The sound of reality, the stench of decay, and the smell of blood finally woke him up. He curled up on the straw that reeked of blood and stench. He was still in the cell. He did not know when, but the sunlight seeped in through the window and turned into a pillar of light and dust. He slowly moved his eyes. There was another figure in the cell. He sat on a chair and looked at him quietly.
Tang Minjie also looked at him. When his blurry vision gradually became clear, he panted and moved back with some difficulty. Then he sat up on the straw and leaned against the wall, facing the other person.
"… Has the Jin Kingdom fallen? People come to this cell every day … "
He had never thought that this figure would appear in this prison.
It was a tall old man. His white hair was neatly combed at the back of his head. He wore a brocade robe embroidered with dragon patterns.
"The Jin Kingdom has not fallen. Although the West Prefecture has lost, no one can stop me from going anywhere I want in this City Amongst the Clouds."
The Goddess of Grains, Wanyan Xiyin.
He only heard him say, "Your stratagem is too excessive. Did Ning Yi teach you this?"
At the mention of Ning Yi, Tang Minjie took a deep breath and did not speak. He leaned against the wall and looked at him quietly. The cell was silent for a moment.
…
"… I heard that you are the personal disciple of Ning Liheng, so I came to see you. All these years, I have always wanted to have a face-to-face talk with Mr. Ning of the Southwest. Unfortunately, I probably won't have such a chance. What kind of person is Ning Liheng? Can you tell this old man? "
The young man on the straw mattress was silent. His eyes were still staring at him. After a while, the old man smiled and sighed.
"Actually, I know a little about what Madam has been doing in the dark all these years. She has saved tens of thousands of Han people, and she has also sent out some intelligence in private. For the past ten years, the Han people in the north have been living a miserable life, but those in my residence have been able to live like humans. People call her 'Madam Han'. She has done countless good deeds, but in the end, she was betrayed by you … What you have done will be blamed on the Huaxia army, and the Jin Kingdom will publicize it. You will not be able to escape from this. "
The old man said this and looked at the opponent opposite him. But the young man did not speak. He just looked at him with cold mockery. The old man nodded.
"Of course, the Huaxia army will tell the outside world that it was a confession made under torture. It was a traitor like you who betrayed Madame Han … This is a fight to the death. Whether they believe it or not, they never care about the truth. This is also true … After this time, the Western Prefecture will eventually be unable to withstand the pressure. Sooner or later, I will have to go down. But the Jurchen race is not supported by me alone. The Western Prefecture still has the General, Gao Qingyi, Han Qixian, and the will to learn from the pain. Even without Wanyan Xiyin, they still won't collapse. We've been like this for so many years. How can our Nüzhen race say that we can't do without anyone … "
As the old man spoke, his gaze gradually became firm. He stood up from his chair, holding a small package in his hand. It was probably some kind of medicine. He walked over and placed it beside Tang Minjie. "… Of course, this is what I'm looking forward to."
Tang Minjie ignored him. Xi Yin turned around and slowly walked a few steps in the prison. After a moment of silence, she said, "… I remember what I have said to Madame all these years.
"… I remember … what I've said to Madam all these years. I've long since told her that it's not a good thing for the Jurchen to treat the Han as slaves. More than ten years ago, I told her that I would slowly change these things. I also told her a few years ago, before we set off for the southern expedition …"
"… There are few Jurchen in the Jin Kingdom. If we want to rule them properly, we can only divide them into different classes. At first, of course, we have to divide them harshly. Later, we will slowly improve. When Wu Qimai was in power, he issued many orders not to kill the Han people at will. This is naturally an improvement … We can improve it faster. I often say this to Madame, and I feel that I have done some things. But there are always more important things ahead … "
"… Suppressing the nobles, dealing with corruption, educating new people, promoting things … For more than ten years, everything has been important. The survival of the Han people has been alleviated, so we can only slowly push it back. Three years ago, the Southern Expedition is imminent. This is the most important thing. I thought that after this Southern Expedition, I will also be old. So I told Madame that as soon as this matter is over, I will do the most important thing for the Han people in the Jin Kingdom. I must let them live a better life in my lifetime, both for them and for the Jurchen people … "
"… One thing at a time. In the end, it can't be done anymore. Today, when I see you, I think of the Jurchen people forty years ago … "
The old man sat back on the chair and looked at Tang Minjie.
