The southwest border of the Tang Dynasty once again fell into turmoil on the eve of a heavy rainstorm. The people of Chengdu had just bid farewell to their great emperor, and the envoys from Nanzhao declaring war were already on the way.
Compared with the gloomy clouds in the southwest border area, the Guanzhong area at this time can be said to have cleared the clouds and seen the sun.
After Zhou Shi disbanded from the eastbound traveling group, he first handed over the matters at hand in Luoyang City, wasting half a month, and did not arrive in Chang'an City until mid-October.
Zhou Shi has accepted Shang Bo's invitation to serve as the deputy envoy to the Longyou Governor's Mansion in the backyard.
Now that Shang Bo is still in Fengxiang Mansion, the work of preparing for Chang'an to stay in the backyard has been left to Zhou Shi.
After Zhou Shi arrived in Chang'an City, he first went to see Yu Xiaoxiao from the pipa troupe.
When Zhou Shi led his horse to Anyifang and saw the lively pipa performance, he was so surprised that he was speechless.
You must know that Yu Xiaoxiao came to Chang'an just a dozen days earlier than she did. How could she make the pipa business so prosperous?
There are long benches at the entrance of the Pipa Pavilion, and a pergola has been set up against the wall. These are the guests waiting to enter the Pipa Pavilion to watch the performance.
There has even been a secondary market formed around the customers waiting at the entrance of Pipa Hall.
A vendor sells heat-preserving red date tea to dispel the chill of customers waiting in the cold wind.
There are vendors selling flowers, which are used to reward the dancers they support. As long as you pay a little more, you can also tie your name on the flowers.
Seeing the price of these flowers, Zhou Shi couldn't help but smack his lips. Sure enough, a man is most willing to spend money on a woman.
Zhou Shi did not reveal his identity directly and walked into the Pipa Hall. Instead, he lined up with everyone and secretly listened to the discussions of the audience.
"Why is the queue today longer than yesterday? I've been waiting in line for two hours!"
"Stop complaining, Thirteenth Prince Wang. If you're any later, you won't be able to get in line."
"It's not your ink that insists on buying flowers outside Anyi Square, which makes us late."
"The flowers in Anyifang are too expensive! Just save some if you can."
"That's right. I want to give flowers to Cheng Ji today."
"You didn't say yesterday that you must give flowers to the Yu family. Why did you change your mind today?"
"The Yu family's sword dance is unparalleled in the world, but Cheng Ji works too hard. I heard that she sprained her waist a few days ago and still participated in the rehearsal. I, Thirteenth Prince, like such a woman!"
Hearing this, Zhou Shi couldn't help but ask: "You two, why do you bring flowers to the Pipa Hall?"
Zhou Shi noticed that almost everyone in line had flowers in their hands.
The young man named Wang Shisanlang said: "Looking at the accent, your brother is not from Chang'an, right? He just arrived in Chang'an not long ago?"
Zhou Shi nodded, and Thirteenth Wang said: "No wonder you don't know the rules of pipa playing."
"The pipa troupe in Anyifang is now the most popular pipa troupe in 108 squares in Chang'an."
"The two heads of Anyifang are not only top-notch in talent and appearance, but they are also very good at doing business."
"There are only twelve dancers on stage every day. At the end of each performance, the audience can give flowers to the dancers they support."
"Only the top eight dancers can continue to perform in the next performance."
"The last four eliminated can only sit on the bench, and the first ones will not have a chance to play until they are eliminated."
"In order to allow the dancer he supports to perform, some people spend a lot of money to pay for all the flowers."
Zhou Shi was stunned, good guy, what is this? Datang’s AKB12?
Zhou Shi asked again: "Why are those two gentlemen buying flowers outside Anyi Square?"
The Thirteenth Prince said with some shame: "There are also flower sellers in the Pipa Shop, but the prices are the most expensive. The prices of flowers in Anyi Square have also been very high. The two of us have come to listen to music every day these days. It's really
I'm short of money, so I bought flowers outside Anyi Square."
"However, Pipa Hall does not prohibit bringing flowers in from outside."
Zhou Shi was even speechless for a while. Yu Xiaoxiao and Su Nuan had brought the fan support vote to the Tang Dynasty. These otakus of the Tang Dynasty had no resistance at all!
Seeing the obsessed look on Thirteenth Wang's face, wanting to devote all of himself to supporting Cheng Ji, Zhou Shi knew why Pipa Xing was so popular.
Zhou Shi chatted privately with Yu Xiaoxiao. After a while, a maid opened the small door and let Zhou Shi into the Pipa Hall.
When he saw Yu Xiaoxiao, he only saw her with disheveled hair and writing and drawing on paper.
"Xiaoxiao, why are you like this?" Yu Xiaoxiao pays most attention to image, and rarely looks like this even when traveling.
Yu Xiaoxiao sighed and said: "It's not the King of Qin breaking the formation music. It's really difficult to change such dance music!"
Zhou Shi showed a helpless smile and Yu Xiaoxiao said:
"Stop talking about me, have you chosen the location in the backyard?"
Zhou Shi said: "There is no need to choose. Shang Bo has already sent the news that the emperor has given a house to leave a backyard."
"Give me a house?"
