A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 25 The Wu Family
"Are the streets in Chang'an City all dirt roads? Why aren't they paved with bricks?" Huaiyu asked, "It's dusty on a sunny day, but once it rains and snows, there won't be mud splashing everywhere, which doesn't fit the image of Emperor Huanghuang.

"My God, how extravagant it is to pave the floor with bricks. Only the palace can use bricks to pave the floor. The entire Chang'an City is covered with dirt roads like this. Only a section of road is paved in front of the imperial city." It is also convenient for officials to go to court." Chen Xing said with a smile.

Huaiyu looked at the wide road. There are so many streets in Chang'an City. If they are all paved with bricks, the cost may indeed be too high. "Then why not pave them with sand?"

"It's not expensive to spread sand. The sand embankment in front of the imperial city is also transported from the Chan River, which is very expensive." It is good that the dirt road can be leveled regularly. .

Only when the emperor passed by on a trip, the officials would pad the road with loess and pour clean water on the street in advance. This practice also shows that the dirt street is uneven and dusty, so it is necessary to do this.

The carriage drove slowly, with Chen Xing, the Chang'an Tong, leading him through the streets and workshops, over hills and ridges to take shortcuts, it was much faster.

It took about half an hour all the way to reach Jinchengfang.

Jinchengfang is similar to most squares in Chang'an. It is also rectangular, with four gates, and the cross street connects the four gates. The square is divided into four blocks, and each block is divided into four blocks by a small cross street. The whole square has sixteen districts .

The square wall is about ten feet high and the square is closed, and the tall square gate is guarded by the square men with spears and bows.

After entering the square, the house planning is very neat. In addition to the houses, there are temples and temples, and some have yamen, but there are no shops. Basically, the houses along the street are also built with rammed earth walls. When I got up, there was no one walking around on the street in Fangnei, let alone the sound of yelling and selling. Huaiyu always felt that the location facing the street was wasted. If opening a store facing the street, it would not only be convenient for the people, but also drive the economy. The house facing the street could also make money as a storefront Woolen cloth.

Xuancheng Mansion is located to the west of the south gate of Jinchengfang, next to Shunyimen Street.

As the county magistrate of the founding of the country, the Samurai family had the privilege to open the door on the wall of the neighborhood, and they could enter the mansion directly without entering the workshop.

Huaiyu took a look, and there were not many houses that opened the door facing the street in the south of Jinchengfang. Basically, they were the homes of princes of the third rank and above with Wutou gate and halberds inside the gate. There was a window on the wall of his house facing the street, and Chen Xing said that it was a Tonggui's house above the fifth rank.

Relatives and nobles above the third rank can open the door facing the street, and those above the fifth rank can open the windows.

And below the fifth rank, no matter whether it is an official or a wealthy businessman, even if they are facing the street, they are not allowed to open the doors and windows.

There is a class order everywhere.

This is an age of identity.

The Samurai Leng family is actually an official family that has served as officials for generations, but it has been reduced in recent years, and the official position is not high, so it has long been reduced to a humble family.

In the eyes of those aristocratic families, even if the Wu family is now a family of three, it is just a nouveau riche. None of the three brothers can even buy a house in the Upper East Side.

However, in the eyes of many low-level people, the Wu family is still an idol. Taking advantage of the change of dynasty, Conglong founded the country, became a prince, and even got a marriage from the emperor. He married a daughter of the Hongnong Yang family with four surnames in Kansai as the successor. He is an example of counterattack in life.

Even if Yang's daughter is an old lady in her 40s, everyone will not dislike her, only envy her.

Chen Xing envied and even worshiped the warrior Xun very much.

"I admire two people the most. One is Shen Guang who came to Guanzhong from the south of the Yangtze River, and the second is your clan uncle."

Shen Guang was nicknamed Rou Feixian, and his father was originally the Minister of the Ministry of Officials in the Southern Chen Dynasty. After the Sui Dynasty destroyed Chen, his family was moved to Beijing. Guang's father was born with a bad life, and he assisted Chen Houzhu. As a result, Chen Shubao died.Assisted Yang Yong, but Yang Yong was abolished.Assisted Yang Liang, but Yang Liang's rebellion failed again.

In the end, Shen Guang's father was also implicated in removing Mingmin.

When Shen Guang was young, his family was already in decline, and his father and elder brother were also reduced to copying books for others. As soon as Shen Guang settled down, he was dissolute and unrestrained. He liked to make friends, and even soon became the eldest brother supported by the wandering children in Chang'an City.

Later, Shen Guang recruited Xiaoguo and joined the army in the Eastern Expedition, and was appreciated by Yang Guang, who awarded Zhe Chonglang a sword and a good horse, a counterattack of a [-]-year-old swinger.The samurai Xun was even better. He was doing business in his early years, and later entered the Yingyang Mansion as a team leader, and then followed Li Yuan. In just a few years, he became the Duke of the State.

