Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

Chapter No.17: The New Road

Chapter No.17: The New Road

At dawn, Tang Deen opened his left eye.

The heavy rain took half of his life. He had a high fever for several days and almost died.

Thanks to Mirsalu who has been taking care of him, this little girl knows herbal medicine, she prepared herbal medicine herself, and pulled Tang De'en back from the hand of death.Mirsalu's pets are also humane. The sparrows will bring herbs from the outside, and the crows will cooperate with the hounds to catch pheasants and hares.

In this way, Tang Deen passed the most dangerous hurdle in his life. Today, his fever has subsided, but his right eye is permanently blind.This eye has been with him all his life, and he is really reluctant to read ancient books and learn knowledge for him.

But it doesn't matter.

Today they take refuge in a small village.There are only ten households in this village, and the only means of livelihood is farming. Only two of them raise chickens, and the whole village shares one cattle.Tang Deen exchanged a few gold coins on his body for a room and some food, and Mirsalu stopped their greed with a dagger.

The Amblesides have taught this child well, Tang Deen thought to himself, she can read and write, and can use a knife, which is better than those women who can only sew.

Tang De'en didn't dare to stay here for long.Although the heavy rain helped them escape, they were still in the Bear Mountain now, and the pursuers of the Son of Sea God might come at any time.The most deadly thing is that they are carrying a sub-dragon, this big guy is too easy to reveal their position.

So they have to go.

In the morning, they packed their luggage and bought the necessary daily necessities from the villagers—some rags, four pairs of straw sandals, a little dry bread, and a headscarf for camouflage.Then they mounted the Wulong—Misha.

Misha is the name given to it by Mishalu. This guy looks fierce, but in fact he is stupid and honest.It is two meters long, has soft gray feathers, and is a committed vegetarian.

"Misha was always bullied before," Mishalu said. "The knights kept her with the horse, but she was afraid of the horse because the horse would step on her tail and bite her fur."

Although Tang De'en is a knowledgeable bachelor, he doesn't understand this kind of thing at all.The talents that Mirsalou has shown these days are things he doesn't have.He couldn't help asking the little girl, "What did your family teach you before?"

She thought for a while and said, "My father formulated five main courses for me, Chinese, Mathematics, Alchemy, Forest Witchcraft, and Business and Social Relations."

Except for Chinese, none of these five subjects seem to be learned by girls, Tang Deen thought to himself, even men don't learn them.Mathematics can only be learned by craftsmen and architects, and there is no place for ordinary people to learn alchemy, let alone witchcraft; business and social?Why do girls learn this?Does he want Mirsalu to go into business?

Tang De'en thought to himself: Haiwen's behavior style is still so different, even educating children.

He asked Mirsalu, "Is that all? History lessons, women's women, and theology?"

Mirsalu pondered a little, and said: "He will read me interesting historical stories, and when my mother is around, he will teach me some simple female reds. As for theology...He won't let me touch it. He said he won't allow it in the future. I belong to any religion, he doesn't believe in any gods."

Atheists, Thondern thought, there will be atheists in every age, but they've never been mainstream.Because people need faith to support their souls, otherwise they cannot live in this world.

"He said that there will be no pies in the sky. If you want to be happy in life, you can only rely on your own efforts. Hard work, wisdom, tenacity, justice...any noble character is more important than belief in God."

It makes sense, I believe in the Sea God, so pious, isn't the final result still the same?Too bad I didn't figure it out sooner.

Wurm snorted in a low voice, as if responding to Mirsalu's words.They staggered forward, and the little girl continued to teach the old scholar: "My teachers said that the world has been standing still and even going backwards. There must be something wrong with our way of life."

Tang Deen lowered his head, looked at her and asked, "Who are your teachers?"

"My parents, my godmother Violet, Lord Gerrit, you, and Fat Cat."

"And who?" Tang De'en didn't hear clearly.

"Fat cat," the little girl frowned, "the fattest one." She said with a smile.

Then there was no one else, and Tang Deen couldn't help laughing, "He taught you how to use a knife?"

"I asked him to learn it on my own initiative." Mirsalu took out the knife and looked at it carefully. "Of all the skills I have learned, this is the most useful. I live on this, and I can't do anything else." The knife was on her finger. Tang De'en watched the dexterous dance, but Tang De'en was terrified, for fear that the little girl would accidentally cut off her finger.

Tang Deen couldn't find a reason to refute her, but the old man still felt that girls should not play with knives.He hoped that this little girl could live a stable and happy life...he hoped that everyone would be like this.

