Kai Fu Han

Chapter 4 Arrangement
There are three rooms at the back of the ancestral hall, with some tables and chairs placed in the middle room. There are two wooden beds in the left and right wing rooms. These three rooms are used for clan elders to discuss matters and adjudicate minor conflicts among the clan. The wing rooms on both sides can be used for temporary residence. It can also be used to temporarily detain people.

"Sit!" the patriarch Liu Lihuai said, pointing to the chair on the right after entering the door.

Liu Qi randomly chose a chair and sat down, waiting for the clan leader to speak.

After everyone was seated, the patriarch said:

"I came here to talk to you about the method you just used."

"Grandpa, I want to ask you a question first." Liu Qi interrupted the patriarch.

"Well, you ask."

"Just now in the lobby, although the two methods I proposed first are parallel, I think this should be a decision that the clan has already made." Liu Qi asked.

There are so many old people in the clan who have become spirits, how could there not be a way to achieve both ends?

Since Liu Cang, the ancestor of the Liu family, established clan education 100 years ago, it has basically ensured that all children in the clan are literate. The clan has used clan fields to ensure that all children receive at least three years of elementary school education. This is completely different from nearby villages, so the clan There have always been talented people.

The clan leader pondered for a while and replied: "Yes, our clan leader's decision is basically the same as your idea."

"Then why don't we speak out together during the clan meeting?" Liu Qi asked.

"Because this decision will lead to a real military disaster, some people will inevitably be sacrificed. Therefore, if our clan elders propose this decision, it will arouse rebellion among the clan." This was the answer of the third grandfather Liu Lisheng.Then he continued: "Originally, this method was proposed by Mr. Zhou after everyone discussed it. Mr. Zhou has a foreign surname, and he is also willing to be this 'evil' person. I didn't expect that you proposed it first."

"I understand. Since the clan has already made a decision, there is no need for me to elaborate further. Besides, I just made a temporary decision outside without any detailed and proper measures." Liu Qi replied.

Liu Lihuai picked up the tea bowl on the table on his right, took a sip of tea, coughed, and cleared his throat.go on:

"Since you understand, let's talk openly."

"This time the Jurchen Tatars will definitely go south to Jinan Prefecture. There is a high possibility that we will be attacked by soldiers here, nine out of ten."

"If we flee, the migration history of our ancestors recorded in the family chronicles will happen again in our generation. By then, it will be good if only one or two out of ten people can survive."

"And even if they all hide in the mountains and come out after the Tatars retreat in winter, and the crops are desolate, it will be even more tragic when the crops are not harvested in winter and spring, and they will be powerless to watch their relatives starve to death in front of them. It’s an experience that no one wants to experience.”

When he said this, the clan leader's voice was choked with sobs. He didn't know if he was touched by some previous experience.However, no one has starved to death in Liujiabao in 100 years. It is probably not the experience in the fort.

"Can't we borrow food?" Liu Qi asked doubtfully.

"Let's not talk about whether we can borrow food after the war. Even if we can borrow it, we can only borrow it from the gentry. With such high interest rates, those gentry take advantage of the situation and the decline of Liujiabao will be a foregone conclusion." Liu Lisheng answered. Liu Qi's question.

"So, we can only make a fortune. We can defend the Liujia Fort by leaving the young and strong men. Of course, the best situation is not to rob us." Liu Lihuai continued.

"While making a fortune, leave a glimmer of hope. The hope is the women and children who enter the mountains." Liu Lisheng added.

Hearing that this was the only way, Liu Qi felt a little depressed.

"I asked you to stay because I want to put more burden on you." Liu Lihuai looked at Liu Qi and continued: "I know that you are the smartest among the young people in the clan. The reason why you are not the first in knowledge is because you don't have the right mind. In doing knowledge.”

Liu Qi was a little ashamed and didn't know how to answer the question. Studying must be the first priority in this era.

"The clan has now reached a critical moment of life and death. We hope you can make good use of your wisdom and shoulder the responsibility of continuing the hope of the Liu family." At this point, Liu Lihuai's voice was full of hope.

"What do you mean you want me to bear?" Liu Qi didn't understand what the clan leader meant.

"The people entering the mountain this time are all women under the age of 40 and young people under the age of 20. There must be someone in charge of things, and we hope you will do it. Your behavior outside just now should correct our thinking, right? Wrong, you are a wise person." Liu Lihuai replied.

"This won't work, I can't do it." Liu Qi objected hastily.

"Don't object in a hurry. Choosing you is the result of careful consideration and unanimous agreement by our clan elders. Women are often indecisive and usually have nothing to do with it. In this troubled world, this is a fatal flaw. Among the young people, you are the most stable. , and the smartest, we have no other choice." Liu Lihuai continued to persuade.

"This is really not possible. Not to mention stability and intelligence, my lack of experience is my biggest flaw. I really can't do this. And I'm definitely not the only choice. I can choose some mature and prudent elders to preside over it. Patriarch, I really want to do this. I can't agree to it." The hundreds of years of inheritance of the Liu family and the lives of hundreds of people in Liujiabao were at stake, so Liu Qi once again made firm opposition.

"We have also considered choosing an old man to host, but who to choose is the biggest problem. This is not the usual trivial matters. This is a matter of life and death. If we all die together, we have no choice. If there is a way to survive, there will definitely be chaos. People's hearts..." Liu Lisheng was interrupted by Liu Lihuai before he could finish speaking.

"Don't say this, the importance of the matter has been made clear to you. Choosing you is a decision made by our clan elders after repeated discussions. I understand that it is difficult for you to make a decision at the moment. We will give you time to go back and think about it. I hope you can consider the overall situation. Heavy." Liu Lihuai waved his hand after finishing speaking. "It's getting late. Go back and rest. Think carefully. We'll wait for your decision."

