The crowd dispersed, and Yu Xiang took the red lady and her party to a large courtyard. The courtyard was full of people, these were those who were released from the "pig cage", everyone had just finished eating the broth and rice, and they seemed to be very energetic.

Everyone saw the arrival of the owner of the village, a commotion broke out in the crowd, everyone was full of gratitude to him, Yu Xiang found a higher position to stand, everyone knew that the owner of the village had something to say, they all quieted down, Yu Xiang said to everyone aloud: "From now on, everyone is now free and can reunite with their families!" ”

The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

Yu Xiang waited for everyone to be quiet, and continued: "Those who are willing to leave can leave now, those who want to stay and do things, we welcome, eat enough, wear warm clothes, if you do a good job, we will pay salaries regularly, whether to go or stay, it is all up to everyone to decide, never force!" ”

This sentence exploded in the crowd.

To Yu Xiang's surprise, everyone did not leave immediately as expected, but in groups of three and two, gathering to discuss.

At this time, I saw two young people who looked like scholars squeezing through the crowd and walking towards the door. The two walked to the door, stood in the doorway and thought about it, then stepped back and stood again in the crowd.

Yu Xiang quietly observed everyone's reaction, and after a while, the commotion of the crowd gradually subsided, the chaotic voices quieted down, and everyone's eyes were staring at Yu Xiang, waiting for the following.

Yu Xiang saw that everyone was quiet, so he said loudly: "Gujiazhai has now been renamed Zhangjia New Village, and those who are willing to stay will be the builders of the new village." Here, as long as you are diligent, willing to contribute, and fulfill your obligation to defend the new village, you will have enough to eat, warm clothes, a house, and a sick person. Your children will be able to read and write in school. ”

The crowd suddenly rejoiced, this society can be fed and clothed, can afford to see a doctor, and children can go to school and read, it is simply an incredible thing. At this time, a man with a beard on his face stepped forward and asked: "My name is Zhang Er, everyone calls me Zhang Er, I can't do anything, but I have strength, I can do hard work, can you take me in?" ”

"Building a house and repairing a pond is hard work, as long as you are willing to do it, there is work you can't finish here, and we welcome you to join Zhangjia New Village." Yu Xiang said with a smile.

Zhang Er stepped forward happily and said with a big grin: "Village master, I want to stay, there is food and drink here, and I can also wear warm clothes to treat diseases, this is simply heaven, hehehe!" ”

Everyone was amused by Zhang Er's stunned expression, and the atmosphere at the scene suddenly became lively. Everyone came forward and asked to register.

Yu Xiang hurriedly said: "Everyone line up, register one by one, after the locals have registered, they can go home, if they are not locals, after registration, provide temporary accommodation and wait for work arrangements"

Yu Xiang said that, ordered someone to set up the table, found a few literate people to be clerks, and registered. Everyone consciously lined up and registered one by one, when it was the turn of a woman covered in patches to come up and say, "I'll register me and my father-in-law!" ”

Yu Xiang recognized her as the woman who was cooking for his father-in-law during the meal. Yu Xiang stepped forward and asked the woman, "Why do you want to register your father-in-law?" Why didn't he come and register himself? ”

The woman's face turned red and said, "Xianggong is a scholar, and I am afraid of insulting Sven, so I will register him on his behalf." ”

Yu Xiang saw the woman's husband squatting in a corner, so he ordered someone to call the man to him and asked, "What is your name?" ”

The middle-aged man said: "Xiaosheng's surname is Wu, his name is Yaozu, and he is a scholar." ”

Yu Xiang asked: "Listen to what your lady said, do you want to get an errand in the new village?" ”

Wu Yaozu replied: "Exactly! ”

"Why don't you come and register in person, and let your lady come?"

"Everything is inferior, only reading is high! I'm really forced by life this time! Insulting Sven. ”

When Yu Xiang heard him say this, he immediately sighed in his heart, but he didn't expect that Lu Xun's Kong Yiji really existed in reality.

