Looking at the pale and dying young man in the ice, Wu Gen and Mo Xin smiled evilly like wolves seeing a lamb. After waiting in the bitter cold for three days, we finally captured this person. He turned out to be a private salt dealer. This was a great opportunity for him to take advantage of others.
Wu Gen took a pot of warm water from the house and poured it on the young man's head.
Ah sneeze, the young man sneezed and woke up. This person's body is quite strong, but he recovered so quickly after being tortured like this by Wu Gen and Mo Xin.
"Boy, you dare to sneak attack the army and break through the checkpoint without permission, but you have committed a capital crime. You are very courageous." Wu Gen held the broken knife he brought back from the city in both hands and said slowly.
The young man glared angrily and said nothing.
"No, according to the laws of Zhao State, you can avoid death." Mo Xin, who was next to him, suddenly retorted.
"Is there any other way? Please give Brother Mo some advice. After all, this man looks young. It would be a pity to die." Wu Gen's face was full of curiosity, as if he was thirsty for knowledge.
"Corruption can be imposed." Mo Xin said decisively, "Some noble families need eunuchs to serve, so we made this rule. In this way, there is no need to die, but only the loss of heirs."
Wu Gen glanced at the young man with some pity, and passed his finger across the broken blade, "That's right, it's better to die than to live. Your Excellency, it's up to you which way to choose."
Seeing that the young man ignored him, Wu Gen sighed and said: "God has the virtue of good life. Since you can't make a choice, I will go over your shoulder and choose corruption. Old Mo, help me melt the ice on his lower body with water. I'll be fine." Torture.”
Mo Xin stood up and brought a basin of hot water, ready to pour it on the young man.
Seeing that the two of them were really going to fight, the veins on the young man's forehead popped out, and he shouted loudly: "You two villains, kill them if you want, why should you humiliate me like this? In eighteen years, grandpa will be a good man again."
Wu Gen looked around the young man, looking up and down, and lamented: "How hard it is for his parents to raise such a strong man, but they have to be separated from each other like this, and the white-haired man gives away the black-haired man. How miserable is it?"
It doesn't matter if you die, you have no one to rely on at home, you are bullied, and your family property is taken away, isn't it pitiful? "
The young man's throat moved twice, with a look of hesitation on his face.
Wu Gen and Mo Xin winked at each other, and Mo Xin squatted in front of the young man, "This little brother, please don't talk about life and death just because of your recklessness.
It's easy for you to die. It's all done with one knife, and your family has already made arrangements. If nothing else, you don't look like a married person at your age. If you die like this, your family will have no descendants, and your ancestors will know about it. Isn't it because you are blamed for the crime of having no descendants? You will be scolded by your ancestors even if you meet after death. "
The young man listened and remained silent for a long time. Wu Gen and Mo Xin did not urge him.
"Then how can you let me go?" After thinking for a long time, the young man muttered, with a rather ugly expression on his face.
"Ahem." Wu Gen and Mo Xin looked at each other with joy on their faces, "This brother wants to engage in private salt business. I don't know where he is from."
"My name is Baoxiang, and I am from Sangmu Township in Dingyuan City. Because my family was poor, I had no choice but to have the idea of private salt." Now that he had given in, the young man no longer hesitated and vomited everything out.
"Then what's the profit from selling private salt? It's worth the risk, brother, to cross the barren ridge on a snowy night." Wu Gen squatted down and stroked his non-existent beard.
"Haha." The young man laughed. The two of them had been chatting for a long time, but they were waiting for him here.
Baoxiang looked naive, but he was not a fool either. The two of them, one with a white face and the other with a red face, complimented each other in order to seek wealth.
"Put me down and I'll tell you to wait, otherwise we won't talk." Baoxiang straightened his neck and closed his eyes slightly, with an expression of love.
Wu Gen smiled, showing his white teeth, "It's not impossible to let you go, but at the moment, we can only remove the ice on your body, and we don't dare to take off the rope. We are all smart people, and I think my brother will also Understandable."
"Yes." Baoxiang replied simply, naked and frozen in the ice. Even though he had practiced family martial arts for many years, he couldn't stand it for a long time.
