On the official road from Chang'an to Luoyang, there was an endless line of people eating, and suddenly there were several childish shouts. It was a little girl who was sticking her head out of the carriage, pointing to the roadside, and kept telling Du Wulang
look.
Du Wulang was also happy to play with his daughter and said with a smile: "Have you never seen a butterfly? I told you the story of Butterfly Lovers last time."
A'Ren is his nickname, which is Zibai. He chose the nickname after a sacrilegious plant in the hope that his children will be well fed. As for his first name, it is much more solemn. It is the word "Jing" derived from Du Youlin, which is said to come from "The Book of Songs"
", Du Wulang couldn't tell which poem it came from at that time.
"I've seen it before, but never during an outing. Grandpa, outings are fun."
"When we get to the Yellow River and the wind is strong, I will take you to fly a kite."
Du Wulang also had a playful temperament. He had a lot of playthings such as kites and diabolos in his luggage. I didn't know but thought he was a merchant.
In the evening of that day, when the large group of people were camping at Gantang Post, he took his wife and daughter to play Cuju on the grass. He did not have the style of a court official in his thirties at all. While others were shaking their heads, he was enjoying himself.
When she got tired of playing, the ball rolled down the hillside. Du Jing chased it with a smile, but saw a beautiful female Taoist priest picking up the ball.
"Thank you, Taoist Master."
"Are you A'Ren? You're so pretty."
"Huh? How do you know my name?"
Du Jing was still curious, but Du Wulang and Xue Yunniang had caught up from behind and saluted, "Thank you, Princess Boping."
Li Yiniang nodded, exchanged a few words with them, and finally said something subconsciously.
"I really envy you and your wife."
When Li Yiniang walked away, Xue Yunniang asked Du Wulang: "If the eldest princess envies couples in the world, why doesn't she choose a good match instead of becoming a female crown prince?"
"It's not easy to marry the princesses of the Tang Dynasty. The villain who clings to power doesn't want to marry, and the handsome man who has extraordinary charisma doesn't want to marry. Princess Yuzhen is as happy as she is."
"If the eldest princess is envious, Your Majesty will always have a solution."
Du Wulang looked around and whispered: "The eldest princess is not envious of the couple, she is envious of our close relationship with His Majesty."
Xue Yunniang did not dare to say more about this matter.
She knew that she was not related by blood to His Majesty, but she had always been looked after as a younger sister. On the other hand, His Majesty had always been somewhat distant from his twin sister, which made her a little uneasy.
If you say you are envious today, what should you do if you become jealous in the future?
"Husband, I think the Du family has to keep a low profile after all."
Du Jing refused and said, "Master and mother-in-law, what are you whispering about?"
"You're talking bad things about Ah Fu." Du Wulang said cheerfully.
In the next few days, on the way from Gantangyi to Luoyang City, Xue Yunniang was always trying to please Princess Boping intentionally or unintentionally, and she would always bring over the snacks that Du Wulang had painstakingly collected in various prefectures and counties he passed.
Seeing her like this, Du Wulang joked with her: "You are not seeking official career in the court, so why are you learning to manage relationships with others?"
"How can we manage the relationship?" Xue Yunniang said: "I just feel that the eldest princess is too lonely."
"alone?"
"She has grown up in Yeting since she was a child, and has no friends except Princess Hezheng. This time she went to Luoyang, and Princess Tangchang, who was closest to her, could not go due to illness. Others avoided Princess Hezheng, and they also
Don’t dare to interact with them.”
After hearing this, Du Wulang silently handed over a pack of Poria cocos cakes he had just bought from the county town, and said, "Then you can bring these to them."
The matter was nothing at first, but when he was about to go to sleep that night, he suddenly thought of what Xue Yunniang said that day.
"Princess Tang Chang is sick?"
Du Wulang murmured this detail, and then thought of Zhang Bian's death, and his heart cast a shadow.
He suddenly broke away from his happy state and became so troubled that he could no longer play around like he had done in the past few days.
Not long after, the team finally arrived in Luoyang.
Luoyang City, which has experienced the war, is much more dilapidated than it was during the Tianbao period. A large number of people died and fled to other places.
