Feng Guoyong's illness came very suddenly. A few days ago, he was still exploring the terrain and sketching the march route, but suddenly he had a high fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and even his lips were purple.
Feng Guosheng and others thought he had been poisoned, and the angry generals immediately searched for the murderer. However, after searching, they found nothing.
But Fu Youde discovered some suspicious signs. For example, two of the soldiers who went to reconnaissance with Feng Guoyong that day fell ill, and they were more serious than Feng Guoyong. One of them was already dead.
After asking another person, Fu Youde learned that on that day they went for reconnaissance and encountered a clear spring water on the road. The water was of very good quality and tasted sweet, so he packed a skin bag and gave it to Feng Guo to quench his thirst.
After Feng Guoyong drank it, he also said that he wanted to mark the spring for future use when his army marched westward.
Fu Youde immediately went to look for it, and finally found this spring. As he said, it was extremely clear and the water quality was good. However, Fu Youde was not sure whether it was poisonous or not. Then he got some water and fed a horse.
What surprised Fu Youde was that the horse was jumping happily and nothing happened.
I've been waiting for several days and it's still like this.
Fu Youde was puzzled. There was nothing wrong with the water, so what was the problem?
Unwilling to give up, he continued to inquire and finally found a few woodcutters. After asking, Fu Youde heard a theory that there was a strange snake hiding underground that would spit into the water... As long as he saw the water splashing, he would be there.
Poisonous snakes are at work. In the next few days, no matter how clear the water is, you cannot drink it, otherwise you will be poisoned.
The so-called poisonous snake theory is naturally false. However, the magic of natural creation is beyond human imagination. Perhaps this spring erupts from time to time, and after the eruption, some poisonous things will be brought out from the ground.
Fu Youde didn't understand this, but he made extensive inquiries and heard many special stories... Some people told that a group of yuan soldiers, about three hundred people, suddenly died somewhere. When they were found, they were already covered in bones.
I heard that the Princess of Xixia took their lives.
Another caravan entered the desert and disappeared.
I heard that the most tragic incident involved thousands of soldiers escorting a group of prisoners. The entire army was wiped out, and only one military doctor escaped.
From then on, the military doctor became silent and acted like a fool. People said that he had lost his soul.
All kinds of rumors made Fu Youde shudder.
It is said that the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun are the pain of the Central Plains. In fact, the land of Hexi has cut off its connection with the Central Plains as early as the Anshi Rebellion. Although the Guiyi Army also rose up after that, it was unable to turn the tide.
Then came the rise of Xixia, which completely cut off the connection between the Western Regions and the Central Plains, and then came the rise of the Yuan Dynasty. Although the Yuan Dynasty unified the world, the land of Shaanxi and Gansu was enfeoffed to many princes and nobles, and became their pasture. The Han people
The number of people dropped sharply, resulting in local customs that were completely different from those in the Central Plains.
The geography and humanities are all different, and even the language barrier and appearance are completely different. It is really amazingly difficult to make a big move under these conditions.
Overt guns and hidden arrows, mountains, rivers, and even a stream can take away the lives of soldiers.
Facing this vast unknown, human life is too fragile.
The sky is vast, the mountains and rivers are boundless.
Standing under the crescent moon, all I can feel is insignificance and fear.
How can a small and weak body master such a vast and complex area?
Continue to march?
Or...it's better to go back!
On a high-rise building in Liangzhou, Feng Guoyong was lying on a chair. There were several layers of wolf-skin mattresses under him to make him more comfortable.
Ding Pulang, Feng Guosheng, Fu Youde and other generals all rushed over, looking at him one by one, holding back their grief and not daring to speak.
Unexpectedly, Feng Guoyong smiled, "No matter how difficult it is now, can it be compared to the difficulty of the Western Han Dynasty's passage to the Western Regions? The Han Dynasty was created from scratch, and Zhang Qian narrowly escaped death! Later, the Han Dynasty used troops several times, including to rob Khan
The bloody horse... in which case were there not tens of thousands of casualties? Did the Han Dynasty retreat? Was it panic? Did our ancestors stop because of this?"
Feng Guoyong questioned him repeatedly, and several generals blushed. Feng Guosheng also said: "The Han Dynasty has indeed never retreated, which is why the Western Regions were merged with the Central Plains. It has never been easy to expand territory and overcome obstacles, but..."
"Just what? You can only kill a pawn, but you can't kill me, the governor?" Feng Guoyong sighed, "You must think clearly, a person is not worth mentioning, life and death are disillusioned, human life is like a lamp, if a gust of wind comes, it will
It may be extinguished. But when tens of thousands of people gather together, it is like a raging fire, covering the sky and the sun. It cannot be extinguished or dispersed! Our ancestors were able to open up the Western Regions and perform unprecedented feats. We are just repeating the actions of our ancestors.
If you can't even do this, do you really feel ashamed of your ancestors?"
Feng Guoyong took a breath and continued: "March into Yunnan, open up Liaodong, and use troops in the northwest... We are paying off debts, pioneering, restoring the territory of the Han family, and creating the glory of China. Prime Minister Zhang has enthusiastically advocated in these years that we
It’s engraved in my heart, isn’t that what I care about!”
