"Is it because Mr. Zhu wants to suppress the Han family, so our Ma family will just give up on our mother? Grandpa, I can't figure it out. Mr. Zhu is not a ruthless person. I will go and persuade Mr. Zhu to let my mother go now. If he
If I agree, even if I, Ma Chuang, are asked to work as a cow or a horse for him, I will be willing to do so!"
Ma Chuang's eyes were full of tears, but his stubborn temper made him hold back the tears. After he heard his grandfather's heart-warming words, this passionate man couldn't bear it anymore and cried in public,
After he finished speaking, he stood up and prepared to leave Ma Mansion to find Zhu Hansan.
"Come back to me!"
Seeing that his grandson didn't listen to his words, Ma Yuan was so angry that he trembled all over. He also knew that doing so would make his son and grandson sad, but compared to the huge Ma family, sacrificing a mere woman was nothing.
?
"Come here, help me get rid of the horse and rush in!"
Seeing that Ma Chuang didn't listen to him, Ma Yuan shouted directly to the guard outside the door.
"Young Master, I'm offended!"
Those guards were all old men who had been with Ma Yuan for a long time. After receiving Ma Yuan's order, they first confessed to Ma Chuang, then they all took action to capture Ma Chuang and escorted him to Ma Yuan.
"Father, Chuang'er is young and impulsive! Please bypass him this time! I will write a letter of divorce right now, right now!"
It had been many years since Ma Yong had seen his father so angry, so he was so frightened that he quickly spoke up to absolve Ma Chuang.
"Snapped!"
Ma Yuan didn't seem to hear Ma Yong's words. He stood up and walked to Ma Chuang. He raised his hand and slapped him. The loud slap made the others stay silent. They quickly stood up and looked at Ma Chuang nervously.
"Not convinced?"
Looking at Ma Chuang's stubborn eyes, Ma Yuan said calmly: "I'm not dead yet! I still have the final say in this Ma family! You kid really doesn't know the heights of heaven and earth, how dare you disobey grandpa's words?"
At the end, Ma Yuan also felt soft and changed the word 'old man' to 'grandpa'. (For the convenience of reading, this book will not use too much ancient Chinese, and the dialogue will adopt a more modern tone. If you don't like it, don't use it.
)
"I know Mr. Zhu is very capable, and he has many capable people under his command, but my Ma family is not bad either. My grandson really doesn't know why you sacrifice your mother to please Mr. Zhu? Is it possible that the only way to sacrifice your mother is to please Mr. Zhu?
How can people trust our Ma family? Grandpa, you underestimate Mr. Zhu’s ambition and ambition!"
Seeing that Ma Yuan's tone was a little soft, Ma Chuang hurriedly persuaded: "Grandpa, you don't know something. When we were attacking the bandits this time, Mr. Zhu once said such words and made such a decision.
In just half an hour, we gained the loyal allegiance of a hundred county soldiers!"
"Oh? Is there such a thing? Please tell Grandpa in detail!"
Ma Yuan's expression finally softened, and he sat back on the chair and asked softly.
"The thing is like this..."
After Ma Chuang hurriedly recounted what Zhu Hansan said to encourage the soldiers that day, he said with shame: "My grandson was a little confused at first, but after thinking about Master Zhu's words carefully, he realized
Mr. Zhu's ambitions are so great. How could Mr. Zhu with such courage and ambition be willing to accept the position of a mere county magistrate? Moreover, his grandson dares to conclude that within a few years, Mr. Zhu will be able to cultivate a group of people who are only loyal to him.
Excellent soldiers and strong generals.”
It took Ma Chuang several days to figure out what Ma Yuan had already guessed. When Ma Yuan heard the second half of Ma Chuang's words, a look of relief appeared on his old face.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to have such insight, Chuang'er. Tell me again, why does Mr. Zhu treat his soldiers so well, and why does he train such soldiers?"
Ma Chuang was stunned when he heard this. After thinking for a while, he shook his head and replied, "My grandson doesn't know."
"The number of county soldiers in Jingxian County has always been one hundred, and it has never been full. The time when we had the most county soldiers in Jingxian County was when Zhang Feng was the county captain, but at that time there were only seventy or eighty county soldiers.
Zhang Feng still had to take some 20 quotas, but why did Mr. Zhu ask the lieutenant for 200 quotas after filling up the original county soldier establishment when he took office? What is the purpose of raising so many soldiers?
Why? Isn’t it just to fight against bandits?”
Ma Yuan's eyes were full of sparkle, and he had obviously seen some of the world's situation clearly.
"Grandpa, are you saying that Mr. Zhu has recruited so many soldiers and horses for another purpose?" Ma Chuang looked puzzled. He didn't have the vision of Ma Yuan. Even Ma Yong on the side was confused.
, I even forgot to write a letter of divorce.
"In recent years, natural and man-made disasters have continued, and most of the people have been displaced. Jizhou is a little better off, but... haven't you noticed that the number of refugees in Jizhou has gradually increased this year?"
Ma Yuanruo pointed out something. He seemed to have remembered something terrible, and even his body began to tremble slightly. He said softly: "When grandpa was young, something like this also happened to the people.
Most of them did not have enough to eat and were displaced. In the end, they rebelled and many people died. Some aristocratic families were also affected and began to feel lonely."
"What? Grandpa, are you saying that the people will rebel?"
Ma Chuang's face turned pale. Ma Yuan's words really shocked him. He asked in disbelief: "How is this possible?"
"Huh, what's impossible?"
Ma Yong on the side did not take it seriously and continued: "When I come back this time, I am going to remind my father to prepare the family early. Our Jizhou is pretty good. The neighboring You, and some of the three Qingzhous are...
