As winter approaches and the Spring Festival approaches, Minglan plans to give herself a couplet. The upper line reads "Predict things like a god", the lower line reads "Make accurate judgments", and the horizontal scroll reads "Half-immortal".
After fooling around that day, Changwu went to Jinling the next day. In times of instability, it was always good to have more warriors to protect the home. The Jinling Commandery and the five surrounding garrisons all regretted that there were too few capable fighters, so Changwu was naturally very welcome. After five consecutive welcoming banquets with fat geese and ducks, Changwu took leave and returned to Youyang.
"Sister, you are talking nonsense! I told you there is no war in the south, right? I have been lying on the wall of Jinling for so many days and nothing has happened. However, the wealthy families in Jinling City are scared to death when they know about the war outside. Look... they have paid the city defense donation three times in just half a month! Look, even I got fifty taels of silver." Chang Wu threw a heavy cloth bag embroidered with gold thread on the table and smiled bitterly. For those who rely on military pay to make a living, this is a huge sum of money, but the children of the Sheng family are not short of money.
Seeing that her son's words revealed his desire to go north again, Li was at a loss for words to persuade him, and she was sweating profusely in the middle of winter.
"Don't be impatient, Second Brother," Minglan said leisurely. "Think about it, the war only started last month. How can the refugees walk faster than riding horses? Let's wait a little longer!"
"Really...?" Changwu looked at Minglan with suspicion.
Minglan nodded vigorously, then encouraged him with stories of outstanding people, speaking in the tone of a storyteller: "Think back then, when Emperor Wu personally led an expedition against the Wuliangha in the bitter cold, when water froze to ice. He led an army of 100,000 men and waited in the ancient city of Nurgan for two months. He remained neither arrogant nor impatient, and eventually tricked the Wuliangha into underestimating him. Several tribes deployed their elite troops, and Emperor Wu wiped them out in one fell swoop! Second brother, you've learned to fight against a hundred men against a thousand, but maybe in the future you'll have to fight against ten thousand. Patience is paramount!"
The power of example is infinite. Changwu was frightened and went back to Jinling that night. During dinner, Li kept putting food into Minglan's bowl, and Yuner put the two chicken legs that were originally reserved for pregnant women into Minglan's plate.
"Niece-in-law, you're praising her!" Old Madam Sheng smiled. "This little girl is so charming with her words."
Sheng Wei said solemnly, "Not yet. I think what my niece said makes sense. I've been going around the town these days, inviting the elders of the major families to tea, asking them not to be extravagant during the New Year and to store more food and firewood for emergencies. After all, there's chaos outside."
Sheng Wei was very sensitive, but three days later, Changwu asked someone to bring back a letter: the refugees were coming.
Because the King of Jing has been plotting to exile you for a long time, he urgently needs a huge amount of silver and grain for military supplies. He has been exploiting the people for many years. The officials at all levels have followed suit and squeezed the people dry. It happened to be the middle of winter, and heavy snow fell from the sky. The people were starving and cold, and could not bear the hardship. The displaced people had to flee from Anhui, and a large number of refugees emerged, fleeing to Jiangsu, Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces.
At the end of December in the first year of Chongde, 50,000 refugees from Anhui gathered at the foot of Jinling City. The government opened its granaries to distribute grain, and the wealthy families in the city also opened porridge stalls and distributed firewood and charcoal, allowing the refugees to spend the winter in houses outside the city.
Changwu finally had a place to use its military power. For fear of accidents and chaos caused by the refugees, every time the city gates were opened for rescue, the army had to be on guard, working day and night. Youyang also welcomed the first wave of refugees at the end of the first month of the second year of Chongde.
Fortunately, the Sheng family had made preparations in advance. Together with several other large families in the county, they temporarily built many shacks to provide shelter for the refugees. They gave out porridge twice a day and found some unused quilts and cotton clothes for them to use during the winter.
