There are fifteen miles of road from the east foot of the sow ridge to the west gate of Shangrao City, all of them are mountain trails, the road is rugged and snowy, it is inconvenient to ride a horse at night, so they are all on foot, the guerrilla Zhang Shichen led five hundred foot soldiers to escort more than 3,000 mountain thief captives, of course, did not dare to take it lightly, and the march was quite slow, when he saw the west gate of Shangrao City, the cold moon in the sky had fallen quietly behind everyone, nearly four watches.

I don't know when the cold north wind blew, whistling unobstructed, and the muscles of the head people, everyone felt the cold of the winter night.

Outside the west gate, several groups of cavalry patrolled back and forth, and foot soldiers were clearing the battlefield with torches, which were blown by the wind and made the sound of flags waving.

Zhang's guerrilla received a report that the bandits besieging the city had retreated to Laohuling and joined forces with the bandit leader Wu Ping to break through to the east, leaving hundreds of bandit corpses outside the west gate, and hundreds of bandits who were wounded and captured, so it can be seen how heavy the casualties of the bandit leaders Wang Er and the thieves were, and Zhang Guerrilla did not delay much outside the west gate, and these prisoners and hostages totaled 3 or 4,000 people, of course, they could not be put into the city, but had to be resettled in the camp north of the city.

Zeng Yu followed the large army along Lingxi to the east for a few miles, and saw the white horse-head wall of his house faintly appearing in the hazy night, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time a warmth rose in his heart, and said to Zheng Shi beside him: "Brother Shi, look, that is the new house of the younger brother, fortunately, it was not burned down by the thieves." ”

Zheng Shi, who was extremely tired, said with a smile: "Great, wonderful, I really didn't expect that I would come to my brother's house like this, and I will live for the rest of my life after the catastrophe." Zheng Shi's square scarf was off, the hem of his shirt was torn into pieces, and his leather boots were exposed and dirty, almost like a beggar.

Zeng Yu's clothes were also torn by thorns and bushes, and he said with a smile: "The two of us are brothers, and we are both struggling to come back." Seeing the darkness in the house, he said, "There is no one in the house at this time, so let's go to the city first." ”

Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi stopped in front of the gate of this house, Laifu carried the burden and hurriedly stood out of the team, this way came nearly 100 miles, Laifu carried Zeng Yu, Zheng Shi's suitcases and books and suffered a lot, at this time I heard that the house of the young master Zeng, Laifu was really happy, the Bodhisattva blessed, and finally got out of danger safely.

Guerrilla Zhang Shichen dismounted and Zeng Yu politely said a few words, still by Liao Laohan and the team of infantry killers sent Zeng Yu into the city, Zeng Yu said that there is no need to escort, here to the north gate is only half a mile, the old Liao head said: "The two of us and the Yang team are always sent by General Qi to meet Zeng Xianggong, the military order is like a mountain, there is a beginning and an end, naturally Zeng Xiang is sent to the Guangxin Mansion to be fair and safe." ”

The team leader surnamed Yang smiled: "The north gate has long been closed, and we have a loud voice, so we can call the door for Zeng Xianggong."

Zeng Yu asked Zhang Guerrilla to take care of the injured merchant Yuan Zhong, Zhang Guerrilla promised, got on the horse and left, at this moment, the door of the house behind him suddenly opened, and someone in the black hole shouted in surprise: "It's the young master of the nine carp, it's the young master of the nine carp." ”

Zeng Yu looked back, the torch was shining, but it was his sister Zeng Ruolan's old servant Lao Shan who was in the Zhu family, and hurriedly asked: "Lao Shan, why are you here, my mother?" ”

Lao Shan said happily: "Grandma Great-grandma and the third young grandmother have gone into the city, leaving me to guard the house, I don't dare to light the lamp, I didn't dare to sleep all night, waiting by the door to listen to the movement......"

Lao Shanli said a lot, Zeng Yu comforted: "It's okay, now it's nothing, this is Young Master Zheng of Yingtan - Laifu, Laifu, carry the burden in." He still instructed Lao Shan to guard the door, and Laifu also stayed in the house to rest, he and Zheng Shi entered the city, and the family returned here after dawn.

