On September 17, the first year of the founding of the Wu Dynasty, a vote that seemed unbelievable and whimsical at the time took place in Qingzhou, northwest China.

No matter what accolades and ground-breaking descriptions this vote was given in later generations, most people in the northwest at that time were actually unable to understand the situation. The whole process was roughly like this. First, the Chinese army and species, then

The two parties met and discussed the procedures for voting, statistics, and notarization. Each of the three companies appointed several highly respected local people as a supervisory team. Then Zhuji's storyteller gave a lecture in and around Gyeongju City for about fifteen days.

Frankly speaking, the process was tedious and boring. The villagers who probably understood what was going on began to ask the opinions of the village elders.

On the 16th day of the 16th, the hurried small villagers and the Zhejia army led villagers from several places around Gyeongju into the city. After the people gathered, each of them was given a note and had his or her fingerprint printed on it.

Under everyone's supervision, three boxes with different patterns were put in. The whole process lasted for three days, and the total number of voters later determined was 28,732.

Three days later, the Black Flag Army broke out from Gyeongju.

The whole thing happened neatly, without any sloppiness. Until the end of the thing, the world was quiet and desolate, and many people were confused about what exactly happened.

During the entire process of this matter, Zhong and Zhe both made a lot of preparations and preparations, and anticipated various possible situations in their hearts. In the political arena, the words of big figures are never trustworthy, and Ning Yi's words

Impassioned, but beautiful and empty, it seems like a dream. They have never dealt with Ning Yi before, and it is not accurate to estimate it from the information circulated in the market from the scouts. But in any case, with the cooperation

While this "farce" was going on, there was a lot of room left in the hearts of both parties.

Is the other party openly building a plank road and secretly building a warehouse? Is it using this kind of "voting" to cover up something? Is it trying to sow discord, is it trying to attack us, and is it using any tricks in the voting so that everyone will be confused no matter how they vote?

Same?

If these things happened, they wouldn't be surprised at all.

But there was nothing.

The farce was over, and the Zhong family, which was already managing Gyeongju, received more than half of the votes. At this time, in order to promote the "farce", the three parties allocated a thousand people to Gyeongju City. When the black flag army attacked

Zhong Lie's men handed over various objects in the city. When they broke camp and left, Zhong Lie was stunned.

What kind of conspiracy is this?

Two peaches kill three people? Provoke a conflict between yourself and the Zhe family? Do you want to provoke the entire city?

Because there is not enough food in the winter? Are you unwilling to take over the mess? Or is it for the convenience of the so-called "commerce"? Or is it because you are worried about becoming enemies with yourself and the Zhe family after gaining Gyeongju - it is also a joke, a force just defeated Xixia with more than 100,000 men

Even if the army of the army is willing to be an enemy, in a year or two, who will really dare to attack casually...

Qingzhou changed hands, and Zhe Keqiu was dumbfounded. It was like all the ridiculous things a person had seen in his life were squeezed into two or three months. And when he left, Ning Yi also invited two people

I went to Yanzhou for a visit not long after, because the other party hoped that the same election would appear in Yanzhou next.

Half a month later, the atmosphere in Yanzhou became tense. In order to prevent Ning Yi from using Qingzhou as a bait to attract the species, the two families came to the scene and caught them all. When the representatives of the two families came over, they made careful arrangements.

At the invitation, two teams of the Western Army came to Yanzhou. This time, there were also Xixia envoys sitting at the negotiating table.

Compared with Gyeongju, the situation in Yeonju is more complicated. In order to ensure that no matter what happens, the interests of the Black Flag Army in the northwest can be protected. There are many things that need to be discussed. Almost all participants are based on

A kind of look at Black Flag Army, Ning Yi, Qin Shaoqian and others as he watched a prodigal squandering his fortune: He may really not want to occupy the land, he really wants to give others the right to choose, he really wants to do business...

…These things are ridiculous, but that’s what the other person is doing.

During this process, the Xixia envoys who came to the meeting, such as Lin Houxuan and others, also watched all this with almost groaning and despair. Their hearts were full of mixed feelings. Out of consideration for safeguarding the interests of Xixia, Lin Houxuan also asked Ning

Yi tried to persuade her sincerely, but to no avail.

