Zhao Xingzheng's eyes rolled with worry, and suddenly saw Cheng Xia's lips squirming, as if he was there to scrutinize the verses, and he pointed with one hand: "You come!" ”

Cheng Xia stepped forward and read aloud: "Four machines." Mandarin ducks want to weave **. The poor old man is white first, the spring waves are green, the cold is deep, and the red clothes are relatively bathed. ”

"Relative bath red...... Okay", Zhao Xing vaguely remembered that this was a sentence, but he couldn't remember if anyone had done it before, so he had to praise vaguely.

Cheng Shuang was not convinced, and also took a step forward and read aloud: "Five machines." Secret and ingenious period. The branches of the acacia tree are connected. Under the double-headed flower, two concentric places, a pair of metamorphosis

Next is Cheng Wang, who connected the Israelis who rushed over, Yu Yu and Bai Qiao, who could also say a few words, Zhao Xing was depressed and about to vomit blood, and he had to make a very proud look on his face.

"Why did the Israelites go to the Great Song Dynasty to compose poems, there is no reason!"

Zhao Xing didn't know that my father and I Cheng were finally admitted to the Jinshi. He is a sturdy jinshi, and he has no known examiner and judge at all.

There are many people in the courtyard, especially cultural people, more. Zhao Xing can't poetry, others can. Even the Israelis would. Hearing that poetry was being made here, and those who could compose poetry had wine to drink, a group of people immediately came, one person and one sentence, and immediately finished weaving the "Nine Machines", and then the wine order ended.

Jieshu and the others were amazed, Zhao Xing pretended to be pretty, with a regretful face, as if he had no chance to compose poetry, and his talent was full of nowhere to be revealed, and he felt very depressed.

Jieshu, this guy is just not interesting, he hasn't finished weaving the nine machines, and then he started "Pounding Practice". A group of people pounded and pounded with the song card of "Pounding Lianzi". It's a pity, Zhao Xing has a lot of people here, and he didn't wait for his turn, everyone finished smashing all the exercises that could be pounded, which made Zhao Xing "full of regrets" to get by.

As someone who has personally attended the West Garden rally. The suave source Yeping is the most popular, he cocks his elegant orchid fingers, and describes the grand ceremony in poetic language in a soft voice, and Ji Shouzhong is punctuated with a poem or two from time to time. The three of them in the venue completely forgot about the wine order.

In the evening, the pouring rain magically turned into a drizzle. Once the rain was light, even the air was much fresher, which made Jieshu and the other three satisfied to leave. Wait to walk out of Zhao Xing's manor. Jieshu patted his head, and suddenly remembered: "Ah also, am I too flamboyant today, why didn't I make a poem from beginning to end, is it my talent...... Well? ”

Jieshu raised his eyebrows, and frequently handed colors to the two people around him, urging them to praise. Sun Kui was already completely drunk, and he let someone carry him into the sedan chair. I don't understand the desires of Lord Zhishu at all. And Zhou Bang's wine is strong and courageous, he ignored Jieshu's face, and said in a rough voice: "When I was in the capital, I lived in the house of Li's house, and listened to Qin Shao's lobbying: somehow, Liren hates to be famous for his poetry, although he has also done a few good poems, but he never wants to boast in front of others...... When I saw it today, it was true. ”

Jieshu was a little embarrassed, but he was drunk, and his thinking was a little sluggish. The embarrassment lasted only a few seconds, and his mind had turned to Zhou Bang's words. In ancient times, the spread of information was slow, and he only knew that "if life is only as first seen" was done by Zhao Xing, and now he heard that Zhao Xing did a good job of poetry, so he asked curiously: "Leave people...... How good is a poem? All wonderful? ”

Zhou Bangshi looked at Jieshu with the eyes of a hillbilly. He climbed up the soft sedan in the drizzle. While singing with a bright voice: "Outside the long pavilion, ...... by the ancient road"

Good! He was reluctant. He chased after Zhou Bang's sedan chair and ran with the sedan chair all the way, until the drunken Zhou Bang finished singing the whole song, and then reluctantly stopped: "What did I do today?" Talking about poetry in front of Su Zizhan's closed disciples...... Ah, I drank too much today! ”

The next day, the sky briefly revealed a clear sky, and Zhao Xing hurriedly ordered: "Quickly, carry the cast big gun onto the boat, let the ship lift the anchor, and walk close to the shore." ”

