Chapter 717 Enemies and Families (Part 1)
As the sun sets, a golden color falls on the river valley in early summer. Several hazel trees, hackberry trees, and saponins grow crookedly on the small slopes. From the wooden house on the slope, voices could be heard from time to time.
On a pile outside the wooden house, a man with a light beard sat cross-legged. In the sunset, he had a calm and mysterious aura. The man's name is Chen Fan. He is twenty-seven years old and is already one of the most skilled players in the forest.
What is going on in the room is a study class for the low-level managers of Xiaocanghe. The participants are all young people with great potential in Xiaocanghe who have been selected. Every few days, some old shopkeepers, staff, and generals in the valley will pass on their experiences. If someone with outstanding talent catches someone's eye, there will be an opportunity to become a one-on-one disciple.
Ning Yi occasionally comes to give a lecture, talking about management knowledge, how to pursue maximum efficiency at work, stimulate people's subjective initiative, etc.
Of course, sometimes I also talk about other things.
This year, according to the current physical condition, the man named Ning Yi is twenty-six years old. Due to past habits, he did not grow a beard, so he looks quite handsome based on his appearance. young. Yet few would regard him as a young man. It is no exaggeration to say that the name of the inner demon Ning Yi is notorious in the outside world. Whether it is a series of things he has done or the most shocking regicide in the Golden Palace, in the eyes of many people, this The names are all the demon kings of this era.
Of course, standing in front of them, especially at this moment, very few people would regard him as a demon king. He has a steady temperament, his speaking tone is not high, and his speaking speed is a little too fast, but it is still clear and fluent, which means that what he says has already been drafted in his mind. Of course, if he said some new words or concepts that others didn't understand well, he would also suggest others to write them down first, and discuss their doubts and solve them slowly.
This class is about some coordination problems that occurred in Xiaocanghe civil engineering work in March and April. The content of the class only took half of the originally scheduled time. After saying what needed to be said, Ning Yi moved a stool and sat down in front of everyone, allowing them to ask questions. But in fact, the thinking ability of the young people in front of them is not systematic. On the other hand, they have a certain degree of personal admiration for Ning Yi. After asking and answering two questions, no one spoke anymore. .
The sun shone in from the window. After the wooden house was quiet for a while, Ning Yi nodded, then smiled and knocked on the table next to him.
"Since there are no more questions, that's the end of our discussion today." He stood up, "However, seeing as there is still some time before dinner, I also have something I want to tell you. It just so happens that most of you are here."
Ning Yi smiled and pointed at everyone. Zhuo Xiaofeng and other young people were slightly confused when they heard Ning Yi say. : "I want to tell you about association."
Most of the young people in this room at this time are outstanding people in Xiaocanghe. It just so happens that Zhuo Xiaofeng, the original "Yongle Youth League", " Liu Yi of the Zhengqi Society was there, and founders such as Luo Ye of the newly emerged "Huayan Society" and Chen Xing of the "Mo Society" were also on the list. The rest more or less all belonged to some association. Hearing Ning Yi talk about this, everyone became anxious. They are all smart people. Since ancient times, those in power have not been fond of cliques. If Ning Yi doesn't like this, they may have to break up.
Ning Yi looked at them for a moment: "It's not a bad thing to form a group."
When he said this, Chen Xing and others felt a little relieved, only to see Ning Yi He smiled and said, “Everyone has his own personality, his own temperament, his own thoughts, and his own opinions. We, Xiao Cang He, are a family in a big sense, but even if we are a family, there is always someone you can talk to and someone you are more affectionate with. This is people, we are. You have to overcome some of your own weaknesses, but it doesn’t mean that your nature can be wiped out.”
"Acknowledge its objectivity and form groups, which will be beneficial to your future studies and work. If you have any ideas or good ideas, it is naturally better to discuss them with people who are similar in temperament and can speak well than with others. One point. On the other hand, what we must realize is that we have only been here for half a year. You have your own ideas and your own positions. There is no lifelessness. Moreover, you set up these groups not because of random ideas, but because you sincerely hope to become better. But - I have to say no.
The people below were all sitting upright, but Ning Yi did not stop their seriousness, and his eyes became more solemn.
