Neon Clothes and Iron Clothes

"There will be a turning point in three to five years?" Hu Liang couldn't help but be stunned when he heard this. He didn't understand what Wang Wenzuo meant by "turning around". He subconsciously raised his head and found that the corners of his father's mouth were slightly raised, revealing an intriguing smile.

"Father, do you want to be emperor?" Hu Liang asked boldly.

"No!" Wang Wenzuo answered simply: "I never had such a plan!"

"Is that because His Majesty is very kind to you?" Hu Liang asked according to the rumors: "So you can't bear to take his position?"

"Hahaha!" Wang Wenzuo smiled, and the warm air from his mouth turned into white mist in the cold night: "Yes, your Majesty does treat me very kindly, but as a father, I have done too much to reach this point. There are many other things, and this one is no less important.”

"Is that because?" Hu Liang asked puzzledly.

"The emperor's life span has been short!" Wang Wenzuo said.

"What?" Hu Liang was surprised: "But, isn't the emperor still young? Why, how could-"

"You don't know!" Wang Wenzuo shook his head: "The late emperor suffered from wind disease. The emperor's health was not very good when he was young. In the past few years, he was often bedridden. The affairs of the country are so difficult. If he can take care of it personally, he can withstand it. how long?"

"But this doesn't mean that the life expectancy will be short?" Hu Conscience thought to himself, but out of respect for his father, he still did not say these words. There was another thought in his heart that he did not dare to say: "Since my father If you dare to say such words, you must be confident, but you can't tell yourself the reason behind it. After all, you are just a teenager. If you are in a different place, I am afraid that I will be the same!" Thinking of this, he He nodded to Wang Wenzuo: "I remember it, kid!"

"Well!" Wang Wenzuo smiled: "One more thing. Before you came, the emperor told me that he would choose one of you to be his brother-in-law. Now it seems that the emperor has probably chosen you!"

"My child thinks that the emperor should have chosen Yanliang!" Hu Liang replied: "In terms of status and talent, Yanliang is far better than me -"

"No!" Wang Wenzuo shook his head: "This has nothing to do with status or talent. The emperor used his younger sister to marry my family not to promote you, but to draw someone over and use him as his weapon to deal with me. How did Yanliang do it? I can’t even pull him through, so it can’t be him!”

"Father!" A layer of cold sweat broke out on Hu Liang's forehead: "I, I really didn't expect -"

"Haha, are you scared? Just know that you are afraid! I was very scared when I first came to Chang'an. I would rather go to Baekje and Japan to bleed and sweat than go to Chang'an!" Wang Wenzuo laughed: "This is Chang'an. On the surface it looks magnificent, like a heavenly palace, and everyone wants to stay, but in fact it is an ogre's cave. How many heroes and heroes have gone inside and died in a daze, with not even a bone left behind. If you regret it now, You still have time!"

"My child is willing to go!" Hu Liang gritted his teeth: "My child will not become a weapon of the emperor and turn against his own family!"

"Okay, it's good that you have such a spirit!" Wang Wenzuo smiled and patted his son on the shoulder: "It's nothing to just go there if you don't know anything. The real heroes are the ones who dare to go there if they know the difficulties inside. Let's go! Let's go back Well, if I don’t go back, I’m afraid the people inside will become suspicious!”

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On the surface, the meeting between the emperor and Wang Wenzuo was very successful. Although Wang Wenzuo did not surrender his military power and return to Chang'an to assist the government, he also released all the prisoners, the army withdrew from Tongguan, and handed over the authority of the transfer envoy. This made Chang'an The dignitaries in the city couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. At least they didn't have to worry about anything bad. The army would approach the city or water transportation would be cut off like they did not long ago, and they would have to fight for a thousand dollars.

A few days later, the emperor drove back to Chang'an, accompanied by Wang Wenzuo's parents and children, Hu Liang. Then the Political Affairs Hall issued an edict, naming Wang Wenzuo as Sikong, Prince Grand Master, General of Hussars, and Hebei Province visited the ambassador and An. Shi, the governor of the Eastern Protectorate, and Duke Xu. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the emperor made an exchange with Wang Wenzuo. He used the ratification of Wang Wenzuo's actual control over large areas of land in Hebei, Liaodong and outside the Pass in exchange for Wang Wenzuo's withdrawal of troops and the resumption of control of water transportation, thus maintaining the dignity of the court.

