The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

That night, after discussing the aftermath of the counties in the north of the county, in the name of washing the dust for Xun Zhen, Yin Xiu kept everyone for dinner.

At the banquet, Du You and Guo Jun were quite close to Xun Zhen, perhaps because they had "coveted Shen Xun's property together".

Xun Zhen said in his heart: "There are four major irons in life in later generations, one of which is 'to share the spoils together'. Because we have done bad things together, we have each other's handle, so we should be less wary of each other. This principle is now Universal too."

After dinner, everyone said goodbye. Yin Xiu asked Zhong Yao to write Xun Zhen's credit for his trip to the county in the official book, and granted Xun Zhen a five-day vacation. There are two ways to promote officials in the Han Dynasty, one is to be directly promoted by Shangguan, and the other is to get promotion by "accumulating credit". According to the regulations, the officials take a rest every five days, together with Yangzhai and Huiyangzhai. Xunzhen traveled for a total of sixteen days, and he should make up three days of vacation. Because of his merit, Yin Xiu gave him two more days of vacation. It's a reward.

After leaving the prefect's mansion, everyone returned to their home.

Xun Yu had something to say to Xun Zhen, and Xun Zhen also had something to say to him, and the two walked together.

The night was dark, and there was no one on the street. There was no wind, and the trees by the road were like shadows, motionless. When I was eating in the prefect's mansion just now, there was ice in the four corners of the hall, and there was a maid in the back who played a fan, but I didn't feel it was too hot. When I came out, I was greeted with overwhelming heat. Before taking two steps, Xun Zhen's forehead was already dripping with sweat. He only felt that his whole body was sticky and extremely uncomfortable. He loosened his shirt and said, "I've been running for a day today, and I will see the prefect when I come back, without rushing first. It's cool, but it's a little rude."

"It's been half a month, and it's only hot, but not even a drop of rain. Brother, you've traveled half a county this time. How is the drought in various places?"

"Not optimistic."

"Alas, after two years of good harvests, the people haven't recovered yet. This year, there will be another drought."

"Yes, after three years of good harvests, the people can store one year's grain. The year before and last year were only two good years, and the north of the county was extorted again, and the people's households had no surplus grain. If there is a drought this year, I'm afraid there will be crops on the roadside next year. starving."

"Fortunately, the lord of the government has spread the word to all counties, and ordered all regions to fight against disasters and droughts."

"In my opinion, it is necessary to fight the disaster, but it can be completely calculated. It is best to remind the ruler to go to other counties to buy some food, just in case." There must be many people who have no food in their homes. In just over a year, it will be the year of Jiazi, and one more commoner will have no food. When the Yellow Turbans rise in the future, there may be one more "disorderly people".

Xun Yu nodded and said, "This is an old saying. I will be the ruler of the Remonstrance House tomorrow." It was something the prefect didn't expect, he had to think about it.

Drought relief is a big deal, and so is buying grain. However, what Xun Yu wanted to say to Xun Zhen tonight was not these things, nor was what Xun Zhen wanted to say to Xun Yu. Naturally, what they wanted to talk about was Xun Zhen's return to the county.

Xun Yu asked the attendant lantern clerk to pass the lantern, and sent him back first, lest he should hear the conversation. After the little official left, he glanced at Li Bo and Xuan Kang who were driving the car behind Xun Zhen.

Xuan Kang was ignorant. Li Bo winked, bowed to the end, smiled and said to Xun Zhen, "Rafters, both Xia and Shuye are starving. You are afraid of the heat, but please slow down, because Xia and Shuye can't wait any longer, go ahead and come back. Let’s find some food in the house.” As a farewell to Xun Zhen and Xun Yu, they dragged Xuan Kang into the car and left first. The two of them are inferior, and with the dignity of Yin Xiu, they will not eat at the same table with them, but they will not starve them. The prefect's mansion still prepared meals for them, and they also ate some. This sentence is just an excuse, not to be taken seriously.

Xun Yu was a careful and cautious person, and after waiting for the irrelevant people to leave, he opened his mouth and said: "Brother this time, he went to the north of the county, chased and killed illegally, and his reputation was greatly shaken. Good deeds. Only one thing to worry about."

"Wen Ruo said Zhao Zhong?"

