Chapter 5: Aspiration

In the past, the illustrious and mighty Chai Rong had many male descendants, but now, apart from that little boy who relies on the Dan Book and Iron Certificate to make a living, only Pan Weiji remains.

Yang Jiumei's expression darkened as she kicked towards the man's leg. The man retracted his leg, and Jiumei did not pursue; instead, she first helped Xie Muhua to his feet.

A furious shout came from the periphery, accompanied by the crack of whips and the wails of the starving. More than thirty riders charged in like a whirlwind. The hooves of the horses kicked up dust, toppling the encircled starving people, while the knights on horseback wore expressions of triumph, their hands gripping the whips as they continued to lash at those in front of the horses

At this thought, Yang Yanzhao turned his head away, forcefully swallowing his indignation.

The expressions on the faces of the cavalry were unpredictable, yet they all gazed at the leading knight. The man was in his twenties, tall and robust, exuding a fierce demeanor. The steel knife in his hand was already drawn halfway, his teeth clenched, and the muscles on his face twitched incessantly, clearly indicating that he was furious to the extreme

Seeing that the situation was gradually calming down, Pan Weiji dismounted and respectfully bowed to Lady She, saying: "Thank you, Madam Yang, for your timely assistance!"

Later, Pan Mei requested this child from Zhao Kuangyin, took him back to her home, adopted him as her son, changed his surname to Pan, and named him Wei Ji. Zhao Kuangyin never inquired about this child, and naturally, Pan Mei said nothing about it. Eventually, this child surprisingly entered the court to serve as an official and lived a life of peace.

Occasionally, some people see this convoy of carts and horses, and those who are suffering from hunger kneel by the roadside, extending their emaciated hands, pleading with the most pitiful expressions for a bun, a coin! Some young women, even without proper clothing, allow their bare chests to be seen, yet still squeeze into the crowd, raising their hands high, begging in a mournful voice!

The soldiers at the front of the line raised their swords and spears to push away the gathering hungry people

May I ask the general's esteemed name!" It seemed that Lady She did not notice the angry hungry masses and the cavalry poised for action before her, as she fixed her gaze on the leading knight and inquired.

However, the somewhat conspiratorial Xie Muhua naturally darkly concluded that Chai Zongxun died of murder

This sentence fell on the ears of Lady She and the Yang siblings without any particular significance

A surge of anger could not be contained, in later years, for the sake of survival and to secure a stable livelihood, I had already been worn smooth and round by the ways of the world

Lady She turned her face and looked at that person

A trace of sorrow swept across Jiu Mei's lovely face: "Uncle Zhong is dead!"

As Xie Muhua was contemplating, before his hand could even touch Jiumei's shoulder, suddenly everything went dark before his eyes, stars exploded in his vision, and two streams of heat surged down his nose, as he was unexpectedly kicked onto his back.

What do you want? Do you wish to rebel? The knight, led by the one who spoke, finally drew his sword from its sheath, mounted his horse, and the warriors behind him also leaped onto their steeds, ready for a bloody massacre to unfold

Yang Yanzhao led his soldiers to separate the starving people and distributed provisions to them one by one

"What?" A somewhat short but extremely sturdy man shouted, "How did Uncle Zhong die?" His temperament was fiery, and he was none other than Yang He, the fifth son of the Yang family.

Yang Jiumei jumped off the horse, but several of her brothers were the first to greet Liu Lang. A few beautiful women held Jiumei's hand and said: "Let those men go crazy. We will wait for Mother to come!"

It is unclear who shouted first: "Beat those sons of bitches!"

Who are you? Why are you wearing the clothes of my Yang family?

The ministers beside him, including Zhao Pu, all said that if the roots are not removed when cutting the grass, it will grow back with the spring breeze

More than thirty riders, all in perfect alignment, pulled on their reins, causing the horses to rear up on their hind legs. The knights dismounted with remarkable agility. However, all of this appeared to be rather contrived

The crowd that had originally been quietly waiting at the city gate suddenly became lively, with several individuals rushing forward to greet the three people approaching on horseback.

