The carriage drove into Daliang, turned near Daliang Gate, and entered Nancheng; turned again, and arrived at Mr. Wei's Mansion. From a distance, I saw Zhang Ye standing in front of the door waiting.
The four people got off the carriage, which was quickly taken over by retainers. When Zhang Ye saw them coming, he had already lowered his rank to greet them and let them in. After entering the door and turning around the flute wall, Lord Xinling was waiting not far away. There were several gentlemen standing behind him, including Mr. Guo, Mr. Jin, Mr. Cao and Cao Bao. Lord Xinling rushed forward and saluted, "Master Zheng is here for the first time. I am very comforting to my lonely heart!"
According to the etiquette discussed with Mr. Zhongyue yesterday, the four people presented the wild geese, bowed to the ground, and said: "I sincerely bow to you in front of Lord Xinling, Mr. Wei. I have received the favor of your Majesty, and I am honored to serve you." I must try my best to repay you!"
Lord Xinling also bowed to the ground and said, "I have no scruples and few virtues. I dare to win the sacrifices of all the righteous people. I am willing to say goodbye!"
The four men said: "I all admire you for your loyalty and righteousness, and your virtue is known all over the world, and you dare not or forget it. I would like to serve you, and I hope you will not say goodbye!"
Lord Xinling said: "How can I be worthy of a righteous man's service? I am willing to work diligently to correct my faults and make up for my shortcomings, not just for myself, but for the whole country!"
All four people said: "I promise!"
After bowing to each other, the five of them stood up and bowed to the gentlemen again. After the ceremony, let's go to the hall together. Lord Xinling sat in the middle, the guests sat in the main seat, and Zheng Anping and four others sat in the guest seats.
Lord Xinling said: "The four sons are in charge of Guan. Although they are isolated fiefs, they are actually the gates of Wei. There must be someone who can teach me!"
Zheng Anping said: "I don't dare to give you advice, but I have some doubts. I hope your Majesty and the gentlemen can clear up my doubts."
Lord Xinling said: "Sir, please speak!"
Zheng Anping said: "Guanyi is the gate of Wei, and the number of households does not exceed 100. Should we put defense first and wealth first?"
Lord Xinling said: "The people are the foundation of a country. Without people, there will be no land. Therefore, wealth should be given priority. Wu Zi said: 'If you can make the wise people at the top and the unworthy at the bottom, then the situation has been established; If the people are safe in their fields and homes, if they have relatives and officials, then the defense is strong; if the people are all my ruler and not neighboring countries, then the war is won. 'May your son do this."
Zheng Anping said: "I promise! All the people in the governorate have become foreigners. Should they be punished with punishment and be virtuous?"
Lord Xinling said: "Huaide is the first, then punishment is the last."
Zheng Anping said: "I promise! There are thieves in the land of Huawai. How can we guard against them?"
Lord Xinling said: "Pay it all to the people!"
Zheng Anping said: "If a powerful enemy comes, how can we defend against it?"
Lord Xinling said: "The Great Wall and the fields are here to help."
Zheng Anping said: "I hope you, gentlemen, will come up with strategies to defend the country and ministers will implement them!"
Lord Xinling said: "Mr. Jin can help the young master!"
Mr. Jin took out a map from his sleeve, walked to Xinling's throne and opened it. The others gathered around him. Mr. Jin said: "The small town of Guanyi is thirty miles outside the Great Wall, and within a few miles, there are more than a hundred households. The fields in the four fields are only four to five hundred acres. The people are all strong in business, cunning in intelligence and lazy in nature, and cannot be organized into households." It can be compared with Litian. There is an abandoned city ten miles away, which is why I govern the country. The city walls are in ruins, overgrown with grass, wild animals are infested, and thieves are gathering. There are only ten miles between the two cities. There is no slope, but the grass is warm and wild, and the strange rocks are rugged. However, there are criss-cross ravines, fertile soil and abundant water, and fertile fields. From Xiaoyi to the Great Wall, it is thirty miles away, and it serves as a thoroughfare. It must be suitable to plant peaches, plums, pines and jujubes. When the state is in ruins, the city will be covered with land. If the river is blocked, the situation is very good, and sincerity is the foundation of the country. Sir, do you care!"
Zheng Anping cupped his hands and said: "Sir's words are sincere. They should be kept in mind. According to your plan, how much will it cost to restore the abandoned city?"
