Chapter 121 – Opening the Door Without Seeing the Mountain

On the second day of the first month, Liangling two states border, horizontal and vertical two post road intersection, a dart flagged carriage team folded into the north-south longitudinal spacious post road, followed by two carriages behind the ass, catching the dart dangerous and unpredictable, as long as there is a relatively peaceful official road post road to go, all have to be fast and furious, as a way to make up for the mountains and rivers to be careful to go dart delayed under the efforts of the horsemen under the banner of the Golden Gate Dart Bureau, not a small team, dart head This team of horses under the banner of the Golden Gate Dart Bureau is not small, the head of the dart together with more than thirty dartmen, mostly young and strong. When the dart team passed the two carriages in front, a car suddenly lifted the curtain, poked out a gray-haired head, and shouted to a dart master with a smile: “Strong man, do you still remember me? Last time when it was autumn, we drank Green Ant Wine together at a roadside restaurant.”

After this dart master was surprised, he slowed down his horse and came a few minutes closer to the carriage, nodding his head with a joyful face, he said loudly, “Remember, why don’t I remember, sir, you have a good hand at writing, and your father is even more righteous, treating us brothers two big jars of Green Ant Wine and five catties of beef for nothing, how come, sir, you are also heading to Lingzhou?”

Xu Fengnian laughed: “No, nowadays I’m living in Lingzhou city, and I have to run over there after the New Year’s Eve at home, so it’s just a laborious life. If I remember correctly, there is a store a few miles ahead, the meat and wine are authentic, the price is also fair, if it is on the way and does not delay your darting, have a meal together, it is also more lively, or my treat.”

From Liaodong side to run to the northern Liang to find livelihood of the dart master was a little difficult, their three brothers were surnamed Yuan mad dog forced to desperate, clan up and down more than a hundred mouths only three of them, that mad dog and have a in the Liyang court can be said to be a powerful old man, think about it think only the northern Liang can not be managed, but now, although relying on a body of martial arts, it is not easy to have an iron rice bowl, but after all it is Foster, he is a new dart board dart master, but also have to look at the face of the old head of the dartboard, a time is a little difficult. Good in that in the Golden Gate Dart Bureau in quite a dignified old head of the eyes, the two carriages carefully measured for a moment, laughed aloud: “Since this gentleman and our brother Dou is an old acquaintance, that is even our Golden Gate Dart Bureau friends, in front of the store I know, this is the dart board’s next stop, later can not dare to let you break the expense of the money, from us to pay for the wine that is, the money Golden Gate Dart Bureau even poorer. The money Golden Gate Dart Board even if you are poor, you have to pay!”

Xu Fengyen did not refuse, without him saying anything, the horseman Xu Yanbing had already whipped his horse to go fast. This detail, let the old bodyguard secretly tsked in wonder, did not expect not only this family should be not bad son looks quite good, even the accompanying escort is a person who understands.

The two groups of people at the same time to the dart board for the very “clean” familiar store, the shopkeeper has long been familiar with the eating habits of these repeat customers, without much ado, ordered the store fellows legs and feet quickly and quickly on the food on the wine, meat and rice more than the wine is less, walking the dart is not allowed to alcoholism is the line of the iron of the old rules, and often only the dart team of one or two respected and good wine old man. Respected and good wine senior to drink a few mouths, Xu Yanbing and Hong Shuwen are straightforward and simply not on the table, Huyan Guanyin is not hungry, coupled with the same carriage with a woman out of the car, she is more reluctant to leave the warmth of the carriage. So the main table with wine sat Xu Fengyen, Xu Beihao and Pei Nanwei, and she sat side by side with Xu Fengyen. There is also the old dart leader Bao Fengshou, as well as should not be qualified to sit at the table of Liaodong people Douliang, Pei Nanwei draped with white fox snow expensive fur, wearing a top fox skin hat, originally this kind of attire, skin slightly darker women to be set off by the charcoal in general, but she is so dressed, on the contrary, there is some skin wins the snow of the scenery rhyme, traveled the old head of the half of his life is still the old head of the old dart is the old man’s effort to retrieve Sight, thinking that this life has never seen such a beautiful woman, this meal money is not a waste.

The young man in charge of serving food and wine almost knocked over the wine jar on the ground, red face, resentful step three times back, by the angry shopkeeper kicked and wailed.