Get up!" Lady She extended her hand to pull the two up. Pan Weiqing appeared to be handsome and elegant, exuding an extraordinary demeanor, while Pan Weiji beside him was also well-groomed and imposing. In contrast, Xie Muhua, standing to the side, looked disheveled.

Fortunately, after thinking for a long time while scratching his scalp, Xie Muhua still could not recall any experience of kneeling in his past life. It seemed that even during the New Year when he paid respects to his grandparents, he had never bowed his head.

Lady She lifted the curtain and called out to Yang Yanzhao: "We will soon arrive at Yanmen Pass, so everyone should keep some dry rations, and we can distribute the other food to them."

Pan Weiji stood beside that person, wearing a proud expression

The young knight reversed the hilt of his sword and cupped his fists in salute: "I am Pan Weiji! Before my family head set out with the Emperor on a campaign, he learned that Madam Yang would be arriving shortly, and specifically instructed me to welcome Madam Yang here!"

The elder brother of Pan Weiji, Chai Zongxun, the last emperor of the Later Zhou, had already passed away in Fangzhou six years ago, at the tender age of only twenty. The History of Song states that Chai Zongxun died of illness, but the truth has long since been obscured.

In his lifetime, Xie Muhua from later generations had never witnessed such a tragic scene. At that time, he had only seen on television the impoverished African famine victims who had no food to eat, but before him were his own compatriots, the same children of Huaxia, each with dazed eyes and hunched figures

The originally curled-up famine victims by the roadside, upon seeing someone standing up for them, gathered their courage and approached. A large crowd stood densely around Xie Muhua.

I do not know who shouted loudly: "Madam, they have arrived!"

Xie Muhua jumped down from the carriage with a thud, looking at the crowd of people kneeling on the ground, unable to suppress a chuckle. This is just to pick up my mother; if the emperor were to arrive, wouldn't they be kneeling in droves?

Xie Muhua was forcibly pulled aside by Yang Jiumei. The young girl, noticing Xie Muhua's displeasure, chimed in, "I also find that guy unpleasant, acting all high and mighty. Let's not stoop to his level!" As soon as she said "let's," Jiumei's pretty face flushed, and she released Xie Muhua's hand

Upon their meeting, it felt as if they were worlds apart

Unexpectedly kicked over by Pan Weiqing, none of the Yang family's seven sons offered a helping hand, and only the familiar Jiumei among the Yang family female generals came to his aid. Even Lady She did not say a word for him

Xie Muhua felt a surge of anger within. Fine, it is one thing for the Pan family to look down on me, but the Yang family, who have always been so self-righteous and aloof, should not disregard me, Xie Muhua, just because they have an unclear background and lack the support of powerful connections.

The leading cavalryman, with a loud "clang," drew half of his gleaming saber from its sheath, glaring at the bewildered young man dressed in servant's attire: "You are utterly out of place, resembling an uncultured foreign vagrant, daring to speak to me in such a manner"

This old man cannot tolerate any sand in his eyes when it comes to how people conduct themselves. Seeing Xie Muhua dressed in the attire of a servant, yet appearing so careless, with his collar misaligned and his belt tied in the middle with a bow, and to make matters worse, his hair cut so short. The Yang family is composed of very proper individuals; they have never encountered such a mischievous servant.

Daizhou City is not a grand and imposing metropolis; compared to major cities like Jinling, Taiyuan, and Youzhou, it is almost a remote and impoverished area. However, it guards the throat of the Khitan's invasion, and in a certain sense, it serves as a fist for the current Song Dynasty in northern China.

