"Dad, dad, there's nothing we can do about it!" Lao Li Mao faced his son's gaze shamelessly and avoided explaining.
Li Xu looked at his father, never willing to believe the answer. Although his family was poor, it could still be considered wealthy compared to the extremely poor families in his neighbourhood. There was no need to give a gift to the husband to study in the county school, and the government usually provided students with a
Two meals a day. Although there is little oil in the food, if I didn’t have to help my mother with housework, I could almost stay in school and only go home to eat once a month...
Mrs. Li Zhang was silent, turned around, and kept wiping her tears. It’s not that her son was ignorant, it was precisely because he was so sensible that it was extremely difficult for his parents to make such a big decision for him. If it hadn’t been for this damn Korea
, if the emperor doesn't always think about the Siyi Binfu... That's something she can't control. Now, the only one she can make the decision is her son.
"It's not like the family doesn't have money to support you! There's going to be a war. Shanggu County is going to be drawn. All the sons of good families must prepare their own armor and weapons to join the army. Dad wants you to use the excuse of doing business to go out and stay away until the army sets off the year after tomorrow.
Come back and take care of your mother!" Li Mao couldn't bear the pressure in his heart and finally decided to tell the truth. Although forcing his son to become a deserter is not a glorious move, compared to letting his son misunderstand that he ruined his future to save money, this reason is more convincing.
Come through the breath.
"If I don't go outside the Great Wall, I will serve as a soldier, and I will get my honors on horseback...!" Li Xu said nonchalantly when his father told him the real reason. A stone fell to his heart immediately.
"Pa!" A burning pain in his cheek interrupted his words. His father, who had always been harmonious, stood up and slapped him in the face. In an instant, Li Mao's old face, which was full of wrinkles scratched by wind, frost and time, swollen.
Turned blue-black, raised his eyes, and cursed loudly: "Shut up, are you going to get the fame right now? You open your eyes wide and take a look, among the hundreds of households in the same town, who among the hundreds of households in the same town has anyone who has come back alive to get the fame! In the 18th year of the founding of the Emperor, Dongdong
During the expedition, 300,000 were lost and 299,000 died..."
"Okay, what are you doing?" Mrs. Li Zhang rushed over and held her son in her arms. She wanted to comfort her son, but before she could speak, tears fell all over her face.
"Dad -" Li Xu covered his face and shouted softly, big tears rolling down his fingers. This slap completely stunned him, and he instinctively wanted to say a few soft words to apologize to his father.
, but I don’t know where I went wrong. “Fame is gained on horseback”, this is the ancestral motto of the clan and the teachings of my husband, but this truth turned into disobedient and unfilial words in front of my father.
Li Mao looked at his son, then at his wife, and felt a pain in his heart. His anger disappeared without a trace in an instant. He fell heavily and sat back on the bench, and said dejectedly: "Tomorrow you say goodbye to the master and prepare to go out! You
Brother has become a lonely ghost, I can't send you out again, otherwise, when I die in the future, I won't be able to see my ancestors."
Hearing her husband talk about her eldest son, Mrs. Li Zhang felt even more sad. She hugged her son's shoulders and sobbed: "Xuzi, listen to your father! Ah! Mom doesn't expect you to be proud of your ancestors. She only expects you to live in peace."
After this life, marry a wife and give birth to a son. Your brother followed Mr. Gao to the fortress and was the best in riding and shooting among three hundred people..."
In Li Xu's memory, he no longer remembers his brother's appearance at all. He was only two years old in the 18th year of the founding of the Emperor. According to his mother, he rode on his brother's neck all day long and watched the soldiers. Later, his brother was also recruited into the army, and later, memory
Only the father's sighs and the mother's tears are left...
Old Master Yang from the county school was always so wise in Li Xu's eyes. A few days later, when Li Xu murmured that he was going to resign from school and go out to do business for his father, Old Master Yang immediately exclaimed: "Are we going to do this again?"
Is there a war? You don’t even care to read?"
