Hearing Wei Tongnian's prediction of his actions after the year, Pang Gang smiled, Wei Tongnian was worthy of being the governor of a province, and his vision was extraordinary, as soon as Pang Gang proposed the plan to expand the army, he immediately thought of his cheap son-in-law's next move.

"Father-in-law, don't worry, the son-in-law estimates that the rogue has no intention of staying in Hubei, and it is estimated that they will launch a full-scale attack on Hunan as soon as spring begins, what we have to do is to follow them and pick up the cheap."

Pang Gang secretly sneered in his heart, these rogues have done things that are inconvenient for them to do, although it will be very troublesome to receive the places that have been ruined by them, but at least the imperial court has no way to blame him, and the most important thing is that he does not have to mobilize the people by himself, and the loss will be much smaller, since there are people rushing to open the way, why should he charge ahead.

"Virtuous son-in-law, do you really want to turn your face with the court? That's not a big deal, is it? ”

At this time, Kong Wen on the side asked a little timidly, although he is a businessman, these sons are very prosperous in Qingzhou and even the whole of Shandong with the name of their son-in-law, and he also knows what his son-in-law is doing. But at this time, when he heard with his own ears what his son-in-law and his in-laws were discussing, Rao was well-informed and couldn't help but be frightened. This is the land of two provinces, and they said that if they wanted it, wouldn't they be afraid of the wrath of the court and send a large army to attack?

Hearing Kong Wen's question, Pang Gang smiled, and said: "Father-in-law, it's not that the son-in-law has that bad heart, but it has to be like this in this troubled world, you also think about it, if the son-in-law doesn't have tens of thousands of male teachers in his hands, I'm afraid that the next day the fierce Jinyi guard of the imperial court will take the son-in-law's family lock into Beijing to ask for guilt." ”

"That's just as well." Kong Wen smiled bitterly and nodded, he, a person who had passed the age of not being confused, had seen too many things, and he also knew in his heart that what Pang Gang said was indeed the truth, but his son was not by his side at this time, and he felt a little emotional.

However, Kong Ruolan understood her father's thoughts, and comforted her on the side: "Daddy, don't worry, my brother may have arrived at Obaro at this time, maybe he will bring us a red-haired and blue-eyed sister-in-law at that time?" ”

When Kong Wen heard this, his eyes immediately widened with anger: "He dares? If he dares to marry a fan-in-law, the old man will break his legs! ”

"Huh"

Everyone laughed when they heard it, it seemed that Kong Ruolan still understood his father, and he took his mind elsewhere in one sentence, Pang Gang's eyes also moved to Ruolan, these days are her due date, Kong Ruolan under the current breast is full of breasts, and her full moon-like face radiates a kind of brilliance of her mother's surname, seeing her husband's gaze, she also looked back, showing a virtuous and gentle smile in her eyes.

Seeing everyone's smiles, Kong Wen also smiled, waved his hand and said: "That's it, the old man is just a businessman, not to mention that the old man is also old, sooner or later this world will be you young people, the old man will not ask much, the old man has nothing else, just a little asset, if the virtuous son-in-law needs silver, just tell the old man, as long as the old man can get it, he will never refuse." It's just that Ruolan is about to give birth, and the virtuous son-in-law should be more careful. ”

These few days are Ruolan's giving birth period, and it was Kong Wencai who said this, but now the whole house is ready, Pang Gang and even several stable women have been invited to the house, and they haven't even let them go back for the New Year.

"Father-in-law, rest assured, the son-in-law will take care of Ruolan, as for the money, the son-in-law will never shirk if necessary." Pang Gang nodded with some emotion, although Kong Lin is a businessman, it seems that he also knows the truth that one glory is one glory and one loss is lost.

Wei Tongnian on the side laughed: "Okay, today is the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, don't say these digressions, the old man's stomach is hungry." ”

As soon as Wei Tongnian said, Pang Gang realized that the dishes in front of him were almost ready, and the hall was full of jubilation, the table was full of sumptuous wine and food, and the tempting fragrance kept coming.

