When I returned to the small courtyard in the middle of the mountain, many people had already gathered inside and out.

Ning Yi walked into the courtyard and glanced at the room, Tan'er had already returned, she was sitting on the edge of the bed and looking at Ning Xi on the bed, her face was pale, and Xiao Ning Xi, who was wrapped in a bandage on her head, was stammering and explaining something to her mother. Ning Yi asked the doctor at the door a few words, and then his face stretched slightly and walked in.

"Daddy." Ning Xi looked at him at the head of the bed, slightly flattening his mouth, "I'm really here to catch rabbits...... I almost caught ......"

Ning Yi walked over and pinched his face, and then looked at the bandage on his head: "Does it hurt?" ”

"It didn't hurt at first, but now it hurts a little."

"It's fine." Ning Yi smiled, then waved his hand at the door, "The doctor said it's okay, why are you all running here!" Ning Yi, look who came to see you. ”

"Grandpa Zuo." Ning Xi bowed to the old man who followed up, Zuo Duanyou had a serious face, the night before when everyone ate together, they didn't show too much affection to Ning Xi, but at this time, they couldn't keep a straight face, so they came over and reached out to hold Ning Xi's shoulder and let him lie back: "Don't move, don't move, what's wrong?" ”

"I went with the first year of junior high school to pick up wild vegetables, and there were guests at home, and there was not much to eat. Then I found a rabbit and I went to catch it, and then I fell and hit my head...... The rabbit was originally caught, it was so big, but unfortunately I scared Hatsuichi by wrestling, and the rabbit ran away......"

As the child said this, he stretched out his hand and gestured, but he was quite depressed. finally caught a rabbit, and he fell and was injured, Min Chuyi also let the rabbit go, isn't this a bamboo basket that is empty.

Left Duanyou glanced back at Ning Yi. Ning Yi was comforting Su Tan'er at this time: "The boy will only be able to succeed in the future, and the doctor will say that it is okay." You don't have to worry. Then he went to the side and comforted the female soldier with guilt on her face: "They children, they have their own space, I asked you not to follow too closely, it's not your fault, you don't have to blame yourself." ”

This small turmoil gradually subsided. The atmosphere in Xiaocanghe seemed to be peaceful. In fact, it is tense, the internal lack of food is a problem, outside Xiaocanghe, there are also such and such enemies, who have been staring at this side, and everyone does not say anything on their faces, but they know it in their hearts. Ning Xi suddenly had an accident, and some people thought that the enemy outside had finally made a move, so they all ran over to take a look. Seeing that it was not, it dispersed.

Xiao Ningxi's head was bleeding, and after holding on for a while, he fell asleep tiredly. Ning Yi sent Zuo Duanyou out, and then went to deal with other things. The old man walked on the halfway of the Xiaocang River accompanied by his entourage, and the time was in the afternoon, and in the slanting sun, the sound of training in the valley came from time to time. The construction site is in full swing everywhere, and people are running. In the far reservoir, several small boats are casting nets, and some people are fishing at the water's edge, catching fish to fill the grain gap.

These things fall into view, look ordinary, in fact. But there is also an atmosphere brewing that is completely different from other places. The sense of tension, the sense of crisis, and a certain aura that contradicted the tension and sense of crisis, the old man was used to seeing many things in this world, but he still couldn't figure out the reason why Ning Yi refused to cooperate with the Zuo family. Where the hell is it.

As the helmsman of a big family with roots all over Hedong Road, he came to Xiaocanghe, of course, there were also interests to consider. But on the other hand, he was able to start the layout last year and try to get in touch with this side, in which the friendship with Qin Siyuan accounted for a large component. Even if he has requirements for Xiao Canghe, he will never be very excessive, and the other party should be able to see this. It is precisely with this consideration that the old man will take the initiative to raise this matter today.

Just to not be put forward by the left family? To refuse to such a crisp degree? Does he really have a way back? Over here...... It's clear that you're already on the cliff.

He thought about these things in his heart, and then asked his entourage to go to the valley, find the spy he had arranged to enter the Xiaocang River, and come over to inquire about the matter one by one, so as to ascertain the fact that there was a shortage of food in the valley. This only deepened his doubts.

