I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 328 Take responsibility
Yang Shoucheng was also a quarter of an hour behind Yin Wuyan, so Yin Wuyan met Yang Shoucheng and his party as soon as he walked out of the winding path with Zhan Feiyu on his back.

"Father!" Yang Xu shouted in a hoarse voice on horseback, his eyes were red, there were deaths and escapes this night, and seeing Yang Shoucheng, Yang Xu found the backbone.

After dismounting from his horse, Yang Shoucheng walked over quickly, patted Yang Xu on the shoulder, "It's fine."

"But brother Huzi and the others..." The voice choked up. Lin Jiang and the others had protected Yang Xu very well before. Although last night was extremely dangerous, Yang Xu was only slightly injured.

But three people who protected Yang Xu died, and the tiger he was talking about was only in his early twenties. In order to protect Yang Xu, he was wounded in the chest by the enemy's sword and died on the spot.

Yang Shoucheng's big hands on Yang Xu's shoulders tightened a little bit. Lin Jiang had already mentioned the deaths of the three Huzi before, but Yang Shoucheng had experienced too many deaths over the years, and no amount of emotion could be suppressed. Suppress it.

Looking at his guilty and self-reproaching son, Yang Shoucheng knew that one day Xiaoxu would get used to it, used to his comrades dying on the battlefield, and his relatives and clansmen dying under the knife of the enemy. return.

Patting Yang Xu on the shoulder again, Yang Shoucheng looked at Zhan Feiyu who was put down by Yin Wuyan, and solemnly saluted her, "The Yang family has remembered this kindness."

Lin Jiang and the others stood aside silently. Zhan Feiyu had saved Yang Xu's life. Whenever the Yang family could be used in the future, the Yang family would definitely die.

Only Wei Shuying was looking at Zhan Feiyu with red lips and white teeth critically at this moment. This little girl looked spoiled and grown up, her skin was so fair and tender that splashes could be squeezed out, and she said that she would risk her life to rescue Yang Xu However, when she saw Zhan Feiyu for the first time, Wei Shuying didn't believe it.

But Yang Shoucheng's attitude is here, no matter how upright Wei Shuying's temper is, she will not say anything offensive, but the seeds of doubt still take root in her heart, and then thrive.

"Uncle Yang, you're welcome. I met Yang Xu once. I wouldn't stand idly by when he was in danger. If I were in danger, Yang Xu would fight to save me." Zhan Feiyu smiled nonchalantly, and she rescued him. Yang Xu's purpose is very simple, but the premise is to be able to protect herself. If she really wants to change her life, Zhan Feiyu will not be able to sacrifice herself to save others because of her old age.

Yang Shoucheng nodded, and then thanked He Nuan again.

"General Yang doesn't need to be like this. The servant girl just obeys the order of the young lady." He Nuan had a gentle voice, and there was no trace of joy or complacency on his ordinary face. It seemed that saving Yang Xu was as worthless as saving a little beggar on the street. carry.

Tie Wen glanced at He Nuan in surprise, with this life-saving grace, not to mention power and status, at least he can be released from slavery, and live a lifetime of prosperity and wealth.

But this maid didn't mean to show her merits at all. Tie Wen could vaguely feel the bluntness and indifference of He Nuan's voice. If she had a choice, she wouldn't even save Yang Xu. After all, saving Yang Xu meant leaving Zhan behind. Not the master of the fish.

Yang Shoucheng and his group all came on horseback. After allocating a horse to He Nuan, Yin Wuyan and Zhan Feiyu shared one. Yang Xu got on Yang Shoucheng's horse, and the group galloped towards Xiangwu County at full speed. and go.

……

Qiu Mansion, study room.

Zhan Feiyu and Yang Xu's return made Qiu Zongxi and Old General Yang happy, and immediately ordered the servants to prepare hot water and meals. Although they knew that the two would be fine before, but they didn't see anyone, they couldn't let it go down.

"Haha, this New Year's Eve dinner can be well prepared." The worry disappeared, and there was a smile in Qiu Zongxi's resonant voice.

The barbarians died and were arrested. In Xiangwu County, except for the more than ten households whose houses were set on fire and burned down, as well as the people who died defending the city, the rest of the people are safe and sound, and every household is prepared. Chicken, duck and fish.

The people whose houses were burned took five taels of silver temporarily reissued by the county government to go to relatives' houses to celebrate the New Year. After all, even if they want to rebuild the house, they have to wait until the year after the snow melts and the temperature warms up, otherwise there is no way to start construction. .

"If the news had been known earlier, the death toll would not have been so many." Old General Yang still blamed himself a little, mainly because no one thought that Zhu Xiao would dare to let the barbarians in, and even besieged Xiangwu County.

Old General Yang stayed in Shitou Village with his personal guards. In the middle of the night, it was freezing cold, Xiangwu County was besieged, and the news couldn't be sent out. Naturally, Old General Yang couldn't come to the rescue.

