In the autumn, the leaves gradually began to turn yellow.
In the ninth year of Tianhui, under the leadership of the second emperor, Wu Qimai, the Jin Kingdom's national strength was flourishing. As the most powerful country in the world, it ruled the world.
Xijing Datong was the military center of the Jin Kingdom in the southwest. Wanyan Zonghan's Marshal's Mansion was located there. From a certain perspective, it could be said that they could already contend with the Northern Front.
However, although Wanyan Zonghan had a high status in the Jin Kingdom and was extremely powerful, after the death of the former second prince, Wanyan Zongwang, it was difficult for any of Aguda's sons to compete with him. There were often rumors about the two courts. However, there was not much friction between the Jurchen court and the Marshal's Mansion. The reason was that there were still many founding ministers of the Jurchen Kingdom in the court.
Wanyan Wuqimai was the brightest star among all the celestial stars, especially the one who showed off his ability when he was under Aguda's command. But after he succeeded to the throne, he restrained his temperament, and became gentle to the inside and strong to the outside. The Emperor, who could fight against a hundred enemies on the battlefield, was honest in front of his own people. At the beginning of his ascension to the throne, he was dragged down by a group of powerful officials and beaten 20 times because he secretly drank good wine, but he did not resist.
After he succeeded the throne, although the Jurchen army continued to conquer the south, the governance of the Jurchen Kingdom was actually stable and gentle. On the one hand, Wu Qimai encouraged agriculture, on the other hand, he reformed the domestic system, and carried out many efforts to abolish slavery and improve the economic system. During the third war, he began to implement the slave redemption system in the country to protect the lives of the slaves to a certain extent, and began to implement the policy of restraining land annexation. Although the war outside was fierce and harsh, the Jin Kingdom was indeed peaceful and stable during this period. As the ruler of the Jin Kingdom, Wu Qimai had no qualms about his position as emperor.
With him in charge, the Jurchen Kingdom seemed to move forward smoothly. Even the arrogant Zong Han had enough respect and awe for him.
However, in the years that the country had been at peace, there had indeed been many brilliant Jurchen heroes who had fallen one after another in the constant battles.
The former God of War, the second prince Zong Wang, died of illness during the third war.
War God Wanyan Loushi had died four years ago in the great battle to conquer the northwest.
In the eighth year of Tian Hui's reign, Wanyan Xie, who was also Aguda and Wu Qimai's biological younger brother, also passed away due to illness. Xie was not as famous as Zong Han, nor was he as illustrious as Lou Shi, who had won almost every battle. However, he had a steady personality and was a famous general who carried the expectations of the people. His status was very high. Although Zong Han and Zong Wang were the marshals of an army in the first two wars of the Jin Kingdom, it was Zong Han who was the commander-in-chief. If he was still alive, he would be the next emperor of the Jin Kingdom.
In the same year, the great general Ci Buxiu was captured and beheaded in the northwest Yanzhou battle after falling into a trap.
Generals died in a hundred battles, and heroes returned after ten years. The fall of one star general after another did not stop the Jurchen Kingdom's march. On the Mongolian plains in the north, Shu Liesu led thousands of cavalrymen to fight against the rising Mongolian tribes. After suffering a slight setback, an army that participated in the conquest returned triumphantly from the south.
They entered through the south gate and presented the spoils of war to the generals. However, this time, the army did not bring back many spoils of war. After all, its scale was not as large as the conquest of the Jin Kingdom. However, it had delayed the Jurchen Kingdom's conquest for four years and caused the Jurchen Kingdom to lose two famous generals in the war. It had indeed attracted the attention of many people.
The traitor who killed the emperor in the south, the devil who occupied the northwest, and the powerful Black Flag Army had finally been crushed by the Jurchen Kingdom's iron-blooded conquest.
