Go back to the Ming Dynasty to be a thousand households

Chapter 128 Desolation
A desolate suona sound rushed straight into the sky, echoing between the heaven and the earth for a long time.

Accompanied by the sound of the suona, there was a group of crying funeral procession behind, including old people, women, and children.Everyone wears hemp belts for filial piety, and the white banners are like a forest to call back souls. When you look up, you can see a white world, a world of pain and screaming.As the team moved forward, people threw white paper money from time to time along the way, and the paper money either fell on the ground or drifted away with the yellow sand.

The funeral procession was huge, with thousands of people. They were all relatives of the troublemakers who died this time. Now that the weather is getting hotter, the dead bodies cannot be left for a long time. Huang Laifu ordered a big hole to be dug and Hundreds of dead people were buried collectively, and today is the day for these people to attend funerals.

The suppression this time can only be called a tragedy, and neither side can be right or wrong.Huang Laifu's propaganda here is to blame everything on the instigation of the Liu family, and the relatives of the victims also silently accepted this statement. In addition, Huang Laifu's pension of 20 taels of silver per household, no matter whether they are miners or former slaves of the Liu family, They transferred their anger to the Liu family.

When the members of the Liu family left Taipingzhuang that day, they were accompanied by countless stones and clods from everyone in Taipingzhuang, as well as the sound of howling and cursing. .

The big tomb where hundreds of people were buried was built on a sunny hillside not far from Taipingzhuang. At this time, a funeral shed and incense cases have been set up there for the relatives of the victims to cry. Spirit worship.And not far from the big tomb, there is a small tomb built independently, with a tombstone on it, which reads: "Tomb of Martyr Han!"

In this mob incident, Huang Laifu was deeply impressed by the young woman who died. Her behavior was not right, but Huang Laifu and others admired her true nature of daring to face a strong enemy.Therefore, hundreds of dead mobs could only be buried collectively in a big pit, but she could have her own independent small grave, and Huang Laifu personally arranged for her to carve a tombstone.

At this time, people kneeling in front of the altar of the big tomb were full of people, and there was a lot of crying and wailing everywhere, accompanied by the smoke of paper money burned in the sky, and the faint voice of monks chanting sutras.However, there were very few people who came to worship at the small grave, in twos and threes, mostly miners and their families from Wuzhai Fort, and some Wuzhai Fort sergeants who admired her. more common.

According to Huang Laifu's inquiries, this Han family and her husband were just refugees who came to Taipingzhuang a year ago. The locals didn't know much about her, and they usually only called her by her nickname, Wuniu.If it weren't for this incident, she would have been silently unknown like most women, but her actions before she died were like a shooting star, adding a touch of brilliance to her life.

On a small hill not far from the cemetery, Huang Laifu held a baby and stood there quietly. He seemed to be looking at the situation on the other side of the cemetery, but his eyes were far away, and his mind seemed to fly to nowhere. .The cemetery was very lively, but Huang Laifu's surroundings were very quiet. The people around him stood quietly, and no one interrupted it.

Huang Laifu squinted his eyes slightly and listened silently to the sound of the suona. It was sad and desolate, like a small hand gently touching the soft place in one's heart.This kind of sound is like the crying sound from a man's chest, or the hissing sound of rolling on the empty field of the yellow land... For thousands of years, the people of this land have lived in this way. Express your sorrows and joys.

A Wuzhaibao sergeant put a stick of incense in front of Han's tomb, then bowed slightly, and saluted.Huang Laifu recognized him as the Wuzhaibao sergeant who killed the Han family, a cavalry Xiaoqi named Wang Guanzhong.

After he finished offering incense, he walked to Huang Laifu's side and saluted, "My lord."

Huang Laifu knew what he was going to say, waved his hand, and said, "You don't need to say anything, you did the right thing this time, and I want to reward you!"

Wang Guanzhong saluted slightly, and silently stepped aside.

Qu Liangwan, whose hair was wrapped like an Indian's, said, "My lord is kind-hearted, he forgives the crimes of the mob, and he also pays a lot of money to comfort the criminals. Liang Wan admires it."

