Chapter 21 Section 4: The Reclusive Lady in the Ruins of Bitan

At the autumnal equinox, Cai Ze was secretly called into Zhangtai again. As soon as he arrived at the corridor of the study, the old man told him in a low voice: "If you miss two grids, don't delay. Mr. Gang Cheng is on his mind." Cai Ze's heart sank immediately.The two engraved gaps are the scale on the arrow shaft under the dripper of the copper pot. One grid is one quarter, one hundred quarters a day and one night.However, judging from the expression on the old man's face, it is obvious that the old king of Qin can't bear to discuss things for a long time, and there is nothing he can do.Thinking about the draft of the succinct narrative in his heart, he nodded and shook it in.

Hearing the footsteps, King Qin Zhao, who was half lying on the long couch, suddenly raised his eyebrows and opened his eyes, waved slowly but did not speak.Cai Ze understood in his heart, and immediately walked quickly to the embroidered pier that had already been placed on the side of the couch, and was about to speak to report, but saw the old king of Qin raised his hand and shook it slowly, then bowed solemnly and said: "The old minister respectfully obeys the king's orders." Qin Zhaowang's old voice floated: "Gang Chengjun, the king and grandson of the examination school obtained the law, and gave him a hundred gold." Cai Ze was about to speak, when the old voice floated again, "Ying Yiren, the way of diplomatic relations is difficult, so I can do it myself." Cai Ze's spirit was full Zhen, I really hope that the old king of Qin can say a few more words about different people, so that he can figure out a general scale.Just this one sentence, only saying what can't be done, but not what can be done, isn't it very troublesome?Just as he was thinking about whether he should ask, the old voice floated again, "Lu Buwei, you are quite talented, you seem to be prepared, so be careful." With a gasp, two long snow-white eyebrows were loosely drawn together.

Cai Ze was silent for a while, and wanted to report something. It was clear that the old king of Qin didn't need to know anything more. He wanted to ask for a few words. It was clear that the old king of Qin had a verbal edict on the three things, and there was a long history record before the big case next to him. What else can I ask?There was a sound behind him, and when he turned around suddenly, he saw that the chief recorder, Shi Huanli, had already packed up his pen and ink and left.Cai Ze suddenly realized, bowed deeply to the long couch, said the old minister's resignation, then turned and shook out of the study.

On the way back, there was an autumn breeze, but Cai Ze was so hot that he was upset.As a well-known scholar in Jiran, Cai Ze was devoted to building a government and governing the country with his long-term plans. How could he have imagined that he would be so embarrassing today——Gao Jue opened his government but alienated himself from state affairs, and became a full-time figure dealing with court intrigues? !Celebrities have always been good at governing the country but not good at strategy. Shang Yang is like this, Zhang Yi is like this, Wei Wei is like this, and even Fan Ju, who is the most flexible, is finally clumsy in dealing with the dispute over power and strategy.Before entering the Qin Dynasty, Cai Ze had no experience in officialdom. Apart from his practical knowledge of the national economy and the people's livelihood, he was very unfamiliar with officialdom.I can't understand ambiguous words, and I can't do things that need to be figured out.For example, just now, apart from rewarding himself with a hundred gold, the last two most important matters are always hazy. He is really not sure whether he can ask the old king of Qin to give a clear indication: can he send the Black Ice Platform cadres to enter Zhao Mi? check?Can you use the treasury to bribe Zhao Guoquan ministers?And Lu Buwei, how did the old king of Qin judge that he "seemed to be prepared"?Is there any definite basis?Where are you going?How to "be cautious"?To expel this person?alienate this person?Or use this person with restrictions?Can't tell, really can't tell.

