On the sixth day of the southwest war, all kinds of banners were being gathered on the mountain roads outside Jishan District.
Corresponding to them were the black banners of the Chinese army stationed in Ji Shan District. Ning Yi, still dressed in an azure robe, had hurried over from Hedeng District to meet with the leaders of these troops.
The battle with the Wu Xiang army was still continuing in the mountains to the northeast. In Liang Mountain, the tribes that had participated in the Little Grey Ridge Conference had begun to mobilize their troops. Their target was the once-powerful Mang Mountain Ni tribe.
This was an internal struggle of the Ni tribe. For thousands of years, the tribes that had lived and thrived in Liang Mountain had fought so savagely and cruelly that outsiders could not understand. But because of this, they had developed a fierce and courageous culture. After the meeting at Little Grey Ridge, the Hua Xia army could recruit some of the Ni tribe's warriors to join the army. The two sides would also carry out more and deeper cooperation and exchanges. The process of assimilation might be long, but at least there was a good beginning, and the rear was as stable as possible.
Accompanying Ning Yi was the matriarch Su Tan'er, who had recently been able to take a little vacation, as well as Ning Xi, Ning Ji, and the other children. For a long time, the three districts of Hedeng District had not had much in the way of supplies. Moreover, they often had to supply the Dayang tribe of Tubo, so logistics had always been tight. This was especially true when the war had begun. In order to force the Ni tribe to take sides, Ning Yi could only wait for the right moment to strike. The Mang Mountain Ni tribe had also been wantonly harassing the autumn harvest. Su Tan'er, who was in charge of logistics, and Ning Yi, who was also involved, had also been struggling with the supplies they had.
On this level, Lu Qiaoshan's strategy of smiling and saying nice things on the surface while secretly trying to exhaust the Chinese army as much as possible was not without reason. Of course, no matter who it was, they would have to face the consequences of the Chinese army's final push. Even the Jurchens of today would find it difficult to bear this consequence.
Full blockade, gathering allies, extending the frontlines, fortifying the walls and clearing the fields. If the Wu Dynasty could be so determined to encircle and suppress the Black Flags, then the Chinese army, which did not have enough resources, would really have to use all their trump cards and suffer losses on both sides. However, the attack of a mere 100,000 soldiers had already been decided the moment Little Grey Ridge's chess piece was placed. There was no need for further consideration.
Ning Yi and Su Tan'er also temporarily relaxed.
After waving goodbye to the Ni tribesmen who came to symbolically meet up outside the city, Ning Yi and Tan'Er walked along the foothills. There were uneven trees by the side and sunlight would shine on them. Ning Xi, Ning Ji and the other children were in the city visiting the injured Su Wenfang and did not follow them. The city below his field of vision was bustling yet strange. Houses made of mud and bricks were interspersed with each other, water wheels were turning, and factories were busy. Walls separated the city into different areas. Black pillars of smoke rose, and there were no gardens. The busy city also seemed a little dull.
"Do you still remember the courtyard in Jiangning?" Ning Yi asked as they walked.
"How could I not remember the place where I grew up?" Walking along the road, Tan'Er's steps were light. She was dressed simply but when Ning Yi asked this question, she still showed the smile from back then. At that time, Ning Yi had just woken up. She had returned from running away from the wedding. Her white silk dress, bright red cloak, confidence and beauty had all settled into her body.
"How many years has it been?"
"I went back after entering the capital. But then Little Cang River, the northwest, and then here, it's been more than a decade." Tan'Er raised her head. "Why are you talking about this?"
"The firecrackers during the Spring Festival, the lanterns during the Lantern Festival, the brothel market, the boats on the Qinhuai River … sometimes when I think about it, I feel like I stole a lot of things from you." Ning Yi held her hand. "Yes, I did steal a lot of things."
Tan'Er glanced at him but only smiled. "When I was a teenager, I really felt that I couldn't leave those things for the rest of my life. But since our family sells things, I have long thought that one day we would have nothing. In fact, after getting married and having children, there is nothing that stays the same in one's life. You wanted to go to the capital, and I went to the capital with you. Originally, we wouldn't have stayed in Jiangning. Later on, we went to Little Cang River, and now we're in Liang Mountain. Thinking about it, it's a little strange. But this is how we spend our lives … Husband, why did you suddenly mention this? "
"Yes … I suddenly remembered it. I had a dream last night. I dreamt of the time when we used to chat upstairs."
