Zhong Haotao was almost unsuccessful, slightly embarrassed, and said with a smile at the moment: "Anyway, we will be neighbors in the future." The pen %fun %Pavilion www.biquge.info will take care of each other in the future. To tell the truth, the younger brother wants to rebuild Jingqiang Village, but there are not enough people, so I want to ask Brother Cheng to help and see if I can find some manpower. Although the little brother's salary is not much, he is full of food! ”

Zhong Hao's sentence responded to each other in the future, which moved Cheng Zhixian very much.

Cheng Zhixian listened to Zhong Hao's words and said with a smile: "Haha, yes, we will be neighbors in the future, my brother is right!" In the future, in this place in Hexi, we will have to take care of each other! ”

Although Cheng Zicai is also a fellow jinshi of the Ming Jingke, he has been in Hexi for a long time, and he does not have so much pedantic. Sven is less, and he is more rude. Hearing Zhong Hao call himself a brother and a brother, and call himself Brother Cheng, he also called him brother. Of course, if the leaders of the army and the generals call him brothers, he is very disgusted. And Zhong Hao, as a talented man of letters, is still very acceptable to call him a brother.

Besides, Zhong Hao calls him a brother and a brother, so he naturally has the meaning of being close to him. Anyway, Zhong Hao is also Shuaisi's Guan Gou Jiyi, and he is a confidant of Fu Xianggong, so there is no harm in having a good relationship with him. Moreover, in this place in Hexi, maybe when the Xia army will be killed under the city, and they will have a good relationship with the neighboring friendly forces, and they will also help more in the future. Cheng Zicai thought about this, but he wanted to sell Zhong Hao's personal favor and try to help him.

"And this man's hand...... Brother Cheng, can you think of a way! ”

"Don't worry, brother, your business is my business, and my brother will definitely help in this matter!" Cheng Zicai said happily. Anyway, as soon as he agreed to this matter, Zhong Hao had to admit his feelings.

"Then I don't know how many people Brother Cheng can give here?"

"Well, there are three or four hundred people in the prison camp in Yincheng County, why don't you send them all? Don't hide it from my brother, there aren't many people in this Yincheng County! ”

Cheng Zhixian is telling the truth, Yincheng County is a lower county. The county seat of the Great Song Dynasty is divided into ten grades: Chi, Ji, Cichi, Cigi, Wang, Tight, Upper, Middle, Lower, and Lower. The population within the jurisdiction is less than 500 households, so the population of Yincheng County is actually pitiful. Yincheng County originally had three villages and five forts, with a total of more than 400 main households and customers. However, Yincheng County is close to the Song-Xia border, and the Xia army has been looting and sweeping over the years, and many people in Yincheng County have fled, and it is estimated that there are still more than 300 households.

This is hard to imagine in the mainland, Zhong Hao felt unbelievable when he first came, how could there be so few people in a county. Like Yidu County, Qingzhou, Wang County, and Fuguo County, there are more than 10,000 households. How many Yincheng counties are the population of a county?

Zhong Hao was actually in Shuaisi, because he was sent by Guan Gou Jiyi, he actually read the yellow book of household registration in the three states outside Hexi. Linzhou has three counties under its jurisdiction, and it is the most populous in the three prefectures outside Hexi, and there are only more than 3,600 main households plus customers. Fuzhou, which has the strongest combat power, has a registered population of only 1,300 households. The main customers of Fengzhou are only one hundred and fifty households, and the imperial court wants to use these one hundred and fifty households to purchase Fengzhou. The population of a state in the northwest is much smaller than that of a county in the interior.

In fact, the banks of the Cave River are very suitable for farming, but now it is too unsafe to cultivate on the banks of the Cave River, maybe you planted a year's crops, and when the autumn harvest comes, the Xia army will come. Don't talk about a busy year of work, don't put your life on the line.

The fields in the lower reaches of the Kuye River reclaimed by the Pingxi Army are actually ripe fields, but in recent years, no one has cultivated them, and they seem to be barren. But in fact, as long as the land is burned, ploughed again, and sown can be produced.

