It is early autumn, but the heat of summer has not completely faded away. There is a gentle breeze, and there are many farmers with open chests, fanning the wind, chatting about home affairs, or finding a wine shop to drink a few bowls of village rice wine.
. nature novels
Market towns are not like ordinary towns, counties and villages. Tenants and farmers are busy collecting grain and handing it over to the landlords. Except for a small number of farmers who manage a few fields around the market town, most of them are busy selling business or delivering goods to Damingfu stores for collection.
live.
A few galloping horses broke the tranquility in the market town. The people on the horses were all wearing high hats and carrying knives. They were all dressed as deputy county yamen arresters. Several farmers were frightened when they saw that they were yamen arresters.
He hurriedly stepped aside and waited for the galloping horse to fight back. He put up his awning and looked into the distance, wondering who in the market town had committed a lawsuit and actually alerted the government.
These captains rode straight to the Xiao Mansion in the market town. Father Xiao, Manager Lei, Xiao Tang and others had been waiting for them for a long time.
Father Xiao was sitting in the upper seat, Xiao Tang was sitting on one side, while Manager Lei, Xiao Yi, Xiao An and other people in charge of the Xiao Mansion were standing aside respectfully. Although Father Xiao and Manager Lei seemed normal, they sometimes talked a bit.
sentence, but anyone who knows how to observe words and emotions can see that there is something strange between the two of them.
The captain of the capital, led by Zhuang Ke, led the way into the hall of Xiao Mansion. His face did not have the domineering and ferocious look that he had when he was hunting for thieves. When he saw Mr. Xiao, he hurriedly said: "Zongcheng County Cavalry Captain, Zhao Shen, see you."
Pass Father Xiao."
Father Xiao stood up and returned the greeting: "Excuse me, Zhao Dutou has gone away this time. If Magistrate Gong has anything to ask, just ask me to go. Why bother Dutou?"
The orphanage (nursing home) established by Zongcheng County, Anlefang (later renamed Anjifang, a relief medical institution), was located in Xiaojiaji. In order to convince his superiors, Mr. Xiao also donated a lot of money, so Zongcheng County
The county officials were all more respectful to Father Xiao. Zhao Shen hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "You're welcome, Father Xiao. What we do is just running around and working hard. It doesn't matter if we have to travel a little longer."
Father Xiao smiled and said: "Zhao Dutou has worked hard all the way, so you might as well have some water and wine at the house to relieve your fatigue."
Zhao Shen apologized and said with a smile: "It's not because we don't want to give Father Xiao face. After discussing the matter with Father Xiao, I still have to submit the acknowledgment document urgently approved by Magistrate Gong to the Daming Prefecture Inspection Division. It's an urgent matter and I dare not
hold up."
Father Xiao replied: "In that case, Mr. Zhao, please take a seat, Xiao An, and watch the tea!"
Zhao Shen thanked him, sat down and said: "Dad Xiao, in recent years, there has been no peace in the world. Bandits in the Green Forest are rampant. Several county and state capitals have even been broken into and robbed by thieves. Although our Zongcheng County is located in a famous place,
The government is nearby, but I am not afraid of ten thousand, just in case. County Magistrate Gong is deeply worried that thieves will disturb the livelihood of the people under our county. So he ordered me to travel around to inquire about the training of village braves and cooperation in arresting thieves. Our Xiaojiaji turns out to be
Since the candidate Zhang Dubaozheng is already old, I wonder who you plan to recommend as his replacement in the market town?"
Father Xiao nodded: "It turns out that everyone is here for this. This matter is no small matter. To do this, you must not only have some ability, but also convince the farmers in the market town."
Zhao Shen replied: "That's right. Not to mention that catching the thief is our duty. But Zongcheng County has many townships, villages, and prefectures, and the county government only has those people. If a thief suddenly gets into trouble,
It is inevitable that we are unable to do what we can, so I hope Father Xiao will think about this matter carefully."
Father Xiao looked around at the faces of everyone in the hall. When he saw Xiao Tang, he paused meaningfully. Then he lowered his eyelids and asked Manager Lei and other officials in the Xiao Mansion: "Do you have anyone to recommend?"
?”
