"What's wrong? Lin'an City has been sealed off again?"
"It's not blocked, it seems to be surrounded."
"It's all the same! You still can't get in! What to do with so many fish... Damn, there are so many things!"
On the road dozens of miles away from Lin'an, you can see people who want to enter the city but can't... There were rebels in the city a few days ago, which has cut off the livelihood of many households around them. Now it's hard for Zhao Guan's family to It's been a long time since we came back!
If you say you're not angry, that's definitely a lie. Aren't you kidding!
Goods such as silk and cloth are okay, but if you encounter fish and meat sellers, it will be hard for them. Although the weather is still cold, if you leave it for four or five days, it will stink no matter what.
When the business owners in the city couldn't receive the goods, they couldn't get the money, and they had to bear the loss themselves. For a while, although they didn't dare to enter the city, they just settled a little further away. I just hope that the Lin'an Mansion, which changes its orders day and night, can show kindness and stop forcing people to go to a dead end.
When there are more people, they exchange news with each other, and each of them talks more.
The two father and son who brought more than 30 baskets of sea fish were sitting aside with sad faces, pouring bitter water to each other with the butcher next to them.
"Brother came earlier, but I don't know what's going on ahead? There are some troubles happening every day, but it hurts me."
The butcher was also worried, but compared to the fish seller, he seemed much luckier. He took out a pot from his waist and took a big sip of wine. He wiped his mouth and said:
"It's all fucking fenced, even Watergate Road. Not even a bird can fly in."
As he said this, he handed over his bottle of wine. The father was not polite and took it and drank a big gulp of it:
"Thank you, brother...didn't you say that Zhao Guan's family has returned to Lin'an? How could such a thing still happen? Could it be that there have been other changes?"
"To tell you the truth, it doesn't matter if I don't let you in this time. I'm afraid the court won't be sure... You see, I brought so many fish here this time, and how many times I suffered such a loss!"
"Even if you are not allowed to enter, it is still good for the court to say something to give you hope."
Although the butcher had a rude face, he was a good negotiator, and it was possible that he was also thinking about what the fisherman said. The two of them quickly became familiar with each other after a sip of wine.
"You look like you're from somewhere else, but I'm not. I'm from Lin'an City. I just have a yard outside the city where I raise animals for slaughter. I bring them to Lin'an before dawn... Yesterday I When we left the city, it was still fine here, but today it’s like this.”
"I just went to inquire about it, and they said they were not soldiers of the Song Dynasty..."
The fisherman's eyes widened: "If it's not the soldiers of the Song Dynasty? Whose soldiers can it be?!"
The butcher said: "You have got the point right. Whose damn soldiers can they be? They keep saying that they are Jin people. So when Jin people meet us Han people, are they so easy to get along with?"
"They just kicked me out. Not to mention my life, I didn't even ask for a copper! Even the voice when they spoke was kind and gentle. They were kinder than the generals in the Infantry Division. You said they were gold medals." The soldiers of the Chinese people, bah!”
He spat on the ground: "I would rather Sister Xinyao be a good person, but I don't believe that golden dog can change his temper... It's probably because there is something going on in the city. This damn world is really not something ordinary people can live in."
He said this, but the guy next to him interrupted:
"My boss, that's not the case. I see that their flags and decorations are indeed from the Jin people."
"Mother Jin! You are such a golden person. Can you and I survive until now?"
The waiter was from the north. He was convinced that he had not admitted his mistake and did not dare to argue with him. He just shook his head and drove away the insects that wanted to pounce on the meat.
After hearing the man's description, the fisherman didn't know if it was because he was drunk. He became worried and shouted to his son to get on the cart. When the butcher saw him, he turned the donkey cart around and headed towards Lin'an City. direction, and quickly dissuaded him:
"How come you don't know what's right? I've told you what happened before, but now no one can get in. If you're still like this, do you not believe me?"
"What if the person opposite me is really a golden man, and he just spared my life because of his kind thoughts. If you go like this and encounter them with murderous intentions, what should you do?"
While the fisherman held his hand towards him, he was already determined:
"Thank you for informing me, brother, but these fish can't just rot on the road in vain..."
He pointed at his son and said: "We still have to earn money to marry him. If we go back empty-handed this time, we won't even be able to open the pot. Instead of starving to death, it's better to go and die."
With that said, he swung the whip on the donkey's butt and walked away slowly.
Looking at the backs of the father and son, the butcher took a big gulp of wine, but accidentally choked on it and coughed out his own tears.
There are many people like the fishermen, they all have little money... those with a little wealth can afford to lose, and are not willing to risk their lives, so they admit it; they cannot recognize it, even though many of them know that there is a golden man ahead of them , but still couldn't stop them from wanting to enter the city. When many people were far away from Lin'an, these people became boats sailing against the current.
