The wind above the earth seemed to stop for a moment. But then, the flowing clouds changed, the moon and stars overlooked the eternal earth, and the footsteps of night still flowed forward indifferently amidst the changing waves.
As the stars move and the moon changes, the light of the sunrise gradually takes over everything on this land, and billions of creatures on the earth start a new day of work. In a corner of the southwestern land, near the village called Xiaoye Village, the sun once lit up
Light and fire will not interrupt people's lives. After the explosion that occurred in 223 at night, the slight disturbance caused gradually calmed down the next day.
Except for some new things that people added to their work and life soon after, the few changes were probably in Wenpu Town, which is about ten miles away from here. In the past, the Chinese who used to squat and buy excrement from night-scented women every morning
The members of the army did not return here for a long time. More than ten days later, a new member came to take over the job. They even hung a sign next to it saying that it was a private literacy school with serious teachers.
He came to take over the children of many night-scented women or their relatives for him.
The new teacher no longer read the newspapers bought from outside, but distributed unified elementary school textbooks step by step. This kind of education continued peacefully after that. After half a year, only a very small number of Yexiang women knew how to do it.
In occasional conversations, I talked about the former "Master Tang". And even many years later, people who have already become talented people come back here and talk about the magnificent years that grew from nothing to the past.
The man who was the first manure collector to teach Ye Xiangfu's children here, people basically don't have much impression of his identity and name. It seems that with the waves of time, he has melted into the flow.
In the golden years...
There was a slight lag in the land reform process in Erqing Village, but not many people knew the reason. Soon after, everything was back on track again.
Only in the most hidden places, the involvement of cause and effect is quietly extending to larger and farther places...
On March 14th, when midnight was approaching midnight, Hu Tai, the second-in-command of the Wenpu County police system, rushed to the top of the mountain behind Xiaoye Village and started a confrontation with Fang Lu, who had already pointed his bow and arrow at Tang Minjie. He came from the battlefield
The veterans who retired are now part of the security system led by Hou Wu. Due to injuries on their bodies, they will definitely not be able to defeat Fang Lu and others with their martial arts skills. However, when things develop to this point, violence can no longer determine the direction.
"...I already know what you have done, and I have been entrusted to investigate. It is meaningless for you to kill people and silence them now... If the matter is not confirmed, he is alive and you are fine. If he is dead, there will be more investigations
Continue; if the matter is true, kill him, and your sins will be increased..."
"...My brother is dead! I am Fang Lu, the staff officer of the Third Division of the Fifth Army. My brother is dead! What qualifications do you have to come and stop me——"
"...You are of no use to anyone. If you kill people and silence them in front of me, you will not be able to escape your guilt——"
"...My brother is dead and no one can stop me from killing him——"
The confrontation between the two sides in the night was hysterical. The young soldier covered in blood even screamed and rushed towards Tang Minjie - his hands were not bound, otherwise he would probably kill someone with a knife. The fight at this time was also for Fang Minjie.
Lu provided the last chance, while Hu Tai held a musket and Fang Lu raised a strong bow. The two sides faced off fiercely...
Until Chen Cirang came around with more people...
The next day, someone came to the Wenpu County Government to smooth things over and intercede, but in fact the whole thing could not be stopped. On the night of March 14th, Hu Tai had already sent a letter to a larger system.
, At the same time, because the methane explosion in the 223 Research Institute could not be covered up, on the afternoon of the 15th, along with Chen Cirang's preliminary report, some of the ins and outs that could be told first were sent to the center.
The matter fermented for several days, but the subsequent feedback was far more serious and severe than Hu Tai imagined. On the morning of March 17, he saw Tang Minjie's injury at the 223 Clinic and relayed the preliminary details of the matter to him.
After coming out of the development, he saw the soldiers and convoys coming here silently. After that, he saw the No. 1 leader Ning Yi, who had no idea why he was here no matter how he imagined it.
Theoretically speaking, the development of land reform is in full swing, and Ning Yi will sit in the center of Chengdu no matter what.
, will not leave easily. On the other hand, no matter how complicated Tang Minjie's identity is, it is not worth making the other party make a special trip to Wenpu's little corner - he can completely summon Tang Minjie to Chengdu. Ning
The appearance of Yi can only mean that he arrived near Wenpu due to certain things.
