The Romance of the Famous Marshals of the Early Tang Dynasty Li Jichuan

Chapter 35 Wagang has Mu Jiu

Zhai Hong walked to Shan Xiongxin's side with the wine jar, poured half a bowl of wine for Shan Xiongxin, and said with a smile: "The second master, five days ago, the cottage intercepted a batch of property from the rich man of Shangguan, and the big boss said: I will divide it when the second master comes back."

Yesterday, someone sent a letter to the big boss, and after reading the letter, the big boss instructed: "No one can touch this batch of property, and we will talk about it after tomorrow's negotiations."

Shan Xiongxin hurriedly asked, "What is the result of today's negotiation between the big bosses?"

Zhai Hong replied with a smile: "Early this morning, the big boss went to the appointment. I haven't come back yet, and I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to get back. ”

Now there is only this last jar of good wine left in the cottage, and I heard that the second master invited distinguished guests, so I had to take it out and invite you to drink. ”

Then there was a scream.

Shan Xiongxin asked, "What sound?"

Zhai Hong said: "The second in charge may be the brothers in the backyard barracks who are noisy."

As soon as the words fell, there was another scream.

Xu Maogong (Li Ji) said: "This scream doesn't look like the brothers are arguing."

Zhai Hong strode out of the living room and shouted loudly, "Pro-soldier."

After a while, I heard the sound of a soldier answering outside.

Zhai Hong commanded loudly: "Go and see, where is the scream."

After speaking, he returned to the side hall, Zhai Hong said with a smile: "Second master, I was originally a housekeeper in Fei Da Rich's house I can also eat and drink spicy food every day, I heard that my Zhai Rang brother is a big boss here, I think: If you go to Wagangzhai, you can drink wine in a big bowl every day, eat meat in large pieces, I came secretly, which Cheng thought, now I have eaten the last meal and the next meal."

As soon as the words fell, there was another scream.

Shan Xiongxin sighed and said, "Zhai Hong, being the king of the mountain, is good for a while, bad for a while."

At this time, a personal soldier ran into the side hall and said loudly: "Back to the second master, Zhai is in charge: The big boss is back to the cottage, and on the way to the cottage, he happened to meet Mu Jiu, the deputy captain of the first squad of the former village, and he was also rushing to the cottage. The big boss asked Mu Jiu in detail, only to know that Mu Jiu did not ask for leave, secretly went out of the cottage, and is now whipping Mu Jiu on the execution table in the east. ”

The voice fell, and there was another scream.

Xu Maogong (Li Ji) stood up and said, "Brother Shan, let's go and have a look."

Shan Xiongxin said: "Brother Xu, since you want to see it, let's go and see it." After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the door of the side hall.

Xu Maogong (Li Ji) looked at Miss Kong, made a look, and said, "Take care of Mr. Kong." After speaking, he followed Shan Xiongxin to the door of the side hall, and Xu Rat also walked to the door of the side hall.

Shan Xiongxin walked out of the side hall gate, and walked east along the row of houses in the east-west direction, Zhai Hong, Xu Maogong (Li Ji), and Xu Mouse also followed Shan Xiongxin to the east, to the easternmost part of the row of houses, and to the north to more than ten zhang, to a large platform more than two feet high.

In the center of the big platform sat a man in his thirties, and next to him stood a scholar dressed as a gray hexagram.

There was a pillar in the east corner of the big platform, and a man was tied to the pillar, and a big man with a leather whip was beating the person tied to the pillar.

Xu Maogong (Li Ji) stepped forward, hugged his fists and saluted loudly: "Xu is willing to intercede for the person who was beaten, please spare him."

A scholar dressed up in a gray hexagram. Ask aloud, "Who are you?" Dare to take care of the affairs of Wagangzhai. ”

Shan Xiongxin took a step forward, stood beside Xu Maogong (Li Ji), and said loudly: "Mr. Jia, the person who spoke just now is Xu Maogong (Li Ji), the righteous brother of Shan Xiongxin's hometown."

Shan Xiongxin took another step forward, clasped his fists and saluted, and said to the thirty-year-old man sitting in the center: "Big boss, please look at Shan Mou's thin noodles and spare Mu Jiu this time."

The man in his thirties who was sitting in the center stood up and said with a smile: "Second master, Mu Jiu is at fault first, so he can't go without punishment."

Shan Xiongxin said: "Big boss, Mu Jiu is at fault first, since he has already beaten, please change the rest of the beating to punishment."

The man in his thirties said to the executioner: "Don't beat him, untie him."

The executioner lowered his whip and untied the rope of the man who was tied to the pillar.

The person tied to the pillar (Mu Jiu) turned around, clasped his fists and saluted, and said, "Xie Da is in charge." After speaking, he walked to the side of the big platform, took three steps, and almost fell down.

Xu Maogong (Li Ji) instructed Xu Mouse and said, "Xu Rat, you go and help Mu Jiu off the platform."

Xu Mouse responded: "Yes." On the platform, he quickly ran to Mu Jiu's side and helped Mu Jiu to walk towards the platform.

The two walked a few steps, and Zhai Rang's voice came from behind them: "Mu Jiu, the rest of the whips that didn't beat you will be fined half a year's military salary."

When Mu Jiu heard this, he burst into tears.

Xu Rat said: "Mu Jiu, you didn't cry when the whip beat you just now, but you cried when you were released today."

