She felt that Li Xia was too busy during this period, and every time she looked into the back room, she couldn't see him.
Tonight, when she heard some noise, she got up and saw that her father and grandfather had also gotten up.
When she ran out of the small courtyard in the west wing, she saw Li Xia at first sight and heard him talking to the landlord and his grandfather.
"There are only four or five days at the fastest. People outside the city will move in as much as possible, or move to the surrounding villages. Please ask these two gentlemen to supervise this matter; house owners' records, food..."
After Li Xia finished speaking, he was about to turn around and go out. When he turned around and saw Han Qiaoer, he suddenly came over, knelt down and gave her a hug.
"Don't be afraid, the county can be defended."
Han Qiaoer was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously hugged Li Xia and said, "Brother Li, I'm not afraid... I just haven't talked to you for a long time."
"Well, after we defeat the enemy, I will take you to Yingxiang Tower for dinner."
Li Xia said, patted Han Qiaoer's back and wanted to get up.
The little girl Pianzi hugged his neck tightly, and then let go after a while, and then said "hmm" obediently.
For Li Xia, this small move was not out of any fancy thoughts. Rather, after seeing the Mongolian army and the massacred villages, Li Xia was actually nervous and felt oppressed.
Han Qiaoer is definitely not the only person he wants to protect, but she is the one closest to him.
So when Li Xia saw the thin and thin Han Qiaoer, she wanted to go over and hug her.
He also needs comfort occasionally.
Li Xia indeed drew strength from this hug. He stood up and rushed to the front office.
With a few bangs, Qingfu County began the layout of strengthening the walls and clearing the fields.
…
In the early morning, several streaks of smoke rose from the city wall.
Wu Ang pressed the knife and looked north, and what he saw was still peace.
He couldn't help but think to himself, "Are the Mongolian troops really coming?"
The head hanging on the tower was shaking gently, reminding him not to take any chances.
Li Xia and Fang Yankai were standing on the city tower, pointing to the houses outside the city and discussing.
"Go west from Wugong Village and evacuate to Qingbanggang; from the south of Gangwan Village, evacuate to Baiyan Village..."
"The county government does not have enough subordinate staff to mobilize. We need the cooperation of the squires. I have sent people to invite..."
"Still not here?"
"It's just dawn..."
Li Xia took a few steps and said, "Where is the food?"
Fang Yankai said: "Today the Akita tax has been paid, but only 600 shi of grain are still outside the city, which can be transported into the city today. People should bring their own grain."
Li Xia said: "There are large farms in the east of the city, and the Zhang family also has two large granaries. If we don't transport them into the city, we will become enemies."
"Yes, I have urged Zhang Yuanwai several times. What's more, it's his own food, and the county can't do much."
"I can transport food for him."
"Once it is transported to the county town, I don't know how much will be left in the end. How can he agree?"
Li Xia said: "Last time I asked the landlord if he needed my help... I will handle this matter."
"Don't be impulsive." Fang Yankai raised his hand and said, "Zhang Yuanwai is no ordinary country squire."
Li Xia was not surprised and asked: "Is my land in his hands? I heard that many fields and tea farms in Qingfu County and even Xuzhou belong to his family?"
Fang Yankai pondered and said: "I have been here in Qingfu for less than two years, but the Zhang family has been here for ten years. They have always been highly respected. We are officials in a county. If we want to make government orders clear and manage the countryside, we need his help."
.”
"Yeah?"
"Zhang Yuanming was born in the Zhang family of Mianzhu. After Zhang Jiugao, the younger brother of Zhang Jiuling, the famous Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, his distant ancestor was Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Han Dynasty. His fifth generation ancestor Zhang Yan was the cousin of the famous minister Zhang Zhongxiangong."
"Gong Zhang Zhongxian?"
