Middle-aged people with life experience all know that money can indeed solve 90% of the world's problems. Therefore, when people reach middle age, they will no longer be as passionate and impulsive as teenagers. They have learned to bow their knees to money.

Rather than surrendering to money, it is better to say surrendering to a smooth and smooth ordinary life. For most people, living a stable life is their biggest desire. Money can satisfy this desire and can also avoid and solve many problems.

Trouble, middle-aged people lack bloodiness because they don’t want to bother anymore and don’t want to cause trouble anymore.

There are too many ties, too much pressure, and the responsibilities of wife, children, and children are on your shoulders. Who has the confidence to get angry?

"I have no control over my destiny." This sentence is usually shouted by a young man who is full of energy. I have never seen any middle-aged man shout this. Because it is too crazy and ridiculous. If I live another twenty years, I can shout this sentence.

Will the young man who said that slap himself in the face for his arrogance?

Is that powerful monkey crazy enough? He was still kept under Wuzhi Mountain for five hundred years, and he still escorted Tang Monk to obtain scriptures through eighty-one difficulties. In fact, what did the Buddha have to do with him? What did the scriptures have to do with him?

That monkey has just grown up, learned to compromise, learned to respect the power of God, and learned that there is a price to pay for arrogance.

Gu Qing was sitting in the yard, reading a letter.

The letter was written by Song Gensheng, and a clear message was clearly revealed between the lines.

Song Gen grew up, and like the sad monkey, he had to put on a golden hoop and embark on a long journey that he was originally unwilling to do.

In Song Gensheng's letters, he rarely mentioned his dream of benefiting the people there, and he no longer wrote about the beautiful picture he once imagined of the people under the rule of Qingcheng County living and working in peace and contentment, with the old and the young supported. Everything he wrote in this letter

It's something very realistic.

For example, when he impulsively killed the local gentry named Cai, and how he dealt with the aftermath after the battle with King Ji's dead soldiers, he rented a restaurant and invited all the prominent gentry in Qingcheng County. At the banquet, Song Gensheng greeted everyone.

The wealthy gentry apologized and expressed regret for having recklessly confiscated the land they had occupied.

Not only that, he also spoke to the gentry separately in a consultative tone, asking them to give up a small part of their land for farming by the people under his rule. This time it was no longer an administrative order from the county magistrate, but a face-saving sale.

In addition, he also organized corvee labor and found new wasteland for reclamation. Although it could not fundamentally solve the problem of farmers' land loss, it could at least temporarily alleviate the increasingly acute contradiction between the two classes.

By using face-saving methods and selling favors, perhaps Song Gensheng also used Gu Qing's title of county prince, and finally got the consent of the gentry.

The gentry still gave them face. After all, Song Gensheng had killed the gentry named Cai before, establishing his authority in front of him and being gentle in the back. Even though the gentry were reluctant, they still agreed because of Song Gensheng's good-tempered attitude in discussing the matter.

Finally, Song Gensheng wrote in the letter that Biejia of the Shuzhou Governor's Office would retire in the spring of next year. Song Gensheng wanted to make a move. In the name of Gu Qing, he sent a set of exquisite Shuzhou Qingqing to Xianyu Zhongtong of the Jiedushi Office of Jiannan Road.

Kiln porcelain, if nothing unexpected happens, Xianyu Zhongtong should be able to hear the song and know the elegant meaning after seeing this set of porcelain, and let Song Gensheng be promoted to the governor of Shuzhou.

Gu Qing read this letter several times, first he smiled with relief, then after reading it a few times, Gu Qing sighed in despair.

Although they are all of the same age, Gu Qing somehow feels as if his child has grown up and his father is getting older.

Song Gensheng was finally no longer the passionate and innocent boy. After the battle with King Ji's dead soldiers, he seemed to have matured a lot overnight.

He has learned how to slowly realize his ideals in a euphemistic way. He has learned how to compromise with the local gentry and fight for the lives of the people in the compromise. He has understood the importance of power and is using the most disdainful method of bribery to achieve success.

Greater power, and then use the power to feed back to our fathers and fellow villagers.

Gu Qing's mood was quite complicated.

I am relieved that an ignorant boy has finally grown into a calm man, but I am also disappointed that the cruel reality has killed a boy's innocence.

How can the world be so beautiful and have both ends? It can not only keep innocence and not change, but also realize the ideal of youth. It is just a multiple choice question.

