The old lady cordially responded to the greetings of the representatives of the villagers, and after waiting for silence, she coughed lightly and said, "I want to talk to you about an important matter related to your life and death. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info”

The opening statement immediately grabbed everyone's attention.

They all pricked up their ears one by one.

The old grandmother's clear eyes slowly scanned everyone, restrained her smile, and said slowly: "Everyone knows that our Zhaozhuang has a lot of industries, and the stalls are large, not only all over the Great Song Dynasty, but also in foreign countries, so the life in the village is good." It is with this foundation that I have the financial resources, so that everyone's children and grandchildren can study for free and receive the best and most practical education, and the children who go to school do not have to bear the burden of eating at school. Everyone can also enjoy the unique convenience and benefits of Zhao Zhuang such as medical care, so there is no need to worry about once there is a serious illness, the individual small family can not resist alone, and once it is tossed, the family will collapse and destroy despair. ”

When the delegates heard this, they all said that it was the mercy of the Lord's family and that they were very lucky, and they were all very grateful.

The old lady smiled and waved her hand to stop the praise, and said, "It's a big stall." The original residents of Zhuangshang knew a lot about following early, and they were arranged to do things elsewhere to support the situation in various places, and Zhuangzi could not be empty, so new households were recruited to continue to add in.

Just like the couplet at the door of our village, if you have the ability, you will help the world. Patronizing oneself to live a good life, regardless of whether others live or die, that is not good, nor is it a blessing, let alone the style of my Cangzhao family and the tradition left by my ancestors. Recruiting new households is also to take care of more difficulties and goodness in the world. ”

The old grandmother deliberately bit the word goodness very hard, and she had a plan.

Everyone was staring at the old lady and wanted to hear what the old lady had to say.

"Many of the new Zhaozhuang people recruited have been trained and sent out to live one after another. You know that. ”

"Now you are still left in the village, not because you are unusable, but because you are all diligent and willing to work hard, most of the children and grandchildren of the family are prosperous and powerful, and the local industry in the village needs you to take care of it. The business is also well done. There are many men, and it is also conducive to protecting our homeland in this place of foundation. ”

When everyone heard this, they all smiled and felt a little smug.

Not bad. We may not be smart enough, have no great ability, don't become talented, and can't afford the big things of the Cangzhao family, but we can have children and grandchildren, and there are many good men in the family.

The old woman's eyes flickered, and she took a turn and raised her voice.

"Right now, the Liao thieves are violently destroying our Zhuang Fort, and you all know the situation. Zhao Zhuang's test is coming. This is the first time we have encountered such a catastrophe. ”

While speaking, the old grandmother glanced at everyone and saw the panicked and fearful faces of the restless, and sighed in her heart: "It's not the old man Zhaozhuang who came out." These new households can live in the village are carefully selected after a certain procedure of inspection and inspection, the vast majority of the time to live in is not short, and they have continuously received military training, but the newcomers are newcomers, most of them have not experienced the bloody war against Liao, and have not even seen the Liaokou, only heard of the ferocious combat effectiveness of the northern barbarians, which has not yet faced the fear of fighting. ”

Hiding her dissatisfaction, the old grandmother said solemnly: "What the old man wants to tell everyone today is that Zhao Zhuang is in danger. While the Liao army had not yet surrounded Zhuangzi. If you want to take refuge, you can leave. ”

As soon as these words came out, the deputies were stunned for a moment.

They originally thought that the old grandmother had summoned everyone to calm the people in the dangerous situation and boost their fighting spirit, and to call on everyone to unite and stick to the castle, fight bravely against the enemy, fight against the disaster, and strive to defeat the Liao Kou and keep their homeland. Unexpectedly, the old lady told everyone to let go of those who wanted to leave and flee quickly.

What does this mean?

Is it that the old grandmother has no confidence to block this attack, and she is merciful, and she can't bear to burden everyone to defend this place?

The deputies were in a flurry of discussions.

The old grandmother was unmoved, and pointed to Beicheng and said, "If you want to go, go through the north gate." “

"The Liao army destroyed the south city of the west city, and it will also destroy the fortress of the east city, and they want to besiege it on three sides with more soldiers. Beicheng may not be destroyed, at least not for now, there is no Liao army to observe and monitor. Exit through the north gate and escape into the vast woods to hide. ”

An old man asked: "Old lady, the situation is not good, can you leave?" ”

The old grandmother shook her head and said, "My Cangzhao family has always only had those who died in battle, and there were no people who fled in fear. This is my hometown of Cangzhao, it is the foundation, and I will die here. ”

She glanced at everyone and smiled, "But I can't ask everyone to die to accompany my family." If you want to go, make a decision early. If you hesitate, you won't have a chance to escape. ”

At this time, another old man stood up and asked boldly: "It is said that following the main family to enjoy the benefits, the main family requires everyone to follow to the death to repay Zhao Ende, it is not too much." Old lady, you have thought about it, at this critical moment when you need to employ people the most, are you really willing to let us leave freely? ”

"Of course it's true."

