son-in-law

Chapter 777 Flowers blooming on the other side of the old Cang River ([-])
The autumn wind has risen.

Central Plains, Wasion.

In the other garden of the Tiger King, a grand banquet is in full swing.The lights were bright, and the chariots were intertwined. A group of ministers and generals began to flaunt their bodies in front of the tiger king. When they hugged the ladies and began to molest, Yu Yulin walked out of the hall with a small bottle of wine.

Outside the hall are beautiful pavilions and waterside pavilions, lanterns one by one, illuminating the promenade built on the water, he walked along the corridor to the front, and after the lake was over, there were rockeries and curved roads. Most of the yards, surrounded by the lake shore, are beautiful.The guards nearby stood at three steps, one post, five steps, and some were lazy. Seeing Yulin approaching, they all cheered up.

In a quiet place not far away, there is a pavilion by the water.As I got closer, I could vaguely hear a lazy tune humming, the tune of Jiangnan, and Wu Nong Ruanyu didn't know what it meant. Yu Yulin walked around the rocks outside, and the pavilion was on the bench by the water. , I saw a woman in a gray robe sitting leaning against a pillar, with a jade pot with wine hooked in her hand, humming a song and shaking gently on the water, as if she was a little drunk.

In the past few years, there has only been one woman who can walk around in a man's robe in the Tiger King's mansion.The sound of Yu Yulin's footsteps sounded, Lou Shuwan turned around, saw it was him, and turned back again, the tune in her mouth did not stop.

"Miss Lou is very interested." Yu Yulin said.

"...General Yu is very interested." After humming a few times, Lou Shuwan stopped and replied, "General Yu is not interested in the delicious food and beauties set up by the Tiger King."

"Although the outside world is bitter, delicious food and beauties are waiting for me. It's not like you will come. It's Miss Lou, Ning Motou is dead, but I didn't expect you to be so happy."

"Hmph." Lou Shuwan lowered her head and smiled.

"Or is it that Miss Lou knows that he is not dead, so she is so indifferent?"

"Humph." She smiled again and raised her head, "General Yu, are you all boring? Are you still a child?"

Yu Yulin looked at her and smiled, then the smile faded, and he opened his mouth, but at first he couldn't make a sound: "...It's also been the past few years, I've been too tired from playing, and suddenly this kind of thing happened, but I was in my heart. It's hard to believe. Miss Lou, you are very clever, and you are also most concerned about the matter of Demon Ning. I think he may not be dead, and I want to discuss it with you. "

Lou Shuwan looked at the lake: "I am concerned about whether he will die or not, but I am not an immortal. The battlefield has not yet gone, and the heads have not been seen, so how can I assert. You also said that the battlefield is changing rapidly, General Yu, you suddenly died one day. , I'm not surprised. If he really died, what would be surprising. For a person like him, death is a blessing in the world. Over the past few years, the people have been struggling to live... Not for him, but for whom... However …”

Lou Shuwan said later, her voice gradually lowered, and then she stopped, Yu Yulin also sighed slightly, and when the night wind blew, the pavilion was enveloped in silence.

Yes, in the past few years, the people have been struggling with their lives - these four words are the general situation of the entire Central Plains.The battle with Xiao Canghe and the Northwest would last for such a long time, and the intensity of the war would be so great, which was something no one would have imagined three years ago.In three years, in order to cooperate with this "Western Expedition", the manpower and material resources of the entire Daqi territory were mobilized.

Under the coercion of the Jurchens, Emperor Liu Yu was the most aggressive. The unreasonable large-scale conscription and the oppression of the lower classes made it almost impossible for most of the people in the entire Central Plains to survive within three years.In these places, after the three southern expeditions of the Jurchens, the survival resources had already bottomed out. After the oppression of Liu Yu’s regime, there were large famines every year, and most of the food was recovered. For military rations, only those who joined the army and the cruel officials who helped to rule can get some food in such a harsh environment.

