The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 322 Riots in the city
The entrance of Laoya Lane in the southwest of Kaifeng outer city.

A shop with three facades facing the street has re-hanged the sign of Shenghe Dishe.

In an independent courtyard behind the mansion, a dozen hired craftsmen were busy coming in and out, busy painting the walls with glutinous rice mixed with loess and wheat bran, busy mixing mortar to fill the cracks in the courtyard wall, and busy moving custom-made tables, chairs, and benches into the house.

Ma Qing is like a construction site supervisor, directing the workers to work.

When he saw something was not to his liking, he would yell at someone and ask someone to tinker with it again.

Some of the employees are housekeepers, and some are neighbors who work nearby.

Ma Qing is also considered a famous person in Lao Yaxiang. When Sheng He's residence was destroyed by the army, Ma Qing disappeared for several months, and his life and death are unknown.

The neighbors were worried about him, thinking that he might not survive.

Unexpectedly, a few months later, Ma Qing appeared alive again, and Shenghe Dishe reopened.

It's just that Ma Qing's injuries were too horrific. The neighbors all knew that he must have been brutally tortured, so they didn't dare to ask more questions. It was a blessing to be alive.

Since the opening of Shenghe Dishe, the reputation of shopkeeper Ma Sanye has spread in Laoya Alley. Neighbors all think that this Hexi man who smiles all day long and talks pleasantly to everyone must be a good person.

In addition, Ma Qing also made several acts of charity and wealth to help neighbors solve temporary difficulties, which further spread his reputation as a good person.

Normally, Dishe hires people to do the work, and Ma Qing greets them with tea and meals attentively, and pays a penny for their wages. This is the first time he has overseen the work on site like this today, and he has given strict instructions.

There was a plasterer who climbed up a wooden frame to paint the wall because there were some small flaws in the newly painted exterior wall. Ma Qing pointed out unceremoniously and asked him to paint it again.

The plasterer couldn't help but grinned and said: "Sister Ma, your yard is not for the emperor to live in. How can there be so many rules? That's it!"

Ma Qing stood under the wooden shelf with his hands behind his back, and cursed with a fierce face: "Fart! If I live with the emperor, it will be your turn to paint the walls? There are so many construction doctors in the Ministry of Industry, and which one does not have a group of skilled workers? Craftsman? A guy like you is not even qualified to mix mortar! Stop talking nonsense and paint it again for me, covering up the exposed yellow mud!"

The hired craftsmen working in the yard laughed, and the plasterer blushed and said angrily: "Master Ma really knows how to kill people! My craftsmanship is no worse than those of the great craftsmen who painted the walls of the emperor's house!" "

Ma Qing snorted coldly: "Your father's craftsmanship is also famous in Nancheng, so it's not bad, but how much skill can your kid learn from your father? If your father hadn't gone to work for an official, the third master would have I won’t let you come!”

The plasterer muttered something unconvinced and climbed up to another wooden frame to paint the wall.

A craftsman who was building a garden asked curiously: "Hey, which official does your father work for?"

The plasterer said lazily: "It's Master Sikong Su Fengji!"

"Oh? This is a high-ranking official. Your father must have received a lot of rewards, right?" Many craftsmen cast envious glances at him.

The plasterer cursed: "Money reward is nothing! Su Fengji died, the Su family held a mourning hall, and my father is doing the funeral work! Unlucky!"

"Why did the dignified Master Sikong die suddenly?" The craftsmen working there were talking about it.

The plasterer said mysteriously: "You don't know yet, right? Mr. Su committed suicide! The Su family said he died suddenly."

All the craftsmen screamed and discussed why Su Fengji committed suicide.

Ma Qing shook his head and cursed: "You all work hard, the death of Sikong Mansion is none of your business! Who dares to be lazy and slip up, deducting wages and not giving food to eat!"

"Oh~ Don't worry, Mr. Ma!"

"We are lazy in other houses, and we will not be lazy in your Ma Sanye's house!"

"By the way, Mr. Ma, who will you give this house to?"

"It's none of your business!" Ma Qing scolded with a smile, rolling up his sleeves and getting ready to mix with the mud. He wanted to build the heated Kang with his own hands.

Ma Qing hummed a tune and had just poured the plaster into the big wooden barrel and stirred it. Suddenly, he seemed to notice something in his heart. He looked back in confusion and saw Zhu Xiu looking at him in shock at the archway of the courtyard.

Beside him, Hu Guangyue and Chen An smiled wryly and waved to him.

"Young official!" Ma Qing exclaimed, and the wooden stick in his hand fell to the ground with a pop.

Zhu Xiu took a deep breath, glared at him fiercely, turned around and walked to the courtyard outside the courtyard.

Ma Qing wiped his hands on his shirt and hesitated to step forward.

Chen An hurriedly ran over, grabbed him and whispered: "Young officer, please let me pass!"

"Why didn't you stop me?" Ma Qing sighed bitterly, his face full of sorrow.

Hu Guangyue smiled bitterly and said: "Please forgive me, Commander Ma. The junior officials are so shrewd that they cannot hide anything."

Ma Qing sighed sadly and trotted forward with a timid limp.

