Night Sail (2)

A crisp whip broke the discussion of people in the chicken feather shop. There were bursts of people shouting and neighing from outside the curtain. A male dog's qin scream penetrated the wind and snow, and it clearly entered everyone's ears, causing everyone to have goose bumps. "As a group of people who can eat but not do, I wonder if the master is in a hurry to go back to his hometown for the New Year?"

Without looking, I knew that it was the retired prefect who arrived with ill-gotten wealth. Everyone in the house closed their mouths, for fear that they would accidentally alarm the servants of the prefect's family, and arrested them as free laborers. The Henan merchant was wronged and walked to the window with anger. He angrily blew up on the only piece of glass in the center of the window, warmed the frost on it, put his nose on the glass while peeking out, and cursed it in his mouth: "Dog official, I don't know where it came from. I ate us Henan people, drank us Henan people, and ruined us Henan people. Sooner or later, I was sent to heaven and struck to death by lightning."

"You can save your worries. God wants to have eyes, so that good people will not be angry, bad people will be rampant." Dad Ni lowered his voice and muttered, "It's not just that you in Henan have been ruined by corrupt officials. Think about Guangdong and Guangxi. What a great place when Xu Huizu was the governor, but now, even those who are officials cannot tell whether they are an official or a thief. That year, the robber leader was captured, and it is said that they are still brothers with the prefect. It's not better than you in Henan."

"The world is as dark as crows, no one looks at you, you will be greedy if you want to be an official." A voice in the corner analyzed it with insightful analysis.

Before everyone could speak, the Henan businessman suddenly turned around and shook everyone, scaring everyone. He didn't know what was going on, but he squeezed to the window, and a lot of black heads pressed on the Henan people.

"Don't squeeze, don't squeeze, this window is made of kraft paper, just like this piece of glass, it's been squeezed out of the shopkeeper and everyone." The young man who was cleaning the table rushed over to dissuade him, and looked out through the slits of the heads of everyone in the window. The scene outside made him shocked.

In the wind and snow, four or five men in the uniforms of postmen were tied into a string like grasshoppers by a thick rope. They arched up and pushed and pulled a large cart to the dock. The supervisor's housekeeper waved his whip and whipped the men's backs and thighs from time to time. Some people's cotton coats had been beaten to pieces. In the cold winter, the wind rolled snowflakes into the gaps of the cotton coats, and the body temperature melted into water, and the blood was flowed out, which condensed into ice not far from the crack, red and black.

There are six or seven such trucks. Behind each, a supervisor in leather jacket waved his whip and drove the carts tied into a string and moved forward with great force. The wheels were deep into the snow, and the compacted snow became increasingly unstoppable. Almost every step forward, people fell to the ground, struggled to get up under the whip that was striking, and continued to push the cart. The horses pulling the carts were also extremely tired, and they looked like people, and suffered a lot along the way.

"My grandma, what a guy, I've been greedy for so much, so I'm not shave the ground. It's just digging a big hole. Wherever he became an official, wouldn't he take out the canal?" Even though he was knowledgeable, the young man was still envious of him.

"I've just gone wherever I went. The car is just a stupid thing that I can't sell and I can't bear to throw away. The gold, silver and softness, Lord Hu had already changed the bill of exchange and put it in his arms." The lazy voice came to the corner of the wall. It was not high, but it seemed that he was very clear about the details of the retired prefect Lord Hu.

When Old Man Ni heard this, he turned his head and glanced at the corner. The sloppy man who was eating wine in the corner didn't mind his gaze, and he still ate with relish, as if he was a bystander of the whole world, clearly understanding the joys and sorrows of the world.

This person is a bit weird. Old Man Ni turns his sight away and dares not be troublesome. After so many years of traveling around, who can provoke and who can't provoke? The instinctive reaction he has already developed in his heart can tell at a glance that it looks like he can tell the roughly.

The viewers watching the window did not notice the details behind them. Someone looked at the postmen who were strung together in a string of postmen, and said with some thrill of revenge in his words: "The men at these postmen are usually arrogant and do not take anyone seriously. The evil people also have evil people torture. When they meet a more evil prefect, they will be dealt with miserable things now."

"What do you know? You can't pretend to be a grandson or become a master. The prefect Hu is an official, and the stations in various places have to greet him. He dared not speak out after suffering losses, and his teeth were knocked out to his stomach. But after turning around, all the anger he suffered these days has to be retrieved from the local people and the passing merchants. I think, we should not leave this road after the New Year." A Zhejiang merchant complained in a low voice.

The Henan guest squeezed out of the crowd and returned to his seat in disappointment. He said with three points without anger and seven points enviously: "Damn, he is more powerful than a big insect. I have seen through this world. He is not as good as an official in anything, with the least investment and the fastest results. No wonder the Peking Academy, which specializes in skilled craftsmen and industrial and commercial giants, is not as famous as the Jiangnan University in the capital, and the benefits are clearly there..."

