Huaigui

After a long journey, she suddenly relaxed, and it was already noon when He Lan Mingyue woke up from the hangover the next day.

He groaned and sat up, clutching his painful head.The quilt covered was old, but the mixed smell of wood and soil in the room made him feel very familiar.

Helan Mingyue sat on the bedside in a daze. He seemed to have had a very long dream, which was too rare in the half-year-long life of fear in exile, but he couldn't remember the content of the dream.There is only a vague impression, the sky is full of stars and the lights of thousands of houses, as if someone is talking, but he didn't hear it at all.

"Hey, are you awake?" Li Ciyuan broke into the door directly, looked around with his hips on his hips, and spat out the grass sprouts in his mouth, "Don't think this place is small, our conditions here are limited - you drank too much yesterday .”

Helan Mingyue stayed on the bed with her shoes on, her footsteps were not steady: "I know, did fourth uncle send me to the room?"

Li Ciyuan was overjoyed: "If you look soft like that, it means you've never drank before. Don't thank me, it should be. Here, the water over there is specially called by Mrs. Duan to wash and tidy up for you, so that you don't get used to it."

He Lan Mingyue said "Okay", and simply tidied up her appearance, and tied her hair with the most common gray ribbon.As he moved, he asked, "Fourth Uncle, what do the people of Yinzhou live on now?"

"The summer in Saibei is short, so we can only grow some millet and sorghum. Fortunately, there is a river valley not far from Yinzhou city where we can graze." Li Ciyuan leaned against the door and recalled with his hands in his hands. People are coming, but there are always four or five shipments to the Western Regions a year. Why, are you interested?"

He Lan Mingyue washed her hands: "I was just thinking about how to live."

Li Ciyuan asked curiously: "Aren't you going to avenge the Marshal first?"

"That's not urgent." He Lan Mingyue said, "Fourth Uncle remembers my old friend? She is in Luoyang, and she will not leave in the short term. She said that if something important happens, she will try to notify Yinzhou. She will take care of things. Let's wait for her news, besides, I have to make sure I don't starve to death before that."

Li Ciyuan laughed, and simply said: "Don't say it's so miserable, as long as Fourth Uncle can get a bite of food, you won't be hungry!"

Helan Mingyue took a deep look at him: "Fourth Uncle, you have been here for many years, and you have seen what it looked like before. Have you never thought about changing the status quo of Yinzhou's death?"

Li Ciyuan was stunned.

Unlike him who fought in the north and south and suffered all kinds of hardships, He Lanmingyue was imprisoned in the palace for ten years. Although he was hard, he always missed the hometown in his memory. Now when he came back, his hometown no longer existed, just like Sustainment also disappeared suddenly, which hit him no less than any setback.

He can't do anything earth-shattering right now, but at least he wants to turn Yinzhou back into that paradise in the yellow sand.

Li Ciyuan obviously realized something, he pondered for a moment: "Then what do you mean?"

"I took a look around yesterday when I entered the city. In fact, it is not hopeless. You also said just now that you can grow crops and herd horses and sheep. It can be seen that Yinzhou is not rotten to the bone." He Lanmingyue broke her hands The index said, "There are two main problems in Yinzhou. First, population loss, and the remaining old and weak women and children do not work on farming. Second, the drinking water is all supplied by the small river."

Li Ciyuan had such insights in just two days, Li Ciyuan looked at him with admiration: "When did you see all this?"

In fact, it was Gao Jing who taught him. In those days Gao Jing asked him to read the memorial, and he immediately asked questions if he had any doubts. Although Gao Jing couldn't help being ridiculed, he still explained everything in the end.

If he hadn't drawn his sword to face each other in the end, Gao Jingyu would indeed be the warmth in his life that cannot be ignored.

Reading and literacy, studying the mysteries of the world, and people's livelihood, these things were unimaginable to the former Helan Mingyue.At the beginning, he only worked hard with grievances and unwillingness. When he left Luoyang, he was able to discover the depth from the smallest detail, and he realized how precious these experiences were to him.

Helan Mingyue smiled, and finally said: "I learned a lot in Luoyang, these... can be regarded as a subtle influence."

