Cai Yong, dressed in ragged clothes in the dark cell, resolutely maintained a dignified character that was neither humble nor arrogant. He indeed had the demeanor of a great scholar of the generation, no worse than Zheng Xuan.
Cai Yong cupped his hands and said to Qin Yi who came to visit the prison: "Although I am in such a disloyal position, I have always heard about the righteousness of monarchs and ministers in ancient and modern times. How could I betray the country and protect Dong Zhuo! I would rather be here I’ll tattoo my face and chop off my feet. Please go tell Wang Situ and ask him to allow me to continue writing the History of the Han Dynasty.”
Qin Yi shook his head and sighed, "Master Cai, don't you understand yet? Wang Situ will not allow your request."
After that, he asked his entourage to bring out several dishes and a small jar of wine from the food basket.
"Wang Situ asked me to give Mr. Cai a ride." Qin Yi sighed. He couldn't bear the death of a great scholar like Cai Yong.
Cai Yong said with some regret: "That's all, my life is insignificant but I don't want to fail to fulfill my long-cherished wish."
"Master Cai, do you have anything else you want me to tell my family?" Qin Yi asked guiltily.
"Please tell my little daughter to let her inherit my ambition, and...as a father, I can't help her." After saying this, Cai Yong picked up the clay pot containing wine.
When they arrived at the prison, Yuan Xi and others finally alerted the government officials, but the government officials were no match for Xu Chu and others, and they rushed to the prison where Cai Yong was imprisoned in a short time.
Qin Yi pointed at Yuan Xi and others in surprise and asked: "Which of you dare to rob the prison!"
Xu Chuna argued with him and chopped him down with a knife.
Looking at Yuan Xi and others, Cai Yong smiled bitterly and said, "Xianyi, you shouldn't take risks for me."
"As for the teacher, there are still many things waiting for the teacher to do."
"It's too late, you're one step too late." Cai Yong said, shaking the clay pot in his hand. There is endless desolation in the words.
In a remote residential courtyard in the west of Chang'an City.
Diao Chan looked at Cai Yan with a worried face. While complaining that she put Yuan Xi in danger, she couldn't help but sympathize with her plight.
"Sister, please go back to the house. Xianyi and the others will definitely rescue Mr. Cai." Diao Chan said to Cai Yan kindly.
Cai Yan looked back and glanced at Diao Chan, then just shook his head, "My heart has always been in pain."
Diao Chan had also experienced that kind of deep sorrow, and knew that she could not be persuaded, so she stood silently in the courtyard with her.
Zhao Yun meticulously stood guard by the courtyard door with a gun, always paying attention to what was going on outside. Historically, Zhao Yun was also Liu Bei's most trusted guard general, and Yuan Xi also asked Zhao Yun to temporarily protect his family. Of course, Yuan Xi would not waste all his resources and only asked Zhao Yun to be a guard. .
My own Zhao Yun is an ordinary figure like Huo Qubing and Luo Cheng. He is a wolf and a surrogate. How can he be a guard and guard his family in a depressed way? He must be a cavalry general.
A burst of chaotic footsteps came outside the courtyard. Zhao Yun was as alert as a cheetah. When the signal sounded, he signaled Diao Chan and Cai Yan to retreat, then opened the door himself, and was always vigilant. If anything went wrong, he would Rush out.
When Yuan Xi and others carried Cai Yong into the courtyard, they saw his father who was unconscious and unwilling to wake up. Cai Yan immediately ran forward to investigate Cai Yong's situation with a sweet cry.
Yuan Xi quickly asked the tiger guard to carry Cai Yong to the back room.
Yuan Xica pulled away Cai Yan, who was a little distracted, and asked the military doctor from the Tiger Guard to diagnose and treat Cai Yong.
After a while, the Tiger Guard doctor shook his head and said: "Master Cai has been invaded by venom into his internal organs, and there is nothing the gods can do."
