(The war resumes)

The leaves are similar to the size of the palm of the human hand, and the petiole is slender, which makes the leaves easy to sway, and the maple leaves will sway when there is a slight breeze, just like the caress of a lover, standing under the tree, listening to the wind and the sound of the tree, which makes people intoxicated.

A piece of red fluttered down, and the old steward Sun Fu looked at the hovering leaves, and suddenly sighed in his heart.

When the old lady was a young lady, she was very fond of maple trees. These maple trees were planted by the old lady herself when she married into the Sun family, and it has been more than 20 years now.

Twenty years is already a generation!

There was a rustling of footsteps on the opposite side, Sun Fu looked up, and two people came out of the courtyard in front of him, and the woman walking on the left was plain white, with a beautiful face, long black hair hanging down to her waist, holding a guqin in her arms, and a pair of cold eyes, which seemed to contain the autumn mood of slaughter. The girl beside her was dressed in a goose yellow skirt, but she was sixteen or seventeen years old, and her face was quite beautiful, but compared with the plain woman, she was as inconspicuous as the stars on the side of the bright moon.

This woman is none other than Kou Baimen.

She walked among the falling red leaves, a gust of wind hit, and her long hair was curled like ink, like a fairy.

Everyone in the house is having a hard time these days, and she is naturally no exception, but in her, it seems that these things can't be seen, just elegant and noble.

Seeing Sun Fu standing there, Kou Baimen was slightly blessed, and wanted to bypass him.

Sun Fu gritted his teeth, and suddenly the whole person rushed forward, kneeling in front of Kou Baimen in a daze. shouted: "Miss Kou, please save our Sun Mansion!" ”

Kou Baimen's eyes showed a hint of surprise, and he quickly avoided the side. Said: "Chief steward, what are you doing here?" ”

The chief steward took a deep breath, stared at Kou Baimen and said, "Miss Kou." Now that our Sun Mansion is in a bad situation, you can also see that if this continues, the people in the mansion will have to get the epidemic! Who did this, you must know it, now, except for you. No one can save us! ”

Kou Baimen stood there, her snow-white veil covering the expression on her face, like a fairy shrouded in clouds, unable to see her true thoughts. It's just that a pair of clear eyes looked at Sun Fu lightly.

She may be the only one in the entire Sun Mansion who doesn't hate Lian Zining.

Since that song of life if only as first seen, her heart. It was already firmly tied to the body of the negative person, and it could no longer be unraveled.

After Sun Ting's plot against Lian Zining broke out, she was inexplicably angry in her heart, and a touch of guilt lingered in her heart, when she was in Jiangnan. is walking back and forth between the powerful, naturally knowing the sinister officialdom, what impact this little thing will have on Lian Zining, she even sees it more really.

And the reason why she feels guilty is because she knows that although the grievances and grievances between Lian Zining and Sun Ting are chaotic and complicated, and there are many rumors in the market, it is not clear, but the origin of everything lies in the fact that one day on the four seas, and the life that was done for himself was only as first seen!

Because of Sun Ting's arrogance, because of himself, Lian Zining's lyrics completely made Sun Ting lose face, and because of this song, Sun Ting had a grudge against Lian Zining, and then targeted all kinds of them, so it was natural that the ordnance intercepted at Jingnan Banknote Pass was poked out.

Because of guilt and hatred, when Wu Yibo's revenge began, not only did she not panic, but her heart was full of happiness. Although she is also one of the victims, those luxurious food and clothing have stopped, and she also follows everyone to eat cabbage and eat nests every day, but she is happy!

Seeing that Kou Baimen was silent, the old housekeeper thought that her heart was moved, and hissed: "Miss Kou, the story of you and that Uncle Wu Yi is known to the world, and his subordinates will definitely sell you a face, if you come forward, we can be protected!" Miss Kou, these days, the old lady, the old man, the old decay, the entire Sun Mansion, there is nothing to make it difficult for you, right? You've been here for more than two years, can't you do this to watch here and turn into a ghost? ”…,

Kou Baimen could only be silent.

In all fairness, there was nothing wrong with what the old steward said.

Kou Baimen was invited by Sun Ting from Yingtianfu, saying that it was an invitation, but in fact it was just a face, Kou Baimen was an official prostitute, belonging to the jurisdiction of the Jiaofang Division, and his name was subordinate to the Nanjing Jiaofang Sile Nationality. In fact, it's not just her, like several other very famous prostitutes in Jiangnan, Dong Xiaowan, Du Shi Niang, Li Xiangjun, before Kou Baimen entered Beijing, and she became the four famous prostitutes in Jiangnan who became 'Qinhuai Sixiu', extremely outstanding beauties, in fact, they are all official prostitutes affiliated with the Department of Education.

