Chapter 226: If you want to do something, make it famous first

Chapter 226: If you want to do something, make it famous first

Chapter 226: If you want to do something, make it famous first

The group wandered around like this until it was almost dark when they arrived at the busiest street near Hezhou Port.

Originally, they thought that there were enough vendors near the port and it was lively enough.

But I didn't expect that this place would be countless times more lively than that.

The streets are extremely wide, with small stalls and vendors crowded and stacked up, mostly selling goods from all over the place.

The pedestrians walking on the street are of different shapes and sizes, dressed differently, and obviously come from all over the world.

Behind the stalls are various street shops, including restaurants, taverns, brothels and everything else. It is very lively.

Even Li Jinglong couldn't help but sigh when he came here.

It’s so lively, much more lively than Yingtian.

Lu Yunyi explained this:
Yingtian is so big that vendors don’t have to crowd together; they are everywhere.

But it is different in Hezhou. People like Lu Yunyi will only stay near the port.

This also makes this place particularly crowded, and almost all the vendors and shops in Hezhou are crowded here.

Another point is that there is a curfew in Yingtian City, but not in Hezhou.

Perhaps Li Jinglong didn't have many opportunities to visit night markets, so he seemed particularly excited.
He looked around and sighed from time to time.

The same is true for Liu Heiying, Xu Zengshou and others.

Only Lu Yunyi looked normal, but he also had a smile on his face.

We should go out to eat and drink at night. Who would be a good person to come out to drink in broad daylight?

After walking around for a while, Liu Heiying bought some small souvenirs as usual.
Lu Yunyi still bought him a small bamboo basket and asked him to carry it.

Seeing the two of them so skilled and tacit, and their deep friendship,
Li Jinglong felt sad and depressed. He had never had such a playmate since he was a child.

As he walked, Li Jinglong stroked the jade pendant on his waist.

The jade pendant is very valuable, crystal clear and green.

But the ornament on the jade pendant is more important. It is the small Buddhist beads that Liu Heiying gave him last time, and it is the only one of its kind in Tianjie Temple.

Soon, after asking around, they arrived at the most famous restaurant on this street, Qiu Feng Pavilion.

The name is strange, but I heard that the restaurant has four names.

There is everything for spring, summer, autumn and winter, including Chunxi Tower, Xiahe Pavilion, Qiufeng Pavilion and Dongxue Residence.

Change the decoration every season.
Entering the Qiufeng Pavilion, you will see a carefully decorated courtyard with several tall maple trees standing tall.

The maple leaves have gradually turned into autumn colors, with golden and deep red interweaving. The autumn wind blows, and the maple leaves sway gently, making a rustling sound.

As you walk in, a faint scent of osmanthus and the fragrance of wood interweave with each other.

The main entrance of the restaurant is carved from solid wood.

Hanging on the lintel is a plaque with black background and gold characters, with the three characters "Qiu Feng Pavilion" inscribed on it in powerful strokes with extraordinary momentum.

Through the door, you can see that the tables and chairs are all made of mahogany, carved with delicate cloud and lotus patterns.

The table was covered with white fine cotton cloth and decorated with blue and white porcelain plates and bowls. On the wall hung several ink paintings depicting autumn scenery, with distant mountains and nearby water, and layers of colorful forests. Many people were already having their meals there.

In the left corner of the courtyard, many people in luxurious clothes gathered.

A worker in a plain robe stood on it, pointing at a couplet on it and shouting loudly.

Several people looked at each other, walked closer and listened for a while before they understood what was going on.
It turned out that Qiufeng Pavilion had just opened, and as a lucky draw, they asked everyone in Hezhou to write a couplet.
If you can come up with the second couplet and the horizontal scroll, you won't have to spend any money in Qiufeng Pavilion this season.
The couplets will also be posted outside the door and framed for display.

Wait until the winter opening to replace it, and repeat the cycle.

There are already more than 20 people gathered here, and they all look like businessmen.
On one side there were many guards, and obviously there were some dignitaries among them.

Several people stopped and saw the first couplet at a glance.

[The dancing autumn maples reflect the prosperous Hongwu era, and the elegant people in the pavilion enjoy the fireworks of the world.]
"My dear guests, please feel free to speak to me boldly.

Even if it is not neat, it doesn't matter. Our restaurant will give you three plates of signature side dishes as a thank you for visiting Hezhou.
With your presence, our shop is booming. Thank you very much.”

The guy bowed respectfully on the stage, which made many people present smile.
They are all traveling merchants, so they have no shortage of money. It is worth it if they can buy happiness.

Li Jinglong's eyes were particularly bright. He didn't care about Xiaocai.
What he valued was the couplet of Qiufeng Pavilion.

He secretly memorized it and planned to discuss it with His Majesty after returning to Beijing. It would be even better if he could come up with a couplet.