"After Zhang Jun, the famous Prime Minister of the Gaozong Dynasty, made his way to the south from Yanyan, it was Zhang Zhongxian who was appointed as the Xuanfu Disposer of Sichuan and Shaanxi, and he appointed the famous general Wu Jie and Wu Wu'an to fight against the Jin soldiers and protect Shu;
The Zhang family of Mianzhu also has Zhang Xuangong, the eldest son of Zhongxian Gong. Together with Zhu Zi and Lu Chenggong, they are called the "Three Sages of the Southeast". Zhu Zi also said that "the place where he learned is enough to be famous for a lifetime." In the early years of Chunyou, the official family worshiped Confucius Temple. He was enshrined in the Seven Sages Temple of Shigu Academy and became one of the 'Seven Sages of Shigu'."
Li Xia gradually became impatient as he listened.
But Fang Yankai is still talking about who else is in the Mianzhu Zhang family. For example, Zhang Jun's grandson Zhang Zhongshu once served as the official of the Ministry of Household Affairs; Zhang Jun's fifth grandson Zhang Jin served as the Yushi Zhongcheng, and was a famous scholar in the world.
"Housekeeper, what does this have to do with me transporting grain for Zhang Yuanming?"
"Zhang Yuanming is from a distinguished family..."
"I am also from a distinguished family. My distant ancestor is Li Er. Among my ancestors there are also Li Xin, Li Guang, Li Hu, Li Yuan and Li Shimin."
Li Xia mumbled something casually and left the county seat.
…
Arriving at the camp east of Fujiang, Li Xia arranged many things and then chatted with Han Qi'an about Zhang Yuanming again.
Han Qi'an fiddled with his abacus and said, "The Zhang family has at least 3,800 shi of grain in storage, which is more than the county granary."
"I want to confiscate all this batch of grain."
"Zhang Yuanming will definitely refuse. He has built walls and fortresses in the past two years and hired some nursing homes, thinking that he can protect himself." Han Qian said: "As for the food transported into the city, it will not be his once it is surrounded. "
Li Xia said: "As for his stronghold wall and guarding the courtyard, when the Mongolian army comes, this batch of food will be paid to the enemy."
"The county captain is not afraid of offending him?"
Li Xia glanced at Han Qi'an and was too lazy to answer such a question.
Han Qi'an suddenly said: "I told Alang before that Wang Yan has 8,400 soldiers in his hometown. Does Alang know how much his annual salary is?"
"How many?"
"The annual fee is 14,000 guan, and the money is 20,000 jin." Han Qi'an said: "As for the official army, there are 8,400 people, the annual fee is 400,000 guan, rice is 110,000 dan, 绌, silk, and cloth. More than ten thousand horses."
Li Xia frowned.
Han Qi'an said: "Alang's military training costs far more than the local warriors. But compared with the official army, there are fewer deductions. You can also receive part of the money from the court, or not much. But..."
He raised his head and glanced around, then lowered his voice and said, "Only those who use private money to train soldiers can become private soldiers."
"Yeah." Li Xia responded and said, "Private salt."
"Not enough. No matter how much rice it is... Zhang Yuanming's fields can produce at least 7,000 dan per year, which can support Alang's army of more than 500 men."
"What do you think Mr. Yining has to say?"
"Zhang Yuanming has two sons and one daughter. His daughter got a son-in-law and lost her husband. Although she is more than ten years older than Alang, why not marry her?" Han Qi'an smiled and said, "In this case, Alang's father-in-law will naturally Do your best to help."
At this point, he did not dare to joke too much, nor did he bring any more connotations, and said: "Otherwise, if Alang confiscates the Zhang family's grain, he will offend him."
Li Xia already understood the meaning of Han Qian's words.
Anyway, if you want to offend someone, it is better to offend him to death.
"There is no rush, we should first defeat the Mongolian army..."
Zhang Yuanming is a branch of the Zhang family in Mianzhu.
Mianzhu County in Hanzhou, north of Chengdu, has been in constant war for more than ten years and has fallen.
The Zhang family's own branch was a famous official from Nandu and a master of Neo-Confucianism. They could never surrender to Mongolia, so they went to Lin'an early to join Zhang Jin.
Zhang Yuanming moved to the south of Shujiang River twelve years ago and built a manor called "Jiuqu Garden" on the bank of Qixian Lake in the east of Qingfu County.
Qixian Lake is said to be the place where the Seven Fairies descended to earth to bathe. The scenery is beautiful.