"But! Confucianism says that gentlemen are in a group but not a party, and villains are in a party but not in a group. Why is a party but not a group a villain? Because forming a party is for personal gain, and the party agrees but attacks those who are different! The emergence of a group, It does bring a lot of benefits, but it can cause problems, and it is also due to the laws of human nature. There are always areas where we are negligent and inattentive, which leads to recurring problems. "
He said. Here, there is a sound in the room, then It was Chen Xing, the initiator of the "Mohui" who was sitting in the back, raised his hands and stood up: "Mr. Ning, we formed the Mohui just for our ideals, not for selfish reasons. If something happens in the future..."
" Don't express your opinion." Ning Yi waved his hand, "No one can doubt your current intentions. As I said, everyone in this room is an excellent person. , I have seen many.”
"Just like Cai Jing, just like Tong Guan, just like Qin Hui, like many people in the court I have met before, they are the best among them all. Do you think Cai Jing is a powerful minister? Tong Guan is incompetent. Prince? None of them. Cai Jing’s disciples are all over the world. From this Looking back fifty years, when Cai Jing first entered the officialdom, I believe that he had ideals and was even brighter and more forward-looking than you. Why did every official in the imperial court become what he became? What happened later was that I was powerless to do good things and unable to do bad things. There are groups of people who want to be bad officials from the beginning, absolutely none of them!"
"If you talk about using power for personal gain, many people can do it. Refuse. I'll give you ten taels of silver and you can do something for me. I have to refuse firmly, but each of you, even now, Zhuo Xiaofeng, let me ask you, if you have a relative who wants to join the Yongle Youth League, will you make things difficult for him? Will you give him some convenience? ”
Zhuo Xiaofeng nodded slightly.
Ning Yi tilted his head: "It is human nature to make it easier for relatives and others to be more formal. I cannot avoid this, including all the people who have done wrong things in the end. Slowly, around you You have more friends and relatives, they can help you, and they come to you more often for help. Some of them you refuse, and some of them can't. Real pressure often appears in this form. It’s Cai Jing who has all the power in the government. At first, maybe It is such a process. We must have the concept of such a process in our minds to arouse vigilance.”
“So I said not to take a stand. Some things are really difficult to face, and I don’t want to let you. The key to being pure and impartial is to draw a line." Ning Yi picked up the chalk and drew a clear line on the blackboard. "Let's draw a line first. .”
"People will slowly break through the bottom line in their hearts, because this line is in their hearts and they have the final say. So what we have to do is to draw this line clearly. On the one hand, strengthen our self-cultivation and self-control Of course it is correct, but on the other hand, it is very simple. There must be a set of rules. With rules, there will be supervision, and there will be an objective framework. I will not give you this framework. I hope that most of it will be given to you. , from yourselves.”
Ning Yi smiled and tilted his head slightly to look out the window full of golden sunset: "You are the first batch of people in Xiaocanghe. There are only more than 10,000 of us, plus tens of thousands of people in Qingmuzhai. You They are pathfinders. Everyone knows that our current situation is not good, but if it gets better one day, there will be hundreds of millions of people in Xiaocang River and beyond Xiaocang River, and there will be many small groups like you. . So I think, since you have become the first group of people, why not I can rely on you and me to discuss together and establish this framework.”
“I have some ideas in my heart, but they are not mature. I hope you can also have some ideas. I hope you can. We can see what mistakes we may make in the future, and we can block the possibility of this mistake earlier, but at the same time, we will not damage the enthusiasm of these groups. I hope you are this army and this mountain. The most outstanding group in the valley, you can compete with each other without excluding others. You can support your companions and at the same time make progress with your friends and opponents. At the same time, we must have shackles that can limit its development in a bad direction. Type it out yourself..."
"If you have any thoughts and opinions on this matter, you can tell me now..."
...
The sun is slanting further to the west, and occasionally the wind blows over the river valley and touches the treetops. The words in the room came out, but they were a little more cautious and much slower than before. Soon after, the young people came out of the class with doubts, excitement, and faint determination in their eyebrows.
They had previously rebelled either with Sheng Gong or Ning Yi and others, not with a clear plan of action, but with some chaotic ideas, but it had been so long since they came to Xiaocang River. , in the minds of these relatively smart young people, an idea has been established to some extent, which was instilled by Ning Yi when he talked about everything: in the future, we must never be like the Wu Dynasty.
