Dong Jianyong was impatient. He said, "Let's go and see. If this is General Wang, we have to go and see him."
Luo Changqi said: "Don't go yet. Wait until my niece and the others finish talking about the important matters, then we can go over there."
Dong Jianyong said, "Then I'll go over and take a look to see if it's General Wang. Don't worry, I'm not blind and I won't say anything nonsense."
Dong Jianyong pulled Yuan Gang to the gatehouse, but instead of entering the yard, he lay on the door frame and looked into the yard.
When Dong Jianyong saw Lord Wang, his eyes widened a little. He whispered, "I guess it can be correct. The last name is the same. Maybe it is General Wang."
How could the people in the yard not see two such big heads squeezed on the door frame?
This is considered very impolite in other places.
Zhang Hulan walked over with a smile and asked in a low voice, "Uncle Dong, Uncle Yuan, what do you want?"
Dong Jianyong whispered, "Niece, can you help us ask if that man is called Wang Chengyi?"
"Who are you asking about?"
"The older one."
Zhang Hulan was curious, "Do you know each other?"
Dong Jianyong said, "He looks familiar, like one of our former generals."
Zhang Hulan's eyes widened. She turned around and looked at Old Marquis Wang, who was also looking over here.
"Wait a minute, I'll go ask." Zhang Hulan said as she walked towards Lord Wang. After bowing, she said, "Lord Wang, two of my uncles asked me to ask if your name is Wang Chengyi. They said you look familiar, like one of their former generals."
Upon hearing this, Lord Wang immediately looked towards Dong Jianyong and Yuan Gang, walked up to them quickly, looked them up and down, and said, "You are...
Dong Jianyong was a little excited, "Are you really General Wang?"
Lord Wang nodded and asked, "Who are you..."
Dong Jianyong's eyes were red with excitement, and he and Yuan Gang knelt on one knee.
Dong Jianyong clasped his fists. Yuan Gang was missing an arm, so he could only clench his fists and put them on his chest. They said in unison, "I have met General Wang. I am a veteran of the Shenwu Army. General Wang led us to fight on the battlefield. I didn't expect to see General Wang again in my lifetime."
"Are you veterans of the Shenwu Army?" Lord Wang's voice was a little choked. He helped Dong Jianyong and Xu Hu up with trembling hands. Looking at Dong Jianyong's obviously deformed leg and Yuan Gang who was missing an arm, he said, "You all retired because of injuries?"
Dong Jianyong and Yuan Gang both nodded, "Yes. We are useless and cannot continue to fight the enemy with the general."
"Don't say that, don't say that. You are all good men of Yongning Country. Without you, there would be no peaceful days today."
Lord Wang then asked doubtfully: "Why are you here?
Old Lord Wang thought of a possibility, "How did you end up like this? How did you end up being someone's doorman?"
Lord Wang looked unhappy. He continued, "Every year the imperial court gives pensions to veterans who have fought on the battlefield. Didn't you receive any?"
Dong Jianyong replied: “In the early years, we were given pensions every year, but we refused.
At that time, the imperial court was in a difficult situation, and grain, fodder, and military equipment all required money. We could no longer serve the imperial court, so we wanted to reduce the burden on the imperial court.
Every year the court would give us pensions, but we didn’t ask for any. In the last ten years or so, the court stopped giving us any more.”
Hearing this, Lord Wang was shocked and stared at Dong Jianyong in disbelief. He asked with a trembling voice, "You have never received the pension?"
He paused, then continued, "It's fine if you didn't want it in the first few years, but in the past ten years or so, has the court really never given you any money?"
Yuan Gang replied: "No. When we were young, we were able to support ourselves, but we were disabled and did not have a family.
I've gotten older in recent years and I'm a little overwhelmed.
But fortunately, Zhang's niece found us a job and now she is supporting us old brothers.
By the way, besides the two of us, there are three other old brothers here. "
Yuan Gang brought them to work for Zhang Hulan, and then Zhang Hulan kept them, saying that she would take care of them in their old age and see them to the end of their lives.
Lord Wang turned around and suddenly bowed to Zhang Hulan and said, "Thank you very much. I didn't know that the soldiers who fought for the court would end up like this now."
Zhang Hulan quickly responded: "Old Marquis, you are too kind. These uncles are all heroes. I am just doing my part."
Lord Wang nodded slightly, then looked at Dong Jianyong and Xu Hu, his eyes full of emotion and pity: "Don't worry, now that I know about this, I will never sit idly by.
I will report this to the Emperor. The Emperor has never forgotten the soldiers who shed blood and sweat for the court.
Every year the emperor would have the Ministry of Revenue allocate funds to the Ministry of War so that the Ministry of War could provide pensions to former veterans.
But I didn't expect them to be so bold. Don't they feel guilty? "
I will return to the capital after I finish my work here and ask the emperor to reissue the pension you deserve. I will also arrange a better place for you so that you can enjoy the rest of your life."
Dong Jianyong waved his hand quickly: "General, there is no need to do this. We have become accustomed to our current life and do not want to cause any more trouble for the general and the court."
Lord Wang said sternly, "How can this be a problem? You have contributed so much to the court, and this is what you deserve. You fought bravely on the battlefield, but now you live in such poverty. The court owes you."
Yuan Gang said: "We appreciate the general's kindness. We are doing well here. Zhang's niece treats us like elders."
Dong Jianyong also said: "That's right, General, you don't have to run around for us. We are all going to be buried soon, and there is no point in having those yellow and white things.
Now we have good food and accommodation here, and we don’t have to worry about no one collecting our bodies after we die. We are content.”
Dong Jianyong and Xu Hu both knew that if Lord Wang reported this matter to the emperor, countless people would be implicated.
There must be more than just a few of them who have received decades of pension money. If this is investigated, how many people will be involved?
If the news spread from them, it might bring disaster to Zhang Hulan and the entire Zhang family.
Lord Wang was certainly aware of the importance of this matter, but he believed that the emperor would handle it well.
Wu Deyong and Xu Chu were both shocked. This was no small matter.
Not to mention the first ten years, in the last ten years, there have been two or three ministers of the Ministry of War, some of whom have already retired. If this is investigated, it will involve too many people.
Afterwards, Lord Wang asked Dong Jianyong to call Luo Changqi, Huang Zhong and Xu Hu to meet him. Luo Changqi and the other two were all filled with emotion.
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