Chapter 99: Fellow Countrymen

At this time, Guan Shengyun and Luo Yonghao had already met the young military master Luo Shifan in Song County.

Luofu will no longer be a threat in the short term, so Guan Shengyun was not as cautious as Gao You and the others earlier, and avoided Yiyang from Yiyang to go around in a big circle from Fuchang, but first cut off the traffic from Luoshui to Luoyang Mansion in the northeast, and then sent Gong Derun to negotiate with Yiyang Zhixian - a small Zhixian County, of course, it is not worth laboring Guan Dashuai Luo Junshi went out of the horse, Gu Baihua Zhang Ding and others are illiterate and illiterate, this kind of thing can't be done, Gong Landlord has studied private school for a few years, So the burden of negotiation fell on his head.

The thunderbolt camp of the Xiaoxiao battalion was blocked outside the north gate of Yiyang and was eyeing Luoshui through the tiger, the Gangfeng battalion crossed the river downstream and was stationed outside the east gate, and the horse team guarded the south road, this battle scared Huo Jinyan (literally) of Yiyang Zhixian County for nine days: Ding Zhuang, a miscellaneous soldier in the county before, was taken to assist in the defense of Luofu, and now he doesn't know whether he is alive or dead, seeing tens of thousands of thieves - Guoqinglin gave Gao You the second general 10,000 people, and now there are enough 20,000 auxiliary soldiers and civilians in his hands - the soldiers are coming to the city, how can this be resisted by a small broken county town in Yiyang?

Surrender? It was a dead end for the imperial court.

Resist? The city is broken or a dead end!

Huo Jinyan was like an ant on a hot pot who was anxious to find a rope to hang, and when he heard that a messenger was coming, he finally grabbed a life-saving straw. After all, Mrs. Huo is from a righteous background, and his brain is not stupid - if the thief really wants to fight, where do he need to send any military envoys? Sending someone to talk about it means that things still have a slight turn for the better! hurriedly changed into official uniforms, trotted, opened the middle door, and invited Gong Derun, who was sitting in a basket and was hung up to the city, and his entourage Gong San and Gong Si into the county government to welcome the official.

Huo Jinyan experienced the matter of the army pressing the border soldiers under the city, and although he had some hope in his heart, he didn't know how to talk about it at all.

And he has participated in high-level negotiations such as Yulin Mansion and Sansi Na of Shaanxi Province throughout the whole process, and has seen with his own eyes in Yanchang County, Gu Baihua's levy efficiency is much higher than his own plunder, coupled with the absolute strength of Bing Wei Hehe as a backing, Gong Derun is at ease in dealing with a mere county. When the two sides met, they were a little surprised by each other: they were all from Baoding Mansion, fellow villagers.

The current Guan Shengyun is not short of auxiliary soldiers, and after listening to Huo Jinyan's true confession that "it is a last resort to transfer Ding Zhuang on the order of the Lord of Futai, and it is not the original intention of being an enemy of your army", Gong Derun, who had a bottom in his heart, waved his hand generously: "It's okay, Huo Xianzun, let's talk about business directly." Our army has no intention of entering the city, but the money and grain in your county's treasury must be taken away, and these alone are definitely not enough, and we have to bother your county to prepare more. Craftsmen, tools, pigs and sheep, copper and iron materials, etc., should also be prepared, this is the list, you take a look. You can open the gates as you want, and it doesn't hurt to close them. It's just that those people on the wall, all take them down, you should know in your heart, if you really want to enter the city, these Raushs will not be able to stop our army. In case any brother on the wall slipped and shot an arrow, and there was a misunderstanding, he really started to move, and the knife and gun had no eyes, I am afraid that it will affect you. Let's open the skylight and say bright words, you don't have any thoughts of sending people to report the news, one is that your people can't get out, the other is that others don't dare to come when they go out, and the third is to send death when they come, and they will take the lives of your whole family. My marshal said that as long as you don't use other brains, our army will not enter the city. ”

