In August, the crisp pears in Xiayi have gradually matured. Heavy pears are hanging on the branches. Walking in the forest, the golden fruits bend the branches.
In the past two days, Yang Anxuan and Hu Fan pretended to be pears traders and walked around Xiayi City.
During this season, there were originally a large number of pear merchants in Xiayi, and the pear farmers were very busy planting pears, picking fruits, and loading baskets. There is an endless stream of bullock carts and porters on the official road, transporting pears to the north and south of the river.
The Wei army captured Shouyang City and marched eastward, reducing the number of merchants who came to buy pears by 70%. All pear orchard owners looked sad.
"This husband, I am not a servant to boast, all the pears in this garden are thin-skinned, sweet and without residue." The owner of the pear garden who accompanied Yang Anxuan stretched out his hand to pick a few pears from the tree, handed them to Yang Anxuan and others, and said : "The price is only 80% of previous years, how about it?"
Yang Anxuan held the pear in his hand and played with it. The scribe Zhao Ming who accompanied him said: "Xiao Lang, this pear should be eaten in moderation, otherwise you will easily get diarrhea if you eat too much."
The owner of the pear garden said anxiously: "Don't worry, Sir, you can eat the pears from my servant's house, but you will never get diarrhea."
Yang Anxuan had no intention of buying pears, but he was just looking at the terrain in the name of buying pears. The terrain of Xiayi City was flat and there were no mountains around, and there was no place to ambush the Wei army.
The walls of Xiayi City are thin, far less than those of Xuchang. In addition, there are not many soldiers and horses in the city, so there is no condition to defend the city.
Yang Anxuan frowned, wondering if he should give up Xiayi City. Thinking of the high hopes that the county magistrate He Qian had for him, he couldn't help but feel heavy in his heart.
The owner of the pear garden sent Yang Anxuan and others away in disappointment. Before leaving, he gritted his teeth and said, "If you want more than ten thousand catties, I am willing to sell it for two cents per catty."
Two yuan per catty is only one-third of the price of corn and only half of previous years. Seeing the pear garden owner's tearless expression, Yang Anxuan sighed to himself. With the war, the people would not be able to survive.
Zhao Ming stayed with Yang Anxuan for two days and took this young nephew to visit more than a dozen pear orchards. Now that the price was two yuan per catty, he still didn't see this young nephew buying pears. He felt a little strange and whispered: "Xiao Ming Langjun, this price is very fair."
Yang Anxuan said: "I would like to see a few more and compare them."
Zhao Ming complained secretly in his heart. He had been running around with the county magistrate's nephew for the past two days, and his shoes were worn out.
The Wei army is coming soon, and I don't know why this man is lingering in Xiayi City. When the Wei army besieges the city, he won't be able to leave even if he wants to.
Judging from what County Magistrate He meant, he was preparing to defend the city, and he didn't know if he would be able to survive by then.
Zhao Ming sighed. Anyway, he sent his wife, children and children to his parents' home in the countryside. As an official, he should accompany Magistrate He to serve the country loyally.
After passing by the southeast, northwest and all directions, Yang Anxuan felt a little helpless. He glanced at the listless Secretary Zhao and said: "Brother Zhao, I heard that there is a Dafu pear tree in Xiayi. It is said that Qin Shihuang ate the crisp pears from the tree. Don’t you know whether it’s true or not?”
Zhao Ming nodded and said, "Yes, it is said that after Qin Shihuang pacified the six kingdoms, he came here on his eastward tour. The county magistrate paid tribute to the pears produced by this tree. After the first emperor ate it, he named this tree a senior official."
Yang Anxuan smiled and said, "Brother Zhao will go and take a look with his servants tomorrow."
"This Dafu pear is now owned by the Zhu family," Zhao Ming explained: "The Zhu family of Pei County is a descendant of Zhu Teng, the prefect of Wu County during the Soochow Dynasty. His pears are never sold to outsiders."
Yang Anxuan, a descendant of Zhu Teng, thought of Zhu Lingshi, whom he met in Jingkou. This Zhu family should be his comrades.
He entered the city in the evening and as soon as he returned to the county government house, He Qian hurriedly looked for him and said in an urgent voice: "Marquis Yang, Hua Lian is here."