Entering Xianyang at dusk, Cai Ze gave an order, and the chariot turned into Changyang Road. "Why is Mr. Gang Cheng in such a hurry?" Lu Buwei greeted him with a surprised smile. "It's a mess." Cai Ze grumbled and laughed, "Wine, wine, hungry people." "Serve the wine." Lu Buwei said with a smile, "Today, please drink Lu's family wine. My mother's brew is absolutely catchy." After a while, the food and wine were moved to the pavilion, Cai Ze ate and drank for a while, raised his head and said good food and wine, and then burst out laughing.Lu Buwei just smacked and smiled slowly, and asked about the coldness and warmth of autumn and so on.After a while, Cai Ze knocked on the stone case: "No Wei! Don't you want to ask me why I came here?" Lu Buwei couldn't help laughing and said: "Gang Chengjun lives in the temple, and he is a secret. When you say it, you say it. No Wei He Can you be noisy?" "It's just a matter of saying." Cai Ze smiled relievedly, "Your school exams have disturbed the Prince's mansion, but you are just having fun!" Lu Buwei said, "It was because I wanted to help Mr. Gang Cheng on the spur of the moment. Where did he come from?" Cai Ze sneered: "Help me a favor? I'm afraid it's just to help myself in." Lu Buwei laughed loudly: "Gang Chengjun, even if you don't come, I will bid you farewell." !" Cai Ze was very surprised: "How so, you are leaving?" Lu Buwei said: "After three days, go south to Chencheng." Cai Ze walked away from Yanshan with wide eyes: "Xianyang is a big city in the world, you Aren't you doing business here?" Lu Buwei said with a smile: "Business and businessmanship means running around and deciding to live in one city, so what kind of business do you do?" Cai Ze let out a long breath and said with a smile: "No Wei is talented. It's a pity to be a businessman!" Lu Buwei said with a smile: "It's not a talent to make friends." Cai Ze said with a guilty smile: "Buwei has been in Qin for a few months, and I have nothing to do, so I have to leave in a hurry. I'm really ashamed." "Gun Cheng, you see it!" Lu Buwei laughed again, "Back then Buwei secretly assisted Tian Dan and Lu Zhonglian, and it was the same as it is today. Fortunately, you don't mind." Cai Ze thought for a while, and suddenly He said with a smile: "One Wang Sun official teacher, I left a few words to the old man, can you imagine?"

"first sentence?" "Ying Yiren, the way of diplomatic relations is unreasonable, so I can do it myself." "The second sentence?" "Lu Buwei, the talent is not bad, he seems to be prepared, so be careful." After a moment of silence, Lu Buwei slapped the table with a smile and said: "Well said! Mr. Gang Cheng only acts according to these two sentences, and there is absolutely no mistake." "Hey!" Cai Ze was surprised, "I don't understand a few sentences, but it's like a prophecy, how can I act on it?" "Mr. Gang Cheng is wrong!" Lu Buwei laughed, "For example, the first sentence, first of all, says that the way of diplomatic relations is impracticable, and it means that you should not expect to solve this problem through diplomatic channels. There are two deep meanings in this: first, State diplomatic relations ask for hostages, Qin and Zhao are in a dilemma; second, Ying Yiren will not have any accidents in Zhao, and if something happens, maybe it is what the old King of Qin expected..."

"It's unreasonable!" Cai Ze interrupted, "Does the old King of Qin expect something to happen to his grandson?" Lu Buwei smiled slightly: "Mr. Gang Cheng only thinks that Qin and Zhao's blood feud is like a sea, so why is one hostage safe and sound? For more than 20 years, Qin State has always been powerful, so what is the difficulty in getting back the hostage? But he just kept silent, why did he come here? Zhao Guo hated Qin to the bone, and killing hostages was easy, but he didn't kill them. Why did he come here? In Qin, he threw a "national bait" and waited for Zhao Guo to take the bait. In Zhao, they knew that they would never be fooled. They neither swallowed the bait nor released the bait, but it was up to Qin to deal with it. The hostages of kings and grandchildren became outcasts, and Qin was called by the way of ruthless beasts. The whole world scolds. If the state of Qin asks for hostages, then the state of Zhao will be in great business. Both the king of Qin and the king of Zhao understand this kind of entanglement, but Mr. Gang Cheng thinks about the interests and interests of state affairs with ordinary kinship, and is ignorant for a while."

