Harue Kagetsu

Outside the barracks, people stood on the side of the Gangyuan that had been set up as a camp last night. As said by the soldier just now, the intersection leading to Kanglong Road was also blocked by the crowd. A group of soldiers was ordered to pull out the camp, and was about to pass this road, and was forced to stop temporarily.

Looking around, in the morning light, along the shore of Luoshui, more people are still coming in this direction.

They seemed to have come here after a long night's journey, tired faces, ragged clothes, and a thick layer of mud on their feet. No matter how the soldiers drove them away, they would not leave, but kept pleading there. , suddenly saw a figure walking out of the barracks, many people recognized Li Mu, with excited expressions on their faces, the voices of "Big Sima" calling, one after another, and the crowd also became commotion.

Wang Wu, who was in charge of the construction of the Shangjinkou **** earlier, ran out of the crowd that had lined up and knelt down toward Li Mu.

The people behind him followed suit.

Li Mu hurried to the front and said with a smile, "Get up!"

Exactly the same as when he came to ask Li Mu for help last time, the craftsman refused to get up anyway, and kowtowed: "After the flood in the **** was levelled that day, the people and all the villagers wanted to ask the great Sima to thank him, so they were kept there. The sergeant told me that Da Sima has already left. I thought Da Sima would go to Luoyang, and when I arrived there, I found out that Da Sima was not there. People like me owe not only Da Sima a life, but also the life of the whole family! Da Sima kowtows to express his gratitude, is it not better than pigs and dogs! Knowing that Da Sima is going to return to the pass, he dared to chase after him, and he was lucky enough to meet him here.

The plan that Murong arranged for the Shangjinkou River Mouth, as long as Kang Longdao could block Li Mu, even if he blocked it for just one or two more days, the result would be very different. In order to prevent himself from being submerged by the flood, he crossed the river with the remaining troops early and retreated to the safety of Hebei.

The flooding of the Yellow River was the best defender who obeyed him. After removing Li Mu, he would bring his troops back and recover Luoyang without any effort.

In his entire plan, removing Li Mu was the top priority. As for the people's hearts in the Central Plains of Henan, which is about to be engulfed by the flood, it is important, but compared to the great things that he wants to achieve, all of these can be ignored.

What he didn't expect was that in just one night, the impregnable Kanglong Pass was broken by Li Mu. Not only did his plan fail completely, but even Henan, the Central Plains, was handed over.

Li Mu embarked on the return journey and was about to arrive at Luoyang, knowing that the people had just retreated despite the flood, and their homes were still in a mess. Temporarily decided to bypass Luoyang, and then, according to the original plan, patrolled several important ferry crossings and strategic places on the south bank of the Yellow River, deployed military forces, arranged for my own people to serve as county governors temporarily, responsible for rectifying the place and appease the people, and then transferred here. .

It is also because of this that this morning, he was caught up by the people behind him and met here.

Li Mu wanted to help the person up, but the craftsman brought the person behind him, but he still refused to get up. He said again: "Da Sima's Northern Expedition has come to this point, but after a few days, he hurriedly returned to the pass, and he refused to even step into the Eastern Capital."

"Could it be that Da Sima is going to leave just like this? I beg Da Sima, don't abandon me and ignore me, just leave and never return!"

He said, his eyes were red, and his expression became excited.

"After the imperial court southward, for so many years, the Hu people came and went in Henan, fighting non-stop. I waited for the Han people, who were as cheap as pigs and dogs. Today, it is a fluke. Da Sima, which of us has never experienced the tragedy of family destruction? In the past, I hoped for the northern expedition of the imperial court, as long as the emperor can come back, even if I still eat bran and swallow vegetables, it is better than trembling with fear! At that time, I heard that Duke Gao of Dayu sent troops to the northern expedition, looking forward to it day and night, his eyes pierced, and he died in the end, without waiting for the court to return to the north."

"In the past, before the Great Sima arrived, we were all deceived by that Xianbei man! I thought that he was different from other Hu people, and he really regarded us as people. Now I know that only the Great Sima is willing to save me. It's like fire and water."

"The common people have heard that the Southern Dynasty does not allow the Great Sima. Therefore, I dare to ask the Great Sima, don't come back, so why don't you just stay here? Don't go and never return, abandoning me is like disregarding me!"

