Catching birds in the snow, the Kwantung Army is coming- an excerpt from the long historical novel "Gu River"

The snowflakes of Yanshan Mountain were as big as a mat, and the pieces blew down the Xuanyuan Platform.

Thousands of miles of yellow clouds and daylight, the north wind blows snow. (Tang Li Bai, "North Wind Line")

In the winter of the twenty-second year of the Republic of China (1933), the heavy snow festival had just passed, and a heavy snow covered the mountains, rivers, ravines and ravines of the Gu River, and everywhere was white as if wearing white winter clothes, and the mountains and rivers seemed to be frozen. The black family who burns kiln firewood can only cats at home in the vegetable tree ditch. Hei Wanfu and Kuroshi sat cross-legged by the brazier, calculating the grain for the building. Next year, in the spring of the year, the old man took two apprentices, plus the Yang kiln smith invited by Ci Yingzi, and the family suddenly had four more mouths to eat. In addition, the villagers are usually asked to help the workers manage the meals, and these eight children also grow up day by day, and the amount of food they eat is not enough this year. "No, you can take the time to go down the mountain to find the Gu family to borrow some grain first!" Building a house is all hard work, my father is coming, how can not let them drink porridge to work! Hei shi looked at the black skinny black thin husband who had grown white hair and said. Borrowing is to be able to borrow, we just promised the girlfriend to others, the white family gave four acres of land, really embarrassed to open their mouths again. "They are all relatives, and some of them are not good at opening their mouths, if they can go on their own, I will go to Hexi and tell Gu Yuxi that he will not help at all." The old two Kang shang was thinking about building a house and eating next year, and several children of the gu family ran out to catch small animals.

The eldest Hei Dengchun took a few half-sized children in the village to catch pheasants and chase hares on the hillside and ditches, and the second hei dengli took his three younger brothers to run to the courtyard to catch the birds (qiao three sounds). Hei Dengming took the sieve, Hei Dengming took two wool ropes, and Hei Denghai carried the bird cage behind his ass. The second elder Hei Dengli swept a large open space with a broom in the courtyard, and Hei Dengming found a thumb-thick branch to tie the wool rope to it, and the sieve was placed on the swept open space. Hei Dengli sprinkled the chaff in the sieve, and Hei Dengming pulled the other end of the wool rope and carefully pulled it behind the haystack. Hei Denghai had already drilled into the pile of sticks and straws, showing only two small eyes. When everything was ready, Hei Dengli took the rope from Hei Dengming's hand, "It is all hidden in the haystack, and no one is allowed to make a sound, not even a fart." Hei Denghai whispered, "Second brother, what do you do?" "If you have a fart, you have to hold it for me!" Except for the sheep pen and donkey shed, which were covered with thick snow, the birds on the mountain could no longer find a place to feed. As soon as a clearing was swept out, the jujube trees next to the courtyard were filled with all kinds of small finches, their mouths chattering and calling for their companions nearby, where they knew that the ground was a trap carefully laid for them. Several children lay motionless behind the haystack, their eyes fixed on the sieve in the clearing. The birds were so hungry that as soon as they quieted down, two house finches flew from the branches to the open space, looking around while jumping and taking a few bites of the chaff on the ground, as if they had found something moving and flew back to the tree. Hei Dengli turned around to see that several of his brothers were honestly hiding behind the haystacks, and no one showed up or moved. The scouts sent by the birds repeatedly probed several times to confirm safety before chattering and greeting their partners in the trees, swooping and fluttering down dozens of them, and the black pressure on the open ground was pressed. "One, two, three, four... Ten. Hei Dengli counted the finches that had entered the sieve, and suddenly pulled the rope in his hand hard, and the sieve lost the support of the wooden stick and buckled down instantly, and the finches that did not have time to fly away were fastened inside the sieve, and the fluttering became the turtle in the urn. Brother four arrows came out from behind the haystack, and Hei Dengli went up and held the sieve, afraid that the birds inside would fly out of the sieve. "How many are you counting?" "One, two, three... Brother, there are six in it, all. "The youngest old man has a fast brain." Old man, dig a groove from the ground and pull out the little finches. Hei Dengming dug a small ditch with a wooden stick from the edge of the sieve, reached in and grabbed one of the fattest and largest tits, carefully withdrew his hand from under the sieve, and turned to hand it to the youngest brother next to him, Hei Denghai. In the haystacks of the yard, there are confiscated grains and sorghum grains, and the mountains are full of tree seeds and grass seeds, and the eat chubby one by one larger than the family finches. Hei Denghai fiddled with the chubby in his hand and asked, Brother, why are they all? "The son of the family bird has been turning around in front of the house and behind the house all day, ghostly!" Go in and take a bite and jump out of the ghostly. Silly, silly,, silly, silly whirring into the light know how to eat. Heiden Haiguang listened to his brothers, and with a cry of Ti'er, a struggled and flew away from his hand, leaving only a few yellow-brown feathers on his tail, sitting on the snow and crying. Hei Dengming handed the in his hand to Hei Denghai, Old Fifth, don't cry, you see this in groups, in a moment we will pull it dozens of them home to roast the finches meat to eat. As soon as he heard that he had eaten the meat of the house sparrow, Hei Denghai quickly wiped his tears and snot with his sleeve.

