Chapter 7760 Where is he?
Chapter 6638 Where is he?
“What official in the court?” Zheng Xiong roared again.
“Ling Rushui, Minister of the Ministry of War.” The scribe cupped his hands on the horse.
“Secretary of the Ministry of War...Is this official a big one?”
Zheng Xiong was a little confused. He turned to look at the man next to him and asked in a low voice.
"A very big official, even bigger than the prefect." The man next to him is Zheng Xiong's right-hand man, named Fan Shiba.
The surname Fan is also one of the four major surnames of the Tujia people, and Fan Shiba has a high status among the Fan family. He has played with Zheng Xiong since he was a child, and they have a very close relationship.
He has read a lot of books since he was a child, knows a lot about the official positions in the imperial court, and roughly knows the importance of the Minister of War.
"Master Ling, what do you want from your visit to our village?"
Zheng Xiong asked straight to the point. At the same time, there was a vigilant look in his eyes.
No one knows what the people in the court want to do.
But the Tujia people were deceived by the court a long time ago, and it was not until Zheng Erniang's generation that they re-established trust with the court.
But in Zheng Xiong’s generation, the situation is different again.
The imperial court has not had in-depth contact with the Tujia people for a long time, causing the Tujia people to once again recall the scene when they were deceived.
"You are the current patriarch of the Tujia people?"
Ling Rushui did not return to Zheng Xiong's question, but asked.
"I am Zheng Xiong, the current patriarch of the clan. Master Ling, please tell me clearly what you want to do, otherwise we will not let you enter the village."
Zheng Xiong shook. He glanced at the spear in his hand and his eyes widened, showing his momentum.
“Didn’t the Tujia have an agreement with the imperial court? The imperial court granted the Tujia autonomy, but the imperial court ordered that the Tujia have to fight for the imperial court.”
Ling Rushui didn't take it seriously, her tone was gentle, as if she didn't see Zheng Xiong's show of force.
"Look, there are only a few of us. Are the Tujia people still afraid that our imperial people will attack the stronghold?" Ling Rushui continued.
"What are we afraid of? Lord Ling, please come in!"
Zheng Xiong got out of the way.
Then, he brought Ling Rushui and his party into the village.
Let the rest of the court go and rest, and he and Ling Rushui met alone in a wooden house.
"Master Ling, the only thing left in this poor mountain is this crude camellia."
Zheng Xiong's wife brought the brewed camellia in front of Ling Rushui.
Of course, Zheng Xiong also has a cup in front of him.
“This tea is bitter.”
Ling Rushui picked up the cup, took a sip, and immediately frowned.
However, seeing Ling Rushui drinking tea without any hesitation, without any doubt or worry, made Zheng Xiong's expression relax a bit.
"Master Ling, this is already the best tea in our family." Zheng Xiong also took a sip and said with a grin.
"Have the Shanzhai been having a hard time in recent years?" Ling Rushui asked calmly.
“It’s not just a recession! The crops in the fields outside the village are all affected by diseases and insect pests. In the autumn, the harvest may be severely reduced.”
Zheng Xiong hesitated and told the real situation.
This is not a secret. People from all over the country will find out if you just ask around.
After all, it was not just the Tujia people who were affected by the disaster, but other Qi people were also affected.
"The imperial court is preparing for disaster relief. Why didn't you come to the imperial court earlier? If you report the food you need, the imperial court will find a way to help you."
What Ling Rushui said is the truth. The government is Dispatch the grain and transport it here. There is still a lot of grain in the south of the Yangtze River. In addition, there are also grain storage granaries built by the government nearby, all of which contain grain reserves.
The food reserve doesn’t taste very good, but it’s enough to keep it full.
"Will the court provide disaster relief?" Zheng Xiong's eyes lit up. "Yes, you will report how much food the Tujia people need, and I will help you deliver the food as soon as possible." Ling Rushui said.
"Okay, Lord Ling, please be happy. According to the previous agreement, we can send troops, but..."
Zheng Xiong hesitated to speak.
"Are you worried that the old patriarch won't agree?"
Ling Rushui surprised Zheng Xiong and pointed out the old patriarch's matter.
"Yes, to be honest with Mr. Ling, I have wanted to contact the court for a long time, but my mother didn't allow it."
Zheng Xiong said frankly.
"You can't blame your mother for this. It's just a misunderstanding in the past. Go tell your mother and just say that an old friend is visiting and come to meet and have a good talk." Ling Rushui said.
"I'm afraid it won't work... My mother doesn't see outsiders. A few years ago, people from the government came, but my mother didn't show up. They all returned without success." Zheng Xiong shook his head.
"Bring this to your mother, she will definitely come." Ling Rushui said firmly.
Zheng Xiong took a closer look and saw that what Ling Rushui took out was a jade pendant with dried blood stains on the silk rope.
"Okay, I'll take it right now. Whether it works or not is none of my business."
Zheng Xiong didn't wait for Ling Rushui to reply. He picked up the jade pendant and strode outside. OK.
In his heart, he hoped that the jade pendant would work. In these years, his mother, Zheng Erniang, stayed in the village without going out. Her temper became more and more moody and she accepted death. If this continued, no one knew what would happen.
Arrived in front of Zheng Erniang’s door, Zheng Xiong hesitated again.
It hasn’t been long since he was kicked out, and he is back again...
After thinking about it, he opened the door a crack with force, and quickly stuffed the jade pendant inside. Just close the door immediately.
In this way, he has taken out the jade pendant, and his mother Zheng Erniang will definitely see it.
Next, if Zheng Erniang gets angry, he can take the opportunity to slip away.
While he was immersed in his intelligence, suddenly, the wooden door was opened from the inside.
Zheng Erniang stood at the door, holding the jade pendant in her hand, with a rare look of anxiety on her face.
“Axiong, where did this jade pendant come from?”
At first, Zheng Xiong was startled when he saw Zheng Erniang appearing, fearing that Zheng Erniang would come out to beat him.
But, then, he found that Zheng Erniang didn't take action, and he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where did the jade pendant come from?"
At the moment when Zheng Xiong was stunned, Zheng Erniang's fingers had already been clasped on his shoulders, and her expression became even more anxious.
"Mom, this is what Ling Rushui, the Minister of War of the imperial court, asked me to deliver." Zheng Xiong finished quickly.
"Where is Ling Rushui?" Zheng Erniang said through gritted teeth.
"He is in the hall over there, I..."
Halfway through Zheng Xiong's words, he saw Zheng Erniang running towards the direction of the hall like a gust of wind.
“Ling Rushui, come out!”
Zheng Erniang’s scream was particularly sad.
“Sister Zheng, I’m here.”
Ling Rushui had already walked out of the door.
"Yes, you are Ling Rushui. Where is he? Where is he? Is he in the capital?" After Zheng Erniang got closer, she took a look and confirmed that the person in front of her was Ling Rushui. Then, she Started to ask anxiously.
“He is not in the capital.” Ling Rushui sighed.
"Then where is he? Isn't he gone?" Zheng Erniang's voice was trembling, with panic in it.
(End of this chapter)