Mr. Jin said: "Although the abandoned city is small, there are still thousands of people guarding it! Now there are only a hundred people, and the defense is not strong, so don't restore it."
Zheng Anping said: "Sir's plan is indeed reasonable. However, what I am concerned about is that the grain and fodder of the town will not be sustained. Without the labor of the city, the civil engineering work will be difficult. In this winter and spring, construction should be carried out. After the fields are opened, farmers will still be needed. Therefore, I would like you to calculate the annual cost of the battle in Chengdan."
Lord Xinling said: "My master's plan is just that, I am worried about what I will lose. This should be done well, and it cannot be ignored. I will treat it well, my master."
Zheng Anping said: "A hundred households and a hundred people are all in the army, how can they return?"
Lord Xinling said: "This army is sent by the people's army. This army is not a Wei people, so it is not sent; it is not a military soldier, and it will not return to Daliang. It is sent to live in the confinement temporarily."
Zheng Anping said: "Since he is a Wei citizen, he cannot be slowed down, so he should be dispatched immediately."
Lord Xinling said: "It is true as the young master said. However, the people are cunning and have never been kings. I am afraid it will be difficult to obey them."
Zheng Anping said: "Your Majesty's benevolence and righteousness are spread everywhere, and all the heroes in the world have returned. How can it be difficult for the people in the countryside!"
Lord Xinling said: "Master, do you have any ideas?"
Zheng Anping said: "Uncle Cao has been in the grass for a long time, he will definitely find his plan!"
Lord Xinling said: "Young Master is a wise man, not a brave man!"
When Cao Bao saw that Zheng Anping had pointed him out, he had no choice but to stand up and said: "Those who are reckless are all attached to heroes and listen to the elders. I went to the elders to tell him to return to Wei. The elders responded, but said that there was little food in the city. , should be compared to disaster relief."
Lord Xinling said: "Compared with the example of disaster relief... it is to obtain rations and grain seeds..."
Zheng Anping said: "Your Majesty, don't count your mouth and give alms, but count the acres and give alms. If there are few acres in the middle and wild areas, you must open up the wasteland and open up more acres. If you get one acre, you will be able to plant an acre; if you get a hundred acres, you will be able to cultivate 100 acres. If a hundred acres of crops are cultivated, everyone will work hard! The same goes for rations. If there is a day's work, there will be a day's food."
Lord Xinling said: "If we help him, how much food will he get?"
Mr. Zhongyue quickly replied: "A household has ninety dan per year, and a hundred households has nine thousand dan. Seeds are also among them."
Lord Xinling said: "Nine thousand stones, about sixty gold. How much is the other?"
Mr. Zhongyue said: "Ox and horse-drawn carriages, grass, silk and hemp... just to name a few."
Zheng Anping interrupted: "What you said is wrong! The land of one town should support the people of one town, so how can we ask for it? But if you can get one year of help from the emperor, you will be exempted from three years of tax. If you manage the town, you will be rich." He is also a commoner."
Lord Xinling said: "Young Master, this statement comes from Chrysostom, so I must believe it! I'll leave you alone!" Suddenly the conversation changed and he asked: "Young Master, are you married?"
Zheng Anping didn't know what was going on and replied: "Weiye!"
Lord Xinling said: "The Master said, I am standing at thirty. I have a concubine alone. The young master knows about it. I am willing to hold a broom with the young master and serve at the banquet. The young master will accept it. I have a small dowry, so I should give it to you!"
Zheng Anping's face turned red and he said: "My family is poor, how can I humiliate a noble man! Kuang Chen has no employment..."
Mr. Zhongyue said: "Your Majesty does not marry a daughter, but gives her as a concubine, and the son accepts her. The betrothal gift belongs to the governor of the city!"
Lord Xinling said: "Sir's words are very much in line with my wishes. If the master is allowed to serve for three years and his words are true and his actions are fruitful, I will be grateful to you. How can I be just a concubine? If there is a little boy, his nature is very serious." Hui, I hope you can train me well and it will be useful in the future."
Zheng Anping Yixi guessed who it was, and felt a little disappointed, but he did not dare to refuse, so he had to bow again: "I will do my best to repay your kindness!"
