Bastard's Counterattack [Rebirth]

Rong Youtang hurriedly listened seriously:

"Within ten days, the people in the former northern suburbs will temporarily relocate to the Zen houses of several major temples nearby, so as to demolish the houses. If the houses, bricks and tiles can be used and the owner is willing to use them, they will be directly transported to the western suburbs to start building, saving trouble and time. .Or they can use the subsidy money to build a new one, but they need to prepare all the materials themselves.” Zhao Zeyong explained.

Rong Youtang circulated the preliminary plan written by King Qing, listened carefully to it, and asked sincerely: "Your Highness, is there anything I can do to help you?" To help demolish the house?Ship masonry and timber?

"Yes. No matter whether Yuanshui Daying can assist in the demolition and construction, a large number of civilian laborers will be recruited. They will provide their own clothing, food, housing, and transportation. They will live in common people's houses on the spot in the early stage of demolition. Later, barracks have begun to be built, and the weather is getting warmer. You can live anywhere at any time." Zhao Zeyong paused and ordered: "Then only 'food' is left. Food is the most important thing for the people. You are responsible for building some Temporary kitchen, and recruit appropriate amount of manpower to be responsible for managing water and food. It is required to be as frugal as possible, but the basic supply must be guaranteed. You know, we are currently short of money. Do you understand?"

It is unrealistic to have good quality and low price, and good things will not be sold cheaply... What am I thinking about!

"Understood! I will try my best to complete the task as economically as possible." Rong Youtang nodded heavily, feeling the excitement of being ordered in danger.

Tsk, Cousin is so ruthless that he puts his mind to training people, to send such a drudgery!

Guo Da gloated and said: "Hey, don't promise too quickly. Let me tell you: the first difficulty in the army is the commander, and the second is the head of the kitchen. Because the people depend on food, three meals a day, it's too late Soft, hard, salty, too much, too little, there are always people who talk about it, and a bunch of things, big and small, can annoy you to death!"

——This morning, I even threatened Hong Lei to join the army and be assigned to work as a handyman in the kitchen, boil water and cook, but I didn't expect it to be fulfilled now... It's just fulfilled in me.

Rong Youtang laughed cheerfully, and said sincerely: "But I can't help you for the time being. Being able to participate in the construction of Beiying is an extraordinary support from His Royal Highness. Thank you Your Highness!" Rong Youtang bowed and cupped his hands upright.

But Zhao Zeyong said seriously: "Let's say it first: since it is a business, the king must see the progress and the results. If there are major negligence and mistakes, I will definitely blame you."

"Yes." Rong Youtang nodded solemnly.He was eager to try, and he didn't flinch. He was just at the age when a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers, otherwise, he would not be able to let Rong's cloth shop take root in Dongdajie.

Guo Yuan asked abruptly, "But didn't you just enter the Imperial College? What about your studies?"

Rong Youtang hastily explained: "Back to Mr. Guo: the school starts at the beginning of Chenshi, and Shen Shizheng leaves school. Those who have already consulted their seniors, Gui Rangtang will first teach Guozi to learn and study the Five Classics. The emphasis is on comprehending and understanding. Go home and study. The late students will make proper arrangements, taking care of errands and studies."

It is necessary to read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles. Insights into world affairs are knowledge, and understanding of human feelings is articles.

Rong Youtang is absolutely unwilling to let go of any opportunity to practice!

Guo Yuan nodded slightly, acquiescing to the other party's modest title of "late birth".He also came from the Imperial Academy, and when he was young, he was well-known for his knowledge and talent, and he was upright and rigorous. If it wasn't for his family's expectations, he would have originally intended to enter the Imperial Academy or teach at the Imperial Academy.

"Hahaha~" Guo Da jokingly said: "From tomorrow onwards, there will be one more person who will go to the northern suburbs to eat ashes. Brother Rong, it's hard to be the same!"

-

The next day · Shen Shi [-]:[-]

"Drive!" Rong Youtang rode out of the city and hurried to the northern suburbs.After school, he stopped by Prince Qing's Mansion, put down his bookcase, and took a sign to withdraw 1000 taels of silver, but he didn't bring any money with him, and kept all of it in the special cash drawer in the mansion.

"drive--"

In the past two years, military barracks and large-scale construction projects will be built in the northern suburbs; graves will be moved, houses will be built on flat land in the western suburbs, and Buddhist temples and pagodas will be built on selected sites.Emperor Chengtian had been planning for a long time, and took a drastic step to send the third son of the emperor out as a striker, forcefully changing the pattern of the entire capital.