Wu Gen and Mo Xin carried Bao Xiang into the house and lit the fire. Gradually, the ice armor on Bao Xiang melted, revealing his strong body.
Wu Gen put a cup of hot wine into Bao Xiang's mouth, and after he swallowed it, he covered him with General Zhong's leather coat.
"I earn hard-earned money as a private person, and it only costs five taels of silver per trip. Tell me, what do you two want to do?" Seeing that his body was getting warmer, and it didn't seem like the two of them had any bad intentions, Baoxiang asked.
Wu Gen smiled and sat in front of the other party, "Brother Baoxiang, have you ever thought about how hard it is for you to sell this salt secretly, and you are always worried?
How about this, I make it easy for you to pass customs, and I also provide horses for transportation. How about a 70-30 share of the profit, I give you 70-30. "
Baoxiang rolled his eyes and said, "You think I'm a fool. I worked hard to sell salt, but you want to take 70% of it out of thin air. How can there be such a person in the world who takes advantage of me?"
Wu Gen was not in a hurry, he stretched out a few sticks to use as calculation chips, and said earnestly: "Brother, you need to be able to calculate accounts, I will wait for you to calculate it carefully.
You only earn five taels for smuggling a bag, but after I provide the packhorse, the horse can transport three bags at a time. Including the four bags you carry, you can earn twenty taels of silver. You can share six taels. Isn’t it a return? Earned one or two more.
Besides, since I'm stationed at Barren Tomb Ridge, you can pass with confidence, and you'll save a fortune for customs clearance. Isn't this a good thing for you and me? "
Baoxiang listened for a long time, staring at the calculation chips on the ground. He suddenly raised his head and glanced at Wu Gen, then lowered his head to think, and finally said: "Six and four are open, I am six and you are four. Not to mention foot power and money, after all, I am salt." You still need capital to buy it. How can you get the big deal if you sit here and don't contribute any money or effort?"
Wu Gen laughed and said, "Brother Baoxiang, this is a bit unjust. When it comes to buying and selling, what matters is long-term and mutual benefit. In this way, let's make some concessions to each other, 50-50, how about that? This is my bottom line."
Baoxiang muttered a few words, gritted his teeth and said: "But, if it's 50-50, it's 50-50. Let me go quickly. There's just one thing, don't take advantage of me and stab me out."
"That's natural. Now that we have made this deal, we are like grasshoppers on a rope. If we work together, we will both benefit, and if we divide, we will lose." Wu Gen said as he put his hands behind his back and waved them, signaling Mo Xin to be prepared. , reached out and loosened the thorns tied to Bao Xiang.
Mo Xin looked left and right, this deal is done? Take a horse from the army as a stock and sit in the house to collect money? This is much easier than controlling a mouse to steal money yourself.
Baoxiang got his freedom, moved his muscles and bones, and retracted his arms behind his back, "I have been teased by you two all night, and I am hungry. If I don't get some interest, I will always feel unhappy. What are you doing?" He turned around and glared at Wu Gen. .
Wu Gentan took his hand away from Baoxiang's back, "I didn't expect brother Baoxiang to have such a magical power, and he could actually form four arms. I don't know if the extra arms are real or fake."
"It's up to you."
"Okay, okay, don't care. Since we are working together, we naturally treat our brothers to a drink."
The three of them sat at the table, warmed some wine, took out the dried meat, and chatted while eating, trying to find out each other's details.
Soon, Wu Gen figured out Baoxiang's background.
Baoxiang was originally a middle-aged man in his family, and his father was a military general. But due to an accident, the whole family was demoted to common people. When Baoxiang was ten years old, his father passed away in depression, leaving Baoxiang and his mother to live a hard life.
In order to supplement his livelihood, Bao Xiang started selling illegal salt as he got older. You must know that salt and iron are both important weapons of the country. Selling salt is very profitable, but it's also a losing business.
In Zhao State, the share of private salt has been divided up. Baoxiang, a newcomer, was naturally bullied everywhere. Seeing that it was impossible to sell private salt domestically, Baoxiang started thinking of selling it across the border.