Huo Jinyan trembled and took the list written by Luo Yonghao and glanced at it, and secretly said: Although there are really a lot of things you want, you can make it up after collecting it. But what can I do when these guys leave? It's still a dead end. The body couldn't help but tremble, and it was not easy to speak, and it was crying: "Gong, Gong, General Gong, Rong, Rong." I believe that what the general said is true. However, even if the humble post is handed over to the army, and your army leaves, how can the humble post explain to the court and Luofu! ”

Gong Derun, who was already familiar with the road, grinned: "Huo County is really worried!" In the future, of course, you will be excellent in the performance appraisal of the Ministry of Officials, and your promotion is just around the corner! ”

Huo Jinyan pleaded with a bitter face: "If you beg General Gong, don't make fun of your humble position." ”

Gong Derun's expression was full: "Huo County really didn't figure out this mystery?" ”

Huo Jinyan was stunned: "Mystery? ”

Gong Derun smiled: "The robber is coming, what should you do in Huo County?" ”

With a "poof", Huo Jinyan knelt down, crying and kowtowing: "General Gong, don't dare to be humble!" General Gong must not misunderstand, so he removed the guards on the wall and opened the city gate to welcome your army into the city......"

Gong Derun laughed and stretched out his hand to pull: "Huo Xianzun has misunderstood, hurry up and speak." My handsome family said that if he didn't enter the city, he wouldn't enter the city, Huo County was suspicious. This is a general, and there is no injustice or hatred, but we are still fellow villagers, so we really didn't mean to tease you. Get up, let's get down to business. ”

Huo Jinyan cautiously turned sideways, sat on the chair with half of his ass and leaned forward, only to hear Gong Derun say: "The robbers are coming, of course Huo County swears to resist!" Shut up and listen to me! So you opened the treasury, distributed money and food everywhere, and recruited loyal and patriotic righteous people to stick to Yiyang! Hearing that the county lord personally went to the city and fought bloody battles with swords, the gentry and wealthy families in the city were greatly moved, and they destroyed their homes one after another, and swore to fight the thieves! Yes, it's against us. Our army couldn't attack for a long time, and it was even attacked by the elite of Huo County's relatives, and the corpses were in disarray, and finally fled in embarrassment! Well, you can also shout while running, 'It's easy to shake the mountain, it's difficult to shake the sun, it's hard to go to the sky' or something! Well, you can let us shout whatever you want, write whatever you want, and we will recognize whatever you write...... When our army leaves, won't you be able to report a great victory! This money, food, and materials also have a place to go, and those craftsmen we took away are the martyrs who died in this battle! Huo County is loyal and brave and has preserved Yiyang, can't such great achievements be exchanged for the 'great excellence' of a ministry? For the rest, you don't need Ben to teach you how to write a good report, right? By the way, I still have dozens of heads here, all of which have been marinated in lime, and I will leave them to you when I turn them over, and hand them in is ironclad proof of great victory! Does Huo Xianzun still have any questions? ”

Daigo empowerment.

"Poof", Huo Zhixianfu cried again and knelt down, but this time he shed tears of gratitude, tears of happiness.

The original plan was that Gong Derun would return to Guan Shengyun to resume his life after the talks, but it didn't work out - Huo Jinyan didn't let him go, and he didn't let him go. First, Mrs. Huo, who was originally a relative to death, was desperate, and a golden avenue was suddenly paved in front of him, this ecstasy urgently needs to be shared with others, and second, the thirteen with a full hand does not become a grand slam in the blink of an eye, and I am afraid that something will happen suddenly, and taking care of the one in front of me is the most reliable guarantee! The reason is ready-made: Fellows! What is it called? One of the four happy events in life, meet the old people in a foreign country! How do you want to go? Must drink, don't get drunk and don't go home!

Gong Derun was torn by Huo Jinyan, who was anxious and white-faced, and said that he would not let go, so in desperation, he had to send Gong San back to the camp to report the news. Gong San, who had missed a game of wine and meat, was still a little reluctant at first, and Niu Xiancheng, who accompanied him out of the city to report the news, secretly stuffed two small silver ingots that were full of five taels and full of color, and immediately became eyebrows and smiled: In the Ming Dynasty, buying a good banquet, including rewards, is almost enough for one or two coins and two dollars.

