Han Shizu

Chapter 1234 Exiles in Northern Xinjiang
Muna Mountain is about a hundred miles east of Fengzhou City. It belongs to the remaining range of Yin Mountain. The mountain is rich in good materials and can be used for construction.The government of Fengzhou set up a fort in the south of the mountain and north of the river, named Linhe Fort, where people gathered for production and animal husbandry. At the same time, there was a town of guards under the Tiande Army.

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.

It has to be said that the same person was sentenced to exile, but because Emperor Liu personally ordered it, the local supervisory officials inevitably took some special care.Don't talk about preferential treatment, if you don't deliberately abuse, you are lucky.

Xu Xuan is a great writer, well-known in the south, but in the Central Plains and in the north, he is not only weaker, and when he is reduced to a frontier like Fengzhou, no one takes him seriously.On the contrary, those who cannot carry it on their shoulders, lift it with their hands, and do not know how to farm and animal husbandry are considered waste for most of the border people, and they will not look at them highly.

Of course Seo Hyun is considered lucky compared to others, at least he is still alive
At the beginning, there were a total of more than ten descendants of the Southern Tang Dynasty who were demoted along with Xu Xuan. These people were separated and flowed to different places, and they were not even given a chance to hold a group for warmth.

However, not everyone, like Xu Xuan, was able to survive to this day. Some people even couldn't bear the pain on the way to exile, resulting in death, let alone the suffering after arriving.

As for Xu Xuan, after Feng Guang took office, he did not bear the humiliation of being an official. In addition, where he lived, he got the help of several herdsmen.Otherwise, this generation of literary masters would have died in Saibei long ago.

Backed by the mountains, surrounded by a fence and surrounded by tents, this is where Xu Xuan is staying now. There are not many things, but the arrangement is sloppy and chaotic, and it is obviously not cleaned up.Under the increasingly cold north wind, it looks even more desolate.

The sound of horseshoes was not so obvious under the howling of the north wind, until a high-pitched neigh sounded, which alarmed Xu Xuan in the tent.Approaching the door was a young man wearing a felt hat and wrapped in sheepskin, dismounted and tied the reins, shouting "Sir" into the tent.

While shouting, he unloaded something from his horse.Hearing the commotion outside, Xu Xuan raised the curtain and leaned out. Seeing the young man, a little smile appeared on his face: "Zhao Cai, you are here!"

The young man returned with a simple smile, he was strong and strong, with a bunch of things, and it looked effortless to carry his hands 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 piece of fire sickle, which my father bought in Linhe Castle. It is easier to light a fire. Let me give it to you too. Sending a copy. Knowing you like tea, there is a small bag of tea
"Thanks for your hard work!" Xu Xuan seemed to have relatively neat hands and feet, and walked forward quickly, saying, "Put your things down first! It's cold outside, so go talk in the tent to avoid the wind and cold!"

"it is good!"

The two of them worked together to quickly arrange the things they brought.Among them, Xu Xuan entrusted purchases, and some gifts.If it was in his early years, Xu Xuan would probably have reservedly said that the poor would not be given food, but after enduring hunger and cold, his dignity and decency as a scholar-bureaucrat would have been stripped away long ago, and he would have stepped 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 member of the Dangxiang. In these years, he has surrendered to the various tribes and ethnic groups of the Han Dynasty, and there has been a wave of name and surname changes. This is also the most obvious feature of Sinicization.

On Fengzhou's side, more than [-]% of the population is of foreign races, among which the Dangxiang people are the majority, the Khitan people are next, and the Han people and other miscellaneous captives are the last.Among them, the Han people obviously have the highest social status, and the party members are below them.In terms of relationship, the Han people and the Dangxiang people get along most harmoniously.

Zhao Cai's family's willingness to help Xu Xuan is not purely because of his kindness and willingness to help others, but because he is literate and knowledgeable, and he can teach the three sons of the Zhao family.Like Zhao Cai's family, they belong to the activists of Sinicization.

Xu Xuan is now 54 years old. After suffering all the hardships of the frontier life, he looks very old, with gray between his eyebrows and temples, like a layer of wind and snow.

"The water is already cold, sit down for a while, I'll light a fire and make a pot of hot tea!" Xu Xuan was a little embarrassed with a kettle in his hand.

