Chapter 13 Chapter 4 The Spring Breeze Doesn't Pass Yumen Pass (3)

After a short period of suffocation, the tragic cries of the two old men echoed horribly in the dark cellar like a tomb: "Qilang, Qilang, my son...we locked you up in the silver cellar. Let’s start, it’s us who killed you... Qilang, Qilang, you can’t afford to wait for your mother to die first, you..." "Qilang... Dad earned the silver for you to use it... Dad paid 30,000 taels of silver to buy your life, not asking you to kill it yourself, Qilang Qilang, you are so confused... to send you away I have done all the boating for you... You are killing me... You are destroying the root of our Liu family... What kind of evil did our Dunmutang do... Qilang Qilang, you are so heartless... you You can leave Jiumei and your own flesh and blood with just one clap... What crime did we do in Dunmutang..." Two pale-headed old people cried and fell to the side of the floor, like dead branches that were suddenly broken and abandoned in the dust.The cold and damp stone walls stifled the old cries in the impenetrable darkness.

Liu Zhenwu never imagined, and couldn't believe anyway, that this was the first day of his return home.Liu Zhenwu burst into tears and knelt down on his knees facing Qilang's body.He saw, under the flickering light like a will-o'-the-wisp, there was a bronze medal on Liu Lanting's chest shining, and he recognized that it was a secret sign to connect with him, and it was the school badge of the Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy that was exactly the same as his chest.Liu Zhenwu couldn't help but let out a mournful voice: "Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother, I'm late...I must avenge you!"

Amidst the mournful cries, a mysterious sweet-scented osmanthus fragrance suddenly drifted from the side of the cold corpse in the dark cellar like a tomb. Seven or eight butter lanterns hung high on the pillars and walls on both sides of the wine table, and a smell of burnt butter drifted around with the black smoke from burning.The furnishings in the lobby are still old, the front official case is covered with a circle of blue homemade cloth hanging down to the floor, and a white lining is added along the front face of the official case.On the official case, there are official seals, lottery holders, pen holders, and inkstones.On the wooden frames on both sides of the official case stood spears, broadswords, and two three-pronged steel forks that had never been used.The wooden partition wall behind the official case has already peeled off the paint, and the rainwater that has leaked over the years has stained the cracks in the wooden boards with smoky yellow water stains.The lights were bright, and the two of them stood side by side.Liu Zhenwu could even smell the water smoke from the opponent's body.The temple under the clam crown has gray hair on the temples.An eight-millimeter Mannlicher revolver bullet would easily penetrate this temple.The action of drawing the gun must be quick, surprise, and while he is toasting with both hands, the muzzle of the gun must be pressed against his temple, and there should be no time for him to evade, nor for the guards behind him to react.In order to enhance the lethality, the bullet head has been ground, and a cross was cut on the ground bullet with a dagger.Do not underestimate this cross.As long as the bullet hits the target, the bullet that collides violently with the skull will spread out along the cross, and the bullet that is rotated by the rifling in the chamber will become a meat drill. When it comes out, what is opened is not an 8mm hole, but a large piece of flesh and bone.In other words, it is very likely that half of the head will fly into the sky.As soon as this head wearing the sixth-grade crown blooms, there will be a delicious dish of brains splashing on the dining table.Then, there must be yelling, leaving the table in chaos, and wolves running around.They would never have imagined in their dreams that the management representative of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Infantry Association of the 17th Town of the Army, who was temporarily organized, would pull out a gun at the banquet and kill the commander of the patrol battalion!As long as my first shot is fired, there will be gunshots at today's banquet, many bodies will be pierced by bullets, and this feast of wine and meat will turn into a feast of massacres.As soon as my first shot is fired, the entire Yincheng will be full of gunshots. In the hail of bullets, corpses will fall to the ground, and the ancient city will be stained with blood. No matter who wins or loses, Yincheng will no longer be the original Yincheng!On the sumptuous long table are big fish and meat in big basins and bowls, and in front of each officer is a porcelain bowl full of Laojiao Daqu.The soldier holding the wine jar stood by the table, his eyes scanning back and forth on the wine bowl, ready to add wine to the officer at any time.The only thing that can be called exquisite is the four-inch fine porcelain dish in front of each person. Inside the dish is the well-known old army camp fire side beef.The brown-red beef in the snow-white porcelain dish is cut as thin as a steel needle, and the one-inch-long shredded meat is surrounded by two circles. The red pepper oil is evenly poured on the shredded beef, and the brown-red beef is half-cooked in the middle. Only emerald green melon.Pick up a piece of beef with chopsticks, the fat is moist, crystal clear like jade, as if it can see through the shadowy lights.Once the chopsticks are put into the mouth, the mouth is full of fragrance. The shredded meat is crispy but not tough, and it breaks when you bite it lightly.Everyone praised the color, aroma and taste of this dish with one voice.Amid the applause, Nie Qinxuan showed a smug smile and repeatedly claimed to be ashamed, saying that such trivial skills are not worth mentioning.Nie Qinxuan patted Liu Zhenwu's hand and said: "Liu Guandai, there is another really delicious dish in Yincheng specially prepared for you, please wait a little longer."

