A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 15 Homecoming
In the afternoon, on the road from Jingbiandun to Xinzhuang, several fast horses came running, causing the sound of horseshoes.

Immediately, several people were all wearing the fur coats and felt hats of Ming soldiers in winter, bows and arrows and knives across their waists, and long guns pinned to their saddles. Although their military uniforms were worn out, they all looked vigorous.Especially the few war horses under him, all of them are fat and strong, which are quite rare in this area of ​​Baoan Prefecture, they are Wang Dou and Han Chao.

After the Jin army has retreated, there are many military households busy in the fields beside the road, especially the closer to Xinzhuang, the more people there are.Seeing Wang Dou and the others galloping past, many people showed envious expressions on their faces, they were so happy in their ragged clothes and angry horses.

More people cast their reverent gazes. Wang Dou and others are already very famous in Xinzhuang. Nine people killed ten Tartars in the battle, especially Wang Dou, who killed five Tartars with one person. My son, what a hero, if all the soldiers in Ming Dynasty were like them, the world would have been at peace long ago.

Look at the horses under them, they were taken from the Tartars. Such a good horse is really eye-catching.

Wang Dou was leading the charge riding on that maroon horse, looking around, he seemed quite unfeeling and self-important.Along the way, people from the village greeted them loudly. After Wang Dou nodded slightly to them, everyone's faces shone brightly, with a sense of dignity.

Among Wang Dou's five people, Gao Shiyin was also among them. He was promoted to a small banner, and he was also going to Dongjiazhuang to get his confession, so he went with the others.I heard that now he is proud of the spring breeze, and the white money makes him comfortable. After the Jiachang Wang Youjin of Juludun is transferred away, he is also very likely to become the new Jiachang of Juludun. He will be promoted and get rich. The joy lies in this .When he was in a good mood, his usual glaring eyes softened a lot.

A few horses arrived at the gate of Xinzhuang, and there were more onlookers, and the friendly voice of "Brother Wang" kept ringing. No matter how bad Wang Dou's reputation in Xinzhuang was before, now he has become a proud man in the village. A legend about it, when it is talked about in other villages, everyone has a bright face.

Especially looking at the fat horses under them, many onlookers were even more envious, and even said that the Tartars were better than horses, but the horses they raised were different.He also said that only a hero like Brother Wang can win such a good horse.

However, more women and children watched and discussed from a distance. It is good that Wang Dou is from the village. The fleshy face and a pair of eyes are always fierce, enough to make strangers stop.

Wang Dou kept clasping his fists in return, no matter what happened in the past, now he has returned to his hometown in good clothes, and it is better to be decent in front of the villagers.Han Zhong, Qi Tianliang and others followed behind Wang Dou, also with their heads held high, with a proud look.

Just as they were about to enter the village, Wang Dou suddenly heard a very friendly voice: "Hey, it's Wang Zongqi who is back. The military affairs are busy? It's rare to see Wang Zongqi coming back to the village these days. If you have time, please go to Shexia to talk about it." , you and my neighbors get together well."

Wang Dou turned his head to look, but saw Jiang An, the head of the village, coming from the right side of the village wall, bowing to him with a smile on his face. Wang Dou hurriedly clasped his fists in return. A good relationship is good for you and your family.At the same time, he thought that Jiang An was worthy of being the head of the village, and the news was well-informed, so he was promoted to the general banner, and he knew it before he got the report.

The people next to him all heard Jiang An's words, their expressions were stunned, and then they looked at Wang Dou with shocked eyes. They had heard long ago that the brother of the Wang family was going to become a great success, but they didn't expect that this official would really be promoted. , and it was upgraded to two levels at once.

This chief banner official is at least a seventh-rank title, just like the county magistrate. Although he is not as prestigious in terms of prestige, he is still an official. What's more rare is that Wang Dou is still young. It seems that the Wang family really wants to Prospered.All of a sudden, the expressions of the people around were even more respectful, and the news that Wang Dou was promoted to the general banner spread quickly amidst the whispers of the people.

Looking at Wang Dou in front of him, Jiang An also felt emotional. In the past, Wang Dou was just a fool and softie. Niu, he himself has been thinking about his family's fields and acres.

Unexpectedly, this idiot Wang seemed to have changed his nature all of a sudden, and he supported his family business all at once. It's really enviable to be promoted to the general banner all of a sudden, and to be appreciated by the superiors. Why do you think this person changed his luck so quickly?
Seeing Wang Dou's sturdy body riding on a fast horse, looking proud in the spring breeze, Jiang An felt very uncomfortable. Looking at the people behind him, Jiang An was even more surprised. Those Ming soldiers were all tall and tall. , looking tough, everyone has blood on their bodies, and the taste of seeing the scene is very strong, even if I have seen the servants under the command of the garrison in the Acropolis before, it may not be like this.

Jiang An has heard too much, just a few of them, but killed ten real Tartars, and the horses under their crotch were snatched from the Tartars, and there were a lot of things seized. , who has this ability?
In fact, there are only a few people who can walk sideways in Xinzhuang, and these people are all listening to Wang Dou. With this power, plus he was promoted to the chief banner officer... It seems that the Wang family has really changed. In the future, I have to make good friends with their family.

Thinking of this, Jiang An's expression became even more affectionate, the two exchanged a few words, and made an appointment to get together at a certain time, then they smiled and bowed to each other and left.

After Wang Dou and the others left, there was a commotion behind him like a frying pan.

