The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 486: Release from prison, clean up, and start a new life
"Master Hou is back!"

Seeing the carriage approaching from a distance, Bi Zhenhai shouted at the top of his lungs.

What was more conspicuous than the carriage was Shi Xiangwen walking beside him, like a moving human-shaped hill.

The middle door of the Hou Mansion was opened wide, Yang Qiaolian led Zhu Liang and Zhu Fang, Ma Qing and Hu Guangyue led everyone in the Hou Mansion. The old lady Wu Youdi changed into a new coat and carried a chair to the door of the mansion. She tried to get up several times, but was stopped by Yang Qiaolian. It was easy to talk to him before he stopped him.

Everyone put on new clothes, the house was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and they were full of joy, as if they were celebrating the New Year in advance.

Zhou Xian did not stand with everyone, but leaned alone by the door of the mansion, stepping up and looking around from time to time.

Zhu Xiu got out of the car, hurriedly walked up the stone steps, bowed and said: "The child is unfilial and makes the mother worried!"

Wu Youdi stroked his cheek with her slightly trembling hand: "Son, I'm on a business trip, why did I stay away for so long?"

Zhu Xiu was stunned for a moment, and Yang Qiaolian kept winking at him, and then he realized that I didn't know that he was sent to the sky jail, and he was released after more than two months.

"The emperor's order is urgent, and the child can only share the worries of the court first! I hope my mother will forgive me!" Zhu Xiu said apologetically.

Yang Qiaolian took the opportunity to persuade: "Mom, brother Xiu has just come back and is very tired. Let him take a hot bath first and go away from the dust. It's cold, so you go back to the house and rest first~"

Wu Youdi pulled Zhu Xiu and said a few words of concern, and then asked four strong servants to carry the sedan chair back home.

After Wu Youdi left, Ma Qing asked someone to bring the brazier, and Yang Qiaolian urged: "Brother Xiu, step over quickly, step over the brazier, and no bad luck will come from you. I will keep you in good luck!"

Looking at the eager eyes staring at him, Zhu Xiu had no choice but to do as the Romans do, raising her legs high and stepping over the brazier with a sense of ceremony.

Ma Qing gestured and shouted: "Light up the firecrackers!"

"Crackling!~" There was a crackling sound outside the door of the house, and the black smoke was quickly blown away by the winter wind.

The crowd applauded and cheered.

Zhu Xiu grinned helplessly. The release ceremony was quite decent.

Yang Qiaolian tugged at him and mouthed mysteriously towards the door of the mansion: "Since you were imprisoned, Mrs. Zhou has never been to Guanyin Yuan and only stayed at home for meditation. I often hear her praying for your safety.

I still have some sympathy in my heart, so don’t let me down! "

Zhu Xiu looked around and could only see a thin figure in monk's robes disappearing hurriedly under the corridor.

"Oh~ don't talk so much, let the second brother take a comfortable bath and change clothes first." Zhu Wu urged.

Ma Qing hurriedly said: "The villain has already prepared hot soup."

Zhu Xiu nodded and glanced at Ma Qing and Hu Guangyue: "You two are here to serve me."

You can also take a bath in the Dali Temple Prison, but it's just a little troublesome. Zhu Xiu gave an order and the jailer took care of it.

Zhang Hang would not embarrass him for such a trivial matter.

It's just that Zhu Xiu never used the bathtubs that the jailers brought for who knew who had soaked in them. He only asked them to prepare a few buckets of hot water and send them to the cell, and they used wooden ladles to pour them in and wash them, so they made do.

In the steaming bathroom, the large bathtub was filled with hot water. Shi Xiangwen sat down and a lot of water spilled out of the pool. Ma Qing quickly asked his servants to pour buckets of hot water into it.

Shi Dalang enjoyed playing in the pool. The pool was big enough for him to play with.

Zhu Xiu leaned against the edge, and Ma Qing rolled up his sleeves and rubbed his shoulders and neck vigorously.

Lao Ma's craftsmanship is incredible. If he opens a bathhouse, his business will definitely be prosperous.

"My subordinates rushed to Taiyuan this time, successfully met with Yan Ping, and informed him of the news that the Marquis had reorganized the Police Department.