Yes, isn't that what I hoped for from the beginning?When I was young, I didn’t have enough to eat and I didn’t have enough clothes to wear. I sympathized with the poor and hoped that they could live a better life... Where did I go wrong?

What am I after?honor?Credit?go down in history?

His heart sank, and his blind right eye throbbed, as if reminding him how stupid he was.He sighed, and said, "Little Mill, we've got to find your father."

Mirsalu nodded lightly and asked, "But where will he be?"

yes, where will he be?Haiwen will definitely not return to Bear Mountain, so if he runs away, where will he go?To Jinsha Castle or Fenglei Castle?It is more likely that he will go to Fenglei Castle, because the Sea God Sect's behavior is acquiesced by the Jinsha Castle forces, so speaking, he and the little trident are enemies now.So he will probably go to Fengleibao to seek help from the Mundaria family.

"Let's go to Fengleibao." Tang De'en said.

"It's too far away, we might as well go to Wild Horse Town first." Mirsalu made her suggestion, "People in Wild Horse Town still think that Haven is the king of wild horses, and they also regard me as a noble lady. If we go, we will definitely get Reception from the locals. And I wonder what's going on with my father's land, we haven't heard from Mustang land in a while."

"You're right." Tang De'en nodded, "And Mustang Town is where your father started his family. He must miss it the most. Maybe we can get in touch with him in Mustang Town."

So they decided to go to Mustang Town, the old and the young rode slowly on the back of the dragon, and the birds flew beside them, like guarding knights.

Chapter 18: Victory and Conspiracy

Chapter 18: Victory and Conspiracy

The Heavenly Father closed the door, corpses were everywhere, and the wounded wailed.The soldiers in the bay area were cleaning the battlefield. A recruit grabbed a gold-encrusted saber and wanted to use it for himself. At this time, the warrior Karen slapped him and threw the saber to the "weapon mountain" aside. .The captured weapons were piled up under Tianfu Pass, as high as a hill.

The northerners are doomed this time, Bagu thought.

Facing the sudden Gulf fighters, these legendary northern elites resisted for two hours before being defeated.The northerners marched here in a hurry, and they were exhausted; while the soldiers in the bay area rested here for a long time. If the two sides touched, the northerners would die immediately.

Then Bugu Kahn beat the dog in the water again and pursued him mercilessly.

The troops of the northerners fled from Tianfuguan and continued eastward.Seeing the striker turn around and flee for his life, the logistics troops and heavy weapons troops behind were also in chaos, and fled afterward.So for a while the front team changed to the back team, and after a while the back team changed to the front team again, and finally the team was completely messed up.Hassan Heron was the fastest runner, and he had already disappeared. The rest of the people didn't want to be meat sauce under the hammer of Bone, so they fled in all directions, leaving behind their supplies and siege engines.

Half a day later, Bagu ordered his men to continue hunting down the northerners, while he himself stayed to rest.The huge size will consume more energy than the average person. Bagu has been wearing heavy armor for the past few days. He first fought Hassan Herun, and then he raided the Heavenly Father Pass, and then fought the northerners... During this period, he didn't eat much. Things, sleep and rarely sleep, energy has reached the limit.

Now he is drinking a small wine here while listening to the post-war report.

According to the report of his subordinates, the [-] northerners' army was almost wiped out this time.The Heavenly Father Guan Dajie alone killed a thousand enemies and took four thousand prisoners. After that, he chased and killed many more.The rest are logistics troops and fortification troops. These people don't have much combat effectiveness, they run and drop.The only pity was letting Hassan Heron run away.

In terms of spoils, the materials seized this time are very rich.Including food supplies for 2 people, all kinds of exquisite standard armor, cold iron knives that cut iron like mud, thousands of ten-foot spears... But the most exciting thing is those war weapons: eight can be disassembled There are heavy catapults, twenty punching carts and bed crossbows, countless strong bows and hand crossbows, and two fucking lava cannons!When Bugu saw this thing, he laughed like a whore customer - how could there be such a wonderful big toy in this world?Damn it, send it to me first to hear it!

And captives, above all the well-trained soldiers of the Grand Order.Although these guys are defeated soldiers, their combat effectiveness is stronger than that of the soldiers in the Gulf.If these people are recruited, it will be a very strong force.As for their loyalty?Let Lan Chu do this, his mouth must have a way to make these captives obedient.

The rest of the captives are all logistical, except for the porters, they are skilled workers, priests and military doctors. In Bagu's opinion, these people are more valuable than those soldiers.Skilled workers can help him continue to manufacture siege engines, and priests can be recruited to boost morale, not to mention military doctors, whose surgical operations in the north are top in the world.

