last time

Chapter 169 Enshi
Zhuo Ran has seen snow in Yongzhou and Gaodu.This year's winter came late, and there was little or no snow. After staying in the carriage for a long time, I felt stuffy. Zhuo Ran opened the curtain a little, and saw the snow seeds rolled by the wind into a beaded curtain, swaying and rolling over.

She stretched out her palm to catch the snow that had condensed into small particles, which melted into small drops of water on the fingertips of her palm, and quickly disappeared.Zhuo Ran stayed for a moment, then curled up her fingers to hold the wet ball, it was a bit cold, but very comfortable.

Along the way, Wei Xun was thinking about what Zhuo Ran would do next, but Zhuo Ran didn't know Yuzhou well, so how to persuade them to let Yuzhou become Zhuo Ran's was not an easy task.Yuzhou didn't let Gaodu control them, so naturally it had its own ability and capital, if Zhuo Ran wanted to make a deal, he might have to sacrifice something.

Zhuo Ran turned her head to look at Wei Xun, she lowered her voice, and said in a low voice: "Wei Xun, the letter that we sent before we left must have arrived in Yuzhou, Master Wei of Wei Zhuang is a civil official, and the Yuzhou garrison is not in charge." There are no other places that are perfect, so let our people stay outside the city for the time being when we go this time, lest he feel alienated, and you will let them enter the city after I give the order."

Wei Xun nodded and said, "Wei Xun understands. But girl, I'm still worried that if we enter Yuzhou City like this, there will be no danger. Not to mention that the people in Tuzhou won't attack us for the time being, but He Xi's goal is in Yuzhou."

"That's why we should go all the more." Zhuo Ran said, "No matter how much He Xi wants to win Yuzhou, he has to find the right time. I'm not afraid to confront him, because I still have you and Zisha Tang, what I’m afraid of now is that Wei Zhuang will be directly persuaded by He Xi. I don’t know much about Wei Zhuang, and I don’t know what he is like. Yike told me that he is more difficult to deal with, and I am also thinking about how to say it. It will make him feel that we are totally insincere."

Wei Xun said: "Actually, I have heard of Wei Zhuang. The girl was in Yongzhou at the time, and she should know that Yuzhou is a place that no one else can touch, but Yuzhou does not rely on military strength. Yuzhou has a good geographical location. Bullying Yuzhou is bullying Beili, which is one of the reasons. More importantly, Wei Zhuang is popular with the people. He is a civil servant and loves the people like a son. Basically, there are no beggars in Yuzhou. There is a counselor beside him who said Speaking of which, Wei Zhuang is the Bole of this strategist, and this strategist has many ideas, he is used to using the method of subduing the enemy without fighting, and wins every time, so Yuzhou now seems to be impenetrable."

Yuzhou does not belong to Beili, nor does it have much contact with Beili. Even in the past, the military salary had to be paid from Yuzhou, but it was considered dead, so Yuzhou was coveted by many people, but no one really took it here.Therefore, Wei Xun's words were not without reason.

"It's just that what you said is solid, I think it's a little exaggerated." Zhuo Ran looked at him, "If Yuzhou is really like this, then Nie Hanshan will not be so stable. It is in his best interest to develop Yuzhou. It’s just that you were always silent when I talked to Yike that day. You know so much and you should say it when you should. If you follow me, don’t always feel that I am a subordinate, and you are my friend."

"Miss is serious." Wei Xun lowered his eyes, "Miss is my master, how dare I become friends with her."

"Sometimes relatives and friends are more real than masters and servants." Zhuo Ran said, "I won't let you belittle yourself, but I don't want you to be overly ostentatious. You and I are both people who can't help ourselves. At this point, we should treat each other more be honest and open."

"Yes." Wei Xun nodded.

As Zhuo Ran expected, Yuzhou was not what Wei Xun said.

As soon as they came out of the official road, the snow became heavier. Zhuo Ran lifted the curtain, and the snow turned into water and poured into the wind to make it cool, but the wind stopped.The city gate of Yuzhou was different from that of Yongzhou. It was wide open at the moment, and some people in thin clothes ran in one after another, shivering in the cold wind.

Wei Xun called people to stop, Zhuo Ran wrapped his cloak tightly, and got out of the carriage with Wei Xun's hands.Wei Xun took a look two steps forward and frowned. He took back what he said just now. These seem to be beggars, but Yuzhou should be on guard against Tuzhou at the moment. Why are they so careless and open the city gate so wide.

