"Favor is more important than in-laws, and righteousness is more important than friends." [Sacrifice to Wife and Brother He Shao Jiawen]
In Chang'an City in the Han Dynasty, the Weiyang, Changle and other palace complexes alone accounted for half of the city's area, and the rest was divided into 160 lu, which made the space available for ordinary residential buildings very limited.
The residences of high-ranking dignitaries and clan relatives are all located near the north gate of Weiyang Palace, which is the so-called "North Gate Jiadi", while those of lower rank are gathered near the Xuanping Gate in the northeast of the city, which is the so-called "Xuanping Guili".
In addition, ordinary officials and people could only live in the northern half of the city or near the city gate, such as Qiongli, Xiaoli, etc.
The former Grand Master Dong Zhuo lived in the largest house in Beique Jiadi. The current Situ Wang Yun was favored by Dong Zhuo and lived nearby. These are all known to everyone. But few people know that the current emperor
The residence of Wang Bin, the uncle of the Northern Army who was ordered to pay homage to the Northern Army, is also here.
The courtyard was quiet for a long time, and the summer cicadas who had had enough rest began to make endless noises again. The scorching sun was blazing in the sky, scorching the ground. Occasionally, a gust of wind blew with heat, making the leaves rustle.
Two people were sitting on the mats in the verandah. Wang Duan held a white piece in his hand and knocked it on the chessboard, making a crisp sound.
"It's your turn."
The opponent took a closer look and found that he was forced into a dead end on the chess board, with no room for change. He tried to save it, but was unable to find a way out. The weather was hot, and his temper also became hot: "No way.
It’s getting hotter and hotter. It’s only April and there’s no wind at all. It’s really weird.”
"The traitor has been eliminated, and the Holy Emperor is in power. Where did the monster come from? If you keep talking nonsense, just copy the book for me." Wang Duan picked up the chess pieces on the chessboard one by one, put them back into the chess box, and said calmly.
His younger brother, Wang Fu, lost six times in a row and felt that the game was really boring, so he pushed back.
Seeing his brother Wang Duan clearing out the black and white chess pieces one by one, he said angrily: "Brother, you can also be calm. Aweng is deeply favored by the country. He has been appointed as the Lieutenant Colonel of the Northern Army. He is about to fight with the generals who were relatives of the previous dynasty.
It’s really inconceivable that he doesn’t make friends with famous officials and build up his momentum at this time, but instead closes down and keeps to himself.”
"There are many things that you can't figure out, and this is not the only one." Wang Duan finished packing the chess pieces, took the herbal tea from the boy servant, took a sip, and suddenly sighed: "What's more, now is not the time, the country is worried about how to stand on its own feet.
, how can we plan for our own family first?"
"Aweng has been in charge of the army for how many days, and he has never said a word of support to us in front of the country. I am fifteen this year, so I am not in a hurry. Brother, you are twenty-three, and you are the cousin of the country. You are even black.
I haven’t even worn a ribbon before, so I’m still considered a noble relative of the Heavenly Family, and I won’t be afraid of making people laugh if I tell you about it.”
Officials with a rank of more than 200 stone all wore black ribbons with copper seals. Wang Fu was mocking his brother for being a relative of the nobles but living alone in white.
Wang Duan said nothing, silently looking at the mulberry trees in the courtyard. A gust of hot wind came, and the sound of the wind was mixed with the sound of footsteps.
A servant came from a distance. Wang Duan was secretly surprised, but he didn't know what happened.
"There are two young masters outside the door asking to see you." After saying this, the servant handed over two letters of honor.
"Wang Can of Shanyang, Sun Meng of Fufeng." Wang Duan slowly read out these two surnames. Before he could react, Wang Fu jumped happily.
"Brother, Wang Can is a rare young talent, and the scholar Sun Meng is the only son of Shangshu Ling. The two of them came to visit, obviously to make a good relationship with my family. Such famous people cannot be neglected!" Wang Fu was impatient and eager to do so.
Immediately open the middle door and put Wang Can and Wang Can in.
