The government did not take advantage of the main expedition of the Mengshan Army to use officers and soldiers to expropriate and suppress the base areas, and the Autonomous Committee made remarkable achievements. But there are still two troubles that plague Chen Chao.

The first one was caused by his friend Xiao Guanyu. Not long after the main force of the Mengshan Army set out, Xiao Guanyu heard a news and ran to tell Chen Chao. It is said that Zheng Jing has died in a foreign country, but Zheng Jing's two sons are still alive, and they have been reused by the government, especially the second son Zheng Du, who is already a staff member of Lord Cao Kun and Cao Zhongshan. At the beginning, the official army marched into Zhengjiazhuang on three roads, and Zheng Ergongzi followed the army of Lord Feng Guozhang and Lord Cao Kun back to Zhengjiazhuang, but he never saw his family members who stayed in Zhengjiazhuang (they all withdrew with the Mengshan army), Zheng Ergongzi once said that whoever occupied his family's land and who shared his family's floating wealth would be obediently spit it out to him! Otherwise, he should be good-looking! Don't follow the bandits of the Mengshan Army and go against the government? The Taiping army in the south is powerful, right? Hasn't it been wiped out by the imperial court? The one surnamed Long, sooner or later, will be the lord of the government, the townsfolk, don't do things too much! You leave room for him, and he will also give in for the sake of the villagers, otherwise__ Zheng Du's wild words have become a laughing stock with the defeat of the official army and the retreat to Yanzhou, but these words still left a shadow in the hearts of those timid villagers in Zhengjiazhuang. And after the main force of the Mengshan Army went out, Xiao Guanyu once again got the news that General Zheng Du led the army back to his hometown, this time it was more true, it was said by a person who was on an errand in Yanzhou Mansion by Bai Wei, and now that the Mengshan Army has been recruited by the government, Zheng Du can come back horizontally. As for the few men and horses left behind by the Mengshan army, how can they stop the officers and soldiers? And Commander Long is also gone. That's the most important thing. When Zheng Du comes back, he will definitely settle the events of last year.

Xiao Guanyu then made a request, he wanted to raise the standard of ground rent! Meng Shanjun was too ruthless at the beginning, not only forcing him to donate tens of thousands of silver in gold, silver and grain, but also suppressing the standard of land rent by nearly half! Those lands, those rents, are the result of the Xiao family's hard work for several generations, and Commander Long is really unorthodox to do that! Bai Wei's old tenants have taken the initiative to find him and agreed to pay an extra 30% of the autumn grain this year.

Xiao Guanyu told Chen Chao what he meant when he talked about this matter, which was to probe Chen Chao's tone. After all, Chen Chao has a much deeper relationship with Meng Shanjun. Especially has a niece who is ready to marry the Mengshan army.

Chen Chao was very angry. reprimanded Xiao Guanyu harshly and warned his old friend not to do foolish things. Then he went to Bai Wei in person, talked with Xiao Guanyu all night, and persuaded Xiao Guanyu to recognize the situation. Chen Chao said. A series of measures unveiled by Long Qian in the base area. The core was to ease the tension between the landlords and gentry and the hired peasants. You are now the head of the Autonomous Council. Taking the lead in overthrowing Long Qian's policy is tantamount to slapping Long Qian in the face! Can Mengshanjun agree? Can Song Jinguo agree? If Long Qian comes back, what will he think of you? Chen Chaozhi said that Xiao Guanyu was influenced by the Zheng family. And the Zheng family is now close to the left-behind commander of the Mengshan Army, "Brother Guanyu, don't do foolish things." The Zheng family won't succeed, so you better follow Commander Long steadfastly. Half-heartedness does not end well. ”

Chen Chao's words, Xiao Guanyu didn't listen. A few days ago, Xiao Guanyu officially announced that his land rent would be increased by 30%. The next day, Feng Guozhu went to Bai Wei, arrested Xiao Guanyu, and flailed it in front of the gate of the village to show the public. Immediately convened a meeting of the autonomous committee and announced the dismissal of Xiao Guanyu from his post as deputy director and a fine of 2,000 catties of wheat.

