Chapter 2380 The Past Is Gone (Additional Update)

The Protectorate of the Western Regions of the Han Dynasty.

Haixi.

Haixi has now been renamed Dingxi.

That night.

Lu Bu had a long, long dream.

Although I can't remember the specific content of the dream, the vague remaining memories seem to be full of sadness and helplessness...

It's like facing the passage of time, the feeling that you want to catch it but can't.

To be honest, during this period of time, Lu Bu felt that he was not as brave as before, at least it was starting to be difficult for him to be comfortable on the bed.

Does this have anything to do with dreams?

Lu Bu didn't know.

Lu Bu muttered, then sat up from the bed, glanced at the golden-haired girl sleeping soundly beside him, rubbed his temples, and felt slightly dazed.

Ever since the Western Region was conquered, there seemed to be no direction.

The Western Region is huge, but actually it is also very small. Although the place is large, the population is not very large. These cities in the Western Region are concentrated in places with water sources and pastures. There is also a large area in the middle that is said to be the grave of evil spirits. There is no human habitation at all.

What's even more interesting is that these countries in the Western Regions, no matter how loud they clamored before, they really waited for Lu Bu and his troops to arrive, and they lowered their flags and surrendered without saying a word!

Once, as soon as Lu Bu's army arrived, two countries surrendered.

There are two small countries on the left and right. They don't know which side Lu Bu is going to fight, so they don't dare to bet, right?

Many countries in the Western Region have only one city.

Anyway, it's not like he had never surrendered to a big man back then, so surrendering again now wouldn't be a big deal.

As for face, can that be used as food?

Among the countries in the Western Region, many even have semi-slavery systems. Kings, or city lords, are passed down from generation to generation, while the people around the cities are forever exploited. The lives and wealth of these people, as small as a piece of cloth or a piece of soil, all belong to the city lord.

The city lord is supreme, and then there are the various officials who work for the city lord, layer by layer, suppressing the people at the bottom who don't know a word and don't even know what to do if they want to resist. For these city lords, they just changed the objects of tribute. In their cities, they are still "kings".

At the beginning, Lu Bu felt that this kind of life was very satisfying.

But after a long time, Lu Bu suddenly felt a little bored. Just like at first, I thought that golden, red, and brown hairs were all good, but as time went by, I felt that they were not much different from other pieces of meat. They just changed their skin. I couldn't understand what Lu Bu said. There was no communication, and I didn’t know whether I was playing or being played...

"such a pity……"

Lu Bu suddenly regretted that when Li Ru wanted to go to the west, he did not go with him.

If we follow Li Ru all the way to the west, maybe there will be more fun things?

Lu Bu pinched his beard and recalled Li Ru's smile when he left...

Lu Bu seemed to feel that he also dreamed of Li Ru's smile. What did it mean?

……(O_o)??……

Western outpost.

This is a warning outpost in Dingxi. Generally speaking, it has a military strength and is led by a commander.

The checkpoint is actually very simple, it is just a watchtower, and then there are a few houses under the watchtower, and a piece of land surrounded by a low wall. In places like the Western Region, dry earth walls do not even use bricks and stones. The compacted earth can withstand ordinary rain and snow. As for heavy rain, it is basically unlikely to occur.

Several soldiers were practicing, shooting at a fixed target thirty steps away.

The soldiers on duty on the sentry tower stretched their heads and looked down, "Hey, three rings... tsk, tsk, too weak..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" That was blown by the wind! 』

"What a fart!" How come I don’t feel any wind at all when I’m up there? 』

"Get off your ass!" 』

The checkpoint located at the edge of the Western Region seems to be repeating a peaceful day amidst the noise.

Shi Chang walked out of the earthen house, holding the sword in his arms and yawned greatly.

In the latter half of yesterday night, Shi Chang was on duty with someone.

Standing guard from the middle of the night to the morning is also the most tiring. Not only do you feel sleepy, but more importantly, you feel hungry. Especially since there are only two meals a day, and here at the checkpoint, you can’t open your stomach to eat. You always have to leave some. Otherwise, if the next wave of supplies is a few days late, it will be difficult to find even a root of grass in the wild. How can you eat the soil and drink it? Is the northwest wind going?

