Chapter 207: Guanghuo Street
In the evening, Zhao Yulin and his wife went to visit Zhao Yujiang's home . Seeing that there were already two boys in the house circling around his second sister-in-law, he asked his brother if he had ever thought of sending the children back to Yibin to be looked after by the elderly?
Zhao Yujiang hesitated for a moment and said that his sister-in-law thought it would be better to keep the child with him.
Zhao Yulin did not continue the topic. His children were almost never around, and raising them was definitely the couple's job.
Later, Gao Jia came with a group of government officials. After they congratulated Zhao Yulin on his wedding, they toasted each other happily.
When they got home, Shunzhidi was so excited that she attacked Zhao Yulin with an overwhelming force and subdued him before she fell asleep in his arms. When she woke up, the little woman explained the new words about hybrid rice to him before letting him get out of bed.
Two days later, Zhao Yulin took Shunzhidi away from Nanzheng and went to Yangzhou. The prefect You Xianzhong reported to him that Yangzhou's tax revenue had increased by , and the people's food and clothing problems had been solved.
The state used all the banknotes to build roads and ditches to speed up circulation, which not only improved road traffic and irrigation for the military farms, but also made the people very happy to receive high salaries.
After calculating both sides, we not only offset the depreciation of paper currency but also accomplished a lot of practical things, and everyone was very happy.
Zhao Yulin nodded and affirmed their approach, saying that the border was now being pushed further and further away, and the people of Yangzhou could not relax, but needed to continue to be vigilant and check as always, and block the channels for spies to travel back and forth.
Especially the shortcut of Ziwu Road, we must not let bad guys take advantage of it.
You Xianzhong immediately became alert.
Zhao Yulin continued to tell him that now that the volume of commercial circulation has increased and there are many merchants coming and going, it cannot be ruled out that someone may smuggle goods and steal our advanced equipment or even military supplies. If control at each road crossing is not strengthened , people will think that they can let their horses run free when peace is achieved and allow them to roam freely. This may be convenient for pedestrians, but it will be a loss if bad guys and spies are let go.
You Xianzhong naturally understood that many new workshops had been opened in Nanzheng, and that they were producing and manufacturing rare new tools and equipment that were dozens or even hundreds of years ahead of the current ones. If the enemy took them away, wouldn't that be aiding the enemy?
The man immediately stated that he would personally supervise and rectify the defense management of the checkpoint, ensuring both strict inspections and convenience for the people, and doing everything he could to make it comprehensive.
Zhao Yulin was very satisfied. After a night's rest, he headed north along the Ziwu Road and arrived at the top of Qinling Mountains four days later. He pointed at the mountain and told Shunzhidi that this was the dividing line between the Yangtze River Basin and the Yellow River Basin, the watershed.
The little woman leaned against him weakly and looked at the snow-capped mountains in the distance, praising them with all her heart how beautiful they were. The postman beside her laughed and said that it was only beautiful in the morning when the red sun was rising, that was wonderful.
Zhao Yulin became interested and said that the sun had set, so they should set up camp here and watch the sunrise tomorrow before going down the mountain.
The postman said cheerfully that there were only three households here, including the post station, and that the brothers would be wronged. He saw a large group of guards behind him, numbering several hundred people, and there was definitely not enough room.
The captain of the guard had already called on his brothers to choose a place to set up camp and asked him to provide water and food. The postman immediately arranged for his men to help prepare meals.
Zhao Yulin and Shunzhidi came out of the room and sat around the campfire with their brothers, eating barbecue and drinking.
The postman told them that he had been busy in Ziwu Valley since the year when the Shenwei Army entered the Ziwu Road to build the road. At that time, the third young master led us to launch a surprise attack on Guanzhong and captured the Lantian camp of the Northern Barbarians in one fell swoop. I, your brother, had contributed a lot. You young people should not underestimate me.
The postman drank happily and talked about the past when Zhao Yulin led his troops from here to Guanzhong, such as climbing on ice and snow, climbing rocks with human ladders, and competing with the enemy with swords when he could not draw the bow and arrow. He talked with relish.
The boys in the guard looked at the old soldier and laughed.
The old postman was in a drunken mood. He unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it down, then turned half of his body around to show everyone. There was a half-foot long scarlet wound hanging diagonally on his back.
Zhao Yulin went up to help him gather his clothes and told him to sit down and drink.
The captain of the guard asked him, do you know who is dressing him? It is the third young master.
The old postman was stunned for a moment, staring at him with eyes as big as copper bells, and his eyes quickly became moist.
Zhao Yulin patted the old postman on the shoulder and said, "What are you doing? Drink."
He picked up the wine bowl and clinked it with the postman, and drank it all. He sighed and said that it has been almost ten years since the Yibin uprising. The brothers have suffered a lot in the battles, and everyone has scars on their body.
The old postman immediately put down his wine bowl and was about to kneel down to salute him. Zhao Yulin stopped him and asked him if he had forgotten. Kneeling was not customary in the Shenwei Army.
The postman was already in tears, and he called two old soldiers to come over and salute him together. The three of them were all placed here after being injured when they entered Guanzhong that year.
Zhao Yulin asked everyone to sit down and drink together, and asked the guards to fetch some more grains.
He pointed at the post station and said, "Although there are only a few houses here, it is very important. People traveling from the south to the north have to stop here."
The old postman also said proudly that three nearby mountain valleys converge here, and people who cross mountains and ridges all come here to buy goods and barter, and almost all travelers stay here overnight before going down the mountain.
