Liu Yiyi on the banks of the Yuan Gong River
Text/Liu Yanju
My hometown, to the west of the village, is a large wood. In childhood memories, the woods are very primitive, and all kinds of trees grow together. There are weeds, mushrooms, and flowers in the woods; there are old people and huts who guard the woods; and there is a big river that runs through the forest, flowing happily from north to south, babbling, day and night, we are used to calling it "West River", and the map calls it "Yuan Gong River".
In memory, the banks of the Yuangong River are green and lush, lush with water and grass, and overgrown with shrubs. Every year spring comes, the spring is bright, the river is crystal clear, and the pebbles and tadpoles at the bottom of the river are clearly visible. There are stepping stones in the river, one after another not very regular huge stones, not far apart in the river water, from this side to the other side of the river, the river washes the stones, forming round ripples, making a roaring sound.
There is an endless stretch of wild reeds and bushes of cotton locusts by the river, which inhabit flocks of birds and finches, and when someone accidentally approaches and alarms them, they suddenly fly up and startle. In the summer, groups of women dressed in raccoon clothes by the river dry their green clothes and sheets on the bushes, and shine dazzlingly in the sun. We often roll up our trouser legs high, wad across the river with our two shoes in hand, or stand in the river to catch small fish, shrimp and tadpoles; in winter the river is very cold, and in the deep winter there will be a thick layer of ice, at this time, we have to step on the stone or ice to go to the other side of the river to catch a market or visit relatives.
There are many tall trees on both sides of the river, poplars, willows, elms, locusts. Most of the willow trees on the shore are closest to the water, which is the most eye-catching. They have different postures and are extremely pitched. Some are strong and indomitable, holding high in the blue sky, and some are long and affectionate. When the glacier thaws and the warm breeze blows, the willow tree is the first to raise tender buds, as if vaguely hinting, reminding that spring is coming. Wait for the little bit of willow yellow halo, gladly open the blue wave of willow eyes, spring has unconsciously come to the side.
Before and after the Qingming Dynasty, climbing branches and folding strips, making willow flutes, willow inserting eaves, repelling insects and evil spirits, we often set our sights on this willow tree with new green. As soon as you look up, you will be surprised to find one or two naughty boys clinging to the tall willow branches, smiling happily, leisurely folding the willow branches. When the willow leaves first grow, we will follow the adults to pick willow leaves, go home and steam the willow leaves with bean noodles. After the rain, we went to the woods to pick mushrooms, thus learning to identify poisonous mushrooms and eat mushrooms. Sometimes I go with my partner to stick to zhi, the willow tree is not only swaying, but also singing a variety of songs, is the gathering place of cicadas, a willow tree can stick to half a bag of knowledge, go home under the oil pot and fry, enough for a delicious meal for the family.
The rivers and woods of our hometown once brought countless joys to our childhood life. There is a small poem "Looking at the Willow" that is very well written:
When I was a child, I most liked to watch by the river
Willow, before and after the Qingming Dynasty
The crescent moon is like a hook, and the wicker is green
Hanging a string of "fur dogs" upside down
Stick your ears to the ice
Listen to the spring water singing, a sound
"Forget your worries, forget your worries..."
I don't know loneliness, I don't know sorrow
From the village to the river, you have to pass through a field and walk through a small road. Just arrived at the edge of the poplar forest and did not see the river, you can hear the sound of the river rushing, only to feel the cool breeze, full of green and green, and after a while, the sparkling river surface appeared in front of you. The running water makes people feel comfortable, and the green willows are refreshing. The river willow hangs down thousands of silk strands, combed by the wind, washed for the water, light and supple, stretched and flowing, just like the life of the hometown people, long and long, taoran and pleasant. The morning glow, the sound of frogs and birds, and the busy figure of the farmers make the scenery in that area more charming, changing the fireworks of the world like a fairyland, in the memory, give me a warm feeling.
