Several men agreed and refused to accept the money no matter what, turned around and left in a hurry.
Looking at the backs of several people, Ge Ding said: "Remember their appearance, we will weigh the fish and vegetables for a while, and calculate the money for them tomorrow. These people had doubts when they first saw us, but when they heard that we were really going on the Northern Expedition, they stopped Same."
Bian Hui said: "How much suffering have the people suffered since the Jinlu came south? In the past two years, everyone has been looking south, hoping that the imperial court will come back. Although we have occupied Ruzhou long ago, it is a mountainous area and few people come. Not even a prison town will be sent."
Ge Ding said: "Now that there is a shortage of officials everywhere, naturally no one comes to this small town. When the world is at peace and the Three Crows Road is opened, this place will become a prosperous town. It will be different then."
While the two were talking, they ordered the soldiers to weigh the vegetables and fish, note the money, and move them to the kitchen.
After passing Sanya Town, Lushanguan Pass is in the mountains to the south. In many places, there are two cliffs, with a road in the middle that never sees the light of day. Walking in this kind of place is particularly depressing, and Ge Ding's army was severely suppressed. Today we finally walked out of the mountains, and the soldiers were full of joy. Although I didn't buy any meat to eat, it would be nice to have some fish. Make soup with tofu and serve a large bowl for each person.
The army had soybeans and millstones, so they immediately set them up outside the kitchen to soak the soybeans. After the soybeans are soaked, grind them into soy milk and make tofu. Let's have a late dinner today, so everyone should have a bowl of fish soup.
The soldiers in the army set up tents, talked and laughed, and the atmosphere seemed very relaxed.
As the sun sets in the west, the sky is covered with rays of rays, and the sky and the earth are painted in colorful colors.
The soldiers who were busy suddenly heard a noise. The sentry hurriedly stood up and looked, and saw a group of people coming from the direction of Sanya Town. The member in front was walking swiftly, followed by several men. Behind them, there was an ox hanging with a silk ribbon and a group of sheep. Behind them were a group of big men, some carrying burdens or holding something in their arms, walking happily.
Ge Ding got the news and hurriedly went out with Qu Feng. Seeing the crowd approaching the military camp, he hurriedly greeted them.
When the officer in front saw someone coming out of the military camp, he hurriedly raised his hands and said, "I am Kang Ren, the owner of the nearby Kangjiazhuang. I heard about the army's northern expedition and brought some cattle and sheep to work for the army. I have met the officials. I wonder who you two are -"
Qu Fengxing said: "This is Ge Ding, the commander of engineers and soldiers under Dengzhou's army, and I am Qu Fengxing, the governor of the capital."
"That's it. I've seen it before, I've seen it before!" Kang Ren said the courtesy while looking at the military camp not far away, his eyes full of curiosity.
Qu Fengxing said: "When our army passed by here, we should have been received by local officials. However, in these extraordinary times, there are no officials in Sanya Town. I don't know the elders here. I didn't visit Yuan Waizhuang. It's a sin, a sin!"
Kang Ren said: "How can I, a member of a remote mountain village, be worthy of this? Your army is traveling in the mountains. We have no news, and we didn't greet you when we arrived at Sanya Town. It's our fault. I heard that you went to the town today to buy something. We didn’t buy any meat, so we brought cattle and sheep here specially for them to enjoy a meal. Sanya is a small place, and they don’t sell anything on weekdays, so the officials shouldn’t be surprised.”
Qu Fengxing was overjoyed: "This is the best. Thank you so much."
He stepped forward to look at the cattle and sheep and said: "Executive member, although the ban on cattle has been relaxed now, farm cattle cannot be slaughtered casually. I think this cow is only five or six years old and has not yet reached adulthood. How can you kill it? You are a cow. Then he took it back and we bought the sheep."
Kang Ren said hurriedly: "I brought these cattle and sheep to the labor force. How can I buy them? Besides, you are a large army going to the Northern Expedition. The battlefield has been bloody and bloody. What does it matter if you eat a cow?"