A few days ago, when there was no one guarding the Barren Tomb Ridge, it was easy to travel through it. Since Wu Gen arrived here, Baoxiang was forced to stop doing business for a while. However, as the New Year was approaching and the family was about to run out of food, Bao Xiang gritted his teeth and ventured across the Huangzhong Ridge.
Unexpectedly, he was so unlucky that he bumped into Wu Gen and Mo Xin. After a shabby trick, the two sides didn't even have a direct fight and were captured alive. Although I was still a little unwilling, I thought about the vicious and insidious methods of the other party and what Wu Gen said about making money, so I still endured it.
"By the way, I clearly saw you two drinking in the house, why were you hiding in the dark?" Halfway through the meal, Baoxiang's face turned rosy and he asked in confusion.
"Hey." Wu Gen took out a square wooden plate. There were two wooden figures more than one foot tall on the plate. The bottom of the wooden figure is movable, and a rope is tied to it. The other end of the rope is tied to the tail of Mo Xin Mouse. When the mouse moves, the wooden man also moves. The shadows shining on the window really looked like two people having a drink at the table.
Baoxiang laughed dumbly and slapped himself in the mouth. Such a little trick could actually deceive him. He raised the glass in front of him and drank it down in one gulp.
It is said that there is no such thing as a meal of wine between men. If that doesn't work, then two.
Baoxiang stayed here for three days, getting drunk every day.
Reluctant to let go of his children, Wu Gen also abandoned his old capital these days and squandered the wine and meat he brought back this time. For money, a few drinks are nothing, men just need to be more generous.
Three days later, seeing the new year approaching, Baoxiang was worried about his mother at home and asked to say goodbye.
Wu Gen actually gave him the general's war horse directly, without even paying an IOU, and without worrying that the other party would never return. Baoxiang hesitated for a moment, then took the reins of the horse, but before mounting the horse and leaving, he stretched out five fingers and shook it at Wu Gen.
Wu Gen understood in his heart, and it was settled. After beating and coaxing, the private salt business in Huangzhongling was finally completed. From now on, as long as he stays here for a day, he will have a steady stream of money in his pocket.
Two days after Baoxiang left, the people transporting supplies from the Xiang army arrived at the foot of the mountain.
It was the New Year's Eve in three days, so Zhang Yuan sent someone to bring all the New Year's gifts and a pair of corps commander's tokens. It turned out that Zhang Yuan appealed to the commander of Qu, saying that Wu Gen had contributed a lot in the sacrifice. Although he could not be given a higher position due to his status as a commoner, he could still do it by giving him a corps commander.
In other words, Wu Gen can command four soldiers, and Mo Xin is one of them. However, the remaining soldiers have not yet been deployed, and they will only be allocated when there are sufficient soldiers.
Looking at the corps commander's token, Wu Gen smiled brightly, he was an official now. He turned to look at his only subordinate, Mo Xin. Just as he was about to show off his authority, Duotou poured cold water on himself when someone came.
Zhang Yuan ordered Mo Xin to return to the camp after the New Year, leaving only Wu Gen to guard the place.
Wu Gen was very unhappy. Once Mo Xin left, he would no longer be a bare corps commander and could only control himself.
Mo Xin laughed loudly when he heard this. If he really worked under Wu Gen, he didn't know how this cheap corps leader would torment him.
Before the New Year, Mo Xin left in a hurry. This ghost place was so evil that even the rats he raised looked uneasy all the time. It would be better to leave earlier. Only a tough guy like Wu Gen could suppress him. Live unfavorably.
After setting off a few strings of firecrackers to celebrate the New Year, Wu Gen looked eagerly into the distance every day. Finally, on the fifteenth day, Baoxiang arrived as promised, bringing a total of four bags of private salt.
Seeing the dusty Baoxiang, Wu Gen smiled and diligently dusted off the dust from his body. After returning this time, since he no longer had to worry about anyone guarding the pass, Baoxiang stuffed four bags full and also brought some drinks and food to Wu Gen.
