Chapter 36
Although there were many wars during the sixteen years of the Dayin Dynasty, almost none of them affected Jizhou.
Fan Changyu had only heard from the elders how cruel the war was. After all, war not only required the collection of food, but also the conscription of soldiers. Aunt Zhao and Uncle Zhao’s son was captured during the conscription and never returned.
An old man said, "Prince Changxin rebelled in Chongzhou, and the imperial court sent troops to suppress it. The war has been going on for a long time and there is no result. I think that Dayin's luck has run out and the world is about to change."
"Now that Wu'an Hou is dead, what else can Wei Yan use to stabilize the northwest?"
Someone else said: "It doesn't matter who becomes the emperor, as long as they don't steal my money and food and force me to go to the battlefield."
Many people shook their heads and sighed: "These soldiers have already started to forcibly collect food from nearby villages and towns. At the end of the war, those officials have all the money and power, but we ordinary people have lost our homes and are displaced..."
Fan Changyu felt a little heavy in his heart when he heard this, and he said to Xie Zheng: "Shouldn't the imperial court supply military rations when it attacks Chongzhou? Why is it collecting rations from the people?"
Xie Zheng said with a hint of sarcasm: "When the food supply was cut off, some people were desperate and resorted to extreme measures."
Huizhou was once his territory. Now thinking about it, Wei Yan may have begun to envy him from a long time ago. The imperial court had always allocated rations to his army once every three months, and the prefecture itself had no granaries.
Because it is a place where troops are stationed, the geographical conditions are not inherently advantageous and it does not produce much grain.
Once the food supply is cut off, it will be a fatal blow.
The site of the rebellion, Chongzhou, was located just south of Huizhou, blocking the imperial court's grain supply to Huizhou.
As the battle line between Chongzhou and Huizhou lengthened, he guessed that Huizhou would eventually run out of food, and the quickest way would of course be to collect food from the people.
After escaping from being hunted down, he planned to contact his old subordinates and have them secretly buy up the food reserves from the people.
After Zhao Wen appeared, buying grain became a touchstone for him to test Zhao Wen. Now that the grain was in hand, Wei Xuan had lost the battle in Chongzhou and could not collect grain from the people.
Based on his understanding of Wei Yan, Wei Yan would definitely not be kind to this son.
Letting Wei Xuan receive a punishment from Wei Yan first can be considered as a gift to his cousin before he officially takes revenge.
With no one in the northwest, Wei Yan could only let He Jingyuan take over the battle of Chongzhou. Although He Jingyuan was known as a Confucian general, he would not do such a stupid thing as letting his soldiers rob the people of their food.
Moreover, given the current reputation of the Wei Party, if they were to allow their subordinates to steal the people's food, this would undoubtedly give Wei Yan's political enemies a handle.
With the 200,000 dan of rice, he had enough time to start his next plan.
The sudden forced collection of grain by officers and soldiers now was probably a foolish idea that his ambitious cousin came up with in order to achieve some success before the military power was officially transferred to another person.
Ordinary people didn't know so many inside stories, and some were as confused as Fan Changyu, saying, "Sixteen years ago, during the battle of Jinzhou, it was the treacherous minister Meng Shuyuan who delayed the battle by escorting grain and fodder, causing Prince Chengde and General Xie to lead 100,000 soldiers to starve in Jinzhou for five days. When the soldiers finally went up to the tower, they were so hungry that they couldn't stand, which allowed the Northern Jue to break through the city gate. What's wrong with the grain and fodder this time? Are they going to take advantage of us?"
As for the culprit who caused the defeat in the Battle of Jinzhou that year, the name of Meng Shuyuan was wanted by everyone in the Dayin Dynasty.
Someone immediately started to scold him, "Meng Shuyuan deserved to die. He was unworthy of General Xie's respect for him and the important task of escorting grain and grass. If he hadn't delayed the opportunity to fight, how could the Crown Prince Chengde die in Jinzhou and let the Wei dogs control the government for so many years!"
"The death of all members of the Meng family is retribution!"
"Let's hope that this time the military supplies in Chongzhou are not transported by the supply officer and there is no trouble again!"
Sixteen years ago, Xie Zheng knew that the fatal reason for the defeat in the Battle of Jinzhou was the delayed arrival of military supplies.
