Chapter 6: The Five Sons of Yingchuan
Xi Zhi was also confused by Zhang Rui's quick pace. This guy had just met me for the first time and actually wanted to become sworn brothers with me.
Only Guo Jia, who was slightly familiar with Zhang Rui, shook his head beside him, this guy is at it again.
"Zhi Cai, are you alright? I just heard from another junior that Guo Gong Ze has caused trouble again?" Two people rushed over from a distance and shouted.
"Wen Ruo, Gong Da you've arrived, Zhong nothing's wrong. Just now luckily Zhi Bo brother lent a hand and that Guang Tu had nothing to say."
The two who came were actually Xun Yu and Xun You, uncle and nephew. This Yingchuan Academy is indeed full of great talents (Damn it, you seemed to have come here for this reason at first, as if you had never seen a great talent before).
"The two must be the renowned Xun Wenruo and Xun Gongda, uncle and nephew from Yingchuan. It's an honor for me to meet you both in person." Zhang Rui said with courtesy.
"Yingchuan Xun Wenruo (Xun Gongda) has met Zhibo's older brother." replied the uncle and nephew of the Xun family.
These two uncle and nephew are really interesting, their tone of voice, speech rate, facial expressions are almost identical, plus they are similar in age, people who don't know them would think they're two brothers.
"Wen Ruo brother, Gong Da brother, Zhi Cai brother, Xiao Jia Jia, today we can meet here, it must be the arrangement of heaven. Since we are so compatible, why don't we become sworn brothers?" Zhang Rui's overbearing desire to form a fraternal bond!
Xun's uncle and nephew obviously didn't understand the situation, Guo Jia had three more black lines on his face, Xi Zhi was speechless, how could Xi Bo brother make sworn brothers with whoever he met!!!!
"Hey, don't mind me, brothers. After being together for a while, you'll get used to my ways. Hehe, it's not often that we have such an opportunity, let's go find a tavern and have a drink! Zhang Rui is quite shameless, if you guys don't become sworn brothers now, I'll get all of you drunk and then... haha, uncooked rice will be cooked..."
Several people readily agreed with Zhang Rui's decision, and they came to the largest wine house in Yingchuan, where they randomly found a table by the window on the second floor of the wine house, and several brothers sat down.
"Xiao Er, bring wine." When it comes to drinking, Guo Jia is more anxious than anyone else. Although he's only in his teens, he's a little drunkard. I guess he often followed Xun Yu and Xun You to drink.
Guo Jia called out to Xiao Er, Zhang Rui felt depressed. It was beneficial for Lao Die, why did he give himself such a small name? Every day, calling himself Xiao Er made Guo Jia feel like he was being called whenever he said "Xiao Er".
"Little Jiajia, you're still too young to drink, aren't you? Look at your greedy face, go get some urine-soaked mud instead." A flock of crows flew over Guo Jia's head Σ(°△°|||)︴.
The service of the fat Dong was still in place, and the dishes and wine were all served. After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, several brothers (it seemed that there was also a pair of uncle and nephew, was it going to mess up the rhythm of the generations?) had already become familiar with each other.
"Zhi Bo brother, I don't know how you view today's court politics?" Xun Yu surprisingly asked.
"Brother Wenruo, nowadays the Emperor listens to and believes in Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and other ten eunuchs. The party members are all harmed by them. Some old ministers, although they have high prestige, are all masters of subtlety and cunning, waiting for opportunities to act while protecting themselves. The imperial relative He Jin relies on his relationship with Empress He to gather a group of retainers around him. Now these people in the court only know how to fight for power and profit, who cares about the lives and deaths of those below?"
"Brother Wenruo asks this, does he have plans to enter the imperial court?"
"Alas, Brother Zhibo is indeed a true descendant of the Zhang family from Puyang. Your words are truly insightful and to the point. The current imperial court is indeed as you said, filled with darkness and evil. But isn't it our duty to bring light and clarity to the world? I and Gong Da plan to take up positions in the imperial court soon, and see if we can seize the opportunity to overthrow the Ten Eunuchs. The elder members of the Xun family also share this view."
Xun Wenruo is indeed a die-hard loyalist of the great Han, what can be said about such people? It can only be said that they are foolishly loyal. Thinking about their miserable ending, Zhang Rui really didn't deserve it. The chaos has already become a fixed pattern, even if one eunuch is overthrown, countless others will rise up.
But now I absolutely cannot say it. After all, Cao Cao still dreams of becoming the great general Huo Guang, defending the Great Han. The chaos of the world has not yet appeared at this time. If you say anti-Han at this time, you will be beaten to death as a Han traitor!
Having thought this through, Zhang Rui clinked cups with Xun Shi's uncle and nephew. "Then let's toast to your victory on the court, may you successfully overthrow the Ten Attendants."
Xun You was a very interesting person, perhaps because in front of his uncle, he spoke little, only to himself in that small drink, perhaps full of worries about the trip to Beijing.
Xun Yu in history was Cao Cao's strategist, a very good observer, he could see the situation and make decisions, this point is much stronger than his uncle Xun You, maybe this is the difference between a strategist and a politician.
"Come on, let's drink and forget our troubles." Xi Zhi Cai pulled his brothers to start drinking, when men eat together, they can't open up without a few drinks.
Mountain peaks gather together
Waves like anger
The mountains and rivers inside and outside of Tongguan Road
Longing for Western Capital
hesitant
Sorrowful Qin and Han dynasties passed through here
The imperial palace with its myriad chambers has all turned to dust
Prosperity, the people suffer; decline, the people suffer.
This poem, "Shan Po Yang - Tongguan Huai Gu" by Zhang Yanghao of later generations, was slowly recited from Zhang Rui's mouth. The people at the table were all silent. Today's Great Han is really at the time when the sun sets in the west. Who can save the Great Han? Even if the Great Han is saved, what can be done? It's still the suffering of the common people all over the world.
"Zhi Bo brother is truly kind and generous, although he comes from a noble family, but treats me, a humble scholar, as an equal. Today, he also helped me win the debate against that Guo Tu, I'm deeply grateful to have Zhi Bo brother by my side, it's a great comfort. Come, let me toast you with a cup."
"Brother Zhibo is a great talent, we are far from matching him. Indeed, hearing your words for one moment is better than reading books for ten years. We used to compare ourselves to Guan Zhong and Lü Shang, but today seeing Brother Zhibo makes us realize that there are people beyond people, and heavens beyond heaven. Come, I'll toast you a cup, let's drink first as a sign of respect."
"Zhi Bo brother, your recitation of that poem was truly great. Come, let me, Guo Jia, offer you a toast."
Xun Yu also raised his cup and slowly drank it down.
Zhang Rui was toasted by so many great gods, and his heart was also delighted. He raised his cup and proposed: "Today, the five of us can gather together, which is a blessing from heaven. Since everyone gets along so well and we all come from Yingchuan College, let's just call ourselves the Five Sons of Yingchuan from now on. Come, let's drink!"
The famous Yuankang Five of Yingchuan were born like this.
The sound of the pipa floated up from the watchtower below, and in the night, Yingchuan City was still brightly lit. Zhang Rui looked out the window at the bright moon in the sky and couldn't help but feel a pang of homesickness. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