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xing was unwilling: "Wait, I have to go to the test firing of the new gunpowder in person...... Cheng Xia, go and call Zhao Qin'er to come with me. You remember: after this heavy rain, the water becomes mixed, and all the water you drink and the water you cook has to be boiled before drinking. No one is allowed to drink cold water - this is an iron law, if it is violated, drive out of the fort. ”

After the heavy rain, the firewood and grass were wet, and depending on the situation, the rain was only a short pause. Cheng Xia was a little embarrassed, but Zhao Xing couldn't allow him to speak, and immediately took several Israelis and Zhao Qin'er to board the slightly renovated big ship and set sail.

Sure enough, at noon, the rain began to fall again. Until the next day, the rain was sometimes heavy and sometimes light, and it never stopped. Jieshu couldn't bear it, and hurriedly went to Zhao Xing's mansion to visit again, and received news that Zhao Xing went to sea, and he returned helplessly.

Another day, the rain continued to flow, and Jieshu found the other two to visit, and learned that Zhao Xing had not returned. Fortunately, Zhao Xing ordered a boatload of firewood, grass and fresh vegetables in Mingzhou and transported them to the manor wharf, and Cheng Xia generously distributed a part of the three visitors, alleviating the embarrassment of the three people. Lin Lei

"This ship was bought by my teacher in Mingzhou, which means that my teacher has arrived safely in Mingzhou yesterday, according to him, since there is no rain in Mingzhou, this storm should also pass, but after the flooding, it is necessary to prevent the epidemic, and the two people's governments must pay attention", Cheng Xia explained to the two parents like a little adult.

Cheng Xia's explanation did not have the expected effect, of course, after the heavy rain, the two parents renovated the house, and the rescue people were still too busy, how to take care of the safety of drinking water on the ground. Soon, the plague broke out in Hangzhou. Fortunately, Zhao Xing's mansion paid attention to drinking water hygiene, and there was cinchona cream as a means of treatment, which made his manor seem calm.

Cinchona cream is not a panacea, it cannot be prevented, and there are great side effects. Zhao Xingzhuang's inventory was limited, and seeing that the epidemic was becoming more and more ferocious, Cheng Xia did not dare to support the two parents too much, and only scattered a small amount of medicine, saving the lives of familiar people, so he told the shortage of medicine and refused to take out the inventory again.

Zhao Xing is not there, and the shipping route with Nanyang is not connected, and he can no longer order from Nanyang. Several parents were so worried that they ran to Zhaoxing Castle every day. Cheng Xia can't do big things. He was so worried that he walked around the garden day by day—because of the epidemic, he did not even dare to go out of the yard. When the news of the epidemic in Hangzhou spread to other places, ships began to make detours, and by September, Hangzhou had become an isolated island.

Early September. An old man in his fifties came to Zhao Xing's manor, with a strong and accustomed momentum, standing in front of the closed fort gate, with his hands behind his back. Ordered the accompanying servants to hand over a simple notebook and shouted: "Inform me, the old man Zhang Zihou is coming to visit." ”

Because some time ago, the people heard that no one in the castle was sick. A group of villagers had gathered and were ready to rush into the castle for refuge. In order to prevent the epidemic from entering the castle with them, Cheng Xia had ordered the castle gate to be closed all day, and unless someone familiar with them came to call the door, a small crack was opened to let the other party enter. Later, Jieshu and Sun Kui, who had gained the benefits, sent officials to drive them away, so that there were fewer villagers gathering around the gate.

The gates of this castle are not like ordinary doors. Made of thick wooden planks, several of its gates are made of duck egg thick subway fences, which are raised and lowered like gates. The servant sent by Zhang handed the handbook outside the iron fence, and when Cheng Xia saw it, he immediately ordered someone to raise the fence and open the bronze gate, and at the same time informed Ah Zhu to dress up to greet him.

