Three Kingdoms

The rise of a new force will inevitably bring turmoil to the old forces.

Hongnong Yang family.

Spring is the season when all things grow, but some people may not be able to wait for the moment when spring flowers bloom.

Yang Biao slowly knelt down in front of an old man's bed, looking at the old man whose breath was already like gossamer on the bed.

Two pots of silver charcoal were lit in the house, but the old man on the bed still seemed to feel cold. Covered with a thick silk quilt, it seemed that his body had been contaminated by the coldness of hell.

This person who used to make waves in the Yang family, who could change the situation by stamping his feet and moving his hands, is now a candle in the wind and may disappear into thin air at any time.

"What's wrong?" The old man closed his eyes, but he seemed to be aware of Yang Biao's approach. He closed his eyes and spat out two or three words from his dry mouth.

"Back to the Great Elder, Zhengxi's subordinates will come to take over Hangu Pass soon." Yang Biao said with his head lowered.

Taishi Ci has already sent people to arrive here first. The next step is to accept Hangu Pass, which means that the Hongnong Yang family represented by Yang Biao will be merged into the Zhengxi Tong.

"... Weihan is strong, the land of Yongzhou... stick to it to see... sweep... legislate, farm and weave, repair and fight... Wai Lianheng..." The old man's breath was weak, and he said these few words, They were all a little out of breath.

After Yang Biao listened quietly, he was silent for a long time and said: "Although Lord Shang is benefiting Qin, he is also harming Qin."

The old man's dry and wrinkled eyelids moved, revealing a trace of hazy and turbid eyes. He stared at Yang Biao, as if he was trying hard to identify Yang Biao's outline, and seemed to express some attitude. After a long time, he said: "Remember ...Shang Jun...if he succeeds, he will be...the hero of the world. If he fails..."

Yang Biao nodded silently and said, "Biao should remember what the great elder said."

Both of them are extremely smart people. They have already set the future direction of the Yang family in just a few sentences. However, such a change of direction may not be understood by everyone, or it may be due to various reasons, here and there. There are always some people who will object to the interests of others, even for the sake of opposing.

The Great Elder breathed heavily, and after a long time he said: "I... I am not going to die soon... There must be some... stupid people... right now..."

Yang Biao was silent.

The great elder breathed laboriously, as if a small bellows were installed between his chest and abdomen, as if he was accumulating strength and enduring pain. After a long time, the great elder suddenly said: "...Forget it...help me get up! Go...go get the medicine!"

"Great Elder!" Yang Biao fell to the ground and knocked on the ground.

When Dong Zhuo came to Beijing that year, the great elder Yang Rang could still walk on crutches, and he could still show his strength and refuse to be supported by his attendants. However, in the past few years, the great elder Yang Rang was getting older day by day. I could only lie on the bed. This winter was even more serious. Only when the sun was at its strongest, I went to bask in the sun with the help of my attendants, and I managed to survive until the early spring of this year...

"..." The great elder sat up with difficulty with the help of his attendants. He looked at Yang Biao for a while and then said slowly, "Get up..." Although the great elder was old, his heart was not confused. Is it difficult for Yang Biao to come to him at this time just for the purpose of sleeping in the morning?

A middle-aged attendant came with a lacquer tray, but he hesitated to enter.

"Get it!" The great elder glared at the personal attendant.

"Great Elder!" The middle-aged attendant suddenly burst into tears and said with a choked voice, "The Great Elder is weak. If he uses this medicine again... even for a while... I'm afraid..."

"Bastard!" The great elder got angry, patted the bed, and said, "Your good intention is to let me... I linger on the bed and die in vain! Ahem, cough... take it, take it!"

The Hongnong Yang family has been a member of the Han Guan clan for more than a hundred years, and naturally has accumulated some knowledge in various aspects, not only in scriptures, but also in the alchemist's elixirs. The elixir that Great Elder Yang Rang asked his attendants to bring, which is the golden elixir that was trained by alchemists, is somewhat similar to some life-threatening items in later generations. It stimulates a large amount of human potential in a short period of time, but the side effects are also very serious. Obviously, even...

The middle-aged attendant did not dare to disobey the great elder Yang Rang, so he had to deliver the jade bottle containing the golden elixir to the great elder in tears.