The person in charge of escorting the grain and fodder at that time was Meng Shuyuan, an old general under his father's command. The old subordinates left by his father once told him that anyone in the world could betray his father except Meng Shuyuan.
Meng Shuyuan's transportation of grain and fodder delayed the battle, and he was not a traitor to his master. Instead, he went to rescue the 100,000 refugees trapped in Luocheng by the Northern Jue people. In the end, the refugees were not rescued, and Jinzhou was also captured.
When Meng Shuyuan learned of his father's death, he knelt down in front of Jinzhou, drew his sword and committed suicide.
The tragic case in Jinzhou also came to an end with the death of Meng Shuyuan. However, more than ten years have passed, and people still denounce him when they mention him.
The team of soldiers had already gone far away. Xie Zheng turned his gaze back to Fan Changyu and said, "Let's go."
But Fan Changyu seemed to be staring at those people who were talking about Meng Shuyuan in a trance.
He asked, "What's wrong?"
Fan Changyu held Changning with one hand and pursed his lips and said, "Meng Shuyuan delayed the flight to save 100,000 refugees. He is not as hateful as people say, right?"
Xie Zheng's voice was cold: "He was ordered to transport food. He failed to deliver food to Jinzhou within the deadline, which was dereliction of duty. If he had enough ability, he would have saved 100,000 refugees and not delayed the delivery of food. He should have been praised by the people. But he did not save the refugees and delayed the delivery of food, which led to the fall of Jinzhou and the death of 100,000 soldiers in the city. This is an unforgivable crime."
He raised his eyes and looked at Fan Changyu: "Do you sympathize with such an incompetent person?"
Fan Changyu shook her head. She did not understand military tactics or regulations. She just felt that Meng Shuyuan might indeed be the culprit in the Battle of Jinzhou, but he would not become a traitor in the eyes of the world. At most, he was just an incompetent person in the eyes of Yan Zheng.
When the three of them passed by a clothing store, she asked Xie Zheng: "Your shawl is dirty, would you like to buy a new one?"
Xie Zheng had already taken off his hood that had been soaked in mud and had kept it folded in his arm all the way.
He glanced at the colorful fabrics in the shop and said, "No need. The sun is out and it's not cold now."
Fan Changyu said, "How about buying a headband? I noticed that you didn't like the one I bought you before, and you hardly used it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Xie Zheng staring at her with a puzzled expression.
Fan Changyu didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said. He stared at him with his almond-shaped eyes, and each of them reflected the other's shadow in their pupils.
It's just that one is clear and bright, and the other is deep and dark.
After a moment, Xie Zheng looked away and said, "It's not like I don't like it."
Fan Changyu felt that what he said was like a riddle. He didn't understand why he didn't use the hairband if he didn't dislike it. He said, "You bought so many things for Ning Niang. You can also choose a New Year's gift. I'll buy it for you!"
Xie Zheng's mouth straightened a little: "Didn't you give me a red envelope?"
Fan Changyu said: "How can New Year's money be the same as New Year's gifts?"
Xie Zheng stared at her for a while and said, "It's the same here."
Fan Changyu felt that he was refusing to let him help buy New Year gifts, so he didn't force it.
She glanced at the sun and said, "It's probably too late to go to Captain Wang's house after I go to the bookstore with you to buy paper and ink. I'm also afraid the bookstore will be closed later. How about this? You go to the bookstore to buy things by yourself. I'll take Ning Niang to pay New Year's greetings to Captain Wang first. When you finish buying books, wait for me at the bookstore. I'll take Ning Niang to see you after I take the things to Captain Wang's house."
Xie Zheng nodded.
The two of them separated at the fork in the road. Before Chang Ning left, he waved to Xie Zheng and said, "Brother-in-law, be careful on the road. My sister and I will buy you some delicious food as well!"
Xie Zheng raised his eyebrows, looked at Fan Changyu and said, "No need, just eat."
Fan Changyu thought that what he said sounded like she had deliberately sent him away and taken Changning to eat something delicious.
Xie Zheng walked away from her tangled sight, and Fan Changyu half-knelt down and raised his hand to wipe the candied haws residue from Changning's mouth, and asked helplessly but amusedly: "You little glutton, what do you want to eat now?"
Changning pointed her chubby, white and tender finger at the street vendor selling brown sugar cakes.
