Chapter 418: The Factional Imprisonment
Inside Chang'an University City, on the street.

Chen Qun, who was staying here, did not have the conditions to make a fire and cook, nor could he get the free three meals provided for the young people in Sanfu.

The university town was relatively poor, especially after Kong Rong and others moved to Ganquan Mountain, few people held grand banquets.

Scholars like Chen Qun who were unable to find a job either had to live with others or eat their meals in government-run taverns.

As usual, after washing up in the morning, Chen Qun went to the wine house for dinner with a few friends from Yuzhou.

In the entire academic city, there are only government-run taverns and inns open to the public, and there are no other shops providing accommodation or meals.

Even if there were peddlers or vendors nearby carrying goods to sell, they would come in the morning and leave in the evening, and at most they would provide some cheap coarse grains.

There was a food shortage in Guanzhong, and unauthorized travel between counties was prohibited. Where would the vendors get the food resources to run their business?

Chen Qun and a few others found a table near the door, took off their boots and climbed onto the low kang.

The kang is not very hot, but at least when you sit on it, you can feel the warmth flowing through your buttocks, legs and feet and all over your body.

Chen Qun looked around and saw the person in charge standing at the cabinet, taking notes with a pen, and then counting the brand new, golden five-zhu coins again. After confirming that the money was correct, he handed it to a young Taoist priest, who also took another bamboo slip to record, and then put the five-zhu coins one by one into the money box.

As he looked around, a rough-looking Xiongnu slave was carrying food on a wooden tray. They looked at each other, and the Xiongnu slave glared at Chen Qun and shouted, "Why are you looking at me?"

Chen Qun immediately retracted his gaze. His cousin Chen Zhong, who was wearing a black official uniform, straightened his back and smiled apologetically: "Misunderstanding, this is a misunderstanding."

The Xiongnu slave said nothing and served food to these people. The rice was corn rice in a black pottery bowl, and the vegetables were cold pickled dried vegetables.

Chen Zhong pushed the bowl in front of Chen Qun and deliberately turned his head to look at the wall, where a line of words and an exclamation mark were written with lime: It is forbidden to beat guests without reason!
Chen Qun took out chopsticks from his bag and couldn't help sighing, "Although there is no ban on party membership in this place, it is in fact there. Without the document issued by the shogunate, we can't even rent a good house, let alone find a job."

Fortunately, they had money. The mud house they rented was hastily built the year before, but they were able to buy enough firewood, so they could live in warmth in the winter and did not suffer much.

What’s uncomfortable is that the sale of grain is banned, so we can only buy various coarse grains. The quantity is small and the price is high, which is really hard to get used to.

Chen Zhong also took out the chopsticks he brought with him. He didn't like using the rough chopsticks here. He grabbed the chopsticks and stirred the food in the small dish in front of him: "This is the attitude of the Grand Marshal. Why doesn't Changwen go earlier?"

The two were cousins. When they were young, they argued about the achievements of their respective fathers in front of their grandfather. After listening, their grandfather Chen Shi made an evaluation: Yuan Fang was not as good as the elder brother, and Ji Fang was not as good as the younger brother.

Objectively speaking, Chen Jifang is definitely not as good as his brothers Chen Ji and Chen Yuanfang, but Chen Zhong is too talkative.

Later, Chen Jifang died first, and Chen Zhong was left alone early. After the coming-of-age ceremony, he took the name Xiaoxian and refused to take up an official position.

It was because Chen Zhong refused to take up an official post that he was able to take up an official post after arriving in Chang'an and being recommended by Cai Yan.

Unlike Chen Qun, who is a well-known figure, no one dares to guarantee him.

Chen Qun picked up the bowl and blew on it, then asked, "Are we going to Youzhou to seek refuge with Lord Xuande?"

Handan Chun, who was also wearing a black official uniform, frowned and worried about Chen Qun's future. His gray eyebrows were not stretched. "To give up the big and go for the small is to give up the root and pursue the end. Lord Xuande is a hero of the time, and the future situation is hard to predict. I think it's better not to write a long letter and wait patiently."

Chen Zhong also advised: "Now Lord Xuande has taken over the six counties of Youzhou, which is far from what it was in Nanyang in the past. Although going to Youzhou will be helpful, I am afraid that it will make people laugh, so it is not advisable."

