Zhu Wenzhen, who went to the Qing army for labor reform to recruit actors, came back with a rosy face.
Li Wenzhong, who went to recruit actors from ordinary people, came back with a bruised face.
As the weather gets colder, Chen Biao put on a thicker cotton coat, looking more like a chubby Fuwa.
Chen Biao would not be able to reach the table if he sat on an ordinary chair or stool. At the Chen family, the tables and chairs for Chen Biao to read were specially customized.
Without Zhu Yuanzhang as his "child's seat", Chen Biao could only put a cushion on the table and sit cross-legged on it to read documents.
Seeing his two brothers come back, Chen Biao raised his head and was about to ask the result seriously, but was frightened by Li Wenzhong's appearance: "Cousin! What's wrong with your face?!"
Li Wenzhong rubbed the bruises on his face and limped into the door: "The people were too enthusiastic, I accidentally got pushed to the ground..."
Chen Biao was so scared that he jumped off the table.
He actually jumped down from a table that was almost as high as him, which scared Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong so much that they rushed over, fearing that Chen Biao would fall.
Chen Biao landed steadily and took Li Wenzhong's hand: "You didn't bring anyone to maintain order? Trampling will kill people!"
Li Wenzhong said, "Yes, I brought them. I was rescued right after I was pushed down, and I didn't get stepped on much. It was also my fault. I underestimated their enthusiasm."
Li Wenzhong paused and smiled bitterly: "I just told them that they were chosen to be actors and I would arrange for them to go to Yingtian to meet their adoptive mother, and they rushed up to me like crazy."
Although Li Wenzhong changed back to his original surname, he was still one of the dozens of adopted sons by Zhu Yuanzhang, so he still called Ma Xiuying his adoptive mother, which was different from the name of his aunt "Chen Ma".
Chen Biao was amused: "You underestimated Madam Xiuying's idol effect. Madam Xiuying's reputation is really useful. It seems that even if there are no female relatives to preside over this place, some things can still be done."
Chen Biao was concerned about Li Wenzhong's health again, and was hugged by Zhu Wenzhen, who was unwilling to be ignored.
He leaned on his cousin's shoulder and said, "Madam Xiuying's reputation can bring us many conveniences, so you must be more careful and cautious and never tarnish Madam Xiuying's reputation."
Zhu Wenzheng rubbed the back of his cousin's chubby head and said, "I'll chop down anyone who dares to smear my stepmother's reputation!"
Chen Biao said, "Cut, cut, cut! That's all you know how to do! Ensuring military discipline is the most important thing!"
He thought for a moment and then said, "It's better to open up than to block. Using military discipline to suppress the soldiers stationed here is not a long-term solution. Take a look at the plan I wrote."
Zhu Wenzheng happily sat on the armchair, holding Chen Biao in his arms. He looked so proud, as if he had become his adoptive father and fourth uncle Zhu Yuanzhang.
Li Wenzhong rolled his eyes at Zhu Wenzheng and dragged a chair over: "Get out of the way and make room for me."
Zhu Wenzheng complained: "Can't you sit across from me?"
Li Wenzhong said: "No."
Zhu Wenzhen wanted to say something, but Chen Biao pinched him and he obediently moved the armchair to make room for him.
The two sat side by side, listening to Chen Biao flipping through the plan and explaining the next action plan to them.
It will take some time to write, teach and rehearse the play. During this period, the people's livelihood work in Yangzhou City naturally cannot be stopped and all work must be done together.
When the supporters from the Chen family arrived, they not only brought talented people in literature and art, but also brought many iron farm tools.
Yingtian is the ancient capital of six dynasties. Although they were all short-lived separatist dynasties, it also shows that it is indeed a treasure land. It’s just that the ancients may not know how rich this land is.
But Chen Biao knew.
Yingtian has coal, iron, copper, and many other mineral resources. Just this place, with the help of Chen Biao's knowledge of the "ancient steelmaking method", can provide Zhu Yuanzhang's army with better weapons than other forces.
