Chapter 5: The downtown

Officials’ leave is not only for every ten days of vacation, but also for various solar terms in a year.

There is another holiday on Laba Festival, and before that, Xue Chongxun summoned the Secretariat Ling Zhang Shuo alone.

When the emperor summoned him, the ministers would guess in advance what they would say before meeting him. If they were unfortunately asked, they would hesitate or ask questions without knowing each other, which would obviously be very bad.

Zhang said that he guessed that Xue Chongxun was going to ask about the construction of the Great Wall on Hebei Road. This matter took a lot of time, so what should we do is to come up with a way.

Zhang Shuo entered the Inner Dynasty under the leadership of the eunuch. He didn't speak along the way, thinking in his mind: Should the emperor want to accept the advice of Nanya to refuse the Hebei project, or should he be stubborn and insist on being self-righteous?

Zhang Shuo really can't figure it out and can't predict it.

He has been dealing with Xue Chongxun for a year or two. As early as when Li Longji was the crown prince, Zhang said that he was nominally Li Longji's teacher. Over the years, Xue Chongxun came step by step until he ascended the throne, and Zhang said that he saw it with his own eyes.

In Zhang Shuo's eyes, Xue Chongxun lacks the stability of a scholar and doctor, but is like a gambler...

This kind of personality in the concept that Zhang said is not a good thing, but someone wins the bet, which is a fate.

What if Xue Chongxun really insists on not postponing the construction of the Great Wall this time, what should he answer?

Zhang Shuo always felt that it was inappropriate to flatter the emperor against his will; but could he still force Xue Chongxun to change his mind?

This is Xue Chongxun’s world.

Zhang said he was in a state of utmost importance. He had already walked to the door of the greenhouse hall and could only go in with his teeth.

Xue Chongxun was sitting on a soft couch in the north. Zhang Shuo performed the bowing ceremony first. Xue Chongxun said: Get up, get up, the ground is cool, there is no need for so many red tape here.There was a stool next to it, and Mr. Zhang sat down and spoke.

Xue Chongxun looked calm and fine, and Zhang Shuo had to calm down and say thank you for your kindness, and climbed up and sat on the round stool.

I suddenly remembered that we had a lot of time to talk about serious business when we met and talked about things, and we haven't gone out for a long time.I remembered that one year when I went to visit the Lantern Festival together, I seemed to have written a poem...

Zhang Shuo hurriedly said: The east wind blooms thousands of flowers and trees at night, and the stars are like rain... Good word Ah!

Xue Chongxun laughed: I have a good memory, so I recited it out after opening my mouth.Zhang said seriously: Your Majesty’s poems are good, and you can recite them from time to time. Isn’t it just remember that?

Recently, I was very bored in the palace and wanted to go out for a walk, but I didn’t want to travel with a big reliance. First, the mood of traveling in the imperial carriage was different. Second, it was the Chinese New Year, which made the court too busy and not easy, and it was also expensive... Xue Chongxun said with a smile, and the last tone was a little heavier, and he paused and continued, I just wanted to go out for a walk in confinement. Just like before, isn’t the government going to have a holiday?Is there something else about Xianggong Zhang?If not, we will go around in Chang'an.

No, nothing else.Zhang said it answered without thinking, thinking that even if there is something else, can I still refuse the emperor?

After talking to the Jinjian, Xue Chongxun didn't even mention the matter in Hebei. Seeing him smiling confidently, Zhang Shuo also wondered: Could it be that he had a good idea?

But after thinking about it, I feel it is impossible. What other good solutions are there for the current situation.

Even if Zhang Shuo admitted that his strategy was not as good as the emperor (this one does not think so in his heart), Nanya still has a few ministers involved in decision-making, and they are not ordinary people. No one can think of that good way?

Xue Chongxun thought for a while and said: You will wait for me on Danfeng Street tomorrow morning. We will meet again when I leave the palace.Zhang said that when Xue Chongxun looked very calm, he would not mention serious matters.

The next morning, Zhang Shuo put on his regular clothes and rode his horse waiting next to Danfeng Street south of the Daming Palace, with only one servant.

Of course, Xue Chongxun could not come out wearing a dragon robe. He rode his old pine wood carriage, except for Pang Er who was driving the car, Sanniang was the only one next to him.

The air was dry and cold, but fortunately it cleared up, and the sun appeared in the east.

The festival has been around the end of the New Year. From the south of Danfeng Gate of Daming Palace, it is the East City. The streets are full of traffic, and the dry and cold weather does not affect the atmosphere of the New Year at all.

Zhang Shuo was holding his fists bent down beside the carriage, but Xue Chongxun just opened the curtain and said: The wind is blowing cold, Daoji will get in the car.

Daoji is the word Zhang said, and Xue Chongxun’s name has changed when he left the palace. It is obviously because he doesn’t want to disturb people.

It is famous when it comes to the imperial secretary's order, but even if ordinary people hear the words Zhang said, they really don't know who it is.

The carriage started driving on the street, and Zhang Shuo asked: Where do you want to go today?

I really didn't think of where to go if I was just a casual walk.Xue Chongxun said, where is the most lively place now?