Minglan also went out with Li in the sedan chair to see the situation. After she came back, she was sad for a long time. Children who grew up in modern times with no worries about food and clothing could not imagine what the scene was like: heavy snow, frost all over the ground, many old people and children wearing only thin clothes, shivering beside a small fire to keep warm, their skin frozen purple, children's hands and faces covered with chilblains, pairs of hungry eyes staring blankly at the bowl of cold thin porridge, as if it was their only hope.
There was no loud crying in the shack, only sporadic sobbing. The mother was holding her feverish child, dying and unable to even cry. Her weak cries for hunger made Minglan's heart ache.
"...My hometown was hit by a flood. All our fields were submerged. We had no harvest, no food, and my younger brother was sick, so my parents sold me." Xiao Tao recalled the vague past calmly. "I heard from my uncle in the village that life was relatively good in this dynasty. Every household had their own land and didn't have to pay rent. During the chaos of the previous dynasty, how could ordinary people have their own land? It all belonged to the wealthy! Whenever there were natural disasters or man-made disasters, we couldn't pay a penny of rent, so we had to sell our children and suffer from hunger and cold."
Minglan nodded slightly. As a dynasty progressed, land annexation became more serious. When the peasants could no longer survive, the dynasty would be replaced and everything would start over again.
Qin Sang was also in a low mood. He whispered, "My family used to own over ten acres of land, and when the weather was good, we could get by. But that year, a county magistrate came and constantly asked for money under various pretexts. He even set his sights on Sister Yinhua from the village as a concubine. Sister Yinhua's family refused, so he took Sister Yinhua's father and brother and accused them of being unruly people who resisted paying taxes. He imprisoned them and tortured them. Sister Yinhua was taken to the county magistrate's mansion on the third day. But her father and brother couldn't endure the torture and died in prison. When the villagers went to reason with him, the county magistrate's housekeeper said, 'You've already slept, don't bother yourself with it.' Later, Sister Yinhua ran into a wall and died at the gate of the county government office."
Minglan felt miserable, he was truly 'a county magistrate who ruined a family, a prefect who wiped out an entire clan'; these days, the happy lives of ordinary people were like a piece of thin paper, which could be broken by a little natural or man-made disaster; Minglan suddenly felt that she had been born into a good family.
"What does this have to do with your family?" Luzhi listened for a long time but didn't grasp the point.
"Sister Yinhua is my brother's unmarried daughter-in-law."
——Everyone was in awe.
Qin Sang stirred the charcoal fire in the stove, and the flames softened her calm face. "My brother was so angry that he wanted to fight to the death, but he was beaten by the yamen runners and chased out, leaving him bloody. Dad was also so angry that he fell ill. The two men in the family needed medical treatment, and without the labor, how could we have so much money? Grandmother said that the land could not be sold because the men would have to farm it again after they recovered. So they had to sell me. And also sold Sister Yinhua's brothers and sisters. I don't know where they are now."
Danju asked softly, "Do you still remember the county magistrate's name?"
Qin Sang shook her head, the velvet flowers on her braids trembling slightly. "I don't remember. I was only five or six at the time. I only know that when I left, the village head and the head of the village discussed how everyone should pool their money to raise a scholar from the village, so that they would have someone to speak up for them when they were bullied. ... Later I heard that the county magistrate had his property confiscated and his office confiscated, and he was even exiled. I was so happy. But it's a pity that Sister Yinhua's family has been destroyed, their house and fields are deserted, and no one mentions them anymore."
Everyone was saddened and silent for a long time. Then Qin Sang brightened up again and said with a smile, "Two years ago, someone from home sent a letter saying things were getting better. My eldest and second brothers had married, and my younger brother was studying. My parents even said they would redeem me when things got better, but I said no, I'm fine here. I make two or three taels of silver a month, which is more than what my father and brothers make. I saved it all and took it home to buy some land."
Minglan had been listening to them quietly, and now she couldn't help but ask, "Your family would rather sell you than the land. Don't you blame them?"
