Chapter 810 Fate: You and I meet each other (Part 1)
After having breakfast with my family, it was already bright and sunny, and it was a good morning.
Su Tan'er's working hours are often tight. After a comfortable morning, things that need to be dealt with come one after another. It takes about ten minutes to walk from home to the No. 1 General Staff Courtyard, which is the hub of Hedeng County. Hongti is following along the way. Yunzhu and Jiner will walk with them for a while, and then go to the school on the other side - they are Teachers on campus sometimes participate in the cultural and entertainment activities of the Political Department.
Among Ning Yi’s wives and concubines, Hongti is relatively older, has a good temperament, and may have had the most difficult life in the past. Tan'er respects her and calls her "Sister Hongti". Hongti has already passed away, so she calls Tan'er "Sister" as usual.
This title is a bit confusing, but the relationship between the two has always been good. If there are no other people on the way to the General Staff Yard, they will chat all the way. But usually there are people, and the deputies who have to hurry up to report today's work often go to the door to wait during breakfast to save the next ten minutes - most of the time this job is done by the housekeeper Myolie, and there is also another A woman named Wen Xianying, who works as a secretary, is responsible for summarizing the matters passed on and reporting them to Su Tan'er.
The one who followed today was Juaner.
After the two talked and communicated for a while, Juaner went to the other side of the mountain to deal with other matters.
A few minutes later, Tan'er and Hongti arrived at the yard of the General Staff Headquarters and began to handle the day's work.
The three counties of Bulay, Hedeng and Jishan were originally small counties with a combined population of less than 30,000. After the Black Flag came, all personnel from the military, administration, technology, and business, as well as their families, , the population swelled to as many as 160,000. Although the General Staff is the name of the General Staff Department, it is actually mainly composed of the heads of various Black Flag departments. It determines the operation of the entire Black Flag system. Tan'er is responsible for the overall operation of administration, commerce, and technology. Although it mainly looks after the overall situation, early The two years were really busy. Later, Ning Yi presided over the restructuring remotely and trained some students. This made it a little easier, but we couldn't relax.
When the routine morning reports and complicated paperwork began here, Juaner arrived at the Intelligence Department at the other end. The Intelligence Department of Black Flag was originally a branch of Zhuji. It inherited the traces of the Secret Investigation Department in the early days. Later, it cooperated with the commercial and propaganda departments of Zhuji. At this time, it became completely independent and still had close ties with the Political Department and the Commercial Department.
On the one hand, a large amount of information about the outside world is collected here: the situation of the Jin Kingdom, the situation of Daqi, the situation of Wu Dynasty... After sorting out, some of them will be handed over to the Political Department, and then made public to the army. Through dissemination, deduction, and discussion, Everyone understands the general trend of the world today, the dire straits everywhere, and what may happen next; the other part is left to the Ministry of Commerce to conduct comprehensive operations and look for possible opportunities and bargaining chips.
Besides this, the specific espionage work naturally includes the internal affairs of the Black Flag, the confrontation with the spies of the Wu Dynasty, Daqi, and the Jin Kingdom, the cleanup of the Black Flag Army, etc. The person in charge of the General Intelligence Department now is Chen Haiying, one of the three leaders of Zeng Zhuji. After Juaner met with him, the action she had already planned was launched.
The person in charge of the operation in Hedeng County is named Chen Xing. He is one of Ning Yi's disciples. He was originally keen on Professor Ning Yi's logic, reasoning, cause and effect, etc., and once founded the "Mohui" in the military. , on the same level as Luo Ye, and later did not embark on the path of an inventor, but instead joined the operations department of the Intelligence Ministry. Just after Chen hour, he received the order and then assigned tasks to his men.
When this team set off from the Intelligence Department as a routine training, the messengers rushing to Jishan and Buley were already speeding on the road. Soon after, Zhuo Xiaofeng, who was in charge of the Jishan spy, As well as Luo Ye and others who served as military judges in Bligh Barracks will After receiving the order, the entire operation started one after another in these three places...