A tattered blood-stained flag was presented by the Jurchen Kingdom as a spoil of war in front of Zong Han. The generals of the Marshal's Office announced the fact that Bandit Ning had been beheaded and the Black Flag Army had been completely wiped out. Cheers could be heard from the nearby streets and squares. Regarding that army, the Jin Kingdom's Female Zhenrens who knew the inside story had a rather complicated attitude. On one hand, the Jin Kingdom's two generals, Lou Shi and Ci Buxiu, died in the northwest. Some people were willing to admit that he was strong. On the other hand, some Female Zhenrens thought that such a battle record indicated that the Jin Kingdom had problems and was no longer invincible like before. Of course, no matter which view it was, after the destruction of the Black Flag Army, it was temporarily diluted.
Chen Wenjun watched the army return from the crowd. The city was bustling with noise and excitement. Back in the residence, Xi Yin was practicing her calligraphy in the study room. When she saw Mo Tiange, she put down her brush and smiled, "You went to see your teacher? I thought it would be a little boring. "
Chen Wenjun shook her head and looked at the most conspicuous place in the study room. Xi Yin's study room was filled with famous calligraphies and historical sites from the south. At this time, the one that was hung in the center was already a set of calligraphy that could not be considered as a famous calligrapher.
The monarch and his subjects are willing to bend their knees, and the son is sad alone.
The matter of Xichuan is gone, the mighty King of the Northern Land.
Sacrificing one's body to repay one's ancestors, scratching one's head and weeping the heavens.
As long as Linlin lives, who knows that Yunhan is dead!
This set of calligraphy written by Ning Yi had been hung in the study room ever since Xi Yin returned from the north. At first, it was hung in the corner. Since the start of the war in the northwest, the position of the calligraphy had been constantly changed. After Ci Buji died in the battle, Xi Yin once took it down, but later on, it was still hung in the center. Today, it was finally moved to the center.
"As long as Linlin lives, who knows that Yunhan is dead …" Chen Wenjun looked up at the calligraphy and read it softly. She used to come and look at this calligraphy in the past. Now that she looked at it again, the complexity in her heart could not be explained to others.
Xi Yin leaned over and said, "Yes, as long as Linlin lives … Ning Liheng was a good friend of Qin Siyuan before the Wu dynasty committed regicide. I recall the events of that year. Qin Siyuan of the Wu dynasty was a Confucian. The eldest son of the Qin family died in Taiyuan. Qin Siyuan was exiled and died in the hands of traitors. The second son of the Qin family and Ning Liheng rose in revolt. In the past three years in the northwest, he is worthy of this saying. I have underestimated him. It is a pity that I could not talk to him when he was alive. "
Xi Yin sighed slightly. Chen Wenjun could understand the deeper meaning of his words. In the three years in the northwest, the Jurchens were at the back and the fake Qi army was at the front. This was Xi Yin's idea. The reason was because the Black Flag firearms were so powerful that the Jurchens could not find a good way to restrain them. So, they first used the fake Qi army as the vanguard to test the cannons. The Jin Kingdom also continuously followed the war to perfect the cannons.
Who knew that after this delay, the war seemed to be endless. Last year, Ci Busu was killed at the city walls of Yanzhou. Xi Yin felt extremely guilty. After that, the Jurchens army strengthened their attacks. Although they had mastered the technology of cannons and at the same time created a super strong crossbow specially made for shooting down hot air balloons, Xi Yin had always felt that he had his share of responsibility for Ci Busu's death and the manpower and resources that the Jurchens had invested in these three years.
Chen Wenjun was silent for a moment. She tilted her head and said, "I have heard that Ning Yi is full of tricks. This time he may have faked his death to escape. Master went to see his head? "
No emotions could be seen on her face. Xi Yin looked at her and then smiled with a complicated expression, "There are indeed people who think so. Actually a human head is not enough to be used as evidence. Things chopped off from the battlefield can be recognized and sent over. It is not difficult to fake it. Fan Hongji, who had dealings with him, said that it is indeed Ning Yi's head but there are also mistakes."
