Since entering the boundary of Xuzhou, there has been a scene of decay and depression along the way - the fields are barren, the weeds are spreading and growing unscrupulously, and the dry branches of the trees are gently swaying in the wind, like the ghost claws of the undead; From time to time, you can see scattered barren mounds, lying on the roadside, in the woods, on small slopes and other places, accompanied by the sound of the wind, and whispering wails......

There were almost no pedestrians and merchants passing along the way, and occasionally some ragged people were encountered, and they fled as quickly as frightened animals.

After walking through several villages, all lifeless, some old people sat on the dilapidated doors, staring blankly and desperately at the group of passing soldiers, motionless, as if they were just a shell.

Chen Qingzhi walked at the front of the team with Xu Jin, Hui Ze, and Ma Fonian, while Song Jingxiu and Yu Tianchou were in charge of breaking the back.

"Brother Chen, there shouldn't be a war in Xuzhou yet, right? What are we going to see? Xu Jin frowned and asked Chen Qingzhi in a low voice.

"It looks like a plague, no, like a plague, without any life." Hui Ze's eyes were full of compassion.

Chen Qingzhi also frowned, and sighed and said, "It does make people feel hungry all over the wilderness, but it seems that I haven't heard the rumors of the disaster in Xuzhou......"

"If we have the opportunity, let's find out what's going on," Ma Funian suggested, "After all, Xuzhou is now the land of my main beam, and there must be hidden secrets when people's livelihood is so difficult." ”

"Wencai is right, let's try to understand what is going on." Chen Qingzhi's face was solemn.

It was already dark, and the troops came to the vicinity of a village of considerable size.

Because it was necessary to maintain concealment, it was not possible to light torches, and it was inconvenient to continue the march at night. Chen Qing ordered to rest on the spot, and then instructed Song Jingxiu and Yu Tianchou, "Let the brothers rest on the spot, and they are not allowed to light fires or cook." ”

He turned his head to Xu Jin and said, "Send a sentry to guard the wheel, don't be careless!" ”

After arranging a stop, Chen Qingzhi said to Ma Funian, "Wencai, let's go to the village in front of us to have a look." ”

"Brother Chen, I'll go with you too!" Hui Ze lifted the iron rod, "In case something happens, I can also be a guard." ”

Chen Qingzhi thought about it for a moment and nodded, "It's okay, but you must not be impulsive, I will handle everything." ”

"Don't worry, Brother Chen, I'm not Xu Jin, I won't mess around." Hui Ze patted his chest and reassured.

Xu Jin on the side was unhappy, "I won't mess around!" Then I will go with you. ”

"Didn't Brother Chen assign you a task," Hui Ze said to Xu Jin with a smile, "Your task is very important, do your business well!" Brother Chen, I'll just accompany you, and it'll be fine. ”

"Yes, Xu Jin, your sentry is now the eyes and ears of our entire army." Chen Qingzhi also said, "Do your task well first, let's go to the village to find out some information, and we will come back soon." ”

"That's okay, Brother Chen said so." Xu Jin clenched his fists and arched his hands, "Then I'll arrange the sentry horse." Hui Ze and Ma joined the army, but they must protect Brother Chen, he is our most important person! ”

In the night, Chen Qingzhi and the three entered the village. By the dim moonlight, everyone looked in all directions as they walked.

There are a lot of houses in this village, and there should be nearly 100 households, which can be regarded as a fairly large village. If it were normal, it should be the time for every household to turn on the lights, but now the doors are closed everywhere, and there are only a few windows with a little dim light.

The whole village was silent, there was no sound of people talking, not the barking of poultry and livestock, not even the most common barking of dogs.

After walking for a while, they probably reached the center of the village, and an open flat land appeared in front of the three of them.

There was a large tree standing in the center—the vigorous trunk of which was estimated to take three or four people to enclose it; The canopy of the trees spreads out in all directions, like an umbrella, covering a radius of several steps below.

Beneath the canopy, there are several long stones neatly arranged, which look like they are for people to sit in the shade.

On one of the stones, a slender figure was sitting on it, burying its head and seemingly lamenting something.

The three of them walked briskly. The figure heard the footsteps, raised his head, brushed the handful of gray hair hanging in front of his forehead, looked over with cloudy eyes, and after seeing the clothes of the three of them, he said lightly in a low voice, "You soldiers again, there is nothing to be found in the village...... After speaking, he continued to bury his head.

Chen Qing took a step forward and saluted respectfully, "You misunderstood, we were just passing by, not here to loot anything." ”

The man looked up again, his long slender, withered and dull face, his gray hair and beard dishevelled like a handful of withered grass. Looking at Chen Qingzhi, who was saluting in front of him, he still said lightly, "Today's old man is really eye-opening, there is actually a soldier to salute me, but it is useless to salute, the land in the village has been scraped three inches, there is really nothing for you to loot." ”

"Uncle, although we are soldiers, we are definitely not here to loot your things," Chen Qingzhi explained earnestly, "We are also the first time to visit your land, but we just saw the desolation everywhere, so we just went into the village to inquire." ”

"Oh, you're not Xuzhou soldiers? So where did you come from? Wei Jun? Liang Jun? The man asked in a faint tone.

