It is impossible to say that the People's Army did not play any role in the Battle of Luoyang and the Battle of Bingzhou, but how big is the role? Zhang Lang was unsure, and felt that the issue of qualification should be carefully considered, and whether it was worth spending a huge amount of money to maintain the ranks of the people's army at the local level? Zhang Lang had no answer.

said to Zhang Liao: "This matter will be discussed and discussed at the Lantern Festival annual meeting." Wenyuan, you write your views in detail and express your opinions at the Lantern Festival Annual Meeting. ”

"No."

……

In the hall of the Assassin's Mansion, Zhuge Liang smiled and said to Zhang Lang, who was sitting at the top: "In the past few days, two small scholars in Jingzhou have taken the initiative to come to the Assassin's Mansion in the hope of donating their land. Zhang Lang showed a look of surprise, "There is such a thing?" ”

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "There are also enlightened people in the scholar clan, although the words of these two scholar clans cannot be compared with several major scholar clans, but I have seen the head of the family, he is ambitious and insightful, and thinks that the role of commerce and trade in the country is far greater than that of the traditional scholar clan!" The land of these two families, totaling more than 5,000 acres, has been handed over! According to the two heads of the family, this is to talk about the heart and show support for the general! Then he presented a list in his hand.

Zhang Lang took the list and looked at it, all of which were written on the location of the more than 5,000 mu of grain fields and the information on how many tenant farmers they had.

Zhang Lang put down the list and nodded: "Okay!" These two heads of the family are really rare enlightened people! Said to Zhuge Liang: "It is convenient for the business activities of these two families." "No."

Zhang Lang thought for a while, "Do these two have talents?" ”

Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "The lord may not know, these two families have children and nephews who went to Chang'an to take the exam, and both of them were admitted to the second round, according to the principle of avoiding the countryside, these people are currently serving in Xichuan, Luoyang, and Bingzhou, and the highest has become the ruler of a county." ”

Zhang Lang smiled, "Okay! The more such families there are, the better, but unfortunately, the vast majority of the noble clans regard us as enemies. Now that the new agricultural tax policy has come out, I'm afraid that they will hate us even more! ”

Zhuge Liang hugged his fists and said: "What the lord has done is an extraordinary thing, and it would be strange if no one hated it!" ”

Zhang Lang smiled and nodded. "By the way, what do the various nobles plan to do with the land in their hands?"

Zhuge Liang sighed, "There are many complaints among the scholars! But they can't help it, some of the gentry have already released news that they want to sell their land. But in this situation, who will buy their land! Some of the nobles have already approached me, hoping to use the land to offset this year's taxes,"

Zhang Lang frowned and asked, "Listening to Kong Ming's words, it seems that they don't want to give up the land completely?" ”

Zhuge Liang said: "I'm afraid that they still hope that the situation will change greatly." They will only squeeze out the land in their hands little by little, and it is impossible to hand over all the land in their hands at once. ”

Zhang Lang sneered: "Are they waiting for Cao Cao or Sun Jian to liberate them!" What a bunch of stupid people! ”

Zhuge Liang said with some emotion: "I can't recognize the changes in the world, I just want to hold on to the interests in my hands, this kind of thinking and behavior is actually not good for anyone." ”

Zhang Lang agrees.

Dong Ying, who was dressed in a military uniform and a ponytail, didn't come in from outside, and hugged her fist at Zhang Lang and said, "Big brother." Zhuge Liang saluted Dong Ying and said, "Second lady." Dong Ying smiled and nodded, and then said to Zhang Lang: "Big brother, there are two people outside who want to see you!" ”

"Who?"

"One is in his thirties, the other is in his twenties, the older one calls himself Ma Xuan, and he says that the young foot Ma Yan."

Zhang Lang was stunned for a moment, and then remembered that Ma Liang, who was currently in charge of the State Camp Department, was Ma Yan's brother, so Ma Xuan didn't know who it was. Zhuge Liang said: "Ma's five constants, white eyebrows are the best." The latter sentence is talking about Ma Liang, Ma Liang is the fourth of the five, and now he is the head of the State Department under the command of the princess, and the Ma Xuan and Ma Jian who came today are also the heroes of the five constants. This Ma Xuan is the eldest brother, old and serious, open-minded, and this Ma Jian is the younger brother of the five, according to rumors, his talent is no longer under Ma Liang. ”

Zhang Lang touched his chin and asked, "This Ma family is also a Dashi clan in Jingzhou, right?" ”

Zhuge Liang nodded, "On the same level as Cai, Kuai, Wang, and Xiao, they are all the largest warrior families in Jingxiang. ”

Zhang Lang said to Dong Ying: "Go and invite them in." ”

Dong Ying answered, went out, and led two men in a moment later. Headed by a man in his thirties, he has a simple gray-white robe, three strands of long hair under his chin, an elegant temperament, and his eyes give people a sense of stability; The one in the back is in his twenties, handsome and upright, and personable, and he looks like that kind of talented person.

When the two saw Zhang Lang, they bowed down and saluted together: "The grass people meet the general, meet the lady, and meet the Lord Thorn Shi." ”

Zhang Lang smiled and said, "Don't be polite, get up and speak." ”

The two straightened up. Ma Jian looked at Zhang Lang curiously, Ma Xuan hugged his fists and said: "The two grass brothers took the liberty to visit, and asked the general not to be surprised." ”

Zhang Lang smiled slightly, "It's okay." I also want to have a good talk with you. Pointing to the left, "You two may be seated." ”

The two immediately felt flattered, and Ma Xuan hugged his fists and said, "The grass people don't dare." ”

Zhang Lang smiled and said: "This is not an informal occasion, feel free, sit down." ”

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "The general asked you to sit, you can sit down." The two thanked each other, walked to the opposite side of Zhuge Liang and knelt down. Dong Ying returned to Zhang Lang and stood by the sword.

Zhang Lang smiled and said: "Ma Liang is now under my command, speaking of which, your Ma family and I are also considered a family." ”

Ma Xuan smiled, hugged his fists and said, "The general has love!" Then he asked with concern: "I don't know if the fourth brother has done a good job under the general?" Zhang Lang nodded, "Very good!" Ma Liang is an outstanding talent who can take on great responsibilities, which is rare! Hearing this, Ma Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

He hugged his fist at Zhang Lang, "General, my two brothers took the liberty to disturb the general today, because they wanted to donate all the grain fields in our hands. ”

Zhang Lang was not surprised, because he had already learned from Ma Liang's mouth about the brothers of the Ma family, and knew that although these brothers were all born in the scholar family, they were not pedantic at all, and they passed on the family with benevolence and filial piety, and often helped the villagers to help the victims. The reputation of the Ma family in the entire Jingzhou is nothing to say.

Ma Xuan stood up and presented a booklet to Zhang Lang with both hands.

Zhang Lang took the booklet, opened it, looked at it casually, and was really taken aback when he saw the number of 130,000 mu of grain fields. Glancing up at Ma Xuan, he asked in disbelief: "Mr. Ma, do you want to donate all these hundreds of thousands of acres of grain fields?" ”

Ma Xuan smiled and clenched his fists and said, "I know that the general needs land to settle the displaced people, and these lands can be regarded as a little help from our Ma family to the general." Voluntary generals, don't smile at our strength! ”