Moreover, there are huge mountains to the north and south of this place, Qingfu County to the west, and Changning Army to the east. It should be very safe... Who would have thought that the Mongolian army would destroy the Dali Kingdom and send troops to plunder Shu from the southwest? It would give people trouble.
On this day, sitting opposite Zhang Yuanming in a small pavilion by the lake was a twenty-seven or eight-year-old woman. She was dressed in men's clothing that was convenient for walking, but her expression was full of flattery.
She is Yan Yunyun, a famous prostitute in Xuzhou.
Xuzhou is not like Lin'an. It is also divided into "prostitutes and prostitutes". Yan Yunyun can sing and dance, but he is mainly famous for his sex.
She has a charming appearance and figure. She is at her best but is fading away, just like a flower that has bloomed at its peak and is about to wither, and is in a hurry to find a way out.
Moreover, as the war between Sichuan and Sichuan spread, she desperately wanted to find a place to stay. Therefore, she was introduced to Zhang Yuanming and wanted to teach the dancing girl in Jiuqu Garden.
After Zhang Yuanming finished taking the exam on her singing and dancing skills, he also took the exam on her poetry.
Yan Yunyun hated that the old man had difficulty earning money and had many things to do, so he cursed secretly, "I'm looking for a place to stay, but you want to ask me to sit with you all day without spending any money."
Still smiling seductively, she glanced back at the lake and poured another glass of wine for Zhang Yuanming.
Then he half-bited his red lips and reluctantly composed a poem.
"The shadows of the sparse bamboos are floating in the wind and dust. Who can ask for a bottle of sake? The goddess is deeply in love and hides in seclusion. Can Dong Lang meet here?"
"A good poem, it fits the scene." Zhang Yuanming stroked his beard and smiled, "On the Qixian Lake, there is a poem about Seven Fairies and Dong Yong. This poem by Yan Master is suitable for the scene. However, the word 'Yin' is flat and wrong, and the word 'Feng' means Yingshao, which is also inappropriate.
"
"The slaves don't know much about poetry, which makes the other members laugh."
"It's okay, I can teach you to be strict."
Yan Yunyun narrowed her charming eyes, and she could see Zhang Yuanming's dirty thoughts in Zhang Yuanming's sanctimonious eyes that occasionally flashed with treachery.
She didn't mind being friendly with him and becoming his concubine, but she had to see how the eldest wife in his family was doing first.
But taking a closer look, she realized that Zhang Yuanming just wanted to take a bite and then wipe it clean...
Yan Yunyun used to collect money to entertain his customers, but now that he is older and considers himself a loser, he does not want to be happy just by giving money, but seeks stability.
She had seen many people like Zhang Yuanming, and she quickly made a judgment. She knew that if he succeeded, he would be discarded like worn shoes.
Yan Yunyun thought to himself: "It's better to hang this old biting insect, coax some money, and wait for the opportunity to go elsewhere after the war is over. Who will eat whom? It depends on my ability."
She added a smile to her face and said softly: "The slave family has long heard of the talents outside the staff, and they can only ask for them."
The two of them had smiles on their faces, each thinking.
Zhang Yuanming pointed to the Seven Fairies Lake again and wanted to tell the story of the Seven Fairies and Dong Yong.
He was getting excited about chatting when he felt that Yan Yunyun in front of him was attractive everywhere he looked...
Suddenly, a maid came forward and said: "Alang, we have a visitor. It's the newly appointed Lieutenant of Li County...he's already here."
Zhang Yuanming was disturbed, frowned displeased, and murmured to himself: "Is that the sixteen-year-old Shuzi? He hasn't been here for two months since he took office, and he just came to pay his respects now."
"If you have something to do outside, just go and do the work and don't worry about the slave family."
"Everyone Yan, please wait a moment." Zhang Yuanming stood up, straightened his sleeves in a graceful manner, and then ordered his maidservant: "Take Lieutenant Li to the side hall to wait a moment. I will change my clothes and go to see him again."
"Alang, Lieutenant Li County has...already arrived."
"I knew he was coming and asked him to go to the side hall..."
"But, Lieutenant Li has already brought someone in..."