Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 100
It is said that it is necessary to make a statement, but it is easier said than done?

In the age when paper was not even popular, it was as difficult as heaven to spread your theories.

From the time he traveled to the present, Shen Chen relied on the different levels of understanding of the later generations of time travelers. He has a lot of comprehension of the Seven Classics, and even Song Zhong praised his knowledge.

But this kind of knowledge only lies in itself, if it cannot be recognized by the world, it is meaningless, and in the final analysis, it still lacks reputation.

Therefore, he had to study deeply and clearly understand the social environment at that time, so as to make targeted improvements.

And this kind of research is definitely not possible by building a car behind closed doors. You have to go out and walk a lot to understand the sufferings of the people, know the methods of upper-level governance, and understand the deep-seated public opinion and social environment at that time.

So in the next few days, after Zhuge Liang had a good rest, Shen Chen walked with him, often walking in the village pavilions around Xiangyang to understand the demands and wishes of the people.

In fact, from Xuzhou to Jingzhou, Shen Chen has seen too many things. He himself comes from the common people, rooted in the grassroots, and knows what the common people want.

It is nothing more than food and clothing, and a relatively fair social environment can be obtained.

For example, the ruling class in the village should not oppress them, don't wantonly fabricate reasons to increase taxes, and don't lose their heads just by looking at a certain dignitary.

But Shen Chen still feels that he doesn't know enough about the world, and he still chooses to do things that he thinks are meaningful.

Even though the people of Jingzhou are actually doing better than the people of Xuzhou.

At least they can barely get enough food and clothing, and they can enjoy relative security conditions, so that warlords will not attack their place at any time, and there will not be a large number of soldiers massacring them.

For a few days, I traveled all over the surrounding countryside, just like a grassroots investigation under the leadership of the county. Sometimes the countryside is very quiet and nothing will happen.

Sometimes there are unexpected situations. For example, Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang were in a carriage today, and they came to Hanyinju again.

Hanyinju is located in the south of the Hanshui River, a little bit north of Wolong Town in later generations, and ten kilometers away from Longzhong where Zhuge Liang lived. It belongs to Deng County and is close to the Hanshui River. It is a township with a vast plain and a very large population.

People like Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang who just hang out in the nearby villages and chat with local farmers, in the eyes of people at the time, are no different from neuropathy.

One does not work at home, does not produce, and wanders around the countryside all day. Such people are generally called rascals.

And the most famous rogue in the Han Dynasty was Liu Bang.

Today, the two wandered to Hanyangju again. After a few village gatherings, the two got out of the carriage. The 16-year-old Zhuge Liang was seven feet eight inches tall, close to 1.8 meters tall, with a burly figure and a sword hanging from his waist.

12-year-old Shen Chen is about 1.7 feet [-] inches, about [-] meters. Because he and Zhuge Liang’s daily routine is to get up in the morning to read scriptures, go out for a walk around at noon, and exercise and practice martial arts after returning home in the afternoon, so his physique is also good. .

The two of them were strolling along the country road, the fields on the left and right were lush and green, it was already April, and the wheat planted last winter was about to mature, and farmers were busy everywhere in the farmland.

As the saying goes, there are fewer idle months in the farmhouse, and people are busier in May.

Before the introduction of Champa rice in the Song Dynasty, the north was the economic center, because millet was planted from June to September every year, and wheat was planted from October to May of the next year, which could complete a year of double cropping and greatly increase grain output.

In the south, rice can only be planted once a year, and the output is far inferior to that in the north. As a result, the population growth rate and economic development of Jingnan area and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River at that time were extremely slow.

Although Jingzhou is in the south, Nanyang and Nanjun to the north of the Yangtze River are mainly planted alternately with wheat and millet, while most of Jiangxia County is Yunmengze, and there are not even a few county towns.

Of the other four counties in Jingnan, only Changsha County is developing well. Therefore, in a sense, the most developed areas in Jingzhou are Nanyang and Nanjun. This is one of the reasons why Liu Biao is not very willing to give up Nanyang.

Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang walked into Hanyang Ju today, and after only a few steps, a few men came out from the village in the distance, the leader was about 30 years old, and when he saw them, he shouted: "You two young men."

Hearing the shout, the two stopped. They knew these people. When they came a few days ago, they talked with them. They were farmers from a nearby village. They stood by the roadside and waited until they came over. Then, Shen Chen asked: "Brother Zhao Lang, what's the matter?"

The man surnamed Zhao is Zhao Hua, a local citizen. He came over and said straight to the point: "Shen Xiaolang, it's like this. I lost a pig yesterday, and I heard that you carried a pig in the car when you went back, so I want to ask ask."

"Is that so?"

Shen Chen said to him: "Brother Lang, wait a moment."

After finishing speaking, he turned his head to look at Shen Qi and Deng Pi who were not far away by the river, and waved to them.

Shen Qi and Deng Pi were responsible for sending Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang to the surrounding villages. After they were delivered to the place, they would guard the carriage at the same place and wait for the two to return from a stroll in the surrounding villages.

Seeing Shen Chen calling, the two trotted over all the way, Shen Qi approached and asked: "Xiao Lang, what are you calling us for?"

Shen Chen asked, "How did you get that pig yesterday?"

Shen Qi said: "Didn't you tell Xiao Lang? At that time, there was nothing to do while waiting by the river. It happened that a villager was driving a pig to the Xiangting Market in the east to sell it. The two of us bought one and went back to prepare to slaughter it."

Shen Qi told them about this matter yesterday, Shen Qi and Deng Qi were just Shen Chen's guards and not his servants, so they had certain autonomy.

Standing by the river and waiting bored, seeing someone driving pigs to the market to sell, it is normal for them to buy them and prepare to go back to the tooth-making festival. At that time, they said that they would save the best pig thighs for Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang to roast them Pigs eat.

Shen Chen explained the situation, and then asked them: "Did you really buy it?"

Both Shen Qi and Deng Pi said aggrievedly: "I bought it."

"Can you still find the pig seller?"

"I don't know the name or name, I'm afraid I can't find it."

"That's it, that's fine."

Shen Chen nodded and said, "I trust you, but you go back and bring that pig over first."

"Little Lang."

"It's nothing, just a trip to let brother Zhao Lang see if it's his pig."

"All right."

The two looked at each other, very reluctant, but since Shen Chen had ordered, they had no choice but to go back to drive the carriage and drive in the direction of Longzhong.

Due to the relatively long distance, even driving a carriage back and forth would take at least an hour. Shen Chen said to Zhao Hua, "It will take some time for them to come back, why don't you wait here, brother, and let's go to the village for a walk."

Zhao Hua asked very strangely: "The two young men often walk around the surrounding countryside these days. After meeting us, they often ask questions about raising livestock and planting wheat grains. I don't know why?"

Shen Chen smiled and said, "I'm from Xuzhou. I know how Xuzhou people grow wheat, grain and millet seedlings, but I don't know how Jingzhou people grow them. The climate in the north and the south are different, and the planting time is also different, so I'll ask for convenience in future work."

"What are you doing?"

Zhao Hua wondered, "Could it be that Xiao Lang is planning to come to Jingzhou for production work?"

Shen Chen shook his head and said: "That's not true, I just want to see when the farming is slack, so that I can recruit students in the nearby countryside, teach them to read and teach some simple knowledge."

"Xiao Lang wants to recruit students?"

Everyone was amazed.

When something happens in the countryside, it is easy to be watched and discussed by others.

This is the entrance of the village. After working in the morning, everyone will go home at noon to prepare for the afternoon meal. Therefore, everyone came back from the field at this time, and when they saw that there seemed to be a dispute, they came over one after another.

In a short time, there were more than 20 people around, men, women, old and young, quite a bit like the information center at the entrance of a village in later generations.

Hearing that Shen Chen wanted to recruit students, everyone was amazed.

Someone said: "Xiao Lang is afraid that he didn't learn well, so he only wants to teach students. I'm afraid this is not good."