However, at this time, in the valley, some things are quietly happening in places he doesn't know or don't care about.

In order to replenish the meat in the soldiers' daily rations, the valley has been slaughtered in the kitchen. In the evening of that day, a soldier ate finely minced horse meat in the dish, and the news spread, causing half of the canteen to fall silent for a while, and then a soldier led by a soldier put the dishes and chopsticks in front of the counter in the canteen and asked, "How can you kill a horse?" ”

Many people stopped their chopsticks because of this, and some people said, "Has the valley reached this level?" Even if I'm hungry, I don't want to eat horse meat! ”

"I'm not going to have meat all the time! If you are used to being poor, you can eat the bark of wild vegetables! Someone chimed in.

Everyone was anxious and uncomfortable, but fortunately, the order in the canteen was not chaotic, and a moment after the incident, the general He Zhicheng had already rushed over: "Look at you as people, you are still uncomfortable, aren't you!?" ”

The rules in the army were good, and it wasn't long before he put things down. At the same time, on the other side of the cafeteria, a group of young soldiers walked into the dormitory with knives and guns, looking for Luo Ye, the founder of the Huayan Society that they were more convinced of at this time.

"Brother Luo, have you heard about today's incident?"

Luo Ye was coming back from training, covered in sweat, and turned his head to look at them: "What's the matter?" What are you going to do? ”

"The eldest son of the Ning family had an accident, and I heard that I saw blood on the side of the mountain. I'm waiting to guess if it's because the gang of bastards outside the valley can't help it anymore and want to do it! ”

These people were all in high spirits, their eyes were red, and Luo Ye frowned: "I heard about Ning Xi's injury, but he just knocked when he caught the rabbit, what are you doing here?" Take a step back, even if there is really something, you have the final say on whether to do it or not? ”

Everyone was slightly stunned, and one said: "It's really unbearable for me to wait, if it's really from outside the mountain, I have to do something." Brother Luo, you can come forward on our behalf and ask Mr. Ning to fight! ”

"You're getting carried away!" Luo Ye said, "Moreover, there is no such thing at all, who are you going to fight!" He also said that he wanted to do big things and couldn't be calmer. ”

A group of people originally heard that something was going on, but they didn't have time to think about it. They all ran over in a hurry. At this time, seeing that it was a rumor, the atmosphere gradually cooled down, you look at me, I look at you, I felt a little embarrassed for a while, one of them snapped the steel knife on the table, and sighed: "This is a big deal." And what is there to do. Seeing that the grain in the valley began to run out of food day by day, I waited for ...... If you want to do something, you can't start. Heard...... They killed two horses today......"

The man was depressed when he talked about killing the horse. Luo Ye also heard it, frowned slightly, and someone else also sighed: "Yes, I don't know what to do about this food." ”

"Can't you trust General Qin and Mr. Ning?" Luo Ye said, "The adults above. But he didn't slack off for a day. ”

"Naturally, it's not that I can't believe it, but seeing that even the war horse has been killed, I'm also anxious in my heart, if the war horse is killed, how can I fight with people. It's you, Brother Luo, originally said that there was a familiar clan outside, and you could think of some way, but later you told Mr. Ning about it. and no longer mentioned it. If you know anything, tell us about it......"

"I guessed something. But it's hard to say. Luo Ye shook his head, "In short, you put more effort into training on weekdays, that is, there will be a solution from above!" ”

"Training on weekdays, has anyone here been lazy!"

"yes. Now I'm in a hurry, I really think...... It's better to fight. Now the killing of horses has begun. Even if Mr. Ning still has a clever plan, I think ...... Hey, I still feel that my heart is not happy......"

"Brother Luo, if you know, just say it. I'm not going to spread the word. ”

"Mr. Ning, how can I know everything about what they planned, it's just that there have been some speculations these days, and it's still two to say whether it's right or not." Everyone was in an uproar, and Luo Ye frowned and said in a deep voice, "But I guess this matter will only be in the next few days-"

The noise in this dormitory has not stopped for a while. In the valley shrouded by unbearable summer heat, similar things happened everywhere from time to time.