Li Jinglong looked at Lu Yunyi beside him and lowered his voice:

"Yun Yi, do you have any clues?"

"What clue?" Lu Yunyi was stunned.

"Couplet, the prosperous era of Hongwu. If I can come up with a couplet, I will go back and tell His Majesty about it. He will surely be happy."

Lu Yunyi smiled bitterly: "Duke Cao, if this topic is a sand table with two teams fighting, I still have some clues, but this couplet is too difficult for me."

Li Jinglong immediately showed disappointment and sighed softly.

He turned his eyes forward and tried to think.

He was also a student of a great scholar in the capital, and had some knowledge of literature.

But he soon gave up and his mind was empty.

Seeing him like this, Lu Yunyi thought for a moment, then smiled and raised his arm to nudge him:

"Your Majesty likes these?"

"I don't like it that much, but Your Majesty would certainly like to hear people praising the court.

Your Majesty used to be dismissive, but now that he is old, he is like a child and needs to be coaxed."

Li Jinglong lowered his voice to a very low level, whispered, and warned:
"You can't tell anyone else. If it gets out, I'll be in trouble."

Lu Yunyi smiled and replied:

"Okay, then let's match this couplet."

"Really?"

Lu Yunyi did not answer him, but used his left hand to nudge Liu Heiying who was feasting:
"Black Hawk, think of a second line, preferably one that includes the word 'Hezhou'."

Liu Heiying raised his head slightly confusedly, blinked, and nodded after a moment.

Li Jinglong's eyes widened, and he looked back and forth at Liu Heiying and Lu Yunyi in disbelief.
For a moment it was unclear who had the problem.

Seeing him like this, Lu Yunyi explained with a smile:

"But don't underestimate our Black Hawk. Back in the school, my father said he could pass the imperial examination.
It's a pity that he, like me, doesn't like reading the Four Books and Five Classics."

Li Jinglong was greatly shocked. The imperial examination had only been reopened for a few years, and there were only a few hundred candidates.

Liu Heiying? He? Can he become a juren?

Li Jinglong naturally didn't believe it, and so did the others, all of whom were filled with surprise and disbelief.

Liu Heiying on the side wiped his mouth, a little embarrassed, and muttered softly:
"Studying is not as good as selling melons, selling melons is not as good as joining the army, you can get promoted very quickly."

Li Jinglong blinked in confusion. This statement actually made some sense to him.

After all, after working so hard for a year, he easily became a fourth-rank official.

If a juren passes the imperial examination, he has to start as a seventh-rank county magistrate, and it is unknown when he will be promoted.

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard Liu Heiying chuckle, "Got it."

So fast? Li Jinglong's eyes widened:
"Black Hawk, why don't you think about this carefully?"

"Don't worry, I have it in my hands!"

Liu Heiying patted his stomach, then raised his hand high and shouted to the guy:
"I have a link."

The guy looked over and his eyes lit up. Although the young man in front of him was dark,
But his casual clothes were very expensive, and he exuded nobility. He immediately spoke:
"You are a very young guest. Are you a student from some academy? Please come on stage quickly."

"Brother Yun'er, I'm going."

Liu Heiying handed over the paper bag in his hand and went straight to the stage.

Lu Yunyi looked at the fried chicken in the paper bag, took a piece from it and started eating.

Seeing this, Li Jinglong on the side also took a piece and started chewing it.

"Yun Yi, is he really capable?"

"Of course, Black Hawk is very smart." Lu Yunyi said in a vague voice.

An executor who can properly arrange all the major and minor military affairs must have enough brains.

This type of person is the superior's right-hand man and is indispensable.

"Sir, I see that you are so responsible at such a young age. So, I will make the decision. Regardless of whether the couplet is completed or not, our store will give you four small dishes as a gift. How do you think?"

Liu Heiying smiled and said, "You guys are good at doing business. We have a lot of people, so four is not enough."

The waiter's eyes lit up. He was so frank and not afraid of the stage. He must be the son of a rich and powerful family. He said loudly:
"Okay, six then!"

Seeing someone coming up on stage and seeing how polite the shop owner was, more and more people in the audience came over with smiles to show their support.

Li Jinglong explained to Xu Zengshou and Guo Quan:
"In business, the most valuable thing is reputation.
There are some tricks in Qiufeng Pavilion. They don't treat outsiders like other places do, where they just charge a small fortune and leave.
The merchants present here will come here next time they come to Hezhou, and through word of mouth, the reputation of Qiufeng Pavilion will be established."

The two of them and the guards suddenly understood and nodded.

Indeed, in their hearts, Qiufeng Pavilion has left a good reputation.

On the stage, Liu Heiying held a brush in his hand, looked at the huge stand, and said with a smile:
"Two more dishes, I'll do you a favor and promote them for you." As he said that, Liu Heiying wrote quickly on the board.
The people present were just watching for fun, but as the writing progressed,

Their eyes widened a little bit, and their smiles froze a little bit.