Another person said: "I don't know if Xiao Lang has real talent and learning?"

"It doesn't matter whether you have real talents or not, but judging by the style of his clothes, Xiao Lang must be a son of a powerful family. It must be a good thing to teach our nephews to read."

"That's true."

"It's just a pity. Studying is the business of those aristocratic families. We farm children have to run around for food when they are young. When the farming is slack, we have to go to the mountains to catch birds and rabbits. No matter how bad it is, we have to herd cattle and sheep and dig wild vegetables. Much effort."

Everyone, you speak my word.

Although it is a good thing to have someone come to the village to teach children to read, children in ancient times were basically family laborers from the age of four or five. They herded cattle, sheep, chopped pigs, and dug weeds since they were young. They never had a moment of leisure.

In fact, Shen Chen also knew this. When he was in Huangmenting, the children of the villagers in the surrounding villages were like this, even when he was a child, he came here like this.

If they are sent to study, there will be one less labor force and one more mouth to eat, which will be a great burden for the family.

So Shen Chen just smiled slightly and said: "I know, that's why I gathered around the surrounding villages. First, I want to understand your sufferings, and I want to know how your life is going. Second, I also want to find students. In case How about someone from a slightly richer family who is willing to send him to study?"

"So it is."

"However, it may not be easy to find students. There are no rich families in our surrounding villages."

"In Fengting to the east, there are children from rich families. I heard that there are Xu, Shi, Cui and Meng. They moved here a few years ago. They seem to be the children of the rich and powerful."

"The children of the rich and powerful don't need others to teach them how to read."

The villagers chattered.

Hearing what they said, Shen Chen knew that the other party was referring to Xu Shu, Cui Jun, Meng Jian, and Shi Tao, that is, the Four Friends of Zhuge.

Since his uncle died of illness, Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion in Longzhong to farm, and often visited Yuliangzhou to ask Pang Degong for advice.

Xu Shu and Pang Degong had a very close relationship, and Zhuge Liang's sister married Pang Shanmin, Pang Degong's son. After that, they knew each other and became friends.

It happened that these four people lived in the west of Xiangyang City, only four or five kilometers away from Zhuge Liang's Longzhong, so they hang out together every day.

But that should be something after Zhuge Xuan died of illness, at least for now Zhuge Liang is still not familiar with them.

While everyone was talking, about an hour later, the sound of a carriage sounded.

Shen Chen looked back and saw Shen Qi and Deng Pi driving the carriage over quickly in the distance. Because they felt wronged and felt wronged, they rushed to prove their innocence.

After a while, the carriage arrived at the edge of the village, and the two stopped their horses.

Deng Pi untied the two very tired horses and led them to the river to drink and rest, while Shen Qi carried the tied pig out from the carriage, put it at Zhao Hua's feet and said, "Do you think this is your pig? "

The pig is not big, it should only weigh a hundred catties.Many people think that pigs should be very fat, and only two to three hundred catties are the standard big fat pigs.

But those are all varieties bred later, and they are usually ready to be sold for only two hundred catties.

In ancient China, pigs couldn't grow that big, they could be slaughtered at around [-] catties, and pigs that could grow to more than [-] catties were very rare, so Shen Qi could easily hug them.

Zhao Hua looked down at the pig, frowning.

Several of his brothers around said: "It looks like your pig, brother."

"It shouldn't be wrong."

"Well, you stole our pig."

Immediately, the brothers around Zhao Hua glared at Shen Qi.

Shen Qi said angrily: "You guys are talking nonsense, we bought this pig for 520 seven dollars."

"Then this pig is exactly the same as the big brother's pig!"

someone said.

Shen Chen looked at the silent Zhao Hua with a serious face and said, "Brother Zhao Lang, please confirm if this is your pig."

Zhao Hua is a sincere person, hesitantly said: "There are eight or nine points similar, just"

"Just what?"

"It's just that my pig has a little white spot on the ear, and this pig doesn't have it."

He pointed to the pig's ear.