While speaking, Nie Qinxuan's breath and breath brushed against his ears one after another, and Liu Zhenwu felt that the blood in his chest was almost gushing out from under his skin.He smiled slightly, and calmly raised his wine bowl to thank him: "Then I will accept Commander Xie Nie's hospitality first!" Laojiao Daqu blushed hotly, and Liu Zhenwu, who was looking like a torch, took care of the scene calmly.The determination of revenge kept his mind clear and calm.As a soldier, Liu Zhenwu sees his own situation very clearly: once an originally rigorous military action plan is exposed, the party that is exposed will be the party that will fail.Now that the uprising has been revealed, and he has neither internal support nor foreign aid, facing heavily guarded opponents, the uprising is becoming an adventure that has nothing to do with victory.The so-called welcome banquet in front of him may turn into a convenient massacre at any time.This will be a revenge and massacre with a lot of wine and wine.This is also a banquet and massacre that cannot be refused, but this is the only chance for him to turn defeat into victory.Not just for riots, not just for victory, not just as commander-in-chief, but also revenge as brothers and sons.For a soldier who graduated from the Army Non-commissioned Officer Academy, dedication is a bounden duty that is more important than victory.Liu Zhenwu was even a little thankful that Nie Qinxuan had arranged the massacre feast.Over and over again, he imagined in his mind the scene of Nie Qinxuan being shot and blood flying everywhere.Before going to the banquet, Liu Zhenwu made arrangements carefully.He appointed Guan Dai as his agent after his death, and decided to bring only his adjutant and himself to Nie Qinxuan's military camp for a banquet. He carefully selected 30 of the most brave soldiers from the whole camp to form a death squad, and entered the city at the same time as himself as a guard. Each was equipped with a long gun and a short gun, and gathered some ammunition to fill up their bullet bags.And leave an order, all the people who want to stay behind are on standby with guns after dark, as soon as they hear the gunshots in the old city, they will immediately rush across the Shangguan Bridge to attack the city, blast open the north gate with artillery fire, and attack from inside and outside, so that the enemy inside and outside cannot Take care.After killing Nie Qinxuan, the leader of the patrol battalion, the Death Squad fought in two ways, one way was to seize the ammunition depot, the other way was to suppress the patrol team with fast guns in the barracks and quickly eliminate them, and then occupy the barracks and capture the entire city before dawn.

Nie Qinxuan, who was toasting frequently and talking and laughing, could already smell the gunpowder smell in the room, and he had already seen the extraordinarily large guards outside the room who did not drink alcohol, and those bulging bullet bags.From the moment they met in the school field, Nie Qinxuan had a premonition that he had already seen his opponent. This Liu Guandai who came to reinforce him was probably the commander-in-chief of the riot who hadn't shown up yet.Nie Qinxuan couldn't help secretly admiring the courage and ability of this young man. He even dared to organize a death squad and risk his life to break into the tiger's den.But this brat who has stayed abroad doesn't know what it means to steal the day for another day and draw salary from the bottom of the pot.He hadn't seen the good dish he had prepared for him.He was dumbfounded when the dish was served and kept for safekeeping!After three rounds of drinking, everyone was a little drunk.The wine-burned eyes around the table were all waiting for the good dish that hadn't been served yet.Sure enough, after a while, with the tangy aroma, everyone saw Liu Sangong of Dunmu Tang walking in behind a pair of hand-cooked noodles. The table was full of exclamations, and someone happily called out the name of the dish: ah, ah, Liu Sangong The autumn fresh fish!Nie Qinxuan, who was sure of the winning ticket, stood up with a smile, "Today I have Liu Sangong's boss, I really dare not be it! Sangong, please sit down! Give Sangong full wine! Liu Guandai, I don't need to use the hatchet. This is a famous dish in the house. An immortal product in the city! Sangong said that this dish should be eaten in the morning, and I specially invite everyone to open your eyes tonight! Liu Guandai, please!"