Qin Sang's face flushed slightly as he smiled. "I felt strange for a while, but then I came to terms with it. With land, a father, and a brother, I had hope. Mother only sold me after asking around a lot. I'm lucky to be able to come into our house, where I'm never beaten or scolded, and I'm blessed to serve the young lady. Over the years, I've had good food and clothing, and my sisters are all so nice to me. What is there to complain about?"
Minglan couldn't help but be stunned. Qin Sang was not very useful in Mucangzhai. Her appearance and personality were just average. She was neither as thoughtful and careful as Yancao, nor as brisk and capable as Luzhi. Therefore, her monthly salary and rewards were ranked at the back. But from her tone, she seemed to be very content with her life, and when she talked about her home, she was even more nostalgic. Such a kind and honest character is very rare.
For the first time, Minglan witnessed the kindness and sincerity of the common people. They were like the dirt beneath their feet, humble yet genuine. Minglan loved them and said with a smile, "If your family is truly well off, you don't need to pay for a ransom. I'll let you go. I'm sure your parents have already arranged a son-in-law for you. Then I'll give you a dowry!"
Qin Sang's face flushed red, and she stamped her feet in shame and anger, saying, "Girl! How dare you say such a thing? I'll tell Madam Fang!"
The laughter finally dispelled the gloom. After reporting to the old lady, Minglan took out three-quarters of her own private savings, and the little maids also collected some small change. They used all the money to buy rice, grain, and quilts to help the refugees.
"All the money you saved over the years is gone, and now you feel better? Could it be that if it weren't for your contribution, people wouldn't freeze to death outside?" Old Lady Sheng looked at Minglan with a smile.
Minglan nodded seriously. "Granddaughter knows this is just a drop in the bucket, but I'll do my best and do what I can, that's all I can do. I heard from Second Brother Wu that after the spring, the government will make arrangements for them. Those who wish to return to their hometowns will be able to go back, while those who have nowhere to return to will go and reclaim wasteland and put down roots. I just hope they can survive this winter."
The old lady hugged her little granddaughter, smiled, and sighed softly: "Little fool!"
At the end of the first month of the second year of Chongde, mountain bandits became a problem in eastern Anhui, western Zhejiang, southern Jiangsu and western Jiangsu. They often robbed fleeing civilians and attacked towns with lax defenses. Wherever they went, they killed, burned and committed all kinds of atrocities. As the refugees had nowhere to go, many of them became bandits.
Chang Wu and his fellow zealous soldiers petitioned several times to lead the garrison barracks out of the city to suppress the bandits, but were always repelled by the Jinling prefect and the commander-in-chief. Now that fighting was raging outside, Jinling was already struggling to secure the city gates, so how could they dare open the city walls to suppress the bandits?!
Changwu's requests were rejected several times, and he asked for leave and went home in anger.
"How many times have I told you not to get into an awkward relationship with your superiors? Control your temper! It's not easy to survive in the officialdom!" Sheng Wei was worried that his son would have a falling out with his boss, so he scolded his son right away.
"Dad! How could I be like this?! My brothers all slammed the table and smashed their wine glasses to advise Commander Hu, but I didn't say anything!" Chang Wu stiffened his neck, his face flushed red. "That's why I asked for leave to go home! Otherwise, how could I face my brothers!"
Minglan consoled him, "Don't worry, second brother. You're not a military officer directly under Nanjing, so it's right not to try to persuade him too much. Oh, by the way, how's the war going outside right now? It seems to be relatively peaceful in the south. Could it be that the Prince of Jing is having a smooth journey north?"
"He's dreaming!" Chang Wu said with disdain. "That rabble, though they made a lot of noise, were incompetent. They were defeated the moment they entered Lu. The army was cut in half. The back half retreated to Xuzhou, where they were ambushed in a valley. The front half fled to Zhuangzhou. I think that's about it."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room relaxed. Sheng Wei and Changsong exchanged a smile, finally feeling relieved. The old lady smiled as she counted her beads, Li clasped her hands together and chanted "Amitabha". Wen was happily preparing tea and fruit in the room. Pinlan snorted softly and whispered to Minglan, "This King Jing is such a fool!"
