Li Rubai's concubine Yilanzhu couldn't help but be overjoyed when she suddenly heard that the Ming Dynasty had allowed her to return to Hetuala to pay homage to her parents.
After being told that only one mother-in-law was allowed to accompany her, her two sons were not allowed to go with her, and all the entourage would be arranged by the court. Yi Lanzhu nodded repeatedly.
This Jianzhou woman, who had just passed her childhood and was sold by her father into a political marriage, had long been accustomed to living a humble and ignoble existence in the territory of a foreign race for more than ten years.
It wasn't until the day of departure that Yi Lanzhu and her mother-in-law walked out of Li's house carrying their luggage, and they didn't know the status of the people and horses.
Mao Wenlong's concubine, Mrs. Shen, came to see her off and introduced Miss Zheng and Mr. Wu to the caravan, saying that they were members of their own family and wanted to go east to see the trade routes. There were many high-quality Hang brocades among Mao Wenlong.
The family prepared a gift for Yilanzhu, and the bodyguards on the car were several of Mao Wenlong's personal soldiers.
Yilanzhu recognized Kong Youde as a familiar face, and saw that Zheng Haizhu and the two maids were young and gentle, and Wu Bangdang was not a vicious boss, so she felt even more relieved.
Heading east from Liaoyang, the important town in Liaodong during the Ming Dynasty, along the winding Taizi River, across the vast river plains, and passing the famous military fortress Qinghe Fort, you can reach Hetuala, the Jurchen royal city of Jianzhou.
The distance of five to six hundred miles does not seem to be short. In winter, using horse-drawn sledges, a unique means of transportation in Liaodong, is not slow. It takes about ten days, and it can be used to worship ancestors on the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month set by the Jianzhou shaman.
Arrived a few days ago.
The weather took care of it, and the sky was clear for several days after departure. In the dazzling blue sky, not a single cloud could be seen, only the goshawk passing by like black lightning.
The wilderness is boundless, and the white snow covers up all the edges and sloppiness on the earth. The occasional gust of wind is not strong, but is like an elf playing a naughty magic game, bringing up a whirlpool of snow powder, which sparkles interestingly in the sun.
Golden light.
Even if you travel in the dead of winter, the pure and beautiful scenery is still pleasant.
Kong Youde was in a very good mood.
He sat on the horse, holding on to the flag that showed his identity to protect him from bandits. His fingers were stiff from the cold, but the soles of his feet were warm.
He was wearing the leather boots Zheng Haizhu gave him.
The suede leather and lamb lining were very solidly sewn and could not be bought without five cents of silver. It was worth more than half a month's salary for soldiers like them.
When he checked into the hotel that day, Zheng Haizhu called him to the corner and took out his boots.
Kong Youde was very embarrassed, patted the cotton-padded jacket on his body and said: "Master Zheng, the winter clothes General Mao gave us are very thick. I also have cotton boots, but it's not the first month yet, so I'm wearing old shoes."
Zheng Haizhu pushed the leather boots into his arms: "I know that General Mao treats you all as if he were his own children. What he gives is his, and what I give is mine. I have a nephew who is just like you.
Da, you two are somewhat similar."
Kong Youde grinned stupidly, then put on his boots with a stupid smile, stepped on the snow, and said curiously: "Oh, it fits your feet just right."
Zheng Haizhu said softly: "That is, can I not know what size my nephew's feet wear? I said you two are the same age. Since his parents are gone, I still have to take care of his clothes, shoes and hats."
Kong Youde raised his face, but stopped smiling: "Master Zheng, my parents are gone too."
"Why not?"
"It was exhausting to mine in Tieling. I thought I couldn't be exhausted, so I ran out and joined General Mao."
Zheng Haizhu was silent for a moment and then said: "People cannot be resurrected. Live well, marry a wife and have children as soon as possible, and my mother-in-law will be happy in heaven. Besides, General Mao raises you as his own father, so you have to give him a good life."
Good job."
Kong Youde said sternly: "That's necessary. The imperial court has owed us Liao generals food and salary many times. Every time, it's General Mao who comes up with his own ideas. Not only our own soldiers, but also ordinary soldiers. General Mao doesn't know what to do with those.
How much more powerful are the civil servants who have all kinds of birds flying on their chests!"
Zheng Haizhu was about to pick up the water bag to drink water, but put it down again, stared at Kong Youde and said: "Youde, what you said is wrong, isn't Zhang Shilang a civil servant?"
Kong Youde was startled and a little embarrassed: "Hey, that's right, the peacock on Shilang Zhang's chest is pleasing to the eye."
Zheng Haizhu put away his amiable expression and said in a lowered voice: "If you are virtuous and protect your country, military officers and soldiers will do their best. I never think that military officers are inferior to civil servants and should be bullied by them. But on the contrary, military officers are inferior to civil servants.
Come here, you military men must not disrespect the imperial officials. If you talk like a civil servant and say you are used to it, you may one day harm General Mao."
Kong Youde's embarrassment turned into guilt. He scratched his head, patted his cheek again, and said "oh" with sincerity.
He felt that Miss Zheng's words were neither fierce nor overbearing, but quite reasonable.
Zheng Haizhu looked at this boy who would become a strong general in the future. Of course, this boy didn't know at the moment that many years later, it was Sun Yuanhua, a civil servant of the Ming Dynasty, who decisively stepped forward to take in their Dongjiang soldiers when they were like lost dogs. However, in this time and space,
Now that she is here and has come step by step, it is in line with the plan, so she will let Sun Yuanhua meet Mao Wenlong and his men in advance.
