Chapter Thirty-Six Let Me, Brother Buno, teach you a lesson
"We, the Miao family, are the most trustworthy. Since my daughter promised to take you to Phoenix City, we can't break her promise. It's getting late today. There is still a long mountain road to Phoenix City. You Han family members don't mind it." "Stay in my house and wait until dawn tomorrow. I will ask Ayi to take you there." Ayi's father said with integrity. There was no pretense at all. It was obvious that the Miao family really valued trust.
"Then there's Father Laoyi." Meng Xinghe said it very naturally, just like a desperate person who suddenly received charity from others and was grateful.
Don't hit the smiling man. Although Meng Xinghe is from the Han family, there are still women and boys behind him. Besides, the others don't look like bad people. Father Ayi, who has not broken his promise, first started to chirp at the surrounding Miao villagers. After talking for a while, the group of people put down their weapons and let the Han people break into their territory for the time being.
"Come with me." Dad Ayi led the way and asked, "Ayi, where are the herbs I asked you to dig."
"Yeah. Herbs." Ayi quickly took off the backpack on his back. "Dad, it's winter now. We can only dig yams. As for other herbs, Ayi hasn't found them yet."
Ayi's father did not expose Ayi's lies. This girl must have sneaked to the shore to listen to her brother Bunuo singing folk songs, so she had no intention of digging for herbs. The Xiang tribe has almost used the herbs. After winter, more people will get sick. How about taking advantage of the weather to accumulate more herbs. When the mountains are blocked by heavy snow in winter, how many tribesmen will be dragged down?
"You girl." Ayi's father felt pain in his heart. He couldn't fight or scold him. He could only sigh. He would go out to find her in person tomorrow.
Meng Xinghe had also seen the Miao village before. However, it had been commercialized and there was no trace of the Miao culture. Now he traveled back thousands of years and truly experienced the restored Miao village. He only felt this kind of stilted frame. The architectural design of the structure has concentrated the wisdom of many Miao people to build the house so perfectly. The wall foundation is made of wooden piles. The wall is surrounded by fences. The roof is paved with a layer of dry thatch. The two sides are sloping. It's like a thatched hut. It's not as grand as the blue bricks, red tiles, carved railings and painted buildings in the Central Plains. But it has the tranquility of small bridges and flowing water everywhere.
The village is not big, only a few hundred steps in front and back. Most of the Miao people live in groups, and it is convenient to build houses house by house. In this area of Lingnan, it can resist beasts and defend other places. Just like when Meng Xinghe appeared at the entrance of the village just now. The Miao people inside came out to help one after another. This situation is very common among the various ethnic minorities in Lingnan.
"Han family. If you don't dislike the old man's home, just come in."
Arriving at the door of a stilted building, Ayi's father said something to Meng Xinghe. Meng Xinghe looked up. This was Ayi's home in front of him. The house was bigger than the one in front. There were also several cows and sheep raised under the stilted building. He was eating hay. On the second floor, a woman wearing a dress with black and green intersecting five-color lines forming flowers was drying some herbs cut into sections.
When she saw Ayi's father coming back, the woman quickly put down her work and said in Miao language: "His father, they..." She pointed at Meng Xinghe and several other Han people. Since it was the first time she saw them, The Han woman wearing Hanfu was obviously a little scared.
"Ayi's mother, the guests are here. Slaughter the sheep downstairs quickly and bring out the wine at home." Ayi's father said enthusiastically. No matter who it is, as long as he steps into the door of the Miao family, Miao will be welcomed. Whatever good things the family has at home, they should be used to entertain them. The Miao people are hospitable, but this has been passed down for thousands of years.
"Yes, yes." As she said that, she had already gone downstairs. Depending on the situation, she was going to catch the sheep for slaughter. When she passed by Meng Xinghe, she took a special look. There was no hatred in her eyes, but a happy look on her face.
Mr. Meng, who thought his skin was thicker than the city wall, also felt a heat in his face. Father Ayi was really sorry for treating them like this. His strong words before.
"Dad, you are too polite." Meng Xinghe immediately called to the people behind him to follow him into the house.
It is said that the Han people look down on the Miao family. Seeing that Meng Xinghe was willing to enter his house, Ayi's father laughed. He entered the house and immediately found some wooden stools for Meng Xinghe and others to sit down. He also said to Ayi Said: "Ayi, pour tea for the guests."
The kind-hearted Ayi glared at Meng Xinghe. She also had the blood of hospitality flowing in her body and quickly went into the house to make tea. Aside from her bad impression of Meng Xinghe, a scoundrel, the other Ayi felt that they all He is a good person. At least he is much better than some people.
"Han family, please tell me honestly. What do you mean when you come to our Phoenix City?" Father Ayi did not beat around the bush with Meng Xinghe. He asked directly. They, the Miao people, don't want the Central Plains people to have too much trouble. Very sincere.
Meng Xinghe had nothing to hide. He came to Lingnan this time just to persuade the old officials of the Sui Dynasty to surrender. He knew that when the Sui Dynasty fell, Yang Guang still had 40,000 elite soldiers left in Jiangdu. Later, these elite soldiers all followed one A man named Yang Xuangan came to Lingnan. When Meng Xinghe was compiling the "Book of Sui" in the Hanlin Academy, he saw Yang Xuangan. It was said that he had disagreed with Yang Guangdong's conquest of Liaodong and openly rebelled against Yang Guang. He almost captured it. He went to Jiangdu and later fled to the Lingnan area. In the last years of Daye, Yang Guang seemed to know that he had made a mistake in conquering Liaodong. Yang Guang, who had always refused to say typos, issued an imperial edict to Lingnan to pardon all his sins. He also gave away the land of Lingnan. It was given to Yang Xuangan. Later, all the elite soldiers Yang Guang left in Jiangdu came to Lingnan according to Yang Guang's order. They may be thinking of making a comeback.
