Huan Rong

Xihe County, Qinshiwubao

From the beginning of spring to April, Xihe, Wuxiang, Shangdang, Hanoi and other counties are all sunny without a drop of rain.

In order to ensure spring plowing, farmers get up early every day to water the fields.As the streams dried up one after another and the water level of the river dropped, the villages near the river soon had disputes and conflicts over the water source.

In one of the most severe conflicts, the strong men from two villages fought in one place, and many people were seriously injured and almost killed.Even so, the villagers fighting for water did not restrain themselves, and eventually even involved refugees.

As the drought deepened, the conflict became more serious, and Zhishu Shi and Xiangzheng were unable to suppress it.In the end, under the order of Qin Ce, Qin Jun led two hundred cavalry to the mouth of the river, and erected a wooden sign a hundred meters away, severely punishing the interception of the river, and the disaster was eliminated.

After the investigation, it was found that the spies of the Di people pretended to be refugees, infiltrated the outskirts of Wubao, encouraged the refugee villages to fight for water, and spread rumors that Wubao was short of food, and the new refugees would starve to death.

Years of wars have caused families to be separated. What the refugees fear most is not the chaos of the army but hunger.

The spread of rumors was beyond imagination, and some residents in the castle were affected.

Qin Jun found out the source of the rumors, captured the Di people's spies, and found that five were descendants of the Han family and two were Hu'er with Han blood, and immediately gritted his teeth angrily.

"Forgetting one's ancestors, especially shameless!"

Qin Jue and Qin Yu put away their jokes, looked at Qin Jun with red eyes, and also clenched their fists.

"Brother, how to deal with these people?"

"Ask Father first." Qin Jue took a deep breath and said firmly, "If Father nods, I will hand them over to Zhang Canjun."

"Give it to Zhang Canjun?" Qin Jue froze for a moment.

"These people dare to take the risk of sneaking into Wubao, and it may be useless to just whip the whip. Zhang Canjun's family has a long history, and with his methods, even stones will speak!"

As soon as the words fell, someone behind him said: "Lang Jun is so praised, Yu is ashamed not to take it."

The speaker was a scribe in his late years, more than seven feet tall, wearing a gray robe and a Ge scarf in his hair.The face is long and narrow, and the facial features are not handsome, but the eyes are extremely energetic, falling on the person, as if they can look straight into the bottom of the heart.

His surname is Zhang, his name is Yu, and his style name is Shuchen. He is a descendant of Zhang Tang, the royal historian of the Western Han Dynasty.In the historical records compiled by Ma Qian of Taishi Company, Zhang Tang is listed as a special biography for cruel officials.

Zhang Tang is good at using harsh punishments and laws to fight against powerful people, but he himself is clean and simple, with a reputation for cruel officials and honest officials.

As a descendant of Zhang Tang, Zhang Yu followed the precepts of his ancestors, and he didn't like Confucianism to specialize in criminal law. Qin Jun said that his "family origin" was not derogatory, but a compliment.

After a hundred years of war in the north, the Hu people moved south to occupy the land of the Han family.

Qin's Wubao isolated Xihe, surrounded by wolves, and needed someone like Zhang Yu to frighten Xiao Xiao, pry the spies' mouths open, and obtain more information.

"These seven people have sneaked into the Wubao for a long time, I'm afraid they are not only spreading rumors." Qin Yu said in a deep voice, "I will discuss with the army after I meet my father."

"The servant is coming from the castle master." Zhang Yu smiled, and glanced at the spies who were kneeling on the ground. He didn't make any big movements, but it actually made the latter shiver with chills down his back.

"Zhang Canjun met my father?"

Zhang Yu nodded and said: "The owner of the castle knew about this, so he ordered his servant to come to see Mr. Lang, and said that these people have committed a heinous crime, and they will be questioned carefully. After that, they will beheaded and killed, and hung on the castle wall."

In front of several people, Zhang Canjun didn't shy away from it at all, he didn't care about letting them know his fate at all, and he didn't worry that several people would regard death as home, and he gritted his teeth and didn't speak.

"Since that's the case, I'll hand it over to Zhang Canjun." Qin Jun raised his right arm, and the servants immediately let go of the seven men, and handed over to the men brought by Zhang Yu to take over.

After the healthy servant took the seven people away, Zhang Yu said with a smile, "In two hours, the confession must be delivered to the Lord."

After the words fell, Zhang Yu bowed his hands and said goodbye, and his slender back disappeared before the eyes of several people.