There is a wild old willow tree, very impressive, black trunk, half decayed and half newborn, like a thousand-year-old tree god guarding the Yuan Gong River. The old tree body tilted toward the river, and every year it drew out new green to cover half of the river, and the long willows hung down, whisking the water, spring, summer, autumn and winter, over the years, washing a long hair. The willows paddle the river and make a fine sound, like an ancient fisherman singing the song of the water of the waves: "The water of the waves is clear, and it can be muddy; the water of the waves is muddy, and it can be muddy." ”
Yuan Gonghe has a long history and is said to have been named after Yuan Shao at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. "Water Jing Zhu Shu Shui" said: "Yuan Gongshui came out of qingshan in the east, and obeyed Kun Wei and zhu Shu. "Rebuilding Juzhi" Yun: "Yuan Gongshui is twenty miles northeast of the county, originating from Qingshan. West over Shadow Chicken Mountain, to the patio Wang. Turn over the city cliff, go around Shiyang and go south, through Zhaoxian Jidong, and then down to Xujiahu, the water of the tugou into the yan. Then the river forked into the river and merged into shu. ”
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, foreign relatives ruled, warlords fought each other, and various places were divided. Yuan Shao, whose official was the Taishou of Bohai, was born into the family clan of the "Fourth Dynasty and Three Dukes", and "the protégés were all over the world". In the warlord melee, he successively occupied the land of Qing, You, Yi, and four states, becoming the largest warlord at that time and possessing a very powerful military force. At the end of the Han Dynasty, Yuan Shao wanted to unify China by himself and call himself the emperor of the world, so he clashed with Cao Cao's forces, and finally evolved into a big war- the Battle of Guandu.
At the time of the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao's soldiers had enough food, with a large army of 100,000 and 10,000 warhorses; Cao Cao had fewer grain and fewer soldiers, and only about 10,000 or 20,000 people could be used for battle. However, Yuan Shao's administration of the army was not strict, the employment of personnel was improper, and the outside was wide and internally jealous, and although there were outstanding figures like Liu Bei who were attached to Yuan Shao, it was still inevitable that his fate would fail. Yuan Shao was defeated by Cao Cao, and the following year after the war, he died in anger.
The outcome of a war depends not only on the disparity in strength, but also on many factors. The battle between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao is somewhat similar to the battle between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. The fates of Yuan Shao and Xiang Yu both changed from strong to weak, and finally they were surrounded and destroyed. Xiang Yu killed himself on the banks of the Wu River, and Yuan Shao probably died of illness near the Yuan Gong River.
The "Spring and Autumn of the Emperor Xian" records: "Shao is a man of great political integrity, and the people are virtuous." "Yuan Shao treated the people with generosity and benevolence, and the people loved him. In order to commemorate Yuan Shao, after his death, he named the local river "Yuan Gongshui".
The sky of history, the wind and clouds change, the success or failure of victory or defeat turns to the sky. Yuan Gong River, a river carrying history, travels through thousands of years and witnesses the vicissitudes of the world and the changes of the years. With the unchanging flowing water, it cares about the ever-changing world, allowing us to remember a period of history, understand some truths, and cherish the happy life in front of us. The horseshoe of war passed by the riverside, a little sad and a little sad. Ancient conquests and hardships, birth and death, slender and folded willows, is a farewell, is a sorrow, is a prayer, all in a silent standing.
That winter, we passed by the Yuan Gong River, looking at the vast wilderness, the illusory and ethereal scene in our memory was no longer found, and the wild reeds, shrubs, willow trees, and elms could no longer be found. In the distance, I saw only a large patch of neatly managed poplar forest, like a wheat field cultivated by people, waiting to be harvested.
On the banks of the Yuan Gong River, the willows are cherished in the memory together with the sunset and cooking smoke, and with the arrival of spring every year, they are green over and over again.
About author:Liu Yanju, pen name Zhenzhen, a native of Rizhao Ju County, Shandong Province. His works have been published in newspapers and magazines inside and outside the province.
One point number Zhen Zhen