Jiao Guozhao quickly bowed and said, "Second brother, this... big man will sit down first."
"Brother, please don't call me that. You and I have known each other since we were children. We are brothers who have been sworn friends for many years. To say those official names is just a joke."
Pang Yu held Jiao Guozha's shoulders and asked him to sit down before taking his seat.
The only maid in the family came in to look at the lanterns and prepare to serve tea. This was the house given to her by Tang Weimin. Pang Yu was rarely at home. He didn't even know the maid's name. When I asked about it during dinner, she only knew that it was
My mom bought it cheaply at Chengmen.
This maid was only fifteen or sixteen years old, a bit clumsy, and rarely saw the head of the family, Pang Yu. She was probably a little nervous, and her speed was even slower.
While she was waiting for the tea, Pang Yu sat at the table calmly and calmly, while Jiao Guozha was a little nervous and kept gently rubbing his hands on his thighs. The atmosphere in the room was a little awkward.
This clumsy maid finally made Jiao Guozha's tea, but she even forgot to close the lid when she left. Most importantly, she forgot to make tea for Pang Yu.
Pang Yu was stunned for a moment, and saw that the maidservant had already gone out in a hurry. Pang Yu shook his head and was too lazy to scream again. Anyway, he was not thirsty.
Seeing Guo Fengyou still standing at the door and nodding to him, Guo Fengyou stepped back and left the door ajar.
Pang Yu turned to Jiao Guozha and said politely, "I've just been back for two days. I had long wanted to invite my eldest brother over to have a drink and have a good chat, but things got complicated and I didn't have time yet. Please don't blame me."
"Second... brother, don't worry about it. We brothers don't talk nonsense. When you drink, it's your elder brother who should help you. Just come back safely. Just come back."
Jiao Guozhao rubbed his hands and forced a smile, "I heard that my second brother was promoted to Anqing garrison. He received all the flags and official documents and arrived at Anqing Mansion. I wonder if this is true?"
Pang Yu lightly knocked on the table, "Brother, who did you listen to, but Guo Fengyou?"
Jiao Guozhao waved his hand quickly, "It's not him. Zhafu, who was exempted from Pan Keda's guard, arrived in Anqing early. There are rumors in the Anqing government office that the squad leader from Tongcheng is going to guard Fucheng. People in Fucheng are celebrating. These news
They are all from Anqing, Guo Fengyou never said anything."
Pang Yu said oh, he actually already knew that the news came from Anqing.
When he returned to Tongcheng, he originally planned to hide it for a while until the official status of the Ministry of War came down.
But when they returned to the county office that day, Tang Weimin and others had already received the news. It seemed that the express delivery was much faster. It was estimated that Zha Fu had already arrived in Anqing when Pang Yu returned from Nanjing.
"I don't think it was Guo Fengyou who said that."
Pang Yu looked at Jiao Guozha calmly and said, "Guo Fengyou still knows what he should say and what he should not say."
Jiao Guozhao was stunned for a moment and quickly buried his head. There was a slight sweat on his forehead. He changed the topic and said, "I don't know why the third brother hasn't come back yet. But what happened?"
"Although Third Brother is a Bang Xian, he has gained some experience and talents over the years. Brother, I am also planning to make great use of him in the future."
Pang Yu looked at Jiao Guozhao and said, "Anqing is guarding this matter. I originally planned to wait for the third brother to come back and tell the eldest brother together. Now that the eldest brother knows, the brother simply told the eldest brother first. It was Yingtian Governor Zhang Duye who appreciated it and called him.
I went to Suzhou for an interview, and luckily for me, Master Zhang gave me this great promotion."
"Master Zhang Du..." Jiao Guozhao swallowed a mouthful of saliva and couldn't say the second half of the sentence for a while. At the level of grassroots government officials, a high-ranking official like Zhang Guowei was a legendary figure, and Pang Yu could actually meet him.
"Master Zhang wants a reliable and capable person to guard Anqing. I can't let him down, and I must employ someone who is reliable and capable."
Pang Yu continued what he said, "Pan Ke is a ragtag group of people. I won't use them. I always have to rest assured that I will take away those who are willing to go in the strong class. I will also take some of the things that are used in the fast class."
Jiao Guozhao was in the fast class. He quickly raised his eyes, observed Pang Yu and then said, "Well, this second brother, is there any vacancy in the second class of Tongcheng? Can you recommend it to the elder brother?
"
Pang Yu stood up silently and took two steps. Jiao Guozhao quickly stood up and looked at Pang Yu expectantly.
"Your Majesty, there was quite a bit of criticism about me leaving Tongcheng.
Recommendation at this time may be self-defeating.
Brother, you also need to change your perspective. Tongcheng is not near a river, and it is a place where bandits must pass. Staying in Tongcheng may not be a good future.
After the war, all businesses here were in decline, and things were no longer as good as before.
Looking at the situation in the city in the past two days, many foreign merchants have planned to close their shops. The wealthy people have gone to Nanjing and Anqing, and those with a little ability have also gone to Songyang. The surrounding countryside is also in ruins. What future do you think we can have."
Jiao Guozhao hesitated and said, "But if we go to Anqing, my second brother can help my eldest brother find a place to go."
Pang Yu walked over and patted Jiao Guozhao on the shoulder with a smile, "We brothers needless to say, the younger brother has the luck he has now because of the older brother and the third younger brother who helped him out in the past. You can't just turn your back on someone after a little improvement."
"That's a good feeling."
Jiao Guozhao's expression relaxed, and he laughed and said, "I just said that our second brother Pang is not that kind of person. Tongcheng is a bit unstable, so I will follow my second brother to Anqing to find a career."
