Amidst the misty rain, a boat without an awning and a boat with a black awning, one in front and the other in the back, resembled two little fishes swimming freely on the rippling surface of the water as they swam towards the lakeside.
The boatman of the awning boat took off his shirt, revealing his tanned muscles as he wrung the water out of his clothes. Abdullah leaned against the side of the boat and muttered with his last breath: "You men from the Central Plains really can't take a joke …"
Yang Fan had no intention of reflecting on his actions and snorted: "You entered the village but did not follow the customs. You deserve some punishment."
Gu Zhuting was holding an umbrella for Yang Fan. She pursed her lips and smiled adorably.
Ah Lang stood up for her because he cared about her. Not every woman would be so valued by her man. In today's dynasty, concubines could be used as gifts to others or to entertain guests. Although concubines with status would not receive such treatment, they would not receive the respect that their master deserved either.
Abdullah was Shen Mu's general and Yang Fan and Yang Fan were important partners. Today, Abdullah was punished by Yang Fan just because he expressed his admiration and did not say anything unbearable. Gu Zhuting's heart was filled with sweetness.
There were people waiting on the shore. A quick glance revealed that there were no less than a dozen of them. All of them were wearing straw raincoats and bamboo hats, standing ramrod straight. Among them were Abdullah's personal warriors, experts sent by Shen Mu to greet Yang Fan, Ren Wei and a few of Yang Fan's personal attendants.
Yang Fan furrowed his brows: "Why did Shen Mu choose such bad weather to meet us?"
Abdullah climbed up from the boat and crossed his arms. His face was a little green. He was not afraid of the heat but he was very afraid of the cold. That dip in the lake had chilled him to death. Abdullah shivered and said: "I did not deliberately choose such a day. It just so happens that it is raining today."
Yang Fan smiled faintly. When the sharp bow of the boat was about to touch the wooden pier, the boatman tapped the bamboo pole lightly. The boat swung its tail like a fish and gently touched the shore on its side.
Abbas, who was steering the other boat for Yang Fan, knew how to push the boat but his skill was very average. He did not know how to swing the boat when it reached the shore and the tip of the boat crashed straight into the shore, causing him to stagger.
With Yang Fan's current condition, he could already walk, jog, and practice martial arts in the morning without any problems. Therefore, he could already ride a horse. However, Shen Mu still sent him a carriage.
It was a very wide carriage pulled by four horses. Abdullah climbed into the carriage in a flurry and said to Yang Fan with his teeth chattering: "Please wait a moment, let me change my clothes." After a while, a pile of wet clothes was thrown out. Then Abdullah walked out of the carriage with his chest and stomach puffed out. The drenched chicken became a dog again.
Abdullah invited Yang Fan to get on the car. As soon as Yang Fan boarded the car, he felt that the car was not as light as it looked. He gently buckled the car against the wall. Listening to the sound, it was indeed made of iron plates.
The wheels rumbled and the carriage was escorted out of Long Qing Lane by dozens of knights. Gu Zhuting took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped Yang Fan's rain-soaked cheeks. Listening to the sound of dripping rain, Yang Fan said to Abdullah: "If Brother Shen has something to say, why don't you come to my Huxin Island? In this kind of weather, why go to 'Chang' an Residence '?"
Abdullah said: "Shen Mu said that your island is too vegetarian. He is not having a good time now. This can be considered a win-win situation."
Yang Fan asked Gu Zhuting curiously: "Is the food we usually eat vegetarian?"
Gu Zhuting was also puzzled. Abdullah laughed bitterly, but didn't explain further.
In Luoyang's Ruyi Lane, the oldest and largest brothel was called 'Ruyi Lou'. In Chang 'an's Ping Kang Lane, the oldest and largest brothel was called' Chang 'an Residence'.
When they arrived in front of Chang 'an Residence, the carriage stopped. Gu Zhuting held an umbrella and walked out gracefully. She glanced around and saw that dozens of riders had already dismounted from their horses. They seemed to be standing randomly, but in fact, they had blocked any possible blind spots for a sneak attack.
Gu Zhuting was still worried and observed carefully. Then she bent down and lifted the curtain. She said softly: "Ah Lang, you can come out now." The curtain was also made of metal. It could not only protect against arrows but also fire. It looked soft but was actually very heavy. Gu Zhuting did not need much effort to lift it.
Yang Fan nodded and walked out. Yang Fan had never been here before. Now that he saw 'Chang' an Residence ', he could not help but exclaim in admiration.