The prison camp mentioned by Cheng Zhi County is actually the prison camp in Linzhou, but it is located in Yincheng County. The convicts who were assigned to Linzhou to fill the army were generally filled into prison camps. Many small places in the border areas were taken care of by the chief officials, military, government, and civilians. Like Yincheng County, there are no county officials, chief bookkeepers, county lieutenants and other officials, and there is no inspection, and Cheng Zhi County is a bare pole county, and he is the only one in charge. There were village soldiers and archers in the city, and they were all in charge of the county magistrate. This prison camp eats in Yincheng County, and Cheng Zhi County also has the right to arrange it, as long as Wen Linzhou is informed, this prison camp has changed its station, anyway, Jingqiang Village also belongs to the boundary of Yincheng County.

Although most of the troops in the prison camp are prisoners, Zhong Hao feels that it is difficult to manage, but it is better than nothing.

At that moment, Zhong Hao said sincerely: "Thank you so much Brother Cheng,!" "Anyway, Cheng Zhixian always gives patrons, although these three or four hundred people don't seem to be much, but I'm afraid it's almost equivalent to one-fifth of the population of Yincheng County, which is a big deal for Cheng Zhixian, Zhong Hao naturally has to thank him. Of course, the soldiers of the prison camp are not in the yellow register.

"Brother is polite, we still have to take care of each other in the future!" In fact, in the eyes of Cheng Zhixian, this prison camp is a burden. Yincheng County now has no service projects, and the prison camp does not have much combat power, if the Xia army comes, they can't be counted on, and the combat effectiveness of the township soldiers and the archers of the Fan soldiers is much stronger than them. Yincheng County is becoming more and more difficult now, and letting the prison camp go to Zhong Hao to eat mixed rice has reduced a lot of pressure.

Originally, he was just to get rid of a burden, but he got Zhong Hao's sincere thanks, and Cheng Zhixian was a little embarrassed. At that moment, Cheng Zhixian said: "There are still twenty or thirty skilled craftsmen in the city who are used to building forts, so I will send them to my brother together." It's like they're going to serve this year's conscription in advance! ”

"That's really thanks to Brother Cheng, if Brother Cheng has something to do in the future, even if you tell the little brother, the little brother will never frown!" When Zhong Hao entered the city, he saw the desolate appearance of the city, and he had no hope of finding manpower, but he didn't expect to get not only three or four hundred laborers from the prison camp, but also twenty or thirty skilled craftsmen, which was really unexpected, and couldn't help but be very happy.

Cheng Zhixian waved his hand and said with a smile: "Brother is polite, we will inevitably take care of each other in the future!" ”

"Yes, yes, yes, we have to take care of each other in the future!"

"My brother will stay at noon today, and let's have wine and dinner in the back office, let's have a good drink, and talk by the way!"

"Okay, but it's up to Brother Cheng's arrangement!"

……

Yincheng County Yahouya, the banquet was quickly prepared.

The dishes are very rough and rough in the northwest, basically mutton, large plates of hand-grilled mutton, roast lamb legs, large bowls of mutton soup, etc.

At this time, there are not many vegetables in the mainland, so naturally they can't be eaten here. The wine is a locally brewed sorghum wine, which is not sifted cleanly, and there are many hanging lees in the wine.

Cheng Zhixian beckoned Zhong Hao to take a seat and said: "The land of Yincheng is bitter cold, thin wine and simple food, and I hope that my brother will not dislike it!" Cheng Zicai knew that Zhong Hao was from the prosperous Qingzhou, and he was really afraid that Zhong Hao would dislike his own banquet.

Zhong Hao sat down with Cheng Zhixian and said with a smile: "Brother Cheng is too polite, I haven't even eaten meat a few times in Pingxijun, there is meat to eat and wine to drink, and the little brother is very happy!" ”

Cheng Zicai was also very happy to see that Zhong Hao didn't mind this simple food and thin wine, it seems that Zhong Hao is indeed not so poor and exquisite, and he came to the northwest to really do things, and it is also a good thing to have such a friendly army to take care of each other in the future.

