Han official!

Chapter 152 Township History
After the banquet, Yan Yi and his so-called disciples lived in the Quchi-shaped house next to Yao Youzhi.

The next day, at Yao Youzhi's invitation, he stayed for a few more days before leaving.

Yan Yi's words about recruiting a disciple from Huaili made Yao Youzhi even more ecstatic. He watched Guo Jie and others arrive at the Pingshan Township government office and begin their so-called tour.

"Yao Ji's house is in the northwest corner."

Yan Yi alone held back the three brothers Yao Youzhi, Yao Xiangzuo and Yao Xiangshi, and quoted from classics, giving the impression of a lecture behind a curtain, attracting many villagers to come and listen. Most of them did not understand and just went there to join in the fun.

The purpose of traveling around the counties is to experience the local customs and people. Guo Jie used the excuse of experiencing the local customs and people of Huaili County and walked towards the northwest corner seemingly aimlessly, intentionally or unintentionally.

Su Jia had visited the Pingshan Township Government Office many times in the past and knew the house where Yao Ji lived.

"Yao Ji originally lived in a large house, a two-story house with a sun-shaped courtyard. Later, Yao Youzhi and his three beasts robbed her of her property one after another, and she was forced to live in an abandoned oil press."

Su Jia gripped the dagger tightly, his face full of resentment. When he mentioned Yao Ji's miserable experience, he wished he could eat Yao Youzhi alive and peel off Yao Youzhi's skin.

The seat of Pingshan Township is a small town, much larger than the neighborhoods and villages. Along the way, we met many villagers who were rushing to Yao Youzhi's home.

These villagers brought children with them, hoping that their sons would have the honor of becoming Yan Yi's disciples.

As we walked along, we saw that the vegetable plots in front of the courtyards were all planted with radishes and cabbages, which were completely different from the vegetables grown in the neighborhoods of Chang'an.

The five vegetables are mainly sunflowers, and most of the vegetables that villagers grow in the vegetable plots on a daily basis are sunflowers.

Along the way, Guo Jie did not see a single sunflower leaf, only pieces of radish and cabbage.

In addition, the trees planted in Pingshan Township are also very special. The trees planted in front of the gates and in the yards of every household are all tung trees.

There is not a single mulberry, catalpa, peach or plum tree.

It is understandable that peach and plum trees are not planted. The residents of Pingshan Township may not like to eat fruits and vegetables.

Men farm and women weave.

Mulberry trees are used to raise silkworms. Are all the ladies in Pingshan Township equally lazy and unwilling to weave cloth to supplement the family income?
Near the house where Yao Ji lived, there was a large area of tung trees planted, at least dozens of them, which blocked the house behind and blocked the sunlight.

Even at lunchtime (9:00-9:45) when the sky was already bright, it was still dark near the house. The sunlight was completely blocked by the Chinese tallow trees, and only a few spots of light shone through the leaves on the ground in front of the house.

"Squeak-"

Su Jia opened the door and called out anxiously: "Yao Ji, Yao Ji"

As soon as the door of the house opened, a strong smell of oil came out. Su Jia shouted a few times, but there was no sign of Yao Ji. The horseshoe stove was clean, with no ashes from cooking. No one had cooked in a few days.

It is impossible for people not to eat.

Yao Ji seemed to have met with an accident.

Su Jia's face turned pale.

He gritted his teeth and said, "If Yao Ji comes to any harm, I will kill Yao Youzhi and the other two beasts and bury them with Yao Ji. I will also kill their son in front of them."

"What are you doing here?"

Yao Xiangshi was a clerk in charge of paperwork, but he wore a suit of armor with a red belt and a ring-handled sword hanging from his waist. He was followed by several armored men, who stared at Guo Jie and his companions vigilantly.

There was a long scar on his face, extending from his forehead to the corner of his mouth. He didn't look like a clerk at all, but rather had the air of a frontier garrison soldier.

Su Jia whispered, "Yao Xiangshi appears to be a clerk in Pingshan Township. He used to be a lieutenant commander at the frontier fortress and is also the most difficult person in Pingshan Township. Be careful of him and don't be deceived by his identity as a clerk."

The Houchang was a middle-level military officer at the frontier, responsible for managing several fire stations.

In order to defend against the invasion of the Huns in the north, the Han Dynasty set up a large number of beacon towers on the border and established a strict military management system.

Beacon towers are the most basic military organization on the border.

Each beacon tower usually has five people, including the beacon tower commander himself. The number can be expanded under special circumstances, but the maximum number is no more than ten garrison soldiers.

Above the beacon chief is the waiter chief, who is in charge of five or six beacon towers and dozens of border guards.

Yao Xiangshi relied on his military achievements to climb step by step to the position of Houzhang, and he should not be underestimated.

When Chong Huangrou heard that Yao Xiangshi was a chief, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, and her white and tender hands grasped the hilt of the two-foot sword.

Before Yao Ji was found, it was inappropriate to have a conflict with Pingshan Township.

"Yao Ji isn't here?"

