Chu Doctor Qu Yuan once sang in "Mrs. Xiang": "Yuan has Zhixi, Li has Lan". Therefore, the water of Jiuli is also called the Lanjiang River.

From west to east, the Lanjiang River rises and falls, bringing with it the mud of the mountains, leaving a water-networked impact plain on the south bank of the Yangtze River.

Because Lizhou is north of the Lanjiang River and is located on the southern edge of the impact plain, this plain is called the Liyang Plain.

The Liyang Plain is surrounded by mountains on three sides, west, south and north, like an elongated "C" ring. It opens to the east and connects to the wider Dongting Lake Plain.

The abundant water and soil will naturally bring about a high degree of development of agriculture. The Liyang Plain has been the origin of rice since ancient times, from Shimen County to Dongting Lake for hundreds of miles, every spring, rice flowers are fragrant; When the autumn harvest arrives, the golden valley is full of land. Therefore, it is clearly said: "The lake is wide and ripe, and the world is full." ”

However, since entering Chongzhen, the Dongting Lake Plain, which has not suffered from large-scale wars, can not escape God's tricks. Taking Lizhou as an example, Lizhou suffered a major earthquake in August of the fourth year of Chongzhen (Note 1). Since then, natural disasters have continued, alternating droughts and floods, and even the city walls have collapsed several times.

However, God's troubles were only a slight punishment for the people of this land, and the heavy endowment of the court and the greed and debauchery of the gentry were the root of the people's suffering.

After a year of hard work, the people not only could not eat enough, but also owed taxes to the government and rents to the landlords. The more the fields are planted, the poorer they become, the more taxes are owed, and it is no wonder that the common people do not abandon their fields and land to flee the famine.

The insensitive farmer, the yellow-skinned child, the dilapidated and sparse grassy cottage, the barren and silent fields, the deserted and empty market, and the sparse goods, everything displayed here reminds the guests from afar:

Although this is the once rich Dongting Lake Plain, it is only one step away from the burning plain. Compared with the Central Plains, it may be just one insignificant Mars.

……

After more than two months of traveling, Zhu Zhihan and Lu San finally entered the boundary of Cili County on the first day of the first month of the new year, which was already under the jurisdiction of Lizhou.

It was already noon when we crossed the water.

Lu San, the pioneer of the road, saw a dilapidated town in front of him from a distance, and there seemed to be a sergeant on the edge of the town checking the passers-by, so he sent his horse back to report it.

Hearing the sound of horses' hooves, Zhu Zhihan hurriedly cheered up and reached out to lift the curtain.

Lu San said the situation loudly, and Zhu Zhihan ordered to play the banner of "Shu" and continue to move forward.

Seeing more than 20 war horses and several luxuriously decorated carriages approaching the town together, the knights in front of them held the "Shu" flag, and the sergeants guarding the sentry post hurriedly ran towards the town. After a short time, a thin young man with a long beard ran out in a four-grade military uniform and respectfully greeted the side of the road. Seeing Zhu Zhihan sitting in the car with an open curtain in a three-beam silver flower with a Zhongjing crown with big sleeves in a green coat, the young military attache hurriedly stepped forward to pay respects:

"Xiaguan Jiuxi Wei Anfu (Note 2) hereditary deputy Qianhu, the commander of Jiuxi Wei, Tan Fengxuan, greets your lord. I wonder if the adult is a distinguished guest from the Shu Domain? ”

It seems that the news of sending silver to the king of Huayang in Lizhou has reached the ears of the king of Huayang and the local government of Lizhou. But if you want to greet your party, the king of Huayang should send an internal envoy, and the local government should send a civil official, how can he send a military attache of the border guard? Zhu Zhihan muttered in his heart, but said on his lips: "Tan Zhifu is exempt!" Then he got up and walked out of the car steadily.

"In Xia Zhu Zhihan, the hereditary lieutenant of the Shu Domain. On the order of the prince of Shu, inspect the people of the Huayang Kingdom! ”

Zhu Zhihan beautified his task a lot in his words, and then asked rhetorically: "I don't know what Tan Zhishi is doing here?" ”

Sure enough, it is a noble person from Shudi! Tan Fengxuan happily bowed again, and then explained to Zhu Zhihan that the town behind him was his news. On the first day of today, Li Yuanliang, the civil official of the state and the commander of Jiuxiwei, that is, his own uncle, went to the Huayang palace to worship. He was in a lowly position and had no qualifications to worship, so he stayed in Xundi to check passers-by, but he didn't expect to meet nobles.

"Since it is a place of guarding, how can there be no wall, no trench, and no beacon tower?" Zhu Zhihan asked.

Tan Fengxuan didn't expect the nobles of Shu to ask this as soon as they came up, so he had to explain that during the earthquake in Lizhou, the earthquake here was very severe, and most of the walls of the houses were destroyed. The soldiers and the surrounding people had no houses to live in, so they stole the bricks and used them for reconstruction. The officers couldn't stop it, and they couldn't bear to let the soldiers and civilians live in the wilderness, so they had to let it go.

