The yellow clouds covering the Dayong border stretched for thousands of miles, and the sun was dim. The howling north wind had just sent away the geese, and brought heavy snow. The soldiers wore thick cotton coats and heavy armors, holding long swords. The halberd is guarding the city. Despite the severe cold weather, it is still guarding the city gate.
"What are your names, where are you from, and where are you going?"
"Thank you, Ruqing. This is my junior brother Chu Ci. The two of us have just returned from our study tour in Chu State. Now, we want to go back to Qingzhou, where I live, to organize books, participate in scientific examinations, and serve the imperial court." Xie Ruqing arrived wearing a t-shirt. The white cotton-padded man pulled an ox cart and pointed at Chu Ci, who was sitting on the ox cart and wrapped in an old cotton quilt.
"Oh, scholars, come in, come in, remember, study hard, and make a contribution to our Dayong. The world in our Dayong is very chaotic now, and we need some real scholars." The guard of the city gate. The soldier stamped his seal on the customs clearance document very grandly and gave serious instructions.
"What Brother Cha said is that when my senior brother and I come back this time, we just want to serve the motherland. Dayong, I am confident that our generation will get better and better." Chu Ci, whose head was white due to the heavy snowfall, suddenly poked his head out from under the quilt and said with a smile.
"Hahaha, good, good, young people are really ambitious! I'm optimistic about you!" The soldier guarding the gate looked like he was middle-aged. His whole face was covered with the vicissitudes of time and the ravines of time. His eyes were clear and resolute. , at this moment, he smiled a little because he heard Chu Ci's words, even though he had heard these words no less than a hundred times.
Xie Ruqing looked at the soldier who still had hope for the current Dayong, and did not speak to him. He just took the customs clearance document handed over by the soldier guarding the door with both hands, bowed, and then, under the watchful eyes of the soldier, led the cow. The car goes to Guannai...
——
(I am a super cute dividing line)
The winter snowflakes are flying in abundance. At this moment, the flying snow is like catkins blown up by the wind, covering this small border town.
It was so cold in the small border town that there were almost no houses on the street. Xie Ruqing searched for a long time on the street before she found an open restaurant. She bought some food and continued to eat without taking a rest. Got on the bullock cart and drove on.
"Brother, this naan is so hard..." Chu Ci took the food purchased by Xie Ruqing and skillfully hid it in the quilt. He took out a piece of naan at random, took a bite and complained. Said like this.
"In this weather, it's good to be able to use a food seller. If you feel hard, drink some hot water from the water bag. It's still warm after you just picked it up." Xie Ruqing sat on the bullock cart. , while slapping the old scalper with the bullwhip in his hand, he took out the water bag from his waist and said.
"Okay, I'll just make do with it. When I get back, I will definitely blackmail Master. I don't have a few tough dishes. Master, he can't even think of sending me away!" Chu Ci said with a smile.
"If Master finds out about you, you go to Chu State and disturb the princes and nobles of Chu State. Master, let alone cook for you, I think I will beat you up." I'm in a good mood." Xie Ruqing calmly told the story of how Chu Ci manipulated several princes and nobles of Chu State in the palm of his hand and made them disperse their family wealth.
"Tch... Master can only scold me a few times at most. I don't believe that Master will be willing to refuse to give me food. Those princes and nobles of Chu State are just like those princes and nobles of our Dayong. They just lie on the bodies of ordinary people and suck blood. I This is just to punish evil and promote good, and to rob the rich and give to the poor!"
"Brother, think about it, those children were so happy when they got something to eat, it's not worth it." Chu Ci didn't seem to care at all whether he would be punished by his master after returning, but instead said happily After saying these words, he closed his eyes and slowly recalled the scene of delivering money that day...
"Those people are just wool from the sheep. Since they have lost their money, when we leave, they will definitely levy exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes on the people under various names. In the final analysis, the money we give to the people will not matter. , it’s just a drop in the bucket.” Xie Ruqing said.
