Chapter 425: The Lair of the Rebels

Chapter 425: The Lair of the Rebels

Chapter 425: The Lair of the Rebels

The news of victory also reached Xuchang.

Yu Wenjun was on an autumn outing with a group of wives and daughters of shogunate generals. Upon hearing the news, she immediately held a banquet to celebrate.

As the saying goes, people's sorrows and joys are not the same. The emperor of Luoyang was frowning, but the people in Xuchang were all talking and laughing.

Yu Liang's wife, Xun, sat next to Yu Wenjun with a hint of flattery.

"This cake is extremely delicious, but it doesn't use pork fat. Why is that?" Xun picked up a piece of steamed cake and asked softly.

"A few months ago, the Grand Commandant sent a group of craftsmen from Luoyang to Xuchang. Among them was a man who was good at making oil. He opened an oil mill on the farm. He used reed seeds to press out oil and ground it into a soup, which is much more delicious than sesame oil." Seeing his sister-in-law asking, Yu Wenjun said happily.

"This must be the secret method of the palace craftsmen." Xun sighed.

As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yu family, she is not a stupid woman who knows nothing.

Since the Han Dynasty, officials mostly ate fats and ointments, while common people ate oil (vegetable oil).

But in fact, the people didn’t even have oil to eat, because there were only a few types of oil that could be pressed.

For example, the oil of nai is mainly used for coating rather than eating.

At this time, the main oil crops are three kinds of oil: sesame, flax, and perilla.

However, what is squeezed out of these three kinds of substances is not oil, but a paste with a strange taste, which is unpleasant and unpalatable. Rather than being eaten, it is more often used for applying to silk, making candle oil and moisturizing hair.

Sesame oil is indeed pure oil, but it is mostly purchased from the Western Regions. I don’t know how they press it.

While Xun was thinking about it, Yu Wenjun had someone bring a bowl of green reed oil - it had a lot less impurities and was no longer a paste, but looked a bit oily.

"The color of neem oil is green and lovely, and its smell is fragrant. It can be used to cook cakes." Yu Wenjun said: "By the way, neem oil is pure in nature and can be used for coating. It is better than sesame oil. It can also be used to make candles! But it can't be used to moisturize hair..."

Xun looked at Yu Wenjun's childish chattering, chuckled, and said, "Now that the palace secrets are in your hands, you must keep them well. Whether the family business can be expanded in the future depends on them."

Yu Wenjun shook her head regretfully and said, "My husband said that this is the benefit gained by the soldiers fighting hard. He cannot enjoy it alone. He must promote it so that the people of Henan can all eat oil."

Ren oil comes from Ren seeds (the average oil content is close to 40%), which is a very widely planted crop in China, with almost every household planting a batch in front of or in the yard.

Of course, flax is widely planted, but the paste extracted from its seeds has an extremely strong fishy smell, so even ordinary people do not like to eat it. It is generally used for coating silk and lighting.

In comparison, neem oil is indeed a very ideal source of vegetable oil - the raw materials are readily available and are widely cultivated.

"Mr. Chen is already famous enough, is it necessary to do this?" Xun was a little puzzled.

"He said that if we keep it hidden, it might be lost. It is better to promote it so that the people can also share in the benefits," said Yu Wenjun.

Xun still felt a little regretful.

Although this unique skill can't make you a fortune, it is also an income. She couldn't understand why you didn't want it.

"The commander also sent a lot of craftsmen, right?" Xun asked again.

"Too many." Yu Wenjun picked up a piece of cake cooked in sesame oil and ate it slowly, saying casually, "There are people weaving cloth, making jewelry, making lacquer, and tanning leather. There are too many."

"Winning a battle is really beneficial." Xun sighed: "The Battle of Zhamadi defeated the Xiongnu, but Luoyang still refuses to take what it wants? There will be many more craftsmen coming later, right?"

"It's hard to say." Yu Wenjun shook her head. "These craftsmen are not from Luoyang. Most of them are from various counties who are on duty in the capital. They may not be able to stay. But before they leave, they can take in apprentices."

Of course, not all craftsmen in Luoyang City are from Luoyang.

In fact, most of the craftsmen came to perform labor service and left after their term was over.

This is also one of the benefits of the court.

Without this signboard, it would be impossible for the states in the world to send craftsmen to Beijing. This would be purely an act of "aiding the enemy."

"Now that Lord Chen has won the battle, will he enter the capital..." Xun first glanced around with the corner of her eye, then asked in a low voice.

"I don't know either." Yu Wenjun replied in a low voice.

In fact, she knew that her husband had said that he would go to Luoyang once when he returned from the expedition. However, she had been the mistress of Xuchang for more than half a year and was no longer as ignorant as she was at the beginning. She knew that there were some things that could not be said carelessly or she would disappoint her husband.

Just now, Jiangxia whispered to her that after winning the two battles of Gaoping and Zhamati in succession, her husband's reputation had reached its peak, and every step that follows would attract attention. To avoid trouble, it would be best not to say anything at this time, even if it was to the families of the shogunate's generals and officers.

"It's not easy for Mr. Chen to get to where he is today." Seeing that Yu Wenjun didn't want to talk, Xun immediately stopped asking and pointed at the people in the room, saying with a smile: "Just now, the wife of the Jin family said that Mr. Chen could be appointed to the Shangshutai, and everyone laughed."