The mentioned in Caishugou are not birds with the scientific name. The scientific name are those who fly around the village, in the yard, on the branches, on the roof all day long, with white bellies, black heads, black wings and tails that like to steal melon seeds, and the vegetable tree ditch is called Little Old Bag (scientific name, like a mini magpie). The that was just buckled was called the red-winged. The belly is flowery, with red, gray and brown feathers, and there are white, brown, gray and yellow feathers on the head, tail and wings, which are one size larger than the house finches, and the male feathers are more beautiful than the female feathers.

The four men packed the into bird cages made of sticks and straw, re-propped the sieve and sprinkled them with chaff and lay back behind the haystacks. "Remember to eat or not to remember to fight" Not long after, the date trees were full of small finches again, and there were just flying down the nearby hillside. Hei Dengli saw the opportunity to pull the rope violently, and the four brothers jumped up and rushed to the clearing. There were more than a dozen of them, and in addition to the, there was also a gray-gray string with a long tail (scientific name mountain stork).

The gray feathers on the gray stringer have brown markings on the head, back, wings, and neck, and the head has faint eyebrow lines, and the feathers on the tail are much longer than the body, like the tail of the wolf. They like to fly around in the crevices of the low trees and bushes on the hillside, and their calls are euphemistic, like people whistling and singing.

In the morning, more than twenty were detained, and there was a gray and gray string and a small old bag. The children plucked more than twenty and a small old bag, took out the intestines and stomachs inside and fed them to the cats, and went home to wash them with water and sprinkle salt on their stomachs. A few small heads gathered around the brazier on the kang, watching the chirps baked on the iron chopsticks of the brazier and the oily kept swallowing their saliva. The long-tailed gray skewer was put into a birdcage by them and hung under the eaves. Smelling the scent of the family, Hei Dengchun also rushed back with two pheasants in his hand.

