Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 101 Mu Zhi
After settling Mao Dezuo down, I felt relieved.

Liu Daogui only had three hundred strings of cash on hand, and he had to ask Gao Xun and Zhao Lunzhi to get the sum together.

I took advantage of the end of the year to go back to Jingkou.

Everything was fine at home. Mother Xiao Wenshou and sister-in-law Zang Aiqin both wore new sheepskin coats. Niece Liu Xingdi was wearing a red jacket and was jumping around with a flushed face.

His elder brother Liu Yu also often sent money back, and several clan brothers helped to farm the fields.

Meng Huaiyu, Meng Longfu, Xiang Jing and others followed Liu Yu to join Sun Wuzhong.

With them around, we will definitely not suffer any losses.

During the meal, Zang Aiqin stewed a pot of meat soup, steamed a dish of salted fish, and ate it with a pot of rice. The whole family had a full meal.

"The Cao family and the Liu family have quite a long history and are a good match. After you get married, you should treat them well. You should also take care of yourself when you are out there. Don't try to be the leader in everything, and avoid getting into trouble in officialdom." The only thing that remained unchanged was Xiao Wenshou's nagging.

Liu Daogui smiled bitterly in his heart. He was planning to rob Sima Daozi's salt field, and he didn't know if it would be considered as provoking trouble.

"I know."

"After you get married, hurry up and give birth to a big, fat boy. That way, the Liu family can expand and your deceased father can rest in peace. I've been dreaming about him all these days..."

As soon as she said this, her sister-in-law Zang Aiqin lowered her head.

After Liu Yu joined the army, although she returned home from time to time, her belly never got any better.

Xiao Wenshou pulled out a piece of yellow rattan paper from his bosom. "This is the prescription your uncle gave me. Pick some herbs from it and boil them down to drink. I guarantee you'll have a son."

"The wedding is not until next March, and you're taking medicine now?" Liu Daogui was speechless.

It’s pitiful for all parents in the world that she has not given birth to a son, which has always been a worry for her.

This cousin was named Liu Juanzi. Liu Daogui had met him several times when he was a child. He was about the same age as himself and was obsessed with medicine. He went out to study medicine early on. Unexpectedly, he returned to Jingkou for the Chinese New Year this year.

"Just drink it early to keep your body healthy."

"Okay, okay, I know everything. I'm busy with official duties this year, so I won't be home for the New Year. I'll leave tomorrow." Seeing that everything was fine at home, Liu Daogui felt relieved.

I originally planned to take them to the city, but now it seems there is no need.

Any movement of the family would inevitably attract the attention of those in the military office, exposing oneself and causing trouble.

The Liu family's roots are in Jingkou, and everything is taken care of by the clan. Lanling is still in its infancy and has not yet stabilized.

"In such a hurry? You don't even wait for your two brothers to come back and get together." Xiao Wenshou looked reluctant.

"It's fine as long as they are here." Liu Daogui really couldn't get away.

After eating, he bought some rice and meat, and then went to visit the homes of Xu Changming, Gou Zhong, Yin Shan, Hu Jianfu and other subordinates, and distributed ten strings of money to them.

Except for Gou Zhong's family, which was slightly better off, the other families were not living well. It was almost the New Year, and they were still eating a thin soup made from bran.

My children don’t have a single decent piece of clothing.

Liu Daogui went to buy some more clothes and distributed them to several families.

He became more and more eager for money, and he couldn't let these soldiers who followed him suffer from hunger and cold.

At dawn the next day, Liu Daogui said goodbye to his mother and took Liu Zun and others on a boat to Lanling.

The journey was smooth and they arrived at the city in less than five days.

There are two flags standing on the top of the city, one white and one green. At some point, two tigers embroidered on them with bared fangs and claws became vivid and lifelike, exuding a domineering aura. They sway in the cold wind, as if they come to life again and again.

No need to ask, you know it was the work of the young lady from the Cao family.

Liu Daogui felt ashamed. He had been so busy that he still didn't know her name...

"I'm back from joining the army!"

The Cao family members on the city wall cheered, much more enthusiastically than last time. With the two families marrying, Liu Daogui was considered half a Cao family member.

People these days value this. Without this identity, they would always be separated from the Cao family and would not be so close.

Liu Heibin brought people to greet them.

"Why can't I see Brother Cao?" Liu Daogui looked around.

Liu Heibi said, "He has gone to Qi County to open up the fields. I will send someone to invite him back."

After becoming a family, Cao Ji worked hard.

"No need." Liu Daogui did not bother him and went straight to the government office to check the documents left behind during his two months away.

Without the threat of bandits, many wastelands can be planted.

Especially the plains at the southern foot of Mount Niqiu, which have fertile soil and water. Since Qingguang Village was established, these lands have been protected.

The same was true for several other counties. Without gathering around the fortress, the entire Lanling County was thriving. It was already the end of the year, and the fields were filled with people tending to the fields and digging ditches...

The powerful people paid protection fees, Liu Daogui kept his promise, and the soldiers did not harass them, and everyone lived in peace.

The only threat came from the Jin army and powerful local tyrants on the southern border. Occasionally, a small group of troops would march north to burn, kill, and loot.

But they were all repelled by the soldiers, and these people turned to harass Gaoping, Rencheng and other counties of Yan State.

In the north, several groups of bandits have poured into Mount Meng in recent days. They did not dare to invade Lanling County, but turned to plunder Langya County. The General Jianwei Mansion in Langya County has always been pampered and was unable to stop these bandits.

Liu Muzhi, the chief clerk of Langya, asked Lanling for help, but Cao Ji never responded.

"Liu Muzhi..." Liu Daogui had some impression of this name. He was also from Jingkou, but his family was from the Liu family of Dongguan.

Langya County was the fiefdom of Sima Daozi and the birthplace of the Sima family. During the Yongjia Rebellion, Emperor Yuan of Jin, Sima Rui, with the assistance of Wang Dao, crossed the river to the south and resumed the Jin Dynasty.

There is General Jianwei's Mansion in the county, so there is no reason to look for the impoverished Lanling.

It is not impossible to send troops to assist, but the Langya eunuchs and General Jianwei have not expressed their opinions. It would be a bit shameful for me to put my face in front of such a cold butt.

This is also not in line with official rules.

Moreover, sending troops requires winter clothing and food supplies, and there is no mention of post-war rewards, pensions, etc.

An informal document from Liu Muzhi was obviously inappropriate.

Liu Daogui didn't take it to heart. Of course he had to cherish the team he had worked so hard to build.

"Agui, it's time to eat." Liu Zun came in carrying a lunch box.

Open it and you’ll see a roast chicken, a bowl of steaming broth, a pile of water shield, and a big bowl of white rice.

These are quite rich.

Liu Daogui couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, "You let me eat so well, can the soldiers also eat the same?"

From frugality to luxury is easy, from luxury to frugality.

It's not that he can't afford it, but these days most people can't even have a few full meals a year. If his subordinates see him living so extravagantly, it will have a bad influence.

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't us who made it. It was sent by the young lady from the Cao family. Since you said that, forget it. I'll feed it to the dogs."

Liu Zun left with the lunch box.

"Come back...fucking..."

"Hey, can't bear to part with it?"

"Since it was sent by the Cao family, it's a different matter. Go, go, go." Liu Daogui felt warm in his heart.

(End of this chapter)