Chapter 3429 Life and Death


    He was born in Caizhou and was buried in Caizhou Tomb.


    This is the life style of Cai family in Jingxiang.


    Even Cai Mao himself didn''t know how many years it had been. His father lived in Caizhou when he was a child, and now he is buried in Caizhou. The same goes for him. If he dies, he also hopes that he can be buried in Caizhou.


    Caizhou is their warm hometown, but it has also become an insurmountable prison for them.


    If Cai Shi left Caizhou, what would he be?


    Cai Mao didn''t know.


    He didn''t even think about it.


    Shouldn’t all the gentry descendants of the Han Dynasty be like this?


    Once you lose your hometown, what else can you call a noble family? What are you not a refugee?


    Therefore, when the Emperor of the Han Dynasty was around, as long as the emperor could guarantee the interests of the Cai family and Caizhou, then the Emperor of the Han Dynasty would be the emperor, and they would pay the local taxes collected on his behalf to the emperor every year.


    Of course, they leave a little bit behind.


    Really, just a little bit.


    When Liu Biao came, as long as Liu Biao could guarantee the interests of the Cai family and Caizhou, it would not be a bad thing for his sister to fill in the holes, oh, and fill in the house.


    Everything is for Cai.


    When Cao Cao came, in order to maintain the interests of the Cai family, he betrayed Liu Cong. It cannot be said to be a bad thing. After all, sacrificing one person is a small thing, but preserving the interests of the whole family is a big thing.


    For those who ridiculed Cai and Cai Mao, Cai Mao found it very strange. Don''t these sarcastic guys have fathers and wives at home? No siblings? No descendants of the same race? If fathers, wives, brothers, sisters, and children of the same race are reduced to nothing because of some righteousness or the country, then what is the choice?


    Should we choose righteousness or...


    Without mentioning anything else, let’s simply say that the big man is now poor and needs to personally donate all his property to tide over the difficulties. So should he donate?


    Some people will pretend to be righteous and donate!


    Then he took out his wallet...


    But if it’s not just the few hundred coins you carry with you, but the tens of thousands of coins in the bank, or the entire family’s hundreds of thousands or hundreds of thousands…


    How many people can take it out without hesitation?


    Cai Mao couldn''t do it anyway.


    So he never laughed at those who were unwilling to pay.


    As the saying goes, do what you don''t want others to do.


    If you can''t do it yourself, don''t laugh at others.


    But having said that, people who really want to be able to do such things will not laugh at others, but will even understand others. Because they have really done it and understand the pain and difficulty of doing it.


    The big man is sick.


    This is something that many people can see.


    But what you do after you get sick really makes the difference.


    Cai Mao himself felt that he was of average ability and could only protect his own family. Beyond the borders of the county, there was nothing he could do.


    So he admired Cao Cao and also admired Fei Qian. Cao Cao and Fei Qian were really treating the big man.


    Cao Cao used medicine.


    It''s three parts of medicine and poison.


    Cao Cao''s medicine is naturally poisonous, trying to remove putrefactive tissue and regenerate muscle to regain new blood.


    But in the process, the pain can drive people crazy.


    Fei Qian is even more ruthless, he cuts right away!


    Cut off the rotten lesions and even cut off the arms.


    It’s even more heartbreaking.


    Cai Hao found it difficult to comment on the quality of these two methods. Maybe they could be combined into one, internal medicine and external knife?


    As for judging…


    Sorry, Cai Mao feels that he is not qualified.


    So Cai Mao didn''t want to offend either side.


    Now Cao Ren asked him to go to Wancheng to mediate. Cai Mao ostensibly agreed and acted slowly, but there seemed to be no delay in every aspect. It''s obviously inappropriate to delay directly, and Cao Ren would not agree to it, but if it comes to taking care of some details and finding some ways to delay the process, Cai Mao is very familiar with it.


    Just like the business staff of the sub-district office in later generations, when they work hard, the speed is scary, and when they slow down, it is also grinding to death. The format is wrong, the handwriting is blurry, where is the form, look at the template, get to work on time, get off work on time, and he will lose if he works an extra moment. But everything is done in accordance with standards, procedures, and norms. The faults are all the fault of others. He, Cai Mao, a vulnerable group, what can he do wrong?


