Su Ze thought for a while and said to Li Zhi:
"Since we are traveling north to study, we naturally have to visit the mountains and rivers and pay homage to the ancients. There are many historical sites on the Xianxia Mountain Road, so we'd better take this road."
Su Ze pointed to his guards and said, "There shouldn't be any blind bandits who would rob us, right?"
Everyone laughed. Although the mining bandits were more powerful than ordinary bandits, the four guards totaled nearly a hundred people. Su Ze was also surrounded by elite soldiers trained by the Changning Guards.
After deciding how to go, everyone bought some supplies in Fuzhou City.
Li Zhi came back from Zhili in the south. He said to everyone: "It is difficult for good horses to travel on mountain roads. It is best to buy Yunnan horses or mules from southern Yunnan to travel on mountain roads."
"It is essential to wear warm and cold-proof clothing. It is very cold in the mountains, so it is necessary not only to protect people from the cold, but also to protect animals from the cold."
"Dry food and water bags must also be prepared. Let's go to Jianning Mansion to hire a guide to go up the mountain."
Su Ze also traveled many times, but mostly short distances or by boat. As expected, long-distance land travel is very difficult in this era.
Even though official roads and inns had been paved in the Ming Dynasty, traveling was still a luxury. This is why water transport was so important. Compared with traveling on the road, taking a boat was much more comfortable.
Su Ze followed Li Zhi's suggestion and purchased thirty Yunnan horses in Fuzhou Prefecture. His wealth attracted everyone's attention.
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong were also from big families. They each bought 20 mules, and together with the 20 batches of mules and horses brought by Li Zhi, they formed a huge team.
Putting the luggage and goods brought to Nanzhili on the mules and horses, the group headed north from Fuzhou Prefecture towards Jianning Prefecture.
From a distance, Su Ze saw many small caravans following them. By the time they reached Jianning Mansion at the end of February, a caravan of nearly a hundred people was already behind them.
The mountain road is dangerous, so it is natural to travel in groups as much as possible. Su Ze and his group look like they are strong soldiers, so it is naturally safer to follow them.
Lin Deyang felt a little bored when no thieves came out to rob him all the way to Jianning Mansion.
However, he shot many wild animals along the way, which greatly enriched everyone's dining table.
It's just that the meat of these beasts that have been in the wild for a long time is very tight and tastes like chewing wax. Su Ze really can't figure out why future generations have to break the law to eat these things.
Everything along the way was official, and everyone was just a judge. Although Li Zhi had official status, he left his post without permission and ran back from the Nanjing Imperial College, so he did not meet the conditions for living in the post station.
However, due to the developed business and tourism industry in Fujian, there are always private hotels near the inn, so a group of people traveling from south to north can always find a place to stay.
Along the way, Li Zhi always pulled Su Ze and asked him about knowledge related to astronomy and arithmetic.
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong were also interested at first, but when they saw Su Ze's complicated calculations, they all expressed their dissatisfaction.
Su Ze also didn't expect that Li Zhi would be so interested in the astrology and calendar. As the two talked, Li Zhi increasingly agreed with Su Ze's theory of "studying things" and "promoting knowledge".
Li Zhi said while following Su Ze's method of calculation:
"Xunzi said: 'The movement of heaven is constant, neither to survive for Yao nor to perish for Jie.' Sure enough, the movements of the celestial bodies have their own laws and are not changed by human will!"
Su Ze nodded and said: "Taking the gathering of five stars as an example, does Mr. Zhuo Wu know why this celestial phenomenon was commonly seen in historical records in ancient times, but it is no longer recorded in recent historical almanacs?"
When Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong saw that the two of them stopped talking about mathematics, they also came over with interest.
Huang Maochong said: "The gathering of five stars? Could it be an auspicious celestial phenomenon that occurred during the reigns of Zhuan Xu and Qi Huan?"
Zhao Bingzhong continued: "This celestial phenomenon seems to be recorded in the "Book of Han", 'The emperor of the Han Dynasty entered the Qin Dynasty, and the five stars gathered in Dongjing'."
Huang Maochong immediately said: "The "Historical Records" also said this, 'The Han Dynasty flourished when the five stars gathered.' Doesn't this mean that the way of heaven affects people's hearts? Does the gathering of the five stars necessarily lead to the birth of the Ming Lord?"
Su Ze smiled and said: "There are so many wise kings in the world, why are there so few official historical records about the gathering of five stars after the early Han Dynasty? Is it possible that there are no wise kings after Zhuan Xu, Qi Huan, and Han Gaozu?"
Li Zhi had already accepted astronomical calculations. He said: "Because the gathering of the five stars is a natural celestial phenomenon and has nothing to do with the birth of the Mingjun Holy Lord."
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong still couldn't accept it. They said, "Maybe there are wise masters born from time to time, but the astronomical officials did not record it?"
Su Ze shook his head and said: "Since the early Han Dynasty, the two largest five-star gatherings occurred respectively in the early Han Dynasty when Empress Lu came to the court to kill the young emperor and in the middle of the Tang Dynasty when Empress Wei killed Zhongzong. Although there is no record in the history books, it is recorded in the notes of contemporary people. It’s all recorded in the almanac.”
