In the dark night, birds spread their wings and flew across the night sky. Under the half-moon, the mountains rose and fell. Under the starlight, the waterways were like white ribbons scattered on the ground. They were also like hair and tree roots, spreading along with the terrain. The only traces left by humans in the darkness were spots of fire. Sometimes they gathered, and sometimes they were scattered.
In the early morning of the ninth day of the New Year, it had been five days since Hangzhou fell. The initial chaos caused by the great chaos finally had a relatively clear track. The lights at night were centered around Hangzhou. After the fall, they spread out in all directions. At first, they were restless and dense. At this time, the track gradually turned into waves. After the initial brilliance, the fire in Hangzhou gradually calmed down.
Blood, killing, and death. In the first four days, the streets of the city were almost dyed red. However, after the initial craziness, everything would eventually calm down. It was time to wash away the bloodstains. During the four days of killing and looting, it was impossible to describe how much blood had been spilled. Many rich merchants, aristocrats, and officials who had not escaped the city in time were hunted down and killed. Almost all of them were slaughtered. Even the common people did not escape. Many people were killed in the "suspected" resistance. Many women were raped. After the initial resistance was killed, the survivors basically became numb. They let the "revolutionary army" from different places occupy their territory.
Only a few people with family backgrounds became exceptions.
There was a large mansion not far from the Hangzhou government. It was originally the mansion of the Chang family, one of the four big families in Hangzhou. Although it was damaged in the earthquake, it was not serious. After that, it was repaired. At this time, it was not long after midnight. The mansion was brightly lit. A banquet was coming to an end. At the gate of the mansion, the host sent a large group of people to the street. They greeted and sent them off one by one.
Normally, in the chaotic Hangzhou City at this time, those who could hold a banquet were basically the leaders of the Revolutionary Army who had entered the city. However, at this time, the guests were not from the Revolutionary Army. The guests all seemed to be dressed in simple clothes, and they were all submissive. As the host, the middle-aged man and the attendants around him were quite dignified. This middle-aged man was Fang Qisfo, Fang La's most valued brother in Hangzhou City. People called him the Buddhist Marshal. The people he sent away were mostly the rich merchants of Hangzhou City and some officials who had surrendered to Fang La. Among the crowd, there was also the figure of Lou Jinlin, the head of the Lou family.
As one of the big families in Hangzhou, the Lou family had not contacted Fang La before. Fang Qizo found him the night before the city fell. Because the Lou family had a variety of businesses and had contact with people from all walks of life, Fang La used some connections to move him. At that time, his answer was not firm. However, because he was harassed by Qian Haiping's people, he was angry and did not refuse.
Therefore, on the second day when the city fell, he cooperated with Fang La's army, who was unfamiliar with the situation, to check all kinds of supplies in Hangzhou. After that, he became a guest of honor in Fang La's army. Now that the Qian, Mu, Tang, and Chang families had left, if Fang La could really sit in Hangzhou, the Lou family would almost retain all the capital and become the current top aristocratic family in Hangzhou.
Of course, Fang La sitting in Hangzhou might not be stable. The future was not optimistic. But at this time, he could only comfort himself with this reason.
In fact, the surviving people in Hangzhou knew each other more or less or had heard of each other's names. Some of them secretly colluded with Fang La from the beginning, and some were later persuaded to join. In Fang La's new regime at this time, they might become the first batch of native nobles. But except for those who firmly joined Fang La's camp from the beginning, the rest of the people were more or less perturbed. They did not talk to each other casually and only left after respectfully bidding farewell to Fang La's Seven Buddhas.
To this group of people, Fang Qizo's attitude was gentle and amiable. He was nearly 40 years old this year. He was tall and had excellent martial arts skills. When he was a general, he killed countless enemies. But when he was a counselor, he had a steady and reserved side. There were countless arrogant people in Fang La's army. For example, Shi Bao was crazy, Deng Yuanjue was a little crazy, Li Tianrun was calm but arrogant, and Si Xing Fang was fierce. These people had their own skills, but in front of Fang Qizo, they were extremely respectful. Even the moody girl who called herself Liu Dabiao and the scheming Wang Yin, who was also good at both literature and martial arts, usually listened to his orders and did not say too much when facing him.