Of course, these are not things that Hu Tai dared to think deeply about. After receiving the interview, Hu Tai told everything about his previous relationship with Tang Minjie, his understanding of him, and his understanding of this matter: he paid attention to Tang Minjie,
It was because of a request from Peng Yueyun that he came here one day last year. However, he did not know the specific identity of Tang Minjie. Since then, he has only received one request from the other party in a long time, that is, he hoped to pass Hu Tai's request.
I went to Chengdu regularly to order some newspapers, which was not a taboo matter. Hu Tai helped me, and later I heard that the newspaper was used to educate the children of a group of night-scented women.
On the morning of March 14th, Tang Minjie came to him, hoping to secretly treat a landlord in Erqing Village through him. Under Hu Tai's questioning, Tang Minjie seemed to think it was necessary, so he also treated the landlord secretly.
Erqing Village made a report and preparation for some questions: He currently has doubts about the whole matter, and does not want to casually hurt the staff there, so he also asked Hu Tai to conduct a simple investigation, and
I emphasized that this is a private request, and I hope that it will not enter the process for the time being and not cause unnecessary trouble to the other party.
By the afternoon of March 14th, Hu Tai found out Fang Lu's identity, background and part of his behavior. Soon after, he heard the news that Fang Lu had left Wenpu County in a group. Out of his keen insight, he thought about it and took a gun with him.
Chasing to Xiaoye Village overnight...
When Ning Yi asked, he recounted these things piece by piece without any modification. Later, he was asked about various details, including how the other party opened a school for Yexiang woman and her children, and
The confrontation that night.
On March 17th, at the end of the afternoon, Tang Minjie met Ning Yi who came here...
…
Spring is in full swing.
Even in Xiaoye Village, which is close to the barren Liangshan Mountains, you can see wild flowers blooming everywhere in this world.
People in the village have passed the busiest period of spring plowing, but many figures are still busy outside. Near the retting field of 223 Research Institute, the traces of the explosion have not been removed. Tang Minjie, who was bandaged, followed
Ning Yi walked around this place and walked towards the mountain nearby.
He didn't understand why Ning Yi came here.
But Ning Yi then told him about Fang Lu's ending.
"...just last night, after Fang Lu took care of all the questions in the confession, he stabbed his throat with a stick and committed suicide."
Tang Minjie's body shook and he couldn't speak. After a while, Ning Yi took out a few pieces of paper from his pocket: "This is the confession of the young man named Yu Jue who was held hostage by you. I have also read it.
Yeah, it’s basically consistent with your statement, and it’s a retelling of what you talked about that night..."
Ning Yi handed the paper to him: "Look, is there anything you need to add?"
Tang Minjie spread out the confession and read it. He blinked and thought for a moment: "This... young soldier is decisive, adaptable, and not afraid of death. Even... he is willing to sacrifice his life for his companions. If... if it weren't for this
He is a very good warrior..."
Ning Yi nodded and sighed: "...What he said is also very inspiring, right?"
Tang Minjie shook his head: "These statements are not worth refuting, but if... there are many such voices inside..."
"There will always be such and such voices inside, especially extreme voices. Moreover, once people who want to make money have a legitimate reason, they will feel more at ease." Ning Yi waved his hand, and then
He said, "According to... Yu Jue's confession and some of Hu Tai's narrations, you don't really want to live anymore. After the accident at the composting farm, it was determined that they had a problem. You could obviously go to the research institute or a crowded place in the village."
The matter was solved by yelling, but instead of doing that, you turned around and ran to the mountain... What did you think about it?"
The two of them stood by the stream where Tang Minjie fought with Yu Jue on the night of the 14th. Ning Yi looked at him. Tang Minjie thought
One thought: "I'm afraid that because there are so many of them, they will take risks and harm the entire institute."
"Well..." Ning Yi nodded, "If they hadn't said that you let go of Yu Jue in the end, and pointed at Fang Lu and shot you to death with an arrow, I would have believed your reason."
Tang Minjie remained silent.
"But you were ruthless enough. You identified the problem and decided that you wanted to die. At that point, you still lied to Yu Jue and said that Qiu Zishu died when he came out of the excrement bucket. In fact, he was treated by Hu Tai before he arrived.
He finally died on the night of the 16th, how cruel... Even if Fang Lu went out to kill you and breathed a sigh of relief, they didn't know that Qiu Zishu was still alive, and even had Hu Tai as a double insurance, so even if you gave
They said good things and thought Yu Jue was a good person. When death was imminent, except for borrowing their swords to kill you, you didn't show any mercy to them. You are like this...what do I think of you, Tang Minjie?"
