Chapter 41 The heavy snow touches people's hearts
Scattered snowflakes turned into heavy snow at night, and it continued to rain for two days. Snow covered the walls of Ding'an City, and the rows of houses were covered with snow.
The snow is still falling, and the New Year is approaching. Every house on the street has posted peach charms, and the merchants have hung up brand-new lanterns. They smile and bow to everyone they meet, hoping to gain good popularity.
The long street where the cold wind howled was diluted by the hustle and bustle of people. Many passers-by stopped at each stall along the street, grabbing family and friends, looking at some gifts, and bargaining with the vendors.
“…..Paintings are so expensive these days, how about ten pieces for one painting?”
"Look here, oh, what a big fish. Where did you catch it? What, seventy coins? Why didn't you ask the government if you want it!"
"How to sell rouge gouache? My wife just ran out of it. Come on, shopkeeper, wrap up the new ones this year.”
“Me too!”
…….
“…..You heard. No, there have been very few disaster victims causing trouble recently.”
On the bustling street, the sounds of shouting and selling floated over the waving flags and flags, and voices came from the slightly opened windows. The second floor of this restaurant was noisy, with literati and elegant guests talking softly. Occasionally, I saw When you see acquaintances, you stand up to say hello. The acquaintances who come over shake the snowflakes on their cloaks and come to greet them. There are also travelers and merchants from all over the world who rest here, drink wine to keep warm, talk loudly, and sometimes talk about unpleasant things. , pointing in a certain direction and cursing, eliciting some words of comfort from others.
At this time, a businessman wrapped in fur clothes and brocade robes put down his wine glass, deliberately exposed the jade ring on his finger, and continued talking to the guests of the wine shop who were looking around.
"In July, when the drought was severe, when I was passing through Ding'an City, my goods were robbed once. Fortunately, they only took some silver and food and let us go. I thought We will encounter a robbery this time. What will happen? We entered the city smoothly."
He raised his eyebrows, which also caused several vendors at the next table to agree and echoed:
"Brother, don't tell me, it's really like this. This is the third time I've passed by. This second and third time I haven't encountered any victims. I won't tell you today, I haven't discovered it yet. ”
Hearing the echoes of several vendors at the next table, the merchant in brocade robes who just spoke smiled, raised his glass to the other party, took a sip of wine, and continued the conversation.
"I inquired about this later and heard that many thieves and disaster victims believed in a sect called Taiping Dao. Do you know what is going on?"
On the second floor, except for Most of the business travelers who passed by were literati and poets in the city. When the businessman asked, some of them tightened their collars.
"Brother, it's right to ask about this. I know a little bit about Taiping Road. I've been in contact with it a few days ago. It's pretty good."
It's probably a dirty street. The greenwood man looked over from the corner.
"What's so good? Let me tell you all."
The scholar stood up and whispered to the people around him: "The leader of Taiping Dao, who calls himself the great sage and good teacher, said that the world is for everyone. This is a fairyland, and there should be no distinction between high and low. All living beings should enjoy peace and prosperity!"
Hiss——
The second floor was full of gasps.
Someone asked in a low voice: "There is no distinction between high and low. This is too bold. The prefect of Ding'an City doesn't care?"
"I don't know, but there doesn't seem to be any trouble on Taiping Road. The great virtuous teacher often heals diseases for poor people, and I heard he can do magic." Although the scholar is a scholar, he still half-believes the strange rumors. He Then he said: "I think that the great sage has a very high reputation in the surrounding villages, and the prefect does not dare to arrest people randomly, so he should send Taiping Road away. Yesterday, I went out to enjoy the snow with my friends, and found that every household in the surrounding villages was hung with yellow cloth."
As soon as he said this, everyone looked a little solemn, and someone near the window smiled while holding a cup.
"As long as our country is not in chaos, why should everyone worry about it, drink and drink, and stop talking about political affairs."
After such a reminder, many people came to their senses and said again and again He said: "Yes, drinking and drinking, these are not ours to worry about. The prefect and the county magistrate don't care about it, so what should we care about."
