Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 4 Death

If it weren't for him taking care of them over the years, the Liu family would have been in dire straits long ago.

Moreover, Liu Yu was not the son of Xiao Wenshou. As soon as he was born, his mother Zhao Anzong fell ill and died during childbirth. His father Liu Qiao was once ready to abandon him, but he was later adopted by his aunt Zhao. When he grew up, he was extremely filial to Xiao Wenshou.

Xiao Yuanzhi actually has no blood relationship with Liu Yu, but he is still willing to help, which shows that he really cares about the Liu family.

When one person succeeds, everyone around him will benefit. Xiao Yuan's promotion gives the Liu family enough confidence. Even if they can't make it in the future, at least they have a backer.

"I can't say I'll be promoted. The court is in a state of chaos right now. We, a small noble family, are not like the Wang, Xie, Huan, and Yuan families. It's hard for us to make a name for ourselves. We can only look after you in the future. The Xiao and Liu families are closely related. Ji Nu, don't gamble anymore. I'll make connections and help you find a future."

Uncles love their nephews, aunts love their nephews, and aunts are outsiders.

Xiao Yuanzhi's uncle is really amazing and he cares a lot about the Liu family.

Liu Daogui finally saw a glimmer of hope for the Liu family to revive, but there was no other way. These days, family background is important for everything. Without someone above you, nothing can be accomplished.

Xiao Yuanzhi not only settled the eldest brother Liu Yu, but also found a way for Liu Daolian to enter the Imperial College. As long as he graduated from the Imperial College, the Liu family would have a way out.

As we chatted, it was dawn before we knew it.

Xiao Yuanzhi was rushing to Jiankang. When his three brothers saw him off, they heard bursts of wailing, which was very miserable.

White banners were hung in front of every house, and passers-by were all in mourning.

"What happened?" Liu Yu asked.

Liu Zun next door replied: "I heard that Commander Xie died of illness."

"Thank you, General?" Liu Daogui was stunned.

In the eyes of the people of Jingkou, there was only one General Xie, and that was Xie Xuan, Duke of Kangle. But he was in his prime, so how could he suddenly pass away?

"I heard that Prince Xiang sent a royal physician to Commander Xie, but Commander Xie died a few days later..." Liu Zun was indignant.

"Stop talking nonsense!" Xiao Yuanzhi glanced at him.

Liu Zun muttered softly, "It's not like this is the first time the Sima family has done something like this."

Although the Sima family occupied the imperial throne, they have never had much presence. During the Rebellion of the Eight Kings and the Yongjia Disaster, they lost the north. After the emperor moved south, they were controlled by powerful ministers, who would attack Jiankang at will and depose and enthrone emperors at will. They had long lost their prestige.

Jingkou was the largest settlement of refugees from the north. If it were not for the Sima family, their family would not have been broken up and exiled to Jiangzuo.

Xiao Yuanzhi scolded: "You...are so bold!"

"That's how it is!" Liu Zun stiffened his neck.

The conflict between the Sima family and the Xie family has been going on for a long time. Even a three-year-old child in Jingkou knows that since the year before last, several generals of the Northern Palace have been suppressed and excluded.

"Uncle, please calm down. He has always been a straightforward person." Liu Daogui usually had a good relationship with Liu Zun, so he spoke out to help.

You can't write two Liu characters with one stroke, so the two families are from the same clan.

Liu Zun was also Liu Daogui's cousin.

"Junliu, the child is just talking nonsense, why get angry?" Xiao Wenshou was afraid of making things awkward, so he tried to dissuade him.

Liu Daogui grabbed Liu Zun.

Xiao Yuanzhi naturally wouldn't argue with him, but the atmosphere became a little awkward. He flicked his sleeves and said, "I have important matters to attend to, so I'll say goodbye. Take care of yourself, sister. You three brothers, stay home and be filial to your mother."

"We understand. Take care, uncle." The three Liu brothers bowed.

Xiao Yuanzhi said "hmm" and strode away.

"General Xie was a famous general, but I never expected that he would end up like this." Liu Yu sighed, his face full of dejection.

Xie Xuan was the governor of Jingkou. He selected brave men from the people and assigned them to positions according to their abilities. This opened a window for the stagnant Jingkou. A large number of commoners from humble backgrounds entered officialdom. Although they were not well-known and could not be accepted into the upper echelons of the gentry, they at least held military power. The gentry had to give them some face and did not dare to oppress them too much.

The brothers went home and wanted to burn some paper money, but after searching through all the drawers and cabinets, they found only a few boxes of bamboo slips and not a single piece of paper.

The cold wind blew in from all directions, making the doors and windows creak.

They had no choice but to find some linen clothes to cover themselves, burn some hay, and kowtow a few times as a way of mourning for General Xie.

The dead are gone forever, but life goes on as long as we are alive.

Xiao Yuanzhi sent some food over, but it could only solve the problem temporarily.

After the Central Plains was taken over by the Xianbei people, it did not become peaceful.

Bandits were everywhere, powerful people were everywhere, and the Hu people were looting wantonly. More and more refugees moved south, crowding Jingkou and Guangling across the river. With more people, there was less firewood.