"That's right. People of this generation like Ruguojiao are all self-proclaimed. Their masters are like Runan Yuan, and most of them are famous. Even if they are dissatisfied, they should not take revenge. Only Shen Xun, he is Zhao Zhong's. Relatives. In order to protect myself, my brother recommended Shen Rong to succeed Tieguan, but it is hard to guess how Zhao Zhong will behave in this regard.”

"Wen Ruo, like you, I only worry about one thing after returning from Xingxian, but it's not about this."

"Oh? What's that?"

"I'm not afraid of Zhao Zhong's retaliation, but I'm afraid that the parents will be angry because of this. When you and I were appointed to the county government, the parents explained to us both, and ordered us not to cause trouble for the clan. I only served as the postal supervisor for a month. I have caused so much trouble for the clan, and I am very uneasy. The lord gave me five days to rest, but I dare not go back." The patriarch, the patriarch, was talking about Xun Wan.

"My father, brother, don't worry. I have written a letter to tell my father about my brother's case in the north of the county, and my father also replied."

"What did the parents say?"

"My father's words are exactly the same as what I said that night: My Xun family is famous in the world because it has a clear name. The so-called 'thinking about the clan' does not mean that you and I are afraid and retreat, and dare not serve. , but to remind you that I should not act recklessly, and do not cause trouble for the clan because of the conflict of spirit. What should be done should be done without hesitation. Mencius said: 'People can do what they want, and then they can do what they want'. Confucius said: 'The gentleman does what he does and what he does not do'. This is the principle."

Xun Zhen put down her heart and said, "This way I can rest assured, I will dare to go home tomorrow!"

Speaking of "going home", Xun Yu said: "Speaking of going home, Brother A should really go back."

"how do I say this?"

Xun Yu said with a smile: "My father mentioned the marriage of Brother A in the letter. The family has already gone to Chen's house to collect money, and they have also asked for divination, and they have obtained a good fortune. Now I just need to give the dowry and the date of the engagement." He paused, and then stopped.

Xun Zhen said in his heart: "Wen Ruo wants to stop talking, it seems that he has something to say." Suspiciously guessed, "What he wants to say must be related to my marriage. Marriage is a matter of justice, and I am the owner of the incident. Why can't you tell me?" After thinking about it, there is only one possibility, "Oh, is it because I am the victim, so it is not easy to tell me? According to the custom, the 'acceptance' is the man who sends someone to meet the woman, Look at her appearance. Before he hesitated, he was saying 'the family has already gone to Chen's family to collect money', isn't it? This Chen's daughter's appearance is not very satisfactory, or is it simply ugly? He Afraid that I will be disappointed, so you can't bear to tell me clearly?"

Although he didn't care about the appearance of the woman, when things came to an end, when he remembered that he had to face a woman who was very unhappy in his life, he was also trembling and trembling, forced a smile, and said, "Wen Ruo, I watch you If you want to say something but stop, it seems that there is something unspeakable? Why is there something unspeakable?"

Xun Yu smiled and said, "My father also wrote a letter to Brother A, and Brother A will know at a glance when he returns to the dormitory." After speaking, he took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Xun Zhen. His smile fell into Xun Zhen's eyes, he felt mysterious, his heart beat more and more, and he reached out to catch it. He wished he could open it now, but he was afraid that Xun Yu would laugh at him. Slowly tucked into the sleeves.

Xun Yu turned back to the topic and said, "When he was in Yangcheng, Shen Tun privately dispatched iron officials and disciples to enter the city, intending to make trouble. If it were me at that time, I would have chosen to kill him on the spot, just like my brother. Shen Xun is dead, and Zhao Zhong is useless. What I said just now has no other meaning, I just want to remind my brother to be more careful from tonight, and it is best to bring some accompanying bodyguards when going in and out. "

"What does Wen Ruo mean?"

"Shen Run is looking for his own death. Brother A's killing him is to eliminate lawlessness for the country and protect Yangcheng for the people. Even if Zhao Zhong or his nephew want to take revenge, they can't find anything wrong. They can't take revenge on the bright side. I'm worried that they will Come in the dark."

"Wen Ruo said that Zhao Zhong's uncle and nephew would use assassins?"

"This possibility cannot be ruled out."

The Han and Han Dynasties were not far from ancient times, following the pre-Qin Yufeng, there were many rangers and assassins. Xihan didn't say anything. In the early years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the Han army attacked Shu, there were two famous generals in succession, one of Liu Xiu's fellow villagers and relatives Lai She, and one of the twenty-eight generals of Yuntai, Cen Peng, all died under the assassin's sword; at the end of the Han Dynasty, Sun Ce died. The hand of Xu Gong's disciple was also considered to be stabbed to death. When Liu Bei was the prime minister of Pingyuan, he was also nearly killed by an assassin. Dian Wei, who was wanted for complaining about murder for others, euphemistically called him "a wise man," and to put it bluntly, he was also an assassin.