"… At that time, the Jurchen people were just some small tribes in the Tiger River. They were few in number and weak. We struggled to survive in the snow. Liao was like a huge monster that could not be seen, oppressing us every year! Finally, we could not bear it anymore. With Aguda's leadership, we started a rebellion. Three thousand against one hundred thousand! Twenty thousand against seven hundred thousand! Slowly, we made a name for ourselves! Everyone said that the Jurchen people are valiant. If the Jurchen people don't have ten thousand, they can't be defeated by ten thousand! "
"… We slowly defeated the insufferably arrogant Liao. We always thought that the Jurchen people are heroes. But in the South, we gradually saw the weakness of you Han people. You people live in the best places, occupy the best land, live the best life, but every day, you recite poems and compose essays, you weak people! This is the nature of you Han people! "
The old man's eyes were fierce, and he pointed at the other party.
"… Before Aguda left, he told us that the war against Liao was over, and that we can take over the Wu dynasty … We went south and defeated Bianliang, but you people did not even fight a few decent battles. In the second Southern Expedition, we destroyed the Wu dynasty and occupied the Central Plains. Every time we fought, we slaughtered people, but you people did not resist! Even the weakest sheep are braver than you people! "
"… In the third Southern Expedition, we searched the mountains and seas, and fought all the way to Jiangnan. After so many years, it is still the same. Not only are you people weak, but you also have endless internal strife. In the first Battle of Bianliang, the only people with a bit of backbone were slowly pushed to the northwest and southwest by you people. It is easy to fight everywhere, even if it is a siege … In the first Battle of Taiyuan, the Ni Han besieged it for a year. Qin Shaohe defended the city, and he was so hungry that he wanted to eat people. The Ni Han people could not break in … But later … "
"… In the second and third Southern Expedition, we casually forced them to surrender. In the siege, we sent a few teams of brave warriors to attack. As long as they stood still, they would kill you until your blood flowed like a river. Then, we would go in and slaughter them. Why don't we slaughter you people? Why don't we slaughter you people? You bunch of cowards! You people have always been like this … "
The prison cell fell silent. The old man paused.
"… I … like and respect my wife. I have always felt that we can't keep killing, that we can't keep treating them like slaves … But on the other side, you people told me that you people are always like this, and that it is fine to take it slow. So, I waited and waited, and waited like this for more than ten years, all the way to the southwest, and I saw the Chinese army … and today, I saw you … "
"I know, you people have finally been forced out …"
He looked at Tang Minjie.
"It turns out that … there is not much difference between the Jurchen people and the Han people. We were forced to live in a world of ice and snow for hundreds of years. Finally, we could not live any longer, and we could not endure it any longer. We picked up our swords and fought until we were invincible. But you weak Han people, for more than ten years, were forced and killed. Slowly, you were forced to become what you are now. Even if you betrayed Madam Han, you still wanted to get rid of Wanyan Xiyin, and cause the Eastern and Western Prefectures to fall into a power struggle. I heard that you ordered people to cripple Mandudalu's son. This was not a good method, but … in the end, it is a matter of life and death … "
"But I think, Little Tang …" Xi Yin said slowly, "In recent days, I have been thinking about my wife and the children at home the most. The Jurchen people have taken over the world and treated the Han people like beasts. Finally, there is you, and there is also a Han hero like the Chinese army. If one day, as you said, your Chinese army attacks and the Han people take over the world, how will you treat the Jurchen people? If your teacher, Mister Ning, were here, what do you think he would say? "
He looked at Tang Minjie, and this time, Tang Minjie finally said with a sneer, "He will kill all of you, and then there will be nothing left."
