Delong

Chapter 322 Long Shangxing (1)

"Listen, people in Shuanghuangli, the masters who deposed the Dragon Army have issued a new notice, take the copper coins distributed earlier to buy seeds at the west gate of the county seat, and take the iron tools distributed earlier to the east gate of the county town to find a large blacksmith shop, and exchange them for farm tools... ...then you can plow in spring with peace of mind and live a good life. After a while, someone will check your crops and fields, and you will not be asked to pay double taxes... In a word, the Dragon Army is coming, and the peaceful life will be here, don't be fooled again Don't run around anymore."

In the afternoon, a pale-faced middle-aged official in green clothes stood under the bare tree at the head of the village, trying to make an announcement, but seemed listless, while a new notice had just been pasted on the tree trunk behind him.

In front of him, there were only a dozen scattered people who came to listen, but they were very timid.

The object of fear was on the other side of the big tree. They were three leather armored warriors, wearing Liuhe boots and warrior crowns. One was holding a spear, one was holding a crossbow, and the other was wearing a sword. They were all a little tired... It's not that a few people are resisting to do things and are dissatisfied, but that this place is the most northeast boundary of Jiangling County, next to Husu County, and it is almost fifty miles away from the county seat, and it is impossible for them to come to only one village to do work. Announcement, it is estimated that these people are exhausted from the journey.

"It's hard work, the three military lords, and Han Xiangzheng." When the superiors shouted three times in a row to finish, the four or five people who had been waiting for a long time immediately pushed forward a middle-aged man with a slightly weathered complexion. It was the local Li Chang Huang, who repeatedly bowed his hands and spoke earnestly. "I prepared a little food at home, let's go and use it. I will rest at my house in the evening. It doesn't matter if I go back tomorrow."

Han Xiang, who was really thirsty, looked up at the already very western sun, and wanted to agree, but suddenly thought of something, and then turned back to look at the elder one of the three sergeants.

The latter thought for a while, then nodded, but he spoke with an Eastern accent: "It's fine, even if humans can do it, but horses and mules are too tired to hold on."

"Then come together, come together, the livestock must be taken care of." Huang Lichang responded repeatedly.

Immediately, four or five people came forward to help pick up the mules and horses, and then surrounded the four of them and walked deep into the village.

Maybe because the weather is getting warmer in spring, the village is still a little crowded. Many children, even women with yellow complexions, and idlers are all looking around along the way.

After a while, a group of people came to a residence in the village that was obviously much better than the surrounding houses. It was a serious three large tile-roofed houses, with a main room and a side room, and a front and back yard... However, even so, the courtyard There is also a lack of cleaning, and many items are also looking old.

The animals were led to the backyard, and the four of them were let into the main room, and then several village women hiding in the kitchen on the left immediately started cooking.

After a while, there is a meal served. The rice is old millet, but fortunately the millet can be stored, and the old rice can also be eaten. There was also a chicken, but it was disassembled in four or five places and made into vegetables and soup respectively, which was extremely rare.

Seeing this, the three sergeants were also full of tongue early, and immediately abandoned their weapons and took off their leather armor. Among them, the elderly sergeant and Han Xiangzheng sat in the two seats directly opposite the door, Huang Lichang sat on the left side, and the two young The sergeant sat on the right side, and there were a few helpers, some served on the table, and some could not. The former ate at the table, while the latter just held old rice and covered some vegetables and sauce, squatting in the yard outside to eat.

After a while, another half bottle of turbid wine was brought back, several people evened it out, each of them was half a bowl, and couldn't raise their glasses to drink, so they took two sips from their bowls.

Even so, Han Xiangzheng and the few Sergeants of the Dragon Army also felt a lot more relieved, and then let go.

"It's rare for Lao Huang to be so hardworking in this age." Han Xiangzheng was the first to praise him.

"That's right, it's really hard work, this Huang Lichang." The senior sergeant also spoke seriously. "When you go to get the seeds and farm tools, go to the north of the city to look for me first. Just tell me to look for the head of the eighth team in Zhangtou's battalion. Know who it is."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhao." Mr. Huang hurriedly got up and cupped his hands, with a very good attitude.

However, after sitting down, the Lichang Huang couldn't help but feel emotional again: "It's just the troubles of this world. If it was changed to before the Sanzheng, no matter how difficult the season was, there would still be new millet at home, and there would be no shortage of fresh white flour. There are dozens of chickens, we know how many are coming, we don’t need anything else, we just hang a few chickens from our house and ride a mule to Chang’s market in Husu’s side, where we can exchange some fresh fish and mutton, and get some new brewed wine , how can I let a few of you eat this?"