From the first time he came to Xiaocang River, the two parties had had a lot of interactions. However, it was only then that he truly felt that hidden under the gentle and calm appearance of this scholar was actually something that no one could understand.

of madness.

This person is really crazy, so no one can persuade him...

****************

The west wind blows over the ground, and the grass gradually breaks.

In Yanzhou City, Mao Yishan walked out of the empty courtyard. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, but the cold winter atmosphere was gradually arriving.

The old woman he had been looking after died a few days ago. During the large-scale voting a few days ago, the old woman could no longer get out of bed, but she heard about it and after a little understanding,

The trustee fingerprinted the note sent to her home and threw it into a box belonging to the Chinese Army.

However, the fate of the Chinese army has been decided.

Dong Zhiyuan, the monument commemorating the victory of the Chinese army here was erected not long ago. It stood alone in the wilderness, facing the withered grass and autumn wind around it. The decaying scene seemed to tell the story of peace in this great chaos in the northwest.

came briefly.

The Chinese army is about to return to Xiaocanghe, and Yanzhou will once again fall under the jurisdiction of Zhonglie. Unlike Qingzhou, according to the negotiated terms, Yanzhou will have another vote in three years to decide its ownership.

, and will be repeated every three years from now on. Regarding the conditions proposed by Ning Yi before, both sides regarded them as his method of checks and balances, but they did not reject them in the end. In such a world, what will happen in three years?

Who can say for sure, no matter who gets this, if he wants to regret it or cheat after three years, there are plenty of ways.

The army that returned to the mountains took away more than a thousand newly recruited soldiers, and they only left a team of 200 people in Yanzhou to supervise Xiaocanghe's interests in the northwest from being harmed. In Taiping

In the days since they came down, all kinds of supplies brought by members of the Batao Battalion from the south began to pass through the northwest and enter the mountains of Xiaocang River. It seemed like a drop in the bucket, but bit by bit, it added up to a lot.

At the same time, Xiaocanghe also started trade with Xixia. The reason why it happened so quickly was because it was an unexpected force that first came to Xiaocanghe and expressed its intention to cooperate with the Black Flag Army.

: That was the envoy of Tian Hu, the Tiger King of Hebei. He expressed his willingness to cooperate in the hinterland of the Wu Dynasty and cooperate in selling the green salt of Xixia.

The rule of the Wu Dynasty north of the Yellow River and south of Yanmen Pass was no longer strong at this time. The person who took over the important task of running around in this area was the well-known old man Zongze. He worked hard to persuade the leaders of some forces to serve the military.

However, the name of justice has been suppressed, and the war in words is a war. Things such as selling contraband goods to make money are no longer taboo for these rising reckless forces.

Tian Hu's reaction was so fast. Who was planning and presiding behind the scenes? You don't need to think about it to know the answer. Lou Shuwan acted very quickly, and the Black Flag Army defeated the Xixia people. She immediately made a plan

The two parties handed over the list of a large number of items that could be traded to Ning Yi, and when Ning Yi made a positive reply, the food and materials there were already on the way.

The reason why Lou Shuwan reacted so quickly was well-founded. Although she was highly valued in Tian Hu's army, as a woman, she could not make mistakes. After the regicide rebellion of Wurui Camp, Qingmuzhai became the target of public criticism, and it was originally related to it.

Tian Hujun, who had business dealings with him, cut off all contact with him. Lou Shuwan came to the northwest this time. First of all, he wanted to establish a line with the King of Xixia, and by the way, he wanted to trick Ning Yi. However, the King of Xixia could not count on it, and Ning Yi

She has clearly become a local snake in the northwest. If she goes back in disgrace, things will probably become quite embarrassing.

And when Ning Yi occupied the northwest, she could no longer control her connections with the surrounding places. Instead of being taken advantage of by others, she could only make the "best" choice at the time, which was to first talk to Xiao Cang.

If you show good will, at least in future business, you will have an advantage over others.

It was hard to know how she felt about making such a quick and "correct" decision. And when she received the news that the Chinese army had abandoned Qing and Yan, what kind of emotions were in her heart?

I'm afraid no one will know whether it will be a face full of shit, even for a while.

