Chapter 1: The Prosperous Age (V) Li Mao and his wife saw their son's eager eyes and thought about the internal information they had learned from the government's errand boy Zhao Erge during the day. They felt weak for no reason and expressed compromises one after another.
"If you want to keep it, just keep it. This thing grows against the seasons anyway, and no one can ever feed it!" Lao Li Mao babbled while pouring himself a drink.
Most wild beasts are conceived in spring. They give birth to cubs in early summer and take advantage of the abundance of food in summer and autumn to grow so that when winter comes, they can grow to enough weight to survive the severe cold and hunger of winter. Li Xu hunted
This little wolf cub was obviously just born before it was a full month old, and the probability of survival was less than 10%. So even if Li Mao didn't like it, he couldn't be serious with his son over a wolf cub that was impossible to raise.
"Remember not to pamper it too much. Once you find it showing its wild nature, either kill it or drive it away. Don't let it bite you back!" Ms. Li Zhang picked up the bowl and filled her son with a bowl full of meat soup. "First of all,
Have a bowl of soup and then some wine. Your uncle sent you a lot of wine, and you won’t be able to finish it in half a month!”
"Thank you, dad, thank you, mom!" Li Xu happily agreed. He didn't even hear what the old couple were chatting about, and ran out the door quickly, placed the wolf cub under his bed, rushed into the kitchen, and mixed the bowls.
Give it rice soup and then happily run back to eat with your parents.
Liangzi was also so out of control back then, but it's a pity... Mrs. Li Zhang saw tears in the corners of her eyes again when she looked at her son who was busy back and forth. During the day, her husband rushed to the city to inquire about the news, and spent more than twenty dollars to buy the government errands.
Zhao Ergouzi let go. According to the person surnamed Zhao, the emperor was planning to personally conquer Goryeo's Shanggu, Zhuojun, Yuyang, and Lulong (Beiping). Officials from the four border counties were already in a panic to set up these places near the border.
, soldiers can adapt to the climate in Liaodong, so it is also a key area for drawing troops.
"Brother Damu, you have to make preparations early!" At ten o'clock in the afternoon, Zhao Erguan, who had received Li Mao's benefits, revealed mysteriously, "It is said that the emperor has sent word that all the good sons of the border counties will enlist in the army, no matter how many brothers are in the family.
, from forty to fourteen..."
"Xu Zi is the only child left in my family. He is not even fourteen yet, and I am over forty!" Li Mao still remembers the embarrassment he felt when he lied. He stuffed the last few dollars in his pocket into Zhao Shuoshu, hoping that
The other party will then be able to show off
"The war won't start right away, my brother Damu!" The satisfied Zhao Erguan patted Li Mao on the shoulder and enlightened him earnestly, "I said above that we should prepare food, clothing and armor this year, and draw ding after the spring plowing next year.
, and then gather and train, and actually send out troops, it is estimated that it will be in the spring of the year after next. To be honest, our friendship is a friendship, brother, I really can’t guarantee that I can still take care of you for three years. If there is a solid-eyed Sheriff on your head, the rest of us
Being an errand, it’s not just what others say, how can I agree to it!”
Thinking of Zhao Erguan's kind reminder, the wine in Li Mao's mouth began to taste bitter. The Sui Dynasty had regulations that prohibited the recruitment of old and weak people into the army, and also prohibited the recruitment of only sons in the family to join the army. However, these were all stipulated by the old emperor, and they were extremely treasonous.
In other words, when the old emperor was alive, the new emperor did not take his rules seriously, not to mention that the old emperor has been dead for so many years!
No matter how bitter or reluctant you are, there are some things that you have to do and you can't escape. The more you escape, the more panic you will have when things come. Li Mao sighed, put down the wine glass gently, and said to his son who was eating a big meal.
: "At the beginning of next month, there will be a caravan going outside the Great Wall. The leader is an old acquaintance of mine, surnamed Sun..."
"Yeah, yeah!" Li Xu agreed absentmindedly, holding a large bowl of mutton soup in one hand and grabbing half of the biscuits with the other hand. He was probably very hungry after playing outside all day and ate so much.
