Dawn of the Empire

chapter 25

Seeing that he was humbly asking for advice, Bai Maoxin nodded in satisfaction, sent away the diva who was serving the wine, called Wan Yan Xiyin to come together, and said in a low voice: "The advantage of firearms in the world is artillery, and the advantage of artillery is all in fire. The power of 'medicine'. There are refined gunpowder specially used by the forbidden army in the capital in the Ordnance Supervisor and Sanya Warehouse. It is the top-grade gunpowder purchased in Xia Kingdom. Ordinary firecrackers need three or two 'powders'. Use this kind of gunpowder. The fine 'medicine' is only seven dollars, what's more rare is that the 'medicine' powder is pure and uniform, and it is not easy to be 'damp' if kept properly, as long as the amount of 'medicine' to be filled is exactly the same every time, if the artillery uses this With 'medicine', it is easy to 'operate' the gun, the gun can hit far, powerful and extremely difficult to explode."

Wanyan Zongbi was overjoyed when he heard that, the Jurchens were not afraid to fight the Liao people in the field, but they could not overcome the strong city defense of Huanglong Mansion.This trip to the Southern Dynasties, the greatest expectation of the father is to buy artillery and gunpowder from the Song Dynasty that are conducive to the siege of the city.It is really the wish of the heavens, Changshengtian sent this Lord Bai who is proficient in firearms to his eyes.Wanyan Xiyin praised: "A word of advice from a lord is better than a million soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of old and young in the next generation of the clan will feel the same great virtue." At the same time, he poured wine for Bai Maoxin himself.

Bai Maoxin squinted his drunken eyes to see clearly the flattering appearance of the two people, and he was pleased, and said in a low voice: "If the gold is enough, I will discuss with the adults of the third yamen in the middle of the lower officials, and we will use this batch of refined gunpowder, together with high-quality goodies. It's not impossible to exchange the cannon for the two of you."

The three discussed for a while, and Bai Maoxin left satisfied. Wanyan Zongbi asked Wanyan Xiyin to call Wanyan Zonghan, who was staying outside, to come in and eat the rest of the wine and food. : "If the Liaoyang Mansion is taken down in the future, such a woman will snatch ten or a hundred of him back. When she is happy, she will have a good time, and when she is unhappy, she will have a good beating, and then take him to the grassland to change horses."

Wanyan Zongbi and Wanyan Xiyin ignored his crazy words, and discussed on their own how to get together the money they promised Bai Maoxin. After calculating for a long time, they had calculated all the gold they carried this time, but there was still a gap of two thousand guan. Then he decided to take the valuable jewels, knives and other things around him to the pawn shop outside as cash, to see if he could make enough money, Wanyan Zongbi said in a deep voice: "God help my family, from now on, if the Jurchen Wanyan tribe is happy, it will be the name of the country." For Daikin, take its meaning of being invincible.”

With double eaves under the moon, Xichunlou, the largest restaurant in Bianliang, is still brightly lit, as bright as day, and the sound of orchestral strings and bamboo is endless.In the most spacious Accord on the third floor, Prince Zhao Ke was talking to Xiangru Chen Dong with Yan Yue. In addition to Xuezheng Qin Hui, member of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs Luo Ruji, and Prince Zhao Yan were accompanying him in the seat. At this time, a group of 18 dancers with tulle masks entered the room. Driven by the lead dancers, all the dancers twisted their waists and limbs to the music, and the small silver bells on their hands and ankles rang in rhythm. The graceful figure covered by the veil immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.Prince Zhao Ke stared straight at the leading dancer who was the most attractive among them, as if his scorching eyes were about to lift the veil, Qin Hui lowered his head and poured himself a drink, Luo Ruji and Zhao Yan smiled at each other, but Chen Dong frowned frown.

After the dance, all the dancers crouched on the ground, only the leading dancer in the middle half-kneeled and presented a glass of fine wine to the prince, staring boldly at Zhao Ke with a pair of eyes.Zhao Keji drank the fine wine in the glass happily, laughed loudly and said, "Look up, let Gu see your face.

