Chapter 221 Five Stars in a Row
Su Ze thought for a while, and then said to Li Zhi:
"Since we are traveling north to study, we naturally have to visit the mountains and rivers and pay homage to the ancients. There are many historical sites on Xianxia Mountain Road, so let's take this road."
Su Ze said again . Pointing to his guards, he said, "There shouldn't be any blind bandits who would rob us, right?"
Everyone laughed. Although the bandits were more powerful than ordinary bandits, the four guards combined were close to a hundred people. Su Ze still had Chang Ning by his side. Elite soldiers trained by the guards.
After deciding how to go, everyone bought some supplies in Fuzhou City.
Li Zhi came back from Zhili in the south. He said to everyone: "It is difficult for good horses to travel on mountain roads. It is best to buy Yunnan horses or mules from southern Yunnan to travel on mountain roads." "It is indispensable to wear warm and cold clothing
. It's very cold in the mountains, so we need to keep not only people from the cold, but also animals."
"Dry food and water bags must also be prepared. Let's go to Jianning Prefecture first to hire a guide to go up the mountain."
Su Ze also traveled many times, but basically They are all short distances or by boat. As expected, long-distance land travel is very difficult in this era.
Even though official roads and inns had been paved in the Ming Dynasty, traveling was still a luxury. This is why water transport was so important. Compared with traveling on the road, taking a boat was much more comfortable.
Su Ze followed Li Zhi's suggestion and purchased thirty Yunnan horses in Fuzhou Prefecture. His wealth attracted everyone's attention.
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong were also from big families. They each bought 20 mules, and together with the 20 batches of mules and horses brought by Li Zhi, they formed a huge team.
Putting the luggage and goods brought to Nanzhili on the mules and horses, the group headed north from Fuzhou Prefecture towards Jianning Prefecture.
From a distance, Su Ze saw many small caravans following them. By the time they reached Jianning Mansion at the end of February, a caravan of nearly a hundred people was already behind them.
The mountain road is dangerous, so it is natural to travel in groups as much as possible. Su Ze and his group look like they are strong soldiers, so it is naturally safer to follow them.
Lin Deyang felt a little bored when no thieves came out to rob him all the way to Jianning Mansion.
However, he shot many wild animals along the way, which greatly enriched everyone's dining table.
It's just that the meat of these beasts that have been in the wild for a long time is very tight and tastes like chewing wax. Su Ze really can't figure out why future generations have to break the law to eat these things.
Everything along the way was official, and everyone was just a judge. Although Li Zhi had official status, he left his post without permission and ran back from the Nanjing Imperial College, so he did not meet the conditions for living in the post station.
However, due to the developed business and tourism industry in Fujian, there are always private hotels near the inn, so a group of people traveling from south to north can always find a place to stay.
Along the way, Li Zhi always pulled Su Ze and asked him about knowledge related to astronomy and arithmetic.
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong were also interested at first, but when they saw Su Ze's complicated calculations, they all expressed their dissatisfaction.
Su Ze also didn't expect that Li Zhi would be so interested in the astrology and calendar. As the two talked, Li Zhi increasingly agreed with Su Ze's theory of "studying things" and "promoting knowledge".
Li Zhi followed Su Ze's method of calculation and said:
"Xunzi said: 'The movement of heaven is constant, not for Yao to survive, not for Jie to perish.' Sure enough, the movement of celestial bodies has its own laws and is not changed by human will! Su
Ze nodded and said: "Taking the gathering of five stars as an example, does Mr. Zhuo Wu know why this celestial phenomenon was commonly seen in historical data in ancient times, but it is no longer recorded in recent historical almanacs?" Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong saw it
. The two stopped talking about mathematics and joined in with interest.
Huang Maochong said: "The gathering of five stars? Could it be the auspicious celestial phenomenon that occurred during the reigns of Zhuan Xu and Qi Huan?"
Zhao Bingzhong continued: "This celestial phenomenon seems to have been recorded in the "Book of Han", "The emperor of the Han Dynasty entered the Qin Dynasty, and the five stars gathered in Dongjing" '."
Huang Maochong immediately said: ""Historical Records" also said this, 'The Han Dynasty prospered when the five stars gathered'. Doesn't this mean that the way of heaven affects people's hearts? When the five stars gather, a Ming Lord will be born?" Su Ze said with a smile: "There are sages in the world
. There are so many kings, why are there few official historical records of the gathering of five stars after the early Han Dynasty? Is it possible that there are no wise kings after Zhuan Xu, Qi Huan, and Han Gaozu?" Li Zhi had already accepted astronomical calculations, and he said:
" Because the gathering of five stars is a natural celestial phenomenon and has nothing to do with the birth of Holy Lord Mingjun."
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong still couldn't accept it. They said, "Maybe there are wise Lords born from time to time, but the astronomical officials did not record it?"
Su Ze shook his head and said, "Since Since the early Han Dynasty, the two largest five-star gatherings occurred respectively in the early Han Dynasty when Empress Lu came to the court to kill the Young Emperor and in the middle of the Tang Dynasty when Empress Wei killed Zhongzong. Although there is no historical record, it is recorded in the notes and almanacs of the time. ."
