choke element

Chapter 279 The Taoist

When the two left the mansion, hundreds of cavalrymen were already waiting in line outside.

Looking at the attire, it was still the old rules, half of them were wise and brave men and old soldiers who dared to fight; half of them were outstanding young men selected from the old battalion.In addition, there were a few new faces. Jing Anmin glanced at them and knew that they were the protons of local rich families in Dengzhou and Ninghai Prefectures.

Regardless of their status, before being transferred to Guo Ning's subordinate team, they had to go through rigorous training, and those who failed to meet the standards would be dismissed immediately.Therefore, at this time, more than a hundred people stood beside the horses, all of them tall and vigorous, and the hundreds of people were silent, only the horses snorted occasionally.

With a glance, the blazing murderous aura rushed over.

Seeing the two people coming out, the subordinates bowed together and greeted each other with a military salute: "Greetings to Marshal Jie! Greetings to Deputy Envoy!"

Guo Ning nodded slightly, and strode out, someone had already led his tall horse.

He didn't need anyone's help, he just pressed the horse's back with one hand, and he got on the horse.Turning around to look at everyone, seeing that Jing Anmin had also mounted his horse, he said in a deep voice, "Let's go."

With an order, hundreds of people all got on their mounts with a bang.

There are twenty or thirty riders who ride their horses forward to clear the way, and twenty or thirty riders stay behind to hold the line.On the left and right, there are [-] or [-] cavalry guards in long formations.Guo Ning galloped his horse like a strong wind, and he left the city gate in an instant, heading east.

Most of the people on both sides of the road along the way recognized Guo Ning's accompanying cavalry.Whether they were on their way or working in the fields, they all fell to their knees.Many of them fell to the ground and knocked their foreheads heavily on the ground.

When passing through the school grounds in the east of the city, the soldiers lined up were not ordered and remained motionless.There were also soldiers resting beside them, a little further away, probably worried that Guo Ning would not see him kneeling down, so they jumped up and down, waved their hands, and cheered loudly.

Guo Ning doesn't like to travel like this.However, his Dinghai Mansion has not long established itself in Laizhou, and even though it has won successive military victories, it has to pay attention to many details in order to penetrate the majesty into the hearts of ordinary people.

Strictly enforcing rules and regulations is one part, and trying to be considerate to the people to keep them warm is another part. In addition, let the people know who they are loyal to.Every time Guo Ning goes out with great fanfare, he is clearly branding the existence of Dinghai Jiedushi in the eyes of the soldiers and civilians.The ancients said that there is no prestige without magnificence, and the reason is the same.

At this time, the two men were walking side by side, and all the soldiers and civilians saluted along the way. Guo Ning waved his hands to the left and right from time to time, and Jing Anmin followed suit.

Because the cavalry is moving very fast, occasionally pedestrians on the road can't avoid it, and only slightly give way to the side of the road.

At this time, the people who were still on the road were mostly small merchants from some families. They wore leather jackets and white pointed hats on their heads, and they rode leisurely on donkeys and mules.Seeing Guo Ning's cavalry team galloping like lightning, they got off their horses and saluted without flinching.

Guo Ning and Jing Anmin chatted a few words along the way. At this time, they said that there were originally more than 7 mu of land between Ye County and Daji Mountain.

Dinghai moved many people to Laizhou, but because the fields were frozen hard after the winter, farm tools and cattle needed to be allocated, so they had not been able to re-plow all the fields.

"We don't have a lot of farm tools and cattle, and we have transferred a batch from Dengzhou and Ninghai prefectures," Guo Ning said.

"Are Dengzhou and Ninghai prefectures very rich?" Jing Anmin asked casually.

"Where...Geng Ge and Shi Poli, in order to protect their own power and status, they have put in great efforts and ruthless means, so that in these two places, some big families have destroyed their families." Guo Ning said calmly: "If they It’s best to be stable. If we can’t be stable, we won’t get a bad reputation if we stretch out our hands.”

"So that's how it is." Jing Anmin chuckled a few times: "Then I hope the two of them will work harder. If they continue to work hard, we will have a lot more money in our hands."

"Geng Ge will come tomorrow, and I will host a banquet tonight. Brother An Min might as well tell him directly."

Jing Anmin laughed and pointed at Guo Ning.

He and Guo Ning had no suspicions about each other, and after saying this, the unhappiness in their hearts disappeared.

There was a light snowfall last night, and there were large fields with no traces of rice paddies, which were very conspicuous.

As far as the two of them could see, a large piece of land was vacated, surrounded by high and low wooden fences.That was the pasture that Ma Zhengsi took over.

The official of the Ma Zhengsi is Wang Kouer, and the number of troops under Wang Kouer's control has increased sharply. The old man complains, but his face is actually full of joy. In addition, he will be Li Ting's boss in a few days. The father-in-law passed away, and he always walks with wind.

Behind the ranch, a hill rises from the ground, which is Donglai Mountain.

Guo Ning rode his horse and walked another Lixu, waited until the front of the valley, and jumped off the horse.

The cavalry came with great momentum. There was a hunchbacked old man standing next to a black donkey, staring at Guo Ning and his party in a daze, showing the few teeth left in his mouth.

On top of the donkey sat a cross-legged woman, and three dolls, one male, two female, and three dolls. Fortunately, they were not very big, so the donkey could hold it up as best it could.The woman and the three children were all dressed thickly, but because of the long journey, there was light frost and snow on their bodies, heads and faces, and their faces could hardly be seen.