The Baojia Law of the Song Dynasty was established: ten households in the village were one bailo, and one person was chosen to be the chief bailo; fifty households were one big bailout, and one person was chosen to be the chief bailo; ten families were one bailo, and the one who was obeyed by all was chosen to be the chief bailo.
Du Baozheng, with one person as his deputy, Du Baozheng, came to supervise the local heroes.
Although they are non-officials and non-officials, they don't even have a rank. But in the countryside, they have quite a lot of power, especially where thieves such as sdhb are causing a lot of trouble, or where they are located at the border, which is not like the peaceful and peaceful states and counties.
This Baozheng may be just a name. After all, no one wants to live in a place that is harmed by bandits and thieves, so he coaches Xiangyong, prepares some bamboo rafts, lassoes, and mugwort spears, and smelts iron to train troops to resist the bandits.
There are many mansions. In this Xiaojiaji, Du Baozheng has a position similar to "militia captain" to manage the rural soldiers, which can be regarded as holding the "military power" of the entire township in his hands.
After a short silence, Lei Ben coughed lightly: "Mr. Xiao, Mr. Zhao Dutou, I have someone to recommend, and that is Chen Si, the driver of our car dealership. He is good at playing with guns and sticks. In terms of skills, we gather in the Xiao family."
He is considered a good hand, and he works hard and diligently, and he can also be convinced by his bravery in supervising the countryside."
As soon as Lei Ben finished speaking, three or two stewards of the Xiao Mansion echoed his words. Father Xiao frowned calmly but said nothing.
"I don't think it's appropriate!" Suddenly someone said, there were only two people in the Xiao family who dared to criticize Lei Ben. Father Xiao had nothing to say, and that person was Xiao Tang.
Xiao Tang shook his head and said leisurely: "Then Chen Si plays money and gambles, and often fights with others and causes trouble. The villagers in the market town are just afraid of him, but don't respect him. If such a person does everything, wouldn't he be more arrogant?
domineering?"
Several stewards in the Xiao Mansion couldn't help but grin. To be arrogant and domineering, you, the brocade-haired mastiff, would have gone too far at that time, right?
When Lei Ben heard Xiao Tang's objection to his proposal, there was no displeasure on his face. He just said calmly: "What about Dong Xiaoyi from Xidong Shop? Dong Xiaoyi has a steady personality and is strong. No one usually talks about him.
no."
Xiao Tang rolled his eyes: "Dong Xiaoyi? Forget it, how can Dong Xiaoyi have a prudent character? His brain has been damaged by his addiction to drinking bad wine, and he can't even speak clearly. Let him act as if he is honest, and I can find out the number of people.
Consider his ability!"
Xiao An couldn't help but laugh out loud. He hurriedly closed his mouth, looked at his nose and heart, and pretended to be submissive.
"Oh?" Lei Ben's face remained calm, and he asked lightly: "Then what do you think the young master has?"
Xiao Tang pointed at his nose and said with a smile: "Well, who else can there be? I, the Xiao family, mostly take care of the collection of the Xiao family. I am also good at guns, sticks, fists and kicks. As the saying goes, it is the duty to defend the land and it is unshirkable.
Who else can do it but me?"
"Don't be presumptuous!" Father Xiao scolded: "The purpose of this election is to protect the peace of the Xiao family. How can it be a child's play? If you really do this to protect the integrity, you have to work hard. How can you be so cheerful and cheerful?
?”
Xiao Tang immediately put away his playful smile, stood up and bowed to Father Xiao, and said sternly: "My child is really determined to protect the peace of our Xiao family. I am ashamed to say that my child has always been a wanderer in the past and has never helped his father solve his problems.
Now the child just wants to do his part for the market town and has no other thoughts!"
Father Xiao snorted coldly: "Who knows if you are lying? Recruiting teachers to teach, regularly gathering villagers for drills, inspecting the town's equipment for security... Can you do all these?"
Xiao Tang patted his chest and said loudly: "Of course you can do it. The child is acting under his father's nose. How can he dare to be lazy and make fun of him?"
Father Xiao said a long "hmm" again and said: "In that case, I will believe it again." After saying that, Father Xiao turned to Zhao Dutou and said: "Zhao Dutou, although the dog is naughty, he also has a heart.
Do a good job in protecting Du Baozheng. I'll let him try it out. I wonder what Du Tou wants?"