The old man in the room on the mountain listened to some detailed reports, and he was even more convinced in his heart that the lack of food in Xiaocanghe was not a false thing. On the other hand, this trivial matter will also be collected into long and short reports every day, which will be classified and passed on to several people in the upper echelons of Xiaocanghe today, and every day when the sun sets, Ning Yi, Su Tan'er, Qin Shaoqian and others will gather in the office for a short time to exchange the meaning behind these messages, and on this day, due to the accident that Ning Xi encountered, Tan'er's expression was not happy.

Some things were decided, Qin Shaoqian left from here, and Ning Yi and Su Tan'er had a simple dinner together. Ning Yi comforted his wife, only when the two of them got along, Su Tan'er's expression also became a little weak, nodded, and snuggled up with his own man.

When the sun was setting and the sky was gradually about to end its afterglow, Zuo Duanyou, who had dinner accompanied by Qin Shaoqian, came out for a walk on the mountain and took a look at Ning Yi, who was walking back from the mountain road. I don't know why, at this time, Ning Yi changed into a new shirt, and smiled: "The old man is in good health." ”

Zuo Duanyou looked at him: "Ning Gongzi still has something to do." ”

"At night, it's empty."

"Then I'll go with the old man."

"Okay." Ning Yi stretched out his hands, "Zuo Gong, please." ”

On the mountain road blown by the night wind, the two walked one after the other, with a cane on the left end, walked for a while, and slowly spoke, this time, the tone was much calmer: "Over the years, the old man has always thought that those who hold the authority of a place should not be rash. ”

On the side, Ning Yi nodded respectfully.

"This afternoon, when the old man spoke, he thought that there was not much to talk about. Now I am just curious in my heart, Liheng feels that in today's words, how many of his willfulness are there? ”

“…… None of them. ”

The old man thought so too. So, even more curious. ”

Left end of the crutches and continue walking.

"The lack of grain in the grain is not false."

"It's true."

"Jin Renfeng is in the north, Xixia is in the southwest, and the Wu Dynasty is on the side, as far as the old man knows, no one dares to give you this piece of private teaching. The Aoki Village under your command is now cut off from all trade routes, and there is nothing you can do. Is there anything wrong with these messages? ”

Ning Yi was silent for a moment: "We sent some people out, according to the previous information, to connect some big families, and some of them succeeded, this is a fair deal, but there is not much gain." If you want to help privately, it's not nothing, a few families have taken risks to talk about cooperation, and the lion opened his mouth. We rejected it. On the other side of Aoki Village, there is a lot of pressure, but it can hold on for the time being, and it is busy arranging the autumn harvest, and it can't take care of this barren mountain range. But whatever...... Not wrong. ”

"Are you afraid that my left family will also open his mouth?"

"There is no such thing." Ning Yi replied.

"Okay." Zuo Tanyu nodded, "So." You have no way forward, but you still refuse the old man, and you have no will, these things are put together, it is very strange. What's even more strange is that since you don't want to talk about business with the old man, why do you spend so much time with the old man, if it's just out of a heart for Lao Qin, you don't have to do this. Etiquette must be demanded by others. You are inconsistent, either the old man really guessed something, or you are lying. Do you admit this? ”

He is old, but although he has gray hair, he still has clear logic and smooth speech, which is enough to see the demeanor of the year. And Ning Yi's answer did not hesitate much.

"The old man thinks very clearly." He smiled calmly. Frankly informed, "I will accompany you." One is the heart of the juniors, and the other is because Zuo Gong came very coincidentally and wanted to leave a memory for Zuo Gong. ”

"Oh? Thoughts? ”

"Well, one day in the future, the Jurchens will occupy the entire north of the Yangtze River. When the Zuo family is facing disintegration and family destruction, I hope that the children of the Zuo family can remember such a place as Xiaocanghe. ”

Ning Yi's words were calm. It's like talking about an extremely simple thing, but it's like a needle, piercing people's hearts. Zuo Duanyou frowned, a trace of anger flashed in his eyes again, but Ning Yi was beside him, holding one of his hands, and the two continued to walk slowly.

