Shu Chen

Chapter 194
The peach and plum blossoms are all in bloom, but the green grass is full of colors.

With the confluence of snow water flowing down from the high mountains, the original trickling stream has also become cheerful, ding ding dong dong composes the music of late spring, bumping into the mountains and rocks and winding eastward.

At this moment, the leisure time of fishing in this scene should be happy.

But Zheng Pu was obviously in a bad mood.

With one hand holding the fishing rod that the fish had taken the bait from, and his jaw resting on the other hand, his brows formed into rivers.

He pondered over the request of Qin's son and nephew for a long time alone, but he couldn't find a way to do both.

He would not be so stupid to recommend He Zhi to be the prefect of Xiping to the prime minister Zhuge Liang; he would not go along with the recommendation of other Yizhou bureaucrats, and it would inevitably hurt the relationship between Qin and Zheng.

It's not like getting a cool reputation.

But in other people's leisure time, it is inevitable to say that the Zheng family does not miss the friendship of their fathers.

Alas, that's all.

Write a letter and go back to my elder brother, asking him to ask the Qin family if there are any future nephews who are willing to come to Longyou to serve, I will play around with it.Xiang Lang is still in charge of the prefect of Tianshui, and for such a trivial matter as enlisting an extra assistant, he will still be somewhat sympathetic to me.

Furthermore, after the Silk Road on the western front leaves the Huangshui River Valley, it is within the sphere of influence of the Xihai Shaodang Qiang. I will ask King Mangzhong of the Qiang to give the Qin family caravan some convenience, which can be regarded as protecting the love of the Qin family in Mianzhu. right?
However, the combination of the two can only be regarded as taking care of the Qin family.

After this incident, other Yizhou bureaucrats should exclude me.

hehe~~~
Secretly laughing, Zheng Pu shook his head helplessly.

Pick up the fishing rod, slowly put on the bait, throw the hook into the stream again, and then close your eyes to rest, feeling the tranquility of the spring breeze blowing by your ears.

The position of the prefect of Xiping is just a bait.

All the officials of the imperial court who were involved in the interests of the Silk Road were caught fish.

So does he, he just doesn't want to bite the bait.

Even from now on, he will cut himself off from other township parties.

"Zijin fishes with his eyes closed, does he want to imitate Jiang Taigong and fish with a straight hook?"

After an unknown amount of time, a teasing smile came from the side.

Zheng Pu opened his eyes and turned his head to look. It turned out that Qiao Zhou, who was in charge of offering wine at the Liangzhou Academy, had arrived at some time.

The two of them have known each other for a long time.

Even each other's family members are used to visiting each other.

Based on this, Lu Huang, the cousin of the owner of this place, did not send anyone to inform Zheng Pu when he saw Qiao Zhou's visit, but only asked Qiao Zhou to come to the stream to look for him.

"The joy of fishing lies in fishing, so what does it mean to imitate the ancients?"

Putting down the fishing rod, Zheng Pu didn't get up, but just stretched out his hand to signal Qiao Zhou to sit on the ground, and after glancing at the sky, he retorted, "It's getting late, brother Yunnan came here at this time, is it to catch the evening food?"

"Ha, Zijin's temperament is still so mean!"

Qiao Zhou, who knew each other's temperament well, didn't move when he heard the words, but replied with a smile.

After sitting down cross-legged on the spot, he slightly shook the small cloth wrapped in his hand, "I brought some food with me, so you won't be petty and noisy!" After a pause, he continued to add a sentence of disdain, "Zijin's family is well-off, and the salary of General Pingbei is very high, but now he is poorer than me! He is really a prodigal!"

"Hehe~~~~"

Hearing this, Zheng Pu didn't refute, but just smiled helplessly.

He is indeed very poor.

Although the salary of the heavy-numbered general is higher than that of the prefect of two thousand shi, and every time he goes out to the army, he returns with a big victory and captures a lot, and is rewarded with a lot of money by the court according to law, but he still cannot make ends meet.

Just raising his subordinates, his salary was exhausted.

As for the silk, silk, money, etc. that were rewarded by the court, they were all used for the pensions for those who died in the battle, the wounded and retired, and the livelihood of taking care of the orphans of Paoze.

He has been an official for many years and has accumulated countless achievements, but he has never used half of five baht to supplement his family.

On the contrary, funds are often drawn from home for daily expenses.

Even his brother-in-law Zhang Bao couldn't stand it.

Ai Wu and Wu's persuaded him to save some of his salary to buy a house in the city of Ji County, Tianshui, so that his younger sister Zhang Yan would not have to live in Lu's courtyard every time she came to Longyou.

Naturally, Zheng Pu turned a deaf ear to his persuasion.

After his late father made his elder brother Zheng Yan the heir to separate the family, his own branch merged with his mother's family's Lu surname, why bother to separate each other?

It would be wrong to move out after buying a house.

He casually picked up the wine pouch on the ground and poured it, wiped it with his sleeve, handed it to Qiao Zhou, and took the small cloth pouch, "I don't know what food Brother Yunan brought? I happen to be a little hungry."