The "ancient blast furnace steelmaking method" produced nothing but scrap steel in later generations, but in this era, they are all magical weapons.
The iron smelting method introduced by Chen Biao not only improved the weaponry of Zhu Yuanzhang's army, but was also so efficient that it could simultaneously produce farm tools while also providing weapons for the army. Although the farm tools were ordinary iron tools, they also greatly improved the productivity of Zhu Yuanzhang's territory.
In addition, Chen Biao bought the oxen and calves from overseas at any cost and raised them for several years. Zhu Yuanzhang's territory was not large, so it was not a problem to meet the urgent needs.
When Chen Biao learned that Zhu Yuanzhang was going to attack Yangzhou City, he ordered the Chen family's craftsmen to temporarily put aside other tasks and work overtime to make farm tools. Now the first batch of farm tools and mobilized oxen have finally arrived.
With the arrival of iron farm tools and oxen, even the elderly, the weak, women and children could plow the fields, and the people of Yangzhou, who were transformed from refugees, had more smiles on their faces.
They became even more loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang.
This general is a good man. He not only gave us land, but also helped us cultivate it. Unlike the military lords in other places, who only came to collect taxes and rob food. The refugees who had just become citizens of Yangzhou were all setting up longevity tablets for General Zhu.
When Zhu Wenzhen saw the densely packed words on the plan, he held his forehead and rubbed his temples, feeling dizzy.
Li Wenzhong, however, looked at the plan written by Chen Biao with a flushed face, and even the dark circles under his eyes seemed to have faded a lot.
Li Wenzhong was particularly interested in infrastructure and planning, but he had never found anyone to ask for advice before. Zhu Yuanzhang also lacked this type of talent under his command, so he could only learn by reading books.
"Brother Biao! You actually know this!" Li Wenzhong regretted it deeply. If he had known that his brother Biao could do this, he would have asked him for advice long ago!
Chen Biao raised his eyebrows lazily: "What can't I do? Don't just stare at me in amazement, look quickly. Cousin! Brother Zheng! General Zhu Wenzheng! Don't be lazy!"
Zhu Wenzheng put down his hand that was supporting his forehead and said with a wry smile: "Let me see, let me see, oh, brother Biao, can you write bigger? I feel dizzy just looking at it."
Chen Biao was furious.
How old are you? Do you have presbyopia? Are you worried about the small print? Should I get you a magnifying glass?
Can my cousin change his bad habit of getting dizzy whenever he reads any book other than military books?
In order to gain merit and not to be outdone by Li Wenzhong, Zhu Wenzhen gritted his teeth and endured the dizziness to finish reading the plan written by Chen Biao. Then he leaned back, let out a long sigh, and his body went limp.
Chen Biao was so angry that he pinched the back of Zhu Wenzheng's hand until it turned black. He was so disappointed in Zhu Wenzheng!
Zhu Wenzhen was pinched by Chen Biao and didn't even make a sound. It was as if the words in the book had sucked all his energy away and he was left with only one breath left.
Li Wenzhong suppressed his laughter and held Chen Biao in his arms: "Let him take it easy."
Chen Biao asked worriedly, "Didn't you get stepped on? Will it hurt if I sit in your arms?"
Li Wenzhong said, "Brother Biao is so soft, how could he hurt me?"
Chen Biao didn't know whether to say thank you or pinch the back of Li Wenzhong's hand until it turned black.
My cousin definitely didn’t mean to say that I was a little fat, he definitely didn’t!
Chen Biao looked at his small, knotty arms worriedly.
He's not actually fat. The doctor says his weight and build are just right, a sturdy, lucky doll. He's just too young, hasn't grown up yet, and has baby fat all over his body.
Well, that's it. When he grows up, he will definitely be a handsome young man.
After all, his father claimed that he was a handsome young man famous in the area when he was young, and his mother was even more beautiful.
Li Wenzhong was puzzled: "Brother Biao, what are you doing? Why do you keep pinching your arm?"
Chen Biao stopped abusing his chubby arms and said, "Cousin, do you have any questions?"