Zhou Yi's attitude was more ambiguous, but other generals of the Mengshan Army and Cheng Daniu and other leaders from poor backgrounds were emotional, and Cheng Daniu even asked the Mengshan Army to shoot Xiao Guanyu, which was stopped by Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi asked about Chen Chao's attitude, and Chen Chao said that the rules set by Commander Long cannot be changed, and if they are to be changed, they must wait for Commander Long to come back. This matter is not only as simple as collecting more than 30% of the land rent, but also has a bearing on the stability of the military morale of thousands of officers and men of the Mengshan Army, and it is not allowed to be careless.

Feng Guozhu praised Chen Chao for seeing clearly, according to Xiao Guanyu's sin, it was not only to exploit the villagers, but also to disturb the morale of the army! When the news reached the main force fighting in Gyeonggi, did it return? It is recommended that all Xiao Guanyu's property be confiscated and driven to the Shiyuan coal kiln to work as coolies. Zhou Yi, who presided over the meeting, did not agree to further punishment of Xiao Guanyu, believing that Xiao Guanyu's cooperation with Mengshanjun was still meritorious. The penalty ends there, but no one is allowed to raise the rent, and this cannot be changed.

So the punishment for Xiao Guanyu was limited to this. Afterwards, Chen Chao heard that Feng Guozhu and Zhou Yi had a quarrel over this matter, and Song Jinguo and Deng Qinghua made peace in the middle.

After the autumn harvest began, Feng Guozhu led troops to Chenjiaya to help the villagers harvest corn, and said to Chen Chao, the commander is shrewd, how can he leave Zhou Yi to preside over the overall situation? Zhou Yi married Zheng Jing's daughter, and his heart changed and became towards the landlord.

Chen Chao was depressed, but he still joked, "Camp Commander Feng, my old Chen is also a landlord." ”

"You're different from them." Feng Guozhu said in an urn.

"What's the difference?"

"Different is different. I was born in hardship, and I agreed with the commander's practice of helping tenants. Is it reasonable to pay 200 catties of land to one acre, and half, or even seventy percent of the harvest, will be handed over to the owner? Zhou Yi was also born in hardship, but after marrying his wife, he changed his mind. The commander told me several times that there are classes and strata in society, and I didn't understand it before, but now I understand it. If the Mengshan army wants to stand still, it has to stand on the side of the poor brothers. This rule was set by the commander, and no one should violate it. Including him Zhou Yi. ”

The point of view of class and strata, Long Qian talked to Chen Chao. But Long Qian admits that there were a large number of enlightened gentry in the countryside, and their property, mainly land, was the result of hard work and thrift. However, there are many extremely poor households in the villages, many of whom have bad habits, such as laziness and hard work, heavy smoking, and gambling failures. Therefore, Long Qian opposed the simple confiscation of the landlords' land and adopted a moderate policy. Chen Chao remembered that he and Long Qian had discussed with Long Qian the lessons of the rebels who had risen up in previous dynasties, especially Li Chuang's defeat, and ridiculed Li Chuang's so-called slogan of opening the door and not paying for food was simply self-deception. The key is construction, not plunder. It is not enough to position one's future on grabbing existing wealth, but on creating wealth in order to achieve greater equity.

Now, the contradiction has really appeared__Xiao Guanyu was not convinced, he was seriously ill, and when Chen Chao went to visit him, Xiao Guanyu was very sad. blame Chen Chao for not speaking up for him, losing his position in the increasingly authoritarian autonomous committee, and he will be bullied in the village. You could have spoken for me, but if you open your mouth, who won't give you face?

Maybe. But Chen Chao really didn't say much for Xiao Guanyu. He always believed that Long Qian's land rent policy in the base area was right, and it brought a good harvest and laughter to the ten miles and eight towns. are all villagers, so they can't bear to see the villagers starving and cold?

