New Trickster

  The listless squad leader, Zhang Feng, glanced at the time and saw that there was still half an hour before they would be relieved from their post. At that time, they could go to the cafeteria to drink a bowl of hot porridge and eat a miscellaneous bun. Those with families could take their guns and return home, lie down on the warm kang, and sleep soundly. Those without families would return to the so-called barracks and fall asleep. Anyway, at this time of year, there was nothing else to do, and another day would pass peacefully. As for tomorrow? Let's talk about it later.

  It was almost time to go off duty, and I was preparing to make my usual rounds with a large knife, when suddenly one of the militiamen next to me shouted loudly, pointing at the dilapidated mountain across the road: "Look quickly! There's movement on Garrison Mountain. They're probably bringing in supplies to redeem their people!"

  Is that so? The emotions are good, hurry up and bail people out. If not, in another day or two, the fellow villagers in the water dungeon will all be dead. Zhang Feng heard it too, and his heart felt a little relieved.

  He hastily looked outside, and indeed saw that the mountain opposite Zhangjiabao had already begun to bustle with people. The elderly and weak from each household were rushing out of their yards, pushing or pulling wooden carts loaded with high stacks of sacks, forming a long dragon-like procession. Led by two tall men in front, they were heading towards Zhangjiabao. Wasn't the man in the lead, wearing a official robe, none other than Lu Shi and Zhao Dahuai, the station master?

  "Quickly, Xiao San, go to Zhang Lao Yuan's residence to report this matter. I'll wait here for Master's decision." Hurriedly instructing the diligent Xiao San to return and deliver the message, he himself shouted at the on-duty village guards to boost their morale, not letting those country bumpkins look down on their spirit.

  The three children responded with a sound and ran down the wall like the wind to report to Zhang Fu.

  Inside Zhangjiabao, directly opposite the gate is the old Zhang family mansion. The courtyard is vast and spacious, with houses connected shoulder to shoulder, gardens and pavilions scattered about. The maidservants and servants who were brought in by force, sold or mortgaged, hurry back and forth within, creating a scene of heavenly bliss.

  Next to them were the upper-class Zhang family members, and further away were the declining distant relatives of the Zhang family. Now those distant relatives have all become tenants or long-term laborers for the clan head, and in fact they are not much better off than the common people living on the outskirts of the mountain.

  San'er ran to the front of Zhang's mansion but had no right to enter, so he could only report the matter in a low and humble tone to the gatekeeper outside the door.

  He dropped a sentence: "Wait." Then he walked into the deep courtyard with a swagger.

  It's not that the gatekeeper is kind and willing to run errands for the sake of filial piety, but rather this news has made both the master and young master anxious. Any delay would be unbearable, and a good beating would ensue. The young master doesn't hold back when he hits someone, and every year there are always three to five people who end up disabled or dead. At this time, one can't afford to provoke him.

  The young master had a great time with the people in the water prison, and now he was sleeping soundly. Suddenly hearing the report, he jumped up excitedly, didn't wash or dress, put on his clothes and shoes, and ran to the main hall to find his grandfather. Seeing that his grandfather was slowly drinking tea and listening to the butler's report, he rushed forward and hastily pulled his grandfather away.

  Zhang Lao Yun couldn't help but smile wryly and had no choice but to follow along.

  It's actually unnecessary to personally go and give those lowly people face, one steward can solve it, the condition is there, but since I couldn't outdo my son, I had no choice but to go myself.

  The steward stopped him and whispered, "Master, be careful of those things rushing into the fortress like a mad dog jumping over the wall, it's better to prepare first."

  Zhang's family was stopped by the housekeeper, but in fact, the housekeeper's suggestion was a flattering one. The people left outside were all old, weak, women and children, where was there any ability or possibility to make trouble?

  Zhang Laozi paused for a moment, then accepted the housekeeper's good intentions. After all, some things still required the housekeeper to run around and give face. He smiled and said: "They're just old, weak, women and children, what big waves can they stir up? You're being too cautious, alright, I know your loyalty, go to the accounting room to receive 50 taels of silver for expenses."

  "Thank you, sir, but..." The steward was about to offer more advice when Zhang Laoye waved his hand and said: "What you say isn't unreasonable. Old women and children aren't afraid, but that fake monk is indeed fierce and we must be prepared. Let's gather some relatives and young men in advance."

  "The old master is wise." The steward immediately flattered.

  "It's actually also being overly cautious, I heard the report, and that Zhao Dahai was involved in it, after all he is also an official, who would want to peel off that skin? As long as one has something to consider, what is there to fear?" This is indeed a wise and experienced person's words.

  "Grandpa, if it weren't for your considerations back then, I would have taken down that Lu Shi long ago and moved the windmill to our home. Why bother with all this fuss?"

  "Is it still late, my good grandson? We have watered our land, but must we also spend a single penny? The situation at that time was one of jade and stone being burned together; is it not now what we had originally intended?" Old Master Zhang laughed with satisfaction as he educated his good grandson.