With the arrival of winter, the area around Jingkou became increasingly barren. Even after walking thirty or forty miles, not a single weed or tree could be seen. Only a few hills controlled by the Diao family still had trees, but no one dared to attack them. From dawn to dusk, their soldiers, clad in armor and armed with swords and crossbows, patrolled the area.

At the foot of the mountain, you can always see a few dried corpses impaled on wooden stakes to intimidate refugees.

A few days ago, the brothers Meng Huaiyu and Meng Longfu from the neighboring village came back from Lanling County. When they passed by Suanshan, they were mistaken for thieves by the Diao family and were hung up and beaten severely.

The village head led the Meng clan to rescue them. Seeing that the situation was about to get out of hand, the Diao family released the Meng brothers...

Without firewood, the Liu family's life became increasingly difficult.

In fact, in the entire Xiao family, only Xiao Yuanzhi remained loyal to the Liu family, while the other members of the Xiao family did not take it seriously.

Of course, if Xiao Wenshou took the Liu family to the Xiao family to beg for food, the Xiao family would not refuse.

But neither Xiao Wenshou nor Liu Yu would be so servile.

Having someone give something voluntarily and asking for it are two completely different things.

Xiao Yuanzhi went to Jiankang and no news came back. Liu Daogui estimated that his life would not be very smooth, as the competition among the noble families was very fierce.

Just like the Xie family, which was extremely prosperous in the past few years and was unrivaled at the time, but now it has ended up in decline.

When people leave, the tea gets cold, it's so lonely.

After leaving power, it seemed as if he was forgotten by others overnight.

In the past two months, the Zang family sent someone to come once, said some polite words, and then went back home without further contact.

Liu Daogui couldn't help but feel sorry for his brother. These days, people pay attention to the matching of family backgrounds, rich families match rich families, and poor families match poor families. The Liu family's situation is so bad that even a poor family can hardly maintain it.

If the three brothers had no other way out, they would fall from poverty.

"It is better to rely on yourself than to ask others for help. These people have been drinking porridge every day, and it is time to eat meat." As the elder brother, Liu Yu came up with an idea when he saw that his family was about to run out of food again.

"Son, although our family is poor, you must not become a bandit or a thief and ruin your reputation." When Xiao Wenshou saw him like this, he hurried to persuade him.

"Mother, you're worrying too much. It's been dry lately, and there are more puddles along the river. I want to go catch some fresh fish tonight. If we keep wasting time like this, everyone in our family will starve to death."

The Yangtze River's dry season is from November to March every year.

Since the second half of this year, there has not been a drop of rain in Jiangzuo, and a drought is imminent.

Liu Daogui said depressedly: "Isn't Changjiang also from the Diao family?"

The control of the local areas by the aristocratic families was pervasive. From mountains to rivers, from villages to cities, everyone had to rely on them.

Diao Xie, the ancestor of the Diao family, was a loyal minister of Emperor Yuan of Jin and a founding hero of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He held the position of Shangshu Ling and was granted the title of Jinzi Guanglu Dafu, and was very famous at the time.

His son Diao Yi served as the General of the North Central Army and the Governor of Xu and Yan provinces, guarding Guangling. The Diao family was able to gain a foothold in Jingkou and its influence spread across both sides of Jingkou and Guangling.

Although Diao Yi died in office in the second year of Ning Kang (374), the Diao family had already taken root in Jingkou and Guangling.

He had three sons. The eldest, Diao Kui, was holding the position of Palace Attendant of the Imperial Guard and was said to be about to be sent out as a Provincial Governor. The second, Diao Chang, was currently serving as the Prime Minister of Shixing and General of the Right Guard. The third, Diao Hong, was the Military Secretary.

Each one was more prominent than the other. There were at least 8,000 servants and servants under the Diao family.

To put it bluntly, the governor of Jiangbei and Qingyan governor, King Qiao Sima Yi, who were sent by the court, had to act according to the Diao family's wishes.

Liu Yu laughed and said, "Jiang is so big, how could the Diao family possibly protect it all?"

"Xingdi wants to eat fish!" Little niece Liu Xingdi had already started chattering.

Sister-in-law Zang Aiqin hurriedly said, "Children should not interfere in adult matters."

The red gate faces the red gate, the official gate faces the official gate.

The Zang family of Dongguan also came from a poor family, and their father-in-law Zang Jun was also a Gongcao of Dongguan County.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Liu Daogui had long disliked the Diao family.

The family that cuts ice does not keep cattle or sheep.

The Diao family is a good thing. They are rich and powerful, but they rely on their power to compete with the common people for profit, leaving others with no way out.

"Brother, please go ahead. I will stay at home to take care of mother." The second brother Liu Daolian rolled his eyes, just like before, he would shrink back when something happened.

Liu Daogui was no longer surprised. His mother, Xiao Wenshou, had devoted all her efforts to him for many years, supporting his studies, hoping that he would one day support the Liu family.

"If we are going to do it, let's do it in a big way. Agui, go call Huai Su, Huai Jing, and Liu Zun as well." Liu Yu slapped his thigh.

(End of this chapter)