Li Wenzhong nodded vigorously. "Yes, there are many! I understand that we can repair houses in the city, and then residents outside the city and wealthy merchants from other places can use grain to buy houses in the city. But we also need to repair houses outside the city, and make them uniform. Why is that?"
Chen Biao said, "This is in preparation for the new household registration system. Dad and I have discussed this. We have plenty of land now, but once the population recovers, there won't be enough to go around. So, we have to restrict household registration when we distribute land. Only urban residents can buy a house in the city, but those with urban hukou can't get land, they can only rent it. Rural hukou can be converted to urban hukou at any time, but in principle, urban hukou can't be transferred back."
Li Wenzhong's eyes widened: "Isn't it possible to have land after entering the city?!"
Chen Biao said, "It's true that those with household registration can buy houses in the city but can't own land. But urban household registration also has advantages, such as education. These will be gradually improved later. If agriculture, commerce and industry are given equal importance, farming is not the only way out. In the future, many people will definitely flock to prosperous cities, and fields will be abandoned. But we can't stop population migration, which will turn the national economy into a stagnant pool... Well, we'll talk about these later."
Chen Biao saw that Li Wenzhong's eyes were also rolling around, so he had no choice but to shut up .
He missed his father. Although his father didn't understand anything, he would only ask questions when he heard something he didn't understand, unlike his two stupid brothers who would roll their eyes when they heard too many things they didn't understand.
There is a huge difference in talent between people .
Chen Biao sighed and stopped talking, then began to talk about the benefits of helping build houses in rural areas.
The first benefit is to win over the people's hearts; the second benefit is to give the young soldiers undergoing labor reform and the garrison troops who have too much energy but nowhere to use something to do, and to get extra money and food, so that they will not have bad thoughts; the third benefit is that when helping to build houses, another population census can be conducted to register people who are not old enough to receive land, which makes management easier.
If there are benefits, the people will actively cooperate with the household registration review. If the rural household registration is counted every time land is distributed and houses are built, a lot of work will be reduced when the rural and urban household registrations are divided after the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
In addition, there are some other benefits, such as training the people to rely on the newly built houses to help Zhu Yuanzhang's army fight when the war breaks out again in Yangzhou, which I will not go into detail about.
Li Wenzhong couldn't help but pinch Chen Biao's head hard.
Chen Biao's head was rubbed against the ground and shook violently. He hit Li Wenzhong impatiently: "Cousin, what are you doing?"
Li Wenzhong rubbed his head and said, "I finally understand why my uncle likes to rub your head. What's wrong with your head, brother Biao? Others take one step and count three steps forward, but you take one step and count three years later?"
Chen Biao made a joke that only time travelers could understand: "It's not three years from now, it's five years from now. Five-year plan, understand?"
Zhu Wenzheng, having recovered his strength, snatched Chen Biao back into his arms and, while rubbing his head, said, "I don't understand! It's already remarkable that I can predict the enemy's movements in one or two days, but are you still a human being if you can predict five years from now? Let me absorb some of your cleverness!"
Chen Biao shouted angrily, "Are you a zombie? Are you going to eat my brain?! Stop playing around! Read this! Understand this, I have another thing to do!"
Zhu Wenzheng wailed, "What?! There's another thing?! Biaodi, Biaoer! Have you arranged too many things?! Do you really want to finish something that would take years to complete in just a few months?"
Chen Biao explained, "We're not just completing several years' work in a few months; we're laying the foundation for years' work. Marshal Zhu will undoubtedly become emperor in the future, and Yangzhou will be his territory, requiring centuries of governance. If we lay a solid foundation now, the people of Yangzhou will enjoy decades more of good life."
Zhu Wenzheng said with a sad face, "Okay, Brother Biao, you're right. I kind of regret staying here. I should have switched with Aying, letting Aying guard Yangzhou City while I go fight."
Chen Biao rolled his eyes vigorously.
What was wrong with this cousin of his? He wasn't happy with the safe infrastructure construction in Yangzhou City, so he had to go out and get hurt. Even if he didn't die, wouldn't it hurt?
