Jiang Yushu turned around upon hearing the voice, and was immediately surprised and delighted. She hurriedly asked, "Why are you back? Are you visiting relatives or on some errand?"
"On errand." Guo Honglei, exhausted, strode to his wife and brother.
Five or six border soldiers descended from the sky, and hundreds of villagers turned around, seeing them as their saviors, and said happily:
"Great! The Guo family's strong man is back!"
"Savior."
"Let him negotiate with the authorities. It's none of our business."
Guo Honglei's jaw tightened as he glanced at his family members kneeling on the ground. He was furious, and his sharp eyes revealed murderous intent as he examined the only official who had a seat present.
Wan Bin looked at the tall, handsome young man, feeling uncomfortable being stared at. He sat up straight and asked knowingly, "Who are you? How dare you kick the door when you know all the officials are working here?"
"How outrageous!" The provincial official's mouth was dry. He had just been busy scolding the villagers who were crying out for mercy. In the clamor, he didn't hear Guo Honglei's claim of "my family" clearly. He treated him as a lowly soldier and raised his chin to ask:
"You rude and reckless men! This is the prefect, Lord Wan. Who do you think you are? How dare you be so rude, kicking down the door and barging in? Do you have the guts to do that?"
Guo Honglei was young after all. In his rage, his face was as gloomy as water. The veins on his right palm, which was gripping the hilt of his waist knife, bulged. He didn't even look at the clerk, but only stared at Wan Bin.
Jiang Yushu came to her senses and couldn't help but feel anxious, fearing that he would lose his temper and explode on the spot. So she gently pulled the corner of his robe and whispered, "We didn't get beaten. Don't worry, let's deal with it first and talk about it in detail later."
Guo Honglei raised his hand to appease his family, raised his head, and replied in a deep voice, "I am Guo Honglei, and I would like to ask you, gentlemen, what crime did the Guo family commit that warrants such a large-scale mobilization, including punishments of kneeling and caning."
"Well, he was not convicted and not caned." Pan Rui and Liu Tongyi were sweating on their foreheads. They wanted to smooth things over, but they were powerless to reconcile their enemies.
Guo Honglei remained expressionless, addressing an acquaintance, but in reality, an enemy, loudly demanding, "Then why are hundreds of villagers kneeling and begging for mercy? We heard cries and pleas for mercy at the village entrance and mistakenly thought it was an enemy attack, brutally killing innocent people, so we rushed to rescue them."
"Who, who harmed the innocent? With all the gentlemen here, who dared to harm the common people? Don't talk nonsense." The clerk in the provincial government swallowed his saliva. Considering the old power of the Guo family, he dared not shout arrogantly anymore.
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Guo Honglei's anger was simmering, and he replied in a profound manner, "I'm afraid some people don't know that when the Northern Ao raided villages and killed people in the past, the villagers, the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children, were so frightened that they cried and begged for mercy. It's our duty as a border soldier, and we must come and investigate as soon as possible."
When these words were spoken, the officials present all looked embarrassed.
"you--"
"Guo Honglei, was it you who kicked the door just now?" Wan Bin's face darkened, and he suddenly felt disgusted. He thought to himself: Sure enough, it's the current head of the Guo family! Although this kid is tall and strong, his facial features are similar to those of the kneeling sickly man.
Jiang Yushu was immediately apprehensive, but Guo Honglei showed no fear. Just as he was about to answer, he heard a complaining voice at the gate of the courtyard:
"Oh my! It's a goal! It's a goal!"
Everyone turned around in surprise and saw a border soldier who was a step late but had swiftly squeezed to the front. He put his arm around Guo Honglei's shoulder, bent down to adjust his shoes, and shouted with disgust: "Tsk, what a lousy door! It almost tripped me and scratched my shoes!" After saying this, he straightened up, looked at the provincial official who had been relying on his power, pretended to be surprised, and asked loudly:
"Hey? This isn't Gou, Gou—hiss, what are you called Gou? Or some Gou here?"
The villagers heard the strong sarcasm and almost laughed, but lowered their heads to hold back their laughter.
The clerk's eyes widened, his mouth half open, and he involuntarily recoiled and stammered, "Cao, Master Cao?"
This person was Cao Da, who had stayed at the Guo family for over a month to recuperate from his injuries.
Cao Da had been seriously wounded and had to rest in bed for two and a half months before he fully recovered, his complexion radiating with rosy glow. He grinned, waved his hand, and said generously, "Ever since I joined the army, I've disliked being addressed as 'young master.' We've known each other for years, so why be so polite? Just call me by my name."
