.. Arriving in Zizhou that night, I dreamt of my deceased younger sister.

That was more than a decade ago.

The Jurchens' second southward invasion left countless families broken and ruined. The Tang family was a small landlord family near Daming Prefecture, originally well-off. During the first Jurchen invasion, they evacuated in time due to the Zhuji's cooperation with the Prime Minister's office in implementing the scorched earth policy, so they didn't suffer too many casualties. But this time, they weren't so lucky.

My parents quickly died in the chaos of war, and the family's belongings were looted. Large numbers of people fled south, driven by the war. Tang Minjie, who had read some books and had an active mind, took his younger sister, Tang Bao'er, all the way to the Xiaocang River in the northwest.

In the human world, right and wrong are difficult to define when faced with many complex situations. Even many years later, Tang Minjie, with a more mature mind, found it difficult to argue whether his thoughts at the time were clear or whether choosing another path would have allowed them to survive. But in any case, when people make decisions, they face the consequences.

The journey from Daming Prefecture to the Xiaocang River was more than a thousand miles. The siblings, who had never experienced the complexities of the world, encountered many things: war, bandits, refugees, beggars... They quickly ran out of money, were beaten, witnessed plagues, almost died on the road, but also benefited from the kindness of others. Finally, they faced starvation...

His younger sister starved to death. Before dying, she wanted to eat meat pies...

In countless times afterwards, he would always recall that journey. At that time, he still had a knife. Although the war was spreading and starvation was everywhere, he could have killed people. However, at the age of seventeen, he didn't have the courage. He could have also cut off his own flesh—for example, cutting the flesh from his buttocks. He had considered this several times, but in the end, he still didn't have the courage...

His younger sister starved to death on the road. He encountered several other refugees and went to Xiaocang River together. Because he had read books, he was assigned to do some clerical work. Then he also attended some courses and finally understood a principle:

When things come to a head, you must be bold.

If he had been able to bring himself to do it back then, whether to others or to himself... his younger sister might not have died...

Waking up from his dream, it was still early morning. Lu Mingfang was talking to him:

"Is there anything else you want to entrust to me? Like a sister of marriageable age or something, do you want me to go back and visit her for you?"

"You're not suitable. You're someone who runs around with your head on the line all day long. I'm afraid she'll become a widow."

"Do you really have a sister?"

At that time, Lu Mingfang's eyes lit up, looking like an interested fool.

In the end, I came back…

……

With the morning bells, the eastern sky revealed the dawn. The escort team went to the roadside south of Zizhou City and joined a convoy returning to Chengdu, hitching a ride.

The convoy belonging to China's First Military Industry, along the wide avenue with people coming and going, passed through the fields after the autumn harvest and through the lush Longquan Mountains. Large patches of white clouds in the sky moved with the wind. The prisoner sitting in the truck occasionally heard people talking about various things: the reform of Zhuji, the impending war in the Central Plains, the trade with Liu Guangshi, the detestability of He Wen… Every single one of these concepts felt foreign to him.

What he was most familiar with in his memory was the ice and snow of the north. Even in a world without ice and snow, that land seemed cold and stern.

But the road in front of him was wide. Many years ago, when he left the Liangshan area, passed through Chengdu, and went north through Jianmen Pass, this place did not yet belong to the Chinese Army, nor did it have such a wide road.

On the eighth day of the seventh lunar month of the second year of the Chinese Yuan calendar, Tang Minjie returned to Chengdu from the north. Peng Yueyun, a former junior brother, came to meet him.

Then, there was an interrogation.

**************

Zhang Village.

The starlight gently enveloped this area.

In the auditorium at the north end of the village, a wedding banquet was taking place. The two families getting married were Du Sha's fourth son, Du Pengpeng, and Su Wending's daughter, Su Xiaoxian. Both families were considered wealthy in Zhang Village, so although they followed the standards of frugality, the scene of the banquet was still very lively. Su Tan'er brought people over to help with the arrangements, and Ning Yi also made a brief appearance.

Lin Jingmei tied her hair into a long ponytail and led several sisters to work busily in the kitchen, cooking dishes.

