Close the city gate, and before the drum beats, Zhang Lei and Dugu Wei rode out of the East City Gate.
Outside the East City of Taiyuan, there are not a wilderness, but villages are still distributed, and there are large areas of farmland further away.
Three miles away from the city, there is a village called Mengzhuang, with about 200 families. Zhang Lei and Dugu Wei ran all the way and entered the village for a moment. With the barking of dogs, they stopped in front of a mansion.
At this time, the door of the house had already opened, and an old man who looked like a housekeeper nodded to them. Zhang Lei recognized the old man as the sixth housekeeper of Dugu Mansion. He was secretly surprised. It turned out that this mansion was actually the one who was the one who was in Taiyuan.
He didn't know anything about the house.
"Fifth brother, please wait, I'll report to my uncle."
After entering the gate, Dugu Wei left a sentence and walked quickly towards the inner house. Zhang Lei walked back and forth in the living room with his hands behind his back. He felt really uneasy. He didn't know what the family was doing for him this time? Perhaps it was for Dugu
A ministry for Aien
Zhang Lei also knew that Dugu Huaien was captured by the Sui army. Dugu Huaien was the next head of the Dugu family, and his capture made the Dugu family extremely nervous.
But what Zhang Lei was worried about was that the Dugu family wanted to use his hand to harm the interests of the Sui Dynasty, which made it difficult for him to accept.
Zhang Lei was born into a Dugu family's polite family. He had no status in the family since he was a child and was discriminated against by the legitimate family. However, Yang Yuanqing was appointed as the only talent. Not only did he get a title, but he also promoted him to the fourth-rank junior supervisor, which made him
His heart was full of gratitude, which also made him full of loyalty to Yang Yuanqing.
A scholar died for his confidant. At this time, the mission of the Dugu family was no longer important. What was important was that he wanted to safeguard the interests of the Sui Dynasty.
At this time, the housekeeper walked into the guest hall, nodded to him and said, "Goro, please follow me, the elder, please find you."
Zhang Lei nodded and followed the butler to the back house.
Soon, he walked to a room, the housekeeper opened the pill and smiled at him, "Goro, please come in! The elder is waiting for you."
Zhang Lei took a deep breath and walked into the room. The lights in the room were soft and the layout was simple. There were only two beds. Uncle Chang Dugu Liang sat in the middle, and Dugu Wei stood behind him.
Dugu Liang was commissioned by the head of the family Dugu Zhen and came to secretly negotiate with Yang Yuanqing. He had no official position and used the excuse to go to Ba Shu to inspect the manor, so he left Chang'an and went to Taiyuan.
Zhang Lei was a secret nail deployed by the Dugu family in the Sui Dynasty. Now it is time for the Dugu family to use him.
"Nephew Goro, please see Chang Bo!" Zhang Lei knelt down and kowtowed respectfully.
Dugu Liang's face was a little unpleasant. He just heard Dugu Wei say that the Dugu family secret nail in front of him was not enthusiastic, which made him feel a little unhappy.
"Nephew, let me ask you first, right now, right in front of me, is it called Dugu Lei or Zhang Lei?" Dugu Liang asked coldly.
Zhang Lei sighed in his heart and said respectfully: "Of course my nephew is called Dugu Lei!"
"Okay! Get up first." As long as he admits that he is Dugu Lei, things will be easier.
Dugu Liang showed another smile on his face, "I heard that you actually became the military weapon supervisor of the Sui Dynasty. It's great! Does Yang Yuanqing know that you are a child of the Dugu family?"
Zhang Lei understood Changbo's meaning, was it because he was Dugu's son who promoted him? Although Zhang Lei also felt that Yang Yuanqing had guessed his identity, one thing is certain that the promotion of King Chu would have nothing to do with the Dugu family.
He shook his head without hesitation, "Report to Chang Bo, the child thinks that His Highness, the King of Chu, does not know my identity."
Dugu Liang nodded and continued: "In this battle, Huai'en was unfortunately captured by the Sui army. The Dugu family was very anxious. This time I came to Taiyuan, I want to have a good talk with the King of Chu. I hope you can
Make a bridge for me.”
Zhang Lei felt relieved. It turned out that he was just an introduction, not to make him do something difficult, but he was a little worried. In this way, his identity would be revealed.
On one side is the family and on the other side is his career. After hesitating for a while, Zhang Lei finally agreed, "Okay! I wonder when Chang Bo wants to see King Chu?"
"As long as he comes back, I want to see him immediately."...
The next afternoon, Yang Yuanqing led 30,000 Sui troops back to Taiyuan City in a mighty manner, and was warmly welcomed by the people of Taiyuan. Hundreds of thousands of people went out of the city to welcome the triumphant return of the Sui army.
Yang Yuanqing was not in a hurry to meet the Emperor of Sui and the Empress Dowager. He returned to his home first. At home, he was also warmly welcomed by his wife and children. Several children pestered him for half an hour.
The nearly two months of journey made him exhausted. When he finally escaped from the children's worries, he changed into a loose Zen dress and fell into his study. He didn't want to think about anything. He enjoyed this extremely rare moment.
leisure.
At this time, the door opened, and his wife Pei Minqiu walked in with a cup of ginseng tea. When she saw her husband leaning on the couch with soft mattress, she closed her eyes, and smiled and said, "It was tortured by the children."
Exhausted?"
