Changfeng has a place to return

Cuiqiu City's terrain is relatively high. Even if the Baihe River floods, most of the fertile land can still be preserved. It is one of the safest cities in the entire river basin, but it is precisely this safety that has brought many new joys to Hua Pingye and the people in the city. trouble.

The carriage drove on the road for a few days, and met more and more refugees. They squatted on the side of the road with their families, and when they saw a rich family's carriage passing by, they begged loudly for food.The road was blocked, and the speed of the convoy also slowed down. Aning lowered the car curtain and asked Liu Xian'an in a low voice: "My lord, do we want to give them something to eat?"

Liu Xian'an shook his head: "I can't give it."

Aning didn't understand: "Why?"

Liu Xian'an said: "There are too many people outside, if you give one, ten will come to ask for it, if you give ten, there will be hundreds and thousands."

Ah Ning looked out from the crack of the car window again, and there were a few little dolls in the crowd who were so hungry that they could hardly hold on anymore, so he did not give up and said, "My lord, otherwise I will secretly give that woman a piece of snack, not be discovered by others."

Liu Xian'an sighed: "You can try it."

Aning picked up a big piece of dim sum from the plate, wrapped it in a handkerchief and put it in his bosom, and got out of the carriage nimbly.When he saw the woman, he grinned a little, jumped out of the carriage and wanted to run, but the woman had already stood up abruptly, dragging her two thin legs and stumbling towards him.

And there were many other refugees who noticed Aning together with her. The hungry people found this healthy and fair boy, like hungry wolves seeing raw meat, they got up and flocked to him.

"Master, give me something to eat!"

They screamed loudly, and some fell to the ground, and no one helped them. People stepped on the freshly dead corpses and continued to rush forward, completely ignoring the muddy flesh and blood under their feet, like a group of ragged puppets, numb dull.Aning was frightened and stood there, seeing that seven or eight dirty hands were about to pull him into the crowd, a guard flew up to carry him back to the carriage, drew his knife out of its sheath, turned his head and shouted violently: "Go back! "

The cold light was dazzling, and the refugees stopped in their tracks, hesitated and stagnated for a moment.Taking advantage of this time, the coachman swung his whip vigorously and drove the carriage away quickly.

There were still screams, begging, crying, and vicious and desperate curses from outside, which made people feel horrified.Aning sat on the side of the carriage, still holding the broken piece of snack in his arms, and kept silent. He was used to listening to the second son talking about the way of heaven floating in the void. This was the first time for him to face the naked human nature. When people are pushed, shoved, and trampled, they will die in all likelihood, no, they will definitely die, and all this is caused by their own recklessness and ignorance.

Liu Xian'an said: "Don't cry."

Aning still hung his head.

Liu Xian'an hugged him into his arms, patted him on the back, and comforted him: "A doctor can only heal people, not the world. You don't need to blame yourself too much."

Aning asked with a strong nasal voice: "Then who can heal the world?"

Who can heal the world.Liu Xian'an didn't answer, but turned his head to the car window, looking at the tall figure riding a horse and saber outside the translucent gauze curtain.

……

The square gates of Cuiqiu City were closed tightly, and a large notice was pasted, saying that the city had already accepted a large number of victims of the disaster, and there was really no room left for one more person.But even so, there were still many refugees waiting outside, and each of them sat in the shade. When they saw the guards and soldiers opening the city gate for a carriage, they rushed over again.

Liu Xian'an covered Aning's ears, and blocked the cursing and begging from outside for him. There were similar voices almost everywhere along the way. Walking out of the shadows, the words are much less.

Officers and soldiers escorted the carriage into the city. Once the high gate was closed, two completely different worlds were separated.

Outside the gate is a hell on earth where hunger is everywhere, while inside the gate it still maintains the appearance that a city should have.Hua Pingye said: "Your Majesty, apart from the food that is rationed to the people in the city according to their needs, Cuiqiu City really can't find even a grain of extra rice. The corpses outside the city gate are getting more and more every day. It's really... ..."

In this way, there is no need for Huang Wangxiang to know any sorcery and Gu skills, as long as he pulls the banner and says that he will have enough food in the future, he will attract tens of thousands of people to follow.