The roads in the suburbs are full of horses, carriages, ox carts, mule carts, and wheelbarrows. People are coming and going, all of them are full of belongings, and the whole family is out, generally sighing and panicking, but they have to obey the emperor's order.There are also many people wearing official uniforms, and even more people crossing swords. They are in a hurry. Among them, there are even people from Prince Qing's Mansion that Rong Youtang knows. They have to stop to say hello. The big tent is dealing with official business, and it is busy now, you can look for it when you have the time.

Rong Youtang specially changed out of the scholar's robe, dressed like a businessman, smart and neat, with a tight face and firm eyes, so as not to be deceived by his delicate face, he deliberately put a knife made by the palace on his waist, and stuffed the dagger in his boot.

The weather was fine, and when we reached the northern suburbs, it was bright and warm.

"Hoo—" Rong Youtang reined in his horse and looked at the surrounding fields:

The northern suburbs are flat, with gray and chaotic horizons in the distance, sparse and scattered houses, fields covered with residual snow, and spring plowing has not yet started.The common people have little land, and this large area of ​​land in the suburbs belongs to wealthy businessmen in the imperial city, and has been requisitioned by the imperial court through bargaining.

Most of the brick and tile houses are very old. This is the poorest place near the capital: secluded, far away from several official roads into the city, and there are no places to visit such as mountains, rivers, streams, bamboo forests, Buddhist temples, etc. The common people rely on rented land to cultivate, sell vegetables, fruits and earthen goods in four seasons, Go out to work or go to the city to live as a servant.

Alas, the geographical location of the western suburbs is actually much better than that of the northern suburbs. When the pagoda of the Buddhist temple is completed, His Highness also proposed to build a residence hall in the western suburbs for the purpose of receiving foreign envoys. It will definitely be bustling and bustling. It's a pity, There used to be a mass grave, which cannot be erased, but can only be gradually faded by time.

But seriously, where is the loess that doesn't bury people?Even at the root of the imperial city, when digging wells and building roads, don't you often hear corpses in the ground?Who knows what year and month that predecessor was?

With a solemn expression, Rong Youtang got off his horse and walked slowly, looking around.

From time to time, local horse-drawn carriages and mule carts pass by:

"...a crime!" A silver-haired old man sat cross-legged on a mule cart, crying, holding on to the bundled and piled up bedding and belongings, and beside him was an ignorant and mischievous grandson who was cheering happily.She cried: "If I don't go, I will die at home. If you want to go, you go! Sin, the old woman is about to go to the earth, and she forced me to die outside, do sin, do sin!" The old man beat his heart, mourning Weeping and struggling to jump off the cart.

"Mother, don't be like this, everyone has to go, if you don't go, you will be beheaded!" Her daughter-in-law was carrying a baby on her back and helping the car to go, both to comfort the naughty son and to comfort the mother-in-law, flustered.The husband was also walking ahead, concentrating on driving the mules, and he persuaded without looking back: "Mother, you always want to open some, the whole village is going to move out, not just our family. I have brought paperwork to Hongfa Temple has fixed a meditation room, we all go there, you have to help take care of the children, the meditation room is only for three months, and Yingniang and I are busy building a new house in the western suburbs, time is running out!" Speaking of the new house , the middle-aged farmer couldn't help but smile: his ancestral house has lived for several generations, it is dilapidated, but he can't afford to renovate it.Now the emperor has a decree to move to the western suburbs, and the court pays for the land and money. After calculation, there is a lot of surplus, and it can be exempted from taxes for three years. Live, the imperial court built Buddhist temples and pagodas again, Yang Qi can always suppress Yin Qi!

Rong Youtang saw it clearly, and couldn't help but feel more at ease: ordinary people are like this, as long as they don't be harsh and oppressive, try to comfort and take care of them, and help them live their lives, there will be absolutely no possibility of riots like Shun County.

"Mother, mother, hug! Daddy, hug~" At this time, a two-year-old boy with a thick head and a thick head staggered on the mule cart and stood up while supporting the bedding, waving one hand, and coquettishly asked his parents to hug him.It's a pity that his father is not free, and his mother is even less free, because his grandma couldn't accept leaving the ancestral house, and cried and complained to her daughter-in-law sadly.

"Hey, sit down, the lady who will enter the city will buy you sugar cakes later."

"Maomao, sit down!" The father is always more dignified: "If you make trouble again, you will hit me!"