Qin Jue approached Qin Jun and said in a low voice, "Brother, every time I see Zhang Canjun, I feel chills on the back of my neck."

Qin Yu didn't speak, but nodded heavily.

Snapped!

Qin Jue patted Qin Jue on the shoulder hard, causing him to stagger. Qin Jue took two steps back knowingly, barely avoiding the slap of his brother.

"Don't let your fourth brother hear this. Your fourth brother has spent a lot of effort in order to invite Zhang to join the army."

Qin Jun crossed his arms, glanced at his two younger brothers, and said: "Zhang Canjun is a man of honesty and integrity, full of knowledge. I heard a few days ago that my father intends to ask him to teach you the law of punishment. After that, we will meet for many days. Don't come out like this again." Word."

"promise."

Qin Jue and Qin Yu looked at each other and agreed in unison, they really felt sorry for each other.

"Brother, Ah Lan and I don't have the talent to manage Wubao. We just want to go to the battlefield and fight the barbarians. If you can talk to Father, you can avoid the matter of studying criminal law, right?"

Qin Jun shook his head, a little "poor" his brother, but it was my father who brought it up, and it is said that Xuan Min also agreed with it, and it is really difficult to change.

"Work hard, and you'll get through it if you carry it."

"..." Is this something that can be carried over?

Thinking of the laws of the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty in the treasury, and thinking about the Spring and Autumn and Warring States codes collected by the ancestors of the past dynasties, Qin Jue and Qin Yu suddenly felt that the future was bleak.

Looking forward to seeing Zhang Yu's smiling face every day, the two brothers almost hugged each other and cried.

This day is really impossible!

On the other side, seven spies were dragged into the dark room and tied around a wooden frame.

There is a copper pillar standing between the seven people, nearly eight feet high, and two people need to hug each other.

A servant opened the baffle at the bottom of the copper column and threw firewood inside.The other blows on the torch, lights a piece of twine, and when the flame jumps up, throws it into the pyre.

The baffle was closed, flames ignited inside the copper pillar, thick gray smoke rose from the unclosed top, and the acrid smell quickly spread.

The seven people were only five or six steps away from the cylinder. As the temperature inside the cylinder rose, all seven began to sweat and cough non-stop.

It wasn't until the seven people were sweating profusely that they almost coughed out their lungs that Zhang Yu ordered his servant to open the window and said, "During the time of Shang Zhou, the temptress Daji brought disaster to the country, set up copper pillars, and fired cannons."

Gudong.

The seven swallowed at the same time, with fear in their eyes.

"It is rumored that people who have been severely punished can still survive with dry skin and withered flesh, and they can die only when their bones are crisp and visceral."

The higher the temperature inside the copper column, the stronger the servant poured a bowl of water, and the sound of squeaking could be heard in the ears. Seeing the water vapor evaporate, the seven people seemed to see themselves being tortured, and the fear became more serious.

"There are laws in the Spring and Autumn Period. Criminals have their bones and feet broken. In the Warring States Period, there are laws. Prisoners have tattoos and their faces are cracked."

"You have forgotten your ancestors, betrayed our Han family, and joined the Hu people. Now you sneak into Wubao to spread rumors, which almost caused civil chaos. This is an unforgivable crime, and you must die."

Zhang Yu's voice was not high, nor fast, and even a little slow.

In the ears of several people, it was like thunder and thunder, and the lightning fell, making their faces turn blue, their lips turn white, and their hands and feet trembled uncontrollably.If he hadn't been tied to the wooden frame with thick ropes, he would have been limp on the ground at this moment.

"The end is death, but there is always a difference in the way of death."

"If you make a confession, you can behead your head with one knife and change it cleanly. If not, I have no less than ten methods to make you feel the pain of breaking bones and heart, and still have a breath. It is impossible to want to die."

While speaking, the health servant lit the brazier, and the black iron was burned bright red.

Zhang Yu did not do it himself, but ordered the mouths of the seven people to be tied to prevent them from biting their tongues, and then said: "If you want to recruit, you'd better nod at this time, if not..."

Before he finished speaking, three people nodded desperately.

"Want to recruit?"

This time, not just three people, but seven people nodded together.The soldering iron was handed to the eyes, and the nerves of several people were tense to the extreme. They were so frightened that they shed tears and made a "woo hoo" sound from their mouths.

