On the chess scale carved in bluestone, the longitude and latitude are vertical and horizontal. The black pieces and white pieces fall in a staggered manner, which seems to be difficult to solve. However, the chess players and the people watching the chess next to them are a little absent-minded.

"You said, where are the Yongzhao and the others now?" After thinking for a long time, He Zhizhang finally put down a white piece, leaned his body against the chair, and asked in a low voice.

"You are the writer of the court. You don't know anything. Come and ask me, a country man!" Zhang Ruoxu responded with a dark spot and scolded him in a daze.

"If I knew, I wouldn't be so restless!" He Zhizhang raised the teacup and drank it hard, and the expression on his face became even more anxious. "The news from Chang'an to Yumen Pass is 2,730 miles away. At least the news that Chang'an received was something that happened there seven or eight days ago. After leaving Yumen Pass, it was difficult to get the letters. Even if the documents reported to the court were delivered every half a month. I want to find out where Zhao and the others are now, it is even more difficult."

"Where was he when the last document was sent?" Seeing that He Zhizhang was not at all concerned about chess, Zhang Ruoxu felt that he was not good at winning. He also picked up the teacup and asked patiently while drinking it.

"The document is written about Pu Changhai, I told you!" He Zhizhang put down the teacup and rubbed his forehead with his hands irritably. In an instant, the bright hair on his head seemed to be more and more sparse. "But when the document was sent to Chang'an, he was no longer in Pu Changhai. According to the document passed to the court, he was divided into two groups with Niu Shizhu. Then, there was no news from both of them. Oh, I really doubt whether it was the right choice to recommend him to the government last year."

"This? Alas--" Zhang Ruo was stunned and sighed.

Last September, he and He Zhizhang held a chrysanthemum appreciation event at home and took the opportunity to recommend Zhang Qian to Bi Gou and Zhang Shuo. Then, Zhang Qian was named the chief clerk of the military weapon supervisor for his contribution to "gunpowder", and then he rose to the top.

Over the past year, Zhang Qian has made many new achievements. Bi Gou and Zhang Shuo have also gained the reputation of being aware of the keen eye in the officialdom. He Zhizhang himself was promoted to the fifth-rank writer for his merits of recommendation. With Zhang Qian's full support, he led a group of young people to compile the first "Dictionary" in history.

Although the dictionary is called primary school, its quality and effectiveness are far superior to the previous dynasty's "Shuowen Jiezi" and it was sold for more than two months ago, as soon as it was released, it was sold for Chang'an paper. This made He Zhizhang, the editor-in-chief, stand out, and was once in the literary world of the Tang Dynasty.

However, unlike the lively September last year, the Zhang family was particularly deserted in September this year. From Double Ninth Festival to now, there have not been more than three waves of guests. As October is already in, the chrysanthemum flowering period is about to pass, but the young people who performed the most dazzlingly last year were all indifferent!

If Zhang Qian, Wang Han and Wang Zhihuan really disappeared into the Western Regions like meteors. He Zhizhang would definitely not be able to let go until he died.

Zhang Qian did not show much of his desire to pursue fame at first. He made his own decision, thinking that Zhang Qian was rare and should not be buried in the countryside, so he forced him to enter the career of officialdom. More than two months ago, Wang Han and Wang Zhihuan said goodbye to him, saying that they wanted to go out for a long time after editing the book. He knew that the two wanted to find Zhang Qian, but he thought that this would allow the latter to have two more capable helpers, and did not make any obstacles.

"I said you two can't play?!" Sun Anzu, who was watching the chess next to him, was anxious and grabbed a white piece and placed it on the chess for He Zhizhang. Then, he quickly grabbed a black piece and responded to Zhang Ruoxue. "After four or five thousand miles away, you both worry about your hair and can't help Yi Zhao. With that skill, it's better to think about how to use Zhao to watch the academy for him, so as not to worry about him."

"I have invited Wei Juyuan to the academy to give lectures!" He Zhizhang nodded, looking a little more energetic than before, but he was still frowning. "In a few days, Xiao Pushe also promised to come to the academy for time. In addition to enlightenment, Chengxian Academy teaches Confucian classics. Neither of them have reason to refuse."

"That's almost the same. Having the two of them out to save the snooping can make many people lose their desire to snoop! It's much better than the unknown Luo!" Sun Anzu smiled and nodded vigorously. "And you, the uncle in the world calls you one by one. Instead of sitting here, it's better to think about how to be a good mountain chief and make all scholars all over the world proud of being able to enter the academy in the future. As for the others, if you want me to see, it's useless to both of you. It's better to keep your heart in your stomach and wait quietly for the good news of Yongzhao!"

The first few words were said well, but the last sentence was a bit too bad. He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu immediately made both glar at him.

