Chapter 238 The Thirty-Second Act Enters the Northern Wilderness Part 1
Chapter 238 Act 32: Entering the Northern Wasteland 1
All disputes began 1,800 years ago.
Before the Great Ascension and the establishment of the dynasty, there was a brief period of peace in the world. A sage who came from nowhere actually used his own power to set up a barrier and drive out the ferocious beasts from Yanjiang River and Qinglan Mountain. They were driven hundreds of miles away to Suoyang Pass. Then for more than a hundred years, the people who had lived under the threat of ferocious beasts all day long, with nothing to hide and no guarantee of survival, finally decided to divide the nine states, cultivate acres of land, livestock, and build villages. Finally, he was able to recuperate and prosper day by day.
However, just when the world gradually forgot about the existence of the ferocious beasts, and even thought that they could enjoy eternal peace, the barrier set up by the sage disappeared overnight!
The first place to bear the brunt was the virgin forest area from the east bank of Mingshui River in northern Sizhou to the Guannan hills. The ferocious beasts hid at sunrise and emerged at sunset. In just half a month, they had slaughtered villages with a radius of hundreds of miles.
At that time, Bai Jiangxi, the founding emperor of the Great Rebellion, was just a young man shepherding sheep in Huxieping. The first time he saw the bloodthirsty beast rushing out of the dense forest and biting all living creatures, he thought he had encountered something on the mountain. Bears, tigers and leopards. However, when he saw that those ferocious beasts were not just for hunting, but just for killing, they tore open the bellies of living people and bit out the throats of prey. He suddenly understood that this was the most terrifying beast in the legend. Beast - galloping wolf!
When Bai Jiangxi, who luckily escaped from the beast's mouth, returned to the village, he could no longer find a complete body. The floor and walls were covered with the flesh and blood of humans and animals mixed together, like a large pool of dark red. Anyone who enters rashly will be enveloped in the mud by the lingering smell of blood, making their stomachs churn uncontrollably and causing them to feel dizzy.
It is recorded in "Shengshi·Benji of Taizu":
“In the spring of the year 1517 in the Archaic Era, the ferocious beast came again, bringing disaster to Wan and Sizhou, causing countless casualties.
When Taizu was nineteen years old, his parents and relatives died one after another, leaving only four brothers and sisters. They were buried without coffins and without graves, so they left their hometown in grief. He married the Qi family from his hometown to avoid trouble in Feiyun Gorge, which was the victory of Dehuan of Ye State. male.
In the same year, there was a great famine, with people dying of hunger all over the land, and epidemics spreading everywhere. Nine out of ten households on both sides of the Ming River were empty. At that time, people in Mianzhou began to use sickles, hairpins, and farm tools to control the ferocious beasts. Taizu led more than a hundred people into Mianzhou and used the river to branch. The hills serve as obstacles and circle around Huanshui and Lingxi areas.
The following year, iron mines appeared in Mianzhong. Taizu sent people to forge armor and soldiers, and finally they were able to compete with the ferocious beasts. By the middle of the year, he won nine out of ten battles, and then drove the ferocious beasts to the north of Hejian, and his reputation rose. , the refugees from Mian and other prefectures came here because of their reputation, and gathered under his command, and many people followed him. Then they took Mangdang and Qinglan, and then entered Wan...
...In the autumn of the 1538th year of the Archaic Era, after the ferocious beasts were eliminated, Jiuzhou was settled. Millions of righteous men from all walks of life gathered at the foot of Qingying Mountain. They all respected Taizu as their supreme leader and wore crowns and brocade robes. Taizu Ancestor Xinran slaughtered and cooked six animals to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. He became emperor and appointed generals. He was promoted to great rank and made his capital on the banks of the Yushui River. From then on, it was passed down for hundreds of generations and for thousands of generations."
However, there was no mention of the mysterious sage who laid the barrier. There was not even a word about the barrier. And the truth of the matter has become increasingly blurred over the past thousand years...
On the eighth day of May in the second year of the Yuan Dynasty, at the turn of spring and summer, the grass and trees were green and the insects and birds were chirping. Just after the Wuyang Festival, a motorcade with a white background and golden sunflower pattern flags, escorted by nearly a thousand guards, drove off. All the way to Wanzhou from Suoyang Pass, and then across the Yanjiang River from Xiyin, heading towards Mulu City in a vast and vast way.
The people in the car were the founding emperor Bai Jiangxi, who had not returned home for a long time, and his sister Bai Jiang Jingshu. On their trip, they did not go through the crowded official roads, and they did not know who they would meet on this trip. The person - Qi Sheng, the leader of Ye State. When Duke Ye learned that the emperor was coming, the motorcade leaving Yujing was only more than thirty miles away from Mulu City Gate.
Qi Sheng immediately led all the officials of the court out of the city to greet him. When the two sides met at Fubo Gate in the east of Mulu City, the first thing he saw was not the old friend from the same hometown in the past, but the slim and tall figure in the motorcade. The young girl opened the door curtain in front of her and waved her hand vigorously towards him.