The Shanxi people wrapped in Pidler (Mongolian leather robe) calculated a detailed account with their fingers. "It will take at least fifteen or six years from the apprentice to the second shopkeeper to the boss of their own. It will take another question whether they can succeed or not. If they are studying for an examiner, ten years will be enough. Being a county magistrate can earn 10,000 or 20,000 silver coins in a year is more cost-effective than any business."

"Yes, it's a pity that I entered the wrong career back then and didn't make it in the officialdom. Otherwise, I would have made a fortune in the past twenty years. Even Zhou Chongwen, who was so poor that he was almost begging for food and sold himself as a slave, is now the Minister of War. We are still worried about supporting our family." Someone sighed and agreed.

"Don't worry, this court system is clearly an elimination of good officials. Since the 17th year of Hongwu, who have conscience and ability have been in the officialdom. It is said that water can carry boats. If the boat is too heavy, hey, maybe you will pass the water and sink the boat directly to the bottom of the water." The sloppy alcoholic in the corner responded, and reluctantly poured the last drop of soju in the wine pot into his mouth.

When riding on a boat, the word "sink" that everyone is most afraid of. They don't bother to watch the fun anymore. They turn their heads and look at the sloppy drunkards. However, the drunkards are unaware of the knife-like eyes of everyone. They raise their necks, shake the spout of the wine pot to their mouths a few times, sigh with unfulfilled sighs, bury their heads into the table, and snores sounds in a short while.

"Unfortunate", everyone spitted phlegm on the ground and stomped a few feet hard. They wanted to stay away from this annoying guy, but the snow outside the window did not stop, and they all rose and went down one after another. The scattered cabin on the boat had no heating facilities. In this weather, they had no choice but to hear the drunken snoring in this chicken feather shop.

It was finally ten minutes late at night when Mr. Hu's private goods were finally loaded. Red lanterns were hung on the main mast of the passenger and cargo merchant ship that was rebuilt from the Navy Japanese-level warship, indicating that everyone should be prepared to leave the shore. The merchant surnamed Lu, who was rushing to load the goods, also squeezed into the scattered cabin with the crowd. Looking at the cheerful expression on his face, you know that his difficulties were successfully solved by the two Shandong men. However, the two Shandong men who followed him to load the goods did not know which cabin they were hiding in. Everyone was busy getting on the boat, and no one would pay attention to the lower-level people who were in a pile of people who could be swallowed up in an instant. The careful father Ni patrolled the scattered cabin for a few times, and the sloppy alcoholic who was annoyed by life disappeared without a trace. It was probably because he was drunk and even missed his return.

The passenger ship drank very deeply. The sound of waves in his ears and the sound of silk and bamboo in the VIP cabin made people unable to fall asleep for a long time. The smell of smelly feet from the nostrils mixed with the smell of high-quality sea cargo floating from the kitchen in the air, making people toss and turn. They slept in the middle of the night when they suddenly heard a gong and drum sound, and the footsteps in the cabin above their heads became a ball. The passengers in the cabin were so shocked that they sat up in their clothes and listened carefully. The sound of fighting and begging for mercy in the VIP cabin, and the sound of women and children cried louder and louder, lasting for five or six minutes. After a moment, everything returned to silence. Only the sound of the bow of the boat splitting the flowing water rustled, highlighting the tranquility of death at this moment with the unchanging noise.

The passing years are unfavorable. The businessman surnamed Lu shivered in a ball on the bed with trembling body. He met a pirate. I wonder if he could go home alive this time.

A low cry sounded from the scattered cabin, and several vendors who were frightened by too much business and cried with their heads in their arms.

"Don't panic, I think this hero on the sea is not for us. There are big fish on the boat, so our little earthworm may not be able to catch the eye of others." Mr. Ni is old and has seen some worldly things. He jumped out of the bed and loudly comforted the passengers in the same cabin.

His words caused a riot, and he suddenly saw the vitality in despair. Everyone looked at him. The candle used for lighting in the cabin was leaping flames under the glass cover, causing Old Man Ni's bronze face and the black and yellow bulkhead to be flashed.

"Hehe, dad, what should I do? Hehe, we, hehe, we all listen to you." The businessman surnamed Lu's teeth kept ringing, and he responded while trembling.

Dad Ni glanced at everyone and saw that everyone was not opposed. He plucked up his courage and rolled his throat, "I mean, if the boat becomes quiet in a while, someone will definitely talk to us. We will do whatever they ask for. Don't be stubborn. It's not fun to offend the heroes of the world, and it's not fun to make money. People are more important than money. As long as you have a life, money can always be made back. At worst, the whole family will roll up the bedding and go to Liaodong at the beginning of next spring. It's better than death."

