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Things in the world are always unexpected, and things in the world are often out of people's plans.

Originally, for Gong Chengqi, who was in office in Huangzhou, he wanted to do a big job in Huangzhou and share his worries for the court and the emperor, but who would have thought that he had not yet solved his worries here, and he had to flee from Huangzhou in a hurry amid the rumbling of cannons over there. What was once a grand ambition has completely become a dream.

Of course, although that dream was shattered. But he did not flee to Wuchang with the money, but fled in another direction, the direction of Jiangnan Province, compared to Huguang, which was about to fall into chaos, Jiangnan Province was undoubtedly safer. When he came back from Jiangbei, he had already fully felt the peace there. Compared with the chaos in other places, leaving Jiangbei is undoubtedly a safer choice.

But everything did not go as smoothly as he imagined, the wealth was moving, and even if he hadn't escaped when he saw that the situation was not good, I am afraid that he would have become a ghost under the knife, and those servants who escorted the silver cart were tempted by the money, and took the money, not to mention, but also killed the official. It was the officials who left Huangzhou City with him who were killed, and a few people died in a hurry, and no one cared at all. It is precisely because of this that those officials who once only knew flattery would kill people and take silver.

Although he fled in a hurry, Gong Chengqi was not down, after all, when he escaped from the poisonous hands of the errand soldiers, he still carried more than a hundred taels of silver in his arms, which made him not like others who might become a beggar after encountering a catastrophe.

But despite this, he still didn't dare to show his wealth along the way. After all, in this chaotic season, if you show your wealth, it is very likely that you will lose your own life.

This kind of cautious days can not be regarded as a sigh of relief until after entering Jiangbei. After all, Jiangbei can now be said to be the peaceful years of Guotai and Min'an. In this case, there is no need to worry about running into black shops or bandits on the road.

The last time he passed through Jiangbei, Gong Chengqi was thinking of inquiring, thinking that he would do a great job in Huangzhou in the future, so as to repay the court's gift to him. And this time I came to Jiangbei, after experiencing these great changes. He was already disheartened, and even had some meaning of "returning to the mountains and forests", and just like that, he paid attention to things that he had not paid attention to in the past. For example, some details that have been overlooked in the past.

After some careful observation, Gong Chengqi found that the people living here are also very different from other places, although the last time he passed through Jiangbei, he faintly felt that some of the people of Huai'an are different from the past, but after all, he was just a quick glance, he didn't pay attention to the ordinary people at all, let alone care about the looks of those grass people, after all, in the past, in his opinion, those grass people were not worth mentioning at all. And now he has also been reduced to a flat-headed common man. That contempt has been completely put away. Now his mentality is different from the last time, but with the mentality of ordinary people to look at everything around him.

On the streets of Anqing, Gong Chengqi was a little surprised to find that he seemed to have arrived in a completely unfamiliar place, although the people here looked the same as him, but what he showed in his gestures was a completely different style, confident and calm, peaceful and full of hope.

Once upon a time, it seemed that the people all over the world were like this, but in Jingshi, Zhili and Huangzhou, all they saw on the people was numbness, and there was no hope in their eyes, and there seemed to be only a kind of dazedness. There is a kind of resignation in that confusion. There is no confidence at all, and even the whole person is like a walking corpse.

It stands to reason that they would never be like this, after all, now is not the time for famine. Why are they like the walking dead?

It's not because they don't have enough to eat. It's because they've completely given up hope for the future. Just to live for the sake of living, what caused this change in them. Actually, the answer is very simple. For him, who was a slave of the Manchurians. Naturally, the reason for this could not be clearer. The reason why they are insensitive, why they live like walking corpses, is precisely because they do not see any hope for the future, so they become insensitive.

But the people here are very different from people in other places. There is always a high-spirited look in their expressions. It was as if he had seen a lot of silver.

Could it be that this is the original style of the Han people? Could it be that this is what the Han people should look like?

"Uncle, your business here is good."

With doubts and incomprehension, he sat down in an inn on the side of the road, Gong Chengqi smiled and started a homely routine with the shopkeeper, dressed as a scholar, and he did not look abrupt in this inn.

"It's okay today, no matter how you say it, it's better than in the past."

The shopkeeper of the inn was an old man in his fifties and sixties, and he was the only one busy in the teahouse, and he replied with a smile while pouring it for him.

"That is, these years are much stronger than in the past, not to mention anything else, it is the salt wharf that is prosperous, this Anqing is much more lively than in the past, and the business of your inn is naturally good."

