On the twenty-first day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year of the Daming Dynasty, in the Xiao family's mansion in Qiongzhou Prefecture's Wenchang County, Guangdong Province of the Daming Empire, an old man in his seventies wearing a thick cotton robe stood in his study. A map was hung on a large screen in the study, and on it were some strange symbols.
The old man looked very old, but he was still in good spirits. Although he had a head full of silver hair, his body was still healthy. He had been standing in front of the map for an hour without panting.
"Father, there is definite news from the north. Supervisor Sun has indeed died in battle, and his body was decapitated by the invading army … but the Emperor still thinks that Supervisor Sun faked his death and fled, and did not give him compensation. All the knowledgeable people in the world are sighing."
A middle-aged man stood behind the old man, his face full of regret.
"Sigh …"
The old man was silent for a long time, and the middle-aged man standing behind him only heard his father sigh deeply.
The old man turned around and looked at his eldest son.
"Have all the ships been arranged?"
"The arrangements have been made, but Father, in this time of national calamity, why should we men … Father, in the face of national calamity, how can we, the sons of generals, be afraid and advance? You were a famous general in the past, why did you not respond to the imperial court's call? In this kind of situation, only an old general like you can turn the tide! The invading army is just a motley crew, as long as you personally take action, you will definitely be able to defeat them! You have been living in seclusion for so many years, why are you still … "
"Sun Chuanting said the same thing! And then he died! " The old man suddenly glared angrily. "This old man has already written to the Emperor and sent a letter to Sun Chuanting, telling them that the invading army is no longer the invading army of five years ago! The invading army will also improve and change! They will also change from a motley crew to an orderly elite army! But! Sun Chuanting did not listen! The Emperor did not listen either! Using the tactics of five years ago to deal with the invading army of five years later, do they think Li Zicheng is a pig?! "
The middle-aged man was momentarily speechless.
The old man sighed deeply and slowed down his tone.
"Zining, it's not like I don't want to save the nation. It's just that I want to save it, but the nation doesn't want me to. Fifty years ago, I saw the nation sinking into a quagmire and wanted to help, but the nation slapped my hand away and continued to struggle in the quagmire, sinking deeper and deeper. It's not like I don't want to save the nation! But today, the country is willing to let me save it, but the general situation is already irreversible. Even if Taizu Chengzu is reborn, the Daming Dynasty cannot be saved. "
The middle-aged man had also heard of what had happened back then. He said, "But father, our Xiao clan has always been a clan of generals. When the country is in trouble, how can we not face it together? You are the one who taught us all this! Furthermore, our Xiao Clan also has the title of Earl of Ping Lu, a hereditary title that is the same as the country! Isn't this the time for us to rise up? "
"There's no way to save him, so how can we save him? There's no hope for the Daming Dynasty, there's really no hope. "
The old man sat dejectedly on the chair. In his mind, he thought of all the efforts he had put in over the years when there was a chance to turn things around. He had fantasies in his heart, but reality told him time and time again that history was too heavy, and he was too old. He could no longer turn the tide and change history again. He was already in his twilight years, unable to ride a horse or wield a sword. It was laughable that Zhu Youjian only brought up the story of Lian Po to ask him to save the Great Ming Dynasty.
Why didn't you use me when I could still fight?
Your brother, your grandfather, and I were also filled with hope. When did I not remind them? When did I not write to them? Even you, when did I not place my hopes on you? But did you listen to what I said?
What else can I do with my seventy-two-year-old body …
"Father …"
"There's no need to say anything else. At this point, there's no meaning in saying anything else. Sun Chuanting is leading the last army that the Emperor can rely on. Without this army, what dignity does the Imperial Family have?
"And the Imperial Army! And Wu Sangui's army at Shanhai Pass, the soldiers at the nine borders, and the armies at Jiangnan and Jiangbei. Everyone can help the Emperor! Father! Only you have the prestige to command the entire army, only you! Didn't you say that we can go to Yiwu to recruit soldiers and train the southern army to go north to take care of the invaders? "
The middle-aged man knelt before the old man. "Father! Please come out! Save the Daming Dynasty! "
The old man closed his eyes in pain.
"It's too late, too late. Zining, don't think about it anymore, don't think about it anymore! Listen to your father and prepare to go to Nanyang! Your second and third brothers have already gone to Japan and Australia. You're the only one left. I don't ask for anything else, just for the three branches of the Xiao family. No matter who can continue and prosper, don't forget that you're a descendant of China. If your descendants can see the day when the Central Plains prosper, don't forget to return home. "
"Father!"
The middle-aged man wailed. "Why do you say that, Father? The Daming is still here! His Majesty is still here! The country is still intact! Why do you say that, Father? Father! You're a man of indomitable spirit. You're a great general who's good at war! Why don't you fight for the country? Why do you want to separate our family from our flesh and blood?! Even if the invaders conquer the world and establish a new dynasty, China will still be China. Why do we have to leave our homeland and become wandering ghosts?! "
The old man sat on the chair and suddenly burst into tears.
"I don't want to either … but … I'm afraid that China will no longer be China! The endless war in the Central Plains has benefited the foreign races in the end! My son! How can I, your father, watch you become the slaves of those foreigners?! I can't! I'm a descendant of China, a descendant of the Yellow Emperor! How can you let your hair be draped over your shoulders like a barbarian!! "
"Father! What … what did you say? "
The middle-aged man's eyes widened in shock.
"I, Xiao Ruxun, am useless! I, Xiao Ruxun, have let down the people of the Daming! I killed Nurhachi, but I left out that monster, Huang Taiji! Why did I retreat in a hurry? Why can't I continue searching? I've let down the world! I've let down the people of the Daming! I've let down the future generations of China! "
The middle-aged man stared blankly at his father tearing his clothes and hair like a madman. He was dumbfounded and couldn't say a word.
After a long time, Xiao Ruxun was exhausted and slumped on the chair. He could not even move his fingers. The middle-aged man quickly went forward to support his father.
"Father! What … What did you just say? You just said … said the slaves … they … "
Xiao Ruxun's old hand touched his eldest son, Xiao Guoliang's face.
"My son, I've let you down, I've let down this family, and I've let down the people of the world. It's all my fault. It's all because I didn't do what I should do. Until now, the only thing I can do is to let you wear the clothes of China and bring the Chinese civilization far away to find another land to live in. Don't forget the inheritance of the Chinese civilization …"
Xiao Ruxun's words made Xiao Guoliang more and more confused and frightened.
"Father … You … Don't say that … You … This …"
"My son, I can't protect the Great Ming Dynasty, I can't even fight for it one last time. The only people I can protect are you and the villagers here. My son, remember, when you go to the Nanyang, find an ownerless island and bring the villagers to build houses. Then, form the village warriors. While farming the land, don't forget to make guns and cannons. Do your best to find the Han people of the Nanyang and together with you, occupy all the ownerless islands in the Nanyang and establish a new country!"
"Father!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