Some places that are not directly managed by Liu Yu are slightly better. Tiger King's land plan is one of the best. On the one hand, it is because the role of business is first emphasized. After returning to the Jurchen, Tian Hu's forces have been maintaining the relationship with the Jurchen. On the other hand, the alliance formed by Lou Shuwan, Yu Yulin, Tian Shi and others first encircled a large number of farms in the form of military control, and even encircled the entire county. The place is a restricted area, and the movement of the population is strictly prohibited.Therefore, although many refugees were rejected and starved to death or were killed outside Tian Hu's sphere of influence, this approach first maintained a certain order of production, and secondly, it also ensured a certain combat effectiveness of the soldiers under Tian Hu. The forces used such advantages to attract talents and became a place with a sense of superiority in this troubled world.

Rao is so, compared to the peaceful years, life is still very difficult.

What I have to admit is that Lou Shuwan was the main contributor to the emergence and implementation of this series of measures. After referring to Ning Yi's many actions, she cooperated with women's acumen to help Yu Yulin, Tian Hu's nephew Tian Shi, etc. People are admonishing allies.

Under the pressure of Jurchen being strong and Liu Yu leading Daqi, Tian Hu became more and more aware of the benefits of having such a "housekeeper".Therefore, although it is still difficult to live in places where the Tian family is not motivated by relatives, the government still corrupts the people, but he still gives a lot of power and protection to Yu Yulin, Lou Shuwan and others, leaving a few places with strict governance to increase production. out to support the operation of the entire site.Among Tian Hu's power, Lou Shuwan, after becoming more and more important, was given the post of imperial envoy, specializing in impeaching others, to check and balance her relationship with others.

In such a crack, Lou Shuwan often fired guns everywhere in the court. Today, this person is corrupt and dereliction of duty. Tomorrow, the person who participates in a party forms a party for selfishness - anyway, it must be one and the same - after the relationship becomes more and more stinky, until Now, Dian has indeed become one of the "powerful ministers" who sit down and play a pivotal role in the Tiger King.

After three years of war, Yu Yulin, relying on his ally with Lou Shuwan, finally escaped the bad luck of rushing to the forefront.However, even in the rear, the hard days are hard and they are well aware of the tragic battle ahead.In the past three years, millions of troops have filled the bottomless pit one after another. Although there are no detailed statistics, there are more than one million troops who can no longer return.

The generals and soldiers who were sent to that place of death—not only under Tian Hu—even under Liu Yu, few really wanted to go, and they all wanted to escape when they entered the battlefield.However, he could not escape the supervision of the Jurchen, nor could he escape the raid of the Black Flag Army.Over the years, the most important people who have died in the hands of the Black Flag Army are more than Ji Wenkang, who was under Liu Yu's command.

In the dispatch of troops under Tian Hu, Wang Yuan and Sun An led the army into the mountain. At the beginning, they still had the idea of ​​retreating when they saw the enemy. In the mountain, they were shot by the Black Banner Army across the mountain stream, and nearly a thousand people were buried alive in the collapsed mountain wall. In the valley, Wang Yuan and Sun An never came out.General Wu Neng was dying when he came back, and he couldn't even say a word when he saw his family for the last time. Ling Guang, Fan Yuming and others were washed away after being attacked, and the bones who died in the mountains could not be retrieved...

When I first met Ning Yi in Luliangshan, I just thought that he was indeed a powerful person. It was amazing that a businessman could reach this level.After the three-year war, Yu Yulin really understood what kind of person the other party was. Not to mention killing the emperor and the Lou family, Wang Yuan, Sun An and even Ji Wenkang, Liu Yi and others are not worth mentioning. , the other party dragged millions of people on a rampage, and chased them so hard that such a famous general fled for his life. He directly killed the captured general at the head of Yanzhou City without losing his resignation, and he would never negotiate with the Jurchen.That is no longer a great person to sum up.

In the entire Central Plains, all those who fought against him were dragged down into the swamp by him.No one was spared.

Yu Yulin even felt that the whole world would be dragged to death by him.

However, one day, when he said that he was dead, although he didn't think it was impossible, he couldn't let go of certain thoughts after all.

