Chapter 43 second quarter

Three days before the army left, Zhao Long became silent again.This time he showed more depth than ever before.He made no effort to hide his irritability, his desire not to be disturbed by others entering his room for the time being, and his desire not to continue their "bedside talk" for the time being.He stayed up all night for several consecutive nights, and in the middle of the night he kept pinching the knuckles of his fingers, making them make a crisp "clucking" sound.All this showed that he was thinking, and thinking very hard. Until the eve of the departure of the army, after Liu Kai and his wife bid farewell to Ma Kuo, he left Ma Kuo in his room, and Weng and his son-in-law had a serious conversation.

Ma Kuo thought that he might want to talk about strategy and tactics again. In fact, they had talked about this aspect many times, and they had considered and imagined it from various angles.Old people often repeat the topics he pays special attention to over and over again.But tonight, that's not what he wants to talk about. "The son-in-law is going to go to war tomorrow," he began with a gentle sentence, "Uncle Xin is busy with his business, leaving me, an old soldier, alone, I'm so frustrated!" "Mount Tai rests in peace of mind," Ma Kuo comforted him, "Once he recovers, the Commander-in-Chief will naturally send someone to pick him up. The two armies meet, and the army is on the mend. How can the Commander-in-Chief not have you around?"

"But that's the case, that's all. It's just that my son-in-law looks at my old bones. Is this disease okay? How many days does old man Xing not let you get up." As he said, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his bare arms Thin bones and tangled bulging dark blue veins.He suddenly became angry, beat the bedside hard, and cursed angrily: "That boy Tong Guan, you made me suffer so much!" "Tong Guan's evil deeds, the officials also understand in their hearts. Didn't Brother Xin say something that day, why should Taishan be angry with him?" "Recently, I have also thought through it. Tong Guan harmed me, and I risked my old life to make friends with him. It's just a trivial matter. It's just that the thought of sending such people to the front to preside over the military makes me worry. Officials If you don’t trust him, why don’t you just dismiss him?”

"When he is full of crimes, someone will take care of him. It's useless to think about it now. It's just that even if he is a child in the front line, there are some constraints. After all, the matter of charging into the battle and dispatching troops has to be decided by the commander-in-chief. Wouldn't that guy Tong Guan want to win the battle, and let him sit back and enjoy the rewards!" "It's not that simple," Zhao Long said, shaking his head. "Today, Tong Guan controls this army in the name of Xuanfu envoy, which is not compared to the former supervisor of the army. You see, he brought an army to the north, just to overwhelm the commander-in-chief. But within our army, there are many dissatisfaction, which just gives him an opportunity to take advantage of. My son-in-law has been away from the army for a long time, and I don't know the details, and my recent troubles are precisely because of this!"

So he pondered for a while, and first told Ma Kuo about the discord between Zhong Shidao, Yao Gu and Yao Pingzhong.In fact, this is not a secret. Ma Kuo has long known that these two families have been fighting openly and secretly for a long time.However, based on his daily observations, Zhao Long talked more about the narrow-minded side of Zhong Shi.He said: Shi Ke is in peace.The 20,000 Xihe Army has been in the army for a long time and has made outstanding military exploits. It is a major force of our army.Wouldn't it be self-defeating if the handsome man had prejudice and put it aside?Therefore, he repeatedly asked Ma Kuo to go to the army and convey his opinion when he saw Zhong Shidao.Yao Pingzhong is a young man who is aggressive, but he is a bloody man, and he is a useful talent in the army.Xihe's army is also strong and good at fighting.Zhong Shuai must help each other, don't miss the important thing because of a moment of enthusiasm.He also said that if Zhong Shuai couldn't hold back for a while, he would go to Duan Ru to come out and take a camera.

"I don't want to go to the army. This matter of mediation is entirely up to Duan Ru to mediate." He sighed, and then gave a high evaluation to the teachers: "Loyalty to the Xu country, and harmony to the people , the generals in the Western Army, if everyone is like Duan Ru, who puts the overall situation first and the whole body first, things will be easier. I am so fiery, how can I compare with him?" From the few words in his high evaluation of the seed teacher, it can be heard that he is not without complaints about his superiors and close friends.As for Yao Gu, he has been under his subordinates for a long time and is familiar with his habits.Since Yao Gu was the loser in the competition for commander in chief, and this time he didn't go to the front line, the demands placed on him cannot be compared with the qualities of a commander in chief.

After another period of silence, Zhao Long solemnly revealed the second secret. "How many tricks Tong Guan has done to Liu Yanqing in recent years? Just look at the fact that the Shengjie army has been stationed in the west of Beijing for a long time and received preferential treatment, and you can know his sinister intentions. The commander-in-chief can only see that Liu Yanqing has always been obsequious to him. He dared to defy, thinking that mediocrity would be easy to handle, but he didn't know that he had been dragged away by Tong Guan long ago, and his heart was already extroverted." Then he decisively concluded, "The one who will cause trouble between the two armies in the future must be Liu Yanqing. I'm afraid that the kind of handsome is still kept in the dark!"