Li Jinglong even grabbed Lu Yunyi's arm tightly, with a look of disbelief:
"He really can."

After a while, the writing was completed.

First couplet: The dancing autumn maples reflect the prosperous Hongwu era, and the elegant gathering in the pavilion enjoys the fireworks of the world
Second line: The bright moon in the sky illuminates the prosperity of the nine provinces, and the water town of Hezhou is intoxicated with the elegance of the past and present
Time froze and stopped for a few breaths.

wow——

The scene suddenly became lively, and the smiles on the faces of the people present became even wider!
Lu Yunyi smiled, clapped his hands, and shouted:
"it is good!!"

This statement seemed to ignite the courtyard, and there were constant cheers.
The news even spread to one side of the street, and some pedestrians in luxurious clothes walked into the courtyard, making the place even more lively.

Liu Heiying smiled and wrote the following banner:
[Autumn maple and bright moon]
"it is good!!"

Some new guests in the courtyard also had their eyes light up and cheered loudly.

Lu Yunyi tilted his head and walked closer to Li Jinglong:
"how?"

"Wonderful! How wonderful!" Li Jinglong was excited and clapped his hands repeatedly.

Lu Yunyi's eyes flickered, his gaze was fixed forward, and his voice was calm:
"If I were the governor of Hezhou, I would definitely display this couplet.
Then ask people to spread the word along the river, and make up some interesting stories.
Add some interesting stories about the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty who went to war for their country and who didn't know when they would return, leaving behind words to express their longing.
If it is widely spread among the people, Hezhou will be able to move to a higher level.

The Yellow Crane Tower can be passed down through the ages with a poem. If Black Hawk makes great contributions in the future, he may be able to follow Cui Hao's example and make Hezhou passed down through the ages."

"Great!! This is even better!!"

Li Jinglong's admiration was beyond words.
He is the Duke of the current dynasty, holding a high position of power.
Naturally, everyone knows that people in various parts of the Ming Dynasty are eager for fame. Fame means money, so literati and poets will come and spend a lot of money.

The owner of the shop also wrote wonderfully about the prosperous Hongwu period. He could even assert that

If Taiping Prefecture knew about this, they would certainly publicize it, or at least spread it to the capital.

Seeing more and more people gathering around him, the guy finally moved after being still for a long time.

He did not shout, but called other guys to stand on the stage together and bowed respectfully to Liu Heiying:
"I would like to thank you on behalf of the people of Hezhou!"

Liu Heiying smiled and said, "Then, shall we serve the food?"

The guy was stunned, and then burst into laughter:

"This guest is young and promising, humorous and witty, the only one I have ever seen in my life. Please come in! This season, the guest will not be charged for any food or drinks he eats in Qiufeng Pavilion!"

"it is good!!"

The scene became noisy again, and everyone present smiled.

We are all businessmen, and we don't care about a few ounces of silver.
But the down-to-earth style of Qiufeng Pavilion made them very satisfied.

Amid the noise, Lu Yunyi and the others smiled as they entered Qiufeng Pavilion.
The many people who were stopping there thought about it and decided to have their meal here, so they walked in.

For a time, Qiufeng Pavilion was crowded with people.

The shop assistants also quickly placed the two boards at the door and spread the word everywhere.
The couplet of Qiufeng Pavilion was posted only a few days ago and someone already matched it!!

It also promoted our Hezhou!

In the private room, there were quite a few people.

So the store arranged two tables, with the guards sitting at one table and the adults sitting at the other.

This situation made the shopkeeper who came hurriedly dare not neglect it.

He goes out with bodyguards. He is clearly the son of a powerful person.

"I am Zheng Xiangyu, the owner of Qiufeng Pavilion. Today, all the guests are welcome to eat and drink as much as they want. Please don't be polite to me."

As he spoke, he looked at the people present.

I looked at them one by one. The more I looked, the more frightened I became. Each one was more arrogant than the other.
The aura of wealth and nobility on his body cannot be stopped no matter what.
The dark-skinned boy who answered the couplet was the least noticeable one.

His eyes flickered, and he soon came to a conclusion in his mind that these people must be important figures on the military ship.

After a pause, the shopkeeper smiled and said, "May I ask if you, gentlemen, have come to Yingtian?"

Lu Yunyi smiled, raised his eyebrows, looked at him, and nodded slightly:

"Boss, you have a good eye. We are indeed from Yingtian. We happened to pass by Hezhou and stopped here for a while."

"So you are the distinguished guest from the capital. I apologize for not welcoming you in person. I will go downstairs to urge the dishes to be served. Enjoy your meal, my guests."

"it is good."