Liu Zhenwu suddenly saw his father's hair that turned gray overnight, and also saw two soldiers with guns following his father.Liu Sangong was arranged to sit beside Nie Qinxuan.Amidst Nie Qinxuan's smell of alcohol and complacency, Liu Sangong told his son in a voiceless voice: "Bao'er, don't think about anything else tonight, and taste Commander Nie's dishes with peace of mind. We will listen to everything." Commander Nie arranges." Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the chef put down the noodle bag, opened the charcoal pot, and took out the steaming bowl. As soon as the lid of the porcelain bowl was lifted, the room was immediately filled with the soul-stirring aroma of sweet-scented osmanthus.As if the lights were blown out by a gust of wind, Liu Zhenwu's torch-like eyes suddenly became as dark as an abyss.He thought of all the dangers and difficulties, and thought over all the details, but he never imagined that he would fall into this charming scent of osmanthus, never imagined that Nie Qinxuan would bring his father to this massacre Take hostages at the banquet!With my father at the scene, I didn't dare to move a single shot, and all the prepared soldiers would be turned into dung.What Nie Qinxuan wants to compete with him is not courage, nor strength.

Liu Zhenwu, who suddenly changed his face, looked at Liu Sangong who was seated with doubts on his face and asked: "Dad, why are you here?" Liu Sangong pointed to the dish he brought: "Bao'er, you eat first Serve the dishes. If we have something to say, let’s serve it slowly after drinking. Don’t let Commander Nie wait any longer.” The bowl in front of him was steaming hot, and on the crystal clear jade body of Tuiqiu fresh fish, there were scarlet wolfberry berries scattered shockingly, like bright red blood beads oozing out one by one. As the saying goes, one stone stirs up a thousand waves.Liu Sangong's rare fresh autumn fish set off laughter and loud admiration at the banquet.The officers got drunk and guessed orders.Amidst the din of people, Nie Qinxuan turned his head and whispered softly to Liu Zhenwu: "Liu Guandai, since you have already met Sangong yesterday, I will not say more. The brother Ling has been waiting for I am also waiting for the commander-in-chief. I want to tell the commander-in-chief that my barracks is actually an empty camp. The ammunition left by Mr. Yuan, the magistrate of Tongjiang, and the 100-man rapid gun team will be released tonight. None of them are in the barracks. I temporarily put them all in the garden of Guixinyuan on Wenmiao Street. Sangong told me that Qilang is dead, so he can only keep quiet and wait for the rumors of the past few days to find another excuse. Burial for Qilang. Liu Guandai, the reason I made this arrangement is that I don’t want to fight with people in Yincheng at all. As long as no one fights in Yincheng, Dunmutang and our Yincheng will go on as usual. As long as there is nothing wrong with Yincheng, As long as Yincheng can pay taxes on time, I, a veteran of the green battalion, can be regarded as worthy of the court. Those who can use military force may not necessarily be good generals. There is a saying that those who know the current affairs are heroes. Thirty-six strategies are the best. In my opinion, As long as the commander-in-chief of the riot is gone, it doesn't matter to him or to me whether he wins or loses. Now that the military plan has been revealed, and since the capture of the city is hopeless, why should he wait in Yincheng? The rest is up to me It's enough to deal with Liu Sangong. I'm over half a hundred years old, and I'm a veteran who has already been eliminated. I don't want to fight, and I don't want to compete with anyone. Liu Guandai, do you think my arrangements are thorough?"

Facing the wine bowl, Liu Zhenwu was speechless, only feeling that the blood in his body suddenly fell into a bottomless abyss together with himself.For so many years, I have traveled across the oceans, and everything I have learned from textbooks can't fill the bottomless abyss in front of me. Nie Qinxuan looked at Liu Sangong's white hair and sighed again: "Being old and losing a son, life is in great pain. I'm really worried that Sangong won't be able to bear other misfortunes." At the banquet, the officers yelled and yelled at the boxing game, and the sound was deafening, and there was a crowd.