Fan Changyu helplessly held his forehead and said, "Let's go."
After buying the brown sugar cake, Fan Changyu went to a nearby tavern and got a pot of good wine. He originally intended to give a piece of bacon to Captain Wang, but he gave a piece of bacon to the scholar as a gift. Fan Changyu felt embarrassed to bring only a piece of bacon to the door.
It just so happened that Captain Wang loved drinking, so buying him a bottle of wine was a good way to please him.
Captain Wang's home is in the south of the county town. The location is not the best, but it is at least a two-story house. In a small place like Qingping County, it can be said that it is a courtyard that only prominent people can afford to live in.
After Fan Changyu and Changning knocked on the door, a maid came to open the door. When she heard that they were there to wish Captain Wang a happy new year, she quickly invited them in.
It was already afternoon, and most of the people who had come to pay New Year's greetings to Captain Wang in the morning had left after dinner. When Fan Changyu entered the house, he only saw Captain Wang, his wife, and Old Madam Wang sitting on the kang in the east room.
Old Mrs. Wang looked to be in her eighties. Her face was not wrinkled like those of old country women, but rather had a plump and rounded look, and she looked quite kind.
Mrs. Wang had a strong frame but was not too sturdy. It was said that her father had been a constable in the past, and she also knew some martial arts. She looked very kind, with a heroic air between her brows.
"Is this Changyu?" Mrs. Wang smiled when she saw Fan Changyu. "What a good boy! You can tell from his strong body that he is a good candidate for martial arts training."
Fan Changyu greeted her and Old Lady Wang with a smile.
There used to be a very famous kiln lady in Qingping County, who was known to the outside world as Yuniang.
Girls in the county whose names end with the word "玉" (jade) are not called "Yu Niang" directly by others, but by their names.
If you call Yu Niang directly, it would be like indirectly accusing her of being a kiln sister.
Changning grabbed the hem of Fan Changyu's clothes and hid behind her, looking at Mrs. Wang timidly with a pair of deer-like eyes.
When Mrs. Wang saw her, her smile became brighter. She grabbed a handful of candy from the colorful lacquered candy plate and waved to Changning, "Little Ningniang is also very lovely. Come over here and have some candy."
Changning didn't dare to go over directly, and raised his head to look at Fan Changyu.
Fan Changyu said, "Madam will give you some candy, take it."
Changning then trotted over to take the candies from Mrs. Wang's hand. She was small and her hands were small, so she couldn't hold so many candies. Mrs. Wang helped her stuff many of the candies into her lapel pocket.
Chang Ning said crisply, "Thank you, Madam."
Mrs. Wang and Old Lady Wang looked at each other and smiled. Mrs. Wang couldn't help pinching Changning's rosy cheeks and said, "How can you be so sensible at such a young age?"
She smiled and looked at Fan Changyu: "Did my sister teach me well?"
Fan Changyu smiled shyly: "You are too flattering."
She was not good at chatting, but she spoke very honestly. Her straightforward character made Mrs. Wang and Old Lady Wang like her very much. Occasionally, Fan Changyu would say a few words to make them laugh. Only Fan Changyu herself was very confused as to why they were laughing like that.
Mrs. Wang wanted to invite the two sisters to have dinner and stay overnight, but Fan Changyu declined the invitation by saying that Xie Zheng was still waiting for her in the bookstore.
When she said goodbye, Captain Wang personally saw her out. "After the prefecture took over your parents' case, it was officially closed. I was worried that your parents had made enemies in the past. The bandits were looking for the treasure map. Now that the treasure map is no longer in your house, you have nothing to be afraid of. Just stay in the town and come to me if you have any problems."
Fan Changyu thanked him and asked, "Do you know who is the official in the prefecture who is reviewing this case?"
Captain Wang was only a small captain in Qingping County and didn't know much about this. He shook his head and asked, "Why are you asking about this?"
Fan Changyu was afraid that his parents' death was as complicated as Yan Zheng said, and he didn't want to say more and cause trouble for Captain Wang, so he said, "Nothing, just asking."
She wanted to find out the real cause of her parents' death, and the best way was of course to start with the officials handling the case.
That night the soldiers brought back a survivor. If they knew what that person confessed, perhaps they could solve the mystery of her parents' death.
When Yan Zheng asked her what she would do if the government told lies, she thought about secretly looking for the officials who were handling the case.
