Situ Lei is a legend. Even if his successive defeats at the Snow Customs in his later years were taken into account and the barbarians entered the customs, we still cannot completely deny the brilliance of his life.
The emergence of legends always requires stepping stones and foils.
The place where Situ Lei made his fortune was in Zhennanguan.
This bastard, who was not valued at the beginning, accumulated rich military exploits and prestige by winning consecutive victories against the Chu people at Zhennanguan, and was able to return to Yingdu to fight with his two sons. Two brothers duke it out in a temple fight.
Zhennanguan corresponds to Shanggu County of the Chu people. This is also the battlefield where the Chu and Situ families have fought several times. Due to frequent wars, the population of Shanggu County and various walks of life have declined. The industry is not considered developed, and many places can even be said to be extremely desolate.
Not only did the Jin people come in to plunder them, but the Chu army also frequently recruited local people to serve the army when they went on an expedition. Under this kind of double exploitation by both the enemy and ourselves, Shanggu County could still become rich. That's what hell is.
Originally, when the Chu people captured Zhennanguan and the Qingluan Army entered the Jin Dynasty, the people of Shanggu County wept with joy, thinking that they finally no longer had to suffer from the war. As border people, They can also enjoy the treatment of the people in the hinterland.
Unexpectedly, news of the defeat on the front line came. The Yan people, who had been defeated in the early stage, suddenly defeated the barbarians and captured Yupan City. In the end, the Yan people's troops and horses pointed directly at Zhennanguan Pass.
The war between Yan and Chu was about to break out. This atmosphere completely dampened the confidence and enthusiasm of the people in Shanggu County for their future life.
The most obvious point is that,
In this inn next to the post road, the boss is listlessly pounding out his abacus, and the waiter is leaning there and taking a nap.
It is not that there are no guests in the inn, but the guests in the inn also have the same mood.
The imperial court ordered the requisition of grain to support the army ahead.
In order to save trouble and cost, the method of exchanging salt for grain was adopted, which meant that Chu merchants were encouraged to purchase grain from various places and then organize the transportation. After arriving at the border, you would hand over the grain to the court and it would be given to you. Yanyin is equivalent to giving you a certain share of the qualifications to sell salt.
This naturally attracted many merchants to organize caravans to transport food. However, when everyone worked hard to bring the food over, the court suddenly changed its mind. The originally agreed salt quota was suddenly dropped. Nearly 40%, and at the same time, other things have to be added to fill the remaining 60%.
Good guys, after deducting the costs, these merchants actually ended up with a net loss!
The reason is that Chu State is nominally a monopoly on salt and iron, but in fact, the big nobles in various places have the right to self-develop salt and iron in their fiefdoms, and some can even cast money privately. .
The Chu court had just recovered from the rebellion. After some internal strife, the treasury was already empty. Mi Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue wanted to use this method to reduce the court's opposition to the front line.Despite the pressure of support, the salt fields allocated by the Ministry of Revenue were nominally the salt fields of the imperial court, but in fact most of them were within the fiefdoms of the great nobles.
Now the nobles quit and immediately began to make noises. Under pressure, the Ministry of Revenue had to modify the strategy.
The big nobles feel that they can "relieve the troubles" for the country by "ruining the family", and if they admit half of it, they are extremely conscientious and loyal to the emperor, and they also give face to the court and the regent;
< p>After some mediation by the Ministry of Revenue, half of the salt quota was saved, which can be regarded as continuing the matter and maintaining the dignity of the court;As for the profits of these merchants responsible for transporting grain If it's a loss, it's not what the big men care about.
It’s a loss, it’s definitely a loss, but you really have no place to reason. The imperial decree is changing overnight. Does it need your consent?
At the same time, it’s not enough if you don’t sell it. Maybe you have to transport the food back again, and the loss will be even greater!
The people sitting in this inn are basically businessmen who have transported food there, and everyone is very downcast.
"Are you used to this meal?"
Sitting in the corner, a man asked the handsome young man sitting next to him.
"It's okay, I'm not that squeamish. Didn't I eat the steamed buns you brought before?"
