Sometimes, time would flow backward in his dreams. He would see many people, all of whom were vividly alive.
When he woke up, he would sit in a daze for a while, forgetting where he was.
The dislocated memories still remained in his mind. Not long after, when the cold reality turned into an empty echo in his mind, he would wake up painfully in this blank area.
His once full life, spirit, and even a part of his soul had been permanently destroyed in the past.
And compared to everything that more people had lost forever, the loss of the survivors seemed to be nothing.
At the end of the second month of the first year of Jin Tianyi, Yunzhong.
Tang Minjie woke up from his dream and sat on the bed.
In his previous dream, Wu Qiuhe appeared.
That woman used to be Chen Wenjun's maid, and earlier, she was the niece of the magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture. She was more knowledgeable than ordinary women and knew some tricks. After staying by Chen Wenjun's side, she had planned some things. A few years ago, she even saved his life.
However, in terms of intelligence transmission and support, Wu Qiuhe was actually more inclined to the Wu dynasty regime and didn't like the Huaxia army very much.
Both sides had the same goal, and each had their own master. During that period of time, there had been several competitions and frictions. Wu Qiuhe had a strong personality, and Tang Minjie was not easy to deal with either. It was just that he had been saved once, so it was not good for him to be aggressive. In the several secret operations, there were victories and defeats. Tang Minjie only spoke a few words after he had taken advantage of the situation. He watched as the other party suffered in silence, looking at the other party's evil appearance.
In fact, he had made plans in private. This woman's temperament was not bad. In the future, he could find an opportunity to win her over to the Huaxia army.
The last competition was because of the fool named Shi Jin. Although he was skilled in martial arts, he had no brain, and it was clear that he wanted to die. Both sides were a little cautious when they came into contact. Of course, because of Madam Han's strength, Shi Jin was saved by Wu Qiuhe at first.
However, Wu Qiuhe underestimated the carpet search inside and outside the city at that time. The government finally found Shi Jin. After he escaped, Tang Minjie, who was behind, took advantage of him.
He was very happy at that time.
After that, he could laugh at her.
However, when Shi Jin woke up and asked him about Wu Qiuhe, he even suspected that the woman had brought soldiers over. Tang Minjie knew that he was in trouble. Since he had such suspicions, it meant that the appearance of Wu Qiuhe and the soldiers was just a matter of time … Sorrow welled up within him.
"In a place like the Jin Kingdom, there's nothing a Han can't do if they want to live a better life. Warrior, since you've seen the face of that bitch, you should know that there's no such thing as warmth here. Bitch, dog thief, next time, we'll kill them all!"
He casually dismissed Shi Jin and went to inquire about the situation. It didn't take long for him to know that Wu Qiuhe was killed by Xi Yin. She was smart enough to frame Gao Qingyi in front of Xi Yin. She died on the spot and did not suffer much more. It was just that he couldn't find out the details of where the corpse had been thrown. By the time he figured out which mass grave it was thrown in, it was already more than half a year later. When he went to look for it, there was no corpse left.
Over the years, many people had died like this. Many had died in a more humble way, and some had died in a more painful way. It was so painful that it was unimaginable to those who lived during the peaceful times. Even when he thought about it, his memory seemed to be a huge blank.
Why did he dream of Wu Qiuhe?
He thought about it. Maybe it was because he had seen a woman named Cheng Min in Shang Jing some time ago. Some were similar in strength, and some were similar in hatred …
At the end of October, after Wanyan Xue succeeded the throne, Tang Minjie stayed in Shang Jing for more than a month, trying to find a possible way out of the situation from all kinds of information. During this time, he often met with Cheng Min and summarized the information she had inquired.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, the most news was all kinds of rewards based on merit. Although Zong Gan, Zong Pan, and Zong Han had lost the throne, they were rewarded with countless honors and favors. In the foreseeable future, they would be powerful ministers under one person and above tens of thousands of people. But during this time, there were still signs of a power struggle.
After all, Zong Han and Xi Yin of the West Prefecture had been defeated in the southwest, and in the current situation in Shang Jing, they had used too much strategy. Although Zong Gan and Zong Pan had no choice but to accept their later ideas and hand over the throne to Wanyan Xue, they still proposed to weaken and balance the West Prefecture.
This was the inevitable outcome for Zong Han after the defeat in the southwest. In the next six months, some power would be given away, some positions would be replaced, and some benefits would be lost. In order to ensure the smooth transfer of power, Zong Bi would lead the army to Yunzhong. He would even have a large-scale martial arts contest with the Mountain Slaughtering Guards after the snow melted and the ice melted, in order to judge how much real power Zong Han could retain.