The northern climate is cold, and every household will have a brazier made of mud on the kang, which is an indispensable utensil for heating in winter. Every household in the northern countryside has a clay kang, which is connected to the cooking stove, and above the stove is a large iron pot, and the flames in the stove burn the water in the iron pot and the rice in the steamed iron pot. Smoke enters the kang cave below the kang from the stove, bypasses the adobe inside the kang hole, and emerges from the chimney of the gable of the house (the chimneys are higher than the gables, one is to avoid being blackened by smoke, and the other is that the higher the chimney, the more suction, the more vigorous the fire in the stove). The soil kang heat transfer slow warm performance, cooking at night to burn the kang, until the chicken barks three times can still feel the warmth under the body. There are many trees and shrubs in the mountains, and every time after the autumn harvest, men will carry back racks, take sickles and axes from the mountains to cut back finger-thick bushes and bundle them into stacks, cut back dead tree stumps, saw off branches, split and piled into piles, used to burn kang, cook. Firewood is used in mountain fires, and the embers in the hearth are the charcoal that is burned, and the rice is cooked well. The charcoal in the hearth is pulled out and put into the brazier, which will slowly burn and emit heat. Playing the brazier is also a craft, the soil should be sticky, no impurities, the wool, hemp rope chopped mixed in the mud, with the tile pot as a mold, the basin mouth down buckled on the ground, the outside of the basin coated with a layer of grass and wood ash, the mixed mud on the tile basin, put in the shade for two or three days to take out the mold, the mud becomes the shape of the basin. In the process of closing, adding edges, adding bottoms (generally making four support legs), flattening, rolling, placed in the shade for ten days and half a month to make a finished brazier, pay attention to the people also painted red paint on the outside or painted a variety of patterns around. Brazier on the kang, in addition to grilling hand heating, can be on the top of hot rice, roast potatoes, sweet potatoes, soybeans, adults often stay by the brazier chat, talk, use the charcoal fire in the brazier to light smoke, but also like today's children, in the iron chopsticks on the top of the grilled finches meat.

Just when the black family was full of the aroma of roasted finches meat, and the children were eating with relish. On the path by the Gu River came a group of more than a dozen Kwantung Troops and thirty Manchurian Troops dressed in wool lapels and yellow coats, fur hats, horses, and guns. The tip of the Kwantung Army's guns on horseback was hung with a white cloth that was as red as dog blood, which was particularly dazzling in the dazzling white snow. Five days ago, the Japanese Kwantung Army's Tasaka Shosa led more than 200 cavalry to occupy Gucheng again with the cooperation of the Manchurian Army, and they went south along the Gu River, and three days ago, they occupied Dongliu, the largest town in the upper reaches of the Gu River, and established a police station. Although the snow is deep and slippery along the way, there is no resistance, and it looks leisurely like a scenic spot. When crossing the river from the Three Rivers, because the Gu River was not yet frozen, Ishii, the leader of the Kwantung Army who started the river, almost fell into the ice cave, and he gave Zhang Decheng two big mouths when he got off his horse. This Zhang Decheng was once a policeman of the Gucheng Police Station in the Republic of China, and he used to come to Hexi to eat and drink, and he was very familiar with the Gu family. The last time Gu Yuxi went to Gucheng to buy a big gun just in time for them to go out and pick up the big gang, the two people had not seen each other for several years. Zhang Decheng entered Hexi with a group of people and horses, and was the first to knock on the door of the Gu family. "Gu Yuxi, open the door!" Gu Yuxi was sitting on the kang drinking tea, when he heard someone calling his name, he quickly put on his shoes and ran out to open the door, "Oops! Brother Zhang, you are coming with such a heavy snow! Fast-forward to the house. ”