Li Ciyuan didn't ask any more questions, and pulled He Lan's shoulders outward: "Then what should you do if you want to solve it? - Let's go, Fourth Uncle will take you to a place."

He Lan Mingyue did not refuse his kindness, and continued: "The population problem is easy to solve. You and I can make things happen. Those who have gone out will naturally come back and become dependents. However, the river is left to its fate, which is more difficult. If Yinzhou City and several nearby towns If the city's drinking water is solved, it is already half the battle."

Glancing at the old man carrying water on the street, Li Ciyuan ran over to pick up his pole, and walked towards the old man's house together with He Lan Mingyue. He Lan Mingyue said: "Everywhere in the Central Plains is digging wells for water, why is there no such thing in Yinzhou? well?"

Before Li Ciyuan could answer, the old man sighed: "Young man, you don't know the situation when you are new here. We don't have any wells here, they are all dry!"

He Lan was stunned: "How could this happen?"

The old man shook his head: "There used to be a well, but it was in the alley outside the palace! Then there were no people there, and one day, the well could no longer produce spring water. They all said...it was retribution. !"

"retribution?"

"When the King of Longxi was in the northwest, the Western Army had strict discipline and helped the people. They accumulated virtue, and the population of Yinzhou was also prosperous, and there was an endless stream of merchants. When the King of Longxi died unjustly, those officials would still suppress the people. Let everyone say any word, the officers and soldiers are slack on duty, and the Rouran barbarians are allowed to come to extort money, and gradually the people are gone, and the well is dry—it’s all retribution, if we don’t help the King of Longxi, neither will the sky us!"

He sighed, Li Ciyuan said a few words of comfort, but He Lanmingyue remained silent.

When he heard these words, besides being uncomfortable, he was more frightened.

The emperor really regarded the Western Army and the Helan family as serious problems, otherwise, according to Helan Maojia's strict rule of the army, if there was no rebellion, the people's hearts will be won by then...

The ever-victorious general who fought all over the world, and the prince of Longxi who guarded the frontier fortress. When this reputation spread from the northwest to the Central Plains, who still remembers the surname Gao on the dragon chair?

It was only seven or eighty years since Emperor Daowu won half of the country, but it was enough for the common people to forget the chaos of war.

So the Helan family was annihilated, and the Yuwen family, who was content with pleasure, still used the name of Linhai King to dominate Zicheng.Helan Mingyue suddenly figured this out, and added a bit of hatred for the emperor.

After helping the old man carry water home, He Lan Mingyue didn't speak any more.

"It's really hot today." Li Ciyuan wiped his sweat and complained in a muttering voice.

He Lan Mingyue said "Mmm", she should agree with him.

The two walked along the official road for a while before Li Ciyuan realized his abnormal silence, and asked: "What's the matter, Xiao Mingyue, since the beginning, you seem to have your mouth sewn shut, uncomfortable?"

He Lan shook her head: "I just think...the common people deify their father too much."

Li Ciyuan was not happy: "The commander-in-chief is a hero. This is his fiefdom. He loves the people, and the people naturally support him. Have you ever heard the saying, 'Longxi is lost, good generals are damaged, and black water dries up? , the white flowers are withering."

"No one in Luoyang spreads it like this." He Lanmingyue thought for a while and said, "What is 'Black Water Dry'?"

"It's about the diversion of the black water." Li Ciyuan said, "There used to be a river between Yinzhou City and Longcheng. It was named Black Water because it turned black in the sun. It was the main water source near Longcheng at that time. Longcheng was assigned to Rou, and soon the Black Water gradually diverted, and now it is completely annihilated in the Gobi."

He Lan Mingyue frowned, thinking: Of course the diversion of the river has nothing to do with luck, but this happened by coincidence, there may be other reasons, such as Rouran diverting water...

He didn't say it: "Then what's behind it, 'White Flowers Fading'?"

"It would be a long story to talk about white flowers." Li Ciyuan sat with him beside a simple tea shed.The shopkeeper recognized him, and before Li Ciyuan could speak, he brought two bowls of thick tea and a plate of broad beans with a smile, and borrowed a fan to fan Li Ciyuan. Li Ciyuan said to him: "Uncle, today is also hot." ,Right?"