Huang Laifu smiled slightly, teased the baby in his arms and said, "Niuer, Niuer, come, go and pay respects to your mother." Huang Laifu didn't know the baby's name that day, but later learned that her mother's surname was Han. The nickname was Wuniu, so the baby was named Hanniuer, which means Han Wuniu's daughter.

Compared to that day, Han Niu'er had changed into a clean cotton padded jacket. She had opened her big round eyes and looked at everything over there curiously, but now she was teased by Huang Laifu, and she giggled. Laughing, she was babbling indistinctly while touching Huang Laifu's nose...

※※※

A gust of wind blew up, kicking up dust all over the sky.When this cloud of dust passed, the pedestrians walking on the mountain road were all ashamed.

This road from Shenchibao to Ningwuguan has always been difficult, with high mountains and ridges, rugged mountain roads, and it is difficult for vehicles and horses to travel.In addition, the area around Shenchibao is very windy, and there is a lot of yellow land here. When the wind blows, it will cover the sky and cover the earth, with yellow sand in it, making people miserable.

"God damn it!"

Liu Ke tightly reined in the turbulent horse under him, and managed to calm the horse down, but he couldn't help the resentment in his heart, and screamed against the sky.There was a dead silence all around, for a while, Liu Ke lowered his head decadently, smeared his face, and cursed weakly.

Traveling from Taipingzhuang to here, the dust eaten on the road, coupled with the occasional gust of wind, has already covered him with dust, not to mention the clothes, even the beard on the side of his cheeks is also dusty.It's just that all of these, the fatigue and pain of the body, can't compare with the hatred in the heart.

Looking around, all the people in this group who came out of Taipingzhuang looked dusty and listless.Among the group were the three brothers of the Liu family, as well as some of their families, wives and daughters. These people were all sitting in several carriages.There are also dozens of domestic slaves, and some of their family members can only walk. Walking on the mountain road, everyone looks very tired.The Liu family has been brilliant in Taipingzhuang for a hundred years, but now it can only be like a bereaved dog.

"Second brother, don't be impatient."

Liu Kedi's calm voice came from inside a carriage. Lying next to him was his third younger brother Liu Kezhi. Liu Kezhi used to be strong and his body was like iron, but now he was depressed and couldn't walk at all. , can only lie down in the carriage.After the heavy blows from Jiang Dazhong and others yesterday, no matter how tough his body was, he collapsed. At this time, he was lying in the carriage, short of breath, and his whole body was hot. He lost most of his life.

Compared with Liu Kezhi, although Liu Ke was also injured yesterday, his injury was not very serious. In addition, he is a stronger person, so he can still insist on riding the horse.

After hearing Liu Kedi's words at this time, he shouted: "Brother, I hate you in my heart. When did our Liu family suffer such a big loss? I feel really uncomfortable!" He gritted his teeth and said: "When we arrive in Ningwu Guan, if the boss doesn't help us avenge, I will definitely go to my cousin, no matter what, I want that Huang Laifu to die!"

Liu Kedi laughed and said, "Second brother, you just can't see it." He lifted the curtain of the car to look, and shouted: "Stop."

The group stopped, and many walking slaves and family members sat on the ground, panting heavily.

When Liu Kedi came down, the old housekeeper brought a kettle and handed it to him with both hands. Liu Kedi smiled and said, "Okay, okay." He took the kettle and said with emotion: "Brother Yang, you have been with me for 30 years. right?"

The old butler said respectfully: "My lord, it has been 31 years since I came to Liu's house."

Liu Kedi patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's been hard for you these years."

The old housekeeper whimpered: "The little one is not bitter, the little one is willing to serve the master for the rest of his life."

Liu Kedi nodded and said a few good words.His eyes were reddish, he waved to Liu Ke, and said, "Second brother, come, let's sit over there."

Liu Ke came over, and Yiyan and Liu Kedi found a clean grassy slope to sit down on.

Liu Ke looked at Liu Kedi and saw that his hair was all gray and his expression was haggard. He said distressedly: "Brother, in just two days, you have aged a lot and lost a lot of weight."