By the way, I almost forgot, he also captured a few noble children, these guys can be used as hostages to negotiate with the northern nobles, whether it is for money or to achieve military goals, in short, they are very valuable.

After counting all these, it was already night, and Ba Gu was so sleepy that he went to sleep in the Heavenly Father's Pass.Today, Tianfuguan has completely belonged to the people of the Gulf, and this has not happened for 200 years.

In fact the original plan was less complex and less ingenious.Bagu originally wanted to have a decisive battle with Hassan Heron at the Sands Castle, but Lan Cuo decided to make a temporary change, and this happened today.

During this period, he and Lan Zuo only communicated by letter twice, but their tacit understanding has always been there, and they cooperated seamlessly, thus burying the northerners.

When I see Lan Zuo, I have to ask him carefully——Ba Gu thought about it, and gradually fell asleep.

At noon the next day, the son of the White Bird Marquis and the prime minister of the Gulf Land, Lan Yu Kleist, came to the Heavenly Father Pass.Ba Gu also slept until noon, and when he woke up, Lan Zu was sitting quietly at the door of the tent drinking plum tea.

"Good morning, Your Majesty." Lan Que turned his head and said.The plum tea in his hand was still steaming. Even on the battlefield, this young man of White Bird City had neat hair and clean clothes and boots.

Bagu pushed back the quilt, moved his joints, and made a rattling sound. "Is everything over, Lan Zu?" He scratched his bristly chest.

"It's almost over, Solista is finishing up." He shook his teacup, "Drink?"

"Drink this on a hot day?" Ba Gu looked at the heat in the cup, "I'd better drink ice wine." After saying that, he got up and got out of bed, and sat up on the ground with one-handed push-ups.While he was doing it, he asked Lan Chu, "I want to ask you something, Lan Chu, where did you get that black pigeon?"

Lan Zuo glanced at him and said, "Tell me first where you got the explosives - why is it so powerful? Blow up the mountain like that?"

Bugu laughed and said: "Don't you know? I just like those things that move a lot. I was recruiting alchemists in the early years. They experimented for several years, killed several people, and destroyed After a few houses, a thing called 'Skyfire' was finally produced—there was a lot of movement!"

"So you blow up mountains with this?"

"The lake on the mountain was blown up." Ba Gu said, "It rained heavily a few days ago, and there was water on the mountain. When my mother blew it up, the water overflowed, and the Heavenly Father was shut down."

"So that's how it is." Lan Que took a sip of the plum tea, frowned, and said, "It's worthy of His Majesty the King to be able to come up with such a plan."

"Fuck-your mother, you little bastard!" Ba Gu switched hands from left to right and continued to do push-ups, "What's the matter with pigeons?"

"Oh, a pigeon. The pigeon was sent to the king by the Prime Minister of the Northern Territory a week ago, but the pigeon never reached the king's hands, and I stopped it halfway."

Ba Gu's push-ups stopped for a while, and he asked: "Isn't the black pigeon the royal familiar? The familiar flies fast and high, and doesn't have to come down to drink water and eat. How did you stop it?"

Lan Zuo smiled and said, "I have learned liberal witchcraft from the forest witch for a while, including commanding pigeons. My master is the three-star witch Dadaras, who is very famous."

Ba Gu frowned and asked, "Didn't those witches only accept women?"

"That's why I learned it in women's clothing." Lan Xi spread his hands, "The group of hungry witches were quite interested in me as a 'fake woman' and taught me a lot, but I was worried about my chastity If you and your family's honor are damaged, you will drop out of school early... Your Majesty, please don't look at me like this, it will ruin our friendship."

"I'm just curious," Ba Gu looked Lan Qu up and down, "What do you look like when you dress up as a woman?"

"You are disgusting, Your Majesty the Righteous King." He said with a smile.

"Fuck you, little bastard," said Bow.

Chapter 19: Regrouping, a

Chapter 19: Regrouping, a

The news of the big victory spread like the wind throughout Xiawan.Haven is sitting in his new office, reading various reports from his staff.

After learning about this, everyone in Xiawan was also very happy.Even though Yawen and the Little Trident had political disagreements, they were both from the Gulf, and they would not want the Little Trident to lose the battle.What's more, the little trident is a big victory, a miraculous victory.

At the beginning, everyone was not optimistic about this war. Even the most optimistic people in the main battle faction thought at most that if the Golden Sand Castle is not broken and the northerners can be driven back to the Heavenly Father Pass, then it will be a great victory.

But the result?

Now I heard that the little trident wiped out the 200 army of northerners with a few thousand people, captured three nobles and one general alive, and captured countless soldiers and workers.Moreover, he also conquered the Tianfu Pass, which had been occupied by the northerners for [-] years. No one thought that he could take the Tianfu Pass back.