The boss also issued a document ordering it to rebuild, and also issued a little reconstruction money and food, but the soldiers have not been paid for more than ten years, and they all rely on cultivating the thin fields of the guard to maintain their family's livelihood. There are trenches, but last year the water rose and silted up, so it is not easy to see. He also wanted the soldiers to clean it up, but he didn't pay a penny, and scolded him for being troublesome.

"I can't imagine that Tan Yanshi is a good official who loves soldiers like a son!" Zhu Zhihan praised loudly.

"The subordinate official is the one who leads the troops, this is the duty of the subordinate official!"

The praise of the nobles of the Shu Domain made Tan Fengxuan blush. He hurriedly waved his hand: "Zi said: benevolent, lover." Sun Tzu Youyun: Treat the pawn as a baby, so you can go deep with it; Treat the pawn as a beloved son, so he can die with him. Thick but can't be made, love can't be ordered, chaos can't be cured, such as pride, not available. ”

In this era, there were many illiterate general adjutants, and there were indeed very few generals who could casually quote Sun Tzu's Art of War. It's just that the prince wants a general who can fight, not a scholar who sings the wind and the moon on the battle array.

"I can't imagine that Tan Yanshi is still a general with both civil and military skills!" Zhu Zhihan praised loudly again.

"Where is the subordinate general? But if you are born, you will be the door, and there is nothing you can do! Tan Fengxuan replied very self-knowingly.

"Xia Guan was originally a state student and studied at Lizhou Academy. If it weren't for the instability of the military and the people a few years ago, the eldest brother died of illness, and the respected relatives strictly ordered the officials to take up their posts......" said the past. Tan Fengxuan shook his head involuntarily. But he immediately remembered that there was a nobleman from Shu in front of him, and it seemed that he shouldn't talk about these unpleasant things. So he hurriedly changed his warm smile, invited Zhu Zhihan and others to his office to have tea and dinner, stayed for one night and set off tomorrow.

What is there to stay in this place? Boss Zhu Zhihan was uncomfortable.

He wanted to refuse, but after thinking about it, this Lizhou was all supported by the soldiers of Jiuxi Guard. If the reality of Jiuxiwei is clarified, won't the plan of the prince be at your fingertips?

Tan Fengxuan didn't expect the nobles of Shu to agree so readily, he was very happy, and hurriedly ordered his subordinates to set up a banquet at the yamen and bring out all the prepared New Year's dinner.

After a long period of panic and busyness, the New Year's Day banquet finally began. As a member of the royal family, Zhu Zhihan was respectfully invited in by Tan Fengxuan, the commander of Jiuxiwei, and sat on the first seat of the main seat. Tan Fengxuan, as the master, respectfully matched the left hand, Lu San sat on the right hand, and several deputy Qianhu cautiously fell to the last seat.

Zhu Zhihan sat on the front seat and looked around in surprise.

The so-called Yamen is installed in a small temple with a collapsed wall and a collapsed roof. The main seat is placed in the Daxiong Treasure Hall without a temple door, and behind him is a mud bodhisattva with no head and shoulders and covered with dust and spider silk. In the courtyard outside the hall, there were thirteen Eight Immortal Tables, three of which were located closer to the entrance of the main hall, which were estimated to be prepared for Zhu Zhihan's bodyguards. A large group of officers and soldiers in tattered jackets gathered under an old locust tree next to the temple gate, watching the movement in the hall with anxiety.

According to the law of Taizu Wei, there are more than 5,000 people in one guard and more than 1,000 people in one house. Tan Fengxuan is the hereditary deputy of Qianhu, and he is responsible for the affairs of the guard, why is there only this little soldier?

Zhu Zhihan muttered in his heart. Without waiting for him to ask, Tan Fengxuan smiled and played the round: "These native soldiers in the countryside, how do you know any etiquette." They have never seen a noble person from the heavenly family, so it's a novelty! ”

He confessed, went to the porch of the temple, and shouted to all the rabbits and cubs under his command to roll over. The lord will have an order, and the old and young masters of No. 70 and eighty hurriedly ran to the bottom of the steps and knelt down, and asked Zhu Zhihan for peace. More than a dozen people in front of them reported their homes, and there were actually 100 households, 100 trial households and general flags.

This is the soldiers of the Nine Creek Guard!

Zhu Zhihan despised it in his heart, but laughed loudly on his face.

He walked outside the hall, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he determined the great contribution of this group of village soldiers:

"You are all heroes who guard the border for me! He is also a strong man who defends the country and protects the territory for my Shu Domain! If there are many events today, how difficult the national affairs are! My Royal Highness the Prince of Shu of the Ming Dynasty often thinks about the clans, people and soldiers of Huayang Kingdom. He ordered his clan to come all the way from Shu to visit your brothers......"

After saying "visit ......", the shrewd Zhu Zhihan immediately found that the reaction of this group of soldiers was not enthusiastic. So he immediately added: "And reward all brothers!" ”

Everyone understands the word "reward". Sent by the little prince of Shudi, he will not be stingy if he wants to make a move. The kneeling people below suddenly raised their heads and smiled happily.

