The words that Fang Jie said to himself before he went upstairs that he couldn't even keep a low profile were completely false. The reason why he chose to appear in Hongxiu Zhao on the first day after leaving the secret cell of the Ouchi Guards was not to keep a low profile. His name has not been floating around Chang'an city for half a year, and he needs a high-profile appearance to put himself back into the common people's chat after dinner.
There has been no news about him for more than half a year since he entered the Martial Arts Academy, and many people in the court are speculating. Fang Jie's excuse of practicing alone in the back mountain cannot be fooled by everyone. It¡¯s just that no one can see the truth, so it¡¯s just speculation. Although Fang Jie did not suffer much during the more than half a year in prison, he still realized a lot of things. Being low-key is something only those who have achieved great success do. Those who have not achieved anything want to be high-profile. .
How can you be high-profile?
What could be more high-profile than appearing in the gold-selling cave of Hong Xiuzhao and doing something that others can't do? But the latter is obviously extremely difficult.
In fact, as soon as he walked into Hong Xiuzhao's door, he had already made other guests jealous. The young but very noble and charming young master asked her to go downstairs to greet many guests in person. Maybe the only one who flirted with her was Fang Jie. Immediately afterwards, Aunt Xi called Fang Jie up to the third floor, which even surprised the guests. You must know that since the opening of Hong Xiu Zhao, only a handful of men have been able to walk up to the third floor to enter the aunt's bedroom.
Fang Jie could not get much from Aunt Xi, although he was sure that this woman must know more. But if people don't say anything, Fang Jie can't force him.
However, following Aunt Xi¡¯s words, Fang Jie had a new idea. I actually ignored a very important piece of news on the way here. I really shouldn't have. Da Quan and the others were all Shang people who had been wiped out by the Sui Dynasty. Only Tie Nu and Ye Xiao were from the Southern Barbarian tribe, but they were also very close to Nan Yan.
From this point, Fang Jie thought that he was also a Shangguo?
But if you do some math, there is something wrong with the time. When he was born, Great Shang had been destroyed for several years, and Fang Jie was sure that he would not be able to get along with the Shang royal family. If it were not the royal family of Dashang, then who would have the ability to coerce a group of people to protect themselves?
??Besides, if that man was really from the Shang Kingdom, it would never have been so smooth when the Sui Dynasty destroyed the Shang Dynasty. From the narrations of Da Quan and Shen Qingshan, Fang Jie determined that that man's cultivation level was very rare in the world. Even Luo Yao, the pioneer general who led the army to destroy the Shang Dynasty, was presumed to be much inferior. If that man was really from the Shang Kingdom, he would not have been able to watch the country being destroyed and the family destroyed.
It seems like there is some clarity, but it is still confusing.
Fang Jie shook his head and shook off the disturbing thoughts.
¡°Auntie, can you tell me about Prince Zhong?¡±
he asks.
Xi Huamei fiddled with the ashes in the incense burner, and after a moment of silence, he said softly: "I guess you already know a lot about his story. Luo Weiran, the commander of the Ouchi Guards Department, is his junior brother. Since you are in the Ouchi Guards Department, Close, he must have told you about Prince Zhong. What I know is not much different from what he knows, and I can¡¯t tell you anything new. It is never a story that can be arbitrarily arranged. It is what he left to people. There¡¯s not much to begin with¡ If you¡¯re just curious about him, there¡¯s no need for me to tell you again.¡±
Fang Jie has been rejected by Xi Huamei more than once. To be honest, Fang Jie knew that Xi Huamei had no special views on him. Whether she is prosperous or decadent, it has nothing to do with her. If it weren't for Prince Zhong, I might not be able to walk into her room and sit face to face talking like this.
Fang Jie was not angry or disgusted.
This is just the most normal phenomenon in this world.
If you have enough capital, you are not afraid that others will not take you seriously. If you are a penniless poor boy, why should you expect a wealthy family to treat you like a guest? Xi Huamei usually interacts with people like Zhenren Xiao and Huai Qiugong, the Minister of Rites. Fang Jie, a young man with little achievements, has already risen to the top in the eyes of ordinary people, but in the eyes of people like her , still standing at the foot of the mountain.
Therefore, Fang Jie very wisely put away his idea of ??asking for a candle wick dance and flowing sleeves, then stood up and clasped his fists: "If there is nothing else to do, I will leave first."
