It rained heavily in the cold weather. The goose-feather-like heavy snow fell from the sky one after another, dyeing the surrounding area silvery white.
Bang bang bang!
In the heavy snow, a middle-aged man stood at the door of the head of the brigade to which Zhang Erhu's squadron belonged, patting the door constantly and crying something.
"Team leader! Team leader! Just give me my military salary for this year. My mother is sick and needs money to save her life! Team leader!"
However, no matter how loudly Zhao Erhu shouted outside, the door of their team leader's house remained motionless. It was as if the people inside couldn't hear the clamor and noise caused by Zhao and Zhang Erhu outside.
I don't know how long it took, but Zhang Erhu was too cold to have the strength to knock on the door again, and fell to his knees helplessly on the ground.
The tightly closed door just now opened a gap quietly. This gap was like a good light shining in the dark night, which instantly made Zhang Erhu, who had already given up hope, show an expression of hope.
However, the reality is always so cruel and cold. The door only opened a gap, and then a few copper plates were thrown out from the gap and dropped in front of Zhang Erhu. The familiar words of the leader of the team came from inside:
"That's all, and I haven't received any money. It is said that because there are no Huns coming this year, our military pay has been stopped by the court.
Not to mention you, even I didn't get a tael of silver. "
After finishing speaking, the door that had opened a gap suddenly closed again, firmly blocking Zhang Erhu from the door.
In the snow, looking at the pits made by the three copper plates that fell on the ground, Zhang Erhu, with trembling hands, measured the copper plates one by one from the snow and picked them up.
At this moment, the man who had never shed a tear even when he was fighting the Huns face to face at the scene, tears fell silently.
Tears rolled down his cheeks. Zhang Erhu's whole body grew larger and his mouth roared silently at him. He couldn't shout anymore.
But this silent roar was deafening!
The snow is falling heavier and heavier, but Zhang Erhu's heart is getting colder and colder.
The smell of stew came from the house of the team leader in front, which was very tempting but also ironic.
Is this what the team leader said that he didn't get a tael of silver?
It was clear that the first family in the team was almost eating wild vegetables last month, but now they can eat meat without receiving military pay.
There was nothing fishy about the loss, and he didn't believe it anyway.
With determination flashing in his eyes, Zhang Erhu slowly stood up from the snow, stared hard at the door of the team leader's house, and then turned around and left without hesitation.
…
late at night!
"Brother Tiger, do we really want to do this?"
"Liuzi, if you don't do this, how long can your family survive?
I remember your wife is pregnant, right? Are you going to let her eat grass roots with you? "
"I……"
Liu Zi stopped talking.
Zhang Erhu turned to look at the others and said: "The imperial court has never owed us Hedong food and salary in these years, why this year! We haven't received a tael of silver yet?"
"Isn't it because the Huns didn't come this year?"
Someone speculated.
"Do you believe this reason?"
Zhang Erhu sneered and then said:
"Ten days ago, I saw with my own eyes the quartermaster of the imperial court transporting silver into the city, but until now we have not received even half a tael of silver, and those officers are all very rich. I guess you are not unaware of it, right?"
"This is true. Five days ago, we all had a headache and were borrowing money to live. That family relied on the borrowed money to buy grain, make porridge, and drink enough water every day.
But starting yesterday, their family was actually eating until there was grease at the corners of their mouths, when he came down to inspect. I saw with my own eyes that the oil at the corners of his mouth was reflecting light!
This is definitely a problem! "
"That's right! So does our team leader! They don't look like they have no money these past two days!"
"So does our deputy chief!"
"Same here!"
…
For a time, everyone stood up and gave examples, telling what they knew one by one.
After such a comparison, everyone suddenly realized. I'm afraid what Zhang Erhu just said is true. These officials have all received money, but their money is gone.
So where did their money go?
Everyone immediately turned their attention to the mansion not far ahead of Zhang Erhu and his team leader.
I'm afraid these officers have all taken advantage of it!
They had tolerated all the deductions in the past, but now they didn't even give them a penny. This was too much!
Everyone's eyes were filled with anger.
Zhao Erhu cupped his hands and said: "Thanks to you all, you have taken a fancy to Erhu and are willing to follow Erhu. Since these officers are unkind, you can't blame us for being unjust!
In this current situation, if we don’t get money anymore, no one can survive. Instead of doing this, it’s better to give it a try!
We pay! "
As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.
Even if someone said:
"Brother Huzi, you are a righteous person. Many people in the army have been favored by you on weekdays. Only then are the brothers willing to come to help you. But if you want to pay, have you ever thought about it? Even in the end, You got the silver.
So in order to establish its authority, the imperial court will definitely not let you, the leader, go. Is it worth it? "
"That's right! Brother Huzi, you really need to think about it carefully. This salary is not so easy to make trouble!"
Everyone started to dissuade him with concern.
They belong to different establishments in the army. They are all willing to come because they have been taken care of by Zhang Erhu on weekdays. Some of them are related to his father. They originally wanted to support him and let him get money to treat his mother's illness. of.
But now he actually wants to pay, this is no joke!
Even if they were successful, few of those who had taken the lead in making the case for pay would survive, and all of them would be dealt with at the right time by those in power to serve as a warning to others.
However, Zhang Erhu held the three copper coins in his hand tightly, feeling the cold touch on the coins, and gritted his teeth and said:
"No! Since you want the salary, you should get it all back at once!
Otherwise, it doesn't matter to me alone, and they might even not give it to me. Only if the matter becomes a big deal, will these superiors be afraid and be willing to spit the meat out of their mouths! "
When the others heard this and thought about the situation at home, they gritted their teeth and said cruelly: "Okay! Since Brother Hu Zi, you want to make trouble, brothers will accompany you to make trouble!"
Someone immediately said: "Brother Huzi, tell me what you want to do to cause trouble, and we will do it immediately!"
Zhang Erhu nodded and said to everyone: "The most important thing now is to confirm whether the military pay given by the court has arrived. As long as it arrives, we can make a big fuss and get money. Otherwise, the fuss will be in vain.
In this way, later we rush into the home of my team leader and search carefully. This guy has been unable to eat for a few days. If we can find a lot of food and money, it means that they have indeed cheated on our military pay!
Then we will go back and gather other people who have not received military pay and are struggling at home to make trouble together. When the matter becomes serious, other people who have not received military pay will naturally follow suit.
When the time comes, I don’t believe these officials will not be afraid!
Naturally, he will obediently take out the money! "
Everyone listened carefully and nodded in unison after listening.
After a while, dozens of people quietly reached the home of the leader of Zhang Erhu's team.
Immediately afterwards, four or five people kicked the door open in an instant, and everyone quickly rushed in to search!
…
(End of chapter)