The clerk smiled aggrievedly, "Master Cao, you are joking. Actually, my last name is Zhu."
"Huh?" Cao Da slapped his forehead and apologized, "Look at my brain! I accidentally remembered it wrong. It turns out your last name is Zhu, not Gou."
Jiang Yushu lowered her head, unable to hold back her laughter. She glanced around and saw that everyone around her had their heads lowered, some trying to hold it in, while others were laughing so hard that their shoulders were shaking.
The clerk's smile froze and he stood there awkwardly, but because he had suffered a loss before, he dared not say anything and cursed in his heart: Why hasn't this plague god Yanei been hacked to death by the Northern Qi's sword yet!
Wan Bin narrowed his eyes and glanced at the door, his face darkening even further. He felt choked up and shouted, "Cao Da, so you were the one who kicked the door?"
"Master Wan, it's been a long time since we last met. I'm here to greet you." Cao Da smiled, clasping his fists in greeting. Then, scratching his head, his brows lowered in shame, he explained in annoyance, "Alas, Master, you don't know. We were ordered here on business. Upon entering the village, we noticed the villagers were sparsely populated. Just as we were wondering, we suddenly heard terrified cries for mercy. We wondered: Oh no! Could it be that enemy soldiers were attacking the village and killing innocent people? How could this be? Worried and anxious, we rushed to rescue them. But we encountered a door blocking our way. I was afraid that if I was a step late, I would miss someone, so I had no choice but to kick it down."
The villagers were deeply moved when they heard this, and looked up at the border troops with gratitude. Someone immediately whispered, "Don't worry, sir. It's just a door. It's nothing serious."
"Repair it later and continue using it."
"There's plenty of wood in the mountains, so the door panels aren't worth much."
…
Wan Bin's face darkened as he watched his two enemies engage in a double act, one saying "kill the enemy and save lives" the other "border troops' duty," with awe-inspiring righteousness... He was filled with rage, but couldn't let it out. He asked in a flat tone, "On duty? What are you doing here?"
Cao Da smiled and replied apologetically, "I'm sorry, this is a military secret and is forbidden to be leaked. I'm sorry I can't tell you."
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Jiang Yushu was secretly delighted. As Cao Da criticized the prefect, she took the opportunity to tell her husband the whole story. Guo Honglei, upon hearing the story, grew even more furious. Trying to control himself, he asked sternly, "I've read the Dagan Law, but I don't know which article or clause prohibits exiled prisoners from running private schools without compensation. My brother, after hard work in the fields, taught children with good intentions, and yet he's wrong?"
"Humph, exiles should be concentrating on farming!"
Wan Bin, with a commanding presence, rebuked, "Guo Hongzhe is not only unemployed, but also unqualified. He doesn't even have the title of scholar. How can he 'educate' students?"
Guo Honglei raised an eyebrow and asked instead, "Are all the teachers in private schools in the world at least scholars?"
"You - you are so insolent!" Wan Bin was pot-bellied and panting in anger. He wanted to answer "of course", but he knew in his heart: in poor places where there is a lack of scholars, a boy can also be a private school teacher.
Cao Da tugged on Guo Honglei's arm, pretending to smooth things over. "Master Wan, calm down. Honglei has always been eager to learn. He's simply seeking advice. It doesn't matter if you don't teach him." He then suggested, "Forget it. The prefect is busy with official duties and has no time to teach you. You should return to the camp and ask General Dou for advice on these difficult questions. He'll surely be happy to advise you!"
General Dou? Dou Yong, the commander of the Heqin Guard? Guo Honglei's backer? Wan Bin's face changed, and he hesitated to speak. He wanted to be angry, but he was worried about Dou Yong. Although he was the prefect, he didn't dare to offend the commander rashly.
"It seems this is the only way." Guo Honglei understood and said with a stern face, "We have a mission to carry out. Military orders are as heavy as a mountain. We are required to complete the mission within a certain time limit. But now the prefect Wan is interrogating the villagers. It may take a while to finish the interrogation. This is troublesome. What should we do?"
Cao Da sighed, stifling a laugh, and answered distressedly, "Your Excellency, what can I do? Do you brothers have any ideas?"
The border troops were close friends, fighting side by side in battle, and they valued loyalty above all else. They all shook their heads and replied, "No way."
"I can't do anything about it."
