"If there is anything, please tell me." Wen Yinan said.

"Since the capital is far away, the surrounding defense is naturally sloppy, and I am here today to discuss with you the heroes about the strengthening of the Fengyuan army." Zhixian said again

Speaking of this, everyone finally understood the purpose of the county's visit. The so-called matter of strengthening the army is also the matter of conscription and rationing.

Sure enough, Nazhi County went on to say: "Coming today, there are two important things to discuss with the heroes, one is to levy grain and grass salaries, and the other is to recruit soldiers and expand the county regiment garrison. ”

After speaking, Nazhi County motioned to a government official to hand a piece of paper to Wen Yinan.

When Wen Yinan looked at it, he saw that it was recorded that the county government requisitioned the people, horses, grain, grass, and military salaries from Xiaoshi Village, counting: 10 strong men, 20 war horses, 1,000 quintals of grain and grass, and 2,000 taels of silver.

Wen Yinan was silent, and handed the document to everyone to read.

But said that Zhang Shukui saw it, and immediately jumped up from the seat, pressed the handle of the knife with his hand, and glanced at the magistrate and the officials with angry eyes, just about to get angry.

Seeing this, Gong Zhao on the side hurriedly comforted him softly: "Master Zhang is not impatient, we have our own theory." ”

Zhang Shukui snorted indignantly, and then sat back in his seat.

But he said that just now Lu Zhixian saw a strong man with a broad waist and a round waist and a bearded face jumping up from the seat and glaring at him angrily, his face changed slightly, and he saw a scholar on the side get up and appease the man, and his heart was a little calmer.

Seeing that everyone had finished circulating the documents, the magistrate said: "Please send the materials to Fengyuan County Government within seven days." ”

Wen Yinan handed the documents to Gong Zhao and put them away, and said: "The matter is urgent, the village is poor and weak, and the resources are limited, please allow me to negotiate and agree." ”

Hearing this, the county got up and said, "That is the case, very good, this county will leave." ”

Wen Yinan stopped and said: "It's noon, Lord Lu and his party are tired of boating and driving, it's better to eat here, and it's not too late to rest and leave." ”

The magistrate excused himself: "How can this be troublesome? ”

Wen Yinan said: "No trouble, no trouble." After speaking, he gave Gong Zhao a look, Gong Zhao understood, and went out to order the preparation of a banquet.

After a short time, the banquet was set up in the hall, and a few tables were set up in the courtyard to entertain the rest of the entourage.

On the dinner table, fish, shrimp, cattle and sheep, vegetables and fruits are readily available, especially the big carp caught in the Xiaonan River to make a dish, the carp belly is hollowed out, steamed with special condiments, and then poured with sweet and sour sauce, which is really delicious.

The wine is also a high-quality osmanthus Fen wine, sweet and mellow, fragrant and fragrant.

This meal was eaten and drunk for an hour before it was dispersed, and the county governor of the road was already drunk, and when he saw that the hour was not early, he was supported by the officials to get on the sedan chair and go.

After the magistrate left, Wen Yinan discussed with everyone what should be done about this matter, Zhang Shukui said: "Let's not pay attention to it, see what he does with us?" ”

Gong Zhao said: "Nowadays, people take the orders of the imperial court as arrows, and if they don't pay attention to them, they will inevitably give people a handle. ”

"Then can't you just send things to others according to that list?" Zhang Shukui asked rhetorically.

"Yes, does Brother Gong have any good ideas?" Wang Yuzhu was also very anxious on the side.

"I don't think it's better like this, let's put some silver taels of silk and send it to Nazhi County secretly, I'm not afraid that he won't let go." Gong Zhao said.

"That's all there is to it." Lu Yuan agreed.

"Then let's prepare, how about I go with Yinan the day after tomorrow?" Gong Zhao said to everyone.

"Okay." The people answered.

On the second day, each family did everything they had, and contributed some silver taels and silk cloth, counting 500 taels of silver and several pieces of silk. After another day, the gifts were complete, and in the early morning of this day, Wen Yinan and Gong Zhao set off for the county magistrate's mansion in Fengyuan County.

The two of them drove a carriage and hurried away, and in less than an hour they came to the south gate of the county seat, entered the city gate, walked two or three miles north along the central street, and finally came to the county mansion.