Yang Rang stretched out his bony hand, grabbed the jade bottle tremblingly, gasped for breath for a moment, and then said to Yang Biao who was still kneeling on the ground: "Go!"

Yang Biao did not dare to say anything, kowtowed again on the ground, and hurriedly retreated.

After a while, Yang Biao came back and whispered: "Great Elder, we have ordered the summons... we will be here in half an hour..."

Yang Rang struggled to support his body on the bed. The attendants and maids on the side were busy dressing Yang Rang in a coat and robe, and someone was waiting with a fur suit.

Yang Biao glanced at it, beckoned his entourage to fetch a down jacket, and then presented it to Yang Rang, saying that the down jacket produced by Pingyang, General Zhengxi, was as warm as fur, but much lighter in weight, and More comfortable.

Yang Rang took a look and motioned for the maid to help him put it on. Then he reached out and touched the down jacket. It seemed that it felt pretty good. He nodded slightly and then said to Yang Biao: "...The people here have all served me for many years. ...When I pass away, you should make arrangements for me properly..."

Yang Biao bowed his hands and responded respectfully.

Yang Rang stared at Yang Biao for a few times, sighed slightly, then held the jade bottle and closed his eyes. It seemed that the words and actions just now had consumed most of his energy, so he stopped talking. Sitting on the bed. If it weren't for the maid on the side holding Yang Rang's arms, legs and feet, activating his energy and blood, and the eyes that moved from time to time under the aging and drooping eyelids, almost most people would think that this man has lost any vitality. The aging body...

Yang Biao waited quietly.

Maybe it was a long time, maybe it was just a moment, there were soft footsteps outside the house, and then a voice sounded outside the door: "Report to the great elder, report to the head of the family... The third elder and the fifth elder have arrived... "

Yang Rang glanced at Yang Biao and said, "Third Elder?"

Yang Biao nodded.

The third elder is Yang Li's younger brother, and is called Yang Ping. When Yang Li was forced to run away due to internal disputes within the family, Yang Ping once made a big fuss, but now Yang Biao has chosen the direction to move forward again, and Yang Ping once again stood up to oppose it, seemingly secretly. There is a kind of providence.

Yang Rang opened the jade bottle and poured out an elixir wrapped in gold foil. Then he opened the gold foil and revealed the body of the bright red blood-like substance. After a moment of silence, he closed his eyes and took the elixir into his mouth. .

The middle-aged attendant on the side couldn't help crying and fell to the ground, leading many other attendants in the room to also prostrate to the ground.

Yang Rang took a few sips of water and let the elixir slide into his stomach. Then he closed his eyes and felt a heat that seemed to emanate from his abdominal cavity, making his hands and feet feel the long-lost warmth.

But it was also accompanied by a faint pain...

"Get the stick!" Yang Rang stood up tremblingly and cursed, "Why are you crying! I'm not dead yet! It's not too late to cry when I die!"

Yang Rang was walking with a dove stick, and every step he took was extremely difficult. The waiters on the side carefully stretched out their hands to support him, but they didn't dare to step forward to help him.

Coming out of the back house, passing through the corridor hung with curtains to protect from the wind, we arrived at Sizhitang.

Perhaps because of the circulation of blood through walking, or perhaps because the power of the medicine gradually dissipated, Yang Rang's originally gray complexion also gained a little more color, and seemed to have a hint of luster. His steps were not so difficult and dry when he walked, and everything seemed to be getting better. But everyone on the side, including Yang Rang himself, knew clearly that this was just stimulating the human body's potential, and at Yang Rang's age, this stimulation may be his last... …

Yang Rang stood in front of the Sizhi Hall, looking up at the plaque, his long white eyebrows trembling.

The sun shines down from the sky and falls on the ground through the branches and leaves of the locust tree in front of Sizhitang, forming mottled light and shadow. It also falls on Yang Rang's head and body, forming a combination of fine light and shadow.

"Xian Wen..."

Yang Rang called softly.

"exist."

Yang Biao stepped forward and lowered his head beside Yang Rang. The light and shadow of the locust tree could only illuminate the Jinxian crown on Yang Biao's head, but not Yang Biao's face.