Zhang Decheng rushed behind Nunu's mouth, Gu Yuxi was startled, and people in military uniforms occupied half the street. A dozen people in front of them rode big horses, and the people lined up on the snow behind the horses were all carrying big guns and one yard of yellow army fur hats, and Gu Yuxi saw this dress for the first time. Just stunned, Zhang Decheng whispered, "You have a ball, hurry up and give the imperial army a horse." Gu Yuxi shouted into the courtyard: "Zhang Hongshun and Open Teeth are coming out, guests are coming!" After saying a few steps, he ran out of the courtyard door and bowed to the small man riding on the horse and nodding his head. The little man on the horse just smiled at him and nodded. Yang Huoyazi in this kung fu horse shed ran out first, and Gu Yuxi turned back to him and shouted, "Go and clean the snow duster on the lower horse stone." As he spoke, he stepped forward to lead the small man's horse's head. Yang Huozi came out and took nothing in his hand, and in a panic, zhang used his torn cotton jacket sleeve to dust the snow on the stone to the ground. Gu Yuxi handed the head of the horse cage to Yang Huoyazi and stepped forward to help the little man off the horse. The little man came down and bowed deeply to Gu Yuxi, "Please take more care!" ”。 Zhang Decheng ran over to Gu Yuxi and introduced him, "This is Captain Ishii of the Kwantung Army. Gu Yuxi replied, "Oh, it turned out to be the Kwantung Army, I said that it was different from the national army I had seen dressed up!" "This is Captain Sun of the Manchurian Army," Zhang Decheng then introduced to Gu Yuxi the man who ran behind him and hung a box gun around his waist. ah! Isn't this the Sun Fucai brothers? It was really a big water that washed away the Dragon King Temple. Zhang Hongshun, who was sleeping with the widow in the backyard quilt, also ran out, just in time to see Sun Fucai, who was saluting Gu Yuxi, and pounced on it, "Brother, why are you here?" Why would it be you? "Let Taijun enter the house first, and we will talk slowly." Gu Yuxi whispered to Zhang Decheng, "What are these soldiers on the street doing?" "You don't have to worry about this, just find a leeward place, they have tents." "Zhang Hongshun, you quickly take these Taijun to the courtyard." Opened his teeth and fed the Imperial Army's Marama Shed. After saying that, Gu Yuxi led the squad leader named Shijing, Zhang Decheng, and a person who did not wear military uniforms into the courtyard, and Zhang Hongshun took Sun Fucai and a group of soldiers to the courtyard. Entering the courtyard, Gu Yuxi rushed to the stove room and shouted, "Mother Yang, hurry up and zhang Luo rice!" ”

A group of people and horses arrived in Hexi and stationed, and after Gu Yuxi ran forward, he slaughtered pigs and sheep and was busy entertaining.

There was not enough food to eat in the building, and the digging kiln and burning bricks and tiles still had to occupy the land of the ancient family, and the next day, Hei Wanfu had to walk down the mountain with a hard scalp and felt shoes on a half-foot thick snow. "Isn't the family at home?" Before entering the gate, Hei Wanfu shouted loudly. Gu Yuxi was chatting with Captain Ishii on a chair, when he heard a shout and quickly greeted him, "Brother Wanfu, why did you come down with this heavy snow?" Hei Wanfu stepped into the threshold of the hall and was stunned, the person in front of him was not the head of the Kwantung Army who smiled and bowed to himself that night! Ishii was not impressed to continue to sit in a chair and drink tea, "Taijun, how did you get here?" Hei Wanfu also bowed with his fist in his hand. Gu Yuxi hurriedly introduced, "Taijun, this is my family." Ishii didn't seem to understand, and the translator who was not wearing a military uniform next to him muttered a few words in Ishii's ear, and Ishii stood up and smiled, stood up and bowed deeply to Hei Wanfu." Welcome to the family! "Taijun, you don't know me anymore?" Fengkang, Tuchengzi, work at night? What did Ishii seem to remember? Also learned Hei Wanfu to hold his fist and fist "Lucky meeting! Lucky! Don't work, look for children," the two men laughed. Standing in front of KuroManfu was a small Japanese man who patrolled the night to fengkang tuchengzi at night. Hei Wanfu suddenly remembered what Li Ziming said, "The Japanese are smiling tigers, they are big gangs who laugh at robbery, and they must not be traitors." The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. Gu Yuxi next to him was very surprised, "So you two know each other?" "Know, know, the Chinese language is called no fight, no deal." Ishii finished speaking and laughed. Ishii was very interesting, and said to Gu Yuxi, "My camp work, the family chat", after saying that, he turned around and bowed to Hei Wanfu, and took the translator out of the door. Gu Yuxi was very curious, dragging Hei Wanfu, "Big Brother Wanfu, how do you know Captain Ishii?" "Hei Wanfu told Gu Yuxi about going to Fengkang to find the fourth elder to meet him at night, and Ishii bowed to him, and then told Gu Yuxi what Li Ziming said." Whether it's Japanese or Manchurian, as long as it doesn't rob me, it's a good person. Don't listen to his grin. This Japanese came yesterday, unlike those officials and masters of the Republic of China, who were polite to me! People are helping us build a paradise of kings. "Let's not talk about this, I'm going to come down to you today." Hei Wanfu diverged from the topic. "Brother Wanfu, we are all pro-family, and if you have a child, you can say it directly." Hei Wanfu told Gu Yuxi about the lack of food for building a house and the need to occupy the skin for digging a kiln. Gu Yuxi thought about it and said, "This grain matter is easy to say, I will give you ten buckets of millet first." This brick kiln you first find a place, now the Kwantung Army came to the big gang also stopped, Zhang Hongshun originally came to give me a nursing home, now there is nothing to do, eat idle food here. We dug up the kiln one by one, you burn the bricks and tiles first, and when your house is built, you will give Zhang Hongshun a handiwork, let him learn a craft by himself, and I will support him in the province. What do you think? "The grain gu yuxi happily agreed, the brick kiln gu yuxi has its own plans, and Hei Wanfu can no longer compete with gu yuxi for anything." All right! Dear family, just do as you say! "Gu Yuxi has his own small calculation, there are no brick kilns in this radius of thirty or fifty miles, and it is indispensable to build houses in the days of peace, and inadvertently Hei Wanfu has brought himself an industry." Before leaving, Hei Wanfu also instructed Gu Yuxi, "Dear family, you have more eyes and minds, you can cope with it, and it is better for the Japanese to fight less." "Rest assured! I have a number in mind. "Gu Yuxi was a little impatient, thinking that I had seen more of the world than you, and you knew a little."

