Chapter 56: Quick Guide to the Soldier King (XIV)
When news came that the war had resumed in the north, Yuntao and I were watching children playing in the fields.
At that time, the south of the Yangtze River was peaceful, and the warm spring sun was shining on me, which was indescribably comfortable. Yun Tao put down the hoe, wiped the sweat off his face, and said with a smile: "Zi'ang, do you think we should consider building a bigger house? In the future, we will have too many animals to live in."
I blushed and gently hit him: "Then we must build a big house. Not only can it accommodate cats and dogs, but also homeless people and orphans with no one to take care of them. Our house can be called Peach Blossom Spring!"
But this "eight characters" really came true soon after. We set up a few simple banquets under the old locust tree at the entrance of the village and entertained the neighbors. We were considered married. There was no three bows and nine kowtows, no bridal tiara, but holding Yuntao's hand, I felt very at ease.
After we got married, we looked for a quiet place surrounded by mountains and rivers. We happened to find a somewhat dilapidated deserted village. I led the soldiers to rearrange and repair the village, and sealed it off with stones, leaving only a hole connecting it to the outside world. The village was planted with flowers, and the fences were covered with bean vines. We lived a simple and happy life.
We cultivated the fields together, sowing the seeds of hope; we raised poultry together, feeling the vitality of life; we strolled along the ridges of the fields together under the setting sun, listening to each other's heartbeats. Far away from the smoke of war, this place seemed like a paradise, and I finally found the home of my soul.
The news brought by the messenger was like a bolt from the blue, and it took me a long time to recover. The Qing army has returned, and the war on the Jiangnan border has started again. Will this peaceful life not last long? I looked at Yun Tao worriedly, but I saw that his face was calm, and there was a determined light in his eyes.
We always have to make a choice between family and country. Personal love is a small love, and national love is a big love. We can enjoy happiness, so how can we bear to see others displaced and their families broken up?
"Liu Xing is still in the capital. We can't let them fight alone." Yun Tao clenched his fists and spoke in a firm tone.
I understand what he means, and I also understand the fire of resistance that has never been extinguished in my heart. In recent years, Liu Xing has been assisting Emperor Chongzhen in the capital, working hard to govern the country and revive the government.
I heard that Emperor Chongzhen was also a good emperor who worked hard and loved his people. He implemented a series of policies to benefit the people, reduced taxes, and encouraged farming. The economy of the Ming Dynasty gradually recovered and the lives of the people improved day by day.
I once received a letter from Liu Xing, in which he said that the capital city is now very different, with people living and working in peace and contentment, no one picking up things on the road, and no one locking their doors at night, a scene of prosperity. He also said that Emperor Chongzhen often mentioned Yun Tao and me, saying that we were heroes of the country, and he hoped to see us again one day and thank us in person for our contributions to the country.
Whenever I read this, my heart surges, as if I have returned to those days of war and war. We once fought side by side with Liu Xing, fighting bloody battles and escaping death for the safety of the country and the well-being of the people. Now, when the country is in danger, how can we stand idly by?
I took a deep breath, held Yuntao's hand, and said firmly: "Let's go back and defend our country with Mr. Liu!"
Yun Tao looked at me with satisfaction, his eyes full of love and admiration. He knew that although I longed for a peaceful life, I could not let go of my love for my country.
We packed our bags, said goodbye to the quiet village, and set out on the journey back to the capital.
I had a dream at night. In the dream, the village was decorated with lights and full of joy. This was Yuntao and I’s wedding, which would be held in the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom.
I know that this is the moment we have been waiting for for a long time, and it is also the best testimony to our love. Over the years, we have experienced ups and downs together, and shared hardships. This feeling has long transcended life and death and is deeply engraved in each other's bones and blood.
On the wedding day, I put on the red wedding dress that the villagers had made for me, and covered my head with a red veil embroidered with a picture of gills playing in the water. Supported by the bridesmaid, I slowly walked into the courtyard.
The courtyard was full of guests and it was very lively. The villagers spontaneously arranged a festive scene for us. The yard was filled with banquets, and the children ran around happily with happy smiles on their faces.
I saw Mr. Liu, who had come all the way from Beijing to send us his blessings. Seeing that they were safe and sound, I finally felt relieved.
Yuntao was dressed in a red wedding suit, looking handsome and tall. He lifted my red veil and looked at me lovingly, his eyes full of tenderness and love.
With the villagers as witness, we bowed to heaven and earth, to our parents, and to each other as husband and wife, completing the wedding ceremony.
At that moment, I felt unprecedented happiness and satisfaction. I know that no matter how many storms there are in the future, I will face them hand in hand with Yuntao and never separate.
After marriage, Yuntao and I lived a sweeter and happier life. Soon, I adopted a war-abandoned baby, a lovely daughter.
Looking at the delicate little life in the cradle, Yuntao and I were very excited. We named our daughter "Nian Tao" in the hope that she would be as beautiful and happy as the peach blossoms all over the mountains.
Two years later, I adopted another son. We named him "Nian'an", hoping that he would grow up healthy and safe and become a pillar of the country in the future.
A happy family with two children, this should be the life I dreamed of. However, when we walked out of the village, there were already piles of corpses outside, some of which were crawling with flies.
This is not the happiness I want! Yun Tao taught the children in the village martial arts. Every day, the children sweated profusely in the martial arts training field. They were all energetic and hoped that they could survive in this chaotic world.
However, a wounded soldier stumbled into the village, breaking the peace. He held a token high in his hand and shouted hoarsely, "Urgent news! Urgent news! The Qing army... the Qing army is heading south again, Jiangnan... is in danger!"
At that moment, my heart seemed to sink into a bottomless abyss.
I was awakened by a nightmare and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. I turned over and took out the general's token. The familiar mark stung my eyes, and the bloodstains on the token seemed to silently accuse the cruelty of the war.
"Yun Tao!" I cried out, with a slight tremor in my voice.
Yun Tao rushed over when he heard the sound, and when he saw the token, his face became serious. He hugged me tightly and said, "It's okay, it's okay."
"I will fight alongside you!"
I held his hand tightly with a firm gaze. Yun Tao looked at me with a look of heartache in his eyes, but he also knew that I would not back down at this time.
"Okay!" He nodded vigorously. "The two of us will live and die together with the generals!"
In less than half a day, the once quiet village was filled with soldiers who responded to the call. Each of them had a resolute expression, swords in their hands, and their eyes were filled with a determination to face death.
Looking at this young but still brave team before my eyes, a raging fire ignited in my heart, as if I had returned to those glorious days of war.
"Let's go!"
At Yun Tao's command, we led our troops to the battlefield again, marching towards Jiangnan in a mighty manner. Thick smoke covered the sky and the sun, and the deafening shouts of killing gradually approached from afar. Jiangnan, this once poetic and picturesque land, was now being engulfed by the ruthless flames of war.
On the march, Yuntao and I were both in a very heavy mood. Along the way, we kept receiving reports of defeat from the front, and each one hit our hearts like a heavy hammer.
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