Chapter 9 Section Three

It was a cool morning when Lu Zhonglian and his party entered Chencheng, and it was also the busiest time in Chencheng's downtown. Both sides of the long street are full of continuous plank sheds built by big trees, and the people outside the sheds are crowded and bustling, and there is almost no end in sight.Each section of the shed is a merchant's shop, and there are many kinds of citrus, silk, animal skins, and linen.The most conspicuous thing is that there are obviously more short weapon shops than other shops.At a glance, the guises of Wu Gou, Yue Jian, Hu Dao, Han Gong, and Bing Shi are swaying and connected with the wind, which is dizzying.Turning the corner of the street is a wide stone street, row upon row of big green brick houses, the city is slightly less populated, big shops stand next to each other, each of which is a long row of shops, there are many shops in the street. The exquisite carts of the Jinyi merchants and the ox carts for transporting goods come and go.The costumes of the passers-by are even more colorful. It is neither the yellow clothes all over the streets in Yingdu of the Chu Kingdom, nor can it be seen that any color of clothing dominates the mainstream.

"There is so much chaos in the world, I don't know who owns the world!" Fan Sui couldn't help sighing. "As long as it's not completely dark, Brother Fan will feel uncomfortable." Lu Zhonglian said teasingly, pointing to the flow of horses, horses and people and laughing loudly, "Only the four corners of the world are the real world!" Fan Ju smiled slightly: "The mighty potential is also precarious, and different people have different opinions." Seeing no reply, Fan Ju looked back, and it turned out that he had arrived at another street intersection, and Lu Zhonglian, who was leading the horse next to him, only looked around the crowd. Sui asked, "Is Zhonglian looking for someone?"

Lu Zhonglian pointed far away: "Look! There." Looking at it at a glance, I saw a big wooden board in the bustling place at the intersection ahead.On the boulders on the left and right sides of the board, a man in white clothes was shouting loudly: "Go into the mountains and log, and earn five dollars a day, I would like to sign up!" Groups of young men in shabby clothes and small burdens gathered around the board. Swipe around the plank.A few feet away from the board, stood a large tent, and a middle-aged man in a linen robe was handing out small wooden cards to some people.Those who received the wooden plaques sat on the straw mats next to the big tent one by one, and there was already a large group of people sitting at the moment.

"Almost, let's go!" Lu Zhonglian handed the reins to the little Yue girl, "Just wait." Pulling Fan Ju, he crossed the intersection. There is a thick black charcoal drawing on the big wooden board at the intersection: the upper left is three people cutting wood (two people are sawing, one is chopping with an axe), and in the middle right are two knives and coins shining brightly, pointing directly to the largest and most conspicuous picture below the board—— —The lively scene of farmers building houses! A thick black man yelled to his companions: "One year's logging can build three brick houses, it's worth it!"

The companion nodded again and again: "It's worth it! Go, sign up!" Pulling the thick black man, he squeezed towards the big tent. Lu Zhonglian smiled: "There is a new idea, wonderful!" "Food-cutting ears, a thousand-year-old story, how wonderful is it?" Fan Sui smiled disapprovingly. "Brother Fan, it's time to taste it slowly. Come with me!" Lu Zhonglian laughed, took Fan Ju's hand and walked towards the big tent.The middle-aged man in front of the tent quickly greeted him, cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Two gentlemen, please forgive me for not doing business here." Lu Zhong didn't even speak, and only took out a small bronze medal from the leather bag on his waist It shines in front of the eyes of the middle-aged man.The middle-aged man took a look and then bowed deeply: "Mr. is tired from travel and dust, but I am reckless. Dare I ask, do you want to find Mr.?" Lu Zhonglian cupped his hands and said, "It's so annoying. Dare I ask you where you are?" No?" The middle-aged man only smiled and said: "You two wait a moment." Then he hurried over to give some instructions to a few men in short coats who were busy, then turned around and cupped his hands, "Sir, please follow me." Lu Zhonglian said with a smile: "I'm waiting and there are still carriages and horses on the street. Don't delay your work, you just point out the path." The middle-aged man smiled humbly: "Mr. Look for the horses and chariots. I have already seen the carriages and horses, and someone will come later, so you don’t have to worry about it.” After finishing speaking, the little Yue girl came over with a smile and said, “The carriages and horses are ready, let’s go.” The man in white asked Then he led the three of them to a slightly secluded cobblestone street.

Fan Ju was worried, so he pulled Lu Zhonglian and said in a low voice, "Have you never been to Chencheng?" "It's hard for Chen Cheng to find someone." Lu Zhonglian smiled, "You have been here before, isn't it all black?" "What I'm talking about is, are you familiar with them?" Fan Ju couldn't help feeling a little anxious. Lu Zhonglian chuckled: "Don't worry, this person's thoroughness in handling affairs is no less than your Qin State's laws. I was hoping that he would make a mistake, so that I could scold him proudly, but I haven't waited for more than ten years." Come on, you said you can't be depressed?"