In ancient my country, there were no white pigs, only black pigs.

If they are the same weight, in fact, they are not much different in appearance.

But Zhao Hua's pig has a characteristic, that is, there are white spots on the ears, so he hesitates.

"I see."

Shen Chen nodded and said: "Well, take this pig back first, maybe it's a guard who was stolen and sold to me, maybe it's not your pig. If one day your pig comes back, or you're sure the pig If it’s not yours, can you please return it?”

Shen Qi almost died of anger, and said angrily: "Xiao Lang, this is obviously a pig we bought, how could you give it to someone else?"

Shen Chen said with a smile: "It's not a gift, but it's temporarily placed here with brother Zhao Lang. As for the pig, I'm actually doing it to clear your innocence. If you don't do this today, what if the villagers say you stole the pig?" Woolen cloth?"

"This"

Shen Qi was speechless for a while, and it seemed to be the same reason, if the villagers framed them for stealing pigs, and they were local snakes, then it would be unreasonable, so it would be fine to put the pigs with the other party first to prove their innocence.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Hua said: "I'm just here to ask what Xiao Lang said. If it wasn't my pig, I wouldn't want it, and I would never frame you."

Shen Chen shook his head and said, "I'm not saying that you are framing, but I'm just afraid that everyone will misunderstand. If my guards bought someone else's stolen pig, it means we don't know who it is, so naturally we have to return it to the owner, right?"

"Xiao Lang is really a benevolent person."

"So sensible, it seems that he is indeed a young man who has read a lot of poetry and books. It's a pity that my child really doesn't have time to study, otherwise I would definitely give it to Xiao Lang as a student."

The surrounding villagers immediately thought that Shen Chen was very interesting. If others encountered such a thing, they would definitely point to the white spots and say that it was not Zhao Hua's pig. Even if they were so similar, Zhao Hua and the villagers would say Nothing.

But in order to clear the suspicion, he simply put the pig with Zhao Hua to prove that he would never steal other people's property, and he was even afraid that it was stolen goods.This move immediately won the favor of everyone, and they praised it one after another.

Zhao Hua also sighed: "Xiao Lang is really a sensible person. I'm not sure if this is my pig. The white spot is very small, and I don't know if it has been painted and blackened. But now I look at it. Although I don't know if this pig is mine, but I can be sure that Xiao Lang will never steal it. Don't worry, Xiao Lang, if I find the pig, or if I take the pig home and wash it, if the white spots cannot be washed, I will fight with you. My brothers carried the pig together and delivered it to your door.”

Shen Chen smiled and said: "Brother Zhao Lang is also a righteous person. I believe you. I can give this pig to Brother Lang. I just don't want my guards to be charged with stealing pigs. Brother Lang, please take the pig with me." Let's go back."

"Thank you Xiaolang."

Zhao Hua was ready to carry the pig home first.

At this moment, in the farmland in the distance, an old man came out of the field with a mournful face.

He was accompanied by three sons. Seeing the situation here from a distance, he walked over to take a look. Seeing that it was Shen Chen, he immediately shouted: "Is it Shen Xiaolang?"

"Oh?"

Shen Chen raised his head, saw the old man smiled and said, "So it's Mr. Du, what's wrong?"

The old gentleman had also chatted with him before.

The crowd was about to disperse, but seeing something happened suddenly, they all stopped and waited and watched.

The old farmer walked in front of them and asked in a deep voice: "You two young men, I wonder if you came here yesterday?"

"Ah."

Shen Chen nodded, pointed to Dongfang and said, "Yesterday we passed by Hanyangju, went to Fengting in the east, and did rest at the entrance of the village for a while when we came back."

Hanyangju is a village under Fengting. If you cross the Han River to the north, you will find Deng County. They live in Fengting.

The old farmer said again: "Is Xiao Lang's horse kept by the river?"

Shen Chen was a little strange, and asked, "What's wrong?"

The old farmer pointed to the wheat field not far from him by the river and said: "My wheat field has been eaten by livestock, and there are several horseshoe marks."

