Daming prepares the emperor

"Give you."

The black and thin boy took the broken pottery bowl, took a big gulp, raised his head to take a few breaths, looked at Zhao Shijiu with adoring eyes, and said gratefully, "Brother Zhao, thank you so much."

"How many times have I said it, you don't need to thank me, it's better for the big guy to get out alive than anything else."

The young man looked serious, his eyes shining brightly: "No matter what you say, you are the greatest benefactor in my life. Take a sip of your porridge and let me die, and I will admit it."

Several people standing or sitting around couldn't help showing the same look, and their bodies couldn't help leaning towards Zhao Shijiu.

They have all been favored more or less. In this kind of place, they can cross the boundary between life and death if they are stretched out by someone.

Zhao Shijiu had gradually become accustomed to being the focus of the crowd. As Zhu Biao expected, he did not become cocky or arrogant. He was still thinking about the uprising and acted according to the plan that Zhu Biao had made in advance.

This kind of trait seems common, but in fact it is very rare. People are always easy to relax, easy to change, and very easy to fall. There is no one in a million who can persist in doing a difficult thing. It is really a good move to choose him to start a trouble. .

On the seventh day of the lunar new year, Zhu Biao met with Han Shantong, and received a lot of material help from him. As the saying goes, too much is too much, since the people are to be forced to realize their situation, the action of distributing food must be carefully measured.

If you give too much, the migrant workers will become dependent and lazy, and they will not be able to produce more in the future, which will lead to a situation where the relatives are favored against each other, and after the crisis of survival disappears, there is naturally no need to rebel, and all previous efforts will be wasted. If you give less, people will starve to death, and people will not agree, and it will be difficult to establish prestige.

Without going into details about the various difficulties, Zhao Shijiu initially had the same conditions as Wang Liuqi at that time, and many people looked forward to him as the leader.

"A mouthful of porridge can buy your life?" Zhao Shijiu patted the back of the boy's head with a smile, "Keep it for yourself, and use it to be filial to your parents in the future."

"I don't know who my parents are." The boy said, "The beggars on the street call me a bedbug, and the uncle here calls me a little bedbug."

Zhao Shijiu didn't even think about it: "Then you and my surname! I'm number 19 in the family, and you are my younger brother, number [-]. How about it? Your name is Zhao Shijiu, okay?"

The boy's eyes widened, and he said with tears, "Really? I, I'll be called..."

Before he could finish his words, a whip slashed in the air, aiming at his face. It seemed to have a grudge against him, and it wanted to split him in half. After that, it came down with a sentence, "Stand on a high place!" The little soldier shouted: "Why are you crying, bad luck!"

Watching the black shadow approaching, the boy who had eaten for the first time in three days, no, Zhao Ershi didn't have the strength to dodge at all, all he could do was close his eyes tightly and shrink back like a conditioned reflex.

Even if he knew that the result of the injury would probably be a fever, an illness, and a bamboo mat rolled into the mass grave, he couldn't do anything about it.

However, the pain that Zhao Shijiu was prepared to accept did not come. Although the blood was splashed everywhere as promised, it did not belong to him. A tall figure firmly protected him, and the whip hit Zhao Shijiu's back.

"Brother!" Zhao Shishi's eyes were about to burst, and he shouted anxiously.

The people next to him stood up abruptly, wanting to gather around to see how Zhao Shijiu was doing.

"You want to rebel?" Xiao Bing didn't panic, he sneered, "Don't forget what happened to those bastards a few days ago! Think more about things!"

The movement here attracted the attention of other officers and soldiers. Someone shouted and asked what was wrong while walking towards them.

The angry migrant workers resisted the urge to do something and stopped, standing vacillating in place.

"It's okay, it's just troublesome people!"

He himself beat someone for no reason, but now he beats someone upside down, his face is not even red, and those idiots don't care about the truth at all, they turned around and went back when they heard an explanation.

clap clap!

Raising his hand, he whipped down two more whips. Hearing Zhao Shijiu's groan, Xiao Bing said sharply, "From now on, no more than three people are allowed to gather together, and no one is allowed to talk during breaks, otherwise this will be the end!"

He then went around a few times with his hands behind his back, wishing he could use his breath like a dog to occupy enough territory and show off enough prestige, until the sun rose in the middle of the sky before striding away.

Zhao Ershi hurriedly rushed to Zhao Shijiu's side, his eyes blurred with tears: "Brother, how are you? Does it hurt? Can you still move?"

Zhao Shijiu's face was pale, with cold sweat hanging on his head, he waved his hands and said, "It's okay, I've worked all morning, so it can be seen that the injury is not serious."

"How could it not be serious!" Zhao Shishi turned around behind him, and found that half of his clothes were stained red with blood. He was angry and anxious, "I, I will try to find some herbs!"

Zhu Biao was lurking under a pergola not far away, with his head and one eye exposed on the ground, a bit like a groundhog. Hearing Zhao Ershi's words, he couldn't help shaking his head in his heart.

