It was noon, and the faint sound of gongs and drums in the city could be heard outside. There was a pool and rockery in the courtyard, decorated with winter snow. At first glance, it looked like a wealthy home, but it also looked a bit plain and elegant.
A large table was set up in the main hall, with a hollow center and a blazing charcoal fire. Even if the banquet was opened, the diners at the table would not feel cold.
However, at this time, the faces of everyone around the table were pale.
Just a moment after the commotion outside was heard, soldiers and secretariat staff in civilian clothes had already come in. Most of the time, this was already a means of controlling prisoners in the political arena. Then Ning Yi suddenly appeared.
At this moment, this kind of place is as incomprehensible as the descriptions in fantasy novels on the market.
In today's southwest, his status is too high, and Li Rulai's status is too low. In terms of status, even if Li Rulai wants to rebel, Ning Yi does not have to come forward to meet him. In terms of location, with his status
, using the means of controlling prisoners to directly enter Li Rulai's private house is an inappropriate move under any circumstances.
Such a strange anomaly, no matter what, things will be big.
The first time he saw the figure in a dark coat walking in, Li Rulai subconsciously stretched out his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. He even forgot to lower his head, while Li Dong took a step back slightly and stood upright in a military posture.
Several people had confused expressions, but most of their bodies were frozen there.
Ning Yi glanced at everyone, and then his eyes shifted to the courtyard outside and the dishes on the table. His eyes seemed calm, and he pulled up a chair and sat down. Then he looked at the courtyard and nodded: "Sit."
No one dared to sit down. Everyone hesitated for a moment. After a while, there was only silence in the hall. Some people looked at each other. In the silence, no one dared to sit down.
Ning Yi glanced at everyone again, put his hands on the table, and smiled slightly: "The yard is well built, and I have put a lot of thought into it, but you can still hear the sound of gongs and drums. The space is not big enough, so it is a waste."
You have seen the grace of Jiangnan Gardens. You bought the land when you first arrived in Chengdu, right, General Li?"
Li Rulai opened his mouth, then lowered his head: "Yes, yes..."
"I feel sorry for you. When will the new garden be built?"
"...according to the construction schedule, tomorrow will be March next year."
"Um."
Ning Yi nodded, reached out and took a pair of bowls and chopsticks from the side. These were bowls and chopsticks used by an officer before. There were still some leftovers in them. When he saw him holding the chopsticks and about to use them, Li Dong frowned.
Eyebrow: "Ning... Ning... this..."
"What's wrong with this?"
"This...used...you..."
"Back then in Xiaocanghe, supplies were so scarce. What you ate was passed to me, and what I ate was passed to him. What does it matter today? You are an old man in Xiaocanghe, and you have status in the eyes of others.
, don’t become squeamish.”
He picked up his chopsticks and picked up something to eat. He seemed to be amazed at the deliciousness of the dishes. After nodding slightly, he looked up at Li Dong, his eyes serious for a moment.
"You are going to the city to do business, right?"
"yes."
"I asked you to sit down, but you didn't sit down. Are you full?"
"……Yes Yes."
"Sit down and eat when you're not full. When you're full, go do things. You don't need to be the mother-in-law who leads the troops. I'm coming over today. I have something to discuss with General Li Rulai. It's more important and I won't leave you alone."
"……yes."
Li Dong and others only hesitated slightly, then raised their hands in salute and headed outside the courtyard one after another.
Ning Yi moved the chair closer to the round table and picked up a few more dishes to eat. After Li Dong and others disappeared from the yard, he waved his hand, and then the people from the security department and the secretariat also left the room one after another, at least for a while.
He and Li Rulai were the only two people left within sight. Li Rulai stood there with his head lowered, took a deep breath, and moved slightly. Ning Yi raised his head. This time, his words were calmer.
"Stand."
After saying this, he put down his chopsticks, and his tone sounded like he was facing a dead person.
Then the courtyard was quiet for a while.
When he spoke again, he said: "A few years ago, when the Jurchen Wangyuan Bridge was defeated and I sent people to recruit you to surrender, you asked me, if I do things this way, won't I be afraid of being pushed down when the wall falls down...
right."
