Earlier, Chen Chao had not yet left Yingzhou and went to Huanglongzhou.
When Chen Chao came down the mountain, Feng Liu had already retreated, and the person who sent him off was Xu Fuchen, the deputy sect leader.
For this strong man in the casual cultivator, the whole world actually looks down upon him. After all, when he was a casual cultivator, Feng Liu was enough to shine brightly. After the Chaolu Sect was established, Feng Liu was still above him.
Taking away all eyes, he is just like his name, he is an assistant minister.
However, both Feng Liu and Chen Chao knew very well that if the Chaolu Sect really had to choose one person who could not be eliminated, it would be the deputy sect leader.
Xu Fuchen's importance to Chaolu Sect is difficult to replace.
As he approached the mountain gate, Xu Fuchen, who had been silent all the way, suddenly said: "Sir, the guardian envoy, the Chaolu Sect will leave one Wangyoujing behind and will not go to the north."
This sentence is very abrupt and very calm.
Chen Chao turned his head and looked at Xu Fuchen, smiled, and asked: "Is Sect Master Xu very opposed to this kind of thing?"
Xu Fuchen shook his head, "Xu and Feng Liu have known each other for many years. Xu naturally knows what kind of person he is. Feng Liu also knows very well who Xu is. Whether it is justice or conscience, Feng Liu is
The kind of person who can identify the matter and give up his life. In fact, I am not unable, but I am still worried. It doesn't matter if I die, but after my death, if the Chaolu Sect is no longer there, or it has become a third-rate sect.
Sect, our disciples still have to be bullied by others, then all our efforts will be in vain. I can't accept this. All my disciples went to the north because they had an obligation to the people. It's hard to say how many of them will come back.
.As for leaving one Wangyoujing behind, it is to give an explanation to the Chaolu Sect. I don’t think the Lord Guard will refuse this request.”
Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said: "It was Chaolu Sect who offered me a helping hand, but I actually didn't refuse."
Xu Fuchen didn't say anything, but bowed seriously.
Chen Chao asked curiously: "Sect Master Xu doesn't believe in the imperial court?"
Xu Fuchen thought for a while and said: "Others are not as good as myself. The Guardian Envoy is worthy of trust, but Xu Moufan can only trust nine points at most, not to mention..."
Before he finished speaking, Chen Chao took over with a smile, "What's more, after this war, it's hard to say whether I, Chen Chao, will still be alive. Even if the imperial court is lucky enough to win, there will be no official in the imperial court after that.
It’s hard to say whether your kindness will be remembered by anyone.”
Xu Fuchen did not say those false words, and said calmly: "That's exactly it."
Chen Chao said seriously: "I can't guarantee anything, I can only say that I will try my best."
Try your best to win, try your best to survive.
As for those who survive, the Chaolu Sect will naturally give them preferential treatment.
Xu Fuchen suddenly laughed, "The guardian envoy didn't say for sure, but it actually made people feel a lot more at ease."
Chen Chao did not speak, but took the initiative to salute Xu Fuchen again.
Xu Fuchen quickly bent down.
After Chen Chao stood up, he turned around and left Suining Mountain without saying a word.
…
…
After leaving Huanglong Prefecture, Chen Chao went to Bailu Prefecture.
Of course this is not the first time I have visited Bailu Prefecture, but I have never been to the place Chen Chao is going to this time.
The most famous place in the capital of Bailu Prefecture is not a certain government office, but a private residence.
The river named Lujiang flows slowly. When it encounters a city, it passes through it. Therefore, apart from the city gate, if outsiders want to enter the state capital city, there is actually another way, which is to take a boat along the Lujiang River.
After getting off, you can enter the state capital.
The state capital is built on both sides of the Lujiang River. Fortunately, this section of the river is not wide, otherwise there would be some trouble.
A small boat slowly passed through the city, and finally stopped at a shore. The young man on the boat took out a few large beams of Tongbao, and went ashore amidst the boatman's thanks. After walking a few steps, he arrived at the door of the private house.
forward.
The house is not big, but it is full of simplicity and scholarly atmosphere.
In fact, there have always been rumors that if there is a fortune in the world, if there is a stone, Bailu Prefecture alone has eight buckets, and almost all of the eight buckets are related to this private house.
This house is the Bailu Xie family.
In fact, Bailu Prefecture has the deepest cultural heritage and is the place where the most great Confucians have emerged.
