Chapter 55: Patrolling the City

Zhang Xuan Zhengse, he knew that this issue was related to the choice of the Zhang family, and said: "Now the official army does not dare to chase the righteous army, and the righteous army is about to chase the world, how can it abandon the city, I don't shy away from saying that maybe there will be officials and soldiers in the future." Linying City can't hold it, only when it retreats. But our righteous army will never let the people of the world leave it alone. ”

Zhang Su didn't say anything after hearing this, and said: "I heard that the general wants to patrol the city, and I am willing to lead the way for the general." ”

"Then there is the third brother Lao Zhang." Zhang Xuan said.

Zhang Su grew up in Linying City since he was a child, and he knew Linying City best, and explained to Zhang Xuan as soon as he got out of the county office: "Linying County has a long history, in the Han and Tang dynasties, it was at the foot of the Son of Heaven, and Yingchuan County was a first-class county in the world, and it was weakened in modern times. ”

Every region of Henan is soaked in history. As soon as Zhang Su opened his mouth, he first talked about the ancients, saying how Yingchuan County was the first county in the world in the Han Dynasty. Between the words, that is the meaning--- Lao Tzu's ancestors are also wide. It's a feeling that's been the same throughout the ages.

However, after leaving the county office, Zhang Xuan and Zhang Su rode on horses surrounded by Qin Meng, and began to point to the buildings outside and said: "This county has overhauled the city wall three times during the Hongwu, Hongzhi, and Wanli years and a few years ago, but this county government was still repaired during the Hongwu period, and there has been no change so far. ”

Qin Meng is a young man accepted by Zhang Xuan in Nanyang, in the first battle of Xinyang, the first battle of Qishan Town, the first battle of Huojiaodian, Xiangcheng, and Shangshui, he performed well, with merit and hard work, Luo Dai also let go and led the troops, Zhang Xuan naturally wanted to promote him.

Of course, Zhang Xuan wouldn't say it, he always felt very uncomfortable putting the Luo family in the position of a personal guard, Qin Meng was Zhang Xuan's descendant, and he taught the soldiers with one hand and one foot.

"I know." Zhang Xuan said: "Doesn't the so-called official cultivate the government? However, this building is more than 200 years old, and it is still very well maintained. ”

Zhang Su didn't speak, but he actually understood that no matter if he didn't repair the government, the place where the county magistrate lived, and he could maintain it like the common people, and it was naturally excellent.

Zhang Suyi pointed to a building in the distance and said: "This bell and drum tower was also built during the Hongwu period. However, Jingtai has also been rebuilt during the year, and it is the highest point in the city. Keep it at the time during the day, and keep it at night. ”

Zhang Xuan raised his head and asked, "How many zhang high is this bell and drum tower?" ”

Zhang Su said: "The platform is two zhang high, the building is five zhang high, there are two thousand catties of copper bells in the middle, and there are ten big drums outside. Sound can be heard throughout the city. ”

"Two thousand pounds of bronze bells?" Zhang Xuan was overjoyed and said, "Go up and have a look." ”

This bell and drum tower is in front of the county government, Zhang Xuan climbed the tower to see the bronze bell weighing two thousand catties up close, and he didn't think how big the bronze bell was, after all, he was used to seeing large metal components in later generations, and even dozens of tons of Buddha statues, these two thousand pounds of copper bells, however, one ton only. No big deal.

"My lord, now that the soldiers and horses are in chaos, and the people have not heard the bells and drums for a long time, it is better to reset the bells and drums to calm the people." Zhang Su said.

Zhang Xuan also understands that the role of this bell and drum tower is like a big clock in many squares, the only difference is that everyone has a watch in modern times, and the people in this era do not have accurate timekeeping tools at hand, so they have to rely on here.

"Qin Meng." Zhang Xuan nodded and said.

"The subordinates are here." Qin Meng said.

Zhang Xuan said: "You send a few people to guard the bell and drum." By the way, tell the people from the craftsman's camp to come over and remove this big bell for me. Just use a drum to tell the time. Why use a bronze bell? Zhang Xuan secretly said in his heart: "These two thousand catties of copper are enough for me to build how many cannons." ”

Zhang Su's feeling for Zhang Xuan was immediately a little bad, these two thousand catties of bronze bells are certainly worth some silver, but compared with the hearts of the people in Linying City, they can't be compared at all, and Zhang Xuan is so wealthy, I'm afraid he is not a good candidate.