Yuan Xi and Cai Yan both felt as if they were in an ice cellar when they heard the news. Yuan Xi felt regretful and regretful that he could not prevent history from repeating itself after all, and felt deeply powerless, while Cai Yan felt as grief-stricken as a close relative.
Cai Yan cried sadly and pulled the sleeves of Cai Yong, whose face was blue and black and unconscious. "Father, didn't you say that you would fulfill your wish to compile history? How could you commit suicide like this? Father, you can't let Yan'er go. You want to What should Yan'er do alone?"
Yuan Xi looked at Cai Yan who was crying sadly, and couldn't help but sympathize with her misery of fate. Without him, she would probably experience an even more cruel and tragic fate in the near future.
Yuan Xi asked the Tiger Guard doctor again with his eyes.
The doctor sighed and said, "I can help Mr. Cai wake up for a while, but after that..."
Of course Yuan Xi understood what would happen next. At his signal, the military doctor took the gold needles and roasted them on the candlelight for a while. Then he took off Cai Yong's shirt and inserted the gold needles into several of his acupuncture points.
Then Huwei Lang took two small bamboo tubes, put some mugwort into the bamboo tubes, ignited it, and adsorbed it on the acupuncture points where the golden needles were pulled out. This is the ancient Chinese medicine method of "acupuncture and moxibustion" to refresh the mind, but it can only It works temporarily.
After a while, the military doctor pulled out the bamboo tube and sucked out two small tubes of blue-black poisonous blood.
Under everyone's eagerly anticipating eyes, Cai Yong opened his eyes faintly. After coughing a few times, he finally saw Yuan Xi, Cai Yan and others clearly.
Cai Yan held his hand with concern and choked with sobs: "Father, don't leave Yan'er. Yan'er will be obedient in the future."
Cai Yong stroked Cai Yan's silky hair lovingly, and said weakly: "Child, it's your father's fault, but it's your fault. I don't blame Wang Zishi, there is really no room for sloppiness in matters of right and wrong."
Cai Yan squeezed out a smile and said: "Father, it will be fine. With Xianyi here, we will definitely find the best doctor to treat my father. You still have many years of long-cherished wish to fulfill, right?"
Cai Yong looked at the beautiful Cai Yan, waved his hand and said, "I know that I am not going to die soon. The important task of compiling history and teaching poetry and calligraphy can only be left to you."
As he spoke, Cai Yong increased his tone and said to Cai Yan seriously: "Yan'er, promise me, promise father!"
Cai Yan nodded with red eyes, and then Cai Yong pointed at the serious Yuan Xi beside him.
The latter half-knelt in front of Cai Yong's bed knowingly, waiting for Cai Yong's instructions. After all, people who are about to die can speak kindly.
Cai Yong said with some relief and expectation: "You and I are called master and apprentice, but we are actually close friends for many years. You didn't learn anything from me. Instead, you gave me a lot of instruction and inspiration in poetry and calligraphy." , Teacher is ashamed of you."
"Cough...cough...cough"
After Cai Yong coughed for a while, he pointed at Yuan Xi and said: "Xianyi, promise the teacher, you will use your talents... to help the Han Dynasty and the country!
. . . promise. . . promise me! "
Yuan Xi would never be as loyal as Cai Yong hoped to protect the so-called Liu family, but he couldn't bear to lie to this dying old man against his will.
"Teacher, don't worry, Xianyi will definitely save the Han people from fire and water, and let the Han people regain the glory of Emperor Wu. For sure." Yuan Xi said vaguely.
Cai Yong was already in a trance, and he couldn't hear clearly what Yuan Xi said, but he still smiled and nodded.
In the end, Cai Yong used his last bit of strength to hold Cai Yan with one hand and Yuan Xi with the other. This was the rhythm of entrusting Cai Yan to Yuan Xi. In the Han Dynasty, this was a very important friendship and trust.
But what I didn't expect was that Yuan Xi took good care of Cai Yan and took care of him in his harem. When the old man found out, he didn't know what his expression would be.
