As the sun sets, a golden color falls on the river valley in early summer. Several hazel trees, hackberry trees, and saponins grow crookedly on the small soil slope. From time to time, voices can be heard from the wooden houses beside the soil slope.
On a pile outside the wooden house, a man with a light beard sat cross-legged. In the sunset, he had a calm and quiet aura. The man's name is Chen Fan. He is twenty-seven years old and is already among the best in the world.
master.
What is going on in the room is a study class for the low-level managers of Xiaocanghe. The participants are all young people with great potential in Xiaocanghe who have been selected. Every few days, there will be some old shopkeepers in the valley.
, staff, and generals pass on some of their experience. If someone with outstanding talent falls under someone's eye, there will be a one-on-one opportunity to become a disciple and pass on the legacy.
Ning Yi occasionally comes to give a lecture, talking about management knowledge, how to pursue maximum efficiency at work, stimulate people's subjective initiative, etc.
Of course, sometimes I also talk about other things.
This year, according to the current physical condition, the man named Ning Yi is twenty-six years old. Due to past habits, he did not grow a beard, so he looks quite young based on his appearance. However, few people
They will treat him as a young man. It is no exaggeration to say that the name of the inner demon Ning Yi is notorious in the outside world, whether it is a series of things he has done or the most shocking murder of the Golden Palace later.
Jun, in the eyes of many people, this name has already become the demon king of this era.
Of course, standing in front of them, especially at this moment, very few people would regard him as a demon king. He has a steady temperament, a low tone of voice, and a slightly faster speaking speed, but it is still clear and smooth, which represents what he says.
, he already has a draft in his mind. Of course, if he talks about some new words or concepts that others don’t quite understand, he will also suggest others to write them down first, and discuss their doubts and solve them slowly.
This class was about some coordination issues that arose in the Xiaocanghe civil engineering work in March and April. The content of the class only took half of the originally scheduled time. After finishing what should be said, Ning Yi moved a stool and walked among the crowd.
Sit down in front and let everyone ask questions. But in fact, the thinking ability of the young people in front of them is not systematic. On the other hand, they have a certain degree of personal admiration for Ning Yi, and they raised and answered about two questions.
After asking the question, no one spoke again.
The sun shone in from the window, and the wooden house was quiet for a while. Ning Yi nodded, then smiled and knocked on the table next to him.
"Since there are no more questions, that's the end of our discussion today." He stood up, "However, seeing as there is still some time before dinner, I also have something I want to tell you.
It just so happens that most of you are here."
Ning Yi smiled and pointed at everyone with his finger. Zhuo Xiaofeng and other young people were slightly confused, and then heard Ning Yi say: "I want to tell you about the association."
At this time, most of the young people in this room were outstanding people in Xiaocanghe. It just so happened that Zhuo Xiaofeng from the original "Yongle Youth League" and Liu Yi from the "Zhengqi Society" were both there. In addition, the newly emerged "Huayan Society"
"Luo Ye, "Mohui" Chen Xing and other initiators are also on the list, and the rest more or less all belong to a certain association. When Ning Yi talked about this, everyone became uneasy. They all
Smart people, those in power have not been fond of cliques since ancient times. If Ning Yi doesn't like this, they may have to break up.
Ning Yi looked at them for a moment: "It's not a bad thing to form a group."
When he said these words, Chen Xing and others felt a little relieved. Ning Yi smiled and said: "Everyone has his own personality, his own temperament, his own thoughts, and his own opinions. We Xiaocang
He rebelled. From a general perspective, we are a family. But even if we are a family, there is always someone you can talk to and someone you are more affectionate with. This is human beings. We must overcome our own
There are some weaknesses, but it doesn’t mean that all of nature can be wiped out.”
"Acknowledge its objectivity and form groups to help you learn and work in the future. If you have any thoughts or good ideas, it is naturally better to discuss it with people who are similar in temperament and can speak well than with others.
One point. On the other hand, what must be noted is that we have only been here for half a year. You have your own ideas and your own positions, which shows that we have not been lifeless in the past six months. Moreover, you did not set up these groups for a messy reason.
Ideas, but for the things you think are important, you sincerely hope to become better. This is also a good thing. But - I have to say no."
The people below were all sitting upright, but Ning Yi did not stop their seriousness, and his eyes became more solemn.
