Xiaosi hadn't eaten yet, so he happened to be dining with Cao Bao. The others were sitting around.
Zheng Anping said: "What do you want to teach me?"
Cao Bao said: "I went there at night and entered Daliang at sunrise. I met with the king and reported that the official residence, post station and carriage house had been built. I regained 400 acres, all of which were planted with millet. Now they are heading. All the strong and strong people in the city are engaged in business, and all the people left in the city are old, weak, women and children, and they are engaged in farming. The only family of the city lord also cultivates 400 acres. Your Majesty heard about my plan and was very pleased with it. He also reported the harassment of Han soldiers. At night, your Majesty summoned me to give me some advice, saying that if you build a new house, you should move in as soon as possible; when a post station is first built, you should recruit post soldiers as soon as possible to put it into use; if the post house is rarely used, you can recruit people to manage it. The people lived here for official purposes; the chariots have been completed, and Uncle Tang and others have figured out a plan, and they can act according to the plan. When the Han soldiers arrive, I will blame them for breaking the agreement and leaving Huayang rashly; if they don't listen, Then we should activate the Great Wall Captain and send troops to attack them. When I hear the plan, I will return home at starry night."
Zheng Anping said: "The most honest thing is the most kind thing." Others also nodded in praise.
Zheng Anping asked: "The thieves in Guanyi are in public practice. What advice do you have?"
Cao Bao said: "There are few people in Guan Yi and there is a shortage of money and food. There are no natives who are thieves. There are thieves who are passing by, or the countrymen are doing evil and seeking profit."
Zheng Anping was shocked when he heard this. Could it be that the thief he had been guarding against for a long time was actually trying to scare him? But thinking about it carefully, I have indeed never had any dealings with thieves since I arrived in Guanyi. The so-called thieves were all heard from the city lord and the three pigs. Could it be that these two people teamed up to deceive themselves?
Just when I was wondering, I heard Brother Su come out and ask: "We have heard from the city lord that his city has been invaded by thieves. Would you rather be deceived?"
Cao Bao said: "If there are hundreds of thieves, there must be a large town around them to provide for them. The land in charge of the town is only 400 acres, and there is not enough time to manage the people. How can we provide for thieves? As the city lord said, every year There are only five or seven people with a hundred stones, and if you don't have time to defend yourself, how can you do any harm!"
Brother Dog said: "The city lord is bullying others, what can I do?"
Cao Bao said: "It's not bullying, there are actually thieves, so I'm talking big for the sake of benefit."
Brother Dog said: "What's the benefit?"
Cao Bao said: "Either I can get his service, or my service can be reduced, I think it will happen."
Zheng Anping felt his face was feverish. He had already handed in the first offering of this year, although it was with his own money! And to be wary of the perceived thief, the four of them stayed up all night for two days in fear.
Why are you so nervous these two days? Zheng Anping continued to recall and found that he was influenced by Cao Bao's words. So he asked: "When Mr. returned to Daliang, he repeatedly told us to wear armor and stay in the dark for fear of night thieves. How is it different?"
Cao Bao was also a little startled and said: "I see that the Koreans are coming to disturb me. I don't know the truth of the situation, and I am afraid that they will come again. Now that I heard from you, I know that the soldiers of Huayang will not leave Huayang. If they do, they will be treated as breach of contract." "
Two major events that affected everyone's mood were revealed so gently, making everyone feel relaxed and sigh: After all, they are noble people who know more and understand more. Problems no matter how serious they think they are, in their eyes It doesn’t matter if you come!
Zheng Anping said: "Since there is no police, we can just go back to our homes."
Cao Bao stopped him and said: "Although there are few thieves in charge of the city, the soldiers of Han will be safe. However, when you are in peace, be prepared for danger. If you are prepared, there will be no danger. This is the plan of the princes. At this time, although it is not appropriate to be more vigilant, you still have to beware of villains. The cup is harmful. During the day, the five of us should be divided in various places, and we will gather together when there is a discussion. At night, we should change our homes and live there so that thieves don't know."
