Chapter 5: Unnamed people can move, but the earth cannot be carried with them, and the graves of their ancestors cannot be moved with them. The idea of the people at the bottom is very simple, but it contains the most direct truth. They do not want to imitate the way some people with big surnames move.
Avoid trouble elsewhere, especially those who have been refugees for a time. They know the pain of leaving their hometown and living under the shelter of others, and they are even less willing to become homeless refugees again. Moreover, most people have no place to go, and there is almost always a war everywhere.
, only Boling under Li Xu's rule and Yiling under Xu Shao's rule were slightly more stable, and there were dozens of heroes between the latter and Boling, and it was impossible for ordinary people to reach it alive.
Since he can only stay, then General Li will protect the common homeland of everyone. The people have always been willing to give the greatest respect and support to those who sincerely seek for themselves. Perhaps their respect and support are very humble, unlike
The support from the rich and nobles is so overwhelming, but when the support is gathered bit by bit, it is enough to form a vast ocean.
This vast ocean can carry huge ships, and it can also strand light boats.
On the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, a soldier offering sacrifices to the stove picked up a few large pieces of pickled pork legs outside the cordon of the military camp in the evening. The team on duty thought they were relics accidentally lost by a careless person buying new year's goods, so they did not report them.
I secretly held a tooth ceremony with my brothers. After all, these days, even middle-class families may not be able to eat meat every month. Buying half a pickled pork leg is enough to spend a month's salary of the leader.
As a result, in the next few days, cooked or raw foods such as naan, wheat, pepper, millet, etc. appeared outside the camp gate one after another. Some brave people even walked to the camp gate in front of the soldiers and took the steamed cakes from the baskets.
Bring it out and invite the brothers to taste it. Hebei people are very practical during the Chinese New Year, so even from the poorest families, the aroma of beans and grains on the cakes made the brothers turn their noses and eyes to it, and they couldn't bear to look away for a while
Most of the lower-level officers were dumbfounded. They had been top soldiers for half their lives. It was the first time they saw the common people treating themselves as family members. They wanted to reject the other party's kindness. They were afraid of hurting the hard-won people's hearts and accepted the gifts from the common people.
, and are afraid of being reprimanded by their superiors later, I suggest that everyone choose a compromise based on the experience of the group of brothers Xuzi brought here from Qi County. Gifts can be accepted, but gifts must be returned, and the return gift should preferably be of equal value to what was received.
The children of Qijun came to this conclusion based on their experience under the old general Zhang Xutuo. They knew that the people were rewarding everyone for their efforts in protecting the country and the people. When they encountered this kind of situation, they would often use some of the bandits to share.
However, this experience is not suitable for the Boling Army. Most of the brothers have not been on the battlefield and have nothing of value to give back to the people. Some of the captains really can't think of an idea, so they have to
He led his brothers to clasp their fists and express thanks to the people who presented them with food. At this time, the people who were respected by us gave out thunderous cheers. In the cheers, even the guy who usually liked to be lazy and slippery during training unknowingly
Stop your waist and straighten it as much as possible
The support from the public has strengthened Asahi's confidence, and his mood has gradually become calmer. He, the chief manager of Boling, does not rely on the support of local bigwigs, so losing or winning the other party's admiration has little impact.
Those who provide taxes to the army and share food with their brothers who are usually reluctant to eat are the ones he needs to repay.
In ancient times, it is better to protect the land with danger than with virtue. The so-called virtue is not that everything the superior does is in line with the essence of Confucianism, but that he can calm down and do what he can for the people in a down-to-earth manner. The people of the Central Plains know best.
Thank you, they don’t ask for the superiors to all be saints, to be able to fulfill their duties, to be clean and self-respecting, which is already their highest requirement. Once the superiors and his subordinates can exceed this standard even a little bit, they will definitely share the best with you.