So he smiled and said: "Your second elder atoned for his sins, it was the little son-in-law who was rude, so please take a seat." ”

With Pang Gang's words, there was a deafening sound of firecrackers outside the house, in the sound of firecrackers, everyone settled down, while tasting the dishes, while talking and laughing, now there are a lot of people in the hall, out of Pang Gang's wife and concubine, there are also the family members on the Kong Wen Mansion, as well as Wei Tongtong and his concubine Rou Niang, adding up to twenty or thirty people, everyone is talking and laughing while tasting the dishes, the atmosphere is very good.

After dinner, Pang Gang sent someone to send the two fathers-in-law who were a little drunk back to their respective mansions, and he quickly went back to the house to rest, and when Pang Gang stood up, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xuezhu, who were sitting next to him, also stood up obediently and helped their husbands back to the house to rest.

It was late at night, and it was snowing outside the house, and the north wind was blowing, but the fire was warm as spring.

"Husband, if you still want a concubine, you can give it to a cheap concubine!" Chen Yuanyuan was lying on Pang Gang with his bare delicate body and sweating, the afterglow had not yet dissipated, and his fair body was full of flushes.

Pang Gang smiled and nodded on Chen Yuanyuan's jade-white forehead and chuckled: "You only care about your own comfort, but you forgot that Xuezhu is still waiting." ”

"Hmph, husband, you are necrotic~" Li Xuezhu, who had been clinging to Pang Gang's back, blushed with shame, and slowly snuggled into her husband's arms with a coquettish sigh, the pink face that was attached to Pang Gang's ** chest was as hot as fire, and the belly pocket under the lake silk shirt was supported by the tall twin peaks, and the two round bulges were clearly distinguishable.

Xuezhu, who had watched the play for a long time, snuggled in her husband's arms at this time, her big eyes seemed to be dripping, and at this time, she covered Pang Gang's eyes with her murder weapon as if she intended revenge, and then sat down slowly.

A moist and soft feeling suddenly occupied Pang Gang's mind, and soon there were bursts of murmuring sounds in the room, and after a long time, a firecracker sounded, and a fireflower bloomed in the air, forming a gorgeous flower. And the snowdrops also erupted with this loud noise, but the high-pitched moans were drowned in the "crackling" firecrackers. Her delicate body also contracted violently like a wave, and she collapsed weakly on Pang Gang's body.

The sky was bright, and when Pang just woke up, he found that he was still holding a bunch of soft and greasy in his arms, and when he looked down, he saw that it was Li Xuezhu, a little girl, who was sleeping soundly with her arms around her, not only that, but also pressed two huge murder weapons on her chest.

Last night, Chen Yuanyuan and Xuezhu were very crazy, and kept asking, Pang Gang took a long time to calm down, in fact, Pang Gang also understood their mood in his heart, this is a state of anxiety in their hearts when they saw that Kong Ruolan and Wei Manyao were pregnant, the ancients said: There are three unfilial pieties, and no queen is great, that is said to men, but for women, how can it not be a mother and a child, seeing that their sisters are pregnant, they naturally began to be anxious.

It was not easy to break free from the jade arms of the two women, and after putting on their clothes, they walked out of the room.

When Pang Gang entered the hall after washing, he saw Ling'er rushing out in a hurry and crashing into Pang Gang's arms.

"Eh!" Ling'er only felt that her head had hit a broad chest, although it was not hard, it also made her little head a little dizzy.

Pang Gang grabbed her and asked, "Ling'er, what's wrong?" So hot? ”

Ling'er looked up and saw that it was Pang Gang, and immediately said anxiously: "Master, Miss, Miss is about to give birth, and the concubine is going to go now, Wen Po called her." ”

Ling'er came to the Pang family with Ruolan to marry, and she was the most loyal to Ruolan as a maid, but the anxious look on her face at this time couldn't be faked.

Pang Gang was also anxious when he heard this, and hurriedly shouted: "Then what are you still doing cold, don't you go quickly!" ”

"Eh, the concubine will go immediately."

After saying that, Ling'er rushed out again, and after seeing Ling'er rushing out, Pang Gang shouted to the maids in the hall again: "Don't be cold, hurry up and prepare hot water and clean cloth, but don't wait until you are in a hurry." Also, hurry up and send someone to the Confucian Mansion to report the news, don't go quickly! ”

"Yes, the slave and maid send someone quickly!"

