Aspirations

Chapter 174
The barracks shrouded in darkness was much quieter than during the day, and the sequentially lit lights made the connected barracks gather into a sea of ​​lights.

Lian Ruohan was sitting in the pavilion in the courtyard, the tea was already cold and the night was late, but she didn't feel sleepy at all. The moon dusk and the water were clear and shallow several times to persuade her to go back to her room to rest, but she ignored them.

Moon Dusk and Shui Qingqian intend to report to Wu Yidong, but are persuaded by Xia Laixia.Xia Lai's words are very simple and very reasonable: "Although the two of you are obviously looking after Lian Niangzi, don't forget an old saying, the iron-clad camp and the flowing soldiers, sooner or later Commander Wu will leave Zhending, Lian Niangzi's good times There are more than a dozen commercial firms in Zhending, but compare them yourself. After you have served Mrs. Lian, after Mrs. Lian goes out, you can redeem yourselves, and you can betrothed to a good family... ..."

It is not so much that Xia Lai's words moved Yue Dusk and Shui Qingqian, it is better to say that Xia Lai and Xia Qu's tall and mighty looks and their unmarried status moved their hearts. Han side.

Xia Lai and Xia Qu were ordered by Wu Yidong to guard Lian Ruohan. In fact, only Xia Lai is Wu Yidong's personal soldier, and Xia Qu is Han Meng's personal soldier.The two of them didn't know who Lian Ruohan was at first, but when Lian Ruohan revealed that she was Xia Xiang's wife who was going to marry, the two couldn't help but be overjoyed!
Xia Lai was fine, he held back his tears, Xia Qu wept with joy, and cried for a long time before he calmed down.

Lian Ruohan let the two of them enter the yard, and made the water clear and shallow, and the moon and dusk serve tea. The two talked about what happened after they separated from Xia Xiang.

"Let me say it first, let me say it first..." Xia Lai was extremely happy. After the two joined the army, they had been in the barracks and had never left the barracks for even half a step. It is not known that Xia Xiang served as the magistrate of Zhending County, but now suddenly there is news of Xia Xiang, Xia Xiang is actually a majestic magistrate of Zhending County, and there is a beautiful lady, he is happier than marrying a lady .

"Okay, if you talk first, you can talk first, whoever made you fall off the cliff first." Xia Qubai glanced at Xia Lai, and he was also very happy. Xia Xiang was in Zhending, a dozen miles away from him. He didn't know anything about the magistrate of the city, and now there is a sister Lian in the world, who is actually Xia Xiang's lifelong wife. He can finally stop being frightened, and no longer always afraid that one day he will hear the news of Xia Xiang's death.

"Where should I start?" Xia Lai snatched the opportunity to speak first, but he didn't know how to start. He thought for a while, "Let's start with me falling off a cliff... when I stumbled and fell... I fell off the cliff and thought I couldn’t survive. Unexpectedly, I was stopped by a branch and I didn’t fall to my death. But it hurt a lot, and I rolled a few dozen feet away, and passed out. When I woke up, I found that it was dawn , there was no one around. I yelled a few times, but no one responded. I walked for a long time alone, tired, hungry and thirsty. When I saw that I was about to fail, I met a caravan and they rescued me. "

"After I regained my strength, I wanted to go back to find Dalang. The leader of the caravan was Yang Chun, a kind-hearted old man. He said that the terrain in this area was steep and inaccessible, and it would be difficult to get out alive after entering. I thought so, since I was a child I grew up in this area, and I have never been to many places. I heard that once you enter it, you will get lost, and there are wolves, tigers and leopards. Since you can’t go back, and you can’t go home, you have to go south to Quanzhou with Uncle Yang to learn how to do business.”

"Originally, I followed Old Man Yang all the way south, passing through Xingzhou to Kaifeng, and then to Ezhou. Old Man Yang said that after leaving Ezhou, it would be very difficult to return to Lingshou. I hesitated for a while, but then I thought about it. Should be aiming in all directions, so I said without hesitation that I will not look back. Unexpectedly, when I arrived in Ezhou and learned that there was a shortage of Xing kiln porcelain, Old Man Yang decided to return to Xingzhou overnight and never go south to Quanzhou. Since I became Old Man Yang’s buddy, he Follow wherever you go."

"Back to Xingzhou, I bought the goods, and when I was about to go south to Ezhou, I met Xia Qu." Xia Lai smiled at Xia Qu, "It's also my brothers who are deeply destined and should not be separated. Xia Qu fell on the same day. Cliff also met a car dealership, and was rescued by the owner of the car dealership, Pang Yongsheng. He became a buddy with Uncle Pang. But he wanted to join the army, so he made an agreement with Uncle Pang. When he had the opportunity to join the army, he would no longer be an apprentice Uncle Pang agreed to him. I’m ashamed to say that I originally wanted to join the army, but I don’t know why after meeting a firm, I felt that doing business was better than joining the army, so I gave up the idea of ​​enlisting.”