The Yang team always called to open the city gate, Zeng Yu and his party entered the city, at this time Shangrao City is really called a sea of people, the people of the four towns and eight docks have poured into Shangrao City, many people have nowhere to stay, just spread a mattress on the side of the street, the whole family sits together and depends on each other, at this time, although the thieves have retreated, you can still see the people with sad faces and crying everywhere, and the thieves are always a catastrophe -

Liao Laohan sighed: "If it weren't for Zeng Xianggong to lure the thieves into the trap this time, we don't know how many good people in Jiangxi would have to suffer." "This old man Liao is the people of Guangxin Mansion.

Zeng Yu said: "How dare I take credit, I am lucky to be able to save my life this time, I don't know if Lu Dao can exterminate this group of bandits in one fell swoop under Shangrao City, especially the bandit leader Wu Ping, I can't let him run away." ”

When I was about to reach Fuqian Street, there was a fire in a private house, which was caused by the refugees who entered the city under the eaves of the house, and the sound of cursing and firefighting was chaotic, and Shangrao City, which was shrouded in the darkness before dawn, was so unpeaceful.

There are sergeants guarding outside the gate of the Guangxin Mansion Ya Building, Yang team always stepped forward to report, Zeng Yu was quickly released, at this time the hall of the government was lit with candles, Guangxin prefect Lin Guangzu and Tongzhi, Tong Judge, Tui Guan, Zhixian and other subordinate officials gathered together, this night the officers and soldiers outside the city and the thieves were in full swing, the civil officials naturally could not sit back and relax, they were all here to wait for the news, previously learned that the thieves who attacked the West Gate were defeated, Shangrao City has been lifted, Qi Zongbing laid a net to level the bandit Wu Ping and his gang, Governor Lin breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the report from the Pai Jun that Zeng Xiucai was here, and Lin Guangzu was overjoyed and immediately summoned him.

Zeng Yu, Zheng Shi, Yang Team President, Liao Laohan, and Yi Laohan went up to the lobby, and Lin Zhifu saw that the five people were full of wind and frost, wind and dust, and immediately ordered to watch the seat, where did the three Yang team members dare to sit, and stood with their hands crossed, Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi were really tired, and sat down after confessing.

Lin Zhifu ordered the officials to give tea to the two Xiucai, which was a special favor, and then asked Zeng Yu about the thief, although Master Tongchen and Yu Xuandao have reported it, but where is Zeng Yu personally said in detail, when he saw the "letter" to Zhang Lian presented by Zeng Yu, Lin Governor and Wu Tong sentenced a few to be Ha Lu Ha Da Lang smiled.

There was a middle-aged Confucian who wore a square scarf and wore a straight jacket, and laughed wildly, and said repeatedly: "Good deception, good deception, a thousand-character essay with a seal, bullying the thieves who are illiterate." Da Lu smiled and walked out of his seat and patted Zeng Yu's shoulder, looking unconventional and familiar.

Most of these officials sitting in the hall knew Zeng Yu, but this middle-aged Confucian scholar was a face student, listening to the accent like a person from Zhejiang, in his forties, medium build, with a divine gaze, two eyebrows like two official books "one", silkworm head and goose tail, twists and turns, this person's appearance is not elegant, double cheeks protruding, teeth slightly buckled, short beard messy, and looks a little raunchy-

Lin Zhifu introduced: "Zeng Sheng, this is Hu Butang's most important friend of the shogunate, Mr. Xu Wenchang, a famous scholar in Shaoxing, came here with General Qi to prepare to write a celebration report, Mr. Xu's good chapter, poetry, good calligraphy and painting, you can ask him for more advice." ”

Zeng Yu hurriedly got up to salute, bowed very respectfully, and said in his heart: "He is Xu Wei, and now he is still a master in the Hu Zongxian Shogunate, this period should be the most proud time in Xu Wei's life, this person is exquisite in calligraphy and painting, and he really needs to ask for more advice." ”

Xu Wei was also quite interested in this brave and knowledgeable young talent, and joked: "I heard from your friend Yu Xuandao that your great-friend's ancestral place is the three liaos of Xingguo, and he is a family of public opinion

Zeng Yu said seriously: "Don't hide it from Mr. Xu and all the adults, the student's newly built house outside the north gate had poor feng shui earlier, and the two minor sons of the original owner died unexpectedly, and the student bought it cheaply, and sure enough, he almost died of thieves." ”

Governor Lin smiled: "Zeng Sheng, didn't you say that you have already changed the feng shui of your house." ”

Zeng Yu said: "If you don't change the feng shui, the students won't be able to talk back to the mansion and the adults here at this time. ”

All the officials laughed.