Early the next morning, Gong Derun returned to the camp, accompanied by a scholar dressed as a scholar, and when General Gong introduced them to both sides, Guan Luo and the two knew that this was Huo Jinyan's county deity. Last night's big drink, Huo Zhixian had already taken Gong Derun as a confidant, so he almost changed his name to Tiebai, so Huo Zhixian, who had a bottom in his heart, simply went to Guan Shengyun's army generously. Huo Jinyan sent Niu Xiancheng back to the city to prepare, and after everyone had lunch, all the ferries and rafts that could be collected around Yiyang had already gathered on the north bank of Luoshui - obviously, this Niu Xiancheng was also a talent.

The most important thing for Daming is talent.

The army began to cross the river in an orderly manner. Smaller rafts were nailed to wooden planks to make pontoon bridges to cross people, and large ferries ferried heavy equipment and supplies, and in a little more than three days, the army had all crossed Luoshui.

To the southwest of Yiyang is the town of Zhaobao, and between the two places is a military camp that stretches for several miles. Including Zhaobao Town, the surrounding residents have been driven into the city by Huo Zhi County's "strong walls and clear fields" - although the people are illiterate, and it is impossible to know how Huo Zhi County will report the great victory to Luofu in the near future, but there are some things, the less you know, the better.

The busiest one is Guoqinglin at this time, and tens of thousands of people crossing the river is not child's play. Rao was not only methodical, but also received the full assistance of the Yiyang County Government, in three days still capsized two boats, killed three auxiliary soldiers, sank more than 2,000 catties of grain, but there was no loss of heavy equipment and large cattle, which was very satisfactory to the captain of the country.

Yiyang's county treasury is, of course, empty. Not only the rich gentry, but all the residents were beaten hard by the wolf-like officials, and some families even took away copper basins and iron pots, but everyone's lives were finally saved. The only exception is Master Tong, who has a meritorious reputation, and there are also sons and nephews in the clan who are in the Nanzhili Criminal Department, and he is very prestigious in Yiyang. Huo Zhixian personally went to visit once, and the two talked secretly for more than an hour, and at the same time that the old man respectfully sent Mrs. Huo out of the house, everyone saw that the family members of the old man shouted and carried out many cages and grain picks. There was a stumble on the way, and a lot of white silver rolled out of a box...... Since Master Tong took the lead, the gentlemen have nothing to say - everyone knows that there have been thieves outside the city, and they are still greedy for money at this time, not to mention that the city will be looted if it is broken.

No one noticed that that night, these people quietly carried things back to the Tongfu from the yali and entered the back door.

But the battle was a bit odd. During the day, the outside of the city sounded very noisy, and there were tens of thousands of people shouting and neighing, but the thieves did not attack the city; At night, when nothing can be seen, there is always a lively city on the city, and it seems that there is a war, but after a little more than an hour, all the sounds fall silent. It's impossible to go out and see, there is a curfew in the county, Niu Er Ya (Er Ya is another name for the county) has already issued a notice to prevent thieves from attacking at night, and they are not allowed to go out after holding the lamp, otherwise it is a big crime of thieves! It's like this for two or three days, and everyone gets used to it. Anyway, the most important thing is to save your life, who can control so many other things?

When the army left the camp, Huo Jinyanzhi, who was wearing a long robe, rushed to the Shili Changting again to say goodbye to Gong Laoxiang. After drinking a full wine for an hour and a half, Huo Xian shed tears again, drank to the emotional place, and made a poem "Farewell" for Gong Derun with passion:

When you are homesick for thousands of miles away from home

Fortunately, the end of the world is known

Pour out the cover to comfort the three life wishes

Go to Yaochi with wings and nine clouds

Of course, Gong Derun can see that Huo Xianzun used the allusion of "white head is like new, and the cover is like the old" to entrust each other's good wishes for common development and progress on the two diametrically opposed and different paths of opposing the Ming Dynasty and protecting the Ming Dynasty.

