At noon, Xie Shangcai arrived at the place where he agreed to meet Yuan Tan, which was a garden villa located in the east of the city, close to Zhoushan, and surrounded by mountains and rivers. Although the scale of this garden villa is not large, it is not lacking in interest in construction, and the environment is also elegant. Although the vegetation is withered in late autumn, the scenery is still impressive, and there is a kind of depression beauty of its own.

Xie Shang got off the ox cart, and the Yuan family who had already stood on the left side of the road hurriedly greeted him, so under the leadership of the servants of the Yuan family, he walked through the path embraced by Huai and Liu and walked to the main gate of the garden villa. On the way, he was not lacking in curiosity, and casually asked the Yuan family: "I remember that this garden is Wang Changyu's other business, Si people have passed away, and I can't bear to think about it for a long time, why did your lord choose to meet guests here?" ”

When the Yuan family heard this, they replied even if they were not lacking in self-satisfaction or cautious show-off: "My family has been under the prime minister for a long time, and the prime minister is not easy to govern because he thinks of the capital, so he will give this garden to ......."

After Xie Shang heard this, his handsome face froze slightly, and then his mood turned complicated.

Nowadays, no matter how pure and unearthly people are, whoever crosses to the south will always face the dilemma of what kind of family business is. Many old Wang's families with a high reputation have been reduced to abject poverty because of poor management after Nandu, and they all rely on the help of their relatives. Although the Chenjun Yuan family is also a family with an old surname that has been inherited for a long time, it is still not exempt from vulgarity at this point. When it comes to the specific life situation, the Yuan family is even inferior to the Xie family.

Although Xie Shang's father, Xie Kun, admired Xuan and did not govern his career, he at least served as the head of a large county for a period of time. And with his uncle Xie Pei's entry into Wuxing, coupled with the help of the Shen family, now the Xie family is completely stable in Wuxing. However, Yuan Tan's father Yuan Chong has been working in Taichung and died early, so Yuan's family background is indeed not good. Although they are like-minded and have a good relationship with each other, they will not be minded about it, but it is really different in the hearts of everyone.

Near Qingxi in the east of the city, various princes and princes stand all over here, and the environment is elegant and beautiful, which is the first choice for many people to gather. People are not ashamed to say profit, even if they don't live by themselves, they can still treat customers and collect rent. Just like the Jinliang Garden under Prime Minister Wang's mansion, it is not surprising if you spend tens of thousands of dollars to have a fun, and even if you want to spend money on entering the park, you must have a matching identity.

Yuan Tan's garden villa is not large in the vicinity of Qingxi, but this garden originally belonged to Wang Changyu, the eldest son of Prime Minister Wang, both the site selection and the construction style are quite impressive, in the early years when Wang Changyu was alive, there were more than the handsome families in this banquet, and Xie Shang was naturally among them. Therefore, among the garden villas in the east of the city, it is also quite famous.

But the value of the garden villa is still secondary, the key is that this garden originally belonged to Wang Changyu, and now that the Si people have passed away, Wang Chengxiang will transfer it to Yuan Tan. The meaning behind this is tantamount to declaring that Wang Cheng's value relative to Yuan Tan is almost comparable to that of his nephew.

Yuan Tan was able to be so affectionately valued by Prime Minister Wang Cheng, and Xie Shang was also sincerely happy for him, but when he thought of the conflict between their positions, his feelings were really complicated.

Soon, Xie Shang walked to the garden, Yuan Tan was already standing in front of the court waiting, and when he saw Xie Shang entering, he strode up to meet him, pulled Xie Shang's wrist and said with a smile: "Renzu has made me wait for a long time, and I will definitely drink a few cups later!" ”

Xie Shang also smiled slightly after hearing this, then turned his eyes to look at the court, and sighed: "The flowers and trees are withered, and the eyes are depressed. Wang Changyu's immortality is really a misfortune in the world. ”

After Yuan Tan heard this, his expression was a little unnatural, but he quickly echoed it: "Yes, in the past, there were good friends at the table, as if they were in front of them, but now they look around, as if they are in another world." In the past, I couldn't bear to do this, but today I invite Renzu, but there is too much noise in the capital, and it is really difficult to find a secluded place. You and I sit opposite each other by the window, remember less old things, tell each other goodbyes, and also relieve the sadness a little. ”

Speaking, the two of them walked into the hall, from this high place to the window to look at, you can see the mountain stream outside the wall is gurgling, the left near the bamboo around the stream, although the season misses, the scenery is still good. It is thought that if you can live here in the middle of summer, you will not invade the heat and be full of refreshment.

