Chapter 119 Returning Home Rich and Rich
After Li Yuanhui left, he gave Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Jian each a letter of appointment, asking them to recruit 800 soldiers each.

For Zhang Jian, this was too easy. As the biggest local boss in Jiangdu and even Guangling, it was not easy for him to recruit 800 soldiers. Even if Zhang Jian had to raise these soldiers himself, he could afford it.

On the other hand, Zhu Yuanzhang declined Zhang Jian's suggestion to help him recruit troops in Jiangdu, and returned to his hometown in Zhongli, Guzhuang Village, Taiping Township, with the thirty soldiers transferred to him by Li Yuanhui from the Xuzhou army.

He was wearing a brocade robe that Li Yuanhui had bought for him when he was in Jiangdu. His hair was not big enough to tie it up, so he wore a fu hat.

It's hard to tell that he was a monk in Huangjue Temple who had to fetch water and chop firewood all day long just a few months ago.

He was riding a tall horse, with thirty armored soldiers holding swords and guns behind him, and the hired cart was filled with wine and food bought in Zhongli County.

Rubbing his short, rough beard that had not been shaved recently, Lao Zhu looked at the village that was even more dilapidated than he remembered, and felt as if he was in another world.

When the villagers saw the soldiers from afar, they naturally closed their doors. Old Zhu did not explain much. He first went to pay tribute to his parents and then returned to his home. His thatched house had collapsed long ago.

After thinking about it, he took people to the village head's house.

The surname of the family here is Tang, and his name is Tang Wu. In Guzhuang Village, except for the landlord Liu's family, his family is the richest. He is generous and righteous. He has practiced martial arts and led the young men in the village to fight off bandits. Everyone in the village respects him.

Ben was sleeping at home when he heard his son Tang Yun say that soldiers had come to the village and were waiting to see him at the door.

Tang Wu hurriedly stood up and went out to greet him. When he saw the man in brocade robes at the door, he felt that he looked familiar, but he couldn't remember who he was. He bowed and said, "Sir, I wonder what business you have come to our Guzhuang Village for. We have paid our taxes this year, and it's not the next year yet. The New Year is coming soon, so we should celebrate the New Year."

He went to see the brocade robed man and said with a smile: "Uncle Tang, take a closer look at who I am."

Tang Wu was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then he looked closely at Old Zhu who was wearing a brocade robe.

Tang Yun, who was standing by, suddenly remembered that this was Chongba Ge. He asked in surprise, "But Chongba Ge?"

Tang Wu also quickly remembered that this was the old Zhu family's Chongba, "Chongba, it really is Chongba!"

Old Zhu grinned and laughed, "It's Uncle Tang, Ayun has grown so big now."

When the fellow sees the fellow, tears well up.

After exchanging pleasantries, Tang Wu said, "By the way, Chongba, aren't you a monk in Huangjue Temple? Why are you dressed like this? Have you become rich?"

Old Zhu laughed and said, "Uncle Tang, you are right. We have met a distinguished person. But let's not talk about it in a hurry. I have asked someone to bring back two pigs and also bought some wine, food and rice. Let's set up the pot and kill a pig first. You can call all of us to come and treat the villagers to a meal of meat."

Tang Wu followed Lao Zhu out and saw the wine and live pigs on the cart. His face was filled with joy.

"Okay, Tang Yun, you take the gong and call out to everyone in the city. I'll go find someone who can kill a pig."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yun, who was in his early twenties, quickly picked up the gong and went out to beat it.

When the villagers heard that the Zhu family had returned and were going to treat them to meat, men, women, and children all came out happily to watch the fun.

These days, it’s hard to have a few full meals throughout the year, let alone meat.

Even in the home of Mr. Liu, the richest man in the village, they only eat meat during the New Year holidays.

Tang Wu quickly found a few villagers who knew how to kill pigs, and started to cook this big fat pig weighing several hundred pounds. He set up a big pot and started a fire at the entrance of the village.

As night fell, the whole village ate meat that night.

Old Zhu went door to door, greeting everyone and enjoying the flattery of his family. Finally, he returned to the Tang family, where Tang Wu and a dozen men in their twenties were waiting for him to drink. "Zhou Laosan, Lu Xiaoliu, Hua Ping, Gu Heng, Wu Jin, Wu Yin, you are all here. Come on, let's have a drink first."

