Time slowly flowed back to a few years ago.
At that time, the empire was still at war, and the soldiers had sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. Decades of war were enough to turn any country that had not yet perished into a state of total war.
The administrative efficiency of the country had been unprecedentedly improved, and all kinds of war-related technologies and theories had made explosive progress. The national consciousness had also gradually awakened in the crisis. The entire country had turned into a huge machine. Everything was for war and victory. Logistical support, military operations, resource allocation, public opinion … Everything was filled with strong fuel for this huge war machine.
In such an environment, being a soldier became the most ideal profession and the most admired group.
Young people were proud of joining the army and fighting on the battlefield. Sacrificing one's life for the country had become the highest tragic aesthetics. Magnificent and heroic frontier poems had become the mainstream of the literary world. The martial spirit of the Houtu Empire had reached its peak. Whether they were from a prestigious family or from a humble background, ambitious young people would travel thousands of miles to the battlefield.
In such a big environment, a young man from the Ningguo Mansion came to the north.
That was the first time Sun Lang met his "cousin".
"Greetings, Bao Tang Xiu."
"Many years ago, you ran away from home, and the entire Jinling was turned upside down. You disappeared without a trace, but I suffered an unexpected disaster."
"Because they were afraid that I would imitate you, my family gave me the strictest order. My clothes, food, housing, and transportation were all closely monitored. I was like a bird in a cage, a turtle in a jar. Even the air I breathed seemed to be tight, and it was like this for several years."
"At that time, I hated you very much. I don't know how many times I scolded you in my mind, but I also felt a little pity for you. Because what happened to me at that time, I was afraid that you were also tired of it, so you ran away."
"But now, because of your success, you have won a lot of glory for our ancestors, and let the Jia family hold their heads high, I also benefited from it."
"I was able to go to the north to join the army because of your example. If my father didn't want the Rongguo Mansion to be stronger than the Ningguo Mansion, he had to let me show my face and give him face … So I was finally free, and it was all thanks to you."
"Therefore … Cousin Bao, we're even now. We don't owe each other anything."
The first time they met, he was polite and distant. This' cousin 'from the Ningguo Mansion was prouder than he had imagined. Although he was courteous and gave enough respect to his' cousin ', he did not flatter him in the slightest. This young man did not want to rely on his elder brother's protection. He wanted to do something great on his own.
This kind of attitude was exactly what Sun Lang wished for. Because he was an impostor, he knew nothing about the affairs of the Jia Mansion. If this "younger cousin" intimately approached him to reminisce about the old days, he reckoned that it wouldn't be long before he would be exposed. Therefore, in their first meeting, the two of them treated each other with respect. However, in their conversation, which was as flat as water, they maintained an appropriate distance.
But this estrangement did not last long.
The battlefield was a cruel place, but also a miraculous place. Here, perhaps after only one battle, two people who had never met before would establish a deep friendship that was hard to come by. Death was a frequent visitor here, and so was trust. On the bitter battlefield, you could only believe in your comrade-in-arms and fellow soldiers. You could only believe in humans who were like you, because only by fighting side by side could you have the possibility of victory.
Therefore, Sun Lang was able to win the hearts of so many people in just a few short years, obtain the followers of so many talented people, and successfully establish his own team … It must be known that in peacetime, to achieve this kind of popularity and gather so many talented people, it would take decades of effort.
However, war was a special machine. It used blood and death as fuel to accelerate time and accelerate everything. An ordinary person could become a world-renowned hero overnight, while a famous general with great power could be turned into dust in the blink of an eye. Sun Lang, on the other hand, had survived. He had accumulated everything through his continuous victories. War was like this. As long as you could win, as long as you could obtain victory, then you would be able to obtain everything.
Because the army only recognized meritorious deeds, and soldiers only admired the strong. And as a strong person, if you could show some unique personality and charm, then more and more people would see you as a wise leader and be loyal to you.
Therefore, the estrangement between Sun Lang and Jia Shidao didn't last long.
Because at that time, Sun Lang was indeed as dazzling as the sun. He was generous, gentle, compassionate, and approachable. He was even willing to run into danger for a comrade he did not know. Such a person was usually said to be a good person, and would even be called an idiot. But if coupled with the fact that he was victorious in every battle, and had a terrifying record of bravery, then in the extreme environment of the battlefield where life and death hung by a thread, such a person was a living legend.
As long as people saw that heroic figure shining on the battlefield, they would be convinced. The battlefield was a place where heroes were needed … and always would be.
Jia Shidao was naturally one of the people who was convinced because he was very young. He was hot-blooded, impulsive, and passionate. He admired heroes, was not shrewd, and still believed in his ideals.
On the other hand, Sun Lang had a whole new level of respect for him.