Li Wenzhong said, "Stop complaining and don't waste Biao'er's time. Biao'er has written so much for us, he must be very tired and needs to go to bed early."
Zhu Wenzheng said dejectedly, "Okay. Biao'er, what other plans do you have?"
Chen Biao said, "You guys can scroll down, why do you have to let me tell you?"
The two stupid brothers quickly turned to the next page of the document written by Chen Biao.
After opening it, their eyes widened.
This document was the most urgent request of the people presented by Song Lian and Ye Zheng - the women who were given land sent an old woman as a representative, asking Zhu Jiajun to help them find men to marry quickly, the sooner the better.
The two boys, who were already grown but unmarried, blushed.
Li Wenzhong stammered, "Is this request really the most pressing demand of the women in Yangzhou City? It's, it's too..."
Zhu Wenzheng put one arm around Chen Biao and pinched his chin with the other, saying rather nonchalantly, "What did the sages say? When you're well fed and warm, you yearn for sex. If this isn't a bunch of men who are crazy about women and are making demands in the name of women, then it's these women who are, hehehe, horny and thirsty."
Li Wenzhong's face darkened: "Zhu Wenzheng! Shut up! Don't talk nonsense in front of Biaodi!"
Zhu Wenzheng knew he had said something wrong, but he still stiffened his neck and said, "I didn't say anything! You're the one! You have dirty thoughts! Brother Biao, don't listen to his nonsense... Ah, Brother Biao, what's with that look in your eyes? Are you angry? I was wrong, I was wrong. I shouldn't have said such nonsense. I'm hitting myself in the face!"
Chen Biao put away his indifferent look and said, "Have you two really lived through hard times?"
Zhu Wenzheng slapped his mouth twice and said, "Brother Biao, why do you say that?"
Chen Biao said, "If you two had really worked in the fields, you wouldn't ask such a question."
Li Wenzhong and Zhu Wenzhen looked at each other.
Chen Biao said, "But you were young when you lived through hard times, and you were displaced outside, so you may not have seen the conditions in the countryside. Ignorance is not wrong, but now you are local officials. Don't say such things in the future, it will make people laugh."
Every time Chen Biao spoke in an overly calm and indifferent tone, Li Wenzhong and Zhu Wenzhen felt as if they had met Zhu Yuanzhang, and felt inexplicably scared.
They both shrank their necks, and although they didn't quite understand, they still admitted their mistakes and asked Chen Biao the reason behind this urgent request.
Ignorance is the best. Chen Biao was not angry, nor did he want to blame them.
But even his two elder brothers who had suffered in troubled times were like this, so those gentry and literati who were high up and held absolute power of speech would probably be even more so.
"Most women are naturally less strong than men, so some farm work that men can finish in a day may take them two or three days. But that's not a big deal. Farm work doesn't matter if it takes just one or two days. If they work hard, they can still cultivate their own land. But there are always some things that women can't do. For example, repairing houses, turning stone mills, and other purely physical work. Or... places that require fighting."
When Chen Biao thought of his previous life, his eyes dimmed for a moment.
When he started his business in college, his products were related to agricultural products, and he often went to the village to negotiate. So although he was the son of a wealthy businessman, he understood the countryside better than most of his peers.
In this life, he listened to Li Zhen's nagging a lot and had a better understanding of the situation in the countryside in this chaotic world.
Simply put, the village is a "lawless place".
In modern society ruled by law, whenever there are disputes over water sources, housing land boundaries, and other trivial issues, rural families with more strong men will have more say.
In ancient times, the "lawless place" attribute of the village was even stronger.
If there are no male members in a woman's family, she is likely to be burglarized or even more seriously assaulted. It is almost impossible to find the murderer, and even if she does, it will be useless.
Some ruffians will not just kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, but will continue to extort and abuse them. Women can only endure this in order to survive.
In the feudal era, don't count on the government to handle local affairs.
