The weather in the south is alternately sunny and cloudy. Just a moment ago, there was a gentle breeze and a clear sky. Then, there was a dark wind and dark clouds. Not long after, it started pouring rain. Three carriages were driving along the muddy country road in the fields. In the first carriage were Cai Jing, his wife Xu, and his concubine Wang, as well as two good-looking women who were also Cai Jing's concubines. In the second carriage were Cai Jing's son Cai Xiu and Cai Jing's housekeeper Liu Ning. The third carriage pulled the gold and silver treasures Cai Jing had collected and some calligraphy and paintings he had saved.
Cai Jing knew that this time he was demoted from Bianjing by Emperor Qinzong to serve in Nanjing, and it was impossible for him to return to Bianjing. You still had capital when you were young, but now you are eighty-three, how can you be favored by Qin Zong again? ! Fortunately, there is still the Emperor. After arriving in Nanjing, he will go to see the Emperor, and the Emperor will make the decision for him.
I left in a hurry at that time, so I only took some of my family members and some Jinying jewelry, calligraphy and paintings with me. Cai Jing wanted to take some time to pick up and transport some other people and property in the house. What Cai Jing didn't expect was that some of his family members who stayed in the house were repatriated by Qin Zong, and his remaining property was confiscated by Qin Zong. Several of his sons, except Cai Xiu who was brought out, were given to the Supreme Emperor Zhao Ji as their consorts. Except for Cai Chi, they were all sentenced to death by Emperor Qinzong.
What Cai Jing didn't expect was that he had gone through so much hardship and finally arrived in Nanjing. When he was about to meet the Supreme Emperor, Qin Zong sent an order from thousands of miles away, ordering him to be appointed deputy envoy of the Qingyuan Army. He should proceed immediately after receiving the order without delay. . This is clearly Cai Jing's way out. Cai Jing had no choice but to take his wife, concubine, and young son from Nanjing to Hengyang, Hunan.
Next to the three carriages were seven or eight followers. Before setting off from Cai Jing to Bianjing, considering the long distance and high mountains and low waters, Cai Jing took dozens of people with him to protect the safety of him and his family. In order to make his entourage serve him wholeheartedly, Cai Jing promised that after arriving in Nanjing, each person would be given a hundred taels of gold and silver. Those who did not have a family would be given a family, and those who wanted to be officials would be given an official position. The entourage was greatly encouraged and jumped for joy. If they wanted to serve the Prime Minister and his family well, they paid Cai Jing for the gold, silver, women and official positions promised by Cai Jing.
At the beginning, the companions did their duty wholeheartedly. However, along the way, they had to sleep in the open air and face all kinds of hardships. Not to mention all the hardships, the companions were discouraged by the blank looks, neglect, scolding and sneak attacks from the people along the way. On weekdays, the companions live in the Prime Minister's Mansion and act arrogantly. Cai Jinggui was the prime minister and grand master, and he was highly praised by officials. In the eyes of his followers, Cai Jing and others are prime ministers, grand masters, and court officials! Where can I go without infinite scenery? Unexpectedly, the people along the way regarded Cai Jing as a plague and tried to avoid him. Seeing this situation, he became more thoughtful and ran away with Sayazi. Fucking glory and wealth! You have to live to enjoy it.
When we arrived in Nanjing, only seven or eight of the dozens of followers were left. The seven or eight accompanying people went through all kinds of hardships and came to Nanjing. I thought it would be better now. When they arrived in Nanjing, they got one hundred taels of gold and silver. They should also have a wife. Grand Master Cai also wanted to get me an official position! As a result, I didn't even enter the gate of Nanjing City, but I heard Cai Jing say that he would transfer to Hunan.
Cai Jing said: "Thank you for your hard work. Originally, after arriving in Nanjing, I wanted to reward you heavily. Who knows that the Holy Emperor was concerned about me and granted me the position of envoy of the Qingyuan Army, and ordered me to go to Hunan to manage the Qingyuan Army. I still have to work hard. Everyone, when you arrive in Hengyang, Hunan, each of you will be given two hundred taels of gold and silver and will serve as an official under me."
Several of the attendants said that the relationship was good, so we went with the prime minister, but in our hearts we thought, you have fallen out of favor, like a lost dog, and we are going to kill you, so we will not follow you to your misfortune.
Cai Jing was overjoyed when he saw that the remaining seven or eight companions were willing to accompany him to Hunan. He hurriedly took out a tael of silver and ordered his companions to buy food. The entourage went to buy rice with a tael of gold, while Cai Jing and his entourage sat on the edge of the carriage waiting for food. After staring for more than half an hour, the person who bought the food never came back.
Cai Jing was anxious and couldn't help but curse: "This slave! It's so fun!"
It was no fun for him. He took the one tael of gold given by Cai Jing and ran away. Then I thought to myself, considering the attitude of the people along the way towards you, how could they possibly sell you food? You will starve to death before you reach Hunan, and I won’t be buried with you! He then weighed the one tael of gold in his hand and thought to himself, it is better than nothing. A little less is better than nothing! Run away, if you don’t run away now, when will you wait? So, the attendant took the one tael of gold given by Cai Jing to buy food and ran away.
Cai Jing waited and waited, but the escort never came, and he felt even more anxious and uncomfortable.
For Cai Jing, the mood at this time was like gloomy weather.