Regarding this political exchange, public opinion in Chang'an City showed a subtle calmness: Theoretically, the emperor is the lord of all directions, and Wang Wenzuo is just a minister. The emperor actually made a political deal with the minister, which undoubtedly violated the monarch and his ministers. The way to do this is a kind of humiliation; but theory is one thing, reality is another, especially not long ago, everyone in Chang'an City personally experienced the feeling of fighting for rice and thousands of coins. Other things can be talked about, but no one can resist the feeling of being hungry. You say Wang Wenzuo deserves to be killed for being a treasonous person. Well, let’s starve him for seven or eight days and then we’ll see if you become more stubborn or not.

It is precisely for this reason that Hu Liang, the son of a traitor and a hostage, was treated with unanimous courtesy by the upper class in Chang'an City. In every hunting, banquet, and outing, regardless of the political leanings of the participants and host, at least on the surface they showed due courtesy to Hu Liang. The difference between them was just flattery and respect! The reason is very simple. People in the upper class are not fools. They know very well that although Hu Liang is a hostage, there is still a difference between a hostage and a hostage. Unless the court and Wang Wenzuo really break up, otherwise the young master Hu Liang will He will receive the treatment his status deserves, and even more, because in order to avoid damaging the already fragile relationship between the general and the court, the emperor will severely punish any behavior that will cause Wang Wenzuo to misunderstand. If this is the case, then why bother with this bad luck?

In this environment, Hu Liang's life in Chang'an is undoubtedly very comfortable, and the work itself is very easy - he only needs to be on duty for three days a month. If the emperor goes on tour for more, the rest of the time will be filled with various kinds of things. Such entertainment and social interaction, in a sense, the official robes of thousands of cows are a pass to all the ladies in Chang'an. Which woman would be willing to refuse a handsome man who can guard the emperor?

"Protect Liang, protect Liang!"

"What's the matter?" Hu Liang, who had just left work, turned around, and two colleagues came behind him.

"What plans do you have for the next two days?" The colleague headed by him was about the same age as Hu Liang. His name was Qu Tucheng, and he was a descendant of Qu Tutong during the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

"Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow? I don't have any plans!" Hu Liang shook his head: "What's wrong? What's the matter?"

"It's fine if you don't have any arrangements!" Qu Tucheng said with a smile: "A few of my friends have made an appointment to go hunting for waterfowl by the swamps of the Wei River. I heard that the hunting falcons in Liaodong are the best in the world. You should have a few good ones, right?"

"There are a few of them, but they are not top-grade, I can only say they are good!"

"Haha, my father rules Liaodong, why can't the ones you get be high-grade?" Qu Tucheng said with a smile: "We will meet outside Mingde Gate tomorrow morning, but we must not lose the face of our Qianniu Preparation! "After that, he walked away with a smile.

"The reputation of Sengyu Bishen does not depend on the quality of the Falcon!" Morira muttered. He sighed, shook his head, and walked towards the stable. Hu Liang lives in a two-entry house in Chongrenfang, which was a gift from the emperor. The house is not big, but although it is small, it has all the internal organs, including the kitchen, stables, wing, and back garden, which is enough to accommodate Hu Liang's twenty guards. Servants, Hu Liang estimated that there should be spies among these people to monitor him, but he could only take it easy.

"Sir, there is a letter coming from the north!"

"Oh?" Hu Liang put down the riding crop happily: "Is it father's?"

"No, it belongs to Mr. Yanliang! The messenger also brought two good horses and some sundries, which are gifts for you!"

"Yan Liang's?" Hu Liang was stunned, and then he was overjoyed: "Two horses, that's great! Go and have a look!" Hu Liang came to the backyard and saw two horses, one was a black horse and the other was a black horse. Hu Liang measured the gray horse roughly and found that the horse's shoulders were more than five feet (a foot in the Tang Dynasty was about 30 centimeters), its chest was thick, its hips were bulging, and its four hooves were long and powerful. Hu Liangxi carefully stroked the horse's mane and back, and said to the messenger: "Not bad, not bad. How is Yanliang doing lately?"

"Your Majesty is very kind. He heard that you went to Chang'an. He was a little worried that you would not have enough money to stay in Chang'an, so he asked the villain to send some for you to use, and asked the young master to take it in!" At this point, the messenger presented it to you! Hu Liang took a letter and a gift list and took a look at them. He saw that there were sand gold, silver ingots, furs, and some eagle feathers written on them. He casually put the gift list into his arms, opened the letter, and after reading two lines, his expression suddenly changed. , put the letter into his sleeve, quickly returned to the study, closed the door and returned to the desk, took out the letter again and started reading.