"Go ahead"
Xi Huamei said calmly: "Your friends are still waiting for you. I will inform Xiao Dingdian. Your expenses at Hong Xiu Zhao will be waived today, and Hong Xiu Zhao will help you get out of prison and cleanse yourself from the dust."
"Thank you very much"
Fang Jie did not refuse, although he wanted to refuse.
Everyone has pride.
It just depends on where this pride will be used.
Fang Jie walked out of Xi Huamei's room and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
He thought of his feelings in prison again, murmured in his heart that life is like a play, then put a somewhat proud smile on the corner of his mouth, and walked down the stairs slowly. In the eyes of others, he had just had a very harmonious and interesting conversation with Aunt Xi.
So, the guests below are even more jealous.
On the second floor, Fang Jie walked up to Xiao Dingdian, sniffed him in a ruthless manner, and praised: "They say women have changed during the Eighteenth Century. When we were in Fan Gu, you still smelled like milk, but now you smell like a beauty." ¡±
"Fang Jie! Are you looking for death?!"
Xiao Dingdian rolled his eyes at him fiercely and blushed.
Fang Jie sat down next to Xiao Dingdian, leaned over and lowered his voice: "I have a business I want to talk to you about."
Xiao Dingdian was startled and glanced upstairs subconsciously: "Why don't you tell aunt?"
"Just go and say it."
Fang Jie sighed slightly and said: "In front of her, let alone talking about business, I can't even talk. Since you are now in charge of Hongxiu Zhao, it will be the same when I talk to you."
"Should I ask the aunt for instructions?"
Xiao Ding nodded and said, "I really don't know what's going on with you. When you're thick-skinned, even a wolf's fang arrow can't pierce it. When you're thin-skinned, you actually behave like a woman!"
"Not urgent"
Fang Jie smiled and said, "It will take about a month. Let's talk about this matter slowly."
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A private room was specially set aside on the second floor, and Fang Jie asked Luo Weiran to take the first place. According to official positions, Luo Weiran is the highest. According to seniority, whether true or false, Luo Weiran was his senior uncle.
Zhuo Buyi and Fang Jie sat next to Luo Weiran, one on the left and the other on the right. Not long after, the ordered food and drinks were served like water. The chef hired by Hongxiu was hired at a high price. It was said that he was hired from a very famous restaurant in the capital. This chef is best at Jiangnan cuisine, which is less strong and more light than northern cuisine.
Fang Jie served Luo Weiran and others with wine. After filling it himself, he raised his cup and saluted: "No matter what, I have to say thank you. Without the care of the commander and Mr. Zhuo, I would not have survived in prison." It¡¯s so comfortable and comfortable, please do it first!¡±
He drank all the wine in the cup in one gulp, and Luo Weiran and others accompanied him.
"You will go to the palace early tomorrow morning. His Majesty has already ordered you to go to Dongnuan Pavilion to have an audience."
Luo Weiran said: "I don't need to tell you what etiquette you should do. Just remember the way to be a minister."
Fang Jie nodded and said, "I understand."
Luo Weiran hummed and filled a glass of wine: "The war in the northwest is not satisfactory, and your Majesty is not happy. Early this morning, an urgent report of the northwest army was sent to the Tai Chi Palace, and your Majesty did not come out all day. Passing through the door The sons of the Five Thousand Right Xiaowei were almost killed in the battle out of Langrushan Qingxia. Although they killed more than twice the enemy, we have not suffered such a huge loss in the Sui Dynasty for a long time. "
He sighed and said: "When the Great Shang was destroyed, hundreds of thousands of troops went south and attacked Yongzhou City in a devastating manner. General Luo Yao led his troops directly into the capital of the Great Shang, captured more than a hundred members of the Shang royal family alive, and then killed them all. Only one remnant of the royal family escaped from Caishikou, the current Emperor of Nanyan, Murong Shai. After defeating Dong Chu, the imperial army attacked in three directions. In less than a month, they captured nine counties and thirty-one states of Dong Chu. Most of the country became the territory of the Sui Dynasty."