"But! Confucianism says that gentlemen are in a group but not a party, and villains are in a party but not a group. Why are villains in a party but not in a group? Because they form a party for personal gain, and those who agree with others attack those who are different! The emergence of a group is because it will indeed bring about
It has many benefits, but it can cause problems, and it is indeed due to the laws of human nature. There are always areas where we are negligent and inattentive, which leads to recurring problems."
When he said this, there was a voice in the room. It was Chen Xing, the initiator of the "Mohui" who was sitting in the back. He raised his hands and stood up: "Mr. Ning, we formed the Mohui only for our ideals and not for selfish reasons. In the future,
If it appears..."
"Don't express your stance." Ning Yi waved his hand, "No one can doubt your current intentions. As I said, everyone in this room is an excellent person. But they are equally outstanding.
I’ve seen a lot of people.”
"Just like Cai Jing, just like Tong Guan, just like Qin Hui, like many people in the court I have met before, they are the best among them all. Do you think Cai Jing is a powerful minister? Tong Guan is incompetent.
Prince? No, Cai Jing’s disciples are all over the world. Looking back fifty years, when Cai Jing first entered the officialdom, I believe he had ideals, even much brighter and more forward-looking than you. In the capital,
, Why did every high-ranking official in the imperial court become what they are later on, unable to do good things, and forming cliques when doing bad things? To say that they wanted to be bad officials from the beginning, absolutely! Not one of them."
"If you talk about using power for personal gain, many people can refuse it. I will give you ten taels of silver and help me do something. You can refuse categorically, but each of you, even now
, Zhuo Xiaofeng, let me ask you, if you have a relative who wants to join the Yongle Youth League, will you make things difficult for him? Will you make it easier for him? "
Zhuo Xiaofeng nodded slightly.
Ning Yi tilted his head: "It's human nature. Give convenience to relatives, and others will be more formal. I can't avoid this, including all the people who did wrong things in the end. Slowly, you will have more friends and relatives around you.
They help you rise, they can help you, and they come to you more often for help. Some you refuse, some you can't refuse. Real pressure often appears in this form. Even the powerful Cai Jing
, maybe it was just such a process at the beginning. We must have the concept of such a process in our minds to arouse vigilance."
"So I said don't take a stand. Some things are really difficult to face. I don't want you to be purely selfless. What is the key to this matter. I personally think that it is to draw the line." Ning Yi took
He picked up the chalk, drew a clear line on the blackboard, and clicked a little. "Let's draw a line first."
"People will slowly break through the bottom line in their hearts, because this line is in their hearts and they have the final say. So what we have to do is to draw this line clearly. On the one hand, strengthen our self-cultivation and self-control
Of course it is right, but on the other hand, it is very simple. There must be a set of rules. With rules, there will be supervision, and there will be an objective framework. I will not give you this framework. I hope that most of it
.from yourselves.”
Ning Yi smiled and tilted his head slightly to look out the window full of golden sunset: "You are the first group of people in Xiaocang River. There are only more than 10,000 of us, plus tens of thousands of people in Qingmuzhai. You are the explorers.
.Everyone knows that our current situation is not good, but if it can get better one day, there will be hundreds of millions of people in Xiaocang River and beyond Xiaocang River, and there will be many small groups like you. So I think
, since you have become the first group of people, can you and me be relied upon to discuss and establish this framework?"
"I have some ideas in my heart, but they are not mature. I hope you can also have some ideas. I hope you can see what mistakes you may make in the future. We can block the possibility of this mistake earlier.
But at the same time, it will not damage the enthusiasm of these groups. I hope that you are this army, the best group in this valley. You can compete with each other without excluding others. You can support your companions and at the same time be friends with yourself.
The opponent makes progress together. At the same time, we must break out the shackles that can limit its development in a bad direction..."
"If you have any thoughts and opinions on this matter, you can tell me now..."
…
The sun slanted further to the west, and occasionally the wind blew over the river valley, stroking the treetops. The words in the room came out with a little more caution, and much slower than before. Soon after, the young people came out of the classroom,
There was doubt, excitement, and faint determination between his eyebrows.
Previously, they either followed Sheng Gong or Ning Yi and others to rebel. They did not rely on a clear plan of action, but some chaotic ideas. However, after coming to Xiaocang River for so long, among these relatively smart people,
In the minds of young people, an idea has been established to some extent, which was instilled by Ning Yi during his usual chats: We will never be like the Wu Dynasty in the future.
With this clear concept, Ning Yi can analyze some problems and seek some solutions with everyone. Of course, it is precisely because they are young, energetic, and have no stereotypes in their minds that Ning Yi can do this.
