"My lord, my lord, there is a group of unscrupulous people here who want to forcefully buy and sell rice from villains." Seeing the group of officers and soldiers, the shopkeeper rushed out of the shop door without saying a word.
Hearing the words from the shopkeeper's mouth and looking at the group of officers and soldiers walking outside the door, the villagers in Nanping Village were so frightened that their expressions changed.
It has become a habit for fishermen like me to be bullied by these merchants when shopping in Chengnan Town.
Now, the shopkeeper complained to the officers and soldiers outside.
If you don't buy rice, you will be caught and beaten up by the officers and soldiers.
The young and old at home are still waiting to take things back to fill their stomachs.
Even if I can't get my things back, I am still the mainstay of the family.
If you are caught, how will your family live?
Suddenly, everyone huddled together and began to tremble.
Zhang Erwa was also covered in chaff.
Looking at Xiao Chen, he stammered: "Master, what should I do, what should I do?"
"It's okay." Xiao Chen comforted Zhang Erwa, then turned to look at the people behind him, "Don't be afraid, everyone, we are here to buy rice, not to steal it, so don't be afraid."
Although everyone was comforted, they still couldn't stop trembling when they looked at the menacing officers and soldiers outside.
"We'll talk about buying rice later." A soldier pushed the shopkeeper away.
The leading Baihu didn't even look at the shopkeeper, and walked straight towards Xiao Chen.
He walked five feet in front of Xiao Chen and stopped.
He looked at Xiao Chen carefully, and then started to look at Duan Tianming.
After looking at the two people back and forth several times, he slowly said, "Who are you?"
"Master, these two are relatives of my family." Although Zhang Erwa was trembling, she stepped forward bravely.
"It's none of your business, go away." A soldier came forward and pulled Zhang Erwa aside.
"Who do you think we are?" Xiao Chen said calmly.
Is this because neither he nor Duan Tianming has the dark skin color of the locals, so he is being suspected?
Then what identity does he doubt about himself?
A merchant who privately purchases seafood, or a fugitive from the imperial court who fled from the mainland to the coast?
Judging from the aggressive look on the other side, it definitely means that the person coming here is evil.
Listening to Xiao Chen's words, Baihu frowned.
"Even if you are here to visit relatives, tell me where you are from?" Baihu said.
"Both of us are from the capital. May I ask, sir, are you satisfied with this answer?" Xiao Chen said.
"The capital? The capital is thousands of miles away from here. How can we have relatives by the sea? I think you should recruit them as they are. If you are really a citizen of my Ming Dynasty, I will never embarrass you."
People of the Ming Dynasty? Is it possible that the other party suspects that he is not a citizen of the Ming Dynasty?
Xiao Chen couldn't help but laugh: "Master, I speak the language of the Ming Dynasty, and I eat the simple food of the Ming Dynasty, so how can I not be a citizen of the Ming Dynasty?"
A soldier took a step forward, leaned into Baihu's ear, and whispered: "This man speaks with no Japanese pirate accent. He should be a common citizen of the Ming Dynasty."
Baihu still seemed a little unwilling, and looked at Duan Tianming again: "You, say a few words."
"What did you say? My brother has already said enough, what else do you need me to say?" Duan Tianming's tone was obviously not very friendly.
Without speaking, Baihu lowered his head, as if he was carefully feeling the accents of the two.
After a moment, he looked up at the two of them and crossed his fists.
"It seems that you two are indeed my fellow citizens of the Ming Dynasty, and you have been offended a lot."
The people in Nanping Village all had their eyes widened.
Why is this official different from other officials in other places? He actually apologizes to the people?
Xiao Chen and Duan Tianming were also very surprised.
It is really not very common for hundreds of households to take the common people seriously like this.
The hundred households turned around and prepared to leave. After walking a few steps, they stopped again, turned back and looked at the people behind Xiao Chen.
"Are you all from Nanping Village?"
"Yes, yes." The people answered hurriedly one by one.
"There's no need to buy this rice. Take it to the barracks for me." Baihu said.
Everyone was shocked.
We haven't messed with anyone here. Why don't you let us buy rice when you're so nice, and why do you want to arrest us and take us to the barracks?
They all cast their helpless eyes on Xiao Chen.
The good feeling that arose just now was gone at this moment.