Kong Ruolan was about to give birth, and the news woke up many people who were still asleep, and soon the two stable women were dragged into the house by Ling'er, and after a while, Kong Wen and Ruolan's mother, Mrs. Kong, also stumbled over.

As soon as Kong Wen entered the house, he shouted to Pang Gang: "Chaodong, has Ruolan given birth?" ”

"Not yet, now Wen Po is taking care of Ruolan inside."

At this time, Pang Gang no longer had the calm and calm image he used to have, and he was so anxious outside the delivery room that he was like ants on a hot pot, and his heart was in a mess.

The reason for this situation is not that Pang Gang is not calm enough, but in this era, when a woman gives birth to a child, it is simply a walk in the ghost gate. In the later generations of medical development, giving birth to a child is very simple, basically there is no dystocia, the fetal position is not just right, the doctor will solve it with a knife, and the survival rate is basically 100%, but in this era it is extremely dangerous, when a woman gives birth to a child, the survival rate is only about 60%, it can be said that one foot on the coffin board to give birth.

For example, the current Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty originally had seven sons and five daughters, but only three sons and two daughters could grow up smoothly, even the royal family was still like this, let alone other families.

At this time, Kong Ruolan's painful moans came from the delivery room, and at the same time, Wen Po's voice kept coming.

"Madame, hard, hard!"

and Kong Ruolan's heart-rending shouts also came from time to time: "It hurts, it hurts, I, I'm dying of pain!" ”

At this time, Pang Gang's wives and concubines also came outside the delivery room, and even Wei Manyao, whose lower abdomen was slightly protruding, hurried over accompanied by Qiao'er.

Wei Manyao came to Pang Gang's side and asked softly, "Husband, has Sister Ruolan given birth?" ”

"Not yet!"

At this time, Pang Gang was also anxious, and the green tendons on his forehead were already clearly visible. The two stable women hurriedly ran in and out, instructing the maids here to prepare for the delivery. And Pang Gang, a seven-foot man, could only linger outside the door, during which he watched a large basin of blood being brought out, his heart shrank a little, and he couldn't imagine what would happen if a difficult birth happened at this time.

Two quarters of an hour later, just as Pang Gang's patience was about to run out, a loud cry came from the delivery room.

There was silence outside the house, and Pang Gang muttered softly, "Are you alive?" ”

After a while, a stable woman walked out with a child in her arms in a red cloth, and said to Pang Gang and the others with a smile: "Congratulations to Master Hou, mother and son are safe!" ”

"Mother and son are safe!"

"Ah, Master Hou has a queen!" There was jubilation outside the delivery room.

The huge joy was rushing in Pang Gang's heart like a wave, Pang Gang couldn't hold back any longer, he didn't have time to see the child, he ran into the delivery room, and in the bright delivery room illuminated by dozens of oil lamps, Kong Ruolan's pale and beautiful face was covered with beads of sweat, and the broken hair on her forehead stuck to her face, even so, she still smiled, but Pang Gang cried

The news that Pang Gang was happy with his son spread like a whirlwind, and before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the news spread throughout Shandong.

As the de facto ruler of Shandong Province, Pang Gang can be said to be a man of his word in Shandong, and there are many officials who want to give gifts, but usually there is no chance, and now that the opportunity has come, the officials are still reluctant to give gifts. So in the past half a month, the Champion Hou's Mansion was crowded with officials of all sizes who gave gifts, and the gifts they sent were almost piled up in a warehouse.

In the face of large and small gifts, Pang Gang was happy on the one hand, but at the same time, he was also a little crying and laughing, Huaxia has been paying attention to etiquette since ancient times, but where there is a red and white happy event, people will give gifts to the master's family, which even the emperor Lao Tzu can't control, and he can't.

However, when he saw that the gifts sent by these officials were worth tens of taels of silver, and many were worth thousands of taels, Pang Gang couldn't sit still.

"Manyao, look, why did they even send such a valuable gift?"