It was fine to have a father and brothers at home, but in this chaotic world, how many families were complete? Any men who were slightly stronger were forcibly conscripted into the army. When bandits massacred people, they would kill the young and strong men first to eliminate future troubles.
Therefore, most of the women who owned farmland in Yangzhou were single or brought their elderly and weak children with them, with no one to protect them. They needed people to do the manual labor and to protect their property and personal safety.
After the turbulent times, even if rural women had fathers and brothers still alive, they would actively seek out young men from the same village to marry. This way, they could divide the work and cooperate, making farming more efficient. Or, during the slack season when the weather was good, one person could tend to the fields while the other went to the city to find other work.
From ancient times to the present, single women have always been the choice of non-rural populations, provided they have good economic conditions.
All the orphans and widows recorded in history books were able to survive with the help of their clans, or they went to the city to find work as weavers. That is why the power of clans in rural areas was so strong.
Yangzhou is now full of refugees, and there is no clan power that can protect the female relatives.
In ancient times, the practice of self-combing first emerged among urban female textile workers after the development of the commodity economy.
In modern times, people can contact the police for security issues, and log in to the app to contact someone for manual labor. Even rural women, if their families are more affluent, have various machines to help them. If want to get married, they can just pack their backpacks and move north, south, or east to find work.
In this era, if rural women without family support did not marry, endless hell would await them. Therefore, after they had land, their most urgent hope was to find a man as soon as possible.
Chen Biao explained in great detail, and both Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong understood.
Zhu Wenzheng thought of his mother, who had barely survived by relying on her parents' family.
Li Wenzhong's mother had passed away long ago, so he didn't quite understand what was going on. Curious, he asked, "During my march, I heard that in some villages, single women had a lot of say. Why is that?"
Chen Biao's eyebrows jumped: "Single, young woman?"
Li Wenzhong said, "Yes, and they don't have any children either. They are usually childless widows."
Chen Biao was speechless: "Cousin, do you really not know or are you pretending not to know? Are you so naive?"
Li Wenzhong was puzzled: "What?"
Zhu Wenzheng: "...Wenzhong, the widows you are talking about are usually village prostitutes who have affairs with many men in the village, so they naturally have a lot of say."
Li Wenzhong: “!!!”
He quickly tried to cover Chen Biao's ears, but Chen Biao continued, "If there is no clan, and for various reasons, haha, in this era, it should be Neo-Confucian reasons, widows who cannot marry others can only sell their bodies to survive in the village."
Before the Southern Song Dynasty, widows were easily married off, especially widows who had given birth to children, who were the most popular.
After Neo-Confucianism became popular, widows who remarried were considered "unclean", and later rumors even spread that widows were unlucky. It was difficult for women to find a satisfactory new husband after becoming widows.
Even if the widows in the village wanted to remain chaste and would rather starve to death than seek help from other men, how could they possibly resist the villagers' aggression except by committing suicide?
Either die or give up your dignity, it's a good choice.
"When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they know honor and disgrace. They can't even put together a complete set of clothes when they go out, and there's not even enough bran in the granary to fill their stomachs. At a time like this, how can we talk about dignity and honor with them..." Chen Biao paused for a moment and said, "It's not just the widows in the village. Which of the women among the refugees hasn't changed several men on the road? Until we, the people who have enough food to eat and clothes to wear, help them avoid starvation and freezing, no one has the right to blame them."
"Whether men or women, when they are still struggling to survive, they are no longer human beings."
"When you are acting as officials, don't associate these people with ideals, dignity, honor, and etiquette. The condescending actions of those scholars who think they can win the favor of the farmers are no match for a handful of millet."
"If you really want to achieve something, you only need to think about one thing: how to keep them alive. That's all you need to do."
Chen Biao saw things so clearly, so clearly that he himself felt a little discouraged.
Zhu Yuanzhang was popular among the poor people. Was it because he improved the status of the poor?
No, there is no such thing in the minds of these people. They are grateful to Zhu Yuanzhang only because he gave them a way to survive.
Those women who became so enthusiastic when they heard Madam Xiuying's name had absolutely no idea of "women's status" in their minds.