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong took a breath. They knew that Su Ze had read a lot of books, and naturally they believed that Su Ze was not talking nonsense.
Empress Lu came to the court and Empress Wei was in power. If Empress Lu could still be regarded as the Queen Mother coming to the court, Empress Wei was a full-fledged rebel.
It's no wonder that later historians no longer record the "Five Stars in a row" in history books.
Huang Maochong became even more silent. The Five Classics he wrote were also the Spring and Autumn Annals like Su Ze. The so-called Spring and Autumn writing style was that Confucius used historical books to praise and criticize historical facts. This set of practices was also inherited by later historians.
Huang Maochong was not only shaken by the "response between heaven and man", but also by the "Spring and Autumn Writing Technique" of historians.
Li Zhi said with interest: "Can what Rulin said be counted?"
Su Ze nodded and said: "Of course it can be calculated. When I tell Mr. Zhuo Wu the algorithm, you can check it slowly on the way."
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong were still a little confused, but they were also shaken by the theory of telepathy.
Along the way, Li Zhi became obsessed with arithmetic and immersed in the calculations of the stars and the sea.
Su Ze and Huang Maochong chatted with Zhao Bingzhong. At the end of February, the group had arrived at Jianning Mansion, a large city in northern Fujian.
"Brother Zhao, Jianning Mansion is your hometown, right?"
Zhao Bingzhong rubbed his head and said: "My grandfather moved out of Jianning Mansion, but his ancestral home is in Jianning. I have never been back to my hometown."
Huang Maochong said: "Brother Zhao's grandfather was an official in the Inspectorate and had already moved to Fuzhou Prefecture long ago. He only still has ancestral property in Jianning Prefecture."
It turns out that the Inspectorate is the judicial bureau of a province, which is equivalent to the provincial intermediate court. Zhao Bingzhong's grandfather was able to serve as an official in Fujian without being restricted by the three guardians of the law. He must have been promoted from the official position, which is the so-called knife and pen official. .
This is not uncommon in the Justice Department. After all, judicial work has professional requirements and requires a certain degree of stability.
But it is still my hometown after all. Zhao Bingzhong said: "Jianning Mansion was called Jianzhou in ancient times. It was an important town in northern Fujian with tall city walls..."
Before Zhao Bingzhong finished speaking, he saw the dilapidated city wall of Jianning Mansion. He was stunned for a moment and said, "Wait a minute, it was not like this last time I came back."
Huang Maochong asked: "Brother Zhao, when was the last time you came back?"
"This, probably when I was ten years old."
Well, everyone was speechless.
Su Ze said: "Last year, the Japanese pirates invaded Jianyang and besieged Jianning Mansion. The city wall must have been damaged at that time. I'm afraid it hasn't been repaired yet."
Zhao Bingzhong said quickly: "That's it!"
Everyone walked into Jianyang City, where the city walls were broken, and saw that the people in the city were all cheerful. Li Zhi said to Su Ze:
"It's best to ask the hunters in the Xianxia Mountains to lead the way, but many of the hunters in these mountains have colluded with the bandits in the mountains, so they need to be carefully screened."
The buildings outside Jianyang City were all demolished when the Japanese pirates attacked the city. The winter in northern Fujian is much colder than that in Fuzhou. Su Ze saw many people hiding in thatched houses beside the city wall to keep warm, and felt quite sad. Unable to bear it, he ordered people to buy some rice and give porridge outside the city.
Seeing Su Ze like this, Li Zhi, Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong did not go to the city to stay, but just like him, they were giving porridge outside the city.
Unexpectedly, Su Ze was serving porridge outside the city for a day, but an official from Jianyang County Government arrived.
"Who are you here to win people's hearts?"
A short and fat scribe stood up and looked at Su Ze who was serving porridge and asked.
Su Ze ignored the scribe, but the scribe stepped forward and grabbed Su Ze's hand and said:
"I am asking you something!"
Su Ze pushed the officer's hand away and said, "You don't care if the people are naked, but when I give porridge to help the people, you block me. How is this?"
The scribe sneered and said:
"The county magistrate has an order that only the county government can give out porridge. Are you the mining bandits from Xianxia Mountain who came down to pull the team?"
Su Ze already had 11 points of strength and pushed hard, pushing the scribe to the ground and saying:
"I was waiting outside the city to give out porridge, and you beat me into a mining robber. As expected, I am a subordinate who kills people with swords and pens!"
"It's reversed! It's reversed!"
The clerk immediately shouted, and the government servant behind him drew his knife, and Su Ze came over first.
Lin Deyang had long disliked this group of guys, and he immediately drew his sword. More than 20 strong men drew their swords, and these government officials immediately stopped.
The scribe took a few steps back and then shouted in the direction of the city gate:
"The mine thieves are down the mountain!"
Minzhuang, who was guarding the city gate, rushed over immediately, frightening the people around him and fleeing in all directions.
