Qiao Xuan and Liu Mang were both stubborn people, just like two stubborn donkeys, staring at each other without giving in.
Fortunately, Zhou Yu and Yang Hong acted as a cover for Liu Mang so that he could return to the backyard first. Qiao Xuan also calmed down. This was a big matter and could not be rushed. They could discuss it properly, which prevented the two from continuing to fight.
Back in the inner courtyard, Liu Mang simply had a belly full of anger. This old man Qiao was simply infuriating.
"Milord, calm down, calm down!" Yang Hong tried to appease Liu Mang.
"Calm down, how can I calm down? This old man Qiao Xuan, I knew that he was a stubborn old man, but who would have thought that he would be so stubborn. He is simply a stone in the toilet, smelly and hard." Liu Mang said in a bad mood.
"Milord, you can't blame Qiao Xuan, your daughter's reputation is still very important!" Yang Hong helped Qiao Xuan to speak good words. One must know that once a rumor was spread, it would be difficult to take it back. Now, everyone in Yangzhou was pointing at Qiao Xuan.
Because Qiao Xuan's reputation was too high, Qiao Xuan lived in seclusion. Even when the yellow turban thieves passed through Wancheng city, they did not touch him. It could be seen that his reputation was very high among the people, and now such a highly respected person actually spread such a rumor. How could the old man not be angry?
"Humph!" Liu Mang coldly snorted.
"Milord, Qiao Xuan is a highly respected person, if he really makes a fuss, it will not be a good thing for my Yangzhou!" Xu Shu also followed. Such a big matter, Xu Shu naturally knew that Liu Mang had just taken advantage of the examination in Yangzhou to win the hearts of many scholars. If this Qiao Xuan made a fuss, it would really be a waste of water.
Why did Sun Ce and Zhou Yu marry the two sisters of Qiao family? It was not only because the two sisters were beautiful, but also because of Qiao Xuan's reputation. As long as Sun Ce and Zhou Yu became in-laws with Qiao family, then the hearts of the scholars of Jiangdong would be subdued. Because of the relationship between Qiao family and other scholars, Sun Ce wanted a steady stream of students.
Qiao Xuan's status in Jiangdong was comparable to Pang Degong's status in Jingzhou. In Jingzhou, even Liu Biao had to be polite to Pang Degong and respectfully call him Pang Degong. Liu Mang was able to escape from Jingzhou because of Pang Degong's ability.
Now Qiao Xuan was Jiangdong's stepping stone. If Liu Mang really forced Qiao Xuan to his death, then it would be a big joke.
Jiangdong's scholars would rather go to Cao Cao or other warlords to be an unknown small official than come to Liu Mang's recruitment order.
"What can we do? Don't tell me you agree with him? "Liu Mang is also helpless. This old stick is simply a trash that does not listen to oil, rice or salt.
"This!" Xu Shu still shook his head. This old man Qiao Xuan was not easy to deal with, and Liu Mang's other father-in-law was even more difficult to deal with. This old man Qiao was reasonable, and even if he was unreasonable, he would only commit suicide to force Liu Mang. But the other father-in-law was different, he might even kill them.
Just when Liu Mang was still in a difficult position, a servant came over and bowed to Liu Mang. "Your Highness, Wangfei invites you!"
When he heard this, Liu Mang suddenly smiled bitterly. After all, he could not hide it anymore. Liu Mang looked at Yang Hong and Xu Shu, hoping that they could go with him. But before he could speak, Xu Shu and Yang Hong said that one had something to do at home, and the other had unfinished business in the cabinet. They both said goodbye to Liu Mang.
"A bunch of heartless people!" Liu Mang gritted his teeth and cursed.
There was no other way but to face it alone. Liu Mang walked to the backyard of Miss Lu's courtyard.
"Your Highness! Wangfei is waiting for you inside! " When he walked to the door, he naturally saw Miss Lu's personal maid smiling at Liu Mang.
"En!" Liu Mang nodded. Usually, Liu Mang would stop and say hello, but today he really could not. He was not in the mood and walked into the room.
Liu Mang originally thought that there was only Miss Lu, but when he walked in, Liu Mang subconsciously wanted to retreat.