Chen Xing has always fantasized that one day he can have this adventure, and the grassroots counterattacks and turns over.

Standing in front of the Xuancheng County Government Mansion, looking at the Wutou gate and the two rows of halberds inside the gate, Huaiyu sighed. He heard Lao Wu once said that he and the samurai Leng samurai Xun and the others had sold wood and sold horses together. , Walked through Liaodong and carried a gun, but now one is a county magistrate, and the other is just an official brigade commander.

Chen Xing stepped forward, handed over a greeting card, and explained the purpose of coming to an old man with white hair.

"This is Wu Huaiyu, nephew of the Xuancheng Gong Clan, Sanyuan Longqiaobao. I'm here to pay a visit to the patriarch. Please inform me."

He handed over a door bag in a timely manner, which contained a small string of money, and then said: "The young one is the foreign steward of Yongkang Duke's mansion. I sent Wu Erlang here at the order of Mrs. Zhang, and I will send my greetings to Duke Xuancheng by the way." , and some local products from Zhuangzi.”

The old man squeezed the door bag with his hands, and knew that it was about a hundred dollars, then he looked at Wu Huaiyu and Chen Xing.

"You came from Sanyuan Longqiao Fort. I remember that you joined the imperial army. I heard that you have just made meritorious service and been awarded the ninth rank, and you have been selected as a hundred cavalry in the camp?"

"The old man is talking about my elder brother Huai Yi, who is the second in my family, and his name is Huai Yu."

Lao Menzi grinned, showing a few teeth, "Isn't the second child Huailiang, I remember the last time I came here, it was only about three feet tall?"

"Huailiang is my third younger brother. I studied Taoism in Zhongnan Mountain for nine years, and I just came back from the mountain."

"Oh, look at me, I'm so confused, I can't remember clearly. Back then, I went to sell horses outside the Great Wall with your father and Oroshiro, and transported grain to Liaodong."

Huaiyu looked at the old man, he probably belonged to the old part of Samurai Ling, and he should have some status in the family, so he praised him a few times and he is still in good health.

"You follow me to the front hall to have tea, and I'll inform Alang, who happens to be at home." The old man said happily.

Samurai Leng's house is smaller than Li Jing's, but it's not too small, and the house is built on a slope, which is particularly prominent among the houses in the square, giving it a somewhat condescending feeling.

After walking in, I found that the house of Samurai Leng is quite distinctive, and the house of Li Jingping Kangfang is very large, and there are many courtyards, gardens, rockeries, ponds, and polo fields.

However, there are not so many courtyard gardens in Samurai's house, but there is a lotus pond covering an area of ​​six or seven acres, and there are several acres of orchards planted with various fruit trees, large vegetable fields, and even a few trees beside the lotus pond. paddy field.

Walking in, it feels like you are in the country, or you have entered a farmhouse.

Quiet and elegant.

This house covers an area of ​​at least thirty or forty acres.

After being led to the living room in the vestibule, the old man went to make an announcement. Two maidservants in green clothes came to make tea for him. Huaiyu chatted with Chen Xing. On the knees, the narrow sleeves were also rolled up high, a white towel was put on the neck, and the legs were still bare, with some mud on them.

It looked like he had just returned from tending the crops in the field.

"You are Shi Ke's second child? I heard that you just came back from Zhongnan Mountain, and you know how to make alchemy and fortune-telling?"

"My nephew Huaiyu paid a visit to the patriarch's uncle. It is true that my nephew has just returned from the mountains, but he doesn't know alchemy and fortune-telling, but he has a little knowledge of medicine."

Lao Wu sat down, grabbed a cup of tea and gulped it down like a cow.

"Is your father okay at home, is that leg better? I heard that your elder brother was seriously injured by Xue Wanche, but after taking your elixir, he turned out to be fine?"

"I heard that your elixir is famous in Chang'an. Many nobles and generals are passing it on. The more you spread it, the more magical it is. It is said that it can raise the dead's flesh and bones? I met His Highness King Qin in the Forbidden Garden yesterday. His Highness asked me about this specifically, saying that our Wu family has produced another hero."

The old man saw the golden knife on Huaiyu's waist, and said with a smile: "This is rewarded by the King of Qin, take it well, and don't lose it."

This old man was black and thin, with a white goatee. Although he looked like an old farmer in the countryside, his words revealed a lot of information.

"People from Li Jing's family sent you here? If you came to Chang'an, why didn't you come to me directly, why did you go to Li Jing's house first?"

Huaiyu gave a brief introduction.

He said that he heard that the children of the Li family village next door were injured in a battle in the northwest border. They used to "donate medicine", and were dragged by Li Sanniang to Chang'an to purchase medicinal materials, and then brought them to Li's family to dispense medicine.