He shook his head and looked at the words in front of him. He sighed, "The imperial court withdrawing troops is not such a superficial matter. Actually, the Black Flag Army has not perished …"
Xi Yin paused here. She saw a glimmer of light flash across Chen Wenjun's eyes. She was worried about the Southern Dynasty and was rather sympathetic towards the Black Flag Army. Xi Yin knew this and Chen Wenjun did not avoid it. He looked at her and smiled, "The battle in the northwest was extremely chaotic. Liu Yu was unable to resist. Many things can only be clarified now. A portion of the Black Flag Army escaped from the northwest. They even did something even more incredible. We are still investigating now. The remaining Black Flag Army has already turned towards the southwest. Ning Yi escaped like a cicada escaping its carapace. Originally it could have been arranged. However, there are always accidents. "
"What?" Chen Wenjun turned around.
"The battlefield is ever-changing. He led the army back and forth from the land of death several times. It is very possible that he faked his death and died for real. Just like in a room, suddenly encountering an accident. No one can predict it." Wanyan Xi Yin spoke of this matter. His gaze was complicated. He sighed, "He can't be found within the Black Flag Army. If I didn't confirm this matter, even if there was a battle at the northern front, why would I allow him to retreat. Once he dies, even if the Black Flag Army has millions of soldiers, it is just a thought. If he left, then so be it … "
Chen Wenjun was stunned for a moment. But only after this moment, she smiled bitterly.
"Then … what is the more incredible matter that Master mentioned?"
"It was my mistake. If that Ning Liheng is still alive, it will be somewhat troublesome. But … if he is dead, let Liu Yu and the others in the south have a headache. This is the news that I only received recently …"
Xi Yin looked at the words again and continued to chat with his wife …
*****
In the south, the news of the annihilation of the Black Flag Army and the execution of the regicide Ning Liheng gradually spread throughout the world.
In the central plains, although the war had stopped, the fruits of the war were still bitter and hard to swallow.
Some news, after the chaos of the war, gradually appeared. After it was known by some people, it became an even more chaotic situation.
In the imperial palace of the Daming Residence, in this autumn after the war, Liu Yu started to become paranoid and anxious. In the past few days, he had continuously killed more than ten palace guards.
The rumors that came from the bottom were spreading and expanding from mouth to mouth.
It was said that in the three years of war in the northwest, the Black Flag Army forced many captives to surrender. And this forced surrender was not as simple as recruiting people to surrender. There were rumors that before the war in the northwest started, after the Black Flag Army killed Lou Shi, that demon, Ning Yi, was already actively making arrangements. He sent out large numbers of Black Flag Army to various places in the central plains where people gathered.
When the war in the northwest started, the Jurchens forced the Great Qi to send out troops. Liu Yu's forced conscription started in these places. At this time, the central plains had already gone through the baptism of three wars. The original order was already in chaos. The officials could no longer judge who was a good citizen and who was a local. In this kind of forced conscription, almost all of the Black Flag Army had already infiltrated into the Great Qi army.
They were soldiers to begin with, so their performance in the army was naturally outstanding. It wasn't a problem for them to be promoted. These people colluded with the people around them, choosing those who were strong, those whose thoughts leaned towards the Black Flag Army, surrendering to the Black Flag Army on the battlefield. During each great battle, they passed on intelligence to the Black Flag Army. In those great battles, large amounts of people silently disappeared from the battlefield just like that, becoming nourishment for the Black Flag Army.
This was still not the most frightening thing.
The most frightening thing was that in the Great Qi army, it was unknown how many people were still hiding. Some of them had already become high ranking generals, some were still developing the Black Flag Army. There were even some who had already been promoted to the palace guards by Liu Yu's side.
These days, every soldier that Liu Yu saw was like a hidden member of the Black Flag Army.
After these days, his spirit became weak.
The night wind blew, swirling up the leaves. There seemed to be water dripping under the eaves.
Drip, drip, drip... there was a fine breaking sound.
Liu Yu woke up from his sleep with a start. His back was covered in cold sweat. He seemed to see a black shadow by the bed and then... there really was a black shadow by the bed.
