After all, Xiao Bei was still a child. When she heard that she could go to a place with many people, she was very happy. But she suddenly remembered that she had never been to her grandfather's house. What if they didn't like her?
Thinking of this, Xiao Bei looked up and asked Mr. Wang, "Grandpa Fish, do you think we will be bullied in Hangzhou?"
"Who dares to bully our Xiaobei? Master can't even wait to see you at home. Your Eldest Uncle is also disappointing. He married three wives and gave birth to five children, but none of them are capable. It's fine if they're not boys, but they're not as smart as you, not even a little bit.
They either throw tantrums or run around all day long. No matter how many times they are beaten, they still don't remember. When there are people around, they bully people when they go out to buy things. When there is no one around, they don't even greet strangers.
Unlike our Xiao Bei, who can go out and be an official by herself. Back then, our family sent a few people to Sanshui County. Later … later, all the servants of that family were driven out of the house. "
The more the old man looked at Xiao Bei, the more he liked her. Although she was young, she was sensible and had a sweet mouth. When she smiled, two dimples appeared. Her big eyes were like her mother, Qiao 'er, and seemed to be able to speak.
Xiao Bei, however, spoke up for her sisters whom she had never met before. "It's wrong to hit a child. If you can't do it well, you can teach me, right?"
"Yes, yes, you can teach me. It's wrong to hit a child, especially one like our Xiao Bei. Not to mention hitting her, even a glare is a crime. Go back and tell Master that you are not allowed to hit her in the future."
The old man continued to follow Xiao Bei's words.
"I wasn't beaten out of the house. My brother never hit me, nor did he let others hit me. He said that only incompetent adults hit children. Is it true that no one bullied me? I'm not familiar with this place. "
Xiao Bei asked again.
The old man was not angry. He still had a smile on his face. "Xiao Bei is an official, a third-ranked official. It's a big crime to hit an official. Not to mention ordinary people, has His Majesty ever hit you? If His Majesty even touched you, your brother Xiao Bao would fight His Majesty to the death. "
"No, he won't. Uncle Emperor is the best. When my family sent a chair to Uncle Emperor, Uncle Emperor always asked my family to make it bigger so that I could squeeze in the seat beside him. My brother is also reasonable."
Xiao Bei continued to maintain its kind nature.
Little Yuan said from the side, "That's because we haven't been bullied. Otherwise, Brother and Sister would have killed them. Look at this time. We came out with more than 1,500 people. Brother is worried that we will be bullied outside."
"1500? That … that … that … " When the old man heard this, he knew that something was wrong. The information he received was definitely not 1500 people. Even if there were 15000 people, it was still more than that. Xiao Bao had put on the posture of an army at the city gate. Something had been happening there recently.
The old man didn't say it out loud. Instead, he looked at Wang Qiaoer. He didn't believe that the most beloved 'princess' in his family wouldn't know.
Weiwei of the Jang Wong Clan smiled and said, "I didn't tell Xiao Bei and the others. Since I mentioned it today, there's no harm in telling them. Xiao Bei, your brother and sister have sent out the fleet of Jili State. When the time comes, they will stop in the middle of the lake. If you guys are in any danger, get into position and attack.
Your aunt and I have your younger brother or sister, so we won't accompany you to avoid being frightened. You have to be careful. Actually, it's not a big deal. You've been used to running around since you were young.
No matter how dangerous it is now, it's not as scary as when we were young. If we can really fight in Jiang Province, you guys can also learn from it. "
Xiao Bei and the nine children were stunned when they heard that.
They thought that the officials of Jiang Province would be like mice that saw a cat when they went over to deal with them. They did not expect that their brother and sister would transfer the fleet over.
The nine children knew very well that the Tang Dynasty's fleet was actually dominated by their family. The number of ships in their family accounted for more than 80% of the Tang Dynasty's fleet. The fleet of Jili State was the most powerful. It was only stronger than Lu Zhou because it had to suppress Xin Luo and Japan.
The ships were large, there were many of them, they were fast, had a long range, and the quality of the personnel was high. The overall cooperation was good. When all 60 ships came over, they were like mountains, forming a majestic formation.
