Chapter 135 Stirring up the storm
There is an abandoned house in the south of Jingkou City. Five years ago, the owner and his family were killed by thieves, and the house was not owned by the government. Later, rumors spread that it was haunted, but no one dared to buy it, so it fell into disuse. The whitewashed wall has long been dilapidated, and the courtyard is overgrown with weeds and has become a haunt for foxes.
Several men were sitting in the pavilion in the back garden, sitting around a bonfire to keep warm. A large copper cauldron hung over the fire, and the scent came out from the cracks in the pot lid.
A man in green robe stood up, looked at the sun above his head, looked toward the broken wall, and said, "It's past noon, why isn't the boss back?"
"Fifth brother, sit down peacefully. The boss must have something to do. You can't wait any longer." The yellow-faced man opposite scolded.
The green-robed man sat back on the bricks, threw a piece of firewood into the fire, and said, "Second brother, aren't you worried about the boss?"
The thin man on the side smiled and said: "Fifth brother is not worried about the boss, but he is greedy for the dog meat in the pot."
"Ding Xiaoqi, you can't be beaten if you want." The man in green robe glared and yelled: "This dog was brought by a servant. Don't eat it later."
Ding Xiaoqi didn't care, and said with a playful smile: "Fifth brother, it's true that I got this dog. Didn't I also bring two jugs of wine with me?"
While joking, a young man stepped over the broken wall and entered the courtyard. Several people stood up, cupped their hands towards the young man and said, "I've seen the boss."
The young man has black silk hair, has not yet worn a crown, and is wearing a white fox fur. He looks like he belongs to a wealthy family.
He bowed his hands to everyone, and the young man smiled and said, "I kept you guys waiting for a long time. I went to the South City Gate to read the announcement, which delayed me for a while."
Ding Xiaoqi smiled and said: "Boss Meng, if you don't come, Fifth Brother He's saliva will flow to the ground."
He Laowu stretched out his hand to grab Ding Xiaoqi and cursed: "Ding Xiaoqi, you are going to go against me, right? I have to teach you a lesson today."
Meng Longfu reached out and grabbed He Xiong's arm and said with a smile: "Brother, why should you take your jokes seriously?"
He Xiong struggled twice, like an ant shaking a tree, unable to move at all.
Meng Longfu let go of his hand and said: "Lao Wu, you are stupid, don't you? Everyone sit down, let's eat and chat."
After saying that, Meng Longfu sat down on the bricks without worrying about whether he would stain the white fur he was wearing.
Everyone sat down one after another, Meng Longfu opened the lid of the cauldron, and the dog meat chopped into large pieces in the copper cauldron was rolling in the soup.
Meng Longfu took a deep breath and said with a smile: "It smells so good. I can't help but think of you all. Let's all drink more to Lao Wu today."
He poured wine into the pottery bowl and tore the dog meat with his hands. Like everyone else, Meng Longfu drank heavily and bit the meat until the juice dripped, not caring that the fox fur on his body was splashed with juice.
"Boss, you just said that you went to the city gate to read the announcement, what's the good news?" Ding Xiaoqi held the wine and squeezed to Meng Longfu to toast.
After touching the bowl with Ding Xiaoqi, Meng Longfu took a big sip and said with a smile: "The Jiangsu Supervisor posted a recruitment notice."
The yellow-faced second son said solemnly: "Being a soldier and eating food is not as enjoyable as what we are doing now."
"Yes, second brother is right, who the hell wants to be a soldier and suffer the consequences."
Meng Longfu put down the bowl, picked up a piece of dog meat with bamboo chopsticks, blew it twice and stuffed it into his mouth. While chewing, he said vaguely: "The Jiangsu Supervisor is preparing to recruit soldiers for the martial arts competition this time. It will be divided into four categories: water fighting, boat maneuvering, archery, and martial arts competition." , the person who wins the first prize will receive a reward of ten taels, and he can still get the money even if he doesn’t join the army.”
"What, there is such a good thing?" Ding Xiaoqi rolled his eyes and said: "Boss, it is not easy to win the first place with your martial arts."
The few people here are all rangers in Jingkou City. After being defeated by Meng Longfu, they were willing to recognize him as their boss and obey his orders.
Ding Xiaoqi once personally told Meng Long Fu to lift a huge stone and shoot an arrow through a magpie's eye. Even in the Beifu Army, there are probably not many people with such force.
Meng Longfu swallowed the dog meat and said with a smile: "Yu Zheng deliberately took twelve taels of gold and had fun with everyone for a few days."
He Xiong smiled and said: "When the Chinese New Year is over, the hundred-day ban on the court will be over. The boss will wait with his servants to have a happy few days in Shulan Courtyard."
Meng Longfu laughed and said: "When you have fooled the leaders of archery and martial arts, please come to Zuixiang Residence and have a drink."
