Unspeakable and strange

Yongzhou City used to be the old capital of Xi State. It was divided into inner city and outer city.Di Jun's iron cavalry searched around the city after entering the city. He disliked that there was only a ruins left here, so he awarded this place to a military general with a different surname. up.

When they reached the tower, there were no soldiers guarding the gate, and the gate covered with brass nails was wide open.The city walls on both sides are built of stones, and there are many traces of arrow craters and ammunition explosions.Looking up, there is a dark mark on the high part of the city tower, facing the city gate, faintly resembling a human figure.Under the sunlight, a shadow suddenly appeared, which looked very gloomy.

He pointed it to Qin Hongfeng and asked what it was?

Qin Hongfeng frowned, also a little strange, saying that there were no such things in the old days.

After entering the city, the old prosperity has long since disappeared. The shops in the market are showing dilapidated signs in twos and threes, and there are very few pedestrians. The fallen leaves and waste paper on the ground are blown by the wind and mixed with willow catkins. , flying around.

When Yanning and the others came here, it seemed like they had entered an empty city.

Looking at the former homeland, Qin Hongfeng explained to Yan Ning in a low voice, "Before Beidi's iron cavalry broke through the city, most of the princes, ministers, wealthy businessmen and wealthy merchants fled the city, leaving only some poor people behind."

"Why don't they escape?"

"Some of them couldn't escape. At that time, wars were raging all over the country, and they had no belongings. It would be the same wherever they fled. There are also a small number of people who are nostalgic for their homeland. They believe that fallen leaves return to their roots, and even if they die, they will die in their own homes."

The two found a restaurant and took a seat by the window on the second floor.

Now after noon, there are only two or three people in the restaurant. With a plate of peanuts and a jug of sake on the table, they can sit for a long time.A clerk was squatting bored in the corner watching the coal stove boil water, and the shopkeeper was drowsy behind the counter with his head propped up. When he turned his head and saw two strange young masters, the sleepy ones all ran away.Although this is the old capital, it has long been neglected, and there have never been any high-ranking officials. Although Qin and Yan are dressed plainly, they are outstanding in appearance and extraordinary in bearing, especially Yan Ning's youthful appearance. A copper pot was turned upside down to pour tea and entertain them.

He neatly set up two tea bowls, and chatted with them while pouring tea, "Look at the two students, where did you come from?"

Qin Hongfeng replied, "From the north."

"Business or pleasure?"

"Visiting friends."

"Come here to visit friends?" The shopkeeper stopped pouring water from the copper pot.

Qin Hongfeng nodded. He saw that the tea poured out of the copper pot was like white water, with two tea leaves floating pitifully. He didn't know how many pots he had poured.There was still a gap in the teacup that was brought, so he exchanged the intact one with Yanning.

"I don't know which one I'm looking for? I know all the neighbors in this city, but unfortunately, there are not many left. Not to mention those who are as airy as you two, even young and middle-aged people are very few."

"It's the Xie family, the former imperial historian."

"Former imperial censor?" The shopkeeper first thought about it in confusion, and then made a gesture of silence in horror, "Shh, my lord, you may have forgotten who is in power now? How dare you say that?" He said, if those men with knives overheard it, it would be a crime to wipe their necks, thanks to the fact that you are here with the little old man."

Qin Hongfeng smiled, took out some money and handed it to him, "Then dare to ask the boss if he knows how the Xie family is doing now?"

The shopkeeper smiled brightly when he saw Yinzi, and quickly hid it in his sleeve, "The censor Xie Qixiang, tsk tsk, pitiful."

The old shopkeeper sighed, moved a stool and sat down on his own, and said, "I have to talk about this matter back to 16 years ago, when the Beidi Iron Cavalry entered the city. At that time, Mr. Xie was the relic of the previous dynasty and a gangster. The ministers who did not escape or hang themselves were escorted to the mansion where the army temporarily stayed. General Tuoba, who led the army, intended to recruit them, but Mr. Xie was so proud that he was unwilling to even kneel. The crime, of course, angered those savages, and his kneecap was shattered in two hits. He lay on his stomach after the kneecap was broken, and still refused to face the general. The general was furious, so he had him gouged out. Thank you, sir. A tough guy who never cried out in pain or begged for mercy when he was tortured by Ling Chi, and kept yelling at the barbarians in Beidi, he must be punished, he had to goug out 1600 knives before he died."