"Sir, when will the next supply come?" 』

Except for the soldiers on duty last night, the other boys were full of energy. Of course, the side effects are that you get hungry more easily and eat more...

“Three days, um, maybe five days. Who knows? 』

"Sir, do you want me to take my two brothers to look around the area? Maybe we can catch a hare or something?" 』

"fart! Do you want to go out and run wild? In this weather, there may not even be rabbits, even mice! 』

"It's so long. When will this grass grow again?" 』

"Waiting for God to let it rain and thaw, it won't be until February after all..."

"The grass will grow sooner... When the grass grows, there will be more rabbits and other things..."

"Hehe, that's when the time comes..."

The two looked at each other and smiled in unison.

Winter is just hard work, but in spring, when grass grows all around, herbivorous and carnivorous animals will gradually come out of every nook and cranny, and then they can naturally go hunting in the surrounding areas, make tooth sacrifices, etc., without having to count the days right now. , and then lived eagerly counting the food.

"Practice hard!" The bow and arrow are not accurate, and when the time comes, they will miss the rabbit and the roe deer! 』

"Hey!" 』

Just as they were talking, some smoke and dust suddenly rose in the distance...

"That's... a situation!" ” Er Mazi on the sentry tower yelled, pointing in the direction of the smoke, “It’s so long! Someone is coming over there! 』

Shi Chang changed his face and hurried up to the sentry tower. He held his hands and looked into the distance. After a while, he exhaled, "It doesn't look like a thief... There seems to be our recognition flag behind him..."

Not long after, the rushing cavalry approached the checkpoint.

"stop! Stop there and don't move! 』

"Who are you?" ! 』

The few horses that came were holding back their horses, covered in mud and dust. There were lines on his face, the result of sweat rushing out of the mud ditch.

The man at the front of the team raised his head and shouted at the sentry post, "We are under the command of Chang Shi!" Going to Dingxi to report! 』

A person with a long history?

In the Western Regions, there is only one person who can be called a long history.

Li Ru.

The chief at the checkpoint suddenly saw the linen tied on the heads and arms of these cavalrymen. He was stunned for a moment and blurted out: "Chang Shi... What's wrong with Chang Shi?" 』

……(⊙＿⊙;)……

"Which of you is the team leader?" 』

"The Great Protector is summoned!" 』

One of the cavalrymen who came to report the news stood up. "I am, take me there." 』

Guard Lu Bu took one look and nodded, "Please follow me." 』

Pass through the courtyard gate, walk through the cloister, and arrive in front of the main hall.

On both sides of the main hall of Dingxi Mansion, there are braziers, and a tiger skin is spread in the middle.

Lu Bu was sitting on the tiger skin, frowning and staring at the man walking in from the door.

"Are you under Chang Shi's command?" ” Lu Bu did not recognize all the soldiers, especially some of Li Ru’s men who did not have much contact with people like Lu Bu.

The visitor took out the seals and tokens representing his identity from his arms.

Lu Bu checked it out and said, "Meng Ti Meng Qu Chang..."

"That's right..." Meng Ti lowered his head slightly.

Lu Bu looked at the linen tied to Meng Ti's helmet and arms. Because of the long journey, the linen had lost its original color and turned a little gray...

"Li Changshi..." Lu Bu took a breath, with a slightly thoughtful expression on his face.

Meng Ti showed some sadness and said, "To the great protector...he has been a long-term historian...and he has lost his fortune..."

Even though he was somewhat prepared, when he actually heard the news, Lu Bu's eyes widened and he was speechless for a while...

After a long time, Lu Bu let out a long sigh, "When did it happen?" 』

Meng Ti lowered his head and began to tell.

Birth, old age, illness and death are a kind of helplessness in life.

Every year when winter comes, especially when the weather changes drastically, it is a threat to some elderly people or people with some unhealthy health.

As for Li Ru, he took advantage of both aspects.

Perhaps it was a judgment about his body, or perhaps a perception of life. When Li Ru felt that his life was about to end, he did not choose to go to the Western Regions or return to Chang'an. Instead, he chose to go west, along the Peacock River, Beihe River all the way to the west.

Pass through Qiuci, walk through Shule, pass through Dawan, and enter Guishang...