Bai Jiang Jingshu is Bai Jiangxi's favorite little sister, and the only girl among the four siblings of the Bai Jiang family who survived the claws of the vicious beast.
When her brother took her to survive in the world, she was just a two-year-old child learning to speak. When he was promoted to the dynasty, Bai Jiangxi sealed his two brothers with outstanding military exploits to Yubei and Weiliang respectively, but only He only kept this younger sister who he had watched since childhood by his side, and granted her the title of Princess Nansheng.
Standing on the horse, Bai Jiangxi glanced back at his excited sister, signaling with his eyes that he should not be too willful or lose his sense of proportion. But Bai Jiang Jingshu was a little unhappy with her brother's airs and raised her eyebrows. He glared at the other person before lowering his head and sitting back in the car.
However, Qi Sheng did not dare to violate the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers, and immediately dismounted his horse to salute. Before he thought, Bai Jiangxi jumped off the horse, took two quick steps to support the opponent who was halfway kneeling:
"You and I are as close as brothers, why should we be so rigid in etiquette? Today I am not here for state affairs, but I want to get back some of the carefreeness I had when I drank wine and ate meat in the village."
"I don't dare. These are all the military talismans in my hand. Please accept them, Your Majesty."
At that time, Ye Guozheng, who was just forty years old, was in his prime, but he suddenly took such a move, which made the civil and military officials following him into an uproar.
Bai Jiangxi's eyes trembled slightly, and he was a little embarrassed by this sudden scene, but he took the military talisman handed over to him with both hands without hesitation:
"What did Qi Gong say? Today you and I meet again after a long absence, and we will enter the city first. It will not be too late to discuss the matter of military symbols."
Duke Ye bowed respectfully, but kept his bowing posture, and retreated a hundred steps away before turning around and entering the city, personally riding his horse to clear the way for the emperor.
Bai Jiang Jingshu, who was sitting in the car, saw all this, but couldn't hear clearly what the two of them were talking about. When his brother returned from riding, he hurriedly asked. However, Bai Jiangxi only said that he was with Qi. Sheng had not seen him for many years, so he excused himself on the grounds that he should not be too rude in front of the officials, and did not mention a word about the military symbols.
That night, Duke Ye held a banquet in the Wende Hall to welcome the emperor from afar. However, after three rounds of drinking, the words exchanged between the two of them could be counted on one hand. Bai Jiangxi had never Mention the purpose of your trip.
During the dinner, Duke Ye Guo excused himself to relieve himself and walked alone to the courtyard at the back of the palace. At that time, the twin moons were in the sky, reflecting the silvery white in the courtyard. He had no intention of admiring the beautiful scenery in front of him. Instead, he stared at the dark blue night sky above his head and sighed. tone.
"Why are you sighing here alone? Did my brother bully you again?"
Suddenly there was a voice behind him, and Qi Sheng was so startled that he quickly turned around. When he realized that it was Princess Nan Sheng who was standing in the car waving to him during the day, he breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and bowed again:
"This place is no better than the Yujing Palace. There are bonfires everywhere. The night is cold and windy, so please go back and have a rest, Princess."
"Look at you like that."
Bai Jiang Jingshu pouted, but continued to walk towards the other party, not stopping until there were only a few feet left, "When you and my brother fought in all directions and killed the ferocious beasts, you were always at the forefront.
, have you ever been so scared?"
"I'm not afraid. It's because the etiquette between kings and ministers is a rule established by the sages in ancient times. Although there has never been such a unified world in the past thousands of years, now that we have the emperor, we cannot easily overstep it."
What Duke Ye Guo said was impeccable, but it made the girl in front of him even more unhappy:
"You also said that you are not afraid. I have seen everything that happened during the day. Do you think that if you hand over the military talisman, my brother will completely let go of Ye Guo?"
"Of course I know he won't. But now, the emperor has not only demobilized all the distinguished legions from various countries and reorganized them, but also forced all the princely states to hand over their military symbols, as if he wanted to punish them..."
Qi Sheng had too many things in his heart. He had been pressing them in his heart for too long. When the girl in front of him hooked him, he suddenly couldn't stop him anymore. But even though the girl in front of him was the emperor's biological sister, he was not worried at all about what he said.
Any word will reach Bai Jiangxi's ears.
"What crime do you want to impose? Are you trying to rebel by supporting your own troops?"
Princess Nan Sheng couldn't help but raise her voice. However, Qi Sheng was shocked when she heard this, and quickly stepped forward and pressed her hand to hold the other party's mouth:
"If you say this in front of the Emperor, then no matter what I do, there will only be a dead end! Your brother--in fact, he has never taken us princes with different surnames in his eyes."
Bai Jiang Jingshu was silent for a moment, then opened her mouth again and murmured:
"So, you, those of you who have made illustrious military exploits, are going to let him continue to behave like this? If so, what will be waiting for you next? Is it possible that other than watching your own deeds being punished?
Apart from taking it away, you have never thought of any other way?"