"It's a coincidence that the firm of old man Yang who rescued me and the car dealership of old man Pang who rescued Xia have a business relationship. Old man Yang came to Xingzhou to purchase goods, and the porcelain from Xing kiln was delivered by Boss Pang's car dealership. Me and After Xia Qu reunited, Xia Qu said that he wanted to join the army. Old man Pang was a good man, and he didn’t want to force Xia Qu to go, so he let Xia Qu go leave. Xia Qu went to persuade me to join the army with him, and said that a man should serve the country. I said But he agreed. Uncle Pang kindly introduced us to someone, and under his introduction, Xia Qucai and I joined the Forbidden Army stationed in Zhending Mansion."

"Who?" Lian Ruohan's heart moved.

"Li Chi, Li Langjun." Xia Lai smiled honestly, "Li Langjun is a good man. Originally, the imperial guards stationed in Zhending Mansion did not recruit soldiers, and even if they did, they did not directly select them from the common people. As a close friend, after Uncle Pang introduced me and Xia Qu, he and Commander Wu personally recommended the two of us. Commander Wu also thought that we were good, so he took us by his side and became his personal soldiers. Later, Once drinking, Commander Wu and Deputy Commander Han quarreled very badly. Later, Commander Wu reconciled with Deputy Commander Han, and sent Xia Qu to Deputy Commander Han, and Xia Qu became Deputy Commander Han. Envoy's personal soldiers."

Lian Ruohan was even more certain that Li Chi was recruiting troops for Wu Yidong.I've heard rumors before that the Boling Cui family is also recruiting talents for Wu Yidong, but I don't know if it's true or not.However, from Xia Lai's experience, it can be seen that Li Chi was running about recruiting soldiers and buying horses himself.Thinking about the relationship between Li Chi and Zheng Mingrui, and the fact that Li Chi's wife is the daughter of the Boling Cui family, needless to say, the Taiyuan Li family and the Boling Cui family are also on the side of Xingwang.

Although Zheng Mingrui is a member of the Zheng family in Xingyang, he is another matter.Lian Ruohan is very aware of Zheng Hao's attitude. On the surface, Zheng Hao and Xing Wang are not in the same camp. In fact, Zheng Hao does not lean towards either side, he just acts according to his own preferences.

"After enlisting in the army, I lost contact with the outside world. I don't know what's going on outside. I don't even know that Xia Dalang has become the magistrate of Zhending County, let alone that he found such a beautiful and generous lady." Xia said. My own experience, hehe laughed together, turned to Xia Qu and said, "It's your turn, Xia Qu."

Xia Qu said calmly: "Actually, I don't have anything to say about my experience. After falling off the cliff, I survived a catastrophe and met Uncle Pang. Originally, I wanted to go all over the world with Uncle Pang, and I didn't want to meet him in Xingzhou. When I arrived in Xia Lai, I overheard Uncle Pang say that he knew someone from the Forbidden Army, so I was moved to join the army. Then I persuaded Xia Lai to join the army with me, and after that, I have been staying in the barracks until now. Who knows that he didn’t even become a ninth-rank military officer, so he’s far behind Xia Dalang’s seventh-rank county magistrate.”

"Now you have a chance to make great contributions." Lian Ruohan heard Xia Xiang say that Xia Lai Xia has gone countless times, and knowing that the two of them are trustworthy and trustworthy, she stopped making detours and said bluntly, "As long as you help me , let me meet Han Meng, you will soon be able to meet Xia Xianzun, and you can also become a seventh-rank military officer."

Xia Lai and Xia Qu exchanged glances, and the two had the same heart, Xia Lai said: "Miss Lian underestimates my brothers and sisters, if it is for promotion, we will definitely not help you. But if it is for Xia Dalang, even if it is There are mountains of swords and seas of fire, and the two of us will not frown."

Xia went to laugh and said: "Although Twelfth Lang's words are a bit vulgar, they are the truth. Even my lady, based on the friendship between the two of us and Xia Dalang, as long as we can save you, we can talk about anything."

The water is clear and shallow, but Moon Dusk was taken aback and changed his face: "No, absolutely not. If we really want to let Lady Lian go, we will die."

"No, don't worry." Xia Lai smiled kindly, "Miss Yue Dusk is too worried. Although Commander Wu is the largest in the barracks, Deputy Commander Han and Commander Wu have always been at odds with each other. Deputy Han Commander is upright and will not be in cahoots with Commander Wu."

"But, but who doesn't know that Deputy Commander Han obeys First Sister Zhu's words? First Sister Zhu always obeys Commander Wu's orders. Although Deputy Commander Han is upright, he is still a hero and sad." Xiang Shui Qingqian, wanting to get Shui Qingqian's support, but Shui Qingqian bowed her head and said nothing, she shook her head, "I'm afraid Commander Wu will know when Mrs. Lian and Deputy Commander Han meet, Trouble."