"Uncle, listen to what you mean, this Wei army and Liang army will come to Xuzhou?" Chen Qingzhi tentatively.

"It's no secret that everyone knows about Xuzhou, from the dignitaries to the people of Li."

Chen Qingzhi sat down on the stone opposite the old man, smiling, "Uncle, why everyone knows, please tell me about it." ”

"This Xuzhou assassin claims to be the emperor by himself, can the court spare him? Troops will inevitably be sent to fight for it. This false emperor was frightened and surrendered to the Southern Liang courtiers, and the Liang army would definitely come. ”

"How does the old man know that the assassin Shi asked Liang to surrender?" Chen Qingzhi was a little surprised.

The old man was still very indifferent, and said unhurriedly, "The behavior of the assassin over the years, the whole of Xuzhou, all know his virtue, the imperial court is going to crusade, he must find backup, and our Xuzhou has always been a key place to fight, Wei doesn't want to lose, Liang definitely wants to take it, so as long as the assassin asks for help, the Liang army will come!" This rumor has long been all over the fields and alleys. ”

"Then again, are you Wei Jun or Liang Jun?" The old man suddenly asked.

Chen Qingzhi thought about it for a while, but decided to tell the truth, "Don't hide the truth, we are the army of Daliang." ”

"Oh, it's Liang Jun." The old man's indifferent reaction made the three of them slightly surprised.

The old man's voice lowered, as if he was talking to himself, "Anyone can do it, Wei Jun can do it, Liang Jun can do it, as long as this Xuzhou can have a little love for the people, it doesn't matter if Wei or Liang ......"

The old man's voice was very soft, but Chen Qingzhi, who was sitting opposite him, still heard it clearly, and he was a little surprised by the old man's words, "Uncle, what do you mean by this?" ”

The old man twisted his head, looked around, and his tone suddenly became a little sad, "Do you know what the stones under these trees were originally used for?" ”

The three of them also looked around, "It should be a place for the villagers to cool off in the shade of the trees."

"These stones were originally a place for children in the village to study...... the old man stretched out his dry fingers, gently touched the surface of the stone he was sitting on, and said slowly in a slightly trembling voice, "This village was originally also prosperous, there were dozens of families, although life was hard, but still the neighborhood was harmonious, and they were happy. The old man was originally a scholar, so under this tree, he taught the children in the village to read and write, and whenever he saw the smiling faces of the children, the old man would feel that it was a beautiful thing to end his life like this......

"But this Xuzhou assassin Shi Yuan monk actually wants to take advantage of the civil strife in the Great Wei Dynasty to get an addiction to the emperor. Originally, he governed Xuzhou for many years, and he spared no effort to loot the people's fat and ointment, although the days were very difficult, but at least everyone could still live. But he is called the emperor...... "The old man's teeth were clenched, and his eyes, which were originally dim, seemed to be about to burst into flames at this moment.

"Uncle, dissipate your anger and take care of your body." Chen Qingzhi soothed.

After controlling his emotions, the old man continued, "After being called the emperor, this Yuan monk intensified his efforts, sent troops to search everywhere, and all the money and grain were robbed into Pengcheng, and not a single grain or penny was left. What's even more hateful is that he also captures young and strong men in various villages, pulls them to fill his army, and tattoos the word 'slave' on their foreheads, and those who do not want to resist are killed on the spot, they are simply evil ghosts, and regard human life as a mustard! ”

"None of the women escaped his clutches—they took young women as soon as they saw them, and the ones who were beautiful were not only for their own pleasure, but also for the rewards of his generals and ministers; The rest were thrown into the barracks and left to the soldiers to play and kill at will...... This evil act of the Yuan Dharma monk is simply too much to write! ”

"So as long as they can still walk, they all try to escape, leaving only us who are old and weak, leaving us to wait for death. If you are lucky, you escaped from Xuzhou and became a homeless; If I was unlucky, I was intercepted by the soldiers of the Yuan Dharma monk on the road, and the end was miserable, and I became a lonely ghost......"

"This Yuan Dharma monk still has no humanity to do such an evil deed, it is really hateful, hateful!" Hui Ze's anger was palpable.

"I can't imagine that Xuzhou has fallen into hell! Pity the people of Xuzhou, they have suffered such a scourge! Ma Funian was equally indignant.

Chen Qingzhi comforted the old man and said to him softly, "Uncle, don't worry, our Liang Jun came this time to take the Yuan monk away." His Majesty the Emperor of Daliang has always been sympathetic to the people and loves the people like a son, and he will definitely select a diligent and loving assassin to govern Xuzhou, and the situation will inevitably improve slowly. ”

"The old man said, Wei or Liang, it doesn't matter, as long as everyone has a way to live and no longer suffer from these evil ghosts, thank God......" The old man waved his hand weakly, buried his head again, and whispered, "Let's go, let the old man be quiet and quiet...... alone"