Chapter 100 Hometown

Style: Historical Author: Chris WebberWords: 3847Update Time: 24/02/20 15:07:49
"Wait a moment, I'll be fine soon!" Donghui buried his head in recording without raising his head. Ijirenbode looked at it curiously, but found that what his friend recorded on the paper was music score, and then he understood: "Are you going to record the music score just now?"

"Of course, otherwise it would be nothing!" Dinghui wrote two more lines and complained: "It's all your fault. I had already memorized it all, but when you interrupted me, I ended up forgetting the next two paragraphs!"

"You can blame me for that. Even without me, you wouldn't be able to remember so much!" Ijilianbod said with a smile: "Forget it, I think there were so many people singing in unison just now. Many people should know this song. Today When you take a break at night, just try to find someone who knows music notation and copy it again!"

"Well, that's the only way!" Dinghui sighed: "I have stayed in Chang'an for so long and studied a lot. Why did I miss such impassioned music? If I can take it back to the country and teach it How nice it would be to give it to future generations!”

"That's true. If you can stay, it will be your Zhongchen family's family education, and your descendants can benefit from it for generations to come!"

"That's right!" Dinghui nodded. In fact, it was normal for aristocratic families to monopolize knowledge at that time. For example, the Yuan family of Runan was proficient in Meng's "Book of Changes", while the Yang family of Hongnong mastered "Ouyang Shangshu". ”, both families achieved great success, which lasted for hundreds of years. This was also the case in Japan in later generations. For example, the Fujiwara family, which branched off from the Nakatomi clan where Sadae was born, has always been known for its mastery of knowledge. The families of the public ministers in later generations also generally have their own family studies. For example, during the Warring States Period, the daimyo Hosokawa Fujitaka was surrounded by the Western Army in the city during the Battle of Sekigahara. However, Hosokawa Fujitaka was a famous Japanese scholar at the time and mastered the secret transmission of the "Kojin Wakashu" because this knowledge came from the master's mouth. According to oral tradition, if Hosokawa Fujitaka died in the city, this knowledge would be lost. So the emperor at that time issued an order to protect Hosokawa Fujitaka, thus saving his life. Dinghui and Yijilianbode came to the Tang Dynasty. In addition to diplomats, they also had another identity as scholars. The knowledge they learned from the Tang Dynasty was not only beneficial to themselves, but also useful to their descendants.

Dinghui put away the half-copied music score and put it in the bag next to the saddle. He mounted his horse with his friends and followed Wang Wenzuo to the east. Their army had already set off first, so they had to hurry up to catch up.

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Zhangnan, Beizhou, Hebei.

"The Xiawang Temple is ahead!" Black Teeth Changzhi whispered: "Should we let everyone walk for a while and rest after passing here?"

Wang Wenzuo didn't say anything. He rode up to the high hill beside the road and looked into the distance. He saw rippling reeds on the lake in the distance. He could still see the light green with new leaves just stretching out. It was really a high pond. He couldn't help but think of his experience passing through this place a few months ago. The lake and temple were there, but the person he met was already a handful of withered bones, and the feeling in his heart was very different.

"Forget it, King Xia and Liu Heitai are also heroes of a lifetime. Since they are passing by, you might as well go and offer a stick of incense!" Wang Wenzuo sighed.

"Follow your orders!" Hei Teuchang said.

After about a while, Wang Wenzuo saw the Xiawang Temple. He ordered the soldiers to rest in the open spaces on both sides of the road. He took dozens of followers and headed towards the Xiawang Temple. Maybe because it was a spring day, there was no one in front of the temple. After knocking for a while, an old man came out and opened the door. Wang Wenzuo recognized that it was the old man in sackcloth and said with a smile: "My father-in-law, do you still remember me?"

When the old man saw the official robe on Wang Wenzuo, he hurriedly bowed down and said with a smile: "I'm sorry for my blindness, but I really can't remember the origin of the noble man. May I ask when the noble man came?"

"About a few months ago!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "I passed by this place again today and wanted to offer a stick of incense to King Xia and General Liu to pray for a smooth expedition and a triumphant return! Is it convenient?"

The old man had already seen the guards behind Wang Wenzuo who were holding knives and holding sticks. He knew that they were of extraordinary origin, so he hurriedly got out of the way and said with a smile: "King Xia and General Liu are heroes. They are also heroes when they see noble people dressed up. Heroes cherish heroes and they will definitely protect them." Your!"

"Okay, okay!" Wang Wenzuo laughed when he heard that the old man could talk: "If it is as you said, old man, I will come to the Xiawang Temple again after returning to the army to rebuild the golden bodies of King Xia and General Liu!

