A team of business horses entered the territory of Liuzhou and came to Mazong Mountain, which is located between Liangzhou and Qingcang City. At a glance, it was full of brown Gobi remnants, difficult to cultivate, and the mountain showed rows of geese flying north-south. Between the mountain passes, the wind and sand flew like knives, and the cavalry from east to west had to pass through from here. After the imperial court included the original three states of Beiliang into its territory, leaving this place would be regarded as leaving the frontier. In the past ten years, there have been many poets who have traveled here far away, and many popular frontier poems have been recited by the government and the public. This time, when Liuzhou was set up in Beiliang Road, the imperial court of Liyang issued an edict about half a year later, and dozens of people were promoted. The main letter was to promote Yang Guangdou as the governor of Liuzhou. But he also knew that Zhao Ting had to pinch his nose to admit that the Xu family was covering the sky with one hand in Beiliang. Some people took pleasure in other people's misfortune and spread the saying "Let's see how long you will run wild in Beiliang". With the confirmation of the rumors of Chen Bing's western frontier in Beimang, it actually washed away the haze of the defeat of many Guangling Dao campaigns. In the eyes of many people, as long as If you don't fight the eastern front guarded by General Gu Jiantang, firstly, Liyang doesn't have to fight on two fronts, and secondly, Liangmang's death is dog-eat-dog. After all, if Beimang is a wild dog coveting the fat of the Central Plains, Beiliang is not much better. Go, for the Liyang court, has always been a watchdog who is not very obedient, wild and unruly.
With the gradual relaxation of many bans on Liuzhou in Beiliang Road, some refugees can not only return to their hometowns to worship their ancestors, but even join the military border. Moreover, the old Beiliang from the old three states can also enter Liuzhou smoothly, keenly looking for business opportunities for gold mining. This is the case for the cavalry that travels through Mazong Mountain. The owner of the cavalry is a big family in Lingzhou, who has been running tea, horses, salt and iron for generations. His ancestors were warriors who followed Rentu for many years. From the time when the old man of the fourth-rank military general died of an old disease on the battlefield, it is said that even the king of Beiliang had visited the mourning hall to pay homage in person. After Xiao's death, the treatment became more and more a talisman for this family. The border business of other families began to wither, but their business became more and more unimpeded, and even extended the family branches into Liuzhou smoothly. There are two outsiders in the nearly 100-member Fu family cavalry, a pair of masters and apprentices. The leaders of the cavalry team who have been traveling in dangerous places all the year round are not very welcome, but I heard that even the Fu family provokes someone from Lingzhou. The great and popular official said that the son of the aristocratic family had to take him into the cavalry because he was full and wanted to travel outside the Great Wall. In addition to the hard work of the old head of the Fu family, the next two generations of descendants inevitably showed fatigue because they followed the ancestral precepts and stayed away from officialdom. After all, it still depends on people's faces. The nominal leader of the Fu family is Fu Zhensheng, the eldest grandson of the third house of the Fu family, and he is led by two old gangsters who are familiar with the border. The depth of his hands and feet has never been seen before. Zhao Jiabao and Feng Qianxiang, two old men who have trained sharp eyes in the ups and downs of the rivers and lakes, are not sure. The rules of the rivers and lakes are that it is easy to look at the low and difficult to look at the high. Presumably Fu Zhensheng's skills are not far behind .
The horse team rested behind a wild goose-shaped mountain to take shelter from the wind and sand. Fu Zhensheng sat with his back against the mountain wall, carefully picked up the newly made sheepskin water bag, and took a sip of the warm and smelly water. The Fu family has always had this tradition. The first time a child of the Fu family walks through the border, an elder woman in the family will sew water bags, and then the elder men will hand them over. Even if the new pouch is dried to remove the fishy smell, it is still unbearable after storing the water. This is no different from a kind of torture for the rich and powerful descendants. However, Fu’s family style is simple and the descendants are mostly tough. , Every time I drink water, I can keep my face unchanged. He glanced at the pair of master and apprentice standing in the distance. The master was about the same age as him, with a handsome appearance. He was supposed to be the leader of the group in Lingzhou Fengyue. For some reason, he came to the frontier to ask for trouble. , that apprentice is an unremarkable child, but after entering Liuzhou, he is more comfortable than many Fu family who are used to traveling outside the Great Wall. Fu Zhensheng observed carefully all the way, and at this time he said to the two seniors: "Uncle Zhao, Uncle Feng, that Xu Qi doesn't seem like someone who is walking the frontier fortress for the first time. We don't need to remind him. The amount of water he drinks every time is very appropriate. He is thirsty and drinks too much. He is also fluent in dealing with people, not like those unsophisticated sons of noble families, and there are not many big clans in Lingzhou who can make our Fu family fearful, but I have never heard of such a number one person."
