In late July, Chen Chong and his party first slowly arrived in Fancheng by car, and then took a boat across the Mian River to Xiangyang. At this time, the sun is very bright. The sun shines down, and it is so clean that there is no trace of dust. It just illuminates Xiangyang in autumn colors at a glance. The Han River has a clear and sparkling reflection. The reeds on the river bank are turning green and yellow, and the stones on the river bank are As a result, the crystal brilliance shines out, and looking around from a distance, the maple forests on Yuliangzhou and Xian Mountain are filled with patches of red, mixed among the still green cypresses and orange trees, as if rendered in ink, creating a peaceful scene. Only when you step into the city gate and accidentally see the arrow holes and knife marks on the city wall that have not yet been repaired, do you remember that the war here was still going on more than half a year ago.
Chen Chong and his entourage were driving through such beautiful and quiet Xiangyang scenery.
As soon as they got off the bus, dozens of officials came to see Chen Chong. They were all officials temporarily promoted by Guan Yu after he conquered Xiangyang. At this time, they were a little frightened when they met the Prime Minister, who was famous for his harshness. However, Chen Chong had no intention of making things difficult for them. He just exchanged greetings with these people and said with a smile: "My southern tour this time is just to visit some old friends and take a look at people's livelihood." So he declined all the banquets he had prepared. Instead, he asked Mr. Shui Jing about the news about Sima Hui. Chen Chong still remembered that he lived in seclusion in Xiangyang, but there was no news after the Long'an Year. As a result, it was regrettable to learn that Duke Derang had passed away eight years ago. In the past few years, the number of celebrities has gradually declined. The only remaining hermit in Xiangyang now is Huang Chengyan.
This made Chen Chong very disappointed. At this time, he once discovered that it is indeed difficult to find some old acquaintances when one gets old. He could only go to Yuliang Island to pay homage to Chen Zhang. Countless reeds were swaying on the flat river island, like countless babies' little hands waving. Other than that, there was an empty river beach and a quiet flowing river. After Chen Chong stood here in the Han River, he felt lonely. The world is vast and people really seem too small. Under such circumstances, it is understandable that people will do stupid things.
So Chen Chong quickly left Xiangyang and headed towards Jiangling.
At this time, the bright weather suddenly broke. The sky was like a crying child, covering the sun in an instant. Then there were rows of dark clouds that seemed to be cut into pieces, completely covering the colors of the mountains and rivers on the left and right. The west wind whipped up bright red fallen leaves, hitting the horse's head and the hood of the carriage. People had to cover their faces with their sleeves and robes, or bend down on the horse's mane, or lean sideways on the carriage pillar, and the horses' hooves were submerged in the wind. Advance among fallen leaves.
They entered the Jianghan Plain along the Han River, and saw the mountains on both sides getting lower and lower, stretching to both sides. The river in the middle is wide enough to allow several large boats to pass side by side, and there are no stones on the river beaches on both sides, only fine golden sand, and even the ground underfoot has become extremely soft.
When they saw more lakes under their feet, they stopped and made a fishing boat in a village pavilion. They followed a small river and soon entered Yunmeng Ze. Yunmengze is the largest lake in the world. Looking at it, the vast ocean looks like the sea. And under the cover of dark clouds, it just shows its most violent side. The lake surface rises and falls violently, and from time to time it rolls up several feet of water. The big waves broke out patches of white flowers, and suddenly a white light pierced the dark clouds in the sky. The shrubs and weeds by the lake immediately swayed amidst the roar of thunder, as if everything was surrendered to the vast and infinite power of heaven and earth.
Then the rain started falling. No one expected that it would rain so heavily at this time of year, as if everything in the world fell into the rain and everything was submerged. Seeing this, the boat owner did not dare to go further. Instead, he lowered the anchor and stopped on the shore, planning to continue moving forward after the rain stopped. The sound of rain continued continuously. Chen Chong looked out of the boat and saw the vegetation trembling under the majesty of nature. A kind of anger arose in his heart for no reason. He stood up from the eaves of the boat. Regardless of the obstruction of his entourage, he actually raised his head. His face was exposed to the rain on the bow of the boat. Under the wash of the heavy rain, he felt that his waist was straightened and his legs seemed to be as strong as when he was young. Even though his eyes were blurred by the rain, he still looked at the gloomy scene. In the sky, Chen Chong wanted to roar, roar, and fight against all the darkness in the world.
But when the anger comes into the mouth, it naturally disappears. Language is such a magical existence. When your thoughts are about to turn into sounds, people's thinking seems to be half purified, and people have to carefully consider what is right or wrong. At the moment when Chen Chong was about to reveal his true feelings, his thoughts suddenly changed. He knew that what he wanted to fight was not this gloomy world. He wanted to prove at this moment in history that he existed and that he had fought. , he loved it. In this dense rain that cannot be dissolved, he wants to connect himself with the past and the future, and closely connect those who have died and those who are not yet born.
So he used all his strength to shout to the surging Yunmengze and to a ghost hidden behind the rain curtain: "Hey! Are you there?"