Du Wulang looked up and saw that the black marks on the city wall that had been smoked by the fire had been washed away by the rain and were covered with a layer of moss, like a scar that had grown but the marks could still be seen.
The officials who came to greet him wanted to show the prosperity of Luoyang as much as possible, but they could not hide the sense of decay. Even if the whole city came to watch, it was still far from the grand scene of Chang'an City where the streets were empty.
People pointed and pointed, their expressions showing a kind of cautious expectation, but also worries.
Du Wulang looked from the carriage, curious about what they were discussing.
You must know that the last time the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty visited Luoyang was in the 23rd year of Kaiyuan. A full twenty-six years have passed and very few people still remember what happened back then.
Maybe he is looking forward to the many opportunities that Emperor Xingdong can bring to this city?
~~
The house that the Du family built in Daodefang is still there, but it has not been taken care of for many years and has become much deserted.
Someone suggested that Du Youlin buy a large house in Qinghuafang on the north bank of Luohe River, which was closer to the imperial city and close to Beishi. Du Wulang persuaded him to stay.
This time when he moved in, Du Youlin saw that the direction of the house was not good, so he couldn't help but start to complain again.
"After all, I am also the prime minister of a country. How can I be decent living in this small house with the door facing north?"
"Our house in Chang'an isn't that good. It's long, narrow, and not square. I've lived here for many years and my grandpa still won't let me move out." Du Wulang said disapprovingly, "Although my family has money these years, I can still save money to go there."
I will use it slowly after I become an official."
"You are such an unscrupulous person, you are willing to make me angry to death." Du Youlin emphasized again: "I still want to show off my skills and have no plans to become an official."
"I don't know why grandpa goes to court so hard every day? It's just that the tea he eats has changed from thirty yuan a pound to six pounds a pound. You said the taste is very different every day, but I haven't tasted it at all.
Come out, the fried tea is still sold at this price now, and the tea cakes in the past have not been sold at this price."
Du Youlin said angrily: "Am I doing it for that little enjoyment? I am doing it for the ambition of running the world and benefiting the people!"
Hearing this, Du Wulang hesitated to speak, and secretly cursed: "I have such a talent, but I still want to manage the world and benefit the people."
He was no longer an eyesore at home. He changed his clothes and went out alone, wandering around Luoyang City.
Although the city of Luoyang is not as grand as Chang'an, the scenery is beautiful in another way. The streets and lanes are not so regular, with more bluestone paths and unique painted bridges and flowing water.
Du Wulang deliberately walked along Luoshui for a while and could see an endless stream of merchant ships on the river.
This reminded him of an analogy he overheard Xue Bai say, which roughly means that water transport is like blood. If qi and blood circulate quickly, people will regain their vitality faster. The same is true in the Tang Dynasty.
Although Luoyang is in decline now, it will surely rise again with the help of water transportation.
As he was walking, a boy suddenly grabbed him and said with a smile: "Mr. Sir, come and have a drink and listen to music. The songs and dances in my family are from the palace church. You only need two yuan of tea to listen. Although
It can’t be compared to the brothel and Chu Pavilion to make you happy down there, it pays attention to moistening the lungs, sounding the ears, and feeling at ease for a while.”
After hearing this, Du Wulang went in. When he saw that he had to pay two yuan for tea, he could only sit at a table with others in the lobby, and there was a smell of sweat and feet everywhere. He scratched his head in embarrassment.
Although he doesn't spend money recklessly, he is a son of a noble family after all, and he is able to save money even if he doesn't pick it up.
"Mr. Sir, why don't you take a seat upstairs?"
"Lead the way."
After going upstairs, he chose a small seat by the window with a view of Luoshui. He ordered some tea and food, which cost him forty-seven yuan. As for there must be a better private room upstairs, so he came alone.
No need.
"Mr. why don't you try the crystal duck gizzards from the store?"
"It sounds like a cold dish, so I won't eat it." Du Wulang said, "I'll try your snacks first and then talk about it."
"Please eat more and watch the show. Our actors are even praised by Du Lang."
"Which Durang?"
