Zhang Jiao has been very busy lately. Through his observation and analysis, next year's drought is a foregone conclusion, and this is a good opportunity. A large-scale drought will create a large number of displaced people, and if done properly, these people will be a new force for his work. He needs to gather the leaders of the Taiping Dao in all parts of the country, unify their thinking, discuss the big plan, decide when to move, where to focus on attacking, and many other things that need to be discussed. In the period before the Spring Festival, the movement of people in various places is relatively frequent, and at this time, the leaders will not attract the attention of others.

At this time, Zhang Ning also brought back the news. When she was in Hejian, Xu Huang did not hide anything from her according to Liu Xin's orders, she saw everything she wanted to see, and heard everything she wanted to hear, whether it was the military camp or the city defense, it was completely open to her. Liu Xin dared to do this because he knew that the Yellow Turban Rebellion would not take place until the spring of the following year, and this year, he had enough time to adjust.

Zhang Ning looked at his father, who seemed to be a little older, and said with some distress: "Dad, you have lost weight again." What is the purpose of such hard work? ”

Zhang Jiao said awe-inspiringly: "For the sake of the world, what is it if I am tired." Ning'er, how are you doing in the river? ”

Zhang Ning thought for a moment and said, "Dad, I saw a completely different scene in the river. The people there live in harmony and live in peace and contentment. Taishou Liu Xin won the hearts of the people, the relationship between the military and the people was also very harmonious, and the soldiers were well-trained. Liu Xin's four generals all have the courage of ten thousand people. I don't know about Zhao Yun and Zhang He, but Dian Wei and Xu Huang, none of my father's subordinates are their opponents. ”

Zhang Jiao listened to his daughter's words, and his face became solemn: "It seems that this Liu Xin is really a not simple opponent, and he must find a way to get rid of him before the incident." ”

Zhang Ning saw a fierce look on his father's face, and only felt that his father in front of him was much stranger, and he couldn't help but be shocked, and said: "I heard Xu Huang say that Liu Xin once killed a tiger with his bare hands, and this person's martial arts must not be underestimated. If it is not handled well, it will startle the snake. ”

"Oh, you seem to have a good impression of him. In that case, you can't touch him yet, and you have to inform your uncle and them to keep them away from the river for their usual activities. Zhang Jiao looked at his daughter with some surprise, "Since you can't get rid of him for the time being, do you think it's possible to make him work for me?" ”

"Dad, who has a good impression of him." Zhang Ning said disdainfully, "It is said that he is a member of the Han family, how can he be used by us." ”

"Hehe, who can explain the things of the world." Zhang Jiao looked at his daughter and suddenly laughed, "Ning'er is not young anymore, Dad is time to give you Zhang Luomen's family affairs." ”

Zhang Ning's shadow appeared in Xu Huang's mind, his face was blushing, and he said angrily: "Dad, what are you talking nonsense." Ning'er is still young, and Ning'er wants to be by her father's side for the rest of her life. ”

Zhang Jiao laughed: "Dad has his own opinions on this matter, you are right to listen to Dad!" ”

In recent days, the number of people who give gifts to Lord Taishou Liu has gradually increased, and the road in front of the Taishou Mansion is full of traffic and people, so it is not lively. Liu Xin did not refuse to come, all the property was registered and sent to the treasury, he knew that the next year would be a very difficult year, and these belongings would be donated to the local people in front of these scholars and officials.

Xu Huang also came back from Luoyang, and this year, Hejian paid the earliest tax and the most sufficient, and Liu Hong praised it, of course, only verbally. To Liu Xin's surprise, Zhang Rang was very happy to receive the gift from Liu Xin, and asked Xu Huang to bring back a cart of New Year's goods as a return gift.

Zhang Rang is now powerful, approaching the New Year, there are many people who give him gifts like a carp crossing the river, gold, silver and jewelry are countless, as for the New Year's goods and treasures, it is even more piled up, but only Liu Xin sent this "chair" is a novelty plaything, sitting and comfortable, Zhang Rang is naturally in a good mood, and it is not a trivial matter to reward a few New Year's goods.

What worries Liu Xin is that until Chinese New Year's Eve, Dian Wei has not returned, there has been neither rain nor snow throughout the winter, the road is not difficult to walk, according to the itinerary, he should have returned more than ten days ago. But in those days, there was no telephone, no mobile phone, no Internet, and Liu Xin had no way to send people to look around, so he had to be secretly anxious.

The closer the New Year gets, the more Liu Xin is worried that the "horse thieves" will take the opportunity to cause trouble, and now all counties have built beacon towers. Originally, Hejian belonged to the inner county, and there was no need for defense facilities such as beacon towers, but "horse thieves" were rampant, and during the extraordinary period, Liu Xin still allocated special funds from the county treasury for the construction of beacon towers in various counties, and selected voters to take turns on duty, even the Spring Festival was no exception.

On Chinese New Year's Eve, Liu Xin, accompanied by Zhao Yun, Zhang Chen, and Xu Huang, took Zhang Jun, Wang Lei, Chen Jin, and other officials of all sizes to comfort the soldiers guarding the city tower and the four gates, and these soldiers were also tasked with observing the situation of the beacon towers in various counties. All the soldiers in the barracks are paid double salaries in the month of La and New Year, and there are additional meals during the holidays, and you can also drink a small amount of alcohol, but there is no holiday. Although Liu Xin, who has been a thief for more than ten years, understands the meaning of the phrase "only a thousand thieves, not a thousand thieves", but the group of "horse thieves" in front of him is not a "thief" in the real sense.