Whether it was liberating foot binding, granting land to women, or helping women find suitable husbands, it was all about finding a way out for these poor women, so Madam Xiuying was their idol and their "Bodhisattva".
The two female generals under Zhu Yuanzhang, the several female Confucian scholars under Madam Xiuying, and the female relatives in the generals' backyards may have had some such thoughts.
They will think about these issues only when they have enough to eat and have read books.
These people will find their own way out and ways to realize their ideals. The Heavenly Book is also prepared for such people.
These are not the people Chen Biao wants to help now.
Chen Biao's pride as a time traveler was slightly aroused, and he began to want to do something for strangers other than his family. All he wanted to do was to help some of the people who were not human in this era become human. He did not have too many lofty ideals or far-reaching goals.
Chen Biao didn't want to say these heavy words.
There are too many heavy topics in troubled times. If Chen Biao keeps thinking about them, he will not be happy all day.
However, Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong, as the generals guarding the city and the temporary officials of Yangzhou, did not even understand this principle, which made Chen Biao quite helpless and he had to explain it to them.
Chen Biao looked at his two dazed brothers and kept scratching his head.
No way, no way? Didn’t his two brothers also suffer from hardships in the chaotic world, and only after finally finding the Chen family did they have a good life?
When they followed Zhu Yuanzhang on his campaigns, they must have been accustomed to the tragedies of the world. Apart from other things, the tragedy in Yangzhou City was also unique in the troubled times.
Why were they so shocked, as if their three views had collapsed and been reorganized?
It's impossible that they forget these tragedies after seeing them, and only reflect deeply on the universality represented by the tragedies after being pointed out by themselves?
The two stupid brothers usually eat very well. If they are full, what else can they think about if not these things?
It seems that they haven't read enough books, so I have to give them more homework.
Chen Biao slapped the table, the sound was not loud, but Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong came back to their senses.
Chen Biao asked, "Do you understand?"
Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong nodded vigorously.
Chen Biao said, "Now that you understand, get down to business. Count how many of the soldiers stationed here are unmarried. Then, weed out the alcoholics, gamblers, and those who frequent prostitutes. Those with gentle temperaments and good intentions will be selected first. We're going to host a matchmaking event... the Yue Lao event, and you'll be the ones hosting it."
Zhu Wenzheng and Li Wenzhong were dumbfounded: "We?!"
Chen Biao thought for a moment and said, "Forget it. You two haven't gotten married yet, so it's not suitable. Go and ask Mr. Song and Mr. Ye. If they object, use what I said just now to convince them."
Chen Biao asked, "Do you need me to say it again?"
Zhu Wenzheng and Li Wenzhong shook their heads. They instinctively didn't want to hear these depressing words.
But they finally nodded and asked Chen Biao to sort it out for them again and say it again... Don't judge others without knowing their own business.
…
Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong, two young generals with little education, persuaded two great scholars, Ye Zheng and Song Lian.
After hearing what Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong said, their hands trembled slightly.
Song Lian kept asking, "Is it really like this in the village?"
He was recognized as a poor student, but now he found that he was not poor at all.
Song Lian looked at Ye Zheng.
Although the Ye family is a big family in Shuixin Village, Ye Zheng lives in the village and may have broader knowledge than him.
Ye Zheng was silent for a long time before nodding.
Song Lian was silent for a long time, then said, "I still lack experience."
Ye Zheng said: "Working with the Marshal, we have ample opportunities to see the lives of the lowest class of people."
Marshal Zhu really cares about the people at the bottom of society. However, they have no idea what this will bring to Marshal Zhu.
The people are scattered and even if they know who is good to them, they do not have enough power to support those who are good to them.
Throughout the dynasties, the support of powerful civil and military officials, as well as the gentry and powerful people, has been the key to the struggle for the world. Can Marshal Zhu rely on "heaven's will" to defy the trend of the world that has lasted for thousands of years?