At this time, he sent away the people who participated in the banquet, turned around and walked back. A young man followed behind him. "Master, you value them so much, but in my opinion, they may not like it. Many of them are depressed. I'm afraid they think our business this time won't last long. In my opinion, those who are not really loyal to us should be killed … and we can make a lot of money. "
Perhaps he was already used to this disciple's tone, Fang Qinfo just glanced at him indifferently and was not very angry. He smiled faintly and said, "Chen Fan, we have already occupied Hangzhou now. You have to change this kind of bandit habit. What business this time? What big money? Sheng Gong is going to be the emperor, and you will at least be a general in the future. Don't always be greedy for small advantages. "
"Tut, master, it is always more interesting to be greedy for small advantages. Those emperors, generals and so on, it gives me a headache just thinking about them …"
The young man named Chen Fan looked a little mischievous, but Fang Qizo did not care. He just said as he walked, "Hangzhou is the hub of Jiangnan. Sheng Gong is going to be the emperor, and Hangzhou is the capital. Such an important place can't really be destroyed. Now the autumn harvest is coming, and the rice is going to be harvested. We need manpower. In the future, this city will be built, and there must be rules and business. Moreover, to be the emperor, there must be someone to support the scene. These things are not good with the people who entered the city like us. They only know how to burn and rob. Now that this is our own home, we should restrain ourselves. "
Fang Qizo sighed. "They know what we don't know. It doesn't matter if they are unhappy now. As long as they are willing to work, I will give them status and power. They will like it … Since we have occupied Hangzhou, we will attack Jiaxing in a few days. Before that, I have to arrange these things. I will leave in a few days. You stay here and protect them from being harassed. Do you remember this? "
"Master, I want to follow you to attack Jiaxing. I don't understand these things. Why don't you leave General Wang or An Xifu behind and exchange me? It's okay if I go to Huzhou …"
"It's not that you don't understand, you are just too lazy to think about it. Otherwise, why would you mention them … Right now, Wang Yin is in charge of the situation in the South, and An Xifu is going north to Huzhou. It's best if you stay. You are my disciple, and you are unreasonable enough. "
"I'm not being unreasonable. I think I can exchange An Xifu back. Taking a step back, isn't that girl from the Tyrannical Blade Family even more unreasonable than me? I can also exchange her back."
"The people who went north to Huzhou are a mess. They are a mix of good and bad people. Sending them over is to let them disturb Huzhou and also give them a chance to plunder. Xi Fu is going with them to be able to control this group of people when necessary. Do you know that Lu She and Yao Yi almost fought at noon today? Luckily, An Xifu arrived with the Black Feather Guards in time and calmed the matter down. If it were you, I am afraid you would have already added to the chaos … As for Ba Dao, where has she been these days? "
Chen Fan tilted his head and scratched his eyebrows. "A few days ago … when the city was in chaos, she was on the streets and gave out steamed buns to those people. She didn't allow us to kill people. Yesterday, she also went north. I heard that she and her subordinates were looking for a person called Ning Liheng. The person who tricked her and General Shi and killed Gou Zheng and the others? Anyway, I feel that this girl is quite free … "
Fang Qifo frowned and thought for a while. "On the day the city was breached, most people fled north. I heard that Ning Liheng had contacted many people before and fought their way north together. Today, Yao Yi and the others also seemed to have their eyes on a group of people fleeing. Could he be among them?"
"Teacher, do you want me to chase after them and warn them? Obviously, that Ning Liheng is very powerful. I can exchange Liu Dabiao and the others back? "
"What's there to warn? Even if there is an army among the fleeing people, they have already become exhausted soldiers. That Ning Liheng only had his way for a while. What can he do in this matter alone … As for you wanting to exchange Liu Dabiao back, go and tell her yourself. As long as you can make it clear to her and let her come back to maintain the situation in the city, I will allow you to go north. "
"Teacher, then you have to give her an order …" Chen Fan said with his head tilted. But Fang Qifo waved his hand and didn't stop walking. After waiting for a while, he shouted angrily, "But I also can't maintain the situation in the city. You … teacher, aren't you making things difficult for me? I want to go to war!"