Zhuo Ran walked to Wei Xun's side and smiled: "It seems that there is no need to let our people wait outside, just go directly to the city."

Wei Xun understood what Zhuo Ran meant, and led the people to the gate of the city in a mighty manner.When some sharp-eyed officials saw a large number of people approaching the city gate, they first asked people to stop them, and then hurriedly sent people to report to Wei Zhuang.Although it seems that the leader is a woman, as long as she brings people to Yuzhou, she is a dangerous person.

"Who are you? Where are you from?"

Wei Xun stood in front of Zhuo Ran first, and said in a deep voice, "Princess Nanxiang is something you can stop?"

"Nan... Nanxiang?"

Zhuo Ran took Wei Xun's arm, stepped forward and said softly to the guard: "I have already communicated with the governor of the state, and I just need to wait for him to confirm."

Zhuo Ran stood where he was, and the Liuqi who were going in at the gate of the city were also blocked, they couldn't bear the cold.Zhuo Ran glanced quickly, these people still had wounds on their bodies, the blood scabs were exposed to the bitter wind, barely covered with clothes, and their faces were covered with dirt, all of them cast unfriendly glances at Zhuo Ran, as if She was blaming Zhuo Ran, if she hadn't been in the way, they would have entered the city by now.

Zhuo Ran didn't want them to accompany her to suffer from the cold, so she just stepped forward to face the man's sword facing her, and said softly, "I'm here to find the Lord of the state capital, if you want to stop me, just stop me alone. Let these people quickly enter the city."

The man frowned and said coldly, "These are refugees and I will let them go, but you'd better keep quiet."

Zhuo Ran retreated consciously.

It seems that the name Nanxiang is not easy to use, it is not as deterrent as the word Zhuo Ran, maybe it can scare these people.

Not long after, a man in a black cloak appeared at the gate of the city, followed by a group of guards. Zhuo Ran saw that he was not young, but there were some vicissitudes on the brows of this man. It seemed that he should be with Jiang Rulan It's about the same size, so it must not be Weizhuang.

"Master Meng." The people guarding the city gate respectfully saluted the visitor, leading him to Zhuo Ran.

This is the counselor.When he approached Zhuo Ran and saw his face carefully, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips. If he was a young man, he would be easier to talk, but he was older, so he couldn't call him a senior.Zhuo Ran still bowed down as a junior, but was stopped by the man's arm.

"Since the princess has arrived, please don't be restrained." Meng Weidao supported Zhuo Ran, and said in a deep voice, "Meng Weidao, my word is strict. If the state capital still has official business, ask me to lead the princess into the city."

Zhuo Ran followed those people calling him, nodded slightly: "Thank you, Mr. Meng."

Meng Weidao looked behind Zhuo Ran and looked at Wei Xun and the people in Zishatang. He couldn't help frowning slightly, but he still agreed to let them enter the city.Meng Weidao directly led people into Wei Zhuang's mansion, told them to rectify, and then he went out of the mansion and said that he was going to invite Wei Zhuang back.

Wei Xun quickly arranged the people in Zisha Hall and went to Zhuo Ran.There was a charcoal fire burning in the room, Zhuo Ran took off his cape after a while, shook off the water droplets falling from the wind collar, and put the clothes on the hanger.Hearing Wei Xun's knock on the door, he called someone to come in first.

As soon as Wei Xun entered the room, he felt that he should not have come at this time.Zhuo Ran was changing clothes behind the screen, Wei Xun turned around unnaturally, Zhuo Ran had already put on his coat and came out.

Zhuo Ran motioned him to sit down and said, "What's wrong."

"Girl," Wei Xun looked up at Zhuo Ran, "I saw those beggars on the way here, they came down the official road with us, but I thought they came from the border at the time. But at first glance, it should be from Tuzhou."

"Tuzhou?" Zhuo Ran frowned, "They are wounded, so they must find a shelter close by. Tuzhou is not close to Yuzhou, but why don't they go to Yongzhou, it's easier to go south."

Wei Xun shook his head: "Perhaps as the girl said, this Wei Zhuang loves the people like a child, and almost never refuses refugees, but Yongzhou is different. Yongzhou is now the territory of Nie Hanshan. I'm afraid there will be no one in Yongzhou." Live a good life, but Yuzhou is not safe, if they really empty Yuzhou, it will only be a matter of time before Tuzhou takes Yuzhou."

Zhuo Ran sighed slightly, and said, "But he was able to rescue all the refugees. Just from this, I think he has a chivalrous heart, but kindness is not necessarily a good thing."