Zhao Jiabao, who has been a guest of the Fu family for more than 20 years, does not need to bow his knees to the owner of the family, and has an irreversible relationship with the owner of the third room. Therefore, he has taught Fu Zhensheng, who is like a junior in his family, all the way. Hearing Fu Zhensheng's old way The words were comforting, the old mottled vicissitudes of the face put on a sincere smile, nodded and said: "Although the young man named Xu Qi walked in the middle of the cavalry, he suffered a lot less from the wind and sand than the young master, but That calmness is not something that can be pretended if you want to. Riding a horse and eating and drinking are as careless as old bones like me and Qianxiang who are used to drinking the northwest wind. Don't be wary. It's a good thing for the young master to have a better understanding. Now that the young master has opened his mouth, Qianxiang, you can also get to the bottom of it."
Feng Qianxiang, who carried a long knife behind his back, smiled, and said in a deep voice: "Young master, don't worry. Before this trip, the master told me and Lao Zhao in private. Although this Xu Qi's origin is unknown, he can guarantee his innocence. They are not villains. However, Lao Zhao and I both have selfish intentions, and want to see if the young master can see the difference between the master and apprentice, so we didn’t say it clearly, so please don’t be offended by the young master.”
"It should be so." Fu Zhensheng was infused with a family style that was very different from ordinary generals since he was a child. It’s really not good to know the smell of the northwest wind.”
Fu Zhensheng sighed suddenly, and said: "The Xinliuzhou is a place where wolves look around. Chen Xiliang, the confidant of the Beiliang Palace, was indeed suspected of being a woman. He paid too much attention to the gains and losses of a moment and a place, and refused to abandon the city. Besieged by 10,000 horse thieves in Qingcang City, ruined the lives of dozens of white horse righteous servants in vain. Beiliang has guarded the border for so many years. Chen Xiliang, who is a famous person in Qingliang Mountain, comes from the same line. Our Fu family may have an unpredictable future. If we take ten thousand steps back, Fu Zhen will die if he lives or dies, which will delay the great cause of Beiliang. The grandson has entered the house."
Zhao Jiabao was obviously not optimistic about the future, and said worriedly: "Our Fu family has been working hard for Beiliang for nearly 20 years. In name, we are doing border business, but in fact we are secretly looking for mines. It can be said that most of the gold and iron mines in Beiliang came from the Fu family. Hands, going back to Fengxiang area of Liuzhou to confirm the quality and output of that iron ore, I think it is a bit uncertain."
Feng Qianxiang said with a smile: "After all, I hope that Beiliang can win this battle, otherwise I will lose the family fortune that I have saved for most of my life. Even if the king of Beiliang is standing in front of me, I will point at him scolded through his nose."
Zhao Jiabao laughed out loud, and seeing the dazed expression of the Young Master's family, he explained: "As soon as I heard that there was going to be a war, many unscrupulous and courageous big families in Lingzhou started to run out, but they couldn't take the house and fields with them, so It can only be sold at a low price. Originally, a good house that was not necessarily bought for more than two thousand taels of silver can be obtained for eight hundred taels. Qianxiang took advantage of the fire and robbed four houses, and borrowed a thousand taels from me for this. Said It's strange, the government completely turned a blind eye to such a big commotion, and ignored the rules of asking relatives and neighbors. Anyone who goes to the yamen can get a fixed post and a formal deed. It's not a white deed, it's a real red deed, Fortunately, the Protectorate finally got stuck at the last juncture, and they are not allowed to carry more than 100 gold and 1,000 silver every time they leave the country."