That proud and calm young man had shown his talent and bravery in the war.
The defense of E County, the defense line of Huaiyuan, the attack and defense of Wuhe, and even the world-shocking breakout of Huang County. He led 700 cavalrymen to break out of the enemy's encirclement. When the news spread, the morale of the Benzhou Theater of Operations was greatly boosted. These achievements made him famous, and the world noticed this young man who had been hiding under the halo of his cousin … His name was Jia Shidao.
Therefore, Jia Shidao finally gained the qualifications and confidence to look at his cousin as an equal with his own efforts. Sun Lang also slowly let go of the estrangement and indifference in his heart. The battlefield was such a pure place. The estrangement and prejudice were actually very easy to eliminate.
They first became good friends, and then they were like a pair of real cousins. Brotherly love and respect were no longer empty words of estrangement and indifference.
Jia Shidao was transferred back to Sun Lang and became his capable assistant and think tank. Their private relationship became better and better. What Sun Lang was worried about did not happen. When the two young people got together, they talked about their ideals and women. They did not talk about the trivial things in the family all day long.
Jia Shidao confided his ambition. He wanted to be a general, enter the Martial Arts Hall, and set up a pavilion to become the Prime Minister of the Empire. He said that there were still many imperfections in the country and that bold reforms were needed.
He once told his cousin about his long-planned "political policy" as if he was presenting a treasure. But of course, he was mercilessly mocked and attacked.
After all, Sun Lang came from another world, and it was an era where information was extremely developed.
In that era, knowledge had become cheaper than ever before. Thousands of years of accumulation had led to explosive progress in technology and thought. History had become transparent. Countless scholars and thinkers had traveled through time to explain the essence of change and summarize the lessons of history.
The huge history of the development of civilization listed too many examples and experiences. This was a precious wealth.
For an ordinary person on Earth, this fragmented knowledge was just a leisure time and bragging capital. Basically, it would not be used in a lifetime.
However, if that Earthling had a miraculous encounter and not only had he come to an alternate world, but he had also obtained great power and an extremely high status for a few years due to special reasons. Then, after combining the knowledge from his previous life with his current vision, he would gain experience and insight that surpassed the era.
Therefore, Jia Shidao's naive "reform policy" was mercilessly mocked by Sun Lang. His ridicule was so reasonable that Jia Shidao was speechless.
The stupid Ou Doudou was not convinced. He asked his cousin if there was any good way to solve the problem.
The wise Sun Lang just smiled and did not say anything. There was only one way to solve the problem fundamentally, and that was to f * cking revolution. Unfortunately, it was too shocking and would scare his little brother.
However, Ou Doudou clearly misunderstood onii-chan's smile. Or perhaps it could be said that his worship and respect towards his elder brother made him feel that his elder brother was the one who could change the empire … Thus, under the moonlight, he made a promise to his elder brother that he would assist his elder brother and make this country better in the future.
Unfortunately, their ambitions, promises, and hot-bloodedness had all been blown away by the wind and rain. All that was left was a cold heart … To most people, the battle of the Great Desolate Mountain was an unprecedented victory. It was an epic that brought peace to the world. However, to a small number of people, this victory was like a thunderclap.
Jia Shidao, who also survived, refused the imperial court's reward.
He was a smart person, and he could see things clearly, so he was powerless. His own family, the Rongguo Manor that had lost his cousin, there were too many things that tied him down, making him unable to do anything.
So, his hot blood was cooled by the heavy darkness.
He, who used to be high-spirited and hot-blooded, uncharacteristically left a poem that said, "Life must be drunk when there is wine. How sad are the children and grandchildren of Qingzhong."
He even became a Taoist priest.
No one knew the struggle in his heart. No one knew the sadness in his heart. Maybe it was because his brother was too dazzling, or maybe it was because the war covered most of the darkness. But at the end of the war, this young man who used to have dreams finally saw the cruel things.
And the death of his brother shattered everything he once believed and held on to.
But now, after two years, he came all the way to Qinzhou because he heard a shocking piece of news. When his father stepped into his mountain again and threw the secret report in his face, Jia Shidao was stunned.
Now, he came all the way to the Bai Castle. He was waiting for an answer, waiting for the truth.
When Wei Zhongxian showed up and asked him to go to a place, he knew that he had waited for it.
Eunuch Wei led Jia Shidao to a house, opened the door, and invited him in.
Jia Shidao didn't look at the old eunuch from the beginning to the end. He didn't even look at him now.
Because he saw a man. Although the man's back was facing him, his hair was very strange, and his clothes were barbarian style, he couldn't be wrong. He couldn't be wrong.
The man turned around and looked at him, his face expressionless.
"You're here."
He said.
Jia Shidao didn't say anything. He rushed up and waved his fist.