I don’t know if these unofficial and official histories are true. But Meng Xinghe knew that after the "Sui Shu" was compiled, it was submitted to Li Shimin for review. When it was returned, there were a few copies missing. Later, Fang Xuanling wrote it himself. After writing, it was placed in the Hanlin Academy for future generations to see. But at that time, Meng Xinghe had already changed from a small historian to a minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Naturally, he had no chance to read the revised "Sui Shu".
"Dad Ayi, let's be honest. We went to Phoenix Minister this time because we wanted to find General Yang Xuangan in the city." Meng Xinghe told the truth. He didn't hide anything. Dad Ayi treated them like this. Meng Xinghe also had to be honest with him. .
"You are really here to find General Yang." Dad Ayi stood up excitedly.
"Yes. We are indeed looking for him." Seeing that Dad Ayi was a little excited, Meng Xinghe thought that he might have something to say, so he was concerned and said: "Don't worry, Dad Ayi. What's the matter? Speak slowly. Although I am a Han family member who is a bit shameless, I also know how to accept the kindness of others and repay it with springs of water."
When Dad Ayi heard that Meng Xinghe really went to Phoenix City to find General Yang, he was immediately happy. Although General Yang is also a Han family, he has taken great care of the people of all ethnic groups here since he came to Lingnan. Soldiers are not allowed to disturb the people. Soldiers are not allowed to bully the locals in Lingnan. In the past, the imperial court imposed heavy taxes on Lingnan. But since General Yang came, Lingnan has been peaceful for a long time in the past twenty years. However, just three months ago, General Yang suddenly He seemed to have changed as a person. He actually recruited troops in the Lingnan area. Some young men from the Miao, Tu, and Yi ethnic groups were summoned to Phoenix City. They said they were preparing to fight the imperial court. This frightened the locals in Lingnan. They have been since the Qin and Han Dynasties. How dare they go to war with the Han people after suffering heavy losses from the Han people? Isn't this an attempt to exterminate the tribe? Therefore, the leaders of the Miao ethnic groups in Lingnan discussed and recommended a senior elder to advise General Yang, but all failed. Apparently. War is about to start again in Lingnan. I am afraid that many people of the Miao and other ethnic groups will die in other places.
"Hey," Ayi's father sighed. The reason why he asked Ayi to go out to look for herbal medicine was because he heard that there was a war outside. Once the war breaks out, what will happen to the casualties and diseases? "Han My family, let’s be honest, all the Miao compatriots in Lingnan also want to find General Yang. I don’t know what you are talking about with the general.” Father Ayi thought in his heart, could it be the same thing as them?
Meng Xinghe paused and said: "We are here to persuade General Yang to surrender. We hope that he will consider the hardships of the people in Lingnan and Datang and calm down the war."
"Really." Father Ayi's hands trembled with excitement: "You are really here to persuade General Yang to surrender." He obviously did not believe that the young Meng Xinghe could persuade General Yang to surrender.
Meng Xinghe nodded. He thought to himself that it seems that the Miao people are not only trustworthy but also honest. They have to ask everything several times to make sure it is correct before they feel at ease.
"Haha." Ayi's father laughed: "It seems that Ayi has done a great thing for our Miao family."
Meng Xinghe didn't know what great good thing A Yi's father was talking about. However, when he glanced at it, he saw A Yi had already walked out.
"Shameless Han family, drink tea." Ayi was very rude to Meng Xinghe. With a "bang", a bowl of scented tea was thrown in front of her.
"Ayi, don't be rude to the guests." Ayi's father taught his daughter. He smiled at Meng Xinghe and said, "Don't be offended. This daughter of mine has been a wild girl since she was a child. She has followed my husband in the mountains and forests to look for medicinal herbs since she was a child. .More like our Miao boys. But they actually have a good heart."
"I know. I know." Meng Xinghe took a sip of tea: "If I, the Khan family, hadn't offended sister Ayi, how could she be angry? It's just me asking for trouble."
"Hypocritical." Ayi cursed after listening to Meng Xinghe's words and said: "Dad, Eminem still has some herbs to cut. I went out to help Eminem cut the herbs."
Dad Ayi didn't know what to say. He just smiled awkwardly. In fact, his daughter was usually a kind-hearted woman. Who would have thought that her temper would change after meeting this Han family member.
Ayi trotted out the door. On the way, she saw Amu coming in after slaughtering several sheep. He almost bumped into her.
"Amu." Ayi said with a blush. "I'll help you cut the herbs." After saying that, he ran out the door.
"Hey." Eminem sighed: "The herbs have been cut. By the way, Ayi, I saw your brother Bunoa is back. Go pick him up quickly. Just say that there is a guest at home. Ask him to come and accompany you. Dad and the guests." Eminem shook his head. Maybe he felt pity for his daughter when he saw her shameful look.
"Hmm." Ayi was stunned when she went out: "Brother Bunoa is back." She then thought: "Hmph. I want Brother Bunoa to teach that shameless Han family a lesson. Let's see if you still dare. Bully Ayi." Ayi raised his fist. It was clearly the stubborn temper of a Miao family girl when she got serious.