Zhu Nao

In the next few days, Zhu Nao's plan to suppress the thieves made rapid progress.

The eradication of Heishanzhai is undoubtedly a powerful deterrent to all bandits in Langzhou—even such a powerful Heishanzhai has been wiped out, which shows that the state capital is no longer the weak and incompetent state capital it was before!Today's state capital is not only determined, but also capable of managing the bandit rebellion.Therefore, everyone is afraid that the benefits of recruiting security with a lot of money will be fatal, but they will die.If you return as soon as possible, you can still get a few acres of land.If you go late, you may not only lose your land, but also be punished severely.

In the state capital, in view of the arrest of Zhou Tian patrolling, many officials were afraid.They found Junao privately, or surrendered or reported.These officials have all had private contacts with certain mountain villages. The honest ones confessed their contacts with the bandits; the more slick ones only said that although they knew the bandits and had been threatened and lured by them, they did not compromise with the bandits. .I surrendered myself, but I was worried that the state government would find out my relationship with the bandits, and mistakenly thought that I had two intentions.

Whether they were frank or sophistry, Zhu Nao didn't go into it.He tricked these people out, as he himself said, not to punish these people.In the past, Song Rentou's rule was not strict, the atmosphere in the state capital was corrupt, and bandits were rampant, so it was reasonable to have some indelible debts of favor.Therefore, he did not record or make any publicity about anyone who came forward to confess. He only asked these officials to persuade the bandits they knew.Officials can also be rewarded for meritorious service.

As a result, more cottages came to surrender, and in just half a month, ten villages and nine surrendered in Langzhou!The disaster of bandits that plagued Langzhou for many years has been greatly improved.

The bandits flocked to surrender, and for a while the state capital was also very busy with resettlement matters.

The bandits became "field slaves" in order to atone for their sins, and the state government needed land to house them.The amount of land is not a problem. Disasters have occurred frequently in the past few years, and there is a large amount of idle cultivated land in the state, which is enough for distribution.However, the allocation cannot be blindly divided with eyes closed, and there are many details in it.

If the bandits run away from their hometown alone, the state government will still resettle them back to their hometown so that they can integrate quickly; if the bandits run away from the whole village, the state government will resettle them separately so that they will not gather together to cause trouble in the future ; There are also those who are unwilling to return to the cultivated land, or those with excellent conditions, can also be incorporated into the Xiangbing after the inspection and handed over to Yu Changming for training and enlightenment.

There was also a group of special people, and the state government officials didn't know how to arrange them, so they were put in the state capital first, reported to Zhu Nao, and waited for Zhu Nao's instructions.

This afternoon, after Zhu Nao finished his work, he took Cheng Jingzhe to see these people.

The two walked to the gate of the main office's courtyard, only to hear that the courtyard was quiet, as if there was no one there.However, when I walked into the courtyard, I saw that the courtyard was full of teenagers, about 50 to [-] people.

Most of these teenagers are boys, but there are also a few girls.Among them, the youngest is only eight or nine years old, most of them are thirteen or fourteen, and the oldest is only fifteen or sixteen.It is said that children of this age are the most energetic. If you meet three or five children in the city or in the countryside, those three or five children will often make a lot of noise.But now thirty or fifty children are together, unexpectedly lifeless.Some of them sat together in twos and threes, but most of them lived alone at one end, looking wary and not communicating with others.The innocence and ignorance of children can not be seen from them.

——These teenagers and children are all orphans among the bandits who came to surrender.

Surprisingly, the proportion of children among bandits is not low.These children were easily abducted and enslaved by bandits or refugees due to the loss of their relatives and support.Since they had nowhere to go and would not run away, some children even took refuge in bandits on their own initiative.

And because they are young, how to accommodate them also makes the state government difficult.These children have limited abilities. Even if the state government allocates land to them, it may be difficult for them to survive on arable land.

After Zhu Nao and Cheng Jingzhe entered the courtyard, the gazes of these teenagers gathered together.They looked at Zhu Nao, but more people focused on Cheng Jingzhe - Jingzhe was only 16 years old this year, similar to their age.Teenagers will naturally pay more attention to their peers.

Seeing this, Zhu Nao patted Cheng Jingzhe lightly: "Go."