The old woman glanced at the old man, smiled and nodded, "Life is precious, and if you lose it, there will be no more." After all, this is not your ancestral land. I can't force everyone to stick to it. ”

The old man blinked and asked tentatively, "Then, if we leave, can we take the swords and guns with us?" ”

He asked a little weakly, and explained a few times under the staring eyes of everyone: "You also need to defend yourself to escape, don't you?" You also need knives and guns to deal with wild beasts in the old forest. ”

Hearing this person's obvious intention, the old grandmother was not annoyed, she only glanced at the old man, but said with a smile in her faint voice: "The one who leaves Zhaozhuang is not from Zhaozhuang, how can he take Zhaozhuang's things away?" That's the reason, right? ”

"Besides, the weapon is what Zhao Zhuang needs to use to deal with the Liao thief, and it is about to be tightened. Those who avoid war do not need weapons. There are other tools and methods to deal with the beast. ”

The old man was embarrassed for a while, but he didn't flinch, his eyes and the look on his face showed that he had made up his mind, and he was still afraid of the old lady, but he had lost his respect and humility in the past.

The old lady still showed no displeasure, and her voice was still as kind, understanding, and generous as ever.

"If you want to go, just go. No one is going to make things difficult for your family. ”

"What belongs to Zhao Zhuang, you can't take it away. But whatever belongs to your family's hard work, whether it is money, food, or other important things, you can take whatever you want. ”

When the old man heard this, he immediately hugged his fist to the old grandmother and said, "The old lady is merciful." The old man admired and appreciated. I want to go, I just don't want Manmen to die here. ”

As he spoke, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the old grandmother, and clenched his fists again: "I'm sorry." If Zhao Zhuang can survive this catastrophe. The old man's family will be rewarded in the future. ”

After speaking, he got up and left quickly without looking back.

Left at this most critical time, what else do you say after wow? Someone openly betrayed Zhao Zhuang at the moment of crisis, everyone looked at the old lady's reaction, but saw that the old grandmother's slight smile remained the same, and slowly glanced at everyone and asked with a smile: "Who else wants to leave?" ”

"Don't be afraid that I'll regret it."

"You are also old men in the village, you all know my temper, even if you say it, don't play those cautious eyes that settle accounts after temptation. If you want to leave, you don't have to say goodbye in person, you are embarrassed to say it in public, then go back quietly and quickly pack your things with your family or neighbors and friends who are willing to follow. ”

The grandmother has a clear attitude.

But none of the people present came out to say that they wanted to leave. Nor did they quietly retreat.

On the contrary, many people stood up and despised the old man who betrayed the master's family, patted his chest and glared at him, saying that he swore to follow the master's family to the death, and at this time he was not afraid of death and abandoned the master's family and fled.......

The old grandmother shook her head with a smile and said, "If you have a bad conscience and repay your gratitude, you will have to talk about it at the moment of life and death." I'm so old, what haven't I experienced? Understandable. ”

After saying that, he ignored the shouts of the crowd, walked to the shade of a large tree, sat down on the chair arranged by the head of the guard, and waited for everyone to decide to stay for themselves.

When everyone saw that the old woman had left behind, it was obvious that there was nothing to say, some of them gathered together and whispered something in the shade, and some gathered together to curse and accuse the betrayer.......

Besides, the old man who left soon returned home and immediately called his family for an emergency meeting.

During the war, Zhao solemnly ordered people who had no tasks to stay at home to prevent any damage from arrows, and they were not allowed to wander outside, even children were not allowed to play outside.

Therefore, the old man's family is at home, and it is very convenient to summon it.

He has five sons, who are the mouths of the family, as soon as he said the meaning of the old lady and the intention of leaving quickly, the family was stunned for a moment, but then the youngest son, who was only fourteen or fifteen years old, was unwilling, and objected: "The child goes to school and reads, understands loyalty and righteousness, and the main family is merciful, so good, Zhaozhuang is in trouble, how can we abandon it?" ”

The old man glared at his youngest son and reprimanded: "After reading the book for a few days, I don't know what my surname is?" Don't say sour and vinegar pedantic stupid words. Not leaving? Do you want the whole family to die this? ”

The youngest son was afraid of the anger of the father of the majestic head of the family, but he still stiffened his neck and defended: "I heard the second son say that the purpose of providing the villagers with good education, food and clothing is to have knowledge and wisdom, better physical fitness and mental outlook, and work together to create and build a brighter future, at least to protect the homeland." There is always something more to cherish in a person's life than life. For example, national dignity, fairness and freedom, conscience and credibility. Like what...... Pure, sincere, and beautiful love"

"That's enough."

