"Those who are sluggish do not blame themselves for being clumsy in intelligence, but only complain about the lack of steps to advance in the body."
After hearing this, Xun You stroked his beard with his right hand, his eyes flashed slightly, but he smiled and said nothing.
Du Ji also looked at Xun You nervously. He prided himself on being talented, but he also knew that there are people outside the world, and Xun You's intelligence was enough for him to admire. So at this time, it was no longer whether he could get a recommendation and bypass the official affairs department.
It's a question; it's a question of whether his performance just now can be recognized by Xun You.
Xun You was silent for a long time. At this moment, he saw two more people coming in from outside the door.
The person in front of him walked with great strides, walking vigorously and with great momentum. He was Zhang Chang's younger brother, Zhang Meng, the captain of the Changshui School. The other person was dressed in Qingjin, of medium build, dressed as a scholar, with a pair of shrewd round eyes.
Looking around.
"Brother."
Zhang Meng first saluted Zhang Chang, and then greeted Xun You: "Xun Jun."
Later, under Zhang Chang's introduction, Zhang Meng also bowed respectfully to Xun Yue. When facing Du Ji, Zhang Meng's salute was a bit casual. However, Du Ji didn't care, and his attention was entirely on Zhang Meng.
Looking at the scribe behind Meng, he vaguely seemed to feel that this person had the same purpose as him.
"You have been in the military camp for a long time these days, why do you suddenly want to come back?"
"It's because a friend came to visit and it was inconvenient to be in the army, so I brought him home." After Zhang Meng finished speaking, he immediately introduced: "This is a Handan merchant from Chenliu, an old acquaintance of mine. Brother, you should remember that I mentioned earlier
Come to our house every year.”
"Oh." Zhang Chang had some impression that the Handan merchant and Zhang Meng were promoted as Xiaolian at the same time, and they met in Luoyang. The relationship between the two was so good that they could joke with each other freely. However, they had not heard from each other in these years, and I don't know why this suddenly came.
... Zhang Chang glanced at Du Ji and confirmed in his heart: 'I'm afraid these two people have the same motive.'
Zhang Chang continued: "It's been a long time since we last met. I thought you were far away in Chenliu and would never see you again. I didn't expect you to come to Chang'an. Why don't you submit the letter earlier so that I can make preparations with Shu Wei."
"
The Handan merchant withdrew his glance at Xun You and others quietly, rolled his eyes, behaved openly and generously, and said with a smile: "If you come here rashly, please just treat me as an uninvited guest."
Du Ji and Handan Shang had never met each other. Xun You didn't know the Zhang brothers very well, so everyone stopped talking for a while. Handan Shang saw that the scene was a bit cold, and said with some embarrassment: "I wonder what you were talking about just now?"
"We are talking about the salt policy in Hedong." Du Ji stared at the Handan merchants with a smile, and then added: "I have some superficial opinions on this, so I dare to talk about it in front of Xun Jun and others."
After hearing this, the Handan businessman immediately said: "So, the businessman came all the way from Hangu and has heard a little bit about the salt politics in Hedong. I wonder if I can express my views on it?"
Xun Yue noticed something strange here and wanted to get away. When he looked up, he saw Xun You still sitting across from him, smiling and listening to the discussion between Handan Shang and Du Ji. Xun You smiled calmly and looked at Xun Yue.
Looking around, instead of looking deeply into each other's eyes, he nodded imperceptibly.
Several people had a conversation with their own thoughts, among which Du Ji and Handan Shang were the main ones making high-level remarks, while Xun You, Zhang Chang and others only echoed in a false and submissive way. Du Ji seemed to notice something in the middle of the conversation, and gradually
No longer arguing with the Handan merchants, the home court was handed over to the Handan merchants who tried their best to express themselves.
The snow outside was getting heavier and heavier, so Du Ji finally excused himself on the pretext that it was difficult to walk on the snowy road, and then Xun's uncle and nephew, Handan merchants and Zhang Meng's old friends reunited and stayed overnight as a matter of course.
Back in the room, beside the warm charcoal fire, Xun Yue said to Xun You: "Looking at them today, how are these two people?"
"If you are wise and brave, you should take Du Ji as the first to manage the affairs of the herdsmen." Xun You ordered Cang Tou to prepare a meal. Gu Zi picked up the teapot and poured tea for himself and Xun Yue: "This man is a capable official and can be appointed by the state and county.
.”
Xun Yue held the same view, nodded in approval, and asked again: "What about the Handan merchants?"
"I haven't seen what he can do. It's just a superficial name, and there is no room for it." Xun You moved the poured tea bowl in front of Xun Yue, lowered his eyelids, and said: "Even if you can rely on Zhang, it is only a temporary benefit.
When it comes to the long term, it is far worse than Du Bohou."
"With Du Ji's talent, it is impossible that he would not be able to pass the level of official administration, and he is not like those who are greedy for salary and seeking official positions, flattering and flattering people in order to get lucky. Handan businessmen have little talent and little virtue, and are too official-minded.
It's obviously too eager." After Xun Yue finished speaking, he curiously picked up the tea bowl, put it under his nose and sniffed gently, and couldn't help but said in a funny voice: "You're so good, why are you giving me medicine?"
"This is called tea. Your Majesty ordered someone to improve the method of frying tea, so that it not only has medicinal uses, but can also be used as a drink in ordinary times, and can replace wine." Xun You picked up the tea bowl and took a sip first, tut.
He said: "Although it is a bit bitter, after drinking it, it does leave a fragrance on your lips and teeth, and it has a unique taste."
Tea had very few uses and was not in high demand, so the Imperial Medical Office did not have much stock. It was not until the emperor made tea a daily drink that he had people pick wild tea from the mountains, and the stock increased. Even so, the emperor rewarded
Tea for the courtiers below was also extremely rare. As a close confidant, Xun You got a lot of tea.
Nowadays, although people do not have the habit of drinking tea, they still regard it as a precious thing after receiving a favor. Only a few people cook it and drink it like Xun You.
Just as Xun Yue was trying to drink tea, Xun You continued: "Both of them have the same intention, but Du Ji is more sophisticated and is here for me."
"Du Ji is a capable official." Xun Yue repeated what Xun You had just said to him. He drank the tea without changing his expression: "Are you interested in making a special case for him?"
Xun You said decisively: "The more this is the case, the less convenient it will be."
"You are ignoring it here. What if Zhang Chang recommends it in front of His Majesty?"
The court and the emperor were still very unfamiliar with each other: "If you ask me this question, it seems that you have no knowledge of others."
"Although Zhang Wenshu is a kind and sincere person, he dare not be negligent in the slightest when doing things, especially the matters entrusted by His Majesty." Xun You said firmly: "He just wanted me to recommend Du Ji just because he wanted to test my attitude.
, and wants to blame the matter on me. Such a person will not see the situation clearly and ask for trouble."
Things did not go as Xun You expected. Not only Du Ji, but also the Handan merchants returned without success. They knew Zhang Chang's attitude openly and secretly, and they tacitly agreed not to mention it again in the subsequent meetings.