This time the war directly established the stable rule of the Little Trident. This battle is equivalent to telling foreign enemies and domestic opponents: I, Bagu Kahn, is no worse than the king of the north, and even stronger than him!No matter how many people opposed him before, as long as he can defeat those arrogant northerners, the people will support him.Now that Bagu has proven himself, more nobles will be willing to obey him.

There are now two kings in the four duchies.

Maybe there will be three more in the future?Out of four?

Haven maintained a neutral attitude towards this victory. War is the last resort. Although Bone Kahn is good at fighting, it does not mean that he is a good leader.In order to satisfy this war, taxes and labor in the Gulf have been increased a lot.This year is already a year of disasters, with floods in the south and drought in the north, and the harsh government in Bagu will make things worse.

Did he think about these things?Haiwen couldn't help but think, if the people were starving to death, what's the point of fighting this battle?

Another batch of disaster victims ushered in Xiawan, and Haiwen sent him under the fence, so he should share the worries of the Deen sisters.He led the way in building refugee shelters, isolating the sick, and then distributing clean water and food.But this is far from enough. As the war continues, the number of refugees will only increase.

While he was dealing with these matters, Ramon walked in.

"My lord, I have made up my mind."

Hai Wen raised his head and said, "What are you thinking about?"

"I promised the Countess," Ramon said solemnly, "If you have no objection, my lord, I will propose to her tonight."

Haven felt the utter desperation of a dead man on Ramon's face, and he said in awe, "Have you thought about it?"

"Laya talked to me once, and she told me a lot..." His eyes drifted to Haven's desk, "Now this situation is not the time to consider personal feelings, let alone the Countess...she said she was very Like me, I..." Ramon's expression was very subtle, "She even said she would lose weight for me, I... am a little touched."

Laya is still amazing, Haiwen couldn't help but sigh in his heart, this kind of ideological work is not so easy to do.

"It would be great if you agreed to this matter. For this marriage, I will give you a noble title. Of course, it is only for honor. I have no fief - and I will not give you a fief in the future. Ramon, we You know the rules."

"I know." Ramon nodded.

"Then from now on, you will be the Viscount Mustang, and I will write you a letter of appointment, so that your status will be worthy of being the Countess of Shrimp Bay..." Haiwen scratched his head, "Anyway, Suoyana had her last husband She is only from a commoner background, she may not care about her status, she just wants to marry her several hundred pounds quickly."

"Let's not mention this number line?" Ramon's face was ashen.

"I'm sorry." Haiwen said quickly, "Let's not mention this, let's talk about the wedding now. According to the rules of the nobles here in Xiawan, you need to ask the officiant and the elders of your family to come forward."

Ramon said, "I am an orphan, my lord."

"Then can I come? I will take your father's place temporarily."

"Of course, my lord."

Haiwen remembered what Miss Yawen had said to him before, so he said to Ramon, "Xiawan people value family traditions, and you may need a surname."

"I don't have a surname, and this thing can't make up one... May I use your surname?"

Haiwen pondered for a while, thinking: If this is the case, I might as well let him become a member of my family.Ramon is talented and intelligent, and I can teach him more knowledge; besides, Ramon is the future guardian of Shrimp Bay, and adding a layer of kinship with him will also help us get along in the future.

So Haiwen said: "If you use it, then you will be considered a member of the Ambside family——Ramon, I am almost 20 years older than you, and I am old enough. So are you willing to be my adopted son? ?”

"Then it will be my great honor, my lord." Ramon said.

Seeing Ramon's serious expression, Haven decided to hold a simple ceremony.He ordered people to bring clean water, holy oil and candlesticks, and then invited Smiley Cat and Yavin Dern to be witnesses.When everyone was there, he opened the window and asked Ramon to stand in the sun.

Haiwen said to him according to the ritual process that he had read in the previous book: "Ramon, you joined my family today, and from now on you and I will be one; Haiwen Ambside is your father, Isriel Te Ambleside is your mother, and so are the rest of the family. We share weal and woe, and our blood is endless!"

Ramon knelt down on one knee: "I am a member of the Ambside family today, and my blood is integrated. Haven Ambside is my father, Israet Ambside is my mother, and the others The same is true of family members. We share weal and woe, and our blood continues."

Haven smeared holy oil on his forehead and said, "Okay, get up."

So Ramon Ambleside rose to his feet, and the Witnesses applauded.

Haiwen said to Miss Yawen: "Now it is the marriage of our two families, Miss Deen."