Xue Yuan, a scholar of culture, has always sneezed a few times on the road in the past two days.
It was too late, but there was still some afterglow in the sky in the north. After the marching people had dinner, they started to drive forward again with the afterglow.
Xue Yuan pinched the bridge of his nose, and the lieutenant said with concern, "Sir, are you alright?"
Xue Yuan shook his head and continued to lead the soldiers forward with no expression.
The lieutenant looked at his cold and ruthless appearance, turned his head to look at the victims on both sides of the road who were looking at them, and sighed inwardly.
After the army marched to the disaster area, they would see a large number of victims from time to time.
These victims were starving and emaciated. They looked at their army with timid and panicked eyes, but when they turned to see their food and grass, those eyes turned into fiery greed.
These grains are really piled up like mountains. The troops transporting food and grass are strong and powerful, but these roadside refugees are pitiful, including young children and elderly people who are about to starve to death.
Daheng soldiers who were well-bred and well-dressed by the sage, many of them saw such a tragic situation for the first time in their lives. They couldn't bear it. Xue Yuan also issued an order on the day after seeing these victims that no one was allowed to give away a ration of food and grass to the victims.
"Who dares to take out a ration," Xue Yuan held the big knife that day, and the expression on his face was terrifyingly indifferent, "Dispose of it according to military regulations, and the head will fall."
As soon as these words came out, they immediately suppressed all those who couldn't bear it.
But also, the ruthlessness of the main general caused resentment in the hearts of many soldiers. Finally, two days ago, a few soldiers couldn't bear it anymore and secretly took out part of their food and grass to relieve a group of victims who were about to starve to death. However, just that night, when the army was about to set up camp, it was surrounded by hundreds of victims who were so hungry that they lost their minds. They ignored the warnings of the soldiers and rushed towards the grain cart in a frenzy. Because the soldiers gave in to them, these victims He even killed several Daheng soldiers with stones and sharp farm implements.
This kind of chaos didn't subside until Xue Yuan led the people to kill all the victims who surrounded them.
After the turmoil subsided, the soldiers protecting the food and grass panted and looked at the bodies of the victims on the ground. The appearance of the victims rushing up was still imprinted in their minds. The crazy eyes made these soldiers. There are some who can't come back to God, and the whole person is dazed.
After Xue Yuan finished killing people, his face was splattered with the blood of the victims, and the big knife was dyed a dull red. He turned around, pointed the knife at the soldiers with a blank face, and asked, "Who gave them food and grass? already?"
The three or five soldiers who evenly distributed their rations gritted their teeth and walked out of the crowd.
In an instant, the expressionless expression on Xue Yuan's face instantly turned hideous. He stuck the big knife on the ground, strode over, and walked faster and faster, and finally punched the three or five soldiers. He beat them hard, pulled them by the neck and roared, "They were killed by you, do you understand!"
His fist fell all of a sudden, and the soldiers around were blushing, but they were silent, not knowing what to say.
The lieutenant's heart was sour, the soldiers who were beaten silently carried the beating, the blood of the victims and their own blood and tears were mixed with dust, and the vultures in the sky were attracted by the smell of blood, and circled around the bodies of the victims.
"What did I say before?" The veins on Xue Yuan's neck burst out, and he grabbed the collars of the soldiers, "I can't give them food!"
"Do you think you are heroes?" Xue Yuan looked terrified, "We are delivering food, what do you mean! These food are for border soldiers, do you think there is a lot of food? Then you think the whole disaster area is affected by the disaster. How many victims are there!"
"A single ear of wheat, they will come up to grab it without life. It doesn't matter how many soldiers and horses you have and whether you are soldiers of the imperial court. Hundreds of people can kill, thousands of people, tens of thousands of people? This way in the northern Xinjiang, because of the food you gave, they can follow you all the way, looking for opportunities to snatch them all the way," Xue Yuan suddenly grabbed a soldier's collar and led him staggered to the victims attacked by the victims. The bleeding soldiers pointed to the wounds on the heads of these people and said, "Did you see it? Open your eyes to Lao Tzu to see clearly, this is the consequence of your kindness."
The wounded soldiers raised their heads in silence and looked at the three or five soldiers. Those soldiers who took out their rations and went out to relieve the victims, gritted their teeth, and the muscles on their faces were shaking.
Xue Yuan took them to see the bodies of several soldiers who were caught off guard and did not want to do anything to the victims, but were killed by the victims instead.
The tears in these people's eyes could no longer be held, and they knelt down, whimpering in pain. Xue Yuan let go of them, pulled out the knife from the mud, and returned to his expressionless expression, "Ignore the military regulations and be executed according to the law."
"grown ups-"
"General!!!"
Many people stopped Xue Yuan, and they persuaded Xue Yuan to spare these soldiers once. I believe that after this time, no one will dare to obey the military orders. If there is, they will be killed next time.