On the hillside, Ning Yi looked at him, with complex and even pitiful expressions in his calm eyes. But Tang Minjie did not notice this scene.
"I didn't think about it that much," he said.
Ning Yi stopped entangled, and they looked at the village below the hillside. After a while, Ning Yi finally spoke.
"After defeating the Jurchens, the Chinese Army was in the limelight. On the surface, the Seventh Army controlled the trade routes out of Sichuan, and took advantage for a while. Later, it was subject to a major purge. In Chengdu, many merchants and heroes from outside came.
I am very willing to make friends with members of the Huaxia Army. We are doing containment and investigation of this matter every year, but there must be a lot of people who slip through the net. Just like people like Fang Lu, Yu Jue said in his confession, Fang Lu took
It is true that he used the money to support more than a dozen orphans of his comrades, but on the other hand, he had a generous personality and had a wide circle of friends. He was loyal to his friends and had high requirements for his own life. Part of the money was spent on dead people.
Part of the money from his comrades was used by his living comrades to spend money like crazy... This man had no money left. As long as he got money, he would spend it with his comrades and friends. Even if someone borrowed money from him, he would not hold anything back.
Tang Minjie, do you want to have such a friend? Frankly speaking, I want to have one."
"This kind of timely rain, brother Jianghu, has always been the most popular outside. There are also some brothers who are willing to help him fight. But where does his money come from? In the past two years, he has helped some outside heroes.
A kind of matchmaking, and these heroic men from outside are smart and know that as long as they have power, they can cash in anything, so they have been friends for two years. Since the news of land reform was released half a year ago, they have already made various calculations
And preparation..."
"When the land reform officially started, I was personally responsible for the initial 100-village pilot project, so there weren't many problems. But once the 100-villages spread to larger areas, I couldn't really catch it, and they couldn't really catch it.
It was at this time that they started their own plan. Even taking advantage of internal differences of opinion, they could have their own ideas and slogans... So at this time, Tang Minjie, do you still sympathize with them?"
The wind blew over the mountain ridge, and Tang Minjie said nothing. Ning Yi said: "The land reform is going well. Over in Chengdu, discussions about the four peoples are slowly starting to take hold. Everyone talks about it, and it is no longer the same as before.
This is just empty talk from young people. But if this reform continues, where will the biggest problems arise? Do you know?"
"Inside." Tang Minjie said.
"Yes, internally." Ning Yi nodded, "The principle behind the operation and collapse of all social models, to put it bluntly, is that unfair profit distribution methods will eventually accumulate to the point of collapse under long-term operation. Slogan
We can pursue ideal fairness, but in actual operation, we have to find an operation model that is feasible and better than the previous method to extend this time as much as possible. To put it bluntly, this is civilization
The process of progress... In the past, the rural sages had distribution power at the grassroots level, and they had a distribution ratio. Now that we want to replace this distribution power, we must ensure that the actual ratio will be better than theirs."
"If the land reform is implemented, the control and mobilization of grassroots forces will increase tenfold than before, and the civilization of society will be much more advanced than before. But people have a tendency to self-destruct... Fang Lu, Yu Jue, these people
Just think that their self-destructive tendencies are revealed.
Minjie, if the land reform can maintain benign results for ten or twenty years, everyone in future generations will feel that such equality and human rights are natural. By then, the discussion about the four peoples may become a
This is common sense, so no matter what, we must maintain its healthy development for at least twenty years, and we must find ways to curb the self-destructive tendencies within us that are disguised as "human nature"..."
"I didn't come here originally to find you." Ning Yi said, "After making arrangements for things in Chengdu, I came out secretly and planned to visit as many frontline villages as possible for land reform and collect various information.
The possible problem...is that it happened to happen on your side."
"...Teacher, are you so unsure?" Tang Minjie asked after a long time.
Ning Yi turned to look at him and smiled: "Xiang Xian itself has its own advancement and inevitability. If you want to rely on a single bureaucrat to replace it, either the supervision of discipline has been strict to a certain extent, or,
They need to be noble enough on their own. If they are just people who forgive themselves easily and shout about human nature, they will not be able to make this revolution. With backward materials, we cannot build an advanced society."
Tang Minjie raised his head: "But we are working on both sides."
