The Great Qin Empire---Qin Li

Hei Fu was startled by the sudden attack, and he subconsciously leaned back to avoid it, then raised his right foot and kicked the figure in the chest!

"Ouch!"

The black figure was kicked to the earthen platform and screamed. Hei Fu wanted to go up and hit him again, but two more figures rushed out and raised their hands in front of him. Fortunately, they finally made a sound this time.

"Sergeant... Don't, don't hit me!"

"Hei Fu, it's us."

After finally lighting the firewood with flint, Hei Fu saw clearly that the two people in front of him were Dongmen Bao and Xiao Tao, and the one who was kicked to the ground by him was Ji Ying. Who else could it be?

"What are you doing?" Hei Fu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Dongmen Bao touched his hair and said, "Ji Ying made a bet with me that he didn't know if you were scared, so he hid behind the door to try..."

"Brother Heifu, your kick was really fierce. Xiao Tao, come and check if my ribs were broken?"

At this time, Ji Ying screamed like a pig being slaughtered. Xiao Tao hurried over to help him check. Nothing happened. Fortunately, Heifu's kick was not in the right position and he didn't use enough strength.

"You really deserve it. If I was frightened and drew my sword, you would be dead now."

Heifu pulled up Ji Ying, who was still holding his chest and crying in pain, and asked, "The night watchmen have all dispersed, why are you still here?"

"It's because I was waiting for you!" Ji Ying grinned.

"Chao Bo and the others went back in a hurry. I thought I had to wait for Heifu to come back and say goodbye to you in person." Dongmen Bao is a man who values his promises.

Xiao Tao also stammered, "I... I am from the same hometown as the sergeant... so I want to go back together."

"So that's it." Hei Fu suddenly realized that it seemed that these three people were waiting for him specially, and he couldn't help but feel a little moved. It seemed that he was not the only one who kept the comradeship in his heart.

Thinking of this, Hei Fu suddenly had an idea in his mind!

He asked the three to sit down and asked, "After this farewell, I don't know when we can meet again. I would like to ask you two, what will you do for a living after you go home? What are your plans for the future?"

"What else can I do for a living? Farming."

Ji Ying was a little discouraged when he thought of going home: "I have many brothers, and they have separated from the family one after another. I am the youngest and can inherit the land, but my family's thin land has little production. I may use the more than a thousand yuan reward for catching the thief this time to find a job as a village guard in the village..."

Xiao Tao also said, "I... I also farm."

Then, he stammered and said a lot. It turned out that Xiao Tao's family was the poorest among all the people present, and the land was thin. Before coming to serve, the family almost had no rice to eat. The three hundred coins given by Hei Fu really solved his urgent needs, so Xiao Tao was grateful to Hei Fu.

But the problem is that this money can only last for two or three months at most if converted into rice. Xiao Tao is very worried that after his family becomes impoverished, he will be forced to become a "bastard son" for the nobles in the village.

The bastard son here does not refer to the son born to a concubine. The military merit system stipulates that any soldier who can cut off an enemy's head can obtain a first-level title, as well as the corresponding land and house, and bastard sons, that is, servants who work for you. They are all poor people without titles and have a lower status than ordinary people.

Dongmen Bao rolled his eyes: "Although I live in Dongmenli and have land, it was taken back by the government when my father died of drunkenness. I can only go to the west dock of the city every day to help the ships unload cargo, beg for a meal, and support my mother and wife. This was the case before and after the service." He is the only one who is married among the people present.

All three of them were born in poverty and their future is not broad. Heifu nodded, thinking.

"Brother Heifu, what about you? What are your plans?" Ji Ying asked.

"I was just about to tell you two or three."

Heifu smiled and told him everything about the right lieutenant calling him to the official temple today, saying that the county wanted to recruit him to be the head of Huyang Pavilion, but he concealed the struggle between the right lieutenant and the left lieutenant.

"This is a good thing!"

Ji Ying slapped his thigh and stood up happily: "Although the head of the pavilion is not a big official, we have to bow respectfully when we see him on weekdays, and we dare not talk back when he scolds us."

Dongmen Bao also looked envious: "From now on, Heifu will be an official, and he will have a salary and food every month, which is no longer the same as us commoners."

Heifu waved his hand quickly: "Don't say that, whether he can become a head of the pavilion depends on the assessment in a month."