"You'll know it when you see it."

Qiao Zhou didn't feel disgusted, took the wine bag and took a big gulp, hiccupped for a long time before answering slowly.

Why is eating so mysterious?

Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Zheng Pu unwrapped the small cloth bag and saw that it was a few hard pancakes.

Bing, and also, the combination of glutinous rice flour and flour; Hu cake, which is made into a big man, is also made with flax (sesame).

Not a rarity.

In the past, Emperor Ling was fond of Hubing, so everyone in the capital ate Hubing.

In addition, there are many kinds of wheat chestnuts in Longyou, and Hubing, a kind of food that has no technical content in making, can be seen everywhere.

However, flax from the Western Regions is rare and expensive, and ordinary people cannot afford it.

For example, the salary of Qiao Zhouzhou Xuegong's sacrificial wine can't be eaten many times.

What I eat every day are "wheat cakes" without flax.

As for the people of Lishu~~~
Living in the Northwest, it is a blessing to be able to have a full stomach, what kind of cakes do you expect!
Picking up a piece, tearing off a small piece and putting it in his mouth, chewing it slowly and feeling the light fragrance of flax, Zheng Pu was a little confused, "Brother Yunnan is greedy for ink or accepted a banquet from a wealthy family? Why is there Hu biscuits?"

Also let Qiao Zhou, who was reaching for the cake, have a meal.

He works in the office of the Qingshui Department, so how could he have the opportunity to be greedy for ink?
Oh no, with his conduct, how could he do such a thing as being greedy for ink?

Although he knew Zheng Pu's temperament well, he still glared angrily, and then said angrily, "I bought it with my salary for a few days, and used it to feast on Zijin, and Zijin repaid it like this!"

"Hey, I'm not going to talk too fast today, I don't know when I'll have a chance."

Still vague, Zheng Pu had a smile on his face, "Brother Yun Nan is here, is it the prime minister's promise?"

"You can't hide anything from Zijin."

Slightly stunned, Qiao Zhou smiled suddenly, closed his eyes and heaved a sigh of relief before answering happily, "Yes, the Prime Minister has allowed me."

He will return to Shu.

Since the end of last year, he has frequently written letters asking why the Liangzhou Academy sacrificed wine and returned.

The reasons are ironic.

It's not that he was negligent in his post or that there were any mistakes, but that he did too well.

It was so good that even he himself didn't dare to stay in Longyou anymore.

He came to Longyou to take up the post, on the one hand, to take over the position of the old shooter, and on the other hand, it was Zheng Pu's plan in the past: let him, who has a profound family background, come to spread the saying of "he will be condemned by heaven if you rebel against Wei Cao Pi and usurp Han".

Initially, when he preached, people were only dubious.

However, Cao Rui's successive heirs who rebelled against the Wei Dynasty died, the Northern Expedition of the Han Dynasty won consecutive battles, the epidemic in Xiaoguan, and the heavy rain in Cao Zhen's attack on Hanzhong made people slowly begin to change their views.

Perhaps, under the great man's 400 years of accumulating prestige, there is really a saying of destiny?

It is so determined in people's minds.

Otherwise, it is impossible to explain why so many things are "coincidences".

Things turned around. At the beginning of spring this year, Ni Wei Cao Rui's daughter died at the full moon of birth.

This incident not only made the ignorant Liangzhou Qianghu tribe and the people of Guanzhong Sanfu Guishou believe in it, but even the aristocratic families in the Guandong began to have faint doubts.

Some people even asserted that Cao Rui's third son, Cao Yin, who is not yet one year old, should be soon
Inevitably, Qiao Zhou, who was the first to propose the Mandate of Heaven, is like a "sage" walking in the world in the eyes of Li Shu in Longyou who has no prophecy!
Some Qiang and Hu people who had been recruited to farm and raise livestock and had always believed in the theory of ghosts and gods fell down and worshiped Qiao Zhou as if they were gods.

That's why Qiao Zhou didn't dare to stay in Longyou.

He is a minister.

Some people are afraid to accept it with peace of mind.

Therefore, after being worshiped several times, he began to ask for return to Shuzhong.

In the land of Bashu, he can still be a normal person; if he continues to stay here, he may not even be able to continue to be an individual.

At first, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang did not approve of him.

After all, with the wisdom and mind of the prime minister, he will not worry about what will happen to Qiao Zhou in the future.

But after Zhao Yun became seriously ill in spring, the prime minister thought it over and agreed.

Some things seem to have nothing to do with it.

But some people with ulterior motives can always find reasons to link them together.

For example, Qiao Zhou was a Confucian in Yizhou, for example, the conflict of interests revealed in the dispute between the prefect of Xiping.

Moreover, this is not the first time that Qiao Zhou has been "visited" by an assassin.

Niwei Cao Rui hated him deeply, so naturally there would be some people who flattered him, and spontaneously sent out funds to recruit assassins to take Qiao Zhou's head back to flatter him.

Zheng Pu, who has a good friendship, knows all these things.

