Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 241
Ganjingzhuang.

With the arrival of various dignitaries and imperial troops, the air in Zhuangzi became inexplicably tense.

When Buqu and the imperial guards began to patrol inside and outside Zhuangzi in small groups, several small roads leading to the entrance of the village were also blocked, and anyone who entered or left Zhuangzi would be stopped and questioned.

The tense and stagnant atmosphere became more and more intense.

Li Qinzai knew that it had caused inconvenience to the farmers, so he ordered his servants to prepare some gifts such as grain, dried meat, cloth, etc. He took Qiao'er from door to door and went door-to-door to apologize.

The words are polite and the attitude is very humble, telling the farmers that the recent life may have some impact, but it will pass soon.

The farmers were also reasonable, after all, they were all farmers in the Li family's village, and many of them were veterans who had followed Li Ji in the Southern and Northern Wars, and expressed their understanding of Li Qinzai's apology.

Hearing that someone was going to assassinate Wu Shaolang, the village households were filled with righteous indignation. Not only did they not blame the turmoil inside and outside the Zhuangzi, but a group of veterans spontaneously organized to patrol with Buqu and the forbidden army, and carefully set up some secret roads. Go to the office to ambush.

After paying respects to the farmers, Li Qinzai led Qiao'er back.

Qiao'er's pink and tender little hand was held in Li Qinzai's palm, and the golden sunset dragged the father and son's backs long, like a famous painting about time and dependence.

"Father, there are a lot of strangers in the Zhuangzi recently, and when Qiao'er went out to play, many people followed him. Is someone trying to harm you?" Qiao'er raised her head and asked.

Li Qinzai hummed and said, "It is true that someone wants to kill me."

"Why did they want to harm you? Did Dad do something bad?" Qiao'er asked ignorantly.

Li Qinzai thought for a while and said, "To the enemy, I did do something bad, but I have a clear conscience."

"What did daddy do?"

"I destroyed a country, so the people in that country regard me as an enemy, and they must get rid of it quickly."

Qiao'er was puzzled and said: "However, all the uncles in the Zhuangzi said that Dad is a great hero, and he has made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty..."

Li Qinzai smiled: "He's the enemy, but I'm the hero. Different standpoints and different perspectives. If someone breaks into our Zhuangzi and kills many farmers on our Zhuangzi, will you hate this person?"

Qiao'er said without hesitation: "Of course I will hate it."

Li Qinzai exhaled lightly, and said, "Father did the same thing when he was in Japan."

After thinking for a while, Li Qinzai said again: "Father is participating in a war. The main purpose of the war is to kill the enemy and plunder the land. Fighting between the two sides is cruel. If we kill their people, they also kill our soldiers. Different Yes, we have won the war."

Qiao'er seemed to understand, and said: "But the defeated enemies are not reconciled, right? Just like the children in Zhuangzi playing games with me, they are not reconciled when they lose, and even scold others."

Li Qinzai said with a smile: "That's about it. The enemy is not reconciled, so they resorted to tricks and tricks, trying to kill me quietly to avenge their defeat."

Obviously still didn't quite understand, but Qiao'er still looked stunned, and said: "So, those who want to kill you are bad people, father is a good person, a great hero."

"Yes."

Qiao'er suddenly puffed out her small chest, and said proudly: "Father, don't be afraid, if the bad guys really come to assassinate you, Qiao'er will protect you!"

Li Qinzai stopped, knelt down to meet his gaze, and said slowly, "Qiao'er is still young and can't protect Daddy, but Daddy can protect you."

"However, after many years, Dad will grow old and Qiao'er will grow up slowly. Dad's strength will become weaker and his courage will become smaller and smaller. At that time, Dad will need Qiao'er's protection."

Qiao'er nodded vigorously: "Father, Qiao'er will practice well and learn martial arts. In the future, Qiao'er will protect Dad. Qiao'er will stand in front of Dad like a shield."

Li Qinzai rubbed his little head in relief: "You practice backflips first..."

…………

In the middle of the night, the tranquility of Zhuangzi was suddenly broken by a burst of crying and howling, followed by non-stop barking of dogs from every household, and then the villagers lit up their lights one after another.

Li Qinzai stood up in his clothes, walked out of the courtyard, and met Liu Ahsi who was in armor.

Liu Asi looked nervous, and pressed his right hand on the handle of the knife at his waist. Seeing that Li Qinzai was about to go out to check, Liu Asi stretched out his hand to stop him.