"Don't be angry with Zuo Gong, at this time, when you come to Xiaocanghe, I admire Zuo Gong's courage and courage. Qin Xiang's favor is there, Xiao Canghe will not do anything out of the ordinary to you, what Ning said in his mouth is also from the bottom of his heart, you and I may not have many opportunities to get along, how do you think, I will tell you. You are a contemporary Confucian, you know countless people, what I said is lie or deception, you can think slowly in the future, don't be in a hurry. ”

“…… Oh? How so? ”

"The Jurchens retreated north, the imperial court went south, and all the north of the Yellow River was thrown to the Jurchens. The Zuo family is a big clan in Hedong and has deep roots, but when the Jurchens come, no one can say what kind of impact they will suffer. This is not a people who talk about rules, at least, they don't have to talk about it for the time being. If you want to rule Hedong, you can cooperate with the Zuo family, or you can kill it in Hedong once, and then talk about Guishun. At this time, it is a matter of course for the old man to seek a safe way out for his clansmen. ”

Zuo Duanyou looked at him calmly and did not speak.

"How to ask for a way out, it's really too big to talk about, one thing is for sure, Xiaocanghe is not the first choice, and it is not secondary, it will not be Jurchen, you expect us to block people. But you came in person, you didn't know me before, and you haven't seen Shao Qian for many years, so you chose to come here in person, and a big part of it is because of your association with Qin Xiang. You come over, there are several possibilities, either the matter is negotiated, and Xiao Canghe secretly becomes your Zuo family's help, or you can't negotiate, you go back safely, or you are left as a hostage, and we ask the Zuo family to ransom you, or, the most troublesome, you are killed. During this period, you should also consider the possibility that the matter of your coming will be known to the court or other major clans. In short, it's a thing that doesn't outweigh the losses. ”

"At the risk of that, you're here anyway. I can promise you that you will return home safely, that you are a person who deserves respect. But at the same time, one thing is certain, Xiao Canghe will not accept all the conditions you put forward from your current position in the left family, this is not fraud, this is business. ”

The expression on Zuo Duanyou's face did not change: "Oh, why is that?" ”

"The reason why the Wu Dynasty is in such a situation is that people like Zuo Gong's cousin Zuo Houwen and grandson Zuo Jilan are the main reasons, I say this, does Zuo Gong agree?"

With a bang, Zuo Duanyou's crutches were on the ground, and he turned his head to look at Ning Yi, his eyes were burning, and his face was like a tiger, and he wanted to choose someone to devour.

"So, at least for now, and for a long time that I can still control, Xiao Canghe's affairs will not allow them to speak, not even half a sentence." Ning Yi helped the old man and said calmly.

Zuo Duanyou paused word by word: "Anyone who says such a thing, the old man will think he is crazy." ”

"You're telling the truth." Ning Yi nodded, not angry, "So, one day when the heavens and the earth overturn, and the Jurchens kill the Zuo family, the old man may have passed away by then." When your family is killed and your daughter is humiliated, they have two options. One is to submit to the Jurchens and swallow humiliation, and the other is that they can truly make amends. In the future, when he is a good and useful person, when the time comes, even if the Zuo family's billions of family fortunes have been dispersed and there is not a grain of grain in the barn, Xiao Canghe is willing to accept them as a part of this place. This is the thought I want to leave behind, and it is an explanation to you, Zuo Gong. ”

Ning Yi held Zuo Duanyou's arm, and the old man was holding a cane, but he just looked at him, and he didn't plan to move on: "The old man is a little confirmed now. You're crazy. There is a problem with the Zuo family, but before this happens, you are a small Canghe, I'm afraid you are no longer there! ”

"It's also possible." Ning Yi slowly let go of his hand.

"So, in the current situation, you still have a way?"

The night wind gusted, blowing the clothes of the two people on the mountain. Ning Yi nodded and looked back at the bottom of the mountain. After a while, he said: "Earlier, my wife asked me what I could do, and I asked her, look at this little Canghe, what does it look like now." She didn't guess that Zuo Gong, you have been here for more than a day. I also asked some people, know the details, what do you think, what does it look like now? ”

The light of the fire at the foot of the mountain gathered in the valley. The old man looked at it for a moment.

