On the 11th of March, the first year of Wu Zhenxing's reign, the area around Lake Tai was still haunted by the scars of war.
In the past six months, battles and massacres had ravaged the area over and over again. From Wuxi to Suzhou, to Jiaxing, the gates of the rich and magnificent cities had been knocked open several times. The Lady Zhenren had wreaked havoc here. The Wu dynasty army had recovered the area and then changed hands again. Massacre after massacre, plunder after plunder. From the end of Jianshuo to the beginning of Zhenxing, it seemed that it had never stopped.
More than a million Han people had died last winter. An equal number of Jiangnan craftsmen, able-bodied men, and some beautiful women had been captured by the Jin army and taken north as spoils of war.
The large-scale war and plunder did not stop until February of this year. But even after the Lady Zhenren had eaten and drunk to her heart's content and decided to return to the court, the situation in Jiangnan had not eased. Large numbers of refugees had formed mountain bandits, large clans had mobilized their armies, and people had marked their territory. For the sake of their own livelihoods, they did their best to plunder what was left. Small but frequent killings and conflicts still appeared in every corner of this once prosperous paradise.
Forgive us for not staying too long in one place. In this long night of war, the suffering that many people suffered every day was more than what people suffered in a lifetime during times of peace.
After following the refugees for more than two months, He Wen began to feel the seemingly endless night. Unbearable hunger, unappeasable illness, people in despair ate their own or other people's children. Many people were driven crazy, and the enemy was still chasing them from behind.
In the constant fleeing and wandering, the new emperor, who claimed to protect the people, did not have the ability to organize well. He did not see any hope of solving the problem. Many times, the price of a hero's wrist was the death of an ant-like populace. He was in the middle of it and could not think of anything.
After leaving the prison, one of his hands had been crippled. He could not use any strength, and his body had collapsed. His original martial arts skills were not even a tenth of what they had been. A few years ago, he was a Confucian hero who was skilled in both the pen and the sword. Even though he could not boast that he was knowledgeable, he had a firm will. The corrupt officials of the Wu dynasty had ruined his family, but he actually didn't have much hatred in his heart. He had gone to kill Ning Yi, but had failed. When he returned home, who could prove it to him? He had a clear conscience in his heart, but in reality, his family had been torn apart. This was his mistake and failure.
However, on the way to escape, the torment of hunger and powerlessness would often cause him to let out indescribable howls. This kind of pain was not momentary, nor was it intense. Instead, it was a continuous and continuous feeling of powerlessness and anger, an angry yet powerless tearing. If he had to stand from an objective point of view and coldly and quietly analyze everything, he would also admit that the new Emperor had indeed put in great effort. The army he led had at least worked hard to block at the front. The situation was stronger than the people, and no one could resist it.
But he was wrapped up in the fleeing crowd, and every moment he saw blood and howls. After people ate human flesh, it was as if their souls had been wiped out, and they were tormented in despair. The husband who saw his wife unable to run would let out an animal-like cry. The mother who saw her child die of illness would walk forward like a walking corpse. After being touched by someone, she would fall to the ground and curl up into a ball. The sound from her mouth would echo endlessly in one's sleep, grabbing at the heart of anyone who still had a conscience, making it impossible for them to sink into any place of peace.
Was this enough?
Had they really done their best?
He would think of everything he had seen in the southwest.
Life there was just as difficult. The people would scrimp on food and clothing, starve themselves, and practice frugality. But afterwards, the expressions on their faces would be different. When the army that bore the name of China faced war, they would meet it. They would face sacrifice and accept the sacrifice, and then the lucky survivors would enjoy the joy of peace.
He thought of the righteous and stern words of countless people in the southwest — including him. They had questioned Ning Yi, "What crimes did the common people commit!? How can you expect everyone to be reasonable, to make the correct choice!? "He would think of Ning Yi's cold-blooded answer that had been criticized by others." Then they must die! "He Wen had once felt that he had asked the right question.