Under this clear concept, Ning Yi can analyze some problems with everyone and seek some solutions with everyone. Of course, it is precisely because they are young, motivated, and have no stereotypes in their minds that Ning Yi can make such an attempt and introduce basic concepts such as the separation of powers into everyone's minds. It is expected that after their exploration, Produce some sprouts.
This process may last for a long time. But if it’s just giving, it’s actually meaningless.
He walked out of the room and watched these young people go away. The sunset had turned red at this time. Chen Xing and others walking on the side were vaguely saying: "We can halve what we eat recently..." Ning Yi's words this afternoon had a lot to think about for them, but at the same time , is also an encouragement to everyone, because Ning Yi has recognized their legitimacy, and they also hope to do something outstanding.
Everyone walked to one end of the valley. Ning Yi stood there and watched for a moment, and then walked with Chen Fan to the mountain beside the valley. He is busy with work every day and time is extremely precious. He met with several managers in the valley during dinner, and when night fell, there were many more copywriting things presented to him.
After working like this for more than an hour, the valley in the distance outside was lit by fire, and there were already stars shining in the night sky. A young man named Xiao Hei walked in: "That envoy from Xixia I was tired of staying here and threatened to leave tomorrow. General Qin asked me to come Ask, do you want to see him?"
Ning Yi thought for a while: "Then ask him to come over."
This envoy was sent to Xiaocanghe by the Xixia people. The name of the minister Han was Lin Houxuan, and the name of Xixia was Qu Nuze. They had been waiting for three days after arriving at Xiaocang River.
The purpose of the Xixia people coming here is very simple, just lobbying and recruiting surrender. They now occupy the general trend. Although they promise to attack and gain fame, the core of demanding the surrender of all Xiaocanghe remains unchanged. After Ning Yi understood it a little, , I casually arranged for a few people to entertain each other, walk around and have fun without going to see him.
But of course it's not good to disappear all the time, as that would appear to be a lack of grace.
When Xiao Hei went out to recruit Xixia envoys, the settlement area of Xiaocanghe also seemed quite lively. It hasn't rained in the past two days. With the square as the center, the mud on the surrounding roads and ground gradually faded away, and a group of children in the valley were running back and forth on the streets. There is no outside market in the small valley under military management, but on one side of the square, there are still two small shops that supply various things from the outside world, for the convenience of refugees who enter the valley in winter and many families in the army.
On one side of the small square, there are several small venues used for storytelling and singing. The functions of the venues are different. One is used for performing various dramas, and the other is used for various entertainment including juggling and magic. There is also a storyteller in the project who will inform everyone about various information from the outside world. The briefing times are morning, noon and evening. From time to time, some comments written by Ning Yi and others will be added.
The Jurchens withdrew their troops from Bianliang and kidnapped more than 100,000 people. Many tragedies were happening along the way. Various facts north of the Yellow River. As the Xixia people advanced beyond Hengshan, many people suffered. This kind of talk, which is similar to the news of later generations, is now what people in the river valley listen to most. After hearing this, some would be filled with indignation, some would frown anxiously, or some would bow their heads and discuss. Sometimes if young people like Chen Xing were around, they would follow the current comments and trigger a small speech, where people would loudly curse the incompetent Wu Dynasty court and so on. .
Because of the existence of these places, some emotions are always brewing inside the Xiaocang River, such as a sense of urgency and tension. From time to time, the progress of construction in the river valley is announced, and news from the outside comes from time to time. In many aspects, it also proves that everyone is working hard. Some people are inside the river valley, and some are outside the river valley, all working hard to solve the problem of Xiaocang River. problems faced.
In a wooden house not far from the square, the room was brightly illuminated by fire. Zhuo Xiaofeng frowned and wrote something in his notebook. Young people not far away were chattering around a simple map. Although the conversation was not loud, it seemed lively.
"...According to the current situation, the Xixia people have advanced to Gyeongju, and it is only a few days away from taking Gyeongju City. Once connected in this way, the road to the west will be completely chaotic. If we want to solve the food problem through business, wouldn't it be more difficult..."
"Brother Xiao Feng went out to contact member Lin Fuguang before. Not to mention that Lin is now undecided. Even if The man surnamed Lin is willing to help , the road to the west may not be guaranteed to be smooth. You see, once the Xixia people occupy this side..."
"I don't think there is much hope for the road to the north. The attitude of the Jurchens is now I don’t understand at all. The situation outside is changing day by day. When doing business, what should we do if it becomes unstable..."