Seeing that Lu Zhonglian was so determined, Fan Ju stopped talking and just looked at the streets and alleys and walked.Fan Ju is meticulous and meticulous, and he still has a clear understanding of the layout of the old market in Chencheng. As he walked, he couldn't help feeling tense. What kind of magical powers does this person have, and how can he live in such a place?Chen Cheng is a paradise for illegal business travelers and a hotbed of thieves. Could it be that Lu Zhonglian made friends with a knight-errant? It turns out that when you walk out of this quiet stone street with tree-lined streets, turn left and you will find a brick-paved alley. There are two rows of thick and simple green brick and tile houses at the entrance, but there are two big characters "dead alley" on the wall facing the street.It was clearly a dead end, but the middle-aged man in the linen robe did not stop at all.After dozens of steps, there is no house on both sides, just the same old brick wall, covering the alleyway as dark as a deep canyon.Walking in the dark, Fan Sui suddenly remembered the secret passage of Yong Lane in Zhangtai Palace, and suddenly realized that this is the old palace area of ​​the ancient Chen Kingdom!

This canyon alleyway of about two or three hundred steps is indeed a palace city surrounded by high walls.At a glance, there are five or six city gates in a row on the southern city wall, and the eastern city gates are full of vehicles and horses, but the two city gates in front of them are very quiet, and the huge wooden gates with copper nails are tightly closed.Following the man in the linen robe to the westernmost gate, he saw a bronze plaque in the middle of the city gate, but it was a copper block without words.The middle-aged man in a long robe walked into the door opening, opened an iron plate on the wall with a long copper key, stretched his hand in and pushed it, and the heavy door opened.

Walking out of the deep city gate, there is a huge bluestone screen wall more than ten feet wide in front of you. The screen wall is inlaid with square cast iron, but there is no word.The little Yue girl giggled and said: "There are no words on the copper and iron walls, how famous is this old man?" Laughing loudly: "Brother Fan is the best. This justice has spoken words, and the truth is in the heart." Fan Ju nodded and said: "Peace is not obvious, it is rare." Walking around the screen wall while talking, the eyes are wide open: a tall and thick masonry house forms a half circle along the green water in the middle, and behind the big house is a towering tree, which blocks the sight from any direction; the whole The place is extremely quiet and open, and no one can be seen walking around, as if entering a valley.Fan Sui looked around, then nodded with a smile.

"Uncle Fan saw the secret?" Lu Zhonglian asked with great interest. Fan Sui pointed and said: "This tall and big house should be a storage warehouse, with a pool in the middle or a fire prevention. The big trees in the back make sure that the warehouse is cool and dry. The owner is really careful. But, there is only one place I can't see." Puzzled." "Does Uncle Fan have any problems?" Lu Zhonglian couldn't help laughing. Fan Sui pointed at the two tall stone houses: "It's so tall, and it's a stone wall, but what are they storing?"

Lu Zhonglian turned back to the middle-aged man and asked, "Tell me, what is stored in the tall stone house?" "I'll wait for my own business, I don't know what's in the house." Fan Sui smiled and said: "This is the palace city of the old Chen Kingdom, maybe there were those tall houses in the first place." "No." The man in the linen robe shook his head, "This is specially heightened by Mr. Later, it is not the original." Lu Zhonglian waved his hand: "Let's go, I'll understand when I find the right owner, I'll wait until I'm nagging." As soon as the middle-aged man in the linen robe raised his hand, a loud arrow flew across the water with a long whistling sound and red flames, and flew straight to the opposite bank. In a short while, a small boat with a black awning floated leisurely and moored on a stone in front of him. In front of the pier.The middle-aged man cupped his hands and said please, and the three boarded the boat one after another.The boat rowed away, but the middle-aged man on the shore had already left in a hurry.The little Yue girl couldn't help laughing: "This old man's behavior is actually quite Mohist." Fan Ju shook his head and said: "It's also about military law and restraint. The Mohists emphasize righteousness, but this man emphasizes efficiency for profit. Then If people don't go back in time, wouldn't it be a mistake to hire logging in the market?" Lu Zhonglian smiled disapprovingly: "Business travel is born for profit, who can ignore it? However, this public has a saying: righteousness is the beginning of everything, and the foundation of all profits Do you think he asks for a word of righteousness?" Fan Ju laughed loudly: "It's amazing! Since righteousness and profit are contrary to each other, this gentleman uses righteousness as the foundation of all profits?" "And what else." Lu Zhonglian chanted loudly He recited, "If you don't follow righteousness, things will be disharmonious. If you don't know righteousness, you will seek profit. It is impossible to seek