Precious things, even life
It wasn't until the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month that the gates of the military camp gradually became quiet. The weather hadn't started to get warm yet, and it was impossible for the grassland soldiers and horses to move south immediately. So Li Xu took a few days to take his wife back to his hometown in Yixian County to pay homage to the ancestral hall when he was young.
At that time, this day was the most eagerly awaited day. All the elders of the clan, whether they wanted to see him or not with his unlucky look of "no luck", had to pretend to be in front of the ancestral tablets.
Put on a smile and give him, this "unfashionable" junior, a little bit of respect that he could squeeze out. Later, his official position gradually increased, and his father also became the head of the Li family in Shanggu because of his skill in educating his son. He paid homage to his ancestors.
On the contrary, he didn't like it that much in his heart. Firstly, he was busy with official duties and it was rare to spare time. Secondly, every time he saw other people being arrogant and then respectful, it always reminded him of the cold treatment he received when his family was poor.
From this point of view, Li Xu never thinks that he is a generous person. The reason why some hurts are called hurts is because they will not fade with the passage of time. On the contrary, occasionally dreaming back at midnight, the ridicule and cold treatment from the past will still come back.
It hits my heart and makes me sweat.
If it weren't for the loving elders like Uncle Baosheng in her memories, Xuzi would have a very cold view of family affection. Qi'er's view of the previous generation was similar to his.
He deliberately distanced himself, at least he did not try every means to exclude and attack his concubine's daughter. Apart from being slightly closer to Wan'er and Shimin, the other brothers always treated her like a slave.
The encounters when they were young made the couple not pay much attention to the clan except for their biological parents. But this time, Li Xu carefully prepared that he would bring Qi'er as his head wife to the ancestral hall and introduce him respectfully to Lie.
The spirits of the ancestors in heaven, whether those people are willing or not, the same surname, the same clan, and a concubine, is the head wife of his General Li, and is also his only woman at the moment.
Far away from Yi County, the two people's car was picked up by their peers and juniors in the clan, and they were greeted by local officials who were ordered by His Majesty the Emperor a few years ago to build a large house for the Li family in the center of Yi County.
At the end of the year, Li Mansion, like other wealthy families, changed its door gods and signboards. Even the stone lions at the door were scrubbed with warm water and looked brand new. Due to Li Xu's return, the door that was rarely opened at home, the Yimen, and the three
The doors to the main hall were all restored to use in an instant. The scarlet carpet was illuminated by the string of lanterns hung high on both sides of the corridor, and it was as gorgeous as a dancing fire dragon.
The overly luxurious feeling made Asahi almost unrecognizable that this was her own home. Fortunately, the appearance of her father and mother had not changed, and their wrinkled smiles showed sincere pride. That night, there was a large banquet at home, with young and old men sitting in ten seats.
After drinking and talking in several rooms, the next day, which was New Year’s Eve, all the men and women of the Li family, led by the patriarch Li Mao, formed a group to worship in front of the ancestral hall.
The Li family's ancestral hall has also been renovated. There is a plaque written by an important official of the imperial court in an unknown year. Because it has been re-painted with gold paint, the handwriting on it looks very powerful. Li Xu remembers that it should be "protect the environment and the people."
"The four big characters refer to Li Guang, his ancestor from the Han Dynasty's Prancing Horse Frontier Fortress. This person is not the ancestor of the Li family, but he is the only one who left a statue in the ancestral hall. But what is strange is that Li Guang is on the statue.
Wearing a civil servant's uniform, he looked smiling and aloof, without any heroic spirit of bending a bow and shooting a tiger.
Xu Zi remembered that when he passed through Jixian County, the statue of General Meng Tian was also so kind and kind. Most of the ancient sages and sages could not show any murderous intent towards their own families, so they lost their true appearance in the painting and placed it next to General Li Guang.
On the side of the spiritual tablet is his younger brother, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, Li Cai, the Marquis of Anle. Although his title and official position are much higher than the former, there are no portraits of them. The following are Li Danghu, Li Jiao, Li Gan and Li Gan.