"This group of people first robbed the food allocated by the imperial court, and then robbed two or three towns." Hua Pingye said, "When they see officials, they kill them and hang their heads at the entrance of Gaoliang Mountain to demonstrate. It is said that Huang Wangxiang once released In other words, if you take the head of a dog officer, you can exchange two baskets of food."

If they robbed the food allocated by the imperial court, the people who were waiting for the food to save their lives would starve to death. If they went to rob the towns, what would the people in the towns do?In the troubled times, the people are struggling to survive. People first become victims, and then the victims become perpetrators, and then create more victims. In this cycle, things will get worse and worse until the dynasty collapses.

Liu Xian'an has seen too many similar examples in the long river of history.

Hua Pingye prepared the guest room for everyone.Liang Shu sent Liu Xian'an back to his residence, and said, "I heard from Gao Lin that you want to buy some medicines to treat common summer heat diseases?"

"It was Aning who suggested that the refugees and the hot weather are too easy to breed plague." Liu Xian'an said, "It's best to find a place to bury the corpses outside the city as much as possible, and then sprinkle some lime."

"You don't have to worry about this, Hua Pingye will send officers and soldiers to put on heavy armor every day to deal with the corpses." As for why they wear heavy armor, firstly, it's for deterrence, secondly, to prevent trampling, and thirdly,... more bloody and cruel reality, Liang Shu didn't want to mention to him that for some hungry people, fresh corpses are also food. In order to snatch this "food" from the officers and soldiers, they would frantically bite like wild animals.

Liang Shu's lips were chapped. Liu Xian'an lifted the lid of the teapot on the table and took a look. There were some thick branches and leaves soaked in it, the color was thick, and it must be extremely bitter, so he turned around and took out the porcelain bottle from the cabinet, poured some powder from it, and used it The warm water boiled: "My lord, drink some water."

Liang Shu looked at the pink water in the cup, and asked: "You doctors poison people, are you so undisguised?"

Liu Xian'an smiled: "It's dried wild plum fruit and ground into powder. I added some sweet plums into it, which can stimulate the appetite, and silver pills, which can refresh the mind. If these things are added together, they probably won't be poisonous. of."

Liang Shu drank a cup, sweet and sour, a burst of coolness directly from the tip of the tongue to the top of the sky, really effective.

Liu Xian'an handed him the porcelain vase: "There's still a lot left, do you want the prince to keep it for himself?"

Liang Shu didn't answer, "It won't work."

It's normal for Tianhuang nobleman, a son of a family, not to know how to pour water into the cup.

So when you want to drink, you have to make it yourself by the doctor.

Liu Xian'an then put the porcelain vase back into the cabinet.

Liang Shu sat at the table and watched him busy, and only at this moment was he relieved of all the burdens that had weighed on his mind.Although he has long been used to life and death, life and death are completely different.The death of hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of soldiers on the battlefield is in exchange for the lives of hundreds of thousands, millions, or tens of millions of people, so even if the bones are buried in yellow sand, it is considered a worthy death.But what about the deaths of the people in the Baihe River Basin at this moment?

The death of the people does not have half of the glory, but only endless humiliation and despair, as well as complaints with blood and tears, accusing the ruler of incompetence.

In the face of an entire era, the power of one person or a group of people is really insignificant.Liang Shu closed his eyes, and was just about to clear his mind when a cold sensation came from his temple.Liu Xian'an bent down, holding a box of ointment in his hand, and was slowly massaging him with a small jade stick.

Liang Shu asked, "Why don't you say hello to the patients before seeing the doctor?"

"My father also treated me in this way." Liu Xian'an said, "For a while, I had a bad spleen and stomach and needed to be recuperated. I often fell asleep and was woken up by needles." He moved the chair and sat down, "Gong Only the imperial physicians here need a lot of rules, let's...don't move!"

Liang Shu took a deep breath: "Why can't you move, see for yourself how thick the needle is in your hand." And why did this thing pop out of nowhere?

"It's not thick, the thickest needle is in my father's, never let others touch it." Liu Xian'an said, "I'm not counting the thinner needle, I told you not to move it, it's going to be crooked."