At the end, he choked out a voice, and the people behind him also showed their emotions.

The people who blocked Kanglong Dao also knelt down and echoed loudly.

The soldiers wanted to pass, but the intersection was blocked. No matter how to drive them away, those people just begged and refused to leave. Because the leader had his life on his hands, he thought that these people were here to provoke him, and he was about to order to forcibly clear the way, but only now did he understand.

It turned out that the people were afraid that the army would leave and the Hu people would fight back, so they caught up and blocked the intersection to prevent them from passing through. Then he put down the sword and gun in his hand and looked at Li Mu one after another.

Wang Wu wiped away his tears, and it seemed that they were coming one after another, and more and more people gathered together, and said, "Da Sima! These fellows are not motivated, but on the way, know that we are going to Jinkou. People want to come to stay with the Great Sima, and all the villages and regions have sent people to join them. Only then did they go all the way and chase the Great Sima to this place. The purpose is to be able to see the Great Sima with his own eyes and to petition the Great Sima. I beg the Great Sima to stay, not to Abandon it!"

"I am willing to give my rations and surplus money, and I just ask the Great Sima Gu Nian to save us!"

On the banks of the Luoshui, many people rushed up. In their hands, they were holding baskets and bags filled with dry grains of wheat and millet.

Luoshen stood beside the big tent and saw all this clearly, and couldn't help but feel infinite feelings in his heart.

These people from the Central Plains have been oppressed by aliens, and their lives are extremely difficult. What's more, the village where most of them live has just suffered a flood. Although the water level is not high, their life will be greatly affected. The food may be hard-earthed from the few rations left at home.

They were afraid that once Li Mu left, he would be cruelly treated by the Hu people, so they wanted to ask him to stay.

Born as a human being, faced with troubled times, in order to survive, it is difficult to this point.

Li Mu was obviously a little moved, and he loudly ordered the soldiers to step back, not to stop them from moving forward, and when the crowd gradually approached, they approached him, climbed a boulder, faced the crowd, and said loudly: "Loved by many fathers and elders, chase after them. I am so grateful to Li Mu. Please rest assured, the Northern Expedition and Forte land is my long-cherished wish in Li Mu's life. Even if he is not talented, how can he abandon him when he is here? The reason why he did not enter Luoyang that day was because I don’t want to disturb the people. Rest assured, everyone, although I will return to the gate temporarily, but all the important checkpoints here are arranged to be garrisoned. Once the Hu people are in trouble again, the army will definitely come! An Anmin Notice will be issued."

He looked around at the faces on the opposite side who were looking up at himself, paused for a while, and said again: "I, Li Mu, take this opportunity today to swear to all the elders that if the Central Plains are not completely restored and the world is at peace, then I will never do so. Don't give up. Your good wishes, I will be led by the army of heaven. Please bring back all the food and supplies you bring. The flood will retreat, listen to me, and stop chasing me on the road. Now the first priority is to return home immediately, Replant and cultivate to ensure the next year's harvest!"

His voice fell, and the surroundings fell silent.

"Fathers and elders, what Da Sima said is extremely true—"

Suddenly there was a scream from behind.

Everyone looked back and saw another group of people riding horses by the Luoshui River.

The forerunner was the magistrate of Yucheng County.

Yucheng County is hundreds of kilometers away from this place. The county magistrate's surname is Ding. He had previously heard that Murongdi was going to flood Luoyang with flood water, and the counties and counties along the Luohe River would all suffer. Although he was full of fear at the time, he secretly scolded the Xianbei people for their bad hearts. When he died, he didn't just run for his own life. He first sent people to various villages in the county to issue a warning, telling the villagers to flee. He also abandoned the city and fled with his family to a steep and high mountain, where he squatted on the mountain for many days. , has never been flooded. A few days ago, he sent his men down the mountain to inquire about the news. Only then did he know that Li Mu, the great Sima of the Southern Dynasty, surpassed Kanglongling overnight, and rushed to Shangjinkou to resolve the crisis. Murong Ti even stole the chicken without losing the rice, lost a large area of ​​Henan, and retreated to Hebei. I was already defeated and suffered this blow again. I am afraid it will be difficult to fight back again. I wanted to vote for Li Mu. I worked hard for the past two days and caught up all the way. I chased here this morning. This opportunity to show his loyalty, he immediately appeared and helped Li Mu to persuade the people to retreat.

