Brutal touch

Chapter 11 Ten philosophers competed over the price of tea at a banquet, leaving no one in the officialdom

Let's say that as soon as Shi Zhe and everyone gathered at the gate of the palace, Chaosheng came to greet them and told them to go to the Prime Minister's Mansion to discuss the matter before returning to the palace to return. The Shi Zhe went to the Prime Minister's Mansion separately according to the king's order.

In the Prime Minister's Mansion, the guards from the royal palace had already informed that Shizhe would come to discuss matters later. Nan Yi often asked Nan Yi to prepare the preparations with the housekeepers of each court.

"There are too many lamps to be lighted at one time, and the lamp oil given is too little, not enough to refill." In the palace of the Prime Minister of the State of Hu, a white man ran into Nan Qixianxian's study, saying as he ran.

"The lamp oil given was too little and not enough."

Entering the study, Bai Min said it again.

Nan Yixian was obviously a little impatient, but Bai Min couldn't see the joy, anger, sorrow, or joy. After speaking, he just stood aside and didn't move or say a word.

"If you don't have enough oil, go to the oil man and ask for it. Do you know how many things I have on hand right now!" Nan Yi became even more angry when he saw Bai Min like this.

"Previously, the master asked the villain to obtain only enough oil to light 371 lamps, and there were still 133 lamps without oil." Bai Min replied expressionlessly as before. This made Nan Yixian so angry that he threw a teacup on Bai Min's face and shouted angrily, "King Chu, will you be rewarded to the Prime Minister's Mansion or punished by our Prime Minister's Mansion? We only need eight or two meters a day to support you guys." big eater."

"If you say such disrespectful words, don't worry, I will kill you right now." The person who said this was Nan Yichang, the eldest son of Guo Nanbuwen, the prime minister of the country, and Nan Yixian's eldest brother. While talking, Nan Yichang walked in, looked at Bai Min's injuries, waved his hand and said, "Go and get all the lamp oil from the young master, and pick some herbs to apply on it." "Yes, Master Yichang." Bai Min said. Min said and retreated. When Nan Yi saw that Bai Min had retreated, he quickly scolded you, "You are looking for death. How dare you say such disrespectful words so loudly? I heard it in the back garden just now. If the people in the Protector Hall listen to it, by then, I won’t stop them from arresting them.”

Nan Yixian's tone was much better than that to Bai Min, but he still said with the dissatisfaction of the boss: "If you don't say anything, then don't say anything. When the time comes, the old man will naturally go to King Chu to talk." Nan Yichang was blocked by these words. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but just replied: "Are you really confused or pretending to be confused? You asked the old man to find the son of King Shenchu ​​for his son?" Nan Yixian's tone became normal: "I didn't say that a lamp would cost How could I know so clearly how much lamp oil I needed? I roughly wrote down the amount and asked them to pick it up in a flexible way. They were kind to me. They took as much as I wrote down, and they didn’t take even a drop of oil more. When they came back and something went wrong, they came back to ask me, this kind of thing This is not the first time this has happened to me. The old man is about to leave seclusion. How many guests are coming tomorrow? How long will it take to complete so many things with such stubbornness?" "Using magic in itself is too energy-consuming and expensive. There is no other way to do trivial matters without Bai Min. I have one more thing to tell you. Did you leave it to Bai Min to sort out the letters in the house? "

Nan Yichang glanced at Nan Yichang first and said, "Yes." "Did you not know about it until Shizhe came to discuss the matter?" Nan Yichang scolded. "What! I knew these white people were unreliable!" Nan Yixian shouted. "You are the one who is unreliable, right? You have to take care of these affairs of the Prime Minister's Mansion. When the old man leaves the country, he also needs to look at the country's expenditure accounts for the next year. I haven't finished sorting them out yet, and I have to send people to rush the accounts of several places. Your affairs must be finished tonight, don't make the old man unhappy." Nan Yichang said, his tone gradually calmed down, and then said: "You don't have to be too anxious, King Chu said he was coming, usually he just sent The prince will come on his behalf, as long as the scene is acceptable, there is no need to be too extravagant."