"Yes, Your Highness." The dancer girl was quite obedient and docile, she lifted her head slightly as ordered, and gently removed her veil, revealing her face, even Zhao Ke, who was used to beauties, couldn't help taking a breath, I saw that her face was like a lotus calyx, her lips were like a cherry, her skin was as delicate as white and flawless, and she was full of affection and shyness.Even Qin Xuezheng, who has always paid attention to tolerance, sighed secretly in his heart, the so-called I feel pity, that's exactly the case, such a beautiful woman accidentally fell into the world, and it was her luck to meet the prince.

Zhao Ke was amazed, and was considering whether to bring this girl into the East Palace, but Chen Dong, who was sitting with him, coughed lightly, and said in a low voice: "There are beauties in the north, they can charm the city with a smile, and the country with a smile. Everyone looked at him sideways, but he asked Zhao Yan who was next to him: "I have little talent and learning, but I forgot the following two lines of Li Yannian's poem." It's hard to get a beautiful woman again." Luo Ruji thought in his heart: "Chen Shaoyang usually pretends to be a romantic, but today he came to pretend to be a gentleman, admonishing the prince not to be obsessed with beauty, but such an act is embarrassing.

Zhao Ke felt that he had lost his composure, coughed, and said in his heart: "Chen Shaoyang is indeed a straight person. When he is employed here, I can't make him feel cold." He waved his hands to make the dancing girls back down.

"Shaoyang is not only knowledgeable, but he also did a great thing in the village." Luo Ruji changed the subject with great interest, "In the early years of Xuanhe, when the 'traitor' party was in full swing, contacted Danyang, Runzhou Five hundred squires and hundreds of thousands of common people jointly signed a letter requesting that the Fangtian Average Tax Law, Exemption Law, and Market Change Law be stopped, which shocked the world. In the second year of Xuanhe, the imperial court abolished the Fangtian Average Tax Law, and Shaoyang was also a meritorious minister." Everyone laughed, the abolition of the Fangtian Average Tax Law was the proud work of the old party attacking the new law. Everyone knew that Zhao Ke wanted to recruit Chen Dong, so they clapped their hands and praised him.

The princes Zhao Ke, Luo Ruji, and Zhao Yan all lived in Bianliang for a long time, so they didn't know much about the local situation. Chen Dong explained: "The imperial court's tax law divides the land into five classes, and the original intention is to make the burden even. But the officials at the bottom use this to be greedy for ink, and the subordinates blackmail the village, which makes the poor burden even heavier. The local tyrants use this to designate the land as the lowest class to avoid taxes. In practice, the people in the southeast all complain. It’s what righteousness is all about, and it’s just pleading for the people.”

The roads to the southeast are the main source of taxation for the imperial court. Under the layers of exploitation, they have long been overwhelmed. Believers are being received everywhere, and a big change is just around the corner.

Chen Dongzheng wanted to take this opportunity to speak, but he heard Zhao Ke say: "A young and handsome man like Shaoyang will be a pillar of the imperial court in the future." He turned the wine glass with his right hand, turned his head to Qin Hui and said, "Now the 'treacherous' party controls Shangshe students are evaluated for official career, if Shaoyang wants to become an official soon, he has to take the imperial examination, and he has to bother Mr. Qin to say hello to the Ministry of Rites, so that he can be a good student for the country." Qin Hui responded with a slight smile, he has two students of the same year My friend happened to be working in the Ministry of Rites. Although his grade was not high, it made him powerful.Knowing that it was Zhao Ke who asked officials from the Ministry of Rites to let him enter the palace test, Chen Dong frowned slightly, but he couldn't refuse the prince's kindness on the spot, so he could only thank him.

Zhao Ke saw Chen Dong's hesitation, smiled slightly and said, "I firmly believe in Shaoyang's talent and learning, but in today's world, talent and learning alone are not enough." He turned his head and asked Qin Hui, "Zhao Qi really wants to Are you going to take part in the imperial examination?" Qin Hui nodded, and Zhao Ke said, "It's really superfluous, just because the emperor allows him to do such nonsense, the soup in this department is already muddy." He said to Chen Dong with anticipation, "Although the Ministry of Rites It's okay, Shaoyang still needs to prepare well, so that he can frustrate the arrogant person who is uneasy about his position in the palace examination."