Xu Fengnian as always with outsiders call themselves Xu Qi, with Dou Liang and Bao Fengshou some light conversation, roughly know Dou Liang’s situation and the scale of the Golden Gate Dart Board, Dou Liang character straightforward, just thin skin, did not talk to this Xu Gongzi how polite pleasantries, Bao Fengshou first meeting, it is very familiar to pull up the relationship, claiming that to the Golden Gate Dart Board of the state of the state of the city of Lingshou, he must personally pay tribute to the New Year in the house of Xu Gongzi, especially After hearing that Xu Qi’s family lives in Apricot Street, the old man’s eyes burned too much, to know that Apricot Street is living in the Lord Secretary with a large number of Lingshou dignitaries, and recently there is an additional Lingshou general surnamed Xu! Although the apricot street is very long, there is no official, but since you can live in that street, even if the hands of no power, that is also the richest handful of people in Lingshou, in the jargon, the Golden Gate Dart Board has been going to the sparrow dart, that is, less meat and no oil small dart, big dart boards, go that are sow dart, a dart to earn money to get a soft hand, if you can climb on the apricot street of the nobility, and then spread the word by word of mouth, and a few more stalls, and then the darts, and then the darts, and the money to get the money to get soft hand. Golden Gate Dart Board by the east wind in one fell swoop flag, even if the real developed, otherwise who would be happy to go dart road in the New Year. Xu Fengyen has five or six times took the initiative to toast, but most of them are touching the bowl with Douliang, which makes Douliang the displaced dog feel a speechless warmth, but he is not good at words, regardless of whether it is not afterward to be dart head of the yin and yang stabbed on a few words, the bowl of green ants drops of wine not left.

Wine and rice, Xu Fengnian laughed: ”My ancestors are also Liaodong, just in Jinzhou, and Dou brother is barely considered to be his hometown meets the old friend, how rare. Returned to the city of Lingzhou, Xu Qi certainly first went to the Golden Gate Dart Board to pay tribute to the New Year, the rest of the two big brothers also meet properly, today did not drink painfully, the first remaining, when not drunk.”

Bao Fengshou smiled and said, “Xu Gongzi’s side also have to pay a visit to the door, the Golden Gate Dart Board must not be rude, spread out to be laughed at.”

Xu Fengnian where not clear about the old dart head’s small plan, is afraid that he “Xu Qi” is bragging about the small family, have to personally look at the residence in order to feel at ease, also do not reveal, nodded his head and smiled: “No problem, in the future, if there is an object to dart, since there are Dou brothers in your dart board, then the future will be specialize in bothering your Golden Gate Dart Bureau.”

The dart board still had to rush, both sides clasped their fists and said goodbye, Bao Fengshou whispered to the shopkeeper when settling the bill, giving a few more pieces of silver, obviously knowing that Mr. Xu also wanted to add more food and wine, the dart board side paid in advance. Xu Fengyen sat back on the bench, just asked for one more pot of warm and ironing green ant wine, gave Xu Beihuan and Pei Nanwei both poured a small half bowl, Xu Beihuan laughed softly: “Douliang this dart finished, how the salary has to be turned up a turn.”

Xu Fengyen did not deny it, changed the topic and said, “Chen Xiliang has to deal with both salt and iron regulation as well as full authority to deal with canal transportation matters, one is to fight with local gentry, one is to tug of war with the Beijing officials, and the local snakes are all messed up with the dragon across the river. Do you think he can do it?”

Xu Beihao blandly said, “I don’t know.”

Xu Fengnian skimmed his mouth and continued, “You’re already an assassin of Lingzhou, but Chen Xiliang still doesn’t have a solid position, do you think he has any lumps in his heart?”

Xu Beihao just drank.

Xu Fengnian tsked, “I had thought that you two are so smart that you could do without the literati, but I didn’t realize that you still can’t escape from this weird circle.”

Xu Beihao squinted, “You know nothing.”

Xu Fengnian roguishly said, “Be careful that I really fart for you!”

Xu Beihuan wiped the wine stains on the corner of his mouth, “When I become the assassin, you get out of Lingzhou before it’s too late, I’ll be out of sight, out of mind.”

Xu Fengnian cursed to himself, but there was nothing he could do. Pei Nanwei was a bit puzzled, in this world, there is still someone who can lower one thing to the next, this Northern Liang Shi Zi?

On the third day of the first month, the General of Lingshu did not enter Lingshu Prefecture. This makes many sense of smell sensitive to smell the wind of the official field of the old man was greatly disappointed, have from the apricot street general residence evacuation, freezing for a day, hold back the impulse to jump feet cursing, the heart begged tomorrow, His Highness must return to the city, otherwise this suffer from freezing when is the end of the ah.

