Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 29: Pick a Character
Something is better than nothing.

At least it's much better than being unemployed at home.

The only thing that comforted Liu Daogui was that he could bring five subordinates with him, otherwise he would be completely in the dark if he went alone.

There were five people from the Liu clan who went together: Liu Zun, Liu Heipi, Liu Zhong, Liu Guangzhi, and Liu Zhen.

Liu Heibin and Liu Guangzhi were old soldiers of the Northern Palace. They participated in the Battle of Feishui and followed Xie Xuan in the Northern Expedition. They were capable helpers that Liu Yu found from his clan.

Liu Zhong and Liu Zhen were both thirteen-year-old children. In terms of seniority, Liu Daogui had to call Liu Zhen "uncle". Liu Zhong lost both his parents when he was young, and lived with his fellow townsman, Liu Gu, the prefect of Zhongshan, to seek survival. When the Northern Palace Army got a respite, he resolutely joined the army.

These days, children from poor and commoner families have to go out to make a living at a young age.

"From now on, no matter how dangerous the situation, it only takes a word from Agui!" Liu Heibin and Liu Guangzhi are acquaintances. When the meat and money were divided, they both had their share, and they had been of one mind for a long time.

Liu Zhen and Liu Zhong were young and were brothers from the same clan, so naturally they followed Liu Daogui's lead.

Brothers fight together in wars, and fathers and sons fight together in battles. This has always been the old tradition of the Northern Army.

During the autumn harvest, five people came forward to help. Liu Huaisu, Meng Huaiyu and Xiang Jing knew that Liu Yu was seriously ill and the Liu family was short of help, so they came together. With nine strong men, they finished harvesting more than ten acres of land in one day.

Now that there was food at home, Liu Daogui felt relieved.

Liu Yu's injury has basically improved.

Winter is approaching and it is time to leave home.

It just so happened that my uncle Xiao Yuanzhi returned from Jiankang and brought half a mutton. It is better to share happiness with others than to enjoy it alone. It is not easy to eat a piece of meat these days, especially mutton, which only the nobles can afford.

Liu Daogui simply called Meng Huaiyu, Meng Longfu, Liu Huaisu, Xiang Jing, and then called Liu Zun, Liu Heipi, Liu Zhong, Liu Guangzhi, and Liu Zhen, and went to the market to buy some cheap pork, fat fish, and dry firewood.

While cooking fish soup, I roasted mutton.

The so-called "Mozhi" is actually grilling meat while slicing off the cooked part with a knife and eating it with salt.

"Guangling and Jingkou are separated by a river. Although the General of the Conqueror's Mansion belongs to the Western Army, the soldiers under his command are actually from the Northern Army. Agui will have great potential if he goes there."

Xiao Yuanzhi's words cleared away the gloom in Liu Daogui's heart.

In essence, when Huan Wen was fighting with the imperial court for the Northern Army, he set up a General's Office for Conquering the Enemy, which was passed on to Huan Chong and then to his son Huan Hong.

It is the third rank, and under it are the chief secretary, the secretary, the recorder, the military officer, the advisory officer, the acting officer and the chief clerk, etc.

Liu Daogui's military commission was a real military position, so Liu Laozhi still tried his best.

Before he could be happy, Xiao Yuanzhi changed the subject, "However, Huan Hong has a bad reputation. He is greedy for money and lustful, narrow-minded, and proud of his family background. He often bullies and humiliates his soldiers. He is completely different from his father Huan Chong."

After Huan Wen's death, Huan Chong controlled the heavy troops of the Western and Northern Palaces and could have continued along Huan Wen's old path.

However, he reconciled the internal and external affairs, eased the relationship between the court and the Huan family, and allowed the Xie family to establish the Northern Army. In the Battle of Feishui, the Western and Northern Armies worked together and defeated the 800,000-strong Di Qin army.

When Huan Chong died, men, women, old and young all stood by the river to see him off, their wails moving to the heavens.

The grace of a gentleman will decline after three generations and will be cut off after five generations. This has been the case throughout history.

The Huan family is only the second generation, but the signs are already showing.

Of course, this is the prevailing trend both in government and in society.

