"I've been thinking about the grain in the valley for a few days, and I have a way to talk to Mr. Ning in private..."
The time was approaching noon, and there was already the aroma of cooking in the small courtyard halfway up the mountain. When he came to the study, Luo Ye, who was wearing a military uniform, stood up after Ning Yi's question and said this. Ning Yi tilted his head slightly and thought for a while, then waved again: "Sit." He sat down again.
As the saying goes, like things gather, people are divided into groups. Since Ning Yi and others gradually settled down in Xiaocanghe, in addition to the young people of Yongle Youth League and Zhengqi Association, small associations have gradually appeared in the army. Huayan Society is the most open and upright one. It appeared after Ning Yi proposed the word Huaxia.
Most of the participants in this group were young generals from the lower ranks of the Wu Rui camp. As the initiator, Luo Ye himself was also an excellent soldier. Although he originally only commanded a small school with a dozen people, he was born from a wealthy family and had read some books. His conversation and knowledge were extraordinary, and Ning Yi had already paid attention to him.
"If I remember correctly, Brother Luo was in Beijing before, and he has a good family background." He paused for a while, then raised his head and said.
Luo Ye sat upright on the opposite side, not shy: "Luo's family is in the capital, there is a lot of business, both black and white are involved. Now... the Jurchen siege, it is estimated that they have become Jurchen."
"But when the Wu Rui battalion was raised, you were the first to follow."
"As my subordinates said, the Luo family is in the capital and has backgrounds in both black and white. Among the brothers in the clan, I am the least capable. I failed in school since I was a child, but I am brave and ruthless, love to fight injustice, and often cause trouble. My father thought of entrusting me to the army. It only takes a few years to get promoted, and then I can do my best for the family business in the army. At the beginning, I was placed in the Wusheng army, and I was taken care of by my related superiors, and I was promoted. Two levels, it happened to meet the Jurchen going south."
The young man named Luo Ye spoke loudly without hesitation: "I followed Wu Shengjun all the way to the outside of Bianliang City, and attacked that night. When I met the Jurchen cavalry, the army was destroyed, so I took my brothers to Xia Village, and later Incorporating into the Wu Rui Camp... I have a ruthless temperament since I was a child. I am annoyed at many things in my family, but where I was born is because of my life, I have no choice. However, during that time in Xia Village, I only knew why the world was corrupted. , What is the reason for losing all the way in this battle?"
"...At that time, the first battle was like that. Later, the Qin family lost power. You Xiangye and General Qin suffered unjust injustice. Others may be ignorant, but I understand the reason. I also know that if the Jurchen goes south again, Bianliang City will be unlucky. .My family I can't persuade me, but it's so worldly. I already know how to do it."
He said this in one breath, and paused again: "Moreover, to my father at the time, if Bianliang City really fell and the Jurchen massacred the city, I would be considered to have left blood for the Luo family. In the long run, If the future proves that my choice is right, maybe... I can save the Luo family. It just looks like... "
These words may have been repeated in his mind before. When it came to the last few sentences, the words were a little difficult. Since ancient times, blood is thicker than water, and he can't stand the actions of his own family. He also rebelled with Wu Ruiying without hesitation, but he may not hope that something happened to his family.
However, it was half a year ago that Bianliang fell. After that, the Jurchen searched and plundered, killing people like hemp. They also plundered a large number of women and craftsmen and went north. Luo Ye's family may not be among them. No one is going to be in a better mood just by taking this into account.
He didn't finish the last sentence, Ning Yi nodded and pushed the tea towards him: "If your family can survive the matter of Bianliang, there may not be a turning point in the future, you should relax your heart."
Luo Ye sat there and shook his head: "The Wu Dynasty has weakened to this point, as Mr. Ning said, everyone is responsible. The Luo family also has to bear this cause and effect. Since I have come out, I will put this life on the line. , I just want to struggle to find a way, and I no longer care about family affairs."
Ning Yi looked at him with a smile, after a while, he nodded slowly, and said no more: "Understood, Brother Luo said earlier that the way to deal with food, I don't know if..."
