In the fourth year of Yonghui (653 AD), the thirtieth month of the lunar month, Chinese New Year's Eve.

The second Spring Festival in Datang is more pitted than the first year, and good times are consumed on the road. On the seventh day of the lunar month, he bid farewell to the Wu family and visited Cui Yixuan. Lao Cui received him diligently and told his son-in-law the way to be an official, which can be summed up in two points: plan and then act; Support one side, suppress one side, and keep the team unified.

Plan before acting, don't speak lightly, you will lose if you say too much; Don't make quick decisions, but give them authority. Just ask the problem, let the subordinates come up with a solution, and you will make the decision. If you solve the problem perfectly, you are the first to work; If it's a mess, you can stay out of it.

It is necessary to maintain disunity, and if your subordinates are united, it will empty you. Find ways to create contradictions, create different camps, and create struggles with each other. No matter which camp you are, they will find you to uphold justice, and they will take you as the backbone.

It's all about experience, and it seems to have some truth, and Wu Kang keeps it in mind. Farewell to Cui Yixuan, a group of forty-three people, hurry back to Wuzhou. When passing through Bianzhou, he suddenly had a whim and led a team to enter Junyi County (Kaifeng County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province), find his hometown in later generations according to his memory, and start a journey to find his ancestors.

The reality is cruel, there is no surname Wu in the local area. If you don't give up on visiting the county order and rummaging through the household registration documents, there will be no family surnamed Wu in the entire Junyi County. It seems that his ancestors moved into Kaifeng after Yonghui, not the original residents.

But looking for the wish of the ancestors, day and night, hurrying and hurrying, still didn't catch up with the New Year. Chinese New Year's Eve Chinese New Year's Eve, come to Shanyin County, Yuezhou (Shaoxing County, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province) and visit the Jinghu Basin. With an area of 800 miles, Jinghu Lake is the predecessor of Jianhu Lake, and has produced many celebrities.

The lake is high on the surface, less than two feet from the top of the embankment, and when the lake rises sharply in March, a large-scale rat plague is a foregone conclusion. At that time, the governor of Yuezhou will be unlucky, Chu Suiliang will be unlucky, the people of Yuezhou will be unlucky, and the people of Wuzhou may be unlucky, only Mei Niang will laugh out of the pig.

With a depressed mood, I left Jinghu Lake and went to Huiji Mountain, standing at the foot of the mountain and looking up. Bare and towering into the clouds, very different from the afterlife, depressed and disappointed again.

Qian Shunti stepped forward immediately and reported in a low voice: "Bypassing this mountain, it is the boundary of Zhuji County. Ninety miles to the southwest, is the county seat of Zhuji; Two hundred miles, is the city of Wuzhou. Now there are two quarters, and there are less than two more moments, and night falls. My subordinates think it's not safe to travel at night, you see..."

There was nothing to see, and they had to stay in a farmhouse, and the brothers were very happy. The big guy didn't reply, still looking at the top of the mountain in a daze, and Qian Shun couldn't help but slander. Leaving for Chang'an, going around Muzhou and Yuezhou, and going around Muzhou on the return trip, it was deliberately avoided.

He knew that Muzhou killed 3,000 prisoners of war and became the heart disease of the big man. Since then, if I don't set foot in Muzhou again, three thousand souls, every time I think of this, my scalp is numb. It's better to persuade, and he said stiffly: "That thing... You are just the executor, and you don't have to feel guilty. ”

Seeing the shut-up gesture, he closed his mouth, and received instructions from the big guy to turn the horse's hair number and give an order: "If you can't catch up with the county seat before dark, go to the next village, and find a farmer to spend the night." Do you have enough money? Not enough to ask for me. It's still the old rule, don't force the night, give enough accommodation and food. ”

Everyone responded in order, their faces were excited, and the horse team galloped wildly again. After walking more than 30 miles, I finally saw a large village of 100 people. As the Spring Festival approaches, the village is lit up, the smoke rises, and children play happily.