Zhang Xuan opened the window and walked around, the entire Linying City was in Zhang Xuan's eyes, Zhang Xuan immediately knew the importance of this place, and said, "Qin Meng." ”

"The subordinates are here." Qin Meng said.

"Send someone to tell Madame to send my bedding to the Bell and Drum Tower, and I will rest here." Zhang Xuan said. This is the commanding height of the city, where you can respond to emergencies at will, and the bell and drum tower is essentially a Chinese-style castle, and in case of trouble, it is also the last stronghold of the Japanese castle tower.

Linying is far from the time to enjoy peace, although Zhang Xuan can't be called a pillow, but he doesn't dare to have the slightest neglect.

Zhang Su added a point to Zhang Xuan in his heart, at least he knew that now was not the time for pleasure. There are many people who are greedy for money who have achieved great things, and even if they can't achieve great things, it is not bad to be able to start well and finish well in troubled times. He came to Zhang Xuan's side, pushed open the window and said: "The current Linying city wall was strengthened during the Wanli period, the bread bricks outside the city wall, and the foundation on it is also a stone foundation, the wall is two feet and five feet high, and there are twenty-one police stations in the city. The corners of the city are built with city towers, and the enemy platform is built, the water is led into the moat, and the four gates are bridged. A few years ago, the county ordered Zhang Gong to build Siguan City and heavy buildings. And on the heavy floor, and on the forehead of the four doors. The south gate is mentioned: 'Yingyang guarantee'. The east gate is mentioned as: 'Ruohua first photo'. Simanti said: 'Smoke and twilight. The North Gate was nominated as: 'Xiongque Fog Column. ’”

It seems to be a common problem for readers, once it comes to literary things, he is very excited, Zhang Xuan admitted that he let himself take a name, and he would never think of these names, at most he wanted a Yingyang guarantee. Choosing a name, this simple thing, is the most testing of people's literary brilliance.

Zhang Su's appearance made Zhang Xuan couldn't help but want to hit him, and said, "Oh, I remember coming in from the south gate." ”

And the south gate is mentioned above: "Yingyang guarantee." Zhang Su didn't need Zhang Xuan's reminder to come up with Zhang Xuan's meaning. It was a little awkward for a while.

Zhang Xuan didn't want to go around in circles, and said: "Third Brother Zhang has also been talking for a long time, how can I make the people of Linying return to their hearts." ”

Zhang Su said: "Persuade farmers. This is a very old-fashioned principle, and it is something that almost every magistrate has to do with when he takes office, and he doesn't care about it. He continued: "After three years of drought in Henan, the drought locusts have exhausted the people's strength, and there are still a little people in the county, and Chengwai is already full of hunger. Even if the rebels rob the rich and help the poor, how long can they last? Now even the rich have no surplus to eat. For example, in my family, the general was merciful and did not confiscate my family's grain, but my family's grain could only support my family for more than half a year. My Zhang family is also going to ask for food. ”

Zhang Xuan was silent for a while, he knew that Zhang Su was telling the truth. The so-called people take food as the sky, if Daming can solve this problem, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong will not make trouble to this point, and now natural disasters have changed from Zhang Xuan's help to Zhang Xuan's resistance. said: "How to persuade farmers? ”

"Persuade farmers to have certain rules for ploughing cattle, repairing water conservancy, and raising people's strength. That's it, but the catastrophes are repeated, and the timing is not correct. Even if there is a general with monstrous power, how much can he do? Zhang Su didn't know whether to tell Zhang Xuan or to himself, and said: "What kind of sin did I, Yumin, this thief, how can I give a way out." ”

As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes.

The Henan people of Chongzhen for 14 years are really bitter.

"How about planting this fall?" Zhang Xuan asked.

"Almost nothing." Zhang Su said: "The people have reached the point of cannibalism, even if there are seeds planted, before they germinate, they are pulled out and eaten. However, I have seen wild winter wheat in the wilderness, but it is not even eleven. I wonder how many will grow until next year's harvest? ”

When the wheat is harvested, wild ears are left in the ground. No one will sprout on their own, Zhang Su said this, but this kind of self-cultivation is naturally not as good as farming. ”

Zhang Xuan said: "Qin Meng. ”

"The subordinates are here." Qin Meng said.

Zhang Xuan said: "Send an order to Luo Dai, let him lead the horse team to inspect the county, where is there a wheat seedling to report to me---" Zhang Xuan said this, and suddenly paused, he always felt that Luo Dai was not a person who could do such meticulous work. said: "Forget it, I'll go for it." He turned his head and said to Zhang Su: "Third Brother Zhang, do you dare to patrol the county with me?" ”