Red Tang

Li Kuo carefully looked at the young man in front of him, but he couldn't connect him with the second floor of the sacred library.The head wrapped in a black turban seems to be breaking free, and the straight forehead is bulging; the waist that is as round as a bucket squeezes a dark blue robe like a bunt, and the person who is tied up can't bend down.The slightly playful eyes narrowed into a slit, staring straight at him as if sizing up prey, making his legs tremble.

Moving a few steps to a pear-wood square table, the young man in Tsing Yi twisted his waist and moved himself onto the table with difficulty, curled his lips and said: "Don't stare at me like that, although I'm just a student of Guan Guozijian today, even Master Everyone appreciates it. But geniuses will also pity mortals like you, but geniuses will never hide their secrets wherever they can give you pointers."

Li Kuo was amused in his heart, but he suppressed his smile and said solemnly: "I don't know the name of this genius?"

"Not guilty."

"No last name?"

"Mr.Zhou!"

"age?"

"Seventeen."

"Nation?"

"Xingyang."

"Um... what are you doing here?"

"I said you are so boring. Didn't I come here to study? Did I come here to learn how to cook and dress? Ordinary people are ordinary people, and you would ask such a question. In these days, an unborn genius like me is really lonely. "

"..."

Seeing Li Kuo's pitiful appearance, innocent heart softened, shook his head and said: "Don't give up on yourself too much, although a mortal like you can't become a peerless elite like this genius. But as long as you accept this genius humbly It’s not a problem if you want to torture other Muggles.” He spoke with his cheeks bulging with air, like a cowskin bag filled with wine.

Seeing that Li Kuo seemed unmoved, innocent but anxious.He jumped off the table lightly and moved forward a few steps. The boy pointed to the upper partition and said, "Do you know who lives above it?"

Li Kuo shook his head lightly and smiled awkwardly.

Wuzui shrugged his shoulders and said: "There are only three people who have gone up to the third floor of Siyuan Building. The first one is of course the old man, the old man, and the second one is of course the third senior brother who pretends to be romantic." Rubbing the tip of his nose lightly , innocently moved behind Li Kuo, and said in a low voice, "The third one is me!"

Li Kuo couldn't hold back his smile any longer, and burst out laughing.

"Innocence, you, you are really funny..." Li Kuo stroked his chest and stomped his feet for a while, coughing out a laugh.

"You, you have to laugh. Don't you believe that I have gone up to the third floor today?" Zhou Wuzui's cheeks turned red in an instant, and he puffed out his cheeks and asked urgently.

Li Kuoqiang suppressed the smile in his heart, straightened his waist and said solemnly: "Well, I believe it, can't I believe it? It's just that since Brother Wuzui has gone up to the third floor, do you know what books are hidden on it? What is the solution?"

Zhou Wuzui curled his lips, and said proudly: "The road to study is wide and narrow, and there are good things and bad things. Guozijian was originally the place where the elites of my dynasty gathered, and this Siyuan Pavilion is where I cultivate talents in the Tang Dynasty. The world’s knowledge is nothing more than classics and historical books, and military formations. However, this three-story building adopts extraordinary methods, performs extraordinary things, and trains extraordinary people..."

Seeing that he was pretending to be a Confucian scholar and speaking in an official tone, Li Kuo found it very interesting, so he didn't interrupt him, and continued: "Then what kind of people are trained in this pavilion? Can you tell me if you are innocent? two?"

Seeing Li Kuo's respectful attitude, Zhou Wuzui immediately became interested, and simply waved his hand away from his coy attitude: "It's okay to tell you, actually, these three floors are specially used to train hermits for His Majesty."

Li Kuo saw that his face was calm and did not seem to be fake, and wanted to find out a little bit, so he simply pulled Wuzui to sit behind a bookshelf, and said heartily: "Oh, then I will listen carefully. If you are loyal enough, I will Recognize your brother."

A gleam of joy flashed across Zhou Wuzui's face, but it disappeared on that eternally paralyzed face. "Brother? Everyone speaks better than anyone else. If you really encounter trouble, it's not like adding insult to injury. In this world, the only person you can trust is yourself!"

Li Kuo couldn't say anything more, smiled slightly, and waited for the innocence to confide.

Seeing that Zhou Wuzui had punched the cotton, he rubbed his nose resentfully, and said in a deep voice, "Actually, you are quite nice. I thought you were kind when I first saw you." After a slight pause, Innocence resumed his cynical demeanor: "This hermit is just as his name suggests. He is a secret informant secretly cultivated by His Majesty. The role of this hermit is incomparable. He acts as His Majesty's mouthpiece inside, picking up traitors, and secretly investigating secret cases; Visiting Mobei in the Western Regions, acting as a spy, and spying on the military situation. How can such a person deal with him if he has no skills? There is no shortage of literary talent and military strategy, and the most important thing is his utter loyalty to His Majesty and his old man."

Li Kuo shook his head and said: "Since this candidate is so important, I will definitely avoid talking about it. How could you tell me so frankly? Besides, given your age and experience, I am afraid that you will not be easily selected by the master."