"Mrs. Jin" is the wife of Jin Zheng, the commander of the Right Battalion of the Silver Spear. Her surname is Li and she is from Xiangcheng.

Because she came from a poor family, Li had a low self-esteem and was not very comfortable in front of Xun and others. But she also wanted to break into this circle and pave the way for her husband's future. It was really not easy.

Yu Wenjun met Li.

She still remembered that when they first met, Li, who was older than her, bowed solemnly and called her "Master's wife", which made her blush.

However, she may not have noticed the complicated expressions on the faces of others when they heard the title "Master's Wife".

No matter how high their family backgrounds were, they were not qualified to call Yu Wenjun "Master's Wife". They were not close to each other. "Whether to record the affairs of the court or not is up to your husband. We women should not gossip about it." Yu Wenjun glanced at Xun and said.

Xun nodded, slightly surprised.

After Wenjun got married, she was indeed different. She was no longer the innocent girl in the boudoir. Her every move seemed to be deliberately imitating some noble ladies. For some reason, she thought of the Donghai Concubine Pei.

The little girl has grown up.

Then he smiled secretly. Wenjun always praised her husband, and it was obvious that she was very dependent on him. Mr. Chen really married an obedient wife who followed her husband's lead and did her best.

At the same time, he felt that Wenjun was so lucky and might become the queen in the future.

Need to move around more.

After Duke Chen established the throne, the meritorious officials had to be ranked in order, and the closeness of their relationships became very important.

******
It's October now and the weather is getting colder.

After leaving Xuchang, the envoys reporting the victory divided into several groups and headed to the counties and kingdoms of Yu and Yan.

After receiving the victory report, the prefectures and states sent it to all counties, instructing them to send people to post it near the city gates and important road intersections to inform the entire territory.

For a time, the news of victory spread like wildfire throughout Henan. Not only scholars and powerful people, but even ordinary people heard about it - of course, they could not read the first-hand news and only heard a distorted version.

As Shao Xun's base, Chenjun was suddenly plunged into a sea of ​​joy.

Zhang Chong, the son of Zhang Heipi, was both happy and worried.

He tightly grasped the sword at his waist like a treasure and looked towards the north.

My father has gone to war with me, and I don’t know when he will be back.

"Why are you worried?" Battalion Commander Feng Tong patted Zhang Chong on the shoulder and said with a smile, "In the Battle of Gaoping, the Xiongnu were beaten to pieces. How long has it been since then? Even if the Xiongnu have trained their troops, they are not very good at fighting. Heipi will definitely come back, and there should be a reward."

When they heard the word "reward", the people around were filled with envy, thinking to themselves, if they had known earlier that I would go to the battlefield, wouldn't it be great if I could bring back a piece of cloth or two?

After the Battle of Gaoping ended last year, the Xiongnu retreated, and the various forts sent out troops to surround and kill the defeated soldiers. Those who made gains could at least get a piece of silk. If they killed an official, it would depend on his rank, but there were many anyway.

The Battle of Heyang was such a big scene, there must be a few kills, right? Fuck, I can do it too! What a loss, what a loss!
"Reward or not..." Zhang Chong smiled bitterly and said, "It's good that Grandpa can come back. He is old and it is really not suitable for him to go to the battlefield again. I am the eldest son in the family. If there is a war in the future, I will go to the battle on behalf of Grandpa, so that he won't have to worry at home."

When everyone heard this, they all sighed.

Filial piety is the most important thing in the country. Zhang Chong is so filial that they are very envious. Damn, go back and take good care of your own children and see how filial other people's children are.

Feng Tong, the commander of the camp, also had a new opinion of Zhang Chong, so he said to everyone, "From now on, no matter who goes to the battlefield and whether they can come back, everyone must take care of each other. Mr. Chen has divided the land among us, which is a great favor. If it weren't for Mr. Chen, we would all die of hunger and epidemics, and there would be no chance of survival, let alone the houses and fields that can be passed down to future generations."

"Yes, my land also belongs to the He family. Without Mr. Chen, how could I get the land from the He family?" The leader of the camp echoed.

"We must fight bravely on the battlefield. If Mr. Chen is gone, who knows if this land will be taken away by others?"

"If Mr. Chen doesn't come out, what can I do?"

"What can we do to the common people?"

"If Lord Chen doesn't come out, what will happen to the people? From now on, we will support Lord Chen to Luoyang and become a founding hero."

When this was said, everyone laughed.

As I laughed, goose bumps appeared all over my body.

What a big deal! Does this count as a change of dynasty? Can it really be done?

However, when I think back to the days when I almost starved to death, and then look at the good days now when, although we are not rich, we are reunited with our family, it seems that there is nothing I can't do.

What did the teachers say? When destiny changes, the divine weapon will be used! Yes, that's what they said.

Everyone looked at each other, and everything was said without words.

No one is born stupid.

When it comes to their own interests, even the most stupid and unarticulate farmers will become very shrewd, not to mention this group of refugees with complicated backgrounds.

The outcome of the Battle of Zhamati greatly inspired everyone.

They may not understand grand strategy, but they observe.

This year the Huns did not come to destroy their crops or houses. Doesn’t this prove something?
It’s absolutely right to follow Mr. Chen.

In this matter, they are even more confident than the aristocratic families, or more blindly obedient.

Unknowingly, Chen County had become another "rebel" base in the Jin Dynasty, and its quality seemed to be no worse than Pingyang, or even better.

(End of this chapter)