(2-in-1)

Ma Changqing said this softly, his voice was low and depressed, and he stopped from time to time to catch his breath because of grief and indignation. His fists were clenched, and he forcefully suppressed the grief in his heart to prevent himself from losing his temper.

Lin Jue and his wife were also shocked and gloomy when they heard him tell him about the past. Ma Changqing said these things, in fact, Lin Jue had already heard about them. Over the years, although the relationship between the Great Zhou and the Liao State has remained relatively stable, there has always been constant friction in the border towns. It is not uncommon for the Liao people to attack the border town to rob the property and kill the people of the Great Zhou, although the Great Zhou will also ask the other party to give an explanation and punish the murderer, but it is often over, and it cannot prevent such a thing from happening. In the eyes of the imperial court, this kind of thing is just some small conflicts between the dead people, and it is impossible to make enemies with the Liao State because of this. But when such a thing happens to each victim family, it is a big change, enough to cause a drastic change. What Ma Changqing said is the epitome of this situation. The last loot in the border town was enough to destroy this family with a stable and peaceful life. It's enough to smash everything good.

"I'm sorry, I didn't expect such a change in Brother Ma's family to remind you of a sad past." Lin Jue said softly.

Ma Changqing smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Do you still need to hook this?" These things are in my mind day and night, and I will never forget them for the rest of my life. ”

"Then ...... Brother Ma threw his pen from Rong, just to avenge your father, right? But in fact, if you become an official, you can also avenge your father. The strength of the Great Zhou is the ultimate guarantee that these tragedies can be avoided. Lin Jue said.

Ma Changqing said: "Don't hide it from Lord Lin, that's what I thought before." After my mother died, I studied hard in the hope of becoming an official. I was thinking at the time that only when Da Zhou was strong could my father's revenge be avenged. Similar tragedies can be avoided. However, I was soon disappointed. I realized that things were not as I thought they were. As far as I know, it seems that the whole of my Da Zhou is busy making profits and money for myself, and few people seem to really care about whether my Da Zhou can become strong. The ordinary families around me are becoming more and more impoverished, and the nuisance of Liao people in border towns is becoming more and more frequent, and many people have to leave their hometowns. And the imperial court, however, did not have the slightest further measures and means. The officials who control the government are busy with their own affairs, spending all day drinking, enjoying themselves, and who cares about the suffering of the people. Officials with more integrity were sidelined. One of my senior brothers resigned in anger and returned to his hometown. He told me that officialdom was dark and hopeless. People who want to do things don't end well. I've heard and seen a lot of these things, and I've come to understand it gradually. If you want to avenge my father, I'm afraid it's useless to rely on the imperial examination. What can I do if I am admitted to the imperial examination? Therefore, after the exam, I thought about it behind closed doors for three months, and finally decided to give up the Chunqiu exam and go to Baozhou to join the Ansu Army. This is the most direct way of revenge in my opinion, I can directly face the Liao dogs, and I can slaughter these Liao dogs with my own hands. This is the real revenge. This is the real effort to do our best for the misery of the people in these border towns, not to be an official, to mix with those who are corrupt and pervert the law, and do not care about the life and death of the people, and spend their lives. ”

Lin Jue nodded slowly and said, "I see, Brother Ma is really a decisive person, and I am afraid that he will suffer a lot when he takes this step." Brother Ma went to join the army and faced a brutal battle, which was more courageous than ordinary people. ”

Ma Changqing smiled: "Yes, I haven't suffered anything since I was a child. After my father and mother left, I actually had no worries about food and clothing, because my father and mother had a small amount of savings for me to live. After joining the army, I did suffer a lot. I deliberately chose to go to the Ansu Army in Baozhou, because I knew that the commander of the Ansu Army, Han Gang, was a general who really fought against the Liao. The Ansu army is also one of the best soldiers and horses in the border town. The soldiers and horses in other border towns were loosely disciplined, and some even poisoned their own people. I just want to find a soldier who can really dare to fight the Liao, and the Ansu Army is my best choice. It turned out that my choice was right, I was in the Ansu army for four years, with Liaogou. Dozens of fights. Nineteen Liao dogs have died under my hands. Every time I kill a Liao dog, my heart becomes more stable, and I feel that I have avenged my father and mother and done something for the people. ”