"Okay." Liu Qi didn't say anything else. He stood up, cupped his hands, turned and walked out of the room.

When I got home, the lights were still on in the west wing. I guess my parents were not asleep.

After closing the door, they went directly to the west wing, where their parents sat on the bed.

"You're back. Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?" Mother asked quickly when she saw Liu Qi entering the door. She stood up and prepared to go to the kitchen.

"I'm not hungry. Please rest and stop being busy." Liu Qi said as he took his mother's arm and sat on the bed together.

"What did the clan tell you?" Seeing Liu Qi sitting down, his father Liu Zhiqing asked. "They say they want me to be the steward of the women and children in the mountain."

"Did you agree?"

"no"

"Why, I think you can do it." Father Liu recognized Liu Qi's ability very much. Especially after seeing the combined crossbow made by Liu Qi, this recognition became a bit blind.

"The stakes are too high. I'm afraid I won't be able to shoulder the responsibility, and I don't have the experience to manage so many people." Liu Qi replied.

"That's right. According to the request of the patriarch in the afternoon, it is estimated that there will be at least 300 people going up the mountain." Father Liu echoed.

Father Liu is an honest man. He does not have great wisdom, but he is smart like a small farmer. He can feel that what is being discussed today is not simple.

"It doesn't matter if you don't agree. If the sky falls, there will be someone tall to hold it up. There are many capable people in the clan, so we can just do our own thing well." Liu's father said and looked at Liu's mother: "This time your mother will tell you Jinshan, you are an adult now, you have to take good care of your mother."

"What are you talking about? The child is still young. I will take care of myself." Liu's mother rolled her eyes at Liu's father.

"Don't worry, with my physique, no one who goes into the mountains will be wronged by my mother. Moreover, I have made a crossbow, which can be used for hunting, and my mother will not be hungry." Liu Qi replied to his father.

"You have to take good care of yourself in the fort. Although guarding the fort is very important, we are militia after all. We have not been through a war. If you can't fight, run away if you can. Survive if you can't. Survival is the most important thing." Liu Qi told his father. Again.

"You don't need to tell me this. I have made up my mind."

Hearing what his father said, Liu Qi knew that his father already had an idea, so he said no more.

After chatting with his parents for a while, Liu Qi felt warm in his heart after listening to their instructions and kind words.

……

A few days later, the clan leader Liu Lihuai came to the house several times, always trying to persuade Liu Qi to take charge. However, under Liu Qi's strong refusal, he also understood that forceful melons are not sweet, and he has not been here again in the past two days. I guess there are other arrangements.

The time has arrived, August [-], the second year of Yuankang, just after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"Follow me to the ancestral hall at noon, and have a clan discussion." Father Liu said to Liu Qi who was tinkering in the yard.

"Okay." Liu Qi returned.

Liu Qi is currently doing research on recurve bow string materials. Bow strings made of cowhide, beef tendon, and silk have good performance, but are expensive.Twine is cheap, but has poor performance and is afraid of water.I've been researching for a few days and still can't figure it out.

In the temple at noon.

Patriarch Liu Lihuai stood at the front, facing everyone.

"The clan has already made detailed arrangements for the last resolution. Now Li Gao will explain it to everyone. Everyone should go back and prepare."

Liu Ligao took a step forward: "Let me tell you, the last decision was that women under 40 years old, including 40 years old, and children under 20 years old, including 20 years old, should take refuge in the mountains. This has not changed. The clan has made statistics, and there are 427 people in total. , the names are posted on the wall to the east behind you. After the clan meeting is over, take a look at it, then go home and pack your things first, prepare enough food, clothing, daily necessities and basic tools, and gather at the drying yard on August [-]th. , enter the mountain on time."

"The team entering the mountain this time is led by Third Master Liu Lisheng. He is also the only old man. Do you have any objections?"

It is estimated that this decision was approved by every family leader before, so no one objected at the clan meeting.

"Then the matter of entering the mountain has been decided. The more detailed division of labor and arrangements for entering the mountain will be explained to everyone by the third master."

"Now let's talk about staying behind. The clan plans to organize a militia team of 200 people. Liu Lizhen, a clan elder who has been a soldier for 21 years, will be in charge. They will practice every two days for two hours. The composition of the personnel is basically to draw 2 ding from each household, and stay at home. Those with more dice will draw an extra dice. Anyone over 1 years old and under 1 years old will be drawn. The specific personnel have also been determined, and the list is also posted on the wall to the west behind. After the clan meeting is over, everyone will take a look, and those who have been drawn will go back. Prepare at least one long gun, and prepare your own armor according to your own situation. Other unarranged left-behind personnel must also participate in the drill, every five days. They usually follow the clan's arrangements, do logistics work, and prepare fort defense equipment and materials."

Liu Qi listened to the above words and thought in his heart. He knew that the clan elder Liu Lizhen had been a soldier before, but he didn't know that he had been a soldier for 21 years. The clan could choose him as the instructor, so he must have rich experience.

After Liu Ligao finished speaking, the patriarch Liu Lihuai continued:
"This is the general arrangement. Even if the clan enters war preparations from today on, we will all do our own things well. I believe that our Liujiabao will be able to weather the storm." He said the last sentence and yelled out.

"We will get through this difficult time!!" some tribesmen shouted loudly.

……

"We will get through this difficult time!!"

……

"We will get through this difficult time!!"

……

More and more tribesmen joined in and shouted together. In the end, everyone shouted together, and the shouts rushed out of the roof and shook the sky.

"I hope everything is safe and the Tatars retreat early and don't come here." Liu Qi thought silently in his heart.

(End of this chapter)