Lingnan, more than 20 kilometers northeast of Shao Province, there was a nameless valley. The valley was surrounded by mountains on all sides, and even the only exit, the narrow valley path, was blocked by a short mountain. Only by going over the short mountain would one suddenly see a wide expanse and discover that there was a different world within.
In the third year of the Tang dynasty, Xianheng, eleven families, a total of more than a hundred people, came to this hidden valley under the arrangement of the local government. They shoveled grass, leveled the courtyard, and cut down wood to build houses. In a few days, they built a small village, which was named Peach Blossom Village.
Because the mountain village was very secluded, the villagers of the Peach Blossom Village rarely came into contact with other villagers. However, because there were often woodcutters and hunters passing through here, they gradually gained a little understanding of this small village surrounded by mountains.
The villagers here were not the same as the local mountain people. Most of the villagers here were gentle and well-educated. Although they also plowed the fields, weaved cloth, and planted melons, they could often hear the sound of reading, and even the sound of music playing the zither and the sheng coming from the village.
At first, the mountain people thought it was strange and sometimes talked about it, but after a long time, they no longer found it strange.
Eleven years later, in the second year of the Tang dynasty, Yong Chun.
It was the end of spring, and the valley was lush and verdant. A few acres of fields were hidden among the weeds and thorns. In the valley, there were dozens of families. Small courtyards with bamboo fences and wooden eaves were all hidden in the verdant green. Occasionally, a corner of the courtyard could be seen, and it was picturesque.
A young girl carrying a bamboo basket on her back was walking towards a low hill outside the village with a child who was less than ten years old. The young girl was wearing a jade-green short-sleeved shirt and pale pink trousers. She was dressed like a mountain person. Her cheeks were dark, and she often worked in the fields with a touch of redness. However, she exuded an aura of spirituality, and was definitely not something an ordinary mountain girl could compare to.
This girl was about fourteen or fifteen years old, and her body was tall and slender. Her slender waist was straight and flexible, and when she walked, she was like a flexible bamboo swaying in the wind. He had a pair of bright eyes, a tall and straight nose, and a small red mouth. He looked very handsome.
Beside the girl was an eight or nine year old urchin, who seemed to be her younger brother. Although this urchin was as dark as the other mountain children, he did not have the sturdy, dignified appearance of the mountain children. In contrast, his stature was much thinner. He had an oval face that resembled the girl's, delicate eyebrows, large eyes, and a pointed chin.
The girl's name was Yuerong, and the boy behind her was her younger brother from the same mother. His nickname was Ah Ch 'ou. Ah Ch'ou had always been lively and active, but when he was not around, he would go to the mountains. He climbed up and down trees that were more than a hundred feet high like a monkey, and was praised as the number one tree-climbing expert by the children in the village.
The result was just like the old saying, "Those who are good at swimming drown, and those who are good at riding fall." Three months ago, when Ah Ch'ou was climbing a tree to dig for bird eggs, he fell down from a tree that was about five or six feet high. Although there were branches to block the fall and the soil was very soft, he still fell and broke his head and a leg.
This frightened his parents, who were the apple of their eyes. Sister, as the eldest daughter, because she did not take good care of her brother, she was beaten by their parents. Ah Chou stayed at home for more than three months, his body was getting better recently, he could walk without any problems, but his parents still forbade him from going out.
Today, his Elder Sister went up the mountain to pick wild vegetables. Seeing that his younger brother stayed at home all day after his leg was injured, he was used to being wild. In the past, after finishing school, he could go out and play with his friends. Now, other than his father teaching him how to read, he could only lean on the window and look at his friends running around in the mountains. He was really pitiful, so he begged his parents to take him out to relax. Although his parents agreed, they did not allow Ah Ch'ou to leave their side.
In a small courtyard surrounded by bamboo fences, a girl who was two years older than Miss Yuerong was embroidering flowers. Seeing Yuerong and her brother coming over, she smiled and greeted them. "Sister Yuerong, little Ah Ch'ou, are you going up the mountain?"
"En, bring little brother up the mountain to pick some mushrooms and wild vegetables. Is Sister Soo Soo preparing a dowry?"
"Of course not, I am just embroidering for fun."
Soo Soo blushed and quickly hid the embroidery in her hand behind her, causing Yuerong to laugh happily.