Rice is a kind of rice that is a cross between stir-fried vegetables and steamed rice. The existence between them is not hot yet. It should have been steamed in large pots and bowls long ago.
The rice is also covered with a layer of miso, which is so satisfying.
When I asked if there was anything else to eat, the waiter said there was none. He also smiled and said that the owner was planning to close the inn in ten days. Even the cook had already been fired. The reason why he still stays here is because he and his employer are from the same hometown and they have to go back together.
For this reason, the inn now only provides this kind of food and tea, and even the wine is gone. Because food is expensive, the price of wineries has also gone up, and the shopkeeper is worried that he will not be able to sell it later.
Fortunately,
The princess is really not squeamish;
Coming all the way from Zhou County, she first hired people to go by herself, and then followed other people to transport food. The merchant team walked together, and there was no chance of sleeping or sleeping in the open air, but it was still a tiring journey, and the princess didn't complain at all.
Before going to bed every night, I still remember to give Uncle Zheng some foot-washing water to wash his feet.
The princess ate slowly,
looked up at Uncle Zheng,
asked:
"Why don't you eat? "
"I can't get used to it."
"……"Princess.
At this moment,
the princess was really confused, who was the princess, herself or him?
After dinner, it was getting dark outside, so Uncle Zheng took the princess upstairs.
Because the inn is about to close and the owner is preparing to evacuate, there are no beddings in the guest rooms. You have to bring your own. As for the cost of the guest rooms, it is onlyA little bit was collected symbolically.
After laying down the bedding, Zheng Fan took out the iron box, took out a cigarette and put it in front of his nose.
"Smoking if you want."
The princess knew it was tobacco.
Uncle Zheng shook his head and said: "It will leave a smell on your body."
"You are so cautious."
"It's not just for us. Can we go back safely?"
"Yes, my uncle."
"I will find someone to deliver the food and grass we brought in the morning. Let’s go into the mountains.”
Zhennanguan is the choke point from Jin to Chu, but it does not mean that it is completely impossible to pass through Zhennanguan.
It was still passable, but the road was difficult to walk and not suitable for soldiers and horses at all.
"Yes."
The princess lay down obediently and began to rest.
Uncle Zheng also lay down and closed his eyes.
Because there is no other demon king around except Magic Pill, Zheng Fan has to consider and arrange many things by himself. The identity of this grain transport merchant was arranged by the Fan family before, but going east On the way, Uncle Zheng stopped contacting anyone from the Fan family.
Firstly, as you go east, the influence of the Fan family begins to decrease; secondly, Uncle Zheng doesn't trust anyone now.
At this time, the princess with her eyes closed said: "It is said that there are many wild animals in the mountains, and there are also groups of thieves."
"It's not a big problem." Uncle Zheng said.
I still have this confidence. No matter what, I am also a sixth-grade warrior.
"Yes."
The princess really started to rest and her breathing became even.
Uncle Zheng also put aside other thoughts in his mind and fell asleep.
…
Zheng Fan got up early the next morning, found a merchant who was also on the road, and delivered his own grain. He also married Lifu, who had followed him all the way from Zhou County. Settle the account and let them go back.
Then, Uncle Zheng took the princess directly from here to the north instead of east, and entered the mountain.
Occasionally resting along the way, he was still on the road most of the time. When night fell, Uncle Zheng found a cave to camp.
The green python swam over, opened its mouth, and dropped a large piece of deer leg meat.
A few days ago, Zheng Fan and the princess were walking on the road, and the green python was following them from a distance in the forest. After entering the mountain, it could be revealed, but it really didn't like Zheng Fan. Fan, so after leaving the venison, he turned around and wandered away.
Uncle Zheng lit up the fire, briefly processed the venison, and then started grilling it.
The princess was checking the soles of her feet;
"Is there a blister?" Zheng Fan asked.
"Yes, a bit."
Zheng Fan took out a needle, roasted it on the fire, handed it to the princess, and said: "Pick it carefully."< /p>
The princess took itNeedle, couldn't help complaining:
"I should walk slower today."
The princess is a golden girl. It is her first time to enter the mountain. The mountain road is not easy to walk, and it needs a process of adaptation, but it happened Zheng Fan pulled her and walked very quickly today.