Shen Chen and Zhuge Liang looked at each other, then walked over to have a look.

The people also followed.

I saw that the corner of the wheat field near the southwest was indeed eaten, and more than one wheat field, several acres of fields suffered, almost half of each mu was eaten, and the loss was probably four or five stones of wheat grain.

Seeing this situation, Shen Chen looked at Shen Qi again and asked, "Did you raise the horses by the river yesterday?"

Shen Qi said, "Yes."

Shen Chen looked at the old farmer's wheat field by the river not far away, half of the wheat field had been eaten, and asked, "Have the horses eaten the wheat field?"

"Absolutely nothing!"

Shen Qi immediately said: "The horses are only grazing by the river, we have been watching."

Shen Chen glanced at the ground and saw that the footprints on the ground were in a mess. Because of the light rain last night, the ground was muddy. The old farmer got up in the morning, anxious for the wheat field, and hurried over with his three sons, causing serious damage to the scene.

However, if you search carefully in the wheat field, you can still see some special footprints. Shen Chen remembered the appearance of these footprints in his heart, and said to the old farmer: "Old man, look at these footprints first."

"Forehead"

The old farmer glanced at it rather reluctantly.

Shen Chen said again: "I will compensate you for the damaged wheat fields. If the real culprit is found in the future, please tell everyone that your wheat fields were not damaged by my horse."

The old farmer said happily: "This is nature, this is nature."

"Shen Qi, you should give the money to the gentleman first."

Shen Chen said to Shen Qi.

Shen Qi reluctantly took out his money bag, and muttered: "After paying the piglets and the wheat, the daughter of the family is not enough for Xiao Lang to spend like this."

Shen Chen just kept smiling and didn't speak.

After a while, the old farmer happily took the money and thanked him and left.

Zhao Hua couldn't help but said: "Xiao Lang, this wheat grain is obviously eaten by wild boars, why do you have to pay him?"

No matter how big the appetite of the two horses is, it is impossible to eat so much wheat grain at one time, and the footprints in the field also proved this point. They are all pig's hoof prints, which can only be said to be a wild boar disaster.

This kind of situation was very common in ancient times. The conflicts between humans and pigs were fierce, especially to the west of this place is the Qinling Mountains in the upper reaches of the Han River. It will harm the wheat fields.

Therefore, the surrounding villagers knew very well that the old man Du was just looking for someone to help him take the blame.

Shen Chen said: "Although I know that the wheat valley is probably made by wild boars, firstly, there are indeed a few horseshoe prints on the edge of the field, and secondly, the number of stone wheat is not a small amount, and Mr. Du still has so many descendants and grandchildren in his family." , without these wheat grains, I am afraid that people will starve to death. So paying him some money is also saving some lives."

After saying this, the surrounding villagers were all in awe.

Someone said: "Zhao Hua's pig is still a bit controversial. This old man Du's wheat grain should have been made by a wild boar, but Mr. Xiao Lang still gave him money. It's really righteous."

"That's right, some outsiders don't lose money, they even steal when they pass by, and they can't find it. Compared with them, Mr. Xiaolang is really a gentleman."

"I don't know where Xiao Langjun's family lives. If my family's harvest is okay this year, I would like to send my two sons to study at Lang Jun's place from May to June."

Everyone admired it.

Shen Chen was very organized and very sensible, which made them admire them very much.

However, not everyone admired it. One of the villagers, a rogue, rolled his eyes and suddenly shouted: "Xiao Langjun, my trousers were scratched by the carriage when you came yesterday. I only have a pair of trousers at home. I want to go out with my brother." Change clothes, whoever goes out wears them, and the pants are torn, how can I meet people?"

Everyone looked over, and there was indeed a big hole in the villager's trousers, but many villagers knew that he was a rogue and lazy man, and was discriminated against by the villagers because he was not engaged in production, so they all looked at him with contempt, thinking that he was framing Shen Chen.

Only Shen Chen asked: "Really?"

"Really, really."

The villager nodded repeatedly and said: "At that time, you were so fast, I wanted to reason, but you passed by all at once, and I couldn't catch up."

