Peach and plum spring breeze and a glass of wine

'I know, I know...'

Fang Ke ignored the strange looks from the people around him and pushed his way to the front of the team. When he saw clearly that Yang Ge was holding the Hunyuan stake in the side, he felt that he was not feeling well.

As soon as he entered the city, he heard that a nine-cake hero was serving porridge at Caishikou. He immediately felt bad and hurriedly went to Yuelai Inn and Yang Ge's home. In the end, he couldn't find anyone, so he ran away. Here it comes…

In public, he naturally did not dare to say anything. After taking a look, he put down the bamboo hat on his head to keep out the wind and snow, turned around and left.

After leaving the vegetable market, he trotted all the way back to Luoguxiang Xiuyiwei station to find Gu Tong, knowingly asked: Where is the general flag?

Gu Tong replied in surprise: When have you ever seen the general flag coming during the day?

When Fang Ke heard this, he was relieved. He took off his bamboo hat and smiled and said perfunctorily: Look at my memory. I just want to send a message to the general flag, and I forget that the general flag can't come during the day. .”

Gu Tong was very curious when he heard this, but the family rules made him restrain the urge to ask.

Fang Ke strode into the side room of his office, called the man on duty to make a pot of hot tea, and asked casually, Is there anything urgent that I need to do during my absence?

Gu Tong: It's nothing important, it's just some routine supervision and summary... This morning, the Yongtai Wang family reported the case to us through the county government, saying that their grain accounts were robbed, and they wanted to ask our embroidery guards to take action. Capture the strongman.”

Yongtai Wang Family?

Fang Ke glanced at Gu Yiyi in surprise: How did you respond?

How else to respond?

Gu Tong sneered and said: The General Banner told me last night to remember that our Embroidered Guards are the emperor's personal soldiers, not the watchdogs of the powerful. Can I disobey the General Banner's order?

Fang Ke couldn't help but smile, nodded and said, You handled this well!

After a pause, he said calmly: I might as well tell you some news. Our flag will be raised soon!

Promoted?

Gu Tong was shocked and said: Try a hundred households?

Fang Ke nodded: I brought back all the tokens for the trial of hundreds of households, and the documents will arrive soon... What the family means is that I will cover the current vacancy of our general flag, and with the general flag's trust in you, another general general will do it. The flag vacancy will most likely fall on your head!”

Gu Tong was overjoyed, and he quickly raised his hands towards Chaimen Street and said: Gu Tong's success today is all due to the cultivation of the general banner. Gu Tong does not dare to hope for promotion!

okay!

Fang Ke sneered and said: We are all brothers who are waving a horse spoon in the same pot. Why do you pretend to be aloof in front of me? From now on, you and I brothers will just follow the pace of our general banner. If the general banner tells our brothers to go east, our brothers will never do it. We can’t go west. If the commander-in-chief asks our brothers to kill chickens, we brothers must not kill dogs... Our commander-in-chief is praised and favored at home!

Gu Tong quickly replied: What are you talking about? The lives of the brothers and their wives, children and children are all saved by the general banner with the great responsibility. Even if we can only be a strongman under the general banner for the rest of our lives, Brother, I can only follow the flag and follow the horse's lead, lead the horse to buckle, charge into battle, and fight to the death!

Fang Ke nodded: Just make sure you know what's going on!

After a pause, he said casually: Speaking of which, the General Banner has always hated the Yongtai Wang family, these unscrupulous businessmen who rely on the support of powerful people behind them to act recklessly and use public weapons for private purposes. They actually still You dare to treat our brothers as their caretakers and guards, and take whoever you want us to take? You are simply a coward!

Gu Tong didn't quite understand what he said, but he still followed his words: These big business owners are a bit jealous... How about we give them eye drops?

Fang Ke thought for a while and whispered: Brothers and you, as long as you and I are aware of such a small matter, don't alert the general flag, and don't let the brothers below know about it to avoid bad things!

Gu Tong gave him an I understand look and replied in a low voice: Then I will go and beat the new Tian County Magistrate later. If he doesn't do anything serious, he will chase these big dogs. They are wiping their butts, I have long disliked that thief!