The old man at the tea stand frowned when he mentioned this: "Isn't that right! The little old man has lived such a long life, and he has never encountered such a strange weather like this year."

Spring was freezing for a long time, but midsummer came extremely violently. Not only Saibei, but the whole of Daning was shrouded in heat.

No matter who is involved in this matter, there is great resentment, as if the extreme heat has become evidence of the inaction of the Gao Dynasty in Luoyang City.The old man exchanged a few words with them and went to do his own business.

Li Ciyuan looked at the desolation on the street, lowered his head and took a sip of tea: "There is a tree in Longcheng called Baiying. The branches are black and very hard. After burning, they can even be used to forge simple weapons. After the summer, Baiying starts Germinate, and the leaves will fall after the first snow. When I was young, I heard the legend of the old man that the white jacaranda blooms only once in 50 years or even more, and it blooms at night. The length of the flowering period of a season is elusive. When it blows, it looks like snow falling on the branches, which is very beautiful."

Helan Mingyue had never seen it before, and for no reason remembered the snowy trees in her dreams.

Li Ciyuan said: "That being said, Saibei has always regarded the blooming of the white jacarandas as an auspicious sign. Those old people are sure that if they can see the white flowers all over the tree, it means that someone who has been away for a long time is going home."

With a heartbeat, He Lan Mingyue said softly: "Fourth Uncle, haven't you seen a white jacaranda bloom?"

Li Ciyuan shook his head: "There are not many white jacarandas now! There is a tree in Yinzhou that can't survive without water, which was originally in the palace, but now it's probably dead long ago—by the way, I forgot about it yesterday. Ask, do you want to go back and have a look?"

"Go back?" He Lan Mingyue was stunned.

Half a year ago, Helan Mingyue never dreamed that one day she would touch this door again.At that time, he had decided to let go of everything and not pursue it, but unexpectedly, he was still under the shadow of his parents after all.

The lacquered gate could vaguely show the grandeur of that year. He Lan Mingyue stood there, not daring to reach out to touch the big brass lock.He seemed to be talking to someone in the distance, but he couldn't hear clearly or see clearly. After a while, he turned his head and nodded slightly to Li Ciyuan: "Fourth Uncle, the door is locked."

Li Ciyuan said: "I locked it."

After saying that, he took out a key, which looked heavy and heavy, and handed it to He Lan Mingyue: "Before I came back, I called a subordinate to rush back to Yinzhou to seal the palace so that some unscrupulous people would take advantage of it... Come on, this is the key." It's up to you to open it."

Helan Mingyue held it and stroked the edges that were no longer sharp.

Rubbing the rust with one hand, He Lanmingyue used great courage when twisting the lock. What he opened was not only this door, but also the pain and helplessness buried behind the time.

Dust hit his face, he immediately blocked his eyes, and when he lowered his arms, everything in the courtyard of Longxi Prince's Mansion slowly revealed its hidden features.

Entering the door is a small martial arts arena, with archery targets, wooden stakes and all kinds of knives and guns.Someone tidied up the weapon frame, and it didn't scatter crookedly all over the ground. The Fangtian painted halberd was not in its original position, but was carefully placed on the edge, covered with dust and a layer of shadow.

Along the path paved with bluestone slabs is the main hall, where the furniture is covered with dust-proof linen, a large piece of white, as if silently mourning the passing of the owner.

Helan Mingyue felt a little uncomfortable, looking through these objects like a strange intruder.Li Ciyuan followed behind him, silently accompanying him around.

Behind the living room is the other courtyard where the owner lives. There are no exquisite pools, terraces and pavilions, and there are no winding corridors. Everything is open.Naturally, the Longxi Palace cannot be compared with the imperial city, and it is even more luxurious than the Yu Palace. It is said that it is the residence of the princes and kings, and it is more like the residence of an ordinary official.

The doors of all small courtyards were locked tightly. He Lan Mingyue looked back at Li Ciyuan. The other party saw his expression and said, "If you want to come back to live, Fourth Uncle will help you tidy up."

He Lan Mingyue said: "Before you said that there are trees in this area, I wanted to find the well by the way. Where there is a well mouth, there is a water source. Maybe digging deeper along the nearby alleys will be rewarding. As for living in... ...Fourth Uncle, your yard is very cramped, why didn't you think of living here?"

