Kingdom of Heaven and Han

Chapter 252 Nanfeng Zeng Family
Wang Xiaolie only saw a long lake green dress and a pair of eyes.How old this person is, how good-looking he is, everything is unclear.Wang Xiaolie only saw a pair of eyes.These eyes are very strange.Everything was ordinary, but in Wang Xiaolie's eyes, it was like bright stars in the sky.

Just in a daze, the figure turned around the bamboo forest, and on the other side, it was out of sight.

Wang Xiaolie rubbed his eyes, then looked up again.I saw two female envoys holding oil-paper umbrellas, smiling lightly with their heads down.Watching them talking and laughing, they turned around the bamboo forest and disappeared into the rain.

Looking at the direction of the bamboo forest foolishly, Wang Xiaolie felt an unspeakable feeling in his heart.It's like meeting someone or something you are familiar with after thousands of years.This feeling is very strange, it seems very familiar, but I can't explain it.Just like when I was a child, I saw a beautiful city girl on the road behind the village, and the yearning that arose in my heart.Just like when I was in school, behind the hedge, a little girl raised her legs high, step by step, saying that she wanted to visit all the beautiful places in this world.Like a rainy evening, a little girl stood under a big tree, crying.Just like after the exam, the beautiful girl did not do well in the exam, tearing up the paper angrily.

This feeling, after many years, has completely forgotten what that girl looked like, and only remembers a feeling.Now, suddenly, that feeling came back.However, no matter how Wang Xiaolie thinks about it, he can't remember the past.

Zhike came over and clasped his hands together: "Benefactor, the yard has been tidied up. The rain is getting heavier, you can go in and rest."

Wang Xiao said thank you.Can't help but said: "Just now I saw someone passing by here. Zhike, are there any other guests in the temple today?"

Zhike said: "This temple is very big, and there are always visitors. Those who live nearby are Zeng Shicao's family."

Seeing Wang Xiaolie's expression, he was still puzzled.The wise man said again: "Zeng Wu, the grandson of Zeng Sheren Zhao, was a Jinshi during the Xuanhe period, and a Bozhou scholar Cao during the Jingkang period. He was captured by the Jin people. He would rather die than surrender. His family was killed. Until last year, his brother Zeng Dun went to Haozhou to look for him. I want to welcome back to my hometown for burial. I don’t want the Jin people to cross the river and wreak havoc in Jiangxi, and I can’t return to my hometown for a while, so I temporarily stay in this temple.”

Zeng Zhao is the younger brother of Zeng Gong, who served as a member of Zhongshushe three times.Later, because of Zeng Bu's involvement, he was demoted and died.Nanfeng Zeng's family was a famous family at this time. Although they were often implicated because of the reform, they were still famous all over the world.

Wang Xiaolie thought for a while and asked, "Why did you come to Xiangyang from Bozhou to Jiangxi?"

The knower said: "The Lianghuai River has been in chaos these past few years, there are rebels and bandits everywhere, they go carefully. Besides, Mrs. Wei, Zeng Dun's grandmother, is from Dengcheng, Xiangyang, and she has relatives to trust here."

Wang Xiaolie nodded.I see.

Zeng Dun is Zeng Bu's grandson and Zeng Wu's cousin.His grandmother, Wei Wan, was one of the famous female poets in the Song Dynasty, known as Mrs. Wei.Mrs. Wei was originally from Dengcheng. When Zeng Dun came to Xiangyang, she had relatives to rely on.

Zeng Wu's mother is Su Zhe's fifth daughter, and he is Su Zhe's grandson.These aristocratic families, rich and noble families, and relatives even relatives are already common things.Some of the celebrities in the literary world are relatives, and some become relatives after becoming famous.

Originally Wang Xiaolie wanted to ask who was the one who passed by just now, but after thinking about it, he ended up being abrupt and didn't ask further.

After arriving in the courtyard and changing clothes, Wang Xiaolie went to the living room to chat with Chen Yuyi.While talking, a soldier came in, saluted Wang Xiaolie and said, "I'm on the defensive, there's a Zeng official outside asking to see me."

Wang Xiaolie looked at Chen Yuyi.Said: "Please come in the officials."

Not long after, a young man in his 30s and [-]s came in.Salute to Wang Xiaolie: "Zeng Dun, a son of the Zeng family in Xiananfeng, has seen defense."

Wang Xiaolie said: "Before I came in, I just heard from the Zhike monk that you were delayed here for a while to welcome your brother's body. I told the counselor that if it is convenient, I will go to visit later."

"How dare you! How dare you!" Zeng Dun saluted repeatedly, but his face softened a lot.From Zeng Gong's generation, Zeng's family has produced Jinshi, and they are famous all over the world.Although the Zeng family was implicated later because Zeng Bu was a reformist, they were still the first-class family in the world.Wang Xiaolie was born in a poor family, so he should yearn for, even flatter him with such a prominent family.

