"Everything is fine, everything is fine," Feng Erniang nodded repeatedly, "We are all fine, we are just worried about you."
Mother and daughter were all working in the textile workshop, and they were female workers from the same batch, so naturally they were not separated.
Only Feng Chuan stayed at the farm for more than two months and no news came out.
On the contrary, it is he who worries his family the most.
After hearing that everyone was well, and seeing that although Er Niang was wearing coarse clothes, her face was actually rosier than when she first arrived in Jiuyuan, Feng Chuan finally felt relieved.
Feng Erniang, on the other hand, saw her brother's bare feet and hands covered with mud. Her eyes felt hot and she choked with sobs:
"Brother, what about you? Are you suffering? Are you tired?"
It's definitely hard and tiring, otherwise how can we call it reform through labor?
But at this time, Feng Chuan, no matter how hard and tired he was, was still holding on - at least he couldn't show his timidity in front of Mr. Li.
Feng Chuan shook his head: "It's okay, I'm used to it."
Hearing what her brother said, Feng Erniang couldn't help but wipe her tears.
The two brothers and sisters met again and each talked about their situation since they were separated. Time passed by unconsciously.
After saying hello, Li Langjun, who was standing far away, came over and reminded me that the visit time was coming.
Feng Erniang was naturally a little reluctant to give up. She looked at Li Lang with a pleading tone:
"Li Lang, my brother is so old and has never suffered such a serious crime. Can't you think of a way to help him?"
Before Li Jian spoke, Feng Chuan's expression changed slightly.
Li Lang?
What Li Lang?
But Li Jian shook his head:
"Er Niang, you also know that I can only bring you here in the name of our relationship and apply to the Governor's Office for approval."
"Moreover, the army is the army, and the farm is the farm. Both of them perform their own duties. How can I help?"
Feng Erniang also knew in her heart that this matter was almost impossible, but when she heard Li Jian's personal rejection, her eyes became dark.
Feng Chuan on the side couldn't bear it anymore and asked:
"Li Langjun, what did you mean by what you just said about your relationship with Er Niang?"
Li Langjun coughed.
Feng Erniang's face suddenly turned red again.
I just heard her say a little bit:
"Just, just friends..."
Looking at her brother with a guilty conscience, Feng Erniang stamped her feet and became a little embarrassed when she saw his suspicious look that was about to solidify:
"Oh, didn't you tell me, brother, that this time, thanks to Li Langjun, I can come over to see brother!"
I'm not blind!
Feng Chuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then looked at Li Jian:
"May I ask Li Langjun where your hometown is?"
"When I return to Feng Langjun, my hometown is Nanzhong and I am not married yet."
After hearing the other party's last unnecessary words, Feng Chuan felt relieved for some reason.
Although I don’t know all about the other party’s situation, since my mother is willing to let him accompany my second mother, it is an attitude in itself.
Moreover, it is not an exaggeration to say that Feng Chuan is unable to protect himself now, and there is absolutely nothing he can do to stop this.
"Er Niang rarely endured hardships in the past, but when the family encountered great difficulties, she experienced all the hardships in the world."
"I, the elder brother, have no ability!" Feng Chuan smiled bitterly, "I dare not ask her to have lavish clothing and delicious food in the future, but it is enough to ask her to be safe and happy."
Hearing her brother's entrusting words, Feng Erniang was both ashamed and happy, but her eyes were red:
"Brother..."
"Please rest assured, Mr. Feng. Although Jian comes from a humble background, he once had the honor to hear a great scholar explain in detail how to be a scholar in the academy."
Li Jian's face was solemn, "A scholar has hundreds of qualities, and virtue is the first. Although Jian does not dare to call himself a scholar, he yearns for it."
After hearing these words, what else could Feng Chuan say?
With a long sigh, he said to Feng Erniang again: "Just do it for yourself."
Feng Erniang finally couldn't help crying.
Li Jian saw her appearance and sighed:
"I have inquired about it. Brother Feng's family is implicated in the crime and is not even considered a conspiracy, so there is no need to worry too much."
Naturally, the Governor's Mansion has considerations about who can mess with the exiled women and who they can't mess with.
A daughter from an aristocratic family like Feng Erniang, who is both beautiful and well-educated, can indeed be called a good match for frontier soldiers - if she hadn't been exiled, who would have been picked up by them?
"Although Brother Feng cannot leave the farm now, as long as he behaves well and works hard, he will have one day per month to go out and spend time with his family in six months."
Feng Erniang raised her head in surprise: "Really?"
Li Jian nodded:
"I remember Er Niang once said that Brother Feng also studied at home?"
"Yep!"
"Beyond the Great Wall it is cold and miserable. There are many Hu people and few Han people. There are even fewer scholars like Brother Feng. The imperial court wants to carry out education in Jiuyuan, but what it lacks most is scholars."
Li Jian looked at Feng Chuan, "So after the half-year observation period expires, Brother Feng can apply for an assessment to see if he can go to Dahe Gongfang School to teach."
"Dahe Workshop School?"