People and vehicles were crowded and the road was narrow, Rong Youtang hurriedly led his horse back to the side of the road and let the other party's mule cart pass first. Seeing that the little chubby pier was innocent and cute, he naturally smiled kindly at him. Unaware of the danger, he opened his arms and trotted a few steps, meaning to hug——

"Hey! Be careful not to fall!" Rong Youtang was startled and shouted, immediately threw away the rein and whip, rushed over, and narrowly caught it with his hand.

"Ah, Maomao—" The mother was so frightened that she hurriedly walked around from the other side of the mule cart and scolded, "You child! Why are you so rude? Didn't mother tell you to sit down?"

Rong Youtang raised his hands horizontally, supporting the child stiffly, the two looked at each other, the chubby little boy was still smiling, without any panic, he stretched out his hand to grab Rong Youtang's collar button, and said childishly: "Yes, Play with Maomao, okay?"

Yo, you actually know how to use questions? !

Rong Youtang was greatly surprised, and returned the child to his parents, apologizing in embarrassment: "Brother, I'm really sorry, I didn't know that he would jump out of the car if he laughed at the child."

The man slapped the fat buttocks twice, and waved his hands boldly: "Young master, I don't blame you, this kid laughs at everyone, like a naughty monkey."

"My surname is Rong, just Xiao Rong. What's your name?" Rong Youtang took off the sapphire pendant around his waist, and said with a smile, "Is that Mao Mao? Come, I'll give it to you to play with."

"My name is Fang Tiezhu, and this area is called Fangjia Village." As soon as Fang Tiezhu finished speaking, he snatched the sapphire pendant from his son, handed it over, and said in a rough voice, "How can this be done? Young Master Rong, take it back quickly! Maomao If he is not sensible, he is just a baby."

"Brother Fang, I almost threw Mao Maoxiao off the car just now, and I'm very sorry, it's purely for the purpose of scaring the child." Rong Youtang forced the jade pendant back into the child's palm, insisting stubbornly: "Brother Fang didn't Blame me for scaring Maomao, I am very grateful, you just accept the apology, otherwise you will be looking down on little brother!"

The couple had dark faces, flushed cheeks, rough and chapped hands, and wore coarse cotton robes. It was obvious that they had worked hard to support their families on weekdays. Their words and deeds were simple and their eyes were righteous.

Fang Tiezhu scratched his head, Hanhan discussed with his wife for a long time, and after repeatedly rejecting, he smiled embarrassedly, raised his hand and patted Xiaopangdun's buttocks twice, teaching: "Why don't you hurry up and thank Brother Rong? It's rude, kid."

Thus, the two parties who met by chance stood on the side of the road and chatted. At first, it was just a polite and alienated chat. Later, it was inevitable to talk about Beiying and the relocation to the western suburbs, until Rong Youtang half-hiddenly threw out the Beiying kitchen. —

Fang Tiezhu said unexpectedly: "Oh, it turns out that Brother Rong is on business for Prince Qing's Mansion?"

"Amazing, at such a young age!" Fang's wife praised.

Rong Youtang hurriedly said humbly: "Don't dare to be, I'm just running errands. The superiors are in a hurry to recruit some cooks and cooks to help manage the water and food. In addition to wages, board and lodging are also included. I thought about it Well, I might as well look for it directly in Fangjia Village! It’s just that, Brother Fang, you just said that some people in the village unite to resist—”

"No, no, no... not really!" Fang Tiezhu was so frightened that he waved his hands desperately, begging: "Brother Rong, don't yell out, if we knew that you were an errand in Prince Qing's mansion, we wouldn't have said that .”

Fang's wife was very apprehensive and fearful: "Even if we move to the western suburbs, we will still be in Fangjia Village. We will not be able to survive if we offend those powerful people."

"You misunderstood, really misunderstood! I'm just a boy running errands." Rong Youtang couldn't laugh or cry, and solemnly swore: "I swear: I will never reveal your family to the outside world. If you violate the oath—"

Fang Tiezhu didn't feel right when he heard it, and hurriedly stopped him: "Hey, forget it! We think you are gentle and young, like a scholar, but it's just a reminder, there is no need to swear."

Rong Youtang stopped as he said, and asked curiously: "Then Fang Yan's family is so bold, how dare they incite the villagers to fight against the imperial court?"

"It's, it's not a confrontation." Fang Tiezhu lowered his voice, hesitating: "In order to ask for more money, I just procrastinate. Hey, we don't understand, we don't mix, we have to go anyway, and we can move earlier. Catch up with spring plowing."

Rong Youtang smiled knowingly: "Understood. Brother Fang and Sister-in-law Fang, I will come to Fangjia Village from now until dark to build a kitchen. If there are suitable relatives and friends who are hardworking, kind, honest and quick, I can ask them to come and look for me. It was in vain that we got to know each other."