"The building was burned down." Tan'Er stopped walking and raised her chin to look at him. "Husband, have you forgotten? I burned it myself. "
"That's right, that's right." Ning Yi laughed.
Tan'Er let go of his hand and walked forward slowly. Her figure didn't change much over the years, but as a woman in her thirties, she no longer had the sweetness of her twenties. What replaced it was the restraint of a mother and the gentleness of a wife. At this moment, she also had the tenacity of someone who had gone through so much. "In the end, we burned down the building before we could live together. That's why we have the Xi 'er of today. Although I didn't know what would happen after it was burned down, the building had to be burned down eventually. I was with Deng. Sometimes, I felt depressed. But after thinking about it, it didn't seem strange to leave Jiangning and then leave the capital. But you … "
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned her head to glare at Ning Yi. "Ning Rentu! What do you want to do now? "
"My wife is very perceptive." Ning Yi's smile became more radiant. "After all, we've been here for so long …"
"Who's going to be unlucky this time?"
"This morning, Wen Yu requested to go to Wu Xiang Jun to negotiate."
"Ah?" Tan'Er's expression suddenly changed and she frowned.
"Based on the long-term analysis and judgment of Lu Qiaoshan, under such circumstances, Wen Yu will be fine. Don't be anxious. Wen Fang is injured and Wen Yu can't wait to kill them. He went to negotiate so that he can get the most benefits. This is the reason why he requested to go. However, I want to say more than this. We've been hiding in Liang Mountain for too long … "He paused." It's time to go out. "
Tan'Er was silent for a moment. "It's time?"
"We've been hiding here for so many years. Now, all kinds of clowns want to provoke us. The Wu dynasty still dared to send Lu Qiaoshan here. It's time to teach them a lesson … When did I become someone who can only suffer in silence." Ning Yi frowned and shook his head.
"But … Husband previously mentioned the reason for not going out."
"Yes." Ning Yi walked forward and held Su Tan'er's hand. "Conquering a place can be done by force. There are hundreds of thousands of people in Black Flag Army. If I really go all out, I can kill my way through the entire Wu dynasty. However, to assimilate a place, we can only rely on culture. Little Cang He and Hedeng talked about equality for all, democracy, republicanism, capital, and even the Great Harmony of the world. If we were to put it among the millions of people in the Wu dynasty, these things would disappear. After all … their lives are still passable. "
"The fire ignited in the Black Flag Army, seriously speaking for ten years, is still just a spark. If we really want to drag them out, the only useful thing is to shout equality for all, kill the rich, and divide the land. When Zuo Duanyou left, I joked with him that if the whole world really became my enemy, I would start shouting equality and divide the land. However, if the world wants to become better, before it becomes better, we have to admit the current differences. "
"Correcting injustice will inevitably be too much. If we return power to the people in the current situation, the culture will be cut off. It's fine if the current Confucian system is broken, but the respect for culture and wisdom cannot be broken. The self-esteem of the literati cannot be broken. We have to walk the right path. The words of fools are not reliable. In the end, we still have to focus on wisdom. I have to at least guarantee that in the new era, people will understand the weight of culture. The literati themselves will recognize this weight and recognize their responsibility. They will even be unyielding in the face of power and pay the price for truth because of this responsibility. "
"Killing people is very simple. We just have to tell the world that they are all the same. Having wisdom is the same as not having it. Studying is the same as not studying. I will defeat the Wu dynasty and even defeat the Jurchen dynasty. I will unify the world and kill all those who oppose me. Literati, after killing one batch, kill another batch. After a few more times, the rest will all kneel down. However … in the future, they will also kneel down. They will no longer have bones. They can do things for money, for benefits. The culture in their hands has no weight to them. When people encounter doubts, how can they trust them? "
"Let people understand reason and give everyone the right to choose. I hope that everyone can become a leader. However, once the self-esteem of culture is broken, even if you understand reason, you will not be able to make the right choice after the information is deceived. In the future, we will walk the old path again. I will defeat the Wu dynasty and build another Wu dynasty. Why bother? The literati have bones. It is a headache. However, for an era to change for the better, there must be literati with bones. This matter … I can't ignore it. "
The two of them walked down the mountain path. There were many people following them from afar. Tan'Er smiled. "Husband, if people hear this, they will say that you are bragging."