Zheng Anping said: "I would like to hear Mr.'s plan."
Cao Bao said: "I see that the people on your right are neglecting farming. But He Jia is holding a gun to detect thieves. He patrols inside and outside the city three or five times. As a minister, I should patrol the fields, manage the town, recruit soldiers, or To persuade Sang, and to observe the people's sentiments. Ling, Wei and Zuohuo may sit high, or work in the field, or disperse or gather, thinking it is uncertain. At meal time and noon, everyone will return and gather in the palace of the order to communicate the news. , thinking it was official business. It was night, but he was living in Bu's house, and no one knew him. He kept his armor with him, just in case of any danger. Uncle Tang might have an ulterior motive when he arrived."
Zheng Anping said: "We have all the grain in the warehouse in the post, and the tripod and gui are also there. Perhaps we should gather in the post house to eat."
Cao Bao said: "That's okay. We gather in the post for meals, and gather at the office for lunch meetings. If we are not in one place, we can also hide people's ears and eyes."
It's been agreed upon, so let's proceed accordingly. Xiaosi did not change his clothes, took off his crossbow, picked up his halberd, and wandered around the city and outside. The meaning of deterrence was stronger than that of reconnaissance. Cao Bao either patrolled along the river or visited Guanyi, walking alone. The remaining three people take one child (Wu Wang) to take care of the fields, and the other child (Wu'er) is responsible for raising livestock.
At noon, everyone gathered at Zheng Anping's house. Xiao Si walked around Guanyi for a long time and gained some perceptual understanding of the terrain around Guanyi. After returning, he talked about many of his new discoveries. Zheng Anping said: "If there are ripe millets, you may be able to harvest them." Cao Bao said: "I asked the city lord to recruit farmers to plow their fields. Recruiting broomsticks is considered to be clean. The city lord said that there are no farmers, and there are no farmers. The broom has no worries."
Zheng Anping said: "In the former book, there may be four or five families with agricultural registrations. Would you rather have no farmers?"
The city lord said: "The so-called farmers are not industrial farmers. They get the land for free and plant it in the city lord's house."
Zheng Anping said: "Guan Yi abandons farming and engages in business. Those who know it think that thieves are in the public domain and dare not make themselves rich to attract bandits. But those who are engaged in business will not bring wealth into the town and thieves will not invade. According to what Mr. Guan Yi said, There are no thieves around, so why are there so few farmers?”
Cao Bao hesitated and said, "Are the soldiers of Huayang pretending to be thieves if they don't leave Huayang?"
Zheng Anping said: "I think what the city lord said is full of falsehoods but not true. Could it be that he is deceitful?"
Cao Bao said: "The city lord has been in charge of the city for three generations. His roots are deep and solid and difficult to shake. If he is not happy to be a farmer, leave it to him for the time being. I have entrusted him to recruit farmers. If he is not, I will raise him from another city. , there must be no other words.”
Zheng Anping said: "Sir, that's right."
In the afternoon, the city lord sent over four strong women and four children in their eighties or nineties. Since Zheng Anping had already been seen working not far from Guanyi, he led people directly across the bridge. He stopped in front of Zheng Anping and said: "It is appropriate to take charge of the Prime Minister's order and order several people to hold brooms. These four are loyal and simple people in the city. They are all mothers and sons. Their bodies are still healthy and can be used for service. But one Porridge and one meal are enough, there is no other value.”
The four of them stopped and looked at the four of them. The four women all have haggard faces and thin bodies; the four children are also described as short, with large heads and small bodies. At a glance, it is obvious that he has been suffering from chronic lack of adequate food and clothing.
Brother Su asked: "You four girls came to the city, but why don't you have a husband to accompany you?"