profit. If you move with righteousness, there will be nothing wrong! How?" Fan Ju was surprised: "This public can write?" Lu Zhong Lian smiled and said, "I've only read two or three articles he wrote, and I don't know how many he wrote?" Fan Ju sighed, "It's unbelievable to make such an argument!" How did Tian Dan convince him?" "It's strange." Fan Ju smiled, "Tian Dan uses business to practice martial arts, and this man uses business to follow literature. Why did you meet Lu Zhonglian with this businessman?" Lu Zhonglian Zhong Lian laughed loudly: "Brother Fan despises business, I'm afraid it's useless to hit him." Fan Ju was about to argue, but Xiaoyue Nu suddenly pointed to the shore and said: "Zhong Lian, isn't that him? " At this moment, the boat was approaching the shore, and Fan Ju could already see clearly that there was a man standing under the big willow tree on the bank, his white clothes fluttering like a jade tree facing the wind.After Lu Zhong waved his hands again and again, he let out a long cry: "No Wei, I'll come—" Lang Lang's laughter came with the wind, and the man in white strode to the shore and cupped his hands: "Brother Zhonglian, I have been waiting for a long time." The small boat landed like flying, Lu Zhonglian smiled and said, "How fast is the ear report?" "Brother Zhonglian returned to the south with a high reputation, how dare Buwei neglect him?" While Lu Zhonglian was speaking, the little Yue girl flew ashore and shook hands with the white-clothed man, and she burst into a hearty laugh: "Alas! But Lu Zi often has clever words, scolding Lu Zhonglian for escaping government and money, is it for fame?" The little Yue girl couldn't help laughing and said: "Only Lu Zi can see Zhonglian's heart acupoint!" The three of them laughed happily. Fan Sui walked ashore slowly, he casually looked at the people on the shore, and couldn't help being a little surprised.This person is wearing a white-collared yellow linen gown with a natural color, a pair of ordinary cloth shoes on his feet, his long hair is neatly tied into a bunch on the back, there is no crown on his head, and there is no jade around his body. He is neither tall nor short. He was neither fat nor thin, his skin color was neither dark nor white, he had no beard under his chin, no mole marks on his face, he was clean and elegant, and his body was peaceful. There was clearly nothing eye-catching, but it taught people to see it and never forget it.Fan Ju had seen too many businessmen with splendid jewels and brocade clothes, but he had never seen such a big businessman in plain clothes. He was a little confused for a while, as if he had walked into a quiet valley academy, facing a student who had been practicing for many years. Xin students. "Brother, come quickly!" Lu Zhonglian strode over and took Fan Wei's hand: "Come on, this is the master here, Lu Buwei, a business traveler. Brother Buwei, this is an old friend of mine, Zhang Sui, a hermit from the state of Wei." Fan Sui cupped his hands and said, "I've heard a lot about Lu Zi's words and deeds along the way, but it's a pleasure to meet you today." Lu Buwei smiled modestly and cupped his hands: "Sir, if you are not a master in the world, why would Buwei dare to be a 'son'? If you don't give up, you will be like Brother Zhonglian, but call me Buwei." "Buwei really has something to say." Xiaoyue Nu smiled, "Mr. Fan, are you an expert?" Lu Buwei still smiled modestly: "Mr. Tsinghua University is steep, and there is definitely a long history. Please give me more advice in the future." "Books and swords are wandering, and you don't have anything in your chest, so how dare you speak and teach." Fan Ju was surprised in his heart, but smiled lightly on his face. Lu Zhonglian looked around at the two of them, gave Fan Sui a wink, and then burst out laughing triumphantly.But Lu Buwei didn't realize it, just smiled and cupped his hands one by one: "Sir, Brother Zhonglian, Sister Yue, please." Then he led the three of them into the cool and windy woods.Out of the woods, follow a grassy path to a courtyard.The entrance hall of the courtyard is not tall, but it is made of one-color bluestone slabs, as thick as an ancient castle, and three large copper characters are inlaid in the middle of the door - Tianjiyu. "Tianjiyu, is it from He Dian?" Lu Zhonglian looked at it enthusiastically. "The way of heaven is calculated." Lu Buwei smiled, "The deacons all said that there is a name to talk about, so I made one." "Wonderful!" Lu Zhonglian clapped his hands in admiration and turned his head, "Brother Zhang pays attention to bigness, can he cut it with an axe?" Fan Ju smiled teasingly: "There is no such thing as a thousand-mile horse, you are wonderful, what can I say?" "Ah! I want you to talk first next time." Lu Zhonglian laughed loudly, "Stop making noise, go in and talk." This is a compact courtyard composed entirely of small houses.As soon as you pass the screen wall, you will enter first. From time to time, there are figures entering and leaving the two sides of the house. Although they are all in a hurry, there is no sign of rush and noise. Passing through the hall to the north, the second entrance is still the same.Lu Buwei pointed to the second entrance hall and said: "This is the general secretary's hall, which is not directly connected to the backyard. This