Cheng Jingzhe walked to the middle of the courtyard and looked around.Most of these teenagers are thin and thin. Although Jing Zhe is about the same age as them, their stature and aura are quite different.He stood there with a heroic posture, and many teenagers around him subconsciously made a gesture of submission to him.

Cheng Jingzhe looked at Zhu Nao again, and Zhu Nao nodded to him, signaling him to just talk.

So Cheng Jingzhe said: "Forgive you for being young and losing your parents. Although you have been with the bandits, it is understandable. Zhou Mu said that he is willing to forgive your past crimes. Have you thought about where you will go in the future? ?” His tone was calm, not as unapproachable as the elders, and it was easier to complete the communication with these young people.

Most of the teenagers looked blank.Children of this age lost their loved ones early and their livelihoods were difficult, so they didn't have many ideas at all.

Cheng Jingzhe said: "If you still have relatives and friends who can go to you, you can tell the officials of the state government, and the state government will send someone to send you there. If you have no relatives for a long time, but want to return to your family, the state government can also help you Find suitable foster parents to take care of your life."

Still no one spoke, and the eyes of the teenagers were mostly numb.

Many of them also had "adoptive parents", who either made them bandits or sold them around.Anyway, they are young, and it is the same to be at the mercy of anyone, and it is the same to be at the mercy of the state government.

Cheng Jingzhe scanned the surroundings again, and seeing the expressions of everyone, he couldn't help but frowned slightly.He sighed: "Alternatively, if you want to stay in the state capital, it is also possible."

As soon as these words came out, all the teenagers were taken aback for a moment.Stay in the state capital?

Cheng Jingzhe said: "If you stay, men can follow me to learn martial arts and art of war; women can follow the weaver girl hired by the state government to learn female red and silkworm raising skills. If you have any special skills, or have other things you want to learn , You can also say it, the state government will try its best to arrange it for you."

The expressions of the teenagers immediately changed from numbness to shock.If they stay in the state capital, will someone teach them things? !

It should be noted that most of these teenagers come from poor backgrounds, and they have been helping the family since they were able to walk.After losing their loved ones, they were even reduced to the point of being enslaved and dispatched. They were taught what to do, and they were also taught some simple and rough work, and they were asked to do it immediately.No one ever taught them the art!It is even more impossible for someone to let them learn whatever they want!

Cheng Jingzhe waited for a while, but no one answered, and said helplessly, "Do you need time to think about it?"

In fact, teenagers don't need time to think, but need time to accept this sudden choice.

Suddenly someone said: "Learn martial arts and art of war from you?"

Cheng Jingzhe followed the reputation and found that the person who spoke was a boy of fifteen or sixteen years old.He is about the same age as Cheng Jingzhe, and his stature is also about the same. Among the thin and thin children, he is the most unusual one.He actually has some muscles in his arms, and judging by his stature and posture, he looks like a trainer.

Cheng Jingzhe said: "Have you learned it before?"

The boy lowered his eyes.The question touches on a topic he doesn't want to talk about, so he refuses to answer it.

He didn't want to say it, so Cheng Jingzhe didn't ask.Young people are straightforward, and there are not so many twists and turns in their minds.Cheng Jingzhe cut to the chase and said, "You think I'm not qualified? Then let's compete?"

The young man hesitated.He did have doubts about Cheng Jingzhe, but this is the state capital after all, so he needs to have a lot of scruples.

But Cheng Jingzhe has already continued: "What do you want to compare? Boxing skills? Spear skills? Sword skills I have practiced very little, maybe not. But I will practice hard in the future."

Hearing his natural tone, the young man didn't appear to be irritated, and he didn't seem to care too much about the outcome of the competition, so his head got hot, and he agreed: "Then fight with fists and legs."

Cheng Jingzhe said: "Okay. Come on."

At this time, Dou Ziyi came out from the master's office, happened to see this scene, and couldn't help frowning slightly.He quickly walked around to Zhu Nao, and said in a low voice, "State shepherd."

Zhu Nao asked him, "What's the child's name?"

Dou Ziyi knew that he was asking about the young man who was going to compete with Cheng Jingzhe, and hurriedly said: "His name is Pei Ziqi. His father used to be a school lieutenant in Zhechong Mansion, and he died at a young age. His mother was not in charge of the family, and the family's money Tricked away, his mother threw herself into a well."

Junao couldn't help shaking his head.He is a hard-working child, he was originally from a military family, no wonder he has practiced kung fu.