The scribe smiled ferociously and said, "There is also a reward in the county. The head of a mining robber is worth one tael of silver!"
Hearing the silver reward, the government officials and Minzhuang were even more excited. At this moment, Zhao Bingzhong stepped forward and angrily shouted:
"Bold! This is Jinke Fujian Jieyuan! We are all the people who went to Nanjing Imperial College to be imprisoned!"
Upon hearing Jieyuan and Juren, the group of Minzhuang and government officials immediately stopped.
They all looked at the scribe who fell on the ground, with a look of fear in their eyes.
The scribe was also frightened. Jinke Jieyuan, and his entire team were all masters of civil affairs. Even if the county magistrate came, he had to entertain him well, but he was offended by everyone at once.
However, this scribe is also a flexible character. He immediately changed his face and said:
"You are a villain who cannot see Mount Tai. Why doesn't Mr. Xie Yuang go to the city to rest? He insists on dining and sleeping outdoors outside the city."
"Go and report it to the county master!"
Su Ze waved his hand and said: "No need, we are going to enter Xianxia Mountain, you can wait and take care of yourself!"
After saying that, Su Ze and his men left the porridge shed and headed towards Xianxia Mountain.
When Su Ze was serving porridge outside the city, he had already found a guide. They were a father and son who were Orions. The father was in his thirties and the son was in his twenties. Under the leadership of the father and son, they set foot on the Xianxia Mountain Road. .
"Rulin, why didn't you wait for the county magistrate to come out?" Zhao Bingzhong was also very angry.
Su Ze said calmly: "A strong dragon will not suppress a local snake. We are just raising people and passing by. Can we force the county magistrate to admit his mistake?"
Zhao Bingzhong also lowered his head and said: "If I am an official close to the people in the future, I will not let the people under my rule suffer such a crime!"
Su Ze didn't laugh at Zhao Bingzhong's youthful enthusiasm. He just said: "I hope Brother Zhao can remember his original intention today when he enters officialdom in the future."
Zhao Bingzhong nodded heavily, and at this moment there was a noise from behind.
"Jie Yuangong, stay!"
The guards drew their weapons one after another. Su Ze looked back and saw an old man riding a horse, followed by a group of people.
The old man was wearing an official robe, and Su Ze recognized it as the official robe of a county magistrate. This should be the magistrate of Jian'an County, Yiguo County, Jianning Prefecture.
Now that everyone was chasing them out of the city, Su Ze didn't want to see them anymore. He dismounted and walked forward, with Lin Deyang holding a saber to guard him behind him.
"Is this Nanping Su Rulin in person?"
"Exactly down there."
"Li Tong, the magistrate of Jian'an County, has met all of you."
He extended his hand to avoid hitting the smiling person, and Su Ze returned the favor.
Li Tong sighed and said, "There is a pavilion over there. Mr. Jie Yuang, could you please listen to what I have to say?"
Su Ze nodded, and the group came to the pavilion and sat down. Li Tong sighed again and said: "This county prohibits the establishment of private porridge sheds because a few days ago, mine thieves came down the mountain to give porridge and took the people up the mountain. This county had no choice but to do so." Of."
Zhao Bingzhong said: "The people are displaced because you, the county magistrate, are incompetent. You don't give out porridge yourself. Instead, you frame the people who give out porridge as mining pirates. You don't want to give up until you see the people starve to death!"
Li Tong lowered his head and said: "This county also wants to open a warehouse to provide disaster relief, but the entire Jianning Prefecture has no surplus grain. The county is also trying to find a way to get the wealthy households in the city to contribute money. However, the Japanese pirates once besieged the city for three months, and now there is no food left in the city. There is no money left.”
Zhao Bingzhong continued: "In that case, why not let the people go up the mountain?"
Li Tong said: "All the mining thieves on this mountain are under the banner of Liu Heiqi. These mining thieves coerce the people to go up the mountain, not to let them survive. The mines in the mountain are dangerous and difficult. These mining thieves let them eat once and then kill them." These people were sealed in the mines and kept digging day and night to have food to eat. If they couldn't dig out the ore, they were allowed to starve to death. Now that early spring has arrived, they can still survive if they stay outside the city until spring, but if they go up the mountain, they will die. ”
Zhao Bingzhong was stunned, and he said again: "Why don't you kill Liu Heiqi?"
Li Tong smiled bitterly and said: "It would be great if Liu Heiqi gathered thousands of people and didn't come down to attack the county. How can we talk about suppressing bandits?"
"Last year, the spring and summer grains were not paid to Jian'an County. The imperial court's dismissal order is probably on the way. I can't protect the country and the people, so I just want to return to my hometown as soon as possible."
Su Ze asked: "The Japanese rebellion in Jianning Prefecture was so serious that the imperial court did not waive the land tax?"
Li Tong sighed and nodded, and now Zhao Bingzhong was speechless.
Su Ze was once again glad that he had traveled to Changningwei, and when he thought about Guanzhong thousands of miles away, there were always things he couldn't express in a thousand words.
I only heard Li Zhi say angrily:
"This is such a shitty world!"
(End of chapter)