room please." Then he led the three of them into the third entrance through an arched stone door on the east side of the hall, and just bypassed a screen wall , I saw the bamboo forest whirling in front of me and the breeze, and the heat was refreshing. Lu Zhonglian sighed with a smile: "When did it become such a quiet place, it was just a school!" Lu Buwei laughed and said: "Brother Zhonglian was busy fighting against Yan in Jimo in those few years, and he didn't know the changes in Chencheng's fish and dragons. This was originally the old palace of the old Chen State. In order to attract business travelers, Chu State planned to sell six doors at a high price, so I bought the last two doors." Xiaoyue girl smiled brightly: "Yo! I don't know that you are a princely merchant. Also, what about the palace?" "Sister Yue wants to live in the palace, it's so difficult!" Lu Buwei laughed heartily, "The masters of the four-door palace are the Yidun of the Chu State, the Zhuo family of the Zhao State, the Bai family of the Wei State, and the widow Qing of the Qin State. These two gates are just the original palace treasury and a garden open space, but there is no palace." The little Yue girl was surprised: "In this way, you are on par with the world's four giant merchants?" Lu Buwei shook his head and smiled slightly: "If you talk about The foundation of financial resources is inferior to that of Wei Shang." Fan Ju, who had been silent at the side, interrupted abruptly: "If you talk about ambition and planning, I don't bother to stand shoulder to shoulder with him." Lu Buwei was stunned, but Lu Zhonglian laughed loudly: "It makes sense. Reasonable! You just say, how can you see it?" Fan Ju said frankly: "Buying a treasury instead of a palace, seeking practicality rather than fame, this is the way of business. If you are not like the four giants, it will be in vain to make the world famous, but you are actually in the mouth of a volcano. Also! Such a plan, such a will, is it possible for a businessman who only knows how to show off his financial power?" "Great!" Lu Zhonglian couldn't help clapping his hands and praised, "My brother finally figured out the foundation of not being Wei." Lu Buwei smiled leisurely: "Mr. said so, but Buwei couldn't justify it. Please." From the gravel path through the bamboo forest, you can see a thatched courtyard on a green grassland, with two thatched pavilions in front of the house, surrounded by tall and straight Populus euphratica forests, as quiet and solemn as a grassland valley.Lu Zhonglian shook his head and said, "Don't you think it's deliberate to build a thatched hut in Miyagi?" Lu Buwei laughed and said, "This is an abandoned garden. It's just a general situation. I don't care what other people think." The little Yue girl giggled at Lu Zhonglian. He smiled and said: "Do you know? This is a four-fold thatched grass. It is warm in winter and cool in summer. It complements the bamboo forest and grassland. You know that green bricks and big tiles are good!" The three of them laughed loudly, and while they were talking, they arrived at the courtyard of the hut, and saw three brass characters on the forehead in the middle of the door - Libentang.Lu Zhonglian laughed and said, "Brother, you said it first this time, what do you mean?" Fan Ju was the most quick-witted and brilliant, and after a little careful consideration, he said, "Your step is a Puyang guard." Xiaoyue girl was surprised first "Hey! But how do you know?" Fan Ju pointed to the large characters on the door and said, "This is the character Wei. Puyang Weiguo, the characters are from Wei, but the right standing knife is hooked outside, and the character '利' is exactly its shape. There is such a moment of nostalgia when you are away from home, with your homeland in your heart." Lu Buwei cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Sir, I have insight into the candlelight, and I am from Puyang, Weiguo." Lu Zhonglian waved his hand and said: "Don't beat the side drums, you just What do you mean by that?" Fan Ju laughed and said, "I only know one, but I don't know the other." "How about one?" "Clearly engraving the profit, embodying the great meaning, the real meaning is that the meaning is the root of business." "Second?" "With such an argument, there is no solution, and its meaning is ultimately difficult to understand." "Brother, you mean that righteousness is profit, and it doesn't make sense?" "If you can write a big article on the theory of 'righteousness is profit', and analyze it thoroughly, you will be a master in the world." "Okay!" Lu Zhong laughed loudly, clapping his palms together, "Buwei, it seems that your argument is still not solid." "What's the point of discussion?" Lu Buwei smiled modestly, "I'm just saying what I want, and I'll say what I say. Wen Li said, it's Mr. Zhong Lian and other people's business, but Buwei dare not think about it." "Ah!" The little Yue girl laughed and said, "Speaking but not writing, is it not Confucius who is not Wei!" The four of them laughed together.Lu Buwei quickly said: "Let's go, the three of you should take a bath first to refresh yourself for an hour. How about having a drink together at the end of the day?" Hearing that Lu Buwei was so settled, they all nodded and agreed.Immediately, two young servants, a man and a woman, came