So Yu Xiang said: "I think that reading is to cultivate one's family and rule the country and level the world, and the primary purpose of reading is to cultivate one's family and make one's family well-fed and clothed, and the second is to gain fame and fame, and worship the prime minister, rather than putting the cart before the horse." I can't even support my wife and children, what's the use of studying? ”

Yu Xiang's words made Wu Yaozu's face red, he didn't expect that this young owner of the village would be so knowledgeable, words like knives, suddenly felt ashamed, Wu Yaozu was a smart person, but he just got into a dead end for a while, and couldn't extricate himself, but now he was awakened by Yu Xiang, and he had the idea of sincerely correcting himself.

Yu Xiang saw Wu Yaozu's expression change, and knew that he had already woken up, and it was inconvenient to embarrass him by one step, after all, a scholar values face more than life. So he asked him directly: "Do you really want to get a job in the new village?" ”

Wu Yaozu said: "The villain really thinks! ”

Yu Xiang said: "Then you can register, by the way, your wife and children will be registered, and then I will have important errands to hand over to you." ”

Wu Yaozu was pleasantly surprised, and he had a feeling of being in a desperate situation, he hurriedly bowed down to give a salute, and then went to the secretariat to register in person.

Yu Xiang looked at him carefully, and saw that his cheeks were thin, his body was thin, his hair was gray, although the clothes on his body were patched, but they were clean and neat, his calligraphy was neat and beautiful, meticulous, Yu Xiang sighed in his heart, this person still has some talent, but he is pedantic and stubborn, how similar he was before, if he was given a chance, he might do a good job.

Yu Xiang looked at the information he registered again, the lady's name was Zhang, she was good at spinning and weaving, and she had two children.

After Wu Yaozu finished registering, he took the whole family to Yu Xiang's side.

Yu Xiang asked, "How old are the two children and what are their names?" ”

Wu Yaozu said: "The eldest is ten years old, called Wu Tianming, and the second and eighth years old, called Wu Tianliang." ”

Yu Xiang touched the heads of the two of them, looking at their ragged clothes, and felt that although his family was poor when he was a child, he could still wear neat clothes. And these two children are simply unclothed.

Yu Xiang turned his eyes to the crowd again and shouted, "Anyone who can read and write, please come forward." ”

Several people walked out of the crowd, and among them were two young men, the same two who had just walked to the door and returned.

Yu Xiang pointed to the two young people and asked them to come forward, the two of them took orders, walked one after the other, only to see one person walking in front, with clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, and a luxurious air on his body, Yu Xiang curiously looked at him and left his name on the register: Hou Fangyu, a native of Defu.

Yu Xiang was surprised in his heart, Hou Fangyu is a famous ** talent, how did he end up in this situation, the love story between him and Qinhuai's famous prostitute Li Xiangjun was compiled into the famous drama "Peach Blossom Fan" by the Qing Dynasty dramatist Kong Shangren, which became a monument in the history of Chinese drama, Yu Xiang was surprised in his heart.

Yu Xiang looked at another person, slightly fat, although his clothes were dirty, but he was neatly dressed, about twenty years old. The person was registered: Wu Bo, a native of Defu.

Yu Xiang said in his heart, it turned out that two of the six sons of Xueyuan were here.

Yu Xiang pretended not to know, and asked the two of them, "Do you know each other?" ”

Both nodded yes.

"You are from Guide, what are your plans for the future?" Yu Xiang asked.

Hou Fangyu said: "The world is not peaceful, I was going to go to Suzhou, I didn't want to be captured by thieves, and now there is nothing entangled, I want to stay first, survive for a long time, and then make plans." ”

Yu Xiang said: "This is very good, if you complete the things I gave you, I will definitely sponsor you to go to Suzhou." ”

The two thanked each other in unison.

Yu Xiang asked Wu Yaozu's wife Zhang and two children to settle down. Zhang's thousand thanks, full of joy, seeing that the owner of the village seems to appreciate his husband, he feels that he has suffered for so many years, and now he finally sees hope, he can't help but sigh with emotion and shed tears of excitement.

Yu Xiang led Wu Yaozu, Hou Fangyu and Wu Boyi to a room, he pointed to a pile of account books and said, "You sort out the accounts of these account books, Wu Yaozu is in charge here, and the two of you are waiting for Wu Yaozu's arrangement." ”

The three of them received the order, spread out the pen, ink, paper and inkstone, opened the account book seriously, and got busy.