The subordinates stayed in Taiyuan for half a month, cooperating with Yan Ping to complete the reorganization of the Taiyuan team of the Police Department, with Yan Ping as the team leader.He also wrote a detailed report of his work and asked his subordinates to present it to the Marquis in person. "

Zhu Xiu wiped her wet hands, took the letter, shook it and read it carefully.

Reading between the lines, it can be seen that Yan Ping has become more mature and stable after years of experience in Taiyuan, and he has become more and more like a spy leader.

He first expressed his greetings and thoughts in the letter, and his words were very respectful. Then he explained in detail what he had seen and heard in Taiyuan over the years, and reported on the military and political situation of the Northern Han Dynasty over the years.

Zhu Xiu read it carefully twice and said with a smile: "The report is well written and quite literary. Yan Ping's stay in Taiyuan these years has not been in vain."

Hu Guangyue said: "He did a good business in Taiyuan. He made friends with all kinds of people in the Northern Han Dynasty. Recently, he also established relations with the Khitans. He was responsible for trafficking war horses for the Northern Han Dynasty. He was protected by Zhang Yuanhui, Liu Chong's confidant and commander of the horse infantry at that time! "

"Oh?" Zhu Xiu was slightly surprised. He didn't expect Yan Ping to hook up with Zhang Yuanhui.

"Why, Lord Hou, is there something wrong?" Hu Guangyue asked hurriedly.

"No, write back to Yan Ping and ask him to sort out his relationship with Zhang Yuanhui. This line must not be broken!"

"Subordinates obey orders!"

Zhu Xiu fell into deep thought. Zhang Yuanhui was a strong general that Liu Chong trusted and reused. Through him, Yan Ping might be able to get a lot of Northern Han army secrets.

But he couldn't let Guo Wei or even Chai Rong know this information.

His men were lurking in Taiyuan in the second year of Qianyou's reign, even earlier than Liu Chong raised an army to rebel against Zhou Lihan. It is too sensational to say that it makes no sense no matter how you explain it.

These buried backhands may not be used until a long time later.

Zhu Xiudao: "According to your observation, how is the Northern Han regime operating in Hedong?"

Hu Guangyue thought for a while and said: "Hedong is barren and the population is sparse. The Northern Han Dynasty had to pay tribute to the Khitans while maintaining military expenses. The taxes were heavy and the people's lives were very difficult.

The Khitans also knew that they could not push Liu Chong too hard, so they reduced or reduced the Northern Han court's tribute from time to time, and even subsidized grain and grass. From Liu Chong down, the Northern Han court was grateful to the Khitans.

There are also members of the Dangxiang Army who not only liberalized border trade, but also secretly transported food and weapons to Hedong.

Liu Chong would also send people to Liaozhou, Luzhou and other places to secretly purchase grain and armor. Relying on these methods, the Northern Han Dynasty could barely survive."

Zhu Xiu closed her eyes and enjoyed Ma Qing's vigorous bathing while listening to Hu Guangyue's introduction to the situation in Hedong.

Similar to what he knew and expected, there were not only Khitans behind Liu Chong in the Northern Han Dynasty, but also the party member Li.

The existence of the Northern Han Dynasty was like a sharp blade hanging over the head of the Zhou Dynasty. When it was blunt, it was polished to keep it a threat to the Zhou Dynasty at any time.

The Khitan people would never miss this opportunity to pierce Da Zhou's blood slowly.

The Dangxiang Li family has long been determined to be independent. He was caught between the Zhou Dynasty, the Northern Han Dynasty, and the Khitan, and he wished that the Central Plains would be divided. The more chaos there was, the better for him.

Hu Guangyue added: "Last month, Liu Chong led his army to attack Fuzhou. Unexpectedly, Fuzhou's defense envoy Zhe Dequ discovered the enemy's situation early and led his troops to ambush. Liu Chong's troops were defeated in the Yellow River Valley northwest of Lanzhou and returned. Zhe Deku took the opportunity to capture Lanzhou City, plundered countless grain, grass and equipment, and returned with his army three days later.