At this time, Zhong Hao handed a piece of purple gold stone inkstone that he brought with him to Cheng Zhixian and said: "This is a piece of purple gold stone inkstone that my younger brother brought from Qingzhou, a little heart, and I hope that Brother Cheng will accept it with a smile!" ”

The fame of the purple stone inkstone began in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. It is recorded in the "Inkstone": "The purple lazuli comes out of Linqu, the color is purple and moist, the ink is like Duanshu, and the Tang Dynasty competes for the inkstone, and the mangrun is clear." "Inkstone" recorded: "Taste and smell Qingzhou purple lazuli, Yu knows Qingzhou, to visit the purple lazuli out, in the south of the state twenty miles said Linqu boundary, digging the soil Zhang Yu is obtained." There are several weights of stone, people take only the first and second, if to the fourth, moist is especially very much, and the color is purple, although the ink is the same as the end, and the qualification is slight. "History of the Inkstone": "The purple lazuli is no different from the right army inkstone, and it is out of it." ”

Song Dynasty calligrapher, wrote the "inkstone history" of Mi Fu, the inkstone is the most loved, later generations have his Song Huizong asked for his favorite side of the inkstone allusions. Later, after the inkstone was unearthed, it was confirmed that the square inkstone was actually the purple gold stone inkstone, and the inkstone had an inscription engraved by Mi Fu himself, indicating the origin and category of the inkstone.

Qingzhou Zijin stone inkstone is a famous stone inkstone in the Great Song Dynasty, and it is very popular among literati and scholars. At this time, the fame is even still in the inkstone. On top of the inkstone, the value is naturally quite valuable.

When Zhong Hao came to the northwest, he specially asked Cui Ye to help him buy five or six yuan, which he planned to give as a gift. At this time, there are very few literati who don't like this purple gold stone inkstone.

Sure enough, Cheng Zicai took the purple gold stone inkstone, played with it in his hand, couldn't help but love it, and said in his mouth: "Oh, Brother Zhong is too polite, this inkstone is too precious, I can't accept it, brother!" But there was no intention of letting go.

Zhong Hao said with a smile: "A few gifts, Brother Cheng likes it!" ”

Cheng Zicai said with a smile: "I like it, I like it, I just let you break the bank." "Cheng Zicai, as an elegant object, likes this inkstone secondly, the key is that this inkstone is valuable. The literati of the Great Song Dynasty liked this kind of purple gold stone inkstone very much, and this purple gold stone inkstone was very rare, and this inkstone can be said to be priceless. This inkstone is placed in the interior of the Great Song Dynasty, but it is very valuable. In the future, when I return to the mainland, this inkstone will be used enough, and it will be a lot of income when I sell it. The northwest is poor, and the people are fierce, and there are not many people under Cheng Zicai's jurisdiction, except for his own Yulu in recent years, how can there be any oil and water! This suddenly has a big income, how can he not be happy!

Cheng Zicai had enough of playing, put the purple gold stone inkstone on the small table next to him, raised his wine glass and said to Zhong Hao: "Brother, I salute Brother Zhong with a glass, and I wish Brother Zhong all the best in Hexi." ”

Zhong Hao hurriedly raised his glass and said: "Cheng Brother Jiyan, hehe, the younger brother doesn't want everything to go well, but it's good to ask Xia Jun to come less to harass and plunder!" ”

Cheng Zicai felt the same way, and echoed: "Yes, yes, yes, but I just ask Xia Jun to come a few times!" "Cheng Zicai has been in Yincheng for many years, and he is also worried about Xia Jun all day long. There was a Buddhist shrine in his own house, and he worshiped every day, and his only wish was to pray that Xia Jun would not come.

The two drank the sorghum wine in their cups and ate a few bites of food each.