While continuing to talk to the shopkeeper, Gong Chengqi quietly observed the other people in the shop, this inn was specially selected by Gong Chengqi, neither the kind of passing shop, nor how good the inn, those who came to stay here were not only peddlers, but also scholars like him, and there were also guests sitting on the other tables, most of them chatted without a word, and the words were probably the recent events in Anqing City,

So what Gong Chengqi said to them, Gong Chengqi naturally paid attention, but most of what these people were talking about there was not a big deal, but it was just some strange things in Anqing City, but these strange things were of little use to him, what he needed was to find some useful information in these strange things.

While eating, Gong Chengqi listened to the strange things they talked about there, and then tried to piece together some information he wanted from them.

"Hey, I heard that the price of salt in Huguang is bullish."

A slightly hoarse voice rang out from the next table.

All the salt in Huguang is Huai salt, and now Zhang Huangyan's army is marching westward, and the river is full of warships, and the salt road is not smooth, and the salt price in Huguang is naturally bullish.

Gong Chengqi was not surprised by this. As long as there is a war, the price of everything will rise. If he is a businessman, he will naturally stock up on a little goods, and who knows how long this battle will last?.

"Hey, it won't go up for a few days, this is not Wuchang's Liu Fangming surrendered the city, how many days can other places last? In a few days, the price of salt in this lake will have to fall, but don't think about being cheap. ”

Liu Fang's name has fallen!

When he heard the news, Gong Chengqi's hands even trembled involuntarily, and even splashed the tea on the table.

It was so easy to surrender the city!

Fortunately, he didn't flee to Wuchang like a fool! Otherwise, wouldn't he be a prisoner of the Ming army now just like staying in Huangzhou City?

Secretly glad that when he was at the beginning, Gong Chengqi muttered there in his heart, and now this Wuchang City has been sacrificed so easily. Could it be that the qi of this Great Qing Kingdom is really exhausted?

If it weren't for seeing that the Qi of the Great Qing Kingdom was exhausted. How could the surnamed Liu present Wuchang to the Ming army so easily.

"Hey, the one surnamed Liu is really neat enough, I heard that our Ming Dynasty's Western Expeditionary Army has not yet arrived, so he surrendered the city quickly."

"Can you not descend, when the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the customs, how proud it was, look at it now, how can the number of this Tartar grow?"

"But no, how many sins this Tartar has created when he entered the customs, if this number of qi is long, then God really has no eyes!"

"That's not it, this world is the world of our Han people after all, and when the time comes, we have to liquidate those traitors who have forgotten their ancestors one by one!"

At this moment, only the sound of "dangchang" was heard, and I don't know whose teacup in his hand fell, so that everyone in this room looked in the direction where the sound came from, and saw a person who looked like a businessman, looking at everyone nervously.

"This,It's not accidental,......"

The merchant blushed while explaining, made a gesture to everyone, and after making a loss, he left in a hurry.

"You said this person, you are talking about a traitor, what are you afraid of?"

"Isn't it, what's there to be afraid of? Isn't there someone in your family who is an official in the Manchu Dynasty? ”

"If there is, I think it is better to write a letter as soon as possible to persuade him to be reformed, so as not to lose his own life, and cause shame on his relatives and friends around him."

In the words of the people. Gong Chengqi stared at the vendor who had just left, and now that he thought about it, he was a little familiar. Maybe somewhere?

It's him!

Suddenly, seeing that the figure of the man was about to disappear in front of the door, Gong Chengqi finally remembered where he had seen that person. What kind of businessman was that businessman just now, and the former Huangzhou magistrate, when he came to Huangzhou to take office, it was this Huangzhou magistrate who gave him the wind.

He's still alive!

Gong Chengqi, who never thought of meeting the old man here, hurriedly followed, and saw Huang Tianyun's back outside the door, and hurriedly chased after him.

"Brother Huang!"

Huang Tianyun, who left the inn, heard someone shouting at him, and as soon as he turned around, he saw Gong Chengqi, and his eyes widened instantly.

How is he!

Looking at the surprise on Huang Tianyun's face, and then looking at his face tanned by the sun, this Huang Zhixian's appearance said that he was a scholar, but he didn't believe it, saying that he was a farmer, but it was more like that. He's a merchant now, and he's a good look.

If he is said to be a scholar, it will attract the attention of others, and this Huangzhou County seems to know itself and knows how to dress itself, so as not to arouse the suspicion of others.

"Brother Huang, you and my brother have been gone for a while!"

looked at Gong Chengqi in horror, Huang Tianyun was even more surprised that he didn't say anything for a long time, he didn't expect to meet the old man here.