Xiao Bei swallowed his saliva and looked nervous. He said, "Are … are we going to war? I … I haven't learned how to command yet. "
"You only know how to scare me with tripping ropes. Do you think our family lacks battle commanders? Aunt, when we were young, did we encounter more powerful enemies? "
Xiaoyuan asked a key question.
Jang Wong Clan glanced at Hu Xiao hesitantly. Hu Xiao suddenly shuddered. He gritted his teeth and took the initiative to say to Xiaoyuan and the others, "In the past, your family was powerful, but you could only stay in Sanshui County. At that time, the people of Sanshui County did not support you as much as they do now.
Besides, Hua Yuan County had some foundation. There was no other place. At that time, Lu Zhou did not have many people. He wanted to support you, but he did not have the strength.
At that time, it was not too difficult for someone to deal with your family. Fortunately, there was the Minister of Revenue and the little prince to protect your family. Your brother and sister were dancing on the tip of a knife. Every time they made a choice, they had to satisfy others. Otherwise, they would be doomed.
Then, your brother and sister began to use the power of others to fight against others. Little by little, you achieved your family's current status. There are elite troops in the north, south, east, and west of the Tang Dynasty that are loyal to your family. The business in the Two Rivers Area, the Great Tang Bank, and the military industry are all in your hands.
Otherwise, why are you so carefree? How can you … "
"How can you become a third-grade official at such a young age? Is that so? " Xiaohai understood. His logical thinking ability was very strong, and his ability to understand abstract things was not weak.
After hearing Hu Xiao's words, he understood why his family had been cultivating all kinds of talents since many years ago. Political, military, economic, public relations, and technical. Everything was to form enough strength to compete with any force.
Xiaobei blinked and said, "I was wondering why it was so easy for me to ask Uncle Emperor to become a seventh-grade official with real power. It turns out that it is not only because I am cute. Being cute can only make others like me, not respect me.
Just like what Grandpa Fish said, the servant who disrespected my family in the past was driven out with his whole family. Alas, it's so annoying. The brothers and sisters in Old Willow Village are better. "
Hearing Xiaobei's words, the old man from the Wang family sighed and said, "This is human nature. If your father didn't get the first place in the state's provincial examination, his family wouldn't have sent people. If he didn't get the top scorer, his family wouldn't have paid attention to him. It's true.
When you were born, your family was already very rich. Xiao Bao and Cuckoo made a lot of arrangements in advance in order to wait for you to be born. The cesarean section in the hospital was actually prepared for you, but it was useless in the end.
The two of them led the doctors to secretly dig people's graves and cut people's bodies with knives. It is said that on the day you were born, the whole Lu Zhou was filled with a tense atmosphere. The people in Lu Zhou said that at that time, they felt that if anything happened to you, the whole sky would collapse.
So, Xiaobei, don't always think that everyone is only interested in you. There is also light in the dark. "
Xiaobei lowered his head and thought for a moment. When he raised his head again, he had regained his cheerful appearance. He said to the old man, "Grandpa Fish, no wonder mother is close to you. You are the best servant. Apart from my family and the inner court, no one will say this to me, but Grandpa Fish, you said it.
I know, we have our own house, we can walk on the road, we can float on the water, I also have a big pearl that can be used as a ball. If you give me one now, I can't bear to throw it to the ground, but I can throw it to Pan 'er.
Mother, when we see Grandpa, don't mention the past. It's all in the past. When you hurt others, unless you are happy, it's better to forget it. "
Jang Wong Clan smiled, bent down, and kissed Xiaobei's face hard. She said, "If you are a little smarter, you will catch up to your brother and sister."
"Huh? I'm not smart enough? "Xiaobei pretended to be dissatisfied.
"If you are smart, you won't say everything. You haven't seen what your brother and sister were like when they were young. When someone tried to play tricks in front of them, a smile from them was enough to make them feel ashamed, but the words they said gave them a way out."
Jang Wong Clan's smile became even brighter.
"Okay, I understand. I still have to work hard. That's why my family's little bridge isn't easy to cross, right? It was actually used as a tool for swearing. I have to take their money."
As Xiaobei spoke, his hands had already peeled off the shell of a prawn. He tiptoed to feed his mother. It didn't matter who ate the first one, it wasn't poisonous.