Mu Jiu said: "Just now the big boss said, to fine me half a year's military salary, my father borrowed money to farm in the spring, this year there was a big flood, there is no harvest, and I can't pay back the borrowed money, I originally wanted to use the military salary to help my father repay the money, and now I will be fined half a year's military salary, how is it good?" How not to cry? ”

Xu Rat asked, "How much money did your father borrow?"

Mu Jiu replied: "When my father started spring, he borrowed five taels of silver, and now he has to repay more than ten taels of silver."

Xu Rat said: "Mu Jiu, you shouldn't cry for money, our young master is not short of money, you are beaten, he intercedes for you, your father owes money and can't pay it, he will also help you, I'll talk to the young master and help you find a way."

Mu Jiu asked, "Which is your young master?"

Xu Mouse said: "The first one to intercede for you just now, the one standing next to Shan Xiongxin, is my young master."

Mu Jiu asked, "Dare to ask your young master's name?"

Xu Rat said: "My young master's name is Xu Maogong (Li Ji), and he is your second brother-in-law."

Mu Jiu asked again, "Brother, what do you call you?"

Xu Mouse replied: "I am the young master's scholar, and my name is Xu Rat."

Mu Jiu said: "Thank you Brother Xu, I can go by myself, I will go to the barracks in the backyard to rest, and the brothers there will help me get some golden gun medicine, and it will be fine in three or five days."

Xu Rat asked: "Mu Jiu, if you can really go by yourself, I will go to the young master to tell you about your family, where will I find you after I finish it?"

Mu Jiu replied: "Brother Xu Rat, when you go to the backyard barracks, you will say that if you look for Mu Jiu in the front village, you can find me."

Xu Rat said: "Mu Jiu, you just go slowly, I'll go to find the young master."

Xu Mouse let go of his hand and watched Mu Jiu slowly walk towards the barracks behind.

Xu Rat quickly ran back to Xu Maogong (Li Ji).

Everyone said goodbye to Zhai Rang, and walked to the side hall, Xu Mouse pulled the corner of Xu Maogong's (Li Ji) clothes, and said quietly: "Young master, Mu Jiu's father, borrowed five taels of silver to farm in the spring, but the harvest was not good, and the money was not paid. Mu Jiu wanted to help his father repay the money, and when he heard that the big boss said that he would deduct Mu Jiu's military salary for half a year, he cried, and I told Mu Jiu to find a way for my young master. ”

Xu Maogong (Li Ji) asked, "Xu Mouse, where has Mu Jiu gone now?" We went to find her after dinner. ”

Xu Rat replied, "Young Master, he said that he went to the barracks in the backyard to rest."

Everyone returned to the side hall and sat down, Shan Xiongxin raised the wine bowl and took a big sip, and said, "Please drink." Everyone raised their bowls and took a big sip.

Shan Xiongxin said to Zhai Hong: "Zhai is in charge, the cottage is short of wine, and the rice must be eaten by the distinguished guests I invited."

Zhai Hong smiled bitterly and said: "Second master, now there is not enough food in the cottage, but the rice still has to be eaten by the guests, so I will go and prepare the rice." After speaking, he turned and left.

After eating in the side hall, Xu Mouse came to the backyard barracks to find Mu Jiu, turned a few corners, Xu Mouse found the backyard barracks, and met a brother from the cottage, Xu Mouse asked: How to find Mu Jiu in the front village?

The brother of the cottage said: Mu Jiu is in the second room of the last row of houses.

The chori found the second room in the last row of houses. Mu Jiu was lying on the bed recuperating from his injuries, and Xu Rat said with a smile, My eldest young master is coming to you, but just about to go out, the big master passed the word: I want to invite the second master and the eldest young master in the main hall.

The eldest young master asked me to send you two taels of silver, my young master has just arrived, I don't know where to buy things, let you buy some delicious supplements, and come to see you tomorrow in the eldest young master.

Mu Jiu smiled and said, "Thank you, Young Master." Xu Mouse said goodbye to Mu Jiu and quickly ran back to the side hall.

The soldiers came to spread the word: The big boss wants to invite the distinguished guests of the second master and the second master to the main hall, please go.

Shan Xiongxin, Xu Maogong, and Zhai Rang's brother Zhai Hong walked in front, and Miss Kong and Xu Mouse supported Mr. Kong to follow behind, and came to a big house in the center of the row of rooms in the east-west direction, with two large lanterns hanging in front of the door, shining with red light, and everyone entered the main hall, and there was only one big long table in the main hall.

Zhai Rang sat in the center, and Mr. Jia Xiong stood next to him.

Shan Xiongxin clasped his fists and saluted and said: The big boss is good.

Zhai Rang stood up, hugged his fists and returned the salute, and said: I heard that the second master invited distinguished guests to come to the cottage as guests, and I did my best to be a landlord.

Shan Xiongxin pointed to Mr. Kong and introduced: This is Mr. Kong, the teacher of my brother-in-law Xu Maogong (Li Ji).

Zhai Rang clasped his fists and saluted, and said: Hello Mr. Kong, Zhai Rang pointed to the seat on the left and said, please take a seat for Mr. Kong.

Miss Kong and Xu Rat helped Mr. Kong to sit on the left side.

Shan Xiongxin pointed at Xu Maogong (Li Ji) and said: This is my brother-in-law Xu Maogong (Li Ji).

Zhai Rang said: Brother Xu is good.

Zhai Rang pointed to the seat next to Mr. Kong and said, "Brother Xu, please sit next to Mr. Kong." Xu Maogong (Li Ji) nodded and sat down next to Mr. Kong.

Zhai Rang pointed to the seat on the right and said: Please sit on the right side of the second master, Shan Xiongxin smiled and sat on the right.