"Everyone in Nanguan Village, do you still remember me, Zhao Junchen?"
Seeing Zhao Junchen's face and hearing Zhao Junchen's voice, the originally noisy people on the wall suddenly became quiet, as if something incredible had happened.
Last year, Zhao Junchen worked with the people of Nanguan Village to cull locusts almost every day. Most of the people in Nanguan Village recognized Zhao Junchen's appearance.
Therefore, they quickly confirmed Zhao Junchen's identity.
"It's really Mr. Zhao!"
As this voice sounded, the wall became lively again, everyone was shouting loudly, and their voices were full of surprise and excitement.
"Master Zhao is here! Master Zhao is here!"
"Folks, Mr. Zhao has not forgotten our Nanguan Village. Mr. Zhao is here to visit us!"
"Zhao Qingtian! It's Zhao Qingtian!"
"What are you still doing? Why don't you go and lower the hanging door and invite Mr. Zhao to come in?"
"Everyone, go and greet Mr. Zhao! Mr. Zhao is here!"
For a time, all the people in Nanguan Village were inexplicably excited, and everyone shouted loudly, as if they had encountered some great happy event!
Seeing the reaction of the people in Nanguan Village, Zhao Junchen's eyes flashed with complicated emotions, including relief and guilt. He was pleased that the people here had not forgotten him, and he felt guilty for everything he had done.
Just use them.
The movement on the wall also caught the eyes of Bao Wenjie, Hong Gaogong, Mao Jiadong and others, making them all shocked. They felt that the scene in front of them completely subverted their inherent concepts!
Is this the reaction that people should have when they see a notorious corrupt official? Why are they all so excited? Why are they so happy? Why did the people who were wary just now not ask any questions when they saw Zhao Junchen?
They have to lower the hanging door and let their team enter the village? What kind of trust is this?
Is all this due to the ignorance of the people? Or... Zhao Junchen is not a truly corrupt official?
For a moment, such questions flashed through everyone's minds.
At the same time, Zhao Junchen had already suppressed the complicated thoughts in his heart, turned his horse's head and returned to the crowd.
Then, Zhao Junchen stared at Hong Gaogong with a serious expression and said slowly: "I want to give instructions to those Jinyi guards under you. After entering the village, they must be more polite to the people and never harm the people! If anyone dares to
If he harms the people here, I will kill him with a stick without mercy!"
At this point, Zhao Junchen's voice slowed down and he added: "Convey my meaning clearly! Remember, my attitude is serious!"
Seeing Zhao Junchen's attitude, Hong Gaogong did not dare to be negligent. He quickly turned his horse around and personally conveyed Zhao Junchen's instructions to the Jinyi guards.
Soon, the hanging door of Nanguan Village was lowered.
Then, under the leadership of the elders and wealthy households in the village, the people of Nanguan Village rushed out. There were no less than seven or eight hundred people, including many old and weak, women and children, but the whole village came out to welcome them.
.
Zhao Junchen led three hundred men, most of whom were soldiers holding sharp blades. If they encountered such a team on weekdays, the people of Nanguan Village would never let them enter the village, but because of Zhao Junchen,
The people of Nanguan Village were not on guard at all and directly lowered the hanging door to welcome everyone into the village. Apparently they believed that Zhao Junchen's people would never harm them.
When Zhao Junchen saw the people of Nanguan Village appearing, he got off his horse and stepped forward to greet them.
After seeing Zhao Junchen's actions, Bao Wenjie, Hong Gaogong, Mao Jiadong and others hesitated for a moment, and then also dismounted and followed Zhao Junchen.
A moment later, the people of Nanguan Village had already arrived in front of Zhao Junchen, and then they all knelt down and saluted. Everyone expressed their welcome with excited expressions and mixed voices.
"Master Zhao!"
"Welcome Mr. Zhao!"
"Master Zhao, you finally returned to Lu'an!"
Zhao Junchen nodded and smiled, then turned his attention to the two leaders.
The first man is about forty years old. He is well-dressed and has clean skin. He seems to have read poetry and books for a few days. He should be a wealthy landlord in Nanguan Village. The second old man is an acquaintance of Zhao Junchen.
It's Mr. Wang! Unexpectedly, he has been elected as the elder of the village by the people of Nanguan Village. His status is very different from last year. I am afraid that the change in Mr. Wang's status is also due to Zhao Junchen. For the people of Nanguan Village,
Generally speaking, Mr. Wang has some friendship with Zhao Junchen, and this alone is enough to make him a prominent figure in the village.
At this time, the two of them also kowtowed to Zhao Junchen.
The big landowner looked frightened and said in a trembling voice: "The common man Zhou Dafu came to pay homage to Mr. Zhao! I didn't expect that Mr. Zhao came to Nanguan Village in person, but the grass people and others did not entertain him well and turned him away! It really offended Mr. Zhao's official authority.
