Chapter Thirty-Seven: Preparing to Go South for Twenty-Four ___ to Go Home

Li Wei said that the horse panniers have been prepared, some have been bought, and some have been customized. The personnel were also hired, a total of twenty were professional horsemen, each with his own horse, and each of them would cost five taels of silver to give it once. This should be not a small number, but Zhang Zhimu did not hesitate, as long as the goods are delivered safely, it is better than anything. The purchased goods were transported to the racecourse in batches and bundled separately according to the weight of 50 catties. The horse grass is mixed with a guillotine and mixed with a horse beam and packed in a sack. The horse stakes were also tied with ropes.

In the end, he began to sell carts, and sold all the wooden-wheeled carriages that had arrived, leaving the horses behind. Three steel-reed carriages were sold, one for Prince Deli and one for each of Yang Jiang's families, each with five hundred taels of silver. The three families didn't say a word about the price, so they happily drove the car out and turned around in and out of the city. It was Chen Yufeng's idea to leave one of the steel spring carriages, and he said that there was no shortage of horses now, and that with four horses, he could run no slower than the horses carrying goods.

Look at everything ready. Zhang Zhimu gave everyone a few taels of silver and told everyone that tomorrow will be divided into morning and afternoon, and each will have half a day off, so that they can go shopping and buy some of their own things. In fact, everyone has been out for a long time, just looking at those favorite things, there is no silver in their hands, and they are in a hurry. This time, Zhang Zhimu gave a few taels of silver, and they couldn't close their mouths happily. They all feel very blessed to be with such a good owner, not to mention good food and drink, and silver, which many of them dare not dream of. In fact, this trip to kill Hu Kou really laid a good foundation for his future development. Whether it is one of their most loyal core teams or the trade routes they have opened, they are all of great significance. Many years later, when he bragged to his subordinates, the most and the most bullish was: "The first time the head of the family went north, Lao Tzu followed." No matter how far Zhang Zhimu's strength develops in the future, these people have not changed their words, and they have always called Zhang Zhimu the master, which is what these people are most proud of.

The next day, Zhang Zhimu just wanted to go to the garrison Wang Shichang to say goodbye, and Mrs. Qin Peng came and asked: "Then there are some families of the army who have nowhere to go, can they live in that courtyard together." Zhang Zhimu said: "No problem, the matter here will be left to you, and you will be in charge of everything in the future." ”

At this time, Zhang Zhimu didn't know how much this kind act would bring him in return.

Seeing the guard, the two were a little moved as soon as they said that they would be separated tomorrow. Wang Shichang asked Zhang Zhimu to remember his home address in Beijing, and Zhang Zhimu said that he would try to come back again in the autumn and make some preparations for him to return to Beijing. Of course, Wang Shichang understood what Zhang Zhimu meant. Don't even say it's too expensive. Wang Shichang said that it was inconvenient to see him off tomorrow, so he wished the virtuous brother a smooth journey. When parting, Zhang Zhimu handed a palm-sized red sandalwood box to Wang Shichang and said, "I didn't prepare this time, so I will give this to my sister-in-law, so please smile at my sister-in-law." When Wang Shichang accepted it: "Even say a few polite words." Of course, he knew Zhang Zhimu's gift. Despite this, after Zhang Zhimu left, Wang Shichang was stunned when he opened the box. Inside is a crystal transparent jade jade pendant, both the material and the workmanship are superb. Wang Shichang knew that this treasure was worth a fortune, and said with emotion, the virtuous brother is really generous. With this, you have to give a smile when you go to Beijing to meet the prime minister.

That night, everyone quit the inn and stayed at the racecourse. When he was about to leave the city, Zhang Zhimu went to buy a lot of beef jerky, cheese and other food, as well as leather hats, leather gloves, leather boots, etc. Chen Yufeng knew that Zhang Zhimu was bought for the children.

In the morning, everyone got up early, and fed and drank the horses. And put the bundles of the horses beside each horse. The men who came over the night before were also sweating. Zhang Zhimu looked at it and was very happy. Finally, everyone swept up the horse manure. In this way, everyone eats, and it is still early to see that the time is still early, Zhang Zhimu and Chen Yufeng have turned around again, and there is really nothing left behind. Let everyone get on the horses, and after they have finished the horses, they all tie the reins one by one. Leave the horse farm to the officers and soldiers who have come to take over.