"What a wasted trip! Since the government wants to severely punish the villagers, we can't complete our mission. Why don't we just return to camp? Tell us the reason in detail and ask the general to make the decision."
"Hey, good idea!" Cao Da clapped his hands, "Brothers, let's go back to the camp! Sirs, goodbye." As he spoke, he pushed Guo Honglei out.
Wan Bin suddenly became anxious and stood up and shouted, "Stop!"
Guo Honglei asked calmly, "What are your orders, Prefect?"
"I am just doing a routine inspection to understand the people's sentiments. How can I say 'interrogate and severely punish the villagers'?" Wan Bin was standing on the steps, almost furious.
Guo Honglei glanced at the people kneeling on the ground, "So that's how it is?"
"Then, why are these hundreds of people kneeling all the time?" Cao Da asked humbly.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Wan Bin, mindful of his reputation as a fatherly official who "loved the people like his own children," had to give up temporarily. As if nothing had happened, he said casually, "The villagers are simple and polite. Okay, there's no need to be so polite. Stop kneeling and stand up."
"Thank you, sir." Hundreds of people knelt for a long time and were finally able to stand up. Their knees ached and they all grimaced.
"Get up!"
Guo Honglei first supported his pregnant wife, then helped his younger brother up, whispering, "You've been wronged."
Jiang Yushu's knees ached so much she couldn't straighten them. She shook her head and whispered, "Finally, I've gotten through it! My third brother's sick. We need to get him home and take his medicine right away. There's no time to waste."
Guo Honglei handed his wife to Cuimei and Xiaotao and urged them, "Let's go. We can talk about it in detail when we get back."
"Azhe, don't take it personally if I'm being unfair. A real man can bend and stretch!" Cao Da leaned in, patted Guo Hongzhe on the shoulder, and consoled him, "When you were recovering from your injury, I saw clearly that someone as gentle and patient as you is just right for being a teacher!"
Guo Hongzhe, surrounded by students, struggled to hold on. Feeling ashamed of his lack of achievements, he felt dejected and frustrated. He forced a smile and replied, "Thank you, Brother Cao, for your words of advice. Also, we're truly grateful for your generosity today. Otherwise, we would have been in for a beating."
"Hey, why are you being so polite?" Cao Da said generously, "We are good brothers with your second brother. If your family is in trouble, we certainly can't just stand by and watch!"
The other border troops nodded in agreement, offering their condolences one after another.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, the government officials were left out, feeling quite embarrassed.
Pan Rui, the county magistrate, saw the opportunity, stepped forward, saluted, and reminded: "Prefect, it's getting late. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to reach the town before dark."
"Oh?" Wan Bin failed to successfully harass the Guo family, so he walked down the hill, his hands behind his back, and walked out in square steps. "Alright, then, let's go to town and rest for the night. I'll inspect Rao'an tomorrow."
"Yes!" Pan Rui felt relieved and hurriedly called for his colleagues to follow him. "Everyone, please."
The crowd watched in silence. The Guo family members were too lazy to speak, and the villagers didn't know what to say.
Cao Da, however, trotted after him for a few steps, then peeked over the wall to apologize, "Master Wan, take care! I heard a while ago that you married your eighteenth wife, Ru. It's a pity I'm in the army, so we're quite far away. Otherwise, I would definitely go to your house to have a drink at the wedding."
Wan Bin had already reached the bottom of the slope when he paused, wishing he could order the officers to sew Cao Da's mouth shut with a needle! But in the end, he pretended not to hear and hurried away.
Huh?
The prefect actually has eighteen wives?
When the villagers saw the officials walking away, they immediately started whispering to each other, half believing and half doubting.
Cao Da walked out, his whip swinging, head held high and chest puffed out, saying casually, "Yes, he did take in eighteen wives. Don't believe me? Go ask around in the city and you'll find out. Everyone in the city knows."
A moment later, a group of people hurried into the Guo family yard.
Seeing her brother-in-law's face was very bad, Jiang Yushu was worried and urged, "Help him back to his room quickly! Xiao Hu, bring Doctor Fang's medicine box."
"Hey." Hu Gang ran and took out Fang Sheng's medicine box from the wing room.
Guo Honglei helped his sick brother into the room and comforted him, "Rest for a few days and take your medicine on time, and you will get better."
"It's okay. This is an old illness. I just need to take some medicine and rest for a while." Guo Hongzhe breathed rapidly and curled up as he fell on the couch.
