Heavy rain poured down. Due to the departure of tens of thousands of soldiers, the river valley appeared somewhat desolate in the rain. However, within the residential area below, traces of activity could still be seen, with people rushing back and forth in the rain, tidying up belongings, or digging ditches to guide water into the drainage system. On the watchtower, someone remained on guard, and at the dam at the valley entrance, a group of people in raincoats watched over the surrounding area, monitoring the dam's condition. Despite the departure of a large number of people, life in the Little Cang River Valley continued at a normal pace.

Half of the wheat in the valley had been harvested, but work had stopped due to the rain. Some idle farmers formed patrol teams, wearing rain gear and patrolling between the several watchtowers around the valley, wary of another wave of enemies taking advantage of the chaos. Min Chuyi's father, Min San, was among them. A man of few words since childhood, despite his strength, he was never assertive with anyone, but this time he had volunteered for the patrol. As a result, when he left with his pitchfork, his wife repeatedly told him, "If you encounter those bad people, you must stab them, stab them to death! With your temperament, don't back down."

Most of the soldiers in the Little Cang River were infantry. During training, they were often told not to retreat when forming ranks: when with comrades, face anything, only advance, never retreat. Having heard this often, the farmers and family members who joined had all taken it to heart. Retreating even half a step meant endangering those around you.

The silent farmer nodded, holding the pitchfork. "I'll treat them like wild boars."

As he patrolled the mountains with difficulty, his wife sewed and mended at home. Min Chuyi squatted by the door, watching the courtyard on the hillside through the rain. There was her school, and the Ning family's residence. Since the day Ning Xi was injured, her mother had slapped her hard while shedding tears. She had cried bitterly at the time, but now she had forgotten.

But for the past few days, Ning Xi had been recuperating at home and hadn't gone to school. The little girl was worried. During her classes these past few days, she had hesitated to ask Teacher Yuan about Ning Xi's condition, but when she saw Teacher Yuan's beautiful and stern face, her budding courage was scared back.

So, at this time, she could only squat on the ground, silently writing the few words Teacher Yuan had taught, and sullenly resent herself.

In the courtyard on the hillside, Ning Xi's injury had healed, but she still had a bandage on her head. She and her younger brother, Ning Ji, had moved small stools to sit under the eaves, propping their chins and watching the rain. "What a big rain!" Beside them, Yunzhu held her daughter, watching the downpour together. The little girl was born in the summer, and was initially weak. The sound of thunder, rain, or any noise would scare her into loud wails. This time, hearing the thunder and rain, she didn't cry. She even seemed curious. Her small body wrapped in swaddling clothes, she would squint and wrinkle her face into a bun every time lightning flashed, then relax again.

In the next room, voices could be heard from time to time, but in the heavy rain, many words were muffled. Among the people outside the door, except for Yunzhu, probably no one could understand the meaning of the conversation.

"...The so-called abolishing Confucianism and rebelling against Confucianism doesn't mean that Confucianism is entirely useless. On the contrary, in these thousands of years, Confucianism has played a huge role. As long as external enemies are ignored, its sophistication is almost perfect. And it is becoming more and more perfect, but the direction of this perfection is skewed. You say scholars should understand principles, should read, read what? Why can't they read the Analects? Of course they should read the Analects, should read the Four Books and Five Classics."

"...However, reading to death is worse than not reading at all. Lord Zuo, put your hand on your heart and say, are the words of the sages thousands of years ago, the Four Books and Five Classics of thousands of years ago, interpreted in this way today?"

"...The simplest, Confucius said, 'How to repay virtue? Repay resentment with uprightness, and repay virtue with virtue.' Lord Zuo, how do you juxtapose this sentence with the sage's so-called 'benevolence'? Zigong redeemed people, Confucius said, 'Ci has lost it.' Why? Zilu saved a drowning person, who thanked him with an ox. Zilu accepted it, and Confucius rejoiced, saying: 'The people of Lu will surely save more drowning people.' Why? Confucius said, 'A village worthy is a thief of virtue.' But today, the villages of the world are governed by village worthies, why?"

In the sound of thunder and rain, Ning Yi's voice came from the room, smooth and calm. The old man's words were initially impatient, but when he spoke of these things, he also calmed down, his voice steady and powerful.