"I don't want to cause trouble. Didn't the food and grass we brought with us along the way to hide from others be handed over to our colleagues today?"
"Yes, what's wrong? "
"I have delivered some money, so I can't guarantee it..."
"Isn't that true?"
"Where can anyone dare to do business these days? You are such an innocent person, do you still think that the people of Chu are simple and honest?"
"It sounds like it would not be like this in your country of Yan."
" It’s all like this, it’s all like this, I made my fortune earlier by robbing others.”
“I didn’t expect Mr. Hirano to have such a history of making a fortune?”
“In fact, I have always done so. In this way, it just sounds like it was a shame to rob some local and wealthy owners of Wubao, but in fact it was also robbing later, but it turned into robbing a country and robbing a royal family, and he became a big tycoon. "< /p>
"That seems to be the truth."
"The venison is roasted, wash your hands and eat."
At this time,
The green python went away and came back, opened its mouth, and a human head fell down.
The princess's eyes narrowed, but she was not so frightened that she screamed.
Uncle Zheng stepped forward while chewing venison and turned the head over with his feet;
"It turned out to be the owner of that inn, it seems he knew I have money on me, and I want to make another fortune before I close the inn and go home."
The princess said while eating the venison: "Then he is really following closely. I’ve been walking so fast today, but I can still keep up.”
“Well, so I have to go take a look and let your snake lead the way.”
“Xiao Qing, Lead the way." The princess ordered.
"Xiaoqing?"
On weekdays, Uncle Zheng always calls him "your snake", but he really doesn't know the name of this snake.
"What's wrong?" the princess asked doubtfully, "There's something wrong with the name?"
"Is there another white snake?"
"I've never seen it before. "
"Then you can ask it later."
The green python led the way and soon found two corpses in a low place.
"Hold the crossbow and I'll go down and take a look."
The crossbow was bought and exchanged by Uncle Zheng on the way. Although the Chu State has salt and iron control, Because the great nobles had greater autonomy in their fiefdoms, many nobles sold weapons for profit.
This kind of crossbow is imitated by the military. Although it is worse than the regular crossbow, it is enough. Previously, a merchant who was transporting grain in a place wanted to buy it for self-defense. I asked around specifically. I bought a few more to bargain with, so Uncle Zheng accepted just one.
Zheng Fan took out his knife and stuck it in the gap and slid it down. He was surprised to find that there were weapons and bows and arrows next to the two corpses.
One headless corpse should belong to the innkeeper, and the other corpse with the head still on it belongs to the waiter.
Uncle Zheng silently put the bow on his shoulder, and at the same time reached out and groped the innkeeper for a while. This was a subconscious habit. He killed people without searching them, and he always felt that something was missing. A sense of ritual.
As a result,
After touching it,
Uncle Zheng took out a token.
By the moonlight, the mark of the fire phoenix can be vaguely seen on the token.
Uncle Zheng shook his head helplessly. He could only say that he was very unlucky. When he walked to the ninety-ninth step from a hundred steps, he actually ran into the hidden stake of Fengchao.
Since marching along the way, it can be seen that the Chu people are doing their best to pursue and intercept the two groups of soldiers and horses in the direction of Mengshan and Qishan. There is basically no pursuit on the east road.
Uncle Zheng thought he could go back safely this time, but things went wrong again.
We can only hope that the innkeeper just felt that his temporary harvest was a bit suspicious, so he chased him with his men to have a look, without sending any message to the Phoenix Nest attendant behind him.
"Hey, let your big snake come down and see if you can eat them all. A porridge and a meal are hard-earned, how can you waste it."
"It It's full, it can't eat anymore, and it won't be able to go on the road if it is forced to sleep."
"Then you come down, and we will dispose of their bodies together"
The princess came down. Then Uncle Zheng dug a hole, and she dragged the corpse and threw it into it.
After everything was taken care of, Uncle Zheng put his hands on his hips and panted.
The soil is freezing in the winter, so digging holes is really tiring, and even digging with a knife is not easy.
"I have to ask someone for some bone-melting water or something when I get back, so I don't have to be so tired next time when I destroy the corpses."
