Hanhou

In the early Han Dynasty, Huang Lao was admired and advocated governance by doing nothing.The imperial court adopted light corvees and thin taxes to rest with the people.

After the Zhulu Rebellion ended, Emperor Wen ascended the throne and reduced land taxes, corvees and penalties many times.Emperor Jing continued the idea of ​​governing the country of Emperor Wen, which made the treasury more prosperous, the granary was full, the treasury was piled up with copper coins, the horse farms in the border counties continued to expand, and there were tens of thousands of war horses available.

Seeking truth from facts, Emperor Wu was able to drive northward to the grasslands and rub the Xiongnu on the ground, which is absolutely inseparable from the rich family wealth accumulated by the Wen and Jing dynasties.

According to Zhao Jia's idea, the rewards given by Emperor Jing will definitely not be small. At the very least, there should be several thousand dollars.Facts have proved that he still underestimated the imperial court's emphasis on farming.

"Forty thousand dollars?"

After the decree was read out, and the golden copper coins were raised in front of his eyes, Zhao Jia still had a sense of unreality.

With the existing official system, Emperor Han Jing almost gave him an official in disguise.

If it wasn't for Zhao Jia's age, he could pack up and report to Chang'an immediately, and become a glorious "Han Dynasty alternate civil servant" just like Zhang Cigong.

But Zhao Jia also knew that Wei Shang must be involved in this.Otherwise, as a 14-year-old boy, he may not really be able to keep this credit.Even if you keep it, the reward may not be so rich.

After receiving the money, Zhao Jia's mission was considered complete, and he left the room with Wei Yue.The officials from Chang'an didn't pay much attention to him, they were more interested in learning about the border wars from Wei Shang in case the emperor asked him.

When walking down the corridor, the warm wind blew head-on, Zhao Jia let out a breath, looked up at the blue sky, and felt down-to-earth again.

"Is it better?" Wei Yue smiled.

Zhao Jia nodded, glanced at the cash box carried by the servant, not because the occasion was wrong, and even wanted to raise his fist and roar a few times.

"If Ah Duo was older, he could have been promoted this time."

"The third son is joking." Zhao Jia grinned.

Zhao Gongcao was knighted for his military exploits, so it is understandable that he inherited his father's title and land and family business.However, if the title is raised to another level, he can become a doctor. Not to mention anything else, considering his age and family background, it is very inappropriate, even if he offers a good method of taming cattle.

"The rewards from the Son of Heaven are already very generous, if there are more rewards, it would be a shame to receive them." Zhao Jia said.

"Ado is the same as when he was young, too easy to be satisfied." Wei Yue sighed, brushed Zhao Jia's temple with one hand, and flicked on his forehead.

Zhao Jia didn't dodge, touched the place where it was bounced, just shook his head.It doesn't matter whether he is satisfied or not, he just recognizes the reality and understands what kind of choice is better for him.

"Ah Weng said a few days ago that the new plow is good for plowing cattle, so it should be played in Chang'an." Wei Yue looked at Zhao Jia and said with a smile, "What do you think?"

"Third Young Master, can you not mention me about this matter?"

"Why?"

"Jia doesn't want to win again."

While talking, the two walked to the front yard, and the copper coins rewarded by the emperor were also carried by the health servants, and loaded onto the cart parked in front of the door.

"I will tell Ah Weng about the plowing. Even if there is trouble, Ah Duo doesn't need to worry about it. In this place in the clouds, no one can bother you." Wei Yue stood in front of the door and handed a wooden sign to Zhao Jia , "From next month, I will go to Yuanyang City to train troops. If there is something important, I can order someone to bring this thing to the barracks to find me."

"Thank you, Third Young Master." Zhao Jia took the wooden sign and put it away carefully.

"Aduo isn't being polite to me anymore?" Wei Yue's eyebrows stretched, and she became more and more gentlemanly, gentle and harmless.

"The three sons have helped each other many times, and Jia knows what is good or bad." Zhao Jia told the truth.

Wei Yue raised her hand, as if she wanted to pat Zhao Jia's head.It suddenly stopped halfway, and turned to fall on his shoulder: "After this year, Hoduo will be fifteen."

