Liu Xiangsheng carried the coal basket and walked step by step on the trail of Heilong Mountain.
He walked through his farmland and looked at the wheat covered with a thin layer of snow. There was a little joy on his face and he walked home quickly.
Xingpingli was still the same as before. Liu Xiangsheng took a look at the biggest and best house built in the village from a distance, then turned and walked into the small private courtyard to the west.
As soon as I put down the coal basket and rubbed the bleeding marks on my shoulders, my mother-in-law came out and asked, "How are you doing? Are there any winter workers in the county?"
Liu Xiangsheng shook his head, went into the room and sat on a stool for a long time before saying: "I've mined some coal. Don't move until the new year begins. Eat less. If you can survive it, I'll go transport the coal to the prefect uncle."
Coal mining is very hard. In the past, coal could be mined in Heilong Mountain. Now the coal kiln in the mountain has become the uncle's property and no one can mine it casually.
In the past, people in Heilong Mountain would spend a day or two digging coal in the mountains every winter, just enough to keep their homes warm in the winter.
No one is opening a kiln, and no one is selling food.
There is so much coal that cannot be used nearby, and no one will buy it even if it is sold in a cart. Selling it to ordinary people is not enough money.
Things are different now. The prefect's uncle opens a kiln in the mountains and sells the coal directly to the iron households and the mountain chiefs who run the kilns through the yamen workshop. The price is 20% higher than the market price, and he cannot tolerate you not buying it.
If you don’t buy it, you won’t live. If you don’t live, you will starve to death.
The woman had no problem with sitting still in the winter, but she just taunted in a low voice: "The prefect uncle is so stupid that he doesn't want to live anymore. He dares to take possession of your old Liu family's things. If you ask me, you have to give up. Carpenter Xiang Liang followed him to Liujiazhuang, why don't you go?"
Liu Xiangsheng said gloomily: "I'll be a tenant of Xiang Yu's family there."
"Then you stay here and keep the fifty acres of land? You're not yet a tenant."
The woman said, "Why are you so stubborn? You asked Xiang Yu twice, once to work as a policeman in Mizhi, and once as a tax collector in Fucheng. I didn't let you go, so I didn't let you go. It's not just a refusal." I left you alone and still bear a grudge."
"When the Yu family built a big house, I even brought him a cart of bricks. I installed all the tiles...who will look after the ancestors when they are gone."
At this point, Liu Xiangsheng couldn't talk any more, and finally sat on the kang and muttered: "People still have to rely on themselves."
But what should I do if I am incapable and unreliable?
Suddenly, Huqin tunes accompanied by the roar of drums came from the Black Dragon Mountain.
Liu Xiangsheng suddenly felt that this tune was somewhat familiar, but suddenly he couldn't remember it and hurriedly ran out.
After running through the courtyard gate, he suddenly remembered that this was the tune that the Lehu thief who was locked up in the cave often played!
Many people in the village heard the sound of drums and musical instruments coming into the mountain, and they all ran to the entrance of the village and looked towards the mountain pass.
Snowflakes were flying all over the sky, and horse soldiers in red armor were galloping on the field roads holding high the red flag with Liu characters.
Flags of various colors and sizes were set up at the mountain pass. The mules were left behind. The horse soldiers took the lead in marching towards the village, and the infantry marched quickly in columns.
Two two-horse four-wheel chariots drove through the field road one after another. A heavy cannon was mounted on the front vehicle. Song Shouzhen was riding on the cannon with his head bowed and playing the harp.
The last car carried war drums, which were beaten heavily by strong men.
The servants of the official family wearing big coats and fur robes and the family members of the prefect's uncle and uncle stood in a daze for a while at the entrance of the village and on the roof.
That big banner with Liu characters was their nightmare. Even though they inspired themselves ten thousand times during the day, the Liu family did not dare to come back.
When I fall asleep at night, I am still afraid of the neighing of the war horse, and the nightmare comes into reality.
I don't know who started it first, everyone ran towards the mountain castle like crazy.
Liu Chengzong rode his horse through the familiar fields, raised his whip and smiled at Chengyun: "That bastard is still building an embroidery building in the courtyard. I want to understand one thing."
It's funny to say that, although the Black Dragon Mountain mansion is extremely beautiful.
But for a long time before this, Liu Chengzong never felt that this was home in his heart.
Whether it was the Dianshi West Yamen in Mizhi County or the sunken kiln courtyard in Yuhebao, they all made him feel more like home than Black Dragon Mountain.
After all, he had only lived here for less than three months.
This place is more like Chengyun's home.
But Black Dragon Mountain is his hometown.
Liu Chengyun was riding a donkey, without any armor, and had neither a crossbow nor a sword.
He only had a Buddha Wolf gun pierced around his waist, but he didn't know how to use it. He just carried it to embolden himself.
He asked: "Brother, what do you want to understand?"
"Avoiding Black Dragon Mountain is not the way to deal with this matter. If we hide, then someone will occupy it. The ancestral tombs and rankings are in the cave. If someone occupies them, it will be in the way. There is no need to tell people that they cannot be occupied."
Liu Chengzong said and turned his head: "Whoever takes advantage of you will die, and others will know what to do."
