Chapter 245: Remember the old days
It was evening, but the lights were brightly lit in a small mansion in Xifang, Lin'an City.
The servants in the courtyard were busy coming and going, but when passing by the study, they all subconsciously lowered their steps for fear of disturbing the two people in the study who were chatting at night with candles.
After a long conversation, the older of the two sighed: "I wish I had met you twenty years earlier."
This man was dressed in cloth, with white beard and hair, and a slightly thin figure. Although he was old, his face was still rosy, energetic, and his eyes were bright. He was obviously a master of internal skills.
Opposite him, a middle-aged man in his forties chuckled and shook his head: "Twenty years ago, I was still a wild Taoist who was obsessed with Taoism and wanted to be a disciple of my master Chongyang Zhenren. If Master Xin recognized me at that time, , I’m afraid I will be greatly disappointed!”
"hehe!"
The old man surnamed Xin chuckled, and then asked curiously: "I would like to ask, why did the Cavalry Commander undergo such a big change?"
Wang Chuyi said seriously: "Because I found that learning Taoism cannot save the people of the Song Dynasty..."
The old man surnamed Xin was slightly stunned, then he looked at Wang Chu and suddenly burst into laughter for no apparent reason.
When the cheerful laughter gradually subsided, the old man said with a smile: "He is indeed a famous traitor. I have long heard that there are only wrong names in this world, not wrong nicknames. Now I see that it is indeed the case, but To be honest, I like your deviant Taoist general better than your master who lives in seclusion in the mountains and is not interested in worldly affairs!"
Wang Chuyi had a smile on his face and looked at the old man in front of him who he had only seen in textbooks before and said softly: "Master Xin is really embarrassing me. My father-in-law would like to ask you to inform the Shaoxing Prefecture and the East Zhejiang Comfort Envoy, and also ask you I have accepted the imperial decree and been appointed as Privy Council, but you have rejected them all. You have neglected to serve as a high-ranking official, but you came to my Dingyuan Army and condescended to be a general. It is really a blessing for me, Wang Chuyi, and the Dingyuan Army... Please Master Xin, accept my bow!"
After speaking, Wang Chu took half a step back, straightened his clothes, looked solemn, and bowed deeply.
The old man was suddenly startled, and quickly stretched out his hand to hold Wang Chuyi's arm. At the same time, internal power surged out of his hand, trying to stop Wang Chuyi, but a more subtle internal power emerged from Wang Chuyi's body, and he was easily resolved. The old man’s intention.
There was no other way, the old man could only watch him bow to him.
"The Quanzhen Heart Technique is truly worthy of its reputation!"
The old man sighed in admiration, then helped Wang Chuyi up, and said softly: "Qi Duwei, there is no need for this. Although you and I have known each other for a long time, we have been close friends for many years. You should understand that as long as you can go north to conquer the Jin Dynasty and conquer the Central Plains, you will be able to conquer the Central Plains." As a deputy general, I, Xin Qiji, would be happy to serve as a captain, lead a horse and ride as a captain, or serve as the vanguard of the army!"
The old man spoke decisively and boldly.
Wang Chuyi sighed: "Master Xin is so righteous, Wang feels ashamed..."
Xin Qiji smiled and held Wang Chuyi's wrist. The two sat at the tea table again and continued to discuss the Northern Expedition.
This great poet, who was often mentioned in Chinese textbooks in later generations, was jointly known as "Su Xin" with Su Shi, and was also a famous military general in the Southern Song Dynasty.
He was also a young hero who could conquer thousands of miles like a tiger. When he was twenty-two years old, Xin Qiji led fifty cavalry into the 50,000 Jin army and captured the rebel traitor Zhang Anguo alive in the Jin army camp. He got rid of the pursuing enemy, galloped back, presented prisoners to Lin'an, and beheaded Zhang Anguo in public display.
"In the prime of life, banners support thousands of men, and brocades suddenly ride across the river at the beginning. Yan soldiers sing about silver beards at night, and Han arrows fly toward golden servant girls."
This is the emotion Xin Qiji expressed when recalling this youthful feat.
It is a pity that after returning to the Southern Song Dynasty from the Jin Kingdom, Xin Qiji's enthusiasm to resist the Jin Dynasty's Northern Expedition and conquer the Central Plains was ignored due to the Southern Song Dynasty's peaceful and peaceful atmosphere. Compared with his well-thought-out plan for the Northern Expedition, the court treated him I am more interested in the real talent and hard work shown in the previous letter.
Therefore, since the fourth year of Qian Dao, Xin Qiji has successively served as the general magistrate of Jiankang Prefecture, the magistrate of Chuzhou, and the punishment of Jiangxi. Frequent job transfers and promotions did not satisfy Xin Qiji. What he longed for was to gallop on the battlefield and regain lost ground, but he His heroic and stubborn character and his enthusiasm for the Northern Expedition made it difficult for him to gain a foothold in the useless officialdom of the Southern Song Dynasty.
In 1181, Xin Qiji was dismissed from all official positions, named himself Jiaxuan Jushi, and lived in seclusion in Shangrao. After that, he served as an official several times and lived in seclusion in despair several times.
Before the Kaixi Northern Expedition, he was living in seclusion near Qianshan, Jiangxi, living a mountain village life of sightseeing, drinking, composing poems, and hanging out with cranes. Suddenly, he heard that the current prime minister, Han Yuzhou, advocated the Northern Expedition and once again activated the main war faction. He was already sixty years old. The five-year-old Xin Qiji was so energetic that he immediately wrote to Song Ningzong and Han Kanzhou to support their Northern Expedition. He also listed various reasons why the Song Dynasty would definitely win and the Jin Kingdom would be in chaos and collapse.