Cheng Xia had seen Zhang in the capital, how could this privy envoy suddenly come to Hangzhou, he greeted him inside, and answered Zhang's question: "The family teacher left the land in early May, and now he has sent back a few letters. I haven't been home. The students were unable to find him. ”

Zhang was stunned for a moment, and then asked, "What, did he go to sea again?" Under the Great Song system, officials were not allowed to engage in maritime trade. Although he was born as a maritime merchant, he had already been settled in the capital. Why don't you go to work. Dare to go to sea without permission, not afraid of the impeachment of the imperial history? ”

Cheng Xia had something to say: "Lord Zhang." The tutor is not in business. The family teacher went overseas for three years, bought a family business in Nanyang, and still had a few concubines...... He's going to move. ”

Zhang stopped: "Who is in charge of the house now, are you?" ”

Cheng Xia pointed to Cheng Azhu and Chen Yiyi, who came out, and replied: "Grandmother is still here, the branch wife is also there, and the student is a family member, helping to take care of the housework." ”

Zhang nodded, and asked again: "I heard that there is a medicine for the plague in the house, right?" The epidemic is so ferocious, I don't believe there is no stock in the house? ”

After listening to Zhang's words, Cheng Xia didn't answer, he moved his gaze to Di Azhu, who was wearing a command suit and walked over.

Cheng Azhu smiled and gave a formal official salute to Zhang, and asked after interrupting, Chen Yiyi followed behind, and also saluted, Zhang Yi waved his hand: "That's it, I'm an idler now, I don't need to use the official salute to see you - where did you go?" ”

Cheng Azhu stood up and replied: "My official went to Jiaozhi to move, and now the wind is not in the right direction, and it will be about the northwest wind to blow before the official can come back." ”

Zhang was a little anxious: "How long will it take?" My son has recently been infected with an epidemic, and I heard Su Laopo say that he is good at diagnosing diseases and is known as a miracle doctor in the countryside...... I can't afford it. ”

Cheng Azhu's performance at this time was decent, and if Zhao Xing saw it, he would praise her for her demeanor. She replied unhurriedly: "When my family officials were leaving, they foresaw that there would be an epidemic after the heavy rain, but they left a few prescriptions, but unfortunately not long ago, they treated the villagers and sent some medicines to Zhizhou, and now the stock of drugs in the house is not much......

Cheng Azhu made a gesture and continued to add: "Master Zhang, everyone has persuaded the medicine to follow the doctor's instructions, my family officials are not there, and the little woman does not dare to supply the medicine indiscriminately...... Why don't I ask a few doctors to come and treat Zhang Yanei first, and then contact Jiezhizhou, he should have some medicine there. ”

When the catastrophe came, Cheng Azhu refused to give up the medicine, and also closed the fort door to drive away the victims who might be sick, which happened to be the most normal reaction of ancient people. Because in ancient times, under the catastrophe, disaster relief activities were the "responsibility of the government", and some people dared to take the responsibility of the government to help the victims privately, which was a heinous crime, called "buying people's hearts", and the crime was called "taking the blame".

At that time, the ancients were simple, and they did not know that forcing taxpayers to pay extra money to help the victims was regarded as the credit of the government and forced people to praise it. At that time, the government rebelled because the Yellow Turban Army in the Han Dynasty relied on relief for the victims, and during the Warring States Period, the wealthy merchant Tian of Qi helped the civilians to seize the ...... of the Jiang clan of Qi These precedents were precedent, and since then, careerists have frequently jumped out to take the opportunity to do "good deeds", so the ruling class of the previous dynasties has acted towards the private relief of the victims. The punishment was extremely iron-blooded. For the people who jumped out to help the government for the land, the final disposition is the only one: all the doors.

At the same time that Cheng Azhu closed the fort gate, a big family surnamed Xu in Qiantang County was connected to nine clans because of the big crime of "taking relief". Those who have been helped by the Xu family will not talk about this kind benefit. On the contrary, he was afraid that he would be regarded as a traitor and fled to a neighboring county for refuge.

Since Cheng Azhu had rejected hundreds of victims, of course she refused to speak to Zhang's son again—if she did, once it was spread. It is "not to save the villagers and save the sons of high-ranking officials". The villagers will resent her for the rest of their lives and will never associate with her again...... Of course, if she saves the villagers and is connected to the Nine Clans, the villagers will not stand up to help her clarify. They will hide away and come out to mourn afterwards.

Therefore, Cheng Azhu must invite a local doctor and ask the doctor to come forward to find the medicine for treatment.

Under the pandemic, doctors are registered with the government and are on standby at any time. A summoning came quickly. They were excited to walk into this mysterious castle, looking around curiously as they went. After giving Zhang's son Zhang Yuan's pulse, the three doctors replied very experiencedly: "Yanai has drunk unclean raw water and contracted the epidemic ......."