"

Wang Wenzuo bowed down in front of the statue, borrowed the incense sent by the old man, and prayed silently. Then he stood up and inserted the incense into the furnace. Then several generals and attendants behind him also prostrated and offered incense. After offering the incense, Wang Wenzuo asked his soldiers to take a piece of gold and give it to the old man as money for the incense. The old man was overjoyed and hurriedly invited Wang Wenzuo to rest in the side hall. He brought tea and dried fruits and stood aside to keep him company.

Wang Wenzuo casually jumped out two dates from the plate, put them into his mouth, chewed them twice, and said with a smile, "These dates are quite sweet!"

"Your Majesty, these dates are produced in the temple. They are right behind the temple! If your Majesty likes them, why don't you take a bag and go?" The old man hurriedly greeted them.

"No need! This thing is just for fun. If you eat it every day, you will get tired of it!" Wang Wenzuo clapped his hands: "I want to ask you about someone?"

"Inquiry about someone?"

"Yes, his name is Liu Qi, and he has a Xiangzhou accent. I happened to meet him when I passed by the Xiawang Temple last time, and the two of us had a very good conversation. I passed by here again this time and wanted to find out about his origins. I will have some information in the future. It’s a good chance to pay us a visit!”

"Liu Qi?" The expression of the old man in sackcloth changed slightly. He looked Wang Wenzuo up and down again. It was obvious that the man in front of him was an official of the imperial court. Why would such a person ask about Liu Qi?

Wang Wenzuo looked at the old man's face and knew that the other party probably knew Liu Qi's origins. He took out a piece of gold from his sleeve and put it on the table. He smiled and said: "Old man, I'm just visiting Liu Qi to visit an old friend. I don't have any ill intentions. If you If you don’t know, just say you don’t know, and I will never blame you!”

The old man looked at the gold on the table, then at Cao Wenzong and Hei Te Changzhi who were standing behind Wang Wenzuo. He swallowed and whispered, "I've only heard of this person, but I don't know who he is. It’s not the person you mentioned, and I have nothing to do with him!”

"It doesn't matter, just say what you want, as long as you don't lie to me!"

"How dare you, how dare you!" The old man's face changed drastically, and his knees softened and he almost knelt down. He thought for a moment before saying carefully. It turns out that Liu Qi was originally from Xiangzhou, and his ancestors were originally from a wealthy family. However, when it came to his father's generation, because he had a lazy temperament and did not like to manage the family business, he had already declined by Liu Qi's generation. When my father died, there were only sixty or seventy acres of thin farmland and a few thatched huts left, but he had three brothers, and each family became poor.

Liu Qi is the youngest among the three brothers. He was only sixteen or seventeen years old when his father died. However, he said that he did not want a house or property, but only the old cow at home. The two brothers were overjoyed when they saw this, so they gave him the old cow, and they went to divide the land and houses. But half a month later, Liu Qi returned to the village. He was not riding the old cow, but a high-quality horse. He was dressed in brocade, carrying a cross sword, and was followed by five or six companions. Wealthy people dress up and hold banquets at the head of the village to entertain their neighbors.

"Wait a minute, old man!" Wang Wenzuo interrupted the old man's story: "You said he rode an old cow out of the village and came back half a month later on a horse, dressed in brocade clothes, and with five or six companions? He still had money to hold a banquet. Inviting others to dinner?"

"good!"

"This is strange!" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Forget it, I, please continue talking, what will happen to Liu Qi next?"

"Yes! So Liu Qi gradually gained a reputation in the village. If the villagers had disputes or conflicts, they would probably ask him to judge. He is a good person and fair in dealing with things. Even orphans and widows will not be harmed by him. Bullying, others gave him money, but he did not accept it. So as time passed, his reputation gradually grew, and the number of teenagers following him also increased. On weekdays, he was followed by more than a dozen tough teenagers when he went in and out, making him majestic. So tight!"

"Oh, where is his home? I want to visit him!"

"It's in a village near Xiangzhou. Just go there and ask. It's not difficult to ask. But he's only at home for a few days throughout the year. If you try to find him, you'll probably miss him!"

Wang Wenzuo nodded, picked up the gold ingot and handed it to the old man, smiling and saying: "Sorry for bothering you, I want to express my gratitude for this gold, so please accept it!"

The old man accepted the gold ingot and he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He smiled and said, "My lord, please take your time with your tea here. I have something to do outside. If you need anything, just call me!"