I can't even let out harsh words, so I still have to force it again.

Thinking of this, he tilted his head and knocked on the finished mechanism.

Zhao Shijiu glanced sideways at the arbor and saw a small flag rising tremblingly. He immediately leaned back and fell straight into the mud, closing his eyes peacefully.

"what!"

Everyone was startled, they were taken aback for a moment, and then they all rushed over, yelling and helping him up.

Satisfied, Zhu Biao retreated into the soil and fled.

After carrying out his plan, Zhao Shijiuyi couldn't get sick, and the migrant workers couldn't find medicine, and couldn't invite a doctor, so they could only take care of him with all their heart to repay his kindness. They realized a more serious reality, that is, without Zhao Shijiu, they would not get any extra food.

No one knows where Zhao Shijiu got his food. Even if there is food, no one knows how to secretly transport it or how to hide it. Migrant workers who don't know anyone are as difficult to understand as a bible.

They were here to survive, but suddenly, Zhao Shijiu came down from the sky and rescued them, allowing them to have a human life for a short time, but this hope was shattered so quickly, in the blink of an eye, they returned to the abyss and never saw the sun again.

The feeling of losing after gaining is like a fire igniting their dry chest, burning raging anger, dissatisfaction and restlessness spread among the crowd, even men who are usually cowardly to the extreme dare to stare at Xiaobing behind their backs.

Zhao Ershi even polished a wooden stick with a scorched tip day and night, watching the unconscious Zhao Nineteen weeping secretly. If there was a slight change, he would immediately turn into the most valiant sharp blade in the uprising team.

This time, no one opened their mouths to say more patience, don't hurt everyone's words, everyone held their breath.

Now that the influence of Wang Liuqi's failure has almost been wiped out, since the surface of the vast ocean is gradually boiling, it's time for the movement to catch up with the deep water inside.

Seeing that Zhao Shijiu's emotions were getting more and more agitated, and when he was about to act regardless of the occasion, regardless of life or death, a passing official stopped and looked up and down at Zhao Shijiu who was injured and unconscious.

He is dressed in brand-new linen clothes, with a hunched waist, a gray beard, and a crown and hair. He looks very educated, and he is a rare scholar. He also seems to respect the way of Confucius and Mencius in his actions, which is quite Confucian.

"what happened to him?"

What else can happen!I was beaten by you!

Swallowing his voice back, Zhao Ershi stared at the officials with bloodshot eyes, like a wild beast that had lost its rein and was about to choose someone to eat.

Even though the official was prepared, he couldn't help shaking and took a few steps back.

Suddenly someone whispered: "Master Xu? Is he Master Xu?"

"Hiss... it looks a bit like, no way, it's really him?"

Whispers sounded, and the first person who recognized Mrs. Xu was the man who talked to him after the execution that day. After that, he sprained his foot by accident. Since then, he was unable to work at full capacity and was often whipped and bullied. Nineteen rescued him, but his soul was already out of the sky.

After this incident, his thoughts naturally changed. He no longer compromised old ways, persuaded people to think more, and was full of gratitude and rebellion. Said: "Master Xu, we respect you, Master, your books have been read into the stomach of dogs! Shameless!"

A sense of betrayal spread in the hearts of the big guys in an instant, and everyone stared at Mrs. Xu silently, as if they were looking at a clown.

"I..." Xu Fuzi turned his face sideways, "Send a few people to carry him up, and go with me to Mr. Ma, let's find a way to find a doctor for him."

Zhao Ershi put down the raised stick again, looked at the people behind him for a moment, made a stretcher out of broken boards, carefully carried Zhao Shijiu on it, and lifted him up to follow Mrs. Xu.

Mrs. Xu was like a fish in water once, and he didn't know what happened to him. It seemed that his status was not low. The officers and soldiers coming and going did not stop them, and everyone entered a small wooden house as they wished.

It is still daytime, the surrounding area is empty, and there are several windows in the wooden house, but oil lamps and candles are still lit, shining brightly. Ma Jian is wearing silk clothes, sitting on a chair, holding a book in his hand, shaking his head and reading, Judging by the intensity of the arc, listening to a play may not have such an effect.

Sensing someone coming in, he didn't open his eyes, and said impatiently, "What are you doing?"

Master Xu said, "It's me, Master Ma."

Ma Jian knew who he was, and recited those few Analects back and forth, deliberately pretending not to hear.

"Master Ma? Are you awake? I have something to ask you."

Ma Jian still didn't open his eyes, nor turned his head.

Master Xu signaled them to wait, went forward and poured a cup of tea for Ma Jian: "Master Ma."

Ma Jian finally gave up his voice, and he stared at Master Xu with his slender, pointed eyes.He despised him.A few days ago, Mr. Liu Sheng, who was in charge of this place, passed by the river and heard this poor old man read a poem. He also learned that he knew how to do math. The lard was fooled, so he brought him back. Such a bastard can do it too. Officer, it's ridiculous.