Nan Yichang and Nan Yixian chatted a few more words, and Nan Yichang went to the back garden to continue sorting out the accounts. The two brothers were busy until midnight, and everything that needed to be prepared was basically ready. The two dispersed the people in the main hall. Two people were sitting on both sides of the main hall, the main seats were empty, drinking tea and waiting. In less than a cup of tea, I heard an old voice: "Yi Chang, Yi Xian." The door of the main hall was suddenly blown open by the wind, and the voice came from the front of the door like the wind blowing into the hall, south to Chang, south to Xian. When he looked at the seat again, Nan Buwen had already sat on it.

Nan Yichang, Nan Yichang saw his father coming and immediately greeted him. Nan Buwen nodded and said to Nan Yichang: "Yichang, have you sorted out all the expenditure accounts for Huiguo this year?" Nan Yichang replied: "Yes, father, this year's accounts have been sorted out. Do you want to take a look at it again?" Nan Buwen nodded and said, "No, no, no, have you done all the important things?" Nan Yi Chang replied: "I did everything according to my father's instructions, but the country of Chu is so big. Even if you don't do it deliberately, it will be difficult not to lose money." Nan Buwen sighed and said: "King Chu has the ability to penetrate the heaven and the earth. This is what the nobles of the country are afraid of. Small tricks won't work. Among all kinds of magic techniques, those that don't follow the laws of heaven are the most destructive. Excessive returns and shortfalls make King Chu have no choice but to resort to this kind of magic. To make up for the shortfall and consume strength, the nobles of the country can put their hearts in their stomachs, and the whole country can rely on them to support themselves. You will understand these things in the future." Nan Yichang added, "The king also asked someone to bring a message. He said that the matter of the six surnames being included in the Ten Philosophers needs to be further discussed. Although I have wronged my father, state affairs are still the most important thing at the moment." Nan Buwen nodded and said, "This matter is exactly as I expected. It will be discussed at tonight's banquet. Don't mention this matter." After hearing this, the two Nan Yixian brothers went down to continue the preparations. Although there were only ten main guests at the banquet in Nanbuwen Prime Minister's Mansion, the tableware they used, the aisles they passed, and the resting places all had to be carefully arranged. In addition, arranging for them to bring accompanying people was a lot of work in itself. It’s complicated, but fortunately, I’ve been able to do it several times over the years, so I’m pretty familiar with it.

The Lord of Jiangcheng held a dark red box and took two or three accompanying people to the Prime Minister's Mansion without knocking on the door or sending anyone to send a message. He stood at the door for a while before Nan Yichang came out to greet the guests. In the depths of winter, even at noon in the capital of King Chu, it was not necessarily warm. The sun was already setting when Nan Yi often went out to greet guests, and unlike King Chu, Nan Buwen was in a state where the cold and heat were as usual. Naturally, it was the boss's reluctance. With a scrunched up face, he opened the door and saw the Lord of Jiangcheng City. He quickly changed his expression and said with a smile: "It's my fault. I should have thought that the Lord of Jiangcheng City had to arrive first. He had just finished the banquet and came out to wait. , I didn’t expect it was too late.” The Lord of Jiangcheng City also smiled and said: “Master Xiangguo is my mentor and will be my mentor all my life. It has always been natural for students to wait for teachers.” “The old man has been waiting for you for a long time.” As he said, , Nan Yichang took the Lord of Jiangcheng into the inner room. The Lord of Jiangcheng saw that Nan Buwen was dressed in coarse cloth and had a gentle complexion. Although there was an old look on his face, the cultivator could not see any sign of decline. Nan Buwen looked at the Lord of Jiangcheng for a long time and said, "Xiuyuan, here you are, you must be freezing. I knew it would be too late for Yi Chang to pick you up." After saying this, he greeted Yi Chang and asked the Lord of Jiangcheng to sit down.