At 1:30 a.m., Su Taner and a group of staff members finished their morning meeting and walked towards where they were. When I was in my office room, I looked up and saw a hot air balloon floating overhead.
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The hot air balloon floated in the sky.
On the roadside at the foot of the mountain in Hedeng County, Chen Laoer, who runs a porridge and cake shop, raised his head and saw two hot air balloons in the sky, one in the east and one in the south, floating in the wind. .
Most of the people eating at the porridge and cake shop are members of the nearby Black Flag administrative department. Chen Lao'er is good at craftsmanship, so his porridge and cake shop has many regular customers. It's past breakfast time today, and there are still some people here Let’s have something to eat here and laugh and talk while eating and drinking. Chen Laoer took two bowls of porridge out and placed them in front of a table. Then he put his hands on his hips and shook his neck vigorously: "Hey, that Kongming Lantern..."
The Black Flag member who asked for the porridge looked back. Look: "Old Chen, that's a hot air balloon. It's not the first time you've seen it, so you still don't understand."
"It's just the Kongming Lantern. I used to make it when I was a kid." Chen Laoer grinned, "But this one is so big. How come it was released today?"
"Maybe it depends on the weather today. Okay, let's show it out."
The administrative staff smiled, and Chen Laoer also smiled. People were coming and going in the surrounding markets. After a while, another group of people came: "Boss, do you have anything to eat? Eight bowls of porridge and sixteen cakes. Wrap them up. I have a mission."
The group of people were wearing black military uniforms and came fully armed. Chen The second child nodded: "There are not many cakes left. Why are you here at this time? There is also porridge. How can you take it away when you are on a mission?"
"Look for something to pack. What else do you have..." Eight people walked into the shop, and the leader came over to check.
"Otherwise the pot is yours, how far do you have to carry it..."
"Pot...what else do you have..."
"You don't know what I have here..." ..." As Chen Laoer spoke, he was still trying to figure out what mission the other party wanted to perform. The knife was already placed on his neck. Several people walking around him also pulled out their knives. Some people took away the sharp weapons around Chen Laoer. .
"You...what are you doing...did you catch the wrong person..." The middle-aged porridge and cake shop owner was trembling.
"The net is closed, admit it." The leading Black Flag member pointed to the sky and whispered.
Chen Laoer's body was still trembling, like the most ordinary honest businessman, and then he jumped up with a sound of "Ah--". He wanted to break free from the restraint, but just as he jumped up, three people around him jumped up and pulled him away. Pinned to the ground, someone suddenly removed his jaw.
Several black flag government officials around looked at this scene: "Which side?"
"Brother, it's confidential."
"Oh, it's not Daqi anyway. It’s the Wu Dynasty..."
"It’s a pity that a bowl of good porridge..."
Everyone was talking about it, but some people whispered among themselves in private: "There was something about Tian Hu just a few days ago. Two days ago, I heard that a group of Jurchens were defeated outside Xiangyang City. At this time, the secret guards closed the net. What do you think is going on? ?”
“…No It could be true. "
After staying in the center of Black Flag for so long, many people have a keen insight. Since the bloody battle of Xiaocang River, the Black Flag Army has been in a state of ambush. The main reason for the sadness and anger was the disappearance of Mr. Ning. The outside world said he was dead, but Black Flag internally said he was not dead. However, internally, it was an indisputable fact that Su Taner and others were regarded as widows.
It is impossible not to discuss this matter internally, but even though they have never seen Mr. Ning again, most people still believe that Mr. Ning is indeed alive. This is a tacit understanding actively maintained within Black Flag. In the past two years, Black Flag has been tremblingly rooted in this lie and carried out a series of reforms, such as the transfer of the center, the decentralization of power, etc., and it seems that it hopes that the reform will be completed. In the end, we will continue to operate without Mr. Ning.
Until Tian Hu’s power was subverted and Black Flag’s external actions inspired the inside, news about Mr. Ning’s return also vaguely spread among the Chinese army. This time, people with insight will It was regarded as a good wish, but at such a moment, the secret guard's closing of the net obviously revealed intriguing information.
