In the early winter, a winter snow fell at the beginning of the year, making the northern land all snow-white, on a secluded sheep intestine trail in the west mountain of Beijing, although the thin snow covered this narrow mountain road, but in this snow, there is still a middle-aged man wearing a cotton hat walking alone.

The middle-aged man walking alone on the mountain road was of medium height, thin and thin, his thin face was dark, and he was dressed in a white-washed gray cloth robe, with a pair of worn-out cotton boots full of patches on his feet, and a bamboo cane in his hand, and he climbed step by step along the rugged mountain road, although the cold wind was biting, his forehead was still dripping with sweat from time to time, and when he finally reached the peak, he looked into the distance.

Today is a rare sunny day in winter, and the ancient capital, which is both majestic and magnificent, is completely unfolded in his eyes. Standing on the top of the mountain, I looked into the distance, and my mind was flying. Two years ago, after paying homage to Xiaoling for the sixth time and sending his thoughts to his homeland, he returned to Kunshan, sold all his family property, and since then he has left his hometown and never returned.

In the past two years, he traveled all the way north to gather anti-Qing fighters from all over the country, investigate the situation in the mountains and rivers of North China, and restore the great cause of vision. Traveling far away to avoid misfortune is of course also a reason.

A month ago, after inspecting the local mountains and rivers along the Shanhaiguan Pass, after learning that the 100,000 Qing captives led by Dasu were defeated in Suqian, although that night, he stood on the mountain ridge and cried loudly, "Emperor Gao's blessing", although he wanted to go south immediately, he did not immediately go south, but chose to come to Jingshi.

He will go on a northern expedition in the future, and he will aim at the Beijing Division!

It is with this mentality in mind that in the past month, he has traveled all over the vicinity of Jingshi, in addition to writing down the topography of mountains and rivers on paper, but also drawing a map, everything he did was to prepare for the future Northern Expedition. While recording the topography of the mountains and rivers, he also thought about how to go in the future.

Is it to Nanjing?

Or to Qinghe?

Or Nanchang?

There were three options in front of him.

Before traveling north, he also prepared to go south several times to Fujian to participate in the surging anti-Qing restoration cause in the coastal areas, but due to various reasons, he was unable to make the trip.

And now, when Jiangnan is restored, Jiangbei has been flattened, and the overall situation of the world is changing more and more in favor of the Ming Dynasty, he is a little hesitant when he is about to face it, after all, these three choices represent three completely different possibilities.

Staring at the Jingshi under the mountain, looking at the Jingshi who had been dyed with a fishy atmosphere, he frowned slightly when he put away his pen and ink, he couldn't hesitate any longer, it was time to go south!

The sun is gradually setting in the west, and the winter sunset renders the heavens and the earth into a blood-red color with its blood-colored flames, which seems to have been killed in the Central Plains, and even the withered yellow thatch has been dyed red. Looking into the distance, the mountains are undulating, the sky is sparse, and the ancient capital is strict. This picture of mountains and rivers aroused a sense of tragedy in his heart at this moment.

This is the Son of Heaven guarding the country, and now, the Son of Heaven has fulfilled his oath!

We, the people of the Ming Dynasty, will surely return to the capital!

A mountain breeze blew, and he felt a little chill in his heart that was shrouded in that inexplicable emotion. Yes, it's time to get down the mountain.

It's time to go south!

On the snow road, a person carrying luggage alone, along the unmanned official road all the way to the south, the biting wind and snow blow on his face from time to time, and he squinted, there was a little joy on his face, in a few days, he should be able to Xuzhou, stay in Xuzhou, it is equivalent to entering the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

"I don't know how far it is from Xuzhou?"

Talking to himself, looking at the wind and snow in the distance, there seemed to be a tea shed on the side of the road, he was already tired and quickened his pace, walking towards the tea shed, in this cold winter, it is to avoid the wind chill in the tea shed for a while, drinking a bowl of hot tea, it is really rare.

Although the tea shed was just a straw curtain to hide the wind and snow, but the fire in the hearth made him feel warm as soon as he entered the tea shed, and when he asked the old man who sold tea in the tea shed to give a pot of tea, there was a shout of joy in the shed.

"But Ningren?"

In the next moment, the two people who were originally drinking tea in the tea shed got up and walked towards him.

"Ah, Brother Qing, hey, Brother Yongqing, you are ......"

Gu Yanwu, who was sweeping the snowflakes on his body, looked at the two people in front of him in surprise, he didn't expect to meet two old friends here. The one who spoke walked in front, named Fu Shan, the word Qingzhu, a native of Yangqu, Shanxi, and Gu Yanwu was extremely obedient to his Zhijie. In addition to learning and history, he also understands the sons of the pre-Qin Dynasty, and is good at calligraphy, painting and medicine.

"Where is this?"

"Okay, you Ning person, why are you allowed to go south, and I am not allowed to wait for the south? I didn't know anything about you, but I didn't expect to meet you here! It is also true, but when a loyal person hears such good news, why should he not go south? ”

Later, he laughed and said that it was Yan Ermei, who was once a giant of the Restoration Society. Jiashen and Yiyoujian gave advice to Shi Kefa, but they were not used by history. After his wife and concubine committed suicide, he destroyed the graves of his ancestors, and then scattered all his family wealth to make friends with heroic people and aspire to restore his sight. During this period, he cooperated with the Yuyuan Army in Shandong, cut his hair and became a monk, calling himself a "monk in the east", taking the Shaolin Temple in Henan as the contact point, and traveling around with his young son, actively organizing the struggle against the Qing Dynasty and restoring the Ming Dynasty. He was captured by the Qing army twice, and his will was unyielding, and after finding an opportunity to escape, he went into exile and befriended righteous people from all over the world.

And when Gu Yanwu traveled north, he made friends with the two of them successively, and now he met these two friends unexpectedly on the way south, he was naturally very happy.

"Okay, you are a monk in the east, this time I returned to the south, just passing through Pei County, I was thinking about whether I could find you and let you do the friendship of the landlord, but I never thought that I would meet you here."

It was a happy event to meet a confidant and friend on the way, and the old man who sold tea over there listened to the words of these three people, and immediately understood that these three must be righteous people who went south to Daming, and their expressions instantly became very respectful.

"Three gentlemen, since we meet here today, there is still mutton cooked in this pot of little old man, if you don't think this wine is bad, the three gentlemen might as well drink two glasses to go cold."

The old man's suggestion to sell tea, how could Gu Yanwu refuse, he immediately nodded and said.

"Very good, quick, hurry up and serve the mutton, and warm two jugs of wine. I have to have two drinks with my brother today! ”

"Okay, I must have two drinks, not only for the reunion of old friends such as us, but also for me and Ming!"

Yan Ermei, who seemed very happy, did not have the slightest scruples in her words. And Gu Yanwu, who knew that this place had been killed by the Qing captives, and the people's hearts were in the Ming Dynasty, also opened his mouth and smiled.

"Okay, for me Da Ming, you and I will do this wine together!"