  "Grandpa, let's just watch them eat instead of talking so much." The grandson had been impatient with his grandfather's lectures for a while and hastily pulled on his sleeve to hurry him along.

  "Alright, alright, let's go." The old man was completely obedient to his grandson and, with a swollen belly, was supported by several relatives as he climbed up onto the wall of the fort.

  Outside the castle basking in the warm sunshine, a group of muddy-legged dead men hung their heads in dejection, pushing carts of various sizes as they waited to be inspected.

  That day, Lü Shiyu was wearing a linen garment and standing in front with Zhao Dahi who made himself disgusted.

  Zhao Dahai, after all, was an official, and although he had a wealthy family, he couldn't compete with the power of an official. So, he still had to give some face to him. At this time, on the wall of the fortress, he pretended to be polite and courteous, saying: "I didn't know you had arrived, sir. I'm afraid I wasn't able to welcome you from afar. Please forgive me for my mistake."

  His own grandson, however, was completely nonchalant, shouting loudly on the side. In his eyes, these low-ranking officials were not even worth mentioning, and they were far inferior to the clerks who came and went from his father's mansion, so there was no need to give them any face.

  Zhao Dahi and Lü Shi waited outside the city gate for half a day, and just as they were getting anxious, they saw Zhang Jia's father and son appear on the city wall. Zhao Dahi stepped forward with a big smile and bowed his hands: "Old Master Zhang, please, I'm here to ask a personal favor. The old man who was invited to your home is my best brother, and I've been coming and going between our two families for some time now. So, it's only natural that we entrust each other with this matter. As per the agreement, these common people have prepared grain and supplies overnight and arrived as promised. I don't know if Old Master Zhang can accommodate us?"

  In the honorific title, this is the official face. Zhao Dahan is also an official, so it's a compromise that everyone can accept. Although the inner master is not an official or a clerk, he is still on file in the government office, which is a promotion.

  Old Zhang burst out laughing and said: "But since it's Lord Zhao who has come, everything is not a problem. It's just that the official rules and regulations are like this, and I'm also helpless, so I've offended my fellow villagers. But I don't know if you're aware of my difficulties, and there's no way to avoid it, so I still need to ask for your forgiveness. The imperial grain tax can't be made up, and neither of us can bear the responsibility."

  "Zhang Li Zheng was in a difficult situation. I didn't gather everyone to pay the taxes and grain, so I hurriedly gathered them for Li Zheng. However, it's hard for our fellow villagers, and we can't prepare everything at once. So, they asked me to discuss this with you, first gather these things, and then ask Li Zheng in the county to be lenient and forgive us a bit, how about that?"

  This is what should be in the question, after all, everyone has already been swept away like a blank sheet of paper. On this day and night, it's impossible to come up with the required money and grain, if you really want to make it up, then there will be falsehood.

  Director Zhang also understood in his heart that this is a common human sentiment, finding an official willing to take the lead and stage a fight with himself, just wanting to leave a way out, first save the person and then talk about it, really let those mud legs gather? Isn't that like dropping silver coins from the sky? Actually, I'm not referring to this, but to that windmill pattern, pretending to be embarrassed at the moment.

  Zhao Dali also saw it, and with a hearty laugh said: "I know you're in trouble now. I'll ask Mr. Lü to take out the windmill drawings that have been passed down in his family as collateral for the villagers, and then we can make up the rest of the money to redeem the drawings and techniques that have been passed down in his family."

  He turned back and said coldly to Lü Shiyong, who was following behind him without speaking: "I have decided so, what do you think? If you don't agree, I won't care about this matter either."

  Naluo seemed to have thought for a long time, and only then did he reluctantly pull out a stack of papers from his bosom and hand them over to Zhao Dahuai: "Since the master has spoken, I will obey. However, this is my ancestral skill, so I hope..."

  Zhao Dahai didn't wait for Lü Shiluo to finish speaking, and snatched it over. After taking a close look, he smiled and said: "This is indeed the windmill design, so consider it collateral. Don't worry, I'm an official, big or small, I'm still a person of the imperial court, how could I cheat you?"

  Having said that, he shook the drawing in his hand and faced Zhang Lao outside the wall, saying: "We are all officials, I will be a witness. This drawing is for you, along with the money and grain collected from the villagers outside. How about we make a deal? The rest is up to Zhang Li to ask for a favor from the county."

  Zhao Laoyuan was overjoyed at the sight, and the string of coins he had been thinking about day and night was finally within his grasp. How could he not be delighted? Although he was happy in his heart, on the surface he pretended to be hesitant and reluctant, then stamped his foot and said: "Alright, we are all fellow villagers, and also distant relatives of the Zhang family. If the county authorities blame me, I'll take responsibility for my fellow villagers. Now everyone can bring their things in."

  The militiamen on the fortress saw Lao Dongjia speak and immediately rushed down the wall to open the gate of the fortress.

  With a low rumble, the black iron gate slowly opened before everyone's eyes, like the mouth of a giant beast.

  The exciting plot has arrived, the setup is complete. If you think this kid's book is okay, please bookmark it, thank you.