Later, Han Yuzhou wanted to invite him to come out. Xin Qiji originally planned to agree. But when he arrived in Lin'an and saw the new army formed by Wang Chuyi and him, Xin Qiji was shocked and immediately changed his mind. He took the initiative to find Wang Chuyi and expressed I want to join the Dingyuan Army.
Wang Chu had been on good terms with this legendary figure who was versatile in both civil and military affairs for a long time early in the morning, and had a long chat with him that night.
The two communicated for a long time about the Northern Expedition and felt that it was too late to meet each other.
As the imperial court became more pro-peaceful, even though Han Yuzhou vigorously promoted the Northern Expedition after taking power, the preparations for the Northern Expedition were still hasty and urgently needed the help of Xin Qiji, a war-fighting official with real materials.
Wang Chuyi agreed to Xin Qiji's request without hesitation, calling him Master Xin, and planned to give up his position as commander-in-chief to Xin Qiji.
But Xin Qiji refused to accept it. He knew that his experience was not applicable to this new army equipped with new weapons.
Just when Xin Qiji humbly asked Wang Chuyi for advice on the new army's tactics, there was a slight knock on the door.
"Master, I have a guest outside the house."
"..."
Wang Chuyi, whose thoughts were interrupted, frowned and shouted softly: "Didn't I tell you that I won't see any guests tonight, so let him invite you back!"
The voice outside the door suddenly trembled, as if he was about to cry: "Master, please don't leave that guest, he...he came in!"
Wang Chuyi suddenly stood up, his brows furrowed, and his right hand pressed on the sword at his waist like lightning.
He said something was wrong. There were two types of servants in the Wang family. One was the servants brought by his wife from his father-in-law's house, and the other was the disabled veterans he took in from the army. The housekeepers and guards at home were the latter. They obeyed Wang Chuyi's orders. Knowing that he would not see any guests tonight, they would never let anyone knock on the door, even the family members that the wife brought from her father-in-law's house...
Seeing Wang Chuyi's solemn expression, Xin Qiji also realized something was wrong and immediately pulled out the sword on the desk.
Wang Chu glanced at his right hand and saw that his wrist was stable and his legs were rooted to the ground. He was obviously not panicked and even a little excited.
"Qidu Lieutenant." Xin Qiji stopped in front of Wang Chuyi and said softly, "If someone assassinates you, let me stay as the queen!"
Wang Chuyi said in astonishment: "Master Xin, how can this be possible?!"
Xin Qiji smiled and said: "I am old. Even if I want to kill thieves, I can no longer be driven. But Captain Qi, you are still young and are the main force in the Northern Expedition against Jin. How could you die in Xiao Xiao's hands... …”
Before entering the study, Xin Qiji had observed Wang Chuyi's Cavalry Commander's Mansion and found that the guards in the mansion were all veterans of hundreds of battles with good combat prowess. He could break into the Cavalry Commander's Mansion under their guard without being able to issue a warning. The sound that disturbed the conversation between the two people in the study room was definitely the top master in the world!
Even Wang Chuyi, who is known as the 'Iron-footed Immortal', is probably no match for such a master.
Wang Chuyi said quickly: "Master Xin, you..."
"No need to say more." Xin Qiji interrupted his words, shook his head and said, "I have made up my mind. If the Cavalry Commander is really sorry, just concentrate on fighting against the Northern Expedition of Jin after this calamity. I have wasted more than sixty years on unfinished work. I’ll leave it to you!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a young and helpless voice came from outside the door.
"I told you I don't want to do anything, why do you have to force me?"
Hearing the strange voice coming from outside the door, Wang Chuyi immediately closed his mouth and swallowed back the words he had not yet spoken. Then he drew the sword from his waist and looked at the study door with a vigilant and dignified expression.
The next second, the servant brought by his wife from her parents' house tremblingly opened the door.
A young man wearing casual sportswear walked out of the door. Behind him were unconscious guards who had fallen to the ground in the courtyard.
Looking at the familiar sportswear on the young man, Wang Chuyi, who was about to take action, suddenly froze.
At the same time, a cold light suddenly shot out from behind the door. It was Xin Qiji who was hiding behind the door, waiting for an opportunity to take action.
The sword flashed, but the young man did not panic. He turned his head slightly to avoid the sword edge, and then clamped the blade with two fingers. His eyes followed the bright sword body and looked at Xin Qiji's old and frightened face.
Seeing Xin Qiji's familiar yet unfamiliar face, Deng Yougang felt excited. He almost took out a pen and paper and asked the idol he had admired when he was young to compose a poem and sign his name as Xin Qiji.
Of course, ideas are ideas, and Deng Yougang's movements are still unambiguous.
He flicked his fingers lightly, and the exquisite force immediately caused Xin Qiji, who was holding a sharp sword, to retreat continuously.
When the other party's figure stopped on the wall, Deng Yougang straightened his messy sleeves and cupped his hands towards Xin Qiji.
"Young Master Deng from Changbai Mountain has met Master Xin!"
Hearing Deng Yougang's respectful yet excited tone, the shock on Xin Qiji's face gradually faded away, and he put away his sword, frowned, and looked thoughtfully at Deng Yougang's too young face. .
Deng Yougang smiled back with a sunny smile, then he turned his head, looked at Wang Chuyi with a blank expression, and said in a faint tone: "Brother Wang, the court official is different, it's too troublesome to see you openly. Bar?"