White walls, black tiles, flying eaves and arches. Compared to Luoyang's Ruyi Lane, this place seemed to lack a bit of cosmetics. But it looked very grand. If he did not know that Chang 'an's Ping Kang Lane was like Luoyang's Ruyi Lane, a place where fireworks gathered, Yang Fan would have thought that this was a grand academy.
The bricks on the entrance were exquisitely carved. There was a couplet on both sides and three big words in the middle. It was' Chang 'an Residence'. Ren Wei had already put down his foot. Yang Fan had no time to look at it and walked down. Abdullah came out after him, and his little attendant Abbas hurried forward to help him.
This' Chang 'an Residence' was the largest brothel in this area. Its business was very prosperous. But it was daytime and it was raining. There should not be many customers. Yang Fan stood at the entrance and did not see any customers coming in or out. There was not even a waiter to welcome them. When he walked in, he still did not see anyone. Yang Fan then realized that this brothel had probably been booked by Shen Mu today.
In 'Chang' an Residence ', there was a cluster of fresh flowers on one side and a stretch of bamboo on the other. There was a chessboard under the willow and a stone table by the water. The courtyard was deep and the environment was elegant. Abdullah led Yang Fan through a gourd door and a flower rack. There was another long corridor with nine bends. There were girls leisurely walking down the corridor and watching the rain.
Seeing them come over, the young ladies smiled like flowers and curtsied, but they didn't swarm around them or act coquettishly. It made them feel as if they were bathing in the spring breeze and felt extremely comfortable. At the end of the corridor, there was an exquisite two-story embroidery building. Abdullah signaled to Yang Fan. Yang Fan turned to Gu Zhuting, Ren Wei, and the rest and instructed: "Wait downstairs!"
It was not appropriate for him to bring Ren Wei and the rest to the brothel for a banquet. It was not like they were looking for a fight or a negotiation. Gu Zhuting was his personal guard and a girl. It was not a problem for her to go upstairs. But Yang Fan had already regarded her as his woman. It was even more inappropriate to bring her up.
Yang Fan was meticulous. Gu Zhuting knew what he was thinking and agreed obediently. She put away the umbrella and entered the building with Ren Wei and the rest.
Yang Fan went up the stairs and walked along the carved railings. He saw a large hall in front of him. The hall was decorated with flowers, but it did not appear luxurious or tacky. Instead, it had a kind of appropriate magnificence.
Shen Mu was sitting behind a table with two beauties on his left and right. Their eyes were like green jade and their hair was like a pair of golden fists. Impressively, they were two extremely enchanting and beautiful Hu Ji. One of the two Hu Ji took food and the other fed wine. Shen Mu's hands were busy with the two beauties but he did not stop eating and drinking.
Yang Fan laughed: "Brother Shen is hugging two beauties on each side and drinking wine with the beauties. How satisfying!"
Shen Mu laughed and let go of his hands. His eyes were slightly tipsy but he did not lose his shrewdness. He smiled at Yang Fan and said: "You and I have worked hard. Why are we here? Now that we have succeeded, we should enjoy it. Come, come, come. Please sit. "
When Yang Fan heard him say 'succeeded', his heart was moved. He slowly sat down at the table opposite Shen Mu and asked: "They are willing to give in?"
Shen Mu smiled: "Yes! Yesterday, Zheng Yu accompanied the Zheng family's Great Grandfather to see me. "
As Shen Mu spoke, he patted the two Hu Ji's plump buttocks and signaled them to leave.
The two beautiful Hu Ji's cheeks were flushed from his touch. Obviously, they were aroused. They thought that they were about to have sex with him but did not expect that when Yang Fan came, this seemingly affectionate but actually heartless guest immediately chased them out. When the two girls' big blue eyes glanced at Yang Fan, they could not help but have a trace of resentment.
Yang Fan's scalp went numb from their stares: "Shen Mu and I are not brothers or heroes. Why are you looking at me like that?"
The two Hu Ji retreated and the hall was suddenly empty. Only then did Yang Fan realize that Abdullah did not follow them. He had stopped at the entrance of the building and now there were only him and Shen Mu upstairs.
The curtains on the four walls were gently blown by the wind, bringing with it a trace of moisture from the spring rain, making people feel a bit melancholy. But Shen Mu seemed to be in high spirits. He drank another mouthful of wine and said: "The Succession Hall is now in the hands of the two of us. When this happened, they had already lost the courage to break off with us.
Moreover, we have given them hope. Even if they are unwilling, they know that if they choose to cooperate with us, their loss is far smaller than breaking off with us. Moreover, even though we have cheated them, we are sincere in cooperating with them. They also understand this.