*****
Piles of bonfires dimmed and extinguished. The camp had already entered a period of rest.
The small camp located on the top of the mountain was not organized neatly. There were no fences, not many guards patrolling, and there were few tents. The tired soldiers held all kinds of weapons and slept around the bonfires in the wilderness. Although there were all kinds of mosquitoes biting them, they were all drowsy.
Lu Sheo was sleeping in the tent — actually, he wasn't asleep. He lay on the bed and gnawed on half a roast chicken, looking at the ceiling and occasionally spitting out bones.
"Damn it …"
What he was unhappy about was the inexplicable anger he had felt earlier in the day. A few of his brothers had been beaten up, and they had been ambushed in the valley. Yet that Yao Yi still insisted that he was the one who ambushed him!
Truly, if you wish to incriminate someone, you can always find a pretext. This was too uncomfortable …
Although their main duty in heading north this time was to disrupt Hu State so that Hu State couldn't take care of Jiaxing and Hangzhou, their main mission wasn't actually that important. At the moment, on the northwest side, the real force that could help Hu State or Jiaxing was Kang Fangting's Wuchu Camp. But ever since Fang La took Hangzhou, Wuchu Camp had been pinned down by Fang La's sister, Fang Baihua, in the northwest. As long as Fang Baihua didn't lose, Hu State's meager military force would be powerless against either side.
Encountering such an unexpected disaster in this kind of easy task of murder and robbery, he originally wanted to fight back no matter what, but he naturally didn't succeed in the end. After the black military law team arrived, both sides were silenced.
Most of Fang La's troops were made up of refugees who had no home to return to. Some of them didn't even have weapons. For example, Lu Qiao had been recruited from his hometown, Tong County. After he joined the Saint Duke Army, he was given a mountain and an organization. However, there were still a few truly elite troops.
Putting aside the troops under Fang Qfo and the others, in order to prevent the situation of fleeing on the battlefield from getting too serious, the military law team established by Fang Baihua was indeed a hundred percent elite. Among them were black-clothed and ruthless people who killed people like scything flax. In several battles, when the front row was defeated, the rear row's heads fell in batches. The current leader of this team was a young man named An Xifu. He had a quiet and bookish air, but it had to be said that Lu Qiao felt a little guilty when he saw him.
It had to be said that in the current Revolutionary Army, everyone who participated basically felt like they were messing around. Whoever had the bigger fist was feared by others. Lu Qiao naturally couldn't afford to offend Deng Yuanjue, Shi Bao, Si Xingfang, or the Black Feather Guards, but he followed Li Tianrun. He could afford to offend Si Xingfang's subordinate, Yao Yi. He was naturally unhappy today and couldn't sleep at this time, so he cursed in his heart.
He was venting in his heart when he suddenly heard a small commotion outside the tent. He was startled and wondered if Yao Yi had come to cause trouble again. Da Dao lifted the curtain and went out. But just as he left the tent, he saw a group of people passing through the camp and coming towards him. The person in front was petite, but it was a young girl wearing a dress and a black veil bamboo hat. Behind her was a tall and large person who carried a box on his back. Following that, there was also a group of people whose silhouettes could be vaguely seen walking over. These people's footsteps disturbed the bonfire along the way, causing specks of light to sweep up in the air. Lu Qiao thought about the background of this group of people in front of him, but when he reacted, he was stunned.
The young girl took out a token and waved it. Lu Qiao hurriedly saluted, but before he could speak, the middle-aged man carrying the box spoke first. "General Lu, no need to be so polite. We're here to find a scholar named Ning Liheng. He might be among the fleeing troops heading north. Has General Lu heard of him?"
Lu Qiao was stunned. "I-I don't know …"
"You must have caught a few people on your way here. Where are they being held? Take us there to interrogate them, okay?"