Liu Kedi smiled slightly, he looked at the front, and said blankly: "Just now, your eldest brother slept in the carriage for a while, and in his dream, he saw many people who were killed by us in blood and blood, crying Shouting for my life. Sigh, second brother, do you think your elder brother is old, so people think too much?"

Liu Ke said disapprovingly: "Brother, you can't be sure about the things in your dreams. You really think too much."

Liu Kedi sighed: "I've thought about it along the way. Over the years, many people have died in our Liu family. They didn't take it seriously before, but now they are bereaved dogs, so I understand their suffering. Perhaps, All of this is retribution."

Liu Ke said angrily, "Brother, what are you talking about to be discouraged? We will come back to this land of Taipingzhuang one day."

Liu Kedi just smiled and said nothing. He took a deep look at Liu Ke, and there was a brotherly warmth in his eyes. He stretched out his dry hand, patted Liu Ke on the shoulder, and said softly: "Second brother, elder brother has been strict with you since you were a child. You don't blame elder brother, do you?"

Liu Ke's tears flowed out all at once, and he choked up and said, "Brother, I don't blame you. Xiaobei knows that you are doing it for my own good. Brother's kindness, I will never repay you in this lifetime."

Liu Kedi laughed and said, "You still have the same temper as when you were a child."

He looked around, his gaze was as sharp as an eagle of prey, and he said softly: "Second brother, when you reach the forked road ahead, you protect your sister-in-law and the others, and walk on that path. Servants, still take this road.”

Liu Ke was taken aback, and said, "What does Big Brother mean?"

Liu Kedi smiled slightly, and said: "That Huang Laifu is definitely not a kind person. Although he said that yesterday, I know that he will not let us go. I estimate that their cavalry is not far away. Wait for us."

Liu Ke said angrily: "This Huang Laifu is too deceitful, we will fight him."

Liu Kedi shook his head, and said: "Don't hit a stone with a pebble, we are all together, and we are not an opponent of their hundred-household team."

Liu Ke remained silent in grief and indignation as if discouraged. He slammed his fist heavily on the grassy slope underground. After a while, he resolutely said, "Then you go, brother, and I will take the servants to guard."

Liu Ke said calmly but resolutely, "Listen to elder brother."

……

The matter was decided in this way, and in an atmosphere of sorrow and horror, Liu Kedi bid farewell to his third brother Liu Kezhi, his wife Wu, and several of his younger siblings and nieces. There are the female relatives of those house slaves.As for those house slaves, they stayed with Liu Keyi and took the road to attract the officers and soldiers of Wuzhai Fort. As for his old housekeeper, he also voluntarily stayed.

Before leaving, Liu Kedi confessed to Liu Ke: "If you can escape alive this time, don't think about avenging your elder brother, don't go to Ningwu Pass, don't go to Kelan Mountain, and don't think about going back to Taiping again. Zhuang, find a secluded place to live a good life. Although the treasures you brought this time are not much, they are enough for you to buy a house and land, and become wealthy family members... Take good care of your sister-in-law, she has always been in poor health .”

Liu Ke was weeping, and nodded heavily. He looked up to the sky and shouted loudly, the whip in his hand twitched crisply, and led a group of female relatives, and resolutely left.

After they left, Liu Kedi sighed slowly, the breeze picked up, rolled up a cloud of dust, and blew over his body, making his figure look desolate and lonely.He jumped on a horse and smiled at the old housekeeper, "Brother Yang, let's go!"
Afterwards, the pedestrians hurried on in silence. When they reached a slightly flat terrain, a horse's head appeared on the hillside in front of them, and then nearly a hundred fast horses appeared slowly. Holding a lance and saber, as well as blunderbuss, bow and arrow, etc., he looked down at them from a high position, and the leader was Jiang Dazhong.

"Officers and soldiers of Wuzhai Fort!"

The surrounding servants were panicked, and some of them started to run away. Liu Kedi looked calm. He just squinted his eyes and quietly looked at the Wuzhaibao soldiers on the high slope. Suddenly, he Laughing nervously...

On May 1591, 5 AD, Liu Ke, the owner of Taiping Village, and his first pedestrians encountered a horse thief on the road, and they were exhausted!
(End of this chapter)