The meal has already been prepared in the hall, although it is not a delicacy, but there is no lack of affection for old friends to get together, and the food and the like are still outside.

Each other had their own thoughts, and after drinking a few glasses, Yuan Tan slowly spoke: "I knew that Renzu had returned to the capital, I had always been eager to see each other, and I was helpless to be entangled in miscellaneous things, and I only found time now, Renzu don't blame me for being lazy." ”

Xie Shang took a sip of the wine glass after hearing this, and then smiled: "The official works hard, and the natural position comes first." After returning to the capital, I was not lacking in leisure, but I was afraid that the villains would disturb me, so I did not dare to rashly ask for a meeting. ”

After talking to each other, the atmosphere in the room fell silent again, and although they were trying to be closer to each other, the sense of alienation could not be dissipated after all. Originally, they were both fellow villagers and old in-laws of the Tong family, and when they were working in Taichung in previous years, even if they were busy with each other, if anyone was invited, they would immediately put aside the desk and get together and talk about it, how could there be such concerns.

What's more, at the moment, one is deeply supported and reused by the cabinet of Taiwan, but the other is recalled to the station and idle, and this conversation undoubtedly aggravates the embarrassment of each other.

And the two people with the same family background and qualifications are also familiar with each other, and even if they don't say many things, they can understand something. At the beginning of Xie Shang's return to the capital, he once accompanied his wife to visit his mother's house, but Yuan Tan happened to stay in Taichung on duty. This is no longer a simple busyness of official business, it is obvious that Yuan Tan disappeared in order to avoid suspicion. Because of this, Xie Shangcai was a little surprised by why Yuan Tan invited him today, and he already had a faint guess in his heart.

Just sat down awkwardly for a moment, Yuan Tancai laughed dryly again, and then sighed: "In previous years, good friends gathered in the capital, and when they went out, they were in groups, and when they entered, they were full of fun. Now everything is the same, but there is no opportunity in previous years. Chu Jiye arrived at the matter first, Yin Yuanyuan has been detained in Jingzhou for his crimes, Renzu has not returned to the capital for a long time, but in a blink of an eye, I have to travel far away from the capital, the gathering is short, and there are many times to part, which is too hurtful. ”

The people he said not only have the same identity background, but also have the reputation of being a young man, in addition to good friends, they are also in-laws. For example, Chu Qi and Chu Jiye are Xie Shang's brothers-in-law, while Yin Hao and Xie Shang are brothers-in-law, both of whom are Yuan Tan's brothers-in-law. Among several people, the most prominent one now is naturally Chu Jiye, who has become the Taishou of Wuchang and the head of the county. And the most depressed is Yin Hao, who was implicated by Wang Shu with his uncle Yin Rong, Yin Rong died, and Yin Hao is still imprisoned in Jingzhou.

Although it is said to be a detention, it is also a kind of protection for Yin Hao. You must know that even Wang Shu was besieged and forced to death by Fang Zhen, if Yin Hao returns to the capital, he will definitely have to reconsider his crime, and it is impossible for the local uncles to let Yin Hao get away with it, so as not to provide a breakthrough for Wang Shu to overturn the case. The gods fought, the little ghost suffered, and now Yin Hao still has his life in Jingzhou, once he returns to the capital, he is afraid that his life will not be saved.

Hearing Yuan Tan say this, Xie Shang's eyes flashed, and then asked, "Yan Dao is far away from the capital, is he going south?" ”

Yuan Tan nodded directly, and did not hide it, he left the capital this time, and he was going to be the deputy of Jiangxia Gongwei Chong. The reason why Xie Shang was alienated and avoided seeing him before was to fight for this opportunity. Although he is highly valued by Prime Minister Wang Cheng in Taichung, there is still no comparison between the government and the local officials, and there is no doubt that the future of the local government is much greater in terms of personal prospects or the purchase of the whole family.

Now that half of the old people in Zhongxing are withering, it is an opportunity for them to be uprooted when they are young and strong. For example, He Chong, who was one step ahead of them, entered the local government from the assistant of the minister, and he could expect it in the next few years. In the same kind, Chu Li is also the head of the big county, not to mention that Shen Weizhou, who is a little later than them, is already the real choice of Fang Bo who commands tens of thousands of troops.