The old man chuckled a few times, "That Mrs. Zhang is a shrewd one. Back then, he took a fancy to Li Jing and believed that he would become a great weapon in the future, so he abducted Li Jing. Now you are called young but have superb medical skills. You are also a child of my Wu family, and you are generous. It's not surprising that it's a gift. Since she gave it to you, you can accept it, and it's not for nothing that you get her family silk and maid."

Huaiyu took out three bottles of medicine, which were the Supreme Treasure Pill, Flying Dragon Pill and Shenghealing Pill prepared in advance for the warrior.

"I didn't go to the battlefield when I was young. I usually manage the forbidden garden and go home to mess with my own garden. I don't need this good thing." He looked at Huaiyu with a smile, "But this thing is very useful for those who fight For the generals, it is a good thing to save life."

"You must keep this prescription well, and you must not pass it on lightly. If you keep it well, your children and grandchildren will benefit from it." Old Wu Dundun taught.

"My nephew plans to go back and buy some more medicinal materials to make more, send some to the elders and relatives in the clan, and then make some for sale. My nephew has just received a job in the county to catch money, and I plan to use this company directly. The capital is used to buy medicines and pharmaceuticals to sell, which can not only complete the errands, but also earn some income and improve the conditions of the family."

"It's very good for young people to have this idea. They think long-term and are very practical. Just do it when you think about it. Don't hesitate. You, Aye, and I used to run around doing business. It's not shameful.

If you don't have enough money, just tell me. If anyone dares to challenge you, you can directly report the name of our Wu family. Although our Wu family comes from a poor family, we are not oppressed. "

"You just need to remember one thing, Wu's children should not cause troubles outside, but don't be afraid when something happens, our Wu family has always been united, if we can't resist outside, just tell the family, let's deal with it together."

Huaiyu was very heartwarming to hear these words, this family can be relied on.

Although the second-rank county magistrate of Samurai Ling is false, when he said these words seriously, he was still very majestic. After all, although this old man likes crops and gardens, he also followed Li Yuan with a knife and gun and led Zhuang Ding's trilogy. Father and son earned titles by fighting on the battlefield.

"Let's have a couple of drinks in a while, and I'll have someone call your brothers and nephews to get to know each other well. From now on, you young people should unite and take care of each other."

The martial arts family is prosperous and there are many young people.

Wu Junya, the eldest son of the samurai, is also 50 years old. Now the right guard is serving as Kaicao and participating in the military. His rank is not high, and he is only an eighth-rank official. read.

Lao Wu has 23 sons, the eldest is fifty, the youngest is only five months old, and there are a lot of grandsons, the concubines can fill a room.

The older children and grandchildren have either become officials, or are still in Sanwei, Guanxue, Guozijian, and some are still breastfeeding.

Huaiyu was also very shocked to see Lao Wu's family full of children and grandchildren. Such a dry old man is too fierce. The mother of his youngest son is the No. 13 concubine who was just accepted last year. She is only 15 years old.

"Erlang, you help my uncle to get my pulse. Recently, I suddenly feel that I have more energy than I can do. The concubines in the backyard are complaining a little. Is there any prescription for me to recuperate, or just get a pair of pills for me?" I regain my glory?"

"I recently fell in love with a nice girl, and I'm about to accept her as the No. 14 concubine."

Huaiyu almost spit out the tea when she heard it, she is really old-hearted, at the age of 70, she still has to accept concubine No.14.

"Erlang, I recently heard about a folk recipe. It said to find a [-]th-five-year-old maid who wants to be perfect. Let me soak two dates every night. I get up in the morning and eat it for a month. It will have miraculous effects. This recipe Is it useful?"

Huaiyu shook her head when she heard this, she had already figured out the method of soaking in the sun, the old man's heart is really not old.

"Then it's better to just make wine with fresh deer blood and some medicinal materials, and drink an appropriate amount every ten days, and then you can boost your majesty, but you must be restrained. Uncle is at this age, once every ten days is good, otherwise the leakage of essence will hurt the body , After a long time, it will be difficult to cheer up."

The old man nodded again and again.

As a result, he turned around and called his servants, "Today, Jun Erlang, the talented family member, is coming to the mansion, so hurry up and buy a deer in Beiyuan, you want to live, a stag!"

With such an impatient look, Huaiyu couldn't believe that this is a 70-year-old person.

Lao Wu took Huaiyu's hand kindly, "Fresh deer blood will be available soon, what more medicinal materials are needed, Erlang, you can write a prescription, and I will send people to the pharmacy to buy it."

"Uncle, pay attention to your health."

Old Wu smiled and didn't take it seriously, "I think I'm okay, I can take a few more concubines and have more children. This is also a contribution to our old Wu family. Let me tell you, this person is the foundation of the family. Ding Xingwang, the family can prosper. You are not young, and it is time to start working hard.

How about I make arrangements for you, you have to have a child as soon as possible, you are young now, marry early and give birth early, in the future you will take more concubines and have twenty or thirty sons, there is no reason for this family not to prosper, there will always be something promising of. "

(End of this chapter)