I have to admit that Master Dong Bamboo is a very qualified buyer. Not only does he have a broad vision and a wild approach, but he also has a rich supply of goods and numerous suppliers. He is also good at bargaining, and he understands everything with reason and emotion. The price was reduced by another 20%.
Even Wu Sheng was a little worried and advised Master Dong Bamboo to lift it up a little and not to press it too hard - the low grain would hurt the farmers.
Within two days, the three alchemists in the country received their shares. Three days later, Mo You and Yue Zhong also received orders in their own countries. Five days later, boxes of spiritual materials were delivered to Yongrentang. .
In any case, everyone in Shangyong country knew that Yongrentang was refining elixirs for the country, and all the neighbors spontaneously stopped seeking medical advice, and endured minor injuries and illnesses on their own, for fear of disturbing the alchemist.
In particular, Chief Jia Xunzhong organized hidden sentries everywhere. In addition to those who went out to work, the old, young, women and children who stayed at home were all warned to prevent thieves from paying attention to the mountains of spiritual materials piled up in Yongrentang. The entire Beifang seems peaceful, but in fact it is patrolled very closely. Whenever an outsider wanders in front of the door, he will immediately be stared at by dozens of pairs of eyes - staring through the crack in the door.
Wu Sheng firmly sat in Yongren Hall and once again started the concentrated assault alchemy mode.
Just when Wu Sheng was refining the elixir, Yangzhou Zuotu Mansion sent a new edict, requiring Yongguo to recruit 400 men to serve in front of Jiuzi's army.
Yangzhou's edict was not only directed at Yongguo, but also included the three countries of Yu, Kui and Lu. A total of 1,000 people were recruited, and the four countries suddenly complained.
According to the agreement reached during the Putai Alliance last year, the Yong Kingdom will bear the elixirs, spiritual materials and rice, the Fish Kingdom will bear the magical weapons and weapons, the Kui Kingdom will bear the spiritual wine and silk fabrics, and the Lu Kingdom will bear the animal skins. The alliance will be valid for three years.
Therefore, the three kingdoms of Yu, Kui, and Lu have already mobilized and are busy completing the Mao Gong advance task for next year. Among them, casting copper and iron, brewing spiritual wine, weaving silk, and tanning animal skins all require manpower. After the Yongguo prepaid next year's tribute rice, it had to take precautions and open up wasteland first. Even many people on the south bank of the Jia River defaulted to Even the land in the mountains has been turned into fields.
The Four Kingdoms were originally small countries with few people, and their labor force suddenly became tense. Even the savages were assigned a large number of tasks. Where could they find the manpower to mobilize the army?
The monarch convened Sima Yuanzirang, Sikong Yipu, Situ Zhonggu and other important ministers and close officials to discuss: "Now Yangzhou has issued an edict to recruit people's strength. Dayong is a small country with few people. How can it afford such a heavy task? I worry all night long. Thinking about it, I can’t eat anything, and I am hesitant about what to do. I still ask all the ministers to relieve my worries.”
As a vassal of a powerful country, it was not like this. Qingyu could only confide these grievances and worries to his important ministers and confidants, and he did not dare to complain too much.
The levy on the country is also equivalent to the levy on the officials. The officials have to bear most of it, so everyone is unhappy.
Seeing the gloomy faces of the ministers, Qingyu called out his name: "Elder Guo, tell me, how should we deal with this matter?"
The matter of drawing Ding is the responsibility of Yong Zifu, but at this moment, the people of the country are not idle, where can they go to draw Ding? Even if he could draw it out, he didn't want to. Every Chinese citizen is a precious asset of Dayong. How can he send it to the army to serve easily?
"Did the war between Chu and Wu turn out to be so brutal? I was actually asked to annex the country and give birth to Ding? When did the Chu State fail to defeat the Wu State?" Yong Zifu complained, but complaining was useless. He had to find a way. .
Looking around at the doctors, Yong Zifu realized that Wu Sheng had not been invited for discussion. He also knew that Wu Sheng was hard at work refining elixirs. Otherwise, Wu Sheng would be indispensable in such an occasion. But since the rightful owner was not here, he could only bravely propose "There are still a hundred households in Mangdang Mountain..."
Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Sima Yuanzirang: "Absolutely not. This is Doctor Shen's fiefdom retainer. How can we remove it at will? Besides, Mangdang Mountain can't even raise four hundred men!"
Qingyu also said: "If you want Shen Qing to give Ding, all the ministers need to give Ding."
The proposal was dismissed, and Yongzifu had no choice but to make one more suggestion: "Where are the savages? Draw a dice from the savages."
Situ Zhonggu objected: "Where are the savages? They have all gone to farm. If we take away 400 people, there will be a famine next year!"
Yong Zifu took advantage of the situation and gave up his choice: "I can't do it with the left, and I can't do with the right. What can I do?" You just have to figure it out, I have no choice!
Sikong Yipu, who was originally a temple captain, suddenly had an idea: "At the beginning of the year, there were more than 180 prisoners in the Tingsi prison. When the young masters came in pairs to rebel, there were hundreds more inmates. How many are there now?"
The eyes of all the officials suddenly brightened, and they thought that they were getting what they wanted by serving as prisoners to the army!
Yong Ji, who took over, was hesitant: "There are three hundred and twelve people. But most of them will not be punished to death..." Going to serve in front of the Jiuzi Army, it is another "young man" who was taken away by the vassal country. I am afraid that three points It is difficult for any of them to come back alive.
Yi Pu said: "In extraordinary times, we should perform heavy rituals and tell them that as long as they come back, all their previous sins will be forgiven."
Yong Ji said: "There are twenty or thirty women..."
Yi Pu said: "Most of the people who can go to prison are strong women. When we go to war in Dayong, strong women will go into battle even if they are strong men."
Yong Ji said: "The number is not enough, there is still a lot to be desired."
Sima Yuanzirang immediately said: "That's enough! The Yangzhou imperial edict did not say that 400 people arrived at Jiuzi. I guess the person who issued the imperial edict was someone who had no experience in leading troops. After traveling thousands of miles, some people got separated or died of illness on the way. I don’t know how many people there are, but it’s reasonable to send out 400 people and get more than 300 people, but if it really doesn’t work, I’ll personally escort them and supplement them along the way!”
The doctors had discussed and decided, and Qingyu sighed and agreed: "Sima should treat them well and strive to send them to the army safely. I hope they can return safely as soon as possible."
At that moment, Yuan Sima dispatched his disciples, led by Dao Baifeng, to lead twenty disciples to the expedition. The prison doors of Tingsi's prison were opened one by one, and the ragged prisoners were sent out, put on four-cornered ox carts, and headed north.
After leaving the boundary of Yongguo, the wheels rolled eastward along the southern foot of Huyi Mountain. At first, the cart was crying and crying. After two days of walking, the prisoners could no longer cry anymore and sat in the cart one by one. Go up and look at the scenery on the roadside numbly.
To other prisoners, this is a way of death, but in the eyes of the wolf thief, it is a way of life. He has been locked up in a cell since last year after he injured himself and discovered his hiding place during an investigation into Yongrentang, which was seized by Tingsi. It stands to reason that after a hard meal and severe reprimand, a person like him who tried to commit a crime but failed should be released in less than two months. However, it was Yongrentang that he had his mind set on. As Yongrentang's reputation became more and more popular, his chances of coming out became slimmer and slimmer.
The temple official in custody had said many times that unless Alchemist Shen or Shopkeeper Dong spoke, he would never think of leaving in his lifetime, but he estimated that Alchemist Shen or Shopkeeper Dong had forgotten about him long ago, so how could he speak?
Therefore, he "applied" and got on the bus very obediently, waiting for the opportunity along the way.
The convoy traveled for seven days, and six of the prisoners had already died of illness. When they arrived near a small place called Plum Village, Yuan Sima, who was escorting the convoy, ordered to set up camp nearby, and began to select the best at night and issue them with weapons.
Shanlang knew that the opportunity had come.
I'm familiar with Plum Village. I'm a bandit from here!
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Thank you to the new brother who only eats eight-treasure rice for the big reward and defeating the evil HR! Thanks to Xinxitang, Hongfengbiexiayu, and poefisher for the rewards, and thank you fellow Taoists for your monthly tickets and recommended tickets.
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