Zhong Hao raised his glass and toasted to Cheng Zicai: "The little brother also borrowed flowers to offer Buddha, toast Brother Cheng with a cup, and wish Brother Cheng a high rise as soon as possible!" ”

Cheng Zicai and Zhong Hao drank a cup and sighed: "I hope that I can borrow the auspicious words of my brother, and after the expiration of this term, I can be transferred." My brother doesn't want to be promoted, even if he goes to the mainland to be a chief bookkeeper or county lieutenant! ”

Cheng Zicai was born in the Ming Jingke Tongjinshi. Most of the officials from the Ming Economic Department were granted some idle assignments, and some had to wait for a long time, but they were not even dispatched. When Cheng Zicai was awarded the dispatch of Yincheng County, he was still very happy. A lot of Jinshi and the first, but awarded a county lieutenant, the main book, their own Ming Jing Department of the same Jinshi, but can be awarded a county seal, although in the border, but it is already very good. After all, he was thirty-eight years old when he was in the same jinshi, and he didn't want to waste any more time in his life, and he desperately wanted to do some business.

But after coming to Yincheng County, I realized the difficulty of being an official here. The people are fierce, the Han and Tibetan people live together, it is difficult to educate, it is difficult to discipline the soldiers, and the summer thieves come and go like the wind, so it is really not a good place for officials. In fact, in a border place like Yincheng County, many officials would rather be idle than sent. No dispatch is better than no life, and it is very likely that the situation in Hexi is precarious.

Cheng Zicai has been in Yincheng County for the seventh year, and the first two term of office expiration assessments were all evaluated by the middle and lower, and he was not transferred or demoted, and he was still struggling in Yincheng County. Probably the main reason is that no one wants to come here to be an official. No one came, so he had to continue to hold on.

Cheng Zicai now hopes that even if he is demoted and transferred to the mainland, it is better than being afraid here.

Cheng Zicai arched his hand towards Zhong Hao and said, "My brother is getting older, and he can't stand it anymore. If there is a chance in the future, I hope that my brother will say a few good words for my brother in front of the rich minister! I hope to be transferred to the mainland as soon as possible! ”

Zhong Hao said: "Brother Cheng, don't worry, the little brother will definitely be!" ”

"Then brother, thank you Brother Zhong first!"

"Brother Cheng is polite!"

The wine has passed three rounds, and the dishes have passed five flavors.

Zhong Hao also asked Cheng Zicai and Zhong Hao a lot of knowledge about Hexi's customs and mountains and rivers.

Cheng Zicai has been in Hexi for a long time, and he knows everything about Hexi, and his guidance and explanation have benefited Zhong Hao a lot and learned a lot.

After talking for more than an hour, Zhong Hao said goodbye to Cheng Zicai.

Before leaving, Cheng Zicai said: "These two **** will arrange for the prison camp and those craftsmen to go over to help my brother build a village." Although you can use this prison camp as a coolie, if you use it well, let them be stationed with you in the future, and the county will not need them! At that time, I will go to Wenlin Prefecture and inform the state of the relocation of the city camp! "This prison camp is really useless in Yincheng County, and it is a waste of rations, since it is useful in Zhong Hao, it is just a favor by the way, and it is given to him.

Zhong Hao hurriedly said: "That little brother is going to thank the elder brother!" ”

Cheng Zicai waved his hand, so that Zhong Hao didn't have to be too polite, and then said: "As for those craftsmen, since they are asked to serve as conscripts, then this time can't be too long, let them work at my brother's for three months." As for their rations, they brought their own rations, and the elder brother didn't have to worry about it. Of course, if the period of conscription expires, the elder brother can find a way to let them stay by himself, and the elder brother naturally has nothing to say. "In this era, those who served in conscription basically brought their own rations.

Zhong Hao arched his hand and said: "Don't fight for this ration, Brother Cheng told them that you don't need to bring rations when you go to Jingqiang Village, and the younger brother will take care of the food!" "Three or four hundred people are in charge of the food, not missing these twenty or thirty craftsmen. Let them be motivated to work, and it is more than that ration.

Cheng Zicai listened and said: "Brother has a good heart, then I thank the brother for those craftsmen!" "Originally, he was arranged to serve in the spring, but Cheng Zicai was afraid that those craftsmen would not be willing. If it's in charge of food, I'm afraid they will be happy to go. During the spring famine, they often go hungry on weekdays. (To be continued.) )