In Bai Yan's mansion, in the pavilion, Xun Shuo finally returned to Shan Wu after being away for several months.
Bai Yan did not break his original promise and held a banquet in the mansion. The fine wine and delicacies were even more extravagant than Bai Yan had ever seen before.
In the main hall.
As many candlelights emitted bright light, illuminating the entire main hall clearly, the six dancers who had been kept in captivity in the mansion danced eye-catching dance music in the main hall.
In the past, Bai Yan had found an opportunity to give all the beauties given to Bai Yan by the other noble clans to his generals. After all, those women were left in the mansion. For Bai Yan, in addition to being honorable, they were more of a waste, so why not
The only rewards given to the generals under his command were these six dancing girls given by Ying Zheng, and the dozen or so beautiful women given by Ying Zheng. Bai Yan did not dare to reward the generals at will, so he stayed in the mansion on weekdays.
They are all managed by the Bao clan.
At this moment, it is clear at a glance how big the difference is between the woman given by the noble family and the woman given by Ying Zheng.
Zhuo Zicheng, who was watching the women's dance at Lu's Restaurant that day, looked straight at the dancers and never took his eyes away from the dancers. Even though he was born in the wealthy Jia family, Zhuo Zicheng had never seen such beauty and kindness since he was a child.
of female musicians.
Zhuo Zicheng was like this, Fu Zhi, Tai Gao, and other noble men in Shanwucheng were even more unbearable, and they almost forgot to talk to others.
Until a moment later.
A dozen beauties came to the main hall carrying jugs of good wine, walked to each wooden table, and poured wine for the guests respectively. Only then did the nobles come back to their senses. However, seeing such beauties beside them,
Every man couldn't help but look straight in his eyes, his vanity was extremely satisfied at this moment.
You must know that this is in the county official's mansion. The number of banquets in the county official's mansion is too many to count on one hand. Not only can they come here to participate in the banquet, but they can also have the beauties in the county official's mansion pour wine. Just talking about it is enough to make people laugh.
People are proud, which also shows that their status in Yanmen and their weight among the county lieutenants.
"Zixiao, this time Yanmen is not in trouble, Zixiao should be the first one! Bai Yan is here, for all Yanmen soldiers and people, respect Zixiao, if there is no Zixiao to go into danger, how can we be here, Yanmen is today
!”
When Bai Yan saw Master Xu beside him pouring the wine gently, he couldn't wait to pick up the wine cup with both hands and toast Xun Shuo.
At that time, he rushed to the Yuezhi tribe from Shanwu, and the changes in the Yuezhi tribe happened so quickly. Bai Yan could imagine that Xun Shuo probably didn't even rest at that time, and was running around day and night.
In the main hall.
Following Bai Yan's words, not only Mr. Yang, Gan Si and others, but also other men from the noble clan also looked at Xun Shuo, and then picked up the wine jue together.
"Yes! Thanks to Zixiao for this!"
"Yes, yes! We should share a cup of filial piety to our son!"
One by one, the noble men looked at each other and discussed, and then looked at Xun Shuo.
Chen Ze, husband and wife knelt down behind the wooden table next to Xun Shuo. Looking at the scene in front of them and listening to Bai Yan's words, they couldn't help but smack their lips. This Bai Yan really gave Ashiko a filial look.
Not only did they entertain guests in the governor's mansion, but they also made a grand ceremony. The first glass of wine served was to honor the son and be filial in front of everyone, not to mention the words.
The two people who could see Bai Yan's intentions looked at each other, and both sighed that Xun Shuo was really the right person. Looking back at that time, Xun Shuo was in such a miserable state in the Zhao Kingdom, during which he almost lost his life. Later, in the Zhao Kingdom,
Tang was being ostracized everywhere, and now, looking at Xun Shuo following Bai Yan in Shanwuhou, Bai Yan not only gave Xun Shuo full rights and trust, but also gave Xun Shuo unparalleled respect.
After this banquet, don't talk about these nobles.
Even in the county governor Yang Duanhe, as well as in the side cavalry and cavalry camps, Xun Shuo would have enough prestige and status because of Bai Yan's words.
"The general is so complimentary! Zixiao deserves it!"
Xun Shuo suddenly became the object of everyone's attention. He didn't react for a moment. When he came to his senses, he quickly returned the greeting to Bai Yan, dumbfounded.
Holding the wine cup in both hands, Xun Shuo looked at Bai Yan's smiling eyes. Naturally, Xun Shuo also knew Bai Yan's kindness. Even though he was usually joking, he really couldn't stand Bai Yan's praise at this moment.