"Yes, that is the largest school in the Dudu Mansion. All the children in the nearby workshops, regardless of Hu Han, basically started their education there."
Li Jian explained:
"If Brother Feng can become a teacher, not only will he be able to develop what he has learned, but it will also be easier and the salary will be higher."
At this point, he lowered his voice slightly:
"Besides, Brother Feng can continue to study hard there with peace of mind. Once the five-year period of reform through labor is over, he will be free."
"At that time, if Brother Feng doesn't give up, Jian is willing to be a guarantor, and Brother Feng can use this to apply to take the examination at the Governor's Mansion."
"If I can pass the exam, even if I can't go back to the Fortress, I can still find a casual job in Jiuyuan. At worst, I can be a steward or something like that. At any rate, I won't have to worry about food and clothing."
The current superintendent of Dahe Gongfang School also happens to be named Li.
The difference is that Li Jian is from Nanzhong Li.
And that Superintendent Li was from Guanghan Li, that is, a direct descendant of the Li family in Shu.
Of course, the current Li family in Shu has long been dismembered into pieces.
In this way, it is impossible for Li Jianzheng to have something in common with the uncle in front of him.
After hearing Li Lang's explanation, Feng Erniang, who was wiping away tears, was suddenly surprised and happy:
"Li Lang, do you really mean what you said?"
Li Jian smiled casually:
"Do I need to lie to my second mother about such a thing?"
After Feng Chuan heard this, his heart was also pounding.
After staying here for nearly three months, what he saw and heard had already overturned Feng Chuan's inherent impression of the frontier fortress.
There are herds of cattle and sheep, and acres of farmland.
I heard Er Niang say that the workshop where she works has an endless machine room, and machines are working day and night.
If Er Niang is not exaggerating, then in this way, this ancient Henan land can be called the Little Central Plains on the Fortress.
Shangdang probably won't be able to go back. Even if he can go back in the future, everything there no longer belongs to the Feng family.
It's better to think about it now.
Feng Chuan had this in mind and was about to ask carefully. Unexpectedly, he heard the farm steward's shout from afar:
"Feng Bomao, it's time to go to work! The time is up. If you don't go to work, your wages will be deducted!"
"Brother, let's go."
"Brother Li, please take care of Erniang more."
"sure!"
Feng Chuan returned to the field and pulled out the weeds from the bean root.
After hearing the words of my future brother-in-law, I had gone through great changes and was almost despairing, but I quietly had some thoughts.
This kind of thought is like a weed, starting to grow wildly and uncontrollably.
------------------
Yecheng.
"Master, there is news from Xuchang."
Fu Gu, a lieutenant in Taifu's Mansion, walked hurriedly, holding an official document in his hand, and entered the house to report to Sima Yi.
Sima Yi, who was reviewing documents while lying down, raised his head and looked at Fu Gu, who looked a little anxious, and his heart sank slightly:
"What's the news from Xuchang?"
Fu Gu walked closer to the eucalyptus, and there was uncontrollable urgency in his tone:
"Mr. Manchu died of illness!"
Sima Yi paused for a moment visibly, his eyes fixed on Fu Gu. After a while, he asked with some difficulty:
"Man Boning (i.e. Man Chong)?"
"Exactly."
"Bah!"
The pen in Sima Yi's hand fell on the eucalyptus, staining the document with black ink.
Then it rolled around again and fell to the front of my clothes.
Sima Yi, who always paid attention to appearance and etiquette, seemed to have been drained of energy after retreating from Taiyuan to Jizhou.
At this time, his hair and beard were all gray, and his beard looked a bit messy as it had not been taken care of for a long time.
The bun on her head was also not neatly combed, and was loose and loose. A few strands of hair sprouted like weeds, making her look quite decadent.
"Master?"
Seeing Sima Yi's somewhat dull expression, Fu Gu couldn't help but feel worried.
Fu Gu was originally from the Fu family in the North. He was well-known in the world when he was weak. In his early years, he was made a vassal by Sikong Chenqun.
After Cao Fang ascended the throne, Fu Gu was moved from Shangshu Lang to Huangmen Shilang. He couldn't stand the behavior of the "Three Dogs of Taichung", so he said to Cao Shuang's brother Cao Xi:
"He Yan looks calm and innocent on the outside, but inside he is sinister and dark. He is greedy for personal gain and does not consider the fundamentals of his conduct."
"I conclude that he will first confuse you brothers (referring to Cao Shuang). Then the benevolent and wise men will alienate you, and the government will gradually decline because of this."
Who would have expected that these words would be known to He Yan, so He Yan found a small mistake and dismissed Fu Gu.
After Fu Gu was dismissed from office, he was already disillusioned with the court. Unexpectedly, Sima Yi heard about this and specially asked him to be a minister.
The completely different attitudes of the two auxiliary ministers convinced Fu Gu that the Taifu was the true loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty.
Seeing that Taifu didn't respond, Fu Gu couldn't help but raised his voice slightly:
"Master?"
