Chapter 61 Chapter 61 is the only genuine version...
Gu Zhizhuo didn't say anything.
Jiang Youzheng was very depressed. Not to mention Miss Gu, anyone would hate him to death.
There was an uproar in the crowd.
"Big girl."
Old Dan finally returned. He finally squeezed through the crowd, abandoning his horse and quickly reporting, "I've inquired, and all the coffins in the funeral shop have to be custom-made. They don't have any ready-made ones."
“How long does it take to make a custom pair?”
"Three days."
Jiang Youzheng advised, "Miss Gu, why don't you wait for three days?"
Gu Zhizhuo lowered his head and said, "Go and ask how long it will take to make a custom wooden box. Expedited."
Old Dan blurted out: "Miss! How can this be..."
"Daddy won't mind. Go ahead. Besides..." Gu Zhizhuo smiled bitterly, "How will we put the coffin?"
She had just thought about it. They were hurrying along. If they were dragging a coffin, once it started to shake, wouldn't Daddy be rolling around inside?
Lao Dan: “…Yes.”
The head would be best placed in a wooden box of just the right size. I thought so intellectually, but the pain in my heart could not be stopped.
The people closest to the place heard these words.
Who could have imagined that the Duke of Zhenguo wouldn't even have a coffin.
"Miss Gu!"
Just as Lao Dan was about to leave, an old woman came over tremblingly, supported by her daughter-in-law. Behind her, two young men were pulling a cart, and on top of the cart was a black coffin.
The old woman looked at the head in Gu Zhizhuo's arms, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, piling up on her wrinkled face.
Their family was an ordinary citizen of the city of Aul. In the battle six years ago, all three of her sons died.
She originally thought that she, her daughters-in-law, and grandchildren would not be able to escape the disaster, and their family huddled together waiting to die. However, the Duke arrived faster than the Black and White Impermanence. He found them lying in the pile of corpses and had them dug out.
Their lives were all given by the Duke.
Her grandchildren are grown, and she has a little great-granddaughter who otherwise wouldn't have had a chance to survive.
When she heard her neighbor say that the Duke's daughter had arrived at home, she hurried out to see what was happening. She wanted to kowtow to her from a distance, but when she passed by a funeral supplies shop, she heard someone asking about buying a coffin. The accent told her that he was from the capital. She asked the boss a few questions and quickly sent her grandson back to bring over the funeral supplies she had bought.
The old woman said earnestly, "Miss Gu, if you don't mind, please use this coffin."
She spoke fluently, but still tried to explain: "This is clean and newly made."
The black lacquered coffin was ordinary, even a little simple.
People nowadays have the habit of preparing funeral supplies for themselves while they are still alive. This is what the old lady prepared for herself.
Gu Zhizhuo was stunned.
After a while, she held back her tears and murmured, "Thank you."
She accepted the offer.
"No, no." The old woman waved her hands repeatedly. "It is a blessing for me that the Duke can use it. It is a great honor."
Lao Dan and the others helped unload the coffin from the cart, and Gu Zhizhuo personally put the head into the coffin.
But just as she thought, the coffin was too big and it was difficult to fit the small head properly.
She stared blankly, wanting only to cover her face with her hands and cry.
"Miss Gu, put some yellow paper."
Someone in the crowd brought a large box full of yellow paper and spread it inside the empty coffin.
"I have some at home. I'll go get it."
"I still have some paper money at home."
The Ghost Festival is coming soon, and many families have prepared yellow paper and paper money for sacrifices. Each family brings a lot of them, and they cover the entire coffin with them with their own hands.
The head is placed there, no longer shaking restlessly.
Gu Zhizhuo closed his eyes and closed the coffin.
"Yinyin."
Gu Zhizhuo called out softly, and Gu Yiqun understood without her having to say much.
He knelt down with her and kowtowed sincerely to the old woman and the people around them.
"I don't dare. I don't deserve it."
The old woman, caught off guard, helped her up and cried, "This is the only thing I can do for the Duke."
There were echoes coming from all around.
"Miss Gu." Jiang Youzheng knew he shouldn't express his feelings, but he couldn't help but speak from the bottom of his heart, "Everyone is thinking of the Duke. Everyone in the entire Western Frontier is grateful to the Duke!"