"Death is inevitable, and the most important thing at present is to compensate those people who died." Qiu Zongxi understood that it would be useless to talk too much at this moment.

But if Zhu Xiao dares to do this, he has nothing to fear. As the son of the Hou family, he still has the blood of the Yin family of the royal family flowing in him. How to deal with the Hou family in the town depends on the holy will in the end, even Qiu Zongxi, who is hot-tempered and jealous. There is nothing to do.

Yang Shoucheng just washed up hastily and came to the study. It happened that Qiu Zongxi and General Yang were discussing how to compensate the dead people.

"Father, Uncle Qiu, it's better for everyone to compensate 50 taels of silver first." Yang Shoucheng knew that the town of Xiangwu County could be defended because of the contribution of these people.

Those who died because of guarding the city were either the pillars of the family or the men in their prime of life. 50 taels of silver sounds like a lot at first glance, but who is willing to ask for this death silver?No amount of money can exchange a life.

Qiu Zongxi didn't object, but just snorted coldly: "I'm afraid the county government doesn't have much money, maybe it's all taken away by the surname Zhu!"

At first, County Magistrate Zhu went up to the tower, but when he saw [-] barbarian troops outside the city, County Magistrate Zhu took advantage of the chaos and fled.

After Qiu Zongxi and the others found out, they didn't have the time and energy to deal with the fleeing magistrate Zhu.

Since you can't escape, you must take all your belongings with you, and considering the greed of the county magistrate Zhu, Ku Yin of the county government probably won't let it go, but Xiangwu County is a barren land, and there is no government office. How much money.

Old General Yang and Yang Shoucheng were stunned, the Yang family hadn't recovered yet, so even if the Yang family could transfer the silver taels, they couldn't use it openly.

Qiu Zongxi was not short of money, but he was indifferent to fame and fortune. In the early years, Qiu's mansion would send money in addition to rituals, and Qiu Zongxi returned all the extra money except his own share of money every year.

After going through this several times, the Qiu Mansion no longer gave more money, but only gave Qiu Zongxi the money he earned every year from his private property, which was just enough for expenses.

This time, I did a rough count, excluding the injured civilians, the civilians who died on the city tower, the policemen, and the servants of the merchants’ homes, the number of deaths is estimated to be more than 300.

This is also because they stayed on the tower and did not come out. If they fought with real swords and guns, facing an army of [-] barbarians, even if they won a big victory, the number of deaths would be at least [-].

So he had to take out 5000 taels of silver all at once, and that didn't count the injured person. Qiu Zongxi coughed twice, and his old wrinkled face rarely showed a bit of embarrassment.

"Borrow it from a bank or merchant in the name of the Yang family or the government." After deliberating, Old General Yang made a proposal, no matter what, he could not chill the hearts of the people.

Qiu Zongxi thought of Zhan Feiyu, who was extremely exquisite in food, clothing and housing, and couldn't help saying: "No way, first ask Xiaoyu to borrow some money, the little girl probably has some."

I am actually not as rich as a little girl. Qiu Zongxi, who has always been indifferent to fame and fortune, found himself a little poor for the first time. Maybe those shops in Qianzhong Road and Zhuangzi should be taken care of. When it comes to silver, it won't be so tight.

"It would be more convenient if Xiaoyu had it." Old General Yang nodded in agreement, with an equally awkward expression.

He was so poor that he found a little girl to borrow some money. Old General Yang really had no face to speak. Looking at Yang Shoucheng who sat down, he didn't hesitate to throw the blame away, "Xiaoyu saved Yang Xu. You don't have to worry about the debt. Shoucheng for a while." Go over and talk about borrowing money."

Picking up the teacup to drink tea, Qiu Zongxiquan pretended not to hear him, but he was half a teacher of the little girl, how could he borrow money from his disciples, what is the dignity of being a teacher?
Father and Uncle Qiu are really rude, Yang Shoucheng can only take over this errand, no matter what his status or age, it is always difficult to ask for money.

The three people here had just reached a consensus, when there were footsteps coming from outside the study, the steps seemed heavy or even slow, and it was Yang Xu who came without looking.

After getting permission, Yang Xu entered the study.

"You haven't even wiped your hair. What's the matter with coming here in such a hurry?" Qiu Zongxi looked at Yang Xu, whose eyes were still bloodshot. Such a dire situation.

After hesitating for a long while, Yang Xu raised his head to look at Qiu Zongxi, and said slowly, "Grandpa Qiu, brother Qiu died tragically at Aozikou last night to protect me."

Lin Jiang had told Yang Shoucheng about Qiu Jinyu's death before, but Yang Shoucheng hadn't had time to tell Qiu Zongxi in detail.

But both Yang Xu and Zhan Feiyu came back, but Qiu Jinyu and his entourage did not come back, the result is self-evident.