"No, after Han Meng sees me, he won't listen to Sister Zhu again." Lian Ruohan smiled calmly and stood up, "The moon is dusk and the water is clear and shallow. You two know that Wu Yidong secretly bought military rations and privately recruited soldiers. Already have the intention of treason. The emperor is about to make a southern tour, and Wu Yidong's crimes will be verified at that time. It will be fine for Wu Yidong to die, and you will be imprisoned. You are so innocent. It is a pity that Wu Yidong died. .And you will be notorious through the ages, even your parents and family members will be exiled for three thousand miles and die in a foreign land..."

Yue Duo was still hesitating, but Shui Qingqian was shocked and fell to his knees: "I don't know that Wu Yidong has the intention of rebelling, and I am willing to follow Mrs. Lian."

When Yue Dusk saw this, she didn't hesitate anymore, she knew in her heart that the matter had come to this point, and she could only choose one side, otherwise it would be a dead end: "This servant is also willing to swear to follow Lady Lian."

Lian Ruohan nodded and smiled, and stretched out his hand to support the two of them: "You two and I met when we were in danger, and we are friends in need. I will definitely not treat you two badly in the future."

"And my two brothers..." Xia Qu patted his chest and laughed, "It's rare for a lady to be liked by Xia Dalang. Dalang is very smart, witty, talented and beautiful, even my lady is blessed."

Lian Ruohan snorted unconvinced: "Why don't you say he is blessed? I am also a lady who is smart, witty, talented and beautiful."

"Miss Lian is the most beautiful lady I have ever seen." Shui Qingqian already recognized Lian Ruohan in her heart at this moment.

Yue Duo's mind was not on flattery, she ran to the door vigilantly, looked outside, and came back and said: "It's meal time, and the military officers above the seventh rank are all eating, and it's time to meet Deputy Commander Han. best time."

Before the Great Summer, there were two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the middle of the day, and the tradition of not eating after noon continued until the Great Summer.After the establishment of the country in Daxia, the national power gradually prospered. A farmer could produce more than [-] catties of grain a year. The increase in grain production provided the possibility of three meals a day. In addition, there was no curfew in Daxia. The inheritance of food gradually disappeared in name only in Daxia.

However, there are also some hard-working families who still do not eat dinner in order to go on a diet.In the barracks, because the military rations were strictly distributed according to the head, the soldiers of the middle and lower ranks also maintained two meals a day, and only the military officers above the seventh rank could eat three meals a day.

Therefore, at dinner time, in the barracks, and when military officers are eating, soldiers who do not eat dinner can take the opportunity to be lazy and rest.

Lian Ruohan looked at Xia Lai and Xia Qu, the two understood, Xia Qu said: "I am the personal soldier of Deputy Commander Han, it is more appropriate for me to go."

Yue Dusk volunteered to go with Xia Qu, the two went out of the courtyard, and went to Han Meng's courtyard one after the other.Han Meng's courtyard was on the right, and the two of them pushed open the gate of Han Meng's courtyard without attracting others' attention.

Han Meng's yard is a bit smaller than Wu Yidong's, but it is more elegantly and artistically furnished. Unlike Wu Yidong's yard, apart from being spacious, it doesn't show the owner's taste.There are all kinds of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the yard, and what is even more surprising is that there is a mound in the middle of the yard.

And it is obviously an artificial mound.

Although the mound is not high, it is more than three feet long, thick at the bottom and thin at the top, like a tower rising from the ground.There is a person standing on the mound, with his left hand and two fingers together, pointing to the distance, his right hand is holding a sword, the tip of the sword is shaking, and it is shining coldly under the light.

Xia Qu was Han Meng's personal soldier, and no one stopped him from entering or leaving Han Meng's yard. He cupped his fists at the sword dancer on the mound and saluted: "Commander Han, I have something to see you."

Han Meng ignored Xia Qu and danced the long sword in his hand.Every move and every gesture of his swordsmanship is full of wind, which is obviously a style of opening and closing.In the opening and closing, some traces of ingenuity and clumsiness can be vaguely seen.In particular, the long sword in his hand is about four feet long, and the hilt is one foot long. When holding the sword with both hands, he chops, stabs and picks, and he can vaguely see Mo Dao's moves.

In the Tang Dynasty, the Mo Dao was very popular. Volume [-] of "Liu Dian of the Tang Dynasty" contains: "There are four types of swords: one is called Yi Dao, the other is called Barrier Dao, the third is called Heng Dao, and the fourth is called Mo Dao... Mo Dao, Long Dao Also, the infantry holds the Gaigu horse-slashing knife, which weighs fifteen catties. It is also called a machete. It is seven feet long, the blade is three feet long, and the handle is four feet long. Anyone who spins and slashes with the power of the waist will be crushed..." Most of them are used against cavalry, and they are very powerful.

(End of this chapter)