Ning Yi's eyes were fixed on Li Rulai, as if he was a little tired, but also with a little compassion that he hated iron for not becoming steel. Li Rulai's body trembled slightly: "That...that was...this moment and that moment...
"
"In your Wu Dynasty, many of the generals who have achieved success are like this. You are like this, and so is Liu Guangshi. You understand the ways of the world and what is normal, but you can't fight. What's the use of a leader who can't fight?
?After you joined the Chinese Army, I didn't use you in a high position. You had complaints in your heart, but you were obsessed with eating, drinking, having fun, and making friends. Now you have made so many friends of heroes and heroes. Have you learned to fight?"
"I……"
"...For you...and your little brothers, we have already made a set of arrangements. You will work step by step, and I will do things step by step. After two years, everyone's things will be fine. But recently
I was thinking about something. I was supposed to go back to Zhangcun during the Chinese New Year, but I diverted to your side. I just want to ask, if you give women to officers in the army, according to your sophistication and feudal rules, you
How many times do you have to die?"
"..."
"...You know the rules so well, you should know that in any dynasty, the whole family is killed. So today, I came here like this, which is not very in line with the rules, but whether it is based on my rules or your sophistication,
There should be no difference, I think you can accept it calmly."
Li Rulai raised his head slightly, the last trace of blood on his face disappeared, beads of sweat oozed out, and Ning Yi sighed.
"The cook is good. Sit down and have your last meal."
There was wind blowing in from outside the hall, and Li Rulai's figure was swaying. He was in his fifties. He was usually tall and well-maintained, and his hair was still black. But at this moment, it seemed that he was about to change from the picture.
Became transparent and disappeared. Ning Yi opposite him was nearly forty years old, but the pressure in his eyes was far greater than this. He picked up a teacup and looked at it, then put it down again. Suddenly, he slapped it with a palm.
He stood on the wooden table, and the entire wooden table seemed to be shaking with the floor, and he yelled out an angry voice.
"sit--"
Li Rulai pulled out his chair and sat down at the table. He put his hands on the round table: "I, I..."
His voice trembled, and he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't. Ning Yi, who was opposite him, also sat for a while. For some reason, he seemed a little tired as he was preparing to kill his whole family. After a long time, Li
As Tathagata's expression changed several times, he asked: "What did you think of?"
"I... I'm thinking... I'm just speculating, speculating... If the chairman... really wants to kill me... kill my whole family, will... he won't come in person..."
…
"...Before I came here, I just thought about some questions."
The sound in the hall took a while before it started to sound again.
"After the surrender, I have my personal likes and dislikes in treating you idle, but in general, is it really unfair to you? Just like Lu Qiaoshan, who you have been comparing to, he was a defeated general and was captured
It was completely renovated after you moved in, and it can be used now. However, after Wangyuan Bridge, we decided to treat you as a typical example of a wealthy person. As a result, we did not make appropriate arrangements for you. This may be something we need to review at work.
a mistake."
"Of course this is a small aspect... but in a big aspect, human beings are worldly, and the rules of the world do not exist. In the Chinese Army's study class, we always say that there is a way to do things, and there is a way to do things.
In terms of art, you must trace the source and ask about your original intention, and in terms of skills, you must seek truth from facts. The rules that exist in the world cannot be treated as if they don’t exist just because your goal is great. We talk about it again and again, of course because many people are doing things.
Among them, Dao and Shu are simply inseparable. Then I suddenly thought of your question..."
"General Li, you have been in the hometown of Renqingshi for so many years. When you surrendered, you couldn't understand the Chinese army. It's understandable. In your fantasy, the so-called conquering the world is nothing more than uniting a bunch of capable soldiers like you.
, sit together at such a dining table, eat hot pot and sing songs, and then promise to conquer the world in the future, what kind of fame will be granted to you? This kind of thing, from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to Liu Bang, Xiang Yu and Li Shimin, is human nature and is also the founding of the country.
normality..."
"At that time, you couldn't think of too many things, but what I'm curious about is, General Li, you went to great lengths to make so many friends of the Chinese Army. In the process of eating, drinking, having fun, and corrupting them, what did you think of the Chinese Army every day?
Are you... somewhat clear about the purpose of shouting and what we plan to do?"
