On the eleventh day of the seventh month in the ninth year of Jinghan, at the border between Huzhou and Hangzhou, after noon, the sky was filled with dark clouds that seemed to turn the world into the afternoon. Thunder and rain gathered. In the camp, the thousands of Wu De Camp soldiers began to gather towards the open space.
Unease pervaded the crowd. Over at the main tent, the high-ranking officers and gentry who could participate in the escape were arguing fiercely in this gloomy atmosphere. There were also those with relatively violent personalities who looked like they wanted to fight, but were then stopped by the people around them.
It was not just here. The news that Lu Qiao's army had discovered the direction in which everyone was hiding and was now heading in this direction had gradually spread to the army. At this time, the commoners had also heard a little, but chaos did not immediately break out. Because if this was true, no one would be able to make a rash decision right now. Behind them were the rivers and lakes that were about to rain. If they went forward, they would be walking right into a trap. No one knew where to run to.
Some people were confirming whether the matter was true or not, while others were searching for people they knew and asking for countermeasures. On the side of the main tent, all kinds of people were paying the most attention. Tang Xiuxuan, Qian Haiping, Chen Xingdu, the sickly young scholar Ning Liheng, and even more people who were once talented and famous in Hangzhou, people with official titles, were all closely watched by everyone.
Ning Yi would occasionally speak to a few people. The person he spoke the most was probably Tang Xiuxuan. As one of the heads of the four noble families, this old man still had the highest status and the most connections. The Wu Dynasty had valued the civil and military for many years. Even Chen Xingdu could not neglect the true gentry at this time. Tang Xiuxuan and Ning Yi spoke for a long time. Finally, he furrowed his brows, looked deeply at Ning Yi, and nodded.
"When we were in Hangzhou, Duke Xiwen thought very highly of you … now that things have come to this, I can only listen to you. Go, take care of yourself. "
As he spoke, a general was about to charge angrily at Ning Yi, but he was separated by someone. Tang Xiuxuan glanced at him, shook his head, and turned to leave with his walking stick. The general cursed as he was pulled away. Ning Yi didn't look at him. He was supported by Su Tan 'er as they walked to the other side. Although he was very tired, he still had some things to do.
During this time, the troops led by Yao Yi were moving towards the south without stopping. Further north, the Black Feather Guards turned around and rushed towards them at full speed. Under the sky, on the northeast side of this large battlefield, across the river, a woman called Liu Qianqian, nicknamed Liu Watermelon, was leading a group of Tyrant's Blade Camp to outflank the north side of Shiqiao Ferry. She was not in a hurry. She was just waiting for Lu Qiao and the others to defeat the fleeing troops somewhere in the north, and then she would receive the military advisor she had her eyes on.
When Ning Yi resisted the dizziness and went to the open space where the Wu De Camp soldiers were gathered, there were already several sounds of uproar in the distance. Vaguely, Chen Xingdu was speaking, telling the soldiers the entire situation they were facing in full detail.
It was a patch of grass. At this time, it already looked like a small drill ground. In front of it was a simple platform. The wind was not strong. When Ning Yi went up from the side, half of the people looked towards him. Su Tan 'er did not follow. It was not suitable for her to go up and support him in such a place. On the platform, there was also Tang Xiuxuan, Qian Haiping, as well as some of the Hangzhou officials and gentry. When they saw the frail Ning Yi, they were more or less resentful. However, they did not show it too much. They only stared at him, and some turned their heads away.
On the large platform, there was a simple screen, marking out the position of the people and the five groups of enemies they were facing.
"… Brothers! We have no way out. They want to force us to our deaths! We can only move forward! We have three thousand people, and they only have a thousand. Furthermore, they have all been separated and cannot save us in time … they underestimate us now, which is why we have this chance. If we let them wake up, we will not have any chance at all … these few days, we have used all our strength to widen the distance between them. The road can be pointed out by others, but we have to fight for our own lives! If you still have courage, take up your saber and kill your way out … "
Chen Xingdou also had martial arts skills. At this time, when he spoke loudly, everyone could hear him. However, he was not a person with a flexible tongue. Basically, he repeated what Ning Yi said. After he finished speaking, Ning Yi walked over and handed a large stack of scrolls to Tang Xiuxuan. Then he went to Chen Xingdou's side and said, "I don't have any strength left. General Chen, can you help me pass the message?"
Chen Xingdou nodded. Ning Yi glanced at the black mass formed by more than three thousand people, and said in a low and slow voice, "Turning back halfway and falling into a dead end, it is my, Ning Liheng's, plot. You have all been tricked by me. However, except for fighting in a dead end, we have no other way. "
Chen Xingdou was stunned at first, then he opened his mouth and spread his words loudly. Instantly, there was a buzzing sound in the army. Ning Yi waited for a moment.