Li Ciyuan straightened his eyebrows and stared blankly: "How can this be done! Although the commander-in-chief's old residence is not as luxurious as the palace in Longcheng, it is also the territory of your Helan family. We are just a team of militiamen."

Helan Mingyue smiled: "Fourth Uncle, you can listen to my thoughts. There are still merchants in Yinzhou resting their feet, which means that the trade route is still there. Why don't you form a bodyguard with the militia to defend them against horse bandits and Rouran's stragglers? , this way there will be income gradually. If you agree, there is nothing wrong with everyone living in this compound."

"You have so many crazy ideas?" Li Ciyuan was surprised. After thinking about it, he felt that there was room for manipulation. He was impatient, so he said quickly, "I'll ask my brothers when I go back, and I will start cleaning up in these two days."

"No hurry, I want to take a look first..."

Before Helan Mingyue finished speaking, they walked side by side through a porch, and the other courtyard suddenly appeared.

A set of stone tables and benches with broken corners, a weapon rack next to the wall, a small well, and... the tree he saw in his dreams many times.

Not only did it not die, it was even higher than the eaves, tall and straight like a green pine growing from the cracks in the rocks, and its iron-like black branches proudly faced the blazing sun in the westerly wind.

There are no leaves, but there are silent white flowers all over the tree.

Helan Mingyue stood under the tree and stretched out his hand. When the west wind blew, a petal fell on his palm.

Then the trees were full of white flowers rustling like snow falling, the wind stopped for a while, and the ground was covered with white dust and dirt, but looking up, the flowers were still flourishing as before.

In June of this year, the white jacarandas in Yinzhou City bloomed.

A season of white jacaranda flowers bloomed until September. In the alley next to the palace, the well that had already dried up was dug down for a long time, and suddenly a small stream of water emerged.

A few days later, a bodyguard agency named "Futong" was established in Yinzhou in an unknown manner, and opened in a low-key manner. Everyone knew that the bodyguard's surname was Duan, and there were also two mysterious shopkeepers.This bodyguard agency seemed to provide a sense of security for the merchants. At first, a group of Hu merchants hired them, and then people from the Central Plains, Southerners... All kinds of caravans began to stop in Yinzhou, and then went east to west from here.

The city, which had been exhausted like that dry well, suddenly came alive as if being watered by running water.

He Lanmingyue's life is also on the right track with him. The militia needs him to lead, Li Ciyuan wants to teach him the art of war and marching and fighting, and Xie Bi jumps up and down to learn the twisted Hu language with him.He rode a horse with Feishuang across the Gobi Gobi, wearing the stars and the moon, and gradually traveled all over the northern part of the Great Wall and several small countries in the Western Regions.

Walking back, when the new year comes, Yinzhou City is full of snow, He Lanmingyue sits in the newly renovated Longxi Palace, looking at the prosperous stove in the hall and the drunken people, thinking about the hard work of the past year is still I am deeply moved.

"Brother He!" Xie Bi walked up to him holding the wine with his left foot and kicking his right foot, raising his hand to toast him, slurring his speech, "Thank you...thank you..."

Mingyue smiled: "You straighten your tongue first."

After he finished speaking, he took the cup and drank it all. He stood up and heard Xie Bi babbled backwards: "If it weren't for you, I really wouldn't understand these things...the world is vast, there is not much to do, do you have to get fame? I think It's fine now...Thank you, take me, take me out of Luoyang..."

When the locked door of the main hall was pushed open, the wind and snow immediately rolled in. He Lan Mingyue instinctively grasped it, and the snowflakes turned into a drop of crystal water in the palm of her hand.

Somewhere in his heart suddenly became soft, and he thought without warning: I don't know what Xiaojing is doing at this time?

And this softness only lasted for a moment. The bright moon looked up to see the foggy sky, and the snowflakes fell in larger pieces.He stood for a long time, and finally decided to make this year a watershed.

It's like you've never met Gao Jing before.

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*Pay tribute to Swordsman, "I don't know what my junior sister is doing now?" (After all, I am a junior junior sister party, crying and crying.

I made up the flowering of the white jacaranda, which is not enough to be believed.

Update on the 22nd