The light rain started to fall again, and the raindrops made the hood of the car rustle. Cai Jing got on the carriage again. The rain showed no sign of stopping. Cai Jing stuck his head out of the car window, looked at the pattering rain, and shook his head helplessly.
Mrs. Xu looked at the drizzle outside the car, feeling anxious and even hungrier. Mrs. Xu said to Cai Jing: Master, I am hungry in this precarious situation. I wonder if my servants can buy food to satisfy their hunger?
Cai Jing knew in his heart that it was impossible for the attendant to come back. Cai Jing looked at the pattering rain outside the carport, shook his head helplessly and said: Madam, it's raining again now, where can people buy food? Madam will be patient for now and let her servants buy it after the rain stops.
Xu was helpless and had to endure hunger.
The rain was pouring down, endlessly.
Surrounded by mountains and rivers, the air is moist and fresh. Cai Jing was not in a good mood anymore. He remembered that when he was serving as prime minister for the second time, he had met a fortune teller while inspecting Qingtian around Bianjing. The fortune teller bluntly told him that he would starve to death on the way. He was very unhappy at the time and asked the fortune teller. How did your husband die? The fortune teller said: The way of death is better than that of adults. He died of choking on eating meat.
At that time, Cai Jing was very unhappy and thought to himself, when I was the prime minister, I starved to death on the road, but you, a poor fortune teller, choked to death after eating meat? ! If I prevent you from eating meat, how will you choke to death? ! Cai Jing then assigned his men to kill the fortune teller so that his predictions would fail and he would not die of choking on eating meat, but would die violently with a knife. However, when his men were preparing to kill the fortune teller, a strong wind blew up and the sky was dark. When the storm passed, the fortune teller had disappeared. At this moment, Cai Jing thought to himself, I wonder if the poor fortune teller choked to death on his meat, but he was in a bit of trouble.
Thinking about this past event, Cai Jing asked Cai Xiudao: Son, the journey is still long, and we men may have to endure hardships along the way. Cai Xiudao: No problem! Dad, we have plenty of money and the carriage is pulling us! Youdao is that if you have money, you can let the ghosts grind the mill, so there is nothing to suffer.
When Cai Jing heard this, he thought to himself, "We have plenty of money, but your father has also done a lot of evil. It's not less than this money at all. I'm afraid that if the people, soldiers and civilians along the way don't buy us food, then we will really be fooled by the poor fortune teller." If I tell you the truth, I will really starve to death on the way.
Cai Jingzhuan thought again, Cai Xiu was right, no matter what time comes, there will always be people who love money. If I pay double the money, I don’t believe I can’t buy food! So Cai Jing nodded and said: OK! good! That's good!
Cai Jing began to despise the fortune teller in his heart. I have been an official for decades, served four times as prime minister, and have plenty of money. How can I starve this old man to death on the road? Isn’t this just nonsense! Cai Jing laughed secretly in his heart. Cai Jing also thought, even if I have no money, just my calligraphy and painting, as long as I put my hands on it, which one is not worth thousands of gold? Local officials and people are flocking to me for my calligraphy and paintings!
The rain gradually became lighter and the weather became foggy. Cai Jing saw that there were few people in the wilderness, so he ordered to set off. The coachman slapped the horse's butt and shouted "Drive!".
The horse driving the shaft was whipped on the buttocks, started suddenly, and started walking on the country road.
The ones following behind looked at the sky and muttered: Bad luck! When can I get there?
Cai Jing, the Xu family, Wang family, and the concubines were riding in the carriage in front, followed by Cai Ji's carriage and the gold and silver carriage.
Several companions lazily followed the carriage, looking all the way to Hunan.
In Bianjing City, Wanyan Zongwang ordered the Jin army to prepare to withdraw their troops and return home with the money looted from the Song Dynasty.
Zhongshi Dao hurriedly discussed with Li Gang and decided to send 50,000 soldiers and horses to ambush on the bank of the Yellow River in advance. When the Jin army crossed the river, they suddenly attacked, making the Jin army head and tail unable to see each other, and annihilated the invading Jin army in one fell swoop, making the Jin Kingdom forever Dare to peek at the Song Dynasty again.
News of the advance and withdrawal was notified to Emperor Qinzong in advance. The Jin army asked the Song army not to hinder the Jin army's retreat. If they attacked halfway, the advancing army would march south and attack Bianjing in one fell swoop. Qinzong was timid, and prime ministers Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan were even more timid. Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan ordered their cronies to issue urgent orders that the Song army and horses were not allowed to attack the Jin army. No matter who it was, once they attacked the Jin army and caused the Jin army to attack Bianjing again, they would be killed without mercy.
The orders of Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan were also transmitted to Zhong Shidao and Li Gang. When Zhongshi Daowen heard this order from Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan, he was anxious and angry. He suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood and slumped down on the Taishi chair. Li Gang was shocked and hurriedly supported the master and said: "Old Zhong, are you okay?" After asking, Li Gang hurriedly called: "Send the doctor quickly." Li Gang comforted the master and said: "Old Zhong, don't be anxious, things will get better. of."
Master Zhong looked at Li Gang with tears streaming down his face.
Li Gang felt extremely uncomfortable.
Master Zhong said: "Li Liushou, hurry up and enter the palace with me to see the Holy One. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, otherwise the Song Dynasty will be destroyed! We will all die without a burial place."
Master Zhong Daoqiang struggled to stand up.