General Zhe is worthy of being a son of a general, and with Zhe and his son guarding Shengzhou, the prefecture, everything is guaranteed! "

Zhu Xiu wiped the water stains on his face and said with a smile: "The Zhe family is full of loyal and brave people, but it is difficult for Liu Chong to get benefits from Fuzhou. Send a message to Yan Ping and ask him to find a way to contact the Zhe family, provide food, grass, ordnance." , clothing, armor, cloth, whatever the family needs, try your best to help get it.

In the name of a patriotic businessman, don't reveal your identity. "

Speaking of the Zhe family, Zhu Xiu thought of something and asked with great interest: "Has Zhe De's daughter married Yang Chonggui, the son of Linzhou governor Yang Hongxin?"

Hu Guangyue was stunned for a moment, scratched his head and said: "My subordinates have heard about this in Taiyuan. Originally, Zhe's daughter had arranged a marriage with Yang Chonggui early, but since this year, Yang Hongxin has been seriously ill, and Linzhou affairs have been handed over to his second son Yang Chongxun. reason.

Yang Chongxun had already declared his allegiance to Liu Chong of the Northern Han Dynasty, and Liu Chong appointed him as the governor of Linzhou.

The Zhe family was angry about this and threatened to cancel the marriage, so the wife of the Zhe family has not yet gotten married, but it is said that she and Yang Chonggui have made a lifelong commitment in private.
Oh, by the way, Lord Marquis, Liu Chong adopted Yang Chonggui as his adopted son, named him Liu Jiye, and served as the commander of the defense army. He was Liu Chong’s confidant general! "

Zhu Xiu smacked his lips. In this three-thirds of an acre of land in Linzhou, all forces were intertwined and it was really chaotic.

"What new developments has the Dangxiang Li family made recently?"

“Since this summer, there have been civil strife in several branches of the Dangxiang people, and they have also fought several times with the Tubo people in the Yanzhou area.

The scale of these battles was not large, but one thing worth noting is that the person responsible for these battles was Li Guangyan, the defense envoy of Youzhou!
There is news that Li Yiyin has more and more trust in him, and the Dangxiang Prince Li Guangrui also relies on him very much. "

Zhu Xiu smiled. Li Guangyan finally understood what it meant to be forbearing and what it meant to be conciliatory and conciliatory.

"Inform Wen Zhongping, the magistrate of the Changyi Army, that our business with Wuyuan can be stopped. Li Guangyan has established a foothold within the party and does not need our continued support. In order to avoid suspicion, he will no longer interact with us."

"My subordinate understands."

Hu Guangyue hesitated, as if he had something to say.

"What's the matter?" Zhu Xiu glanced at him sideways.

Hu Guangyue smiled dryly and said, "One more little thing. I heard that Lady Bi Hongyu gave birth to a son for Li Guangyan."

"Oh?" Zhu Xiu was stunned for a moment, a little surprised, and smiled: "Do you know what the child's name is?"

Hu Guangyue shook his head: "Li Guangyan is a member of the royal family, and his son should be named Li Yiyin, but we don't know the specific name yet.

However, Li Guangrui's son was named Li Jiyun. According to the order of Dangxiang Li's generation, he should be named "Li Ji" first. "

Hu Guangyue was a little confused and didn't understand why the Marquis would be interested in the name of a Dangxiang baby thousands of miles away.

Hu Guangyue and Ma Qing looked at each other, probably because this child was born to Bi Hongyu.
Zhu Xiu closed her eyes to rest and did not see the lewd looks of the two guys.

In fact, his concern about Li Guangyan's son's name has nothing to do with Bi Hongyu.

He just wanted to know whether Li Guangyan's first son was Li Jiqian, the famous founder of the Xixia Dynasty in history.
Hu Guangyue handed Ma Qing a piece of soap and said with a smile: "By the way, Lord Marquis, my subordinates passed through Luzhou on their way back and met Zhou Guangxun. He asked his subordinates to say hello to Lord Marquis."

"Zhou Guangxun?" Zhu Xiu thought for a while before remembering who this person was.

"You didn't mention me, but you forgot, how is Zhou Guangxun doing now?"

