Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

"Husband Cai, please stop looking at your old history!" A young man said with a smile: "What time of the year is it now? Let's talk about the things that happened when you were a child!"

"This is not Lao Li!" Zhuge Wen said with a smile: "Let's put it this way! Before General Wang came to Jiannan Road, there were many thieves not far from Chengdu. How could I ever go to sell livestock without bringing hundreds of thousands of thieves with me? There are many strong men, all equipped with bows, crossbows, swords and shields, and just like that, there are still some who have been robbed by thieves!"

"That's true!" A man in gray clothes next to him said: "At least the line from Songzhou to Chengdu is fine now, and even the other lines are much more stable!"

"Yes, the nearby Qiang and Hu are all honest, and they can help you if you encounter someone who doesn't open their eyes!"

"They are not in vain. There are many business travelers on this road, and they will all benefit from it!"

"It's enough to be able to help. We are not afraid of spending money when we are away from home, but we are afraid that when trouble comes, we will have nowhere to spend money! Right?"

"Yes, what can those Qianghu do with the money? Why don't they just buy the goods we brought over? Are they going to dig a cellar and hide it? It's just a pass in their hands. What's the big deal? !”

"That's right, we are not misers like that. Money is just an external possession. Only by transferring money can we start a business!"

It turned out that these people were merchants from Chengdu, and they became prosperous through Wang Wenzuo's relationship with the merchants.Not long ago, Igilian Bod sent a letter telling them about the rectification of water transportation, and invited interested people to come to Chang'an to discuss their participation.These merchants were immediately attracted by the business opportunities contained at this time. If Wang Wenzuo's original interests in the Tea Horse Road trade network centered on Chengdu and connected the southwest were Luohe, then the interests contained in water transportation were On the Yangtze River, the cost of ancient water transportation was much lower than that of land transportation. The population and economic prosperity of the areas connected by the Sui and Tang Grand Canals far exceeded those of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.Since these merchants have tasted the benefits of the former, they will naturally not give up the latter.

"By the way, Mr. Cai, do you think it's strange?" A young businessman asked: "Back then, Fan Chang'an was also sent by Xiao Langjun. It is said that his strength and financial resources are outstanding among us, but this Mr. Ciyi didn’t write to him, why?”

Everyone fell into silence. Everyone held their breath and focused their eyes on Cai Dingshan's face, waiting for the old man to answer his questions.

"I'm not sure!" Cai Dingshan shook his head: "But one thing is for sure. In General Wang's eyes, we and Fan Chang'an are not the same kind of people!"

"Correct!"

"Not bad!"

"What Mr. Cai said is true, we are us, and Fan Changan is Fan Changan!"

Everyone's spirits were suddenly shaken. These people held Wang Ence in their arms just because they wanted to hold Wang Wenzuo's thigh.Unexpectedly, Wang Ence died inexplicably, and Wang Wenzuo was transferred back to Chang'an.What happened next made them even more stunned. The original Governor Wang and General Wang turned into General Wang in the blink of an eye. The Prince of the East Palace also ascended the throne in advance, and General Wang entered the political hall.If there was some resentment in their hearts before, it was all gone by now - Wang Wenzuo's rapid rise was so fast that all negative emotions were eliminated. Everyone thought it was because of Xiao Langjun No luck, he was killed by the general!As for themselves - they have received so many benefits and are still not satisfied?Aren't you afraid of bursting your belly?

Therefore, it is not difficult to understand the ecstasy of these merchants when they received the invitation from Ijilenbod - General Wang has not forgotten us!Well, it is enough even if Mr. Yi has not forgotten us. They instinctively associate themselves with Wang Wenzuo and exclude other latecomers as much as possible to ensure that they can eat more in the new pie sharing activity.

"Mr. Cai, there is a temple ahead! Let's rest there!" A sharp-eyed man pointed at the temple on the roadside below the front platform and shouted.

"Okay, everyone, let's go over there and have a rest!" Cai Dingshan was also tired for a long time: "Let's donate a few more pennies and let the monks in the temple boil some hot soup. Everyone can soak their feet to relieve their fatigue!"

When everyone came closer, they discovered that the building in front of them was not a temple, but the Wuhou Temple, which was dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period.Everyone was overjoyed and hurriedly called the old man who was in charge of the ancestral hall, and first took two coins as a reward.He asked him to bring some incense and candles, knelt down and enshrined the statue of the prime minister, then asked the old man to boil several pots of hot soup, borrowed some wooden barrels, and took turns soaking his feet.