"Unbelievable!" Cai Ze gasped, "How about doing it for yourself?" "I want you to act according to the circumstances and deal with it as appropriate, and don't make things out of control." "Hmph!" Cai Ze sneered, "Eight words are easy, so you just say, how do you act with a camera?" Lu Buwei laughed loudly, "It's easy to understand these things, but it's hard to talk about them! Don't dare to play tricks." Cai Ze smiled teasingly: "Tell me about the second sentence, did it hit you hard?" "Such an assertion, different people have different opinions." Lu Buwei smiled lightly, "From the speaker's intention, it is clear that he wants to remind Mr. Gang Cheng to be on guard against Buwei. However, after careful speculation, this statement is not actually referring to Buwei, but It actually refers to the State of Zhao. That is to say, Mr. Gang Cheng must beware that Lu Buwei is a scout of the State of Zhao, or is being used by the State of Zhao."

"Ah! Is that what you mean by saying that you came prepared?" Cai Ze was so surprised that his beard was raised. "All diplomatic relations are like soldiers, and they are all deceitful. Mr. Gang Cheng, just be careful." "Bird!" Cai Ze suddenly cursed and laughed, "Let me know when I leave, I will see you off!" At three o'clock, Lu Buwei sent Cai Ze out of the Liyang guest house, and when he returned to the study, he called the old man to tell him: To clean up the aftermath tomorrow, and to leave Xianyang in three days.The old boss Ximen was very puzzled, he opened his mouth to say something but finally nodded.Lu Buwei frowned and said: "If you don't live enough for the scheduled date, the store will just pay enough money." The boss shook his head and said: "Such trivial matters, you don't need to worry about it. The old man is just wondering, and the big things will come to light. Wouldn't it be a pity to leave?" Lu Buwei suddenly smiled and said: "You have to change things on the fly, how can you wait for the rabbit? I'm leaving, but Ximen's father wants to stay." The old boss Ximen was inexplicably surprised, he just stared blankly and didn't speak.Lu Buwei said: "Father Ximen, there are two important things for you to stay in Xianyang: first, choose a hidden place outside Xianyang City to build a manor, thinking that it will be in Qin Genji in the future; second, take care of the two big ships, and keep their people and belongings available at any time .If you have any difficulties, I will ask the righteous man Jingyun to come and help you." The boss nodded and shook his head again: "As long as there is something to do, there will be no difficulties. The old man is not here, and the righteous man Jingyun just happens to help you, so coming to Xianyang is an overkill. "

At this moment, he heard slight and hasty footsteps in the courtyard, and walked into the study in a neat Yue Jianwu stride: "Report to Mr.: There was a figure coming and going suddenly just now, I didn't catch up, check the courtyard and leave this thing behind. "As he spoke, he brought over a slender mud-sealed bamboo tube.Lu Buwei took it and was about to open it, but Mr. Ximen, the old boss, said wait a minute, and took it as soon as he stretched out his hand, looked at it repeatedly for a while, then scraped off the mud seal with a bamboo knife, unscrewed the cap of the tube, took out a roll of parchment, and handed it over.