"Yes, senior brother, you are right, so in order to settle things once and for all, I went to their mansion on the night before I left and put something in their tea. If nothing else... Chu State should be... There must be people crying every day." Chu Ci smiled and took out the poison he had found from his master's bedroom and said nonchalantly.
"After all, it's human life. If you do this, you will be scolded by the master..."
"I'm willing to scold you. Those people should have died a long time ago. If it weren't for them, how could the people in this world be so miserable? Could it be... Senior brother, don't you want these people to die early... They are nothing A good thing, alive, will only harm others..."
"I have long handed over all the evidence we collected of those people who committed corruption, accepted bribes, and ruined human lives to the brother of the Queen of Chu State. Today, the Chief Minister of Chu State, if you don't take action, those people will also be killed soon." I'm waiting to be arrested." Xie Ruqing did not answer Chu Ci's question directly, but simply told what he had done.
Chu Ci was stunned for a moment, and then he came closer to Xie Ruqing. He looked at Xie Ruqing for a long time and "tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk" for a while, then he put his hand on Xie Ruqing's shoulder and said:
"Master is indeed right. Senior brother, you are really 'resourceful'. Junior brother, I feel inferior to you...but...senior brother, although your idea is practical,...the rights to these things are not in our hands, not ourselves." We don’t know whether Chang Xinhou will change his mind temporarily. If we are afraid of something unexpected happening, what should we do...
It's better to be straightforward... Anyway... my life is not as important as the lives of the princes and nobles of Chu State... it's worth it..."
"You have the talent to manage the world. Your life is much more valuable than theirs. If you are alive, you can save more people... You must never be so reckless again in the future. If you die early, you There will be no one to realize our ambition..."
Xie Ruqing is just a teenager now, and is not as calm and sophisticated as he would be twenty or thirty years later. When he first heard Chu Ci's words, he felt quite nervous. After all, he had the closest relationship with Chu Ci. Better yet, although I knew in my heart that what Chu Ci said might just be a joke, I was still worried that my junior brother would not cherish his life, so I thought about it and said consolingly.
"Brother, there is no need to comfort me like this. I cherish my life the most. I am just trying to be brave. All the beasts in this world are not dead yet, so I am reluctant to die. When will these beasts die? I... I'm just... willing to die..."
"Well...when those people die, we will be willing to die..." Xie Ruqing nodded and echoed Chu Ci.
——
(I am a super cute dividing line)
The winter days are always short. Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci led the ox cart from day to night, and the slanting silver glow appeared from the horizon...
"Come, gentlemen, let's have a bowl of hot soup. There are two bowls of hot vegetables and two bowls of white rice on the stove. I will bring them out for you two later." A gray-haired old man held his hand. The little grandson eagerly brought two bowls of hot soup to Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci.
Chu Ci and Xie Ruqing both took the bowl of hot soup, and then Xie Ruqing said:
"Old man, there's no need to bother yourself. It's my junior brother and I who are causing trouble today."
"Yes, old man, you were the one who hosted my senior brother and I when we came here. Now, you are the one who hosted us when we came back. All you have to do is give us a place to rest, but you still want to cook us such delicious food. It's really You deserve it.”
When the old man heard this, he quickly waved his hand, then pulled his grandson in front of the two people and said:
"All this is what I should do. I am an old man and helpless. All my sons died in the battle. My daughter-in-law ran away and died. There are more than a dozen people in the family, and only me and I are left. The grandson of Da Zhuang...
A few years ago, Da Zhuang fell ill and has not recovered... I lost all my family property and did not hire a capable doctor for my grandson... If not, at that time, you two young masters passed by my place. The house, after seeing my grandson’s illness, came to rescue...my family was completely broken up..."
"It's all thanks to the two young masters that my grandson and I can be reunited today. As a humble family, I don't know how to repay the two young masters. Now, I still have the opportunity to meet the two young masters, and I will prepare a gift for them." A hot meal... This is my honor... You two gentlemen, please don't refuse..."
"Come on, Da Zhuang, kneel down quickly and kowtow to your two benefactors!" After saying that, the old man pulled his grandson and knelt in front of Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci.
Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci did not expect that their unintentional actions would have such a big impact on this old man. Therefore, they were a little shocked for a moment. Seeing that the old man wanted to bring his grandson to kneel down and worship them, they hurriedly He came back to his senses and helped the miserable grandfather and grandson up!
"Old man, old man! Please get up quickly! This is just a small effort, there is no need to be so polite!"
"Yes! My senior brother and I have learned so many things just to serve the motherland and benefit the people. How can we receive such a big gift from you!"
"..."
"..."
Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci talked hard before helping the grandfather and grandson up. The old man and his grandson sat down at the table with the support of Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci.
Immediately, the old man looked at Chu Ci and Xie Ruqing for a while, and then said awkwardly: "Two benefactors... I... have one more thing... I want you two young masters... to give me an idea..."
"Old man, if you have something to do, it doesn't matter."
"Two benefactors, I have only one grandson now. His father and uncles all died on the battlefield... I, now... just think... but I haven't read any books... so... ...I want my two benefactors...to find a way out for my ignorant grandson..."
"My family has been in the military for generations...but I know that most of those who serve in the army today never come back...so...if...there is another way...I can accept it..."
The old man's expression was very uneasy, and his cloudy eyes were full of caution... lest Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci would reject him.
But Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci looked at each other and did not reject the old man. Instead, they thought for a long time before Xie Ruqing said:
"Today's Dayong is too chaotic. Within ten years, earth-shaking changes will definitely occur. If you blindly avoid it, it will definitely be difficult to survive in the troubled times..."
"Exactly, since Da Zhuang has caught up with this kid, we won't stop hiding..."
"Yes, if you are willing, old man, although my senior brother and I have no abilities, we can still find a place for Da Zhuang to study in Yangzhou. In the future, it will be great to succeed in his studies..."
"Exactly, my junior brother got acquainted with a rich man in Yangzhou. The rich man was very charitable and opened many charity halls and schools. If Da Zhuang goes here, he doesn't have to worry about the money for school..."
"It's just...it's just that the mountains in Yangzhou are high and the rivers are far away. If Dazhuang goes here, it will definitely be difficult to come back. If you are an old man, if you are willing...we here suggest that you should move there with Dazhuang." From Yangzhou..."
"Yes, old man... I remember when I came back last time, you said that your surname was Zhai, and you said that your ancestors had received kindness from Taizu, so you have guarded the border for Dayong for generations, and served the country in the army for generations... Until you Here, all four sons have been involved... Now, you only have one grandson left... Let's go... Come to think of it... no one will blame you..."
"Yes, old man, come with us tomorrow..."
When the old man heard that he was leaving the frontier that he had protected for generations, he couldn't help but lose his mind... He looked at his young grandson beside him, who symbolized fresh vitality and future, and then turned his head and looked behind him. The memorial tablets of the ancestors of the Zhai family and his four sons who passed away long ago...
Finally, the old man nodded and said:
"Okay...thank you two benefactors...let's do it like this...tonight...I will pack my things...and go with you two tomorrow...thank you two benefactors..."
"There are two old hens in my yard... I can't take them away tomorrow... I'll kill them... Jiajiacai..."
After saying that, the old man took his grandson and walked out...
Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci were left sitting on the kang, looking at each other in silence...
It wasn't until the heavy snow outside the window broke the branches and made a huge noise that Chu Ci spoke:
"Senior brother...we may have changed the fate of the Zhai family today...then...can we change the destiny of the people...people in the world...how many are like the Zhai family...only the old, weak, women and children are left... …”
"It will... it will... we can... this world... I am confident... will be changed in our hands, and the people of the world will live and work in peace and contentment because of us..."
…
…
The next day, before the light came out from the east, Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci took the hand of the child Dazhuang and watched with their own eyes the old man locked the door of his house...
Immediately... an inconspicuous old ox cart slowly walked towards the east...
Did anyone notice that I changed the cover? It looks good! It looks good!