Zhao Jia was slightly surprised.

Why did you mention this suddenly?

"I still remember when I first met Ah Duo, Ah Duo was only this tall, and he was very likable." Wei Yue gestured with his hand, his tone full of nostalgia.

Zhao Jia didn't say a word. To him, that memory was simply black history.

When we first met, he had a good impression of Wei Yue.The ten-year-old boy was as tall and slender as a green bamboo, his eyes were as bright as stars, his smile was kind, and his voice was particularly sweet, as if all the beautiful adjectives in the world could be applied to him.

Unfortunately, this happiness did not last long.

Zhao Gongcao was summoned by Wei Taishou to discuss matters, and he immediately became a young man's hand stove, being carried around like a big baby.When he realized it, he had already become the mascot in Wei Yue's study, and was taught to write hand in hand.

Zhao Gongcao was very pleased and thanked Mr. Wei San for his willingness to teach the children!

Thinking of Wei Yue's smile at that time, Zhao Jia reaffirmed that no matter how harmless the face was, this person's insides were darker than Mo, since he was a child!

The healthy servant tied the rope, and brought a sackcloth to cover the cart.

When everything was settled, Zhao Jia bid farewell to Wei Yue and prepared to go home.Ji Bao and others got into the cart and followed behind Zhao Jia.Wei Yue dispatched five guards from the mansion to escort Zhao Jia back to the village.

The team passed through the city and encountered a caravan led by Wuhuan people.Zhao Jia looked more curiously, and the team leader immediately stepped forward with a smile, saying that he has many good horses and slaves who can work, and the price is very fair.

"Do you have good horses?"

"nature!"

In order to prove the truth of what he said, the Wuhuan businessman specially asked people to lead the horses, all of which were healthy and uncastrated, and there were also many half-grown foals.

"Are these horses from your tribe?" Zhao Jia asked.

During the reign of Emperor Jing, there were often Hu merchants who lived in border counties, horses, cattle and sheep.Due to the tyranny of the Xiongnu, before doing business, the horses, cattle and sheep for sale will be selected, so there are very few merchants who sell horses in large quantities.

The Wuhuan merchant said with a smile: "These are all high-quality Xiongnu horses. If they come from the wrong way, they dare not bring them to Yunzhong City."

Zhao Jia nodded, looked at the horses carefully, and thought about it, he ordered Ji Bao a few times, the latter nodded, took the Wuhuan merchant aside to bargain, and quickly settled on twenty horses and fifty horses. bullock.

According to the rules, they cannot trade immediately with each other. They have to wait until the market opens the day after tomorrow and register with the officials before they can pay with one hand and deliver the goods with the other.

"I still have a high-class child slave, sir, don't look at it anymore?" As soon as he arrived in Yunzhong City, a deal was made. The Wuhuan merchant's face was full of joy. Buy five, and you can use a slave girl or a half-grown boy as an extra head.

It's a pity that Zhao Jia is not interested.

He would rather spend money to hire plows than to buy Tiantong.What's more, these prairie merchants transported them, nine out of ten were captives who were killed and plundered by the tribe. When encountering vicious people, they might kill or set fire.

Seeing that Zhao Jia really had no intentions, the Wuhuan merchant didn't bother, after saying goodbye to Zhao Jia, he prepared to lead the team to the west city.There is an area specially designated for Hu merchants to live in. If you go there late and you can't get a good house at all, you can only sleep in a bunk like a servant or slave.

Just as Zhao Jia and the caravan passed by, the cloth on a wooden cart suddenly lifted, revealing the five teenagers locked inside.

Unlike the barbarians in the other cars, these five teenagers wore leather robes with right lapels and Chinese hair buns, although their faces were dirty and their expressions were ferocious.The largest of them had half of his cheeks bruised and blood stains at the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Jia subconsciously pulled the rein and called the Wuhuan merchant to stop.

"Are they Han Chinese?"

If you sell a barbarian in Yunzhong City, the big bosses in the county will not bother you.However, selling Han child slaves here is obviously a no-brainer!

"No!" The Wuhuan merchant was taken aback, and hurriedly said, "They are savages from the grassland!"

