Start from the thief

Chapter 509: Chang'an Guest

There were many people with the surname Li in Chang'an Academy. After all, the children of the Li family would not go to Dongdu to study, so those small families from the side branches all entered Chang'an Academy.

Is this person coming here on behalf of Changan Academy, or on behalf of the biggest one, Li?

Inside Cao's residence, a gray-haired man frowned after listening to the report from his servants.

When they reach their position, the people they communicate with on a daily basis are no longer ordinary small characters. Similarly, since they are no longer small characters, every move they make has a deep meaning and every word they say is not nonsense. Even if they are just greeting each other and asking about the weather, they have to think about whether the other party is hinting at something.

So, this man who claimed to be from the Li family of Chang'an Academy did not send a visiting card in advance, did not go through the formal channels of Yizhou Prefecture, and did not ask for introductions from local prestigious people. He just rushed to the door of his house alone, and the horse was rented.

It seems unreliable no matter how you look at it.

"Lord Cao, do you want to see me or not?"

An aide who looked like a scholar at the side reminded that if the other party was really sent by the person in Chang'an, it would not be good to keep him waiting at the gate. In any case, Jiannan Road was still nominally the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

"What do you think, sir?"

"I think that we need to meet him, but Cao Gong cannot go to meet him. What if he is just a lunatic who deceives people with a false reputation? If the news gets out, it will damage Cao Gong's reputation."

"My reputation is not a big deal. It would be bad if people misunderstood that I had some private dealings with that person in Chang'an. In that case, how about you go and meet him?"

The aide smiled and said, "I am a commoner, and I am not qualified to speak for myself. How about this, I invite you to go. I heard that Mr. Du's son is also visiting the mansion these two days. If they go, I will sit beside them, which is also a way of entertaining guests."

Cao Gong's eyes lit up: "Good!"

Zhao Yushu, who had been waiting at the door for half an hour, hesitated several times whether to just run away. He came here a little rashly this time, without making a perfect plan, and ran straight into the suspected enemy base. But finally he decided to stay. At worst, they would fight each other. Nei Jing didn't dare to make a move. I am not afraid of anyone now. If I can't beat them, can I still run away?

However, the fat young lady from the Cao residence did not leave. She lay in the sedan chair and kept asking questions, mainly asking whether there were many delicious foods in Chang'an, whether rouge and powder were good, and what color and style of clothes the girls in Chang'an liked to wear.

Old Zhao racked his brains to pretend to be nonchalant and chat with the fat lady. Just as he was about to use his experience from his past life to deceive her, a middle-aged scholar finally walked out of the side door of Cao's mansion and welcomed him in with a smile.

At the same time, three spiritual lights were staring directly at him. Zhao Yushu concealed his spiritual power at this time, but not completely, showing the cultivation of the fifth level. It was not too high that people would associate him with Mr. Liu, but it was not too low that people would look down on him and make him unworthy of the title of Chang'an's envoy.

There are two possible flaws. One is that someone here has seen Zhao Yushu before. Although she has dressed up and changed her appearance and temperament a little, if they are acquaintances, they may still be able to find clues if they look carefully.

Second, the envoy from Chang'an has arrived.

Come on, let’s take a gamble. I’ve always had good luck.

The middle-aged scholar led him all the way to a quiet courtyard. The Cao Mansion was very large, and if he was not careful, he would have been dizzy from all the twists and turns. According to the hospitality conventions of that era, he should still be in the front hall.

Damn rich people.

"Mr. Li is so young, yet he has been entrusted with such a great responsibility. He has a promising future."

The scribes chatted as they walked, or rather, tested the situation.

"Oh, sir, you are joking. What ability do I have? I just have a good reputation. Who made the master call me brother every day?"

My second senior sister is a princess, and my junior brother is also a younger brother, right? Old Zhao, I don’t lie.

The scholar's expression froze. There were thousands of descendants of the Li family's side branches, but only a few of them could be called "brother" by that person himself.

"Mr. Cao is very busy with his affairs. He is currently discussing matters with Mr. Du in the government office. I have already sent someone to go there. Mr. Cao and Mr. Du happen to be both here. You young people can chat first. I hope Mr. Li will not mind. Please."

"You're welcome, sir."

Lord Du? Master Du?

It is impossible for Zhao Yushu to remember the names of all the officials of the Tang Dynasty, but there is only one person with the surname Du in Yizhou who is worth mentioning, Du Wu, the governor of Jiannan.

The head of the Cao family is very powerful, so it is not surprising that he talks about things with Du Wu, but the son of the Du family also comes to visit the Cao family, so the relationship between the two families is not ordinary.

As Zhao Yushu was thinking, he walked into the living room and saw two young men in their twenties who looked curious.

"Sir is here."

The two young men first saluted the scholar, and then looked at Zhao Yushu. It seemed that this scholar had a very high status.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Du's son, Du Yuansheng. This is Mr. Cao's son, Cao Xiaonian. This one is from Chang'an Academy. Ha, I am so confused. I haven't asked for your name yet."

Zhao Yushu cupped his hands and said, "Chang'an Academy, Li Kui."

The scholar did not lie. Just now Cao Gong was still in Cao's mansion. However, when Zhao Yushu arrived, he did go to the government office to find Du Wu immediately.

Someone from Chang'an came and found me directly, which means that Chang'an has someone in Yizhou and is well aware of the relationship between me and Du Wu. This is not a secret, but the previous conclusion that Chang'an has completely lost control of Yizhou can be overturned.

"Big brother."

The first thing Du Wu said when they met was to call Cao Gong "Brother", and then he welcomed Cao Gong into his study.

"No one is allowed to come without my order."

After Du Wu made the arrangement, a cultivator nodded, and spiritual power overflowed, covering the entire courtyard, so that the conversation between the two could not be heard by anyone.

"What happened?"

"Someone from Chang'an has come. A young man came alone and went straight to my house."

"who?"

"He claims to be a member of the Li family, but he gave the name of Chang'an Academy. Yuansheng and Xiaonian are chatting with him. I came to find you to discuss a countermeasure."

Du Wu thought for a moment and said, "How dare you come here alone, a monk?"

"The fifth heaven."

"We have discussed before that Chang'an would send someone. We thought it would be a large group of envoys. According to that kid's temper, he would definitely issue an order to question him. Now he sends a young scholar. What do they want to do?"

Cao Gong sighed: "I wonder if he is really just here to represent Chang'an Academy."

Du Wu was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"The Li family has quite a few people."

Du Wu's eyes widened: "Brother, what are you saying?"

"The world is in turmoil, and most of the troubles are caused by that father and son. Even brothers can become mortal enemies. Their family's position was not right to begin with, so it's normal for others to have their own opinions."

Du Wu couldn't sit still any longer, so he stood up and walked around twice with his hands behind his back: "That being said, I still need to confirm one or two more things."

Just as he finished speaking, a monk outside the courtyard knocked on the door and said, "Sir, the military commander, Lord Wang, wants to see you. He has something important to tell you."

The military commander is the third in command of Jiannan Road. His coming to see me at this time must be a big deal.

Du Wu walked out of the room and saw the military commander trotting over: "Sir, someone is coming from Chang'an!"

Du Wu was stunned and was about to ask how you knew it so quickly, but suddenly stopped.

"where?"

"The command flag has just arrived at the government office. The main force is already ten miles outside the north city. They want us to go out of the city to welcome them."

Du Wu turned around and glanced at Cao Gong, who had just walked out and was also stunned.

Did I really guess it right?