Since the Chinese Army's regicide and rebellion, the situation of material scarcity had lasted for more than ten years. Now, although Chengdu had developed rapidly and had a touch of extravagance, Zhang Village had maintained relatively simple customs under Ning Yi's control. Although the wedding banquet was lively, they did not invite any prominent chefs from other places, nor did they have excessively extravagant dishes. Because she had grown up by Ning Yi's side for more than ten years and was adopted by Ning Yi as a foster daughter, Lin Jingmei's cooking skills were quite impressive. This time, when the little sister in the sister group got married, she volunteered to take on the production of two dishes.

The kitchen was smoky and exhausting, but there were also annoying flies helping to make things worse.

"Hey, hey, hey, that means you're the only one left, Meizi, you're the only one left…"

Today was not the first time someone had brought up this topic. Lin Jingmei wielded the spoon in her hand like a broadsword, with a strong wind.

"Go away, go away, go away, help serve the dishes…"

One fly was driven away, and other flies swarmed in.

"Yes, ah, you should also think about things, Meizi…"

"Okay, okay, say something useful."

"My cousin came back yesterday, go meet him…"

In the big kitchen, several male cooks were cooking and shouting loudly, while people occasionally came over to Lin Jingmei's side, helping while chatting with her about matchmaking and marriage. This was partly because she was Ning Yi's foster daughter, and partly because her appearance and temperament were indeed outstanding.

The Chinese Army had lived frugally in its early years. Some excellent young people had delayed their marriage for several years. It was only after the end of the Southwest War that a large-scale matchmaking and marriage boom began, but now it looked like it was coming to an end.

Lin Jingmei managed to fend off the marriage proposals one by one with a smile and a frown. Of course, when there were more people, some more complex topics were occasionally mentioned.

"Hey, Meizi, you don't want to get married, could it be that you're still thinking about that He guy? That person is no good…"

When this matter was mentioned, the nearby male cooks joined in: "Nonsense, how could Meizi be so blind…"

"Let me tell you, Meizi, you can't marry that bastard no matter who you marry!"

"That's right, we should have beaten him to death back then!"

"Boil croton for him to eat."

"He'll get his retribution sooner or later."

This was one of the most discussed things in Zhang Village recently—or rather, within the Chinese Army's sphere of influence. The past definition of the relationship between the Chinese Army and that Fair Party has always been relatively ambiguous. The Chinese Army has actually taken a magnanimous stance: we defeated the Jurchens, and you can rub off on some of this reputation.

However, the news of the Jiangning Heroes Conference came, choosing a similar time point to the Chinese Army's World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament, which immediately made the people here quite angry. Especially for these people at the core of Zhang Village, they knew about He Wen's matter back then, and they also knew that the handling here was generous afterwards. It was fine for you to run back and cause trouble using Mr. Ning's theories, but you took a big advantage without knowing how to be grateful, and now you're taking advantage of the benefits and still tearing down the stage. It's a pity that such a despicable person wasn't beaten to death several times.

Everyone cursed for a while, and several male cooks then changed the topic, guessing whether our side had taken any countermeasures against this Heroes Conference, such as sending a team out to disrupt their affairs. Some people also believed that it was too far away and there was no need to go there now. After discussing this, they returned to the discussion of using He Wen's head as a toilet, you use it and then I use it, and after I use it, I lend it out to everyone to use. The voices were noisy and lively.

Things were also constantly lively on Lin Jingmei's side. After a while, she finished making the two meals she was responsible for and went out to eat at the banquet. People who came to talk about marriage were still endless. She dealt with these matters either tactfully or directly. When everyone was clamoring to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber, she found an opportunity to go out from the side of the auditorium, walked along the street, and then strolled around the small river near Zhang Village.

The night in early autumn was hazy. The lively auditorium in the distance was like an island floating in the night, with patches of courtyards scattering light around it. Under the starlight, the river water trickled. She took a deep breath of the air by the river, and inevitably thought of He Wen's matter in her mind.

For her now, thinking of He Wen was no longer just about the feelings of the past. After becoming an adult, she participated in the Chinese Army's rear work and came into contact with a lot of paperwork and the affairs of the intelligence system. Compared with these matters that related to the rise and fall of the entire world, matters that related to tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of lives, personal feelings were actually insignificant.