There were people fleeing in all directions. Along the way, they had definitely caught some people. Some were killed and robbed, and some were captured for interrogation. Lu Qiao hurriedly nodded and then led the group over. Looking from afar, there were dark shadows in the mountains. It seemed like there were more people lying in ambush. After he brought the people over, the young girl and the others didn't need him to stand guard, so he turned back and sat by the bonfire to look in that direction.
He wasn't familiar with the group in front of him and had only heard of them. It was the Tyrant's Blade Camp led by the famous Liu Dabiaozi of the southwest martial arts world. This Liu Dabiaozi was a hero of the martial arts world, not a mountain bandit. He was just friends with Fang La and cooperated with Fang La during the uprising. Like the Black Feather Guards, he was an elite of the volunteer army.
Of course, compared to the Black Feather Guards' reputation of killing people, the Tyrant's Saber Camp was due to Liu Dabiaozi's fame. It was said that this person wielded a saber and rarely had a match in the Jiangnan martial arts world. He was a hero who was eight feet tall and had a waist circumference of eight feet. Among the volunteer army, there were few who could compare to him.
When Lu Qiao first joined the volunteer army, he admired this Liu Dabiaozi greatly. But as his position in the volunteer army grew, he realized that although he could occasionally see the soldiers in the Tyrant's Saber Camp, he had never seen Liu Dabiaozi in person. This person didn't seem to participate in the various struggles for power and wealth in the volunteer army. He was mysterious and domineering in his actions. But later, Lu Qiao faintly heard that Liu Dabiaozi had died a few years ago. Now, the one giving orders on his behalf was Liu Dabiaozi's daughter, but she still stubbornly insisted that people call her Liu Dabiaozi. It seemed that she wanted her father's name to be passed on. When he first heard this, he found it funny. But later, he realized that the atmosphere was not right.
It was said that although Liu Dabiaozi's daughter had an eccentric personality, she was extremely skilled in martial arts. Among the higher-ups of the volunteer army, almost no one dared to make fun of Liu Dabiaozi because she had already fought many times with the higher-ups. The woman's body was thin, but she used the firm and fierce Tyrant's Saber in a different way. It was said that even Shi Bao and Wang Yin, who were the most skilled in martial arts in the army, might not be able to defeat her. It was said that Fang Qifo's disciple, Chen Fan, had the power to uproot a weeping willow and was like an Asura on the battlefield. But it was said that when he fought Liu Dabiaozi, it was a draw.
Lu Qiao wasn't sure if there were other reasons for this, but those who fought to a draw were able to live. It was said that there were many people in the army who were killed by Liu Dabiaozi. Although people rarely saw the woman after that, they didn't dare to call her anything other than Liu Dabiaozi. Over time, the rumors spread like wildfire. Today was the first time he saw her. He didn't feel much of a domineering aura, but at least he didn't show any disrespect.
After a while, the other side probably finished interrogating and came over again. The girl nodded slightly at him in thanks, and he hurriedly returned the gesture. The middle-aged man behind him said, "We've asked about it, but there's no answer. We just came from General Xue Dounan's side. General Yao should be nearby, have you seen us?"
This group was actually quite polite. When Lu Qiao heard the question, he realized that the girl's group was asking about the people heading north. He hurriedly nodded. "Of course I've seen them. Yao Yi, their team should be on the other side of the mountain. Just head west. Oh, there's also the Black Feather Guards, led by Mr An. They've probably already gone ahead. "
"Many thanks." When these people heard this, they turned to leave and walked into the darkness. After a few steps, Lu Qiao saw the girl turn back and speak. This was the first time he heard her voice. It was a little cold, but also pleasant to the ear. "We're looking for someone called Ning Liheng. General Lu, if you encounter any fugitives tomorrow, please help us ask them. Thank you."
"Uh … of course, of course. No problem."
When Lu Qiao finished speaking, he watched as the people left in the darkness and let out a sigh of relief. He felt that these people were quite easy to get along with. But soon after, he felt that this might be the aura of a powerful person. It would be best if they went to Yao Yi's side and taught him a lesson. That would be the best …
*****
At the same time, our gazes moved further north. In the valley where many of the fugitives were camped, there was a bonfire burning. In the darkness on this side, Chan 'er was currently hugging her knees as she sat down on the grass. Her gaze was slightly sorrowful as she looked at the figure beside the distant bonfire. Meanwhile, another female figure was currently carrying a cup of water as she walked over there.
