Chapter 2 Chapter Two

Except for the collapsed city walls and the filled moat, the only thing left from Xiangcheng to Bianhuangji is the fifteen-foot-tall bell tower in the center of Bianhuangji. The bronze bell inside the building is like a miracle. was preserved. The two avenues that run through the four gates meet at the bell tower, and the main streets from the bell tower to the four gates are Dongmen Street, Nanmen Street, Ximen Street and Beimen Street.The other branch roads are distributed parallel to the four streets, and the twelve miles around the city are the size of a medium-sized city at that time. The buildings and shops in the collection have been built successively in the past ten years, and most of them are simple and unpretentious wood and stone buildings, full of the styles and characteristics of various ethnic groups, reflecting their different living habits and beliefs.

In Bianhuangji, everything is aimed at profit, and there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies.The hatred among ethnic groups keeps deepening, but the reality forces people of different ethnic groups to tolerate and compromise with each other to achieve a delicate balance that is unstable and ever-changing. One episode is a specific and subtle reflection of the overall situation in China. The most powerful is the Di Gang, followed by the Xianbei Gang, the Xiongnu Gang, the Han Gang, the Qiang Gang, and the Jie Gang.The six major forces divided up the interests of Bianhuangji. The situation of the Han gang is quite special, because they are the only gang that can control the goods from the south, and other ethnic groups must cooperate with the Han gang to be profitable.However, this situation has been completely reversed with Di Qin's southern expedition.

Even though the Di gang is the most powerful, they would not dare to attack any gang rashly under normal circumstances, otherwise both sides would be hurt, and they would not escape the bad luck of being expelled from the border desert. Don’t think that the mall is full of thugs trying to fight fiercely. In fact, the four main streets are bustling and bustling, with men and women of all ethnic groups jostling shoulder to shoulder, with shops of all kinds lined up on both sides, brothels and casinos, restaurants, restaurants, tearooms and hotels. Among them, the most famous one is the first floor of Bianhuang, which is located in the sphere of influence of the Han gang on Dongmen Street. The owner, Pang Yi, knows the way of management well and has excellent cooking skills. Habit, but the most important reason is that the peerless wine Xuejianxiang brewed by himself is the only one in the world, and there is no other semicolon.

The first floor is a rare all-wooden building in Bianhuangji. It is two floors high, and there are nearly thirty large round tables on each floor, which is still spacious and comfortable.On the side of the upper floor facing the street, there is a platform surrounded by wooden railings, and there is only one table on the platform. At this moment, there was no one on the first floor and the second floor, except for Yan Fei, who was alone at the table on the platform facing the street, pouring himself a glass of wine from an altar, casting his gloomy eyes on Dongmen Street below. Dongmen Street was crowded with Han men and women who were about to leave the border for a desert, and people kept pouring in from the branch roads to join the exile brigade.For a moment, the sound of people shouting, horses, donkeys, and wheels rubbing against the ground filled the Dongmen Street, which was still prosperous yesterday.The doors and windows of all the shops were locked, and no one wanted to be Fu Jian's slave, so they had to pack up their valuables and leave in a hurry, embarking on the unpredictable road of escape.

Compared with the movement on the street, Yan Fei's stillness is extraordinary.His sword, Dilianhua and its scabbard, which intimidated the frontier and no one feared, were placed on the right side of the table, making people feel the strangeness of the situation even more.The contrast between movement and stillness is full of tension before the storm blows. The first ray of dawn appeared outside the horizon of Bianhuangji's east gate, and the sky was covered with thick clouds, as if a storm was brewing, which made people's hearts even heavier. When news of Fu Jian's army coming from the south reached Bianhuangji, the south, north, and west gates were immediately closed by other ethnic groups, leaving only the east gate controlled by the Han gang for Han people to escape from disaster.

Yan Fei raised his glass and drank it down. It's been a whole year! Since Yan Fei set foot in Bianhuangji a year ago, he has gone from being an unknown swordsman to becoming famous and becoming someone no one dares to mess with; from hating this place to falling in love with it deeply.The taste and twists and turns in the story are really not for outsiders.At the beginning, he was not used to this city where all disguises were torn off and everyone was fighting for their own profit by any means.But gradually, he realized that even in such a bad and despicable situation, human nature still has its glorious side.Now the balance of power in Bianhuangji has been completely disrupted by Fu Jian's arrival, and he can't help but feel at a loss.

Everything, including the past, present and future, has lost all meaning due to the worrying situation in front of us!He felt that the most precious period of his life had disappeared with the storm of war sweeping the North and South.Regardless of who wins this battle, the world will no longer be the world it used to be.Although there weren't many things worthy of nostalgia in the previous world, the nightmare that followed was even more unaffordable for anyone. The rapid sound of footsteps ascending the stairs interrupted his ups and downs of thoughts, without turning his head, he already knew that it was Pang Yi, the boss of this building, and from the light and heavy rhythm of his footsteps, he could sense the confusion and fear in the other party's heart, which is the essence of human beings. Common sense.