He continued: "People from the north are called by names, and people from the south are called by positions. You are from the south. Logically speaking, I should call you by official title. But there are no outsiders here, so there are not so many rules. Xiuyuan, Jiangcheng, everything is okay. ." The Lord of Jiangcheng sat and put the box on the table. He slowly said: "The teacher entrusted the matter to me, and I just worked hard to do it. After running for a year, I just didn't make a loss." Nan Buwen nodded and said: "It's a good thing not to make a loss, it's a good thing. Xiuyuan, it’s hard for you too. It’s hard for city lords everywhere. It’s either a severe drought or a plague. At the beginning of the year, several important tax areas were taken away. Just like this, the nobles who touch the royal capital still refuse to stop, and they also ask various people for help. The city owner wants this or that." Having said this, the city lord Jiangcheng lowered his head and listened. Nan Buwen took advantage of the city lord Jiangcheng's lowered head and glanced at Nan Yichang. Nan Yichang didn't say anything back, so he lowered his head head. Nan Buwen continued: "If I hadn't said hello one by one, I wouldn't be able to stay in this house this year. The big issue this year is how to make up for the shortfall. If there is no shortfall everywhere, I can take good care of myself as a teacher. Well, without a mainstay like you, my teacher would be in a different place."

Seeing Nan Buwen say this, the Lord of Jiangcheng stood up and said, "It's because the students are incompetent and can't help the teacher. If he comes to visit the teacher during a big meeting, he can only prepare a small gift." Nan Buwen nodded and said "I don't have to accept any gift from anyone, but I have to accept Xiuyuan's gift. I know you have this heart, but you don't want to do it for personal gain, so I beat the pecans myself many days in advance." The Lord of Jiangcheng nodded and said: " Pecans are the best produced in the city, but they are high in the mountains and dense forests. It is dangerous and laborious to hunt these things. The white people cannot learn how to do it, and most of the nobles are unwilling to go there, so they only produce so much in a year. Giving this as a gift can express It’s a student’s intention, and it doesn’t involve the use of national funds.” Nan Buwen smiled and said, “You must have been hungry all the way to Xiuyuan. The cook should have prepared the snacks for the banquet, but if we eat secretly now, I’m afraid they will talk about it if word gets out. " Nan Buwen said, Nan Yichang and the city lord Jiangcheng laughed for a while, "Why don't we take advantage of this and try the pecans that are newly planted this year."

Nan Yichang heard this and opened the box. The three of them grabbed a handful and each ate about a small handful. Nan Buwen said to Nan Yichang: "Yichang, the other guests should be here soon. You go outside." Take a look." Nan Yichang responded and walked out. , Nan Yichang left, Nan Buwen asked the Lord of Jiangcheng: "Xiuyuan, how many people in the capital have asked you for gifts this year?" After hearing this, the Lord of Jiangcheng lowered his head and frowned. , said solemnly: "Teacher, don't ask anymore." "I am the Prime Minister of the country, and you are Shi Zhe. Some things will pass if you close your eyes for a while. There are some things that we cannot avoid. This year is full of wars and... I have to figure out what the situation is like in the country due to famine!" The muscles on Jiangcheng City Lord's face trembled, and he wiped his forehead subconsciously. In the winter weather, he was actually sweating. Nan Buwen saw that the Lord of Jiangcheng City still refused to say anything, so he patted the table and shouted loudly: "Confused! This is the Prime Minister's Mansion, there are no outsiders, if it comes out of your mouth and into my ears, others will not listen even if they have the ability to reach heaven." ! You said that I can make plans for you as a teacher, but if you keep silent now, those people will not protect you when the time comes. Why don’t you understand such a little bit of truth!" The Lord of Jiangcheng knelt down for a moment and said: "Teacher treats me with kindness, and this is the time for students to repay the teacher. It is a mountain of swords or a sea of ​​fire. The students just risk their lives to fight with them. The less the teacher knows at this time, the more people will be affected in the future. The younger the child is, this is the painstaking work of the students!”