Ning Yi's hand scratched lightly on the table.
"We want to break the cycle of Confucianism, we want to enlighten the people's wisdom, we need to study things, and promote the four peoples. At the top, we want to break the cycle of chaos, and at the bottom, we want to break the rule of rural sages. We hope that the people can be more or less able to govern themselves.
Stand up after reading, we want to make changes that have not happened in thousands of years... A few years ago, these things were very far away for you. Your worldly knowledge tells you that these things cannot be realized. You even have no idea why they cannot be realized.
My own firm views, and even yours, are still relatively complete, but today, a few years later, General Li, we are on the same boat. Even if you still don’t agree, you should already understand the direction of this boat.
.”
There was a slight pause.
"Generally, when faced with such a problem, you will have two choices. First, you can get off the boat and die by yourself. Second, there are rocks and problems on this route. Use your worldly experience to think about how to change these worldly things.
Question, I was wondering if I might get some surprises from it, and you can’t say anymore that I never gave you Li Rulai a chance."
He looked at the other person quietly for a moment.
"It's not enough to lead an army. I'll give you a village. You know that the recent land reform is actually seizing power from the rural sages. I'll give you the 101st experimental village. It's up to you to do whatever you want. Follow
Whether you cooperate with the working group or you work alone, as long as you do not violate laws and disciplines, in a few years, the people in your village will become rich, they must listen to the command of the Chinese army, they must understand the truth, and their children must be good at reading.
If you are a widower and a widower, you are lonely and have something to support. If you do well, I will give you more things. You will have a place in future political negotiations and your evaluation will be recorded in the history books."
Ning Yi pushed away the table and stood up.
"It was an accident that I thought of this in your matter. Even if it were not today, I would carefully consider today's issues in the future. But at that time, your whole family was already dead, so it is your good luck to come here today... Of course
"Whether you want to take this road or not is your own business. Someone will come in later and explain clearly what happened in the past. Just treat it as if you bought a life and started a new life. After that, we can ride on the donkey and look at the ledger. We'll see."
He left the hall and walked outside. Just as he was approaching the courtyard gate, he heard Li Rulai's voice coming from behind.
"Yes! Chairman!"
The voice was faint and somewhat excited. I don't know if it was the excitement of surviving the disaster or the excitement of being able to do something.
The people in the Security Section put down their sniper rifles aimed at Li Rulai, and the Secretariat personnel gradually withdrew. When they were approaching the gate outside, they came over and reported to Ning Yi: "Captain Li is still waiting outside." Ning Yi nodded.
, someone called him over.
The two rode together in a carriage for a while, and Ning Yi mentioned something: "When we were fighting in Xiaocang River, I told about an emperor who would skin and plant grass from officials who had embezzled five taels of silver. All of you clapped your hands and applauded.
Can you still clap now?"
Li Dong thought for a while: "Yes."
"Okay." Ning Yi looked at him for a moment and nodded, "Go back and do a self-examination. You should be careful when making friends in the future."
After Li Dong saluted and left, the carriage drove all the way back to Zhangcun. After a while, several more cars came up. This was also the car driving to Zhangcun to celebrate the New Year. Inside were Juan'er and Li Shishi.
, but Su Tan'er, who knew that Li Shishi was alone in Chengdu, asked Juan'er to invite him to stay temporarily in Zhangcun to spend the New Year together.
"There are ghosts and ghosts..."
After learning the ins and outs of the matter, Ning Yi smiled and cursed, but he didn't seem very happy.
Shishi asked Ning Yi about the arrangements for Li Rulai.
In the past, Ning Yi had already planned this, and even asked the teacher to participate in the preliminary preparations for the propaganda. However, the incident of Li Rulai sending women to the army had a bad impact. She reported it to Ning Yi. This time Ning Yi
When she came back, it was said that she went directly to Li Rulai's home, and she was already prepared for Li Rulai's house to be ransacked.
After hearing Ning Yi talk about this handling, Shishi stared, and for a moment, he was quite surprised.
****
In Jindi, the time is afternoon.
After giving Yuan Xiaoqiu a holiday and finishing his official duties, it was already dark when he left the Qing Palace.