, I hope Master Zhao will forgive me!"
On the other side, Mr. Wang looked at Zhao Junchen blankly, completely speechless. He was obviously extremely emotional, but his expression was extremely pious, as if the person in front of him was not Zhao Junchen, but
A god who saves people in distress.
After Zhao Junchen secretly looked at him for a moment, he quickly walked up to the two of them, personally stretched out his hand to help Mr. Wang, and then raised his voice and said to the people: "Dear fellow villagers, I, Zhao Junchen, passed by Lu'an Mansion today and remembered last year's events.
I just came here to visit everyone, so you don’t need to be polite, just get up quickly!"
After Zhao Junchen shouted twice in succession, the people in Nanguan Village finally stood up one after another. Everyone was still inexplicably excited and even more joyful.
As a high official of the imperial court, Zhao Junchen came to visit them. What an honor it was? Zhao Junchen was busy with court affairs, but he still remembered them, ordinary people. What kind of friendship was this? With Zhao Junchen's
After that, the people in Nanguan Village were even more grateful to Zhao Junchen, thinking that Zhao Junchen was the only Qingtian Grand Master in ancient and modern times.
After all the people stood up, Zhao Junchen turned his eyes to Mr. Wang, and said with a friendly smile: "I haven't seen Mr. Wang for a year, but his body is getting healthier!"
Wang Laozhang nodded repeatedly with an excited expression, and finally said: "Thank you for the great blessing from Mr. Zhao! Thank you for the great blessing from Mr. Zhao!"
Then, Zhao Junchen smiled and patted Mr. Wang's old and rough hands, and turned to Zhou Dafu and asked: "Are you a big family in Nanguan Village? You don't have to be afraid. Now is a sensitive period. People see
When a large group of cavalry is crossing the border, it is appropriate to be cautious. It did not offend me, and I will not blame you."
After hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Chow Tai Fook secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
After appeasing Chow Dafu and Wang Laozhang, Zhao Junchen finally expressed his request and said: "Although it is said that Lu'an City is another twenty or thirty miles away, I do not plan to enter the city overnight. I will stay in the village tonight.
I stayed here for the night, but I don’t know what you think? Of course, I have more people, which will definitely disturb the villagers, but when I only stay for one night, I will also compensate the villagers with some money, and they will never be free of charge.
live."
After hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Mr. Wang shook his head repeatedly and said in an excited voice: "Mr. Zhao, you are the great benefactor of our Lu'an Mansion! You are also the great benefactor of our Nanguan Village! Now that you have passed by Nanguan Village, don't
It is said that you are staying here for the night. Even if you have no intention of staying here, we will definitely ask you to stay... let alone staying for one night. It will not be a problem for you to stay here for three to five years! It just gives me the opportunity to wait.
You have the opportunity to repay your kindness, how can I ask for your money!"
On the other side, Chow Tai Fook was not familiar with Zhao Junchen, so he was even more nervous. He just nodded and said: "Master Zhao wants to stay for the night, and everyone in Nanguan Village will naturally welcome you! Well, you are welcome!"
But Wang Laozhang had already turned around and shouted to the people of Nanguan Village: "Fellow fellow villagers, Mr. Zhao will stay in our Nanguan Village tonight! Everyone, go back quickly, for Mr. Zhao is still here.
Lord Zhao’s guards are preparing drinks and meals, we must entertain Lord Zhao well!”
As Mr. Wang finished speaking, the people of Nanguan Village agreed with great enthusiasm. They did not feel that Zhao Junchen had disturbed them at all. Instead, they looked extremely honored and quickly ran back to the village.
, drinks and meals were immediately prepared for Zhao Junchen and others.
Seeing the reaction of the people, Bao Wenjie, Hong Gaogong, Mao Jiadong and others behind Zhao Junchen were even more stunned!
The common people did not need to be forced. They just gave a call and spontaneously entertained the officials and troops of the imperial court. The legendary officials and the people were like fish in water, but this was nothing more than that!
For a moment, Bao Wenjie, Hong Gaogong, Mao Jiadong and others felt incredible, as if they were in a dream.
After Zhao Junchen turned around to see their reactions, he couldn't help but smile, but he didn't explain anything. He just asked them to enter Nanguan Village with him.
Last year, Zhao Junchen personally saved the people of Lu'an Prefecture from despair, and later requested an order to exempt Lu'an Prefecture from taxes and grain. The people have never forgotten this kindness!
Especially the people of Nanguan Village, because Zhao Junchen personally slayed the locusts with them, they regarded Zhao Junchen as a god!
It may be difficult for Bao Wenjie, Hong Gaogong, Mao Jiadong and others to understand such feelings.