After Fang Sheng finished taking the pulse, the smell of medicine quickly wafted out of the kitchen. The brother and sister-in-law took care of their younger brother while he took the medicine, and took turns to comfort him, worrying that the wronged patient would be depressed and hurt his body by sulking.
Unexpectedly, Guo Hongzhe calmly replied, "Don't worry, brother and sister-in-law. I'm not angry anymore. Honestly. Although Magistrate Wan was deliberately making things difficult for me, it wasn't unreasonable. I'm truly uneducated and incompetent, and I'm nowhere near as learned as a truly accomplished scholar."
Jiang Yushu said sternly, "That's because you're young! Think about it, among the famous scholars of ancient and modern times, few became famous in their teens. Most of them studied hard for half their lives, accumulating knowledge and finally achieving fame. Qualifications are earned year after year. Knowledge must be accumulated bit by bit. There's no rush."
"Sister-in-law, what you said makes sense."
Guo Hongzhe clutched the quilt tightly, veins bulging on the back of his thin hands. He gritted his teeth and said resolutely, "I never expected to be ridiculed and humiliated like that today... If I could die, I would definitely pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, so that I can die with peace of mind!"
It was the first time that Jiang Yushu saw her brother-in-law gritting his teeth and speaking harshly, and she was stunned for a moment.
Guo Honglei said seriously, "It's not difficult to pass the exam. Just work hard and you'll have the chance to take the exam sooner or later."
"Is it really not difficult? Second brother, you were at the top of the class back then. Were you nervous when you got eliminated?" Guo Hongzhe was ridiculed while kneeling on the ground for trial. He then made up his mind and vowed to take the imperial examination to avenge his previous humiliation.
Guo Honglei recalled his youth with emotion: "Before the exam, my father promised me a good horse as a reward, regardless of my ranking. To get the horse, I was so focused on the exam questions that I had no time to panic."
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"My Lord Marquis is truly wise!" Jiang Yushu burst out laughing.
Guo Honglei smiled, bent down to tuck the patient's blanket, and advised: "If you want to pass the imperial examination, don't be impatient. Rest up, take care of your health, and then study hard."
"I know." Guo Hongzhe closed his eyes, his mind full of thoughts about fame and fortune.
Guo Honglei closed the door and gestured with his hand for the couple to go back into the room to discuss.
The sky was dim and the candlelight flickered in the east room.
"Before it snows?" Jiang Yushu frowned in thought.
Guo Honglei's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "Yes. The imperial court has given us a year to recapture Yongzhou. Time is running out. If we delay, the medicine might not be able to be used for its most important purpose."
Jiang Yushu calmed down and explained, "It's not that I'm unhappy, but it's too rushed. The autumn harvest is approaching, and snow has been falling in Xicang since early November. Jiangjun can withstand the wind, snow and cold, but crops can't. We have to harvest before the frost." She sighed:
"Two major events collided at the same time, and I was too busy to handle them all."
Guo Honglei hugged her and gently stroked her bulging belly, curiously exploring it. Overjoyed, he whispered, "Don't worry. I've already informed the general. The medical staff will send someone to help in a couple of days. You only need to arrange for Fang Sheng to teach you how to prepare the ginger paste. You don't need to use anyone else."
Jiang Yushu breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay! If you can arrange it, I won't have a headache." After a pause, her eyes lit up and she asked expectantly, "Then, will you come back with me then?"
"Unlikely," Guo Honglei replied apologetically. "Today's trip was originally assigned to another team of brothers. Cao Da happened to hear about it from his father, and out of kindness, he decided to let us handle it."
Jiang Yushu nodded in admiration, "Thank goodness Mr. Cao has come to my aid today. He's quite the hero! But, does he seem to have a grudge against Wan Bin?"
"There was a feud. According to Cao Da, he and Wan Bin's only son, Wan Zhang, were at loggerheads, fighting to the death. In the end, he was forced by his elders to join the army."
Jiang Yushu was stunned. "No wonder. He was just making sarcastic remarks and sarcastic remarks. I wonder what deep hatred he has for her?"
Guo Honglei carefully caressed the child through his clothes and belly, and briefly explained, "The Cao family is a prominent family in Xicang, with hereditary military officers. Wan Bin, because his cousin married the imperial concubine's cousin, gradually became a new noble in Yongzhou."
