Chapter 362: Inviting Lord Zhou to a Banquet in a Jar

  The banner waves in the wind, hundreds of tents are neatly arranged in an orderly manner.

  It's strange that the scale of this military camp is actually not very large, and the number of soldiers also doesn't seem to be as many as the rumored millions.

  It was actually the Supervising Army Camp, and the main force was still fighting on the front line. Pei Yan was doing his duty as a supervisor, not the commander-in-chief of this war.

  Despite this, large-scale plans are still being transmitted between the two, and Pei Yan, due to his advanced age, cannot personally take part in the battle, but his hard work is no less than that of those on the battlefield.

  It was already late in the afternoon, and Pei Yan sat at his desk holding a document, with no expression on his face.

  "Unfortunately," said Pei Yan, shaking his head after putting down the letter.

  And this is the "letter of oath" that Chen Yunsheng handed over to Pei Yan, when Chen Yunsheng was exhausted and hadn't finished speaking, only saying how Tang Guan and Liu Xun became enemies, then handing over the document to Pei Yan, and immediately going down to rest, presumably still asleep at this time.

  Xiao Qi and Chang Ying were also placed in other accounts, leaving only Pei Yan and Tang Guan in the main camp.

  Pei Yan looked at Tang Guan, who was still unconscious on the bed, got up with his hands behind his back, and gazed at Tang Guan's tender face. A curious expression appeared on Pei Yan's face.

  "The poem is finished with a smile, proudly overlooking the vast expanse of water, good friend, excellent writing style"

  As soon as Pei Yan's voice fell, Tang Guan's fingers lightly trembled, and Pei Yan saw this and smiled: "Little friend, since you're awake, why bother pretending to sleep?"

  Tang Guan on the bed finally couldn't bear it anymore, opened his eyes and looked at Pei Yan.

  Tang Guan had actually regained consciousness half an hour ago, but his memory was still stuck at the time he was drowning. He was afraid of falling into the hands of his enemies, so he pretended to be unconscious all along.

  Until Pei Yan recited his poem, he felt at ease in his heart and dared to stand up.

  "Who are you?" Tang Guan looked at Pei Yan with some vigilance, and seeing his white hair and beard, yet wearing armor, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

  Pei Yan saw that Tang Guan was so young, yet had such a mind, and he was somewhat astonished. He smiled and said: "Old man Pei Zi Long has long admired the magnificent writings of his young friend, who is afflicted with illness."

  Tang Guan heard this name and was initially unresponsive, but later almost jumped up, "Pei Yan!"

  Fortunately, he didn't speak out directly and suppressed it immediately. Pei Yan saw that he wasn't speaking and smiled: "Yu Hang is a place of beauty and treasure, with talented people and a wonderful land; my young friend has great talent and this poem is truly exceptional."

  Upon hearing this, Tang Guan's "old face" flushed red. His two poems were plagiarized, and he had more than just these two thousand-year-old wonderful sentences in his bosom. As the saying goes, "Tang poetry is not limited to three hundred poems." The book of "Three Hundred Tang Poems" bound by his grandfather himself even contained wonderful writings that people of this world had yet to create.

  For example, several poems written by He Zhizhang in his later years are also included above.

  Fortunately, Tang Guan also has the shortcomings of these "authentic literary masters", that is, his extensive knowledge and strong memory. A proverb coined by Tang Guan himself goes like this: "What's yours may not necessarily be yours, but what's mine must be mine."

  Tang Guan immediately opened his mouth and said: "Lord Pei?"

  "Although I'm old and worn out, being in a position of authority, but in front of young friends, you can just call me 'old man'"

  "My god, he actually shamelessly admitted it! And still wants to take advantage of me" Tang Guan muttered to himself, although he didn't know why he suddenly came here, at least he was safe and sound.

  After confirming the other's identity, Tang Guan's mind also became more agile, and he found that there was not a single injury on his body. He immediately got out of bed, bowed and said: "I'm sorry, student Yu Hangtang went to see the prime minister with a letter, and I was honored to meet him. Halfway through, I encountered a treacherous person and couldn't come to see you in person, so I apologize for my rudeness."