Madam She could not help but sigh. Xie Muhua reached out to pat Yang Jiumei, which was somewhat impolite. However, Madam She did not blame him, considering that although Xie Muhua was exceptionally intelligent and had remarkable insights, he had spent a long time overseas and was unfamiliar with the customs of the Central Plains. It was only natural that he was kicked by Pan Weiqing this time. With this thought in mind, Madam She glanced at Xie Muhua a couple more times but ultimately remained silent

However, Xie Muhua's heart was racing; this Pan Weiji was none other than the youngest son of Zhou Shizong, Chai Rong. My goodness!

Xie Muhua is still shocked by Pan Weiji's background, feeling utterly bewildered. Yang Jiumei hurriedly ran over and grabbed Xie Muhua, saying: "Aren't you supposed to distribute food to the hungry? Hurry up and come help me!"

At the Sanjiao Intersection in Hedong, all the troops under the command of Lord Pan Mei have been deployed specifically to welcome Madam Yang. The knights shouted in unison, bowing and paying their respects, their movements synchronized, truly a display of elite soldiers and strong generals

He said, habitually patting Yang Jiumei on the shoulder

I will help too! Xie Muhua is still a passionate young man at heart, quickly jumped out of the car, rolled up his sleeves, and joined the team distributing food

The crowd outside the city gate parted to make way, and although there were hundreds of people present, it was eerily silent. The person arriving was none other than General Yang Jiyi, the Left Military Commander, who was in charge of the military deployment in Zhi Daizhou and Sanjiao. He is later known to posterity as "Old Lord Yang".

The vehicles in the distance have already approached

The sound of hooves echoed at the city gate as a small troop galloped forward. At the forefront was a commanding general, imposing and majestic, with a square face and broad nose, eyes like lightning, and a long beard flowing in the wind

Xie Muhua rushed over quickly, pointing at the group of cavalry and scolding: "Look at your behavior, you think you're so impressive, right? Go out to Yanmen Pass and confront the Khitan people head-on! What are you showing off for in front of the common people? A bunch of useless trash, FUCKYOUEVERYBODY ... ... "

A group of centaurs followed Yang Jiyie back to his residence, and the Pan brothers, along with Xie Muhua, who was bleeding from his nose and carrying a small backpack while holding his head high, also joined the others at the Yang family home

Yang Yi stood by with his hands at his sides, serving quietly, until Xie Muhua set down his chopsticks, at which point he said: "Sir and Madam, please!"

After a series of bloody battles, Shanxi has become a place where the people can hardly survive. The once vast region now has only over 35,000 households remaining, and as far as the eye can see, desolation prevails. Ragged beggars collapse by the roadside, and emaciated farmers are nothing but skin and bones

A surge of pride welled up in my heart; what of your Emperor Zhao Guangyi? He is merely a perverse man who usurped the wife of the former Zhou and then took pleasure in depicting his own actions. And what of Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty? He lacked foresight, failing to designate an heir during his reign, and after his bizarre death, the throne was seized by his brother.

Since the Later Jin Emperor Shi Jingtang referred to himself as the "Child Emperor" to the Liao people and ceded the sixteen prefectures of Youyan to the Khitan, the Yanmen Pass has become the frontline for the sons and daughters of Huaxia in defending their homeland

Lady She dismounted from the carriage and walked over

Yang Jiyie dismounted from his horse and walked to the side of She Taijun. They had married young and had supported each other for over thirty years, sharing a deep bond of love. Since Yang Jiyie had surrendered, he had not seen his wife, and this reunion marked the moment when he had transformed from a general of the Han Dynasty into the commander of the Song army.

As the ancients said, "Do kings, lords, and ministers have any inherent nobility?" It is truly laughable that you, a mere soldier, take pride in your status

The Imperial Guards of the Great Song Dynasty, stationed at Yanmen, are tasked with wielding arms to protect the state. Can it be that these honorable soldiers of the Imperial Guards only bully the defenseless common people?

Sister Jiu has returned

Sixth brother

Jiu Mei rarely behaved honestly for a while, standing beside them with her hands hanging down, and softly called out: "Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, fourth sister-in-law, eighth sister..."