Luo Ye straightened his body: "As I said earlier, the Luo family had some relationship between black and white before. When I was young, although my father visited some big families, I think about it now, although the Jurchen killed all the way to Bianliang. City, but north of the Yellow River, after all, there are still many places that have not been hit by war. The big families in the place will still have food for several years at this time. Now, in retrospect, there is a large family near Huoyi in Pingyang Prefecture. The owner is Huo Tinghuo Outside the members, this person is entrenched in the local area, with fertile fields and thousands of hectares, and has hands and eyes in both black and white. Although the Jurchen did not really kill at this time, but the situation north of the Yellow River is changing, and he must also be looking for a way out."
"I have met Huo Ting with my father. Huo Ting has been to Beijing several times, and he has also stayed in Luo's house for a while. It can be called some friendship. I think if I go to lobby this Huo member, I may be able to persuade him to take shelter. Yu Xiaocanghe. If he agrees, the lack of food in the valley can be explained a little."
Xiao Canghe's food problem was not concealed internally, and everyone in the valley was worried. As long as they could think about things, most of them had to go through it several times in their minds. It is estimated that there were many people who found Ning Yi wanting to make plans. After Luo Ye said this, the room was quiet for a while, Ning Yi's eyes were dignified, his hands and fingers were interlaced, he thought for a while, and then brought a pen and paper: "Pingyang House, Huoyi, Huo Tinghuo..."
He wrote the handwriting on the paper, then stood up, turned to the bookshelves and wooden boxes at the back of the study, rummaged for a moment, took out a thin file and walked back: "Mr. Huo Tinghuo, indeed, Jinghan Eleven In the grain shortage in the north of the year, his name is there. Near Huoyi, he is indeed one of the largest grain merchants. With his support, it is not a big problem to support ten or twenty thousand people."
Luo Ye said: "Although this person is misbehaving, in the current situation, he may not be able to cooperate. What's more, if Mr. Ruoning has an idea, I can act as an inner responder to clarify the truth of the Huo family. Our Xiao Canghe sent troops to destroy Huo. The matter of home and food can be easily solved.”
His family was born in the underworld, and he was upright and decisive as the reason for the Wu Ruiying uprising, but he did not shy away from ruthless methods. Just after he finished speaking, he added: "This subordinate also knows that this is not good, but since I have broken with the Wu Dynasty, there are some things that subordinates feel that there is no need to worry too much. Whether or not to do these things is up to Mr. Ning and the generals in charge of the overall situation to decide. The subordinates just feel it is necessary to say it. Let Mr. Ning know so that it can be used as a reference."
"You're doing it for everyone's good." Ning Yi nodded with a smile, and added, "This matter is very valuable. I will leave it to the staff for collegial consideration. It's really going to happen, and I'm not a kind person, Luo. Brothers can rest assured."
Luo Ye's always serious face smiled a little, and he put his hands on his legs. Slightly raised his head: "The matter to be reported by this subordinate is over, don't disturb Mr. I will leave." After speaking, he was about to stand up, and Ning Yi waved his hand: "Hey, wait."
Luo Yefu sat down again, and Ning Yi said, "I have something to talk about with Brother Luo."
Seeing Luo Ye's body sitting upright again, Ning Yi smiled. He approached the coffee table, and was silent for a moment: "Brother Luo. As for those in the previous Zhuji... Let's talk about comrades, do you have confidence?"
Luo Ye frowned: "It's not because of..."
"No, that's not what I'm talking about." Ning Yi waved his hand and said seriously, "I absolutely believe in Brother Luo's sincerity and sincere love for things in the military. Brother Luo, please believe that I asked this matter out of thought. The purpose of understanding some common ideas in the military, I hope you can talk to me about this matter as objectively as possible, it is also very important for our future actions."
Luo Ye hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "As for the senior of... Zhuji, the subordinates naturally have confidence."
"However, there are some reservations about their ability to solve the food problem."