Sima Yi seemed to have come back to his senses. He lowered his head, picked up the brush and put it away. Then he shook his clothes again with an apology on his face:
"Lan Shi, I just lost my composure, don't be surprised."
Seeing the Taifu's face old and tired, and his whole body looking messy and embarrassed, Fu Gu felt sour in his heart.
The Taifu devoted all his energy to the Wei Dynasty, even at the age of sixty and three, he personally led the battle to attack the Western bandits.
But another auxiliary minister, who was in his prime, was hiding in the rear and indulged in extravagance, and even framed Zhongliang and dragged down the front. It was really hateful!
But seeing the loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty in Fu Gu's eyes, he closed his eyes and sighed longly:
"The Wei Dynasty sadly lost its loyal ministers from four dynasties!"
After sighing, Sima Yi asked again:
"What posthumous title does the general intend to give Duke Man?"
"Not yet agreed upon."
When Sima Yi heard this, his expression suddenly changed:
"The Duke of Manchu was resolute, courageous and resourceful. He kept his troops outside and was devoted to his duties. He had the custom of honoring his father and worshiping his father. Unfortunately, he passed away due to illness. He should have decided on a beautiful posthumous title as early as possible to praise his loyalty. How can we delay it for a long time?"
Immediately he wrote a memorial and handed it to Fu Gu:
"Please Lan Shi send someone to Xuchang immediately."
Fu Gu responded, took the letter, turned around and went out.
After a while, he came back again and said respectfully:
"Master, we have arranged for someone to send it off."
Sima Yi looked gloomy, nodded, and then said after a while:
"In these years, thanks to Duke Manchu's dealings with the court, Xuchang has not cut off the food and grass for the Luoyang army. Unexpectedly... alas!"
Seeing Taifu sighing with regret, Fu Gu consoled him:
"Grand Tutor, Duke Manchu passed away at the age of nearly ninety. It is a great joy to mourn him. And now that we have escaped from Luoyang and are stationed in Jizhou, we no longer have to worry about lack of food. It is considered that Duke Manchu's help in the court was not in vain."
Sima Yi shook his head and looked heavy:
"What I care about is whether there is a shortage of food or not. But once Duke Manchu is gone, there will be fewer people in the court who can understand the overall situation!"
"In the battle last year, my attack on Shu was ineffective. I thought I would be accused of wasting money and food, but I didn't expect that it was even worse in Xuchang, and even Xiangyang was lost."
As he spoke, Sima Yi's face became more and more worried:
"It is rumored that Xiangyang fell because the general listened to the villain's greedy words, so the reinforcements could not arrive in time, which allowed the Wu invaders to seize the opportunity." (Chapter 1208)
Having said this, Sima Yi smacked his gums several times bitterly, his face becoming angry:
"I only thought that the Three Dogs in Taichung were greedy for money and corrupt government. I didn't expect that they would even dare to interfere in such a major military matter!"
"I can't wait to lead the army south to Xuchang, flank the Qing emperor, and kill the traitors in the country!"
"Tai Tuo, please don't be impulsive!" Fu Gu was startled and hurriedly advised, "The imperial court has just issued an edict, asking Tai Fu to control everything in Jizhou to prevent Western thieves." (Chapter 1265)
"If the Taifu receives the imperial edict and then raises troops to clear the emperor's side, I'm afraid that his justice will be doubted by the world, so it is better to consider the long term."
Sima Yi took out a breath and smiled bitterly:
"Why don't I know it? It's just that the depression in my chest is hard to get rid of, and my ears won't feel happy if I don't spit it out."
Fu Gu suggested:
"The Taifu has a large army, Jizhou has plenty of food, and Taihang is dangerous. As long as they block all the passes, what are the Western thieves to fear? The Taifu only needs to guard Jizhou and wait for the opportunity. Don't be in a hurry."
"It seems that since the overall situation of Jizhou has been decided, the next step for Taifu will not be in the south, but in the north!"
"north?"
"Exactly."
What is there to the north of Jizhou?
Youzhou.
Sima Yi nodded slowly and thoughtfully, then seemed to think of something, and his tone was quite helpless:
"How could I not know? Just a few months ago, I wrote to Wang Yuanbo (that is, Wang Xiong, the governor of Youzhou), but he never replied, so what!"
Fu Gu smiled and said:
"This is one moment and the other is the same. When the Taifu wrote the letter, the name of Jizhou was unjust and unreasonable. After all, Wang Yuanbo was also the governor of the state. How could he easily obey the Taifu's order?"
"But this time is very different from a few months ago. Today, Taifu's control of Jizhou is based on imperial edicts, which can be said to be justified. There are Western thieves in the west of Youzhou, Hu people in the north, and Gongsun clan in the east. There are dangerous enemies on three sides.
also."
"Youzhou is located in it. There are insufficient troops and no food and grass. How can An Neng resist it on his own? Taifu might as well write another letter to clarify the interests and consequences. I believe Wang Yuanbo will know how to choose."
When Sima Yi heard this, his eyes lit up and he stroked his beard: