The mansion, which occupies a large area, is filled with elements.
It was obvious that the family was having a funeral.
There were a bunch of carriages parked outside the gate, and countless "filial sons and grandsons" who were wise and wise wanted to come to the door to cry and offer sacrifices, but they were all stopped by the servants.
In the back house of the Zhu Mansion, Zhu Shuo, the head of the Jun Mansion, looked at the several artifacts placed on the table and was slightly absent-minded.
For no other reason than jade is rare.
During Wang Mang's reign, Yanqi killed the Han envoys and cut off the road between the Central Plains and the Western Regions.
In the Later Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties, although white jade was sent to Khotan as tribute, the number was sparse, and there were many small countries in the Western Regions, so business travel was greatly reduced compared to the former Han Dynasty.
In the past twenty years or so, there has been a long period of war in Kansai, banditry has become rampant, and trade routes have become unsustainable, so Khotan jade has become increasingly rare.
But what Zhu Shuo sees now is all Khotan white jade, and even Jiaozhou white jade, Japanese green jade, Fuyu red jade - of course, Nanyang white jade has the most.
Zhu Shuo picked up a jade pig, looked at it for a long time, and sighed: "This is the five-color jade from Yushan Mountain. It is said that the black one is the winner, and the immortals use it."
The jade pig is a kind of funeral ritual vessel. The pig is in a crouching shape, which represents prosperity of wealth. It is usually made into a jade holder and held in the hands of the deceased, which means that the person still needs to hold on to their wealth after death.
After putting down the jade pig, Zhu Shuo picked up a huge grain-patterned jade.
This is a jade ornament hanging in the tomb. It is white in texture and delicately polished. It must have been made by a famous artist. I couldn't put it down immediately and didn't want to be buried with me.
Lu Shen and Xu Shi looked at each other and saw the smile in each other's eyes.
It's okay to be greedy for money, but I'm afraid you won't be greedy for money.
Xu Shi opened a box. Inside were two agate seals, which had already been engraved with Zhu Shuo's name.
"In Emperor Wei Wen's "Manaule Fu", he said that agate jade belongs to the genus of agate. It has wonderful seals and brilliant colors, and has golden virtues and spiritual gifts. It is 'submissive to the trustworthy gentleman'." Xu Shi gently pushed the brocade box in front of Zhu Shuo and said with a smile: "Hello, Mr. Zhu.
After appreciating the calligraphy and painting, you can engrave a private seal on it and play with it often."
After finishing speaking, he took out the white jade handle and dust tail and said: "This thing has a beautiful appearance and is better than talking about mysteries. Zhu Gong holds it. When talking, he should make eloquent remarks, as if he had divine help."
After introducing this, Xu Shi took out the Ruyi jade again and said: "This is the Ruyi jade used by Situ Wang Junchong (Wang Rong)."
Zhu Shuo picked them up one by one, played with them each for a while, and was overjoyed.
After a long time, he withdrew his eyes, looked at Xu Shi and asked, "I must have something to ask for when I receive this treasure from you, Ancestor Yi."
Xu Shi did not answer directly, only said: "I wonder what Mr. Zhu thinks of the general situation in Hebei."
When Zhu Shuo heard this, he had some idea.
He was just greedy for money, but he was a shrewd man. Hearing this, he narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you two from Ye City?"
Xu Shi and Lu Shen smiled and said nothing, obviously acquiescing.
Zhu Shuo stood up suddenly and wanted to say something, but stopped when he caught sight of those treasures from the corner of his eye.
He was walking up and down the table with his hands behind his back, obviously not at peace in his heart.
Xu Shi and Lu Shen waited patiently and said nothing. When dealing with smart people, it is most taboo to act smart, because it may arouse others' resentment.
"Yizu." Zhu Shuo suddenly stopped and asked, "You're not just looking for me, right?"
"The Duke's name is Manbeizhou, so naturally I should go to Duke Zhu first," Xu Shi said.
