son-in-law

Chapter 715 Chapter [-]
boom--

It was raining, and lightning flashed across the gloomy sky.

In the early summer, the mountains around Luliang and Hengshan were covered by torrential rain. The vertical and horizontal mountain gaps, dwarf trees, shrubs, and exposed earth and rocks were all shrouded in the gray rain.

It seemed that a small group of figures walked slowly through the heavy rain halfway up the mountain.

The roads among the mountains close to the main line of Luliang are difficult, and there are no roads in many places.At this time, the team traveling in the mountains consisted of about 40 to [-] people, most of whom were carrying burdens, all wearing coir raincoats. The burdens were heavy, and they looked like business travelers from the past.

The northwest is desolate, and the folk customs are sturdy.At the beginning, in order to raise food for border crossings, the method adopted by the imperial court was to let the border people take the initiative to send the food they need to pay every year to the army barracks. Therefore, it is convenient to travel around the northwest. Several large cities guarded by the family army have even suffered massacres several times, and the external situation has become complicated.

Qin Youshi is the leader of this team. He was originally a merchant in the northwest of Pingyang. At the end of last year, he went to the security forces to sell winter clothes. By the way, he brought some valuables such as private salt, and was going to the border to exchange some goods.The Xixia people attacked Yanzhou and separated him on the road. Although the heavy snow began to seal the mountain, the war was chaotic in the east, and he could not walk. He was stranded in a nearby village for several months, and the situation in the entire northwest was already a mess.

The war spread and continued to expand. Not long ago, Qin Youshi heard that the commander-in-chief was coming back, but he still lost to Xixia's kidnapper.The soldiers of the Western Army were scattered, and the people of Xixia were raging everywhere. He saw many people who fled after the city was broken. After inquiring for a while, he finally decided to venture east.

The Central Plains have been in a complete mess. It is said that the Jurchen broke through the city of Bianliang and raged for several months. The capital is no longer what it looks like. The Xixia people pushed over Hengshan again.Although most of the refugees began to flee to the west and south, Qin Youshi and others could not. Although Pingyang, Gengzhou and other places were in the east, the Xixia people had not yet reached there.

Their family is still there.

The four battles in the northwest, but since the Western Army became strong, the place where they are located has been peaceful for many years.Now that the Xixia people come, they don’t know how to treat the local people, whether it’s escaping, or being obedient, in short, they have to go back to reunite with their families first.

The Xixia army has broken through Qingjian, Yanzhou and other places. At this time, it has begun to intimidate the surrounding area, but after all, the northwest is not small, and the Xixia people can't control all the territory now. There are more and more people going to the south, north, east and west. Qin Youshi inquired about it, and started eastbound with a lot of goods from the winter colony and the guys from the chamber of commerce.At this time, there were many Xixia troops in the east, and the group was dodging and moving slowly.Later, when I wanted to take an adventure into the mountains that were usually difficult to travel, I met the two strange young people in front of the team.

Speaking from the beginning, the Northwest was deeply affected by the Western Army, especially Chong Jiaze, and the men in the Northwest were grateful for his grace and had a strong backbone.When the army came, Qingjian City, Yanzhou City and other places fought fiercely and resisted. Although it was useless in the end, even when the troops were defeated and the refugees scattered, there were still many loyal soldiers who organized to fight against the Xixia army. of.

As a result, this winter, among the refugees who fled, there were also many rumors and stories of the righteous martyrs, who killed and sacrificed with Xixia Buba on the way to escape, who was unwilling to escape, and who was with the city. Die together, or whoever has assembled hundreds of heroes to fight against the Xixia people.These rumors are true or false, and one of them is quite strange.

It is said that after the Qingjian and Yanzhou cities were broken, the refugees scattered, and the Xixia soldiers chased and looted all the way, but one army broke out from the mountains and covered the refugees to escape.In the winter when the mountains are covered by heavy snow, they even help some refugees who have no belongings at home, and send some food for them to escape.In fact, it's not surprising that the diaspora army or the righteous people of the green forest do these things. The strange thing about this team is that they let people write two words.

After this team rescued people, it was said that they would tell people some messy things, which probably meant that everyone was a Chinese citizen and should be watching and helping each other.This sentence is dignified, but it's not a big deal, but after that, they will often take out a notebook and let people write the word "Huaxia", it doesn't matter if they don't, they will also teach people to write these two words.

