son-in-law

Chapter 749 Chapter Sixty Nine

In August, the autumn wind swept away dust on the loess.The land in the northwest is turbulent, and strange things are quietly brewing.

Since ancient times, the Northwest has been known as the Land of Four Battles.In the past tens or even hundreds of years, there have been wars here and there, and a sturdy folk customs has developed. However, since the establishment of the Wu Dynasty, under the guard of several Western armies that have been passed down for generations, this place, Finally there is relative peace.Zhong, Zhe, Yang and several other families fought against Western Xia, Tubo, and Liao, and established a splendid martial arts. At the same time, they also formed an ecological pattern of partial peace in this frontier land far away from the mainstream vision.

The northwest is not very peaceful, that is compared with the hinterland of the Wu Dynasty. However, since the family and teachers have pushed the Western Army front through Hengshan with all their strength, among the disadvantages of Xixia, the people of the northwest have actually lived relatively peacefully for many years. day.

This pattern was shattered by the rise and southward movement of the Jin Kingdom.Since then, the family's family has been ruined, and the family has been trembling with fear. When the war in the northwest was rekindled, the black flag army, an external force that suddenly entered, gave people in the northwest a strange and strange look and feel.

Before July of this year, perhaps not many people in the northwest knew that such an army existed.Occasionally, I have heard that it is a bandit entrenched in the mountains, and it is more powerful. I know that this army once made a shocking rebellious act in the hinterland of the Wu Dynasty, and now it is chased by many parties and hides here.

All parties naturally have some speculation as to whether this army may harm the Northwest. However, before this speculation has become serious, the real trouble has already been the general.The Western Xia army swept in, pushing half of the northwest, and people had long ignored the bandits in the mountains.It was not until June of this year that the long-quiet black flag jumped out from the mountains in the east, and defeated the Xixia army with a scalp-numbing astonishing force. People suddenly remembered that there is such a constant Team exists.At the same time, I felt unbelievable and unfamiliar with this team.

After returning to Yanzhou City, the Black Flag Army still seemed quite different from other armies.Neither the forces outside nor the people in Yanzhou City have the slightest sense of familiarity with this army and its leadership - this familiarity may not be cordial, but just like what everyone else has done: Now that it is peaceful, it is necessary to summon celebrities and gentlemen to learn about the surrounding ecology, how to distribute the benefits in the future, and as a ruler, what kind of arrangements and expectations are there for everyone's exchanges in the future.

These things did not happen.

"We Chinese people, we must watch and help each other."

"Since we are both Chinese citizens, we also have the obligation to protect our family and the country!"

"That's what we do, don't be polite."

In one or two months, this Huaxia army has done a lot.They went door-to-door to count the household registrations in and around Yanzhou City, and then made arrangements for the food issue that everyone was concerned about: Anyone who came over and wrote the word "Huaxia" would be distributed according to their heads.At the same time, the army did some urgent things in the city, such as arranging to take in orphans, beggars, and old people after the massacre by the Xixia people. , repair the city defenses and roads, and pay wages.

If you want to win the hearts and minds of the people, these things are actually pretty good.

It's just that for some of the original forces and big clans in the city, what the other party wants to do can't be understood for a while.If it is said that all people are treated equally in the other party's heart, it will be very uncomfortable for these people who have family background and have the right to speak.This Chinese army is too strong, are they really so "independent", are they really unwilling to pay attention to anyone, if so, what will happen next, people don't have a clue in their hearts .

If this foreign army relies on its own strength, it will ignore all the local snakes, and even plan to sweep it all at once.For some people, it is a hell scene that is more terrifying than the Xixia people.Of course, they haven't returned to Yanzhou for a long time, or they want to see the reaction of these forces first, and plan to clear some thorns on purpose, killing chickens and monkeys thinking that the future rule will serve, that's not a strange thing.

In the hearts of the big clans in Yanzhou, all the forces outside the city, such as the Chong family and the Zhe family, are also secretly thinking about all this.After the situation in the vicinity was relatively stable, the envoys of the two families had also come to Yanzhou to express their greetings and thanks to the Black Flag Army.The Chong family was the original owner of Yanzhou, but the Chong family's army had already been beaten.Although the Zhe family never ruled Yanzhou, he is now the leader of the Western Army, and people are willing to have some contacts here, in case the Black Flag Army really does the opposite and wants to destroy all the strong men.

"...Northwesterners have a strong temperament, something that the tens of thousands of troops in Western Xia can't accept, even if thousands of people are invincible in battle, how can they really beat everyone. Don't they have to be bloodbathed again when they get Yanzhou City? "

The news here reached Qingjian, and Zhe Keqiu, who had just stabilized the situation in Qingjian City, said such sarcastic remarks, and on the other hand, his heart was full of doubts - he did not dare to extend his hand to Yanzhou for the time being, but the other party If it is really perverted, the local snakes who can talk in Yanzhou take the initiative to contact them, and of course they can follow.At the same time, the seedlings far away in Wonju may have the same sentiment.Whether it is a gentry or a commoner, in fact, they are more willing to deal with local people, after all, they are familiar.