Everyone responded, picked up their wine bowls and drank a bowl of wine before following Lao Zhu and sitting down one after another.

Tang Yun said, "Brother Chongba, you have become rich, with thirty soldiers and your clothes, which look beautiful. If I could wear your clothes, I could propose marriage to anyone. By the way, Brother Chongba, what kind of official are you now?"

Everyone looked at Lao Zhu curiously.

Old Zhu took a bite of peanuts and became interested when he saw everyone's curious eyes.

"I am now the Sima of the other division of the General of Pingnan's Mansion, which is about the same rank as a school lieutenant."

"My God, the lieutenant is a high-ranking official, almost as important as the county magistrate, right? Brother Chongba, why did you stop being a monk and become such a high-ranking official?"

Old Zhu said, "If you want to hear it, then I will tell you in detail. At the beginning of the year, I followed a few brothers to Chang'an to protect the offerings to the saint. I met Li Silangjun of the Tang Guogong family. This Li Silangjun is the emperor's son-in-law, the emperor's son-in-law, and the general of Pingnan who is in charge of our Huainan County, Lujiang County and Guangling County. Not long ago, he was the governor of our Huainan County. You all know the news of King Murong's rebellion, right?"

Tang Wu said: "I know that. We even paid more than ten loads of grain for this matter. I heard that the ships carrying troops on the Huai River are connected for more than ten miles."

Old Zhu took a sip from the wine bowl. "At that time, the saint came in person with an army of 100,000. General Pingnan was still a general of the Tiger Guards at that time. He surrounded Shouchun with the saint's army. As you all know, General Li conquered Shouchun in one night. He was then named General Pingnan and was in charge of the military affairs of three counties. I was originally carrying water at Huangjue Temple. General Li came and asked me to follow him. In fact, this was the second time he invited me. At that time, he invited me to be an official in Chang'an. I was thinking that I had to come back and tell the master of Huangjue Temple. Who would have thought that before the year was over, General Li came directly to Huainan and invited me to serve again. I thought, Zhuge Liang only invited me three times, and General Li invited me twice. This is a great honor, and I must continue."

Zhou Twelve said: "General Li must have invited us twice because he saw how powerful we are. Let's have this bowl of wine to show our respect to the Eighth Brother."

Hua Ping and others also echoed: "Come on, come on, show respect to the starling."

After another bowl of wine, Old Zhu finally explained his purpose: "Actually, I came back to my hometown this time just to get you all to follow me to build meritorious careers. General Li has returned to Luoyang now and asked me to recruit 800 soldiers. I'll tell you the truth. During the days when I was in Jiangdu with General Li, I lived in the Wucheng Marquis Zhang family. The Wucheng Marquis Zhang family is the richest family in Jianghuai. The third son of the Zhang family met General Li and me in Chang'an. This time, like me, he was appointed as a Sima of another department by General Li. He said he wanted to help me recruit soldiers, but I thought, since we have the opportunity to be soldiers and eat food, why don't we recruit some people from the countryside?"

When these young men heard Zhu Yuanzhang's words, they immediately became interested.

"Brother Chongba, I'm done with you."

"We can't miss this opportunity."

"Count me in, count me in."

"I'll come too, Chongba Ge."

Old Zhu held out his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then said, "I have to say this in advance. We are all from the same village, so let's make some things clear. Being a soldier means fighting in wars, and we are all risking our lives for fame and fortune. You all have to think it through. If you follow me, it will be difficult to regret it. Once you enter the army, you all have to abide by the rules. If I say go forward, you can't go back. If I say retreat, you can't go forward. What I say is one, and what I say is two. You all have to think it through."

"Don't worry, Brother Chongba. We have been obeying you since we were young. We will fight you. Whatever you say is what we do."

"Yes, Chongba, I will obey you from now on."

Lao Zhu heard this and said, "Don't worry, we'll drink and eat meat tonight. If you want to follow me tomorrow morning, you can come to the military tent at the entrance of the village to find me. In short, if I have food, you will have food too."

"Come on, drink it up. It's all in the wine."

"Respect the starling, respect the starling"

Old Zhu felt a great sense of satisfaction when he saw the envious and admiring eyes of the crowd.

It is like walking in fine clothes at night when one is rich and powerful and does not return to his hometown.

(End of this chapter)