My Chinese ancestors

Chapter 536: Reminiscing about the past in front of an old friend’s grave

The weather in early September is still hot and dry, and the mountains that come into view are all lush and green.

The extended army continued to march north, with supplies from official warehouses in various counties and counties along the way, in order to reduce the shortage of food for the troops and horses during the march.

The only troublesome thing is that the scouts are riding war horses, constantly flying back and forth between the cities, conveying orders for mobilization and response.

Going north to Ding'an City, Su Chen had already issued an order for Ding'an City to prepare food and fodder. At the same time, there was no need for his parents to go out of the city to meet each other. After all, his parents were old, and even riding a horse-drawn carriage or an ox-cart would be uncomfortable.

"King Xiang and Marquis Wen, I will temporarily entrust you with the right to march!"

When they were about 20 miles from Ding'an, Su Chen was on the ancestral coffin and ordered two people approaching on horseback from the left and right: "The army must not disturb the people or trample on the fields. After passing Ding'an, they will rest in the south of Changchuan County and wait for my return." "In the army."

Xiang Yu and Lu Bu probably understood what Su Chen was going to do, so they did not shirk, took on this important task, and left with their own cavalry.

When going to the front of the team, Xiang Yu walked side by side with Lu Bu. He looked back at the Tiger Guard camp and the imperial chariot that separated the army. He was a little confused.

"Chang Sheng will never use his army to defeat others. At this time, his expression is different. Do you know what's going on?"

When he turned around, there was a slight loneliness on his face. He raised his eyes and glanced at the small house where he once lived, and then asked the soldier behind him to stop where he was and wait.

Amidst the sound of the treetops swaying, a gravel road was paved in the village more than ten miles away in the southern suburbs of Ding'an. The small country house with a single family house still stood quietly at the location in memory.

"Yes, he is the emperor."

"Everyone, get up, my Majesty has ordered that the people of China are not allowed to kneel down!"

Only Xu Chu and Dian Wei were led into the woods on one side of the house.

Su Chen walked to the tombstone, removed the climbing vines on it, touched the cold stone with his fingers, took off his cloak and threw it aside.

But when he saw the soldiers around him looking at him eagerly, his smile quickly faded, as if he was a little afraid of being blamed, so he quickly lowered his head.

"Entrusted by His Majesty, I came here to listen to the Third Young Master's orders!"

After the messenger cavalry running from afar shouted for a while, the farmers in the countryside slowly stood up, but they still had their faces downcast and did not dare to raise their heads.

"Uncle Li, keep busy. I just passed by here and came here to have a look." Su Chen waved to the farmers around him: "Go and get busy."

The fallen leaves in the rustling forest rustled softly under the feet of the three of them. Su Chen walked deep into the forest and stopped in an open space behind the small courtyard.

This was the first rule that Su Chen abolished after the founding of the country. However, over the years, kneeling has taken root in many people's habits. No matter how corrected it is, they will kneel down instinctively.

"To be fair, I haven't come to see you for a long time. I happened to pass by here when I was passing by. I suddenly missed you, so I came over to sit. Look at the two big men over there, behind you and Shisan, who have been protecting me closely. "

The words were spoken softly, and Su Chen's fingertips traced the engraved handwriting, as if he could hear the voice of the past wishing for justice at this moment.

The surrounding trees have been cut down, clearing a clearing. All that were once cut down are bare wooden stumps, and tree trunks have sprouted up again.

Su Chen opened the curtain, stepped out of the carriage, and faced an old man on the field ridge wearing a straw hat, a naked upper body, a white hakama lower body, and bare feet.

"Don't you remember me? When my family was in trouble, we settled in this small courtyard. The weather was cold at that time and we didn't even have a hatchet at home. So I went to the village to borrow a hatchet from you."

Su Chen attacked Yanjing, then went south to the Central Plains, and then unified the six countries. He only came here once, and that was a few years ago.

The late summer wind blows through the forest with hot temperatures.

While Dian Wei nodded, Su Chen, who was walking in front, continued: "But what you don't know is that there is someone buried here who has been very kind to me."

The sun slants and shines into the forest, casting a few mottled flowers.

The gap in the roof has been repaired, and the moss-covered stone steps still retain the memory of sitting here for two days when the Su family was in trouble.

Lu Bu also looked back. He came here a few years before Xiang Yu, so he naturally knew something.

"His Majesty?"

The flow of air distorted the light and dust, and it was like hallucinating that I saw the thin, familiar figure wearing a green shirt and a bamboo hat, standing there silently with a spear on his back.

"Third Young Master...I...failed to protect...the Crown Prince...I let you down..."

It wasn't until the team stopped and the huge chariot stopped that the farmers standing in the field heard a voice: "Uncle Li, your body is still strong."

In the surrounding fields, farmers walked barefoot in the fields, waving their hoes to dig into the soil, and watched from a distance a group of heavily armed soldiers and horses coming this way. Almost everyone subconsciously put down their hoes and walked to the ridge of the fields. Kneel down before the banner-lined procession.

