In September of the sixth year of Hongwu, the 19-year-old Zhu Biao began to get involved in court affairs. From this moment on, he became the most powerful prince in the Ming Dynasty.
It's just that at this time, all the ministers' trivial matters are reported to the East Palace, but the ministers' trivial matters are not decided by the East Palace.
Zhu Biao suppressed his excitement and returned to the East Palace to write a letter, ordering Zhang Pei to bring him back to Jurong. Mu Ying was ordered to select 20 sergeants from the Beijing army, led by Zhao Hailou and Wang Liang, and headed for Jurong under the guidance of Zhang Pei.
There is no room for two tigers in one mountain, but this sentence may not apply to the Ming Dynasty.
According to an elder in Jurong, tigers roam in groups in Wucheng Mountain, sometimes as many as eight. Many old hunters dare not enter Wucheng Mountain again because the tigers are so ferocious that once they encounter them, life or death will be unpredictable.
Gu Zhengchen was not sure whether the elder's words were adulterated, but he was certain that the number of tigers in Wucheng Mountain was by no means three or four.
If it weren't for the fact that Wucheng Mountain might be related to cases of missing persons, deportations, and prison sentences, Gu Zhengchen would not want to go to the mountains. Now that the case is stuck here, we can only go to the tiger mountain knowing that there are tigers in the mountains.
Gu Zhengchen cherished his life and did not want to feed the tiger. In addition, there was really no powerful person like Wu Erlang in Jurong, so he had no choice but to open his mouth and ask for someone from Lao Zhu.
There is no shame in asking for support in tiger eradication.
"Sir, Orion Lin is here."
Gu Cheng reported.
Gu Zhengchen quickly asked to be invited, and a thin middle-aged man in his forties came to the door. He was less than five feet tall and a little short. What was strange was that this man did not wear shoes, but walked barefoot.
"At four o'clock in the forest, the grassroots people pay homage to the county magistrate."
Lin Sishi knelt down and saluted.
Gu Zhengchen quickly raised his hand: "Get up and take a seat, Gu Cheng, serve him tea."
Lin Sishi was a little afraid to sit down. He stood in front of the chair and felt uneasy. He asked, "I wonder why I summoned the common people?"
Gu Zhengchen comforted him with a few words of comfort and said: "I heard from the elders and the chief of Zhexi that you were once a hunter in Wucheng Mountain, and you came and went in Wucheng Mountain countless times. Four years ago, in the autumn of the second year of Hongwu, you and the villagers of Zhexi, together with eight When people enter Wucheng Mountain, you are the only one who comes back alive, right?"
Lin Sishi lowered his head and said with some pain, "That's right."
Gu Zhengchen motioned Lin Sishi to sit down: "Chief, you suffered heavy losses because of the encounter with tigers."
Lin Sishi nodded heavily: "That's true!"
Gu Zhengchen asked: "Can you elaborate on the situation at that time?"
When Lin Sishi saw the county magistrate questioning him, he could only recall what happened that year: "After the autumn harvest in the second year of Hongwu, seven hunters from the same village and I wanted to go to Wucheng Mountain to hunt some prey and exchange some money to support our family..."
A team of eight people entered Wucheng Mountain in order to hunt several musk deer for musk and deer skins to sell. In the first two days, they had a good harvest and killed three musk deer. But on the evening of the next three days, they encountered a tiger while chasing a musk deer. The eight people were frightened and killed a tiger with a bow and arrow.
Just when a few people were about to skin the tiger, five or six tigers suddenly appeared behind them. Lin Sishi escaped by chance, but the others died on the mountain. After that, Lin Sishi never dared to enter Wucheng Mountain again.
After hearing this, Gu Zhengchen sighed twice: "It's really a tragedy."
Lin Siji had a look of pain on his face: "It's pitiful for those brothers and nephews, their bodies are exposed in the mountains and forests like this. Every time I think about it, I can't sleep."