The Ministry of Rites belongs directly to the Ministry of Rites, not the Yamen of Nanjing, the one in Nanjing, but a branch or something, the Ministry of Rites is bitter, the six Yamen of the Ming Dynasty, the so-called mighty rich and poor, this 'poor' word, it can be said that the current situation of the entire Ministry of Rites is vividly described - Qingshui Yamen, very little oil and water!

And the reason why it is said that there are very few oil and water children instead of no oil and water is because the Ministry of Rites is still in charge of the Teaching Department! The Ministry of Rites is poor enough, but the Sect Division is fat! It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the fattest in the yamen of the first level of the division under the six departments, thousands of official prostitutes all over the north and south of Beijing, and dozens of green buildings of all sizes, which can be said to be making money every day! Therefore, the Ministry of Rites has a firm grasp of this single and largest source of funds, and no one wants to get a piece of the pie.

On the other hand, the officials who can become the left and right Shao dancers and the left and right musicians of the teaching workshop are all related to the Ministry of Rites, have backers, and play the role of making a lot of money. And these kinds of characters are often hard and soft, and no one gives face except for orders and money from the peak.

Kou Baimen was actually encountered by Sun Ting when he traveled to the south of the Yangtze River, and when he saw it, he was shocked, and he immediately found the Shao Dance of the Nanjing Teaching Division, and he wanted to buy Kou Baimen back.

In his thoughts, the son of the servant of the Criminal Department went to ask for it in person, and he had already given this right Shaowu, who was just from the ninth grade, a big face, if this right Shaowu knew each other, he should hurry up and send Kou Baimen over. I didn't expect it. People don't pay attention to him at all, and they don't care who he is, just one sentence: impossible. Not negotiable!

After eating a big-eared scraper, Sun Ting naturally secretly held a grudge, and only found out when he inquired after coming out. is named Dong He for the right Shaowu, and he is actually the son of Dong Qichang, the current secretary of the Ministry of Rites, who has been on an errand in Dong Mansion for 30 years! Dong Butang trusted him and sent him to the Nanjing Teaching Workshop Division to take charge!

As soon as he heard this, Sun Ting knew that he no longer dared to have any crooked thoughts.

had to come honestly according to the rules, and went to the Yamen of the Teaching Workshop Division again and found Dong He. After talking for a long time, Dong He finally bit a line: you can use it, you want it, no way!

Sun Ting had to give up, and finally negotiated, Sun Ting paid 50,000 taels of silver, and asked Kou Baimen to go over the past three years!

As a matter of fact. It's rental.

These Qinhuai famous prostitutes who are infinitely beautiful in front of people, it is rare for ordinary people to be idle, and in the eyes of dignitaries and nobles, they are just playthings that can be bought and sold casually.

In fact, it was 50,000 taels of silver to buy Kou Baimen's three years!

A woman's most precious three years.

In fact, Sun Ting also knows. Dong He has made a great concession, Kou Baimen is at the height of his reputation, and the high-rollers who come here every day just to listen to a song of piano and drink a light wine are willing to spend tens of millions of taels of silver, I don't know how much, whether they want to see it or not, it depends on Kou Baimen's thoughts. And in the famous prostitute industry, if you don't show up for three years, then basically after three years, no one will remember you, that is to say, Dong He lost almost the whole person of Kou Baimen.

These 50,000 taels of silver are nothing compared to this. …,

After all, he is also a squire of the Criminal Department, the son of a powerful Beijing official, and Dong He does not dare to offend too much, so as not to cause trouble for his master.

So Kou Baimen was half bought and half rented by Sun Ting and brought to the capital.

Kou Baimen had a premonition of her tragic fate, but to her surprise, after coming to the Sun Mansion, she did not suffer such a situation.

Sun Ting was busy intriguing with Lian Zining, Sun Yanzhi was already past the age of a young man who was lustful and Fang Ai, but he didn't touch her.

And as the old steward said, her life is still very nourishing, and she and the old steward are at the same level as the monthly silver, and even the little girl she bought after she arrived in the capital is also in charge of the expenses in the house. Her students, a little young master and a little young lady, all have a lot of respect for this teacher who looks like a fairy daughter, and the two students are very naughty and mischievous, but they are also very cute. And the old lady of the Sun family loves her even more, and invites her to play the piano and dine together from time to time. She also heard the discussion among the people in the house, and they all said that the old lady was closer to her than her daughter.

From this point of view, Kou Baimen is still very grateful to Sun Ting, she is such a very idle character, ushered in the send-off, Yafei is what she wants, but plays the piano every day, looks at the scenery, listens to the wind, drinks tea, and occasionally goes out to eat some food in the north, and the life is good and traveling, and it is also very comfortable.

But this does not mean that these things are enough to match her attachment to Lian Zining and her hatred for Sun Ting.

