"This is corn?" Xiang Zhixian reached out and grabbed a handful.

Bai Dalang said: "Exactly, the yield per mu is extremely high. Knowing that I was going to enter the city, Zhu Dalang asked me to bring seeds to the county. ”

Xiang Zhixian felt that the corn kernels were very beautiful and asked, "How does it taste?" ”

Bai Dalang said truthfully: "I picked some small grains that are not suitable for seeding, ground them into powder and cooked porridge to drink, some ...... Coarse and not as good as corn porridge and white rice porridge. ”

"That's the food of the common people," Xiang Zhixian said with some disappointment, "put it down, I will let the tenants plant in the fields next year." ”

If the taste is delicious, Xiang Zhixian intends to present it to the emperor.

Since it doesn't taste good, then just give up.

"That'...... I quit. Bai Dalang couldn't understand, shouldn't he be excited to learn that corn has a high yield? How to show the lack of interest to the county.

Farewell to Zhixian County, Bai Dalang went to his brother's office.

He expressed the doubts in his heart, but Bai Erlang smiled and said: "I wish the head of the second-class anti-thief, as well as the families of those anti-thieves, have already been escorted to Lizhou." A few days ago, Lizhou and Xingyuan Prefecture both issued documents commending. ”

"So what?" Bai Dalang didn't understand.

Bai Erlang was a little speechless, and could only explain patiently: "With such a commendation from above, when the three-year period expires, even if you can't be promoted, you will be transferred to a wealthy county." The eldest brother now sent the corn and planted it in the field next year, and the gentry followed suit the year after, and before it could really be promoted, Xiang Zhixian had already been transferred. ”

Bai Dalang finally understood: "If Xiang Zhixian vigorously promotes the planting of corn, it is equivalent to making political achievements for the next term, and he will not be able to earn anything himself." ”

Bai Erlang nodded and said, "That's it." He would definitely plant corn, but the real intention was to take the seed to the next place of work. ”

Bai Dalang said disdainfully: "There are not many kinds of good food, God can't look past it, and it will be thundered by the sky." ”

After chatting for a while, Bai Dalang left the county office.

There were officials all the way to greet him, and he was still so snobbish, he only gave the senior officials a good look, and he didn't bother to look at the low-level officials.

Just like when he met him for the first time, Zhu Ming took the initiative to greet him, and Bai Dalang didn't bother to answer.

Character flaws that can't be changed.

He Tiesi met him and personally sent Bai Dalang to the door.

After returning, He Tisi said to his subordinates: "Call all the case stickers to discuss the matter." ”

After a while, the six case stickers got together.

He Tiesi took out the archer roster: "The autumn grain has not been collected yet, should I find the yamen to urge again." ”

Hu Tisi said with a smile: "The archers recruited before are suitable for tax collection, and they have prestige for destroying thieves. ”

He Tisi said: "You can't do too much at once, it will be too obvious, we have time to take it slowly." ”

"Five?" Hu Tisi asked.

"Five is too many, three is just right." He Tiesi said.

Wang Tiesi smiled gloomily: "These three people have to be scattered in various townships, and they can't be allowed to make trouble in private." ”

Hu Tisi didn't pretend anymore: "These archers received a lot of bounties at the beginning, and the higher their positions, the more they received, and they had to knock out the money in their hands." ”

Wang Tiesi said: "You can't choose too high a position, and those heads and deputy heads can't move." ”

He Tisi said: "Don't move, the prodigal son, maybe you will be forced to fight hard." ”

Hu Tisi said: "You have to send soap officials to keep an eye on them at all times, in case they escape with money!" ”

Yuan Tisi said: "How can there be trouble? Just take the money away. ”

Wang Tiesi said: "Didn't the county honor leave two teams of archers? They were all the remaining miscellaneous soldiers selected by Zhu Ming, and escorted the goods of Xia Bai Village back to the city in advance, but they failed to receive the reward for attacking Heifeng Village. ”

Hu Tisi said: "Yes, yes, these archers have not received enough money, and they are quite resentful in their hearts, and they are definitely willing to cooperate with us." ”

“……”

The six case stickers all belong to the old officials, and they are good at tricking the people, and they know how to do this kind of immoral thing.

After some discussion, the plan was decided.

In the evening of the same day, Hothesi invited the two archer captains to dinner.

Although there are only 22 standing archers left in the county, the position is still there, one is the head and one is the deputy head.

"Li Dutou, Zhang Dutou, please two of you." He Tiesi was full of smiles.

"Please do it first."

The two were flattered and even nodded their heads there.

Although the position of county lieutenant was vacant, they obeyed the orders of the magistrate. But the magistrate is an outsider, and the post is longer, and they know what to do.

The dishes are very rich, one roast chicken, two plates of fried meat, and one plate of green vegetables.

"Come, I'll give you both a first drink." He Tisi smiled and raised his glass and said.

"Don't dare." The two hurriedly got up.

