"Liu Zhang of Yizhou, I have something to ask to see Mr. Du Wei."
Du Wei didn't see it. He sorted the herbs in the bamboo basket into categories and put them into several cabinets. He was about to go out with the empty bamboo basket on his back when he saw Liu Zhang's dangling words.
He frowned, took the pen and paper, and wrote two big words: "Missing."
The two characters were written vigorously, with flying dragons and phoenixes. They not only looked good, but also had a sense of momentum. Compared with Liu Zhang's dog-like characters beside him, Liu Zhang finally understood the meaning of an idiom: "dwarfed by comparison."
But... missing.
"Conquering the Southern Barbarians, I am not familiar with the geography, so I would like to ask for a topographic map." Liu Zhang wrote a few more words.
"No picture." Du Wei said, carrying the bamboo basket and heading out.
"Sir, he is also a Han. Why don't you support the Han army to appease the barbarians?"
Du Wei glanced at Liu Zhang who was standing at the door, and Liu Zhang had to step aside. Du Wei picked up the bamboo basket and left.
"Why is this man like this? My lord came to see him in person. See how arrogant he is." He looked at Du Wei dissatisfiedly, but he thought that Du Wei couldn't hear him at all, and the scolding was in vain. He said to Liu Zhang: "My lord, let's go.
This old man looks like he’s pouting a lot.”
"Leave? Come on, you can draw a picture for me."
The terrain map was of great importance to the Sichuan army. Liu Zhang took a dissatisfied look and followed.
Du Wei walked through a pool of water with a bamboo basket on his back and stepped on mossy stones. Liu Zhang followed. The sound of the waterfall filled his mind. The splashing water mist hit Liu Zhang with the cold wind in the cave, and he almost fell on the stone.
Enter the pond.
Du Wei was deaf and didn't seem to notice anyone behind him. After reaching a cliff, he tied a rope to a tree and fell down to collect herbs. Liu Zhang stepped forward and took a look at the deep valley. He almost felt dizzy, but he still hugged the tree trunk tightly.
, try to keep your eyes open and look down.
"Lord, let's go. This kind of person...maybe he doesn't have any plans at all, or he is loyal to the people of Nanzhong and doesn't want to give them any plans."
"Don't talk nonsense, wait a day and a night, and be sincere. If you don't give, leave."
"One day and one night?" He grimaced. This deep valley in the bamboo forest was extremely cold even in autumn, and the bamboo house didn't look like it could sleep three people.
At this moment, Liu Zhang waved his hand towards Haosheng. He pointed down and said, "Look, look, what is that?"
So awesome that I lay down on the edge of the cliff and looked down. I saw a herb on the cliff, but it was all bare. After Du Wei dropped the rope, he couldn't reach it no matter what. Du Wei kept swinging his body, hoping to cut it off.
"That is seven-color grass, a kind of herbal medicine. There are many in southern Xinjiang. But there are not many seven-color grass. This one can grow so well, so it must be very expensive. No wonder that guy wants it."
"Then help him." Liu Zhang said.
"Why?"
"hurry up."
"oh."
So powerful, he grabbed the rope and pulled it to the right. Du Wei felt a huge centrifugal force coming from the rope, and was almost thrown out. He swung in an arc in the air, stopped in shock, and looked at the cliff with an angry face.
Liu Zhanghe, who only has two heads exposed from his head, is so awesome.
"Take it easy." Liu Zhang gave him a dissatisfied look.
With a cry of awesome, he controlled his strength and moved the rope to the right. Du Wei finally reached the seven-color grass and put it into the basket.
Liu Zhang and Hao Kewei waited all afternoon, until the mountain stream disappeared into darkness, and Du Wei climbed up. Still ignoring the two of them, he went straight back to the bamboo house. Liu Zhang and Hao Kewei also followed back, waiting outside the bamboo house and took a look inside.
, Du Wei is cooking.
"Sigh." Liu Zhang sighed. It seemed like he really had to spend the night. Tomorrow morning, if Du Wei still didn't give him the map and he had done his best, he would have no choice but to... steal it.
If Du Wei really drew the picture, Liu Zhang would not believe that such a big bamboo house could be hidden.
The smell of food could be heard from inside. It seemed that Du Wei was still an expert at cooking. Liu Zhang was so tempted that he swallowed two mouthfuls of saliva. He took out the scallion pancake he had brought with him. It was cold and hard. He handed it five yuan and took it himself.
Eat one piece.
"kindness."
At this time, Du Wei suddenly walked out, each holding a bowl of rice with some vegetables on top, and handed it to Liu Zhang and Hao Qiang.
When it's cold, hot food is the most attractive. I was so moved that I took a bowl and started eating it immediately. I kept saying how delicious it was.
Liu Zhang took a bite of the food and thought it was good. He thought Du Wei had changed his mind and just said "Picture..." Du Wei went in again.