Guo Jie half-seriously said, "I've heard there's a delicacy in Pingshan Township: dog meat cooked by Yao Ji. Ever since I set foot in Huaili County, I've heard many villagers talking about Yao Ji's cooking. I've been thinking of finding Yao Ji and having her cook a pot of dog meat to present to Master Yan."

Yao Ji?

When Yao Xiangshi heard that several people were looking for Yao Ji, he was startled, but soon he felt a little complacent.

Even Yan Yi wanted to eat dog meat from Pingshan Township.

It seems that Pingshan Township's dog meat is really famous.

Yao Xiangshi felt relieved and explained, "Yao Ji has angered the clan leader and is being held in a small room next to the cow pen. You can go to the cow pen, find Yao Ji, and then lock her up in there after the dog meat is cooked."

No one knew that Yao Ji escaped last night.

Even Yao Xiangshi, who was in charge of the military equipment of Pingshan Township, did not know about it.

Yao Xiangzuo drank too much and made a mistake, so he let Yao Ji go. He was afraid of being punished by Yao Youzhi, so he didn't dare to say anything.

"Little brat!"

When Su Jia heard the word "bitch", he became furious and immediately drew out his dagger and rushed over to fight him.

However, Guo Jie held down Su Jia's hand holding the dagger.

Guo Jie had high hopes for Su Wu's brother Su Jia, who served as a close guard to the emperor.

The Langguans are all selected from the best archers.

The Langguan were also divided into different levels, including those stationed at the palace gate, those stationed at the Weiyang Palace, and those who were close guards around the emperor.

All of them need to go through layers of selection in competitions such as Dushe, Chuliu, etc.

Su Jia was able to serve as a close guard beside Emperor Liu Che, and was the best among the Han army of hundreds of thousands.

Now, Su Jia is practicing archery, horse riding and shooting with Guo Jie and Chong Huangrou. After being trained by Guo Jie, Chong Huangrou and Yan Yi in the future, his achievements are limitless.

At the very least, he was as brave as Long Ju, Ying Bu, Fan Kuai and others, and might even be half as brave as Xiang Yu.

We can’t let Su Jia be broken in a flat mountain village before he grows up.

Su Jia was stopped, looking angry and unwilling.

In his heart, his mentor Guo Jie and his father Su Jian ranked first. No matter how angry he was, he had to endure it.

"Go north, go around that three-story house, and you'll find the cattle pen in five or six hundred steps."

Yao Xiangshi glanced at Su Jia. There was something wrong with this man, but he didn't pay much attention to it.

Perhaps it was because he came from a powerful family, and was suddenly questioned by Yao Xiangshi, which made him feel a little dissatisfied.

Yao Xiangshi didn't take it seriously, as the Yao family in Beidao was also a powerful family.

He is also a wealthy and powerful person with a fortune of more than five million.

"Thank you."

Guo Jie walked over cheerfully, with a kind face, and just when Yao Xiangshi let down his guard, he suddenly attacked and killed people!
Guo Jie quickly pulled out the ring-handled knife in his hand and slashed it on Yao Xiangshi's neck, chopping off Yao Xiangshi's head on the spot.

Yao Xiangshi turned into a headless corpse with a look of astonishment on his face.

Chong Huangrou and Mang Tong quickly pounced forward.

Before several Wu men could react, they were killed by two-foot swords and iron spikes and fell in a pool of blood on the ground.

"This"

Su Jia was stunned, and all the resentment and frustration in his heart disappeared.

He felt extremely happy.

Su Jia looked at Guo Jie with eyes full of gratitude. All of this was because his mentor helped him vent his anger.

"Don't just stand there."

Guo Jie rubbed Su Jia's head, which was covered with a black cap. "Go and move the body into the house and hide it. Master and Chong Huangrou will guard outside, and you and Mang Tong will carry the body."

There were six people in the group, and Yan Yi held back Yao Youzhi and most of the villagers.

An Guo Shao Ji disappeared in the middle of the night since he returned to the Quzhi Mansion to sleep last night. No one knows which Madam Yao's bed he ran to.

Only Guo Jie and four others were left.

Guo Jie and his companions began to cover up the traces of the murder.

"Even as early as when Su Jia said that Yao Xiangshi was the chief, I saw that you had murderous intentions."

The Insect Emperor said with a gentle smile, "You always do things to prevent future troubles. Since Yao Xiangshi is a threat, it's a good opportunity to take advantage of the fact that he doesn't have many soldiers around him and chop off his head."

Guo Jie smiled but said nothing.

It must be said that Chong Huangrou understood his heart, and the two of them cooperated more and more tacitly.

Guo Jie walked north along the Chidao Road. Surrounding him were low houses standing in a straight line. The three-story house was very conspicuous and he would not have found the wrong place.

Not long after, Guo Jie arrived near a three-story house and continued walking north along the alley. The number of houses gradually decreased, and large areas of Chinese tallow trees appeared in the open space. From time to time, he could hear the faint mooing of cows.

The closer Guo Jie walked to the north, the louder the sound of cattle mooing became. A cowshed appeared in front of him. A dozen yellow cattle were eating grass, and a large amount of hay was piled up next to them.