"Bone-melting water?"
"Well, it was used by Lord Wei."
"Who is Lord Wei?"
"A viscount from Yan State married dozens of wives ."
"Then you can't imitate him."
"Heh."
"I can't write the imperial edict," the princess joked with a smile. Son.
Yes,
Uncle Zheng's "tiger's body was shaken" remarks at the beginning, but now it has become a joke for the princess.
"Let's go further and find a place to rest."
We can't stay here for the time being, we have to stay away.
The princess did not complain and followed Uncle Zheng on the starry night.
"Uncle, I found that you cherish your life. Do you do the same on the battlefield?"
"Victorious generals on the battlefield all have one thing in common. Do you know what it is?"
"Good at strategy?"
"No.”
“Strong in martial arts? ”
“No. "
"What is that? ”
“Didn’t die in battle. "
"..." Princess.
"When a person dies, there is nothing. "
"If you cherish your life so much, why do you still come to see me in Bieyuan? ”
“Because I am willing to risk my life for you. "
"Although I know it's a lie, it still sounds quite useful. "
"As long as you are happy, okay, I will carry you. "
Uncle Zheng bent down,
The princess obediently got on Uncle Zheng's back.
"Am I heavy? ”
“Not too light. "
"You said you like fatter and purer people, but you can't dislike me. ”
“When men say fatter, they mean their flesh is in the right place; when they say pure, they mean they look good without makeup. ”
“Wrong reasoning. ”
“It makes sense after all. ”
In the woods late at night,
Uncle Zheng continued to march with the princess on his back.
The green python seemed to have a premonition of some crisis and began to move from time to time. Rushing around, as if escorting him
When it was late at night,
Although Uncle Zheng was already sweating, he still had no intention of stopping. , because he instinctively wanted to stay away from the place where the two phoenix nest attendants died.
"Help, help, help..."
Ahead, There was a shout.
Uncle Zheng was stunned for a moment, and the princess said: "I heard the sound. "
"I'm not deaf. ”
Because this is a canyon, it is impossible to go around it. It means going back, so Uncle Zheng decided to continue walking forward.
Finally,
p>A burning bonfire appeared in front, and a woman was hanging from a tree next to the bonfire. The woman's clothes were somewhat torn, her hair was messy, and she was struggling there.
At this time, < /p>
The woman discovered Zheng Fan and the two of them, and hurriedly called for help:
"Help, heroes, please save the little girl; there were bandits at the little girl's home, and they killed my husband and my parents-in-law." Kill me, tie me here, please save me, save me, save me..."
The woman looked very anxious. After seeing Zheng Fan, she looked like Seeing the savior, he struggled and shouted even more vigorously.
Uncle Zheng looked at the bonfire,
and then looked at the woman hanging on the tree,
Listening to the woman's cry for help again,
said with emotion:
"Common. "
"Buzz! "
A crossbow arrow shot out from Uncle Zheng's head.
"Poof! ”
The woman hanging on the tree was hit by an arrow, her head lowered, and she died.
Uncle Zheng sincerely praised:
"Yes."
The princess on her back put away the crossbow and said:
"I am I wanted to shoot the rope to let her down, but I didn't expect it to go wrong."
"Beautiful." Uncle Zheng stretched out his hand to hold the princess on his back. He squeezed the lifting position hard and said:
"No need to explain, you did a good job."
After that,
Uncle Zheng planned to continue on his way, completely ignoring what happened when this woman appeared here.
The woman was tied up, with her hands, feet and head hanging down, and her body was swaying slightly under the tree.
The wind in the canyon was a bit strong, and there was some echo, like the low whistle of beetles.
However,
when Uncle Zheng just passed under the tree with the princess on his back,
the woman who had been shot to death by the princess earlier,< /p>
But suddenly he slowly raised his head,
looked at Uncle Zheng and the princess diagonally below with livid faces,
his mouth was split,
The tongue stuck out in an extremely exaggerated manner,
and asked in an extremely depressed and hoarse voice:
"Why...why don't you save me?"
< p>——————I was overdrawn a few days ago. I’m a little sluggish today, so I’ll just update. I’ll try to write more tomorrow.