This night, the lights on both sides of Silver Creek were the same as in the past.Evening drums and morning bells are in order.Silver City is safe and sound. No one can tell how many salt-carrying scull boats pass back and forth in the Silver Stream throughout the year.No one can tell how much salt is transported out of Yincheng and how much silver flows back from Yinxi throughout the year.But everyone in Yincheng knows that Yinxi is the blood of Yincheng, and only with this blood can Yincheng be closely related to the world.With this bloodline, Yincheng can use the world's things to obtain the world's wealth.Along the Yinxi River into the Qingyi River, and then into the Yangtze River from the Qingyi River, once entering the Yangtze River, the salt in Yincheng can travel all over the world.Minjiang River, Tuojiang River, Jialing River, Wujiang River... there are countless big and small rivers in the Yangtze River Basin; Tongjiang, Yibin, Luzhou, Jiangjin, Chongqing, Fuling, Wanxian, Yichang... there are thousands of large and small cities on both sides of the lower river. It has become a wharf where Yincheng salt boats can go.Wherever the sea salt cannot go, the well salt of Yincheng must come downstream and penetrate into every hole.Up and down the river, there is no wharf that people in Yincheng cannot reach.There is a saying, "Business is booming all over the world, and wealth is flourishing in the three rivers." For Yincheng people, this is not a couplet of congratulations on getting rich posted on the door, but a true portrayal of their daily life for thousands of years.Despite the long years, the change of things, the change of color of the mountains and rivers, and the change of dynasties, there is no dock in the world that does not stop boats, and there is no one who does not eat salt.

On August 23, the second year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty, when the boatmen were having breakfast, a two-masted wooden boat with the Japanese flag quietly left Tingyu Wharf.The boat was still new, with golden pine planks and golden masts, smelling of tung oil and rosin.The blue and yellow hemp sail ropes are still a little stiff, and the white sail tents are neatly bundled, obviously it hasn't experienced much wind and rain yet.Tongling at the back is covered by white clouds in the distance, occasionally revealing a distant blue corner.The wooden fence and stilted buildings of Shangshuiguan stood in the cool water, and a red corner flag was raised alone in the water vapor.The cold stone walls and towers of the old city stand tall on the hillside on the west bank.The tiled houses in the new town spread from the water's edge to the foot of Mount Taiping.Amidst the black tiled roofs and the black roof derrick, the red building of the Yuren School stands brightly.Leaving the port along the water without hoisting the sails.Along the curved river, the new boat gradually came out of the picture behind him silently.The sun flag waving on the stern is bright and eye-catching, which is particularly prominent.On both sides of the four or five mile-long bend between Shangshuiguan and Xiashuiguan, wooden boats waiting to be loaded with salt and bamboo rafts that had arrived early were eagerly crowded.The salt-carrying wooden boats are all single-masted boats, with a long scull at the stern to steer in the river, so they are also called scull boats.The salt boats that have been drifting in the wind and rain for many years have suffered all the hardships and vicissitudes of life.On the gray-brown hull, there is a skinny mast, and under the mast are scattered sail ropes soaked in salt and water, and old sails that are also gray-brown.The boatmen came out of the low and dilapidated boat sheds to make breakfast, and they either took a blower or a fan for fire, and squatted or sat naked on the deck with firewood beside them. and a pottery stove with handles.The maroon skin, thick legs and feet, and the gray-brown wood are one.There was a puff of smoke and the smell of food coming from the deck stove.Vegetable boats are loaded with seasonal vegetables and shuttle back and forth among the salt boats.The new boats with the flag of the sun floated high on the river, standing out among the densely packed salt boats and bamboo rafts on both sides.Experienced boatmen looked at the shallow waterline and knew without getting on the boat that this new boat didn't have much stuff except the salt that had to be ballasted.Of all the boats coming to Yincheng, no one would be willing to show off like this and empty the boat.Even the chief executives of the eight major saltworks in Yincheng went to Chongqing and Yichang to handle errands, and they refused to send an empty boat down the river like this.The boatmen didn't know much about the strange flag on the stern, but they recognized the foreigner standing on the front deck.Some people knew that it was Mr. Yang invited by Yincheng Education School to teach.When I came here two years ago, two men and one woman, there were three people in total, and they came by boat from Dongyang with Liu Qiye.Now there is one missing when leaving, and that person's head is hanging on the city wall outside the north gate of the old city.Some of the boatmen knew the boss who was steering the rudder at the stern, and they all greeted him loudly: "Boss Hong, where are you going?"