In the twilight of the fourth day of the first month of the year, half of the visitors of the apricot street went away, only some scattered scattered dignitaries who lived in the street, when they saw the two carriages slowly coming, almost to tears, the old ancestor you finally came to ah, one by one, regardless of the age of the old and the prime of the life, are swiftly surging to the carriages, with the young man who slowly stepped out of the car to ask about the young man, the flattering each person, in addition to the same title, the rest do not repeat the name of His Royal Highness the son. In addition to the same name, the rest of the flattery does not repeat a word, if the official field children have the opportunity to stand on the side of the side to listen to, certainly benefited greatly, suddenly realized that the original horse’s ass can be patted so purely. Some of the big lords who used to be so vocal, this moment is just like the ancestor worshiping the old ancestor on the picture with the same respect. Xu Fengyen smiled one by one, even if he didn’t report his official position, he was able to say it word for word, so that those age difference Lingzhou big shot’s mouth smeared with honey at the same time, the heart can’t help but feel mixed feelings, just based on this point back up a million steps, His Highness, even if he’s not smart, but he’s really not stupid at all ah. Xu Fengyen stopped, let one of the Lingzhou fifth-grade officials to go with the Secretary General’s residence to inform, said that on the day of the New Year’s greetings to Uncle Li, that a large number of years so old that every time you meet a difficult thing always go home to recuperate from illness, the old man’s figure is so robust that colleagues staggered. Xu Fengyen led the crowd into the general’s residence, and then let the rank is not high Xu Beihao accompanied, in the study one by one with all the Lingzhou “conscience loyalists” to catch up, and then the back of the queue, saw the front of those who are all without exception face left, just between the eyebrows covered with hard to hide the color of joy, slowly to the corner of the corridor, suddenly! Footsteps like the wind, nine times out of ten is to go home to report the good news.

The vast majority of the guests were apprehensive to enter the house and return home.

Xu Beihao, who was put on the spot by His Highness the Prince and was about to support his rise to the throne, did not see any joy, and stood at the window looking towards the residence of the Minister of Economy and Strategy, with a gloomy expression.

Xu Fengyen sat behind his desk, one hand resting on his cheek, one hand rolling the coin between his fingers.

Xu Beihao spoke, “Taking a break?”

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, “Good, accompany me to the Golden Gate Dart Bureau to drink, while there is still little worldly flavor and blood in the drinks there in Lingzhou, do you and I want to drink a little more?”

Xu Beihuan, who had only gotten drunk the only time in his life in Beimang, nodded.

Xu Fengyen sat in the carriage with Xu Beihuan, and Xu Yanbing drove to the Golden Gate Dart Bureau at the other end of the state city.

Earlier when he crossed the threshold of the side gate, Xu Fengyen paused slightly and looked up at the gray sky, and after a while, he would not be able to see the tip of the Ling Mountain that was only revealed when the weather was clear.

To the entrance of the Golden Gate Dart Board, Xu Fengyen claimed to be Xu Qi on Apricot Street, knew the old dart head Bao Fengshou and the new dart master Dou Liang, the eyes of the young man watching the door lit up, hearing the three words Apricot Street is enough, more useful than mentioning Bao Fengshou, the impatient expression was swept away, they all subconsciously bent their backs, only to see a warm smiling face of a gentry, and then straighten up their backs, God knows if this guy is a bluffer, living on that The street of the gentleman, there are a few have not been in the city of Lingzhou, fresh clothes and horses stepped on the injured, but also with him a small dart board management door of the small people smiling? Who would believe that? Live in the head of the dart board Bao Fengshou hurriedly rushed to, warm and polite beyond words, not only him, even the dart board big head of the second head of the two have been alarmed, that Xu Qi is also on the road, directly on the side of the peer revealed the identity of the gentleman’s identity, in the county of Longqing as a military adviser, and now to the governor of the Zhong Chengxin is considered to be miscellaneous to do some trivial things, but immediately to take small steps to promote to the state government offices. In this way, two of the family is not only pleased, but also some awe, Lingshou who do not know Huaihua general Zhong Hongwu and the first son of Zhong Chengxin, although rumors to the arrogant and domineering His Royal Highness to extinguish some of the flames, but the thin camel is bigger than a horse, the Zhong family undoubtedly still let the people feel unattainable first-class Beiliang high school, can be with the Zhong Taishou spend time with the golden gate dart board is not the size of the sesame seeds can be neglected.