Li Ru even wanted to reach the West Sea where Gan Ying had been, and wanted to go further...

But it's a pity that Li Ru's body can't support it anymore.

In fact, in the second half of the journey, Li Ru could no longer get out of the car with his own strength. He needed help getting in and out of the car, and he became thinner and thinner, just like a layer of skin covering the bones. Even those Dawan Guishuang The sentry soldiers saw this and learned that under such circumstances, Li Ru was still going west, and they were full of admiration.

The flickering candle will eventually burn out.

After a cold wave hit one day, the temperature dropped sharply, and Li Ru suddenly collapsed.

When he was in a daze, Li Ru knew that he was in trouble. When he was dying, he reluctantly confessed a few words, and never waited for the morning light of the next day.

Li Ru's men, in accordance with Li Ru's last wish, found a hillside facing the east and buried him there.

The first ray of sunshine every morning will fall on Li Ru's tombstone, allowing Li Ru to see the distant east and his hometown...

After burying Li Ru, Li Ru's men were divided into two parts. Most of them would continue to go west until they found the legendary land of Great Qin, while the other small part was led by Meng Ti. , reported back to Chang'an.

""Buried on a slope facing the east, there is no need to establish an heir after death, the tombstone does not have an inscription, and his knowledge does not need to be passed down secretly"... Are these Li Changshi's last words? Lu Bu asked.

Meng Ti nodded.

After listening to Meng Ti's story, Lu Bu was silent for a long time, and finally waved his hand and asked Meng Ti to go down and rest. After all, Meng Ti's mission was not completed yet, and they still needed to continue eastward to Chang'an Sanfu.

After Meng Ti went down, there was silence in the hall.

Lu Bu frowned and broke the silence, "Li Changshi... what do these four sentences mean?" 』

Just explaining the funeral arrangements?

It seems.

"Hi! Daduhu, isn't it just to explain some things behind your back? What's the big deal? ” Wei Xu rolled his eyes, then clapped his hands and laughed, “It’s better now! Isn't it better now? 』

Lu Bu looked over sideways, "What's good?" 』

"Dadu protector," Wei Xu chuckled, "Before, Li Changshi either oppressed us like this or took care of us like that, but now...hehe, isn't it better now?" I can’t control it anymore! Nowadays, the Western Region is under the control of a single person, the Protector, who can say the same thing and give out orders. Who dares to disobey from all the countries in the Western Region? Isn't that a good thing? 』

Wei Xu had been defeated by Li Ru many times before, and he didn't have much affection for Li Ru. Now that he heard that Li Ru was dead, he felt only joy in his heart. If the place where Li Ru was buried was not too far away, there is no way Wei Xu would still want to go there. Jumping on the grave or something like that.

Lu Bu's face darkened, "Get out!" 』

Wei Xu was stunned, "Huh?" 』

"I told you to get out!" ” Lu Bu glared at Wei Xu.

Wei Xu winced, swallowed, and walked out of the hall dejectedly. After turning out of the courtyard door, he glanced sideways, made two gurgling sounds in his throat, spit out a mouthful of thick phlegm, and left with curled lips.

Lu Bu was sitting in the hall, looking up, like a wooden sculpture. He didn't move for a long time, his face expressionless, and he didn't know what he was thinking...

After a long time, I heard a gentle sigh, floating in the air vaguely.

……（o′?□?`o）……

It was already the New Year when Fei Qian received the news of Li Ru's death.

In addition to asking Meng Ti to bring back some information about the route that he had handwritten before, Li Ru also emphasized that Fei Qian should not pursue him...

Because Li Ru knew that his identity was a problem, disappearing into the world in obscurity was undoubtedly the best outcome.

Fei Qian was silent for a long time, and for some reason suddenly remembered a few words.

"Those who were once rich need to be retro.

"Those who are arrogant should maintain the status quo.

"Those who have never been generous need to innovate..."

"Probably so, probably!" 』

An old era will pass no matter what, and a new era will follow. In the overlapping process of the old and new eras, each individual is small, but also great.

Just when Fei Qian hadn't completely gotten over the impact of the news, Cui Jun came.

Cui Jun prostrated himself in front of the hall, looking horrified.

As for the reason why Cui Jun came from Taiyuan in a hurry, any fool must know it.