"It was the Duke's spear that saved us. We will all remember this favor."
After the Duke of Zhenguo died in battle, every family in Western Xinjiang set up a tablet for him and burned incense to worship him.
Don't hate us because of Liu Nuo.
"See the Duke off."
I don't know who shouted this.
"Goodbye, Duke!"
Then, the voices came together, some male and some female, some hoarse old voices, some crisp children's voices.
The bitterness that Jiang Youzheng had suppressed in his chest surged up, and he almost instinctively knelt on one knee and saluted.
"See the Duke off!"
"See the Duke off!"
Gu Zhizhuo let the tears roll in his eyes but did not let them fall.
She said, "Let's go."
Gu Yiqun was already in tears. He sniffed and walked to the other side of the coffin.
After his father died in the war, he cried alone for a long, long time.
He has felt sad and resentful.
I hate why we have to fight, and I hate even more why the Gu family has to bear such a heavy responsibility.
His mother told him that his father only said two words before he died: worth it.
My mother said she had never been to the battlefield, and asked him to see for her in the future whether it was worth it.
As he grew older, he buried all his resentment deep in his heart, telling no one. However, his uncles and aunts would not let him go to the Northern Frontier, fearing that something unexpected would happen to him and the second branch of the family would be extinct.
This time when he went out with his elder sister, he saw his great uncle whose body was mutilated, and heard every word of Liu Nuo's words, "The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion has committed murders and cruelty, and they deserve to die." The blood-stained talisman pierced his heart, and hatred grew like vines, entwining his heart.
However, just when his faith was about to fall apart, the people of Aur broke through the fog in his heart.
He suddenly understood why his father said: It's worth it!
Gu Yiqun lowered her head, and a tear fell on the coffin.
He was startled and nervously wiped it with his sleeve.
"It's okay." Gu Zhizhuo said, "The Gu family is full of evil spirits and has no taboos."
Facing Gu Yiqun's tearful eyes, Gu Zhizhuo continued, "Killing ten thousand to save a million, the blood that flowed was saving the lives of the people of the world. This is the meritorious service our Gu family has established."
It is absolutely not a wanton act of killing!
Merit? Gu Yiqun didn’t know if it was because he cried so much, but he noticed that the setting sun was shining brightly on his great uncle’s coffin.
The people spontaneously made way for a path from the garrison to the city gate. All the people in the city came out and escorted them out of Aul together.
Gu Zhizhuo held the coffin, her steps were heavy, but each one was extremely powerful.
Firmly, without any hesitation.
Even after leaving the city gate, I could still vaguely hear suppressed sobs from within the city.
Jiang Youzheng walked them for three miles and then said goodbye.
"Captain Jiang," Gu Zhizhuo asked softly, "I heard there are people from Liang around here. Has Captain Jiang received any information?"
"It's near the mountains to the east." Jiang Youzheng pointed in the direction and said, "Don't worry, young lady. You have many people, and the Liang people won't dare to attack."
He couldn't help but sigh: "The nearby villages will suffer."
Liu Nuohu was just pretending to be powerful and refused to send troops or provide relief. He proposed that the people from several villages under the jurisdiction of Aul City should come to the city to settle down, but Liu Nuo refused.
He said that the Liang people had come to Daqi to beg for food because they couldn't survive. If the people had been more kind and willing to share some of their food with them, they wouldn't have been killed. After hearing all this nonsense and quoting from classics, Jiang Shoubei almost wanted to strangle him to death.
There was no other way, Jiang Youzheng could only quietly mobilize a hundred people to investigate the movements of the Liang people and protect the people under his jurisdiction as much as possible.
Every time the Liang people come back, there are only three to five hundred people at most. If there are patrolling troops nearby, they will not confront them head-on. After all, the territory of Western Xinjiang is vast, so they can just go to other villages to rob.
Jiang Youzheng was powerless to do anything about this.
It was impossible for him to completely abandon his official career and break up with Liu Nuo.
"Thank you very much."
Gu Zhizhuo bowed in thanks.
The coffin was tied to a flatbed cart. Lao Dan drove the cart, while Gu Zhizhuo and Gu Yiqun rode their horses on both sides of the cart to prevent it from tipping over.
