The collection of Yan Shu's poems had so many twists and turns that it took a whole year to complete. There was no other way, as this was after all just Zhang Fei's side job. Too many things happened during this period and he was unable to devote too much energy to it.
Fortunately, genuine bookstores do not currently make money from selling books, but the income from newspapers and periodicals is very considerable and can be afforded.
Of course, Zhang Fei only gave some ideas, such as performing this new collection of poems in an operatic style. He was only responsible for proposing the idea, but he didn't care how to do it specifically.
To be honest, he only has so much artistic talent and is a rather vulgar person. He also lacks imagination in this area, so he has to let Yan Jidao and others to arrange it themselves.
However, he believed that top artists like Yan Jidao would know how to perform, and he only needed to tell them some ways of performing.
Now is the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The lingering spring rain has long gone away, and the bright sunshine is gradually increasing.
Bathed in sunshine, the Zhang family's small garden has changed from a barren land to a place full of blooming flowers.
Zhang Fei looked around in the pavilion, "How beautiful! When did this flower grow?"
"It's just that the flowers have just bloomed recently, but Sanlang has been leaving early and coming back late recently, so he didn't notice it."
As she spoke, Gao Wenyin handed him a cup of fragrant tea.
...
...
Zhang Fei took it and thought to himself, have I been so busy lately? Thinking carefully, it seems to be true. I am really running outside every day and have no time to calm down and enjoy this new house.
After taking a sip of the fragrant tea in the cup, Zhang Fei's eyes lit up and he praised Gao Wenyin: "Madam, your tea-making skills are getting better and better."
Gao Wenyin just smiled shyly: "As long as Sanlang likes to drink it, that's fine."
In fact, it was not because of her improvement in tea art, but because Gao Wenyin had been carefully observing what kind of tea Zhang Fei liked to drink, whether he liked it hotter or colder. It was only after long-term observation that she was able to brew tea that suited Zhang Fei's taste.
She is the kind of woman who can give everything for her family. Whether it is cooking or making tea, she does it according to Zhang Fei's taste. Other aspects are also determined according to Zhang Fei's habits.
After taking another sip, Zhang Fei put down his teacup and stretched himself lazily, saying, "It's such a rare leisure time!"
Gao Wenyin pursed her lips and smiled, but when she saw Zhang Fei looking at her, she quickly stopped smiling and avoided his gaze a little.
Zhang Fei couldn't help but ask curiously: "Madam, what are you laughing at?"
"nothing."
Gao Wenyin shook her head slightly.
"Um?"
Zhang Fei looked at her puzzledly.
Gao Wenyin couldn't resist his burning gaze, so she said, "I just think Sanlang prefers a busy life. He feels listless when he's idle."
"Yeah?"
Zhang Fei himself didn't even notice it.
Gao Wenyin nodded and said, "In this respect, Sanlang and Zhiqian are very similar."
Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "I am different from her. She is busy doing nothing, but I have too many things to do and I have no choice but to do it."
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and added, "Oh, by the way! Madam, there is something I want to discuss with you."
Gao Wenyin's face tensed and she asked, "What's the matter?"
Zhang Fei said: "I may have to go on a long journey in the future."
"A long journey? Where to?" Gao Wenyin asked nervously.
Zhang Fei said: "It has not been decided yet, but we will definitely leave Kaifeng Prefecture."
Gao Wenyin asked anxiously, "How long will it take?"
"I don't know yet. But..." Zhang Fei asked curiously, "But why is Madam so nervous?"
Gao Wenyin said truthfully: "I'm afraid Sanlang will be in danger."
Zhang Fei finally reacted and said with a smile, "It's not that dangerous. Besides." He looked at Gao Wenyin, "Besides, I want to take my wife with me."
Gao Wenyin asked, "Can I go too?"
Compared to Xu Zhiqian, Gao Wenyin is a very traditional woman who can stay at home for a whole year.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Of course, if I leave my wife now, I may not know how to live."
Gao Wenyin rolled her eyes at him and said, "It's not as exaggerated as you say."
"Really." Zhang Fei nodded, and then asked, "I wonder if Madam would like to go with me."
Gao Wenyin nodded like a chick pecking at rice, "Of course I do."
Just at this moment, Li Si suddenly shouted at the door: "Third brother, Sima scholar is here."
“Oh my god!”
Zhang Fei slapped his forehead, "You really don't let me catch my breath!" Then, he said to Gao Wenyin with a hint of reluctance, "Madam, I'll go see Scholar Sima first."
Gao Wenyin stood up and said, "Go quickly."
Zhang Fei just walked out of the pavilion, turned back and said seriously: "Madam, I think you misunderstood me."
"ah?"
Gao Wenyin opened her red lips slightly and looked at Zhang Fei blankly.
Zhang Fei said seriously, "I am really forced to be busy, not because I like it. If I were to sit here with my wife for a whole day, I would not be listless or feel bored."
Gao Wenyin was stunned for a moment. She didn't seem to expect Zhang Fei to be so entangled in this matter. She smiled and nodded, "Okay, I was wrong."
Zhang Fei asked, "Madam's answer was a bit perfunctory."
Gao Wenyin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Go quickly. Don't keep Sima Xueshi waiting for too long."
When I arrived at the front hall, I saw Sima Guang sitting inside, but he seemed a little uneasy.
Zhang Fei bowed, but Sima Guang remained indifferent, so Zhang Fei called out again, "Master Sima?"
"ah?"
Sima Guang was startled, raised his head and glanced at Zhang Fei, "You are here."
What's going on? Is there something wrong again? I'm really not a workaholic! Zhang Fei asked anxiously, "Master Sima, is there anything wrong again?"