"There is no way forward, and there are pursuers behind. A troop of nearly ten thousand people cannot hide their tracks. In a place like Hangzhou, no matter where we go, after a long time, there is only death for us. In front of us, there are nearly six thousand enemies. However, in the battle of Hangzhou, the bandits have already started to underestimate us. Yesterday, when we crossed the stone bridge to return, we easily deceived them. This is clear proof. We still have one chance of winning, and that is, we are the Wu De Camp … the elites of the army. "
Ning Yi looked at them, but in reality, such flattery did not have any effect.
"In the battle of Hangzhou, because of the timing, we lost a battle. We lost to ourselves in a strange way. Today, there are still three thousand people walking here. I don't know if everyone is afraid. However, the people on Fang La's side already think that we are useless. They have sent five troops, and each troop only has about one thousand people. These people are quarreling with each other because they do not want the other side to take too much advantage of them. As for how to defeat us and snatch our things, they have not thought about it. Like everyone else, they think that it is not necessary to think about it. However, we still have three thousand people. On the other side, there are nearly one thousand guards and escorts. The current situation is already drawn on the map. More than one thousand of them are coming at us aggressively, while more than four thousand of us are only thinking about escaping. They have one thousand, while we have four thousand. "
"I don't know much about war, and I don't know if we can win. But now, we're all very clear about our situation. It's different from before. This time, all of you know exactly how we're going to fight, and you know exactly how we're going to fight. I can only help you with some other things. "
He waved his hand, and some people carried up some boxes of different sizes.
"Since yesterday, we have recorded the names and birthplaces of our brothers. Today, Elder Tang is the leader of the people here. I have handed all the scrolls to him just now. Now, everyone in this troop is on the same boat. If we can return to Hu Province, look at this stage and the other side. Everyone here owes you a favor. Every one of you can be promoted and become rich. "
The boxes were opened, and the light of gold and silver shone out.
"None of us here are ungrateful people. We are all stationed in Hangzhou. I know that many of your relatives and brothers are also in Hangzhou. Some of them are in this troop, some have passed away in Hangzhou, and some can't come out anymore … Fang La killed them and burned everyone's houses … There are also women … "
Ning Yi paused for a moment before pointing at the curtain behind him. "They are different from the elites who attacked Hangzhou. They are peasants who don't even have a complete set of swords and spears! They are fighting us with rakes and wooden sticks! Now, they had more than a thousand people, and they were already coming over with a menacing aura! We can think of a way to escape. We can take off our clothes and jump into the river, then swim over here! We can also go over and trample them to death! You can see that their five troops have split up. We will take down Lu Qiao's troop, then Yao Yi's troop, and the rest won't be able to make it here. We will fight along the river, circle around, and then take down Xue Dounan. It's going to rain, the heavens are helping us … You can think about how to fight this battle and whether or not we can win! "
"If we win, you can avenge your dead relatives and brothers in Hangzhou! You can take your share of the gold and silver! You can go to Hu Province and be promoted to nobility! You are the only troop to win this battle in Hangzhou! Each and every one of your names is clearly recorded in the scroll in Elder Tang's hand. When the scroll reaches Huzhou, not a single one of you will be left out. Even if you can't go back, your families will get what they deserve. Those who are alive will treat your families as if they were their closest relatives! "
Elder Tang nodded. "This old man can take responsibility for this matter. The heavens and earth can bear witness." Someone passed on his words.
Ning Yi smiled. "If we don't win, then there will be nothing left. Brothers, my wife is pregnant now and she is standing behind us. If we lose like this, then we will all die here. All the gold and silver will be taken away by them. You won't be able to survive. They destroyed your cities in Hangzhou, destroyed your homes, and killed your loved ones. You won't be able to take revenge for those grudges. If we work together now, then we will survive and have everything. If we go back now, we won't be able to take revenge and only death awaits us … They are a bunch of unruly people who don't even have weapons. They have no training and no order. They came all the way here just to rob and kill. There are only one thousand of them. Will we lose? Will we lose everything to them? "
"Or will we take something back?"
When he finished speaking, the entire scene was suffocating. Under the dark clouds, everyone stared blankly at the large curtain. After a while, someone finally said, "We can take revenge …"
"How can we lose …"
"Trample them to death …"
The voices gradually began to gather. At this moment, someone suddenly rushed out and said, "Don't listen to him. He's trying to mislead us. He's the one who trapped us here!" It was the general who had caused trouble for Ning Yi earlier. This person's surname was Xia, and his name was Xia Qi. On the morning of the ninth day of the New Year, Ning Yi had beaten up a troublemaker who had stopped people from fetching water. That troublemaker was Xia Qi's cousin. In the past few days, he had disagreed with Ning Yi a few times. When he came out at this time, it caused the mood of the soldiers to suddenly stagnate. Xia Qi immediately began to say that the plan was carried out by Ning Yi alone.
