No one expected that they had been without food for many days, and Feng Yi still had beans hidden on his body. Zhu You couldn't help but ask: "Gongsun, where did you get the beans, and when did you get them?"
Feng Yi shrugged, gathered the beans in the middle of his robe, and then said, "I'll cook a bowl of bean porridge for my lord."
At this time, they were in a cave. Long Yuan and others gathered dry firewood and lit a bonfire. Feng Yi took out a small pottery basin, put beans and a few wild vegetable leaves in, poured some water, and put it in Burn on the bonfire.
As the bean porridge in the small pottery pot bubbled, the aroma of the bean porridge spread in the cave.
Everyone sitting around the bonfire swallowed secretly. Although they were extremely hungry, they all sat there without moving, and no one came forward to take a bite.
At this time, everyone who can still stay with Liu Xiu can be regarded as Liu Xiu's hardcore.
The waves are panning for gold, and a hundred times it is tempered to make steel. Is Liu Xiu's escape journey in Hebei a test of human nature?
The harsh and extremely dangerous environment had eliminated all those with weak willpower around Liu Xiu. As the saying goes, remove the dross and keep the best.
After the bean porridge was cooked, Feng Yi took out a bowl and brought it to Liu Xiu.
Under the soft calls of everyone around him, Liu Xiu woke up leisurely. When he saw the bowl of bean porridge sent by Feng Yituan, Liu Xiu was also surprised. He looked at Feng Yi distractedly and asked: "Where is this... The beans that came?”
"It was left behind by my subordinates before, but I haven't been willing to eat it." Feng Yi sent the porridge bowl forward again and said, "My lord, eat it quickly!"
This bowl of bean porridge only contains a few beans and a few pieces of wild vegetables. It is mostly soup and has no seasoning, so it tastes tasteless.
But for Liu Xiu, who had not eaten for many days and was very hungry, this bowl of bean porridge was the most delicious food he had ever eaten in his life.
After drinking this bowl of bean porridge, Liu Xiu slowly closed his eyes and seemed to fall into a deep sleep.
There was still a little bit of bean porridge left, but no one here was willing to eat it. Feng Yi looked around, and when he was about to speak, Deng Yu said: "Just keep the rest, and let the lord finish it when he wakes up." "
The rest of the people also nodded, indicating that Deng Yu was right. Feng Yi swallowed the words that came to his lips and put away the small pottery plate silently.
People thought that Liu Xiu fell asleep again after eating the bean porridge because he was weak, but in fact, he did not sleep.
Liu Xiu was lying at the end of the cave, with his back to everyone, no one could see him, and water dripped from his closed eyes.
Most of the founding emperors of the past dynasties were full of concerns and fears about the founding heroes.
Great achievements! Which emperor doesn't want to sit firmly after sitting on the throne? So the birds are gone, the good bows are hidden, the cunning rabbits die, and the lackeys are cooked.
Liu Xiu can be regarded as an outlier among the founding emperors. He did not have the pretentiousness to release his military power over a glass of wine, nor did he harm the founding heroes. He got along very well with every founding hero, which was certainly the same as Liu Xiu himself. It is related to his character, and at the same time, he is also a grateful person.
When he was in the most difficult time, those subordinates never left him. If they had a mouthful of food, they would rather go hungry than let him, the lord, eat first. This kind of kindness was remembered by Liu Xiu for the rest of his life. .
Therefore, in many cases, Liu Xiu behaves as a very protective person.
Not all of his men are saints. Some people often make mistakes, but Liu Xiu has never punished him too severely. Of course, his protective personality has also created a lot of troubles and even crises for himself. This
That's something for later.
After all, Liu Xiu was a person who had drank gold liquid, and his physical condition was very good. He was still sick yesterday, but after only one night, his energy and energy were obviously improved by the second day.
Feng Yi took out the little bean porridge left over from yesterday, heated it up, and gave it to Liu Xiu.
The latter waved his hand to him and said with a smile: "Add more water and we will all share the food together."
Deng Yu said seriously: "My lord is still ill, so it is better for you to eat!"
"Yes, my lord, it's just a little bit of bean porridge, how can it be enough for all of us to share?"
"Master, eat, we are not hungry!" Everyone advised Liu Xiu.
Liu Xiu said with a smile: "We have entered Youzhou, and Raoyang is not far away. Let's eat these bean porridge first to fill our stomachs, and then have a good meal when we get to Raoyang!"
Everyone looked at each other and murmured in their hearts, could the lord be ill and confused? They were wanted by the prince. If they went to Raoyang, wouldn't they be seeking their own death?
Yao Qi cleared his throat and said, "My lord, I heard that most of the counties in Youzhou have also submitted to Wang Lang."
Liu Xiu looked around at everyone, smiled calmly, picked up the stick standing next to him, stroked the yellow belt tied to the head of the stick, and said cheerfully: "Who knows, we are Liu Xuan's
Envoy, or the prince’s envoy?”
Everyone was startled when they heard this. Deng Yu was the first to react. His eyes suddenly lit up and he smiled and said, "My lord, you mean that we can pretend to be Wang Lang's envoys and sneak into Raoyang?"
"Exactly!" Liu Xiu nodded with a smile.
Those who can still stay with Liu Xiu now have an almost religious worship for Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu said that they could sneak into Raoyang. No one doubted this. Everyone's face showed joy.
Everyone grinned, full of excitement and excitement.
As long as people have hope in their hearts, they will be full of energy. Liu Xiu's words made the originally lifeless cave suddenly full of vitality. Liu Xiu also stood up, stretched his arms, and moved his muscles.