When Xun Zhen was in Xixiang, he even heard a ranger under his door say: Luoyang has a master who harmonizes murderers, which is called a family of Huiren, that is, a middleman in later generations, accepting the entrustment of the client and choosing the right assassin for the client . Zhao Zhong and Zhao Zhong's nephew were both in Luoyang. Maybe Zhao Zhong didn't want to use assassins, but his nephew might not. Xun Yu's concern is not without reason.

If it came from the Ming Dynasty, Xun Zhen might still be worried. Coming from the dark, he is really not afraid. With so many ranger warriors under his command, who can assassinate him at close range? He smiled and said: "Zhao Zhongquan is in power, and the emperor calls him 'Amu'. I am a little postmaster, why should he hire a murderer to assassinate me?"

"Having said that, be cautious."

Xun Zhen nodded, changed the subject, sighed, and said, "A great talent for a while, but only because he is from the Han family, he is not valued by the mansion. No wonder when I invited him to the prefect's mansion today, He seemed to have a lonely look. It turned out that it was Wen Ruo that you had already recommended him, but the prefect couldn't use it. . , I didn't tell him either, so as not to make fun of myself."

He paused for a while, then said: "In today's world, when choosing a scholar, it is a matter of clan surname, and a person must be judged by the clan. Those who do not have a famous clan cannot enter, and those who do not have a great surname are not used. So many outstanding scholars have disappeared, which is a pity. ." Valve reading, not referring to the credit book here, but to the noble family. The ancestors had meritorious deeds, and later generations regarded it as capital, so it was a clan reading.

Xun Yu felt the same way, and said: "Yes. Aspire has great ambition and great talent. With his 'will and talent', he can't become a high official in the county. Wine to pour the block. It's a pity."

Xun Zhen was silent for a moment, thinking about Xi Zhicai, thinking about Le Jin, and thinking about Xuan Bo, who had talent and knowledge but wasted in the history of Cao Cao, and recalled the joy of fashion when he was appointed as the county chief and how Li Bo was hearing tonight. With the surprised demeanor when he was dismissed from the post as a clerk in the post office, he turned to Gu Xun Yu again, and then looked at himself again, feeling both emotion and happiness. If he hadn't crossed into the Xun family, or if he had traversed into a poor family, then he had a talent for acting, and in this era of taking scholars under the surname of the clan, I'm afraid it would be useless.

Xun Yu noticed his strangeness, misunderstood what he meant, and said with a smile: "Yes, brother, you are just twenty-three or four, and I am weak, that is, one can serve as the postmaster of the northern region, and the other can serve as the county clerk, why? It's not because of your family name! Speaking of which, we are also exposed to the light of the world! Maybe at this moment, some talented people from the Han family are blaming you and me for blocking the path of the sages! "

Silent night.

Xun Zhen said, "It's late at night. Wen Ruo, let's go, I'll take you back to the main office first."

"A brother is a brother, a brother is a brother, how can a brother send me? A brother has no lamp, I will send a brother first."

"It's because I'm a brother, so I should send you off."

Brother and friend, Gong, competed with each other to send each other, but in the end Xun Yu still couldn't beat Xun Zhen. Xun Zhen walked him away and asked, "I'll go home early tomorrow morning. Do you have a letter or something else for me to take back?"

"There is a reply letter to my father, as well as a volume of books and two tiles that I just bought from the bookstore. I need to trouble my brother to bring it back for me."

"The Wadang must have been given to Zhongren. Who is the book for?" Zhongren is Xun Cheng, the brother of Xun Zhen who likes to collect Wadang, and he has a good relationship with Xun Zhen. The last time Xun Zhen left home and came to the county, Xun Cheng, like Xun You and Xun Qi, gave him a hundred coins.

Xun Yu replied, "The book was given to my brother Zhongyu."

Zhongyu is Xun Yue, the son of Xun Jian, the head of the Eight Dragons. Among the Xun clan's peers and juniors, he is inferior to Xun You in terms of military tact and resourcefulness; in terms of handling government affairs, he is inferior to Xun Yu; but in terms of learning, no one can and. Xun Yu was fifteen years younger than him and admired him very much. Xun Zhen also knew this. When they got to the main office, they took letters, books, and tiles. Xun Zhen borrowed Xun Yu's lantern and turned them back to the post office.

