Daming Yinghua

Chapter 105 Hello Mr. Qi
Zheng Haizhu looked at Boss Feng, but saw that he was kneeling on the ground, his body did not flinch, and his breath was steady when he narrated the whole story, not like a panicked confession after being involved in a murder case, but like an outsider analyzing the case.

Since Mrs. Shen saw this Boss Feng appearing in the hall, her arrogance and sternness also faded by three or four points, she only turned her face slightly, and stared at Boss Feng with a sense of sadness in her eyes.

When she heard that Boss Feng was going to take the responsibility for the murder again, she suddenly seemed to have woken up, gathered a reckless resentment, and said in a loud voice: "My lord, don't listen to Feng Abao's urgent words. He didn't He has never received any kindness from my family. He was just my neighbor when I was young. He had a relationship with me. Because of his poor family background, he could not marry my Shen family. He went to Jingdezhen as an apprentice, and then came to Songjiang to earn a living for many years. What he did was all due to me Forced by old feelings, I am the main culprit!"

Ouch!

The hearts of all the spectators in the hall roared again.

Today's night trial is really better than the drama in the first month.

Fortunately, Gu Mingshi, the old man of the Gu family, has already left Hexi.

Fortunately, the three masters of the Gu family are either working as officials or doing business outside.

Otherwise, if these dignified and respectable dignitary men who are usually elegant and respectable are also standing in the hall right now and here, and suddenly hear that their female relatives are actually good at murdering, gangsters, and stealing men, Don't be so angry that you faint on the spot?

Huang Zunsu slapped the gavel violently, suppressing the restlessness and noise, and prepared to end the trial: "In today's court hearing, the two testimonies have been personally recorded by the judge. Shen Shi, Feng Abao, Han Xiying and others are in prison. Convicted, if the sentence is hanged or beheaded, according to the law, it will be reported to the Yingtian Mansion for review."

He said again: "All the silkworm households in the hall, who are the first to rush to Han's house tonight, Wu Apang and other six people, will show their shackles to the public for ten days."

"Master Huang!"

A bright but not sharp female voice sounded.

It's Zheng Haizhu.

She finally waited for Huang Zunsu's plan to deal with the silkworm households, and immediately stood up, and said to Huang Zunsu according to what she had just discussed with Qian Shi and Han Ximeng: "Master Huang, my mistress is magnanimous, and Wu Apang and the others are neighbors." I am a fellow villager, and I have not yet broken the house and injured anyone, I implore Master Huang not to be punished."

When Huang Zunsu came from the mortuary an hour ago, Catcher Liu quickly explained Zheng Haizhu's above meaning.

Huang Zunsu saw Dong Qichang's house being instigated and almost burned down in Songjiang last year. From the bottom of his heart, he believed that a simple mind or a difficult life were not the reasons for these old men to beat, smash, loot, or even threaten to burn a weak woman to death.

He was a little unwilling to be reconciled in public and private, so he said to the hall: "The laws of heaven and the laws of the country, the regulations of the township and the people, are just the word 'fairness'. Nor can we turn a blind eye to the silkworm households' trip. The corvee money of the Han family must be converted into the working hours of these six people."

Mrs. Miao stepped forward and said: "Parents are wise officials, but please allow me to suggest a solution. The poisoning of mulberry leaves was done by my evil daughter-in-law. We are willing to pay the silkworm households the money that can be deducted from the summer tax." When they work for the Han family, my wife, I will give them three cents a day for food."

The daily salary of three cents of silver is equal to the salary of an archer in a guard today.

Whether it is Huang Zunsu or Zheng Haizhu, one can understand that Miao Atai's words not only take into account the authority of the government's laws, but also express Gu's guilt and sincerity. Relief" method, so that their families will not be interrupted.

Huang Zunsu did not change his stern expression, but nodded slightly: "Yes."

