This mountain is mine

Chapter 243 Different choices
It took a long time for Xiao Jinzhao to come to Fangling from Bianjing.

He knew the important secret, and Tang Kuo was still looking for him, especially after Xiao Jinzhao revealed his whereabouts in Bianjing during the Chinese New Year, the pursuit became more intense.

As Tang Kuo's activities in the Song Dynasty became more frequent, his eyeliner increased a lot, and Xiao Jinzhao broke his leg again, which was very eye-catching.

Along the way, he stopped and stopped, hid and hid, and went around, but Tang Kuo did not make him doubt his destination.What other purpose could he have? What could he change with his own strength?

In Tang Kuo's eyes, Xiao Jinzhao is just a mouse that wants to survive and is chased around.

Tang Kuo enjoys the fun of chasing prey, especially the taste of playing with the famous generals of the Liao Kingdom in the palm of his hand.

Destroy his mind and watch him fall from the altar of the god of war, gradually wear away in fear and pursuit, and become an ordinary person who is greedy for life and afraid of death.

In Tang Kuo's view, it was his misfortune that Xiao Jinzhao did not die in battle, because he was about to die in humiliation in the second half of his short life.

When Xiao Jinzhao entered Fangling City, Tang Kuo was squinting, standing on the top of the mountain, looking at Hai Dongqing soaring above his head. He would climb this mountain every day to fly eagles, which was also to strengthen his body.

He still has a lot of things to do, and he needs to have a strong body.

On the top of the mountain, the snow that has not yet melted, and the surging cold air made his gaze more piercing and vigorous. Looking at this beautiful river and mountain, he felt a sense of pride in his heart.

He can really understand the state of mind of *** when he wrote the song "Qinyuanchun·Snow".

It's not that he is arrogant, he has never felt so good before, the previous sufferings are over, whether it is modern society, or becoming a baby and growing up in the Jurchen tribe by the Songhua River, all the misfortunes are all over!

He could almost foresee that in the near future, a great name would be left in the history books: Tang Kuo Tesiha!

He will have a very resounding title, becoming the master of this thousand li country.

"The country is so beautiful, it attracts countless heroes to bow down. It is a pity that Emperor Qin and Han Wu are slightly inferior in literary talent; Tang Zong and Song Zu are a little less coquettish, a generation of arrogant Genghis Khan." He paused. Even more outstanding, what is Wanyan Agu planning?
What is Genghis Khan?They will not have the opportunity to show their brilliance, and they will die.But now there are still nomadic people living on the grasslands, and I don't know if Genghis Khan was born. If not, he will not even have the chance to be born.

"It's all in the past, count the romantic figures, and look at the present!"

After Tang Kuo Tesha finished reading to the hills, he laughed loudly, and the circling eagle echoed him with a resonant cry, and Tang Kuo's mood became brighter and brighter.

After standing for a while, he blew his whistle, and Hai Dongqing responded from afar.

Tang Kuo turned around and went down the mountain, and then ordered in a cold voice: "The planting of the new year is about to start, so watch carefully so that there are no omissions."

He is used to ordering important things down when going down the mountain.

The person behind him calmly responded, "Yes."

The tone paused, and he said again: "Patriarch, it's time for the Liao people to pay taxes again. Spring has just come, and our stock is running out. This year..."

Tang Kuo put his hands behind his back and sneered nonchalantly, "Don't worry about them, without our drugs, they can't last long, and they don't dare to mess around. Let them air out and let them recognize who they are. It is the master, and the rest are prepared for the people of the Song Dynasty, prepare it, go back and go south, and find more buyers this time."

"Yes."

"Are the farmers from the Great Song Dynasty that we brought back last time dead?"

"Two more."

"Let the doctor take good care of them, and let them survive until the end of this year's spring plowing."

"Yes."

Spring in the Northeast came late, and it was April again. One day, this black land would be proud of him.

……

When Tang Kuo went down the mountain, Xiao Jinzhao was already sitting in Liushutun, opposite to Zhao Man.

As soon as he entered Fangling City, Zhao Man's people discovered him before Liu Tingzhou noticed him.

In Fangling City now, it is very difficult to hide anything from him.

The two sat facing each other, looking at each other, one had calm eyes like a pool of stagnant water, the other had cold eyes like a sharp knife.