Chen Chao admitted that Mengshanjun's punishment of Xiao Guanyu suppressed the landlords who were about to move, but they were not convinced. Looking forward to the return of the officers and soldiers. Looking forward to the return of Zheng Ergongzi. When the Mengshan army came here, it was not only to kill a Zheng Jing, but also to mess up people's hearts.

Get rid of this matter, and the affairs at home also make Chen Chao annoyed. Of course, the family affair is Chen Shu. Chen Shu is nineteen years old this year. The age of marriage is long exceeded. Most of the daughters like her have become mothers, and some are already mothers of two or three dolls.

But Chen Shu's marriage is still hanging. Don't complain. Chen Chao himself was also worried, and he felt sorry for his brother.

That's right, Chen Chao agrees with Chen Shu's choice. And Long Qian did make it clear when he left that if he came back alive, he would go to Chen's Mansion to propose marriage. However, Long Qian was leading his troops to fight, not to play. The soldiers are in danger, who dares to guarantee that Long Qian is fine? Since the Mengshan army was stationed in the area of Zhengjiazhuang, it has fought several battles with officers and soldiers, although they have all won, but the heavy casualties, the painful and struggling wounded in the infirmary made Chen Chao aware of the danger of fighting, with Long Qian's character style, he can't hide behind, guns and cannons don't recognize people, not to mention that this time it's foreigners!

If Long Qian has three long and two short, what should Shu'er do? The matter between her and Long Qian has already been rumored, and the marriage is not successful, so how can Shu'er be a person?

Chen Chao felt that his niece's personality had changed a lot after the main force of the Mengshan Army went out, and the original girl who was outgoing, hot, and defied all rules was gone. Now Chen Shu, in addition to going to the literacy class every day to teach the dolls to read, is always silent when she returns home, and she has long stopped practicing her fists and feet, and always sits alone in the house or under the eaves silently taking the soles of her shoes, silently thinking about her thoughts.

Daughter Chen Xian told Chen Chao privately that my sister was very bitter and always cried secretly at night.

You also quietly complained to Chen Chao, it would be good to marry Shu'er earlier. What if, what do you ask Shu'er to do?

"Nothing in case! Ji people have their own natural appearance, I have read a lot of people, and I have never seen a virtuous and talented person. I know your next question, no matter what, he is coming back, and there are hundreds of his brothers here, if he marries another, I will ask him, if he is not afraid of being embarrassed in front of his subordinates, he will do that. Chen Chao said this rightly, and You Shi had nothing to say, but Chen Chao really didn't know the bottom of his heart.

Even in the feudal era, marriage was extremely involuntary, the orders of parents, and the words of matchmakers were all over the world, and girls also longed for their love, which was human nature.

Since Long Qian led the army to the battle, Chen Shu found that she was about to go crazy and regretted it to death, if she knew that the lovesickness was so abrasive, she would have to follow the troops whatever she said, even if it was quietly following behind.

Long Qian left, and she realized how heavy that person was in her heart.

Maybe it's because of his uncle's doting connivance, or maybe it's because of his literacy and reading, the sensible Chen Shu has unrealistic fantasies about his future husband, he should be like Changshan Zhao Zilong and white-robed Xue Rengui, he must be a big hero. Driven by this fantasy, she felt a little pitiful for Chen Jiaya's female companions of the same year, and she was really sad to tie herself to a reckless man in a daze. Therefore, her uncle and aunt's concern for her marriage was severely stopped by her, don't, I don't want to get married. And her fiery temperament spread out, and the gentry who were close to their uncle were unwilling to marry a daughter-in-law who liked to dance with guns and sticks for their son.

Quiet and virtuous, a girl who stays at home is a good girl in this era.

After a delay, he reached the age of eighteen. It's already an overage girl. Then, Long Qian came.

Chen Shu recalled the process of meeting Long Qian, admitting that she was fascinated by Long Qian when she first met him, not because of his handsomeness and chic, but because of his profound knowledge and good conversation.