But Sun Anzu curled his lips indifferently and continued, "Ji Weng said he regrets recommending Zhao to join the world. Then I ask you, if he doesn't join the officialdom, how much can you two protect him?"

"This..." He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu both saw sweat on their foreheads and were speechless.

If Zhang Qian just brewed some liquor or bought hundreds of acres of land to collect rent, they could still protect one or two with their connections or official positions. But what Zhang Qian was trying to do was Liushen flower dew, mirror, glazed glass and iron, which are making money every day. Not to mention protecting Zhang Qian, they would inevitably feel frightened just by watching!

As current officials and retired officials of the Tang Dynasty, they knew very well that the royal relatives and wealthy families were very good at eating. Not to mention the distance, they just look at how many businesses there are in the east and west cities of Chang'an, and the shareholders behind them are Princess Taiping? Let's look at the Dou family, who created the "Material Candle" with waste hemp shoes and peat, why did the family business of hundreds of thousands of yuan be ruined after only two generations? It wasn't the backer behind it that fell, and when the Wei family proposed to invest, Dou's reaction was too arrogant?

"When others tried to seize his flower dew workshop, you two were close at hand, and you didn't need your help." As if you were afraid that the attack on the two of them would not be enough, Sun Anzu continued to play chess for the two, while curling his lips and continuing to scold, "Now there are thousands of miles away, and you can't worry about him!"

In the blink of an eye, he made more than a dozen moves, and the situation was beyond recognition. However, he still refused to stop and continued to whisper, "He is a disciple sent by the Mo family to re-enter the world. He has no ability. Can the master send him out? In the past year, how many times have we felt that he has been forced into a desperate situation. Once, he took out a magic weapon from his pocket and turned it over?"

"But there will always be some use up what his master gave him to the box." Zhang Ruoxu's face turned red when he was said, but he still said worriedly.

"Not that fast!" Sun Anzu's confidence in Zhang Qian was much more than Zhang Ruoxu and He Zhizhang. He shook his head and continued to smile and said, "You two are concerned about it and are confused! Or, they underestimated his master's sect. Before he appeared, there were evil-proof pills, gunpowder, glass mirrors and other objects, and no one could hear them. But he took them out one after another. What does this mean? In his eyes, these things are not rare objects at all, and there is no need to hide them!"

After a few more pieces quickly, he made a game of chess into the final game. Then, before being protested by He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu, he continued to smile and add, "The real life-saving thing will not be easily seen by others. We all know that it was Fire Meteor that destroyed the monk's altar, but where did Fire Meteor come from and how did it summon it? Does anyone know? Who can guarantee that he will not be a more powerful magic than Fire Meteor?"

"I want to tell me that in this situation, it is more dangerous to use Zhao to stay in Chang'an. Every move is full of countless eyes. Even if he has a killer move, he is not convenient to use it. When he goes to the Western Regions, the sky is wide, and he no longer has to worry about it. Whoever wants to harm him is the mouse, and he is looking for death by himself! Okay, the finale, the finale, Bai Zi has already won this game of chess!"

"End?" He Zhizhang and Zhang Ruoxu lowered their heads in surprise, and then they realized that the chess game that was originally evenly matched had become a unilateral massacre under the random trick of a chess basket.

…………

"The end! Second brother, give up, take the money! The overall situation is decided!" The fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou shouted and pointed a black piece on the chess meter, and he was very ungraceful and slapped.

"It's still early?" Wu Yanxiu, the prince-in-law of the Tang Dynasty, always had a smile on his face. Even though the situation was obviously unfavorable to him, he was still calm. "I can still launch a counterattack here."

A white piece was placed in the lower left corner of the chessboard. The situation on the chess title immediately changed. Black chess still had the advantage, but failed to completely crush the white chess. After the white chess stood firm in the lower left corner, they might not have no strength to fight.

"Second brother deserves this skill!"

"Second brother is good at chess!"

"Fourth brother, you are so proud!"

...

The playboys watching chess around rush to praise him loudly. It seemed that if he didn't shout like this, it wouldn't be enough to make him feel close to his son-in-law Wu Yanxiu. As for the fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou, in their wishes, of course, the more miserable he lost, the better! When he won everyone's money, he never gave anyone mercy.

The fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou, but he was not disturbed by the clamor, quickly put a black piece on the chess, and then praised with a smile, "The second brother's chess power has indeed increased recently. Do you often play chess with others? Which master? Can you bring me some other day and let me compete with him!"

"There is no master? I'll put it myself, hold the black in my left hand and the white in my right hand, and fight with myself." A trace of pain flashed across Wu Yanxiu's face, but he answered calmly.

"I am with you. My second brother is my second brother. I don't care about anything I do!" Wu Yanshou was stunned, his admiration was beyond words.