When Liu Zhang was eating, he discovered that the "bowl" was a cut bamboo tube. It was really rare to have such a large bamboo tube. Now that I think about it, when I walked into the mountain stream, the bamboos were very big.
The rice cooked by Du Wei was indeed delicious. After finishing the meal, he was still unsatisfied. He glanced inside and saw that Du Wei was lighting the fire again. He said, "Master, is he making a second bowl for us?"
"I just know that when I eat it, it seems like I am brewing medicine."
"Oh, yes, people in the mountains have to make medicine. If you get sick, there is no one to treat you. You have to rely on yourself. Making medicine is as common as cooking and washing clothes."
In the dead of night, an owl occasionally made a shrill sound and fell asleep so loudly that Liu Zhang felt a little cold and couldn't sleep. He looked at the stars in the clear night sky and heard the distant sound of the waterfall in the mountain stream, which was quiet and ethereal.
"Come in."
At this moment, a voice came, and Liu Zhang glanced behind him. Du Wei was still boiling medicine, and the firelight reflected on his weathered and determined face.
Liu Zhang walked in with a pen and paper.
"Why did the Lord of Shu conquer the barbarians?"
"Stabilize Southern Xinjiang."
"How about stabilizing southern Xinjiang?"
"Open the Silk Road."
"Isn't it to fight for world supremacy?"
"Of course it's also to strive for world hegemony and to have no worries."
Du Wei looked at the fire and shook his head, "The Yizhou Shepherd back then and the Shu Hou today are very different. It is incredible that a person's nature can be changed in such a troubled time."
"I want to ask Lord Shu two questions," Du Wei said.
Liu Zhang suddenly became nervous. Was he going to test himself? He didn't know anything about poetry, classics, etc., and he couldn't guarantee that his long speech would satisfy Du Wei.
"But it doesn't matter if I ask." The checkmark for "harm" is off.
"Does the Lord of Shu know Du Wei's life experience? Does the Lord of Shu know why Du Wei abandoned his official position?"
"Sir, are you from Tongfu?"
Du Wei looked at the words on the white paper and shook his head: "It's not deep enough."
"Zi Tongfu is a native of Fu. He was less educated in Guanghan and Ren An... eh?" Liu Zhang paused and said in surprise: "Sir, he is from the Du family in Brazil? After the rebellious family, that gentleman is..."
Liu Zhang suddenly became alert, but Du Wei's expression showed no change. Liu Zhang was about to write, but Du Wei probably guessed what Liu Zhang said. He nodded: "I am a remnant of the Du family."
Du Wei didn't look at Liu Zhang's expression, and while adding fire to the stove, he said calmly: "The troops of Lord Shu should be outside the bamboo forest, or the barbarian general outside can capture Du Wei.
Then quickly."
"I won't do this." Liu Zhang wrote after being silent for a while.
"Why? Because of the map?"
"Whether you believe it or not, I only tell you that every time a family rebels, I will only focus on killing them once. I know that some people have escaped, but I will not pursue them. As long as those who escape do not cause trouble, I can turn a blind eye.
One eye."
Liu Zhang shook off his hand and continued to write: "I know that most of the family members are innocent. It's just that the family as a whole is too large and affects the economic and political situation. It has formed a cancer and must be eliminated.
Sir, you can say that I have killed many descendants of the family, you can also say that I have implicated many innocent people, you can even say that I am inhumane, but you cannot say that it will be quick to get rid of it. I have never felt happy."
Du Wei took the paper over, looked at the words on it, and sighed: "The new policy of Lord Shu can be seen from this piece of paper. Since Lord Shu said this, Du Wei also understood.
The Marquis of Shu is the ruler, and the noble family is the one who anointed him. The Marquis of Shu has the right to implement new policies. The Marquis of Shu has the right to rebel and rebel against his patronage, which is understandable. But judging from the current situation in Jingyi, the people have low taxes, the culture is flourishing, and the civil and military affairs are clean and honest.
The soldiers have high morale, it seems that Lord Shu is right."
"What about the second question? Does Lord Shu know?" Du Wei asked.
Liu Zhang picked up the pen and looked at the white paper for a long time without writing anything.
"Sir, since he is a member of the Du family, he is a mortal enemy of me. Does it make sense to answer this question?"
"Irreconcilable? Haha." Du smiled and said: "I have very little affection for my family. When I was very young, I was not welcomed by my family because of my disability. Because I had too much self-esteem, I moved to Nanzhong alone.
As I grew up, my disability became more and more serious, and my family never paid attention to me again. Until I went to Shuhou, no, I was just a shepherd in Yizhou at that time, and got an official position, and my family came to visit me again.
At that time, everyone in the family greeted me, apologized for my past actions, and said that I was physically disabled and strong-willed. The patriarch even arranged a marriage for me.