Tonight, Liu Xin brought the three families of Tian Feng, Fu Zhu, and Fan Jing to the Taishou Mansion, and the inner house and the outer house each opened a table, and everyone gathered together for a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner. The dishes are naturally much more sumptuous than usual, and what is even more unique is that now everyone is sitting around a strange round table, which is also designed by Liu Xin and Ma Yun. Everyone got closer to each other, and the atmosphere was very warm when they started eating.

After dinner, Zhao Yun and Fan Juan brought several children from Tian Feng and Fu Zhi's family to set off firecrackers in front of the door. The firecrackers at this time are actually real bamboo. At that time, there was no gunpowder, that is, the bamboo was ignited, and the closed air in the bamboo was heated and expanded, and the bamboo burst, making a "crackling horn" sound to ward off evil spirits, so it was called firecrackers. The children were running and jumping happily around the crackling bamboo, and there was a special fragrance in the air.

Ma Yun also came to the door, she was five months pregnant, and her belly was obviously bulging. She looked at this scene and suddenly asked Liu Xin strangely: "Chinese New Year's Eve, why is our Taishou Mansion still bare on the gate?" ”

"yes, why didn't you post a couplet?" Liu Xin also asked Fu Zhu and Tian Feng strangely, they are literati, of course they should be found for this matter.

"What is a couplet?" Fu Zhu and Tian Feng were both a little confused.

Liu Xin looked at the inexplicable two people, a little strange, is there no couplet at this time, when did the couplet appear? couldn't help but look at Ma Yun, now you made a joke.

Ma Yun was also stunned, could it be that the couplet really didn't appear? She had no choice but to explain: "In our hometown, during the Chinese New Year, we use red paper, oh, no, it's red cloth, to write auspicious words about the battle, and paste them on the gate to avoid evil, which is not only festive, but also a good omen for next year." ”

Ma Yun said, excited, and continued: "There is a poem: In the sound of firecrackers, the spring breeze sends warmth into Tusu; Thousands of households said that they always replaced the new peach with the old one. The peach and the charm in this poem are the couplets. ”

"Good poetry! It's just that I'm not a shallow learner, and I want to ask my wife, who wrote this poem? ”

Ma Yun was woken up by a sentence of frustration, broken, this is "Yuan Yue" written by Wang Anshi of the Northern Song Dynasty, how can this be explained? At a glance, he caught a glimpse of Liu Xin, who was full of dazed faces, secretly laughed evilly, and pointed his hand at him: "This is my lord sitting at home yesterday, and I have a feeling." ”

Tian Feng applauded: "I can't imagine that adults still have such literary talents, good poetry!" ”

Liu Xin was dumbfounded, complaining to Ma Yun in her heart, I really don't know who wrote this poem, but it was definitely not written by me, I still know this, in case they ask me to write another poem, I don't have any goods in my stomach. Hurry up and play haha: "Don't talk about this, hurry up, go find two pieces of red cloth, and ask the two gentlemen to write a couplet, well, just write: Firecrackers say goodbye to the old year, peach charm welcomes the new year." ”

So, the first Spring Festival couplets in the world were born, looking at the pair of red cloths hanging on both sides of the gate, Ma Yun smiled with satisfaction. Everyone also dispersed, Tian Feng and Fu Zhu took their families back to their respective homes, and hung couplets on the door. Zhang He and Zhao Yun did not go to the barracks again, so they stayed in the Taishou Mansion.

Back in the back house, Liu Xin urged Ma Yun to rest early, while he sat in the courtyard and looked at the stars in the sky. Ma Yun was worried that he would catch a cold, so she took a brocade robe and draped it over him, and asked with concern, "What's the matter, husband, do you still have to keep the New Year?" ”

Liu Xin sighed: "Alas, I can't sleep, I always have a bad premonition, something is going to happen tonight." ”

Ma Yun comforted: "Are you worried about Dian Wei?" He's a big living person, you're still afraid that he's lost, and there are fifty Flying Tiger Guards with him. I see that you are also tired during this time, so you might as well rest early. ”

Liu Xin stroked her hair: "It's okay, you go back to sleep first, I'll wait." ”

The sound of firecrackers sounded again, it was dawn, the night was safe, and what Liu Xin was worried about did not happen. There was a sudden commotion outside the door, and it turned out that the officials and gentry of the county had come to pay New Year's greetings to Lord Taishou, and everyone was looking at the couplet on the gate of the county guard in amazement. When I heard the story of the couplet, some people had secretly made up their minds, and after they went back, they also painted gourds in the same way, and made one to hang in front of their door, so as to make it auspicious. However, Liu Xin came out and said, this thing is called a couplet, also called the Spring Alliance, also called the peach charm, only the Chinese New Year's Eve hanging out is effective, everyone wants to hang it and wait for this year's Chinese New Year's Eve, everyone can't help but regret.

After more than ten days, nothing happened, and seeing that there were two more days to go before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Liu Xin was still a little worried about Dian Wei, and gradually relaxed about other things.

That night, Liu Xin was sitting in the hall when suddenly a soldier ran in and shouted: "Report! Lord Qiqi, a beacon fire was lit in the direction of Gaoyang County. ”