Wu Yanxiu did not take over his severity and continued to make a slow move. Although he was slow, each piece had been repeatedly calculated. However, Wu Yanshou seemed to have cut all three axes, and his stamina was obviously insufficient. Several pieces were all out of standard. In a blink of an eye, he lost all his previous advantages.

However, he was much more straightforward in comparison with Wu Yanxiu. He found that he had a very small chance of winning, so he simply threw himself into the trap. Then, he pushed the two large pieces of silver cakes in front of him into Wu Yanxiu.

The playboys who had bet on Wu Yanxiu were smiling and stepped forward to "take trouble". The fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou did not make any annoyance, and ordered his servant to go to the carriage downstairs to get silver cakes and copper coins to pay the bill with everyone. Then, he stood up with a smile, and took a cup of tea to the window to enjoy the scenery.

Although the major shareholder behind it is the Ashina family, the courtyard of Meilou is arranged in the Jiangnan style. From the back window, every stone and tree are unique. Especially the red maple lying slanted above the pond, the leaves are like beating flames. When the autumn wind blows, the flames fall colorfully to the water. In a blink of an eye, there are also "flames" on the water surface, and lotus blooming in summer.

"Fourth brother, have you encountered trouble recently?" Wu Yanxiu also followed with a cup of tea and asked in an extremely low voice.

"Nothing, second brother!" Wu Yanshou shook his head and denied it immediately. The obese face was filled with evil spirits. "With second brother and uncle seven here, who dares to cause trouble for me? What's more, I have no intention of official career and never hinder others' eyes!"

"Then why are you feeling uneasy when you play chess?" Wu Yanxiu watched her younger brother grow up since she was a child, so she didn't believe what the other party said was the truth. She smiled and continued to ask.

"It's really nothing. The glass workshop I started at the beginning of the year has completely turned yellow. Although I bought the Persian recipe, the things I made were expensive and ugly, and I couldn't sell them even if I lost money." Wu Yanshou shook his head and explained in a slight way.

"How much did I lose? I just happened to have a few spare money here. If I need it, I will give it to you!" Wu Yanxiu smiled again and made a promise very happily.

"It's not about money, I feel embarrassed!" Wu Yanshou shook his head, his expression on his face became more and more depressed. "As for money, most of the people who won at Meilou at the beginning of the year were still not moved. It wouldn't be too tight."

After hesitating for a moment, he lowered his voice and asked, "Second brother, why are you playing chess with yourself? You have just gotten married, so you won't even be able to find a staff member who can play chess with you."

"The princess doesn't like my staff, so she quits her. She doesn't know how to play chess herself!" Wu Yanxiu looked around, and her handsome face suddenly was full of boredom and helplessness.

Before getting married to Princess Anle, he knew that the other party knew very little. But at that time, the other party's skin and face were worthy of his greed. After getting married, he got together all day long, and the skin and face soon lost their appeal to him. In this way, the only connection between the two was left with the original animal instinct.

Princess Anle has a bad temper and a strong desire to control. She often calls and scolds him. It is not so much his wife, but his immediate boss or boss. And his purpose of approaching Princess Anle was to gain power and revive the Wu family. Therefore, although the two parties are now in love, their relationship is more like a business partner than a husband and wife.

Such a marriage will torture the parties involved every day. However, Wu Yanxiu must endure it until the moment he achieves his wish. He is the most outstanding child of the Wu family generation, and some responsibilities are inherently dependent and he cannot avoid it.

"Second brother, be careful." His heart was filled with sympathy for a moment. Wu Yanshou raised his hand and gently patted Wu Yanxiu's back. "Actually, I don't like to spend all day in brothels, but who made our surname Wu!"

This was a heart-wrenching sentence, which immediately made Wu Yanxiu feel a little sore in his nose. However, before he could have time to share the same illness with Wu Yanshou, there was a sudden shout behind him, "Double! It must be double!" "Single, I said it was single!" "Five hangs, double!" "Ten hangs, I pressed single." "Is there anything I want to play, so I grabbed the chess piece and went to bet!"...

With a little disgust, Wu Yanxiu turned over and saw a curly fat man, spreading his palms open, revealing five or six chess pieces. The playboys around him also made the same move. Then, everyone put the chess pieces in the palm of everyone into the empty box and counted them carefully, "One, two, three, four..."

It turned out that these idle guys disliked the fact that they were too slow to play Go and actually used chess pieces to bet odd and even!

"Shuang! It's really double, thank you, brothers, thank you!"

"Double, double again!"

"Whoever comes, whoever comes, this time it will be double!

"My brothers, I've given up, I've given up!"

...

The curly-haired fat man who was on the banker was vaguely filled with the three-point style of Wu Yanshou when he was young. With his extraordinary luck, he had won five games in a row. In each game, he was hit by two, winning his opponent with a slight face.

