Chapter 284 Restaurant

Chapter 284 Restaurant

Chapter 284 Restaurant
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the atmosphere of the New Year faded a little.

Some people have already started preparing to tend to the crops.

Some merchants began to stock up, preparing to go out on business.

The Silver Spear Army began their first drill since the New Year. In ten days, the Yamen Army will also resume training.

The officials had not yet taken up their duties, but their recruited subordinates had already left home and were preparing to go to various government offices.

More than 100 young men from the eighth batch of Luoyang who were recruited at the end of last year have moved into Liang County Martial Arts School and are about to begin the learning journey that will determine their lives.

In the artisan camp in Ruyang, they began to prepare charcoal and iron materials, and to make weapons and farm tools. The new year's production was about to begin.

Wu Qian, Yu Liang, Chen Jingen and He Li bid farewell to their families and headed north to Xingyang, Chenliu, Jijun and other places to recruit soldiers - this time they wanted to recruit more than 1,500 people, organize them into the 13th and 14th divisions of the Silver Spear Army, and the rest would fill vacancies.

Everyone has something to do and is starting a new year.

On the 20th day of the first lunar month, on the newly built post road at the foot of Kongtong Mountain, a middle-aged man with a dusty face was walking slowly forward holding a bamboo stick.

The middle-aged man did not carry any luggage. He was followed by an ox cart. There were more than ten driver and guards beside the cart. They were obviously his entourage.

Passers-by saw him and laughed at him.

I have seen people walking dogs, hawks, and horses, but I have never seen people walking in a bull cart. Why do you want to get off a nice cart and walk by yourself?

The middle-aged man didn't care and continued walking as if no one was around.

As he walked, he became more excited and started singing loudly, attracting the attention of passers-by.

After the middle-aged man finished singing a song, he put his hands on the awning and saw a tavern not far ahead. He was overjoyed.

After walking quickly, he faced the shopkeeper who came out to greet him, waved his bamboo stick and said, "Take a bunch of money and order some wine and food."

The shop owner agreed and politely welcomed the middle-aged man into the store.

When doing business, you must be able to observe people’s words and expressions and have a good eye.

The guest's behavior clearly showed that he was a scholar, perhaps even a celebrity. Ordinary people would not be so eccentric, and it would be difficult for them to be unrestrained without caring about other people's opinions.

In recent years, he has seen many people with strange clothes, eccentric behavior and weird speech. Seven or eight out of ten are scholars and he cannot neglect them.

The shopkeeper took a string of money from the top of the bamboo stick, counted it carefully, and went to the kitchen to work.

"Isn't this Yanguo?" A loud voice came from outside the door.

Hu Wu Fuzhi turned around and saw that it was Yang Man. He immediately smiled and said, "Zu Yan came at the right time. It's still chilly in spring, why don't you sit down and have a drink?"

"I was just about to drink with Yanguo." Yangman walked over with a big laugh.

"Isn't Zu Yan the governor of Shunyang?"

"Isn't Yan Guo the rightful ruler of Yanzhou?"

The two asked the question almost at the same time, then laughed, raised their wine bowls, gestured to each other, and drank them all in one gulp.

"I have abandoned the great Zhongzheng of Yanzhou." Hu Wufuzhi sighed: "Just before and after the New Year, Shi Le plundered Yanzhou and left."

"Now that Shi Le has left, why do you want to resign?" Yang Man asked curiously.

"I like to drink and often feel confused, but when I don't drink, my brain is still working well." Hu Wu Fuzhi smiled bitterly and said, "Shi Le conquered cities in Hebei and gained a lot. The Xiongnu also sent the prince to lead the troops and stationed them in Weijun. It seems that they are about to fight. How can I not see it? Shi Le can cross the river once, and he can cross it a second time. From now on, Yanzhou will become more and more dangerous. It is better to leave early."

"Where are your family members? Are they still in Puyang?" Yang Man asked.

"Send it back to Fenggao." Hu Wu Fuzhi poured a bowl of wine for the two of them and said.

