In August, the autumn wind swirled up dust on the yellow earth. Turbulence surged on the land of the northwest. Strange things were quietly brewing.
Since ancient times, the northwest had been known as the land of war. In the previous decades or even centuries, there had been chaos from time to time, and the people here had developed a tough and valiant culture. But since the establishment of the Wu dynasty, under the protection of the several Western armies that had been passed down for several generations, this area had at long last maintained relative peace. The Zhong, Zhe, and Yang families had fought against Western Xia, Tubo, and Liao. At the same time that they had established illustrious military achievements, they had also formed an ecological structure in a remote corner of this border land that was far from the mainstream.
The northwest was not peaceful, but that was when compared to the hinterlands of the Wu dynasty. However, ever since the Zhong family, Zhong Shidao, pushed the Western army's frontlines past Hengshan with all their strength. While the Western Xia was at a disadvantage, the people of the northwest had actually already experienced many years of relative peace.
This kind of structure was broken by the rise of the Jin Kingdom and its southward march. Afterwards, the Zhong family was ruined, the Zhe family trembled with fear, and the flames of war in the northwest reignited. The Black Flag Army, this foreign power that had suddenly inserted itself, still gave the people of the northwest a strange and unfamiliar feeling.
Before July of this year, perhaps not many people in the northwest knew of the existence of this army. Those who had occasionally heard of it understood that it was a group of wandering bandits entrenched in the mountains. Those with some remarkable abilities knew that this army had once committed a heaven-shocking act of rebellion in the hinterlands of the Wu dynasty. Now, they were being chased by many parties and were hiding here.
As for whether or not this army could possibly cause harm to the northwest, the various powers naturally had some guesses. However, before these guesses could become serious, the true trouble had already arrived. The Western Xia army swept over and flattened half of the northwest. The people had long since forgotten about the wandering bandits in the mountains. It was only in June of this year that the Black Flag Army, which had been quiet for a long time, leapt out from the eastern mountains. With an astonishing battle strength that caused people's scalps to go numb, they easily routed the Western Xia army. Only then did people suddenly remember that such an army had always existed. At the same time, they also felt that this army was inconceivable and unfamiliar.
After returning to Yanzhou City, the Black Flag Army still seemed quite different from the other armies. Regardless of whether it was the outside powers or the people within Yanzhou City, they didn't have the slightest sense of familiarity with this army and its leadership. Perhaps this familiarity wasn't a feeling of closeness. Rather, it was similar to the things that everyone else did: Now that peace was restored, they had to recruit celebrities, appease the local gentry, understand the surrounding environment, how the benefits would be distributed, and as a ruler, what kind of arrangements and expectations would they have for everyone's interactions in the future.
None of these things happened.
"We, the people of Huaxia, should help each other."
"Since we are all citizens of Huaxia, we have the duty to protect our country!"
"This is what we should do. You don't have to be so polite."
In one or two months, the Huaxia army had done a lot of things. They went from house to house and counted the household registration in and around Yanzhou City. Soon after, they made arrangements for the food issue that everyone was concerned about. Anyone who came over and wrote down the two words "Huaxia" would be distributed according to the number of people they had. At the same time, this army did some urgent things in the city. For example, they arranged to take in orphans, beggars, and the elderly who had been massacred by the Xixia people. They also arranged for the medical team to treat the people who had been injured by weapons in these past few days. They also mobilized some people to repair the city's defenses and roads. They also paid wages.
If it was said that they wanted to win the hearts of the people, these things were actually already very good.
It was just that for some of the original powers and big clans in the city, they couldn't quite understand what the other party wanted to do. If the other party really treated everyone equally in their hearts, then these people with family backgrounds and the right to speak would feel very uncomfortable. The military strength of this Huaxia army was too strong. Were they really that "independent"? Were they really unwilling to pay attention to anyone? If this was really the case, then what would happen next? People had no idea in their hearts what would happen next.
If this foreign army relied on their own great strength and didn't attach any importance to the local tyrants, even planning to wipe them out in one go. For some people, this was a scene of hell that was even more terrifying than the Xixia people. Of course, they hadn't returned to Yanzhou for a long time. Perhaps they wanted to first see the reactions of these powers. They planned to purposely wipe out a few troublesome people to serve as an example to others in service of their future rule. This couldn't be considered a strange thing.
While the big clans of Yanzhou were feeling apprehensive, the various powers outside the city, such as the Zhong Family and the Zhe Family, were actually also secretly analyzing all of this. After the situation nearby had stabilized, the envoys of the two families had already arrived in Yanzhou to express their greetings and thanks to the Black Flag Army. In private, they also had some contact with the big clans and country gentlemen in the city. The Zhong Family was the original master of Yanzhou, but the Zhong Family's army had already been mostly defeated. Although the Zhe Family had never ruled Yanzhou, they were currently the leader of the Western Army. People were also willing to have some dealings with this side to prevent the Black Flag Army from really going against the grain and eliminating all the strong people.