Wang Wen

Zuo nodded and waited for the old man to go out: "Cao Shifan, what kind of person do you think Liu Qi is?"

"He should be a village hero!" Cao Wenzong answered decisively: "When he rode out of the village on an old cow, he probably killed the cow to entertain the young people he was friends with, and then took them to do some illegal activities, such as digging Tombs, robberies and the like!”

Wang Wenzuo nodded. Cao Wenzong was almost as he had guessed. Of course, Cao Wenzong was more familiar with the rural society of the Tang Dynasty than he was. Naturally, he was more familiar with the behavior of people like Liu Qi who were courageous and resourceful but also from the middle and lower classes. The judgments made are also more accurate.

"So Master Cao, do you think someone like Liu Qi would dare to do such a big thing as treason?"

"Conspiracy?" Cao Wenzong frowned. After thinking for a moment, he replied: "Ming Gong, people like Liu Qi are so bold that there is nothing they dare not do. But generally speaking, he will not do it. !」

"Oh, why is that?"

"People like him have been rolling on the edge of knives since childhood, and their minds are very clear. If a person like him from a humble background gets involved in such things, failure will lead to the annihilation of the clan, and success will not What’s the benefit, unless—”

"Unless what?"

"Unless someone gives him a very credible promise! Or gives him a great benefit in advance, which will make him faint!"

"It makes you stupid? That's a good word!" Wang Wenzuo laughed: "Yes, yes, Cao Shifan, you and I have similar ideas. It can be said that heroes have the same ideas!"

"How dare you, a villain, call yourself a hero with Ming Gong!" Cao Wenzong quickly lowered his head.

"It doesn't matter, we are just passing by anyway, it's enough to get a rough idea, there is no need to go into details!" Wang Wenzuo drank all the tea: "It's getting late, let's set off!"

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Baekje, Sixi Fortress, Ungjin Governor's Mansion.

"This is He Wenkai!" Du Shuang whispered: "The other one is Chen Kai!" He turned the corpse over with his feet. The corpse's face was pale, its black eyes were wide open, staring at the hazy sky, and there were deep wounds on its neck. The deep marks took away his life: "They were the ones who incited the mutiny and were hanged! They were all He Bayong's men!"

They are all from the Tang Dynasty, Liu Renyuan thought a little dullly. He recalled the days after the Battle of Baijiangkou. Everyone was happy, with smiles on their faces and eyes shining. Soldiers and officers are all thinking about how much loot they have. After returning home, they can add a cow to their families, new clothes to their wives, and some toys to their children. Just a few months later, everything changed. They had been in Baekje for three years, and the new army to replace them was still far away. Even military rations became insufficient. Three years of hard fighting reduced Baekje to a state. The land was white, and the Silla people refused to give the Tang army any more food - the reason was very good. The battle in Baekje was over, and Silla still wanted to help the Tang army fight the Goguryeo people. The defending Tang army even had to reclaim wasteland, sow seeds, plow the fields, and sweat for their own belly and return travel funds. In this case, it is completely ridiculous to talk about morale and discipline.

"Commander, according to military law, we should chop off the heads of these two guys and hang their heads at the east gate for public display. As for He Bayong, he must be severely punished for his lax military management!"

"Forget it!" Liu Renyuan suddenly felt extremely tired of Du Shuang's endless chatter, just like the old crow on the tree outside the courtyard that always made those ominous cries.

"What?" Du Shuang thought he didn't hear clearly and asked doubtfully.

"I said forget it!" Liu Renyuan said, "The body will be cremated, and the ashes will be handed over to the two of them, so they can take them home. As for He Bayong -" He paused for a moment: "That's it?" Just give him a few words of reprimand and tell him to be careful!"

"Captain, this is military law!" Du Shuang's voice subconsciously raised a few degrees: "How can you run an army without being able to do so?"

"Military law? Which military law has allowed soldiers to fight in Baekje for more than three years and not be replaced?" Liu Renyuan asked: "They still have parents, wives and children, pastoral houses, and ancestral graves! They may have nothing when they go back!" Can military law handle such a person?"

Du Shuang suddenly became speechless. After a moment,

He whispered: "Well, you can't let it go like this, right? Mr. Liu, if this continues, the court will definitely deal with you!"

"Then let's deal with it!" Liu Renyuan said: "Whoever wants to sit in this position can do it. I am already old and there is really nothing I can do!"

When Du Shuang heard this, he also sighed: "Liu Gong, this is really a pity. We finally won this battle and made great achievements. We thought we could leave a name in history, but we didn't want to——"