Royal road

These days, the temperature drops even more.Zhu Er carried a basket of square bricks on his back and walked toward the ridge panting.Behind him, a few recruits followed, also carrying all kinds of wood and bricks on their shoulders, striding towards the construction site.

In the mountain depression leading to Liang Mansion, a village gate is slowly being built.This will be the first barrier for the Liang Mansion to resist foreign enemies. There is also a wooden house on the top of the mountain farther away. There are sentries stationed every day to observe the surrounding movements.Because of the cold weather, Buqu has not been conducting daily drills these days, but is building new fortifications with the slack farmers and those newly attached refugees.

The main part of Liang Mansion's outer wall has already been raised by ten feet, including Sifang Ye Tianzhuang in the defensive range, and several turrets have been built inside the wall, so that soldiers can stand on top during wartime.The walls of the inner house were heightened and thickened, and it was completely repaired to look like Wubao.Not to mention bandits, even if the imperial army comes, I'm afraid they won't be able to attack this fortified wall for a while.

The outer fence and the gate of the village are more of a protective function. The newly built barracks are between Zhuangzi and the gate of the village. Once there is a change, troops can be sent out to fight immediately.

All these defensive measures are the basis for protecting the Liang Mansion.In this paradise, everyone regards Liang Mansion as their home, so even if they are conscripted as corvee, no one complains.What's more, there is also the careful arrangement of the master.

Walking to the ground, a strong fragrance wafted over.Zhu Er took a deep breath, walked to the construction site, handed over the bricks, then turned around and went to the shed beside him.Not only is it sheltered from the wind, but there are also two large pots burning. Many people have gathered around the pots, drinking the steaming fish soup.Zhu Er also walked over and took a meal.

Working in the Liang Mansion is not like being detained by the government as a corvee. When there is no rest from morning to night, it can exhaust people to death.Here, the fortifications are divided into pieces, and there are some "task progress" every day. As long as you work hard, you can finish the work before it gets dark.Those who have exceeded the progress will also be rewarded, usually some food, which can be taken back to their mother-in-law.So refugees and those Jie people are the most motivated, and they can endure hardships more than soldiers like them.

That’s not counting, as long as you go to work every day for two months, you can get a winter coat.This thing is reluctant to wear when working, but after a few days, it will be completely cold, and it will be a life-saving treasure.Not to mention that there are two hot meals a day on the construction site, working for several hours in the cold wind, drinking a bowl of hot fish soup, it is almost a fairy!

But these are nothing to Zhu Er.Under the envious eyes of the refugees, he walked to the side of his fellow robe, and sat down quite complacently: "Wang Wu, you Wu are about to lose."

Wang Wu clicked his tongue: "It's just a few bricks! Hmph! After the brothers have finished eating, they will be back in the afternoon!"

"You said the same thing yesterday, let us get this reward honestly." Zhu Er took a sip of the hot soup and laughed.

"I don't believe it anymore!" Wang Wu gulped down all the soup, "Let's go to work!"

"Captain, I just had dinner..." The recruits around him immediately wailed.

However, Wang Wu was so angry that he picked them up one by one and rushed out.Zhu Er couldn't sit still now, so he hurriedly said to his subordinates: "Hurry up, go to work after dinner! As long as you can catch up with Wang Wu's team, you will have one more day off, and you can go home and hug your wife." go!"

"Captain, you are the only one among us who married a wife." A man said with a bitter face.

"Bullshit! Be a soldier for a few more days, and you'll be able to marry him!" Zhu Er scolded, but he didn't care about the nonsense, and started to eat.

But these words, the following recruits are convinced.There are military fields, enough food, and winter clothes. As long as it is a part of the Liang Mansion, which girl does not want to marry?So what if the practice is a little bit more tiring, so what if you risk your life killing thieves in battle?Being able to serve as soldiers in the Liang Mansion is their greatest blessing!

"Hey! It's snowing!" Someone shouted, and everyone hurriedly looked outside.I saw a little snowflakes falling from the sky.

"No wonder it's so cold today." "What about the construction site?" "I'm afraid the progress will be delayed..."

Ignoring the chattering discussions in his ear, Wang Wu glanced at the little snowflakes outside, and snorted: "This little Xueer, stop later, don't delay work. Hurry up and go back The battalion rests!"

The following group of people dared to delay, so they hurried to eat.

■

"Master Lang, the sales of scriptures are gradually decreasing these days, and the volume in ten days is not as good as the previous day. And the weather is getting colder, so if you carve the board again, it may be easily damaged." Zhao Yu reported.