Fu Zhensheng asked curiously: "There is only so much gold and silver. Is it possible to send people back and forth to Beiliang? Those rich people don't bother? Even if they only have one hundred thousand taels of silver, one hundred gold and one thousand silver, they have to run away." Fifty times."
Feng Qianxiang shook his head and smiled and said, "It's also simple. In fact, you don't need to carry gold and silver out of the country. You bought antique calligraphy and painting treasures. It's easy and convenient. Anyway, no one cares about taking away more. If you go outside Beiliang, you can still exchange them for silver. Those The gentry who are good at connoisseurship have settled down, transformed into guests of every household, and now they have made a lot of money. You have heard of the Ice and Dragon Gang that rose up inexplicably in Lingzhou, the young boss. Compared with their appearance, I can’t compare It is worth mentioning that the attitude of the family is that all the money has been spent, and they have bought all the land and houses. I don’t know where so much money came from. After a rough calculation, as far as I know, the Yulong Gang has already sold out the real estate. More than 800,000 taels of silver, and the real amount cannot be doubled. This will become a big landlord who owns half of Lingzhou. The courage of the female gang leader of the Yulong Gang, I, a big man, also admires the courage. , why don't you marry that woman?"
Fu Zhensheng is not a person who can't take jokes, but he still felt a little helpless, and laughed at himself: "A heroine who is as famous as Huishan Ziyi in the world, how can she look up to me."
Zhao Jiabao snorted, with a look of surprise on his face, the pair of master and apprentice disappeared under their noses, and the few Fu family members who were close to outsiders didn't even notice. Fu Zhensheng was responsible for Beiliang and his family during this trip, so he felt a little disgusted at Xu Qi's self-assertion, looked up at the sky, and said: "Wait for them for half an hour, if they still can't find them, we must set off Now, between Qingcang and Fengxiang is the truly difficult journey, and they cannot be indulged."
Xu Fengnian, who brought Yu Dilong into Liuzhou, went around another goose-shaped mountain wall, and saw a pair of unexpected acquaintances, Song Dongming of the Luming Song family and his book boy, looking at each other, Song Dongming was stunned for a moment , and then laughed heartily, "From Wudang with beautiful mountains and rivers to this poor mountain, you can meet this young master. It's really nowhere in life that you don't meet again. If you don't worry, young master, I still have a small bag of wine here. The wine is so strong that it burns your throat at the beginning, but after a while, you can drink it refreshingly. Mr. Song is the only way to drink it. If I knew it, I would have bought a few more pots. Even if you should pay on credit, you have to bring two pots of green ants with you."
Xu Fengnian was not too polite, took the wine bag, lifted it in the air, took a sip, and handed it back to Song Dongming, who asked with a smile, "Young Master, don't take a few more sips, it's okay."
Xu Fengnian shook his head and said with a smile, "Xu Qi is no longer a beauty."
Seeing Xu Fengnian's self-reported family name, Song Dongming probably felt that the son with a Beiliang accent must not know who the Luming Song family is. …”
In the middle of the sentence, Song Dongming was hit on the cheek by the dry needle grass that was wrapped in the wind and sand. He stretched out his hand to touch it, and grabbed the dry yellow grass that had grown up and left the ground as flying catkins. wind."
The book boy suddenly stretched out his finger and shouted, "Look, sir, is that Wolf Smoke?"
Following the book boy's finger, Song Dongming saw a thick smoke rising from the desert, which should be in the direction of Qingcang City, and was reporting safety to Liangzhou. They had never seen such a scene when they entered Liuzhou before. No wonder they Song Dongming murmured to himself: "It is said in ancient books that the smoke of the wolf here is different from the Central Plains. It is named after the burning of wolf dung. The smoke is straight and extremely black, and the wind does not blow. The wolf smoke is not different from the Central Plains except that it is thicker."