    Ever since, when Cai Mao''s chariot and his party left Xiangyang and were halfway there, they saw the defeated troops from Wancheng...


    Cai Mao, who was accompanying him, was overjoyed and said, "Master, now we don''t have to go to Wancheng!" 』


    Cai Mao was silent for a moment, but shook his head, "No, that''s wrong, we need to go to Wancheng more!" 』


    The confidant is puzzled.


    Cai Mao didn''t explain much. He just asked someone to go back and report to Cao Ren, saying that the mission must be achieved and Cao Ren''s instructions would be completed no matter what, and then ordered the group to continue moving forward.


    Toward death is to live.


    …


    …


    Who doesn’t have a wife and children?


    orphan.


    But orphans may also have companions who grew up with them.


    When the orphans grow up, they may also form a new family, and then have a wife, children, and children.


    You can abandon your wife, children, and children anytime and anywhere. You may not necessarily be a big shot, but you must be ruthless.


    Chen Bin has a wife and children, and he is not cruel enough.


    He ran away with all his heart, leaving Cao Chun behind was like leaving a dog behind.


    Some of the cruel ones also ran away, leaving behind the reinforcements from Wuzhong County like they were leaving behind shabby baggage.


    Chen Bin also had the opportunity to be cruel, but after thinking and thinking and hesitating, he still didn''t do it...


    Is this wrong or right?


    As long as the green hills remain, there is no need to worry about running out of firewood.


    However, can you be sure that what remains are "green hills" and not "barren hills"?


    Chen Bin was not sure, so until Zhao Yun came, he had not really been able to abandon anything, so he was stuck in Jixian County, and the most critical issue was that Chen Bin could not complete the task. It''s all become difficult.


    Zhao Yun did not enter the city, so should we burn it or not?


    In the current situation, burning is in vain, but if they are not burned, what is their significance in Jixian?


    If there is no point in staying anymore, can we find a way to escape?


    But after escaping, how can he prove that he did not evade his responsibilities and did not set fire to Jixian County according to Cao Chun''s instructions?


    There must be Cao Chun''s spies in the distance in Jixian County. They dare not approach the Hussars, but it is not difficult to see if there is any fire in Jixian County from a distance.


    Thinking about it, it''s all a dead end.


    Chen Bin doesn''t want to die, he just wants to live.


    However, due to the requirements of the boss and the responsibilities of the family, if you take your brothers from home to fight, you will naturally have the responsibility to take your brothers from home with you back. Otherwise, even if you die, you will not be able to live in peace.


    All these things weighed on Chen Bin, making him unable to move.


    Missing the night, it was the day, and during the day, the order of the Hussars in Jixian County was gradually established. Chen Bin and others saw that the space for movement was getting smaller and smaller, and they could no longer delay it, or they would Escape or die.


    Chen Bin and others gathered together, frowning.


    "what to do? 』


    "If this continues, we will all be caught!" 』


    "We can''t delay it any longer!" 』


    "The Hussars began to conduct house-to-house inspections and compile household records..."


    "I said...can''t you just...don''t look at me like that? What I mean is, let''s just pretend to be from Jixian..."


    "You are stupid, the Hussars are not stupid!" You pretend, how do you pretend? Even if you find an empty house, as long as a neighbor identifies it, can you still pretend? ! 』


    "Now it''s either run away... or..."


    Everyone was chirping, and then at the end, they all looked at Chen Bin.


    They are all fellow countrymen.


    Chen Bin was considered the leader of his friends back then, and he is also their leader now. He followed Chen Bin and went to Jizhou and Youzhou together...


    Now, we are also facing the choice of life and death together.


    Chen Bin looked up at the sky.


    The sky is clear and blue.


    Just like the day he took them out of the countryside together.


    At that time, he thought that he could achieve success and make a name for himself in troubled times.


    "You guys go back!" ” Chen Bin sighed, “I’ll stay and light a fire at night. This way Cao Jun will not cause trouble for you in the future..."


    "Boss!" This way you will..."


    "Shut up! 』


    Chen Bin looked at the people around him.


    Although they are still the same people, some of them still have the same faces as when they were children, but some of them have changed their appearance.