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong took a breath. They knew that Su Ze had read a lot of books, and naturally they believed that Su Ze was not talking nonsense.
Empress Lu came to the court and Empress Wei was in power. If Empress Lu could still be regarded as the Queen Mother coming to the court, Empress Wei was a full-fledged rebel.
It's no wonder that later historians no longer record the "Five Stars in a row" in history books.
Huang Maochong became even more silent. The Five Classics he wrote were also the Spring and Autumn Annals like Su Ze. The so-called Spring and Autumn writing style was that Confucius used historical books to praise and criticize historical facts. This set of practices was also inherited by later historians.
Huang Maochong was not only shaken by the "response between heaven and man", but also by the "Spring and Autumn Writing Technique" of historians.
Li Zhi said with interest: "Can what Ru Lin said be calculated?"
Su Ze nodded and said: "Of course it can be calculated. When I tell Mr. Zhuo Wu the algorithm, you can check it slowly on the way."
Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong There were still some doubts, but they were also shaken by the idea of telepathy from heaven and humans.
Along the way, Li Zhi became obsessed with arithmetic and immersed in the calculations of the stars and the sea.
Su Ze and Huang Maochong chatted with Zhao Bingzhong. At the end of February, the group had arrived at Jianning Mansion, a large city in northern Fujian.
"Brother Zhao, is Jianning Mansion your hometown?"
Zhao Bingzhong rubbed his head and said, "My grandfather moved out from Jianning Mansion, but his ancestral home is in Jianning. I have never been back to my hometown."
Huang Maochong said: "Brother Zhao's grandfather was an official of the Provincial Affairs Bureau. He had already moved to Fuzhou Prefecture a long time ago, but he still has ancestral property in Jianning Prefecture." So it turns out that the Provincial Affairs Bureau
is the judicial office of a province, which is equivalent to the provincial intermediate court. Zhao Bingzhong's My grandfather was able to become an official in Fujian without being restricted by the Three Guardians. He must have been promoted from the civil service, which is also the so-called knife and pen official.
This is not uncommon in the Justice Department. After all, judicial work has professional requirements and requires a certain degree of stability.
But it is still his hometown after all. Zhao Bingzhong said: "Jianning Mansion was called Jianzhou in ancient times. It was an important town in northern Fujian with tall city walls..." Before Zhao Bingzhong could finish speaking, he
saw the dilapidated city walls of Jianning Mansion. He was stunned and said: "Wait, it wasn't like this last time I came back."
Huang Maochong asked, "Brother Zhao, when was the last time you came back?" "
Well, it was probably when I was ten years old."
Well, everyone was the same. Speechless.
Su Ze said: "Last year, the Japanese pirates invaded Jianyang and besieged Jianning Mansion. The city wall should have been damaged at that time. I'm afraid there was no time to repair it." Zhao Bingzhong said quickly: "That's it!" Everyone walked into the building with the broken
city
wall . In Yangcheng, he only saw that the people in the city were all looking good. Li Zhi said to Su Ze:
"It is best to ask the hunters in Xianxia Mountain to lead the way. However, many of the hunters in these mountains have colluded with the bandits in the mountains, so they need to be carefully screened." Jian The buildings outside Yangcheng were all demolished when the Japanese pirates attacked the city. The winter in northern Fujian was much colder than that in Fuzhou. Su Ze couldn't bear to see many people hiding in thatched houses beside the city wall to keep warm. , and ordered people to buy some rice and give porridge outside the city.
Seeing Su Ze like this, Li Zhi, Huang Maochong and Zhao Bingzhong did not go to the city to stay, but just like him, they were giving porridge outside the city.
Unexpectedly, Su Ze was serving porridge outside the city for a day, but an official from Jianyang County Government arrived.
"Who are you here to win people's hearts?"
A short, fat scribe stood up and looked at Su Ze who was serving porridge and asked.
Su Ze ignored the clerk. The clerk actually stepped forward and grabbed Su Ze's hand and said,
"I'm asking you a question!"
Su Ze pushed the clerk's hand away and said, "You don't care if the people are naked. I am giving porridge to help the people, but you want to block me. What kind of truth is this?"
The clerk sneered and said:
"The county magistrate has an order that only the county government can give porridge. Are you the mining thieves on Xianxia Mountain? Are you here to pull the team?"
Su Ze, who already had 11 points of strength, pushed hard, pushed the scribe to the ground and said, "
I was waiting outside the city to give porridge, and you beat me into a mining robber. It turned out to be Xu who kills people with a knife and a pen. Official!"
"Rebellion! Rebellion!"
The clerk immediately shouted. The government servant behind him drew his knife, and Su Ze came over first.
Lin Deyang had long disliked this group of guys, and he immediately drew his sword. More than 20 strong men drew their swords, and these government officials immediately stopped.
The clerk took a few steps back, and then shouted in the direction of the city gate:
"The mine thieves are coming down the mountain!"
Minzhuang, who was guarding the city gate, immediately rushed over, scaring the surrounding people and fleeing in all directions.