Yu Xiang walked out of the house and came to the ancient house with the Red Lady, where soldiers with big knives were already guarding both sides of the gate, and the courtyard was full of kneeling people.

Yu Xiang stepped into the courtyard, and the kneeling man saw a young man coming in surrounded by a group of people, so he guessed the identity of the person who came, and everyone kowtowed vigorously and begged: "The owner of the village spares his life!" The owner of the village spares his life! The cries of pleading came and went.

Zhang Erhu led Yu Xiang to a higher step, where a Taishi chair was placed.

Yu Xiang stood in front of the Taishi's chair and did not sit down, he looked down at the kneeling people below, all women and children.

Among the kneeling people, there is a graceful figure, with a good demeanor, red lips and rouge, and delicate. The delicate and dignified woman, though she knelt like all the others, stood out like a crowd, and her beauty caught the eye, and the light concealed the other women.

Yu Xiang pointed to the woman and asked Zhang Erhu, "Who is that woman?" ”

Zhang Erhu stepped forward and said: "This woman is Gu Batian's favorite concubine, her real name is Li Xiangzhi. Zhang Erhu saw that Yu Xiang paid special attention to this woman, so he stepped forward and whispered, "Why don't you let her sleep for you at night?" ”

The red lady was standing next to Yu Xiang, and she had already seen Yu Xiang staring at the woman, feeling very angry, and hearing Zhang Erhu's words, she was suddenly jealous in her heart, and she was furious, pressing the saber in her hand, and staring at Zhang Erhu with her eyes.

Yu Xiang also saw the resentful eyes of the red lady, and then looked at the others, they were all looking at him in a daze, knowing that everyone thought he was fascinated by this woman.

Yu Xiang raised his face and scolded Zhang Erhu and said: "Zhang Erhu, you are not allowed to mention this matter in front of me in the future, if there is a next time, I will not spare it." If I covet women, wives and daughters, and fowls. What a difference a beast is with a thief! ”

Zhang Erhu originally wanted to be well-behaved, but he didn't want to make someone who was not inside and out, so he stepped aside and bowed his head and said nothing.

Everyone couldn't help but admire the owner of the village even more, and the red lady also felt ashamed, misunderstood him, and was full of apologies.

At this time, someone in the crowd shouted: "It's better to kill her and eliminate the harm for the people." When Li Xiangzhi heard this, his face suddenly lost color and he fell to the ground.

Yu Xiang said loudly: "Whether she is beautiful or not has nothing to do with whether she is in trouble or not, as for whether she is guilty or not, the jury has ruled that we cannot kill innocents indiscriminately on a momentary pleasure." ”

The people who were shouting to kill Li Xiangzhi stopped talking when they saw the owner of the village saying this, and Li Xiangzhi saw that he had picked up a life, so he immediately put his mind at ease and glanced at Yu Xiang, full of gratitude.

Yu Xiang said loudly to the kneeling crowd: "You don't have to be afraid, I will never kill innocent people, many of you are also victims of Gu Batian, the jury will give you justice, if you are willing to report Gu Batian's evil deeds and report those who have merit, you will also be rewarded." ”

The kneeling crowd suddenly put their hearts at ease and kowtowed together, thanking them for a thousand moments, leaving them alone for the time being.

Yu Xiang said to Zhang Erhu: "From now on, you will send someone to watch over them, feed them three times a day, and do not abuse them until the jury makes a verdict on them." ”

Zhang Erhu should accept the order.

Yu Xiang led everyone out of the ancient mansion, and a wave of hanging silk came up, "This Li Xiangzhi is really a stunner." As long as you have the intention, you can take it at your fingertips....hehe.... But at this time, Yu Xiang thought of another layer of deep meaning, why those peasant uprisings in the past became bandits, maybe it was the ** who couldn't grasp money and beautiful women, and when they got a lot of loot, they quickly changed from the righteous to the evil. In the future, I have to strengthen my cultivation in this regard, and I must not take half a step beyond the thunder pool.

Thinking of this, all obscenity was removed from my heart. Trivial thoughts, the waist pole will be straight! Qi Yu came to the courtyard where the Gu Batian soldiers were being held.