After a while, they arrived outside the city. The fisherman walked around for several hours and finally stopped on the edge of the Qiantang River... Just as the butcher said, Lin'an City was surrounded by people, and not even a gap was exposed.
He waited and waited until the stomachs of the father and son began to growl, so they could no longer bear it and drove the donkey cart forward.
When he was still a hundred steps away from those people, he saw them pointing their swords and guns at him. When had the fisherman seen this scene? His heart almost jumped out of his chest, but it had become an arrow on the string. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and shoot towards him. forward.
"Stop, stop!"
The fisherman was very obedient. When he arrived in front of the group of soldiers, he immediately tightened the reins, and then quickly called his son to get off the car. The father and son began to bow to these people.
"The general is coming, the general is coming."
The soldier raised his gun and ignored him. He opened the blue cloth covering his fish basket and inspected it. Then he said to him:
"We are the army of the Jin Kingdom. The two countries are currently at war. Lin'an City cannot be entered for the time being. You can go back."
The fisherman heard that they admitted that he was from the Jin Kingdom, and his accent did not sound like a southerner, but unfortunately his tone really gave people the illusion that it was negotiable. He cursed the Jin bastard in a low voice, but when he raised his head, his eyebrows were still downcast:
"General, I'm sorry for you. My father and son came from Dinghai to pull the fish that was ordered from Huainan Tower in the city. You see that we really can't delay this thing, so please make it convenient for the general to let us deliver it to our boss." , send it and we will return immediately."
If someone from the north found out that this man was bargaining with Jin soldiers, I don't know what the expression would be on his face.
Logically speaking, the fisherman should have been driven away immediately or killed. But what happened, as the butcher said, was that these people were so amiable and so amiable that they didn't look like soldiers. They are people who eat fast and chant Buddha's name.
I saw one of them discussing with the other:
"This fish really cannot be kept for a long time...otherwise..."
The other person frowned: "This is no small matter, we need to report it."
With that said, the man told the fisherman:
"Don't move around here."
Then he turned and left.
The fisherman bowed his head gratefully, but he didn't know much about writing, so he didn't regard these people as golden men at all.
Not long after, a man with a round head, a round face, and a round body came into the crowd. Needless to say, he was rich and noble. He was so round that it made people feel that he was a talkative person. If a random official came here at this time, he would be able to identify him immediately.
This is not Uncle Qin, the former great steward of the Qin Mansion, so who is he!
The fat man has already bought houses in several places, and his mother-in-law has also mentioned several of them. He only found out last month that his concubine was pregnant. Recently, it has been a time of happy events, and he looks very proud of himself.
He had no airs when facing the fisherman. When someone bowed to him, he would immediately return the bow. This gesture really made the fisherman a little confused.
Even our army in the Song Dynasty has never been so polite!
Instructing a few people to check the fish basket carefully and confirming that there was nothing suspicious, Qin Da... Now his name is Liu Da. Liu Da interrogated him again and saw that although this man was timid, But without revealing any flaw in his words, he already had a calculation in his heart.
"Let's do this. Just sell your fish to us. You can tell us how much it will cost. I won't lose your business."
"The siege of Lin'an City will not last long, only two or three days at most. When you come back, you will be able to enter and exit normally."
The more talkative a person is, the easier it is to get people to talk more. This may be an exaggeration, or it may be a slap in the face, but in any case, this is human nature.
The various things these people have shown, the fishermen have already regarded them as their own, and they have become much more courageous. Although this has indeed solved their own problems, there are so many people doing business in the Song Dynasty who must pay attention to integrity in their dealings. 'Two words?
If he agrees to the general's words today, he will never want to do business with the restaurants in Lin'an City again.
This matter of killing the chicken to retrieve the eggs cannot be done, and cannot be done. Even if the fish is rotten and smelly, there will still be an excuse in the Huainan Building in the future, but if it is resold to other people, then the nature of this matter will be completely different. changed.
"General, the fish has been ordered by the Huainan Tower a long time ago. Although it has not entered Lin'an City yet, the fish has returned to the Huainan Tower. The villain really cannot make the decision."
"If you like it, you can leave a place for me. When I come to visit next time, I will personally pick out a few big ones and deliver them to your house."
"If that person loses his integrity, let alone doing business, he can't even leave his house. I hope the general will take pity on him and make it convenient."
Liu Da put his hands on his waist, as if holding his belly, and thought for a while... It was convenient for the fisherman, but if he was put into the city, it would be inconvenient for him.
Thinking about the virtue of the new master, the fisherman must not be offended, but if he is let in, he will inevitably be insulted and beaten by the new master... This man has worked in the Qin Mansion for many years, and he gives the impression of being an all-rounded butler. , and suddenly became embarrassed.