Mrs. Li Zhang, who was as neat as a wind and a lingering cloud, felt sorry for her son, and kept saying gentle words to her side: "Slow down, slow down, don't choke, there's a lot in the pot!"
"The leader is Sun Anzu. He is an old acquaintance of mine. I think you are getting older and it's time to go out and see the market!" Li Mao said cruelly, lowering his head and loudly.
"Okay, I haven't seen what a big caravan looks like!" Li Xu put down the bowl and replied cheerfully. Suddenly, he understood what his father meant, widened his eyes, and murmured: "Dad, you, you are
explain…….!"
"Dad is getting older, and I want you to run outside the Great Wall for me!" Li Mao did not dare to look into his son's eyes, and tried to repeat his meaning in a calm tone.
"I, my Celu is the best in the school. I can write the entire Analects silently! I..." Half of the Hu cake in Li Xu's hand fell to the ground. At this time yesterday, his father was still discussing with himself whether to take the Ming Jing test or the Ming Jing test.
Taking the Jinshi examination has now become a business trip for him.
In Li Xu's dreams, there were times when he was admitted to the imperial examinations and stood in the court, and there were times when he held a spear and mounted a horse to dominate the battlefield. The most common dream was to wear an official uniform and buy a big house next to the county school in Shanggu County.
, take your parents in, have something to eat and drink, and make Zhao Er the head of the family, Yang Lao Baldy and other figures in the scene are all in the dream of the young man, but he is the only one who does not behave like his father.
A businessman, he travels to the Central Plains outside the Great Wall every year. He is exposed to the sun and rain but can't make a few bucks. He is also bullied by government police, clan elders and local gangsters.
Moreover, once he joined the Shang Dynasty, according to the practice of the Sui Dynasty, he automatically gave up his identity as a son of a good family and could never take part in the imperial examination again.
"Dad, dad, there's nothing we can do about it!" Lao Li Mao faced his son's gaze shamelessly and avoided explaining.
Li Xu looked at his father, never wanting to believe this answer. Although his family was poor, they were still relatively wealthy compared to the extremely poor families in his neighborhood. There was no need to give a gift to his husband to study in the county school, and the government usually provided students with two rations a day.
Even though there was little oil in the food, if I didn't have to help my mother with housework, I could almost stay in school and only go home for dinner once a month...
Ms. Li Zhang was silent, turned around, and kept wiping her tears. It’s not that her son is ignorant, it’s precisely because he is so sensible that it would be extremely difficult for his parents to make such a big decision for him. If it weren’t for this damn Korea, if
The emperor always thinks about the Siyi Binfu...that is something she can't control. Now, the only one she can make the decision is her son.
"It's not like the family doesn't have money to support you! There's going to be a war. Shanggu County is going to be drawn. All the sons of good families will prepare their own armors and weapons to join the army. Dad wants you to go out for business reasons and come back to take care of you when the army leaves the year after next.
Mother!" Li Mao couldn't bear the pressure in his heart, and finally decided to tell the truth. Although forcing his son to become a deserter is not a glorious move, compared to letting his son misunderstand that he ruined his future to save money, this reason can make people understand through his tone.
"If I don't go outside the Great Wall, I will serve as a soldier, and I will get my honors on horseback...!" Li Xu heard his father tell the real reason, and a stone fell to his heart immediately, and he said nonchalantly
"Pa!" A burning pain in his cheek interrupted his words. His father, who had always been harmonious, stood up and slapped him in the face. In an instant, Li Mao's old face, which was full of wrinkles scratched by wind, frost and time, turned red.
Green and black, he raised his eyes and cursed loudly: "Shut up, the fame will be with you immediately. Look at it with your eyes wide open. There are hundreds of households in the same town, and there is someone in that family who has come back alive with fame! In the 18th year of the Emperor's Eastern Expedition, go
Three hundred thousand people died, and two hundred and ninety-nine people died..."
"Okay, what are you doing?" Mrs. Li Zhang rushed over and hugged her son in her arms to comfort her. Before she could speak, tears fell down her face.
"Dad--" Li Xu covered his face and shouted softly, big tears rolling down his fingers. This slap completely stunned him. He instinctively wanted to say a few soft words to apologize to his father.
