After deciding on the plan, Tang Yun and Zhou Xin's troops divided into two groups. The former led troops to take Pujiang County directly, while the latter led troops to surround Zhengzhai Town.
Zhengzhai Town is on the edge of Baima Town. In just one hour, the army completed the encirclement of the Zheng family. There was no panic or overreaction in Zhengzhai Town, and it maintained a heart-stopping silence.
Although the Zheng family remained silent, all the officers and soldiers felt great pressure. This pressure came from the archway given by Taizu at the entrance of the town - the first in Jiangnan.
If you are brave enough, you can just come over and make loud noises, but it will shock people's hearts...
While Zhou Xin ordered the officers and soldiers to dig trenches and go to camp, he also ordered people to go to the town to announce their intentions. Mr. Zheng naturally scorned his so-called "protection", but he still sent his son to the military camp to express his gratitude and also raised a
He carried more than a dozen loads of fine wine and more than a dozen carts of live pigs to work for the army, and also brought with him an apology for not being able to come in person because he was seriously ill.
When Zheng Yan walked out of the Jiudao Archway, he discovered that there were deep ditches and numerous fences outside the town. The officers and soldiers were clearly on guard, trying to make it difficult for the people in the town to fly. Although he had long ignored life and death, seeing this scene, he
His heart still couldn't help but twitch...
After clarifying their intention, the officers and soldiers let them pass through the area that had not yet been closed, and deliberately led them through layers of fortifications before leading them into the central army.
After being informed, Zhou Xin did not try to be mysterious and quickly let him into the tent.
"The common people pay their respects to Mr. Jitai." Zheng Yan bowed deeply.
"No courtesy." Zhou Xin sat behind the case, stared at Zheng and said, "Please take a seat."
The guard offered a chair and tea to Zheng Yan, then bowed and left.
Only Zhou Xin, who was sitting behind the big case, and Zheng Yan, who was sitting opposite him, were left in the big tent.
The candlelight illuminated the tent, Zhou Xin was still looking at Zheng Yan, and Zheng Yan was looking back at him. The two were silent for a while.
After a long time, Zhou Xinfang said slowly: "I haven't seen you for ten years. I'm fine with you, old classmate."
"I don't dare..." Hearing the word "classmate", Zheng Yan said with a half-smile but not a smile: "I have been a common man in the countryside for a long time, but Brother Rixin is a nobleman of this province. He is the ancestor of the common people, and the common people cannot reach high." This is the honorific title of this era.
The county magistrate is the 'old parent', the prefect is one generation higher than the guardian's parents, and by analogy to the constitution of a province, he is naturally the 'great-great-grandfather'...
"You are still gentle and respectful." A smile appeared on Zhou Xin's lips, and he said in a rare warm voice: "Just like twenty years ago."
Zhou Xin's words brought Zheng Yan's thoughts back to the Hongwu period, when he was a direct descendant of the first family in the south of the Yangtze River, and many of his fathers and brothers were officials in the court. At that time, Zheng Yan
Along with the infinite natural scenery, even in the capital, where nobles gathered, he still enjoyed the respect of the stars and the moon.
At that time, Zhou Xin was an inconspicuous southern barbarian boy. He came from a poor family and was not talkative. He was often bullied by some playboy classmates. Zheng Yan couldn't stand it, so he often protected him. With Zheng Yan's protection,
Zhou Xin was not bullied and was able to continue his studies...
In the following years, the two of them interacted more and more and became good friends who talked about everything. They also traveled together, recited poems and wrote poems, gave pointers to the country, and promoted writing. It was not until Zheng Yan was in court after he graduated from school that
Zhong was a noble poet of the Qing Dynasty, and Zhou Xin went to the local government to serve as an official. The two wrote letters constantly and shared their feelings. Until the fourth year of Jianwen, when the Jingnan incident occurred, the King of Yan broke the capital. The officials in the capital were unwilling to serve the rebellious ministers and traitors.
After abandoning his official position and going into seclusion, the children of the Zheng family were deeply favored by two generations of monarchs, and naturally they were among them. Zheng Yan then returned to his hometown, studied behind closed doors, and served his old father.
Zhou Xin, on the other hand, continued to serve as an official in the Yongle Dynasty... Naturally, the two of them broke off contact. They had different paths and did not seek each other, and their former friends became strangers.
In the next ten years, the Zheng family naturally fell out of favor with the dynasty due to their negative attitude towards Emperor Yongle, and Zheng Yan gradually lost his halo and became just like an ordinary country squire.
And Zhou Xin's reputation rose, becoming the favorite of the emperor and respected by the people. The famous cold-faced Tiehan Gong was now the magistrate of a province and led an army to surround Zhengzhai Town. The life and death of the entire Zheng family were at stake.
in hand
Ten years on the east side of the river, ten years on the west side of the river, nothing can be more unpredictable than this...
I have a lot of emotions, but I have to return to reality in the end, even though reality is so cruel...
"They should explain to your family the purpose of my visit this time." Zhou Xin spoke again: "Brother Ziyan came here in person, it should not just be for the labor force."
"Taiwan Mingjian," Zheng Yan cupped his hands and said, "The common people came here to ask for three things."
"You can ask, but I may not be able to." Zhou Xin said lightly. There was no time to revisit the old relationship, so he had to put on a mask of indifference.
"Yes." Zheng Yan nodded and said, "Common people, I would like to ask you, since the army is protecting the Zheng family, why did they dig trenches and set up fences on the side facing Zhengzhai Town?"
"I don't know much about the arrangements of the army." Zhou Xin said slowly, "But I think as long as the Zhou family has a clear conscience, these things are nothing to worry about."