Everyone laughed and raised their bowls to toast Meng Longfu. Meng Longfu drank the wine in the bowl boldly, causing everyone to cheer in unison and imitate his example.
"Why don't men hold on to the powerful sword, secure and prosper the country, and seek a title?" Meng Longfu recalled the poem at the end of the article in his mind, and the pride in his chest surged with the drunkenness.
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South of Jingkou City is a large area of farmland. The owner of these thousands of hectares of fertile land is named Diao. The Diao family in Bohai Rao'an is a high-class family, so he is a descendant of Diao Xie, the minister of law.
The Diao family was as wealthy as any other country. In addition to thousands of hectares of fertile land, their business was connected to the north and south. They had shops in every state and thousands of slaves.
The head of the family, Diao Kui, and his two brothers, Diao Chang and Diao Hong, both like to acquire property and do whatever they can in doing business, gambling, and moneylending.
There is a large manor seven miles south of the city. It is located in a mountain col. The cold wind is blocked by the mountains. There are several hot springs in the manor. In addition to bathing, vegetables can also be grown using the earth's atmosphere. Every December, Diao Kui brings his family here to spend the winter.
After being demoted from the official office of Tangyi to the people, Diao Feng became the chief steward of the farm and took care of the affairs of the farm.
There is a large stack of documents that are exchanged between various places every day, and many of them are confidential and cannot pass through the hands of others. Diao Feng excerpted the useful things and showed them to the family leader at Chenshi the next day.
"The supervisor of patrolling the river offered a reward to recruit soldiers," Diao Feng's eyes narrowed. Yang Anxuan came to Jingkou as a thief envoy and was promoted to patrol the river because of his merit. Diao Feng knew these things clearly.
After being demoted, he hated the Yang family deeply and wanted to take revenge. Could he take advantage of this matter?
After thinking for a long time, Diao Feng stood up and walked towards the east courtyard. He planned to go to Diao Yun to discuss things.
The three brothers of the Diao family divided the large estate into three small villages. Diao Yun's father was Diao Hong, Diao Kui's third brother, and Zhuangzi was to the east.
During this period, Diao Yun kept traveling between Jiankang and Jingkou. He learned from Wang Chunzhi that there would be major changes in the court next year, and that the King of Kuaiji intended to appoint a group of young talents.
Although he hated Yang Anxuan very much, Yang Anxuan's career as an official made him envious. If he had regret medicine, maybe he would not be greedy for money and have a grudge against Yang Anxuan.
If you want to be an official, you naturally have to make arrangements. The King of Kuaiji is too tall and cannot be attached to him. Although Wang Chunzhi is a member of the Langya family, he has no voice in the clan and is of little use.
Diao Yun went to great lengths to catch up with Jianwu General Wang Xu and offered him fifty taels of gold. Finally, he got a word and asked Zhongshu to order Wang Guobao to put in a good word for him.
There were rumors in Beijing that the King of Kuaiji was dissatisfied with Zuopushe Wang Xun, the minister, and intended to promote him to a ministerial order without real power, and let Zhongshuling Wang Guobao take over Zuopushe and take charge of the government.
It may come out of nowhere, but it may not be without cause. Diao Yun returned to Jingkou and met his uncle Diao Kui. Diao Kui believed that the rumors might become reality.
Diao Kui decided to let Diao Yun make friends with Wang Xu on behalf of the Diao family, and it would be best to try to see Wang Guobao. More than a hundred taels of gold were scattered to win over Wang Xu and manage the entire Zhongshu Ling family, but it was not easy to see Wang Guobao.
After all the money he brought with him was used up, Diao Yun returned to Jingkou dejectedly, and followed his uncle to the farm to spend the winter, preparing to give generous gifts before the new year.
Seeing Diao Feng enter the house, Diao Yun stood up and greeted: "Uncle Feng, why do you have time to come to my little brother's residence?"
Diao Feng handed him the copy of the list of soldiers recruited from the Jiangsu Patrol and said: "Yang Anxuan is offering a reward to recruit soldiers."
Diao Yun took it, looked at it, and said with a smile: "Uncle Feng wants to make a fuss out of this matter."
In front of Diao Yun, Diao Feng said unabashedly: "The Yang family has caused my uncle to lose his official position. How can we not avenge him?"
Diao Yun handed the paper back, squinting his eyes and thinking. He had met Jianwu General Wang Xu several times, and he had heard him mention the Yang family hatefully. Wang Xu's resentment towards the Yang family was still greater than his own.
If this matter can be used to attack Yang Anxuan, Wang Xu will definitely be happy, and maybe he can introduce Zhongshu Ling Wang Guobao to him, and his appointment as an official next year will be stable.
Thinking of this, Diao Yun smiled and said: "Uncle Feng, go with Yu to see the head of the family. He will make the decision on this matter."
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In the evening, the small fishing boat turned a corner like a nimble fish and sailed into the fork of the river, shaking the golden light behind it.