Qian Shun shouted, and everyone dispersed, looking for a place to stay. It's like this all the way, even eating and sleeping for forty wen, which is more expensive than the county inn. When the team dispersed, Wu Kang took over the half-hanging money and hung it on his left wrist. Signaling Qian Shun to leave, driving the horse slowly, looking left and right, looking for a lodging house.

Passing by the fence yard, disturbing the watchdogs, the pastoral dogs barked wildly. The front paws pull the dirt, ready to go, if it weren't for the leash, it would definitely rush out of the firewood and bite people. Wu Kang said twice, since you are so enthusiastic, let's stay at your house.

Turned over and dismounted to hold the reins, came to the firewood, and stared at the dog with wide eyes. The pastoral dog quickly coaxed, and suddenly pounced to the side, and the dog's mouth was deadly biting something. It turned out to be a mouse, the size of a foot, isn't this a dog taking a mouse?

The pastoral dog spat out the dead mouse and continued to pounce left and right. In just three minutes, eight rats were bitten to death, and the half of the moldy cooking cake in the dog basin was successfully defended. Wu Kang's smile stiffened, and his mood became heavier and heavier, it was really a rat's guts, and rats and dogs were competing for food. Zhuji County has been plagued by rats, and what is the situation in Yiwu County, which borders it?

The creak of the wooden door interrupted the thoughts, and the two mothers and daughters stood at the door of the hall. The girl is five or six years old, wearing a thin cloth dress, and her little face is red from the cold; The woman was about thirty, dressed in coarse linen clothes, and looked vigilantly to this side. Seeing the horse, I was a little relieved and led the girl over.

Seeing the purple robe, the tension disappeared completely. A few days ago, I went to Yuezhou to do New Year's goods, and most of the governors in Yuezhou were dressed in robes, which were exactly the same as the men in front of them. Looking at his appearance of sleeping in the open, he probably understood his intentions, and a light flush appeared on his face.

Wu Kang hung the half-hanging money on the firewood, hugged his fists and saluted: "People in Jinhua, Xiawuzhou, are in a hurry to go home for the New Year, miss the time to stay in the hotel, and want to spend the night." This is 500 copper coins, which is the accommodation fee and food expenses, and I hope the lady will be successful. ”

After struggling for half a minute, the woman nodded lightly, untied the firewood and hemp rope, and welcomed Wu Kang in. Carrying four catties of copper coins, he looked left and right to see that there was no one, and hurriedly ran into the hall. A moment sounded rummaging through the cabinets, it should be hiding money, half a square is not a small amount, enough for them to spend a year.

Lead the horse into the cowshed, tie the reins behind the cow trough, and take the hay by the wall to feed the horses. His hand suddenly stopped, listened to the rustling, squatted down and pushed the haystack, and was stunned for a moment. The frightened swarm, numbering hundreds, burst out of the fence and disappeared into the mist.

My God, it's all so rampant now, and when the Mirror Lake rises in March, it will definitely turn the sky upside down. I made up my mind in an instant, and when I returned to Wuzhou, I held a meeting, gathered all my colleagues, and put the prevention of rat plague on the agenda. Regardless of other states, we can't let the rat infestation in Yuezhou cause disaster in Wuzhou.

After feeding the horses and leaving the barn, the woman carried the bucket and walked to the stove with great difficulty. Hurry over to help, pour the water into the pot, and then go to the water tank to scoop a bucket and place it on the stove. The woman took hay and stuffed the hearth with hay and beat the fire with flint and sickle, and it was very difficult to crackle.

Wu Kang blew out the fire fold, handed it to her, turned back to the hall, and lit the candles on the table. Looking at the furnishings of the room, the whole house is surrounded by four walls, and the furniture is sparse and dilapidated. Due north for the table, for the God of Wealth, Guanyin clay statue, in front of half a bowl of incense ash.

are all poor like this, what is the use of worshipping them, wasting fragrance money. After a few complaints, I pushed open the door of the east room, which was a storage room, where dry wood and jars were placed. I found that the rice cylinder was interesting, and on the log cover of the cylinder mouth, more than a dozen green bricks were pressed. Remove the bricks and put down the wooden cover, and see half a jar of gray and white rice.