If this is still not enough to make them willing to give in, once the news of Second Zhang being in charge of education spreads, they will have no choice but to seriously consider it. Haha, even though we cannot afford the loss, we are willing to throw caution to the wind. They can afford the loss, but they do not dare to use decades or hundreds of years of degradation as the price. This is called the barefooted are not afraid of those who wear boots. "
"It is indeed good news!" Yang Fan smiled happily. He poured a cup of Dragon Paste Wine and raised it to Shen Mu.
Even though he knew that reconciliation was the wisest choice for the aristocratic families, he could not be at ease if he did not receive accurate information. These days, he had bought a house and gone sightseeing. It seemed that he no longer had any scruples. In fact, he had deliberately put on an act. Only now did his taut heartstrings finally relax.
Shen Mu smiled and raised his cup, clinking it with him from a distance and draining it in one gulp. He then stared at him and said, "What do you plan to do next, Erlang?"
The two of them had already communicated many times. Moreover, they had done such a big thing together. There was no need to be tactful or probing. Thus, Shen Mu went straight to the point.
The current situation between the two of them was like two allies who had chosen to advance and retreat together in battle. As for how to divide the fruits of victory, that was already decided before the victory. There was no need for further discussion. However, the strategy to be adopted after the victory could not be discussed in advance.
Because victory was victory, defeat was defeat. If they lost, they would suffer a crushing defeat. If they won, they would seize power. There was nothing to discuss. However, there were too many variables in how far the war would go, how much damage would be caused, and what the final outcome would be. There was no way to plan in advance.
Yang Fan understood that Shen Mu was asking him and testing him. Even though he had already made a plan for this and consulted the opinions of the Sky Observation Division, he still seriously thought about it and slowly said, "One word, steady! We can't learn from Qin Shihuang.
The first thing we need to do next is to restore our relationship with the aristocratic families and win their trust. After all, our roots are with them. Not only do we share many common interests, but we will also be inseparable in the future. We must use sincerity to make them understand that we only want independence and not to break away from them. However, they suffered a great loss this time. It will be a long process to win their trust. "
Shen Mu smiled. "I don't think so. The aristocratic family lords are all old foxes. I've always felt that people who are too old will lack the drive to move forward. But because of this, they tend to seek stability. Bravery will never happen to them. There is no eternal friendship or hatred between countries. It is the same between us and them. "
Yang Fan said, "That's for the best! Also, we need to stabilize and manage the internal affairs. Right now, we are using strong methods to purge the dissidents and intimidate the heroes. We have indeed achieved our goal, but this kind of Succession Hall is unstable. We need to manage it carefully. Moreover, the obvious and hidden sects will henceforth be one family. We need to let them adapt to the situation. "
Shen Mu listened attentively. He slowly sipped his wine and said, "Then what does Erlang think about the situation in the court? After all, no matter if it's our Succession Hall or the other aristocratic families, because we are too large, the slightest movement from the imperial court will have a great impact on us. The reason why the aristocratic families established the Succession Hall was to deal with the changes from the imperial court, war, and turmoil. We were born for this mission, and we have this need. "
Yang Fan pondered for a moment and said slowly, "The Empress may be old, but her claws and teeth have not withered. Right now, the Empress has a powerful enemy that she cannot defeat approaching her step by step. Why don't we wait patiently? Rushing to challenge the Empress at this time is very foolish. "
Shen Mu's gaze turned serious. "This enemy is?"
Yang Fan said, "Time!"
Shen Mu suddenly burst into laughter. "Erlang's opinion coincides with mine. Hahaha! It is really delightful to work with Erlang! "
Clap, clap, clap! Shen Mu clapped his hands three times and said loudly, "Beauty Ge Le, please cheer us up!"
At Shen Mu's command, beauties dressed in Kucha, Persia, Abbasid Caliphate, Turkic and other exotic costumes' flew 'in like butterflies. Yang Fan swept his eyes over them. All of them had enchanting figures and were as beautiful as flowers. Not a single one of them was impatient to look at. Perhaps even the most expensive beauties in this' Changan Residence 'have been called over by Shen Mu.
For a moment, the sounds of string music filled the air. Who would have thought that in such a lively atmosphere, these two people who are definitely not influential in the court would be discussing an important matter related to the fate of the country? But when Cao Aman and Big Ear Liu were discussing heroes, Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, and Sun Ce were all present. How could the two of them be the rulers of the world?
While Yang Fan was thinking about this, Shen Mu seemed to have the same feeling. He suddenly looked at Yang Fan and smiled. "Today, the heroes are only Erlang and Mu Er!"
Yang Fan laughed. He was considering if he should play along and drop his chopsticks when he heard a shout from outside the building. "Is that bastard Shen Mu fooling around here?"
Shen Mu's expression changed and the wine cup in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.
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