Imagine that after the city was broken, the army rescued the refugees on the snow-covered mountains, and then asked them to write two words on the snow with the branches - how strange it is to think about this scene.But the rumors in the world are like this, vague and unclear. In such an environment, people talk a lot about nonsense, and they are often inaccurate.Qin Youshi had vaguely heard this story twice, and dismissed it as someone else's nonsense. Although he heard some versions later, such as this army was a rebel army of the Wu Dynasty, and this army was a descendant of the Zhong family and a general of the Zhe family. Wait, wait, basically don't bother to look into it.

But when they were about to enter the mountain, they inadvertently merged with a refugee team. Two people saw that they were inquiring about the road in the mountain, and they came over and said that they could give them directions.This is not the first time Qin Youshi has walked outside. He still understands the principle of being diligent and stealing, but during the conversation, the young man headed by the two asked, "Are you literate? Can you write the word Huaxia?"

Qin Youshi immediately remembered the rumor.

At that time, the Xixia people were blocking the surrounding roads. After all, Qin Youshi didn't have many choices. Although he did not agree verbally, after entering the mountain, the two sides still met.The group of Qin Youshi's men were also men who walked in the northwest, and most of them were armed. He made everyone vigilant and contacted each other a few times before the two sides walked together.

For Qin Youshi, this was a desperate gamble. He wanted to go home, but there was no guide for a while. After all, he couldn't spend a few months in these barren mountains.He recalled those rumors, and felt that the two of them were not like the kind of strong men who led people into the mountains and then got rich. After talking, he realized that the other party had a background in Qingmu Village.

Luliang Qingmu Village is quite famous among merchants in the northwest area.But the young man headed by the two seemed to be an outsider. This man was named Zhuo Xiaofeng.Combining several words, recalling some trivial rumors he heard, Qin Youshi's heart has organized some clues.

In the second half of last year, there were rebels who killed the king and started rebellions. Although there was no major impact in the northwest, it seems that this army entered this mountain. It seems that they came out in winter and fought with the Xixia army several times. , saved some people.Knowing this, Qin Youshi was somewhat relieved. Usually, he heard that the monarch murderer might still be a little afraid, but now he is not so afraid.

The two sides walked all the way. The man from Qingmu Village was the guide, and the young man named Zhuo Xiaofeng walked in front, and Qin Youshi followed and talked.This is the most desolate section at the junction of the western range of Luliang Mountain and Hengshan Mountain. The mountain is rugged and it rains heavily. It is even more difficult to walk. When the group walked to this wild mountain, Qin Youshi squinted and looked across the mountain stream. Yes, I just saw that although the mountain over there is not easy to walk, it vaguely seems to have a path passing through it, which is much better than this side.

Qin Youshi became vigilant in his heart, looked over there, and asked tentatively: "There seems to be a small road opposite." The guide of Qingmu Village nodded calmly: "Well, it was closer over there." "Then why? …”

"I fought with the Xixia people before." Zhuo Xiaofeng replied here, and pointed to the front and back of the mountain road, "A few months ago, Xixia Buba chased and killed them, and the army blew up the two ends. The snow on the mountain has collapsed, and the stream below is full of corpses, and now the mountain over there is loose and it is very unsafe."

Qin Youshi was taken aback: "People from Xixia?"

"Xixia Buba, it is difficult to deal with." Zhuo Xiaofeng nodded.Qin Youshi looked at the hazy mountain in the rainstorm. There were indeed traces of new movements in the distance. He looked down the mountain stream and saw the water roaring past in the rainstorm, but he couldn't see more clearly.

In this place, the Western Army and the Xixia people have battles from time to time, and most of the well-informed people have a good understanding of the Xixia people's army.Iron Harrier is unparalleled in the world, but in the mountains in the northwest, the most frightening thing is the elite Buba of Xixia.On the way to escape, refugees encounter Iron Harriers, and they may be able to hide in the mountains.And their combat strength was similar to the original Western Army. At this time, the Western Army had dissipated, and on the northwestern land, Buba was no longer able to control it.

Qin Youshi was already suspicious about the origin of the "Huaxia" army, but he didn't think about it carefully.Thinking about it at this time, this army killed the monarch and rebelled and came to the northwest, and it really wasn't a good thing.In such a mountain against Xixia Buba, he even gained the upper hand.The other party said it lightly, but he was secretly horrified in his heart.

At this moment, thunder came from the sky, everyone was walking forward, and they heard a loud noise from the front, and the rocks shook faintly.On the hillside opposite, the earth and rocks surging in the hazy heavy rain turned into a mud dragon in a blink of an eye, rushing down the mountain.This earth-rock flow continued to rush into the deep stream in front of their eyes. In the mountain stream below, the flowing water collided with these earth-rocks and quickly rose.Everyone looked down from the mountain, and in the heavy rain, they only felt that the heaven and the earth were mighty and mighty, and their bodies were indescribably small.