After saying that. The doctor glanced at Cheng Azhu and the disciples of the Cheng family in the castle with little confidence, and timidly added: "This is what Jiefuzun said, I heard that it is still a recipe left by Di Gong - vomiting and diarrhea, diarrhea does not stop, basically because of drinking unclean raw water." ”

Cheng Azhu and the others nodded slightly, and the three doctors immediately regained their courage and spoke neatly: "We only need to diagnose it, and the matter of medicine still needs to be brought forward by Lord Fuzun...... I heard that there is not much medicine for Lord Fuzun. Although Zhao Ruren came forward to ask for it, the mansion would definitely give the land. However, the rude had better come forward quickly in this matter. ”

A hint of anger flashed across Zhang's face. At the same time as asking the doctor just now, he also handed the notebook to Jieshu, but Jieshu replied, "I am busy with official business, so I have no time to visit." He sealed his notebook back. Right now. Hearing that he could only take medicine from Jieshu made him helpless. I felt extremely humiliated.

"Mr. just prescribe medicine, and I will come forward from Lord Jie", Cheng Azhu calmly.

Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, and his grateful stroke Azhu nodded, and asked again: "Will you come back after leaving many people?" Do you really have to wait until the winter wind picks up? ”

Cheng Azhu glanced at Chen Yiyi inquiringly, and Chen Yiyi stood behind her and whispered: "Our ship is large, if we want to enter the port, it will not be possible in the dry season in winter." I pondered that it would be time for Dalang to return in a few days. He always had to rush before the tide of the Qiantang River and sail the boat out of the dock again, and he couldn't stop. ”

Zhang nodded and replied, "In this case, the old man will wait a few days." Jietai guarded there, and hoped that Zhao Ruren would say hello...... I heard people say: When he was in Su Laopo's house, his family drove out the imperial doctor, and he must have been far better than those quacks. When he returns, let him take a good look at my son—what kind of illness has been left behind! ”

As he spoke, a loud noise suddenly sounded in the direction of the dock. Cheng Azhu moved at his feet, then stopped and gestured to Chen Yiyi with his eyes. Chen Yiyi was still childish, jumped out, and shouted as he walked: "I'm back!" It must be Da Lang who is back! I knew he was ......."

Chen Yiyi didn't say goodbye to Zhang when he left, Cheng Azhu hurriedly apologized to Zhang, Zhang glanced at his unconscious son, and looked very happy: "My son is a blessed person, so he went to the house to settle down, and he came back when he left - it's okay, the old man also went to greet him." ”

Zhang Yi's words, the first to rush out were a few doctors, and they ran towards the dock when they went out, running faster than Chen Yiyi. Cheng Azhu went out but didn't leave, she stood in front of the door, took out a small and delicate gold tube telescope from her sleeve, opened the lens tube, and looked at the dock.

Cheng Azhu didn't leave, and Zhang Ye had to stand in front of the door and rush to the dock to look. I saw that at the wharf, three huge wooden ships were slowly entering the port, among the three large wooden ships, the first two had masts and sails, and the latter ships saw the huge masts in the ship, but there were no sails. The rowing boat protruded two huge rows of oars from its belly, and at the bow, two huge suspension cables hung from the sailboat in front of it, and were dragged slowly into the harbor by the sailboat.

In the wind, there was a faint sound of monotonous and rhythmic drums, and the long wooden oars on the two wings of the rowing boat were rowing neatly and regularly under the command of the drums.

None of these three ships resemble the Song ship in shape. Most Song boats were square boats, but these three ships were rare pointed boats. The boat also stood tall and grotesque statues, two sailboats were white dolphins leaping out of the water, and the bow of the oarrow boat was a statue of a mermaid.

After the two ships in the port were stabilized. Untied the suspension rope. The rowing boat behind retracted the suspension rope, and in the sound of drums, sometimes raised the oars on one side to hang in the air, and sometimes flew with oars on both sides, quickly adjusting the direction of the boat. Leaned towards the dock. The rowing boat has a low freeboard, but it is huge, with a near-circular ratio of length to width. The deck of the ship was flat, and now there was no running crew on it. Pile of coarse wood.