"...As for daily life, King Xiang is also a man. He should know that we all have to be strong. No matter how sad or regretful we are, we will not show it outside. We will only show it when we can't bear it anymore and want to talk it out. But Changsheng is the emperor. , it is inappropriate to talk to anyone, only the deceased is suitable.”

Xiang Yu pursed his lips while riding on horseback. After a while, he nodded and looked at the chariot going to the south of Ding'an.

"No regrets……"

"His name is Zhu Gongdao. Without him, my eldest brother might be gone."

"Your Majesty went to see a person. If it hadn't been for that person, Your Majesty might not have made the decision to launch an army. It was precisely because of that person's loyalty that he preserved the integrity of the Su family."

"Remember...remember!" The old man nodded repeatedly, and his dark and rough face suddenly laughed.

In the middle stands a solitary tomb.

Lu Bu did not wear the golden crown that tied his hair at this time, but simply tied up his hair. He looked at the imperial chariot in the distance with calm eyes and smiled.

"General Dian should remember that it was here that he saved me."

"The outlaws wish for justice and meet the Third Master."

The wind blew through the woods, and the trees swayed gently, making a rustling sound. The faint sounds suddenly stopped. The swaying woods were illuminated by the sun, and in the longing gaps, light spots were cast in the valley and shined on the tombstones.

The grave is covered with withered yellow leaves.

When the latter also raised his face in shock, Su Chen stood opposite the old man and looked at each other across a small mud ditch.

A hoarse voice sounded behind him. Seeing Su Chen squatting motionless in front of the tombstone, Dian Wei called out softly, and then he and Xu Chu stepped forward to clean up the weeds and fallen leaves on the tomb.

"justice……"

Su Chen did not move. He looked at the name engraved on the tombstone and called out. The light spots swayed gently on the ground with the wind and branches, and there was no sign of justice.

He took out his handkerchief and wiped the wine glasses and jugs currently on display one by one, and then told Xu Chu: "Go to the car and get my wine."

Xu Chu nodded in agreement and dragged his fat body out of here. After a while, he came back with a bottle of wine and two jade cups in his hand.

The body of the cup is made of a piece of sapphire and is of great value. Even the wine bottle is made of silver, with a piece of jade inlaid in the middle.

Xu Chu brought the jug and wine glass over, and he wanted to help pour them, but Su Chen refused.

"I'll come by myself, and you guys will go out first." Dian Wei over there dropped the weeds he had torn out, looked at Xu Chu, and then tacitly agreed to leave this place to Su Chen.

Soon, the forest became quiet, with only the chirping of birds and cicadas remaining.

Su Chen wiped off the dust on the rough tombstone, casually sat cross-legged in front of the tombstone, took the wine bottle, and poured the wine into two jade cups.

"To be fair, try the royal wine in the palace. During your absence, my wine was cheaper than that of a man named Li Bai."

The wine overflowed the edge of the cup and spilled onto the ground. Su Chen poured the wine and put one cup under the tombstone. Holding the cup in his hand, he saluted the tombstone, "You, you didn't like to talk in the past, but now I think about you. , I can’t even remember what you said.”

There are a lot of things I want to say, but when it comes to my mouth, I don’t know how to say them.

Su Chen raised his head and drank all the wine in the glass.

"Do you know why I keep your grave here? In fact, I am quite selfish. Only with your grave here can I have an excuse to come here to be alone and talk to you."

"You don't blame me, do you? If you don't speak, you just acquiesce, haha!"

Su Chen chuckled lightly, moved his butt, and changed the direction. Then he leaned against the tombstone and faced the woods ahead with the tombstone.

There was no expression on his face, he just sat calmly with the tombstone, listening to the chirping of birds and cicadas in the forest.

After a moment, Su Chen suddenly smiled: "...I have been fighting wars in the years since I was the emperor, but the more I fight, the richer I am. Don't worry! I will not go into military force and harm the people.

By the way, I have triumphed again this time. I am getting better and better at fighting. This time I destroyed the Japanese pirates in the East China Sea. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed and massacred at any time without batting an eye. You don’t know, these Japanese pirates are so hateful.

Haha... There were also those idiots in the Western Regions who were working on their own affairs. They didn't even have the strength to parry. The big Han Huo Qiaoqi, Ma Fubo and then Ma Chao, and Su Dingfang of the Tang Dynasty killed them so tragically that many countries in the Western Regions were wiped out. , those who are alive have submitted their surrender forms and bowed their heads to me. Otherwise, from now on, people like me in the Xia Kingdom, regardless of north or south, will be able to eat cheap grapes from the Western Regions and watch the pretentious Orchid.

Do I wish to benefit future generations? Haha, if you don't say anything, then you are admitting that I am very powerful, right?
Over the years, there have been many Chinese heroes around me, and each of them is more powerful than you, but... I can't talk to them like I do to you.

I am the emperor... the eldest of the Nine Fives... I cannot speak my mind. "

Su Chen clenched his hands into fists, and his gentle tone had some fluctuations.

He closed his eyes and listened to the chirping of birds in the forest. In his mind, he could see the civil and military officials of the court, bowing their bows and bows respectfully, shouting at him like a tsunami.

