Chapter 80: The Court Didn't See Taiyuan Yuan Cong
The sun is just right, and the horse riding parade is comfortable and smooth.
"It's better to go to Chang'an. It looks the same every year. In that damn place in Yuzhou, even the poor can beg for food. We really should come back as soon as possible."
Two young men were riding horses side by side, moving slowly in a certain direction. The young man who spoke first was named Xu Xingben, and the young man beside him was his younger brother Xu Xingshi.
"Then what can we do? If you are avoiding trouble, we have to follow suit. If Emperor Gaozu is still in power, do we need to go to Beijing for those three melons and two dates?" Xu Xingshi said angrily.
"Shut up!" Xu Xingben looked around in fear and scolded: "You are getting more and more outrageous. You don't look at this place and you talk without thinking. If you want to die, don't implicate me!"
Xu Xingshi sneered, but didn't say anything nonsense.
The two of them rode horses and arrived in front of the Xu Mansion.
Dismounted, stepped forward, and summoned the porter.
"Two gentlemen, who are..." the old concierge narrowed his eyes and asked doubtfully.
"Why, Lao Zhou, don't you recognize our brothers?" Xu Xingben asked him with a smile.
The old concierge thought of something, slapped his thigh, and said with a smile: "Oh, it turns out that the two young masters are back. Look at me, this old blind man. Please follow me into the house!"
Xu Xingshi followed the old concierge and joked: "You are indeed going blind. For a big man like me, you can still admit your mistake."
The old concierge said flatteringly: "You two gentlemen, don't be surprised. I haven't seen each other for several years. Both young gentlemen have become young heroes. I, Old Zhou, can't recognize you with my eyes. Please forgive me."
"Hahaha." Xu Xingshi laughed.
Entered the house through the side door and walked around the verandah.
Xu Xingben asked: "Is uncle at home?"
The old porter replied: "My eldest son, your husband is still at Zuowuwei Mansion and has not returned to the mansion yet."
"By the way, not long ago, I received a letter from my uncle saying that he has been promoted to Zuowu Wei Zhonglang General. Is this relevant?" Xu Xingben asked.
"That's what happened."
When the brothers learned that their uncle had not returned yet, they visited their aunt first and then waited in the side hall under the arrangement of their aunt.
About three hours had passed, and Xu Luoren, the master of the Xu Mansion, finally returned to the mansion.
This person is currently the Zhonglang General of Zuowu Guard, and there is nothing special about him. However, his brother Xu Shixu has some background. He is one of the Yuan Cong of Taiyuan. Emperor Gaozu conferred the title of Zhending County Duke, and he is currently the governor of Yuzhou.
Side hall.
"Why did you two come to Beijing?" Xu Luoren heard from his wife that his two nephews were visiting, so he changed his clothes and came over to see them.
The two brothers Xu Xingben and Xu Xingshi were the sons of Xu Shixu.
"Uncle, your Excellency is seriously ill in Yuzhou. We came to Chang'an on your behalf to ask His Majesty the Emperor for permission to serve as an official," Xu Xingben said.
"Brother is sick?" Xu Luoren was surprised and asked quickly: "What kind of illness is it? Is it serious?"
Xu Xingben sighed: "It's an old problem. When I was young, I charged into battle and got rid of the root of the disease. The damp weather is unbearable and the pain is unbearable."
Xu Luoren is also a member of the military. He was not surprised when he heard about it and said: "Brother is not young anymore. If you want to retire, just retire."
Xu Xingshi, on the other hand, said with a sneer: "My elders have traveled all over the world in just a few years, including Cai, Hubei, Gua, and Henan. How can I not get sick?"
Guazhou is in the Western Region, and Yuzhou is in Henan Province. They are thousands of miles apart, and the water and soil are completely different.
Xu Xingben glared and said: "Shut up!"
When Xu Luoren heard this, he frowned slightly and said dissatisfied: "Master, this is Chang'an. You'd better control your mouth. Otherwise, no one can protect you."
Xu Xingshi bit his lip, turned around, and sulked without saying a word.