Xiao Chen snorted coldly: "The official doesn't let us buy it, so we will buy it. The official wants us to go to the barracks, so we can only go to the barracks. Let's go."
The hundred households seemed not to have heard Xiao Chen's sarcasm. They turned around and headed straight towards the barracks.
"A bunch of poor and ruthless people, the only place you should go is the barracks. Bah."
The shopkeeper looked at the group of people leaving, spat on the ground, turned around and walked into his shop.
There were less than 120 soldiers in total in the 100-household camp. Apart from those standing guard and patrolling, there were only a dozen figures walking around in the courtyard of the barracks.
Seeing their lord of a hundred households walking into the courtyard with dozens of people, the soldiers stopped what they were doing and looked over in confusion.
"Get five liters of rice for each person from our army rations." Baihu stopped and ordered.
"Yes." The soldiers responded and walked into a nearby house with a closed door.
"Load it from another rice warehouse."
"There is new rice in that rice warehouse." The soldier reminded him kindly.
"The people in Nanping Village were plundered by the Japanese pirates, and even their houses were burned down. Taizhou Prefecture still keeps silent about it. We do what we can to be worthy of the imperial court's food and salary for so many years. We don't have any money to give them.
, we keep the old rice for ourselves, and put the new rice for everyone. It can be considered a little bit of our gratitude."
Looking at the soldiers, Baihu yelled loudly.
Hearing this, the soldier lowered his head in shame and walked towards the rice warehouse where the new rice was placed.
Xiao Chen, who was standing nearby, looked at Duan Tianming quietly.
The eyes of both of them were full of disbelief.
This change in mood today is a little too unacceptable.
When he entered the house, Xiao Chen had already thought about it. If these hundreds of households dared to be unreasonable to the people, he would not mind killing them on the spot.
But after hearing that the other party wanted to pack rice for free for the people, Xiao Chen felt guilty in his heart.
Seeing that the other party actually kept the old rice for himself and packed new rice for the people, Xiao Chen couldn't help but look at Baihu.
Nuo Da has a loose guard, and the commander has been sidelined. Qianhu is Zhao Wuming's manpower, secretly working against Dongchang.
Unexpectedly, when I accidentally came to the Baihusuo in Chengnan Town, I met a court Baihu who had the common people in his heart.
With a smile on his face, Xiao Chen walked to Baihu.
"Master Baihu, when you led people in a hurry toward us just now, did you doubt our identity?" Xiao Chen asked with a smile.
Baihu turned around slowly: "Japanese pirates are rampant, and your skin color is very different from the locals. After the soldiers guarding the city reported to me, I was afraid that you were Japanese pirates sneaking in to inquire about the defense in the south of the city, so I went to interrogate you. But
Your fluent Ming Dynasty words made me give up my suspicion. I was so offended."
Seemingly justified, Baihu once again crossed his fists.
"Master Baihu is devoted to the people, and the Baihu office he manages is even more vigilant. I am so lucky to have Baihu like you in the Ming Dynasty." Xiao Chen praised him heartily.
Then he added: "How much do you know about Japanese pirates, Mr. Baihu?"
After hearing Xiao Chen's praise, Baihu was preparing to be humble.
But when I heard the other party suddenly ask about the Japanese pirates, my vigilance suddenly rose again.
"Japanese pirates are not something that ordinary people should worry about. With the imperial guard station, you just have to farm and fish well."
Xiao Chen calmly said: "If you, Lords of the Hundred Households, know something about Japanese pirates, I hope you can teach them. Let's work together to catch all the Japanese pirates who invaded our Ming Dynasty."
Why do ordinary people keep talking about the Ming Dynasty?
Do you still want to join forces with me?
Is this something an ordinary person can say?
"Who are you?" Baihu's words were inadvertently respectful.
Xiao Chen raised his right hand, took out his purple plum blossom token from his waist, and handed it to the other party with a smile.
The emperor's edict to spread the world clearly states that the Plum Blossom Order represents Dongchang.
As for the Purple Plum Blossom Order, besides the purple-clad captain of Dongchang, who else is qualified to possess it?
How could Baihu dare to pick it up? He quickly patted his sleeves a few times and knelt on the ground with one knee.
"Zhang Xiaozhong, from one hundred households in the south of the city, has seen Lord Ziyi."