Dou Liang brothers three temporarily did not stay in the dart board, but in the outside rented a remote simple mansion, the dart board this side hurriedly let people go to invite to drink, the big boss personally set up a large charcoal fire pot, a group of people seated, drinking. When the wine is sound, the two bosses is a man of nature, not as constrained as before, laughing and joking, Douliang two brothers Wei Tang Fan Yuyang because there was a one-sided relationship, then the impression is not bad, but also the older brother Douliang dart back to do the pavement, early to Xu Qi said a lot of good words, drinking and talking is more relaxed. The name of the big head Yu Xiu Cai is slightly crepuscular, about his parents hope that he will be able to get a scholar or something, but coarse, face hangs a shocking scar, with Xu Fengyen Xu Bei Hoven said about this file of old events, but also to talk about what complaints, is more than a dozen years ago by a robbing the people’s daughter will be seeded children to the street to cut a knife, he froze and didn’t dare to fight back, more than the martial arts he can beat that son of a bitch with one hand! Ten, but more than the mountain, he Yu Xiu only lost ten thousand eight hundred thousand miles, admit it. This old man to today is laughing and cursing a mother. Xu Fengyen smiled and turned his head and said to Xu Beihuan, in the future, this kind of shit will rely on you to be an evil person with an unselfish face. Xu Beihuan was indifferent, just drinking heavily. The Golden Gate Dart Board gang of men did not take it too seriously, even if the two are surnamed Xu’s status is not bad, but the Lingzhou city is intertwined, even the general of Lingzhou can not spread their hands and feet, by the top and bottom of the gang fooled, are said to be the Lord Secretary to give the son of His Highness a downward spiral, so as long as it is a foreigner, regardless of who, even if it is the young people of the scholarly family of the government, but also can not be casually in here! So, no matter who the foreigner is, even if he is a young man of the scholarly family, he can’t just start a fight here.

Xu Fengyen raised his bowl, probably the seventh or eighth bowl, still dry and clean drink, the dart board people could not help but applaud, this amount of alcohol and wine are hard to get! Xu Fengyen casually wiped his mouth, laughed: “Not drunk down before, hurry to say a few serious words, Dou Laoge Wei Laoge Fan Laoge three, are Xu Qi’s friends, in the future have to be two of the head and Bao Lao dart head more care, Xu Qi this bowl of wine as a thank you.”

The second head Zhang He is already tongue tied, raised the big white bowl, said loudly: “Xu Gongzi refreshing, our dart board is small, but no one is a twisted bitch, Zhang He also with Xu Gongzi heart, Dou Liang three brothers ability is not no, but is too big, Zhang He are in the eyes, like Wei Tang and Fan Yuyang, in fact, not to mention the same as Dou Liang become dart masters, or when a dart head, is also a natural, but our small place, but we are also a small place. But our small place, the rules are still the same as other places, is a fucking word, more! Can’t do anything, who all have to little by little to simmer, have to simmer from the daughter-in-law into a mother-in-law, otherwise other people are not convinced, the heart of the resentment, I Zhanghe also do not dare to say what tomorrow to let the three brothers when the head of the dart of the big words of nonsense, but also with Douliang three brothers to make amends for the crime, the big boss, we all dry this bowl of wine in the hand?

Yu Xiu Cai raised the bowl, haha laughed: “Everyone is good man full of drink go one, dry!”

In the end, Xu Beihao also drunken mess, has leaned on Xu Fengnian shoulder, the Golden Gate Dart Bureau those brown man is more seven down and eight crooked, Yu Xiu Cai holding the wine jar said drunkenness, vague, vaguely is to say that this life how could not kill a few northern barbarians.

General House number one steward Sun Fulu appeared at the door sweating profusely. He had previously been told by His Highness the World Son to come to this small dart board before his departure.

The only one who was still awake, Xu Fengyen, had to carry the unconscious Xu Beihuan, and bid farewell with a few dart masters who cleaned up the mess with a smile, after walking out of the gate, Sun Fulu whispered, “Your Excellency, the Lord of Jingliu Envoy has somehow tied up a man to his residence in the middle of the night, what kind of trouble is this.”

Xu Fengnian gave a hmmm.

The incredibly drunken Xu Beihao tossed blindly, one hand slapping His Highness’s head, one hand casually smearing on His Highness’s face.

Sun Fulu was so shocked by this scene that the corners of his mouth twitched.

This Xu Beihao who has been uprooted from Northern Mang to our Northern Liang, if he fails to become the strategic ambassador of Northern Liang Dao in the future, he, Sun Fulu, will directly change his name to Sun Zi!

Xu Fengyen carried Xu Tangerine slowly towards the carriage.

The steps were difficult.