In this October, the green salt shipped from Xixia and a large amount of supplies from the Tiger King will be traded for the first time with the participation of the Chinese Army. In a sense, it is a good start.

.

After the Black Flag Army left, Li Pin came to Dong Zhiyuan to look at the stone tablet. After being silent for half a day, he burst into laughter. In the decaying sky, the laughter was like crying.

"I understand, haha, I understand. Ning Liheng is so cruel..."

Tie Tianying next to him looked at him doubtfully. Li Pin laughed for a while and gradually became quiet. He pointed at the stone tablet and clicked it a few times.

"He is... raising Gu. He has no mercy at all! There are many people who he can save..."

"Master Li." Tie Tianying hesitated, "Don't think about these things anymore..."

"He..." Li Pin pointed to the monument, "The food in the northwest is not enough. He originally divided it according to the head, so many people could die less. He returned Qingzhou and Yanzhou to Zhonglie, and Zhonglie had to

However, this winter, the number of people who will starve to death will double! Ning Yi, he asked the farmers to take the blame. Most of the farmers' power has been lost. Where can there be so much surplus food? People will start to fight and fight to the extreme.

, I will always think of his Chinese Army. At that time, people who suffered a lot will willingly join his army."

Tie Tianying hesitated for a moment: "He doesn't even want these two places. He wants a good reputation, which is what he should have. Moreover, will he consider that his soldiers are not enough..."

"Should it?" Li Pin laughed, "But you know, he had a way. Even if he occupied Qingzhou and Yanzhou, he had already started business with Xixia and Tian Hu! He

Things shipped from the south have also arrived. For at least half a year, no one in the northwest will really dare to mess with him. He can keep a lot of people alive, but it's not enough. He has occupied two cities. He has food, so he really can't recruit troops?

He just wants to make these people understand clearly and not be confused!"

"Iron Catcher, did you know?" Li Pin paused, "In his world, there are no neutral factions. Everyone has to find a place to stand, even ordinary people who don't do anything on weekdays.

You have to clearly know where you stand! Do you know what this kind of world is like? He is deliberately letting go and forcing people to die! Let them die clearly——"

Li Pin's words echoed in the wasteland, and Tie Tianying thought for a while: "But if the world collapses, who can be alone? Mr. Li, forgive Tie for speaking frankly, if his world is not good, what is your world?

What does it look like?"

Li Pin fell silent and stood there in a daze. After a long, long time, his eyes moved slightly. He raised his head: "Yes, what is my world like..."

He closed his eyes: "Ning Yi has something to say, and he is right. Confucianism should change... I should go. Tie Captou..." He turned his head and looked at Tie Tianying, "But... no matter

How about it, I always feel that there should be a way for ordinary people to survive in this world..." At the end of this sentence, it was as thin as a mosquito, and it was so sad that it was uncontrollable, like a moan, like a prayer...

Ning Yi returned to Xiaocang River at the end of October, when the temperature had dropped suddenly. Zuo Duanyou, who often argued with him, was also unusually silent about Ning Yi's various actions in the northwest.

, the old man can no longer understand, especially the two farce-like voting. Ordinary people saw a person's madness, but the old man could see something more.

At the beginning of November, the temperature suddenly began to drop, and there were already some clues of the chaos outside. People only regarded these things as a backlash for the Zhong family who suddenly took over the two places, and in the valley, people also began to come here in admiration.

I came here hoping to join the Chinese Army. Zuo Duanyou occasionally came to have a few words with Ning Yi. In some of Ning Yi's lectures to the young officers, the old man was actually able to understand some of the other party's intentions.

"...I won the battle once or twice. What I'm most afraid of is that I feel like I've survived a disaster, and I'm starting to enjoy it. Put thousands of people in Gyeongju and Yeonju, and you may have problems soon, and thousands of people

No matter how powerful our team is, it is inevitable that some people will have their own ideas. Assuming we stay in Yanzhou, as long as someone with evil intentions is prepared to defeat 3,000 people, they may take the risk and return to Xiaocang River, leaving 200 people outside.

, they dare not do anything.”

"...Moreover, Qingzhou and Yanzhou are full of wastes waiting to be renovated. To sort them out, we have to spend a lot of time and resources, sow the seeds, and we can start harvesting them in a year or two. We can't afford to wait.
To be continued...