walk to the water

On this day, Jiangning came to report that the remains of Chu Xiang's mother He Shi had been found and buried, and Chu Lang's coffin had been transported back smoothly, and they were parked together in Chu Xiang's former residence.Fu Ling planned to set off to cross the river on the same day.An County is on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and Jiangning can be reached within two days after crossing the river.Ji De prepares a boat and horses to accompany him, but Fu Ling's guards, the elite Yanyun Eighteen Cavalry, all died while rescuing Chu Xiang, so Ji De had to choose another group of warriors to serve as Fu Ling's servants, and he led another [-] soldiers and horses to escort them. .

Chu Xiang lived in this plum garden for more than a month, and returned to the south again. When he came, it was raining and snowing, and when he went, there were willows.After crossing the river and landing, he changed the carriage again. Fu Ling was worried that Chu Xiang was weak and would not be able to withstand the fatigue of the boat and carriage, so he ordered the carriage to drive slowly.Chu Xiang sat in the car, the whole journey was quiet, he didn't even open the car window to take a look, he didn't seem to care about everything outside.

At sunset, the brigade arrived near Chenjiazhuang, and Fu Lingling set up camp on the spot, rested overnight, and left tomorrow.Chu Xiang got out of the carriage, pushed the cart around, and helped him to sit.The evening wind was blowing, Chu Xiang looked around, and there was a hazy mist soaking in the dim sunset in the sky. Not far away, a large gray cottage lay alone in the deep dusk. It was time to make dinner, but There was no smoke between the houses, and no dogs barking or human voices could be heard, only a flock of black wild crows circled around an old locust tree that fell half down at the head of the village, croaking non-stop.

The accompanying people quickly set up their tents, and Chu Xiang kept staring at the village thoughtfully. "Xiang'er, go in and change your clothes. It's time for dinner." Fu Ling came to call Chu Xiang into the account. .

"Your Majesty." Chu Xiang pointed to the front, "Is that the Chen Family Village?"

"Yes." Someone beside him answered.

"I've passed by here before, and I want to take a look again. Just take a look, okay?" Chu Xiang raised his head.The dark eyes are a little cloudy.

Fu Ling looked ahead, then looked at Chu Xiang, couldn't bear to ignore him, and said, "Then I will accompany you there." He stepped forward to push Chu Xiang's car.

The two walked in front, and a group of guards followed them about ten steps behind.It's spring planting time.The large field in front of the village is covered with lush weeds about a foot high, and the weeds are full of white, yellow, and purple wild flowers. Obviously, no one has taken care of this field.Chu Xiang whispered: "In March in Yangchun, the grass grows in the south of the Yangtze River, the peanut garden is mixed, and the crows are flying around."

"Xiang'er, what are you talking about?" Fu Ling asked.

"It's nothing, returning to the south of the Yangtze River in spring. It's always a beautiful scene." Chu Xiang said lightly.

A group of people came to the village and scattered the group of wild crows.It was only then that Chu Xiang discovered that many houses in the village had become dilapidated walls, and many roofs and door panels were missing.The walls were also crumbling.There are a few big tree stumps left at the head of the village, which can be seen as newly cut.Half of the century-old locust tree was also cut down.Fu Ling stopped.Said: "It seems that there is no one in this village. Xiang'er, it's getting dark soon. We don't need to go in anymore, right?" Chu Xiang nodded, there were black lights everywhere, and there were no lights to be seen, so there should be no one. Bar?And a few years ago, when I passed by here, it was also spring, and there were large golden rapeseed flowers in the middle of the emerald green wheat fields. Under the ancient locust tree, there was a girl with long braids who was washing clothes by the stream, humming an unknown song...

Fu Ling turned the car around and pushed Chu Xiang back. After walking a few steps, Chu Xiang suddenly said, "Your Majesty, why did I hear someone crying?"

Fu Ling listened carefully, and there seemed to be a faint cry mixed with the evening wind in the wilderness, which came from the rickety cottage. "It's in the village, it seems to be the cry of a little girl." Fu Ling said, thinking that his internal strength was indeed not as good as before, but this time it was actually Chu Xiang who heard it first.

"Your Majesty, I...I want to go in and have a look." Chu Xiang raised his head and prayed.

Helpless, Fu Ling pushed the cart back, entered the village, and followed the cry into a narrow and winding alley. After a while, the cry became clearer and clearer.As expected, the houses on both sides were empty, but judging from the size of the village, there should have been at least hundreds of families living here.Finally found the source of the crying, but it was a thatched house with a half-collapsed roof. Fu Ling pushed Chu Xiang into the low doorway. It rained a few days ago, and there were many small uneven spots on the ground. Puddles, a damp and musty smell hit.The walls of the house are empty, except for a broken door panel on the inner wall, which is a very simple bed on a few broken bricks.There was a person lying in the dark on the bed, his face could not be seen clearly, and a seven or eight-year-old ragged little girl was kneeling in front of the bed, crying very sadly.

Hearing someone coming in, the little girl stopped crying, turned her head, and stared at the person with wide eyes in horror.What's your name, little sister?Tell big brother, what are you crying for? "Chu Xiang leaned forward and asked the girl softly.

The little girl wiped her tears with her hands, still sobbing, and cried in a childish voice: "I...my name is Xiaohong... There was a... war, and everyone in the village... ran away, my mother... She's sick, and there's just...just me...the two of us, but...but today, no matter what I call...I can't wake her up..."

After hearing this, Fu Ling approached and checked the breathing of the person on the bed. He had been out of breath for a long time, and shook his head slightly at Chu Xiang, and called out: "Come on!" Two guards came in outside the door. The little girl said: "Your mother won't wake up. You go with these two big brothers, and they will take you to eat delicious food." The little girl must have been hungry for a long time, and when she heard that there was something delicious, she immediately looked at the food. shine.A guard came up to take her away, and was about to go out when the girl suddenly said, "Where's my mother? I want to be with her!"

Fu Ling said: "Your mother will help you deal with it."

But the girl refused, and struggled desperately in the arms of the guard, crying loudly: "Mother! Mother! Let go, let go, I want mother!..."

Fu Ling was impatient with her noise, frowned, and let the two guards take the little girl away by force.Another two guards were called in, and they ordered, "Bury this corpse." The guards carried away the body on the bed, and when they passed by Chu Xiang, Chu Xiang saw that the dead woman was only in her early twenties, and she was quite old. Young, but his face is swollen, and he can no longer see his true colors, as if starved to death.Chu Xiang turned his head away and bit his lower lip tightly.

Fu Ling pushed Chu Xiang out of the door of this house, and just turned the car around, suddenly he heard the wind behind his head, there was a hidden weapon attacking through the air!Hearing the strong wind, Fu Ling was startled, and rushed forward, pressing down on Chu Xiang with his body, only hearing the sound of a pounce, a hidden weapon had been nailed into Fu Ling's left shoulder!