Zhu Shuo didn't believe it, and said directly: "Brothers of the You family, one is offering wine to the West Pavilion, the other is a Sima, and the prefect of Zhao County is also a descendant of the You family. Don't you want to trick me, Master Yi. Have you come to see me?"
Xu Shi didn't answer, just looked at him with a smile.
Zhu Shuo looked at him for a long time, and finally sighed, returned to the couch, and said: "Chen Gong and the Xiongnu fought in Jizhou. Anyone who is not blind or deaf will naturally know about it. I heard that Liu Yao is also here, and he is still there.
middle
Shan and Chen Gongai general Jin Zheng fought a battle, but the outcome was inconclusive. Li Zhong went north to Zhending with his majestic army, which was impeccable. These two groups of soldiers and horses were as powerful as mountains, and they had a great chance of winning. I often pay attention to it when I am in the state.
.”
Maybe it was just Governor Wang who was confused and didn't know much about the external situation.
Xu Shi looked at Lu Shen again.
Now that the words have been spoken, the next step is easy. Xu Shi said: "Since Duke Zhu knew the general trend of the world, did he ever think about the future? To put it bluntly, even if Chen Gong was unfavorable in the battle and returned to Yecheng, Liu Yao and Shi Le had gathered so many soldiers and horses.
, wouldn’t it be easy to attack Youzhou?”
Zhu Shuo was silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "Unexpectedly, Chen Gong has reached this point. If Ji and Youzhou are taken over, and the emperor controls them, the day of the Zen Dynasty is not far away."
"Dong Zhu is nostalgic for Sima Jin?" Xu Shi asked.
Zhu Shuo shook his head and laughed, and asked: "If you don't miss the Sima family, can't you vote for the Liu family?"
"Yidi and Di are not worthy of being kings," Xu Shi said.
Zhu Shuo was speechless.
"Barbarians and Di are not enough to be kings" is a very popular theory. It was put forward not long ago, but it became an important theory in maintaining the imperial rule in the late Jin Dynasty.
Liu Kun once persuaded Shi Le to surrender, and the argument he put forward was: "Since ancient times, there are those who are sincere and unconquerable and become emperors, as well as famous ministers who have made meritorious deeds."
It means that no Hu people have ever been emperors, and the Xiongnu Liu family cannot grow up, so don’t sacrifice your life for him, it is better to become a Jin minister and make contributions. This is not uncommon in history.
Shi Le replied directly: "I am self-defeating, so it is difficult for me to do anything good."
I am a barbarian and will not serve the Han Dynasty.
Of course, people who were killed in the troubled times of Shi Le would not believe in these things, but it did not prevent him from using them. Historically, he said that "since ancient times, there are people who are sincere to Hu people and become famous ministers, but there are no emperors."
Wang Jun was paralyzed by theory and called himself "Xiao Hu". He persuaded Wang Jun to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor to save the people. He was willing to serve him as a vassal.
It can be seen that this theory still has a certain market, at least some people believe it.
At this time, Xu Shi proposed, and Zhu Shuo didn't know how to answer for a while.
He had spent most of his career in officialdom, and of course he would not easily believe in such theories invented by the imperial court to persuade the barbarian chiefs to surrender, but what should I say, considering the current situation, he was a little bit confused in his heart.
A few years ago, the Huns were at their peak. They besieged Luoyang several times, plundered Henan, and conquered Hebei. They were unstoppable. But Shao Xun gradually rose to prominence, and after several years of stalemate, he actually turned the situation back bit by bit.
Is there really a destiny?
Then I remembered the prophecy that caused a sensation seven or eight years ago, "When the Luoshui River is cut off, the real person will emerge", and I became more and more confused.
The last three generations of Shao Xun's ancestors were fucking military slaves who couldn't read a word. How come his generation has outstanding martial arts, unparalleled military strategy, and can also engage in politics? Could it be that the Taibai Star Spirit has really come to the world?
The more he thought about it, the more dizzy and confused he became. He even wanted to run out of the house and climb a high mountain to watch the sky at night and do fortune telling.