While speaking, the Wuhuan businessman glanced around, thankful that there were not many pedestrians on the road, otherwise he would be in trouble immediately.

Hearing what the Wuhuan businessman said, all the teenagers in the car roared angrily, swearing in Chinese mixed with nonsense, which made Wuhuan businessman's face livid.Two of them threw themselves at the wooden fence and hit it hard, causing the whole cart to shake.

"be honest!"

Several Wuhuan guards got off their horses and swung their whips, forcing the boy back into the carriage.

The Wuhuan merchant felt that it was unlucky, so he shouldn't have brought these five together in the first place.If he is really regarded as a Han Chinese, not only will he not make any money during this trip, but he may also cause disaster!

"Mr. Lang, what people say is true. They should be the descendants of the rebels who followed Han Wangxin and defected to the Xiongnu." A guard of the prefect's mansion said.

The Han Wangxin mentioned by the guard is the father of Gonggao Hou Han Tuidang and the great-grandfather of Han Yan.

Han Wangxin defected to the Xiongnu, but was defeated and killed.

Han Duidang and Han Ying led their troops back to the Han Dynasty and were conferred the titles of Marquis of Gonggao and Marquis of Xiangcheng. The former made military exploits in the Seven Kingdoms Rebellion and was reused by Emperor Jing.

It's just that some of the tribes who followed Han Wangxin to the Xiongnu did not return to the Han, but stayed on the grassland.

A few of these people were reused in the court of the Huns, and even became the masterminds of Shan Yu, and most of them became slaves of other tribes.

The latter could not return to the Han Dynasty, and was unwilling to continue to submit to the Huns, so he could only wander in the grasslands. Once caught, he would be shot and killed like a wild beast.This also led to some of them being more ferocious than beasts.

The Wuhuan merchant went south this time, and met these five teenagers on the way, and he got greedy for a moment, so he arrested them.After entering Yunzhong City, Zhao Jia asked him a question, and suddenly realized that even though they were called "prairie savages", their ancestors were Han Chinese!

Looking at the boy in the car, Zhao Jia did not speak for a long time.

The Wuhuan merchant was anxious, fearing that Zhao Jia would report to the prefect's mansion, and then he would not be able to eat and walk around.

At this moment, a young man in the car suddenly rushed forward, ignoring the whip of the Wuhuan people, grabbed the railing with both hands, and shouted in a hoarse voice: "Mr. We, our lives are given to you!"

The boy was hoarse, and even stretched his hand out of the railing.Under the tattered leather robe, his body was skinny and his hands were covered with chilblains.

"Mr. Han, buy us, give us a bite to eat, and I will give you my life!"

Zhao Jia looked at the boy, unable to make a decision for a long time.

The young man is indeed pitiful, but before showing kindness, he must make sure that he is not leading the wolf into the house.There are similar lessons in the border county.In order to protect his family and the children living at home, he can't be hotheaded, let alone take risks easily.

However, he is not hard-hearted after all.

Zhao Jia took a deep breath, and said to the Wuhuan merchant, "I will bring people to the city in the future, and then we will discuss the deal. Give them some water, and stop whipping."

"No, no!"

As long as Zhao Jia doesn't report to the prefect's mansion, Wuhuan merchants will agree to whatever he says.

"Let's go."

Zhao Jia turned his horse's head and continued walking towards the city gate.

The five teenagers also fell silent, leaning against each other in the cart, like animal cubs warming each other.

When Zhao Jia was far away, the Wuhuan merchant turned his head to look at the cart, with a gloomy expression and uncertain brightness in his eyes.If Zhao Jia hadn't spoken out, he would have solved these five troubles immediately.It's a pity that the person has been recorded, and no matter whether the other party buys it or not, he can't do it immediately.

"You guys are lucky!"

The Wuhuan merchant ordered the guards to keep an eye on the cart, and made a decision in his heart. If Zhao Jia bought these five wild men, everything would be fine.If you don't buy it, you must get rid of them as soon as possible, and you can't cause trouble for yourself.

"Tu Mang, after the market opens tomorrow, if you look at this cart, if you don't see the gentleman just now, don't remove the cloth." The Wuhuan merchant said to a guard.