The Yang family and the Huwu family were both aristocratic families in Taishan County.

The main branch of the Yang family was in Nancheng County (now Yangliu Town, Xintai City), while the main branch of the Huwu family was in Fenggao County (between Tai'an and Laiwu today).

Nancheng is the southernmost county of Taishan County. It is the junction of Taishan, Lu, Langya and Lanling counties. It is also the intersection of Yu, Xu and Yan states. There are many people traveling back and forth from the south to the north and from the east to the west, so the business is very prosperous, which also indirectly promoted the glory of Taishan Yang family in the Han, Wei and Jin dynasties.

Therefore, when Yang Man said that his clan would make an effort in Lu and take down the position of Prime Minister of Lu, it was not bragging.

The location of the Nancheng Yang family is very critical. It is at the junction of three states and four counties. It has a wide influence and many students and former officials.

"Why are you here..." The store owner sent some wine and food, and Yang Man kept silent. After he left, he asked, "Are you here to take up a position at the Chen Marquis's mansion?"

Hu Wu Fuzhi smiled sheepishly and said, "General Wang recommended me here, saying that Lord Chen was short of writers. Hehe, this is all I can do."

Yang Man suddenly realized.

"Zu Yan, where are you..." Hu Wu Fuzhi asked.

"Let's go see Lord Chen." Yang Man said calmly, "Many people from the clan have come, led by Uncle Hongyuan."

Yang Hongyuan is Yang Jiongzhi, the younger brother of Yang Xuanzhi and the uncle of Yang Xianrong.

Therefore, Shangshu You Pushe Yang Jin came to visit his two sons Xuanzhi and Jiongzhi. Yang Jiongzhi led the team, which shows that Taiyang family attaches great importance to it. After all, the senior members of Yang family's "board of directors" have come.

Of course, they have no choice but to take it seriously.

Before Shangshu You Pushe Yang Xuanzhi was singled out by Chengdu King Sima Ying and Hejian King Sima Yong, and Changsha King Sima Yi took action and "died of worry", the Yang family of Taishan had been two thousand stones, nine ministers, and colonels for generations, which was much stronger than the general "hereditary two thousand stones" and lasted longer. They also intermarried with the royal family and were glorious for a time.

After Yang Xuanzhi's death, no one in the Yang family could take up the core position for a while, and it has been more than five years.

Five years without a central government official to protect them from the wind and rain was not a big deal for the Yang family of Taishan, which had a deep foundation. But what if it lasted for ten, twenty, or even longer? The Yang family would inevitably decline, especially in such a period of intense reshuffle. If they were slow to take one step, they would be slow to take another. The negative impact would be much greater than the five years of peace.

The Yang family is feeling quite anxious right now.

Everything is afraid of comparison. How prosperous is the Wang family in the neighboring Langya Kingdom now?

The Yang family should have some sense of shame!

"Once Lord Hongyuan comes, then I..." Hu Wu Fu felt a little dumbfounded when he heard it.

Yang Man smiled a little and said, "Uncle Hongyuan had already exchanged letters with Lord Chen on his way here. Lord Chen has left the position of literary official in the mansion vacant for me."

Upon hearing this, Hu Wufu took a big gulp of wine and felt a little depressed.

It looked like he was going to be Yang Jiongzhi's deputy, or be moved to some other position.

Fu, You and Wenxue are the three most prestigious officials in the palaces of kings and princes, and their status is respected.

Among them, literature is mainly responsible for explaining history and classics to kings and princes, and is also responsible for a considerable part of the work of writers.

The Chen Marquisate was inherited from the former Duke's Mansion of Luyang County. Its tutor was Cao Fu, its friend was Pei Kang, and if the talent for literature was given to Yang Jiongzhi, then this marquisate would have been extraordinary.

Cao, Pei and Yang are role models who can influence the choices of a large number of scholars. Under their influence, countless scholars will come to him, even if Chen Hou has a poor background - they come here for the reputation of the three wise old wall lamps.