This is what worries him the most.In the past in the army, I was afraid of hurting everyone's harmony, and even more afraid of making an enemy for the teacher, so I forbeared.Now that the war opportunity is imminent, he can no longer keep silent about it.He asked Ma Kuo to tell Zhong Shidao to pay attention to this matter.When fighting, you must not put Liu Yanqing's army in an important position for decisive victory, but you must not take excessive rejection, so as not to "drive fish for the deep, drive birds for the cluster", and drive Liu Yanqing and his cronies even more disgruntled. On Tong Guan's side, he reduced his strength.Then he added:

"Liu Yanqing is not a pity, Huanqing's first army is also my brother, how can I let others slaughter me?" This news was also very shocking to Ma Kuo.Although he harbored the common contempt for Liu Yanqing in the Western Army, he did not expect the situation to have developed to such a serious level.Zhao Long is straightforward, and usually talks about everything to him, but when it comes to major military affairs, he is deep and cautious, and he refuses to speak casually.Now he heard from Zhao Long that within an army, having two minds with two minds is indeed the way to victory.This assertion aroused his high vigilance.

"Having said that, the son-in-law doesn't have to worry too much." Now it was Zhao Long's turn to comfort Ma Kuo and cheer him up.He said, "Today's events, there are countless people who are not good for me, and there are also many people who are good for me. The number of surpluses and deficits must be comprehensively planned to win." Then he counted the disadvantages and advantages with his fingers, These were the conclusions he had pondered over many long nights.Some Ma Kuo and Liu Qi have heard and seen, but some have strategic value that they cannot achieve.He asked Ma Kuo to bring these to the headquarters for use in future operations.So he continued: "In short, it depends on man's efforts. If the whole army can use its life and unite as one, there will be no mistakes in command. With the soldiers of our Western Army who are brave, strong and strong, it may not be impossible to win."

