Ma Huaide put down the scroll in his hand and said to Wang Gongyi who came in: "The Khitan people who came, have they all been arranged?" ”

Wang Gongyi arched his hand: "Back to Zhizhou, everything has been arranged." In order to prevent accidents, they were arranged to go to the south of Yishui and live in the village. ”

Ma Huaide nodded: "That's fine." The Khitan people have walked a few times, let's send people back, and the end is extremely annoying! ”

Wang Gongyi said: "There are more than 300 people who came this time, how can the Khitan give up." However, the Privy Council has replied, so that we don't have to pay attention to the Khitans and make proper arrangements for the fleeing people. ”

"Is there enough food and grass?"

Wang Gongyi said: "Now is enough. The imperial court has issued a document ordering the Hebei Road to build a railway as soon as possible. This winter, the railway will go to Zhendingfu, then go to Dingzhou, Baozhou, and all the way to Xiongzhou. With the railway, we have a convenient place here. ”

Ma Huaide nodded: "In this way, the imperial court is determined to have a fight with the Khitan." It's summer, not the season for the Khitans to fight, so let's just be more prepared. Fix the railroad in the winter, and everything will be different. ”

The direction of the railway is actually to go north according to the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain, and after arriving in Dingzhou, it will come to Xiongzhou in the east. Relying on the railway so much, the Khitan iron cavalry was blocked and their ability to maneuver was destroyed. Along the railway, all several towns were built into military strongholds, forming a single front. As long as the preparation is sufficient, the Khitan is not afraid of destroying the railway, and the Song army can repair it quickly.

Ma Huaide has been in the army for many years, and as soon as Wang Gongyi said it, he knew the meaning of the imperial court. What is really terrifying about the Khitan is not how strong the combat power is, but how quickly it comes and goes, which makes the Song army tired to deal with. Once a front was formed, the advantage of the Khitans was gone.

Bidding farewell to Ma Huaide, Wang Gongyi left the official hall and returned to his general judgment hall. He ordered someone to call Tu Aisi and said to him: "Many of the Khitan people who fled south have reported your name. Now the state government has placed them on the south bank of Yishui, and you go over to watch and don't allow them to make trouble. For the sake of these people, we have a dirty relationship with the Khitan, and it is not good for them to cause trouble. ”

Tu Tsuji said yes. Out of the yamen, heading towards the south bank of Yishui.

Xiongzhou City is on the shore of Yishui, and the land within ten miles on the south bank is under the jurisdiction of Xiongzhou. The people here are not two losers, all of them are under the rule of the Song Dynasty. Since the time of Taizong, they have been exempted from paying taxes, but on the front line, they have to bear a lot of errands.

After crossing the river in a ferryboat and going a short distance to the west, he saw tents set up by the fleeing people. The families are working together, living and dying, and are cooking outside. Children were running around in the tents, laughing and laughing.

Tu Zhu Si stepped forward and said to the messenger guarding here: "Where does the Meng Xueyu family who came here?" ”

The officer pointed to the place near the river and said, "Their family lives on the side, so it is easy to find." Abshi, this Meng is amazing, half of the people here fled with him. I heard that it was Oshiji who recruited him, but I don't know if it's true? ”

Tu Yashi vaguely agreed, and then followed the direction he pointed, all the way over.

I stayed here for the past two days, and although I had rice, I had no vegetables and meat. Today, Meng Xuexue went down to the river with a few people, caught a few fish, and was cleaning up there. Seeing Tu Aishi coming, he hurriedly got up and saluted.

Tu Zhu Si said: "How many days has the pedant lived here, can you still get used to everything?" ”

Meng Xue said: "If you can escape the tiger's mouth, it's all good." On these two days, the yamen brought rice so that they would not go hungry. However, there is no grass market nearby, there is no meat or wine seller, and birds fade out of their mouths. A few of us went down to the river today, and caught a few fish, and Oshishi came to taste them. ”

Tu Aisi looked at the few people who were cleaning up, not far from the river, under a big tree, and casually cut a wooden board to clean up. The entrails of the fish were casually thrown on the ground, and the scales were all over the place, which was really pickled. He said: "It's still early, let's go to the ferry over there, find a restaurant to drink two glasses of wine, and gossip." You people, now the two countries are fighting a lawsuit, but you can't be careless. ”

Meng Xue said: "Okay." Oshiji wait a minute, I'll clean up. ”

With that, he returned to his tent, changed into his robe, washed it carefully, and then walked towards the river with Tu Oshiji.

After walking a few miles, it was noon when we arrived at the ferry. Pointing to a tavern, he said, "That one makes good wine, and the roasted carp is very flavorful." Let's go over and eat tailfish and drink two glasses of wine. ”

When I got to the tavern, I sat down under the shed, and the little servant came. Tu Oshi asked for a dime of wine, a few vegetables, and a fish.

After a while, the wine and food came up, and Tu Zhusi and Meng Xueyu drank a glass of wine together. Said: "Pedant, now that you are here, how will you live in the future?" ”

Meng Xue said: "The people of the state government have said that the place we are in is all idle land. The yamen can lend us farm tools to plough cattle and reclaim the land. It is good to say that there is no tax service for three years. ”

"It's not easy to cultivate the fields. Although it was idle land, it was full of reeds and countless ditches. If you don't plan in advance, reclamation is not easy. For the imperial court, it is not difficult to lend you farm tools to cultivate cattle, but you must not cause trouble. ”

After speaking, he drank another glass of wine with Meng Xueyu.

Putting down the wine glass, Meng Xue said: "Where did my brother speak!" Those of us were fortunate to have the help of the state to cross the river and settle down. This is a great kindness, and it can't be finished in a lifetime, how can it cause trouble! ”

Tu Zhusi smiled and shook his head: "Pedant, people's hearts are insufficient!" It is said that Zhuozhou is heavily served, so you escaped the river. But after crossing the river, you don't have to go to service, no matter how heavy that battle is, you have never experienced it, right? For some people, when there are difficulties now, it is better to say that it is better to serve at that time. There are hundreds of people, all kinds of people, all kinds of people. ”

Meng Xuexue shook his head again and again: "Don't worry, we don't have that kind of person here!" Everyone escaped death and picked up a life, which is already a thousand thanks, where can you think about those messes! ”

"Drink, drink!" Tu Aiji raised his glass, just to persuade him to drink.

What Meng Xuezhu said was what he thought for himself, and others couldn't say for sure. It is not easy to leave your hometown and reopen idle land, even with the help of the state government. Although there is a lot of idle land in this area, it is not easy to reclaim. Due to the abundance of water, there are many reeds everywhere for many years, and there is a lack of suitable agricultural tools, so it is very difficult to cultivate the land. Although Xiongzhou borrowed farm tools, there was no suitable one.

Wang Gongyi knew this, so he specially sent Tu Zhu Si to watch here, so that nothing would happen. Don't look at these people who have escaped now, they are very grateful to the imperial court, and they have encountered difficulties in the future, so it is difficult to say. One is not good, they get together to make trouble, Xiongzhou is really not a person inside and out. In order to accept them, he has made enemies with the Khitan. As a result, the people who come are not greedy enough, and it is not annoying.

Tu Zhisi knew the mind of his boss, and he also knew that among these people, Meng Xuezhi had the highest reputation, so he specially invited him out today. It is to make it clear to Meng Xuexue and let him appease these people who cultivate the fields. Don't be resentful when you encounter difficulties later, making it difficult for Xiongzhou to do.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Meng Xuezhi knew what Tu Zhisi meant, and knew that their worries were reasonable. These people are just ordinary villagers, who dare to say that they are all good people?

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