Fang Ke said angrily: He is the county magistrate after all, so we still have to give him some face... Just beat up the gang of land-washing agents and county soldiers. I saw them all over the ground as soon as I entered the city. It’s annoying to see them running around!”

Gu Tong nodded: It's clear, it's clear!

Fang Ke: Okay, you can go about your business. I have to go to the general banner first. The governor... Hey, look at my nonsense. It was Mr. Qianhu who brought some to our general banner. I’ve got new year’s goods, I have to deliver them to the general flag as soon as possible.”

Gu Tong suddenly opened his eyes wide, and the smile on his face suddenly became more enthusiastic: If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten that the Chinese New Year is coming. The general banner is usually alone, one person comes in and one comes out, and there are no relatives or friends. What, our brothers should buy some New Year’s goods for the general banner and have a lively and prosperous New Year?”

Fang Ke waved his hand: Have a rest. The General Banner treats our brothers as real brothers. The most annoying thing is the way your border troops drink the soldiers' blood. Let's save the General Banner more worry, even if it is to show filial piety to the General Banner. Okay...I won’t talk nonsense to you anymore, I have to go to the general flag first!”

Gu Tong hunkered down and sent Fang Ke out of the house, then returned to the side room and thought for a long time, then said loudly: Tell the brothers to take care of this guy, let's go to the county government office!

…

Fang Ke squatted in the snow for half an hour, and finally heard the barking of dogs from Yang Ge's house.

He continued to wait patiently for about a quarter of an hour. After guessing that Yang Ge had changed his clothes, he got up and took advantage of the fact that no one was around. He walked to the door of Yang Ge's house in two steps and knocked gently. Courtyard gate.

Squeak.

Yang Ge opened the courtyard door and saw Fang Ke with a weathered look on his face. He immediately asked him to sit in the back room: When did you come back? How long have you been waiting?

Fang Ke nodded with a smile on his face: I entered the city in the afternoon and just came here.

Yang Ge glanced at the water stains left by the melted snowflakes on his body, smiled without exposing him, and asked directly: When you came to Beijing this time, how did your family respond to the three major grain companies joining forces to drive up grain prices? ?”

Fang Ke first took out the gilt silver waist badge of the Hundred Household Examination from his arms, placed it in front of Yang Ge, and then told Yang Ge the whole story of his meeting with Shen Fa.

Of course, when Shen Fa said that it was difficult for the three major grain merchants to hoard goods, he definitely didn't mention a word.

Wait? Why wait?

Yang Ge whispered angrily: I can afford to wait, but can the people who have no food afford to wait?

Fang Ke persuaded: Sir, the imperial court has its own difficulties, Lord Shen also has its difficulties. We have done our best, and for the rest, we can only listen to fate!

This is not a fucking natural disaster, it's a man-made disaster!

Yang Ge stood up and walked around the room: Who is not in difficulty? Is it not difficult for you and me, or is it not difficult for the hungry people?

Fang Ke sighed softly: Sir, I forgive you for overstepping your duty. As the old saying goes: If you are not in your position, you will not seek the government. If you can bring this matter up, you are already taking the risk of ruining your family. Other things, really It’s not something you, or even Master Shen, can decide... Besides, you have done enough, and the people of all Luting will be grateful to you!

He did not reveal that he knew Yang Ge went to the Wang family to rob the rich and give to the poor.

But when it comes to this, it is actually the same as making it clear.

Yang Ge didn't feel that this matter could be hidden from Fang Ke. He just sighed heavily after hearing this, sat back on the chair, held his forehead with one hand, and whispered sadly: But I always feel that I can still Do something more... It’s hard to be cold, it’s hard to be hungry, how hard it is to be cold and hungry!”

Looking at Yang Ge like this, Fang Ke suddenly recalled the reward he got when his family searched for Yang Ge's details: On November 16th last year, it snowed heavily for days, and the guests came into the city in the snow wearing ragged single clothes and walked on the streets of Luting. I stayed there for two days, but fortunately I was rescued by shopkeeper Liu of Yuelai Inn, and I was able to survive...

He has already tasted the feeling of being cold and hungry, right?