Because when the two met in small gatherings on weekdays, Qiao Zhou often muttered that Zheng Pu was the instigator, and he himself was responsible for Zheng Pu.

"Then congratulate brother Yunnan for getting his wish fulfilled."

Putting down the beard cake in his hand, Zheng Pu took the wine bag and drank it, "I don't know what position you will be assigned, brother?"

"It's still a matter of culture and education."

Hearing this, Qiao Zhou closed his eyes and smiled, his face was filled with joy, "I work as a scholar of classics in the State Shepherd's Mansion, but there is a statement in the prime minister's letter that he was ordered to enter the palace once every ten days to explain the ancient and modern allusions for the emperor. "

He is the first scholar in Yizhou who is engaged in classics.

This can be regarded as renewing the reputation of his father and grandfather as a great Confucian, and it is also equivalent to the honor bestowed on him by the prime minister. No wonder his family is so poor that he is willing to buy Hubing!

However, Zheng Pu cared more about the honor of "forbidden to enter the palace once every ten days".

The ban on entering the palace solved the confusion for the emperor Liu Chan, and to some extent acted as the emperor's husband.

Therefore, Zheng Pu, who had just listened to it, couldn't help but move in his heart.

Putting down the wine bag, he fixed his eyes on Qiao Zhou for a while, then smiled suddenly and said, "Brother Yun Nan's coming this time is not just about saying goodbye to me, right?"

"Ha~~~"

Qiao Zhou, who was in a good mood, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why did Zijin say such evil?"

Zheng Pu's answer gave him a blank look.

Just pick up the wine bag and drink it yourself, and occasionally taste it, the old god is there.

"No fun!"

Lian Rong muttered, Qiao Zhou reached out and snatched the wine bag, wiped the mouth of the bag with his sleeve, and said while drinking, "Although I don't pay attention to the affairs of the court, I also heard that the prefect of Xiping has not yet decided. Yi Zijin Zhi Zhizhi, presumably will not participate in it; but with Zijin's identity and current official position, it is inevitable to be involved in it. Therefore, before I return to Sichuan, I want to ask if Zijin can be useful to me ?”

really.

Father, like son.

Even Qiao Zhou, who is in charge of culture and education, can see the whole story of this matter, and those selfish people are still struggling.

Zheng Pu couldn't help but sighed in his heart.

Turning his head to the stream, his eyes fell on the weeds in the crevices of the rocks.

Human desire for power and interest, like that weed, can explode with infinite power and grow endlessly with time.

Even if the ruler of the country is the prime minister who is accepted by both the government and the public, it is only temporarily suppressed and cannot be eradicated.

If in the future, I'm afraid it will be more burnt.

But now when Qiao Zhou asked Zheng Pu if there was anything he was needed for, he saw that Zheng Pu would be rejected by others in the future because he did not speak up for the Yizhou faction.

Throughout the ages, lone wolves who are not tolerated by the township party in their official careers often end up having difficulty making a difference.

Even being slandered and slandered.

After all, the prime minister was already in his fifties, and he was appointed as a heavy general before he reached his thirty.

Even though he married the daughter of the Zhang family and became a brother-in-law with the emperor, there are still many things that people can find to slander him, such as being accused of being the master of great achievements in the future or being arrogant and self-indulgent.

Three people make a tiger, and one mouth makes gold.

Being criticized a lot, the emperor doesn't doubt, he doesn't doubt himself?
Even if he doesn't doubt himself, can the generals under his command, who follow him through life and death, doubt themselves without grief?
Some things are better prepared in advance.

Otherwise, once it happens, it will be too late to prepare.

As for why Qiao Zhou wanted to help him, it was because the two had a really good friendship.

"Now there's no need to trouble Brother Yunnan."

After being silent for a long time, Zheng Pu nodded his head in thanks, and said slowly, "However, after my brother returns, when teaching students, why don't you take in more morals and talents and call them disciples. If I have no one to use in the future, I will find someone Brother wants some disciples to be assistants."

"This is a great move!"

Hearing this, Qiao Zhou thought about it for a while, then clapped his hands and praised it.

Since it is difficult for the current generation to be like-minded, we simply turn our attention to the younger generation to cultivate like-minded people.

Just like the prime minister is not deciding on the candidate for the prefect of Xiping now.

Take this opportunity to see some people clearly, so that the belief and fighting spirit of "recovering the Central Plains and returning the old capital" can continue until the day of success.

In fact, what Qiao Zhou didn't know was that Zheng Pu had another thought behind his words.

He wanted to have some confidantes of his own.

It's not for the purpose of seeking the power of "salty decision" like the prime minister in the future, but for myself to be able to concentrate more.

He only wanted to lead the conquest, and he stopped at leading the army.

In the future, if he encounters such power-related issues, someone can handle them on his behalf.

Although there are many assists available to him in his official career.

Such as the wife's family, the Xiang family who is about to become in-laws, the disciple Fu Qian, and Zhao Guang and Huo Yi who are friendly to each other.

But some things cannot be solved by relying on external force.

Especially since he is not known for his virtues.

(End of this chapter)