After more than ten cups of rice wine, He Tisi said: "The two of them followed Zhu Dutou and got a lot of rewards, right?" ”

Li Dutou is called Li Tian, and he thinks this name is not good, so he asked someone to change it to Li Maotian a while ago. He shook his head and sighed: "I can't stand the rules, and I didn't sign up to be a soldier." He captured the house outside the little white man, and was sent to escort the goods back to the city. I didn't get any money for this black wind village. ”

Zhang Dutou's name was Zhang Fu, and he gnawed on the roast chicken and said, "I don't have that life." This Xiang Zhixian is a miser, so he gave a reward at the beginning, and he didn't give half of his son when he used it up. ”

He Tisi smiled: "There is a profitable business now, I don't know if the two of you are willing to do it." ”

"Please also show the way." Li Maotian hurriedly said.

He Tisi took out a list of three hundred archers: "Two of you, please see." ”

The two shook their heads in unison, indicating that they didn't know how to read.

He Tisi said: "Are there a few such characters among the archers under Zhu Dutou at the beginning? The reward is very much, and the person is very honest. ”

"Yes," Zhang Fu said, "there is a man named Deng Chun, who was born tall and big, and his courage is very small. couldn't stand his luck, Fang Kong's eyes resisted the general, and he was selected as the deputy head. Later, Zhu Dutou trained in the army, and Deng Chun was also highly appreciated because of his obedience. I heard that the officers and soldiers captured Heifeng Village, and Deng Chun took a hundred rewards! ”

He Tisi asked again: "What is the origin of this Deng Chun?" ”

Zhang Fu smiled: "There is nothing to do, just a farmer." I knew him and lived in the village next door to me. This guy's family is a fifth-class household, and he has been able to eat a lot since he was a child, and he has eaten the family poorly. He is also a good hand at farming, as long as he is fed, he can do the work of plowing cattle. Usually he doesn't like to talk, he only knows how to work stupidly, and the village calls him Deng Da Da, and later simply calls him Deng Da Niu. ”

"Really timid?" He Tisi asked.

Zhang Fu said: "When this guy was a few years old, he injured his grandson outside the rest of the staff, and was almost tied up and beaten to death by his parents. Later, he became timid and did not dare to talk to others. The child threw stones at him, and he just giggled, and never dared to do anything with anyone. ”

"This is the man!"

He Tiesi slapped the table and smiled: "Choose two more like this." ”

Li Maotian recalled carefully: "I remember that there was a ten general, who also didn't like to talk, he wasn't tall, but he was very strong. Moreover, the brain is still stupid. When practicing the mandarin duck formation, this guy often made mistakes and was punished. I didn't scream when I was hit by the board, I lifted my pants and practiced, and I practiced and ate military sticks. In the end, even Na Zhu was embarrassed to punish him again. ”

"What's your name?" He asked.

Li Maotian scratched his head and said: "I can't remember the name clearly, I only know that his nickname is Stone." ”

Zhang Fu said: "I also remember that his name is Shi, it seems that his surname is Shi, what does Shi come from......"

He Tisi flipped through the roster of archers, found two people surnamed Shi, and asked, "Shi Biao, Shi Ying, which one is him?" ”

Li Maotian said: "Shi Ying should be on duty under me, it should be this Shi Biao." ”

"It's called Shi Biao, I remember." Zhang Fu answered.

Asked again if there was such an honest person, Li Maotian and Zhang Fu couldn't remember clearly, so He Tisi casually ticked one on the archer roster.

These three people were all sent by the county government to collect the autumn grain in their respective villages.

And the household is not right, only the third-class household or above, can it be the turn of the yaqian difference. Since the three of them have received a large amount of reward, they should raise the household and the taxes they should pay as well.

He Tisi said: "The two are both heads, one of you stares at the other, don't let Deng Chun and Shi Biao escape." If the tax collection is not in order, they will be arrested and exiled according to the law, and the family property should be confiscated. When the time comes, there will be no benefits for the two. ”

"Hehe, I'll listen to He Tisi's orders."

betrayed his original comrades-in-arms, Li Maotian had no psychological burden. He was already active, and he didn't even want to be a soldier, he only admired Zhu Ming, Zhang Guangdao and Chen Ziyi, and had no friendship with the rest of the archers.

……

West of the city, Yujiaao Village.

Yu Dayuan, who wanted to use poetry to make things difficult for Zhu Ming, was studying hard at home.

Suddenly, he heard the noise outside, and he called the servants to ask, and it was the soap official of the county government who had entered the village.

Yu Dayuan put down the brush and went out, but saw that his grandfather, father and eldest brother had already come outside the house to watch the excitement.

"Xianggong, the county ordered Deng Chun's yaqian errand!" A servant rushed to report the news.

Old man Yu sneered: "I know that those officials in the county government will never give up." The archers made a big fuss at the county government, but they lost their faces. ”

Yu Dayuan said disdainfully: "Insidious villain, greedy beetle!" ”

Hundreds of steps away is Zhu Guoxiang's cheap father-in-law's house.

Meng Zhao, a poor scholar, is saying goodbye to his master.

"Sir, I want to take my wife and children to Daming Village to vote for Zhu Xiucai, and I am here to resign today." Meng Zhao's disciples bowed.