Cai Yong stared at Yuan Xi and said: "Take good care of Yan'er for me. From now on, Yan'er will be left to you. You must help Yan'er fulfill the teacher's legacy."
After Yuan Xi looked at Cai Yan, he leaned into Cai Yong's ear and said solemnly: "Xianyi will definitely take good care of Zhaoji and help her fulfill her teacher's wish."
Cai Yong breathed out softly and looked at Cai Yan lovingly with relief. Gradually, his eyes lost their luster.
A great scholar, calligrapher and educator passed away suddenly.
Chang'an South Gate
Situ Mansion, meeting hall.
Although Wang Yun was exhausted from all the military and political affairs in the past few days, the excitement of having great power and displaying his ambitions made him appear to be in high spirits. It's just that the recent incident between Yuan Xi and Cai Yong made him faintly unhappy.
Lu Bu had a very bad temper recently. After Yuan Xi and others could not be found, he vented his anger on the old party of Dong Zhuo's family and killed many people with his own hands.
Another reason that made Lu Bu angry was that he found that Wang Yun had become strange after taking control of the power. He was no longer as friendly to him as before. Instead, he had regained his natural strength and arrogance, and he did not treat Lu Bu as before. .
Lu Bu couldn't help complaining at this time: "Why didn't Lord Situ allow me to kill Dong Zhuo's tribe? Isn't this letting the tiger return to the mountain?"
Wang Yun's expression suddenly returned to the arrogance of a scholar-official in the past. He did not think highly of Lu Bu now. As a warrior from a humble background, Lu Bu treated Lu Bu with the fighting etiquette of an ordinary swordsman.
Moreover, Wang Yun was also very angry about what Lu Bu had done with Dong Zhuo in the past, especially the excavation of the Han Dynasty's royal tombs, so he said lightly, "These people are not guilty and cannot be executed."
"Then why don't you reward the ministers and generals with the property collected by Dong Zhuo, so as to stabilize the morale of the army?" Lu Bu asked again eagerly. Indeed, killing without killing and without appeasing is not playing with fire.
Wang Yun frowned and said with some displeasure: "Dong Zhuo's belongings are all taken from the palace treasury and the tombs of past emperors. How can this thing that belongs to the Han royal family be easily distributed to others?"
Wang Yun's close acquaintance Song Yi asked: "What should we do with Dong Zhuo's Xiliang tribe now? When we were trying to appease them earlier, we said that His Majesty would issue an edict to pardon them. Do we really want to pardon them now?"
Wang Yun hesitated, thought for a while and said: "Bu Qu was just following his master's orders, and he was not guilty. Now if we want to pardon them as rebellious people, I'm afraid it will only arouse their suspicion, and it will not reassure them." method."
Another of his confidants, Wang Hong, said indifferently: "Lord Situ, why don't you disband all the Xiliang troops? After killing Dong Zhuo, there will be no need to fight against the powerful forces of Guandong. We can only leave our cronies in Chang'an. Otherwise, God knows when the Xiliang soldiers will rebel again."
Wang Yun thought for a long time and nodded heavily.
At this time, his subordinates reported that Hu Wencai and Yang Zhengxiu from Liangzhou were seeking an audience.
Wang Yun, Lu Bu and others exchanged glances, and Lu Bu said solemnly: "These two people are quite prestigious among the people of Xiliang. They may be the lobbyists for the remnants of the Xiliang army, such as Li Jue and Fan Chou."
Wang Yun thought for a while and decided to meet them to see what they had to say.
Hu Wencai and Yang Zhengxiu carefully observed Wang Yun's expression, but Wang Yun sat motionless with an arrogant and contemptuous expression, as if he had not seen what the two said at all.
Hu Wencai and Yang Zhengxiu suppressed their anger, humbly saluted Wang Yun, Lu Bu and others, and expressed their intention to request surrender on behalf of the Xiliang army.
Hu Wencai said respectfully: "As long as Lord Situ issues an edict of amnesty, the Xiliang army stationed in the Guanxi area will immediately surrender to Lord Situ, and you will obey him."
