As Li Jing said before, for the sake of the people in the Jianghuai land, Du Fuwei cannot die at this time, or even lose control of the Jianghuai army.
Although this sounds a little emotionally unacceptable, it is the result of respecting the facts.
After all, in troubled times, what people all over the world need most is a stable life.
Even if this stability is very short-lived, and it comes from a dominating warlord like Du Fuwei, it is still quite precious.
…
"Manager Du, I asked my superiors to write a letter of remonstrance to you a few months ago. Such an unjust act as raping a young man will eventually lead to retribution.
Look, today is here.
Isn't it that the current chaos in the world is due to the Sui Dynasty's unpopularity in imposing levies and expropriations?
If you imitate that foolish emperor Yang Guang, even if you gain temporary benefits, how can you do it for a long time?
Moreover, in this world, there are many men who cannot survive, or who want to make achievements.
With the power of the Jianghuai Army today, and with the reputation of Mr. Du, you only need to climb up and shout, and you will have countless followers, so why do you need to do something that harms others and does not benefit yourself..."
Li Jing stood in front of Du Fuwei's bed, looking at the former leader who was seriously injured and mentally depressed, and said with a solemn expression.
When Du Fuwei heard this, he looked at the thatched roof of the village house and was silent for a long time. Finally, he closed his eyes and sighed:
"Li Jing, before today, I didn't know there was someone like you in the Jianghuai Army.
And I have never seen your ‘letter of advice’.
But to be honest, even if you were really my confidant, I might not have listened to you when you persuaded me.
After all, I, Mr. Du, have been traveling all over the world for decades, and I have always only followed myself..."
At this point, Du Fuwei's voice suddenly stopped, and he covered his chest with his hands. His face was very painful, as if his words had affected his injuries. After a while, his expression relaxed slightly, and then he said to Li Jing:
"That's all, there's no need to mention the past.
In order to survive today, I even kowtowed and begged for mercy. What else can I say about my dignity?
Tell me, what exactly does Mr. Meng behind you want me to do?
Although Mr. Du is not a gentleman, he is not someone who goes back on his word and goes back on his word..."
Li Jing saw Du Fuwei's mood swings, but was not affected at all. He still calmly and seriously said to him:
"Manager Du, didn't I make it clear just now?
Mr. Meng couldn't stand the Jianghuai army's forced recruitment of strong men today, and he was filled with righteous indignation, so he made an attack on you today.
His meaning is also very simple, he wants your Jianghuai army to stop harassing the people and harming innocent people in the future."
Du Fuwei, who was on the bed, was stunned when he heard this. He turned his head to look at Li Jing with difficulty, and looked straight at him for a long time before he said:
"Is this really what he's doing?
Before he opened his mouth to bet on the Jianghuai Army with me, didn't he want my forces to fight for the world..."
Li Jing smiled slightly when he heard this and asked Du Fuwei:
"If Mr. Meng really has this intention, what will Mr. Du do?"
While Li Jing was speaking, his eyes met those of Du Fuwei. Their eyes were obviously not sharp, but they seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. Du Fuwei was seriously injured and was in low spirits. For a moment, he was intimidated by his aura and remained silent for a long time. Finally,
He spoke calmly:
"In order to save my life, I will agree temporarily.
But this power and reputation in the military cannot be delivered in a short time.
Only after I confirm that Mr. Meng will not cross the river and tear down the bridge, unload the mill and kill the donkey, will I sincerely help him..."
"But if Mr. Du is like this, wouldn't it be impossible to compete for the emperor's position in the future?"
Before Du Fuwei finished speaking, Li Jing immediately asked.
Du Fuwei smiled casually upon hearing this, shook his head, and replied:
"Li Mi wants to be the emperor, Wang Bo wants to be the emperor, and Dou Jiande also wants to be the emperor. Everyone wants to be the emperor, but I, Du Fuwei, may just be afraid of losing my martial arts skills, and I am unwilling to be lonely and want to compete with the heroes of the world.
"
Hearing Du Fuwei's words, Li Jing had already made up his mind. He nodded and said, "Mr. Du, Li Jing takes leave." Then he turned around and walked out of the house.
When Du Fuwei saw this, he felt quite strange and called him out:
"Wait, are you leaving now..."
Li Jing turned around when he heard the sound and asked Du Fuwei:
"After everything is said and done, it's natural to leave. What else does Mr. Du have to do?"
Du Fuwei pushed himself up and asked with burning eyes:
"You just left like this, aren't you afraid that I will recover from my injuries, dispatch troops, invite experts, and then turn around and deal with you?"
Li Jing smiled slightly, as if he had known what Du Fuwei had said, and immediately spoke softly:
"Mr. Meng once said that if Mr. Du is dissatisfied, he can regroup and challenge him again.
But next time, he won't give you a chance to 'talk'..."