Zhou Wuzui snorted softly, and said disdainfully: "If you say that you scholars are so stupid, how can your talent and ability be compared to your age? If you want to say that this genius's knowledge and ability, except for the third senior brother who burned the bag, no one dares to challenge him! Rubbing the tip of his nose lightly, Zhou Wuzui sighed: "As for the identity of this hermit, there is nothing to hide. First, I haven't become a hermit yet, and second, I haven't revealed any secrets to you, so it's okay."

Li Kuo didn't know he was innocent but treated each other so frankly, he bowed his hands in embarrassment and apologized: "So, this is how the stupid brother treats the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain."

Zhou Wuzui waved his hand and said: "Forget it, forget it, if I meet such a person, I will be angry, and today I would be so angry to death."

"Then do you think I can be a hermit?"

"You?" Zhou Wuzui held his fat chin with one hand, looked at it for a long time and said, "Well, your aptitude is not bad. Someone who can enter the second floor of Siyuan Pavilion must have good knowledge. You look like a Taoist who has built a foundation. Although there is a gap between you and this genius, as long as you study with humility, it is not impossible..."

"Then are you willing to help me? It's better to have such an inexperienced genius like you to remind me, than I don't know the manager's random bump!" Li Kuo smiled sincerely and said frankly.

The muscles on Zhou Wuzui's cheeks twitched slightly, and he shook his teeth with some heartache. He looked at Li Kuo full of resentment and said, "Although this hermit is a secret minister of His Majesty, he doesn't worship real officials or confer titles. I want to rely on it to chase after Li Kuo." Fame and profit, let go of those who shine as soon as possible!"

"My father often told me that fame and wealth are like dust. The money is enough to cut half a catty of sauced mutton at the road stall. What do you need for so many laborious things?"

There was an almost begging look in the innocent eyes: "Although the hermit is highly valued by His Majesty, his training is extremely hard, and he has to endure loneliness that ordinary people can't imagine. Can you bear it?"

"With a jug of wine and the company of your king, what's the loneliness?"

Seeing that Li Kuo was so stubborn, Wuzui simply said: "I'll tell you straight, since I'm a hermit, I have to hide my real name and identity, and disappear from this world. I'm a famous bastard who no one loves No worries. Can you let go of all your attachments in the world?"

Li Kuo only felt a loud bang in his head, and the previous joy and joy were swept away.My mind is full of pictures of the past.

When I was young, my mother always leaned against the old locust tree, hugged herself in her arms, combed her bun hair, and said gently, "Fei'er, you must study hard. Mother does not ask you to be a marquis." Xiang, I only hope that you will be an upright man like your grandfather!"

In the teahouse, Ah Tian always leaned against her side, under the moonlight as bright as butter, she coquettishly said: "Brother Qi, did the Turks move to the west after they were defeated? Why didn't General Wang Zhongsi (Note 1) wipe them out completely?"

On the outskirts of the city, Yanji always ran horses with himself in the endless fields, rushing to a clearing without any purpose.After having fun, he lay on his back on the grass and laughed.Tired of laughing, they counted the endless stars in the night sky of Chang'an together.

At the Lantern Festival, Uncle Sun will always take out two Kaiyuan Tongbao from his shriveled purse without hesitation, bargain with the store and buy two rabbit head lanterns coated with gold powder for himself and Ah Tian. Looking at her joyful appearance, she gently pinched her cheek...

Can I really erase everything in the past without caring?Can you really not care about the feelings of your relatives and friends?I have been evading since the first battle at the pharmacy in the suburbs.Escape from the position in the East Palace that Yanji fought for, escape from the marriage that his uncle set for him, escape from Ah Tian's mesmerizing face, and escape from this seemingly unchangeable fate.

"Since you can't let it go, don't force yourself. I can see that there must be many people who love you, and you don't want to make them sad, do you?" Zhou Wuzui sighed lightly, persuading him.

"There are exceptions to everything. To be a hermit doesn't have to give up your old status. Your official title is just the best cover for your status as a hermit." A voice as warm as warm jade came from the top of the pavilion, and then floated to What I wear is a white dress.

The person who came was about thirty years old, wearing a silk brocade dress, and the white clothes were spotless, he looked like a person who loved cleanliness very much.The sharp-edged face with sharp edges and sharp edges, a pair of sword-shaped eyebrows straight into the forehead, was looking at Li Kuo with a half-smile and a half-smile.

Li Kuo was stared at a little awkwardly, and the person who rushed over cupped his hands and said, "I don't know what advice this brother can give you?"

But the man didn't reply, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and in the blink of an eye he had already moved to Wuzui's side, raised the folding fan in his hand, and tapped Wugui's shiny forehead three times.

"I said Xiaosi, haven't you introduced me to this little brother? How do you usually train you? Respecting teachers and elders is the foundation of my Tang Dynasty scholar. Could it be that you want to wash me again?" Half Moon's clothes?"