Wang Xiaolie ordered to sit down, and asked Zeng Dun, "I don't know if the officials are here, what advice do you have?"

Zeng Dun froze for a moment.Remembering that I was living in a foreign land and could not return home, I cupped my hands and said, "My cousin Wu was originally a Bozhou scholar. Because the Jin people went south to make trouble, the whole family died in office. I was ordered to go to Bozhou last year to meet his bones. Because of the turmoil in the Huaihe River , I couldn't leave for a while, so I came to Xiangyang Mansion. My grandmother is from Dengcheng County, Xiangyang Mansion, and I thought I could rely on it. I didn't expect that last year when the Jin army crossed the south of the Yangtze River, Jiangxi was tortured, and I couldn't go back home. A few days ago, I heard that the defense was victorious in Jingmen, and the Jin army seized the road and returned to Jiangbei from Lianghuai. I thought that I could help my brother's coffin back home in autumn. But I heard that there are so many bandits in Hunan and Jiangxi now— —”

Wang Xiaolie nodded: "That's right. After the Jin army left, Hunan and Jiangxi's defeated soldiers and thieves became a mess, even more chaotic than the two Huaihe Rivers. For a while, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to return home." .”

Hearing this, Zeng Dun sighed: "Yes. When I heard about this, I was so worried that I didn't think about eating and drinking. Besides me, there were a few relatives from my grandmother's family who also wanted to go south. I couldn't leave for a while. In Lumen Sitting in the temple and eating the mountains and empty mountains, how amazing is it?"

The temples in the Song Dynasty also functioned as hotels.Officials and scholars on the journey often don't stay in hotels, but stay in temples.There are few people, so it's okay to live for a short time, but if you live for a long time, it will definitely be disgusting.

Wang Xiaolie heard the meaning of Zeng Dun's words.Said: "Could it be that the officials have been away from home for a long time, and the money is not rich?"

Zeng Dun said: "When I came out, I brought enough money. In addition, my grandmother's family is also a local rich family, and I have nothing to do after staying for a few years. Who would have thought that when the Jin army came to Xiangyang the year before last, my grandmother's house was robbed. Last year Another clansman committed a crime, and now life is difficult—"

Wang Xiaolie thought for a while.Cai said: "Officials, my place is different from other places. I don't like giving gifts as favors. If you send money, you can't get into the account of the minister's money, so you have to pay for it yourself. I will tell you that although I am in charge of several states, I have no spare money."

Zeng Dun was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect Wang Xiaolie to speak so bluntly.As a child of the Zeng family, no matter where he went, the magistrate should give him dozens of taels of silver, and he didn't want to give Wang Xiaolie even a penny.

Zeng Dun said: "I understand. Of course it is not easy to defend the land of several states. Just living in the temple, sitting and eating mountains and empty mountains, is unavoidable. I think that if I can't go back to Nanfeng for a while, I might as well find something to do. I don't know Xiangyang Yamen, do you have any errands?"

Looking at Zeng Dun, Wang Xiaolie smiled and shook his head: "Of course there is a shortage of people in the huge yamen in Xiangyang. However, there are no errands in the current government. As long as you are willing to work hard, you can get a lot of salary. There will be no salary. Official, you are a child of everyone, and you are familiar with poetry and books. If you are willing to work, you can find a job in the yamen."

Zeng Dun bowed his hands after hearing this: "If so, thank you for the defense. I have lived in Lumen Temple for a few months, and I am really bored."

After chatting a few more gossips, Zeng Dun took his leave and left.

Looking at the back of Zeng Dun leaving, Chen Yuyi said: "The Zeng family is a prominent family in the dynasty. If they are killed for a while, it's okay to help a gang. Why should the defense keep people away from thousands of miles away? Whether it is Xiangyang or Zhizhisi, find It's not hard to take a break."

Wang Xiaolie shook his head: "When the councilor first met me in Xiangyang, did he give you a casual job?"

Chen Yuyi shook his head: "No. Although I didn't have much business at the beginning, I was not idle."

Wang Xiaolie said: "A yamen and an army are most afraid of supporting idlers. Of course, after a long time, there must be idle jobs, which is unavoidable. But these idle jobs are often due to various reasons. Some people don’t do things. Either they have something to rely on, or these positions are not set up casually. When there are idle positions in the yamen at any time, and people can be placed, the yamen should be rectified!”

Chen Yuyi was surprised.Hastily cupped his hands and said: "The defense is right. This subordinate has been taught!"

The yamen is big, and there are many people under it, so there must be idle jobs.This kind of thing, Wang Xiaolie can't control it.If you take care of these things every day, the army and the yamen will have big problems.But this does not mean that Wang Xiaolie's subordinates have special idle jobs.Zeng Dun thought that Wang Xiaolie, like other generals in the army, must have some positions, and he only received a salary and did nothing, but he was wrong.

(End of this chapter)