His Royal Highness King Xiao sat stiffly on the chair, trying to figure out how he would send him back to his room, but somehow got stabbed in the head with a needle.From a cup of sweet medicine, to cooling ointment, and then to this astonishingly thick ghost thing, all of them are slowly touched out, and they still know how to divert attention by talking about things, and put them in the art of war. , False insanity is not insane.

He said, "You did it on purpose."

Liu Xian'an denied it, no.

Liang Shu: "Gao Lin told you."

Liu Xian'an continued to deny, no.

Liang Shu said: "He wants to die."

Liu Xian'an had a tense expression: "Well, sit down."

It was indeed Gao Lin who came to see Liu Xian'an, saying that his lord had been suffering from headaches recently, and he couldn't sleep well.But at the same time, it is suggested that it is best not to take acupuncture, not to take bitter medicine, and the treatment of lying down all the time is not good. His Royal Highness has so many problems. Touching the reverse scale may cause anger, and many imperial doctors have already taken it because of it. deficit.

It’s okay not to take bitter medicine, and it’s okay not to lie down and rest for a while, but acupuncture is still needed.Liu Ergong pressed Liang Shu's shoulder with one hand, and slowly rotated the needle with the other hand, thinking, this is not difficult, just take it step by step and take advantage of it when it is unprepared, can there be no imperial doctor in the Taiyuan Hospital who can do it?

Liang Shu said, "It hurts."

Liu Xian'an said, "It's normal."

"Is the pain normal?"

"Where can a few needles hurt, okay, don't move, I will let Ah Ning decoct the medicine."

As soon as Liang Shu heard the word "decoction", his brain began to ache again: "Why do you still need to take medicine?"

"Naturally, you need to take medicine when you are sick." Liu Xian'an put away the needle pack, "But you don't have to worry, the medicine is not too bitter."

Liang Shu asked unhappily: "Do you think this king is afraid of suffering?"

Liu Xianan thought to himself, isn't it? Vice-General Gao and I emphasized it three times, but he still gave His Royal Highness a face: "No."

His Royal Highness King Xiao reluctantly squeezed out an "um" in a dignified way to show his approval.

Liu Xian'an looked at him, looked at him for a while, and pursed his lips in a serious manner: "Since the prince is not afraid of hardship, then I will add a few more herbs to the old prescription, so that the effect of calming the nerves will be stronger."

While talking, he studied ink and picked up a pen, found a piece of paper to write a new prescription, and it came up with half a catty of Coptis chinensis, which made Liang Shu's temples throb.He stared into the other's eyes, trying to find some joke in them, but he couldn't.Not only did Liu Xian'an have a very serious expression, but his handwriting was also thin and elegant. When neatly arranged together, this prescription appeared to be particularly authoritative and reliable. Even if two catties of elbow were mixed in, the patients would probably feel that they should take it like this.

And His Royal Highness King Xiao was also bluffed. Of course, part of the reason is that he knew that Mr. Liu Ergong was [-] years old since he was sensible. He is young and mature, and everyone is an ant. , it doesn't make sense to target yourself alone.

Liu Xian'an finished writing the prescription, put it in his arms, and walked away like a fairy.

Liang Shu, who was left with a face so precious, exhaled, leaned against the table and pondered, the medicine can be fried, but he doesn't have to take it.

In the end, Ah Ning couldn't help picking a time, after dinner, when everyone gathered in the study to discuss matters, the servant picked up the food box containing the medicine, and knocked firmly on the door.

Liang Shu: "..."

The medicine bowl is so big that you can eat noodles, and when it comes out, the visual effect is amazing.Hua Pingye was shocked when he saw it. He had been in the military camp for many years, and he had the impression that even if the prince was seriously injured, he had to drink the medicine in a sip. How sick he was, he hurriedly raised his broken voice to care: "Everyone, don't talk for now, let the prince drink the medicine while it's hot."

There was a large bowl of brown and black, and Liang Shu's brain twitched when he saw it. Seeing that everyone in the room was staring at him, he had no choice but to pick up the bowl without changing his face.

Drink it up in one gulp, but it's not bitter, at most astringent, with a slight sour-sweet taste.

He looks towards the door.

Liu Xian'an folded his hands, and couldn't hide a smile between his brows and eyes.