"Your Majesty, ten thousand years!"

"Great Xia Ten Thousand Years"

……

In Ding'an City, dragon and lion dances were performed in the streets, and people gathered on the streets to applaud and cheer to celebrate the triumphant victory of the Emperor of Great Xia.

Su Congfang ignored the maid's support and staggered out of the bedroom. She looked at Thirteen who came back excitedly and listened to what he said, her old eyes already had wet marks.

He nodded his gray head repeatedly and said to the old wife who came over: "My son is brave!"

Soon, the victorious army passed through the city gate. Su Lie and Su Yong greeted the returning victorious army at the city gate, but unfortunately they did not wait for their brother's chariot.

Under the banner of Xia Kingdom's White Dragon, which was caressed by the wind, Liu Sheng, the commander of the Shenji Battalion, rode over. He then dismounted, bowed his hands to Su Yong and Su Lie, and immediately informed the details: "Your Majesty is not in the team. He will stop at the small courtyard where he once lived outside the city."

Su Yong and Su Lie already knew what was going on. After returning the gift, they watched each other ride back to the queue. They sent away the city officials and people who wanted to welcome the emperor together, leaving only the eunuch Sun Shuwu waiting at the city gate.

Watching by the way, the soldiers and horses of the Eastern Expedition against Japanese pirates passed by with their heads held high, and... the urns hung on their waists. Their lips were pressed tightly together, and the two brothers looked heavy and did not speak.

After a while, Su Yong turned around and ordered to Sun Shuwu: "Prefect Sun, please buy all the drinks in the city and send them to the army in the name of the Su family to reward the soldiers."

The victorious soldiers and horses left Ding'an City one after another and headed to Changchuan County in the north. When they stopped to rest, shaft carts pulling wine jars came from Ding'an City.

The jars of wine contained on it were distributed among the troops.

After Xiang Yu and Lu Bu came over to express their thanks, they generously ordered all the wine to be poured into the vat, and all the soldiers came forward to scoop out a bowl each.

Hunting in the strong wind, Xiang Yu stepped onto the big bluestone, held up the wine bowl with both hands, and said in a high-pitched voice: "The pirates raided the coast and killed my brothers and sisters. You all went on an expedition to attack them. I will pour this wine on behalf of your majesty to win the victory for you all - —”

"——Yin Sheng!"

Countless people raised their wine bowls and shouted in unison.

……

In front of the lonely grave in the forest, the voice sounded slowly.

"We have won many battles, but there are also many people who cannot come back. I can only return to my hometown with their loyalties.

The sea is vast, and during naval battles, even some people fell into the water, but their bodies could not be found. After three years of rest, they fought for a few months. From now on, the East China Sea and even the Nanyang area will be respected by our Xia Kingdom. "

"By the way, I also have a son. He is very clever. Thirteen said he is very similar to me when I was a child. It's a pity that you can't see it anymore."

Su Chen's eyes did not blink, and he slowly turned his head to look at the grave, and suddenly burst out laughing, with faint tears in his laughter.

"Actually, even if you didn't try your best and come back alive that day, I won't blame you. You are the first Chinese person I brought here. In terms of feelings, you are actually deeper than Dong Gong and the others. If you were You are not dead. You will be the leader of the embroidery department next to me."

Among the swaying mottled spots, Su Chen's eyes were filled with tears, his Adam's apple rolled sorely, and his voice was choked.

"If I have anything on my mind, I can say it in front of you instead of...in front of your grave."

call!
Su Chen took a deep breath, calmed down his mood for a long time, got up from the ground, left the sapphire cup and wine bottle in front of the tomb, and turned around to leave.

After walking a few steps and then stopping, Su Chen looked ahead and whispered: "...to be fair, I left. I don't know when I will come back next time."

He continued to move forward, and when he walked out of the woods, Dian Wei and Xu Chu had already brought the war horses over. Su Chen got on the horse and said softly to them: "Let's go!"

"If there is a chance, I will definitely let you come back to life!"

Su Chen said softly.

Immediately, he turned his head, put his feet on the horse's belly, and shouted: "Go back to Yanjing!"

The courtyards and woods in his memory flew behind him, gradually getting further and further away, and they merged with the waiting Tiger Guard Camp. Su Chen led the team through Ding'an City, met his two brothers outside the city gate, asked about the situation at home, and told them to leave. .

Su Chen got on the ancestral hearse, and the war horse pulling the cart stepped forward again, gradually speeding up. While running, Su Chen lifted the curtain and looked back, and Ding'an City became smaller in his field of vision.

At the gate of the city, in addition to the two brothers and the prefect standing there, there was also a figure hurried over, pulling a little man and waving goodbye to him.

Su Chen knew who it was, and after taking a few more glances, he lowered the car curtain.

The advance horses carried the news along the way that the three armies were about to arrive. Soon, the news entered Yanzhou, and then the horses rushed into Yanjing, the political and military center of the north.

All the civil and military officials of the court, including the queen and prince, came out of the city to greet him one by one.

(End of this chapter)