At this moment, he listened to the sound of squirping, and turned his head to meet the eyes of the mouse. The big slap rat, dragging its long tail, slowly approached along the foot of the wall. came to the side of the rice tank, climbed the eaves of the tank, stabilized his body and jumped into the tank.

This is ignoring me, very arrogant, brother, Wu Kang was happy, leaned over and stretched out his hand, and took it out to his face. The palms of the hands got closer and closer, the green tendons on the back of the hands collapsed, and the rats struggled violently. In less than half a minute, the eyes and legs kicked for a life. Throwing his hands and falling to the ground, disdainful and disdainful, dare to look down on me?

However, the stumbling resumed, and the five rats formed a team and charged towards the rice bowl. Wu Kang was happy, the horizontal knife was unsheathed, the knife light flashed, and the mouse's head was in a different place. The pile of dry wood shook suddenly, and dozens of them jumped out, and the target was still a rice tank.

After you have become fine, quickly return the knife into the sheath, take the lid to buckle the cylinder mouth, and shout "Get out". It really worked, the rats fled and all got into the pyre. A sneer sounded at the door, and the woman was holding a large bowl, and the corner of her eyes couldn't hide the smile: "These flat-haired beasts don't understand human nature, don't worry about them." ”

This is embarrassing, I can't help but blush, and lift the rice cylinder head. The woman holds the bowl with both hands, sticks her head into the mouth of the jar and scoops the rice, stretches out her hands to pick it up, and pulls out a rain cloth wrap. He handed the rice bowl to Wu Kang and carefully opened the bag, revealing a blue-black object, like a sun-dried blue-and-white snake.

Take one and put it in a bowl, wrap the rest and bury it again in the rice. Seeing that Wu Kang was puzzled, he took the bowl and explained: "This is a special blue and white snake from Yuezhou, each of which sells for five wen and seven wen for drying." It can be boiled and drunk, it can clear away heat and dispel wind, and it can also nourish and strengthen..."

The words came to an abrupt end, and the woman blushed and turned to flee the East House. Some inexplicable, too lazy to think about it, put the rice cylinder lid right, and re-press the green bricks. As soon as I returned to the hall, I heard a woman shouting outside, and her voice was like a gong: "Fang Niangzi, I have a distinguished guest at home to spend the night, borrow me two bowls, and give you two pennies." ”

Fang Niang didn't reply, and the sound of the broken gong sounded again: "Your house is also a distinguished guest?" That's great! Be hospitable, but don't be lazy. Oh yes, you only have one bed in your house, and I have a surplus in my house, so I'll lend you a night... You give me ten wen. "The fire is out

Business ghost this, Wu Kangjue is interesting, stop and listen. Fang Niang continued to be silent, the little lady seemed to hate breaking the gong, ran out of the threshold and shouted: "My bed is very big, I can sleep three people, I don't need your family, I won't give you money." ”

Tong Yan Wuji, Wu Kang instantly decided, let's change places, this place is not suitable for staying overnight. Fang Niang reprimanded her daughter softly, and then replied to the woman with the broken gong: "Thank you for your kindness, I won't borrow the bed, it's too troublesome." After eating, Xiu'er and I went back to our parents' house, and the bed was left for the distinguished guests. ”

After dinner, the night was dark, and Fang Niang pulled her daughter away. Wu Kangjue's magpie's nest dove was not good, and he coughed twice and said: "Fang Niangzi, wait a minute, I am an official from Wuzhou, and I specially came to Yuezhou to investigate." In order to prevent the rat plague and Wuzhou, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give advice. ”

Fang Niang's delicate body trembled, and after a while, she said, "Slave can be saved", and pulled her daughter away in a hurry. After about half an hour, he placed his daughter in her mother's house and sat down opposite her. Wu Kang coughed dryly, pondered for a moment and said: "The disaster is like fire, this official must prepare early, please tell the lady the truth." ”