Gu Zhengchen picked up the tea bowl, glanced at Lin Sishi, and said slowly, "I have a way to help you have a peaceful sleep."
"Uh, do you have any ideas?"
Lin Si was surprised and stood up quickly.
Gu Zhengchen nodded solemnly: "It's simple. You and I will go to Wucheng Mountain again and collect their bones back to Zhexi for burial."
"What?"
Lin Sishi's expression changed and he waved his hands quickly: "No, we can't go to Wucheng Mountain anymore. The tigers there are ferocious. Once you go in, you will definitely die!"
"Aren't you dead yet?"
Gu Zhengchen slapped the table, looked at Lin Sishi who was scolded, and said sternly: "Your brothers and nephews died in the mountains and forests, and their families don't even have a place to pay homage every year. Are you willing to see them die?" There is no burial place, and the bones are beaten by wind and rain year after year?"
Lin Sishi's face turned a little pale, and he quickly said: "But the county magistrate, the tigers in the mountains eat people, I still have my family, I don't want to die!"
Gu Zhengchen clapped his hands, and Gu Cheng walked in and handed Lin Sishi a heavy money bag.
Lin Sishi took it and looked at it. It was full of copper coins. He couldn't help but look at Gu Zhengchen: "What does this mean?"
Gu Zhengchen said in an irresistible tone: "The county government uses you as a guide to accompany me to Wucheng Mountain in the near future. The ten coins in your hand are your reward. You cannot refuse this. Go back and make preparations. We will enter tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Mountain."
"reward?"
Lin Sishi felt very bitter.
This is not remuneration at all, it’s more like settlement allowance and pension!
Zhexi.
Lin returned home at four o'clock and talked to his old mother for a long time. At night, he sat on the bedside without saying a word.
Mrs. Lin walked into the room and looked at Lin Sishi who was in a daze. There was nothing. She opened the box and packed her luggage. She stuffed the two remaining coins in the house and handed it to Lin Sishi: "Husband, I am at home." , I will take good care of grandma."
Lin Sishi's distracted eyes slowly condensed, looking at the luggage in front of him, and asked: "What are you doing?"
Mrs. Lin sat aside, her eyes filled with tears: "You were summoned to the county government office, and you were distraught when you came back. Today you stayed with grandma for a long time, as if you were explaining the funeral arrangements. Even though I am a rough man, I know it. It's a serious matter, husband, take the package and run for your life, and then come back to visit grandma after the news has passed."
Lin Sishi took the luggage, slung it on his shoulder, walked two steps to the door, holding the door with both hands, struggling in his heart.
"Hui Niang, after I escape, this family will be handed over to you." Lin Sishi turned around, took out the money bag from his arms, and threw it away: "I dare not obey your orders to return this money to the county magistrate. "
Hui Niang looked at the money bag that was thrown on the bed, then looked at Lin Sishi, stood up and said, "Please take care of yourself, husband!"
Lin Sishi nodded, opened the door and walked out.
The bright moon is in the sky, and the sound of horse hooves can be heard.
Jurong County opened the city gate, rode into the city, and went straight to the county government office.
Zhang Pei entered the second hall, approached, whispered a few words to Gu Zhengchen, and then took out a letter.
Gu Zhengchen smiled: "Thank you for your hard work, go down and rest."
After Zhang Pei left, Gu Zhengchen opened Zhu Biao's letter and was filled with joy.
Lao Zhu began to delegate power to Zhu Biao. Although it was only some affairs and some proposal rights, "participating in government affairs" itself was a kind of power.
Gu Zhengchen knew that no one could shake Lao Zhu's position, and Zhu Dalang had no intention of shaking it.
Zhu Dalang's increased voice is a good thing for himself. At least he can use Zhu Biao as an intermediary to pass some words to Zhu Yuanzhang's ears.
It is difficult to influence Zhu Yuanzhang's character, judgment and thoughts, but it is also a good choice to influence Zhu Biao's thoughts and cognition. As long as Zhu Biao insists on doing sit-ups, push-ups and strengthening his body, as long as he handles the relationship with Lao Zhu well. The relationship between them, if they didn’t engage in psychological self-mutilation, they would not only live to be thirty-six years old.