Minglan patted her chest, sat at the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and drank it slowly.
Chang Wu paced around the room anxiously, sighed deeply, and said in a desperate tone, "Sister Minglan, you are right. I really don't need to go back to the capital. I think it will be the end of King Jing if he can't make it to the capital! The only ones who can make merit nowadays are the soldiers who suppress the rebellion. If I had known earlier, I would have joined the army long ago!"
Seeing his son's annoyed expression, Sheng Wei changed the subject and asked, "I wonder which army is suppressing the rebellion this time?"
Chang Wu stopped moving and sat down, saying, "I'm afraid the Emperor has long been on guard against the south. Over the past few months, he's been openly guarding the capital's security, but in fact he's secretly mobilized half of the Five Army Battalions for training outside the capital. Even after the chaos in the northern border, the Emperor didn't move this army. Only after the Prince of Jing rebelled did the army secretly march south and ambush the rebels in Xuzhou."
Changwu felt better. The Zhongwei Guard where he was belonged to was part of the Three Thousand Camp. Even if he was in the capital, it would not be his turn to go to the battlefield.
"The Fifth Army Camp? Isn't that commanded by General Gan? He is a veteran after all." Sheng Wei had done business with the army several times and knew something about the military situation.
Unexpectedly, Chang Wu shook his head and said, "It's not General Gan, but a general recently promoted by the Emperor. He was originally the son of a powerful noble in the capital. I heard that the Emperor valued him highly when he was a vassal king, so he sought an opportunity to promote him this time. I'm afraid he will have a bright future."
Minglan's eyes lit up, and she smiled as she poured herself another half cup of tea. "Really? This general has good taste."
Back then, the Eighth Prince was the least favored among all the princes. He was not as good as the Third Prince in literature, not as good as the Fourth Prince in martial arts, not as noble as the Fifth Prince, not as capable as the Sixth Prince, and not as favored as the late emperor's sons born in old age. Only her mother was of humble status, which was second to none. Yet, someone would think of investing in this unpopular stock. He must be like Buffett's brother.
Sheng Wei was also very interested, secretly planning to establish a relationship with this new military upstart: "Who is it? Have you heard of him before?"
Chang Wu seemed to have given up hope and sighed, "I heard his name is Gu Tingye."
Everyone in the room was confused, as no one had ever heard of this name.
Minglan held the teacup in her mouth, staring at it for a long moment before swallowing with difficulty. She asked cautiously, "This...why haven't I heard of this before? Second brother, even if military officers don't have to slowly gain experience like civil servants, is it possible to be promoted from a commoner to a general in one step?"
In the blink of an eye, the old hen turned into a duck! How did the underworld boss who just three months ago was fighting alongside the Cao Gang become a general who suppressed the rebellion? Is this really the military-civilian collaboration?
Changwu was greatly encouraged. Ever since the rebellion of Prince Jing, he, an experienced man, had been advised by his little cousin. He had to admit that what she said was indeed insightful and reasonable. Today he finally got a chance to show off his brother's knowledge.
He let out a long sigh and said loudly, "Sister, you don't know this. General Gu was originally a seventh-rank guard of the Upper Twelve Guards."
"This is just a sinecure, many sons of powerful nobles in the capital have it. Why don't they also become generals?" Minglan almost laughed out loud. Her supposed suitor, Master Liang Han, also held this position.
Chang Wu's tone was filled with envy as he relayed the military report from Jinling, "The important thing is that General Gu is highly favored by the Emperor. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has been appointed the fifth-rank commander of the Imperial Guards to suppress the rebellion. He is now leading the troops to suppress the rebellion with the Emperor's prior secret order."
Minglan was speechless. She smacked her lips, chuckled twice, and walked over to refill Changwu's tea. With a well-behaved look on her face, she said, "Second brother, you know so much. No wonder my father always praises you for your insight."
Changwu grinned and felt much better. This little cousin was so adorable. If her husband dared to neglect her in the future, he would definitely give him a good beating.
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