February 17 of the fourth year of the Great Song Dynasty Jianyan, Huangzhou, Macheng County, Zhangjiawa. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

Yan Yuemeng looked at Fang Wurong, who was sitting on the broken chair and holding the dirty child to feed, as if there was a hairy brush in his heart.

This my brother Rong is really too unsophisticated, but he is also a student of Nanjing Yingtianfu, a dignified scholar, but today he is dressed like a veteran in the army. Dressed in a shabby linen shirt, one-eared bast shoes, and a hand knife hanging from his waist, there is no shadow of the children of the Shili heirloom family on his body.

If you don't want to be a reader, it's fine, but at least you need to be neat. If the current situation is seen, where is the system, and you will not die of laughter?

Yan Yuemeng kept rubbing his calves with his hands, he and Fang Wurong were good friends, and they used to study together in Yingtianfu. When Jingkang was in the year, the country was ruined, and the two fled all the way south. Last month, on the recommendation of Li Qingzhao, he joined Wang Shen's Sizhou army.

I thought that he and Fang Irong were originally the seeds of study, and when they were put into the army, Wang Daosi would inevitably greet each other, and he was hired to praise the military affairs in the curtain and treat them as a national soldier, and he also shook up his spirit and talked to Wang Shen a few times.

Unexpectedly, after coming down, Wang Shen directly sent them to Huangzhou to be a scribe to Du Shu, which made Yan Yue Meng very disappointed. I have to comfort myself, it's not bad to be a small official, I don't have to go to the battlefield to fight, and I stay in the yamen all day long. It's close to home, reading books, eating and drinking, and it's quite happy.

The army started for a month and finally arrived in Huangzhou.

Huangzhou, including the adjacent Qizhou, was sacked by the Jin army, and the local officials fled. As soon as Wang Shen arrived, he honestly and unceremoniously brought the two states into his jurisdiction, sent officials, and conscripted troops and food, which was quite popular. The officials who came to Huangzhou with Du Shu also got their jobs.

At this time, Yan Yuemeng's heart was hot again, so he discussed with Fang Irong whether to talk to Wang Daosi again...... Hey, the Wang Defense Envoy is a martial artist, so we can't talk to him together. However, Du Tong judged that he was kind, so he might as well talk to him and see if he could get a magistrate. It's really not good, the county magistrate, the county lieutenant, or even the secretary or something can do it!

Fang Irong shook his head and said with a smile, Brother Yan, we are all newcomers, we have just joined the Sizhou Army, and now we have just arrived in Huang and Qi, and we don't know anything about local affairs. Isn't it a bad thing to go and ask for an official now? It's the same thing as reading. We have to calm down first and find out the local people's feelings clearly before we can talk about anything else.

"Brother Fang, you are really too pedantic, Vientiane is renewed, and time is running out. Our generation should work hard, make a difference, and have the courage to do things. ”

But annoying Fang Irong smiled and said that he was not in a hurry.

How can you not be in a hurry, just kidding, there are only six counties in two states in these two prefectures and six counties in these two prefectures, how many positions can there be in the yamen. Du Tongju brought more than 30 officials over, and when he settles the people, can it still be our turn?

Just as Yan Yue Meng was thinking about how to run for official positions, Du Shu sent an envoy to him, ordering him and Fang Wurong to send this month's Yulu to Ya Zhengsen in Macheng County, and send the public money for this month.

The Sizhou Army, like other armies in this year, had no military pay, and the troops were responsible for the food and clothing of the soldiers, and only a monthly allowance of 20 yuan was used to buy personal items. However, the local yamen can't do that. First of all, if a county government wants to do things, it must recruit locals to fill the third class, and these officers have a family to support, and if they don't give months, how can they be willing to serve the country. Moreover, if the yamen wants to move away normally, it also needs funds.

Originally, these expenses could be apportioned to the local people. Helplessly, after the two states of Huang and Qi were plagued by the Jurchen Tartars, the people fled and there was not one out of ten. The land and the village are deserted, and usually after walking on the road for half a day, there is not a single figure in sight.

There was no way, Wang Daosi could only pay out of his own pocket and send out everyone's expenses for this month's Yulu and Yamen.

After receiving Du Shu's order, Yan Yue Meng and Fang Irong packed up, left Huangzhou with a basket of copper coins, and walked to Macheng.