over and led the three of them to the back hall of the hut. After a while, the sound of heavy snoring filled the quiet back hall. After a while, Xiaoyue girl woke up first, looked at the shadow of the Mao Pavilion in the courtyard, and then woke up Lu Zhonglian, and was about to wake up Fan Ju again, but saw Fan Ju's long robe coming leisurely to the door.Xiaoyue girl was surprised and said: "Brother Fan woke up by himself?" Fan Ju smiled and said: "It's just a short sleep, can you really come back after an hour in the dreamland?" It’s clear that it’s hot summer, but it’s so cold that you don’t even want to wake up.” Fan Ju laughed teasingly, “When did Brother Zhonglian become a village old man, didn’t you see the big copper cabinet behind the couch?” Lu Zhonglian took a look at it. Suddenly smiled and said: "Oh, such a big freezer, strangely cool as in three autumns." Fan Ju said: "My prime minister's mansion is just a big wooden bucket filled with ice to cool off the heat. Why is there such a freezer? Come and see," walked over and Clicking open the big copper cabinet, he pointed, "There are three layers in this freezer, and each layer is full of two buckets of ice. There is cold air in the room, but there is not a drop of water! The Mo family is good at work, my younger brother and sister said, this Where did the ice-melting water go?" The little Yue girl knocked on the cold and tall copper cabinet and said with a smile: "This copper cabinet is sealed layer by layer, and there should be a copper pipe at the bottom of the cabinet that is buried in the ground and led out of the house. But even if you add ice, you don’t need to pay attention to the waterway, it’s really ingenious." "Lu Buwei, a man with supernatural powers!" Fan Ju sighed, "I just figured out the mystery of this freezer, and I didn’t close my eyes." Lu Zhonglian couldn’t help haha Laughed: "Brother Fan has been the prime minister for a while, and he thinks that the world's skills are all in the royal family's government. You should open your eyes!" They were laughing and talking, but saw an old man in red with white beard and hair bowing deeply outside the door: "Three distinguished guests, sir." Lu Zhong said and walked away, and the three of them followed the old man to the main hall of the hut. Lu Buwei was greeting him six steps away from the entrance of the hall, the only difference was that a bamboo crown was added to his head, but it immediately added a solemn respect for guests.Fan Ju knew in his heart that Lu Buwei and Lu Zhonglian had a very close friendship, this salute was all due to the fact that he had just made friends with him, so he bowed from a distance, and said solemnly as if holding something in the air: "Zhang Juxi has no head to pay respects. , I would like to see you at the order of Lu Zi." Although it is only a few words, it is very particular.According to the ancient rituals of the Zhou Dynasty: When scholars meet at the beginning, the host should welcome him with full clothes, and the visitor should present a pheasant (pheasant) as a gift; live pheasants with long feathers are used in winter, and pheasants (dried pheasants) are used in summer; At that time, according to the season, the visitor faces north and holds the pheasant or scorpion horizontally in both hands, with the head of the pheasant or scorpion facing the left (the left hand is east and yang). You will see by your life." Fan Ju is well-educated, seeing Lu Buwei wearing a crown to meet him now, he responded with the ancient etiquette of paying homage to him, and only cared about how Lu Buwei would respond. However, Lu Buwei greeted him with a modest smile and cupped his hands: "Sir, you know the past and the present, how can you deal with it properly? Usually, you only know the old saying of dressing respectfully, so you put on a bamboo skin crown and buckle it on. Unexpectedly, it adds to the restraint." Sir, I laughed at you." After finishing speaking, he untied the crown belt and took down the bamboo crown, "It's better to do whatever you want, just spread out the clothes like sir." But Lu Zhonglian laughed: "Although brother Zhang is careful, it's not Wei Wei's pedantry after all, good!" "Speaking of people being pedantic, is there another word for 'good'?" Xiaoyue Nu smiled and glared at Lu Zhonglian. "It's really good." Lu Zhonglian looked serious, "How many years have I waited for Buwei to make an omission, let Brother Zhang fulfill my wish today, can it be good?" The four of them burst into laughter, and entered the main hall of the thatched hut one after another. After looking at Lu Zhonglian for a while, he laughed: "Four dishes and one wine, not too much, not too much." The white stone looked closely.Lu Buwei came over with a smile on his face and asked Fan Ju to sit in the honored guest seat in the north. Fan Ju suddenly realized that he pushed Lu Zhonglian to sit in the guest seat.Lu Buwei was the master, so he sat on the south seat opposite Lu Zhonglian. Sitting down for a while, Lu Buwei smiled and raised the bronze noble in front of him: "Brother Zhonglian and sister Yue came to the south with Mr. Buwei to clean up the dust for the three of you. Today is the time when you are happy. Come and do this noble first!" After finishing speaking, he hugged the noble with both hands and respected him for a week, then