Xie Muhua let out a cold laugh; he knew that Yang Yanzhao and Yang Jiumei were right behind him. This time, he absolutely could not allow himself to suffer a loss. Since there were people acting as bodyguards, Xie Muhua's courage grew bolder. He stepped forward, his face filled with bravado

Yang Yanzhao intervened to stop the soldiers who were pushing the starving people and began distributing food to them

In later years, Xie Muhua was no longer a person with a strong tolerance for alcohol; after consuming a pot of wine, he only felt a softness in his legs, his vision slightly blurred, and a gentle intoxication washed over him, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort

Xie Muhua had not yet reacted when someone heavily stepped on his chest. Struggling to lift his head, Xie Muhua saw a handsome young man with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, dressed in luxurious attire. The young man's right foot was pressing down on Xie Muhua's chest, and he pointed at Xie Muhua with one hand, saying: "How could the Ninth Miss be someone you can touch?"

Yang Zhong spent his entire life in the Yang family, rising from a servant to a steward. The current generation of the Yang family grew up under his watchful eye, and they all regarded this honest and loyal old steward as one of their own. Upon suddenly hearing the news of his passing, some could not help but shed tears.

The questioner is another steward of the Yang residence, Yang Yi. Like Yang Zhong, he has worked for the Yang family his entire life. This year, he is already fifty-two years old

After distributing the food with great effort, Pan Weiji led his cavalry at the forefront, guiding this group of people and horses towards Daizhou

When Xie Muhua was still an internet addict, he enjoyed researching these historical mysteries every day. Unexpectedly, just a few days after traveling back to the Song Dynasty, he encountered the son of the previous dynasty's emperor. Xie Muhua was momentarily dumbfounded, staring at Pan Weiji, unable to speak, as a shocking thought flashed through his mind: "If Pan Weiji were to learn about his true identity, it would surely..."

However, it is evident to anyone who is not blind that Xie Muhua is certainly not praising them for their wisdom and martial prowess

Xie Muhua was taken aback: "Asking me who I am? Just ask your young lady and you'll know! Hey, why don't you say something for me!"

Get lost

Yang Yanzhao frowned; he had a strong aversion to these arrogant cavalrymen. However, these individuals appeared to be the personal guards of Pan Mei. Pan Mei was the direct superior of Yang Jiyie and a renowned general of the Song Dynasty who supported Zhao Kuangyin in his ascension to the throne. In contrast, the Yang family was merely a group of surrendered generals from the Northern Han.

Zhao Kuangyin then said: "Even if it is a position of power, to kill the son of a man, I cannot bear to do it!"

Thinking of the future, the Khitan, Jurchen, and Mongolian invasions of the Song Dynasty will leave Henan and Hebei desolate, and the prosperous Jiangnan will be a sea of corpses and blood, causing even Xie Muhua's eyes to twitch slightly

Sister Yang Ba held Sister Jiu's hand, carefully looked around, and then patted her chest: "Thank heaven and earth, you are safe! I heard that you encountered Liu Jixuan on the way and were ambushed by him. How was the situation? Upon hearing this, several brothers were extremely anxious and all requested their father for permission to go and fetch their mother.

Xie Muhua's stomach had long been growling with hunger, but at the banquet, one must maintain decorum and leave a courteous impression in front of the Yang family. Therefore, he refrained from indulging too much. After this meal, he still did not feel full and had a bit of yellow wine.

Before the words had even settled, Yang Yanzhao and Pan Weiji rode in swiftly on horseback. Following closely was a young girl in blue, wielding a whip to spur her horse. In the distance, dust was rising as a caravan of over a hundred vehicles and horses slowly approached, led by a row of cavalry, brandishing flags and holding up swords and spears, their armor gleaming and their steeds vigorous

Xie Muhua rubbed his eyes and lifted the car curtain to look outside

At this moment, the crowd was filled with fervor; there were likely around 200 hungry people in the vicinity, young and old, men and women, all ignited with anger as they glared at the cavalry. They had been subjects of the Han for several decades and held no fondness for the Song army. They only knew that to the north, the Khitan frequently raided them, and that the Great Song had been fighting against them for decades.