"I, Feng Guoyong, put my life first and my homeland first... If the important task of recovering Hexi is delayed because of me alone, I will never rest in peace!"
Having said this, Feng Guoyong couldn't help but cough. Feng Guosheng quickly brought a cup of tea to his brother's mouth and patted him on the back.
After a long while, Feng Guoyong recovered, and a trace of rosy appeared on his pale face. Then he said again: "I just said the first point, which is to have confidence and not shrink back. We must never give up our homeland, otherwise we will be sorry for our ancestors.
, I’m sorry for our descendants. Next, let me talk about the second point. We must be careful in the future, every plant and tree. We must learn the wisdom of survival from the locals.”
"Also, I remember that Prime Minister Zhang introduced the method of filtering water in Peiping. We must promote it, drink hot water, and not eat unclean things. We must be sincere, treat the local people well, and help them work,
Communicate with them, be friends, and solve problems. We must resolutely take back the pastures of the kings of Shaanxi and Gansu, and distribute their horses, cattle, and sheep to the people in full, whether they are Han people or Semu people."
"You must remember my words. Although we stand under the high sky, we may be as small as sand, but our hearts can encompass the heaven and the earth and run through the past and present."
Feng Guoyong said again: "I have asked Prime Minister Zhang to help me sort out many ancient books from the Han and Tang Dynasties, especially those about the Western Regions, and have sent them over without stopping. You all must study hard, explore the local people's sentiments, and scroll down the books.
Put the things together with the actual things, we should look for the footprints of our predecessors, and also record what we saw and heard, and leave them to future generations."
Feng Guoyong went to great lengths to deal with everything, and carefully advised everyone.
He was speaking more and more urgently, and his breath was getting weaker and weaker. Feng Guosheng was worried and couldn't help but said: "Brother, please rest first. There is no need to be anxious. Let's talk slowly."
Feng Guoyong smiled slightly and did not agree. Instead, he asked: "Come comb your hair. Have you followed the Kyoto style in combing your hair?"
This question made Feng Guosheng almost burst into tears, and he quickly said: "The arrangements have been made, and I will be here soon."
Feng Guoyong nodded and murmured: "It is easy to restore mountains and rivers, but it is difficult to restore China! After conquering the land, we need to educate, conquer people's hearts, and take down the roots of China... It's a pity that I can't see that.
One day has passed. Guosheng, remember, don’t send me back to my hometown. Just bury me here in Liangzhou. My grave is here, and I am watching you here. From now on, you will only
You are allowed to move forward, but you are not allowed to retreat...can you guys do it?"
Feng Guosheng immediately knelt down, and Fu Youde, Ding Pulang and others also knelt down on one knee and burst into tears.
"Grand Governor, don't worry! We all understand that the country and the country are far more important than our personal honor, disgrace, life and death. Even if we die, we will not take a step back!"
Feng Guoyong's face finally showed a smile. At this time, there was a sound on the stairs, and someone led several women up. They were wearing Yingtian's clothes and combed Yingtian's hair accessories.
I just came up, looking panicky and scared.
Feng Guoyong's face sank slightly, and several generals quickly turned their heads and explained to the women, telling them not to misunderstand, and that they had no bad intentions.
I just want them to show it here so they can leave peacefully.
After a while, several women calmed down, and the leading woman took the initiative to say that she could sing Liangzhou lyrics.
Feng Guoyong was overjoyed and quickly asked them to sing.
Far above the Yellow River, among the white clouds, there is an isolated city called Wanren Mountain.
Why should the Qiang flute blame the willows? The spring breeze does not pass through Yumen Pass.
The women's voices were slightly hoarse and their intonations were a little confused, but Feng Guoyong didn't care and had a smile on his face.
Listened to it over and over again.
After listening, Feng Guoyong asked his brothers to help him, struggled to get up, and slapped them.
Then Feng Guoyong sat down again and said with a smile: "Masters, if one day the people in Hexi and even the people in the Western Regions can recite this poem, we will be considered successful."
Everyone suppressed their grief and said, "Don't worry, Commander-in-Chief, we will teach the soldiers now and let them teach the people!"
Feng Guoyong nodded, but then said: "This poem is not the best after all. It is a lonely city, resentful, and unresolved... In the final analysis, it is a work of scholars, always with a little bit of resentment, and lacks the courage to swallow mountains and rivers.
It is good, but it cannot inspire morale or inspire people."
Ding Pulang said: "Who can say otherwise? Although I am not good at writing, what does it mean that the spring breeze cannot cross Yumen Pass? We will lead our soldiers to kill Yumen Pass and go to the Western Regions!"
Feng Guoyong nodded repeatedly, "Yes, this is the spirit of a general."
While he was talking, a horse suddenly flew over.
"Great Governor, I have an imperial edict, plus a poem by Zhang Xiang!"
"Zhang Xiang's poem? What did he write?" Feng Guoyong asked hurriedly.
The messenger hurriedly spread his wings and said loudly: "The general has not yet returned the border, and the children of Huaixi have gone to Tianshan. Willows have been planted three thousand miles away, attracting the spring breeze to Yuguan."