Chapter 1108 Burning Two Sticks of Incense

In Zhang Mansion, Chang'an, Zhang Shangyuan hurried to his father's study, bowed and said: "See you, father!"

Zhang Li nodded, "Are you all ready?"

"Everything is ready, my child will set off early tomorrow morning!"

Zhang Shangyuan was Zhang Li's eldest son. He had not joined the officialdom. He had sent people to Chang'an to set up an outpost, bought a house, and established a trading firm. Everything was ready, and he was finally going to set off.

It was of course Zhang Li's decision to let his son Zhang Shangyuan go to Chang'an. Since Li Ye was also wooing him, he had to be wise and burn incense in both temples to leave a way out for his family.

Zhang Li pondered for a moment and said: "The Meihua Guards are keeping a close eye on us. They will definitely know if you go to Chang'an, so you have to go separate ways. Your entourage will take the Shaanzhou Road. I will send a few warriors to escort you to Nanyang. You will go into business." The state road goes to Chang'an, do you understand?"

Zhang Shangyuan was stunned, "Father, is it necessary to do this?"

Zhang Li snorted coldly, "What time is it now? The emperor is in a coma most of the day, relying on medicine to hang on for his life, and the eunuchs have not left the palace. Everyone is at war with each other. Do you still think it is a peaceful time? I’m afraid you’ll be killed halfway and there’ll be no room for you to reason.”

"My child knows I'm wrong!"

"Forget it, you are not in the court and don't understand the situation in the court. It is normal."

Zhang Shangyuan asked cautiously: "Recently, there are rumors in the market that something big is going to happen in the imperial court. It is said that the eunuchs are going to attack high-ranking officials in the imperial court."

"Nonsense!"

Zhang Li said dissatisfied: "This kind of gossip in the market will do nothing. They will only spread some absurd words."

"But the recent situation is really weird!"

"Weird shit!"

Zhang Li interrupted his son rudely, "Some people are afraid that the world will not be in chaos. They make up alarmist things all day long. When nothing happens, they say it's weird. Think about it with your own head. Don't follow what others say all day long."

Zhang Shangyuan did not dare to say anything. Zhang Li also realized that his words were a bit harsh, so he softened his tone and said: "You remember, as long as Li Dai is sitting in the political hall, no one dares to attack senior officials of the imperial court, otherwise it will be Zhu Tao’s fate.”

"The kid remembers it!"

"Go and rest early! We'll leave early tomorrow morning."

Zhang Shangyuan bowed and left.

Zhang Li was pacing back and forth in the study room with his hands behind his back. Zhang Li was born in Luoyang and was a low-level official. He was very sophisticated in people's ways. He was not like a high-ranking official with a professional background who had to care about face and feathers. He was not. He would do anything to achieve his goals.

In order to prevent the emperor from doubting his ambition, he did not hesitate to destroy his reputation and establish himself as a miser. He transported the remaining dregs from Guanglu Temple's brewing to his home one by one, and continued to press wine at home to make money. The house was filled with smoke and smoke, and anyone passing by his house would smell the smell of lees, which became a joke in Luoyang. However, it was this image of a stingy man that successfully dispelled Emperor Li Heng's suspicion of him and allowed him to hand over power with confidence. Empress Zhang also decreed that Zhang Li be promoted to Prime Minister.

Of course Zhang Li has his own ambitions. He really wants to be prime minister for twenty years like Li Linfu, but he also knows that in order to maintain his position, he must have capital. His capital is his daughter, Queen Zhang, and only his daughter has the greatest power. Only by doing this, his capital will be stronger and he will have the confidence to negotiate with Li Ye.

Letting the eldest son go to Chang'an this time was the beginning of establishing a tacit understanding between him and Li Ye.

Luoyang Tongtuofang and Yujifang are the gathering places of Luoyang's craftsmen and the concentration of Luoyang's handicraft industry. The two workshops are full of all kinds of tinkling sounds and noises. The craftsmen are giving While working for the court, he took on some private work to support his family.

It was just getting dark when a man in his thirties hurriedly walked into the Tongtuofang.

This man is of medium build and has a gentle temperament. He is completely different from the rugged craftsmen. He is wearing a ninth-grade official uniform and a gauze hat. His forehead is covered with sweat. He has no money to take a bullock cart and walks back.

The man's name is Wang Zhan, a native of Jiangdu. He is a director of the Du Shui Supervisory Boat and Ship Department, responsible for ship design. He is only a ninth-grade official with a low salary. It is difficult to support his family. After following the imperial court from Chang'an to Luoyang, He could only rent a small courtyard with half a plot of land and two mud houses in Tongtuofang, and the monthly rent was just the same.

He often encountered salary arrears from the court, so he could only borrow money from everywhere, and his life was very embarrassing and difficult.

When I walked to the entrance of the alley, I heard a young child's voice shouting, "Sugar porridge! Sugar porridge! Six cents a bowl, the cheapest price."

Wang Zhan suddenly felt sad. It was the voice of his seven-year-old son. When he approached the alley, he saw his wife greeting two porridge customers under the dim light. The son was shouting hard, and there was a rickety old man squatting next to him. Washing dishes on the floor, that was his old mother.

He could only earn a penny from selling one bowl, and he could only sell twenty bowls a day at most. His wife had to do laundry at night, so he could only earn one or two bucks a month. When he couldn't pay his salary, the family could barely make ends meet.

"Daddy!"

The son Wang Kunlun suddenly saw his father and rushed over happily and threw himself into his father's arms.

Wang Zhan touched his son's head, his nose was sour, "Go home! Daddy is here to help."

"Dad, sit down quickly!"

The son pulled his father to sit down, and a person next to him chuckled and said, "Master Wang, your son is so sensible!"

Wang Zhan's face sank. This man was his neighbor Liu Hong. He was a scoundrel who had harassed his wife several times. Wang Zhan found some shipbuilders and beat him up. He had been honest for a while. Why did he come again tonight? ?

"What are you doing here?" Wang Zhan glared at him.

"I'm drinking porridge here!"

The man took out a few pennies and put them on the table, with a sarcastic expression on his face: "Your wife is waiting for me!"

Blood immediately rushed to Wang Zhan's forehead. The shame and humiliation made him clenched his fists to punch that ugly face hard, and he was about to explode.

At this time, a bowl of sugar porridge was gently placed in front of Wang Zhan, and a soft voice said: "Kunlun'er, get a spoon for father!"

His wife's soft voice reminded Wang Zhan that his son was still in his arms and he could not fight with the scoundrels in front of his son.

He suppressed his anger and said coldly: "It seems that someone deserves a beating again!"

Liu Hong was even more proud, "Haha! Boss Hu and the others have gone to Jiangxia. You go to Jiangxia and call them back. Go!"

It turned out that several shipwrights had left, so no wonder this scoundrel became arrogant again.

In a fight, the skinny Wang Zhan would definitely not be able to defeat this scoundrel who was a head taller than him, so his wife asked him to hold back. She was afraid that her husband would be insulted by this scoundrel.

At this moment, several people walked towards the roadside. The leader was a middle-aged man in Tsing Yi, about fifty years old, followed by several followers. They walked towards the stall.

Wang Zhan's son's eyes lit up and he hurriedly came to greet him, "Uncle, come and eat some sweet porridge!"

"Haha! Thank you, I would like to ask, is there a person named Wang Zhan here?"