"It is better to have a broad view. We have to prepare for a rainy day." Ning Yi also smiled. "However, it is almost time. Let's go out a little first … The most important thing is that the defeated must cut off their flesh. Only then can they serve as a warning to others. On the other hand, if the Jurchen dynasty wants to go south, the Wu dynasty may not be able to stop them. We don't have much time left. There is no way to be wishy-washy. Let's first pull out a few cities and see the effect. I invited Yong Jinnian and asked him to write something … "
"So, we can go out for the New Year this year?"
"I hope we can have a good New Year …"
The husband and wife talked as they walked. When they reached the mountainside, they saw a few people coming up the road. Tan'Er smiled and pointed to an old man in front of them. "There, Teacher Yong."
This old man was called Yong Jinnian. He was a Confucian scholar introduced by Zuo Duanyou. Now, he was in charge of the compilation of some books in Mount Ji. After greeting each other, Ning Yi went straight to the point. "Teacher Yong, I invited you over to write a declaration for the Huaxia army."
"Declaration?" The old man's eyes lit up.
"Yes, the general meaning is … since the Jinghan dynasty, the Jurchen rose and the world was shaken. The survival of the Central Plains and the Huaxia people was under threat. Since the establishment of the Huaxia army, the generals and soldiers of the Huaxia army have shed blood for the survival of the world. Although they died, they did not regret it … during the Jianshuo era, the Central Plains fell into the hands of the Jin bandits. The Huaxia army fought against the enemy in the northwest for three years. They defeated millions of fake Qi and Jin troops and killed the Jurchen general Lou Shi. They did not lose their lives.
…
The late autumn wind was blowing but Mount Liang was still warm. In the Wuxiang army's camp, after Su Wenyu suggested for the Wuxiang army to surrender unconditionally, both sides announced the collapse of the first negotiation.
Su Wenyu turned around and left. He waved his hand.
"Then let's fight for another two days!"
Not long after, the black army flags spread and covered the mountains as they attacked Wuxiang army's territory.
The war would continue. Soon, Brother Lang would receive news that the Mang Shan tribe was besieged and attacked by the Huaxia army …
…
"… since the Huaxia army moved to Xiaoliang Mountain, they lived and recuperated, trembling in fear. Inside, they did not offend the local people. Outside, they used contracts and honesty as their standards. They did not bully or owe anyone anything. Ever since the Wu dynasty changed to a new emperor, the Huaxia army maintained restraint and goodwill. But now, this restraint and goodwill was misunderstood. Some people saw the goodwill of our army as weakness! In the ninth year of the Wu Jianshuo era, when the Jurchen Zongfu and Zong Bi were eyeing Jiangnan, and China was facing the threat of extinction, the Wu dynasty attacked with the Wuxiang army of a hundred thousand. They would rather ignore the disaster of annihilation when the external threat was at its peak. They killed each other and fought among themselves … "
…
In the Central Plains north of the Yangtze River, the hungry ghosts were still expanding and destroying everything in sight. Bianliang was besieged for several months. As autumn passed, the fields burned by the hungry ghosts had no harvest and their savings were depleted. Near Bianliang, countless cities suffered the same fate.
Alisha led the army to attack and defeated and massacred the hungry ghost troops several times. Several armies that once belonged to the fake Qi army were also doing their best to resist the invasion of the hungry ghosts. In this autumn, millions died of starvation or were killed on this land. The stench of corpses spread and the plague began to spread. But the number of hungry ghosts continued to expand at an uncontrollable speed.
Wang Shitong, who was attacked by hunger and illness, had gone crazy. He commanded the huge hungry ghost army to attack everywhere he could see. There were too many people and he did not mind letting as many hungry ghosts die on the battlefield. But there was too little food. Even if they conquered the cities, they could not let the people following them eat for too long. Wherever the hungry ghosts went, the barks and grass on the mountain ridges were eaten up. Autumn had passed and some fruits no longer existed. The people set up pots, boiled water and began to devour their own kind.
Some of the fake Qi warlords who controlled the territory even tried to make way for the hungry ghosts to go south. But the hungry ghosts chose to attack the cities like a sea of people. Jiangnan was too far away. They could only grab every grain in front of them.
The small, thin, skinny people moved forward. They cried until they had no tears. Despair accompanied them. Bit by bit, as the chill swept across, it was about to soak this hell on earth.
No one could stop it.