"Youde," Zheng Haizhu's tone returned to a more submissive tone, "I heard you brothers talking about firearms today. How heavy is the cannon you are talking about to destroy the captives?"
"One weighs about ninety pounds, and a cart can pull three of them. We heard from veterans who fought against Pyongyang Japanese pirates that when fought in the wild, those things are more effective than tigers crouching and cannons. They move fast and knock down a whole area with one blast.
That’s a very exciting thing. Unfortunately, it’s very expensive and you have to use refined copper.”
Zheng Haizhu smiled: "What are you afraid of? Money is not saved, it is earned. By the way, after helping General Mao and others settle the matter in Fushun, I will let you earn a small amount of money. I will first recruit three hundred young people."
When Zhuang miners go to Shandong, I told General Mao that since you are originally from the mine, I would like you to help me find someone. I will give you money later and you can save up to get a wife."
Kong Youde said "Ah", and then his face lit up with joy, and then his joy was mixed with a bit of hesitation.
"Master Zheng, that mine in Shandong doesn't eat people, right?"
"Don't worry, it's a transaction in which I also have a stake. It won't be your Liaodong sweat mine, where you mine coal and use it as fuel for smelting copper and iron."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "That's good, it can also help my fellow villagers find a way to survive in the south."
"That's not it. Okay, let's feed the horses."
Kong Youde ran away happily.
Wu Bondang walked out of the shadows wearing a large cloak.
"When it comes to talking and ironing, it has to be you women. Why don't I see that this guy looks anything like your nephew?"
Zheng Haizhu stood up and patted the snow on his robe: "The words that win people's hearts come out of my mouth, and they are the truth. This baby is not bad. He looks silly, but he is actually very smart. It is rare that he has a pure foundation."
"
Wu Bondang agreed: "Well, Jing, just because of a pair of leather boots, you are not the only one who obeys me. Shan, you know better than to sell fellow villagers for a few dozen taels of silver."
Zheng Haizhu tilted her head, and Wu Bondang followed her outside the inn.
The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and the snowy field showed a fantastic blue color.
Zheng Haizhu turned around and saw the silhouettes of Yi Lanzhu, Aya and Mu Zaohua reflected on the south window of the inn.
She pursed her lips and said to Wu Bangdang: "As soon as I entered Liaoning, I was observing Aya. You are afraid that she is a spy sent by Jianzhou to the Ming Dynasty. In fact, I am also worried. After almost two months, I see that she is getting more and more...
She is getting happier and happier, and what she spends all day thinking about is how to buy clothes for the child in her belly. If I don't call her, she won't go to the busy place, and would like to huddle in the room, like a hen."
Wu Bond said: "That's good. But this time, I'm worried that she won't be able to control Yi Lanzhu. After all, she is a Jianzhou woman and is considered an enemy of her family."
Zheng Haizhu sighed meaningfully: "Looking at it from another angle, they are neither Yehe women nor Jianzhou women. They are just two women with the same disease. They have both suffered, so they can naturally talk about it. Yi Lanzhu
When I heard that her husband died and she was still pregnant with a child, her eyes immediately changed, like a Bodhisattva. You didn’t know it when you were in another car, but in the past few days, all I heard was the Yilanzhu Sect.
Ya’s Mother Sutra.”
】
Wu Bond said: "That's why we have to let Zaohua stick to them, lest Aya forget his feelings for a moment and tell Yilanzhu the truth."
For Zheng Haizhu and Wu Bondang, the advantage of Aya is language. Of course, this advantage cannot be taught to the people of Jianzhou.
In another four or five days, after passing Qinghe Fort, Wu Bangdang and another intelligence agent Li Daniu would head to Fushun City in the north to inquire about the situation, under the pretext of seeing a large gathering and getting business information.
Zheng Haizhu took a breath of the cold but refreshing winter night air, hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "When you arrive in Fushun this time, if you encounter the opportunity of Li Yongfang being near Chi Chi, don't be impulsive."
Wu Bond looked up at the moon.
The moon on a winter night is the only bright object in the world, as bright as the halo that once enveloped Amei's cheeks.
"I won't be so stupid. If I were so stupid, Amei would laugh at me in heaven."
…
After walking along the frozen Taizi River for a few more days, they met with General Zou Chuxian at Qinghe Fort and sent gifts on behalf of Mao Wenlong. Zheng Haizhu and Wu Bangde parted ways, heading respectively to Hetuala in the east and Fushun City in the north.
Go ahead.
Many of the inns outside the customs were opened by Jurchens.
Many shopkeepers were mercenaries recruited by the mining tax eunuch Gao Huai when he wreaked havoc in Liaodong.
They had saved enough money and no longer wanted to work hard for the leader of their tribe. They could speak Chinese, so they opened an inn.
Nurhachi was happy to use these inns to attract merchants in the pass and spread some news, so he did not let the Eight Banners soldiers harass them.
When Yi Lanzhu first saw these inns, she immediately felt friendly and enthusiastically chose the most magnificent one. She also flattered Zheng Haizhu and said, "Master Zheng, I have money, so I invite you to stay."
Zheng Haizhu naturally let her go.
The group of people was led diligently by the young man. After passing through the foyer, they heard the shadows of people moving in the courtyard and the sound of "swish" dancing knives.
Yi Lanzhu walked over curiously.
The man with a money rattail and a silver robe saw a woman in a flag dress out of the corner of his eye. He just thought she was an unruly female customer in the store, ignored her, and continued to dance with her knife.
Yilanzhu stared at him, the corners of her mouth began to twitch, and finally shouted in a trembling voice: "Agu!"
This is the meaning of "brother" in Manchu.
Mang Gurtai suddenly put away his knife and looked at Yilanzhu in shock.