Xi Yin also laughed and shook her head, "Mister Ning would not say such a thing … Of course, it doesn't matter what he says. Little Tang, this is the way of the world. The Liao people are tyrannical, and they forced the Jurchen people out. The Jin people are cruel, and they forced you out. If one day, you take over the world, and you are cruel to the Jin people or other people, then sooner or later, there will be other invincible people who will come to destroy your China. As long as there is bullying, people will always resist. "
The old man stood up. His figure was tall and thin, and only the pair of eyes on his cheeks carried an astonishing vitality. Opposite him, Tang Minjie also had a similar appearance.
"It's not easy for you." He said, "You betrayed your companions, and the Chinese army will not recognize your achievements. Your name will not be left in the history books. Even if someone mentions it in the future, no one will admit that you are a good person. But today, I feel that you are extraordinary … Tang Minjie. "
At this moment, in a gloomy prison cell, Wanyan Xi Yin said to him, "… It was you who defeated Wanyan Xi Yin."
Tang Minjie laughed, "Then go to hell."
"I will, but I still need to wait for some time … I will." At last, he said, "… It's a pity." It seemed that he was regretting that he would never have a chance to talk with Ning Yi again.
Then, he turned around and left the cell.
The jailer came to remove the chair and closed the door. Tang Minjie lay on the messy straw, and the pillar of sunlight slid past his body, and the dust danced in the air.
He did not know why Xi Yin came to say such a thing, nor did he know what stage the dispute between the East and West Mansions had reached. Of course, he was too lazy to think about it.
At this moment, after betraying Chen Wenjun, there were no more things that he needed to think about. He was even too lazy to calculate the date. His life was his only burden. This was the most relaxing moment he had since he came to Yunzhong and saw countless hellish scenes. He was waiting for the arrival of his death.
However, his death did not come.
A few days later, in the middle of the night, there was a strange smoke drifting from the entrance of the cell …
When he woke up, he was on a bumpy carriage, and someone poured water on his face. He tried to open his eyes, and he did not know who was in the dark carriage.
They left the city, and the journey was bumpy. Tang Minjie wanted to resist, but he was tied up, and the drug had not worn off, so he could not exert any strength.
The carriage stopped somewhere outside of the city. It was early in the morning, and the sky was beginning to brighten. He was pushed out of the carriage, and he knelt on the ground and did not stand up. Because the person who appeared in front of him was Chen Wenjun, who was holding a long knife. There were more white hairs on her head, and her cheeks were thinner. If it was any other time, he might have mocked her and Xi Yin for looking like husband and wife, but at this moment, he did not speak. Chen Wenjun placed the knife on his neck.
This was a desolate field outside Yunzhong City. The people who tied him up consciously scattered into the distance. Chen Wenjun looked at him.
"Do you remember … after the incident with the Qi family, I went to look for you, and you told me about the Han slaves?"
Her words were low and slow. Tang Minjie looked at Chen Wenjun, puzzled.
In the dark field, the wind was very light, and Chen Wenjun's voice was also very light, "At that time, you told me about the Han slave who was tied up like a dog. He had a lame leg, his right hand was chopped off, his teeth were knocked out, and he did not have a tongue … You told me that the Han slave used to be a soldier … You imitated him in front of me, and you yelled, ah ah ah ah ah ah …"
The wind stopped in the field, and Chen Wenjun said, "I went to see him."
Tang Minjie shook his head slightly.
"These days, I went to the place where the Han slaves lived outside the city. Those who froze to death last winter were only moved out now … Some of their houses were burned down, and everyone was just skin and bones … I went to see … some places that I knew before, but had never seen with my own eyes. I went to the south of the city … a small casino called Happy House … Do you know that place …"
Chen Wenjun's eyes were filled with tears. Tang Minjie shook his head slightly. He knew all of this, but he shook his head because of something else.