When Zhao Man entered the barracks at the age of six, and was still struggling at the bottom with a gun to practice stabbing, picking, and killing, Xiao Jinzhao was already a well-known young general in the Liao Kingdom.

When Zhao Man was ten years old, the Song army suffered a disastrous defeat in the battle of Qigou Pass, losing tens of thousands. The bloody atmosphere in the military camp lasted for several months before dissipating. On a hilltop at the border, looking at the enemy's camp from a distance.

That was the first time he saw Xiao Jinzhao. He was sitting on a tall horse, wearing golden armor, majestic.

Xiao Jinzhao's name was engraved on the head of the wooden man Zhao Man used for training. He beat the wooden man with his bare hands every day, dreaming of how to chop off Xiao Jinzhao's head.

When Zhao Man rushed into the battlefield with a gun and a dagger as a small soldier, Xiao Jinzhao would no longer easily go to the battlefield. in the discourse.

Zhao Man also gradually forgot Xiao Jinzhao, he was too busy and had too many enemies.The situation on the battlefield is changing rapidly, and he is tense all the time. Those are the days when his head is really hanging on his waist, and there is not much time to remember this person.

Now Zhao Man looked at the enemy in front of him, he looked calm and quiet, pale and thin, and the edges and corners of his facial features became more distinct. Today's Xiao Jinzhao doesn't look like a general, and he doesn't have the slightest aura of the past.

Years of drifting have rounded his stabs and knives. He is more like a down-and-out scholar, dressed in a Confucian shirt and robes, dusty, with only one foot on the ground, one side of the clothes is empty, and the other side is A pair of wooden crutches rest on the chair.

Only those eyes were like the surface of the sea when it was still, with some traces still showing indistinctly.

Xiao Jinzhao is not really as calm as his face.

How can he be calm, they are natural enemies.

Before he left the court, he had never heard of Zhao Man's name. In the past ten years, his name has only become famous.

The time when Zhao Man's reputation was the loudest was the last battle of the Liao and Song Dynasties the year before last, which was both loud and embarrassing.

Both the Song and Liao countries spent too much manpower and material resources in the war, and they have been stalemate for a long time, but there has never been an absolute overwhelming victory or defeat.Both sides can't afford it, and there are signs of peace.

The peace negotiation is still in progress, but the war has not stopped. In order to deter the Song Dynasty and get more compensation benefits, Liao and Xixia frantically attacked the Song army.But Zhao Man became a victim because of the struggle between civil servants and generals in the Song Dynasty.

Inside the Song court, because Yu Zhaoming advocated the peace talks 16 years ago, he did "collaboration with the enemy and treason", which shocked the government and the public. Yu Zhaoming had a detached position among the civil servants. A group of military generals raised their heads, but because of more than ten years of war, they could not recover the sixteen prefectures of Youyun. The emperor's patience was also worn out bit by bit. Things.

In order to facilitate the peace talks, Song Chen didn't want to cause a big war, so he didn't send more troops to support Zhao Man, he just wanted to calm things down.

In the last battle of the Liao and Song Dynasties, the Liao and Xia armies came in menacingly, but the Song army's reinforcements could not arrive for a long time, and they became the turtle in the urn.

This battle made Zhao Man famous in the northern army. He killed the Liao general Xiao Ta with the momentum of breaking the boat, and the Liao people retreated.

This is also the end of Zhao Man's battlefield career.

In addition to Beidi, he was notorious because he disobeyed orders, disrupted the peace talks between the Liao and Song Dynasties, and rashly sent troops to kill and injure thousands of people. He was brought back to Bianjing as a criminal minister.

Xiao Jinchao had heard all this. He heard that the Song army had only lost thousands of people, so he didn't really believe it, but that's what the notice said, so let's just listen to it.

For Zhao Man, Xiao Jinzhao appreciates his bravery and decisive killing on the battlefield, and is also on guard. Xiao Tat is Xiao Jinzhao's favorite nephew, a rare general in the Xiao clan, and even in the Daliao. Barbarian hands, such people have to be guarded against.In the end, it is a pity that Zhao Man is destined to fall into the inexplicable battle in the court, just like himself.