"... The matter is undecided. After all, it's hard to say. My subordinates also know that Zhuji's predecessors are very respectable, but... I also think that if there is one more message, there will be a choice of paths. After all, it will be wider."
"...I don't have much confidence that they can solve this matter. In fact, I don't have much confidence that I can solve this matter." Ning Yi looked at him and laughed, for a moment, his eyes were solemn, he slowly got up and looked at him. Towards the window, "The previous shopkeepers of Zhuji, including potential talents in business, speech, and logistics, have a total of two hundred and twenty-five people. After grouping, together with their fellow guards, they are now placed outside. There are more than 1,200 people in total, each with their own divisions. However, I have no confidence in whether it can open up a business route connecting all parties, and whether it can straighten out the complicated relationship in the vicinity. At least, I can't see it until now. A clear outline."
"But I believe that hard work will pay off." Ning Yi said almost every word, slowly, "I have experienced many things before, and at first glance, they are all dead ends. There is no way, but stepping back is not the way, I can only slowly do what I can and push things to change. Often we have more and more chips, and more and more times, an unexpected road will be in front of us Appearing... Of course, that's what I'm saying, I'm looking forward to seeing a clear path ahead, but at the same time... It's not just them that I can expect."
Luo Ye sat upright, his eyes were a little confused, but he was obviously trying to understand what Ning Yi said, Ning Yi turned around: "We have more than 10,000 people in total, including Qingmu Village, there are tens of thousands of people, not 1,200 people. people."
"Brother Luo, I told everyone before why the army of the Wu Dynasty couldn't beat others. What I dared to analyze is that because they all know what the people around them are like, they can't trust the people around them at all. But now we Xiao Canghe More than 10,000 people, in the face of such a big crisis, even when everyone knew that there was such a crisis, did not immediately disperse. Why? Because you are more or less willing to believe in the 1,200 people who are working hard outside. What about 1,200 people? They are also willing to believe that even if they can't solve the problem by themselves, with the efforts of so many trustworthy people, most of them will be able to find a way. This is actually the biggest difference between us and the military of the Wu Dynasty. The most valuable thing among us so far."
Luo Ye's eyes swayed and nodded slightly, Ning Yi paused and looked at him: "Then, Brother Luo, what I want to say is, if one day, our food storage bottoms out, we will be out of 1,200 people. Brothers all failed. Are we going to die?"
Luo Ye raised his head and his eyes became determined: "Of course not."
"Of course not!" Ning Yi's hand waved violently, "We still have 9,000 troops! That's you! Brother Luo, the 1,200 people outside the mountain are working hard to complete them. task, and the reason why they can be motivated is not only themselves, it also includes, they have nine thousand brothers in the mountain, because of your training, you are very strong."
"If one day, even if they fail. Of course you guys will fix this!"
"Yes!" Luo Ye slightly straightened his shoulders.
"In a system. People have their own duties, and this system is the most powerful only when each person does his own thing well. As for food, many people have been worried recently. As a soldier, Anxiety is a good thing and a bad thing, its pressure is a good thing, and despair over it is a bad thing. Brother Luo, come here today. I can know that a soldier like you is not because of despair, but because of pressure, but when you feel the pressure Under the circumstances, I believe that many people still have no bottom in their hearts."
Luo Ye lowered his head and considered, Ning Yi waited for a moment: "The soldier's worries have a premise. No matter what he faces, he knows that he can kill him with a sword! With this premise, we can find various methods. Minimize your losses and solve problems.”
"Mr. Ning, I..." Luo Ye stood up with his head lowered, Ning Yi shook his head, and patted his shoulder solemnly: "Brother Luo, I am very sincere about this matter, please believe it. I, what you came to say today is very valuable, under any circumstances. I will never reject such information, and I never hope that you will have such thoughts in the future and not say it. The reason for analyzing these with you is because You are the head of Huayan Society, and I want to arrest you as a strong man."
