The yellow clouds of the Dayong frontier cover the sky, stretch for thousands of miles, the sun is dim, the howling north wind has just sent away the geese, and brought the heavy snow that has been blowing one after another, the soldiers wear heavy cotton clothes and heavy armor, hold halberds, guard the city, despite the cold weather, it is still the guard of the city gate.

"What are the names of the two of you, where did you come from, and where are you going?"

"In Xia Xie Ruqing, this is my junior brother Chu Ci, the two of us just came back from a study tour in Chu, and now, I want to go back to Qingzhou, where I live, sort out the books, participate in the scientific examination, and serve the imperial court." Xie Ruqing was wearing a cotton coat that had been washed to white, pulling an ox cart, and pointed to Chu Ci, who was sitting on top of the ox cart and wrapped his body in an old quilt.

"Oh, readers, go in, go in, remember, study hard, you have to contribute to our Dayong, our Dayong is now, the world is very chaotic, and there is a lack of some real readers." The soldiers guarding the city gate stamped their seals on the customs clearance documents in a very atmospheric manner, and at the same time gave serious instructions.

"What Big Brother Cha said is, me and my senior brother, this time we come back, we just want to serve the motherland, Dayong, I am confident that we will get better and better in our generation." Chu Ci, who was turned white by the heavy snow, suddenly poked out his head in the quilt and said with a smile.

"Hahaha, good, good, young people are really ambitious! I'm optimistic about you! The soldier guarding the door looked at the middle-aged man, his whole face was the vicissitudes of time and the ravine of time, his eyes were clear and resolute, and at this moment he was smiling a little because he heard Chu Ci's words, although this was something he had heard more than a hundred times.

Xie Ruqing looked at the soldier who still had hope for the current Dayong, and did not say anything, but took the customs clearance documents handed over by the soldier guarding the door with both hands, saluted, and then led the ox cart to Guannei under the attention of the soldier......

——

(I'm super cute divider)

The winter snowflakes are fluttering, and at this moment, the snow is flying all over this small border city like catkins due to the wind.

Xie Ruqing searched the street for a long time before he found a restaurant that was not closed, bought some food, and couldn't take a break, so he continued to pull the ox cart and hurry.

"Senior brother, this naan is so hard......" Chu Ci took the food purchased by Xie Ruqing, skillfully hid all the food in the quilt, took out a naan at random, took a bite, and said complainingly.

"In this weather, it's already good to be able to use food sellers, if you feel hard, take some hot water from the bladder to drink, just pick it up, and it's still warm." Xie Ruqing sat on the ox cart, slapped the old ox with the bullwhip in his hand, and pulled out the water bladder on his waist and said.

"Okay, I'll just do it, when I go back, I must blackmail the master, there are not a few hard dishes, master, he doesn't want to send me!" Chu Ci said with a grin.

"If you are known by the master, if you go to the Chu country, you will make it difficult for several princes and nobles of the Chu country to sit still, master, let alone cook for you, if you want to come, you will be in the mood to beat you up." Xie Ruqing lightly said that Chu Ci played with several princes and nobles of Chu in the palm of his hand and let them scatter their family wealth.

"Cut...... Master scolded me at most, I don't believe that Master will be willing not to give me food, those princes and nobles of Chu State, like those princes and nobles of our Dayong, are lying on the common people to suck blood, I do this just to punish the evil and promote the good, rob the rich and help the poor! ”

"Senior brother, think about it, those children were happy when they ate, what was not worth it." Chu Ci didn't seem to care at all whether he would be punished by his master after going back, but said these words happily, and then, he closed his eyes and slowly recalled the scene of delivering money that day......

"Those people are just wool out of sheep, since they have lost their money, turn back, and when we are gone, they will definitely collect harsh taxes on the common people in various names, and the money we give to the common people, in the final analysis, is just a drop in the bucket." Xie Ruqing said.

"Yes, senior brother, you are right, so in order to get rid of it once and for all, I went to their mansion on the night of my departure and put something in their tea, if nothing else...... There should be people crying and mourning every day in Chu recently. Chu Ci smiled and took out the poison from his bosom that he had previously found in his master's bedroom, and said indifferently.

