Ping An Biography

Zhang Ning led hundreds of people to abandon Shimen County and Cili County, and trek back to Fengxia Mountain through the Wuling Mountains on the north bank of Lishui River.The road was very difficult, but he managed to avoid the attack range of Yongding guards and horses, and successfully returned to the deep mountains.The warehouses in the second county have been looted by them, and the rich and big households have also been forced to take out part of their property to "reward the army".Zhang Ning harvested a lot of silver ingots, forged horses, silk, silk floss, sulfur and other things, but the grain could not be taken away due to insufficient road transport capacity.

When he first learned that the Miao people in Laer Mountain had raised their troops, Zhang Ning decided to give up the idea of ​​occupying the second county of Shimen Cili. He could temporarily attract the firepower of the officers and soldiers to the southern Miao border and reduce the difficulty of capturing Yongdingwei.

Later, another news came from the Shuidang'ao stone field, which was leaked by the "undercover" eunuch in Chaoli. The Ministry of War had sent Zhu Yong to the Southwest to fight the rebellion.Knowing that Zhu Yong is the son of the famous general Zhu Neng, it shows that the court attaches great importance to it, and the person who came is not a good one; Zhang Ning no longer hesitated, and immediately ordered the troops to retreat to avoid his edge.So the two teams of soldiers and horses and hundreds of men, women, old and young people from the Dashengzhai branch trekked long distances and ran away on the mountain road.

Zhang Ning doesn't think there is any shame in running away to avoid danger. If Taizu had fought head-on with Yuan Jun and other anti-Yuan gangsters every time, he might not have achieved great things.

It began to rain lightly on Fengxia Mountain, but as soon as everyone came back, Zhang Ning ordered a house to be requisitioned at the entrance of the village, and immediately paid soldiers' salaries, rewards, and pensions.Because he hoped that the soldiers who had fought bloody battles would not have to go home empty-handed.

The pattering rain can't stop the enthusiasm of the sergeants to receive money. Apart from feelings, men also seek profit. Men understand what it's like to go home with a lot of wealth. The wife will be extra considerate and enthusiastic, and the neighbors will be very envious , It can be said that it is as refreshing as returning home.

The main road was soon full of people, and the families of the soldiers also came with umbrellas and bamboo baskets, because they heard that the people in charge of finance would use silk cloth to offset part of the money, and it was raining again, and people were afraid to leave their things behind. Getting wet affects the color.

The No. 30 Brigade of the Left Whistle under Wei Bin had the most rewards, because as the main force in capturing the second county, its credit was directly linked to its interests. The extra reward alone was 50 taels; officers above the general banner were 30 taels. [-] taels is considered a huge sum of money in the eyes of ordinary people. If the people who are responsible have such a fortune, it can guarantee that they can live well for many years if they manage it properly.

Zhang Ning was also very interested in standing outside the house where the money was distributed, feeling the joy of the people. 30 taels or even 3000 taels are not very important to him, but this does not affect him from sharing surprises and excitement from others .

The guards came over and wanted to hold an umbrella for him, but Zhang Ning saw that the soldiers and many villagers were queuing in the rain, so he refused the guards' kindness and stood in the rain with everyone.

A sergeant and his wife who had just received more than [-] taels worth of property walked past Zhang Ning, knelt down in the mud and said gratefully: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your generous reward."

Zhang Ning stepped forward to help the sergeant up, and said kindly: "You don't have to thank me, these things are what you sacrificed with your life and blood|fighting blood."

People looked sideways when they heard the prince speak.Zhang Ning raised his hand and said loudly: "The imperial court thinks we are sinners, but we are not guilty. Here, we have our own country, and share everything, victory and wealth together." After hearing this, all the soldiers shouted long live, and the atmosphere was very warm and cheerful.Although the weather is not good today, it does not affect the general atmosphere of the festival. It is a very pleasant day.

Zhang Ning stood in the rain for a while, then left, he was going to meet Yao Ji first.Walking along the main road in the middle of the village, he saw the villagers opening their doors and staring at him. The altar masters of some sub-altars who hadn't left Fengxia Mountain stood by the road and saluted him.

There was a lot of rain on the road, which added a bit of melancholy to the festive atmosphere. The scene of light rain is always not as bright as the sun.His hat and shoulders were soaked by the rain, and there were thin drops of water on the skirt of his clothes. The chill was not bad, it made people quiet.

Just as he walked to the courtyard gate behind the temple, there was a sound of guzheng suddenly.Zhang Ning's music and art skills are not rich, and he is also insensitive to rhythm. At the beginning, he didn't care, and continued to walk in with Xu Wenjun.

When he walked under the eaves, his footsteps gradually slowed down, and his eyes became brighter.The rain curtain in the yard was trembling with the rhythm. It was hard to believe such a scene. Zhang Ning didn't think it was his imagination, as if he had actually seen them trembling and dancing.

He looked back at Xu Wenjun and wanted to ask her if she heard or saw it, but he couldn't speak for a while, for fear that if he spoke, he would destroy the artistic conception.Seeing him turning his head, Wen Jun also looked over, and the two looked at each other.