Not bitter, teasing you.

It was stuffy in the study room, although the windows were open, it was not so cool, and the candlelight was blown by the wind.The room was full of people, discussing a few extremely annoying things, the environment was really not good, Liang Shu's mood was originally irritable, but now because of this bowl of medicine and a smile, he became much more relaxed,

Gao Lin pounded Ah Ning with his elbow, what kind of magical medicine, how could he make the prince happy, and bring me a bowl tomorrow.

"Young master has added a lot of sweet roots to it." Ah Ning whispered, "Vice-general Gao wants to drink it, but I'm afraid there isn't any. The young master said that this medicine is not easy to buy, so we need to save it, so all the sweet roots and hawthorn will be used in the future. Leave it to the prince."

The two of them were still whispering here, and Hua Pingye had reopened the map.Gaoliang Mountain is a very high and dangerous peak, with continuous ravines and ravines, easy to defend and difficult to attack.Liang Shu asked, "How many rebels are there now?"

Hua Pingye said: "A rough estimate is at least [-], but it's not accurate. Now that Huang Wangxiang has become famous, many people use his banner to recruit soldiers, and there are a handful of them here and there, everywhere. It's really difficult. Distinguish between true and false."

"Whether it's true or fake, they're all rebels." Liang Shu looked at Liu Xian'an, "What do you think?"

"Can our army pretend to be refugees, mix in with the rebels, and break through from the inside?"

"It's not difficult to pretend, but it's not easy to sneak in." Hua Hirano explained, "It is said that ordinary refugees, when they first seek refuge, will only be assigned to the subordinates of the lowest-ranking small bosses, and they must follow them to grab food. Money, or kill a few officials, to be eligible to see Huang Wangxiang, and he is not in Gaoliang Mountain now."

"Where is the main force of the rebel army now?"

As soon as the question was finished, someone sent a new military newspaper, which included a useful paragraph among the complaints and nonsense, saying that Huang Wangxiang had led the rebels to break through three cities in a row and ascended the throne in Sanshui City.

Gao Lin's face turned pale when he saw it, it wasn't because of anything else, but because of the trashiness of the troops stationed here, even if he poked a few stakes and erected them on the city wall, he would be able to drive back a few groups of rebels at will, right?It has only been a few days since Hua Pingye received the news. How come Huang Wangxiang went from leading the mob all the way to the dragon chair.This kind of ghost news was sent by Dayan on the first day of his arrival in Cuiqiu City, it seemed like a good day calculated by precise timing.

Liang Shu asked, "How many troops are stationed in this area?"

"It's also fifty thousand." Gao Lin said, "Lu Xiang is in charge, the prince should remember that he is Master Lu's nephew."

All civil and military officials in the court knew that Mr. Lu would go to the emperor every now and then to remonstrate with the prince. From Northwest Daying to Prince Xiao's Mansion in Mengdu Wangcheng, he had to pick out the big problems of sesame and mung bean and write a [-]-word criticism, even the emperor himself It was also a headache, and because of his status as the elder of the three dynasties, it was not good to refute his face directly, lest one day he really bumped into the hall, and he would have to bear the extra charge of "death of loyal ministers" out of thin air.And the root of Liang Shu's illness towards the old man with white beard almost fell from here.

The leaders of the garrisons in various places in Dayan were either from the Northwest Camp or the Northeast Camp, except for Lu Xiang. So he set an example and reduced a group of cronies around him. It was also at that time that Lu Xiang went to the local government as a matter of course.

In short, he is a son who has never suffered much.

"Master Lu is honest and frugal in the court, but his nephew knows how to spend a lot of military expenses outside." Gao Lin read the military newspaper again, and finally said that Commander Lu had led the army to Sanshui City overnight to encircle and suppress, plus a long paragraph " I don't know if I was scared sober by Huang Wangxiang's ascension to the throne, or I heard the news that His Royal Highness King Xiao is coming, so I performed my duties overnight.

Liang Shu didn't mind letting this trash go back to his hometown, but Lu Xiang still had [-] Dayan's soldiers behind him.

He said, "Prepare the horse."

Liu Xian'an stood up: "I will go with the prince too."