Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Fortunately, the cellar is not full of iron coins, but also gold, silver and copper coins, otherwise it would be tiring to move them.

Perhaps because he was frightened by Ju Ming, Xiang Zhixian became much more generous.

The archers who went out of the city to help with the money were paid hard work fees according to their duties. Zhang Guangdao received two coins, Gu San received one thousand five hundred coins, Bai Sheng received one thousand two hundred coins, and the remaining archers each received one coin.

More than thirty ounces of iron money were scattered around, and Xiang Zhixian thought he could win people's hearts.

But he was completely distracted!

The archers who left the city tonight were all from Shangbai Village, and they were called out of the barracks by Ju Ming. Xiangzhi County is high above them and too far away from them. No matter how many benefits the archers get, they will think that it is Ju Ming who leads them to make money.

Everyone took off their coats, tied the iron coins around their waists, and then put on their clothes to hide them tightly.

It was already afternoon when we took the boat back to the city. One basket after another of goods was carried from the pier to the inner courtyard of the county government office. Although it was covered with something, anyone with a reasonable mind would know that Xiang Zhixian must have made a fortune.

By the evening, everything was done and everyone was exhausted.

Xiang Zhixian also ordered takeout from the restaurant and asked the store to deliver the food to his home. He entertained them before sending it away happily.

"You guys will go out first." Xiang Zhixian said to his servant.

Several servants bowed and left, leaving Magistrate Xiang alone in the room.

This guy immediately took off all disguises, rushed over and grabbed a handful of coins, holding them in his hand and looking at them again and again. Then he picked up a small amount of money and not only touched it, but also put it under his nose and smelled it. The smell made him extremely intoxicated.

Even if all of the more than a thousand acres of remote farmland were sold at a low price, it could still be sold for 700 to 800 yuan.

Including cash, Xiang Zhixian got about 5,000 guan this time.

If you put it in Kaifeng, five thousand farts would not count.

But this is Xixiang County. Xiangzhi County only has a regular salary of 12 guan, an additional salary of 4 guan, 4 shi of lumi per month, and 2 hectares of farmland to collect rent.

In such a remote and small county, there is no public money (hospitality). You have to pay for the reception and transportation yourself. The gray income can only be intercepted from summer and autumn grains (the tax amount reaching 90% is called "pofen", and the excess taxes can be paid by the officials themselves. disposal).

After taking office for more than half a year, Xiang Zhixian, apart from his normal income, had only earned more than 100 guan of filial piety money.

The rent for two hectares of farmland, as well as summer grain and heavy taxes, have not yet been confiscated. Xiang Zhixian was short of money, and his family was so poor that they were almost losing money.

Now there are five thousand strings placed in front of him!

Gold, silver, iron, and even copper, they are all charming and cute.

After killing Master Zhu, he will also be given filial piety money for the subsequent tea smuggling. Xiang Zhixian is excited just thinking about it.

What about Lu Guanren, what about Bai Yuanwai, what about Heifeng Village, they can do whatever they want, and I will honestly not interfere. Ju Ming's threat made him unhappy, but it didn't matter. The only real thing was to be able to bring the money back to his hometown alive.

Moreover, after quelling the rebellion of the Chief Secretary, he will also break into the rebel stronghold. These are all political achievements!

That night, Xiang Zhixian refused to let his concubine serve him, so he slept all night holding the gold and silver coins.

…

On the way back to the school grounds, Bai Sheng couldn't help but ask: "I already got one thousand two hundred dollars, how much did Brother Zhu get? Why didn't I see you carrying it with you?"

Zhu Ming said: "Xiang Zhixian is stingy. If he gives me too much, he will feel sorry for me. If he gives me too little, he is afraid that I will dislike him. Therefore, he will not give me a penny and only gives me the tea mountains and fields in Heifeng Village."

Zhang Guangdao said contemptuously: "Heifeng Village has not even been attacked yet, and this guy is making random promises. I'm afraid he will want to go back on his word then. Brother Zhu needs to be cautious."

"Hey, what can we do? They are the county magistrates, and we are just small archers." Zhu Ming sighed.

Before reaching the gate of the school grounds, the news that Ju Ming had not received the reward spread among the more than thirty archers.