Yang Anxuan smiled slightly and said, "But I'm here to be a lobbyist."
He Qian said: "Yes, Hua Lian persuaded Yu to return to Wei and offer pears to seek wealth."
Listening to He Qian's detailed account of how he met Hua Lian during the day, thoughts flashed through Yang Anxuan's mind, and Hu Fan on the side laughed and said, "An Xuan, why don't you make a fuss about pears."
Yang Anxuan clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Heroes see the same thing."
He Qian looked at the two people who were smiling at each other and asked inexplicably: "What kind of article can a pear do?"...
At the post house, Hua Lian was a little restless. He originally thought that with the power of the Wei army, he could easily persuade He Qian to surrender, and by offering pears to please the Wei emperor, he would be promoted to an official position and enjoy wealth.
expensive.
When I arrived at Xiayi City, I was surprised to see that the city was heavily guarded and the city gates were closed in three places, which was clearly intended to resist the Wei army.
He bravely went to the city to see the county magistrate He Qian. Hua Lian said that he came with the intention of urging He Qian to surrender by offering pears. He Qian was evasive and arranged for him to rest in the post house, saying that he wanted to think about it.
A lamp was as bright as a bean, illuminating Hua Lian's figure swaying on the wall.
The more Hua Lian thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He had long heard that He Qian was an upright person. If he was determined to die, he wouldn't kill himself to sacrifice the flag.
After gently slapping himself, Hua Lian quietly walked to the door, opened a crack and looked out. The corridor was silent, and the torches on the pillars swayed in the wind.
After closing the door, Hua Lian put the case behind the door again, and then returned to the couch with a heavy heart. He should leave when he saw that Xiayi City was heavily guarded. He really shouldn't enter the city obsessed with it, but it would be in vain if he didn't get the wealth and glory. Lost his life.
After a night of many shocks, he finally managed to stay up until daybreak. After eating, the postman brought bread and corn porridge. Hua Lian secretly ordered his followers to pack their things and prepare to leave the city when the city gate opened.
Before leaving, He Qian arrived.
When he learned that He Qian was willing to offer pears and surrender to the Wei army, Hua Lian sat down on the mat and said with a hearty smile: "Magistrate He is indeed wise. Now the court is indifferent and the wars are endless. The Wei Dynasty is in the ascendant and has the potential to sweep the world. So let's go with it." Only by adapting to the times can one become a hero."
"He County Magistrate is sitting on the treasure land of Xiayi. This is a God-given opportunity. If he can welcome Lu Xianggong into the city and contribute pears to the Wei Emperor, he will be able to catch the glory and wealth unexpectedly."
He Qian felt cold in his heart and said with a smile: "It's all under the care of Duke Hua. I have ordered the people of Xiayi to pick fresh pears and bring them to the city to welcome the arrival of Duke Lu Xiang's army."
Hua Lian said: "Since Magistrate He intends to welcome the Wei army, there is no need to close the city gates."
"Yes," He Qian said with a smile, "Thank you very much, Mr. Hua, for your advice. I will order the city gates to be opened and send people to greet Mr. Lu Xiang."...
In Shouyang, Changsun Fei received the intelligence report first, and the gates of Xiayi City were opened. Hua Lian had already persuaded He Qian to surrender his pear.
Dai Mang sneered contemptuously: "These Jin people have no bones at all, they are like dogs begging for bones."
Changsun Fei smiled and said, "Jin people amuse themselves with poetry and wine. They think it's fashionable to talk about mysteries and scriptures, but they are helpless when trouble comes. That's why I have the confidence to lead thousands of people to seize Qingzhou."
Dahajian reminded: "Even so, Mr. Lu Xiang needs to be more cautious in case He Qian pretends to surrender."
Dai Mang laughed and said: "Sima Daha is too timid. You also said two days ago that there are no mountains around Xiayi City, and the reconnaissance cavalry did not find any Jin troops coming. As long as the army does not enter the city, then He Qian is pretending to surrender. It’s just courting death.”
