Traveler Major League

Chapter 253 At least he is still innocent now

The Baiwa Temple is located next to the official road from Huayin to Xi'an. There is a Liuhe River in front of the village, which is crystal clear. There is a green mountain behind the village. In the village, square old houses surround a quiet land.

This is the location of the grassroots cadre training class of the People's Alliance. There are countless villages in this land of Guanzhong. It is simply unrealistic to allocate village-level cadres from the Second World. Therefore, various work teams have set up such small training classes in key areas. , to cultivate truly trustworthy people to take over grassroots village-level political power.

In the evening, Fan Jingwen and his party entered Huangpu Village for the night. They were placed in a quadrangle with a vermilion door. The door to the west wing was open, and there was no one inside. Only an oil lamp was on.

Seeing this, the prisoners of war lay down on the bed without even taking off their shoes. They stretched out their feet from the bed, pulled the quilt over their abdomens, and did not want to move at all. The walking journey was too difficult.

Fan Jingwen stared at the beams with his eyes open. After Luoyang was liberated, he suffered from insomnia every day. These days, he often couldn't sleep. They said that sleep requires physical strength, so Fan Jingwen felt that he no longer had the strength to sleep.

Fan Jingwen snored when he was sleeping. He didn't know how long he waited before he started snoring, but the sound was much quieter and getting quieter. He closed his eyes and saw only a piece of fire rising into the sky, one after another. Meteors streaked across the night sky, and explosions of fire and dust scattered everywhere. Fan Jingwen jumped to the door, "Kill the thief! Kill the thief!" and shouted a few words until he saw the sentry standing motionless at the window. He Then I realized this was a nightmare.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and couldn't sleep anymore.

Fan Jingwen clutched his chest, feeling confused and confused. He really didn't know how to survive this long night.

He stood up, hands behind his back, and walked quickly around the room, like an impatient sparrow in a cage for the first time. He had never been so scared.

This was the second time he thought of committing suicide. Now was a good time to commit suicide. Since seeing Yang Zeming in Tongguan, he had not been tied up again.

But then I thought about it, the Ming Dynasty still had more than half of the world, and it still had certain advantages in military and economy. It might not be possible to re-pacify the world. The small city of Luoyang was just a small part of the world, and Fan Jingwen was just one of His Majesty Chongzhen's subordinates. Little pawn, there are many people who are smarter than him.

Besides, victory or defeat is a common thing for military strategists. Since ancient times, no one would judge a hero based on victory or defeat. Why should he be so short-sighted?

What's more, dying in a remote place is like a drop in the bucket, no different from an ant. How to vent the hatred of failure?

Fan Jingwen laughed at himself: "Who taught you how to be a human being?"

You are really a pig. You are raised in captivity and have three meals a day. You are not right! Even if a pig is locked in a cage, it will not accept it and will overturn the fence.

Fan Jingwen rushed to the door, kicked it, and roared: "Kill me quickly, why bother and imprison me?" As if this behavior can relieve the pain of walking for days.

"Don't make any noise!" the guard shouted at the door with his gun raised, his bayonet flashing coldly.

At this time, a man came out from another east wing room, "Brother Meng Zhang?" the man asked.

Fan Jingwen looked at the person with confusion. Under the dim light, he finally saw the person clearly. He was wearing a gray robe and had a medium build. His hair was shaved and a gray cloth was covered over his right eye.

He thought he was an officer of the People's Army, "Who are you?"

"Brother Mengzhang, I am Hong Chengchou, Hong Yanyan!"

One Hong Chengchou and Fan Jingwen were Jinshi in the 44th year of Wanli, and the other was a Jinshi in the 41st year of Wanli. Fan Jingwen had previously been in charge of the Jixun Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and had met Hong Chengchou several times. Although they did not have much friendship, they were still considered acquaintances.

When Fan Jingwen saw Hong Chengchou, he was immediately speechless. He was speechless for a long time. There were so many changes that he didn't know where to start. He didn't have time to recall their acquaintance at the banquet in the capital. At this moment, he could only say one sentence. In other words, it would be a coincidence to meet in the prisoner team.