Not far away, an old man who was playing chess under an elm tree looked over and laughed. "Little Ah Ch'ou, your leg has healed? Haha, don't be naughty anymore!"
Yuerong politely greeted them. "Uncle Qiu, Uncle Fang."
The other old man was probably about to lose the game. He looked extremely exasperated and repeatedly urged him to hurry up and play. Only then did the old man stroke his beard and turn his head away.
Ah Ch'ou, who had always prided himself on being the number one climber, seemed to have lost face after hearing the old man's words. He angrily kicked a pebble and it just so happened to hit a big white goose.
The big goose held its head high and walked with gentlemanly steps, like a general inspecting the army. It was walking majestically on the path. Suddenly being attacked, it couldn't help but fly into a rage. It immediately stretched its neck, spread its wings and rushed towards Ah Ch'ou while squawking.
"Ah Ch'ou, you are being naughty again!"
After saying that, Yuerong pulled Ah Ch'ou's hand and ran. The big white goose flapped its wings and stretched its neck, chasing after them relentlessly. A shepherd boy who was herding sheep in the grass saw this scene and couldn't help but laugh.
"Ouch! Elder Sister, my leg still hurts a little. "
Ah Ch'ou couldn't help but cry out in pain as he ran. Yuerong angrily said, "You little brat, Aunt Liu's goose is the fiercest, but you just had to tease it." After saying that, she untied the bamboo basket, squatted down and said, "Come up, sister will carry you."
Ah Ch'ou said, "No, it has grown up. It is very heavy. How can sister carry it?"
"Come on, you are just a little kid, and you are already grown up. Didn't sister carry you when you were young?" Yuerong didn't say anything. She carried her brother on her shoulder, picked up the bamboo basket and ran up the mountain. The big white goose persevered and chased after them while squawking.
Elder Sister's back was flat and soft. There were some sweat stains on it, but it smelled good. Ah Ch'ou struggled for a while, but his sister slapped him on his butt. After that, he stopped struggling.
General Goose chased for a while and finally returned triumphantly. It proudly walked back to the village. When Yuerong saw that the big goose stopped chasing, she slowed down her pace while panting, but she didn't put down her brother.
"Ah Ch'ou, when we reach the mountain, don't run around, or else your parents will worry about you. Elder Sister will go pick some wild vegetables and bring you back. Mother is making bone soup for you. Drink it while it is hot, and your leg will recover faster. Don't you like eating wild vegetables with sauce? I will pick some wild vegetables and make some sauce for you. "
"Then … the sauce needs to be fried."
"Okay, listen to Ah Ch'ou and fry it."
"Put a chicken inside, too."
Yue Rong giggled and said, "Alright, let's add another chicken, you little glutton."
The siblings climbed up the short mountain. Yuerong put Ah Ch'ou down and said, "You sit here, I will go pick … Eh?"
Yuerong glanced out of the valley and said in surprise, "Why are there so many soldiers?"
Ah Ch'ou heard this and quickly stood up to look at the front of the mountain. He was small, so he could only stand on his tiptoes. He looked out from the weeds and vines that were taller than a person. There was a troop gathering in the valley. It was the army of the Tang dynasty. The soldiers were all wearing war jackets, carrying a quiver of arrows on their backs, a crossbow slung across their shoulders, a broadsword in their hands, and riding on a horse.
More than 300 people and more than 300 horses stood solemnly and silently.
There were two horses at the front of the troop. The soldiers wore jackets and the generals wore robes. On one of the horses, there was a general wearing a robe. He wore leather armor and his robe was painted with a lion and tiger pattern.
On the other horse, there was a civil official in a green robe. He was turning his horse around and saying something to the soldiers. Following his voice, the soldiers all drew their swords out of their sheaths. The sun shone on their blades, making them look cold.
Ah Ch'ou was a little curious. When he went to Shaozhou with his father, he had seen the soldiers, but they were just a few old soldiers on the city wall. They didn't have such a murderous aura. Moreover, their clothes seemed to be different.
"Elder Sister, where are these soldiers from? What are they doing?"
"Not good!"