"They killed people there, killing Han slaves for people to see … I only saw a little, but I heard that last year, when they captured Han slaves, especially those who were soldiers, they would … skin them …"
When she said this, she covered her mouth with her hand, and did not say more.
Another cart came from the field, and there was another struggling figure on the cart.
"… I went to see the woman who killed Lu Mingfang … Do you remember? She was a crazy woman, she was the sister of … a hero called Luo Ye … Luo Ye, right? A hero, right? "
"… She is still alive, but she has been tortured to the point where she no longer looks like a human … All these years, I have been by Xi Yin's side, and I have seen many Han people. Some of them are very miserable, and I can't bear to see them live a better life. But these miserable people, compared to others, have lived a better life. This is the Jin Kingdom, this is your hell … "
"… I remember that time, Shi Liai wanted me to choose a side, and he was reminding me whether I should be a kind Jurchen wife, or a 'Han wife' who sided with the Han people. You also asked me, if one day, Yan Ran was strangled, where should I go … You are really smart people, but unfortunately, I can't join the Chinese army."
Tang Minjie shook his head, and shook his head even harder. He leaned his neck against the long saber, but Chen Wenjun took a step back.
"I still hate you for betraying me. I will never forgive you for the rest of my life, because I had a good husband and a good son, but now they're going to die because of me. Chen Wenjun will never forgive you for your shameless actions today! But as a Han, Tang Minjie, your methods are really powerful, you are really a great person! "
She bent down and grabbed Tang Minjie's face, her skinny fingers almost digging into his face, and Tang Minjie shook his head, "No …"
"I will not forgive you." Chen Wenjun stared at him, "But since you killed me, you should go back to the south! Your brain is so good, and your methods are so powerful, for the rest of your life, you will live to atone for the Han people in the south! Please … let them live a better life, don't let the tragedy of the Central Plains happen again, don't let the hell of the Jin Kingdom happen again, do you hear me clearly … go back and atone for your sins … "
A desolate and hoarse voice came from Tang Minjie's throat, "Kill me …"
Chen Wenjun said, "I hate you, so don't even think of dying … in my hands. Go back, the merit is mine, your sins will never be atoned for! "
"I won't go back …"
"F * ck you —" Chen Wenjun said. She let go of Tang Minjie, who was kneeling on the ground, and rushed to the car next to her. She dragged the struggling figure out of the car. It was a struggling and cowardly crazy woman.
"Did you see her?! Did you see her?! She killed Lu Mingfang, but she is also the sister of that Luo Ye from your Huaxia army! She was bullied and humiliated in the north. She has already gone mad, but she is still alive … "
Chen Wenjun pointed the saber at Tang Minjie, crying, "You have two choices now, you can either kill her to avenge Lu Mingfang, or you can commit suicide and die here. Or, you can take her all the way back to the south, so that Luo Yingxiong can see his only family in this world. Even if she is crazy, she didn't mean to hurt people — "
She waved the saber and cut the rope on Tang Minjie's body. Tang Minjie knelt down, his eyes full of tears, "Arrange for someone to send her down. Kill me, kill me …"
Chen Wenjun kicked him to the ground, "You want to die so easily? How can it be so easy? You have to remember me for the rest of your life …"
She waved her hand and threw things at Tang Minjie, "This is a bag, dry food, silver, and the pass token of Prince Lu's Mansion! The saber, the woman, and the carriage, take them all. No one will chase you, Madame Han! … You are the last people I can save. "
Her voice was loud, but it suddenly became soft when she said the last sentence.
Tang Minjie picked up the saber on the ground and staggered to his feet, "I don't want to go, I don't want to go …" He tried to walk towards Chen Wenjun, but two people came over and stopped him.
"Bastard …" Chen Wenjun cried and laughed, "Is it your turn to speak? Clown, haha, how can you laugh when you pretend to be crazy? Haha, haha, haha … Everyone, look, he is crying, haha, great hero … "
Chen Wenjun laughed wantonly, mocking Tang Minjie who was gradually losing the effect of the drug. At this moment, in the field at dawn, she looked more like the "clown" who was feared by people in Yunzhong City.