She glanced at Sun Fu deeply, and said: "Old steward, the rumors of the little girl and Wu Yibo are just rumors, I have only met once, and I haven't said a few words, if he can listen to me, this is still a deception to the child, do you believe it?" Besides, even if I can really talk to Wu Yibo, he is now in the northeast, the north of the capital, but he is not in charge! Will my words work? The little woman will not lose this person. ”

As soon as she said this, Sun Fu was really struck by lightning, and there was no longer a trace of hope in his heart, so he looked at her stupidly.

Kou Baimen felt a little unbearable in her heart after all, she gestured to the maid next to her, and the maid took out two silver tickets from her arms, Kou Baimen took it, handed it to Sun Fu, and said: "Old steward, as you said, since Baimen entered the house, everyone has taken care of it, and now the house is in difficulty, Baimen has nothing to repay, and when he was in Jiangnan before, he always saved some money." I'll give this money to Madame just in time, Madame doesn't want it, you can take it! ”

With that, he shoved the money into the old steward's hand and turned away.

After a long while, the old steward turned around, he stood up, and stared at Kou Baimen's back, his eyes full of resentment. As soon as he turned around, he entered the West Cross Courtyard, but the silver ticket in his hand was clutched.

―――――――― Dividing Line――――――――

September 28, 52nd year of Zhengde.

Six hundred and thirty-nine miles north of the Songhua River.

Three hundred and thirty-seven miles south of Tuluting Mountain.

White Eagle Gorge.

If the Youman River is the natural dividing line between the Jurchen settlements of Haixi and Jianzhou, then Baiying Gorge is the throat of this boundary.

Your barbarian river is the Bureay River of later generations, which is vast for thousands of miles. The mountains originate from the remaining veins of the Outer Xing'an Mountains and flow westward into the Heilongjiang River. It was a mighty river, with a rapid current, and was flanked on both sides by high mountains and mountains—and the northeast was not necessarily plain. There are also many mountain ranges, but most of them are relatively concentrated.

Within a radius of hundreds of miles in the White Eagle Gorge, there are many mountains, dense forests, rivers, and it is difficult for people to pass, only here in the White Eagle Gorge, it is like thinking that the giant spirit god used the giant axe to cut an axe here. A canyon is formed here. The canyon is twenty miles long, and at its narrowest point...,

Less than five zhang wide, can only accommodate less than 20 people in parallel, is the most open place, but also only dozens of steps wide, and the walls on both sides stand thousands of miles, the stone wall is smooth and vertical. Even the apes are difficult to climb. Looking up from below, you can only see a glimmer of blue sky, which is the noon of midsummer, and the light below is dim, and it is cold and unbearable.

It's a veritable silver lining.

Take the north exit of the White Eagle Gorge. On the right side is a dangerous peak, not very high, only about two or three hundred zhang, but the flat ground rises, extremely majestic and majestic, and extremely steep, difficult to climb. Its overall structural shape is like a huge eagle crouching by the river with its vigorous wings, and because the mountains and rocks are faintly gray, it is a dazzling white when reflected in the sun. Therefore, it was named White Eagle Peak, and White Eagle Gorge was also named after it.

On the right side of the valley mouth is the White Eagle Peak, from the White Eagle Peak to the west is only two miles away, is the mighty Youman River. The river is the shallowest and narrowest here, but it is more than a hundred zhang, and it is the easiest to cross.

Such a terrain is comparable to that of Tongguan, if it is in the pass, it must be a great reputation, but outside this pass, it is hidden in the name, even Lian Zining and other caring people are only known through Yang Kai.

Therefore, this is the main transportation route connecting the central and southern Jurchens, and it is not an exaggeration to call it a throat.

Although it was a major transportation route, the flow of people here was not large - the social class composition of the Jurchens was still stuck in the stage of the transition from slavery to feudalism, and the elements of slavery were still larger, and their way of living - fishing and hunting as a living and farming as a supplement - also determined that their range of life was limited to the vicinity of their place of residence, rather than traveling far away.

Such a way of life, such a social structure, determined that their commerce could not be very developed, using animal skins to make clothes, food and clothing are all from nature, except for salt and iron pots, the vast majority of Jurchens do not need to buy anything from merchants in their lifetime.

Therefore, this main road is only occasionally passed by a few merchants, which can be said to be very rare, but here every year there are three or five groups of Han smuggling caravans - such as Yang Kai.

But now, it's getting bustling.

In the north of the valley mouth, I don't know when, has risen a huge city, the east of the city relies on the towering White Eagle Peak, the west side is only more than ten steps away from your Manhe, to the south, it is to block the entrance of the White Eagle Gorge.

In fact, it is not quite accurate to say that it is a city, because this city is two miles wide from east to west, and the city is about the same length from north to south. Only the white tents were like mushrooms after the rain, almost covering the inner circle of the city walls.