The silkworm farmers also came to their senses, and after Huang Zunsu retreated, they all came forward and bowed to Zheng Haizhu and other women: "Thank you, Miss Zheng, and thank you, Miss Grandma."

Zheng Haizhu was neither embarrassing nor mocking to them, just staring at the silkworm farmers who threatened to burn him to death in the evening, and said: "Brothers, I won't say anything about the wheels, I just want to trouble you, In the past few days, I will help our Han family."

"Miss Zheng just give orders."

"Three days later, Chensi's friend, you all gather at the gate of the Han Mansion, and Lao Peng, who is in charge, and I will order you to do things."

The silkworm households agreed one after another, and followed the scholars who were driven away by the tolerances to go out.

On the other side, seeing Feng Abao, Shen Shi, and the rogue who wanted to insult Han Ximeng were thrown back by the yamen guards, and her wrists were also shackled, Han Xiying finally burst into tears.

"Second aunt, I don't want to go to jail, big sister, big sister is my fault, I was deceived by lard. Miss Zheng, Miss Zheng, you can beg Mr. Huang for the sake of silkworm households, and please beg Mr. Huang for me, first. Let me go home, there is no place for people to stay in prison. My mother, my mother has been drugged by me, and I don’t know if she has woken up."

Qian ignored this misguided, vicious and stupid niece, and only gave Zheng Haizhu a hinting wink.

With a sullen face, Zheng Haizhu walked over and stuffed a sling of copper coins to the yamen servant: "Please trouble me, find her a cleaner cell and give her two more toilets. My master will return to Songjiang in a few days, and we will visit the prison again."

The tolerance tactfully agreed: "Don't worry, I'll put another cat in so that the mice don't bite the young lady."

"I don't want cats, I'm most afraid of cats," Han Xiying continued to cry while trembling, "I want to go home, I want to go home!"

……

On this day, near noon, on the north bank of the Moon River in Songjiang Fucheng, on the street lined with shops and bustling with pedestrians, four sturdy men from Canhu, carrying the most famous storyteller in the city, sat on a shoulder pad.

Behind the shoulders, there are several other men, either holding a long embroidered scroll stretched on a sandalwood frame, or carrying a burden. There are velvet handkerchiefs and cotton clothes in the baskets.

The storyteller, he talked about the Japanese troubles from Lord Hongwu to Lord Jiajing, he talked about Lord Longqing’s switch, he talked about Lord Wanli’s permission to sell silk fabrics to Fan merchants in the south of the Yangtze River, and he talked about the maritime trade of "the people themselves are the city" in Yuegang. Xingsheng, let’s talk about the Han family not only custom-made silk cloth goods for the imperial court to export to Fan merchants, but also embroidering the anti-Japanese scrolls of the Songjiang Mansion over the years by the eldest lady personally holding the needles.

Of course, the storyteller has also added various "burdens" to the deception of Canniangniang's crimes that have been spread, as well as the actions of Gu's daughter-in-law, Shen, to inform the onlookers along the way.

In the sedan chair not far away, Han Ximeng opened the curtain to look at the situation for a while, then turned to Zheng Haizhu and said, "Many people followed and listened, which is more fawning than chasing dragon and lion dances on New Year's Day."

Zheng Haizhu said: "Dragon and lion dances are also beautiful, but they are not as fresh as this scene. We just want to make the word 'new' into the hearts of the big guys."

She paused, and then said: "The big fanfare today is not only to clean up my stigma, but also to take advantage of this case of the villain of the Shen family to publicize the things we are doing. Let the entire Songjiang government, regardless of Whether it is an illiterate peddler, a farmer, or a scholar who has read poetry and books and is preparing for scientific examinations, everyone knows that a place where the fight against Japanese pirates and pirates was quite tragic can also be opened and closed now, where both government and civilian sea trade can be opened. A place to make a fortune. Moreover, our Ming court should still support and treat a strong army like Grandpa Qi back then, and our Ming people should still embrace and love him."

Han Ximeng nodded, and then asked, "When is the visit to Zongbing Qi in Zhenjiang?"