I saw him get off his horse and come before the crowd, and said loudly: "I am the magistrate of Yucheng County! What Da Sima said is very true. If there are any of you who are citizens of Yucheng County, please go home soon. Ploughing and replanting! The same is true for the rest of the people, where they come from, where they go back! Don't stay here any longer, delaying the major military affairs of Da Sima!"

Several generals beside Li Mu also spread the word and stepped forward to persuade the people.

"If there is this sentence from the big Sima, I will be relieved after waiting! Everyone has listened to what the big Sima said, go back!"

Wang Wu's eyes were red, he also got up from the ground, and followed to persuade the people behind him.

One pass ten, ten pass one hundred, the gathering crowd finally began to slowly disperse.

The magistrate of Nading came to Li Mu and asked to see him, with a very respectful attitude. He said that he had heard the news before, how to dismiss the people in the county in time, how to respect the name of the Great Sima, and he would swear to follow him in the future. .

Li Mu encouraged and turned away.

At this moment, suddenly, not far away, on the high plateau where Long Kangdao was, there was a roar of a tiger.

Howling like thunder, from far to near, darkly shaking the hills.

The people were all ears, stopped and turned to look.

As soon as Luoshen heard the roar of the tiger approaching, he knew that the white tiger had come out again.

Ever since she stumbled into the water, was carried ashore by the white tiger, and was on her way to Chang'an, it has appeared and disappeared from time to time. Sometimes she disappeared for a few days, and sometimes she stayed with her. The people around him were terrified at first, but when the white tiger appeared, he often avoided it. After a few times, I saw that it seemed to be psychic, and it didn't hurt anyone, and this slowly eliminated my fear. That day, Chang'an cleared the siege, and after Luoshen entered the city, the white tiger disappeared into the forest outside the city. These days, he never showed up again. I thought it had left, but at this moment, it appeared here again.

She turned her head, and sure enough, on the hillside of the high plateau behind her, on top of a cluster of precipitous ridges, she saw the familiar figure of Baihu at a glance.

Standing tall among the cliffs, it is majestic and full of majesty, facing the fiery red morning sun that has just risen on the horizon on the opposite side, sending out a long howl that shakes the surrounding fields. Deep at the end of the forest, there is nowhere to be seen.

Although this scene was short-lived, the people off the post all saw it clearly and talked a lot.

Ding county magistrate came back to his senses, glanced at Li Mu, his eyes moved, he suddenly turned around, and shouted to the crowd: "The white tiger is a divine beast!"

"An ancient book says, 'The country will prosper, and the white tiger will play the dynasty', and there is another saying, 'When the holy king rises in response to the season, the white tiger will roar in the morning, and the thunder will be heard in the four fields'."

"Fathers and elders, the Great Sima is here today, and the White Tiger appeared. It's such a coincidence, isn't this a sign of God's response? Why don't you come to meet me soon!"

After he finished speaking, he rushed towards Li Mu, saying that the destiny was where he was, and he bowed his head with a great gift.

Under his leadership, the people were even more excited, rushing to follow suit and salute Li Mu.

Under the high plateau, on the banks of Luoshui, but hearing the buzz, the atmosphere reached a new climax.

Luo Shen witnessed this scene happening right under his own eyes. He was a little surprised at first, but after thinking about it, he took it for granted.

In the eyes of the people who survived the disaster, Li Mu's appearance was like the last straw that they could grasp.

In this land, after all, someone has to be called the king and the emperor. In their minds, in the world today, who else can reassure them more than the person who saved them from extinction?

The so-called white tiger mythical beast is just an introduction.

She couldn't help looking at the man in front of her. Seeing that he turned his head slowly, two eyes were directed towards him.

In the sound of one after another in the ears, the eyes of the two met.

Luoshen stared at him, smiled at him, and nodded vigorously.

…

Half a month later, Li Mu returned to Chang'an with Luoshen.

On the day they arrived in Chang'an, the army and the people rejoiced, and the city was very lively.

Li Mu sent her into the city, entered the governor's mansion, told her to rest, changed her clothes, and left the city without stopping.

Luoshen knew that he was going to see his elder brother Gao Yin.

