After driving for several days, they approached Bozhou in the evening on the third day. When they arrived at Bozhou, Su Jin had to part ways with the large group of people, so Su Jin ordered to stay for one night at Majiayi, thirty miles north of Bozhou, and rest for the night before setting off on the next day.
Majiayi is a small official post. So many officers and soldiers were welcomed at once, which made the post staff very busy. Fortunately, everyone brought dry food, so the food problem was not difficult to solve, but there was not enough accommodation.
Individuals were crowded into a drafty room. How could these imperial guards endure this hardship? They couldn't help but complain endlessly. During the quarrel, they scolded the clerks and several servants in the inn bloody.
It was early winter, the weather was very cold, and there was no good place to rest. No wonder they were shouting. In the end, they had to cut down several trees and light fires in various houses, and then they calmed down.
Su Jin didn't want to care about them, so he invited Long Zhen to come to his room to talk. Naturally, he had something to say before leaving.
Long Zhen was really attentive. He carried a lot of firewood and started a fire on the small earthen stove in the house. He then magically took out a small oil paper bag from his arms. When he opened it, it turned out to be a roasted fat chicken.
.
Su Jin was surprised and said: "Where did you get this?"
Long Zhen said with a smile: "I passed by Fuliji in the morning and heard that the local roast chicken was delicious, so I bought a few just to reassure you. Two of them have been sent to the distinguished guests in the carriage."
Su Jin chuckled and said, "Commander Long is still careful. With your help this time, we can get twice the result with half the effort."
Long Zhen said with a smile: "What did the envoy say? We are both on errands for the emperor. What difference should we make? Come, come, let's have two cups of roast chicken? I thought the weather would be warmer as we go south, but unexpectedly
It’s not much warmer than Bianliang, and it’s still cold and makes people’s hands and feet numb.”
Su Jin said: "That's natural. This place is only three days away from the capital, and the weather doesn't change that much."
Seeing Long Zhen take the wine cup and bring out another jug of wine from his arms, Su Jin hurriedly said: "Didn't you say that drinking is not allowed in the barracks? There is no such rule in your Imperial Army?"
Long Zhen was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly and said: "That's right, I forgot about this, but this is not a war. I have to break up with you because of my humble position. I'm afraid it's harmless to drink two cups of wine as a farewell party."
Su Jin thought for a while and said: "That's right, then let's drink a few less drinks, but you have to promise me not to drink when we get to Luzhou Prefecture, and then to Yangzhou Prefecture. Drinking will easily cause trouble. This errand will be easy."
Don’t make any mistakes, if you fail, your and my head may have to move.”
Long Zhen laughed and said: "Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. Your Majesty is a young and talented person. This job will be a success immediately."
Su Jin waved his hand and said, "Don't take it lightly."
A cold light flashed in Long Zhen's eyes, and then he was covered by a smile and said: "Okay, just listen to the special envoy. After tonight, until Yangzhou Mansion, I promise not to drink anymore. Come on, special envoy."
Sir, the wine is hot, so take this drink to warm yourself up."
Long Zhen raised his glass to signal to Su Jin. Su Jin had no choice but to pick up the glass and drink it, praising: "This wine is really strong. After drinking it, your whole body will be on fire."
Long Zhen tore off a steaming big chicken leg and handed it to Su Jin and said, "What's the point? This was secretly obtained by a humble employee when the wounded soldiers of the Northwest Army returned to the capital to recuperate. It is said that they even used this wine to light fires and keep warm on the Yanzhou front line.
Just think about how intense it would be if it lit up a fire."
Su Jin clicked his tongue in admiration and said with a smile: "You have a pretty broad path, and you also have acquaintances in the Northwest Army."
Long Zhen chewed the chicken leg and said vaguely: "We are all Qiu Ba brothers who hold their heads up. How can we not know each other? It's not easy."
Su Jin nodded and said: "That's right, being a soldier is indeed hard."
Long Zhen said: "If you meet a good Shangguan, your life will be easier. If you meet some generals who don't care about life and death, the soldiers will be even more pitiful."