When Song Lian and Ye Zheng were in Yangzhou, they wrote letters to many relatives and friends, telling them that Zhu Yuanzhang was a good man who cared about the people and hoped that more people would join Zhu Yuanzhang.
But these letters fell into oblivion and no response was ever received.
Marshal Zhu was indeed good to the people, but he was not good enough to the gentry, powerful people and literati.
Just as they had thought before, such a lord was considered a tyrant by the public. Even if he achieved something, he would still be criticized and smeared in history books.
Therefore, capable people would be very hesitant to protect their reputation and would not surrender to Zhu Yuanzhang unless they were forced into a desperate situation.
Song Lian and Ye Zheng were both very powerless.
They were all worried about when Zhu Yuanzhang would be crushed by these pressures and become tainted by the historical trend?
If Zhu Yuanzhang compromised, the future of the immortal boy Biaoer would be in question.
Ye Zheng said, "Jing Lian still holds the title of a disciple of a prominent family. I'll take care of this matter. My school of practical achievements has always been about focusing on the results rather than the means. This kind of thing won't damage my reputation."
Because the School of Practical Achievement had no reputation among students of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.
Song Lian said: "No, I..."
Ye Zheng interrupted, "Jing Lian, please don't argue with me this time. Your status as a disciple of the Zhu family is very important. If other students of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism have ambitions for the world and want to switch to the Marshal's school, your status will be the stepping stone for them to change their minds."
Song Lian frowned and said with a cupped hand, "Yes."
Zhu Wenzheng and Li Wenzhong didn't understand the meaning of Ye Zheng and Song Lian's conversation. Scholars never talk properly, always saying things with hidden meanings, which is a headache.
But it’s good that Mr. Ye takes over this matter, and they can report to Brother Biao.
As they were leaving, Li Wenzhong saw that Zhu Wenzheng was unhappy and asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you upset by what Biaodi said? That's not like you."
Zhu Wenzheng glanced at Li Wenzhong and didn't answer: "I'm going to go back and rest first. Don't come to me today. If there's anything you need me to do, please help me."
Li Wenzhong said, "Go ahead."
He sighed and turned to find Chen Biao.
When in doubt, look for Biaodi. Biaodi must know why Zhu Wenzheng suddenly felt depressed.
Chen Biao was discussing with Li Zhen the details of the work points awarded for the Qing army's labor reform. After hearing Li Wenzhong's inquiry, before Chen Biao could say anything, Li Zhen said sternly, "Wenzhong, don't mention this matter again!"
Li Zhen said she was not allowed to ask, but Li Wenzhong insisted, "Why?"
Li Zhen wanted to smoke this for some reason, but he became more and more like Zhu Wenzhen's son.
His sons weren't like this before! I must tell Guorui not to let Wenzhong and Wenzheng work together all the time!
Chen Biao lowered his eyes, a shadow falling in his eyes: "Maybe it's because he and my aunt were both refugees."
After her husband starved to death, Zhu Wenzheng's mother, Wang, took him back to her parents' home to make a living. However, due to famine, she could no longer stay there, so Wang and Zhu Wenzheng became refugees for a while before finding Zhu Yuanzhang.
In Chen Biao's case, Wang took Zhu Wenzhen to find Chen Guorui, entrusted the child to Chen Guorui, and then left. It was almost the same.
Why didn't Wang Shi live with her son when they were starving to death? Where could Wang Shi go after leaving Chen Guorui's house?
Wang said that she had finally fulfilled her late husband's wishes and could find someone to remarry.
But in such troubled times, would Wang's life be better if she remarried than if she stayed with her son?
Li Wenzhong finally understood why Zhu Wenzhen suddenly became upset.
Zhu Wenzhen may have understood why his mother left after entrusting him to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Li Wenzhong murmured, "Didn't Wenzheng go look for his mother?"
Li Zhen said, "Guo Rui wanted Wang to stay, but she insisted on returning. He gave her some money and food, sent soldiers to escort her back to her parents' home, and often cared for her. However, she soon fell ill and died. She suffered greatly as a refugee."
Li Wenzhong's mind went blank.