"I...after all, I don't believe that he has no backing, and suddenly died, after all..."

After a moment of silence, Yu Yulin spoke again.The opposite Lou Shuwan was always looking at the lake, and suddenly moved the jug, her eyes raised slightly: "I don't believe it either."

Her tone was not high, and after a pause, she spoke softly again: "The backhand... dragging down millions of people, fighting a big battle for three years, not taking a step back, for what? Is it that breath? I can't figure it out... Ning Liheng counted ten steps. He said that after all, it was difficult to calm down. If he killed the emperor, there was still a way to go. This time, it was to make the Jurchen unhappy? It was hard to reverse. He used the name of Huaxia, saying that the bottom line for Chinese people not to vote for foreign countries is the bottom line. This is of course the bottom line. What others can do, he has long been unable to do it. If there is a little compromise with Jurchen, his status will be instantly Then he collapsed. However, after fighting head-on for three years, someone will eventually be willing to follow him, and he fought his way head-on..."

"For the sake of fame, it would be too difficult to risk all of my belongings here..."

Lou Shuwan was silent for a long time: "The three-year battle, after entering the mountain, was a mess, the Jurchen only let people rush forward, regardless of life or death, those generals fled for their lives, and they bombed the camp ten times and eight times. How many people died, General Yu, do you know?"

Yu Yulin frowned: "You mean..."

Lou Shuwan's eyes were blurred: "In April last year, Shan Shiqi came back from a defeat and was questioned. I went to interrogate him, seized the gold and silver in his home, and asked about the battle in the mountains. Shan Shiqi accidentally mentioned one thing, I've been thinking about it all the time. However, I'm not familiar with the battlefield, so it's hard to get to the bottom of it. It's just buried in my heart..."

"..."

At this time, the night wind was soft and the lake was sparkling. In the distance to the side, the lights in the hall were still faintly coming. Lou Shuwan talked about her guess, carefully choosing every word, and slowly opened her mouth.

"After Shan Shiqi was defeated, he fled with a group of his own soldiers, and then took refuge in Liu Yu's general Su Gai. A few days later, Su Gai's army was suddenly attacked. 2 people bombed the camp and fled without thinking. It was only after the Jurchens arrived that they stabilized their position, Shan Shiqi said that that night, he vaguely saw a general charging towards Su Gai's army, who was his original lieutenant general."

Yu Yulin opened his mouth slightly: "In these three years of war, there are indeed people who surrendered to the Black Flag Army. However, you want to say..."

"In the past few years, in order to trap the Black Banner Army in the mountains, the Jurchens have indeed put a lot of weight on the grain and the troop. However, no one can tell how much the Black Banner Army has stored in the mountains, and how much they robbed. I just feel that life is so difficult outside. During the war, the Black Flag Army must not be able to take too many prisoners, and they can't support them at all. But...if it is possible?"

Lou Shuwan said gently: "Millions of people were thrown into the mountains, and they said they would fight with tens of thousands of black flag troops. How many tens of thousands? Who knows? In these three years of battle, the army in the first year still has some fighting spirit. In the second year, they were all strong men who were arrested. They handed out a knife and a fork to go up and put them in the mountain to be twisted... General Yu, not many people were willing to join the Black Flag Army. The reputation is not good, but the Jurchen forced them to go up and test the gun. If there is a chance to choose again, General Yu, do you think they are willing to follow the Jurchen, or are they willing to follow the Han army... General Yu, Ning Liheng's You also know how to train troops."

Yu Yulin frowned, as quiet as death.

"Three years of war, standing up to the front without taking a step back, putting millions of people on the battlefield of life and death, and when the knife came down, ask them which side to join. If... I just said if, he caught This opportunity... in that mountain, will it also be a recruiting field for them to choose? Haha, millions of people, after we have chosen, let them choose..."

Lou Shuwan's laughter sounded in the pavilion and stopped. The joke was too cold, Yu Yulin didn't dare to continue for a while, and after a while, he said, "After all...it's not easy to keep secret..."

