I saw several soldiers on horseback, escorting a dozen young women to the north, all of whom were tied with their arms behind their backs and tied together with a long rope, and when some of them walked slowly or fell, they were scolded and beaten by the soldiers.

Looking at this in Xia Chen, this is too inhumane, even if it is a prisoner on the battlefield, it should not be treated like this, not to mention that this place is not a border battlefield, and these are women and children who are powerless.

In the blink of an eye, the carriage had passed by the group, Xia Chen stood up and gritted his teeth and said, "It's really too much." ”

Yueniang's face was a little pale: "Chen'er, sit down, don't make a noise!" Then he sighed: "I didn't expect that there would be such a thing in the Great Cloud Country." ”

Xia Chen was indignant and said casually: "What kind of thing?" ”

Yueniang said: "I guess these are either slaves who were sold to Xuanguo by those powerful generals, or they were gifts from a certain official of the imperial court to the generals of Xuanguo." I was robbed by officers and soldiers, and then resold into the workshop by merchants. ”

Xia Chen snorted coldly in his heart, there are some people who make a fortune at any time, but there is a way to steal, and it is not worthy of being a person to do such a shameless deed!

Yueniang said sadly: "The fathers, brothers and children who went into battle to kill the enemy were not cold, and the women and children of the family were forced to be displaced or sold, what kind of world is this." ”

What's the matter? The way of man-eating man! As long as there is a war, it is the common people who suffer and suffer. Thinking about the scene just now, Xia Chen felt that he really couldn't take it lightly, this was not a peaceful era, he didn't have some skills, and he would become a lamb to be slaughtered at any time.

At this time, the carriage entered a small county town, and there was not a single vendor in the street, and there were few pedestrians, only a few unkempt beggars sat on the side of the road, which was even more deserted than the border city, and occasionally a hot wind blew through, rolling up a little dust.

The farther south you go, the warmer it gets, so could it be that the people here are busy farming? But when I passed by the fields before, I didn't see anyone, and I couldn't help but wonder, there is war in the north, and there should be more people in the south, why are there fewer?

Han Ran said: "Let's find a place to feed the horses and eat something." ”

It was easy to find an inn called Qilixiang, there was not a single guest in it, a young man in his early twenties sat in the seat opposite the door and dozed off, and when he saw someone coming, he rubbed his eyes and came forward to greet him.

Han Ran asked him to fetch some water to wash his hands, and ordered three bowls of hot noodle soup and a plate of braised peanuts.

There was a middle-aged man with a fair face standing at the counter, who should be dressed as a shopkeeper. But when a guest arrived, he didn't greet him, he didn't even look at it, he just buried his head in calculations.

After the noodles were served, the man said: "A few guest officers use it slowly, if there is no other need, the villain will go to feed the horses."

Han Ran nodded: "Go ahead." ”

Only this time, the middle-aged man sighed more than a dozen times, seeing him close the account book, looking at the door with a sad face, Han Ran said: "Shopkeeper, why are you depressed?" You're against hospitality. ”

The shopkeeper barely squeezed out a smile: "Guest officer, I'm really sorry, the villain is by no means to show a few faces, just because the business is not good, the store is going to be closed, alas!" The villain's shop is left by the ancestors, decades ago! ”

Han Ran nodded sympathetically: "Then you continue to sigh!" Suddenly, he remembered what he had seen in the woods, and asked, "Shopkeeper, I saw some soldiers escorting some women to the north on the road before, where are they going?" ”

The shopkeeper waved his hand again and again, signaled Han Ran to stop talking, hurriedly walked to the door and looked out, and let out a sigh: "Guest officer, those are all tribute girls recruited from various counties, and they want to be sent to Xuanguo." ”

Han Ran frowned: "Why did you send the tribute girl to Xuanguo, who ordered this?" "As the name suggests, this tribute girl and tribute are of the same nature, but the Great Cloud Kingdom was not defeated, nor did it pay tribute to the Xuan Kingdom, so how can the tribute girl say?

The shopkeeper snorted coldly: "Who?" Who knows who? In these years, the people who have been doing things have been under the orders of the upper authorities and the imperial court, and this time they said that they were for peace talks with Xuanguo. As he spoke, he shook his head: "It's the first time I've heard of sending a woman to a peace talk." ”

Yueniang said: "Isn't it that the Great Cloud Kingdom has already declared itself a vassal to the Xuan Kingdom?" ”

The shopkeeper said: "That's not yet, but Xuanguo has opened a lot of conditions, otherwise he won't even talk about it." ”

Han Ran slapped the table: "What is this called peace talks!" It's obviously a different name to rob. Don't talk to them, if you want to fight, you can fight! ”

The shopkeeper hurriedly said: "Ouch, guest officer, you can be quiet!" Whether to fight or not is not up to us ordinary people, and now the officials in the court who are fighting are all killed, and they are degraded and degraded. ”

Xia Chen ate the noodles cleanly: "Second uncle, don't worry about salty radishes." ”

Han Ran reprimanded: "What do children know!" ”

Xia Chen raised his eyebrows: "I know that the negotiation is also based on strength, if you can beat the Xuanguo, the conditions will be opened by you, and if you can't beat it, you can only open it by others." ”