drank it all in one gulp.Lu Zhonglian and Fan Ju didn't say anything else, they held up the bronze jue and drank it dry.The little Yue girl also picked up a green jade bowl in front of her and drank it all at once. Seeing Fan Ju looking at her in surprise, she smiled: "I don't know that I don't drink alcohol. This is Laoshan spring water." Fan Ju was puzzled: "Qianli It's so far away, even if this spring water can be transported here, won't it go bad if it is stored for a few days?" Lu Buwei said with a smile: "I have a three-layer freezer truck, two layers of hard ice, and one layer of spring water. The original taste is not bad at all." Fan Ju sighed: "You are acting like this, even though the princes and palaces are still inferior!" As he spoke, a shadow flashed across his face.Lu Buwei's eyes brightened suddenly and he smiled and said: "If you don't Wei Buyi, how dare you show your power? It turned out that there were a few old friends who came to the meeting this year, but they were all from Lin Quanshan who couldn't drink alcohol. That's why you did this. Sir, you laughed at me." Lu Buwei Zhong Lian was immediately in high spirits: "Tell me, who wants to come?" Lu Buwei said: "One Tang Ju has left, one Shicang hasn't come yet, and one sister Yue is present." "Wait a minute!" Fan Ju waved his hand to Lu Zhonglian, who was about to make a big comment, and looked at Lu Buwei in surprise, "Do you know Tang Ju and Shicang?" "Brother Tang Ju and I are friends of letters, brother Shi Cang and I are friends of another." "What is book delivery? What is separate delivery?" "Being friends with books is called book friendship. Making friends with other hidden things is called another friend." "May I ask how you and Tang Ju became friends?" "I got the commentary of "Ji Ran Shu", and I asked Brother Tang Ju to comment on it. Brother Tang Ju needed it urgently, so I gave it to him." "Do you know why Tang Ju wants "Ji Ran Shu"?" "If you believe in someone, give it away, and if you give it away, it's up to the person to ask. It's not the way of friendship." "What is your relationship with Shi Cang?" "My old friend's secret, it's inconvenient for Buwei to tell you, sir, forgive me." Lu Buwei smiled neither humble nor overbearing, but his tone obviously didn't intend to say any more. The distinction here is quite subtle: with the etiquette of the guest and the host, it is not appropriate for Fan Ju to be sarcastic about the Laoshan spring water incident; He didn't realize it, and sincerely explained the reason; Fan Ju interrupted again abruptly to ask the reason for making friends, he must be familiar with the person he said, according to the usual etiquette, Lu Buwei should tell it frankly, so that everyone at the banquet will be happy; The seemingly friendly Lu Buwei suddenly rejected Fan Ju's last question without being humble or overbearing. Just as Lu Buwei finished speaking, Lu Zhonglian raised his voice and said loudly: "Come on! Have a drink and talk! When Shi Cang comes, I will let him tell Brother Zhang himself." "God's will!" Fan Ju sighed, stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Buwei, "If it weren't for the high righteousness of one step, how could Fan Ju recommend Cai Ze and resign from office? Thank you for knowing today." "Wonderful!" Lu Zhonglian laughed loudly, "No Wei, what should you do if you show up in such a wonderful way?" Lu Buwei was not surprised at all, he only smiled leisurely and stood up and bowed deeply: "The treasures in the world are rare, and their destination is predetermined. What you get is God's will, but it has nothing to do with Buwei. How dare you be grateful ?” Fan Ju suddenly grabbed Lu Buwei's hand and said, "It's God's will if we meet! You and I are like Zhong Lian Yue's younger sister, don't be polite to Mr. Hou, how about it?" "Thanks to Brother Fan for not giving up, no Wei dare not obey orders!" "Ahhh!" Lu Zhonglian walked over with a big smile and put his big hands on the two of them, "Holding your hands is like cutting the neck, and life and death will be handed over in an instant. Good!" Just as the words fell, the little Yue girl held a big copper plate Lightness floated in front of her: "Come on, let's each have a jug!" The three of them held their hands and laughed, each took a jug and bumped into each other and said it was dry, and they drank it all together.At this time, the little bit of fame caused by Fan Ju was swept away, and the four of them sat down again, and it was a feast of drinking and gluttony.After about half an hour, Lu Buwei raised his head and suddenly smiled and said, "Why doesn't Sister Yue eat chopsticks? Try it, and you can eat it." Lu Zhonglian said, "She eats once every three days, so let her do it." Fan Ju Looking around, he saw that there was a steaming plastic steamed chicken in the bronze cauldron on Xiaoyue girl's case, the fine charcoal at the foot of the cauldron was glowing with red flames, and there was also a cauldron of oily and bright red stewed dates, so he laughed and said: "No Wei, if you don't drink alcohol, you should be prepared, if you don't eat meat, you should be punished." Lu Buwei had already blushed from drinking, so he wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile: "Sister Yue, this thing is Lingnan chicken. If you taste it, maybe you will break the