Nan Buwen stayed for a long time, then helped the city lord of Jiangcheng up. He didn't say anything for a long time. I don't know how much time passed, but he continued: "Is it so serious?" The city lord of Jiangcheng said, "Teacher must know that there is a household in the royal capital here. The note sent by the nobles to Jiangcheng, teacher, it is as much as you can see. Don't force the students anymore." Nan Buwen took the note and read it, and suddenly felt his eyes darkened. The Lord of Jiangcheng reacted quickly and hurriedly supported him. , and thanks to Nan Buwen, although he was old, he never neglected his cultivation, and his body recovered after a while. Nan Buwen grabbed the hand of the city lord of Jiangcheng, and said: "Xiuyuan, I won't ask you anything else. , you just tell me whether Yi Chang and Yi Xian were involved." The Lord of Jiangcheng City said: "Teacher, don't ask anymore, I will consider it for you, and you should also consider it for the country. If you continue to ask, God will Collapse!" Nan Buwen's voice suddenly became much older. He held the hand of the city lord of Jiangcheng and said, "I won't ask anymore. I won't ask anymore. You will treat it like nothing happened in a while. Just like the banquet in previous years, it will be like this year. , after the banquet is over, send a reliable person back to Jiangcheng, and prepare as much food and coal as you can." The Lord of Jiangcheng replied: "The students have tried their best to do these things, and they have worked hard all these years to Jiangcheng. Capital must also accomplish these things." Nan Buwen's voice softened a little and continued: "I will write you a note. If there is something that blocks you, it will be useful." Nan Buwen wrote it and handed it to The Lord of Jiangcheng said, "Let's go." He walked towards the door.

Nan Buwen followed the Lord of Jiangcheng towards the banquet hall. Halfway there, he bumped into Nan Yichang. Nan Yichang saw Nan Buwen and said, "Father, I have already arrived with the guests." Okay, okay, go ahead." Nan Buwen said. When they arrived at the banquet hall, Nan Yixian and other guests had already taken their seats. When everyone saw Nan Buwen coming, they hurriedly stood up and saluted, "Sit down, just sit down." Nan Buwen smiled and waved for everyone to sit down. Nan Yichang walked to Nan Buwen and said to Nan Buwen: "Father, the servants for all the guests have been arranged." Nan Buwen nodded and said with a smile: "Go and pour tea, and call over there by the way. Let's have dinner." Nan Yichang agreed, took the teapot from a man in white clothes, told him to go down, and poured tea one by one. Nan Buwen sat down and saw that the tea cups in front of everyone were full of tea. He smiled and said: "I don't know much about tea, but I also know that the tea from the Lord of Red Bull City should be the best. In the morning, the Lord of Red Bull City gave it to me." The Lord of Red Bull City will not blame me if I borrow flowers to offer tea to Buddha."

The Lord of Red Bull City smiled and said: "Mercy, mercy, as for Old Xiangguo, good things are meant to be given away to others to make yourself and others happy. The rainy season this year is not good, so I am afraid that this tea will not be able to get into your hands." "Dear eyes, if you like drinking this tea and don't dislike me, I will give it to you next time I go back to Red Bull City." Everyone laughed after hearing this, and each tasted the tea in front of them, and they were all full of praise. Only the Lord of Jiangcheng neither touched the teacup in front of him nor spoke. The Lord of Chiniu City met and asked: "Mercy, Mercy, Jiangcheng is prosperous and not inferior to Chiniu City. I shouldn't talk too much about Cha, who is looked down upon by me, but the old Xiangguo is the city lord and master. , and it was the old Prime Minister who poured the tea, it seems that the city lord should not deny this face."