Xiao Jinzhao had never met Zhao Man, but he only knew that Zhao Man rebelled later and acted hastily, which was bound to fail. After that, he was demoted as a commoner and exiled to Fangling.

Too rigid and easy to break.

Zhao Man is so similar to Xiao Jinzhao.

Xiao Jinzhao himself has experienced such hardships. He was on the court in the past, and he almost turned against him, but in the end he was still "almost". His stubbornness and unyieldingness were gradually worn away, and his heart was smoothed a lot. The fire in his heart was gradually extinguished, leaving only the lingering warmth of regret.

And Zhao Man is more "rigid" and unyielding than him.

With just one glance, Xiao Jinzhao could tell that maybe it was because he hadn't reached the point of despair, maybe there was still chance and hope ahead, the fire in Zhao Man's heart hadn't been extinguished, he was different from himself, and he still had to fight.

Xiao Jinzhao also wanted to see what Zhao Man would get if he continued to fight, whether he was like himself, powerless to change, drifting with the tide, or blazing a different path.

He and Zhao Man, one is Shen Lian who has experienced the world, and the other is tenacious who still wants to fight stubbornly.

However, he has already learned to bury the arrogance and dignity of his early years in the dust, and has a very humble attitude towards this man who is his enemy and younger than him.

He calmly allowed Zhao Man to look at him, even his own stump.

He looked at Zhao Man's eyes from appraising to murderous, and then calmed down again.

Xiao Jinzhao actually came to look for him. Zhao Man's mood was indeed very complicated. He was the first to speak: "You came to me on purpose? Why?"

He doesn't think there is any possibility of them reminiscing about old times or cooperating.

Just after Qingming, he wanted to kill Xiao Jinchao to pay homage to the dead border soldiers.

Xiao Jinzhao opened his mouth, and he said: "There are many firearm workshops in Bianjing and Jiangling in the Song Dynasty. I have seen fireballs, gunpowder whip arrows, caltrop fireballs, thunderbolt fireballs, etc. They are indeed sharp weapons. But I see Firearms that are more powerful than these, in addition to being used as a fire attack, the lethality is also amazing, one..."

He looked at the fruit plate on the table, and there was a plate of loquat on it, and pointed, "This plate is about as big as it is. Once it is ignited, it will explode suddenly, and it can blow a hole in the city gate. It will definitely explode into pieces, if one falls into the crowd, it can kill or injure at least a dozen people, I have seen it with my own eyes.”

After he finished speaking, Zhao Man's pupils shrank. Zhao Man naturally knew what this kind of weapon meant. If such a thing really appeared, then what kind of city gates were still guarding, it would definitely cause a huge panic.

Zhao Man is also aware of the firearms of the Song Dynasty today, and even he has many craftsmen who specialize in making firearms.However, it can only be used as a fire attack device for arson, which can burn the enemy and scare the enemy's soldiers and horses. Although it can also hurt people when it explodes, it is stronger than firecrackers, and it must not blow up the city gate.

Zhao Man asked in a deep voice, "Your leg was ruined by this kind of thing?"

Xiao Jinzhao nodded.

"who is it?"

"Jurchen."

Zhao Man's eyes tightened, Jurchen.

The first time Miaomiao heard about the Jurchens, she was terrified. Is that the man from the same place as Miaomiao?
He instinctively guessed, "Is it Tang Quotesha?"

Xiao Jinzhao was surprised, Zhao Man had already noticed this man?But he didn't show it on his face, he just nodded and added an explanation: "Last year he pacified all the Jurchen ministries."

Zhao Man asked again: "They have such weapons, why didn't they act?"

"It takes time to make, and the materials are not easy to find, and the price is not low. It should be because the quantity is limited, and..."

As Xiao Jinchao said, he took out a small bamboo box from his body, put it on the table, pushed it over, and said to Zhao Man, "See if you recognize this."

Zhao Man opened the box and saw a black paste with a strange smell, which he had never seen before, so he shook his head.

Xiao Jinzhao said calmly: "This thing is called Fushou Gao, which was very popular among the nobles of the Liao Dynasty. Some people in the Song Dynasty should have used it, but it has not been spread."

Zhao Man raised his eyebrows, looked at the dark thing, and didn't speak, waiting for Xiao Jinzhao's next words. He didn't come to him to sell things.