Xu Feng said with a young smile: "I'm afraid it's a misrepresentation by some frontier poets. In the northwest frontier, wolf dung and smoke may occasionally be done, but those are all helpless actions when there is not enough cow and sheep dung. Most of them are Using local materials, Populus euphratica and red willow are used as firewood, supplemented by dry reeds and other flammable grasses that can be obtained everywhere, and the supply of so-called beacon fuel for the Northern Liang frontier army is quite strict. The border supervisor found that a certain beacon had insufficient reserves, and all the officials who sat down to the fourth rank had to beheaded on the spot. It was useless for anyone to intercede. In the past twenty years in Beiliang, almost three people died because of this "little incident". There were more than a hundred people. In the first four or five years, there were relatively few, but this year the most, and more than sixty border guards who neglected their duties were killed in one go."
Song Dongming was shocked, took a sip of green ant wine, and then said: "The two generations of vassal kings took over alternately, and the Beiliang frontier army is different from other vassal kings' armies. Many rebellious and meritorious veterans hold military power. Steady against chaos, why are you still so violent, see the big from the small, plus the previous rumors, you once secretly killed the general of Huaihua, Zhong Hongwu, after a disagreement, aren't you afraid of causing a mutiny? Mr. Xu, listen to your previous talk about the wolf smoke The reason is obviously familiar with military affairs, can you explain a thing or two to Song Dongming?"
Xu Fengnian smiled and asked back: "A disagreement?"
Song Dongming is so clever, although he was full of temptation at the beginning, he also knew how to speak nonsense in layman's language, and he couldn't come up with expert words. It is difficult to convince the masses with military merits before the war has started."
Xu Fengnian listened to this kind of general talk with calloused ears, and lost the desire to talk, so he planned to return to the Fu family's cavalry, and he had to protect them to reach Qingcang City safely, and then there would naturally be an elite cavalry team secretly escorting them to Fengxiang's new place. discovered mines. If the Fu family, who had worked so hard in Beiliang, knew that the King of Beiliang personally escorted them, they would not know what they would think, would they feel that all the years of hard work were worthwhile. Of course, Xu Fengnian would not let them know the truth. Perhaps this is what Xu Weixiong, who pays attention to the details, dislikes. As a master, he is unwilling to buy people's hearts in details. Song Dongming saw that Xu Fengnian showed signs of leaving, so he hastened to make amends, and said, "Mr. Xu, I heard that you have two young staff members in the Beiliang Palace. This is the King of Beiliang's employing people without doubt, and Chen Xiliang, a poor scholar, can be regarded as an employing man regardless of his rank, and he can attract the leftover pearls of the Hanshu family for Beiliang. Let me boldly say, if your Beiliang Dao is a self-contained country, Then these two people are sure to be the talents of the future Zaifu, but since ancient times, the important ministers in the temple have all been self-serving, that is, they first entered the center of the court with their talents, learning and deeds, and after they entered the eyes of the emperor, they were able to walk to the side of the emperor. So to say Come on, it seems that you are not following the rules at Qingliang Mountain."
Xu Fengnian nodded and said: "It's not very polite, but then again, in Mr. Song's opinion, what are the pros and cons of this kind of promotion?"
Song Dongming smiled slightly. He seemed to be talking about something he was good at, and he suddenly looked super-vulgar. Chen Xiliang, who suffered setbacks in all major events, was not punished by the King of Beiliang, so we scholars who have read poetry and books are full of knowledge, and our backgrounds are not worse than that of Chen Xiliang, so how can we not be high-ranking officials?"
Xu Fengnian interrupted Song Dongming very politely, and asked: "Mr. Song, what do you think of Chen Xiliang's stubborn defense of Qingcang? Do you think the King of Beiliang should be punished or not?"