"Hey, hey!" Fang's wife probably believed it, and said with a happy smile: "Although my house is not free, there are relatives who are prosperous and have a lot of sisters-in-law. They definitely want to go."

"Let's talk about it first," Rong Youtang said with a smile: "We only recruit people who agree to relocate, and they need to be reviewed by the superiors. I am only responsible for recommending them."

Without a boss, Rong Youtang is the temporary head of the Beiying kitchen.

It's just that if the ugly words are not said first, it will be troublesome when they come out later.Having been in business for many years, the losses I have suffered have already become experience in dealing with people.

After the two parties parted, Rong Youtang probably had a solid idea in his mind, seeing that it was still early, so he was not in a hurry to go to the big tent, but went straight to Lizheng's house with his waist card and fuze, asking him to lead the way, one on a horse and the other on a mule , walked at a leisurely pace, and took a while to go around the whole Fangjia Village.

"Here, this family Fang Lai's house is also a deep well, and the water is clear and sweet." Fang Li, with a goatee, said slowly, bending over to knock cigarette ash on his boots. He kept a hookah in his hand all year round, and his hair was greasy and black. Bright patina.

"Okay, I'll write it down first." Rong Youtang hurriedly used charcoal to make a mark on the survey map, and said familiarly: "Fortunately, Li Bo gave me some advice, otherwise my eyes would be blackened. I'll bring a few jars tomorrow. Here comes the wine, let's drink and talk."

"That's a good thing! Brother Rong, there are still a few last households over there, go and have a look." Fang Li also smiled, took a few puffs of hookah, shrewd and mature, raised his hand to pat the mule's butt, and shouted: "Let's go~"

Fangjia Village is not densely packed, but scattered in open fields, connected by ridges and stone paths.

"Hey, Libo," Rong Youtang led the horse, and the horseshoe was crisp on the bluestone slab. He approached the mule, pretending to be curious, and asked casually: "What happened to those ten households just now? There are obviously people, but They refuse to open the door, so what are you doing locked inside? The relocation is His Majesty's decree, and those who resist the decree will be beheaded, we ordinary people can only obey."

Among them is Fang Yan's family.

"Ah?" Fang Li puffed out a few puffs of smoke and asked blankly, looking dazzled and deaf.

Although Rong Youtang smiled, he was extremely serious, repeated several times, and the other party saw that he couldn't pretend to be stupid, so he sighed and said: "Brother Rong, I take you as a reasonable scholar, and I am not afraid to tell you clearly: the people of Fangjia Village have lived for generations. I have lived here for hundreds of years. I am poorer, but this is the root. It is the ancestral land and the ancestral house. Who is not uncomfortable when they are suddenly called away! The dozen or so households are very nostalgic, and there are eight or 90-year-old Gaotang , you should also be able to understand that old things like us definitely want to die in the old place instead of moving to the mass grave."

Makes sense and sighs.

Rong Youtang nodded understandingly: "I understand very well. If the imperial court asks my family to move, my father and I will also feel very uncomfortable."

Fang Li knew the inside story as soon as he heard it, and asked kindly: "Just you and your father?"

"Depending on each other." Rong Youtang said calmly: "My father never married a wife, so he brought me home. It is a great kindness to save and raise me. It is a pity that I am worthless, and so far I have not been able to reassure the old man. Running errands, but now it seems——ah!" Rong Youtang was listless and sighed in frustration.

Older people especially like to be filial to younger generations.

Fang Li couldn't help comforting him: "Don't be discouraged, aren't you doing a good job? Just according to your ideas, set up kitchens in the few places you just looked at, complete with stoves, water wells, and pay a few cents to buy them. Their dry firewood, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, grains and vegetables will be delivered, and a few people will be able to boil water and cook."

"Thank you for your old advice." Rong Youtang was still listless, and said with a frowning face: "But there are regulations from above, to set up a tea shed in the homes of the dozen or so families just now, but they are reluctant to move, so this matter will be difficult .After two days, the people who demolished the house will be in place, and they will need to drink water and eat. I will be punished if I fail to do the work.”

Fang Li remained silent, smoked a hookah, slapped the mule, and led the way to see the few remaining houses in the village.

Rong Youtang didn't talk about it in depth, and carefully inspected every household.

It wasn't until dark that they parted ways that Rong Youtang seemingly casually said:

"Well, the northern camp can be built for at least one or two years. There are too many things to do. I am so busy that I have time to come over in the afternoon. I have to find a long-term helper! Libo, I think your brother Fang Tong is very generous. He is refreshing and a capable person.”