Isn't it written like this in operas and storybooks? To catch the corrupt official, sneak into his house on a dark and windy night and catch him alone, then negotiate with him, either in exchange for money or to get the clues you want from him.
As long as she knew the official handling the case, she would have plenty of time to slowly find evidence against him.
When Fan Changyu and Changning were almost at the gate, Madam Wang hurried over with two red envelopes in her hand: "Take these two red envelopes!"
One of the red envelopes hadn't been tightly sealed yet, and it looked like she had prepared it on the spur of the moment.
Fan Changyu couldn't refuse and was forced into Mrs. Wang's arms.
After Chang Ning walked out of the Wang family's gate, he opened the red envelope, poured out the contents, and showed them to Fan Changyu in surprise: "Sister, it's silver ingots!"
There were also two silver ingots in the red envelope given to Fan Changyu.
Holding the first red envelope he had received since his parents passed away, Fan Changyu looked back in the direction of the Wang family. He still felt mixed emotions about the love shown by Captain Wang and Madam Wang.
Changning handed the silver ingot to Fan Changyu and said, "Sister, keep it."
Her collar pockets and small purse were already stuffed with the candies given by Mrs. Wang, leaving no room for silver.
Fan Changyu took it and said, "Then I'll keep it for you first and put it in your little box when you get home."
Chang Ning had a small box specifically for storing New Year's money, but two months ago she donated the box to help with her parents' funeral, and now she is filling it up again.
After hearing what Fan Changyu said, Changning happily said "hmm".
There are few shops open on this street, and even fewer peddlers passing by. There are only a few children playing on the street.
Perhaps the news of the grain collection had already reached Qingping County. When people in teahouses and taverns talked about the Battle of Chongzhou, they inevitably mentioned the Battle of Jinzhou sixteen years ago.
The children heard a lot from the adults, and in the game of catching bad guys, "Meng Shuyuan" became the bad guy who was surrounded and caught.
In this kind of game, the leader of the children usually plays the role of the hero, and the child who is always excluded and bullied plays the role of Meng Shuyuan. After being caught, he will be pushed and bullied by the leader of the children and other children.
Chang Ning heard the children shouting and chasing the child who played Meng Shuyuan, and he also looked up and said to Fan Changyu: "Meng Shuyuan is a traitor."
Fan Changyu held his sister's hand tightly and said, "Changning is not allowed to play such games, do you understand?"
Chang Ning asked: "Why?"
Fan Changyu patiently explained to her: "Those kids just used this game to bully the kid who played Meng Shuyuan. Changning must not learn from them."
Only then did Changning nod.
Fan Changyu helped her tidy up the soft strands of hair on her forehead: "In the past, parents didn't like to see children playing like this."
Chang Ning immediately said, "Ning Niang will not learn from them!"
Fan Changyu smiled and rubbed her round head, but his thoughts drifted away.
She has been tough since she was a child. Among her peers, she was famous for her strength. Boys three or two years older than her were beaten by her until they cried and went home to complain to their parents.
Her parents always convince people with reason. If she does something wrong, her parents will punish her. If she is right, her parents will help her argue with others.
But there was only one time when she was playing the game of catching bad guys with other children. One of the children who played the role of Meng Shuyuan was pushed down by another child and hit his forehead on the ground. The parents of the injured child went door to door to argue.
Fan Changyu did not push anyone that time, nor did he join other children in bullying the child who played Meng Shuyuan.
But when her mother heard that she had played this game, she suddenly burst into tears. Her father was also very angry and made her kneel in the yard for the entire afternoon.
Fan Changyu reflected for a long time and felt that his parents probably didn't like him following them and bullying the weak.
When she returned to her room that night, her mother's eyes were still swollen, and she asked her to promise that she would never play the game of beating the treacherous minister Meng Shuyuan again.
Fan Changyu always felt guilty. She had never seen her mother cry so sadly. She must have disappointed her mother.
So when she heard her sister following those kids and saying that Meng Shuyuan was a traitor, she was afraid that Changning would go back and play like that with the kids in the alley, so she taught Changning in advance.
It was also a coincidence that after leaving Captain Wang's house, Fan Changyu was not familiar with the roads in the county town, so he asked for directions to the bookstore. He went around in circles and passed by Yixianglou in the county town, and ran into Yu Qianqian.