Lu Buwei unfolded it and saw that there were only two lines of big characters: After a while of silence, Lu Buwei smiled and said: "What do you two think?" The old boss Ximen locked his white eyebrows and just shook his head in deep thought: "This matter is very strange, you might as well wait and see for a few days." Yue Jianwu cupped his hands and said: "The messenger is very skilled, The main envoy must have a master of swordsmanship, and you can't do without someone." Lu Buwei thought for a moment and said: "Okay, let me think about it, and we'll talk at dawn." In the early morning of the next day, after Lu Buwei finished washing, he called the boss to give instructions for a while, and then ordered the car to be prepared.At this moment, Yue Jian Wuda hurried over, insisting on changing the driver and driving by himself.The boss of Ximen smiled and said: "It's a rule in the world, if the driver is not obedient, the more the deacon is, the more the deacon is not a breach of contract." Lu Buwei nodded helplessly, then boarded the black car with the closed windows and scrambled away. Go out from the south gate of Xianyang, cross the Baishi Bridge lying across the Weishui River, and go straight to the southwest. It takes half an hour to walk to the surging Fengshui.On the south bank of Fengshui, a pine forest covers a mountain plateau.This mountain plateau is the ruins of Fengjing in the Western Zhou Dynasty that have been annihilated for more than 500 years. The old Qin people called it Songlin Plateau.Fengshui flows through the pine forest plateau, and just scours a deep canyon. Fengshui pours in and accumulates a deep green pool. The mountains on both sides of the bank are dense with pines and cypresses, and the ruined castles are reflected in the water. Tigers roar, monkeys sing and birds chirp. Heart trembling. The black chariot traveled along the south bank of Fengshui River to the entrance of Fengjing Valley. Lu Buwei got out of the chariot and looked around, but saw the empty mountain with no trace of people.When he was wondering, he heard a long whistle, and a small boat flew over from the emerald green water, and heard a faint shout floating over with the mountains and valleys: "Is Mr. Xiuzhuang on the shore?" Lu Buwei returned from a distance. One voice: "Exactly." Answering the landing point, the boat had already flown, and it just parked in front of a boulder.A burly man in black at the head of the boat looked at the black chariot two or three feet away and Yue Jianwu who was staring at him, frowned and cupped his hands: "Sir, take the servants to the appointment, please go back." Lu Buwei cupped his hands and said with a smile: "The driver How can the host not understand this reason?" The strong man in black thought for a while and smiled: "Yes. Please board the boat." Yue Jianwu coughed suddenly, and Lu Buwei turned around and stared at him sternly However, the voice that came out was soft and soft: "The deacon will just go back, and I will pay my respects." Turning around, he climbed onto the boulder and jumped onto the boat steadily. With another whistle, the boat turned around lightly and drifted leisurely into the depths of the pool.After walking for a while, the canyon narrows and the pool water gradually becomes shallow, and the pines and cypresses and the ancient walls are within reach.The burly man in black raised his hand, and a loud arrow flew up to the mountain on the east bank with a sharp whistling sound, and the boat also moored under a dark ancient wall.The burly man in black cupped his hands to say please, and stepped onto a stone strip submerged in the water under the ancient wall.Lu Buwei followed him, and saw that the stone strip was actually a mountain ladder that climbed up the stairs. After more than twenty steps, there was a platform, covered by pine forests, and an ancient city gate was impressively in front of him! Lu Buwei was looking at the ancient gate with great interest, but saw a middle-aged man in black who looked like an official striding out of the city gate, whispered a few words to the strong man in black, and bowed deeply to Lu Buwei: " Sir, please follow me." He led Lu Buwei into the city gate.All the way up the slope, there are ancient brick trails at the foot, towering pines and cypresses on both sides, sometimes there are broken walls covered with vines, and there are big red characters on the big stones beside it - Yitai, Wenwang Palace, Military Room, Huyuan, Sleeping Palace, etc. And so on.Looking along the way, Lu Buwei is full of vicissitudes, completely immersed in the ancient ruins of the ancient castle. "Wait