All your life is gentle

Early the next morning, the four of them bid farewell to the landlord, Hu Sanniang.

"Brother Li is still in good shape, right? Why are you in such a hurry all of a sudden..."

"It's okay. Thank you Sanniang for taking care of me these days."

The mother and daughter were a little reluctant to part with these gentle and handsome tenants, and they sent them directly to the gate.

Before leaving, Zi Shi said solemnly: "Sanniang, the Western soldiers may come, Sanniang better plan early."

"It's not that it's only on the banks of the Lianjiang River..."

"Looking at their momentum, they don't look like they've robbed enough and killed enough and left... This Jinxia country is probably going to be lost. It will definitely come, but it's just a matter of time. Sanniang, let me see, sooner rather than later." My son can find a good family for Ximei, so that she can take care of her in times of crisis."

Ximei's eyes were red: "Brother Li, brother Gu..."

Hu Sanniang was originally a shrewd and capable woman, but she was a little dazed after hearing what Zi Shi said: "Brother Li, you mean... you really want to change the dynasty? Where can we little people hide?"

"Deep mountains and old forests, desolate suburbs, remote villages, foreign lands... The world is so big, as long as one's luck is not too bad, there is always a place to hide. If it is really a change of dynasty, survive the first few years of war and chaos, and wait until the change is over. Well, the ordinary people can still be ordinary ordinary people."

Sanniang forced a smile and said: "That's right." Wiping the corners of her eyes, "Thank you very much. You are all knowledgeable brothers, Sanniang will remember these words."

The sun was scorching hot, and Chang Sheng was worried that Zi Shi would not be able to take it anymore, so he would go on his way in the morning and evening, and find a shady place to rest for two hours at noon.These two hours became the study time for four people.

Because they walked slowly, many refugees caught up and overtook them.More and more refugees are coming from the north and fleeing further south.Although those people at the beginning looked embarrassed, they looked neat, and occasionally some people drove cars instead of walking.Slowly, the appearance of the refugees on the road gradually became miserable.Crowds and groups, carrying heavy loads, staggering on the road.Ragged and skinny.The old man leaned on a stick and his feet were bare, and the children pulled their clothes and cried. It was too hard to bear to see and hear.

On this day, the four of them took an afternoon rest in a big tree by the side of the road.When it comes to "people from far away are not convinced, they will cultivate literature and virtue. Once they come, they will be safe." Zi Shi said: "Those who are "safe" make them safe. The people's safety is followed by the country's safety, and the country's safety is followed by the king's safety..."

A group of about a dozen refugees, including men, women and children, were all yellow and thin, with tattered clothes, and they also came to rest.One of the mother and son seemed to have suffered from heatstroke, their faces were pale, sweating profusely, and they were crumbling. They were supported by others and lay down under the tree.

Zi Shi rummaged through the basket, found the box containing the pills, and took two "Qicao Pills".Seeing that a man among them seemed to be the leader, he walked over and saluted: "Uncle, our brother happened to have a elixir for relieving heat and clearing away heat, I don't know..."

Before he finished speaking, a middle-aged man next to him had already taken the medicine, looked at it, and smelled it again: ""Seven Grass Pill"? Great, I just need this thing for emergency."

The leader-like man stood up and clasped his fists: "Thank you, little brother."

"You don't have to be polite, uncle, it just happens to be helpful. In times of trouble, we should support each other."

The middle-aged man who spoke before handed the medicine to a woman and brought a water bag.The two people who were suffering from heat stroke took medicine, and then came over: "Little brother, that's what I said, but in this crisis, not everyone is willing to help others."

"Where did uncle come from? It seems that he has traveled a lot."

"Well, it's a long story, we came from Jiangbei."

"Jiangbei?" Zi Shi asked in surprise, "Isn't everything blocked?"

After talking for a while, I realized that in Xirong's "pull out the city and clear the wilderness" movement along the river, the fate of the people on the north bank was far worse than that on the south bank.The burning and killing was also from north to south. There was still a place to escape on the south bank, but the north bank could only flee to the river.

When it comes to the hardships along the way, the refugees talk about it in a hurry.

"...the big boat has already been snatched by the black barbarians, and the small boat was smashed and almost burned. Thousands of people fled to the riverside. Those with good luck and strong strength snatched small boats and rafts to cross the river. No snatching Yes, I can only wait to die. Seeing that the black barbarians are about to kill, groups of "thump" and jump into the river... Four or five miles of water, not young and strong, how can they swim well..."