In the yard, the children had retreated to the side, leaving the open space in the middle of the yard for Cheng Jingzhe and Pei Ziqi.At this time, the teenagers were no longer as cautious and timid as before, and their eyes were active, staring curiously at the two people who were about to compete, obviously very interested in this accident.

Dou Ziyi was a little worried.Zhu Nao brought Cheng Jingzhe here today, apparently with the intention of cultivating Jingzhe.If these teenagers stay, they will all become Cheng Jingzhe's subordinates.But if Jing Zhe loses in the first place, how will he convince the crowd in the future?

He whispered: "Zhou Mu, what should Jing Zhe do if he loses to Pei Ziqi?"

Zhu Nao smiled indifferently: "At his age, can't he afford to lose?"

Dou Ziyi was slightly taken aback.What he wanted to say was that if Cheng Jingzhe lost in the competition, it would disrupt Zhu Nao's plan.But think again, is there only one plan in this world?Zhu Nao is not a follow-through person either.What's the big deal about such small things?

Thinking of this, he stopped talking and focused on the competition between the two teenagers.

Cheng Jingzhe and Pei Ziqi had already put on a stance, when they saw each other's stance, their eyes became a little more serious.

In terms of skills, I'm afraid Pei Ziqi is better than Cheng Jingzhe.He has been practicing martial arts since he was a child, and Cheng Jingzhe only started practicing martial arts with Zhu Nao, and it has only been two years since then.However, Cheng Jingzhe is talented, and he has been extremely serious in the past two years. He would even keep making gestures with a weapon in the yard during Zhu Nao's lunch break every day, and his skills have improved by leaps and bounds.Pei Ziqi was not as lucky as him, so it was hard to say who would win.

The two of them were not in a hurry to make a move at the beginning, they wanted to test each other's reality first, so you advance and retreat, I retreat and you advance, playing a saw-saw.The first person to break the deadlock was Cheng Jingzhe, not because he was more impatient, but because he was more confident, so he threw a jab straight at Pei Ziqi's face!

He moved extremely fast, and Pei Ziqi hadn't adapted to the rhythm yet, so he had no time to dodge, so he could only shield his head with his arms.

This created an opportunity for Cheng Jingzhe.Taking advantage of the gap between Pei Ziqi's headgear, he directly approached him, swept his leg to the left to sweep his knee socket, and pushed his body to the right with one hand. With the combination of two forces, he directly flipped the unsuspecting Pei Ziqi over!

Hearing a "bang", Pei Ziqi fell heavily to the ground!

Everyone did not expect that this is just the beginning, and there is such a big progress.Cheng Jingzhe's movements are crisp and neat, extremely beautiful.Several teenagers couldn't help but started cheering and cheering, and the atmosphere in the yard suddenly became lively.

Pei Ziqi lost a move first, but he didn't raise his hand to surrender.He straightened up like a carp, quickly got up, and resumed his posture.When Cheng Jingzhe attacked again, he was already prepared, turned his head away, and hit Cheng Jingzhe's chin with a high sweep!His legs are nimble, and his moves are fierce, if he is really kicked in the jaw, he might go into shock immediately.

Cheng Jingzhe's eyes sharpened, and he leaned back to avoid it. As soon as Pei Ziqi retracted his legs, his mighty fist followed closely.

The two of them came and went, and quickly went through three or five tricks, but they couldn't get a bargain from the other party.The situation fell into a stalemate, and everyone held their breath nervously.

When Cheng Jingzhe took the initiative to attack Pei Ziqi again, Pei Ziqi suddenly made a strange move, he didn't shoot or dodge, he clamped Cheng Jingzhe's fist with both hands, and pulled him violently in his direction!

Cheng Jingzhe lost his center of gravity and rushed forward, his pupils shrank.Taking advantage of this opportunity, Pei Ziqi punched him in the face. Cheng Jingzhe couldn't resist anymore, so he could only dodge with his head tilted, but he didn't dodge in time, and was hit in the side by the fist.However, when he was weightless, he also made a strange move, he pushed his knee suddenly, and it hit Pei Ziqi's abdomen, and the two of them fell to the ground together!

The situation changed suddenly, the teenagers gasped for breath, and let out a "ho ho" sound from their throats nervously.

The two fell to the ground and rolled into a ball.Pei Ziqi exerted strength from his waist, pushed his legs up, and tried to twist Gu Cheng Jingzhe's neck.