The hot air balloon floated across the sky, and the soldiers in the hanging baskets used binoculars to inspect the county below, holding colorful flags in their hands, ready to send out semaphores at any time.
Outside a courtyard halfway up the mountain, Chen Xing knocked on the door. After a while, someone came and opened the door. It was a middle-aged man with a scar on his face and a heroic look between his eyebrows. Not far away, a child of about seven or eight years old stood: "Dad." The child saw Chen Xing and shouted.
Chen Xing smiled: "Chen Jing, how are you learning from Uncle He?"
"I am practicing boxing." The child named Chen Jing cupped his fists and saluted, looking particularly special. sensible. Chen Xing and the man named He both laughed: "Brother Chen should be on duty at this time, why are you here?"
"Passing by, come and have a look at him. In addition, I have something serious to say to Brother He. .”
The man named He, named He Wen, smiled, frowned, and then spread his hands: "Please come in."
Chen Xing walked in from the courtyard gate and walked straight to Chen Jing who was not far away: "You child..." he said. When he walked to the side, he grabbed his child and threw it suddenly. This time it became abrupt. Chen Jing said "Ah——" and was thrown by Chen Xing. Out of the wall next to it. The child fell outside and was obviously caught by someone. He Wen's figure swayed slightly. He was highly skilled in martial arts. At that moment, it seemed that he was about to snatch away with his extremely high lightness kung fu, but in the end he did not move, but the courtyard door next to him clicked. Closed.
Chen Xing turned around, spread out his hands, and breathed out: "Look, I didn't bring a weapon."
He Wen still had a smile on his face, and he stretched out his right hand. Spreading it out, there was a thorny caltrop on top: "I was able to hit Xiao Jing just now." After a while, he sighed. , "I had doubts a few days ago, and just now I saw the hot air balloon, I was even more doubtful... You put Xiaojing here with me, it turned out to be to numb me."
Chen Xing raised his hand and said: " You and I have a life-long friendship, but our ways are different. I can’t indulge you, so please understand.”
Na He Wen smiled, put his hands on his back, and walked towards the courtyard: "In the early years, I thought that Ning Liheng's plan was too whimsical and impossible to succeed. I still think so now, even if studying things can really change the productivity, it can make it possible. Everyone in the world has books to read, and then they must But it’s hard to make it happen. Everyone can speak, and everyone in the world is a scholar. Who is willing to work in a humble job? "
"If you go too fast. If you don't do it, you will return to the original world of Wu Chao. Or is it okay to go to the Jin Dynasty, the Five Husbands to destroy China, and the Han Dynasty to fall? "
"It is not unreasonable to see that only Confucianism can achieve great success in Hedeng three years. Mr. Ning defined "human rights" based on the "four people", and defined "human rights" based on business, Contracts and greed promote the investigation of things, and lay the foundation of people's wisdom through the investigation of things. It seems beautiful, but in fact it has only a simple skeleton and no flesh and blood. Moreover, the investigation of things requires wisdom and a lazy mind. To develop, it is in line with the so-called "four peoples". 'There will be conflict this way, ye. It's hard to get through." He shook his head, "It's impossible."
Chen Xing was silent for a moment and cupped his hands: "Brother He had such a thorough idea, why didn't he tell the Politburo earlier? It’s not that we cannot accept such discussions, what we do is originally If there are problems in the creation of the world, we can work together to solve them."
He Wen laughed: "It's not that we can't accept such discussions, it's just a joke! , only after finding a way to refute He just let people out..." He laughed for a while and shook his head again, "To be honest, I can't be ashamed of Ning Liheng's talent. Just looking at the investigation of objects, the papermaking efficiency is now ten times better than before. It was indeed a ground-breaking feat. The human rights he talked about made everyone marvel. The outlook of a gentleman is also pleasing to the eye. If he is a Confucian master, I will follow him as a pawn to create peace for all ages. However... only if what he does is consistent with Confucianism, will he be able to understand it. Regicide means nothing will happen..."