In the previous dynasty, at least 30% of the officials in the court were from the Bailu Xie family. In this dynasty, the Xie family was divided into the Shendu Xie family and the Bailu Xie family. Official matters were left to the Shendu Xie family.
After doing it, what happens now? The Xie family in the capital city has already become the largest family in the Liang Dynasty, and its influence in the court is not small.
As for the Bailu Xie family, after the founding of this dynasty, they began to study and teach behind closed doors. It can be said that 70% to 80% of the scholars in Bailu Prefecture who have passed high school in recent years were taught by the Xie family.
The previous saying in the court was that a Wei character and a Xie family were the two legs of the Liang Dynasty. But now, only two Xie characters are the two legs of the Liang Dynasty.
Because of this, even in Bailu Prefecture, no one in the Xie family holds an official position, and they still have a transcendent status. Even the governor of the prefecture must be treated with courtesy.
A young man in black shirt came to the door of this private house.
The concierge was taking a nap, but now the weather is getting colder and colder. He was thinking about the accountant's money for the winter, which was said to be reduced by 30% this year. Now, he will definitely have to count the living expenses this year, but
It's nothing, just save some money and you can get through it.
Just when he thought of this, the concierge who heard some footsteps opened his eyes and saw a young man in black shirt in front of the door. He said, "Which gentleman are you visiting? Do you have a greeting card?"
Chen Chao took out a name card from his arms, handed it to the concierge in front of him, and said with a smile: "I don't know who I can see. I'll take care of the arrangements, please?"
The concierge took the name card and was amused by Chen Chao's words, "You are quite interesting. You are still looking at the arrangements and don't know who you have an old relationship with..."
Only halfway through his words, the concierge was stunned because in an instant, he saw a few words on the name card.
"Daliang garrison envoy Chen Chao..."
He suddenly raised his head and looked at the young man in black shirt in front of him. His feet went weak and he could hardly stand, "Lord Guard Envoy?!"
Chen Chao smiled slightly and joked: "Who can I meet with this famous post?"
The porter gave a dry laugh and quickly turned around and shouted: "Hurry up and open the middle door... let the announcement come in and tell the third master that the guardian envoy is here!"
Although the private residence of the Xie family in Bailu is not big, far less than that of the Xie family in the divine capital, it is the ancestral temple of the Xie family and is far away in Bailu Prefecture. In fact, the Xie family has hardly opened the middle gate in recent years.
But today, the middle door that had not been opened for a long time was opened. A group of middle-aged people came behind the door and stood in two rows, waiting for the young man to walk in.
Chen Chao took a look and walked in.
A middle-aged man and a young man stood in front of Chen Chao. The middle-aged man's name was Xie Ting. He was the third in the eldest family, so everyone in the Xie family called him Third Master.
He takes care of many things in daily life.
"This is my nephew, his name is Xie Qing, and he has the best relationship with Nandu."
Mr. Xie spoke in a calm voice, without too much compliment, and his slight arrogance was well hidden.
Xie Qing cupped his hands and smiled and said: "I have heard about the Lord Guardian for a long time, but I have never met him. When I saw him today, I found out that Lord Guardian is indeed as heroic as the rumors."
Chen Chao smiled and said, "I have long heard that Mr. Xie is very bookish, and when I saw him today, I found it to be true."
Hearing the word "official", Mr. Xie's brows furrowed involuntarily, but he quickly smoothed it over and said with a smile: "Is it possible that the guardian envoy is here for official business?"
This sentence is actually very particular. In fact, it reminds Chen Chao intentionally or unintentionally.
Chen Chao smiled and said: "It seems that there are no other official officials in the Xie family of Bailu except Nandu."
Mr. Xie smiled and said, "If I had known that the guardian envoy and my family were so in love with Nandu, we could actually be considered a family."
Chen Chao joked and said, "If you want to marry her, you will need a big gift. I am also very worried."
Hearing that Chen Chao's self-promotion had changed, Mr. Xie's eyebrows showed a hint of pride, "Your Majesty the Guardian is truly the number one official in our Liang Dynasty. In fact, it doesn't matter what the betrothal gift is."
Chen Chao smiled, shook his head and said, "It's better to prepare a betrothal gift that she can't refuse. Doesn't the Third Master know her temperament?"
This sentence made Mr. Xie even more happy. If he hadn't taken into account the identity of Chen Chao in front of him, he would have patted him on the shoulder and said that Xiao Chen was good.