  Tang Guanzhen's words were as if an old pedant who had been corrupted for many years, talking incessantly.

  He was also deceived, Pei Yan was indeed a Ming Jing scholar, who loved knowledgeable and reasonable people. Seeing Tang Guan being so polite, he was also delighted in his heart.

  "At such a young age, his words are extraordinary, it seems true." Pei Yan helped Tang Guan up, thinking to himself.

  "I've long heard of your great reputation, Little Friend; your two essays are truly ingenious to the extreme"

  "Your praise is too much, I just happened to get a few sentences right, didn't expect it to meet your standards."

  "Haha" Pei Yan saw Tang Guanren was not tall but his three sentences were all about farting, which was quite ridiculous, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Tang Guan didn't think much of it, Li Bai and Du Fu were not reused in the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty, their official career was not smooth, in Tang Guan's view, if they were at his current age, could write poetry that would be passed down through the ages, if their official career was still not smooth, then they would be out of luck.

  Tang Guan and others, holding the divine text of the great achievement in poetry, stood on the shoulders of giants at an age that shocked the world, which made people gaze at him with admiration.

  Of course, this is just a section. When the ruler's will still occupies most of it, Tang Guan happens to know that the woman in Chang'an wants to truly ascend to the throne, not only using cruel officials to eliminate opponents, but also having a great wise man help her stand firm.

  This is why Wu Zetian was so anxious and eager, someone like Tang Guan who can't be said to be stunning or extraordinary, but can be considered a rare sight.

  Of course, as for this point, the person in question, Tang Guan, is still only half-understanding, and is simply using his own rough nerves to constantly imagine his own powerful and overbearing aura.

  "Sir, may I ask where the elder brother of the student's fellow traveler is now?"

  Pei Yan Zheng somewhat excitedly sized up Tang Guan and replied: "No harm, all in the camp"

  Tang Guan heard this and secretly let out a breath of relief. Pei Yan had always been a man of few words, as the old histories said: "Few words, rare smiles, with extraordinary integrity."

  But his eyes, which were burning with intensity at this moment, made Tang Guan's scalp feel numb.

  "Thank you, sir, for saving my life."

  Pei Yan was taken aback by these words and withdrew his gaze, saying: "Young friend was rescued by Chen Yu Shi to this place, and has nothing to do with me."

  Tang Guan's eyes twitched at the words, and he tried his best to recall what had happened before. A ferocious face suddenly popped up in his mind.

  Tang Guan suddenly exclaimed: "Ma Lie!"

  "What's wrong, little friend?" Pei Yan asked, not having heard Tang Guan's words clearly.

  Tang Guan shook his head and said, "It's nothing, the student just remembered that scoundrels are cruel and is a bit frightened now."

  Bai Yan sighed lightly and said, "After all, he's still just a child."

  Just as the two were talking, a guard walked in from outside the tent, carrying food.

  "Governor, it's time for dinner." The guard reported to Tang Guan, who surprisingly was already awake and replied after a moment of confusion.

  "Gulp..." Tang Guan smelled the aroma of food and his stomach growled in response.

  Pei Yan couldn't help but smile, shaking his head and saying: "Let Huotou Jun add two more dishes to the table."

  Yes

  Jin Wei put down his food and felt a little strange, rarely seeing Pei Yan so excited.

  "Little friend, please sit down."

  Tang Guan heard the words and looked around, but didn't find a place to sit, except for the table in front of him, there was no other furniture. He hadn't achieved any merit or fame yet, so he couldn't possibly share the same table as the prime minister.

  "Old fellow, it's all right for students to stand."

  Pei Yan pulled Tang Guan's hand and placed him in front of the case, then sat cross-legged behind the case, saying: "Since you all said 'honor and wealth are always present', why worry that 'you can't eat in front of the prime minister's desk'?"

  "Haha" Tang Guan couldn't help but laugh out loud at this, and found Pei Yan to be more interesting than he had imagined.