"Sir, it's hard to disobey your father's orders!" Li Xu suddenly turned red, lowered his head, and his voice was as thin as a gnat.
"It's no wonder, it's no wonder, you are already an only son in the family. And my father is nearly fifty years old. If you are allowed to make Liaodong Bones, your Li family will be cut off. Alas, it is a pity that you have written an article. I originally gave you
A few old friends wrote a letter, asking them to take care of me after the economic examination next year!" There was no blame in Old Master Yang's words, but only an indescribable regret.
"Thank you sir for your love. Although my disciple is not blessed, I will never forget this kindness!" Li Xu leaned down and bowed to the ground. Over the past few years of his studies, Master Yang has taken great care of him.
How many times have we learned poetry and theory from scriptures and calculations, almost all of which are shared by each other? Even the notes he wrote in the army when he followed Yue Gong Yang Su during the southern expedition were not prohibited from being read by his nominal disciple. It was just that Li
With Xu's age and knowledge, he could recite it by heart, but he could not really understand it more than one or two out of ten.
Old Master Yang waved his hand and responded with a long sigh. "Well, your father has his own reasons for doing this. This Eastern Expedition will be defeated or not. The people of Shengdou can see that, but all the princes in the imperial court have done everything.
Open your eyes and blind!”
"Disciple has been taught for many years, but has nothing to do with it. These jars of light wine are not worth getting drunk!" Li Xu sighed, pointing to the jars of old wine placed outside the courtyard. The success or failure of the Eastern Expedition has nothing to do with him. After today, he
He is no longer considered a son of a good family. According to the rules since the Han Dynasty, business is a lowly industry. Businessmen are not qualified to discuss national events such as the Eastern Expedition. From then on, Old Master Yang’s family will not be able to do anything unless he wants something.
It turned out that he came to visit casually like that. Otherwise, even if the young and old of the Yang family did not kick him out, other well-educated scholars would still laugh at Old Master Yang for his careless social interactions and his willingness to associate with businessmen.
Old Master Yang had always felt comfortable with this disciple who came to his door and then took the initiative to resign. He had experienced ups and downs throughout his life, and had seen a lot of ups and downs. When he was old, he didn't have so many ties in his heart. So he smiled and said decisively: "People say that businessmen are good at it.
This is a despicable career. I have never looked at it this way. The nobility of a person lies in the heart. His heart is noble. Even if he is a trafficker and a pawn, he can't conceal his awe-inspiring aura. His heart is despicable. Even if he stands in a temple, he is despicable and dirty and has a far-reaching reputation.
Bo. Your name is given by me, and you are naturally my disciple. Once you are a teacher, you will be a teacher forever. No matter you are a businessman or a thief in the future, the door of the teacher will always be open to you!"
"Thank you, Master, for your advice!" Li Xu lifted up the hem of his long coat and bowed down. He had read the books of sages since he was a child, and the highs and lows of all walks of life had long been engraved in his heart like inscriptions. So since he learned last night that he
After being unable to escape his fate as a businessman, Li Xu has always been worried about this. Old Master Yang's words were equivalent to opening a window above his head. He instantly saw the sun in the sky that suddenly turned gray.
color.
"Get up, you have taught me for many years. Among the disciples, you are not very talented, but you are more upright and honest." Old Master Yang has known people for many years, but he can't hear the unwillingness in Li Xu's words.
Deliberately giving this boy one more pointer, he said earnestly: "I'm afraid you will suffer losses in the future because of your uprightness and honesty! You must know that life is full of variables. Right and wrong, good and evil, are not on the surface. What you see with your eyes may not be the truth, but with your own ears
What you hear may not be the truth!”
Looking at Li Xu's blank face, the old master knew that it was too early for him to say these words at this moment. Although the children of the poor have long been in charge, Li Xu was only fourteen years old after all, and he could not understand some words at all. Some words even
He can understand that without the corresponding twists and turns in life, he will not be able to understand the true meaning.