After that, it was Li Yu, and after Li Jiao, it was Li He. Both of them branched out, and the family continued. However, Li Danghu's family no longer had anyone to inherit it. The spiritual tablet was hidden alone in a corner of a high position.
Five years ago, Tang Gong Li Yuan specially sent someone to recognize his relatives. Although the two ancestral halls are not in the same place, the ancestral hall of the Shanggu Li family has a special place where Li Yuan's grandfather, Li Hu of Shangzhu State, will be worshiped for two years.
Before that, the Li family of Zhaojun also sent people to merge the genealogy. Therefore, among the ancestors of the Li family, the ancestor of Zhaojun history was also added. Like the Li family of Longyou, only the origin of the branch was marked on it.
and inheritance, not all the clansmen with the same surname are listed
At present, the patriarch Li Mao is presiding over the ceremony, and Li Tuo is accompanying him. Although Li Xu is not the oldest among his brothers, he is the most promising, so he is responsible for holding incense and offering sacrifices, burning silk and offering libations. Please bless the ancestors of the Li family in heaven.
May the unworthy descendants be safe and have long and prosperous lives.
When offering fruits, all the fresh food first passed through the hands of Li Xu. He presented the fruit sacrifices to his wife Qi'er, and then Qi'er handed them to his mother, Li Zhang, who then presented them to the table. Many people in the family were doing this for the first time.
Seeing Zhen'er, she was stunned for a moment. When someone whispered that she was the daughter of Li Yuan, the governor of Tang Dynasty who had just conquered Chang'an and was worshiped as the king of Tang Dynasty, an expression of sudden realization appeared on her face.
"I have long said that Xu Guan is a lucky man!" After paying homage again, while the patriarch Li Mao was "free" to "report" the major events of the Li family in the past year to his ancestors, several distant uncles were chatting in private
Li Xu himself became a general, and Prince Boling became a relative of the most powerful King of Tang. Isn't this blessing boundless?
"No wonder the Tang Dynasty King heard that Xuzi was in trouble and immediately sent two armies over." Someone suddenly said, "Li Jiancheng's station is less than a hundred miles away from Feihu Pass and Yixian County. A troop of troops is stationed there. The local leader
The characters have already found out the reason. Previously, they still didn’t understand why Li Yuan was so fond of Li Xu. Only after seeing the dress of the eldest daughter-in-law of Zhen’er did she realize that the relationship between the two families had unknowingly become closer.
"No wonder Xuzi doesn't care about her concubine?" Someone deliberately pointed out the identity of Zhen'er's concubine, and there was a sour taste in the words.
"Why don't you go and cool down while you are a concubine? Now you are a wife based on your husband, do you know?" Immediately, someone jumped out to defend Asahi's reputation.
Of course, Li Xu couldn't hear these humble and boring words. He rarely had time to put aside his affairs, so he seized every opportunity to rest. Not only did he not hear other people's whispers of slander and praise, he even couldn't hear the contents of his father's report to his ancestors.
He also listened to it with his left ear, and immediately came out with his right ear. He managed to survive until the end of the memorial ceremony. As usual, there was another banquet, and then everyone went back to their respective houses, and stayed with the people closest to him around the brazier.
It was rare that he could sit with his son and daughter-in-law to watch the New Year together. Lao Li Mao was in an extremely comfortable mood. Counting on his fingers, this was the second year that his son had spent at home since he was fourteen years old.
This time, he looked heroic and refreshed.
As for his daughter-in-law, who knelt down next to his son and kept adding tea and water to the two elders, there was nothing wrong with him in Lao Li Mao's eyes. Even though he was the father of Prince Boling, he still had an innate simplicity about him.
I only look at people's behavior, not others. The only flaw is that I haven't been able to hold a grandson yet. But considering that my son is only in his twenties this year, I don't feel so anxious.
"Come on, come on, come on, sit closer to the brazier. We can just reach out and grab whatever you want to eat. We don't have to be too restrictive!" The fire burned quietly for a while, and the smell of alcohol in the stomach was slowly baked out.
