After sending Han Shizhong away, Wang Xiaolie called Wang Zhong. Said: "Uncle, we have been wandering outside for some time. I wonder how our hometown is?"
Wang Zhong sighed: "When the officials were here in the past, they often sent people back. When the Jin soldiers came, Ruzhou suffered a military disaster, and our family was not immune. If we send people back again, only the ruins of the walls and the family members will be left. I don’t know whether I am alive or dead.”
Wang Xiaolie was speechless for a moment after hearing this.
Only my sister is left in the family. My grandfather passed away a few years ago, and because he was in mourning period, he was not allowed to marry anyone else. When Wang Rudai sent out troops, he left everything in the family to his sister. Now he doesn't know what happened to her.
After pondering for a long time, Wang Xiaolie said: "Han Tongzhi led his troops to leave today. Apparently he found it boring to stay in Kaifeng Mansion. In my opinion, it won't be long before the people in the city will find their own way out. Where can we go? Go? After thinking about it, it is better to go back to our hometown. But we have been away for a long time, and we don’t know what our hometown is like. We still need to send someone back to our hometown to see if it is suitable to go back. "
Wang Zhong handed over his hands after hearing this: "That's what Xiao Sheren said. I am the most suitable person for this matter. I know everything about the family. It is inconvenient for others."
Wang Xiaolie nodded: "It would be best if my uncle goes back. By the way, when you go back, look for my eldest sister and see where he lives."
Wang Zhong nodded. This kind of thing is really common in this era. When the Jin army came south, countless families were separated from their wives and their families could no longer be reunited. After Wang Rudai became a Jinshi, the Wang family was a local wealthy family, so how could they escape the war.
After explaining everything, Wang Zhong went out, while Wang Xiaolie sat alone in a daze. Since I have one more lifetime of memories, I am no longer so concerned about my family in this lifetime. After such a long time, I rarely think of my father and sister. When I think of it now, vague memories from before come to mind.
After thinking for a long time, he sighed. It’s really hard to describe how I feel when I really have to go back to my hometown and face my family in this life.
Wang Zhong took two soldiers, pretending to be merchants, to bid farewell to Wang Xiaolie, and headed all the way to Ruzhou. After passing Yingchang Mansion, we passed through Jiaxian County and headed west along the Beiru River. This is an important road, a prosperous place in the past. We were hit by a military disaster last year, and there was a lot of depression at this time.
Entering Liang County in Ruzhou, Wang Zhong looked ahead and stopped for a moment. After a while, he said to the two soldiers: "The official Zhuangzi is not far from Zhaoluo Town. He also has hundreds of acres of fertile land and invites several villagers. Alas, the officials are very good to us. In the past What kind of good days are they? Everything has been different since Jin Bing came. I don’t know if there will be another time—"
Having said this, Wang Zhong sighed. The so-called timidity of being close to home suddenly brings countless worries when you arrive at your doorstep. Wang Xiaolie's family's village has been destroyed, and Wang Zhong's family, like Wang Xiaolie's sister, is missing.
After sighing for a long time, Wang Zhongcai pulled away and led two soldiers towards Zhuangzi.
It wasn't until the afternoon, when the three of them were sweating profusely from walking, that they saw their village.
Wang Zhong stopped at the intersection and looked at the village in front of him. This is the place where I have lived for decades. Every detail is clear, and everything in the past is suddenly before my eyes. But when he looked closely, he saw only ruins of broken houses and not even a single figure.
Leading the two of them, Wang Zhong slowly walked to the entrance of the village. I just felt light under my feet and an indescribable feeling in my heart.
When we walked to the center of the village, we saw a large house. The gate has long been damaged, the yard is overgrown with weeds, and it looks like it has been abandoned for an unknown amount of time. There was only a plane tree outside the wall, its flowers in full bloom and full of fragrance.
Wang Zhong stepped forward and felt his heart sinking. He murmured: "There is still no one. Where is the eldest sister?"
The two soldiers did not dare to speak and just followed behind them silently. It was summer, I was tired from walking all the way, I was sweating profusely, and it was particularly uncomfortable.
Wang Zhong came to the door, touched the door frame, and said nothing. Tears flowed down, eyes wet.
At this moment, a voice came from behind: "Uncle, when did you come back? Where are dad and Da Lang?"
Wang Zhong turned around suddenly. He looked at a girl not far away, wearing a sarong, with her face upturned, holding a large handful of ears of grain in her hand, looking at herself.