Lin Jue applauded slowly, nodded and praised: "What a hot-blooded man, my Da Zhou men are all like you, how can Da Zhou be bullied?" Brother Ma, you taught me to be in awe. ”

Lin Jue bowed to Ma Changqing, and Ma Changqing hurriedly returned the salute: "Don't dare to be, don't dare to be, I haven't done anything big here, how can I be so praised by Lord Lin." To tell you the truth, before today, I was actually very confused in my heart. The longer I have been in the army, although my heart is still at peace, I can't help but think about some things. However, there is no way to find out. ”

Lin Jue smiled and said, "Why is Brother Ma confused? ”

Ma Changqing said: "Joining the army and killing the enemy in Xia can certainly make you feel at peace in your heart, and you think that you have done something for the people and the court." However...... More and more, I realized that what I could do was so small. What I do doesn't change the status quo of my big week. In recent years, there have been ups and downs in the imperial court, and there have been rebellions in the interior. All kinds of policies, new laws, and regulations have made people's hearts panic and make people's lives difficult. Even in Baozhou, with the strong protection of the Ansu army, the Liao people did not dare to come to disturb the people in the Baozhou area. But the people are still separated from their wives and wives, and they are still poor and displaced. This makes me feel that everything I have done can only make my heart stable, but it will not benefit the overall situation of the court or the people at all. I had to wonder if I had made the right choice. Because I understand that for real change, you need real change from the top down. And whether my act of giving up the imperial examination and entering the official ranks is just for my own selfishness, and I ignore the overall interests of the general public? If I could become an officer, I could at least do more than I could do as a cavalry officer here. So, I've been feeling lost and miserable a lot lately. ”

Lin Jue was surprised again, he heard the thoughts in Ma Changqing's heart. Ma Changqing has gained a sublimated understanding in continuous thinking and reflection on reality. It's a remarkable leap of thought, something that most people in these days would never have been able to do in a lifetime. The vast majority of people will only think about their own survival and interests, but will not think about the value and meaning of life, and will not think about things for the sake of the national righteousness and for the vast majority of people. Only a very small number of people think about this, and that is a group of people who are being civilized. These people are a rare group of elites. Many famous people in history are also the first to introspect and have an epiphany.

Ma Changqing found that although throwing a pen from Rong allowed him to do what he wanted to do in a more direct way, it did not fundamentally solve the problem. That's why he will reflect, wake up, and be confused and painful. This is exactly the sign of an awakened person, who has already read books and fought to the death on the battlefield, so it is easier for him to reflect and think about everything around him, to think about those problems that ordinary people do not think about at all.

"Brother Ma, you can think of this, it really makes me even more impressed with you. Your pain and confusion are precisely because you have seen something clearly and figured out the truth of some things. The truth is cruel, and many things in this world are shrouded in fog. Some people know all this, but they don't tell most people, because only then can they be on top. Once ordinary people understand the hidden meaning, they will be confused and painful. I don't know whether to congratulate you or feel sorry for you, sometimes it's much happier to live a life in a mess. The more I knew, the more painful and confused I became. Lin Jue said softly.

Lin Jue's words couldn't even be understood by Gao Muqing and Bai Bing around him, his words were just for people like Ma Changqing who could taste the feelings. Gao Muqing and Bai Bing have not yet reached that realm.