"But Taiping Road is quite good. For people's sake, I saw the Marquis's third young master talking to the wise master outside the city. The two seemed to have been friends for many years. "
"That's right... I also remembered one thing. I heard that the Third Young Master is not an ordinary person. In the past, I thought that he was just relying on the Marquis's mansion to be tyrannical. But I heard from my brother-in-law who is a cadre of the government that the Third Young Master can lead troops to fight. , in August, he killed many assassins who attacked the Hou Mansion. He went to collect the corpses. Hey, he told you that he pulled several carts of corpses out of the city."
"When did you get the news? Let me tell you, didn’t a batch of grain come into the city in the past two months? The government said it was brought from elsewhere. I tell you, this batch of grain cannot be given to the third son by the great master of Taiping Dao.”
"This third young master is really familiar with him from all walks of life... he can be considered a powerful figure."
There are two long streets separated from the building.
The two horses trotted through the noisy streets. Soon, they left the city gate and ran into the white wildness, leaving a series of horse hoof prints that extended into the distance, and then disappeared in the corner of a certain forest.
The accumulated snowflakes trembled slightly as the ground shook twice, and the accumulated snow fell down in a 'swirly' manner.
“Drive!”
On the back of a war horse, Su Chen waved his whip and cracked the air. The horse ran over the edge of the cliff, and then galloped down the gentle slope. After a while, A camp with fences covered with icicles and covered with snow appeared in the field of vision, and banners reading "Dong" and "Xiliang" were flying in the cold wind.
Swish, swish...
The bow string was tightened, the sound of arrows cutting through the air, rows of wooden stakes vibrating in the continuous banging sound, and the feathered arrows stayed in the Trembling above
"Change!" An armored figure walked across the snowy road and shouted to the archers in the second row.
The formations rotated, more than twenty bows and arrows were raised, the strings were tense, the fingers pulling the strings maintained their movements, the arms shook with difficulty, and the voice of the person shouting the password again shouted: "Steady Stop..." Then, the voice was loud: "Put it down -"
Swish, swish, swish... bang, bang...
The arrow shot flat, and the nail stood on the opposite side. On the wooden stakes, some flew over the wooden figures, or were nailed to other people's wooden stakes.
The junior high school student who shouted slogans rushed over and kicked the two recruits in the buttocks, shouting: "You can't shoot accurately at twenty steps, and your eyes are on your buttocks? Do you want to open your eyes? Go away and shoot them." Take back the arrows!"
The two recruits blushed and did not dare to refute. They ran through the snow to pick up the arrows as the other soldiers laughed.
The horses were running in and out of the gate. The principal turned his head and saw two horses rushing into the Zhongzhai, one behind the other.
There were more than a dozen bonfires burning here, and more than a hundred Xiliang soldiers were squatting on the ground to warm themselves by the fire. When the war horses came over, they all stood up and said, "Greetings to the Third Young Master!"
"Your home Where is General Dong?”
Su Chen took off his cloak, threw it to a soldier and walked towards the tent with a loud voice. Thirteen followed. Now he was also wearing leather armor. He pressed the hilt of his sword majestically, walked to the tent and straightened his back.
"General Dong is at the school grounds." The soldiers guarding the tent quickly replied.
The school ground is not far from here. It has been expanded twice in a month and is enough to accommodate a thousand people. When Su Chen led Thirteen there, hundreds of shirtless soldiers followed them, brandishing steel knives. As the leading general practiced each move, loud shouts of "huha" broke out from time to time.
On the high platform over there, Dong Zhuo, who was wearing armor and wearing a golden sword, was sitting on a chair, holding the serrated knife in his hand. When he saw Su Chen walking towards this side, he and a promoted deputy general gave instructions. After a few words, he was able to look at the soldiers in training, then he got up and got off the general platform, went over to greet Su Chen, and the two of them walked side by side around the school grounds.
"How is the recruitment of new recruits going?" Su Chen was wearing a cloud-patterned brocade robe, with one hand behind his back and the other hand holding a riding crop and waving it casually at the side of his leg. He looked at the shirtless people in the school field. Soldiers, "Aren't you afraid of catching cold when you train your troops like this?"
