Tang Xi washed his face with the stream at the bottom of the valley. Shaking the water in his hands, he raised his head, looked around and said, "There are really good persimmons growing in this mountain!" It looks red, and it should be sweet when I think about it. We picked a few, ate them and hit the road. ”

Sun Dongdao: "It's not early, hurry up and get on the road!" What persimmons to eat, be careful and hurt your stomach! ”

Tang Xi is willing to listen. Stand up, see the persimmon on a tree by the roadside grow attractively, pick up a branch next to it, and go to the tree to poke it. Poked a persimmon down hard, "snapped" and fell to the ground, falling to pieces.

Tang Xi jumped to his feet: "Ahh It's a pity to see this persimmon grow so fat! ”

At this moment, five or six hunters came out of the foot of the mountain. Holding the hunting bow, he stared at the two of them and said loudly, "Who are you?" This place has long been sealed, and there have been no strangers for months! Look at your faces, aren't you from the north? ”

Sun Dong was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Wronged! Brother, we are Orions in the nearby mountains, and we got lost for a while before we got here! ”

A man stepped forward, looked the two of them up and down carefully, and said, "There are not many hunters in this mountain, most of them are I have seen. Seeing the two of you face each other like this, how can you be someone nearby? Needless to say, pick it up first, and go to Lizheng to report to the official! ”

Sun Dong hurriedly shook his hand: "Brother, our family is in the north, and we have been messed up for a while, and I can't recognize what this place is." If you report us to the authorities, will you not harm us? Show us the way, and we'll go back! ”

Several men laughed together. The man standing in front of him: "This is the border, you live in the north, aren't you the Khitans?" I heard that this year's Khitan point has gathered troops and horses to go south, you must have done it carefully! ”

Sun Dongdao: "Brother, we people in the mountains, where do we know what Khitan Great Song is?" I don't go out of the mountains every day, and I don't do errands for the government. Recently, there has been a lot less game, and before I knew it, I walked here. Please raise your noble hands and let us live. ”

The man thought about it for a while, and stepped back to discuss it with a few people. After a while, he said: "I think you are in the mountains, and it is not easy to make a living, so I will let you go for the time being." However, the roads have been closed recently, so hurry up and go back along the mountain road. If not, if you are caught, you will be locked in the cell! ”

Sun Dong said yes again and again. He added: "We have been walking for a few days, and we have eaten all the dry food we have brought. My brothers were kind and gave us some dry food to eat on the way. If you have the fate to see each other again in the future, you will definitely thank you! ”

The man said: "When you go out, everything is naturally difficult, so you don't have to say these words." It's not early, so come and dine with us. Look at your brother picking persimmons there to eat, it's really pitiful! ”

Sun Dong hurriedly thanked him and called Tang Xi over. Saluted a few people and walked up.

Tang Xi was unwilling in his heart. Look at the persimmons on this tree grow very big, the color is red and cute, think about it delicious, it's a pity that you can't eat it. But I didn't know that in the mountains, these persimmons and the like were everywhere, and no one picked them at all. It was not for hunger, and it was of no use in the eyes of the hunters. Picking persimmons here, the hunters saw it and thought they were so hungry that they couldn't do anything.

A flat place was chosen, a few people sat down, and a fire was lit. These men brought dry food and some game. A rabbit was washed in the stream next to it, and it was roasted on the fire.

The previous man looked at Sun Dong and Tang Xi, and always felt that something was wrong. Said: "I'm Qiu Pan, and here are all nearby hunters. Recently, the government announced that in the autumn the Khitans would go south in a big way, and they should not move around. When we came out, we all wanted to check the neighborhood to see if there were any suspicious people walking around. As soon as you find someone you don't know, you have to inform the nearby Lizheng and take him to the government. ”

Sun Dong hurriedly surrendered his hand: "It turned out to be Brother Qiu." My two brothers live in the north, and we are always in the mountains, and we rarely go out, and we don't know about these things. A few days ago, I was chasing a roe deer, but somehow I got lost and came all the way here. Brothers, don't blame! ”