"That's the truth." Han Xiangzheng also felt emotional. "But Lao Huang, you're pretty good. You've survived the past few years. You are like Wang Xiangzheng, Liu Xiangzheng, Sun Xiangzheng, and your family in Sanhuangli next door. The property is even more useless. Said, but the result was defeated early, otherwise it would not be my turn to be a village official..."

"How does Han Xiangzheng count as a broken household? Your father was a county lieutenant, and it's your turn to come to Hong Kong." Chief Huang answered quickly. "However, those few people are indeed impermanent. When they were young, they only thought that they were all big men who would spend their whole lives with each other, but in the end they all disappeared."

"What's the matter with those township officials?" A young Sergeant of the Dragon Army asked curiously.

Huang Lichang put down the wine bowl he just picked up when he heard the words, and smiled wryly for a moment:
"The first one was unfavorable in the three expeditions to Dongyi, and was cut off by the government;

"The second one became a thief... No, he became a rebel army, and he was famous around for half a year. As a result, when the soldiers from the Hejian Camp arrived, his whole family was killed, and he was driven to Bohai County by Youzhou soldiers. Later, I heard that Kaichun died last year;
"After the third took over, he was not stable, so he gave money to the Hejian camp. After autumn, he built a small fort and built a dike. Eat it up, and kill those who show it to the public... It can be seen that these days, it is fatal to take the lead in the village, and when the wind blows, nothing can stop it."

"The only thing missing is his family." Han Xiangzheng said with a smile. "All the troops of the Dragon Army have come, but they insisted on setting up a fortress, and no one is allowed to come in and out at will. It was also found out that it had something to do with Gao Shizan's third nephew who was torn up next door. He hid someone, so the village was flattened five days ago. .”

A young sergeant came to a sudden: "Isn't that the one that Jia Tou led the way before? Is it actually a relative of Lichang Huang?"

Li Chang Huang quickly waved his hands when he heard the words: "If it's really relatives, they were flattened together in Wuzhai...the villages are two villages, but they were regarded as one family 500 years ago, and they usually flattered others, so they were called the main family."

Everyone laughed, although Han Xiangzheng knew that Shuanghuangli and Sanhuangli actually had something to say, but at this moment he regretted talking too much about it in front of Du Longjun, so he also laughed along with him.

"It depends on fate." After laughing, Mr. Zhao still said grandly. "For example, our Zhang Yingtou was also a village chief. Everyone knows the veterans of Jiyin, but when the world is in chaos, don't we just take advantage of the wind and become the leader and lead a battalion of soldiers? This is just Hebei Here and in the east, the property and family are still there. The Dou leader who is more and more used nowadays is from Hebei. It's the other way around..."

"We know Chief Dou, but the whole clan survived after death." Huang Lichang shook his head. "But your leader Zhang, is it so smooth?"

"Naturally." Chief Zhao said seriously. "Back then, our situation in Zhangyingtou was the same as Huang Lichang's here. We usually brought three or five people, collected a tax, caught a thief, and so on. As a result, during the three levies, there were too many thieves to catch. The superiors had to do the opposite. There was no other way to punish him, so he abandoned his home and took a group of people to seek refuge with the chieftain Wang Wulang Wang, hid in Wang Wulang's village, and then followed Zhang Longtou to set up the Dismissing Dragon Gang until now."

"This is following the right person and meeting a noble person." Han Xiangzheng took a sip of his dirty wine and interjected.

"Indeed." Chief Zhao thought for a while and nodded seriously. "Actually, if we really calculate it carefully, seven or eight of the dozens of leaders of our Dragon Clan are all from village chiefs, township officials, and county officials. In front of our dragon head, we are all lacking in luck... There is another leader Zhang, you should recognize him, Zhang Jinshu, a luxury character nicknamed the eight-armed king, I heard that he is a county official in the Bohai area of ​​the plain here, and he is also a three-year-old. Zheng was forced to rebel, but Hebei couldn't gain a foothold at all, so he went to the east and met Zhang Longtou, and everything went well..."

"This one really knows." Huang Lichang cheered up. "I met it once in Changjiaji, when it was just in charge of law and order, and I came to talk to some local heroes..."

"Our big leader, it is said that there is something miraculous." A slightly younger Sergeant of the Dragon Army also interjected at this time. "When I was with other battalion leaders before, everyone in the battalion said that our leader was selected by the Heidi Lord in the Northland, and he came to the Central Plains to ride the dragon and ride the fog. During the Mamianhe battle, it was also rumored that there was also a supernatural saying about the true energy of the dragon head."

