The world was like the autumn wind, and life was like the fallen leaves.
In the few months in Datong, Shi Jin often felt the desolation of having no foundation. This feeling was not because of himself, but because of the life of the Han slaves he saw from time to time.
After the second assassination of Ni Han, Shi Jin was rescued in the subsequent pursuit. When he woke up, he was already in the slave cave outside Datong City.
In the decades of the rise of the Jurchen clan, they conquered the Liao Kingdom and the Wu Kingdom. In fact, the Han people were not the only ones who became slaves. However, with the gradual stability of the Jin Kingdom, those who were previously slaves either died or gradually became a part of the Jin Kingdom. In the past ten years, the largest group of slaves in the Jin Kingdom were mostly the Han people from the Central Plains.
From the beginning when the Jurchens went south to searching the mountains and seas a few years ago, millions of Han people were taken captive to the Jin Kingdom. Regardless of whether they were rich or poor, they were all forced to do hard labor and slaves, living a miserable life. There were some who resisted, but most of them were treated more cruelly. In recent years, the policy of the Jin Kingdom toward the Han slaves began to soften. If a slave was killed at will, the owner would have to pay compensation. In addition, even if a group of animals were raised, it was impossible to whip them with high pressure for ten years. After each hit, they would be rewarded with a sweet date. Gradually, some of the Han slaves had some living space of their own.
There were many private slaves in the Jin Kingdom, but the most important ones were those who worked for the imperial court of the Jin Kingdom, mining, working, and doing hard labor. The settlement outside of Datong City was where the slaves from the nearby mines and workshops gathered. There were messy shacks and muddy roads. The settlement was surrounded by a circle of fences. Occasionally, soldiers would come to guard it, but they were all perfunctory. Over time, it finally became a settlement of the lowest level. During the day, they worked to earn some food to make a living, and at night, they finally had some freedom. It was not easy to escape. Even if the skinny slaves could escape from the settlement, it was extremely difficult for them to cross thousands of miles of the Jurchen land. Shi Jin woke up here.
He didn't know who had saved him at first.
In the dark shack, the one who took him in was a skinny old man. After a few exchanges, Shi Jin knew that under the desperate stagnant water of the slave cave, the undercurrent of resistance had always existed.
The millions of Han people who were abducted by the Lady Zhenren from the Central Plains used to live a relatively stable life, they were not pigs and dogs who were used to living inhuman lives. Under the initial pressure and butcher's knife, the thought of resistance was killed over and over again. However, when the surrounding environment became more relaxed, these Han people, including the Confucian scholars, officials, and gentry, could more or less remember their former lives and more or less began to have thoughts of resistance. Living like this was inhumane, but as long as they were united, there was still hope of returning.
Just like those "swordsmen" who had been secretly against the Lady Zhenren, or some "good people" who were secretly active. These forces may not be great, but there were always some people who, through various channels, escaped by luck or caused some harm to the Lady Zhenren. The old man belonged to such a small organization, and it was said that he also had some connections with the people of the Wu dynasty. On the one hand, it was difficult to survive in this inhuman environment, and on the other hand, there was a small hope that one day, the Wu dynasty would launch an expedition to the north, so that they could see the land of the south again in their lifetime.
As for who saved him, the old man did not know.
Shi Jin's injuries were not light, and he quietly stayed in the shack for more than half a month. During this time, he also heard about the massacre of the Han people because of him. The old man was a scholar before he was caught, and he could roughly guess Shi Jin's identity, but he did not care about the massacre outside. "I don't live long, and the sooner I die, the sooner I will be reincarnated. Warrior, you don't have to care." There was a sense of despair in his words.
There were many people gathered in the shack area. Even if the old man belonged to a small force, it was inevitable that someone would know where Shi Jin was and choose to tell on him. For more than half a month, Shi Jin hid and did not dare to go out. During this period, there were also Lady Zhenren's stewards searching outside. After staying for more than half a month, one day, the old man had already gone to work, and suddenly someone broke in. Shi Jin's injuries were almost healed, and he was about to make a move, but the person obviously knew Shi Jin's origin. "I saved you, there's a problem. Come with me." Shi Jin followed the person out of the shack area, and only then did he escape a large search.