Xue Yuan gave these officers a face who kept begging for the soldiers and spared their lives. But from two days ago to today, Xue Yuan has maintained this extremely cold appearance.
No one knew whether he was angry at the soldiers who suffered or at being forced to kill the hundreds of victims.
The lieutenant had a faint feeling in his heart. He always felt that Mr. Xue had no intention of killing those soldiers. In the end, pushing the boat along the way might just be a way to appease the soldiers.
Not only that, even though the expressions on Mr. Xue’s face became less and less these days, and he seemed extraordinarily indifferent, it was obvious to the naked eye that the soldiers of the entire army had increased their confidence and reliance on Mr. Xue. Unable to bear it, the entire marching soldiers could also keep their faces straight and hurry day and night without squinting.
The more rational the general is, the more he takes the overall situation into consideration, the more the soldiers fear him, the stricter the military discipline will be.
The lieutenant was thoughtful and sighed in his heart.
Master Xue is only twenty-four now, but when he treats the victims who can't help but feel pity at first glance, how does he maintain such a sober and cold-heartedness
Or is it that what Master Xue has experienced in the past is more cruel than this scene
While the lieutenant general was thinking about it, Xue Yuan looked up at the sky and said concisely: "Inform the army to rest here tonight."
The order was given, and the voices from the rear became noisy. Today, I finally found a clean river. The water prepared a few days ago was running out. Xue Yuan arranged for people to take turns to go to the river to fill up the water supply, and the scattered sentries rushed over, "General, the number of disaster victims following behind is increasing. More and more."
Xue Yuan said: "Let them follow."
Listen to what the general said. Not only was the lieutenant admiring Xue Yuan, but these sentinels were also very obedient. They responded cleanly, turned around and mounted their horses, and continued to investigate the movement in the four directions.
Fortunately, these victims were afraid of the majesty of tens of thousands of soldiers, so they only dared to stand behind them, and did not dare to provoke them.
The closer he got to the northern border, the less Xue Yuan said. His expression was heavy, and only occasionally would he show a soft look, but that softness was fleeting, and the longing in his eyes had not yet arisen. , it has been completely dispelled by the barren disaster.
The lieutenant said, "Sir, let's go clean together?"
Xue Yuan clapped his hands, "Go."
The lieutenant turned his head and glanced behind him, and the victims rested in the distance. Because of the previous relief work, the soldiers began to be vigilant about the victims. Even at such a long distance, these soldiers were still fully alert. Has consciously ran to the grain cart, silently guarding the grain.
Xue Yuan glanced at it and said nothing. The lieutenant smiled bitterly and said: "Your Excellency's thoughts are well known to the lower officials. These grains are the grains delivered to the border, and I have no right to deal with them. Only General Xue has the right to use these grains to help the victims. If they can really support By following us to the northern border, it can be regarded as a chance of life."
After speaking, the lieutenant was a little worried. "Although we have enough food, I am still worried. Otherwise, I will reduce the soldiers' rations and wait until the northern border before making plans?"
While talking, the two had already walked to the river. They washed their faces downstream, and Xue Yuan said, "No, just eat like this."
Xue Yuan, who had been on the march for several years and seldom had a full meal, did not expect that one day he would say such a thing. He couldn't help laughing. There must be enough food."
This is not a few years ago, Gu Yuanbai, Xue Yuan believed in Gu Yuanbai.
*
Unbeknownst to the generals ahead, 100,000 ducks were on their way to the northern border.
Not only ducks, but also part of the rice harvested this year. In order to show their gratitude and loyalty to the saint, these tyrants are extremely self-conscious, and some of them have spent a lot of money, and they have taken out an astonishing amount.
When these news reached Gu Yuanbai's ears, he sighed, and even picked up the pen himself, wrote several words "for the country and the people", and sent people to reward these tyrants who sacrificed themselves and others.
It is such a glorious thing to be able to get the reward of the Holy Spirit. The tyrants who received the reward secretly rejoiced in their hearts, and they took the wind with them when they went out and walked, which was plainly enviable. Not only that, the tyrants who contributed to the northern locust plague will also receive three kinds of waist badges of bronze, silver and gold distributed by the court according to their contribution, and their names and places of origin will be recorded by the government. The name will be engraved on the stone wall, erected for the people to pay their respects.
As soon as such a move came out, the large and small merchants could not sit still.
The Ministry of Household was busy for several days in a row, and when he recovered, all the envoys who came to Beijing to celebrate his birthday had already left, but there was only one envoy from Xixia who asked for Daheng.
After the Minister of Household Tang and Gu Yuanbai reported the important matters one by one, they also talked about the affair with Xixia, "Sir, the mutual market with Xixia has stopped for three months. Xixia messengers are anxious in their hearts. , I have already sent people to give gifts to the officials of the ministers and households."