a moment, sir." The middle-aged man in black bowed and hurried into another ancient city gate. Lu Buwei woke up suddenly, and saw that he had already reached the top of the mountain, a few rows of thatched huts were faintly visible among the pines and cypresses, and in the middle of the city gate in front of him were two large ancient bronze characters of the Yin and Shang Dynasties mottled with fire marks—Wang Dao, and he couldn't help feeling a burst of emotion.The ruins of Fengjing in the early Zhou Dynasty were still so beautiful, but the ruins of Dahaojing across the water are so fascinating! "Mr. Duo Lao, Mrs. Ben is here to apologize." Lu Buwei suddenly woke up, but saw a white and plump woman in green skirt in front of him, who was clearly the one who blocked the way at the Prince's Mansion that day, so he bowed his hands and said: "I'm next to Lu Buwei, dare to ask for your wife's name." "Madam Huayue, do you understand?" The woman smiled brightly. "Forgive me, madam, I haven't heard of Buwei." "You have been to the prince's mansion, but do you know the name of the prince's wife?" Lu Buwei shook his head with a smile: "Forgive me, madam, I haven't heard of it." "Yo! Would you say something you haven't heard?" Mrs. Huayue smiled hotly and kindly, "It's okay to say it, Mrs. Huayang, the prince's wife, is my little sister, do you understand?" Lu Buwei just bowed: "Madam lives in a place of kingship, and I can't admire you enough." "A land of kingly ways?" Mrs. Huayue giggled, "It's a ruin, just build a few thatched huts to clean it up. How can you make it a paradise of kingly ways?" "It's not a private life." Lu Buwei pointed to the ruined ancient city gate, "Ma'am, please look, the word 'Wang Dao' is still chiseled out despite the fire and storm. I dare not be rude, this place is the Wang Dao that the world yearns for Ancient Sacred Realm." "Hey!" Mrs. Huayue exclaimed for a long time, her big eyes immediately glowed hotly, "Sir, you are so knowledgeable that you can know such ancient characters! If you don't tell me, I'm afraid I'll die of old age, and I won't know the kingly way on my head." 'Two words, I'm really ashamed!" Lu Buwei cupped his hands and said: "Madam is straightforward and ancient, and I will remember it. This is the old bronze inscription of the Yin Shang Dynasty. Before King Wen, Haojing had not been built, and the capital of Zhou was Fengjing. At that time, the writing was like this Yin Shang Bronze Inscription. Zhou won the world, Fang With Zhou Jinwen, it is much easier to recognize." "Hey! Then you say, what is the geomantic omen of this place? Can I live there?" "The theory of geomantic omen is based on the evidence of the heart. But if one can respect the heavens and respect the ancients, without damaging the traces of the ancestors, one can be blessed with heaven's protection." "Okay!" Mrs. Huayue smiled happily, "I didn't dare to move a single plant or tree here, and several thatched huts were still built in the open space without ruins. I just feel sad looking at these burnt city gates and palaces." Feeling comfortable again, I invited the King of Qin a thousand pieces of gold to repair it for two or three years. Originally, the forest was full of wolves, insects, tigers and leopards, who would dare to come here?" "Madam's merit is as immortal as heaven and earth." Lu Buwei bowed deeply. "Yo yo!" Mrs. Huayue hurriedly supported her with a smile, "Sir, he was acting like that before, and he ignored me, but he didn't want to praise me in this dilapidated ruin. Isn't it God's will? This must happen!" "My lady, you are on a business trip. I don't know what to tell you?" "No matter what, can you talk about it here? Sir, come with me." Madam Huayue led Lu Buwei into the Wangdao Ancient Gate, passed through a dense pine forest, and arrived at the courtyard of a hut with no shelter on all sides.There is a large pavilion in front of the courtyard. Although there are traces of wind and rain on the roof of the pavilion, it can be seen that it is a thing of three or two years. The pavilion pillars, the base of the pavilion, the stone slabs at the bottom of the pavilion, and the stone pier in the pavilion are all as black as lacquer, with mottled scars. , which is clearly the ancient pavilion of Fengjing. "When the thatched hut was built, there was only this lonely stone pavilion here." Madam Huayue pointed out and let Lu Buwei into the ancient pavilion, turned around and ordered tea, and sat opposite Lu Buwei. "There is no wall in the courtyard, madam is not afraid of wild beasts in the mountains?" Lu Buwei sized it up rather puzzled. "Sir, don't