the market! 』

Countless voices of discussion arose one after another...