…
Quietly, the few dozen remaining bodyguard cavalry took the seriously injured Du Fuwei away from the village.
Li Jing glanced at the dust and smoke raised by the horse's hooves from afar. He didn't pay much attention to it, turned around and walked towards a private house that had been vacant because the villagers fled.
"How is Mr. Meng doing now?"
Li Jing pushed the door open and asked Zhang Yong and Su Su who were sitting in the living room.
"Brother Meng has not come out since he entered the back room, and we have never dared to disturb him.
Brother Li Jing, tell me, is it possible that Brother Meng just overexerted his kung fu and was injured secretly..."
Zhang Yong glanced into the back room, his expression somewhat worried.
"I hear some strange noises coming from Mr. Meng's room, and I don't know what they are.
Brother Li, will Mr. Meng be okay?"
Su Su on the side looked equally nervous and couldn't help but echoed.
After the battle with Du Fuwei just now, Meng Xiuyuan suddenly said that he wanted to find a quiet room to retreat for a short period of time, and even the negotiation with Du Fuwei was given full authority to Li Jing.
This kind of performance left the three of them confused, and they couldn't help but feel a little worried.
As the backbone of the three, Li Jing was equally uneasy, but he had no choice but to comfort the remaining two:
"Mr. Meng's last move can be said to have unpredictable power. If he suffered some internal injuries as a result, it is possible.
However, since he has great martial arts skills and a calm mind, nothing major will happen to him.
Let’s wait for him…”
Just as he was speaking, the door to the back room suddenly opened, and Meng Xiuyuan ducked out, looking at ease.
"I'm really sorry for causing you three worries.
I'm not injured, but after the battle just now, there were some changes in my true energy. I can't determine the specific situation for a while, so I can't explain it to you..."
While speaking, Meng Xiuyuan raised his hands to the three of them, and then asked Li Jing alone:
"Brother Li, what happened to Du Fuwei?"
Li Jing heard this and said seriously:
"I have talked with him, and according to my judgment, this person is not a tyrant who wants to compete for the throne of the emperor.
Under the threat of life, Mr. Meng will not disobey your instructions.
If Mr. Meng is worried, I can stay here for a while and secretly see if the Jianghuai Army's behavior has changed."
Meng Xiuyuan smiled, shook his head, and said to Li Jing:
"No need to bother.
When it comes to wisdom, strategy, and understanding of people's hearts, I am not as good as Brother Li.
Brother Li's vision makes me feel at ease."
Zhang Yong next to him didn't care much about these things. After hearing Meng Xiu's words, he immediately interjected and asked:
"Brother Meng, you said something happened to you when you were really angry. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Please explain things clearly, don't be vague."
When Meng Xiuyuan heard the words and looked over, he saw Zhang Yong's dark face full of concern. Knowing that his feelings were sincere, he couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.
He reached out and patted Zhang Yong on the shoulder, and then said easily:
"My martial arts studies have been stuck at a bottleneck for several months.
Any change happening at this moment is always a good thing."
Zhang Yong was relieved after hearing Meng Xiuyuan's words, and his honest smile appeared on his face again.
…
After several accidents, a lot of time was delayed.
Seeing that the sun was setting in the west and it was getting late, the four of them did not discuss setting out on the road, but spent the night in this small village.
Su Su was gentle, virtuous, and ingenious. She borrowed the oil and salt from the pots and pans left by the villagers to cook some pheasants and hares that Meng Xiuyuan had hunted back very deliciously.
The four of them had a good meal and sat at the table chatting for a long time before they dispersed and went their separate ways.
Su Su and Li Jing were very tired after a whole day of mental stress. They each chose a relatively clean village house and rested.
Only Zhang Yong, who had not seen Meng Xiuyuan for many years, was so excited that he pulled Meng Xiuyuan to sit at the dinner table for a while longer.
"Brother Meng, come on, let's drink again.
I have been looking for you for so many years and finally found you again. It is not easy.
We must get drunk today!"
Zhang Yong brought a jar of turbid wine and filled it up for Meng Xiuyuan happily, unable to hold back the smile from the bottom of his mouth.
When Meng Xiu saw him like this, he felt a little confused in his heart. He didn't know why he was still so enthusiastic about him after they had only been together for a few months, and there was a "childhood friend" whom he hadn't seen for ten years.
Partly out of sincerity and partly out of spectacle, Meng Xiuyuan asked with concern:
“Yongzi, how is your family’s situation now?
Are the shopkeeper and the landlady in good health?
So, is the business going well at the restaurant?"
When Zhang Yong heard that Meng Xiuyuan cared about him, his expression became even happier. He drank a large bowl of wine, and then said with a naive smile:
"It's all good, it's all good.
As Brother Meng reminds me, my father took my mother to the city to see a doctor. After drinking the decoction for half a year, I never coughed again.