"But that's right, that girl from Nandu has been stubborn since she was a child and has not been very obedient."
Mr. Xie sighed with emotion.
Xie Qing shook his head and said with a smile: "My little sister is born extraordinary, how else could she be a general?"
"This time I was passing through Bailu Prefecture on the way, and I wanted to see the place where Nandu lived when he was a child. I didn't know if it would be convenient."
Chen Chao followed them as they walked into Xie's private residence. In fact, it was much larger inside than it looked from the outside. It would be no exaggeration to say that it was a unique place.
Xie Qing smiled and said: "Your Majesty, this is not..."
Halfway through his words, Xie Qing suddenly came to his senses and asked, "Your Majesty, the Guardian, do you want to see where my little sister lives?"
The Bailu Xie family was the former home of Xie Nandu, but it was actually too big. There were too many Xie family descendants, each of whom had their own place.
Chen Chao smiled and asked: "Is it possible that after Nandu left, other people also lived in the place where it used to be?"
Xie Qing shook his head and said with a smile: "How could that happen?"
…
…
After hearing that Chen Chao said he was just wandering around, Mr. Xie found an excuse to leave, leaving Xie Qing alone to accompany Chen Chao to the small courtyard where Xie Nandu originally lived.
The small courtyard is a bit remote, in the southeast corner of Xie's family, but it is quieter than anything else.
Chen Chao walked into the small courtyard and came under the eaves. He looked at the banana plants planted on the wall of the courtyard and said with a smile, "This would be a place Nandu would like."
After saying this, Chen Chao walked into the house. Everything here was very simple and clean, and there were no luxurious decorations.
Sitting in front of the window, looking at the Four Treasures of the Study on the table, Chen Chao smiled, thinking that the woman once studied here.
Xie Qing said with a smile: "My little sister has not been sociable since she was a child. Her favorite thing is reading. We play Cuju outside, and while the girls are playing shuttlecock, my little sister studies here."
Chen Chao said: "I heard from Nandu that she didn't go to Xie's school when she was a child. It was her father who taught her how to read."
Listening to Chen Chao talking about Xie Nandu's father, Xie Qing said with some sadness: "Uncle Sixteen was also a scholar and had great knowledge. It's a pity that he died too early."
Chen Chao asked: "Are you also the eldest son?"
Xie Qing nodded.
Chen Chao hummed and said, "Since we are the eldest son, we may inherit the family business, but we only have one child, Nandu?"
"Uncle Sixteen is also an infatuated lover. Aunt Sixteen died early, so Uncle Sixteen did not renew his relationship, so he only has one heir, my little sister."
Xie Qing sighed.
Chen Chao said: "Your Majesty is the same, there is nothing wrong with being infatuated."
When His Majesty the Emperor was mentioned, Xie Qing glanced at Chen Chao, not daring to talk to him.
Chen Chao said: "My father-in-law, whom I have never met and will never see again, doesn't sound like the kind of person who would like to be the head of a family, right?"
Xie Qing said: "Everyone says that Uncle Sixteen will definitely become a great scholar in the future. Uncle Sixteen will definitely have no interest in family business."
"Why did Wu Xin's family business die so early?"
Chen Chao was silent for a while, then looked at Basho outside the window and suddenly asked.
As soon as this sentence was asked, Xie Qing was stunned. After a moment, he said nervously: "Uncle Sixteen is in poor health. He has been like this since he was a child. Maybe after Aunt Sixteen passed away, he became even more sad. This
My body just can’t bear it any longer.”
Chen Chao said: "It makes some sense."
Although it seemed that Chen Chao agreed with Xie Qing's statement, his demeanor showed otherwise.
Xie Qing originally thought that with Xie Nandu's connection, this world-famous person would not be difficult to deal with, but who would have thought that while chatting, the atmosphere became serious.
"The third master is handling Xie's affairs now?"
Chen Chao reached out and picked up the paperweight on the table, put it in his hand and played with it.
"The head of the family has not shown up for a long time. Now my third uncle is handling many trivial matters. However, my third uncle has no choice but to do this. He has complained many times in private that the burden on his shoulders is a bit heavy."
Xie Qing spoke, but now his heart was not as calm as before.
After all, I was a little nervous.
Chen Chao said: "I really don't want to do it, no one can force me."
Xie Qing opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Chen Chao suddenly looked at him and said, "I've been sitting here for so long since I came to Xie's house. Are you really not planning to come and see me?"