you know that the tigers, leopards, and wolves in Fengjing Valley only roar and roam outside the mountain, and never enter the ruins of the pine forest." "Heaven remembers Zhou De, and he has a compassionate heart!" Lu Buwei couldn't help sighing. "The land of Hunan and Chu, is Mr. familiar?" Mrs. Huayue asked abruptly. "Buwei was born in Puyang, but he lived in Chencheng for a long time to do business, and he was familiar with Hunan and Chu." "Do you know the nature of Xiangchu people?" "Don't deceive your heart with your mouth, and speak harshly with your deeds." Mrs. Huayue's smile disappeared suddenly: "It's not difficult to invite me today, as long as you listen to the truth, sir." "Ma'am just asked, Buwei Wuxu." Lu Buwei also answered Zhuang Rong. "Come on, drink this cup of Zhenze green tea first." Madam Huayue held up a beautiful white jade bowl, "I have a younger sister who was born in Wudi and she loves green tea. I also think the fragrance is pleasant, much better than Qin tea What do you think sir?" "Lanling wine, Zhenze tea, the best things in the world!" Lu Buwei took a sip and said with a smile, "However, Madam's tea was collected two years ago, and the mellow aroma has been greatly reduced." "Yo!" Mrs. Huayue smiled in surprise, "Mr. really knows it. But you just think, Qin and Chu are thousands of miles away, and they often fight against each other, how can we have new tea every year? My little sister sent a rose last year, sir forgive me gone." "Things that are loved by connoisseurs are the most precious." Lu Buwei said with emotion, "From March every year, Mrs. Buwei will have a new tea!" "It's okay!" Mrs. Huayue was very happy, "I will accept it, but there is nothing in return." "It's easy to say. If Madam wants tea, you can pay half a tael and a dill." "Hey! Good way, one radish and half two radish tea, you don't owe both." "Everyone has a clear conscience, and everything can be done. It is also the way of business travel, Madam, please forgive me." "Mr. is knowledgeable!" Mrs. Huayue praised, and then asked abruptly after a moment of silence, "Mr.'s vision, when you are going to test the princes that day, do you have any talents that you can't create?" "..." Lu Buwei shook his head silently. "Sir, you come from Zhao country, have you ever heard that the son is a different person?" Lu Buwei's heart skipped a beat, he pondered quietly for a while and said: "I heard the name of a different person in two places by accident. Once, I made friends with an official Jin in the Pingyuan Lord's mansion, and met a Hansu who signed up to see Pingyuan Lord. This person is a different person from the son of the Qin State. Another time, he drank wine with Xue Gong and Mao Gong, the hermits of the Zhao State, and heard the discussion between the two, and heard the name of the son. In addition, it seems that there are still rumors of the son in Handan, but unfortunately I didn’t pay attention to it.” "Can you still remember what the two men talked about?" "Mr. Mao praised Young Master Yiren for keeping his integrity for a long time, and he is quite a good minister. Xue Gong said that Young Master Yiren is smart and wise, with latitude and longitude in his belly...I really can't remember many of them." "Sir, you said that the son is poor, but what is the situation?" "I think about it!" Lu Buwei slapped the table with a smile, "Xue Gong said one thing: after the Changping War, the young master first saw Lord Pingyuan. He was thin and pale, his black clothes were worn out, short and wide, and his clothes were empty. The officials in the hall laughed. Young master Then he said, this is the Chu clothing made by Qin, why laugh at it? Lord Pingyuan reprimanded him: Qin followed Qin, Chu adopted Chu, and Qin made Chu clothing, which is not in line with national etiquette! The son replied: I live in another country, and I miss my parents. My father is from Qin, my mother is from Chu, Qin looks like Chu, and he does not forget his father on the outside, and his mother on the inside, this is a great gift from heaven and earth! After some answers, all the seats are filled with awe. The king of Pingyuan treats you son with courtesy." Mrs. Huayue pondered for a moment, then left her seat and bowed deeply: "Thank you sir, I will pay my respects in two days." Lu Buwei immediately bowed: "Buwei will leave Qin in three days, and will leave Xiuzhuang tomorrow night to go on board to deal with business affairs. If Mrs. Meng does not abandon the recklessness, dare to invite Mrs. Meng to meet with my merchant ship." "Hey! Good on board, that's it." Mrs. Huayue smiled happily again.