"Chongqing!" "Boss Hong, show off, take the empty boat and walk down the river." "I'm not the God of Wealth's god-in-law, how can I afford it? Mr. Liu Sangong sent the boat to Chongqing for Mr. Yang. I only use my strength to make it once." "Boss Hong, what are you hanging on the top of your boat?" "Oriental flag. Mr. Yang said it was the Japanese flag. With this flag flying, no one came to check the customs all the way." "Ha, after all, you, Boss Hong, are the boss of the foreigners!" "I only care about sailing the boat, and don't care about foreigners and natives." "Let's go, Boss Hong. The wind is blowing all the way." "TOEFL! TOEFL!" Between the answers, gradually drifting away.People on both sides of the river only saw the busy boatman on the boat and the pair of foreign brothers and sisters standing on the front deck.No one saw an invisible guest in the cabin of the new ship.The guest was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and he only talked to two Japanese teachers, and he only spoke Japanese.This guest was on the boat last night. Boss Hong is the "rudder handle" at the upper and lower pier entrances of the "Rixianhui" of the Yincheng Gelaohui. Among the tens of thousands of boatmen and trackers who travel to and from Yincheng, Boss Hong is quite a well-known figure.Because he often helped people out of danger and difficulties, someone gave him the nickname "Timely Rain" of Shuibo Liangshan Songjiang.Seeing that Boss Hong was leading the boat and steering the boat, there was an endless stream of people coming up to say hello.In the midst of non-stop socializing and answering, Boss Hong held the tiller calmly and calmly.Seeing the relaxed look on his face, no one would have thought that there were some earth-shattering stories on Boss Hong's boat. Only Boss Hong knew that this new boat was entrusted to Boss Hong to prepare on the day of Dunmutang Liu Sangong's birthday.Sangong sent the ship to foreigners in order to secretly send Liu Qiye to Chongqing together, and then take the steamer of the Japanese steamboat company to Shanghai and then to Japan.The reason why this ship is said to be the Japanese's own ship is to hang the foreigner's flag as a talisman.Because of the urgency of the matter, Liu Sangong couldn't even wait for Boss Hong to finish listening to the meeting, and hurriedly urged him to finish all the chores of sailing within two or three days.Unexpectedly, after boarding the boat with the guests this morning, even Boss Hong himself was greatly surprised.The person who wanted to go with the Japanese was not Liu Qiye, but Liu Guandai who led the army on the school field that day!Although Boss Hong was surprised in his heart, his face was calm and calm.Liu Sangong didn't say anything, so he couldn't ask. This is the rule in the world.Anyway, the sons of Liu Sangong were all given away.As for which son to send away, it is the master's own business.What's more, Boss Hong himself also borrowed flowers to present Buddha, and set up a "private guest" on the boat.This "private guest" was secretly sent to the pier by Pao brothers on Tongling Mountain.It was said that a brother who had offended the government was going to the river to avoid the limelight and asked Boss Hong for help.The two things happened to come together, and Boss Hong readily agreed. Anyway, in addition to steering the rudder, pole-holding, hoisting the sails, and leading the boat, there is always a need for a handy man on a boat.These days, what happened in Yincheng was a bit unexpected.Boss Hong has been in the rivers and lakes for a long time, has seen countless things, encountered countless risks, and has never capsized.In Boss Hong's heart, the word "jianghu" refers to the countless big rivers and small rivers and countless large and small piers that are directly connected to Yinxi.Even if you have big things, you can still disappear without a trace in Boss Hong's thousands of miles of rivers and lakes. In a blink of an eye, the boat passed Xiashuiguan, passed Aiye Beach, and entered Qingyi River from Guanyinkou.Suddenly the surface of the water opened up.According to the rules, as long as the wind is smooth, all boats going down the river must hoist their sails once they pass the Guanyinkou.Boss Hong shouted from the stern: "Raise the sails—!" All the boatmen were busy untying the sail ropes.Everyone was in a hurry, the guest who had been sitting in the cabin came to the deck, and suddenly spoke in his hometown dialect: "No busy, Boss Hong, I still have something to do." Boss Hong laughed loudly, "If you don't speak, I won't be able to talk to you. But I don't know whether to call you Liu Guandai or Liu Baye?" The guest also smiled faintly, "I don't have a single soldier around, where did Guan Dai come from? Just ask Baye Liu to make it easier." "What does Master Liu want to do?" "I want to write a few words on your sail." "Yes. The boat is Sangong's boat. What you want to do depends on what you want to do." While speaking, the pen and ink were ready, and with the slowly rising sail, there were four lines of characters lined up from right to left, and they were lifted high on the mast.In the blue sky and green stream, the