Seeing Gong Chengqi nodding at him, he also nodded as a return salute,

"You, you ......"

With a stammer, Huang Tianyun's heart was full of all kinds of questions. How did he get here? Doesn't he know that this is the world of the Ming Dynasty?

"Brother Huang, let's talk in a different place!"

Then the two walked forward side by side.

"Master Gong, how did you escape?"

Huang Tianyun asked a little nervously,

"How else can you escape, it's not that you escaped first when there was no siege."

Then Gong Chengqi lowered his voice and said.

"Fortunately, I saw the opportunity quickly at that time, and I didn't go to Wuchang, otherwise, I'm afraid I might not be able to see Brother Huang......"

"No, the younger brother also thought of Wuchang at the beginning. But after thinking about it, those Ming troops must be going to fight Wuchang, let's go to Wuchang, isn't that just throwing ourselves into the net? That's why the younger brother did the opposite and went to Jiangbei. ”

Huang Tianyun felt a little lucky. There is a little bit of pride in my heart. After all, if he had gone to Wuchang in the first place, he might have become a prisoner by now. You may even lose your life, where is you as comfortable as you are now.

"Hey, tell me, this, is the qi of this Great Qing Kingdom really gone?"

Huang Tianyun complained as he spoke.

"What do you think is this? I thought that I had ten years of hard work, and the court wanted to make up for the officials to the place, and I originally thought that this was a good opportunity to be an official, but who would have thought that I would end up in this step, you said, you said, now when the western expedition is made, we still have a place to escape, but if it is a few years later, in case the Ming court has a northern expedition, when the time comes, when the time comes, what do you say I should do? When the time comes, if I behead him as a traitor, who will I talk to about my grievances......"

Before the complaint was finished, Huang Tianyun looked panicked after losing his words, he covered his mouth with his hand, and looked around, at this moment, he realized that he was in Jiangbei, and these words could not be said nonsense. Then press the sound even lower.

"Brother Gong, you are from the capital, you have more contact with people, and you have a wider range of knowledge. You say, is it true that the qi of the Great Qing Kingdom is gone? ”

Being asked by him like this, Gong Chengqi's whole person fell into silence, no one can say anything like qi, but now the situation.

Judging from the current situation, it seems that the Great Qing Kingdom really has no luck. Could it be that this is really doomed in the dark. Hu people can't be the world of Han people?

"Who knows?"

Shaking his head, Gong Chengqi responded in a low voice,

"This kind of thing, who can understand it, before last year, who would have thought that the Ming Dynasty would be able to turn over such a momentum?"

At this time last year, the momentum of the Great Qing Kingdom was booming. But Na Cheng thought about it, but it was only in the blink of an eye. Everything changed.

"This, shouldn't this really be God who made Da Ming turn over."

Huang Tianyun muttered to himself again.

"Otherwise, you say, there are people like Daming in all dynasties, all of them have reached this point, and they can turn over not to mention, and they are fierce like a forest all of a sudden, don't say anything else, just say that this Jiangbei's Zhu Jingluo, that is also the dragon and phoenix among the people, you look at this Jiangbei, it is much better than in the past."

Now, he doesn't have as many scruples as in the past, for Huang Tianyun, who has begun to doubt the strength of the Qing Dynasty, the reason why he asked Gong Chengqi like this is that he has no scruples, and secondly, I am afraid that he still wants to ask for his opinion and see what the other party means.

Gong Chengqi, who felt the same way, nodded and said softly.

"Who knows?"

Although he didn't know, Gong Chengqi knew that the reason why he came to Jiangbei was because he felt that he was the most down-to-earth here, and he didn't need to worry about the danger of his life. And there is no need to worry about running into a black shop or a thief like in other places, Jiangbei is undoubtedly safer than other places.

Could it be that this is the real peaceful world?

In troubled times, it is really not easy to have such a peaceful place, at least it shows that the rulers here are indeed not mediocre.

Having said that, if he Zhu Mingzhong was a mediocre talent, I am afraid he would not have achieved today's career. If it weren't for his decision in the first battle, Dasu's army of 100,000 would have either been cut off and thrown into the Yellow River to feed the fish, or he would have been thrown overseas as a coolie. How can today's Ming Dynasty have such a thriving momentum?

Could it be that this is the number of gas?

Isn't it the qi of the Great Qing Kingdom that stops here? And the number of gas in Jiangbei is the number of gas in the Ming Dynasty?