    "It''s okay, it''s okay..." Chen Bin waved his hand, "Who made me your boss?" 』


    Chen Bin smiled.


    The smile is bitter.


    He thought someone would stand up and complete this task for him, but he didn''t expect that almost everyone acquiesced.


    Ha, being the boss yourself is really a failure.


    Right?


    Chen Bin looked at the sky.


    The other people gradually left, silently and quietly, without the high spirits they had when they walked out of the countryside in groups.


    When I walked out, I wanted to swing my arms sideways, fearing that others would not recognize the hero. Nowadays, everyone is shrinking their heads and folding their arms, fearing to make any noise...


    After a while, Chen Bin came back to his senses, and suddenly found that there was another person beside him. Tears filled his eyes, "You, Wang Erlang...you, you you..."


    "Haha, this, Captain, that..." Wang Erlang hesitated, "The money you owed me for the last time we had a drink...that...ah, you didn''t pay me back..."


    Chen Bin: "..."


    …


    …


    Jizhou.


    Somewhere in a manor.


    Within Zhuangzi, thick black smoke rose.


    The metallurgical workshop in the manor has been running almost continuously these days.


    The steward of the manor personally supervised the formation and watched at the metallurgical workshop of the manor day and night.


    And it''s not just one person staring at it, it''s two stewards staring at each other, not only at each other, but also at the workers under them.


    Because these days, what is being smelted in the metallurgical workshop is not iron, but gold, silver, and copper.


    This is all money!


    Although it is said that in troubled times, gold and silver are like dung, and food and grass are the king, the question is how long can food and grass be stored? It has been built for five or ten years, and it has to be protected from insects, rats, rot and mildew.


    But gold, silver and copper are different.


    If you hide this thing and save it, it won''t lose half a cent in five or ten years!


    If Youzhou falls, Jizhou will naturally be in danger!


    When facing danger, some people face it bravely, and some people face it bravely.


    "These gold and silver are all from Qingyin Shop..." A younger steward muttered in a low voice, "But they are all money deposited by others... Lang Jun did this, what if someone comes to withdraw money?" manage? 』


    The older steward obviously looked more at ease, "What are you afraid of?" Anyone who comes to withdraw money always has to prove that the money is his money, right? Our Qingyin Shop has been open in Jizhou for so long, isn’t it just to protect depositors from losing their money? 』


    "What''s the meaning? ” The young steward was a little confused, “I got the ticket number but still can’t withdraw the money. Doesn’t it mean I’ve lost my brand?” How can we protect the money of those who save money? 』


    "Who said you can''t withdraw the money?" ” The old steward glared at the young man, “If you say that, if Mr. Lang hears it, you will definitely get scolded!” 』


    "Yes, yes, I made a mistake, I made a mistake..." The young steward made a gesture and slapped his cheek with his hand, "Young brat Wu Zhuang... Please teach me, the old steward..."


    The old steward smiled and said nothing.


    The young steward rolled his eyes and took out a small wine gourd from his sleeve, "Ah ha, it just so happened that I got some fine wine. It''s a pity that I don''t know the quality of this wine. I asked the old steward to help me taste it..."


    The old steward took it over with a smile, "Ah, you''re welcome, you''re welcome...this wine...is a good drink..."


    After the old steward took a sip, he didn''t make any fuss. He didn''t mean to make a fuss, but as a steward, he knew that all knowledge and all information were abilities and a manifestation of interests, so even if it was some comparison Simple things are not said for free.


    Confucius, an old man, had to accept a piece of bacon even though he was educated but without distinction...


    "That''s right... People with the same status as the husband will not line up to withdraw money from Qingyin Shop..." The old steward smiled and said, "Send someone to let you know, and we will send the money over. Is it possible to withdraw it?" Pay for it? 』


    "oh! So, you can’t withdraw the money..." The young manager suddenly realized, "Actually..."


    The old steward laughed and said, "It''s unspeakable, it''s unspeakable..."


    Of course, poor people don''t have much money to save. They earn as little as they can on a given day and can''t even take home a penny. However, in Jizhou, in addition to the poor, there are also people who are engaged in various industries, including some in handicrafts and service industries.


    These people will have a little extra money, but these people have nowhere to hide it.