Hu Xiao followed up and said, "Yes, your family's Sanshui County's bridge to Zhuangzi is even scarier than the Bridge of Helplessness. The Bridge of Helplessness is nothing more than death, but your family's bridge is one step into heaven and one step into hell. Standing here, every step you take is like stepping on the bottom of your heart.
Step by step, after a few dozen steps, many people feel like they have walked through the past. The older a person is, the slower they walk, but the younger a child can directly run over. Life is so helpless, who can have a clear conscience? Who can be proud and have regrets? "
Hu Xiao said this because he had also walked past that bridge. It was a very ordinary stone bridge without any unnecessary decorations. It was too far away from being gorgeous, and it was also not close to being graceful.
But for some reason, when he thought of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, his heart tightened. He had seen with his own eyes that someone had fainted on the bridge and was carried away by the doctor who was guarding there for treatment.
When he really finished the entire journey and arrived at Zhuangzi, he felt very comfortable standing there. There was no love, no hate, no regrets, because this was life. Since there was no turning back, he would resolutely continue on. It wasn't heaven, nor was it hell. It was the human world.
His heart recalled the past. He was guilty. Who hadn't done something wrong? However, the world was so big. How many people could judge him? This was also why Xiaobei's nine-member inspection team was feared by the officials. It was because they were qualified to judge the officials and ask if the officials were guilty.
"Oh! I understand. In the future, when I catch an official, I'll tell him 'If you're not guilty, take two steps,' right? You're actually quite a good person. You joined the army, right? What's the rank of Kaifeng's army? Xiaoyuan. "
Xiaobei liked to hear this kind of words the most. Even if he didn't quite understand sometimes, he could turn back and slowly think about it. If he really couldn't, he could ask his brother and sister. Then, he would have a story to listen to.
"Kaifeng's army is rank five, lower rank five. But the army here has a lot of real power. It's more important than an ordinary province's army." Xiaoyuan also had to help Xiaobei remember a lot of things. It was like a dictionary. Oh, it could also be called Erya.
"Lower rank five? Rank five is a little small. Do you want to be promoted? I can promote you to rank four and let you rule … the Henan Circuit? No, Henan Circuit is too big. If you really control the military power of the entire Henan Circuit, won't you become a provincial governor? Where does Henan Circuit have a provincial governor?
Last time, Uncle Emperor told me to arrange positions for people. Look at the place and position, and don't ask for it blindly. How about this, I'll give you the navy of all the rivers connected to Bianzhou, all the way to the Yellow River or the Yangtze River, okay?
You'll be the commander-in-chief of the land and water. You can say rank four or rank three. Do you want it? "
Xiaobei was going to give someone else an official position again. After he finished speaking, he looked at Hu Qiao expectantly.
Hu Qiao looked excited at first, but then he shook his head and said, "No, I don't know how to fight in water. Although I'm good at swimming, it's not that I'm selfless, but I'm afraid of being killed. I believe that if you want to command the navy, His Majesty will agree.
But one day, when you need me to mobilize the navy, I can't command it well. If I shirk the responsibility and say that my subordinates are disobedient and stupid, will you agree? "
"No, I'm not stupid. It's your problem if your subordinates are disobedient. If you don't use them well, the first one to deal with will be you. If your subordinates are exiled, you will be beheaded."
Xiaobei gave a definite answer.
"That's right. I don't want to die yet." Hu Qiao looked like he was an honest person.
Xiaobei nodded. "Oh! That's right. If I give you the navy now, I'll be harming you. If I don't give it to you, I'll feel that it's a waste of talent. Xiaoyuan, what do you think we should do? "
"I really owe you. You thought about it yourself and then asked me. If he doesn't know, let him learn. After he learns, he will know." Xiaoyuan had just peeled a prawn and took a small bite. He felt that it was bland and was looking for someone to get salt and pepper.
"Yes, yes, yes. Learn. We can learn. So, Sir Hu, follow the ship and learn from the commander on the ship. Don't think that we're a merchant fleet. Even if the fleet from Jili Province attacks us, my current team can still fight to the death with them.
Who said that merchant ships can't be armed? Who said that merchant ships have to be slow? Right? Follow and learn along the way. After you learn well, I'll recommend you to my sister's military school. It's okay if you resign from your current position, okay? "
Xiaobei stomped the deck and asked for Hu Qiao's opinion.