……

When he came to the door of his house, Wang Dou saw some masons were busy in front of the wall of his house, doing repair work on the mud wall and roof tiles, and some idlers squatted or stood watching and chatting.

Seeing Wang Dou and five people coming over, all of them were riding tall horses, not to mention their burly figures, and everyone was carrying bows, arrows and long guns, etc., which made people feel extremely oppressive. Everyone in the field stood up in awe. The human plasterers also stopped their work at the same time, and looked at Wang Dou and the others in fear.

A neighbor who knew Wang Dou greeted him with a smile on his face: "It turns out that Brother Wang is back, and I was talking about you just now, tsk tsk, what a coincidence..."

He walked into the inner courtyard and shouted repeatedly: "Aunt Four, Aunt Four, Brother Wang is back."

Wang Dou and the others got off their horses and led the horses into the courtyard. A series of discussions came from behind them: "That's Brother Wang, no wonder... tsk tsk, look at that horse, it's really strong..."

There were several women helping firewood in the courtyard, and when they saw Wang Dou leading the horses in, and then the strong horses came in one by one, they were all stunned for a while, and then greeted Wang Dou affectionately: "Hey, Brother Wang is back, I really have time today."

They all looked at the horse of Wang Dou and others with envy, and kept praising: "Look at this handsome horse, tsk tsk..."

These women are the neighbors of the Wang family, Wang Dou greeted them with a smile, at this time Zhong's joyful voice came from the back room: "Dou'er is back?"

Then I saw Zhong Shi and Xie Xiuniang coming out of the house, holding a rolling pin in their hands.

Zhong Shi walked in front, her hair was still combed meticulously, it can be seen that she looks very good, and she seems to be much younger, not to mention the few pieces of cloth that Wang Dou brought home, even in front of this outsider, she Also put on a suit of clean and decent clothes.

Xie Xiuniang was also wearing a clean and tidy dress on her petite body, her face was much rosier, and she was no longer as pale as before.Although she is still as frugal as Zhong, Wang Dou has been asking them not to be frugal in food for a month. After a month of raising them like this, Xie Xiuniang's complexion has obviously improved a lot, and she won't be ashamed when the wind blows like before. It looks like it's about to fall.

Wang Dou stepped forward and called, "Mother, Xiuniang."

Zhong said with a smile: "Today I told Xiu Niang that you might come back, but I didn't expect you to come back. Dunnei's military affairs are busy?"

Seeing Wang Dou, Xie Xiuniang was also full of joy, and called out softly: "Brother." She obediently walked behind Zhong Shi, only looking at Wang Dou with her eyes.

Wang Dou responded, "Fortunately, I'm not too busy."

At this time, several people from Han and Chao also came forward to salute Mrs. Zhong, and Mrs. Zhong cheerfully invited them to sit down, and together with the women helping firewood, they crowded a courtyard to the brim.

Han Zhongda yelled: "My favorite food is the white noodles rolled by the old lady."

This guy, after going to Wang Dou's family a few times, he misses the white noodles made by the Queen Mother.

Zhong also liked this rough guy very much, she smiled and said: "It's a coincidence today, the house is being renovated, and the neighbors are here to help, and I'll let Brother Han eat your fill in a while."

Then she complained happily to Wang Dou: "I mean, the money was saved up for your wedding and wedding, but you insist on renovating the house, isn't that a waste of money?"

Xie Xiuniang beside her blushed immediately.

Wang Dou smiled and said: "Mother, you don't have to worry about money, my son will find a solution."

He thought for a while and then said: "By the way, I will go to Dongjiazhuang again tomorrow to collect my son's general flag to report his death. Then the supervisor will entertain us in the village, and Xiuniang will go with me."

"The general flag sued?"

Zhong said loudly in a voice that could be heard by the neighbors next door: "My son has been promoted to the chief banner officer?"

All eyes in the courtyard were on Wang Dou, and Wang Dou nodded affirmatively.

There was an exclamation in the courtyard, Zhong's eyes were red, and she rushed into the back room, and everyone hurriedly followed in, but they saw Zhong kneeling in front of her husband's spirit, weeping, she shouted at the spirit card: "His father, look Has it arrived? My son is finally promising."

She burst into tears, as if she wanted to vent all the bitterness and suffering of these years.

Wang Douyi watched quietly in front of the door, watching his usually stubborn mother cry bitterly, with mixed feelings in his heart.Xie Xiuniang supported Zhong Shi by the side, and looked back at him with shining eyes.

Several women were also comforting, one woman said: "Fourth Aunt, Brother Wang has been promoted to Chief Banner Officer, this is a happy event, you should be happy."

Under everyone's persuasion, Zhong finally held back her tears, she wiped her tears and said: "Yes, I won't cry, I won't cry, I'm happy, happy."

With the support of everyone, she stood up, patted her head lightly, and said with a smile: "Look at me, I only talk, but I forget to do things. Look at my memory, I'm really old."

Everyone laughed, and Zhong ordered Wang Dou to greet the guests well, and then happily went into the kitchen. At this time, her face was full of radiance, as if all the bitterness and depression of these years had disappeared.Xie Xiuniang also glanced at Wang Dou happily, and followed Zhong Shi closely.

At this time, the eyes of everyone in the courtyard looking at Wang Dou have changed, everyone's face is full of envy, fear, and fawning expressions, everyone's address for Wang Dou has also changed, no one dares to Call him "Brother Wang", but everyone respectfully calls him "Zongqi Wang!"

(End of this chapter)