Everyone was aggrieved and felt that Ju Ming had suffered a loss.

At about nine o'clock in the evening, Ju Ming took people back to the school grounds. The other archers had already rested, and the area around the barracks was very quiet.

They worked hard all day and all night, and were so tired that they went to sleep in the big bunk without taking off their clothes.

When I woke up the next morning, there was still no one there, so I could sleep as long as I wanted.

It wasn't until mid-morning that I had the strength to bring the servants over to serve the meal.

Shou Li is a servant who works as a miscellaneous person in the county government. He is always attentive to him, and when he sees temporary officers like Zhu Ming, he nods and bows.

Zhu Ming, Zhang Guangdao and Chen Ziyi all had their heads together. Not only did they have white rice and meat, but they also each had a pot of rice wine.

Although Gu San's several lieutenants, as well as the ten generals below, had no rice wine to drink, they could still see the meat, and there was no sand in the rice.

As for the lower-level archers, the food was even worse. They could only drink two bowls of gruel.

Chen Ziyi felt that this arrangement was normal. He poured the rice wine and asked with a smile, "Did you two steal stolen goods for the county magistrate yesterday?"

Zhang Guangdao immediately complained for Zhu Ming: "Xiangzhi County got thousands of guan yesterday, but he only gave me two guans, and the other archers only got 1 guan. Brother Zhu didn't get even half a penny. He was only given the land in Heifeng Village and paid back I don’t know if it can be cashed out. Even if it is cashed out, I’m afraid it will be at a discount.”

"This bird man is really a chicken. It's in vain that we worked for him." Chen Ziyi had a worse impression of Xiang Zhixian and consoled him, "Brother Zhu, don't worry, I will help you get those fields even if I risk my life!"

"Brother Chen is very interested," Zhu Ming pointed to the archer who was receiving the meal. "The soldiers are training, which consumes a lot of energy. How can they eat two thin meals a day? We have to fight hard. If the soldiers eat these, they will still fight for their lives." Fighting?"

Chen Ziyi shook his head and said: "It's just to deal with errands, they just want to save their lives."

"That's it," Ju Ming said, "They are all archers who enlisted together. The Chen family brothers are brothers, and those archers are also brothers. Since the brothers are being deprived of food, can the Chen family brothers just sit back and do nothing?"

Chen Ziyi thought carefully and realized that this was indeed the case. He nodded and said, "We have to ask the county magistrate to allocate more money and food."

But Ju Ming said: "No matter how much money and grain the county magistrate allocates, it will all be deducted by the subordinate officials. Let's make a fuss with him for the time being."

"What's the fuss about?" Chen Ziyi asked.

"Look at me!" Zhu Ming stood up suddenly.

He walked up to Shou Li who was putting the rice on the table. Shou Li greeted him with a smile and asked quickly: "Zhu Dotou, is there not enough food? I will prepare more tomorrow."

Ju Ming pointed to the porridge in the bucket and asked: "We fought hard the past two days and killed all the rebels. The archers on the school field, who has not deserved the credit for their hard work? We need to practice every day, and then go to fight with the gangsters." The thieves in Fengzhai are working hard, so you let your brothers eat this kind of pig food?"

The bottom archers who were queuing up to receive the porridge all looked at Shou Li.

They had already complained in their hearts, but they dared not express their anger. Now that Ju Ming took the lead, their dissatisfaction was immediately aroused.

Shou Li kept smiling: "Du Tou, I'm just a handyman on duty. If I don't get enough money and food from above, I won't be able to make big fish and meat."

Zhu Ming rolled up his sleeves and scolded: "Since you can't make the decision, let the person who can make the decision come. I only give you two-quarters of an hour. Get out of here!"

Handle was so frightened that he ran out of the school grounds. When he got to the street, he really didn't know who to look for.

After some dilly-dallying, Shou Li came to the grain depot and said to Dou Zi, "Archer thinks the food is unpalatable. Please give him more money for food."

Douzi is the warehouse manager of the grain depot and is also a clerk. He sneered and said: "I am just looking after the grain, not the one who manages it. If the superiors don't say anything, how can I dare to give more grain?"

Feeling helpless, he turned around and left. He neither dared to go to the county government to ask for money or food, nor did he dare to return to the school grounds to face the group of archers.