This all happened within three days, until I left the official position three days later and wanted to go back to my hometown. No one wanted to see me and they said I couldn't hold myself up. So I had no choice but to go back to Nanzhong, where I am now.
My family has a blood relationship with me. If someone is killed maliciously, I have the responsibility to hate my family's enemies. But as I said just now, the Lord of Shu has the right to implement new policies, and the family has the right to rebel. This is just politics and war. Success or failure.
Kou, let’s talk about hatred.”
"Sir said this, I know the answer to the second question." Liu Zhang wrote: "Sir, he probably resigned from office because he couldn't stand the kidnapping of his family."
Du Wei looked at the paper and shook his head, then threw it into the fire, "If I cared so much about the family, I wouldn't be living in seclusion in this place today. They said I was deaf, so whether they were ridiculing or praising me, whether it was the family asking for help,
Whether it’s family coercion or family coercion, I can’t hear it. If I really want to be an official, I won’t do it for anyone.”
"Then sir, is it because I was cowardly and incompetent?"
"The Marquis of Shu underestimated himself. For a long time, Du Wei felt that the first six years of the Shu Marquis' reign were worthy of praise. He governed by doing nothing and treated others leniently. Liu Yanxian governed Shu with harshness and extravagance.
.
In the first six years of Shu's reign, there were basically no wars or projects. The most he did was sing and dance with his family in the pastoral palace. Shu was young and widowed, but had not remarried for a long time, so it was natural for him to find some entertainment.
The sixth year of the Marquis of Shu allowed Shuzhong to break free from the harsh governance of the late father, which played an important role in the prosperity of Shuzhong.
Until three years ago, the Lord of Shu became fierce, ruthless and resolute starting from the Battle of Fucheng. Du Wei felt at that time that although the Lord of Shu had the demeanor of a leader, he went from one extreme to the other and had no influence on Shu.
There is no benefit to Zhongzhan. The final result is chaos in Shu and people suffer.
But now it seems that I have underestimated the ability of Lord Shu, which can be destroyed and cured. With Jing Yi's current state, within a few years, the faction will be prosperous and proud of the world.
Whether it was three years ago or in the past three years, Shuhou's actions have gone through two extremes, and they have been very safe, and far beyond the expectations of a country man like me.
But Lord Shu should not only see the achievements of these three years. Without the foundation of the first six years, Lord Shu would not have gone so smoothly. Similarly, I would not have left the official position because of the so-called weakness of Lord Shu. On the contrary, I
It is precisely because of Shu's love for the people that he chose to serve as an official."
"Then I really don't understand why your husband resigned from office. Is it really because of his ear disease?"
Du Wei let out a sigh of relief: "In the year when I became an official, Sun Ce swept across Jiangdong and Lu Bu entered Xuzhou. Do you still remember it? On my third day as an official, the news came that Cao Cao had moved the capital to Xuchang. This incident
Finally, I was asked to resign because I know that the real troubled times have finally arrived."
"Sir, you are so talented that you are resigned from office when the world is in turmoil?"
"What's the point of the Han people killing each other? They kill each other, and the withered bones of the people become careerists, and the people are eventually enslaved by the careerists."
"Sir is a little negative."
"Maybe, I just don't like civil war."
"Then sir, you should help Liu Zhang conquer the Southern Barbarians."
"Hehehe." Du smiled: "Did Mr. Shu forget the answer just now?" After Du Wei said that, he stood up and opened the lid of the pot. The strong smell of herbs came. Du Wei added some more herbs and covered it.
Put the lid on, take out the seven-color grass and some other herbs picked in the afternoon and mash them in the sand bowl.
Liu Zhang remembered the first conversation with Du Wei.
"Why did the Lord of Shu conquer the barbarians?"
"Stabilize Southern Xinjiang."
"How about stabilizing southern Xinjiang?"
"Open the Silk Road."
"Isn't it to fight for world supremacy?"
"Of course it's also to strive for world hegemony and to have no worries."
The conquest of the Southern Barbarians looked like a foreign war, but in fact it was a civil war.
"Sir, Gao Jie, in front of you, we are more like secular people. However, Liu Zhang was born in troubled times, so he had to adapt to the laws of troubled times. Civil war is inevitable in Liu Zhang's heart, and he cannot escape from the secular world like you.
Liu Zhang really wants to come here to ask for the topographic map of Nanzhong, either for civil war or for the sake of the world, and I would like to ask you to give it to me. If you are really unwilling, I will leave."
"Wait a minute." As soon as Liu Zhang walked to the door, Du Wei suddenly stopped Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang turned around, thinking there was hope. Du Wei said, "I know that even if there is no map, if Shu is unyielding, he will definitely conquer Nanzhong.
Du Wei has an old friend in Nanzhong, but the mountains are high and the roads are far away, so it is difficult to meet him, and with the current war, it is even more difficult to see him. I have two things that I hope Lord Shu can bring to him. I wonder if Lord Shu is willing?"