Zhang said: The most lively place should be the east and west cities, but the market is crowded and mixed.

Xue Chongxun smiled and said: Dongshi is close to this place, so let’s go to Dongshi first?

Zhang Shuo hurriedly replied: Wherever you want to go, we will go.

So Xue Chongxun asked Pang Er to drive a car to Dongshi. There was almost no scenery in the East City, and there was a flow of cars and horses. This place was originally one of the largest trading venues in Guanzhong. It had everything, and it could be bought from everything as far as Arab and Europe.

The market can be seen everywhere in the market, and the densely populated areas are the focus of maintaining public security. People who run around the world and play tricks are rare. Perhaps because the cost of setting up stalls here is not low, and they are basically business merchants.

Xue Chongxun and others got out of the car and walked around, and there was a bargaining atmosphere everywhere. Apart from looking at the goods sold, there was really nothing good to look at.

Moreover, the scene looked a bit messy, and many shops placed goods on the street. Xue Chongxun asked Zhang, saying that Zhang said that merchants should show that they have enough goods to be confident.

The two of them chatted while walking, and the servant Sanniang and Zhang said were following behind.

If Xue Chongxun hadn't come, Zhang said that he would obviously not have been to such a place in person to waste time, but Xue Chongxun seemed quite interested.

As we walked, Xue Chongxun said: I have been shopping for a long time, let’s find a place to sit.

Zhang Shuo echoed, and Xue Chongxun looked around and an inconspicuous small shop aroused his interest.

The storefront is indeed inconspicuous and even deserted, but it is a bit unique in the commercial area of ​​Dongshi.

Xue Chongxun looked up and saw a word on the plaque: Chess.

He pointed to the plaque and asked: This word, Daoji said, is it a chess shop or a chess hall for people to play chess?

Zhang said the expression remained unchanged and replied: The chess hall is open in this downtown market, and there is no artistic conception, and the store is wasted.Maybe it's a chess seller.

The business seemed not very good... we pretended to be a chess buyer, and went to sit and asked the store to take the chess to take a look, and asked the shop to have a cup of tea.Xue Chongxun said with great interest.

Zhang joked: In this downtown where profits come and go, everyone is busy pursuing profits. Only the husband is so elegant, as if he stands out in the crowd.

Xue Chongxun's face suddenly became a little serious: We are also pursuing it, but it's not just profit.

Zhang said that the smile disappeared and he immediately nodded solemnly: Mr. Lang said, the more we are in the downtown city, the more we need a saint like Mr. Lang who has a far-sighted vision and jumped out of the downtown city.

Xue Chongxun smiled and did not forget to turn around and say to Sanniang: Let’s go to the chess hall to sit.

At this time, Sanniang gave a wink to the side. Xue Chongxun didn't react at first. After a while, he realized that Zhang, who was just following, said that the slave was missing.

Such an insignificant slave, he didn't notice it if it were Sanniang's wink.

But he soon stopped caring about it. Zhang said it was the first chair in Nanya. If Xue Chongxun did not trust him in some aspects, he would not let him be the Zhongshu Ling.

The three of them walked into the chess hall and saw that there were all kinds of chess placed inside, including big and small, mainly Go, as well as Xiangxi Opera, Double Land, Western Regions Chess, etc. No wonder they were shops opened in East City, Chang'an, and there were all kinds of them.

A servant in blue clothes greeted him and stood not far away. Xue Chongxun and others didn't say anything else without asking him.

When they visited other places, there were always people who smiled and said that they wanted to pay for their money, and the atmosphere here made Xue Chongxun feel that this store was indeed a bit unique.

There was no one else in the guest except Xue Chongxun and the other three.

Xue Chongxun pointed at a random chess and asked: How much does this cost?

The servant in green said without thinking: Two hundred stakes.

The short answer is nothing else, let alone why this chess is worth so much money and made of ivory?

Xue Chongxun smiled slightly, thinking no wonder the door was gone.

There was also an old man, probably a shopkeeper, who was calculating behind the counter, not even raising his head.

It seems that we are not welcome here, Daoji, let’s go to other places.Xue Chongxun turned his head and said to Zhang.

As soon as I said this, I heard a ding-bell sound like a wind chime, and a bead curtain was lifted, and a young woman came out.

Xue Chongxun was stunned for a moment. He saw that the woman was dressed in a simple and elegant manner, but she was very beautiful, and she smiled like a spring breeze. When she walked, she could feel that her small waist was very flexible. The dress in the style of the robe skirt was actually the style of Xianbei clothing, very narrow.

The woman walked up to Xue Chongxun and Zhang Shuo and bowed slightly, looked at the two of them, and smiled and said: You are distinguished guests. The things outside are not suitable for you. Are you interested in sitting quietly? I will give you some good tastings?

Xue Chongxun glanced at Zhang and said, "I just asked about the price of the things outside. A pair of chess costs 200 cents. I am afraid that better things will be more expensive, and we may not be able to afford Ah."

The woman still smiled and said: There is no difference between expensive things, only worth it. What do you think?

Interesting, this statement is interesting.Xue Chongxun nodded with a thoughtful look, why don’t we just take a look?