The scene of that night flashed through my mind, when countless heroes rushed to the dead soldiers of King Ji without hesitation, and their voices and smiles were still vivid in my mind.

So many people sacrificed in exchange for the growth of a young man. I hope Song Gensheng will not let them down.

Gu Qing read the letter again, then got up and went to the study, picked up a pen and wrote a letter to Xianyu Zhongtong.

With Gu Qing's current status and title, there was no need to beat around the bush when writing a letter to Xian Yu Zhongtong. The letter went straight to the point and asked Xian Yu Zhongtong for help, and quickly promoted Song Gensheng to Shuzhou Governor's Office. After writing it, Gu Qing thought about it and felt that he should give it to Xian Yu Zhongtong.

Zhongtong is a little sweet, but the plastic brothers also need to connect emotionally.

So Gu Qing added a few more lines and told Xianyu Zhongtong that he had been summoned by the emperor frequently recently and occasionally spoke kindly to Xianyu Zhongtong in front of the emperor several times, so the position of Jiedushi of Jiannan Road should be stable for the next few years.

.

In fact, Gu Qing never mentioned Xianyu Zhongtong in front of Li Longji. In dealing with the plastic brothers, one must weigh the pros and cons. At present, Gu Qing's success as an official depends on Xianyu Zhongtong's record of success, but Gu Qing's Qing Kiln also helped Xianyu

Zhongtong was very busy. Not only did Jian win the emperor's heart, but he also consolidated his relationship with Yang Guozhong, and also won the favor of Concubine Yang.

Comparing the two parties, the human debt between Gu Qing and Xian Yu Zhongtong can be regarded as equal. At the beginning, he and Xian Yu Zhongtong tacitly hinted to each other that the operation of Qing Kiln to produce tribute porcelain was a relationship of mutual utilization and mutual success.

As for Song Gensheng's position as magistrate of Qingcheng County, in the eyes of Jiedushi and the current Qingcheng County Marquis, it is just a trivial matter, not even a favor at all. If Xianyu Zhongtong can praise Song Gensheng in the next few years

After assuming the position of governor, Gu Qing had to repay this debt of gratitude.

After finishing the letter to Xian Yu Zhongtong and looking at the crooked handwriting on the paper, Gu Qing clicked his tongue in disgust, frowned and shook his head with a sigh. After handing the envelope to his servant to send it out quickly, Gu Qing took out a copybook from the study room.

It was given to Gu Qing by Yan Zhenqing, and Gu Qing faithfully copied it according to the copybook.

As soon as he wrote two words, Gu Qing threw down the pen impatiently.

Then I thought about it, I am already so perfect, but I only have one shortcoming: ugly handwriting. Can't I keep this shortcoming like a souvenir?

Yan Zhenqing kept Yan Zhenqing's copybook, locked in the box, as a family heirloom for future generations. If he had the opportunity, he would treat Lao Yan to a drink and paint a few more of his calligraphy and paintings.

Not only that, poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, and Wang Wei would all ask them to blackmail a few calligraphy works. If Gu Qing's descendant was a prodigal son who failed to live up to expectations, these famous calligraphy and paintings alone would be enough to ruin him for several years.

Sitting in the elegant study room, Gu Qing had such a philistine idea in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made, so he enthusiastically started writing a blackmail list.

Just after he wrote down a few names, Butler Xu cautiously reported outside that a personal guard asked to see him.

Gu Qing raised his head and asked Butler Xu to lead the bodyguard into the study.

Originally, his own bodyguards did not need to notify him when they saw him, but the study was located in the inner courtyard of the Gu family. In ancient times, the rules were strict. Outsiders were not allowed to enter the master's inner courtyard casually, especially the low-status bodyguards.

Not long after, a personal guard walked into the study on thin ice, lowering his head nervously and not daring to make a sound.

Gu Qing glanced at him, then smiled and said: "Shi Sanlang, are you okay?"

After getting to know the guards these days, Gu Qing has long been able to call everyone's name familiarly.

Shi Sanlang is a young man, eighteen or nineteen years old. He is usually more lively and active in front of others, but he is very honest and introverted in front of Gu Qing.

"Forgive me, Lord Marquis. I shouldn't have disturbed Lord Marquis' peace, but there is something I have to say..."

Gu Qing smiled gently and said: "If you have something to say, don't say any polite words. You don't have to be restrained in front of me. Just say whatever you want."

Shi Sanlang smiled gratefully, then looked solemn and said: "Master Hou, something happened to Zheng Xiang's family. I don't know why it got involved in a lawsuit. Originally, the case was handled by the Luonan County Government, but later it turned out to be the case with the Shangzhou Governor.