Just like those acquaintances in the kitchen, if they were just shouting a few words according to their wishes, of course they would kill He Wen. But if they were really considering things at the political level, there would be all kinds of solutions, and some of the topics that arose in the middle were the reason why she felt troubled today.

With a "plop," someone threw a stone into the river, startling the woman who was walking along the river while thinking.

There were many sentries patrolling around Zhang Village, and there wouldn't be too many security problems. Lin Jingmei turned her head in surprise and saw a man in military uniform appearing in the starlight behind her. After committing the prank, he showed a familiar smile.

"Peng... Xiao Peng, you're back…"

"I'm delivering an urgent document. I took advantage of my position to run back, but it's a little late, I didn't get to attend the banquet…"

"Haven't eaten yet? There must still be food in the kitchen."

"I ate something on the road. I sneaked out to find you."

The person who appeared at this time was Peng Yueyun. The two were talking as they walked side by side on the river embankment.

"When I went, the banquet hadn't ended yet. Sister Jia arranged a seat for me. I saw that you weren't there, so I inquired a little. One or two of them wanted to introduce someone to you for matchmaking, so I guessed you had run away."

Lin Jingmei smiled: "Anyway, it's all those words, there's no malice, so I'm used to it. I just cooked in the kitchen, and after eating, I wanted to go out for a walk."

Peng Yueyun took her hand, and the two of them swung their arms and walked forward slowly.

"Sister Xiaomei, marry me, let's get married." Peng Yueyun said.

The two had been familiar with each other in the past. Lin Jingmei was half a year older than Peng Yueyun, and they had always addressed each other as siblings in the past. They had confirmed their relationship in the first half of this year, expressed their feelings for each other, and held hands for the first time. However, Peng Yueyun then went to work in Chengdu, while Lin Jingmei had been staying in Zhang Village, and they didn't see each other often. The matter of getting married hadn't been completely finalized.

Of course, in terms of the relationship between men and women at this time, after holding hands, getting married was usually a sure thing. It seemed natural for Peng Yueyun to bring it up at this time.

A smile naturally appeared on the corner of Lin Jingmei's mouth, but then, after thinking of something, she lowered her head slightly: "Xiao Peng, of course I'm willing, but... there are some other things now…"

Her hand loosened slightly.

Peng Yueyun tightened his palm: "Are you talking about He Wen's matter?"

The girl with the ponytail turned to look at him, not knowing where to start.

Peng Yueyun smiled, and then his gaze calmed down. He walked forward while speaking in a low voice: "He Wen is going to hold a Heroes Conference in Jiangning. Borrowing our reputation is one aspect, but on a larger level, a force holding such a large-scale event is a way to rectify its internal strength and concentrate power. Martial arts is secondary. The most important thing is probably that He Wen also knows that the Fair Party has expanded too quickly, and the initial structure is no longer so easy to use."

"Jiangnan drives refugees into soldiers, killing landlords and slaughtering wealthy gentry. Now the scale is tens of millions, and the military strength is millions. But in the middle of this, He Wen, Gao Chang, Xu Zhaonan, Shi Baofeng, and Zhou Shang each form their own forces, and they are about to become five warlords. He Wen wants to imitate our martial arts tournament last year, to correct his reputation externally, arrange the seats, and strengthen his ruling power in the Fair Party. That's why he's doing this. The political meaning here is very strong."

"So ah, Xiao Peng…" Lin Jingmei looked at him with a frown.

Peng Yueyun squeezed her hand: "I know some people in the General Staff are discussing that from this perspective, we can also send people to get involved, and if we want to send people, it would be ideal to send people who were familiar with He Wen in the past. Sister Mei, you... I know you must have heard this kind of talk."

"Xiao Peng, there was nothing between me and He Wen back then. I was a little naive back then, and He Wen himself didn't like me... But if Dad needs me to go on a mission to negotiate, I think I should go, because I do understand some of his past…"

"But if you go there this time, what if He Wen says he suddenly likes you? Even if he threatens you with his relationship with the Chinese Army, what will you do?"

"…I will handle this matter well."