Han Ran said: "Who said we can't beat it!" ”

Xia Chen said: "I have sent women to pay tribute, do you need to say it?" ”

"*!" Han Ran took a sip: "My Great Cloud Country has never asked for money and women from weak countries, and the people of Xuanguo are really worse than bandits and robbers." ”

Xia Chen snorted contemptuously: "The Great Cloud Country prides itself on being a state of etiquette, and likes those false names, but I don't know that those small countries are singing thousands of songs just to save some money, and the people of Xuanguo are much smarter and want to be affordable." ”

Yueniang said: "The state of etiquette? Although it is not clear that it is necessary, those small countries do not offer treasures are regarded as disrespectful, and there are often things to send troops to crusade, which is called a beautiful name to show the prestige of the country! ”

Xia Chen said with a smile: "There is no prestige at this time, so I have to show respect." There is a saying that if you come out to mix, you will have to pay it back sooner or later, and now it is the turn of the Great Cloud Country to be angry. ”

Han Ran said sullenly: "How can you learn so many crooked theories." ”

Xia Chen said: "If the second uncle wants to hear it, there are many more. The weak eat the strong, the survival of the fittest, the fist is the last word, the fist is not hard and has a desperate heart, there is nothing, there is only grievance and satisfaction. ”

Han Ran said angrily and funny: "Your book is not in vain. ”

Xia Chen said with a smile: "Second uncle, don't worry too much, the emaciated camel is bigger than the horse, the hundred-legged insect is dead but not stiff, and the Great Cloud Country is not so easy to play." ”

The shopkeeper was dumbfounded, and as soon as he heard "the fun is over", he immediately stepped forward and closed the door of the store: "This little boy, this word is going to be killed." ”

Xia Chen said in surprise: "This is also a head-killing?" I'm complimenting. ”

The shopkeeper was amused: "That can't be boasted like this, and the word 'finished playing' must not be said." ”

Xia Chen narrowed his eyes and smiled: "You also said it, dare to say it, let's finish playing together." ”

The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, and said with a wry smile: "The little boy has such a powerful mouth." ”

Han Ran said: "Shopkeeper, how far is this place from the Huangsha River?" ”

The shopkeeper said, "There are still two days to go." Guest, where are you going? It seems that the road is not familiar, the first time to go? ”

Han Ran nodded: "I'm going to Anyang, although I've heard my brother say it, it's the first time I've walked it." ”

The shopkeeper said: "Do you want to join your relatives or send this little boy to study?" ”

Han Ran said: "It's all the same. ”

"The guest officer can be more careful, there are many bandits and thieves now, if you can go together, don't go at night, if you can't, you will definitely find an inn or someone to stay in the dark."

Han Ran arched his hand: "Thank you for the shopkeeper's advice." How much does it cost? We're on our way. ”

The shopkeeper said: "You can give 100 wen for noodles and forage." I'm going to close the door and go back to the countryside, before leaving can also entertain a few distinguished guests is also fate, the small shop cellar has stored dozens of jars of wine, is their own recipe brewed, hidden for more than ten years, although reluctant, but can not take all away, wait for me to take two jars to send to the little boy, I hope that the little boy will be the champion of high school in the future. ”

Han Ran said: "Then thank you." ”

Xia Chen said: "In the future, I will be the champion, and I will not forget the auspicious words of the shopkeeper, so that you can reopen Qili Xiang, this wine is also called Champion Red!" ”

The shopkeeper smiled heartily: "Okay! The name of the little boy is good. ”

Xia Chen only smiled silently, which is her name, borrowing flowers to offer Buddha, but the world likes to pursue these, just like modern people like famous brands, of course, a big reason for this comes from quality and reputation.

The shopkeeper carefully held the two clay-sealed ceramic altars, as if he were holding a newborn grandson. "This altar is five catties, two altars are ten catties, and it is perfect."

In fact, a pound in this era is about six taels or more in modern times, so this wine jar is not so heavy.

Han Ran took the wine jar, a trace of longing flashed in his eyes, he has always liked to drink, I heard that this is wine that has been cellared for more than ten years, how can he not be greedy.

After thanking the shopkeeper, the group left the hotel and continued on their way, and came to a small village near dusk.

Han Ran said: "Since the shopkeeper said that it is not safe to walk at night and not go forward, let's find a small shop or someone to stay here." ”

After walking on the mountain road for two days, Xia Chen also felt tired: "The second uncle is right, safety first." ”

When I entered the village, I didn't hear the sound of chickens and dogs, many of the courtyard walls and houses had collapsed, some of the gates were not closed, and the wind blew and creaked.

Han Ran said: "Isn't it that all the people in this village have fled?" But why did you go in such a hurry and didn't even lock the courtyard door? "Even if they flee, they all think that they will return one day in the future, after all, the fields and ancestral graves are still here.

Xia Chen poked his head out of the car window, and at this time, night fell, and the evening breeze carried a slight chill. "Second uncle, it looks like the situation is either a war or a bandit."

Han Ran suddenly said, "There is someone in front." ”

I954