The sad melody reverberates in the rain, but the desolation is not the same sadness as mourning, it feels extremely grand and grand; Zhang Ning is absolutely sure that those who have never heard the Zhongzhao Shao music played at the emperor's ceremony will never be able to play it This kind of grand tone; so the person who played this piece must be Yao Ji, and there is no second person here.It is so sad and heartbreaking; it gives hope and meaning to this sadness and makes it full of beauty.

Gradually, the melody gradually became low and quiet; then it suddenly rose up, like the clang of iron soldiers of thousands of troops...

Zhang Ning's mind naturally thought of the words of a song of Chu: Cao Wu Ge was caught by a rhinoceros armor, and the wrong car was picked up by a short soldier.The enemy is like a cloud when the sun is covered by the streamer, and the arrows fall and the soldiers compete for the first place.Ling Yu is in the formation, he is walking around, the left is dead, the right is wounded... Sincerity is both brave and martial, and finally strong and invincible.The body is dead, the spirit is the spirit, and the soul is the ghost...

At the end of the song, the melody gradually died down, leaving only the slight rustling sound of drizzle falling on the treetops on the roof.

But the melody still echoed in Zhang Ning's mind, lingering.He was stunned, shocked.Perhaps because of his habit of listening, Zhang Ning, a layman, always thought that modern music is better than ancient elegant music, but at this moment, his thinking has changed. Perhaps because of the slow spread of ancient times, many divine comedies have been lost.

He didn't know how he got out of the door of the upper room, and he stretched out his hand to try, but the door was only half-closed, and he pushed half an arm's width away.The white-clothed attendant inside turned his head to look, seeing that it was Zhang Ning, he didn't move.Yao Ji also took her hand away from the piano, raised her head, and saw most of Zhang Ning's face behind the door.There was a calm and serious expression on his handsome face, but there was also a trace of sadness and pity.Those who didn't know thought he had returned from a defeated battle.

The door was already opened, Zhang Ning walked into the room immediately, Xu Wenjun also put away his umbrella and followed.

Zhang Ning was going up to pay his respects when he found a half-human-high long sword slung around his waist, so he took it off, turned around and handed it to Wenjun behind him, the top of the scabbard touched the floor, and a stream of fine water fell from it beads, wet the dry ground.

"My son pays homage to my lord mother." Zhang Ning knelt in front of Yao Ji and bowed.

Yao Ji stood up and helped her up, and then ordered her attendants to bring chairs to sit on.She sat back in her seat again and said, "Did you hear the piece I played just now? Before you left last time, you mentioned that you wanted to compose a 'national anthem'. I composed it for a long time, but it feels too sad. I'm afraid it's ominous. Change it." Say it again."

"The song just now is very good, but it can be used as military music. It doesn't matter if you mourn a little bit. The ancients said that mourning soldiers will win. We have already lost our country. Hundreds of thousands of troops were lost in the 'Battle of Jingnan', and those who were killed when the country was destroyed It is even more incalculable, and only after losing and perishing do we understand the preciousness of victory."

Zhang Ning gradually got used to this way of talking, especially when there were others around.Yao Ji has lived in seclusion in the mountains for so many years, but she still hasn't changed her dignified and decent words and deeds, which seems to have become her habit.But this doesn't mean that they don't have ordinary people's emotions, they are just hiding and suppressing; Zhang Ning is also used to such suppression and restraint.

Yao Ji said apologetically again: "I can't forget those frightening days when I was in exile... I wanted to compose a more festive and grand song, but I couldn't come up with it..."

After hearing this, Zhang Ning stood there for a while, feeling distressed, then turned around and stretched out his hand and said, "Wenjun, what I brought back is that box."

He got the box, put it on the piano case, and said, "Here are some jewelries, which I brought back. I hope one of them will please you..." Gradually he could not restrain his inner emotions, and said, "Hua King Yang lives in Lizhou, and there is a palace in Lizhou, but the palace there is too small to be worthy of my mother... One day, I will lead my troops to capture a big palace and let you live in it..."

The attendants standing on the side couldn't help but look sideways, and looked at Zhang Ning with strange eyes.

Yao Ji looked into his eyes for a long time, and she seemed to feel the uncontrollable turmoil in Zhang Ning's heart. After a long time, she said softly: "I don't necessarily need a palace. I am relieved that you have this kind of filial piety." ...What I need is you..." Yao Ji closed her red lips immediately after saying this, her face flushed slightly.

She didn't even look at the jewelry on the piano case. The box was opened, and the colorful ornaments inside were very beautiful, but she "fell out of favor" in front of a woman, and she didn't even get a look.She was a noble woman by nature, and a plain life was not suitable for her.

In Zhang Ning's eyes, Yao Ji in front of her is no longer an elder, she seems to be a goddess.With a stunningly beautiful face and perfect skin and figure, she doesn't seem to age.

After a brief silence, Yao Ji finally moved her gaze away from Zhang Ning's face, and turned to look at the courtyard through the open door.The small yard has no scenery, only a few trees, and the classic house corridor looks good to Zhang Ning, but in the eyes of the ancients, such a house is nothing more than ordinary.

"Are you still used to living here...the place is indeed too small, and you don't go out for a walk." Zhang Ning asked hastily.

Yao Ji smiled slightly: "It's a very good place, it's usually very quiet, and occasionally we can hear each other."