There are two masters in the Jinyi Guards in the capital, known as "Nan Sun and Bei Xue", referring to Sun Duhe, the commander of the Nantang, and Xue Yuan, the commander of the Beitang. Sun Duhe is the adoptive father of the sisters Sun Qiaoyun. He was unfortunate while suppressing bandits in the Lu Kingdom a few years ago.
After his death, the number one master in Jin Yiwei became "North Xue" Xue Yuan.
Xue Yuan and Sun Duhe had the same official rank. They were also fourth-grade guards with swords and held the title of "General Xuanwu". They were well-known figures in the capital area. However, Hunan Province was thousands of miles away from the capital. This was Xue Yuan's first time coming to Changsha.
He was quite surprised to be recognized.
Therefore, he couldn't help but look at Hua Bushi with a hint of doubt.
Hua Bushi also saw Xue Yuan's expression and said: "When General Shicai fought against Brother Meng, he only took seven steps and blocked all the forward routes of Brother Meng. This is probably the general's famous stunt."
The Seven-Step Red Lotus Sword Technique' really opened Hua Bushi's eyes."
The young master said: "Brother Hua guessed his identity because he knew Commander Xue's sword skills. But I don't know what your guess is about the younger brother's identity?"
Hua Bushi said: "Before entering this lobby, Xiao Ke could only express sympathy. The people in this casino may be high-ranking officials in the imperial court. It wasn't until he stood here that Hua Bushi guessed your name, but he didn't know it.
right."
The young master said: "Brother Hua, please speak."
Hua Bushi was silent for a while, then suddenly clasped his hands behind his back and recited a poem: "There are many new ghosts who cry in war, and the old man sings in sorrow..."
The eldest young man shook his head, walked up and down, and seemed to have the charm of a poor scholar.
The young master said: "The clouds are low and it is dusk, and the snow is dancing in the wind."
Hua Bushi chanted again: "The bottle is thrown away without any traces, and the fire in the furnace is red..."
The young master continued: "The news from several states has been cut off, and I am worried about sitting upright and writing empty books."
With a smile on his face, he said: "Brother Hua is really smart, and my younger brother is Cao Muyun."
Hua Bushi cupped his fists and said, "Hua Bushi has met Mr. Muyun!"
What Hua Bushi did was the courtesy of friendship between peers in the world. If we were to follow the official etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, Hua Bushi, as a commoner, would probably have to kneel down and kowtow when he saw Cao Muyun.
Just because of Cao Muyun's identity, he is the son of the current Ming Emperor Zhu Youjian.
Of course, Cao Muyun was not the emperor's biological son, but an adopted son. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, most emperors of the past dynasties liked to adopt adopted sons. The founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was the most popular. He had more than 20 adopted sons, among whom the most famous
He is, of course, the "Duke of Guizhou" Mu Ying.
In comparison, Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian had very few adopted sons, only Cao Muyun.
As an adopted son, Cao Muyun certainly cannot inherit the throne, but he is also a powerful figure in the capital. Even the princes, nobles and important officials of the court must show courtesy to "Mr. Muyun" when they see him. Moreover, the emperor
It is not without reason that Zhu Youjian loves Cao Muyun. His literary talents and martial arts are all the best choices. Many people even think that this Mr. Muyun is likely to be like Mu Ying, the "Gong of Guizhou" in the future.
In the same way, he was entrusted by the emperor and became a frontier official.
In fact, even if Cao Muyun did not have the emperor Zhu Youjian as his adoptive father, his life experience was still prominent enough. His biological father Cao Huayu was the commander-in-chief of the rear army in charge of the troops in the capital, and he was also a high-ranking official with military power.
There was also an even more powerful uncle, Cao Huachun, the factory manager of the East Deacon Factory.
From a distinguished family, with a great reputation, versatile in both civil and military affairs, clever and witty, and so handsome in appearance, this "Mr. Muyun" was simply born to be envied, even jealous, by others!
However, Cao Muyun was so gentle and polite in his treatment of others, making others unable to hate him even if they wanted to.
He reached out and took Hua Bushi's hand, as if he were holding a close friend, without any airs of a prince.
"It's my honor to get to know Brother Hua. Brother Hua must not be too polite. But I don't know how Xiongtai guessed my identity?" Cao Muyun said while pulling Hua Bushi to the table and sitting down.
Hua Bushi said: "In fact, this matter is not difficult to guess. General Xue Yuan is the commander of the 'Jinyi Guards', and the friend at the door must be an expert from the East Deacon Factory, who can protect them both.
Besides Mr. Muyun in the capital, who else can there be?"
In the Ming Dynasty, both the "Jinyiwei" and the "Dongchang" were under the personal jurisdiction of the emperor, and they were both extremely powerful spy agencies. However, they were separated and even had some mutual constraints on power. Cao Muyungui
As a prince, he can mobilize the power of Jinyiwei, and his uncle Cao Huachun is the master of Dongchang, so he can send Dongchang masters to accompany him. I am afraid he is the only one who can let the masters of Jinyiwei and Dongchang work together to protect him at the same time.
Mr. Muyun.
Hua Bushi added: "Although Xiao Ke can guess that the friend in the flower robe is from the Great Inner Forbidden Palace, he doesn't know his name at all. I wonder if Brother Cao can tell me?"
In the martial arts world, there are only a handful of internal skills and mental techniques that can cultivate the innate Qi, but there are only a few people in this world who can really cultivate their internal skills to the innate level. Hua Bushi has never heard of such a person in the Ming Dynasty.