In later generations, he was just a small chengguan, and Pang Gang, who had never had the opportunity to accept bribes, was startled with a long picture scroll.

This is a painting about two meters long, more than 30 centimeters wide, this picture outlines the strength of the show and set the color of Yanya, the painter borrows the prosperity of the royal garden palace, with extremely gorgeous brush and ink to show the ordinary life of the concubines in the palace, extremely sketching the ability to apply the work, even if it is Pang Gang like this body without half a point of elegant bones people also see that the painting of the fine brush lady depicted delicately, the spirit is flying, exquisite and gorgeous. At the bottom of the scroll are written the words "Spring Dawn in the Han Palace", etc.

When Pang Gang saw the words "Spring Dawn in the Han Palace", he couldn't help but feel a little dizzy, this painting painted by the great painter Qiu Ying of the Ming Dynasty was known as one of the top ten famous paintings in China in later generations, but it was hidden in the National Palace Museum in Taipei in later generations, which guy was so ignorant to send it here?

When Pang Gang looked through the gift list, he found that the person who gave the gift turned out to be Wen Renjun, Pang Gang couldn't help but be angry: "Wen Renjun is so poor, how can he have the silver to give such a valuable gift, this painting will definitely not be able to get it without tens of thousands of taels of silver, he has only been in office for a few days, where did he get so much silver?" Could it be that he dares to be greedy for ink? Speaking of this, Pang Gang's face couldn't help but have a murderous aura!

Wei Manyao on the side laughed, "Fujun's words are so unreasonable, this picture is worth thousands of taels of silver at best, and Mr. Wen is also a cultivator, and it is normal to have a few good paintings at home, why is Fujun so annoyed?" ”

"Ugh"

Pang Gang remembered that it was not long after Qiu Ying died at this time, and his paintings were not as valuable as those of later generations, but he thought about it by himself.

However, Pang Gang was still a little worried about this trend of gift-giving, "Manyao, this is not good, the husband just gave birth to a son, and the officials are so busy giving gifts, and almost all of them are heavy gifts, if you have a few more in the future, they will not be allowed to sell the house!" ”

Wei Manyao, who was very familiar with the bad habits in the officialdom, asked puzzledly: "Does the husband mean to return the gifts?" But in the officialdom, this kind of ushering is very common,. ”

"There is no need to retreat, you order the steward to list the prices of these things, convert them into silver for the officials, and send them one by one, otherwise it will be difficult to correct this precedent once it is opened."

"Okay!"

Although Wei Manyao felt that her husband was making a fuss, she still followed Pang Gang's words and called a few bookkeepers to come in and it took a whole day to finish counting these gifts. When they reported the gift list after the celebration, even Wei Manyao was taken aback, the combined value of these gift lists reached an astonishing more than 200,000 taels.

"My good man, this silver is enough to make a battalion of soldiers and horses live a very nourishing life for five or six years." Pang Gang's face was very ugly, he didn't expect to receive so much silver after giving birth to a son, which would be tens of millions of RMB in later generations.

Pang Gang said to Wei Manyao in a deep voice: "Manyao, do you still think this is just a normal human relationship? ”

Wei Manyao also shook her head and smiled bitterly: "Husband's words make sense, but this is a bit excessive. ”

"Well, just do as I say."

After speaking, Pang Gang walked out of the warehouse, but he was thinking about the problem as he walked.

Now Pang Gang can be regarded as a big business, with thousands of officials under his command, and the number of soldiers and horses has reached sixty or seventy thousand, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a prince, and it is naturally a bit mixed with more people, and there is no strong department to supervise and manage, which will inevitably breed [***] corruption, I didn't notice it before, but now that I am aware of this problem, I can't ignore it anymore.

"Well, after the Chinese New Year, we should set up an independent office to supervise officials at all levels. In addition, the salaries of officials at all levels should also be increased accordingly, and the salaries customized by the imperial court are too low, and they should be increased by four to five times on the original basis to be able to maintain their decent lives. The strategy of high salaries and incorruptibility should still work. ”

Pang Gang walked towards the inner courtyard while thinking, and the thick-soled official boots under his feet made a creaking sound on the snowflakes

(To be continued)