For the entire of November, the preliminary struggle for power in Shang Jing was chaotic. Zong Pan and Zong Gan had reached a temporary agreement that they must try to reduce the remaining power Zong Han had. At this time, a large number of clansmen and nobles were no longer present. Perhaps many people spoke out of conscience and did not want the Jin Kingdom to fall into chaos, but their support for Zong Han and Xi Yin could not be counted as much.
However, at this time, the two old generals showed their domineering side. They generously accepted Zong Bi's challenge and continuously exaggerated the momentum of this contest in Shang Jing. If the Mountain Slaying Guards were defeated, then Zong Han could only relinquish power. But if the Mountain Slaying Guards still won, then it meant that the Black Flag Army in the southwest was far more terrifying than anyone could imagine. At that time, the East and West Prefectures must work together and make sufficient preparations to fight against this future great enemy.
In the end, in the Jin Kingdom, the most acceptable method to decide everything was still military force.
By the middle of December, Tang Minjie had a general understanding of the situation. He then packed up his things and took the risk of leaving Shang Jing in the snowy mountains, setting foot on the road back to Yunzhong. When Cheng Min learned of his plan, she was very surprised, but in the end, she only gave him a few pairs of socks and a few pairs of gloves.
He set off in the middle of December. Stumbling through the wind and snow, it was already February when he successfully arrived in Yunzhong. As he expected, Zong Han, Xi Yin, and the others did not even wait too long in Shang Jing. They set off a few days before the end of the year. They were still a group of more than a thousand people, and they returned to Yunzhong in late February.
In the endless wind and snow, Tang Minjie wore thick deerskin gloves. From time to time, he would think of Cheng Min, who was still in Shang Jing.
Just like Lu Mingfang, he also proposed to Cheng Min the idea of letting her return to the south, but Cheng Min simply refused. Tang Minjie, who was eloquent, could not even find further words to persuade her to change her mind.
During his two to three months in Shangjing, Tang Minjie had gone to the brothel where Cheng Min had sold her body in exchange for information several times during the time he was there to meet, pass on information, and analyze the news. The first few times were to contact and confirm the existence of the brothel. The last time, which was also the only exception, was a few days before he left. At dusk, he stood at the street corner and glanced at the lights of the brothel from afar. The warm yellow and crimson lights, the thick curtains, and the solid building all looked comfortable and at ease, making the guests want to go in and rest.
He could not even take a step closer to the long street.
It was a great humiliation as a Han. He could cut out his own heart with his own hands, and he would not want her to stay in that place for another day.
…
But he could not persuade her.
*****
After getting up, he washed up, dressed neatly, and went to the street to have breakfast. Then he went to the appointed place to meet his two companions.
This meeting was held on February 27th. In addition to Tang Minjie, two of his direct assistants, Sun Wang and Yang Shengan, came. These two were members of the Huaxia army who had not left after coming from the southwest, and they were good at planning and action.
In the enemy's territory, in principle, such a meeting with so many people needed to be very cautious, but the request for the meeting was made by Tang Minjie. After all, he had obtained first-hand information in Shangjing, and he needed to brainstorm, so he woke up his subordinates.
"… Theoretically speaking, in the next six months, there will be a lot of friction in the transfer of power between the Eastern and Western Prefectures. If we grasp it well, it's not that we don't have a chance to make them anxious. But we need to discuss exactly where the opportunity lies. "
After going to Shangjing for half a year, Tang Minjie's understanding of Yunzhong was lacking. But even if Sun Wang and Yang Shengan accepted the order to go into hibernation, they naturally had their own sources of information about many things. The three of them first exchanged information, and then began to discuss.
Sun Wang said, "After Wanyan Xuan came to power, there were some speculations about Zong Han and Xi Yin's actions in Shangjing. I once heard some news that Shi Liai, who passed away at the end of last autumn, wrote a lot of letters before he died, asking his family to follow Zong Han and Xi Yin to the north, and to help persuade others to cooperate with Zong Han and Xi Yin's actions. Shi Liai's position among the Han officials is second to none, and he used to follow Wanyan Zongwang. Now, people say that he is Zong Fu and Zong Bi's man … "
"... If this is true, then this old dog was a traitor before he died, and made a fool out of Zong Fu and Zong Bi. I heard that Jin Wu Shu is obstinate and self-opinionated. If he knew that Shi Liai had done such a thing, he would not let the Shi family off easily. "
Yang Shengan frowned, "However, Shi Liai is already dead. Even if this matter is exposed, I'm afraid it will not affect the overall situation of the Jin Kingdom."