Xu Wei said: "It's all Zeng Friend's wit, and it has nothing to do with feng shui. ”

Zeng Yu said: "Relevant, of course relevant, if the bandit leader Wu Pingbian knows the seal text, take a look at the 'Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Universe Flood Wilderness, what kind of letter is this to Zhang Lian, where can the student still live, Feng Shui is fighting for such a little luck." ”

Xu Wei said with a smile: "There are very few people who know the seal script, let's talk about a grass and wild thief, that is, the adults in the hall, I'm afraid that there are few people who know the seal script." ”

As soon as these words came out, some officials in the hall showed embarrassment on their faces, because they really didn't know the seal script, didn't Xu Wei say this to ridicule them for not learning and not knowing how to do it, which is equivalent to being a thief, which is really unreasonable.

Zeng Yu sighed in his heart, many times it is really character that determines fate, this Xu Wenchang Xu Dacai has a lot to do with his own personality, and he offends people inadvertently, there are many people who are free and easy in this world, and there are few people who are free and generous, just thinking about how to turn Xu Wei around, and suddenly heard a snoring sound next to him, but he turned his head sideways and saw Zheng Shi with his hands on his knees and his head lowered, and he fell asleep while sitting like this

Zeng Yu went over to support Zheng Shi's shoulders to prevent him from falling to the ground, and said with a smile: "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Xu, my cousin is rude, and the two of us are really sleepy, and we have hardly closed our eyes for two days and two nights. As he spoke, he shook Zheng Shi awake.

Lin Zhifu said: "Then you two go back to rest first, by the way, Zeng Sheng, Lingtang is now living in Fuxue Yuyingzhai temporarily." "Instructed a servant to lead Zeng Yu and Zheng Shi to go to the mansion.

Zeng Yu's mother Zhou stayed awake all night, Zhu Dedong and Zeng Ruolan accompanied her, Niuniu and Ah Tong and A Wei sisters waited until the third watch day later and finally couldn't stay up before falling asleep, Xiao Xi Sixi sat by a brazier and rubbed his eyes and yawned.

This is a room of Yuyingzhai in Guangxin Fuxuezhengyuan, there is nothing else except four single beds, Yuyingzhai is the place where Xusheng stays during the lecture of Fuxue, there are twenty rooms in total, divided into two rows, there is a narrow patio in the middle, the family background of the Xusheng will not be bad, few people will live in Yuyingzhai, because Yuyingzhai is opposite the instructor to live in the Daozhai, there are instructors who are too restrained, and the living conditions are also poor, the doors and windows are dilapidated, not to mention, the corners of the roof are still seeping, but in these days, It is a big face to be able to find a room in Yuyingzhai, the inn in the city has long been full, the ordinary people who enter the city only sleep on the street, many eunuchs who have fled from the lead mountain, Yiyang, and Hengfeng have fled here to live in Yuyingzhai under the arrangement of the Lin Governor's Mansion, and there are sergeants guarding the door of the Fu Xueyi, which is free from noise and harassment, and it is much cleaner than the inn and the temple, and the Lin Governor's Mansion sent someone to take Zeng Yu's relatives here in the afternoon, and arranged a room for Master Tongchen and Yu Xuandao, as for Zhang Guangwei, Governor Lin planned to invite him to the mansion to be with his daughter, but Zhang Guangwei said that he would come to Yuyingzhai's side-

Guangxin Mansion School is only more than a mile away from the West Gate, from the second drum time, Yuyingzhai people here can hear the sound of shouting and killing outside the West Gate, these squires who fled here are frightened, Yu Xuandao people went out to inquire about the news, came back and said that the bandits attacked the city, has been repelled by the officers and soldiers, Qi Zongbing is leading the army to chase and suppress, the squires are relieved, Zeng Yu's mother, sister heart but pinched, Zeng's mother Zhou did not say anything except chanting Buddha, at this time there is no other way to think, only to ask the Buddha to bless.