Lao Li Mao looked up at a dark and red smiling face and said hello loudly
"You just know how to warm yourself by the fire, and you don't even ask others if they feel dry!" Ms. Li Zhang was also toasted with a lot of wine by her sisters-in-law in the afternoon. She was a bit drunk and scolded Qi'er, who sat next to her legs.
From her perspective, it looked very pleasing to the eye, unlike the daughters of those wealthy families in Yixian County, who wished they could stick their heads in the powder jar. In her opinion, her daughter-in-law's face was naturally white and naturally bright red, like a quietly blooming flower.
plum blossoms, showing calmness inside and out
After being able to find such a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Li Zhang was naturally afraid that she would melt away when she held it in her palm. She prioritized her daughter-in-law's feelings in everything. First, she complained that her husband and son smelled too much alcohol, and then she blamed the charcoal stove for burning too much.
She was thirsty, and then she was busy getting some fruits and snacks, as if if she ate more, she would be able to give her a fat grandson quickly, which not only moved Qier, but also Li Mao and Li Mao.
Xu and his son were also jealous when they saw it
"If you two feel too hot, go to another room first. Xuzi and I just have a few drinks to sober up. Let's do the math, let's do the math..." Seeing that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were getting along very well, Li Mao
Very considerately giving them excuses to go away.
"Have a drink, we two go to the kitchen to have a look and ask the servants to bring up two more cold dishes!" Mrs. Li Zhang knew that her husband must have something to say to her son, so she pulled Qier and stood up with a smile.
When the footsteps of the two women gradually faded away, Old Li Mao slowly put away his smile. Although he was old, he was not so old that he was confused and rushed like his son. If he had not encountered special circumstances, he would not have rushed to Nian Gen.
The old man didn’t know the art of war or government affairs, but he knew what he should do.
"When are you going to leave?" After the food and wine were served, Lao Li Mao asked with a smile as he picked up the first glass, as if his son was just going on a long trip and there was no risk at all.
"I have sent 20,000 people to Zhuo County to station other soldiers on the 17th. We will gather on the 18th and the 19th is an auspicious day to officially set off for the expedition." Li Xu also picked up the wine cup in front of him and handed it to his father's wine cup.
Touch it, drink it all in one gulp
This father-son drinking method is not in line with the etiquette of the county prince's family, but it is in line with the tradition of Old Li's family at the east entrance of Lijia Village, Shangguyi County. Therefore, Old Li Mao happily picked up the wine cup and drank it in one gulp.
"The Li family from Hedong has also sent troops and horses. If the fight against the northward movement is too fierce, Dou Jiande will also send people to help our side. Together, there are 200,000 troops. The chance of winning should be very high!"
The wine cup in front of his father was filled again. Xuzi smiled and explained that in terms of numbers, this was the second largest battle he had participated in besides the Battle of Hulao Pass. Only that time he was the attacker. This time, he had to rely on the Great Wall.
Deal with superior enemies
"In the Li family, that Jiancheng is your uncle-in-law. Is he on the same page with you? And the king named Dou, will he sincerely help you?" Old Li Mao picked up the wine cup again, but did not immediately drink it.
Li Dao frowned and asked
"There should be no big problem for the time being. Even if it's not for Qi'er's sake, Hedong and Hebei are so close. Brother Jiancheng will do his best to prevent the war from spreading. As for Dou Jiande, in my opinion, he is a person with a big heart. Now that he has changed
If we make a covenant, we will not take advantage of this opportunity and I have left some soldiers and horses in Xindu. If there is a change, they can support it for a while with Zhang Shui." Li Xu thought for a while and answered very seriously.
He didn't want his father to worry too much about his own safety, so he tried to speak in a relaxed manner. The father also understood his son's mood. He took a sip of wine and said with a smile: "Then I can rest assured that you are at home."
Don’t worry about how to say it, you are also an official now, Zhaojun Li Jiahe