The general soldier Qi she mentioned was Qi Jin, a descendant of Qi Jiguang, who is now serving as the deputy chief soldier in Zhenjiang, South Zhili.

According to the real historical process, in the Northeast a few years later, thousands of Zhejiang soldiers led by Qi Jin will fight against the Houjin Army of Nurhachi in Hunhe with the Shijiechuan soldiers led by Qin Liangyu.

Due to the lack of knowledge, Zheng Haizhu didn't know whether Qi Jin would be transferred to other provinces of the Ming Empire in the year of the bloody battle in Hunhe, so she was anxious to see Qi Jin now.

She said to Han Ximeng: "A bank note from my hometown brother Yan has been cashed out at the Suzhou bank. The official day for the Gu family to welcome the young lady is the eighth day of the fifth lunar month. Around the Dragon Boat Festival, the prefect Zhuang should return to Songjiang." , Master Huang will take me to ask for instructions. After that, we will set off."

"Okay, at that time, you bring the silver, I bring the embroidery of the Chronicle of Anti-Japanese War, Second Brother Gu brings his fame, oh, and the friendship of General Ma who was dispatched by the Ministry of War to train cavalry in Zhenjiang. The gate of the Military Mansion should not be difficult to enter, right?"

Zheng Haizhu looked at Han Ximeng, pursed his lips and said, "The main thing is money. If you have enough money, it's not difficult to enter any door. Miss, Ah Zhu has sorted out her thoughts in the past few days. If I go now, I still need more money." Talk to General Qi about a new deal."

Han Ximeng was curious: "What business?"

"He opened a shipping insurance company."

"Shipping insurance, what's new?
Just as Han Ximeng showed an expression of wanting to hear more about it, the sedan chair suddenly stopped.

Zheng Haizhu opened the curtain, just in time to see Lao Peng, the housekeeper of the Han family, catching up panting.

"Miss, Miss Zheng. Miss San has been sent back to the mansion."

"Why?"

"Oh, that grandma in Gu's mansion, Mrs. Chen, committed suicide by hitting a wall this morning, right in front of Miss San. Miss San was frightened crazy. Someone came from the yamen and said that Miss San was not like Mrs. Shen and Boss Feng after all, and she would be sentenced to death. Yes, if something goes wrong in the prison, the gentlemen can't afford it, so let us take him back to the mansion first. Miss, do you want to go back and have a look?"

Han Ximeng thought for a while, and said, "Listen to the second aunt. At worst, tie it up and send two more women to watch over it, in case she hurts herself. I want to follow the embroidered screen with Azhu to the school."

Lao Peng was taken aback for a moment, then finally nodded and said: "Okay, let's not delay the lady's business."

The sedan chair continued on.

Han Ximeng said slowly: "Ah Zhu, I will also sigh these few days, thinking of Ah Ying's childish and childlike appearance when she was a child, which made people feel distressed."

Zheng Haizhu said: "Miss, is your heart soft on this girl?"

Han Ximeng shook his head: "I was just wondering why she did this."

Zheng Haizhu said: "Then Shen and Feng Abao, why are they here? Obsession, obsession made them not distinguish right from wrong until they fell into hell."

Han Ximeng sighed: "How to avoid it?"

"Don't just focus on yourself, don't be obsessed with power, love, and unique secrets, look more at the wider world, think more about the well-being of the common people."

Han Ximeng stopped talking and fell into silence, but it could be seen that she was not really disturbed by the news just now.

Zheng Haizhu said softly: "Miss is right that she didn't rush back immediately. These people, no matter they are crazy or dead, they have chosen their own path of no return. And we can't teach people like this People delay."

……

a month later.

Zhenjiang, Beigu Mountain.

It is the summer solstice.

Zhenjiang Mansion is close to the Yangtze River and the widened canal in Yuan Dynasty, so there is plenty of water vapor. During the rainy season in the south of the Yangtze River, every part of the city is hot and humid, making it very stuffy.