Cheng Jingzhe was taken aback, and it was too late to retreat, his neck was strangled by him, and he wanted to break it open with his hands, but the strength in his hands was not as strong as Pei Ziqi's legs.Seeing that he was at a disadvantage, he was still not to be outdone, and with an idea, he simply lay down on the ground, and also used his foot to step on Pei Ziqi's jaw, and at the same time grabbed his hand, and pulled hard against his joints.

Pei Ziqi let out a scream and loosened his legs.Cheng Jingzhe immediately turned over and restrained Pei Ziqi, twisting his joints so as not to let him break free again.

Pei Ziqi thumped again and again, trying to find a chance to escape, but the more he struggled, the tighter Cheng Jingzhe tightened.His joints hurt, and if he moved again, his arm might be taken off, so he had to slap and admit defeat: "I lost, I lost!"

Only then did Cheng Jingzhe let go of Pei Ziqi and got up from the ground.Then he reached out his hand to Pei Ziqi, Pei Ziwang was stunned for a moment, grasping it with a complicated expression, and Cheng Jingzhe pulled him up.

There was a burst of cheers and cheers all around!

Jing Zhe asked Pei Ziqi: "Are you convinced?"

Pei Ziqi was not an idiot, nodded and said: "Convince me." Then said, "I want to stay in the state capital to learn martial arts."

Rather than looking for a pair of adoptive parents who have never met before, he wants to stay and live by farming the land.When Cheng Jingzhe said this option, he already had the answer in his heart, but he didn't trust Cheng Jingzhe himself at first.After some competition, he was convinced.

With Pei Ziqi taking the lead, those timid youngsters quickly followed suit.

"I want to stay too."

"Me too, I want to learn martial arts!"

"Really, is it really possible?"

Someone even cried a little: "I want to learn martial arts and the art of war. But I don't know how to read. Can you teach me too?"

Although these teenagers have been bandits, at their age, they are often not bullying others, but being bullied by others.Relying on their physical strength, or relying on weapons and tools, those elders beat and scolded them frequently, and they were powerless to fight back.They have fantasized many times that if one day they grow up and become powerful, they will no longer be bullied by others.

When they only listened to Cheng Jingzhe's words, they were only slightly moved.But when they really saw Cheng Jingzhe's clean and neat skills, they couldn't hold back anymore - they can also learn martial arts, and they also have the opportunity to become as strong as Cheng Jingzhe!

From childhood to adulthood, they have heard adults scolding the court and the government, and scolding officials as dog officials. It seems that officials are more cruel than thieves and only bully the common people.Therefore, when they followed their cottage to the state capital to surrender, they thought that the future would get worse.However, it was only when I came here that I discovered that the world still has such a choice?If I had known earlier, when they were desperate, they should have come here!

Forty or fifty teenagers, except for a few who still want to find their parents, almost all of the rest want to stay in the state capital to study.There were even two girls who couldn't help asking whether they could learn some martial arts while studying female celebrities.

After confirming the intentions of the teenagers, Zhu Nao ordered people to go to the backyard to vacate some empty rooms for the teenagers to live in first.The rest of the things, wait a minute and practice them one by one.

After leaving the master's office, Zhu Nao took Cheng Jingzhe back.

Zhu Nao said softly: "Although these children's aptitude is not very good, if they can be properly educated, they may not be able to become useful in the future. You should be more careful."

Jing Zhe hesitated and said: "But I am not good at learning myself, how can I teach them?"

Zhu Nao smiled and said: "Don't worry, I will find someone to help you. You learn and teach at the same time, and you can also consolidate your knowledge. You learn a few years earlier than them, and you are more diligent than them, how can you teach?" Is it bad?"

Cheng Jingzhe scratched his head and stopped talking.

Zhu Nao patted his head and said, "Be kind to them. You will have a chance to show your strength in the future."

Those teenagers are certainly not qualified enough, but they are still young, and there is still a lot of room for plasticity.Moreover, at a young age, being able to eat, live and study with Cheng Jingzhe, the relationship must be deep.These teenagers have no complicated backgrounds, and they will definitely be loyal people in the future.In troubled times, talents are rare, and loyalty is even rarer.

"I don't know what the young master is referring to..." Cheng Jingzhe looked at him with clear eyes, "I only know that as long as it is something you entrusted to me, I will do it well!"