Another person said angrily: "So what if you can swim well? The black barbarians used human heads as living targets to shoot and kill those who swam across the river in a competition. The whole north side was piled up with corpses, and the river turned red..."

"Thanks to our village getting the news early, and hiding some small rafts in the reed marshes beforehand, so that they didn't find out, we finally crossed the river."

"Crossing the river is easy, and it's dangerous to go ashore. I didn't expect the black barbarians in the south to move faster, and almost all of them were sealed. We changed several places and waited until night, and finally caught the opportunity and went ashore. We tried our best. Slowly moving south, people keep getting lost..."

Speaking of this, the group of people fell silent.Several began to cry.

A young man said softly: "I don't know if other people have gone ashore." Suddenly he became indignant, "The black barbarian is so cruel and hateful!"

The leader-like man sighed: "The black savage is certainly cruel, but it is us Xia people who came up with such a mortal idea."

Zi Shi remembered the news heard by Chang Sheng in Xianxia Town, and asked, "Uncle is talking about the navy general who surrendered to Xi Rong?"

"Who is it? I heard that Bai Qi became a navy general with a very high official position, but he is such a shameless, unkind and unrighteous villain!" It was the young man who answered the question.

"If you want to say that there are shameless, incorruptible, and unrighteous high-ranking officials and villains, isn't it just Bai?" The middle-aged man who had previously taken the medicine from Zishi said angrily, "How can there be enough places for the black barbarians to attack?" Who are the people guarding these places for them? They are all dignified officials of the Jinxia court! These people surrendered early and killed their own people in order to continue to enjoy their glory and wealth under the new master. Only more ruthless..."

After talking for a while, the mother and son who suffered from heat stroke recovered.The little boy was only eight or nine years old, and he was waking up, but he was very depressed.The middle-aged man went over to have a look: "It's nothing serious, I'm hungry." He patted the boy on the back lightly, "Xiao Ran, bear with it, it will be fine in the town ahead."

Zigui saw it and poked Zizhou.Along the way, she always dressed as a boy, because her voice was too soft, Zi Shi didn't let her speak casually in front of strangers.

Zizhou brought over a packet of rice cakes that he had reserved for dinner.

"Little brother, how dare you do that?" The middle-aged man refused.

Zizhou put the rice cake directly into the little boy's hand: "My brother gave it to you, accept it."

The boy looked at the adults around him.

"Little brother, thank you very much." His mother was about to stand up and salute, but was stopped by Zi Shi.

"Thank you brother." The boy was very sensible, took out a piece and ate it himself, and handed the rest to his mother.

Zi Shi walked back to Chang Sheng's side, smiling helplessly.The latter glanced up at the sky and lay down on his back.

The two little ones are kind-hearted and soft-hearted, and it's not once or twice that they send their rations out.Once this kindness is sent out today, I have to find another way for dinner.

Zi Zhou had a good chat with them over there.Zi Shi looked at Chang Sheng and said with a light smile, "Don't have any objections. If I hadn't been able to hold them back, you would have become a pile of bones on Jicui Mountain."

The first time I heard about this, Chang Sheng let out a "huh" and sat up: "I mean, you don't look like that kind-hearted person..."

Zi Shi squinted at him: "I saw that although this kid is half dead, he is in good health. If he is saved, he is a strong laborer. If he is not saved, he can still be used as a month's rations. It is not a loss..."

Changsheng scolded with a smile: "Li Zishi, can you accumulate some virtue?"

After a while, the leader came over and thanked them again. They were in a hurry and were about to leave.

When the people walked away, Chang Sheng suddenly said: "This group of people is not simple, several of them are good at kung fu."

Zi Shi pondered: "There are old and young, and even with weak women, who can successfully cross the river and break through the blockade along the coast, they must not be waiting for nothing. You said that several of them are good at kung fu, and they would rather be hungry than steal or rob. He is a chivalrous man."

Changsheng scoffed: "Chivalry can't be eaten as food. If you are going to starve to death, how can you be chivalrous?"

"Not only can't be eaten, but you have to sacrifice yourself for others. The word chivalrous is not so easy to do." Zi Shi sighed.

"Brother..." Zigui felt guilty, but he and Zizhou did nothing wrong.I was so sad that I almost cried.

Zi Shi took her over and comforted her in a warm voice: "Zi Gui is fine. Big brother understands, big brother understands everything."

"But..." The twins were connected with each other, they looked at each other with four eyes, and felt that this matter was extremely difficult: not reaching out their hands when seeing people in trouble, violated their nature, and also violated the teachings they had received since childhood; they couldn't help stretching out their hands, The situation for myself and others must be more difficult, and it will add trouble to my brothers.

