Yingyang's Zheng Clan and Longxi's Li Clan were the biggest supporters of the Hidden Sect behind the scenes and also the most powerful controllers. Zheng Yu had some secret cooperation with Young Master Jiang, the head of the Obvious Sect. In return, he established his own network of influence and connections in Chang 'an. At this critical juncture, he was naturally entrusted with a heavy responsibility by the aristocratic families.
Cui Lin's mediation in Luoyang was actually a failure. He lacked experience and didn't have enough connections in Luoyang to make use of. If it wasn't for the fact that the Obvious and Hidden Sects realized that both sides would suffer losses if they continued to fight like this and that it would arouse the strong opposition of the seven aristocratic families, Cui Lin wouldn't have accomplished anything.
Of course, the masters of the aristocratic families, who were experienced in the ways of the world, would not place all their hopes on the alliance between the two sects. Shen Mu took drastic measures and borrowed the strength of the two sects. He actually facilitated the Emperor to move the capital. However, Yang Fan immediately became one of the first batch of advance personnel. This matter immediately aroused the sensitive nerves of the masters of the aristocratic families, who were under great pressure.
They hoped that Yang Fan's advance was just a coincidence. It was because of the Emperor's trust in him and not because he wanted to come to Chang 'an to stir up trouble. But they were afraid that they would be wrong. What if Yang Fan really came for the Hidden Sect? Their old bones really couldn't withstand such torment.
This task was handed over to Zheng Yu. Zheng Yu hoped that he could do ten times better than Cui Lin. Although the Zheng Family's ranking was lower than the Cui Family, the competition between the aristocratic families was ultimately a competition for talents. If he could resolve this matter perfectly, the Zheng Family would be able to suppress the Cui Family in terms of prestige. For this, he had to do his best.
Zheng Yu stared at the person opposite him with bright eyes and said in a deep voice, "Has Yang Fan arrived in Chang 'an today?"
"Yes!"
Under the slanting light, the man's face was half-lit. His hair was white, his eyebrows were thin, his eyes were thin, his temples were bald, and his lips were like that of a Buddha. He was none other than Chu Tianxing, the Military Advisor of the Chang 'an Local Government, also known as the "Vulture".
"Tell me in detail!"
"Yes! Leading the entire Thousand Horsemen Battalion, Yang Fan, along with Chen Dong and Sun Yuxuan of the Ministry of Justice, Hu Yuanli of the Censorate, Shi Yu, Wen Ao and a group of government officials, arrived at Chang 'an this afternoon. The Lord of Hanoi had sent out invitations one day in advance, inviting all the officials, dignitaries, relatives of the emperor, and the heads of the aristocratic families in Guanlong to a banquet to humiliate Yang Fan.
When Yang Fan and the others arrived in Chang 'an, no one came to greet them. They entered the city on their own. The attendants of the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate respectively stayed in the Assistant Yamen, while the Thousand Horsemen Battalion camped outside the Black Tortoise Gate in the northern part of the city. After that, Yang Fan invited the officials of the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate to have a drink at the Shihua House in Pingkang Square. "
"Oh?"
Zheng Yu smiled thoughtfully and said: "This Yang Fan does not have any aristocratic family background. Born in a common family, he is successful at a young age. His position is high and powerful but he is not arrogant. Even when the King of Hanoi treats him like this, he cannot be angered. His self-restraint is very good. A person who was not easily angered was usually very scheming. Such a person was not easy to deal with. Go on. "
"Yes! Unfortunately, the Lord of Hanoi's banquet was also in Pingkang Square, and it was just a wall away from Yang Fan and the others. They could hear the music, and their facial features could be seen clearly. Yang Fan and the others were noisy, talking and laughing, which made the Lord of Hanoi very unhappy. As a result, the banquet ended hastily. "
Zheng Yu was stunned. After a long while, he laughed and shook his head. "Forget it, forget it. I praised him just now, but I overestimated him. I really thought he was indifferent to praise and humiliation, and that he was very scheming. But it turns out … Hmph! What coincidence, how could there be such a coincidence? This Yang Fan obviously found out where the Lord of Hanoi was, and deliberately went to show off in front of him. "
Chu Tianxing smiled bitterly and said: "Young master is right, but this is the only reason we should be careful. The mission that Old Mistress gave to Young Master is to pay close attention and not let the Obvious and Hidden Sects cause any more trouble. With Yang Fan's extreme character, he doesn't care about the severity of the situation, and he will definitely take revenge. It will be fine if the Hidden Sect doesn't provoke him, but if the Hidden Sect does something inappropriate, it is imaginable how Yang Fan will react. "
Zheng Yu frowned and asked: "Is Shen Mu back?"
Chu Tianxing replied: "Not yet. This time, the Yan Province, the Dan Province, and the Feng Province had incidents one after another. All the major clans were implicated, and some of the officials related to the Hidden Sect were imprisoned. Shen Mu is still in Luoyang, running around for them, hoping to rescue them. It isn't easy to support an official. As long as those people aren't beheaded, even if they are exiled to Lingnan, they will have a chance to make a comeback in the future. Once they make a comeback, they will be useful people. How can Shen Mu bear to give them up? "
Zheng Yu felt relieved and nodded. "That's good. The Hidden Sect only follows Shen Mu's lead. Before Shen Mu returns, the Hidden Sect won't act rashly. At least, they won't make any big moves."
Chu Tianxing reminded, "Isn't Young Master worried that Yang Fan will stir up trouble?"