Zhang Yu ordered Jianfu to release one person and take him to the next door for questioning. After the questioning, he will be detained separately to prevent several people from colluding with each other and telling false information.

In less than two hours, the confessions of the seven people were finished.

Flipping through the pages recorded by the civil servants, Zhang Yu couldn't help sneering.

"It surprised me that."

There is an inner ghost in Wubao!

"I'm going to see the castle master, watch them carefully, don't let anyone die."

"promise!"

In order to avoid leaking the news, Zhang Yu did not go to see Qin Yu first, but directly invited Qin Ce.

At that time, Goshawk flew back to Wubao, bringing the news that Qin Jing was in the south.Knowing that another map was obtained, the father and son were very happy. Seeing the confession presented by Zhang Yu, the joy and joy dissipated immediately, replaced by anger.

"Is this true?"

"Whether it's true or not, Duke Ming will find out when he asks someone."

"Come on!"

Qin Ce really couldn't believe that the Di people's spies were buried inside Wubao, and they were buried for several years!

"His ancestor was an official of Cao Wei Lang, and his ancestral home was in Shangjun. His father and brother were killed by the Hu people. I don't understand how he could join the Di people!"

Qin Ce was so angry that he pulled out his sword sharply and cut off a corner of the table.

Qin Jun didn't make a sound, the anger in his chest was no less than that of Qin Ce.

"Father, this matter should not be underestimated. He has been in the fort for many years and is familiar with the interior of the fort. Last year he went south with Xuan Min. This time, Xuan Min encountered obstacles on his way south. Some assassins of unknown origin attacked the fleet. I am afraid that it may be related to him. "

Every year, Qin's Wubao sends people to the southern region to sell food. It is not uncommon for the team to go several times during floods and droughts.However, Qin Jing's two trips with the boat were a bit eye-catching.

"Father, to be safe, I'd better call Xuan Min back as soon as possible!"

If the attack is related to this person, it is not advisable to return it on the scheduled date.

"it is good!"

Qin Ce made a decisive decision, wrote a short message, and tied it to Goshawk's leg.

"Zhang Canjun."

"Minggong."

"I'll hand it over to you for interrogation after it's brought." Qin Ce said in a deep voice, "It doesn't matter whether you live or die, I just want a confession."

"promise!"

In the back house, Mrs. Liu also received the letter, and immediately called her servant to open the box and take out the white wolf skin that Qin Jing had hunted.

"I have been hiding it for a few years, but now I want to give it away." Madam Liu leaned on the couch and smiled at her sister who accompanied her, "Sister, tell me, this is really for Mr. Huan? Could it be for someone high?" Door girl, is it convenient to write in the letter?"

"Sister, you know Mr. Shiro's character. If he refuses to tell, you won't be able to find out if you ask again."

"Indeed." Mrs. Liu nodded with a smile, and ordered her maid to spread out the wolf's fur, and said, "When he hunted this wolf back then, the husband didn't even want to get it down. Now it's said to be a handguard, but it's true. willing."

While speaking, the goshawk flew back from the window again, with Qin Ce's letter wrapped around his right leg, and stretched out his left leg, obviously waiting for Mrs. Li's reply.

"Ah Hei is so smart, he's about to become a genius. I read Gods and Strange Chronicles in my early years, and there are similar records in it." A concubine said with a chuckle.

Mrs. Liu didn't seem to notice, she took out the silk cloth she had written earlier, carefully stuffed it into the bamboo tube, and tied it to the goshawk's leg.

"Go, wait until Shiro comes back, everything that needs to be prepared will be ready."

The goshawk fluttered its wings and did not fly away in a hurry. It circled the room slowly for a circle, and suddenly swooped down, messing up a concubine's hair bun.

Accompanied by the sound of the golden hairpin falling to the ground and the exclamation of the concubine's room, the goshawk flew out of the wooden window triumphantly, and soon disappeared.

Mrs. Liu glanced at the panicked concubine's room. The latter was pulled by the maidservant, and immediately stopped screaming. She knelt down aggrievedly and let her long hair hang down.

"Ma'am, slave..."

Mrs. Liu didn't look at her, she stood up and said to her concubine, "Sister, I'll go to the storeroom to choose silk, and you will handle it."

"promise!"

Liu Daoyun promised, and Mrs. Liu turned and walked out of the inner room.

The Confucian clothes are embroidered with auspicious clouds, the skirt is inlaid with gold thread, and the hair is inlaid with colorful treasures. It is actually a new style in Yandu.