Recently, I received a letter from them in the army, saying that the restaurant at home was doing a booming business and was too busy, and asked me to go back quickly to help..."
Meng Xiuyuan nodded when he heard the words, and felt a little relieved in his heart. He felt that it was not easy for these three people to still have such a good life in troubled times.
"In that case, why do you still join the Jianghuai Army?
Did you know that the sword has no eyes and the battlefield is dangerous?
Not to mention that you are just physically stronger than others, even if you really have strong martial arts skills, there is no guarantee that you will not encounter a more powerful opponent."
Seeing Zhang Yong's sincere affection, Meng Xiuyuan was deeply moved, and couldn't help but stand in the perspective of a big brother and take the initiative to give him some advice.
When Zhang Yong heard this, he first filled his bowl with turbid wine, and then he smiled at Meng Xiuyuan and said:
"Brother Meng, I understand what you said.
But if I hadn’t come out to join the rebel army and see the world, how could I have met Miss Susu, and how could I have met you again, Brother Meng?
The past two years since I ran away from home have been the happiest days for me, except for playing behind you when I was little..."
Meng Xiuyuan snorted softly when he heard this, reached out and took away the wine bowl in front of Zhang Yong, and said sternly to him:
"Yongzi, I'm not kidding you.
Go home and run the restaurant with your parents.
After saving more money, I will go south and settle down on the territory of the Lingnan Song clan.
The Heavenly Sword Song Que's martial arts fame is world-famous, and the Song Dynasty clan is located in a corner and has no competition with the world. It is expected that no war will affect it.
In troubled times, this is the only path that can guarantee you a stable life."
Seeing Meng Xiuyuan's serious expression, Zhang Yong was startled for a moment, then his smile faded slightly, and he said seriously to Meng Xiuyuan: "Brother Meng, thank you for the reminder.
I will try to write a letter tomorrow and send it home to ask my parents to pack their things and go to Lingnan to settle down.
However, I won’t go there myself.
I still want to look around to see if I can find another suitable place for the rebels to join..."
Meng Xiuyuan frowned slightly when he heard this, and asked Zhang Yong in confusion:
"Yongzi, what are you doing this for?
Is it for success and fame? Or for that girl Su Su?"
Zhang Yong smiled again when he heard this, and replied sincerely to Meng Xiuyuan with his dark and honest face:
"Brother Meng, I can't explain this clearly, maybe it's all happening.
In fact, what I am thinking about is to see more of the world, interact with more outstanding people, and leave more unforgettable experiences.
In this way, even if I die on the way one day, I will not regret it..."
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Meng Xiuyuan felt a little dazed when he heard the honest and honest Zhang Yong suddenly say such philosophical words, and couldn't help but ask:
"Yongzi, did you realize these words yourself, or did someone teach you?"
Zhang Yong looked at Meng Xiuyuan with his small eyes and replied:
"Brother Meng, didn't you tell me all these things?"
Meng Xiuyuan was stunned when he heard the sound and was in disbelief:
"Did I tell you this when I was a kid? Why don't I remember?"
Zhang Yong chuckled, touched the back of his head, and replied:
“Actually, I was still young at that time, so I can’t remember exactly whether I said it or not.
I only remember that from the day Brother Meng showed up in my store, I was full of curiosity about the outside world.
And when you said goodbye a few months later and left alone, I had already made up my mind that when I grow up, I must leave that small shop and go out to see the vast world.
I want to know how magical the outside world is, whether there are those wonderful stories you told, and how it was possible to create such a powerful person as Brother Meng..."
Meng Xiuyuan's heart trembled when he heard this. He didn't expect that some of the words he said to coax the child would change Zhang Yong's life.
Although Zhang Yong has a simple and honest personality, he also has a bright mind. Seeing Meng Xiuyuan's expression change slightly, he knew that he was blaming himself, so he dared to speak again:
"Brother Meng, to be honest, I have always been very grateful to you.
If it weren't for you, I might have been trapped in my parents' little restaurant my whole life.
As long as a person lives, the grass and trees will fall. No matter how great your skills are or how much wealth you have, sooner or later it will come to an end.
And in the end, what can be left behind is not what we hear, see, know and feel along the way?
In this case, why should I restrain myself so that I cannot experience the wonderfulness of this only life?"
Meng Xiuyuan sat there blankly when he heard the sound. He felt a sudden surge in his heart, and a small corner that had been sealed for a long time had been touched.
I personally feel that a transitional chapter is necessary, and it has been noted in the title. Please feel free to comment.
Mr. Huang Yi mentioned many times in the original text that something like "Is there anything more moving in this world than life itself, and the reason why life is meaningful is the moving process and experience. Success or failure is not important, but the process of struggle."
That’s the most charming thing.” Such words.
I think this is also one of the spiritual cores of the book "The Legend of Two Dragons of the Tang Dynasty".