Tang Minjie broke through the obstruction of the two people, "You stay, you listen to me, Chen Wenjun … you idiot …"
Chen Wenjun walked to the carriage in the distance.
"I won't go …"
"I'll kill her …"
"Don't do this …"
"You kill me …"
"You bitch, I betrayed you on purpose …"
Chen Wenjun got on the carriage, and it gradually drove away. Then the two obstructors also retreated. Tang Minjie once walked towards the crazy woman on the other side. He raised his saber and threatened to kill her, but no one paid attention to this matter. The crazy woman, on the other hand, screamed and cried in fright at his roar and the light of the saber. He slapped her to the ground.
"Ah ah ah ah ah …"
In the field, Tang Minjie wailed wildly like a beast that had been shot by an arrow, "I'll kill your whole family, Chen Wenjun …"
The crazy woman also screamed and cried, holding her head and rolling on the ground, "Ah ah ah ah ah …"
These extremely sorrowful voices came from the depths of their hearts, and converged in the field …
…
The carriage gradually drove away, and gradually, Tang Minjie's wailing could no longer be heard. Madame Han, Chen Wenjun, leaned against the wall of the carriage, no longer crying, and even smiled slightly.
The carriage drove to the towering city wall of Yunzhong City. When it reached the city gate, it was reminded by others and stopped. She got out of the carriage and walked up the city wall, where she saw Wanyan Xiyin looking into the distance. It was morning, and the sunlight was reflected by everything they saw.
The two looked at each other.
"I thought you would leave," Xi Yin said.
"The affairs of the country and the Han people have nothing to do with me anymore. Next, it's just family affairs. How can I leave?"
"That's also good."
Although she said so, Xi Yin still reached out and held her wife's hand. The two slowly walked forward on the city wall, they talked about family affairs, talked about the past … At this moment, some words and some memories that were originally not suitable to be mentioned could also be said.
Chen Wenjun roughly told Xi Yin about how she was kidnapped in the north when she was young, and how the Office of Secret Investigation led by Qin Siyuan recruited members here. Originally, he wanted her to enter the upper echelons of Liao, but who knew that she was later liked by the upper echelons of the Jin Kingdom, and so many stories happened.
"… What kind of person was Qin Siyuan back then?" Xi Yin asked curiously.
Chen Wenjun shook her head, "I've never seen him, so I don't know. I only met him in my father's generation."
She talked about how she felt when she first came to the north, and how she felt when Xi Yin first took a liking to her. She said, "Among the poems that I liked at that time, there was one that I never told you. Of course, after I had a child, I slowly did not feel that way anymore …"
"Which one?"
The sun shone, and Chen Wenjun looked up to the south, where there was a place that she could never return to in this life. She said softly, "Fubo only wishes for the dead to return to the dead, Dingyuan does not need to enter the pass in life. Don't send only the reincarnation to the Sea Cave … Still leave an arrow to shoot the Heavenly Mountain. When I was young, this was my favorite poem, but I didn't tell you back then. "
"Don't send only the reincarnation to the Sea Cave, Still leave an arrow to shoot the Heavenly Mountain …" Xi Yin held her hand and smiled slowly, "Although we each serve different masters, my wife is really a great heroine."
The sun shone across the sky, across the vast land of the north.
Many years ago, the arrow shot by Qin Siyuan towards the Heavenly Mountain had completed her mission …
*****
PS: Fubo only wishes for the dead to return to the dead, Dingyuan does not need to enter the pass in life.
Don't send only the reincarnation to the Sea Cave, Still leave an arrow to shoot the Heavenly Mountain.
— Tang Dynasty Li Yi's "Song at the Frontier"
*****
"Son-in-law * Episode 10 * Long Night of Spring" (End)
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