Zhao Dutou was stunned when he heard this. Who can't tell that you two are playing a double act, overtly belittling and secretly praising? He has also heard about Xiao Tang's reputation in the past. Although he doesn't have a good impression of this Jinmao Mastiff, he still believes in it.
The position of Zheng is originally selected by the villagers. He just has a vacancy because the Xiao family collection is guaranteed to be upright. Come and let me know. As for who you choose to be the Xiao family collection, you have the final say.
?
Zhao Dutou replied with a sarcastic smile: "In that case, I will report to the county magistrate Gong and instruct the county officials to register the name. It is an urgent matter, so I will take my leave first."
Father Xiao stood up and saluted and said: "Then I won't keep the head. My son will send the head off for me."
As soon as Father Xiao and Xiao Tang sang together, they settled the matter with Zhao Du and left Lei Ben aside. Several other stewards in the Xiao Mansion could not help but look at Lei Ben anxiously, but they saw that he was not happy or angry.
After a long time, those with sharp eyes seemed to see Lei Ben sighing secretly. After rubbing his eyes, Manager Lei looked like an old monk in trance again, which made people suspect that they were deceived.
When Xiao Tang sent Zhao Dutou to the door, he stuffed five taels of silver into Zhao Dutou's hand and said with a smile: "I hope Dutou will take care of you in the future. These silver coins are not too frivolous. I will give them to Dutou and the catching brothers."
Have some wine."
In the Song Dynasty, this was a common practice, no matter whether we had something to ask for or not. When an official came to visit, the wealthy family would give some money to each other to establish a good relationship in case anything happened in the future. Although Zhao Shen, the head of the capital, was not a ruthless official in the fish and meat village, he was jealous of money.
, but he understood all these worldly things, so he accepted the money and said, "Thank you for your generosity, sir. Please stay. We will take our leave."
Zhao Dutou led a few guards to take a few steps, but he felt his hands were short when holding other people's money, so he felt a little embarrassed to leave like that. He turned around and said to Xiao Tang: "Young Master is responsible for protecting the integrity of the capital.
You must have a deputy security guard to help you. If you really want to teach the local warriors in the market town how to use guns and clubs, you must hire some gun and stick martial arts masters. I have some friendships with a few capable men. Please let me know if you need help, sir."
After hearing Zhao Du's first words, Xiao Tang remembered that although he knew a few fists and kicks, Xiao Yi's kung fu was only acceptable. As for Xiao An... he could be ignored in fighting the five scum. On the other hand, he was quite good with Lei Ben.
The few closest to him all had some martial arts skills. Although the helpers were determined not to dare to fight with him, the few who knew martial arts still felt uneasy, and it was time to hone their own skills.
After seeing off Zhao Du's head, Xiao Tang called Xiao Yi over and asked, "Let me ask you: How much does it cost to hire a gun and stick teacher?"
Xiao Yi pondered for a while and replied: "If a performing martial artist who can get a few pistols and clubs in the ordinary way is invited to the village, he will be entertained with food and wine, food and lodging every month, and he will not waste any money. After he has learned some skills, he will be given a dozen
Just use the money as money to thank teachers.
But there are some well-known heroes in the world, and if you want to hire them, you will be paid dozens of taels of silver at least every month. If you are accepted as a disciple, you will have to pay some additional benefits. There are also some famous Dazhuang Dazhai who are rich in money and food.
The teachers who are hired according to the quota actually recruit some extravagant warriors to sit on one side, and such teachers can also receive thousands of dollars in remuneration in a year."
If you are really at the master level and can earn thousands of dollars a year, then if you spend 100 dollars every month, this should be at the level of Shi Wengong from Zengtou City and Luan Tingyu from Zhujiazhuang... This expense is too high, Xiao
Although the government can afford it, Father Xiao will most likely not agree to spend such a waste of money on this matter. Besides, it is not so easy to find a master? Although there is Wu Erlang in Qh County, Xiao Tang is very unhappy with him now, so there is definitely no chance.
The idea of reaching the sky in one step is better to stop thinking about it and think about the situation at hand first. Xiao Tang thought about it and said to Xiao Yi: "Instruct the banker to set up a plaque at the north and south entrance of Xiaojiaji to recruit those who are skilled in spear, stick, bow and horse to teach