Zhu Wenzhen has always been heartless, and Li Wenzhong never thought that Zhu Wenzhen still had this matter in his heart.
"Ah!!!" After Zhu Wenzhen returned to the courtyard where he lived, he pulled out a knife and slashed at the wall in the yard.
Zhu Wenzheng knew that his mother had suffered a lot for him. But it was not until Chen Biao's words today that the suffering his mother had endured for him became concrete.
For example, some things that seem disgraceful and immoral to outsiders.
But why are these things dishonorable and immoral? His mother was just trying to keep him alive.
Is that why his mother left him? Was she afraid of what others would say about him?
He doesn't care, he doesn't care at all!
The wooden hairpin on Zhu Wenzhen's head fell to the ground. His hair was disheveled, his eyes were bloodshot, his behavior was crazy, and he howled like a wild beast for a long time.
Li Wenzhong stood quietly at the gate of the courtyard for a while, then turned and left.
His fists were clenched too tightly, leaving crescent-shaped blood marks.
…
Li Wenzhong visited his brothers in the army, registered a thick list, and took the trouble to personally ask about the situation of these people one by one.
Zhu Wenzhen went crazy for a day, and on the second day he temporarily put aside the matter of finding actors and went on a visit with Li Wenzhong.
After a day of venting, Zhu Wenzhen seemed to have matured a little. The arrogant smile that was often on his face faded a lot, and his stern face looked somewhat similar to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Their energy was still limited, so after they became familiar with the task, they sought out older, more trusted generals from within the army to help.
"These women are all miserable people. If we, the Red Turban Army, introduce husbands to them and the men are not good, wouldn't that ruin Madam Xiuying's reputation?" They brought up their adoptive mothers, so that these generals dared not to be perfunctory.
If they destroyed Zhu Yuanzhang's reputation, they would still have a chance to atone for their sins; but if they destroyed Madam Xiuying's reputation, not to mention how Zhu Yuanzhang would torture them, even the orphans that Madam Xiuying had raised in the army and who had already joined the army as generals would be skinned alive.
Thanks to the efforts of Li Wenzhong and Zhu Wenzhen, the soldiers' roster was soon compiled.
As a scholar, Ye Zheng could not figure out how to arrange blind dates between soldiers and village women.
In the end, it was Chen Biao who came up with the idea. Since food is the most important thing for people, they could just eat and drink. He would provide the food. He could also invite a few opera troupes to arrange some Yingtian operas, choosing some lively love scenes that would perfectly suit the atmosphere of the Yue Lao Festival.
Ye Zheng held Chen Biao up and smiled at the sun, as if he was looking at his baby in the sunlight.
Chen Biao was speechless.
He didn't understand why his elders always liked to lift him up. What was the point of lifting him up?
Ye Zheng said: "Biao'er, you are so smart."
Chen Biao argued: "I just love to eat."
Ye Zheng held back his laughter and put the kicking Chen Biao to the ground. Just as he was about to continue praising Chen Biao, he suddenly heard a commotion nearby.
He frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
How could anyone cause trouble at the Yue Lao Party?
The visitor said anxiously, "General Zhu and General Lan are fighting!"
Chen Biao: "General Zhu? My cousin? Which one is General Lan?"
Ye Zheng sighed: "Lan Yu."
Chen Biao: "Ah? Why is Lan Yu here? Didn't he leave with Marshal Chang Yuchun?"
Ye Zheng pressed his forehead: "Marshal Chang Yuchun gave Lan Yu to me as a disciple."
Chen Biao: “…” Mr. Ye is so pitiful.
Although Uncle Li Shanchang told him that the time Lan Yu was beaten in Yingtian was the first time he bullied the good and was still framed, perhaps Lan Yu's temper was not so bad now under the suppression of Chang Yuchun.
But Lan Yu will be killed by Zhu Yuanzhang in the future! Tens of thousands of people will be implicated!
Mr. Ye is Lan Yu’s teacher... well, even if Mr. Ye doesn’t live to that time, Mr. Ye’s family...
A moment of silence.