The 8,000 elites of Black Flag avoided the tide of despair and were still on their way to Xuzhou.
…
"… The Huaxia army will not sit idly by and tolerate the shortsightedness and stupidity of their neighbors. Our army will give all invading enemies a heavy blow … Now that the Wuxiang army has been defeated, in order to ensure the survival of the Huaxia army, the survival and interests of the people of Liangshan, and the trade routes and exchanges that the Huaxia army has always maintained, the Huaxia army will use its own strength to ensure the safety of our trade routes to the east and north, under the premise that the Wu dynasty can no longer maintain the above conditions. Under the premise that the Wuxiang army completely surrenders, we will take over the garrison duties from Liangshan to the east and north, all the way to Zizhou … "
When Ning Yi said this, Yong Jinnian, who was beside him, raised his head and opened his mouth wide …
…
At the Daimyo residence, Li Xizhi led the 170,000 troops to the city. At the same time, Zhu Biao led the 11,000 Huaxia army through the mountains, heading straight for the bank of the Yellow River where Li Xizhi was.
The war drums were like thunder, and the banners were like the sea. The 170,000 troops formed a formation that gave people the impression that they could not be shaken. However, 10,000 people were already heading straight for them.
"… Arrogant brat, you actually dare to start a war with my army!"
Li Xizhi, who was preparing the army to attack the city, was stunned for a while after confirming the route. At this moment, the 300,000 Jurchen vanguard had already passed Zhen Ding and was 150 kilometers away from the Daimyo residence.
On the second day after the Jurchen army passed through Zhen Ding, Zhen Ding launched an attack on the Jurchen logistics troops. At the same time, there was an explosion in the Qi family's old residence in Zhen Ding City. Following that, there was a spreading fire. Many people from the underworld were fighting in the old residence. The assassination against Qi Yan had already begun, but due to the Qi family's constant operations here, they had gathered a large number of family warriors and warriors from the underworld. In the end, they failed to kill Qi Yan.
Qi Yan's two sons, one grandson, and some of his relatives died in this assassination. After this large-scale assassination, Qi Yan brought countless family wealth and relatives all the way north. The next year, he arrived at Yun Zhong Residence, which was managed by Jin Kingdom's Marshal Zong Han, Xi Yin, and the others.
These people never returned to the Central Plains …
…
"… Our army has sent troops this time. Firstly, it is to ensure that the interests of the Huaxia military and trade routes are not infringed. Secondly, it is to punish the many clowns of the Wu dynasty. The Huaxia army will strictly abide by the military rules of the past. We will not offend the people in every city who are loyal to Huaxia. We will not disturb the people, demolish their houses, or destroy their fields. After this incident, if the Wu dynasty comes to their senses, the Huaxia army will maintain a peaceful and friendly attitude. We will negotiate amicably with the Wu dynasty on matters such as damages and compensation. After the Wu dynasty promises the Huaxia army the benefits of the Huaxia army, we will properly discuss the jurisdiction of Zi Province and other cities … "
"… Since the day the Huaxia army was established, it has always followed the rules and been kind to its neighbors. It has always received the support and help of many enlightened people. For example, Li Chengmao (Li Xiannong) and the others of Lingnan have been working hard every day to deal with the Mang Shan Lang and the other bandits … Uh, I'll add a few more names later … It's because all ambitious people know that foreign aggression is ahead of us and we are about to be overthrown. Only the survival of the various races of Huaxia is the most important thing in the world today. Only by putting aside our conflicts and working together can Huaxia defeat the Jurchens, restore the Central Plains, and prosper the land of Huaxia … The people of Huaxia will not forget them. History will record their names and thank them. I also hope that the sages of the Wu dynasty can take this as a mirror and rein in their horses before it's too late. "
"… Here, the Huaxia army promises that everything we do will be for the benefit of Huaxia. In the future, we will not be the first to start a dispute with the Wu dynasty. I hope that this sincerity can make the Wu dynasty repent. At the same time, anyone who harms the interests of Huaxia will be the enemy of the Huaxia army. The Huaxia army will not indulge or tolerate our enemies. I hope that in the future, there will be no more incidents that cause pain to our friends and delight to our enemies. Otherwise, this incident will serve as a warning. "
Ning Yi paused and added the last sentence.
"Don't say that I didn't warn you."
…
In early August, after several years of silence in the southwest, the Black Flag left Liang Mountain.
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