The people in Huang Han's two places were immediately surprised.

"I'm not going to talk about that." But Mr. Zhao directly interrupted this statement. "Which of the big men didn't say anything? But our leader is really capable... Comparing Hebei and the East Territory, you will know... The three expeditions to Dongyi followed the big river, and both sides suffered equally. As a result, the East Territory has stabilized early. Here in Hebei, it is so difficult.”

Han Xiangzheng shook his head and remained silent.

Huang Lichang hesitated for a while, and then asked seriously: "Is the East Territory really good?"

"That's natural." Chief Zhao said frankly. "I'm from the Eastern Realm... To be honest, I didn't think it was good in the Eastern Realm before. I also felt that Longtou was strict and my life was not as easy as usual. But once I came to Hebei, I knew that Longtou is really capable. Listen to him Order to do things, eat his food and pay to fight the war, so as not to end up in the end of Hebei."

Huang Lichang nodded, and couldn't help but ask again: "So, the county town really gives seeds and farm tools?"

"Of course it's true." Han Xiangzheng knocked on the table without waiting for Chief Zhao to reply. "Old Huang, if you don't trust others, can I still lie to you? I saw it with my own eyes. Zhang Dalongtou was sitting in the county seat himself. Three battalions of soldiers and horses were placed on three sides, and a big furnace was turned on on the east side. The ones at night are making farm tools; the west side is the seed and grain transported from the east, all of which are escorted by cavalry at a high speed... Including the copper coins and iron utensils given to you before, just for today's saying, this is called casting swords into plows, floating money into seedlings .”

Huang Lichang was obviously taken aback.

"If Brother Huang didn't believe it before, why are you still so courteous?" Chief Zhao, who had just put down the soup bowl, also came to ask at this time.

"Even if you don't believe me, you should serve him like this." Huang Lichang smiled wryly. "I'm not going to say something nice. Don't take it too seriously... the officials from the imperial court came here before, and they wanted to show their family background like this. It's not for flattery, but for fear of causing trouble."

Han Xiangzheng sighed quietly.

The two young ones among the three sergeants wanted to say something, but the elder stopped him with a wave of his hand, and the latter just nodded with emotion: "I know your hard work... so how is the village now, how difficult is it? "

"It's annoying to talk more empty words." Huang Lichang became more emotional when he heard the words. "I'll just tell you one thing... do you guys know why the big tree at the head of the village is bald?"

"It's close, and it saves effort when picking it, so it was picked by the villagers and eaten up?" Chief Zhao guessed right.

Huang Lichang nodded: "Mr. Zhao has also experienced it."

"How many people have died in the past few years?" Mr. Zhao continued to ask.

"It's hard to say, no one knows whether he died or ran away, and he doesn't know when it will be counted." Huang Lichang sighed. "Not to mention the three years since the third levy, but counting forward to the second levy and the first levy, it is still chaotic... and the system has also changed randomly. At the beginning, each li was [-] households, but in the end the household registration was divided. It was so small that it couldn’t support people at all. Later, the system was changed to allow large villages to manage three to five hundred households. In fact, it was just one village... Before the first expropriation, our village was almost five hundred households, with thousands of people. I remember this because at that time there was still a discussion about whether to set up another mile?"

"now what?"

"Now..." Huang Lichang was silent for a moment. "I don't know... There may be seventy or eighty men, two or three hundred women, and twenty or thirty children. I haven't checked for a long time."

"Are they all dead?" A young sergeant was obviously confused.

"They're all dead... How did the nearly [-] Hebei soldiers from Banxian and Changhe come here?" Captain Zhao was speechless, and couldn't help but sigh again. "Human life is the cheapest thing, but also the most tenacious."

"Then don't these people want to go home?" The young sergeant continued to be curious. "Stay there as a field soldier?"

"Naturally homesick." Mr. Zhao continued to explain helplessly. "But don't say that many of them are from other counties. Even those from these two counties have to finish the spring plowing before they are allowed to find their family members slowly. Besides, their family members are still there? Apart from these, there are still military laws. Yes, if the higher-ups don’t make it clear, how can they easily leave the camp? Last spring, that guy was in the Eastern Region for the Chinese New Year and he didn’t want to come back, so why don’t we investigate it to the end?”

The young sergeant just shut up.