Long Qian's experience and insight left a deep impression on her.

That's not love. Chen Shu's personality is very masculine, but she fantasizes about marrying a handsome and kind little white face. Long Qian's majestic appearance was really not her choice.

Who would have predicted that? That person turned out to be the big boss of the famous Mengshan thief!

Zhengjiazhuang was opened, and Chenjiaya went down without a fight. Chen Shu discovered Long Qian's identity, and the anger in her heart was something she had never experienced before. He shamelessly lied to his uncle! He talked so loudly that his uncle fell in love at first sight, and it turned out to be for the sake of bloodbathing Zhuangzi!

The facts calmed her anger. She admits that after the initial panic, Chen Jiaya was unharmed, and her uncle and her relatives were unharmed. She had never seen such a reasonable ringing horse!

What the Mengshan army did after entering Zhuangzi fascinated her. Slowly, she became infatuated with Mengshanjun's transformation from hostility to goodness, and finally regarded herself as one of them.

Everything in Mengshanjun is related to the big man who deceived his uncle. Later, she found out. He looked old. It's because of his thick beard and conversation a generation higher than her, but in fact, he is not very old, let alone old, only seven years older than her.

That time when he couldn't sleep and lay on the kang to compare the age gap between him and himself. For the first time, her face burned. Good thing it was night. The cousin Chen Xian, who was sleeping next to her, couldn't see it.

She began to pay attention to him. Inquire about his story, especially the stories told to her by women such as Sun Juan and Zhang Hongcao. The unfortunate women took him as a god, as a god, as a god. In their eyes. He is a man without any flaws, with academic knowledge, big vision, great ability, and no trace of fault.

He is not greedy, does not gamble, does not prostitute, and shares weal and woe with his subordinates. He couldn't do everything he asked his subordinates to do, no wonder his subordinates loved him so much.

Then there was the successive victories of the Mengshan army over the official army. At that time, she had already regarded the Mengshan Army as her own army, worried that the Mengshan Army would be defeated by the official army, and that the Mengshan Army would be driven away by the official army. However, the Mengshan army sang a triumphant song and was invincible.

She was captivated by him. She began to try her best to get to him, to get his attention. She finds out that he actually thinks of himself as a junior, which makes her angry. You're only seven years older than me.

When she found out that she liked him, everything about him became an advantage, and when she thought about it, there really was nothing wrong with that person, all that was shown was that charming, including his accent. She liked the content of his speech and preferred the tone of his speech. It is said that the people of the capital have this accent. Quietly, she was learning his accent and discovering that her hometown people were too rustic to speak.

She never looked in the mirror, which was completely different from her cousin Chen Xian, who was sensible and always had to carefully groom herself every morning, looking left and right at a broken foreign mirror. Now she also washes her face and combs her hair and studies it in the mirror, and she finds that she looks very different from her cousin, who is fair, while her skin is dark and radiant with a healthy flush. The cousin's eyes are slender, while her eyes are large and round. My cousin's lips are thin, while hers is much thicker. When she is smiling on the right side of her face, she will show a shallow dimple, and her cousin does not have __ The most important thing is that she is much taller than her cousin, like her cousin's age, she is so tall, it seems that her cousin will not catch up with her.

Who is prettier? Originally, she thought that her cousin who was pure and quiet was a little beauty, but now she felt that she was not ugly, not only not ugly, but also good-looking. Carefully compare your peers who grew up playing together, and they are no worse than them.

She always remembered that night, when he hid alone in the yard and cried. She kept this secret in her heart, and never talked about it with anyone, including her uncle. He said he remembered his mom and dad, maybe true. She knew that his parents had died. Alone, with no brothers and sisters. She felt that he was so lonely. At the age of twenty, I still have to take care of a lot of things, and I always can't finish the things on the team, which is really pitiful.

