When Xiaotang and his party came here to see the Waqiao Pass where water cuts and rivers were connected, and the water and land passes echoed from a distance, they were about to enter the territory of the Song Dynasty. They had already received oral information, and those who came to greet them were all in the name of the country.
The officers and generals of the left-behind department of the government, as well as several stewards in the Xiao family collection.
Although Xiao Tang had traveled to and from the Song Dynasty several times by sea as the co-owner of Green Forest and Mountains when he faked his death, he had to act in secret after all, so he had never seen the mentors and friends who lived in Daming Mansion and the Xiao family.
On the way back to Bianjing, I will revisit my hometown and visit Zhou Tong, Wang Jin, Lu Junyi, Yue Fei and others...
The gate of the pass was slowly opened, and the officials of the Liao Dynasty who accompanied Xiao Tang to Waqiao Pass reported their intention. After a while, Xiao Tang, Yan Qing, Xu Guanzhong and others were preparing to ride horses into the pass.
, suddenly I heard someone laughing and saying: "Xiao Renxia! You are indeed still alive!"
When Xiao Tang heard the sound and looked inside the pass, he saw Suo Chao, Zhou Jin and Wang Ding, three former colleagues of Pao Ze, who were left behind in the Daming Prefecture. There were also Bian Xiang, Lu Fang, Guo Sheng and Xue Yong in Xiaojiaji, as well as Zhou Tong and Zhou Tong.
Niu Gao, who had practiced arching and horse skills under Wang Jin's tutelage, as well as his double mace skills, also came here to greet them. Suo Chao and Niu Gao were both impatient, and they had already urged their horses to gallop forward.
Driving towards Xiaotang in a hurry.
After running up to Xiao Tang, Suo Chao took the lead and said loudly: "For mercy's sake, I taught Xiao Renxia how to turn danger into safety and not let the villains of the Liao Kingdom ruin their lives! What do those stupid officials of the Liao Kingdom do for a living? Hmph!
Xiao Renxia is obviously alive and well, but those guys are so confused, and even say that something unexpected happened to him in Liao, which makes me grieve in vain, but it's not bad luck!?"
Suo Chao was already reckless and impatient. He was surprised to see that Xiao Tang was safe and sound, so he did not say anything. He asked the Liao envoys who escorted Xiao Tang to hand over. The generals immediately looked shocked when they heard this. Xiao Tang
Seeing this, he smiled and apologized to those Liao officials. He also knew that Suo Chao treated his friends sincerely and said with emotion: "No matter whether I, Xiao Tang, die or live, I can live and die with Suo Tiha with sincerity."
, this life is really worth it.”
"Brother Xiaotang, today is a happy day for you to return to the Song Dynasty, so why do you need to say such words?"
Niu Gao also rode up to him at this time. Compared with the honest and simple appearance when he first met him in Xiaotang, Lushan County, Ruzhou, Niu Gao's words and deeds now seem to be more vigorous and vigorous.
During these days, he also benefited a lot from the guidance of Zhou Tong and Wang Jin.
At this time, I heard Niu Gao laugh and say: "My mentor, Junior Brother Yue, as well as the Yue, Wang, Zhang, and Tang families were all surprised and happy when they learned that my brother was not dead. Master sent me here first."
To welcome my brother, the old man, Mr. Lu and others are also waiting in the market town. Since my brother is safe and sound, it is a great thing. When we return to Xiaojiaji, we have to have a good meal!
"
Bian Xiang, Lu Fang, Guo Sheng and others also rode over at this time. Bian Xiang heard this and smiled at Niu Gao: "You bastard, at that time you thought that when Brother Xiao Tang was killed in Liaodong, you would just drink too much all day long."
Drunk, no one except Senior Zhou can stop you. Now that my brother is safe, you have to drink to your heart's content. No matter good or bad, you have to drink wine!"
Everyone present laughed when they heard this. After Xiao Tang exchanged a few words with Zhou Jin, Wang Ding, Xue Yong and others, the guard at Waqiao Pass met with the general from Daming Mansion to verify Xiao Tang's identity. He also
Knowing that this Xiao Renxia could be regarded as a popular person among the officials, he even tried to flatter him in every possible way, for fear that if anything went wrong and he would be displeased by this high-ranking official in the court.
After the Song Dynasty mistakenly believed that Xiao Tang had died in Liaodong, what official position was given to him? From the second-grade Privy Councilor to the Signing Secretary, to the Military Envoy of Xin'an Army, and even to the title of Founding Marquis, although Now that Xiao Tang is still alive, I don’t know what the officials are going to do with the officials who have been promoted posthumously. But in terms of official ranks, Xiao Tang doesn’t know how much higher he is than the general guarding Waqiao Pass. When Xiao Tang and his brothers entered Waqiao Pass, the Song army guarding the place also escorted them as if they were afraid that Xiao Tang would also be ambushed here.
Xiao Tang and Bian Xiang and others were walking and talking. When he saw Lu Fang and Guo Sheng who had been introduced to Xiaojiaji by Bian Xiang, he asked them: "Two brothers, what are you doing these days?" Teacher Wang nodded and used the halberd technique, is the progress going smoothly?"