Everyone on the stage was also stunned. Chen Xingdou, who had been watching the general's emotions, was happy. At this moment, he pointed at that person. "Xia Qi! For the sake of your cousin's personal grudge with Young Master Ning, haven't you been unreasonable enough these few days? How dare you disturb the morale of the army at this time! "
A troop of ten thousand people could be said to be big, but it could also be said to be small. That day, Ning Yi and this cousin of Xia Qi had formed a grudge, and some of the soldiers also understood. Xia Xia raised his head and said, "General Chen, what I said is the truth. If it wasn't for this Ning Liheng …"
Before he could finish speaking, Ning Yi had already taken a few steps forward. He grabbed the crossbow of a soldier going north, strung it, and pointed it directly at Xia Qi. Xia Qi was stunned. Then he opened his arms. "You dare —"
In the next moment, there was a bang. Blood splattered out. The crossbow bolt had directly hit his head. The man's eyes were wide open, and he fell to the ground with his arms open. Ning Yi's other hand grabbed the long spear of a soldier next to him. He tried hard to steady himself. "So long-winded! So long-winded! So long-winded! You're not a man! "
He was already in a weak state, but at this moment, he used brute force. When that voice came out, everyone present could hear it. For a moment, not only the soldiers below, but even Tang Xiuxuan and the others on the stage looked at this usually sickly scholar in shock. Their hearts were filled with fear. They had also heard of the rumors that Ning Yi was ruthless and had fought with Shi Bao and the others, but they had naturally never seen it before. Only now did they see him kill someone so straightforwardly.
"There are only two paths! Forward! Back! Once you've made your choice, walk over and fight for your own lives! Those who have personal grudges with me! Look for me afterwards! Kill me! I'll accompany you! But at this time, those who want to disturb the morale of the army are everyone's mortal enemies! You can choose whether to listen to them or not! "
After saying this, Ning Yi's hands and body trembled violently, but he still stood there. There were originally some people among Xia Qi's subordinates. After the initial shock, one of them suddenly shouted, "How dare you commit murder in public! Brothers …" Before he could finish shouting, there was a sudden "ping" sound. Someone behind him suddenly pulled out a knife and slashed at him. That person was also alert. He blocked the knife and retreated a few steps. He heard the person who attacked shout, "Who the f * ck is your brother!" This person was someone who had always been at odds with him.
Another person in the crowd pulled out a knife and pointed it in this direction. "This person has bad intentions!"
"Kill him!"
Another person shouted wildly. This person held his knife and retreated a few steps. The shouts from the other side were already rising and falling. Many people's eyes were bloodshot from the blood just now. It was useless to find trouble with Ning Yi at this time. At this time, everyone could think of this. Amidst the shouts, the person's waist was suddenly slashed by someone next to him. Blood spurted out. He opened his eyes wide in shock and waved his knife around. A burly man in the crowd rushed over and stabbed his knife into the person's stomach. "I'll kill you, you coward —"
After the first slash, there was another slash. The surrounding soldiers had already formed a circle, and the light from their knives slashed at the person's body. Blood splattered everywhere. When someone slashed the person's head, the surrounding ground was already dyed red with blood. The burly man in the lead raised the steel knife in his hand and faced the north. "Brothers, kill those bastards! Revenge — "
"Kill them all."
"Kill those peasants —"
"I want revenge!"
In an instant, almost everyone's eyes were bloodshot from the massacre. Their weapons were like fire, and their voices started to boil. At this time, the army might not have good commanders, but the blood of people in a desperate situation was finally stimulated.
Ning Yi stood there, holding his spear and watching all of this. He blinked and then the surrounding darkness surrounded him. His body was icy cold, and his vision started to tilt. He took a deep breath and vaguely heard someone shout, "Young Master Ning —"
"Young Master Ning …"
His consciousness left …
*****
Fifteen minutes later, under the gloomy sky, the soldiers led by Lu Qiao entered their field of vision on a hill less than two li to the north. Like a pack of wolves, they charged in that direction. Both sides quickly entered the range of arrows. There weren't many arrows that flew over, but they didn't seem to have any effect.
Lu Qiao was still wondering why the two sides had connected so quickly when the thousands of Wu De Camp soldiers on the other side swung their knives and spears with bloodshot eyes. They flooded over like a tide, their shouts shaking the heavens.
A soldier under Lu Qiao's command at the very front sensed something was wrong and almost instinctively stopped. He was pushed to the ground by his comrades behind him and stepped over. Then, more people in front of him instinctively slowed down or stopped. This development was different from what they had imagined, and also different from the similar things they had experienced a few days ago.
The shock of these thousands of people didn't last for long. Moments later, they were flattened by this simple charge that had no order and only relied on blood and qi. The raging tide of thousands of people swept across the several li long battlefront and charged north.
There was no fierce battle, no order, no more encirclement and interception. After the charge, the red carpet was spread out once again, and the ground was covered with corpses …
*****
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