"Haven't you heard of it, Mr. Lang? 'Du Lang doesn't know the music, but one song can add ten thousand gold'. It's talking about Du Wulang from Chang'an City, who turned his teaching workshop into a business."
"I see, I want to take a look before talking about it."
The boy originally thought that he was a man who could spend money, but he didn't expect that his fingers were so tight. He backed away in disappointment, muttering behind his back.
Du Wulang didn't care and was enjoying himself. From here he could still see the performance in the lobby. Although the performance was blown up by the waiter, it was actually someone singing a new opera.
At the end of a play, someone came on stage to perform a sword dance, and then all the actors came on stage to express their thanks. The actress was not pretty, she could only be described as pretty and pretty, but the play was indeed good.
At this time, the boy came over with many flowers and asked each table if they wanted to buy flowers for the actors performing on the stage. He was also smart and did not go to the lobby downstairs. He only looked for these wealthy people sitting in the elegant seats.
guest.
If you buy flowers, you can get a shout from the store owner.
"Jiafang Liu Shiqiu gave Qiongniang fifty peonies!"
The spectators in the lobby cheered one after another. Although these people only spent two yuan, they drank enough tea, watched the performance, and joined in the fun. They were able to support the high-rollers upstairs and add some more.
atmosphere.
Du Wulang was amused in his heart. These were all leftovers from his previous games when he reformed the church.
As for where he learned it from? It was nothing more than what Xue Bai told him.
Soon, the boy came to him and asked, "If you think the show is good, why don't you buy some flowers?"
"How much money."
"Twenty dollars a plant."
"I won't buy any. I'm just shopping around."
"Mr. Lang, you think today's performance was not good? If you have any advice, we would be grateful."
"How can I give you any advice?" Du Wulang said, "I just..."
He just didn't want to spend the money and thought it was unnecessary to show off, but he didn't know how to ask and was very embarrassed.
After thinking about it, he planned to say that something happened at home, but it was a pity that he hadn't finished the red date cake yet.
At this moment, someone suddenly said: "Let me buy ten plants for him."
Du Wulang turned around and saw a young man coming down from upstairs. Although he was dressed plainly, the material was very soft and smooth. He had no extra ornaments on his body, but the jade pendant around his waist was pure in color and finely carved.
It is the best of the best.
This man was from an extraordinary family and spoke well. He was obviously from a famous family. He had spoken and when he raised his hand, the boy nodded and bowed in agreement. He didn't really ask for money, but just said: "Then keep it in Cui Lang's name."
On the account." "Okay."
"No need." Du Wulang said: "Why don't you spend money? I'll buy it."
"Brother, you don't have to be polite. Money is a vulgar thing. If you talk too much, you will lose your place." The young man smiled and waved his hand and asked, "Brother, are you from Chang'an?"
"Yeah, is my accent so obvious?"
"Now that the emperor is in the east, many dignitaries will surely come to the east capital. I'm afraid that this shop owner will stalk me and unintentionally offend people."
Du Wulang said: "It turns out that this is why you got ahead, and you are kind-hearted. But do I look like someone who would be unhappy about this?"
"My brother is not afraid of honor or disgrace. He has an extraordinary status but is able to remain calm in the marketplace. He is a remarkable person at first glance."
"How do you know?" Du Wulang was greatly surprised, "Is my temperament so obvious?"
He thought he would hear some amazing answer, but the young man smiled and said, "Earlier, I watched Yu Jia enter the city and saw my brother in the team."
"Ah? That's it."
Du Wulang thought about it and realized that he fell behind in the city because he was taking his daughter to play. It didn't matter, so he said: "Oh, my family is an official, a small official, and I am just an idle official's son."
"I'm from Anping, Cuidong, and I have the courtesy name Mingshi." The young man crossed his hands and saluted, and introduced himself, "I am the thirty-ninth in the family. Brother, you can call me Cui Sanjiu, or you can call me Mingshi.
.”
Du Wulang was a little unable to get off the stage, so he had to say: "Jingzhao, good luck... good luck, just call me Ji Wulang."
He cupped his hands and wanted to turn around and leave, but Cui Dong had already sat down opposite him and had another bottle of good wine served.
"Brother Ji must think that the singing here is average, right?"