Xiao Jinzhao continued: "I heard that the effect of pain relief is excellent, and it can cure all diseases. Even if there is no pain, after using it, it can make people feel ecstatic and relaxed, but there is a disadvantage, that is, it is easy to become addicted. , Many people in Daliao cannot live without it, and life would be worse than death if they don’t use it for a day.”

This was because Xiao Jinzhao injured his leg, and the people below had to spend some effort to find it for him to relieve the pain.

However, it didn't work for him, he was never afraid of pain, he was firmly opposed to using it, and he didn't even think about using drugs when he was in the most painful and difficult time.

It's also God's pity, one of his legs was broken, but he managed to survive.

It was because Xiao Jinzhao knew that Fushou Gao controlled the nobles of the Liao Kingdom that he searched for the source all the way, and found the Jurchen tribe. He happened to meet Wanyan and Tang Kuo, who had a dispute over the crops grown on the land.

Wanyan Aguda accused Tang Kuo of causing a food shortage in the tribe because of planting poppies, and also induced many young people in the tribe to fall in love with poppies, indulge in them, and let Tang Kuo manipulate them.

Only then did Xiao Jinzhao notice that in the valleys and hillsides of the Jurchen tribe, there are flowers called poppies everywhere.

The outcome of this debate was that the Wanyan clan was ruined by Tang Kuo.

It was the first time Xiao Jinzhao saw a weapon with huge lethality. In his horror, although he was very skillful, he couldn't escape and was seriously injured.

"With Fushou Gao, they don't need to use weapons yet." Xiao Jinzhao's voice was full of helplessness.

He didn't know if he could reverse the current situation in the Liao Kingdom. He had no way to stop the drug and longevity cream, and no one listened to him. He could also foresee that this powerful weapon would eventually fall on his own country and people. On their bodies, they were drunk and dreamed of death, and their bodies were not as good as before. Sooner or later, they would be fish and meat under the knife of others.

Only then did Zhao Man pay attention. If it is true as Xiao Jinzhao said, the maker of this thing controlled many people without a single soldier. That Daliao will be over sooner or later.

He took the bamboo box, stretched out his hand to pinch it down, put it on the tip of his nose and sniffed it, and he smelled a slightly bitter taste. Xiao Jinzhao explained: "If you use a bong to light it up, there will be no harm once or twice. What effect, after a long time, you will become addicted."

Zhao Man frowned, he had never seen a smoking gun.

Xiao Jinzhao didn't say the purpose of coming to find Zhao Man, and Zhao Man could guess it, he told himself this, and wanted to use his own hands to get rid of the Jurchen.

Xiao Jinzhao also knew in his heart that even if there were no Jurchens, there would be others. The danger of Daliao began from within, and the building would collapse.

But other than that, what else can he do?A Liao Kingdom that was about to fall, he didn't have the strength to overthrow it and rebuild it.

With Xiao Jinzhao's words, Zhao Man completely paid attention to the Jurchens.

That Tang Quotesha was really a formidable opponent.

The hall was dull and silent, both of them were quietly contemplating and calming down.

Sitting here until dusk falls.

Yu Miaomiao saw that Zhao Man hadn't come out for a long time, and there was no sound in the room. Now it's time for dinner, so she found it. As soon as she got close, both people in the room heard the noise. Yu Miaomiao raised the curtain, poked her head out, and said: " Shichiro, it's time to eat."

Zhao Man's face softened a lot, he stood up, and said to her, "Come here."

Yu Miaomiao looked at Xiao Jinzhao who was opposite him, "Then you and the guests eat here and talk while eating."

Zhao Man has already walked over, "The conversation is over, I will accompany you to dinner."

"That's a little rude..." Yu Miaomiao also felt that Xiao Jinzhao was not an ordinary person, she looked over, Xiao Jinzhao nodded at her, and then turned her gaze away.

"Don't worry about them, he's ready to go."

After Zhao Man finished speaking, Xiao Jinzhao really stood up on crutches, and said, "Farewell, I will be in Fangling during this time, you know how to find me."

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Zhao Man's answer, he stood up and went out step by step. There was still a guard brought by Xiao Jinzhao standing at the door. Yu Miaomiao had to look again. Zhao Man had already supported her waist and walked in. up.

