Muna Mountain is about a hundred miles east of Fengzhou City and belongs to the remnants of the Yin Mountains. The mountains are rich in good materials and can be used for construction. The Fengzhou government set up a fort named Linhe Fort in a place south of the mountains and north of the river to gather people for production and pastoral care. At the same time, there was also a garrison under the Tiande Army for garrison.
As a sinner in Liubian, Xu Xuan enjoyed the treatment of "second exile" after arriving in Fengzhou. He could not even live in the castle. At first, he could only use the heaven and earth as a hut, vegetation as a mat, and be with nature.
It has to be said that the same person was sentenced to exile, but because Emperor Liu personally ordered it, the local officials who supervised him would inevitably have some special care. Not to mention preferential treatment, you are lucky if you don't deliberately mistreat me.
Xu Xuan was a great literary man, well-known in the southern countries, but in the Central Plains and the north, he was much weaker. When he was reduced to Fengzhou and other border areas, no one took him seriously. On the contrary, if you can't carry it on your shoulders or lift it with your hands, and you can't do farming, animal husbandry, or production, for most of the frontier people, they are considered useless and they won't take a high look at them.
Of course, compared to others, Xu Hyun is lucky, at least he is still alive...
At the beginning, there were more than ten surrendered ministers of the Southern Tang Dynasty who were demoted along with Xu Xuan. These people were separated and flowed to different places all over the world. They were not even given the opportunity to hug together for warmth.
However, not everyone is like Xu Xuan and can survive to this day. Some people can't stand the suffering even during the exile and die, not to mention the hardships after they arrive.
As for Xu Xuan, after Feng Guang took office, he no longer suffered the humiliation of officials. In addition, where he lived, he received help from several families of herdsmen. Otherwise, this generation of literary masters would have died in the northern part of the country long ago.
With the mountains at the back, a fence and a tent surrounding it, this is where Xu Xuan is staying now. There are not many things, but the layout is chaotic and messy, and it is obvious that it needs to be tidied up. Blow by the colder north wind, it becomes even more desolate.
The sound of horse hooves was not obvious despite the howling north wind. It was not until a high-pitched neighing sound sounded that Xu Xuan was alarmed in the tent. At the door was a young man wearing a felt hat and wrapped in a sheepskin. He dismounted his horse and tied the reins, shouting "Sir" into the tent.
While shouting, he was also unloading things from his horse. Hearing the commotion outside, Xu Xuan opened the tent and leaned out. When he saw the young man, a smile appeared on his face: "Zhao Cai, you are here!"
The young man replied with a simple smile. He was strong and carried a bunch of things, and it seemed that it was effortless to carry them on his shoulders.
"My father asked me to bring this sheepskin to my husband, as well as some firewood, salt, and a pot of gunpowder. In addition, there is a fire sickle. Dad bought it at Linhe Fort. It is easier to make a fire. He also asked me to give it to you. Sent one. Knowing you like tea, and a small bag of tea...
"Thank you for your hard work!" Xu Xuan's hands and feet seemed to be relatively neat. He hurried forward and said, "Put your things down first! It's cold outside. Let's talk inside the tent to avoid the wind and cold!"
"good!"
The two of them worked together to quickly place the things they had brought. Among them, some were commissioned by Xu Xuan to purchase, and some were gifts. In his early years, Xu Xuan would probably have reservedly said that the poor were not allowed to eat. However, after enduring hunger and freezing, his scholar-official dignity and respectability had long since been peeled off and trampled into the mud. Over the years, he has received a lot of help from the surrounding herdsmen, especially the young Zhao Cai's family.
Although the young man's surname is Zhao, he is not a Han, but a Dangxiang. In recent years, among the various tribes and tribes that have submitted to the Han Dynasty, there has inevitably been a wave of name change. This is also the most obvious feature of Chineseization.
On the Fengzhou side, more than 80% of the population are foreigners, with Dangxiang people being the majority, followed by Khitan people, and finally Han people and other miscellaneous barbarians. Among them, the Han people obviously have the highest social status, followed by the Dangxiang people. In terms of relationships, the Han people and the Dangxiang people get along most harmoniously.
Zhao Cai's family was willing to help Xu Xuan, not just because he was kind-hearted and willing to help others, but because he was literate and knowledgeable, and he knew a lot and could teach the three sons of the Zhao family. People like Zhao Caijia are active members of Sinicization.
Xu Xuan is now fifty-four years old. He has suffered all the hardships of frontier life. He looks extremely old, with gray spots on his eyebrows and temples, as if he has been stained by a layer of wind and snow.
"The water is cold. Sit down for a moment, and I'll light a fire and make a pot of hot tea!" Xu Xuan was a little embarrassed while carrying a kettle.