"Our family will only have a hard time in the next two years. Once I make a name for myself in the Northern Army, I'll try to transfer you back." Liu Yu cut off a large piece of fragrant mutton and handed it to Liu Daogui's bowl.

Liu Daogui laughed and said, "I won't provoke him. He's greedy, lustful, and narrow-minded. What does it have to do with me?"

Xiao Yuanzhi slowly cut off a piece of mutton and swallowed it before saying, "That's exactly the point. I've seen the sons of the Huan family running around, contacting old subordinates, and joining forces with Wang Gong and Yin Zhongkan. They're extremely ambitious. You shouldn't get too close to the Huan family."

When the rich families fight with each other, they may not be in trouble, but the poor families following behind will be affected and may suffer a devastating disaster.

"Even if I wanted to get close to him, Huan Hong might not be interested."

There is a huge mountain between the noble families and the common people.

Liu Daogui couldn't get close to someone he wanted to. People like Wang Mi were still a minority. "Then I'm relieved."

Xiao Yuanzhi said no more, ate a few bites of mutton, and then said goodbye.

After he left, everyone started eating without restraint, no longer caring about their table manners.

For everyone here, it is not easy to eat a few meals of white rice, let alone meat, throughout the year.

After the autumn harvest every year, the rice is collected and brewed into wine to be provided for banquets by the nobles and aristocrats. Wine, Wu Shi San and elegant conversation have become a fashion.

Even the emperor and Prince Sima Daozi were living in drunkenness and dreams all day long.

The crowd partying continued until late at night before dispersing.

Liu Zun, Liu Heipi and Liu Guangzhi each went home to prepare.

Liu Daogui was from a poor family after all, but he still had more than ten acres of thin land. They were commoners, with nothing in their homes and not even decent clothes.

Liu Zhen and Liu Zhong were even barefoot, with most of their buttocks exposed...

Xiao Wenshou couldn't bear to see this, so he prepared a pair of straw sandals and a straw mat for each of them, and patched up their tattered clothes so that they could barely look like human beings.

Liu Daogui took out a few ring-handled swords and distributed them to several people.

After all, he was a military officer under the command of the General of Conquering the Enemy, so he had to hang a knife on his body to look presentable.

As for armor, forget it.

Meng Huaiyu, Meng Longfu, Xiang Jing and Liu Huaisu all came to see him off and each brought some dry food and salt.

There is a military order from above, but you still have to be responsible for your own travel expenses.

"Although Sima and Canjun are clerks, they also have their own qualities. After you two brothers take up your posts, you must work diligently and selflessly. The sons of my Liu family are in no way inferior to the noble families in terms of talent." Before leaving, his mother Xiao Wenshou gave earnest advice.

"When we lead the Northern Expedition one day, my son will definitely be able to make a name for himself!" Liu Yu was full of confidence.

No one present doubted his words.

Seven or eight years ago, his bravery was known throughout Jingkou. If it weren't for his gambling addiction, the Liu family would have really needed him, and he would have followed Governor Xie to the Northern Expedition.

"Brother, work hard and promote some of your younger brothers when the time comes." Liu Daogui spoke the truth. The situations of the two brothers were completely different.

Liu Yu laughed heartily, "Agui is too unambitious."

"Ambition can't be eaten."

"Alas, you are born with this lazy habit." Liu Yu was helpless.

Xiao Wenshou didn't blame him. "Well, take care of yourself. I don't know how long it will take for you to come home and reunite. You're nineteen this year, so why not choose a name first?"

When a gentleman first puts on a crown, he must perform a concluding ceremony and then put on the crown to strengthen his mind.

Since the Han and Wei dynasties, men have been crowned and given a courtesy name at the age of 20.

However, in times of war, it is not necessary to completely follow the ancient system. Many people get married at the age of thirteen or fourteen, and some people get married at the age of fifteen or sixteen.

"Please give me a name, mother." Liu Daogui bowed.

"Your name is Daogui, how about your courtesy name Daoze?"

The word Daogui is Daoze. Liu Daogui is a person who abides by rules, so this word is quite appropriate.

I dare not refuse the gift from the elders. Poor people don’t have so many requirements. It’s good enough to have a name and a surname.

"Thank you, mother, for the name."

(End of this chapter)