After Mrs. Liu's back disappeared behind the door, Liu Daoyun turned his head and said impatiently: "Okay, Husband Master is not here, and no one is watching when we cry."

Also a concubine, Liu Daoyun is Mrs. Liu's own sister, and gave birth to a son for Qin Ce, with a detached status.This time when she opened her mouth to reprimand, the concubine's face flushed and she could only endure it.

"Ah Hei was raised by Mr. Shi Lang, and he is extremely intelligent. Watch your mouth carefully, don't tell what you have or don't have, and don't move your thoughts. Madam doesn't have time to argue with you, I'm not that good-natured."

Speaking of this, Liu Daoyun sneered, staring at the concubine's room who had been in the mansion for less than four months, staring at the latter in silence, his face was as white as paper, and he still did not look away.

"What are you talking about, how can a high-class girl read such a book! Don't talk about the powerful counties, but when it comes to background, the maids and servants around me are all higher than you!"

The concubine's face turned paler, and her lips began to tremble, both ashamed and angry.

"Before you move your mind next time, you'd better find out what happened to the Li family and the Xu family in the early years, as well as the Yin family who was born in Nanyang!"

Disdainful to look at her appearance, Liu Daoyun turned his head and said to the servant: "I have some colored silks in my room, which are new patterns made by skilled slaves. I will find them later and send them to my wife. It is rare for Mr. Silang to say this. People in the South look down on it."

While speaking, Liu Daoyun stood up, raised his hand to brush his temples, his black hair piled up, and he swayed similarly to Mrs. Liu, all of which were sent back by Qin Jing from the south.

"The craftsmen in the south are skillful, and the ones in Xihe County are not bad. I remember that I have two pieces of cloud silk. I heard that Mr. Silang likes to use this to write letters. I keep them and send them to my wife."

"promise!"

Only when the voice of the words traveled away with the sound of footsteps did Sun who was reprimanded dare to cry out. Zhou, who entered the mansion earlier than her, tried to persuade her, but his expression was full of gloating.

"Don't cry." An elderly concubine said, not to feel sorry for Mrs. Sun, but because she didn't want her to continue to be ignorant and make Mrs. Liu angry, and everyone would not want to have a good life by then.

"You heard what I just said. Don't rely on the master's freshness for a few days and forget the fundamentals. If you don't know the depth, you will lose your life one day, and don't blame others for not reminding you."

"Lost your life?" Mrs. Sun was stunned, and her delicate face became more and more lovable.

The speaking concubine clicked her tongue twice, there was no jealousy in her eyes, only pity.

"Since you were born in Nanyang, you should know the name of the Yin family. More than 300 years ago, the Yin family gave birth to a queen!"

"After the Yin family entered the mansion, they repeatedly slandered, intending to separate the husband and the lord, and were finally kicked out of the mansion, which ended in a miserable end. There are also the Li family and the Xu family, who did not leave the mansion. I don’t know how many crops have grown.”

After experiencing the events of the early years, looking at today, I find Sun's ridiculous.

"What do you rely on? Family?"

Qin Ce is a descendant of the Qin family, and Mrs. Liu is of the blood of the Han family. Looking back on the blood lineage, who can surpass them?

Sun slumped to the ground and couldn't help shivering.Zhou didn't dare to continue to gloat, and his face showed a bit of frustration.

Mrs. Zhao who was speaking stretched out her hand, lifted Mrs. Sun's chin, and said with a sneer, "I don't think you are stupid, you should understand the truth. Since that's the case, you'd better be honest from now on, and don't worry about whether you should move or not. Just do it, and I can make you survive or die!"

How could it be a good stubble to occupy a place in Qin Ce's back house.

It is because Mrs. Sun's morality is too shallow, and Mrs. Zhao and others are tired of fighting again, that's why today's farce happened.If it were just a few years ago, like Sun, let alone staying in the back house safely, he would "die of illness" in less than a month.

In late April, the goshawk returned from the north. After reading the letter, Qin Jing decided to leave early to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Knowing this, Huan Rong copied down the method of making ice with his own hands, and asked Gong Shuchang whether the two apprentices he brought could leave the teacher and return north with Qin Jing.

"There will be a severe drought this year. I heard that the stream in Beidi will be cut off and the river will drop. If we can dig a well, even if we can't save the wheat fields, we can always save a few more lives."

Master Gongshu pondered for a while, and said: "Your Majesty, if you want to dig a well, your apprentices will be able to do it, but if you are looking for a well, let alone them, I will not be [-]% sure."

"Is there really no way?"

Gongshu shook his head.

Huan Rong sighed, the only way to tell Qin Jing the truth was not that he didn't want to help, but that he really couldn't help.

"No problem." Qin Jing didn't take it to heart, the purpose of this trip has been achieved, the rest is just icing on the cake, it's natural to have it, and it's okay to not have it.

"I heard from the farmers in the county that this year's drought is different from the past, and many counties in the north may have no harvest. If the water source is cut off, there may be civil unrest." Huan Rong frowned. Seeing that Qin Jing didn't look worried, he couldn't help feeling puzzled.

"Jing is very grateful for Brother Rong's heart." Qin Jing said with a smile, "Wubao has its own way of dealing with the repeated droughts in the North. As early as February, the family has found someone who opened the well. Good news will come soon.”

"It couldn't be better!" Huan Rong nodded with a smile, and then discussed with Qin Jing about the brothers.

During Qin Jing's stay in Yandu, the six of them took the initiative to come to visit and had a heart-to-heart talk.According to the meaning of the words, the six brothers were grateful for the friendship of the Qin family, but did not want to return north immediately.

For one thing, Yandu New City is still under construction, and the project is abandoned halfway through. It is really not the style of the six people, and other Mohist disciples will laugh at it if it spreads out.Secondly, the six people and Gong Shuchang have not yet decided the "winner", and they have not been able to wash away the shame of their ancestors, so they must stay.

"Please forgive me, Lord!"

The so-called twisted melon is not sweet, the six people have made up their minds, Qin Jing didn't force it, but just made an agreement with the six people that next time the salt ship comes, two people need to go back to the West River with the boat to check whether there are any gaps in Wubao's defenses.

"Returning it every season will not delay Yandu's construction of the city, and it will also solve the matter of Wubao."

After the matter was finalized, Qin Jing began to prepare to leave, and no longer had meals with Huan Rong every day.This makes the latter feel quite lonely.After all, with Huan Rong's appetite, it is really not easy to find a like-minded "fan friend".

Two days before departure, Qin Jing personally supervised the delivery of salt and grain into the cabin.

Huan Rong found a free time, went into the granary alone, filled a small bag of corn and hid it in his sleeve.After returning to the mansion, in the name of practicing calligraphy, he sent the little boy to the outer room, and immediately closed the door and window, took out the rice bag, and poured it into the lacquer bowl prepared in advance.

"Whether it can be done or not, you have to try it."

The slender fingers brushed against the forehead, and a transparent pearl of light slowly emerged.

Huan Rongxu held the light bead and approached the lacquer bowl, the light spread from between his fingers, and Huan Rong's heartbeat accelerated accordingly...

"Lang Jun!"

Huan Rong was startled when a boy's voice suddenly came from outside the door, the light suddenly went out, and there was still only a bowl of corn on the table.

"What's the matter?"

"There are people from Jingkou, and there are official documents to send."

Huan Rong was surprised, but regretted that the experiment was not successful, he got up and walked out of the inner room, and when he saw Liu Laozhi who came, he immediately raised his eyebrows.

Looking at Huan Rong, Liu Laozhi seemed to hesitate to speak.Finally, he gritted his teeth and handed the bamboo slips to Huan Rong, motioning him to read for himself.

"Thank you Liu Canjun."

No matter how strange things are, you should still be polite.

Huan Rong unfolded the bamboo slips and read them through from beginning to end, like a thunderbolt from the blue sky, his heart sank to the bottom of the valley instantly.

"What does Xi Shijun mean?"

"The envoy said that the army will set off in June, and the Fujun can accompany the Beifu army. If Da Sima asks, the envoy will take care of it."

Huan Rong breathed a sigh of relief, cupped his hands and said, "I would like to ask Liu Canjun to convey on my behalf, Rong Ming is very grateful for Xi Shijun's help!"

After sending Liu Jianzhi away, Huan Rong went back to the inner room and spread out the bamboo slips again.

"Order Huan Rong, the magistrate of Yandu County, and the captain of Lvwei, to accompany the army in the northern expedition. The Yandu grain is 1 shi, and the husband is [-]."

In a county of one thousand households, it is simply ridiculous to levy ten thousand stones of military rations and send three thousand conscripts!

There is no need to think about who this official document came from.

Clenching his fingers tightly, Huan Rong clenched his silver teeth and smiled angrily.