Try to introduce basic concepts such as the separation of three powers into everyone's minds, hoping that after their exploration, some sprouts will emerge.
This process may last for a long time. But if it is just giving, it is actually meaningless.
He walked out of the room and watched these young people go away. The sunset had turned red at this time. Chen Xing and others walking on the side were vaguely saying: "We can halve the food recently..." Ning Yi said this
What they said in the afternoon was a lot worth pondering for them, but at the same time, it was also an encouragement to everyone, because Ning Yi had recognized their legitimacy, and they also hoped to do it.
Come up with something great.
Everyone walked to one end of the valley. Ning Yi stood there and watched for a while, and then walked with Chen Fan to the mountain next to the valley. He was busy with work every day and time was extremely precious. He met several managers in the valley at dinner and waited.
As night falls, there are many more copywriting things presented.
After working like this for more than an hour, the valley in the distance outside was lit by fire, and the stars were shining in the night sky. A young man named Xiao Hei walked in: "The envoy from Xixia is tired of staying here.
He threatened to leave tomorrow, General Qin asked me to ask if you would like to see him."
Ning Yi thought for a while: "Then ask him to come over."
The envoy sent to Xiaocanghe by the Xixia people was named Lin Houxuan in Han and Qu Nuze in Xixia. He had been waiting for three days after arriving at Xiaocanghe.
The purpose of the Xixia people coming here is very simple. They are just lobbying and recruiting surrender. They are now occupying the general situation. Although they have promised to attack and gain a lot of money, the core of demanding the surrender of all Xiaocanghe remains unchanged. After Ning Yi understood it a little, he casually arranged a few
Treat the other person personally, walk around and have fun, but don't go to see him.
But of course it's not good to not see him all the time, as that would make him look ungrateful.
When Xiao Hei went out to recruit Xixia envoys, the settlement area in Xiaocanghe seemed quite lively. It had not rained in the past two days. With the square as the center, the surrounding roads, ground, and mud gradually faded away. A group of children in the valley
Running back and forth on the streets. There is no outside market in the small valley under military management. But on one side of the square, there are still two small shops that supply various things from the outside world, for the convenience of refugees who enter the valley in winter and those in the army.
family.
On one side of the small square, there are several small venues used for storytelling and singing. The functions of the venues are different. One is used for performing various dramas, one is used for various entertainment projects including juggling and magic, and there is another,
The storyteller will inform everyone about various messages from the outside world. The briefing times are three times: morning, afternoon and evening. From time to time, some comments written by Ning Yi and others will also be added.
The Jurchens withdrew their troops from Bianliang and took more than 100,000 people captive. Many tragedies were happening along the way. Various actual events north of the Yellow River. The Xixia people advanced beyond Hengshan and what happened to many people. This is similar to
The news-like talk of later generations. Now it is what people in the valley listen to most. After listening to it, they may be filled with indignation, frown anxiously, or lower their heads in discussion. Sometimes if young people such as Chen Xing are around, they will follow the current comments.
.Triggered a small speech, people loudly cursed the incompetent Wu Dynasty court and so on.
Because of the existence of these places, some emotions are always brewing inside the Xiaocang River, such as a sense of urgency and tension. From time to time, the progress of construction in the river valley is announced, and news from the outside comes from time to time. In many aspects,
It also proves that everyone is working hard. Some people are inside the river valley and some are outside the river valley. They are all working hard to solve the problems faced by the Xiaocang River.
In a wooden house not far from the square, the firelight illuminated the room brightly. Zhuo Xiaofeng frowned and wrote something in a notebook. Young people not far away were chattering around a simple map. Although the words were not loud,
But it also seemed lively.
"...According to the current situation, the Xixia people have advanced to Gyeongju, and it is only a few days away from taking Gyeongju City. Once connected like this, the road to the west will be completely chaotic, and we want to solve it through business.
Isn’t the food problem even more difficult..."
"Brother Xiao Feng went out to contact member Lin Fuguang before. Not to mention that Lin is now wavering. Even if Lin is willing to agree to help, the road to the west may not be guaranteed to be smooth. You see,
Once the Xixia people take over this side..."
"I don't think there's anything going on on the way north. I can't understand the attitude of the Jurchens at all now. The situation outside is changing every day. When doing business, what should we do if it becomes unstable..."
"You can't do it. We don't understand how to do business, but can Mr. Ning be like you and me..."