Zheng Yu shook his head and said, "It isn't possible. From Yang Fan's usual character, if someone dares to bully him, he will oppose them with equal harshness. However, he rarely initiates trouble. If it wasn't for the fact that Shen Mu intentionally hid his tracks and was obviously targeting Xian Zong, Yang Fan wouldn't have retaliated. If he had such intentions, he would have made his move while Shen Mu was still in Xinluo.
Right now, the Lord of Hanoi, Wu Yizong, has rushed to Chang 'an. It is obvious that he intends to fight with Yang Fan for power in the officialdom. He wants to use the one year before the emperor to subdue the various factions in Chang' an for the Wu Clan to use. In such a situation, unless the Hidden Sect stirred up trouble first, Yang Fan wouldn't easily start a war and start a war on both sides. "
Chu Tianxing spoke with admiration, "Young Master is right!"
Zheng Yu smiled reservedly, nodded, and said, "Continue."
Chu Tianxing said, "After the Lord of Hanoi and the others left, Yang Fan and the others continued to drink. After they were drunk, the officials of the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Censors stayed at the Silk Flower Pavilion. The Imperial Censor took a fancy to a lady, and Yang Fan redeemed that lady and gave her to Siyu as a concubine. After that, Yang Fan returned to the barracks. "
Zheng Yu was slightly surprised and asked, "He didn't stay at the brothel?"
"No!"
Zheng Yu rubbed his chin and muttered, "He doesn't drink and isn't lustful. It is said that a gentleman is self-disciplined. Gifting beauties is a habit of the wealthy. However, he is generous and hospitable, which is clearly a habit of the pugilistic world. He doesn't know how to endure in the officialdom and can't control himself at the slightest provocation. He will immediately retaliate, which is no different from a pugilistic world person who will draw his sword at the slightest disagreement.
This should be his true nature. This person is a pugilistic world person in his bones. This kind of person is amenable to coaxing but not coercion, and is more interested in fame than profit. He won't be very ambitious. In reality, he is very easy to deal with. As long as Shen Mu doesn't make trouble, he won't cause any more trouble. After he returned to the barracks, did he do anything else? "
"No!"
Chu Tianxing's thick Buddhist lips curved slightly, like Buddha looking at the monkey Sun jumping around in his palm. He said with slight disdain, "Before the well is filled, the general does not speak of thirst; before the food is cooked, the general does not speak of hunger. This General Yang hasn't led troops for many days. He probably still remembers the rules of the military books and is working hard to buy people's hearts. "
Zheng Yu laughed lightly.
In his eyes, Yang Fan was just a bumpkin who had gotten lucky. He had inexplicably climbed to a high position, but he didn't have any of the shrewdness and foundation of an upper-class person. He worked hard to become a qualified general, worked hard to become an upper-class person that matched the status of the leader of the Xian Clan, but all of his efforts were for the sake of being a servant and a wife.
Zheng Yu waved his hand and said disdainfully, "There is no need to pay too much attention to this person. The important thing is still Shen Mu. I will send people to keep a close eye on Shen Mu. As long as nothing goes wrong, the Xian Clan and the Hidden Clan will not cause any more trouble. The Old Grandfather also has the same intentions. He feels that with Shen Mu's usual shrewdness, he has made many stupid moves recently. It is somewhat strange. "
Zheng Yu's brow slowly furrowed and he thoughtfully said, "I wonder what he is planning?"
… …
As an extremely wealthy Arabian merchant, Abdullah was very particular about his food. He did not eat the food of the inn, but had his slaves cook a table full of Arabian delicacies for him and the honored guests.
Their food was very ethnic, but the Arabians of this time did not care about luxury, nor did they like excessive formalities. Their food was simple and crude. There were two plates of fruit, raw vegetable leaves, and then there was meat soup and steamed buns, followed by pilaf and boiled mutton. He did not drink alcohol, and his drink was camel milk.
It had to be said that the steaming and fragrant meat soup and flatbread were truly delicious. The large piece of boiled mutton was also very fragrant and tender. At the very least, it suited the appetites of Yang Fan and his guards.
After the main course was finished, it was time for dessert. Yang Fan did not like desserts, but Abdullah did. With a beaming smile, he said, "In the name of Allah," and began to enjoy his delicacies. Abdullah ate the dessert with relish while calling in batches of slaves, preparing to choose a gift for Yang Fan as a token of appreciation.
Despite Yang Fan's repeated refusal, Abdullah very seriously told him that generosity was a virtue of the Arabians. In order not to damage this great poet's virtue, Yang Fan could only sit there and watch as the female slaves entered and left.
"Is there anyone you like? Look, these are Indian slaves. They have gentle temperaments and are the best at taking care of children. You don't like them? That's right, the greatest weakness of Indian slaves is that they age very quickly. Then what about the Sindhi slaves? Look at their slender waists, their beautiful long hair … Alright! Let's change to another batch! "
"These are female slaves born in Medina. They are the best at acting coquettishly to their masters. They are happy and humorous, and all of them have golden voices. Whether it is at a ball or in bed, their voices are especially enchanting. This, this, this is a female slave from Mecca. Look at her petite figure, those alluring eyes that seem to open and close … "
Abdullah was in the zone. It was as if he was not giving away, but selling. Spittle flew everywhere as he spared no effort in promoting to Yang Fan, "Why don't you consider this Berber female slave? Her skin is as smooth as silk, and her temperament is incomparably docile. She has a good background, a charming appearance, and a gentle temperament …"
For the sake of courtesy, Yang Fan resisted a yawn, and his eyes filled with tears.
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