Chapter 309: The cold wind is steep, but the warmth is melting

Although the three northeastern provinces of later generations are famous granaries, but the white mountains and black waters of the Ming Dynasty are a dangerous place for the imperial court and the people, coupled with the vast and sparsely populated areas in the north and the lack of grain production, so if today's son takes Beijing as the line, he suddenly brings tens of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of troops to the north, and the canal that communicates the north and south has become the busiest place in the middle of winter. Fortunately, although it was cold this year, the canal was never frozen, and there was an endless stream of grain ships, civilian ships and merchant ships coming and going.

In this cold season, there are mostly ships from the south to the north, and few ships from the north to the south, so the four huge ships on the canal are extremely conspicuous. On the wide river, four boats are two in front and two behind, all six-masted boats, with more than a dozen oar holes on the side of the ship on both sides, and the oars enter and exit the water in a uniform manner, stirring up waves and splashing. If it were just about the ship and the manpower, those wealthy merchants would naturally be able to afford it, but the flag on the big ship was enough to make all the official and civilian ships shudder.

At this moment, the sailors of a merchant ship looked up at the tall giant ship, patted the snow on his body, and shouted at the ship's boss: "Boss, you know a few words, I recognize the dragon flag, but what are the words written on the other two flags?" ”

The boss of the boat was in his early thirties, as if he had been making a living on the canal for many years, and his face was a deep bronz. Although it was cold, he still only had a thin shoulder on his body, and he was not afraid of the howling cold wind. Standing up and staring at the big ships for a while, he said flatly: "One is Lu Zi, the other is Zhang Zi, I think the emperor sent some big officials to Jiangnan." ”

"Tsk, usually those big officials only go to the south of the Yangtze River in the spring, but this time they travel on a cold day, it's really strange!" The sailor looked at it with envy on his face for a while, and then hurriedly rubbed his hands numb from the cold wind, and complained angrily, "It's really a crime to go out on this cold day, there must be more than a dozen stoves on that ship, where are we like ...... Uh, you're an exception, boss, with your body, you can swim around in the water......"

Although the sailor muttered for a while, the ship's boss's eyes were only focused on the ship's flag, and a hint of hatred appeared on his bronzed face, but he completely concealed it, and went into the cabin again.

The cold weather on the canal did not have much effect on the people on the official ship. On the ship, in addition to the sturdy doors, there was a pair of red and blue checkered cotton scars lined with plywood, and although there were not really a dozen stoves in the cabins, there were charcoal basins for burning silver frost charcoal in all four corners. Lu Feng, who was wearing a lynx skin robe, sat on the Taishi chair, and there was a stove under his head on his feet, coupled with the thick deerskin boots, he didn't feel the chill at all. This is the second time he has been ordered to leave the palace, in order to so-called investigation of the summer grain into the warehouse, and the identity he uses is still the royal prison and young eunuch.

Hearing Lu Feng sigh leisurely, Cheng Jiu next to him hurriedly leaned in and said with a smile: "Father-in-law is still thinking about the name this time?" ”

"How can our family be so superficial!" Lu Feng glanced at him angrily, and then said lazily, "This East Factory hasn't been built yet, what's the point of making a name for yourself rashly?" At most, there are a few fewer people who tend to serve, and two less money to call, anyway, it will be recovered sooner or later in the future, and there is no hurry! Huang Yan, that old thing, shoehorned several people over this time, definitely not well-intentioned, you keep an eye on our family, don't let them do anything bad. This time the matter is done, we will go back and promote you well. ”

Cheng Jiu was suddenly overjoyed, and hurriedly knelt down on his knees and kowtowed: "Thank you, father-in-law!" ”

Compared with the extravagance here, Zhang Yue's boat was crowded with people sitting around the fire. A large copper plate is propped up on the charcoal basin in the center, and the rice cakes inside are sizzling, and a fragrant aroma wafts into the face, making you feel appetizing. Seeing that a piece of rice cake was almost hot, Zhang Yue, who was quick-eyed, immediately stretched out his chopsticks, but he was caught in the porcelain plate held by Amber. Qiu Zhen saw that he was annoyed, but he didn't know that there was an extra piece in the plate, and he suddenly showed a surprised and happy smile.

Lingxi stretched out the porcelain plate to take it, and then said with a smile: "The young master really has a lot of ideas, and he roasts the fire and eats without mistake, and it is more lively when he sits in a group." Autumn Scars originally said that the boat ride on a cold day was boring, why isn't it cold today? ”

"You can only be stuffy in the cabin on a cold day, which is naturally not interesting." Qiu Zhen was biting on the steaming rice cake in his mouth, his face was so hot that his face was red, and his speech was a little slurred. It was easy to swallow the rice cake, and she said with regret on her face, "It's a pity that the young grandmother and Xiao Wu left first, otherwise wouldn't this boat be more lively?" ”

Amber counted with her fingers, and then said: "I just said outside, I should go to Jining Prefecture in half a day, after all, the young grandmother left three days earlier than us, and she should be in Xuzhou soon." Speaking of which, last year's Spring Festival was spent in Qingzhou, and the young master and the old lady got together this year, maybe they can have a reunion in Nanjing! ”

was said by Amber, Zhang Yue suddenly remembered the scene of the New Year when everyone in Qingzhou sat on the kang. At that time, Du Juan was still a guest, but now before she knows it, more than half a year has passed, but she has become her wife. He was recalling what he had said when he had a reunion dinner on the kang when there was a banging knock on the door outside.