Shen Huai stroked his white beard and said with a smile: "My grandson is a big person, and if you go, it will be considered a creation." In the future, if you succeed and do things as a good student, you can put the imperial examination on hold first. ”

Meng Zhao said: "I know that within six years, I will never go to the imperial examination again." ”

Shen Huai shook his head and sighed: "You still haven't given up, how can Jinshi be so easy to test." ”

The master and apprentice talked, and Meng Zhao said goodbye and left.

didn't go far, and saw a group of officials coming in a hurry.

Li Maotian, who was in the lead, asked, "Where is Deng Chun's family?" ”

"Which Deng Chun?" Meng Zhao asked rhetorically.

Li Maotian said: "It's Deng Da. ”

Meng Zhao subconsciously turned around and pointed the way: "It's at the foot of the mountain over there." ”

"Dangdang!"

Deng Chunzheng carved a tombstone at home, which belongs to the ancestral craft, although he does not know a few big characters, but he can carve the inscription according to the words.

In addition to carving monuments, he will also work with other stonemasons.

It's a pity that there are not many orders in the countryside, and I can only occasionally make extra money, and I mainly have to rely on farming to make a living.

Deng Chun has been very prosperous in recent months, and as the deputy head of the archer, he received a full 100 yuan in reward. The father was in charge of all this money, and not only paid off the debts of the remaining foreign family and bought a calf, but also bought a few acres of thin land from the village neighbors during the collection of summer grain.

"Big one, big one, it's not good, the official has to catch the wheel!" A small man with a good relationship rushed to report the news.

Not long after, Deng Chun's parents, wife, younger brother, and sister-in-law also rushed back from the field in a panic.

Li Maotian had already rushed to the courtyard, stared at Deng Chun and asked, "Which one is Deng Chun?" ”

Deng Chun stood up with a hammer: "I'm ...... I am. ”

Li Maotian roared: "Take out your household post!" ”

Deng Chun's father was so frightened that his body trembled, and he hurriedly went back to the house and took out the household registration book.

Li Maotian was illiterate at all, so he glanced at the household post and said, "Where is the fifth-class household?" The Deng family hid their property and falsely reported their households, etc., and let me go in and search for them! ”

A group of soapmen rushed into the house, causing the children to cry in fright.

They rummaged through the boxes and cabinets, and really found out the white deed to buy the field, and also found the remaining reward money from Deng Chun.

Li Maotian pointed to the cabinet containing the money and shouted: "There are seventy or eighty yuan here, plus the houses and fields, the third-class households can also be ranked ......."

Deng Chun's father knelt down and begged: "The public spared his life, repaid the debts of the rest of the staff, and bought calves and a few acres of land, my family only has more than 50 yuan, where are there still 70 or 80 yuan?" ”

"Fifty or so, that can also be regarded as a third-class household," Li Maotian shouted, "Carry the money back to the county office, wait for Deng Chun to urge the tax amount, and then send his family's money back." ”

Strings of iron coins were loaded into baskets and carried away, and the old and young of the Deng family pounced on them to stop them, and were kicked and knocked down by several soap officials.

Deng Chun stood in front of the tombstone that had not yet been carved, and did not say a word, but held the hammer tightly in his right hand.

"Do you still want to resist the law?"

Li Maotian walked over, and suddenly felt a little weak, because Deng Chun was too tall, a whole head taller than him.

"Bring the hammer!" Li Maotian said.

Deng Chun had an impulse at the moment, he wanted to pick up the hammer and smash the bastard in front of him to the ground.

Li Maotian shouted again: "Bring the hammer!" ”

Deng Chun finally said the first sentence: "To attack Heifeng Village, I carried the door panel in front." Zhu Dutou and Chen Dutou both like me very much. ”

"Hand over the hammer!" Li Maotian continued to roar.

Since he injured Yu Dayuan when he was a child, Deng Chun's personality has changed. He didn't dare to do anything with people, didn't dare to quarrel with people, didn't even dare to talk to people, and behaved more and more woodenly.

But in his heart, he knows everything.

He...... Can't kill!

Handing over the hammer in his hand, Deng Chun turned around without saying a word, and helped up his father and mother who were knocked to the ground.

Li Maotian was completely relieved at this time, and his attitude became more arrogant: "Since you have been promoted to a third-class household, you should go on a mission." The autumn grain here in Yujiaao will be urged by you this year, and after collecting all the grain, I will return the money to you. If you can't collect it, you have to send it to the army! Let's go! ”

When the soap man left, he not only carried the money away, but also took the calf, and took away the hoe, sickle, wood knife, hammer and iron drill of the Deng family.

Deng Chun stood in the courtyard, staring at the unfinished tombstone in a daze.

(PS: It may not be clear, but the corn sweet potatoes are given to the tenants to grow.) After harvesting, the corn and sweet potatoes were returned to the Zhu family and his son, and then the tenants were compensated for the corresponding grain, and a small amount of seeds were left for the tenants. ）

(End of chapter)