Will Ming

It is the spring season, and the willow branches on the roadside spit out fresh green, and the small emerald green buds are like babies, tender and vigorous.The stubborn Cao'er turned over the small stones on top of her head, stretched her waist, and gradually stretched her body.The morning dew is crystal clear, just like the pearl necklace that Cao'er hangs around her neck. When it is illuminated by the sun, there is a different kind of youthful enchantment in the colorful light.

On the wide and flat official road from Bazhou to Youzhou, there are not many pedestrians.In the sixth year of the great cause, men from many villages in Hebei were recruited to Bianzhou. Canals were dug in the Songzhou area. Now the project has come to an end. There is a group of middle-aged men on the official road who returned home from Songzhou. labor.

Although there is not much money left in the hands of these hard-working laborers after layers of exploitation, they have been away from home for more than a year, and the packages on their backs are also full of thousands of golden meat.At that time, although corruption had already spread in the officialdom, the government of Sui Yang was still affected by the influence of the Kaihuang period at the beginning of Emperor Sui Yang's accession to the throne, and the officials did not dare to search the people too much. (Note 1)

These seven or eight men were all farmers from a small village called Fangcheng 130 miles north of Bazhou. Once the affairs in Songzhou were over, they got their wages and met to go home together.It's been a long way back from Songzhou. Although the world is still peaceful, no one can say whether they will be unlucky and encounter a few robbers who want money but not life.We have a caretaker when we walk together, and we are all fellow villagers, and we can trust each other.

They all held a whistle stick five or six feet long in their hands, chatting and laughing with each other and hurried forward.The so-called whistle stick is just a nice name, but it is actually just a wooden stick more than one meter long.During the Kaihuang period of the Great Sui Dynasty, Emperor Gaozuwen decreed to confiscate the world's weapons.Ordinary people are not allowed to carry privately kept sharp knives, but wooden sticks do not belong to the category of weapons. (Note 2)

"Brother Angkor, let's walk a few more steps today, how about we wait until we arrive at Niutou Village?"

A young man who looked about eighteen or nineteen years old wiped the snot that had reached his lips with his cuff and asked the sturdy man walking in front.His name is Li Sanfu, his name is vulgar, and there is no sign. He is from a peasant family and is not so particular.The kid from the Xu family next door always joked that his name was indecent, but in fact, could that guy's name be elegant?His name is Li Sanfu, and the guy who can only bury people is called Xu Sanduo, whose name is Wangcai.

After the questioning, he subconsciously lifted the heavy package on his back, feeling that the money was still there, and felt at ease.These people have been away from home for so long and worked hard in the river, just to make some money to make their lives better.

That burly man was named Wu Lailu, and he was the third child at home, and he was the leader recommended by this group of coolies who went out to work in Fangcheng.There are two short-lived older brothers above him, none of whom lived more than three months. In fact, he is the eldest in the family.

I don't know if his two elder brothers have saved their life and blessings to the third child. Wu Lailu has not only grown up, but also is as strong as a cow.He is also very energetic. He is 34 years old and has a son and a daughter in his family.He left the village and went to Songzhou when his daughter was under the full moon. Now that he thinks about it, his daughter is already one year old.Thinking that his wife had to take care of the elderly and children alone for more than a year, he felt a little guilty.

"Sanfu, it will take at least six or seven hours to reach Niutou Village, and it will be dark by then. Although the official road is peaceful, it is not prudent to drive in the dark. The third brother knows that you are homesick, and everyone is different. Let’s go faster now, and try to get to Dongbei’an Village before noon, and then go on the road after eating something in Dongbei’an Village, and get to Linchengpu before dark, and spend the night there, get up early tomorrow, and leave before noon I can get home."

Liu Laizi was the oldest person in this small team. When people asked him his age, he always lied about how old he was. The village posted notices recruiting people to open the Jiqu Canal in Songzhou, asking for strong men under 40 years old. I'm 51, so I just say I'm 39 out of the blue.There is no one else in his family, and the whole family is not hungry when they are full. Although it is hard and tiring to open the canal, it can still provide meat for more than a thousand people in spite of food and housing. Why not do it?

Seeing Li Sanfu's anxious look, Liu Manizi smiled and said, "Sanfu, are you in a hurry to go home and marry a wife? Don't worry, that little girl in Pengjiazhuang won't be able to run away one day later! It took me a long time to grow a piece of grass, but now I come back, it just happens to bloom a flower!"

Li Sanfu blushed at what he said, and argued: "I... I don't want to marry a wife, I just miss my mother."

Angkor smiled and said, "Uncle Laizi, don't laugh at Sanfu, it's you, the meat you have worked so hard to earn is good, don't stuff all your brains into the belly pockets of those foxes in Baoyuelou."

Liu Laizi smiled embarrassingly: "How can I do that! I will keep the money for use!"

Li Sanfu asked curiously: "Uncle Laizi, what is the use of keeping your money?"