Liu Yun took the two of them to open the road in front, and Li Wei led the two of them to break the back behind. In the morning light, the mighty horse team set off and walked to the checkpoint, the officers and soldiers at the checkpoint had just taken up their posts, and when they saw such a large horse team, they did not dare to slack off, and immediately pushed the barricade away and let them go directly.

At first, Zhang Zhimu kept riding a horse to follow, and soon his legs couldn't stand it. In the end, some of them couldn't hold on, so they had no choice but to take the car. Only then did I understand why Chen Yufeng had to leave a car, and I couldn't help but praise in my heart, Chen Yufeng is a caring person.

Since the horses were all lightly loaded, they arrived at Fanjiaying before it was dark. There were too many horses to enter the town, so they found a forest outside the town and tied the horses to the trees. A few tents were set up around and people watched. Li Yunhe and the others have been waiting for a long time, the things they take care of are too important, so they don't dare to go, Chen Yufeng has repeatedly asked that they are not allowed to drink. So I waited, and it was even more uncomfortable, so I had nothing to do and practice fist and foot kung fu to pass the time. It is natural to look forward to Zhang Zhimu and others, and I am very happy. Zhang Zhimu told the shopkeeper to prepare more food and drink for those who watched the horses. When he arrived at Fan's camp, Zhang Zhimu remembered that there were more than 20 women here, let them ride horses, I'm afraid it won't work. Talking to Chen Yufeng about this, Chen Yufeng said, alas, people are not so delicate, riding a horse is still better than walking, just give their saddle a little softer, it really can't work, just change down and take the car. Zhang Zhimu asked Yan Boju again, what about the five cows, the cows walked slowly, afraid that they would not be able to keep up with the horse team. Yan Boju said, no problem, this ox is not carrying things without carrying things and the donkey is in front of the horse team, it can be the same, just feed some good materials. Li Yunhe also said, no problem, there is still a lot of grain left in the past few days, and these cows and donkeys have not been short of food.

In this way, all the way back, except for the tired and bitter complaints of those women, it was quite smooth. I met people in the green forest a few times, some of them were released as soon as they saw the dart flag, and some were released as soon as they saw the bronze medal of Niutou Mountain. Chen Yufeng said: "It is strange that we have such a large caravan, no one robs it, and we all give face, and we don't even collect the toll money." Zhang Zhimu said: "This also has the majesty of our fight, we swept the wild boar ridge, I am afraid that it has already spread in the green forest." No one wants to do anything with us until we know what's going on. It might also be good for us to go south. Chen Yufeng said: "It is very likely that this is the case. ”

In this way, Xiaoxing stayed overnight, everyone worked together, and the journey went smoothly. Those who came to help drive the horses felt strange, and they all knew that there were several ghost gates along the way, and it was generally difficult to pass, even if there was a friendship, at least they had to leave silver. They went back and told them what had happened in this line, and they were killing Hukou, Zhang Zhimu and they were simply divine. There are still two days to go, Zhang Zhimu discussed with everyone, the family didn't know that we had shipped back so many goods at once, and we couldn't do it without preparation. Someone has to go back and report the letter so that the family can be prepared. Zhang Zhimu felt that Liu Yun was steady, so he asked him to take the two of them to each ride and go back to catch up. The first is to prepare wooden poles, and now that there is no water in the river, build a fence on the river, and then prepare some horse material, mats for carrying goods, etc.

Liu Yun saw that Zhang Zhimu was very serious about himself, so he was extra attentive. After breakfast, two people were chosen, both with muskets on their backs and **, and each of them rode away.

In this way, Zhang Zhimu and Chen Yufeng opened the way in front. But on the afternoon of the day they opened the road, something happened. Several people were riding horses, walking in broken steps, hurrying forward, and there were cries for help from ahead. Zhang Zhimu put the musket on the bullets, lit the fire rope, rode forward, and looked, by more than a dozen masked people, holding knives are robbing, two of them are tearing a young woman's clothes on the ground, the woman struggled desperately and screamed, next to a woman in her forties, kneeling and begging, was kicked over.