Instead of rushing to the Yuezhi day and night to persuade the Yamucha tribe of the Yuezhi to rebel, Bai Yana rushed back to Yanmen day and night based on his own judgment, and personally led people to Yunzhong to fight the Xiongnu in a bloody battle.
, no matter how thick-skinned he is, he would not dare to agree to that first sentence in front of Bai Yan.
"What a fallacy! Please!"
Bai Yan didn't give Xun Shuo a chance to refuse, he toasted directly, and then drank all the wine in the wine cup.
After putting down the wine cup, he looked at everyone in the main hall drinking wine. Bai Yan waited for Xun Shuo to finish drinking, then asked Xun Shuo some things about the Yuezhi.
In the main hall.
Except for Yang Duanhe, who is the county guard, everyone else, including Gan Si, does not need to care about Yuezhi's situation, so they do not continue to agree and communicate with each other, especially about Zhuo Zicheng, Chen Ze and Husband.
Yao, the descendants of noble families from other places.
Just take advantage of the many opportunities you have now. One more relationship means one more network. No one knows whether it will be of great use in the future.
"Brother Chen Ze and Brother Fuyao, have you considered staying in Shanwu this time?"
Chen Ze and Fu Yao were talking with other noble men. They looked at the noble men, enjoying the service of the beauties around them. Suddenly they heard Bai Yan's words, and then they quickly turned their heads when they heard their own names.
, looked at Bai Yan.
Seeing Bai Yan, he tried to persuade her to stay.
Chen Ze and Fu Yao looked at each other, then nodded and raised their hands to Bai Yan respectively.
"Thank you for your kindness, General. The General has tried to persuade me to stay. The two of us are very grateful. We already have the intention of following the General in our hearts. We have also agreed that when we return to Shanwu with Zixiao, we will write a letter together and order people to be sent back to the clan to inform our elders."
Chen Ze cupped his hands, looked at Bai Yan and said, at the end, he sighed and shook his head.
"However, letters have been sent from the clan, so Ziyao and I decided to go back to Qi in person first!"
Chen Ze bowed his hands to Bai Yan apologetically. Because he declined Bai Yan's affection, the expression on Chen Ze's face was very guilty.
Fu Yao also looked at Bai Yan apologetically, and slowly saluted with Chen Ze.
"If Shanwu comes again one day, we will definitely be shameless and ask to stay under the general's sect! We can do our best!"
Fu Yao was worried that Bai Yan would be too disappointed, so he promised that the two of them would not refuse Bai Yan's invitation again next time they came to Shanwu City.
"I cannot leave you two dear friends behind this time. Bai Yan feels regretful, but Bai Yan will keep these words in mind. In the future, I will be waiting for you two to come back to Shanwu!"
Bai Yan nodded and said nothing more when he heard that Chen Ze and Fu Yao were leaving.
However, the disappointed expression on Bai Yan's face and his words still moved Chen Ze and Fu Yao, and they bowed to Bai Yan again.
After all, Bai Yan valued the two of them so much, and even said that Shan Wu would be waiting for their return in the future. With Bai Yan's words, as scholars, they had no regrets.
"You two dear friends have been here in Shanmu for a long time, and you must have very little money left. Please ask my wife to prepare a large sum of money and hand it over to you two dear friends tomorrow!"
Bai Yan turned his head and gave instructions to Master Xu.
"promise!"
Master Xu nodded obediently to Bai Yan.
Bai Yan's move made Chen Ze and Fu Yao wave their hands repeatedly, but before they could speak, Xun Shuo suddenly spoke.
"Please General, please prepare one more person!"
Xun Shuo suddenly smiled sheepishly and looked at Bai Yan.
After hearing Xun Shuo's words, not to mention Bai Yan, even Yang Duanhe, Gan Si and others looked at Xun Shuo with doubts on their faces. Could it be that Xun Shuo, who had just returned to Shanwu City, was also leaving.
"During these days, I have heard many rumors about Qi State, and Xun Shuo also wants to go back to Qi State!"
After Xun Shuo saw everyone's gazes and knew everyone's doubts, he held up his hands and explained.
The news was so miraculous that before returning to Yanmen, Xun Shuo already knew what had happened when he met the governor Feng Quji and the county lieutenant Hu Jin in Shangjun.
One or two may be suspicious, and ten or hundreds may be dubious. However, when all the forces send people to investigate, and even vassal states such as Chu, Wei, and Qin attach great importance to it, it proves that the rumors are basically true.
Yes, that old man must exist.
"I see!"
When Mr. Yang heard Xun Shuo's words, he nodded slowly.