"Oh, our King Of Shu is here, where are you going? Come back! "Miss Lu sneered at Liu Mang in the room.
"Hehe, hehe! Today's weather is really good! " Liu Mang laughed. In his heart, he felt very guilty. This was because there was no one else in the room. There was only Miss Lu. This was simply a trial by three courts.
Qiao Yu, Yuan Fang, Sun Shangxiang, Qian Yu and the others were all there. Liu Mang was about to cry.
"I heard that our King Of Shu wants to divorce his wife!" Miss Lu sneered.
"No, absolutely not! Where did this rumor come from? " Liu Mang immediately jumped up, wanting to refute the rumors and cast himself aside.
"Why do you care where the rumor came from, I'm asking you whether it is true or not!" "Young Mistress Lu has completely displayed her status as a first wife today.
"Madam, even if I have ten times the courage, I still wouldn't dare! Not to mention you, there's also that father-in-law … If he knew, he would chop me into pieces! " Liu Mang said the things about his father-in-law in a low voice. He did not dare to let Miss Lu hear it. If he and her father accidentally let it slip, Liu Mang would be beaten up.
"Hmph, I don't think you would dare!" Miss Lu was relieved. In fact, she was very satisfied with her husband. Although he was not handsome, not good at martial arts, and not smart enough, at least he was very good to his wife. In this era where men were superior to women, women were generally the accessories of men. It was impossible for them to be on the table.
However, Liu Mang could have such an attitude, which made everyone feel very strange.
The reason why Lion Roar from Hedong was so famous was that people thought it was funny. How could a man be afraid of his wife?
However, Liu Mang came from the modern era. In that era, men had to learn how to cook. Being afraid of their wives was normal. There were too many men and too few women.
"Husband, my father …" Qiao Yu also spoke. She was still worried about her father. She heard that her father was going to die in the King Of Shu's mansion. One was her husband, the other was her father. She was in a difficult position.
"Your father is fine!" Liu Mang said in a bad mood. That old man Qiao was so stubborn. It was really difficult.
"Then what about my sister?" Qiao Yu panicked. She no longer had the aura of an elder sister.
"Yue 'er! Ai! " Liu Mang also sighed bitterly. If it was just the old man Qiao who wanted to marry Qiao Yue, Liu Mang would welcome it with both hands. However, this old man Qiao wanted to marry Qiao Yue. He was determined to be the first wife.
"Husband, why don't you divorce me!" Qiao Yu gritted her teeth and stood up to Liu Mang.
"Sister, how can you do this?" A few of Qiao Yu's good friends stood up. Divorce? This wasn't the modern era where people could just divorce whenever they wanted. If there was really a divorce, Qiao Yu would really be too ashamed to face anyone.
"Yes, sister. If there is something, we can discuss it. How can we let sister be like this!" Yuan Fang and Qian Yu persuaded.
"Absolutely not!" Liu Mang refused without thinking. "Yu 'er, if I divorce you, there will be no place for you in this world. Besides, Yue' er is your father's daughter. Aren't you? If I divorce you, your father will definitely kill himself outside my mansion. "The divorce of a wife was also called the Seven Expulsions. The Seven Expulsions (also known as the Seven Abandonments) were seven conditions stipulated in ancient China's laws, etiquette, and customs. When the wife met one of the conditions, the husband and his family could ask for divorce. From the content, it was mainly from the perspective of the husband and his family and considered their interests. Therefore, it could be said that it was a kind of oppression for the wife.
The Seven Expulsions: Not being filial to your parents. That is, the wife was not filial to her husband's parents. Liu Mang was a person without parents in this world. He did not need Qiao Yu to be filial to him.
Having no children, this was indeed one of the reasons. However, Liu Mang's wives did not have children, so this was not counted. Liu Mang felt that it was his own problem.
Jealous wives were so jealous. The reason was that "the family is messy," which meant that the wife's fierceness and jealousy would cause disharmony in the family, and the ideal relationship between husband and wife, which was "the husband is the leader of the wife," would be messed up. In many opinions, it was even more believed that the wife's jealousy towards her husband taking concubines was detrimental to the continuation of the family.