Only the top of Beigu Mountain, with its high terrain and cool breeze, coupled with the openness of the river flowing eastward in front of you, immediately refreshes you.

Sitting in the Beigu Pavilion, Zheng Haizhu couldn't help laughing at himself. Even if he couldn't do "Xin Qiji" who recited "Through the ages, no hero can be found, Sun Zhongmou is here", at least he can be "Zheng Bure" at this moment.

Opposite her, the newlyweds Gu Shouqian and Han Ximeng are indeed a couple of bullies, they don't look like you feeding me a fruit or me feeding you a sip of tea.

The two only reviewed all kinds of nostalgic poems and songs, and then commented on the literati landscape pictures such as the misty rivers and Fuchun mountain residences in the past, looking for the Han River, the Qianjiang River and other big rivers, which are different from the water in front of them. The sky is the same as the vast Yangtze River.

There are also Lu Xiangsheng and Fan Polu in the pavilion.

Zheng Haizhu naturally wanted to bring them both.

Lu Xiangsheng is an expert in the art of war and firearms, and he is also an avid fan of Qi Jiguang's "New Book of Performance". He must have a lot in common with Qi Jin, the adopted son and authentic heir of the Qi family.

And Fan Polu, a little girl, has been thinking about how to starch the fabric to improve its hardness, prevent rain and mildew, how to hide the joints of iron sheets under the fabric, and how to do it since she gave Ma Xianglin the first quilted Songjiang cotton dark armor. Improve the convenience of stitch removal and manicure.

Later, Lu Xiangsheng joined in the research and development. They brought Qin Liangyu's mother and son ten pieces of dark armor from Songjiang cotton mixed with Jiading yellow grass in Beijing. According to a letter from General Ma, it was indeed better than the cotton armor of low-level soldiers in the Beijing camp they saw. .

It must be known that the greedy and stupid mason grandfather of the Holy Majesty today got an order for military uniforms as a foreign relative, and made a batch of fake tofu dregs cotton armor. The one who froze to death was Qi Jiguang's soldiers in Jizhou.

So Zheng Haizhu is going to ask Fan Polu to show Qi Jinxiu what it means to be "because you are professional, you deserve it".

Just to emphasize, you can have it for free.

Because the first batch of military uniforms, Xiao Zheng, I can donate to you.

"Dear guests, I have been waiting for a long time, Qi Mou will apologise!"

Under the pavilion, came a loud male voice.

Everyone hurriedly stood up and looked around, but they saw the pebble path under the shadow of the trees, empty and deserted.

Qi Jin, who sent Zheng Haizhu and others up the mountain outside the pavilion, accompanied him respectfully: "It's our general soldier Qi who has come."

After a few more rests like this, a tall old man wearing a straight gray cloth suit appeared on the stone path between the mountains.

Qi Jin was followed by three people, a young man also dressed in common clothes, and the other two were sergeants wearing back armor and sabers at their waists.

Lu Xiangsheng was close to Zheng Haizhu, and with a polite voice, he said with emotion: "I really haven't seen him before, and I heard his voice first, and the sound is like a Hong Zhong shaking the mountains."

Zheng Haizhu smiled and said, "Different from General Qin and General Ma, my military generals of Ming Dynasty are as brilliant as stars."

Lu Xiangsheng said sincerely: "My sister led me to meet them, I am very grateful."

Having been together for two months, reading military books together, beating up students together, going through fire adventures together, and uncovering villains together, Zheng Haizhu and Lu Xiangsheng, who is four years younger than him, have become siblings.

Zheng Haizhu took no time to cheer up Zheng Zhilong's second younger brother: "In time, you will also be a good general, just like my most admired God of War in the Tang Dynasty, Wang Zhongsi."

She thought to herself, don't worry, little brother Lu, I will create a circle of friends for you, and one day, you will be the leader of the circle.

(End of this chapter)