Yan Fei said lightly: Remember to leave two jars of good wine for me, it's a farewell! Pang Yi went up to the second floor, looked around reluctantly, and affectionately stroked the table closest to him, Yan Fei's back came into view.Every time he saw Yan Fei's back, he always felt that Yan Fei's broad shoulders could bear any heavy responsibility, as long as he was willing.And if Yan Fei was not willing to take the responsibility of protecting the first floor, Pang Yi really didn't know what would happen to him. Although he had to pay for it, he was still very grateful.

Yan Fei didn't seem to know that Pang Yi came straight to him, and while pulling out his chair, he sat down, still staring at the refugee team leaving the camp. Pang Yi was a rough, burly man with a beard all over his face. At this moment, he stared at Yan Fei and frowned in confusion, and said: After all the members of the Han Gang evacuate, will the Turtle Eggs of the Di Gang talk about benevolence and morality with you?You injured both of them the day before yesterday, don't do something stupid!Come with us! Yan Fei's pair of Zhong Tiandi's delicate and beautiful aura, without any impurities, clear but never bottoming eyes, revealing the splendor of deep memories.

In this borderland where struggles and killings are endless, hundreds of miles of barren land around it are witnessing the suffering of the times.Compared with this, Yan Fei's pair of eyes are completely different and extraordinary, which can make Pang Yi temporarily forget the cold and ruthless reality. No one knows the origin of Yan Fei. He seems to be full of flaws, but it also makes people feel that he is perfect. This not only refers to his tall and tall physique, as if carved out of crystal clear marble, but also refers to his He seems to be born with a free and easy temperament.However, if Pang Yi's own standards are used to measure him, Yan Fei is not only lazy, with a negative attitude towards life, but also an out-and-out alcoholic with low ambitions. He has no idea that he is wasting a good youth.Yan Fei must have Hu people's blood in his body, otherwise he would not have the Wenxiu of the Han people, but also the rough and heroic of the northern nomads.All in all, Yan Fei is a very outstanding person, and Pang Yi didn't dare to underestimate him from the beginning, thinking that he was overqualified for working as a thug and bodyguard in the wilderness.