Innocent and aggrieved, he avoided behind Li Kuo, only showing a round head and shouted: "Senior brother, you have wronged me. This kid is a freshman, and I am teaching him the rules in the Siyuan Pavilion. , you broke out, how can you blame me."

The third senior brother was obviously very interested, and continued to tease this little junior brother, while slapping the folding fan with his hand, he said with great interest: "Oh? So the senior brother wronged you. The master only went out for a few days, and you changed again. You are so cunning. Not only did you fail to study hard, but you also talked about secrets with outsiders. If the master comes back, I will see how you, a peerless genius, can escape."

Wuzui immediately panicked, and begged the third senior brother regardless of his posture: "Third brother, it's best for you to treat Xiaosi. Don't tell him the old man, okay, or I'll wash your clothes for half a month?" Said Completely looking forward to the third brother.

"Ban Yue?" The third senior brother seemed to be pushing an inch, and raised the volume of his voice.

Wuzui's cheeks bulged into two small round buns, he gritted his teeth after thinking for a moment and said, "That's one month, but you have to let me watch the polo match next month, you also know that style I love the most. "

The third brother held his chin with one hand, thought for a while and said: "That's easy to say, the master just said that I should pay close attention to your schoolwork. With our little four's intelligence, those papers are nothing to worry about. When you are tired of studying, go out to play." It's good to play. I'm optimistic about you." After speaking, he patted innocent shoulders lightly, then walked around, turned and left.

Seeing Wugui's depressed look, Li Kuo felt it was funny, shook his head lightly and said to Wuzui: "That's your third senior brother? I think you are pretty good, and you can command us Zhou Datian to wash clothes . interesting, interesting!"

"You! Even you come to tease me. He is such a burnt-out person, pretending to be elegant all day long, boring, very boring!"

"Okay, I'm not joking with you anymore. But, is it true what the third brother said just now that hermits don't have to hide their identities?" Li Kuo was angry when he saw that he was innocent, so he stopped joking and said seriously.

"Hmph. That's okay, but you need to have an official position. Seeing that a poor boy like you can get an official position?"

Li Kuo shook his head and said: "I also said that I am a great genius who knows everything and is born in the world. I don't even know what happened outside the pavilion. Not only do I have an official position, but I am also a real eight-rank minister. Oh, right? Cai Huantian works in the East Palace."

Wugui looked at Li Kuo suspiciously, walked around him a few times, and said in surprise: "Hey, the Tang Dynasty never confers official positions on scholars without merit. Since you came to the Imperial College to study, you must have not yet taken the imperial examination. If you say that you rely on your ancestors It's impossible for Yu Yin to get a half-official job just by looking at your outfit. If everyone in the world is as lucky as you, why are you still studying!"

Li Kuo didn't feel annoyed when he heard the innocent and sour answer, and said, "It's a long story, first tell me whether it's true or not." A period of buffer time, so eager to know the result.

Wugui spread his hands and said: "It's true, but I'm afraid you have to give up the scientific examination. Although a hermit can be awarded to someone with an official position, the official position must not be too conspicuous. If you are admitted to Jinshi, you will I will definitely stay in the Sixth Ministry to make up for the actual vacancy, let alone the official documents of the yamen and the official entertainment, you are too busy to talk about spying for His Majesty."

Li Kuo's heart sank after hearing this. He was born in a family of poets and books.When he was young, he taught himself by precept and example, as the saying goes, "acquire civil and martial arts and sell them to the emperor's family".For a scholar like myself, "helping the country and helping the king" is the ultimate pursuit of life.Although he has an official position now, he receives the imperial salary every month.But after all, there is no scientific examination, and it is almost impossible to achieve the top six.If you can't deliver the words in front of His Majesty the Emperor, you can't rehabilitate Zhaoxue for Grandpa.

Seemingly seeing what Li Kuo was thinking, Wuzui rolled his eyes and thought, "But you can apply to the imperial court to enter the military camp. At any rate, you have an imperial post on your body, so it's not difficult to be a low-level military officer. First, soldiers are not as prominent as civil servants, they don’t draw attention, and they are more handy in doing things. Second, they can also sharpen their muscles and bones, which will be good for you in the future.”

Li Kuo thought in his heart that if he became a hermit, he would be regarded as the confidant of His Majesty, and he could wait for the opportunity to report his grievances to His Majesty and his elders.After figuring out the joints, the young man felt extremely comfortable, and said to Wu Zui, "I've figured it out, if I can become a hermit, I don't need to take the imperial examination!"

Wuzui scratched his head and sighed: "Although I don't understand what you are thinking today, but since you have made a decision, I have no reason not to help you. There is no need to rush this matter, and we have to wait for Master to come back to discuss it. The most important thing right now is that you have to do some prep work.

"Preparation?"

"Isn't there a polo match in the next moon palace? Let's start with it!"

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Note 1: Wang Zhongsi: A famous general in the Tang Dynasty, he served as the governor of Hexi and Longyou.Former Ge Shuhan's immediate boss.