However, Landlord Gong only studied in private school, never mixed with officialdom, and ignored a detail: it may be that Huo Xianzun was too excited, and after dipped in thick ink with wine, he threw the pen in high spirits...... The pen was broken—and then, the poem was lost! Who wrote it, to whom, and when...... Didn't make it clear. In other words: in the future, Gong Di will be unlucky to be taken by the officials and soldiers, and then find out this poem, no one will want to use this to "frame" Mrs. Huo's thief! Even if the landlord Gong confessed in person, he couldn't count what the thief said, can you believe it?!

Gong Derun solemnly thanked him, and then waved his hand, and Gong Er, the personal guard, moved over a large wooden box. It was another red-faced dispute, and when Gong Derun offered the magic weapon of "if you don't accept it, you look down on me, a fellow brother", Mrs. Huo could only reluctantly thank you and accept it.

Back at the county mansion, Huo Zhixian looked at Bai Huahua's silver ingots and was stunned for a while, and muttered: "How can a 'big plan be excellent' and cost two thousand taels?" This is good, not only do you not have to pay a penny, but you also earn a thousand taels for nothing*! 'Defending the city' only 'spent' more than 20,000 taels, which is too worthwhile! ”

If you could have figured out this layer earlier, what are you afraid of!

As soon as he thought of this, Huo Xianzun felt a little regretful: Alas, if there would be a gang of thieves every once in a while...... That's a great thing!

*This article is a point of knowledge.

One pound in the Ming Dynasty was almost equivalent to 600 grams today. Ming Jin is sixteen taels, one tael is about a little more than thirty-seven grams. Due to the limited purification technology, generally speaking, the silver content of official silver is about 90%-95%. One thousand taels of silver is about less than forty kilograms, considering the proportion of silver, so the volume is actually not too large, just the size of a medium-sized watermelon, of course, the weight is much heavier than a watermelon.

Due to the technical differences in the foundry workshops, there are differences in the purity of official silver. As for Minyin, not to mention. Of course, there are many people who will try their best to fake: put lead, tin and other base metals of similar color into it, so the silver content is lower, and the difference in fineness is greater, generally in 60% to 70%.

So the real ancient times are not as chic as in the film and television dramas, when the hero leaves with a broken piece of silver after eating in a restaurant, and it is impossible to fly silver tickets all over the sky - that thing is similar to today's passbook, but it is just a voucher for exchanging silver taels in different places, except for a limited number of joint merchants, no one recognizes that thing. On the contrary, it is very troublesome: if you resolutely resist copper coins and have to settle the bill with silver, the man will have to invite a master from the silver building, identify the color on the spot, and then calculate it, pick a piece of about the same size, cut it with scissors, and weigh it with a small scale...... In the end, the master took out a little bit of scraps and calculated the (typo) fee, and left with you, and the shopkeeper of the restaurant put away all the broken silver. When you have almost saved up, you can go to the silver building and cast a large ingot of five taels, ten taels or fifty taels, take it home, find a jar and put it up and bury it under the bed......

Therefore, in most cases, people prefer to use copper coins for small settlements. BTW, the copper coins minted in the Tang and Song dynasties circulated in the Ming Dynasty and were also more popular - the copper content of the coins minted by the Donglin Party at the end of the period was outrageously low, and the people did not use it.

In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, the same is true for the "Guangyang", that is, the silver dollar, which flowed from overseas, and was widely used as a general equivalent. Each silver dollar is 95% pure, and the silver content is very stable and easy to calculate. Moreover, the difficulty of the manufacturing process limits counterfeiting: folk workshops are unable to cast fine patterns. One of the more famous is the Mexican "Eagle Ocean", named after the eagle motif on it. The other is the "Yuan Datou" during the Republic of China, this kind of silver content is a little worse, theoretically it should reach 90%, but you know, since there are casts in various places, in fact, they will definitely be a little worse, and even the silver content in some places is only more than 70%.

Have you ever noticed that coins tend to have a serrated ring on the bezel? This is also a genetic trait of silver dollars. In the beginning, the edge of the silver dollar was smooth, and some people used their brains: they tried to grind or cut or cut off a little bit, and after saving up for a while, they would have a small piece of silver! Naturally, this kind of technology was popularized rapidly, so it would not be long before a silver dollar was sharpened and cut by me. So simply cast a serration - I told you to grind! Even if it's a counterfeit money, no one wants it, so keep it for yourself!