Zhang Zhimu couldn't stand it anymore, so he fired a shot at the sky, stopping everyone and shouting: "Stop." ”

These gangsters, seeing that Zhang Zhimu and they came, had few people, and they also knew that they were firecrackers, and they would be finished with one shot. Haha laughed, Chen Yufeng went up to talk to them, but he didn't go up. More than a dozen people rushed over with swords. Zhang Zhimu said to Chen Yufeng that he couldn't leave a living mouth if he started here. Chen Yufeng nodded appreciatively, what he was most worried about was that Zhang Zhimu's heart was too soft. I am very happy to see him today and know that he should be hard-hearted. Zhang Zhimu shot the bandit in the head at the front. The lead bullet directly knocked off half of his head, and it was red and white, and the people who followed him had seen this thing, and they were so frightened that they all took their horses, but how could they stop it all of a sudden. Without waiting for them to restrain the horse, Chen Yufeng led people to rush over, and after a while, the rest of the people were separated from their heads and bodies.

Picking up a few frightened people, Zhang Zhimu asked him to bring some water and give them some water. These people are considered stable. It turned out that it was two groups of people who were robbed, and they walked together on the road. Among them, the man in his forties was in the same group as the three in their twenties, two were his nephews, and one was his son. The other two women are a mother and daughter, the daughter is seventeen or eighteen, and one is the mother and daughter's family. They all came from Zhangjiakou, met on the road, and went together, but they didn't expect to meet bandits here, thinking that their lives must be lost today. happened to be rescued by Zhang Zhimu and them. When a few people came back to their senses, they lay on the ground and kowtowed to Zhang Zhimu and others, and Zhang Zhimu quickly helped them up. Zhang Zhimu understands that life is too difficult for people in this era, and life is too worthless, so people kowtow and thank you when they receive a little help. The mother and daughter rode two donkeys and were driven by their families. The four men were three mules carrying a little cargo and luggage. Seeing that they were not lightly frightened, he let them ride in the cart first, and led the cattle behind the cart.

On the way, as soon as I said it, I realized that the four masters were all on land, namely Lu Chengxiang, with his son Lu Jun and nephews Lu Qi and Lu Yun. This Lu Chengxiang is the shopkeeper of a large commercial house in Zhangjiakou, and the business is very large, and there are semicolons in the capital. But the old owner, after his death, his son was not angry, and the business became worse and worse. As a result, the new owner secretly cashed out all the deals, and only then did he tell the big shopkeeper. Zhang Zhimu understood eight or nine points as soon as he heard it. He took over the conversation and said: "The lord is weak and the minister is strong, and the good days are not long." When the shopkeeper Lu heard this, his eyes rolled, and he thought that he had met a master. A hand arched: "Oh, Engong's words, it's a Daigo empowerment." Wake up the dreamer in a word! ”

Zhang Zhimu's judgment is good, many buyers and sellers rely on the support of the shopkeeper to support their business, and the proprietor of the shopkeeper generally does not dare to offend. Slowly, the shopkeeper often forgets his identity when he speaks and does things. Zhang Zhimu thought that when the old club was alive, the shopkeeper had to give the old club face. This young proprietor takes over the business, and the shopkeeper is more powerful. The young owner thought about it, I don't have to worry about money to eat and drink now, so I don't have to be angry with you, I sold the business and got the silver, bought the land and hired people to plant more worry-free, so I quietly cashed out the business. Otherwise, there is no reason to notify the shopkeeper after the business is redeemed. The shopkeeper had no choice but to take his family and leave with his luggage. Fortunately, there are still a few acres of thin fields at home. It's just that after so many years of wandering outside, I am unwilling to go back like this, and I have no face. Zhang Zhimu thought to himself, this is a rare talent. But he can't make a sound yet, and his little edges and corners will be frustrated first. The mother and daughter went to Zhangjiakou for funeral, the woman's man worked as an accountkeeper in a shop in Zhangjiakou, died of illness, and there was no one at home, so the mother and daughter had to take their families and run thousands of miles to mourn. But the owner was black-hearted and didn't give any compensation, so the mother and mother had to sell a donkey to make a coil and rush home.

Then I hurried and rested for the night, and the next day everyone was very energetic, and we all knew that if it went well, we would be home today.

When the horse team reached the afternoon, they saw two horses running in front of them. From a distance, it was Liu Yun in front.