In front of the Sizhi Hall, under the three locust trees, we have witnessed Yang Zhen's step-by-step approach to the court of the Han Dynasty. We have also witnessed the growth and development of the Yang family in Hongnong. We have also witnessed the differences between Yang Feng, Yang Li and others, and even... Witnessed the step-by-step changes in the Yang family after Dong Zhuo entered Beijing...

Sizhitang remains the same. The three locust trees remain the same.

It’s just that people are different and things are different.

Yang Rang looked at it, remained silent for a long time, and said, "What are the Four Knowledges?"

Yang Biao's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt that this question and the current scene seemed a bit familiar, as if it had happened somewhere before...

"Under the four knowledges, there are only two words, "du" and "cautious"... "du" refers to the long and short plan and the situation of things; "prudent" refers to not getting involved in dangerous places and making the best use of the situation..." Yang Biao replied in a low voice.

Yang Rang still raised his head, his cloudy eyes were shining with brilliance, and the wrinkles on his face were moving, like worms swimming between light and darkness. "Back then...you also answered the same thing..."

"It's... the Great Elder..." Yang Biao still bowed his head and said respectfully.

Yang Rang nodded and didn't say anything. When he lowered his head, an undetectable sigh seemed to pass by his mouth, or just like a snoring in his throat...

"Great Elder!"

"Great Elder..."

The third elder and the fifth elder who were already waiting in the Sizhi Hall came to the front of the hall to greet him.

"I heard that my eldest brother was ill. I wanted to pay my respects, but I was afraid that it would disturb my cultivation..." The third elder said with his hands in hand, "I saw you today. My eldest brother seems to be... his style is still the same... I am very happy..."

The fifth elder also paid homage to Yang Rang.

Yang Rang glanced at the two of them lightly and said, "That's true, but I'm afraid there are many people who are looking forward to my early success, right?"

"This..." The third elder choked.

"Brother really loves to joke..." The fifth elder calmed down the atmosphere.

Yang Rang didn't continue to talk nonsense and walked straight inside. He already felt that the temperature in his chest and abdomen was gradually not as hot as before, and perhaps the potency of the medicine was dissipating. If he didn't get things done before he could still hold on, he might not be able to get up again after he fell. .

"It is heard... how much complaints do you two have about Yang's joining Zheng Xi's command?" Yang Rang, the great elder, sat down at the top and said straightforwardly, without the euphemism and gentleness of the past at all.

"..." The fifth elder glanced at the first elder, then at the third elder, and remained silent.

The third elder cupped his hands and said: "In the past, when brother Li was still alive, he once said that he would return to Shandong. It has been proved that the Yang family will eventually be in trouble! Now he has returned to Shanxi! How can it be that after years of wasting all the efforts, the Yang family has wandered around, but there is nothing. Advance! If we return to conquer the west, there is nothing wrong with it. However, we need to control the situation first and control the crime of incompetence!"

Yang Rang was noncommittal, turned to look at the fifth elder, and said, "What do you mean?"

The fifth elder was silent for a moment and said: "Since the Dong thief entered the capital, the Yang family has made mistakes again and again, which has hurt their muscles and bones. It is no longer what it used to be... Now the Yuan family is at the top of the sky, controlling the land and rivers north and south. Recently, I heard that General Yuan has pacified Youbei, including Qingyan, will march to Bingzhou in the near future... At this time, surrendering to Zhengxi... Is it safe to lose? I am stupid, please give me some advice."

Yang Rang nodded slightly and said: "The Yuan family can't stand it..." Yang Rang was about to continue to say something, but there was a surge in his chest and abdomen, so he frowned his long white eyebrows, closed his eyes slightly, and looked at Yang who was lowering his head. Biao said, "...Wen Xianru, please tell me..."

