Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 495
In the seventh year of Wanli, the first day of the first month.

The He mansion was decorated with lanterns and festoons.He Shizhong held Xiao Hanjiao in his arms and lit a string of [-]-gun firecrackers at the gate of the mansion.

"Crackling, crackling".

Little Hanjiao hid in his uncle's arms, covered his ears, and watched curiously as the firecrackers turned into pieces of red paper amidst the crackling sound.

Sitting in the hall, He Liu sighed, "Year after year. Alas, I'm getting older again."

Xiangxiang picked up a piece of candy and stuffed it into He Liu's mouth: "Father, don't moan and sigh when it's Chinese New Year. How about it? This is Jingchengfang Chunzhai's tangerine candy, sweet."

He Liu nodded: "Well, it's very sweet. When you go back to Liaodong, buy more and honor your father-in-law."

At this time, two people dressed as soldiers from the border town drove a carriage to the gate of He Mansion.

He Shizhong asked: "Who are you two?"

The older sergeant cupped his hands and said: "Ah, this is Young Master He! My name is Cao Shan, and I am the Deputy Qianhu of the Datong Guard. This is my son, Cao Wenzhao, who is now a personal soldier of the General Guard of the Datong Guard."

As for Cao Shan and his son, they are still He Liu's saviors!Eight years ago, He Liu was ordered by the late Emperor Longqing to go south to Guangxi to search for the nourishing sacred orangutan blood.On the way, he was attacked in Longhushan, Jiangxi.If it wasn't for Orion Cao Ergou and his son's rescue, He Liu would have died a long time ago!
Later, He Liu changed Cao Ergou's name to Cao Shan, and Cao Xiaogou's name to Cao Wenzhao.It coincided with Fu Hanling's appointment as the deputy general of Datong.He Liu asked Fu Hanling to take them to Datong to join the army.

He Shizhong was overjoyed: "I heard from my father what happened to you back then, you are my father's saviors! Hurry up, please come inside!"

He Shizhong led Cao Shan, and Cao Wenzhao entered the hall.

He Liu recognized the father and son at a glance: "Ah! Two benefactors, why are you here? Please take a seat! Xiaoyan, hurry up and serve tea to the guests!"

Cao Shan said with a smile: "Master Fu, we will go to Beijing to report on our duties, and we will arrive in Beijing in three days. He is carrying his own guard of honor and walking slowly. We are specially ordered to go to Beijing on the first day of the first lunar month. Grandpa sent some New Year's goods!"

Today's Fu Hanling is already the commander-in-chief of the Datong Guard with the title of former military commander and magistrate, and the serious commander of the Jiubian Township.

He Liu looked at the color of Cao Shan's clothes, and asked, "Why, I haven't seen you for eight years, and you've got mixed up with Deputy Qianhu?"

Cao Shan said modestly: "It all depends on Marshal Fu's promotion."

He Liu pointed at Cao Wenzhao again: "If I remember correctly, he is only fourteen this year, right? Why did he become a soldier?"

Cao Shandao: "I thought, being a soldier is a serious job. Instead of letting him eat at home, it's better to join the army and receive a salary. Marshal Fu looked after him because he was young, so he took care of him and let him serve as a soldier in front of the general's tent. "

He Liu put a large porcelain plate full of melon seeds and longevity fruits in front of Cao Wenzhao: "Come on, son, eat."

Turning his head, He Liu said to Cao Shan: "You are cruel enough. If it were me, let Wen Zhao go to a private school to study. You will get a good reputation in the future. Although serving as a soldier is to serve the country, but there is always a 'Qiu Ba' on his head reputation. It doesn’t sound good.”

Cao Shandao: "This little dog of my family didn't like reading since he was a child. He just loved dancing with guns and sticks. I also understand that one person has one life. He was born to be Qiu Ba. How can people follow What about fate?"