"Big girl."
Qi Fu rode up from behind, a head behind her, and said, "I can sneak into A'ul City and kill that Liu Nuo!"
Not only the girl, but even he couldn't swallow this tone.
Gu Zhizhuo shook his head.
Qi Fu said anxiously, "Miss, I am willing to bear all the consequences."
"Captain Qi, listen to my orders," Gu Zhizhuo said without turning his head. "Take some men east and investigate the movements of that group of Liang people."
Qi Fu didn't understand the reason.
Is the girl afraid that they will meet someone cold on their way back?
Or is it for the sake of the people in Western Xinjiang that you plan to wipe out this group of Liang people before leaving?
Whatever, it’s not impossible to kill him anyway.
"I will make sure they never return."
"No." Gu Zhizhuo's eyes were sharp. She stroked the jade lion's mane and said, "Spread the word. Tomorrow there will be a fat sheep going to Shangxu Temple. Very fat."
She said and hooked her finger back.
Qi Fu leaned forward slightly, and after hearing this, he couldn't help but frown and whispered, "Yes, I will definitely see to it."
"Wait until Guard Jiang leaves before you go."
Qi Fu glanced back and saw Jiang Youzheng still standing there.
He waited until they disappeared from his sight, then rode back to the city of Aul with his men.
The people have dispersed.
Now there are only 20,000 to 30,000 people left in this city, and even fewer young and middle-aged people.
It will take at least ten years for Xinjiang to recover, and the people from Liang are always coming to plunder. The city is okay, but he is still worried about the nearby villages.
"Captain Jiang."
As soon as he entered the garrison, the advisor beside Liu Nuo was waiting for him. His attitude was as condescending as Liu Nuo's: "Captain Jiang, Lord Liu asked you to go see him when you return."
Jiang Youzheng tolerated him for three years.
Liu Nuo was domineering in the city of Aul, and he had his say in all matters related to the military, politics, and people's livelihood. Even his guards and servants were arrogant and domineering, like local emperors.
When the late emperor was still alive, he never stationed military supervisors at the border.
Not only did the King of Jin take all the credit for the great victory in the Western Frontier, but the higher-ups also sent a lousy military supervisor who knew nothing but kept talking nonsense. For the sake of his career, he could only endure it, endure it...
I can’t bear it!
"Get lost. He's a fifth-rank officer, and I'm a regular fifth-rank officer. How can I go just because he asks me to?!"
"The Emperor asked him to be the military supervisor. There is no war going on in Aul now, so he is not needed."
Jiang Youzheng waved his sleeves and left.
This was the first time that Jiang Youzheng was so rude. The lawyer felt so humiliated that he hurried to report to Liu Nuo.
Liu Nuo's neck was wrapped in thick layers of gauze.
He looked like he was about to die, slumped on the couch, groaning.
Seeing that the master had not brought Jiang Youzheng with him, he frowned and was about to get angry, but then he immediately remembered that he was "seriously injured" and did not dare to speak loudly. He only cursed: "That rude man named Jiang!"
"This official...this official must report him!"
The master hurriedly said, "Don't be angry, sir. It's more important to take care of your health."
"Useless stuff."
Liu Nuo covered his neck and cursed, "I'm not wrong. If these warriors weren't always eager to make achievements, why would they cause so much fighting and killing?"
"To stop the war is the greatest virtue! Hiss." Liu Nuo pulled the wound on his throat and gasped in pain.
Zhenguogong Mansion! He remembered this grudge.
"Your Excellency is absolutely right. Even a great nation will perish if it indulges in war," the advisor echoed. "If it weren't for the Duke Zhenguo's excessive military spending, Daqi would have prospered long ago."
He stroked his beard and sighed, "Back then, Gu Xie burned tens of thousands of people in the Northern Di tribe to death, creating a feud that has lasted for generations, leading to the endless wars we've seen so far. Unfortunately, Emperor Taizu trusted Gu Xie so much that my students and classmates went to the Meridian Gate to ask Emperor Taizu for severe punishment, but in the end, they were all stripped of their titles."
Emperor Taizu valued military power over culture and was not a wise ruler.