The book boy had long thought that this guy surnamed Xu was not pleasing to the eye, his master has such a vision and knowledge, even if the famous Chinese people on Jiangnan Road listened to the master's explanation of the scriptures, they had to listen attentively, this Xu Qi is worthy of The savages in Beiliang just look like scholars, their demeanor and knowledge are in a mess, isn't it just the one who winks at the blind? The book boy was about to speak out to teach the ignorant guy, but Song Dongming glanced at him without showing any emotion, which frightened the most polite book boy to silence immediately. Song Dongming continued: "For Chen Xiliang, he should be rewarded and punished. This person defends the city. , It seems to be confused, so that everyone in Beiliang thinks that this son is a generation with great ambitions and talents, but they don't know that Beiliang has no shortage of soldiers, good swords and horses, or even money. The only thing missing is two words, the hearts of the people. "
Song Dongming looked into the distance, "The people's heart is the foundation of the harmony between people and people in the right place at the right time and place. The danger of the country is never in the danger of the mountains and rivers in the right place, but in the gathering and dispersal of people's hearts. The right place is a dead thing. Confucianism, Taoism, and Mohism each have their own views, and countless sages have not argued for a reason. Song Dongming dare not speak nonsense. He can be a king and a master. Merits and virtues, turning misfortunes into blessings, this is the way of humanity to prove the way of heaven, even if you can't reverse the weather, you can't go wrong. If you say that Beiliang is in the hands of the old Liang Wang Xu Xiao, and the armor soldiers are strong, 300,000 cavalry are already If the king of Xinliang, Xu Fengnian, can gather the hearts of the people, then every one of the millions of households in Beiliang can be a soldier willing to fight. Even if Beimang is known as a million people who control strings, how can they bully Beimang cold?"
Song Dongming said softly: "So, Chen Xiliang made a good start for Beiliang. Those refugees who entered the city were counted as 3,000 people. After they survived, the so-called word-of-mouth means that they are well-known. Liuzhou will naturally have 30,000 people, or even more. Many refugees know that the benevolence and righteousness of the young vassals are not the lord of Beiliang who is full of benevolence and morality, and it is definitely not the hypocrisy and hypocrisy that only puts some porridge at the gate of the city, but can really help them guard the four prefectures of Beiliang !"
The middle-aged scholar who talked to himself looked solemn, "If Chen Xiliang chose to retreat at that time, yes, it is true that he left behind the white horse righteousness in the city for the king of Beiliang. Unfortunately, Li Yishan's plan back then was all a bamboo basket. In vain. Both kindness and power, Li Yishan expelled the refugees and could not return to his hometown. He dispatched soldiers from Beiliang to kill and train soldiers all the year round. So, Xu Fengnian wants these refugees to fight to the death for Beiliang? Idiots are dreaming! Beiliang thinks that Xu Beizhi, who is thoughtful and thoughtful, is far better than Chen Xiliang, who is benevolent as a woman. Hmph, this is the real short-sightedness! The inner sage and the outer king, only If you govern with virtue, you can be like the North Star in the sky, and if you live in it, there are many stars guarding it, and you will be considered as a true Taoist. If there is a military heart in Beiliang Kong but no people's heart, then even if 300,000 soldiers die, it will be the same. You can’t keep the gate to the northwest of Liyang! Then what Xu Fengnian, who was still His Royal Highness at the time, said in the imperial court of the capital, guarded the gate for the people of the Central Plains, not to be disturbed by the horseshoes of the Northern Mang. It’s a nonsense that people laughed out loud!"
The book boy at the side stared wide-eyed, would his master, who was always gentle and refined, be so outspoken
Xu Fengnian nodded silently.
Yu Dilong was squatting next to his master, and he definitely couldn't understand what he heard, but he still felt that this slightly elderly Jiangnan scholar spoke with a lot of energy, and seemed to have more momentum than a master of the rivers and lakes.
momentum.
Yu Dilong, who was staring at Song Dongming fiercely, was a little puzzled. How many books do they scholars read, and how much momentum can they read? Is there such a good thing in the world? Why don't you go back and tell Master that we can also read and write
After Xu Fengnian was silent for a while, he smiled and "asked the truth" and said: "Private Minister Yin Maochun is presiding over the official examinations for officials from various places outside the capital. Mr. Song is traveling in Liang at this time, so he must not be in the official career? With Mr. Song's strategy in mind, why don't you become an official?"