He Wen had been unable to find the correct way to refute many of the questions that Ning Yi had answered. But only this question embodied Ning Yi's cold-bloodedness. He Wen did not appreciate this kind of Ning Yi. All along, he had believed that from this point of view, people could look down on Ning Yi — at the very least, not stand on his side.
But when many people were being hunted down and died for all sorts of desolate reasons, he would think of this question.
They must die.
Jiangnan had always been rich and populous. Even though it had been ravaged by the flames of war and tormented over and over again in more than half a year, there were not many people fleeing at this moment who were all skin and bones. A portion of them were even from the wealthy clans of the past. In the past, they had lived lavish lives and even had beautiful souls. They fled, cried, and died. No one had given them any special treatment because of their beauty.
Even the army of the Wu dynasty, the one before him had already fought with considerable effort. But was it enough?
If the enemy came slashing down and couldn't be blocked, they would die. Discussing difficulties and reasons was meaningless.
If Ning Yi was at the side, perhaps he would say these extremely callous words. But because of the fear of death, the Xinan had always strengthened itself over these many years, using each person's strength in the hope that they would be able to survive the war. And the common people born in the Wu dynasty, no matter how sufficient the reason for their weakness, no matter how powerless they were, made others feel pity for them.
They had died.
Ning Yi looked at him. "They must die."
One day in January, the Woman Zhenren attacked. The people scattered aimlessly in all directions. The completely powerless He Wen saw the correct direction. With a hoarse voice, he shouted in all directions, but no one listened to him. Only when he shouted, "I am a Chinese soldier! I am a Black Flag Army soldier! Follow me! "
The people who heard him followed, and then from one to ten, ten to a hundred. That day, he led quite a few people to flee into the nearby mountains. When the sky was about to turn dark, the people were enveloped in hunger. He Wen roused his spirits. On one hand, he arranged for people to search for food in the early spring, but on the other hand, he gathered over ten weapons, planning to seize provisions from the nearby Han troops that had surrendered following the Woman Zhenren.
As they fled for their lives, even the previously strong and healthy members of the troop didn't have much strength right now. Moreover, after fleeing in disorder along the way, not daring to advance had already become a habit. However, there were no other paths. He Wen told everyone about the Black Flag Army's accomplishments, and then he promised, "It's fine as long as you believe in me!"
He brought over a dozen people who were anxious and fearful to find a group of close to a hundred surrendered Han troops, wanting to report to them about the transfer of Han Shizhong's troops.
At that moment, He Wen's clothes were tattered, weak, and skinny. His broken hand also seemed increasingly powerless. The leader didn't have to worry about it, lowering his guard after hearing He Wen's weak voice.
Not long after, He Wen took out a small knife, and in front of the surrendered Han troops, he slit open the neck of that officer. Blood spurted out under the light of the bonfire. He took out the black flag he had prepared a long time ago and raised it high. In the darkness of the surrounding mountains, torches were lit one after another, and shouts rose and fell.
More than a hundred people thus put down their weapons.
This was the beginning of his raising of the flag. If one looked at his pure thoughts, He Wen actually wasn't willing to raise this black flag. He didn't inherit the mantle of the Black Flag Army, and that was nothing more than a shout in his despair. But after everyone gathered together, this name could no longer be changed.
The flames of war burned everywhere, and as long as someone was willing to raise an umbrella, a large number of refugees would soon come to join them. The rebel army had friction with each other, and some would even take the initiative to attack the surrendered troops that had ample supplies. This was the fiercest group of the rebel army. He Wen had gathered such an army. He recalled the training contents and organizational methods of the southwest army, and he assigned the refugees that had gathered here. Those who could wield a knife had to do so, and after forming a formation, they wouldn't retreat. He cultivated the mutual trust of his comrades, and from time to time, he would hold meetings to reminisce about the past and complain about the Jurchens. Even if they were women and children, he would definitely arrange for them to work together.