"...Teaching disciples, of course, use direct interpretation, only because disciples can read, and soon, one in ten can understand the principles and spread the teachings. However, the people of the world are ignorant. Even if I interpret it directly, eight or nine out of ten still cannot understand its meaning, let alone the villagers. At this time, direct interpretation can be used, village worthies can be used, but if direct interpretation is used, contradictions will arise and lead to disaster. Therefore, the village worthy is used for interpretation. Hmph, these principles are all superficial introductory words, Li Heng, if you have any opinions, you don't need to beat around the bush like this!"

"Okay, isn't my point in there? Confucius wrote the Analects to record what he had learned in his life. Later generations promoted Confucianism by distorting what they had learned with the words that were beneficial to governance. I want the principles, without distortion, just direct interpretation."

"Haha, direct interpretation, you simply don't know how much effort it takes to educate one person! The Spring and Autumn period, the Warring States period, from Qin to the two Han dynasties, spoke of grievances, repeated revenge, is this what Li Heng calls a prosperous age? The Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period were constantly at war, the Qin dynasty perished after two generations, and although the Han dynasty was strong, the feudal lords rose up and the people constantly rebelled. Every time there is such conflict, the people will surely live in misery, and countless will die. Later sages had compassion for the world, so they interpreted Confucianism in this way. As Li Heng said, hundreds of years ago, the people lost their courage, but the peace of more than two hundred years, these generations have been able to live in this world, which is already very difficult. Li Heng, using your method, a generation or two will arouse courage, or be able to drive away the Jurchens, but without the restraint of Confucianism, the poison will surely continue for a hundred years, and wars and conflicts will arise frequently. Li Heng, can you see these things? Do you agree with these things? A hundred years of misery for your courage, is it worth it?"

"...Frankly speaking, I can naturally see it, and I agree with it. It's good that you can think of these things, which shows that you already have the idea of reforming Confucianism in your heart, isn't this what I said at the beginning? How Confucianism has become what it is today for thousands of years, you can see it, and I can see it. Our difference is never here, but whether we should continue to do so in the future, whether we can only use village worthies to govern the people, we have different views."

"You! Can! Still! Do! What!"

"...Everything in the world is developing and changing. Since ancient times, people have gone from slash-and-burn cultivation to gradually making good use of various tools. At first, it took people many days to walk out of a large mountain, but later, carriages and roads gradually increased, connecting the two places, and the cost gradually decreased. The emergence of various materials, the emergence of various new artifacts, including the Grand Canal, and the development of shipping, are also constantly changing the methods of the imperial court's rule and administration."

"...New changes are now emerging. The ruling Confucianism, because of the rules it found at the beginning, chose to remain unchanged. This is because, I draw a line in a circle, either you break it, or you make the whole circle bigger than that line. Lord Zuo, imagine that these workshops are developing further, one person can抵 fifty people's strength, one person can produce the goods of fifty people in the past, then the world will be abundant in materials. Imagine that everyone has books to read, then literacy will no longer be the privilege of scholars. Then, how should this world change, how should the ruling method change, can you imagine it?"

"This old man can't imagine it, but you want to act recklessly for something that is not even remotely possible!?"

"I don't want to either. If the Jurchens don't come in the future, I don't care if it develops for a thousand years! But now, Lord Zuo, why did you come to talk to me about these things, I also know a little. My soldiers are very good at fighting. If one day they can sweep the world, I can naturally interpret the Analects directly, and a large group of people will help me interpret it. I can promote commerce, promote industry, and at that time the social structure will naturally disintegrate and be rebuilt. At least, I can find things to fill it with. And Lord Zuo, I have already said the fundamental errors of the current Confucianism. I don't expect you to follow. But the great age of change is in front of us, and the future that conforms to the Confucianism is also in front of us. You talk about the Confucianism, and I also want to ask you a question."

The voice in the room continued to come out: "——'Reflecting on myself and finding that I am right, even if there are tens of thousands of people, I will go forward!' Lord Zuo, how do you interpret this sentence!?"

It was quiet for a moment inside. In the sound of rain, Yunzhu sitting outside smiled slightly, but there was also a slight bitterness in that smile. She also studied Confucianism, but she couldn't interpret what Ning Yi said at this time.

After a moment, the old man's voice rang again: "Okay! Then I will explain the Confucianism to you..."