Lord Chen hired these three people as his superiors. He is really resourceful. I wonder how he did it. Did he get into women’s crotches?

Well, Hu Wu Fuzhi quickly shook off this disrespectful thought.

Chen Hou defeated the Xiongnu at the gates of Luoyang. What a hero he was, what a lofty ambition he had! How could such a great general who led a valiant army and subdued fierce and ruthless people rely on a woman to accomplish his goals?

I must have misunderstood. Otherwise, why couldn't Gou Xi do it?

Uh, it seems Gou Xi is almost sixty years old...

Sad Hu Wu Fuzhi took another sip of wine and decided not to talk about this topic anymore. He said, "I was in Yanzhou and heard that Liu Han sent Quyang King Liu Xian to lead troops to station in Neihuang. Wang Mi, Shi Le, Zhao Gu and others were all there. They attacked Dunqiu in the south and Yecheng in the north. They may also attack Jijun in the west. The situation in Hebei is hopeless."

Yang Man nodded, slightly worried.

In fact, when the Hun army besieged Luoyang last year, Shi Le was stirring up trouble in Hebei.

After Liu Cong retreated, he joined forces with Shi Le to attack Wang Kan, Wang Shiwen, Liu Qia and others, and defeated their army. Afterwards, Liu Cong returned to Pingyang and appointed Le Yang, a native of Henei, as the governor. At present, most of the counties in Henei had fallen into the hands of the Xiongnu, but the county general Guo Mo led a few remnants to retreat to the countryside and fort, still loyal to the Jin Dynasty.

After Shi Le defeated the two kings, he led his troops eastward and first attacked Ji County, but failed.

He went north to attack Xindu, defeated Jizhou Governor Wang Bin and killed him, then turned back to attack Yecheng, and the Weijun prefect surrendered the city.

Years ago, Shi Le saw a stele commemorating merits near Santai and was so angry that he destroyed it. He also ordered the arrest of those named on the stele, but Zhang Bin dissuaded him.

But the news had already spread, and many scholars and powerful people in Wei County panicked and fled south to Ji County to seek refuge with Yu Chen.

The next step for the Xiongnu should be to attack Ji County, remove this annoying thorn, and connect Henei, Ji, Wei and other places.

However, there were also rumors that the Huns would move south from Hebei and attack Yan and Yu.

It's not impossible.

Even those counties in Hebei that were still in the hands of the imperial court were now only able to defend the cities, and the wild areas were almost all left to the Xiongnu army, allowing them to come and go as they pleased.

This kind of behavior of hiding in the city and not daring to go out to fight in the field cannot threaten the Huns' retreat.

It is entirely possible that they will temporarily give up attacking the counties in Hebei and instead head south through Henan.

After all, Shi Le, Wang Mi and others were Han generals and had to obey Liu Han's overall strategy. They could not do whatever they wanted and only care about their own development. On this matter, Shao Xun had a common language with them. If they enjoyed the benefits, they had to assume obligations.

"Wang Mi also sent his left chief secretary Cao Yi to lead 5,000 soldiers eastward to Qingzhou. They have already set out." Hu Wu Fuzhi added: "I don't know if General Gou Dao can hold out."

Yang Man sighed, the state affairs are so difficult.

Gou Xi had tens of thousands of soldiers under his command, but they were outsiders and were incompatible with the local nobles of Qingzhou, so his rule was quite unstable.

Cao Yi was from Qingzhou, and the main officers under his command were probably all selected local people from Qingzhou. They also had connections with the Tianshi Dao. Once they returned, they would probably gather a large number of troops in a short period of time.

If some other local Qingzhou nobles colluded with Cao Qi - such as the Liu family of Donglai, the Ju family, the Wang family of Chengyang, the Su family of Changguang, the Guang family of Le'an, the Feng family of Beihai, etc. - and tried to drive Gou Xi away, the situation would be even more chaotic.

Qingzhou was in chaos again.

(End of this chapter)