Zhu Xiu sat at the stone table on the patio, watching Ma Qing staggering around and running toward him with a flattering smile on his face. He felt as if his eyes were being stung and couldn't bear to look at it, and a great deal of anger welled up in his heart.

"My subordinate, Ma Qing, kowtow to the little official!" Ma Qing knelt down and kowtowed, choking with sobs: "I haven't seen you for almost two years. The little official has grown taller and is becoming more and more like a gentleman from a well-known family."

Ma Qing sobbed and cried, wiping away tears.

Zhu Xiu's eyes were also red, and he clenched his fists and shouted in a low voice: "Ma San, Ma San, you bastard, why didn't you tell me that you were injured like this?"

Ma Qing grinned, crying and laughing at the same time: "You can't die for a small person, so you don't have to worry about small officials over trivial matters!"

Zhu Xiu's tone was trembling: "What did you say in the letter? Look at what you look like now! If I knew you were injured like this, I would never let you stay in Kaifeng!"

Ma Qing wiped his tears and said with a smile: "The villain can't even tell the little official! The junior official trusted Ma San and sent Ma San to Kaifeng to preside over the Zangfeng Camp. When the villain left, he said that he would never let the villain The official is disappointed! The villain has thought about it a long time ago, and even if he dies, he will hold on until the day when the junior official comes to Kaifeng!"

Zhu Xiu's chest was clogged. She breathed a long sigh of relief and wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes.

"I've told you a long time ago that in critical moments, the most important thing is to protect yourself. If you lose your life, what will you do?"

Ma Qing smiled and nodded without refuting.

When he grinned, Zhu Xiu saw that his mouth was dark and couldn't help but said, "Where are the teeth in your mouth?"

Ma Qing said nonchalantly: "When I was imprisoned in the Dali Temple prison, I was pried off by Li Ye, the bastard jailer."

Zhu Xiu's face trembled, and she looked at the horrific scars on his head that looked like toad skin, the thumb that was cut off at the base of his right hand, his disabled legs and feet, and even his voice sounded like he was chewing sand, which made people's hearts tremble. .

Ma Qing touched his head and said with a silly smile: "The villain was ugly to begin with, and now he looks even more frightening. I'm afraid he won't be able to find a wife in the future."

The two master and servant stared at each other, Zhu Xiu burst out laughing, but tears fell from the corners of his eyes.

"Don't cry, little official. Ma San is still alive and can still be loyal to the little official." Ma Qing hurriedly took out a handkerchief, bent down and carefully wiped Zhu Xiu's cheek.

Zhu Xiu forced a smile and took the handkerchief to wipe her face.

"You sit down."

"Eh~"

Ma Qing sat in front of Zhu Xiu obediently. "Li Ye fled to Shaanzhou. People from the Fu family are there, so he can't escape. Go there in person and come back as soon as you're done." Zhu Xiu's tone was cold.