"Sir, sit down! I'll do it!" Seeing that Xu Xuan was about to move, the young man stopped Xu Xuan, took the initiative to take over the work, went to the stove, and started a fire with the fire scythe he brought. It was also a demonstration for Xu Xuan. This thing used to be in Fengzhou Not used much, it is also a new thing.

"I used to be inactive in limbs and indiscriminate in grains. If it weren't for your help, I, an old man, would have been buried in this area long ago!" Looking at the enthusiastic young man, Xu Xuan couldn't help feeling moved and said with emotion.

"Mr. is a learned man, so of course he can't do these heavy jobs!" Zhao Cai quickly built a 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 autumn tax!"

"It has already been paid in advance!" Zhao Cai said directly.

Xu Xuan was a little surprised, and asked: "According to the system of the Han Dynasty, the deadline for autumn tax is November 11st every year. Why is it so early this year?"

"The tax collector in the castle said that the emperor is going to inspect Fengzhou, and everyone in the whole prefecture has to welcome him, so it's ahead of time!" Zhao Cai explained: "For this reason, each of our families handed in an extra sheepskin!"

"Has the emperor come to Fengzhou?" Xu Xuan couldn't help being surprised. The place where he was staying was a bit remote and the news flow was not smooth. If the young man hadn't mentioned it, he would not have known about it.

"Yes!" The young man's eyes were full of longing: "It should have happened two days ago. My father saw it when he went to Linhe Castle. It is said that there were many people, and the carriages and horses stretched for miles. They were all wearing gorgeous clothes. It's a pity. , I failed to follow!"

"The Son of Heaven, the great man, is walking in such a remote and bitter cold place!" Xu Xuan sighed a little, but frowned, and said, "The Son of Heaven patrols Daozhou, and there are often strict orders prohibiting local contributions. How can you ask you to pay more for furs?"

"That's what the tax collector said!" Zhao Cai responded, and said with anticipation: "I don't know if the emperor will use my sheepskin!"

Seeing this, Xu Xuan couldn't help but shook his head and sighed, "Maybe!"

"Sir, you are a man of great insight. Have you ever met the emperor?" Zhao Cai asked curiously.

"I've seen it!" This question reminded Xu Xuan of the past, and he said in a slightly depressed mood.

"Really!" Zhao Cai said pleasantly, "Can you tell me what the emperor looks like, is he like a god, who can exhale into clouds, sweat into rain, and sound like thunder."

Xu Xuan smiled and said, "I'm afraid I will disappoint you. The emperor is human just like us, with a pair of eyes, a pair of ears, a mouth and a nose, and there is nothing special about it!"

There was an obvious expression of disbelief on the boy's face: "That's not the case in the rumors!"

"However, the appearance is indeed like an ordinary person, but the emperor of the Han Dynasty may be a god in this world." Xu Xuan said again.

Hearing this, the young man was satisfied, his face looked like it should be, and he murmured, "I don't know if I'm lucky enough to meet the emperor."

"Since the Son of Heaven is fortunate enough to be in Fengzhou, he must visit the city of Fengzhou. If you go, you may be able to see him!" Xu Xuan said.

"It's too far away!" Zhao Cai couldn't help shaking his head, but regretfully said, "I don't know the way, and father won't let me go either!"

"Sir, I just saw that the stables are leaking and the sheep are already whining, so we should add some cover so as not to freeze to death!" After the ups and downs, the boy reminded: "I will bring my two younger brothers to help in two days." Bar!"

"You have a heart!" Xu Xuan nodded: "By the way, when you go home later, take one back!"

Zhao Cai waved his hands again and again, expressing 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 didn't have the demeanor of talking and laughing like Hongru in the past, talking with this young man felt more simple and sincere.

"Get married soon!" Looking at Zhao Cai, Xu Xuan asked gently.

The young man was a little embarrassed, but his eyes clearly moved, and he said joyfully: "Soon! Dad said, when my errand is fulfilled, the marriage will also be settled!"

"What errand?" Xu Xuan asked with concern.

"I'm going to be a postman!" Zhao Cai said, "There are quite a few people fighting for this position, but none of them can compare to me, and they are illiterate. I have to thank you for your education over the past few years, sir!"

"The postman is a good job!" Hearing this, Xu Xuan said: "Being a postposter can go to the city of Zhou, and even go out of Fengzhou to other places to see the world outside."

"Sir, with your talents, 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 that I am a person who wears a crime, and I can only teach some fallacies. Even if I want to, the officials in the state will not dare to use me."

(End of this chapter)