The person who saved him was not old, and he wore a mask with a stiff expression. Looking at the way he moved, he looked like a "hero" active at the bottom of Datong. Out of the shack area, the person pointed out a place for Shi Jin to hide, and then roughly explained some of the situation to him. "The big change caused by Wu Qimai's stroke has occurred, and it is a fact that Zong Fu and Zong Bi have mobilized troops. The situation in the Jin Kingdom has become tense, and the war is imminent …" In the end, it seemed to mean, "If you want to kill Zong Han, go quickly."
After being pointed out by him, Shi Jin remembered another woman who had pointed out a place for him to hide, and opened his mouth to talk about what happened that day. In Shi Jin's opinion, it was very likely that the woman had told him about the secret that day, so he asked the other party for a little confirmation. The other party also nodded. "In a place like the Jin Kingdom, if the Han people want to live a good life, they will do anything. Warrior, since you have seen the face of that bitch, you should know that there is no warmth here. Bitch, dog thief, next time, just kill them all!"
The man's words were fierce and extreme, but Shi Jin could understand after thinking about it. In a place like this, it would be strange if someone did not have this kind of fierceness and extreme.
According to the other party's words, he hid nearby, but after all, at this time, his injury was almost healed, and with his skills, there were not many people in the world who could catch him. Shi Jin faintly felt that even if he was blessed by God after assassinating Zong Han twice, he would probably die the third time. Previously, he had no hesitation, but now there was a little more thought in his mind. Even if he was going to die, he should be more cautious. Therefore, he observed and inquired about the news near Datong.
In April and May, the temperature gradually rose, and the situation near Datong became tense. Shi Jin took a break to find the old man. During their chat, the old man's small organization seemed to have also noticed the change in the general situation. It seemed that they had contacted the spies of the Wu dynasty and wanted to do something big. During this chat, there was another piece of information that stunned him for a long time. "That Miss Wu Qiuhe, because she came out to save you, was killed by the Goddess of Grains, Wanyan Xiyin, with a sword. Sigh, all these years, Miss Wu and the others have secretly saved many people. They didn't deserve to die, but they still died …"
In this kind of hellish life, people have become numb to life and death. Even when this kind of thing was mentioned, there was not much change in their expressions. Shi Jin asked repeatedly, and only then did he know that the other party was being followed, and not betrayed. He returned to his hiding place. After two days, the masked man came again, but he was restrained with one hand and questioned sternly.
The other party's martial arts skills were not high, but his smile was sarcastic. "Why would I lie to you? What's the use of telling you? You came to kill Zong Han, and the way of the assassin is to advance courageously. Why are you thinking so much? What's in it for you? After two failed assassinations, the Goddess Zong couldn't find you, so she dragged the Han people out and killed 300 of them, and even more in private. They were cruel, so why didn't you assassinate Zong Han? Why would I tell you the truth? To mess up your mind? You heroes like to let your imagination run wild. It's easier to let you think that the world is full of bad people. Anyway, that Miss Wu is already dead. She won't blame you. You should quickly go and avenge her. "
"I thought about it, such an assassination, in the end, has no result …"
"What result do you want? Kill Zong Han alone, and then go and kill Wu Qimai? Save the world? You, a Han, assassinated Zong Han twice, and then go and kill him a third time. This is the best result. Speaking of which, it's because the Han people's anger hasn't dissipated! If the Goddess Zong wants to kill, she will kill. You haven't seen the time when they started killing so casually. "
Shi Jin looked at him. "Then what are you doing?"