The old man didn't wait for his youngest son to finish speaking, then interrupted angrily and scolded: "I think you are stupid to read." Just the ridiculous second son who specializes in embarrassing Cangzhao's face, who in the world doesn't laugh at him? You actually believe in this kind of disdain for your descendants? Or do you have the audacity to say it? ”

The youngest son is a good child who reads because he is the youngest and smart, and he is very popular and promising to catch up with the environment of Zhaozhuang, he has always been favored by his parents, and he has never been so angry by his father, he firmly believes that he is not wrong, and the tears of grievance swirled in his eyes, but he raised his head with tears and insisted on retorting: "However, the second son is at least brave." He is not afraid of the dog officials and the powerful, protects the weak, never compromises and retreats to the bad enemies, and does not abandon the crowd and flee when there is a disaster. He has the backbone that everyone in the Cangzhao family has. I want to at least be a person with backbone. ”

"You, you"

The old man stared at his little son, who had high hopes, blushing and thickening his neck with shame and annoyance, and pointed at his youngest son and scolded: "Bastard thing! How dare you defy me? Are you going to rebel? ”

Her wife felt sorry for her young son, and she was afraid that she would be used to obeying her husband, and she was afraid that her husband would be rude and cruel to her young son in anger, so she hurriedly came over and pulled her young son to persuade: "Don't be disobedient." Confess your mistake to your father. ”

The youngest son was unconvinced, but looking at the frightened and cowardly expression on his good and weak mother's face and the anxious eyes that cared for him, he could only back down and puff out his mouth and whispered: "Even if you don't talk about those false things." I also always feel that abandoning Zhao Zhuang is not the right way. Leave the castle and the protection of the collective force, escape and survive? Mother, we can't run away. ”

His wife actually thought so in her heart, she was timid, but she didn't dare to leave the castle. She looked timidly at her husband.

The old man smiled disdainfully, snorted, and said with shrewd eyes: "You don't understand. ”

"This Liao thief is strong and strong, and he moved the people to come to Cangzhou not to kill and rob other places that are easy to get his hands on, and he came here directly, why?"

The whole family knows the old man's domineering and domineering paternalistic style, don't say that he hasn't thought about this question, even if he has an answer, he won't say it to affect the old man's trickery, and it's boring to talk about himself.

None of them squeak.

The old man smiled proudly and said, "The dog thief is here to take revenge on Cangzhao." Killing all the Cangzhao family members they hated the most, and robbing Cangzhao of the eye-catching property, this is their purpose. The life and death of Zhaozhuang people like ours and this bit of money, the Liao thieves can't look at it, so they don't care. ”

was despised and disdained by the Liao army, obviously in the heart of the old man at this moment, it was not a shame, but a good opportunity and luck to live.

He flashed his shrewd eyes and said smugly: "Don't look at your father, I can't read or read, but in the art of war, I know what is missing from the three." Liao Gou just wants to kill Cangzhao, and he knows that Cangzhao will never abandon his home and run away, so if he doesn't fight or surround the north, he will let us people live. We all fled. Cangzhao lost the support of the bankers. It would be easy for the Liao thief to defeat Zhuangzi. For this purpose, Liaogou will not chase and kill us, so that others can also flee with confidence. This is called breaking people's hearts. After seeing through the doorway, the one who escapes first has the best chance of survival. If you run late, Liaogou doesn't need to let people go anymore, and it will block the way out, break the city, kill and rob everything. ”

As he said this, several of his sons nodded, and his worries about leaving the castle for protection faded.

The old man saw that most of his sons were moved, and said, "Let's run first, take away the important things and run quickly, and hide in the old woods to be safe." The forest is so big, no matter how many tens of thousands of Liaogou can search it. It's not uncommon for them to take risks in the old woods, and they will search and kill us, and we will waste our time. When he had that time, he could go and grab other places to make a fortune. ”

The old man still had nothing to say in his heart.

Zhao Zhuang is broken, and Cangzhao is finished. When the Liao army retreated, he would take his sons back safely and easily to clean up the benefits.

Only the things that the Liao army doesn't want or have too many things that can't be taken away or omitted are enough to be sent at home. You can also come back and continue to mix with Zhaozhuang, and live a good life with Wen Chenghou, who must vigorously rectify the family business, maybe as one of the few survivors after the catastrophe, he can still get more attention from Cangzhao. Then the benefits are even greater.

It's beautiful just to think about.