Then Lord Xinling started gossiping. Zheng Anping knew that the interview was over and hurriedly resigned. Lord Xinling wanted to send a car to see him off, but the four of them refused and said, "I haven't been home for a long time. Now that it's convenient, I should go home and visit."
Lord Xinling said: "From now on, all the disciples will be taller than others!"
After the four resigned, they made an appointment to meet at the post the next day and then went home.
It was late noon when Zheng Anping returned home. When he met Zhang Lu, he recounted the meeting with Lord Xinling in detail. Zhang Lu said: " Lord Xinling sent Uncle Cao to help him and remarried a girl from Xiaoyi to help each other. These two people must be of great use and cannot be ignored. .”
Zheng Anping said: "Sir, he said that it is fundamental to restore the city first, but Mr. Jin said that it would be inconvenient to restore the city, so we should wait for a while. What can we do?"
Zhang Lu pondered for a while and said: "The plans of Lord Xinling are far-reaching, and the young master is afraid that he will have to work hard! What is it? The abandoned city will not be built, the mansion will not be restored, and the young master can travel hundreds of miles to rule it?"
Zheng Anping said: "Your Majesty sent Uncle Cao to help. Does Uncle Cao have someone to rely on?"
Zhang Lu said: "Uncle Cao, we are all brothers from all over the world. How can you, young master?"
Zheng Anping said: "If you get a little slave, don't you have someone to rely on!"
Zhang Lu said: "Well, I'd like to thank you for your help, sir!" He thought for a moment and said, "I hope you will see the Yimen guards and tell them about the matters of guarding the city. The Yimen guards may be able to help!"
Zheng Anping said in surprise: "Guard Yi, maybe you can help?"
Zhang Lu said: "If the young master saves his ministers, why should he have no Yimen guards? Since he entrusts the young master to save his ministers, how can he not help the young master?"
Zheng Anping knew some of the secrets, so he asked: "Where should I go to see them?"
Zhang Lu said: "Young Master can surrender and go, but if Zhang Lu entrusts you, the Yi gate guards will definitely accept it!"
Zheng Anping changed his uniform as a soldier as he was told, wearing only armor and not carrying a crossbow or halberd. He entered the city again and headed northeast. Walking through a side street in front of the market, I suddenly saw Mr. Che You coming out of the Yimen Guards Station and hurried past in a hurry. Now is the day when the market is in full swing. There are many people going in and out of the market. If you don't pay attention, no one will notice him. While Zheng Anping was wondering what Mr. Che You was talking about, he walked to the door of Yimen Guardhouse and knocked on the door. Someone opened the door and when he saw it was a soldier, he let him in and asked, "Brothers are doing business, but are they having an affair?"
Zheng Anping said: "My younger brother Zheng Anping, on the order of Brother Zhang, pays homage to Brother Yi Menweihou!"
When the man heard this, he quickly said: "I will repay you, brother, I will wait for you."
Zheng Anping thanked him and the man left. At this time, a young man came over and asked, "But Brother Zheng is here?"
Zheng Anping took a look and saw that it was Chen Si. They had met in Qifeng, and they followed the convoy until they met Mr. Xinling before they separated. Although they didn't say much, they both still remembered each other. Zheng Anping immediately said: "How dare you be Fourth Brother Chen!"
The two of them met with each other, and Chen Sida said, "Brother Zheng, what are you doing here?"
Zheng Anping said: "I came here to see Brother Hou! I heard that the fourth brother Chen also came to Huayang, but he didn't see him."
Chen Sidao: "But Mr. Guo, a disciple of Mr. Wei, went out to explore the terrain. He drew drawings and books every day, and his food and accommodation were reduced. What else can be said!"
The man who opened the door led Hou Ying over. Seeing that Chen Si and Zheng Anping were talking animatedly, Hou Ying asked, "Brother Chen also knows Brother Zheng?"
Both of them said: "We met in Qifeng."
Hou Ying said: "That's not all. You two also know Mr. Zhang, which is a blessing. Brother Zheng, please come to the hall!"
Zheng Anping said goodbye to the two of them, followed Hou Ying to the hall, and sat down across from them. Hou Ying said: "I am really congratulated to hear that Brother Zheng has been promoted to five titles. A man like me has only one title."
Zheng Anping said: "If my brother hadn't hidden himself in hiding, his fame would have been so great!"