That black-clothed person leaned over. A hand was like an iron hoop, firmly clamping down on his mouth. That pair of eyes looked at him, face to face.
"Emperor..."
The voice sounded. That person took out a dagger and placed it against his neck. After making a gesture, he began to point the tip of the dagger at his eyes and slowly stabbed down.
"... kill another emperor..."
Liu Yu struggled. However, the strength of that hand was still increasing. The bones in his cheeks were creaking. There was a hot and humid feeling under the bedding. He was already so frightened that he lost control. His eyes were tightly closed.
The hand clamping down on his mouth suddenly let go. Then, with a heavy blow, Liu Yu fainted.
When he woke up the next morning, the red mark on Liu Yu's face had not yet faded. Great chaos had already appeared in the palace.
Rumors regarding the inner demons and the Black Flag Army spread among the people...
*****
The influence was still ongoing. In Jiangnan, the news of Ning Yi's death and the destruction of the Black Flag Army had already spread among the people. Except for a few scholars who began to mourn for the dead Zhou Zhe and sighed about "bringing order out of chaos", this time, the discussions among the people were very quiet.
In the southern suburbs of Jiangning, a large number of courtyards were built in the originally picturesque hills. There were also troops from the Wulie Battalion stationed nearby. This area was where the Crown Prince, Jun Wu, researched and researched. A large number of wooden cannons and iron cannons were manufactured here and distributed to the various troops. The Crown Prince himself often stayed here.
At the end of autumn, a man with a broken arm knocked on the wooden door of a courtyard. This man was tall and had a steady posture. There were several scars on his face. One look and one could tell that he was a veteran who had been on the battlefield for a long time. After giving a secret signal, the person who came out to receive him was the current chief steward of the Crown Prince's residence, Lu Agui. This veteran brought back news regarding the Small Cang River and the three-year war in the northwest. He was a spy that Lu Agui had personally placed in the Small Cang River army.
This person's name was Lin Guanglie. He had been in the Small Cang River for many years. He had joined the Black Flag Army and fought bravely. At one point, he had risen to the side of the bandit Ning Liheng. He had been captured during the last few chaotic wars in the northwest and had suffered inhumane torture. During his imprisonment, he and a few other soldiers of the Black Flag Army had broken out of the prison. He had personally cut off his own arm and had narrowly escaped death.
Now, he had come south to report the news. Naturally, he had also received the treatment of a hero. After listening to the relatively important news, Lu Agui had settled him down. At the same time, he had sent someone to inform the Crown Prince, who was still in the capital.
Lin Guanglie had been arranged to live in the best courtyard and received the best treatment. On this day, Lin Guanglie went out to Jiangning for a stroll. After getting rid of the two bodyguards that had been arranged to protect him, he had left the city and walked along a small path. After walking for a short distance, he saw Lu Agui and a group of soldiers waiting in front of him.
Lu Agui had a puzzled look in his eyes. The person in front of him was a talent that he had carefully selected. He was highly skilled in martial arts and had a loyal personality. His mother was still in the south and he had even saved his life … On this day, on the mountain path, Lin Guanglie knelt down and kowtowed to him as an apology. Soon after, he told him about the last things that had happened in the northwest.
During the three-year war in the northwest, the enemies kept coming. Even though Ning Yi had already made many arrangements and had to withstand the attacks, the situation was still incomparably tragic. In the last year, the Female Daoist's offensive had strengthened. Everyone ran all over the place, and Ning Yi had also led his direct troops into battle. At that time, Lin Guanglie was already a member of this troop.
On the battlefield, swords and blades had no eyes. Although he had everyone's protection, Ning Yi had still been injured several times. In a hopeless situation, he had rushed out together with everyone. He had once said that one day, he would also have the same ending as Wanyan Loushi. During that time, Ning Yi liked to talk with others. He had many ideas that he didn't hide from others. When he spoke of his views on the war and the ways of the world, no one could understand what he was saying. But as time passed, they began to understand what kind of heart he had.