Seeing this, Xu Luoren sighed and said: "It's good to be able to save your life, what else do you want. Chang'an now is no longer the Wude era. My eldest brother and I are both one of the Taiyuan Yuan Cong, but today's Tang Dynasty
The emperor is not the great ancestor. There are no more heroes from Taiyuan and Yuan Cong in this court."
Xu Xingben pursed his lips and said: "Uncle, your Excellency asked us to come to see you. Apart from becoming an official, there is another matter."
"What's up?"
"Some time ago, we set up a caravan in Yuzhou and wanted to do business."
"What's so difficult about this? Just do it." Xu Luoren was puzzled.
Xu Xingben said: "We want to take the goods license and go to the grassland."
Hearing this, Xu Luoren was speechless and sighed: "You really dare to think that most of the people with goods in this court are His Majesty's humerus and important ministers of the Central Committee."
"Uncle, you don't know that in the current world, His Majesty the Emperor treats the people like his own children. How much money can we make by doing business in Yuzhou?" Xu Xingben said helplessly.
"But don't you know how difficult it is to get this brand?" Xu Luoren said: "I won't hide it from you. Although I am in Beijing now, I only have a store to resell tea."
Xu Xingshi muttered in a low voice: "Why do they have it and we don't? Your Excellency and my uncle are great ancestors, so the emperor is a little partial to one."
Xu Luoren slapped the table and said coldly: "Don't say such words again!"
Xu Xingshi snorted lightly.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a little tense, Xu Xingben quickly said: "Uncle, if you have no connections, then we can only visit the Duke of Ju."
"Tang Jian?"
"yes."
Xu Luoren sneered, "You'd better not have too much hope. Tang Jian has been away from the center for a long time, and now he is living with his tail between his legs. He is a dignitary in Chang'an, but he has no brand in his hand, so he can't help you."
Hearing this, Xu Xingben was very disappointed. Their family used to be considered the number one person in Chang'an. After all, Xu Shixu was one of the heroes of Gaozu Yuancong. But since the new emperor ascended the throne, the previous heroes of Gaozu were killed, demoted and relegated.
From Beijing to Li Jing, they are already considered a family of has-been heroes.
There is no place for them in Chang'an.
Xu Luoren consoled him: "You are doing business in Yuzhou first. Don't do it yourself, just let the people below do it. After a while, I will see if I can find some work for you."
His uncle had said so, so naturally Xu Xingben would not continue to be in trouble like his younger brother in front of him.
"Well, nephew, thank you uncle."
That night, the two brothers stayed temporarily at their uncle's house.
In the room, Xu Xingshi drank sullenly and said angrily: "My lord has already finished all the battles when he entered Chang'an, and you still ask me to go to the battlefield to perform meritorious service? Why! Your lord has already eaten up all the hardships we have endured. Why?
We still have to endure hardship. Today, you really love the people like your own children. You don’t save the heroes, but help the untouchables. Why should they enjoy the blessings? Oh, their adults didn’t follow Emperor Gaozu into Chang’an!”
"Shut up!" Xu Xingben snatched the wine bottle from his hand and said, "If you don't want to join the Guards Army, then why don't you say such troublesome words? Be careful that the walls have ears."
During dinner, Xu Luoren suggested that he take Xu Xingshi to join the army, and then stay for a few years and be released as an official. In fact, this is also an unspoken rule. Most of the ineffective children in big families take this step. However, those who are released outside
If you are not a high-ranking official, your path to promotion will not be smooth.
After all, resources are used to train the eldest son who will inherit the title. Second sons like Xu Xingshi, who are destined to be unable to inherit the title, will either join the army or work as odd jobs in six ministries and nine temples, and then be sent to other places after completing their qualifications.
"Hmph." Xu Xingshi said: "If this continues, I really don't know what the meaning of your life is to support Emperor Zuo Gaozu desperately."
Xu Xingben slapped his forehead, wishing he could sew his brother's bad mouth.
"Calm down, things haven't reached an irreversible point yet."