Ma Qing grinned sinisterly: "Thank you, little official, for giving Ma San a chance to take revenge. Don't worry, little official, I will treat my uncle well!"

~~~
Zhu Xiu took Hu Guangyue and Shi Xiangwen out of Laoya Alley and walked on the street on horseback, feeling very depressed.

He knew that if Ma Qing was caught by Li Ye, he would probably be tortured and injured.

But I never expected that Ma Qing would be injured so seriously and would suffer many disabilities.

When Ma Qing wrote a letter to report that he was safe, he only mentioned a few words about his prison experience.

Zhu Xiu was busy rushing to Yedu at that time, so he didn't ask in detail.

Unexpectedly, when we met today, I found out that Ma Qing had come back from the hell gate.

Zhu Xiu sighed, glared at Hu Guangyue and said, "You are so brave, you all hid it from me!"

Hu Guangyue said with a bitter face: "I'll forgive you, the little official. It's Commander Ma who has repeatedly given orders not to allow us to disclose his injury, so as not to worry the little official."

Zhu Xiu shook his head and sighed.

Ma Qing followed him from Cangzhou to Jingzhou and then to Kaifeng. He was his longest and most loyal subordinate. Zhu Xiu hoped that he could revitalize the situation in Kaifeng and lay down roots for the Zangfeng camp, but he also hoped that he could live well. .

"Let's go to Situ's Mansion." Zhu Xiu calmed down and cheered up, ready to rush to Situ's Mansion to meet Guo Wei.

Just after passing the Wuchengwang Temple and arriving near Taixue, the streets suddenly became chaotic. There were soldiers in small groups, looting from house to house, smashing doors and beating people. The whole street was in chaos.

What's more, they chased women with lewd smiles on their faces, kicked open the doors of shops along the street unscrupulously, and snatched money, silk, antiques, jade, and anything valuable.

Zhu Xiu was shocked. Where did the rebels dare to be so arrogant?

"Young officials, they seem to be soldiers and horses of the Ye Army!" Hu Guangyue pointed to a few leading generals, and behind them there were guards carrying the flag of the Ye Army on their shoulders.

Zhu Xiu was shocked and angry. These people were so brave!

At a steamed cake shop on the street, the wooden stall door crashed down with a clang, and a thin young man stumbled out, his face covered in black and gray full of panic.

His clothes were in tatters and his head was wrapped in a dirty towel, like a little beggar.

He was holding a stack of steamed cakes in his arms and ran towards Zhu Xiu in panic.

An arrogant soldier chased him out angrily, pointed at the beggar young man and shouted: "This brat knocked out one of our brothers, catch him!"

As soon as the rioters raging on the street responded, seven or eight people swarmed around him.

The beggar boy ran away, his black and white eyes full of fear.

"Bastard! Dalang stop them! Go and bring that boy over." Zhu Xiu shouted angrily.

Shi Xiangwen said "Oh" and walked slowly towards the few soldiers who rushed forward to arrest people. He stretched out his arms to stop them, lifted his arms and legs, and threw them all away.

Several rebels screamed and fell into a ball.

"Hey, you" Hu Guangyue walked towards the beggar boy. Just as he was about to say something, the beggar boy ignored him and ran past him like a gust of wind.

Hu Guangyue was extremely surprised. This young man's legs and feet were so fast.

The beggar boy looked back and saw Shi Xiangwen knocking down a group of soldiers.

Then he saw a fair and handsome young man riding a charcoal horse standing in front of him, staring at him blankly. Without saying a word, the beggar boy ran to the horse. Before Zhu Xiu could react, he grabbed the saddle and turned over neatly. Get on the horse and sit behind Zhu Xiu, holding the steamed cake in the paper bag with one hand and holding his waist tightly with the other.

"Uh"

Zhu Xiu was extremely surprised. This young man didn't recognize life at all.

He is also very smart, and knows how to find shields for himself in times of crisis.

The commotion attracted the attention of many rebels. After several shouts, thirty or fifty soldiers immediately surrounded Shi Xiangwen and surrounded him in the street.

"Da Lang, stop!" Zhu Xiu shouted and urged his horse forward.

Some sergeants recognized Zhu Xiu and Shi Xiangwen and whispered that they did not dare to take action.

Zhu Xiu looked around at the crowd of rebel soldiers, took out the token pinned to his waist, and shouted: "I am the camp secretary of the Chinese Army and Zhu Xiu, the deputy commander of the Tiger Wing Army. Which army are you, dare to rob people along the street? "

All the rebel soldiers stared with big eyes and small eyes, not daring to answer.

"Get out of the way!" A soldier wearing a helmet and carrying armor strode forward surrounded by his personal guards.

The sergeant beside him pointed at Zhu Xiu and the beggar boy behind him and whispered something.

Zhu Xiu frowned slightly when he saw the person coming. He knew this person. His name was Fan Aineng. He was from the Tianxiong Army and was a general under Chai Rong. Now he serves as the commander of the First Army and can be regarded as a mid-level and senior general in the Ye Army.

Fan Aineng had a typical warrior mindset, admiring fierce generals like Shi Yanchao and looking down on gentle and gentle people like Zhu Xiu and Wei Renpu.

Zhu Xiu had met him a few times, but they were all nodding acquaintances, not friendly.I heard that he was close to the supervisor Wang Jun.

"Who did I think was blocking the road? It turned out to be Secretary Zhu Zhang!" Fan Aineng clasped his fists with a smile on his face.

Zhu Xiu cupped his hands, pointed at a group of rebel soldiers, and said in a deep voice: "May I ask General Fan, are these all your subordinates?"

Fan Aineng raised his head and said: "That's right! It's my brother who belongs to me!"

Zhu Xiu's eyes darkened: "These soldiers robbed people, destroyed people's homes wantonly, and dared to insult women. Does General Fan know?"

Fan Aineng smiled and said: "Of course I know! Not only the brothers from my general's department, but also the other brothers from Yejun are also looting everywhere in the city. Why, does Secretary Zhu Zhang have any objections?"

Zhu Xiu was startled and shouted sternly: "That's nonsense! I, the Ye army, are the masters of benevolence and righteousness. How could we do such bad things? Who allowed you to do whatever you want?"

Fan Aineng laughed loudly: "You are in charge of military aircraft in the Chinese army, how come you don't know the commander's military orders? When entering the city, the commander promised the soldiers of the three armies to loot for three days after entering the city! This was the commander-in-chief Wang Jun personally summoned the generals and conveyed it to the commander-in-chief How can an order be false?"

Zhu Xiu was shocked and angry, he was completely unaware of this matter.

Guo Wei and Chai Rong entered the city as soon as the Yingchun Gate was broken and went straight to Situ's Mansion.

Only Wei Renpu and Wang Jun were left in command of the Chinese army. Zhu Xiu was responsible for guarding the commander's flag and assisting Wei Renpu in managing military aircraft.

When did Wang Jun pass the order without telling them?
Although Wang Jun was the supervisor of the army and had a high status, and Guo Wei also respected him, he would not dare to fake military orders without Guo Wei's instructions.

Was it really Guo Wei's order that the army plundered Kaifeng?

Zhu Xiu broke out in a cold sweat. There were no less than one hundred thousand Ye troops entering the city. Once they lost control, it would be a disaster for Kaifeng.

(End of this chapter)