Baiyang County is located to the east of Qiao County and belongs to Fengwu County together with Qiao County. There was a celebrity here, Liu Zhiyong, the former prime minister in the early days.
Qiao County was an outlier in the early days. The three county magistrates were all good officials. Baiyang County was not so lucky. It was pretty good when the old prime minister was alive, but since Liu Zhiyong was dismissed from office and died in Hongyan Canyon, This place is no different from other places in Taichu.
Nowadays, Baiyang County officials are rife with corruption, wantonly plundering people's wealth, exorbitant levies and miscellaneous taxes, landlords and gentry plundering and oppressing their neighbors, thieves and bandits are rampant, stealing and looting everywhere, and the people are living in misery.
Xinle City is a city in Baiyang County. Walking eastward from Qiao County, the first city you pass is Xinle City. It is closer to Xinyang City, the county seat of Qiao County, than Yunze City, the county seat of Baiyang County. But it belongs to Baiyang County after all.
Guixuan is a painter in Xinle City. He is now over seventy years old. He once had great glory, but now he is in poverty.
Guixuan was born in a scholarly family. His ancestors were officials until they were ministers. Later, their family fell into decline. After several generations, no one could pass the exam. His father was considered a good person among these generations. After passing the exam, he passed the exam. He found a job in the city lord's mansion, but he could only barely support his family.
His father had placed high hopes on him since he was a child. Although his salary was not much, he would rather have poor food and drink and send Cai Xuan to study in a private school.
However, Juixuan's reading skills are very average. He is not interested in poetry and classics at all, but he has a special liking for the art of painting.
The teacher at the private school only taught Sui Xuan some painting techniques, and he was able to paint lifelike paintings. This talent surprised the teacher because he saw that it would be difficult for him to achieve anything if he took the imperial examination. The teacher at the private school persuaded his father to let him study painting. road.
Although he was very unwilling to do so, but with the facts before his eyes, Juixuan's father could only agree. From then on, although Juixuan did not completely give up studying, he put more energy into painting.
Being able to learn what he likes, Jia Xuan's childhood was quite happy, but fate didn't seem to be kind to him.
When Guixuan was more than ten years old, the Lord of Xinle City was investigated by the Taichu court for selling illegal salt. Guixuan's father was also involved. Although it was later found that he had nothing to do with him, he spent a long time in prison. In two months, the errands of the City Lord's Mansion were naturally lost.
Under the double mental and physical torture, Jia Xuan's father fell seriously ill after he was released from prison. In addition, with no financial resources, the family had no money to treat him. After a few months of struggling to support him, his father gave up. Soon after his death, his mother also passed away due to excessive grief.
At this time, Guixuan's home was completely devastated, so he had no choice but to sell the property and bury his parents.
Fortunately, kind-hearted relatives took him in, but even though the relatives said no, he suffered a lot of looks at him for living and eating for free. As a young man, he could only go out to do some odd jobs to earn some change, and then gave it to relatives. The second is to buy the pens, inks, paper and inkstones needed for painting.
Guixuan went out to make money while practicing painting until he was in his prime. His painting skills were already quite proficient, and there was a hint of artistic conception in his paintings.
By this time, his paintings could be sold for money, and life began to get better.
As the level of Juixuan's paintings became higher and higher, his paintings were gradually recognized by the people in Xinle City. At that time, the world was not so chaotic. Officials and wealthy businessmen in the city were proud to own Juixuan's calligraphy treasures. The price of his paintings A rising tide lifts all boats.
When he was rich, Liao Guixuan re-purchased a property in Xinle City, and he also kept improving his paintings. The fewer paintings he produced, the more expensive they became. But now that he has money, he rarely sells paintings anymore.
In his twenties, he met the girl he loved, but after getting married, he never had any children.
As his reputation spread in Yingzhou, he was recommended to the Taichu Palace as a court painter after forty years. The late emperor loved him very much and named him the chief painter. All civil and military officials treated him with courtesy. Added, just in exchange for a calligraphy treasure, his scenery is unparalleled.
Just when he was most proud, fate poured cold water on him again. Although he had no children, he and his wife were very loving, but his wife got seriously ill and died in his arms.
Once again becoming a loner, he had no intention of remarrying, and spent all day drinking to soothe his sorrows. It may be that the change in his mood made the artistic conception of his paintings more profound, but he rarely painted again since then, and he would only paint at the request of the late emperor. comply.
After the death of the previous emperor, Li Boqian succeeded to the throne. The new emperor did not like to write and write, and actually kicked all the painters, including Gui Xuan, out of the palace.
Guixuan could only take the money he had accumulated and returned to his hometown of Xinle City to become a rich man. Relying on years of savings, he lived a comfortable life even though he was lonely.
However, the world is becoming more and more chaotic, and the wealth of this lonely old man is inevitably being targeted. There are officials who try to get money from him, and there are also bandits who continue to steal and rob his wealth. Soon, the rich man's savings are exhausted. Empty and impoverished again, only a house was left.
The most valuable thing in troubled times was calligraphy and painting. Although his paintings at this time were already skillful, no one was willing to spend big money to buy them, so he could only make ends meet by selling them at low prices.
After experiencing so much, Ju Xuan has become very open-minded. Otherwise, such a gap would easily drive people crazy.