Such doubts have arisen for a while, but in the overall situation, the forces of Xixia have not withdrawn, and the situation in the northwest has not yet reached the time when it can be stabilized.How to fight in Gyeongju, how to divide the interests, whether the black flag will send troops, whether the farmers will send troops, how the Zhe family will move, these undercurrents have not stopped day by day.When Zhe Keqiu, Chong Lie and others want to come, the Black Flag is powerful, but it has also suffered a lot in the full battle with Xixia. They are entrenched in Yanzhou to recuperate and may not be dispatched again.But even so, you might as well try it out to see how they act, whether it is a shelf that was forced up after the war...

At the end of August, Zhe Keqiu prepared to send an invitation to the Black Flag Army to discuss the issue of sending troops to pacify Qingzhou.Before the messenger was dispatched, several shocking messages had already been sent.

From Xiaocanghe Mountain, a black flag army came out again, and took the prisoners of the Xixia army to leave Yanzhou and head towards Qingzhou.A few days later, Li Ganshun, the king of Western Xia, returned to Gyeongju and other places to the Black Banner Army.The Xixia army retreated to the north of Hengshan.

The Black Flag Army, which had been standing still, had quietly settled the situation in the northwest.This unbelievable state of affairs made Duo Lie, Zhe Keqiu and others stunned, but they all felt that they had nowhere to focus.Before long, even stranger things followed.

The envoys of the Black Banner Army came to Qingjian and Wonju respectively, and invited Zhe, Zhong and others to go to Gyeongju to negotiate and resolve all issues including the ownership of Gyeongju.

After receiving this invitation, Zhe Keqiu was stunned for a long time in the reception room of the temporary residence of Qingjian City, and then looked at the messenger in front of him with the eyes of looking at something indescribable-he is famous for the city and the city. The head of the Zhe family, and the envoy of the Black Flag Army, he greeted him with great enthusiasm on the way in. Only at this time, he seemed a little rude.

"Negotiate... the ownership of Gyeongju?"

Maybe the world is really going to be turned upside down, and I can't understand it - he thought.

Not long after, Zhe Keqiu and Chong Lie came to Gyeongju and met the confusing leader of the Black Flag Army, Ning Liheng, the scholar who once killed the emperor of the Wu Dynasty on the Golden Palace.

At this time, the city of Gyeongju, which had been in the hands of the Xixia people for two more months, was devastated. The surviving population was less than one-third of the previous one. A large number of people were on the verge of starvation, and the epidemic was already showing signs of emerging.When the Xixia people left, the nearby wheat that had been harvested earlier had already been shipped in seven or eight.The Black Banner Army exchanged some food with the Xixia prisoners. At this time, they were throwing porridge and giving out relief in the city. This is what they saw when they came.

**************
This traitor named Ning Yi was not friendly.

After the meeting, this is the first impression that is hard to come by.

It was a fairly neat military camp, with a messy busy scene. Soldiers were deployed to porridge and medicines to the people, and the corpses were collected and burned.Zhong and Zhe met each other under such circumstances. In the midst of their dreadful work, this junior, who was not yet thirty, greeted them with a straight face and didn't give them a smile.Zhe Keqiu intuitively felt that the other party was acting at the first impression, but he couldn't be sure, because the other party's barracks and soldiers were busy with the same stereotyped image.

"During this period of time, whether in Gyeongju or Yanzhou, too many people have died. I hate to see these people and corpses!" He led the two of them through the ruined city and watched those who had suffered so much. The public, a scholar named Ning Liheng, showed disgust, "I've been thinking hard about this kind of thing. These days, I have a little immature opinion. Do the two generals want to hear it?"

"Mr. Ning is worried about the suffering of the people, but he says it's okay."

"I think it's all your fault."

Ning Yi's eyes swept over them: "It's your responsibility to live in the same place and protect the environment and the people. If things are not done well, if you mess up, it's useless to say any reason. If you find a reason, they will die without a burial. Earth, I think both generals should reflect on this matter!"

Before coming here, I really did not expect that the leader of this invincible division would be such an upright and upright person.But to be honest, such a character, in the current situation, is not annoying, Zong Lie soon admits his mistakes, and he also reflects on his own goodness.Several people climbed the city wall of Gyeongju.