Beside him, Tang Minjie said, "We can remember first, and then think of a way to find evidence. No matter what, as long as they can fight each other, we will be happy."
The three of them discussed for a while, and then moved on to other areas.
"… Zong Han and Xi Yin did not spend the New Year in Shangjing, but hurried back. It is obvious that they are preparing for the martial arts competition with Zong Bi when the snow melts. There are no detailed rules for this competition, but I think that everyone will keep an eye on the meat of Yun Zhong. If the West Prefecture is a little weak, they will be eaten up a little. If we can find more detailed information, we can plan from the beginning, and even … launch a few assassinations to make the West Prefecture lose in some key areas. "
"… This sounds possible, but I think we should be cautious. In order to collect such detailed information, we must first wake everyone up. To be honest, even if we wake everyone up, I'm afraid that we will not have enough manpower … Moreover, Zong Han and Xi Yin have returned, we must consider the possibility that Xi Yin is prepared, and deliberately set a trap for us to jump into. "
"… In terms of feasibility, this is our only chance … We all know the combat power of the West Prefecture. Although the Mountain Slaying Guards lost in the southwest, I think the West Prefecture has a higher chance of winning against Zong Bi and his people … Once Zong Han and Xi Yin stabilize the situation of the West Prefecture, they will do as they said, abandon the throne, and focus on guarding against us. Then, when our people attack in the future, there will be a lot of casualties …"
"… Since last winter, although they have not taken any action in a dormant state, four people on my side have died. Wake them up and invest all of them in this matter, we also have to see how high the chance of winning is … "
"… At least we can collect information first. I think this risk is worth it …"
"…"
After a long discussion in the room, when the morning was about to end, Tang Minjie suddenly spoke.
"… I have another plan, maybe it is time. I will say it, and we will vote together. "
Tang Minjie's expression was calm, and Sun Wang and Yang Shengan both nodded, indicating for him to speak. In the past few years, many of Tang Minjie's ideas may have been risky, but in the end, he had found a way to implement them, so they naturally trusted him.
Tang Minjie then slowly spoke of his plan.
When the other two heard this, their expressions were complicated. After a while, Yang Shengan was the first to shake his head. "That won't do …" Sun Wang also agreed with Yang Shengan's idea. The two of them spoke one after another, raising many objections.
At this time, when it was almost midnight, Tang Minjie nodded.
He said, "Very well, Yang Shengan, you will take the minutes of the meeting. This plan was decided after a detailed discussion, and we, the Huaxia Army, reject it."
Yang Shengan thought for a moment. "Is it necessary to record …?"
Tang Minjie nodded.
"… Write it down, so that future generations can have an opinion."
Yang Shengan made a simple record.
The wind blew through the window of this secret meeting place, and the city seemed gloomy and calm. White snow shrouded this world. Many years later, people would learn some of the secrets of this world, but they would also forget some other things … That was the truth that records could not reach. Truth and falsehood were forever intertwined.
*****
At noon on the 27th of February, Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi were attending a party.
They followed their fathers to the north and witnessed a gorgeous power struggle. Then, they braved the rolling wind and snow to go south, and only returned to Yunzhong a few days ago. This kind of journey sharpened their minds, and also gave them a greater sense of mission, and their hearts became more impassioned.
Zong Han, Xi Yin, and the others' strategy in Shangjing had left a deep impression on the people in Yunzhong City. In the past few days, people even thought that this operation was great. In the few days after they returned home, the nobles of Yunzhong arranged banquets, waiting for all the heroes to attend the banquet. They would then retell the soul-stirring events that had taken place in Shangjing City to them.
Wanyan Dezhong and Wanyan Youyi were keen on such banquets, and many of these people were their former companions, so they could not refuse. Moreover, there was no need to refuse to publicize the actions of Marshal and the others. Therefore, they were very busy for the next few days.
They were drunk.
When they returned home, they saw their mother, who looked a little depressed these days. They were all well-educated, and in the past, they knew that they should not show the position of the Lady Zhenren too clearly in front of their mother. But after this time in Shangjing, on the one hand, their blood was boiling, and on the other hand, they had a great sense of anxiety. They were afraid that one day Black Flag would come and destroy everything in the Jin Kingdom, so in the past two days, they occasionally persuaded their mother to be more optimistic.