"Lu Tou, first take out a box of cigarettes we brought and divide them equally among the brothers! This box of cigarettes has a total of 1,000 cigarettes, worth fifty taels of silver! ”

The climate of Huxiang is similar to that of the Sichuan Basin, which is cold and humid. The tobacco that can be said to dispel cold and avoid plague is also popular in Huxiang. Some doctors prescribed medicine to patients with typhoid fever, and tobacco was included in the prescription.

However, in the past few years, Lord Chongzhen made it clear that smoking is strictly forbidden throughout the country, and violators will be sentenced to death (Note 3). The people all said that the reason why Chongzhen Ye banned smoking was because "eating tobacco" and "eating swallow" were homophonic, and the current emperor was a descendant of Zhu Di, the king of Yan, who was angry at eating tobacco from the decline of the country, so he issued this unkind holy edict.

Lizhou Academy is the Lizhou State School. Tan Fengxuan, as a former top student of Lizhou Academy, of course knows this anti-smoking emperor's holy edict.

When the nobles of the Shu clan met, they gave cigarettes to the soldiers, and it was a good cigarette of fifty taels of silver and a thousand cigarettes, which made his eyelids jump. But when he saw the elated appearance of the soldiers, he didn't say anything. The land of Huxiang is thousands of miles away from the capital, and there is nothing strange about the officials and gentry secretly planting some sucks.

"This clan has come all the way from Shudi, and I can't bring many things to reward everyone." The nobles of the Shu clan on the steps were still announcing, "So each person can only issue five silver coins!" ”

As he spoke, the nobleman took out a wad of pink banknotes from his big blue sleeve, wiped five from his face, and put the rest back into his sleeve under the gaze of everyone. He danced the five banknotes in the air, turned around and stuffed them into the hands of Tan Qianhu, who was still stunned, "Here are fifty taels of silver bills!" Add some cotton to the brothers' winter coats. Look at how cold they are! ”

Seeing the old and young masters under the stairs in a daze, Lu San hurriedly jumped out and reminded:

"This is not a treasure banknote issued by the imperial court, this is a silver banknote issued by Huitong Bank! Nowadays, Shu is in vogue to use this. In Yiling Prefecture, Jingzhou, Wuchang, Yuezhou, Changsha and Changde and other state capitals, Huitong Money Village has opened. So in the future, Huguang will also use this! If you are in a hurry, you can go to the Huitong Money Village in Changde City and exchange it for fifty taels of silver according to the face value! If you are not in a hurry, you can wait patiently for a few days, and Lizhou City will also open a Huitong Money Bank, which is even more convenient if you want to redeem it at that time!

The old and young masters under the steps stared intently at the nobles and the young masters, for fear of missing a word. When they heard that this magical piece of paper could be exchanged for white flowers, they all grinned.

The little prince of Shu is good, and he will be rewarded with silver when he meets. If you have the opportunity to serve in front of the little prince in the future and make another contribution, wouldn't you be rewarded with a big pile of silver money?

The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner began in this friendly and cheerful atmosphere.

A large pot of braised Tuotuo pork, with green onions, ginger and garlic sauce, is the main dish of today's New Year's dinner. In addition to the meat, everyone has a large bowl of rice noodles drizzled with miso and a bucket of cloudy soju in front of them.

There is wine at the side seat, and there is also wine on the main seat, and the wine pipe is enough, and there is an extra marinated steamed chicken.

Zhu Zhihan has always had a good appetite, and he didn't refuse, and he suddenly ate a round belly. After a bowl of wine, he was about to open his mouth to touch the bottom of Jiuxiwei, but suddenly caught a glimpse of a large number of children in tattered clothes blocking the temple gate. They opened their eyes wide and bright, put their dirty fingers in their mouths and bit them, swallowed streams of saliva into their stomachs, and watched the adults eat and drink in the world.

Zhu Zhihan suddenly straightened up, and brought the remaining half of the chicken on the table to him in front of Tan Fengxuan's surprised gaze.

"Chen Baoguo!" Zhu Zhihan shouted. A sturdy bodyguard in the hall threw down the wine bowl and ran up.

"Bring the chicken to the dolls! The doll is not full, how can the adults eat? ”

"People say that the benevolence and virtue of the Shu domain are the best in the world, and today I finally got a glimpse of it!" Tan Fengxuan, a cultured military attaché, put down the wine bowl in his hand and sighed.

Note 1: The Changde earthquake on the night of July 17 in the fourth year of Chongzhen (1631) was the strongest earthquake on record in the inland areas of South China. The epicenter was between Changde and Lizhou (presumably near today's Linli County), so the two places were the most troubled. The history records that the folk slept in the open for more than a month and did not dare to enter the house.

Note 2: Jiuxi Wei'an Fu Thousand Households, that is, today's Cili County. Jiuxiwei has five under its jurisdiction, four guarding the Thousand Households and one pacification division.

Note 3: In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, the emperor decreed: "Those who eat tobacco die".