"Yes, the backyard is equivalent to the residence of Prince Jianning. Originally, Prince Jianning did not have an independent residence. At any rate, now he is also a prince specializing in one area, so the emperor simply gave a mansion to Prince Jianning as a residence.
.”
"Where is it? Is it far from Anyifang?"
"It's in Xuanyangfang, not far from Anyifang. It's also on the edge of Dongshi, and it's even closer to the Imperial City."
Zhou Shi added: "This house originally belonged to Yang Guozhong. After the Anshi Rebellion, Yang Guozhong and his family were killed by the imperial army, so the emperor gave this house to King Jianning."
Yu Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up and she said, "Yang Guozhong's house, I heard it is one of the most beautiful houses in Chang'an!"
Zhou Shi sighed and said: "But An Lushan and Yang Guozhong had a big feud. After An Lushan captured Chang'an, he massacred the clan members of Yang Guozhong's family who stayed in Chang'an. This house was also severely damaged. It would take a long time to rebuild such a big house.
It costs a lot of money.”
Yu Xiaoxiao asked: "Does the emperor only grant the house and not the money to repair the house?"
"The emperor asked the Ministry of Works to repair the palaces and official residences in Chang'an. However, the Ministry of Works only has so many craftsmen. The palace has not been repaired yet. Where can we find the manpower to repair the backyard for King Jianning? We still have to rely on ourselves.
.”
Zhou Shi said: "I posted a post on the forum, and several life-streaming players who like to build are interested in this project. They left the backyard and planned to knock down and rebuild it directly on the basis of the original house, and build a new style building."
"Such a big deal?"
Zhou Shi said: "Keeping the backyard is Long You's face in Chang'an. His Highness also said that it doesn't matter if you spend more money."
Yu Xiaoxiao added: "By the way, our players in Chang'an are going to get together tonight at the Longyou Guild Hall. Zhou Shi, why don't you come too?"
Now there are several groups of players in Chang'an.
The first is Su Nuan and Yu Xiaoxiao's pipa shop. This newly opened pipa shop has become a landmark building in Anyifang. The two women are performing and rehearsing the Qin King's broken formation music.
Guo Ping, the first group of businessmen and players who arrived in Chang'an, also found a job for themselves in Chang'an.
I don’t know where this guy went, but he actually got an errand from the imperial court to rebuild the East Market.
The East and West markets were once the largest markets in the Tang Dynasty. They were looted and burned after An Lushan entered Chang'an.
Jing Zhaoyin planned to rebuild the East and West cities and raised funds from merchants in Chang'an City.
Guo Pingkang donated his money and won the project to rebuild Chang'an. Now he is busy on the construction site every day.
The seventeen sons of Longyou, including Wang Chengwei, are the players who participated in this year's imperial examination in Chang'an. They are still building momentum in Chang'an. Relying on Longyou's poems, this group of players has prospered and become famous in Chang'an.
Shan Tao, a group of players who escorted officials who rebelled against the Tang Dynasty into Chang'an, has now accepted new positions in Dali Temple.
Shan Tao became the street patrol envoy, managing the street shops and bad people in Anyifang, Qinrenfang and Jinggongfang, and became an official under the Jingzhao Yin Yamen.
In addition to Zhou Shi, the official of Longyou Dudufu, the number of players in Chang'an has exceeded a hundred before he knew it.
So Guo Ping proposed to hold a gathering of players at the Longyou Guild Hall so that everyone could connect with each other.
Zhou Shi naturally agreed, and the Governor's Mansion left the backyard as Long You's "sub-base" in Chang'an. It was also the player's rebirth point and strong backing in Chang'an. Naturally, he had to actively participate in this kind of activity.
But Zhou Shi still asked: "At night? Isn't there a curfew in Chang'an?"
"Isn't Shan Tao the street patrol officer? We have already obtained the pass issued by him. By the way, you should also go to him to get one, otherwise it will be quite inconvenient to not be allowed to go out at night."
"Actually, Chang'an is not that strict. Except for Zhuque Street, which is closed to traffic at night, the imperial court also turns a blind eye when traveling on the streets in Fang City at night."
"And the curfew is only for ordinary people. Those dignitaries don't still travel at night."
Zhou Shi touched his head and said, "It seems to be the same thing."
Zhou Shi left Pipa Hall before it was time to go to the Yamen.
Zhou Shi first went to the Ministry of Works and made it clear that he was the official behind the scenes.
A foreign minister from the Ministry of Industry warmly received Zhou Shi and personally presented the title deed and key to Yang Guozhong's mansion.
Then Zhou Shi went to Yang Guozhong's mansion to take a look. Sure enough, the damage to the mansion was serious, and even the plaque on the door was scorched by the flames.
I just don’t know if those architect players can build a new grand mansion on the ruins.
It was almost dark at this time, Zhou Shi hurried to Anyifang, and finally entered Anyifang before the gate of Anyifang.
He walked quickly to the Longyou Guild Hall. By the time Zhou Shi arrived at the Longyou Guild Hall, other players had already arrived.
Players gathered together in the clubhouse. This was also the first gathering of players in Chang'an.
The party convener Guo Ping picked up the wine glass and said a toast, and the players were ready to drink happily.
At this time, Shan Tao stood up and said to everyone:
"Brothers in Chang'an, I just took on a big task. Are you interested in doing it together?"
Upon hearing the word mission, the eyes of the players present lit up.