But he didn't know where he was wrong. "Get fame on horseback." This was the ancestral motto of the family and the teachings of his husband. However, this truth turned into disobedient and unfilial words in front of his father.
Li Mao looked at his son, then at his wife, and felt a pain in his heart. His anger disappeared without a trace in an instant, and he fell back on the bench and said dejectedly: "Tomorrow you say goodbye to the master and prepare to go out! Your brother has already
You have become a wandering ghost, and I can’t send you out again. That way, when I die in the future, I won’t have the shame to see my ancestors.”
Hearing her husband talk about her eldest son, Mrs. Li Zhang felt even more sad. She hugged her son's shoulders and sobbed: "Xuzi, listen to your father, mother doesn't expect you to be a glorious ancestor, she only expects you to live out your life in peace.
Marry a wife and have a son. Your brother went out to the country with Mr. Gao and was the best in riding and shooting among three hundred people..."
In Li Xu's memory, he no longer remembers his brother's appearance at all. He was only two years old in the 18th year of the founding of the Emperor. According to his mother, he rode on his neck all day long and watched soldiers. Later, his brother was also drafted into the army. After that, he only remembered
What remains are the father’s sighs and the mother’s tears….
Old Master Yang from the county school was always so wise in Li Xu's eyes. When he murmured that he was going to resign from school and go out to do business for his father, Old Master Yang immediately exclaimed: "Is there going to be another war? Are you even going to fight again?"
Don’t you even care to read the book?”
"Sir, it's hard to disobey your father's orders!" Li Xudeng blushed, lowered his head, and his voice was as thin as a gnat.
"It's no wonder, it's no wonder, you are already an only son in the family and your father is nearly fifty years old. If you are allowed to make Liaodong Bones, your Li family will have to cut off their incense. It's a pity that you have only one article. I originally gave a few
My old friends wrote a letter and planned to ask them to take care of me after the economic examination next year!" There was no blame in Old Master Yang's words, but only an indescribable regret.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. Although my disciple is not blessed, I will never forget this kindness!" Li Xu leaned down and bowed his head to the ground to study. Over the past few years, Master Yang has taken good care of him, and he didn't know that the stove was open.
How many times have I read the scriptures and learned poetry strategies from Zhu Zhu? They have almost shared everything with each other. Even the notes he wrote in the army when he followed Yue Gong Yang Su during the southern expedition were not prohibited from being read by Li Xu, a nominal disciple. It was just because of Li Xu's age and age.
Knowledge, you can recite it by heart, but you can really understand it, but you can't get it out of ten.
Old Master Yang waved his hand and responded with a long sigh, "That's all, your father has his own reasons for doing this. This Eastern Expedition, there will be defeats and no victories. The common people can see it, but the princes of the imperial court are blind!"
"
"Disciple has been taught for many years, but I can't repay these jars of light wine. It's not worth getting drunk!" Li Xu sighed, pointed at the jars of old wine placed outside the courtyard, and said that the success or failure of the Eastern Expedition has nothing to do with him. After today, he will no longer
Even if you are a member of a good family, according to the rules since the Han Dynasty, business is a lowly industry. Businessmen are not qualified to discuss national events such as the Eastern Expedition. From then on, Old Master Yang’s family could no longer visit casually as before unless he had something to ask for.
Otherwise, even if the young and old of the Yang family don't kick him out, other well-educated scholars will still laugh at Old Master Yang for not having many friends and willing to be among businessmen.
Old Master Yang always felt that he was attached to this disciple who came to his door and then took the initiative to resign. He had seen a lot of ups and downs in his life, and when he was old, he didn't have so many ties in his heart. He smiled and said: "People say that doing business is a cheap profession.
, As a teacher, I have never seen such a way that the nobility of a person depends on the heart. His heart is noble. Even though he is a trafficker and a pawn, he can't conceal his awe-inspiring aura. His heart is mean. Even if he stands in a temple, he is despicable and dirty. His reputation is spread far and wide. Your nickname is
What I have bestowed upon you is naturally that your disciple will be a teacher for one day and will be a teacher for the rest of your life. No matter you are a businessman or a thief in the future, the door of the school will always be open to you!"