The money made in a basket weighs about 100 catties, and Yan said that Meng is a scholar, and he can't pick it on his shoulders or carry it on his back. Seeing such a large weight, I was dumbfounded, knowing that this was an impossible task.

Originally, this matter was also simple, and it was not a big deal to ask a master to carry it. However, there are regulations in Sizhou that people must not be disturbed without reason. Moreover, the matter of recruiting people is very important, and the power has been taken away by Du Shu.

Well, spend money to hire a porter. Helplessly, Yan said that the little plate that Meng and Fang I Rongren brought when they fled back then had already been eaten up in the past few years, and now the money in the previous month has not been sent, and even if the two of them put together all the copper on their bodies, it will not exceed ten yuan.

Seeing him like this, Fang Irong comforted: "Brother Yan don't worry, the younger brother is from a poor family, and he used to work in the fields when he was in Nanjing, so I'll carry this basket!" ”

At this time, Yan Yue Meng was taken aback, he didn't expect this Brother Fang's strength to be so great. In addition to a hundred-pound back basket, Fang Irong also brought a hand knife and a simple knife.

Fang Irong was thin and small, and his skin was dark, and he was low. But from the back, it is easy to be mistaken for a child of twelve or thirteen years old.

In the past, the scholars of Nanjing Yingtianfu used monkeys to play with them.

Now, with such a large weight on him, this little scholar is still walking like a fly.

In contrast, in the past two days, although Yan Yuemeng said that he was empty-handed, he was so tired that he was about to fall apart. Usually after walking for a few miles, you have to sit on the ground and rest for half a day.

To this day, Yan said that Meng's feet and hearts were full of blood blisters, and every step of the line was painful.

He knew that if he continued like this, he would definitely be exhausted to death.

Fortunately, it has entered the mountainous area, crossed this mountain range, and walked more than ten miles to reach Macheng County.

Seeing that he was too tired, Fang Irong proposed to go to Zhangjiawa in front of him to solve lunch, and then sleep for half an hour before leaving.

There are four families in Zhangjiawa, and when they saw the two people with weapons, the villagers were so frightened that they fled up the mountain. It was only after the two of them shouted for a long time, saying that they were from the yamen, that they went home and boiled water for the two to cook.

Naturally, there are no good things in the deserted village of Shanyezi, just a bowl of brown rice. Yan said that Meng was so hungry that he pulled a bowl of rice into his stomach with only two or three chopsticks. Fang Irong still seemed to be energetic, he hugged the landlord's son, and talked to the landlord with a smile while eating. Ask about the rain, ask about this year's harvest, and ask if there are any merchants in the county recently, and whether the place is peaceful.

Yan Yumeng was upset when he heard this, and said secretly: Fang Irong, why do you talk so much, what is there to talk about with a vulgar wild man?

In his anger, he heard Fang Irong laugh, and he didn't know what he was talking to the landlord so happy. Looking up, I saw Fang Irong holding the rice bowl with a smile on his face, you and I fed the little child with a face full of boogers.

Suddenly, Yan Yuemeng felt a churning in his abdomen, and almost vomited the rice he had just eaten.

He was about to get up and ask Fang Irong to enter the house together, staring at him for half an hour and recovering some strength.

I heard the old man of the landlord sigh: "Mr. Fang, we have been too peaceful here recently. Since the Jurchen Tartars came to loot once, people have run out of sight. Seeing that this year's spring ploughing has been delayed, in two months, everyone will starve to death. The people in the county all ran away, crossed the river, and went to Ezhou to survive. There is no oil or water here, and even bandits and rogues refuse to come, so don't worry. But in recent days......"

"But how?" Fang Irong raised his spirit and asked hurriedly.

Old man: "Little old man lives on weekdays, and we used to have a large population here. The firewood and grass on the mountain have been cut and cut down, and if you want to cut firewood, you usually have to walk more than ten miles. ”

Fang Irong smiled: "Yes, I have walked all the way, everywhere is open, the mountains are yellow and bare, there is not even a tree, and in a trance, it seems that I have returned to my hometown in the north." ”

The old man said, "Yes, yes, there is no way, the trees and grass on this mountain have been cut since my grandfather's generation." After so many generations, it has long been lightened. In the past, in peacetime, in order to fight for a bush of thatch to cut home and make a fire to cook, there were also things that made you die. ”

"Haha, old man, let's talk about the past when we have time, tell me what's going on in the last few days?" Fang Wurong fed the last bite of rice in the bowl into the child's mouth.