Wang Yun snorted coldly. He was angry that the small warlords of the Xiliang Army, who were already bereaved dogs, were bargaining with him even though the situation was over.
So Wang Yun said coldly: "You cannot issue a pardon twice within a year. What do these rats east of Tongguan want to do? Go and call them and talk to me personally."
Hu Wencai and Yang Zhengxiu held back their anger and argued with Wang Yun, but in their hearts they resented Wang Yun's arrogance.
Putting aside whether Wang Yun was right or wrong, even if Li Que and Guo Si surrendered, would they really surrender? Not necessarily, but after the An-Shi Rebellion, Shi Siming and others temporarily surrendered and then rebelled again. Until the fall of the Tang Dynasty, the rebellion in the feudal towns was not resolved.
Accepting surrender is like being attacked by an enemy. When Guangwu Emperor Liu Xiu accepts the surrender of others, he must conquer him first. If he does not surrender, he will not surrender. Wang Yun cannot be completely wrong about what he did, but he does not have the scheming means, courage, and military capabilities of Emperor Guangwu, and he cannot suppress him either. Li Que, Guo Si and others lived there, so rebellion was only a matter of time.
Shaanxian County, Xiliang Army Niufu Camp.
At this time, the Chinese military camp was filled with a thick smell of blood. There were more than ten corpses lying on the ground, and there were several people standing beside the corpses.
The tall Guo Bang kicked away a headless corpse and said angrily: "What's going on with Wang Yun and Lu Bu? Didn't we already ask for pardon and surrender? What's good now? This Niu Fu died inexplicably." , what should we do.”
Li Que, with a grim look on his face, snorted and said, "Cai Yong was implicated and executed just because he received Dong Zhuo's trust and favor. Now he neither pardons us nor wants to disband our soldiers. What is the purpose of this?"
"Then what can we do, fight Lu Bu desperately? Are we the only ones who can beat him? Moreover, the morale of the army is now unstable, and the soldiers have no intention to fight at all." Guo Bang said a little discouraged.
Thinking of Lu Bu, who was as violent and wild as a wild beast, Li Jue couldn't help but feel frightened. He asked tentatively: "How about we send off the soldiers and take their valuables and flee back to Liangzhou to enjoy our happiness?"
Guo Bang was also a little moved and said: "I think it's feasible. I don't want to live the life of licking blood with the tip of a knife anymore. It's better for my wife and children to be warm on the kang."
A middle-aged scribe with a haggard look next to him quickly advised: "If we disband the army today, tomorrow we will become fish and meat for slaughter."
Guo Bang looked at the middle-aged scribe coldly, "Li Ru, I know you want to use our soldiers to avenge your family, but how can I be a knife at your disposal?"
It turned out that Li Ru had a lucky escape when Lu Bu was searching for Dong Zhuo's family members. After seeing the tragic death of Jia Xiao, he defected to Niu Fu, who was also Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, in the hope of persuading Niu Fu to raise an army to avenge Jia Xiao.
But God's calculations are not as good as those of man, and Niu Fu was also killed by his subordinates on this day. In fact, if Niu Fu had not died, he would have been the same as Er Zhu Zhao in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, and Li Ru would have been the same as Sima Ziru.
Destined to go to Luoyang, it doesn't matter whether he is pardoned or not, it is just a matter of time, because this is a collective interest appeal, and Li Que, Guo Si and the others are just representatives.
When Guo Si said this, Li Ru was so angry that he didn't know what to say when he remembered the tragic death of Jia Xiao.
At this time, a middle-aged scribe with a somewhat cold expression in the camp said coldly: "If you give up the army and run away alone, only a pavilion chief can catch you. By then, we will all be Wang Yun's prey. General Li just said Didn’t I also mention Cai Yong’s example?”
Guo Bang and Li Que trembled in their hearts. They knew that the middle-aged scribe in front of them was one of the few talented people in the Xiliang army. He had reminded them more than once.
Li Jue quickly raised his hands and said, "I still need to ask Mr. Wen He for advice on how to save his life. Where should I go?"