Hong Chengchou was not so emotional. His expression only showed the joy of meeting acquaintances again. Hong Chengchou talked a lot, and raised his eyebrows from time to time and said: "Now that you have come, let's live in peace. I have been imprisoned for some days, and every day I get more and more... Don’t worry, the people’s army cannot resist us.”

"Why did you say that?" Fan Jingwen spoke concisely and frowned, suddenly feeling that the current Hong Chengchou was not the stubborn young man in his memory, nor was he the rising star in officialdom who had become famous in the past period of time.

"The current situation is an unprecedented change since the beginning of the world." Hong Chengchou described in detail the magical sights he saw and heard during his recovery period. A hundred-foot-long airship flew in the sky like a mountain, and it could also carry people. He was injured at that time The captured people were transported to field hospitals for treatment by airship, not to mention the continuous firing of firearms and self-propelled vehicles, all of which Fan Jingwen had never heard of or seen during his hurried journey.

Although Hong Chengchou spoke authentic Mandarin, he had some Fujian accent, which Fan Jingwen disliked very much. However, seeing his old friend, based on this alone, he felt that Hong Chengchou was a lucky star given to him by God, and he had a lucky star ahead of him. , the blessed will naturally not care about these.

The next day, Director Zhang from the Baiwa Temple training class hosted a banquet for Fan Jingwen, and Hong Chengchou was also invited. Director Zhang is a young man in his twenties, with a short, thick, dark and translucent beard, wearing a gray coarse military uniform and tied with a Wearing leggings and a big bald head, he looks like a farmer in the north.

With a honest smile on his face, he arranged his chopsticks, pointed at Fan Jingwen and said, "The conditions here are not good, so you're welcome." Fan Jingwen looked at the patched young man in military uniform, and then looked at the plates on the table. I was eating scrambled eggs and fried vegetables, and thought: The life of the People's Army is very difficult.

During the meal, Director Zhang introduced Fan Jingwen to the production self-sufficiency situation of nearby villages and towns, and also told him about the current war situation.

Every news on these battlefields makes Fan Jingwen nervous.

After the people's army captured Luoyang, they did not immediately take advantage of the situation to capture Zhengzhou, which was only 200 miles away and had no soldiers. Instead, they quickly consolidated the surrounding areas, occupied Ruzhou, Yiyang, Jiyuan and other places, and carried out large-scale The people who accepted the work in rural areas, like Director Zhang and others, carried out quite in-depth peasant association construction and land redistribution work. The local people who had previously surrendered were all allocated land and houses, and those from other places were also promised to be given priority in land distribution after returning to their hometowns. , causing most of the Ming army originally concentrated in Luoyang to be reorganized into newly formed units of the People's Army.

When Fan Jingwen, the former governor of Henan, heard this news, his inner pain was incomprehensible to outsiders. Of course he knew how vicious the People's Army's policy of taking root and consolidating the local area was. Director Zhang's triumphant news was like a knife to him. In general, these victories are a mockery of his failures.

Daming is really in danger!

Director Zhang seemed to be aware of Fan Jingwen's low mood. He changed the subject and talked about their arrangements. They would hit the road to Xi'an at the same time. "After going to Xi'an, we will go to the second world. It is a good place and the climate is great." The pleasant plains are all plains. I used to work as a postmaster there and lived a comfortable life. Moreover, it is said that that side is Europe during the Spring and Autumn Period. When you have the opportunity in the future, you may have the opportunity to meet Confucius."

Looking at the surprised looks in their eyes, Director Zhang continued: "Are you excited? Hahahaha, I'm not lying to you, it's going to be soon anyway."

The ears of wheat were cut down and laid on a layer at the entrance of the village. The stone grinding discs were rolled on it, and grains of wheat fell on the ground. This was the season of harvesting. The abnormal weather caused the harvest time to slip to May. Watching These grains made Fan Jingwen feel much happier. Nature has such a magical power that can bring people a happy feeling inadvertently.