"Metaverse!"

Hearing that it was Fang Ling's voice, Lingxi hurriedly stood up and went to open the door. She opened the curtain before pushing the hatch open a crack, and the cold wind outside couldn't wait to get in, and as soon as the cold wind blew on the warm-up, she couldn't help but shiver, and hurried to close the door after letting people in. Fang Ling, whose body was covered with snow beads, saw such a scene in the house, and couldn't help pouting angrily: "You have a good life, you have a good life, you are surrounded by a fireplace and a beautiful maid to accompany you with delicious food, and you don't care about anything outside." That Father-in-law Lu ordered to stop at Jining Prefecture tonight, what regulations do you have? ”

At this time, Amber poured tea in a silver bottle and served it, and took refuge with Autumn Scar Lingxi. Zhang Yue casually picked up a silver ratskin half-sleeved cloak and handed it to Fang Ling, and when he heard this, he smiled and said: "You are really conscientious enough to do your duty, but this charter is naturally decided by the father-in-law Lu, so we don't have to worry about anything now." ”

Taking off the snow-soaked crane and putting on this warm cloak, Fang Ling really felt that the encounters these days were a bit bizarre. As an insignificant nobody, he made the Son of Heaven decree to favor hundreds of households, and suddenly changed from his father not loving his grandmother to a celebrity in the family, and he was almost stunned at that time. It wasn't until Anyuan Hou Liusheng summoned him and ordered him to accompany Zhang Yue and Lu Feng to protect Zhang Yue and Lu Feng's trip, that he suddenly realized.

Because he is a concubine, he has worked harder and harder than his brother since he was a child, and it is not a lie to be proficient in both civil and military affairs, but Li Maofang's light words completely wiped out his years of hard work. Originally, he had been trampled in the mud, but he actually got back up again because of a chance. Although he didn't know what method Zhang Yue used to make the Son of Heaven notice him, he had already recognized in his heart that all this was Zhang Yue's help, so he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to do his best.

"Yuan Jie, have you been planning to let that Lu Gonggong stand in the way? These eunuchs have always been pretentious people, and the more you look good, the more he rides on your head. Since you have the Son of Heaven Sword, you have to show your face in front of people when the time comes, at least let them know that Lu Feng is not alone this time. ”

Zhang Yue didn't answer, smiled and pulled Fang Ling to the porthole, and suddenly pushed open the window that was pasted with crude Korean paper. For a while, the cold wind rushed over with snow particles, and Fang Ling was caught off guard and sneezed three times in a row. After easily adjusting to the transition from warm to cold, he asked angrily, "What are you doing here?" ”

"If you stay in this warm room for a long time, you will naturally not expect the cold wind outside, so as soon as you open the window, you will sneeze a few times like you, or you will catch the wind chill or even become seriously ill. The same is true for today. That father-in-law Lu has always thought that I am a person who knows and understands, and if I have to fight with him in the slightest trivial matter, he will definitely be wary of me from time to time, just like standing in front of the window will definitely put on a thick coat. At this time, it is not interesting to fight for a moment, and it will be a long time coming. ”

Although there was still a cold wind outside the window, Fang Ling had forgotten the cold, and only pondered Zhang Yue's words, and gradually tasted some tastes. Although he had a grudge with Fuyang Hou Li Maofang by accident, but after thinking about it carefully, why wasn't it because he couldn't help but be angry at the beginning? Just now he persuaded Zhang Yue not to be crushed by manpower, but he still didn't figure it out!

Fang Ling has always been hearty, and after thinking about it at this time, he patted his head and smiled: "No wonder the emperor looks at you differently, I can't learn just your heart, let alone knowledge." Cheng, I will listen to you in the future. ”

In the evening, four official ships stopped at the dock in Jining Prefecture. This time out of Beijing, Zhu Di specially transferred 500 elite soldiers from Beijing, led by Zhou Bailing, the thousand households who escorted Zhang Yue and Lu Feng to Qingzhou. Just like last time, every 100 people are equipped with swords, cards, pistols, musketeers, and archers, each led by a hundred households. Except for Fang Ling, the son of a meritorious hero, who did not have any military experience, the others were all veterans before, and it was needless to say that the arrangements were meticulous and secure.

Although the ship brought enough vegetables, meat, fruits and vegetables, since it was docked, Lu Feng ordered someone to go ashore to make dinner, and invited Zhang Yue to his ship. After a short time, Cheng Jiu carried the food box into the door, and the entire table was filled in the same way. In addition to a plate of Weishan hemp duck in the middle, next to it are vinegared carp, Songhua eggs, braised mutton, enoki bean sprouts, but the most rare thing is a plate of lotus root that should have been in summer, and I don't know which big family hides the out-of-season treasures in the ice cellar.

Seeing that those dishes were still steaming, Zhang Yue couldn't help but ask curiously, Cheng Jiu hurriedly uncovered the sandwich with a smile, and a layer of hot charcoal was used underneath. Seeing Zhang Yue's surprise, Lu Feng remembered that he had envied Zhang Yue's box from the British government last time, and he was immediately extremely proud. When the meal was finished and the cups and dishes were all cleaned up, he withdrew from everyone.

"I heard that because of the Qingzhou incident, the imperial grandson interceded for Lord Xiao Zhang?"