After daybreak, everyone had a good meal and left, leaving behind a dozen wounded soldiers and Liu and other imperial troops.
Rush all the way north.
Long-distance rapid marches consume the most horse power, and they must be fed with refined food and given proper rest. Qin Huaidao required that every time he encountered a post station, he should go in to feed the horses. If this was not possible, he would find a village and give him enough money.
Traveling a thousand miles a day and eight hundred miles at night is a telling story. It can be done by force marching 200 kilometers, but the horse will probably be exhausted or even disabled, and the man will be uncomfortable. Qin Huaidao asked to stop and rest at 100 kilometers a day.
About a month later, the group finally arrived near a village five miles east of Ganzhou City. Everyone was dusty, exhausted, and very tired.
The village is built next to the river, lined with green trees. There are faint sounds of chickens and dogs crowing, and there are also the sounds of children playing and adults shouting. The thatch is scattered in each room. Outside the village is a fish pond and mulberry field, shrouded in the sunset.
It's quiet and peaceful, it's like a paradise.
Qin Huaidao liked this place as soon as he saw it. He turned around and looked at a thin black man in the team. He was looking ahead nervously. The corners of his mouth twitched, which seemed to be a bit nostalgic and timid. He smiled and said: "Uncle Zhang, this is your home."
Bar?"
"Yes, you can't be wrong!" the thin black man said quickly.
"We're at your house, please lead the way so as not to cause misunderstanding." Qin Huaidao said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of gongs sounded in the village. The sound was rapid and loud. Soon, men rushed out with various tools as weapons. Qin Huaidao pulled the reins to stop and said with a smile: "Yes, I really misunderstood."
"Young master, please calm down. Ganzhou has a tradition of forming villages to protect itself since ancient times. Let me go and talk about it." The thin black man named Uncle Zhang explained sheepishly and urged him forward.
A large number of men rushed out, full of momentum, but all of them were in ragged clothes and looked like vegetables. Only a few of them were holding hunting bows, and the others were sticks, hoes, etc., without much fighting power at all. An old man shouted: "You guys are waiting.
Who is he? What do you want to do when you come to Zhangjiacun?"
Uncle Zhang quickly dismounted, knelt down with a pop, and shouted excitedly: "Second Master, it's me, Hei Wazi."
"Heiwazi, which Heiwazi?" The old man was a little confused.
"Zhang Heiwa, I am Zhang Heiwa!" Uncle Zhang's excited voice was filled with tears. The young man left home and his boss returned, but his relatives are still there. Who can not be excited?
"Heiwazi, my Heiwazi is back?" An old man squeezed out of the crowd, his voice trembling, wearing a patched clothes, bare feet, and holding a sickle in his hand. Suddenly his hand loosened,
The sickle fell, and he rushed forward desperately, shouting: "Heiwazi is really back, my son——"
The father and son hugged each other and cried.
Some of the villagers also recognized Zhang Heiwa, whispered about something, and gathered around.
Seeing this scene, Qin Huaidao felt a little heavy and depressed. He turned around and looked at everyone and said, "Uncles, when we go back this time, we will build a house, one room for each person, and bring your parents to live together. The house will provide money."
"Thank you, Master!" Everyone said gratefully, thinking of their parents at home and feeling heavy.
After waiting for a while, Zhang Heiwa calmed down a lot after venting his emotions. He pulled his father up and said sheepishly: "Young Master, this is my father. Dad, this is Duke Yi."
"I'm so polite!" Qin Huaidao jumped off his horse and shouted enthusiastically, cupping his fists.
"I don't dare, I don't dare, the common people have seen the Duke." The old man said as he knelt down and kowtowed, his face full of nervousness.
Qin Huaidao hurriedly pulled him and said with a smile: "Old man, your son is my uncle, so we are a family. Why don't you invite us to sit at home?"
"It is an honor for the common people to condescend to the country, but the family is really... really..." The old man was speechless and lowered his head in shame.
Qin Huaidao guessed that the conditions at home were too poor, so he said casually: "Uncle Zhang, let's go?"
"Thank you, Master!" Zhang Heiwa said gratefully.
The second master came over: "Hei Wazi, who are these noble people?"
"Second Master, this is Duke Yi, my young master."