Zhuge Wen traveled through the Qinling Mountains for more than ten days and was already exhausted.At this time, he suddenly got hot water and put his sore legs and feet into it. He suddenly felt indescribably refreshing all over his body. He was enjoying it with his eyes closed when he suddenly heard someone laughing and saying: "By the way, did you pay attention when you worshipped just now?" Pass the statue of Prime Minister Zhuge?"

"What's wrong? Aren't all the statues of gods in the world the same?" someone laughed.

"Really?" The man who asked the question smiled and suddenly said: "I just think that the statue looks somewhat similar to General Wang!"

"Really? Why didn't I think so!" Someone next to him laughed and said, "You are playing tricks on us!"

"They must be playing tricks on us!" Someone said: "All the statues of gods in the world look similar. You said that the statues of General Wang and Prime Minister Zhuge look similar. Then why didn't you visit Qingyang Temple before that the statue of Daojun looks similar to the general? ?”

"that is!"

"Who lied to you? If you don't believe it, go and see!"

Hearing the chatter and laughter beside him, Zhuge Wen shook his head and laughed. Naturally, he would not believe that Wang Wenzuo looked like the statue of Zhuge Liang, but the cheerful optimism in everyone's words also infected him, making him feel easy.

"Brother Zhuge!"

Zhuge Wen opened his eyes, but Cai Dingshan was standing in front of him with a smile on his face. He was about to get up, but Cai Dingshan held him down: "You don't have to get up, that's fine. I have something on my mind, and I want to discuss it with you!"

"Mr. Cai, please speak!"

"This time, Mr. Yi invited us to come to Chang'an to discuss water transportation. It's okay for me to have just set off, but the closer we get to Chang'an, the more uneasy I feel!"

"Oh? What do you say?"

"My dear brother, think about it, this water transportation is related to the lifeblood of the Tang Dynasty. I don't know how many noble people are involved. We are just businessmen. If we are involved, it will be fine if we do well. If there is an accident, we will be shattered to pieces. !”

"Mr. Cai, are you worried that the general will be defeated? Will it implicate us?" Zhuge Wen asked.

Cai Dingshan didn't speak, but the worry on his face had already given him the answer. Zhuge Wen sighed, picked up a towel and wiped his feet in the barrel. Cai Dingshan didn't speak either, just quietly waiting for the other party's answer.After a long time, Zhuge Wencai said: "Mr. Cai, you should know what Mr. Ge did in Wuzhangyuan, right?"

"Of course I know this!" Cai Dingshan said with a smile: "Gong Ge led his troops to confront Sima Yi at Wuzhangyuan. Sima Yi refused to fight. Duke Ge ordered his men to camp in the fields as a long-term plan. In the end, he was exhausted mentally and physically and died of illness here!"

"Well! How do you think the general compares to Ge Gong?" Zhuge Wen asked. "This -" Cai Dingshan hesitated. After hundreds of years of praise, Zhuge Liang's status in the hearts of Shu people has been no different than that of a god. It would be a shame to say that Wang Wenzuo can be compared with him; but since they got to know Wang Wenzuo, they have seen his brokenness. Tubo, building roads, and pacifying the Qiang and Hu people all benefited the people of Sichuan. After going to Chang'an, he acted decisively, helping the prince to ascend the throne, executing cruel officials, and rectifying the water transportation. He was also doing good things. This kind of person is really rare.

"Even if it's not as good as it is, it's not far behind!"

"Then do you think that if Duke Ge comes back to life and calls you to go to Wuzhangyuan to attack Sima Yi, will you go or not?"

"When Mr. Ge is summoned, what else can you say? Even if you know that there is a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire ahead, you still have to go for it!" As soon as Cai Dingshan said the words, he suddenly understood and said with a dumb smile: "Yes, the matter is over, what else is there? So hesitant! What an old fool!"

With their minds made up, everyone soaked their feet, ate some dry food, and then rested themselves.After dawn, everyone went to the ancestral hall to burn incense and worship, and then started on the road, all the way to Chang'an.

--------------------------------

Heyang Third Bridge.

"Sister, Mang Mountain is right ahead!"

Li Xiayu ignored his sister's question. The gloomy sky seemed to be about to collapse. The black mountain shadows on the south bank of the Yellow River merged with the sky, which was suffocating.