"Well, after the completion of "Mourning Clothes Picture", the bookstore will be closed, and we will wait until the spring of next year." Liang Feng sighed.In this era, seasonal effects are still very important.Not to mention the bookstore, the paper workshop has gradually stopped production, and the pottery workshop will last for another half a month at most. After the snow starts, every family will close their doors and start nesting in winter to avoid the long winter cold.

"By the way, how is the winter clothes?" Liang Feng asked.

The work of the weaving room was also under the control of Zhao Yu, she replied calmly: "All the winter clothes in the camp have been sent out, and each person still has a sheepskin jacket. The bedding is also thicker, enough to keep out the cold. Next Refugees use work for relief, and everyone should be able to wear winter clothes."

This is also what Zhao Yu admires most about the Lord Lang.Let the refugee women concentrate on weaving linen, while many women and children of the Jie people will use wool and linen to blend felt. These linen felts are spun and handed over to the government, and then cut into winter clothes by the weaving room and distributed.In this way, the newly attached refugees will not eat for nothing, and they will also be given enough clothes to keep out the cold, so that they will not die from the cold. The words "relief with work" show the benevolence of the master.

"That's good. This year's weather is cold, so don't freeze your life."

It would be a big loss if you worked so hard to raise a group of refugees to some people, and if they froze to death in another winter.It is a pity that in this era, the Central Plains does not yet produce cotton. It would be great if we could get cotton seeds from Xinjiang and try to cultivate them.There are also fire drills in winter. Anyway, those soldiers are idle, so it's better to learn fire fighting knowledge part-time.

Liang Feng was secretly thinking about various matters for the winter, Zhao Yu hesitated for a moment, and suddenly said: "Master, can you let Xiao Lang come over to share lunch today?"

"Huh?" Liang Feng raised his head in confusion.

Realizing that Mr. Lang really didn't think about it, Zhao Yu didn't know whether to be relieved or sad, and said in a low voice, "Today is Mr. Xiao's birthday, he will be sad if he stays alone."

Only then did Liang Feng realize that today is Liang Rong's birthday.In this era, there is no habit of celebrating children's birthdays. I am afraid that they will not be able to support them if they lose their lives.But Liang Rong is different from others. His birthday is also the anniversary of his mother's death.Based on the virtue of the original owner, the little guy may have been immersed in deep self-blame since he became sensible.In a society where filial piety comes first, killing one's mother is the greatest unfilial piety in itself.Too bad no one told him it wasn't his fault.

Liang Feng immediately said: "Go and bring Rong'er over here now. By the way, let the kitchen make some steamed cakes, wrap caramel in the cakes, and smear red dots on top with rouge. Bring them up when you eat."

Noodles are not often eaten in the north now, and there are more porridge and rice. It must be too late to learn from the birthday noodles.However, there are steamed buns, which are called "steamed cakes".Making a sugar bun for the little guy's birthday should make him a little happier.

Zhao Yu understood what Liang Feng said, her eyes turned red, and she fell down.Although she now works in both the weaving room and the bookstore, Liang Rong is the child she grew up with, so the meaning is naturally different.The master is so caring, how can he not let her be overjoyed.

After a while, Liang Rong, who was wrapped up like a small dumpling, was brought to the study.Seeing Liang Feng, the little guy was not as happy as before. Instead, he shrank slightly and knelt in front of the desk: "Father is busy these days, and I dare not disturb you..."

Liang Feng didn't wait for him to finish, he got up and walked to Liang Rong's side, holding the other's little hand: "Come on, let's go out for a walk."

These days, Liang Rong has actually been in fear.The anniversary of his mother's death was coming soon, and he was afraid that if his father accidentally remembered this, the love he had gained so hard would disappear in smoke.It was he who caused his mother's death. On such a day, how dare Liang Rong approach Liang Feng.But unexpectedly, Zhao Yu actually said that his father told him to go over, which made the little guy feel uncomfortable.He was trying his best to get through this, but his father didn't intend to punish him at all, but just like in the past, he dragged him to the side courtyard.

I don't know when it was snowing in the courtyard. The father and son were not wearing thin clothes, but they were not afraid of the cold, so they walked all the way through the corridor and boarded the watchtower located in the side courtyard.Now that the sentry post has been moved to the new watchtower outside, this pavilion has become a place for Liang Feng to climb high and look far away.

Pulling the little guy to the stage, he leaned on the railing and pointed to the distance: "Did you see that? That's the future village gate of the Liang Mansion. Inside and outside the gate, the Liang Mansion will guard the place."

Liang Rong looked over with his eyes wide open, and couldn't help opening his mouth slightly: "It's so far away!"