And the head of the Zhao team just came to tell the head of the Huang Li: "Take this opportunity to check the villagers clearly... The so-called exchanging money for seeds and gathering farm tools with knives are just general terms. The root is still granting land, but it must be serious. Don’t be false, and you won’t collect more taxes... So, population is fundamental. This is why your family was wiped out. He wants to hold Dingkou in his own hands, which is a real taboo .”

Huang Lichang was stunned, and nodded again and again in agreement.

And then, everyone started gossips, but they were all about a few things—Li Zhang Huang asked about the spring farming subsidies and the surrounding wars, while Chief Zhao asked more about the current situation in Shuanghuang Li. How poor and how difficult is it?

In this way, the two sides ate until evening, and went to see the mules and horses together. It was almost dark when they came back. Huang Lichang bluntly said that there was no lamp oil and candles, and it was not easy to hold torches in the house. Han Xiangzheng and Mr. Zhao The few people had nothing to say, so they simply took a rest early in the side rooms on both sides of the main room.

The guests didn't mention it since they went to bed, but after a while Li Zhang calmly went to the backyard with a torch, looked at the mules and horses again, told people not to forget to add food, and then left grandly through the back door of his house. Walking out of the village, he went all the way to the big tree at the head of the village, and held up a torch to read the notice for a long time, but he didn't know what he was thinking.

After a while, a dozen or so young men holding torches gradually gathered under the dark tree. There is no shortage of weapons and remnants of armor among the people.

"Brother Huang." One person waited impatiently and took the initiative to speak. "Hurry up and do it, the more you delay things, the less stable you will be."

"I've changed my mind." Huang Lichang turned around holding a torch. "Wait and see, let's see if the Dragon Gang will give seeds and agricultural tools, and see if they really want to make everyone safe... If he does, we will escape to the west, and there is no need to destroy them Life, for no reason implicates the folks..."

The surroundings became quiet, but there was still one person who was upset: "Second Uncle, we are leaving, why do we care about the folks? We don't have anything, and when we get to the west, how can we stand in Dalang's place?"

"Are you in charge, or am I in charge?" Huang Lichang, holding a torch, asked coldly.

The man also immediately shut his mouth.

Seeing this, Huang Lichang also sighed:
"Everyone, as the saying goes, a tree moves to die, and a person moves to live. This is a truth, and we have indeed been exhausted in the past three years, and we can't live anymore; but as the saying goes, people leave their hometowns and are humble... In this world, how can we live?" Great generals and great heroes, there is no place for burial to die at any time. You entrust your life to me, I have to weigh it; besides, the people in Shuanghuangli are fellow villagers from our village, and they have never done anything wrong to us. This matter has delayed their spring plowing and ruined their lives, I really can't bear it... So, listen to me about this matter, let's take it easy, take it easy, okay?"

The people below looked at each other in blank dismay, especially because there were people who were reprimanded before, so naturally they didn't dare to say more, so they all obediently agreed, and then they were about to disperse.

Only the person who was reprimanded before, couldn't help but turned his head and said before leaving: "Second uncle, let alone the end of the mountain, the key is not to forget the fate of Uncle Sanhuangli!"

Huang Lichang was upset when he heard it, and just told the other party to go back to sleep quickly.

The next day, a few soldiers of the Dragon Army and Han Xiangzheng didn't know that their family had walked through the gate of hell last night, but they sincerely said goodbye to Huang Lichang... That's how the so-called friendship actually came about... Then, Huang Lichang also personally Leading the horse and leading the people to the entrance of the village.

At this time, Chief Zhao took out another object from his bosom and handed it to the other party.

"What is this?" Huang Lichang looked at the thing in his hand in confusion for a moment.

"Food stamps, those who can be exchanged for military rations in the county barracks, those who work as artisans for the Long army in the county, and those of us who retain officials know that they are also the most precious nowadays." Han Xiangzheng sighed at the side and turned to Zhao Long hands. "Brother Zhao is benevolent."

"It's not my benevolence." Mr. Zhao answered frankly. "There is a military law. You have to pay for eating out, and you have to pay everywhere. Otherwise, if you find out, you have to record it, and if there are too many, you have to transfer it to the field soldiers... However, I heard you say it yesterday, and I watched it myself. You guys It's really difficult now, so I'll give it to myself... I know that people like you are heroes and don't pay attention to these subtleties, but it's really the best thing I can show, so let's put it away."

After finishing speaking, he turned around and led the horse, and headed towards Jiangling City Road.

And Huang Lichang looked at the thing in his hand, only half-believing.

(End of this chapter)