The hastily organized troops were extremely rigid, but it was more than enough to deal with the surrendered troops nearby. It was precisely this style that made the people even more convinced that He Wen was a member of that legendary army. In just a little more than a month, the number of people gathered here continued to swell. The people were still hungry, but with the growth of all living things in the spring and He Wen's principle of fair distribution, the starving people no longer needed to exchange children for food.
Cheng Zhouhai, an important official under the new Emperor, once sought out He Wen to explain to him how Zhou Junwu had been forced to leave and the determination of the Wu dynasty to rise again. He also discussed many matters concerning the southwest with He Wen, but He Wen didn't appreciate it. In truth, Cheng Zhouhai didn't understand that He Wen didn't hate the new Emperor of the Wu dynasty. Many times, he had done his best. His heroic stance outside Jiangning had ultimately beaten Zong Fu's army into a sorry state. But doing his best was not enough.
On the other hand, he wasn't willing to talk too much about the southwest, especially in front of someone who understood the situation there. He understood in his heart that he wasn't a true soldier of the Chinese army.
By the third month, this army of refugees waving the black flag had become famous throughout the whole of Jiangnan. Even many people from the mountains had contacted him. Wenren Bu 'er came over to deliver something. Apart from expressing goodwill, he also talked to He Wen about Ning Yi. Like Cheng Zhouhai, he didn't understand the knot in He Wen's heart. In the end, he also returned without any results.
On the eighth and ninth day of the third month, the results of the southwest battle had actually spread throughout Jiangnan. The name of this volunteer army under the name of the black flag had greatly spread. Following that, Wu Qimei's article from the Lin 'an court was sent to the various large clans. There was talk about tyranny and equality, and then it also spread to the ears of many people.
He Wen received the news from Lin 'an on his way north. He traveled day and night, passing through the roads near Lake Tai with several companions, hurrying in the direction of Zhenjiang. When he arrived near Suzhou, he received the information from the refugees. Among his companions, a swordsman named Huangfu Qing was also well-read. After reading Wu Qimei's article, he became excited. "Mr. He, is the southwest … really such an equal place?"
"… He did say that everyone is equal."
After reading Wu Qimei's article, He Wen understood the old dog's sinister intentions. The article's description of the situation in the southwest was all based on conjecture and not worth mentioning. But when it came to the word equality, He Wen hesitated slightly and didn't make too many comments.
It was only after Ning Yi returned to the southwest that his identity as He Deng was exposed. Back when he was at his level, he had also heard some discussions about the "hungry ghosts" of the Central Plains. Ning Yi suggested to Wang Shitong, but Wang Shitong didn't listen. In the end, the group of hungry ghosts that lived on plundering continued to expand, and millions of people were involved.
How similar was the situation in Jiangnan and his own situation to that of the hungry ghosts?
After the Female Zhenren broke camp, the supplies in Jiangnan were almost depleted. People could only fight each other and devour each other. Refugees, mountain bandits, volunteer army, and the surrendered Han army were all fighting with each other. He waved the black flag, and his subordinates kept expanding. After expanding, they attacked the Han army, and after attacking, they continued to expand.
In the end, they would devour themselves and die.
He didn't make too many comments on Wu Qimei's article. He pondered silently along the way. By the afternoon of the eleventh day, they were about a hundred li south of Zhenjiang.
The camps of the Jin army were set up on both sides of the Yangtze River, including the millions of Han slaves they had driven up. The procession across the river formed a long stretch. Outside the procession, there were also surrendered Han troops stationed and patrolling. He Wen and his companions quietly approached this most dangerous area.
In the evening, they took a short rest in the mountains. The small group didn't dare to live and silently ate their meager rations. He Wen sat on the grass and looked at the setting sun. His clothes were old and tattered, and his body was still weak. But there was a strength in his silence, and no one dared to disturb him.
Only when the sun turned red did he call Huangfu Qing and the others over.