Looking at the figure on the top of the city not far away, Liu's brain and eyes were spinning, and he finally came up with a solution.
"It happens that someone comes out of the city. In this case, you can give me the donkey cart and the cart. I will pay you first and then let the person deliver the fish to the city for you. This way, your reputation will not be damaged and you will not be embarrassed. My errand."
"This is the best of both worlds, what do you think?"
The fisherman thought for a while... He had no other choice, and the fat general had no reason to deceive him. After a pause, he stamped his foot and said:
"It all depends on the general."
"Come with me."
With Liu Da leading the way, this fisherman started running around in the army camp for the first time in his life. If he went back to talk about this, there are no telling how many people would scold him for bragging.
But at this time, he didn't care about so many things. He just looked around. Everything he saw felt fresh and novel. He also thought that after his business was completed, his son would get married and have children. After all, his incense was still with him. On my hands, my heart is inevitably much happier.
When they arrived in front of a large camp, Liu Da asked his father and son to stop, while he entered the camp alone... Surrounded by soldiers wearing armor and weapons, the father and son stood timidly in front of the door, not daring to He moved around, and even his breathing became much quieter.
"Dad, these people... don't seem to be soldiers of our Song Dynasty."
Why did he need to say that these soldiers' clothes and hair were not Han-like, and there were people passing by who were chirping in bird songs. The fisherman was afraid, so he just told his son to shut up:
"Stop talking nonsense, we are soldiers of the Song Dynasty!"
"But……"
The fisherman slapped his son on the head, the pain was so painful that the boy actually silenced him.
When Liu Da came out again, he was followed by a middle-aged man in a crimson robe... With the way he was dressed, he was at least an official starting from the prefecture. Something engraved in his bones made the father and son's knees weak. , almost knelt down.
Liu Da stopped them and said, "Your fish will be sent to you by this man. I will give you the money. Just give the fish to me."
The man didn't seem to know what was going on, and ignored the two people. He just looked at Liu Da with a flattering smile and communicated with him in Jin Guohua.
"What do you mean, and what's going on with these two people?"
This is Zhao Huan, Emperor Xiaociyuan of the Song Dynasty, who came to the camp of the Kingdom of Jin to discuss the withdrawal of troops with a heavy responsibility. After all, he was a scholar, and after staying in the Kingdom of Jin for so many years, the Jin people spoke Han Chinese. There is no difference.
Although Liu Da has been a Jin man longer than him, he has stayed in Song for a long time, and he was not in the camp just now. I didn't expect that this man's Jin dialect was so...
typical.
His accent was pure and his vocals were standard. If he hadn't known his identity, Liu Da might have mistaken him for a Song Dynasty person.
After telling the emperor the whole story, Liu Da took out a piece of silver from his waist and gave it to the fisherman. The latter was grateful and hurriedly went to the donkey cart to pack his things.
Zhao Huan was a little embarrassed: "You... want me to deliver fish?"
Liu Da looked at him sincerely: "What else? You're not going to the city, it's just a side trip."
"I...I don't know how to drive a donkey!"
The fisherman came over and said, "That's easy. This beast is just like a horse, but it's very stubborn. Just give it more food and less whip."
"you……"
Emperor Xiaoci Yuansheng looked at this smelly man with great disgust. When he got closer, a fishy smell immediately entered his nose.
"Do you know who I am!"
The fisherman knew that he was an official and was speechless for a moment, but Liu Da gave up and kicked the haystack next to him and let out a soft "hum".
Just this sound as light as a mosquito's moan made Zhao Huan change his face. The confidence to ask "Do you know who I am" was completely gone. What was left was only a gentle and jade-like appearance.
"So, then I'll give it a try."
Liu Da saw all this and shook his head gently.
The nine sons of a dragon are all different, but it is still hard to imagine that the gap is so big.
It's hard not to laugh at this look of being arrogant at first and respectful at the end.
She cupped her hands towards him and said, "I'd like to trouble you, Your Excellency... The matter has been discussed, please go back to the city early."
"Pass our news over, and remember to deliver the fish."
Zhao Huan kept nodding, and finally took the donkey cart and headed towards Lin'an City.
Since he left the city, an hour has passed since he returned. During this hour, except for Zhao Ding and others who kept calming the people's emotions, Liu Bang stayed at the top of the Jiahui Gate.
The wine and banquet were laid out, as if they were just carrying on the unfinished business at Xiaoxi Lake here.
"Sooner than expected."
Looking at the figure coming from a distance, although he was riding a horse when he went there, he changed into a donkey when he came back.
But Liu Bang still recognized him at a glance, but he was curious about what tricks the other party was playing, and why he was allowed to bring something back.