Coming out of the Xichun Tower, Luo Ruji noticed that Zhao Ke looked back and said to himself, "Your Highness still loves that beauty, why don't you buy that dancer and send it to the East Palace, the crown prince will also remember my share." Heart." Immediately found a way to turn back, negotiated a price with the nanny in the brothel, and prevented the dancer from showing her face again, in order to prevent the crown prince from misunderstanding, but did not take her home. Instead, it is still kept in the brothel, and will be sent to the East Palace at a later time.

Early the next morning, Luo Ruji wanted to buy some jewels to add to the dancer's body, so that he could take advantage of the prince's wishes, so he personally went to the largest pawn shop in Bianliang, a quality warehouse called Jianzhentang, where you can often buy jewelry in Rare and rare treasures cannot be bought from ordinary jewelers, and the price is even cheaper.As soon as he stepped inside, he heard three barbarians arguing endlessly with the staff. Luo Ruji didn't want to be in the same room with these barbarians, but he looked at the counter of the pawn shop and couldn't take it back.

I saw a thumb-sized pearl wrapped with multicolored silk threads. The pearl itself was white and crystal-clear without any blemishes.

At this time Wanyan Xiyin was arguing loudly with the pawnbroker Chao Feng: "The Dongzhu and the treasured knife are both rare treasures, and it is extremely cheap to pawn a thousand crowns, so how can you lower the price?" : "A dilapidated iron knife, but only a few pennies, and you want to be a thousand pennies, you barbarian, you have lost your mind and lost your mind."

Luo Ruji's eyes fell on the pearl, he was quite emotional, and was about to speak, when he heard Zhao Yan's voice behind him, saying: "Wang Chaofeng, have you bought any good gold and stone antiques recently?" With a cry, Zhao Yan, who was wearing a white Confucian shirt and a blue scarf on his head, stepped into the shop. He was beating a folding fan in his hand, and the Lantian jade fan pendant was shaking, and he was looking towards the shop in a chic manner. Luo Ruji cupped his hands, and without asking anyone's consent, he picked up the scabbard on the counter and stroked it.Luo Ruji wondered in his heart, this Mr. Zhao has always been arty, he only likes to collect gold and stone antiques, swords and other things, the hollow ones are acceptable, the solid ones are too heavy, why is he suddenly interested in this barbarian's sword today? .

Seeing the big customer coming, that dynasty smiled and said: "It is a coincidence that Mr. Zhao came, and he recently received a painting of Xu Xi's "Peony Picture." Zhao Yan, as if he had never heard of it, raised his head and asked Yan Xi Yindao. "How much is this knife?" Wanyan Xiyin was moved when he saw someone who knew the goods, and said in a deep voice, "This is a treasured knife handed down from our ancestors. If you like it, you can take it for two thousand pieces." Wanyan Zongbi said: "This knife is only for sale."

Zhao Yanwen was anxious when he heard this, and said, "How can you not sell it?" Luo Ruji shook his head secretly in his heart, this son of the prime minister grew up in a wealthy family, he is too ignorant of world affairs, but he is still studying with the crown prince, wasting a good position, He coughed, stepped forward slowly, picked up the knife, looked at it, and sighed: "Although it is an ancient thing, it is a pity that it is too old, and it is not inlaid with gold and jade. It is obviously not used by a prince with a history. Five hundred pieces It's already a high price, so do you still want to be greedy?" Zhao Yan was not happy when he heard it, and was about to refute, but Luo Ruji grabbed his right hand, Luo Ruji stared into his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "My son has a huge wealth, but you can't do it." Let such 'traitors' earn for nothing." Seeing that he seemed to be thinking about it, Zhao Yan fell silent.

Luo Ruji saw that these three barbarians had rough faces, messy braids on their heads, and cheap brocade robes wrapped in leather jackets. They were obviously newcomers to the Central Plains. Learn about the market in Bianliang, such as jewelry and antiques.While shaking his head, he said to Wanyan Xiyin and the other three Jurchens: "I offer 14 guan for this pearl, and [-] guan for the knife, a total of [-] guan, no more." Wanyan Xiyin wanted to refuse, but Wanyan Xiyin said to him in Jurchen words: "I ran to more than a dozen pawnshops, and this place has the highest price. The big thing is important!" A complex look flashed in Wanyan Zongbi's eyes. When he was [-] years old, he went into the mountain to shoot a big bear for the first time, which was rewarded by his father. He clenched his fists, looked at Wanyan Xiyin like an enemy, and shut his mouth.