"Doing something that I think is interesting." After the other party said this, his emotions also calmed down. The two walked through the forest and looked towards the shanty area. "What do you think this place is? Do you think there's really something that you can do to save the world? No one can do it. That woman Wu Qiuhe just wants to buy one or two people in private and sell them back to the south. There's going to be a war. All kinds of people want to cause trouble for Zong Han, want to blow up the courtyard … that old man who took you in, they all want to cause a big riot and then escape to the south. Who knows how the Wu dynasty's spies deceived them, but … there's nothing wrong with it. Being able to do something is better than not being able to do it. "
"You've come here to kill Zong Han twice. It's obvious that you're taking things too hard. But it doesn't matter. You go and kill your Zong Han, and I'll do my own thing. I'll do my best and leave it to fate. Who knows, you might really kill him. If there's hatred in your heart, then continue to hate! "
The other party was really a Han who lived in the north. He had given up on himself. Shi Jin began to trust this person a little. After that, he had two more contacts with the other party. From the other party and the old man, Shi Jin gradually learned more information. The old man seemed to have been instigated by the Wu dynasty's spies and was preparing for a big uprising. The rest of the underground forces were also ready to make a move. Among them, there were many who wanted to kill Zong Han, the Goddess of Grains, the Great Courtyard, and the army. At this time, there seemed to be a lot of things happening in the Central Plains, such as Liu Yu's peace, and the Wu dynasty's preparation to fight against the Jurchen …
As for the young man in the mask, after some understanding, Shi Jin roughly guessed his identity. He was the wanted man nicknamed "The Clown" near Datong. This person's martial arts skills were not high, and his reputation was not as famous as most of the Jin Kingdom's "rebels". But at least in Shi Jin's opinion, he did have a lot of skills and means. It was just that he was extreme and elusive, so Shi Jin could not guess what he was thinking.
"The war is about to start. These guys from the Wu dynasty are counting on these Han slaves to start a big riot and cause trouble for the Jin Kingdom … They really have no ambition at all …"
"That old man, they must have thought of this. But anyway, it's better to be dead than alive. Even if many people die, maybe a few will escape …"
"I … I want to attack the Great Courtyard. Most of the craftsmen in the Great Courtyard are Han. Damn, if they all die, Wanyan Xiyin will really cry, hahahaha …"
Hearing this, Shi Jin looked up, "You … they are all Han people after all."
"What's the difference between them and being dead?"
"You!" Inheriting Zhou Dong's legacy, Shi Jin could be regarded as a righteous person. Hearing this, he suddenly reached out and grabbed the other's neck. The "clown" also looked at him, without the slightest fluctuation in his eyes, "Yes, kill me."
"You … you shouldn't do this, there's always … always another way …"
"I didn't tell you what to do when you assassinated Ni Han, so don't tell me what to do either. Either kill me, or … I'm your senior. What do you know about the Jin Kingdom? In order to save you, Mandudaru has been investigating me all day. I'm the one who deserves this … "
He muttered. In the end, Shi Jin did not kill him. Hearing Mandudaru's name, he said, "If it's no big deal, I'll find a time to kill him." But in his heart, he knew that if he killed Mandudaru, it would be a waste of an assassination opportunity. If he wanted to kill Mandudaru, he had to kill a more valuable target.
Time gradually passed, and the atmosphere in the dark became more and more tense. The weather became more and more stuffy, and then on one day in late June, a big riot finally broke out.
On that day, Shi Jin witnessed and participated in that huge failure …
*****
The sudden outbreak of the riot was on the night of June 21st. Defections and killings occurred both inside and outside the city. Someone lit a fire, and the Hans in the city of Datong went in the direction of the Grand Courtyard, causing a commotion.
Due to the disconnection of the entire intelligence system, Shi Jin did not get the first-hand news. But before that, he had already decided that once the matter was exposed, he would start the third assassination.
This time, the target was not Wanyan Zonghan, but the relatively simpler and more important think tank within the Jurchen, Wanyan Xiyin.
Shi Jin rushed to the residence of the Goddess of Grains, looking for the whereabouts of Wanyan Xiyin. Before he reached there, there was already the sound of horns and gongs coming from the Grand Courtyard. From the results of observation during this period of time, the people who rioted inside and outside Datong fell into the preparation of Zonghan, Xiyin, and the others.
A massacre and a chase were unfolding.
Shi Jin thought of what the clown said, and he did not know if the clown was really involved. But until he quietly entered the residence of the Goddess of Grains, there was at least a fire in the Grand Courtyard, but it seemed that the scope of destruction was not too big.