Fan Jingwen didn't know whether he felt the breath of life from the food, or whether Director Zhang's words yesterday dispelled the idea of ​​suicide, but what he was most concerned about now was to see with his eyes, to see the wonders of the people's army they said, If he met Liu Yingyu, he might have more in common, because Liu Yingyu had an average mentality at the time.

Is the preferential treatment of prisoners promoted by the People's Army true?

He didn't know that according to his point of view, soldiers, low-level officers, and skilled elders in the Ming army who had been bewitched by the people's army could be released.

But what about himself? As a high-ranking official of the Ming Dynasty, he still had no preferential treatment in terms of living conditions. He walked all the way, but he also received personal preferential treatment from Commander Yang Zeming and Director Zhang, which made him confused. Fan Jingwen, who had not seen those wonders with his own eyes, sneered in his heart. It is still unclear who will win and who will lose.

Based on this, surviving is the most important thing. As for how to survive, he has his own principles. If the People's Army wants him to betray himself to save his life, he will definitely refuse. A loyal minister will not serve two masters!

In mid-May, Fan Jingwen finally arrived in Xi'an. However, he was not immediately transferred to the second world. Instead, he was temporarily enrolled in a study class. It was said that he was waiting for the arrival of the second batch of special personnel from the People's Alliance. After gathering, make unified arrangements.

The second batch of special personnel here refers to people like Fan Jingwen and Hong Chengchou, as well as more gentry and landlords from various places. After losing their land and property, a large number of die-hard resistance elements were born. In order to maintain local stability, among these people, in addition to being laid off, Those executed locally, others were gradually gathered in Xi'an, ready to be sent to the second world to use their remaining heat.

Hong Chengchou was unlucky not to be assigned to Fan Jingwen, but joined a group of young people, the captain of which was a young man named Liao Daochang. At first, Hong Chengchou guessed that these people should be the same prisoners. If they were low-level officers of the Ming army, although he did not expect that he would be treated respectfully, basic respect was still needed.

But things didn't go as he expected. When he stepped across the threshold, the young captain sternly ordered him to sit down on his seat and tell him his name, place of origin, experience and all other questions.

Hong Chengchou originally thought that the top brass of the People's Army would not humiliate him due to their differential treatment, but here he became a turtle in the urn.

Now that things have come to this, he has to speak. "I am a Jinshi of the Ming Dynasty! I am entrusted by Your Majesty..."

"What is it, Your Majesty? It's the Emperor!"

This was the first time he heard someone calling him the emperor in public, and he subconsciously shouted angrily: "How dare you! How dare you insult the Holy One!"

"Turtle bastard!"

"What are you scolding me for?"

The young captain spat and continued: "I call you a turtle bastard! You unfaithful and unfilial beast!"

"You, you... you bastard!" Hong Chengchou's veins bulged with anger and he was about to step forward to take action.

The man was still chattering, "Hey! Your hands are covered with blood, but you still think I stink? 'Unfaithful and unfilial beast!' This is what your mother will scold you in the future! Hehe, Hong Chengchou, don't think I don't know. Your details!"

When Hong Chengchou saw the young man and several other people surrounding him, he didn't dare to say anything and had no choice but to walk out.

Liao Daochang quickly took a few steps forward to block his way: "You want to run? Come on, come on! Please pass under my crotch and I will spare you!"

Hong Chengchou's face was livid, his fists were clenched, and he roared: "What do you want to do, Your Excellency?" He was also pointed at by others after being captured. Only later did he know why he had summoned hatred, and also knew that he had entered the history of "The Legend of Er Chen" Records, he never believed in his heart that he would surrender to the Donglu and become the first contributor to the Donglu's entry into the Pass. However, the records in black and white made him have to slowly accept the historical facts of this other world. This period of profound The ideological struggle made him decide that the Hong Chengchou of that world had no necessary relationship with him. Even if he died in the future, he would not be willing to repeat the same mistakes and suffer the eternal infamy. Even before he died, he just wanted to see what the people's army could do, and what else could he do? There is the temptation of seeing the legendary Confucian teacher.

