Chapter 774: A thousand disasters are only caused by this heart!
Soft morning light shone, the gate of Zhaocheng opened wide, and hundreds of knights rode out on their horses. The leader of the knights was actually Luo Chen, the head of the Luo family. The dust rose up as his hooves left their mark. The cold winter was gradually passing, the ice and snow had melted, and the snow-capped mountains and rivers had gradually turned into lush green.
Behind the hundreds of knights were countless carts loaded with grain, cloth, and thick clothes. There were many wealthy merchant families in the world who were as rich as a country, such as the Wuji Zhen family and the Donghai Mi family, who all had huge wealth. However, compared with the Luo family, who had been extremely wealthy for three hundred years during the Han Dynasty, any other family could only be like a firefly competing with the bright moon. How ridiculous!
After walking a few miles out of Zhaocheng, Luo Xiang beside Luo Chen still advised anxiously: "Uncle, you should be in charge of the center of Zhaocheng and command the Luo clan. Now you are heading north alone. If something unexpected happens, even the mountains and rivers will collapse and nothing can save you!"
Luo Chen wore soft armor inside and a single coat outside. He pointed his whip at the azure sky and laughed loudly, "Ah Xiang, look at the blue sky above. The subjects often compare the king to the scorching sun, implying that the country cannot lose the king. This is true outside, but in the Luo family, when one sun sets, another scorching sun rises. The direct lineage is endless, but there will be more kings. What's so important about me?
Since the Zhou Dynasty, I have never heard of a ruler who sat in his tribe and watched his people fall into misery. My ancestors would not do it, and neither will I. I will go and experience the wind, snow, cold and frost for my people!"
Luo Xiang then said no more.
Zhaocheng is located in the north of the Yellow River. Among the hundreds of knights, there are a hundred people wearing armor, passing through the counties of Jizhou. Their momentum is awe-inspiring. Hebei has been full of generous and tragic people since ancient times. There are elders who send food to them. Although people all over the world do not believe that the Hu people will prosper, the Luo family has dominated Hebei for three hundred years and has a great reputation. Today, they are all sighing and saying, "Your family, you will not be able to see the holy face of Zhaogong from now on. I hope your family will return soon. Hebei cannot do without your family, and scholars cannot do without the Luo family's collection."
Many people were moved, and even the elders of the village wept, held sticks and bowed before the horse, offering pots and drinks, and Luo Chen accepted them all. There were also heroes who came to seek refuge, but Luo Chen did not ask why. Some said they were grateful, some said they were receiving a favor, and some said they were seeking refuge. All were acceptable. He just said, "I will accept all the gifts from the elders. If there are heroes who are willing to go with me, we can go to Zhaocheng."
When the Luo family traveled, everyone in the world knew that they were moving north, so the Han Kingdom naturally opened the way for them, and the group marched into the Youzhou territory of the Yan Kingdom in a mighty manner. As soon as they entered Youzhou, they felt a different meaning. The Han Kingdom had a clear political situation, and the prime minister was quite good at governing. After Jizhou was incorporated into the Han Kingdom, it was quite prosperous. It might have declined during the war, but after the war ended, it became prosperous within a few years.
Youzhou was owned by the State of Yan, and its old system was the same; the soil was not as fertile as in the south, and the people were not as prosperous as in the south. The Luo clan came here in the middle of summer, and the land was scorched, and the people seemed quite tired.
After hundreds of knights entered the State of Yan, Luo Chen went forward to the Putuo River, but saw the terrain rolling. He looked up and saw cavalry clouds following, dust rising everywhere, countless cavalry rushing over, brave warriors all held horse lances and lined up, Luo Chen held a horse lance and stood in front of the army, Luo Xiang held a bow and stood beside him, the more than a thousand cavalry in the front row of the State of Yan scattered into two rows, and a general with a white feather on his head appeared from behind the cavalry, galloped all the way to the front of the two armies, did not stop, rode alone to a few steps in front of Luo Chen, turned over and dismounted, took off his helmet and held it in his right hand, then saluted with his hands crossed, and said solemnly: "Yan General Murong Chengguang greets Lord Zhao, I wish you a long life."