In order to meet him often, she ignored her aunt's resolute opposition and officially joined the Mengshan Army and became a member of the medical center. Every time he visited the wounded in the infirmary, she always had to find a topic to talk to him, throwing out all kinds of strange questions that were ready to go, and whenever he had time, he always patiently answered her questions, and she found that there was almost nothing he did not know, even the secret of a woman's childbirth.

Sun Juan discovered her secret. Sun Juan was the first to pick it up, "Sister of the Chen family, I understand your thoughts." The Commander really needs a woman to take care of him. I support you, don't care what others say, you go to him and let him marry you! ”

The coquettish third aunt of the Zheng family also saw something strange and said to her, "Miss Chen, you have to hurry, Commander Long is not a mortal. Now that there is no suitable woman around him, you are afraid that it is the most suitable. Chen Zhuang is valued by him again, what about you, except for a little black, everything else is quite good. When he soars into the sky, leaving our ravines and ravines and walking outside, how many young ladies from high-ranking families are waiting to marry him. ”

Wang Yuecian is the woman who has seen the world the most in these ten miles and eight towns, and she fully believes what she said. But what should we do?

His subordinates, who were white-skinned and bookish, became the deputy commander of the Zheng family's son-in-law, and the big man with big eyes and big eyes, steady and shrewd Wang Mingyuan, the battalion commander like the Black Iron Tower, all saw her thoughts. She could read their eyes. Zhou Yi once whispered to her, "Miss, do you want me to mention it to the commander?" Marry you earlier, so that he can have a warm bed? ”

Chen Shu thought that he would say something, but he didn't. When he was alone with him, he was always polite and polite, and there was no trace of gaffe. The time she found him crying on Chinese New Year's Eve, he reached out and touched her head, just as his uncle used to do, he didn't lift a finger from her.

He doesn't like me! Chen Shu came to a conclusion. She was saddened by this conclusion. For the first time, I found out that this thing was not wishful thinking. He has such great ability, so much college asking, and has seen so many places, how can he fall in love with a stupid girl who grew up in a ravine!

During that time, she was sick once. Stay at home and don't go out for days. At that time, Meng Shanjun had already been recruited, and the female companions of the medical center came to see her, but he did not come. Until her uncle said to her alone, "Shu'er, I heard that he is about to go on an expedition." This time I went far away, and I was fighting with foreigners again. Would you like me to mention it to him? For your sake, I can't take care of my old face. ”

She wrapped herself in the quilt and said nothing.

"Shu'er, your thoughts. I know it all with your aunt. He's a good guy and he's a capable man. Such a man, we can't keep this poor ravine. Perhaps, once he leaves, he will never come back. Actually, I'm hesitant for fear of hurting you. Do you know the way? I'm afraid you're not worthy of him. Even if he agreed, it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing. ”

"How can I not be worthy of him?" She couldn't care about being shy anymore.

"Uncle has seen the world. I've never seen anyone like him, and I've never heard of it. You are this kind of character, what he needs is a knowledgeable and reasonable wife, who can be a good wife in his Lord, what about you__"

"Why can't I do that?"

"Okay then." Uncle touched her head lovingly, just as he touched her head unintentionally, "Shu'er, uncle can't be wrong." If he passes this hurdle, the future is limitless. I really can't say how far we can go. A capable man, which one is not three wives and four concubines? In your own nature, will you? ”

"Didn't my uncle take a concubine? He's, he's not a womanizer__"

"Alas, where do you understand men. However, you have to change your temperament, no man likes his wife to dance with knives and sticks. I'll mention it to him. ”

Uncle really said it, and came back and said to her with a calm face, "He agreed." If he comes back alive, he will come to our house to propose. ”

"Did he really say that?"

Uncle nodded solemnly.

Happiness instantly overwhelmed her.

The troops are gone, and he is gone. Chen Shu remembered her uncle's words, dropped her favorite fists, feet and sticks, picked up the needle and finger kung fu she didn't like, and learned to be a lady.

When will he be back? Chen Shu looked forward to it stupidly, and lived like a year. (To be continued......)