Of course, Mr. Yang also knew about the old bull-riding man who was famous in Qi State, but he had no way of knowing what the old man wrote. After all, in Qi State, after King Qi saw the bamboo slips, they all moved to the palace.
Most of the nobles have never seen its contents.
Now they can't investigate even if they want to. Perhaps Xun Shuo, who was born in the Xun family, returned to Qi and used enough resources and connections to have a chance to see those bamboo slips and see if the rumors were true.
"Are you going to find the old man riding the bull?"
Bai Yan looked at Xun Shuo with a strange look. Unlike Mr. Yang, seeing Xun Shuo return to Qi State because of those rumors, Bai Yan felt dumbfounded in his heart.
What's even more helpless is that Bai Yan still doesn't dare to tell Xun Shuo the truth.
After all, the passages in those bamboo slips and the contents revealed in them will definitely offend countless famous families, and even the military families of Qin State. At present, we cannot let those people know the truth of the matter and let them know who wrote it.
It's not that Bai Yan doesn't believe Xun Shuo, but that Bai Yan knows better than others the relationship between Xun Shuo, Chen Ze, and Fu Yao. Previously, he had watched Chen Ze and Fu Yao leave Qi State all the way to look for Xun Shuo's love alone.
In fact, it can be seen how good their relationship is. It is basically impossible to expect that Xun Shuo will not hint to Chen Ze and Fu Yao after knowing the matter.
Think of this.
In the end, Bai Yan decided not to say it out loud, and just let Xun Shuo go back to Qi. After all, Xun Shuo had been staying in Zhao for so many years since he traveled around the world, and it had been a long time since Xun Shuo had gone back to see his people.
As for the rumored matter, he will find reasons to let Xun Shuo return to good deeds in the future!
"I'm going to look for it. If it's true, Zi Xiao will definitely try his best to get the old man to come to Shanwu!"
Xun Shuo, who was sitting on his knees behind the wooden table, saw Bai Yan's eyes looking a little strange. He thought that Bai Yan was also eager to see the old man, so he looked at Bai Yan, cupped his hands and explained with a smile.
At this moment, Xun Shuo's smiling face was still very confident, just like it had always been. Even after he finished speaking, he gave Bai Yan a 'reassuring' look, as if he wanted to tell Bai Yan that he would definitely not let Bai Yan down.
hope.
"To be honest, General Bai, Governor Yang, and everyone here, the two of us are here because of that rumor!"
Before Bai Yan could speak, Chen Ze and Fu Yao also took the opportunity to explain, raised their hands and looked at Bai Yan, Yang Duanhe, and then looked at the others.
"My tribe heard that the old gentleman had knowledge of governing the world, so they sent a letter to express their hope that the two of us could become our disciples! Learn his ways of governing the world, and do our best to contribute to the world in the future!"
Fu Yao looked at Bai Yan.
Speaking of this, Fu Yao also felt a little proud in his heart. After all, with their husband's and Chen's connections in Qi, as long as the old gentleman was in Qi, they would definitely have a better chance of finding him than others.
When the two of them became apprentices to the old gentleman, after completing their studies, were they still afraid that they would not be valued by the king because of their talents?
Think of this.
Fu Yao's heart suddenly surged with pride, and his mind couldn't help but think of Shang Yang, Zhang Yi, Gongsun Yan, Su Qin and other rare talents who dominated the world in the past.
When a man is born, wouldn't it be great if he could leave his name for eternity and be admired by future generations like those forefathers? What a pity!
"It turns out that I went to worship that old gentleman as my teacher!"
"Hi~! No wonder!"
"Congratulations, Mr. Chen, your husband will definitely become one of the great sages in the world when you join the disciples of famous teachers in the future!"
"Yes! Congratulations, I'd like to toast you two!"
In the main hall, after hearing the words of Fu Yao and Chen Ze, the other men of the gentry were startled. Naturally, they had some understanding of Fu Yao and Chen Ze's clan connections, and knew that the matter might not be impossible.
The clans of Chen Ze and Fu Yao were originally big clans in the Qi State. They had connections and status, and were worthy of their friendship. And now with those legends, when thinking about Chen Ze in front of him, Fu Yao would probably become that old gentleman's disciple in the future.
Not to mention those noble men, including Gan Si, Tai Gao, and even Yang Lao, who was a county guard at that age, couldn't help but feel more close to him.
Everyone is thinking about making the relationship with each other better.
How important a famous teacher is, just look at Li Si and Han Feizi and you will know that Han Feizi is okay, he was originally a Korean prince, but Li Si is different. Li Si was originally just a small official in charge of documents in the Chu State, but now he has become the world-famous Qin Dynasty Master.
The minister of the state was highly valued and trusted by Ying Zheng because he was a disciple of Xunzi.