Yang Yuanqing closed his eyes and shook his head, "They are all my dear babies. As a father, I usually spend too little time with them, so it is time to spend more with them."
Pei Minqiu put the ginseng tea on the table, sat beside him, and snuggled in his arms, "Mr., I'll stay longer this time when I'm back!" Well! I'll stay for at least the first half of the year, and the court also needs to raise it.
He accumulates his strength and wars are frequent, and the court cannot hold on."
Yang Yuanqing reached out to stop his wife's slender waist and asked with a smile: "How is the situation at home? Where is Peihua? When will she give birth?"
Pei Minqiu sighed and complained to him, "I came to remind you that the third sister is seven months pregnant and has a heavy body, so she didn't come to see you just now, but you should go and see him, not
Go back to her study first, as this will make her feel very uncomfortable."
"Okay! Follow the orders of a virtuous wife, go and see the third lady first."
"Good and smooth-talking!" Pei Minqiu pushed him coquettishly, but he was happy that he was willing to listen to his advice.
Yang Yuanqing stood up and turned to leave, but Pei Minqiu grabbed him and said, "Drink the ginseng tea before going!"
Yang Yuanqing picked up the tea bowl and drank it all, turned around and walked out. As soon as he walked to the door, a housekeeper walked forward and bowed: "Master, there is an official named Zhang Lei, who said he was a military weapon supervisor. There is a
I'm asking for a meeting with the master in urgent matters."
Pei Minqiu frowned, "Where is the master who came to visit him as soon as he got home? Why are he so inconsiderate?"
Yang Yuanqing's heart moved and nodded, "Take him to my study outside for a while!"
The housekeeper went, and Yang Yuanqing smiled at his wife, "This person's identity is a bit special, maybe it's really important. I'll see him later. I'll visit Peihua again. You go and tell her first.
.”
"Okay! Try to be faster."
Pei Minqiu turned around and Yang Yuanqing pondered for a while before he walked towards the study outside calmly.
Not many people were able to be received in the study outside the King of Chu. Except for the five prime ministers, the rest were some of Yang Yuanqing's confidant generals. It was extremely rare to meet Zhang Lei in the study outside.
But Zhang Lei was not in the mood to experience this kind of favor at this time. He was very nervous. He didn't know what consequences would be after revealing his identity to the King of Chu.
At this time the door opened, Yang Yuanqing walked in from outside and smiled and said, "Young Master Zhang is very accurate in arresting! I was caught by the Young Master as soon as I came back."
Zhang Lei hurriedly gave a long salute, "Sir Zhang Lei, please see His Highness the King of Chu!"
"No need to be polite, please sit down!"
Yang Yuanqing sat down first, but saw Zhang Lei standing with his hands hanging down and refused to sit, so he said a little strangely: "What are you doing so nervous about Zhang Shaojian?"
Seeing sweat on Zhang Lei's forehead, he finally plucked up the courage to kneel down in front of Yang Yuanqing, and lowered his head and said, "The official is guilty of deceiving, please punish him!"
"What are you guilty of deceiving?" Yang Yuanqing asked without saying a word.
Zhang Lei bit his lips and whispered: "Xiaguan is not actually the surname Zhang, but Dugu. Xiaguan is the concubine of the Dugu family."
"Haha! I am also a concubine, we are actually from the same origin." Yang Yuanqing smiled unknowingly.
Zhang Lei was a little confused. He didn't understand what the King of Chu meant, and sighed and said, "The emperor should not hide it from His Highness!"
Yang Yuanqing stared at him for a while before saying lightly: "I know!"
He took out a booklet from the drawer and threw it to Zhang Lei, "Look at it yourself! In fact, when he saw you the first day, Li Changshi recognized you. Don't you know Li Changshi?"
Zhang Lei and Li Jing had only one meeting. He thought Li Jing could not remember him. He slowly picked up the booklet and opened it. Only then did he find that it was a report from the Intelligence Hall, including his real name, background, family background, and in Dugu
His family status and his career are clearly written.
Zhang Lei sighed in his heart. It turned out that the King of Chu had known for a long time. He lowered his head and said, "The lower official is guilty and should not hide it."
Yang Yuanqing shook his head, "The reason why I improve you step by step is not because you are a child of the Dugu family, but because of your ability, the achievements you made for the Sui army, and your loyalty to me, are not at all with the Dugu family.
Relationship, I hope you understand this first.”
"The official understands!"
"Now let's be honest, tell me what you did when you come to see me, just to confess your identity?"
"No! No."
After hesitating for a moment, Zhang Lei whispered: "It's my Changbo, the deputy head of the Dugu family, came from Chang'an. He is the head of the family. If you have an urgent matter, please see Your Highness and beg your Highness to see him."
"Are you talking about Dugu Liang?"
“That’s right!”
Yang Yuanqing thought about it and finally agreed, "Okay! Please invite him to see me."
He looked at the sky again. It was already dusk. Yang Yuanqing said, "It's just the right time now, please invite him now!"...
Zhang Lei left, Yang Yuanqing walked a few steps in the study, pondering the arrival of the Dugu family. When he was dealing with the rice price in Luoyang, he had worked with Dugu Zhen, and the two sides cooperated happily.
He knew that Dugu Zhen put the interests of his family first, not just loyal people. This time Dugu Liang came on behalf of the head of the family. How big surprise could they bring to him?