Liao Daochang: "I want to beat you!" He walked up and punched Hong Chengchou on the chest. Hong Chengchou was not tall, but he was very powerful. When Liao Daochang couldn't stand still with his punch, he knocked him down with one punch. On the ground.

Seeing Liao Daochang being knocked down, several young men behind him swarmed forward. Hong Chengchou, who was unable to fight with two fists and had four hands, was unable to dodge and was kicked under a wooden table. Seeing that he was about to be beaten by a group of people, someone shouted "Discipline is coming!"

The few people surrounding them dispersed like birds and beasts. Hong Chengchou later found out that these young men were not prisoners of the Ming Dynasty, but grassroots cadres who had made mistakes within the People's Alliance. No wonder they were well-informed and knew about Hong Chengchou's evil deeds in another world. History has long been holding back and wanting to teach him a lesson.

Originally, Hong Chengchou thought that these people were members of the People's Alliance anyway, and he would be unlucky if this happened to him. However, that afternoon, he heard that Director Zhu of the study class had called the squad leader Liao Daochang over and severely punished him. He gave him a scolding, then asked him to write a letter of apology and read it out in front of the whole class.

Listening to Liao Daochang's reflection, in the end, Hong Chengchou just felt sad. The people's army did not beat him, but the students did. This made him more and more depressed, but he did not dare to say more for fear of causing Liao Daochang, who knew the details of his other world, to go around. shake.

Director Zhu saw Hong Chengchou crying on the stage and took the initiative to say: "Today you go to Fan Jingwen's team. He heard that you were beaten and came to me specifically to intercede."

"Thank you so much." Hong Chengchou said, feeling even more bitter in his heart. What is this all about? Because it is recorded in the history books that he is a great traitor, and Fan Jingwen is a great loyal minister who died for his country. They are treated differently, but those things have not happened yet. , do you think you have suffered an unreasonable disaster?

Although they are all in the same private house, in Hong Chengchou's opinion, the atmosphere in each courtyard is different. At least in Fan Jingwen's house, most of the people here are captured Ming officials. Comparing the two sides, he feels that everyone here is different. The sweat is fragrant.

Zhao Asan from a hundred households took the initiative to bring him food and water. Cao Weiting, the former President of Du Wenhuan's department, made his bed. Fan Jingwen usually didn't talk much, but in front of him, he called him "Brother Hong."

If Hong Chengchou has never felt satisfied during his long career as an official, then what he has gained now is the happiness of contentment and the life philosophy of being able to endure and be content.

During the day, he gasped for air in the classroom.

At night, he was lying on the big bed, snoring loudly. The only task he had set for himself recently was to heal his injuries, but it was a pity that his right eye was blind.

The students in the study class sang "Squire and Landlord, You Bad Things" during morning exercises.

Each group of people stood on the playground of the street, with different expressions and different voices, but basically they were all uniform.

Squires and landlords, you bad guys...hoarding, driving up prices, lending usury, and forcing people into slavery are all your fault. You are the bad guys and should be shot! Oh, you are such bad guys, damn it!

Hong Chengchou saw that Fan Jingwen was not singing, and he was not singing either. He was standing in the center of the front row, his face flushed. This weird tune and lyrics made it difficult for him to resonate. As soon as he raised his head, he looked at Director Zhu. , had no choice but to move his feet, cover up his inner panic, and avoid the other party's eyes.

Finally, he lowered his head and stood there like a wooden man.

The singing became louder and louder, reminding him of the gunshots from the ambush on the east side of Tongguan, which became more and more intensive. From time to time, voices of "bad guy" and "should be shot" came from the team. Even if he didn't speak, he felt out of breath. At the end, he said calmly: "At least I'm still innocent now!"

(End of this chapter)