The whole city was in a serious mess. Shi Jin observed a little in the residence of the Goddess of Grains, and knew that she was not there at this time. He wanted to find a place to hide and wait for her to return home, then he would attack. But then, he was still detected by the masters of the Jurchen. After a fight and a chase, Shi Jin bumped into a room in the residence of the Goddess of Grains, and saw something displayed on the opposite side of the room.
The large room was filled with Wanyan Xiyin's trophies from all the battles, big and small, that Wanyan Xiyin had collected throughout his life. A thick and simple spear was placed in front of him. Looking at it, Shi Jin vaguely seemed to see the moonlight from more than ten years ago.
That was Zhou Dong's long spear.
It was known in Jianghu as the Hidden Dragon.
It crossed more than ten years of time, and quietly came before Shi Jin …
…
The sudden attack of the mob was no match for Wanyan Xiyin's meticulous planning. That night, the riot gradually turned into a one-sided massacre. In the history of the Jurchen regime, this kind of suppression was far from the first or second time. It was just that it had gradually decreased in the past two years.
Shi Jin carried the long spear and ran all the way. When he passed by the slave cave outside the city, the army had already surrounded it. The fire was burning, and the smell of blood spread. In such chaos, Shi Jin finally got rid of the enemies who were chasing after him. He tried to go in to find the old man who had taken him in, but he could not find him. So he turned all the way to the more remote mountains, and when he came to the small hut where he was temporarily hiding, there was already someone in front of him.
It was the "clown" with half of his body covered in blood. When he came over, he could not find Shi Jin, so he knocked around, found a stone, and collapsed.
Shi Jin walked out, and the "clown" glanced at him, "I have a favor to ask of you."
"You didn't blow up the Grand Courtyard," Shi Jin said, and then looked around, "Is there anyone behind you?"
The clown shook his head, "I didn't intend to blow it up. The Grand Courtyard is working every day. Today, I blew up a pile of military supplies, but it's nothing to the Jurchen army. "
"… What's the matter?"
"The Liu Yu regime's surrender to the Wu dynasty will awaken the last group of unwilling people in the Central Plains to resist. But after all, the fake Qi and the Jin have controlled the Central Plains for nearly a decade, and there are as many people who have given up and are unwilling. Last year, when Tian Hu's regime was in turmoil, the newly ascended Tian Shi, Lou Shuwan, and others joined forces with Wang Juyun to resist the Jin, but in the meantime, many people will surrender to the Jurchen as soon as the Jin move south. "
The clown reached into his bosom and took out something, "In Wanyan Xiyin's hands, there's a list of names like this. They belong to the Han high-ranking officials who he has a lot of contacts with in the past, and who have expressed their willingness to surrender. I've been thinking about it for a while, and I put it together. After checking, it should be true … "
Shi Jin opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. The clown handed over the item, "Once the war in the Central Plains starts, we can't let people get stabbed in the back just as they rise up. This thing is very important. I'm not good at martial arts, so it's difficult for me to bring it south. I can only ask you to bring it to Tian Shi, Lou Shuwan, Yu Yulin, and the others. There's evidence on the list. You can look at it more, and don't make mistakes. "
"… Okay." Shi Jin took the item, "You …"
"You don't want to live anyway. Even if you want to die, please hand it over before you die." The clown stood up shakily, took out a small bag, and shook it, "I have medicine, it's not a big problem. I still have to go back later, and there are still some people I need to save. Don't be so wishy-washy, Wanyan Xiyin will soon find out what I've done. With this thing, it won't be just the Jurchen who will chase after you all the way. Let's go, as long as it's delivered, it'll be a small matter. "
Shi Jin nodded, "Don't worry, I'll deliver it even if I die." When he turned to leave, he turned back and asked, "By the way, are you from Black Flag?"
"Huaxia Army, code name Clown … Thank you." In the darkness, the figure reached out and saluted.
Shi Jin stood there for a moment, then turned around and ran south.
In the sky, eagles were flying.
The world was like the autumn wind blowing, but life was like falling leaves. At this time, the wind was blowing, and no one knew where they would float to in the next moment. But at least for now, feeling the strong wind blowing, Shi Jin's heart calmed down a little.
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