"Really?" Gu Yuanbai said, "Looking at their prince, he seems quite relaxed."
The Minister of the Household couldn't laugh or cry, but he had to admit that the sage was right.
"Let's hang them up and see what other good things Xixia can come up with," Gu Yuanbai smiled meaningfully, "I don't have the time to deal with them now. If you give gifts, just keep them, just look at Xixia's. How many things did these messengers bring to Daheng?"
As he said that, he shook his head, "I gave me such a thick gift, and in the end I still have money to spend in Daheng, and I have things to send to your house... Xixia is really rich."
The Minister of the Ministry of Housing did not think of this level before, and at this time, he followed the words of the sage before turning around. He thought about it carefully, and couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, Xixia is really rich."
After the two monarchs and ministers sighed, the minister of households withdrew. Gu Yuanbai glanced at the sky outside, and suddenly said: "General Xue has been gone for three months, and even Xue Yuan has more than a month."
Tian Fusheng calculated the time, and the respect should be: "Exactly."
Gu Yuanbai sighed, "Keeping the gatekeeper, the wife, daughter and mother of the Xue family are afraid that they are extremely lonely in their hearts."
Tian Fusheng persuaded: "The sage is prepared to take care of the Xue mansion on weekdays, and he also mentioned the appointment of Mrs. Xue and Mrs. Xue, and the governor of the capital often sends troops to patrol the gate of the Xue mansion. Dare someone to come and bully you."
Gu Yuanbai nodded, glanced at the two wolves lying beside the table, he pressed his forehead, and said, "Go ahead, I will come to Xue's house in person tomorrow, and have the Minister of War and the Privy Council accompany me, Those officials with whom General Xue had a good relationship on weekdays also selected two or three people to accompany him."
Tian Fusheng said: "Yes."
*
The next day, the sage brought his ministers to the Xue mansion in person.
Whether it was the Xue Mansion or some military officers, they all breathed a sigh of relief because of this.
Gu Yuanbai arranged for Xue Yuan to deliver food, firstly because he was suitable, and secondly because Gu Yuanbai wanted to tell General Xue, go ahead and do it. If I can send your son to send you troops and food, it means I trust you. I am your strong backing.
But there are always people who will think wildly, guessing this as proof that the sage is afraid of Xue's house, so they want to take the opportunity to get rid of the father and son of Xue's house in one fell swoop.
Such people really underestimate Gu Yuanbai's belly size and mind, and they really think of Gu Yuanbai as a bit of a fool. Now that the sage personally brought the important officials of the court to the door to appease, when this move was made, these people knew that the sage did not mean that.
Mrs. Xue, who was comforted by the sage's gentle voice, even burst into tears, "If you can do things for the sage, you will die, and it is also the creation of their father and son."
Gu Yuanbai laughed and shook his head, and said, "The old lady's words are serious, this battle is not difficult, and General Xue and his son will definitely bring me a great victory."
His tone was light, but it was such a tone that he seemed confident and very convincing.
After appeasing the family of Xue Mansion, Gu Yuanbai was invited to walk around in Xue Mansion. After a long while, he suddenly remembered: "Where is Xue Jiuyao's room?"
Chang Yuyan once said that there are more books in Xue Yuan's room than in his entire study. Gu Yuanbai is really curious about this statement.
The servant in Xue's house hurriedly led the way, leading Gu Yuanbai to the front of Xue Yuan's room. Everyone stayed outside, Gu Yuanbai walked in alone, stepped into the room and saw a lot of neatly arranged books.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, stepped forward, took out a book at random, and saw that the paper inside was clean and tidy, and it didn't look like it had been opened in the slightest.
Gu Yuanbai put the book back, and even took out a few military books, but the results were the same, not to mention the notes and handwriting that he had read, these books still had the unique ink aroma of new books, as if they had just been printed. Came out exactly the same.
Is this the legendary man of culture
Gu Yuanbai sat at the desk and flipped open a few pages of the book in his hand, thinking, Xue Yuan has never read any of the books on this wall, right
Thinking about it carefully, Xue Yuan seemed to have personally told Gu Yuanbai that he was a rough man and had not read a few books.
But listening to what Chang Yuyan said, Xue Yuan seemed to have become a person who could not be seen.
Which statement is true
Gu Yuanbai turned a few pages and was about to put the book back when his toes kicked something. He looked down and saw a rough-crafted swallow kite flying in the space under the desk.
It was the one that Xue Yuan had shown to Gu Yuanbai.
Gu Yuanbai didn't have any self-consciousness to see no evil. He bent over and picked up the swallow kite. He turned it over and saw that there was a line of characters written on the kite.
"If there are no five thunders, then the emperor will fall into my arms."