After bidding farewell to Zhang and Guo Tong, Guo Xin thought for a while and decided to go to Guo Shou's son Guo Pu to inquire about outside news.
Guo Pu is the stable boy of Guo Mansion, only two years younger than Guo Xin. Apart from following Guo Xin, he often hangs out in the village and listens to interesting things.
At this time, the sun was slowly rising. Guo Xin was walking on the verandah between the courtyards. The warm sun was shining on him, making him unconsciously slow down to feel the comfort of this moment.
Guo Xin arrived at the concierge, but could not find Guo Pu. After asking, he found out that Guo Pu had followed his father to the North Courtyard to help move the charcoal fire. Guo Xin had no choice but to turn back and go to the north courtyard. When he passed by the kitchen, he met Guo Shou and others who were busy there.
"Brother Yi is here!" Seeing Guo Xin, Guo Pu quickly greeted him, but there was still firewood on his shoulders. He could not take it or not, so he had to look at Guo Shou who was aside. Guo Shou looked up and saw Guo Xin coming, so he waved to Guo Pu, signaling him to put down what he was doing.
Guo Pu got the permission, dropped his things and ran towards Guo Xin.
"Brother Yi, what are you planning to do today? I've already inquired about it. The lights at the other end of the Qingshui River are the busiest tonight!"
"I just think about playing all day long, and I don't even notice how dirty I am." Guo Xin laughed and scolded, while helping Guo Pu dust off his shoulders.
Guo Pu scratched his head, with a bit of embarrassment on his face, and said with a smile: "We are born to have a hard life, and we cannot compare with Brother Yi."
Hearing this, Guo Xin shook his head: "No one's fate is determined at birth. No matter what happens at birth, you can never accept it first."
Guo Pu nodded as if he understood, and Guo Xin said no more after seeing this. Of his two brothers, Guo Wei's eldest brother Guo Rong, whom Guo Wei adopted from the Chai family in his early years, had long since moved away to live outside the house. He was on errands in the army and didn't even see each other for many days, and his biological brother Guo Tong was very fond of his younger brother. It was very unpleasant... but Guo Pu, who often fooled around with him, made him feel more like brothers.
The two of them had not walked a few steps when Guo Pu seemed to have thought of something and said hesitantly: "But my father said that his life was given by Guo Lang, and my future life is also determined by Brother Yi."
Guo Xin suddenly felt speechless: "What are these words? How can your life be counted on me?"
"My father said that Brother Yi will go to the army to serve His Highness in a while. Then I will be Brother Yi's personal soldier."
Guo Xin was stunned. He really hadn't thought about this. At this time, he couldn't help but look at Guo Pu from head to toe. Guo Pusheng is not a tall man, and is half a head shorter than himself, but at least he has enough food and clothing to maintain a good figure in the Guo family, and because he often works in the stables, he is also a good equestrian general... He can indeed be considered a good general. A good young man to be a martial artist.
So he nodded noncommittally. The world these days is for warriors to rule the country. Whether he wants to escape the fate of being exterminated by the Liu family in the future, or an ordinary young man like Guo Pu wants to gain fame, joining the army is undoubtedly the best option. s Choice.
Guo Xinxin pretended to be thinking and walked silently in front. Guo Pu also followed silently behind. After walking for a long time, Guo Pu finally couldn't help but asked: "Brother Yi, what did you want to see me for just now?"
Guo Xin paused, remembering the purpose of his visit, and asked Guo Pu, "I almost forgot about business. Let me ask you, did you hear any news of any major events outside the city this morning?"
Guo Pu has long been used to Guo Xin asking him for all kinds of strange news, so he naturally knows what big events he means, but he shakes his head: "I haven't heard anything new happening in the south recently."
After Guo Pu finished speaking, he saw Guo Xin starting to walk again, and hurriedly followed him and asked: "Where are you going, brother Yi?"
Guo Xintou responded in confusion: "Today the office is on holiday during the Lantern Festival, so I went to Zheng's house to find Zheng Chen."
As the capital of Hedong Province, Taiyuan is also the place where the Tang and Jin Dynasties prospered, and there has always been no shortage of dignitaries. And with a background like Guo Xin's, he naturally has his own circle. Although Guo Wei was afraid that his sons would be contaminated by dandy habits and did not want Guo Tong and Guo Xin to associate too much with those yamen children, Guo Xin still had several close friends of similar age, and Zheng Chen was one of them.
Unlike Guo Xin, Zheng Chen was not born as a general, but was the son of Zheng Renbao. Zheng Renbao served as an official in three dynasties before returning to Taiyuan in the Jin Dynasty. Although he is now idle at home, he is highly valued by his father Guo Wei and often visits his residence to ask for advice. The two families have close contacts, and as the younger generation, Guo Xin and Zheng Chen naturally have a close friendship.
However, compared to Guo Xin, who was still free, Zheng Chen had already found a job as secretary under Wang Zhang, Kong Muguan of Taiyuan Prefecture. Because of this, Zheng Chen's news must be much better informed than the outside world.
As the festival approaches, the city is obviously more noisy and lively than in the past. People are everywhere hanging lights and candles on street shops or gates. The streets are crowded with tourists, and faint sounds of singing can be heard in the distance.
Fortunately, the Zheng family was not too far away, right next to Huicheng Gate in the east. Guo Xin slowed down and looked leisurely at both sides of the road, feeling the rare smell of fireworks these days.
But approaching the east gate, the lively scene suddenly cooled down as if encountering ice. The people immersed in the festival disappeared and were replaced by another group of completely different people - staggering, half-clothed, or Squatting or lying on both sides of the road where the snow has not yet melted, the only sounds that occasionally come out are wailing and whimpering.
Seeing the scene in front of him, Guo Xin suddenly thought of the animals that died after being hunted by the brave soldiers when he and Guo Wei went hunting with the commander Liu Zhiyuan in early autumn.
Seeing Guo Xin frowning, Guo Pu said at the right time: "They are probably refugees from Xingzhou and Dingzhou."
Xing and Ding prefectures are in Hebei, and Guo Xin certainly knows what difficulties these refugees are fleeing from. It can be imagined that from Hebei to Hedong, one must pass through the steep Taihang. It has been snowing all over the sky in recent months... It is not difficult for Guo Xin to imagine what kind of hardships these refugees have gone through to come to this relatively peaceful place. Taiyuan Prefecture. He realized that in this day and age, the suffering of war is not far away from anyone.
Guo Xin slowly looked away from the refugees, retracted his hands into his cuffs and continued to move forward. He originally thought that this winter was not too cold, but now he felt a cold chill all over his body.
Just as he was thinking about what would happen to these refugees in the future, three armed knights came towards them from the front of the street. Guo Xin subconsciously took two steps to the side. Just as they were passing each other, the big man on the leading horse suddenly stopped his horse in a hurry, and then shouted in surprise: "Brother Yi!"