Qu Fengxing said: "Outside of the army, our army naturally has military rules. During the Northern Expedition, the commander-in-chief strictly ordered not to harass the people, and anyone who disobeys the military orders will be severely punished. We have money with us, so we can just buy it at the market price."
Ge Ding said: "The cattle are used to plow the fields, how can they be slaughtered casually? We have enough of these sheep, so the cattle will be taken back by the members. Our army is to fight Jin soldiers, how can we not abide by the rules of the government?"
Kang Yuanwai shook his head repeatedly: "Officials, to tell you the truth, our place is remote and the officials don't bother to take care of it. On weekdays, there are guests coming, so slaughtering a cow in the village is not a big deal. And there are no meat sellers here, and cattle and sheep are not valuable. Just eat it!”
Qu Fengxing just refused. He called Bian Hui over, estimated the value of the cattle and sheep, and gave the Xiangyang Huizi to Kang Yuanwai.
Kang Yuanwai had no choice but to accept the money. Said: "In addition to the cattle and sheep, we also brought several jars of wine. The wine is made by ourselves, and the taste is poor. Don't blame me. I feel very sorry for accepting your sheep money. I can't charge you any more for the wine." .”
Qu Fengxing said: "Okay, okay, we understand Yuanwai's wishes. We will keep the wine and let the soldiers relieve their fatigue. Our army has some fine wine brought from Dengzhou. Yuanwai will take two back and have a taste."
When Kang Ren saw that all the labor supplies he had brought had been calculated, he couldn't help but sigh: "I have lived for decades, and this is the first time I have seen an army like yours. I was originally a labor army, but I took money back. How can there be such a thing in the world?" reason?"
Qu Fengxing said: "We are naturally grateful to the fellow villagers for their labor. The reason why the envoy strictly ordered that money must be paid is not because he does not accept your wishes, but because once the precedent is set, there will definitely be troops in the future asking for food and drink from the people. It will eventually develop. Which step can you expect?"
Kang Ren listened and nodded: "We, the common people, don't understand your big principles. Coming to Laojun today is really eye-opening. There is an army like yours in the world! I'm really happy today. With you in the Northern Expedition, why worry about not being able to regain the Central Plains! I How about a glass of wine and drinking it with you?"
Qu Fengxing naturally agreed and ordered his soldiers to prepare Kang Ren's seat.
Kangren ordered the bankers who came to go back. Quietly let the two men return to the farm, fetch a few more chickens, and serve wine to the officers.
There are no meat or eggs sellers in Sanya Town. The people nearby produce and sell their own products, and sheep and chickens are not expensive. Like in Kangrenzhuang, these things are all eaten by oneself, and there is no telling how much they are worth.
As the sun slowly set, Kang Ren sat at a table with Qu Fengxing, Ge Ding and others, drinking while listening to them talk about military matters. What I heard tonight was really eye-opening. I never thought there was such an army in the world. When the army went on an expedition, the money brought by the army was not used to pay rewards to the soldiers, but to buy things for the people on the road.
The army actually took the initiative to give money to the people? This is really strange. If they don't rob people of their property, people will burn incense and worship gods. Where do they start giving money? Moreover, even if this army wins a battle, it does not pay the soldiers, but only records their merits. What is the use of recording merit? Don’t the soldiers and their families eat or drink? When Qu Fengxing talked about Xiangyang's military system, Kang Ren didn't understand it either, but he just thought it was so novel.
Cao Zhiduan was stationed in Ruzhou, and his troops were mainly deployed along the Ruhe River. Moreover, there was a lack of officials under Wang Xiaolie's rule. For example, in Lushan County, there were only a few officials in the county town, and most of the villages and towns below were ignored. People like Kangren who live in mountain villages have little influence.
The sun went down and the sky was filled with stars. The soldiers of the army ate meat, drank two bowls of wine, and rested early. There was only a bonfire lit in the handsome tent, and a few people were drinking and chatting happily.
Ge Ding is an engineering unit and needs to pave roads and build bridges. Kang Ren has lived here for decades and is extremely familiar with the surroundings. I just took this opportunity to ask him about the geography of the area. Ge Ding and Qu Fengxing were not sleepy either, and they drank happily with Kang Ren.