Old man: "In recent days, I have gone to the mountains more than ten miles away to cut grass and collect firewood, and I often see strangers sneaking around, and asking the little old man for directions. Looking at the appearance of such a person, he looks so fierce, not like a good person. ”

Fang Wurong frowned: "What road are they inquiring about?" ”

"Ask me how to go to the county seat, how many people are in the city now, and what the city wall looks like." The old man thought for a moment, and then said, "By the way, I see that they have bulging pockets in their waists, as if they are not pinned to them." Speaking of this, he suddenly became nervous: "Sir, do you think those people are bandits?" ”

"Don't worry, don't worry, it's fine." Fang Wurong put the child in his arms on the ground, stood up, and said to Yan Meng: "Brother Yan, it's time to go." ”

Yan Yuemeng: "Don't you want to take a nap?" ”

"Don't sleep, don't sleep, I'm afraid we won't be able to catch up with the county seat if we delay today, is it possible that we will still sleep in the wilderness tonight?"

"Okay!" Although Yan Yuemeng was unwilling, he was powerless to refute.

After speaking, Yan Yuemeng handed a note to the old man. This is an IOU issued by the Huangzhou Defense Envoy Si Xingyuan, each chapter is worth two catties of brown rice, and it is also stamped with a fresh seal. The public servants of the various departments and yamen go out to run errands, and they are paid according to the time spent on the road. Public servants can use this slip to go to the people's homes for food and lodging, and get an IOU, which the people can use to reduce the summer and autumn taxes that should be paid.

This is a mountainous area, with limited output in the field, and little tax revenue in summer and autumn. Besides, Yan and Fang didn't eat so much rice. The old man accepted it with great gratitude, and said that the Sizhou army was a teacher of benevolence and righteousness, and General Wang was a living bodhisattva.

You must know that if you change to other armies, whether it is the Jurchen, the thief army or the Song army, you will not bring money to the restaurants in the city, and eating your two bowls of rice will give you face, and then you will be wordy and cut with a knife.

Seeing the IOU handed over, Yan Yuemeng's heart moved: Isn't this IOU equivalent to handing over money?

He seemed to vaguely grasp something, but he couldn't figure it out.

When he got out of Zhangjiawa Village, Fang Irong said: "Brother Yan, be careful, what the old man said must be a thief." We have so much money with us, we need to be on guard against being targeted. ”

"Ahh Yan Yumeng was so frightened that his face turned white: "No, no!" ”

"Don't be careful, let's go quickly."

"Yes, yes, yes, if you stay in this mountain for a while, it will be dangerous for a while, or go to the county seat as soon as possible." At this time, Yan Yue Meng didn't complain anymore, he walked fast on the mountain road, and even took the initiative to take the Pu knife in Fang Wurong's hand.

After walking for an hour, both of them were so tired that they were sweating profusely, and their mouths were dry.

Yan said that Meng was about to propose to sit down and drink water, but suddenly, Fang Irong said in a low voice: "I'm really being targeted, bad luck!" ”

"Ah...... Miscellaneous...... What the? ”

Fang Irong's gaze fell on the opposite mountain: "There are at least ten people, all with weapons in their hands. They followed us as early as when we came out of Zhangjiawa, and I deliberately took a fork in the road before. Strange to say, I went the wrong way, and they followed suit. Don't ask, it must be beating you and me. ”

Yan Yuemeng followed his gaze and looked over, but only saw an earthy yellow mountain.

A chill rose in his heart: "Brother Fang, go, go!" ”

"No, you can't run. No matter how far we can run, we will run out of strength for a few miles at most. You have to move slowly so that you can have the strength to deal with it. Fang Irong had a look of anger on his face, and pressed the hilt of the knife with his hand. burst out of his foul mouth and scolded in a low voice: "The first time I was sent, I met a thief, but if there is a bad pool, how to explain to General Wang and Du Tongju." Straight slicks, these blindless brutes. ”

Instead, he was angry.