Early in the morning, Bian City had already returned to its usual peaceful and leisurely state, but it was no longer as bustling and noisy as before. Other than the patrolling Mohist army soldiers, the streets were empty. There were no noisy people or vendors, no open shops or restaurants on both sides of the street. The huge Bian City seemed incomparably quiet and empty.
Mo Xiuyao had been invited to the study by Zhang Qilan and the others early in the morning. Ye Li took advantage of the free time to take Zhuo Jing, Lin Han, and Qin Feng to walk around the city. Looking at the empty streets, she was silent for a moment before asking, "Yesterday, those people on the execution ground …" Qin Feng and the others looked at each other. Qin Feng said, "Reporting to wangfei, Prince has ordered all the citizens to be expelled from Bian City."
Hearing this, Ye Li let out a sigh of relief. No matter what, it was good that the city wasn't massacred.
"Expelled from Bian City? Where did those people go? "Ye Li asked after thinking about it. Qin Feng said, "They managed to keep their lives, so it's good to go anywhere. But … Lei Tengfeng's army has been defeated and only twenty to thirty thousand people are retreating to the west. Those citizens are also going in that direction. I'm afraid that many of them will be incorporated into Lei Tengfeng's army. When the time comes, when they go to the battlefield … "
Ye Li said lightly, "When they go to the battlefield, they are the enemy. Spread the news that Long Yang used Da Chu State's citizens as meat shields at the top of Bian City. It doesn't matter if the news is exaggerated. " The three looked at Ye Li in confusion. Ye Li said, "The matter of the prisoners and the Prince wanting to kill the citizens cannot be hidden. With this reason, it will be better for the Prince and the Mohist army's reputation. " Once the news of Long Yang using Da Chu State's citizens as meat shields spread, Mo Xiuyao's actions would be easier to understand. Whether it was revenge or a moment of anger, it was fine. It was easy for people to overlook Mo Xiuyao's actions. Besides, Prince Ding didn't massacre the entire city in the end.
Zhuo Jing answered and went to handle the matter. Ye Li continued to walk forward with Qin Feng and Lin Han. "Where is Long Yang?"
Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, then said, "It's in the prison on the west side of the city. Prince ordered a large number of soldiers to guard it."
"Let's go take a look," Ye Li said softly.
Mo Xiuyao really hated Long Yang. The place where Long Yang was locked up was not a sturdy prison. Instead, it was a small building facing the execution ground in the western part of the city. From the window of the small building, one could see the execution ground outside the city. No one knew how many people had been killed in the execution ground outside the city last night. But Long Yang definitely knew, because he was forced to watch the captives die one by one from the beginning to the end. Even after the execution, Mo Xiuyao found him a prison cell that didn't face the execution ground. The smell of blood from the execution ground could probably be smelled all night.
The soldiers guarding the building didn't stop Ye Li. Ye Li waved her hand to stop the others from following. Only Qin Feng and Lin Han stepped into the small building. They hadn't seen each other for one night, but Long Yang was completely different from yesterday. Long Yang, who was already seventy years old, finally bent his back, which was still healthy and strong, down. The frown on his face had deepened overnight. At a glance, it was as if he had aged more than ten years. His sparse white hair was scattered messily on his head. His old, turbid eyes were dim and lifeless.
Anyone could see that Long Yang was in great pain. His pain had nothing to do with his body. It was his heart that was tormented by guilt and regret. He was already an old man in his seventies. He was no longer as cold-hearted and murderous as he was when he was young. Seeing the soldiers of Xiling die one by one because of his mistakes, he hated that he couldn't take their place.
"Cough cough … … Princess Ding?" Hearing the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs, Long Yang turned around with some difficulty. He saw a young woman standing at the top of the stairs. A beautiful woman in a green dress. She didn't have the aura of pearls and jade, nor did she have the grace and nobility of brocade. Her beautiful face was calm, but there was a kind of majesty that ordinary ladies and noblewomen couldn't compare to. Long Yang didn't expect that the world famous Princess Ding would be a young woman who wasn't even twenty years old. But in a place like Bian City, a woman who could come and go freely and with such an aura could only be the King's Consort.
Ye Li nodded and said softly, "General Long Yang, nice to meet you."
Long Yang smiled bitterly, "How can it be nice to meet a defeated general? Yesterday … … thank you for saving the lives of the people of Bian City. "
"I didn't do it for the people of Bian City." Ye Li walked to a chair not far from Long Yang and sat down. Long Yang shook his head and said, "No matter what, it's a fact that Consort saved them. This old man … … Old Madame is muddle-headed and almost killed these innocent people. This old man naturally has to thank Consort. "Saying this, Long Yang stood up and bowed to Ye Li. He was already a person who was about to die, so he didn't care much about fame and fortune. He didn't feel that it was shameful to bow to a young woman in her early twenties.
Ye Li was startled. She glanced at Qin Feng and Zhuo Jing who were standing to the side. The two of them hurriedly came forward and helped Long Yang to his left and right, sending him back to the chair he had been sitting in. Long Yang sat down to catch his breath. Then he looked at Ye Li and said, "For Consort to come at this time, is there something you want to say to this old man?" Long Yang's spirit and physical strength were very poor. Not only was he tired and tired these days, but he also spent the whole night looking out of the window at the execution ground. This seventy year old man was exhausted to the extreme. Even if the Mohist army didn't hurt Long Yang and didn't even eat the slightest bit of food, Long Yang's face and body still became extremely weak.
Ye Li nodded and pondered for a moment before saying, "General Zhu Yan and Zhu Ling have died in the battle."
Long Yang smiled helplessly and said, "This … … I have already expected this. Zhu Yan has been copying people's hearts all his life. After twenty years of suffocation, it's a good thing for him to die on the battlefield. He is luckier than me. It's just a pity for Zhu Ling … … That boy was thrown into the Jingguo army by his grandfather when he was just ten years old. After more than ten years of hard work, he took over the command of the Jingguo army, but I didn't expect … … "Shaking his head and sighing, Long Yang looked at Ye Li and said," I heard that Consort defeated Lei Tengfeng's hundreds of thousands of troops by yourself. We thought that Lei Tengfeng was used to being arrogant, so he was defeated. Now it seems that I am the arrogant one. Consort is no worse than a famous general. Just … … I admire you for being able to find the Jingguo army in just a few days. "
"It's just a small trick. General, you flatter me."
After a moment of silence in the small building, Long Yang asked, "How did Zhu Yan die?"
"General Zhu … … died for his country after the city was broken." Ye Li whispered.
"Well … … He died for a good reason." Long Yang nodded. Looking at Ye Li, he said, "In fact, even if Consort didn't come today, I still wanted to see Consort." Ye Li said in a low voice, "General Long Yang, if you have anything to say, just say it." Long Yang sighed and looked out of the window at the empty execution ground not far away. He said, "Consort must have heard that when I was young, I was also a cruel and merciless person who killed without blinking an eye." Ye Li nodded and said, "Yes, General Long Yang's name is not only famous in the Western Region, but also in the Central Plains."
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