"Girl, what do you think of that Meng Weidao?" Wei Xun said, "He has a lot of experience and acts calmly. His appearance just now doesn't like us very much. If we really want to convince Wei Zhuang, the girl will have to work hard."

Zhuo Ran smiled slightly: "It's not difficult. By the way, Wei Xun, don't hide when we talk later, you have to help me."

Wei Xun nodded blankly.

***
When Meng Weidao left the mansion, he had already ordered the kitchen to start cooking. He said that there was a distinguished guest today, but in fact he said it was a distinguished guest. When Zhuo Ran swaggered into Wei Zhuang's mansion, the news spread like wildfire, saying that it was Nanhuan. The only princess in the imperial era came to Yuzhou and caused a storm.

But fortunately, the people listened to Wei Zhuang's words, and the state government only said that they would treat them with great hospitality, so they celebrated alone at home.It was getting late when Wei Zhuang came back, Zhuo Ran lay down on the couch and squinted for a while, then Wei Xun called him up.

Wei Zhuang's mansion is simple and crude, similar to Li Yanchuan's mansion in Gaodu, but bigger than Li Yanchuan's mansion.Just now, I went around the corridor and heard from the servants that Wei Zhuang's daughter is going to recruit a son-in-law, and that they are all engaged, and they will start work in the next year.Thinking about coming here, the house will have to be redecorated, maybe because there are too many things recently, it has disappeared.

Zhuo Ran didn't see anyone other than Wei Zhuang and Meng Weidao, and she and Wei Xun would be led the way when they came out and back to their room.Wei Zhuang seemed to be really entertaining distinguished guests, moved the banquet into the main hall, and specially invited someone to serve beside him, making him feel uncomfortable.

Wei Zhuang knew that Nanxiang was Zhuo Ran, and Meng Weidao guessed and told him about it.Meng Weidao was careful, all he did was for Wei Zhuang's face, and the things he asked people to make were the characteristics of Yongzhou before. Knowing that Zhuo Ran was a woman, he specially prepared scented tea.

Meng Weidao didn't take his seat, but stood aside as a waiter. There were only Wei Zhuang and Zhuo Ran in the seat, and Wei Xun stood behind Zhuo Ran.This Wei Zhuang looks very mature, but he can't help being a little impetuous. He knows that the purpose of this person in front of him is not pure, but he didn't pierce the window paper, just trying to cover it up, Zhuo Ran will not fail to see.

"Princess is very tired all the way. She has suffered in Gaodu for so many years. It is a great fortune that she is safe and sound now." Wei Zhuang smiled, and thought for a long time that it is better to call Zhuo Ran a princess. After all, he is a royal family. He doesn't know the changes, he only knows that the world is impermanent.

Zhuo Ran said softly: "Your Majesty, you don't need to call me that. Although I recognize Nan Xiang as my identity, I am still Zhuo Ran, and to my lord, I am still a junior. Gao Du and his party were thrilling, but fortunately they escaped safely. "

Wei Zhuang has been laughing from the very beginning, he doesn't know what kind of expression he should use to face Zhuo Ran, who is Zhuo Ran, not to mention the impact of Nan Xiang's identity on them, just what happened to Zhuo Ting back then and now Speaking of who is not speaking righteously, who doesn't want to rush into Gaodu to kill Zhuo Ran, although he is not as impulsive as four years ago, but the news about Zhuo Ting has changed.Wei Zhuang can still receive Zhuo Ran in a good manner now, it's all because of Nan Xiang's identity.Now Zhuo Ran has become a phoenix, even if this identity is useless now, but he has heard of Zhuo Ran's actions, this person is really too dangerous.And it is rumored that she has some connection with Beili champion Hou, who just returned from rebellion, Zhuo Ran is a hot potato now, and he also understands.

Wei Zhuang was silent for a long time and didn't think of a name. Zhuo Ran's face was gentle, and he looked more like a Xiaojiabiyu than his own daughter. If he hadn't heard some leftovers, he seemed to think that Zhuo Ran was just a good boy. The female is his junior.But how dare, the rumors she caused in Gaodu are already very strong, Wei Zhuang can't help shaking his head, thinking that Zhuo Ran's words must be drawn out, otherwise today's table will be in vain.