"Don't argue, don't argue. If you can't figure it out, just think more. If we can keep up with Mr. Ning's ideas, it will be good for us in the future."
"If we can't do it, the worst we can do is fight back to Miao territory, but there is still a way..."
"I have no ambition. Let me see, isn't there another side? The Wu Dynasty and the landlords north of the Yellow River used to have a lot of food. If the Jurchens kill them again, they will definitely bottom out, but there are still some..."
"Those wealthy families are all officials and students. If they want to cooperate with us, I think they would rather join the Jurchens..."
The air seemed a little stuffy, and among the chatter, the hottest and most urgent topic in Xiaocang River at this time was the food issue. Ning Yi had previously chosen this site, hoping to connect to Qingmuzhai and finally establish a commercial foothold in this place of the Fourth War.
, many people have heard of this idea, but it sounds reasonable, but in reality, it is really difficult. At least until now, even those people around Zhuo Xiaofeng still place their only confidence in the plan in Ning Yi.
exists by itself.
Although we can't think of it, maybe Mr. Ning will be able to find a way out at some point?
After all, this isn't the first time something like this has happened.
Either because of the anxiety in the heart, or because of the invisible pressure from the outside. On such a night, there are not a few people secretly discussing and caring about the food problem in the valley. If it were not for Wurui Camp, several departments inside and outside Zhuji would not care about each other.
With a certain level of confidence, just such anxiety can overwhelm the entire rebel system.
While everyone was discussing, when they met Ning Yi, the Xixia envoy Lin Houxuan also brought up the matter straight to the point.
"...Before I came here, I knew that Mr. Ning had original ideas about trade routes. Now the food here has begun to be in short supply. I admire you for wanting to open up trade routes to get food. However, the situation outside the mountains has changed. The Wu Dynasty has declined.
My coming from Xixia to the south is an act of destiny and no one can stop me. Our Majesty respects Mr. Ning’s talents. Since you have killed the king of Wu Dynasty, this place will no longer be able to tolerate you. As long as you surrender to me, Xixia, you will
All the problems we face will be solved easily. Our Majesty has already drawn up the preliminary conditions. As long as you nod your head, we will give you tens of thousands of meters, thousands of stones, pigs and sheep..."
In the room in the small courtyard, the lights are not too bright. Lin Houxuan is a middle-aged man in his thirties. He has a dignified appearance and speaks fluent Chinese. He is probably from a prominent Xixia family. He has a sense of stability when talking.
The power of people's hearts. After inviting him to sit down, Ning Yi made tea for him at the coffee table. Lin Houxuan took this opportunity to talk. But at this time, Ning Yi raised his hand slightly: "Please tea.
"
Lin Houxuan cupped his hand, picked up the tea cup and took a sip. From the moment he entered the door, he also carefully looked at the young man opposite him who killed the King of Wu Dynasty. The other person was young, but his eyes were calm, and his movements were simple, neat and powerful.
Other than that, he couldn't see anything different about the other party for a while, but after inviting him for tea, when he put down the tea cup, Ning Yi said: "I won't agree."
Lin Houxuan originally wanted to continue speaking, but he hesitated for a moment. He did not expect that the other party would refuse so simply: "Mr. Ning...could it be that he wanted to hold on for dear life? Or maybe he wanted to tell the official that in this mountain,
If everything is fine, even if you stay here for ten years, you won't starve to death?"
The other party shook his head and poured him a cup of tea: "I know what you want to say. Conversations between countries and places are not based on emotion. I just considered the bottom line of both parties and knew that the matter was not discussed.
There is a possibility, so please go back and tell your country’s lord that I will not agree to his conditions. Of course, if your country wants to open up several trade routes through us, we are very welcome. But it doesn’t seem possible.”
Ning Yiping talked about this matter calmly. Although it was simple, almost all the roads were blocked in one sentence. Lin Houxuan frowned. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, but just heard about it, he would have thought this was not enough.
This strange guy who was less than 30 years old and killed an emperor in a fit of rage was doing it out of anger, but in his eyes, the other party took it for granted and did not show any irrational feelings.
He thought about the many possibilities, and finally swallowed his saliva: "Then... Mr. Ning asked me to come, what else is there to say?"
"Just to be polite."
"Um?"
"You have been here for several days. On behalf of the king of a country, you want to see me. I know there is no need to talk, and there is something on hand, so I refuse. But you are leaving, and you can't not see me at all. This is rude."