She was silent for a long time before saying this sentence. There were no overly firm oaths, nor were there rash words about feelings. She just looked at Peng Yueyun with a serious and complex emotion in her eyes. Peng Yueyun could perceive what the meaning of that gaze was. It was the gaze of a warrior that he had seen many times over the years.

He slowly smiled: "In Chengdu, someone mentioned your name to the teacher."

"Ah…"

"He was scolded by the teacher, who said that he was learning to be scheming and had lost his conscience."

"Ah…"

"And as far as I know, the team to Jiangning has probably already been sent out. Sister Mei, you're still foolishly waiting for someone to assign you."

"Ah…" Lin Jingmei was slightly stunned, then pulled out her hand and punched him in the chest, "You didn't say so earlier."

Peng Yueyun held her hand: "I just like you like this, Sister Xiaomei."

Lin Jingmei kicked him, but Peng Yueyun didn't let go of her. He hopped and skipped on the river embankment.

"So, Sister Xiaomei, can you marry me?"

"…Who else can I marry?"

"I'll find a good opportunity to propose marriage to the teacher."

"Dad is quite烦心 recently, don't bother him."

"The teacher has烦心 things every day, what's wrong again?"

"Ning He scolded the aunt who worked at home. Dad felt that he had picked up bad habits and was putting on airs with people, so he punished Ning He by making him kneel in the yard for a day, and then sent him to the countryside below to suffer."

Lin Jingmei said this in a low voice—the Ning family has always been having trouble recently. First, Ning Ji was framed and then ran away from home. Then Ning He, who had always seemed obedient, put on airs with the aunt who worked at home. This matter didn't seem big, but Ning Yi rarely lost his temper and sent Ning He directly away. It was said to be a very苦 home, but no one knew exactly where it was, and no one asked.

Ning He was the son of Hong Ti, the female master with the highest martial arts skills, who was said to be able to defeat Lin Zongwu. Even she shed tears for this matter.

Regarding the Ning family's affairs, Peng Yueyun just nodded without making any comments. He just said: "You still think the teacher will let you join the delegation to go and make peace. Actually, the teacher is quite soft-hearted in these kinds of things."

"It's not peace啦. I just think he might let me... well, forget it, I won't say it."

As Lin Jingmei spoke, she kicked Peng Yueyun again.

The two joked around like this and turned from the river embankment to the nearby road. Just as they turned past the backyard of a house, Lin Jingmei wanted to pull her hand out, but Peng Yueyun stubbornly held on to it. Lin Jingmei said with a chuckle: "What if people see us? You're being a ruffian…"

Peng Yueyun smiled and was about to speak, but then he was seen.

On the other side of the road, Ning Yi and Hong Ti also seemed to be taking a walk, coming this way. Then they squinted slightly, looking at the two people holding hands here. Lin Jingmei struggled, but didn't break free. Then she struggled again and finally broke free.

"Being a ruffian?"

"Ah?" Peng Yueyun opened his hands and blinked.

"Take Peng Yueyun…arrest him for me!"

Ning Yi's face was gloomy, and in the darkness, soldiers ran over from the side, going towards Peng Yueyun. Hong Ti pulled on Ning Yi's sleeve to the side, but a murderous aura filled the night.

"Ah... no, no, no, it's not like that…" Peng Yueyun was a little flustered. Lin Jingmei opened her mouth: "Dad, no, no, no... it's not like that…" As she said this, she hesitated, and then grabbed Peng Yueyun's hand, pulling him behind her. Their arms were intertwined: "It's not like that, we are…"

In the light shining from the courtyard, the murderous aura in Ning Yi's eyes gradually changed. At some point, it had turned into a smile, and his shoulders began to shake: "Hoo hoo hoo hoo… hahahaha…" He looked at Lin Jingmei's face and the hands they were holding together. "This is really… the happiest thing for me recently."

"Peng Yueyun." He then said, "You come here for me!"

Peng Yueyun also looked at the hands he and Lin Jingmei were holding, and after realizing it, he smiled foolishly and stepped forward. He knew that there were many things he had to explain to Ning Yi at this time, not just about himself and Lin Jingmei.

And also about Tang Minjie.