Luo Chen dismounted and returned the greeting, asking, "General, are you here for an important matter? When Yan entered Youzhou, our Zhaogong State met with them. There are only a few hundred knights on this trip, and they should be able to pass with the emperor's order."
Murong Chengguang clasped his fists and said, "Duke Zhao has done great favors for our Yan State. We will never forget it. How can I be so harsh on you? Your Majesty is still young and cannot meet you in person. I have sent Chengguang to persuade Duke Zhao with a few words."
Luo Chen knew what Murong Chengguang would say, but Murong Chengguang was respectful of etiquette and said, "General, please speak!"
Murong Chengguang recalled: "You led the people to migrate north, Chengguang thought it was unwise. The ancestors of Yan State were exiled to the Great Xianbei Mountains to open up the Liaodong area. Among 300,000 people, only 100,000 survived. If it were not for the help of the noble clan of Zhaogong, even if we did not perish, we would have long since turned into Dihu and become those who eat raw meat and drink blood. Even with the guidance of the royal family, how difficult it would be for the descendants of the Great Yan State to inherit the land. How much blood and tears would it take? The royal family should know!
If there had not been a hundred and fifty years of educating the Di and Hu people, and if King Wu had not plundered the people of Youzhou, how could the State of Yan have become as prosperous as it is today? Liaodong, the place of prosperity, was abandoned and not used. It was probably because the weather was getting colder, many people died, many soldiers left, many garrison troops rebelled, and even killed their king. The country was unable to endure the hardships and difficulties, and so this brutal thing happened!
The lessons of the past are a lesson for the future. Our clan has to give up for the next 150 years. You were born in a gentle place, and the nobles are all cultured people. There is also a goddess like Ruoshui, who is prosperous in culture and can speak the classics. You have great power. Why do you put yourself in a place where life and death are difficult to say and suffer the hardship? The flowers of the south should not wither in the north. The Hu people are nothing more than that, not worthy of the respect of the noble clan. I hope you will be cautious. "
Murong Chengguang's words were earnest and his advice was sincere. Moreover, compared to the rumors spread by the people in the Central Plains, the Yan nobles really walked out of the ice and snow and crawled out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Every word he said was filled with deep fear, which was the taste that came from the bones of the Yan people. They never wanted to go back to Liaodong again. Whoever asked them to go back would die, and the emperor was no exception!
Luo Chen could naturally feel it, and after a moment of silence, he deliberately sighed: "General, do you know that no matter it is an individual or a clan, there is a saying that luck is in this world. Zhuxia is the land where the Su Wang looks down upon. Yan State has gone from a weak country of 100,000 people to a country of millions of people, threatening the northern border. Where does this luck come from? It is the hardships and difficulties of Liaodong's ancestors, the extermination of the Donghu, and the blood and tears they shed.
It is a lie that the whole world is prosperous because of the Hu luck. However, now that Yan has moved south, this is where the Hu luck is prosperous. The Luo family has never forced a clan to make sacrifices. The people of Yan have suffered from the cold and frost. Our clan also knows this. In this case, the Luo family will go to guard it personally. As the descendants of the Su King, we have our own responsibilities. We are willing to be the first in the world and bravely fight for the world. This is the way of the Luo family. The general does not need to persuade us anymore. If one day, the Hu people really prosper, if the general can send a small army, our clan will be grateful. "
Murong Chengguang was shocked by Luo Chen's words, and suddenly felt that what he had said just now was really a humble and heroic act, which was really ridiculous. He clasped his fists and said in a deep voice: "Chengguang will remember what you said today. If there really comes a day when Murong can still dance with the Yan Kingdom's staff, I will definitely lead the army to help them!"
