Southwest·Tent·Early morning on the first day of the new year
Su Ziji spread out the paper and wrote a letter home to Ye Buhui on the first day of the new year by candlelight.
"Unfortunately, due to the war in the southwest, the post station has temporarily closed private letter delivery. I have been in the southwest for a while, and I have not been able to send letters back. I don't know how to worry about me."
"Also, I copied several copies of my imperial examination experience and sent them to Yu Lu, Zhang Sheng and others. I don't know when I will receive them."
Although I live in the southwest and cannot compare with the prosperity and comfort of the capital city, at least I have Lu Fengyun as a guest and a pet as a little fox to accompany me.
I'm not alone anymore.
I opened the door and went out, and found that although the sky was brighter, the morning sun was not dazzling.
"Is it going to snow again?"
Su Ziji, who had experienced more than one snowfall in the southwest, breathed in the clear and cold air and felt much refreshed. After walking a few steps, he noticed that the wild man was coming over, covering his hands.
Su Ziji didn't say anything and just walked in the snow. The wild Taoist laughed and said: "Master, congratulations on the New Year - did you have enough food and wine at the banquet last night on New Year's Eve?"
"The food is okay. There are five or six kinds of game. I must have put a lot of thought into it. It's a pity that the people are not good at it. The drink is not enjoyable at all."
Su Ziji remembered what happened yesterday.
Last night, the two imperial envoys invited civil and military officers of the fifth rank or above in the army, together with Su Ziji and Shao Sisen, to have a New Year's Eve dinner in the hall of the village.
Although the food was sumptuous, Su Ziji didn't feel comfortable eating it. Who else was keenly aware of the eyes on the table staring at him coldly from time to time, fearing that he would not feel comfortable.
When the party was over, the owner of the eyes found an opportunity and said to Su Ziji: "Su Ju is a man of literary talent and courage. I know your name very well. Why don't you come and sit in my tent?"
Su Ziji smiled and declined: "Qian Shuai is too praised. I am just an ordinary scholar and I don't deserve Qian Shuai's praise."
"As for sitting in your big tent... please forgive me. There are too many things to do during the old age, and I really can't spare the time..."
"Forget it." Qian Zhidong's smile faded a little: "When I have time another day, I will invite you to come and sit down. I believe that Su Juren will not refuse anymore."
After saying that, turn around directly.
"Sir, actually you didn't have to refuse like that yesterday. It would have offended you badly..." The news spread quickly in the army, and even the wild Taoists heard about it.
"Oh?" Su Ziji woke up from a dream, glanced at the wild Taoist, and said, "Did you know, just in the past few days during the Chinese New Year, seven more cottages have surrendered?"
"I heard from the newly surrendered villagers that they can still cut firewood, but rice and grain are becoming increasingly scarce. The chieftains still have grain, but men, women, and children who are not soldiers have to eat, so they really can't survive."
"I dare say that within ten days, the enemy chieftain will not be able to hold on any longer."
"As soon as the enemy chief surrenders, Qian Zhidong's death will come. Why should I get entangled with a general who can't live for a few days? It will only make me angry."
"Speaking of which, have you been able to gain access through your identity as a businessman these past few days?"
"Yes, the two imperial envoys, Qian and Qin, have found suitable candidates. They are all soldiers with bad tempers and will explode at the slightest sign."
"Well." Su Ziji nodded and said no more: "I have made an appointment with Shao Sisen to go to the hillside to enjoy the snow. We will discuss the specific situation on the hillside."
It was normal for a businessman to wander around the military camp, but it was abnormal to stay for a long time. The wild Taoist turned around and left. Su Ziji watched him go away, then slowly returned, and heard a voice: "Is Mr. Su here?" Seeing Su Ziji looking over, Sun Baihu smiled brightly and cupped his hands: "Mr. Su, these are the New Year's gifts that Eunuch Zhao and I sent over. There are not many things, so don't dislike them!"
Looking behind Sun Baihu, he saw six soldiers carrying three boxes, probably all for him. Su Ziji thanked him and asked to carry them in.
Sun Baihu didn't go in either. He just smiled at Su Ziji and said, "Yesterday's New Year's Eve dinner was not a happy one. Why don't you and I drink together some other time? We won't be drunk by then."
"Definitely, definitely!"
"Then I have some errands to do, so I'll take my leave." Sun Baihu left very satisfied. It seemed that not only could he make a fortune, but he could also be promoted back home.
I just wanted to take a look, but four more soldiers came over carrying two boxes. I saw Su Ziji standing outside the tent. A man approached and smiled: "Master Su, this is the New Year's gift sent by my family. There is wine and bacon."
There are also fruits, two cotton robes, a pair of boots, and a mink fur cloak."
Su Ziji looked at the clothes and knew they were Cui Zhaoquan's soldiers, so he immediately thanked him: "Thank you for your help!"
When the soldiers moved the boxes into the tent, Su Ziji gave him a red envelope.
"It's the Chinese New Year, and everyone is in the southwest and can't go back. It's better to have a drink and get together. This is the money I paid to treat a few people to drinks. Don't dislike it."
Each red envelope contains two taels of silver. The red envelope was bought by Su Ziji from a Taoist shop in the county. It is made of red cloth and is used by local people to reward people during the New Year. The craftsmanship is average, but it looks very delicate. There are also common people
I like the festive pattern very much.
Now that I am not short of money, I have some broken silver in each red envelope, which is very convenient to reward others.
These soldiers are not considered personal soldiers. Although their military pay is not deducted in normal times, they do not have much oil and salary. After squeezing the red envelope, the smiles on their faces became more genuine.
"Young Master is so polite! My name is Wang Gen. If you need anything, Young Master, you can go to the camp east of the mountain village to find me. We brothers, as long as we are not on duty, we will definitely obey your orders!"
Probably having a good impression of Su Ziji, Wang Gen walked a few steps, suddenly remembered something and turned back, saying to Su Ziji: "By the way, Mr. Su, I wonder if you have any letters home that need to be sent back?"
"There was a letter delivery station before, but it was opened yesterday. We brothers took over the errands and sent some letters from our colleagues to the inn. It only cost one or two pieces of silver at a time. Many people pooled their money together to deliver it once.
Young Master, if you want to give it away, we can come together."
The cottage here is at least twenty miles away from the inn, and in this weather, the road is not easy to walk. One or two silvers for a round trip is really not much.
Su Ziji immediately said: "Of course it is necessary, when will you send the letter?"
"We'll set off in about half an hour," Wang Gen said.
"Before you leave, go to the small slope to find me. I will give you the letter then." Su Ziji thought for a moment, thinking that it would not be easy to send this letter back to the capital from the southwest, so he planned to write another one.
Wang Gen agreed.
Su Ziji returned to the tent, opened the two wooden boxes, and found that one box contained two cotton robes and a large cloak. The materials were good and the cotton boots were thicker than what he was wearing now, so he put them on immediately.<
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There were two jars of wine in a box, bacon, bacon, and two smoked chickens wrapped tightly in a few pieces of oil paper. After smelling it, it tasted pretty good.
There is also a pack of preserved fruits and dried fruits. This is probably the fruit Wang Gen mentioned.
I don’t have any thoughts to look at anything else, it’s just the same thing. Anyway, because of my status and rescue efforts, I will definitely have a prosperous year.
Immediately he wrote a letter and took it with him along with the seven letters he wrote. He also called for wine and meat, turned around and went out.