Ying Nuo's voice was like a mosquito, and Wu Kang began to ask: "I heard in the capital that Yuezhou's specialty blue and white snake can be used as a field rent. Is it true, are there many snake catchers, and is it easy to catch now? ”

Fang Niangzi replied: "This summer, there was a tolerance into the village, and later the village was informing that ten blue and white snakes would arrive at the field to rent a bucket, and a hundred would arrive at a hundred. The people in the village were very happy, men, women and children were all arrested, and handed over to the village and the village to keep accounts. It's hard to catch now, the villagers run dozens of miles to dig the blue and white snake cave, and they can't catch it in the deep mountains and old forests. ”

Listening to this meaning, the blue and white snake is extinct, no wonder the rats are so rampant. The lovely governor of Yuezhou, who is good at death, is waiting to lose his office. After complaining a few words, he continued to ask: "I see that in your village, rats are very rampant, don't you have a way to deal with it?" ”

Fang Niang raised her head, her face was a little confused: "You don't need to deal with it, it's the same every year, there are many rats in Yuezhou." I heard from the people in the village that the rats came from Jinghu Lake, and as long as the water in Jinghu Lake rose, the rats would come out. In April, when the water in the lake fell, they went back. It's just that... There are more rats this year, more than in previous years. ”

The water in Jinghu Lake rose, flooding the rat holes on the embankment, and rats came out to feed; The water in Mirror Lake fell, and the rat army returned to the nest. The higher the lake rises, the larger the army, and in previous years there were fewer rats, and it was the blue and white snake that helped. This year, there is enough rain, and all the blue and white allies have been killed, and an epic disaster is about to occur.

couldn't help but sigh twice, and asked without giving up: "In addition to the blue and white snakes in Yuezhou, are there any other snakes?" ”

Fang Niang thought for a while, shook her head and said, "There should be very few, the blue and white snake is very fierce, not only eating mice, but also other snakes." ”

To make matters worse, Wu Kang changed the topic: "What about your man, went to serve in other places?" I don't go home for the New Year. ”

Fang Niang's shoulders trembled slightly, and she replied flatly: "When Xiuniang was two years old, he served the big families in the county and went to Taizhou to build a royal boat... The royal ship leaked, and he was executed by the government. ”

Wu Kang was stunned and embarrassed to say sorry. The law of the Tang Dynasty stipulated that if the imperial ship built for the emperor leaked, all shipbuilders should be hanged. The official explanation was that the leaking boat endangered the emperor's life and that he had to be killed.

Therefore, if the common people serve in the conscription, if they build royal ships and cars, the rich people will pay a lot of money to ask poor families to serve on their behalf, just to avoid risks. Fang Niang's husband was more unlucky, and Wu Kang was even more embarrassed, borrowing the night to the widow's house, which was really a sin.

looked at the woman in front of him, pondered for a moment and said: "You have no man, 80 acres of land will be divided into fields, and you will have to return them to the government, and now you have only 20 acres of Yongye land left in your hands." Pay two fields rent every year, can life pass? ”

Fang Niang nodded timidly, subconsciously shrunk her shoulders, and Wu Kang immediately said: "Layue is cold, the hall is really cold, let's talk about it in the house." Regarding the rise and fall of the blue and white snake and the mirror lake, I still have some questions..."

The next morning, radiant, lifted the quilt and got out of bed, rubbing his sore waist. There is a fragrance from the hall, or blue and white snake boiled rice porridge, the taste is really good. Stretch comfortably, pick up the wooden comb on the table, and awkwardly comb your hair.