The middle-aged scribe with a cold expression returned the salute and said, "I just saved the lives of all the people from Xiliang. Now there are rumors in the army. We can tell the sergeant our interests and let everyone work together, and then join forces with Fan Chou, Xu Rong, and Yang." I am waiting for Grand Master Dong’s old troops to gather the remnants of the Xiliang Army along the way, and then attack Chang’an to avenge Grand Master Dong.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and said in a seductive tone: "If things succeed, you can support the emperor and command the world. If not, it's not too late to escape."
Guo Si and Li Que looked at each other and nodded, then summoned a group of subordinates to swear an alliance. So the last spark of the revival of the Han Dynasty was extinguished by Jia Xu, the poisonous person in the troubled times. God bless the Han Dynasty.
Zhuque Street, South Gate
Yuan Xi and his party were preparing to evacuate. When they passed the four red lacquer gates, someone suddenly blocked their way and said, "Young masters, where do you want to go?" This city guard was dressed in black and held a long sword. He was tall and short. , it was the Xiliang sergeant who changed defense.
Suddenly, another city gate guard also came out and blocked the way of Yuan Xi and others. "Bring out the documents for leaving the city. We want to confirm whether you and others are remnants of the Yuan family."
Yuan Xi immediately said coldly: "Are you blind? Our Cai family is going out of the city. Do we need to ask your Excellency for instructions?"
The city guard smiled and said, "That's not necessary, but the superiors have ordered that nobles not be allowed to leave Chang'an Gate." At the end of the Western Jin Dynasty, Sima Yue also prohibited nobles from leaving the city, but unfortunately he still ran away from Sima Rui, who later became the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The founding emperor, maybe it was God's will.
Yuan Xi was furious, but he couldn't care less. He immediately got angry and said, "What if I must go out?"
The guard's answer was simple; "If you must go, you must be accompanied by a subordinate. Please forgive me."
Yuan Xi smiled at the guard and said, "Then I'll reward you handsomely."
The guard smiled and cupped his hands and said, "Young master, you are too polite. This is my duty and my duty."
Yuan Xi didn't answer, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and he winked at Xu Chu beside him, and Xu Chu understood. Xu Chu held the handle of the knife and tried to pull it out.
At this moment, a young man came from behind Yuan Xi and others, holding a document in his hand and shouting loudly, "Situ has ordered, let it go. Situ has ordered, let it go."
Yuan Xi saw the person coming clearly and said in surprise, "Yang Xiu, Yang Dezu!?" Yang Xiu nodded slightly, and then said to the city gate guard, "I am sending the Yang family members to Hongnong for a marriage visit by order of Situ. Let them go quickly."
Although the city gate guard was confused, after checking and accepting the documents, he still got out of the way. After all, the status and reputation of the Yang family in Chang'an was not something that a small soldier could interfere with.
Outside Luoyang City, Yuan Xi cupped his hands to Yang Xiu and said, "Thank you so much, Brother Dezu, for your help. I will surely be rewarded with good rewards in the future."
Yang Xiu waved his hand, "Huh? Don't show up. Brother Xianyi, you assassinate Dong alone, which is the capital of the country. It's too late for me, Yang Dezu, to admire you. It's useless to say more. Let's go quickly. Brother Xianyi, if we have a chance, let's go to Zuixian again. Let’s reminisce about old times upstairs.” Then Yang Xiu rode back without looking back.
Yuan Xi shouted from behind, "Boss, I, Yuan Xi, Yuan Xianyi owe you a favor to the Yang family."
Yang Xiu waved his hand on the horse, raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and disappeared into the distance. The favor of the Yuan family is not ordinary. Later, after Yang Biao fell, Yuan Xi took care of the Yang family and Yang Xiuduo for this favor, saving the Yang family from destruction.
Yellow River, Huayin Ferry.