Looking at the two innocent faces in front of him, Zi Shi sighed.The world is so cruel, the integrity and kindness of the two children are even more valuable.Forget it, stealing life in troubled times, life is at stake, why bother to distort nature in order to survive?As long as they are willing to persevere, it will count as long as they can protect themselves.

So he patted their hands and said: "There is still something to give away, if you want to give it away, just give it away. When there is no more to give away, I will still be hungry, so I can only bear to watch."

Hearing what elder brother said, Zigui raised his head: "Are we running out of money?"

Zi Shi glanced at Chang Sheng: "In this season, as long as your elder brother Chang Sheng is around, you won't be afraid if you don't have money."

Hearing him turn a corner and affirm himself like this, Chang Sheng was very happy.After holding back for a while, I couldn't hold back, and snickered with my back.

"Now the southern hinterland of Chuzhou is barely peaceful, and you can still buy things if you have money. The problem is... If the number of refugees continues to increase, if this continues, there may be troubles before the Western Army soldiers come. At that time, money may not be useful ... Now that it's autumn, life will be even more difficult when the weather gets cooler, I'm afraid many people won't be able to survive this winter..."

The two children never thought so far, and they were stunned when they heard what the elder brother said.

Changsheng interrupted suddenly: "Don't be afraid. Let's find a remote place to hide before winter comes, and we will go on the road after spring." Starting from the desert, the climate is much warmer and the time is shorter, so it should not be too difficult.

"Let's talk about it..." Anyway, it's still far away from winter, so don't worry about it for now.

At that time, the "autumn tiger" was in full bloom, and the heat returned, and the sun was more poisonous than in June.This topic came to an end, and the sun has not yet set, so I just continued with my previous homework.

"Brother, the sage said, "If people from afar are not convinced, they will cultivate literature and virtue." My Jinxia Wende is so prosperous that all barbarians from all directions submit to it. At the beginning, the various tribes of Xirong sought refuge in Jinxia because of conflicts with the countries of the Western Regions. Virtue came. The imperial court allowed him to move inward and settle in the area of ​​Wugan Road outside Lengyue Pass. He was rewarded from time to time as the gift of ministers and subordinates. Just like the sage said: "If you come, you will be safe." However, nowadays Xirong's wolf ambition, Raising troops to attack me is vicious and brutal, making people heinous... What is the use of Wende when the country is about to collapse?"

Changsheng lay on the grass, listening to Zizhou's eloquent talk.Having been among the Xia people for a few months, he was familiar with those who cursed Xi Rong.He didn't think there was any fault in his father's and brother's behavior, so he couldn't talk about feeling guilty or ashamed.I don't think there is anything wrong with Xia Ren's reaction, so there is no need to get angry.What they say is the truth, anyway, a few words of scolding are harmless.On the contrary, Li Zishi's views and attitudes towards and analysis of these issues often attracted his attention.

At this moment, Chang Sheng listened to Zi Zhou's words, and thought to himself: This child has changed a lot due to his elder brother's training.When you come up, you will talk about current events, and you will no longer talk about the three generations of ancient times.And I began to doubt the sage's words, the sharpness of his words became sharper, and he probably forgot how to be gentle and honest in the sage's teaching...

It is easy for people to see the changes in others, but it is not easy to realize the changes in themselves.Changsheng sighed for Li Zizhou here, but forgot to sigh for himself.

"Whether Wende is useful or not, let me give you a ready-made example." Zi Shi said in a leisurely manner, "It has been more than two years since the imperial court retreated to Shuzhou, and I have not heard of any changes. It is very stable. There are no less than ten Yi tribes such as Ba, Qiang, Liao, and Miao in Shu Prefecture, and half of the land belongs to them..."

Hearing this, Zigui said: "I understand. The eldest brother is saying that if all the ethnic groups in Shu Prefecture had not completely supported the imperial court due to the cultural and moral education at the beginning, it would be impossible for the imperial court to settle there so smoothly now."

"That's not true. From the royal family to all the officials, as well as family guards," Zi Shi smiled, "who can bear so many princes and nobles coming all at once? Even in the place of Chunxia people, they may not be willing to be honest. Do you really welcome them? If it weren't for Wende's contribution, the imperial court would be busy enough to calm down the local resistance forces in Shuzhou." Several people have long been accustomed to Zi Shi's sarcastic tone of not taking the emperor's court seriously.