On the banks of the Putuo River, the Yan cavalry rode the wind and left on the clouds. Wherever the smoke and dust rose, they were completely submerged in it. Wherever the smoke and dust settled, the Yan cavalry had disappeared without a trace. Luo Shi started to head towards the Liaoxi Corridor again. Seeing that Luo Chen seemed to be thinking about something, Luo Xiang stepped forward and said, "This Yan general is really a sincere man. With such ministers, why should Yan not prosper?"
Luo Chen said softly: "Yes, it is of great benefit to Yan State, but of great harm to Emperor Yan. First, the two emperors were murdered, and then the ruler was weak and the ministers were strong. There will be endless troubles for Yan State."
Luo Xiang was surprised and asked, "Uncle, are you saying that Yan State will be in turmoil again?"
Luo Chen nodded and said, "The Murong family is not a loyal minister. The Yan Kingdom came from Liaodong. Those who can lead the tribe to prosperity will be kings. If the Murong family wants merit, they will definitely attack the Han Kingdom in the south. The Yan Kingdom occupies the strategic location of Youzhou. It can attack when advancing and defend when retreating. Although the people are not numerous, they have strong and brave horses. If the Han Kingdom does not have a wise ruler and wise ministers, although the country is large and the people are numerous, the defense of Hebei alone will drag down its politics. If Youzhou is not seized, Hebei will be without bones. Ah Xiang, don't forget that with Yuan Shao's supernatural power and Gongsun Zan's uselessness, Yuan Shao was also trapped and killed by Gongsun Zan!"
Luo Xiang accepted the advice, turned around and looked towards the Han State, shook his head, and thought, what did the turmoil in the Central Plains have to do with him? It was just a few dynasties and countries, rising and falling, and surviving and perishing.
The Liaoxi Corridor is an extremely rare passage leading to Liaodong without crossing the Yanshan Mountains, but it is still rugged and difficult to travel. When the Luo family reached here, their speed suddenly decreased due to the presence of a large cart. When they left Zhaocheng, spring was already at its peak, and by the time they passed the Liaoxi Corridor, summer had arrived. The wind was blowing and the clouds were gathering, and darkness was pressing down. Between the mountains and rivers, the wind and clouds changed suddenly, catching people off guard. Along with the strong wind came a black torrent, lightning like snakes and dragons, and rain like a curtain of the sky.
With the light at that moment, some military tents were swaying in the rain, and the carts were covered with leather oil paper. There were also military tents that were not set up in time and were hidden beside large rocks for temporary shelter from the rain.
The crown on Luo Chen's head was blown crooked by the wind, and he took it off and threw it into the mud on the ground. His hair wet by raindrops mixed with mud and stuck to his face. Luo Xiang took off his wet leather armor, looking disheveled. The tent that had not been erected was directly draped over their bodies by several people. Luo Chen, Luo Xiang and several other brave warriors stepped in the mud, motionless. Looking closely, they could see that they were stepping on a corner of the tent. In the storm, the tent bulged and deflated, as if it would fly away at any time. The world was dark, and the small bulge behind the big rock was like a drop in the ocean, a small boat in a raging current.
The rain stream hit everyone's head. Luo Chen wiped the rain off his face. Although he was old, he was still a brave warrior and could still hold on. He just didn't know what happened to those brave warriors who also hadn't set up their tents. The heavy rain continued and burned people's minds in the darkness.
Luo Xiang felt his feet were numb. He moved slightly, and several people heard a noise outside the tent. He lifted a corner slightly, and in an instant, heavy rain came. A figure was vaguely seen running wildly in the rain. It happened to pass by not far away. Luo Chen rushed out in an instant, and suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He grabbed the brave soldier and shouted: "It's pouring rain, where are you going?"
The heavy rain filled his mouth, and the sound could only reach his ears. Luo Xiang and his men pulled the military tent to cover the two of them. The brave soldier looked at the master who was soaked, with water dripping from his hair, eyebrows, and clothes, and said hoarsely: "Master, I remember that the horses were not tied tightly. There are a lot of food and grass on the carriage. It doesn't matter if I die. If there is a problem with the food and grass, I will be blamed for it."