In the second half of the night, there was a sudden silence around the Fuxue Palace, and suddenly there was a commotion, and someone was sent out to inquire, either the ruffians took advantage of the chaos to rob and humiliate their wives and daughters, or there was a fire here, and there were rumors that the city gate was breached, anyway, it was not possible to live in peace, and the squire and the lady who lived in Yuyingzhai also screamed from time to time, and the great-mother Zhou was not shocked, she had been chanting Buddha -

After the fourth watch, there was no more commotion, the cold wind whistled over the roof, and the room was obviously much colder, Zhu Dedong was talking to his great-mother Zhou and wife Zeng Ruolan before, and at this time he was extremely thirsty and sleepy, and he couldn't open his eyelids, wrapped in a blanket and dozed off the side of the bed.

Zeng Ruolan tightened the undergarment on her body and said in a low voice: "It's almost dawn, I don't know what happened to Xiaoyu, do you want to ask Master Yuxuan to ask again?" ”

Great-mother Zhou was most afraid of bothering others, although her heart was extremely anxious, she still said: "Let's wait until dawn, Xiaoyu will come back." Saying that, he stood up, heard the soft sound of the knee joints, and the joints were sore after sitting for a long time, and his great-mother Zhou moved her legs and feet, walked to the door and looked out, the gap in the wooden door was very large, and the light in the room shone through the gap between the narrow patio between the two rows of houses in Yuyingzhai, there were small snowflakes fluttering, and she couldn't help but whisper: "It's snowing again"

But I heard someone outside the door exclaiming: "Ah, it's snowing again"

Great-mother Zhou heard that this was the voice of the little fairy aunt Miss Zhang, so she opened the door and went out.

Zhang Guangwei guided Tu Na overnight, and was refreshed at this time, and when he saw Zeng Yu's mother coming out, he saluted and said: "Aunt Zeng hasn't rested, don't worry, I just made a six-line money hexagram, and Zeng Xiucai should return when he is in Mao and You——"

Before the words fell, I heard the sound of talking from the gate of Yuyingzhai, someone came with a lantern, the fine snow flew in the lantern light like white butterflies, and two figures walked through countless white butterflies, Zhang Guangwei had sharp eyes, and identified one of them as Zeng Yu's figure, and said with great joy: "My money hexagram has come true, Aunt Zeng, look, Zeng Xiucai is back." ”

Zeng Yu heard Zhang Guangwei's voice, hurriedly quickened his pace, walked here and raised the lantern to see that his mother and Zhang Guangwei were standing under the eaves, Zeng Yu shouted with joy: "Mother, my son is back." ”

Great-mother Zhou's lips trembled, and she was speechless with joy, until Zheng Shi stepped forward to salute, and great-mother Zhou's mouth said: "It's good to come back, it's good to come back." The heart that had been borne all night suddenly let go at this time, only to feel that the hair was dizzy and the legs were weak, if it wasn't for Zhang Guangwei's quick hand, he would have to fall.

Zeng Yu hurriedly came to help his mother and said to Zhang Guangwei: "Thank you Miss Guangwei, you have worked hard, what about Brother Yuxuan?" ”

Zhang Guangwei said: "It's all because Yu Xuan couldn't hold his breath and told you about the thief, which made your mother worry." ”

At this time, Zeng Ruolan and the two Taoist priests in the adjacent room, Tongchen and Yu Xuan, all came out when they heard the voice, Zeng Ruolan was extremely happy, Yu Xuan heard Zhang Guangwei sue him, and only smiled bitterly: "The little fairy aunt has to teach you a lesson." ”

Zeng's mother Zhou's spirit came back, and she took her son's hand to look up and down, as if she was afraid that something was missing, Zeng Yu smiled: "My son is safe and sound, but he is too sleepy." ”

Great-mother Zhou hurriedly said: "There is a futon in this room, you and Zheng Shi hurry up and rest for a while, and Niuniu and they will sleep in it." ”

Zeng Yu said: "Don't fight this moment, the sky will soon be bright, go back to the house and sleep again, now you are pickled, you have to take a bath first." ”

Walking into the room, Zhu Dedong was still asleep, Niuniu and Ah Tong and A Wei were sleeping together on the bed, Zeng Yu stood by the bed with a smile and looked at it for a while, and then listened to Niuniu ask half-asleep: "Is my brother back?"

Zeng Yu responded: "I'm back, my brother is back." ”

Niuniu opened her eyes, looked at Zeng Yu fixedly, and then smiled, called "brother", and got up from the quilt and threw herself into Zeng Yu's arms-