Outside, heavy rain poured down, and lightning flashed across the sky occasionally. The argument in the room continued for a long time. At a certain moment, when the tea in the room was finished, Ning Yi opened the window, poked his head out, and asked someone to bring water. Zuo Duanyou shouted: "I don't need it!" Ning Xi had already ran to the kitchen. When he carried the water into the study, Zuo Duanyou stood there, arguing red-faced, his beard and hair standing on end. Ning Yi was at the table, tidying up the papers that had been blown around when he opened the window. Ning Xi had a good impression of this rather serious old man. She went over and tugged at his clothes. "Grandpa Zuo, don't be angry."

Zuo Duanyou snorted. He ignored Ning Xi and only said to Ning Yi: "Hmph, having come here today, this old man does know that your army broke the Jilasaisele's army of fifty thousand and captured Yan Prefecture. This is not simple, but it is still the same sentence, your army is not truly sensible. They cannot live like this for the rest of their lives. These people, when they put down their swords, will become a disaster. This is not their fault, but your fault for teaching them like this!"

"Lord Zuo, may as well say, it is the world that is wrong. We rebel, put our lives on the line, for a right world, a right way. So, they don't need to worry about these things."

"Pretentious, I ask you, you captured Yan Prefecture but did not defend it, what is your intention?"

Ning Yi answered.

"What?"

Ning Yi repeated it again.

Before long, Zuo Duanyou slammed the door open and came out. His servants and followers hurried up, holding up umbrellas. They saw the old man walk into the rain, turning his head and cursing.

"Incorrigibly foolish——"

He leaned on his crutches, shielded and supported by his servants with umbrellas, and strode out of the courtyard, heading further and further away into the rain. When Ning Yi said those words about rebelling against the entire world, after Li Pin left, the old man stayed to continue watching the development of the situation. Who knew that only two days later, news came that Yan Prefecture had been captured that afternoon.

The debate on the Dao was a major event, but after all, it would not affect reality for a while. On the contrary, the Wu Dynasty did not have such a capable army. With a feeling of both sadness and anger, he finally decided to come and argue with Ning Yi, trying to save this child who had gone astray. Who knew that when he finally talked about the Black Flag Army's movements and heard Ning Yi's answer, he could truly confirm that the entire valley was crazy, and the Qin family's boy was also crazy.

The old man was unwilling to deal with true lunatics.

However, after sulking all night, the next morning, Yunzhu was in the courtyard哄daughter when she looked up and saw the white-haired old man walking over briskly again. He came to the courtyard gate, didn't greet anyone, and pushed the door open and entered——the guards next to him wanted to stop him, but Yunzhu waved her hand to indicate no——Ning Xi, who was reading under the eaves, stood up and shouted: "Hello, Grandpa Zuo." Zuo Duanyou strode across the courtyard, glanced at the comic book in the child's hand, ignored him, and directly pushed open Ning Yi's study and went in.

Ning Yi, who was writing at the table, turned his head and looked at him, with a face full of innocence, and then spread his hands: "Lord Zuo, please sit down, have some tea."

Before long, the argument in the room began again.

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

While the Little Cang River Valley was sitting around and discussing the Dao, in Yuan Prefecture, the situation was changing rapidly.

Lou Shuwan and her entourage stood on the hilltop, watching the Western Xia army拔营 and heading northeast. The movement of tens of thousands of people created a dust storm, flags hunting in the wind, and murderous intent sweeping the sky.

"Lord Lou, where are we going?"

Of the entourage, only one maid was female, the rest were men, but facing Lou Shuwan, they were all respectful and did not dare to neglect her in the slightest.

"...Go to Qing Prefecture."

"Yes."

"I always feel..."

"Hmm? My Lady, feel what?"

Lou Shuwan hesitated, and an official under Tiger King asked, but after a moment, the woman shook her head. She couldn't say the words in her heart.

Originally, the Western Xia army屯兵 north of Yuan Prefecture was to eliminate the remnants of the Western Army led by Zhong Lie. However, with the sudden military report from Yan Prefecture, the Western Xia King was furious. Ping Shan's Iron Harrier had already led the team first, followed by the main force拔营, leaving only more than 10,000 elite to deal with Zhong Lie in Huan Prefecture. They wanted to crush the more than 10,000 Wu Dynasty outlaws who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth with the force of thunder.

Because after capturing Yan Prefecture, the Black Flag Army did not stop at all. It is said that they only took a few days of food and rushed directly to the west.