Luo Chen didn't expect this to be the reason, and he growled in a low voice: "Don't you understand that people are more valuable than horses? Without people, what's the use of horses, and what's the use of baggage?"
After releasing the brave warrior, Luo Chen's eyes were filled with anxiety. He wondered if there would be other brave warriors who would disregard their own lives for material things. Another half hour passed, and the heavy rain that had covered the sky and the earth finally stopped. The sun rose, and Luo Chen and his men left the general's tent and shouted, "Assemble, and count the number of people!"
There were only a few hundred people on this trip, and everyone was very conspicuous. Most of the brave warriors had no traces of rain on their bodies. Soon three bodies were carried back and placed in front of Luo Chen. Luo Xiang said sadly: "Uncle, three of our tribesmen died. One died from heavy rocks, and two drowned in the pit."
Luo Chen raised his eyes to look at the clear sky after the rain in the empty mountain, the fresh scent of the soil, the towering Cangshan Mountain on one side, and the rugged gravel all over the ground. He waved his hand weakly and said: "Pray for the three clansmen, burn their bodies with holy fire, and when we arrive at the migration site, sacrifice for the three clansmen and record the sacrifices of the family in the history books. Ah Xiang, record it. The weather here is changeable and rainy. It is the key point for the subsequent migration of the family."
After taking care of the three people's affairs, the Luo family's team set out on their journey again. The atmosphere was a little depressing again. This was not the first time that there had been casualties among the tribesmen. This was inevitable for any long journey.
In the past, when the Qin Dynasty conquered Lingnan, tens of thousands of people died on the way before a battle even started. When the Han Dynasty conquered the Xiongnu, more than 10,000 people died on the road before a battle even started, due to epidemics or fatigue. The brave warriors were the best in the world, with few in number and good doctors, so there were so few casualties. Any general should be proud of this, but how could Luo Chen remain restrained? Every one of the brave warriors was his flesh and blood. How could he not blame himself if there were casualties because of his father and his great cause of migrating to Liaodong?
Luo Xiang knew Luo Chen's heart and said, "Uncle, we went ahead to eliminate danger for our tribe. Not only our sons and daughters, but also you, are willing to sacrifice for us at any time. From now on, every bit of safety for our tribe will be a comfort from the nine heavens. Uncle, please don't blame yourself."
The warriors who had been exposed to the wind and sun all had dark complexions. But at this moment, their solemn faces all had the same expression as Luo Xiang. "Master, it is the supreme honor for a warrior to die for the clan. The warriors a thousand years ago, eight hundred years ago, and five hundred years ago all sacrificed more than a dozen people. Our ancestors never complained. How many more people will be sacrificed when we go to Liaodong to fight against the Hu people? What should we be afraid of?"
This is what happens when people have great wishes. Those who are willing to die for them do not feel it is difficult, but those who see it are saddened. If the deceased was Luo Chen, he would not be afraid, but when he saw his clansmen die, he was extremely sad.
Looking at the dark faces in front of him, Luo Chen, who had been under great pressure, felt his irritability swept away. He said loudly: "The ancient sages said that there is great fear, great sorrow, and great loneliness between life and death. Today, with what you said, I feel that there is also great joy, great happiness, and great bliss between life and death. I have great ambitions. My sons of the Luo family, follow me all the way north and find my new home before the arrival of midsummer next year!"
The warriors had marks of dried mud on their faces, and both men and horses were standing in the mud. The torrent formed by the rainstorm surged past them from behind, but everyone turned a blind eye. They drew out the ring-handled swords at the sides of their horses and shouted loudly, "A true warrior dares to face death with a smile!"
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The Duke held a hoe and said with emotion: "Now that we are clearing the wasteland, we understand how hard it was for our ancestors to brave the frost and dew, cut through the thorns, and gain even an inch of land. Our descendants should cherish it." - "A New Account of Tales of the World: Words and Deeds"
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(End of this chapter)
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