Thinking about it, Zi Zhou said, "From this point of view, it's not a problem of Wende itself, but a problem of how to do it—"

Zi Shi nodded: "You can teach a child. Tell me, what's wrong with your approach?"

"Let's not talk about Xirong, just look at how the cultural and moral education of all ethnic groups in Shuzhou has achieved this effect..." Zizhou paced with his hands behind his back, with a serious expression, like a dignified master.

The three of them looked at him and couldn't help laughing.The one who was laughed at was unmoved, and went on sternly: "Emperor Ruiwen spared no expense to build roads in Shuzhou, spread medical skills, set up schools widely, and promised that all ethnic groups would take the imperial examinations. The beginning of Wende. After several generations of emperors inherited this strategy, and it lasted for more than a hundred years. People from various ethnic groups entered the court one after another. Up to now, they and the Xia clan have been in perfect harmony. One is prosperous and the other is damaged. It is difficult to distinguish each other. ..."

Zi Shi Zigui was naturally clear about these things, but Chang Sheng became more startled the more he heard.It turns out that the so-called cultural and moral education, in the final analysis, is to turn all enemies and outsiders into one's own people - such a way of governing the country, so talented and general, I have never heard of it before.As soon as he was distracted, he missed what Zi Zhou said later, and only heard Zi Shi making comments.

"Shuzhou in the past and Xirong today can be compared so much, which is comprehensive and profound. However, you have forgotten a very important premise."

Changsheng and Zizhou Zigui turned their faces away together, waiting for him to continue.

Zi Shi looked up at the sky.The three of them couldn't see his expression, and after waiting for a while, they heard him say slowly: "You forgot, before that, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Yuan Wu and the reign of Emperor Longqing of Ping Wu, they massacred the leaders of the Yi tribe in Shuzhou twice, and also killed There are many people of various ethnic groups—otherwise, how could culture and virtue be so easy to promote? The ancients said: "The sage ruled the world first with culture and virtue and then with force." In fact, this should be said in reverse... Isn't it just like you and me, the disaster of weapons and knives flew out of nowhere? "I just knew that soldiers are murder weapons, and the saints use them as a last resort." The so-called "last resort" is just a matter of a saint's words..."

After being out of his mind for a while, Zi Shi lowered his head and found that the three audience members all had blank and shocked expressions on their faces, knowing that he was ahead of his time.Immediately bring the topic back: "In a word, the imperial court can't deter the front with force, and can't educate the back with culture and morality, so that Xirong sits on the spot, how can it not be greedy and ambitious? Today's disaster will happen sooner or later." If it is, then it will be safe." In the final analysis, it is still not safe..."

Zi Shi's story was right, but the western soldiers had not yet arrived, and the southern part of Chuzhou was already in chaos.

In May of the third year of Tianyou, a notice was posted at Fenglanguan, stating that in addition to strict identity checks, refugees entering Shu also had "three prohibitions": those over [-] who were not gentry were not allowed to enter, those over [-] who were not workers were not allowed to enter, Patients with disabilities and non-rich families are not allowed to enter.

Those who have no wealth, no power, and the old and the weak can't bear to be separated from each other, they all returned the same way.As the news spread, more and more refugees returned.The north is almost entirely Xirong's territory, so they can only try to escape south across the river.Those who started early and moved quickly, just avoided the "pull out the city and clear the wilderness" movement along the river, and saved their lives.If they were unlucky, they ran head-on into the Xirong cavalry who were clearing both sides of the bank, or died under the sword, or were buried at the bottom of the river, almost all of them were spared.

From the east, from the west, and from the north, refugees continued to flow into the southern part of Chuzhou.By July, the number of stranded refugees had reached one million.

At the end of July, in Taicheng, Puyang, Qingyuan counties and other places, hungry refugees looted early rice, and local people resisted tenaciously, causing many casualties on both sides.

In August, Tian Shoujing, the prefect of Louxi, ordered the city to be closed and refused to accept refugees.Angry crowds gathered outside the city to clamor. In a rage, Tian Taishou ordered the guard Tang He to lead his troops to massacre, sparking a riot.Since the vast majority of refugees were unarmed and sick, tens of thousands died in this massacre.

There is no way out, and there is no way out.

The refugees fled in exile, struggling to escape for their lives.Those who starved to death, those who died of illness, those who died of exhaustion, those who killed, those who committed suicide...the corpses were scattered all over the field, and the bones of the dead looked at each other.

Because of the hot weather, plagues broke out in some places.

For a while, thieves and bandits were rampant.