Changsun Fei stroked his beard and said: "Soldiers are in danger and should be more careful. Dahajian, tomorrow you will lead 3,000 troops as an advance to Xiayi City. If He Qian sincerely surrenders and takes control of Xiayi City, if He Qian has hidden evil intentions, Just kill him.”…
Five days later, Chang Fei Sun led 6,000 soldiers and horses to Xiayi City.
Five miles outside the west gate, Dahajian, Hua Lian, and He Qian led the people in the city to greet him.
Changsun Fei received Dahajian's report and learned that the four gates of Xiayi City were open. He Qian sincerely surrendered, and he was relieved.
After jumping off his horse, Changsun Fei stepped forward to say a few words to He Qian and others, and the army entered the city amidst the sound of drums and music.
Changsun Fei divided the army into two groups, one following him into the city and the other stationed outside the city. In this way, Xiayi City was firmly in the hands of the Wei army.
He Qian killed pigs and sheep to reward the Wei army. As for the fresh pears, he put them in baskets for the Wei army to eat.
In the past few days, He Qian asked the people to send nearly 100,000 fresh pears on the condition of tax deduction, which was enough for the Wei army to enjoy.
Xiayi's crisp pears are famous all over the world. Even Zhang Sun Fei had never eaten them before. Those Wei soldiers even enjoyed the sweet and refreshing crisp pears and they were all full.
He Qian held a banquet in the county government lobby to entertain the eldest son, Sun Fei. At Hua Lian's suggestion, he thoughtfully changed the sitting tables into Hu tables and Hu chairs.
During the dinner, He Qian mentioned that there was a Dafu pear in the territory that was granted the title of Emperor Qin Shihuang, and he planned to pick the crisp pears from the Dafu pear tree to pay tribute to Emperor Wei.
Although Changsun Fei was from Xianbei, he studied Chinese characters with Tuoba Gui in his early years.
He is familiar with Han culture and knows that the doctor pear conferred by Qin Shihuang has different meanings.
His eyes passed over Dahajian's face across from him, and when he saw Dahajian nodded slightly, Changsun Fei smiled and said: "Very good. Magistrate He is interested. Tomorrow you will take me to see Dafu Li. I want to do it myself." Pick pear fruits and bring them to the emperor."
The political system of the Wei State gradually transitioned from a tribal alliance to a system of hundreds of officials. After Tuoba Gui established the capital and proclaimed himself emperor, he ordered Cui Hong, the Minister of Civil Affairs, to preside over the drafting of the official system and noble ranks, compile imperial rites, co-administer music, formulate laws and regulations, etc., but at the same time, Eight officials were also established to continue the previous eight-seat official system.
In addition to the royal Tuoba family, the most prominent ones are the Changsun family, Shusun family and Xi family, followed by the eight surnames of the distinguished officials such as Mu, Lu, He, Liu, Lou, Yu, Ji and Wei.
The Changsun family has followed the Tuoba clan for generations (1). Changsun Fei has been with Tuoba Gui since he was a boy, and he knows the emperor's temperament well.
Changsun Fei won Tuoba Gui's trust. In addition to riding horses and bridles for him and fighting in all directions, he was also good at figuring out the emperor's thoughts.
After Pingcheng proclaimed himself emperor, Tuoba Gui built palaces, built ancestral temples, imitated the official officials and formulated etiquette of the Han Dynasty, and was ambitious to complete the unfinished business of Qin Tianwang Fu Jian. This time he ordered himself to cross the Yellow River south to seize the territory of Jin State, which was a test.
If Li Gong, the official conferred by Qin Shihuang, is presented to the emperor, the emperor will definitely be happy with this auspicious omen, and will not take into account the fault of the defeat of Zhou Tun.
Changsun Fei took a sip of wine. Jin people's wine was fragrant and delicious, just like the crisp pear. You only need to raise your hand to pick it.
The entire Jin Dynasty may be like those ripe pears, waiting for you to pick them.
As a pioneer, he took the lead in seizing the Jianghuai land. With the emperor's temperament, he would not hesitate to receive rewards.
He Qian raised his glass and encouraged him to drink. Changsun Fei responded happily. This Xiayi is really a rich and rich treasure land.
Note (1): It is said that the Changsun family was originally the Tuoba family, just like Cao and Xiahou during the Cao Wei Dynasty.