"You can’t do it. We don’t understand how to do business, but Mr. Ning can follow you. Am I the same..."
"Don't argue, don't argue. If you can't figure it out, just think more. If we can keep up with Mr. Ning's ideas, it will always be good for us in the future." Some..."
"No ambition. I see, isn't there another side? The Wu Dynasty, the landlords north of the Yellow River, used to stock a lot of grain. Ah, if the Jurchens come to kill again, they will definitely bottom out, but there are still some..."
"Those wealthy families are all officials and students. If they want to cooperate with us, I think they would rather rely on women. Real person..."
The air seemed a little stuffy, and among the chatter, the hottest and most urgent topic in Xiaocanghe at this time was the food issue. Ning Yi had previously chosen this location, hoping to connect to Qingmuzhai and finally establish a commercial foothold in this place of the Fourth War. Many people have heard of this idea, but it sounds reasonable, but in reality, it is indeed very difficult, at least Until now, even those people around Zhuo Xiaofeng still had their only confidence in the plan in Ning Yi himself.
Although we can't think of it, maybe Mr. Ning will be able to find a way out at some point?
After all, this is not the first time such a thing has happened.
Perhaps because of the anxiety in the heart, or because of the invisible pressure from the outside, on such a night, there are not a few people who secretly discuss and care about the food problem in the valley. Several departments have a certain degree of confidence in each other, and just such anxiety can overwhelm the entire rebel system.
While everyone was discussing, seeing Ning Yi, the Xixia envoy Lin Houxuan also brought up the matter straight to the point.
"...Before I came here, I knew that Mr. Ning had original ideas about trade routes. Now that food is beginning to be scarce here, you hope to open up trade routes to get food. I admire you very much, but the situation outside the mountains has changed. Change. When the Wu Dynasty declined, I came to the south from Xixia. It was an act of destiny that no one could stop. . Our Majesty respects Mr. Ning's talents. Since you have killed the king of Wu Dynasty, this place will no longer be able to tolerate you. As long as you surrender to me, Xixia, all the problems you face will be solved. The prerequisites are as long as you nod your head, and you will get several meters, thousands of stones, pigs and sheep..."
In the room in the small courtyard, the lights are not too bright. Lin Houxuan is a middle-aged man in his thirties, with a dignified appearance and fluent Chinese. He is probably from a prominent Xixia family. There is a sense of stability in his words. The power of the human heart. After inviting him to sit down, Ning Yi made tea for him at the coffee table, and Lin Houxuan took this opportunity to talk. But when he said this, Ning Yi raised his hand slightly: "Please tea."
Lin Houxuan cupped his hand, picked up the tea cup and took a sip. From the moment he entered the door, he also carefully looked at the young man opposite him who killed the King of Wu Dynasty. The other party was young, but his eyes were calm, and his movements were simple, neat, and powerful. Apart from that, he couldn't see anything different about the other party for a while. But after inviting him for tea, when he put down the tea cup, Ning Yi said One sentence: "I will not agree."
Lin Houxuan He originally wanted to continue talking, but he hesitated for a moment. He did not expect that the other party would refuse so simply: "Mr. Ning...could it be that he just wants to hold on for dear life? Or maybe he wants to tell the official that everything in this mountain is Anhao, even if you stay for ten years, you won’t starve to death?”
The other party? He shook his head and poured him a cup of tea: "I know what you want to say. Conversations between countries and places are not based on emotion. I just considered the bottom line of both parties and knew that the matter was not discussed. Maybe, so please go back and tell your lord that I don’t agree with his conditions. Agree. Of course, if your country wants to open up some trade routes through us, we would welcome it, but it seems unlikely."
Ning Yi said this matter simply. It's simple, but in one sentence, almost all roads are blocked. Lin Houxuan frowned. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, but just heard it, he would have thought that this strange guy who was less than thirty years old and killed an emperor in a rage was motivated by anger. No irrational feelings were revealed.
He thought about the many possibilities, and finally swallowed his saliva: "Then... Mr. Ning asked me to come, what else can I say?"
"For politeness."
"Huh?"
"You have been here for several days. You represent the king of a country and want to see me. . I know there is no need to talk, and I have something to do, so I refuse. But you are leaving, and you can't not see each other. This is rude."
Lin Houxuan was stunned for a long time: "Mr. Ning, you know, Xixia. This time we go south, there is an alliance between our country and the Jin people.”