In the middle of the boat, there sat a man with an Arabic drum between his legs, beating it rhythmically with a wooden hammer. The sound of the drum seemed to be a code word. Two rows of oars stretched out from the belly of the boat, and under the command of the drums, they rose and fell like fingers, adjusting the side of the boat and slowly approaching the dock......

Zhang pointed to the three big ships and asked, "Zhao Ruren, this is a sea ship." Are these three seagoing vessels registered with the city? This dock of your house seems to be a private port, and the three ships on the shore should be feudal ships. Hangzhou is not a city port, how can the boat enter your private dock? ”

This bunch of questions about the chapter. Cheng Azhu smiled lightly and didn't answer, but just smiled and made a gesture.

Zhang was bored, smiled awkwardly, and couldn't tell whether it was a reprimand or just a matter of facts: "The feudal merchants don't live, the feudal ships are private, and the feudal goods are not inspected by the city shipping department, so bold to leave people!" Hangzhou Zhizhou does not report it, I think it is also a waste ......"

There was another earth-shattering cheer from the dock, and Zhao Xing appeared on the deck, first waving his hand at the house on the hillside, and then commanding the sailors to set up the ship. Hop ashore.

The first to accompany him ashore was a group of strangely dressed men, each of whom carried a large wooden box and carried it to the wagon on the shore, and made several trips back and forth, until the wagon was full of boxes. started and followed Zhao Xing towards Cheng Azhu.

Where Cheng Azhu stands. Behind it is the main complex of the castle. The small building that used to hide the mint was completely vacated and was inhabited by several widows who had completed their military service. Cover it up and say: This is a kabuki house.

In the deepest part of the complex, the Kabuki Ryokan is built on a lonely hill. In front of the Kabuki ryokan house, six large villas are arranged in a stepped pattern. The house in Jiaotouch's residence is a Western-style spire house, and at the very front of the entire complex, it is already on flat ground. And another four-story Mediterranean-style villa next to him was inhabited by Cheng's disciples. Behind this row of houses, two identical, opposite-sided three-storey Tang-style pavilions, one with an Arabic steam room, the other for the reception building, with guest rooms, restaurants, and study rooms, Zhao Xing also specially arranged a room similar to a modern dance hall on the ground floor, specifically to enjoy singing and dancing.

The last row of houses is where Cheng Azhu is standing now, one of which they have already lived in, and the other is temporarily empty, even the doors and windows have been installed, and it is full of tools, tools and weapons collected by Zhao Xing from various countries, which has basically become Zhao Xing's laboratory.

Cheng Azhu stood in front of his building, which was a baroque building, no, in the familiar language of the Song people, a Northern Wei style building. It has a small minaret with lightning rods that have never been seen in this era. The lightning rod made of copper is made in the shape of an arrow, and it shimmers with a pale golden metallic sheen in the sunlight, which can be seen clearly from miles away.

Cheng Azhu saw Zhao Xingchong waving here in the telescope, she put down the binoculars and waved at the dock.

The fort gate leading to the castle in the dock area is the water gate, Zhao Xing rode his horse by the water gate, urging the horse to run here, and the strangely shaped servants in the accompanying place automatically lined up in two rows on both sides of the carriage, escorting the carriage to follow and run.

Zhao Xing had only walked a few steps, and the doctors had already rushed to his side, and from the position where Cheng Azhu was standing, the doctors were surrounding Zhao Xingma, constantly waving, as if they were greeting. Immediately afterwards, Chen Yiyi arrived, she hugged Zhao Xing's legs and jumped happily, Zhao Xing leaned over and said a few words to her, picked her up, put her in front of his saddle, and then hugged her like this, urging the horse to gallop.

From a distance, Chen Yiyi danced on a horse, her skirt flying. Behind them, the group of doctors paused, and immediately trotted in chase.

At the foot of the mountain, Cheng Xia met Zhao Xing, he said a few words to Zhao Xing, Zhao Xing jumped off the horse, and then hugged Chen Yiyi, as if he had commanded a few words, Chen Yiyi jumped on the horse again, led Cheng Xia, and beckoned Cheng Shuang and several people to run to the dock halfway.

The people were shouting something as they ran, and the sound was so loud that even Zhang could hear it, but they spoke in a strange language, and Zhang didn't understand it. As the blue hats shouted back, more blue hats poured out of the courtyard, and as they ran, they wrapped white veils around their necks, holding a pamphlet in their hands, and looked a little fanatical.