"On the cliff, there is no way forward. There are chasing soldiers later, and they seem to be peaceful inside, but they are actually restless and burning. Shaped like a dangerous egg. ”

"Zuo Gong sees the subtlety, and he is right." Ning Yi laughed, he stood there, his hands behind his back, and looked at the light below with a smile, he looked like this for a while, but his expression became serious: "Zuo Gong, what you saw is right, but the method of speculation is wrong. With all due respect, all of you in the Wu Dynasty are accustomed to the thinking of the weak, and after thinking about it, you have calculated everything, but you have neglected the first way out in front of you. This road is difficult, but the real way out is actually only this one. ”

"Ignorant junior." Zuo Duanyou smiled and spit out this sentence, "What you think is the thinking of a strong man?" ”

"It's about to start. Of course, it is difficult to say the result, and the distinction between strong and weak may not be accurate, and it may be more appropriate to say that it is the idea of a madman. Ning Yi laughed and arched his hand, "There is still a meeting to be held, forgive Ning Yi to leave first, and Zuo Gong please take care of yourself." ”

With a thud, the old man slammed his crutches on the ground again, and he stood on the side of the mountain, looking at the little light spreading below, his eyes serious. He didn't seem to care about Ning Yi's words in the second half anymore, but he was still thinking about it repeatedly in his heart. In his heart, after these words, the junior who was leaving was indeed like a madman, but only the metaphor of strength and weakness at the end made him care a little.

Because people like Zuo Houwen and Zuo Jilan directly and cleanly refuse to lose a way out, such a person has never been seen in Zuo Duanyou in his life, and even Wang Qisong, who used to have an upright personality, will not be pedantic to this extent.

That's right, broadly speaking, these unsuccessful sons and officials ruined the Wu Dynasty, but which family does not have such people? The water is clear and there are no fish, the Zuo family is still in the hands of his Zuo Duanyou, this is a positive thing, even if he goes like this, the one who will take over the overall situation of the Zuo family in the future will be a strong family leader. The Zuo family helping Xiaocanghe is a real send-off, although they will ask for some privileges, but they will never go too far. This Ning Liheng actually asked everyone to be able to understand the general situation, just for the sake of people like Zuo Houwen and Zuo Jilan to refuse the help of the entire Zuo family, such people are either pure idealists or really crazy.

Pure idealism can't do anything, and neither can a madman. And the most confusing thing is that when it comes to this step, Zuo Duanyou still can't figure out what the so-called "crazy man's idea" is.

He looked up, and the mountain wind was blowing warmly, and the sky was full of stars and moons. Ning Yi's figure left the hill on this side, and in a wooden house on the hillside on the other side, the lights were bright, and all the current officers above the battalion level in the Xiaocanghe Black Flag Army, plus high-level personnel in internal affairs, staff officers, and intelligence, a total of sixty-eight people, were arriving one after another and entering the room.

The soldiers walking around the room handed them a transcript in turn, and according to the title of the manuscript, it was a meeting decision of the top management of Xiaocanghe on the eighth day of December last year. At present, most of the people who came to this room were literate, and before they got this thing, small-scale discussions and commotions had already sounded, and under the gaze of He Zhicheng, Liu Chengzong and other officers in front, the discussion slowly subsided. On everyone's faces, they turned into a weird, excited red, and someone's body trembled slightly.

After a while, Qin Shaoqian and Ning Yi came in from the door one after another, and Su Tan'er, who was serious and thin, held a small notebook and attended the meeting.

This day is June 12 of the second year of Jingping. It has been a full year since Ning Yi's Jindian murder and Wu Ruiying's rebellion, and in this year's time, the Jurchens went south again, broke through Bianliang, and subverted the entire Wu Dynasty. The entire rebel army hiding in the mountains of the northwest is about to be forgotten in the torrent of upheaval. At the moment, the biggest thing is that the new emperor of the Wu Dynasty in the south ascends the throne, which is an estimate of the next reaction of the Jurchens.

But it won't be long before the crazy moves of this army hidden in the northwest mountains are about to sweep in.

- Shocked the whole world! (To be continued.) )

PS: Well, brew your emotions: Have you noticed that I'm changing every day!!

What does this mean!!

Ladies and gentlemen, where is the monthly pass...... (Why aren't there emojis for crying on your knees...... ）

Well, it's actually ...... This plot, I should have to repeat it.