After chasing him out of the village, the old farmer had a knowing smile on his face.
His son was walking forward with three steps and two turns, but at that speed, even a toddler could catch up with him.
After a few quick steps, the old farmer came to his son's side.
"Let's go."
The old farmer's voice was low, as if his former soul had returned to him.
"Grandpa."
The young man looked at the thing hanging on the old farmer's waist in shock, and was speechless for a moment.
"Hey, your grandpa and I used to be in the army, but after all these years, I don't know if I can still wield this sword. Let's take it one step at a time."
".Um."
The young man nodded seriously.
"Go wherever you want. An old man has lived long enough. It's enough that he can teach you something at the end."
The old farmer smiled and looked at his third child with much softer eyes, just like when the child just came out of the mother's womb.
"..Grandpa"
Being looked at by the old farmer like this, the young man's eyes felt wet and hot.
Seeing his gesture, the old farmer smiled even more happily.
It was like this in the past. If a child lost a fight outside, he would come back with red eyes and tell him, and then let me teach him a few moves.
But year after year, the burden of life became so heavy that the whole family could not breathe. I am afraid that the third child had long forgotten that his grandfather had taught him to beat all the urchins in the village with no match.
"Let's go."
"Have you thought of a place to go?"
After patting Sanwa on the shoulder, the old farmer pushed Sanwa, and the two started walking on the path outside the village.
"Yes, yes. The merchant who came to our village last year said that if you go northeast, you will always find a place to survive."
"I didn't know what the "Hongshang" meant before, but the Taiping Army, which has caused a lot of commotion recently, seems to be in Qingzhou. I thought, that's the place the "Hongshang" mentioned."
"Then this road is not close. Han troops, bandits, city guards, wild beasts, snakes and insects may all kill us. Have you really thought about it?"
The old farmer was also a soldier of the Han Dynasty. He had some experience in marching and knew the dangers along the way from here to Qingzhou. Although he was ready to teach his son the last lesson, he still reminded his son.
Sanwa lowered his head and did not answer for a long time. It could be seen from his slightly trembling body that he was also worried about something at this moment.
a long time.
Sanwa raised her head, her face full of determination.
"go!"
"No matter how bad it is, it's just death. Grandpa, how can we be better than death now!?"
"Well, as long as you are prepared, let's go. I will accompany you on this last journey."
The old farmer's face did not change at all because of Sanwa's answer. As he said before, he was already prepared.
The figures of an old man and a young man gradually disappeared outside the village.
As they both left.
Other residents in the village also gradually walked towards the outside of the village.
A village that was still inhabited yesterday has become empty at dusk today.
And those who stayed behind could not see any hope for life in their eyes.
——
"Brother Yuan Shao, slow down! We have already reached the Han army patrol area here!"
Outside the area controlled by the Taiping Army in Qingzhou.
Several young men in disguise were walking through the mountains and forests.
Peiyuan Shao turned back to look at the young man behind him who whispered to dissuade him, and slowed down his steps.
"Arrived at the patrol area?"
Peiyuan Shao looked surprised.
Are these leggings so effective? !
After walking so far, I still have energy left, unlike before.
The young man nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, with worry on his face: "It's here, it's here, I remember the map he gave me very clearly."
"Haha, Xiaohua's brain is easy to use, much better than us."
A middle-aged man with unshaven beard next to the young man named Xiaohua grabbed his shoulders and praised him.
"Hehe, it's actually not that powerful. Brother Guan Hai, Brother Yuan Shao, Brother Zou Cang, Brother He Man, and Brother Sun Guan, you are amazing."
"If it weren't for the awesomeness of some of our older brothers, our team wouldn't be named collectively by Qu Shuai, hehe."
Xiaohua, the youngest in this group, is only fifteen this year. He and the brothers in this group are all refugees who were rescued when his family Qu Shuai marched eastward. Don't look at how many of them are there now. Both of them looked like skin and bones at first.
That is to say, after joining the Taiping Army, life got better day by day.
Fortunately, no one in their group has fallen behind since they followed Qu Shuai, and after having enough food and strength, each of his brothers can be called a murderer, starting a fight and killing people. That's called a knife falling with one hand.
Logically speaking, all the brothers had enough military exploits to be promoted to the rank of camp commander, but I don't know what they discussed and finally decided to stay together.
Because they have always been unwilling to be promoted, they are the group of people who often see Qu Shuai. I don't know if Qu Shuai has a keen eye, but after Qu Shuai has been here a few times.
Commander Qu's personal guards often come here to compete, saying it's a martial arts competition, but Xiaohua knows that those personal guards should be ordered by Commander Qu to come here for guidance.
After having the guidance of the guards who could treat the Han soldiers who they considered tough soldiers as grandsons to fight, the brothers in their group really changed their appearance day by day, their martial arts became more and more sophisticated, and they could still have more achievements every day. The meat sent by Qu Shuai.
And he, Xiaohua, also lived a life like a paradise with these brothers.
But the damned powerful people just couldn't bear to see the poor living a good life, and it didn't take long for the army to besiege the area where they were stationed.
Fortunately, Qu Shuai had a rift in his heart, and several nights of night attacks were finally successful, and he was able to repel the Han army.
It was also after the night attack that his team made the first contribution. After Qu Shuai's inquiries, the brothers still refused to be promoted. This was the reason why Qu Shuai later named them and included them in the personal guard.
Having a name and a surname is something that only a wealthy family or even a noble family can have. Xiaohua and the others used to be at the bottom of the poor, and they never dared to dream of having their own name.
In this way, their commander Qu took out a thick book called paper, and then clicked the names one by one.
Finally, the six names were settled on: Liao Hua, Peiyuan Shao, Guan Hai, Zoucang, He Man, and Sun Guan.
Listen to what Qu Shuai said.
These six names were given by the great virtuous master who had been working behind the scenes to provide them with food, clothing and armament.
They are all people with names and surnames in the storybook.
Xiaohua doesn't know what the script is, but it's just that it's very powerful.
Xiaohua chuckled.
The leader, Pei Yuan Shao, walked over angrily and patted him on the head.
"Stop being silly and think about it quickly. Where is the pick-up point that Qu Shuai mentioned? We are going to take those compatriots who are suffering back home quickly."
"I don't want to see others suffer from the kind of days we have gone through again!"
"I understand, Brother Yuan Shao, just wait for me."
After that, Xiaohua closed his eyes and carefully recalled the map that their commander, He Jin, had given him before setting off.
Their mission this time was to find loopholes in the Han army's patrol area, and then try to bring the refugees gathered from various places back to the rear of Qingzhou.
This mission was very difficult, but after Qu Shuai handed it down, none of his brothers refused.
And so is he!
(End of chapter)