It is not so much a city wall as a huge barracks, but the defensive power of this barracks is quite considerable, and the surrounding city walls are about three zhang high, and the thickness is two zhang - at this scale, in the territory of the Jurchens, it is already second only to the Jurchen Khan's court, and can be ranked second. Even in the Ming Dynasty, the prefecture-level city governance office is just like this, and it can be worthy of the name of the word 'Jiancheng'!

And it seems that at least the outer layer of the city is made of a thick layer of stone, the stone is white and gray, which is the specialty of this place, and it is unknown whether it is rammed earth or stone inside.

This city, the valley mouth of the White Eagle Gorge, can be said to be firmly blocked.

At this time, in this city, it was full of people, not men dressed as soldiers doing their own work, but tens of millions of sturdy men were divided into teams and practiced in their respective camps. …,

The shouts of killing shook the sky.

There is no doubt that this strong city is naturally the result of Yang Husheng and others.

On August 25, a total of 100,000 people from the 4th and 10th Guards of the Northern Route Army of the Wuyi Army set off for the north.

Originally, Lian Zining expected that the Northern Route Army would take at least fifteen days or so to reach Baiying Gorge, but he didn't expect that under the urging of Yang Husheng and the spur of Xia Zikai, the 100,000 army would reach Baiying Gorge in only ten days.

The fifth day of the ninth month arrived.

To the surprise of Yang Husheng and Xia Zikai and the upper echelons of the Northern Route Army of the Wuyi Army, those slave soldiers of the Tenth Guard also persevered.

You must know that the fourth guard is composed of pure cavalry, and it is common to travel more than 600 miles in ten days, but the Jurchen slave soldiers of the tenth guard can still hold on, which is too incredible.

Ten days, more than 600 miles, more than 60 miles a day, walking with big feet, this is almost a limit, or rather, it has exceeded the limit, after all, it is impossible to rush all day and night, and this time is also different from when the recruits were in Shandong when they were thousands of miles away from the training, at that time they were all within the jurisdiction of Wu Yijun, and after the journey, at night, there was hot soup and hot water to warm and clean the camp waiting.

Here, there's nothing!

In fact, when it comes to physical fitness, the Jurchen strong men of these fishing and hunting nations are naturally much stronger than the Han people of the farming people, not to mention that the more than 90,000 people in the tenth guard are the most elite, brave, and physical strength of the Haixi Jurchens. In terms of physical fitness, those Han recruits in the recruit department are not at the same level as them.

But these people are not good soldiers - they can't be good soldiers, at least not under Wu Yijun's jurisdiction, you can't expect a group of people who have a grudge against you to kill your father and a big hatred for your wife, and fight to the death for you, right?

The problem is not in the body, but in the head!

But this time, they were very active, even if they were extremely tired, they gritted their teeth and hurried desperately.

After thinking about it, Wu Yijun's upper echelons felt that the only explanation was the introduction of the lord system among the Jurchen slave soldiers.

On the 24th of August, in the camp of the 10th Guard, in front of tens of thousands of Jurchen slave soldiers, Lian Zining personally canonized 136 Jurchen slave soldiers. Among them, the highest rank was awarded the twenty-fifth rank of Wu Yijun, the Xuanjie captain on the eighth grade, and the most of them were fifty-six people, all of whom were the lowest level, that is, the thirty-second rank from the ninth rank to the German halberd chief.

But although the titles of the feudal lords are not high, it makes almost all the Jurchen slave soldiers boil.

Because they see hope.

These 136 people were all brave in the past and took the initiative to join the Wu Yi Army. The role of role models is endless, and the one hundred and thirty-six examples set up by Lian Zining have made all the Jurchen slave soldiers realize that as long as they are honest and obedient and brave in battle, they can also ask for the status of slaves now and become human beings.

It's not just the title that is divided, the title is virtual, and what the title can bring is real. These one hundred and thirty-six knighted Jurchen slave soldiers were not only freed from slavery, but each of them was rewarded with a different amount of silver, up to two hundred taels! And they were even allowed to choose a different number of women in the military prostitute camps according to different ranks as their private property!

You must know that this is a benefit that even Han officers do not have, and many beautiful women in the military prostitute camp who are from Jurchen powerful and wealthy families instantly make these Jurchen slave soldiers green-eyed!

Whoever disobeys, die! Obedient, status, money, and women!

The scales twist instantly.

After this public knighthood, the cohesion of the entire Tenth Guard was significantly improved, and there was the slightest sign of instability among the Jurchen slave soldiers, and they also disappeared without a trace.

The ferocious killing before had already let them know the fate of disobeying Wu Yijun, and now Lian Zining had given them the sweetness to give them hope. Beating a stick to give a sweet date is always the easiest, but it is also the most effective way.

And now, the effect is in. (To be continued.) If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly passes, and your support is my biggest motivation. )