After he left, Li Jinglong grabbed a handful of dried fruits on the table, ate them and said with a smile:
"How about it, Yun Yi? The customs and people of Zhili are pretty good, right?"

Lu Yunyi smiled and nodded:

"Zhili is indeed a place where the culture of the Ming Dynasty gathers. It is indeed extraordinary."

Liu Heiying on the side also nodded repeatedly, showing his approval:
“The food is really delicious!”

For a moment, everyone present was stunned, with a strange feeling in their hearts that was difficult to conceal.
They knew that Liu Heiying was brave in battle and had a good sense of justice.
But I never thought that there was such talent.

Not only does it not match his past, it also doesn't match his current image.

The meal took nearly an hour to finish.
Before leaving, Lu Yunyi whispered to Liu Heiying:
"Go and pay the money. If the store owner doesn't want it, reveal your identity."

Liu Heiying, who was picking his teeth, was stunned and nodded quickly:

"I understand, Brother Yun'er."

After saying that, he stood up and walked out of the private room.

On the other side of Lu Yunyi, Li Jinglong also heard this and couldn't help but look thoughtful. He also moved closer:
"Yun Yi, don't you want to spend money?"

Lu Yunyi smiled:

"Duke Cao, we soldiers must follow the rules in the army, and the same applies to the outside world. It is only natural to spend money on food.

If this is publicized without spending any money, some people might accuse us of using our power to bully others.
But if we win the first prize and get paid, it will be a good story both inside and outside the country and can also bring some reputation to our Ming army.

When you go out, you should be more cautious and don’t let others catch you.”

Li Jinglong was in deep thought, and soon he understood.
"But what if the store doesn't advertise it?"

"It will not harm you or me if I don't spread the word, but it will benefit you and me if I spread the word.

This is a preventive measure, and it costs only a dozen taels of silver.

What's more, we have already eaten all the food and wine, so we are not at a loss no matter how we look at it.

You may win little, but you will never lose. This is the essence of marching and fighting."

Lu Yunyi talked eloquently, and everyone at the table pricked up their ears to listen.

Xu Zengshou and Guo Quan's eyes lit up and they quickly wrote it down.

Li Jinglong frowned and fell into deep thought. After a long time, his frown gradually relaxed:

"The art of war is integrated into his body and can be used everywhere. Yun Yi, you will definitely be a famous general in the court in the future!"

Lu Yunyi smiled with a deep look in his eyes.

Not long after, Liu Heiying came back, and behind him was the shopkeeper of Qiufeng Pavilion.

As soon as he entered here, he bowed and said:
"I am Zheng Xiangyu, the humble servant, and I am here to greet you all!"

He had just seen the badge of the deputy commander and was greatly shocked.
He hurried over to pay his respects, but he still underestimated the people present.

It was not uncommon to see assistant commanders in Zhili, where there were many guards.
But it is rare to see someone so young, and the dark-skinned young man is obviously not a person of the most noble status.

Considering that they were from the capital, his luggage was shaking a little at this moment.

I don't know his identity, but he must be noble.

Lu Yunyi raised his right hand and poked Li Jinglong, whispering, "Reputation."

Li Jinglong reacted immediately, with a gleam of light in his eyes.
Since there will be no future troubles and it will help the Ming army to gain fame, let's publicize it.

Putting away his thoughts, he smiled and said:

"We passed by Hezhou on this trip and were amazed at its prosperity.
Such prosperity is inseparable from the concerted efforts of merchants like you. The four words "Hongwu Shengshi" are well used.

Even if this couplet reaches His Majesty's ears, it will make him smile."

Zheng Xiangyu's eyes widened and he straightened up quickly.
He looked at Li Jinglong from head to toe, and understood the deep meaning.

This young man is from the capital, and he knows your Majesty's preferences.
this.
After hesitating for a moment, Zheng Xiangyu bowed slightly and asked in a trembling voice:

"I see that you have an extraordinary demeanor, and you must be someone in a high position. I wonder if I can find out a few of your names?"

Li Jinglong smiled meaningfully, and Lu Yunyi said loudly:

"This is Duke Cao of the Ming Dynasty."

thump.
Zheng Xiangyu's legs went limp and he immediately fell to the ground, no longer having any doubts in his mind.

Li Jinglong smiled and said: "Hurry up, I am going to the battlefield today, and I don't know how long I will be gone. It happened that Liu Heiying had some talent, so I left a couplet to express my remembrance.

If the store advertises this, please do not mention my name, just say Liu Hei Ying’s name.”

"Yes, yes! I obey your command!"

Zheng Xiangyu was shaking with excitement. He had already made up his mind.
This matter must be publicized widely, spread to Huguang, spread to Yingtian!!!

The guy behind him had already run out excitedly to call the adults from Hezhou Port!
　Sorry everyone, the time is set for next year.
　　Fortunately I found it, that was a close call!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)