After Qinghe's army left Qiao County, Aoba Shinichi looked at Xinle City in front of him and said with a cold smile: "Now that we have left Qiao County, I will have to stretch my muscles."
All the generals behind him laughed, and Guanglian said: "General, leave this matter to me. I will definitely make the general happy!"
Xianmen on the side quit and said in a loud voice: "General, Guanglian is not good at this, so let me go!"
"Let's compete to see who can catch more people!" Guanglian glared at Xianmen and said.
"It's a competition. Who's afraid of whom? Let's catch twenty people each. The slower one will call the other person uncle!" Xianmen's sharp voice sounded again.
Aoba Shinichi glanced at both sides, but it was nothing. He was speechless for his pair of generals who would fight each other whenever they met.
Seeing that Aoba Shinichi had no objection, the two glared at each other, clapped their horses and headed towards Xinle City.
Like most cities in Fengwu County, the defenders of Xinle City had given up on Lin Kang a long time ago, and even the city gates were wide open and no one was guarding them.
Naturally, Guanglian and Xianmen had already received the news from the scouts, and when they entered the city, it was as if they were in an uninhabited land.
When Aoba Shinichi arrived at the City Lord's Mansion, there was no one left in the City Lord's Mansion. Only Guanglian and Xianmen were standing at the door, with twenty Xinle City citizens tied to their sides.
These people were men, women, old and young, and almost everyone had fear written on their faces. Only one old man was different from the others. He was very calm and his eyes were indifferent. This person was Ju Xuan.
"So, who won?" Aoba Shinichi said expressionlessly.
Guanglian said with a gloomy look on his face: "It doesn't matter who wins or loses..." Xianmen's expression was also very unconvinced.
"Okay, if that's the case, let's stop fighting. It's not an option to keep fighting like this. Otherwise, if you two fight to the death in front of me, one of you will be dead!" Aoba Shinichi laughed. , but his eyes were very cold and looked very strange.
When Hirono and Sonomon saw Aoba Shinichi's expression, it was as if they had seen something terrible, and their eyes were full of fear. Aoba Shinichi's smile meant that he was really angry, and his If the anger is not extinguished immediately, the skirt will be ruined.
"General, the two of us are just joking. Why are we fighting to the death? There is no need. Are you Xianmen?" Guanglian said hurriedly, his tone was very relaxed, and he even hit Xianmen with his elbow.
"Guang Lian's right. We are life-and-death friends. We just like to tease each other. General, don't worry too much, haha...haha..." Xianmen was a little hurt from the slap, but he didn't dare to complain, but stepped forward to hug him. Zumi Guanglian looked affectionate, and in the end he let out a stiff smile.
"Yes, that's it, haha...ha..." Although Guanglian was disgusted with Xianmen hugging him, he still answered, and he also let out an embarrassing laugh.
Seeing the two of them acting like this, Aoba Shinichi put away his smile and said with a serious face: "It's OK to joke, but don't go too far, especially in front of other soldiers. It's easy for people to suspect that you two are not serious. And, it affects the morale of the military!"
The two promised again and again for fear that Aoba Shinichi would be angry again.
After settling the matter between these two rivals, Aoba Shinichi looked at the people of Xinle City who were captured by the two.
These people, old and young, showed great fear when they saw Qingye Shinichi. Some women and children broke down and cried. The fact that Commander Qinghe likes to torture and kill people has long been spread throughout Fengwu County. Who is not afraid of death, especially It is extremely painful to die.
But there is something different among them, that is Ai Xuan. His expression is still calm, his eyes are deep and he seems to have seen through everything. He and Aoba Shinichi look at each other without fear at all.
"It's interesting. May I ask this old gentleman his name?" Aoba Shinichi asked with a very interested look in his eyes, and his tone was even very polite.
"I am Cai Xuan, an old and frail painter in Xinle City." Cai Xuan said, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Painter? I think the old gentleman is no ordinary painter." Aoba Shin said with a glimmer of light in his eyes.
"My lord, Old Man Gu was once the chief painter of the Taichu Palace. He was kicked out of the palace by the emperor. If your lord has anything to ask, I will tell you everything. I just ask you to spare me." A thin young man said hurriedly.
"I'm talking to the old gentleman, what are you talking about there? Come here, teach him a lesson!" Aoba Shinichi said angrily, and immediately General Qinghe rushed forward, rounded his arms and slapped the man with his bow from left to right.
The man could still scream in agony at first, but later his whole face swelled into a pig's head, and his screams became weaker and weaker.
"It turns out that the old gentleman is the chief painter of the palace. I am honored to meet you. I admire the culture of the Central Plains very much. Sir, can you draw a painting to open my eyes?" Aoba Shinichi said respectfully. He looked very difficult at this time. Connected with the devil who likes to kill.
Guixuan smiled freely and said: "If you want me to paint, you need to pay some money!"
Aoba Shinichi looked a little disappointed when he heard this, but still smiled and said, "This is simple. How much does the old gentleman want?"
"I don't want money! I just ask General Qinghe to let the oldest child go!" Guixuan pointed at the child in the crowd who looked to be only three or four years old.
Aoba Shinichi was a little surprised, and after thinking for a moment, he ordered the child to be released.
