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On that day, Qin Mu was holding a public trial for several illegal officials in Muyun and missed his schedule. He missed his destination and had to stop his boat at dusk and spend the night by the river.
In addition, after passing Changsha, the river became narrower and they could only take a small boat. The conditions were somewhat difficult, but with Qin Mu's thoughtful care, Yang Zhi was willing to endure it no matter how hard it was.
Along the way, a large number of people on the shore conducted open and secret investigations to crack down on illegal activities. Once Qin Mu had evidence, he would hold a public trial in the local area. All the people could watch the trial process on the spot. The trial of the case strived to be open, transparent, fair and just in order to win the hearts of the people and deter illegal activities.
However, Qin Mu had limited time and often set off immediately after hearing a case, so he often missed his lodging place.
The accompanying guards were already accustomed to it, and food was available on the boat. As soon as the boat docked, everyone had a clear division of labor and was busy. Soon, smoke rose from the shore, and soon a simple and delicious dinner was served.
The warm sunset has not yet set, the river is winding, and the mountains to the north block the cold winter wind. The valley is warm like spring, and various trees such as green pines and ancient banyan trees grow on the banks, with towering canopies and lush greenery.
Qin Mu had a small table set up at the bow, with a small clay stove on it. A pheasant was stewed in the stove, and some water tofu was added. The chicken soup was boiling and the aroma was overflowing. There was also a basket with fresh chicken leg mushrooms on the left and green vegetables on the right. There was also a small pot of daughter's red wine. This was the dinner for Qin Mu and the other two.
"My wife, come, drink this half bowl of soup first." Qin Mu picked up the bowl to feed his wife.
Yang Zhi just shook her head and said in a pleading tone: "Husband, I really can't drink anymore. I want to eat some vegetables."
"That won't do. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about our children. Drink it quickly."
When it comes to children, Yang Zhi has no choice but to give in. She opens her mouth reluctantly.
While Qin Mu was feeding his wife, he said to Dong Xiaowan, "Don't just stand there, eat quickly too."
Having said that, Qin Mu was busy feeding Yang Zhi and had no time to eat. Dong Xiaowan didn't even have an official status now. Even if she was given a name, she would at most be a concubine. It was unprecedented for her to eat at the same table with the mistress. Now that Qin Mu hadn't even started eating, how could she eat first
"Master, let me serve the lady. You eat first."
Dong Xiaowan's voice was melodious and pleasant, especially when she called out "Master" on the bed. Instead of being offensive, it made people's bones soften.
Yang Zhi rushed to say: "My dear, let me do it myself. If this goes on, I..."
"You're worried that you'll be spoiled, right? Hahaha!"
Yang Zhi's beautiful face was suddenly charming and happy, but she knew she couldn't persuade him, so she quickly finished half a bowl of soup so that Qin Mu could eat by himself.
After dinner, the three of them went ashore for a walk. The western mountain mist was full of red clouds, while the eastern sky had turned into a light ochre and pale blue. Hundreds of birds returned to their nests in the mountains, singing, and the evening breeze blew the dresses of the two girls. Their graceful and elegant figures reminded people of Ehuang and Nvying.
When Emperor Shun was on a tour to the south, Ehuang and Nvying followed him to the Xiang River, leaving behind a love story that has been passed down through the ages. Recalling the ancient story, looking at the mighty Xiang River, Qin Mu chanted:
White clouds are flying over Mount Jiuyi.
The emperor's son rode the wind down to Cuiwei.
A bamboo branch bears a thousand tears.
Thousands of red clouds form a hundred layers of clothes.
The waves of Dongting Lake are surging with snow.
The songs of the people of Changdao move the earth.
I want to dream of the vastness,
The morning sun shines throughout the land of hibiscus.
The two girls turned their heads when they heard the voice and saw Qin Mu looking at them with a smile. The two delicate flowers blushed in shame. Because the first four lines of the poem mean: White clouds float above Mount Jiuyi, and two concubines ride the breeze down the mountain. Tears gleam on the green bamboo branches, and pieces of red clouds are like gorgeous clothes woven by the wind.
Judging from the smile in Qin Mu's eyes at this moment, he clearly compared the two women in front of him to Ehuang and Nvying. How could Yang Zhi and Dong Xiaowan not be ashamed? Which woman in the world dares to compare herself to Ehuang and Nvying
The story of Emperor Shun and Ehuang and Nvying is very sad and beautiful. But when it comes to Qin Mu's mouth, the sadness and beauty are mixed with a kind of gorgeous and uplifting meaning.
There are many poems about Ehuang and Nvying, such as the poem by Gao Pian of the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yu went on a tour to the south and never returned, the two concubines were filled with resentment among the clouds and water. How much blood and tears were shed at that time? Even now, the bamboo is still spotted.