At this time, the wheat in the fields had not yet been harvested. From Yan Prefecture to Qing Prefecture, to the Yuan Prefecture line, not only were the defeated soldiers of Yan Prefecture fleeing, but there was also a lot of wheat in the fields waiting to be harvested and transported. The barefoot were not afraid of those who wore shoes, and they were coming this way. Regardless of whether their purpose was wheat or the empty rears of Qing Prefecture, for the Western Xia King, this was the greatest degree of contempt, a naked slap in the face.

According to analysis, the team that jumped out of the mountains mostly wanted to respond to Zhong Lie's Western Army and disrupt the Western Xia's rear. But the Western Xia King was really afraid of this. Especially after Qing Prefecture was captured, a large amount of grain and military equipment were囤积 in Qing Prefecture City. Yan Prefecture was previously just the center where Ji Lasaisele was stationed, but Qing Prefecture was the outpost to the west. If it was attacked and something went wrong, it would never be made up for in the future.

Everything developed extremely quickly, the military situation came extremely quickly, and the other party came extremely quickly. The Western Xia army reacted extremely quickly. A 9,000-man army rushed towards a 70,000-man army like an idiot. How should the 70,000-man army react——there was not much to say.

They wouldn't turn around and run away.

Only Lou Shuwan vaguely smelled a trace of unease in such speed. Previously, when the various parties blocked Little Cang River, she felt that Little Cang River had no chance of surviving, but deep down she still felt that that person was not that simple at all. When the Yan Prefecture military report came, she even had a "as expected" idea in her heart. That man named Ning Yi was ruthless and decisive, and would not endure in such a situation.

Being able to capture Yan Prefecture must have been a painstaking layout, a battle with nine deaths and one life. The crisis in Little Cang River had been resolved, but an even greater crisis was about to arrive——how could the Western Xia King swallow such humiliation. Even if the grain crisis in Little Cang River was temporarily resolved, the Western Xia army would inevitably not be able to resist the counterattack in the future. Attacking Yan Prefecture was just drinking poison to quench thirst without any other option. However, when she heard that the Black Flag Army was rushing straight to Qing Prefecture, a faint ominous feeling rose in her heart.

After capturing Yan Prefecture, that man rushed straight over, really just to relieve Zhong Lie's siege? Add fuel to the Western Xia? She vaguely felt that it would not be so simple.

She looked into the distance, silent, her heart thumping, burning for the possibility she had vaguely noticed...

It wouldn't be like this, it's simply daydreaming... But for that person, if it really was like this...

As the third party in this war, Zhong Lie's Western Army, which was speeding up the收粮 in Huan Prefecture and eking out a living, did not receive the news of the Jurchen拔营 until the next day. After some investigation, he slightly understood what was going on. Subsequently, a discussion was also launched within the Western Army, about whether to take immediate action to respond to this possibly friendly army. But the resolution of this discussion was not made in the end, because the more than 10,000 troops left by Western Xia had already begun to压over.

A few days later, they received more news. At that time, the whole world had changed color.

From the Jurchen's second southward invasion, colluding with Western Xia, to Western Xia's official start of war, swallowing the Northwest, the whole process had lasted for half a year on this land. However, in this late summer, the war that suddenly decided the fate of the entire Northwest, like the rhythm with which it began, moved like thunder, swift as a meteor, fierce, and violent, splitting everything like lightning in the next few days!

"Go! Faster——"

"Go go go go go——"

Above the mountains and rivers, the Black Flag spread out, and teams of soldiers were奔行 in the mountains, heading west. Qin Shaoqian rode on his horse, his eyes cold but fiery, his mind turning over what Ning Yi had said in the previous multiple deductions.

"...Whenever a new technology appears, the first destruction is the greatest. To give full play to this destructive power, we should choose the most cost-effective army and paralyze the Western Xia army with all our strength! And theoretically, the army that should be chosen is..."

The army passed through the mountains, and Qin Shaoqian's horse passed through the high point of the mountains. The field of vision in front suddenly opened up, and the Mu Ye mountains and rivers were spread out before his eyes. Looking up, the sky was slightly overcast.

"Don't rain啊..." He said in a low voice. Behind him, more warhorses carrying long boxes were crossing the mountain.

More than a hundred miles away, the strongest cavalry in the world was passing through Qing Prefecture and sweeping across. The two armies would soon狠狠相遇 and碰撞在一起——