"Your brother - he is an all-powerful hero. If it had not been for his control back then, the people and heads of Guizhou in Dasheng might have been reduced to a pile of scattered sand, all of them reduced to the victims of vicious beasts. How can we repay kindness now?"
"But you appreciate his kindness in the past, but he may not miss you in the past! Did you know that just at the beginning of spring this year, my brother put Yubei, Weiliang and my other two brothers into the Yujing Heavenly Prison on unfounded charges?
.Then, they forced the descendants of their two families to change their surnames, giving one family the surname Zuoqiu, and the other family the surname Luqiu. From then on, only the Yujing lineage was left in the world who could call themselves descendants of the Baijiang family!"
The two argued again. Facing Bai Jiang Jingshu's eyes that gradually widened, Qi Sheng was stunned for a long time, and finally let out a long sigh:
"A few months ago, I ordered people to confiscate all the troops and weapons from all over the country to the national treasury, and melt them all into a copper bell. I wrote the words 'Stop the troops and support the people, the country will be strong', and hung it on the bell and drum tower in Mulu City, in the hope that I could persuade the emperor to give up.
Concerns about me and Ye Guo."
"It won't help at all!"
After Princess Nansheng heard this, she started shouting more and more eagerly. Qi Sheng, who was opposite, finally couldn't restrain the anxiety and uneasiness in her heart and shouted at her:
"But other than that, I have no other choice! Don't accuse me of doing something wrong first. What have you done in Yujing these years? He is your brother!"
Bai Jiang Jingshu had never seen the other party look so out of sorts. She was stunned for a moment, then lowered her eyes:
"Today, he is no longer the brother who obeyed me before. However, there is one thing I can control. This is why I begged to return to Wanzhou and Ye State during this trip -"
As she said that, she paused. When she raised her eyes to look at him again, her eyes were full of determination, "Although I can't help them all, I can at least help you!"
The next day, Bai Jiangxi, who had been drinking for a long time, woke up on the collapse and rubbed his forehead that was still aching. He saw a figure standing next to him at some point. He was frightened and broke out in a cold sweat. He turned around and drew out his sword to stab, but he didn't know it.
Hearing a local sound, the edge of the sword was blocked by an invisible barrier in front of the figure. The shock made his jaw numb, and the weapon fell from his hands and fell heavily to the ground.
"National Master, if you dare to be so rash again, I will order you to be dragged out and beheaded!"
Emperor Dasheng said angrily, but the remaining drunkenness was completely sobered up.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I just want to ask, at yesterday's banquet, did you ask about Duke Ye's incident?"
The man opposite who was called the Imperial Master was wearing a large cloak that was disproportionate to his figure. The cloak covered his face, and at first glance, only a dark and deep hole was left.
"I'm not that impatient. Yesterday, Qi Sheng handed over all the tiger talismans in his hand. It was even heard during the banquet that he had already collected all the soldiers in the country and turned them into a big bell. If he really knew the location of the ancient city, at this moment
If not, when will we wait?"
Bai Jiangxi waved his hand angrily, but changed the topic, "I have something that bothers me. What does the unknown master think?"
"I would like to hear the details. It is my duty to share your Majesty's worries."
The man known as the Imperial Master bowed and saluted, looking completely different from the way he looked when he blocked the sharp blade.
Bai Jiangxi seemed to be used to this, and just said angrily: "My ignorant sister actually asked to marry Ye Guo in front of everyone at the banquet yesterday! Tell me, how should I refuse this, and what should I do?
Wouldn’t it make her too sad?”
"Princess Nansheng and Duke Ye have a good relationship and have a deep relationship. It is really a beautiful thing. Why should your Majesty stop it?"
However, the Imperial Preceptor sang the opposite tune. After hearing this, Emperor Dasheng stood up angrily, grabbed the opponent's cloak, and reached out to get his sword again:
"How audacious! That is my most beloved sister. If she marries Qi Sheng, a traitor, the country of Ye will definitely turn from decline to prosperity. How will we balance it?!"
The Imperial Master was not afraid at all, but continued to advise without being humble or arrogant:
"The reason why your majesty invited me to take the position of national advisor is because I helped you kill the ferocious beast before, and then exposed the rebellion of Yubei and Weiliang, and then proposed a plan to lure the king to the capital. I have done it without any omissions. Now now
, Your Majesty feels that it is time for Your Majesty to make a choice."
"Do you want me to use my sister as bait to exchange for that map? Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Bai Jiangxi reprimanded angrily, but the hand holding the sword was put down.
"The power that can change the color of heaven and earth and overthrow the country - isn't your Majesty worried that it will fall into the hands of others?"
"But I can't even tell whether that power is real or fake!"
"Your Majesty, this is the power of the barrier that the sage set up to block the ferocious beasts back then. Could it be that you don't remember it at all?"
Faced with Bai Jiangxi's doubts, the Imperial Master became more seductive, like a poisonous snake spitting out his words. Because of the tear, the cloak fell off his head, revealing a thin face. There was a trace of blood on his face.
His strong bookishness concealed the secretive truth behind his seemingly sincere smile.