Yu Qianqian was wearing a long jacket trimmed with white fox fur. The front and cuffs were embroidered with delicate and intricate patterns in gold thread. She had a neatly cut fringe on her forehead, which made her face look as white as a jade plate. She looked no different from a young girl who had not yet married.
She seemed to be about to leave in a carriage. Several people who looked like managers stood in front of her, nodding and bowing, listening to her instructions.
As soon as Yu Qianqian finished her explanation, she looked up and saw Fan Changyu walking from the other side of the street with a little girl who looked like a porcelain doll. She was delighted and said, "I was just planning to go back to town to find you, but I didn't expect to run into you right at the door of the store."
Fan Changyu smiled and said Happy New Year, then asked, "What does the shopkeeper want to talk to me about?"
Yu Qianqian said: "I have a big business tomorrow, and I can't do without your help!"
-
The largest bookstore in the county town also did business as usual on New Year's Day.
When Xie Zheng entered the shop, the shopkeeper asked, fiddling with his abacus, "What would you like to buy, sir?"
A jade ring with a string hanging from its fingertips fell from Xie Zheng's fingertips. When the shopkeeper saw the jade ring, his attitude instantly became respectful. He bowed and made a "please" gesture: "Sir, can you please come upstairs and talk to me for a moment?"
The shopkeeper took Xie Zheng to a private room on the upper floor of the bookstore. On the yellow pear wood table by the window stood a thin-necked white porcelain vase with a red plum blossom that was about to bloom inserted diagonally in the vase. Against the backdrop of the fine snow outside the carved wooden window, it was indeed quite artistic.
"Please wait here for a moment, my dear guest. I will go and call the owner." When the bookstore owner was leaving, a servant came in with tea.
Wei Yan was an expert in the art of tea, and Xie Zheng had been taught by him for sixteen years, so he had some knowledge of tea.
The fragrance of the tea that was delivered to us was already as good as the tribute to the palace.
He lowered his eyes to look at the red plum blossoms in the white porcelain vase on the table, and tapped the tea lid twice with his long fingers.
In a moment, Zhao Wen pushed the door open and walked in, with a forced smile on his elegant face: "I didn't know that the Marquis had come to visit. I'm sorry for not welcoming you in person."
"Mr. Zhao is too polite."
Xie Zheng sat on the armchair with a relaxed posture, and when he said this, there was even a sense of pressure from the host in his voice.
Zhao asked, "I have secretly sent people to do what you told me to do. Don't worry, the soldiers will not find anything even if they investigate."
Xie Zheng raised his eyes and said, "There is one more thing that I need your people to do."
"What is it?"
"The fact that Wei Xuan allowed soldiers to rob food in Jizhou was immediately reported to He Jingyuan. The capital also made a big fuss about the killing of innocent people during the robbery of food to denounce the Wei Party."
The louder the public's condemnation, the more effective the impeachment of the censors in the court will be.
When Zhao Wen heard that it was another matter of suppressing the Wei Party, he bowed and said, "Zhao will order someone to do it now."
The moment he raised his head, he saw Xie Zheng looking at him with a faint smile on his face.
Zhao Wen hesitated for a moment and asked, "Why do you look at me like this, Lord?"
Xie Zheng picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip. "Qingcheng Snow Bud, only one bud and one leaf were picked and presented to the royal family. I never thought that I could drink such good tea in a small place like Qingping County."
Zhao Wen said, "I am a businessman. I spent some money to get this good thing. Knowing that the Marquis is coming, of course I have to take it out to honor the Marquis."
Xie Zheng's mouth corners sank. "No ordinary merchant could have bought 200,000 dan of rice without being noticed by the local government. Your family is so wealthy that if you really want to seek revenge on Wei Xuan, you still have the support of Li Taifu and his party in the court. You went to so much trouble to find me. It's not so much that you want me to help you take revenge, but rather that you value my prestige among the 100,000 soldiers in Huizhou."
He stared at the unqualified businessman in front of him, like a wolf confronting a hyena: "You want the military power in my hands. Since we are cooperating, I don't like an alliance that is secretive."
Zhao Wen was silent for two breaths, then suddenly burst into laughter, no longer as calm as before, and sat down opposite Xie Zheng, "It turns out that nothing can be hidden from the eyes of the Marquis."
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