"Wei." Although it was not clear why Yang Rang suddenly stopped talking after he had said it, but since Yang Rang gave the order, Yang Biao cupped his hands towards the third elder and the fifth elder and said, "...Yuan family seemed vigorous at first, but then There are many hidden dangers. Today, Yuan Benchu ​​is very powerful, but he is a commoner, and he abolishes the direct descendant and establishes a commoner, which will eventually lead to disaster. This is one of them. Cao Pingdong of Yanzhou welcomes the emperor to Xu County. Although he is on good terms with General Yuan, the court's laws It cannot be abolished in the end, so how can the Yuan family be willing to surrender to him? This is the second one. General Yuan initially settled on Youzhou and Qingzhou was not yet stable, so he marched to merge the state. His eagerness was obvious. However, Taiyuan Shangdang has been a dangerous place since ancient times. How can we fight for a long time at the end of Qiannu? If we don't win, we will definitely be defeated. This is the third one. If Yuan Benchu ​​is defeated by Bing, Yuan Gongdao is defeated by Huai, and the Yuan family is decadent... In this way, the world is in chaos, and the only way to conquer the west is to use Yong as a solid foundation. , based on Hanzhong, Longyou, and Bingbei, it can become a general trend..."

Yang Rang opened his eyes, looked at the third elder, and said, "How?"

The third elder opened a pair of triangular eyes, looked at Yang Biao, then looked at Yang Rang, gritted his teeth and said: "If I first plead guilty of sacrificing troops and generals before, I will allow it!"

Yang Rang laughed a few times, and there was a hoarse feeling in his voice, as if rotten wood had collapsed, and said: "In this case... let's punish him! Someone comes!"

"Here!" Several armored guards flashed out of the hall and responded in unison. These guards are all orphans in the Yang family. They were adopted by the Yang family since they were young. The thought of dying for the family has been deeply engraved in their minds.

"Order!" Yang Rang took out the great elder's token from his arms, placed it on the table in front of him, and said in a deep voice, "Get Yang Ping!"

The third elder almost jumped up and yelled at the guards, but for the guards of Sizhitang, the order of the great elder was the highest level. Regardless of what the third elder said, they rushed forward and dragged the third elder Yang Ping to the ground. , escorted to the lobby.

Yang Rang stood up slowly, looked down at Yang Ping who was being held on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "The sinner Yang Ping colluded with the Yuan family to gain personal gain and harm the family. I am removing him from the position of elder and handing it over to the clan." Zong interrogation is over!"

"Brother! Big..." Yang Ping was about to argue, but the attendant on the side took a piece of cloth and blocked his mouth. He could only scream and was dragged out.

The fifth elder on the side was sweating like rain.

"This matter... will be handed over to you for trial..." Yang Rang turned his head, looked at the fifth elder, and ordered darkly, "The case will be heard and concluded within today!"

"This... I just... obey the order of the Great Elder..." The fifth elder hesitated for a moment, and finally fell to the ground, accepted the order, and then hurriedly left. Finding any evidence of Yang Ping's collusion with the Yuan family is actually very simple. Even if there is nothing specific, you will find it if you look for it.

Looking at the retreating figure of the fifth elder, Yang Rang swayed, suddenly spurted out a mouthful of blood, and fell to the sky! And this mouthful of originally bright red blood turned black almost immediately after it left the mouth!

"Great Elder!" Yang Biao rushed forward and supported Yang Rang.

Yang Rang was speechless and just pointed at the door of Sizhitang with a trembling hand.

Doorway, what is there at the doorway?

Yang Biao looked back and suddenly remembered something...

"... Great Elder..." Yang Biao burst into tears, "... above the four knowledges, there are still three confusions... Only by being wise and understanding things can we avoid the three confusions; only by penetrating into the clear nature can we Understand the essentials of the Four Knowledges..."

These were the words Yang Rang said to Yang Biao back then. Only now did Yang Biao have a deeper feeling.

Face, feelings, and prospects are all matters that can only be discussed when the family exists! When a family is in decline, when it is facing danger, and when its survival is at stake, if it continues to struggle with the "three confusions" and is obscured and affected by emotions, it will drag the entire family into the abyss.

If you are not as good as others, you are not as good as others.

Wasn't it the same for Yang Zhen back then?

The higher you go, the more enemies there will be. When you reach the top, the whole world will be full of enemies. At the last moment, Yang Rang still wanted to let Yang Biao know this truth and the "Four Knowledges" and "Three Confusions" passed down from Yang Zhen's time...

Yang Biao howled and burst into tears. I don't know if it's because he understands Yang Rang's hard work, or because he's crying that he can't get to the highest position, but Yang Biao also understands that this is the best way and the best choice for the Yang family.

Yang Rang nodded slightly, then slowly closed his eyes...