Early the next morning, after midnight, Gu Zhengchen took Zhang Pei, Yao Zhen, Zhang Liang, and Han Qiang out of the county government office and went straight to Hezhuang on the grounds of investigating the case.
Jurong, Guo family.
When Guo Sheng heard the news that Gu Zhengchen was going to Hezhuang, he quickly walked to the backyard.
In the pavilion, Guo Dian and Guo Shan were playing chess.
The autumn air is crisp and the white clouds are white. It is a pleasant time.
Guo Shan dropped Bai Zi, glanced at Guo Sheng who appeared behind Guo Dian, and said with a smile: "It seems that our county magistrate has new news."
Guo Dian held a sunspot and knocked on the stone table: "What's the matter?"
Guo Sheng came to the side of the chessboard and bowed: "Father, second uncle, we just got the news that Gu Zhixian left the city. Looking at its direction, it is heading towards Hezhuang."
Guo Dian was stunned and his eyes were slightly cold: "This county magistrate is really a mad dog. He bit Guo Jie and Guo Baobao. Now he wants to go to Hezhuang and continue to bite people. Isn't he afraid that his teeth can't bear it?"
Guo Shan put down a chess piece and picked up a few black stones: "Just let him go."
Guo Sheng cleared his throat and said solemnly: "I heard that the county magistrate asked an elder to inquire about the tigers in Wucheng Mountain. Yesterday, Lin Sishi entered the county government office. I guess he may enter Wucheng Mountain."
"Entering Wucheng Mountain?"
Guo Dian stopped his hand, stood up and looked at Guo Sheng: "There are tigers and leopards in Wucheng Mountain, does he have the courage?"
Guo Sheng is not sure.
Guo Shan handed the crutch on his side to Guo Dian and said seriously: "Brother, Gu Zhixian is different from ordinary people. This man is young and vigorous. He may not dare to break into Wucheng Mountain. Once he goes in, then we..."
Guo Dian walked to the railing, pounded his crutches hard, and snorted: "This man stretched his hands a little too long. If he died in the county government, the court would be suspicious. After in-depth investigation, it is difficult for us not to be implicated. But he If you die in the mouth of a tiger or a leopard, haha, then no one is to blame!"
Guo Shan followed and said with a smile: "Brother, if the magistrate discovers the secrets in the mountains, he will not be allowed to leave alive."
Guo Dian nodded slightly and said coldly: "Don't worry, if he finds out, Hubao will be here too. Not many people in Jurong dare to go into the mountains, just those few government officials, haha, they are vulnerable!"
Gu Zhengchen and his party went to Hezhuang and turned to Zhexi on the way. When Yang Liang and Yao Zhen looked for Lin Si, they only brought Huiniang of the Lin family.
Huiniang held up the money bag and said, "He ran away from home last night at Si Shi. Before leaving, he returned this thing to the county magistrate."
Gu Zhengchen opened the curtain and looked at the pointing villagers not far away. His eyes fell on the money bag in Huiniang's hand. After thinking for a while, he ordered Yao Zhen to take back the money bag and said calmly: "I just want Lin Since he doesn't want to lead the way to Wucheng Mountain at Four Seasons, let's give up. He is not a prisoner, so there is no need to hide here and there. Let's go."
Huiniang thanked her and watched Gu Zhengchen and his party leave.
Wucheng Mountain, southern foot.
A man wearing a hat on his head, a leopard quiver on his back, and a long bow in his hand was sitting on a large stone, with a gourd hanging around his waist and a three-pronged fork beside him.
On the official road, the sound of horse hooves sounded, causing billowing smoke and dust.
The coir hat was slightly raised, a pair of hunting eyes slowly looked at it, the pupils were slightly condensed, and he shouted in shock: "Is this - the cavalry?"