Generally speaking, the poems of our predecessors are mostly full of sorrow and sadness, which often make people feel sad and depressed after reading them.
However, the poem chanted by Qin Mu is completely different. It is not only sad and tearful, but the vigorous brushstrokes continuously expand the situation and finally bring the poetry into a vast and boundless realm.
It can be said that even such a tragic and beautiful story as that of Ehuang and Nvying was written by Qin Mu with an inspiring kingly style that makes one's heart surge upon hearing it.
After returning to the cabin, Dong Xiaowan hurriedly ground ink and wrote down the poem in beautiful small characters. She also poured tea for Qin Mu before going to play chess with Yang Zhi.
Qin Mu was alone under the lamp reviewing some documents sent by Yan Gaofei. His territory had expanded, and although he had arranged for Zhuge Min and Li Yuan to be in charge of the north and south of Huguang respectively, there were still some major matters that required his personal decision.
After an hour of reviewing the documents, Yan Gaofei was asked to board the ship again to send the official documents back overnight. This time, Yan Gaofei brought the news that Qin Liangyu was defeated in Kuiguan and was about to commit suicide for her country, but was rescued by her disciples and soldiers.
Qin Liangyu was defeated. A 70-year-old woman led 3,000 soldiers without any reinforcements. She was outnumbered by 300,000 rebels. It was reasonable for her to be defeated. Once Kuizhou was lost, the gateway to eastern Sichuan and the entire Bashu land would be in Zhang Xianzhong's hands.
This was a tragic microcosm of the Ming Dynasty. In such a vast Sichuan province, there was only a handful of white-haired old women left to fight against hundreds of thousands of rebels.
In the original history, the Battle of Kuiguan was the last battle of Qin Liangyu, the legendary woman of all ages, the last battle of Sichuan, and even the last battle of the entire Ming Dynasty. From then on, until the fall of Beijing, the entire Ming Dynasty never organized such a heroic resistance again.
After hearing the news, Yang Zhi and Dong Xiaowan lost interest in playing chess and looked depressed.
The cabin was small, and Dong Xiaowan had nowhere else to stay. When they stayed overnight on the boat, she could only sleep on the same bed with Qin Mu. The boat swayed gently with the waves, and the small cabin was warm with the silk quilt. Qin Mu embraced two beautiful women, their delicate bodies pressed against him on the left and right. He gently rubbed Dong Xiaowan's soft breasts with one hand, but he had no evil thoughts in his heart, as if it was just a habitual action.
Qin Liangyu was already seventy years old, and she knew that what she was doing was impossible, but she still did it. With a head full of white hair and three thousand heroic soldiers, she was willing to die for her country.
Qin Mu was also deeply moved after hearing this, but he knew the direction of history. Although Qin Liangyu's deeds were admirable, he could not learn from Qin Liangyu.
Qin Liangyu's legendary life made every woman proud. Moreover, in Yang Zhi's opinion, Qin Mu and the Qin family of Zhongzhou had the same roots. She finally couldn't help but said, "Husband, can't you... "
"No." Qin Mu said firmly before she finished speaking, "It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't. I can't save Sichuan, let alone the Ming Dynasty. In terms of real combat power, once your 100,000 new soldiers lose their geographical advantage, they may not be a match for Zhang Xianzhong, let alone defeat the more powerful Li Zicheng. What you don't understand is that these are all civil wars. Once you get caught up in them, you won't be able to extricate yourself. You must seize the opportunity to recuperate and strengthen your strength to deal with the tragic situation of the whole country being lost to foreign races."
"Destroyed by foreign races?" Dong Xiaowan couldn't help but ask.
"Is it strange? The Manchu Tartars outside the Great Wall are rising like the sun in the east. They have repeatedly blocked the Great Wall in recent years. Now the Central Plains is in constant war and is extremely weak. There is a precedent of the Mongols entering the Central Plains. Dorgon, the current regent of the Qing Dynasty, is an extremely ambitious person. He will never be content to stay dormant in Liaodong. He is waiting for an opportunity, the best opportunity to enter the Central Plains."
"How can this be?"
Qin Mu glanced at Dong Xiaowan calmly and replied, "Now everyone in the world is probably like you, thinking this is impossible. Everyone is busy with the civil war, each with their own agenda, and no one takes the threat of the Qing and Manchus seriously. Let's wait and see. When the Qing cavalry tramples across the Central Plains, when the vast land is soaked in the blood and tears of the Han people, perhaps everyone will wake up."
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ps: Today is the Lantern Festival, I wish you all a happy Lantern Festival. As for Valentine's Day in the West, forget it, I'm single, so I won't mention it. (To be continued...)
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