"Who are they? What's the matter? Are you in a bad mood?" Yu Miaomiao asked softly.

Zhao Man rubbed her waist with his hands, "I'll tell you after dinner, let's eat now, don't ask too many questions."

Xiao Jinchao went out from this courtyard, he could no longer hear the conversation between Zhao Man and Yu Miaomiao, and it seemed that there was a similar conversation echoing in his ears, gradually faded away, and finally returned to calm.

A guard with a gloomy expression behind him held an umbrella for him, the rain still slanted down on him, his face was calm, only a few traces of rain were on his face, sliding down his eyelashes, and his eyes were a little damp.

For a moment, he was particularly envious of Zhao Man. He also had a family, but now it has been torn apart, and the past left to him has gradually faded.

And his daughter can only be safe with outsiders, and his country is also precarious in the wind and rain, crumbling.

He asked himself in his heart, if he had known that he would end up in the current situation, the country would be ruined and his family would perish, would he have made another choice, like most of the nobles of the Liao Kingdom, drifting with the tide, dreaming of life and death, at least keeping his family ten times more year?
He shook his head, he knew he wouldn't, he didn't regret it, he never regretted it, he just hated himself why he didn't do better, he could actually do better at that time, he could do better with Zhao Man Same. Reverse.

He used to be the Grand Marshal of the Army and Horses.

However, it was too late now. He looked back at the small courtyard shrouded in rain and fog. The smoke from the kitchen hadn't dissipated yet, and it was quiet and serene. He wanted to see how long it would be peaceful here?
Let's see how far Zhao Man, who made a different choice from him, can go.

"Don't disappoint me," he murmured.

"master."

"Let's go." He withdrew his gaze, supported his crutches, and walked forward step by step. As long as he could walk, he would not choose to sit.

In the house, Zhao Man accompanied Yu Miaomiao to eat.

He has something on his mind, a plate of sweet and sour lotus root belt, the lotus root belt seems to be soaked in vinegar, a bowl of braised fish, with a thick layer of Sichuan pepper (pepper) on it, and there is something dark with it. Seasoning, the only plate of fried pork with shredded bamboo shoots looked normal, and the shredded bamboo shoots were also sour.

Without any hesitation, he picked up the chopsticks and took the rice into his mouth, swallowed it as if nothing had happened, and then took another big mouthful without frowning.

Seeing that Dr. Qiu's teeth were a little sore, Dr. Qiu originally planned to ask him to eat with him.

Yu Miaomiao has weird tastes lately, his old man can't stand it, even normal people can't stand it either.

Yu Miaomiao knew it herself, so her cooking was separate, and her own was a separate portion.

It can be seen that Zhao Man is like this, Doctor Qiu can only smack his lips, and eat the excess food silently.Maybe his taste will become weird after becoming a father. He has never been a father before, so it is not surprising if he doesn't know.

Yu Miaomiao squinted at Zhao Man, and held a chopstick to his mouth. She just ate a lot of snacks, and she is not hungry now. Seeing Zhao Man's absent-minded appearance, she smiled maliciously. .

Zhao Man came back to his senses, opened his mouth to catch it, and suddenly forgot to retract his jaw, and the muscles on his face twitched.Facing Yu Miaomiao's dark eyes, she swallowed again, but couldn't put down the chopsticks again.

Yu Miaomiao wanted to bring him food, so he quickly changed the subject, swallowed hard, felt that his tongue was numb, and pointed to the fish, "Miaomiao, what is this black thing?"

"Oh, this is the fermented soya bean that I harvested from the beans last year. Today I opened it and smelled it, and I can eat it. I took some out and it tastes good, right? It's a pity that there is no chili, otherwise the taste will be better. The grilled fish is very good, right? , I’ll give you some more, I used a small packet of Sichuan pepper and a lot of vinegar.”

Zhao Man: "..."

"Seeing that you like eating so much, you can eat with me in the future, and uncle can eat by himself."

In the end, Yu Miaomiao still didn't have the heart to torment him. After Zhao Man finished his meal and obediently went to wash the dishes, the two sat down in front of the window. : "Know this?"

(End of this chapter)