The bedroom door opened, and Wu Kang didn't bother to turn around, handing the wooden comb behind him. After combing your hair, get up and stretch out your arms. Dressed and buckled, he took his money bag and threw it on the table, turned and left the bedroom. As soon as she reached the door, the woman spoke timidly, nervously and tremblingly: "If there is... What to do? ”

This is a problem, Wu Kang has a headache, and after a moment of deliberation, he goes to the wooden table. Pick up the wooden comb and play with it, and with a loud bang, break the mahogany comb into two sections. The originally nervous woman screamed in fright, and her head hung lower.

walked up to Fang Niang, stretched out his hand to help her look up, and watched quietly. A few minutes later, half of the wooden comb was stuffed into her arms, and the other half was handed to her, and she said lightly: "If you have it, take this half of the wooden comb and go to Wuzhou Thorn Mansion to find me." ”

After that, he turned around and left, and there was hot rice porridge on the dining table in the hall. By the way, I took two sips, hung the horizontal knife on my belt, and strode out the door. While the security guards waited for a long time, Wu Kang frowned slightly, and gestured to Qian Shun with a "copper coin" gesture.

Returning to the hall, Qian Shun soon came, and Wu Kang poured out the money bag, which was full of four taels of silver, and put it all on the dining table. glanced at the slightly open bedroom door, and said lightly: "This money is enough for you for a few years, I'm leaving." ”

The caravan was gone, and the woman hurried out of the courtyard, stopping to look into the distance. It wasn't until the shadow disappeared that he withdrew his reluctant gaze and stared down at the wooden comb. Suddenly hearing someone talking, he turned around in panic and hid the wooden comb behind him.

The ragged beggar, with pale hair, holds a blue bamboo pole in his hand, and hangs a bulging bag at his waist. looked at Fang Niang and said in a hoarse voice: "Tell Hanako that she hasn't eaten for two days, kind-hearted lady, can you stutter?" If you don't have anything to eat, you can give a bowl of water, and the little old man is grateful. ”

Seeing the old beggar's face clearly, he almost screamed, and hurriedly ran into the house and came out with hot porridge. The beggar thanked him repeatedly, drank without taking the chopsticks and raised his head, and divided the hot porridge by two in three times, and burped comfortably. He handed the bowl over, and after a moment asked, "Do you know who that person is?" ”

Fang Niang shook her head, and the beggar also shook her head, and said slowly: "His surname is Wu and his name is Kang, the new Wuzhou Assassin Shi, and the fourth rank official of the imperial court." He killed 3,000 captives and carried 3,000 sins, and the Buddha would punish him. Throw the comb away, and he'll bring disaster to you. ”

The woman was shocked, her face full of disbelief, and the wooden comb clenched tighter. Ban Yan shook his head, and said with little confidence: "The slave is just a woman, and I don't understand what the old man said." He was a good guy and gave a lot of money to slaves, and if there were no children ... I'm not going to go to him. ”

The old beggar was noncommittal, opened the cloth bag around his waist, reached in and groped for it, handed her a grain of rice, and said, "Life is the most difficult thing to be satisfied, and it is really good that you have this idea." You keep this grain of rice, if you really have it, take the rice to him, and he will arrange for you. ”

Fang Niang hesitated for a moment, took the grain of rice, and hurried back to the room. Dig out the purse from the cabinet, put the rice grains and wooden comb in it, remove all the torn clothes, and press the purse to the bottom of the box. Seeing that the old beggar was still there, he picked up his bowl of porridge.

The old beggar didn't take the porridge, picked up the bamboo pole and left, and said to himself: "I have eaten enough, I am not hungry today, I am already content." That person is insatiable and does not know how to be satisfied, and the Buddha will blame..."

The voice became smaller and smaller, the old beggar gradually disappeared, and Fang Niang couldn't come back to his senses for a long time. The old man is very similar to Wu Thorn Shichang, especially those eyes, which are exactly the same. What is their relationship? Is it father and son?

Soon self-denial, secretly laughing at himself for being stupid, it can't be father and son. He is the assassin of Wuzhou, a very big official, how can he let adults beg?

The beggar walked far away and saluted the West: "He gave the woman a lot of money, is it a good deed, can it offset a sin?" ”

I prayed for a long time, as if I heard the Buddha forgive, untied the cloth bag again, took out a grain of rice, put it in my mouth and chewed...