After Hei Wanfu left, Ishii asked Gu Yuxi to inform the retail households living in Hedong and the surrounding ditches and forks that tomorrow morning they would come to a meeting under the neem trees in Hexi, and the family masters must participate.

The next morning, almost all the men in charge of the five villages around them came, and gathered three or five hundred people under the neem tree, and the black pressure was pressed, and the Kwantung Army and the Manchurian Army stood around with large guns in their hands. Ishii stood on the table, bowed deeply to the crowd first, and then said loudly: "I am The commander of the Manchukuo dispatch army, Ishii, and I declare: From now on, this place will be under the jurisdiction of Rehe Fengkang County of Manchukuo, and within ten miles around Hexi will be under the jurisdiction of Hexi." Gu Yuxi served as the chief of the jia and was responsible for supporting the officials and managing the civil affairs, and Zhang Hongshun was appointed as the head of the tribal maintenance regiment responsible for maintaining order. We are here to establish a paradise of the royal road, to coexist and prosper, and to kill all anti-Manchu and anti-Japanese elements! Now flags and guns! Gu Yuxi stood at the table, took the Manchukuo flag and the Japanese sun flag in Ishii's hand, and bowed to everyone. Zhang Hongshun stepped forward, took the large gun in Ishii's hand and a leather hat with a yellow five-pointed star, and bowed to Ishii. Then Zhang Hongshun named the big gun at The foot of The Stone Well and handed it to the five regiments he had selected in advance. Sun Fucai, the Manchurian army standing nearby, raised his fist and shouted, "Long live Manchukuo!" Long live the Imperial Japanese Army! "It's a little embarrassing that there are so few people who respond.

The frozen Gu River is covered with thick snow, and the water of the Gu River emits a weak wail under the ice.

Ishii left Hexi with a group of men and horses, and continued along the Gu River in the direction of Qianjiazhuang, Guhekou, Dachuan, and Pearl Valley, with horseshoes and large leather shoes "creaking and creaking" on the snow.

Gu Yuxi hung two flags from Ishii on either side of the door, and Zhang Hongshun wore a leather hat given by the Japanese, carried a large gun, and walked on the street with five regiments to show off his might.