"Mother, Marshal is really thinking of the Lady Zhenren …"
"After all, we are Lady Zhenren. Usually, we don't care about things, but this time, we should not avoid it. Mother, there is no justice in the war …"
"One day, we may have to go to the battlefield and fight with Black Flag …"
Hearing such words, Chen Wenjun could only nod sadly, and then let the servant girl help them back.
…
At the same time, Mandudaru knelt in the study of this mansion, listening to Wanyan Xiyin's instructions.
He had now been promoted to the Patrol Inspector of Yunzhong Mansion. Although this official rank was not high, he had passed the transition from a clerk to an official. The fact that he could enter the study of the Goddess of Grains proved that he had been regarded as a trusted confidant by the Goddess of Grains.
"… The army has begun to move, and Zong Bi and the others will arrive in a few days … The situation in Yunzhong this time is not just a battle or a few martial arts competitions. It's not just a battle or a few martial arts competitions. In the past, everything under the control of the whole West Mansion, as long as it can be moved, they will also move. Now, there are two official documents in several places in conflict with each other. Our people here, if we take a step back today, we may not have an official position tomorrow … "
"… You are the Patrol Inspector that I personally recommended, so you don't have to worry about this matter. But under such a situation, the bandits behind this, especially the spy that Black Flag placed here, will definitely be tempted. I don't know where they are going to take action and how they are going to add fuel to the fire, but this is the reason why I recommended you. Think of a way to find them all …"
The meeting did not last long. After Xi Yin finished speaking, he waved his hand and let Mandudaru leave. When he left, Chen Wenjun also came in with some snacks. Perhaps she had heard something, her eyebrows relaxed a little.
Xi Yin, who was writing behind the desk, stood up to greet her.
After returning home for a few days, it could be seen that both husband and wife had actually lost weight. The last time Xi Yin was home was a few years ago, and he was especially thin. His hair had also turned from half white to completely white. Chen Wenjun's hair had also turned white because she was worried about the recent political situation.
"That is …" Chen Wenjun asked.
"The new Patrol Inspector, Mandudaru." Xi Yin replied, "In the next few days, there will be a competition with Zong Bi. Some people in the yamen have been changed, mainly to deal with people secretly causing trouble. In a few months, the two armies will compete. If we lose, it will be difficult for us to be friendly … Well, the pastries that Madam makes are still the best."
Xi Yin's words were frank, and there was a hint of warning in it. But in front of his wife, he was considered to be frank. Chen Wenjun looked at her husband who was eating, and her eyebrows relaxed a little. At this time, she said, "I heard about the official documents outside."
When she mentioned this, Xi Yin, who was stuffing the millet cake in his hand into his mouth, paused. He put down the cake with a solemn expression. Then, he got up and walked to the desk. He took out something and sighed.
"In the few months of winter, tens of thousands of people died of hunger and cold every month. They actually froze to death because they were not allowed to cut firewood. This kind of thing is extremely stupid. If they kill others, can they live alone? A bunch of idiots … I only issued the order today, but it is already too late. In fact, it is not much of a remedy … "
He turned back to look at his wife. It was actually a little difficult for him to speak. "In this … there are many things that I have really let you down. I had promised to treat the Han people better, but now … I know how difficult it is for you these days. We were defeated in the southwest, but in fact, the Han family has produced a hero … "
When Xi Yin said the last sentence, he forced a complicated smile. Originally, he had many things that he wanted to do for his wife. He had also made many promises. However, now that some things were beyond his ability, he could only say that the Han people were heroes to make her happy. Chen Wenjun's mouth revealed a smile, but tears were already flowing down. "… No matter what, this time, you have saved people. Eat something …"
This could only be a small, personal thank you as his wife.
*****
When Mandudaru walked out of the residence of the Goddess of Grains, the afternoon sky was gloomy.
He walked to a small square not far away. There was a notice from the Marshal's residence. Someone was reading it out loud. It was an order from the Marshal. No one was allowed to kill the Han people under any excuse. No one was allowed to obstruct the Han people from picking up the useless plants outside the city. At the same time, the Marshal's residence would allocate some charcoal and rice to the Han people inside and outside the city. This part of the expenditure would be subsidized by the fines of the noble families in the past six months …
In addition, there were several measures to ensure the survival of the Han people.
Some of the Han people who passed by in fear heard it and started crying at the side of the small square.
Perhaps they were thanking the Marshal's benevolent rule.
This was what Mandudaru thought. He stood at the side and looked for suspicious people.
The thin and weak man named Tang Minjie was bending his body and walked past him from the other side.
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