Life is like a jar of wine. After years of fermentation, the sweet and spicy flavor can be brewed. Young people are like a jar of newly baked wine. Even if it is condensed with refined grains or made from sweet springs, it still has a certain flavor that cannot be shaken off.
of youthfulness.
"If this disciple gains something in the future, he will definitely come to ask for advice!" Li Xu, who was also a thoughtful person, smiled, with a somewhat sarcastic look on his face.
"If you can come, come early. After next year, I'm afraid the stable days of being a teacher will come to an end, and it's time to make some moves!" Old Man Yang smiled and shook his head.
"Master, are you going to travel far away? Or are you going to be hired by the imperial court?" Li Xu asked in confusion, completely missing the hint of bitterness in Master Yang's smile.
"It must be a destiny for a teacher. After all, I have been favored by others!" Old Master Yang continued to shake his head, unwilling to explain his words.
"That's right, Master once taught me that if I receive a drop of kindness from someone, I will repay it with a spring of water!" Li Xu replied following the Master's words.
"This statement may not be absolutely correct, but in life, how many people can break free from the bonds in their hearts!" The old master laughed a few times and deliberately changed the topic elsewhere, "Don't mention it, don't mention it. I'm just doing my best to live up to destiny.
Before you leave my house today, our master will discuss the victory or defeat of this Eastern Campaign!"
"Master, are you testing me?" Li Xu, relieved of his worries, asked with a smile. Last night, he heard from his father that the imperial court was spending a lot of money for the Eastern Expedition. Now he has begun to prepare food, grass, clothing and armor, and recruit young people from all over the country next spring.
Zhuang, the official departure was not until winter or the spring of the following year. According to his understanding, for such a large country to spend two years preparing for a war, there is absolutely no reason for defeat. But today, what Confucius heard from his mouth was exactly the opposite.
conclusion.
"Sir, are you not optimistic about this Eastern Expedition? I heard from my father that the army will be recruited next spring and set off the year after next. The court is so fully prepared. It must be planned before taking action. How can it not help a little Goryeo?" According to the master on weekdays,
After repeatedly scrutinizing the strength gap between the Sui Dynasty and Goryeo, Li Xu still came to the same conclusion. "I am well prepared, but I am defenseless when attacking. I have excellent weapons and a large number of soldiers..."
"Waging a war does not necessarily rely on large numbers of people, favorable weather, favorable geographical location, and harmonious relationships. Which points can be ignored? When we go to Liaodong, does the favorable weather depend on us? When we go to Liaodong, does the favorable location depend on us? When we go to Liaodong, on the surface, we are conquering Goryeo during the Sui Dynasty.
, Use the masses to defeat the few. In fact, the Mohe, Khitan, Shiwei, and hundreds of unnamed tribes in Liaodong are not at odds with Goryeo. In this case, where is the harmony between me?" When it comes to military affairs, Yang
The decadent look on the old master's face disappeared, and his beard and hair were flying.
"Yes, but my Sui Dynasty has more than a million halberds!" Li Xuwu argued forcefully. Although he was forced to deserter, deep down in his heart, he still expected that the Sui Dynasty could sweep across Liaodong and achieve great prestige. As a leader in power,
A young man who grew up in the Sui Dynasty had an innate sense of honor. Although, this court never gave him any practical benefits.
"Why don't you need a million people to hold a halberd? If you can command it as one, one hundred thousand will be enough to level Liaodong. The danger of the Sui Dynasty is not in Goryeo, but in Xiao Qiang. Once the army is transformed into a large army, I am afraid that millions of male ghosts will not be able to return home!"
The old master shook his head and slapped the table.
Parting is about to begin, and both the old and the young know that it will not be easy to meet each other in the future. One uses a rare good example to give careful guidance, and the other uses the last opportunity to concentrate on understanding, sighing a few times, laughing a few times, and unknowingly, the sound
It has passed out of the window.
"This old thing was just like the crops that were hit by frost a few days ago. Why is he so relieved today?" Outside the window, Mrs. Yang wondered. (To be continued)