Shen Chen shook his head and said, "I'm not asking if this is serious, I'm asking if you really only have a pair of pants at home, and you need to change them with your brother when you go out?"

"That's true."

Zhao Hua testified: "It's just that this guy is used to being lazy. His brothers work hard to support him every day. He dragged him down into poverty, and he can't even marry a wife."

The lazy villagers didn't dare to talk back to Zhao Hua, they just muttered, "How can I go out and work when I only have a pair of trousers at home?"

Shen Chen smiled, walked around and asked, "Where is the old man?"

"The old man is here."

An old man stood up from the crowd and said, "What is Xiao Lang looking for me for?"

Shen Chen said: "Shen Qi, you take 200 yuan and give it to the old man."

"Why?"

Shen Qi was very puzzled.

Shen Chen said: "You just need to do it."

"Ok."

Shen Qi had no choice but to take 300 money and put it in the hands of the villagers.

Shen Chen said to the lazy man: "Although I know that you are framing me, it's okay. I will give 200 yuan to the old man, and the old man will ask someone to go to the market to buy two pairs of trousers for you and your brother. From tomorrow At first, I want to see you and your brother working together in the field, otherwise, I will call the government, say that you framed me for scraping your pants, extorted 200 yuan from me, and sent you to jail, Can you help me supervise him together?"

"it is good!"

The surrounding villagers have long been displeased with the lazy man's good taste and lazy work, and they all applauded.

The lazy man's face froze immediately and he said: "That's my memory. You didn't scratch the pants. I don't need you to pay for it."

Shen Chen's face suddenly darkened and he said: "Everyone, everyone has seen the fact that he framed me before. If I report to the police, are you willing to testify?"

"willing!"

Zhao Hua was the first to shout.

Originally, the villagers should help the villagers in such matters.

But Shen Chen was fair and admirable, and Zhao Hua was an honest person, so he immediately supported him.

The people around were hesitant at first, but Zhao Hua's family has many brothers, and he himself is well-known in the village, so they all agreed.

The lazy man's face turned pale all of a sudden, he never expected such a result, and he regretted why he put on his pants and went out for a stroll when his brother finished his work and went home to cook.

Now that this matter was finalized, although Shen Chen paid a lot of money for this trip, he didn't feel distressed at all.

When things were settled, he and Zhuge Liang continued to stroll around the village gatherings, headed north, and stayed in various surrounding townships for two hours, and did not return until it was almost dark.

On the way back, Shen Qi and Deng Pi were still a little emotional. Deng Pi said: "Xiao Lang, what are you talking to these villagers for? Waste of our money."

Shen Chen smiled and waved his hands and said: "It's okay, you may not understand this kind of thing, but it's not a bad thing for me, it's like planting a tree, plant the tree first, and you will naturally reap the fruits in the future."

Zhuge Liang asked curiously: "My brother is planning to make his name in the village first, and then recruit students to give lectures first?"

"more or less."

Shen Chen nodded, smiled and said to him: "I heard that many people in Xiangyang City want to teach me a lesson?"

Zhuge Liang said: "That day when your remarks in the academy spread, people said that you disobeyed the imperial court and attacked the king's division sent by the emperor to deal with the Xiliang army. You are treasonous and are looking for you everywhere."

"It's okay, let them find it."

Shen Chen shrugged: "I also want to step on the heads of these people to make a name for myself. When it comes to debates, I have never been afraid of anyone."

Zhuge Liang thought for a while and said: "Now you are in Longzhong and no one has come to look for you. If news is released that you plan to open an academy and accept students to give lectures, then I am afraid that the people who come to you will be like crucian carp across the river. "

"Then there will be Brother Lao."

Shen Chen looked at Zhuge Liang and said with a smile, although Zhuge Xuan died of illness, don't forget that he still has two very powerful brothers-in-law.

Zhuge Liang said helplessly: "You, really."

My little brother, who is only 12 years old this year, why is he so unafraid?
(End of this chapter)