The small room where Yao Ji was imprisoned was right next to the cow prison.

Su Jia's face was full of impatience. He hurried over and kicked open the locked door of the small room.

"Yao Ji! Yao Ji! I'm here to get you out."

Guo Jie and the other two stood near the small house, looking around vigilantly to prevent any villagers from discovering that they had rescued Yao Ji and running out shouting, which would attract the five people from Pingshan Township.

Unexpectedly, Su Jia shouted many times and searched the small house up and down, but still couldn't find Yao Ji.

Su Jia was inexplicably panicked and quickly ran out: "Master, Yao Ji is not in the small room. Could it be that Yao Youzhi killed her?"

When he thought of his wife who had not yet married him being murdered, his nose felt sore and he almost burst into tears on the spot.

Guo Jie's heart sank.

He also had a bad feeling.

"If Yao Ji dies."

Guo Jie said in a deep voice, "Master, I will exterminate the entire Yao clan and go down to accompany Lady Yao. The entire clan will be buried with Lady Yao."

Su Jia ran into the cow prison and began to look for Yao Ji, but could not find any trace of her.

He was completely panicked.

"Perhaps he is imprisoned somewhere else?"

Chong Huangrou's eyebrows knitted slightly. "Several strangers suddenly appeared at the Pingshan Township government office. Yao Youzhi was worried that Yao Ji's secret would be exposed, so he locked her up somewhere else to prevent the news from leaking out. Only Yao Youzhi knew about this, not even the Yao Township Historian."

What Guo Jie was most worried about was that Yao Youzhi killed people directly, and the dead would never escape. If he killed Yao Ji, he could just bury her in a deserted place and he would no longer have to worry about Yao Ji running away.

"Don't be impatient."

Guo Jie comforted the anxious Su Jia and asked, "You have been to the seat of Pingshan Township before, so you should be familiar with it. Apart from this cattle prison, where else can we hide people without being easily discovered?"

Hiding a person
Su Jia pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Yao Youzhi probably hid Yao Ji in the oil press room."

Guo Jie and his companions left the cow pen and walked quickly towards the oil pressing room.

Su Jia talked about some of the conditions in Pingshan Township, and Guo Jie learned why the vegetable plots and trees in Pingshan Township were different from those in other townships in Chang'an.

The Yao family of Beidao could become a powerful family with assets exceeding five million.

The Yao family in Beidao controlled the ointment and oil trade in the Jing County area.

Oil is divided into cooking oil and lamp oil.

Among edible oils, radish seeds and cabbage seeds are the best, followed by sesame and tea seeds, and then amaranth seeds.

Each dan of radish seeds can produce 27 jin of oil, which is the best tasting and beneficial to the five internal organs. Each dan of cabbage seeds can produce 30 jin of oil, which is as clear as green water.

Each stone of tea seeds can only produce 15 kilograms of oil.

There is an oil press in Pingshan Township Government Office. The vegetable plots in front of the residents' homes only grow radishes and cabbage. The radish seeds and cabbage seeds can be taken directly to the oil press to be pressed for oil.

Among lamp oils, Chinese tallow tree is the best, rapeseed is the second best, and sesame is the worst.

The core and skin of the Chinese tallow tree can be pressed separately to produce 20 kilograms of skin oil and 15 kilograms of water oil, a total of 35 kilograms of Chinese tallow oil.

Only 30 kilograms of oil can be extracted from each stone of rapeseed.

The oil press room at Pingshan Township Government Office is very large, and it has all the methods of pressing, boiling, and grinding. Villagers wearing linen trousers and bare upper bodies carry radish seeds, cabbage seeds, and Chinese tallow seeds used for oil pressing.

Radish seeds and cabbage seeds are boiled. They are put into a large pot and slowly stir-fried over low heat. When the aroma comes out, they are taken out and then crushed and steamed.

"I never thought the oil press room of the Yao family in Beidao was so big."

Chong Huangrou stood at the door of the oil press room where more than a hundred people worked, sighed, and turned to look at Guo Jie standing beside her.

There seems to be something to say.

Chong Huangrou smiled and said, "A nobleman in the Great Court wanted to get involved in the ointment oil business, but he couldn't find the tools and craftsmen to press the oil. After several years, he still couldn't make the ointment oil business."

The nobles of the great houses wanted to engage in the ointment business, not just a small one, but at least to monopolize the ointment in the Chang'an area.

Guo Jie suddenly turned around and looked expectantly at Chong Huangrou who suddenly mentioned the big room.

The Insect Emperor smiled softly and said, "I know you've been worrying about setting up a beacon tower in the Jincheng River Valley. Ever since you turned the Maoling Ling into a human pig, you haven't been able to find a suitable opportunity to set up another beacon tower."

Guo Jie nodded solemnly: "As the population of Jinchengli increases, we need to set up a beacon to block those who come to inquire about the news."

The Jincheng River Valley is surrounded by continuous mountains and loess gullies.

Just block the entrance to the Gaolan Mountain gap.

It will prevent all spies from entering the Jincheng River Valley.

The people of Jincheng are farming in peace!
(End of this chapter)