precept." The little Yue girl looked at the copper tripod and said with a smile: "I don't have to eat meat in my life, can I eat steamed chicken?" After a moment of hesitation, the little Yue girl finally stretched out her white hair finger. "Sister Yue, the chopsticks can hold it down." Lu Buwei reminded excitedly. "She never knows how to use chopsticks, she only knows how to use her hands. It's good to eat, just use your hands!" Lu Zhonglian smiled happily. Xiaoyue Nu quickly glanced at Lu Zhonglian, a blush flashed across her face, carefully tore off a piece of chicken, put it in her mouth with her eyes closed, and chewed gently.The three men held their breath and looked at Xiaoyue girl, for a moment everyone was nervous as if they were facing a big enemy.Seeing the sweat dripping from the little Yue girl's face, she let out a soft breath, "Oh, it's really delicious!" As the words fell to the ground, the three of them let out a long sigh of relief, followed by There was a burst of laughter.The little Yue girl blushed and giggled: "It's delicious, and I'll eat it too!" She tore off a large piece of chicken with both hands, and ate it like no one else was there. Lu Buwei cupped his hands to Lu Zhonglian and said with a smile: "Brother Zhonglian is very lucky that elder sister Yue started to eat meat!" "No Wei..." Lu Zhonglian's eyes glistened with tears, and he drank a jug in one breath. But Fan Ju was puzzled: "No Wei, what's so special about this chicken that it can make the bigu break the precept?" Lu Buwei laughed excitedly: "This chicken is produced in the Cangwu Mountain of Southern Chu. It is commonly known as the Changming Chicken. Its cry is clear and piercing, and one cry can penetrate the roar of the tide. However, this chicken does not cry at the alternation of darkness and light. When the tide is high, it sings along with the sound of the tide, and Chu people in Lingnan call it the tidal chicken." "The world is so big, there is such a strange chicken?" "Sichao chicken is steamed in a copper cauldron. The meat is as fresh as fish and as clear as bamboo shoots. It is a good meat for vegetarians. I heard that a hermit from the Central Plains went to Lingnan to taste this chicken and abstain from bigu. I tried it for sister Yue." "Such miraculous objects must be extremely difficult to find." "There are three difficulties in obtaining this chicken." Lu Buwei tapped lightly on the desk, "First, the mountains are high and the water is dangerous, and the distance is thousands of miles away, waiting for idlers to reach the mountains and seas of Cangwu. Second, it is difficult to catch. This chicken is half home and half wild. Then they fly to the coast and cry until the night. When the tide is about to recede, the song is very loud and sad. Only when it is caught at this time, the chicken is completely different from the regular chicken. Third, it is difficult to raise. day, or die from hoarseness." "So, this chicken has just been brought back?" Lu Zhonglian, who had been looking at Xiao Yue Nu, interrupted suddenly. "Unexpectedly, brother Zhonglian was going to stop, so he took the time to transport it back from Lingnan. Today is the eighth day when the Chaochao Chicken leaves the sea." After a long time of silence, Fan Sui sighed with emotion: "Such hard work is rare!" Lu Buwei said solemnly: "Brother Zhonglian is a scholar in the world. He is a man of righteousness, he is a nobleman, he is brave to face difficulties, and he is ashamed to live with him. The scholar is as good as Lu Zhonglian, and this is the only one who has an ear! Not Wei, just a merchant, and with him How fortunate are the soldiers of the world to be able to do their best with a humble heart?" The little Yue girl made a grimace and said with a smile: "No, Wei Mo said, if Zhong Lian runs away again, I will never run away." Fan Sui teased: "There is no 20,000 gold here, what are you doing running away?" "I only prepared a thousand pieces of gold, is it too little?" Lu Buwei Yizhuang said humorously, but seeing Lu Zhonglian staring at him with sharp eyes, he smiled frankly into Lu Zhonglian's eyes, "Zhonglian Brother Lian, everything should be done in moderation, and it’s too late. Even a sage needs to rely on food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, so that he can worry about the world. Brother and sister Yue have no accumulated wealth in their lives. Now they go to the East China Sea to live in seclusion. How can they not need money? Brother, if you really change your mind A fisherman and hunter who works barefoot, what is the value of Lu Zhonglian!" With a sigh, Lu Buwei knocked lightly on the big case, "A thousand pieces of gold can roughly build a mansion, build a good boat, and raise two good horses. For ten years, he has no worries about food and clothing. But if he can do this, brother Zhonglian can study and cultivate himself, and he can also come out when he hears the police. Otherwise, he will be closed to the mountains and forests, and he will only be a prisoner with food and clothing." All the seats were silent for a moment.Xiaoyue girl is at the discretion of her husband.Fan Ju felt that Lu Buwei was telling the truth, but he thought that Lu Zhonglian never listened to people when he met Juelu and money, and would go away if he didn't agree with him, so he had no choice but to