On that day, outside Chang'an, she arrived with Aye's tiger talisman, and revealed Murong Zhe's face. Uncle Gao Yun was ashamed to see anyone and left without saying goodbye overnight. The eldest brother has not returned, and the army is still stationed in Shangluo.

Luoshen knew that this should be the order of the imperial court.

Looking back on the past half-year, since she left Jiankang, she has been running around on the road, tossing and turning, anxious and uneasy. Now that the couple has finally reunited and returned to Chang'an smoothly, once they relax, they are inevitably tired.

Luoshen also knew that Li Mu and the eldest brother were both stable people. Even if there are still differences in the current situation, the meeting should not cause any conflict.

But having said that, after Li Mu left, she still felt a little uneasy in her heart.

When it got dark, although she felt tired, she had no sleepiness to go, and had been waiting for Li Mu to come back. In the middle of the night, I finally heard footsteps coming from outside, and the maid said across the door that Da Sima had returned.

Luoshen hurriedly welcomed him inside and asked the details of the meeting between the two.

Li Mu smiled and said, "I have already told him what I said. Your eldest brother..."

He paused and looked at Luoshen.

"He's here too. Dao wants to meet you again."

…

Gao Yin entered Chang'an alone, without any personal attendants, waiting in the living room of the governor's mansion.

Li Mu accompanied Luoshen to the living room, left Luoshen, and the people backed out. There were two siblings left in the house.

He stood in the room, his figure was motionless, and his expression was solemn.

Luoshen stepped forward and called him eldest brother.

The candlelight reflected Gao Yin's face. He looked darker and thinner than before, with an undisguised heaviness hanging between his eyebrows, but in front of Luoshen, he didn't seem to want to show too much, he looked at her, and a gentle smile finally appeared in his eyes, asking How is she doing.

Luo Shendao said that everything was fine.

Gao Yin nodded, was silent for a moment, and said, "I know what Da Sima has done before, capturing the Kanglong Pass in the night and saving the people from extinction. I won't say anything more. Ami, Just now he told me that from now on, he will no longer be the Great Sima of the Southern Dynasty, nor will he be ordered by the court. Do you know about this?"

His tone was serious.

Luoshen looked at his eldest brother and nodded: "I know." Seeing that he was about to speak, he added, "Not only do I know, I also agree."

Gao Yin said: "Ami, you know, what does this mean? He acts like this, which makes me really embarrassed."

Luo Shen said: "Brother, don't be embarrassed. Just tell the court the truth."

"In the past, Langjun was ordered to the imperial court, and the imperial court also guarded him in every possible way? My brother is now stationed here and has not returned south. I am afraid that he was also ordered by the imperial court to monitor him to prevent him from raising troops south and plotting to build a healthy society. no?"

Gao Yin didn't respond, and asked word by word, "Li Mu, is he really going to make trouble?"

Luoshen shook his head: "Brother, you are wrong. He has never done anything that would cause a great danger in the past. From now on, the imperial court should not be embarrassed, and he will not take the initiative to harm the Southern Dynasty."

"Excuse me, eldest brother, be sure to speak to the queen mother for me. Instead of guarding against him, it is better to guard against Rongkang. On the surface, he is loyal and obedient to Da Yu, but in fact he has a heartless heart. You must be careful! My lord, this Rongkang is the real confidant of the court!"

Her tone was unusually solemn.

Gao Yin looked at Luoshen steadily.

The woman in front of her was clearly her sister who had seen her since childhood, but she did not know when it started, and she and Gao, as well as the court to which Gao was loyal, gradually drifted away.

Gao Yin knew that she would never look back now.

Just tonight, at such a moment, in his heart, a deep feeling of tiredness mixed with despair suddenly emerged.

It was like being imprisoned in a dark room with no daylight, vaguely knowing that as long as you took a step and pushed open the door, the light might be in front of you, but the despair and tiredness that she could never take that step. sense.

He also finally realized how difficult and helpless every choice he had made when his uncle was in the position of the family head of the Gao family.

After being silent for a long time, he said, "Brother understands what you mean. I'll change the words on your behalf. I hope..."

He paused for a while, still didn't say this, just smiled.

"Da Sima is a trustworthy person. Brother A is relieved to have such a good son-in-law. Brother A is gone."

He nodded to Luoshen, opened the door and left.