"… I … was captured in that great war. That was the last battle that occurred. The day before the war began, I remember that the weather was very hot. We were all hiding in the mountains. When the sky was about to turn dark, we sat on the side of the mountain to enjoy the cool air. I remember that the sun was as red as blood. When Mister Ning came back from seeing the wounded, he told us that someone had died … "As Lin Guanglie spoke to here, he had already stood up." He sat with us for a while. What he said afterwards, I will remember it for the rest of my life … "
"He said … I chattered with you all day long. Some people even said it in front of me. It was very annoying, and I knew it all … He said, in truth, I am a person who is afraid of death. I don't want to die, and I don't want to feel pain, and I don't want to feel good … He said, I don't want to say today why we have to die, or why we have to feel pain, but to be able to fight with you all, to be able to rush out together with you is a great honor. Because you all are people, noble, noble, and not some random trash. You all have done your best for the best … so, if something really happens one day, I really wouldn't have come in vain …"
The man stood there, tears already in his eyes.
"I was captured by them. Not long after, they said that Mister Ning had died. Because of this, I wasn't killed. That night, I broke my hand, killed three people, and rushed out with them. I don't know whether or not Mister Ning is truly dead, but when he said those words, I truly felt that I was a person who couldn't be compared to anyone else. Not even the Emperor would be inferior to me … "
"Impudent!" Hearing these words, Lu Agui's eyes turned cold. He roared, and a group of soldiers beside him pulled out their swords at the same time. For a moment, the mountain path was filled with cold saber light. Lin Guanglie took a deep breath and used his remaining right hand to pull out the steel saber from his waist.
"Steward Lu, I am indebted to you for saving my life, and I also respect you. I broke my hand, but I only thought that before I die, I will return this life to you. I have brought back news about Little Cang River. Little Cang River is an open and aboveboard place, and there is nothing that can't be told to others! But I have finished telling you the news. Mister Lu, I want to return this life to the Chinese army. If you want to stop me, you can leave my life here today. But there is one thing that I want to make clear to everyone. After three years of fighting and killing, I only have one hand left, but I can still kill people. Be careful. "
He lowered his body slightly and stood with his saber horizontally, his eyes narrowed. At this distance, he was alone. If he rushed out, he would probably be shot dead on the spot. But even so, at this moment, the oppressive feeling he gave off was not reduced at all. This was a ferocious tiger that had returned from the northwest hell.
Lu Agui was silent for a moment. "If … Ning Liheng is really dead, what's the point of you going back?"
"Mister Ning told us those words …" Lin Guanglie said, "If he is really dead, the Chinese army will pass him down. Steward Lu, you can't save the world by relying on you. "
The autumn leaves were yellow, falling down the trees in the wind. In the sky, the geese flying south formed a row. In the confrontation between the two sides on the mountain path, Lu Agui raised his head and sighed silently.
This used to be the hometown of that scholar.
Now that the swan geese had returned, many people would no longer return. Perhaps they were not here, or their hearts were not here …
*****
Buddhism flourished in the southwest of Dali. This was a quiet and peaceful country.
Duan Xiaoqing, the daughter of Marquis Lian Yi Duan Baosheng, was thirteen years old this year. Although she was not of marriageable age, Duan Xiaoqing was well-versed in poetry and books, practiced needlework, and was proficient in music. At a young age, she had already become a famous talented woman in Dali. In the past two years, the people who came to propose marriage broke the door of the Marquis's residence, making the Marquis's residence very famous.
Duan Baosheng had always been very proud to have such a good daughter. But of course, he also knew that the main reason why his daughter could attract so much attention was not only because of her beauty, but also because of the female teacher he found for her a few years ago. This female teacher, Wang Jingmei, was not only knowledgeable, proficient in needlework and music, but most importantly, she was proficient in Buddhism. After being recommended by Master Jing Xin of Sky Dragon Temple, she finally entered the Marquis's residence to teach. Duan Baosheng had always been grateful for this.