The peerless master's curiosity suddenly aroused. Although he knew it was a bit presumptuous, he couldn't help but ask.
Cao Muyun didn't take it seriously at all, and said calmly: "His name is Qiu Hengbo. It's normal that Brother Hua has never heard of him. It's just because he has always been in the forbidden palace, rarely comes out, and has never fought with others. Therefore,
There is no reputation outside."
Hua Bushi nodded and said, "That's it."
He nodded in agreement, but in his heart he didn't think that Qiu Hengbo had really never fought with anyone. When he just entered the door, Hua Bushi could feel the faint intention of killing from the waves of bone-chilling chills.
, this kind of momentum cannot be possessed by a person who has been practicing in seclusion.
This Qiu Hengbo must have killed many people to leave such murderous intention in his true energy. The reason why he is not famous is probably because everyone who fought with him has been killed, so the world is full of people.
No one in the top class knows how powerful this person is.
Hua Bushi sat opposite Cao Muyun with a smile on his face, but he was quite surprised in his heart.
The boss behind "Happy Island" turned out to be Mr. Mu Yun, who was famous in the imperial court. This was already very shocking. But why did Cao Muyun quietly come to Changsha City and hide in the gambling house unwilling to do so?
It's even more puzzling to see someone with a master like Xue Yuanqiu Hengbo accompanying him.
Could it be that with the power of Cao Muyun and the martial arts of Xue Yuanqiu and Hengbo, could there be anyone who could threaten them?
Cao Muyun said: "The famous line "Duixue" recited by Brother Cai Cai at that time was when Du Weng was in Chang'an, the imperial capital, worried about the national crisis. Now that the world is in chaos, and when he didn't make too much concessions during the An-Shi Rebellion, I think he must have
Isn’t it true that today’s national affairs are all without independent opinions?”
Hua Bushi said: "Xiao Ke is a commoner. In addition to making money, he only thinks about the affairs of Jianghu sects. He really has no knowledge about state affairs."
Cao Muyun said: "With Brother Hua's intelligence, he knows how to protect himself wisely and is unwilling to get involved in political disputes. Of course I know that. However, in my opinion, the rivers and lakes and the imperial court are dangerous places with swords and swords. In fact, there are no
What a difference."
Hua Bushi said: "Hua Bushi knows a thing or two about the dangers in the rivers and lakes, but I know nothing about the affairs of the court. With Brother Cao's family background, is there anyone in the court who dares to harm you?"
Cao Muyun said: "Actually, my younger brother's status is far less prominent than what is rumored outside. His Majesty accepted me as his adopted son, probably because he was thinking of my father's loyalty. The title of Your Highness is in name only, and my younger brother has no position or power in the court.
Without the protection of my father and uncle, it would be very difficult to even save my life."
Hua Bushi wondered: "Is it so dangerous in the imperial court?"
Cao Muyun said: "Brother Hua doesn't know that there are many parties in the court today, and the parties are attacking each other. There are many forces such as Donglin, Qi, Zhejiang, Chu, etc. The fighting methods are more sinister than those between Jianghu and Jianghu sects.
The killings are even worse, and it is really dangerous."
He sighed slightly and added: "Our Cao family has been ministers for generations and has been loyal to the Ming Dynasty. We have been favored by the Holy Spirit, so we would not be threatened. But now the country is in chaos, traitors are everywhere, and my father has different political opinions from various parties.
The discord caused dissatisfaction among some high officials, and the Holy Spirit was also slandered, which made the situation dangerous. Not only me, but also my uncle in Dongchang was implicated, and his life was precarious."
The Ming Dynasty has suffered from serious internal and external troubles in recent years. Emperor Zhu Youjian was very worried, but he was not a very independent person. He was very suspicious when hiring people, and he often wavered between the various parties in the court. He changed his mind very quickly, even if
Emperor Zhu once had the intention of deposing Dongchang, a directly under the central government.
Hua Bushi didn't care about government affairs at all. These matters had nothing to do with him, and of course he knew nothing about them. At this time, he just sat quietly in his chair without answering.
Cao Muyun is also a person who is very good at observing faces. Seeing Hua Bushi's expression, he knew that he was not interested in such topics, and suddenly said: "Brother Hua, do you know the gown on my body, and the steps on my feet?"
How much are your cloth boots worth?”
Hua Bushi said: "Brother Cao's clothes are all made by famous clothing shops, and the price is about a thousand taels of silver."
Cao Muyun said: "Brother Hua really has a good eye. This gown sells for 468 taels in the 'Chun Hua Xiang' silk and satin shop, and this pair of cloth boots sells for 700 taels in the 'Guang Sheng Fu' shoe shop."
Ten taels, totaling 1,178 taels of silver."
"Brother Cao has a noble status, so he should wear some expensive clothes." Hua Bushi responded casually, but he didn't understand why Cao Muyun asked this question. This Young Master Muyun shouldn't be the kind of person who likes to show off his clothes.
Shallow people.
But I heard Cao Muyun say: "Actually, even if these two pieces of clothing are made of exquisite materials and fine workmanship, their cost is no more than a hundred taels of silver at most, but they have to be sold for more than a thousand taels. Is this a business?"
Is it easy to make money?”
Hua Bushi said: "That's true. If Xiaoke gets a chance in the future, he will definitely go into the clothing business. I think he can make a lot of money."