Chapter Thirty-Eight: He is still a child of our village
Chang Zhengbiao and the other three were about to exit the hall when they were stopped by a majestic voice.
He turned around and stood there dumbly, looking at his father, not knowing what he meant.
Zhang Cheng was also slightly surprised. He looked sideways at Mr. Chang Tianshun, also wondering what his intention was.
"Chang Zhengbiao, you broke into the main hall of the mountain hall without authorization and disturbed the distinguished guests. Do you think you are guilty?"
When Zhang Cheng heard this, he thought to himself: "Oh, so you are waiting here?"
He looked at the astonished Chang Zhengbiao on the ground, stood up hurriedly, and said to Chang Tianshun, "Mr. Chang, this Chang Zhengbiao is under my command, and you no longer have the right to punish him."
Hearing Zhang Cheng begging for mercy on his behalf, Chang Zhengbiao looked at Zhang Cheng with a little more respect, and was secretly glad that he didn't have to be whipped.
"Otherwise, General Zhang just said that after the banquet, this boy will be under the command of Mr. Chen Qian. At this time, the banquet is in progress, and he is still a disciple of our village."
Mr. Chang Tianshun looked reluctant and said in a stern tone.
After hearing this, Zhang Cheng could only shake his head, but this is what he said. At this moment, being asked by Chang Tianshun to do something, he could not continue to defend himself, so he had to sit back in his seat with a smile and said no more words.
Chang Zhengbiao also knew that he would not be able to escape this punishment. He knelt on the ground again and said a little aggrievedly: "My child wanted to join the army under General Zhang, but he was too eager and lost his etiquette. Please punish me."
Bar."
"Chang Zhengfei...ask the village leader to punish..."
"...Zhengcheng...ask the leader of the village to punish..."
Chang Zhengfei and Chang Zhengcheng also knelt behind Chang Zhengbiao again, admitting their mistakes at the same time and asking for punishment.
Zhang Cheng sat in the chair and nodded repeatedly. Seeing that these three people were strong and powerful. When they first met each other and galloped their horses, it could be seen that they were already capable of horse soldiers. Now, they knew they were wrong and dared to do so.
I recognized it and didn't quibble, so I appreciated it even more.
Chang Tianshun saw that the three of them all pleaded guilty and asked for punishment, so he said in a deep voice: "Zhengbiao, Zhengfei, and Zhengcheng of the Chang family broke into the main hall of the mountain hall without permission and disturbed the distinguished guests of the village. Although they can plead guilty and ask for punishment, they must not go without punishment.
Now the three of them are sentenced to five strokes of the cane each.
Changzheng Xiong, it’s up to you to carry out the punishment. Remember not to take the punishment lightly. You must know that if you indulge him today, you are encouraging him to commit greater crimes in the future, and you are harming him!”
Chang Zhengxiong stood up to accept the order, then came to Zhang Cheng's desk, bowed and said: "Please forgive me, General Zhang. Zhengxiong will come as soon as you go."
Zhang Cheng watched Chang Zhengxiong, Chang Zhengbiao and the other four people leave, thinking that the execution place must be in the ancestral hall behind the mountain hall. Although there are three surnames in this village, they are as close as brothers.
The tablets of the ancestors of the three surnames are all enshrined in the ancestral hall. Whenever the children in the village make mistakes, they are punished in front of the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall. This is not people punishing them, but the ancestors punishing those who make mistakes in the clan.
He was just executing the sentence on behalf of his ancestors.
After they exited, Mr. Chang Tianshun refilled Zhang Cheng's wine bowl and said apologetically: "The children are ignorant and surprised the general. I'm really sorry, old man."
"Hey, what are you talking about, old man? Zhang Cheng also fought for his life on the battlefield, so he is not easily frightened!"
"Haha...hahaha..."
The two looked at each other and smiled. Zhang Cheng picked up the wine bowl again and said loudly: "This bowl of wine, Zhang Cheng wants to respect Mr. Chang. He has given birth to such a powerful child and is willing to hand it over to my general.
Today, not only can we eat game and drink strong wine, but we can also recruit powerful generals like Chang Zhengbiao. This is all thanks to the kindness of the old man, and I respect the old man."
Everyone continued to exchange cups and cups in the hall, and as they drank and drank, their emotions became more intense, and they gradually became drunk.
Chang Zhengxiong, who was returning from execution, always looked like he was hesitant to speak. Zhang Cheng saw it, but he couldn't ask questions. Everyone ate and drank for a while, and Mr. Chang couldn't help but sigh.
"Why!"
"Old man, why are you sighing?"
"General Zhang, the old man also wants to ask these young children to go out and experience it, so that they don't have to live in this ravine all their lives like the old man. But if these children all leave, the livelihood of the village will be greatly reduced.
It’s difficult, but it’s a dilemma!”
Zhang Cheng was overjoyed: This, that's it? This is still a big deal!
At that moment, he took Old Man Chang's old hand and said, "Old man, there is no need to worry. This river valley is now under my control. Safety is no problem.
In the future, more military households will be recruited, and civilian households will come here to reclaim wasteland and farm. The old man can just lead the villagers to move to the fields and build houses nearby, which is also convenient for farming.
What's more, if the children join the army, they will also receive salary and money, which can supplement their family income. It's just a matter of licking the blood with the blade to make a future. Life and death are determined by fate and wealth."
Old man Chang pondered for a moment and said to Zhang Cheng: "General Zhang, the wine in the old man's village is quite strong. Do you think you can stay in our village today? Early tomorrow morning, the old man will personally see the general off."
"Okay, I'll just trouble Mr. Chang."
Everyone continued to drink and chat, but there were more chatters than those who continued to drink. In the meantime, Chang Zhengxiong came over and offered Zhang Cheng a bowl of wine, but he didn't say anything.
…………
On the second day, at the middle of Mao hour, we were in Changjiazhai.
Zhang Cheng had already gotten up, and outside, he heard Chen Zhong knocking on the door softly and calling: "General, General, are you up?"
He thought Chen Zhong had come to invite him to have breakfast, so he said loudly: "You're up early, come in."
"General, you'd better come out and take a look."
Zhang Cheng was stunned when he heard this. Although he had some doubts in his heart, he didn't take it seriously. He walked to the door and was stunned the moment he opened the door.
Outside the door, I saw a crowd of people kneeling in darkness. They were all young and strong men from Qingyishui. The two leaders were brothers Chang Zhengxiong and Chang Zhengbiao. Behind them were young men from the village, about thirty or so.
Human appearance.
Zhang Cheng was a little embarrassed now. Didn't he agree yesterday that the three brothers Chang Zhengbiao, Chang Zhengfei, and Chang Zhengcheng would join the army? What is going on today?
It was said to be a farewell, but this battle didn’t look like it!
At this time, old man Chang Tianshun, accompanied by his second son Chang Zhenghu, walked over with three other old people, and heard him approach and say:
"General Zhang, at yesterday's banquet, we were teased by this boy Zheng Biao. The kids all got excited and tortured my old man all night. They want to leave this valley and have some adventures. General, what do you think?"
Zhang Cheng looked at the young men kneeling in the dark on the ground, and said to Chang Tianshun with a sincere expression: "These are all good boys in our village, old man, can you bear them?"
"Hey, there is nothing I can do if I don't want to give up. The people of the three surnames of Changjiazhai have stayed in this village for almost three lifetimes, growing old, sick and dying. Now that the children have lost their hearts, how can they keep them?
If the general doesn't mind, take them with you. Just as the general said, life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor are in heaven, but it depends on their personal destiny."