The two set up a table on the fire bed in the room, put four side dishes on it, put the wine flask into a warm bowl, and chatted about what they had seen after parting while eating.
When he saw the corps commander's token that Wu Gen took out, Baoxiang's eyes lit up, "Okay, I haven't seen you for a few days, but I've been promoted. Come on, I'll take this as a congratulations. Let's go." He drank the wine in the cup. And done.
Wu Gen sneered and said: "I think you are also a middle-aged man, and your father has also been a high official. How come you don't know that a common man can reach the rank of captain of the corps? What's there to congratulate? Moreover, I am a corps commander in name only. I can only give instructions." I’ve been addicted to it myself.”
Baoxiang laughed loudly, suddenly thought of something, and said: "When I went back this time, I heard that Jingzhang County will select a group of Xiang soldiers from the common people. Not only that, but those who are selected can be directly awarded to the selected ones. Ding Ji.
It's going viral throughout the county, so if you're interested, you can sign up. However, hearing that there was going to be a trial scared a lot of people. "
Wu Gen was not too interested when he heard this. No matter how good the Xiang army was, he would feel free to be the king of the mountain here. "If there is such a good thing, why don't you go and participate. Thinking that your father still has some old friends in the army, you might as well Go and beg them so that you can become a Chinese again."
Baoxiang shook his head repeatedly, "I heard that this trial is very dangerous. I still have an old mother at home. If I accidentally die in it, wouldn't it mean that my mother will be lonely and helpless. Although she is bullied as a commoner, she can always Let’s eat together.”
Wu Gen was startled. He didn't expect Baoxiang to be such a filial person. He thought for a while and said, "Brother Baoxiang, Ling Ci is still alive and the family has a lot of expenses. The share of this private salt should be divided into 60% and 40%, you and I." 4. After all, I am alone. It doesn’t cost much to feed one person and keep the whole family from being hungry.”
"Go, who do you think I am, Baoxiang? The 50-50 split was originally decided, and there is no need to change it. I, Baoxiang, have a lot of strength. I just need to make more trips. How can I be sympathetic to the people of the World Expo?" Baoxiang looked disdainful. The big hands moved again and again.
After a few words of persuasion, Baoxiang got serious and refused to agree, so Wu Gen had no choice but to give up.
A few days later, Bao Xiang came back from selling salt. His face was rosy, he dropped ten taels of silver and left without looking back.
Looking at the shining silver on the table, Wu Gen's eyes widened. After thinking about it, he set aside a small part. This was reserved for Mo Xin. After all, he had also contributed to the capture of Bao Xiang. He should not be too cautious. greedy.
I originally thought that I would stay in this deserted tomb ridge forever and live a comfortable life of lying down and collecting money. However, things are unpredictable, and Wu Gen's good days will soon come to an end.
On this day, Wu Gen was practicing the Yi Jing in the courtyard. He heard an ouch outside the courtyard. When he went out, he saw a cavalryman fell off his horse and fell into a trap.
Wu Gen knew this man, he was Zhang Yuan's personal soldier, his name was Sha Chu. He didn't know why he came here, but he was trapped in a trap. After pulling it out of the pit, Shachu cursed and called it bad luck.
After asking about his purpose, Wu Gen couldn't help but become a little anxious. It turned out that Zhang Yuan asked him to return to the camp quickly to participate in some trial.
Wu Gen's first reaction was that someone wanted to harm the leader of the village and take away his own wealth.
Just when he was about to refuse, Sha Chu said: "Zhang Tuanzhang had already expected that your boy would not want to go, so he sent a special message. You must go if you go, and you must go if you don't. Otherwise, you will be punished for disobeying orders and disobeying your superiors. Charge. And after receiving the order, return immediately without making any mistakes."
Just when he was about to excuse himself by saying that there was no one to guard the beacon, Sha Chu smiled and said, "It's true as the commander said. Before leaving, the commander told us that Mo Xin will take over the guarding at Huangzhong Ridge, so you don't have to worry."
Seeing that the escape routes were blocked one by one, Wu Gen had no choice but to accept with a sad face, simply tidied up, and followed Shachu back to the camp.