Sima Guang was slightly startled, and shook his head and said: "Nothing happened, just!"
He looked around and suddenly stood up. "Let's go to your study and talk."
Still have to go to the study? Is this still nothing? Zhang Fei's heart was beating so fast!
Arriving at the study, Sima Guang glanced at the table, which was full of Xu Zun's ink and brush, and couldn't help asking: "Is this your father-in-law's study?"
Zhang Fei said awkwardly: "I use it occasionally."
Sima Guang asked, "Is it possible that your writing has never improved?"
Zhang Fei muttered quietly: "But I don't know why, some people just like to watch it."
Sima Guang glared at first, then waved his hands and said, "Okay, okay, I'm sorry for talking too much."
"Master Sima, please don't be angry." Zhang Fei said aggrievedly, "I've been so busy lately that I don't have time to practice these!"
Sima Guang chuckled and said, “You won’t practice when you have time.”
Zhang Fei smiled awkwardly and asked, "By the way, what does Sima Xueshi want to see me about?"
Sima Guang glanced at Zhang Fei in confusion, and after struggling for a while, he finally said, "Didn't you ask me to find you a case last time?"
Zhang Fei nodded woodenly.
Sima Guang said, "I have found a case. Please take a look and see if it works."
As he spoke, he took out a roll of documents from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei quickly took it, opened it and took a look. He couldn't help but exclaimed inwardly, What a shame.
Although he was not familiar with the name, he was very familiar with the Northern Song Dynasty's Zhong Family Army. This was really significant! He read on carefully.
After reading it, he nodded repeatedly and said, "This case is not bad. But..."
Sima Guang asked, "But what?"
Zhang Fei said: "But this case has been over for so long. If we want to achieve our goal, someone must first request a reversal of the verdict and put pressure on them. Only then can I win over people's hearts if I go there."
Sima Guang asked, "In other words, you think Zhong Yan is more reasonable?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "According to what is written here, if it is said that Zhong Yan attacked without waiting for the imperial order, this may be debatable, but after that, Suizhou was taken back, and Lu Chen still let him come back, this is a bit unreasonable."
Sima Guang snorted, "What do you know? The emperor had just ascended the throne, and there were still many problems in the country that had not been resolved. If a war broke out with Xixia, the consequences would be disastrous."
Why are you so excited? Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered that Sima Guang was a well-known dove, and his behavior was somewhat similar to Lu Shen's. He must support Lu Shen in his heart, so he did not argue with him, so he said: "Sima Xueshi, you are not asking me to overturn Lu Shen's verdict, are you?"
Sima Guang said: "I have known Lu Shen for a long time. He is an upright person, an honest official, and has outstanding abilities. I think he was indeed wronged in this case."
Zhang Fei said: "But this does not meet our needs. If I offend all these generals as soon as I go there, how can I survive there?"
Sima Guang's expression softened a bit, and he said, "I'm not asking you to bring Zhong Yan to trial. But if you want to use this case to establish your authority, you must also give Lu Shen a fair verdict. If you want to sacrifice Lu Shen to please Zhong Yan, then forget it."
Zhang Fei asked: "May I ask Scholar Sima, what is a fair judgment?"
Sima Guang asked in return: "Did Zhong Yan raise troops without authorization? Did Lu Shen wrongly accuse him?"
Zhang Fei also asked in return: "Does Scholar Sima think that Zhong Yan is guilty?"
Sima Guang said: "Zhong Yan is of course guilty. He won this time and did not provoke a war between our dynasty and Xixia. But if he loses and provokes a war between the two sides, do you know how serious the consequences will be for the country?
Those generals will not care about the financial problems in the rear. If we fight a war with Western Xia, the number of civilians killed in the rear may be no less than that of soldiers killed on the battlefield!
Moreover, for a long period of time, the state will be forced to compete with the people for profits and make up for the financial deficit, and the people will have to bear heavy taxes for this. If he wins, he will be powerful and promoted, but if he loses, can he make up for these consequences? Whether to fight or not must be decided by the court, because the consequences will be borne by the court, not the generals. "
Zhang Fei said: "But if we win, we will still be punished, which will make the soldiers afraid to fight. When the enemy is at the gates, they may not dare to fight."
Sima Guang sighed, "Such problems have occurred countless times in history. Some people have won great victories by disobeying military orders, but more often they have plunged the entire country into crisis. Is it really advisable to ignore the overall situation for the sake of a temporary victory or defeat?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Not to mention that the situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, even those county magistrates and judges will make decisions on their own when faced with unexpected situations. Therefore, I think we should still give the generals some protection and let them know that if the judgment they make is very correct and there are enough reasons to support them, they will also receive a fair trial and deserved rewards.
On the contrary, they will definitely not escape punishment, and this will actually make the generals more restrained."
Sima Guang nodded slightly and said, "What you said makes a lot of sense."
Zhang Fei glanced at the case file in his hand again, "This case is really interesting. I am quite interested in it."
Sima Guang said: "I do have a request."
Zhang Fei hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "I can promise Sima Xueshi that I will give Lu Shen a verdict that will convince him, but Sima Xueshi must first build momentum for this case and put enough pressure on Zhong Yan, at least to make him feel that he is in danger, so that I will have more room for judgment."
Sima Guang hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll think about it again."
"ah?"
Zhang Fei looked at Sima Guang in astonishment, "Master Sima has not yet made up his mind!"
Sima Guang said, "I just came to ask you. You haven't decided yet. Do you really want to go early?"
"No!"
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "If I have a choice, I don't want to go anywhere. Master Sima, please take your time to think about it."
(End of this chapter)
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