When he said these words, Chen Chong recalled many people in his mind: Yun Chang, Xuande, Hanzhen, Wannian, Ayan, Meng De and Yuan Chang. These figures were blurred in the rain and finally turned into A fluttering white shadow on the shore in the distance looks like a white deer! Chen Chong seemed to have received an answer, so he hissed again: "Hey! I'm here! I'm here!" The white deer seemed to hear it, then looked back at Chen Chong, and quickly ran away completely.
Chen Chong returned to the cabin like a drowned rat. Everyone looked at him with strange eyes, which made Chen Chong laugh. yes! It was really shameful for an old man to shout in the rain like a young man, but he only felt happy in his heart.
After the heavy rain, Chen Chong finally came to Jiangling. When he passed by the eastern suburbs, he saw an ancestral temple, and many people went to the temple to worship. He curiously went in to take a look, and was surprised to find that it was Guan Yu's ancestral hall. Many people who came to burn incense and worship said that the emperor was a god who came to the world, and Marshal Guan, who was sworn to the late emperor, was also the reincarnation of the military god Bishamonten, so he was invincible on the battlefield. And his name of benevolence and justice have long been famous all over the world. Now that he has died in Jiangling, who should everyone ask for if they don't ask for his protection?
Chen Chong was extremely pleased with this. He respectfully burned three sticks of incense for Yunchang, and blessed him in his heart: I know you will be remembered by everyone, and you can always do it. But when Chen Chong walked out, he was a little confused. He asked himself: What happens after I die? The life I have tried my best to live, this life that is difficult to evaluate, is difficult for even my wife, brothers, and friends to understand. Can anyone really understand it?
Fortunately, he still has a successor. Along the way, he visited the towns and counties in Jingzhou and found that all the people's livelihood affairs were handled in an orderly manner. The soldiers and people lived in peace and harmony, and he didn't hear of any banditry or epidemics along the way. It is very rare to reach this point in a year. All of this was thanks to Kong Ming. Chen Chong thought that no matter what his final outcome was, Kong Ming's position should be determined.
Chen Chong rested in Jiangling for a few days. When the weather improved, a group of people took a boat again, intending to follow the river directly to Jianye. But when the ship sailed into Jiangxia, Chen Chong suddenly asked the boatman: "I heard that there is a city in Xiakou in the north of the Yangtze River, and there is Huanghuji in Xiakou City, right?"
The boatman was very surprised when he heard this. He replied: "The Prime Minister is right. Huanghuji was built by the Wu people six years ago. It is said that it was built on Snake Mountain. The towers are towering and very dangerous. No one has ever seen it. !”
"I want to take a look. If you pass by Xiakou City, stop there."
It was a clear day, and Chen Chong saw Xiakou City and Huanghuji from a distance. It was like a strange peak breaking out from the head of a snake, with an extraordinary momentum. Then he slowly climbed to the top of Huanghuji and had a panoramic view of the magnificent mountains and rivers. I saw undulating mountains in the north, still vast and vast even during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the green Yangtze River in the south. Looking around, it seemed that the highest point in the world was at my feet, and what was higher than myself was the vast sky above my head. He said to the captain who came to accompany him: "The Sun family has been destroyed, Xiakou City should be abandoned, but Huanghuji should stay."
The captain was baffled by what he heard, but he didn't dare to ask further questions, so he could only answer incessantly. And Chen Chong no longer cared about him, but while looking at the scenery between heaven and earth, Ukanshu wnｽsu.et silently recited the most famous seven laws in the world:
"In the past, people rode the Yellow Crane, and the Yellow Crane Tower was vacant here.
The yellow crane is gone and never returns, and the white clouds remain empty for thousands of years.
Qingchuan is full of Hanyang trees. Parrot Island is full of lush green grass.
Where is the hometown at sunset? The absence of smoke makes people sad. "
Chen Chong thought, everyone I met is gone, and I will go with them, but where is the end? Who can I make mourn for me?
While he was confused, Chen Xiu suddenly pointed to the north and said, "Father, look! It's a yellow swan!" Chen Chong followed his hand and counted, and saw hundreds of yellow swans leaping up from the forest, then dancing their wings, gracefully flying from the yellow swan. Huji flies past in the east. Autumn is deep, they are going to fly to the south! Looking at these big birds known as cranes by the world, Chen Chong suddenly had a hope. Why did they appear now? This may be a sign, or it may be a kind of induction. Xuande's souls are blessing him and calling him. In the future, he will transform into a yellow crane and be respected by future generations.
But at this moment, a strong wind suddenly blew from the south, blowing up countless fallen leaves and dust, and got into everyone's eyes. People had to close their eyes tightly and cover their faces with their hands. The sound of the howling wind covered all the noise like a god. Just when everyone thought that their souls would be blown away, the wind suddenly slowed down and then stopped.
Chen Chong opened his eyes and looked at the Yangtze River again, only to see that the yellow swan had disappeared in the sky. It is not that they have gone far away. These yellow swans flying south against the wind were all swept into the water by the strong wind. On the long Yangtze River, the bird carcasses and long feathers floated quietly, slowly flowing away together with the fallen leaves all over the river.
Chen Chong was stunned for a moment, and then he covered his face and cried bitterly. His tears continued.
After he had shed all his tears, except for the vivid memory of Huang Hu falling into the water, Chen Chong's eyes had completely lost sight.