"The Four Kingdoms are in chaos? Are there rebels? Yuan Aoli's life and death are unknown. He personally led the troops back to the country. He Bayong disobeyed orders and was dismissed from the army. He personally took charge of the government." Hu Liang was shocked by this series of shocking information in the letter. shocked. In his mind, Yuan Aolie and He Bayong were his father's agents, like two towering and immovable mountains. But now these two mountains have collapsed, and the initiator turned out to be Yanliang. The brother I grew up with.

"Yanliang, I really have you!" Huliang sighed: "Compared with you, I am really lagging behind!"

Hu Liang read the letter three times from beginning to end, then carefully took out a copper box, put it away, locked it, and put it in the bookcase. He calmed down his excitement, compared his current life, and had to sadly admit: Compared with Yanliang, life in Chang'an is so boring! If he hadn't come to Chang'an, he could have stayed by Yan Liang's side and been his right-hand man.

"Son!"

"What's the matter?" Yanliang asked.

"Master Qu Tucheng is here, please wait outside!"

Why did he send someone here again? Could it be that the falconry was canceled tomorrow? Yan Liang thought to himself, feeling his shoulders relax, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and he felt a little more relaxed.

When Hu Liang came to the flower hall, he saw a man in black quickly stood up and sang to himself: "Master Hu Liang, my young master asked the villain to come and accuse you. He twisted his foot just now. Tomorrow's There’s no way to go falconry!”

"Oh!" Hu Liang was secretly happy when he heard this, and said, "Then is he seriously injured?"

"If you'd like to ask, my young master just sprained himself. The injury is not serious. He will be fine in a few days!" The man in black paused for a moment: "My master also said that you must go tomorrow. Don’t miss your appointment!”

Hu Liang laughed when he heard this: "What that guy said is so ridiculous. He invited me to go hunting, but he didn't go, but he didn't allow me not to go!"

"Young master, I don't know. An important figure is coming to Falconry tomorrow. You must not not go. Otherwise, my master will have to come to the house to invite you tomorrow even if he has to be carried by others!"

"Okay!" Hu Liang sighed helplessly. Based on his understanding, Qu Tucheng could really do this kind of thing: "I'll just go. Really, there are people who force you to do anything in the world, but actually There are also people who are forced to hunt, how strange it is!”

Early the next morning, Hu Liang took five or six of his entourage and two of his best men, Hai Dongqing, and rode the black horse given to him by Yan Liang, before heading to Mingde Gate. After leaving Mingde Gate, a boy in brocade clothes came forward, bowed and saluted: "Are you Mr. Hu Liang? My master is already waiting under the tree over there!"

Hu Liang looked in the direction of the boy's finger and saw a brocade barrier next to the locust tree. He could vaguely see the shadow of a person flickering behind it. He knew that this was a noble man resting in the wild, and he didn't want to be spied by people around him, so he used Jinzhang surrounded himself, nodded, and followed the boy towards Jinzhang.

When he got closer, Hu Liang saw clearly that this brocade barrier was actually made of high-quality Shu brocade. It circled a large area with twists and turns. It only cost tens of thousands of dollars, and he couldn't help but be secretly surprised. .

"Young Master Hu Liang, please follow me!" The boy led Hu Liang under a tree. The brocade mat with wine and food had already been laid out. Hu Liang looked around and saw that seven or eight people had come, all drinking. Even though I was having fun, I didn’t know who the “master” the boy was talking about was!

Hu Liang sat down on the brocade mat, and the guards sat down on both sides. He removed the blindfolds from the two Hai Dongqings and placed them on the shelf.

"Is this the hunting falcon of Liaodong?" someone asked next to him. Hu Liang looked up and saw that he was a young man in brocade clothes. Behind him were two young men who were looking at Hai Dongqing with great interest. One young man was so bold that he even touched the feathers on Hai Dongqing's back. Liang shouted quickly: "Be careful, don't touch the eagle!"

Soon enough, the falcon that was touched had already pecked at it. The young man in brocade stretched out his hand and pulled the boy away. There was only a scream, followed by the flapping of wings and the scolding of the eagle slave.

"Damn it, pull Shuner away!" Hu Liang jumped up quickly and saw that the boy's sleeves had been torn open, and blood could be faintly seen. He was held in the arms of Mr. Jinyi, with his face It was already pale.

(End of this chapter)