Ma Changqing nodded and said, "What Lord Lin said is very true. Today, I listened to what you and Lord Han said, and I felt a lot in my heart. Therefore, he volunteered to stay and take care of the injured brothers, in fact, he also wanted to have a chance to talk to Lord Lin alone. That's why I took the liberty of bothering. ”

Lin Jue smiled: "Oh? What do I have to say about those words? ”

Ma Changqing said: "Don't hide it from Lord Lin, my impression of Lord Lin is excellent, although Lord Lin doesn't know me, but since Vice Minister Cheng Yan of Fang Zhong began to change the law, a positive wind has emerged in the court, and when he swept away the previous signs of downturn, he was very happy in his heart." Lord Lin's several battles to exterminate the rebellion of the Qingjiao sect were fought even more cleanly. Even General Han said in the army that Lord Lin's battles were quite famous generals, and even if he went, he might not be able to lift his weight so lightly. What's more, Lord Lin is still my Great Zhou Champion. This has reason to make people believe that there will be virtuous ministers born in our Great Zhou Dynasty, and the Great Zhou Dynasty may have a new atmosphere. Later, although the change of the law was frustrated, Lord Lin was promoted all the way to the position of prime minister, and he was still full of hope for the imperial court at that time. It wasn't until the news of the change in the capital came last year that when he heard the news that Lord Lin had betrayed the capital, he couldn't believe his ears. In the next year, he also secretly scolded Lord Lin for being a chaotic minister and thief, and he also sighed that all people with high intelligence may not be upright in their mental skills. I feel that no one in this world is perfect. Lord Lin chose the path of betraying the imperial court, and he was bound to be ruined and reviled by eternity. ”

Lin Jue smiled and said: "Yes, I am ruined and reviled by all generations." I didn't know that people would think of me like that. It makes sense for you to scold me. You are not the only one in the world who scolds me, I am afraid that thousands of people are calling me a rebel and a thief. This is all to be expected. ”

Ma Changqing said with a straight face: "Lord Lin, even now, I still think that Lord Lin is not considered. Does it have to be resolved by such drastic action? Although I don't know the inside story, I can also feel that the struggle of the imperial court in the matter of establishing the prince and changing the law is very fierce. But is it really going to be solved in this way? Lord Lin knows that this will eventually cause the division and turmoil of the Great Zhou, if Lord Lin doesn't want to destroy the Great Zhou, why take such an extreme road? ”

Lin Jue laughed and said in a deep voice: "Brother Ma originally came to question me. Interesting, interesting. ”

Ma Changqing said in a deep voice: "I'm not here to ask, I'm just not here to understand." I'm very confused right now. After listening to the words and commands of Lord Lin before, Ma felt that Lord Lin did not seem to be the kind of rebellious minister and thief with obvious ambitions, but seemed to be still worried about the Great Zhou Society and the people of Li. But Lord Lin's actions have caused chaos in the Great Zhou, isn't this a contradiction? I didn't know how to believe Lord Lin's words, so I was extremely confused. ”

Lin Jue put away his smile, looked at Ma Changqing's frowning face, full of confusion and entanglement under the faint moonlight, and said softly: "Brother Ma, since you really ask for explanation, I will answer you sincerely." Although you and I don't have a friendship when we meet, so far, you are the first person to say that my words and deeds are inconsistent in front of me. I'm sure a lot of people actually have this question, including my brothers. They don't ask, naturally, out of trust in me, but it doesn't mean that they don't have doubts in their hearts. Today I am here to answer your question because I don't want you to be in pain and confusion. ”

Ma Changqing arched his hand and said, "Listen to me." ”

Lin Jue thought for a moment and said softly, "Brother Ma." I don't need to say much about my current situation. It should not be an exaggeration to describe it with a sentence of 'the river is falling'. I'm sick in Da Zhou, and I'm not lightly ill. Mr. Fang and Master Yan Zhengsu wanted to treat Da Zhou's illness by changing the law, but they couldn't succeed. Da Zhou was too sick and was already terminally ill. But this disease is not incurable, but there is medicine, but some people avoid medical treatment and do not let people use medicine. Because of this cure, it touches their interests. In their hearts, the survival of the Great Zhou Dynasty is not as important as self-interest, and it is not as important as the power in their hands, so they refuse to let the Great Zhou Dynasty's illness be cured. ”

Ma Changqing frowned and thought, Lin Jue's words obviously referred to those stubborn and huge forces in the court, those intertwined factions that have been eroded to the roots, and the huge network that controls the government. Who those people are and who the leaders are, in fact, it doesn't need to be said explicitly.