The person's voice was clear and melodious, refined and courteous: "I am Pan Weiqing, a third-rank official. I am here to await the esteemed arrival of Madam Yang!"

This passage is very difficult for these Song soldiers to understand, with terms like conduct, impressive, relentless struggle, and showing off, not to mention the last inexplicable sentence

Many people had already gathered outside the gates of Daizhou City, dressed neatly and continuously gazing towards the southwest

The man and Pan Weiji hurriedly prostrated themselves on the ground

Xie Muhua, lost in thought, let out a bitter laugh, realizing that it was not about being at odds with him. It was clearly the shocking background of Pan Weiji that had left him stunned.

Xie Muhua gritted his teeth, propping himself up with his hands, trying to stand up, but the strength of that person's foot was indeed quite great, pinning Xie Muhua down and rendering him unable to move

Pan Weiji spoke while casting a dissatisfied glance at Xie Muhua

Only Pan Mei remained silent

The young members of the Yang family rushed forward, and the city gate was immediately filled with people bowing down. The Yang family has always had a very strict education, showing great respect towards their parents and elders

In the early Song Dynasty, I aim to instigate a transformation in this era. I wish for Chinese civilization to no longer be interrupted by the slaughter of foreign tribes, and for history to forever engrave the three characters "Xie Muhua".

This should not be a big deal. In later generations, it is quite normal for him to greet female classmates and female colleagues by patting them on the shoulder. It is worth mentioning that Yang Jiumei took the initiative to hold his hand several times, although there were reasons behind it, it can still be considered a form of physical intimacy. During the early Song Dynasty, when Neo-Confucianism had not yet become prevalent, it should not have been so conservative

Move aside, move aside

It is a mother who has arrived

This shout was equivalent to igniting a powder keg. The starving people began to shout, encircling the group of cavalry.

Yang Yanzhao laughed heartily, and several men gathered around him, exchanging words with an indescribable warmth. They were indeed the seven sons of the Yang family

Madam She has returned, and today's lunch is particularly sumptuous. It is indeed not easy to enjoy a hearty and flavorful meal at the border fortress. Many people are taking this opportunity to indulge in a feast.

However, he can swallow this indignation, but Xie Muhua cannot endure it.

Yang Yanzhao dismounted and immediately delivered a vigorous punch to a spirited young man, striking him squarely on the shoulder. However, the young man did not resist; instead, he squared his chest to receive Yang Yanzhao's punch and cheerfully said, "Sixth Brother, it has been a month since we last met, and you didn't expect to greet your younger brother with a punch!" This playful young man was the seventh brother, Yang Yanbin

Stop

Lady She was unaware of what Xie Muhua found surprising. She quietly said to Yang Yanzhao: "Continue distributing food to the starving people"

Xie Muhua was dozing off, leaning at an angle in the carriage. He had not slept well for several days and nights, and in the jolting carriage, his bones felt as if they were about to fall apart. How could he possibly sleep? Rarely encountering a stretch of relatively smooth road, he finally managed to close his eyes for a moment, only to be awakened by the noise of the starving people outside.

Having crossed over to the Song Dynasty, I never expected to encounter such humiliating situations repeatedly. People strive for a breath of dignity, while the Buddha endures only a stick of incense. I cannot spend two lifetimes as a small shrimp at the mercy of others

Madam She finally emerged from the carriage, while Yang Yanzhao and Yang Jiumei, accompanied by soldiers, cleared a path for her through the crowd

When Zhao Kuangyin first entered the palace during the Huangqiao Uprising, he encountered a palace maid holding a child. Zhao Kuangyin asked, "Who is this?" The palace maid replied that it was the young son of Emperor Zhou Shizong

Upon seeing this, Xie Muhua felt an unnamed wildfire burning from the soles of his feet to the top of his head