Ma Kuo nodded yes. "People of the older generation, their muscles and bones are weakened, and their stagnation is getting deeper and deeper. As time goes by, it all depends on your younger generation. Son-in-law, you must not let down the expectations of your father and me for many years!" Ma Kuo gave an affirmative answer, which didn't seem to reassure him completely. He emphasized his tone again and repeatedly urged: "My son-in-law, please remember your eldest brother and second brother, how generously they donated their lives during the First Battle of Zonggechuan? When it comes to a critical moment, you can't humiliate them!" This is not only the ardent expectation of an elder, but also the earnest encouragement of an old boss to the younger generation.In times of crisis, it is an excellent tradition for real soldiers in the Western Army to encourage each other and donate their lives generously.They have the right to demand the death of others because they were and are still prepared to give their lives for war.Ma Kuo read this meaning from his sincere and urgent eyes.A gust of hot air surged up from his dantian, and the memory of that year on the Xihe battlefield shone into his chest like a warm light.He raised a cup, poured all the leftover tea on the ground, and promised generously: "In times of crisis, if a foolish son-in-law refuses to listen to Mount Tai's instructions, and lives by chance, there is such water." This drastic action made Zhao Long feel relieved. "There will be troubles in the world in the future, son-in-law, you must bear the heavy burden on your shoulders!" Zhao Long spoke for the third time, already full of infinite intimacy.Pointing at his mother, he said, "I told my daughter earlier that I want to help you become a good man who can look up to you. You are the younger generation I have always valued!" It was the only compliment Ma Kuo could possibly hear from his austere father-in-law.He thanked his father-in-law and assured him a third time, which completely relieved him. Throughout the conversation, Ma Kuo felt a pair of eyes as deep as the ocean staring at him.The gaze is so obstinate, so bold.It seemed that she wanted to use the key of her eyes to open the part of his heart that had not been opened to her. Ever since her father fell ill, Erniang has been serving him at his bedside and never left, but she still did what a conscript's family who is about to go to the front line should do.During this month, she sewed two battle jackets and two blouses for him, and carefully wrapped colored silk threads on the handles, poles, and handles of the weapons he used.At this very moment, she was still busy sewing the last few stitches of a tunic. "It will take half a year before I can wear this silk cotton one," Mrs. Liu Kai once advised her, "There are many people in the army, so my sister sewed it after a while, and asked someone to take it to my brother." That’s right. Why bother to waste your body in such a hurry!.” Qiniang thanked her sister, but this was advice she didn't listen to.While thanking her sister, she continued to sew the satin gown non-stop.She sewed densely and evenly, as if she wanted to sew in a throbbing heart full of guilt (she blamed herself for all the pain between them), and put Only in a place where he can see and touch at any time can he feel a little more at ease. Now she listened to her father talking to her husband, but because her thoughts were surging, she didn't understand what they said at all, and she didn't even understand the meaning of her husband's violent movement.She just thought in her heart: "Father finished talking with him, it's my turn to talk to me." Sure enough, father turned his face and spoke to her. "My son," Dad said so unnaturally, "I'm upset about Dad tonight, I want to be quiet and go to bed early. You can go home with Third Brother!" Er Niang fully understood that Dad had lied.These nights, he was always tossing and turning on the pillow mat, how often did he close his eyes once?Tonight, I attended the farewell banquet specially arranged by Liu Qi and his wife in his ward, and said these things to my husband again, which hurt my nerves and made me unable to sleep. How could I go to bed earlier.It was clear that he was looking for an excuse to let her and his wife go back together so that they could have a chance to talk.Lying has never been his habit, he spoke so clumsily, so awkwardly, stammering, that his daughter knew he was lying as soon as she heard it. In the past twenty years, the education Erniang has received from her father is to be absolutely honest. In the simple life of the army, among the people in the ancient city of Weizhou, and in their simple "family", honesty is the only creed .Her father is a good example in this regard, no matter to his superiors, subordinates, colleagues, or his daughter, he always says whatever comes to his mind.Following her father's example, she never concealed her views under any circumstances, nor did she cover up or distort the truth of the facts she knew.She thinks lying is shameful, even for the closest person, even at the cost of a lifetime of happiness, she cannot be forced to tell a lie.Although she has her own unique way when expressing her own opinions, especially when she wants to deny the opinions of others, it is both firm and gentle, not as straightforward as her father.Not only is father not afraid of offending people, but sometimes he takes pleasure in offending people.Mrs. Liu Kai wanted to influence her with a Tokyo-style lifestyle. She thanked her sister for her caress and care. This kind of gratitude was sincere and without any affectation, because she felt that her sister's caress and care were indeed out of incomparable love. Enthusiasm; but at the same time, she made it clear that she didn't like the Tokyo style of life, and she was a difficult person to assimilate.This denial is equally sincere and undistorted, because she really resists the bustling city life from the bottom of her heart. Although Mrs. Liu Qi has infinite advantages over her in terms of age, status as a protector, and profound knowledge of life, but between the two of them, Ms. Lin is the one with more independent will.She was not succumbed to Mrs. Liu Kai's tenderness and deep friendship. Mrs. Liu Kai fell unconsciously, conquered and softened by her sincere strength and strong will. Don't evade your own point of view, don't tell lies, this is not a kind of moral preaching to Yanniang, but a habit cultivated by living among sincere people for a long time, and she doesn't avoid lying because she feels shameful about lying. No need to lie. Now that Mommy found out that Dad had told a lie, she still didn't put down her work, but raised her head slightly, and gave him a strange and reproachful look, which made Dad blush, as if he had done something wrong , as if discovered.But what the daughter is dissatisfied with is the way father used to express his wishes, but she fully agrees with his intentions, and she wants to thank father for this.Tonight, how strongly she wanted to leave her father earlier and be alone with her husband.Dedicate the last few moments they might spend together to him completely and unreservedly. These days, although they often met in Dad's ward and stayed together for one or two hours a day, he still said so little to her, and sometimes he only said three words to her in a whole day. , Two sentences, probably about father's condition and medical treatment.Sometimes indirect methods are used to ask Mrs. Liu Qi, and she will answer.He seldom talked about himself in front of her, even less about the upcoming parting.He was not used to showing such intimacy in himself, and wished she could hide it likewise.She absolutely could not tolerate such indifferent treatment, she not only demanded spiritually, but also demanded his enthusiasm in color.She even got mad at him for it. She didn't understand that he still couldn't fully understand her inner world-an emotional world that was completely open to him, just as she couldn't fully understand his inner world-a career world that was not particularly open to her. .But she not only hoped, but mistakenly believed that he understood her perfectly and was ready to do what she wanted, when in fact there was no real evidence of this, which caused her great pain. She couldn't be silent, there was a kind of heartfelt, turbulent waves constantly surging up, forcing her to say something and do something to calm down her heart.It was not her habit to avoid her own opinions and hide her feelings.She felt that she loved him with such an intensity that only she could realize it.Of course he loves her too, and his intensity is beyond doubt.But between them, some important thread must have been lost or interrupted. The difficult life after marriage did not bring back the poetic memories of childhood.She must reconnect the broken thread. "Continuation" is the biggest life goal she has pursued in the past few months. At this moment, when she gazed at him with affectionate eyes and explored his heart, this was what she was thinking about. She sewed the last stitch of the gown, and stroked it lightly, as if to detect the beating of a warm heart sewn into it.It is a part separated from its own cavity, and once sewn into the cotton robe, it is endowed with complete life.He felt himself there when he carried it, saw it, and wore it.Then she stood up silently, a gesture that urged her husband to go home.Without saying goodbye to his father, he followed her husband back to his home.