Seeing his brother's impatience, Wang Duan was even more upset. Wang Can was very famous. Of course he wanted to meet him, but he didn't want to bring an impetuous and straightforward person like Wang Fu to meet him. If he said no at the banquet,
Shouldn't it be more troublesome for yourself? After making up his mind, Wang Duan said coldly: "I will receive these two people, and it's time for you to go to school."
Wang Fu was shocked and said repeatedly: "Brother! Why don't you let me see them? I promise you that I will never talk nonsense."
His younger brother was of a loose nature. How could Wang Duan, his elder brother, not know that he could not trust his words? He called an old servant and told him: "Prepare a car now and take your younger brother to Xuanping to find Duke Luan."
Don’t keep Duke Luan waiting for a long time while you’re studying.”
Wang Fu stood under the scorching sun. Seeing that his brother was deliberately trying to avoid him, he was not angry. Instead, he said to Wang Duan with a playful smile: "Okay, okay, I will go to Luan Gong to study. Don't be angry. But you must remember these two people."
You can't offend your family, you must make good friends with them."
After saying that, Wang Fu bowed to his brother solemnly, which made Wang Duan angry and funny: "Come on, just go and read your book in peace. You don't need to worry about this matter. I have my own sense of discretion."
The visitor's carriage was parked under a big tree at the door. The shadows of the big branches and the golden nuggets of sunlight spread on the hood, as if it was stained with beautiful paint patterns.
Wang Bin's eldest son Wang Duan and several servants walked to the car, and the two young men in the car hurriedly got out.
One of them is Wang Can, and the other is Shisun Meng, the son of Shisun Rui. Shisun Meng is only sixteen years old, has few talents and is good at writing. He has a close relationship with Wang Can and is a close friend. This time
When he came to visit, Shi Sunmeng used the relationship between his father Shi Sunrui and Wang Bin to act as a middleman and introduce Wang Can to Wang Duan.
The three of them entered the palace and went to the hall. The guests and hosts took their seats. Wang Duan apologized and said, "It's really a coincidence that my family was ordered to enter the palace in the morning and has not returned yet."
Wang Can and the scholar Sun Meng looked at each other, both smiled bitterly, and braved the scorching sun to rush there, but in vain.
Shi Sunmeng, who was as cautious and sophisticated as his father, asked tentatively: "I took the liberty to come here because it is an important matter. I don't know when the Northern Army Commander will come back?"
"I don't know about this anymore. The country has ordered the army to be recruited in the past few days, and my master always comes back very late."
There are more than 4,000 people in the five schools of the Northern Army, but the few soldiers are all elite. Dong Zhuo assigned the Northern Army to his trusted subordinates, leaving only more than a thousand old and weak people to fill them. Wang Bin served as the Lieutenant Colonel of the Northern Army, and he could only control one
It's just an empty shelf in name only.
Wang Yun reluctantly agreed because he knew the details of the Northern Army.
The emperor's appointment of Wang Bin was not discouraged even though it was such a useless thing. Instead, he asked Wang Bin to step up the rectification, eliminate the old and the weak, and recruit talented people from good families in the six counties.
Although the Northern Army has not yet been fully staffed these days, Wang Bin has been very busy and rarely has the opportunity to go home. It was also during the emperor's order to reorganize the troops in the past two days that Wang Bin had the opportunity to stay at home for a few nights.
The scholar Sun Meng had not yet expressed anything, but Wang Can on the side spoke first: "I dare to ask you if you know Zuo Zhonglang's general Cai Gong."
If the future intention of these words was made clear, Wang Duansurong replied: "Who in the world knows the name of Cai Gonglun? Although I am not talented, it is a pity that I cannot listen to Cai Gonglun's voice day and night."
"In this case, we know at a glance that Duke Cai is in danger!" Wang Can left the table and came forward, bowing to Wang Duan; "Situ is strong and determined to kill. No one in the court can save him, only the honorable virtue of your house.