Duan Baosheng had always admired this female teacher, whose appearance, temperament, and knowledge were all outstanding. He had once thought of taking her as a concubine of the Marquis's residence and had sent people to propose marriage. However, she had tactfully refused, so there was nothing he could do. Buddhism flourished in Dali. Although Duan Baosheng liked her, he would not force her to marry him. In order to leave a good impression on her, he had always maintained a sense of propriety. In the past few years, other than occasionally meeting with her when she was teaching her daughter, Duan Baosheng and Wang Jingmei did not see each other much.
In the past few years, the situation in the outside world had been turbulent. The Wu dynasty, which had originally been a powerful country, had suddenly fallen to rock bottom. The Central Plains and the northwest were constantly fighting, and Dali had gradually become tense. On this day, Duan Baosheng was seeing off a guest in the courtyard. On the way, he met Wang Jingmei, who was walking in the garden with her daughter.
His eyes were focused on her. His footsteps slowed down, but he was still talking. Wang Jingmei did not look in his direction. Duan Baosheng only looked at the side of her face. At a certain moment, she turned her head to look in his direction. Only then did Duan Baosheng see that her face was deathly pale.
What had happened …
Duan Baosheng did not understand.
On this day, the woman who used to be called Li Shishi, who now went by the name of Wang Jingmei, heard the news of Ning Yi's death in a corner of the southwest.
Before this, the army in the small valley where she used to live faced the ferocious Female Zhenren and stalled them. They fought a huge battle for three whole years …
She used to think that the battle would go on endlessly. Even if that was the case, the pain would not be as overwhelming as it was now.
Many, many things suddenly surged up again. That figure, the simple scenes of their childhood, the reunion in Jiangning, she was always full of misunderstandings towards him. That person killed tens of thousands of people in Liangshan, the pursuit of benefits during the disaster relief, the manipulation of human nature. When the Lady Zhenren came, he resisted outside the city. When the Right Minister's residence collapsed, he kept running. He killed the Emperor, kidnapped her to the mountains in the northwest, and made her organize those words.
At some point, she thought of him. She remembered that she used to like him, but after killing the Emperor, she could no longer like him. He would not deliberately give in to their arguments. Then, she went to Tiannan, and he stayed in Tiannan …
He was such a tough, stubborn, and unyielding person. She almost … forgot about him …
One day, Duan Xiaoqing saw her intellectual and beautiful teacher lose her composure for some reason. She hid in a small room next to her boudoir and cried for a long, long time …
The next day, Wang Jingmei asked for Duan Baosheng's resignation.
*****
The swan goose returning to the south flew over the sky of the Wu dynasty.
In the Central Plains, Liu Yu's regime was preparing to move the capital to Bianliang.
Yue Fei led his army to the battlefield in the north. After defeating two armies and recovering a county, he was reprimanded by the capital. The Black Flag Army was gone, and the Female Zhenren no longer had any obstacles in their way to the south.
When Crown Prince Jun Wu returned to Jiangning, he heaved a sigh after Lu Agui told him what had happened to Lin Guanglie. Outside, the workshop had shipped out another batch of iron cannons and gunpowder. The improvement of various firearms was in full swing.
In the south, Li Shishi cut her hair, left Dali, and began her journey to the north.
Lin Guanglie walked on the road to the west. Just like his journey to the south, he passed by towering and dangerous passes.
After the defeat of Western Xia at the Little Canghe River and the destruction of the Huaxia army, Li Qianshun began to reorganize the trade routes. He was ready to show his strength at the beginning of spring. Then, spring came …
The black cavalry roared like the wind. With a powerful offensive, they trampled the vast plain of Western Xia's Black Water. Not long after, they set foot along the Helan Mountains. The flames of war burned, and this was a beginning that no one could have predicted.
Mongolia, Genghis Khan Temujin, stepped onto a huge stage.
At the southern end of Tubo, a settlement called Dayang, which was not very powerful, had gradually developed and began to look like a settlement for the Han people. An army that had once shocked the world was gathering here, waiting. Waiting for the right time to come, waiting for someone to return …
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