Two groups of soldiers filed forward from them. This time they brought out Gao Xian's troops. This was also the first actual combat after the joint camp training. The opponent was very weak and was only entrenched in a strong fortress, so they brought in a heavy artillery.
However, what Liu Chengzong paid more attention to was the impact of the twelve-man team after the joint camp. This mixed formation of combat soldiers and auxiliaries would have on the combat effectiveness of the soldiers in battle.
Two or three horsemen, in groups of three, sealed off the main roads in the village. Two commanders led the auxiliary troops into the village, ignorantly trying to appease the people.
It's all a new life. The villagers are afraid of them, and they are also afraid of the villagers.
The infantry then continued to march towards the hillfort in formation.
When Liu Chengzong rode into the village, many people in the village had already fled, leaving only some old and weak women and children from the tenant families hiding in their homes, and several tenants standing in the yard to watch.
All the tenants were strangers, except Liu Xiangsheng, who stood in front of the courtyard in shock and timidity.
"Uncle Xiang Sheng is still at home, why didn't you go to Liujiazhuang?"
Liu Xiangsheng looked and looked again before he recognized Liu Chengzong. He opened his mouth and didn't know what to call him for a moment. He paused and then said: "Shiba, I have land at home, so I didn't leave."
In fact, he and Liu Chengzong were not familiar with each other. It was just a matter of gossip among the villagers. They talked about things like the two sons of Liu Xiangyu's family were both scholars and both sons went to the army.
It wasn't until they came back from Yuhe Fort that they met a few times and said hello from afar.
On the contrary, Liu Chengzong had an impression of Liu Xiangsheng.
In fact, if he saw other people, Liu Chengzong would still be a little confused. They all told Quan Zang to go to Liujiazhuang, so why would anyone stay in Heilong Mountain?
But if it's Liu Xiangsheng, it wouldn't be surprising.
Because Liu Xiangsheng had fled with his mother-in-law very early, but he wanted to escape after being robbed by hungry people in Xingping. It happened that that night he cut off a carload of heads and jumped into Panlong River to take a bath.
When Uncle Xiang Sheng saw it, he thought it was an appearance of his ancestors and was frightened back.
He would only find it a little funny. The power of this ancestor's manifestation was much more powerful than hunger and hardship.
Liu Chengzong asked curiously: "Zhang Nian's brother-in-law, didn't he take over your land?"
"Occupied." Liu Xiangsheng said in dismay, "Occupied twenty acres of my land, and gave me fifty acres of land as a tenant. The rent is three dou."
"What's the purpose of this? Liujiazhuang is our land. We don't have rent or pay for food. We can grow as much as we want. I'm suffering here. It's okay... My aunt is here too."
As Liu Chengzong was talking, Liu Xiangsheng's mother-in-law also came out of the house and asked: "Chengzong, you are so majestic riding a horse and wearing armor. You said that Liujiazhuang does not have tenants or pay food, is that true?"
"Why did I lie to you? But it's okay. I'm back. Anyone who takes possession of our property will spit it out."
Liu Chengzong didn't come here just to have a family affair. He asked: "Uncle and aunt, how many people are there in the fort on the mountain? How many soldiers does Zhang Nian's brother-in-law have? Does he have guns and cannons?"
The couple were both honest farmers. They were shocked when he heard this question. On the contrary, Liu Xiangsheng's mother-in-law was bolder and said: "There must be seventy or eighty people in the fort. Lion, be careful. They are not here." Cannons, but my aunt has seen cannons."
Just don't have cannons.
Liu Chengzong turned around and saw the familiar commander Jin Pu leading his horse to appease the people. He looked kind and friendly, so he waved and shouted: "Golden Palm Command."
He liked this commander very much. He was the one who sent Lu Cheng's body back to his hometown. He was a loyal and righteous man, and he had a fate with him.
In such a big city in northern Shaanxi, Lu Cheng didn't want to return to the team, so he turned around and surrendered to Yang Yao, and finally followed Yang Yao and surrendered to himself.
fate.
When Jin Pu heard the shouting, he quickly ran over with two auxiliary soldiers and said, "General, what's wrong?"
"There are guns in the fort. Let two people protect you with shields. Go fifty steps outside the fort and shout to persuade them to surrender. Let the people in the fort kill the bastards who occupied my house and spare their lives."
The castle in Black Dragon Mountain was in chaos.
Zhang Nian's cheap uncle is named Xing Xuan.
This person is also a native of Yan'an Prefecture. His parents made a living in Yaozhou medicinal materials. In his early years, he had a lot of money and was spoiled by his parents. He was involved in food, drink, prostitution and gambling. His father had a bad temper. Seeing that his son was useless, he got angry and After giving birth to a child, he was kicked out of the house.
He just idled around in Fucheng. Fortunately, his sister gave him a lot of help, and his life was not bad. But then there was a drought, and his parents left this shop to him and his sister and went to Yaozhou.
He also had no business skills, and a group of fair-weather friends could not point out a clear way to make a living. The drug store quickly closed down, cutting off his source of income.
Others gave him advice. His sister was beautiful, so it would be better to sell her.