"Since Puzhou pacified Li Shouzhen, he stayed in Puzhou Hezhong Army, and later Li Yun served as Hezhong Jiedu Envoy, Zhou Guangxun followed him all the time.

Li Jun moved to Luzhou, and Zhou Guangxun also followed him. Now everyone under Li Jun knows about it. "

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "It seems that Li Jun thinks highly of him. You select a batch of woolen goods and transport them to Luzhou to give to Zhou Guangxun. I have ignored this person for the past two years. It is rare that he still remembers me."

After taking a bath, Zhu Xiu felt refreshed. A thick layer of dirt was rubbed off her body by Ma Qing. In addition, Shi Xiangwen had a lot of inventory on his body, so the two guys felt refreshed. It was difficult for the servants to clean the bath inside and out. pool.

Humming a tune and preparing to chat with my mother, he bumped into Zhou Xian dressed as a nun.

This girl has been reciting the Buddha's name for a long time, her temperament has become colder, and the resentment in her heart has dissipated a lot. When she saw Zhu Xiu, she no longer had the cold eyebrows as before, but she was as calm and indifferent as an iceberg, with a look that no strangers should enter. Stance.

"Eh!~"

Seeing Zhou Xian passing by without squinting, Zhu Xiu stretched out his hand to stop him.

"Where is Emperor E going?"

Zhou Xian said calmly: "Go back to Guanyin Temple."

"I heard that Emperor E has never been to Guanyin Yuan since I was imprisoned. Why do I have to go back again after I came back?"

Zhou Xian glanced at him and said indifferently: "Since you have nothing to do, I will naturally go back to Qingxiu and come back to visit the old lady every few days."

"So, Emperor E still cares about me." Zhu Xiu came closer and laughed.

Zhou Xian took a step back, frowned, and quickly smoothed it out: "Even if we are ordinary friends, at a critical moment of life and death, I will show my concern, so don't think too much about it."

"Tsk, tsk~ You really don't understand amorous feelings!" Zhu Xiu pouted.

Suddenly, Zhu Xiu reached out and took off her dharma hat, revealing her black hair.

"You~" Zhou Xian's expression finally changed, his pretty face filled with anger.

"Are you angry? Haha, I thought chanting Buddha's name and chanting sutras could help you enter a state of selflessness with no sorrow, no joy, no anger and no delusion!"

Zhu Xiu put the cap under her nose and sniffed it vigorously, with a frivolous and frivolous expression: "It smells so good! It's a familiar smell!"

Zhou Xian gritted his silver teeth and said in a cold voice: "It's because I don't have a deep relationship with Buddha and my understanding is not enough, so I can't see through the right and wrong in this mortal world!"

Zhu Xiu smiled and said: "No, no! It's because you have no connection with Buddhism. You are destined to be a wanderer in this mortal world. Your peace and happiness in this life are not in Buddhism, but here!"

Zhu Xiu patted his chest and grinned, showing a mouth full of white teeth. He thought he had a handsome smile.

Zhou Xian's almond-shaped eyes were full of anger, and he shouted: "You should give up as soon as possible! When I get back, I will ask the master and master of the hospital to have my hair ordained for me!"

She grabbed the dharma hat, slammed the door and left angrily.

Zhu Xiu didn't stop her, and watched her go away with a smile.

Ma Qing quietly appeared at the side and whispered: "Master Hou, Mrs. Zhou won't really lose her hair, right?"

"Haha, that girl is still willing to quarrel with me, which shows that the experience of the past few months has not made her make up her mind to abandon the mortal world and enter Buddhism.

The master of Guanyin Yuan belongs to Princess Shouan, so how could he have her hair cut off?
If I don't nod, there won't be a temple in Kaifeng City that dares to anoint her!

This silly girl thinks that Buddhism is a peaceful place, but where in this world is there a truly peaceful place?
Buddhism is boundless, but monks who promote Buddhism are subject to the control of secular powers! "

Zhu Xiu shook his head, "Those who have arranged for protection must not make mistakes."

"Don't worry, Lord Marquis, I won't let another fly get close to Mrs. Zhou again!"

(End of this chapter)