"What kind of price do you think the Jinren will offer?"
The emperor suddenly asked, and everyone was silent for a while. The old princess looked much kinder now... She seemed to have always been kind, and Liu Bang didn't have much other thoughts about her.
Empathy is a very complex skill for him, but he can quite understand and accept a rich old woman who is willing to spend money on relatives.
After all, he is also her relative.
Even a fisherman knows that you cannot kill a chicken to retrieve the eggs, so he naturally knows it too.
The Qian family is his chicken.
"It's nothing more than those tricks... After all, we are Northern Barbarians. They want money, women, and food. They can't think of anything else, and the officials are not willing to give it."
Liu Bang looked at her and smiled: "That's not necessarily the case."
When Zhao Huan entered the city, he did not come up to the city gate immediately. Instead, he drove the donkey cart out and handed the cart to a forbidden soldier. After giving instructions to the man for a while, he arrived in front of the emperor.
"The official family..."
"What's in the donkey cart?"
"The fish and gold sent in by Baixin from outside the city...the gold thief showed mercy to the people and asked me to make this journey for them."
Several ministers who were busy below saw that Holy Emperor Xiao Ci Yuansheng had returned and quickly followed him to the top of the city. After listening to this man's words, the expressions on their faces became strange.
The dignified emperor of the Zhao family actually...
well.
Maybe it was because His Majesty had already exposed his lower limit before. Although they all hated iron, everyone accepted it.
"So," Liu Bang stood up, "you didn't come to see me the first time you came back, so you sent fish to the golden man?"
Zhao Huan was stunned and quickly started to bow.
He only thought about not offending the Jin people, and for a moment he even forgot about serious errands!
Liu Bang was angry, not at this man who put others before himself, but at those idiots outside who couldn't tell the difference... Since you want to act, you have to be real.
Letting people in so carelessly was like child's play.
He looked at Zhao Huan and said angrily:
"Let's get down to business, what do they want?"
Emperor Xiaoci Yuansheng did not dare to neglect, and quickly stated what he had just discussed:
"The Jin people want one hundred thousand taels of gold, one million taels of silver, one million pieces of silk and satin, all the cattle and horses in the city, and continue to fulfill the previous peace agreement, asking Yue Fei and others to return to the south of the Huaihe River, and..."
This condition is much better than when Kaifeng was besieged, almost only 10% of what it was back then... From Zhao Huan's point of view, since Lao Jiu wants others to withdraw their troops, there is absolutely no reason to refuse.
After all, these requests are already considered kind by the Jin people.
Liu Bang took a deep breath and looked at the ministers:
"Everyone heard it, what should we do?"
Zhao Ding is not very clear-minded now. On the one hand, he does not think that the Jin people can come to Lin'an, but on the other hand, he really doesn't know where the officials find the people.
With the thought that he would rather believe it, Zhao Ding stood up and said:
"The example of Bianjing City is just in front of us. Later generations mourned and ignored it, which also made future generations mourn for future generations again."
"There is no need to pay attention to the request of the Jin people. Once the reinforcements from the generals arrive, they should disperse themselves."
This was not the answer Liu Bang wanted, so he looked at Wanqixi:
"what you think?"
Wan Qixi's heart tightened...but he knew that the officials were dissatisfied with Zhao Xiang's answer, otherwise there would be no reason to ask himself again.
There are only two answers, yes or no. Mr. Zhao has eliminated one, so there is only one left.
But, is this really what His Majesty thinks?
Wan Qixi paused: "I think what Prime Minister Zhao said is absolutely true."
He didn't offend the prime minister, and he didn't stand out. Even if the emperor wanted to blame him, he couldn't blame himself.
This guy is smarter than a monkey!
Liu Bang was so angry that he had to ask Zhao Huan:
"You tell me."
Emperor Xiaoci Yuansheng didn't even think about it: "I think it's okay of course. After all, it doesn't involve fighting, it doesn't hurt anyone's life, and it only costs a little money. It's really a way to save worry and effort."
"Well..." The emperor finally nodded, "It's just the money..."
Zhao Ding immediately answered: "The money that is not in the treasury is prepared for the armies. If there is no money, I am afraid there will be chaos in the army."
"This is also true."
Zhao Huan thought he had figured out Lao Jiu’s temper:
"There is no need to touch the national treasury. The people in the city can raise some at will, and that will be enough!"
"No, that's the people's money. If there is chaos in this city, there will be internal and external troubles."
While Liu Bang refused, his eyes kept drifting towards the old princess.
The latter sighed lightly and finally stood up.
"There aren't that many in Lin'an City. If they are willing, I can write a note and ask them to pick it up elsewhere."
"That's so embarrassing!"
He looked at the old princess and finally felt that she was a relative.
(End of chapter)
