The New Year's Eve of the second year of Baoyuan in the Song Dynasty was not an easy one for Ye An. When he came back from the imperial road in front of Nanmen Street, the streets were full of children's laughter, but when he arrived at Xinlingfang, the festive atmosphere disappeared instantly.
The square is also lively and full of joy, but if you look closely, you will find that the only thing missing here is the laughter of children and the shouts of women.
The entire Xinlingfang is almost made up of veterans who have retired from the Western Lie Army and the Huaiyuan Army. They rely on the Yunzhong County Marquis Mansion to do small business here. The pedestrian street is still as prosperous. The original residents have been under the powerful "money offensive" of the Marquis Mansion.
"The shop and courtyard were quickly sold.
With the evacuation of the Wang family, the Tie family, and the Hou family in the mansion, the female relatives, elderly people, and children of Xinlingfang also gradually left Tokyo City this year. The imperial court may pay more attention to the Yunzhong County Hou's Mansion, but for Xinlingfang
The family members of these veterans in Fangfang did not care when they left.
Only Chen Lin noticed something strange, but she kept silent. Seeing that the Chinese New Year was about to come, he finally couldn't help but look for Ye An: "What's going on in Xinlingfang?"
Ye An raised his eyebrows, looked at the small courtyard decorated with lights and colorful lights all around and said, "What's wrong? Oh! You mean there are fewer people? Actually..."
Before Ye An could finish speaking, Chen Lin's expression changed, and she shouted in a low voice with panic and anger: "There are so many people missing. It's obvious that all the old, weak, women and children are missing!"
It's no wonder that Chen Lin was panicked. There was an unwritten rule in the Song Dynasty's army. Once all the old, weak, women and children disappeared, it would prove that this army was about to fight to the death.
However, Ye An was calm and patted him on the shoulder and said: "What you said is a bit biased. Life in Tokyo is good, but it is not suitable for these old, weak, women and children. You also know that these are all following me.
Veterans who have been begging for food with me for many years are not family generals. Their children prefer to delve into the study of objects rather than study and become officials. You can't learn anything by studying objects in Tokyo, but the "Wuliang Academy" in Liangzhou Prefecture
"It's a good place. These children are going to school, while the women and old people are doing big business! My Puhui Company's business in the northwest is too big now, and I have to find some trustworthy people to take over. Who can compare with these people?"
I am more reassured by the families of the veterans? Even though these veterans are all rough and tumble, the elderly and women in the family are not stupid at all. In some aspects, they are even smarter than the shopkeepers in Tokyo. What do you think I am going to do?
?!"
Ye An's words left Old Chen Lin speechless. It was true, but he always felt that something was wrong. But after looking at Ye Lin who staggered out of the Hou Mansion, all worries disappeared. As long as Yun Zhong
Since all the direct relatives and family members are present in the prince's mansion, there is nothing to worry about.
The Wang Bang family already has property in the northwest. As for Tieniu's family, apart from his widowed wife and blind old lady, they only have a few children. Hou San is well-known for doing business, so it is reasonable to go to the northwest.
As it should be.
From Chen Lin's point of view, these people are not considered to be relatives of the Hou family, and they can just leave. As long as the ladies and children in the family are here, there is nothing to worry about.
Before leaving, Chen Lin pretended not to care and asked casually: "Why is your new beautiful concubine from the Western Region missing?"
"I'm going back to Xizhou. My family's big business in Xizhou depends on her to mediate it. This concubine is not married for nothing! The Cao family relies on her to do business in Xizhou, let alone Puhui Company?"
Chen Lin raised her eyebrows: "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful about taking a concubine, but a certain family admires you!"
After saying that, he stepped into the mansion with a smile, leaving Ye An with a slight frown. He thought that his arrangement was very secretive, but Chen Lin still saw through it. She was worried that he would do something bad before, but now it seems that the original worry was not unnecessary. Okay.
The excuse was discussed with Qin Mumu early on, and he discussed with a woman studying psychology how to deceive people, but the result was that most people were not aware of the problem.