Yan Ning shivered, his face was pale, "I was paid 1600 dollars for life? How can I bear it?"

The shopkeeper looked at it, and seemed very satisfied with the violent reaction that his words had evoked, "The executioner is very skilled. He was in this line of work when he was in the previous court. He is famous for his precision. He said that 1600 knives would be 1600 knives, not much. One knife is not a lot. How many knives are used to dig out the tongue and how many knives to cut off the testicles are all particular. After the cut, all the blood flowed out, and only yellow water oozes from the white bones, and Mr. Xie's eyes are still wide open , It’s wronged me, I don’t want to die with peace in my eyes.”

Turning his head, he sighed again, "That's why Mr. Xie is a tough guy. A frail scholar, but with a solid body, can't help but be admired. But when it comes to this, there is still a strange thing."

The old shopkeeper paused, took a sip of Yan Ning's untouched tea, wiped his mouth, and winked at them mysteriously, "After Master Xie died, the body was hung on the city wall for public display. Poor thing, there is no shape at all, but the person died not long ago, and even the blood dripping is hot. After a few days in the wind and sun, only a bone remains, but there are black blood marks on the outside of the city wall , No matter how much you wash it, you can’t wash it off. It’s said that it’s because he’s still lingering on the city wall with lingering grievances, and as long as he doesn’t leave, the mark won’t disappear.”

Yan Ning opened her eyes wide, recalling the gloomy stain she saw when she entered the city, it turned out to be the remains of this lonely loyal minister.

The old shopkeeper refilled the tea bowl, and said slowly: "There is such a living King of Hades guarding the city wall, and when entering and leaving the city gate, there is always a feeling of sympathy. I heard that even General Tuoba fought in the battlefield like this. The people who felled saw the tragic scene of Lord Xie's death with their own eyes, and had nightmares for several nights. After a while, they hurriedly withdrew with their troops, leaving only some people stationed. However, the strange thing is that From then on."

Yan Ning still wanted to listen, but the shopkeeper stopped talking. He put down the tea bowl and said, "In short, since then, the city has not been peaceful, and no one came out at night. The only good thing is, Those who wear swords are also afraid, and they don’t come at other times except when collecting money. It makes us a lot cleaner.”

"However, a person as precious and hard-to-be as the young master will be able to be unscathed, and God will protect him." At the end, the old shopkeeper did not forget to flatter Yan Ning.

Qin Hongfeng withdrew his gaze from looking at the street, listened to his last words, smiled lightly, picked up the tea bowl and wanted to drink it, but when he saw a piece of tea leaf floating in the tea bowl and the thin layer of water I still couldn't put my mouth down, so I had to put it back without moving, and coughed lightly to cover up. "Boss, we have been here for so long, and there are no people on the street."

The shopkeeper said, "It's just a bad time for you to come. After the end of the hour, everyone doesn't come out very much. I will close when I wait for the end of the day."

"Why is it closed so early?"

"There are no customers, so let's close the door early and go home and lie down, and save some money." The shopkeeper looked around unnaturally, and then said, "I see that I have hit it off with you, so I just say something. Our The city is not peaceful at night, you two should not come out at night, so as not to cause trouble. This is all I have to say, whether you believe it or not is up to you."

Yan Ning frowned, and wanted to ask, but was stopped by Qin Hongfeng, and instead asked another question, "I heard that there was a famine in the city a few years ago?"

The shopkeeper let out an "ah" and then nodded, "That's right, but it was earlier. Why wasn't there a lot of trouble back then? It's not easy to survive, let alone eat enough."

"But now it is much better than before. The weather has been good these years, the land has been harvested well, at least the food is guaranteed, and some caravans from far away come here to do business. It will be lively for two days, but it is not as frequent as before. Think again I think in the past, when King Xi was still in power, wealth from all corners of the world gathered here, and heroes from all over the world came here, and my restaurant was full every day, welcoming so much excitement, but now it’s no longer possible.” The shopkeeper recalled the old days The scenery and today are withered, and I can't help but sigh.