Du Wulang said: "That's not true. I just spend money to buy flowers. What I buy is vanity. I don't think it is real."
Cui Dong clapped his hands and said, "Brother Ji has seen clearly. People in the world are busy, seeking achievements and wealth, and always want to prove that they are better than others. It is a pity that all this time is wasted on economic and official careers.
"
These words gave Du Wulang a sudden feeling of knowing the sound, and he gradually started chatting with him. The two of them were very attracted to each other.
~~
A few days later, Du Wulang and Cui Dong became very good friends. They both liked to travel, so Cui Dong invited Du Wulang to the Cui Family Villa in Shou'an County to visit the nearby fragrance.
Lushan, Changgu and other places.
The villa is located in Jinping Mountain in the south of the county. Looking up, you can see twelve peaks hanging like brocade in the sky, which is very spectacular.
Cui Dong and Du Wulang walked side by side and talked eloquently, saying: "Empress Wu also visited this place back then, and the word 'Jinping' was the name given by her."
"It's such a good place with mountains and rivers." Du Wulang said, "How long will it take to get to your home?"
"We've arrived a long time ago." Cui Dong turned around and pointed, not knowing where he was pointing, and said: "We entered Jinping Villa half an hour ago."
"All right."
After riding for another half an hour, they finally entered a large house at the foot of the mountain.
After entering the door, I was shocked to see the four characters "Jinping Wonder" personally written by Wu Zetian.
Later, Du Wulang chatted with his family members and learned that Cui Dong's great-grandfather was Cui Xinggong, a famous official in the early Tang Dynasty, who had compiled "Four Books" with Wei Zheng.
Cui Dong's family belongs to the Boling Cui family, and it was originally more prominent. However, after several generations of emperors of the Tang Dynasty deliberately suppressed it, it now behaves very low-key.
It turned out that the four words "Jinping Wonders" seemed to express Wu Zetian's admiration, but in fact, these four words were used to demarcate half of the Cui family's fields in Shou'an County.
Cui Youfu, who was promoted to an official with Xue Bai back then, was the captain of Shou'an County. The Cui family was also helping with the operation behind this matter. Although the blood relationship is far apart, the mutual help between the families is indispensable in everything these days.
The day after Du Wulang moved in, the young disciples of the Cui family bought wine to welcome him.
They were drinking tea in a winding and elegant bamboo grove, sipping tea and discussing poetry. They were very much like the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Du Wulang felt that he was much more elegant.
All along, he wanted Du Youlin to become an official and imagined living such a life.
Gradually, a group of people began to talk about state affairs, and the first thing they couldn't avoid was the emperor's visit to Luoyang.
What surprised Du Wulang was that their view was not that eating could bring prosperity to Luoyang, but that it was a decline in national power.
"When Emperor Xuanzong was in power, he used water transportation and various methods to make the world rich and well-endowed, but in the end, a rebellion brought back the country."
"After all, not every emperor can govern a glorious and prosperous age like Emperor Xuanzong."
"The famous ministers in the court are still withering, and I can't think of a better way..."
Du Wulang originally suspected that Cui Dong was approaching him deliberately. After hearing these words, he finally confirmed that Cui Dong did not know his identity at all.
Among the Cui family members, Cui Dong was the one who cared least about economic and career. When others discussed state affairs, he just listened and gave Du Wulang an apologetic look.
When these Cui family members commented on the emperor, they showed no fear and even had a condescending attitude.
It's not against Xue Bai, but because the five surnames and seven families have always looked down upon the Li family.
"Today's people are still talented, but they are broad but not masterful. Being able to quell the An-Shi Rebellion is because the Tang Dynasty has a strong national destiny, and he has good luck. As for the national policies since he came to the throne, it can be seen that he wants to change but is also timid.
ah."
"Yes, the imperial court wanted to collect more taxes, but it didn't dare to say so openly, so it collected them through salt and tea. As a result, the price of salt and tea has increased greatly now, right?"
"It has slowed down a bit this year. It can be seen that the imperial court is suppressing the price of salt. I heard that the emperor has now placed Liu Yan in high regard and alienated Yuan Zai. This can be seen from the canal transport warehouse."