"...Yeah, I also thought later, if that's the case, why didn't many people talk about it? Maybe I'm thinking wrong after all..." She paused, raised the jug and took a sip of wine, her eyes blurred. , "The matter of the battlefield, who can say for sure, the Central Plains has been beaten like this in three years, whether he really died or faked, everyone has a step down, General Yu, why bother, maybe Next time you go forward, it will be you..."

Yu Yulin took a sip of wine and nodded. After a while, he left quietly without saying hello.

Lou Shuwan was leaning against the side of the pavilion, her head still lowered, the flagon in her hand was shaking gently, she hummed a song, and after hearing it for a while, the song was vaguely: "...the bridge drawn by smoked willows, the curtain of wind and emerald green, There are 10 households. Clouds and trees surround the embankment and sand... Raging waves roll in frost and snow, and the sky has no boundaries... Heavy lakes are piled up with Qingjia. There are three autumn osmanthus, ten miles of lotus...Qiang pipes make the sky clear, water chestnuts sing in the night, play and fish for old people Lianwa... Qian Qi has Gao Ya..."

This is what Ning Yi wrote in Hangzhou many years ago. At that time, the two sides just met. Her father and brother are still there. Hangzhou is a water town, rich and prosperous. No one ever thought that it would lose the beauty one day.How bright and happy is that... Everything has been so far, and it can't go back after all...

Thinking of the past relatives in her mind, now there is only the only brother who lives by the day, who is not like a human being, and then thinks of that name again, Yu Yulin is right, he died suddenly, she will not be happy, because she always Thinking of killing him with his own hands.However, Ning Yi...

"Ning Liheng..."

The name flashed across her mind, and a complex and painful look flashed across her eyes, so she raised the jug and took a sip, suppressing all those emotions.

"Ning Liheng, if you die like this... that's fine..."

She murmured like this, and looked forward to it.

On this tormented land, the night was shrouded in darkness for a long time. To the west, the boiling mountain that had not stopped for three years finally stopped gradually.On the once prosperous Qingmu Village, now the moon is like water, and in the scorched valley, the old wooden buildings have been turned into fertile new mud, new tree branches have grown out of them, and birds have come flying. Still showing a pause on the black ground, flying into the distance.

Xiaocang River, the old buildings have been completely destroyed, the houses, streets, squares, farmland, waterwheels are no longer the traces of the past, the traces of the collapsed buildings are all over the place, and after the crowds go, they are like ghosts. The place has also experienced extremely tragic killings, and almost every inch of the place has been stained with blood.The once huge reservoir has long since collapsed, and the river has rushed into the valley as before. In the valley that has experienced flooding and decayed corpses, the vegetation has become more and more lush, and beneath the vegetation are the bones.

It has been more than a year since the Xiaocanghe offensive and defensive battle. At this time, even the very few Jurchen and Daqi troops who stayed here have not dared to come here. Appeared on the hill, it was just a few people who walked through the outer valley while sneaking, and walked into the valley from the mouth of the collapsed dam.

They carefully guarded the surroundings as much as they could, and silently walked through places they were once familiar with. Some people brushed their fingers across the broken walls. They also came to the mountainside and saw that the small courtyard had already been burned down, only the foundation It looks like, now, weeds are growing in the foundation.

"Let's go." Someone whispered, they may still be here, the last black flag team.

Taniguchi, the stone tablet with the words "Xiao Canghe" in the original book has long been smashed to pieces, and now only the traces of the destruction remain. They stroked the place and looked back at the valley under the moonlight. : "One day we will be back."

"It won't take too long..." someone said.

These figures crossed the valleys and crossed the mountains.Under the moonlight, the Xiaocang River flows like before, winding through this land where millions of people are buried, and the people who leave here will come back here someday in the future, and some will never. Come back, they may be, somewhere in happiness.

And war.

The war is temporarily subsided, however, with weakness and hiding as nutrients, sooner or later, it will also come with a transformed and more violent attitude.

In the sixth year of the Wu Dynasty's construction of Shuo, it was late summer and early autumn.The history of Xiaocanghe has turned another page.

(End of this chapter)