The book boy snorted heavily, obviously thinking that this idiotic question was an insult to his master.
Song Dongming suddenly felt a little sentimental, closed his eyes, vaguely showing an expression of uncontrollable pain, and said softly: "To be honest, someone in the capital once asked me this way, and I can only say that what he gave was not what I asked for. .”
Song Dongming also seemed to realize that it was not appropriate to reveal his true feelings, so he smiled and said, "Mr. Xu, is this trip going to Qingcang City?"
Xu Fengnian shook his head.
Yu Dilong looked at Master calmly.
Song Dongming said, "Then let's say goodbye."
Xu Fengnian bid farewell with fists in his hands, and returned to Fu's cavalry with Yu Dilong.
Xu Fengnian suddenly remembered the espionage records in Beiliang. Song Dongming, who was favored by Yuan Benxi very early on, was admitted to the university after he was admitted to the university. He first won the gold list, and he was second in the high school list before he won the championship. Even the young emperor was shocked by this person's extensive knowledge He was so knowledgeable that he almost wanted to give him a marriage. He never thought that this person would marry a woman of low family status immediately after returning to his hometown. pity. It's a pity that such a romantic person, why doesn't he want to marry that well-matched woman from the Zhao family? Song Dongming was soon widowed and had no children under his knees. He hadn't married a wife for so many years, and he didn't even have a concubine. It was vaguely mentioned in the intelligence that the death of Song Dongming's wife was not normal. Lu Ming and the Song family are a wealthy family, and Song Dongming is even a handsome man who is expected to enter the court. Who would dare to act in such a frenzied manner? The entire Liyang can be counted on one hand.
Xu Fengnian, who had gone far away, couldn't help but look back.
He once passed Lu Xu from Xiangfan City by mistake, this time he shouldn't miss him again.
Xu Fengnian whistled and slowly raised his hand. Not long after, a handsome white falcon quickly landed on his arm.
Over there, Song Dongming and Shutong continued to walk hard in the wind and sand in Mazong Mountain. Shutong walked beside the gentleman, raised the gauze mask that covered his mouth to cover the yellow sand, and said loudly: "Sir, this Xu Qi should be born in Beiliang A tall family member in a tall family, right?"
Song Dongming smiled and said, "You are more difficult to speak than I am."
The book boy chuckled, and quickly turned his head to spit out the yellow sand at the entrance, "Sir, when we are wandering around like this, when are we going to meet that young vassal king? Didn't the sir say that Beiliang still lacks a good assistant who can strategize? Sir But I have the strategy of ten victories and ten defeats in my heart!"
Song Dongming said flatly: "Let's see the fate. Besides, whether Xu Fengnian is the master in my mind, I have to wait and see."
The book boy looked bitter, and said: "Sir, even if his surname Xu can display his ambitions, how will our Luming Song family handle themselves? The Yu family, whose eldest grandson Yu Luan went to Beiliang to join the army, is a lesson from the past. .”
Song Dongming shook his head and said, "This is different from the past. With Western Chu returning to the country, if the court suppresses the Song family, it will have to pay the price of causing turmoil in the hinterland of the Central Plains. The loss outweighs the gain. Besides, Song Dongming has long been a pawn in Tai'an City. Where does it fall?" It doesn't matter, maybe Mr. Yuan will be happy to see it succeed."
The book boy sighed old-fashionedly.
Song Dongming looked forward with firm eyes.
Mr. Yuan, you said that if you are willing to give up, you will gain if you give up. So it forces me to make a choice. But why doesn't Song Dongming know this simple truth, but I don't want to exchange the small house in your eyes for the position of prime minister.
I, Song Dongming, have always been a useless idiot, like I don’t know if good people are really rewarded, but I am willing to believe it. Just like people in the world don't believe that Xu Fengnian of Beiliang can defend the northwest, but I am willing to believe it.
Song Dongming walked, his eyes were moist.
Lips quivered slightly.
Almost silently humming a ditty that the woman who died young often sang.
"East and west, north and south, north and south, east and west, I only wish to go hand in hand without parting.
In this life, in the next life, in the next life, who can meet again? "