Fang Li's smoking action obviously paused, he bowed his head in thought for a long time, and silently led Rong Youtang back to the main road.

They are all smart people, just stop there.

Rong Youtang got on the horse, turned the horse's head, and said with a loud smile: "Libo, thank you for your guidance today, I'll go back to meet business first."

Fang Li stared intently. After a while, he finally made up his mind. He said enthusiastically, "Okay! Don't forget to bring wine tomorrow. My old lady said she would treat you to dinner with stewed chicken and fried fish."

Your old lady went to visit and didn't see me at all, hahaha~

Rong Youtang hurriedly leaned over, and said respectfully: "Don't worry, I will do what I say, and I will do what I say!"

"A word is settled!"

The two foxes, one big and one small, looked at each other and smiled, saying goodbye and turning around.

-

Worthwhile trip, small gain!

Rong Youtang was hungry and thirsty, and he arrived at the temporary tent before dark. The leader of the sentry post was a familiar guard of the palace. While checking Rong Youtang's badge as a routine, he asked, "Brother Rong, I saw you arrived a long time ago. Why did you go to the village? I have come out to ask several times. If you don’t come again, we are all worried that you will be seduced by some girl.”

A group of guards suddenly laughed silently, their shoulders shook wildly, and they were uncomfortable.

Rong Youtang said joyfully: "No one has a crush on me, but you, and praises you for being tall, strong, strong, and powerful, and wants to snatch you home and be your son-in-law, so you have to be careful!"

The curtain of the front tent door was lifted, and Guo Da yelled humorously: "Hey, there is such a beautiful thing? Brother Rong, next time, please remember to introduce me, I will clean up and wait to be robbed to be my son-in-law! "

A group of rough guys laughed wildly again.

Rong Youtang lifted the curtain and went in, only to find that King Qing was alone in the simple tent inside.

"Your Highness, where are the others?" Rong Youtang hung up the cloak, and took out the survey map and charcoal.

"Going back to the city." Zhao Zeyong put down his pen, and the table was full of official documents and books. After pinching his brows tiredly, he pushed the teapot over and said with concern, "Why did you enter the village for so long? If it wasn't for the confirmation of safety, this king would have thought you were arrested. Detained."

Rong Youtang's throat was thirsty, so he didn't care about answering. He touched the teapot, lifted it up, poured it into his mouth, drank half full in one go, and then let out a sigh of satisfaction, and said, "I'm going to investigate the site. To cooperate with the demolition and construction promotion plan, I'll pick out a few more suitable families. Take a look." Rong Youtang bent down, unfolded the survey plan, lit it with charcoal, and explained his thoughts in detail.

Zhao Zeyong listened carefully and asked a few questions from time to time. When dealing with official affairs, he was very serious and strict, without favoritism.

After a while, the curtain was opened again, and Guo Da came in with the guards, brought dinner and put it on the table.

"Cousin, come and eat, I'm going to starve to death." Guo Da pressed his stomach, with a painful expression on his face, and said contemptuously: "The group of delicate and lazy things who can't eat hard, slipped back to the city before dark, and all of them There are excuses, hum!"

"You eat first." Zhao Zeyong didn't lift his head.He nodded in satisfaction, and said to Rong Youtang: "That's right, the mobility is much stronger than ordinary people. Leave it alone, let's go, and go eat something."

"Okay. I'm afraid of delaying the overall situation." Rong Youtang said.

Zhao Zeyong smiled: "The key is in the first few days. Choose the location and manpower, and then it will go smoothly." He went to wash his hands, and there was only a wooden basin in the tent.

"That's right. There will probably be quite a few applicants tomorrow, so I have to choose carefully."

Rong Youtang's hands were covered with black charcoal and ashes, and he was about to go out to find water, but Zhao Zeyong grabbed him, pressed his hands into the wooden basin, and rubbed them clumsily to wash them, the two stood side by side, and the water splashed.Zhao Zeyong said in a low voice, "Thank you for your hard work."

Guo Da, who was burying his head in his meal, looked up at the sound, but saw a pair of backs next to him. He bit his chopsticks, and said in a drawn-out voice: "Cough~" Guo Da suppressed his voice, and coughed in a moderate manner. Sitting upright, looking sideways, smiling meaningfully, biting his chopsticks and slowly narrowing his eyes, he was about to speak when he met Zhao Zeyong's faint warning eyes... Guo Da quickly changed his face, and greeted him cordially : "What do you see me doing? Come, come, eat." After finishing speaking, he turned his full stomach and jokes into appetite, and slurped food into his mouth.