If you ask me, that idiot Liu Sheng...

Thinking of this in his heart, Ma Jian didn't dare to offend Mrs. Xu in the open, and squeezed out a smile: "Isn't this Mr. Xu? What did you just say? My ears are not good, so I didn't hear clearly."

"It's like this, Mr. Ma, one of the migrant workers is sick. I want to get a note from you and take him to see a doctor, or invite a doctor here."

"What?" Ma Jian sat up straight suddenly, "to see a doctor? They also need to see a doctor?"

This time he wasn't pretending, he really found it incredible. In his cognition, he had never seen the migrant workers as human beings.

Several people outside the door gritted their teeth.

"Yeah, I can't carry this disease by myself, I have to find a doctor..."

"Fart! I have been working here for so long, and I have never heard of anyone hiring a doctor! Mr. Xu, I warn you, don't go too far. I know you came out of that group of untouchables, and you can't forget your family, but in In the officialdom, you must know how to be in harmony with the light. If you are too outstanding, you will be punished. Don't think that you will be able to turn around if Master Liu looks at you high, I..."

"Master Ma." Mrs. Xu interrupted him, turned around and closed the door without shame or anger, leaned over and said in a low voice, "Master Ma, you don't know something, Master Liu told me that the higher-ups value this river treatment very much. In the past few days, special personnel will come down to make unannounced visits, and if the migrant workers make trouble during this period, everyone will not be able to please."

Ma Jian's mouth was still open, but the man was stunned, and no words came out for a while, looking ridiculous.

"If Mr. Liu hadn't been worried about this, why would he have chosen me to do the job? I'm a bad old man, I have neither fame nor background, and my knowledge is even worse than that of Mr. Ma. Why?"

Ma Jian answered blankly: "You have been among the untouchables?"

There was some doubt in his tone, and Mrs. Xu directly helped him confirm the conjecture: "Exactly, the so-called knowing yourself and the enemy can stabilize the situation. Governing the river is a national policy, and the people's livelihood in Xiaguan. A slight mistake will cost the lives of millions of people. If you make a mistake in one step, it will be difficult to make up for it.”

These few words are not bad. When I copied them back into my article, Ma Jian became a little interested. His interest was not in reflecting on behavior and comprehending the truth, but in his long-term monkey bathing.

Seeing that Mrs. Xu was a little more pleasing to the eye, he condescended to ask, "You mean, you want me to treat them better?"

"That's not necessary." Mr. Xu shook his head, "If you hire a doctor for one person, you have to hire a doctor for ten or a hundred people. How can you be so busy? Besides, the cost is too high, and it is easy to delay the construction schedule."

"Yes, yes." Ma Jian agreed, "What you said is very reasonable, and they should not be spoiled."

"So you can do superficial work. As long as you can live with face, let these people go back and wait, and perfunctory every now and then, so that the people above can't catch mistakes. When the time comes, they will leave."

"Is this what Master Liu meant?" Ma Jian asked.

Mrs. Xu said: "No, Mr. Liu didn't know that I came to see you."

"..." Ma Jian narrowed his eyes, "Come on, Mr. Xu, sit down and talk."

Mrs. Xu sat down and said, "Although Mr. Liu is the director of the river, you are responsible for the specific matters below. If there is a problem, you will be the first to complain."

"Me? I have no grievances or enmities with Mr. Liu..." Ma Jian was startled, and suddenly thought of Liu Sheng's newly married daughter. His son-in-law still lacked an errand.

"The money and food distributed by the imperial court passed into the hands of the migrant workers, and it was your account. You probably gave a lot of the profits deducted from it to Mr. Liu."

Mentioning this horse arrow makes me angry. The Yellow River did not burst its embankment every time. In the past, the yamen was not valued at all. Finally, there was a chance to make money. Who doesn't feel bad?

"Although you gave Master Liu the bulk of your money, you have to spend it in your own pocket after all." Mrs. Xu spoke in a calm manner, "If he can take this part into his pocket, why not Why?"

In a few words, Ma Jian's sense of crisis was easily mobilized.

When the prime minister Tuotuo Timur chose Shangshu Jialu to control the river, all eyes were drawn for a moment. The transfer of materials and the promotion of officialdom were all related. There is me in you, and you in me.There is no big person behind Ma Jian, not even a middle-level person. It is only because he has been an official in the idle place of Hedao Yamen that he can get his current job, so he is nervous and very vigilant.

Master Xu continued: "It's better to give charcoal in the snow than to add icing on the cake. When I help you, I also help myself."

Ma Jian said: "What are you helping me?"

"I have a young daughter in my family who really has no intention of getting involved in the officialdom. She just wants to go back to her hometown. I hope Mr. Ma can operate it and be accommodating."

"That's easy! Easy!" Ma Jian readily agreed, and patted Mrs. Xu on the shoulder, "Not only that, but I will also give you a large sum of money so that you can return to your hometown in good condition."