A few years later, when Cao Wenzhao, the number one good general in the late Ming Dynasty, wore the Tianzi sword at his waist and restrained an army of 30 in five provinces, he couldn't help feeling grateful for his father Cao Shan's decision back then.

He Liu asked: "How is your Marshal Fu recently? Have you married a wife?"

Cao Shan shook his head: "Our Marshal Fu is a weirdo. He is now the famous Datong Town Marshal. How many people are lining up to marry their daughters to him. He just doesn't like anyone."

He Liu sighed: "Oh, asking what love is in the world, it's just a promise between life and death."

Fu Hanling is an infatuated man.He only loved one woman, Li Xueyi, all his life.After Li Xueyi threw himself into the river, he was heartbroken and decided not to marry for life.Now Fu Hanling is 40 years old and still alone.There are even rumors in the Datong army that Marshal Fu doesn't like women and has a habit of Long Yang.

At this time, He Liu's concubine He Fangqing entered the hall.

Since He Fangqing married into the He family, she was arranged to live in the desolate Xikua courtyard.She doesn't leave the gate all day long, and doesn't step through the second door.All he was thinking about was how to assassinate He Liu and avenge his father's death.However, Bai Xiaoyan arranged for a female killer under Zhao Feihu to watch her closely every day.She didn't have any chance to attack He Liu.

He Liu asked, "Why did you come to the lobby?"

He Fangqing said frivolously: "Why, am I not from the He family? On the first day of the first lunar month, shouldn't I come to the hall to greet the master?"

He Liu said coldly: "Then hurry up and pay New Year's greetings, and after the New Year's greetings, go back to Xikua courtyard and stay."

He Fangqing said to He Liu in a strange manner: "Well, the servant girl wishes the master every year to have today. Every year is as good as today!"

After speaking, He Fangqing turned and left the hall.

Cao Shan asked: "Master Liu, that one just now is the second lady?"

He Liu smiled bitterly: "Do you think she looks like my second wife?"

Cao Wenzhao is only fourteen years old, but he is a ghost.He interjected: "I think that woman just now seems to have some deep hatred for Liu Ye!"

He Liu laughed heartily: "Cao Shan, your son really has eyesight!"

He Shizhong led several servants, and moved the things on the carriage outside the gate of the mansion into the hall.

Cao Shan pointed to those things and said, "These fur goods, air-dried meat, and mountain delicacies are all our local specialties in Datong."

He Shizhong said: "It's rare that Marshal Fu still thinks about me as an old friend."

At this time, Feng Bao led a few young eunuchs and entered He's residence with some ritual gifts.

Feng Baodao: "Sixth Brother, Happy Chinese New Year! I'm here to give you a New Year gift!"

He Liu smiled and said, "You go to worship your godfather first. After the worship, come to the hall to talk."

Every first day of the new year, Feng Bao would go out of the palace to congratulate his mansion, and worship his godfather Lao Hu with a roast chicken and a stick of green incense.

Feng Bao left the hall and went to the bedroom where Lao Hu lived before his death.

Cao Shan said: "Master Liu, your family must be busy on New Year's Eve. We won't bother you. Farewell."

He Liu hurriedly said: "My savior has arrived in the capital, can I still let you live in Bingmasi's station? Don't leave, the family will be more lively during the Chinese New Year! Shizhong, you go to your mother and ask her to clean up the two The room is for Uncle Cao Shan and Little Brother Wen Zhao."

He Shizhong said: "Okay!"

The sun was high, and there was an endless stream of people coming to He's mansion to pay New Year's greetings.

The brothers of Jin Yiwei are here.The foreman and fore eunuchs of the East Factory came.The officials of the Sanfa Division came.The commanders of the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion came, and so did the officials of the Sixth Department.

Although He Liu has stepped down as the governor of Beizhen, the officials in the capital still regard him as the shadow commander of Jinyiwei.In their view, as long as the sixth master is still alive, Jin Yiwei's surname will be "He"!
(End of this chapter)