Pang Yu smiled and said, "That's right. The eldest brother will first serve in our army. The salary in the army is not much, but the eldest brother believes in the younger brother. I always have a way to make more money, and so does Master Pi."
I know from old times that the prosperous world in Anqing Prefecture is nowhere more comfortable than Tongcheng."
"Then what position does our old Jiao hold in the second brother's army? Let me think about it, the second brother is a garrison, how can we be a central army, a thousand households or something."
"There are hundreds of generals in the army, generals, and thousands of households, but only the Anqing Guards have it. They are not the same as our camp soldiers. If the eldest brother insists on being a soldier, the younger brother can just go and talk to him when the time comes. The Anqing Guards are also under garrison jurisdiction.
of."
Jiao Guozha laughed twice and said, "Even the Anqing Guard has been put under the jurisdiction of my younger brother, with Magistrate Youpi taking care of it. The gentry have all gone to Nanjing. This Anqing Prefecture has not yet become our three brothers, and no one dares to provoke it."
"Exactly, if we open another Baishuntang in Anqing, we will definitely make more money than in Tongcheng."
Jiao Guozhao cupped his hands and said, "Let's go back and tell our families right away, pack up and go to Anqing with my second brother."
Pang Yu sent him to the door and saw Pang Ding waiting there. When he saw Jiao Guozha, he smiled and nodded as a greeting.
Jiao Guozhao excitedly slapped Pang Ding on the shoulder, "Brother Xiao Pang, we will still eat from the same pot from now on."
Without waiting for Ponting's response, he strode out.
Pang Yu put away her smile and returned to the house. Pang Ding quickly followed in. Guo Fengyou closed the door again outside.
"Master, do you really want to take Jiao Guozhao to the army?
He treats us like this, why should the young master give him a way out?"
The firelight in the lantern in the room became weaker. Pang Yu did not answer, but stared at the shadow on the ground in silence for a moment, then turned to look at Pang Ding, "How is the news?"
"After Ruan Jin inquired for two days, it was said that Jiao Guozhao's house had been given to a student named Tang, and he was forced to move out of the mansion. Regarding the matter of Yunji Temple, it was Liu Xiucai who came forward to let him continue to live in the house. The exchange is to speak out about the civil unrest.
Jiao Guozhao was still borrowing money from Baishuntang to play games. He had a hundred taels in front of him that he had not repaid, so the shopkeeper stopped lending it to him. Recently, he went to Liu Xiucai to borrow a few hundred taels. Liu Xiucai had just started to press for debts, and he was eager to Leave Tongcheng early."
After Pang Ding finished speaking, he said worriedly, "The matter of Yunji Temple is still being circulated in Tongcheng City. If it spreads to Fucheng or Prince Bi, it will arouse people's hatred. After all, we are taking it under the nose of Chizhou soldiers." After taking away the money, the young master is under the jurisdiction of Anchi Bingbeidao, I'm afraid he will target the young master."
Pang Yu shook his head and said, "Don't worry too much about a little rumor. Let Ruan Jin send people to spread it in the city, saying that the fire-free silver was brought down the mountain by Huang Wending that day and was recruited by Liu Xiucai and Fang Yinggan to commit robbery.
In addition, I made up a story about the robbery by Chizhou soldiers, and said that someone in Liantan saw several carriages going to Anqing the next day."
Pang Ding asked strangely, "Why do we need to compile a set of Chizhou soldiers?"
"Chizhou Bing was originally the most suspect. If he spreads more rumors and muddies the water, others will not know who to believe. After a while, no one will pay attention to him.
Send someone to tell Liu Ruogu and spread the word in Anqing Mansion."
Pang Yu pondered for a while and then asked, "How many people in the fast class are willing to follow me?"
"Most of the express trainees are from Tongcheng County. Their parents are here, so I'm afraid not many will be able to follow.
The captains haven't been decided yet, Jiang Fan hasn't asked in Fucheng yet, Ruan Jin said he would discuss it with his family, He Xianya didn't come back, and only Jiao Guozhao was here just now."
Pang Ding bit his lip, "It's useless to go to such a person. The young master gave him six thousand taels that day, and Jiao Guozha almost lost it in half a year. If you give the young master this money, you can do a lot of things."
Pang Yu glanced at Pang Ding and said, "If you give it to him, it's his. What Jiao Guozha uses is his business. He can throw it into the river if he wants."
It's our business to just talk about Yunji Temple."
Pang Ding buried his head and said, "This man is unreliable. Why did the young master take him to Anqing?"
"Always useful."
Pang Yu narrowed her eyes, "What are the wishes of the leaders of the strong squad?"
Pang Ding looked back and saw that the door was still closed, so he lowered his voice and said, "Among the six teams, five of them agreed on the spot to join the army with the young master. Only Wang Zenglu said that he would consider it. He has not replied yet. The team leader At least 80% of them have already agreed. Among the strong men, I haven't asked yet, but most of them have been recruited recently. They all hate rogue bandits. If the young master wants to lead them to kill the rogue bandits, they will definitely go with the young master."
"Are they paying half the salary now?"
"It's all half the rate the young master said."
Pang Yu nodded and let out a long sigh, "Now go and inform the strong class to cancel tomorrow morning's training. I will set up a flag in the East Garden tomorrow morning. Those who are willing to join the army will come and wait for inspection."
Pang Ding responded and hurried out to the Ye family's old house.
The light of the lantern was about to go out, and the room was dark and quiet. Pang Yu turned his gaze to the left. The dim light reflected Pang Yu's changing eyes. The teacup that Jiao Guozha had not drank from was still there.
The flame shook twice and finally went out. The only light in the room disappeared, and Pang Yu's figure was submerged in darkness.