Although Qiao Yu and the rest were jealous sometimes, Liu Mang also knew that it was because they loved him. If they did not love him, they would not care about these things.
"Having a disease", talking too much, stealing, these had nothing to do with Qiao Yu.
Then, there was only one last thing left. If Qiao Yu was divorced, then this could only be used as a reason. This was cheating and Qiao Yu was really ruined.
Therefore, Liu Mang refused without thinking.
"Then what should I do?" Qiao Yu said with a bitter face.
"I will think of a way!" Liu Mang composed himself. "Ling 'er, Yu' er, Fang 'er, Xiang' er, and Qianyu, I will have to trouble you. You are going to have another sister!" Liu Mang warned his wives in advance.
"As long as you can settle that Sir Qiao and help Sister Yu 'er resolve her worries, it doesn't matter if there are more. Anyway, it is not the first time you have done it!" Miss Lu was still a little uncomfortable and snorted at Liu Mang.
Liu Mang smiled awkwardly. Indeed, he went out for a trip and brought back a sister. Now, there was another one coming to his door.
"Thank you for your understanding, Madam. I will think of a way now!" Liu Mang quickly left the country of women.
After returning to his study, Liu Mang thought for a long time but could not think of a way. He frowned.
"My lord, if you can't think of a way, you can let the Internal Minister and other officials discuss it together!" Guan Hai suggested to Liu Mang.
"That's right!" Liu Mang nodded. "Guan Hai, go and call Xu Shu, Tian Feng, Lu Su, and the others here!" Liu Mang said to Guan Hai.
"My lord, where is Zhuge Liang?" Guan Hai asked curiously. Liu Mang did not have Zhuge Liang in his name.
"That villager!" Liu Mang hesitated. If he were to tell this villager, it is true that this villager is very scheming. However, he must also know that this villager will definitely laugh out loud at the start and use this as an excuse to ridicule his lord.
"Sooner or later, I will kill that villager!" Liu Mang said fiercely. However, he still asked Guan Hai to bring Zhuge Liang along.
In 203 AD, this was a time that could be recorded in history. Yangzhou's first cabinet meeting was held. Nine members of the parliament walked into the hall. The first proposal they were going to make was how to deal with Qiao Xuan.
"Haha, haha!" Sure enough, Liu Mang did not guess incorrectly. Zhuge Liang laughed and pointed at Liu Mang. He did not put this lord in his eyes.
"Damn villager!" Liu Mang was speechless. He wanted to kill Zhuge Liang even more.
However, Liu Mang resisted the urge to punch Zhuge Liang's handsome face.
"Let's start the meeting!" Liu Mang gritted his teeth.
At the side, Lu Su pulled Zhuge Liang aside. Zhuge Liang's best friend was good at everything but he did not know why he always liked to oppose Liu Mang.
After being pulled back by Lu Su, Zhuge Liang stopped laughing. However, if you look closely, you will notice that there is still a smile on his face.
"Everyone should know how to deal with Qiao Xuan!" Liu Mang asked with a headache.
"Milord, Qiao Xuan is highly respected. Using force will not work!" Xu Shu was the first to speak. Qiao Xuan was a military officer. Liu Mang could kill Qiao Xuan by force. However, what would happen after Qiao Xuan died? Liu Mang was the first to be suspected. He might be the target of everyone's crusade. Liu Mang's Yangzhou army had just been cleared. Liu Mang did not want to be blacklisted again. Therefore, not only could Qiao Xuan not die, but Liu Mang also had to ensure his safety. This way, his reputation would not be ruined.
"But this Qiao Xuan, he won't listen to reason!" Liu Mang rubbed his head. If Qiao Xuan liked wealth, then Liu Mang could give him tens of thousands of gold. If he liked real estate, then Liu Mang could give him a big mansion in Shouchun. If he liked horses, then Liu Mang could give him a good warhorse. If he liked beauties!
Liu Mang suddenly remembered that even if Qiao Xuan liked beauties, he was powerless now. If he sent them over, Qiao Xuan might really die of anger.
This kind of person was the most difficult to deal with. There was a saying that said, one can be unyielding if one has no desires.