Under the leadership of Wang Laozhang and Zhou Dafu, Zhao Junchen's team filed into Nanguan Village.
Because of Zhao Junchen's arrival, Nanguan Village was already extremely lively at this time. The people were rushing to kill chickens and fish, and tried their best to entertain Zhao Junchen and others. The idle people contributed one after another, either arranging rooms, or
Feed for the horse piles was prepared, or tea was delivered, and the children in the village ran around the team, looking at them curiously.
As Zhao Junchen led everyone deep into Nanguan Village, every time he passed a house, he would see the people in the yard spontaneously salute Zhao Junchen again, calling him "Qingtian", "Good official", "Living Bodhisattva" and so on.
The sounds come and go.
Finally, Zhao Junchen came to the center of the village. There was a large open space here, which was where the villagers usually gathered. Not far away was Chow Tai Fook's house. Under Chow Tai Fook's kind invitation, Zhao Junchen, Bao Wenjie, and Hong Gaogong
The three of them will spend the night at Zhouzhai tonight.
In the open space, the villagers had placed many tables and chairs, and Zhao Junchen's position was arranged on a high loess platform.
So, Zhao Junchen, Bao Wenjie, and Hong Gaogong walked to the high loess platform and took their seats, while Mao Jiadong was busy arranging the team.
When Zhao Junchen, Bao Wenjie, and Hong Gaogong sat down one after another, Wang Laozhang and Zhou Dafu stood aside cautiously, seemingly intending to serve Zhao Junchen and others.
Seeing the appearance of the two of them, Zhao Junchen shook his head and smiled, and said: "We are just guests, and you two are the hosts. How can it be that the guests should sit down and the host should stand next to him? Please sit down, both of you. I happen to have something to do."
I want to ask you!"
After Wang Laozhang hesitated for a moment, he knew that Zhao Junchen's words were not polite, so he sat awkwardly on a chair, but he sat next to Hong Gaogong.
Wang Laozhang came from a humble background and had been working as a farmer all year round, so his body was inevitably dirty. After seeing Wang Laozhang sitting next to him, a trace of disgust flashed across Hong Gaogong's expression. He was about to move away, but suddenly remembered Zhao Junchen's instructions.
, so Hong Gaogong suppressed the disgust in his heart, and instead forced himself to put on a kind smile, and nodded gently at Mr. Wang.
On the other side, after seeing Mr. Wang's actions, Chow Dafu also sat down next to Bao Wenjie.
After Mr. Wang and Zhou Dafu sat down one after another, Zhao Junchen took a look at the scene under the high platform and saw that more and more tables and chairs were brought in by the common people. Zhao Junchen's entourage and the royal guards had already sat down to rest. At this time,
They were drinking water from the tea bowls sent by the villagers one after another. They were getting along quite happily with the villagers. No one was treating the people in a arrogant manner for the time being.
Perhaps, in addition to Zhao Junchen's order, it was also the people's initiative and enthusiasm that shocked them. Anyone with a little conscience must not have the heart to destroy the harmonious scene in front of them.
After seeing this scene, Zhao Junchen nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Mr. Wang and asked: "Old Zhang Wang, it is already the time of autumn harvest. How is the harvest in Lu'an Mansion this year?"
Mr. Wang quickly replied: "In reply to Mr. Zhao, there have been natural disasters in Lu'an Mansion in the past few days. Last year it was a locust plague, this year it is a drought, and the harvest is not very good! It is only about half of the harvest in previous years..."
Speaking of the latter part, Mr. Wang was already shaking his head and sighing.
On the side, Chow Dafu wanted to please Zhao Junchen, so he interrupted and said: "However, because of Mr. Zhao, Your Majesty has exempted Lu'an Mansion from taxes and grain this year. In addition, the disaster in Lu'an Mansion is not particularly serious, so the people
We can still eat, all this is the kindness of Mr. Zhao! Other state capitals without Mr. Zhao's protection would be much worse. Not only were they severely affected by the disaster, but they also had to hand over taxes and grain to the court. Now they have
Many people have begun to flee!"
Hearing Chow Tai Fook's statement, Zhao Junchen narrowed his eyes slightly, while Bao Wenjie suddenly looked angry!
In response to successive natural disasters in the northwest provinces, the imperial court also exempted taxes and grains for those state capitals that were severely affected this year!
But according to Chow Tai Fook, the northwest provinces are still collecting taxes and grain from the people?
The people have obviously suffered from the disaster, but the officials in the northwest provinces not only withheld money and food from the court for disaster relief, but also further levied taxes on the victims?
This is forcing the people to rebel! Are these local officials so short-sighted and crazy?
Immediately, both Zhao Junchen and Bao Wenjie discovered that the real situation in the northwest provinces was probably even worse than they imagined!