I saw two guards standing in front of the yamen of the county government, blocking the two of them from going way.

"What for?" One of them, a slightly older black and chubby man, asked.

"We are from Xiaoshi Village, and we have something to find the county magistrate, please report it." Gong Zhao said.

"I'm waiting, the magistrate is busy." The guard raised his hand and motioned for the two men to drive the carriage to the courtyard wall and wait.

The two waited for a long time, but they didn't see the guards go in to report, Gong Zhao knew seven or eight points in his heart, so he took out two taels of silver from his arms and approached and handed them to the two guards respectively: "The two masters are hard, we do have something important to ask the county magistrate for instructions, and I hope that the driver will report it immediately." ”

The two guards took the silver taels, looked Gong Zhao up and down, and said the old man: "Okay, then you wait a minute, and then I will report it." With that, he glanced at the young man, and the young guard turned and walked towards the house.

After a while, an old man with a gray beard under his chin walked out, and it turned out to be the chief follower of the county government, named Wei Xing. This position is like a cronie of the magistrate, and his status in the county government can be seen.

Wei Chang warmly welcomed Wen Yinan and Gong Zhao into the guest room and sat down, and asked them why they were here.

Gong Zhao said bluntly: "The day before yesterday, the magistrate of the county came to visit Xiaoshi Village in person, and we are really honored. We should help you with what the magistrate commanded. It's just that Xiaoshi Village has just experienced the trouble of wandering, the people are damaged, and the materials are scarce, and it is really difficult to complete according to the number of expropriation documents. Today, we will discuss with this special small profit, and I hope that the elder will inform the county adults with the adult, and look forward to being more sympathetic and accommodating. ”

"This? I think that Lord Lu is an official of the imperial court, and the emperor's order is difficult to disobey, and he can't help it. Wei Xing said.

As he was talking, he saw a little maid poking her brain out of the door, and saw Wen Yinan and said with a smile: "It's Brother Wen Yinan sitting in the room?" ”

Wen Yinan was listening to the conversation between the two, and suddenly heard someone greet him, and he wondered in his heart, who called himself so unfamiliar with the people in this county office? When I turned my head to look, I saw a handsome girl in a red dress standing outside the door, it was none other than Xiaoqian, the personal maid of Miss Lu Shiyao of Lujiazhuang.

"Xiaoqian? Why are you here? Wen Yinan couldn't help but be surprised.

"Not only am I here, but my young lady is still here?" Xiao Qian said with a smile.

"Just now, the young lady asked me what kind of guests came to my uncle's house? When I went out, I saw that it was really a distinguished guest. Don't be in a hurry to leave later, I have something to say to you. Xiao Qian said again.

Chang Sui Wei Xing didn't know what was going on, so he beckoned Xiao Qian into the room to talk.

When Xiao Qian entered the house, she told Wen Yinan in detail about Wen Yinan's courage and help in Lujiazhuang in the past.

When the chief heard this, he looked Wen Yinan up and down, and couldn't help but get up and clasp his fists and salute: "Oops! It turned out that Wen Da was here to catch the head, but he blamed the old man for being dizzy and didn't know the hero! ”

Wen Yinan hurriedly returned the salute and said, "Don't dare, don't dare." Now I'm just a villager, how dare I call it presumptuously. "Wei Guo", don't say that, I have also heard about Wen Daxia's righteous deeds a long time ago, how can this first sword in the south of the Yangtze River be in vain? "Long with Wei Xingdao.

"Then Mr. Wen has finished talking about business, can you go to the back room with me to meet Miss." Xiao Qian came to Wen Yinan and whispered.

"This ......" Wen Yinan didn't wait to speak, but Wei Xing suddenly spoke:

"Very good, very good, what Wen Daxia entrusted, I will tell Lord Lu truthfully, please rest assured. It's better than this, what about me, I'll go to the lobby to meet Lord Lu, Wen Daxia will go with Miss Xiaoqian. Luckily? Wei Chang got up and said to everyone.

Wen Yinan looked at Gong Zhao, not knowing what to do.

Gong Zhao smiled and just nodded at Wen Yinan.

"It's okay, it's okay." Wei Xing only urged, seeing Wen Yinan following Miss Xiaoqian, passing through the back door and going to the back hall, he asked Gong Zhao to rest for a while, and went straight to the lobby to meet Zhixian.