Although Yuerong didn't know the purpose of these soldiers, she felt danger. She quickly put Ah Ch'ou down and said to him, "I'm afraid these soldiers are going to harm us. Ah Ch'ou, it's inconvenient for you to move, so hide here. I will go back to the village to report! You hide here and don't come out no matter what! Do you understand? "
Yuerong pushed Ah Ch'ou into the bushes, carried the bamboo basket and ran. Just after running a few steps, she rushed back and casually pulled some weeds to cover Ah Ch'ou's body. Ah Ch'ou was buried under the weeds. He looked at his sister running towards the mountain village with a blank face. He didn't understand what was going on.
This was the land of the Tang dynasty. The people who lived here were the people of the Tang dynasty. Why did the army of the Tang dynasty want to harm the people here? The people in the village were not bandits or bandits. Ah Ch'ou, who was puzzled, could only follow his sister's instructions and squat there, motionless.
The iron hooves made the rocks in the mountain rustle. Two horses were the first to climb up the low slope. From Ah Ch'ou's point of view, he could only see the green-robed official riding on a black horse. The general standing on the other side, because he was blocked by the green-robed official, he could only see his scarlet cloak that was fluttering in the mountain wind from time to time.
Yuerong waved the green handkerchief wrapped around her head. As she ran, she shouted towards the village, "Grandpa (Father)! Mother! The soldiers are coming! The soldiers are coming! "
"Kill! Kill them all! Don't let any of them go! "
A chilling voice rang coldly in Ah Ch'ou's ears. Ah Ch'ou withdrew his gaze from his Elder Sister and looked towards the source of the voice. The one who gave the order was the green-robed official sitting on the horse. This person was tall and thin, with a long and narrow horse face, sunken eyes and a hawk nose. He exuded an aura of authority without being angry.
When he gave the order to the soldiers behind him, he unconsciously turned his head around. His entire face was reflected in Ah Ch'ou's eyes. Ah Ch'ou could clearly see his appearance. On both sides of his hawk nose, there were two lines that looked like they were carved by a knife. The lines spread deeply to the left and right, covering his thin lips. The murderous voice came from that mouth.
The general beside him, whose battle robe was embroidered with the pattern of a lion and tiger, slowly unsheathed his saber. The saber rubbed against the scabbard, making a horrifying grinding sound. Hearing this, Ah Ch'ou unconsciously had goosebumps all over his body. The general raised his saber and urged his horse forward. He let out a short shout, "Kill!" Then he swooped down.
Behind him, the soldiers with sabers in their hands all rushed down.
Ah Ch'ou watched as his Elder Sister ran with all her might on the mountain path. Her figure jumped and flashed like a doe in the wilderness. The general spurred his horse forward like a hunter in hot pursuit. The war horse galloped, and in a moment, he caught up to his Elder Sister. Ah Ch'ou's heart couldn't help but rise to his throat.
"Peng!"
The saber rose, cold light flashed, and blood appeared.
"Mother, the soldiers are coming …"
Yuerong's voice stopped abruptly. Wherever the saber passed, a severed head flew into the air. The blood spurting out from the chest splashed into a bloody mist. The general waved the blood saber and swept past her. Then, countless battle boots stepped on the girl's soft body, killing into the small mountain village.
"Elder Sister!"
Ah Ch'ou's vision darkened, and he immediately fainted.
Hundreds of soldiers were rushing forward on the mountain path. The sound of footsteps and the crashing of gravel covered his sobs.
The green-robed official stood on the slope, coldly looking at the village in the valley. There was a hint of a cold smile on his face. He pointed his horsewhip forward and repeated his order, "Kill! Kill them all! Don't let a single one of them go! "
…
The next day, the Shaozhou government posted a notice, announcing that there was a big plague in the Peach Blossom Village. All the villagers in the village had died. In order to prevent the plague from spreading, the government burned the whole village to the ground. They also warned the people in the surrounding villages not to enter the Peach Blossom Village, in order to avoid being infected by the plague. The Peach Blossom Village had mysteriously disappeared just like it had mysteriously appeared.
No one dared to enter the valley again. A few years later, no one could remember the name of the Peach Blossom Village anymore. People only remembered that there was a God of Plague Valley about twenty miles northeast of Shaozhou. Many people didn't even know the origin of the name …
Note: Some of the terms used at that time were too incompatible with modern terms. For example, the father was called "Elder Brother", the second person was called "You", you were called "Ru", and the third person was called "Yi".
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