Mansion, General Han rushed to Shangzhou the day before yesterday and wanted to go to the governor's house to argue the right and wrong, but he was beaten with sticks by the order of the governor of Shangzhou..."

Gu Qing frowned, stood up and walked to Shi Sanlang with a cold expression: "Tell me clearly, what happened to Zheng Xiang's family? Why did they get involved in a lawsuit?"

Shi Sanlang shook his head and said: "I don't know, General Han asked someone to come to the Marquis Mansion to report the news. I am also a fellow villager of Zheng Xiang, so I reported to the Marquis first."

"Is Han Jie still in Shangzhou?"

"Yes, the governor ordered General Han to be beaten out of the governor's office with a stick. General Han was slightly injured. He is in Shangzhou to check the officials of the governor's office to inquire about the whole case."

Gu Qing asked again: "Where is Zheng Xiang? Has he been arrested by the local government?"

Shi Sanlang shook his head: "I don't know, the person who reported the news only said a few words in a hurry and then left. I have no way of knowing Zheng Xiang's whereabouts."

Gu Qing pondered for a moment, and then said decisively: "Call all the guards to assemble in front of the mansion, ask the steward to prepare the carriage, and let's go to Shangzhou."

Shi Sanlang said quite unexpectedly: "Will Mr. Hou also go in person?"

Gu Qing patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "You protect me, and I have the responsibility to protect you."

Seeing the moved look on Shi Sanlang's face, Gu Qing smiled again: "Don't be too happy too early. Although I rushed there personally, I still have to be reasonable. If it is true that Zheng Xiangli did something wrong and Wang Fa is ruthless, he should

Whatever the case is, I will not be biased."

Shi Sanlang hurriedly said: "The villain is a fellow villager of Zheng Xiang. I have known him for many years and always regarded him as an elder brother. Zheng Xiang has never been a troublemaker. There must have been some misunderstanding or someone framed him."

Gu Qing smiled and said: "Guessing is useless. Seeing it with your own eyes counts. Don't delay. Let's set off immediately."

…………

Shangzhou is about two hundred miles away from Chang'an and belongs to the South Road of Datang Mountain. Gu Qing led his guards and set off out of the city. Fortunately, the roads from Chang'an City to several nearby cities were very smooth, so Gu Qing hardly felt any bumps while sitting in the carriage.

The personal guards followed Gu Qing's carriage without much suffering. Gu Qing went to Zuowei before setting off. As he was now the Zuowei Zhonglang General, it was easy to borrow a hundred war horses from the Zuowei camp.

With a warrant, the handover of the war horses was completed. Each of the guards had a horse and escorted Gu Qing's carriage to Shangzhou.

The carriage swayed forward, and Gu Qing sat in the carriage with a somewhat solemn expression.

First of all, I must help Zheng Xiang with his affairs. As a leader, if he does not have the nature to protect others, his subordinates will definitely not support him in the future.

The significance of the personal guards is different from that of soldiers in ordinary military camps. They are the only line of defense in front of Gu Qing. If he encounters a crisis in the future, their bodies will be a chance to survive. It is no exaggeration to say that the personal guards are him.

The second and third life.

If something happens to the personal guards around him, he must help no matter what. From a profit perspective, this is an opportunity to win people's hearts. From a personal emotional perspective, Gu Qing has a good impression of the men he has just met around him and has been in contact with them for a long time.

Gradually, I discovered that they were actually a group of very simple and dull men. Gu Qing would only scratch his head and giggle when he made a few jokes with them. It was hard to imagine that half of them were actually veterans of many battles on the battlefield.

Although he is not too familiar with such a simple group of people, Gu Qing is willing to treat them as brothers. It is his duty and responsibility to work for his brothers today.

It's just that Gu Qing had a vague feeling that Zheng Xiang might be in trouble.

Han Jie took away one hundred taels of silver cake before leaving. This amount of money is considered a huge amount of money nowadays. A trouble that cannot be solved with a huge amount of money must be a big trouble.

After traveling more than two hundred miles, the group walked for five hours and arrived at Shangzhou City only after dark.

After entering the city, Gu Qing sent a dozen personal guards out to look for Han Jie and Zheng Xiang, and rented an inn.

After entering the inn and settling down, Gu Qing had just washed his face when his bodyguard hurriedly came to report that Han Jie had been found.
To be continued...