In the dim light, he saw the man opposite him raising his eyebrows slightly, indicating for him to continue speaking, but he still looked calm.
"Our Majesty, in personal talks with Marshal Zong Han's special envoy, finalized the plan to seize the Wu Dynasty from the south." He cupped his hands and said loudly, "I know that Mr. Ning also has a relationship with Qingmuzhai in Luliang Mountain , Qingmuzhai not only has business with the south, but also has several connections with the golden people and nobles in the north, but now guarding Yan The one near the gate is the Jin general. Mr. Ning, if we hold the northwest and the Jurchens cut off the north, is it possible for you to survive on the Xiaocang River? "
Ning Yi opened his mouth and wanted to speak, but Lin Houxuan didn't wait for him to speak and said again: "Our Majesty is not willing to do such a thing. Your Majesty is talented, wise and martial, and he values heroes. Your Majesty values Mr. Ning as a hero of the world, and also values everyone in this valley as brave men. Could it be that Mr. Ning just wants to watch them and slowly starve. "Will you die?"
Ning Yi looked at him and smiled. That look made Lin Houxuan He was extremely uncomfortable because the other party had been acting like he was looking at a junior. Then he saw the other party stand up and raised his hand: "This agreement remains unchanged. Ambassador Lin, please come back."
Lin Houxuan was stunned for a longer time this time: "Mr. Ning, Lin doesn't understand why."
"People from China will not vote for foreign countries, and this decision remains unchanged."
"Huh?"
"Please." Ning Yi raised his hand calmly.
...
"Then...forgive Lin for his blunt statement, if Mr. Ning really refuses this matter, we will do more than just cut off the two ends of Xiaocang River and Qingmuzhai. Business Road. At the beginning of this year, the dispute between Sanbai Buba Elite and Mr. Ning’s subordinates will not be settled like this. Has Mr. Ning thought about it?”
"Please."
......
In the light of the lights, Lin Houxuan blushed slightly. At the same time, the sound of a child crying came from a room not far away.
**********
After leaving the small courtyard where Ning Yi was, Lin Houxuan's head and face were still hot. He knew the mission wasn't going to work, he just didn't understand why.
This is not clear, and it is not a rejection of Ning Yi. It is not uncommon for the people of the Central Plains to be entangled in the name of China and would rather die than join a foreign race. At least until the steel knife is actually cut down, there are many people who are willing to die. He just doesn't understand what he is missing.
The other party's calm attitude made it impossible to tell that he was talking about a matter that determined life and death. Lin Houxuan was born into the Xixia aristocracy, and he had seen many great figures who were unable to move even after the mountains collapsed, or fierce generals who had been in battle for a long time and regarded life and death as nothing. However, in the face of such a life-and-death crisis, if you block the way out in an understatement and still maintain this calm, then you are nothing but a madman.
Unless he doesn't think this is a dead end.
What did you miss?
With full of doubts, he looked back at the small courtyard with yellow lights on the hillside not far away, and then looked at the relatively lively residential area not far away. Even further away, It's a reservoir surrounded by sparse lights. The spirit that permeates this valley is different. They are warriors that His Majesty will like and can use, but they are indeed on the edge of crisis...
He walked all the way back to the resting place. After meeting with a few followers, he asked someone to take out the map and read it several times. The situation in the north, the situation in the west... the situation outside the mountain. What big changes have suddenly occurred in the past two days? Or is there an unimaginable amount of food stored in Qingmuzhai? Even if they don't have food problems, how can they not worry about their own declaration of war? Is it a bluff, or do you want to get more promises and benefits in your hands?
Like many others, at this moment, Lin Houxuan could not figure out the solution to Xiaocanghe's dilemma. The situation in the world has reached a point of overturn. It is not easy for all forces to survive, and they will use all their strength. This small army in the mountains has obviously faced such a big problem, but the guy in charge behaves so rashly?
For a moment he thought about Ning Yi's rumored name as the inner demon, and for a moment he doubted his own judgment. This mood had turned into complete frustration and hostility by the time we left Xiaocanghe the next day.
This matter cannot be discussed. Of course, he will not get any credit or rewards when he goes back, but no matter what, there is no way to survive here. The inner demon Ning Yi killed the emperor in a rage. He is a lunatic. He wants to die, so let them die——(End of Chapter)