Even Chen Lin only realized something was wrong after living in Xinlingfang for a long time. But compared to the entire city of Tokyo, no one would care at all if the old, weak, women and children in Xinlingfang left.
Ye An told Qin Mumu about his conversation with Chen Lin, but she didn't care. He stretched out lazily on the tiger skin blanket and said: "Open a playground-like place in Xinlingfang.
Just attract children, and as long as there are enough children to play, no one will care!"
Ye An was slightly startled. It was really like this. Whatever was lacking, something was needed. Soon there were several more shops on the pedestrian street of Xinlingfang. Most of these shops sold toys to children and provided courtyards for play. Soon,
It attracted children and women from Tokyo.
As a result, Xinlingfang is almost exactly the same as before, and it is difficult for regular customers to notice the changes unless they are regular customers.
Only Chen Lin sat silently on the small floor of the Hou Mansion. The old subordinates of the Imperial City Department came to the Hou Mansion to pay New Year greetings. The appearance of familiar figures such as Xu Yongzhang and Cheng Gongshou woke him up. These people all
To become Ye An's subordinate.
"This boy is becoming more and more courtier-like. Lao Lan, you said at the beginning that he was going to become a general. I couldn't tell you, but now it seems that you are wrong after all. This boy is not going to become a general."
, but to split the earth and divide the king!"
How could such an old chamberlain, who had been running around in and out of the palace for many years and witnessed countless conspiracies and struggles, fail to see the changes in the Yunzhong County and Marquis Mansion?
But he doesn't want to care about it now, and he doesn't dare to care about it. No one knows Ye An's true methods except him. Although veterans like Lu Yijian can also use official means to support him, how old is Ye An?
Seeing that Lu Yijian was getting older, the number of veterans in the court was also gradually decreasing. Since Wang Zeng's death, several veteran ministers had gone to the west. There were also many rising stars who were worthy of big posts, but almost none could compare with Ye An.
This boy was not favored by civil servants, nor was he a military commander, but he had finally reached the position of an important minister in the court, but looking at his behavior, it was very different from that of the court ministers.
He is not a person who follows people's influence, nor is he someone who relies on divine favor to seek credit. He is not favored by the literary elite but at the same time supports Fan Zhongyan's reforms. He does not have many interactions with military generals, but has many contacts with generals. Looking at it from beginning to end, he Ye Ye
An is an existence that seems to be aloof from the court.
Chen Lin clearly felt that compared to being in Tokyo, he, Ye An, wanted to go to Ganliang, where he could truly develop his talents and benefit the country. But unfortunately, neither the official family nor the court wanted to go to Ganliang again.
A folding house appears.
With a long sigh, Chen Lin looked at the courtyard of the Hou Mansion again, and felt a little sympathy for Ye An for a moment. It was a pity that such a capable person, who was still in the prime of life, could not express his ambitions.
As if secretly making up her mind, Chen Lin crushed the cup in her hand and whispered: "Old Lan, don't blame XX. From now on, XX's family will be blind. They can't take care of it, and they don't want to take care of the affairs of the Hou Mansion! Ren How he goes has its own cause and effect, and if he has the ability to leave Tokyo City, it is his ability!"
Chen Lin still doesn't understand Lan Jizong's explanation before his death, why he said, "The Queen Mother has decreed that this son and his family must not all leave Tokyo!" Chen Lin still has that determined look in his eyes. The memory is still fresh.
How did he know that this was the last will Liu E left for Lan Jizong before his death? Although Lan Jizong didn't know why Liu E gave such an order, he still told Chen Lin about this will.
However, Chen Lin did not intend to comply. Firstly, Queen Mother Zhang Xianmingsu had passed away long ago. Secondly, this kind of death was not that important... The most important thing was that he felt that such a death was unfair.
Unknowingly, Ye An has become a "good guy" in Chen Lin's heart. No matter what he does is right or wrong, he is doing it for the benefit of the people of the Han family. As for some opinions that are contrary to those in the court, it is not a bad thing, as long as If Ye An doesn't rebel, he can do whatever he likes... Even Chen Lin herself didn't notice this dangerous change.