He has lost his fame and despite his talent, he can only be a legal advisor. Now he is over the age of knowing the destiny.
The master reminded him, "Sir, you must report today's events to the Crown Prince."
He was talking about the Prince of Jin.
That’s right! Liu Nuo finally came back to his senses from the scolding.
"I will report back..."
"Go and help me draft a letter. Forget it, I'll come myself!" Liu Nuo gritted his teeth. "Go and prepare some writing materials for me."
He covered his neck and climbed up from the couch. Somehow, his ankle suddenly twisted and he almost lost his balance. The pain made tears burst out.
"Help me, help me..."
The lawyer was startled and hurried over to help him.
Liu Nuo limped to the table, and after careful consideration, he finally finished writing the letter.
He habitually swung the brush, and perhaps the movement was a little too big, his wrist slammed on the desk, and the brush flew out of his hand, splashing ink all over the table, and the envelope that had just been sealed was also covered with ink dots.
He covered his wrist and jumped on one foot in pain. He didn't know where he hit, his foot slipped, and he fell heavily to the ground.
This time, my whole body hurts.
The master was stunned. He flew over and said hesitantly, "Sir, could it be that talisman paper?"
As soon as he heard the word "talisman paper", Liu Nuo shuddered immediately, and the nauseous feeling came up again.
Yes, yes!
It must be that talisman paper!
Liu Nuo covered his throat and said in a trembling voice, "Do you remember that the prince said he asked a Taoist temple to suppress that thing?"
"Shangxu Temple. It's Changfeng Zhenren from Shangxu Temple."
"Yes, yes. Shangxu Temple is fine."
Liu Nuo also remembered.
He paced back and forth anxiously for a while, then ordered, "Go and have someone prepare. In two days... no, tomorrow, tomorrow I'm going to Shangxu Monastery!"
The reason he was so unlucky was definitely because he swallowed the talisman paper.
Since this talisman comes from Taixu Temple, Master Changfeng can definitely decipher it!
Regardless of whether Liu Nuo believed this before, he believed it very much now.
When Liu Nuo thought of the sinister talisman, he felt a sharp pain from his mouth to his throat and even to his stomach.
He didn't sleep well that night. As soon as he closed his eyes, he could see Miss Gu holding a human head and staring at him with a ghostly look.
He was almost startled awake.
He hurried out of the city without waiting for dawn.
Shangxu Temple is the most popular Taoist temple among the thirteen cities in Western Xinjiang. Even in the war-torn frontier area, Shangxu Temple has countless devout believers, and Master Changfeng is even known as a living immortal.
Liu Nuo had been there several times before.
Shangxu Temple was a little far from Aur City. He brought seven or eight guards with him and rode in a carriage for three or four hours.
He closed his eyes, swaying his body with the shaking of the carriage, thinking about how to write a memorial to the emperor.
The thought of the people in the city all shouting "Duke" made Liu Nuo feel terrified. The Duke's Mansion was stirring up people's hearts at the border, which was definitely suspected of treason! These people only had the Duke in their hearts, not the Emperor!
He has been in Xinjiang for three years, and it is very peaceful here!
Only occasionally some people from Liang would come to rob. Even in Daqi, there were people who became bandits.
What's more, since they came to plunder, it shows that Liang State was poor and had no way to make a living.
They also had no choice.
After grabbing everything, Liangren will leave and never stay for long.
Military men are used to exaggerating the situation, saying things like unrest on the border and barbarians slaughtering the city. These are just some tricks they use to make the emperor believe that Daqi cannot do without them. In the final analysis, they are reluctant to give up their wealth and glory.
Liu Nuo felt deeply that what Daqi needed least were these common people.
Fighting violence with violence will only lead to revenge, fighting and killing, and endless disputes!
As a great nation, the Celestial Empire should educate the barbarians with the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, and promise to marry the princess to them. With the bloodlines blended, how could the barbarians rebel again?!
Yes, that’s how the memorial is written.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped. He lifted the curtain and asked, "Are we there yet?"
Before he could finish his words, two scimitars were placed on his neck.
Liu Nuo raised his eyelids cautiously and saw a group of strong and sturdy Liang people riding tall horses.
A man in Liang laughed and said, "The fat sheep is coming!"
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