"Thank you Master for your advice!" Li Xu lifted up the hem of his long coat and bowed down. He had read the books of sages since he was a child, and the highs and lows of all walks of life had long been engraved in his heart like inscriptions. So since he learned last night that he was in trouble,
Li Xu has been brooding over this for a long time. Old Master Yang's words were equivalent to opening a window above his head, allowing him to instantly see the color of sunlight in the suddenly gray sky.
"Get up and teach me for many years. Among the disciples, you are not very talented, but you are more upright and honest." Old Master Yang has known people for many years. How could he not hear the reluctance in Li Xu's words to give further advice?
This person once said in a serious and sincere way: "I'm afraid that if you suffer losses in the future, you will also suffer from this uprightness and honesty! You must know that life is full of variables, right and wrong, good and evil, and they are not necessarily true on the surface. What you see with your eyes may not be the truth. What you hear with your own ears,
It may not be the truth!”
Looking at Li Xu's blank face, the old master knew that it was too early for him to say these words at this moment. Although the children of the poor have long been in charge, Li Xu was only fourteen years old after all. He couldn't understand some words at all, even if he could.
Understand, without the corresponding twists and turns in life, he will not be able to understand the true meaning of it.
Life is like a jar of wine. Only after years of brewing can the sweet and spicy flavor be brewed. Young people are like a jar of newly baked wine. Even if it is condensed with refined grains or made from sweet springs, it still has some inescapable flavor.
Youthful
"If this disciple gains something in the future, he will definitely come to ask for advice!" Li Xu, who is also a thoughtful person, smiled, with a hint of sarcasm on his face.
"If I could come, I would have come and passed next year. I'm afraid that the stable days of being a teacher are coming to an end. It's time to make some moves!" Old Man Yang smiled and shook his head.
"Master, are you going to travel far away? Or should you be hired by the imperial court?" Li Xu asked in confusion, completely missing the hint of bitterness in Master Yang's smile.
"It's my fate as a teacher. After all, I have been favored by others!" Old Master Yang continued to shake his head, unwilling to explain his words in the end.
"That's right, Master once taught me that if I receive a drop of kindness from someone, I will repay it with a spring of water!" Li Xu replied following the Master's words.
"This statement may not be absolutely correct, but in life, how many people can break free from the fetters in their hearts!" The old master laughed a few times and deliberately changed the topic elsewhere.
Before you leave my house, our master will discuss the victory or defeat of the Eastern Campaign!"
"Master, are you testing me?" Li Xu, relieved of his worries, asked with a smile. Last night, he heard from his father that the imperial court had spent a lot of money on the Eastern Expedition, and now it has begun to prepare food, grass, clothing, and armor to recruit young people from all over the country next spring.
From his understanding, for such a large country to spend two years preparing for a war, there is absolutely no reason for defeat. But what he heard from Confucius today was the completely opposite conclusion.
"Sir, aren't you optimistic about this Eastern Expedition? I heard from my father that the army will be recruited next spring. The court is so fully prepared for the expedition the year after tomorrow. It must be planned before taking action. How can we not help a little Goryeo?" According to what the master said on weekdays.
After repeatedly scrutinizing the strength gap between the Sui Dynasty and Goryeo, Li Xu still came to the same conclusion: "I am well-prepared, and I can attack them without defense. I have excellent ordnance, and I have many soldiers and generals..."
"Waging a war does not necessarily rely on large numbers of people, favorable weather, favorable geographical location, and good harmony. Which of these factors can be ignored? If we go to Liaodong, the favorable weather and favorable conditions are ours. If we go to Liaodong, will the favorable location be ours? If we go to Liaodong, on the surface, we are conquering Goryeo during the Sui Dynasty.
In fact, among the Mohe, Khitan, Shiwei, and hundreds of unnamed tribes in Liaodong, which one is not as good as Goryeo? If this happens, where is the harmony between me?" When talking about military affairs, Old Master Yang's face
The decadent look is gone, and the beard and hair are flying
"Yes, but our Sui Dynasty has more than a million halberds!" Li Xuwu argued to himself. Although he was forced to be a deserter, deep down in his heart, he still expected that the Sui Dynasty could sweep across Liaodong and achieve great prestige.