white sails and black characters are particularly eye-catching: Chunqiang, a yellow bagpipe piece, the river is not alone, and it is far away from Xucheng. The guest put down his pen and ink and asked, "Boss Hong, do you think this poem is well written?" Boss Hong laughed loudly, "Baye Liu, don't laugh at me. I can't read a single word in Dou Da. How do I know what's wet or dry? I've been rocking a boat on the river for twenty years, and it's the first time I've seen writing on a sail. Bai Black characters on the bottom, it looks good! It looks good!" When everyone gathered under the sail and looked up at the few lines of writing, someone stood behind and asked, "May I ask Baye Liu, are you Liu Guandai who defeated the Tianyi Army at Tongling Pass that day?" The guest who wrote did not look back, but still stared at the poem on the sail, and sighed deeply: "The spring breeze does not pass the Yumen Pass, alas, the spring breeze does not pass, and there is no power to return to heaven... There is no soldier around. One pawn, one shot, one shot, where is Liu Guandai?" With the wind and the water flowing smoothly, Boss Hong's sailboat flew for hundreds of miles in the canyon full of green hills and cliffs, leaving the river behind behind the high blue sky and white clouds. In the evening, the boat has passed Yibin and Nanxi, and then it will spend the night at Jiang'an Wharf.The guest who wrote stood at the bow of the boat and pondered for a long time, watching a blood-like sunset sinking into thousands of mountains and ravines.The fluttering river wind ruffled his clothes and hair.In the dim shadow of the mountain, a boatman came over and asked: "Guest officer, Boss Hong said that you are Liu Guandai who defeated the Tianyi Army at Tongling Pass. Are you Liu Guandai?" The guest still didn't look back, "So what if it's true? So what if it's not? Anyway, I don't have a single soldier in my hand right now." "Guest officer, Boss Hong said that you were a baby bought by Liu Sangong from the street for a tael of silver. Is your baby name Gou'er?" "My baby name is Bao'er, not Gou'er. Who are you, what do you want after asking?" "Are you Liu Guandai?" "Yes. I am Liu Guandai. What do you want?" The boatman sneered, "If you weren't a dog, you would have nothing to say. Liu Guandai, you were the one who killed my father and my brother at Tongling Pass. By God, I came to you today to avenge my father and brother. !" Before the words were finished, Liu Zhenwu, the deputy in charge of the first battalion of the second standard of the first infantry association of the 17th town of the army, felt a chill in his chest, and a sharp dagger pierced his heart in the setting sun. Before he could say a word, he immediately fell back into the river that was rushing eastward.The boatman stood by the side of the boat and shouted to the people who came running: "The grievance has its head, and the debt has its owner. This Liu Guandai killed my father and elder brother at Tongling Pass. Our enemy Lu Zhai collided with the same boat. I am here today." It’s to avenge the killing of his father and brother! It has nothing to do with you! Boss Hong, I’m the one who does the work and the other is responsible, and I will never drag you into the water! Tell Liu Sangong that the person who killed his son is called Yue Xinnian. I am the one who was hunted down by the government The Right General of the Tianyi Army, Yue Xinnian! Boss Hong, thank you for sending me to Xiajiang, if I don’t die, we will meet again later!” After all, Yue Nian jumped into the torrent and disappeared in the blink of an eye.Only a boatload of stunned and terrified people remained.The gorge with walls standing thousands of feet holds the turbulent river to the east, and the gorge is filled with the mighty sound of wind and water.The wooden boat with full sails held high the thousand-year-old poem and flew like an arrow. In the vast wilderness, the setting sun shines, and the river is speechless.Boss Hong's sailboat is like a lone bird in panic. On August 23rd, as if someone had issued an order, tens of thousands of cows flocked to Yincheng from all directions like a tide.No matter the thoroughfare or the mountain trail, you can see the flowing cattle everywhere, gathering in one direction in a chaotic footsteps.Cattle traders wearing bamboo hats and straw sandals float in front of and behind the herd of cattle, waving bamboo sticks or branches that are mostly unnecessary.These bamboo sticks and branches are not like driving whips, but more like swaggering flags.In the soft morning light, the herd of cows walked peacefully and mooed to each other for their companions.The good-looking corners and the huge body sensitively maintain the distance between each other in slight collisions.Occasionally, someone would withdraw from the walking team, park leisurely by the side of the road, sprinkle a bubble of yellow and hot urine gracefully into the grass, and then join the companions without anyone else.In the team of gray and black buffaloes, there are occasionally bright bodies of yellow buffaloes.Today, they don't need to miss the green grass on the roadside, because before they set off, they