"… The temperaments of the people of the northwest are unyielding. Something that even the tens of thousands of Xixia troops couldn't subdue, even if a few thousand people were invincible on the battlefield, how could they really kill everyone? Don't tell me they're going to massacre Yanzhou again after taking it? "
When the news from here reached Clear Stream City, Zhe Keqiu, who had just stabilized the situation in Clear Stream City, said this kind of sarcastic remark while his heart was also full of doubts. He didn't dare to touch Yanzhou for the time being, but if the other side really did go against the grain and the local tyrants of Yanzhou took the initiative to contact him, he would naturally be able to accept it. At the same time, Zhong Lie, who was far away in Yuanzhou, might have the same feelings. Whether it was the country gentlemen or the common people, they were actually more willing to interact with the locals. After all, they were familiar with each other.
This kind of doubt arose for a period of time, but in the big picture, the forces of Xixia had not withdrawn, and the situation in the northwest had not yet reached the point where it could be stabilized. How to fight in Qing Zhou, how to divide the benefits, whether the Black Flag Army would send troops, whether the Zhong family would send troops, how the Zhe family would act — these undercurrents never stopped day after day. In the minds of Zhe Keqiu, Zhong Lie, and the others, although the Black Flag Army was powerful, they had already suffered many losses in the all-out battle with Xixia. They were entrenched in Yanzhou to recuperate, and perhaps they wouldn't move again. But even so, there was no harm in testing them and seeing how they would act, whether they were just putting up a strong front after the great battle …
At the end of August, Zhe Keqiu prepared to send an invitation to the Black Flag Army to discuss the matter of sending troops to pacify Qing Zhou. Before the emissary had even been sent out, a few extremely startling news had already been transmitted.
From the Small Blue River Mountain, a Black Flag Army came out again, escorting the Xixia captives out of Yanzhou, heading in the direction of Qing Zhou. And a few days later, the King of Xixia, Li Qianshun, returned to Qing Zhou and other places to the Black Flag Army. The Xixia army had retreated to the north of Heng Mountain.
The Black Flag Army, which had been biding its time, had quietly determined the situation in the northwest. This unimaginable state of affairs caused Zhong Lie, Zhe Keqiu, and the others to feel somewhat at a loss for what to do. And not long after, even stranger things followed.
The emissary of the Black Flag Army separately came to Clear Stream and Yuanzhou, inviting Zhe, Zhong, and the others to go to Qing Zhou to negotiate and settle all issues, including the ownership of Qing Zhou.
After Zhe Keqiu received this invitation, he stared blankly for a long time in the reception room of his temporary residence in Clear Stream City. Then, he sized up the emissary in front of him as if he was sizing up some indescribable object. He was the head of the Zhe family, known for its shrewdness. Along the way, when the Black Flag Army emissary came in, he had always welcomed them with an extremely enthusiastic attitude. Only at this time did he seem to lose his composure.
"Discuss … the ownership of Qing Zhou?"
Perhaps this world was really going to turn upside down, I can't understand it anymore, he thought.
Not long after, Zhe Keqiu and Zhong Lie came to Qing Zhou and saw that bewildering leader of the Black Flag Army, the scholar who had once killed the emperor of the Wu dynasty in the golden palace hall, Ning Liheng.
At this time, Qing Zhou City, which had stayed in the hands of the Western Xia for two more months, was in a state of desolation. The surviving populace was already less than a third of what it used to be. A large number of people were on the verge of starving to death, and there were already signs of an epidemic breaking out. When the Western Xia people left, the wheat that had been harvested nearby was already almost all transported away. The Black Flag Army used Western Xia captives to exchange for some food with the other side. At this time, they were wantonly distributing porridge and relief within the city. When Zhong Lie and Zhe Keqiu arrived, this was the scene they saw.
*****
This traitor called Ning Yi was not amiable.
This was Zhong Lie and Zhe Keqiu's first impression after meeting.
It was a rather neat military camp, a chaotic scene of bustling about, deploying soldiers to distribute porridge and medicine to the populace, collecting corpses to burn. It was under such circumstances that Zhong Lie and Zhe Keqiu met each other. In the midst of the hectic and busy work, this junior who was not even thirty years old greeted them with a straight face and didn't give them a smile. Zhe Keqiu's first impression was that the other party was acting, but he couldn't be sure. Because the other party's military camp and soldiers, even when they were busy, also had the same rigid image.
"During this period of time, whether it was Qing Zhou or Yanzhou, too many people have died. These people and corpses, I really hate to look at!" The scholar called Ning Liheng showed a look of disgust as he led the two through the ruined city and looked at the populace who had suffered greatly. "Regarding this matter, I have been racking my brains. These few days, I have a little immature opinion. Do the two generals want to hear it?"
"Mister Ning is concerned about the suffering of the people. There is no harm in saying it."
"I feel that this is all your fault."
Ning Yi's gaze swept across them. "Living in one place, protecting the border and pacifying the people, this is your responsibility. If you didn't do it well and messed it up, whatever excuses you say will be useless. If you find a reason, they will die without a burial place. I feel that the two generals should reflect on this matter!"