There was no way to ask any more questions. Zheng Yan then asked the second question: "Is it during this period that no one is allowed to enter or leave Zhengzhai Town?"
"No." Zhou Xin shook his head and said, "It's just that no one is allowed to enter. If anyone wants to leave, as long as they are checked and confirmed that they are not Mingjiao demons, they will be allowed to leave." After a pause, he said, "However, there is chaos outside now. In order to avoid danger, it is better to go out less often.
That’s wonderful.”
"Thank you for your kindness." Zheng Yan added: "But in fact, our Zheng family is not only able to protect ourselves, but can even help the army to regain the county. I heard that the Taoist believers are ferocious and fanatical, and they are defending the city. Uncle Tang has too few troops.
I'm afraid you'll suffer a loss, so please come to Taiwan and don't waste your troops for the Han family, and quickly join forces with your uncle. I'm willing to send two thousand soldiers to help the imperial court."
"It's good that the Zheng family has such a heart." Zhou Xin was silent for a moment and said, "But protecting the Zheng family is an order from the imperial court, and I have no choice but to obey it. As for the county seat, Uncle Tang has experienced hundreds of battles.
There are countless broken cities, so we don’t have to worry about it." He said with some sadness: "I live in Beihai and Nanhai. I can't send geese to pass letters to thank you. A cup of wine with a spring breeze of peach and plum trees, a lamp of ten years of rain in the rivers and lakes... Ziyan, we are ten years old.
We haven’t seen each other for years, I’ll treat you to a drink tonight.”
"There is still the second half of Huang Luzhi's poem," Zheng Yan slowly shook his head and said: "There are only four walls to run a house, and there are three broken arms to cure diseases. I imagine that my head has turned white after reading, and the ape across the stream is crying because of the miasma of the vines.
...I guess this is what you want to say, Rixin?"
Zhou Xinyan was silent for a moment, then Fang nodded and said, "Ziyan, do you have something to say to me?"
"..." Zheng Yan also fell silent. After a while, he shook his head and said, "No more."
"Zi Yan" Zhou Xin's cold face, which had remained unchanged for a long time, suddenly showed an expression of excitement: "Don't you understand, I want to save you?"
"..." Zheng Yan's expression darkened, and he whispered: "Zai Tai is too worried, and the mere Mingjiao can't destroy the Zheng family."
Seeing that he was confused, Zhou Xin finally said: "The Ming religion cannot destroy the Zheng family, but that person can destroy the Zheng family."
"..." Zheng Yan said expressionlessly: "How to say this, please let me know clearly."
"If I say it clearly, you can't leave." Zhou Xin lowered his eyelids and said, "If you don't plan to go back, Ziyan, I will make it happen for you."
After all, Zheng Yan has not been out of the mountain for ten years. Zheng Yan is no longer Zhou Xin's opponent. After hearing the words, he hesitated for a moment before he figured out the pros and cons. His voice was trembling and he said, "Please tell me."
But at this moment, Zhou Xin understood that Jianwen was at Zheng's house, in Zhengzhai Town. He slowly shook his head and said: "Forget it, it seems that I can't drink this glass of wine. You can go back." After that, he turned around.
Go over.
Zhou Tai came in and sent Zheng Yan out.
After Zheng Yan left the tent, Zhou Xin turned around. His eagle eyes, which always had a cold and stern gaze, were slightly moist.
During that time, Zheng Yan left the military camp and returned to Zhengzhai Town.
When he walked on the empty street, the ajar doors opened one after another, and the tribesmen looked at him intently. No one was a fool, and they all saw that the series of actions of the officers and soldiers were aimed at them.
Although they remain calm, they need an answer - why is this happening?
'Why is this happening?' Zheng Yan's mouth was full of bitterness and his heart was full of guilt. He couldn't face these eyes at all. He raised his head and looked at the bloody setting sun. He sighed deeply: "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
The tribesmen did not move, but someone whispered: "Uncle Qi, are Zheng Mai's words before he disappeared coming true..."
Zheng Yan's face suddenly became ugly. Before Zheng Mai died, he said that the K family was going to be destroyed. This was said by his family members and was no longer a secret in the clan. Added to the clues from the past,
Although the tribesmen could not guess the truth, they could clearly feel that the 'catastrophe of annihilation' mentioned by Zheng Mai seemed to be coming true.
"That's nonsense," Zheng Yan scolded with a dark face: "Our Zheng family is the first family in the south of the Yangtze River that Taizu personally sealed, and we share weal and woe with the national destiny of the Ming Dynasty. The national destiny will last forever, and our Zheng family will also survive forever."
Everyone in the court bowed deeply and said: "Everyone, please rest assured. If anyone in our Zheng family fails to bear the word 'filial piety', they will be abandoned by both humans and gods. After death, they will go to the eighteen levels of hell and will never be reincarnated."
Hearing his curse, all the clansmen relaxed and said: "It's so good, but what I'm most afraid of is that someone will do something evil, and it will harm us and bring shame to our ancestors. It would be a very evil crime."
"Absolutely not." Zheng Yan shook his head and said, "If I have something to tell everyone, I will ring the bell. Now please go back to everyone and don't let down your guard."
"Don't you dare disobey me?" Everyone agreed and left.
Seeing the simple and loyal tribesmen trusting him, yet he still wanted to hide it from them, Zheng Yan's heart felt like a knife, and he walked heavily to the ancestral hall, where he saw his white-haired old father standing in the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
, looking at the couplet written by Fang Xiaoru under the plaque written by Taizu, he was fascinated.
"Historians don't use the Spring and Autumn Period pen. The emperor personally wrote to Xiaoyi's family. The fourteen words are so powerful and upright."