had already eaten enough young grass, drank enough clean water, and took a comfortable bath in the weir pond.Today, I won't hear vicious scolding, and I won't be beaten with whip marks all over my body.All I heard today were praises and flattery, and all I saw were smiling faces.They know that today is their own holiday, and they know that today they are the real masters of Silver City.The spring and autumn bull market in Silver City is indeed like a grand festival.Spring City is mainly located in Jiming Town, and most of the cattle sold are Xiajiang cattle from Luxian, Xuyong, Jiangjin, Fuling, Wanxian and other places. Among them, the Dajia cattle from Yongchuan are the most famous.The autumn market is dominated by high-mountain farms, and most of the cattle traded are Shangchuan cattle from Hongya, Jiajiang, Xiaoliangshan and Yunnan-Guizhou. Among them, the most famous one is Fengshan cattle from Junlian.Because the spring and autumn markets are the biggest bull markets, according to the rules of the three, six, and nine collection periods, the spring and autumn markets will gather the 23rd, 26th, and 29th of March and August, and the market will open for three days. .Every year, the "bull dealers" who act as middlemen in the bull market in these two towns will elect a "customer leader" to be the leader of the entire bull market.The customer leader recommended by everyone will make the final mediation and ruling on all disputes and agreements.To meet the needs of the bull market, in addition to building dozens of cowsheds throughout the year, all tea, wine, food, hotel shops, and all vacant houses are used to receive visitors.Because too many cattle came to trade, the villages around the two towns also became resting places for the cattle.All cowsheds should prepare enough fresh grass and clean drinking water in advance.The river bends and ponds around the town are reserved for the cows to take turns taking a bath.On the day before the opening of the Spring and Autumn Bull Market, the head of the market will lead the cattle merchants to make a special trip to Yincheng Niuwang Temple to burn incense and kneel, recite prayers, pray for incense to welcome back to the town, and enshrine in front of the Niuwang tablet. , Taoist priests are asked to take care of the incense, and there must be no interruptions day and night during the opening of the market.The opening and closing of the market must be announced by the customer chief who burns incense in front of the bull king tablet and then rings the gong.In order to prevent the cattle from trampling and hurting people, the watchman must tell the four directions in advance: women and children are not allowed to go to the streets.In the big markets in the spring and autumn, at the end of each market, all the cattle dealers, customer managers, and all the saltwork shopkeepers who came to buy cattle must elect a king of cattle.The elected Niu King will be welcomed back to the Niu Wang Temple in red and colorful, and accept the kneeling worship of all the cattle dealers and Jingzao salt merchants.The bull king elected in this season cannot be used, harmed, resold, let alone slaughtered until the next season's bull king is selected, and can only be carefully fed.Whoever's cow can be elected as the bull king is regarded by the people of Yincheng as a blessing to the family. On the day when the market opened, the whole town was full of cattle.All those who meet the cattle can only stand close to the wall and wait for the cattle to pass by solemnly.The rivers of ox horns and ox backs flow soothingly on the streets, the hard hooves of the ox calmly trample over people's residences, and fresh cow dung covers all the streets and open spaces.The cows who had never known each other from all over the world gathered together, touched their ears and noses, rubbed their shoulders and rubbed their legs, and suddenly triggered an incomparable kinship.Thousands of cows woke up from their ancient memories, their big and dark eyes were illuminated by deep tenderness, and their mooing calls merged into one, which could be heard clearly from miles away. In the bull market in Yincheng, buyers and sellers do not negotiate prices directly face to face, but negotiate through bull dealers.In addition to being proficient in the requirements of buyers and sellers, cattle dealers must also be proficient in judging and distinguishing cattle experience. In jargon, it is necessary to understand the cattle classics.At a glance, you can judge the age, strength, and condition of the cow's coat, whether the mouth, eyes, legs, and feet are flexible.Generally speaking, it takes three or four years for a calf to have eight petals of milk teeth, which is called the original mouth.Since then, one pair has been replaced every year, and it has been renamed the opposite teeth, four teeth, six teeth, and side mouth teeth year by year.After changing eight pairs, all the roots of the teeth will turn black.Afterwards, every year, a pair of white-mouthed cows will be turned into white ones, and the whole mouth will be white.Four teeth are in the prime of life, white mouth is old age.After the white mouth, the cattle can be