"It's not too far away. Now there are four hundred households in the mansion, three hundred refugees, and two villages that have been put into service outside, and two hundred people. These are the sons under our rule. Let them have enough food and clothing Nuan, live well, only the fields in the Liang Mansion will be plowed, and the mulberry gardens will be taken care of, so we can live the life we ​​have now."

Liang Rong nodded half-understood, and asked again: "But aren't these all servants and shady households of the Liang Mansion?"

Isn't it the father who feeds so many people?He also heard Ah Liang and Zhao Yu say how much money the family spent for these refugees.How could it be that they supported my father?

"You and I can't lift our shoulders or lift our hands. If no one is farming and spinning, how can we get enough food and clothing?" Liang Feng asked rhetorically.

"Given to us by the imperial court?" Liang Rong thought for a while and replied hesitantly.

"Then where does the court's money and food come from?" Liang Feng asked back.

Liang Rong immediately got stuck, which was obviously not in his learning area.

Liang Feng smiled: "Of course it comes from taxes. Every reward you and I get is also made by these people's hard work."

Unexpectedly, his father would tell him this suddenly. Liang Rong's attention was completely attracted. He looked curiously at the crowd who were like ants struggling to build the gate, and asked, "That's why father has to work hard for them?"

"Well. If you don't pay attention to the herdsmen, how can you be worthy of these hard gifts? These will become your responsibility in the future, just like the entire Liang Mansion." Liang Feng said lightly.

However, Liang Rong seemed to be shocked, and immediately said: "Father is in good health! It won't be like this!"

Putting his arms around Liang Rong's shoulders, Liang Feng said softly: "Birth, old age, sickness and death, it's always like this. It's like your grandfather and grandmother. But the blood and bones of the Liang family have been passed down from generation to generation. Ronger, you are your mother who fought for you." As long as you are here, the blood of your mother and the Liang family will not be cut off from the flesh and blood born of life. This Zhuangzi and these people will live in peace and stability."

Staring blankly at the figures in the audience, Liang Rong clenched his lips: "My mother died because of me..."

"It's not your fault. It was her choice and wish to conceive and give birth to you. Only if you live well and grow up healthy and healthy can you live up to your mother's affection."

Tears fell down, and Liang Rong grabbed Liang Feng's clothes: "What about Father? Will Father blame me?"

If his own son caused his wife to die in childbirth, would he hate this child?Liang Feng sighed lightly, bent down, and touched Liang Rong's head: "You are the treasure your mother bought with her life. If you hate you, wouldn't it be a disappointment to her deep love?"

Liang Rong couldn't bear it any longer, and burst into tears.Liang Feng didn't coax him this time, he just held the little guy in his arms and let him vent his emotions.This is like an old thorn, if it is not pulled out, it may kill Liang Rong for the rest of his life.This little guy is the most well-behaved and lovely child he has ever seen, and he is also his real flesh and blood. If he doesn't teach him and love him, who else will come?

After a long while, Liang Rong stopped sobbing.Liang Feng wiped the wet tears on his face with his sleeve: "I'm hungry for my father, how about having lunch with me?"

With red eyes, Liang Rong nodded vigorously.

With a chuckle, Liang Feng took the little guy's hand and walked back slowly.Lunch has been prepared. There are not many vegetables in winter in this era. It seems that Chinese cabbage has not appeared yet. There is only a small cabbage called cabbage. I am afraid that after eating this crop, I will not be able to eat it in winter.So these days, the kitchen is always changing ways to make some cabbage. Thanks to Liang Feng, the people below learned how to stir-fry, otherwise the stew will hurt people sooner or later.

Liang Rong was not a picky eater, so he obediently washed his hands and face, sat down and prepared to eat.Unexpectedly, Zhao Yu brought another plate of food over and placed it in front of him.It was a plate of steamed pancakes, the pancakes were not big, and each was dotted with a small red dot, which looked red and white, really cute.Liang Rong blinked his eyes and looked up at the main seat.

Liang Feng said with a smile: "Today is Rong'er's birthday, I asked the cook to make some sugar cakes. Would you like to try it?"

"Father..." Liang Rong's eyes immediately turned red again.

"Eat this kind of sugar cake, you should be happier and smile more." Liang Feng reached out and rubbed the little guy's head, "Eat it while it's hot, but don't eat too much, be careful not to damage your teeth."

Liang Rong sniffed, picked up the candy bag with both hands, and bit into it, the candy wrapped in it dripped down the corner of his mouth.This action was not at all etiquette, but Liang Feng didn't mind, chuckled, picked up his chopsticks, and started to eat.

Looking at the appearance of the father and son, Zhao Yu secretly wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, and retreated.

Outside the courtyard, Xiaoxue had already stopped.Although the snow came too early, it didn't seem to be a bad thing for the two-year drought in Bingzhou.