Su Jin chuckled and said, "I think you are a pretty good general, and your brothers are pretty good to you."
Long Zhen chuckled and suddenly said: "By the way, I almost forgot something."
After saying that, Xixisuosuo untied a cloth bag from her waist. It made a heavy clattering noise. She reached out and patted Su Jin in front of her face and said, "Your Majesty, please take this."
Su Jin reached out and pinched it: "What is this?"
Long Zhen said nonchalantly: "Brothers, I would like to give it to the envoy to buy some wine for you."
Su Jin was surprised and asked: "What does this mean? Where does this money come from?"
Long Zhendao: "Didn't the special envoy hand over the salary to the humble post the other day and ask the humble post to pay it on his behalf? It seems that the special envoy may not know that there is an unwritten rule in the army. Whenever you receive salary, you will be more filial.
Giving money to Shangguan is done according to the rules. Don't be too dissatisfied, the envoy. There are only about two hundred people in total, so there is nothing we can do about it."
Su Jin said: "How many are there here?"
"Each person pays 100 taels of filial piety, so there are 200 people in total. Three months' salary can bring us exactly 60 guan." Long Zhen said, squinting his eyes and drinking wine.
Su Jin said: "How do you get this money? This is the hard-earned money of brothers."
Long Zhen said: "This is a rule. You must accept it, sir. If you don't accept it, it means that you don't take care of your brothers. I'm afraid it will cause everyone to panic."
Su Jin frowned and said: "How can there be any truth in this? It's a strange thing in the world."
Long Zhen smiled and said: "My lord, you are not arrogant because of your humble position. I'm afraid you don't know as much about this matter as I do. In the army, there is a saying that generals are like Bodhisattvas. These money say
It is to honor you. In fact, in everyone's heart, it is to honor the Bodhisattva. If you spend this money, you can keep yourself safe. If it is returned, it will be a bad sign for this trip. In fact, who among the generals is willing to take the blood and sweat of others?
Money, but if you don’t take it, you’ll feel uneasy, and you can’t even fight or do errands, so what do you think you can do?”
Su Jin couldn't help but smile. Such an statement was really unbelievable. However, looking at Long Zhen's vow, it didn't look like he was lying. So he threw the money bag to Long Zhen and said: "In that case, you can just take it. I won't
I’m short of this little money.”
Long Zhen hurriedly waved his hands and said: "You must not take this money because of your humble position. If the brothers find out, won't they blame me for ruining their feng shui? Sir, please don't refuse. Everyone will follow you to do things. In addition to smooth business, I also want
Isn't it a peace of mind? By accepting this money, it can be regarded as a relief to the brothers."
Su Jin really had nothing to say. He said that he was offering himself as a Bodhisattva, which may not be entirely true, but the purpose of the soldiers giving him the money could be guessed. Who wouldn't want to be taken care of by the superior when they go out to do business?
As the saying goes, 'When an official talks, his legs will be broken'. If a superior official is unhappy, he will use various methods to torment people. Who wants to be tortured every day? This is a truth that everyone has learned through hard work.
It's just a matter of doing this kind of errand. If on the battlefield where two armies are facing each other, the treatment of soldiers who have paid tribute and those who have not paid money will be a matter of life and death. Not to mention anything else, you will be arranged in the order of the offensive formation.
In the first echelon, you basically lose half your life; if you are placed in the last row, with a little luck, you can escape unscathed, and the remaining salary will be meaningful to you.
Those who don’t know how to appreciate others turn into corpses with money in their arms. What meaning does money have to them?
Of course, Su Jin understood this truth, and what Long Zhen said was not without reason. When you follow the locals, do as the Romans do. Although he doesn't want the money, in order to make everyone feel at ease, it doesn't matter if he stays for the time being.
"In this way, I will keep the money for my brothers first, and then I will return it to them after the errands are finished."
Long Zhen smiled and said: "That is the business of the special envoy. I can't take care of it because of my humble position. Let's drink and drink. It's almost the first watch. We've finished eating and drinking. I won't delay you from saying goodbye to the ladies."