The man operating the boat was in his early twenties, with his thin jacket open and his arms open. The cold wind blew the ribbons in his hair flying, but it could not blow the perseverance on the man's face.
After the boat had gone three or four miles in, we could see bamboo houses built on the water's edge, and smoke was rising over the small village.
When the children playing on the shore saw the boat on the river, they all jumped up and ran with the boat. As they ran, they greeted, "Uncle Shitou" and "Uncle Shitou is back."
The boat stopped at the head of a stack made of several wooden planks, and children gathered around it. The man took out a paper bag from a pile of things in the boat. It was Kanto candy.
The children screamed for joy, and one by one they took the candy from the man's hand and put it into their mouths eagerly. Some took big bites, some licked carefully, and some turned around and ran home.
An adult from the village picked it up, and Shitou took out the goods from the boat. These were purchased for the villagers.
The full boat soon left only a bag of corn and a few sticks of dried meat. The man easily put the bag of rice on his shoulders and walked home with the dried meat.
Shitou's home is in the village, with five thatched houses. Pushing open the bamboo fence gate, the dog came over happily, followed by a woman's voice, "Lei'er is back."
A young boy of thirteen or fourteen ran out of the house and reached out to take the rice bag from the man's shoulder. Shitou smiled and said, "No need."
He handed the dried meat in his hand to the young man, took out a paper bag from his arms and said, "This is a bun, you can try it."
The young man ran happily into the shop carrying the dried meat. The man smiled and greeted the strong man wielding an ax to chop firewood in the south corner of the yard: "Dad, the servant is back."
The strong man straightened up, nodded and said nothing. There are deep wrinkles on his forehead, and his beard is somewhat gray. He holds an ax in his right hand, and the sleeve of his right hand is empty at his waist.
After entering the hall and putting down the rice bag, Shitou came to his father's side, took the ax, and started chopping firewood vigorously. Sawdust was flying, and firewood was quickly piled up.
The young man broke off half of the bun and took small bites, his face full of happiness.
No matter how small the meal was, he finished it quickly. Looking at the remaining buns placed in the pottery bowl, the young man swallowed his saliva, quickly walked out of the house, and helped chop the chopped firewood against the wall.
The remaining steamed buns were shared among the family during the meal. When they learned that the steamed buns actually cost five yuan each, Ms. Hong scolded with some annoyance: "Lei'er can't buy such expensive things in the future."
Qian Lei chuckled, picked up the porridge bowl and took a sip of the bean porridge.
Qian Feng, a strong man, realized that his son was worried and asked in a deep voice: "Did something happen in the city?"
"No," Qian Lei shook his head.
After a while, Qian Lei looked up at his father and said, "The Jiangsu Supervisor has issued a recruitment notice. Dad, I want to join the army."
"Pa", the porridge bowl hit the table hard, Qian Feng said coldly: "You want to come back with only one arm like a fool, or leave your life outside."
Hong was startled and advised: "Dad, don't be anxious. Lei'er, joining the army is no joke. Look at the uncles in the village. There are some who are in trouble. Our family has a good life and there is no need to work hard. Mom wants to finish it. Nian will tell you about your family relationship, and it is better than anything else for the family to live peacefully."
Qian Lei slowly put down the porridge bowl and said calmly: "Father, mother, I have thought clearly and are going to patrol the river to supervise the surrender of the army. The river patrol supervisor is on the river to hunt down river thieves, so the risk is not too high."
Qian Feng had a cold face and remained silent. Hong opened her mouth to persuade her, and seeing her son's face, she knew that Lei'er had made up her mind and was afraid of changing it. Sighing softly, tears fell uncontrollably.
Qian Miao also put down his bowl and looked at his family with some worry.
Qian Lei's tone softened a little and he said: "This time, the river patrol is offering rewards to recruit troops. It is divided into four categories: Fushui, boating, archery, and martial arts. If you win each category, you will get ten taels of gold. The child asked himself: Fusui and boating I hope to win the first prize. If I can get twenty taels of gold, my family will not have to worry about spending money for ten years."
Qian Feng snorted coldly: "I don't need your life money."
Qian Lei said solemnly: "Dad, you often say that a man has ambitions in all directions. You and the uncles in the village teach the boy martial arts. The boy does not want to be trapped in a small village all his life. This time the army patrol patrol also brought out a village chief and a The positions of captain, three commanders, and five corps commanders are rare opportunities. The child asks himself, no matter how hard he can win a commander."
Qian Feng sighed, stopped trying to persuade him, stood up and left the table.
Qian Lei reached out and patted his younger brother Qian Miao on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "My brother has gone to join the army, and I have to rely on you to take care of my parents at home."
Qian Miao nodded vigorously, trying to show a smile, but the corners of his mouth curved down, and tears fell unsatisfactorily.
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