used for at least three or four years.In addition, the age can also be seen from the horns.The calf's horn, the root of the horn is thick.The horns of old cows are finely harvested.The calf's horns are relatively smooth and neat in appearance.The horns of old cows have rough surfaces and protruding horn hoops. The horn hoops grow once a year and stop after the mouth is white.Those with moist fur and plump flesh and blood are called "Qi Shui".Those with sharp ears and eyes and a well-proportioned body are called "birth methods".The oblique bones on both sides of the root of the tail are well-proportioned and wide, which is called "autumn board".The front chest muscles should protrude like a chicken heart.The hind legs should be like a pipa hanging upside down, and the thigh flesh should have obvious "strength packs".The hooves should be large and the hoof shells should be thick.In addition to being young, tall, with strong legs and feet, and full of flesh and bones, it also depends on its actions. All strong and powerful cows will cover the footprints of their front hooves when walking.Only after this critical selection and comparison can the quality and grade of the cattle be preliminarily determined.The cattle trader must have a lot of money in his sleeves when the buyer and the seller do not meet, and report the number to both parties.For example, the big finger is six, the little finger is seven, the middle finger is one, the curved finger is half, and so on.After a lot of bargaining and bargaining, the cattle trader writes the price code on the back of the bull with a block of red clay, takes the seller's hand leading the cow's nose rope, bows to the buyer, and shouts in his mouth, "Congratulations to your shopkeeper for ten thousand years! "If the seller lets go and the buyer takes over the nose rope, the sale is considered a deal.The number ticket is issued by the cattle dealer in the number shed.After the transaction, the buyer does not pay the money at the time, but takes it back for three days and feeds it carefully, observes the appetite of the cow and whether there are any symptoms, and pays the money to the cattle dealer if everything is satisfied. If any symptoms are found, the cattle dealer will return it to the seller.Every time a cow is bought and sold, one or two taels of merit money must be paid to the Niuwang Temple, half of which is used for the repair and maintenance of the temple, and the other half is handed over to the Huiji Public Bureau as the relief principal.Cattle accounts can draw a commission of two taels of silver.Anyone who is a cattle dealer in the bull market must firstly have rich family property as collateral, and secondly, have a reliable shopkeeper as a credit guarantee, so as to ensure the interests of the cattle seller.The cattle dealers spent their capital and traveled hundreds of miles across the mountains to bring the cattle to Yincheng. Of course, they had to choose the most reliable middleman.In the perennial transactions, the strongest mutual trust between people has also been achieved.Any breach of contract and fraud may lead to disastrous consequences. Those who "broke the market" will find it difficult to return to trading.The cattle dealers do not do the chores of running errands, stopping cattle, and collecting money by themselves.Such things are handed over to those who "run in the second row". People who "run in the second row" don't get commissions, they only earn food and tea.The biggest transactions in the bull market are naturally made by the eight major salt farms in Yincheng.The Li family of Jiusitang, the Wang family of Shenyitang, the Zhao family of Tao Shutang, and the Liu family of Dunmutang were the biggest buyers.All companies must send their most capable shopkeepers to the bull market.After comparing, calculating, waiting, and competing, he often has to buy hundreds of good cattle back to his own family.At this time, the blissful second row of cattle and the cattle dealers will hold the nose rope of the cattle and form a line of one or two miles long, waiting in front of the number sheds of each family to open the number. On August 26, the second year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty, the autumn market in Gaoshanchang closed with a gong.Customer managers, cattle dealers, and shopkeepers who came to buy cattle unanimously recommended a Fengshan cattle from Junlian as the king of cattle this season.The owner of this bull king is Liu Sangong of Dunmutang.When the news came out, there was a sensation all over the city.Even people who have nothing to do with cattle on weekdays rush to the Niuwang Temple to worship the Niuwang.消息灵通的银城人已经知道，手眼通天的刘三公竟然在数日之内神秘地痛失两子。人们都想看看死了两个儿子的刘三公，如何来撑这个场面。 终于，那个标志着二品官阶的队伍显赫地走了过来，一柄红绸大伞盖领队，然后是八名青衣皂靴的精壮轿夫，轿夫后面是一个戴宽边大帽穿长袍的骑马跟班。银顶皂幔的八抬大轿来到了牛王庙正门外，依照规矩，轿子稳稳停在了大门外的牌楼跟前。轿夫掀起轿帘的时候，翎顶补服一身披挂的刘三公，从那顶八抬大轿里走下来。随着弓腰抬头的身体，绣在胸前的那只锦鸡，花团锦簇一般在石青色的丝绸底衬上跳跃不已。尽管大家已经做了无数的猜想，可银城人还是被惊呆了，人们赫然看见在血红的珊瑚顶戴下面堆满了如雪的白发。在忧心如焚的悲绝中，刘三公煎熬出满头白发，猛然间变成一个颤颤巍巍的老人。 新选出的牛王披红挂彩，安详地站在牛王神像下边，额头正中用红绸挽了一朵大红花，两只弯角像翅膀一样翘在红花两侧。在升腾的香火和一片赞颂声中，新牛王看见满大殿的人朝自己虔诚地跪下来。那个满头白发的老人跪下去的时候，忽然老泪纵横。 新牛王晃动着庞大的身体和它好看的弯角，眨着善良温顺的眼睛，不动声色地打量着眼前这些充满了好奇和欲望的人们。那双慈祥的眼睛似乎还深深地留恋在骨肉亲情之中。