Fei Qian was silent for a long time, then stepped forward to help him up.

"Come with me." Fei Qian said and left the Cavalry General's mansion.

After leaving Chang'an, walk west along the Weishui River for a while, and you will see a village on the bank of the Weishui River. Opposite the village, there is also a land whose foundation is being leveled. Apparently, it will start after the ground thaws in the beginning of spring. construction.

"This place... Feixiong Xuan..." Although he did not enter Zhuangzi, Cui Jun, standing on the hillside, could still see the words on the large plaque at the entrance of Zhuangzi.

There is still some residual snow on the hillside.

Fei Qian was riding on horseback, and his breath formed a faint white smoke in the air.

It is said that at minus 20 degrees Celsius or lower, the exhaled breath will be frozen into slag before even white smoke can form. Fei Qian didn't know whether this statement was true or false, because he didn't want to try to practice this issue at all.

The only thing that is certain is that winter in Han Dynasty is getting colder and colder.

When Fei Qian was still in Luoyang City, sometimes he only needed to wear an extra cloak in winter. But now, in addition to the cloak, he not only has to wear leather armor to keep out the cold, but also pad the inside of the leather armor with newly produced cotton. , and then you can move more freely in the wild.

Compared with the warm winters in Dahan in those years, the difference now may be nearly ten degrees. It has dropped a little every year, but when I look back, I feel that there is a lot of difference.

Just like the Feixiong Xuan in front of me.

There were originally two people in Feixiong Xuan, but then one left, and now only Yuan Shang is left.

But soon there will be new residents here...

Liu Zhang.

If nothing unexpected happens along the way, Liu Zhang will become a resident here in about six months.

Living in Feixiongxuan is free of rent, with a separate room, free meals, two meals a day, and free clothing. One set of winter clothes and one set of summer clothes are given every year. You can read, you can be in a daze, you can lie down as flat as you want, and you can go crazy as you want. The only thing is that he cannot leave Zhuangzi, and from time to time he has to become a "viewing object" for others.

Just like it is now.

"The Fourth Generation and the Third Duke..." Fei Qian raised his head slightly and looked at Feixiong Xuan. He didn't bother to go in, didn't want to say hello to Yuan Shang, or show off his superiority in front of Yuan Shang. Fei Qian just felt a little emotional.

When Fei lurked in Luoyang, he had no way to see Yuan Shao or Yuan Shang. Even if he wanted to see the stewards of the Yuan family's mansion, he had no way. When I went to Yingchuan to attend a lecture at Xun's Villa, the people around me shouted "A model for the world" and pushed Fei Qian aside. In Suanzao, no one is required to be present, and those two thousand stones who are scheming have to hold the position of alliance leader high and present it to Yuan Shao...

Did Yuan Shao and Yuan Benchu, who were so proud back then, ever think that his favorite child would one day become an "ornamental" sight for others, placed in the yard just for people to see?

Cui Jun seemed to understand something, or his face turned a little pale because of the cold weather in the wild.

Fei Qian raised his head slightly, "Yuan Benchu... is considered a warrior... and what's here is just a maggot..."

Cui Jun hid half a horse behind Fei with his sleeves lowered and his head down. He blinked twice and listened quietly.

"My husband, a warrior, is the same as me, with a human body." Not gods, not ghosts, not strange beasts. Fight in the yellow sand, die in the underworld, live without fear of death, die without turning on your heel, how magnificent and magnificent! 』

"However, when a warrior dies, the flies will arrive first, licking his blood, leaving his marks, chewing his flesh, leaving behind his remains, and dancing around, thinking they are proud of themselves and comparing themselves to the heroes of the warriors." The warrior is dead and can no longer be driven away, so the flies attack his wounds more and more, clamoring and boiling, only talking about his corruption and seeing his defeat, claiming to be immortal and noble above the warriors. 』

"Indeed, there are many who see marks on the body of a warrior, and there are many who see lack on the body of maggots." 』

"Soldiers silently value their death, flies and maggots noisily value their lives..."

Fei Qian opened his hands and said, "In this world of Han Dynasty, the most important people in this world are bleeding warriors, not blameless flies!" 』

"Does Yuan Ping understand? 』