There wasn't much bean porridge left. Even though a lot of water was added, there were only so many beans in it. They divided it among dozens of people, and in the end everyone only got a portion of the bottom of the bowl.
But as we are about to enter Raoyang, people no longer care about this slimy bean porridge. After drinking it all in one gulp, they pack their luggage with great enthusiasm.
Liu Xiu walked out of the cave, raised his head, and took a deep breath.
This sudden illness made him feel as if he had traveled around the gates of hell, and it also gave him a sense of rebirth.
Before his illness, Liu Xiu was filled with resentment.
He resented Liu Xuan for killing his eldest brother, and wanted to harm him all the time, and wanted to eradicate the roots; he resented Wang Lang for proclaiming himself emperor, and pursued and beat him fiercely, with the intention of killing himself; he resented Liu Lin for his vicious thoughts
, he regards the lives of millions of people as nothing, and at the same time he is so stupid that he can believe Wang Lang's lies and push Wang Lang to become the emperor in Hebei; he resents the injustice of God, he has never done anything harmful to God, and has never done anything wrong. Why?
Just refuse to give yourself a way to survive...
But now, Liu Xiu no longer had any resentment in her heart.
He summed up his current situation in four words: not working hard enough.
If he can work harder, he can change the current embarrassing situation. If he can work harder, he can lead the brothers around him out of the desperate situation.
Just when Liu Xiu was standing outside the cave, with a lot of thoughts on his mind, Deng Yu came over, came to his side, and whispered: "Master, do you really want to sneak into Raoyang?"
Liu Xiu glanced at Deng Yu and nodded.
Deng Yu frowned and reminded: "My lord, this trip is dangerous!" If people don't recognize them, that's fine. Once they are recognized, they will become turtles in a urn in Raoyang, unable to fly.
Liu Xiu pondered for a moment and said: "Everyone follows me to seek hope, not to despair."
After a pause, he said meaningfully: "Since everyone respects me as their lord, I must bring hope to everyone!"
At this time, Liu Xiu really had no ability to say such things, but Deng Yu saw the long-lost confidence on Liu Xiu's face.
He couldn't remember how long it had been since he saw and felt Liu Xiu's confidence. The current Liu Xiu was the high-spirited Liu Xiu he was familiar with.
Deng Yu's heart trembled, and he raised his hands and said: "Whether you go up the mountain of swords or down into the sea of fire, Yu is willing to go with your lord!"
Liu Xiu patted Deng Yu on the shoulder and said: "Before Wang Lang proclaimed himself emperor in Handan, there were hundreds of people following me, but now, there are only dozens of people. Why?"
Deng Yu thought for a moment and said, "Because they are afraid of death."
Liu Xiu smiled and said: "Everyone is afraid of death, and I am afraid of death too."
He said quietly: "Those who leave me do so because their willpower is not strong enough, because they do not work hard enough, and they are not willing to work hard with me. Everyone will say the word hard work, and everyone understands that it is very important.
, but most people just muddle along with these two words. Therefore, only a few people can go very high and far, while most people just do nothing and live an ordinary life."
Deng Yu looked at Liu Xiu and didn't come back to his senses for a long time. At some point, Zhu You and others also walked out of the cave. People stood behind Liu Xiu and said in unison: "Lord! I am willing to follow you.
Let’s work together!”
Liu Xiu turned back, his eyes slowly swept over everyone's faces, nodded heavily, and said, "Yes, let's work together! Hold on a little longer! Work a little harder!"
Raoyang is located near the junction of Youzhou and Jizhou, with the junction of the two states to the south and the Hutuo River to the north. Raoyang has a good geographical location, but the city is not large.
When Liu Xiu and his party arrived in Raoyang, it was almost evening. Liu Xiu still took his stick, the staff, and walked at the front of the team, swaggering to the city gate.
The officers and soldiers guarding the city gate frowned when they saw Liu Xiu and others. They fled all the way from Jizhou to Youzhou. Everyone like Liu Xiu was in a mess, their clothes were dirty and torn, and their faces were black and white.
Almost all of them have big faces, and their hair has not been washed for several days and has become strands, still stained with dry grass blades.
If Liu Xiu and others were not carrying swords, their appearance would be almost the same as refugees fleeing from famine.
The gate officer guarding the city gate came forward, looked at Liu Xiu and others, and asked loudly and unkindly: "What do you do?"
"Bold!" Before Liu Xiu could say anything, Zhu You on the side exploded first. He put one hand on his hips and the other hand on the hilt of his sword, and shouted sternly: "When you meet the Lord, you said something rude. What crime should you do?"
Zhu You was not born in Baiding. He had served as an official and fought in wars. He had an aggressive aura about him. He had a serious face and was powerful without being angry.
The city gate official was really frightened by Zhu You. He felt that the man in front of him did not look like an ordinary person. He took a closer look at Liu Xiu and took a breath.
Although Liu Xiu's temperament is elegant and gentle, he already has the aura of a superior person. This feeling is difficult to describe. It feels like he should be the superior person.
The city gate official shrank his neck, his thoughts changed, he raised his hands and asked with a smile, "I wonder who you are?"
"I am the emperor's envoy! I am the governor of Zhuo County under the emperor's order. I am passing by Raoyang today. Do you want to prevent us from entering the city?"
Liu Xiu's tone was very calm, but his momentum was even stronger. Even the soldiers standing on both sides could feel the pressure coming from him.