The clerk smiled ferociously and said: "There is also a reward in the county. A mining thief's head is worth one tael of silver!"
Hearing the reward, the gang of government officials and Minzhuang were even more excited. At this moment, Zhao Bingzhong stepped forward and angrily shouted:
"How dare you ! This is Jieyuan from Jinke Fujian! We are all the Juren who went to Nanjing Imperial College to be imprisoned!"
Upon hearing Jieyuan and Juren, the group of Minzhuang and Yamenmen immediately stopped.
They all looked at the scribe who fell on the ground, with a look of fear in their eyes.
The scribe was also frightened. Jinke Jieyuan, and his entire team were all masters of civil affairs. Even if the county magistrate came, he had to entertain him well, but he was offended by everyone at once.
However, this clerk was also a flexible character. He immediately changed his face and said:
"You are a villain who cannot see Mount Tai. Why doesn't Mr. Xie Yuang go to the city to rest and insists on sleeping outside the city?" "Go
quickly. Report it to the county magistrate!"
Su Ze waved his hand and said, "No need, we are going to Xianxia Mountain, you can take care of it yourself!"
After saying that, Su Ze and his men left the porridge shed directly and headed towards Xianxia Mountain. .
When Su Ze was serving porridge outside the city, he had already found a guide. They were a father and son who were Orions. The father was in his thirties and the son was in his twenties. Under the leadership of the father and son, they set foot on the Xianxia Mountain Road. .
"Rulin, why didn't you wait for the county magistrate to come out?" Zhao Bingzhong was also very angry.
Su Ze said calmly: "A strong dragon will not suppress a local snake. We are just raising people, and we are just passing by. Can we force the county magistrate to admit his mistake?"
Zhao Bingzhong also lowered his head. He said: "If I am an official close to the people in the future, I will not let him. The people under the rule have suffered like this!"
Su Ze did not laugh at Zhao Bingzhong's young and passionate spirit. He just said: "I hope that Brother Zhao can remember his original intention today when he enters the officialdom in the future."
Zhao Bingzhong nodded heavily, and at this moment, there was a sound coming from behind The noise.
"Jie Yuangong, stay!"
The guards drew their weapons one after another. Su Ze looked back and saw only an old man riding a horse, followed by a group of people.
The old man was wearing an official robe, and Su Ze recognized it as the official robe of a county magistrate. This should be the magistrate of Jian'an County, Yiguo County, Jianning Prefecture.
Now that everyone was chasing them out of the city, Su Ze didn't want to see them anymore. He dismounted and walked forward, with Lin Deyang holding a saber to guard him behind him.
"Is this Nanping Su Rulin in front of you?"
"That's right here."
"I'm Li Tong, the magistrate of Jian'an County. I've met all of you."
He extended his hand to avoid hitting the smiling man, and Su Ze also raised his hand in return.
Li Tong sighed and said: "There is a pavilion over there. Mr. Jie Yuang, can you please listen to what I have to say?"
Su Ze nodded, and the group came to the pavilion and sat down. Li Tong sighed again and said: "Private porridge establishments are prohibited in this county. The reason why the county has no choice but to do this is because the thieves from the mountains came down to give porridge a few days ago and dragged the people up the mountain."
Zhao Bingzhong said: "The people are displaced because you, the county magistrate, are incompetent. You don't give porridge yourself, but you will The porridge relief people are framed as mining pirates, why don't they stop watching the people starve to death!"
Li Tong lowered his head and said: "This county also wants to open a warehouse for disaster relief, but the entire Jianning Prefecture has no surplus grain, and the county is also thinking of a way , want the rich households in the city to pay, but the Japanese pirates have besieged the city for three months, and now there is no money left in the city."
Zhao Bingzhong continued: "In this case, why not let the people go up the mountain?"
Li Tong said: "The mine thieves on this mountain Under the banner of Liu Heiqi, the mining thieves coerced the people to go up the mountain, not to let them survive. The mines in the mountains were dangerous and difficult. After these mining thieves let them eat once, they sealed the people into the mines and dug day and night. If you rest, you will have food to eat. If you can't dig the ore, you will let it starve to death. Now that early spring has arrived, you can still survive if you stay outside the city until spring, but if you go up the mountain, you will be dead." Zhao Bingzhong was stunned,
he Then he said: "Why don't you kill Liu Heiqi?"
Li Tong smiled bitterly and said: "This Liu Heiqi has gathered thousands of people. It would be good if he doesn't come down to attack the county. How can we talk about suppressing bandits?" "Last spring
. Xia Erliang failed to hand over a penny to Jian'an County. The imperial court's dismissal order is probably on the way. I can't protect the country and the people, so I just want to return to my hometown as soon as possible." Su Ze asked: "The Japanese rebellion in Jianning Prefecture is so serious
. , the court did not waive the land tax?"
Li Tong sighed and nodded, and now Zhao Bingzhong was speechless.
Su Ze was once again glad that he had traveled to Changningwei, and when he thought about Guanzhong thousands of miles away, there were always things he couldn't express in a thousand words.
Li Zhi was heard saying angrily:
"This is such a shitty world!"
(End of Chapter)