The carriage passed through the snow-covered city. The bustle in the morning was still continuing, but many people had already begun to go home one after another. The New Year is the time to worship the stove, and many people still have to return home in the evening.
After a ceremony, Lou Shuwan slightly opened the curtains and could see the lights on in some shops, the bustle of people and the occasional smell of food.
She went to a mansion on the side of the city.
She hasn't been to this yard for a long time.
The person who opened the door for her in the yard was a middle-aged woman with plain clothes and plain appearance. Probably because she didn't meet her often, she looked a little scared when she saw Lou Shuwan. Lou Shuwan said something to her.
After saying this, she asked her attendants to hand over some cloth and food, and she walked towards the courtyard.
There are two entrances to the courtyard. The outside is the symbolic living room, and the inside is the living area. In the inner courtyard, you can see a few chickens and ducks, and there is also the smell of feces. At the door of the bedroom in front of the courtyard, there is a middle-aged man with drooling mouth and seemingly dementia.
He was wrapped in a thick quilt, sitting there and staring blankly at the sky.
This is her second brother, Lou Shuheng.
His mind and body have been destroyed in the past three years.
For a long time, Lou Shuwan raised the last relative she had left in this world like a pig or a sheep, providing him with food and drink, and finding a woman for him, hoping that this only brother would be able to treat him with nothing.
A worthless life left a descendant for the Lou family, but Lou Shuheng did not shoulder such a responsibility. During Tian Hu's incident, he, who was already weak, was tortured and his courage was shattered.
Since the last time the Jurchens went south, the situation in Jin had been critical. Lou Shuwan had cut back on food and clothing, and was so hungry that his whole body was swollen. He no longer had time to care about his brother who was raised at home and had become a waste. During that time, Lou Shuheng also experienced
He was hungry many times and suffered various transfers. He was so frightened that he broke his head during one transfer. He was barely alive after that. Even though Lou Shuwan had given up on him, he still carried on in a daze.
Survived.
After that, the situation in Jindi gradually eased. Every time Lou Shuwan saw his demented brother, he felt annoyed, so he simply turned a blind eye and found a reliable country peasant woman, gave her a sum of money, and asked her to put her brother away.
Whether he was a proprietor or a husband, it didn't matter to her anymore. From then on, she only came to visit occasionally when she had free time.
Perhaps because the other party took good care of him, Lou Shuheng's body did not collapse anymore. Most of the time, perhaps because of his physical weakness, he liked to sit under the eaves and watch the sun. This habit continued even in winter.
.And I have to admit that my brother after dementia is more pleasing to the eye than the manic version of him before.
After looking at the other person for a moment, Lou Shuwan sat next to him, poured a bowl of warm water, and fed him to drink spoonful by spoonful.
Lou Shuheng was babbling and seemed to be smiling a little.
Seeing that smile, Lou Shuwan's eyes warmed.
It had been many, many years since she had seen her brother smile like this. It was like a smile from childhood. Since she became an adult, the smiles she has seen have only been crazy.
"...It would be great if you had become like this earlier. If you had smiled like this earlier... maybe Su Tan'er would fall in love with you..."
"... Do you still remember Su Tan'er, her man... Well, you said I was so discerning back then. You and my eldest brother are not as good as me. We are a family. I am so discerning... We are a family,
Big brother, daddy..."
"...You are not living up to expectations, you are not living up to expectations... You said you can keep a child, and I can help you raise it. Today is the 24th, the Kitchen God has gone to heaven, and there is no man in the family. I can't even cook the stove."
There is no way to sacrifice, I am alone...you are not living up to expectations..."
She looked at Lou Shuheng, murmuring, and her eyes were slightly red, but she had experienced too many people, and even when she talked about these, there were no tears. Lou Shuheng was also babbling.
Looking at her like a child, he became the happiest person in the family, while she was always unhappy.
In the white city outside, the festive firelight reflected on the ground and the sky, and people were in a festive atmosphere. But she was always unhappy.
"...It's all your fault...It's all your fault...I became an idiot and the most irresponsible one...I forgot that you still have a sister..."
"Ha ha……"
Lou Shuheng blew up the foam and his saliva exploded. It was like a period of life that suddenly passed away, reflected in countless laughter, fireworks, and the sadness and regret in his eyes...