Although Zhuo Ran had been careful to keep warm on the road, she was still a little bit cold. She drank scented tea with a teacup in her hand. The light and long fragrance of flowers dissipated the coldness, and Zhuo Ran's fingers gradually warmed up.It is said that talented women in Yongzhou have three loves, the first love is obscure and profound poetry, the second loves drinking scented tea, and the third loves making up for generals.This was widely spread at the time, and it was said that Zhuo Ran was a strange woman, but at this moment, it seemed that Wei Zhuang had something else to say - don't mess with her.

Wei Xun frowned and thought, this Wei Zhuang has always wanted to ask Zhuo Ran the purpose of coming here, but he couldn't say it, he wanted to speak for Zhuo Ran directly.Wei Zhuang lowered his eyes in embarrassment. Seeing that Zhuo Ran's teacup was empty, Meng Weidao leaned over to fill it up again. Zhuo Ran thanked him softly.

Meng Weidao was not as procrastinating as Wei Zhuang, he put down the white porcelain teapot, and said softly: "Zhuo Siye has encountered trouble in Yongzhou, I heard that He Xi from Tuzhou is planning to go to Yongzhou?"

Zhuo Ran knew that he was also a person who could talk, so he said: "He Xi didn't intend to go to Yongzhou, but to Yuzhou. The wandering beggars Mr. Meng saw at the city gate just now came from Tuzhou For the refugees who came over, He Xi must clear the field because he wants to complete his own plan. He has been suppressed by Nie Hanshan these years and cannot show his edge, and the chaos in the world is a good time."

"But He Xi didn't come to disturb you," Wei Zhuang said, "I made people keep a close eye on the city gates, and they decided they couldn't get through."

Zhuo Ran didn't answer.Meng Weidao thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Is Zhuo Siye related to Nie Hanshan?"

Zhuo Ran looked up at Meng Weidao, and said slowly: "Yes. I made a deal with him. I won He Xi for him, and he returned all the three states of Yongxin Tu to me. I also heard that He Xi wanted to swallow it. Going down to Yuzhou, I just rushed over to discuss with the two of you, can you lend me the city of Yuzhou?"

Meng Weidao took a step back, Zhuo Ran frowned slightly, and turned to look at Wei Zhuang.Wei Zhuang sat up straight and said, "There is no evidence for Zhuo Siye's words. Where is Yuzhou? There are thousands of people here. Zhuo Siye wants to fight He Xi. It is not wise to bring Yuzhou up now." What's more, Zhuo Siye brought so many people here, which makes me have to doubt you, forgive me for being rude, I can't promise you this matter."

Following Meng Weidao, he called Zhuo Ran and Zhuo Siye, Zhuo Ran was raised by Zhuo Ting, and his temperament was somewhat similar to Zhuo Ting's, their words were spoken lightly, but people who listened felt like they were on pins and needles.

Zhuo Ran cleared her mind, and said softly: "It's normal that the state government and Mr. Meng don't believe me. I'm not someone who can disturb the world. Since you two heard that I am the princess of Nanxiang, you naturally know that I want to The idea of ​​seizing the throne. Now that Emperor Taiping is enthroned, according to previous laws, he will amnesty the world and replace the state capitals to ensure imperial rule, but this year's news has not arrived. To put it bluntly, Yuzhou is still Dayu, is it Isn't the governor of the state afraid of being replaced?"

Wei Zhuang's expression changed suddenly, and he raised his eyes to look at Meng Weidao.

"In Yongzhou, I closed my eyes and listened," Zhuo Ran continued, "I didn't know that Lord Wei Zhuang had such a heart of loving the people like a child. I heard that as long as the Lord of the prefecture is here, the whole Yuzhou will be prosperous, and there will be no doubts. Being poor, this is something that adults have to do out of their own pockets. It is really admirable. However, due to the weather change, the harvest here in Yuzhou is not good this year. It can barely meet the consumption of the people in the city. How can it support the relief? Refugees? This old-fashioned kindness is beyond the reach of younger generations. But there is one thing I don’t understand. In May, a batch of food and salaries shipped from Gaodu to Beili suddenly disappeared. It happened to disappear when it was close to Yuzhou. Champion Hou But he has been investigating these things, if he knows that the adults are so generous to help the victims after the harvest is barely enough, will he come directly from Beili to find out?"

"What does Zhuo Siye mean by that?" Wei Zhuang frowned, "What military salary, what disappeared? We've never heard of it."

Zhuo Ran nodded and said: "Don't be impatient, my lord, I was just joking. No matter where the batch of food went, it has nothing to do with you. I just thought of these things suddenly when I saw that my lord is so kind. You don't have to worry about it, my lord."

Meng Weidao sighed deeply and closed his eyes.

(End of this chapter)