  Pei Yan smiled slightly, dipped his hand in the water bowl, pushed away the military book and official documents, wrote on the table "Zai Ji Suibo Ren Qu Liu" a few words and asked: "Little friend, can you tell Lao Zu, what is Ji?"

  Tang Guan heard the words and his heart skipped a beat, he himself had revealed his head, got Pei Yan's praise, but in his heart he still didn't quite believe it, so he thought for a moment and said: "Women"

  "Should all women in the world be called prostitutes then?"

  Tang Guanmo did not make a sound, using his sleeve to wipe the water marks on the table. He dipped his brush in the water and wrote: "Once the vast ocean was hard to be water, except for Wu Mountain which is not cloud. Picking flowers in a hurry, lazy to look back, half for the Taoist way, half for you."

  "Old sir, courtesans are also human beings. At a young age, I dare not speak recklessly, but I have seen the flower boats of Xixi and read in books about the sentimental songs of singing girls, with tears falling like autumn rain. In this bustling market, the two words 'female' already bring suffering to courtesans under others' control. Why must you, a dignified prime minister, stubbornly cling to that one word 'prostitute'?"

  "What a poem that dispels illness!" Pei Yan gazed at the sorrowful poem, listening to Tang Guan's gentle recitation, and suddenly lifted his head to look at Tang Guan.

  "You are young and have such a broad mind, I'll test you with one more character"

  After speaking, Pei Yan wrote a word "guān" on the table again.

  "Go away, can you recognize this character?"

  Tang Guan looked and looked again, he finally took this step to face the famous historical figure, an official word, which expressed the question that Pei Yan most wanted to ask in his heart.

  What is an official? The Huaxia people have been thinking about this question for thousands of years, and they have all been yearning for it. In the later generations, a society with great capital as its theme, under the sway of material desires, people have infinite aspirations and desires.

  Becoming an official has become the best way out, a single word "official" can reveal the eternal situation of thousands of years. Humans are social animals, and with society comes hierarchy. Being an official seems to be the best embodiment of being superior to others.

  Corrupt officials or honest officials, they all enjoy power, but some try to suppress their desires, while others release them and let them expand infinitely.

  After a long while, Tang Guan lightly sighed and said: "Old Master, Gou Bian doesn't recognize this character"

  Pei Yan was taken aback, then smiled and said: "To govern the sick, one must cover all. To be an official, one must cover oneself. The way of being an official is not to flow upwards, nor to bother others."

  Tang Guan had a talent for being well-informed, and although this speech was somewhat roundabout, he got the general idea, which was to advise him that if he became an official in the future, he should not abuse his power or curry favor with others.

  "No wonder he died so early" Tang Guan thought to herself, this old man is too stubborn, although he looks like a learned and talented person, but his character is really not worthy of admiration.

  But the other information revealed in his words made Tang Guanyi happy, Pei Yan didn't fall into prison as expected, which means that power is still there, and he attaches great importance to himself, affirming that he will definitely take office in the future, this is a big leg.

  Ke Pei Yan's next words, however, caused Tang Guan's expression to change.

  "I have spent my whole life in the ups and downs of officialdom, often by the side of kings. 'Guan' is just one word, 'Jun' is also just one word."

  Having said that, he stood up with his hands behind his back and looked outside the tent: "At present, the war with Tubo has not yet subsided, the Turks are eyeing covetously, and the Central Plains are stirring again."

  "Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms!" Tang Guan's eyelid twitched suddenly, never expecting that Pei Yan under the prosperous Tang would be able to see the future outcome of the Great Tang Empire.

  At the end of the Tang Dynasty, war broke out and the people suffered greatly, welcoming foreign tribes.

  That was a period of extremely dark and chaotic history, whose horror is only second to that of the Five Barbarians' invasion of China!

  Just as the two of them were silently staring at each other, the guard came in with their meal, and indeed there was an extra set of bowls and chopsticks and two additional dishes.

  Bai Yan finally came back to his senses and smiled wryly: "Little friend, you must be hungry, let's eat first."