"We are getting closer to Chang'an!" A thought flashed through Li Xiayu's mind. Yes, he had seen his hometown in his dreams when he was in Japan, but those were all nightmares.She thought of it even less often during the day. Yes, the hometown in her memory would always remind her of those unpleasant things. She tried her best to bury the memories, and it was best never to bring them out.But this time, he had to go back there again and see those unpleasant people and things again. Most importantly, he had to leave Yanliang and the other children?The woman's heart twitched painfully when she thought of those lovely children.

"Sister, what's wrong with you?" Li Suwen on the side asked softly after realizing something was wrong with her sister.

"Nothing!" Li Xiayu lowered the curtains to block the view outside: "I'm just a little tired!"

Li Xiayu's clumsy lies did not hide the fact from his younger sister who got along day and night: "Sister, do you miss Yanliang?"

Li Xiayu smiled and touched his sister's smooth cheek: "Yes, there are other children! Do you miss them?"

"I want to!" Li Suwen nodded: "What a pity. It would be great if I could take them with me and let them see Heyang Bridge, Taiji Palace, Lishan Mountain, and Luoyang City with their own eyes!"

"Tai Chi Palace?" The corners of Li Xiayu's mouth turned up slightly, revealing a sarcastic smile: "If the children ask you where you lived in the first place, how would you answer?"

Li Suwen was speechless. She suddenly realized that her sister's words were full of malice that was almost overflowing.

"Understood?" Li Xiayu sneered, looking up at the pattern on the top of the carriage: "In the Japanese country, we are the princesses of the Tang Dynasty, the adoptive mothers of the emperor, the distinguished guests of His Highness the Minister of Taizheng, and the nobles who preside over Dinglin Temple. Female. But in Datang and Chang'an, we are just two fugitives!"

"We are not fugitives!" Li Suwen immediately retorted: "Brother Li Hong has ascended the throne, and he has already canonized the two of us as princesses!"

"That doesn't change the fact of how we escaped in the first place! And the years we were imprisoned in Yeting Palace!" Li Xiayu sighed: "What has happened can never be changed!"

"That's all over!" Li Suwen said anxiously: "Sister, why are you still holding on to those things?"

"Is it over?" Li Xiayu laughed, a little crazy: "Then why do I often wake up at night? Why do the scars on my body still hurt from time to time? Why is that woman still living well in the Daming Palace?"

"That woman? Sister, are you talking about Wu——"

"Yes, who else could it be?" Li Xiayu's eyes looked directly into his sister's eyes, bright and frightening: "As long as she is alive for one day, we will still be fugitives, and we will never wake up from our nightmare!"

"But, but -" Li Suwen subconsciously turned her head, avoiding her sister's eyes: "She is now the empress dowager, the emperor's mother, and theoretically our empress mother!"

"Mother?" Li Xiayu sneered: "Have you forgotten? Our mother's surname is Xiao, and the blood of the Lanling Xiao family flows in our bodies! Also, in those days in Yeting, when it was the coldest, But there was no charcoal, so I had to bribe the eunuch with the bracelet left by my mother in exchange for some broken charcoal to keep warm. Have you forgotten?"

Li Xiayu's words touched something in Li Suwen's heart, and she raised her head: "I have not forgotten, sister, you are right, as long as that woman lives for one day, our nightmare will never wake up!"

"Your Highness!"

The sound outside the carriage interrupted the conversation between the two. Li Xiayu put on a hat with a veil, raised the curtains, and asked, "What's the matter?"

"The car has passed the bridge! There are officials from the Tang Dynasty asking to see you!" The escorting Japanese warrior quickly lowered his head, lest his eyes touch the noble Highness.

"Let him come over!" Li Xiayu said in Japanese.

"Di Renjie, the chief minister of Henan Prefecture and a member of the army, pays homage to the two princesses!" Di Renjie bowed to the carriage in front of him. Although the guards on both sides were all dressed as Tang Dynasty people, he still felt uncomfortable all over his body, as if a group of tigers and wolves were wrapped in human shapes. Inside the skin, it looks human on the surface, but the smell of animality still cannot be removed, making people shudder.

The curtain of the carriage door was lifted up, revealing two women wearing curtain hats. The one on the left raised her right hand and gave a weak support: "Di Canjun, please stand up!"

"Thank you very much, Your Highnesses!" Di Renjie stood up and said, "Henan Prefecture Yin is waiting at the post house. Please go with your Highnesses!"

"Thank you!" Li Xiayu nodded. She made a gesture, and the guard of the carriage stepped forward, holding a deerskin bag with both hands.