Wanyan Xiyin heaved a sigh of relief, turned his head and smiled and said to Luo Ruji: "This knife is indeed a precious knife, capable of cutting gold and cutting jade." He saw the look of disdain in Luo Ruji's eyes, and Mr. Zhao also seemed to be held down by Luo Ruji, and he said, "Your official has good eyesight, so how about it, there are three thousand guan in total, and you take the knife and pearls away."

Luo Ruji was about to counter the price, but Zhao Yan couldn't hold back anymore, and said first: "Okay, as you said." He was afraid that the three barbarians would repent, so he took out the jiaozi and handed it to Wanyan Xiyin on the spot.After the Jurchen left, Zhao Yan handed Dongzhu to Luo Ruji, and before he could speak, he turned around and picked up the precious saber, carefully rubbing the inscription on the scabbard with his hand, and said with a smile: "Today it can be regarded as picking it up." baby."

Luo Ruji wondered: "Master Zhao knows the origin of this precious sword?" Zhao Yan smiled, handed the sword to Wang Chaofeng, and said quite proudly, "Can you read the inscription on it?" Wang Chaofeng took it with both hands. Passing the treasured sword, after carefully identifying it for a moment, he said with a look of embarrassment: "I don't know." Zhao Yan smiled, pointed to the two rows of rather simple inscriptions on the scabbard, and read word by word in frustration: " The ancient sharp weapon, Wu Chuzhanlu, Daxia Dragon Sparrow, is famous as the capital of the gods. It can be Huaiyuan, and it can be gentle; it is like wind-blown grass, and it can conquer the Nine Districts. It is very rare in the world."

"This is the Longque Dahuan Saber worn by Xia Guohe Lianbo in the late Jin Dynasty." Zhao Yan said, pulling Longque out of the black scabbard forcefully. He did not expect that the knife was quite heavy, and his right hand sank. There was a faint blood flow on the blade, and with the slight tremor of the blade, there was a humming sound, as if a magic weapon was screaming unyieldingly because it was held in weak hands.

"It looks like an ordinary ancient knife." Luo Ruji thought in his heart, "but he picked up a bargain for Zhao Yan. The Xia Kingdom is the most martial arts, and the origin of this Dragon Sparrow Sword has the word Xia. If you go to Chang'an, the dignitaries will definitely raise their bids to buy it, and I'm afraid it will be sold at a sky-high price of more than ten thousand Guan."

Back in the mansion, Zhao Yan was about to hang the dragon bird ring head knife in the study. His mother, Mrs. Guo, brought Qin Xuezheng's wife, Mrs. Wang, into the house and told him about the rejection of his proposal to Li's mansion.

"The prime minister condescends to marry his family, Li Xuezheng is too ungrateful?" Wang said angrily, but she couldn't fulfill the prime minister's wish, and she also felt shameful.

"Has Miss Li's family really betrothed to someone else? I wonder which family's son it is?" Zhao Yan said in a daze.

"I have inquired from others. Zhao Xingde, who was studying in the Taixue, his father was Zhao Tixin, the attendant of Longtu Pavilion who died after being demoted and exiled. It is said that the marriage between the two parents has been agreed long ago. The Li family's child is also Unlucky people, because of this stubborn and old-fashioned father, the ready-made prime minister refuses to follow, but wants to marry into that dilapidated family." Wang comforted.

Zhao's mother was very distressed when she saw her son's "feeling" like a mourning concubine, she frowned and asked Wang: "The Zhao Shizhi has passed away, and the two families have no three matchmakers and six hires, so there is no room for change in this matter? "

Wang's face was 'difficult', and she replied: "I also persuaded like this, even Mrs. Li was a little moved. However, Li Xuezheng is determined to marry his daughter to Zhao Xingde. Seeing that the scientific examination is approaching, in order to let Zhao Xingde prepared with peace of mind, and even let him live in Li's residence to prepare for the exam, and after the current exam, he will get married." After finishing speaking, he snorted unwillingly.