Hu Qiao was trembling all over. He finally understood why he was able to protect Xiaobei and his team and why so many people were looking at him with jealousy.
This was an opportunity, an opportunity to reach the heavens in one step. As long as you were capable, or had strong commanding skills, or were serious in your work, even if you couldn't do it, as long as you were honest, you had a high chance of seizing this opportunity. If you missed it, then don't blame the heavens and accuse others.
The excited Hu Qiao looked at the Jang Wong Clan. However, the Jang Wong Clan turned her head away. It wasn't that she couldn't make the decision, but that she didn't want to.
The old man from the Wang family said to Hu Qiao, "Sir Hu, the person who will give you an official position is our Xiaobei, not Qiao 'er."
"I'm willing. I'm willing. I'll learn. I'm still young." Hu Qiao understood. If he looked at the Jang Wong Clan, wouldn't he be implying that Xiaobei couldn't make the decision? If Xiaobei got angry and lost the opportunity, the Jang Wong Clan would naturally protect her child. If Xiaobei got angry, did he expect him to give him an official position?
Xiaobei acted as if he didn't know. "Alright then. You'll learn as you go. Start with the basics. The commander of my family's fleet must be familiar with every job.
For example, if we're heading east, the wind is westerly. The speed of the sail is very fast, and the ship is at full sail. You're the commander. Through the binoculars, you can clearly see the enemy two li ahead. Their position is slightly north. It's a fleet like ours.
You just have to shout, drop the sail, turn left, and fire from the right. You're dead meat. Because they're going against the wind, they're also turning left. They're at full sail and half mainsail. We're slightly southwest of them, so they'll come over first. So you have to know what our ship looks like, how fast it turns, and the effective range of the cannon. Do you understand? "
Hu Qiao nodded in shock. Didn't Xiaobei say that he didn't know how to command? Why was he able to casually give examples when he was talking to him?
"Then, what do I have to learn first?" Hu Qiao asked.
"Washing the board, arranging the cargo boxes, tying knots, and standing against the wind." A voice came from the side.
Hu Qiao turned his head and saw a man who was not even 30 years old. He was very tanned and stood upright with a serious face. He was like a nail that was nailed to the spot. The first impression he gave was only one word: "steady." Then, it was rigid and mean.
"I haven't asked …?"
"The fleet's commander-in-chief, which is also the captain of the flagship. In the future, you will learn from me and do as I say. I want you to remember the joining points of every piece of deck wood and arrange the cargo boxes of all shapes and sizes neatly.
When you want it to open, it will open with a pull. When you don't want it to open, the cargo will not move with the ship. When you stand on the deck, the wind will not sway you, and the waves will not hit you. As such, you are qualified to move on to the next lesson. "
When the person spoke, he was also very serious and unreasonable.
"Okay, I'll do it," Hu Qiao said indignantly. He didn't believe that he couldn't do such a small thing well.
*****
"Report, good news! Little Master, Little Miss, good news!" In the Hibiscus Garden, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were eating lunch boxes when a person suddenly ran in and shouted loudly.
Zhang Xiaobao put down his chopsticks and said to the person, "It seems that you are full. You are very confident. Speak, I will eat after you finish."
"Report, I haven't eaten yet. I am hungry. I will eat later. I have good news. The ladies are pregnant again and are preparing to go to Hangzhou to recuperate. Hangzhou Wang family."
The person didn't care about Zhang Xiaobao's attitude at all and said with a smile.
With a clatter, Zhang Xiaobao's chopsticks fell on the small table and stared at the person. Wang Juan also stopped eating and opened her mouth slightly.
Because the two of them heard clearly that the ladies were not the same person.
"Cuckoo, isn't this too much of a coincidence? Why are you together again? "Zhang Xiaobao asked Wang Juan.
"As the saying goes, I can't make a book out of coincidences. The question is, why did we only find out now?" Wang Juan was more concerned about this.
"Because, when we go out, we are afraid of our mothers. We are going to have a younger brother or sister again. I guess we will have to start from the beginning again. Do you think it is a good thing, or … a good thing?"
Zhang Xiaobao thought of the scene of a large group of children running around.
"It is a good thing. Xiaobei's agarwood house can be used." Wang Juan gave a definite answer.
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