Qiu Pan said: "Fortunately, you met us, if you meet someone else, you will definitely be arrested and sent to see the official!" It's not easy to remember our hunters, I'll give you some dry food in a while, and hurry home. Even if the Khitan army invaded south, they would not enter the mountains. When you go home, you just have to hide at home honestly and avoid this disaster. It is nothing more than a few months, and the Khitans will inevitably retreat in the spring of the next year. ”

Sun Dong said yes again and again, and casually complimented Qiu Pan a few words. After chatting well, he said, "Brother, why did the Khitans come?" I heard from the elders of my family that a few decades ago, the Khitans often went south. I have never seen it once since I was born. ”

Qiu Pan said: "The Khitans are brute-bearded, animal-like temperament, who knows their minds. I heard that the imperial court had stopped the New Year's coins, and I thought that they had no money to use, so I thought about grabbing some. Now it's just us mountain people who can move around. Outside, the government has long been fortified and cleared, so that the people have hidden in the city. As soon as I got out of the mountain, there was not a single pedestrian on the road, and the intersection was guarded by soldiers. Like the two of you, you can't take a single step! Knowing that you are Khitans, the government will inevitably put you in prison! ”

Sun Dong said yes again and again, but he was glad in his heart. Recently, the Khitan sent several batches of fine works to the Song Dynasty to inquire about the news. Fortunately, he and Tang Xi came along the mountain road, and those who entered the plain must have been arrested by the Song Dynasty. Listening to Qiu Pan's words, the Song Dynasty had long known that the Khitans were going south, and made all preparations. At this time, spying on the news is not a sheep into the mouth of a tiger.

Hebei Road is the border, and unlike other places, the people are the most strict. Shaanxi Road and Hedong Road are not the same, and there are many households in the border areas of the two roads, which are not under the control of the imperial court. Hebei Road is different, there are Han people on both sides of the border, and the edition is clear. The Song Dynasty banned the two losers, cut off the border trade, and the people on both sides had no contacts. The walls are clear, and the government can let all the people hide in the city, and there are no pedestrians outside the city.

After gossiping for a while, Sun Dong said: "Brother, since the walls are clear, why don't the hunters in the mountains hide in the city?" ”

Qiu Pan said: "Our people in the mountains are not like flat land farming, and we have food savings. If you don't hunt for a few days, what will the family eat? Besides, when the Khitans came south, they all walked on flat land and would not come to the mountains. We are all in charge of the inside, going out to hunt, and by the way, helping the government to check the place. When you meet a stranger, you have to report it to the official. With us, the government saves a lot of soldiers. ”

"I see." Sun Dong nodded. "So hard work. While hunting, I also have to patrol the place. ”

Qiu Pan said: "It's not hard. We inspected the localities, and the government exempted them from servitude, killing two birds with one stone. This year, the Khitan South is guilty, and the government has even exempted us from paying taxes, so let's help check what it is. ”

When Sun Dong heard this, he only felt that the Song Dynasty was really wealthy. At every turn, they are exempt from taxes and servitude, and they don't know where their government money comes from. No money is collected everywhere, and some even give money, no wonder the people work hard.

After a while, the free child over there was cooked, Qiu Pan took out the dry food and divided a few pieces of meat for Sun Dong and Tang Xi to eat. The road in the mountains is not easy to walk, and it will take a long time to go back from here.

With dry food, Qiu Pan pointed out the way to Sun Dong and said, "You guys are on the road." We are also officials, and we have to watch you go before we can make a difference. If something goes wrong, I'm afraid that the government will take us for questioning. ”

Sun Dong thanked him for his kindness, pulled Tang Xi, and walked along the road pointed by Qiu Pan.

After walking more than 100 steps, Tang Xi asked in a low voice: "Brother, we didn't find any news, so we really just went back?" ”

Sun Dong said: "Fool, of course go back!" You didn't hear the hunter surnamed Qiu say that the flat ground outside had already been cleared, and when you saw strange faces on the road, they were all locked up in prison. Needless to say, those sent out to find out the news, except for us, will inevitably be arrested. Let's go back and make up a few random sentences, and deal with the past, is it really going to go to prison! ”