But listening to Lin Jue continued: "When the teacher and they implemented the law change, I was half against and half supportive. I support it because it's time for the Great Thoughtful to be unstoppable, and I oppose it because I don't want to provoke those who are secretly using those drastic means. In that case, the change will not succeed, they will take action, they will destroy the new law, and they will destroy the people who implement the new law. What I advocate is the subtle and subtle change of moisturizing things, and the gradual change of the day and the day. So, in this matter, I also had a huge disagreement with my mentor, Mr. Fang. After that, the change failed, and my mentors, Mr. Fang and Master Yan, died, and the new law was completely defeated. This proved my previous opinion, but I didn't feel the slightest bit happy. Because it is precisely because of this incident that I can see the true colors of some people and see their faces. ”

Although Ma Changqing doesn't know much about some details, he is still very clear about the process of changing the law and the big turning point. In fact, what happened in the imperial court will soon be reported in the state capitals. It's not that hard to know these things. It's just that the explanation given by the imperial court will be different. For example, in the case of Yan Zhengsu and Fang Dunru's suicide, the explanation given by the imperial court was that the two adults committed suicide and apologized because the new law was too radical, which caused chaos in the Qingjiao people's livelihood. Such a statement is the mainstream caliber. Ma Changqing: That's all they know.

"The failure of the new law is actually not a problem of the new law, nor is it an overly radical problem, nor is it a problem of the mistakes of my teacher and Master Yan. The fundamental reason is that the obstruction force is too strong, and they will do everything in their power to discredit the new law and those who implement it. And they have the ability to influence the government and public opinion, and even the emperor's thoughts. I really understood this point after the failure of the new law and the suicide of my teacher and Master Yan. All my previous thoughts were wrong, the teacher and Yan Dacai were right, they just wanted to use strong medicine to cure the disease, if it was successful, it would be the medicine to cure the disease. If they don't succeed, they will die, and they have already thought about it. Ordinary people want to understand this, and they don't dare to do it. But my mentor and Master Yan dared to do it. Because they are very human, they are national soldiers. The true warriors are fearless, they will only do things that are beneficial to the country, and will not consider the gains and losses, honor and disgrace, or even life and death. The countryman is unique, and the countryman is the backbone of the world. It's not those wealthy families, famous families. Those who are famous all over the world and admired by thousands of people may not be able to be called national warriors. Brother Ma, do you know what I mean? ”

An indescribable feeling surged in Ma Changqing's heart, he felt that his throat and eyes were blocked, his heart was beating fast, and a layer of goosebumps appeared on his body. Lin Jue's words seemed to be a hand that lifted the fog, and suddenly gave him a glimpse of a higher world, a world of astonishing cognition. The ordinary evaluation system of people, what is noble and what is lowly, collapsed in an instant. A kind of supreme national benchmark is erected there, and all the worldly evaluation systems of money, status, power, and fame are piled up in front of this benchmark.

"Under ...... I don't quite understand...... But in the next ...... It seems to be a little more understood. Ma Changqing said in a hoarse voice.

Lin Jue said softly: "It doesn't matter if you don't understand, you just remember, there are some things you can't understand, that doesn't mean that what others are doing is wrong." That's because you didn't get it. When you understand it, you know that there are some things that can only be done. There is no other way. I am terminally ill, if you want to save Da Zhou, if you give a prescription, what should you do? ”

Ma Changqing reached out and grabbed his hair, frowned and muttered, "Yes, what should I do?" What should I do? ”