"Therefore, it is better to only have one wife!" Zhuge Liang concluded for Liu Mang.
"Zhuge Liang!" Liu Mang gritted his teeth and waited for Zhuge Liang. He should not have brought this villager here. Speaking of which, half of the credit should be given to him. If Zhuge Liang did not make him drink during Old Lady Wu's birthday celebration, he would not have gotten drunk. If he did not get drunk, he would not have stayed in Zhou Yu's mansion.
"Minister Zhuge, why did your wife come to the Ministry of Revenue last month to ask about your salary? I have already given it to you!" Mi Zhu began to speak up for Liu Mang. "Or did you not hand it back in time?"
"Mi Zifang! Brother Zifang, you did not tell me everything! " Zhuge Liang suddenly widened his eyes. Liu Mang did say that he would deduct Zhuge Liang's salary last month. However, he did not do so in the end. Zhuge Liang used this as an excuse to reduce his salary. As for where the money went, Zhuge Liang heard that there was a person called Young Master Kong in Shouchun who spent a lot of money.
"He did!" Mi Zhu said innocently to Zhuge Liang.
"It's over! It's over!" Zhuge Liang sat down on a chair. Madam Huang will definitely kill him when he goes back.
Liu Mang looked at Zhuge Liang and felt very comfortable. He then saw Mi Zhu winking at him and understood that Mi Zhu did not say anything. Perhaps, he even helped Zhuge Liang cover up his lie. Who said that merchants are stupid? At the very least, Zhuge Liang was panicking.
"Hehe!" Liu Mang's mood was much better. Who told you to show off, Zhuge villager? Now you know what's good for you. Since you're unlucky, having Zhuge villager follow you can be considered a kind of happiness.
"Milord, can you lend me a sum of money?" Zhuge Liang looked at Liu Mang and asked with a sad face.
"Lend me money? How much?" Liu Mang asked with a smile.
"Five hundred, no, one thousand gold, one thousand gold!" Zhuge Liang's salary was very high, five thousand stone a year.
"Why do you need so much money?" A thousand gold is not much to Liu Mang but to Zhuge Liang it is also a lot. After all, Zhuge Liang is not the kind of person who likes to be corrupt. For him, a gentleman loves money and takes it in the right way.
"Don't worry about it!" Zhuge Liang refused. He needed to pay back the money. Part of it was to fill up the hole in his house and the other part was to fill up the money for Lingering Fragrance Restaurant.
"When are you going to change?" Liu Mang asked.
"Next month, no, next month, no, next month, no, next month, next month!" Zhuge Liang suddenly discovered a problem. His salary has become an endless cycle. Every month, ever since Madam Huang came, Zhuge Liang became completely poor. All of his salary had to be turned over. As a result, where would he have the money to pay back?
"If you don't have the money to pay back, who will lend it to you?" Liu Mang said to Zhuge Liang.
"Everyone?" Zhuge Liang looked at the other cabinet members. He hoped to borrow money from the other cabinet members to fill up his hole.
Xu Shu shook his head. "Kongming, you know that I spend all my money on books except for my living expenses." Xu Shu didn't just buy books for himself, he also bought books for the poor children who wanted to study. It could be said that Xu Shu was really clean. Other than the alimony for his mother, the rest was used to build Yangzhou.
Tian Feng also shook his head. "I just came here, no money!"
As for those rich young masters like Mi Zhu and Lu Su, they knew that their lord wanted to tease Zhuge Liang. How could they lend it to him? Zhuge Liang had to prepare for his sister's wedding and had no money. He also had a salary to support his family.
Zhuge Liang had no choice but to look at Liu Mang.
"If you want to borrow money, sure!" Liu Mang gave Zhuge Liang a glimmer of hope. Zhuge Liang's eyes suddenly flashed.
"But I have a condition!" Liu Mang stated his condition.
"Don't say one condition, I will agree to ten conditions!" "If the women in Liu Mang's residence are tigresses, then the one in Zhuge Liang's residence is a lioness roaring from Hedong. This is because Liu Mang had also learned martial arts. Furthermore, Zhuge Liang's Madam Huang was said to be a heroine whose intelligence was not inferior to Zhuge Liang's. She had studied all kinds of weapons and was even interested in gunpowder. Liu Ye was even prepared to give his position as the Right Assistant Minister to Madam Huang.