"Hehe, that's the reason, hehe," the businessman surnamed Lu took the lead in agreeing.

"Yes, but those good guys will let us go, woo woo?" A hawker asked in a crying voice.

"Everyone listens to me, this group of people may not be vicious people. Look at who is missing around you and understand what I say."

Following the prompt from Mr. Ni, everyone looked at each other. The careful person then realized that the drunkard was missing during the day. The businessman surnamed Lu suddenly remembered a legend in his mind. He was surprised and happy, and asked tremblingly: "Dad, could it be that drunkard..."?

Dad Ni nodded and interrupted his guess, "We are waiting here. It's a blessing or a disaster, but a disaster that cannot be avoided"!

As if someone was surveillance in the dark, in order to reward everyone to actively participate in guessing and get the answer, a loud voice rang on the deck, "Dear fellow villagers, don't panic, Dali Temple is ordered to capture corrupt officials. Lord Wu is promoted to the restaurant to ask about the case tonight. Everyone is welcome to listen, welcome to listen."

"It's Lord Wu, thank God." All the scared souls of the businessman Lu returned to his body, and his pale face suddenly regained his vitality. "Mr. Ni, you guessed it was Lord Wu, we've avoided this time."

"Who is Lord Wu, who is Lord Wu?" The vendors who escaped from death whispered to each other, and the vendors who had debuted for a short time were pricking up their ears and searching for news everywhere.

"I remembered it. I heard from my fur friends that they met Lord Wu on the edge of Taihang Mountain last time." Someone slapped his thighs excitedly, "This time, God is really open to his eyes."

"Who is Mr. Wu, tell me?" The person who asked was anxious.

"It was the one who was ordered to be ordered..." The person who knew the details swallowed the words behind him back and looked around to make sure that no one was watching him, and then he lay down in his ears to express the answer.

"Ah, my god, there is such a thing." The person who knew the answer covered his mouth that could swallow an egg with his hands. The answer in his ear made him unable to believe it for a moment.

"Old Ni, are we going to watch the fun?" The businessman surnamed Lu walked to the "Mine Pit Ni" and asked enthusiastically. The legendary figure was on the same boat with him today. When he thought of this, he was so excited that his whole body shivered.

Dad Ni stroked his white beard and agreed with a smile: "Let's go, and I'll give you some support to Lord Wu." He walked to the cabin door and turned around to greet everyone, "It's a pity not to see the rare scene that is rare in a century."

The vendors who were afraid of death just now were already happy to hear that their lives were alright. At this moment, they heard that there was a lot of excitement to watch. They became more and more excited. The braver ones immediately stood up from the bunk and followed Ni and Lu. The timid and timid looked around and saw that most of them were eager to try, but they couldn't help but curiosity, and followed everyone out of the cabin door.

"Wei-Wu-" In the restaurant, a crisp hall of power came out, penetrated the darkness and spread far from the sea.

With the hall's power, an official in fourth-class uniform walked out from behind the screen of the elegant seat, came to the official case that was temporarily set up on the dining table, and bowed to the salute.

"Puchi", the young man surnamed Zhan, who came to watch the fun, tried hard to hold back the laughter, and his stomach was rising and falling with his breathing. Lord Wu's clothes were so distinctive. He had been wearing black hats for many years. The wings on one side had been tilted to his shoulders, and the wings on the hat were tied with a bamboo stick. It was probably chopsticks that had just been picked from the kitchen. The official uniforms were also worn off, and they were dark and light and mottled. I don't know where the rich salary of the court was spent, and I don't know how to put on a new one. The yamen on both sides were not much cleaner than the official master. From the boots on the feet to the hats on the head, they were all of the antiques.

The businessman surnamed Lu was so happy when he saw this. He had an impression of these people. The master in the hall was a sloppy man who hugged in the corner during the day. He was more familiar with the troupe on duty and the master serving Bimo. He was the two enthusiastic people who helped him find someone to load the goods. The coolies who collected dozens of copper coins in the afternoon were also many, and they were shouting with water and fire sticks and shouting with great enthusiasm. However, the clothes of the yamen officers looked smaller on their bodies, which was almost the same as the ones they had snatched.

It turned out that they were all acquaintances. Just as the merchant surnamed Lu was proud, the master in the hall bowed and said, "The little surname is Wu, and he is a minister of the Dali Temple. He is here under the order..."

Wu Sihan endured it and swallowed the word "robbery" back to his stomach, "I will fight corruption with orders, and come." He had a row of gavels on his right hand, "bringing those corrupt and abused people to the tiger to come to court"!

Notes from Drunkards: The corresponding records of officials bullying postmen, see "Xu Xiake's Travels". Our ancient traveler once used the official sign postmen to work for him and recorded it to show off his status.
Chapter completed!