"Liu Yan's 'Building a Warehouse by Fate of Water' may not be any better than Yuan Zai's rush to build a warehouse. The real key is that Liu Yan presided over the discussion of salt and often left a profit for the salt merchants, always keeping the price of salt down."
"This must be more in line with the emperor's wishes. The emperor deliberately fried tea and brewed tea in order to make up for the tax with tea and lower the price of salt."
"Replacing part of the money for selling salt with the money spent on tea is just to make the rich tea drinkers and big merchants selling tea have more blood, and to collect less money from the poor people who eat salt."
"If you say that, it won't affect Uncle Wu's business, right?"
The Cui family disciples talked to each other casually, but Du Wulang was shocked when he heard it.
He considered himself to be a close official of the emperor, who had never eaten pork and had seen pigs run away. He should have a deep understanding of the world's situation, at least better than these young people who had not or just become officials.
Unexpectedly, these people's insight into national policy was far more acute than his.
He observed them carefully for a long time. He didn't know any of these people, and he was sure that none of them held high-ranking positions in the court.
So where did their news come from?
"So, I don't believe that the emperor went to Luoyang to eat because Chang'an was short of food. It must have been because of Yanshi."
Hearing this, Du Wulang couldn't help but ask: "Yanshi?"
"Brother Ji, don't you know? The emperor once served as Yanshiwei, and many of his private properties started in Henan Province. When he arrived in Luoyang, he had more control than in Chang'an."
Du Wulang was stunned and didn't know what to say.
The Cui family members then continued to chat.
"Just like Empress Wu in the Eastern Capital."
"Yes, Empress Wu proclaimed herself emperor in Dongdu. Now I think it is necessary to carry out reforms in Dongdu."
"Chun Miao Loan."
"I bet that no matter how well the court does, when it comes to the local level, some people will take the Chunmiao Loan as loan sharks. If ordinary farmers want to take this money, they will have to pay an additional two cents of interest.
.”
Du Wulang asked: "Why?"
The person who asserted this matter smiled bitterly and said: "That's how things are in the world."
Cui Dong was bored, so he pulled Du Wulang and said, "If you don't talk to them about official career and economics, let's go enjoy the bamboo sea."
"Thirty-nine Master, now the imperial court pays more attention to the imperial examination. It has been determined that there will be an Enke this year. You did a good job in the article, why don't you try it?"
Cui Dong said: "No need."
Du Wulang also wanted to hear the opinions of the Cui family children on Chun Miao Loan from their perspective. Although he was pulled by Cui Dong, he still turned around.
At this time, a bookboy who had been waiting nearby suddenly asked.
"Seventeenth Master, I heard that there is an additional provincial examination this year. Anyone can take it regardless of their status, even slaves. Is this true?"
Cui Shiqilang glanced at the book boy lightly and said nothing. His eyes were obviously reminding him that he had no place to speak here.
The book boy was shocked and said hurriedly: "The villain knows his crime."
But Cui Shiqilang still didn't say a word, he didn't seem to calm down, and he was about to be punished.
"Yanfang, come with me." Cui Dong said.
In a word, the book boy named Yanfang felt relieved and quickly followed Cui Dong and Du Wulang.
When Du Wulang heard the name, he couldn't help but remember that he once had a book boy named Duan Yan, so he looked at the inkstone carefully and found that although they had the same character in their names, they were two completely different people.
Duan Yan is lazy, greedy, confused, loyal and loyal; Yan Fang has a tense expression and behaves very well.
"Why do you need to ask Shiqilang that?" Cui Dong explained patiently, "The official list says 'regardless of household registration'. It means that you can take the test with any household registration, but you are not a naturalized person, not to mention you have only read a few volumes.
Can I pass the exam?"
"Little man... I want to try it."
"I know you are high-spirited." Cui Dong smiled and said, "Well, I'll go back and ask Uncle Eight to find a good job for you."
Yanfang originally looked at Cui Dong with expectant eyes, but upon hearing this, he became disappointed again.
He knew that this so-called errand was still for the Cui family.
After hearing this, Du Wulang decided to ask Xue Bai what "regardless of household registration" meant when he went back.