"You Tong is the Sima of the shogunate. A few days ago, he recruited thousands of miscellaneous horsemen and stationed them on the north bank of Yishui, southwest of Fanyang. Are you guys..." Zhu Shuo said while looking at the expressions of the two people.
Sorry, I didn't see anything.
The two people just looked at him and smiled without saying a word.
"Yi Zu!" Zhu Shuo lost his composure and raised his voice, saying: "What kind of friendship do you and I have? Why are you so secretive and not telling the truth?"
Xu Shi bowed his head and said with a smile: "Uncle Qiu, why do you need to get to the bottom of it? You might as well ask yourself, is there anyone in the Jun family who is willing to die in the service of Wang Pengzu?"
"Of course there are, otherwise he wouldn't be able to sit firmly in his seat." Zhu Shuo said, "However, there are really not many, not many left."
Some people's words were unpleasant, but they were really good for Wang Jun. Unfortunately, they were all killed or expelled.
Zhu Shuo also made great efforts and made a lot of slanders in these matters of "cruelty and loyalty".
"Uncle Qiu, what are you still hesitating about?" Xu Shi asked: "It's fine if no one cares about Youzhou. Wang Pengzu's shabby house can still be rickety and sustainable. But if someone cares about you, maybe he can kick it and the house will be destroyed."
It just collapsed. You have accumulated half your life and have many children and grandchildren. Do you want to be buried for Wang Pengzu?"
Zhu Shuo frowned, these words touched his heart.
After half a lifetime of flirting with others, I have gained so much money. If someone liquidates me, will I be able to keep it?
No matter whether Liu Yao or Shao Xun free their hands to attack Youzhou, Wang Pengzu has no chance of winning, and few people will work for him - just because he refuses to give out a grain of food for relief when a flood breaks out, he is already finished.
As a close confidant of Wang Pengzu, Zhu Qiubo's reputation in Youzhou was not very good. He was just as good as Zao Song, and he was both someone who was stabbed in the back behind his back.
If the newcomers kill the two of them, no one will ask for mercy. In that case, the land, house, money, wife and daughter will not be saved, and it will be unspeakably miserable.
The only way is to jump ship in time and work for the new owner. Maybe you can keep your current wealth and status.
"Zao Taichan has been to Yecheng, right..." Zhu Shuo already had an inclination in his mind and asked again.
This time Xu Shi did not avoid it, but nodded heavily.
Zhu Shuo seemed to be deflated and was speechless for a long time.
After a long time, he smiled bitterly and said: "Chang Shi has rebelled, Sima has rebelled, and Jijiu has rebelled. If I, the chief secretary, rebel again, Wang Pengzu will not only be unable to mobilize troops and have nowhere to raise food, but his every move will be known to outsiders.
What do you win with?"
"That's all, that's all." Zhu Shuo said with waning spirits, "I just want to be a rich man. If Mr. Chen agrees, Youzhou can fight without bloodshed. In this way, the people will be comfortable and Mr. Chen can save fewer casualties."
"It will be as Zhu Gong wishes." This time it was Lu Shen who came forward to guarantee it.
Zhu Shuo looked at him blankly, feeling a little uneasy, but in the end he could only sigh.
In fact, he doesn't have much choice, does he?
It is impossible to die for Wang Jun, so surrender to the Huns? Their war situation in Hebei is not very good.
Moreover, it is true that there has never been a Hu man who became the emperor since ancient times. Shao Xun was born as a Taibai star spirit and was wise and powerful. It seemed like a better choice to vote for him.
Besides, they also gave me gifts.
It is not Zhu Qiubo's style to accept gifts without doing anything, and he will be accused of being dishonest.
"What does Chen Gong plan to do?" After making up his mind, Zhu Shuo went all out and asked directly.
"Come here, Jun." Xu Shi waved his hand and said.
Zhu Shuo stood up and leaned over, listening silently.
After a moment, he exclaimed in shock: "What a calculating and ruthless person!"
Xu Shi laughed heartily.
Zhu Shuo's face was gloomy and uncertain, he sighed repeatedly in his heart, and strengthened his determination to seek refuge with Mr. Chen.
Chapter completed!