"When Dong used troops in Xiliang, the conditions were even worse than this. If we can't train a troop of soldiers and horses that can fight hard, and encounter a stalemate battlefield in the future, I am afraid that in a short time, all the soldiers will run away. "Net." Dong Zhuo clasped his hands behind his back and followed Su Chen's gaze as he looked at the school grounds, "However, the number of soldiers recruited has decreased a lot recently. There are currently more than 800 people in the camp. After next year, we may be able to raise enough by the beginning of spring. A thousand people, but there is a problem before us."
"What problem?"
"There is not enough food to last until next year."
Su. Chen was silent for a moment and then said: "Mr. Dong, the official warehouses in the city can barely cover the expenses of the victims and officials outside the city. It's the middle of winter now. Where can I find food for you? However, I have a way."< br>
As he spoke, Su Chen spread his hands back. Thirteen took out a folded piece of paper from his arms, unfolded it and put it in Su Chen's hand. Su Chen said: "This is recorded by the government. There are some bandit and bandit strongholds, but they are a little far away from Ding'an City. You can take a look and find a few fat cottages and cook them in one pot."
"Haha... This is good. With this thing, it will be easier for the bandits to find them." Dong Zhuo took the paper and glanced at the content on it, with a sinister smile on his face, as if he had seen a lot of food piled up in the military camp, " Just take this opportunity to let the recruits see the blood."
After explaining the matter, Su Chen was also ready to leave. Now the eldest brother has gone to Yanjing, and the second brother has lost an arm and is unwilling to go out at all. Now he is alone in the city. Busy here.
"Changsheng, wait."
Dong Zhuo stopped him holding the letter, "Although the Xiliang army is small in number, it is beginning to take shape. At present, it needs a cavalry. The camp There are also thirty war horses, but it is a pity that there is no general leading the cavalry. Let's call Lu Bu out when we have time."
"I try my best, but..." Su Chen turned to look at Dong Zhuo in front of him, "Dong Gong is not afraid. When Lu Bu comes over, will he fight with you?”
"He didn't kill me for the righteousness of the world back then, and now there is no righteousness for the world. Perhaps, my son Fengxian died once, and he already knows the path in his heart."
"Well, then I I'll give it a try when I get the time. I've been a little busy lately, and half of the family matters fall on my shoulders."
Su Chen accepted the matter. He didn't try hard to find a way to call Lu Bu out before. Considering the grievances between Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo, and Lu Bu, since Dong Zhuo doesn't care, he has nothing to worry about.
After bidding farewell to Dong Zhuo, Su Chen got on his horse and returned to Ding'an City. His sister-in-law Su Huan and several maids and servants were cleaning the snow in the front yard. His mother Xiao Wen was coming out from the second brother's side, with a look in her eyes. There are still tears.
After going up to see the ceremony, Su Chen returned to the side courtyard of the south chamber. Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was floating on the roof, brushing off handfuls of snowflakes with a broom. In the study on one side, Cao Cao was sitting behind the desk, working hard. He was writing quickly, processing letters one after another, and he was so busy that he grinned.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, he looked up and saw Su Chen coming back. The King of Wei threw away his brush and narrowed his eyes with murderous intent.
"I told you to let Gu handle some things for you. It only took two hours for Changsheng to leave. You know, Gu didn't handle his official affairs so seriously back then!"
"King Wei, calm down. , you continue to deal with it, I will ask Shisan to call the widow from before."
"Humph, how can I believe you?"
Cao Cao shook his robe and sat down. , picked up the brush again and continued to correct the political affairs on the desk.
...
"Calculating the time, it will be a few days before my eldest brother enters Beijing."
Walking under the eaves, Su Chen looked at the white snow scene in the courtyard and thought about the scattered snowflakes. Floating on his handsome face, I felt a little concerned in my heart.
When his thoughts came back, he had a golden token in his hand, walked into the house, and gently closed the door.
(End of this chapter)