"The two families had originally kept to themselves, but a few years ago, Wan Bin was transferred to become the prefect of Xicang, and his son Wan Zhang followed him. He took advantage of his position to become a tyrant and lawless. He repeatedly argued with Cao Da and his friends in gambling houses, taverns, brothels, and other places. From arguments to brawls, they were irreconcilable."
Gambling house? Tavern? Brothel? Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling? Jiang Yushu suddenly realized: So, this is a contest between local and foreign yamen.
Guo Honglei hugged his wife and continued, "Three years ago, Cao Da fell in love with an oiran. He was holding her in his arms, but Wan Zhang snatched her away and abused her to death. In his rage, Cao Da nearly beat Wan Zhang to death. The Cao family went to great lengths to quell the situation."
Jiang Yushu sighed, "Young Master Cao is a man of loyalty. But the Wan family's backer is the Imperial Concubine. Will he face retaliation for helping us squeeze the prefect today?"
"No," Guo Honglei soothed. "According to reliable sources, Prince Ning was plotting a rebellion and was stripped of his title after being exposed. The imperial concubine was an accomplice and has been banished to the cold palace. Otherwise, Wan Bin would never let this go today."
"The Imperial Concubine's party has fallen?"
"After more than twenty years of fighting for the throne, I lost."
Jiang Yushu was inexplicably nervous. "So, the crown prince's position must belong to the eldest prince now?"
"It's not certain yet. According to tradition, when a prince is enthroned, a general amnesty is often granted."
Jiang Yushu blurted out, "The throne will have to be passed down sooner or later anyway. The Emperor might as well appoint a crown prince as soon as possible to stabilize people's hearts!"
"Let's wait and see."
After a while, Guo Honglei estimated the time and said helplessly, "I have to go back to the camp to report."
Jiang Yushu lowered her eyes for a moment, then quickly pulled herself together and stood up, saying, "Let's go! I'll see you off."
Guo Honglei supported his pregnant wife, feeling guilty, and whispered, "I'll come back when I have time."
After a while, when the couple entered the main hall, Cao Da was talking excitedly. He counted on his fingers and shouted:
"Gifts must be given during every festival, and they can't be cheap. Furthermore, his parents' birthdays, his own birthdays, his numerous concubines, his fathered over twenty daughters, and he married them off every year—even after his parents passed away, he held a funeral celebration. He's incredibly greedy!"
"Wan Bin was once known as 'Yongzhou's most corrupt official.' Now, as the prefect of Xicang, he's become the 'most corrupt official in Xicang,' using all sorts of excuses and methods to plunder wealth. Every time he goes to the capital, his carriage is loaded with gold, silver, and jewelry, and he relies on flattery and bribery to keep getting promoted."
The Guo family, united in their hatred for the enemy, listened with great interest and angrily asked, "How could such corrupt and lawless officials have such easy access?"
"Alas, God is blind."
Cao Da sat with his horse and sword in his arms, slapped the table, and said with his head held high: "Who says God has no eyes? Good and evil will be rewarded in the end! Wan Bin has many wives and concubines, and many daughters, but only one son, named Wan Zhang. Humph, the common people laugh at him behind his back-" He glanced around and saw Guo Honglei and his wife, and stopped talking awkwardly.
Jiang Yushu asked casually, "What are you laughing at?"
"Ahem, nothing." Cao Da stood up and involuntarily lowered his head to straighten his uniform. He knew Jiang Yushu was the daughter of a minister, and he admired her generosity and tenacity, so his demeanor became more serious.
Zou Gui and the others listened for a while, extremely curious, and begged eagerly, "Why are the people mocking Wan Bin? Master Cao, please tell us."
"Please, at least finish what's important."
"We are so curious that we can't sleep tonight."
"They must be mocking Wan Bin for being greedy and immoral, which is why he's destined to have no sons!"
…
Jiang Yushu was amused. "Look how anxious they are! Just tell them roughly what's going on, or they might delay your return to camp."
Cao Da also laughed. He cleared his throat and said vaguely, "It's nothing, actually. Wan Bin has more than 20 daughters. Since ancient times, giving birth to a daughter is called 'making tiles'. The common people mocked his family for having so many 'tiles'. The Wan Mansion is 'Ten Thousand Tile Kilns'. And because he named his son 'Zhang', so, so..."
He paused, and quietly glanced at Jiang Yushu's bulging belly, feeling worried and hesitant.
The author has something to say:
I was absent yesterday, and today I wrote over 6,000. My fingers are sore from typing like crazy~
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