But he said that in the school grounds, Ju Ming called more than 300 archers over and said: "The meals in the morning and evening are still very thin. Can you be full?"

"I can't get enough to eat! Not to mention the school field drills, even if the countryside is busy with farming, the strong laborers still have to eat."

"Not only is it watery, the porridge is also mixed with sand!"

"The food is not good either, it's all pickles."

"I killed a thief that day and worked for the county magistrate for nothing!"

"..."

The archers became noisy and vented their dissatisfaction. At first they just complained, but gradually they began to roar.

Ju Ming poured the white rice he ate into the wooden bucket of gruel, and poured the meat into the wooden basin of pickles.

He said to the archers: "Although I have become a captain, I am just like everyone else. I am an archer recruited from the countryside. There is a saying in an ancient book, it is said that you have no clothes, you share the same robes as your son. It means, don't say that you have no clothes. My clothes are your clothes. If I have clothes to wear, I won’t let you freeze to death. This is my fellow robe, this is my brother Paoze! Will you be my brothers?"

"I do!" Bai Sheng shouted, the first to support him.

"I would like it too!"

"I want to be brothers with Zhu Dutou!"

"Count me in!"

"..."

The archers became more and more excited, and Ju Ming added: "Those who have received the food should pour it back into the bucket, and let's share it again. In ancient times, we shared the same robe with our disciples, but now we eat with our disciples!"

As the Tenth General, Bai Sheng also ate rice. He quickly poured his dry rice into the porridge in the bucket.

Seeing this, the lower level archers also stepped forward one after another and threw back all the food they had received.

"So loyal!"

Zhang Guangdao sighed in admiration and came over with the food. His deputy generals and generals naturally followed his example.

Those libertines all looked at Chen Ziyi.

"What a good idea. I'll have a show with you." Chen Ziyi also took out his own food, and the libertines immediately followed.

Chen Ziyi not only read the book, but also knew the allusion of Wu Qi's gangrene.

How could he not understand Ju Ming's method of inviting people's hearts?

He can do this too, but he can't do it. Because the archers are temporary and will be disbanded after the bandit suppression is completed, why bother with the county officials for the sake of a few farmers?

But, since Ju Ming was the one causing trouble, Chen Ziyi was happy to accompany him. Feeling happy was more important than anything else.

Zhu Ming personally picked up a large spoon, mixed the dry rice and porridge, mixed the meat and pickles, and shouted loudly: "Come here to get the meal!"

The atmosphere in the school instantly became cheerful.

Although it is still sparse, the feeling is different.

After everyone had received their meals, Ju Ming added: "If you have food, eat together, and if you have wine, you should drink together!"

He picked up the wine bottle and took a sip before passing it to the archer next to him.

The archer also took a sip and immediately passed it on.

Everyone was very conscious and just had a taste because there was too little wine.

Even if I can only taste it, it feels like drinking honey, it feels extremely delicious.

The temporary archers who had lost their morale in the military finally had a taste of the army, and they were already focused on eating.

At this moment, they only recognized Ju Ming and did not pay attention to the county magistrate or the government, because Ju Ming could lead them to eat meat and drink wine.

"Pfft..."

After everyone finished eating, Ju Ming smashed the rice bowl and roared: "If you don't get your strength back, you will lose money and food. Please follow me to the county government office. Don't let the brothers eat dry food." , I won’t take this for granted! Come on and shout with me, break into the county government office and get a living!”

"Break into the county government office and get a living!"

"Break into the county government office and get a living!"

"..."

More than three hundred archers shouted in unison.

A few days ago, they would never have dared to do this. The county government was like heaven to them.

But after a fight, these people had seen blood. Now that Ju Ming was inciting their emotions, everyone suddenly became bolder, not to mention that Ju Ming was holding up the sky when it fell.

Ju Ming added: "Don't bring weapons. That would be rebellion. We are just going to get food. Come with me empty-handed!"

Chen Ziyi asked Zhang Guangdao in a low voice: "Who is this Brother Zhu?"

"He is a hero." Zhang Guangdao replied.

"Haha, he is indeed a hero," Chen Ziyi laughed, "I will accompany him to cause trouble today."

More than three hundred archers left the school grounds and headed straight for the county government gate.