Wiping his tears, Wang Zhong stepped forward quickly. He bowed and said: "Sister, it turns out you are fine! Okay, okay, it's good that you are here!"
Wang Qingxiu nodded. Then he asked, "Where are Dad and Dalang? Why didn't they come back with you?"
Wang Zhongdao: "The official has passed away. Because he doesn't know what his hometown is like, his bones have been in the army. Now Xiaoshe is in charge of the army and is in Kaifeng City. Because he doesn't know what his hometown is like, he sent me back to take a look. I just saw the courtyard in ruins. I thought--"
Wang Qingxiu was stunned for a while. Said: "Leading troops to fight, how can there be no immortals? - It turns out that my father has left -"
Wang Zhongdao: "Sister, there is no need to be sad. Officials died on the battlefield and sacrificed their lives for the country, which did not dishonor the ancestors. The people of Xiaoshe are very proud! They won a battle in Yong'an last month, faced the Jin army, and defended Gong. County. There are so many heroes in Kaifeng City who all praise us!"
Wang Qingxiu was startled: "So the person who guarded Gong County last month was Da Lang? I've heard people talk about it, but I don't know who it was."
In a rural place like this, it's rare to hear of a victory in Gong County, and I'm afraid it's hard to tell the person's name clearly. When the Jin soldiers arrived, Wang Qingxiu and some fellow villagers hid in the mountains. After the war, the family was already in ruins, and I had to endure a lot of hardships in the past few months. After seeing all kinds of tragedies in the world, and hearing about his father's death, he was still able to maintain his composure.
After saying a few words, Wang Qingxiu said: "You have come all the way, why are you standing here? You see, I am confused too. Come in quickly, drink a bowl of tea, and cool off the heat."
Entered the door. Wang Zhongdao: "What are you doing with these ears of grain, eldest sister?"
Wang Qingxiu said: "Last year, we were hit by a military disaster. How can we still have food at home? The millet is almost ripe. Let's take some to wrap our stomachs."
Wang Zhongdao: "Oh, it's really hard for my eldest sister. It will be fine when the people from Xiaoshe come back. Now there are hundreds of soldiers and horses, and they are also the heroes of this place."
Wang Qingxiu was startled: "You are the Qin King of the uprising army, why did you come back? I heard someone said that since last year, the court has issued a decree to let Qin Wang's troops from all over the country return to their hometowns. As a result, it didn't take long for the Jin army to break through the capital. At that time, there was no When we come back, we should fight against the Jin army now."
Wang Zhongdao: "I can't explain these things clearly. Xiaoshe's arrangement must be reasonable."
Wang Qingxiu looked at Wang Zhong: "Is Dalang more promising now than before? You listen to him so much. I think it was not like this when dad was here."
Wang Zhongdao: "Sister, I don't know that for a month, Xiaoshe people have been charging forward in every battle and won consecutive battles. It's not just me? Hundreds of people in the army all obey Xiaoshe people! In dozens of states in western Beijing, since last year's Jin Dynasty, When the soldiers came south, only Xiaosheren made great contributions! He can be regarded as a young hero!"
Wang Qingxiu looked at Wang Zhong again, obviously not believing it. But he didn't say anything, he just led the three of them to the backyard. Went to the stone table and invited the three of us to sit on the stone benches. He said: "You guys sit down for a moment, and I'll get some bowls of water. It's no better than before. There's not even tea at home. Uncle, don't be rude. By the way, your aunt is also in the village. I'll call her in a while." .”
"Is my home okay? Thank God! Thank God! God has mercy on me! How dare I trouble my eldest sister? I'll go home and take a look later." Wang Zhong is the guest of Wang Xiaolie's family, and he has the righteousness of master and servant. When I come back I only think about my master. I was overjoyed to hear that my family was well.
Wang Qingxiu said: "We fled to the mountains together and hid for many days. We waited until the Jin army retreated far before we dared to come out. Alas, my aunt and her family also suffered a lot. This military disaster is really harmful to people. .”
Wang Zhong nodded repeatedly. As long as your family is safe. Everything will be fine when Wang Xiaolie comes back.
As Wang Qingxiu entered the room, Wang Zhong brought out several bowls of water and let the two soldiers drink. Thinking of my family, I couldn't sit still for a moment, so I hurriedly said goodbye and went back to my home.