Su Jin said: "Where did the female relatives come from?"
Long Zhen said: "Your Majesty, please don't hide it from me. There are clearly two women in the car. Although their faces are covered, you can tell they are from the Tianxiang Kingdom. You are so lucky, sir."
Su Jin frowned and said, "Just pretend you didn't see anything that's not your business. I won't agree to it if it's extraneous."
Long Zhen's face turned red and he concealed it: "The envoy is so tender-skinned that you can't joke around. It's just a humble job."
Su Jin also realized that his words were too harsh, and smiled: "Brother, I am young and speak a little hastily. Don't blame Commander Long."
Long Zhen was polite, drank the last glass of wine, stood up and said, "My lord, please rest, you will go on patrol in your humble duty, and at the same time arrange for someone to keep watch."
Su Jin nodded and said: "Go."
Long Zhen turned around halfway and then turned back and asked: "Your Majesty, the special envoy, we will split up tomorrow. Now can you tell me what I will do after I go to Luzhou?"
Su Jin thought for a while and said: "Forget it, I will tell you in advance that I have 500,000 shi of grain in Luzhou Prefecture. Yangzhou is in chaos due to grain, so if you need these 500,000 shi of grain, you and your two hundred brothers will hire a big ship to escort them."
Going to Yangzhou Prefecture, this matter is of great importance. I thought that someone would tell you when you arrived in Luzhou, but since you asked, it doesn't hurt to just tell you."
Long Zhen smacked his tongue and said, "Fifty thousand stones, just to make you generous."
Su Jin said: "This is the grain collected by more than a dozen of my businessmen friends. This time it is presented to the imperial court for relief purposes."
Long Zhen said: "My lord, please rest assured. Even if I risk my life, I have to escort this food to Yangzhou safely."
Su Jin said: "Be careful and don't make any mistakes. Once something happens, our lives will be at stake."
Long Zhen said: "Don't worry, sir, but do you mean to take the water route?"
Su Jin said: "Wouldn't it be convenient to go down the river?"
Long Zhen frowned and said: "I'm afraid the waterway is a bit difficult, not to mention the endless tossing of boats on and off. When we reach Yangzhou, we have to abandon the boat and go ashore. There is a severe drought in the south. The canal can only pass small wooden boats. How can there be a waterway to transport goods to Yangzhou?
? Besides, the people and places there are unfamiliar. If we delay any longer, I'm afraid there will be complications. This is all food. Who wouldn't be jealous of the food now?"
Su Jindao: "I'm afraid it's even more unsafe to travel by land. With half a million shi, the largest cart can only carry a few hundred shi of grain. It would probably take thousands of trucks to do it. A small Luzhou can only carry a few hundred shi."
It’s okay, but where are there so many bullock carts?”
Long Zhen thought: "There should be no problem in terms of safety. I have two hundred cavalry galloping back and forth to guard. The road from Luzhou to Yangzhou is an official road. The road is dry and easy to travel. The distance is only more than 400 miles. We will reach Yangzhou within seven days; but
We need to think of a solution for this cart that pulls grain. If it doesn't work, we can just go to nearby prefectures and counties to collect it."
Su Jin thought about it carefully and said: "If you are like this, you can send someone to bypass Tianchang. Mr. Li, the magistrate of Tianchang County, is a good friend of mine. I will give you a letter tomorrow. You can ask him to help you think of ideas. In addition, Huainan
There are also many large trucks on the road. Just hire one. In short, it must be shipped in one trip. If it is not possible, we will take the waterway. Although it is a bit bumpy, there will be no problem of insufficient transportation capacity in the Yangzhou area due to the developed freight transportation."
Long Zhen said: "Come on, I'll leave it to the humble position. I won't be able to see you if I can't handle this matter. It will be done properly within fifteen days."
Su Jin patted him on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work. I'll go to Yangzhou for business first. When you arrive in Yangzhou with the food delivery, let's have a few drinks."