There were some things she didn't understand. Even if she understood a little, she still didn't understand them.
In the morning, son-in-law's hand was diagnosed with a critical injury, and the doctor performed first aid. When she, Juan 'er, Sister Xing' er, and the others were forced to join the Young Miss, she was so sad that she wanted to cry. But it wasn't the time to cry, so she held it in.
In the afternoon, son-in-law and the Young Miss caught up, which made her very happy. But on the way here, she asked around and found out that son-in-law's injury was very serious. But as soon as they arrived, son-in-law started doing all sorts of things. He ran around to persuade the rich merchants to use their gold and silver as bait. He summoned the veterans and hunters to ask about all sorts of things. Until night fell, these things didn't stop. son-in-law kept asking questions by the bonfire. Occasionally, he would think and take a walk. Most of the time, he was just writing and drawing on the map.
Injuries would slow down a person's thinking, and son-in-law's condition didn't seem ideal either. But from start to finish, he didn't stop. Occasionally, he would ask the Young Miss for her opinion. Even after the people he asked had fallen asleep, he was still writing and thinking.
It wasn't that she didn't understand son-in-law's intentions, but something kept beating at her heart: son-in-law's injury is too serious, son-in-law won't be able to hold on …
She wanted to go over and persuade him, but she couldn't muster up the courage. This time, the Young Miss also didn't persuade son-in-law. She followed and watched from the side. Most of the time, she didn't speak. Perhaps it was because the husband and the wife cooperated. She was very envious of the intimate relationship between the Young Miss and son-in-law, but … son-in-law won't be able to hold on …
Just now, she brought a cup of water over. She almost wanted to muster up the courage to overstep her duty as a maidservant and persuade son-in-law to stop for a while, but the Young Miss who passed by took the cup of water. Perhaps it was because she saw the expression on her face, the Young Miss shook her head slightly and hugged her. Then, she brought the cup of water over for her. She came back here and didn't have the mood to sleep. When she saw the Young Miss and son-in-law sitting side by side, she hugged her knees and pressed her lips on her knees. Then, she started to cry in a low and suppressed voice …
The fire exploded, and a cloud of light rose. In the light, Ning Yi raised his head and thought carefully. Then, he lowered his head and continued to write and draw on the paper. The night might be very long …
*****
That night, Ning Yi finally slept. When he woke up the next day, he continued with the plans and deductions from the day before. The refugees broke camp and changed direction. He continued to think on the horse. Sometimes, he would discuss with Su Tan'er and pass the things he thought of to Su Tan'er to look over. Along the way, he also asked various people. It wasn't until the evening that he finally passed a rough idea to Chen Xingdou. Some of the details still needed to be modified by those who truly understood the military. Perhaps in the end, it wouldn't be accepted. But for now, this was all he could do.
While a portion of the people were discussing in the tents that had just been set up, Ning Yi and Su Tan'er rode a horse towards a nearby hill. On the other side of the hill was a winding waterway. The sun was setting in the west. The sunlight shone on the mountain and the water, shining golden light. The foot of the mountain was sparkling, and beautiful wildflowers bloomed on the hillside.
Ning Yi got off the horse and reached out to help Su Tan'er down. Then, although he managed to save his wife, he staggered a few steps back and the two of them fell on the grassy slope. Ning Yi still had some strength at this time. Although he fell, it wasn't too much of a shock to Su Tan'er. Then, the two of them lay there and laughed softly.
Looking up, it was the evening of the ninth day of the New Year. A flock of geese flew across the sky. The clouds on this day were very good, like pure white cotton. Ning Yi opened his arms. Su Tan'er gently covered her stomach with her hand, like two children.
The two children lay there for a long time before someone spoke …
*****
It was another six thousand words. He hated himself a little. It would have been better if he had posted it a few days earlier. But it didn't matter. I don't know if everyone has a new chapter of monthly votes today. Anyway, there won't be double this month … please get monthly votes!!!
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