Chapter 50: Quick-travel strategy for the Soldier King (Part 8)
Bi Yuntao held my hand and said firmly: "Zi'ang, good will prevail over evil. We will definitely win in the end!"
His words were like a shot of adrenaline, which made my wavering heart firm again. Yes, we still have a lot of things to do and cannot be defeated by temporary setbacks.
We finally won the victory in Jiangnan and drove the Qing army back to the north of the Yangtze River. The smoke of gunpowder cleared, and Jiangnan finally ushered in the long-awaited peace. Bi Yuntao and I finally had time to stop and enjoy a moment of peace.
Mr. Liu Xing presided over a simple wedding for us, and I decided to worship him as my master. There was no complicated ceremony, no extravagant pomp, only sincere vows to each other and a vision of a better life in the future.
"Holding your hand, growing old with you." I looked at Bi Yuntao's determined eyes, and my heart was filled with happiness. This war made us cherish each other more and strengthened our determination to go on together.
In the spring, the south of the Yangtze River is full of life and birds singing and dancing. The ruins left after the war have gradually recovered their former prosperity thanks to people's efforts.
Bi Yuntao and I chose to live in a secluded courtyard outside Suzhou. It is far away from the hustle and bustle, with birds singing and flowers blooming. It is a good place to relax and recuperate. Every morning, we would practice martial arts in the courtyard and exchange martial arts. When the sun sets, we would sit under the grape vines, drink tea and chat, enjoying this hard-earned peaceful life.
That day, my father came to Suzhou. He looked much older, but he was vigorous and his eyes were full of determination. Since I said goodbye to him on the city wall that day, he resolutely sold his family property, spent all his money, recruited local militias, organized local armed forces, and cooperated with the government troops to fight against the Qing army.
"Zi'ang, you did a great job. Daddy is proud of you!" My father held my hand, his eyes full of love and praise. "Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country. Our Feng family has been loyal for generations. How can we just sit back and do nothing? Now, your cousin has also figured it out and is serving in the army. As a family, we must work together to face the national crisis!"
I was deeply moved when I heard the news about my father and cousin. I used to resent my father for his cruelty. I thought he hated me and I hated him too, but we loved each other deep down. Years of resentment were finally released and I burst into tears.
But now, I understand what true love is and what true responsibility is. I am proud of my family, and even more proud that I can contribute to this country and its people.
My father stayed in Suzhou for a few days before returning to Jiaxing to continue organizing the local militia to resist the Qing. Before leaving, he said to Bi Yuntao and me earnestly: "Although the Qing troops have temporarily retreated, there is no guarantee that they will not come back. You must always be vigilant and not take it lightly!" Bi Yuntao and I nodded solemnly and watched my father go away, our hearts filled with admiration and gratitude.
After seeing my father off, Bi Yuntao and I decided to relax and enjoy the long-lost beauty of Jiangnan. We took a black-awned boat and drifted on the vast blue waters of Taihu Lake. The green mountains on both sides, the green waters and the houses, the scenery was picturesque and beautiful. The breeze blew my hat and also blew away the haze of the past few days. My mood was as peaceful and harmonious as the lake.
"Zi'ang, look, what is that?" Bi Yuntao pointed to a lotus pond in the distance and asked me with a smile.
I followed his gaze and saw fields of green lotus leaves and graceful pink lotus flowers swaying in the breeze. A flock of egrets flew over the lotus pond, adding a touch of liveliness to the tranquil scene.
"It's so beautiful!" I couldn't help but exclaim, "I grew up in Jiangnan, but I've never really appreciated this picturesque scenery."
"Yes, in this chaotic world, it is not easy to have a moment of peace." Bi Yuntao said with emotion, "We should cherish this hard-earned happy life."
We strolled along the lake, admiring the beautiful scenery, chatting and enjoying this rare leisure time. When passing through a small town, we saw a group of ragged children begging on the roadside. Most of them were orphans in the war, who had lost their parents and had no place to return to. They could only wander the streets and rely on the charity of kind people to survive.
Seeing this, my heart felt like being stabbed by a needle. I quickly asked Bi Yuntao to stop the boat, walked over and asked about their situation. When the children saw us, they all timidly dodged and dared not speak.
I took out some change from my pocket, distributed it to them, and said to them gently, "Don't be afraid, children. We are not bad people. Are you willing to come with us? We will give you a warm home."
The children were a little hesitant at first, but when they saw my sincere look, they all nodded in agreement. In this way, we returned to Suzhou City with a dozen children.
Bi Yuntao rented a few houses for them in the suburbs and hired two old ladies to take care of their daily life. Bi Yuntao and I often visited them, brought them books and toys, and taught them to read and write, and practice martial arts and swordplay.
The children were all very sensible and hardworking, and they quickly integrated into this new "home".
Seeing the happy smiles on the children's faces, Bi Yuntao and I were filled with joy. We finally had a home of our own, simple but full of warmth and hope.
Our story gradually spread in the Jiangnan region, and people praised us as anti-Qing heroes and kind people with a bodhisattva's heart. Whenever I heard these praises, I would feel extremely proud and happy, because I knew that all this was the result of the joint efforts of Bi Yuntao and me.
However, fate always likes to play tricks on us. Just when we thought we could live peacefully and happily like this, a sudden news broke our peaceful life.
That day, I was teaching the children to read in the yard when suddenly a soldier covered in blood stumbled into the yard. When he saw me, he used his last bit of strength to say, "Young Master... run away... the Qing soldiers... have come back to kill us..." After that, he fell to the ground and died.
Qing soldiers?! I panicked and my mind went blank. The children were also trembling with fear at this sudden change. Bi Yuntao rushed over after hearing the noise and saw the scene in front of him. He immediately understood what had happened.
He comforted the children for a few words, then pulled me aside and asked in a low voice, "What happened?" I took a deep breath, tried to calm myself down, and told Bi Yuntao what the soldier said.
After hearing this, Bi Yuntao's face became serious. He thought for a moment and said, "This matter is of great importance. We must understand it as soon as possible."
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