After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Pei Jiaoran glanced at Yuan Yanchong with contempt and buried her head in the documents on the case. Occasionally, she would look up at Yuan Yanchong, who was sitting opposite her without saying a word. In fact, he was not bad in all aspects, but he had a family and a master.

Being caught up in the forces of both sides, it is the easiest existence to be used as a pawn in the game.

I am not a tide rider, so why go to the deep sea? Now Yuan Yanchong is still in close contact with Cui Shao and others, but he himself does not have the ability to foresee. For him, the best situation is to forge ahead and wait for the opportunity.

Putting down his pen, Pei Jiaoran asked, "How is Jiannan doing?"

"The imperial censor we sent has already replied." Yuan Yanchong collected his thoughts, "There are 42 states and one prefecture in total. The 12 states involved in the case are in charge of iron mines and salt wells. According to a rough estimate, we can take at least several million strings of cash from them. Do you plan to use all this money as military expenses?"

"Is it not possible?" Pei Jiaoran sighed, "The so-called national expenditure, the most important thing is military expenditure. The word "Fu" has "Bei" on one side and "Wu" on the other. With "Bei" and "Wu", every dynasty has always regarded military expenditure as the most important thing. Although we have to eat grain from outside the border, if the war breaks out this time, I plan to let the Jiedushi pay for it himself. Otherwise, the court cannot afford such a large expense."

After hearing this, Yuan Yanchong was silent. As Pei Jiaoran said, military expenses have always been supplemented by taxes from the people. The court has to support both the border troops and the central army. As a result, military expenses have become the largest part of the tax support.

"There must be quite a few people in the Shen Ce Army who are drawing salaries without working. Can't we take ruthless action against them?" Yuan Yanchong asked.

Upon hearing this, Pei Jiaoran shook his head, "No. The Shen Ce Army is an important force that the imperial court relies on, and they are indispensable for external expeditions. And you also know the temperament of His Majesty, how could he allow you to lay off a large number of Shen Ce Army? It is not easy to reduce their rewards."

The two armies of Shen Ce, the former guarding the palace, and the latter fighting external battles, were the forces that the Emperor of Wei relied on, and they were also the existence that the court used to intimidate the vassal states.

"But maybe I can consider it in the future." Pei Jiaoran smiled slightly.

Hearing her words, Yuan Yanchong raised his head with some disbelief in his eyes.

"You've been in the Central Secretariat for too long." Pei Jiaoran took a sip of tea, "Isn't it time to go back?"

After glaring at her, Yuan Yanchong turned around and left.

Sitting quietly at the desk, Pei Jiaoran curled her lips slightly. From the perspective of personal feelings and current practical interests, it is a good thing for her that the Right Shence Army maintains a relatively stable development. But this does not represent her final thoughts.

After all, people always have to think about themselves. The Shen Ce Army belongs to the North Division, and she belongs to the South Division. The South Division and the North Division can resist each other, and can coexist in a balanced way, but it is impossible to maintain this situation forever.

If the balance tilts slightly, the situation will become very interesting.

When Pei Jiaoran finished his work, it was time to go off duty. He happened to run into Li Xiujing, He Liang and Feng Yuanxian in front of the Suzaku Gate.

He looked at Li Xiujing calmly, and the two of them went to Wubenfang together tacitly.

"Are you going to stay tonight?" Pei Jiaoran asked as he tied his horse after entering the house.

"Okay. Haven't Bi Fei and the others come back yet?" Li Xiujing looked around, "How about we go to the restaurant to eat?"

"At least one hour later." Pei Jiaoran smiled softly, "How about we go to Pingkangfang?"

Hearing this, Li Xiujing glanced at her and said, "Jia Gonglu's house is also over there."

"What are you afraid of? No one in Pingkangfang is surnamed Jia. Besides, we can come back with Bifei and Mancao when we go there." Pei Jiaoran said.

Knowing that he couldn't win over Pei Jiaoran, Li Xiujing had no choice but to nod and agree.

She changed into a narrow-sleeved dark green brocade top with a brocade pattern and a fuchsia open collar, and a goose yellow skirt with eight rips. Pei Jiaoran took Li Xiujing with him and headed for Pingkangfang.

The two quarters were not far from each other, and it was the busiest time in Pingkang quarter, so the two did not ride horses.

As soon as you enter Pingkangfang, the first thing you see is the entrance of the Jia Mansion, which is bustling with people.

Lifting up a corner of the white gauze that fell from his veil, Pei Jiaoran smiled and said, "After what happened with Yuan Rui, I didn't expect the entrance to the Jia Mansion to be so lively. He really lives up to his reputation as the leader of a poor family."

"It's just Yuan Rui. How can he shake his position as Shangshu Ling? Even if someone knows the truth, they still have to cling to him for their own career." Li Xiujing held her hand and continued to walk forward. "People always say that noble families are mostly lowly and inferior, and poor people are mostly noble and noble. But the truth is not as simple as they imagine. In this world, the class distinction is clear. It has always been that noble families help noble families, and poor people help poor people. After the poor rise, they will just become the next noble family."

Pei Jiaoran smiled but said nothing when he heard this. Whether it was a noble family or a humble family, the victory or defeat of the two was not important. What was important was whether the winner could break free from the shackles of status and position, overlook the whole world from the highest angle, and draw corresponding conclusions from it.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the door of the busiest restaurant in Pingkangfang.

Listening to the noise coming from inside, Pei Jiaoran said, "How about this. It should taste good."

"it is good."

The two walked into the restaurant.

The doctor in the restaurant came over and greeted them with a warm look on his face, "Please come this way, my two guests."

Pei Jiaoran was led to sit in the clinic on the second floor. He leaned his head out and looked outside, just in time to see what was happening inside the teaching house opposite.

"What would you two like to eat? Our shop has..."

Before the doctor finished his introduction, Pei Jiaoran waved his hand and said gently, "No need for introduction. Just pick four of your restaurant's specialty dishes."

"Okay, the two guests, please wait for a moment." The doctor left with a smile.

At this moment, the sound of a pipa came from the music hall opposite.

The two looked back and saw a pretty figure at the window on the second floor of the music house, holding a pipa and plucking the strings lightly.

"I haven't heard you play the pipa for a long time." Li Xiujing leaned close to her, resting his face on her shoulder, and spoke gently, "When will Jiajia be willing to play a song for me again?"

Pei Jiaoran smiled when he heard this, raised his hand and gently stroked Li Xiujing's face, "Can the sound of my pipa also reach your ears?"

"As long as I like it, why should I care about others?" Li Xiujing said.

While listening to the sound of the pipa, Li Xiujing was surprised and asked, "Why does that person look like Zhou Mancao to me?"

"Maybe I'm not mistaken." Pei Jiaoran put down his teacup. "The owner of that music school is a former friend of Mancao. He couldn't get out of prison because of his crime, so after the previous owner passed away, he spent all his savings to take over the music school. He's living a pretty comfortable life now."

When the sound of the pipa stopped, the doctor led the servants in the restaurant to bring up the dishes.

"Lady, sir, all the dishes you ordered are here." The doctor bowed and smiled, "Please let me know if you need anything."

"No need. Go to the music hall across the street and invite the lady who plays the pipa and another lady named Bi Fei." Pei Jiaoran said gently.

"Here."