"So we can rely on the current level of organization to make the first round of land reform truly come to fruition." Ning Yi said, "We can barely promote the next development, but every step is already very tight... One hundred villages pilot, one
Thousands of working groups and 10,000 people are already the administrative elite we have accumulated, but do you know how many people are needed for supervision behind the scenes? Then they grew to a thousand villages and ten thousand villages, and they continued to carry out land reform.
When recruiting new people, what level of supervision should be used to ensure that there is pressure on their heads at all times without affecting efficiency too much. Tang Minjie, if you talk about confidence...yes, I don't have 100% confidence, 80%
, not even 70%..."
"That's already very high. We are already some of the most organized people in this world... in this era. No matter what, I think..." Tang Minjie said this and paused slightly, "We...
...It will succeed..."
Seeing his attitude when talking about this matter, Ning Yi laughed, but he didn't refute. He just took a breath and took a breath.
"In short, the thing is like this... I was thinking about how to recruit men everywhere on the way, and I happened to hear that you don't want to live here, so I suddenly thought, just use the waste, you come out
Do something."
"I……"
Tang Minjie was subconsciously waiting for rejection, but Ning Yi waved his hand and his eyes became serious.
"Don't be verbose." He looked at the foot of the mountain ahead, clasping his hands behind his back, and was silent for a moment. "Internal supervision is now the most difficult thing to do. In the past, the Chinese army was united like a monolith, but
It has also made many people inside become friends. Where is the degree of supervision and how to break these private friendships? I can’t say how good the work here is. If it was really very good, there would be no Fang Lu today.
Something happened. Tell me more deeply, your good friend, my new son-in-law, Peng Yueyun is doing this now. He has my background and the background of the Western Army. He is not afraid of offending people, but he really wants to
Do you offend people every day? Who knows when he will relent and when he will raise his hand? I can’t vouch for him.”
Tang Minjie became solemn and did not dare to speak.
"On the other hand, this is also the most dangerous thing now. In the past, we fought with the Jurchens and said that the Jurchens were dangerous. What is more dangerous than the Jurchens? To put it bluntly, it is your comrades. If they have
People have corrupted and retreated from human nature and become people like Fang Lu. When they are being investigated, once they take risks, what they have to consider is whether the people investigating them can live well."
"Well, Tang Minjie, you are neither afraid of death nor want to live anymore. It suddenly occurred to me that this might be the job that is most suitable for you."
On the hill in the afternoon, the sun fell. Ning Yi said this and calmly made this decision. Tang Minjie was silent for a long time, the coldness in his body and the flame in the sun pulled him at the same time, he almost
He has accepted death, but at this moment, the world seems to be pulling him again, asking him to contribute his final value. But in his heart,
The tired man seemed to be saying that it was no longer necessary, but in the end his rationality seemed to say: This is reasonable.
It is reasonable to let yourself do it.
"Also...do you want to know about Chen Wenjun and Xiyin?"
Then, when he heard Ning Yi talk about this topic, Tang Minjie raised his head. The sun was dazzling on the hillside.
…
"...In the second half of last year, after I made the decision to go north to rescue Mrs. Chen, in order to avoid complications, I asked a few people to leave for the Kingdom of Jin as soon as possible. So not long ago, at the beginning of this month, the first batch of people from this team went there
I have returned to Chengdu and reported my journey in the north..."
【In view of the general environment,
"...According to them, in the nearly one year since Xi Yin's issue was raised in the Jin Dynasty court, some developments in Yun Zhong have been very exciting. Of course, Wanyan Zonghan wants to try his best to keep this old comrade, and also
It was impossible to retain the second-in-command of the West Route Army. After several attempts in the court, Xi Yin was convicted, but he still stayed in Yunzhong for a whole year. Wanyan Zongbi and others made trouble in the court, and
Chen Wenjun and Xiyin, the couple, during this year, one was still organizing the Han slaves in the North to escape, and the other was intercepting and killing all the Han ladies who escaped from the clouds..."
"...Two people live together - basically under house arrest. On the one hand, they live like a couple, and on the other hand, they kill each other's men outside for the sake of the country... This process is romantic, stupid, and continuous.
After a long period of time, our people went in and saw Chen Wenjun. What I must confess to you is that she was certainly not doing well. Her two sons did not forgive her. Sometimes some people would beat and scold her. Some even
She wanted to kill her, but she was unwilling to come back. This may be seen as her confession to her family, but what I want to emphasize to you here is: Tang Minjie, you are not the Han people she saved in the end..."