The city lord said: "The husbands of these four girls are all separated and have no one to live with. They live in their husband's family and are struggling to survive. When I heard that the doctor chose to hold the broom, I thought about it. The four girls have lost their support. If they can hold the broom for the doctor, they will have food and clothing. , also accumulates good deeds.”
Brother Su asked again: "Where do the four girls live? What is their family's business? Where is my mother's family?"
The city lord said to the four girls: "Each of you tell me who your husband's family is and who your mother's family is."
The four women timidly answered in a low voice, and the three of them acted as if they had not heard anything.
Brother Su said: "I think these four women and their sons are all good. But I dare not stay here until the city lord comes. I hope the city lord will send him back. The next day, all the elders will be working under the city to testify. The heads of the wives and clan leaders will come out and face each other. After signing the deed, each holding a coupon, he dared to obey orders."
The city lord said: "It's ridiculous for me to be a humble concubine! I will forgive you! I will do what I ordered." He left with the four people. The three of them watched four pairs of mothers and children cross the bridge into the city. They carefully observed their postures and found nothing suspicious.
Cao Bao hurriedly arrived at this time. After asking, he found out that the city lord had selected all the concubines to be sent, and there were four pairs, all of which were mother and son. Cao Bao regretted that he had not been able to check the activities of the four people in time. Zheng Anping said: "Sir, don't worry, the four daughters will sign a deed under the city the next day, so you can have a look at it." Cao Bao disagreed and quickly followed in. In charge of the city, one must catch up with the city lord and observe the style of each family. Everyone had to let him go.
Cao Bao did not come back until dinner time. He said that he had followed each house and observed their appearance. They were all poor houses with low eaves. The city lord recommended them correctly. He also asked the city owner to buy four wooden blocks for folk use, and while it was still bright, he took out the graphite and wrote the contract.
After the meal, the five people came to Guanyi together, led by the city lord, and invited five elders to testify for the signing of the contract tomorrow. I went to the four people's homes again and asked if they were willing. I also asked the clan leader for his opinion. After walking around for a while, it was almost dark.
That night, everyone did not move, but rested in the post house. After breakfast the next day, everyone gathered up and came to the city. The relevant personnel in the city were already waiting in front of the city gate. Zheng Anping bowed and thanked them one by one. The four women's families sat on the ground opposite Zheng Anping, and the city lord and elders sat in the center.
Cao Bao took out the deed written yesterday and showed it to the elders and the woman's family members. The family members were illiterate and only waited for the elders to speak. A literate elder read out the deed and said: "A certain woman, a native of a certain village, married a certain Guan Min and gave birth to a son. Now both mother and son are willing to hold brooms and serve in Guan Yi's lawsuits. All food and lodging will be given by the official." , life and death, everyone has their destiny. Guan Ling X, husband family X, Zhongzheng Guan City Lord X." After reading, he asked: "Do you have any doubts?" Someone from the family said: "No doubt."
Cao Bao came over and said, "Every family goes forward in order, and each family has its own name."
So the four families took the women to Cao Bao in turn, and each told Cao Bao their place of origin, husband's name, and wife's name, and wrote their names under the family column. Naturally, they are all dogs and cats, big, medium and small, one, two, three and so on. After writing, Cao Bao stabbed the fingers of his family members and women with a knife, drawing blood, and stamped his fingerprints under his own column. Cao Bao comforted everyone equally: "You have no worries. If you are hungry, I will give you food. If you are sick, I will give you medicine. There will be no shortage."
After the four families pressed their fingerprints, Zheng Anping pricked his finger and pressed his own fingerprints on the four wooden boards. As a witness, the city lord also pricked the blood and pressed the seal. Cao Bao handed the four wooden tablets to the elders to witness, and everyone had no objections. Cao Bao slammed the wooden board on a big stone, and the wooden board split in the middle. Cao Bao split the wooden board into two parts and read out the names according to what was written on it. The family members came forward and received the right coupons, while the women and children came over and stood behind Zheng Anping.