    Maybe digging a brick or digging a hole in the corner of the house can be regarded as a place to hide money, but after all, it is a bit inconvenient and easy to lose.


    So Qingyinpu is a compromise choice.


    It would be difficult for these people to withdraw their money during troubled times...


    And often because of the lack of means and resources to cope with troubled times, it is easy to fall directly from the middle class to abject poverty.


    "So, every time there is a big chaos, big families will indeed suffer some damage," the old steward looked at the leafy tree in the distance, "But just like that tree, no one knows the roots of the tree. , how deep it is hidden..."


    Isn''t that how they got through the chaos that time?


    How much money can you make by saving money and lending money in a disciplined manner?


    Every time of chaos is a perfect opportunity for them to make a fortune!


    Peace in the world?


    Harmonious coexistence?


    Pooh!


    If the world is really peaceful and everyone lives in harmony, how can they still make money and make a fortune?


    …


    …


    The sky is clear and cloudless.


    Looking around, I couldn''t see a single cloud. Only the sky was so blue that my eyes turned green and I felt panicked.


    The harvest is not good this year.


    In Qingzhou, everyone in a small village looked gloomy and gloomy.


    Spring was late and cold, and the first batch of seedlings died in the fields. After the cold weather finally passed, the replanted seedlings encountered drought...


    It doesn''t rain during the harvest, which is naturally a good thing, but the seedlings have no pulp and are as dry as a farmer''s belly.


    The farmer tightened his belt and grumbled in his throat, trying to get some saliva to moisten his dry throat.


    But there is still no spit, only the smell of blood...


    The inside of his throat felt like a knife cutting, and the inside of his stomach felt like burning cramps.


    I''m so hungry that I feel dizzy and top-heavy.


    What''s more important is that looking at the seedlings in his own field, there is only deep despair in his eyes.


    Disaster is imminent!


    Last year''s harvest was not good. There was not much food left at home, and now the harvest is not good again...


    I owe money to Qingmiao, and I won''t be able to pay it back this year.


    God, why is it so hard to stay alive? This is not letting people live anymore!


    Night has fallen, and today is about to pass. It is more or less a day that has passed, but what about tomorrow?


    How long do you have to stay up?


    Several dealer men got together.


    "Wang Laoer is dead. 』


    "ah? when? 』


    "Last night...he was a body of bones, not two ounces of flesh..."


    "What''s wrong? Did you really take action?" 』


    "Wang Laoer is willing... He is sick and can''t stand it. His mother-in-law didn''t eat it, but his children did. 』


    "Children...if you ask me, I shouldn''t have any children. It''s hard for people like us to support ourselves, so how can we raise children?" 』


    "What a sin..."


    There was a moment of silence.


    This is solid, flesh and blood, continuation.


    During the day, the sky is so blue that it makes people nervous.


    The night was so dark that it was scary.


    "I remember…"


    Someone said slowly.


    "Master Zhang once said that the sky has no eyes..."


    "Are you crazy?" Do you dare to say this again? ! 』


    "Then what do you think we should do?" Now look at these seedlings and this harvest. Can they survive this year? ! At the end of the new year, if you come to collect money from young people, what will you get in return? Is it possible to send your girl to pay off the debt? ! You want others to look down on you! 』


    "There is no way to survive..."


    "Who wants to take this road if there is still a way to survive?" 』


    There was another moment of silence.


    After a while, the acid and fire in his stomach finally surged to his chest and filled his eyes.


    "If we really do it... I can''t live in this place, and neither can the surrounding counties..."


    "Then go to Youzhou!" Go to Liaodong! There are no Han officials in that place! 』


    "Going to Liaodong has high mountains and long roads..."


    "Who said we have to go by land? Let''s go by boat!" 』


    "Whose ship?" 』


    "Whose ship could it be?" 』


    "Can it be done?" 』


    "It''s better than waiting to die, right?" 』


    "Do...do it?" 』


    "when? Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? 』


    "Just today...Have you forgotten what happened to Master Zhang back then?" If you want to do it, do it tonight! Achievement leads to life, failure leads to death! 』


    Hunger leads to madness, madness leads to restlessness.


    Blood filled the air.


    That year, there were some records in Qingzhou Prefecture Chronicles, but there were only a few words.


    "The wilderness." 』


    "People eat each other." 』