…
"...In December last year, Zong Han finally failed to keep Wanyan Xiyin, and the poisoned wine sent from Shangjing entered Xiyin's house. Wanyan Xiyin probably didn't want to delay, so he drank the wine...Chen Wenjun
She's not dead yet, she refuses to come back, and she won't have a good life in the future, but I think, if we go fast enough, maybe one day we can get into the clouds... She is still alive..."
"... As for you, in the last meeting, she only said that what she should say to you has already been said... Then I think it should be the sentence asking you to come back and use your daughter for benefit.
I can’t remember clearly what messed up Han people are, so you can slowly recall it yourself.”
…
"...Then, because we are very short of people, I don't want to bother you anymore. After your injuries are healed, I will go to Wenpu to report... No, there is no need to wait that long. I will give you two days.
Clean up and arrange things here. The day after tomorrow, go to Wenpu to accept orders. People of your age should not rest for too long anyway. Go to Peng Yueyun to lead a team and help him, before you accidentally sacrifice yourself.
...Just go and work hard for me."
…
"...I hope this time...I have arranged the right place for you to go..."
…
On the hillside, the spring sunshine shone warmly. They talked about something like this. This was a detailed conversation that the master and apprentice had not had in many years. Ning Yi looked at Tang Minjie's stooped figure but tried to straighten up.
With a complicated expression, Tang Minjie reached out and patted his shoulder. Tang Minjie stood up vigorously again, raised his hand, and saluted.
They returned to the foot of the mountain, and when they were about to part ways, Ning Yi seemed to remember something and opened his mouth to say something, but finally waved his hand: "It's not a big deal... you will know after a while..."
…
On March 19, Tang Minjie went to Wenpu to accept his new job. He was very clear about the theory of land reform and the need for supervision, and his long-term experience in leading teams in the north also made him good in this aspect.
Able to get started quickly, he quickly devoted himself to this job and joined the wave of innovation in this land.
Only Ning Yi's last hesitant words left him with some doubts in his heart, and this doubt
, it was only after a long time that it was truly solved.
But the clues of what happened happened in May of this year.
That day was May 27th of this year, and it was already summer. He and his team were verifying documents about land reform. In the evening, his superiors suddenly asked him to pick up someone who was in the team.
The new member. Tang Minjie was immersed in the papers and felt dizzy. He was confused for a moment and wanted to refuse, but the other party said that the superiors had given orders and he must be responsible for the arrangements personally.
I don’t know what the relationship is, Tang Minjie thought to himself, and went to the street outside. It was the evening when it was time to have dinner. Zizhou is a big city, and a newly installed public carriage came from one side of the street, and the figure came on
Going up and down, Tang Minjie was distinguishing the people getting off the car in the sunset. Soon, he saw a figure carrying a baggage and looking left and right.
Tang Minjie was stunned.
After scanning around, the other party also saw him. He was surprised at first, then opened his eyes wide, turned into a smile, waved vigorously, and ran over.
In the sunset...
...That's Cheng Min.
She had a dignified appearance, with a familiar little mole at the corner of her mouth, but her smile was almost gone now, with all her white teeth exposed, and she was about to shed tears. She just heard her say: "Why is it you?
Why is it you... I didn't expect that he is an acquaintance..."
She bent over with laughter.
Tang Minjie blinked his eyes blankly. At some point, he felt water droplets suddenly appear on the glasses he wore to read the account books. He also laughed, not fiercely, just gently, as if
An expression that doesn't belong to him.
"You...why are you here..."
"I just came back not long ago, and the superiors asked me to come over and help you..."
Cheng Min said cheerfully. Her bright voice seemed to melt into the sunshine.
Tang Minjie did not ask about the specific incident.
Some things only became clear to him after several years.
That year he came back from the North and talked about how he betrayed Chen Wenjun. He also roughly explained all his thoughts. He briefly mentioned the humiliation he felt after meeting Cheng Min in Beijing. Soon after, the team responsible for going north to try to rescue Chen Wenjun
After setting off, Ning Yi gave them an order. After asking them to go north, Comrade Cheng Min, who was doing espionage work in Beijing, must immediately leave his job and return to the southwest to resume his duties.
During the three months when he met Fang Lu and was assigned a job, because Cheng Min had not yet arrived in Chengdu, Ning Yi did not tell him the news...