In this place, people who cannot afford to eat are everywhere, so many people are starving to death, and there are countless bandits and robbers. In addition, officials have been replaced frequently in the past few years. This one has just scraped off the people's fat and left the country, and the other one followed.
Keep up, if you continue like this, something will happen sooner or later."
"Yong'er, are you saying that there are more and more mountain bandits in other states and counties? Does the local government not care?"
Ma Yuan has not been out in recent years. After hearing the news, he was shocked. As someone who has experienced it, he naturally knows what this phenomenon represents.
"They don't care. Some bandits are secretly supported by the county magistrates, so that they can plunder faster and be promoted more easily. That emperor thinks about how to make money every day, and his heart is going dark. As long as he can afford it,
, except that his position as emperor is not for sale, any position can be sold. Father, take a look at these county magistrates in our Anping Kingdom. Which one is really promoted based on merit? Which one is not a purchased official position? This kind of official position is not for sale.
This situation can be seen everywhere in the world, but the food in the land is only produced once a year, how can the people withstand such layers of exploitation!"
Ma Yong was a little angry, and his resolute face was stained with a blush as he spoke, which showed how excited he was at the moment.
"Yong'er, we and other families should not talk nonsense about the Tian family's affairs! Since the world is already in chaos, after the new year, our Ma family will recruit some more people to add to the guard team!"
Ma Yuan frowned slightly. He suddenly found that his son was a little strange after he came back. He often talked about world affairs. Once he talked about corrupt officials, he became even more indignant. He wished he could find one or two corrupt officials to beat him up. Now it's even more...
He was scolding the emperor in front of everyone. This was a great crime of disrespect. Although the people present were all old people of the Ma family, some people would remember this in their hearts. Ma Yuan quickly stopped Ma Yong from continuing.
Talking about such a sensitive topic, the conversation then turned to the guards.
"Adding more guards? Wouldn't that increase the cost? If so, we would make a lot less money!"
Ma Yong said doubtfully.
"Okay, this matter is settled. Tomorrow morning, Yong'er, ask someone to go to the Shen Weapon Shop to find Li Hu and ask him to make sixty ring-shou knives for our Ma family." Ma Yuan obviously didn't want to get involved in this matter.
He was too entangled, and then asked Ma Chuang: "Chuang'er, what do you think of Mr. Zhu?"
"My grandson dare not speak nonsense about the imperial officials!"
Ma Chuang smiled bitterly. He had only gone out with Zhu Hansan once. The time the two of them got together was still short. If it were in the past, he would definitely make unashamed comments. But after seeing some of Zhu Hansan's methods with his own eyes, he did not dare to say nonsense.
, I just feel that Zhu Hansan is not like an ordinary official.
"Everyone, please sit down!" "Yong'er, Chuang'er, you guys should sit down too!"
Ma Yuan chuckled and stretched out his hand to signal the people around him to sit down. After everyone sat down, he asked with a smile: "There are no outsiders here. Chuang'er, you can speak freely. Even if Mr. Zhu is said to be a faint official, it's okay."
No one dares to say a word to the outside world!"
"Then grandson, please be bold and say it!"
Seeing that Ma Yuanfei was forcing himself to speak, Ma Chuang had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "My grandson feels that Master Zhu is not like ordinary officials who only seek personal gain for themselves. I always feel that Master Zhu really wants to do something for the people."
Thing! Let’s say he is a good official, but he overthrew Zhang Feng and Han Liao as soon as he took office. This shows that he is quite ambitious and seems to want to unify the county. Moreover, he has not enacted any benevolent policies; but
Call him a corrupt official! My grandson doesn’t think so. Let’s just take the Chenxiang Pavilion as an example. It helps poor people every day. Anyone who enters the Chenxiang Pavilion can receive a cake (store activity). Although the cake
It's not worth a few bucks, but Chenxiang Pavilion has been persisting for several months. After all, they spend a lot of food on it every day, which is really incredible. Moreover, my grandson also heard that Lord Zhu plans to stay in the city in the next year.
Opening a wine shop, inn, or restaurant, he doesn't seem to have political affairs at heart."
"Do you think Mr. Zhu is a bit lost in playing with things, or that he is a bit like our Emperor, who only cares about money?"
The sparkle in Ma Yuan's eyes flashed away. He never thought that his grandson would have such an insight, so he asked with a half-smile.
"Yes, Mr. Zhu gives me the feeling that... the reason why he became this official is to open a better store! But merchants are at the end of the spectrum, and the dignitary of the county does this kind of thing, which is really surprising.
Incomprehensible.”
Ma Chuang hesitated for a moment, nodded and replied. If Zhu Hansan had been present, he would have pulled Ma Chuang and shouted, "Bosom friend!" Ma Chuang's idea was also Zhu Hansan's idea at this time.
"So Chuang'er, what do you think of the profits from these stores opened by Mr. Zhu?"
Ma Yuan asked again.
“It’s like a bustling market with an endless flow of people!”
This question is simple. We are not blind. Although Wanmuzhai also produced the Eight Immortals Table to compete with Chenxiang Pavilion for business, Chenxiang Pavilion has a better reputation. Its after-sales service that is beyond the times makes Wanmuzhai and other time-honored stores far behind.
, Ma Chuang replied without thinking.
"Yes! Only in this way can the money come quickly!" Ma Yuan chuckled, and then fell into silence. Others did not dare to disturb them. They could only concentrate and wait for his next words. After a long time, Ma Yuan finally
Sighing: "This sixteen or seventeen-year-old kid is not simple!"