"Hey, this Jiangbei is good, it's just too harsh on us, not to say what kind of traitors we are, if the Ming Dynasty wins the world in the future, how can you say that?"

Talking, talking, without paying attention, Huang Tianyun said what he was most worried about, and looked at the people around him, lest they hear his words. Suddenly, he said again.

"Brother Gong, you say, how about we stay in Jiangbei otherwise? If we seek a background in Jiangbei, can we say that we are traitors in the future? ”

In an instant, Gong Chengqi only felt that his breath was stagnant, and the surroundings were quiet, and even the birdsong in the treetops could be heard clearly.

Stay in Jiangbei? Looking for a background?

Not to mention, he really hadn't thought about it in the past. But now hearing Huang Tianyun say this, his mind suddenly floated.

Isn't it the same for this official to be an official? Now that the momentum of the Ming Dynasty is booming, it is more secure to be an official of the Ming Dynasty, at least no matter what, he will not be beheaded as a traitor.

However, if the Qing Dynasty can turn over again in the future, this will be investigated, and then it may have to be turned off.

Just when Gong Chengqi was hesitating, he only heard Huang Tianyun say there.

"These years are chaotic, that is, this place is still peaceful. Stay here, it's good to go to other places, accidentally lost your life, maybe in the future, you can still do something, after all, now look at the momentum, Daming seems to have the upper hand, let's choose a side, always choose a strong point. Do you think that's the truth? ”

Although I still tend to the capital side in my heart, after all, I have been a slave for more than ten years, and I undoubtedly have a deeper affection for that side. But Gong Chengqi still has to admit that Huang Tianyun does have a reason when he said it.

Since ancient times, there has been a saying that a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. Now that the Qi Count Eye Bridge of the Great Qing Kingdom has reached this point, there must be no hope.

Maybe those masters in the capital have already begun to think about finding some way for themselves, let alone being a slave?

Could it be that you really want to be loyal to the Qing Dynasty?

Loyalty to the Qing Dynasty?

This thought just came to mind, and Gong Chengqi couldn't help but want to laugh.

Although when he first came to Huangzhou to take office, he really thought about doing a good job for the Qing Dynasty and serving the Qing Dynasty well.

But at that time, all he thought about was just wanting to get ahead, wanting to soar, and as for what to serve the Qing Dynasty, he was just doing it by the way.

If you really want to lose your life for the Qing Dynasty, this kind of loss-making business, Gong Chengqi really doesn't do it.

When you are a minion, isn't the reason why you are willing to be that slave just because you want to be a slave again, and there are some rewards. Otherwise, why be that minion?

"Although this is the truth, but, man, we have no roots here, and we want to find a background? I'm afraid it's not that simple. ”

Everyone understands some truths, but when it comes to the real choice, there are such and such concerns.

"It can't be that simple, but man, you think. Even now that we're all home. In the future, when the Ming Dynasty Northern Expedition is carried out, if you investigate it, aren't we still guilty? Rather than this, why don't you stay here, and try something, in case you really can come from a certain background, it will be better than returning to your hometown to farm? ”

Huang Tianyun looked at Gong Chengqi and asked again.

"Brother, do you think that's the truth? You have to gamble on everything. ”

Huang Tianyun is different from Gong Chengqi, he doesn't have a master to help him behind his back. He just won the vice list, and originally had no chance to be an official. If it weren't for the fact that a large number of Han officials abandoned their official positions and absconded, I am afraid that it would not be his turn to be an official.

After being an official for a few months, Huang Tianyun naturally didn't want to return to his hometown to be such a flat-headed citizen. What's more, this has a strong relationship with whether or not you can save your life. That's why they will behave more earnestly.

"Hmmm......"

Gong Chengqi did not give an answer immediately, but repeatedly weighed the pros and cons in his heart.

After all, he is different from Huang Tianyun, their Gong family is a slave of the Qing Dynasty, and they are also a slave of the Aixin Jueluo family, as long as there are so many talents to learn, if you want to be an official, it is very easy, just like he was sent out to Huangzhou, the master will always take care of the slave.

It's just that now the qi of the Great Qing Kingdom does look like a little bit has been exhausted.

A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall!

Thinking of the teachings of the sages, Gong Chengqi couldn't help but feel a little moved, but he was still a little hesitant, after all, after being a slave for many years, it is inevitable that he always has some feelings for his master.

After pondering for a long time, Gong Chengqi sighed and said.

"Hey, for the Great Qing Kingdom, I can be regarded as dedicated! As for the future...... Hey, who made me a Han Chinese? ”