This shows how terrifying Madam Huang is. If Liu Mang made Madam Huang unhappy, at most he would be tortured. But our Mr. Zhuge Liang, when he sleeps, he will have a gunpowder erupt from his crotch.
"With your words, it is enough!" Liu Mang laughed. "Settle this Qiao Xuan for me. If not, I will be in trouble and you will not be able to explain yourself!" Liu Mang threatened Zhuge Liang.
"You are ruthless!" Zhuge Liang gritted his teeth and said. He sat there and thought hard.
Although the people at the side felt sympathy for Zhuge Liang, there was also a kind of envy. Only Zhuge Liang could joke around with their Lord.
"Got it!" While everyone was thinking, Zhuge Liang suddenly screamed.
"Got what?" Liu Mang looked at Zhuge Liang and asked.
"This Qiao Xuan does not take the hard way. Then we will use the soft way!" Zhuge Liang said to Liu Mang.
Liu Mang was happy for nothing and complained to Zhuge Liang. "If we can use the soft way, would I still need you to think?" Qiao Xuan did not want money, houses, cars, and beauties.
"Milord, your soft way is useful to me. But it is useless to that old Qiao Xuan!" Zhuge Liang shook his head and said to Liu Mang. Beauties and money were useful to young people like Zhuge Liang. But what was the use to an old man like Qiao Xuan? Can you only look at beauties but not touch? You have the heart but not the strength! Don't make the old man angry.
"Then what soft way?" Liu Mang frowned. This old man is not lacking in anything.
"Milord, why did Qiao Xuan force his daughter to marry you?" Zhuge Liang asked Liu Mang.
"It is because I was drunk last time and accidentally slept in his daughter's boudoir. I don't know where this rumor came from, so it became like this!" Liu Mang said helplessly.
"In the end, what Qiao Xuan wants is his reputation!" Zhuge Liang said to Liu Mang.
"Reputation?" Liu Mang's eyes suddenly lit up. That's right. This Qiao Xuan, in the end, was just worried about his reputation. He did not want his reputation to be ruined when he was old. You must know that if the child is not taught well, it is the father's fault. If Qiao Yue spread some rumors, it would be Qiao Xuan's fault. What would Qiao Xuan, a person with a reputation all over the world, think? It is because this old man cares too much about his reputation that these troublesome things are happening now.
"Since Qiao Xuan wants reputation, Milord, just give it to him!" Zhuge Liang said to Liu Mang indifferently.
"That's easy to say. How do I give him reputation?" Liu Mang was also helpless. Money, or beauties, these things are material. As long as you have money and power, you can naturally get them. Even if Qiao Xuan wants to be an official, Liu Mang can get him the position of a Provincial Magistrate. But how do you get reputation? Isn't this a joke?
"My Lord, this matter can be said to be simple, but it can also be said to be difficult. However, this matter cannot be said to be difficult for my Lord! Zhuge Liang said to Liu Mang with a smile.
"Oh?" Liu Mang looked at Zhuge Liang in confusion.
"If you want to be famous, you have to write books and become famous all over the world!" Zhuge Liang explained to Liu Mang.
"Write books and become famous?" Liu Mang frowned.
"Milord, this matter is very difficult for other warlords. But for you, it is extremely simple!" Zhuge Liang said to Liu Mang with a smile. He even pointed at Liu Mang's table.
On Liu Mang's table is a historical record of Sima Qian. This thing is written on paper, not the kind of wooden slips. Moreover, it is not copied but printed.
"Yes! Why didn't I think of it! " Liu Mang's eyes suddenly lit up. With this method, how many people in the world can resist his temptation?
"Milord, how about three thousand gold? Hehe! " Zhuge Liang changed it to three thousand gold.
"Hmm?" Liu Mang's eyes widened. You're raising the price on the spot! " However, although three thousand gold is expensive, Liu Mang can still afford it. "Come, reward Minister Zhuge with three thousand gold!"
Liu Mang did not want to bother with this money-grubber Zhuge and prepared to deal with Qiao Xuan.
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