Before coming here, he really didn't expect that the leader of this invincible army would be such an upright and righteous person. The corners of Zhe Keqiu's mouth twitched until his face was a little painful. But to be honest, this kind of character, in the current situation, was not annoying. Zhong Lie quickly admitted his mistake, and Zhe Keqiu also readily reflected on it. They climbed up the city wall of Qing Zhou.
"… I took root in Little Canghe. Originally, I planned to go to the northwest to do business. At that time, Old Zhong's Husband had not passed away, so I hoped that I would be lucky. But not long after, the Xixia people came, and Old Zhong's Husband also passed away. Our Black Flag Army didn't want to fight, but we had no choice. We came out of the mountains just to fight for our lives. Now that the northwest has been stabilized, it is a good thing. I am a person who follows the rules, so my brothers under my command are willing to follow me. They have chosen their own path. I believe that in this world, everyone has the right to choose their own path! "
At the first half of Ning Yi's words, Zhong and Zhe both nodded in agreement and were willing to say a few words of praise. But when it came to the second half, that scholar looked at the devastated city and solemnly spread out his hands. Both of them were more or less puzzled, frowning and exchanging glances.
This kind of person … no wonder he would kill the Emperor …
This kind of person … how could there be such a person …
Ning Yi's words didn't stop. "The people of Qing Zhou have suffered a lot. When they have slightly settled down, I will let them choose their own path. Generals, you are the mainstay of the northwest. They are also responsible for protecting the border and pacifying the people. I have already calculated the number of people in Qing Zhou and their household registration. When the food in hand has been distributed, I will initiate a vote. Based on the number of votes, I will see if they are willing to follow me or Zhong Family Army or Zhe Family Army. If they do not choose me, then I will give Qing Zhou to the person they choose. "
The top of the city wall was silent. Zhong Lie and Zhe Keqiu were shocked speechless. They looked at the cold-faced scholar and raised their hands. "Letting the people of the world choose their own path is my lifelong wish."
"You two, the following situation will not be easy." The scholar turned around and looked at them. "First is the food for the winter. This city is a mess. If you don't want it, I won't just leave it to you. As long as they are in my hands, I will do my best to be responsible for them. If they are in your hands, you will also have a headache. So I have invited you two generals over for a face-to-face discussion. If you are not willing to take over Qing Zhou from my hands in this way and feel that it is not easy to manage, then I understand. But if you are willing, there are many things that we need to discuss. "
He turned around and walked forward. "I have thought about it carefully. If there is really such a vote, there are many things that need to be supervised. How to let them vote, how to count the votes, which local elders and people of virtue and virtue will need to be invited to supervise. The choice of tens of thousands of people must be fair and just in order to convince the people. I intend to discuss these things with you and write them down … "
Ning Yi talked endlessly as he walked. Zhong Lie and Zhe Keqiu felt like they were listening to a fantasy story.
"… To be honest, I am a merchant. I am good at business but not at governing people. So I am willing to give them a chance. If things go well here, even if it is Yanzhou, I am also willing to hold a vote or co-rule with you two. However, no matter what the result of the vote is, I must at least guarantee that the trade route will be able to pass and not obstruct the people of Little Cang River and Green Wood Stronghold from the northwest. When I have enough money, I am willing to give them a choice. If there is a day in the future when there is no way to go, our Hua Xia army will not hesitate to fight to the death with anyone. "
Ning Yi furrowed his brows. When he mentioned the trade route, he brushed it off lightly. After that, the two sides talked about many things. Ning Yi occasionally said, "… Of course, the two generals should not be happy too early. Humans are not plants and trees. How can we be emotionless? Our Black Flag Army has done so many things. They will remember it in their eyes and hearts. They may not necessarily choose you."
The two of them laughed heartily and nodded.
That night, Zhong Lie, Zhe Keqiu, and their entourage and advisors gathered in the courtyard as if they were in a dream. They did not care about the details of what the other party said today. They only cared about the big picture and whether or not the other party was lying.
Let the people vote to choose who will govern this place? Was he really planning to do this?
In the dark attic far away, Ning Yi looked at the lights in the distance and then retracted his gaze. Beside him, the spy who came back from the north was talking about what he had seen and heard. Ning Yi tilted his head and occasionally opened his mouth to ask questions. After the spy left, he sat quietly in the dark for a long time. Not long after, he lit an oil lamp and buried his head to record some of his thoughts.
The guard in charge of the garrison occasionally tilted his head to look at the figure in the window. During this period of time after the Nuzhen emissary left, Ning Yi had become even busier. He pushed forward everything he wanted step by step and seized every second...
In the next two days, the three parties met to discuss some unimportant matters. These matters mainly included the things that needed to be guaranteed after the vote in Qing Prefecture. No matter what the result of the vote was, the two parties needed to guarantee the convenience and preferential treatment of the Little Cang River Caravan when it passed through the northwest region. In order to protect the interests of the caravan, the Little Cang River side could use methods such as priority, supervision, and to prevent any side from suddenly turning hostile and affecting the Little Cang River Caravan.
Ning Yi also talked about the taxes that both sides could get in these businesses — but to be honest, they did not really care.
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