Lin Houxuan was stunned for a long time: "Mr. Ning, do you know that when Xixia goes south this time, there is an alliance between our country and the Jin people."
In the dim light, he saw the man opposite him slightly raising his eyebrows, signaling for him to continue speaking, but he still looked calm.
"Our Majesty, in personal talks with Marshal Zong Han's special envoy, finalized the plan to seize the Wu Dynasty from the south." He cupped his hands and said loudly, "I know that Mr. Ning's side also has a relationship with Qingmuzhai in Luliang Mountain. Qingmuzhai not only has connections with the south
We have business and have several contacts with the Jin people and nobles in the north. But now the people guarding Yanmen are the Jin people. Mr. Ning, if we hold the northwest and the Jurchens cut off the north, where will you be?
Xiaocang River, is there still a chance of surviving by chance?"
Ning Yi opened his mouth and wanted to speak, but Lin Houxuan did not wait for him to say anything and said again: "Our Majesty is not willing to do such a thing. Your Majesty is talented, wise and martial, and recognizes heroes and values heroes. Your Majesty values Ning.
Mr. Ning is a hero of his time, and he also values the people in this valley as brave people. Does Mr. Ning just want to watch them slowly starve to death?"
Ning Yi looked at him and smiled. That look made Lin Houxuan extremely uncomfortable, because the other party always acted like he was looking at a junior. Then he saw the other party stand up and raised his hand: "This is the proposal.
No change, Messenger Lin, please come back."
Lin Houxuan was stunned for a longer time this time: "Mr. Ning, Lin doesn't understand why."
"Chinese people will not vote for foreign countries, and this decision remains unchanged."
"ah?"
"Please." Ning Yi raised his hand calmly.
…
"Then... forgive Lin's blunt statement, if Mr. Ning really refuses this matter, we will do more than just cut off the trade routes at both ends of Xiaocang River and Qingmuzhai. At the beginning of this year, 300 Buba Elites and Mr. Ning
The accounts between subordinates cannot be settled like this. Has Mr. Ning thought about this matter?"
"please."
…
In the light of the lights, Lin Houxuan blushed slightly. At the same time, the sound of a child crying came from a room not far away.
************
After leaving the small courtyard where Ning Yi was, Lin Houxuan's head and face were still hot. He knew that this errand was unlikely to succeed, but he just didn't understand why.
This lack of understanding is not a rejection of Ning Yi. People in the Central Plains are entangled in the name of China and would rather die than join a foreign race. This is not uncommon. At least until the steel knife is actually cut down, there are many people who are willing to die.
He just didn't understand what he was missing.
The other party's calm attitude could not tell that he was talking about a matter that could determine life or death. Lin Houxuan was born in a Xixia noble family, and he had seen many great figures who had not moved before the mountains collapsed, or who had been in battle for a long time.
, a fierce general who regards life and death as nothing. However, in the face of such a life and death crisis, if he blocks the way out in an understatement and can maintain such calm, then he is nothing but a madman.
Unless he doesn't think this is a dead end.
What did you miss?
With full of doubts, he looked back at the small courtyard with yellow lights on the hillside not far away, and then looked at the relatively lively residential area not far away, and further away, surrounded by sparse lights.
Reservoir. The spirit permeating this valley is different. They are warriors that His Majesty will like and can use, but they are indeed on the edge of crisis...
He walked all the way back to the resting place. After meeting with a few followers, he asked someone to take out the map and read it several times. The situation to the north, the situation to the west... the situation outside the mountain.
What big changes suddenly happened in the past two days? Or is there an unimaginable amount of food stored in Qingmuzhai? Even if they don't have food problems, how can they not worry about their own declaration of war? Is it a bluff, or do they want to have it in their own hands?
Get more promises and benefits?
Like many others, at this moment, Lin Houxuan could not figure out the solution to Xiaocanghe's predicament. The situation in the world has reached a point of overturn, and it is not easy for all forces to survive, and they will use all their strength.
This small army in the mountains has obviously faced such a big problem, but the guy in charge behaves so rashly?
For a moment, he thought about Ning Yi's rumored name as the inner demon, and for a moment he doubted his own judgment. By the time he left Xiaocanghe the next day, his mood had turned into complete frustration and hostility.
This matter can't be discussed. Of course, he won't get any credit or rewards when he goes back, but no matter what, there is no way to survive here. What kind of demon Ning Yi, who killed the emperor in a rage is indeed a madman. He wants to die.