"Nowadays, sensible people can only destroy the black flag and absorb the ideas in order to revive the Wu Dynasty and create peace that has never been seen in the world..."
He said, shaking his head and being lost for a moment. , then looked at Chen Xing, his eyes serious again: "When you close the net today, is it possible that Ning Liheng... is really not dead?"< br>
Chen Xing held up his hands and said: "Brother He, please restrain your hands to avoid unnecessary casualties. If Sir is not dead, and with Brother He's talent and learning, I think I will definitely be able to see Sir and tell him everything that is on my mind." ."
He Wen put his hands behind his back and looked at him. His eyes were getting colder and he couldn't see much emotion. However, Chen Xing knew that this man was both civil and military, and he admired him quite a lot in terms of his martial arts knowledge. The two of them had a life-saving relationship on the battlefield. Although when he realized that He Wen was inextricably linked to the Wu Dynasty, Chen Xing once Quite shocked, but at this time, he still hoped that this matter could be resolved relatively peacefully.
He didn't think He Wen could escape, but if such a master of both civil and military skills really risked his life, he and his subordinates might not be able to hold back and would have no choice but to kill him.
Outside the courtyard, a group of people, each armed with weapons and crossbows, silently surrounded them...
At the same time, a brief fight broke out on the trail on the other side of the foothills.
The cleanup of Hedeng was still in progress. When the Jishan operation started under the leadership of Zhuo Xiaofeng, it was almost noon. The cleanup of Bly started at 2:00 noon. Some of the actions, large and small, were silent, and some attracted small-scale onlookers, and then disappeared among the crowd.
While Luo Ye led the soldiers to launch an operation against the Buley Barracks, Su Tan'er and Lu Hongti had a simple lunch together. Although the weather had turned cooler, there was still a low mood in the yard. The cicadas are chirping, the rhythm is monotonous and slow.
After lunch, representatives of the two caravans were led over to meet with Tan'er and discuss the two business issues. The news that Black Flag subverted Tian Hu's power has caused waves in various places, so that various business intentions have been frequent recently.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, around 4:30 in the afternoon, when Su Tan'er was immersed in reading the account books, Juan'er walked in from outside and placed a piece of information on the corner of the table.
Tan'er raised her head and glanced at her. Juan'er nodded slightly, then turned around and went out. Tan'er looked at the information in the corner, put her hands on her legs, and looked at it for a moment, then sat forward, lowered her head and continued to flip through the ledger.
There will be a meeting at five o'clock, and officials and secretaries from various ministries will come over to make a routine summary of today's affairs - this means that today's affairs went smoothly, otherwise this meeting would not be held until night. After the meeting, before it was time to eat, Tan'er returned to the room and continued to read the account books, make records and plans, and wrote some things. I don't know why, but it was quiet outside, and the sky was getting darker. Ti would come in and ask her to eat, but not today. When it got dark, there was still the sound of cicadas chirping, and someone came in with an oil lamp and put it on the table.
Tan'er lowered her head and continued to write. The lamp was like a bean, quietly illuminating the small space on the desk. She wrote and wrote. She didn't know when the brush in her hand suddenly stopped. After a pause, she put down the brush and continued to write a few words. Her hand began to tremble, and tears fell on the paper. She raised her hand and put it on her eyes.
On a chair not far away, someone was looking at her.
"Hi, Su... Tan'er..." The man spoke in a low voice. I don't know why. It was like the first time they met in that house many years ago. That time, they were both very polite and strange to each other. This time , but it was slightly different: "Hello..." He said something unusual in this era.
Tan'er lowered her head and did not look over there: "Ning Liheng... Mr. Ning..." She said: "Hello..."
At this time, the starlight outside, It has already risen. At night in the small county town, the lights are swaying, and people are still walking outside, talking and greeting each other, just like an ordinary night where nothing special has happened...
Ning Xin, and quiet. . (End of this chapter)