"...I took root in Xiaocanghe, and originally planned to do business in the northwest. At that time, the old husband did not pass away, and I was lucky, but soon after, the Xixia people came, and the old husband also went. Our Black Flag Army did not want to Fighting, but there is no way to get out of the mountains, just to save a life. Now this Northwest can be settled, it is a good thing, I am a person who obeys the rules, so my brothers are willing to follow me, they choose One's own path. I believe that in this world, everyone is qualified to choose their own path!"

In the first half of Ning Yi's words, Zhe and Zhe nodded in agreement, and were willing to say a few words of compliment. However, in the second half, the scholar opened his hands solemnly to the devastated city. They were more or less puzzled, frowning at each other and exchanging glances.

Such people... no wonder they would kill the emperor...

Such a person...how can such a person...

Ning Yi's words did not stop: "These people in Qingzhou City have suffered so much. When they settle down a little, I will let them choose their own path. Two generals, you are the mainstay of the northwest, and they are also your protection for the people. I have now counted the number and household registration of the people in Gyeongju. When the food on hand is ready, I will launch a vote. According to the number of votes, I will see if they are willing to follow me, or they are willing to follow the army of the family and the fold. Family Army - If they don't choose me, then I will hand over Gyeongju to the person they choose."

The top of the city was already quiet, and it was hard to say anything. They looked at the cold-faced scholar and raised their hands: "It is my lifelong wish to let everyone in the world choose their own path."

"You two, it's not going to be easy." The scholar turned around and looked at them, "The first thing is the food for the winter. This city is a mess. If you don't want it, I won't give it to you. They As long as it's in my hands, I'll do my best to be responsible for them. If it's in your hands, you'll have a lot of trouble. So I'll ask the two generals to come over for an interview, if you don't want to take it out of my hands in this way If you take over Gyeongju, it’s too difficult to manage, then I understand. But if you want, we need to talk about a lot of things.”

He turned around and walked forward: "I have carefully considered that if there really is such a vote, many things need to be supervised, how to make every process of voting, how to count the votes, and which local elders and elders should be invited. Supervised by people of high moral character. The choice of tens of thousands of people must be fair and impartial in order to convince the public. I plan to negotiate with you on these matters and write them down in terms of terms..."

Ning Yi rambled while walking, saying that the two of them seemed to be listening to a fantasy.

"...To be honest, I'm from a business background, and I'm good at doing business and not good at governing people, so I'm willing to give them a chance. If things go well here, even in Yanzhou, I'm willing to vote once, or have a chance with the two Co-governance. However, no matter what the voting result is, I will at least ensure that the trade routes can pass through, and I will not hinder our people from Xiaocanghe and Qingmu Village from the northwest. When we have money, I am willing to give them a choice. There is no way to go, and our Huaxia Army is not stingy to fight with anyone."

Ning Yi frowned, mentioned the business road, and said it lightly.After that, the two sides talked a lot.Ning Yi occasionally said: "... Of course, the two generals shouldn't be too happy too early, people are not grass and trees, who can be ruthless, my Black Flag Army has done so many things, they see it in their eyes and remember them in their hearts, and they may not necessarily choose you."

The two laughed and nodded.

That night, Zang Lie, Zhe Keqiu and the accompanying people and aides gathered in the resting garden like a dream. They didn't care about the details the other party said today, but in the overall concept, the other party had Not lying.

Let the people vote who will govern this place?Is he really going to do this?
In the dark attic in the distance, Ning Yi looked at the lights over there from a distance, and then withdrew his gaze.Next to him, the spy who came back from the north was whispering about what he had seen there. Ning Yi tilted his head and occasionally asked.After the spy left, he sat silently for a long time in the dark, and soon after, he lit the oil lamp and buried himself in recording some of his thoughts.

The guard in charge of the garrison work occasionally turned his head to look at the figure in the window. Since the Jurchen messenger left, Ning Yi has been busier and busier, pushing everything he wants step by step and racing against time...

In the following two days, the three parties discussed some unimportant matters during their meeting. These matters mainly included the things that Gyeongju needed to guarantee after the vote, that is, regardless of the voting result, the Xiaocanghe caravans, which both needed to guarantee, were in business, The convenience and preferential treatment when passing through the northwest area, in order to protect the interests of the caravan, the means that Xiaocanghe can use, such as priority, supervision, and in order to prevent a party from suddenly turning its face and affecting the caravan of Xiaocanghe, each The parties should have the means to check and balance each other.

Ning Yi also focused on talking to them about the taxes that both parties can get in these businesses - but to be honest, they didn't really care.

It seemed that everyone was happy and went their own way. Soon after, an unbelievable activity took place on the land of the northwest.

　One person lost... I'm asking for a ticket, begging for a ticket, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The chapter name is taken from a friend's not-so-famous work. If you are interested, you can go and see it...^_^
　
(End of this chapter)