Yan Fei's deep and gentle voice sounded in his eardrums, and he said spontaneously: Do you still remember that you once said, don't have any feelings for people or things in the wilderness?Make enough money to go so far and go so far and forget everything that happened here.We had an agreement long ago, if you give me money, I, Yan Fei, will help you eliminate disasters, sell one and buy one, and owe neither.let's go!Live a happy life, and don't have to sleep every night worrying that the first floor will be demolished tomorrow. Pang Yi smiled wryly, reached out and snatched the Xuejianxiang he had just filled, almost pouring the wine into his throat, and said dejectedly: "A good day for An Le?"well!Is there still a good place where you can live a happy life?We Han people have no more hope.I, Pang Yi, escaped from the north and came here after going through a lot of hardships. I only wanted to make enough money with my skills, and then go to the south to start a family and live and work in peace and contentment.Now everything is over, and the frontiers and collections are also over. The great mountains and rivers in the south will become a terrible place on earth like the people in the north. We have to be monks and hit the clock for a day.It doesn't matter whether you treat me as a brother or not, I just can't bear to see you cut into pieces, let's go!Let's go together. Yan Fei grabbed the edge of the wine jar, but did not raise the altar to pour wine. For the first time, he cast his eyes on Pang Yi, and said with a smile: "The news came last night that the Di Gang, the Xiongnu Gang and the Qiang Gang immediately mobilized and first joined hands to blockade the city." The large and small wharves in the Northeast have confiscated all the ships at anchor, wounded and killed more than a hundred people, and forced the Han gang and Han people to flee by land. What do you think they have? Pang Yiju's countenance changed: Those bastards!Could it be that he was going to add insult to injury and come to kill people and loot goods?His eyes couldn't help turning to the chaos on the street, as if he was facing the crowd of refugees fleeing the end of the world, and he felt fear for himself and their future fate. Yan Fei still had that calm and leisurely demeanor, and said: Remember to bring your machete, and stay away from crowded places after you leave the market, and choose remote places to escape, or you can save your life. Pang Yi gasped, looked at the crowd of helpless people filling Dongmen Street, and said in amazement: What should they do? Yan Fei held up the altar to pour wine, said with a wry smile: I am twenty-one years old, except for my childhood, I have seen nothing but helpless things, and all I have heard are tragedies in the world, it all depends on whose fist is hard enough.Fortunately, I finally figured out one thing for me now, that is, I have reached an inevitable and desperate situation, and I can no longer be alone.Although I don't have a good relationship with the boss Zhu of the Han gang, I have to admit that he is a shrewd old Jianghu, and he will find a way to minimize the casualties of the people he protects.What's more, the three gangs of them have to pass through the east gate guarded by me, Yan Fei.Don't persuade me anymore, you leave immediately, if I am the only one with a sword, no worries, Yan Fei still has a glimmer of life. A burst of excitement surged in Pang Yi's heart. Until this moment, he understood the noble sentiments hidden deep in the heart of the ruthless swordsman. Yan Fei raised his slender right hand with crystal-clear complexion, held it tightly with Pang Yi, and smiled brightly like sunshine for the first time, saying: Everyone has the right to choose their own destiny, and those who know what they are doing are not stupid, you Go immediately, forget everything here after leaving the assembly, and don't say unnecessary words.ha!If you give me money, I will eliminate the disaster for you, and the agreement is still valid. Pang Yi stood up and let go, bowed to Yan Fei, and said: You should know where the wine is hidden, it may be your safest refuge when necessary.He glanced at Die Lianhua, his eyes turned red, with a look of resentment and helplessness, and he rushed downstairs like a gallop. Yan Fei took a sip of the fragrance of Xue Jian, and watched as Pang Yi, carrying a burden on his back, joined the last group of people who left, and disappeared outside the east gate.The entire Dongmen Street became as quiet as a ghost town, with no trace of people. The cry suddenly came from the other end of the long street. Yan Fei drank the rest of the wine in the cup to the last drop, looked up at the sky covered by dark clouds, as if he could already see his own doomsday approaching.What joy do you have in life?Why should we be afraid of death? The capital city of Jiankang faces south from the north. Jiankang Palace is located in the north of the city. The south gate of the palace is Da Sima Gate. From Da Sima Gate to the Xuanyang Gate of the south gate of the outer city is an imperial road that is two miles long, and then exits Xuanyang Gate to Qinhuai. The Zhuque Bridge on the river is another five-mile-long imperial road, and the seven-mile imperial road has become the central axis running through Jiankang City. Outside the Da Sima Gate is a wide horizontal street facing east and west. It leads to the East City Gate Lianchun Gate in the east, and connects to the West City Gate Ximing Gate in the west. It divides the capital into two parts: north and south.The north is Miyagi, and the south is the seat of the imperial court's various provinces.Other government agencies, important commercial markets, residential areas, and even the residences of prime ministers and ministers are all outside the city, mainly distributed on both sides of the five-mile-long imperial street from Xuanyangmen to Qinhuai River.Since the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty, the north was devastated by war, and the Han nationality moved southward in a large scale, reaching millions of people. The Southern Jin Dynasty set up an Overseas Chinese Commandery in the Jiankang area. Turn Jiankang into a city that combines the styles of the north and the south, and it is very prosperous and lively. Zhuque Bridge, also known as Zhuque Hang or Zhuque Floating Hang, is the main bridge across the Qinhuai River to connect to the Royal Road.The so-called flotation refers to connecting boats as bridges, which are usually used as floating bridges. In case of war, the boats are broken and the bridges are demolished, which can immediately isolate the traffic on both sides of the strait.There are as many as 24 such pontoon bridges on the Qinhuai River, but none of them are as famous as Zhuque Bridge. If Zhuque Bridge is the most famous bridge in Jiankang