"Sir, sit down! I'll do it!" Seeing that Xu Xuan was about to move, the young man stopped Xu Xuan and took the initiative to take over the work. When he got to the stove, he used the fire sickle he brought to light a fire. This was also a demonstration for Xu Xuan. This thing used to be used in Fengzhou. It's not used much and is considered a new gadget.
"I used to be industrious in my limbs and unable to distinguish between grains. If it weren't for your help, I would have been buried in this field long ago!" Looking at the enthusiastic young man, Xu Xuan couldn't help but feel moved and sighed.
"Sir, he is a learned man. Of course he can't do these heavy tasks!" Zhao Cai quickly lit the fire, added some charcoal, and the old and the young gathered around the stove to keep warm and talk.
Looking at Zhao Cai, Xu Xuan asked: "Look at the time, the government is going to collect the autumn tax!"
"It has been paid in advance!" Zhao Cai said directly.
Xu Xuan was a little surprised and asked: "According to the Han Dynasty's adult system, the deadline for autumn tax every year is November 1st. Why is it so early this year?"
"The tax collector in the fort said that the emperor was going to visit Fengzhou, and the whole state was going to welcome him, so he went ahead of schedule!" Zhao Cai explained: "For this reason, each of our families turned in an extra sheepskin!"
"The emperor has arrived in Fengzhou?" Xu Xuan couldn't help but be surprised. The place where he stayed was a bit remote and the news flow was not smooth. If the young man hadn't mentioned it, he would have never known about it.
"Yes!" The young man's eyes were full of longing: "It must have happened two days ago. When my father went to Linhe Fort, he saw it. It is said that there were many people, with carriages and horses stretching for miles, all wearing gorgeous clothes... ...It’s a pity that I couldn’t follow!”
"The emperor of the Han Dynasty actually walked in such a remote and bitter cold!" Xu Xuan sighed, but frowned and said: "The emperor visits Daozhou and often has strict orders prohibiting local contributions. How can I ask you to pay more for fur goods?"
"That's what the tax collector said!" Zhao Cai responded, and said expectantly: "I don't know if the emperor will use my sheepskins!"
Seeing this, Xu Xuan couldn't help but shook his head and sighed: "Maybe!"
"Sir, you are a man of great knowledge. Have you ever met the emperor?" Zhao Cai asked curiously.
"I've seen it before!" This question reminded Xu Xuan of the past, and he said with a slightly depressed mood.
"Really!" Zhao Cai said in surprise: "Can you tell me what the emperor looks like? Is he like a god, able to exhale into clouds, sweat into rain, and sound like thunder..."
Xu Xuan smiled and said: "I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you. The emperor is just like us. He is a human being. He has a pair of eyes, a pair of ears, a mouth and a nose. There is nothing special about him!"
The young man's face clearly showed an expression of disbelief: "That's not what the rumors say!"
"However, the appearance is indeed that of an ordinary person, but the Emperor of the Han Dynasty may be a living god..." Xu Xuan said again.
After hearing this, the young man was satisfied, his face looked like this, and he said: "I don't know if I am lucky enough to see the emperor."
"Since the emperor is visiting Fengzhou, he will visit the city. If you go there, you may be able to see it!" Xu Xuan said.
"It's too far!" Zhao Cai couldn't help but shook his head and said regretfully: "I don't know the way, and dad won't let me go!"
"Sir, I just saw that the pen is leaky and the sheep are already wailing. We should add some cover to prevent them from freezing to death!" The young man reminded him, "I will bring my two younger brothers to help in two days." Bar!"
"You are interested!" Xu Xuan nodded: "By the way, when you go home later, take one back with you!"
Zhao Cai waved his hands repeatedly to express his refusal.
An old man and a young man talked for a long time and had a good time. Xu Xuan had little communication with the outside world in this place. Although he did not have the charm of talking and laughing in the past, talking to this young man made him feel more simple and sincere.
"We're getting married soon!" Xu Xuan asked gently while looking at Zhao Cai.
The young man was a little embarrassed, but his eyes were obviously interested, and he said happily: "It's almost! Dad said that when my errand is completed, the marriage will be decided!"
"What's the errand?" Xu Xuan asked concerned.
"Prepare to be a postman!" Zhao Cai said: "There are many people vying for this position, but they can't compare to me, and they are all illiterate. I have to thank my husband for his education in the past few years!"
"Postman is a good job!" Hearing this, Xu Xuan said: "Being a postman allows you to go to the city. You can even leave Fengzhou and go to other places to see the world outside... "
"Sir, with your talent and knowledge, why don't you go to a school in the state?" Zhao Cai suddenly asked curiously.
Xu Xuan said in a self-deprecating tone: "Not to mention my sinful body, I can only teach some fallacies. Even if I intend to, the officials in the state will not dare to use me... "