Immediately in the world, the reason why the rumored old bull-riding man was so sought after by the world and caused countless scholars to search for him was that it was said to have something to do with Li Si and the State of Qin.
Li Si's experience has caused the world's admiration for famous teachers to reach an unprecedented level.
Thinking back to those disciples of the Guigu School, now they suddenly heard that an old man appeared who may be more mysterious than the Guigu School, possessing talents and knowledge that have never appeared in the world. How can this keep the scholars from going crazy?
And under the oppression of Qin's cavalry, how could other vassal states not hope that a hidden master would appear who could help them?
These are the reasons why the rumors have always been high but not low.
Late at night.
After the banquet, most of the people who came to the dinner were quite drunk. The most serious ones were Chen Ze and Fu Yao. They both vomited and were carried out of the mansion by the servants of the mansion.
"I have heard about the affairs of Qi State before, and I am also very curious. I have already ordered someone to send a letter to my brother for enquiry."
Yang Duanhe and Bai Yan were walking down the corridor, talking as they walked.
Bai Yan nodded and looked at the few maids holding candles in front of him who were chatting with Yang Duanhe and sending Yang Duanhe out of the city. Unexpectedly, he suddenly saw several soldiers coming in a hurry.
"General, urgent order from Xianyang!"
The leading soldier said to Bai Yan.
After the words fell, among the several soldiers, one of the generals with a tired look stepped forward, held up a piece of cloth edict in both hands, and handed it to Bai Yan.
"General Bai, I am Ding Tian, the palace guard, and I am here on the king's order!"
The general named Ding Tian said.
When Bai Yan and Yang Duanhe heard that the urgent order was from Xianyang, they both looked at each other in confusion.
"Thank you!"
Bai Yan said to the guard order, returned the salute, and then asked the soldiers to quickly take the people down to eat and rest.
Xianyang's secret orders all have special methods. No one can tamper with them. After Bai Yan reached out and took the edict, he slowly opened it. After reading the content inside, his expression was full of surprise, and then he became a little solemn.
.
"But what's the matter?"
Yang Duanhe looked at Bai Yan in surprise, not sure what the news was.
When Bai Yan heard what Mr. Yang said, he did not hide it from Mr. Yang and directly handed the edict to Mr. Yang without avoiding the gaze of the guard Ling Ding Tian.
Seeing this, Mr. Yang knew that there was no need to avoid him in this urgent summons, so he reached out and took the edict.
However, when he saw the imperial edict and asked Bai Yan to leave immediately and secretly go to Yingchuan, preparing to attack Chu with Wang Ben, his expression was exactly the same as Bai Yan's just now.
"this"
Mr. Yang put away the edict and then looked at Bai Yan.
When Wang Ben passed through Shanwucheng before, he specifically mentioned that he would lead troops to attack the Chu State, but Mr. Yang did not expect that Ying Zheng was actually planning to let Bai Yan participate in this war, and seemed to be preparing to follow the example of Bai Qi in Changping.
That battle led Bai Yan to the border of Chu State to hide his whereabouts.
"It seems that the king really wants to attack Chu this time! This time, I am afraid that the king has high expectations!"
After seeing the soldiers leaving, Mr. Yang said to Bai Yan.
Mr. Yang knew that if he tentatively attacked Chu State as a deterrent, Wang Ben alone would be enough to let Bai Yan go and hide his whereabouts. Ying Zheng's intention was to let Bai Yan see if he had a chance to completely destroy Chu State.
country.
At this time, Mr. Yang was almost sure that if Bai Yan really found the opportunity, I am afraid that Ying Zheng would send a large army to Bai Yan's aid at any cost so that Bai Yan could destroy Chu.
"I'm afraid Chu State is not that easy to destroy!"
Bai Yan shook his head.
Bai Yan originally thought that Wang Ben was the only one to attack the Chu State, but he never thought that he would actually participate in the attack on the Chu State that year.
Thinking of Lord Changping of Yingchuan, Bai Yan frowned slightly, worried that something might happen.
Historically, it was the time between Meng Tian and Li Xin, which was still two years later. After Wei was destroyed and Li Xin attacked Chu, Lord Changping rebelled against Qin. But now, Bai Yan is not sure.
late at night.
After Bai Yan sent Mr. Yang away from the mansion, he watched the servants and maids sweeping and cleaning up in the main hall, and then walked back to the backyard.
Feeling the quiet and carefree atmosphere, looking at the night, Bai Yan felt a little melancholy in his heart. He didn't know how to tell the Bao family and Zhao Qiu that after all, this time, he would not lead either side cavalry or iron cavalry.