Lu Fang and Guo Sheng looked at each other, and Guo Sheng laughed sarcastically and said: "Instructor Wang Jin is grateful for his brother's kindness to his mother and son. He spends more than half an hour every day to teach us brothers their skills and how to use the halberd." Brother Lu Fang and I are gradually becoming more and more proficient in the secrets of the halberd technique, but..."
Lu Fang then sighed, and continued what Guo Sheng said: "It's just that Coach Wang is also sad these days. Brother Guo Sheng and I ask Coach Wang for martial arts lessons every day, so that he can distract his mind and don't have to be depressed alone. I’m not happy, but it’s true that it won’t bother me for too long.”
Xiao Tang was startled when he heard this. He tugged on the horse's bridle reins and asked urgently: "What? What happened to Coach Wang?"
Bian Xiang glanced behind him first. He saw Niu Gao, Suo Chao and others who were unaware of Xiao Tang's secret plan. They were talking to Yan Qing and Xu Guanzhong. They were still some distance away, so Bian Xiang drove Ma came to Xiao Tang's side and lowered his voice: "Brother was secretly doing things in Jizhou, Jingdong Road and other places a few days ago. Everything was complicated, and Coach Wang didn't know that we and the Green Forest heroes gathered together for a great cause. , he also intended to keep a low profile, so the stewards in the market town never mentioned this matter to his brother... In fact, when his brother led two brothers to Jizhou to attack Wang Bolong's men, the mother of Coach Wang had already passed away. Teacher Wang has been living in seclusion during this period and is observing filial piety for his mother."...
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The Qingsongpo Washing Stream to the north of Xiaojiaji in Zongcheng County is not only the place where Su Jinniang first met in the Xiaotang Dynasty, but also a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters. The terrain on the south hillside is surrounded by water and sand, and it can also be called a place where ancestors were buried. A treasured place for people’s feng shui.
I saw a tomb hut near the mountain in the pine forest. Next to the tomb hut, there was a slightly repaired straw shed. A man with white hair on his temples and a rather vicissitudes of life was sitting in front of the shed looking at it. Zhuofen'an felt wistful, he was none other than Wang Jin, the head coach of Xiangyong in the Xiao family.
A filial son observes filial piety for his parents who have passed away. According to etiquette, he cannot sleep on a bed. He can only spread straw mats on the ground in the shed and use earth clods as pillows. He is also prohibited from participating in all entertainment activities such as watching plays, attending banquets, and enjoying rites and music, because When a child is a child, a mother feeds her child with breast milk for about twenty-seven months. Therefore, according to etiquette, children must also observe filial piety for their parents for twenty-seven months.
But it can be said that the punishment is not as good as that of an official, and the courtesy is not as good as that of common people, except for officials in the court who complain to Ding You (if a court official's parents pass away while he is in office, no matter what his official position is, he must temporarily resign and return to his ancestral home after learning of the funeral) , in addition to attaching great importance to observing filial piety for parents for twenty-seven months, called Ding You), the period of filial piety varies from place to place among the people depending on the situation, and the moderation is not without flexibility.
Especially people who make a living from various industries such as agriculture, industry, and commerce, because they cannot put down their work after the death of their parents, so the etiquette and laws followed by local villagers will be somewhat different depending on the customs of different places.
(But even for ordinary people, if their children get married during the period of observing filial piety, or if their wives and concubines become pregnant, they will be treated as serious crimes according to Song Dynasty criminal laws).
For example, after Shi Jin's father, Shi Taigong, passed away, Shi Jin went to the Daogongguo Taoist Temple to pay homage to his father, pay homage to him, and bury his body in his ancestral grave.
Wang Jin has also lived in the thatched hut next to his mother's tomb for several months. Usually, Lu Fang, who was introduced by Bian Xiang, and Guo Sheng asked him for martial arts, or the Xiao family gathered
The local warrior came to ask him for advice on the training of soldiers and horses in the market town, but Wang Jin was able to relieve his depression and melancholy while instructing him on martial arts and giving guidance on the training.
It's just that since the death of his mother, Wang Jin has felt empty. At that time, he put all his thoughts on teaching the martial arts of the Bianjing Forbidden Army and devotedly supporting his old mother. But now he doesn't.
Wang Jin was willing to be coerced by Gao Qiu to take revenge and had resigned from his position as a coach. The death of his mother made Wang Jin feel that his life seemed to have no backbone. Although Wang Jin was loved and respected by Zhuanghu Xiangyong in Xiaojiaji, he was living a good life.
It was very peaceful, but Wang Jin couldn't help but secretly said: Now that I have no worries, should I still lie dormant in the Xiao family and spend the rest of my life?
Fortunately, Xiao Renxia was not killed in Liaodong. I also heard from Lu Fang and Guo Sheng that they were going to Waqiao Pass in Xiongzhou to welcome him back to the Song Dynasty... Xiao Renxia was very kind to me, but
This time, I, Wang Jin, want to ask him again.
At this moment, Wang Jin, who was in a daze, suddenly heard someone sighing and saying: "Teacher Wang, your father has passed away, so you must mourn and obey."