"If five thousand elite soldiers were to go south, they would be enough to scare Murong Shai to his knees and beg for mercy. But this time out of Qingxia, the first battle with the Mongolian people was almost complete. His Majesty was very unhappy. He issued an order to compensate the dead and wounded soldiers and rebuked them verbally. He asked General Li Yuanshan, who had no support, to write a detailed report and discuss the fault. "
When he heard about the destruction of Dashang, Da Quan's expression changed unnaturally. But he was drinking with his head down, and no one noticed the strange look in his eyes. He glanced at them while raising a glass to drink. When he found that no one noticed, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"The beating was so brutal?"
Fang Jie was startled, and his mind naturally thought of the 500 soldiers from the Jingbu Battalion under Li Yuanshan. But then I thought about it, such an elite man Li Yuanshan naturally had to be reserved for use at the most critical moment. If the Jingbu Battalion is thrown out in the first battle and the enemy's strength is roughly detected, it will definitely not be a good thing for future wars.
"It was Li Xiaozong who led the troops in the first battle."
After Luo Weiran said this, he glanced at Fang Jie.
 Fang Jie smiled and didn't seem to mind hearing the name at all: "Your Majesty made a wise choice. Li Xiaozong has been in Fangu for three years, and no one knows the Mongolian people on the other side of Langru Mountain better than him. I can I guessed that he was leading the troops, so I was surprised With Li Xiaozong's ability, it seems that he shouldn't have fought like this."
Luo Weiran said: "I heard that Mandu Wolf, the general of Meng Yuan Nirvana City, summoned tens of thousands of herdsmen to besiege him, plus two thousand Mandu Banner elite cavalry, and the fight was so brutal It is reasonable. In any case, Although this battle cannot be said to be beautiful, it has not lost our reputation of being undefeated in a hundred battles in the Great Sui Dynasty. "
Fang Jie wanted to say something was wrong, but he suppressed the words. Although everyone at the banquet is a trustworthy person, there are still some things that cannot be said casually.
The vanguard army came out of the canyon to fight the Meng Yuan people. Such a brutal fight could not have happened for an hour or two. What about the following troops? Fang Jie didn't know, but he knew that Li Yuanshan's right guard had a cavalry! Moreover, they were powerful heavy armored cavalry. They could march from Fan Gu to the opposite side of Langru Mountain for up to two hours. Why didn't any reinforcements arrive?
Why was the first battle fought so hastily when it was supposed to be a steady one?
No one on the front line can control the situation!
Fang Jie suddenly thought of this and couldn't help being shocked.
The emperor sent Yang Kai, Prince of Xu County, to take charge of the northwest, and Mou Liangbi, Minister of the Ministry of War, was in charge of logistics. It seems that it is not difficult for Yang Kai to convince the public as a royal family. But you have to know which of those generals who are enfeoffed outside is not a domineering person? It also involves the governors of the three northwest provinces, and the interests involved are complicated! Yang Kai, the king of Xujun, has not participated in court affairs for a long time, nor has he led troops, and his prestige in the army is no longer high. Mou Liangbi was only activated by His Majesty before the war. He was still in prison before, let alone had any prestige.
These two people seem to be distinguished. One king and one book, but they can't hold on to those officials who have sealed Xinjiang!
This first battle was fought so fiercely, Li Yuanshan must be punished, Li Xiaozong must be punished, but the most direct way for His Majesty to vent his anger is on Yang Kai, Prince of Xu County!
This is a conspiracy!
Fang Jie's heart tightened suddenly, and he couldn't help but feel a strong anger.
If Yang Kai and Mou Liangbi don't compromise with those feudal officials for a conspiracy that costs five thousand lives, such losses will still occur, and some people may even deliberately defeat the battle! Once there is a series of unfavorable situations, the first thing His Majesty will do is Yang Kai, Prince of Xu County. Those generals and governors had private contacts, how could they let two people who had just been enabled to tell them what to do?
His Majesty trusted his ministers so much that he never thought about the conflict of interest!
The battle is fought by the generals. If they win, the credit goes to Yang Kai. What if they lose? Of course the blame also falls on Yang Kai and Mou Liangbi!
When he thought of this, Fang Jie was shocked.
No! It's not that His Majesty trusts his ministers too much Is there someone else making trouble behind those generals?
Seeing Fang Jie's expression changing constantly, Luo Weiran smiled and said, "The reason why I mentioned the war in the Northwest to you is to make you think more about it. If His Majesty sees you tomorrow morning, he will definitely ask you about the war in the Northwest. Opinion. Remember Be smart when you should be smart, be confused when you should be confused, and don't say a word about what you can't say. "