Zhao Yulin looked into the future with a smile and said that this place would definitely become a big market town. When there is a street in the future, it would be called Guanghuo Street, meaning there are many goods and the business is booming.
The old postman was delighted and shouted, "What are we waiting for? From now on this place will be called Guanghuo Street. It's a famous name given by the Third Young Master, and we must make it famous."
The head of the nearby caravan immediately found a piece of wood and asked Zhao Yulin to write down the place name.
Fairy Banban, these chivalrous men put him on the fire and roasted him. Where can we find large brushes in the post station?
Zhao Yulin looked at the thick wooden board, then at the dancing flames and came up with an idea.
He asked the captain of the guard to drag the wooden board to the ground and lay it flat. He drew the short sword from Shunzhidi's waist and walked to the front of the board. He held the sword and gathered his energy, using the sword as a pen to rub and carve.
Sawdust were seen flying, and in an instant the three words "Guanghuo Street" appeared on the wooden board.
Everyone immediately applauded, great!
Zhao Yulin said there was still one step left, so he dragged the wooden board to the campfire to roast it, then found a branch of suitable thickness and lit it to use as a pen, and carbonized the three words stroke by stroke before the task was complete.
The brothers saw the vigorous and powerful street name and exclaimed "Great Goodness". Then, the old postman found another piece of wood and asked him to help brand it with the name . Zhao Yulin did the same.
Back in the room, Shunzhidi gently pressed on him and said that the soldiers all liked and respected him. He said that our Shenwei Army was a family connected by blood.
In the early morning, the old postman shouted at the door, "Third Master, the sun is about to rise."
Zhao Yulin and Shun Zhidi went out to the top of the mountain to enjoy the view. The east was getting white, the wind was blowing and the clouds were moving. A red sun was rising slowly, and the golden sunlight spread over the mountains and forests, like a fairyland on earth.
The old postman exclaimed, what a wonderful place it was, he would stay here forever.
Zhao Yulin waved goodbye to his old brothers and continued forward in the sunset.
When he walked into Chang'an's home, Wu Yuqi's child had already been born. The woman looked at the baby beside her happily and asked him to hold her, and proudly told him that she had given birth to a little boy this time.
Zhao Yulin happily picked it up and looked at it, saying joyfully that he liked both his brother and sister.
Shunzhidi also brought the child born by Ma Ling over, and teased her with a smile. Huo Fenghuang asked her if she had started the pregnancy and told her to have one as soon as possible.
The little woman's face turned red, she lowered her head shyly and said, "How can it be so fast?"
Zhao Yulin knew that the two women were together, and he was the target of teasing and struggle, so he put the child next to Yuqi's pillow and ran out on the pretext of having to go to the bathroom. The captain of the guard caught up with him and said that General Miao was here.
He walked into the small living room and found Miao Gui already waiting for him while drinking tea.
Zhao Yulin asked him what was the hurry? He came as soon as he entered the room.
Miao Gui said with a smile, "Come and see if your brother is really well."
The brothers are all very worried.
He boasted that he had run from Yibin to Hanzhong and had subdued Shunzhidi, so how could his health be any worse? It was all right.
Miao Gui teased him that he was amazing, that he had two more sons, and that he was really working hard to reserve talents for our Shenwei Army. Brother Miao was an honest man, and his jokes were all true, and Zhao Yulin laughed when he heard it.
He asked about the military situation.
When he was in Hanzhong, he knew that the Mongolian troops in the middle had not withdrawn from Henan and were resting in Luoyang and Zhengzhou, but he still lacked judgment on the overall situation.
Miao Gui said that things were a bit strange this year. The Northern Barbarians had gathered troops in Lingzhou and Yan'an Prefecture, especially in Yan'an Prefecture. The latest intelligence showed that their troops were coming and going on the road, and it was estimated that there were no less than 100,000 people.
It was already 1236, and Zhao Yulin could not remember so much history. He felt that the Mongolian army was going to attack from the west. Now there were troops stationed in the Central Plains, and a tense atmosphere was created in Yan'an Prefecture. For a while, he did not know what the Khan of the grassland was up to.
Miao Gui said that Gao Jin would be arriving in the next two days, so let's discuss it together.
Zhao Yulin nodded and asked everyone to come up with ideas.
After sending Miao Gui away, Fenghuang brought Shunzhidi and Ma Ling to look for him. Zhao Yulin was frightened when he saw women gathered together, so he stood up and ran out.
Fenghuang asked him where he was going, and he felt like a mouse. When did he become so timid?
Could it be that he was squeezed dry by Zhidi?
Zhao Yulin glared at her and sat down to drink tea. Shunzhidi had already shyly snuggled into Fenghuang's arms.
He asked them to talk about business, and each of them was a pillar of the Shenwei Army and they just loved to laugh.
Ma Linger told him that the construction of the new city in Fengxiang Prefecture was progressing very well. The new street for the relocated households had been built, and the people were happily moving into their new houses to celebrate the New Year. Some even started selling Dali rice noodles on the street, and their business was pretty good.
Huo Fenghuang told him that there were more people working in Fengxiang Prefecture, and all kinds of business were doing well. Craftsmen could get their wages on time, and the brothels and theaters were doing a booming business. Uncle Chen's newly brewed "Qin Feng Qiong Jiang" was sold directly to the new city, and it was selling very well.
Haha, Chen Zhongshun opened a winery and brewed wine, and he actually named the new wine Qinfeng Qiongjiang. It’s so interesting.