Liu Laizi gritted his teeth: "I want to raise a child, the incense of the old Liu's family can never be broken in my hands!"

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, and then they changed their impression of Liu Laizi, an old rascal who is proficient in eating, drinking, whoring and gambling.

Just as I was talking, suddenly there was a clear ringing of bells from behind, and there was a rough yell: "The people in front give way quickly, I startled my big green mule, and carefully kicked your ass!"

Everyone turned their heads to look, but they saw several carriages coming from behind, and the front carriage was pulled by a blue mule that looked quite vigorous.The driver was wearing a straw hat, and the clothes on his body were soap clothes and black boots, so he must have come from a wealthy family.Everyone came from small rural families, although they hated the arrogance of the driver, they didn't dare to provoke them, and obediently got out of the way.

When the driver saw that everyone gave way, he hummed and said, "You guys are wise, otherwise the whip will tear your skin apart."

The man spoke roughly, with an awkward accent.

He was flaunting, but he saw a gap in the curtain of the carriage, and a delicate little girl poked her head out of the gap and said, "Ge Taihu, the lady is still in the carriage, and if you continue to speak foul words, let's go!" Take care of your skin!"

This little girl has not yet reached the age of Ji, she looks to be twelve or thirteen years old.Bai Nennen looks very delicate, but there is disgust for the driver on the brows.The driver seemed to be very afraid of the little girl, so he quickly apologized and didn't dare to speak publicly again. (Note 3)

Wu Lailu stood on the side of the road, waiting for the carriages to pass before continuing on his way.It was a total of three carriages. The carriages looked quite luxurious. They should have come from officials and eunuchs. They had just left Bazhou not long ago, and it was expected that the family members of the official and lord were going to spring.Wu Lailu has always been able to hide from these high-ranking people.Firstly, he couldn't be provoked, and secondly, he looked disgusted.

Everyone looked at the shadow of the carriage in the distance and was guessing who the carriage belonged to, when suddenly there was a sound of horseshoes stamping on the ground behind them.Everyone had learned the lesson from the previous incident, and gave way before the people behind could open their mouths.Before he had time to look back, the horse had already galloped past everyone's bodies.Liu Laizi was too slow to hide, and was almost knocked down by the horse.He was a scoundrel in the first place, and when he opened his mouth in anger, he cursed a few times.The knight on horseback looked back at him coldly, but ignored him.However, this glance was like a knife, as if it directly looked into Liu Laizi's heart.

"Bo Tawu?!"

Wu Lailu looked at the horse running past and whispered three words in disbelief.

"Third Brother, what did you say Ta Wu?"

Li Sanfu came over and asked.

"No, nothing."

Wu Lailu's face changed, and he didn't explain anything to Li Sanfu.He was afraid that if he explained it, he would scare these timid companions.Bo Tawu is a famous BMW of the Khitan people outside the Great Wall. It is hard to buy for a thousand dollars. Even the royal family of Khitan is proud of owning a pure Botawu.Wu Lailu had been to the territory of the Khitan people in Saibei, and he was very impressed with this kind of BMW horse.A BMW is not very intimidating, and the knight on horseback does not look like a Khitan on the Saibei grassland.The reason why Wu Lailu's expression changed was because he just happened to know that within a few hundred miles around Youzhou, there might be only two places with such a BMW.

The first place is in the army of Luo Yi, the general of Youzhou Huben.

The second place is the largest and most ferocious horse thief in Hebei, Tiefutu.

Liu Laizi moved closer to Wu Lailu, and said in a low voice with a cold face, "Third brother, it seems that we can't rush on our way today."

Wu Lailu nodded, the man behind him obviously stepped on a plate.

It can't be the Youzhou tiger ben Jingjia, then it can only be that group of horse thieves who cannibalize people without spit out bones.

Liu Laizi sighed and said, "There should be a delicate young lady in that car, it seems that she will not end well. I don't know which group of gangsters are following her, what a pity!"

Wu Lailu said in a low voice: "Iron Buddha"

Those three words made Liu Laizi's face suddenly change in fright, and he couldn't even move his feet.His body trembled involuntarily, and a layer of cold sweat immediately appeared on his back.

"I'm staying in Dongbei'an Village today, and I'll leave tomorrow morning!"

Wu Lailu said without any doubt, without explaining, but he was worried about those people in the car.

As he was walking with his head depressed, suddenly a ten-year-old boy flashed out from behind the stones on the roadside.The young man was wearing a short gown, which was considered high-quality in terms of workmanship and appearance, but there were a few lumps of black and greasy spots on the chest, and there was still a lot of dust.The young man's straight black hair was still covered with a few tender green grass leaves, just looking at his clothes, he looked like a beggar.It's just that the boy's handsome and delicate face makes people feel very comfortable.Red lips and white teeth, if he was a few years older and changed into a brocade dress, he would definitely be a handsome young man.

In his hand was a stiff bow about his body height, and a quiver was tied behind his back.The quiver is full of dozens of feathered arrows, one side of the quiver