Xiao Tao said: "The head of the pavilion... is good at martial arts, and... has talent, he will definitely be able to do it!" After saying that, he thought of his future again, and his eyes were a little dim.

Hei Fu saw their attitudes, and on the one hand he was happy for him, and on the other hand he was envious.

It seems that his idea has the possibility of being realized...

So Hei Fu stood up and bowed to the three people and said: "Everyone, in fact, I have a bold idea!"

...

"Hei Fu means that we should go to Huyang Pavilion together to be thieves and pavilion guards?"

After a while, when Hei Fu finished his idea, Ji Ying was a little surprised.

Dongmen Bao also widened his eyes: "Can it be like this?"

"Of course what I said doesn't count."

Hei Fu explained: "But I heard that since the Huyang Pavilion Chief, Qiu Dao, and three pavilion guards were punished and served their sentences a month ago, no new officials have been appointed. The new Qiu Dao who went to manage the affairs was killed while chasing thieves."

"Now Huyang Pavilion is an empty shell. There are no pavilion chiefs, Qiu Dao, and pavilion guards. We are recruiting people, but Huyang Pavilion often has cases, and everyone is afraid of it, so there are few people who respond."

After Hei Fu explained the situation, he said to Dongmen Bao and Ji Ying: "If you two are interested, you might as well go to the county and township to apply. Dongmen is a public official with high martial arts skills and has been a squad leader. He can be a Qiu Dao, and Ji Ying can be a pavilion guard. In this way, we can work together in Huyang Pavilion and govern this ten-li area together. Not only will we have a salary, but we will also have the opportunity to catch thieves and solve cases and gain meritorious service. Isn't it wonderful?"

The reason why he had such an idea was that although the position of the pavilion chief was small, he had to govern the area of ten miles, investigate illegal activities, and hunt down thieves. The responsibility was heavy and there were considerable risks. In addition, Hei Fu was unfamiliar with the place, and it was inevitable that he would feel a little uneasy if he went to Huyang Pavilion alone. If he could get an acquaintance to be his right-hand man, it would be very different.

Finally, Hei Fu realized that he had missed Xiao Tao, so he said casually: "If Xiao Tao is willing, you might as well give it a try!"

After hearing Hei Fu's "bold idea", Dongmen Bao and Ji Ying looked at each other, and they were eager to try.

Like Hei Fu, they were a little reluctant to part with their comrades-in-arms for the past month. After all, they trained together, won the first place in the ten-day military exercise together, and received rewards and money. It was really unforgettable in their lives. If possible, they all hoped to continue this friendship.

Now, there happened to be an opportunity!

The Huyang Pavilion is located at the junction of the county town and Yushui Township. It is not far from their homes and can be reached in half a day. Although the thieves and pavilion soldiers are not formally established, they can also receive a ration. In addition, the status of Qin civil servants is higher than that of ordinary people. They can also hold their heads up in front of the villagers.

But the two of them also have their own hesitations. Ji Ying is worried about the risks of being a pavilion soldier. The security of Huyang Pavilion is not good. If he arrests thieves on weekdays, people may die. His parents will probably not agree to this matter. They would rather he work honestly in the village.

Dongmen Bao is a brave and aggressive person. The more risky the job, the more excited he is. However, he has a mother and a new wife at home. Once he takes up his post at Huyang Pavilion, he may not be able to go home for ten days or half a month...

Hei Fu saw the hesitation of the two and apologized quickly: "I was reckless. I only thought about the pleasure of working together and forgot about other things."

"I'm willing to give it a try!"

Dongmen Bao slapped his thigh. Those problems were not a big deal in front of the brotherhood!

He stood up and said, "I will go back and convince my mother and my new wife, and then I will apply for the position at the official temple. A real man should hold a sword and patrol the area. Why hesitate?"

"Me too!"

After thinking for a while, Ji Ying also stood up and bowed, saying, "Although Ji Ying has no ability, he can still be a small pavilion soldier. Even if there are risks, as long as Brother Heifu is in charge, I am not afraid."

Xiao Tao also hesitantly said, "If... if the chief... does not think I am useless, I am willing to give it a try!"

"Okay!"

Heifu was full of enthusiasm. He patted the three of them and laughed, "Then it's a deal. After I go back, I will prepare for the official assessment carefully. You two and three will also apply for the position and do your best. If we are destined to work together again, then see you at Huyang Pavilion in a month!"

The four people touched their hands together and clapped their hands to swear!

"See you at Huyang Pavilion!"

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