"Don't worry, Wuheluo, I will definitely look after them!" Tu Mang looked at the five teenagers with a grim expression.

The caravan continued to move forward without realizing that the two guards who were supposed to leave with Zhao Jia had already returned to the city, one of them followed them, and the other turned to the prefect's mansion.

When Zhao Jia returned to the village, he happened to meet a child returning from herding sheep, and was immediately surrounded.

Several carts entered the gate together with the flock of sheep. The villagers heard the commotion and left their houses one after another.Seeing that there were health servants and guards guarding the car, no matter how curious he was, he suppressed it and didn't go forward to ask.

Xiong Bo stayed in the livestock farm, and it was Hu Bo who answered the door.

Ever since Zhao Jia went to the city, Uncle Hu couldn't sit still, the excitement in his heart was no less than that of Zhao Gongcao when he was granted a title.Ji Bao stepped forward to call the door, the old man ran into the courtyard in three steps and two steps, his speed was actually faster than Ji Xiong's.

Seeing Zhao Jia who jumped off his horse, and knowing that the cart was full of gifts from the emperor, Uncle Hu couldn't help laughing: "Good, very good! Your lord is very kind!"

Knowing the old servant's excitement, Zhao Jia didn't say much, and asked someone to carry the wooden box containing the money into the house, and called the servant woman to bring hot soup.

After eating a bowl of hot soup, the three guards left immediately and mounted their horses.If you can't rush back to the city before the city gate falls, you will have to spend the night outside the city tonight.

Before leaving, Zhao Jia gave each of them a bag of dried tofu for them to eat on the way.

Dried bean curd is newly made by servants, Zhao Jia could eat a whole plate by himself when it was first made.Nowadays, Gongsun Ao and Wei Qing can't do without several meals. With the sauce made by the servants, the two of them and eight three-headed bodies can eat a large bucket of millet rice.

"Thank you Mr. Zhao Lang!"

After the guards left, Hu Bo closed the door and lowered the latch, allowing Ji Bao and Ji Xiong to lift the cash box and hide it in the cellar dug under the house.There are more than ten bolts of silk and several boxes of Qin coins in the cellar, all of which were left by Zhao Gongcao when he was alive.

"Uncle Hu, I'm going to the city in the future, you go with me." Walking out of the cellar, Zhao Jia called the old servant and explained the day's affairs.

"According to my servant's opinion, this matter needs to be reported to the prefect's mansion." Uncle Hu frowned.

"I have ordered the guards to rush back to the city, and it should have been reported to Mr. Wei at this time." Zhao Jia said.

If the Wuhuan businessman hadn't lied, these youths were all descendants of rebels, and their fathers and grandfathers hadn't returned to the Han Dynasty with Gong Gaohou, Zhao Jia was not sure what the prefect's mansion would do.

"I agreed with him to buy horses and bullocks. As for the rest, we will talk about it when we enter the city."

"promise!"

Changan

The Bianjun battle report was sent to Weiyang Palace, Emperor Jing was overjoyed, and the atmosphere in the court was also relaxed.

There was music again in the Changle Palace. Empress Dowager Dou was in a good mood and called the feudal lords and the wives of two thousand officials into the palace for several days.

When Princess Guantao heard the news, she was so angry that she broke several pieces of good jade at home.However, Empress Dowager Dou did not see her, and Chen Jiao was left in the palace again, so Liu Xing had nothing to do.

Marquis Chen Wu of Tangyi didn't care much about his daughter being a princess, and he was not very active about his son marrying a princess, which made Princess Guantao angry, and how many pieces of beautiful jade at home were broken.

In the Jiaofang Hall, no matter how much the Queen had thought, she was beaten up by the Empress Dowager Dou, and now she dared not act rashly.Coupled with Liu Che's increasingly indifferent attitude, Wang Zhi couldn't help feeling restless.If the crown prince is completely divorced from her, it doesn't matter who the crown prince is!

"We must find a way, we must find a way!"

Queen Wang sat in front of the screen, her long hair draped behind her shoulders, she pressed down on the bronze mirror, her fingertips brushed the inscription on the back of the mirror, her eyes became colder and colder.