Sending his sister to the prefect's bed was the biggest and most wonderful thing he had ever done in his life.
From then on, under the name of uncle Zhang Nian, there was also a group of bad friends who came up with suggestions... This group of people couldn't do anything big in the world, but in terms of evil ways, they were really the best in the world.
The county magistrate is already the local emperor, let alone the magistrate, and the post road has been cut off, so no one knows what he is doing in this place.
What's more, not to mention he still lives in Liu Chengzong's home.
Others first heard that he was the eldest uncle of the prefect, and they were a little disapproving; after asking again, they found that he lived in Heilong Mountain. Good guy, the Liu brothers who had besieged the city many times did not dare to mess with him. So who is this uncle? sharp.
The coal in Fucheng, the mines in Ansai, the aunts in the brothel, the cattle and horses in Koushi, except for food, they can get in on anything they can get a foot in the door with.
Grain also wanted to help, but as soon as he stretched out his hand, he didn't know who was holding him down. He sent two people to go to the grain store to cause trouble, but they were both imprisoned by the government officials in the city.
He didn't dare to tell Zhang Nian. It was useless to tell others, and no one told him what was going on.
From top to bottom in Yan'an Prefecture, the county yamen servants, subordinate officials, government yamen servants, subordinate officials, and the county chief are all led by the grain shop. How can you, a bastard, get your hands on it?
Everyone knew it tacitly, except Xing Xuan.
Until now, he thought that Zhang Nian was controlling the food supply in Yan'an City behind the scenes. Who else could arrest him besides Zhang Nian?
Later, he no longer dared to wander around the city and moved into a castle on the mountain.
Just before Liu Chengzong entered the mountain, even though it was already afternoon, Zhang Nian's brother-in-law was still lying on the Qiangong Babu bed, sleeping comfortably.
This Qiangongbabu bed was made by a eunuch from Yan'an who spent a lot of money to hire craftsmen in the year of Tianqi. He wanted to give it to Wei Zhongxian, who was nine thousand years old. As a result, before the bed was ready, he died at the age of nine thousand.
He got this bed without spending a penny.
But for some reason today, Xing Xuan had a nightmare.
In the dream, Liu Chengzong came back with his troops and wanted to kill him. Xing Xuan was so frightened that he got up from the bed in a cold sweat. He irritably drove away the two aunts who were accompanying him on the bed, and then fell asleep with his head covered.
As soon as I fell asleep, I was woken up by my two aunts shouting: "Master Xing, Liu Shizi is back!"
When he was woken up this time, Xing Xuan was very calm. He walked out of the bed without even wearing any clothes and cursed in a low voice: "I don't think I can wake up from this dream."
The fort was in a mess, and the male servants were all looking down on the fort wall. Some were trembling all over, and some had eyes rolling, but then they were all frightened by Xing Xuan.
Where did the light-headed monkey come from?
"Master Xing, there are hundreds of people with cannons and they are shouting."
Xing Xuan gradually realized that this was not a dream. He took a piece of clothing from someone else and wrapped it up. He also had someone bring him cotton clothes. He leaned on the thick earth wall and looked down. He felt dizzy after just one look.
All soldiers.
A heavy cannon had been unloaded from the carriage, and Jin Pu shouted loudly from the front: "You thieves dare to occupy General Liu's hometown. Now that Zhang Nian is dead, you can still save your lives by killing his brother-in-law and opening the fort gate. Otherwise, after a moment Not one of them will survive!”
As soon as Jin Pu shouted these words, there was chaos on the fort wall.
Liu Chengzong listened from behind the formation with a smile on his face. This Jin Pu was very talented and knew how to persuade people to surrender.
Of course Zhang Nian was not dead, but it didn't matter whether he was dead or not. What was important was that the people on the fort thought Zhang Nian was dead.
What kind of skills can a person rely on to sell his sister? All the skills belong to Zhang Nian. As long as these people think that Zhang Nian is dead, the fortress will not be defended.
It is very in line with Liu Chengzong's thoughts.
Although he brought a heavy cannon, he really didn't want to fire at the fort built by his family.
What's more, he also had a hand in the construction of this fort. He knew full well that an earthen fort with a width of two feet at the bottom and a width of one foot at the front could not be blown open in a short while.
However, although the fortress is strong, it still depends on the people who guard it.
At that time, the construction of this fort relied on the fact that the Liu family had strong soldiers and civilians on the border. If there was an opportunity to shoot each other with muskets, bows and crossbows, the thieves would not have the upper hand.
But it was different now. His soldiers were much more powerful than those who guarded the fort.
He had already ordered his men here, and in a moment he pushed them directly to the bottom of the fort. The auxiliary soldiers protected the soldiers and killed twenty or thirty people on the fort with bows, arrows and muskets, and the fort was opened.
Who would have thought that Jin Pu's persuasion to surrender would actually take effect directly.
There was a gunshot on the fort wall, and soon someone threw his head down and shouted down from the wall: "General Liu, we have surrendered. Can you spare my life?"
Liu Chengzong rode his horse around under the fort and blinked at the fort wall.
To be honest, I don't really want to forgive him.