The old man opened his mouth and asked in a harsh voice, "Is this Donglai Mountain? We are here to watch the ceremony."

"Yes, it's here." Guo Ning said, "Old man, you just come with us."

Donglai Mountain is roughly in the shape of a semi-circle, surrounded by peaks, and in the middle is a deep, round and wide valley. There is only a gap in the southwest, forming a natural gateway.It is said that this valley has been inhabited by Taoists since ancient times, and it was once visited by Xuanyuan Huangdi. It is called "Qingyanli, Baiyun Township".

Guo Ning and others walked in along the gap, only to see the rich forests and trees in the valley, towering ancient trees, and no villages.On the open flat ground, there are new grave mounds, which look like they have just been cleaned and there is no snow.And there is only one building inside the valley, which is the ancestral hall for the dead soldiers.

Guo Ning previously ordered that Lu Han should come forward to list all the family members of the soldiers who died in the war, and add the list of soldiers and civilians who have been lost since the establishment of the Junhe camp.Choose a temple to enshrine this roster in Laizhou, and offer grand sacrifices every New Year's festival.

Later, because a lot of good things were extorted from the Mongolian army, the small temple that was originally imagined was expanded into a large ancestral hall. On the side of the ancestral hall, there is a treasured land of geomantic omen, which was specially turned into a cemetery for burying soldiers. their bones.

The ancestral hall was officially opened today, and the remains of a group of soldiers had been left in various places before, and they chose to be buried at this time.Therefore, many family members and relatives of soldiers came to watch the ceremony.

The old man came a bit late just now, but luckily he didn't delay things.He entered the valley, quickly found the seat where the family members of the sacrificed soldiers were seated, and was welcomed away by a protocol officer.

Guo Ning didn't believe in Quanzhen Buddhism at all, so he came a little later.Now I saw Lu Han in front of the ancestral hall, accompanied by an old Taoist with white beard and hair.It's winter, this old man only wears unlined clothes, barefoot, a little weird, but his eyes are very kind.

In front of the ancestral hall, almost all senior military officers, including Monk Luo, Li Ting, Han Xuan, Qiu Huiluo, etc., were all standing in formal uniforms.

Behind them is the family area of ​​the sacrificed soldiers. Standing on both sides of the family members are a hundred soldiers holding various military flags, and there are hundreds of soldiers watching the ceremony behind them.

When the people in the ancestral hall held out the remains of the soldiers, all the flags leaned forward.

The officers saluted solemnly, including Guo Ning and Jing Anmin.

The family members burst into tears in an instant.

There were also people who went up at a loss, trying to help the generals in the army: "Don't dare to be a master, I don't dare to be."

"Being a soldier eats food, and dies in battle. This has always been the case. We know that, sir, stop saluting soon!"

While crying, more people went up to receive the wooden box containing the remains of their family members. The name of the deceased was written in large characters on the box, so they could not be mistaken.

Not far from Guo Ning, the old man stepped back a little and stood outside the crowd, while the woman and three children who came with him stepped forward and held up a wooden box.

"Dog..." The woman touched the box, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she didn't know what to say.The older boy next to him became more sensible, kowtowed his head with his two younger sisters, and said loudly, "Daddy, we have land again, and a cow! I call it Da Niu, and Da Niu is very cute." Sensible and powerful!"

At this time, a protocol officer came over: "Jie Shuai, please go here."

Guo Ning followed him and took a shortcut to the cemetery.

There are already hundreds of tombs in the cemetery, but there can be more open space to accommodate as many people as possible.

Surrounded by flag-bearing soldiers, the family members walked to the cemetery holding the remains.

Lu Han was by Guo Ning's side, introducing to him the names and deeds of each of the war dead. There were about a hundred soldiers buried today, thanks to Lu Han, who remembered them all.

Guo Ning nodded to the family members as a salute, telling them, thank you for your son or your husband.I, Guo Ning of Changzhou, will remember their heroic deeds in battle. We will set the navy here for a day, and we will never lose the sacrifices of the soldiers, and we will never let them suffer under the nine springs.

There was no extra sound at the scene, people were crying silently, even the soldiers watching the ceremony behind were also crying.At this time, some people even felt that people would suffer every year of their lives, and if they could get such words from the coach, it would be considered a death in battle, and it would not be a loss.

When the family members slowly put the remains into the grave, Guo Ning came up from behind again.

This time, those who followed him were soldiers carrying pension money and silk, and on the plate containing the money they were holding, there was an extra dagger.

Guo Ning handed over the pension money to the family members, which was naturally very generous.He handed the daggers to the family members one by one, and took care of them one by one.

"Xu Gou'er died fighting for the Ding Navy and for the people of Shandong. He is a hero."

Standing in front of the woman with three children, Guo Ning said in a deep voice: "In the future, if you are wronged, or insulted, or have any difficulties in life, take this dagger and go find a place Officials, ask them to help. If the local officials can't solve it, come to me!"

Xu Gou'er's wife wanted to kneel down, but was helped up by Guo Ning.

Outside the valley, people gathered at some unknown time.

After all, there was a big battle, and the people from the surrounding pastures and farms all came to watch the excitement.It was noisy at the beginning, and the soldiers had to go over to stop drinking. Some people even looked at the soldiers with tears on their faces, but instead laughed. By this time, the common people were suddenly overwhelmed by this atmosphere.They all fell silent.

When Guo Ning bowed to the mound in the cemetery, everyone bowed.

(End of this chapter)