"This person is the younger brother of Chief Shi of Tuqi Shi, Prince Waide, the younger brother of Soge, Prince Wade. "It seems that you can guess Wu Yanxiu's thoughts. Without waiting for him to ask, Wu Yanshou smiled and whispered in his ear. "I just met me recently and am very generous. Among the young generation of hosts sent to Chang'an by tribes, he has a very high prestige."

"Soge's younger brother?" Wu Yanxiu's brows frowned suddenly, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Before Niu Shizhuo set off, the news that the court prepared for Soge to be both pacified and suppressed by Soge had already spread in Meilou!" Once again, he had a heart-to-heart relationship with Wu Yanxiu. Wu Yanshou added with a smile, as if watching a chess game, "He also has a brother named Zhe, who should be a concubine. He also went to the Imperial Academy and was considered an outstanding figure. Last year, he returned to the Western Regions under the name of attending funerals and left him here alone."

"I have a genital!" Wu Yanxiu nodded, and suddenly showed some appreciation in his eyes. "According to the princess, more than 20 days ago, Soge raised troops from the Qing clan and attacked Kucha. His brother Zhezi officially led one of the top ten generals."

"It's a kind!" Although he knew that Sawa had heard the arrangements of the Tang Dynasty and sent the news back to the Western Regions in advance, Soge was the first to take action. Wu Yanshou, as Duke of Yan, could not raise the interest in reporting this person or capturing this person for the court. He just looked at this person with appreciation and nodded slightly.

"What, you are not going to help Zhang this time?" Wu Yanxiu suddenly turned his gaze to the fat fourth brother Wu Yanshou, and asked with concern.

"Last time it was a favor. He originally deliberately left Chang'an and deceived others to kill him. Whether I report the news or not, the result is the same." Wu Yanshou shook his head and sneered, "And this time, he is dead. I will help him, will the dead beg me?"

"Is there anything else to play? Second brother, fourth brother, come and play! This time, I will change to the order!" Chief Shi's younger brother, the curly fat man, became more and more brave as he fought, shouting and sending invitations to the brothers Wu Yanxiu and Wu Yanshou.

"Come on, whoever is afraid of whom!" Wu Yanshou rolled up his sleeves and strode forward without fearing the other party's good luck at all!

"You guys play, I'll just take a look!" Wu Yanxiu smiled and shook her head slightly, then turned around and continued to appreciate the autumn scenery outside the window.

The wind was blowing, and the red leaves were everywhere in the sky, but I didn’t know if the autumn wind in the Western Regions was the same bleak!

……………………

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..." The sound of the trumpet resounded through the bleak wilderness accompanied by the autumn wind.

The scout rode back wildly and was about to encounter the enemy's army and spread the news that they encountered. The carriage loaded with supplies was quickly rushed to the front of the entire team by the coachmen, lined up in a neat swallowtail shape. Guo Jing and Ren Qi each led a team of familiar brothers to take off their armor from the carriage and put them on their own. Luo Huaizu and Wang Han each held a long spear, one left and one right, guarding Zhang Qian's side.

"The northwest is full of cavalry. Judging from the flag, there should be fifteen hundred-man teams. The team led the team with two wool flags and the flag is embroidered with a silver wolf head. It should be a special service!" Wang Zhihuan floated down from the roof of a specially reserved observation car, and returned the simple monocular to Zhang Qian with both hands, and reported loudly. "In other directions, there should be no smoke and dust. There should be no enemy troops." (Note: Special service, Turkic official position, equivalent to a prince.)

"Secret Service, Tuqi Shiren or Turkic?" Zhang Qian frowned slightly, and the confusion on his face was far more than nervous.

The main force of the Turks was far north of Hetao, so there would be no special service-level generals in the Western Regions. The Tuqi Shiren is still fighting against Zhou and the banner of Ti and not against Tang. The only person who is qualified to fight against the special service may be Soge himself.

However, he soon did not have to be confused. The enemy came as fast as the wind, and almost reached his sight while changing armor with his brothers.

Taking the initiative to keep a distance of 300 steps from the car wall, the enemy troops grabbed their mounts and reorganized their formation under the command of Dajian (captain). At the same time, a young Tuqin nobleman in his twenties walked towards the car wall surrounded by more than 20 confidants.

"The brother of Sage, the prince of Huaide of the Tang Dynasty, was the master of Yezhi, a county magistrate of Kaiguo County. He has long admired Zhang Shaojian's name. He came to welcome Shaojian to visit Suye City on his brother's order." He grabbed his mount one hundred steps away from the car wall, and the young Tuqi nobleman Shi reported his home and his purpose. He spoke Chang'an official language and spoke in a straight voice!

……………………

"Bang!" A chess piece fell on the chessboard. The big white chess dragon was slaughtered and was defeated in an instant.

"You lost!" Princess Taiping Li Lingyue tapped the table with her fingers and said to the empty seat opposite. Her face covered with powder was full of madness.
Chapter completed!