Ning Yi said: "Of course. You will not gain any benefits when you are the leader, and I will not give you any more power. But there are many people around you who are willing to communicate with you, and the core spirit of the army, It must be 'drawing a sword can kill everything'! Anything you encounter. First of all, you must be able to fight. Those 1,200 people can't solve it, you can solve it with 9,000 people, but it is difficult for you to solve it. These 1,200 people , can help, so that we can have two or three layers of insurance in the face of any problem. Do you understand?"
"Subordinate... Understood."
"So, I really like that everyone has the ability to think independently like you, but I'm afraid of its side effects." Ning Yi tilted his head and laughed.
Luo Ye stood up: "When your subordinates go back, they must train hard and do what they should do!"
The breeze outside the window stroked the leaves, the sunlight filtered through the tree gaps, and at noon, the aroma of the food wafted over, Ning Yi nodded in the room.
"Stay for dinner."
****************
At the same time, on a barren mountain more than ten miles away from the Xiaocang River, a group of more than ten people was braving the sun and passing through the mountain.
Their pace was quite fast, turning around the hill and walking towards the mountain stream. There are strange trees and gravel piles up here, which is quite desolate and dangerous. Halfway through the group, the leader in front suddenly stopped and said a few passwords, and another person's words came out in the darkness. When the password was correct, someone over there flashed from behind the stone and looked at them vigilantly.
Most of these people are mountain people and hunters, but their skills are extraordinary. A few of them have a distinct official breath on their bodies. They walk a little further and descend into the dark mountain stream. Came out from a cave and met each other.
The person headed here was wearing a cloak, and after handing over a document for Tie Tianying to examine, he slowly put down the cap of the cloak. Tie Tianying looked at him, frowning tightly.
"What happened to the imperial court? They sent you here!?"
"You are now under my control, and you must not be rude."
The shot shot from the mountain gap illuminated the pale and emaciated face of the visitor. He looked at Tie Tianying, his eyes were quiet, but also a little melancholy: "The court has decided to move south, and Lord Tan sent me here to meet with you. Wait for the matter to continue to eliminate the rebellion. Of course, if Lord Tie refuses to accept it, then go back and verify this matter."
Tie Tianying looked at him, and after a while he snorted coldly: "Let you preside over this matter, hum, you are all disciples of Qin Siyuan, if not a teacher like him, how could such a traitor emerge today! Man, what are you thinking about!"
He was dissatisfied with his words, but after all, he never questioned the authenticity of the other party's warrant document. The emaciated man here recalled the past, his eyes were slightly painful, and he coughed twice: "Master Tie, your thoughts on rebels can be said to be foresight, but you just thought about one thing wrong. That Ning Yi is not a disciple of Qin Xiang. , they are friends of the same generation. Although I was promoted by Mr. Qin, my relationship is not a disciple. "
Tie Tianying's expression was stagnant, the other party raised his hand to his mouth, and coughed a few times. He had suffered from illness in the war before, and he experienced many things in the next year or so, and the root of the disease fell. It never got better. After coughing, he said, "I also want to ask Mr. Tie. It has been half a year since Mr. Tie went north. Why has he only been lingering around here without taking any action."
Tie Tianying frowned slightly, and then his eyes darkened: "Master Li is such a powerful official. Did you come up this time to ask for guilt?"
"It's not that I'm asking for guilt. It's just that although I've known him for a while, I know a little bit about his style of behavior, and this time, a friend named Cheng Zhouhai also warned me. Ning Yi and Ning Liheng, although he usually acts strangely. Conspiracy, but it is really lazy and helpless. What this person is really good at is layout and planning, and what he admires is the incompetence of those who are good at fighting. When his layout is not stable, you can play against him, or you can still Find a first-line opportunity, the time passes, his foundation will only become more stable, if you give him enough time, wait until one day he will come back with the general trend, cough... I'm afraid... cough cough cough... This world is fragmented, already It's hard for a few people to stand it..."
The sun shone down from his face, Li Pin and Li Dexin coughed violently again, and after a while, he straightened his waist slightly.
"So... Mr. Tie, you and I don't have to be suspicious of each other. You have been here for so long, what is going on in the mountains, please tell me and listen to me..."(.)