"My dear mother... the common people pay homage to the Duke." The second master's face changed drastically and he quickly knelt down. When everyone behind him heard that it was the Duke, they were frightened and knelt down.
Qin Huaidao was helpless about this and quickly helped the second master up and said: "Everyone, please get up."
"The Duke has arrived, and Zhangjia Village has not been able to welcome him from afar. It is extremely rude. Please forgive me." The second master said nervously as he stood up.
"If you come without telling me, my father-in-law won't turn you away, right?"
The second master hurriedly said: "How dare you, how dare you. It is the honor of Zhangjiacun that the Duke of the country condescends to come. Please invite the Duke to the village so that Zhangjiacun can fulfill the friendship of the landlord."
"please!"
The group walked forward, and many children came out of thatched huts to watch, their timid eyes full of curiosity. Some village women also came out, holding the children's hands, for fear of bumping into the nobles and causing trouble, their eyes were also full of curiosity, but no one
Dare to ask one more question.
Soon, everyone came to a low thatched house with mud walls. The walls were peeling off and there were many cracks, allowing wind to get in. It was covered with thatch and the inside was bright and dim. A thin and dark little girl came out.
, with bare feet and messy hair, he quickly retreated into the house when he saw someone coming.
A voice came from the room: "Erya, who is here?"
"Mom, I don't know you!"
Zhang Heiwa heard the conversation and rushed into the house like crazy. Soon, loud crying could be heard in the house. Qin Huaidao couldn't bear to see such a scene, so he didn't go in and looked at the village. It was too poor, even poorer than Qinjiazhuang.
"My lord, please move to the ancestral hall. It's more spacious over there. The old man will ask someone to prepare some tea and food."
"Old man, how many households and people are there in the village?" Qin Huaidao asked rhetorically.
"More than 130 households, old and young, totaling 527 people."
Qin Huaidao waved Luo Zhang over and told him: "Take a few people to the county town and buy 6,000 buckets of polished rice and noodles, and ask the rice shop to arrange for them to be delivered. Just spend more money, and buy another 100 sheep, which will also have plenty of oil and salt."
Buy some and some fine feed for the horses. Go and come back quickly. Brother Qin will also go and help."
Luo Zhang looked at the miserable villagers around him and nodded knowingly.
Xue Rengui also saw Qin Huaidao's intention and was a little moved. The majestic Duke, with such a noble status, actually cared for a group of unrelated and unknown ordinary people. It was unheard of. Such magnanimity and kindness were admirable. What's wrong with following such a person?
Are you relieved? He immediately clasped his fists and said, "Here, young master!"
At this moment, Xue Rengui recognized from the bottom of his heart and accepted Qin Huaidao.
Qin Huaidao was a little confused when he heard the word "Young Master". Looking at Xue Rengui's leaving figure, he felt inexplicably excited and even proud. It was not easy to finally be recognized by a generation of military gods.
What happened just now? Did his sympathy for the villagers make him truly recognize himself?
At this time, Zhang Heiwa came out and said with a somewhat embarrassed smile: "Young master, my family is poor and I cannot entertain you. I will go to the second master's house to catch a sheep and bring it back. Please wait a moment."
"No, let them go to the county town to buy it."
Only then did Zhang Heiwa realize that everyone was not there. He thought of something and said gratefully: "Thank you, Master."
"There is no need to be polite between us. You go find some helpers to cook, and when you buy the things, treat the whole village to a meal. In addition, are there vegetables in the village? Find someone to buy some to mix with, and take the money." Qin Huaidao said and threw one over.
The bag contains some copper plates.
The custom of bartering is still retained in remote villages. Silver is almost uncirculated, but copper plates are OK.
The second master, who had been waiting nearby, said: "My lord, you are so polite. It's just some vegetables. They are all grown by me. How can I ask for money? I have not insulted the face of the ancestors of Zhangjiacun. Hei Wazi, you stay here with me."
Lord, I'll make arrangements." He said and hurried away.
Qin Huaidao asked curiously: "Your second master talks differently."
"I heard that when I was a child, I studied for a few years and worked as a shopkeeper. Later, for some unknown reason, I returned to the village and became the village chief." Zhang Heiwa explained.
"I see, let's go to the back mountain and see if we can find hops." Qin Huaidao suggested.
The two started walking towards the back mountain, and many children followed them, very curious.