City, then it is located not far from Zhuque Bridge, east of the Imperial Street outside the city, and Wuyi Lane by the Qinhuai River must be the most famous street in Jiankang City, because the most famous street in the Southern Jin Dynasty Prominent families, including Wang and Xie's families, all settled in the alley. Niaoyi Lane, with Zhulou and Zhulou, painted buildings and carved beams, is an important forbidden street that is difficult for ordinary people to enter.The black-clothed wealthy family has become the synonym for the most prominent family in the contemporary era. At this time, a group of people crossed the Zhuque Bridge like a whirlwind, turned right from the imperial road, and galloped into the bird clothing lane non-stop. Xie Xuan was dressed in a white warrior uniform, a plain blue long cloak, and hung his famous Jiushao Dingyin sword on his back. He rode a pure white horse. His handsome face was as cold as iron, without revealing the slightest emotion in his heart.Even when he is sitting on a horse, his tall and straight figure shows extraordinary courage, full of strength and confidence, like a sword drawn out of its sheath.He is just forty years old this year, but he looks like someone who has not passed thirty, with high spirits. Accompanied by him is his number one fierce general, Liu Laozhi, who joined the army of Beifu soldiers and was around twenty-five or six years old.Behind them are more than a dozen personal followers, all of whom are sturdy and elite fighters who have been battle-hardened. Xie Xuan was appointed as the governor of Gunzhou, and when he left the town of Guangling, he recruited the people of Huainan and Jiangbei as soldiers with the support of his uncle Xie Anli.The folk customs in the Jiangbei area are strong, and there are many people with high martial arts skills. Under Xie Xuan's determined training, they have become a powerful army within a few years, known as Beifu soldiers.Fu Qin repeatedly committed crimes in the South, and the soldiers of the Beifu fought against him. He was victorious in every battle, which made the soldiers of the Beifu famous. It's just that this time Fu Jian personally leads the army to attack, the numbers are overwhelming, and with the help of a famous general like Murong Chui, even if the martial arts are superb and the military is like a god like Xie Xuan, they are not half sure of defeating the enemy. Under the leadership of Xie Xuan, all the riders entered the large square in front of the main hall of Xie Mansion from the main gate that was pulled wide open, and more than ten mansion servants rushed to wait on each of them with their horses. Xie Xuan kicked off his horse, Xie Shi greeted him in surprise and said: Nephew Xuan came so fast, I just sent you a letter to you last night. Xie Xuan said in astonishment: What is Feige passing on the letter?Three days ago my nephew received the news that the Great Qin King Fu Jian marched from Chang'an to Luoyang, the vanguard set foot on the frontier and pointed directly at Jiankang, with an army of one million, so he immediately rushed to see Uncle An. Liu Jianzhi next to Xie Xuan hurriedly saluted Xie Shi, Xie Shi happily said: "Liu Canjun and all the brothers have worked hard on the road, please rest and drink some hot tea first." At that moment, a mansion servant led Liu Laozhi and others into the main hall, Xie Shi took Xie Xuan's arm, walked around the main hall, and walked slowly towards Xie An Shuxuan in the inner house, and said in a low voice: "We are in such a hurry, two My brother is still leisurely and leisurely as always. I went to the Qinhuai Tower on the Qinhuai River to enjoy Ji Qianqian's singing and dancing last night. This morning, I went to Xiaodongshan to play in the mountains before dawn. Fortunately, you are here. At least you can ask him to clarify clear. Xie Xuan said in a deep voice: "What's the reaction from the court?" Xie Shi showed a look of anger, and said: Sima Daozi insisted on relying on the dangers of the Yangtze River and Qinhuai River to stick to Jiankang, and he also said that the emperor avoided Xuancheng. Uncle Geng moved the emperor with the support of the people, and Wang Xiang told me these things. Your second uncle didn't have any other words except to ask Xie Xuan for me. When Xie Xuan heard the name of Sima Daozi, a strong light flashed in his eyes, and he asked again: How did the second uncle impress the emperor? Xie Shidao: "Your second uncle said it very tactfully. He said to the emperor: Since ancient times, a country with the right way has defeated the king without the way. Now the Lord Qin came here bravely and attacked us for no reason. It violates morality and loses the hearts of the people." The military strategist said that if the two countries fight against each other, if there is no way, they will be defeated. As long as the emperor orders the army and the people of the whole country to fight against no way with the way, the country will be safe and the people will be guaranteed.Of course the emperor knows who is more popular with your second uncle or Sima Daozi, what's more, General Huan Chong has always disliked Sima Daozi, and the Beifu soldiers are firmly in your hands. The governor, he will take full charge of the affairs of resisting the enemy. The two entered the central garden where Xie An's study was located through the small stone path on both sides of the green bamboo. This is a garden with bamboo and stone as the main scenery. The four mountains of spring, summer, autumn and winter each form a scene.Shuxuan is located between Xiashan Mountain and Qiushan Mountain. It sits north and faces south. It has a grand and heavy layout with three couplets and seven beams on Xieshan Mountain. The horizontal plaque is carved with the words Wangguanxuan. The matter, the heart of doing nothing. Although the two were full of worries, in such a lonely, upright, thin and airy and moving environment, they put aside their worries for a while and forgot about the world. All of a sudden, a young warrior came out of Wangguan Pavilion angrily, seeing the two of them, he said angrily: The world belongs to your Xie family!My Wang Guobao depends on how you deal with Fu Jian.After all, I didn't care. The two looked at each other, then Xie Shi shook his head and sighed.Wang Guobao is Wang Tanzhi's son, Xie An's son-in-law, he is skilled in swordsmanship, but unfortunately he is incapable of doing so. Looking at the situation, he knew that Xie An refused to use him in the war against Qin, so he lost his temper and said such ugly words. Xie An's soft voice came from Wangguan Xuan: Is Xiaoxuan here?Well done!I was looking for someone to play chess with. Xie Xuan and Xie Shi, you looked at me, but you couldn't understand Xie An's mind. At such a critical moment, how could you still have the leisure to play chess?