Qiu Zongxi put down the teacup silently. He didn't like Qiu Jinyu, but everyone came. In addition, Qiu Jinyu rescued Yang Xu on the way to Xiangwu County, and Yang Xu was close to him, so Qiu Jinyu lived in Qiu's mansion, and Qiu Zongxi had no right to do so. the presence of this person.

On weekdays, Qiu Zongxi taught, even if Qiu Jinyu listened in, Qiu Zongxi would not ask him questions, let alone review his articles.

Hearing Qiu Jinyu's death suddenly, Qiu Zongxi looked at Yang Xu who was full of guilt and blame, and asked coldly, "Xiao Xu, do you know how dangerous Xiangwu County was last night?"

Just because Yang Xu knew about it, he ignored Lin Jiang's objection and brought people back overnight to rescue him.

Three thousand barbarians besieged the county seat. Fortunately, County Captain Feng led policemen to put out the fire by the city gate to prevent thieves from taking advantage of the fire, so the city gate was closed and two policemen were left guarding the city gate. , It was only then that the barbarian army was discovered for the first time.

If it wasn't for this coincidence, the three thousand barbarians would have driven straight into Xiangwu County, and when the time came, they would burn, kill and loot, and I don't know how many people would have died tragically under the barbarian's butcher's knives.

Before Yang Xu could answer, Qiu Zongxi continued with a serious face: "The situation was critical at that time, Xiaoyu and that girl were guarding the tower, and the arrow wound on her face was left at that time. Arrow, that arrow will kill her!"

At that time, not to mention that Zhan Feiyu would die, Qiu Zongxi, including Old Man Tie, anyone standing on the tower might die at the hands of barbarians.

But they have no choice, if they retreat, once the city gate is broken, countless unarmed people will be massacred.

Old General Yang's expression darkened when he heard this, and he frowned and asked, "Did Qiu Jinyu leave at that time?"

Xiangwu County didn't have many troops, and the county government's arresters and soldiers couldn't defend the city gates. Although Qiu Jinyu was a young man who wasn't weak enough, the followers he brought with him were all first-class masters. A person is worth at least ten arresters.

If General Yang was in Xiangwu County at that time, even if he knew that Yang Xu was in danger, General Yang would not be able to take people away.

Yang Xu is his grandson, but the people of Xiangwu County are also alive. It is impossible for him to put the people of Xiangwu County in danger of being massacred just to save Yang Xu alone.

"Qiu Jinyu left with ten guards at some point." Qiu Zongxi answered affirmatively, glanced at Yang Xu, his words were still sharp and cold-blooded, "Qiu Jinyu's motive for saving you was not pure."

Saving Yang Xu means that the Yang family owes him a life-saving favor. This is a great favor, and even if he stays and defends Xiangwu County, the credit is not due to one person. It is not surprising that Qiu Jinyu would "run away" .

Even knowing this, Yang Xu thought of Qiu Jinyu who was killed, and thought of his kindness and teaching to him in the past, suppressing the grief in his heart, "Grandpa Qiu, Brother Qiu died because of me no matter what."

"Pedantic! Foolish!" The reprimand sounded unceremoniously, Qiu Zongxi did not expect that Yang Xu was still so stubborn!
If Qiu Jinyu hadn't been greedy for the Yang family's life-saving grace, if he hadn't wanted to repay the favor, would he have risked his life to rescue Yang Xu?

If Qiu Jinyu was so utilitarian in normal times, Qiu Zongxi would not bother to comment, but this time it was different, Xiangwu County was besieged by barbarians, and Qiu Jinyu left at such a critical time, Qiu Zongxi just wanted to say that he deserves to die!
Old General Yang looked at Yang Xu with a sad face. He had taught Yang Xu for many years and knew his stubbornness. "Xiao Xu, tell me about the situation at that time."

"Grandpa." Yang Xu's voice was choked up. It was obviously only a few hours ago, but it seemed like a year or two had passed. Looking back at this moment, there were still screams of fighting in his ears, and blood spattered out in front of his eyes. A living life became a corpse and fell to the ground.

Yang Xu didn't want Zhan Feiyu to bear the notoriety of killing Qiu Jinyu, so he took all the responsibility on his own, "Xiaoyu had no choice at the time. There are hundreds of elites, Zhu Xiao forced Xiao Yu, and only one of the three of us can leave alive."

Zhan Feiyu, Yang Xu, and Qiu Jinyu were placed together. Zhan Feiyu chose Qiu Jinyu to die first.

At this moment, Yang Xu recalled that if he had been allowed to choose at that time, besides choosing himself to die, if he had chosen one of Xiaoyu and Brother Qiu, Yang Xu knew that he would have chosen Zhan Feiyu to survive. The person who sacrificed was Qiu Jinyu,
(End of this chapter)