"… When Mister Ning was in the southwest, he indeed said many times that the concept of equality for all people was undoubtedly the ultimate and highest pursuit of human society. That is to say, the ways of the world change and change, and in the end, it will definitely change in that direction. "
Some of the people sitting around didn't understand, but some understood part of it. At this moment, most of them looked solemn. He Wen recalled and said, "When I was in the southwest, I once … saw such an article. Now that I think about it, I remember it very clearly. It goes like this … From the basic concept of physics and the observation of the world and society that humans live in, we know this basic rule: In the society that humans live in, all conscious and influential changes are produced by the actions of every human that makes up this society. Under the guidance of this basic rule, in order to seek the realistically achievable and commonly sought fairness and justice in human society, we believe that humans are born with the following reasonable and legitimate rights: First, the right to live … "(The memory shouldn't have been so clear, but this paragraph was not changed or messed up).
He Wen sat in the setting sun and said those words. Everyone was more or less confused, but they saw He Wen pause.
"Do you know why Wu Qimei of Lin 'an wrote such an article? It is because the foundation of his court is all on the shoulders of the various aristocratic families. What these aristocratic families are most afraid of is the equality mentioned in this article … If all people are equal, why should they live in luxury while everyone else starves? Why should the landlords have thousands of acres of fertile land while you can only be tenant farmers for the rest of your lives? That old dog Wu Qimei thinks that by talking about the Huaxia army like this, these aristocratic families will be afraid of the Huaxia army and want to overthrow the Huaxia army. "
With a wave of his hand, he threw out the articles of Wu Qimei and the others. The pieces of paper fluttered in the setting sun. He Wen's words became sonorous and firm. "… And what they are afraid of, we should do! They are afraid of equality, we will be equal! After this matter succeeds, we will stand out and tell the idea of equality to everyone! "
"Everyone, this world is already dead!" He Wen said. "How many people have broken up their families and broken up their families! As for those aristocratic families, when the Wu dynasty was still around, they relied on the Wu dynasty to survive and lived better than anyone else. They did not do proper work and did nothing but sit and eat! They want to take a little here and occupy a little there. After we bring down the Wu dynasty, they rely on the Wu dynasty and sell us to continue living their good lives! This is because they occupy and take more than us. The lives of commoners are worthless. In times of peace, they are like cattle and horses, but in times of war, they are like ants! This cannot continue. From now on, we will not let these people be a cut above others! "
He Wen waved his fist. His brain had always been good. In the years he had been in the southwest, he had actually come into contact with the style and information of the Huaxia army. There were even many "doctrines". Whether they were mature or not, the Huaxia army encouraged discussion and debate within the army. At this time, as he recalled and spoke, he finally made a decision.
"… How many aristocratic families can there be in this world? Nowadays, the majority are those whose families have been destroyed! Everyone is exploited by the aristocratic families, driven like pigs and sheep by the Female Zhenrens, because the majority of people in this world are a motley crew. But from now on, it will not be like this. We have to reason with them. Why! Why are we not worthy of being called people? We have to wake them up and unite them! From today onwards, we will be called — "
He paused, then finally calmly and firmly tapped the ground. "— Gong! Ping! Party! "
Everyone's expression was excited. Some people wanted to stand up and shout, but they were stopped by the people beside them. He Wen looked at these people. In the setting sun, he saw himself and Ning Yi from several years ago in the southwest. He remembered what Ning Yi had said, remembered what he had said: "First study, then take the exam." He also remembered what Ning Yi had said about the premise of equality. He also remembered the complicated expression on his face when he had mentioned "beating up the local tyrants and dividing the land." In truth, many methods had long been laid out in front of him.
The affairs of the world were always hastened by the wind and rain.
We don't have that kind of luxury anymore, do we?
Since they are so afraid.
Since there is no way forward.
Then beat up the local tyrants and divide the land.
He had originally wanted to write the entire plot in one chapter, but today, he had only written up to this point. There was no other way.
(End of this chapter)
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