The Lord of Jiangcheng City replied sternly: "This tea is precious. I am afraid that this cup of tea in front of me is a year's work of a white citizen. I really can't bear to drink it." "It's just a cup of tea, what are you doing like a beggar!" Acting for the Jinyin Palace, in charge Tong Kui from Huguo Salt Mining said. Tong Kui drank all the tea in the cup in one gulp, swallowed the tea leaves together, and said to the Lord of Jiangcheng: "I have drank up a year's work of a white citizen in one gulp. Tomorrow, the Lord of Jiangcheng City will file a complaint in front of King Chu. Reported, everyone is in charge of the deficit, and we all know the difficulties of each. The country is so difficult, we people always have to be a little worried." "Then what you mean, we have already touched on the big discussion. The country is about to be destroyed?" The Lord of Chiniu City clasped his hands, saluted Tongkui first, and then saluted the Lord of Jiangcheng, and said: "Mercy, mercy, since the Lord of Jiangcheng knows the value of this tea, he is a man who can know the value of this tea. Tea, those who can taste tea are gentlemen. There is no need for quarrels or quarrels between gentlemen. Lao Xiangguo has been working hard over the years. He only wears cloth clothes and shoes at home, and his diet is just soup and water to satisfy his hunger. I The money has been used to help many small nobles in the country. Not to mention the distant ones, you, the city lord of the city, were also one of the people who received money and food in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion. Mr. Tongkui was in charge of the country's salt and mining industry, and there was a deficit in other places. But in which year did we not take money and things from Master Tongkui to make up for it? The Lord of Jiangcheng accused us of profligacy and waste, so it seems that we shouldn’t target these two people.”

"I didn't come here for my mentor." City Lord Jiangcheng was about to say something, but Gong Zhao suddenly interrupted: "Good tea, Lord Chiniu City, there are only a dozen or so tea plants like this left in Chiniu City, right?" The city lord smiled and said: "Mercy, mercy. Mr. Gongzhao has a good vision, and I will tell you the truth. If you look back, this tea was available hundreds of years ago. Although it was good before, it was not that precious. There is just one thing. If you want to grow this tea again, , I can't grow them anyhow. When I took over Red Bull City, there were still about two hundred plants. The dignitaries of the royal capital could still have this blessing. It's just that there are only a few tea trees every year, so only the king and Mr. The Prime Minister is here, and by this year, only four or five plants are dead." Before Nan Buwen, they had been tit-for-tat, only because he was old and deaf, and asked Nan if he had made arrangements for the servants of the regular guests. Nan Yichang also took the opportunity to whisper in Nan Buwen's ear. When Gong Zhao took over the conversation, Nan Buwen said to Gong Zhao: "Gong Zhao, you are older than me in terms of qualifications, and you also like to drink tea better than me. The tea leaves given to me by the Lord of Red Bull City should be placed in the hands of someone like me who doesn't understand tea." It's been a waste here, let Yi Chang take it to you before leaving."

"No." Gong Zhao glanced at the Lord of Red Bull City and continued: "I am also a person who founded the country with the king. A cup of tea is a year of hard work for a white citizen. Your students understand this truth. Can I not understand?" When the Lord of Red Bull City saw what Gong Zhao said, he said: "If you, my lords, praise me, I will still be able to eat vegetarian food. If you, your lords, do not praise me, I will not even be able to eat vegetarian food. Lord Gong Zhao is the senior and the king's capital." I am a person who has won a promise, Master Gongzhao said so, I can only go to King Chu to apologize, remove the gifts from King Chu's palace, take back the offerings of the princes, blame King Chu, and then kill or behead him. I have no complaints." Nan Buwen then said to the Lord of Red Bull City: "There is nothing to kill or chop. The Lord of Jiangcheng City just now said it right, and so does the Lord of Red Bull City. Tong Kui, Gong Zhao, you guys said They are all right. It is of course okay to quarrel over state affairs, but if it is all for the country, there should be no grudges. Everyone says that the current deficit of the state is not easy to solve, and everyone must do their best, not only for the state, but also for the king. I am loyal, I am old, my ears are hard, I can’t hear very clearly, City Lord Jiangcheng, I can sum it up as an old man, there is no big problem.” City Lord Jiangcheng replied: “My teacher is right, that’s what we meant just now.” Nan Bu Hearing that the others did not refute, he continued: "Why haven't the dishes been served yet?" Nan Yixian said hurriedly: "I just wanted to come. I saw a few adults talking and didn't dare to come in." Nan Buwen smiled and said: " The dog is hungry, so let’s serve the food first, and then we can discuss the official business after the food is ready.”

(End of this chapter)