let it be.I don't want Lu Zhonglian to think for a while, but then he slammed the case: "If you don't Wei Qianjin, I will accept it!" "Okay!" Fan Sui laughed loudly, "There are three wonders a day, I'll understand them later!" "Brother Fan, tell me, what are the three wonders?" Xiaoyue Nu smiled brightly, and she had already raised the jade bowl of spring water in her hand. Fan Sui pointed out solemnly: "It's a wonder that a person who eats gas eats meat. Lu Zhonglian is rich in dung, but today he receives a thousand gold. The second is a wonder. A businessman spends money not for profit, but for righteousness. Three wonders! So three Then, can it be regarded as an anecdote of the Warring States Period?" "Let's add another surprise." Lu Zhonglian smiled teasingly, "Brother Fan Ju must take revenge, but today he doesn't care about it." "Beautiful!" Lu Buwei and Xiaoyue Nu cheered, Fan Ju also laughed, and each had a drink.Lu Buwei was the happiest, and even drank three lords in a row.Fan Sui yelled that he couldn't do it, and also drank three wines.Lu Zhonglian laughed loudly, and drank three wines without saying a word.For a while, the sea and the sky were full of chatter and laughter, but dusk fell unknowingly.Lu Buwei ordered to light the lamp, and the hall of the hut was brightly lit. Fan Ju originally drank a lot, but he was cautious and almost quit drinking for more than ten years as Prime Minister of Qin. There are few cups, so one by one, they will raise their titles again and again, and drink straight to the brim!However, Lu Buwei is special, although he seldom mentions the title, but he never loses a title, and he is accompanied by him. He is full of spring breeze, and he is completely different from Lu Zhonglian and Fan Ju's drunken wildness. "Hey! Strange!" Fan Ju held up the wine bar and shook it over, "No Wei, you drink with the bar, are you really not drunk?" "Brother Fan, isn't Wei drunk?" "Okay! The old man is here to give it a try. Zhonglian, come here too." Fan Ju held up the big man and shook his finger to the north wall, "Buwei, what is the engraving on this white stone?" "A solid white stone." "Don't you agree with Gongsun Longzi's 'Li Jianbai'?" "The study of metaphysics is neither good nor unreasonable. Those who strengthen the white stone can encourage themselves." "What do you want to encourage yourself?" "Firmness cannot be taken away, whiteness cannot be ground, and stone cannot be broken." It is soft and solid, but it is resounding. "The firmness cannot be taken away, the whiteness cannot be ground, and the stone cannot be broken." Fan Ju shook the Grand Master and repeated it, with a serious expression on his face, "If the three are combined into one, it will be a myth through the ages! Don't you think it's too difficult? ?” Lu Buwei was still gentle and honest: "Things in the world are not difficult, what is the use of me?" "Okay! The solid white stone strengthens my ambition, and it's clear!" Lu Zhong even praised him, and then drank a jug himself.Fan Sui hesitated to speak, but his heart was deeply touched by the heroic arrogance of this seemingly inconspicuous young businessman in front of him, and he couldn't help sighing: "Woohoo! It's so turbulent, it's so turbulent!" Shang? Buwei will be the best in the world!" Lu Buwei laughed, staggered and muttered a lot, then fell limply on the thick carpet. After lingering for a few days, Lu Zhonglian was leaving.吕不韦要他消夏完毕再走，鲁仲连却说还要南下郢都与春申君辞别，赶到吴越也就立秋了。遇到此等天马行空之士，吕不韦便也不再阻拦，一应物事备好，便送鲁仲连小越女上了颖水官道。范雎本欲与鲁仲连夫妇南下，却接到了一管莫名其妙的飞鸽传书，只要他务必等候旬日，却没有具名。范雎思忖一阵，只好放弃了南下遨游，与吕不韦一起做了饯行东道。 这一日清晨，颖水两岸绿野无垠，城南十里杨柳清风，一通饯行酒在郊亭饮得感慨唏嘘不胜依依。范雎最是心绪翻滚，与鲁仲连不停举爵痛饮，眼见红日高升人当上路，便是一声长叹：“仲连一去，天下纵横家不复见矣！”说罢竟是放声痛哭。鲁仲连却是哈哈大笑：“时也势也，后浪勃勃连天，前浪消弭沙滩，此乃天地大道，范兄何须伤感也！”吕不韦慨然道：“范兄伤感也是该当。纵横原是连体而生，山东无合纵抗秦，关西便无远交近攻。仲连兄一去，合纵大潮消退，范兄纵是复出，也是落寞无对，不亦悲乎！”范雎哽咽着只是连连点头：“仲连将去，我心空空也！”鲁仲连不禁便是一声叹息：“范叔呵，六国已成朽木之势，秦国也是垂垂衰落，无数十年之功，天下风云难起也。我辈纵然复出，徒叹奈何！” 亭下良久默然。小越女抬头看看时辰，便向吕不韦看了一眼走出亭外。吕不韦跟出来笑道：“越姊莫急，索性暮色时分上路了。”小越女低声笑道：“他二人说话，我只要送你一样物事。”吕不韦呵呵笑着一拱手：“越姊有赠，不韦大幸也。” 小越女便走到大树下红马旁，从马背皮囊中抽出一个小布包双手捧了过来。吕不韦连忙整整头上竹冠，双手接过打开布包，却是一册陈旧发黄的羊皮书，一瞄书皮大字，竟是《范子计然术》，不禁惊讶道：“越姊，这是陶朱公范蠡的真迹么？”小越女笑着点点头：“不错也。范蠡所作，西施手抄。” “西施抄本？”吕不韦翻开书页，便见字迹娟秀劲健，与士子书写的宏大结构迥然不同，便肃然一拱手，“越姊与仲连兄归隐林泉，正当切磋学问以传后世。不韦一介商旅，得此奇异珍本，明是暴殄天物，何敢受之？” “晓得无？”小越女便是一笑，“世间计然书多有抄本，然却脱漏错讹太多，你送给唐举的那本也是一样，惟此真本一字不差，堪当治世之学也。”见吕不韦似乎还要推脱，小越女认真摆了摆手，“我是越国若耶溪边女，也就是出了西施而被越人称为浣纱溪的地方。《范子计然术》，是我十三岁那年在若耶溪边的山谷中拣到的。后来我成了南墨子弟，便将此书交给了老师。五年前老师辞世，临终前又将此书赠还于我。老师郑重嘱托：计然书天下奇学，非商政兼通之士不能得其真谛，我辈难通此学，若天下果无此等人物，便是天绝计然也……不韦，此书不当你么？” “越姊，不韦只是商人，不通政事，亦不会入仕。” 小越女笑道：“毋晓得你竟如此迂阔！我要归山，书便给你，你若不任，便不能选一个合适人物了？如何与仲连一般，受人赠与便退避三舍！” 吕不韦顿时轻松地大笑起来：“既是如此，我便受了。” 此时亭下也是一阵笑声，鲁仲连与范雎又开始了海阔天空。小越女道：“要不起程，你等便没完没了。”便遥遥招手一喊，“范兄，放仲连上路也！”吕不韦连忙大步来到亭下：“仲连兄稍待，我还有一宗俗物送你。”说罢一招手，便有一少仆捧来了两只撑得胀鼓鼓的雪白丝袋。鲁仲连目光一闪道：“不韦，要再多事，我便真要逃之夭夭也。” “且放宽心，不是金钱。”吕不韦笑着解开了一只丝袋，掌中便是一捧红亮的大枣：“此物是齐国特产，名叫乐氏枣，那日越姊尝过的。乐毅当年长困即墨，在即墨城外栽种燕国枣树，每年打枣时节，乐毅都要用这种大红枣佐酒，宴请远征将领，同时还要送给田单一筐。后来燕惠王疑忌乐毅，乐毅便派专使送给了燕惠王一袋红枣，以表赤心不移……” “乐氏枣，赤心枣也！”鲁仲连双手颤抖，捧起一捧大红枣儿便是泪眼朦胧，“那时我常在即墨，每与田单共尝乐毅送枣，都要大醉一回，哭笑一回……” “不韦此礼，当真暖心也！”范雎唏嘘一叹，“齐人恨燕，却记挂几乎灭齐的乐毅，可见天下公道，自在人心也！” 吕不韦殷殷笑道：“仲连兄去国远居，便以赤心枣做个念想了。” 小越女小心翼翼地摩挲着赤红的大枣，低声道：“再过三五年，我便让这赤心枣红遍房前屋后，那时，你等再来……”一声哽咽，便猛然回头去了。 看着两马一车辚辚南下，在颖水官道渐渐远去，范雎与吕不韦大步登上山冈，竟是痴痴地凝望了大半个时辰。鲁仲连是苏秦张仪之后的又一个纵横大家，先救奄奄齐国，再救岌岌赵国，使战国大争的格局又一次保持了数十年的大体平衡，其特立独行的高远志节更是天下有口皆碑，成为战国名士的一道奇异风景。鲁仲连的退隐，标志着战国纵横家的全面衰落。自此以后，山东六国救亡图存的合纵大业，便再也没有出现过波澜壮阔地整体行动局面。That's another story.