The Yellow River in the Han Dynasty did not become a dangerous river with serious flooding like it does in modern times. During the Han Dynasty, the river was an important inland river for water transportation. Most of the food and handicrafts from the Central Plains were transported to Luoyang and Chang'an through some sections of the Yellow River waterway.
The emperors of both Han Dynasties attached great importance to the management of the Yellow River. For example, during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Liu Che personally directed the management of the Yellow River, and even asked a group of ministers to carry stones on their backs to block the dams.
At the edge of a small ferry, Guo Jia looked at the few Tiger Guards following closely behind him and couldn't help but lamented to them: "Aren't you tired of following me every step of the way?"
Xu Jun, a young leader of the Xu clan soldiers, cupped his hands and said, "Sir, just treat me as if we don't exist. The young master specially ordered us to protect your safety. Xu Jun doesn't dare to be careless in the slightest."
Guo Jia said calmly: "Young Master asked you to personally protect me. I'm afraid that's not what he said."
Xu Jun said with some embarrassment: "Young Master ordered me not to leave you even ten steps away from him."
Guo Jia looked at these strong men and couldn't help but smile bitterly. Yuan Xi really looked up to him. He really didn't know whether he should be happy or angry.
After a while, a tiger guard reported that Yuan Xi and others had arrived at the river. After hearing the news, Guo Jia and Xu Jun also rushed to Yuan Xi's place to prepare for the rescue.
They had only been separated for a few days, but Yuan Xi's impression of Guo Jia had changed a lot. Guo Jia found that his temperament had become much calmer. Although he still had the same handsome and elegant appearance, he had the bearing of a superior person.
After meeting up with Guo Jia and others, Yuan Xi let the carriage carrying Diao Chan and Cai Yan park at a temporary hut by the river. Diao Chan helped the haggard Cai Yan in to rest.
Guo Jia looked at Cai Yan and Diao Chan curiously, and then glanced at Yuan Xi with some melancholy. His son was really a passionate person.
Yuan Xi asked Xu Chu, Xu Huang and others to prepare for crossing the river, and then led Guo Jia to the river. He told Guo Jia everything that happened after the separation.
Guo Jia pondered for a long time and then said worriedly: "I'm afraid the remnants of the Xiliang Army will not wait for Wang Yun to send them away and then clean them up one by one. In that case, as long as some prestigious generals in the Xiliang Army stand up and shout, The remnants of the Xiliang army will definitely rely on us, and Wang Situ's situation is worrying."
"It's not possible. The generals of the Xiliang Army will definitely reconvene the remaining troops to attack Chang'an in order to survive. This is why we are in a hurry to escape Chang'an." Yuan Xi said firmly.
Guo Jia sighed and said: "Wang Situ is very brave and talented, but unfortunately he is too upright and arrogant, so he will never achieve great things. Guanzhong will be burned to death by the war. Poor people in Guanzhong, they have just escaped Dong Zhuo's butcher knife and faced the iron hoof of Xiliang army. "
After a pause, he looked at Yuan Xi, whose expression remained unchanged, and said calmly: "Don't you want to do something, Master? This is a great opportunity."
"What can we do to help Wang Yun and Lu Bu?" Yuan Xi asked.
"In less than a month, I'm afraid the whole world will know about the glorious deeds of Young Master Yuan in assassinating Dong Zhuo, and the young master's great cause will also begin." Guo Jia said slowly.
Yuan Xi looked at Guo Jia and said sincerely: "I hope Fengxiao can sincerely assist me, work with me to quell the chaos, calm the people, and create a great cause together."
"Jia's assessment of the young master has passed. From now on, Jia's wealth and life will probably rest on the young master." Guo Jia bowed to Yuan Xi and then said.
After this incident, the previous grudges were put aside, and then the two of them looked at each other and smiled. Here, Emperor Taizong Xuanwu of the Jin Dynasty Yuan Xi, the team was formed, including Zhang Hong and Guo Jia in literature, Xu Chu, Zhao Yun, Xu Huang in military affairs, and Secret guard, tiger guard. Although still weak, the sparrow is small but has all the internal organs.