…

When they got to the house, Xu Zhong and the others had not rested yet and were waiting for him in the courtyard at night.

Xun Zhen casually handed the lamp to the old Cangtou who was the gatekeeper, and instructed, "I will go to the main office tomorrow." Cangtou agreed.

The weather was hot, and most of the young men in the courtyard were shirtless and wore only calf shorts. Only Xu Zhong and "Little Su Jun" Su Zheng were well-dressed and dressed neatly. Xun Zhen was so hot and sweaty all over her body that she took the banana fan that Xiao Xia handed over and slammed it a few times. He smiled and asked, "Aren't you two hot? Wrapped like a barrel brown?"

Su Zheng was young, in his twenties, similar to Xun Zhen. He replied solemnly: "My parents taught me since I was a child that a 'right' person is right. The name is right, and I don't dare not dress properly."

Xun Zhen thought it was funny. He and Su Zheng have also known each other for a year or two, especially in Xixiang for more than a year. In fact, people who often do ridiculous things, in short, are described in the language of later generations, with two words: boring.

Seeing him at this time, he looked solemn and serious again. In normal times, Xun Zhen would tease him a few times. Tonight, he had something on his mind, so he was not interested in joking, so he turned to Xu Zhong: "Jun Qing, how about you? It's not called 'Zheng'."

Xu Zhongyan said concisely, "You haven't returned yet, so I can't undress."

Xun Zhen smiled, remembering the words that Xun Yu reminded him to beware of assassins, and said to himself, "Wen Ruo is right, be cautious." She wanted to ask Xu Zhong to stay and follow the guards with Cheng Yan, and thought about it for a while. After thinking about it, he gave up again, and thought, "Xixiang Bieyuan can't be without Junqing." Those Qingxiamen in Xixiang Bieyuan are his most important minions so far.

He said: "Fu Jun has given me five days off, and I will go home tomorrow. Junqing, you also pack up, and come back with me tomorrow, you don't have to follow me into the county, you go directly to Xixiang. When you arrive in Xixiang , ask Ayan and A Deng to bring their team members to my house to find me."

"Yes."

Xun Zhen took the fan and shook it vigorously a few times, then threw the fan back to Xiao Xia and said, "It won't be cool after a few more times, and there will be an extra layer of sweat on your body. ... Everyone, let's rest early."

Everyone agreed with a bang and sent him back to the backyard, where they all went back to their houses to rest. Su Zheng and the others felt that the house was too hot, so they pulled out the mats and laid them under the trees. They used the sky as a cover and the ground as a bed, and slept in the courtyard.

Xun Zhen smiled.

…

Back in the backyard, Xuankang and Li Bo came out in clothes, and the three talked a few more times.

Xun Zhen said: "You two have been removed from the post office, you are already officials, and you can no longer move freely. When I go home tomorrow, you two don't have to accompany me. First go to Gong Cao to remove the book, and then go. I'll take my post in the courtyard. When I get back, I'll set a drink for the two of you to celebrate."

Li Bo replied happily, and said, "Since Xia and Shuye have been appointed as the post office clerks, they are the clerks of the post office, and it is not suitable for them to live in the post office. The two of us will move in tomorrow. Go out and live in the official residence."

Xun Zhen nodded and said, "Alright."

Seeing that he was absent-minded, Li Bo thought he was tired, so he took Xuan Kang and went back to the room.

Xun Zhen was a little tired, but that was not the reason for his absent-mindedness. He strode into the room, came to the front of the desk in two or three steps, took out Xun Qian's letter from his sleeve, hurriedly removed the seal, took out the letterhead, and then looked at it by candlelight. - When Tang Er heard that he was coming back, she lit the candle.

Xun Wan's letter is not long, four or five elements. The two or three lines on the far right are about Xun Zhen's tour of the northern county, to the effect of what Xun Yu said, nothing more than telling him to do things with all his heart; what follows is that Xun Qu has gone to Chen's house to collect money, and he also asked. The name is fortune-telling, and the omen meets the prosperous phase of gold and water, which is a harbinger of happiness and health, and a sign of good luck for the children and grandchildren. Tell him to go home early.