"Wu Shaolang, you can't move, you can't go anywhere." Liu Asi said seriously: "I don't know which family has an accident, the imperial army has gone to check, you and Mr. Xiaolang stay in the other courtyard, otherwise the enemy may be killed plan."

With the faint light of the torches in the yard, Li Qinzai glanced at Liu Ah Si.

Liu Asi's forehead was sweating, and his eyes were trying to maintain calm, but his back was slightly arched, like a sharp arrow that could be shot out at any time.

Recently, the atmosphere in Zhuangzi has been tense, but it is these tribes and the forbidden army who are really jittery and under great psychological pressure.

The information delivered by Baiqisi is correct, and with [-]% certainty, Song Sen will come to the door to warn the police.

In other words, the assassin would definitely assassinate Li Qinzai, but at this moment he was just hiding in an invisible dark place, maybe staring at him with gloomy eyes from some corner.

Although Buqu and the imperial army had protected Li Qinzai and his relatives tightly, the pressure from the crowd was still enormous. Under the situation where the enemy was in the dark and we were in the clear, there was a sudden cry in Zhuangzi at this time tonight.

Regardless of whether the crying is normal or abnormal, it is both a test and a torture for Liu Ah Si's trilogy.

The most important thing to protect the Lord's house is calmness, like a dead lake without any ripples.Once something unusual appears, it means that something may happen.

That's why Liu Ahsi was so nervous at this moment, as if he was facing a big enemy.

In the yard, Li Qinzai smiled, and patted Liu Ahsi's shoulder vigorously: "Take it easy, don't be too nervous, I entrust my life to you, I have never worried about it."

Liu Ahsi wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiled wryly and said, "The villain is almost dying of worry, I'm really afraid that the assassin hasn't come yet, the villain has already died of over worrying..."

"You are a rough person, what kind of literary accent is you learning, it's not up to you to worry too much, that's a symptom of a scholar."

The sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard, and a team of imperial guards was hurrying over to report to Li Qinzai.

Something happened in Zhuangzi, but it was just something that didn't seem special.

An old man passed away.

The old man is also a farmer, a former veteran, about 60 years old.

Being able to live to this age in the Tang Dynasty is definitely a joy and mourning.

The forbidden army just heard the news that the old man was feeling ill recently, so the family set up a bullock cart today and sent him to Weinan County, where a doctor was invited to take the pulse and prescribe medicine.

After the medicine was prescribed, the children and the old man walked around the city for a while. After all, it was rare for farmers to go back to the city. At that time, the old man was in good health and even had the appetite to buy a pot helmet on the street. 60 The mouth of the multi-year-old Guokui was biting hard.

Unexpectedly, when he returned to Zhuangzi, the old man would die. The old man fell into a coma before the medicine was decocted. He dragged on until midnight, and finally died of exhaustion.

The crying that came out of Zhuangzi just now was the mourning of the old man's children.

Li Qinzai stood in the courtyard for a while after listening to the captain's report, and said in a low voice, "It is reasonable for me to come to express my condolences, but in order not to cause trouble for you, I will not go. Ask Guanshi Song to bring some money to represent me. Condolences to the family."

"This old man was also a loyal veteran who fought with my grandfather back then, and finally another one withered..."

…………

In the early morning of the next day, the sound of gongs and drums came from Zhuangzi, and Li Qinzai knew it without looking. The family of the deceased veteran began to set up the mourning hall and hold funerals.

The funeral was very grand, and Guanshi Song sent a lot of money over overnight, and the children of the veterans naturally spent money in the spacious place.

The gongs, drums and suona in the village, as well as the sacrificial livestock, etc., are of relatively high standards.

The children dressed in sackcloth and filial piety knelt in the mourning hall, and the farmers came to express their condolences.

During the day, Li Qinzai was relatively free. As long as he did not leave the village, he could still move about freely in Zhuangzi.

So Li Qinzai also came to express his condolences in person. After bowing down in front of the old man's spirit tablet, he comforted the old man's children and grandchildren.

Si Li stood in the mourning hall with his head covered in sackcloth, constantly calculating the auspicious time, and then he opened his eyes suddenly, looking at the path at the entrance of the village.

On the winding path, a group of monks were slowly coming in from the entrance of the village. While they were chanting scriptures, they lowered their eyebrows and walked reverently with palms together.

(End of this chapter)