This originally ordinary night suddenly became extraordinary due to the war. All the ministers were awakened and rushed to the court to discuss matters. Jing Huan, the former general, together with the advisers and generals, formulated a strategy to meet the enemy, while Dazai led the group.
The minister discussed the matter of relocating the people and moving the capital. Fortunately, these things had been planned before. Although it was inevitable to be a little panicked when we suddenly had to do it, it was not chaotic.
The horses came tail to tail, and the clear and chaotic sound of horse hooves woke up the sleeping people in Dingyang City. Everyone got up and took a peek at the speeding horses that kept passing by. Those with a little bit of intelligence could already guess that something big was going on.
A few bold people gathered at a street corner, all of whom were acquaintances with the neighbors. They were all chatting nervously in low voices. A young man said, "I think someone has rebelled against the remnant party of Duke Su Guo."
An older man said disdainfully: "Nonsense, remnant party? When Su Guogong was involved in the attack, he did not move. Now that Su Guogong was beaten and he could not protect himself, he took action. Do you think these remnants are as stupid as you? Isn't this looking for death?"
"
Although the young man consciously said that he was wrong, he refused to admit his mistake and said sternly: "Maybe it was undecided that I didn't want to work together. Now I feel that I am going to be liquidated, so I have to fight to the death. This is not impossible, so what do you think?
What could happen?"
The older man snorted, expressing his disdain to refute his strong words. He straightened his clothes that were not very neat, and said in a deep voice: "I guess... it's probably Shun Guo and his soldiers who are going to invade. I heard that the grassland is about to be invaded."
The danger of disintegration has been eliminated, and they are colluding with Shun Guo..."
Before he finished speaking, another man of about the same age as him interrupted: "You said what Xiaofu said is wrong, I agree, but you are not very knowledgeable, so this opening missed the point. The grassland is not bad."
, but instead of collaborating with Shun State, they defected to Yi State."
"Stop talking, you only know one thing but not the other." The fat man who runs a small wine shop interrupted, with a look of reserve and showoff on his face.
Everyone knew that he was the most well-informed. The young man flattered everyone and said with a smile: "Uncle Fatty, please tell me what the second one is."
The fat second uncle pondered for a while and enjoyed the satisfaction brought by everyone's eager gazes before he said: "That's right, Fanbang has indeed turned to Yi Guo."
The man from before snorted: "Isn't that the end of it? It's just like what I said."
The fat second uncle said displeasedly: "Are you listening? If you don't want to hear it, I won't say anything, so that you will remain confused!"
Another scholar dressed up waved his hands to everyone and said, "Listen, let's listen to what my second uncle has to say first."
The fat second uncle looked at everyone with pride and said: "Well, how can you have any knowledge if you don't have the patience to listen to a sentence? It's Mr. Wu who can keep his composure. This is the way to learn."
Mr. Wu smiled and waved his hands and said, "Second uncle, tell me quickly. Everyone is waiting."
The fat second uncle cleared his throat, pretending to be mysterious and lowering his voice: "It is absolutely true that the alliance between Fan Bang and Yi Country is true. Not only that, but what you can't think of, the relationship between them is much closer than this!"
The young man named Xiaofu laughed self-righteously and said, "Isn't it just a marriage? King Fan's sister married our former military advisor. Even the villagers in the mountains probably know about it."
The fat second uncle hit him on the head and said: "You silly boy, your second uncle and I will show off something that everyone knows? Listen honestly!"
Xiaofu was not angry even after being beaten, and said with a smile: "You say it, you say it, I will listen."
The fat second uncle cleared his throat again before saying: "Let me tell you, King Fan, he and Military Master He have become brothers of the opposite sex!" Seeing everyone's look of surprise, the expression on his face became more and more proud, "
Don’t you know? I’ve also heard that the sworn bond there is different from ours. You have to change something, whether it’s clothes or a jade pendant. Anyway, it’s a beloved thing. I don’t know what they changed.
Already."
The old man next to him who had not spoken a word said: "You Lu Er, you have been showing off since you were a child. You also said that Sanlang only knows one thing but not the other. I don't think you understand why. What kind of clothes and jade pendants are exchanged for the sworn relationship between a foreign man and a foreigner?"
A sword, a bow, a horse, and a woman's marriage is exchanged for a handkerchief."
The fat second uncle respected the old man very much and said with a smile: "I forgot that you, old man, have been on the border. Of course you know the customs of the people very well."
Sanlang didn't want to take the topic too far and said: "Let's not mention these, you have been talking for a long time and you still said the same thing as me. Isn't it just that Fan Bang surrendered to Yi Guo?"
The fat second uncle rolled his eyes at him and said, "Keep listening, I haven't finished what I'm saying yet. Do you think King Fan really rules the grassland now?"
"Is not it?"
"Of course not, it's far from it. According to what I heard, there are several tribes that are still proclaiming themselves kings. The leader of the largest tribe is called...what's his name as 'Du', I can't remember clearly."
"That's right," the old man said. Although he was not in power when he was guarding the border, he was concerned about border affairs and was well-informed in this regard.
"Yes, yes, even if you call him Yedu! He has defected to Shunguo."
The middle-aged man who spoke first said: "It seems that my guess is reliable. Maybe Shun Guo and his troops invaded."
No one refuted for a while. After a while, the old man shook his head and said, "I don't think so."
The man asked: "How can you see it?"
The old man took a breath and said, "I can't make any sense, I just don't think it's like it."
The man respected him as his elder and didn't want to say anything more.
At this time, two more fast horses galloped past the street. Xiaofu couldn't help but asked the old man: "Then what do you think happened?"
The old man looked at the direction in which the fast horse was galloping. At this time, they had disappeared into the night, but the crisp sound of the horse's hooves could still be heard clearly. Everyone waited quietly for him to speak.
After a while, the old man slowly said: "Do you still remember the fire that Military Master He set in Shashan?" After speaking, he walked towards the door of his house on crutches. After walking a few steps, he turned back and said: "Go away."
Come on, be careful in times of chaos, don’t get into trouble with the government, it’s not worth it if you’re going to be arrested for a late night meeting.”
Seeing the old man entering the house, Xiaofu scratched his head and said, "What do you mean? Why did you talk about the Shashan Fire without starting or ending?"
Sanlang thought: "Could it be that Xiping sent cavalry to raid Dingyang again?"
The fat second uncle nodded and then shook his head, saying, "Maybe it means that Military Advisor He will come to set fire again?"
When it was mentioned that Commander He had set a fire, everyone invariably thought of the fire in front of the Cangxian Valley. Sanlang emboldened himself and said: "It's okay. We have formed an alliance with the Yi State now. How could Commander He come to attack us? If so.
We should be able to detect some clues that the two countries are at odds with each other. How can we just fight? Have you heard any news about this? "
The fat second uncle shook his head, thinking what he said was right, and said with a smile: "This old man is better at showing off than me. He went home after saying half a sentence. Let's stop guessing. Let's break up. What I said is right.
, it’s better to be careful at this time of year, look, the fast horse is coming again.”
Everyone watched the fast horse galloping past, feeling increasingly uneasy in their hearts. The fat second uncle was the timidest, so he cupped his hands and said to everyone: "Goodbye, everyone, please go back and have a rest." After that, he hurried away.
The remaining people said a few more words, but finally did not dare to stay too long, so they dispersed.
Talks like this spread throughout the city early the next morning, with various rumors and speculations spreading, and panic gradually spreading.
Vote to support the author and receive points and k-beans