At the end of the letter, he mentioned a sentence: "Qu returned home from Xuxian, and said happily: 'Ke Zhaozhen will return quickly, the "Poem" says: Chen Bishuo girl, let De come to teach'".

Xun Zhen read this sentence twice, and said to her heart: "'Chen is a great girl, and Ling De comes to teach', I remember it was from "Book of Songs? Che Xia", it is about the joy and longing of the groom on the way to marry the bride 'Chen', beautiful and good-looking; 'Shou Nv', a girl with high morals and beauty; 'Ling De', virtue; , Brother Zhong is clearly saying that the Chen family's daughter is virtuous and beautiful, and urges me to go back and marry her. This is a good word. Why does Wen Ruo hesitate and stop talking? "

He thought about it for a while, and suddenly realized: "Yes! If Wen is my brother, I am brother Wen Ruo, and after Chen's daughter passes through the door, he is his sister-in-law. Uncle-in-law doesn't teach him personally. With him as a brother, no It's a good compliment for the beauty of the clan's sister-in-law." He smiled and said to himself, "Xun Zhenzhi, Xun Zhenzhi, you also have a day where you worry about gains and losses?"

In the end, he came from a later life. Even if he was influenced by the current world, even if he knew that men in the current world could marry and take concubines, for the gentry, marriage was more about forming a marriage party and an alliance of interests. , but after all, it is a bit hard to let go. At this point, just breathed a sigh of relief. Relaxed mood, heat up again. He put the letter away, and even the few things that Xun Yu asked him to bring back and put them in the box. He planned to take it with him when he got home tomorrow, untied his belt, and prepared to go out to take a shower.

Only then did he see Tang Er.

Tang Er was sitting on the head of the bed, supporting her cheeks with her hands, and was staring at him blankly. Xun Zhen shook her hand in front of her line of sight and smiled, "Why are you dazed?" Tang Er came back to her senses, opened her mouth to speak, closed her mouth again, and forced a smile: "No! Ah, young man. Do you want to take a bath? The lowly maid has a warm soup, so this will be served to the young master."

"On such a hot day, use very warm soup." Xun Zhen wondered, and thought, "What happened today? Everyone is hesitant to say anything." He asked her, "I have been away for many days, and everything in the house is still there. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Is it okay?"

"No."

"Then why are you frowning!"

"No, no. UU reading www.uukanshu.com"

"Not yet!"

"..., Young Master, you can go to the next room and see."

Xun Zhen went out and went to the next room, the door was unlocked, she pushed it open, and saw someone sleeping on the bed in the room.

—

1. The House of Association.

In the Western Han Dynasty, "Chang'an was full of cunning and cunning. The youths in Luli killed officials in large groups, received Ji to take revenge, and Xiangtan Wan was the bullet. Those who obtained red pills executed military officials, those who obtained black pills executed Wen officials, and those who obtained white pills were in charge of funerals. Smoke rises, plunderers, casualties cross the road".

In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the profession of assassins became more organized, and there was a special "house of acquaintances", that is, intermediaries, "the recipients of 100,000, thank you for thousands", and received 100,000 money and gave thousands to the assassins. The families of these associations "repay the ministers, officials and adultery, and the benefits are deep, the party is arrogant, and the nobles and relatives are invited to listen to the top, and to the bottom. Therefore, although strict orders, Yin, can't in the end. Break up and break up."

The account of Huiren's house comes from Wang Fu's "The Lun Fu Lun". Wang Fu died in 163, and during the Lingdi Dynasty, such households of Hui Ren probably continued to be active.

2. As far as the surname is concerned, the selection of persons must be read.

Wang Fu: "If you give tribute, you must read it first." Zhong Changtong: "There are three customs of scholars in the world: one is custom, and one is custom; one is the door to make friends and get rich; the other is custom; Noble, three vulgarities". Zhong Changtong was born in the third year of Guanghe, and was just two years old at this time.

In 220, when Cao Wei replaced the Han Dynasty, Chen Qun formulated the nine-rank Zhongzheng system. In fact, the original intention of the Jiupin Zhongzheng system was first to stabilize the political situation, and second, to try to change the various abuses of the investigation since the end of the Han Dynasty. Until the beginning of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, only learning was an important criterion for the selection of scholars. It is just that the more it develops, the more aristocratic it becomes, and it eventually becomes a tool for the nobles to safeguard their own interests. There are no poor families in the upper grades, and no nobles in the lower grades. The world is high, and the handsome Shen is subordinate.