The scene of the mudslide continued in front of them for a long time before it stopped. Perhaps the explosion that caused the avalanche a few months ago loosened the soil slope, and then it slipped under the rain.After everyone read it, they were a little more cautious when they moved forward again, and their words were a little less.A group of people turned around in the mountains. By the evening, the rain had stopped, but it had also entered the main vein of Luliang Mountain.

This area is already close to the area of ​​Luliang Mountain's Qingmu Village. Since the previously opened trade routes have not been affected much by the war, the road ahead is not difficult.Zhuo Xiaofeng and the man from Qingmuzhai said goodbye to Qin Youshi. Seeing that the two of them helped out, they were about to leave neatly. Instead, Qin Youshi became flustered. He took out two air-dried The deer leg was going to be given to the other party as a reward, but Zhuo Xiaofeng took out a pen and paper from his arms: "Boss Qin, can you write?"

"Young Master Zhuo said..."

"The people of Huaxia were originally a family, and now the situation is turbulent, it is time to watch and help each other. It is fate that I will walk with Boss Qin all the way. It is just a matter of hand. Of course, if Boss Qin really feels that he needs to be rewarded, he will write two in this notebook. The words are." He saw that Qin Youshi was still a little hesitant, and opened the book with a smile, full of crooked Chinese characters, "Of course, it's just two words, no need to leave a name, just a thought. It will be like Boss Qin in the future. If there is any trouble, just remember these two words, and if I can help, I will do my best."

Qin Youshi only hesitated for a moment, then he laughed, picked up the pen and wrote it in the notebook, but he was puzzled.He can understand the external things that are kind and generous, but what is the meaning of this in front of him.After receiving the favor, writing a name is considered a certificate of honor, but the name is not left, and the word Huaxia is written out, and it is upright and fair, what can it be worth?

He is also a visionary. After writing those two words, he still insisted on sending the deer leg over, but the other party was resolutely unwilling to accept it.It was getting late at this time, and everyone found a place to camp. Qin Youshi kindly left the two behind, cooked a relatively hearty meal of meat, and asked Zhuo Xiaofeng and the others about the situation afterward.

He went west this time to do business. The Jurchen killed him, and some of the precious things he had received were actually useless. This trip was clearly at a loss.But losing money is not a big deal. The most important thing is where to go in the future. This army can compete with the Xixia people. Although it has a bad reputation, it has a good relationship. Who knows if there is any need for their help in the future?
During the half-night conversation, the other party knew everything, and analyzed the dilemma with Qin Youshi in the future.Jurchen is rampant, and Western Xia is coming to the south. Under such a situation, it is impossible for the north of the Yellow River to live a good life as before, but ordinary people may not be driven to death.In the past, the Wu Dynasty was still wealthy, and each wealthy household still had some surplus food at the moment, but within one to two years, the Jurchen and Xixia people must consolidate this territory, just leave the food and die.He is a merchant, so he might as well be flexible, do more activities, and take shelter from the big forces.

Similar to Qingmu Village in Luliang Mountain, after all, it is in a valley, so I don't recommend it, but there are still a few remaining trade exchanges between Qingmu Village and Jurchen.The treasures and valuables he brought back this time may be useless in the chaotic place. Qingmu Village may be able to help transfer, and the mountain must be short of food. If he has too much food, he might as well go to the mountain to replace some weapons. Beside yourself.Of course, it's just casual advice.

Qin Youshi is not someone who has no opinion. The other party said that he only made reference in his mind.In the early morning of the second day, they waved goodbye to each other and walked separately.Qin Youshi looked at the pair of figures heading north, and remembered the word "Huaxia" he wrote yesterday, only to think that this group of people is really strange.

*************
After saying goodbye to Qin Youshi, Zhuo Xiaofeng and the man from Qingmu Village named Tan Rong walked back through the rugged mountain road, and turned to the northwest only when they could see the collapsed mountain from a distance.

In the afternoon, they saw the outline of the Xiaocang River from a distance on the ridge. The river was swift and meandering, extending to a mountain pass with traces of a dam at the end of the field of vision. There was also a watchtower on the edge of the mountain pass. Between the rugged valleys, a group of small figures can be seen walking together. They are children who came out of the Xiaocanghe settlement to pick up wild vegetables.

The sun was shining down from the white clouds in the sky, the mountains were desolate, and there was only the occasional rustling wind. Zhuo Xiaofeng and Tan Rong walked down the mountain road.

(End of this chapter)