The soldiers tied up in the courtyard looked in horror at the people who came in. When they saw Yu Xiang, their heads banged on the ground and rattled.

Yu Xiang looked at them coldly, many of these people were military ruffians and bullies, doing all kinds of bad things. Yu Xiang said coldly: "You don't have to be afraid, I won't hurt you for the time being, whether you are guilty or not, your own jury will decide, if you are not guilty, you will soon be free." If you are guilty, you can expose Gu Batian's crimes, especially the crimes of Gu Batian's killing of his predecessor county commander and killing Zhangjia Village, which is regarded as a great meritorious service and can be offset by the merits.

Yu Xiang paused: "Of course, we will not tolerate the recalcitrant elements. ”

As soon as Yu Xiang finished speaking, Zhang Cijin, who was cowering in a corner, saw that the general trend was gone, and knew that stubborn resistance would inevitably lead to a dead end, so he said loudly: "Village master, I confess, I confess, I will confess." ”

Yu Xiang glanced at Zhang Cijin and said, "I've given you a chance in the morning, are you too late to confess now?" ”

Zhang Cijin said: "Zhai master, I want to understand, I don't want to live well, I just want you to give a good death, I follow Gu Batian to do bad things, and I should be retributed, I just want to give a happy death." ”

Yu Xiang was shocked in his heart, such a ruthless and vicious character still has such backbone. I couldn't help but look at him in my heart, so I said, "Okay, I will convict the jury according to your confession." ”

When the other soldiers saw that Zhang Cijin wanted to confess, they all wanted to make meritorious contributions, and they all confessed to Gu Batian's crimes. Yu Xiang turned to Shengying and said: "Shengdaxia, I will leave it to you here, and we must try the matter of the murder of the previous county commander and the destruction of Zhangjia Village." ”

Seung-young responded and went to try these people and didn't mention them for the time being.

Yu Xiang still has to go to the last place, that is, the "family courtyard" of Gujiazhai, where the families of Gu Batian's servants and soldiers live.

Seeing that Yu Xiang was coming, someone had already gathered them. Yu Xiang looked at these people, all of them were vegetable, skinny, in tattered clothes, and their eyes were terrified. Obviously, they are also victims of Gu Batian.

Yu Xiang said: "You don't have to be afraid, we will only punish the first evil, not everyone." We are going to build Zhangjia New Village here, if you are willing to stay and continue to work, we welcome it, and will pay you according to your labor situation, if you want to leave, you can leave at any time, come and go freely. ”

There was a sudden commotion in the crowd, many people were under Gu Batian's hands, they only worked, how could they be paid, they were usually hungry and full, and if they made a slight mistake, they would be punished to death by Gu Batian, seeing Yu Xiang say this, they almost didn't believe their ears.

The crowd fell to their knees and shouted that they would stay.

Yu Xiang asked into the crowd, "Is there a blacksmith here, please stand up." ”

Out of the crowd came a middle-aged man with a black face, followed by three sturdy young men.

The black face said: "My name is Zhang Er, known as the black-faced blacksmith Zhang, these three people are my apprentices, what does the owner of the village command?" ”

Yu Xiang looked at the blacksmith Zhang and said: "From now on, you are free, whether you were guilty or not before, you will be forgiven, but in the future, you must follow the right path, abide by the law, and if you violate it, you will be punished severely." Can you do it? ”

The black-faced blacksmith hugged his fists and saluted, and thanked him repeatedly: "The grace of the owner of the village to recreate his life will never be forgotten in the future, and he must abide by the law and be an upright person." ”。

Yu Xiang asked: "Now, the new village is in need of a skilled person like you, I wonder if you are willing to stay in Zhangjia New Village?" ”

Blacksmith Zhang replied: "I am willing to stay in Xincun and obey the orders of the owner of the village." ”

Yu Xiang said to him: "Okay, after this while, you are going to be busy!" ”

The black-faced blacksmith thanked him and joined the crowd.

With the example of blacksmith Zhang Zaiqian, the tension in the crowd was suddenly released, and everyone's eyes brightened, and they expressed their willingness to join the construction of the new village.