Although the Taiwan post is idle and can be closer to the Taiwan assistant, Yuan Tan knows that there are not many opportunities, and if he misses one, he will be several years behind. He is not like Chu Jiye who has the care of his clan relatives who live in Taifu, and it is even more difficult to compare with Shen Weizhou's indigenous and unreasonable broad-mindedness, so this Taichung rectification meeting is an extremely rare opportunity for him. If you miss it, I really don't know if there will be such an opportunity in the future.

"Today, I invite Renzu, half of the past, half of the consultation. I took office in Taiwan, I don't know a lot about foreign affairs, and Renzu has just been transferred to the capital. ”

At this point, Yuan Tan no longer concealed his intention to invite Xie Shang this time, and directly explained it.

After Xie Shang heard this, his expression was dark, and he lowered his head for a long time before looking up at Yuan Tan: "What does Yan Dao want me to say to you?" ”

There is no lack of bitterness in this question. Yuan Tan went to Huiji, without thinking that he would inevitably have the mission of attacking the Wu People's Township Sect, and his main intention was naturally to refer to the Wuxing Shen clan. And the Xie family and the Shen family have a deepening relationship, not to mention that the most important Xie of the Xie family now relies on the help of the Shen family when he is in Wu Xing, Xie Yi is a young man under the command of Shen Weizhou, and even the Xie family can gain a foothold in Wu Township, thanks to the help of the Shen family, both in terms of political stance and family inheritance, they are inseparable.

Yuan Tan looked at Xie Shang before, there was no lack of hope in his eyes, although he also knew the relationship between the Xie family and the Shen family now, but there was still some hope, and he wanted to pull Xie Shang back with his old feelings, so he had today's invitation. But when he heard Xie Shang say this, he knew that his idea was about to come to naught.

"Shen Hou Huai broke the strong enemy again, I know that although Renzu was in trouble before, he has already seen his way. But I still want to ask Renjo, do you really want to look at this, and abandon the old people and give up the old feelings? ”

When Yuan Tan said this, his expression was not lacking in melancholy: "Shen Weizhou is indeed a young man in Nanxiang, and no one can match him. I don't know anything about military affairs, and I don't dare to talk about his merits. But if a person acts in a way that is inexorable, but there is no lack of resentment in human affection, isn't it worth pondering the secret? What's more, the southerners are used to thinking narrowly, I am deeply afraid of Renzu, you are not human! ”

I don't dare to agree with this. I watched no one harbored a grudge, but everyone praised his name. Wang Ye came to the south for the sake of the society, so he did not have to be limited to the north and south. Su Zu is a big strategy, he loves horses deeply, and now all kinds of things show the wisdom of the year. Of course, I also hope that the great merit will come from the old door, but how can I erase the merit because of the difference between the north and the south? Isn't that a narrow-mindedness? ”

When Xie Shang said this, his expression was also excited, if Yuan Tan didn't say anything about the narrow-mindedness of the southerners, he would not lose his temper. Nanren Narrow-minded He hasn't felt it yet, but Taifu's ruling strength is indeed not high, and he already feels it deeply, after all, he has been flashed aside since he returned to the capital.

"If Yan Dao asks me, I don't approve of you going south. As I see now, even the horses are not willing to be limited to the southern soil, but cross the river to build things. It is a definite fact that the weak will defeat the strong, and the royal industry will be greatly revitalized in the future. After all, what you want for the future will return to your homeland. Yan Dao doesn't have a dream, and you and I will return to Sangzi in the future? Although Wu Township is good, after all, it is far away! In the past, I was trapped in the world and had no choice but to make a choice, but now that the society is out of trouble, why can't I be strong? ”

When Yuan Tan heard this, his expression changed repeatedly, and after a long time, he raised his wine glass and smiled dryly: "Renzu Sheng, I really have to be dumb in front of you." Today we will not talk about current affairs, but we will stop at reminiscing. ”

Seeing this, Xie Shang also sighed, couldn't bear to see each other again, stood up and made a deep gesture to Yuan Tanshen: "Yan Dao is about to travel far away, there should be too many busy affairs, and I won't bother for a long time." The climate in Nanxiang is a little different, and I will have some things to prepare and send to the house later. The body cannot be seen, and God also thinks for a long time, and takes his leave. ”

With that, he turned around and spilled out.

After Yuan Tan was slightly stunned, he also slowly stood up from the seat, and made a deep gesture towards Xie Shang's back, with no lack of moisture in the corners of his eyes. He knew that after today's farewell, the former good friends had completely parted ways.