"In the end, it's human life, you are going to be scolded by the master like this......"

"Scold, scold, I am willing, those people should have died a long time ago, if it weren't for them, how could the people of this world be so miserable, is it...... Senior brother, don't you want these people to die sooner...... They are not good things, and if they live, they will only harm others......"

"I have already handed over the evidence of embezzlement and bribery and abuse of human life to the brother of the empress of Chu State that we have collected. Xie Ruqing did not answer Chu Ci's question directly, but just said everything he did lightly.

Chu Ci was slightly stunned, and then, Xie Ruqing came closer, looked at Xie Ruqing for a long time, and "tsk" for a while before he put his hand on Xie Ruqing's shoulder and said:

"Master is really right, senior brother, you are really 'resourceful', junior brother, I sigh to myself...... But...... Senior brother, although your idea is practical, it ...... The right to these things is not in our hands, it is not our own decision, so whether the long letter will change temporarily, we don't know, if it is afraid of accidents, how can it be good......

It's better to be straightforward...... Anyway...... My life is not as important as the lives of those princes and nobles of Chu State...... It's worth ......"

"You have the talent of the world, your life is worth more than theirs, and if you live, you can save more people...... You will never be so reckless in the future, if you die early, no one will realize your ambitions......"

Xie Ruqing is now just a teenager, not as calm and sophisticated as twenty or thirty years later, at first glance when he heard Chu Ci's words, he was quite nervous in his heart, after all, he had the best relationship with Chu Ci, although he knew in his heart that what Chu Ci said might be just a joke, but in the end he was still worried that his junior brother would not cherish his life, so he thought about it and said comfortingly.

"Senior brother doesn't have to comfort me so much, I'm the one who regrets my life the most, it's just a reckless mouthful, the beasts in this world haven't died yet, I'm reluctant to die, when will these beasts die, I ...... That's it...... I'm willing to die......"

"Hmm...... When those people die, we will be willing to die......" Xie Ruqing nodded and echoed Chu Ci.

——

(I'm super cute divider)

The days in winter are always short, Xie Ruqing took Chu Ci to lead the ox cart from the day to the nightfall, and the oblique silver light appeared from the sky......

"Come, two sons, let's have a bowl of hot soup, there are two bowls of hot dishes with two bowls of white rice on the stove, I'll bring them out for the two sons later." A gray-haired old man took his little grandson by the hand and eagerly brought two bowls of hot soup to Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci.

Chu Ci and Xie Ruqing both took the bowl of hot soup, and then, Xie Ruqing spoke:

"Old man, don't bother so much, it's me and my brother who are bothering you today."

"Yes, old man, you were the one who received me when my senior brother and I came, and now, when we come back, you are also the one who received us, you are willing to give us a place to rest, and you still want to cook us such delicious food, it's really deserved."

When the old man heard this, he hurriedly waved his hand, and then pulled his little grandson in front of the two of them and said:

"All this is what I should do, I am an old man, lonely, several sons all died on the battlefield, my daughter-in-law ran away, died, more than a dozen people in the family, and I and Da Zhuang, the grandson, were left......

A few years ago, Da Zhuang fell ill and did not get better...... I lost all my family property, and I didn't hire a competent doctor for my grandson...... If it weren't for that, at that time, you two sons passed by my house, and after seeing my grandson's illness, they came to the rescue...... My family is completely scattered......"

"My grandson and I can reunite today, all thanks to the two sons, my family is surrounded by walls, and I don't know how to repay the two sons, and now, I still have the opportunity to meet the two sons and prepare a hot meal for the two sons...... It's my pleasure...... The two sons must not refuse......"

"Come, Da Zhuang, kneel down and kowtow to the two benefactors!" After speaking, the old man was about to pull his grandson and kneel in front of Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci.

Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci didn't expect that their unintentional actions would have such a big impact on this old man, so for a while, they were a little shocked, seeing that the old man was going to take his grandson to kneel down and worship them, they hurriedly came back to their senses and helped the pair of hard-working grandchildren up!

"Old man, old man! Hurry up, please! It's just a gesture, you don't have to be so polite! ”

"Yes! My senior brother and I have learned so many things just to serve the motherland and benefit the people, where can we receive such a big gift from you! ”

“……”

“……”

Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci were easy to talk about, so they helped the pair of grandparents and grandchildren up, and the old man and his grandson sat at the table with the support of Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci.

Immediately, the old man looked at Chu Ci and Xie Ruqing for a while, and then said crampedly: "Two benefactors...... I...... One more thing...... Want two sons...... Give me an idea......"

"Old man, you have something to do, but it doesn't hurt to say it."

"Two benefactors, I am now the only grandson, his father and his uncle all died on the battlefield...... I, now...... Just thinking about it...... But I haven't read much...... So...... I want the two benefactors to ...... Give my ignorant grandson a way out......"

"My family has been in the army for generations...... But I know that the soldiers nowadays are basically gone and never returned...... So...... If...... There is another way...... I'm also acceptable......"

The old man's expression was very uneasy, and his cloudy eyes were full of caution...... lest Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci reject him.

But Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci glanced at each other, did not refuse the old man, but thought for a long time before Xie Ruqing spoke:

"Today's Dayong is too chaotic, and within ten years, earth-shattering changes will definitely occur, and it will be difficult to survive in the turbulent times if you blindly dodge......"

"Exactly, since Da Zhuang has caught up with this time, let's not hide......"

"Yes, if you are willing to do it, although my senior brother and I have no ability, we can also find a place to study in Yangzhou for the child Da Zhuang, and in the future, it is also very good ......to succeed in learning."

"Exactly, my junior brother met a rich man in Yangzhou, who was kind and benevolent, and opened many good halls and schools, if Da Zhuang went here, he didn't have to worry about the money for school......

"It's just...... It's just that the mountains and rivers in Yangzhou are far away, if Da Zhuang goes here, it will definitely be difficult to come back, if you are an old man, you are willing...... We suggest that you should move to Yangzhou with Da Zhuang......"

"Yes, old man...... I remember when you came back, you said that your surname was Zhai, and you said that your ancestors had received the kindness of Taizu, so you have been guarding the frontier for Dayong for generations, and serving the country in the army for generations...... By the time you arrived, all four of your sons had to be put in there...... Today, you only have one grandson left...... Let's go...... Want...... No one will blame your ......"

"Yes, old man, come with us tomorrow......"

When the old man heard that he was going to leave this frontier that he had protected for generations, he couldn't help but lose his spirit...... He looked at the young grandson beside him, symbolizing the vitality and future of the future, and then turned his head and looked at the tablet behind him, the ancestors of the Zhai family and his four sons who had gone early......

Finally, the old man nodded and said:

"Good...... Thank you two benefactors...... Let's do it...... Tonight...... I'll just pack my things...... Follow the two of you tomorrow...... Thank you two benefactors......"

"There are two old hens in my yard...... I can't take it with me tomorrow...... I'm going to kill them...... ...... Gaga"

After saying that, the old man walked out with his grandson......

Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci were left to sit on the kang, looking at each other speechlessly......

It wasn't until the heavy snow outside the window crushed the branches and made a loud noise that Chu Ci spoke:

"Senior brother...... We may have changed the fate of the Zhai family today...... Since then...... Can we change the fate of the people...... People of the world...... How many are like the Zhai family...... Only the old and weak, women and children remained......"

"Yes...... Yes...... We can...... This world ...... I have confidence...... It will be changed in our hands, and the people of the world will live and work in peace and contentment because of us......"

……

……

The next day, before the sky was shining from the east, Xie Ruqing and Chu Ci took the hand of the child Da Zhuang and watched the old man lock the door of his house......

Forthwith...... An inconspicuous old ox cart slowly walked towards the east......

Did you notice that I changed the cover? It's good-looking, it's good-looking!