Chen Zhong was also helpless as Cao Cao had caused great harm to Yuzhou.

Not to mention Chen Qun, even if he did not want to take up an official post, he would not dare to stay in his hometown, for fear that a group of agitated scholars and civilians would emerge and attack them.

At that time, Chen Qun could still follow the large group to migrate to Guanzhong. Now if he wants to go to Youzhou, he can only wait for an opportunity to travel together.

As for other places, you also need to travel with others, and it is best to move with the army to ensure safety.

Others also advised him to do so, and Chen Qun became even more angry and depressed. At this time, an oxcart passed by outside. Handan Chun had poor eyesight, so he asked Chen Zhong: "Xiaoxian, whose convoy is this?"

"Xiangyang Pang family."

Chen Zhong took another glance at the other party's ox cart decoration, and after confirming that he was not mistaken, he said: "This Pang Shanmin is the brother-in-law of Zhuge Ziyu, the chief clerk of the garrison."

When Handan Chun heard Zhuge Jin's name, he immediately said with emotion: "The Zhuge family is lucky, but it's a pity that Grandfather Huang and his descendants didn't know the destiny and actually raised an army to fight against the shogunate."

The betrayal of Huang Zu and his son was a betrayal of Liu Biao, not a betrayal of the shogunate.

The intermarriages among the big families in Jingzhou indirectly affected Cui Zhouping and the brothers Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Liang.

The case of Pang Shanmin is simple. When Liu Biao expelled Pang Tong, Pang Shanmin's branch fled to Guanzhong to rely on Zhuge Liang.

For big families, reputation is known throughout the world, industry is secondary, and talent is the most important.

As long as there are people around, the family's influence can be maintained and the industry can be restored at any time.

While they were discussing, the messenger with good news had already entered Ganquan Mountain.

Zhen Mi flipped through the victory report, her expression calm, as if it was a matter of course, and complained: "Shu is far away, and the road is difficult. The people around me claim to be loyal and good, why don't they persuade me?"

Cui Zhouping and Kong Rong were silent. Zhang Ding spoke up, "Madam, you also know your Majesty's character. Who can stop you when you are in a good mood? Now that Yizhou has been conquered, it is a good thing. What I am worried about is that Hebei will feel uneasy after hearing the news and will break the alliance and attack. Please give orders to Yanmen, Taiyuan, and Hedong to prepare for war and recruit Zhang Yan."

Zhen Mi frowned slightly and asked through the layers of gauze curtains: "How can we pacify this man?"

"My lady wrote a letter, saying that she wants to invite Zhang Yan's wife and daughter to visit us. If Zhang Yan agrees, then Taihang Mountain will be mine. If there is a change in Hebei, Zhang Yan can hold out until spring and summer. By then, your Majesty will return, and Hebei will not be a concern."

If the Grand Sima Shogunate is upgraded to the kingdom level, then Sima Zhang Ding will be the lieutenant of the kingdom, the national lieutenant; if it is upgraded to the empire, this position corresponds to the position of Grand Sima or General.

As Zhang Ding's position was promoted, he gained access to more intelligence and information, and his horizons also broadened.

Being in our current position, we naturally have to consider issues of the corresponding level.

Cui Zhouping was equivalent to the prime minister, and Kong Rong was the imperial censor. Both of them had many concerns and would not make mistakes if they did not speak.

Zhang Ding is different. Compared with Cui Zhouping, who is from Hebei, Zhang Ding, who is from Nanyang, wants to stabilize Zhen Mi's position more.

Every dog ​​on the ship back then was considered a companion in Zhang Ding's eyes.

In Zhang Ding's eyes, Cui Zhouping and Kong Rong, who were discussing secret matters with him, were worse than dogs.

I always feel that when the Grand Marshal withdraws his troops from Shu, he will kill a dog.

How could Cui Zhouping and Kong Rong look down upon Zhang Ding, an old soldier?

After listening to Zhang Ding's proposal, Zhen Mi wanted to ask Kong Rong and Cui Zhouping for their opinions, but she also felt that the attitudes of these two people were not as important as Zhang Ding's.

If he asked now, Zhang Ding might be embarrassed.

After thinking for a while, he said, "I will write it now and Sima will arrange for it to be delivered."

"Here."

(End of this chapter)