Only when you meet the emperor's love can you lend a helping hand. If you are brave, please think carefully!"
"I dare not accept the great gift." Wang Duan avoided the table and returned the gift, stood up and said: "This is a big matter, and I dare not make my own decision. Moreover, the family's honor is only six hundred dan, and I am not yet a minister. How can the family's honor be able to shoulder the public's expectations?"
Wang Can talked about the righteousness of saving Cai Yong, and the scholar Sun Meng then talked about the benefits: "Why did you say this? Not to mention that Cai Gong had a great reputation and was supported by the scholars; let's say that Situ didn't listen after he killed Dong.
Good advice is given to the court, and we should stand up and correct our mistakes. Is there any reason to hide behind closed doors?"
Rescuing Cai Yong will not only gain the gratitude of a large number of scholars, but also dampen Wang Yun's spirit. In the past, Wang Duan would not have even thought about this matter, and Wang Can would not really invite him because of his status as a relative.
rescue.
The reason for this situation is simply that the emperor's recent performances are eye-catching, which makes people seem to see new hope when they are unable to unite to resist Wang Yun. Wang Duan naturally understands these mysteries, and the pros and cons have been solved by Wang Can and Wang Can.
Wang Duan made it clear that Wang Duan had no reason to refuse, so he told his father Wang Bin about the matter and his views that night.
Wang Bin took off his complicated court clothes, put on a single coat, and sat on the verandah by the pool to enjoy the cool air. After hearing this, he was greatly moved. He said: "Cai Gong is famous all over the world. If I were like before,
If you have no power and power, you can just protect yourself; now you are favored by the country, and since you can speak out, you will naturally fight for him. This is not for personal fame and fortune, but to continue the saint's unique knowledge, which will be passed down to future generations for thousands of years.
A great achievement that will be remembered.”
"Yes! I think so, too. When it comes to the country, with the wisdom of the country, we will not think of this, and we will do our best to rescue you." Wang Duan put his hands on his knees, leaned forward, and actively persuaded:
"If we can rescue and pardon Mr. Cai's crime, the reputation of the country and us will greatly increase. Even Wang Situ will not dare to underestimate us."
But Wang Bin thought deeper than Wang Duan. If Cai Yong succeeded in rescuing Cai Yong from the emperor and himself, his reputation would certainly increase greatly, but the virtues of Wang Can and Sun Meng, who dressed in white and rushed to help each other, would undoubtedly be spread among the people.
All over the world.
As the saying goes, celebrities can become celebrities only if they have a reputation. Regardless of whether this matter succeeds or not, Wang and Can have already had their names. In the future, they will rely on their reputation for saving virtuous people in their official career, and they will not be ranked as ministers.
daydream.
"Confucius once said: 'The future generations are to be feared. How could you know that those who come are not as good as they are now?' I believe it. You are worthy of being a son of a famous family."
After saying this, Wang Bin couldn't help but worry. He thought that when he was still alive, he could still have a certain degree of power by virtue of being the brother of the emperor's biological mother. But Wang Duan, Wang Fu and others were only related to the emperor and had no relationship.
If something unexpected happens after his death, the emperor may not be able to protect them.
He looked at his eldest son, who followed the rules and looked above average, and his second son, who didn't like studying and only loved cockfighting and running dogs. Each of his sons was worse than the last, let alone being compared with the talents of other families.
From now on, if the Wang family wants to maintain wealth and honor for a long time, it can only rely on the emperor's unwavering favor in addition to the outstanding ability of their heirs.
Seeing his father's sentiments, Wang Duan also echoed: "I heard that Wang Can is only fifteen years old, and Shi Sunmeng is only sixteen years old. They are about the same age as his assistant brother, but they have very different talents and virtues. I want my assistant brother to be in the future
Make more friends with them, as the saying goes, 'When three people are together, there must be a teacher.' Being together with them will definitely help my younger brother to grow up."
These words originally came from Wang Duan's good intentions to let his younger brother learn well, but they reminded Wang Bin of other things, which made him suddenly enlightened.